Little Dieter Needs to Fly - Werner Herzog (1997) [Documentary] Watch Free Full Length Online

[@skydivejohnny]

As a Vietnam vet 5th grp special forces 3 tours after I viewed this documentary I cryed like a baby what a incredible man, I will go to Arlington and pay my respect

[@boramfan87]

I think the next time I am tempted to complain about anything, especially that my day has been rotten....I will remember this very disturbing and incredible journey.

[@morrighanwermarn-arnburg7333]

Maybe that is why many combat veterans who went through a lot, don't like to be around the average civilian person. After being through everything they have been through, they come back and listen to people talk about pointless crap and complain about pointless crap. Things like "McDonalds ran out of ranch dip so I had to get honey mustard. This is the worst day of my life." or "They were sold out of red Air Jordans in my size. They only had white left. That store sucks!" When the Vet snaps and yells "Shut the fuckup!" or just quits going places in public, they think it's just PTSD.

[@seanwoodyoneill8348]

I just re-watched this on Feb. 20, 2018 and this video has been up for over 3 years with 28,271 views and 228 upvotes. Not one downvote. Good to see some of us are in agreement.

[@LennyWatt65]

I'm watching this on July/5/2024 9:37 PM, it's still here 6 years later

[@marqsee7948]

@@LennyWatt65 and they don't show downvotes anymore.

[@NMjack2000]

I was there when Dieter came back aboard via helecopter. That was a great day for sure.

[@Wacoal34d]

This movie alone makes Herzog the greatest living filmaker. Absoloutely riveting and completely moving.

[@Josef_R]

And yet he made the war hero Gene DuBruin out to be a villain in Rescue Dawn...but still riveting.

[@yannick245]

For Herzog fans: Herzog's series about people waiting for their execution, is available here on KZbin. It's called _"On Death Row",_ if I remember correctly.

[@NuclearEngineerDOE]

Originally watched this in 20006. Over 10 years later, so much detail I had forgotten. RIP Dieter.

[@modela6301]

just watched this amazing documentary after reading about it in a book!!! i started respecting more about the little things in life..a fresh breeze a good meal and good sleep.....man this documentary is really humbles you!!❤

[@aaaht3810]

No kidding. Dieter's love of open spaces and to be able to open a door at will reminds me of something a U.S. airman said about years of imprisonment in North Vietnam, "Any morning you wake up and there is a knob on the door is a good morning". The little things we take for granted.

[@modela6301]

@@aaaht3810 so true brother.. little things in life matter always... ☺️

[@hughiedavies6069]

I've seen this before..years ago, probably this KZbin video ..I just love his attitude..he never complained about his treatment the torture or the conditions. He just mentions it like its pretty normal. ! I think I'd be traumatised for life ! But he just takes it all in his stride. Lovely innocent man who should never have been in a war situation ,even though he coped with it really well.

[@scotta.5681]

This man is a good example of how important it is to never stop trying. Dengler is an inspiration!

[@markyp4262]

absolutely amazing story , thank you for the upload

[@philippl.2766]

Just watched this, googled Eugene Peyton Deatrick Jr. and found out he died last year on 30th of December 2020, which is my birthday. Can't believe how sad this makes me. Herzog evoked some pretty deep feelings.

[@michaelcarpentiero5924]

I love this guy...wish I could have met him.....amazing he can talk so candidly about his horror

[@jack-n-the-bots2926]

What an incredible story of survival. A real hero

[@dipling.pitzler7650]

The film leaves you speechless !

[@shocbomb23]

Just an amazing story,as a child looking at the those U.S planes bombing his village I bet he never could of imagined he would be doing the same exact thing for the same exact government !

[@species8472cze]

Never really thought of it that way, life is truly amazing sometimes.

[@johns.7609]

@@1Sniperman after being overcome by illness and deciding his own fate like a true warrior.

[@wolfu597]

@@1Sniperman After he was diagnonized with ALS

[@BrettonFerguson]

​@@1Sniperman ...after he was diagnosed with ALS, better than shitting yourself in a bed for years, and he went a fire station so they could take his body to the morgue and bury him. Many people do it at home alone and aren't found for weeks, their bodies bloat and split open. Black rot oozes out and stinks up the place. Flies lay larvae in them. Going to a fire station where they have an ambulance ready to take you to the morgue is the smart way to do it. No one wonders what happened, was it murder or anything. Simple, painless, and relatively clean.

