Last Luftwaffe Mission - June 1945!

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

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[@28ebdh3udnav]

I think you did a video of this but how exactly did Nazis escape to Argentina?

[@achimkunisch8619]

Hello Mark Felton, is there a video regarding the rescue aircarfts shot down that were mentioned at the beging of this video and if not wuld it be a future poject of yours?

[@M1903a4]

@@achimkunisch8619 I saw them mentioned in video some time back, but cannot remember what video. It was about the Battle of Britain and had a gun camera film of one being shot down. It was just a brief mention, but it stuck in my mind because it was crystal clear that it was a rescue plane and it was said it was policy because they didn't want the pilots rescued to fly against England again. I'm pretty sure they were picking up any pilot, not just Germans. I'd really like to see Dr. Felton give us the actual facts.

[@williamcanter3233]

Don't Think so

[@D3w10n]

@@28ebdh3udnav By using NordVPN?

[@jackmehoff1840]

Those Donier DO-24 flying boats are a thing of beauty

[@godsowndrunk1118]

I agree....the Netherlands East Indies Forces also used them against the Japanese in 41/42....

[@michaelmclachlan1650]

@@godsowndrunk1118 Yes, and six subsequently transferred to the RAAF with five serving into 1944.

[@olavl8827]

The planes may have been pretty. The regime that built them, not so much.

[@RandomDudeOne]

They look like a stretch version of a Catalina with 3 engines.

[@williedesmond8201]

Why didn't they use them in battle of Britain ect fitted to carry troops protected by 109s ect and could fly from Norway and other countries to attack England

[@davidtuttle508]

Once again, Dr. Mark Felton shows us a side of history that time has forgotten.

[@richardstewart6900]

My late Dad was a despatch ride in North Africa, taken PoW by the Germans and handed over to the Italians who shipped him over to Italy. After several camps, he "escaped" from one at Macerata near (Ancona) on the Italian Armistice. We still have the notebooks he made at the time. One of his comments was "There's going to be some strange tales told when this lot is over." I think this video is a good example!

[@majorronaldmandell7835]

@@davidtuttle508 : Agreed!

[@KravKernow]

A joint Luftwaffe/RAF operation. That's the kind of content that I love this channel for.

[@stevecooper7883]

Honestly the Germans preferred siding with the West over Soviet occupation so it's not surprising they assisted the RAF and the US forces. The success of operation paperclip shows just how easy the newfound alliance came to be.

[@majorronaldmandell7835]

@@KravKernow : Agreed!

[@maro_from_germany]

I served on the Bug in the 80's during GDR times. There were still some ruins of the former installations. To this day the foundations of the giant crane that was used to lift the airplanes out of the water are visible. The Bug became a military base three times during the 20th century and was three times completely demilitarized afterwards. Officers lived in nearby Dranske which was rebuilt for that purpose in the 1930's. I think the story about that final Luftwaffe operation was also told in a German book about the history of the Bug: "Rügens geheime Landzunge".

[@kennethwood2089]

Danke, mein Freund!

[@GangGang1]

Cool!

[@rubbishmodeller]

I'm not sure, but I may have been there (and certainly without knowing anything about this). I have been to Hiddensee and Wiek, but Bug is really tucked away in that wonderful part of the world.

[@maro_from_germany]

@@rubbishmodeller Yes, that's the general vicinity. The Bug is nowadays mostly inaccessible; a private party has right of usage for the more northern part. There are guided tours for the "Südbug" (southern Bug) which focus more on nature (it became part of a national park in 1990) - but there are still traces of the past here and there (I took such a tour a few years ago). The southernmost part is completely off limits as a nature preserve. Dranske has a small local museum; in front of it stands a propeller from a BV 138.

[@rubbishmodeller]

@@maro_from_germany Thanks. A good friend of mine works for the national parks up there (Jasmund and Vorpommersche-boddenlandschaft ).

[@DavidMcMillan888]

I, too, am again happily astonished that Mark has found and well presented another unique story from WW2 - so, never say “it’s all been done now” without checking his channel first!

[@stevecooper7883]

I do hope he covers subjects such as The Focus and Morgethau's influence on Bretton Woods. Not discussed much due to political correctness but a significant factor in seeing how many factions were at play within both sides of the war! Even today there are forces and interests at work in policy making many know nothing about.

[@tomn.9879]

I recommend reading Doenitz’s memoir. He explains the whole process of navigating the process of surrendering in such a manner as to maximize the number of refugees and soldiers he could save from Russian capture.

