Manstein's "MIRACLE" at the Third Battle of Kharkov [Heavy Sarcasm within] TIK Q&A 19

Did you know that Erich von Manstein was one of the greatest generals in the history of histories? Well, his absolutely brilliant tactical success at the 3rd Battle of Kharkov is proof that if he had been allowed to retreat to Berlin, he could have won the war.
And if you cannot tell, I'm being VERY sarcastic in this video.
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History isn’t as boring as some people think, and my goal is to get people talking about it. I also want to dispel the myths and distortions that ruin our perception of the past by asking a simple question - “But is this really the case?”. I have a 2:1 Degree in History and a passion for early 20th Century conflicts (mainly WW2). I’m therefore approaching this like I would an academic essay. Lots of sources, quotes, references and so on. Only the truth will do.
This video is discussing events or concepts that are academic, educational and historical in nature. This video is for informational purposes and was created so we may better understand the past and learn from the mistakes others have made.
#wehraboos

[@TheImperatorKnight]

It was my birthday last week so I fancied a change of pace with this video. Plus, I still get comments every day saying that Manstein didn’t lie ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6ukq6N_mamBmas ) and that I absolutely have to listen to what the German generals said because they were there and know what happened, whereas I wasn’t there and didn’t know what happened. Ok then… we’ll go along with what Manstein said 100% and see where we end up. Also I’ll be honest, Wesley asked this question several months ago, and I only realised last week that I had completely missed his question out (I’m really sorry Wesley). So this was a very quick last-minute video, which is why I didn’t go into the super-detail (divisional level) which I think Wesley wanted. That said, I’m currently working on Battlestorm Stalingrad behind the scenes, and I absolutely want to do the Third Battle of Kharkov as a Battlestorm series after that, because then that will lead nicely to the Battle of Kursk. So if you’re wanting me to go into great detail on it, start demanding that I hurry up with Stalingrad. And just to be clear, the sarcasm in the video is not directed towards Wesley, but is directed towards the idea that the Third Battle of Kharkov was a “miracle”. I’m not convinced that you can trust what the German generals (or any generals) by what they claim at all. The number of German troops was more than often stated, the number of Soviet troops was less than implied, and the Red Army was stretched thin and exhausted after months of advancing. The Soviet divisions were depleted, running out of ammunition and fuel, and weren’t concentrated. The Germans struck at the very moment the Red Army offensive was on the verge of coming to a halt anyway, and they had air superiority. Manstein had gathered substantial forces (either fresh or experienced) for his attack, and hit the Soviets in the flanks. They took on the Red Army in pieces rather than all in one go, and they only took a small amount of territory. If you call taking back a couple of miles after losing 100 miles a “miracle” then I guess this really was a great victory for the Wehrmacht. *Sources* Glantz, D. "After Stalingrad: The Red Army's Winter Offensive 1942-43." Helion & Company, Kindle 2011. Glantz, D. “Colossus Reborn: The Red Army at War, 1941-1943.” University Press of Kansas, 2005. Glanz, D. "From the Don to the Dnepr: Soviet Offensive Operations December 1942-August 1943." Routledge, Kindle 2013. Glantz, D. House, J. “The Stalingrad Trilogy, Volume 1. To the Gates of Stalingrad. Soviet-German Combat Operations, April-August 1942.” University Press of Kansas, 2009. Glantz, D. House, J. “The Stalingrad Trilogy, Volume 2. Armageddon in Stalingrad: September-November 1942.” University Press of Kansas, 2009. Glantz, D. House, J. “The Stalingrad Trilogy, Volume 3. Endgame at Stalingrad Book One: November 1942..” University Press of Kansas, 2014. Glantz, D. House, J. “The Stalingrad Trilogy, Volume 3. Endgame at Stalingrad Book Two: December 1942-February 1943.” University Press of Kansas, 2014. Glantz, D. “When Titan’s Clashed.” University Press of Kansas, 2015. Manstein, E. “Lost Victories.” Zenith Press, 2004. Melvin, M. “Manstein: Hitler’s Greatest General.” Orion, Kindle 2010. Zeimke, E. “From Stalingrad to Berlin: The Illustrated Edition.” Pen & Sword, Kindle 2014. A full list of all my WW2 and related books can be found here docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/114GiK85MPs0v4GKm0izPj3DL2CrlJUdAantx5GQUKn8/edit?usp=sharing Thanks for watching! Bye for now!

[@josephballin9937]

Happy birthday.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Thanks for the birthday wishes guys!

[@soviettankmen]

No collaboration with Staldata ?

[@understand6970]

Happy birthday

[@mikegillihan4546]

Happy Birthday

[@erichvonmanstein7093]

Thanks, fans. I know i'm cool.

[@outdatedtank4542]

THE GOD IS REINCARNATED....... ALL HAIL HIM

[@justsomeone5314]

@@outdatedtank4542 Did you receive the blessings of the Manstein yet?

[@fbispecialagents6288]

Little Brother?

[@jeffmoser7118]

you are Dude..lol made me laugh pretty hard just now...jeff M,san jose,ca

[@d-raddfrommalibu6965]

All hail Von Manstein...BTW homie WTF happened at Stalingrad with your boy Hoth quitting on the job halfway thru. I've been here at Stalingrad waiting for you to arrive.I'm att the bus stop across from Pavlov's house.Still looking for your relief column to show.So hurry up and get here I'm not going to wait much longer. Signed... FRITZ VON FRITZISON PRIVATE 6TH ARMY By the way...Field Marshall Paulus might have desrted his command he's not responding on the radio.

[@jackjack-sm2jg]

Manstien was actually playing hoi4. He was retreating to bait the Soviets into getting rid of their entrenchment bonus

[@quinlanels9886]

He had researched extra 1000% infantry attack bonus

[@sircurtisseretse3297]

It is the same as the other MIRACLE victory - the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. The French had 35.4 billion men against 3 Englishmen.

[@zacharymohammadi]

Sir Curtis Seretse or the battle of bull run where stonewall Jackson had 18,000 troops vs the union’s 18 gazilion

[@bsuper63]

500 Russians against 1 Finnish sniper?

[@nagantm441]

It was actually 2 English vs all those French. The V for victory originated from the English boasting that 2 men cut down all those French degenerates.

[@kelvinpeterson6169]

Zulus, billions of em!! Button that tunic up you slovenly soldier.