[@crewmax4240]

What an amazing story. It is humbling to hear the stories of survival -from childhood to war to civilian life. Little Dieter was a real American hero.

[@PianoGesang]

He was a master, heroes die

[@yannick245]

If fighting in an illegal war and dropping bombs on civilians on the other side of the planet makes you an _"American Hero",_ I think you have the wrong standards. The same goes for the wars in Panama, Grenada, Yugoslavia or Iraq 2003. To list just a couple of the recent illegal wars of aggression, in recent times.

[@StephNuggs]

Thanks for the upload 👍

[@arkhangelsk]

God, this movie and story are so incredible.

[@ginettehernandez1017]

thanks for upload!

[@mikemcghee2460]

An incredible story of survival and the will to live

[@lukehorning3404]

What crazy and amazing story and man to live to talk about it

[@Moredread25]

One of Herzog's finest documentaries.

[@joshg.4448]

This film is amazing! It is so intense, although all you're doing is watching this man talk!

[@theatsatsos2291]

A truly phenomenal story of a powerful soul, Deiter Dengler. The music at 18:30 minutes into the video is ...wow. what is this captivating trance? What is being said?

[@SummerFitzgerald]

+Thea T I have no idea what it's saying either, but I know in Herzog's Bells From the Deep and Happy People - both taking place in Siberia - there were performances of this music. When I heard it placed with these scenes of Vietnam it seemed like an odd choice, considering it's Russian, but it works pretty well I think.

[@theatsatsos2291]

Thank you!

[@SummerFitzgerald]

No problem! Happy People is on Netflix and Bells from the Deep is here on KZbin. Both fascinating in their own unique ways. Just finished this movie and it said "Tuva Singers" in the music credits, so it looks like that's the official name.

[@sharptownlady]

+Thea T I thought it was some thing from the 70's maybe done by John Belushi?

[@theatsatsos2291]

+Eastern Alley it is the "Tuva singers" that summer fitzgerald mentioned above. it's a technique of "throat singing" really interesting. no idea about the john belushi reference.

[@VictorFoote01]

Casey Neistat's section in "Tools of Titans" brought me here

[@helmimakes]

tools of titans?

[@VictorFoote01]

Lukas Helmers Lmao. Going to edit that now. Thanks brother. Have you read it yet?

[@helmimakes]

Yup. I read the parts that sounded interesting to me. Lends itself to skimming but that doesnt work very well on the kindle. Pretty crazy that almost all of them have some form of daily meditation...

[@VictorFoote01]

That is why I am happy i purchased the book so I can skip around. I think mediation is one of the best ways to keep us focused and happy. I have a reminder in my phone to take at least one breath a day. It sounds silly but it helps. I highly recommend reading Chade - Meng Tan's part. Titled "Three Tips From A Google Pioneer" found on page 154. Keep growing brother :)

[@crimsonghost99]

Well so we are becoming kind of a cult huh?

[@YouF.O]

36:10 - As a Brit, I've been brought up with the common misconception that German people have no sense of humour. We used to have jokes about it. Not only, even at that time, did I think this was cockamamie, but after viewing this scene, I finally understand that German and English humour is not all that different, just framed, expressed and appreciated differently. This scene is interesting... after seeing all of Herzog's films, whilst at times, you can see he is either cracking a joke or some 'tryist' point of view which appears humourous... However, this one of the only times I can wholeheartedly say that I've seen him use this specific style of humour to enthral his viewer. Excellent work Herzog!

[@mickysdream]

One of the greatest documentaries there is

[@mikericketts7057]

What an amazing story of determination and persistance!

[@aaaht3810]

Dieter's experiences remind me of the line from the song "The Hanging Tree": "To really live, you must almost die".

[@NYisconstipated]

Brilliant spirit....One of a kind

[@ben-c5t]

Herzog der Effekthascher von 18:43, was hat Chöme, Kehlkopfgesang mit Vietnam zu tuen?

