Malmedy & Chenogne - A Tale of Two Ardennes Massacres

The massacre of captured American troops at Malmedy is well known, but not a revenge massacre of German prisoners by US troops at Chenogne during the Battle of the Bulge. What happened at both locations?
Dr. Mark Felton is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
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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.
Credits: US National Archives; Bundesarchiv

[@markschafer9474]

My uncle Charlie was a machine gun crew leader in Patton's Army, wounded in France (and he met Patton in a field hospital). Although he received a number of medals and citations, he told me that the most significant thing he did in the war was disobeying a direct order to shoot German prisoners. He told the lieutenant who gave the order that he and his crew would not do it, and told the lieutenant to "move along". The LT backed down. Heroism has many forms, and my uncle Charlie was one of my heroes.

[@Buggsy61]

Good on him. That took real courage.

[@bilobath6093]

Should of shoot those kroats

[@dukadarodear2176]

@@bilobath6093 I think the decision of the man on the ground is paramount and should be respected. Looks like he was a professional soldier and a humane human-being.

[@gavanwhatever8196]

Good for him! I think it takes exceptional strength of character to maintain one's humanity in the face of great inhumanity. It also takes great courage to resist, whether that be against an enemy occupier or an LT.

[@vivians9392]

@@bilobath6093 GOOD thing you weren't there! Murder is murder when you don't follow the rules of war!

[@JeepWrangler1957]

I saw an interview with an American medic driving an Ambulance that was stopped by several Germans. They looked in back and seeing all the wounded on stretchers waved him on. After going to the aid station the medic picked up several cartons of cigarettes drove back to the point he was stopped at and handed them to the German soldier. Humanity in the midst of insanity.

[@RVoogt]

lovely story

[@leebh8607]

There is a similar story in Ambrose's books Citizen Soldiers, happened in Normandy during the German retreat. The driver got lost and drove into a German position, and was diverted back to American lines. He then returned and dropped a crate which the Germans were suspicious of being booby-trapped. Turned out to be cigarettes.

[@goldleader6074]

If you look at the resources it takes to care for wounded soldiers, it's better to make your enemy use his resources to care for the wounded rather than killing them or taking them prisoner yourself. Doubtful it was purely for compassion of their enemy.

[@luiseduardosalazar1402]

That´s a good movie...

[@victoreous626]

@@goldleader6074 Very good. One of the main reasons for the US/NATO to adopt the 5.56 was for the very reason you stated. 7.62 was too deadly

[@dashdastardly]

As a young kid first learning about WW2 at School I incessantly asked my Granddad about it. One particular quizzing sticks out because at the time I didn't understand the depth of what he told me. He said "I never met a German I would not have had a drink and a laugh with under different circumstances" I quizzed him further "What, even SS troops ?" to which he replied "Dunno, I never came across a live one".

[@alastor8091]

Fuckin based dad.

[@carlosfalcon7569]

My close friend's father was involved in the Battle of the Bulge and was in an overrun unit. We were all sitting around one evening and the war came up as a topic of discussion. He described the harrowing experiences of the battle and living on the run and hiding from the Germans. He ended the the story by saying "After Malmedy, we didn't take no prisoners".

[@meteor2012able]

My step uncle was a paratrooper in Germany. I was 12 yo when the war ended. About a year after he visited us and told "me" war stories of some of his deeds. He said, they were to take no prisoners and rapidly move on... and how our guys had to kill young Germans soldiers giving up..." and move on." I was impressed and sensed he felt bad, as he described these actions. He a lot told of sexual "things" our men did (not exactly rape... that occurred out of fear or in exchange for food, etc). Overall, thereafter, in life, I viewed Hollywood versions a bit more realistically. I think he was about 18 years old when in Germany. "Manuelito" died in the Phoenix VA hospital in 1988. We are Mexican-Americans and very proud of our veterans in all wars. We don't get much notice in Hollywood or books.... but know that "we" have "our" heroes everywhere "our" great nation needs 🇺🇸 us. God

[@jasonbell6234]

Germans turned into fanatics once war was brought upon their soil.

[@uncareid5557]

@@meteor2012able I'm a German (heritage) American who wants to thank Mexican-Americans for their contributions to making our nation great! God bless the USA and God Bless Mexico! My nephew went to Mexico on business for two months, turned into two years. Came back married to a wonderful Mexican woman, they now have six kids. Some stories have good endings.

[@johnhersgey6253]

Dad said they did not take prisoners who had SS metals on. They would take prisoners especially young people, civilians and young soldiers. My second hand information might be wrong although he was on Omaha Bench on D-Day Point du Hoc, he was at St. Vith then Ohrdruf and onward The video sounds very accurate and possibly all accurate. At St. Vith some of the African American soldiers had there eyes chopped out. It made the. American soldiers 'nuts" and changed the thoughts of soldiers in the brutal cold in what he would say was the forest of hurt.

[@paulwhitehead87]

@@antiantifa886 Check out the My Lai massacre of more than 500 babies, toddlers, children, girls/young women, mothers, grannies and old men. First, many [all?] females above baby age were raped.

[@wakayama1991]

this is how history should be recounted; complete, objectively and impartially. Great work as always, Mark

[@JuergenGDB]

maybe but again a lot of what Mark discussed is not backed up anywhere... it is mere conjecture.

