German Kamikazes - The Leonidas Squadron

Discover the true story of the Leonidas Squadron, Germany's version of the infamous Japanese Kamikazes.
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Thanks: Tomas Del Coro

[@Postoronniy]

"Now watch carefully, rookies - I'm going to show how it's done just one time!" - Instructor at the Kamikaze school.

[@ksanbahlyngwa1998]

Underrated!

[@Theogenerang]

Thats one hell of a Human Resources department they had there.

[@whatsgoingon07]

Tabubil the job came with dental and 401k

[@hayax]

Hard to have any kind of human resources when you're sending people into a war.

[@badcornflakes6374]

Only a German would think of the name "Operation Suicide Plan"

[@palomino73]

Well, it's pretty plain and descriptive, don't you think ? They all knew what was at stake; no need to beat about the bush !

[@kickingmustang]

Damn it, just as I thought I’d learnt everything about WW2 up pops another Felton story 😖

[@JS-yp6gw]

Hey, a fellow airsofter!

[@seafodder6129]

How the hell did that B-17 make a controlled flight/landing after losing almost all of its tail section?! Whoever was flying that thing was a hell of a pilot!

[@whoareyou1034]

There is a Dogfights documentary on it. Mostly on the German perspective, but I believe it mentions that specific B17 and there is an interview with a crew emmebrr is I remember correctly.

[@_-.-_-_.._--.-_-_----_-.--_._-]

Read up on the story of B17 bomber "Ye Olde Pub" and see how badly damaged it was.

[@Zretgul_timerunner]

Or plainly the luckiest yank alive

[@MrMattumbo]

Must've been adjusting the throttles like a madman to maintain a stable heading, let alone land.

[@chrisnelmes7180]

one of the reasons the B-17 was favoured over the B-24. It was incredibly durable and could take a lot of damage, yet still make it back home.

[@mikaleppakoski5113]

"don't die heroically, make the opponent die" - General Patton

[@soundofeighthooves]

americans dont know about honour

[@kegasaur2367]

@bob bobo Some guy named Ho Chi Minh would like to disagree

[@mcm95403]

@@soundofeighthooves You know nothing about Americans.

[@Germanempireaboolilel]

@@soundofeighthooves There is no honor in war.

[@David-eh9le]

@@soundofeighthooves honour gives u nothing if u die and loose

[@dawitketema4150]

"Man sent by a woman fears no death": an Amharic proverb

[@twickersruss]

They feel that they lose something of their soul if they show gratitude and will always find a reason not to be.

[@lizardperson4658]

“There was one other nation that used kamikaze, Nazi Germany” *sad russian dog noises*

[@wolfsoldner9029]

And islamic nations.

[@soundofeighthooves]

the dog thing didnt work because they were trained on T34 and rather ran towards their own tanks instead of german ones

[@SMGJohn]

Soviets never ended up using kamikaze dogs because they were unreliable and apparently words got to Stalin and he was not all that fond of it, regardless to say the people who thought of the idea ended up doing some extra labour in Siberia.

[@TheKsalad]

Haha funny meme dog bomb haha, we've all heard the story a million fucking times and how it turned out to be a waste of resources, time, and dogs.

[@Brahmdagh]

@@wolfsoldner9029 Which Islamic nation? In what way exactly?

[@Ashfielder]

I never knew they actually used them in combat, I thought they only trained them.

[@jwenting]

Information I had states they were designed and tested but never employed because Hitler personally decreed that suicide missions were a violation of German ethos. Maybe he did, maybe that was later overturned or units ignored or never heard the decree and did it anyway. Or maybe like American pilots at times pilots with aircraft too damaged to make it home decided to deliberately crash into a high value target instead rather than die pointlessly crashing into some random spot.

[@CIMiclette]

"hey Hans, wanna fly an RC plane?"

[@siwokmuda6961]

Oh sure Franz!

[@combain]

RC stands for ReichControlled?

[@pierresihite8854]

Sure thing Fritz!!

[@markperacullo7541]

is that a COD:MW 2019 references?

[@shanedoesyoutube8001]

@@markperacullo7541 ohhhhh shit, I just realized that

[@joeystonehouse8768]

Mr. Felton may I read quietly while waiting for the rest of the class to arrive?

[@arintheseatsesh6242]

Holy Christ

[@radulphus3734]

Dr

[@finnthewastebin4678]

Joey Stonehouse 333rd like :)

[@jamesfelix2096]

Present✋

[@crashburn3292]

Dr. Felton, Joey wants to stay after class and clean the chalkboard too....

