German Army Furthest East 1942 - How Far Did the Germans Advance into Russia?

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Exactly how Far East into the Soviet Union did the Germans manage to advance - find out here...
Dr. Mark Felton FRHistS, FRSA is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
Visit my audio book channel 'War Stories with Mark Felton': • One Thousand Miles to ...
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Credits: US National Archives; Library of Congress; Bundesarchiv; Google Maps

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Thanks to War Thunder for sponsoring this video. Click the link and claim your bonuses: playwt.link/markfelton

[@graved1gger]

video sponsored by russian game dev studio... kinda hilarious. Wonder what historians would say 80 years from now

[@SyntheticVoices]

Nice. Loved your previous war thunder episode which can only be found my chnl 👀

[@questlove_satx]

These stupid commercials that you have to put in there: It's like serving McDonald's at the Waldorf-Astoria.

[@lisbon1492]

Great video, Mark! Thank you so much!

[@rogerdodger1790]

Excellent as per usual Mark 👍🏻

[@lessparks7802]

My late Father-in-Law was a motorcycle dispatch rider with an Engineer unit. He estimated that his unit was about 20 kilometers from Stalingrad when for unknown reasons his commanding officer sent part of his unit, including him, back westward. The rest of the unit proceeded east. None came back. The remnants of his unit were reassigned and he ended up going to Northern Italy. Wether by luck or God’s grace, he survived the war and eventually immigrated to America in 1951 where he raised his family. He passed this past summer just 2 months shy of 101. My, how the fortunes of war can play out.

[@Ramzi1944]

Why do you think the commanding officer sent him back?

[@pweter351]

They saved some so the unit could be rebuilt around the survivors

[@moistmike4150]

@@Ramzi1944 He wanted Les Sparks to be born.

[@tguy7707]

This reminds me of listening to my middle school history teacher tell us about how all her uncles and a number of older cousins were sent to the east and non ever returned. She said they just never came home and they never received any word on what happened to them. Her father was “lucky” and was sent west.

[@commiecrusher]

Your last sentence is relatble. My grandpa went to volunteer in Canada 1939. When he took his physical it was discovered he had Polio in one of his arms. He worked so hard around the farm that he was able to keep that arm strong. He then hooped on a train and tried to enlist in 2 other provinces, but each time they found the Polio and wouldn't allow him to join the army. Hard to believe a disease that killed so many might be the only reason me and my entire family are here today.

[@westernmialumni5428]

My uncle, was part of the German "Caucasus offensive" as he called it. In his diary, he mentions the cities of Rostov, Armavir, Grigoropolisk, Mozdok, Elbrus, Krasnodar. Here is an extract from his diary, "Some areas in the Caucasus I really liked, as the scenery there reminded me of my home county. Interaction with the locals also was easy, they were very friendly towards us. I always got from them what I was asking for, although we were generous towards them as well. I was surprised, seeing the cleanliness in many of their houses". On October 15, 1942, he was struck with jaundice and was sent back via train to a hospital in Metz, France. He never returned to the eastern front and by February 1943, he was reassigned to the 10th SS Panzer Division that was being assembled in France. His diary details the movements of the 10th SS though to the end of the war.

[@pewpew2204]

I would love to read that diary!

[@antarctisss4018]

It's a sad fact to remember that the local people were severely punished for fraternizing with the enemy shortly after.

[@bigteach25]

Mark, as a history teacher and enthusiast, you are a treasure.

[@rogerdodger1790]

Agreed, consistently high quality, informative, engaging. Couldn't ask for more. Well done Mark.

[@charlesmulhern3349]

100%

[@charlesmulhern3349]

Beautiful. 🍁

[@mrmaje1]

brown nose

[@bigteach25]

@@wikusvandemerwe7251Defend your statement. Ill listen. That's the best part, learning more.

[@at1970]

I remember years ago, seeing a documentary about Stalingrad. A Russian was showing an English visitor the devastation that had occurred in Stalingrad. When asked what he thought, the Englishman remarked that it was astonishing that the Germans had gotten that far while walking, riding horses and using a ragtag collection of ad hoc trucks and half broken down vehicles.

[@tavish4699]

People allways bring that up to downplay the german army I think exactly because of that its so very impressive

[@at1970]

@@tavish4699 Exactly my point.

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

Yeah people forget the Germans didn't have a fully mechanised fighting force, to be able to advance that far with horses is impressive.

[@clausaurich]

The Wehrmacht was very well organized. The perfect interplay between Luftwaffe, artillery and infantry. However, they were not equipped for hard winter combat.

[@mrevil6442]

@Emil u need to remember that against the soviet Union all the eurpean countries contribute to German forces . So it wasn't the German forces only but the whole Europe

[@MrDavkoz]

As a collector of WWII memorabilia I can say that my most cherished item is a German WWII situational map of Stalingrad dated 9/11/1942. It's shows various German fighting units, including 4th Pzr Arm and 6th Arm. It's got the name LW Kpfgr Oberst Stahel circled on the map. I believe they didn't advance much further into the city after this date.

