U-Boat Tank Killers - Battle of Hamburg 1945

Download WORLD of TANKS for free here! -- tanks.ly/3UE30Fb
Formed out of unemployed U-boat crew in Hamburg, the 1st Naval Anti-Tank Regiment saw extensive action against the advancing British during the battle for Northern Germany in April 1945. Specialists in stalking tanks with Panzerfausts, these U-boatmen proved to be very brave and tenacious infantrymen that won the respect of their enemy.
Dr. Mark Felton FRHistS, FRSA 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.o...
Visit my audio book channel 'War Stories with Mark Felton': • One Thousand Miles to ...
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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; Library of Congress; Imperial War Museum; Bundesarchiv

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Download WORLD of TANKS for free here! -- tanks.ly/3UE30Fb

[@dongochoangkhang]

Mark Story about Soviet naval infantry

[@bluewinds10]

You forgot to mention the Pay to Win game mechanic

[@gdutfulkbhh7537]

World of Tanks is arse.

[@aleksazunjic9672]

@@gdutfulkbhh7537 Yet you are still playing it because there is nothing else 🤣 except War Thunder of course 🤪

[@aleksazunjic9672]

@@bluewinds10 That is realism. In real war side with better logistic usually wins 🤣

[@BernieODuffy]

I live in the Hamburg suburbs. Every few months, there's another bomb scare in my neighbourhood, once in an adjacent garden to mine. Bomb disposal teams come in and everyone is evacuated until it's sorted. Nearly 90% of the time, these unexploded bombs turn out to be buried Panzerfausts. In the final weeks of the war, Nazi party officials went door to door distributing tens of thousands of them to households. The men in each household were given a quick demonstration, and told to "do their bit for the fatherland" once enemy tanks started rolling down their street. Needless to say, it didn't come to that... nor did anyone particularly feel like walking up to a British checkpoint to try and turn in such a weapon after the city surrendered... so they buried them in their gardens and tried to forget about them. But, with renovations, and new builds, they keep turning up...

[@richardjames1812]

Interesting local fact, thanks!

[@_Eudaimonia_]

I've heard Polish sappers deal with about 10k incidents every year related to various old explosives found all over the place from WW2 times....

[@nikobellic570]

​@@_Eudaimonia_ Just imagine how much of current active battlefields are gonna be uninhabitable for years. War makes interesting content but it sucks

[@ckhpersonal670]

​@@nikobellic570 yeah, but land mines and dud bombs are never interesting contents even in war

[@marcaurel2610]

I'm from Hamburg myself, and my sister lives south in the small town you Mark mentioned, Vahrendorf, with my nieces. 25 years ago I read this article in a Hamburg newspaper (Hamburger Abendblatt) about the fight for the place. This report is particularly interesting because it sheds light on Hamburg's surrender without a fight. Here is the report: "It was a terrible slaughter" By FRANZ-JOSEF HUTSCH Vahrendorf - The rattle of rifle volleys and the thunder of guns, the bizarre paths of flares and the clank of tank tracks - for many veterans of the Second World War, the long-ago battles come to life again on Remembrance Day. Then it's as if only yesterday they were racing through the African desert in Rommel's tanks or fighting with Guderian's grenadiers in the suburbs of Moscow. “Do you remember?” they ask everyone and get knowing nods. They rummage through their memories and even after hours they don't run out of stories. Things are different in Vahrendorf (Harburg district). There is silence when the former soldiers gather under the wrought iron cross in the military cemetery - dead silence. The remains of their comrades lie beneath 47 gray stone crosses. Nobody wants to talk about men. Most were 17 or 18 years old, the youngest just 15. 44 of them died on the night of April 26, 1945, twelve days before the end of the Second World War, eight days before Hamburg's surrender. They were supposed to conquer the place where they are buried today. Wolfgang Buchwald, who survived the attack on Vahrendorf, once recalled: "It was just a terrible slaughter." The war was actually long over on that April night. For weeks, the 7th British Armored Division had been driving the mostly ragtag German troops ahead of them. The attack came to a halt south of Hamburg. Civilians and Italian prisoners of war had dug trenches and bunkers in the Harburg mountains. The British feared the costly close combat. They just waited. Their commander, Major General Lewis D. Lyne, knew: "The war was over. Hamburg would fall into my lap like an overripe fruit. Why should I sacrifice my men anymore?" Hitler declared the city a fortress on April 9th. The population, 680,000 people, could no longer be evacuated. Defense should be carried out until the last cartridge - once again. Hamburg's combat commander Alwin Wolz ordered attacks, including the night attack on Vahrendorf. There was no significant help for the soldiers of the 7th company of the training and replacement battalion of the 12th SS Panzer Division. Most of them had been drafted as conscripts; only two had front-line experience. They were supported by submariners who had unscrewed the cannons from their boats and mounted them on carts. A few anti-aircraft guns were supposed to fire over from Wilhelmsburg, and three assault guns had been found somewhere. "Such attacks were considered stupid even back in 1945," says Hans Umbreit from the Bundeswehr's Military History Research Office in Potsdam. At around one o'clock in the morning, the young people left their trenches and bunkers, which can still be seen today in the deciduous forest east of Vahrendorf. The British were surprised and the Germans captured the village for a few hours. Chaos reigned, no one knew where the enemy or their own people were. At dawn the British pushed the attackers back again. 63 German soldiers who died in the battle are buried in the cemeteries in Vahrendorf, Harburg, Hittfeld, Jesteburg and Buchholz. The British "Devonshire" Regiment complained of 90 deaths. What was the point of this hopeless and, from a military point of view, insignificant undertaking? At the beginning of April, Hamburg's Gauleiter Karl Kaufmann and Alwin Wolz agreed "never to allow a serious defense of Hamburg to take place." The city was to be handed over without a fight. In order not to jeopardize this plan, it was necessary for Wolz to play the “wild man” so that he would not be replaced. The Waffen SS was another problem. Wolz racked his brains over "the withdrawal of the 'Panzeteufel' unit, whose behavior during the surrender was unclear." From his point of view, there was only one solution: a night attack with heavy losses should prove his grit in Berlin and at the same time get rid of the unpredictable Waffen-SS. The remnants of the 7th Company had hardly been rushed back into their positions when they were moved to Schleswig-Holstein. Suddenly there was gas again for their armored personnel carriers, which had not been available for weeks before. At the same time, secret negotiations for Hamburg's surrender began behind British lines. Nobody was interested in the outcome of the night attack, nobody wanted to know about the losses. “They died so that Hamburg would live,” Wolz is said to have said later. The city surrendered on May 3rd.

