Hitler Never Gave the Order - So Who Did? - WW2 Special

The structure of decision-making in the Nazi Party and the German government is clouded in ambiguity and implicit power-structures. We explore how this leads to a. rat-race, resulting in an endless spiral of irrational decisions and violence.
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Between 2 Wars: • Between 2 Wars
Source list: bit.ly/WW2sources
Hosted by: Spartacus Olsson
Written by: Joram Appel and Spartacus Olsson
Director: Astrid Deinhard
Producers: Astrid Deinhard and Spartacus Olsson
Executive Producers: Astrid Deinhard, Indy Neidell, Spartacus Olsson, Bodo Rittenauer
Creative Producer: Maria Kyhle
Post-Production Director: Wieke Kapteijns
Research by: Joram Appel
Edited by: Iryna Dulka
Sound design: Marek Kamiński
Map animations: Eastory ( / eastory )
Colorizations by:
Dememorabilia - / dememorabilia
Olga Shirnina, a.k.a. Klimbim - klimbim2014.wo...
Julius Jääskeläinen - / jjcolorization
Sources:
Yad Vashem 4331_15, 7283-146, 48AO4
Soundtracks from the Epidemic Sound:
Philip Ayers - Ominous
Howard Harper-Barnes- Underlying Truth
Craft Case - Secret Cargo
Rannar Sillard - Split Decision
Farrell Wooten - Mystery Minutes (STEMS INSTRUMENTS)
Jon Bjork - For the Many (STEMS INSTRUMENTS)
Philip Ayers - Trapped in a Maze
Archive by Screenocean/Reuters www.screenocea....
A TimeGhost chronological documentary produced by OnLion Entertainment GmbH.

[@WorldWarTwo]

This episode explores the source of nazi policy of which we see the effects in our World War Two and War Against Humanity episodes. The more theoretical and analytical nature of episodes like this may cause more debate than usual. We encourage any civil and well-sourced discussion in the comments. We will not, however, tolerate any comments that are in violation of our rules of conduct. They are posted on our forum and I urge anyone to read hem before heading to the comments: community.timeghost.tv/t/rules-of-conduct/4518

[@robertjarman3703]

Saying Hitler didn't give the order is like saying the King never ordered the assassination of Thomas Beckett. Sure Henry never signed a paper directing a specific subordinate to do something on this date, but he gave plenty of clues and made remarks at the cabinet meetings.

[@JoramAppel]

@@robertjarman3703 Did you even watch the episode?

[@jboss119]

So it was basically do what you think hitler wants and get his approval later when the job is done.... it seems so very ineffective and on one hand doesn't seem to fit with his skill and ability to organize.

[@QuizmasterLaw]

stupid wrong title.

[@YiannissB.]

This really reminds of David Irving and his denial that Hitler ordered or even knew at all of the Holocaust.

[@firingallcylinders2949]

I like that this channel addresses many of the myths and assumptions surrounding the war, especially Germany during that era.

[@robert48044]

it's interesting that people don't wish to see the Nazi's as socialist. Then again we live in a time people think socialism and communism are the same thing.

[@jtgd]

@@robert48044 they weren’t socialists though. Socialism doesn’t have a main tenet of depriving other ethnic groups of their existence to promote the betterment of one main ethnic group. They supported collectivism, but not marxism, socialism or communism, which they’ve explicitly condemned for going against their far right social views, which isn’t related to socialism. Hitler and his Nazis focused on providing the advancement of the German people specifically, which is why Nazi Germany practiced collectivism. They did not however seek to eliminate the bourgeoisie, but to eliminate non-german people, culture and influence from German society.

[@WorldWarTwo]

@Joey Dyker kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3mkf2CIha-Hn6c

[@robert48044]

@@jtgd Hitler said he was a socialist. Just because the Nazi form was awful doesn't mean their leader didn't see himself as a socialist. You can have social programs for some and hate on another group. He said they weren't capitalist and they weren't communist they were a third type. Just because we want to view socialism as some great thing doesn't mean another group doesn't see their form as a better version even if the rest see's it differently. What's the difference between a Monarch and a Dictator nothing much except it depends how you wish to view the leader (enemy/friend). kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3TOqop4hcaHeZo

[@snooziblu]

@@robert48044 stop participating.

[@SigEpBlue]

Dear KZbin: Quit trying to hold my hand, or shield my eyes. I'm a grown-ass man, I'm subscribed to this channel, and I deliberately clicked on the video. Whoever "flagged" this video is in the wrong.

[@joaohumbertogomes8051]

The problem here isn't so much the flagging. It can be pertinent to give a heads-up (even though, in this case, it's quite obvious what you're getting into). What is extremely frustrating is that you can't turn that off. Even if you're a grown-ass man who is prepared to see content like this, you still have to go through that bureaucracy.

[@donfeeney6153]

I think in actuality that those that might have flagged this video may have been those who would take exception to the dim depiction of the rabid thought process of Nazism described within.

[@randylucas2458]

Anything against socialism is bad in the eyes of the socialists...

