Nazi Leader's Daring Escape to Spain 1945

Find out how Belgian SS leader Leon Degrelle managed to escape from Norway to Spain in May 1945.
Thanks to subscriber 'Tommy Sands' for suggesting this topic.
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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.

[@shize9ine]

Degrelle must have had some close ties with the Spanish to be comfortable enough to wear his SS uniform to events while managing the construction of US airstrips.

[@vvr881]

And no radar, fighter or ship picked up the lone German aircraft flying past or thru the most militarised areas of the war ...this guy had some unbelievable good luck

[@christosvoskresye]

"Degrelle was, by April 1945, seriously concerned for his future." Imagine that!

[@koldomakazaga6846]

My parents always spoke about The nazi plane that crashed at the CONCHA bay in San Sebastián. They went to the beach to watch The wreck. All my family is born in San Sebastián and my parents were 15 and 19 years old in 1945.....but i did not know all the story of that plane, i guess it was not so public...thanks!

[@RRtoiPPiotRR]

Music Starts, Thumbs up.

[@bumblebeebob]

Only because l can't "Like" before the music starts!

[@gillisassociates7237]

When he enlisted into the volunteer army, Hitler wanted to give him an instant officer commission but he refused, he said he wanted to earn the respect of his men and start from the bottom. Hitler and Mussolini had met with him prior to the war and made donations to his fascist party in Belgium. He was a fierce fighter and had won the "close-combat " award, awarded at the highest level, Gold. An award revered as a higher award than the Knights Cross by German soldiers. His daughter said that when Hitler awarded him the Knights Cross personally, Hitler whispered to Degrelle, "if I had a son, he would just be like you."

[@xr6lad]

That man had the lives of a cat. Injured in fighting how many times; made his way across a chaotic Germany falling apart; made it on a troop ship without getting bombed or torpedoed. Then a flight across nations crawling with opposition troops; planes etc in his own plane at the stretch of it's endurance; then survived a crash of it plus actually lived to old age and being given sanctuary in a country not that far from his own - and his wife and kids remained loyal after all that. He did better than many from either side.

[@zu1875lu]

If ever a guy deserves sponsorship or donations... its this man's channel.

[@johnsomers1227]

Random Degrelle fact of the day: Montgomery & Rommel both won the Iron Cross second class under his command in Estonia. Not that Montgomery or the Rommel you're thinking of, there just happened to be 2 Walloon members of his unit, 1 named Montgomery & 1 named Rommel who both won the Iron Cross in the same engagement.

[@AFilmaciones]

6:41 General Franco resisted calls from Belgium to extradite Degrelle... "If Belgium calls tell them I'm not here"

[@Basement_Operator]

This show reminds me of the old days of the History Channel

[@TEA-fj3ut]

Before Ancient Aliens took over.

[@CynicalNsomniac]

Except without an extra 50 minutes of bullshit, fluff, and commercial breaks.

[@Pfsif]

The History Channel was and always will be propaganda.

[@fuyu5979]

Totally agree. Previously the History Channel was excellent in reporting historical events, etc. But now their programming is dominated by REALITY type shows ! Yuk !!!

[@gothicadam6476]

Austin S. ahhh...the History Channel before they discovered “Reality TV” (😒😒😒) I remember it well😅!

[@tobymcelhinney5354]

I don't know how you find these obscure stories but they are great; keep it up.

[@kwhiskey1373]

I imagine with his education he has access to alot of resources to find and verify this info.

[@baphtomet]

This story is not really obscure, Degrelle is widley know in the rightist area, he is one of the ideologists of the white supremacist movement

[@fergalteague4912]

That is a well known story.it was on the history channel years ago 👍

[@bias69]

He reads wikipedia.

[@NPC-yg8kv]

Books.

[@tomb7642]

How this hasn't been made into a movie is beyond me. What a tale! Thanks Mark!

[@Sewertheonlyone]

I met Leon Degrelle in 1992 in Malaga.

[@generalfailure9730]

After his death, Degrelle was cremated and his ashes were dispersed at Berchtesgaden by one of his men

[@spencernelson1560]

Crazy that he remained a public figure in Europe.

[@colboysigmax]

Getting the Close Combat Clasp in Gold was pretty impressive. Much rarer than the high end Knights Cross.

[@littlejimmy8744]

I dont know how that He 111 even took off with the balls of those 4 airmen.

[@samg5463]

Regardless of his politics, its impressive he was wounded 7 times and continued to go back to active duty.

[@mitchel123234]

I'm a simple man. I see Mark Felton, I click.

[@RisvoldTheGreat]

Nice unoriginal recycled comment jackass got a brain of you're own?

[@hanzykrupps6383]

You are very simple.

[@TheFaderland]

What a performance by the pilots!

[@samt9440]

Degrelle, the true definition of 'Meine Ehre heist Treue'. If some of his videos are still on KZbin and have not been removed, highly recommended viewing.

[@TMedgotlost]

I watched leons interviews. I like him

[@billcallahan9303]

I read Degrelle's book. Whatever you may think of him, he was a very brave man. Wounded 7 times, all of which were on the Eastern Front. The Cherkassy pocket was especially brutal. He survived the war & lived to a long age. Incredible. Thank you Mark!