[@MrInterestingWorld]

This adds a lot of context, thank you

[@stanislavczebinski994]

Thanks for your effort!! Danke für die Mühe!!

[@DaveSCameron]

Write a book Sir 📚👍

[@rockmusicman21]

Awesome thanks for the translation

[@glynwelshkarelian3489]

I got tearful reading this. My father was sunk by a U-Boat; my mother ducked under a Red Army Airforce's fighter's stream of bullets. Way too many people now think war is like a video game. In 1914 Europe thought the war would be won by Christmas. War is dirty murder, usually of the best and brightest.

[@kennethrouse7942]

Hi Dr. Felton, Many thanks for this most interesting video. For several years at the end of his life, I was fortunate enough to have been friends with a former U-Boat commander, his wife, and many of his crews. I say crews as he first commanded a Type VIIC, and then a Type XXI. His boat, U-3506, is one of the 3 that remains sunk today in Hamburg's "lost bunker." After his boat was put out of action, he was assigned to Craemer's land anti-tank detachment. That may even be him at the far right of the picture of the 4 officers, with Craemer being 2nd from the left in the leather jacket. He told me that he attacked a British tank with his Panzerfaust and managed to knock one of its tracks off. It stopped the tank's forward movement but also attracted the attention of the gunner in the turret, at which juncture my friend decided that his war was over and he had better places to go. 😊 I have to say that they were all warm, kind, friendly people when I knew them, and it just underscores the futility of war. 😢

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

What a great story. Just because nice people have to fight for their countries doesn’t make war futile. We don’t want unnecessary wars. Hitler needed to be stopped and the Cold War needed to happen. Two evils that needed to be defeated. Personally, the Ukraine War could have been avoided. I blame my country (the US) for it. Well, and Great Britain.

[@adamwells9352]

Gotta say, not sure why this is controversial, but I blame RUSSIA. You know, on account of how they invaded their neighbor. But as for the OP, people are people. It's a tragedy. Thank you for the story.

[@Nick_B_Bad]

@@jamesdellaneve9005there was a peace deal ready to be signed by both sides. Biden admin had Borris Johnson go over there and stop Ukraine from signing it. This whole conflict there is a result of US & NATO provocation of Russia.

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

@@adamwells9352 Yes. Russia invaded its neighbor. The US was involved in Zelenskyy coming to power and scuttling an agreement between Ukraine and Russia. Then offering Ukraine to join NATO. This happened PRIOR to Russia invading. It doesn’t matter if you disagree with Russia on their perspective or interests up until they decided to invade. Ukraine will never prevail. They are too small and now, the average age of their troops is 42, which means that they’ve already lost a generation.

[@adamwells9352]

@@jamesdellaneve9005 Is this the same Russia that specifically agreed to respect the territorial integrity of the Ukraine in return for its nuclear weapons? And I am making no argument about who would win (although Russia's demographic profile is a nightmare too), but I think it's very simple: attacking your neighbors and killing their people is wrong.

[@UCN2027]

In 2008 I had the opportunity to make an interveview to a Berlin battle veteran. He told me about the diverse of uniforms that were fighting in the streets during the last days. Navy recruits, Air force mechanics, army musicians, political agents, firebombers, policemen and even frenchs, croatians and arabs recruits.

[@patrickkelly6691]

The effective resistance in the battle for Berlin was almost entirely mounted by the remnants of the 'Charlemagne' French SS Division and those who got attached.

[@antonmoric1469]

And Tibetans.

