General Burkhalter's (Leon Askin) TRUE Thoughts on Hogan's Heroes Show Revealed!

[@larrygonzales2033]

Mr. Askin was the PERFECT Burkhalter. The eyes, the face and the smile were exactly what was needed.

[@OVERHERE-OVERHERE]

He portrayed a paid for general, heart was not in the cause ,enjoyed the easy living..

[@terryrhyne7416]

He played the part to perfection. I know he had to have disgust in his heart but he knew the difference in a stalag & a concentration camp and knew he was disgracing Hitler.

[@nothankyou5524]

he was also a villain in the first Christopher lee sherlock holmes movie. a bumbler, but a henchman type bumbler. Always a great character actor.

[@vincentsartain3061]

@@OVERHERE-OVERHERE I never considered Burkhalter to be a true Nazi; in fact, he might have been Nimrod, Hogan's secret ally from the underground! Maybe Burkhalter knew all about Hogan and his operations all along, and did his best to either be oblivious or even secretly help Hogan and his outfit.

[@kendallrivers1119]

@@vincentsartain3061 nah he was a Nazi lol as much as Hochstetter, Klink and Schultz only with Schultz it seems he was more doing it put of being forced to be in the war.

[@carlzeiss48]

Kleeenk! You Eeeeediot! It can still hear it fifty years later. Leon nailed the part. He was perfect in it.

[@jayklink851]

Burkhalter: "Klink..shut up and listen!" Hochstetter: "Klink, save the bootlicking for General Burkhalter. "

[@Titan500J]

To me his best quote was. " If I wanted your opinion Klink, I would give you one"

[@ricknineg]

hahahah lol

[@raynardi6751]

I liked the one where he, Klink and Schultz are tricked by Hogan into blowing up a German bridge on camera, and he says "I will tell Berlin the entire truth! ... Then I will shoot myself!" 😂😂😂

[@splatterhead9663]

"Don't worry Klink, you will have a fair trial. After which you will be shot!"

[@TheJohnnyCotts]

Given that Klink would regularly flip-flop on issues so he could agree with his superiors, that line from Burkhalter is spot-on.

[@tacitusthehistories5417]

Germans could not have a political opinion had to carry the nazi party line. If not, off to the Russian front or to the death camps. Leon made that point very clear every episode. Sort of like the libs & anti-fata (brown shirts) today.

[@paulstan9828]

The actors were all so great on the show. They had distinct personalities and I enjoyed them all.

[@michaelpagano6241]

Yes. Any one of them could have been a "star" of their own seried.

[@michaelpagano6241]

Series

[@mikhailiagacesa3406]

Berkholter,"There is also a need for Colonels on the Russian Front, COLONEL Klink!"

[@ddgallion]

Leon Askin, and others, portrayed their characters brilliantly.

[@tomgraham3612]

When we watched Hogan's Heroes, it was always a plus when General Burkhalter made an appearance. You knew that show was going to be good!

[@bobmalack481]

Absolutely, I almost skip out until I know its a Burkhalter episode. Laughs aplenty as he is always aggitated with Klink and usually threatening to send him to the Russian front if he doesnt submit to his wishes or direction. "Kleenk, you eediot" "Shadup Kleenk!"...LOL!!

[@peterpresutti4064]

Definitely one of my favorite characters

[@powerboatguy2308]

He and Howard Cain were always the best.

[@themistocles4683]

Sit down Klink. And for once, keep your mouth shut !

[@ronnieblanton272]

The way he pronounced words

[@mgmcd1]

He didn’t play a German general, he brilliantly lampooned a German general.

[@bobmalack481]

He did BOTH, a lampooning and an accurate portrayal. A fine line, but done splendedly. Burkhalter displayed the wherewithall of having more common sense than both Klink and Seargent Shultz, and less irrational but strict emotion of a Major Hocksteder.

[@danielwebster5748]

No one ever escape from stalag 13 They just went to dinner whenever they pleased Made out With all the women and comically done more to win World War II than anyone else Head more prisoners escape into than any other prison camp The show is so Ridiculous I absolutely love it and general burkhalter is one of the reasons Many Jews On that show klink Shultz burkhalter corporal lebeau His name was Robert Clary and he was even in a concentration camp for a short amount of time

[@thepayne7862]

Robert Clary wrote an autobiography it's worth a read. His parents got sent to Auschwitz. He was in multiple concentration camps he was just a 12 year old kid at the time. He actually thought all of his brothers and sisters had been killed. I can't remember if it was after or towards the end of the war he found out one of his sisters survived she was actually never taken to a camp but a family hide her on their farm. The reason his character lebeau always wears long sleeves was to cover up his number tattooed on his arm.

[@mightymeatmonsta]

I agree. Well put!

[@mightymeatmonsta]

@@thepayne7862 I didn't know that. He is the ONLY LIVING SURVIVOR of Hogans Heroes today!

[@johncipriano3627]

I think he nailed the role, he Portrayed as a general exactly.

[@billkeithchannel]

It is interesting to note that the extras in the background such as guards did play their characters more realistic in how they would react to the prisoners.

[@bobmalack481]

Exactly, love his expressive face and German voice nuance and agitation of Klink, but at the same time put up with him because of his 'non' prison escape camp record.

