How Hitler, Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin Spent Christmas - WW2 Special

[@WorldWarTwo]

Join the TimeGhost Army: bit.ly/WW2_SPECIAL_073_PI In case you missed it, this war has lasted for many years now. That means seasons, and holidays, come and go. You can't stop the calendar from moving. So sometimes, warring leaders need to take time to celebrate important occasions in their respective nations, and generally just get along with non-war-related aspects of their lives. At TimeGhost, we always try our best to show the entire historical spirit of a time, not just the major events, which means we also need to cover the personal aspects like Christmas. Read our code of conduct before commenting: community.timeghost.tv/t/forum-rules-and-guidelines/5

[@caryblack5985]

I don't think so. He was for many years a vegetarian and did not smoke or drink.

[@Sandwich13455]

Merry Christmas!

[@Wustenfuchs109]

Just a small note here - in USSR majority of people were members of the Orthodox Christianity that still used the old Julian calendar. So Christmas was not actually on 24-25 December but 6-7th January. As it is today in Serbia and churches that follow Moscow Patriarchate. Other Orthodox Christian churches mostly adopted the Revised Julian calendar (Milanković Calendar). So, naturally, there were no celebrations of Christmas on December 24-25th in USSR. There have never been, not even in Imperial times. Always on January 6-7th. Only on a smaller local level in regions there Roman Catholic population was dominant, was the celebration in December.

[@ViridianDelta]

I'll note that the audio is slightly different. Is it because of the new studio?

[@WarblesOnALot]

@@julianshepherd2038 G'day, Pull your head in, Pilgrim. Hitler WAS indeed a Vegetarian, it's a matter of historical record ; which has annoyed every other Vegetarian on the Planet since the 1930s. Maybe he was turned off eating dead animals during his 4 years of living in a hole in the ground while people around him were being blown into their Anatomical components scattered about the landscape, eating "Altermann" ( "Old Man", Wehrmacht slang for tinned Salted Horsemeat) - during WW-1. Just(ifiably ?) sayin'. Such is life, Have a good one... Stay safe. ;-p Ciao !

[@whyy9951]

Makes sense there was little celebration of Christmas in the Soviet Union on Dec 25th, Orthodox Christmas is January 7th!

[@BurningFyre]

Not to mention state atheism is still the law in the Soviet Union. So individuals may celebrate the solstice, but its not a big deal there.

[@ericbooth3393]

@@BurningFyre Churches were still allowed to exist, just not a lot of them. The vast majority of the ethnic Russian population was Christian, and no amount of Stalinist oppression was going to change that. The Lord always wins!!

[@fatihsaidduran]

@@BurningFyre If I remember Stalin's birthday was celebrated in the 18th.

[@frast9201]

Some orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on dec 25.

[@BurningFyre]

@@ericbooth3393 a weird stance for christianity where nobody needed one, but ok

[@thepepper191]

Churchill and Roosevelt: Wholesome family Christmas Hitler: Depressing bunker Yep, pretty much what I expected

[@keen7609]

Yes artificial days of bonding that are, all too generally, purely ceremonial as opposed......focusing on a war effort.

[@jakubpociecha8819]

Stalin: Procrastinating

[@kjj26k]

​@@keen7609 Clearly the grindset is working out for him.

[@WilliamSperber]

​@keen7609 Well, looking at all the countries today, I'd rather have been ANYONE of them, but the USSR lmao

[@denvan3143]

Hitler: I’m dreaming of a Reich Christmas… Churchill: ‘Twas the Convoy Before Christmas… Roosevelt: All I Want for Christmas is an Atom Bomb… Stalin: Rudolph the Red Reindeer.

[@jordanmorris5827]

A few I thought of: American soldiers in Italy: "I'll be in Rome for Christmas." Germany in 1945: "Single Shell Wehrmacht" (Jingle Bell Rock) Aircrew of the Enola Gay: "Let it Blow, Let it Blow, Let it Blow"

[@rosswebster7877]

Churchill and FDR definitely sound a lot more fun to hang out with during Christmas time.

[@madpig7120]

Not just in christmas Time

[@ej4122]

You dont say

[@albiagioni100]

Churchill was a magnificent pal to drink a scotch. FDR? There were the PR’s intentions, of course, but I don’t remember one single picture where he wasn’t smiling or at least with an energetic facial expression.

