How the SAS transformed WW2 | With Author Damien Lewis

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

As a Dane, SAS Major, Anders Lassen became the foreign SAS member with the most Decorations and a posthumous Victoria Cross. He is buried in Argenta Gap Cemetary in northern Italy. As a Danish sailor he joined SAS when landing in the UK.

[@MinesAGuinness]

In which Damien Lewis proves that, in fact, the Long Range Desert Group not only pioneered the reconnaissance, survival, and requisitioning tactics, but also had to explain to the SAS how to get to their targets and give them a lift! ;-) This, this was why there was often some skepticism concerning certain officers who advocated such schemes without the requisite skills to back them up - not because anyone wanted to nix the entire concept, but because other people, with relevant experience, had seen the potential shortcomings and were trying to prevent someone too hotheaded from ploughing onwards under a separate command and getting their men needlessly killed. Orde Wingate is another classic example: an innovative strategist with exciting ideas, but who needed to be carefully managed lest he overreach and lose too many men for too little strategic impact.

[@dougjacksonart]

@@MinesAGuinness Very wise

[@williestyle35]

Spot on analysis. There were many officers who *thought* they understood field craft, only to suffer staggering losses. While officers with real knowledge and practical experience were not given chances, because they weren't "connected" or weren't senior enough to just force their way through.

[@nickthurlow4456]

Well put 👍

[@adamlee3772]

@@williestyle35well said. That typical British class system runs through the hierarchy of the military even more than it does the civil service. And it’s just as bad today, it did get better for a while but people like Boris Johnson or Jacob Rees Mogg getting high up in anything is purely based on their connections because they went to the right school.

[@lukeskywalker3329]

Same concept on an even bigger scale that rid the Italians totally from Ethiopia faster than blitzkrieg . But with mere cars and trucks. I think this was an operation that Orde Wngate was only a part of run by Wavel I think . This was earlier in the war . It was more of a race 😅😂😅😂😅 Look up The East African Campaign of World War 2 . A very humbly run even unheralded Campaign. Astounding reading equal to the though humbler than the SAS origins in this video .

[@martintopp1399]

HI there from NZ. I am glad that you mentioned the LRDG at least a little bit. But, no where near enough IMO! The LRDG was nicknamed the Libyan Taxi Service. They not only transported the SAS but they fault along side them in those early raids. The LRDG was just as much an Elite fighting force IMO. My Grandfather was a Navigator on one of the Trucks. The LRDG converted big old Chevrolette trucks to travel, do reconnaissance work and fight up to 1000 miles behind enemy lines. Bananas were very valuable to throw into the Differential, if there was a problem. They had tarps they could cover the truck with and hide from the Italian spotter planes. With Grandad's dark skin (Moriori, Negro & Mohican ) he passed as an Arab when he wore the appropriate head dress!

[@EggchaserNZ]

David - The Rommel statement is this: The commander of the German Afrika Corps, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, admitted that the LRDG "caused us more damage than any other British unit of equal strength." The Long Range Desert Group comprised largely of New Zealanders who were also good at maintaining their jeeps, hence why they were able to carry out recons and raids deep behind enemy lines long before the SAS was born.

[@Lion_Heart_Zimbabwe]

Speaking as a Zimbabwean of British stock, God bless these brave men. Each and everyone of them. Interestingly enough, quite a few Rhodesians from my country joined the early SAS. In fact, the Long Range Desert Group who escorted and helped the SAS were made up of many Rhodesians. Mike Sadler was an immigrant to Rhodesia and Bill Bailey ( another SAS member ) immigrated to Southern Rhodesia form the Police Anti-Terrorist Unit in the British South Africa Police. These men helped form the Rhodesian SAS, C Squadron who fought in the Malayan Emergency. Later in the Rhodesian Bush War, the Rhodesian SAS became legends. World-Renown for their expertise and lion-hearted courage. God bless all the men who served in this regiment of lions. 👏🏻👏🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻💯💯🦁🦁🦁🦁

[@MilitarySummaryChannel2024]

*I’m an American, but I’ve always said, “God bless the SAS.” If it wasn’t for these guys, other units like Delta, or Australian SAS, etc. really wouldn’t exist. Not only did they set the standard for such units, in many cases they trained these people. While there is the tradition of the British Commandos training the U.S. Army Rangers, the concept of anti-terrorist units, and small-unit unconventional warfare is something the SAS itself conceived. I can never forget to thank any of these men for their service and sacrifice-above and beyond anything I or any of my contemporaries who served in the military ever gave-to keep us safe and secure against evil. The bad guys know that when SAS comes knocking they’re in for it!*

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

@MilitarySummaryChannel2024 Delta are a solid unit and im glad we have them on our side, as a Brit i have a lot of admiration for men like gary gordon and randy shughart.

