Last Stand at the Leipzig Monument 1945

During the US battle to capture the city of Leipzig in mid-April 1945, diehard German troops made a last stand in an extraordinary building. Find out the full story of the last stand at the Monument to the Battle of the Nations.
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Thanks: Webster
Thumbnail: Jecinci

[@jannemann04107]

6:56 The destroyed tank is situated at the crossing of the streets Karl-Heine-Straße and Zschochersche Straße. My Grandmother told me, 2 members (14 yo) of the "Hitler Youth" shot a "Panzerfaust" out of the basement of the house with a drugstore diagonally across the crossing and destroyed the tank.

[@jonathanwarner1844]

2:23 You only have to see the photo of Colonel Von Poncet to know he isn't going to surrender easily.

[@meerkat1954]

Maybe a lot of battles through history could have been avoided with the help of a translator and a good 11 hour argument.

[@mxplk]

Hahahaha - yes, 11 hour argument.

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

11 HOURS ISN'T AN ARGUMENT, IT'S MERELY CONTRADICTION!

[@Dave20105]

Good job it wasn't the same people negotiating Brexit 😂

[@cadenhood]

@@Dave20105 Burn!

[@MikeBrown-go1pc]

No doubt

[@MrGeoffHilton]

You are such a good narrator, even subjects that I thought uninteresting are compulsive viewing. Thanks for your efforts.

[@1337fraggzb00N]

He could read his grocery list and I would still listen :D

[@theeye8382]

@@1337fraggzb00N lol

[@jeremygreen3392]

It must be the music

[@VendPrekmurec]

7:17 believe it or not, but I have translated (the lip reading) the communication between german soldier and americans; the german soldier clearly said "nicht schießen!" (NO SHOOTING / DO NOT SHOOT!)

[@camkraw893]

Wow that's awesome, thanks for the info!

[@SNP-1999]

St. Michael is Germany's patron Saint - just like St. George is England's patron - not Germany's "War god", as was stated. Apart from this erroneous statement, as always a well narrated and interesting documentary and authentic footage of a less well known battle in the final days of the war. What is also interesting is the totally different opinions of the two German commanders, a duty bound fanatical professional soldier on one side, a professional policeman on the other. This inter- German conflict was repeated hundredfold and more during the battle for Germany in 1944-45.

[@hakonhalldorsson6673]

Wait what? I was there the day before yesterday, had my mind blown by this amazing structure, read up on it on Wikipedia, saw the part about the last stand, thought to myself "I wonder if there is any WWII footage of that?" and find this video that was released TODAY!? Thanks Mark for reading my mind and this great video :) The place is amazing and we are lucky that the GDR decided to not remove this monument only because the Russians participated in Napoleons defeat. Would be interesting to know if any footage of Hitlers gatherings there exists.

[@Phunker1]

I live about 5 minutes from the monument. Seeing old pictures from this once so beautiful city still make my heart ache.

[@phsyco91100]

Wes 76 germany didn’t start the war. You are a good example why incest is illegal and why I support abortion

[@BrassLock]

@Wes 76 The people who commissioned, designed and built the beautiful city had no desire to cause carnage. It is subsequent generations who were the murderers. No one desires your sympathy.

[@justinokraski3796]

tell that Revisionist horseshit to the Polish

[@Just-me-Laura]

I can only imagine. 😪

[@toleyik5401]

My grandfather was on the officer's staff of Generalmajor von Grolmann. And it's true what Mark Felton says in the video. The troops were divided under 2 commands. In addition came the Waffen SS and the Hitler Youth. Those refused the orders to capitulate. The main reason why von Grolmann wanted to capitulate was a warning from the Americans. They had set an ultimatum for surrender. Should that not be kept, they wanted to bombard Leipzig again.