[@nodarkthings]

what a great thing to own

[@Rick2010100]

The city was taken at the 19. November 1942, only some Russian sniper remained in the factory area in the northern part of the city.

[@visionist7]

Please post a video I wanna see it 😯

[@tachikaze222]

LW is Luftwaffe and googling I see it was the 9th Flak Division. On OKW's daily situational map they are one of the few units identified by name like that. Ended up replacing the 16th Pz Division's positions in the extreme NE corner of the pocket, right on the Volga, so after the 16h Mot pulled back this LW Kampfgruppe was in fact the easternmost combat troops of the WM . . .

[@RoCK3rAD]

@@Rick2010100 the city was never truly taken over in terms of a military perspective because there were still sizable amounts of Russians still in their city. My first psg in the army was in the battle of fallujah and described the building clearings as the most important thing in the operation.

[@chrish9698]

This answers a question that I’ve always wondered about, the furthest point east that any single German unit or even solider reached. Another very well researched and expertly presented video!!

[@aka99]

The luftwaffe bombed astrachan and grosny. Also Gorki, northeast of Moscow.

[@Physiker17]

Well a lot of them spend time in POW camps in Siberia, if that counts.

[@Ghreinos]

@@aka99 Yeah ok that means Germany also made it to Britain, but nobody would say this, because it were just the airplanes.

[@aka99]

I did not say so. I just wanted to mention they bombed these cities, not they were with soldiers on foods there

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

Well technically there were German military attaches in Japan.

[@r.a.dalton8807]

It's good to see some coverage of the WWII war in the east by your channel. Most people don't realize that over 70% of the German armed forces, including many of their best units, were always in the east, yet we see little coverage of the war in the east when it comes to KZbin videos. I hope you will consider doing many more videos about the war in the east in the future.

[@djzrobzombie2813]

Because you tube is controlled by Hollywood..... And who controls Hollywood?

[@krisfrederick5001]

I don't know where the hell you're looking, there is so much. Watch World War 2 in Real Time from the TimeGhostArmy. Amazing detail

[@Dayrahl]

Kind of mute comment everyone knows about the eastern front and how much larger the battles where. Stalingrad is more well known that market garden, and the African campaigns. Italy I'd argue has the lesser known battles.

[@flyingstock5979]

Yes there is a very different view of things depending on where you from. It always seems that Americans only have the western front and DDay and the Argonnes in mind, while here in Germany it’s totally different and when we think of the Second World War, most people think of the eastern front.

[@Dayrahl]

@@djzrobzombie2813 I'm almost expecting your take is Jews. But I could be wrong you could be making a comment about American exceptionalism.

[@spuwho]

The Wehrmacht Engineers also built a make shift bridge across the Kerch Strait in the Crimea. While most of it was made up of driven logs with planks on top, reportedly they were able to cover the deep channel with pontoons. It was the first bridge across the Kerch until the current Kerch Bridge was built. Some remnants of the former German built bridge were found when construction commenced on the current one. Mostly log stumps.

[@TheLocalLt]

It was indeed the first Kerch Straight bridge but it wasn’t the last one before the current one. The Soviets also tried to build one right after they recaptured Crimea, but theirs was destroyed in a storm and never rebuilt. Both the German and Soviet bridges were for trains only, the current one with parallel rail/road spans is the first ever road bridge at Kerch. However it may not last much longer, given the fact that it’s already been attacked once and the Ukrainians haven’t even started their Crimea campaign yet

[@nottherealpaulsmith]

@@TheLocalLt yeah you might want to revise that last sentence

[@TheLocalLt]

@@nottherealpaulsmith the Crimea bridge has now been attacked a second time and the Russians have given up using it… they now route all their supplies to Crimea through the “land bridge”

[@yellowyellow7476]

@@TheLocalLt maybe third time will be the charm? hahaha

[@charliebath1462]

I had heard this story before and always wondered if the German patrol had actually reached the Caspian Sea. It always amazed me that Heinkel 111s from KG100 flew anti-shipping missions over the Caspian Sea around that time! Also, don't forget the Italian plane that secretly flew across the Soviet Union eastwards on a journey to Japan in 1942, and somehow made it all the way there!

[@nicolaslecellier6980]

We need a video about this italian plane!

[@towgod7985]

What Italian aircraft was that, and when?

[@inhocsignovinces1081]

My maternal grandfather served as a lorry driver, with the 5th Jager Division, part of Army Group North, tasked with the capture of Moscow. In May 45, he managed to cross the Elbe River surrendering to the western allies. He was from Fullstein, Sudetenland.

[@claykalmar8131]

I knew it was Army Group A in the Caucasus and not Army Group B in Stalingrad, but I did not know about the long range patrols. Very interesting!

[@aka99]

The Luftwaffe bombed Astrachan and Grosny and also Gorki. A city northeast of Moscow.

[@JDFloyd]

Dr. Felton - these types of videos, about obscure subjects / actions in WWII are the most fascinating. I have a suggestion for an obscure WWII battle / area; the period between Dec 8th 1941, and Feb / Mar 1942 when the U.S. Military was evacuating the Philippines towards Australian. I have read a few bits about under equipped & out manned retreats that would be worth understanding in-depth.