[@SideComment24]

@@JuergenGDB history is written by the victors. The reason for the lack of back up in this instance is because the Allies covered it up. Life especially at war isn't black and white. No good against evil, just evil and lesser evil. Its mornic to believe that the Allies never committed any warcrimes whatsoever. War is cruel in its nature. I'm not hating on the Allied forces, in fact I am grateful for them cause nowadays we experience freedom and liberty. God only knows what life could be if the Axis won.

[@SuperKonjac]

Of course unless it involves the Japanese, according to Mark

[@Itried20takennames]

“History is written by the victors.” Maybe in Hitler or Stalin styles dictatorship, but otherwise…this simply isn’t true. Each side just believes whatever they want to be either righteous or the victim - look at how WW2 is treated in Japan. Or compare the number of YT docs on civilian bombings in WW2 by country. You will find dozens on how the allies were wrong to bomb German civilian cities, and few on how the Germans were wrong to spend years bombing and starving civilian populations in Poland, London, Holland, France, Russia, etc. So much for “written by the victor.”

[@kjragg1099]

@@Itried20takennames yeah there’s quite a bit of literature and research on various allied war crimes throughout the war.

[@marcoafcajax9504]

What a coincidence. I am actually visiting Malmedy tommorow. Armed with more knowledge, i can visit these lands and remember the horrid events that transpired here. Thank you Mark for your great work.

[@daviddoran3673]

Excellent! I researched and visited years ago.....read my other comments here..

[@mesolithicman164]

Whatever you do, don't surrender.

[@Generalfund]

Sounds....fun...??

[@TheSpritz0]

MAKE A VIDEO, link it to your comments here!!!!!!!

[@ratscoot]

No mention of this at the Bastogne war museum, the main tourist attraction over there.

[@khancarle]

Mr Felton - thank you for this episode. My father fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was at Chenogue on the day of the massacre. A good friend of his protested the battalion commanders order to shoot a group of German prisoners where upon the officer in question told him (my fathers friend) to back off or else. My father persuaded his friend to back off. The prisoners were led away and shot. This incident is also documented in the companion book to Ken Burns - The War (pgs 331, 332). It is a story I heard from my father as I grew up, along with other fragments about his war experiences. To me, its one more example of the horrors of war and how no one emerges "clean." And its reason why i have always tried to respect those who wear the uniform and serve and sacrifice.

[@lancegauthier489]

My father served in the 95th Infantry. He didn't talk much about it, but one thing he said was "After Malmedy, the order came down to take no prisoners. And we didn't."

[@828enigma6]

Having a reputation of taking no prisoners makes it very difficult to get your enemy to surrender. If they perceive they will be killed anyway, they will fight to the death, yours or theirs. On the other hand, if you are known to treat pows well, they will be much more likely to surrender. War is a messy business at best. There's no reason to make it worse than necessary.

[@julianshepherd2038]

The SS didn't tend to surrender so ....they had it coming

[@ddawe31635]

I have never been a soldier. No clue. Humaness...I understand!

[@ddawe31635]

Seriously, America had alot of POW camps in the middle of America! In Atlanta, Nebraska, they never lost a POW!

[@ddawe31635]

@@julianshepherd2038 amen!

[@thepub245]

I would imagine it is very easy to become vengeful when tragedies like Malmedy occur and you are involved in a life or death struggle. I am not judging what those involved did, it was 80 years ago and I wasn't there, so I haven't the right. What I do think is, that two wrongs don't make a right. The Allied command analysis of it was spot on. Under the circumstances, there was no way any Allied service men were going to be investigated for their actions. The Malmedy incident certainly seemed to produce a counter productive result for the German forces, stiffening American resistance. I would imagine the Allied command and subsequent policy makers knew they were compromised themselves by the actions of American units similar response in the fact that the Germans on trial were eventually released. That's the thing with war crimes, the truth will always out.

[@m.w.6526]

I see Mark Felton, I click.

[@stefanmolnapor910]

And thumbs Up!

[@m.w.6526]

@@stefanmolnapor910 Without hesitation!

[@crayoneatinggo0n477]

It is so refreshing to see unbiased history. Our education system teaches a very pretty picture of the war, it needs to be more like this!

[@crayoneatinggo0n477]

@@circusbrains the state of Arizona has one of the worst education systems in the US unfortunately, that's where I went to school.

[@damyr]

Wow! To see the footage of actual Peiper's testimony... that's just unprecedented. I wonder how much video material there are we've never been able to see. That's more valuable than gold. Thank you, dr. Felton.

[@mjinnh2112]

It's on KZbin.

[@ivvan497]

You could have searched it yourself on YT. It is available for a long time.

[@jameswallis6093]

The entire Nuremburg War Crimes was filmed ,but all the average citizen is exposed to is sound bites of disruptive defendants,and the Judges in a loud microphone admonishing them to remain silent or they'll be removed,In the eyes of many legal experts ,the defense was unable to call witnessess,to question accusers.kept in conditions of prolonged torture.

[@jameswallis6093]

The actual reason in seventy years there has been 100x the exposure to the OJ trial, than the Nuremberg trial is because it was so terribly conducted.After the rush for Death sentences,a few years later a US Senatorial Commitee returned and commuted some of the more blatant travesties of justice.The media hyped Malmedy Massacre was big on the list,The second time around many of the prosecuting witnesses seem to recant the details,and implied they had orders.Others conceded to the use of threats of extradition to USSR,loss of food ration cards,and of course physical,beatings of genitals,and rape to defendants families.