[@trashcandatnoobwut2246]

It's because of last ditch attempts like this that the Nazi top brass refused to surrender. They held out for as long as they could due to their belief of pulling off something similar to what the Prussians did; their development of the bolt action rifle was hailed as a wonder weapon and proved the difference regardless of them being at a huge numerical disadvantage.

[@oddballsok]

YEeah, but nooo. A technical superior weapon mass produced does not compare to a suicide squad of a handful badly trained novices against an overwhelming skilfull enemy...

[@galier2]

No, they held out for as long because of that en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany_Must_Perish%21

[@justanotherperson7774]

*_OOF_*

[@alexanderchenf1]

Bolt action?

[@tomsemmens6275]

It was a bit more complicated than that. The Establishment of the German Empire united 26 different countries. The one institution that bound them all together was the army, and the army was the symbol of German success and unity and excellence. Defeat in the Great War caused a profound psychological shock to this reputation and to the centrality of the German army in Germany. The German army was determined to NEVER let the country down again. In addition most German officers affected to eschew all politics - the army abstained from the dirty business of politics (despite most becoming ardent Nazis - I think want they really meant was the eschewed engagement in civil political society) - this is important when combined with the myth of the dolchstoßlegende, which the Nazi elevated to a truth. The Nazi political leadership was determined that there would be no dolchstoßlegende, and the army was determined to make sure there would be no room to doubt it's loyalty to the party and to Germany and it was totally politically subservient to the Nazis. So the generals would keep focusing on how to win today instead of offering the frank advice - that the war was unwinnable and catastrophe awaited - any more rational and normally functioning government would get from it's army commanders.

[@EdMcF1]

Make a film of this: 'Teufel! Teufel! Teufel!'.

[@build2270]

Wes has kaughts deum beu seurpirze!

[@pickeljarsforhillary102]

Climb Mount Feldberg!

[@mohammadsab4478]

Tora!Tora!Tora!

[@shanedoesyoutube8001]

Hmmm... Japan: TORA TORA TORA (tiger x3) Germans: TEUFEL TEUFEL TEUFEL (devil x3) Japan: Nani de fak

[@libzbond]

Was? Deushtland isst uber neuntausand !

[@thesovietduck2121]

Germans never go down without a fight They probably just ran out of fuel

[@annelisemeier283]

Problem is chances are you are correct lol

[@edgein3299]

That was then. Now they don't even fight. They willingly let their country get invaded.

[@thewiseowl3672]

ThatRandomGojiFam Really? Merkel gave the country away to the Muslims and the EU without any fight.

[@emermbiemer302]

ThatRandomGojiFam they were on meth

[@arintheseatsesh6242]

That's exactly what happened.

[@MisterApol]

Never seen footage of a Mistel in flight--amazing.

[@biscuit4705]

Germany: hey japan can I copy ur homework? Japan: yeah sure just don’t make it look alike. Germany: what did you get? Japan: barely a pass hbu? Germany: my parents told me to never ask you for ideas

[@johncarter449]

lmao

[@mirzahamzabaig5667]

Germany's parents (Prussia, Bavaria): Oh Grampa HRE.. what has happened to our son?

[@matydrum]

Actualy it's the other way around if you talk about the designs copy, not the tactic...not sure what you meant...

[@bradleyc8414]

Hello uTube - This channel is a legit learning platform! Not the mindless dribble you actively promote. 🛑Stop🛑the ridiculous demonetization of this channel!

[@SaintPH25]

Bradley C is this channel legitimately being demonetized?

[@keanur6541]

@@SaintPH25 yes all history channels have troubles, especially ww2 content is censored.

[@erwin643]

But "My Dogs Trying on Different Halloween Costumes" is such an important video to watch!

[@honkytonk4465]

KZbin is a legit censoring platform

[@magnusmcgraw]

for real?. not seriously

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

This is the Best history channel on KZbin.

[@varovaro1967]

Skorzeny thought that suicide was not such a good idea after all and went to live a bourgeois life in Spain for the rest of his life....

[@frankryan2505]

“Zakalwe, in all human societies we have ever reviewed, in every age and every state, there has seldom if ever been a shortage of eager young males prepared to kill and die to preserve the security, comfort and prejudices of their elders, and what you call heroism is just an expression of this simple fact; there is never a scarcity of idiots.”

[@treeliniusmaximus8412]

While also working for Mossad!

[@pebo8306]

@Ron Lewenberg So they say!I would take everything about this bigmouth with a very large grain of salt!

