Mel Brooks on Fighting the Germans in World War II--Rare Interview!

[@thomasdearment3214]

I have said it a million times Mel Brooks is a national treasure.

[@rickwilliams967]

Most folks say that

[@gh87716]

I'd rather be speaking German than live in the jewcontrolled world we live in now.

[@slowturtle6745]

​@@rickwilliams967 Because it's true. There will never be another like him.

[@jb47vintage]

You were right a million times.

[@garysmith3173]

Bravo sir! An amazing human being.

[@ffjsb]

Mel Brooks didn't say it, but he participated in the Battle of the Bulge. A hero as well as a great comedian. And all around nice guy as far as I can tell.

[@sjoormen1]

He arrived to Europe in January and Battle went from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945, what rotten luck...

[@bucknasty69]

Mel Brooks was a combat engineer who got a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for Valor. He was the real deal.

[@ffjsb]

@@bucknasty69 Yes, I know that..

[@codyhilton1750]

Not if Mel arrived in Europe in January 45.

[@ffjsb]

@@codyhilton1750 Go ask Mel, it's his story...

[@calliecooke1817]

This world will be a lesser place when it loses Mel Brooks. What a comedic genius !!!

[@ningen1980]

The world will never lose him. He will forever live on in his works and the hearts of his fans.

[@docnele]

@@ningen1980... even when he returns to his home planet.

[@sachmo0196]

I want to agree, but I don't. Mel will be missed, absolutely but...Mel is/was the epitomy of a "giving stone". He's a rock in his profession that others aspire to emulate. So...Mel will never be gone, only missed.

[@jaredleicht1656]

Especially when the Marxist come for his work and you never see another Mel Brooks movie on television.

[@joshuaingram571]

He'll be God's problem then. 😅

[@mikegrew7446]

Mel Brooks is fantastic. Thank you for all of your great movies. My favorite was Blazing Saddles. It made racism absurd. Thank you for your service. I had no idea.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Young Frankenstein was better...

[@rebeccamartin2399]

That movie should be shown once a year.😊

Cringe

Tell his fellow chosen that racism is absurd. It’s what united them for 2000 years.

[@tiffanygrever8092]

Most all were great but I thought men in tights was hilarious

[@coling3957]

Mel Brooks is very modest.. his humour is still strong.. His movies are hilarious even 40 odd years later..

[@nisidola1576]

Indeed I could watch all of Mel Brooks movies again and again

[@itswagon]

It was a pleasure to live a life that included Mel Brooks for so many reasons.

[@nsob8897]

Very well put. And of course, I concur.

[@Slithey7433]

The kind of guy who could boost morale under almost any situation. 😊

[@elliothagen9874]

Good interview. He's part of the generation that saved the world. Welcome Home Mel

[@5cloudwalker]

Mel was born funny and he hasn’t stopped 😂. bless him

[@Harry_Stylus]

He was in the same company as my grandfather. God bless Mel Brooks. He's a real American and one hell of a funny guy.

[@GordiansKnotHere]

Thank you for your service Mr. Brooks

[@kurtwicklund8901]

This was amazing. I never knew Mel was a WW2 combat engineer. The bullhorn story is legendary or at least deserves to be.

[@SmokeDog1871]

Takes Saving Private Ryan scene and flips it on its head

[@Gene-dm6pm]

LOL ! I was a Combat Engineer in Vietnam 😂and the Army still has Bailey Bridges! 😂

[@davidhollenshead4892]

@@Gene-dm6pmA friend was a Sea Bee in Nam and they would wear pantyhose under their uniform so that at the end of the day they could easily remove all the leeches from wading in nasty water... Thanks for serving our country Gene!!!