[@tylerhiggins3522]

@@jameswallis6093 also this sham saw blame for the Katyn Massacre placed upon the Germans.

[@julijansidneypicej4701]

Mark the 120 old veteran, been everywhere, filmed everything legend

[@olivermorris8543]

Comment of the year

[@johannsebastianbach9003]

Guess he is that immortal camera man

[@Autofire-nw5ty]

At that stage of the war most Wehrmacht elite units began to remove the sleeve insignia from their uniforms for fear of being misidentified as SS by vengeful allied units and shot on surrender. I recall a passage in the book 'The Forgotten Solider' by Guy Sajer states as much.

[@thomasweatherford5125]

I also heard an interview of a soldier who’s unit liberated a concentration camp where the allied soldiers looked the other way when able-bodied Jews were allowed to beat some of the guards to death.

[@jacqueline6475]

What elite units..?

[@olroy17]

My dad told me the same thing. Jewish soldiers did not want to be taken prisoner by an SS unit and especially at the end of the war SS troops either couldn't surrender or were given very rough treatment

[@brianoneill4470]

@@jacqueline6475 German panzer troops wore deaths head insignia on their collars very often they where mistaken for SS troops. I don't know of any other elite units that had such insignia.

[@Autofire-nw5ty]

@@jacqueline6475 Usually any unit with a name not a number, IE Führer Begleit Division, Großdeutschland, Hermann Göring Division. they typically had unit names sewn onto the left sleeve of their uniforms to denote the 'elite' nature of the unit. The book goes into greater depth as to what makes an elite unit in 1941.

[@rivafussball6719]

One of the best researchers in Military history anywhere let alone KZbin. This guy really shows how history is more histories and more grey than black & white. Great great content!!

[@ricardobalaguer9548]

These stories clearly shown how easily evil could spread among everyone. Thanks Mark for taking this out from beneath the carpet.

[@HoltAircraft]

"the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being" Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

[@DutchGuyMike]

And who was evil? The most typical answer is Hitler "because he killed so many people" despite the truth/reality being far different (of who's to blame).

[@2394Joseph]

Jeremiah 17:9 KJV: 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

[@Blei1986]

@@DutchGuyMike they were all evil. GB and US wanted the war as much as germany, maybe even more. so did the soviets, well... maaaybe they didn't really wanted the war, but they knew it was comming

[@gnenian]

Theres no such thing as 'Personality Traits' is how others put it.

[@Gunnar001]

@@DutchGuyMike Good and evil doesn’t exist. Made up human concepts. It’s just people acting and reacting.

[@jayfromaz]

I really enjoy history. Your commentary and look at these events is wonderful.

[@billy5179]

I find it facinating that i, as a german, am made well aware of the horrors in Malmedy in school. But i never even heard of Chenogne. Not a single footnote in any german history books. While i fully support the teaching of the horrors commited by the nazies to prevent them from happening again, I am truly dissapointed in the one sided teaching. "History is written by the winners" Edit: For all the Friends that tell me how many german autrocities i might not heard of: You do not get the point!! These 2 events are linked together, and you cannot teach one without distorting the complete picture.

[@barrykevin7658]

Well said and unfortunately the 'winners ' of WW1 help create the situation that caused WW2 🙄 Nobody is ever a winner especially when seeking revenge.

[@arthurgiles379]

I'm absolutely certain there were lots of massacres perpetrated by the Germans that you were never taught about either.

[@markwebster5749]

Bet there is lots of German ones as well billy kid

[@geoffhunter7704]

It was a common policy for SS pows to be shot out of hand by allied soldiers as their infamous treatment of prisoners was so well known and i can confirm that orders went out to stop these shootings especially of officers as my father as a german speaker was involved with questioning them for intelligence in 1944/45.

[@nickboshell4380]

Yes they got rid of the nazis but then the yanks took their place war criminals don't exist in the so called free world they just all live in the USA

[@TheNOMISS]

How absolutely refreshing to watch a clear and unbiased documentary. Thank you!

[@volairn70]

Your unflinching look at the facts is so refreshing. Your productions are so well produced and edited, they should serve as an example for any documentarian.

[@yuppy1967]

Unflinching to whom? Because we have been fed lies and misinformation since the end of the war about allied atrocities that have been hidden? This is not even scratching the surface, but I am glad one mainstream western historian is actually making an attempt to report history somewhat more truthfully than in the past.

[@styx4947]

@@yuppy1967 Of course we are fed lies,lol. That's what they are for. Think about this, about 100 years before, (just after the U.S. civil war into the early 20th century) America had no problems exterminating Native American Tribes left, right and center. It was thier "Manifest Destiny" after all. This is the way Hitler looked at the "East". Considering the Russian "Slav Bolshevik Pestilence" as primitives like the Apache, or Lacota tribes of the American West. I do not condone the Nazis or Hitler in anyway. But it goes to your point that some get punished, and others do not, even if the crime committed by the two is the same

[@yuppy1967]

@@styx4947 I agree. Also, there is the old adage, to the victor goes the spoils and the narrative.

[@TanTannaRen]

Amen brother!

[@MrBrookcantdance]

This man is a nazi apologist and homocaunst denier. Ignore him

[@jeremiahputnam8598]

I've learned more in a year of watching your channel than in the 25 years before finding this treasure of a channel

[@mesolithicman164]

Let's be honest this is the fun side of history. I bet you wouldn't have devoted so much time to videos about British social policy in the 1930s. And other such interesting material.