[@Mikeb8134]

thanks

[@wolfu597]

Dieter died 4 years after this documentary was made.

[@yannick245]

Yup! By suicide after a long battle with ALS. A disease you can't escape. In the last stage you'd be a complete prisoner inside your own body. Unable to control any body movement. I think he had enough of being a prisoner and I fully understand that people choose this way out. It's sad that he didn't live to see _"Rescue Dawn"._ A movie about the story of Dengler. With him being portrayed by the great Christian Bale. Herzog actually wanted to make the movie before doing the documentary. But he struggled to get the movie financed. So he started with the documentary. I think with the help of public German movie funds aka _"stupid German money"._ A system many American productions ab(used) at that time. _"Rescue Dawn"_ had a very limited theatrical release. It's more of a straight-to-DVD production. I think here in Germany, it wasn't released in the movie theaters at all. It was his first narrative/"fictional" movie he made in the US, in the 21st century. A year later he made a great remake of _"Bad Lieutenant"._ Praised by many critics. Roger Ebert named the film as among the top 10 best mainstream films of 2009, and then included it in his list of the best films of the decade. So, enough (off-topic) informations. Herzog is just one of the best!

[@hildapriore472]

Very very impressiv.... Wounderful Docum.😊❤👍 Netflix brought me here... Today the Film came out.....😅

[@christophlieding734]

Thanks for the upload/ Herzog is the "Man". Thumbs up.

[@rvelaz87]

Legend. I have true respect for him for surviving.

[@pfdrtom]

When I first heard he had killed himself I thought it was because of all the guy had gone through. When I found out, however, that he was on a downward spiral with ALS I realized he just wanted to go out on his own terms. My mom died of ALS and if I ever get that wretched disease I'd take myself out too. Rest easy, old man, and soar with God's eagles in heaven.

[@ProBloggerWorld]

Extremely strong willed person. That fact that he left Germany to build a new living in the USA at the age of 18 alone is also impressive.

[@yannick245]

He wanted to fly! And as we have a saying/proverb, here in Germany, America is the: _"Land der unbegrenzten Möglichkeiten/Land of unlimited opportunities/possibilities"._ Millions of Germans tried their luck in the US. According to the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy in 2012, _"German-Americans make up the largest self-reported ancestry group within the United States, accounting for roughly 49 million people and approximately 17% of the population of the U.S."_ So even more than Mexican-Americans or African-Americans. But they have assimilated/Americanized themselves like no others but English/Anglo-Americans. In parts due to the harsh anti-German sentiment during WWI _(I won't get into detail)._ Which pushed their assimilation even more....

[@beverleypeacock]

Love the space left for him by the fly over ..(last image)

[@mikec4114]

RIP Dieter

[@cobrallama6236]

42:53. 🥺

[@TimeBreakPictures]

Maybe my favourite moment

[@jg-bordfronco2925]

what a stud!

[@epermute]

Incredible experience and an incredible man. Herzog’s 2006 movie, Rescue Dawn, starring Christian Bale as Dieter is an excellent and largely factual retelling of Dieter’s experiences.

[@kotastrophie]

Been inside of his house on my tam and driven by it many times

[@linajurgensen4698]

What’s the song at the end called?

[@bentdune8143]

Oay Lahy É a traditional Malagasy song recorded around the 1930s.

[@mikecane]

Casey Neistat recommended this in the New York Public Library interview of him. I'm glad I saw it. There's also a dramatized remake by Herzog called Rescue Dawn, which -- as of 11/10/17 -- is available on cable TV OnDemand. R.I.P., Dieter,

[@johntyrrell1549]

Amazing man. R.I.P

[@philjames6206]

Dieter, I hope you are still alive and happy on your porch in your twilight years. War sucks, but your story is so uplifting. Peace.

[@oblivionlord1242]

What an incredible man

[@PianoGesang]

I believe I can fly whereas he not only believed it he did.

[@RamblesBrambles]

Huh?

[@swazilandirtbikes]

Hope I stop crying before the New Year

[@urankjj]

Great film. Thank you to the great un-credited, Kongar-ol Ondar for his haunting music @ 18:20. Also here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iofcqpt-e7B8bqc.