[@Saurophaganax1931]

Partying with Hitler would just be listening to him endlessly complaining and blaming all his failures on his underlings. Stalin on the other hand would be a terrifying affair where you’re endlessly forced to throw back vodka and make small talk with the tacit understanding that anything you say could land you in a basement with a bullet in your head.

[@MrCr1spy1]

Whether you're in a bunker or at home, merry Christmas, guys! Happy holidays!

[@glennpettersson9002]

Merry Christmas 😁

[@shark180]

Merry Christmas *From my bunker*

[@matthewwarbington4125]

merry christmas from my bunker as well

[@WilliamLessa]

Merry Xmas!!!

[@pineapplethief4418]

true home is somewhere where there are thick concrete walls 30 feet under

[@Shanghai_cola]

"journalists refrain from taking any compromising photographs" How the times have changed

[@muovi2463]

Now it's not that direct. It's just implied.

[@BurningFyre]

They didnt take pictures of a disabled man needing help when he needed it or being awkward as he moved around. Do you think people who do that now are praised?

[@AlaskaErik]

Nothing has changed. With Roosevelt, they hid his polio. With Biden, they hide his dementia.

[@muovi2463]

@@AlaskaErik Yep. Corporations own the government, corporations own the media.

[@silverdeathgamer2907]

It hasn't really especially in the US, journalists are very desperate to remain on good terms with politicians to retain access(eg. letting their political advisors and staff clear questions) and remaining neutral instead of being objective as their job entails.

[@Igor_lvanov]

Fun fact. Russian version of Santa Claus is translated into English as Father frost but in Russian it is actually grandpa Frost

[@vladavuksanovic310]

Деда Мраз

[@kjj26k]

He's actually a father but looks like a grandpa, cus vodka.

[@doclank3d6]

Randolph Churchill looked like a young Indy.

[@sergegirard864]

Is Randolph Churchill Indy’s grandfather? What a turn of event this would be. Please, does anyone know the answer?

[@Arbiter099]

@@sergegirard864 He's talked about his grandparents earlier in the series. I don't have the reference to hand though. I want to say it was a 1940 episode.

[@ElectronFieldPulse]

Holy shit, that is exactly what I thought. Uncanny.

[@yourstruly4817]

It's Indy messing up the timeline again, that's why he knows so much about it

[@flashdancer42]

Goddamn I was just gonna comment that same thing! They look so much alike!

[@daviddura1172]

Merry Christmas to everyone at WW2, though we have never met, it feels like we're all friends... thanks for all the great content....

[@WorldWarTwo]

Merry Christmas to you David!!

[@vladimirvonmongol6368]

Mad respect for you guys for the splendid job and the well-done research! Happy Holidays to all of you at TimeGhost!

[@W8RIT1]

Don't forget that many in Russia also don't celebrate Christmas on December 25th, but instead the Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 7th.

[@creatoruser736]

"How do you want us to ship the globe, straight across the Atlantic?" Marshall: "Nah, take the long way."

[@paulklee5790]

We would call it...’Taking the scenic route...’

[@darkogalic5422]

Hahahaha i laughed at that part. Couldn't believe it

[@historyarmyproductions]

@@darkogalic5422 0

[@arthurarthur6813]

Great video as always, Indy and team, but I can’t help but mention some technicalities regarding Christmas in Russia. You see, due to calendar differences (The Russian Empire, as well as Russian Orthodox Church used Julian calendar, which the church uses even today) Christmas in Russia is celebrated on January 7th. Although it wouldn’t have made much difference. The were no official Christmas celebrations at the time and new year was effectively substitute for Christmas. Even now, being born and raised in Moscow, I can tell that not much has changed. New Year in Russia is a way bigger deal than Christmas. Even though the country is quite religious

[@tacob0]

Christmas being heavily celebrated is mostly an american thing.