[@ironwolfF1]

My late father was one of the German defenders of Leipzig (and a native of said city)... escaping the Russian Zone, he went on to become an American citizen, and his children (my brother and I) proudly joining the US military. Oh how the world turns...thank God (and Ronald Reagan) that Leipzig is free once again.

[@MrAkurvaeletbe]

Wy would you be proud of that?

[@henri9109]

@@MrAkurvaeletbe Which part should he not be proud of?

[@PaganShredhead]

My grandfather fought and was taken prisoner in the battle for Leipzig. He was a 16 year old Flakhelfer, attached to a 3,7 battery outside of Leipzig. They fired a few shots at Shermans. After the Shermans answered in kind, the survivors surrendered.

[@snipingflute4346]

@Michael Wolff Of course! It is said that history is written by the victors. I'd like to add that history is suppressed as well. One of my college professors whom served in the Vietnam War told my class that even today he is under some sort of law that concerns whatever that is forbidden to be mentioned to anyone about his time in Vietnam, could still have him face arrest. Because of laws like that, I conclude that we'll never know the full story of certain events in history. I'm sure individuals who are responsible to keeping national secrets to their graves upon years after retirement and beyond are the closest sources than any modern day textbook can portray what has happened in history. I agree, our history is controlled.

[@peternewman3487]

I visited this massive building in summer 1994 with my German relations who lived around twenty miles to the South of Leipzig.

[@Rasakson]

was that block with the iron cross on it still there? I am talking about 9:05

[@electrichellion5946]

Peter Newman - ill bet it was something to behold too.

[@rnrailproductions5049]

You should do a video on the Italian submarines in the pacific that went to the Kriegsmarine after Italy’s surrender and later Japan after Germany’s surrender. Same for the U-Boats in the pacific.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Subject of my first book Yanagi back in 2005!

[@wirelessone2986]

@@MarkFeltonProductions Mark do you sell your books on your own website or is it amazon only?

[@georget8008]

Could you give some bibliography on the issue? It sounds really interesting and i have never heard of it. Italian subs in the pacific? And later joining the germans and the japanese?

[@neurofiedyamato8763]

Luigi Toreilli was one of the submarines that served in the 3 major axis nation. Renamed as UIT-25 and later I-504 when transferred. Sank 8 ships total. The US scuttled it after the war. Kind of a shame. The other submarine was Comandante Cappellini which was renamed UIT-24 and I-503. It would of been even more epic if either briefly entered service for the USN and then transferred as war prize to say maybe China or USSR. And sadly a boat with such unique history is lost.

[@rnrailproductions5049]

Mark Felton Productions interesting! I’m gonna have to get me a copy now! The story of those Italian subs and U-boats have always interested me!

[@farzet3937]

You should make a video regarding South American Expeditionary Forces in WW2 a little known force that participated.

[@bigblue6917]

I second that.

[@johnharker7194]

Smoking snakes

[@halfcantan1208]

James Knight have you any idea what kinda weapons they used

[@JeanLucCaptain]

Also, the Japanese-Amirican infantry regiment that served in ww2. The most decorated unit in US history.

[@stvdagger8074]

@@halfcantan1208 The Brazilian division that fought in Italy was equipped with American weapons.

[@georgesoros815]

Amazing video as always. I was worried that they would be forced to blast the building into rubble. Glad to see it still intact to this day. Such a beautiful work of art.

[@floatsterfn]

It did take some serious damage though. The war damages have only just been fully repaired half a decade ago

[@carltorjusen558]

l thought u were a trader with billions of US$...????

[@sonnyburnett8725]

At least the German commanders were willing to talk right up to the end. That saved so many lives.

[@lucadavidson3936]

That monument is exquisite. I have never heard of it before, and was worried that the attackers levelled it. Indeed, Wikipedia reports that the Russians had wanted to destroy it during their occupation for its representation of nationalism, before deciding against it. I must go see this place the next time I'm in Germany.

[@mahouaniki4043]

Russians would blow up the entire monument sky high along with all red army pows inside.