[@atheistyoda8915]

@@randylucas2458 National Socialism isn't socialism tho (Not saying I support socialism, it's a shit ideology anyways).

[@steveguild871]

@Jay Koval KZbin is run by a bunch of F'N Nazis, you moron. Get it?

[@jimbo9305]

So it was similar to the mafia. The mafia boss doesn't send a signed letter saying, "Kill so and so." He politely asks the underboss, "Could you take care of this problem?" And like the mafia it makes prosecution of their crimes much more difficult. It's a lot harder to point to direct evidence. A picture of context and unspoken rules and subtle meanings has to be created for the true culpability to be appreciated.

[@robertjarman3703]

Our best prosecution tactics for instances like this remind us of command responsibility. A leader is responsible for the actions of their subordinates. Either that, or the leader is neglecting their responsibilities. Or, the subordinates are committing illegal insubordination. And normally we assume the former in a prosecution case if we can establish some kind of command structure exists at all. Rules like the felony murder rule, and our ability to get those at the lower levels to testify in return for immunity or reduced sentences with witness protection are, when done well, brilliantly capable of bringing down a whole syndicate.

[@jimbo9305]

@@robertjarman3703 Too bad the prosecution of war crimes after WW2 was politically motivated instead of being motivated by justice. Were those principles even around 75 years ago?

[@robertjarman3703]

@@jimbo9305 There were those who had ideas for how to deal with victors justice like the Red Cross. But political expediency came before humanitarianism.

[@molieros]

Exactly. Explicit references to the Fuhrerprincipe and its mirroring of mafia-like operations were also made during the neo-nazi Golden Dawn trials in Greece.

[@RainingPiggies]

@@jimbo9305 Many of those principles have been around for hundreds of years.

[@nipulkradmsinatagras8293]

These *special episodes* like this one are the ones that I'm really looking forward to because of its in-depth analysis and everything in between. Gotta love *Spartacus* for sharing these with us.

[@ronnietarnacke5153]

He is a great orator, he makes you feel it .

[@spartacus-olsson]

Thank you

[@ronnietarnacke5153]

@@spartacus-olsson thank you

[@LuGer212]

gosh, Sparty was born for this. the segments are getting better and better everytime!

[@spartacus-olsson]

Thank you!

[@dogcarman]

Agreed. Gripping, informative, not a second wasted. Love it.

[@cainsy8124]

Yeah, one of the things that struck me when I sat down to study this period was the internal conflict and disorganisation of the Nazi Party and movement in general. It's a far cry from the image and legend created around the Nazis especially from the propaganda. As for Hitler himself I got the impression that he couldn't be arsed with hard work of running a party or a state. And he was much happier indulging himself in his nightmarish fantasies of conquest.

[@dogcarman]

And architecture. He even, with Speer at his side, considered construction methods for their “ruin value” - how the buildings would look thousands of years after construction. But serious work like figuring out a sustainable economy? Nah. Let the peons worry about that.

[@mckenzie.latham91]

And yet him and his government were only able to be stopped after a world wide effort by hundreds of nations and the two front war with Russia as well as cutting of the supply lines and bombing of the nazis industrial power as well as their airbases which prevented/hindered their use of their sonic jet fighter I think the scary thing should be even with how disorganized, corrupt, incompetent and infighting the nazis party and hierarchy was, defeating them was a massive stretch that required massive effort, sacrifice and still could have gone the other way if anything went wrong.

[@mamavswild]

This ‘H’ guy sounds exactly like trump...’anti beurocratic’ (drain the swamp) yet hugely autocratic...he uses both personas to whip his followers into a frenzy...hey! Like a National Socialist!

[@TheGixernutter]

@@mamavswild gwendy .. really?

[@TheGixernutter]

@@mckenzie.latham91 Can you see any comparisons with the USA or China?

[@Valdagast]

I've read _Mein Kampf,_ and - ideology aside - it is not a well-written book. It's a rambling, meandering, stream-of-consciousness text with little to indicate that it was carefully planned and composed. It appears that Hitler just sat down and talked about whatever he wanted to talk about that day and then left the editor to form this into a semi-coherent screed.

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

I wonder where you can read it? 🤔

[@zendon3]

@@luxembourgishempire2826 you can obtain "study versions" of it fairly easily online, which include a foreword by academics

[@Valdagast]

@@luxembourgishempire2826 It was published in Swedish in the 1980s because it was considered an important historical document.

[@timothyhouse1622]

Sounds like Atlas Shrugged.

[@tomservo5007]

@@luxembourgishempire2826 archive . org

[@hiltibrant1976]

I am hugely appreciative of Spartacus' efforts in both this and the WaH series. I strongly feel that exposing the significant flaws, contradictions and outright inhuman aspects of Nazism as a system of government do so much more in duscouraging people from idolizing it than simply demonizing and dismissing it have ever done. War against Humanity, likewise, makes the evil of things like Genocide, racist policies and the Holocaust more fathomable than they have been before, at least to me.