[@treeliniusmaximus8412]

@Ron Lewenbergwww.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/hitlers-commando-otto-skorzeny.html

[@pinetree013]

Mark, really enjoyed the longer format! Keep up the great work!!!

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Thanks - I'm enjoying making them.

[@McRocket]

Another fascinating story so VERY well told, IMO. Thank you.

[@MrMustang1945]

That explains the V1 with the cockpit that I saw at my local air museum. Thanks Mark! It was the only piece of the museum that I couldn't identify right off the bat.

[@agwbcfjc2]

Hanna Reitsch: "Herr Fuhrer, I have a plan wherein young men will kill themselves for the Fatherland." Furher: "Excellent, Hanna, excellent. You may have the honor of going first. Hanna Reitsch: "...uhhhhhh..."

[@inisipisTV]

Nobody:.. Nazi Germany: Let's build an Aircraft Aircraft-carrier.

[@Insectoid_]

These comments are getting so annoying.

[@ewinrizal]

Imerial Navy : Lets bult submarine aircraft carrier... 🤣

[@Pommezul]

*Kraut Space Magic* Einfach wunderbar.

[@Charles_Anthony]

@FuLLeFFekT1 : No the Germans did it first with Zeppelins. Pretty sure that Mark even did a video on that very subject a few months ago.

[@jimmadonna1436]

Mr Felton, I'm a big fan of yours and enjoy your work and your channel terriblely! Thank you!!

[@edsmith4995]

Wow, after the previous Luftwaffe video, I was genuinely thinking "I'd love Mark to do a Leonidas release", and boom, here it is!

[@raypurchase801]

I posted a similar comment about, "Mark, please do a video about the Italian air Force during the Battle of Britain" and - BOOM! - A few days later it arrived. Maybe Mark reads our comments.

[@edsmith4995]

@@raypurchase801 Or maybe it's just a case of great minds thinking alike :)

[@jamessteed3741]

You're content is so good man. Keep up the good work!

[@patrickkettel188]

The Photo shown at time code 07:16 - 07:25 is actually a publicity still from the movie Operation Crossbow which was made in 1965. It shows actress Barbara Rütting in the role of Hanna Reitsch and a mock up V1 and a couple of extras.

[@MrMattumbo]

It's interesting a woman convinced Hitler of this plan. My international relations professor keeps harping on this idea that women in power would be less prone to violence and if only we had more women in charge we wouldn't have war. Obviously, this is a stupid notion, men and women aren't that different and the type of woman to seek power is likely to have the same inclinations as any man who does. I'll have to raise this case with my professor and see what he says, maybe it'll help balance his magical ideas of female pacifism.

[@chewyduck1355]

MrMattumbo good for you. Keep thinking for yourself. Your professor is ignoring many examples from history to push his/her own ideology.

[@777jones]

MrMattumbo oh yeah, because women always get along with each other. Right.

[@BeachsideHank]

Introduce him to Boudica: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boudica

[@ghostiama]

he's just trying to be feminist so your female classmates might sleep with him, pay it no mind

[@renataostertag6051]

100 % right on ! The female of the species is more deadly than the male !

[@dieaboneneten8668]

For me as a german, I love it how do you pronounce german words, meanings and phrases.

[@palomino73]

Same here.

[@topbanana4013]

17:19 so that's the lady in operation crossbow film when they was trying to get the v1 to fly. i remember the scene well as it flew over the graves of the other test pilots who died trying. great scene as she landed and they all rushed to her celebrating , good film

[@alecadanglao8386]

What are we, some kind of uhhh suicide squad

[@myyou2b]

Thanks for another extremely interesting video and a great insight into history, Dr. Felton. Please keep up the good work!

[@Peter-Oxley-Modelling-Lab]

Another gem from Mark Felton! 👍🏻 Please keep them coming, Sir. 👏🏻

[@brycelummis941]

i would love to hear more about this female test pilot. this person seemed to have a great influence during the war but i know absolutely nothing and this episode was the first time hearing about this pilot.

[@brockk9028]

This channel is frustratingly underrated

[@raegankingett7616]

brilliant video as always!

[@yochaiwyss3843]

"Death in Battle [is] highest expression of both manhood and devotion to their God-Emperor" *Vigorously shakes Sword on a Charging Tank*

[@ivanjokovic]

Another day another fascinating facts! Thank you Mr. Felton and keep it up !

[@robertarmstrong905]

Learning more and more with each new video! Thank you Mark.

[@ArtMorte]

Imagine being a suicide pilot only to fly into a flipping bridge? Madness of men is boundless.