[@zacharyallen3870]

GOTTA LISTEN TO DAN CARLIN HARDCORE HISTORY ON THE PACIFIC WAR

[@duncancurtis5971]

Sven Hassel The Bloody Road To Death.

[@christopherpook4269]

Stalingrad? Obscure? Jeez! Stalingrad was one of the main turning points of the war. Everything that happened in the west was a sideshow to the Eastern front. something like 5 times as many casualties in this one battle as the whole of the US military during the whole of your engagement in WW2, across the whole world.

[@jasonjjordan1075]

Love your work, great stuff. Very cool productions, sir.

[@guillaumegiroux9425]

It’s so weird to see Izyum at 2:11. Crazy to think how close we are of that now.

[@tachikaze222]

yeah the Germans went from Izyum in June to Stalingrad in September! What happened in Izyum in '42 would also be a good Felton video, there's a decent Wochenschau newsreel on it.

[@user-gq1ct7ed8h]

The machinist I was apprenticed to in 1974 told me he reached the Caspian in 1942 with a motorbike and sidecar combination. He and the driver didn't stay long because they had to return to their unit. I'd just started work in a small town in north-west Germany. Back then, all the machinists in the factory had been in the German forces during WW2.

[@TheWilferch]

Another fantastic and detailed account of this campaign !.....I've researched many sources of info on this....but all fail to combine info and maps and film..... in such a thorough yet easily summarized fashion. Great work...

[@exchequerguy4037]

Another great Mark Felton video :) I had heard a scouting party had reached the Caspian Sea but did not know the details.

[@michaelporzio7384]

Puts the whole operation (Fall Blau) in prospective. The Germans were totally overextended and wrongly believed that the Red Army was finished. Amazing that Von Manstein was able to extricate these forces intact and then counterattack after the Soviets launched Operation Uranus and collapsed the Don Front.

[@citadel9611]

Dr. Felton's videos have been a delight to watch for years, and I could not be more grateful. Thank you Dr. Felton.

[@lawrencestrabala6146]

Great work and video as always Dr. Felton!

[@newvideosystem8592]

This channel is great at answering questions I didn't know I had

[@Whatisthisstupidfinghandle]

Very interesting story and sounds like a dangerous mission so far ahead of the lines. I wonder if they gave the mission to their best scouts or people they didn’t like. Either way, amazing they made it back

[@tachikaze222]

16th Motorized was an elite unit and they found the Red Army to be as scarce on the ground between Stalingrad and Grozny as they were

[@waspvenomlemonade2717]

They all wanted to go defeat the bolsheviks its such important work.

[@IrishCarney]

It was probably fairly routine, something that had been done all summer long as they advanced eastward, and also back in 1941. Each time one team or other did it they probably broke the record for furthest-east advance. Little did this team know, I suppose, that they would be the last, furthest one.

[@lisanalgaib555]

Many German Divisions of the first waves had a so called Aufklaerungs-Abteilung (reconnaissance detachment). This detachment consisted of armored vehicles, or light tanks, motorcycle companies, artillery units, pioneer units, etc. It was basically a motorized spearhead. Even Infantry Divisions had such a detachment. They were meant to find weak points in enemy lines and push through. So, it was rather the best soldiers and not such you want to get rid of.

[@moodswingy1973]

@@waspvenomlemonade2717 I hate the Bolsheviks (and the Russian's today) as much as anyone. Stalin starved entire populations and his Red Army implemented the greatest campaign of rape as a weapon of war in human history but they were (barely) the lesser of two evils. Hitler's obsession (yes TIK, madman Hitler) with systematically incinerating Europe's Jewish population was so ambitious and focused he was willing to let it suck up precious resources that could have been used to drive the Western allies into the English channel. The Bolshevik's obsession with class was evil, but Germany's obsession with racial purity was much more dangerous for humanity. Hitler had to go. Of course, if you are a believer in a clean Wehrmacht, or worse, a believer in Hitler's genocidal program, you won't see it this way.

[@mitchmatthews6713]

Another excellent class session, Dr. Felton!

[@Stevojacks]

Mark, wonderfully done. I enjoy these whenever they come out. While I understand you are a busy man, perhaps making a video on the American Navajo code talkers. U remember hearing stories while I would translate ASL (American sign language) on the Navajo nation. It is a memory and a story that should not die. Many thanks

[@IrishCarney]

There was a movie about it that came out in 2002: "Wind Talkers".

[@vk2ig]

@@IrishCarney The movie was very Hollywood, of course, but it did have the positive result of highlighting one of the important contributions of the USA's indigenous peoples to the war effort. I'd be interested in hearing what Dr. Felton would have to say on this topic.

[@IrishCarney]

@@vk2ig I often thought that the Allies could have used minority languages in a similar way to baffle the European Axis. I wonder why they didn't.

[@nordicson2835]

Another interesting and informative post.. you have taught me more than my university professors, thank you.

[@ChairmanMeow1]

1.5 million troops, I cant even imagine that in my mind

[@AleXoEx0]

Look up the battle of Kursk, largest tank battle in history, now THAT is unimaginable.