[@mutteringmale]

a friend of my dads was a Hitler jugend, manning one of the flak towers in Berlin at the end. I never got the story about how he survived and how he made it to America. I just remember being in love with his beautiful blonde blued daughter at the time when we were kids. He and my dad, a WWII combat pilot were great friends btw. I wish I had been older and more educated to listen to their reminecenes.

[@nino71]

and Spanish under the command of Miguel Ezquerra Sánchez (read: "Berlin a vida o muerte")

[@ChristopheA-dd5we]

It was not any Muslim soldiers in Berlin... Fake information.. About Crantian, I ve some serious doubt...

[@SchattenSeiten]

Mark, when I left highschool (Gymnasium, I am living in Germany) I scored 0 points in my history exam. I just did not care. A couple of months later i stumbled upon your videos, today I am extremely into history, especially ww2 and the middle ages. I even go out and search for relics in the field. In this journey you played an important part and really were the first creator that sparked my interest in history.

[@moltderenou]

I hope you have learnt that the war between our two nations was a stupidity of massive proportions. Witness how well our peoples and cultures blossomed together in the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries, the Germans adopting English as their day to day language even though they were the largest ethnic group.

[@NunyaBizznaz]

Your ability to find unique angles of WWII history never ceases to amaze me.

[@D3ViLTh3OrY]

My grandfather lost half of his face and his eye from an attack from a U-Boat (he was a skimmer in the RN). Keeping these stories alive are really important!

[@yollmanontherun9074]

What dose the" RN" stand for?

[@user-bd3ds4ev5f]

@@yollmanontherun9074 Royal navy.

[@shed66215]

Many a WWII history programme on the TV often uses archive footage that is totally out of context with the story being related...not so Dr Felton, everything in the right place visually and always told with clarity. Excellent as always.

[@David-yo5ws]

Even the daily news I watch has non-relevant footage. So great 'kudos' to Dr Mark Felton, for doing better than a whole news industry, that has all day to present a 20 minute report.

[@mutteringmale]

LOL....I'm amazed that these maroons actually think a picture of a P-40 is a P51, and that a wildcat F4f looks just like a Lighting!

[@GhanaianBliss]

One of my favorite things to hear is the soundtrack in the intro. I get giddy every time I hear it. Thanks for this masterpiece Dr. Felton

[@cattinkerbell4946]

What is it anyway?

[@michaeltelson9798]

A female friend of my parents lived through Hamburg. She has passed away decades ago, but from what she mentioned their building was destroyed and her mother and herself lived in the basement that was still habitable.

[@Yora21]

Hamburg was positively flattened by aerial bombardment. When the American Strategic Bombing Survey went to assess the effects of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, they rated the scale of the destruction lower than Hamburg. The City Hall and St. Michael's church are about the only landmarks that could be restored after the war.

[@rexwinton3677]

Another installment of the best history channel on KZbin, keep it up mark

[@henriklarssen1331]

Its in my top 3 with TIK and Metatron.

[@stevenhershman2660]

I did not know this. Thanks to Mark for educating us to some of the lesser known stories out of WWII !

[@mutteringmale]

This "history" channel is not censored by the liberals that censor everything in the mass media. We get real stories here, about real people. If you start to talk about politicians and politics though, the evil empire will censor it right here.

[@Cheduepallottole]

So much fight, so much bravery, so much pain, so many distinguished real military leaders. Thanks again Dr. Felton

[@kbanghart]

And lots of crap leaders, too

[@andreaswiklund7197]

If you are talking about the german officers, don't forget to mention that they fought for one of the most evil genocidal governments of that century.

[@adamwells9352]

And, let's face it, a bunch of Nazis.

[@LostSpaceGuy]

@@adamwells9352By 1945, majority of the German military were conscripted but yes some were die hard Nazis.

[@thebeltingbalaclava4798]

@@adamwells9352They were right.

[@allegrajane7205]

As the granddaughter of two sailors (one of whom could have been sent to the depths by a U-boat), I particularly appreciated this video, Dr. Felton. Respect to all naval personnel! 🔱⚓️

[@garylawson5381]

I was unaware of German Navy infantry units, Mark Felton Productions. Thanks again Dr Felton!

[@kirgan1000]

Look up what the kampfschwimmer "combat divers" did in the late war. They did have loots of successful raids, but it was too little too late, hence you never here about them in popular media.

[@garylawson5381]

@@kirgan1000 Thanks Kirgan, I didn't know about them either.

[@user-cy5li2zp9z]

@@kirgan1000Would the British say the same thing if they had to defend England from a German invasion?

[@user-cy5li2zp9z]

Get this book: From Submariners to Tank Killers Marine-Panzerjagd-Regiment 1 and the Fighting near Hamburg in April-May 1945 by Axel Urbanke.

[@pincset]

U-boat crews were probably happy to have better odds at surviving these engagements, than those in which they had to fight in a submersible coffin...

[@mustang1912]

America failed to capture Munich. It failed to capture the v2 launch sites and lots of German cities. Felton needs to do a series on how bad America was in ww2. No physical evidence for battle of Stalingrad.

