German Atrocities in Belgium (1914) - Fact or Fiction?

During the German invasion of Belgium (1914) the German soldiers killed around 6000 Belgian and Northern French citizens. Allied propaganda portrayed the Germans as evil Huns and used the war crimes for their own purposes. This is a lesser known chapter of the First World War which was overshadowed by later events. Learn more about World War One in this video.
History Hustle: German Atrocities in Belgium (1914) - Fact or Fiction?
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SOURCES
- German Atrocities 1914: A History of Denial (John Horne & Alan Kramer).
- A World Undone. The Story of the Great War 1914 to 1918 (G.J. Meyer).
- Adolf Hitler en de Eerste Wereldoorlog (Thomas Weber).
IMAGES
Images from commons.wikimedia.org.
MUSIC
"Devastation and Revenge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
"Crossing the Chasm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
EFFECTS
footagecrate.com/
Wanna ask some something? Send me an email at: [e-mail]

[@HistoryHustle]

WHY WW1 BROKE OUT: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJDLYWageb2oe9k GERMAN INVASION OF BELGIUM (1914): kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX7CdWekjM9rfZY BELGIUM ARMY 1914: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYSclZqCoZWXrck

[@hansmuller3056]

@History Hustle Maybe you should read " Schuldfragen: Belgischer Untergrundkrieg und deutsche Vergeltung im August 1914 " from Prof. Ulrich Keller.

[@Dutch_Uncle]

Not mentioned was that a tragic effect of the WWI atrocity stories, most of which were false, was that in WWII the initial response to atrocity stories was disbelief. This was because shortly after WWI the exaggerations and outright lies told by the Allied governments, and repeated in newspapers, were acknowledged as propaganda to build domestic support for the war. Having been fooled once by government reports in WWI, in WWII the newspaper editors insisted on strict journalistic standards, and there was a high burden of proof on the person or organization alleging an atrocity to provide proof in the form of reliable other witnesses, other sources, and backup. This had the perverse effect that, because the WWI atrocity stories, many of which turned out to be false, were initially beleived the WWII atrocity stories, most of which were indeed true, were not believed. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

[@galahad-history]

Even though the propaganda often exaggerates it, we should never forget that wars aren't just battles of great armies, but also a big suffering for civilian population. Very important episode.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply, Galahad.

[@unfiltered2473]

You deserve way more views on these videos man. Some of the most informative, well put history videos on the Tube. Keep up the good work!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks, feel free to share.

[@sammni]

They'll come..... His content is good. Just when will they come. We will have to wait and see

[@daviddoran3673]

I was in Leuven some 18 years ago....on the hill leading down to the town centre there was unmistakable evidence of shell damage to the walls on either side...otherwise the town centre seemed brand new!!! A beautiful town!

[@HistoryHustle]

Leuven is indeed very nice.

[@Hmbucker]

I guess you came from the direction of Mechelen, but that was due to the English bombing in the second WW, where this road was mistakenly taken as the railroad which was the target.

[@papacaliente8789]

It is really nice to see a man who loves history, i can see it on your eyes and in your voice! Great video man!

[@HistoryHustle]

Nice to read, thanks!

[@xvsj5833]

Fascinating piece of history Stefan, Thank you for preparing and sharing 👍

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks, Jesse!

[@RickJZ1973]

Excellent! Very nice that you were on location in Belgium for the informative presentation.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks. Nice to read!

[@drivanmariobraun-psiquiatr5007]

Interesting information and a balanced analysis. As always. Congrats!

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks!

[@kalvds9345]

Excellent video as always! Thank you for making it!

[@HistoryHustle]

You're welcome, thanks for watching.

[@jackthebassman1]

Superb videos, well put together, very well presented and balanced.

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks!

[@aleskosir275]

Thanks for sharing your excelent history lessons of lesser known events.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks Ales!

[@claudermiller]

"The first casualty of war is often the truth" (Various reported origins)

[@HistoryHustle]

Indeed.

[@tk9839]

I feel bad for these nations who are stuck between the bigger warring factions...it's good that their voices are heard.

[@HistoryHustle]

Indeed.

[@takashitamagawa5881]

I like this KZbin channel very much. His videos seem to me to be very balanced and fact based in their portrayal of events in history and do not succumb to emotions raised by those events.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you, Takashi.

[@jeroenkoeleman4348]

Weer bedankt voor jou duidelijke uitleg

[@HistoryHustle]

Dank voor je bericht!

[@garyreiman856]

You videos are of the top best quality. Texans love your work.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks!!

[@dieterbarkhoff1328]

Texans, the great humanitarians responsible for countless atrocities against their native population, Mexicans and Negroes. Yes, Stefan would be very popular in Texas.

[@TimDutch]

Weer een interessante video Stefan! De youtube playbutton al binnen gekregen?

[@HistoryHustle]

Dank. Deze is onderweg als het goed is.

[@ronmaximilian6953]

The truth was bad enough. Unfortunately, the exaggeration of German crimes in World War I would lead many to not believe what was happening in the next war.

[@HistoryHustle]

Indeed.

[@didierdenice7456]

During WW2 the truth was bad enough... 🤔 Unfortunately , the exaggeration of German crimes against a particular minority.... (I let you continue...)

[@ronmaximilian6953]

@@didierdenice7456 I would strongly suggest that you go back and read my comment again. I was quite clear that the exaggerations of German atrocities in World War I would make it harder for people to believe what the Germans actually did during World War II. For the record, more than one group was targeted in the Holocaust.