[@messano7]

*"Klink YOU IDIOT"* What a great cast! He would always be threatening the Col. with "there is a position waiting for you at the Russian Front!!!"

[@Envy_the_Darksider]

And then in the episode when Klink wanted to go to the Russian Front (because Hogan had a Russian woman trick him into thinking it was actually paradise there), he was like "If I send you and Schultz to the Russian Front, I will be shot for treason!"

[@markzimmerman2057]

Klink: "Herr general Burkhalter, what a pleasant surprise!" Burkhalter: "Surprise, yes. Pleasant, no!"

[@billolsen4360]

A real classic

[@adrianjordan6291]

"General Burkhalter, surely you are not accusing Colonel Klink of disloyalty." "Disloyalty, no. Stupidity, yes."

[@billolsen4360]

@@adrianjordan6291 Jah vohl!

[@dougmedina4619]

Ha,ha!!

[@Irisheddy]

That dry humor was hysterical

[@Timotheus157]

He was the perfect fit. Very convincing. Loved his interaction with Klink.

[@charlesbutler4646]

Askin was the most underrated actor on the program. He was delightfully sarcastic and his dry wit portrayal was perfect.

[@patrickhorvath2684]

"Not like you, Klink, he Knows what he is doing.."

[@robertlworley]

Leon Askin was fantastic as Burkhalter!! I never realized what he went through. Now I only like and respect him even more!!!

[@g.a.c.4139]

Leon Askin was an amazing person and actor, and he was a hero in his own right. Rick, you should have mentioned how long he lived, especially being such a 'large' man and having lived a hard life...he died at the age of 97. Leon, you roared like a lion!!

[@jons.6216]

Also funny the expression he got on his face when Carter was impersonating Adolf and made the remark about "..one of (my generals) looks like a stuffed goose!! One of these days the goose will hang HIGH!..):-)

[@cjb8010]

Jon Simunovich-Audron, “I think I shall see the Fuhrer another time.” Brilliants!

[@billkeithchannel]

I think Larry Hovis was underrated as an actor just because he was playing the "goofy doofus" guy in the team. He was actually left off of a school lunchbox photo because the marketing team was afraid of school students looking to him as a role model.

[@mightymeatmonsta]

@@billkeithchannel He was actually a lieutenant in the first episode when the original exchange was made and the person who was there left to go home.

[@vincentsartain3061]

@@billkeithchannel That really sucks! Carter wasn't really dumb! He had some know-how in chemistry, for one, and he often made convincing impersonations of Hitler and high ranking Nazi officers! Terrible that Hovis wasn't included on the lunchbox because his character, Carter, was deemed "too dumb to be a role model!" ☹️

[@joemurdoch4138]

The way Askin portrayed the character was perfect. The fact that he did play it very straight made Werner Klemperer's bumbling and scared reactions that much funnier. If Askin had also been trying to be funny in the scenes they would not have been near as good.

[@jamesbarker213]

Leon Askin was a great actor and his portrayal of Gen Burkhalter was brilliant. All of the major German characters were played brilliantly by Jewish actors.

[@robynsmith3276]

So much fun watching Hogan's Heroes! Always felt sorry for Colonel Klink. Leon Askin did an excellent job, and very convincing! Of course my heart always belonged to John Banner as Sergeant Schultz! My kids will tell you I often use "I know nothing!" When we're having any kind of conversation. Lots of fun. Thanks again Rick for a great Hogan's Heroes video!! 🤗

[@GregUtz98]

I loved when they brought in Howard Caine to work along side Askins they played extremely well off each other in my opinion.

[@williamlynn6084]

"a fair trial in Germany?" Askin was outstanding in this role. he's remember and lived a long time.

[@projectspatt5212]

The need to cover the german iron cross is silly.

[@kevinchappell3694]

Projects Patt there is no need......it is an Iron Cross!

[@gra6649]

@@kevinchappell3694 So it's an iron cross, so what. The Germans still use it. I wonder why they didn't cover the swastica, which is illegal in Germany. Actually, I believe we should take back the swastica, and use it for its original purpose before the fucken nazi's stole it. It is very old, and it represents the wheel of life. Many cultures have their own version, from the Buddhists, to the natives in north America, to the celts. You can find it all over the world.

[@WaterShowsProd]

It also completely betrays the sentiments being said by the actor himself. Utterly ludicrous. BTW I live in Southeast Asia and see swastikas on temples and religious sites regularly. To me when I see a swastika I don't relate it to The Nazis first unless it is the Nazi flag or emblem. In other countries, particularly in The West, the swastika has become taboo and even banned. This has only allowed its misuse as a symbol of Nazism and Fascism to be continued. If it had been re-embraced for what it was for thousands of years before (and in the 1920s the swastika was a very popular good luck symbol in The US and UK) then neo-Nazi groups wouldn't be able to use it today as a symbol or a rallying emblem.

[@nancyware7282]

@@WaterShowsProd YES! We have the same problem with elements of the Runic alphabet that the Nazis stole and twisted to their own use.

[@thepayne7862]

Watch any shaw brothers martial art movies from the 70's where the story involved Buddhists you will see the symbol all the time.