[@spartacus-olsson]

Thank you - it's comments like yours that keep us going.

[@SamaritanPrime]

It's not enough to say "Nazis BAD". The obvious question that follows it is "HOW exactly were they bad?" Videos like this one answer that pretty well.

[@Professor_sckinnctn]

These special episodes are what makes World War Two better than the series on World War One (which I loved, btw): the moral certainty of Spartacus is absolutely justified, putting lie to any claims of the Nazis as a beneficial force for Germany let alone the rest of Europe and the world. Thanks, everyone… this is some of the best stuff on the internet and it's most appreciated.

[@spartacus-olsson]

Thanks

[@hoopsmcgee8272]

Couldn't have said it better. Well done Sparty! And of course the entire crew of Timeghost

[@jokerman9623]

​@@davidw.2791I know this is really late but look up the great war Indy neidell

[@oscarsusan3834]

This stuff isn’t as sexy as tanks planes and big battles. It’s like logistics -without it nothing happens. It’s 2021 now and if you think this isn’t relevant today,don’t say that to my mother and father now in the twilight of their lives who still sweat bullets in their dreams.

[@metal4lifewp]

Some day there will be people debating if it really happened at all. Or they just don't know because it isn't in their interest.

[@maxhouse2409]

@@metal4lifewp Just as there was a Pharaoh that did not know Joseph, there will be Holocaust deniers. Perhaps they will have too much nuclear enrichment on their minds.

[@icygoldenpalace7874]

It's not just relevant because the victims are still alive. It is because many countries are already within the throes of this dysfunction or are teetering on a precarious edge.

[@KOMEKON67]

I have noticed Spartacus' right thumb trembling. I wish him all the best and good health. His analyses are excellent. Thank you.

[@spartacus-olsson]

I have a benign but rather irritating congenital condition that causes my hands to tremble, but thank you for the concern and the kind words.

[@ernestbatiy1070]

It is so important to understand this. The hybrid of extreme organization and chaotic banditry seems incongruous but it worked as a terrifyingly unpredictable government

[@juliuswalsetveit329]

My friend Henning died in a tragic cabin fire on Saturday. This was is no 1 history channel

[@robert48044]

I'm sorry for your loss. May I ask if he died in his sleep or was trapped by the flames? I worry about a house fire and how I would respond.

[@JoramAppel]

I'm so very sorry to hear that. I wish you and his loved ones all the best in the time to come.

[@WorldWarTwo]

From all of us here at the channel, our deepest condolences. Spartacus

[@SirGaryofOak]

I'm sorry for your loss

[@matthewrobinett1012]

My condolences my friend and your friend will be in my prayers tonight

[@zendon3]

In this light, I really hope Spartacus does an in depth look into the Wannsee Conference shortly!

[@WorldWarTwo]

Tomorrow is the 20th of January. On Thursday January 28, War Against Humanity 027, which would normally cover the second half of January comes out. The first January episode (WaH 026) unusually for a half month episode covered events for all of January... you do the math. ;-)

[@zendon3]

@@WorldWarTwo keep up the great (and important) work guys!

[@lausenteternidad]

I spent more than a year making my moustache pointy and when I look at Spartacus' glorious moustache, I can see that he is a man of character, determination, perseverance and strenght of will. Your moustache points are the pins that holds the memory of humanity's history in our minds.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Poetic!

[@lausenteternidad]

@ ?

@@lausenteternidad Chill Winston.

[@SaturnStarOfDavid]

Try corn starch. Good for making pointy cooch staches and keeps the ball bag dry from sweating.

[@johnkochen7264]

Finally a historian who can pronounce German words and names correctly.

[@argr]

He still has to study the pronounciation of Fuhrer!

[@mudcatfrank7537]

In Churchill's "World War II: Their Finest Hour" he made a memo to avoid situations caused by vagueness: "To make sure that my name was not used loosely, I issued during the crisis of July the following minute: '. . . Let it be very clearly understood that all directions emanating from me are made in writing, or should be immediately afterwards confirmed in writing, and that I do not accept any responsibility for matters relating to national defense on which I am alleged to have given decisions, unless they are recording in writing.'"

[@kuroazrem5376]

Finally someone explains this mess in an understandable way!!! Thanks for the great job!!!

[@spartacus-olsson]

Thank you

[@RobTzu]

Spartacus is one of the most fair and non-biased people on youtube. I don't know how you walk the tightrope you do so well, but really well done.

[@spartacus-olsson]

Thanks

[@stevenleslie8557]

When the wicked rule, the people mourn.

[@eddykelly4082]

Noooooo they suffer.

[@steamengine4719]

just like the "democratic USA" right now, people are poor and in heavy debt-enslavement and resort to fentanyl imported from the communist China to cope for it.

[@mbryson2899]

Thank you for this series. It's hard to watch, but it must have been much harder to film. Never forget.

[@sturmkindtraum]

mad respect for Spartacus. covering the most horrible aspects of ww2 in such a sharp, yet elegant and intelligible way, conveying the heaviness and somberness at all times.