[@ernstvanstangl1048]

V

[@maximilienfrancoisderobesp202]

Manstein took a shovel and fended off an army with it. Then he literally made a portal and had it spit Greandes at the Soviets. The Tanks rolled forward and he charged them, he picked them up like the Hulk and threw them around like bath toys. Finally, the Artillery started to Shell. He swallowed Shells and spit them at Soviets. True Story.

[@dabelli3818]

What are you talking about? This is total bullshit. Everybody knows he actually jumped up to the artillery positions and used the barrel of the howitzers as cigarettes.

[@ronniecoleman2342]

LOL, DAMN U FUNNY 🤣

[@LeoKuz19683]

That's BS Manstein didn't open a portal, he used his cigar like a baseball bat, and hit off all the soviet tanks, cmon learn your history man, Manstein is very disappointed by you : (

[@rafaelribeiro404]

Legends say the Soviets even had a dragon. Manstein killed him with his bare hands.

[@elchinpirbabayev5757]

No he threw a spear of destiny borrowed from Hüttıer and hit the dragon in the heart. Night King approves of this message.

[@yuslaven89]

No, no. My sources said that he hits the dragon three times in a row with special 88 mm scorpion.

[@elchinpirbabayev5757]

@Lics Norgi No, no Euron's Zeppelins were set on fire by the dragon.. )))) In the end Manstein had personally see to that!!

[@hugod2000]

come on mate, the soviets didn't have a dragon... did they?

[@elchinpirbabayev5757]

@@hugod2000 kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6O2i6CGr5uXd9E

[@davidebcc92]

"Those who believe in the Manstein, shall receive the gifts of the Manstein." - TIK

[@prof_kaos9341]

I'm still waiting for mein, Man.

[@justsomeone5314]

Still a small underground cult, compared to Rommelism.

[@prof_kaos9341]

@@justsomeone5314 post war you gotta have some "good Germans." Particularly one who with a force one tenth the size of the 8th Army ran rings around them for a couple of years. It can't have happened due to Brit command incompetence, therefore Rommel must have been a genius... And being dead he was a safe bet to laud.

[@patrickjin6610]

Just Someone Rommelism really isn’t a cult, people just recognize him as a ‘good’ Nazi and his military achievements. No one really denies his losses in Egypt

[@justsomeone5314]

@@patrickjin6610 I'm talking about those that call him a perfect (flawless) general, not denying his many positive aspects.

[@user-rw2ll7ly8n]

he won because of the bad AI but they will fix it in the next DLC

[@user-rw2ll7ly8n]

@Totally not the flash :3 thats true BUT STILL can not use paratropers in hoi 3 he do

[@afiqhamid8421]

The Zhukov update.

[@es96416]

"Panzers don't need oil, they run off the blood of Aryans." - TIK xD

[@bobsjepanzerkampfwagen4150]

Id give my blood for a panzer

[@LeoKuz19683]

Nah man that's BS His panzers used his fart for gas Cmon man, Manstein eats oil and coal for breakfast

[@Thinkingnamesishard]

"Let us go to holy scripture themselves" I'm dying

[@leesnyder9144]

Blessed be their name

[@chickasawranger759]

I’m am dumber having watched the this......and that’s pretty dumb......I’m having to watch tiks other videos to clear my mind....

[@timothygoldstein9251]

Manstein is more reliable than this stupid ignoramus TIK.

[@Forrealcuz]

Blessed be his lord and his scripture

[@davidtuttle7556]

@@nedsteven4622 Irony is a bit of a bridge to far for Timothy. It caused a Bulge in his mind. Of Kursk that that's just my opinion.

[@raymond6302]

Glorious Manstein was the greatest field marshal to ever walk the battlefield, having personally killed 20 Soviet tanks in hand-to-hand combat himself and was only defeated because a humongous blizzard froze his army to death in the middle of July.

[@sanher20]

24:59 "Let he who is without sin cast the first Stein" lmao

[@jayhawk9267]

Actually Mansteins miracle was that he rescued the the Army Group south from total destruction. And despite beeing in a general strategic retreat, he still could deliver a Bloody nose to his opponent and gain an operational victory in a general defeat.

[@settekwan2708]

"beeing"

[@thinkingagain5966]

Totally agree

[@gh87716]

Yet TIK the communist historian says he was a sham.

[@Brslld]

​@@gh87716"communist" lmao

[@joelgrosschmidt5507]

@@gh87716this channel is easily one of the worst in the historyscape lol

[@YpipY]

I remember hearing that Mannstein personally went around to every POW camp to break off loafs of bread to make sure the millions of prisoners he had captured were well fed.

[@tomtom34b]

not to forget the fish and the turning water to whine historical fact.

[@frankmiller95]

Not just bread, but fresh loaves French baguettes, still warm from the oven, along with large batches of fresh, Maine, lobster salad and prime, grass fed, Wyoming beef.

[@annescholey6546]

With flea ridden fur coats nicked from Berlin wardrobes

[@Costa_Conn]

@@frankmiller95 I thought your not supposed to mention the war

[@frankmiller95]

@@Costa_Conn That was my grandfather, although l'm told l'm just like him, especially in my gracious demeanor.

[@mikzin630]

Blessed be the Holy Trinity of Manstein, Rommel, and Guderian.

[@outdatedtank4542]

Ja, Das Ist GUT

[@erikje7352]

but what r the facts ? most numbers i found state germany lost 4,3 million and his axis lost about 0,9 million while russian numbers run as whide as 10,5 all the way up to 23/25 million just the russian p.o.w numbers are close to a staggerin 5 million [ out of the top of my head in just the opening months of the war ]

[@mikzin630]

@@erikje7352 Congrats on citing the top of your head

[@hamzaalirehan822]

@KOBRA Bock too

[@williampaz2092]

I would replace Rommel with Balck or Von Rundstedt.

[@Nicadeemas]

wow. The sarcasm was so thick I could cut a slice off and have it on toast.

[@duncancameron2463]

You miss the point, Rather than allow 3 SS Panzer Divisions be forced into a suicidal attempt to defend Kharkov as Hitler insisted, Manstein with the help of Hausser defied Hitler and allowed the Russians to over extend themselves and then defeat them. Manstein was able to stabilise the front and recapture Kharkov and Belgorod and allow the Whermacht 6 months to prepare for Citadel. Without that happening, the Eastern front would have collapsed much earlier.