[@spartacus-olsson]

@@tacob0 ehh no. If you go back the centuries it’s a mostly Northern European thing. Christmas celebrations go back to the Middle Ages, and arguably before that as it is based on the Winter Solstice celebrations of pagan times. Christmas, or Yule has been the second most important Christian holiday after Easter in the British Isles, Scandinavia, and Continental Northern Europe for over a millennia. You’re confusing this with that many modern Christmas traditions were innovated in the US and then made globally popular, like Santa Claus who was developed from a combination of various versions of Saint Nicolaus, the Scandinavian Tomte, and the Slavic Ded Mores all who traditionally brought presents to the children (not as extravagant as today, but still) already hundreds of years ago.

[@sanjasrdanovic3727]

Similar is in todays Serbia. With majority orthodox population, Christmas is celebrated on January 7th (also note that Greek Orthodox use standard calendar, for instance) . And since from 1945 Yugoslavia was communist's country, New Year was forced to be more important than Christmas (but not banned as in SSSR). For NY there are 2 days off, and for Christmas just one.

[@arthurarthur6813]

@@tacob0 can’t say I agree with you. I live in France right now and Christmas seems like a pretty big deal to folks here

[@Philbert-s2c]

@@tacob0 I think you mean Christmas being a spectacle is mostly an American thing...

[@TonGi018]

Excited to watch this and many other WW2 videos during the holidays! I'm happy to have been a supporter for the past year, this content and depth is just unparalleled.

[@WorldWarTwo]

And we're happy to like the content!!

[@alexanderakh4955]

After the nazi invasion Stalin turned to the Russian history (before all the history before October 1917 was actually viewed as a black time of oppression of peasants and workers by rich classes and emperor) and traditions and started legalization of the Orthodox Church. In September 1943 he even had a special meeting with three leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church, many priests were released from prisons, some churches and monasteries were reopened, even some theological educational institutions (seminaries) were re-opened.

[@d.l.8394]

@Deus Vult 1943: how about we try this cu- i mean church thing again 1945: nah fuck this chu- i mean cult thing

[@MemoryOfTheAncestors]

@Deus Vult A new wave of repression against the church began under Khrushchev, much more fierce.

[@yarpen26]

@lati long The post-war Russian Church was heavily infiltrated and controlled, but it was persecuted chiefly as individuals rather than institution: unreliable priests were replaced with others. Also, the Church benefitted greatly from conquering Western Ukraine and Belarus, where it appropriated the Greek Catholic parishes. In any conflict between patriarchies, Stalin would always stand behind Moscow.

[@el0quinn]

It's worth mentioning, that in his wolf's lair bunker on Christmas 1942, Hitler reportedly laid an egg

[@ФилиппЛыков-д8е]

No, it was a brick. Out of fear for what was bound to happen to the 6-th army.

[@evancrum6811]

My buddy is Russian and New Years is HUGE! We used to get together with his family and exchange presents. Lots of fun!

[@shellsbignumber2]

Radio Moscow broadcast a cheery message to the Germans trapped in Stalingrad on Christmas day 1942. ' Every 7 seconds a German soldier dies in Russia, Stalingrad is a mass grave. ' The message ran all day.

[@SpaceMonkeyBoi]

3:38 I know it's just a coincidence, but he looks similar to Indy

[@gunman47]

Thank you for the Christmas special and Happy Holidays everyone!

[@arielx.x]

I love this channel because it always answer the questions I didn't even know I wanted answered

[@Macdunne]

Thanks for these specials, gives us all greater insight during these trying times. Happy holidays to all who celebrate during this time of the season.

[@lukeskywalker3329]

Merry Christmas and thank you Indy, Astrid , Spartacus and team . Thank you for your brilliant historical documentaries . I am lacking funds and can't subscribe. But I have shared all your channels with my learned colleagues. I have been convalescence for 4 months . And your documentaries have provided a great distraction during this difficult time . I wish you the best as your product is in easy bite size but the highest quality historical documents I have seen . Very paltable and comprehensive. I hope universities see this . You can submit this as a joint thesis . You are all professors and not in the Moriarty mould !

[@WorldWarTwo]

Our thoughts on this difficult time are with you! We wish to you a speedy recovery, from now on!

[@vasilerogojan4520]

This special is such a good "Christmas gift".

[@frederikbjerre427]

Great video as always, merry Christmas to you all.