[@jamesnorton8316]

Hello, @tomn.9879........Your use of the 5th Mar. Div. patch caught my eye. I am a proud former member of the 5th Marine Division and witnessed some of it's units being deactivated at Camp Pendleton in '69 or '70. I watched their flags being cased and paraded at Main Side. I was active duty from '67 to '71. Semper Fi.

[@Kiwifreak32]

Yes, but should always have in mind that he want to make himself the good guy as good as possible. It was not only about the refugee but also about his dreams of having a word in some kind of peace negotiations and saving himself from the death sentence.

[@Melkorleo103]

Don't trust memoirs too much. They are not valid history sources

[@wahtx7717]

​@@Melkorleo103Full of biases and hidden intentions.

[@AudieHolland]

@@Kiwifreak32 He needn't have worried. After all was said and done, he got just 10 years in prison and remained an unrepentent Nazi till this death.

[@Rahul_Saldanha]

I commend you for bringing light onto the deeper cuts of war history. Thank you for everything

[@cddc9889general_trick]

I have the attention span of an 11 year old, but every time one of your history lessons drop, I watch until the end. Fascinating. Thank you, Dr.!

[@ericvantassell6809]

yeah, but what do you do if a new mark felton video comes out while you're watching an older felton video you haven't seen before?

[@borisfabian1621]

My friend was Me-109 pilot, he fly last mission in war on 8.may 1945 over Czechoslovakia!

[@danielbonilla3195]

I used to know a pilot and also ambassador of Germany in Colombia whose father was a Luftwaffe pilot during World War II, last name was Thyben

[@Avarua59]

There was a Luftwaffe ace named Gerhard Thyben who ended up in Colombia in 1954 and was an instructor for the Colombian Air Force from 1954-1956. Thereafter he flew air taxis, etc. for Aviance in Colombia. His son Gerhard Sonnenberger took his mother's last name.

[@johnlowell5905]

Worked with a guy who's dad, a Luftwaffe bomber pilot, escaped on a sub to Mexico in 45.

[@nickmitsialis]

​@@Avarua59 yes, Tbyben flew with JG-54

[@ut000bs]

Now that is cool. When I was a boy our next door neighbor was the Avenger pilot who put the second torpedo into the Yamato. On the next street over lived a German family. He was a Luftwaffe pilot on the Eastern Front flying Stukas. I wonder if he flew with Hans-Ulrich Rudel? He had decorations from the war and I saw them. I remember his Iron Cross 1st Class. I don't remember a Knight's Cross Yes, they had swastikas and they were the coolest thing ever to us kids.

[@danielbonilla3195]

@@Avarua59that’s the one I’m talking about

[@Eddy-oe5oi]

There were about 450 wounded german soldiers amoung the 1.000 rescued people. There is a commemorative plaque in Schleswig (north of the Schlei) honoring this last mission. Fun Facts: Haithabu is just adjacent (south of the Schlei). The area is called "Angeln" - that's where the word "Anglo" comes from.

[@robertanjema1377]

Seemingly unending events being brought back to light by Mark Felton. Fantastic.

[@fazole]

I read the memoirs of a Canadian citizen who became "Volkdeutsche" when his Ukrainian parents of German origin sent him to Germany during the Great Depression. He eventually was conscripted into the Wehrmacht and was there as East Prussia fell. It was not like the propaganda film showed. It was chaotic. Civilians were told that the Soviets were not a threat and to remain home while the German Army was actually being evacuated. He told an all trusting family of women to get to the port at once as the increasing artiller fire indicated the Red Army was indeed close. The women became cutoff from their escape route but they survived because the arrivals dock was blown up and the rescue ship was diverted to a smaller one where the women were waiting. Hand of Fate stuff.

[@Heike--]

Odd, considering the postwar West Germans preferred socialism and the USSR while capitalism and the USA were the world's villains. It's crystal-clear. And still is today.

[@RS-bk5id]

wow it was very fortunately that those civilian women were able to get on that rescue ship, otherwise had they stayed in East Prussia ......

[@-.Steven]

2:25 That guy bears a striking resemblance to Adolph! I see others think so too!

[@seandobson499]

My thoughts exactly.