[@didierdenice7456]

@@ronmaximilian6953 I have been studying WW2 for 50 years... Yes I know I am old... I would strongly suggest you to study all the bulshit that have been written regarding the topic we are not allowed to mention ! 😉

[@ronmaximilian6953]

@@didierdenice7456 has it occured to you that I am the grandson of four Holocaust survivors and the son of one, or that most of my family was not lucky enough to survive? Holocaust denial is not history or revisionism. It is ideological denial of facts, the people doing it largely play the game of finding a small inconsistency and trying to disprove the larger reality. It's the equivalent of finding somebody who falsely claimed to be at the Allied invasion of Normandy and claiming that D-Day didn't happen. It's an asinine game based on a fallacy , which plays to simple-minded people in courtrooms, but does not change history.n

[@keithehredt753]

THANKS BROTHER. WELL DONE.

[@HistoryHustle]

Cheers, Keith!

[@mammuchan8923]

A very intriguing video! While watching Glory and Defeat I first heard about the Franc-tireurs and the legacy that left in the minds of German people. 6, 000 civilian deaths is completely unjustified though😭. Undoubtedly the Entente used the events as propaganda but the Germans have only themselves to blame for that. It seems many people believe the extent of the harshness of the Treaty of Versailles, war guilt clause etc. was directly influenced by these actions in the opening days of the war. Besides the human lives lost, it is heartbreaking too to hear of the devastation Louvain went through, all that knowledge and culture lost forever💔

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for replying! And yes, Glory and Defeat is a great series.

[@larrygiesbrecht3428]

Same here - I first heard about "franc-tireur" from the good people at Real Time History. It's a shame that youtube is trying to bury them, and I hope youtube doesn't try to banish History Hustle for being honest too...

[@CalebNorthNorman]

Great video. 👍

[@HistoryHustle]

👍👍👍

[@CalebNorthNorman]

@@HistoryHustle The way the Germans treated the civilians of Belgium is hard to understand. Barbaric. Seems unEuropean. I don't think the English did this sort of thing. I know the Spanish did similar things

[@gunner678]

I'm involved in a project on the British retreat from Mons at the moment. Fascinating period and a great video.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply!

[@mikewest5529]

Another great production!! Ohh those manuscripts are a terrible loss!! I hope the move is going smooth!! If I was closer my cube van would be at your service!!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply once again Mike 👍👍

[@CharCanuck14]

Wow......I never knew this even though I spent time in Leuven. Thanks Stefan!

[@HistoryHustle]

You're welcome 👍

[@homefront3162]

Such a great channel!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@HistoryHustle]

🤩

[@arthurbarber7546]

The Germans denied all the atrocities during WWI and proved them to be true during WWII

[@dharmapersona2084]

2:51 Those fire effects were nice and realistic.

[@HistoryHustle]

😁

[@galahad-history]

Indeed a nice addition

[@46FreddieMercury91]

They are very realistic. I could feel the heat off them. Saving me a fortune on my energy costs ☺️

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

Very interested in your discussions of The Great War.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for replying!

[@mabbrey]

another good one

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks, Martin!

[@sensibleshinchan1019]

Great Video Stephan! This shows many crimes shown to us are true, but we should not trust everything shown to us.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your message.

[@martinusher1]

The best propaganda has a kernel of truth in it. The tragedy of the Louvain library is that after WW1 there was an international effort to rebuild it and restock it with other copies of the lost texts. All in vain, though, because when the Germans swept through there again in 1940 they burned the place down once again.

[@HistoryHustle]

True, although there is still debate about the 1940 burning whether it was a British or German shell. Most likely an accident. I will cover the 1940 battle in the future.

[@martinusher1]

@@HistoryHustle Its got a mention in William Shirer's "Berlin Diary". (Shirer was an American journalist working for CBS so as member of the neutral press he got to see the invasion of France and the Low Countries from the German side. It appears from the account that it was the Germans who set it on fire but it was recognized as a PR disaster and so got a bit of 'spin' treatment.)

[@invisibleman4827]

That's true. The stories about babies being bayonetted came from one example that actually did happen in Dinant, where a little girl 3 months old was actually bayonetted and allegedly the soldier walked around with her on his bayonet for a few hours (although considering the extra weight this would've added for him to carry, this seems unlikely).

[@ipsylon7297]

Wars turn generally good human beings into monsters and a decade later to temporary friends......till next war.. Humans have tendency to remember better good parts of life and forgetting to learn from dark past. Stories like this one will open eyes and remind us what war is about. Thank you to History Hustle.

[@HistoryHustle]

You're welcome, Milan.

[@laurasalo6160]

I never heard of this, so thank you. How terrible! And the manuscripts!? So tragic too.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply, Laura.

[@NickDanger0001]

I've seen the graves of children in Belgium. Killed by the Germans. Shot.

[@HistoryHustle]

Where was this exactly?

[@carolinerowles5951]

What a beautiful city, I never realised Belgium had such hidden gems. I live in England so I'm going to put it on my bucket list. Thank you for a very informative video👍

[@RoccosVideos]

Glad wars in Europe stopped occurring every generation. I hope this trend continues. (Sorry Balkans)

[@packhorsetriumph5319]

Ukraine bro

[@HistoryHustle]

Let's hope it remains peaceful.

[@gumdeo]

@Piet Hein 150 years.

[@dalstein3708]

@Piet Hein Spanish Civil War, 1936. Irish War of Independence, 1919. Also, the primary aggressors in both World Wars were Central European nations (Austria-Hungary and Germany).

[@dieterbarkhoff1328]

@@dalstein3708 You know SFA about history if you really believe this...

[@Angrybogan]

"The first casualty of war is the Truth" - Proverb

[@HistoryHustle]

yes

[@redhutsgaming3067]

Tank you for making this video it’s not that much talked about these things currently. And I actually visited that place were you filmed I was wondering what building that was now I have my answer.

[@HistoryHustle]

Great to read, thanks for watching!

[@davidrobledojuarez7863]

Wow so cool vídeos

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@erinwoempner1228]

Keep speaking the truth. God bless you

[@HistoryHustle]

Ok 👍

[@NickDanger0001]

Barbara Tuchman's The Guns of August gets this very well.

[@HistoryHustle]

Classic book I still have to read.