[@xmaniac99]

He great irony is that while Ciano (Italy’s foreigns minister) was negotiating with Hitler about the “separate peace”: the king was ready to send his envoy General Giovanni Messe on a top secret mission to negotiate exactly that … happy christmas everyone, peace be upon you and between all peoples and religions!

[@68Boca]

Most likely, because nobody trusted Ciano. Especially if their wives were around. Much like his idiotic Father in Law, he was incompetent, vacuous and self important. But , I hear he was great fun at parties. A classic example of "It's not what you know, but who you know"

[@xmaniac99]

@@68Boca Ciano's greed and callousness was one of the reason his father in law occupied Albania. And he wanted to expand his fiefdom into Greece and Iugoslavia. But in the end he got what he deserved.

[@pajo103]

Ciano did everything in his power to keep Italy out of the war. Do some research gents

[@serdradion4010]

Logical move since Italy was not prepared for the big war against G.Britain, US and USSR. They could not winn the Greece one on one.

[@zoltanszabo543]

Köszönjük!

[@quintinjansevanvuuren9638]

"You're my world." - George Marshall to Winston Churchill

[@Ragnar1961s]

Tack!

[@vasilerogojan4520]

I remember the good old days tree years ago when the "red tsar" hoped that the war with Finland would be finished until his 59th birthday.

[@infernosgaming8942]

Don’t know if it will be included at some point but a neat fact is that there was a fascination with Christmas in “The Kessel” (6th army surrounded in Stalingrad). Rations were exchanged, bunkers were decked out with Christmas decor, it was quite fascinating.

[@steenkigerrider5340]

I am always utterly relived when it is finally January the second.

[@aarondemiri486]

love that your still making videos on history

[@carlcramer9269]

As a child I visited Moscow over Christmas in the 70s. They were still celebrating New Year's with Father Frost.

[@Okido24]

Hey guys, a late happy Christmas and very good new year! I took a break during my (forced) holidays. I do not like to watch violence related stuff during the Christmas holidays. Suddenly I get this old feeling. Yes teenage panic. I AM FALING BEHIND IN MY STUDY! I need to plan a ww2 week by week night! It’s already two hours of footage. And every week I wait it will be more. Tonight I’ll catch up before an other Saturday passes by. You guys do an amazing job. I truly see this as in dept visual study of 6 years. I cannot thank you enough. I’ll push back to be current;)

[@legatvsdecimvs3406]

My grandmother always celebrated Eastern Orthodox Christmas traditionally, including in the USSR. There was no gift giving tradition for that day. As a national tradition it started in the USSR for New Years. New Years would come December 31 and a Christmas dinner would be January 6th, the day before Orthodox Christmas(January 7th). Christmas dinner would be without meat and would feature only a few food items - beans, potato pirogies, mushrooms, pickles and such. Nothing fancy. Generally New Years dinner would be more festive.

[@naveenraj2008eee]

Hi Indy Awesome and interesting episode.. Merry christmas to you,sparty,astrid and your team.. Enjoy the festive season..

[@mrmagaffy6570]

What a good ep even in times of.war is all ways a time of joy on Christmas with that said happy Christmas and New year's indi and crew and every one that sees this ❤️

[@agbook2007]

11:12 I didn’t know Alan Rickman‘s Sheriff of Nottingham was Soviet...

[@necromorph1109]

Always relate and think of the soldiers in the field who probably got extra rations or special rations .

[@ElectronFieldPulse]

@@artiombeknazaryan7542 - That actually sounds pretty plausible, lol. Imagine how depressed they were, it had to be hell.

[@micksherman7709]

I saw a library book with a picture of British soldiers in the Western Desert tucking into their Christmas pudding. Someone had written next to it 'Propaganda picture! We never got any pud.'

[@stanbrekston]

what an interesting angle of WW2. well done. & it's also gratifying to see your number of subscribers continue to grow. i can remember just a couple of months ago, you were just under 650,000. now you're over 683,000! it's just a testament to a marvelous series with top flight narrators. again, well done.

[@richardsimms251]

As usual, another very, very well done presentation and education. Thank you Indie, and all your staff. RS. Canada

[@annehersey9895]

You might want the engraved Cigar case Indy BUT being a Map nerd, I want that globe!