[@josephcuevas8100]

reading this in books pales in comparison to seeing actual footage and hearing Dr.Felton's lecture about it. very nicely done as always

[@sandmanjono1239]

As ever a superbly presented video - I learn so much from you - thank you 👌🏻

[@stevenkeegan6260]

A topic I was completely unfamiliar with until now. Thanks for posting this one!

[@buckshot6481]

Fascinating, really appreciate these post.

[@russwoodward8251]

Great stuff. These are some pretty dark corners of the war. Thanks for the hard work.

[@whisthpo]

Fantastic research, footage and presentation Mark !

[@Coreythebartender]

9:00 wow that footage is cool. Never seen it before. Thank you. Made my day

[@jeffwalters8552]

I am never disappointed when I hit the thumbs up button before watching Mr Feltons videos. Absolute, perfect and compact masterpieces!

[@joemaydaytv7354]

Once again, fascinating and educational video, great job Mr. Felton

[@aonghusodunlaing4079]

Crazy stuff. Thanks Mr Felton

[@Mike91337]

This seems SO long ago but I grew up hearing my grandpa's stories who was there. Its amazing how tough that generation was. An entire world at war. May they all rest in peace.

[@duckoofwisdom6696]

Mom, can we have kamikaze? Mom: We have kamikaze at home. The kamikaze at home:

[@Cockitupsuh]

Always giving us something new...Thanks Mark!

[@JK-rv9tp]

"Various other nefarious activities" cracked me up. Love your script writing Mark.

[@eggersdorm1871]

I appreciate you and all of your efforts. THANK YOU SIR!

[@terrylyn]

The main difference was that german "kamikazes" were volunteers, whereas japanese were more or less pressured into sacrificing themselves.

[@colinkelly5420]

I doubt the German pilots were any less pressured than Japanese ones. For starters, the pressure on Japanese Kamakazi's were varied, from actual pressure from above to simple pressure of not wanting to be the one to back out when your comrades volunteered. Many of those same types of pressure would have been present for German volunteers. Plus Germany in 1945 was already hanging its own soldiers along the sides of streets with post cards around their necks saying "I was a coward" to coerce their soldiers into keep fighting: www.executedtoday.com/2012/04/27/1945-german-soldiers-for-cowardice/comment-page-1/ Not exactly a big leap to go from that to pressuring young draftees into suicide attacks against US bombers.

[@Legitcar117]

Terry Lynn I think some did volunteer in japan

[@Zretgul_timerunner]

Nope they where as much volunteers as any other. The reasoning however was diffrent.

[@bobsjepanzerkampfwagen4150]

Terry Lynn as far as I know Japanese kamikazes where fully volunteers aswell

[@alextyy]

Japanese ones were volunteers

[@Lockbar]

As always, top quality information.

[@addera6306]

Great content as always! Would you consider doing an episode on the B-24?

[@MI519]

An 11 Minute Mark Felton video?? What have I done deserve this? Thank you kind sir!! So awesome...

[@jimc.goodfellas226]

Love these videos sir!

[@chrisstiff4734]

I am so intrigued by your videos. Your voice and slight accent is spot on for these docuseries..... almost as distinguished as sir attenborough!

[@anieezeusgaming5628]

Brilliant Analysis and Nice Video

[@1faustus]

Leonidas had a much larger force than the 300 Spartan contingent. Even the last stand was probably the Spartans and Thebans and possibly others.

[@georgebritton2063]

nice footage, loved it.

[@bigd711]

Mark Felton Videos versus Working From Home...who will win

[@allahdoesnotexist3823]

The Germans

[@tedcrilly46]

Wanking will win.

[@phbrinsden]

Happy to be a new Patreon supporter of Dr. Felton.

[@davidstewart3868]

Thank you Mark. Another WWII story I never learned in school.

[@chriskylo323]

Very interesting vid had no idea this even existed in Germany during the war. U always find the topics that keep history interesting, thank u for doing these WW2 vids I enjoy them extremely.

[@garymcaleer6112]

Thanks, Mark. Excellent history! The LORD bless your continued research for these hidden gems of warfare. And happy holidays, brother. Many of us appreciate the sacrifice of those with moral virtue while having disdain for those without it.

[@rudel451]

Another great video...thank you sir..

[@weerobot]

Never heard of this...this Channel Rocks...

[@cabterrot3574]

You do a wonderful job. Thanks.

[@mwrkhan]

Outstanding content.

[@marcsilliman8789]

Finally something about WWII I never knew!!! Thank you so much sir.