[@spartacus-olsson]

Thank you

[@doubledouble4g379]

Wow, last time I was this early, Luigi Cadorna was only on the 4th battle of the Isonzo River ;)

[@kaltaron1284]

Let's hope he keeps going. I'm not out of popcorn yet.

[@TheCimbrianBull]

Wow, that's really early!

[@polyhistorphilomath]

99 Battles of Isonzo on the wall.

[@doubledouble4g379]

@@polyhistorphilomath Problem with that song is that it (and friendly casualties) keep going up...

[@pyatig]

As an American who was born in the Soviet Union in 1975, who’s family members fought and died during the war it was always a shock to me how little most Americans know about the war. Thank you for doing this. If you truly want to know what that war meant to Soviet people watch the KZbin video called Immortal regiment. It’s very moving

[@ednorton47]

Irresponsible leaders like Obama and Biden are egging on the American people to go to war against Russia.

[@romeomatei5692]

@@ednorton47 That is a lie. A right-wing lie.

[@erichaynes7502]

A side note: I'm not positive but I think when Hitler was in prison he recited Mein Kampf to his loyal Rudolf Hess, who typed it up for him. Amazingly Hess lived 42 years past the end of WWII, killing himself in prison in 1987.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Yup, Hess was his personal secretary at the time and actually co-wrote the whole madness.

[@Daniel-kq4bx]

You are doing an extraordinary job Sparty.

[@andrewrolfe4334]

Thank you. Wish I could add an intelligent review of this but unfortunately I’m a man of limited linguistic skills. Love your channel and am so glad that you and some others like you keep this very interesting history alive and fresh in our minds. We must not forget and learn from history.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Don't put yourself down so much Andrew, and anyway, a comment such as yours is the best possible we could receive. We really appreciate your kind words, keep up the support!

[@D.Appeltofft]

As a historian I tip my hat. This was as brief anyone can get without losing in accuracy. I must admit I could expand on this for hours without being able to add anything essential - and I ' ve probably done so in the past...

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you, from one of our peers that means a lot.

[@jeremiahhuckleberry402]

Those who present themselves as 'uniquely gifted' rarely if ever are gifted in any way. Most of the world's geniuses, like great athletes, allow the quality of their work to speak on their behalf, not words of self-glorification. A braggart's words mean nothing to a keen observer of human nature. It's a sure sign of a narcissist, however, who too often believe that they're the brightest bulb in the shed when all evidence points in favor of the opposite argument. Kudos to Sparty, Indie and Astrid for the overall excellence of their work. What an amazing group of gifted people you are. The high quality of your videos continues to amaze me. You seem to raise the bar with every new video series you make.

[@hoopsmcgee8272]

Best channel on KZbin. Here is a nice comment for the algorithm.

[@tannhauserr]

Hitler is like that one kid who doesn't do give any effort to the group work but give the order and advices to his colleagues and let them sort it off by themselves

[@FlagAnthem]

that's EXACTLY how he is remembered by close staff members

[@el_rod]

Even here in Israel where studying the holocaust is mandatory in high-schools doesn't reach the same level of detail and feeling this show gives me. Keep it on guys! Let me and the rest of us remember to live on for those who have been perished, not repeating the mistakes of the past.

[@spartacus-olsson]

Thank you

[@richiew71]

The quality of this channel is superb, it makes history, discovery and other huge productions looks like amateurs

[@spartacus-olsson]

Thank you!

[@cislordsoyblue1349]

To quote rabbi Mendel Kessin, "Hitler was a tremendous traitor to Germany."

[@mikewoodman7700]

Notice how Spartacus builds up towards the end, his disgust of the Nazis to really bring home what they achieved during World War 2

[@Artur_M.]

Great episode! We tend to have the stereotype of the Germans as obsessed with order and imagine the totalitarian Third Reich as some precise bureaucratic machine. The reality, as usual, is more complicated. This whole system of "controlled" chaos and encouraged rivalry is for example the reason why gauleiters Arthur Greiser and Albert Forster were realizing the task of germanizing the incorporated into the Reich Polish territories under their rule with different methods and policies towards the ethnically Polish (and Kashubian) population.

[@maciejniedzielski7496]

Greiser was worse?

[@Artur_M.]

@@maciejniedzielski7496 Pretty much, or at least Forster was more pragmatic and less racist, so under him you could be pressured to sign the Volksliste, instead of being simply kicked out of your house and deported to the General Government (for Greiser this was a heresy and crime against the purity of the German blood or something and he complained about it to Himmler and Hitler). Of course this ment that now you could be conscripted to the Wehrmacht. I'm also not knowledgeable to tell under whom you would be more statistically likely to be simply shot or send to a concentration camp.

[@susansinsua5583]

Shouldn't it be demonised not demonetised?

[@dentoncrimescene]

In not trying to be funny at all but hitler sounds a lot like my boss and how he works (doesn't work).

[@tomservo5007]

work ? That's what you are for

[@RiderOftheNorth1968]

Sound like you work in the White House?