[@lisandrochavez7169]

@@mesolithicman164 Interesting for British people...

[@jeremiahputnam8598]

@@mesolithicman164 idk about fun but interesting yes. Truthfully I recently found out about the British pathe and have spent a fair amount of time watching those videos but social policy hasn't come up yet

[@mesolithicman164]

@@lisandrochavez7169 No it's not, believe me.

[@mesolithicman164]

@@jeremiahputnam8598 Most boys and men are fascinated by war, that's what I meant by fun. Reading documents regarding taxation and educational policy less exciting than seeing the SS blowing up a tank.

[@Voytaz1985]

Simply one of the best history channels on KZbin!

[@RivetGardener]

As always, another excellent historical document. Thank you , sir.

[@Ronbo1948]

This is the first I've heard of a "revenge massacre" at Chenogne during the Battle of The Bulge - but I must confess to not being surprised. In war there is innocent blood on the hands of the troops on BOTH sides in the conflict.

[@jwenting]

I knew it happened, I didn't know the extent

[@gwhizz5878]

Then both sides are as bad as each other in this respect. Accountability for both would be good, but the winner writes the history books.

[@elviadarkgrape2859]

@@thomascolbert2687 bs alllied propaganda bro. You dont need to be so butthurt to comment that lie in every comment section.

[@thomascolbert2687]

@@elviadarkgrape2859 OH, it's "propoganda"🙄 Okay...

[@silverhawkscape2677]

Haha, "Innocent blood"

[@Dreamw4lk3r]

Thank you for also covering the Chenogne massacre and the fact nobody was prosecuted for it. Up until now I only knew of the Malmedy one in the Ardennes...

[@samsungtap4183]

Biscari massacre Sicily

[@kevinmiele5289]

the 1st massacre is always the TRUTH

[@barryrims9098]

there are no rules in war.. you kill our POWs, we kill yours....an eye for an eye....you treat POWs well...we do the same. The one who starts it always gets the worse punishment as in life, there are no equal exchanges in that regard

[@samsungtap4183]

@@barryrims9098 i understand if your fighting for your life and expect to die then other lives have little value, i understand that. However many of these atrocities happen under different circumstances ...in the Biscari incidence both defendants testified that their general had sanctioned the killing of prisoners ....patton should have been cashiered and sent home in disgrace. Please spare me the " heat of battle " or " a eye for a eye "...i think rather...... it's a matter of TRAINING, DISCIPLINE and MORAL FIBRE

[@barryrims9098]

@@samsungtap4183 War isn't a game where you start on equal moral footing...Your training is to kill the enemy to win the war....nothing else matters...the winners punish the losers. There are no such things as atrocities in war, it's war, which is already an atrocity to begin with

[@paulbradford8240]

That was very interesting. I've always said that when the victor writes the history, there are parts that are polished over.

[@sdw2is]

My father was right outside-4 miles- of Malmedy. He remembered the reaction of the gi's as different than what you're saying Mark. He said most of GIs didn't believe it at first. Then he said the attitude changed for the first time in the war in his experience. Said the attitude became grim and several soldiers displayed battle fatigue symptoms while others prepared for kill at all costs. He said they got NO orders except the comment that there could be no surrender unless you're willing to be shot- it was a fight to the death. AND HE SAID THAT THEY DID TAKE PRISONERS.

[@legatusmaximus7432]

@@willibrordusa.vanderweide2962 ?

[@petepeter1857]

@@willibrordusa.vanderweide2962 Your opinion doesn't matter.

[@hb9145]

Perhaps they did. As was not uncommon, they were probably told by their officers to take the prisoners a few miles behind the front and be back in 15 minutes. (The prisoners would then be executed shortly behind the front line.) I have spoken with several veterans who even bragged about their war crimes, believing that it served the Germans right.

[@frankvandergoes298]

Scott Dunham Wallace PhD, Both sides did take prisoners. Kampfgruppe Peiper took hundreds of prisoners and treated most of them very well. same as hundreds of members of LAH surrendered to Americian forces and were treated properly, when you read the accounts of veterans they confirm this.

[@drs6884]

Brilliant as always - what would history be without Mark Felton!

[@NathanDudani]

Text instead of audio/video

[@wulfherecyning1282]

Aliens building pyramids, probably.

[@TezKingboom]

The same. You just wouldnt know about it 😂

[@jeffrachau4305]

Not in a very good place, that's for sure, LoL

[@gort8687]

told accurately lol

[@fancyultrafresh3264]

Thanks for that small clip of Peiper's trial, I had never heard him speak before, it was fascinating.

[@terry_willis]

The soldier with his legs crossed translating made a mistake. Here's what Peiper said, "Ich weiss nichts." / I know nothing. And this was before Hogan's Heros was even an idea.

[@syni2012]

you should look for the full peipers testimony from the Nuremberg trials especially about the massacre..

[@christopherkroussoratsky2014]

If a 97 year old former camp guard can be prosecuted for crimes against humanity, then any surviving veterans involved in the incident at Chenogne should be held to account. Patton already established a pattern of behaviour towards enemy combatants by his beliefs and attitude towards them during the campaign for Sicily, in particular the massacre in cold blood of German and Italian POWs at the hands of the Americans at Biscari. The use of POWs as human shields by the Allies during the Normandy Campaign should be looked at in depth as well. I would like to see Mark Felton do stories on both of these as well.