[@eddyortiz8110]

He was great the way he would take shots at Klink 🤣 We may. Win the war even with you Klink!🤣🤣

[@eddyortiz8110]

@@AlbertEinsteinSpock I watch every week night at 10 eastern it diesnt matter I've seen them 100 times still makes me laugh, you know who cracks me also is Hocksteder he tells Klink "I'm trying to win the war how about you!" 😂🤔✌

[@donnasmith8742]

Mel Brooks made fun of the nazis because he hated them. I dt know Leon Askin’s history but he shared the same history with the others. John Banner lost his whole family. Werner Klemperer said that he would quit if his character was not bumbling. His family had to flee. Robert clary was in a camp and only his singing saved him from death.

[@adrianjordan6291]

Mel Brooks (aka Melvin Kaminsky) served in Europe toward the end of WWII as a combat engineer. One of his unit's assignments was clearing land mines. Brooks said on the whole it was rather unhealthy.

[@mightymeatmonsta]

@@adrianjordan6291 Kaminsky? He wasn't related to Danny Kaye, aka Daniel Kaminsky? Or maybe he spells it with an "I" instead of a "Y".

[@A_10_PaAng_111]

He was an actor that was given a role to play, and played it well. He did his job.

[@6omega2]

He was a great actor, and his portrayal was always hilarious to me.

[@lunhil12]

“Fat tub of lard, eh Klink?” That scene still makes me laugh.

[@tyrellnelson490]

Fat men are supposed to be jolly.

[@bobmalack481]

"Killer Klink"...LOL!!

[@E3ECO]

"You were right, Klink. I am a nasty old tub of lard."

[@mightymeatmonsta]

@@tyrellnelson490 Actually, the full line is, " I thought fat men were supposed to be jolly"

[@deanwinchester7179]

"I haven't laughed like this in years" lol

[@lesleeherschfus707]

John Banner Leon Askin Howard Caine Harold Stone Milton Selzer Ned Glass Robert Clary All Jewish Werner Klemperer was half Jewish on his father’s side. They were forced to leave Germany as well

[@armyguardmom]

Actually, Robert Clary was French. He was forced into a concentration camp and lost most of his family. He still has his prisoner number tattooed on his arm, which is why he wears long sleeves.

[@LordDragon1965]

Bob Clary said, flat out, he hung out with the "Germans" on the show because all of them were Jewish. It was one of the best ensemble casts in '60s TV.

[@lesleeherschfus707]

Herbert Norkus I didn’t say Robert Clarey was German but that he was Jewish

[@briankrian3834]

Yes, they were all Jewish. I don't think that was by coincidence either. That helps make the show all the better.

[@macadoo1588]

Yeah that was the deal, all the Nazi's were played by Jewish actors so they could play the Nazi's as buffoons

[@randallweber7362]

I don’t think anyone has the right to question Leon Askin’s motives for playing the character of a German officer. This was a Jewish man who not only lived during Hitler’s Germany, but also a man who endured it first hand. Because of that I don’t think any of us have a right to question his motives for taking part in Hogan’s Heroes

[@vincentsartain3061]

"Rinse and repeat" for Robert Clary, John Banner, and Werner Klemperer!

[@johndonohew5881]

A few years ago I was asked to play a German General in The Sound of Music. I impersonated Burkhalter for the part and had several audience members that recognized the character.

[@bobmalack481]

THAT was the perfect role model to portray, good show!

[@mightymeatmonsta]

LOL, that's funny! I hope you threw in a, "Klink, you idiot"!

[@recoveringnewyorker2243]

I always loved the show as a child. Watched it growing up with my dad who was a World War II veteran. He always laughed when telling me “The Germans were not that stupid!”

[@Petemonster62]

The Germans had good strategy at the beginning, but made blunders, starting with the invasion of the Soviet Union.

[@robertanthony8171]

And thank God that they did because with a lot of help those blunders saved us all..

[@billolsen4360]

@@robertanthony8171 Yes, after several victories over nations not prepared for war, Hitler convinced himself he was a genius & infallible.

[@bobmalack481]

Fighting a 2 front war cant be any stupider, courtesy of Hitler. If he concentrated on ONLY attacking/putting full resources toward conquering England and western Europe OR Eastern Europe and the Soviet bloc he would of been much more sucessful. The best of leaders are known to blunder. This is a blunder 2nd. to none. He met his Waterloo. His daily 'vitiamin' injection shots by his personal 'physician' only exasperated his decision making.

[@nancyware7282]

As a kid, I watched the show and enjoyed the story and the characters. In fact, it started my interest in history because I would watch an episode and then go read up on whatever had been featured be it a Tiger tank or the French Resistance. As a note, EVERY episode features a real item, incident, or personage (perhaps not an exact person, but defecting German scientists were real, French Resistance fighters make and female were real etc). I was floored when I learned that most of the regular cast who played the principal Germans and Nazis were themselves victims and/or refugees of the Nazi regime. Learning -why- they felt that playing these characters was the right thing to do have a whole new depth to the show and highlights why I believe it is still entirely watchable today.