[@ErichHiller44]

Hahaha very true.

[@JacobafJelling]

孫鈺 truth

[@JuanDeSoCal]

Against the armed forces of the Soviet Union, the Germans would've fought to the end knowing they'd committed a huge number of war crimes in that country and could therefore expect harsh treatment.

[@schaihmansur8298]

JuanDeSoCal the Sowjets never had a war where they didn't commit war crimes

[@TheMAXIFOD]

Me: which division did you serve en grandpa? Grandpa: 69th me: Nice

[@forrestgumball]

Got em

[@raymondromanos1479]

Very cool! I live in Leipzig and had heard about the last stand at the monument. Now I know the details! Thanks

[@DerAndereDa94]

Yup it's kinda funny. Saw the title and instantly klicked. Can see the monument out of my window while writing this text down

[@Iahusha777Iahuah]

Its sad that you had to learn this from a foreigner

[@anonymussy123]

If there's one thing that I've learned from this channel, it's that a hell of a lot of stuff happened on Hitler's last birthday.

[@Pauschke]

Please tell the story about the 1943 Air Attack on Bari and its consequences. Thx for your work!!!

[@Roller_Ghoster]

There was mustard gas on one of the ship's that was sunk I think.

[@geoh7777]

@Erick Vagabond Also eisenhower catching and returning to the soviet russians red army soldiers heading west on foot, whereupon they were taken 20 km or so east and shot. After a while eisenhower's own soldiers refused to turn any more over. I had one of these for an instructor at the Army Language School in Monterey CA 1964-65 and he said he hid out in the mountains of Austria for six months because he knew what might happen if he were caught. He was half-German ethnically and spoke fluent German, so that helped.

[@andraslibal]

How about the Russians Liberation Army (Vlasov) who fought the Soviets on the Eastern front and surrendered to the Americans only to be handed over to Stalin into certain death and gulag. That would be a story to tell.

[@TheSunderingSea]

@@andraslibal Can't say I have much sympathy for men who fought for people who thought them racially inferior.

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

@@TheSunderingSea It's very complicated, the matter of "allegiances" in the Second World War. Ultimately they fought for themselves, not for the Germans or Soviets - they fought for whomever they figured would win and give them the best conditions to live under. I don't understand this sympathy, however - they knew what they were doing and what would happen. Why would the Western Allies be under any compulsion NOT to hand them over? You play fucked up games, you get fucked up prizes - the Cossacks and the like were not stupid men. They knew what they were doing and what the consequences were - they get the baseline sympathy that anyone who suffers through this war gets from me, but nothing more than that.

[@dionyseus43]

Really nice video thank you! Just wanted to say that Leipzig was not east Germany at that time,it was "Mitteldeutschland".

[@Gregsheppo66]

This is by far & away the finest WW2 history channel on KZbin.

[@tbwpiper189]

Well done, Mark. These snippets of history would be lost but for efforts like yours to educate and inform.

[@diogov8]

What a nice history, thanks as always!

[@BDJans]

What an amazing story. I feel like every one of your short videos could be made into a feature film. You know you’re onto something when your “likes” number over 500 with 0 “dislikes”. Congrats

[@Trek001]

Once again, Mark presents a small but quite excellent bit of history. I find his videoes captivating and full of little bits of trivia that even a major WW2 buff like myself doesn't know about. You know, Mark, you should put some of these on DVD because we'd all pay for them! Not sure if take requests as such, but is there any chance you could do a video on the Corpo Aereo Italiano which saw action in the Battle of Britain

[@TheMinipily]

Channel is growing fast, it's like a wildfire of good stuff! Keep it up Mark, loving these stories.