[@haydengoodall6767]

Well friend, you really should give thanks to the Long Range Desert Group. Precursor to the SAS and SBS.

[@arthurdirindinjr1792]

More like done for notify next of kin

[@lorddaver5729]

You should also say "God bless the SBS." Why does nobody ever mention the Royal Navy's special forces unit the Special Boat Service (SBS)? They are even more highly trained than the SAS. Everyone knows that the British Army's Special forces unit, the Special Air Service (SAS), was formed by Scots' Guards officer David Stirling in 1941 in North Africa. But the precursor of the Royal Navy's special forces unit, the Special Boat Service (SBS) was formed a year earlier, in 1940, by Royal Marines officer Roger Courtney.

[@lorddaver5729]

​@@haydengoodall6767The Long Range Desert Group as its name suggests, was essentially an in-depth reconnaissance unit. It's purpose was to gather intelligence on Afrika Korps troop and equipment deployments in the North African desert during WW2. It's role was a clandestine one, keeping out of sight of the enemy as much as possible. The SAS was initially conceived as a "behind the lines" attacking unit, destroying fighter aircraft on Luftwaffe airfields under cover of darkness. Until the SAS managed to set up its own transport, the LRDG provided a sort of taxi service, ferrying SAS troops to target airfields. The SBS was also set up as a clandestine fighting unit, but targeting enemy naval vessels in the Mediterranean. In recent years both the SAS and the SBS have gone through the same 6 months selection process. At the end of that period successful SAS candidates are "badged". However, SBS candidates, who have just gone through the same training as their SAS colleagues, still have to undergo a further selection period, this time in amphibious warfare. This includes distance swimming underwater in scuba equipment,, parachuting into the sea in full diving gear, infiltration and exfiltration by submerged submarine, underwater demolition, mastering various sea-going rigid raider boats and canoes, boarding oil rigs and ships at sea, etc. It is only after successfully completing this further period of training that candidates are badged as "swimmer/canoeists" in the SBS. As one SBS member said, "We can do anything the SAS can do AND walk on water." You might think that the SBS would be confined to water-based operations. Not so. SBS members have often taken part

[@stretchclogg]

At 6:13, third from the left is my Grandad Arthur. I never met him as he died a few years before I was born. Research carried out my my uncle ( ex forces) and Damien confirmed my Grandads service. He was awarded a Military MBE, which was given to him by the King, then straight to his wedding to marry my Nan. My dad said he never spoke about the war and after also hunting Nazis for a short while, he went back to asphalt roofing.

[@USNveteran]

To me the SAS is like the grand daddy of all special forces. Shortly after 9/11 I was on a flight reading Jawbreaker and I had a guy sitting next to me with a very distinct British accent. He asked to see my book and he thumbed through it making a few comments about some specifics in the book. Right then I began to suspect he was SAS, and I finally asked him if he was. His response was "You know I can't tell you that" to which I replied you just did. We both laughed and shared a few comments then I bought him a beer. No doubt in my mind he was SAS and was in the Stan in the fall of 2001. Thanks to all now serving, those who have, and those who will in the future. FLY NAVY!!!

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Well there was the Norwegian Viking Berserkers...

[@ryangriffiths4998]

My Great Grandfather was part of the initial SAS squad and served from its inception to the end of the European theatre, good to see their legacy being documented

[@joejohnson5543]

@@ryangriffiths4998 did he ever mention a Terry johnson?

[@doberski6855]

Having read Damien Lewis's brilliant book I realize this video is focused on the importance of the SAS. But as Mr. Lewis wrote in 'Churchill's Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII' and several of his other brilliant books. The scope of the specialized teams and how they all helped win the second world war for the allies and became the foundation for modern Special Forces units goes far beyond Sterling and the SAS. That discussion would require a much longer and more far reaching video, so to the Imperial War Museums channel. If you want to turn this into a series of videos with Mr. Lewis. Please do!

[@MinesAGuinness]

An excellent point. No single unit, style of warfare, or command was capable of winning the war alone, unless in strategic concert with everything else.