[@cardenasr.2898]

We've all have that kind of manager who wants everyone to work hard as hell but never does anything, good for giving orders but incapable of having order in their own acts

[@vksasdgaming9472]

@@cardenasr.2898 "Don't just stand there, do something" is not particularly good order to give.

[@TheCimbrianBull]

This sounds like the movie "Office Space".

[@medplutonium8932]

Thank you guys for making these videos they always interest me

[@timothyhouse1622]

Spoiler: I suspect this is a lead in to a War Against Humanity Special for January 20.

[@morisco56]

Why?

[@hadewanto1898]

@@morisco56 just search what happened in january 20 1942

[@DavidChipman]

@@hadewanto1898 Wansea (sp?) conference?

[@airborne31582]

Wansee conference

[@matthewrobinett1012]

🤫 shhhh

[@Whendoeswhatismatter]

I truly have a deep appreciation for the work that you guys have done in order to provide us with a compendium of the human atrocities that took place in the two World Wars. I was hooked to Indy neidell's game show host/ radio announcer like delivery in 2014 during the Prelude to World War in the Great War Channel. Thank you all very much from the bottom of my heart.

[@WorldWarTwo]

And we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your faithful viewership.

[@gefilte86]

Isn't it ironic that Gobbles's "Eternal Jew" exhibition in late 30' depicted faithfully the Nazis themselves?

[@yomama9538]

How so, exactly?

[@thechekist2044]

@@yomama9538 depicting genocidal power hungry people trying to take over the world.

[@Made_In_Heavenn]

@@thechekist2044 sounds like communism...

[@thechekist2044]

@@Made_In_Heavenn Ok nazi weeb vermin.

[@NoahBodze]

@@thechekist2044 You identify as a chekist, you absolute fuck. You'll never be right about anything, stupid.

[@tomgjgj]

One shudders to imagine what may have happened to europe if there had been a succession crisis.

[@alexandercaires5921]

The New Order and Thousand Wek Reich mods allow you to play through that situation....it's a mess *edit: Hearts of Iron 4 mods

[@hughbowden5696]

@@alexandercaires5921 TWR > TNO

[@Claytone-Records]

Infernal460, Putin would love to give us a hand, eh?

[@3dcomrade]

@@hughbowden5696 TWR= TNO. TWR have far less content for now

[@CausticSpace]

@@alexandercaires5921 Those mods are very historically inaccurate. They are fun great mods, but not something to go off of historically.

[@gawaineross7607]

Historians have said that Hitler was lazy. That makes sense considering his aversion to paperwork. Your take paints him as less than a politician and more as an idol or prophet, which also makes sense. After all, prophets are not rational.

[@alexandershtumpf9373]

And this makes sense. Scholars tend to compare National Socialism (and Bolshevism and Italian Fascism for that matter too) to religious movements.

[@filipkopec525]

You know, managing to annex 2 countries in Europe without the breakout of war requires some political skills

[@jamestheotherone742]

That is not an accurate characterization. Hitler and his henchmen knew what they were doing was unethical, immoral, and illegal, which is why there was a lack of paperwork trail, not that he was too lazy to do it. He had plenty of people who could have done the paperwork for him. They were German after all. The mob doesn't take written minutes of their meetings.

[@Rapid1453]

interestingly, stalin was the polar opposite of hitler. stalin constantly reformed the state agencies & believed it was perfectly possible to run a state through documents. he would read hundreds of documents (incl written remarks & signoff) during 16 hour workdays. even when he had his 2-3 month summer vacations in sochi he would still receive hundreds of reports daily. he finally reached his limit during the great terror, when he had to appoint plenipotentaries & send them to the republics because he couldn't review all the execution lists himself anymore. (source: 'Stalin: Waiting for Hitler, 1929-1941' by S. Kotkin)

[@YekouriGaming]

@@jamestheotherone742 They knew it was illegal and other powers, such as the Allies who had signed the Hague convention would execute them all on the spot, even worse with the Soviets. It is why they tried to burn and conceal everything.

[@dyerex54]

Mr Olsson I wish I had you as a history teacher in school

[@SilentHotdog28]

You have a really calming voice. Love history, especially WW1 and WW2, so this channel is a great fit for me.

[@greenkoopa]

Nazis were and are monsters. Let us never forget 🙏

[@greenkoopa]

As an aside: I am truly...not impressed, but...the fact that they were so successful for so long when the bosses at the top were always at each others throats and throwing each other under the bus. Overlapping commands and areas of influence just to keep them fighting for the number 2 spot. The fact that they could maneuver through all this shows how deeply they wanted to murder people

[@Masada1911]

The worst Nazi was still a human being. Calling them monsters is wrong and reductive.

[@zaxxxppe]

no, no they were not. That is the mistake people make with understanding history and human behavior. It is the longer, yet more honorable path to be truthful to yourself and acknowledge that such people were not monsters, yet humans. It is much more sobering to understand that humans are able to do such things to one another then to label them as "monsters"

[@eck3319]

By de-humanizing them as monsters, one will not recognize the nazi in oneself. How can you be a monster, right? You know you are a human only with best intentions.