[@g13flat]

Another fascinating piece of WW2 history that so few know about. Thanks Mark

[@deaterk]

Wow! My favorite (thus far) of your uploads! Thank you so much for producing high quality content! Cheers! 🇬🇧

[@ftffighter]

Thank god I found your channel, so many unique events that were not very well documented and/or were not talked about much. I subbed on your first video it was so good. I can't wait for you to do a video on the Siege of Budapest during 1944-1945. It was similar to Stalingrad but the fighting was much more desperate with 4 attempts at rescue(5 attempts if you consider the last one that was canceled before starting). The relief force got so close that the German Budapest garrison could both see and hear the approaching fighting, the sound of which was magnified by heavy cloud cover, while the relief troops heard the city’s haunting air-raid sirens. At night the relief force and the defenders communicated with each other using flares..... many thought they were going to be saved but Hitler would not authorize a breakout, Budapest being a fortress city and whatnot. This battle was one of the most intense battles of WW2 period and I wish it were better heard of. Anyways, thank you for the video and I look forward to more!

[@Dsandelin44]

Mr. Felton, thank you for your excellent historical work.

[@theenigmaticgamer]

I visited the monument with my wife a couple of years ago and we were very impressed by it. My main reason for visiting was my interest in the Napoleonic wars, but there was no mention of the roll it played as shown in the video though. Thanks for a very interesting and detailed account, much appreciated.

[@tommyjohansson1180]

Love all the Felton productions but this one... outstanding! Thx Mark for doibg this!!

[@papaske3375]

I've been to Colditz Castle, the Battle of Nations monument, and the Bach "church". Very nice area and people. The mo u mentioned was awesome to see outside, inside, and on top observing the surrounding areas. The monument has a great museum about the 1813 battle. Thanks for the video!

[@ericmcquiston9473]

That was a great video, Mark. I have read a number of books about the final months of the war but didn't know about that encounter. Excellent job Mark !

[@justrandomcarsurbex3057]

Thank you, and as always a very interesting story!

[@nihilistcentraluk442]

Agreed.Very good video and an interesting story well told.

[@chrisadams6595]

I have really enjoyed watching your videos . All interesting , well informed , and told in a nice manner .

[@michaelt7852]

great video as always Mark!

[@billd.iniowa2263]

I've been enjoying these glimpses into the side-shows of the war. Those small incidents that make up the total picture of history. I have been studying the operations and large battles for quite awhile and am now finding the minutia can be interesting as well. When I dont have the time to sit down and watch an hour long doc I watch your bite-sized videos. Thank you for your work. It is appreciated.

[@Auronfan02]

I am living in this city for a few years now ...that monument is pretty impressive and you still can see some bullet holes on the outside...at least last time.i have been there

[@johnnieireland2057]

your channel is amazing, you have everything I cant find anywhere else.

[@SolarWebsite]

Task Force "zwiebel"? Sounds perfect to break through a, ahem, layered defence 😉

[@ahmedbassam400]

Why?

[@JJuhu]

@@ahmedbassam400 Zwiebel is german for an onion, ya know, the layered vegetable

[@mugwump58]

@@ahmedbassam400 Zwiebel means onion.

[@Roscoe_B]

@@ahmedbassam400 zwiebel=onion

[@maxwest4820]

It's Onion in Germam

[@timwebber8630]

You do amazing work Mark Felton! Thank you so much for keeping this amazing history front and center. This Leipzig Monument Battle is an amazing story - They should do a make a movie about this incredible battle!! What a remarkable battle & story!!!

[@Young_23]

Very, very great work. You’re narration, tied with your images and clips, are perfect.

[@JimmyPtheman]

Fantastic stories. Amazing how much I've learned from you even after 40 years of study in History. Thank you!

[@Appalling68]

That was absolutely fascinating. I have never heard this story. Thank you!

[@astraluna6is9]

An amazing story. This would make an outstanding film

[@britishchap3586]

Really underrated channel thanks for another brilliant video

[@WellWisdom.]

Such an amazing piece of history. Thanks for the upload.