[@tylersargent969]

anyone know did he fly off the ranger or independence??

[@stephenyong4840]

Ranger

[@MrE1981]

Yea bud, ..food's important to everyone!

[@joshscarabin]

5:19 “P-51 Spitfire”….???

[@RamblesBrambles]

RIP all the innocent civillians..men woman and children that died horrendous deaths beneath dieters bombs.

[@ilasoulll]

Herzog's finest works

[@jasonlmeadows]

I have the honor of meeting one of his squadron mates and talking with him tomorrow

[@Bobbylee1963]

RIP Dieter!

[@AWallgren]

Those Laotian guys with the AK's recreating his torture.....what the fuck. I'd be freaking out. Hats off to you Dieter, this was an incredible account of one man's life and experiences. What his fellow pilots did for him, that is the true definition of brotherhood and the bonds people form during their time in the military, and especially war. That shot of Dieter walking through the AMARG Boneyard (Davis-Monthan), you can see why the QF-4 program lasted so long. Phantoms as far as they eye could see.

[@mikec4114]

wow!

[@nickparkes8462]

No

[@joecoupon8299]

40:50 Character of Viet Cong and personal property like an Engagement Ring. Are there other accounts like this? Why were they adamant about this particular gear? Was it more to do with accountability of property, or that the VC must have full control over the POW and Villagers? I've heard other accounts of Viets stealing watches off of dead GIs, but maybe they only did that because they were dead? Or, maybe a wrist watch doesn't have the value an Engagement Ring has? Or, perhaps it's the fear factor and complete control they had to have over the Villagers. If the Villagers had become so brazen as to steal from the VC's POW, then they'd become independent enough to steal from the VC. If I recall correctly, each area was somewhat to fiercely independent of the other, and there were constantly shifting alliances. The VC had to have complete psychological "boogeyman" control via violence and fear of violence to keep the Villages loyal. Likewise, the Communist must have had a very strong understanding of how to "groom" high valued POWs. Examine how the East Asian Communists handled POWs from North Korea and then China. The Communist Chinese learned that American (and other Western UN POWs) had to be handled differently...or they'll die on you...and then Uncle Sam will go (nuclear) mad on you. So, out of a simple story comes a very complicated situation. It's not exactly the hiding an "uncomfortable hunk of metal" up one's ass to keep thieving hands from taking personal property (Pulp Fiction reference).

[@electrolytics]

That's a pretty good assesment of the dynamics of the different areas. I think when Dieter complained to his captors down the road, the leader knew it was a challenge to his honor and his authority. So like you said, he's going to go back and show those villagers and Dieter who's the boss.

[@tylersargent969]

last a-1 skyraiders flew off the uss coral sea in 1968! usaf took over the skyraiders till 1973

[@neuymarc]

mr herzog could film a pile of 2 week old shite and make a 3 hour masterpiece....another of his finest

[@tylersargent969]

really a impressive story & there is no doubt that the navy A-1 Skyraiders were truly @ the front of action in veitnam until 1968 great archive carrier footage as well

[@nickparkes8462]

That’s so fucked up

[@sourkraut1868]

the real rambo

[@EBUNNY2012]

The man is very nimble.

[@Velvet0Starship2013]

@32:50 so Dieter's Opa was bravely stoic in his resistance to German Fascism, which Dieter used as inspiration in his stoic defense of... American Fascism. Funny how the mind works.

[@Velvet0Starship2013]

A) Agreed the Communists are often stupid (or tragically misled at best). B) If you knew the actual definition of Fascism (the modern version; Mussolini offered a concise definition) you wouldn't make such ignorant comments. Further, you're clearly not enough of a student of history to understand that Fascism has moved on quite a bit, in the West, since the crude German orgies of the jackbooted State of the 1930s. Fascism 2.0 very cleverly presents itself (to its own electorate) with a "kinder, gentler" face... while going about the business of blitzkrieg/ genocide/ occupation of defenseless countries. The epitome of this highly efficient double-facedness would be the smiling, crooning Obama... and his Death Drones. Want to see some pictures of headless children? Or their mangled parents? Et al. The human cost of Fascism 2.0 that Blessed Citizens like yourself are blind to. Have another cheeseburger, Citizen.

