Hans-Ulrich Rudel and his Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves Swords and Diamonds (1. January ’45)

[@lottivonhesse9382]

Thank you for producing this video - the world needs to learn the truth concerning the German side of history!! As a full ethnic German woman, I salute you.

[@nzmonsterman]

A real hero of WW2. There should be a factual movie made about this man. (not a Hollywood fabricated one). I've read his book and it's amazing. Also very sad.

[@stevemartin6144]

I am most fortunate to have corresponded with him in the late 1970's. I treasure his signed photo.

[@viktoriaironpride4977]

As you should!

[@trevorpettingill4871]

how lucky not to have given up to russia . a true gallant gentleman

[@wwiewolle5849]

Flying with only one leg in war - this man had balls, and this award was just the right one! 👌👍

[@daleaskew3744]

Should try it with no legs, like Bader did.

[@thudor1]

I can't help wondering how he worked both rudder pedals. Maybe he had a sort of stirrup on the left one. Theoretically, it would have probably worked as long as he didn't dive too steeply!

[@R.Lennartz]

@@thudor1 I looked up the Ju 87 cockpit, and it seems that it was standard to have a strap to secure the foot only on the left pedal, I don't know why, maybe to ensure you would always have rudder control, so no modifications had to be made, since he lost his right leg.

[@parkerrowe8902]

Hans had both legs when he flew

[@eis7713]

He lost a leg, and continued to fly. He defied the Führers wish that he had stopped flying. He also defied Görings orders to not fly. He stopped flying when the americans dragged him out of cockpit and took his plane :)@@parkerrowe8902

[@luxmischuster5085]

I met him in Benrat düsseldorf early 51-52 he was a gentleman.one of the greatest .

[@viktoriaironpride4977]

Lucky you!

[@kradius2169]

Stuka pilot Heinz Georg Migeod knew Rudel early. Interview on-line.

[@daverbenson4834]

I was Lucky to meet him as a Child ..He Was A Good Friend of my Great Uncle And was Very Kind And Had A Dry Wit A Proper Soldier

[@richardforrest8134]

wait really? that is fucking awesome, have you got a photo of you too together?

[@daverbenson4834]

@@richardforrest8134 I Had One..But My Ex Wife Took My Treasured Photo Albums & Burned Them While I Was At Work..But I've still got the memories

[@hannareitsch1941]

So lucky!!!

[@MGB-learning]

Rudel was a great airman. His plane would have been able to carry more ammo if it was not that extra weight he had to carry. Those huge set of balls limited him to the ordnance his Stuka could carry. :)

[@joevanseeters2873]

The German Luftwaffe before and during WWII had some of the most incredible and stylish looking uniforms in the world at that time with many different variants for specific functions, missions, and environments. Many Police agencies and various militaries around the world used their design as inspiration for their own uniforms after WWII. Many of the Northeast US Police Agencies (New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, etc) used the "high peak crush cap" of their dress uniforms, the gun belt design almost identical, and the knee high "jack boots" which are a standard issue to all Motorcycle Policeman in the US. Many have since phased out this design but several agencies still retain the design, especially in the Northeast.

[@matthabir4837]

One of the great soldiers of that war.

[@Christoph-sd3zi]

*of any war

[@martinneumeyer9282]

The greatest war hero of history

[@SeamHead33]

Legendary Hero R.I.P.

[@wanderingwarrior5626]

Best war time pilot ever!

[@danielgreen3715]

The Luftwaffe did send 2 Fighter planes out that day but will deny it was a fly past Because of their political sensitivity But the Man was a Brave Airman and respect was thus due!

[@stevemartin6144]

Bundesluftwaffe.

[@daverbenson4834]

Respect Was Given The Air Force saw to That To Hell with The Government 👍

[@Rogue-7.62]

Few are aware that the Ace pilot General Adolf Galland had this very same medal stolen when he surrendered himself to the American military. It was never recovered. That metal would be worth a small fortune if it is ever recovered.

[@christianvargaszuniga6048]

A true hero, not that bullshit from Hollywood.

[@gamm8939]

And a horrific Nazi

[@haroldmclean3755]

Fearless to the end 👍

[@apparatchiktgru8481]

Greatest. Salute.

[@markus-pg6me]

Rudel Kampfkraft wie eine Division

[@PanzerdivisionWiking]

Hero.

[@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723]

He also helped design the A10 Warthog, Stuka is its daddy,

[@wesharris2559]

Read his book Stuka piolet it was awesome!

[@lostinpa-dadenduro7555]

When they were in the initial stages of designing what would be the A-10, the project head had everyone read his book. They also brought him in for some consulting about ground attack needs and operating from rough fields.

[@beatrixbrennan1545]

Just finished reading it. I thought it was incredibly monotonous and boring. Sad because I love stories about ww2

[@elultimo102]

I read "Stuka Pilot" in my teens, a version translated into Brit-speak. It took a while to realize that a "lorry" did not refer to a girl, and that "sortie" meant a mission.

[@Geniusthecat]

Truly a god among men. Rest in peace my friend.