[@pauljeffrey1181]

Mines an Ice Cold in Alex.

[@SteveRH259]

Best of the best and the very beginning of the rest. Hard as nails true British grit. The word hero,over used and not really understood, does actually apply to those men who started it all.

[@monkeydank7842]

It’s not only the aircrafts destroyed. It takes the enemy a major resources to cope with the threat.

[@LeeTillbury]

The original and still by far the best. Fact.

[@waveygravey9347]

After 23 years of counter terrorism operations there isn't really much difference between the special forces units from around the world.

[@ChrisKyle-om5wi]

@@LeeTillbury LRDG - SAS were initially a disaster until they got linked to LRDG.

[@lukeskywalker3329]

You could compare the earlier ridding Ethiopia of the Italians with there own mere trucks and cars . Faster than blitzkrieg . More personnel. But worse equipped . I repeat. They made up for this by stealing from the Italians . Even more amazing . Though British led . Mainly Ethiopian and Indian troops and highly effective.

[@wiseandstrong3386]

Not even close to the best anymore that would be the American Delta Force.

[@ChrisKyle-om5wi]

@@wiseandstrong3386 that would actually be one of a couple of very discreet special forces from smaller countries, that are often tasked with LRR and are usually imbedded well before the Seals or delta or SAS buzz in noisily. They avoid taking credit but are often referenced with terms like ‘help on the ground’. They are not American, they don’t look, sound, act or smell like Americans.

[@McCRBen]

Lt Col Blair ‘Paddy’ Mayne - an incredible life and story.

[@worldwarIIstori]

This video is fantastic! Damien Lewis does an incredible job of shedding light on how the SAS changed the landscape of World War II. The insights and stories shared are both fascinating and inspiring. I love how the video combines historical context with engaging storytelling, making it easy to follow and understand. Thank you for creating such an informative and captivating piece!

[@anthonyburke5656]

Even though I’m ex SAS, I must point out that other ‘Special Forces” existed long before the SAS. For example, few remember that Erwin Rommel pioneered German Special Forces in WW1, in between the wars, Rommel wrote books on Sturm Troopen, in translation one of his books “Attack” in English is still in print!

[@dennispatrick4999]

Colonist did this guerilla warfare against The British in 1776.

[@joebeech7423]

I was lucky enough to watch a DVD documentary called Lost in Libya “In search of the Long Range Desert Group”. A fascinating account of the LRDG. Including our uncle Rex Beech. First LRDG fatality.

[@petewarby7158]

Fantastic author, I'm still ploughing thug his exceptional books covering the formation of the various Special Forces. Outstanding series of books

[@ARTSPRAYUK]

My Grandfather Bill Lavill is was number 1 squadron 2nd SAS, he was also commando. He served under Sterling and Farran.

[@joejohnson5543]

@@ARTSPRAYUK did he ever mention a Terry johnson?

[@ARTSPRAYUK]

@@joejohnson5543 he only mentioned Farran to me, is there a connection?

[@joejohnson5543]

@@ARTSPRAYUK that I am still trying to work out, no record on paper yet from ww2.

[@LucasDonates]

His books are on my wishlist already.

[@roygardiner2229]

Stirring stuff. I suspect that I would not have had the courage that they showed but who knows what war brings out in a person.

[@YorkGod1]

Great Video! Lest We Forget!

[@ARTSPRAYUK]

My brother has my grandfather's album showing his LRDG truck upside down after being hit by a Stuka near Tobruck

[@GnomaPhobic]

The British officers complained of "piratical warfare" being un-British? Had they never heard of Drake or Raleigh?

[@54mgtf22]

Interesting as always. Thanks IWM.

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

BBC is posting clips from season 1, IWM is doing videos, the hype machine is slowly gearing up for season 2 of SAS Rogue Heroes.

[@marklongman3860]

@@MaxwellAerialPhotography loved the first series, can't wait for the second.

[@CaptCanuck4444]

Interesting stuff, well done.

[@donaldburkett9307]

Reenacted Belgian SAS for nearly 20 years. We'll versed in the fine history and traditions.

[@charlesd3a]

These tactics were used by Irish flying Cullums during the war against British government soldiers and RIC personnel in the early twentieth century.

[@Dikranovski]

I was just talking about them today. They are the grandfathers of all modern special forces. The stories I read sound like fiction, except they're not.