[@richardmontgomery8863]

Mark, your channel is always interesting, unearthing the odd incidents and side stories during the turmoil of war & confrontation. Thank you.

[@Jimmy_Watt]

These videos are of top quality! Thanks so much for your time.

[@wolfkafitz9461]

Great work. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

[@jessef88]

I grew up in Achternmeer, Germany. This is very interesting for me. Thank you.

[@markbeyea4063]

I love the coverage this channel gives to little-known events. Carry on!

[@jamespasquali1742]

That was a GREAT story I️ have NEVER heard of. You are a Master Storyteller. Thank you.

[@charlesflint9048]

I just love these videos, they are always informative, entertaining, and satisfying to watch. Really good; this is much better than ‘Mainstream TV’.

[@user-cm8en8or1p]

Loving your channel Mr Felton.

[@joshuamarshman101]

Seeing a history related video in my recommended. good. Seeing a history related video by Mark Felton Productions in my recommended. FANTASTIC!

[@reecev2087]

You have an anime profile pic so I can’t agree

[@joshuamarshman101]

@@reecev2087 Don't worry. I'm not forcing you to.

[@markpaul8178]

Mr Felton,u have outdid yourself once again my friend.outstanding job.

[@fazole]

What a fantastic story! The images are top-notch.

[@CptInside]

Wow! Im german and didnt knew that! Thanks for this very informative video :)

[@lordsnowy4638]

Then you aren't german, you must be an immigrant lol

[@christianhoffmann8607]

@@lordsnowy4638 Dummy, while an interesting anecdote this battle by a few hundred men in the very last days was far from important, so most people dont know about this.

[@Marvin-fw2bn]

@@lordsnowy4638 So you have to be a military history expert to be a "true German". Very interesting...

[@Guardbuddy]

@@lordsnowy4638 Can you just not post cringy shit like that on this video? This is supposed to be an informative historical channel not "hey look at my edgy political jokes xDDDDDD"

[@williamlovelady7217]

Definitely the best channel for this . Tells it as it is .

[@thomasbeck9075]

Great history of this unique building

[@alecfromminnenowhere2089]

Extraordinary ! I enjoy your time sensitive bursts of history about a pivotal point of one of our worlds darkest periods.

[@martinburch2416]

Another brilliant Informative video. Thanks

[@carterchurchill9611]

Your voice makes my research so much more enjoyable, thank you.

[@mybluebelly]

I`m proud to say i have been inside this huge monument back in 2013. I had no idea it also has a WWII history. Trekked over to Dresden a few days later which is even nicer than Leipzig and visited the military museum there. Nice summer memories :)

[@JRCinKY]

A story that i was unaware of until today. Thank you sir.

[@marc9283]

Nice video. Do you have any information on how well the Flak Division did against the tanks? I am curious to see some numbers on that. and I spotted a small mistake, Halle is not in the Harz mountains. Btw, "Festung Harz" may be a good topic for a future video.

[@thorstenm.2219]

No tank was destroyed by Flak in the Leipzig city area. All guns were stationary ones west of the city for protection of Leuna oil refineries, deployed in groups on open fields and not useful for ground combat. As no German Feldheer (regular army troops) available, these AA guns had no protection from artillery and infantry = easy prey. US troops lost 3 tanks in Leipzig, all by Panzerfaust. Further casulties were two more armed vehicles and 20 killed G.I.s. In total the US Army lost 100 men KIA when conquering western Saxony. Reason: The German forces concentrated on the east. Soviets lost 100,000 men for conquering eastern Saxony. Factor 1:1,000 shows the German priorities in April/May 45. Greetings from Leipzig

[@jamesricker3997]

Not as good as you might think. The guns open with no protection for the crew, the allies just called in an artillery strike when they ran into flack guns

[@jaggar28]

@@thorstenm.2219 100,000 men!!! Such a huge loss of life to take 1 city.