[@vksasdgaming9472]

Remember this German philosopher's insight before labeling people: "“He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster . . . when you gaze long into the abyss the abyss also gazes into you”.

[@riddleof]

Excellent episode Spartacus ! Very well put together, delivered and with great comments.

[@spartacus-olsson]

thanks

[@riddleof]

@@spartacus-olsson Thanks for the whole series ! Lived in Stockholm for a number of years and new Indy. Not sure if we ever met.

[@tancreddehauteville764]

It doesn't matter as to who gave the order, because as chief executive of the German government it was Hitler who bore ultimate responsibility. If he was not the one who gave the order then he must have been aware of what was happening, and if he wasn't then he was too lazy to be kept informed of all the things that were being done in his name, and that would make him criminally incompetent. He therefore remains the chief culprit. If a cruise ship sinks with massive loss of life after hitting some rocks while the captain is having sex with a hooker in his cabin, he is still responsible for the consequences, even if it was someone else who steered the ship to the rocks.

[@JoramAppel]

This video doesn't seek to pin (ultimate) responsibility on anyone, or to take it away from anyone. It attempts to for a part explain how the mass-murder of the Jews, Roma and Sinti was able to happen, how it spiralled and why there were no breaks as to the depths that the nazis descended in - despite the lack of detailed instructions from the very top.

[@mark_sugar42]

@@JoramAppelthe OP says “boss is held responsible “

[@kingotime8977]

This might be one of, if not the best, video on this channel! Great job Spartacus!

[@spartacus-olsson]

That is a huge compliment - thank you.

[@thexalon]

When you study this stuff, it sure looks like people who think of themselves as "uniquely gifted" are actually pretty dumb. Bear that in mind when you encounter people who think of themselves as "uniquely gifted".

[@TheRetu81]

It's the Dunning-Kruger effect running in full force.

[@Aradim90]

It's easy to think that when you haven't achieved anything in your life and cherry pick only the bad, some of the people that have have claimed to be gifted have achieved a lot and just by cherry picking the bad doesn't mean they were stupid for thinking so. That's especially true for the Germans who we owe much of the scientific advancement of the entire 19th and 20th century, on top of that they joined a war against overwhelming odds 20 years prior and it was actually close, just 40 years after becoming a nation. After so many amazing achievements, thinking you are "gifted" is actually a pretty modest reaction.

[@TLTeo]

Absolutely. My Master's thesis supervisor (an astrophysicist who pretty much revolutionized his field) always said "Either you're Martin Rees, whose work speaks for itself to the point where he never has to brag about it, or you're not, in which case there's someone who is far, far smarter than you. Either way, there's no reason to show off". For context, Martin Rees is arguably the greatest theoretical astrophysicist of the second half of the 20th century.

[@thexalon]

@@Aradim90 I didn't call the Germans dumb, I called the Nazis dumb. And some of the brightest minds of Germany, such as Albert Einstein, were hated by the Nazis for being Jewish.

[@TLTeo]

@@thexalon or even somewhat related to Jews, like Enrico Fermi.

[@pauls7863]

This theory of Hitler's leadership explains the actions of Rudolf Hess.

[@RaymondCore]

This is a super well-made series. Thank you.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks for your appreciation, a lot of work goes into each episode.

[@rabihrac]

A rare eye-opening episode that reveals how Hitler's & Nazi minds and spirits work and shed light on human nature too. Keep up the great work Spartacus! From a viewer who comes from a country, Lebanon, that were never reached by Hitler's armies

[@artawhirler]

One of the best episodes of the whole series! Thanks!

[@andyreznick]

Well done, Mr. Olsson. Somehow I always presumed the Nazi government was a relatively well-oiled machine. This ran counter to most everything I took for granted. Excellent video, sir.

[@spartacus-olsson]

Thank you

[@toastytoast9800]

it was a huge slow, inefficient bureacratic machine

[@lincolnhaldorsen5649]

Hitler was economically centrist, not reactionary. The National Socialist economic program was not laissez-faire capitalist.

[@NoahBodze]

Hitler was reactionary, but to communism, which is a reactionary idea itself. His movement was a reaction to a reaction, like fascism, but still left, not centrist. Collectivist societies - ones based on the state, not the individual - can not be politically, right wing, or even centrist, either. Even fascism is left wing, and National Socialism is to the left of that. If you took the Nazi 25 point plan and replaced "Jew" for Billionaire, then it would be to the left of Bernie Sanders, though Sanders people would still love it. Even WEB Dubois, a black American intellectual, sitting in Berlin in 1936, called Germany the "great exemplar of marxian socialism" second only to the soviet union.

[@lincolnhaldorsen5649]

@@NoahBodze When I’m saying centrist here, I’m just trying to note economic policies. The collectivist nature of national socialism was meant to parallel Marxian socialism though.

[@lincolnhaldorsen5649]

@@NoahBodze The nazis were certainly a radical movement, not a conservative or reactionary one.