[@Gamble661]

I'd never heard about this event either, very interesting video, thanks. Years ago I worked with an ex-Luftwaffe pilot in the US. He'd flown JU-88's and was shot down over England which was probably why he survived the war. He told me once that he'd flown over a hundred missions before becoming a POW...and that he'd hated flying ever since.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

That's not too unusual. Many aircrewmen on both sides never set foot in an airplane again after the war, one of my uncles (ex-USAAF) was one of them. They did the job they were trained to do and when the war was over that was the end of it.

[@h.r.puffnstuff8705]

@@wayneantoniazzi2706 military aviation and war time missions can have that effect. I’ve only been off the ground 3 times in last 30 plus years all single engine fix wing. Helicopters? Absolutely not!

[@pzkw10]

no wonder he refrained from flying again. An uncle of mine was a Luftwaffe radio operator flying in a JU88. Survived i.a. Monte Cassino and the "Baby-Blitz", worked for Luftwaffe/RAF with JU52 deminer (minesweeping by plane) during summer 1945/46 - so even after June 45. And refused to join GDR's Air Force after the war - as he never ever again wanted to be part of an armed force.

[@theleprechaun5480]

Fascinating! Always impressed that new subjects for videos are always found, and always well researched.

[@mattgeorge90]

It's a great day when Dr. Felton drops an episode!

[@davidraborn3654]

Thank You Mark. Your research is better than all the TV crap I've ever seen in 60 years.

[@CGJ7755]

All the tv crap is just jew propoganda. This is real history thats almost always unknown.

[@hughmarloweverest1684]

That Dornier is a nice looking aircraft. The one with three engines.

[@wolfganggugelweith8760]

One is still flying in Germany and one was restored and in a museum near München (Munich) in „Oberschleissheim“. I saw both a few times. The one which is still flying I saw on the Wolfgangsee (Lake Wolfgang) in Upperaustria! Greetings from Linz Austria 🇦🇹 Europe!

[@IntyMichael]

The Dornier 24 flew in serval air forces for decades to come, including Spain. Dornier als used an original hull and replaced the wings and engines for a Dornier 24 NT (new technology), in the (I think) 90s.

[@sirxavior1583]

Yes. Looks actually like a more refined PBY Catalina.

[@billbrockman779]

The Germans had some really attractive and unique looking seaplanes and floatplanes.

[@frankleespeaking9519]

I kinda liked the 59 with the Red Cross

[@scarletcrusader5431]

I love these little slices of history. Thank you again Dr. Felton for the wealth of knowledge you bestow upon us.

[@Captain-Slowly]

Fascinating video! Thanks Mark

[@The8201]

The German weather station Svalbard Archipelago kept operating till September. That would be an interesting story also.

[@AudieHolland]

"Men, great news! Reports about the Führers suicide have been exaggerated!"

[@wweminehead]

Mark Mondays should be a thing

[@codycoyote6912]

Once again, a little known but fascinating tidbit about WWII. Thanks for these gems.

[@Concerned2024]

I have learned more history details from marks channel than any other KZbin channel. He does a outstanding job

[@evdOW]

Just sat down with a nice english breakfast, which is now made complete with another great addition from Mr.Felton!

[@e-curb]

Dr. Felton.

[@Tracie.....]

Watching your videos make the day a good one. Thank you Mark.

[@tysonstephenson2181]

I am constantly amazed at the depth of your knowledge. How can one man know all this stuff?

[@philb2820]

Best way to finish a day of work is to see a notification of a new Mark Felton release.

[@udeychowdhury2529]

I see Mark Felton, I click, simples. Thanks always

[@DaveGIS123]

Notice the Dornier 24 taking off at 6:40 and getting an engine full of sea spray. The center engine looked like it was almost ready to stall.

[@neilmcdonald3475]

Fascinating insight into little known snippets of history as always. Thanks Mark.

[@Daniel-jg1uk]

Thank you, Dr. Felton, for paying respect to these men and their brave efforts.

[@M1903a4]

The photo of the ship and mention of Operation Hannibal reminded me of the world's worst maritime disaster. The sinking of MV Wilhelm Gustloff, one of the Hannibal refugee ships, by a Soviet submarine. Approximately 9,000 refugees died, about 1,000 of whom were German military. I don't believe it has been one of your edisodes.

[@weirdshibainu]

Tragic as was the fact the RAF shot down the white German rescue planes

[@etowahman1]

As always, thank you Dr. Felton for the education.

[@jonhiggins504]

So cool! I was fortunate to fly in a Do-24 back in the early 2000’s across the English Channel. What an awesome unique looking aircraft.