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

many thanks for sharing I appreciate your Hard work Dr Mark Felton

[@morenofranco9235]

Excellent presentation, as always. Thanks, Mark.

[@matthewobrien3527]

Very detailed description of the reconnaissance units.

[@mushtaqahmed6718]

My late father was also in Indian British army .when Germany attacked on France ,my father was in France and during the fight,/war his unit was ordered to step back gradually and to board on military ships for going to England to protect it from German attack .My father was luckily escaped from an air attack by German air force while retreating back to board on ship. My father was luckily saved during the world war 2 and he came back to his home safely.

[@thespatulaa]

This is very interesting....my great grandfather served in the Burma Campaign with Army Supply Corps, he was taken POW...later joined Pakistan Army and served in Kashmir War lol, retired as a Honorary Lieutenant in '65... A question which country did he join after the War

[@odysseus2656]

Sounds like the British used the Indian troops like they used the Canadian and Australian ones - sent them into battle first.

[@marvwatkins7029]

Good to know. I always wondered about this. Will done, as usual.

[@shannonquinn8687]

Very interesting Mark. Hope to see more of these types of videos.

[@petertyper1]

You the man Mark! Love your work as always!!

[@Roller_Ghoster]

Love Mark's other content but WW2 is the historical stuff I love the best.

[@croonyerzoonyer]

Looking forward to the next round of this!

[@johnhammond9962]

Thank you for these excellent maps. I just learned so much

[@benisaten]

Thank You Dr. Felton, for all of your hard work, research, and fascinating videos. The amount of detail, and the video footage you include is top notch. Always a 👍. Cheers from 🇨🇦✌️.

[@sbam4881]

Great video as always. The 16th Mot's fighting potential was wasted by Paulus IMO though as it _wasn't_ "the only unit that could be spared to guard this vast no-mans land." Paulus had subordinated to him 4 Romanian cavalry divisions (1st, 4th, 5th and 7th). Cavalry, useless in both urban fighting and fixed flank protection against armour are however excellent at maintaining lines of communication, partisan suppression _and_ forward reconnaissance. Any one or more of those divisions should have been used in that role. The 16th Mot, an excellent full strength (rare even at that stage of the war in the Wehrmacht) veteran division was nominally attached to 2nd Hungarian for some reason and assigned to a role that saw it take little part in the fighting until the collapse and withdrawal out of the Caucasus.The 16th would have been much better used attached to the 4th Pz Armee as part of a (never established) bridgehead over the Volga just South of Stalingrad that could sweep out and eliminate Soviet supplies, reinforcement and artillery position on the East bank that were left completely untouched by Paulus but just left to the Luftwaffe. Sorry, as a person who wargamed Stalingrad 4 times as Heer at Sandhurst (and won them), it's a bit of a pet peeve of mine of how badly that campaign was executed.😅

[@user-sr7vt8xl3h]

Do not forget the fals information of " Fremde Heere Ost".

[@y_ffordd]

A very good and informative video, Im sure many will be interested in your sponsor, so even that ties in nicely. Well done Mark.

[@iansteel5569]

Great work Mark, amazing they got that far.

[@joejoe11tennessee]

A son to a Vietnam Vet and a grandson to a WWII Vet. I proudly share your history channel with my to young boys now. Thank you Dr. Felton 🤝

[@loganschuster4577]

He needs to do a video on the Me 262 A-2a/U2

[@Wmk12345.]

YOUR VIDEOS ARE AWSOME KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK BEST WW2 CHANNEL

[@leonardcroft1467]

Thank You Dr. Felton Always Enjoy Your Videos !!

[@barryirlandi4217]

"The War on the Eastern Front" by the SS Waloon is an amazing book

[@ph1785]

My uncle was in WWII , his grandson published a book of the photos going across Europe, he told his grandson most of casualties from his unit and other platoons was crossing the rivers into Germany from machine gun fire from the Germans, he told his grandson that crossing the river all his unit was shot up and killed in the raft accepted him and other soldier , he realize how lucky he was that day .

[@Chris-ut6eq]

Very interesting part of the push east. I'd not heard about this before watching the video. Thank you.

[@paulmurphy42]

Keep 'em coming Mark!

[@dongilleo9743]

Did any of the men in these far flung scouting parties survive the war? What a story they could tell! Imagine a documentary twenty years after the war, taking one or a group of these men back out to that furthest point, and getting a picture of them.

[@vk2ig]

I wonder if they would've been allowed into the USSR only 20 years after the war?

[@dongilleo9743]

@@vk2ig You are probably right. I was trying to come up with a time frame when they would mostly still be alive and young enough to be able to make such a trip. In reality, they would be unwelcome while the USSR was still functioning, and even 50 years after the war Russia wouldn't want them to visit either.

[@MatijaCG]

In Moscow, there is a monument where Germans reached the farthest. It's called Ezhi monument, and funny thing is there is an Ikea more closer to the center of Moscow than were German troops reached.