[@rogerdarthwell5393]

I know you don't answer comments anymore but I was wondering if you already did a video on the Belgian Government in exile during WW1 in Le Havre

[@HistoryHustle]

I do but cannot promise I'll answer them all. And no I haven't and can't tell when I will.

[@rogerdarthwell5393]

@@HistoryHustle OK no worries!

[@mohamedadelabughrara1185]

I have always seen photos of postcards from WWI era depicting German monstrosities in Belgium but never got to really understand it, well until now. Great video, love it 😁

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks!

[@dieterbarkhoff1328]

Yes, 'Postcards', a great tool of propaganda.

[@eleanorkett1129]

The German crimes didn't need much propaganda to the world. Thank you for this presentation. Sadly, too few people give much thought to WWI - the event which created Hitler.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply!

[@davidbarr9343]

As a point of note WW1 is still a topic taught in history lessons in Scottish Secondary/High schools, up to and including Higher Level examinations.

[@matthewwhitton5720]

@C Hen Precisely how were the Germans ‘ abused ‘ after losing the war ? By being asked to pay for the incredible degree of destruction and devastation that their rampaging forces visited upon the hapless lands of occupied Belgium, France, Russia,and, alongside their Hapsburg lackeys, Serbia and Italy ? Please be precise and accurate. Inform us of exactly what sort of dire and dreadful fates fell upon the citizens of the Saarland and the Rhineland under French and Belgian occupation ? It’s noticeable, too, that you have nothing at all to say about the ghastly and horrendously greedy terms Imperial Germany sought to quash Russia under the outrageous terms of Brest-Litovsk. Hardly a template the Allies could take as a jolly good example of what the Kaiser, Ludendorff , and Hindenburg would’ve had in store and stock for a surrendering British Empire, France, and so on, was it !?

[@KR-jt4ut]

@C Hen Just have a look at the Treaty of Brest-Litowsk, ... This "treaty", organised by Germany after the defeat of Russia was much worse compared to "Versailles".... and indeed, Germany was not punished for its war crimes, so what? There wan nu Nurnberg Trial, a trial was set up in Leipzig, with German judges judging the cimes of their own countryman.... By the way, in November 1918, Belgium was completely looted by the German invador, it was never compensated. The catlle disappeared to Germany, the machines in the industrial plants, all trains, vehicles, personal belongings, ... apart from that, about hundred thousand Belgians were deported as "Zwangarbeiter" to Germany... And by the way, if you start a war, and you loose it, behave like a man. Since Germany was able to re-start its agression only 20 years later, it is clear it wasn't "damaged" at all.....

[@dieterbarkhoff1328]

@C Hen Great reply: we share the same viewpoint.

[@marcvloeberghs881]

Hey Stefan there is a dutch / flemish book on the market which describes the winter ordeal imposed on the civil population by the Germans, it describes the deprivations in Malines/ Mechelen.

[@HistoryHustle]

Sounds interesting, Marc. Still have to visit Mechelen!

[@geertschouwaerts6142]

From a history teacher I expect better. The building you described in your video as the university library of Leuven - never say Louvain, that's another place in Belgium - was build in the 1930's, as a replacement for the destroyed library. That building is now, after extensive restoration, in use as the rectorate of the Leuven university. After WW I Belgium recognised 7 'martyr cities' where German troops commited war crimes. I live in Aarschot, one of these 7 cities.

[@HistoryHustle]

Leuven and Louvain are the same.

[@marcoskehl]

As a libertarian, I deeply believe that war is an atrocity itself. Never forget! Obrigado! 🇧🇷

[@HistoryHustle]

Fair enough.

[@rwdyeriii]

@MarcosKehl I agree with you.

[@marcoskehl]

@@rwdyeriii Thank you!

Despite exaggeration by Allied propaganda, German crimes of war in Belgium in WWI are totally unacceptable. Interesting to compare with the more correct actions of the German army in the east where they occupied in WWI, almost as much territory they would conquest on USSR territory in WWII but without the atrocities committed in WWII. Interesting to compare that in WWI most German war crimes were committed in the West while in WWII these were almost all happening in the East! Thanks for this video Stefan!

[@condedooku9750]

Well, in ww1 in the East there were also great atrocities, only this does not have as much visibility: "In eastern Europe the German army made extensive use of forced labor and deportations; public corporal punishment, which included women, was standard practice. The conditions of occupation led to famine and epidemics in which thousands died in the winter of 1917/1918.[ 30] Yet the occupation policies in eastern Europe provoked far less international protest: another indication that eastern European victims of war were hidden from the international public sphere.The exception was Serbia, about which the western press reported even before the famous book by Rodolphe A . Reiss." Also the Western front was not so nice in ww2: "The Vinkt massacre (Dutch: Bloedbad van Vinkt) was a war crime committed by German soldiers in the East Flanders villages of Vinkt and Meighem on May 26-28, 1940 during the Battle of the Lys. Between 86 and 140 civilians were deliberately killed by Wehrmacht troops from the 377th Infantry Regiment of the 225th Infantry Division, allegedly in retaliation for the Belgian Army's resistance in the village."

@@condedooku9750 Thank you for this precisionI stand corrected! You are right in the sense that some war crimes were more publicly konwn than others in both wars...cheers!

[@condedooku9750]

@ Indeed, the German army in both wars committed horrible war crimes on both fronts, both in the West and in the East, so we must not allow the publicity of certain atrocities to overshadow others, and thank you for your understanding of the clarification I made.

[@HistoryHustle]

I will release a video on the second topic soon.

@@HistoryHustle Great Stefan! Will be waiting for this and thank you for analizing this interesting topic...Cheers!

[@AdriLeemput]

Even een cirrectie: de Universiteitsbibliotheek achter je is de nieuwe (na WO I), de oude was in het huidige rectoraatsgebouw (Oude Markt). De oude is afgebrand (en vermoedelijk eerst geplunderd). De nieuwe heeft ook schade gehad, maar wat juist weet ik niet meer. Bron: ik ben een Leuvense Stadsgids ;)

[@HistoryHustle]

Dank voor je bericht! I stand corrected. Binnenkort mijn video over de gevechten in 1940.