[@Vadoksam]

I love your channel so much. You give so much information and it stays interesting! I’ll definitely support you on your patreon when I can!

[@gr8avocado]

My grandfather was an American front line combatant in the Ardennes for most of the operation. When I was a teenager I was talking with him about the battle. We got on the subject of German prisoners and the SS. He told me they treated regular army prisoners very well. Then of course I asked about the SS. He got very quiet and paused for a few seconds. With a very far away look in his eyes he said very quietly "We didn't take SS prisoners". I will never forget that look and the way he said it. Honestly it scared me at the time.

[@Vlerkies]

The 'real' History Channel right here.

[@paulheitkemper1559]

"The first casualty of war is truth." It can be difficult to learn the truth, but it is better that way.

[@swing2006]

@@MW-bi1pi War has always been inevitable albeit guns blazing or through words and thoughts. It is never pretty.

[@Ronin4614]

Another high end video. Thank you, Mark; DOL

[@wilsontheconqueror8101]

This unfortunately is common in long drawn out conflicts. The American Civil War eroded into a bloody slugfest as well. The longer these conflicts go the more it erodes soldiers moral bases. And you become truly numb to all the death and destruction swirling about you. Well done as always!

[@robertsmeagles1030]

Exactly brother

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

That's actually quite a good example.

[@gregnz1]

the Nazis had no moral base,

[@dougreid2351]

Alas, 'tis too true.

[@madcow9421]

@@gregnz1 it was because they were Protestants

[@geerowr.6666]

Absolutely great footage of Peiper testifying and the translator.

[@kjragg1099]

Quite funny how he actually spoke great English and corrected some of the translators during the trial lol.

[@geerowr.6666]

@@kjragg1099 Really 😂. Come to think of most of the Nazis spoke great English.

[@kjragg1099]

@@geerowr.6666 yeah. It wasn’t the translator in this video but it was a female translator who got stuck a few times and Peiper helped her finish her sentence in English!

[@geerowr.6666]

@@kjragg1099 Is that video here on KZbin?

[@geerowr.6666]

I found it! He was so unbothered by it all. Simply toying with everyone.

[@randallreed9048]

I am reminded of the naivete of many WW2 veterans when confronted by the Academy Award-winning move "Saving Private Ryan," in which there is a scene in which in which two GIs gun down several surrendering German soldiers on the bluffs overlooking Omaha Beach. The line from one of the GIs is "I wonder what 'bitte, bitte' means?" The vets were outraged that such an accusation of violations was ever made. War is hell and to expect Geneva Conventions behavior when a man is fighting for his life is a noble asperation but, in reality, must often fall far short in practice. Excellent presentation, doctor.

[@MarcusHelius]

Another great video, I always enjoy your history lessons Mark! :)

[@VideoLeakPolice]

One Canadian soldier said openly that if they had 1 or 2 prisoners they got rid of them, they didn't want to leave their friends fighting in the front to take care of those guys.

[@understatedwalrus]

A retired P-47 pilot said it was USAAF policy to shoot Luftwaffe pilots in their parachutes as well. There's never any shortage of crimes in war.

[@RON-nw9si]

What's the definition of a massacre? Shooting 5, 10, 20 or 50 captured troops? My dad knew a polish soldier fighting with the British troops and the killing of German prisoners was widespread.

[@flak509]

I read an account of a Danish SS captain who surrendered his unit to Canadians in north Germany but they behaved like assholes. So at night they stole fuel from the Canadians and drove off to find an English officer to surrender to. He said that many SS he meet after the war did not want to surrender to Canadians because they had a reputation. On the other hand I read of a German solider captured on D-Day saying the Canadians where respectful and professional, so who can really know

[@McTeerZor]

@@flak509 Canadians didn't take a lot of SS prisoners during the Normandy Campaign. Context About 50-80 Canadian POW's were discovered at several locations with range gunshot wounds to the back of the head. Indicating that they were executed. Canadian were engaged in a"To the death" fight against the 12th SS during this time. Once the word got out, the Canadians did the same things mentioned in this video. The higher ups, all the way up to rumored Prime Minster King, also found out. And explicit orders were quickly issued to put a stop to the killings. Atleast 100 12th SS POWs were shot in Normandy alone.

[@vk2ig]

In a documentary I saw on TV a long time ago, a British soldier was being interviewed. He said they came across a group of four or five British soldiers whose hands had been tied with barbed wire and had been shot. They were the crew of a Crocodile tank ... the inference was that the Germans soldiers didn't like people who used flamethrowers on them.

[@BronxBastard730]

Ah , a Mark Felton video . This monday wont suck !

[@PTQ4Q4Q4Q4]

I have followed this channel for years, looking at your subs now wow, you have grown., I'm so happy for you. Well done.

[@neat9434]

Thank you Dr. Mark Felton for always bringing me such new and valuable historical videos! Because you are speaking with facts, I will totally agree with your point of view. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@grahamwalker2312]

A very balanced presentation of events, accounting for stories from both sides. Your final statement makes for a compelling argument.