[@ajace5883]

Perhaps, but almost all of the submarine crews had volunteered for getting into the u-boat wapon, because the danger brought very much glory and status.

[@mutteringmale]

Like an idiot, when I got my butter bar, they asked me which branch I wanted to go in. I asked for armor. I'm so glad them made me infantry....more places to hide. Besides, running around in a tank in texas and oklahoma in the summer is not a good idea...lol.

[@AdamHiley-ds5gc]

​@@mutteringmale I wouldn't want to be in a Submarine anymore than I would be in a tank

[@mutteringmale]

@@AdamHiley-ds5gc And yet, the WWII loving admirals and Generals, stuck in the past because almost all of them are lifer luzers, and get paid by big Defense, keep on insisting they new bigger better drone targets.

[@paulpowell4871]

Your honoring these men by pronouncing their names as correctly as you do is an honor for warriors. Many may say they do not deserve it, however most of these lived in a time that all they understood was what they were taught or told. You sir have an honor as a teacher without the constraints of political justification as History must be taught as pure without passion

[@marqsee7948]

perhaps he speaks the language and knows how to pronounce. Respecting a language is quite different than respecting a profession. People are honored for their deeds, and you may wish to know it takes passion to honor another.

[@dustyak79]

I feel the same way. Over other conflicts as well. You can hold the individual in admiration for and sympathy of for remarkable deeds and hardships. Without agreeing with, but understanding of immoral beliefs or evil deeds as a whole.

[@MVProfits]

Those having a problem with Germans defending Germany from invading armies that openly wanted unconditional surrender (US-UK) or brutal revenge (USSR) are beyond hope, and can only see everything in cartoonish good vs evil angles with no nuances. Though we can certainly feel that this was a lot of useless bloodshed and loss of life on both sides, especially at this stage.

[@marqsee7948]

@@MVProfits wow, speaking of nuance, you need to learn a lot. Context is important, or one can make the Putin mistakes with misinformation, if not outright disinformation. There is no equivalence. To suggest so is simply to excuse what the world decided was one of the worst criminal regimes in the history of the world, that brought hell to it's own people. Fooled or not, raising weapons was and would still be a mistake. Beyond hope... what would you hope for? Both-sidisms?

[@PAcifisti]

​@@MVProfitsProblem with this take is that it puts the "invaders" as in being wrong for attacking German territory and putting a stop to the attrocities they committed.

[@staffanalinder1592]

My father in law was born in Germany. He left school in the spring of 1944 and applied to the Kriegsmarine Naval Academy in Hamburg, mainly to avoid the eastern front (his brother was killed in Russia in 1942). He spent the rest of the war studying navigation and naval warfare during the days and manning AA guns during the night.

[@wweminehead5458]

Dr F. Is in the house!

[@ElTejon47901]

Well, likely in his office.

[@Analprolapsdeluxe]

Here to spill the misterious beans

[@malakasquad2214]

This is what happens when KZbin takes you from one subject to another without transition. 😅

[@DaveSCameron]

Wunderbra!

[@imperialhonorguard1483]

threw his bloodline away by marrying an asian lol

[@varrick1226]

Thank God for teachers/educators like yourself, I sometimes lose interest in reading WW2 history but you keep me coming back. Thanks and God bless.

[@AN-nt3uv]

When i visited officers training in the armored troops school at Munster in 1995 we had an exvursion to Rethem an der Aller and some older guy being a military historian, who was in his youth at the end of WWII was giving us a field lecture about the fights at this location of the British vs. the remnants of the Wehrmacht. That were a single Tiger I and some infantry made up of German Marine (Navy) sea cadets led by their head of school, who as a navy officer was used to lead his troops from the bridge, so standing in his blue with golden marks navy uniform on the backseat of his car. No cover, no infantry fighting rules. I do not remember if or how long he survived, but the British send commandos to take the bridge and the single Tiger commanded by an Unteroffizier managed to knock out two tanks, when a Firefly got him and he + crew had to abandon their tank. That navy officer fell eventually when leading a counter attack standing in his advancing car. One out of million stories from those times.

[@jerryjeromehawkins1712]

I have just finished reading "Iron Coffins!"... perfect timing, Dr. Felton. Thank you!! 👍🏾

[@obamabin-laden2420]

Fantastic book!

[@andrewtodd5919]

Great book learned about Metox system and how it led to many u boats being destroyed. The author ended up living in New Jersey in the US after the war

[@Thorr-kl6jl]

I have a copy of Peter Cremer's book, "U-Boat Commander". A few other interesting books: "Iron Coffins", by Herbert Werner "The Odyssey of a U-Boat Commander", by Erich Topp "U-188", by Klaus Willmann "U-Boats at War", by Harald Busch "U-Boat War Patrol", by Lawrence Patterson I have spent some vacation time in Hamburg, from the USA. North of Hamburg, near Kiel, is the Naval Memorial, at Laboe. U-995, a Type VII U-Boat, is on display there, as a museum ship. West of Hamburg, at Bremerhaven, U-2540 is on display. U-2540 is a Type XXI U-Boat, which was used by the German Navy after the war, as "Wilhelm Bauer". Southwest of Hamburg, in Munster, is the Deutsches Panzermuseum. I have been there three times. Of course, in Chicago, U-505, a Type IX U-Boat is on display.