[@AdriLeemput]

@@HistoryHustle Het is een logische fout, weinig documenten melden dat de bibliotheek een nieuwe plaats heeft gekregen na de oorlog.

[@tng2057]

Very balanced. Thanks. Also hope Taiwan is not becoming 21st century Belgium.

[@HistoryHustle]

Lets hope it won't happen to Taiwan.

[@streamlinedengine]

As a Taiwanese, thank you very much!

[@patriotenfield3276]

Taiwan is 21st Czechoslovakia before Anschluss .

[@daviddoran3673]

Crimea was rescued and reabsorbed into Russia in 2014....the Crimeans are now safe, prosperous and happy!!!!! I'm sure Taiwan will be likewise.

[@dieterbarkhoff1328]

Balanced? WTF, since when has anything that's ever escaped the gob of Stefan been balanced????He reminds me of the great Soviet propagandist, Ilya Ehrenburg, the one described by Wikipedia - and we all know how balanced Wikipedia has become - as a poet and 'historian'. Then again, one of the most barbarous and racially prejudiced butchers in history, is described as an Historian the one and only Mass Murderer, Sir Winston Churchill. That is how sick the Western World is.

[@mathiaspoelman1493]

I have read a few accounts of German soldiers having long-lasting relationships with Belgian women during and after the war (Richard Stöber, look it up). Considering what happened at the beginning, it's almost a miracle some of those Germans went to live in Belgium after the war. Sure, Germany was in complete chaos, but I can imagine Belgium wasn't the safest country for those ex-soldiers at the time, even those who had nothing to do with the war crimes.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing.

[@invisibleman4827]

Probably because most German soldiers were ordinary decent people and demonstrated that, even though their leaders - who were responsible for the atrocities - weren't.

[@eazygamer8974]

When he said 300,000 ancient manuscripts went up in flames i think i died a little inside.....

[@HistoryHustle]

And in 1940 it happened sort of again...

[@matthewwhitton5720]

Many thanks for another marvelous video. The behaviour of German troops in Belgium had repercussions as far away as the extremely loyal outpost of the British Empire, the island of Tasmania, in whose capital city, Hobart, Cavell Street ( complete with a portrait of British nurse, Edith Cavell, shot by a German firing squad for treason ( ! ), after being having helped up to 200 Allied POWs escape from captivity ,…set into a sturdy wall ), is still there to remind drivers and pedestrians of just why it was that their ancestors were asked to set out for Gallipoli and France,…to ‘ avenge ‘ the killing of innocent civilians, caregivers, such as Edith Cavell.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for replying 👍

[@maddyg3208]

My granddad was the 11th man in Tasmania to join the AIF in 1914, presumably because of news from Belgium

[@jafxdwg]

My Grandfather was an Original in the 26th New Brunswick Battalion, CEF. I asked him if he hated the Germans. He said "Not at first." When he entered a barn in Belgium he discovered dead infants that had been used to gather information from the local inhabitants. According to him, the babies had been swung by their feet against the barn wall. This horrific discovery changed his attitude against his enemy. Of the many revelations he shared with me, this is the first time I have ever shared this one.

[@HistoryHustle]

I think so too.

[@condedooku9750]

@@WillyEckaslike Atrocities that seem like a joke next to the atrocities of the Central Powers / the Axis, if the 20th century has taught us something, it is that German cruelty should not be underestimated, this story, looking at the German file, seems more than possible to me be real.

[@condedooku9750]

@@WillyEckaslike Ok sir of the conspiracy theory, I believe in you absolutely above the entire historical community, I'm sure you know much more than them (it's sarcasm in case you hadn't caught it).

[@dieterbarkhoff1328]

Yep, then he told you about the gas chambers...Not sure about how much information the Germans would have gathered from dead infants...

[@jupprheinland4805]

@@condedooku9750 German cruelty? You mean the cruelty during these timeframes or do you mean it like it’s a genetic/cultural thing?

[@tylerhiggins3522]

It's a good thing it's not illegal to question these occurrences unlike certain German atrocities in the next war because then the truth can be more easily ascertained. In my research when it comes to irregular warfare (or in this case the threat thereof) the participants can expect short shrift and no quarter. Such activity also may not be protected by the Rules of War. Something interesting about the Franco-Prussian War, the Germans had studied the American Civil War and along with breech loading rifles had developed news tactics. These tactics would be forgotten after that war until 1917 when the Stosstruppen broke the stalemate of trench warfare. If you ever get to it Stefan I'd be very interested in a video on how the Germans behaved in France and the Low Countries in 1940.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply, Tyler. Soon more on the German conduct in the Netherlands during WW2.

[@lescouryves4334]

The Liebstandarte of the Kaiser killed many civilians in at least one occasion, but I dont know exactly where in Belgium. A friend got this fact from one of these soldiers, his great-father... an Alsatian (Elsass, Alsace officially in France).

[@HistoryHustle]

Haven't heard of this unit. Only thought Hitler had one. Thanks for sharing.

[@peternakitch4167]

This seems to have been a standard German military tactic during occupation during both world wars. My own family experienced it in Serbia in 1942: my father told me his father was taken hostage by the Germans and executed.

[@HistoryHustle]

Sorry to hear. And yes, there are similarities.

[@Losantiville]

Been fair in this video, is good history.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks 👍

[@coling3957]

Guys with spiked helmets should ask themselves: are we the baddies?

[@HistoryHustle]

Lol

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

Facts! The truth! I can't thank you enough for that. War is horror. Everyone should know that. Maybe one day thumanity will stop doing it. Greets 🌷, T.

[@HistoryHustle]

Good point.