[@larryphilby4918]

I always enjoyed seeing Burkhalter in an episode. He was a threat to Klink, not only with talk of the Russian front but with marriage to his sister, which would subject the Commandant with dealing with TWO Burkhalters. As far as acting is concerned, Askin was exactly right. We currently live in an age when various snowflake idiots fail to understand the basis of acting: You are pretending to be something you are not. Mark Hamill is not really a Jedi master, Leon Askin was not really a Nazi officer, and Werner Oland was not really a Chinese detective with many children. Acting is called playing, after all. Makeup and costumes are applied to give the actor verisimilitude or enhance the part being played. If you are one of those benighted souls concerned about cultural appropriation and similar non-issues, go take your tempest down the hall to someone with a teapot that fits it.

[@RB-tt2bw]

Warner Klemperer was also born in Germany, and his father was Jewish. Klemperer’s family left Germany for the U.S. prior to WWII. Klemperer agreed to do the role of Klink as long as the Germans (Nazi’s) were made to look like fools, and where they would never succeed. In addition, John Banner was born in Austria-Hungarian and buried in Austria. Banner was also Jewish, but also came to the U.S. prior to the war. It is said Banner lost a lot of family members during the Holocaust.

[@thomasbecker5313]

Warner Klemperer's father was Otto Klemperer. A celebrated classical composer and conductor. I have quite a few of his albums.

[@rickmontgomery3037]

@@thomasbecker5313 Very true, and from what I've read Werner Klemperer himself was actually a guest conductor for various symphonies over the years.

[@tonyaeheman6189]

He was just right for the role of General Burkhalter. I really enjoy your vlogs. Great job!

[@ricknineg]

Thanks so much!

[@DeadAbeVigoda]

“I laugh because I must not cry, that is all, that is all.” -Abraham Lincoln

[@Mikey-zj3co]

Askin was always my favorite character on the show. I liked it more when he was on. Thanks for the interesting info.

[@owenlunney6019]

My uncle was a POW in Germany. He said one of the biggest problems for POWs was malnourishment. He never smoked, so he traded with the guards for anything with vitamin C. When he returned to the States, the doctors wanted to pull all of his teeth. He refused. Most POWs had bad teeth issues. (scurvy) As far as I know, he had all of his teeth when he passed at 88 yrs. He said the guards were kids, like Americans, and he never held any resentment to the German people. He had gone to Germany twice after his POW days.

[@jacobbelsky6533]

That's cause he was a POW, not sure if he would have said the same if he was in a concentration camp.

[@shenysys]

In Australia, the guards of POW camps were mainly First World War veterans. Most famous one was at Cowra where the Japanese had a mass escape.

[@graybeard763]

Says alot about his devotion to his craft to portray a high ranking German officer given his real life history with the real Third Reich. Bravo. Buchalter was a great character. Loved him!

[@coloradostrong]

_Alot_ is a town in India. _A lot_ is more than one of something.

[@michaeltaylor9977]

I loved the General! Especially when he'd threaten to send Klink to the Russian front. "He still looks like stupid old Klink to me" Never an escape from Stalag 13 Sir. "So you have told me! And Told Me!! And TOLD ME!!! Leon was a true professional despite having gone through all of that. Remember him also in 3's Co. and got a pie in the face! LOL

[@glennrobbins2372]

He was perfect in the role. He reminded me of an over the top version of Conrad Veidt's character in Casablanca. Overbearing, pompous and always annoyed. He would have been great in the 3 Stooges I'll Never Heil Again and You Nazti Spy as well as Chaplin's the Great Dictator, doing the same role.

[@craigs7730]

He played the part a bit different from what the other actors did, a bit more serious, not a buffoon, but still comedic, that had to give him some kind of pleasure, making any of them look like a clown. At the same time there had to be a bit of personal turmoil, knowing what they were capable of and what they did. I can't imagine being that close to it. Great show, great cast.

[@richardhoover4471]

Thank you for highlighting the talents of brilliant actor Leon Askin. His approach to playing Burkhalter was perfect. If he had crossed the line and made Burkhalter zany or laughable he would have defeated the purpose of always showing the menace of Nazis. This made his inevitable defeat by the Heroes always so much more enjoyable!

[@bobmalack481]

He did have humor, but it was very suttle, muted, and dry as his character portrayal warranted. He got the maximum out of the minimum, if you will, otherwise you are absolutely correct.

[@gildavis8266]

Casting him in that role was one of the best things any casting director could have done and it showed in his performance. Mr. Akin was correct to use comedy as a tool to make the whole Nazi ideal seem as stupid as it truly was. I'm only sorry that the show was cancelled before they could finish with an episode that showed the allied victory in 1945.

[@bobvaness]

General Burkhalter was my favorite character on the show

[@Steven_Williams]

I still watch this show every night before bed. I always loved how he always tried to get Col. Kink to marry his sister.

[@robertdavenport5457]

steven williams one wonders why

[@johnjohnon8767]

Mel Brooks believed the same thing about humor. I learned that Mel Brooks was a soldier in the Ardennes in 1944. To those who are clueless about this, the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. Of course, he was enlisted under his real name.

[@mjarail]

Mel Brooks and one of my uncles served together in the Corps of Engineers.

[@billolsen4360]

@@mjarail Did Mel keep the unit in stitches?