[@davidhollenshead4892]

My Prussian Jewish Grandfather was a Field Surgeon in the US Army during WWII. That Mel Brooks had to disarm German land mines could have prevented him from making us laugh... The only person that my grandfather shot was an unfortunate US Soldier who set off the mine that he was removing. As the poor kid had no face or hands but was flailing around too much to give him an fatal overdose of morphine mixed with alcohol... As my grandfather & his fellow physicians had to euthanize about a third of the wounded. Fortunately my grandfather's CO made sure that the Medics got the message to euthanize the wounded that were too far gone in the field rather than wasting a space on the ambulance and prolonging their suffering... War is Absolute Fucking Hell!!!

[@thetvtimemachine]

Thank you! The bullhorn story was amazing and he told it brilliantly.

[@stephenarno2032]

Mel is wonderful my dad was a combat engineer too and went to Europe in January of 45 just like Mel..the greatest generation!

[@elviejodelmar2795]

I served with a Jewish officer during the Vietnam era. One of his favorite stories was how one night he got fed up with his Baptist roommate at VMI trying to convert him. It just so happened that there was a thunderstorm going gangbusters, so he threw open the window, stuck his extendable metal pointer outside, and yelled, "God, if you want me to be a Christian, give me a sign. There was a lightning flash, and as he put it, he was a very good Baptist for about three weeks.

[@oldcop18]

I served w/the Marines in Nam as a Hospital Corpsman (medic) in 1966 and was the only Jew in our company. Nobody gave a damn who was what b/c we had to rely on one another to make it through that experience.

[@SandorSoptei]

@@oldcop18 it makes sense. I feel bad for some of the jewish PoW's who got shot down in occupied german territory in ww2. All the germans had to do is read the last names on the dog tags.

[@maruzze]

That is hilarious. And also, thank you for your service! 🙌

[@billybatts9491]

​@@SandorSoptei they didnt have an "early life" section back then.

[@SandorSoptei]

@@billybatts9491 what does that even mean?

[@hangin-in-thereawesome4245]

Thank you Mel for your service to your country! 🇺🇸

[@MellowWind]

Wonderful. My high esteem for Mel just went higher.

[@AppliedCryogenics]

Mel sounds great! Can you believe this is the voice and wit of a 97 year old?

[@rawbacon]

No I can't believe it since this is obviously not a recent interview.

[@PissyKnish]

The interview is from 2011. Still not bad for 87.

[@AppliedCryogenics]

​@@rawbaconhow is it obvious? The vid was posted twelve days ago. Dick.

[@AppliedCryogenics]

@@rawbacon how is it obvious? The video was posted twelve days ago, jerkwad.

[@AppliedCryogenics]

@@rawbacon, the video was posted 12 days ago, and there is no mention of the interview date in the video description or title. Maybe it is obvious to you, but the only thing obvious to me is that you're a tool.

[@chestermarcol3831]

Singing Toot Toot Tootsie goodbye over the bullhorn is LOL

[@lonememe]

Like, it's so absurd I can't imagine it's true, but it's Mel Brooks. What does he have to lie about at this point in his life? Can you even imagine being on the other side of that interaction?

[@anthonyrowland9072]

@@lonememeIt'd be a hilarious scene between a young Mel and a bunch of "so over it" Germans in March of '45.

[@anthonygerace8926]

@@anthonyrowland9072 The ww2 veterans who I've met, all had a wise-ass sense of humor. Mel Brooks must have fit in well with the other guys in his platoon.

[@haplessasshole9615]

@@anthonygerace8926Imagine how punchy Brooks and all his platoon were by that time -- and Brooks the punchiest of the lot. I can absolutely imagine something like that happening.

[@mrs.g.9816]

I'm just crazy about Mel Brooks' movies! My late husband and I used to to trade well-remembered lines from them. If you wanna cheer up, pop in a DVD of Blazing Saddles, The Producers, or Young Frankenstein and laugh yourself sick! 🤣 Thanks, Mel, for all the laughter, and for your courageous help in defeating Hitler.

[@user-dg7sy8cz3b]

Priceless! Thank you Mel for your service, and thank you both for this interview.