[@rayraycthree5784]

If the government was so laissez-faire faire, how did they build the autobahn and so quickly develop their military industrial complex?

[@WorldWarTwo]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3mkf2CIha-Hn6c&t

[@girininkasable]

Recently I am very interested in how Third Reich was governed. Very informative and objective video, thanks!

[@jimthorne304]

Hitler was basically an idle fantasist; however he had some highly effective underlings, e.g. Himmler, Goebbels, Boorman who were able to 'work to the Fuhrer'

[@snakehead404]

Phenomenal emotion in this one, conveyed really well.

[@spartacus-olsson]

Thanks

[@ivefabris7690]

It is possible to make the same video but for fascist Italy, Mussolini came to power 10 years before Hitler, but he had to share some of its power with the king...

[@WorldWarTwo]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWrJdK2Ah5tjq7M

[@peterbinkley7545]

I always feel like I've done something wrong after watching Sparty at the end of these videos. I'm so sorry!

[@TheCimbrianBull]

You naughty boy!

[@DarkCylon]

If Sparty has kids, I'd imagine they're well behaved.

[@spartacus-olsson]

@@DarkCylon my daughter is by now a wonderful grownup woman, and she has always had good manners, but 'well behaved' is certainly not a way I would describe her, neither as a child nor a grownup. Her mother says that our daughter has always had me twisted around her little finger - I love her to bits just as she is though.

[@thebog11]

@@DarkCylon You will get to meet her once COVID vaccines are widespread!

[@PlatYellow]

Sparacus you were a pretty damn good host when I started watching you on these videos, but you have somehow gotten better.

[@lynnwood7205]

The novel, Night of the Generals, explains in backdrop to its story, the fractured and often battling components of the Nazi regime.

[@zoomonkeydotcom2005]

I like this guys vocal intonation... he’s not boring

[@alundavies8402]

As an English person I am told never forget every November and I obey that rule as we must never forget ever

[@alundavies8402]

11. November it’s Remembrance Day for all of the fallen that fought so that we might be free they have nothing but my deepest respect

[@styx4947]

The question I always tell people to ask themselves is, "would Hitler have shut down the camps if he saw them?"

[@Eric-10101]

No he wouldn’t, because he had no morals or character.

[@PlanckRelic]

The thematic parallels with the leader of a modern American movement are even stronger than I had realized, just wow.

[@dr.lyleevans6915]

Stop drinking the kool aid

[@CausticSpace]

I forget people actually believe this :/

[@cardenasr.2898]

Not giving written orders and giving contradicting orders to various people meant that Hitler could always blame others for the failure, since they didn't "understand his intentions". I always thought it was a miracle how this mess of a "government" ever got things done but your explanation of how the Nazis sort of implanted their people in pre-existing institutions helped me understand how that happened. Very nice video.

[@gregwalker1913]

Excellent piece Spartacus! I also thought that the 1941 Einsatzgruppen squads were disastrous for the German cause because it turned millions of people like the Ukrainians, the Baltic States, etc into ardent anti Nazis. They hated the Communist regime in Moscow and could have been used to fight them. Instead, many of them joined partisan movements against the Germans.

[@lincolnhaldorsen5649]

The Einsatzgruppen only consisted of in its peak 3,000 men. Not a lot when compared to the sizes of armies in World War 2. And it’s not like they were using that much resources like planes, tanks, artillery, and ships. At most, what they were using was submachine guns and automobiles. Also, the execution squads were radically loyal to the National Socialist cause and had no qualms with executing for Hitler.

[@WorldWarTwo]

The murdering itself did not drain that much resources, nor require fantastic amounts of logistics - using that much ammunition did have material negative effect at the front though, rounding up millions of people to murder them did, creating and maintaining ghettos and camps did, to not mention the effect on morale which was disastrous.

[@lincolnhaldorsen5649]

@@WorldWarTwo well on the morale question, it depends. Many of the people doing the killing were not soldiers and were police or civilians so I’d argue it may not have much of an effect

[@GreaterGermanRepublic]

Truly a fascinating video glad you covered this topic it was quite interesting.

[@thegunslinger1363]

I got "The Holocaust: A New History" but I haven't got round to reading it yet. It's scary that the majority of those involved in the Holocaust. Had very normal upbringings.

[@mamavswild]

‘Those who have been made to believe absurdities can be made to commit atrocities’ ...Voltaire

[@derin111]

Even when it is explained, it is still completely confusing and opaque !

[@gardreropa]

Brilliant and masterful analysis! Thank you Mr. Spartacus and Co.! Never forget!

[@spartacus-olsson]

Thanks

[@Dev_Six]

Freedom of speech and press, presumption of innocence fly out of the window.

[@matthewwicks1809]

This is a fantastic episode. There isn't enough content and focus on the chaotic paper shuffling and bottom-up policy creation! Great to see this ep smashing any outdated view of Nazi Germany as some massive united monolith.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@jliller]

"Will no one rid me of these meddlesome people I don't like?"