[@dieterbarkhoff1328]

Facts, Weasel? You should call yourself Elie Wiesel, he was a dealer in 'facts' as well. Are you aware of a British memo written during the last years of WW2 where it was admitted that the propaganda re Belgium was bullshit, that, nevertheless, every effort must now be made to tell even bigger lies. This was while Dresden was being obliterated...

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

@@dieterbarkhoff1328 : are the facts in this video not correct ?

[@kacodemonio]

@@tonnywildweasel8138 Don't feed this Bark-ing troll

[@brittakriep2938]

Some months ago a german military history magazine wrote about this topic. It was written two things: At first that german troops misinterpreted well hidden French or belgian regular soldiers for partisans, that especially at night accidently german soldiers fired at each others, and german soldiers had not been trasined in anti- partisan warfare , so they feared them ( partisan warfare is NO german tradition). Second: Belgian authorities often gave order to unregular partisan warfare, there had not enough belgian uniforms for all belgian volunteers, and there had not enough military weapons to equip all belgian volunteers, so that many of them used shotguns, shotguns had been seen as criminals weapons in Germany, even today only few shotguns are used by german army and police, it is not allowed to shoot at persons, only to destroy things. So, it would have been necessary to also show view of wwl germans about unregular troops.

[@gibraltersteamboatco888]

Bandenbekämpfung !870 -1945, Not tradition, just policy.. Justa few years prior the German South West Africa Campaign Medal ...... in recognition of his faithful participation in the campaign against the rebellious natives in South West Africa

[@KR-jt4ut]

The Germans executed 127 Belgians on the first day of their invasion, (about 1.000 during the first week.), even before thay had lost one soldier by Belgian defenders. ...

[@dieterbarkhoff1328]

@@gibraltersteamboatco888 Yes, go on now and tell me how beautifully, beatifically and wondrously the British treated the men, women and children in their colonies. That should take you about 3 seconds before you turn purple with shame about your bullshitting armchair philosophizing.

[@brittakriep2938]

@@gibraltersteamboatco888 : In case of colonial cruelty, Belgians should be quiet, see belgian king Leopold and his Kongo colony. Also the French should be quiet, in case of fighting partisans: Napoleons troops in Spain, and in Germany the tyrolian rebellion of Andreas Hofer and Major von Schill in northern Germany, also the burning down of german settlements in Palatine and along the Rhine by Louis XIV troops is a thing, which not appears in movies. With exeption of noted Hofer and von Schill, i don' t know partisan warfare in Germany. When in 1813 the Landwehr units had been formed, there was also planed, to form Landsturm formations, to fight french troops in partisan manner in civilian dress, but prussian king didn' t allow this.

[@gibraltersteamboatco888]

@@brittakriep2938 You had stated ";german soldiers had not been trasined in anti- partisan warfare , so they feared them ( partisan warfare is NO german tradition)" I stated that they had a policy and training in place to the extent that they had awarded medals for such actions. You will notice that I did not express an opinion of German conduct during any conflict. Your examples of how other nations conducted themselves although factual, do not apply. to the subject of this video.

[@willhovell9019]

Good to examine the facts of the Imperial German army of Belgium. Many Belgian refugees fled to England and set up schools , institutions and even churches , especially in areas such as Camden Town and Willesden in London . The British , French , Serbian and Russian alliance at the early stages of the war was properly called the ENTENTE . Belgium was a buffer state encouraged by the British at the Congress of Vienna . It later became a vile exploiter of the Congo ( under the personal rule of King Leopold) barbaric even by the inhuman standards of the Germans in South West Africa and the British in South Africa and the Zambezi. And French oppression too across Saharan and sub-saharan Africa

[@dieterbarkhoff1328]

Am waiting desperately for our 'fabulous historian of German atrocities, fictitious or true' to maybe make one about the Belgian rape of the Congo. I'll be waiting a long time: 'Fabulous Historian' obviously only has ears or sight or cognition of German misdeeds...

[@willhovell9019]

@@dieterbarkhoff1328 I agree so much of reported history is Europe focused . The atrocities of the Europeans in Africa tend to be air brushed out . The barbaric Belgian Congo sowed the seeds of the region's current murderous chaos. The British racism n South Africa with their concentration camps etc We're eagerly awaiting the unraveling.of history in Britain , with the impending demise of a Prime Minister that has plumbed the depths of incompetence , immoralty & murderous negligence (175,000 deaths so far from the pandemic -ONS) Not to mention the permanent economic wrecking of his Europhobic follies.

[@dieterbarkhoff1328]

@Garry Arden Victim of what? More Western propaganda while the West continues its wanton betrayal of decency as it totally disregards its own appalling and shameful Colonial record.

[@patriotenfield3276]

@Garry Arden what victim card exactly?

[@HistoryHustle]

@Will: thanks for your reply!

[@barboroso6743]

I live next to Leuven :)

[@HistoryHustle]

Great city!

[@mrhungerpastor]

Present conflict between Russia and Ukraine is often compared to the Russo-Finnsh War 1939-40. However I think that what we have seen is more like the failure of Schliffen plan in 1914. Russia/Germany tried to use White Russia/Belgium in order to capture Kiev/Paris with one quick strike. So it is not the first time that we hear horror stories when armies march through hostile territories.

[@HistoryHustle]

Interesting comparison.

[@S4NY4RKuRDBoZZ]

There is a Organization called „Human Rights Watch“ and they are also similar to Propaganda in World War 1. They aren't always producing Propaganda but mostly.

[@HistoryHustle]

🧐

[@charliebrownie4158]

One of the things I learned about was some of the soldiers who were marching alongside Adolf as he went past bodies of civilians who were laying on the ground many besides being shot had also been burnt and the connection of the smell of death and the smell of the burnt skin made many in that group vomit but it made Adolf laugh and a lot of men in his group weren't at all amused at what he thought was funny. There were children and women though it was said they had turned and fired towards what they thought was fire coming from civilians but it was actually other German soldiers who were jumpy and their weapons accidently discharged, or so they claimed.