[@RifleEyez]

Exactly. Plus, Mansteins ''8 to 1'' claim was regarding his right flank before Kharkov even happened, and in regards to Fretter-Picos detachment, and requesting permission to retreat beforehand, nothing to do with fighting in Kharkov. That was 3 infantry divisions, the strongest of which was 355th infantry division, with....3,500 men. Way way under strength. 19th and 27th Panzer...15 operational tanks between them, both with about 3,000-4,000 men each. Not even close to a single regulation division between them. So, it's not an unreasonable estimate considering surprise, Manstein didn't know everything about the Soviet OOB, we still don't know it today (Group Popov is so ad-hoc we can't be sure 100%), and surprise, he was justifying a retreat. I'd say it was a miracle victory because despite losing the Sixth Army, despite trying to relieve them (Operation Wintergewitter), despite the Germans retreating an entire Army from the Caucasus, despite things going...pear shaped elsewhere, and despite fighting with Hitler the entire time, Manstein held the line, also took Belgorod, and provided a fantastic springboard for Kursk if they acted sooner (the salient). He gave the Germans a few months of relative quiet to reinforce. Even if you go by TIK's naturally Soviet-favoured numbers (Sir Jesus Ivan David Glantzovski), even though he double counted some German strength figures (SS Panzer Corp came under 4th Panzer Army, some under Lanz group), the Germans still inflicted 80,000 casualties for 7,000 losses, and the Soviet Tank and Plane losses compared to the Germans is no better either. How the hell can you justify that as just ''well...Manstein said he killed a bazillion men hurr durr''. Doesn't fly with me. It's like complaining the numbers might be wrong on the Eastern Front in general, which naturally TIK did a video about, while even TIK's ''revised'' figures still heavily favour the Germans and don't really paint the Soviets in a better light. You can criticise the German strategic level, the bigger long term government planning picture, but give them the Soviet resources overall for example and erm...I think it might have gone differently. Kursk being a great example, the difference between the two OOB and the numbers the Soviets could amass compared to the Germans is incredible. All said, wouldn't you say excusing Manstein slightly because ALL memoirs from ALL countries are self serving, that it was somewhat of a miracle?

[@MrCarcass1978]

@@RifleEyez Perfectly explained. Couldn't do it better myself. Thank you sir!

[@brunostronda2000]

@@RifleEyez'' TIK did a video about, while even TIK's ''revised'' figures still heavily favour the Germans and don't really paint the Soviets in a better light.'' Couldnt say better, I really like the idea of have an objective thinking when it comes of myths or mistunderstanding of german forces, but the only problem of TIK is that he does the same thing he criticize, which is the relativism of the facts.

[@rusoviettovarich9221]

He didn't actually defy Hitler as much as he forced Hitler to see a partials withdrawal could reap great dividends - Hitler grudgingly said 'ok'. Great post

[@garyyoung9085]

Bang on....

[@Mineav]

What many often overlook, is that Manstein only included his soldiers in the battle because he didn't want them to feel left out. He could've done the entire thing alone with one tank, and everyone knew it. In fact, his thousands of soldiers probably only hindered Manstein by slowing him down, and was just yet another thing holding him back which was out of his control and undermined his immeasurable genius.

[@htoodoh5770]

Lol

[@timobrienwells]

You're an idiot.

[@ottomeyer6928]

@@timobrienwells double that

[@WERob-to5sp]

Huh?

[@crypto9429]

timobrienwells wooshhh

[@hydrogen18]

In this video, TIK masters the art of deadpan comedy

[@jamestheotherone742]

Well in this one he's pretty much hitting his critics over the head with the pan.

[@leesnyder9144]

8 to 1

[@notimeforthis7377]

Not really

[@hazelkingofrabbits]

C'mon, it's so over the top, it bounds on self-satire. Like emptying the entire bottle of ketchup on yer chips (hot, fried, they go with fish) If this is gonna come of it's gotta more subtle, wry - just the odd hint or allusion will do ;)

[@shocken90]

Just like all good historians

[@WhyFeartheTruthNow]

One reason Manstein was so successful in this battle involved having excellent line commanders, especially Herman Von Baulk.

[@LeoKuz19683]

Nah he was Herman Von Hulk

[@herbertkramer3532]

von Balck

[@WhyFeartheTruthNow]

Order out of Chaos

[@ian_b]

I might be imagining things, but I almost detect a hint of sarcasm in your voice on this one!

[@caelestigladii]

I just checked Wikipedia. It looks like someone watched this video and edited the article accordingly.

[@seanmac1793]

Is there an archive

[@Wisgurd]

Wikipedia isn't any reference for scientific work. Please don't use it anymore

[@helicongremory8480]

@@Wisgurd But wikiepdia isn't for scientific purpose, it's for knowledge.

[@Wisgurd]

@@helicongremory8480 No, Wikipedia isn't knowledge .... Wikipedia is propaganda of people you don't know because they are anonymous writers

[@helicongremory8480]

90 % of the content is written by registred members.

[@TheMocholoco]

"Manstein, you magnificent bastard - I read your book!!" Patton(probably)

[@eldragon4076]

Soviet Marshal Rodion Yakovlevich Malinovsky said: “We considered the hated von Manstein our most dangerous opponent. His technical mastery of every, and I mean every, situation was unequaled.”

[@TheBayzent]

They also considered Hitler an ally for a time.

[@jeremiahblake3949]

Manstein's overall record isn't impressive, Luga, Sevastopol, Lenningrad, Stalingrad breakout, Kursk, very large setbacks for the Germans. He wasn't that good.

[@PoppysGuitar]

@@jeremiahblake3949 Yes oh btw leave out France (Ardennes), Karkov, Sevastopol, the rescue of Army Group A, yes he was just average. PS his units had broken through on the southern flank of Kursk salient and had exhausted Soviet reserves. If Hitler and the OKW/OKH hadn't panicked when the Allies invaded Sicily, Von Manstein might have pulled it off.

[@jeremiahblake3949]

@@PoppysGuitar France was good, I'll give him that, although it was a risky gamble that worked due to French incompetence. But Sevastopol wasn't a grand victory, it was an unnecessarily long operation. There's a video tik made on how Kharkiv was a mediocre win with greater numbers. But finally Kursk?! Lol they were no where near winning, the Soviets didn't even use their 500k reserves. But Manstein was so cocky he thought the Soviets couldn't attack in 43 after Kursk, then he faceplanted the defense of the Dneiper. He wasn't a good general.