[@JoeKing-_i_am_not_joking]

Doctor Felton, as a German native speaker, I have to praise you for your excellent pronunciation. It's nice when you hear it properly. especially when channels from America massacre German words

[@user-vj7el2wg9b]

I agree with you that Dr Felton's pronunciation is very good, but I have my doubts about how how he pronounces the name Gysae. I am not a native-speaker, so I must accept your opinion. How would you pronounce Gysae?

[@bretfisher7286]

It's part of excellent scholarship by Dr. Felton (or anyone who observes the courtesy) as well as revealing his honorable character. I agree with you, that it's very distinguished of him.

[@thhseeking]

@@user-vj7el2wg9bI would have thought "Goo-say" or "Goos-eye". but as Skallagrim so often says..."It depends...".

[@mutteringmale]

Ya, dat ist gut! Ver dammen!

[@kleinweichkleinweich]

@@user-vj7el2wg9bmy guess would be Güsä or Gisä but the e could be silent, then it's more like Gisa (i like in think and a like the u in under)

[@daveweiss5647]

As a history fanatic this channel continues to amaze with stories I had never heard before...imagine being a hero of the Submarine service fighting in the fridged Atlantic being a successful sailor...then becoming an infantryman fighting tanks...insane.

[@monkian]

The humble bicycle is so often overlooked yet played important roles in many campaigns. Also shows how fit people were compared to our modern societies.

[@erinnerungundgegenwart]

A Hamburgian myself, I have two addenda: 1. Robert Gysae is actually pronounced "Güsah". The "e" in his name is a "Dehnungs-E". Usually used alongside an "i" to indicate a full pronounciation as in "deer" or "fear", in this case it is employed to indicate a long "a" sound as in "hard". 2. During this battle, German chess prodigy Klaus Junge was killed on an anti-tank mission on April 17th. With a historical Elo rating of 2661, he would rank among the top 100 players of today, had his life not been cut short by the war.

[@gordonnorris6991]

Thanks for the explanation giving the correct pronunciation of 'Gysae'. It is not a name I have before.

[@nortoncomando3728]

This is an outstanding video of an area I was not familiar. These submariners would on be on average highly intelligent. Possess physical bravery from their previous experience at sea. One could imagine if paired with their trusted officers, they could make up a lack of infantry training and with natural abilities to adapt to new situation. Plus they had the additional motivation to buy time for civilians and military personnel to be evacuated from the brutal Soviet advance. I would enjoy seeing a similar history of USN personnel trapped at Bataan fighting as ad hoc infantry. As well as British Naval forces trapped on land in various locations of Asia in the early months of the Pacific War.

[@Dimapur]

Waiting for the release of the movies *ZERO NIGHT* and *CASTLE OF THE EAGLES* based on a book written by Sir. Mark Felton. Thank you so much for being a beacon of knowledge. Wish you a good health and long life to continue the good work you're doing for all of us.

[@user-js4zx1lr2u]

My father got back to Germany in mid 1944, after his boat was sunk in the Med. He too was stuffed into an infantry training course, given command of a unit and sent to the Hurtgenwald, known forever as Green Hell. He was wounded and evaced to Berlin, got out of the hospital just before the end and was picked up in his home town by the Americans. Spent a year working on minesweepers, clearing up the mess, and graduated as a civil engineer a bit later. In 1952, feeling betrayed by the new governments treatment of former soldiers, he moved to Canada.

[@tempestvideos9834]

For those of us too lazy to read through and vet historical literature and media seeking discrete objective history: Mark Felton. Many Thanks.

[@PolakInHolland]

My neighbour growing up was part of the Polish 1st Armored Division which captured Wilhelmshaven. He described local Germans being terrified when learning the local units were Polish, until it eventually dawned on them they would come to no harm (the German poster below can't present any credible evidence or sources for widespread murder and rape on the part of the 1st Polish Armored Division because it simply didn't happen). The Poles also liberated a nearby POW camp which held Polish female soldiers from the AK who had fought in the Warsaw Uprising.

[@TI4438]

AK?

[@eddiebruv]

@@TI4438Polish resistance or ‘Home Army’.

[@petrolak]

@@TI4438 Armia Krajowa

[@BS-my6qx]

My grandmother lived in northern germany and was 16 years old, when the war ended. She and all the other “BDM“ girls fled from polish soldiers. They even swam through the cold river Weser. The polish soldiers raped and murdered like hell in that area. Of course not all of them. But enough to do horrible crimes...

[@PolakInHolland]

@@BS-my6qx Waiting for one credible written source. A book, a journal, an article, a diary... anything at all.

[@c2757]

The statistic I keep in mind is that 80% of male children born in Germany in 1923 were dead by 1946 - i.e. they never saw their 23rd birthdays. Absolutely terrible.