[@paulh5984]

I've been to the Volkerschalchtdenkmal a few times and though I knew the US forces occupied Leipzig, I did not know about Poncet trying to use the Denkmal as a holdout fortress. Thank you for your work!

[@jessef88]

Thanks for this man

[@TheDr1001]

Outstanding! I toured the monument last year and I learned a lot from your video.

[@E.Humperdinck]

That feeling when you find a new channel you can't stop watching.

[@cjgangi0123]

A great channel. Thanks for the great videos.

[@Ronin4614]

Wow, what a story. Thank you, Mark.

[@Steve_Farwalker]

THIS would make a great movie.

[@TylerHackerJokes]

Such a good video, I had never even heard of this battle before and I've watched A LOT of WW2 documentaries.

[@MrJayuk88]

Really interesting as always. Thanks !!

[@jamesbednar8625]

Great video!!! Have read about the Battle of the Nations, but never heard of the monument. After watching this video, did some research of my own and learned a great deal. Also watched some videos about the monument. Always great day to learn something new about history!!! THANKS!!! for helping "expand" my knowledge of a subject I love dearly.

[@vonwillful]

Awesome once again! Thank you!

[@achillies40]

Wow. I had not heard of that battle before. What a beautiful monument 🏛. I hope it’s been restored to it’s full glory.

[@tinklvsme]

And another piece of history that I didn’t know till now. TY

[@antthegord9411]

Love how these videos even sound like they were recorded during the time, seriously all it's missing is the grain sound of a phonograph. Not complaining at all about that by the way, it'd be an amazing effect imo.

[@charliejdk]

I agree with all the praise. Let me add that I never fail to learn something from your marvelous films. Thank you.

[@jafar_mtr]

Just a little side note by the way : Leipzig was not part of eastern Germany at that time. East Germany was Silesia, Pommerania and East Prussia with city's like Breslau, Königsberg, Allenstein or Beuthen. But after the 2. World War the soviet union decided to keep the former east polish territories and give east Germany to Poland. And this is how Middle Germany became East Germany.

[@Master50582]

Great video! I have learned something new. I have spent many days at the monument and the Südfreidhof. Awesome concerts held inside the monument during Wave Gotik Treffen.

[@badou111]

this channel is growing like a good tree roots thanks Mark felton

[@vetere0599]

Thank you Dr. I LOVED the narrative and the video.

[@KB4QAA]

Wonderful telling of this story. I had never heard of this battle.

[@whiplash8277]

Outstanding presentation, Mark. Thanks.

[@sjustice5254]

Outstanding presentation with accurate historical facts....British accent always makes it more absorbable and intriguing

[@die_wohlfahrt9133]

I life in middle saxony and i find it very interresting how WW2 looked in the places were i life. To be honest the City of Colditz is not so far away neither. Thank you for this video 🎥, found youre YT channel by surprise and im hella glad i did ;-) Yours sincerely Der Wüstenfuchs

[@Mohatheking19]

Hallo fieldmarshall

[@scottklocke891]

Willkommen Kamerad

[@die_wohlfahrt9133]

@@Mohatheking19 greetings, how are you?

[@corvusduluth]

@@MrNebelschatten So you are "Besser Wessi" 'sitzpinkler' ??

[@SkyForceOne2]

@@MrNebelschatten what drugs did you take?

[@SpudEater]

I’m glad that the monument was spared, through war we have lost so many pieces of history and luckily, this one was saved through negotiation.

[@1990Styx]

Thanks for your channel :) Greetings from germany

[@JR_AP]

Great video and great story too! I didn't knew about Leipzig last stand

[@carlstenger5893]

Fascinating story. Thanks so much!

[@Alan_Connor]

Great stuff-keep 'em coming!

[@ronaldmcdonald3965]

Thanks for the internal photos of the monument.

[@charlesbutler8894]

Excellent video and very informative.

[@VenturiLife]

These strange, small snippets of the war, are fascinating.