[@mjarail]

@@billolsen4360 NOw, my uncle passed away in 1981, before knew of the connection between Mel and my uncle. However, I met Mel's company M/Sgt and yes, Mel did some pretty funny things. He was also useful in that he assisted in prisoner interrogation.

[@GreenHornTrucker]

He was brilliant along with the rest of the cast. He took acting seriously, even the comedic gold that was Hogans Hero's. He also used his personal expirience, however terrible as a young actor, to shape his character and make him amazing.

[@oilergreg9368]

The General was a key factor in the shows success..great video

[@ricksympson8243]

What would you rather have fall upon your shoulders Klink: responsibility, or snowflakes?

[@markadams7597]

Askin, and Banner, made Hogan's Heroes for me. I liked the right cheek scar, and his quick temper with Klink. He was great as a pompous Nazi General! As a kid, in the 1960s, I always watched for his work in other productions. This is a great review. Ty.

[@aodhganmerrimac]

Leon Askin played the role to perfection. One of the things I picked up even as a teen was the fact that he played (& no doubt the writers wrote) Burkhalter as a pragmatic German officer, most definitely not a nazi. Burkhalter, Klink & Shultz were never portrayed as dedicated nazi. While Hockstetter represented the party, he played his role as a true parody, with much more bluster for comic effect ridiculing national socialism wonderfully as an undercurrent to the surface comedy. He comically embodied the weaknesses of an authoritarian system built of terror, while Burkhalter was the straight man of sorts on the German side of the Allied/Axis "competition" in the show. This is one of those shows where the casting was ideal, can anyone ever step into those roles successfully? I doubt it. This was comedy as social commentary ridiculing the weakness of mankind.

[@RobertBosworth]

One of my favorite characters on the show. I just watched the episode where Klink was throwing a party that would have Honey Hornberg and her Stuttgart Steppers performing. Burkhalter's face lit up when he first heard this and he was having a pretty good time at the party as well. It was kind of nice to see him happy for a change. Thanks so much for these videos. This behind the scenes stuff is very interesting. 😀

[@mightymeatmonsta]

Yes, although he was a German general, he did have a soft spot and once in a while, even backed the idiot Klink. He seemed to like Hogan as well and had some respect for him.

[@rickmorrow7592]

General Burkhalter was my favorite character on the show. I loved his famous line, YOU IDIOT KLINK!

[@altmouse4006]

what a wonderful human being. love the channel, always learn and often inspired (as today).

[@georgesenda1952]

I think you miss part of what Burkhalter was. I had relatives in all 3 branches of Germany's armed forces. First, they were patriots and loved their country. Second, they were professionals. And after the war they told me they were not political. They were carrying out their orders, doing their job and trying to get through the war & come out alive. One of them wound up with a metal plate in his head when he was fired upon by a Soviet tank ! As for Burkhalter, he had the ear of the Fuhrer. He was an upper level General in charge of either all Luftwaffe run prison camps ( and the writers kept having Klink say he was in the Army when he was in the Luftwaffe as they ran the camps ) or those in the Hammelburg region. There was a REAL prison camp in the area and it was the one that Patton tried to rescue US POW's with the not adequate forces of Task Force Baum that were either wiped out or captured only to see the camp liberated by US forces weeks later. Burkhalter comes off as an idiot because Hogan is a master of manipulating him, Klink and Schultz. But for him to get so high up in the German General Hierarchy he must have been fairly competent at his job & frequently you see him partying, enjoying the company of a young fraulein and smiling. It is Hogan and Klink and sometimes Schultz that drive him to distraction and he also had to deal with Major Hochstetter who would continually seek to go over his head and try to undermine his authority. I see Burkhalter as one who finally realized that he had to do the best job he could as a professional soldier and with being hampered by having to deal with Hitler, but that he was also resigned to having being saddled with a trio of idiots as fellow officers who kept him from doing his best because he always had to show up and try to salvage something out of the messes they created or allowed to occur.

[@bobmalack481]

Pretty good, and accurate analogy.

[@Cyro_2235]

I have an interesting Fact about this Show: In Germany it was released a little bit later, with really good sound quality and dubbing. But the interesting thing about it is, that the german version altered ALOT in this show! It didnt translate the texts 1:1, but it made up a ton of new content and own additions. Most of those changes are absolutely hillarious and do add so much to the show. One of the best examples is the creation of a new charcter in the show that's SO often mentioned, but never shown. This being "Frau Kalinke", Colonel Klinks housekeeper. Hogan, Schulz and even Burkhalter often make fun about him having a romance going on with her, but Klink always denies that. Frau Kalinke does not exist in the original version, but in the german version she's mentioned alot, replacing some dialogue that would either not be that funny or would not work in the german language. The german version is fundamentally different from the english original. And i really gotta say...for the better. I know both versions, but the german one is just superior, with better humor, better oneliners, funnier voices and audio quality. I cannot even count the amount of funny new words or insults i have "learned" from the german dubbing of this show ^^ especially Klink insulting Frau Linkmeyer (Burkhalters Sister) with so many hillarious german expressions that i've NEVER heared of myself.. (Bruchbiene, Schinkenmilbe, Zippelgusse ^^) if anyone here's speaking german i highly recommend it! could be a challenge anyways, because most of them speak in the funniest german accents (Schultz is bavarian, Klink is eastern german, Burkhalter Austrian), i doubt that anyone who is not a native german speaker would understand it, but you might try ;)

[@robertdavenport5457]

Sergeant Cyro Frau Linkmeyer’s name brings up the image of a sausage

[@Primitarian]

To keep one's sense of decency, fair-mindedness and humor in the wake of the Third Reich, what an admirable triumph of the human spirit!