[@nefersguy]

Outstanding insight, rational deductive interpretation of history. As an historian I can say this is one of best and most accurate commentary on Nazi policy implementation.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you for your nice words colleague!

[@michaelkovacic2608]

Very interesting video! This leads us to the question of whether Hitler was a strong or a weak dictator. I would love to hear Spartacus' or Indy's thoughts on this.

[@dannyc8876]

This channel rules, the way this man transmits historical information is very engaging

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks, Danny!

[@lamarepository248]

Suddenly “anarcho fascism” doesn’t seem so strange

[@tomchastain7931]

You mean it sounds exactly like the operation of the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT?!!!!!

[@CausticSpace]

@@tomchastain7931 this has to be ironic

[@Goldenspiderducck]

11:15 The “Well...” that follows is loaded like a gunslinger in an old western who has been insulted for the last time, downs a shot of whiskey, pushes his stool back from the bar, and flicks his eyes in the direction of the poker playing villains. Love it. Keep up the fight, Spartacus & crew.

[@spartacus-olsson]

We do our best to cowboy up as needed - thanks.

[@Lukegriz77]

Never thought I’d hear Strasser described as a “centrist” or “left leaning”

[@WorldWarTwo]

You can check about "Strasserism" for more details

[@Darwinek]

I wonder if there was any family relation to Julius Straßer of Völkischer Beobachter "fame".

[@WorldWarTwo]

@@Darwinek you’re thinking of Julius Streicher and “Der Stürmer” - VB was Rosenberg’s publication.

[@Darwinek]

@@WorldWarTwo You are totally right of course. I got lost in that mess myself. :)

[@NoahBodze]

You should always hear them that way. They helped write the 25-point plan which is decidedly left wing. I mean, replace "jew" for billionaire in that plan and it's too lefty for even moderate Bernie Sanders fans.

[@thedeadcannotdie]

While the thousand year Reich only lasted twelve, that still seems pretty lucky for such a messy government

[@tomjustis7237]

"...keep the memories of our past mistakes and successes alive." Has there ever been a more profound sentiment? It seems to me that today many people (here in the U.S.) want to focus only on our past mistakes while completely ignoring our successes. IMHO, that is as much a departure from the truth as focusing only on our successes while ignoring our mistakes. We must see and accept both, and accept them both honestly, if we are going to advance. Otherwise we will eventually fall into the same trap that devoured Germany, one side gaining supremacy and forcing their beliefs onto the other. I am sure there will be those who say I am a paranoid who sees monsters under his bed. To those I give this quote; "Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it." If you really pay attention, REALLY pay attention, you will see we have not learned and are truly repeating history.

[@choice12ozborne]

The way the Nazis supported Hitler after the war tells us something. They would've claim he didn't know.

[@nureyevhaas1299]

This man is fantastic. Truly a worthy cohort alongside Indy.

[@spartacus-olsson]

Thank you

[@Scrubbiestscrub]

8:44 Spartacus either deepens his voice by 3 octaves or burps when saying "well" xD

[@WorldWarTwo]

Your choice...

[@rtsgod]

yay youtube didn't block this video (yet at the time of writing this) man, context is totally lost on the algorithm.

[@toastytoast9800]

it is just a algorithm, not the best at this job

[@georgewilliams8448]

Another excellent video showing that a lot of time and care was taken in researching, writing and filming it!

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks George, we're glad you appreciate the hard work :)

[@jamestheotherone742]

@14:35 This can't be overstated. The diversion of resources and manpower into operations in the rear areas along with the resulting loss of any chance of winning the populations (esp in Ukraine) led directly to the failure of the best (only) chance they had of Barbarossa succeeding. The same psychotic motivation of the enterprise was its own downfall.

[@toastytoast9800]

it was ingrained in their ideology, the nazi party belived in the stab in the back idea, so they didn't want a repeat

[@jamestheotherone742]

@@toastytoast9800 Nazi antisemitism and general selective racism was a rationale that justified (to themselves) the immoral theft of territory and property, which was their principle motivation.

[@literallynothinghere9089]

This intro statement was savage

[@Vyril447]

You’re very intense when doing these. It’s very well done. We can tell your very passionate about the horror of it all. Good job. Please keep it up!

[@pongthrob]

*Very* insightful video, excellently done.

[@ClaireR3]

Lol at least in the intro the closed captioning and what Sparty is saying is definitely not matching

[@andyreznick]

Yeah, I kept bouncing back and forth between the two and missed both.

[@andersondossantosoliveira2772]

thats a glorious suit and tie. With professional glamour befitting to a gent like spartakus who takes his work seriously. fantastic video as a always.

[@TheOdions]

Kinda scary when comparing CCP with the Nazi party there can be found a lot identical behaviour. Never forget but it seems some have

[@caryblack5985]

All dictatorships have this in common: perpetuate their power and destroy their enemies, usually by execution.

[@cliffa2901]

Martin's you could say the same thing about the way the USA . The way it's heading at the moment.

[@friendhui4320]

Top notch production.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you!