[@wtharris2343]

@@MatijaCG There is also such a monument outside the city formerly known as Leningrad

[@martinusvanbrederode4080]

@@MatijaCG The funny thing is that IKEA is not German.

[@Gerhold102]

My father was a Gefreiter in the 36th Regiment, 9th ID, 17th Army - which took part in the Kuban campaign in the Caucasus in '42/'43. Prior to the allocation of the 9th ID to the 17th Army, it had been part of the 6th Army. C. 6000 Stalingrad Kriegsgefangener returned from Soviet captivity in 1954. He was also recuperating in Oesterreich from wounds when the 9th were overrun in the big Soviet push in Moldova in August '44. He ended up surviving a firefight along with all of his troop, in Kersteren, Holland in combat with elements of the 101st Prcht Division. He was told that there'd been a command to surrender - falsely, according to him. Later, under interrogation, he admitted to having 2 grenades hidden on his person - an immediate execution offence. The IO took the grenades with all his medals as forfeit - Eiserne Kreuzen I & II, Winterschlacht im Osten Medaille, Verwundeten Medaille in Silber, the Infanterie- Sturmabzeichen and possibly the Kuban Schild. "Luck" was the word he used to describe his survival. His proudest claim, only claim, was that he managed to keep all eight of his 17year olds Gruppe alive.

[@hairydogstail]

My late neighbor who was a field artillery observer under Patton said he liked the German people but had no love of the Russians..He watched a Russian tank deliberately run over German POW's along a road and saw the crimes they committed against the German civilians..

[@HenryChinaski1]

In my opinion German Caucasus offensive is the most interesting and exotic German campaign that is really badly covered in literature compared to all the other fronts and operations, almost zero memoired from soldiers, little from Leon Degrelle, and thats it - if anyone can recommend a detauled book on Caucasus operations or soldiers momoires please write!

[@Gerhold102]

@@HenryChinaski1 Also Army Group South 1941-1945 - Werner Haupt.

[@Gerhold102]

@@HenryChinaski1 did I post the info on The Oil and The Caucasus - Wilhelm Tieke?

[@HenryChinaski1]

@@Gerhold102 Now you did - thank you, I saw only the first comment about Werner Haput book. Tnx, cheers!

[@umbertopappalardi8667]

Quality content as always. Can you recommend me a history book or another source of information which describes this story? I had never heard of it and would like to find out more about it.

[@efone3553]

Outstanding content very informative

[@eleanorkett1129]

Watching Mark Felton's detailed and stimulating presentations, I find myself making my own war plans.

[@justinlanger7109]

Are you looking for a right hand man?

[@ErdoganIstKeinZiegenfi...]

@@justinlanger7109 you both have german surnames. When we go for the third attempt, i ll let you guys know!

[@justinlanger7109]

@@ErdoganIstKeinZiegenfi... I'm on standby comrade. Third times a charm.

[@yaboykilla1187]

Always loved this channel keep up the great work mark 👌

[@trucktalkvideos]

Amazing to hear and great footage to so many of us though it was Stalingrad for all these years but the great Mark Felton has shown us it was far beyond that 😀

[@JerseyDevil26]

By far the best channel on all of KZbin.

[@musicmanbc9613]

Your knowledge is absolutely amazing. I love this channel so much!

[@hyrondongle2473]

Dear Dr. Mark. You’re a shining light in the dark world that is called KZbin and modern history documentaries. Kind regards from The 🇳🇱

[@russwoodward8251]

Really fascinating. Thanks again.

[@jasonz7788]

Great work Sir thank you

[@davefloyd9443]

Love your WW2 videos. I'm currently researching 43rd Wessex Division and am having trouble with the enigma that was Lt. General Gwylim Ivo Thomas, a gruff, tough, inflexible time served WW1 artilleryman, who, perplexingly looked like a lanky Hitler and was renowned for his his skillful, timely, calling in of 3rd AGRA's firepower and brutally uncompromising use of his very well trained converted territorial division. The legend has it Monty called him "Von Thomas" in a backhanded compliment with regard to his own tough battles in North Africa with General Willhelm Ritter von Thoma. The 43rd Wessex earned a fearsome reputation amongst German troops who nicknamed them 'The Yellow Devils' due to their yellow wyvern insignia. Would enjoy seeing a Felton deep dive into some of the lesser known Generals, such as Thomas, of the Northeast Europe campaign.

[@patrickjctownsend]

My father fought in the 43rd (he won his MC as an FOO during Operation Veritable near Cleve - night of 13 / 14 February 1945 - what a Valentine Day!). In the history of the 43rd I think that he was nicknamed Von Thoma (without the "s"). There is a TV programme about 43 Wessex division during WW2 which is somewhere on youtube - Search for "The 1965 story of the 43rd Wessex Division during WW2" It is in three parts and is very interesting.

[@leomarkaable1]

Would someday Dr. Felton produce a video on Viktor Suvorov's thesis? It would be a real contribution to understanding WW2.

[@ronaldbobeck1026]

Thank you. Great video.