[@purplesword5536]

He may have been Jewish but he played a Prussian General to perfection... 🇩🇪

[@thomasthomas2418]

I used to watch the show with my father and he loved Gen. Burkhalter. Everyone has worked for a Burkhalter at one time or another (mine was D.L., if you're out there). My favorite scene was Klink at the ski lodge telling the concierge what a, "...miserable tub of lard" Burkhalter was.And the whole time, Burkhalter is standing right behind him, grinning from ear to ear at the prospect of tearinf Klink a new one as soon as he turns around. Great scene. Great actor.

[@vincentsartain3061]

Deep down, I think Burkhalter really liked Klink, which is perhaps another reason he allowed Klink to retain his position as Kommandant.

[@tomkirby3281]

Werner Klemperer agreed to play Klink, on the provision that Klink can NEVER win.

[@Embur12]

Wasn't his father a conductor for the German Symphony?

[@tomkirby3281]

@@Embur12 I believe so. Or at least he was a professional conductor for some orchestra. I'm pretty sure the whole family had to flee Germany.

[@bobmalack481]

Yes..and absolutely!...Bob at 65

[@donnicholas7552]

I believe a lot of the actors on the show were Jewish. What better way to get back at the Nazi's, then to make fun of them. You are correct! The show was set in a POW camp. It was not a concentration camp. My German uncle fought in WWII. He said it was either joining the army or going to prison. He joined Rommel's Desert Korps. On his first mission as a paratrooper, he was captured by the British. and spent the entire war in a POW camp. He said he was treated good. He also told me "Hitler was a jerk."

[@timothykissinger4883]

Yes,they were.John Banner ,Robert Clary,Major Hoffsteader, cant think of his real name ,were all Jewish. Werner Klemperer,was part Jewish.

[@HariSeldon913]

@@timothykissinger4883 Howard Caine.

[@timothykissinger4883]

@@HariSeldon913 thanks

[@thepayne7862]

My grandfather served in wwii he hated the nazis but he didn't hate the everyday german grunts who like him were just doing what their country called them to do. In fact he disliked the French a lot more than the everyday German soldier. He liked the Belgians also.

[@ronreuwer5265]

He was perfect in the part I believe my favorite was major hocksteter always seemed as if he was going to blow a main steam valve klink who is this man great actor

[@markcornish2519]

I like when hochsteter got mad at klink he just went baaaaaaa!!!

[@LordDragon1965]

The rotten olive was Klink...

[@j3lny425]

Did you ever notice that the show never got his SS uniform right?

[@vannshuttleworth4738]

IMHO Askin could go "toe to toe" with John Banner, as far as stealing any scene he was in. Great video!

[@TracyLoop]

He was a great actor. Also Great in the part of Gen. Burkhalter.

[@georgegravette1132]

One of my favorite bits was how, pompous and overbearing as he was generally, when he was on the phone getting chewed out by his superiors in Berlin, he'd become fawning and obsequious, essentially turning into another Klink. Then, after hanging up the phone, he'd turn to Klink and chew HIM out!

[@bobmalack481]

What else can you do? You just got the bizz or chewed out from Hitler, Goering, Hess, Himler, or whoever. So who's the logical, and, well deserved person downline to scapegoat?...Klink!...LOL!!

[@bobmalack481]

Shultz?!.."I know nutheeng!!"

[@claytonbenignus4688]

Leon Askin’s motivation was obviously payback to the regime that made his life hell. His purpose focused him to what was important. His acting was polemics against Nazism. I feel that there should have been an historically accurate final episode of Hogan’s Heroes where the “villains” realize that they had been had but that their best chance to survive the war was to collaborate with Hogan. The historic precedent was the surrender of Austria to an “imprisoned” O5 agent who reported to his control that he had to get back to prison to accept Austria’s surrender.

[@jennifertochi6253]

He was the greatest bad guy. I loved his mean funny faces,. when I first started watching this show I was only watching it for Dawson but I then was noticed all the other actors and lovin' them too. Thank you for doing this video.

[@Jared_Wignall]

Quite interesting to hear about his life and then to see him play a German general after learning about his background regarding Germany during that time. Thanks for the video Rick, I always enjoy learning something new with these shows.

[@bigp3006]

Love the channel. My dad fought in ww2 (Philippines) so it's held my interest since a child when I watched Hogan hero's. I don't see how anyone can deride these actors for playing their enemies role. That shows a narrow minded attitude on what they accomplished in the process. What? Did they prefer to have former Nazis play the roles?

[@markeidemiller5254]

I remember him from the movie ONE, TWO, THREE with Jimmy Cagney. It was a small part, but it made a difference.

[@toddmiller2046]

He was wonderful as a Russian Commissar in that film.