[@shutup2751]

that image of the german soldier with the cigarette in his mouth is so iconic, still all these years on one of the most iconic photos of the war

[@JosephStalin1941]

His name is Hans Tragarsky

[@shutup2751]

@@JosephStalin1941 thank you i was never aware of his name, a eastern european conscript in the ss ? tragarsky doesn't sound german

[@JosephStalin1941]

@@shutup2751 potentially yes. It is still debated whether that man is actually Hans Tragarsky because of variety of different people have been suggested over the years but hes the most likely person, because his unit was in the general area and a man came forward long after the war saying it was him. He was born in roughly 1921 or perhaps early 1922, so hes about 23 or 24 in this picture. Its believed he joined the SS at age 17 in 1938-39 and fought in Greece and the Eastern front before he was transferred to the west in France where this picture was taken. The guy claiming to be him survived the war and died in 2011. The picture was taken by a German propaganda photographer.

[@leccybadger]

Dragon models captured his likeness in 1/6 scale many years ago along with other figures based on soldiers shown in this footage.

[@thepub245]

Does anyone know who the German soldier driving the amphibious jeep, smoking the cigar, in the film footage of German forces at the crossroads is?

[@thehoodedman2917]

Good video as always. This reminds me of a story i was once told from a British tank crew member. He told me when his unit arrived in Caen, the streets were lined with German soldiers hanging from lamp posts. He said hes never forgotten it. Thanks Mark.

[@pebo8306]

Most tragic,that that happened in Germany and Austria too--But they were hanged by their own Military police!----Thousands!

[@codiefitz3876]

GET SOME

[@AbbasAli-gs2fm]

This shows what we see in WWII Films are just one part of the story. The Allies can never take the moral high ground. The Germans were not the only villains.

[@hb9145]

Mark: High quality content, as always. It seems to me that both sides messed up and stiffened resistance. Any time you commit to taking no prisoners, you pay the price in your own blood because the enemy will fight you to the death instead of surrendering. But whenever you mess up, you can always make sure you are still on the right side of history, because you'll be writing it if you win.

[@JamesThomas-gg6il]

Where on this planet did you dig up actual film footage of Pieper's trial? You never cease to amaze.

[@Ronbo1948]

"Blowtorch" Pieper so named for his habit of ordering his troops in Russia to burn down everything in their path with flame throwers. A nasty customer. After many travels he ended up in France where he and his house were burned to ashes by French patriots who remembered who he had been.

[@PadishahEmperor]

Its on youtube is some amazing HD black and white -the bizarre thing is the very bored young lady translator who does not know military terms I was amazed -Im sorry I have tried to find it again

[@andyz.5431]

@@Ronbo1948 He only burned down two villages, because partisans from these villages murdered everyone in a German field hospital.

[@AtheistOrphan]

@@andyz.5431 - ‘He only burned down two villages’ - Oh well that’s alright then. (Slaps hand to forehead in disbelief)

[@vk2ig]

@@AtheistOrphan He burns down one village or burns down one hundred ... he crossed the line when he burned down one.

[@timg5tm941]

As a historian I can only applaud you for the lucid and accessible presentation of your work.

[@bowrudder899]

As a lover of English, I can only applaud you, Tim, for NOT saying "an historian".

[@resonatorneuronium5324]

@@bowrudder899 an istorian

[@bowrudder899]

;-)

[@rwbrown1904]

Thank you to Dr. Felton for providing fascinating information and movie footage!

[@edwardquin4464]

Thank you very much for this valuable contribution to history. Amazing.

[@Roller_Ghoster]

One I know of the other I dont. This is why I love Mark Felton's videos.

[@europaprimum7050]

Yeah, that's because the West obscures it in order to appear so good.

[@VincentGroenewold]

@@europaprimum7050 Yep and that’s war, this is exactly why countries and their leaders should do everything in their power to avoid it. It’s terrible for everyone.

[@Roller_Ghoster]

@@europaprimum7050 if you'd asked most German soldiers who they'd rather have surrendered too you can guarantee most would have picked the Western Allies over the Soviets.

[@johnmorris1764]

Thank you Mark, as a student of WW2 I greatly appreciate your videos.

[@andrewmaxfield5873]

Your presentations of these events are absolutely stellar. It's a bit of a lost art. Thank you for the well researched & incredibly delivered content.

[@goosesaladman8546]

When you think you know everything about WWll...Then you meet Dr. Felton.

[@stephensanderson6386]

A can of Worms...

[@kjragg1099]

You never heard of the malmedy massacre? Damn. There’s some great footage of the trial here on KZbin

[@stephensanderson6386]

@@kjragg1099 every army at some point has instigated total war.Churchill droped bombs on german civilian targets to take the heat off fighter squadrons..those brittish civilians now took the wrath of the luftwafa..can of worms...

[@kjragg1099]

@@stephensanderson6386 are you just spouting stuff like a crazy man hoping someone’s going to listen? What the hell are you talking about and what relevance does it have to anything on this video?

[@stephensanderson6386]

@@kjragg1099 yes.and in my defence its all a big can of worms..

[@Britishshooter]

Another brilliant video Mark, you have the courage to give a balanced view.

[@kyzerBC]

As an American, what those few did to those germans was disgraceful and embarassing for all of us. I wish a man with Pattons reputation would have persued a trial, rather than covering it up. Unacceptable. So glad Mark has the respect for history and tells the truth. Glad I know this happened, rather than not.

[@JohnSmith-ct5jd]

Given what the Nazis did in that war, I have no sympathy. What about the millions murdered in death camps? What about Russian prisoners? The Nazis were out to enslave or exterminate anyone they thought was "inferior.'

[@akrmki3389]

Just spent a week there visiting different villages and towns, facinating places .. keep it up Mr Felton!