[@DarkFilmDirector]

A lot of commie apologists in this comment section that see the word fascism online or in high school books but have absolutely no concept of what actual fascism really is. You talk exactly like that old Texan hipster that joined the Novorussyan rebels in Donetsk that labels every single thing that isn't communist around him as fascism. When your way of thinking is completely warped into this black and white world of absolutes then you lose grip on reality and human emotion begins to give way to fanaticism. Ironically, the same way of thinking your hated fascists think. You are right, it's funny how the mind works, but you don't see it's effects on yourself as you completely missed the point of this documentary. This man Dieter was the complete antithesis of a war monger. He had absolutely no interest in killing people, he was just a dreamer type lost in a world too harsh for him. A very big hearted, imaginitive, and warm man. Not the cold, fanatical, blind man that goes off and fights in the name of communism or for a fascist leader like Hitler.

[@SA-ff9uc]

How many did Ho chi Minh butcher. His own people. How many millions were brought out of poverty in Asia by capitalism?

[@rudybishop9089]

if but half were true - he is a champion ! Shame I live in the town now and when this was filmed that he showed - and yet I never heard of this guy till 5/16/20 - today ?

[@kenmorgan9528]

Amazing story that I had never heard before. Herzog is a master film maker but I felt that the score for this film was inappropriate and at times distracted me from following this brave man's narrative. Nonetheless, thank you for this.

[@MrSnapbean]

The poor man shot himself in 2001.

[@headlocal]

apparently he was dying from ALS, and dealt with the matter see - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieter_Dengler#Later_life_and_death

[@charlescascales647]

he was not a "poor man." I knew Dieter for many years while we were both flight crew at Trans World Airlines. He was a remarkable and full of life person. He was dying of Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,) and did not want to be a burden on others. His story is one of adventure, exploration, friends, and curiosity.

[@MrSnapbean]

thanks for the novel bitch

[@RW4X4X3006]

Rot.

[@arkhangelsk]

Thank you for letting us know. It broke my heart to read that he shot himself, but there's always more to the story.

[@tylersargent969]

carriers in that war that had a lot of skyraiders were the midway, coral sea, kitty hawk & then the intrepid,hancock, Oriskany, bonn homme Richard, Kearsarge, forrestal,ranger,america,saratoga, independence

[@robertlevinson9188]

How could God let this happen to such a holy man?

[@OMG_BeCkY]

There is no God.

[@mylarmelodies]

17:59

[@cindymartini9420]

My father fought in WW2, and the Korean war. We always had a cupboard full of beans and spam.

[@stefankowski1506]

in memory of Thomas Kraemer...

[@simonbangart]

You don't own the right to publish this film. It's a criminal act!

[@yannick245]

Cry louder! Be happy someone uploaded this documentary and it wasn't pulled down by KZbin due to copyright infringement. What's your problem. This piece is almost 30 years old.

[@simonbangart]

@@yannick245 As a filmmaker myself, I think you are a thief who does not respect other people's work and takes their rightful income from them, by posting films as if it is your own right. You break all laws by the crime you support. Stop it and likewise your arrogant and ignorant attitude. You are a disgrace to those who work hard to create important stories.

[@TheHonkcat]

can do without the dink noise

[@kurtbjorn]

"Little Dieter" should not have joined the Air Force if he was unprepared to go to war. He should have flown a Piper Cub at a local grass strip. Don't accept taxpayer $$ if unprepared to do the harsh, difficult work.

[@Jason-ye4vy]

You must peel potatoes

[@jimmycakes7158]

Pretty sure Dieter demonstrated he could handle the difficult work, unlike most in the AirFARCE.

[@earlfithian4911]

I expect "Little Dieter" did more harsh, difficult work in one day than you have done in your entire life.

[@yannick245]

​@@Jason-ye4vyDieter left the Air Force because they made him a _"potato peeler",_ got a college degree and became a Navy pilot _("I got a need. A need for speed!")_