[@snotnosewilly99]

Oil...the key to victory in WW2 It is rarely mentioned that Hitler's 1941 army in the Russia invasion included over 500,000 horses. Horse drawn wooden wagons was a key element in the supply of the army. Some of the horse drawn wooden wagons can be seen at 3:11 and 4:06. If you have very limited oil you use horses. The two countries that had large supplies of oil won WW2, USA and USSR.

[@anothersucker-Youcantfixstupid]

Great video. More like this please. We love the eastern front.

[@Wideoval73]

Thanks again. You're the best.

[@marycampbell3431]

Interesting as always. It would have been good to show the furthest east point 'Sedovska' on the map at 7:06. The point on the large scale map at 7:46 appears to be east of the city of Astrakhan, which is unlikely.

[@Fafnir53]

Mark - Another fascinating effort. I was surprised to see that the "furthest east" reached wasn't the Moscow area at all. Russian geography really is a bit overwhelming in scale.

[@Digmen1]

It was amazing how far they actually got with mainly horse drawn transport! (and marching on foot)

[@user-rd8rv6nb7f]

@@ronbunn1349 Those are propaganda videos most of the German army was not mechanized and most soldiers marched on foot and on horses

[@LichsuhoathinhDrabattle]

I hope there will be more videos about world history and Vietnam. Thank you team, every video is good

[@graememorrison333]

Of course, what we all want is the good doctor's analysis of what's going on in those area at the moment

[@robertwguthrie3935]

Outstanding video, like always. You made an understandable oversight at the 3:26 minute mark when you say the 2 Panzer Division reached the Terek River. I think you meant to say the 23 Panzer Division. Wilhelm Tieke, a machine gunner in SS Wiking during the Caucasus round trip wrote an outstanding book about this sojourn called "The Caucasus And The Oil". Tieke relates on page 143 how in early September 1942, Kampfgruppe von Bodenhausen, with elements of 13 Panzer Division and 23 Panzer Division made a reconnaissance-in-force to the railway junction 25 kilometers NE OF Grozny. Tieke claimed this severed the route for Allied supplies from the Persian Gulf to Stalingrad, but the Germans were overextended and had to promptly withdraw.

[@aleksazunjic9672]

Furthest real German advance was to the town of Ordzhonikidze (named after Sergo Ordzhonikidze) by Army Group A, as late as 3rd November 1942. Just a few days from Operation Uranus, deep into South-East. Talking about divisional actions, not small reconnaissance companies.

[@robertwguthrie3935]

@@aleksazunjic9672 Yes, very significantly the 13 Panzer Division reached the northwest outskirts of Ordzhonikidze (which had a Jewish community) on the Georgian Military Road that led through the mountains to Tibilisi, the Georgian capital. Interestingly the German fighter ace of JG52, Gunther Rall, wrote in his book "My Logbook" about how during this time he and his wingman went on a freijagd and strafed the sleepy AA positions in Tbilisi. Earlier and significantly further east than Ordzhonikidze the main body of 13 Panzer Division and 23 Panzer Division were in the Mechenskaya-Naurskaya area where they were planning to attempt a river crossing from the north bank of the Terek on 1 September 1942. An even further advance was by Korps Felmy that reached Terekli-Mekteb near the Caspian Sea. Throughout this time the Germans were receiving a significant stream of Russian deserters, that speaks to the level of morale of at least some of the Russian forces. Dr. Ernst Rebentisch, a veteran of 23 Panzer Division offers some information also in his book, "Combat History of 23 Panzer Division in World War II".

[@meinolfwestig9463]

​My father made it there. First in Maikop then Ordzhonikidze, he pronounced it "Ortshonikitshe". Out of 220 men of his company, only 21 were left at that time. Yet they managed to take 45 Russians as POWs there.

[@robertwguthrie3935]

@@meinolfwestig9463 Wow, what an interesting story! Thanks for sharing. How I wish I could have spoken with your father. I'll bet he could tell countless interesting stories from his experiences.

[@meinolfwestig9463]

@@robertwguthrie3935 Marched 6000 km in Russia. Rostov, Crimea, Caucasus . 3 times seriously wounded. Took part in the re-capturing of Goldap/East Prussia. XX was kicked out by the Russians, then Wehrmacht took it back. He was captured later by the Americans and handed over to the French. Spend 9 months as POW. Starved by the French to 46 kg. Then 6 weeks at Paris Orly where the Americans gave them proper food. They had to have a certain minimum weight, before they were send back to Germany in 1946.

[@mattgeorge90]

One of the best channels on KZbin!

[@SiloSoundStudios]

Always cool to see footage of recon vehicles

[@dr.wilfriedhitzler1885]

My father was there as a soldier. He came from Biarritz, France, and then returned to France 1944, for D-Day defence where he was captured by Britains.

[@anthonychinonso702]

a Frenchie captured by the Brits??? Wtf!?? I thought they were allies🤷🏿‍♂️? (please correct me if I'm being ignorant here🙏)

[@psychiatry-is-eugenics]

How did he join the German army ? Had to look up Biarritz , the southwest tip of France

[@kdegraa]

@@psychiatry-is-eugenics lots of French joined the German army. Some may have joined because it was the least worse option for them.