[@zaynevanday142]

When there is smoke there is fire but the stories were greatly exaggerated for the purposes of propaganda and recruitment of a volunteer Army but I am prepared to be taught if I’m wrong as you know infinitely more than I on this subject

[@HistoryHustle]

Glad you found this one interesting.

[@davidraper5798]

Wartime propaganda often blows things out of all proportion but there German policy of "frightfulness" did not aid their cause and the reality is bad enough. A good introduction to a complex subject.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for watching!

[@patriciatutaki3322]

Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium were all neutral countries prior to both world wars, and all suffered atrocities during both, although the latter two endured the worst of it ... while there were many exaggerations by the allies, much was grounded by more than kernels of truth ...both regimes that led the Germans were blinded by their self appointed "superiority" over other, and cruelty was just another weapon to be utilized to it's fullest extent ... much like the U boat war on defenceless cargo ships, and merchant seamen .... this became the norm during both wars, when in fact, it was no different than pillaging and looting food and clothing, livestock and seed stock, from farmers and their families, or raping/murdering them as well

[@HistoryHustle]

Fairly not nuanced. Think the feeling of superiority was also among other nations of WW1. As for WWII the Germans behaved much more crual..putting that on a par with WW1 is understandable but also an over simplification.

[@athishnirup1815]

Can you please make a video on duchy of Warsaw created by Napoléon Bonaparte for the people of the Polish

[@HistoryHustle]

Perhaps one day when I travel there again. Not anytime soon.

[@athishnirup1815]

@@HistoryHustle wow thank you so much for responding to my comment and yes take your time to make the video

[@HistoryHustle]

@@athishnirup1815 Thanks!

[@invisibleman4827]

Ultimately the German military in 1914 behaved in a way that was similar to the Nazis - albeit not as severe since they were trying to subjugate (still bad) rather than exterminate (worse). This doesn't nean that Germans were/are intrinsically evil (Germany had a lot going for it and could've survived as it was if it developed into a constitutional monarchy with greater democracy - unlike the Nazi regime that had to be stopped) but it was their leaders encouraging/ordering it to happen. Most German soldiers in the front line/home front were probably unaware of this happening, and according to British soldiers who met them during the Christmas truce or after capturing them, they found that they were quite nice blokes who they got on well with, ordinary men like them with friends and family, wives and children and parents back at home just like them. Problem is that while the propaganda had a grain of truth to it (the babies bayonetted was based on an incident at Dinant in 1914 where that actually happened), because it was hyped up, it made it harder to see the truth that yes, some of these things did happen. I think though that the Austro-Hungarians were probably worse though since their troops treated the Serbs like ISIS did to its victims or the WW2 Japanese army (shooting, hanging, rape, ears and noses cut off, eyes gouged out, burned alive, bayonetted, women's breasts cut off, truly horrifying 💀💔).

[@markmccummins8049]

Excellent video as usual, Stefan. No, the German Empire did not deserve the “propaganda treatment.” However, if officers ramped up their men’s emotions, and allowed even one mass execution, or even the burning of a university library, then those officers were going to suffer all sorts of innuendo and defamation. These German units drew the blood of innocents - and I blame their officers. This is the tragedy of war; and, yes, civilians suffer dearly in all wars.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply, Mark!

[@464nescio6]

an electrifies fence was put up to prevent the dutch crossing to belgium! or was it?

[@SomeoneCalledJoshua]

It was but it was mostly to prevent traffic in the opposite direction (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_of_Death)

[@464nescio6]

really??.. cause now we have 17 million prime ministers and health ministers in this country.. and they all know what is best..and yes the best one seems to be a slumlord..

[@HistoryHustle]

See end card in the video!

[@464nescio6]

@@HistoryHustle i'm wrong you are right and yes the civil service is equally concerned with rightwing extremism as it is with leftwing.. you know that it is not the case but cover it up with more lies.. and maybe in 3 generations it will go away..

[@Greyhuskey1940]

yeah i once got into a little bit of trouble on KZbin...as I used to genuinely believe such crimes at least in ww1 wouldn't happen on the western front...to the point I was basically seen as a ww1 German apologist and i used to believe that it was all allied propaganda exaggerations and that the only crimes that the Germans did in ww1 were U-boat attacks and not direct massacres by soldiers...and people basically bullied me for having low intelligence that I was mentally retarded and that I was an apologist...honestly now I'm just glad i stumbled upon this for a clear answer of "was Germany EVIL in ww1 or was it only ww2?" safe to say Germany while not as bad in ww2 were still pretty evil in ww1...especially when they destroyed history and shot random civilians and encouraged their young paranoid soldiers to kill civilians by giving them ropes...now i think the issue was more paranoia and lack of proper discipline that caused this....

[@toriidawdy8456]

Lusitania , Zimmerman telegram and "Belgium s Appeal" are cited as reasons for american entry into this conflict All three are interesting topics , however * belgium's appeal ' was a hugh grassroots movement. Jingo journalism and a massive movement swept across this nation. I have a medal awarded top fundraisers of the catholic churches effort . Hearst newspapers made much and built a narrative around atrocities real and exaggerated . The same folks that created a war against Spain and neglected the rape of the congo

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing this.

[@gibraltersteamboatco888]

Sadly as always the innocents bear the brunt of conflict. BZ

[@HistoryHustle]

Yeah.

[@johnfrederickson]

Didn’t know they did so many warcrimes

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes, although it would pale in comparison with WW2.

[@ixtoc999]

...And the atrocities of the Belgians in Congo.

[@HistoryHustle]

And that's not were the video is about. Interesting topic though!

[@commando2113]

Well that was done by local's call'd the force public and murc's from britain and france and e few belgian's later on in 1908 the kingdom of belgium took controle over the private state of king leo and from that point it became the belgian congo . so to make my point the kingdom of belgium own'd no part in that inhumane crap because that happen'd in the private congo and not in the belgian congo .