[@redjirachi1]

Hitler, Stalin, Churchill and FDR all got into a fight over who Santa Claus is closest to politically. All of them got coal for Christmas as a result

[@jeffmcarthur5617]

That huge globe circled that huge globe. Then it landed somewhere in South America where Indiana Jones had to run from it.

[@jefffradsham2297]

Indy, merry christmas to all your team. I remember spending the Christmas holidays, eating kolaches from the best kolache bakery on long point.

[@paigetomkinson1137]

This was a fascinating video for me. I'd never really thought about what these guys did on Christmas, so it was quite fascinating. Thanks, team!

[@megakillerx]

Once again, Mussolini gets ignored from the spotlight.

[@aspiceronni4462]

I like the way you tell a story. There is a certain excitement when you talk. You earned a new subscriber. So what kind of cigars do you enjoy?

[@Kubinda12345]

Wasn't another factor why Christmas wasn't celebrated in the USSR/by Stalin on these days also because the Orthodox Chruch uses the old (Julian) calendar which differs by ca. 2 weeks from the Gregorian one?

[@coombscharlie]

You beat me to it. I too was going to say that Stalin would decline to celebrate Christmas on 7th January, rather than declining to celebrate it on 25th December.

[@ray7419]

Merry Christmas Time Ghost crew and everyone!!! 🎄🎄

[@lorimeyers3839]

I’ve been to Hyde Park several times. Tremendous history there. FDR was a fine taxidermist.

[@jjeherrera]

It's also worth mentioning that in the Soviet Union they had the Julian calendar, so Christmas and New Year would be shifted by a couple of weeks. Merry Crhistmas, and thanks for yet another year of smashing videos.

[@phetproductions5818]

I think they shifted to the Gregorian Calendar by this point. I think the Soviets adjusted the dates back in 1917 or 1918

[@KKKKKKK777js]

@@phetproductions5818 Well the Soviet union did switch, but the Russian orthodox church (among others) never did. So Russians to this day celabrate Cristmas on the seventh of January.

[@michael23699]

Rather than it being a calendar difference, the 6th of January is Epiphany, when the wise men brought gifts for the infant Jesus. Hence the celebration on that day. The whole 25th of December thing is relatively modern, derived from the English (and hence American) tradition. Like Santa in his Coca Cola costume.

[@jjeherrera]

@@michael23699 Not quite. The Roman Catholic Church set Christmans on Dec. 25th since the times of the Roman Empire as syncretic act, in order to match it with the winter solstice pagan festivities. Thus the birth of Jesus was compared with the renewal of the Solar cycle.

[@SRC2387]

Great gift and a Merry Christmas to Indy and the Army!

[@gth042]

I think Indy could present ways of blotting the grease off of bacon with gripping engagement. Of course they're livin' it up at the top, but what a cool way to discuss it. Thank you, and happy holidays Team :)

[@ual737ret]

Merry Christmas to Indy and the whole Timeghost family.

[@davidbrennan660]

Father Frost is like Father Christmas but with a viable Anti-Tank capability.

[@mervviscious]

I love these.. I wish I could help and if next year is better I will.. FDR will always be known as a great man. He was the right man for the job. My dad, the word father never fit him, was the best man I have known, neither spoke of the war or his part in it. He served on the USS Phelps, told me once probably while watching Hogan's Heroes or Mr. Roberts that he served in the back waters of the war. At 6 or 7 I belittled the German Army, he corrected me saying they were one of the worlds finest. My uncles fought in Europe. Brave Iowa farm boys called up into hell..

[@kantemirovskaya1lightninga30]

Merry. Hristmas to the entire time ghost team! You have all given us a wonderful year of history!

[@rabihrac]

Loved this episode! The Christmas spirit is far away from some dictators' minds & souls... Merry Christmas Indy & crew!

[@flipppyymccoup5814]

I wonder how benito spent his christmas/ the rest of the axis + finland

[@tommy-er6hh]

well, for one, Hirohito and Tojo did not have the traditional Japanese KFC Christmas, because KFC was not invented yet nor come to Japan!

[@ΚοινωνικόςΟρθολογιστής]

Musollini and Tojo : We feel neglected.

[@nikolaifeinstein1891]

Does anybody else think Randolph Churchill (at 3:38) looks like the PERFECT cross between Winston Churchill (of course) AND Indy Neidell? LOL

[@ChenAnPin]

Screw the silver cigar case, I think the giant globe is a way better gift! Happy Holidays!