[@TashaBryanUK]

Thanks for educating me more. Can't get enough of your content.

[@isimpkins4]

Always delivering in terms of Quality! Thank you Mark!!

[@tonybarnes3658]

Victor writes the history . Fabulous episode again!!

[@ColeYounger16]

I think this may be in my top 5 Mark. Really well done for a grim and not-often-spoken about topic.

[@baki4341]

Heard about these several times in little detail always good to know more

[@TRHARTAmericanArtist]

Thanks Dr. Felton for making sure that no one ever forgets the atrocities of war. If we allow some to be remembered and others forgotten then we will never learn from our mistakes. Bravo, Sir!

[@Joshua_N-A]

Fighting yourself is bigger than fighting the enemy. While you fight, you need to keep the monster within in check.

[@TRHARTAmericanArtist]

@@Joshua_N-A - Agreed!

[@enricofesta1161]

It’s peculiar to know that when it comes to war, everybody pretends to stand on the good side and wants bravely fight the bad side, but everything ends up miserably in being everybody on the bad side.

[@peterschmidt7543]

Bewinged words.

[@FriendlySniperYT]

It's rare that there is a "good" and a "bad" side. The nazis were bad, but so was the russians. And the americans during the Vietnam war in the 70's.

[@TheSoonToBePurgedJackMeHoff55]

The whole idea of good and bad in war is silly, to the men on the ground. Its win or lose, live or die. War is Grey, never black and white.

[@PikeBishop1]

Isn't it crazy how the 'bad guys' have never won a war in all of human history?

[@colinallen8924]

In Western Europe, it is quite clear that the Germans were very much the ""bad side". To argue otherwise is verging on excusing Nazism.

[@wilfredshum3703]

History is loaded with actions and reactions. Nicely presented as always.

[@ferociousfil5747]

I love how mark takes specific events and goes deep in them. My favourite history channel by a mile!

[@luki188]

Why Mile If you can Go light Year? 😂 Seriously its a good Channel i can agree with you 👌

[@91harleyfxusnretired3]

🇺🇸🏴‍☠️🇺🇸🔥🗽🔥🇨🇦🏴‍☠️🇺🇸 Anyone who brings a photo of Lord Stanley’s Cup to the conversation gets a thumbs up 👍 Red Wingnut for life! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🥅🗽🥅🇨🇦🇺🇸

[@emberbeam2259]

Watched your last Ardennes massacre video. It’s very intriguing to hear about these stories and you explain them with a lot of detail. Can’t wait to hear about this one. Keep up the good work!

[@stevenhyde9025]

Thankyou Mark. Excellent Video as always

[@billscott356]

Excellent work, Mark....once again!

[@smittywerbenjaegermanjense2350]

Of all the channels I sub to, this is by far my absolute favorite. Thank you for the research and videos Mark Felton!

[@asliceofbanana2243]

“I hope we can conceal this”

[@dovidell]

I only heard about this today c/o Dr Felton

[@dalepremo3695]

Very interesting. Thanks so much for posting!

[@johnp7304]

Sticking to the fact's and Mr Felton is one of the few thank you for sharing.

[@zackpenhaligon9904]

Another beautifully presented piece of history, Mark. Jolly good show!

[@mustafasahidmahamoud4942]

Mark Felton Productions: what the History Channel should have been!

[@obikyama]

Thanks for this fair analysis of the events.

[@JeffM---]

Wow...thank you so much for your work, this is all new to me!

[@robertwaid3579]

That has too of been the best explanation, and detailed account of the incident, I have ever heard, or even read of it! Thank you Mark Felton so much. WR,🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸🤔🤔🤓🤓👏👏💯💯 It was also totally unbiased, as history should be told.

[@AltesEisen81]

Let's face it. Everybody knows Malmedy. Nobody knows Chenogne. The winner is always right.

[@alfnoakes392]

Yup, the main Spoil of War is that the winner gets to write the Official History of said war.

[@kingwiththeax6880]

“Reputation” is one of the “spoils of war”.

[@pierren___]

Thats deep.

[@MERISI001]

Another brilliant item Mark. Thanks.

[@thegunslinger1363]

Hello everyone! It always gets me excited. Whenever I see a Mark Felton video.

[@Daniel-ms9ks]

I think it would be interesting if Mark Felton make some videos about the atrocities on the Eastern front on both sides

[@jeffduncan9140]

Daniel Eldred, those would probably be some fairly lengthy videos. So much to choose from.

[@Daniel-ms9ks]

@@jeffduncan9140 true, but its something that people don't talk about often and the truth must be highlighted on the evil barbarity of the Soviets and SS

[@jeffduncan9140]

@@Daniel-ms9ks indeed

[@revanofkorriban1505]

@@Daniel-ms9ks Shouldn't be forgotten though that the main reason the Red Army committed so many atrocities against Germans was because the very same and worse had been done to their own people.

[@Daniel-ms9ks]

@@revanofkorriban1505 maybe, but that does not excuse the Soviets in any way, they were purely evil, and the Soviets were very cruel even before the second world war, just look at what they did in Ukraine with the Holomodor massacre or the slaughter they did in Poland in 1939-40 and many many more

[@hafizbelarus7295]

Mr Felton , thank you for the knowledge you shared with us :)

[@josiahpeffer9263]

The only thing i learn’t from “Fury” is, if your going to commit war crimes make sure you win.