[@psychiatry-is-eugenics]

@@kdegraa true , but the details of his father’s epic journey would be of historical value

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

@@anthonychinonso702 He must've been a traitor, should've been handed over to the free French for punishment.

[@theculturedthug6609]

Nice one Mark. Another very interesting video. You always seem to know what we ww2 history nuts want to watch.

[@chriszelez7970]

This was informative.

[@paulkoelle3121]

Great topic! Ty mark!

[@clintinterface]

I saw some german documentary where they stated out even if its not offical that some german soldiers were treated in a lazaret in the town of kizlyar. Rumors of soldiers went up north to a trainstation to see the caspian sea by emselfs, i cant recall if the managed it. But yeah, they got really far.

[@irish3335]

It’s amazing how close Germany actually came to conquering all of Europe! Thanks Dr Felton, always look forward to your videos

[@martin7955]

It's a pity they did not!

[@Fractured_Unity]

They never got close. There objectives were physically impossible. Strong lack of critical thinking in Germany in those couple decades

[@henriklarssen1331]

@@Fractured_Unity They failed at Dunkirk and when they turned their focus from military airports to bombing cities, otherwise GB would be out of the War. Enigma made it even worse later on. And the Soviets were several times close to collapsing. The secret treaty with Japan allowed them to withdraw Sibirian Elite Troops for the battle of Moscow. Sure i doubt Germany could hold all these areas for a long time or would be a threat to invade the USA, but to say they never were close is a bit odd. You dont know how the War would have gone if they got all the Soldiers in Dunkirk und made it impossible for the RAF to fight in the south. That would allow them to starve GB out and force them into stopping the fighting. There are so many what ifs, that could lead to an german victory or an even earlier german defeat.

[@bruhism173]

They did conquer Europe.... They just invaded Russia and then lost it all.

[@Fractured_Unity]

@@henriklarssen1331 There really aren’t any what ifs about it. All of your suggestions are impossible. The Germans couldn’t have feasibly landed in the UK. Also, the Soviets could’ve ground the Germans to the Urals, and then fight them all the way back. They still had plenty of troops to defend Siberia. That’s why the Japanese signed the treaty, they were scared of the Red Army. Look up the Battle of Khalkyn Ghol. These big battles at the edges of their territories don’t destabilize the system enough. Country’s are almost impossible to fully subdue. That’s why it takes the overwhelming force of the Allies. You are falling for the lies that the Axis leaders fell for. A “lightning victory” can only happen by overwhelming force, not surprise. They bit off waaaayyyyyy more than they could chew with both of those Herculean meals.

[@paulpowell4871]

Always great stuff

[@johnwalsh7256]

Great details Mark.

[@olivier6984]

Would be very interesting to hear about the furthest east flight of German Luftwaffe in the war against Soviet Union

[@marcwinfield1541]

There is a stoty about this. Maybe Mark Felton or another video creator has it on KZbin. Flights from Germany and even one from Italy, in 1942, crossed Soviet territory surreptitiously, making it to Japan. And back again...

[@OrrinMonro]

Another incredible Mark Felton Production! Mark, you have proven again how little we really know about World War II. Thank you. Can you recommend further reading on this topic?

[@BottleBri]

There are two very good autobiographical books available on eBay etc written by German snipers on the eastern front. They are both fascinating insights. Brilliant reads. One group of German soldiers in the Russian winter were so cold they had to keep moving around exercising just to stay alive. It was minus 60 and he said the trees were making cracking noises and stones were cracking in the cold.

[@lilsyrupp5989]

@@BottleBri what’s it called?

[@BottleBri]

@@lilsyrupp5989 two books. First is ‘sniper on the eastern front’ by Albrecht Wacker. Second is ‘Sniper Ace, from the eastern front to Siberia’ by Bruno Sutkus. Both are excellent descriptions of what it was like for the soldiers. I couldn’t pick between them which is best. 👍

[@lilsyrupp5989]

@@BottleBri thanks can’t wait to give them a read!

[@BottleBri]

@@lilsyrupp5989 no probs! They are great!👍

[@williamgaston9812]

Interesting time to release this mark 🤔… 👍👍

[@Timetraveler101]

Damn crispy pictures ..awesome info!

[@alanmountain5804]

Very interesting. In 2019 I drove from Rostov to Astrakhan through the Kalmyk Steppe. Its harsh arid grassland broken by small tracts of desert. A herd of wild steppe horses crossed the road in front of us. I always wondered how far along that road the Germans got

[@theblackhand6485]

@Mark Felton: Right. Never knew and always wondered how far the German Army went into Russia. The ultimate goal was Baku. That said, how far reached the German Army into the South of Russia? Which units were these? So far I know the German Army reached, came nearby, came close and/or passed a little further than the 'town' of Vladikavkaz. Here two imported roads came together: East to Grozny and Baku. And south the Russian Military Road over the mountains to Georgia, Tiblisi to Baku. Not sure if the German/Austrian Mountain troops reached Georgia after taking Mount Elbrus. There is a mountain pass there too.