[@PoppysGuitar]

@@jeremiahblake3949 Ok. But I think you should study Kursk a little more carefully. Note the Soviet mobile reserves after Prokhorovka. I don't agree with your assessment that Manstein had screwed the Dneiper. That, I believe, was again the thought by Hitler that preparations of a strong defensive position on the Dneiper would encourage retreat. Note that at Kursk, Manstein had flanked and broken through the deep multilayered defensive positions of the Soviets while Model had made little if any headway. Obviously Kursk was a gamble from the start and many including Guderian had argued against offensive operations. Hitler himself expressed deep concern about it's chances but I think what Manstein was arguing for was that we have rolled the dice and we can't quit now or the Soviets will go over to the offensive. Mainly Manstein wanted to keep the German forces in a fluid war of movement state. The static, rigid defense Hitler and others advocated was a death sentence. If you think Karkiv (Donets) was a mediocre victory, especially after Stalingrad, you are bananas. Also show me where Manstein was "cocky" and stated that the Soviets couldn't go over to the offensive in 43.?

[@michaelkane1379]

P.S. TIK please do Douglas MacArthur in this way. All the source material is awesome awarding himself medals, hookers in his HQ staff; you might have a NETFLIX special.

[@michelprins]

dont forget he wanted to a bomb the viet cong or was that the other military genius also known as the eis?

[@edwardzero9275]

Pretty sure he also wanted to nuke Japan

[@Historyfan476AD]

@@michelprins The Chinese actually with Nukes in the Korean war which sounds even worse actually.

[@craftpaint1644]

"Dugout Doug" McArthur.

[@R281]

@@Historyfan476AD I wonder how that would have turned out. Maybe there wouldn't be a North Korea.

[@Alte.Kameraden]

"Your Lack of Faith is Disturbing." - Erich von Manstein Edit: Sorry guys I noticed I used the wrong Your.

[@nobleman9393]

"Apology accepted, General Paulus"

[@AdmiralTypeZero]

not insulting or anything but i have never been able to understand how people confuse your and you're? English is my second language, i might be biased because of practising. Cheers, mate!

[@Alte.Kameraden]

@@AdmiralTypeZero typing mistake. I know the difference, but because of the speed in which one types, it's quite easy to type the wrong word, when you're referring to words that literally sound identical. Trust me, it's very easy to do. I often type accept instead of except for example for the same reason. It is a motor function, brain registers wrong word based on how it's sounds, and fingers do what fingers do.

[@ottopike6000]

The quote is "I find your lack of faith disturbing".

[@Alte.Kameraden]

@@ottopike6000 *shrugs* Wouldn't be the first time a Star Wars quote is misquoted. =3

[@Szentatyaisten]

Fun fact, 2 days after he won the battle of Kharkov, Manstein also won the Premier League, the Epsom Derby and the Nobel Peace Price.

[@erikje7352]

crap all the time they made me believe montgoerry did those things

[@timobrienwells]

Your're an idiot.

[@piedude333ify]

@@timobrienwells r/ woosh

[@francislea4700]

Nice one. I think he rode Sherger in the Derby LOL.

[@versiable8041]

@@timobrienwells And spells “you’re” incorrectly… now who’s the idiot here then?

[@KarlEriksenopinion]

you outlined all the reasons for Manstein's success- timing, concentration off forces, attacking units sequentially and in the flanks, and exploiting success...none of things just happen, they require good leadership.

[@Makrangoncias]

Underrated comment. Even if not against 8 to 1, winning against a numerically superior force, exploiting the moment when they are overextended, losing only a handful of troops compared to the losses inflicted, still takes a lot of skill. Mannstein's achievements might have been inflated but that doesn't mean it wasn't there in the first place. This is a brilliant victory in all regards.

[@joebobhenrybob2000]

in this specific case, someone had to also get permission to retreat, gather together a reserve and supplies so they could counterattack while a certain someone was saying no no no mobile warfare is wrong, just stand there. THAT's the miracle. I remember reading Soldat (Siegfried Knappe), they kept getting encircled on the retreat to Berlin and had to keep calling HQ asking for permission to break out of encirclement by phrasing it as "We just happen to be attacking enemies that are behind us, but we're still attacking not retreating" as the only way to not be ordered to stand and get permanently bypassed and surrounded.

[@rlkinnard]

@@Makrangoncias Wikipedia says that Manstein had 7 x the number of tanks.

[@anon_148]

@@joebobhenrybob2000 everyone knows that the way to win wars is retreat all the way to your capital and then further beyond that

[@joebobhenrybob2000]

..and certainly, if you realize the logistics of the situation are in your disfavor, and if you lack the oil and gasoline to send supplies forward by truck and tracked vehicle, then you CERTAINLY do not retreat to within adequate range of your railheads to conduct operations. Because those lessons certainly weren't learned during WW1 or even in the US Civil War oh no, certainly not.

[@edibleowns]

I really enjoy this channel. I love being challenged on my ideas and when other pre conceived ideas are challenged. Great work, tik.

[@1dcbly]

TIK, this video should come with a warning label. I almost drowned in the sarcasm. Fortunately for me I had my snorkel handy.

[@090giver090]

I believe it's called SNARKel :)

[@Schmidty1]

@@090giver090 XD. Have a like sir!

[@azaph_gaming]

Leader: Field Marshal Erich von Manstein, Lvl 6 Panzer Genius. Bonus Abilities: 1. Easy Logistics, leader can operate up to 3 Panzer armies for up to 10 turns without fuel or ammunition. 2. Messianic Radiance, troops under this General gain +20 Morale whenever this leader orders a retreat, if this leader counter-attacks after a retreat, he materializes +100 supplies. Leader: Marshal of the Soviet Union Konstantin Rokossovsky, Lvl 10 Swarm Lord. Bonus Abilities: 1. Necromancy, the leader can resurrect fallen allies or foes and thus swell the numbers of the Red Horde. 2. Zerg Rush, for each 10,000 peasants sacrificed the leader can summon one fully equipped division which operates at +33% attack speed. The province in which this ability is used suffers +5 dissent.

[@Robert53area]

Rokossovsky was the greatest leader of the war, but hidden from history change my mind.

[@azaph_gaming]

@@Robert53area I didn't mean to disparage him, I just chose him because he was in command of Soviet forces in the general area at the time.

[@jackssmirkingrevenge9365]

yes, a great general and bear of a man who emerged from the gulag where his teeth had been knocked out during communist interrogation to save stalin and his country with awesome generalship

[@Necemous]

@@Robert53area I wouldn't exactly say he was the best, but by 43 he certainly was a great general.

[@hopfinatorischerkuchenkrieger]

@@Robert53area He most certainly was better than that head butting idiot Zhukov.

[@maxkennedy8075]

Manstein could turn water from the black sea into oil from Baku

[@Armored_Ariete]

wondered why they called it the black sea XD

[@timobrienwells]

But he could never make an intelligent person out of you.