[@thetvtimemachine]

You're welcome! It was an honor and a pleasure to speak with Mr. Brooks!

[@BrotherPatriot]

@@thetvtimemachine Indeed...as Mel is a national treasure. The creation of Blazing Saddles is a perfect response to the years of idiocy that we have had to endure with this Woke crap. The fact that it was created before and everyone loved it...speaks volumes about the idiocy of our times. Thanks Mel... and God Bless...!

[@JK-cd6zr]

Why is this the first I've heard of this!? What a wonderful man.

[@andrewbryant8653]

Mr. Brooks, you are a true badass. It is amazing how, even during war, you deliver perfect comedic timing.

[@MrDurandal25]

Love Mel. He's the best of the best. Met him when I was a kid, back in 82.

[@ElFlaccoBlanco]

AAAAAAAAARGH!!! That was *brilliant*!!! I swear I rabbit-holed Mel Brooks once and thought he served in the Pacific Theater. And how did I NOT know he was raised in WILLIAMSBURG Brooklyn, my recently former stomping ground, for cryin’ out loud?! Until recently there was a good chance the buildings he lived in were still around. Anyway, bless you both for this amazing segment!

[@thetvtimemachine]

You're welcome! We also spoke later about his growing up in Brooklyn, and how at the time, the neighborhood was one, big, extended family.

[@OldStreetDoc]

It’s always interesting when ‘the weirdest thing I’ve ever been made to imagine’ is bested. Mel Brooks mustering for morning PT at VMI?… new #1. 🤣 God bless you, Mr Brooks. 🫡🇺🇸

[@billwilson-es5yn]

Mel told a different story on the Johnny Carson Show. He was trained to a be an ordinance disposal specialist and was sent to the Ardennes two weeks before the Germans rushed in straight at his camp. Their Sargent told everyone to run for the rear so Mel gladly obeyed orders. He was stopped to be placed with an ad hoc squad sent back to start blowing up bridges, culverts and roads. Said he did that for several weeks and was surprised that he was never wounded or killed.

[@dalecrowe7757]

Sometimes a sense of humor is the only defense or coping mechanism left to you. It will not just make you feel a bit better but those around you as well. When things are that full of suck, a contagious belly laugh lifts a giant middle finger to the absurdity and indignity that's seeking to overwhelm your humanity.

[@richardsawyer5428]

An absolute gentleman of the highest order. Sweet revenge wrought by making The Producers too.

[@StephenPoor]

Mel has always said it's his goal to ensure that people NEVER stop laughing at Adolf Hitler.

[@Hun_Uinaq]

Loved it! 👏🏼👍🏼 Been a Mel Brooks fan for years. Best stand-up philosopher there ever was. It’s a miracle I found this video! 🐎

[@thetvtimemachine]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video, thank you again!

[@chadreese9501]

What an amazing interview!

[@thetvtimemachine]

Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@RedDawn370]

Mel Brooks is one in a billion! What I wouldn't give to talk to him him for a few minutes. Definitely reminds me of my old army buddies! Good times!

[@StratBurst92]

My father was also in a combat engineer battalion in WW2 He was at d-day and the battle of the bulge. I loved everything that Mel Brooks did.

[@MattMcCann-eg7mj]

Mine 2 - 147th ECB / 6th Special Brigade.

[@USNveteran]

I always knew Mel served in WWII and I also knew Jimmy Stewart & Clark Gable did as well. Just more examples of what made that greatest generation great. Recently I finished reading masters of the air. I never knew Jimmy Stewart flew as many combat missions with the 8th as he did becoming operations officer and eventually commanding officer of his squadron. He retired from the Air Force as a General and even flew combat in Vietnam. FLY NAVY!!!

[@benjaminburkett9962]

Korea!

[@LrngMn]

His last combat mission was on an 'ArcLight' B52 mission with the 736th of the 454th, Feb66.