[@JTA1961]

That one...taking off...catching a wave... center engine...suddenly NOT happy...at the worst possible moment

[@-Cancer-]

Thank you for posting

[@MyLateralThawts]

I am reminded of the last operation of the Japanese navy, including their surviving carriers, which was tasked with picking up and bringing back to the home islands the last survivors still at their posts after the surrender of their empire. I can’t help wondering which flag they were flying at the time.

[@gusloader123]

???? Hmmmmm 🤔 according to another WW2 You Tube history channel,,,,, the Japanese Navy had NO almost no ships left at by the time of the surrender at Tokyo Bay, September, 1945, except a couple of Destroyers and a supply barge-boat.

[@Trek001]

Because the rising sun flag was abolished following the surrender, the ships of SCAJAP were given their own flags. Japanese-owned ships with Japanese crews flew a blue and red pennant modified from international flag signal code for “Echo.” American-owned ships with Japanese crews flew a flag of red and green triangles based on the signal code for “Oscar.”

[@pauldietz1325]

@@gusloader123 The carriers Hosho and Katsuragi had survived the war, and were converted to transports. All told, some 400 ships were used in this operation, including 85 LSTs and 100 Liberty ships donated by the US, their instruments marked with Kanji to enable Japanese crews to operate them.

[@JS-fe8sx]

@@gusloader123 They had 4 carriers (I believe 2 were damaged) one battleship and several destroyers and cruisers. That’s only a small percentage of their prewar fleet plus construction but the vast majority were sunk. At least one of the carriers was used for repatriation purposes after the war.

[@gusloader123]

@@pauldietz1325 --- Hello and thanks for that information. Different from what I had heard. Especially the Liberty Ships.

[@paularndt6111]

Glad to see you getting more sponsors. 😊

[@carlosalbertoandradesilva9442]

Once more the Dr. Felton's amazing talent to find histories so moving and beautiful!

[@EquilibriumTelevision]

Thanks!

[@vordenkerkatastrophe9863]

Very interesting, never heard from this very special story from the german Luftwaffe. Nice greetings from Germany. 🍀🇩🇪🍀

[@petercarter9034]

As always fascinating

[@dammad8584]

Amazing story almost forgotten to history....As Always you are "the best of the best" .....thank you Mark Felton

[@sadielsantos8167]

many thanks to you Dr Felton for sharing such interesting and wonderful stories

[@RailfanDownunder]

Superb .... Interesting and informative yet again sir😊

[@elijahhodges4405]

I am very glad that so many people were rescued and returned to Germany.

[@adamlee3772]

Never heard of this. Thank you Prof Mark for yet another history lesson.

[@mitchmatthews6713]

I never pass on as Felton video! Cheers, Mark!

[@jamieforrest6575]

Thank you once again.

[@TheOrdomalleus666]

Even the best history books often cram globe-spanning events into far too few pages, omitting these most fascinating details. Thankfully we have Dr. Felton's channel to tell us those stories.

[@markherzog9484]

Thanks Prof Mark, amazing stories within stories, such details are fascinating ….

[@philhodgkinson1460]

All this for me happened a couple of months before I was born....apart from something in 1946 when I would be adout 12 months old....thank you Mark Felton.....

[@JoeBlow-fp5ng]

It's amazing you keep coming up with new WW2 stories to tell us.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

I always thought the Heinkel, HE 115, floatplane to be a handsome aircraft.

[@mrhpijl]

Please do a video on the Georgian uprising on the Dutch island of Texel durign/after the German surrender in 1945. Its a fascinating story that deserves to be told

[@bf1905]

What a fitting end to the bloodiness of WW2. Again, great work in presenting this side of history many of us did not know!

[@Tiger313NL]

That Dornier Do-24 is such a beautiful looking aircraft when it's up in the air.

[@petehafner3844]

Another excellent history lesson. Thanks

[@thewatcher5271]

Good Video! More History I Did Not Know. Thank You.

[@romanbrough]

I recall reading about the British evacuation of Greece in 1941. Sunderland flying boats were used in an identical way. Don't recall the numbers, but I do recall every kit bag was dumped into the water.

[@Billy-y5b]

Another Awesome video Doc, love the footage you find!!😊

[@Grow5ft]

Another fantastic video from Mark Felton. 😊

[@domzyFresh]

Good one, Dr. Felton,

[@genie7172]

Great video! Learn so much from Mark Felton videos. Thank you!