[@midmichiganrr24gp9]

Yup. History is written by the victor

[@gotanon8958]

Lol it ain't

[@JohnDoe-vm5nm]

Don’t compare us to the Germans!

[@svenzia]

@@JohnDoe-vm5nm No we wont. The germans were overall much better soldiers.

[@JohnDoe-vm5nm]

@@svenzia Well if they were so wonderful how come they lost? I will agree the Germans were pretty well trained pretty good fighter and head pretty good equipment where they failed it was bad going on along with super villains!!! They got what was coming to them had there been tested they would’ve gotten worse. Greetings from the state of Kentucky.

[@alexanderh.9721]

Winners write history, thx Mark for explaining both sides. Greetings from Germany.

[@jimtaylor294]

Napoleon lost two wars & was banished twice. His account of it all though [a losers account] became the dominant narrative. History is sometimes written by the losers as well... despite the illogical'ness of that.

[@ULTRA_2112]

Erzähl doch keinen Blödsinn hier. "Winners write history," Nein, tun sie nicht. Jedenfalls nicht nach dem zweiten Weltkrieg. Die Sieger des zweiten Weltkrieges British Commonwealth, Sowjetunion und Vereinigte Staaten konnten politisch unterschiedlicher kaum sein. Ein künstliches und dazu gemeinsames Narrativ zu schaffen, und das am Vorabend des "Kalten Krieges ist somit unmöglich. Du kannst die Geschichte noch so sehr leugnen, Hitler wollte den Krieg, er bekam ihn und verlor ihn. Es gibt keinen Grund, das heute zu relativieren oder zu leugnen. Und wenn man es doch tut, geht man den Heuchlern auf den Leim, die ihre Lügengeschichten zur Aufrechterhaltung ihrer rechten Ideologie hinausposaunten oder schlicht, um ihren Kopf aus der Schlinge von Nürnberg zu ziehen. Und Menschen wie du sind so dumm und fallen auf diesen Schwachsinn auch noch herein.

[@goytoy3558]

@@ULTRA_2112 Katyn, Chenogne. Different sides same lies.

[@victorlazlow3227]

@@ULTRA_2112 A refreshing and in your face reply to moral relativism seeking to rehabilitate the nazis culpability in WW2. Thank you for being honest unlike many replies I have read here

[@antoneckhart6004]

@@ULTRA_2112 winners write history? Then why has so many "history" books bring completely debunked to death. Why was Germany declared war on TWICE IN TWENTY YEARS. Millions are learning to truth about past wars and how the world runs, especially international finance.

[@JavierCR25]

I can’t even begin to imagine how the war could’ve messed up the soldier’s minds… on both sides.

[@JavierCR25]

@@MW-bi1pi He was a very strong man then

[@Blei1986]

dude, that was west front. it was disneyland compared to eastfront...

[@lysanderkrieg5474]

An excellent account Mark. Nice to see you finally looking into the long hidden skeletons in the Allied cupboard from that time.

[@lassemadsen3803]

Good that you find the cold facts of history and inform us about what happened from both sides, with no "taking side" . You tell history as it should be told

[@mplp1959]

Thank you for presenting truthful and unbiased history. This is a perfect example of when fighting monsters it’s easy to become a monster yourself. War dehumanizes men on all sides.

[@karlwagner932]

A fair question should be ....who is the monster here ........???? Who knows about the attemps from the German side for a peacefull solution between Poland and Germany ???? Who knows who pushed the Poland Government to refuse the terms so that the WWII could be started ...??? ....Who knows about the real reasons of the WWI which leadfs to the WWII ????.Just an unimportant information.......

[@EvoraGT430]

@@karlwagner932 A "Peaceful solution" that involved handing over significant land to Germany, i.e. totally unacceptable to Poland (as Hitler well knew); it was a sham designed to precipitate invasion (which was triggered by Germans pretending to defend against a Polish incursion).

[@jamesbodnarchuk3322]

My dad served in Western Europe in the Canadian expeditionary force. He never talked about his time over there. He did confess to me before his death on the killing of a Hitler youth on an unnamed bridge.

[@stephanelegrand8181]

As usual very good vid v! Thanks for your work !

[@jjt1881]

I just love your videos from the moment the music starts...

[@novaday8813]

Hi Mark! Hope it was a good start to the week for ya!

[@jimc.goodfellas226]

Imagine not being subscribed to Mark Felton Productions...

[@bobross8786]

I would be getting subscribed

[@johnmanier9047]

Both of my grandfathers were in WW2. Loved listening to their stories but these documentaries bring the courage and horror of the conflict to life on a wider scale.

[@secretagent4322]

As always, meticulous and compelling. Thank you Mark.

[@arnesaknussemm2427]

‘The massacre didn’t sit well with some’, you don’t say.

[@1970Phoenix]

Makes you wonder about the soldiers who lived the last 60 or 70 years of their lives knowing the details of these (and other) massacres, but chose to take their stories to their grave.

[@farqitol]

@@1970Phoenix in every war/conflict ever....

[@Dave174385]

@@1970Phoenix As Rudolf Hoess said: "We were just obeying orders."

[@JRCOBRA]

And yet now days if you were to report a war crime you are labeled a snitch and get death threats like veterans in Iraq.

[@mikloridden8276]

@@1970Phoenix Its their way of coping, not speaking or thinking about it. This us why you have to be careful about what you ask a vet