[@jensnimike176]

Interesting statistic! Where was it found?

[@wes11bravo]

In the 70s, we hosted a German man, an associate of my metallurgical engineer dad, who was in the US on a business trip. In a Basil Faulty moment, we were admonished by my father, "don't mention The War!" But Mr Horst laughed, his story, he said, was unremarkable - he was a 15 year old antiaircraft gunner who looked at his buddies, all of whom mutually agreed "f**k this!" and surrendered to the British at the earliest opportunity in 1945! Anyway, this episode reminded me of that personal connection.

[@TheJoe66]

Thank you Dr. Felton for another instalment in a large volume of excellent military videos. I would especially like to thank you for your numerous videos that mention and sometimes focus attention on lesser known war allies like Canada. The Canadian Armed Forces are often in the shadow of our very capable southern neighbour even though we were involved in the two World Wars from the very beginning of both. We punched well above our weight and I and many other Canadians I'm sure, appreciate your repeated acknowledgements.

[@user-Rocket-Fest]

To this day the record for 10,000 deaths from a single ship sinking is still intact.

[@thecontraguy5536]

Just what I needed today. Dr. Felton is the best channel on youtube

[@maguzazmoth]

Dr Felton, thank you very much for the research on these forgotten units, respect!

[@luckyguy600]

Good stuff sir. Always learn from your stuff things I did not know before.

[@robertsolomielke5134]

TY Dr. Felton, this front is not covered very well, as you noted. S-boat men were also in the mix , such as my uncle Zimmermann, a former bow gunner (20mm) and laid up at Wilhelmshafen, no fuel, no food, so went fishing with hand grenades.

[@MyTv-]

When big battles is almost forgotten, it shows how mind boggling massive WW2 was.

[@Phobos_Thanatos]

You know your day is gonna be good when felton uploads

[@Spearhead-lz1oq]

In 1987 I was tasked with presenting a "Thank You" gift to the Possmann Apple Wein Company, in Frankurt am Main. The gift was to acknowledge the friendship between the company and the US Army's Third Armored Division. I was the Division's Deputy G-5. My wife went with me and the Germans were taken with her - blonde Ami in BDU's. We were given some gifts and taken on a tour of the inside of their facility. They took special pride in showing me the U Boat Hulls that they used to store their finished products! Herr Possmann told me they went up north after the war and purchased the hulls specifically to hold the apple wein. I wonder if they are still there?

[@abruemmer77]

Hi Mark Felton, I'm delighted for your covering of this part of history of Hamburg and i have to mention that your pronunciation of my home city is on spot. Thank you so much!

[@charlielaudico3523]

My father told me about that when he served in Europe during WW2! News like that traveled fast between the different armies during the war

[@devlin7575]

I’ve followed the channel since it had an already v impressive 400,000 subscribers … just seen it’s at 2.1 million. Videos like this one speak to how this has been achieved. And they’re still wholly enjoyable and educating. Thank you again.

[@rudbeckia885]

This learning program exemplifies the very best of the Internet

[@carguybikeguy]

Anything U-Boat + everything Dr. Felton = Must watch! Thank you. 18:03 this shot looks like it could have been the image Petersen was going for with having Jürgen Prochnow cast as the captain of U-96. Almost a spitting image.

[@paulcollis7651]

Herr Doktor with this you are spoiling us ! I have read in only a few books over 45 years of reading of KM marines being involved in fighting and assumed it meant displaced coastal artillery units. Now I have clarity and it's amazing to think of trained untersee boot men used in this role and fighting so hard

[@user-cy5li2zp9z]

Get the book: From Submariners to Tank Killers - Marine-Panzerjagd-Regiment 1 and the Fighting near Hamburg in April-May 1945 by Axel Urbanke.

[@starshipchi-rhostudio7097]

Thank you for this and other great videos about the British and Canadian campaigns into Germany. American history books and documentaries never mention these campaigns. It is good to watch videos about other parts of the European campaign.

[@rudolfabelin383]

Dear Dr Mark, it was my fathers aircraft that count von Rosen used in Biafra and for the food bombings in Ethiopia. The were childhood friends also. Wrote a bit about it in the episode in question. As always, best Greetings from Sweden.

[@bangochupchup]

Another great video Dr Felton. I would like to take a moment and thank you for displaying the work of Canadian artist Ron Volstad. Mr. Volstad has been creating incredibly detailed depictions of military subjects for decades.

[@tomawen5916]

I recall reading in some histories that the First Naval Infantry Division had been sent to the Eastern Front but not much was known about the Second Naval Division. Generaloberst Heinrici thought he would receive the division but after the flap up between Goering and Heinrici, apparently Army Group Vistula received no more "reinforcements" from either the Kriegsmarine or the Luftwaffe before the Battle for Berlin begin on April 16, 1945. It is fascinating to learn from Dr. Felton what happened to the Second Naval Division and that it fought and fought well. Thank you @MarkFeltonProductions!

[@tng2057]

Thanks for covering this ‘unknown war’ of the western front.