[@Belgianbanshee]

Als regel, vlaamse steden in het Nederlands, niet het frans. Idem voor Waalse steden. Flemish cities are pronounced in dutch, walloon cities in french.

[@HistoryHustle]

I use both: Leuven and Louvain. Besides, the international name of the city used back then was Louvain.

[@MyLateralThawts]

American reporters would search the land for children with missing arms but couldn’t find them. However, if they had instead gone to the Belgian Congo, they would have found countless men who had their arms amputated by their Belgian colonial masters. Something Belgians were well aware of at the time. After the armistice, numerous allied ambulances would travel into Belgium looking for the brutally treated children, yet still couldn’t find them. Bizarrely though, Belgium was still suffering, as the Allies still wouldn’t allow food imports while the country remained occupied because such food might also end up feeding the Germans.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing your insights.

[@KR-jt4ut]

Wrong mate. Apparently, history is not your strongest point. "Congo Freestate" was private property of Leopold 2, who also happened to be (symbolic job) King of Belgium. He got Congo at the Congress of Berlin, 1884. Belgian Government (nor Belgian Parliament) had nothing to say, was not involved. During the "rubber campaign", Leopold's cruel private army (Force Publique) commited many atrocities. Leopold was forced to give Congo away, in 1909, just before he died. At that moment, the cruel "Rubber Campaign" was already over. During the rather short period of being under Belgian Rule (1909 - 1961), it was considered as a model colony, with good schools, hospitals, roads, .... But I understand, Herr Unger, as a German, you want to chance from subject... Wie war es in Deutsch Sud-West Afrika ? Die Erste Deutsche Velkermörd ...

[@MyLateralThawts]

@@KR-jt4ut You appear to be astonishingly ignorant on the subject. Were the Colonial masters not Belgian citizens? How directly did Leopold govern his African possession? Leopold could claim that he knew nothing about the atrocities that took place in his name, but by the time the stories spread across the world, it no longer mattered, the Belgian government did indeed take control, but the perpetrators of the horrendous crimes, still Belgian citizens, were by and large allowed to get on with their lives, essentially getting away with it.

[@condedooku9750]

@@MyLateralThawts It is true, Belgium committed atrocities in the Congo, and??? Does that make what the Germans did in Belgium less evil??? Also the Germans are the best at colonial mistreatment, or don't you know what was happening at the beginning of the 20th century in Namibia? We are talking about: Genocidal massacre, starvation, concentration camps, human experimentation, and extermination through labour. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herero_and_Namaqua_genocide

[@dalstein3708]

@@MyLateralThawts If the Allies did indeed block food imports after the armistice, then that would have lasted only 12 days, as the German army left Belgium on 23 November 1918. Besides, if the Belgian population did suffer from food shortages (despite the work of the CNSA), wouldn't you say that the suffering was caused by Germany dragging a neutral country into war?

[@bearsgaming6364]

The thing is, there are very few nations(maybe even none) that are every completely innocent in commiting atrocities. belgium themselves had king leopold the 2nd who killed millions of congolese people, and in the end you cant ever expect a war to be completely free of warcrimes, because all it takes is someone fueled with rage , hate and propoganda to do it. These warcrimes the germans did in belgium are lesser known, but the stories of any nation or group that are victims of warcrimes are important to be heard.

[@HistoryHustle]

It is kinda hard how to judge atrocities if nations that became a victim committed atrocities alsewhere. I think you cannot hold the Belgian civilians accountable of what mad-King Leopold II did to the Congolese several decades before.

[@KR-jt4ut]

Leopold Von Saxen-Coburg Gotha (yep, daddy was German), also called Leopold 2, acted as a private person, on his private colony. He got it in 1885 (conference of Berlin); Belgian parliamant nor government didn't had to say anything over there. He acted with his private army. And it took place between 1890 and 1900.... so what's the link with WW1?

[@invisibleman4827]

Not really a relevant argument tbh. It's like saying "but the Soviets weren't innocent when they fought the Nazis, look at what they did to Ukraine". Yes, that's true, but it's not relevant nor is it an argument that Germany was in the right either.

[@vitaliyo5537]

For a such a "civilized" people's. Germany has proved over and over to be barbaric. First southwest Africa where they performed sick medical experiments on the local people, then WW1, then ww2.

[@HistoryHustle]

Germany in the past has done horrible things (perhaps more than other countries) but at the same time I'd consider most German people civilized looking at rich German culture.

[@theodorossarafis7370]

germans have a tradition in attrocities. it is not only in WWII but also do not forget that the genocides of Greek Pontiacs, Greeks of Asia Minor, Armenians and Assyrians were executes by Turks but organized by Germans. Great video my friend because we need to know the terrible face of war

[@HistoryHustle]

As far as I know the Turkish massacres weren't organized by the Germans. You can blame them a lot but not that. Sources that I read most Germans in the Ottoman Empire were bewildered by what the Turks did.

[@theodorossarafis7370]

@@HistoryHustle Check it out. According to Turkish, Greek and Armenian sources the genocides in Turkey were organized by Field Marshall Wilhelm Leopold Colmar Freiherr von der Goltz and General Otto Viktor Karl Liman von Sanders along with other officers. Do not forget that from 1870s Prussian and later under Bismark German officers served in the Ottoman empire. Actually in the wars of 1897 and the Balkan wars as well as in Gallipoli the Ottoman army was commanded mainly from German officers. That is why you will see in the Balkan wars in Ioannina, Monastiri (now Bitola) and in Thessaloniki to have German prisoners of war. After World War I many officers remained in the Turkish new goverment and they were the ones that organized all these genocides. that is why you will see many things in common between the holocaust and the genocides of Greeks, Armenians and Assyrians.

[@AVKnecht]

It kinda reminds me of the atmosphere immediately after 9/11 were people in the West saw terrorists EVERYWHERE.