[@johnandersen6752]

Maybe he's thinking of Mr. Stewart's step son. He was a Marine and was ambushed and killed in Vietnam.

[@johannesbauer4490]

Have to disagree. Very well-meaning, but that generation was conned into fighting an unnecessary war (not the Germans fault either) the same way we were conned to support a series of regime changes after 9/11. What we've all been taught re. ww2 in Europe is a pack of lies and exaggerations. Some people are finally waking up, but the feel-good myth of ww2 is seductive.

[@hilariousname6826]

LOL! As if anyone is going to listen to you - who do you think you are, anyway?@@johannesbauer4490

[@davidcorbit3931]

Mel is such a great character...I've watched all his stuff growing up. Awesome interview.

[@thetvtimemachine]

Thank you!

[@talonanthony]

Thanks Mel for your service

[@donmcatee45]

Thank you Mel, for your movies!

[@user-yv2sc5qv7x]

That was a Great Interview!

[@thetvtimemachine]

Thank you, Mr. Brooks made it easy!

[@johnsteiner3417]

Mel Brooks literally fighting the Krauts with comedy!😆

[@theodoreyoung7946]

Mel Brooks was indeed about the best comedian, producer, writer that this country has ever produced.

[@Brough1111]

Mel, thank you for your service. Love your comedia

[@sailordude2094]

That was entertaining, thanks for the history about Mel!

[@thetvtimemachine]

You're welcome!

[@181stTIE]

As soon as he mentioned mine clearing, I pictured him replacing Don Rickles in the minefield scene from 'Kelly's Heroes'... 'what kind is it...the kind that blows up....how the hell do I know...'

[@martkbanjoboy8853]

He entertained us spoiled kids of the 1970's. Thank you Mr. Mel Brooks. 😊

[@MEHoward]

That was a great interview. Thank you.

[@thetvtimemachine]

You're welcome, it was my pleasure!

[@THE-X-Force]

Thank you for this! Really great. ☮

[@thetvtimemachine]

You're welcome!

[@richardgirard9301]

Thank you Mel!!

[@rodneymoore7270]

THANK YOU SIR!!!!

[@thetvtimemachine]

Mel is the best!

[@LOLINC2010]

incredible interview!

[@thetvtimemachine]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@goodandbadtimes]

Wow! Sublime. What a contribution he has made to the hearts, lives and laughter of innumerable millions. +1

[@doncarr9435]

Fantastic vid. Thanks for posting it.

[@thetvtimemachine]

You're welcome!

[@donberry7657]

This is awesome, as is Mel

[@thetvtimemachine]

Agreed, Mel is great!

[@iain2279]

Blazing saddles. Funniest film ever. Thanks Mel.

[@wanderschlosser1857]

Mel Brooks really was a treasure. Not only for Americans. Cool dude! Life is too short to be serious! Greetings from Germany!

[@JohnMcmillin-br8tk]

Can you imagine a surviving german soldier's story : we began cursing those sobs' until one of them started singing toot,toot,tootsie goodbye..

[@schlirf]

The funniest man on the planet was a Cannon Cocker?! The rimshots must have been a blast! 😎

[@davewolfy2906]

Cannon Cocker!? Otherwise known as Drop Shorts.

[@schlirf]

@@davewolfy2906 equally: Redlegs.

[@bucknasty69]

Hey, a fellow Blackhorse Trooper! Allons!

[@schlirf]

@@bucknasty69 COLDSTEEL! (83-86)

[@kendallpeters6451]

I didn’t know this about Mel. But Mel is one of the greatest comedians ever. Like Charlie Chaplain, Mel is a American icon. 👍👍😂

[@markomarko494]

Mel speaks honestly about himself. Gotta love this guy. One of the greatest comedians ever

[@michaellear6904]

The wonderful Spike Milligan had a very similar war experience to Mel's. Two comedic legends and great and good men.