[@ФилиппЛыков-д8е]

11:41 It is _Grandfather_ Frost or, in Russian, Ded Moróz.

[@stefa4013]

Does Churchills son look like Indy or is that just me?

[@ElectronFieldPulse]

Not just you, it really took me off guard. Indy has a unique look, but that guy was a doppelganger.

[@BrokenneckYgor]

Stalin dressed up like Santa after 45 and visited gulag

[@Jonathan-ku5jj]

Well done TimeGhost. Interesting subject - well presented.

[@zacharyellison4189]

Outstanding work once again. Heck of a video to watch on a an off morning

[@CAP198462]

Schönes Wein-Nacht, Indy and the team. 🍷

[@fasdaVT]

Indy: Did they drink or pour over maps? Churchill: why not both?

[@CoyotesOwn]

Would December 24 and 25 in Russia pass without celebration regardless since Eastern Orotodox Chrismas is Celebrated on January 7 of the Gregorian Calendar?

[@vladavuksanovic310]

Da

[@MrDOUG575]

Christmas greetings all,,,, thanks for the hard work.

[@oneshotme]

Enjoyed the video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@Mr110074]

Merry Christmas Indy! Enjoy the holidays TimeGhost Army!

[@amesbancal]

Original, bien documenté, bien interprété, bravo !

[@kuroazrem5376]

Merry Christmas to all of the Timeghost team.

[@americantopteam135s-t7]

Simply stunning content. Thank you so much.

[@cliveashleyhamilton]

I'm shocked this channel doesn't have a million subscribers

[@danielnavarro537]

Merry Christmas 🎄

[@SammyNeedsAnAlibi]

As a career Navy Submariner, I missed 12 Christmases out of the 20 I served during the Cold War. All I can tell you is that on submarines, we really try not to think about it because it will just add to your already pegged Stress Levels from everyday life on a submarine. We won the Cold War, so it was worth it!

[@shawnr771]

Well done. Merry Christmas.

[@thedragonboss109]

I had a great grandfather fight against the Japanese empire unfortunately he passed away in 2007 so I don’t know which island hopping campaign he was in

[@salthilldevon2166]

03:05 , St. Helena had an airport in WW2 ?

[@whiteoctober4582]

The fact that H.M. Peter and Churchill is really heartbreaking considering the betrayal that occurred by the end of the war

[@prestonjones1653]

Well considering Winston wasn't PM anymore when the war ended.

[@jonL88]

Yesss thank you for this episode, Merry Christmas Indy and the World War Two team!!

[@PavelNKHV]

Pavel Postyshev, who wrote an article to “Pravda” about New Year fir tree was later recognised as an”enemy of the people “ and executed. But I remember Postyshev as a commander of the red army regiment and how he was hiding himself in the houses of the citizens of Khabarovsk during the Japanese’ army attack in Khabarovsk on 4th-5th April, 1920

[@Eppu_Paranormaali]

"O Tannenbaum, wie treu sind deine Blätter?" - Hitler crying to Satan on Christmas time, probably in Hell, 1942

[@historyarmyproductions]

Happy Holidays, all! I wish you happiness and good times in these...well, good times!

[@alanblanes2876]

Terrific episode!

[@ComiCBoY000]

I suggest to everyone that you try a christmas goose like back in the day. It's basically a more flavorful turkey.

[@BinhNguyen-tw8zo]

Merry Christmas Comrade!

[@midsue]

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all 🎄❄️

[@janf.vanachtern]

Frohe Weihnachten 💫

[@luispablogonzalezv4522]

3:11 Churchill almost quote there the good General Grievous Hitler should have been visited by the ghosts of past, present and future Christmas

[@andrewfavot763]

Haha! Merry Christmas TimeGhost army! Merry Christmas crew! What a great day, what a great time of year.

[@ytty5183]

Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄 to all 🌎

[@jjjckckcllfsomadnrnrkt3758]

That thumbnail picture 🖼️ I should send my Hearts of Iron 4 friends a Christmas card with that picture

[@MyBoomStick1]

3:37 Woah! Randolph Churchill looks a lot like Indy