[@soppdrake]

Never seen the Mistel gun-cam footage before. Amazing!

[@bigboyblue7181]

Right then Otto you're up first.

[@DH.2016]

Indeed. How many of these guys who suggest suicide missions step up to be the first volunteers .....

[@tfranken1561]

Big Boy Blue Otto had a note from his doctor, he wasn't well enough to kill himself that day.

[@andrewphillips8341]

Hey, he is the ideas man. Someone else has the 'honor' of the flight.

[@pickeljarsforhillary102]

MEIN LEBEN!!!

[@jasondaniel918]

"Leonidas Squadron" is one catchy name! I have understood that Hitler, being himself a combat veteran, firmly believed that every German combatant deserved the right to at least a chance of survival. Maybe it took a woman to convince him to change his demented mind. Thanks for another very interesting vignette.

[@ClaudeMagicbox]

Frank Bishop Adolf Hitler was a caporal in WW1 and served in the army’s postal service, he was basically a letter-boy not a “war veteran”....never shot a single round in battle.

[@htos1av]

Very excellent presentation!

[@bf945]

Never heard of the ME328 until this video. Kudos, Dr. Felton.

[@Arcsecant]

Never fall prey to one of the classic blunders: committing suicide for politicians.

[@ksanbahlyngwa1998]

True

[@cparedes2302]

Just two words... THANK YOU!

[@adnanturker9471]

I watching your interesting little known facts about wwII , extraordinary work mr Felton , keep this scheme or concept , thank you

[@mit4c]

what a great find this channel

[@siggyidkidc7847]

You make the history so much cooler than it already was.

[@ryanquick94]

LOVE UR VIDS

[@bathwars]

Really looking forward to the sonderkommando elbe video, its always been of great facination to me, especially the 'Palace of Dallas' incident

[@BELCAN57]

Well Doctor, another gem!

[@SHADOWFRENZY92]

I never expected there to be any real footage regarding the Mistel. Nice to see.

[@orangelion03]

Excellent video as usual! I wonder if those fighter pilots knew the Mistels were filled with 2 tons of HE...they sure pressed in close! Amazing seeing that bomb hit the bridge @9:36 and not go off!

[@palomino73]

Probably time fused for a few seconds delay.

[@wallyplumstead614]

Thank you Mark.

[@mohamedsellak9811]

Keep it up good job thanks.

[@benjamincornier4268]

I don't donate so this will probably go unheard, but *please* make a video of Sondercommando Elbe. I've been watching your videos for years, and have read your books. I love what you do, keep it up!

[@griffin3366]

Great Video

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Thanks again...Doc.

[@deusvult863]

Dear Mr. Felton, do you expect producing content about the the battle ships of the Bismarck class? Your channel is an outstanding history archive!

[@Otokichi786]

For details about the "Bismarck" class of battleships, drop by "Drachinfel's Naval Historigrapher" channel.

[@kennethm.pricejr.8921]

Extraordinary research!

[@andrewstupack6921]

Mark.i can not understood haw yuour information to influenct for me but all that you told in this program i may be know subsconsciously.My GOT.I am glad you are

[@yupyupthatsacup6652]

Could you do the Kamikaze attacks on the British Pacific fleet in 44/45. Very interesting accounts of Kamikaze planes only denting British carriers due to their steel decks.

[@_-.-_-_.._--.-_-_----_-.--_._-]

+Ben Bellamy If he could find any footage of them, a video on the Kamikaze frogmen unit named Fukuryu would be fascinating.

[@oddballsok]

yah..the joke being, there was no british pacific fleet in 1944. More like an indian ocean fleet...and sailing up the chinese sea AFTER the end of the war with japan was announced...

[@oddballsok]

ps..joking aside..the VERY LATE entry to "support" the actions around okinawa just few months before the end of the war, does NOT justify it to be called a "proper" pacific (the WHOLE pacific ??) fleet. It is like the entry of Brazil or god knows what puny pacific island in the cause of the Allies to "fight the fascists"..at the very END of the war. Now that is the real joke.

[@kalle911]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZWrlXp-hZ2beck this might be more than you asked for

[@rrigordaeva]

Yes, the kamikaze attacks on US were far deadlier than let on. Official secret

[@wape1]

I think I've pleaded for Sonderkommando Elbe to be featured in the comment section of every other video you've released. I'll be waiting on pins and needles for that one! 😁 Too bad KZbin doesn't want me to see it, since I have to manually search your channel for new content, no matter how many times I've hit that blasted bell icon! 🙄