[@davefrommaine9822]

I loved him! He pretty much made the whole show.

[@bobmalack481]

I usually will skip watching a whole episode if I dont forsee Burkhalter making an appearance somewhere.

[@davefrommaine9822]

I pretty much agree

[@TheNortheastAl]

Playing the part of Burkhalter shows the depth of Askin's acting ability. He had to turn a terrible experience in his youth (and world history) into what was a comedic role. He also wanted to send a message about the evil Nazis and cast them in a bad light. Difficult to do, but he managed to do it. Thanks for the insight, Rick.

[@VidkunQL]

Casting Nazis in a bad light isn't difficult. Making them _funny_ takes some talent.

[@johnwaddell6009]

Thanks to his sister Gertrude we found out Gen. Burkhalter's first name was Albert! What a talented light comedian he was and the way he played off his sister (played by the the amazing Kathleen Freeman) we got to see the human side of a blustering general!

[@mikeggg5671]

Why is someone blotting out the Ritterkreuz? This decoration, IRL, was earned by gallant officers and men, not toadies (it was a prized military decoration, not a party badge).

[@TheBashar327]

Leftism

[@mikeggg5671]

@@TheBashar327 and that's a shame. According to some weak-minded fools, any man who has ever served in any military is evil. And that is just stupid. I came to America when I was very young, I served in the Army and then in Afghanistan. The American Army did horrible things in Afghanistan. All of which are not broadcast on the news. But that does not make me a horrible person if I did not partake.

[@richardwagner5742]

One of my favorite characters on the show. Absolutely true the best way to get back at people and ideas us to make fun if them.

[@whitey2bacons367]

For anyone playing the game Wolfenstien (2009), there is a character called General Zetta who bares a striking resemblance to General Burkhalter.

[@ricknineg]

It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if he was based off of Leon Askins resemblance

[@Samtheman85844]

Leon Askin really did a very good job playing General Burkhalter. Leon Askin help make Hogan's Heroes fun to watch.

[@cunni241967]

I loved the show as a child and love it still., all of 6he actors played their parts so well.,he and the colonel were like Abbott and Costello they played off each other so good that you had to laugh

[@turbinexman]

"Enough Klink...!! This Is Not A Social Visit..."!! One of his classic lines!! He always made me laugh, especially when Klink tried to "Suck Up" to him!! Thank you very much for the laughs!!

[@gary1705]

It’s a bit like the stage production The Producers springtime for Hitler where Jew Mel Brooks takes the piss out of Hitler and his regime very funny stuff

[@cobramcjingleballs]

I watched today, Brooks got his start in show business climbing up a pole in WW2 to change nazi propaganda to a jewish musician pop song of the time. And the Nazis had to listen to that during battle of the bulge.

[@donnaowen5953]

Gary love that movie!!!!

[@sabrecatsmiladon7380]

Laughing does NOT deny it happened...Laughing at it shows "it" doesn't negatively affect you any longer

[@michaelmcmullen2458]

Askin was great! I would like to know why his Iron Cross is blocked out in the above video?

[@kevinchappell3694]

Michael McMullen PC brigade

[@christopherkraft1327]

Congratulations on passing 49,000 subs, 50,000 is imminent, 100,000 is on the horizon!!! Great job my friend

[@ricknineg]

Thanks Christopher! With every benchmark the channel hits, I continue to be amazed and very thankful for all of you!

[@ricknineg]

Many are asking me about the censored pixels in the video. KZbin does not allow certain imagery, words, language, symbols to be used. It is a non-negotiable rule. They must not be used or a channel can be penalized. I have no problem with them in my videos. But this is today’s world. So I thank you all for being so understanding. Thank you! Be HOPEFUL!

[@mathewfullerton8577]

Goes to show how inane the PC movement is. Showing the symbols shows history. Not showing them does nothing to change what happened and makes it harder for younger viewers to have the knowledge to understand what such symbols are associated with as they haven't seen them. The "PC lords" on social media really are not very intelligent.

[@mick976]

@@mathewfullerton8577 agreed, i just checked out the german airforce markings of 2018, they use the iron cross as insignia yet its not censored on the pics. of the aircraft. here its censored , pretty lame.

[@chuckbaker7909]

That is because KZbin is run by modern day fascists who worship at the altar of political correctness. Reminds me of what I've read and seen about Germany in the early 1930s.

[@YabusameUK]

If anything, the pixelating just attracted MORE attention to those insignia rather than less.

[@exoressdelivers70]

Search General Burkhalter or Major Hochsteder on KZbin and you'll find several videos showing them wearing the Iron Cross and Swastika. They are not censored or blurred out on those videos.

[@diamondbackdt]

The way Leon Askin played Burkhalter I always had the head cannon backstory that Burkhalter was a solider's solider who was a TRUE FORCE OF NATURE and one you DID NOT MESS WITH. Even as the doughboy lazy playboy general you knew NOT to cross him because he wasn't the type of person to cross. I see Burkhalter as someone who didn't get fat and doughy until he was SOLIDARITY into his Generalship. There were a few times even Major Hochstetter wouldn't cross him. What are ya'lls thoughts. To me Werner Klemperer, John Banner, Robert Clary, and Leon Askin TRULY had the last laugh because not only did they SURVIVE but they were able to mock them relentlessly and by portraying their characters THEIR WAY they held ALL THE POWER!!!