[@danicic87]

My grillfriend is from small town "Tsagan Aman Цаган Аман" half way between Volvograd and Astrakan . She told me there is picture of german soldiers in her town .. In ALL maps I saw there is no mention of germans advancing so far .. But i guess there was no real "frontline" there ..

[@mgoud4042]

I watched all your videos, does this get me a medal? 😝 I love the effort you put into these! ❤

[@Jaxxy-tu7wy]

I study military history I genuinely think that the German army in 1941 was by far the best military force in centuries. Hitler just pushed them too far with his radical tactics and not listening to seasoned General’s from WW1 etc. Could be a very different story if he wasn’t in charge of it all .

[@aka99]

You’re not alone with that opinion.

[@charleschauffe4350]

@@aka99 Yep, i am another that agrees with this assessment. Overextended lines & lack of long range bombers sealed their fate.

[@carolinekaplan542]

Maybe if they hadn’t been so obsessed with killing my relatives including my great great grandfather and nine families they could have won.

[@marycampbell3431]

If Hitler wasn't in charge there likely wouldn't have been an invasion of Russia

[@MrProsat]

it was because Hitler DIDN'T listen to infantry generals from WW1 that the Germans were so successful. They lost v the Soviet Union because it was simply too big and the Germans were terrible at logistics. Since Fredrick the Great, they've been in search of the decisive victory, full speed ahead, forget about the flanks or supplies. Going against an opponent with endless land and no real single objectives that could knock USSR out of the war, it was inevitable, once the Russians decided they were not going to collapse after Minsk.

[@attila7092]

There's a very good detailed read about this in the Stalingrad book by Paul Carell

[@TheSkinnay1]

Several years ago, I posted a comment that got pinned at the top of one of Mark’s early videos. I commented how I enjoyed the videos and how I got my father and grandfather interested in the channel and how the 3 of us bonded over our love of his WW2 content. Well 6-7 years later the grandfather is no longer with us and the father is slowly deteriorating from early onset dementia. These videos take me back to when I had both of them to look up to and make me smile. Thanks for the memories Mark, I’ll always be a big fan!

[@aemeromedia]

engaging insight! 💪

[@you-know-who9023]

The war plan had the objective of joining these forces with the Afrika Korps and Vichy French Forces somewhere between Beirut/Damascus and Baghdad. This seems very ambitious in hindsight but until late October 1942 various allied and neutral military intelligence believed this was possible and that Japanese Army would make it as far as the Gulf this tying up most of the world's oil supply. As always great video Mark !

[@aka99]

True, not many ww2 buffs know that. Goal was to conquer and control the oil fields of the Middle East.

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

How do you imagine the Japanese getting involved in the Middle East when they are already bogged down in a massive stalemate in China and garrisons in the Pacific? 😂

[@you-know-who9023]

I was surprised when I first heard about it but seen from the context of early 1942 , Japanese take over of Singapore, rapid expansion in Pacific coupled with the fact that Japan had no oil ,. was not at war with USSR it begins to be understandable without the benefit of hindsight.😊

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

Someones been playing too much HOI and not reading enough history lol.

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

@@matztertaler2777 WTF would know about me an "my You Tube channel"? 😂

[@planderlinde1969]

Fun Fact: The Proto Indo Europeans Hitler and his cronies spoke of had words for horses and beekeeping meaning that the Ayrian homeland would have been in the Caucuses and some parts of far eastern Ukraine. Ironic how it was in this area (The Caucuses) that his armies broke down and Germany would be firmly on the backfoot until their eventual defeat.

[@andreworiez8920]

The major Irony is that after modern research into the Roma language it was discovered that they are in fact descended from the Aryans who took control of Northern India. Hitler packed the purest example of the people he claimed were "Supermen" off to the death camps.

[@canadious6933]

I am not defending the idea of "Ayrian" because it is stupid, but I am pretty sure Indo Europeans is a broad term to designate the various groups of people migrating into the european continent at a time far before the ayrian race was referenced to

[@kiowhatta1]

Baku was not an objective of Blau, only Maykop and Grozny. The critical objectives to be taken before winter were the Georgian military road and the North Ossetian road, which were the only routes available through the Caucasus to Tbilisi etc. It is also reported that the recon team of the 16th mot division fired on a train carrying oil up from Astrakhan so its probable they did reach the Volga near Astrakhan.

[@JC-js3er]

from venezuela, i always tranks mark felton for this videos!!!!!

[@6omega2]

It was unfortunate for Hitler that he was never successfully able to persuade Turkey to join the Axis as an active combatant. That would have been a "game changer" in the Caucasus campaign. Likewise, it was unfortunate for him that the Japanese never attacked the Soviet Far East at Vladivostok as he had also hoped, which would have forced Stalin to garrison the region with more troops, thus preventing their use in European Russia against the German invasion. Had either (or especially, "both") of those things happened, we would be reading very different history books today.

[@thespatulaa]

Turkey wasn't armed to the teeth like Germany was infact some of their units were using very old WW1 Enfield Rifles, and their airforce was also not upto the mark, their navy had old useless cruisers and most importantly they already had seen the horrors of their war of independence in 1921, they could/would not afford another war like that