[@krukpl1228]

@@timobrienwells you do realize that he is both joking and sarcastic.The only one that lacks intelligence is you

[@timobrienwells]

@@krukpl1228 You don't know what you are talking about Dumbo.

[@hushpuppy1735]

timobrienwells Are you new to this channel? This is a meme that is circling around on TIK’s videos, apparently you’re the only one who doesn’t know what you are talking about.

[@korona3103]

Even when qualified and filtered through three kilos of sarcasm the counter-attack at Kharkov was pretty brilliant :P

[@litfurher4206]

Brilliant yes, but absolutely useless compared to the alternatives (holding onto to the oil fields and strangling soviet production for example). All the kharkov offensive did was achieve a tactical victory, when the Germans needed a stradegic one. Superior tactics and weapons don't win wars. Superior resources, production, grand stradegy and logistics win wars.

[@andrewpestotnik5495]

@@litfurher4206 Pretty sure advances in technology helped the allies win the war. Not alone, but they made a significant contribution.

[@ATHFShakeZulah]

These people believe anything he says.

[@MaFo82]

@@andrewpestotnik5495 everything the germans had was superior to what the Allies had which kind of proves that technology though not uninportant is pretty useless if you lack resources, production and logistics. The german planes was superior but they lacked fuel which kept them on the ground and their tanks was MUCH better then the Shermans but again they lacked fuel which made them less of an issue for the Allies.

[@marco26gdm]

@@litfurher4206 Wasn't Maikop just a minor oil field compared to Baku and Grozny, don't know if sacrificing half an army group at the risk of losing all of Ukraine would be worth the try.

[@RobertP2000]

I knew you would come to your senses eventually and embrace the Manstein!

[@Walpolemike14]

I heard Constantine saw a vision of the Reich’s child and had his men paint Manstein’s initials on their shields, winning him the battle of the Milvian Bridge by divine intervention.

[@DZSabre]

Well, I have had at least a couple years worth of my daily sarcasm allowance! I really enjoyed this exposition with all of its gooey and dripping sarcastic goodness.

[@finsfan90]

Great content. I was laughing throughout the entire video lol while also learning stuff as well.

[@wilsonj4705]

Starting to get the feeling you don't like Manstein

[@guestimator121]

Well, he was literally a Nazi :-)

[@obelixthegreat5687]

@@guestimator121 But TIK likes Hitler! I think he was also a Nazi:)

[@RobertP2000]

Learn to pronounce His name properly, heretic! It is "the Manstein"!

[@janmeijer1627]

@@guestimator121 no he was not

[@svenzia]

@@RobertP2000 geek

[@blaine8197]

Manstein: We were outnumbered 8 to 1 Siege of Vienna: Hold mein beer

[@TheBayzent]

Battle of Wizna laughs in Polish.

[@lancelot1953]

Hi TIK, I have been following your videos for a few years along with other well researched work from your other counterparts such as Mr. Bernhard Kast (and a few others). Being a career Naval Officer (US Navy) I have attended several lectures (War College) including COL Glantz's explanations of the (mis)information that was taught after WW II as part of the Cold War. I also understand what the opening of the former Soviet Union's archives have enabled a more accurate assessment of the course of WW II especially on the Eastern Front campaign. My only concern is about you using sarcasms to describe the inaccuracies and/or propaganda used during the Cold War - this does not necessarily mean that Field Marshal Von Manstein was some clown. Most flag officers (Generals and Admirals) had and/or needed to have strong personalities which at times nearly led to culture of "cults", so is propaganda, so is war; we (USA) had our share of "strong personalities" in world conflicts. One must take in consideration, the context of the time these "miracles" were accomplished - hindsight being 20/20, we (our generation) have the luxury of being able to look back at history with all the documentation tools at our disposal, which previous generations did not have. I really enjoy your productions but I think it would be "more serious" (no pun intended) to keep jokes and sarcasms out of such a serious subject as war especially since you do have great credibility due to your comprehensive research on the subjects you describe. Peace be with you, Ciao, L (Veteran)

[@jb-xc4oh]

My thoughts also.

[@Zagskrag]

Thanks for clarifying this! The Germans truly were the best soldiers. I'm going to share this to all of my friends as well so they can see how awesome Manstein was! *tips Stahlhelm*

[@wellington-yh8rc]

+ZagskragIncorrect - they had better Generals , simples.

[@erikje7352]

but what r the facts ? most numbers i found state germany lost 4,3 million and his axis lost about 0,9 million while russian numbers run as whide as 10,5 all the way up to 23/25 million just the russian p.o.w numbers are close to a staggerin 5 million [ out of the top of my head in just the opening months of the war ]

[@viperblitz11]

@@erikje7352 I'd heard from an unreliable source that the Germans and Soviets eventually ended the war with roughly similar combat fatalities, and that the 10 million figure is the work of Soviet propagandists combining that with the POWs. I would take it with a grain of salt, but the front swung so wildly in both directions over the years that I do find some plausibility in it.

[@edwardzero9275]

We all know Manstein was being modest here with his predictions, in reality he killed 88 Soviets for every wounded (but living) German soldier.

[@edwardzero9275]

t0slow 95 exactly. Tis but a flesh wound

[@Dan-by1jd]

Careful TIK the international audience on here might not appreciate your excellent British sarcasm. Great video keep going.

[@Simple_mechanic_guy]

Agreed... I'm french and I looooove British humour... but... You know... humour and sarcasm are not universal.

[@Paciat]

ThIcK sarcasm.

[@jarmoksvk]

OK, around 16:00 I got kinda confused because it almost started to sound like not complete bullshit for a moment.

[@MrPorkmann]

I found the sarcasm over-played and tiresome. Prior to this, I had found his videos raised sone decent points. This one was poorly presented.

[@martingaim]

What sarcasm? Oh, you mean those nervous quaaks this hobbit is making?

[@dynastywarriorlord07]

I think by 1943, the best Germany could hope for was a stalemate and even then the likelihood of that was slim at best

[@rlkinnard]

Hitler could have hoped for a stalemate if they had kept the US out of the war. After that, it was hopeless.

[@PoppysGuitar]

@@rlkinnard Absolutely agree. As I have said, Hitler's decision to invade the Soviet Union in 1941 with 1. a horse drawn army and without sufficient tracked vehicles and 2. while the UK was still very much in the war, was a huge mistake. Hitler's decision to declare war on the United States? Fatal mistake.