[@EAcapuccino]

Well done, Winston Churchill, for having faith in them! 👏 😊 Didnt they play the role of operation chariot in the raid on St. Nazaire? 🇫🇷 🤔

[@nightjarflying]

No, that was No. 2 Commando & some troops from the Special Service Brigade.

[@goodwood-rc4nx]

Jeremy Clarkson did a excellent video about that raid with some of those who took part interviewed kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zmi9lWOFrp19r7M

[@EAcapuccino]

@goodwood-rc4nx Yes I've seen it many times - The greatest raid of all

[@RobinSmith20]

Winston Churchill was a vocal supporter of “unconventional warfare” (for the time) as he had had first hand experience of the South African Boer commandos when they attacked and derailed the armoured train he was on. They were at heart a small unit of men with a loose command structure who relied heavily on flexibility of decision and individual fortitude to execute mobile warfare strategies and tactics, causing damage far out of proportion for their small numbers. Qualities such as skill-at-arms, endurance, bush craft and determination were a natural by-product of carving out a living in a harsh environment and were thus the quailities that were sought after in the soldiers that Churchill needed when he ordered the formation of the Royal Commandos, many of whom went on to form the SAS and SBS.

[@dennispatrick4999]

Didn't Churchil back Fitzroy McLean?? Fitzroy was in North Africa, Iran, Russia and Yugoslavia.

[@johnrudy9404]

As a lifelong NJ resident, i can attest to how surprised ANOTHER group of Germans were to be attacked during the Christmas season. Think it happened in Trenton. Some guy named Washington was in charge. Didnt turn out well for the Germans then, either.

[@Sturminfantrist]

never heard that Prussians or Bavarians were in Trenton, be precise they were Hessians not germans , btw the british King was ruling over parts of Lower saxony at the time of your indenpendence war (or Rebbelion if you see it from another standpoint) , i think Hannover maybe parts of Brunswick too.

[@14rnr]

Thank you for this.

[@aimansyarizuan7139]

As a Malaysian it blows my mind that the SAS came back for the Malayan Emergency

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

We are the Pilgrims, master; we shall go Always a little further: it may be Beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow Across that angry or that glimmering sea...

[@Otter-Destruction]

The high command officer corp didn't like the "ungentlemanly, piratical warfare" - well my good sir that's the point.

[@gerbre1]

Many years ago I met an old german man who said he had operated as soldier behind british lines in Africa.

[@SennethLawrence]

Paddy Mayne got a DSO with three bars but not the VC owing to those at the top that he didn't get on with. Bloody disgraceful 😡

[@Tadicuslegion78]

British Officer in the big army: You may have destroyed 20 enemy planes, captured 3 caches full of supplies, and caused the enemy to retreat 50 miles...but your boots are unpolished, you are unshaven, and your uniform is out of regulation, you should be ashamed of yourself SAS: You have 5 seconds to GTFO of my sight

[@RadarHawk52]

The Brass is often the worst enemy

[@morgan97475]

Interesting point about the SAS being successful once they left "the wire" & headed out on mission to employ whatever tactics they deemed appropriate. I felt something similar in Kandahar leading an advisor team. Upon arrival, I was told that I was now in charge of the team & that was essentially it, no real guidance from higher. After a few hours of worry, it dawned on me that I had no guidance! I could make my own! Frak Yeah! So my team & I did what we thought worked........and it kinda did.

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Unleashing the dogs of war.

[@rubbishmodeller]

Looking forward to the new book. But I must stress how good Ben MacIntyre's book is (SAS: Rogue Heroes - on which the TV series was based). It goes into a lot of detail about the Italian and western European campaigns - much bloodier and more difficult than North Africa.

[@HughBond-kx7ly]

David Stirling was the leader until he was captured by Italian forces in 1943

[@xorge84]

Francis Drake wouldn't have had a problem with these "piratical" tactics. If anything that's British tradition.

[@guyinc0gnito]

Super…army…soldiers

[@alanmacpherson3225]

Ross Kemp in Extras. Nice reference mate.

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

@@alanmacpherson3225 You think you're well ard don't ya, are you ard?!

[@bushwhackeddos.2703]

Yeah Winning,

[@buzz5969]

Stealing tables and chairs and pianos lol

[@HalClare-k1h]

Felicita Course

[@HuttAngela-c1i]

Dane Underpass

[@lemonhead6994]

SAS, the allies response to blitzkrieg

[@lukeskywalker3329]

.Read Wavel's East African Campaign . Astounding what they achieved in 3 months chasing the Italians out of Ethiopia or surrender with mainly Africans , Ethiopians in a force half the size and less in many ways to the Italians . Vehicles in cluding tanks ALL stolen from the Italians. Jolly good Show General Wavel and team . All done by November 1940 . This operation is probably what inspired SAS tactics .

[@RachelWebb-d9l]

Moore Freeway

[@russellwayne7154]

What not a mention of Paddy Mayne pretty poor😢

[@mbbb9244]

Shameful how the Australian “SAS” have tarnished their name. BRS. The SAS has lost a lot of respect down here because of that guy and his squad

[@khymia27]

@@mbbb9244 why

[@louisavondart9178]

If it wasn't for the LRDG, Stirling and all of his men would have died in the desert on their first mission. As it was, Stirling's idiot decision to parachute in a sandstorm cost the SAS half of their men. They just disappeared....... After that, the LRDG gave them a ride home.

[@ErnieBrees-l9v]

Morissette Fall

[@maxwellhiggs]

0:07 "ooh, help me, help me, nasty men are attacking us”

[@etherealbolweevil6268]

"Originals" eh! When Stirling's mob arrived in Siwa, my father's unit (of which nothing can be written for reasons) and the LRDG moved across the town to get away from the out of control explosions etc. Stirling's mob was handy for publicity back in Blighty, but far more grown up things were going on upon which Stirling was wholly reliant. Print the legend, as they say.

[@joejohnson5543]

@@etherealbolweevil6268 popskis private army? I always thought there were 65 men on operation squatter only 22 returned. Some never jumped and got shot down which caused a big rift amongst the men and infighting. One officer went round and shot the crying dogs of those who didn’t return, paddy went mad when he returned but to no tiny.

[@etherealbolweevil6268]

@@joejohnson5543 Another random element most serious people were trying to get rid of.

[@andrewbradley1753]

@@etherealbolweevil6268 handy for publicity? No one new anything about the sas in ww2 until recently released documents and books by Damien Lewis

[@joejohnson5543]

@@etherealbolweevil6268 ah they got rid of a lot over the years, including any trace of my uncle Terry ever being in ww2.

[@etherealbolweevil6268]

@@joejohnson5543 Sadly, all too common.

[@thebritishengineer8027]

You can't even be bothered to read the book The Originals... No they stripped the New Zealand Camp based near them and stole their piano. They did not hit an axis airbase with 6 men, it was with 6+ stripped down jeeps armed with Vickers K and Twin Lewis Guns. Don't bother with this, read the book it's far more entertaing and a lot more accurate.

[@wetinafukiko396]

Guerilla warfare in the desert..!

[@kyleconnell7186]

Wonderful to see and to emphasise the British superiority and overall tenacity in the strive to victory over the little corporal. It also gives vision to the romanticism that still exists that the Germans were a good fighting force at any time. They won the Bltizkrieg against Frnace, and the BEF, and then sat back and thought they were invincible. I'm also sick of seeing Britain as chubby cheeked young men(by the yanks). No battle of Britain win, you would have fought from Greenland...after crying about PH.

[@mnblkjh6757]

👍🇬🇧🙂

[@YusssoM]

The Operations Room KZbin channel made a video about it once, I thought it was great. I didn't know it was among the first missions of The SAS. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4rSlX1sbs6LpMUsi=syuynhvPDY8A5YDo . Anyway, great for the video IWM team, very informative!

[@LafayetteCCurtis]

The Italians knew where the attacks were coming all along since they were doing the same with their motorised detachments in the Sahara. Too bad nobody seriously listened to them or gave the resources they really needed to compete with the LRDG.

[@ThatsGot]

❤😂😂🎉🎉😢😢😮😮😅😅

[@janlindtner305]

👍👍👍

[@pyeitme508]

ok

[@chrishall6745]

They didn't.

[@3niknicholson]

Great vid: get rid of the moronic subliminal background music, it adds nothing to the content except distraction.

[@crypto_que]

Somewhere in America Republicans are crying after watching this video.

[@tgorski52]

Claims to the contrary notwithstanding, the contributions of the British Army to land warfare in WW2 are minimal. They were too few in number and lacked leadership of quality.

[@jarradmoore6939]

@@tgorski52 jog on