[@Pseudonym-aka-alias]

They don't make em like Mel anymore💪. From the UK✌️

[@schizoidboy]

Mel Brooks went to VMI now that's interesting.

[@rongendron8705]

You know that Mel is underplaying his abilities, if the Army sent him to VMI!

[@thetvtimemachine]

Mr. Brooks has always been very modest about his intellect, which is formidable.

[@ottoacid1800]

A lot of famous Jews went to VMI. Mel Brooks, Moses Ezekiel, etc.

[@darbyheavey406]

Mel Brooks, War Hero.

[@Gidaddy55]

God bless Mel and all the heroes🎉❤😊

[@stevenkarras3490]

I love this so much. Thanks for posting

[@thetvtimemachine]

You're welcome!

[@Snoopydad]

Last entertainer who was a combat veteran in WWII,

[@seththomas9105]

My God, I think your right.

[@xhagast]

Niven, Lee, Steward, Gables, Patrick MacNee who was at Normandy and afterwards refused to use a gun in his TV series.. Gone and missed.

[@TheGuerillapatriot]

I really love that guy. We need more men like this in society.

[@songweaver6076]

Thank the heavens for Mel!

[@jar8459]

Mr. Brooks thank you for everything .

[@tiffanygrever8092]

He made light of it but his comedy shows that he really hated his enemy. I love Mel he is definitely won of the greats and I have alot of respect for him.

[@briangoldy8784]

Robin Williams, was being interviewed by a German TV Talk Show, The Host asked Robin why we have so Few Comedians in Germany. Without Missing a Beat, Robin Williams said. YOU KILLED THEM ALL. They Show broke to a Commercial an Robin Williams was shown THE DOOR OUT!.😂TRUE STORY..

[@backstabingpike]

😂😂😂 actually false. He just made it up in one of his stand-ups. It was just a story he made up. There's no actual proof of the interview but I am willing to be proven wrong. So if you can find proof of the interview, please post it here and I'll gladly apologize

[@briangoldy8784]

Norm Macdonald told the Story. Upon a USO Tour Robin did in 2004. in Germany. It Could be a Gag, but Funny as F**k . @@backstabingpike

[@woodrobin]

@@briangoldy8784 Norm Macdonald ripped off the story from Robin Williams. Robin told the story a number of times in various stand-up appearances. The most common version doesn't have him getting shown the door. He says the woman interviewing him just replied to his question, "Did you ever think that maybe you killed most of the funny people?" with a simple "No." -- which Robin commented in his joke was proof if proof were needed.

[@briangoldy8784]

🙂@@woodrobin

[@gailcarey3597]

It’s looking like they might “circle back.” Comedians can’t enjoy their profession under this kind of culture the Left is fueling. In fact, they’re targeted.

[@johnday8771]

I’m applauding him right now

[@reedhoule3045]

A gift of brilliance or just plain dumb, just like every Mel Brooks movie. So good.

[@johnpowell2431]

I've always loved Mel Brooks but now I feel a weird small connection to him. VMI is an hour south of me. I was a combat engineer and was stationed at Ft Sill OK. Just struck me funny.❤

[@matthewmaguire3554]

Every time that I am busy busy busy I say...WORK WORK WORK...Or hear about someone dispicable Neigh like a horse...Thank you Mel.🥰🥰🥰......Or someone asks "What do you want?" I say...Everything I've ever seen in the movies...Thank you Mel!!!🥰🥰🥰

[@krisius1]

Mel is awesome. National treasure

[@thetvtimemachine]

I concur!

[@m.k.738]

I remember an interview he did with Bob Costas in the early 90’s telling some of his army stories. Think it might be on here. Worth checking out. I remember laughing my ass off.

[@RandyHodder-z1k]

I got a true love for this guys mind and heart n soul...cool dude!!!