[@DrCruel]

Not sure what's being criticized here. Is TIK suggesting that Manstein's ideas about a war of maneuver were worthy of lampoon, and that only a static defense would have won WW II for the Germans? Did the Red Army actually win the 3rd Battle of Kharkov?

[@jeremiahblake3949]

Manstein wanted to abandon the oil, abandon th Grain Germany need to keep up the war. And for what? Failed offensives like Kursk and overrated ones like Kharkov. Manstein's overall record isn't impressive, Luga, Sevastopol, Lenningrad, Stalingrad breakout, Kursk, very large setbacks for the Germans.

[@Luschenjaeger]

Remember when Manstein singlehandedly encircled all of the french army in 1940? That my friends is known as Fall Gelb.

[@vault311]

He made the plan sure but he only commanded a single corp during the entire offensive in the west, so he definitely didn't single handedly encircle the french army. Or maybe I just didn't smell the sarcasm.

[@Luschenjaeger]

@@vault311 oh no, he himself, armed only with a sickle, cut the frontline in two

[@commonpepe2270]

Praised be the Lord!

[@wgolyoko]

As always, your videos are on point. I love that I just have to listen and not think at all, thank you for explaining what an exceptionnal commander Manstein was. Many thanks.

[@a.f.nik.4210]

lol

[@jamesholden6142]

And here we are in 2022 and a war is being waged across the same battlefields

[@glenmanley7023]

Great video! I've really been getting into your history series, very professional and well done. I have a question about when you calculate manpower vs manpower. So let's say German divisions in a battle add up to 50,000 men and Russian divisions add up to 100,000. Are you equating that to a 1:2 ratio or are you just counting frontline combat troops? I know a big chunk of German manpower was just support and logistics and specialists whereas I believe the Russians had less specialists and more frontline combat troops compared to Germans. So as far as just combat troops vs combat troops the ration could actually be more along Manstein's and other German commanders estimates. Please clarify someone I just thought about this and would like clarification.

[@montymechanizedmarines]

Happy Birthday TIK - this was a hilarious delight and very entertaining. Keep up the great work, Monty

[@azkrouzreimertz9784]

Thanks for blasting 4 TO 1 Into my head TIK!

[@LuigiBrotha]

Do you also have the Excel file available somewhere online? I'ld love to look through the data.

[@patangman2117]

I honestly wish there was less sarcasm. I just want the historic information. Corrected of course so we have a better idea of actual numbers. Sarcasm just destroyed historic relevance as it becomes a cheesy chase for going after someone like Manstein. I honestly don't care for a specific general, nor their padded records. However in looking for information about the third battle I have to either watch stuff that takes everything at face value, or stuff that clearly waste too much time making fun of it. Plus being sarcastic about falling back to shorten the logistics while forcing the Russians to over extend theirs, is good tactics, regardless who does it.

[@Pangora2]

I agree, I think there's some fun to be had poking fun at the numbers, but I tabbed away, zoned out, came back after half the runtime and it was still going on about mainstein's holy numbers.

[@tomsoyer5639]

Sarcasm is supposed to be funny.

[@curium9622]

Happy Birthday and keep up the good work. May our lord live. One question, did you drunk to much at you birthday?

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Thanks! And yes, I drank quite a bit and it took a couple days to recover, which is great :)

[@stepanwitlore2695]

25 minutes video of sarcasm< great work! I laughed a lot

[@jintarokensei3308]

A declaration of sarcasm diminishes the quality of said sarcasm.

[@SaladeGuerraSdG]

Please TIK, I'm asking this as a genuine question and not a cyberbully: one thing I still don't get, I saw your Soviet Economic Collapse in 1943 video in which you several times state that Soviet historic figures are basically forged and not particularly trustworthy, but here you take Glanz's numbers as absolutely truthful. I don't mean Glanz is masking something, but that his sources are the same Soviet archives as the others, not? I mean, Glanz was handpicked to have access to those files, and how can we assure that those files weren't modified for foreign comsuption altogether? Russia hasn't really been through a real regime change in all these years. Thanks and congrats for the work

[@anh413]

Hello there, I know I am not TIK. But I could somewhat explain to you why he prefer Glantz. You should watch his video on "What is history", in which I remember he made a point that history can never be accurate because the numbers were mostly taken after the effects, the events were told after it had happend, even the numbers taken cannot actually be accurate because you cannot physically count all the people. That is why TIK always or at least try to put every numbers and every sources together. He might give the impression that he take everthing from Glantz as true but he always used a lot of sources from pro-German Wehraboos to pro-Soviet one. As for Glantz, his views might be the "Russians puppet" views or "Germans puppet" views (depends on who you asked) but his numbers seem the most logical, most unbias (well compared to the one written by pro-Germans sources like generals or Soviet defectors etc due the Cold war propaganda machines). The access to the Soviet archieves is strict but better than what you get before the collapse of the Soviet Union which is none at all. The archives might be modfied but it still give a clearer picture one what happened than the sources only from the Axis sides (who are mostly generals or ex-soldiers trying to save their faces after the defeats like blaming it all on Hitler, the troops or handpicked the event or simply lie) which were the only sources for more than 40 years (So what TIK mostly do is combine them together to picked out the truths or cross-examine it as you can say). This last point is a lot more politcal but Russia went through some major political and "regime" changes, from Yeltsin to Putin, from a country that is all most dead to a superpower that started to intervent in other countries (Lybia, Syria, the Caucasus etc), in the brief period of the 90s the archives opened, the 2000s with the Geogian war, 2014 with Ukraine conflicts and Syria and Lybia interventions sours the relationship of Russia and the West (Lybia is mostly by PMC which some might not have anything politcal and just in it for some cash). So Russia have went through a lot and with it, changes in the relationships, from which news networks, social medias etc of the country or groups of countries will changes their views to suit the political needs and even changes the view points of people in that country or in different countries. The best tactics of this is to tell half truth and half lies or irrelevant truth and irrelevant lies etc So ask yourself, What do they want you to think? What gains will they have? ("They" here are the sides of the story). From that, at least from my prespective you can picked out the truths. This is coming from a dude who used to be pro-Germans, pro-Soviet, pro-Russia and pro-West.

[@timobrienwells]

Glantz is an historical revisionist, and TIK parrots every word that he says. TIK has very little knowledge or understanding of the Russo-German war of 1941-1945.

[@Muscovy7]

@timobrienwells - I’ll trust the American patriot who fought in Vietnam over your bs bud. Glantz is far from a revisionist Wehraboo

[@timobrienwells]

@@Muscovy7 You haven't got a clue what you are talking about pal.