[@lucem.glorifico]

There are a lot of funny facts about this type of aircraft: 1) it was only (or one of very few) types of warplanes officially (not as a trophy or, like Brewster Buffalo or Bristol Blenheim in Finland, which switched a side) in service of both sides of the 2WW during the whole war (from 1939 to 1945): the Netherlands and their Royal East-Indian armed forces, Australia and Nazi Germany, as well in the neutral states (Sweden and Spain); 2) it's one of the last military aricraft type being in the active military service in Europe (untiil 1969); 3) it was only 3 engine flying boat disegned by Claudius Dornier; 4) she was always in the role as a "last mission plane" - one of Do-24, also overloaded, was the last German military aircraft leaving besieged Sevastopol in 1944.

[@ash4900]

Thanks from Australia again Mark another excellent video

[@cameronalexander359]

Great footage Mark

[@TheGrant65]

8:04 This is a Do 24 operated by the Dutch Navy, in 1941, at Roebuck Bay, Broome, Western Australia. Wrecked Dorniers and other flying boats are still in the bay, after they were sunk in a strafing attack by Zero pilots in early 1942.

[@Zzoro1987]

Thanks Mark! You remind me of my dad. Always telling random WW2 stories Iv never heard

[@mdenmark604]

I live in Denmark and I never knew of this chapter immediately after the Nazi occupation ended - thanks to Dr. Felton for this informative video!

[@larsrons7937]

Me too. 18th June 2025 will be the 80th anniversary of that last extraordinary mission of the 81st Sea Rescue Squadron. I hope to find out where in Denmark the unit was stationed and visit the place on that date. I asked Dr. Felton in his pinned comment at the top. If interested, check back in a few days to see if he has given any answer.

[@petergunn-w2v]

Another great account of events I'd never heard of (and I've been reading about WWII since c. 1975). Would love to see an episode on what happened to the Blutfahne.

[@Charl-i2q]

👍👍 Thumbs up to you Mark, I'm a regular follower of your productions, greetings from Pretoria, South Africa.

[@mattgeorge90]

It's a great day when Dr. Felton drops an episode! 🎉

[@trooperdgb9722]

I was sitting here as this episode drew to a close thinking how appropriate it was for a humanitarian mission to be the last one conducted by the Luftwaffe... and then you said that in better words than I came up with!

[@revview5594]

Fitting conclusion by Mark at the very end, amazing that humanitarian needs trumped other priorities. Were I a Luftwaffe crew member in June 1945 on this final mission, I would find solace post-war that some small effort was made in the right direction in the very end.

[@shawnr771]

Thank you for the lesson.

[@mahmoudibnemir8704]

0:29 Look, it's Keir Starmer!

[@ashleyupshall7641]

Thanks for posting Mark.

[@MackPostsHalo]

Great to see a video on successful humanitarian missions from WWII.🙂 These planes are just a vessel, and like you said, a fitting ending for an air force that once represented evil and destruction.

[@nsjames53]

Fascinating, thank you

[@Wideoval73]

One more excellent video. Thank you again. No one does it better, except for the commercials.

[@williamkoppos7039]

Fascinating, as usual.

[@El_Presidente_5337]

It's always nice to see something about WW2 that is not grim dark.

[@jameskelly7782]

Thank you once again Dr. for entertaining and informative content that is unsurpassed in quality!

[@peterboy209]

I grew up at the Schlei Fjord (Schleswig). My Father fled from Danzig with his mother. They could escape to Danmark. Thanks Danmark! Thanks to all the people who made this possible👍

[@kennethnielsen3864]

Thanks for sharing.

[@davidfoster8172]

i had no idea of this, thanks

[@RandySchaff-mu5gq]

Good vid! Never knew about this.

[@josephd9190]

This was a very interesting story. Thanks for sharing!

[@JeepWrangler1957]

I’m a WWII history fanatic and there isn’t anything that I don’t know. Dr. Felton; “Hold my Bass Ale & Bitters, please “

[@troymolitor7766]

Most interesting. Thank you for sharing this information. Kind regards.

[@alanblanes2876]

I had never seen this vital part of WW2 history...

[@trappedinkalifornee]

Nice little chunk of history, thanks!👍🏼👍🏼

[@VonDrinkoften]

Fascinating as always 👍

[@powerengineer1]

Very interesting Dr. Felton. As usual great stories.

[@henrikmelder379]

Wow you did it again Dr. Felton

[@joespeciale5875]

A fascinating 10-min historical note on the very end of WWII and of the Dornier-24 Flying Boat squadron