[@Yora21]

I'm from Hamburg, and I never knew the fighting had advanced that far into the city suburbs before the surrender.

[@deanbuss1678]

Some of the best content on KZbin, is MARK FELTON PRODUCTIONS 👍

[@user-fi2ix7mr6i]

As always,,,informative,well documented and great History. Bravo

[@snickel2584]

The best KZbin. channel on World War 2.

[@josephosheavideos3992]

You never cease to amaze me with your WWII videos. This one reminded me of a story of a similar desperation effort by the US in the Philippines three years earlier. In a last-ditch effort to keep the Japanese invasion force off Corrigidor, General Wainwright gave a submarine crew rifles with fixed bayonets and ordered the surprised sailors to hold off the Japanese army. Despite the "silent servicemen's" unfamiliarity with land combat, the sailors-turned-soldiers actually held the Japanese troops at bay for several days, until overwhelming numbers forced their withdrawal, and ultimately surrender.

[@chkoha6462]

Mr.Axel Urbanke published a book about Marine-Panzerjagd-Regiment 1 last year.another good read from him

[@Smiff1066]

Had a dear friend who served with the Uboats he was Polish /German, he said " They survived because their Uboat was hiding in the Norwegian Fjords by the end of the war. " He showed me his old UBoat ID.

[@ThePullupselecta]

My favorite channel by far. I couldn’t click fast enough.

[@wayside70]

Always a unique ww2 video from this channel. Hidden stories brought to light.

[@zacharypelphrey6166]

The consistency of this channel is second to none. It’s always amazing.

[@SteveM-ly7oy]

Yep - when you see the crazy title of U-Boat tank killers in my inbox, you know there's some Mark Felton action around the corner!

[@guylelanglois6642]

My favorite man has downloaded. Stop everything and watch. Thanks Mark

[@mtkoslowski]

I like your quiet and understated respect for the German Naval units, Mark.

[@philo6850]

Das Boot shore party. I've never heard of these units before, shows how adaptable fighting men can be in facing desperate odds. Yet another interesting and educational video, always appreciated! 👍

[@thallianhammer24]

I understand the reason why someone would advertise. But calling WOT historically accurate and realistic is probably the biggest joke of the century

[@josefpicken]

Hi Dr. Felton. I have a story for you as well. My great grandmother held several factories during WWII taken from the Checksolovakia territory by the Germans pressed into service. She hid millions in gold in the attics... when the Russians moved in - finally it took untill the collapse of the Berlin wall for my Great Uncles to go back to the factories (still standing) with my grandmother and let's just say... picked up a few things... insane story we all had our last names changed upon arrival in Canada and Australia. My great grandmother was also connected to the Russian Royal Family as a cherished artist.... I just inherited 2 pieced in 2024.... would love to chat some time about details not suitable for youtube.

[@sailordude2094]

I thought at first that the U Boats were using their deck gun against ground targets, lol. Thanks for the war tales Dr. Mark!

[@philo6850]

Went looking for those bicycles on display, I'm assuming they must be the pop up exhibit at Royal Navy Museum?Your videos always get me looking further into the subjects you cover, many of which are new to me. Curiosity is the first step in learning new things, you always peak mine with these fascinating stories! 👍

[@BlueRibbonWinner]

Loving Ron Volstads artwork.

[@user-fi2ix7mr6i]

Another well done documentary! Much historical significance to be learned.! History

[@JasonHenson1975]

I have read about WWII since I was a kid and I have never seen such great coverage of the war's end in northwest Europe; excellent video!

[@goldbaron357]

They were probably happy just to not have depth charges blowing up around them..

[@MarkyD1967]

Fascinating. As good as if not better than most of the programming found on various network channels. Much appreciated.

[@neatodd]

When they shelled the rubber works did all the shells bounce off?

[@lauritzeninc]

Some years ago, I happened to share a train ride with a civilian who was a first hand witness to this. By April-1945 he was in his very early teens. Here is a summary of his story: "One evening a U-boat lieutenant with two crew members knocked on our house in a tiny village to the SW of Hamburg. They were starving and looking for food. They were armed with two pre-WW1 Belgian rifles and one panzerfaust. We did not have any food to spare, and my mother told them to leave. By the next morning, after action noise had subsided at a rail junction just outside town, us kids went over to see what had happened. The three men lay dead by the railroad crossing". He went on to say "they never stood a chance. You see, they were fanatics. We could on occasion see Hitler's wunderwaffen - the rockets - leave a trail in the sky. It was for everybody to see, and we believed in that".

[@SuperDiablo101]

If anybody else had this youtube description on thier channel I'd honestly say it was for click bait...but this is Dr Felton and he doesn't disappoint

[@jameswolf133]

Reminds me of CSA Rear Admiral Raphael Semmes, who, on returning to the Confederacy was made a brigadier general because they had no more ships.

[@kdato774]

As always, good stuff Mark.

[@Astro_Gardener]

Very interesting video Mark, thanks for the upload.

[@ankles632]

Peter Cremer was nic named "Ali" ( he had no idea why). If you can get a hold of his book " U Boat Commander" its well worth the read

[@thhseeking]

From memory, he had enough metal *in* him to be almost bulletproof :P

[@sergiom9958]

Where is that bicicle collection seen at 13:20?? Great video Dr Felton! Thanks!

[@richardjames1812]

It's very extensive, lots of variations!

[@sergiom9958]

@@richardjames1812 and where can it be seen? I have genuine interest to visit it !

[@TinaHollner]

Thank you for an objective and sober video!

[@reerffrrrr]

The historical accuracy and entertainment value of your videos is first class...above all the rest. Thank you!

[@johanw.johnsen2405]

Thank you again Dr. Felton for your wonderful channel. It is the Holy Grail for us all with a serious interest in history.

[@jimadkins4772]

Learned something from the video. Thank you

[@robertanjema1377]

Another old story that was new to me! Thanks!

[@janasmusbischoff8443]

I took part in a staff ride a few years ago in my hometown Vahrendorf. I think I still have the maps in my basement. Very interesting. You still can see the Anti-Tank ditches etc

[@rsacchi100]

Thanks to telling about the fighting near the end of the war. Often this part is glossed over or ignored.

[@Al-iv3mb]

An ex matelot myself I'd never heard of the specific naval infantry units although I always assumed they, and Luftwaffe men, must have been incorporated into army units. Thanks for an interesting tale, most informative

[@pl_8404]

Thanks for this awesome video. One of my favorite things to learn about is unorthodox infantry units, primarily naval infantry. It's hard to find info on these men and I appreciate you putting this out there for people to learn and enjoy.

[@user-cy5li2zp9z]

From Submariners to Tank Killers - Marine-Panzerjagd-Regiment 1 and the Fighting near Hamburg in April-May 1945 by Axel Urbanke.

[@KokkiePiet]

The type 21 innovation is not just the modern design on which submarines after that were based but also and not least the way it is built. It was build offsite of the shipyard in segments so much more work could be done because people are not in each others way, then brought to the yard and put together. Building ships this way became a huge improvement in construction time after the war as well

[@kimwit1307]

The problem for the germans was that at the end of the war the logistics of getting all those parts together was becoming impossible.

[@user-cy5li2zp9z]

@@kimwit1307Nonsense. Pure nonsense. When the British T-Force (T for Target) arrived at Kiel, new hulls were still under construction. And perhaps you never heard of T-Force?

[@kimwit1307]

@@user-cy5li2zp9z They got some put together and I think they actually got one operational. But that was far below the german planned production. As with many germans weapons to was too little too late.

[@robtt997]

The late father of a friend was in the RAF . He was an armourer on Typhoons. Was at the first airfield opened by the RAF just after D Day. His tales were epic. But at wars end he was stationed in Germany for a while . They employed Germans to drive officers about . One deliberately drove his car off the autobahn, with his officer , into a tree . The officer survived ( the German didn’t) but was badly wounded and invalided out of the RAF.

[@American_Jeeper]

Mark, I continuously learn things at the age of 50, thanks to your videos. As an aside, the US Navy no longer uses the term Commordore for the rank of O7. It became an official rank in 1862, ending in 1899, then reestablished in 1943 until 1950, and again resurrected in 1982 only to be finally changed in 1986 to Rear Admiral (lower half).

[@moisescandidof.dossantos8465]

I suggest a video about the 'capture' of Messerschmitt Me P1101 by US troops at the end of war. Actually, other videos about the secret german aircrafts captured through german facilities should be nice. There were many german aircraft projects like FW Ta 183 (which became Pulqui II and Mig 15), Junkers unnamed ground attack (which became A-10 Thundebolt II) and so on.

[@user-cy5li2zp9z]

The capture of the Me P1101 is well documented. It is said it was not complete but the engine was installed. The MiG-15 was a further development but the engine was a copy of the British Nene. A few examples of which were sold to the Russians by the British before the Korean War.

[@joevanseeters2873]

Thanks again for all your hard work Dr. Felton. Your short documentaries are excellent viewing material that are well thought out, researched, and presented. I am a WWII history buff and I have learned more from your documentaries and short stories than just about anywhere else. Anyone can read about the basic information of the war, but your interesting stories go much more in depth on the unique people, equipment, battles, and politics of the war. Without a doubt one of the best KZbin channels there is when it comes to WWII history. I like your channel and also Military Aviation History channel the best as I am a big WWII aviation history fan as well. Looking forward to your next presentation.

[@user-cy5li2zp9z]

@@Sven_DonglePIAT? Seriously? It had a spring that had to be pulled down using your leg.

[@Pete-tq6in]

My late grandfather served in 5RTR between 1941 and 1946, his war began in North Africa and ended in Hamburg, I never knew that among his last adversaries were land-bound U-boat men!

[@TXMEDRGR]

An amazing story that is seldom heard. Thanks for sharing.

[@daverage4729]

Gysae and Emmermann really had the hungry look that the U-boat crew had in 'Das Boot'. The film makers certainly did their research to get the look of the crew right.