[@FINNIUSORION]

Rudel's story is amazing, he was an underdog. the first years of the war he was seen as a terrible pilot and they wouldn't let him do anything other than moving new and broken planes back and forth for the other pilots. he was given a chance on the eastern front when they were starting to get to thin in numbers and desperate for pilots. Adolph Galland has an interview on the subject.

[@abeedhal6519]

He was not only the most decorated German pilot of the war, he was the most decorated pilot of the war.

[@robpelick7460]

The expression on his face when he looks at the camera is one of utter contempt. Defeated but unbowed.

[@Cheetos439]

Read "stuka pilot".

[@luisellamanesco1896]

JUNKER. 87. STUKA IS ONE WORKER PROVING AMERICAN GERMAN INDUSTRY AIR FORCE.

[@joseenocalmendra4066]

Goering creó esta insignia para sus mejores pilotos...

[@wilfredo5244]

No fue goering. Fue el Führer ya que se había acabado las condecoraciones para darle a rudel que ya se las había ganado todas

[@shanevanorder2644]

Dude killed a battle ship and his wife sold his medals

[@PanzerdivisionWiking]

Ugh 😑

[@robinhood4911]

His decorations were not stolen by his wife, he had not had them for a long time. See my post for an explanation with references to the source of the information.

[@timmclaughlin5033]

@@robinhood4911 they were actually stolen from him while being held by the Americans, it's mentioned in his book "stuka pilot"

[@robinhood4911]

@@timmclaughlin5033 I see you are too lazy to see what I wrote before. So what I wrote before: The truth is in the book "Luftwaffe Aces" by Frantz Kurowski. In the 2004 issue of Stockpole Books on page 265 there is an answer. Ludwig Havighorst described what happened after he was taken prisoner .... "we were joined by Oberst Hans-Urlich Rudel ..... He was a man of unflappable character. When an officer of the guard ordered us to toss all our decorations and medals onto a shelter half, Ulrich Rudel provided the example for the rest of us. He smashed his decorations-including the Golden Oak Leaves with Swords and Diamonds-with a stone. We all did the same ...... " Yes, his decorations were stolen, but the thieves thought their loot would be more valuable

[@lottivonhesse9382]

@@PanzerdivisionWiking Read Robin Hood's comments - that Shane guy is lying.

[@jerryinohio1978]

I wonder what the value of his award's would be worth? Millions

[@wilfredo5244]

$500,000 maybe the starting in bid

[@robinhood4911]

See my post on these decorations.

[@robinhood4911]

@@wilfredo5244 Probably not. Why? See my post about their fate.

[@dagmarvandoren9364]

Was fur ein mann. Mein Mann. Amerikanischer offizier.....sagte das. Was fur ein mann

[@alexz_puma]

hes my great uncle

[@TheGhost-gx5vd]

I bet he wasn't in the battle of britain in a Stuka

[@frankbohne7971]

Hiro of old Germania the Best of the world Hiro

[@jasonromd.lacidajr1348]

Put that wife in jail

[@A.G.798]

Als Er in Gefangenschaft war,hat seine Frau aus Not,die A- Klasse Orden Verkauft, Er hat später versucht sie zurück zu Kaufen, was aber nicht bei allen gelang,zumal alleine das Goldene Eichenlaub einen Materialwert von damals 25-35.000,- Reichsmark hatte, was heute in Euro mal 9 genommen werden muß, dazu noch der Sammlerwert und die Prominenz, also Unbezahlbar!

[@ЕдуардЛогвінов]

👍👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@excelgazialimuhiddinhacibekir]

Why is the Swastika Cross on the medals censored in such an awkward, appalling way?

[@excelgazialimuhiddinhacibekir]

Forgotten to do so on H.U.R.'s photo with the medal at 02:05.

[@СоколовАндрей-т9х]

Вы читали его мемуары? Попал в плен, и конечно Великие " Воины", Америки отобрали его заслуженные награды!. Я русский, но такую мерзость не приемлю

[@deimantassidorenko3386]

Neteko. Kojos. Dvylika. Kartų. Numuštas

[@davidcoleman2796]

Great pilot but a nazie right till the end .

[@mdstmouse7]

ive seen a number of people saying he vastly overclaimed his kills.

[@tonypfeiffer9286]

Perhaps but they are probably sitting in their Irving rooms claiming this. I go with the dudes that were their.

[@LS-rw9yp]

Lol! None of these people were there so their opinion really isn’t relevant. I’ve noticed where some so called historians are trying to change history by saying this didn’t happen or that didn’t happen...

[@mdstmouse7]

@@LS-rw9yp his kill claims vastly outpace others in terms of kills per flight/hour in the air when compared to the other high scoring aces. Also, air to ground kills are likely over counted on a ratio of 10 to 1. Some of this is because the vehicles are recovered, but it is also an observational issue where as who is turning back around to check the tank you just shot at.

[@lottivonhesse9382]

@@mdstmouse7 Are you calling Hans-Ulrich Rudel, a liar??

[@daqt6079]

@@lottivonhesse9382 I believe Rudel. He was the best.

[@joangratzer2101]

LEAVE IT TO THE AMERICANS TO COME UP WITH THE CONCEPT OF THE "DOUBLE ACE"