[@HistoryHustle]

Luckily most people didn't shoot first and ask questions later. Well, perhaps the US as a state...

[@CUBuffnSD]

Dinat has a memorial to atrocities

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes, I know.

[@FredericGaillot]

What is worrying is that in Germany this is still played down, like in the book of Ulrich Keller stating that Belgium civilians were disguised in German soldiers .. and this was written in 2017 ! 1914 should not be the only year to be considered. Between 1914 and 1918 about 180,000 people in Belgium and France were deported, 8000 were shot and 30000 died of hard work, especially in the fortress of Sedan. Can you please add Sedan prison during WWI to your excellent series of films ?

[@HistoryHustle]

Wanna visit Sedan for multiple reasons (both WW1 and WW2 vids).

[@nerozero8266]

👍

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@potatofry1237]

Friendly fire germens heard a noise. German started shooting in every direction. What's you're thoughts on the crucified soldier

[@HistoryHustle]

I believe that was war time propaganda from after 1914.

[@craftpaint1644]

Reminds me of that book "A War to be Won." 👩‍🔧🇺🇲🛠️🇷🇺

[@HistoryHustle]

Please explain.

[@effendi77]

Thanks for an excellent and fair account. Although the atrocities WERE committed, the role of the anglo-american press then was as deplorable as it would be in later conflicts, to this day. If baron northcliffe was exaggerating german atrocities in Belgium, he was quite about the anglo imperalists' role in African and Asia, especially the South Asia and later the grand tool of british elite's obfuscation, which was the beeb, would refuse to publish Soviet reports of Nazi German atrocities at an extreme scale, in the Soviet Union, as was also refused by the American media, which had widely published and reported on Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction, which would lead to a tide of public opinion that supported the disastrous, for everybody, war against the Iraq despot. Somehow, in South Asia, BBC has been put on the pedestal, as if its word and reporting is the gospel of truth, very few understand the power of the english elite who use it to peddle the most vile propaganda, probably far worse than joseph goebbels', that nazi vermin.

[@mammuchan8923]

Yip, that’s politicians for you. You hardly hear of the Concentration Camps established in the 2nd Boer War and how the men, women and especially children suffered and died there.

[@KR-jt4ut]

The first day of the German invasion, August 4th, 1914, already 127 civilians were executed. At that moment, the invading army didn't have any casualties yet ... there were no "franc-tireurs"... the first week, the German invador had excuted about 1.000 people....

[@effendi77]

@Fabian Kirchgessner yes, I am aware of how the anglos handled the Easter Uprising in 16.

[@effendi77]

@@KR-jt4ut and we, the Punjabi Nation, have our Jallianwala Bagh, not by any invading jackboots, but by the local 'government', the anglos!

[@effendi77]

@@mammuchan8923 including that. Incidentally, it was the Boer Wars which gave the racist gandhi his first platform, that would eventually allow him enough clout to cause the horror which Punjab suffered, during the partition of 1947.

[@shutup2751]

look at the crimes britain committed in ireland during this period

[@HistoryHustle]

Whataboutism.

[@dieterbarkhoff1328]

@@HistoryHustle The Israelis say this every time they are accused of committing crimes and ethnic cleansing against Palestinians. You are a kind of King of Whataboutism, in that every one of your progroms against Germans is another example of , And if you think what the Germans did in Paris in 1870, what about what they did in....You are a fraud, Stefan. There are British war historians these days who paint a much broader, fairer picture about these times than you and your kind will never even mention let alone contemplate.

[@shutup2751]

@@HistoryHustle not really the crimes committed by the british in ireland during this period were far worse

[@redemptiondenied8411]

@@shutup2751 even funnier when you learn that it was the British in their colonies and anglo Americans who first pioneered Social Darwinism and Racial science. And yet they want to pan off the blame of all the world's warcrimes onto the Germans.

[@finallyfriday.]

Everyone wants a nice little war with parades, bands, medals and heros. People died? Who'd have thought that?! One side's villians is the other side's hero. Well balanced video. Thanks

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for watching!

[@jokodihaynes419]

"Germans attack louvain women and clergy shot"-New York Tribute

[@HistoryHustle]

Not far from the truth.

[@buckgulick3968]

"Not enlisting?? While the Germans are crucifying kittens on church doors in Belgium!!?" (Old woman in the movie Gallipoli) That line still cracks me up and showed how important propaganda was during WW1 to get the public outraged.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing.

[@edwardheida2919]

Concerning propaganda, it is hard not to embrace when it says ‘hooray for us’ and ‘those guys are bad’ . National pride and manipulation makes it easier and may be necessary to gain support for your side or theirs. Call it a necessary exaggeration to keep the home front from faltering. Gobbels learned it well

[@HistoryHustle]

I can understand.

[@vdreeh8601]

hallo nederlander lol

[@HistoryHustle]

🇳🇱👍

[@vdreeh8601]

@@HistoryHustle EYY SHEESH btw in wo1 was mijn overgroot vader in zijn hoofd geschoten hij was 3 en overleefde het BTW Bedankt om deze videos te maken

[@buddhastaxi666]

Our German cousins, given us so much and also quite ruthless as well.

[@HistoryHustle]

Please explain.

[@tolik5929]

Thats ok , the Soviets paid them back , with interest during , and after WW2 .

[@HistoryHustle]

Two evils don't make one good.

[@Autobotmatt428]

Japan in WW2 did all of that and more.

[@HistoryHustle]

Yeah, but the topic of this video is not Japan, nor WW2.

[@woodenseagull1899]

Germany have certainly ' left its mark on civilisation ' Shame they didn't join it. Instead of creating Cemeteries .!

[@HistoryHustle]

Think they are doing ok nowadays.

[@duwang8499]

Because I am sure that your people never did anything negative in history. Without our contribution in civilization you wouldn't have the car or the modern printing press, among many other things.

[@roystonowl1]

My ex wife's Uncle was christened John Louvain Ross in commemoration of the atrocities.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing.