Kill the Kaiser! The Daring Mission to Assassinate Germany's Emperor

[@JakeHammerHTX]

Me: I really need to go to bed. *New Mark Felton video pops up* Me: sleep is for the weak

[@rpbajb]

"Time enough for rest in the grave." - Conan

[@Cymduu]

Your a long time dead ( Literary)💀💀💀

I don't know why, but I read: "Sleep is for the weak" in a German accent!!! Ja, kamerad....ve must continue to listen to zis important informations!!!

[@kitsunenamedawi7810]

Sleep is for th he allies

[@Tiagomottadmello]

@@Cymduu I didn'd quite got what you meant... But awful attitude that of yours. It seems you, not , Sheriff Buford is already long time dead. Review you present time. By the way, sleep is for the weak !

[@krijgsgeweld6324]

i actually live in the same town that the kaiser spent the rest of his life in a villa after the great war, it’s a museum now

[@Steven-kf3os]

You live in the Netherlands

[@CommiTsunami]

If walls could talk... they'd speak German

[@krijgsgeweld6324]

frank hargreaves haha

[@richardturner9317]

As I understand matters, consideration was given to bring him to trial for 'waging aggressive war' but that George V wouldn't sanction his cousin being put on trial, even when it could be argued that he, the Kaiser's actions had lead to war that caused millions of deaths both military and civilian from the British Empire.

[@derekmarlowe522]

@@Steven-kf3os you are a genius, how did you figure that out?

[@gunterkrieger6096]

I'm always amazed with the speed at which you're able to crank out such high quality/well researched videos on such a large variety of topics. Thank you for providing all this great content! If you ever have time I think many people would love to see you make a video answering subscriber questions about your videos, research, books, etc... I'd love to hear your insights!

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Wow, thank you!

[@jakedee4117]

@@MarkFeltonProductions Surely you can't just be 1 man, you must have a crew behind you.

[@XavierJones-z3d]

@@jakedee4117 it's called wiki

[@panzerivausfg4062]

@@Rudeljaeger Dude, for what Wikipedia are you referring? Mark is a famous war author from Great Britain. He is definitely not tracking this knowledge from Wikipedia, he reads and of course writes books, he explore topics. Many of those things he shows in his videos don't even exist in Wikipedia idiot. When you search about them, the Google immediately shows one of the Mark's specific video. He is definitely not need to add advertisements in his videos and when he do it, it's because he wants to make a little profit from his yes well searched video.

[@panzerivausfg4062]

@@jakedee4117 He did not have a crew, he is a war author

[@hereLiesThisTroper]

History Channel: who are you? Mark Felton: I am you, but historical

[@yuurichito1439]

😂

[@quillmaurer6563]

I'd really like to see control of the History Channel, or at least a timeslot on it, handed to this guy and "The History Guy," they both put out amazing, interesting, well-researched content. Would love to see what they could do with a big budget, staff of researchers and historians working under them, have expeditions and re-enactments, and so on.

[@quillmaurer6563]

@ Yeah, he seemed to only tell part of the story, didn't seem to go into as much detail as usual. In particular he never mentioned any later attempts to take out the Kaiser, did they make further attempts, did they decide for some reason not to try again, or did they just have an attitude of "ah well, we tried"?

[@TommygunNG]

Felton should do a video on the history of pawn shops.

[@freeshaable]

I am you, anglo-centric view of history

[@The105ODST]

Here is a fun drinking game: Take a shot whenever someone says this is better than the History Channel in the comment section.

[@SunflSeeds]

Well of course this is better than the history channel with its shows that literally have nearly no correlation to history

[@johnlawson2984]

This is way better than the History Channel...which should change their name to The Junk Pickers channel!

[@RCAvhstape]

@@johnlawson2984 Alien Junk Pickers

[@Wot50202]

No- please! My liver can’t take much more!

[@sbarronmd]

you would be very drunk

[@lordspork7524]

now that's just the height of bad manners!

[@redemer6397]

And on top, so very unpolite.

[@mwnciboo]

Never mess with another mans train carriage! It is extremely disrespectful.

[@Crosmando]

It's also bad manners to invade Belgium.

[@mjoelnir58]

@@Crosmando They asked for permission and got denied,the neutrality of Belgium was very questionable and the allies would have taken the same way without any doubt and probably with permission.

[@reedcoffman3210]

Attempting to assassinate the head of state of the person your at war with is definitely a no no

[@rolandfelice6198]

A most enjoyable diversion from WWII exploits. We know so little about that first conflict when one moves away from the major operations.Thanks Mark.

[@emperorjulian2159]

In fact Kaiser was the only person in Germany who was trying to stop the war in 1914 - his speech in Reichstag with famous words "gentleman you will regret this decision" was even recorded. His death would only lead to raise of Hindenburg and Ludendorf power who already from 1916 were in control of Germany. Kaiser was a sad and tragical character and after the war he was very comfortable person to be blamed of everything for the politicians who pushed to war five years later and desperately wanted to avoid consequences.

[@167curly]

At the end of WW1 there was a strong "Hang the Kaiser" as a war criminal sentiment, particilatly in Britain, because he was the figurehead of Germany causing the deaths of millions of allied troops, airmen, and seamen as well as civilians. However he was allowed to sit out the more than twenty years in comfort and safety in exile in Holland.

[@jbatts834]

@@167curlythat’s because he fleed as quick as possible after abdicating into neutral Netherlands, the allies tried making the Dutch hand them the kaiser for trial but they refused. He was lucky he was able to flee and didn’t have to worry about his familys safety back in Germany, Nicholas II did not have that same luxury which led to his him and his family’s capture & death.

[@bigmonke7661]

Germany will always have amazing march music

[@mac4boys541]

And uniforms even. for the beginning of the 20th century those were some fancy togs , that got even more stylish in the 30s

[@jameshodgkins559]

mac4boys , fThe French Resistance always looked the part.

[@JamesEtc3417]

Eerrrika

[@sebastianruhland5198]

@Heinrich Himmler Seriously ?

[@chomik86]

Germany will always start the greatest wars ;)

[@stevendeitrich6933]

I am stunned at the amount of film footage & information Mark assembles ! Even from back in 1918 !

[@smurf_mammma2401]

It’s from a movie, there’s little to no battle footage from WW1

[@yellowhammer685]

@@smurf_mammma2401 "They Shall Never Grow Old" is an excellent movie using restored archival footage from the Imperial War Museum

[@shakerHeightsChannel]

​@@smurf_mammma2401 I thought so. Which film is it?

[@pakhmu]

Me: ok, it's time to leave KZbin Mark Felton and his videos: *Allow us to introduce ourselves*

[@lordjesuschristhavemercyon3251]

make that: *3:20 AM*

[@Ozymandias1]

The Germans did capture the French Emperor Napoleon III during the Battle of Sedan in 1870. He wasn't executed but sent into exile.

[@mirrorblue100]

It was a calculated move by Bismarck - knowing that with the Commune in Paris French dissension would shorten the war.

[@jurisprudens]

Capturing and killing is one thing, killing in action is a very different thing.

[@justanaccountnothingmore]

​@@mirrorblue100if Wilhelm II would just have listened to Bismarck for one second in his life ...

[@curseditem8354]

One day the great European War will come out of some damned foolish thing in the Balkans. - Otto von Bismarck

[@Rhinelander]

*Otto von Bismarck

[@jpj77263]

@@Rhinelander Genau. So viel Zeit muss sein.

[@jameshodgkins559]

Will he got that well & truly wrong

[@curseditem8354]

@@Rhinelander fixing it now

[@theyearoftherat]

And with opportunists like the UK and France exacerbating things further by sticking their noses in it.

[@falsterproductions9956]

Did King George V ever find out that they tried this, if so how did he react?

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

This story only broke in 2018, so I doubt he knew.

[@falsterproductions9956]

@@MarkFeltonProductions Okay, thanks for answering so quickly and keep up the great content :D

[@silhouette6158]

The fact that the this was kept a secret for so long shows how secretive the British military (maybe MI6) were throughout wars when it came to certain operations or whatever

[@mjoelnir58]

@@silhouette6158 There are still many secrets about both wars

[@RCAvhstape]

@Samuel Sweetmann And until 2006 Americans had to pay a telegraph tax to fund the Spanish American War of 1898.

[@maxnellen5031]

"But the Kaiser who saw himself as a great military leader loved to interfere" hmm where have I seen this one before

[@program4215]

Probably as portrayed horribly incorrectly by the history channel about Hitler.

[@dwarfie24]

Haha yeah same. Reminds me of another mustached fellow.

[@franzfanz]

Better moustache though.

[@antondietrich8104]

In Hitler’s defense, the German high command portrayed him as the sole reason that Germany lost the war in the East. Though not being the great military leader he viewed himself, he made some of the right decisions in regards to Operation Barbarossa, especially in 1942 when he ordered Army Group Center to hold for Army Group South to advance into the Caucuses. From 1944 and onwards though, the same thing could not be said again.

[@agamemnon8163]

@@incorectulpolitic can you do a tldr? I'm not reading all of that.

[@AtomicPeacenik]

3:20 AM. Time to learn something new.

[@BuildingCenter]

Atomic Peacenik Right here with you, East Coast-ish Internet Friend.

[@Patriotic_Brit]

It’s half past eight here in Blighty

[@TheAngryOgreGamer]

Early riser aha

[@historyarmyproductions]

Yep xD. Learning has no bed time.

[@neil7994]

it's 08:20, bro. Sleep well!

[@KAISER-OUTDOORS]

Don’t worry , I’m still alive.

[@brenisis2772]

mien kaiser how you doing

[@IrishCarney]

Tens of thousands of trees fearing the axe begin to shiver in fear

[@jaybird1229]

For a man approaching 162 yrs old; you look fantastic !! What's your secret for looking so youthful?? Dannon Yogurt and a shot of brandy??

[@brenisis2772]

frank hargreaves you know jfk is a very open minded person

[@bramster-b9v]

Oh Willi, we really didn't miss you. You promised us wonderful times and kept your word, because in 1923 every German billionaire was.

[@FedorAntony]

Very interesting to hear these war stories surrounding Kaiser Wilhelm. I actually grew up close to Huis Doorn, where he used to live in exile. My mom worked there in my early childhood. I actually entered the mausoleum once. Her boss had the key. I remember the sarcophagus was there with a flag on it. Greetings from The Netherlands!

[@IrishCarney]

What flag?

[@dantecaputo2629]

That’s very interesting actually.

[@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723]

@@IrishCarney German Empire Flag

[@mukundaneshepherdcrystal6544]

Me: We must have exhausted all the war mayhem in Europe. Mark Felton: Keiser Wilhelm.....

[@bobbobson110]

Kaiser...

[@butterygoodness8242]

*Kaiser**

[@mukundaneshepherdcrystal6544]

Napoleon Bonaparte: Let me introduce myself......

[@steveholmes5207]

Amazing how so many men died fighting for opposing sides of the same family excellent as always mark 👍

[@juliandavidarias9630]

A cousines problem lol

[@theosphilusthistler712]

Yep, Tsar Nicholas also a 1st cousin and lookalike of King George... so I guess Queen Elizabeth could lay a claim to being the rightful Tsarina of Russia and start another family squabble.

[@steveholmes5207]

@@theosphilusthistler712 a massive disastrous way of keeping it in the family

[@danh7500]

@JZ's Best Friend you know the ruling houses of britain have been german for like 300 years right?

[@demonprinces17]

@JZ's Best Friend more German, they had to change their name in WW1

[@Padre619]

Oh no the skeleton's coming out *AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!* I live!

[@hymatwat9412]

The withered hand of the evil hun

[@PeteCourtier]

I’m turning in my grave

[@shep7544]

I don’t have any milk, in my fücking fridge

[@ecdadcomputer7467]

the grand dad aka the kaiser willy

[@bluespy4050]

speen

[@SyabilMohar817]

Damn, the title got me hype up! I just exit from other KZbin channel to this one!

[@steveholmes5207]

Ditto always do when mark Felton posts

[@thomaspohl5845]

I've been a history and military buff for most of my life, but this is the first time I've ever heard about this! You learn something new everyday! Thanks Mark and keep up the good work!

[@ingaz6565]

Fun fact. When the kaiser learned of Hitlers amazing success in defeating both the French and British at the beginning of the war he sent Hitler a letter congratulating him and assuming that Hitler would reinstate him to his "rightful" throne in Germany. Hitler of course thought the man was crazy and dismissed the letter, never replying.

[@DrHydra47]

Yeah I know that and if i had been the fuhrer i would also have done that out of common sense because i think that a old Kaiser wouldn't be beneficial

[@hodor9851]

@@DrHydra47 hitler denied it because he didnt want someone with higher power than him taking throne risking losing direct control of Germany

[@DrHydra47]

@@hodor9851 ja that too but putting an old man in power is bad idea to or sharing power

[@hodor9851]

@@DrHydra47 yea no. Idk why age matters in this

[@mangodip2170]

@@hodor9851 because the Kaiser will die. He's old and therefore his reign won't last so long.

[@stonks6616]

Dear god, only a minute old and still 74 views?!

[@r2gelfand]

I thought of the helmet on Klink's desk.

[@alexmarshall4331]

is that von Klinkerhoffen from 'allo 'allo?

[@dry5555]

Hogan's Heroes. :-)

[@muznick]

Where is Colonel Fink? "That's Kliiiink!"

[@alexmarshall4331]

@@dry5555 hahaha got it...now I remember!!

[@lordjesuschristhavemercyon3251]

Yep

[@keanusw3369]

2:28 song: is "Yorkschen March"

[@GannicusMisteriosdeHonduras]

Danke

[@Abdisa-sj2fq]

*Yorcksher

[@ichibanmanekineko]

Yorkshire lol

[@peterlustig6888]

@@Abdisa-sj2fq Yorckscher Marsch

[@hmpeter]

@@ichibanmanekineko No, it was in honor of the German general Ludwig Yorck von Wartenburg, it has nothing to to with that place in England. ;-)

[@deram814]

Wilhelm's 30-year rule was a time of prosperity and PEACE for Germany -- the other Western powers were constantly at war during this time. He tried to PREVENT the war, and to give him the primary blame for its outbreak is grossly unfair.

[@shivmalik9405]

I agree. Between 1871 and 1914 germany didn't fight a single war while britain fought the Boer and Zulu wars, france fought in indoChina and russia fought Turkey china and japan

[@mjoelnir58]

@@shivmalik9405 And Prussia was deleted by the allies for being the center of militarism of the world,ridiculous.

[@julioalbertoherrera1339]

Europe was having a "Belle Époque" (Beautiful Time) just before WW1, but the war shattered the equilibrium in Europe. Wilhelm II was militarist, imperialist and colonialist, but so were other European leaders at that time. He should have let Austria-Hungary deal alone with their Balkan problems.

[@julioalbertoherrera1339]

@@shivmalik9405 Boxer Rebellion, 1901 in China.

[@shivmalik9405]

Julio Alberto Herrera That wasn’t technically a war, and the German force under Alfred von waldersee anyways arrived too late. Peking had already fallen and the boxers were mostly defeated.

[@jdoe77]

It's fascinating how Mark always comes up with a new video witch contains information you never heard of before. I didn't know that the british attempted to assassinate the Kaiser. Thanks Mark for creating such interessting and also entertaining content and sharing it on KZbin.

[@kaiserschmarrn260]

It is a crime to dirty a mans name who was a protector of peace was the last to mobilize his army and tried desperately to avoid the first word war he also treated who’s colonies very well in comparison to the British or french who used concentration camps Yes you could argue that he led Germany into war but didn’t the other leaders do the exact same?

[@guillermojudt2095]

100%👍

[@westtex3675]

Yea, G.J. Meyer did a great job in "A World Undone" of describing the chain-reaction of events leading up to the war, and many factions in many countries own some responsibility. There were many factions on all sides , including the Kaiser, that took actions to try to avoid the war, and many factions on all sides that were eager for war and played a role in its outbreak, including France's minister to Russia (Maurice Paleologue).

[@kaiserschmarrn260]

Yes i heard something about that I will probably have a look at that book

[@tvbopc5416]

Although the Kaiser had a withered left arm, by most accounts his right arm was amazingly powerful - he took pride in being able to crush the hand of whoever he shook hands with.

[@tvbopc5416]

@Open Paranormal Another historical oddity - Russian PM Piotr Stolypin (1906-1911), generally seen as Imperial Russia's 'last chance' was the reverse - withered right arm, powerful left.

[@Simon_Nonymous]

Sounds like an insurance job to me. "I need new windows" = "I think the Kaiser's in my chateau, have you thought about bombing it a bit?"

[@mwnciboo]

"But Sir, he is definitely in my chateau...can you just hit it with a bit of artillery, my roof was looking sketchy when I last saw it".

[@alt7488]

@@mwnciboo 'yes he's definitely there,he was remarking on my scotch via Facebook and twitter ,please send in the tanks,and don't mind the fences...

[@welshpete12]

How on earth did they miss something as big as a chateau at 500 feet ? But Mark Felton does it again , how on earth do you dig up these stories ? Excellent !

[@sylv9570]

I kinda get that German uniforms in ww2 is badass, but those uniform with capes looks like the epitome of badassness

[@JesseWright68]

More like douchebaggery. Fitting attire for the kaiser, who was a monumental douchebag.

[@captaindecade4705]

@@JesseWright68 you sounded like what Hitler would say.

[@JesseWright68]

@@captaindecade4705 See. Even Hitler thought he was a douchebag.

[@hallu4696]

there’s footage/pictures of people wearing the national socialist era uniforms with capes although it’s definitely less common than during the imperial era

[@joyceblackmon1745]

You never cease to amaze Dr. Felton ive spent most of my life just researching, watching documentaries, and taking any and all history classes tht I could just because thts how much I love history and u always seem to have topics tht ive never heard of and I love it thank u for u effort to teach the masses Dr. Felton it truly means alot.

[@nicholaskelly6375]

Actually during his birth the attending physician used a pair of forceps roughly. This caused a terrible injury known as a Brachial Plexus lesion. It wasn't just a "withered arm". Basically the nerves running down the arm are ripped out of the spinal cord. Even today this is a difficult injury to treat. Also it causes extreme levels of pain and discomfort. On a par with an amputation. Having seen the effects of this injury first hand I am not surprised that the Kaiser was often "difficult"!

[@antoniadelaunay8585]

Thank you for this very important piece of information. Fascinating. I've suffered twice - two + years each - from adhesive capsulitis at each shoulder, and I can understand how constant pain can make you irritable and can affect your confidence. For it to affect millions is another dimension though!

[@ad220588]

I do not like that at all. First, the German Kaiser was half an Englishman. His mother was British. she was a very cold woman who rejected her child because of his physical handicap. In fact, the Kaiser had no interest in the war but was caught in an alliance trap with Austria. why didn't the British and the French say: let the situation cool down a bit, let's talk.

[@VAULT-TEC_INC.]

The Emperor, utilizing his new “Storm Troopers” and so-called “Death Star,” began a push in 1918...

[@RCAvhstape]

UNLIMITED POWER!!!!

[@VAULT-TEC_INC.]

Anti Antifa Google “sarcasm” please.

[@Newdivide]

Otto von Bismarck, the German chancellor, once told the kaiser in 1888 that, “One day the great European War will come out of some damned foolish thing in the Balkans"

[@otanihidetora5221]

Always here for the next Mark Felton video. Keep up the great work mate, all of you content is splendid!

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Much appreciated!

[@paddystrongjaw9995]

@@MarkFeltonProductions hey Mark, can you provide the name of the marching music that occasionally plays through the video?

[@Mr__Chicken]

Your carefully researched and entertaining videos have taught me so much Mark. You're doing everyone on the internet a great service, thank you so much.

[@bsc4344]

1): I know there is reenactment footage made virtually while the war was still on, where battle hardened soldiers "pretend" being shot for newsreels and visual narrative documentation, in their portraying of going over the top, storming no man's land and other. The pre hollywood effects of the day pretty much was as hazardous as actual shelling and explosions... The solo(german?) soldier being tracked by shelling makes my mouth go dry, and IM PRETTY SURE isn't reenactment. Must have taken guts to "pretend" to be foxholed shooting your MG while nearby explosion is set off, you are to pretend kills you, when it bloody well could have. The contorted body hanging in the wire in the other footage undoubtedly is real... More dryness of my throat. 2): my grandfather lied his way to get into WWI MUCH too young, and wound up taking 3 bullets in Operation Michael, surviving 2 days in NML, then being taken into German field hospital at Monchy Lagauche (as written on top of page one of German medical recept. paper) The only things he kept from service were his (krankenblatt?) medical charting the Germans made (until they shipped him off to soltau z 3605 (sp?) prison camp, now a barren unmarked farm field as far as i can see in Google Earth, and his Red Cross card. He also has the original yellowed letter sent by command stating he was last seen leading a gallant bayonet charge into the fray march 25, 1918... MIA according to the man writing (its writing not printing, so hard to read and understand). Too bad youbube doesnt let ppl attach file images, would show you. With this info, thats all i can find so far. Not sure why with that action and being POW he wasnt given a token medal or compensation for being prisoner. Not finding record of that. Maybe now i have home isolation time i can try tracking the 19th cycle union mentioned in the red cross card. He never spoke about war. As a young punk it didnt even occur to me that he could've fought in war, i wasnt even aware of the wars in general back then. I didnt know to ask, what i didnt even know about. Hes been gone for decades. I miss the gentle man and how much more substantial a human he was than I could possibly even know, and how i wasnt even savvy enough to appreciate it. :-'(

[@garrymartin6474]

Theres a "toy" brick built castle in the grounds of Osbourne House were the future King George and his cousin the future Kaiser Wilhelm II played . Makes you wonder what went off there between them.

[@richardroopnarine870]

I've never actually understood why the Kaiser had to abdicate, or why the Austrians agreed to the partition of their empire. Russia was exhausted and neither France, the US or Britain were in a position to enforce any of the resultant treaties

[@spiderlime]

in 1929 sir arthur conan-doyle wrote a story titled "the death voyage" in which wilhelm chooses to join a sea battle rather than abdicate, and dies heroically. you can read it online.

[@JohnSmith-il7jn]

Mark, more videos on World War I. World War II sometimes get repetitive.

[@yellowbelliedtoast5363]

"you have a tiny arm" "yEaH?!?!? Well I have a giant army!"

[@francisebbecke2727]

Considering how insecure this guy was, it makes you wonder what else he had that was short.

[@grahvis]

You can see at 4.47 how those around him would keep one hand in a pocket or behind them so as to disguise the fact the Kaiser had a withered arm.

[@randyschaff8939]

“A wrong headed little boy” Queen Victoria talking about her grandson Willhelm ll.

[@deram814]

He was actually her favorite grandson.

[@randyschaff8939]

She did her best to love him up and straighten him out. The boy had been severely traumatised at birth and during his formative years by well meaning doctors and overly strict people put in charge of him who forced and coerced him into doing things and behaving in a certain way. At the same time he was taught relentlessly that he was something very special that he was divinely chosen to lead the German people to greatness. I am fully aware of this strict Germanic attitude. Going overboard with everything. Lucky for me l was born in Canada 🇨🇦 and raised in the English school.👍🤠

[@IrishCarney]

Partly her own fault for insisting that her daughter (his mother) Vicky be married in London, browbeating her about remaining loyal to England, and otherwise playing into the hands of the Anglophobic and illiberal faction in Berlin that then glommed onto Wilhelm and exploited his youthful desire to rebel and establish his own identity, inevitably then as an authoritarian and Anglophobe himself.

[@MrMattMWH]

Great little story although by 1918 Germany was effectively run by a cabal of General's. Losing the Kaiser wouldn't have stopped their bid for world power.

[@kevinconroy2901]

Mark, I’d love to see two videos from you. First, the Bismarck. Second, the not very well known sinking of the Konigsberg in WW1. That story is fascinating.

[@Trillock-hy1cf]

Now this story and film, I have never heard of before, even vaguely, so a totally new one for me... I amazes me that Mark comes up with these not very well known, stories and films, and finding them, researching them and finding suitable film footage, must take up a fair amount of his time. Result = well researched and factual episodes, that mostly put all other documentaries to shame....:)

[@Horizon344]

@0.55. The British Empire wasn't militarily "exhausted" in early 1918, good film apart from that tho.

[@mikehunt3436]

Where, exactly, was the UK going to find the men to replace losses on the Western Front, continue the Arabia Campaign, support the Italian and Balkan Fronts, and keep order in Ireland and India? By Spring 1918, without the US reinforcements, the Allied situation was becoming a leaky dam, you plug one hole only for another to spring up.

[@Horizon344]

@@mikehunt3436The scenario you're describing would have become an issue in 1919, but not 1918.

[@sayloltothetroll6806]

I love how Mark Felton's comment sections are full of people dumping on the History Channel.

[@coolbob5781]

Finally! My chance to get a popular like on a video! Gott mit uns!

[@Kaiserland111]

I'm not normally a snowflake, but the title of this video is somewhat disconcerting... :)

[@KageNoTora74]

Some years before the war, Kaiser Wilhelm II visited the US and attended a shooting demonstration by Annie Oakley. He wanted her to shoot a lit cigarette from his mouth, one of her signature trick shots. Annie didn't want to risk killing a foreign head of state, so had Wilhelm hold the cigarette at arm's length then shot it from his fingers. During the war, she claimed that if she could do it over she would have had him put the cigarette in his mouth and "intentionally miss."

[@landofthesilverpath5823]

Say what will about the Kaiser's personality. But he wasn't the one who started the war, and Germany just simply wasn't the party most responsible. Britain and France were the parties most responsible. Also, I love these videos and Mark's voice is very pleasant.

[@FreeFallingAir]

Couldn’t click fast enough!

[@offdeadeye88]

TAUCH PANZER - swimming tank let’s get a vid!!! BEST CHANNEL ON KZbin

[@fabianreusch4870]

More like diving tank, or not?

[@ghostarmy1106]

@@fabianreusch4870 tauchpanzer translate into driving (diving* god damn autocorrect) tank A swimming tank would be a Schwimmpanzer

[@ferdblu1946]

GhostArmy1 tf no Tauchpanzer= Divetank

[@richardturner9317]

well he's useless on cooking tips !

[@offdeadeye88]

Regardless it was a interesting concept the Germans cooked up

[@Cavelson]

And in fact, there was a first atempt to kill the Kiser. It was on December 25th, 1914. It was supposed to be carryied by french Morane Parasols. Pilots and observers armed with hand grenades and rifles attacking Kiser's train at some waypoint of it but... fog screwed the mission.

[@georgefoord7240]

Maybe the war would of lasted longer if he had been killed. Like people say ww2 would of lasted longer if Hitler was killed.

[@aussie870]

Missed a perfect opportunity to call it 'Kill Bill' :) Unless I'm wrong I always thought that Bill/y was a nickname for William.

[@titanicman9329]

C'mon Kaiser Willy stop acting so Silly!

[@bezahltersystemtroll5055]

:)

[@bonnie_gail]

Wilhelm was Grandson of Queen Victoria ? lol so, he was fighting his own family

[@247micko]

The Kaiser, the Russian Czar & King George V were all lst cousins.

[@sda9995]

He hated his grandmother look at she did to him very sad

[@iDeathMaximuMII]

Shirleyanne Stop Domestic Abuse Wilhelm was a hot head & sometimes a fool, but it’s not without blame to his family. He legit was tortured as a child just cause he was born with a shorter arm that a doctor fucked him up on during his birth. If he was actually raised correctly. I feel he could’ve been better

[@wotanderwilde]

I really love Mark Feltons Videos and the research and effort he puts into his docus. But the narrativ of Germany, in person of Kaiser Wilhelm II starting WW1 in a irresponsible, nearly featherbrained manner and simultaniously leaving out the fact that England and France already planned to go to war with Germany is not accurate. The Kaiser once asked a British Statesman "Where can we find Colonies?" Answer "Nowhere! We dont want you!" and thats the real reason for all that was to come till 1945. With the birth of the German Reich in 1871*, the 2 major players the British Empire and France had a new econmic Rival and they dont wanted to share anything. *(Where Germany wanted reparations from France after the succesful war in numbers of 30% of the BIP and France in Versailles 1918, 300% of Germanys BIP, but that just as a side note) On February 13. 1913, Winston Churchil said to Alfred Booth, chief of the shipping companies that "there is no doubt that we will start a war with Germany!" In "The Rise and Fall of Great Powers" from Paul Kennedy is stated that if Germany had wanted war with France then 1905 would have been the best Moment as England and Japan had attacked and destroyed the Russian Fleet. The Kaiser instead went to Vacation on his Yacht to meet the Russian Zar to negoiate a non-attack treaty (which wasnt ratified). Before the war Russia alone had 1,5 Million Soldiers, Germany 800.000 (From 1902 ~625.000 - 1914 ~ 800.000) Not very impressive numbers by the Germans if you consider that i didnt even mention France. In that time, situation and athmosphere, if you are surrounded by enemies which strenghen their armies to this kind of numbers, how would you react? Kaiser Wilhelm II was a child of his time, difficult childhood, very big love for Germany and its people. I think in the past historians didnt judge him fair- just my 2 cents Keep up the good work Mr. Felton as i really enjoy watching your movies and interesting stories that i partially didnt heard of before.

[@cryalowicki]

Thank you for doing a WWI video. I'd love to see more!

[@tylerchaney1533]

Heck yeah! Especially because he finds footage that seems to never be seen before

[@jackychan6971]

Yes...especially on the Zeppelin. ..how they produced large quantities of hydrogen and had a problem until this day to produce hydrogen for cars as eco fuel!...as a back comment.

[@bugsy101073]

"No.1 superpower in the world, Great Britain". Kaiser: "Hold my Bavarian Beer!"

[@frankrenda2519]

great britain = pitifull litle island

[@libertarian-xp3yi]

@@frankrenda2519 how can u even say that? Maybe now, but I think Britain could still hold their own. But in that time I think they were the largest empire, if not then directly after the conflict they took possession of ottoman lands. I'm not being disrespectful or anything, and I'm not british, I love Germany and German history, but to say Britain was a pitiful island then, u havent looked at history.

[@bh5817]

The Kaiser was Prussian

[@normanberg9940]

@@libertarian-xp3yi Yes they were big but not much of a super power if they couldn't even beat the handful of boers in a fair fight, never mind Germany. A super power only in the sense of beating up on half starved Indians.

[@libertarian-xp3yi]

@@davidwhite4874 I never said anything to the contrary I was defending Britain, the person said Britain was a pitiful island. The kaiser building up his navy scared alot of people, I know that was an original reason for hostilities against one another. But thank you for messaging back. I wasnt saying anything negative about Britain or Germany. I listen to Wagner everyday. To say I'm not a person who loves German culture and history(except the part with the nazis).

[@sarjim4381]

Pinpoint bombing had a somewhat different meaning in 1918.

[@TubeHammel]

My grandfather served in the Luftwaffe. He told me how he was dropping bombs the size of squash by hand!

[@andyvalenzuela9763]

Do one about Joe Beyrle. His story is true but sounds made up. -US Army 101 Parachute Infantry Regiment - Normandy -POW twice -Tortured -Escaped -Fought in the Red Army -Fought with Maria Oktyabrskaya (female tanker) -Met Russian General Gregory Zhukov -Declared dead but was married at a church of his death -Same pastor did both ceremonies ..... And much much more

[@Irish-King]

The Great War!? Is this a rarity for a Mark Felton production or do I somehow only catch the WW2 videos? Either way glad to see a older but fresher war story for this channel (or me)

[@stag.3526]

Kaiser described as "a difficult, thin-skinned autocrat who loved to play general, and to whom which the generals had to pay lip service." Suddenly, an ad pops up: "SIGN PRES. TRUMP'S BIRTHDAY CARD!" If you listen closely, you can almost hear the god of Irony laughing aloud.

[@robertphillips6296]

He seemed to behave like Hitler in his Interference in military matters.

[@mryeetis6318]

Robert Phillips but was nothing like him

[@VMohdude-]

MrYeetis well Wilhelm did order a genocide in Namibia so....

[@shivmalik9405]

VMohdude - Wilhelm didn’t order that, he stopped it. German authorities in Namibia ordered it because of a revolt (doesn’t justify the genocide itself though).

[@VMohdude-]

@The Desert Fox most countries haven’t genocided

[@VMohdude-]

@The Desert Fox lol

[@Poshypaws]

06:11 Well, Buckingham Palace wouldn't have given a flying fart for ol'Bill cos ol' Cuz Nick in Russia was allowed to go on his single-ticketed hols to Yekaterinburg. Just imagine Georgie Five paying for a round for Cuzs Bill and Nick...not out of his "own" pocket!

[@sirbader1]

To truly understand how screwed the Treaty of Versailles was, you must remember that none of WW1 was faught on German soil.

[@andreas3850]

So they still surrendered.

[@JollyOlStan-hh2is]

doubt it

[@jadersolano3080]

Sir Bader tannenberg meine Kleine Freunde .

[@bazzatheblue]

Germany shouldnt have invaded France or neutral Belgium then should it,and Versailles was a standard treaty of the time,if the situations were reversed Germany would have squeezed the entente powers.

[@harrym7544]

Their army was literally a few days away from complete disintegration. Versailles went easy on the Germans for how totally they were beaten.

[@JasonJason210]

I put these on to fall asleep to but yours always keep me awake.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

I should hope so!

[@xavieryoung1413]

damn this came up quickly for me

[@MrMenefrego1]

Wilhelm II and later, Herr Hitler were two very lucky SOB's! It's a shame it didn't work properly. But, it may have, as Mr. Felton pointed out, turned the Kaiser into a martyr. Now as for, Schicklgruber, AKA 'Hitler', was the luckiest by far! Not even the German people, their Reich officers nor the Allied military apparatus were able to wack that Nazi prick! *Yet another truly excellent episode, Mark! Bravo!*

[@declanoleary1]

To add to all the commendations in the comments. Yet again, amazed by Dr Felton's insights and newly enlightening episodes, please keep them coming.

[@matpk]

Do video comparison of 2020s Communist China vs 1930s Nazi Germany vs 1930s Imperial Japan

[@jimc.goodfellas]

That old WW1 footage is amazing

[@RCAvhstape]

The constant sounds of guys screaming makes it more horrifying, though I'm pretty sure it was added later.

[@ImperialistRunningDo]

The Battle of the Kuril Islands would be good. The Soviets could have arrived in a tugboat under a flag of truce and demanded the Japanese surrender. No, they just HAD to arrive shooting. That, and Operation Hula (US training the Soviets in amphibious landing) would be an interesting subject.

[@ryantremblay594]

Would love to see more videos on the Kaiser!

[@RobJaskula]

Hear, hear! He's an interesting character, that's for sure!

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

You may do.

[@crownprincesebastianjohano7069]

Killing Wilhelm II probably helps the Germans... But in reality the Allied assessment of Wilhelm's role in the war effort was well overrated. By 1918 especially he had almost no impact on war planning and was little more than a figurehead in a dual dictatorship between Hindenberg and Ludendorff.

[@steelhelmetstan7305]

When I hear the intro music I know I'm in for an information treat!!!☺☺☺

[@Falconer1523]

At this point in the war Hindenburg and Ludendorf were basically running Germany. They would have seen to the coronation of Wilhelm III and kept going as normal, with the added motivation of "They killed the Kaiser, lets get revenge"

[@helbent4]

"Say, shouldn't we practice this kind of mission first? Seems to me a low-level attack with flak and smoke would be a bit more difficult than we're used to." "What? Practice? That's crazy talk, I tell you!"

[@IrishCarney]

Japanese who practiced and practiced for Pearl Harbor raise an eyebrow, buff nails, try not to look smug

[@Arbiter099]

My opinion, assassinating Willy would be mostly pointless as OHL were the true rulers of Germany by this point and his death would have, as Dr Felton said, made a martyr of him. It probably wouldn't have turned the tide in Germany's favor as the Kaiserschlact petered out and the Americans in the field on top of the impending collapse of Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans meant defeat was almost inevitable.

[@kebabtank]

You are spoiling us! This was very interesting, thank you.

[@Rudizel]

Terrible mission to begin with. Not only were those early bombs/aircraft highly inaccurate but the low yield of the bombs would have probably not killed anyone even if they had direct hits on that structure. In order to have any chance of success, they would have needed 50+ aircraft. This sounds to me like a BS political and morale-boosting stunt.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

The Germans were also slowed significantly by the stores they captured in the attacks. They thought we were also going short and when they got to the rear areas and found the food and other stores they stopped to resupply.

[@stelleratorsuprise8185]

Assassination of the Kaiser would have made no sense. Well yes, his politics was one of the reasons that brought Germany in a war they could not win. But during the war, the Kaiser had less political influence than he had before. The state was lead by the OHL (Oberste Heresleitung / The staff of the commanding generals like Paul v. Hindenburg or Erich Ludendorff ), therefore it would not have changed much on the situation of the war. A bombing attack might have not presented a real chance to kill him, even a direct hit on the chateau would not guaranteed a kill, maybe it was just an attempt to show some initiative.

[@tt350zJason]

This is great Mark!! I'd love some more WW1 videos, especially on the German side of things and/or the Kaiser. Thanks!!

[@halnywiatr]

In June 1917 there were about 14,000 American Soldiers in France: In May 1918; over a million. At the peak they were arriving at 10,000 per day.

[@Doughboy842]

It's our Boi. Mark Felton with another great vid. Really a eye opener his content. I've learnt so much about stuff I didn't know happened in these wars.

[@jamesjacocks6221]

Well, killing the Kaiser would cause outrage but a rallying the war effort was unlikely inasmuch as Germany was already throwing all into the fray. Killing Ludendorff would have made more sense. There simply was no single leader who was sine qua non. There was no Hitler (or Stalin).

[@baer0083]

I love the prussian marches played by brass bands. They still play them at my small town, here in germany, during events of the local voluntary fire departement. Often times we start bobbing when we stand at attention when a companion gets awarded with a ribbon or something.

[@reecen819]

For a video suggestion, could you please discuss how Switzerland maintained their neutrality against Nazi Germany?

[@horrortackleharry]

Super content as ever! You should do a video about the first Allied victory of WW2: the defeat of Italian Abyssinia, as it's not covered elsewhere.

[@brober]

Wilhelm died at 82 comfortable in bed with his pretty young second wife at his side. Karma is rubbish.

[@squamish4244]

"Kaiser Bill went up the hill to take a look at France. Kaiser Bill fell down the hill with bullets in his pants." This is a schoolyard song my grandmother used to sing in the 1920s.