[@Muscovy7]

@@timobrienwells sure, says the guy who would rather believe nazis.

[@LukeBunyip]

Wry and tongue-in-check ranting 👍 Love the straight faced counter-referencing. Tis all in the sources. 😉 Also, hippy bath day...

[@kieranh2005]

Hippy and bath in the same sentence? I sense an oxymoron here.

[@koxxy3749]

i think manstein had about 70k units of sarcasm compared to TIKs 80 bazillion units which is a win ratio of about 1:8million. he easily wins at any sarcasm odds by retreating and brilliant miracle counter sarcasming a total victory

[@monz5690]

I always love your iconic "hitler was a madman!" moments

[@smartasskickass4260]

2:12 Im watching the same English Wiki article today 17/06/2019. And the Soviet Strength seems to have been altered now it just says 210,000. So wish one is it?

[@EL20078]

Ok the Wehrmacht's ability has at times been exaggerated but let's not become too revisionist. Manstein had flaws but overall he was a great commander.

[@chrisfung3333]

what TIK trying to put it here(i said TRY because he can't convey his idea to YOU), is that, not withstanding the ability of Manstein , 3rd kharkov was a. by nowhere, a MIRACLE. Manstein the man himself(as a unreliable historian, AGAIN, not as a status of being a "great commander") exaggerated, to a great extend, the size of enemy he was facing. b. A TACTICAL victory that stopped the soviet attack for the moment, at the STRATEGIC cost of the much need oil that why fall blau intended to get,(and used the already much depleted oil reserves of germany). you sir, pretty much the mistaken TIK as a "distorian", as TIK explained it almost a year ago

[@williamrumph6403]

chris fung z

[@RifleEyez]

@@chrisfung3333 Disagree, Mansteins 8 to 1 claim was regarding his right flank before Kharkov happened, and in regards to Fretter-Picos detachment, and requesting permission to retreat beforehand, nothing to do with fighting in Kharkov. 3 infantry divisions, the strongest of which was 355th infantry division, with....3,500 men. Way way under strength. 19th and 27th Panzer...15 operational tanks, both with about 3,000-4,000 men each. Not even close to a single regulation division between them, so it's not an unreasonable estimate considering surprise, he didn't know everything, and surprise, he was justifying a retreat. I'd say it was a miracle victory because despite losing the Sixth Army, despite trying to relieve them (Operation Wintergewitter), despite the Germans retreating an entire Army from the Caucasus, and despite fighting with Hitler the entire time, Manstein held the line, also took Belgorod, and provided a fantastic springboard for Kursk if they acted sooner (the salient), and he also give the Germans a few months of relative quiet to reinforce. Even if you go by TIK's naturally Soviet-favoured numbers (Sir Jesus Ivan David Glantzovski), the Germans still inflicted 80,000 casualties for 7,000 losses, and the Soviet Tank and Plane losses compared to the Germans is no better either. Wouldn't you say, excusing Manstein slightly because ALL memoirs from ALL countries are self serving, that is somewhat of a miracle?

[@tamoneko1955]

@@RifleEyez Honey, the Soviets had a very different way of counting losses compared to the Germans. The Soviets counted in the losses all that could not be used the next day. In this light, you can multiply German losses by ten easily. The Germans did not even count tanks without turrets in losses. The Soviets are tanks that were on the regular maintenance counted in losses. Severely wounded, people without legs or arms and cases such as these, the Germans did not count as losses during some operation. If you want to know the real situation. Look at the official German data for the entire Eastern Front by mid-1944, after which they are more than unreliable. These data say that the Germans suffered losses of over 30%, compared to the total number in the East. Almost every third German soldier was lost. And here are not counted missing. The Soviets had huge problems during this operation. Their logistics lines were overwhelmed. Their soldiers were exhausted. Their armored units were in very poor condition due to previous fighting and inability to maintain them properly due to serious logistical issues. No Soviet units was in full strength. Some were below 50%.

[@TheBayzent]

@@tamoneko1955 Soviets also counted tanks in no-man's land as loses, and they recounted them as they were rescued, so in many cases you have Soviet accounts with "resurrected" tanks and stuff like that. The Krauts were also very scared of telling Hitler the actual picture, which contributed a lot to the defeat, while Soviets had the NKVD lying, for the most part the commanders kept their reports relatively grounded to reality. And production in the Soviet Union was reliant in those reports.

[@understand6970]

Ahhh a fine taste of a damn good sarcasm

[@Gert-DK]

What sarcasm?

[@jussim.konttinen4981]

Do you almost feel depressed about German loss? Don't bother. Usually, rank insignia is pinned on the collar of the combat uniform. Any claim that the Army has reached its egalitarian, meritocratic ideal is premature 😁 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKCoe4aiaLOejKc

[@christoth4870]

I loved this, the tone of it, superb !!!

[@TEA-fj3ut]

Would have been a different outcome if Manstein had the 6th Army and Paulus was on the Don.

[@ECHOFOXTROT289]

The writings added on the screen are just hilarious

[@thelexkex]

the amount of sarcasm in this video might be lethal for some people

[@TheHerrUlf]

Yes, killing us with boredom

[@lordbonney9779]

Lethal for Americans and Scots

[@lordblueeyesfrankieg204]

Best vid ever - the sarcasm knows no bounds - much love - great as always

[@CaseyHarrisSr]

I enjoyed watching you have sooo much fun with this video share. Belated Happy Birthday Tik.

[@BlitzOfTheReich]

this is meme-tastic!

[@Avrelianvs]

Ja!

[@arvidsky]

Although I found the sarcasm quite hilarious, it did make the video overtly long and, sadly, the joke suffered a bit from it. Other than that, I would have to say that I enjoyed this content and I hope you do something similar in the future (but maybe shorten it a bit) But on a more serious note, do you believe that they could have defended the territory they retreated from, or were they doomed no matter what they did? (You could make a reply in a small follow-up video.) I am no expert on this topic, so I have no arguments to start a discussion myself.

[@rankoorovic7904]

Von Manstein most successful campaign was the one after the war when he convinced everybody that he never lost a battle.

[@irasanders9207]

and that the German Army never participated in the commission of war crimes.

[@rankoorovic7904]

@@irasanders9207 He wasn't the only one doing that but blowing his own horn he was masterful,genius of tactics and strategy.

[@bryanl.morrison552]

My brethern, your content gets better and better. Good work!

[@snegyrys9149]

You all hear it right? They are coming... They are close... The angry wehraboo

[@TheImperatorKnight]

I will no doubt get a lot of hate from this video. But to be fair, I get hate in every video, so it's business as usual.

[@johnd2058]

@@TheImperatorKnight Flak, it's all just flak.

[@Alte.Kameraden]

I'm a wehraboo, and even I find this video wonderful. hehe

[@Alte.Kameraden]

@@TheImperatorKnight Why would anyone give you hate for these videos? I'm one of those who believe History is "Gray" and I like your videos as they're not attempts to propagandize history, which is exactly how it should be told. Despite my utter admiration, and love for the German Army in WWII, it is necessary to understand, and admit their flaws. Including their arrogance.

[@outdatedtank4542]

@Aggressive Tubesock yes and no

[@tommy_sparrow]

Man, Sabaton needs to do a song about this, titled "372647493 to 1". Also, those vile academic scholars, what other numbers they might be lying about I wonder...

[@Kupferdrahtful]

Turning the situation at the end of 42 into a solid front at the start of 43 was indeed a miracle

[@rorkpunor8884]

Great stuff TIK, you're the best ! -Here is an idea for a future video series; An in depth look at the Dieppe Raid.

[@ashutoshchandrakar2584]

Had you been alive in the 40 s your sarcasm would have made manstein surrender.....

[@TheImperatorKnight]

A surrender is a Lost Victory. You can never defeat the Manstein

[@thearisen7301]

Hahahahaha TIK I love your sarcasm.

[@sharonwhiteley6510]

I love the sarcasm and all the different numbers depending on what resource you use. Thanks.

[@HoboTango]

Happy birthday TIK ! Love your feudal direction ! haha

[@TheDBar]

The panzers run on aryan blood 😂😂😂

[@Grondorn]

Do you really think, in hindsight, that holding onto the Caucasus with Army Group A was a plausible idea?

[@kestutisvaiciunas8663]

They were pumping oil, and they needed EVERY drop they could get

[@Grondorn]

@@kestutisvaiciunas8663 You don't need to sound so DRAMATIC. This is not a question for the German need for oil but was it militarily plausible to hold two field armies in the Caucasus in those dire circumstances, as there was an obvious risk they could be cut off like in Stalingrad.

[@kestutisvaiciunas8663]

@@Grondorn Well, they didn't hold them in a dangerous position, the Soviets tried to explot and flank after Uranus, but Manstein ordered a retreat, and they were able to have an organized withdrawal in those circumstances, not a rout. I see your point, but they were not that much in danger as you think they were. Encircling huge formations like that requires huge amounts of preperation, planning, and resources. The Soviets were preparing for Uranus for ~4 months, and that was for a limited offensive around a city

[@wolfschanzemusikundvideo6455]

It wasn't possible. German troops in Caucasus get encircled and destroyed like in Stalingrad if they held on. Watch eastory 1943 video. 6th army destruction created massive gap in line. Premise that Caucasus could be held on after Stalingrad is the same one as if it was feasible to ignore Kiev and go straight for the Moscow in 1941 like Guderian insisted. You can't hold/go for another objective if your flank is insecure.

[@ianwhitchurch864]

@Abu Troll al cockroachistan No, because rather than Uranus aiming to encircle Stalingrad, it's aimed at encircling the forces that went south. Because the German Army is ideologically biased against paying attention to the realities of logistics, they get about the same distance south until their trucks break, which means Army Group South has an awfully big left flank being protected by troops without enough anti-tank capability.

[@maxjones503]

Nice, even better general than I thought. Thanks.

[@ebenezerscrooge6542]

Happy birthday and thanks for another great video.

[@varin0183]

Strange, I keep hearing the sound of someone grinding an axe :) Nice one TIK

[@outdatedtank4542]

Grinding an AXIS wherabu

[@MarkWadsworthYPP]

I know this was ironic, but imagine you aren't familiar with TKI...

[@ESCAPEGOAT.]

You are a Madman !!!(!) Superb superior humor. Fun wins in every battle. Great vid.

[@casparcoaster1936]

man, i would really like to see a simple recap of Manny's Miracle in simple terms, with out a recap of history and histrionics

[@Iroks]

More, make more videos roasting "miracles" of ww2

[@lukasscriver8312]

Oh boy , you never find a lot about the third battle of Kharkov - my Monday is saved thanks tik

[@lukasscriver8312]

Just noticed this is a meme video

[@TheImperatorKnight]

It is a meme video, but I did still deliver information about the 3rd Battle of Kharkov, I just did it sarcastically and in a way that would show that it wasn't as much of a "miracle" after all.

[@lukasscriver8312]

@@TheImperatorKnight well that's true , could have been a bit more info but I'll wait for the real documentary:)

[@Farscape3585]

Very impressive analysis... I would recommend another example of “forgotten sacrifice” for a future documentary...the 551st Parachute Battalion (the real Lost Battalion of WWII ) at Rochlenval Belgium in January 1945. They defeated General Joachim Pieper and his German forces - during the Battle of the Bulge. - with the loss of 86% killed or wounded !!! That combined with the death of their commanding officer - Lieutenant Colonel Joerg their reward - the 551st was disbanded ? My father - 1st Lieutenant John Milton Hill was one of the few survivors.

[@larrylamonts1483]

Whew, I knew I was right to never doubt his greatness

[@charles_sumner3088]

If manstien had the manpower, rescources and materials of the allies he could have conquered much of the known world

[@bhaskarsingh1564]

I sometimes joked about why teachers don't want us to use Wikipedia as a source, but now i get why they were so stubborn

[@daniels_0399]

Using Wikipedia is fine, but if you want people to trust the information you quote from Wikipedia, you need to check the sources and see if they're reliable.

[@edgehodl4832]

Heavy sarcasm in this vid is hilaruous!!!

[@PattyOflan88]

The amount of sarcasm is this, is just phenomenal.

[@jouniosmala9921]

This is such a perfect historical truth. It is shown very clearly and everybody should pick their favorite 30 second clip out of it proof a point to their friends :D I personally love the 13:06 to 13:36 .

[@gaeliel]

Thank you TIK for improving the visibility of SS unit symbols! Also, happy birthday!

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Ah, you noticed :)

[@theawesomesixes]

I thought you were going to stop taking the piss after a few minutes but you held it through. Genuinely very funny, well done

[@matejjakubco7853]

An interesting video. Hope to see more soon. Just small note, in 14.35 minute you have one mistake - von Salmuth commanded 2nd German army during late 1942 in Voronezh area, not the 1st.