[@jbratt]

My dad was a bomber pilot in the European theater during WWII. The USO shows must have been really important to him because he was always sending a check to the USO up until he died. He had incredible respect for anyone in the service no matter what their job was because they didn't now what their job was going to be when they signed on. Bottom line was when they signed on they knew their life was gong to be on the line.

[@franciscomachado9946]

I have always liked Mel Brooks. Now I LOVE Mel Brooks.

[@ypaulbrown]

what a great Man.....

[@davidhollenshead4892]

The were the Greatest Generation, by defeating Fascism...

[@willbaker8505]

​@@davidhollenshead4892is that what you think they did?

[@master00booya]

One of a kind ❤

[@jorgefernandez-mv8hu]

One of my favorite all time comedians.

[@anonymouse527]

There was also a popular Russian comedian Yuri Nikulin who served in WW2. He told a story about a Soviet reconnaissance team that was scouting the forest at night along railway tracks when they bumped into Germans. The two groups jumped into opposing ditches. In confusion, one heavyset German soldier jumped into the wrong side with the Russians. The Germans realized the missing soldier and started calling for him "Hans! Hans!", so the Russians picked him up and threw him back over the tracks. As he landed he let out a huge fart and the soldiers on both sides started laughing hysterically. After a while they slowly quieted down, until it was dead silence again. The soldiers on both sides then got up and proceeded each on their way without saying a word. Yuri said that after sharing a moment of laughter these men couldn't shoot at each other. *I personally don't know how true this story is, but I still love this story. I wish more people realized that we are all people and don't need to kill each other.

[@stephenmilton9998]

It as if one of his first audiences was in front of Nazi's... and got applause!

[@luispiros]

The humor of in Spaceballs makes total sense now!

[@user-oo8xp2rf1k]

I guess if you can get applause in theatre with such tough audiences - you can get them anywhere.

[@777petew]

I'm British, and Mel Brooks is a genius of comedy. Great guy. God bless.

[@Penekamp11]

There aren’t any entertainers as funny as Mel Brooks any more.

[@slowturtle6745]

There can't be, it's not allowed.

[@Ganiscol]

Pull your head out of your butt. Not everybody else is dead yet.

[@Wolfen443]

Wow, he was in the military and fought in WWII. That explains his humor dealing with the period in his films.

[@codyhilton1750]

Love Mel.

[@anthonycarlisle6184]

Ha! I trained at fort sill too! Mel Brooks and Pauly Shore stomped around base, that's fun.

[@paulblack5679]

Mel is a great American and treasure for us all.

[@cheesenoodles8316]

The army let Mel out of his cage.

[@jcspoon573]

"The Germans didn't like that," to describe how the enemy reacted to a bridge being dropped across a stream. Comedic in every moment.

[@Gkuljian]

I haven't had a genuine laugh since I don't know when. But that bullhorn story will remain with me forever. Genius!

[@eligebrown8998]

To sing a song and have the enemy a few yards away clap for you, PRICELESS

[@joelstein4657]

Mel was asked why there were so many Jews. He said; "God knew that life would be hard for us so he made one out of ten of us crazy. That way we could entertain the other nine." Beautiful.

[@donaldedgar1004]

This is worth listening to as peoples experiance of ww2 the vets are fast going to heaven and all their experiences will be forgotten but not while I’m still alive got bless ‘em all

[@georgemorley1029]

“A few of them dug it”. 😂

[@johnbland1422]

Most of the celebrities of the day fought in WW2. A large number received commendations and medals, Audy Murphy was one of the most decorated veterans from WW2.

[@Gods2ndFavoriteBassPlyr]

When others were thinking "Mehh... perhaps I should do it.." Brooks was actually doing it. He took chances because he truly believed, and we're better for it.. This is why he'll be revered as a legend.

[@longhorn7809]

Mel Brooks American hero respect

[@stevekaczynski3793]

I wonder if Inge was the model for Frankenstein's assistant and eventual wife in "Young Frankenstein"?