[@denacogswell9286]

He was delightful in his role his sister was so ugly never could marry her off to Klink .he sounds well grounded and true to himself that's all I got Mr Rick faith love hope to you and all have a good day thanks miss dena

[@cultosaur262]

Mr. Askin was a glorious actor! He was spot on how to portray the roles in the show! The criticism he, Clery, and Banner received then in the 60s or even today is absurd! These were fabulous entertainers who in real life were touched personally by the evil of National Socialist Germany. Although the network executives were terrified they would lose advertisers, the producers, directors, and actor’s fulfillment of the concept was brilliantly executed and has stood the test of time magnificently well! Mr. Robert, still with us I believe, wrote a magnificent autobiography that includes his childhood experiences of the anti-Jewish feelings in France, the conquest of Europe and his time in the concentration camps ... it is a fine read and tribute to this marvelous singer, dancer, and actor most of know as Cpl. Louis LeBeau!

[@altonbunnjr]

Why is the medal around his neck masked out in the closeups?

[@BarryWilkinson]

It's the Nazi symbol.

[@altonbunnjr]

He’s wearing an Iron Cross the design of which goes back before WWI and is not a nazi symbol. At worst it would be inscribed with a swastika and “1939” neither of which would be visible on TV.

[@stevemercury68]

I think Leon Askin's take on playing the role was correct. He did a great job in the episodes portraying a general provoking fear. Clink would always get all wound up when Gerkhalter was coming to the stalag.

[@MegaBuyer]

He was an Air Force officer, not SS or army.

[@Petemonster62]

MegaBuyer - I believe Gen. Burkhalter was an infantry officer in the German army. I think he was reassigned to be the commander of the stalags after serving on the Russian front.

[@silentotto5099]

@@Petemonster62 I think you're right. Note the eagle badge on the peak of the cap. Burkhalter's eagle has straight spread wings which would indicate he's in the Heer, while Klink's eagle has the wings in more of a flight position, which shows he's in the Luftwaffe. Additionally, the color of Burkhalter's collar tabs indicate infantry. So, assuming they got the costuming right, Burkhalter would be a General of the Infantry. Although, why he's overseeing a Stalag Luft is beyond me.

[@MegaBuyer]

Dude... I learned something new about Hogan's Hero's. I just looked it up, and you were right. He was Infantry. Amazing. After all these years. Thanks!!

[@norms3913]

He was part of the wahrmacht cause the Luftwaffe was part of the German Air Force ran by goebels

[@Petemonster62]

@@silentotto5099 - You really did your research regarding the uniform insignias! It would be interesting to find out if those senior officials of the Nazi P.O.W. camp system would assign officers to a position, regardless of what military branch they were a member of.

[@manofthehour6856]

Wow! Fantastically interesting and well-presented video! While I never watched Hogan's Heroes frequently, I am of course aware of all the main actors as it was in reruns during my youth. Leon Askin was a favorite actor of mine, and I always greatly admired SOMETHING about him that I could not quite put my finger on. Maybe it was how although English was not his first language, he seemed to somehow be acutely aware of the American sense of humor. I under-estimated him greatly, and now knowing some of his background, I better understand how he was able to master his characters. He was an actor leaving me begging for more. I can think of only two non-HH roles he was in: one was on a circa-1977 episode of "Three's Company" as a self-important baker judging a baking competition that quickly devolves into a pie-throwing fight, and as a Russian in the Billy Wilder comedy "One, Two, Three". He always conveyed this image like someone who had NO sense of humor, yet obviously as he played so superbly in comedy roles, he had a GREAT sense of humor! Many thanks for this presentation!

[@sum12see]

I just bought the complete third season of Hogans Heros...I loved his character!..They dont make shows like that no more...

[@66edoug]

The actors who played Klink, Burkhalter, Shultz and Hochstetter, all enlisted into the United States Armed Forces during World War II.

[@mikeschmidt7980]

Leon Askin was outstanding as the general. I grew up watching this show on tv. My dad loved it also and he was a WW ii vet.

[@russellgrenning1317]

Perhaps the greatest irony of Hogan's Heroes was the number of Jewish actors who played Germans/Nazis - Werner Klemperor (Colonel Klink), John Banner (Sergeant Schultz), Robert Clary (Corporal LeBeau), Howard Caine (Gestapo Major Hochstetter) with other Jewish actors including Harold Stone and Harold Gould playing multiple German officers. John Banner once remarked, "Who can play Nazis better than us Jews?"

[@joeyrivful]

He was perfect for the part.

[@traczebabe]

I think what an amazing actor and person! He got it right. Humor is the best way to show your feelings on something as this because it’s such a huge button for society.

[@Ironschmuck]

Klink acted always to Burkhalter how “happy” he was to see the General upon his arrival at Stalag Luft 13, one time Burkhalter replied “ Klink..you have no idea how happy I am that you are happy” 😂 Wow that one cracked me up.

[@TheNo1BandDad]

I also loved Askin's portrayal of Burkhalter. I thought his portrayal was excellent.