[@morriswilburn9858]

He had relationships with the right people, had resources, saw the writing on the wall, and he played those cards well. He also had to have luck to successfully make that 2,000 flight to Spain.

[@SNP-1999]

Think what you like about Degrelle as a man and politician, as a soldier he was obviously quite courageous and the Heinkel 111 flight from Oslo to San Sebastian through Allied air space was audacious bordering on madness, and obviously involved brilliant flying skills, but successful.

[@api9mm]

Read Degrelle's book, "The Eastern Front: Memoirs of a Waffen SS Volunteer." It's absolutely riveting!!!!

[@redr1150r]

I lived in Spain for 3 years in the late 60's. My Dad who was in the Navy at the time was stationed in Rota. In my wanderings one weekend , some friends and I had taken a train up to a town near Jerez de la Frontera. While walking around, we came around a corner and into some kind of gathering of veterans from the Spanish Civil War days, some 30 years before. Someone asked us who we were and we said "Americans from Base Naval en Rota" Much shaking of hands and back slapping. We were invited to an outdoor lunch. During conversation my fathers Naval service came up, and I mentioned that he had had fought in the Korean War, there was much nodding and signs of approval. They asked me what I wanted to do when i was out of school and I said "Join the Navy and go to Vietnam to fight communists." Much more approval and hand shakes all around. We must have been there for a good 8 hours. I think the guest of honor was Leon Degrelle. We were introducerd to him and we shook hands. I said the right things at the right time. It was something to remember.

[@m.bennell3518]

When my family was part of a four-wheel drive club on the west coast in our club was a sargeant formerly of the Wehrmacht. Years later I searched his name on the internet and came to the conclusion he was some sort of Wehrmacht officer. "Manfred Von Kracht".

[@oveidasinclair982]

I don't particularly care for Degrelle, but the man wasn't a coward, he made a daring and spectacular escape. He was a soldier not a thug, he made it to freedom, his family made it there too and he lived a full life, can't ask for much more than that. Great story Mark.

[@cheesenoodles8316]

You packed alot of info and great pictures in a mere 7 minutes and 35 secounds. Another outstanding video.

[@jjeherrera]

This also gives an interesting insight into Franco's Spain.

[@MyLateralThawts]

Another Belgian who earned the Knights cross was Remi Schrijnen. Perhaps his tale could use the Mark Felton treatment as well.

[@kinggrooms7473]

Back when the history channel was about history not people looking for Bigfoot but not finding Bigfoot

[@fatyowls]

I red somewhere that he wore full nazi regalia at a wedding in Spain. He had some balls!

[@drpancakes7897]

Thank you Mark very cool!

[@ry-t-ster9512]

Love it how you have experience in the history field prior to your channel. It allows me to feel confident knowing that what you're teaching is accurate.

[@MarktheRude]

WE DREAMT OF SOMETHING MARVELOUS

[@mohabatkhanmalak1161]

That was an incredeble flight from Denmark to Spain in skies controlled by Allied forces, and a long journey too.

[@lainfamia8949]

LEGEND!!! The greatest war hero from II WW. Leon Degrelle volunteer on Cristeros war's in Mexico, prisoner of a Concentration camp in France, leader of REX! He rejected to join the army as a "oficial poster boy" but he join the army as a ground. Wounded 7 times in more than 70 battles in the eastern front, marching into Russian Caucasusus and fighting on the highest peaks, he proclamed himself the "Kommandant" on the epic Tshercakassy siege, after the commandant was killed in service upon the snow, he risked his life on Estonia, Pomerania, Germany and escaped to Spain in an epic suicidal mission crossing all ocuppied Europe. Even he quoted on his book that he and his men were prepared to make an "Alcazar" --look this siege on Spanish civil war-- in some north-baltic german city. Truly a corageus man. From Spain, I say to you in my bad english, one of the greatest characters of the century XX, he deserves a serie of movies, lol. I recommend you the book "The Russian campaign" from Leon Degrelle.

[@seanledden4397]

I love how you go into the "how" when reporting these secondary stories. Getting from one location to another in the final days of the war was a challenge, and I'm intrigued how people did it.

[@WilliamHorsley1962]

Thumbs up every time on intro. ☺. When I was a kid in the late 70's I used to visit this museum in my home town Bakersfield it was really over the bridge to Oildale CA. The place was called The War Bunker and the owner of this place had a awesome collection of WW2 military antiques. Things to do with Hitler from letters with his personal letterhead to personal items that came from high ranking German Officers some things aledged to have belonged to Hitler. The man that owned the museum told us kids war story's as I remember he didn't hold back to much on the gore. I think he was trying to describe what he had seen not so very much on what he had to do in combat. Very interesting man. I recall reading about his passing in the mid 90's. He was a good man tho I recall him coming across as a little grumpy but very 😎

[@Zalley]

So many war stories not generally known. Thanks! Filling in the gaps in people’s knowledge.

[@johnryder1713]

Who needs history books or programs when Mark Feltons around?

[@scooter66133]

a story like in a movie. for some men like degrelle or skorzeny or galland or werner von braun the 8.5.45 was not the end of their career.because its very unusual its very interesting . thank you for sharing

[@StuHNomadBiker]

Probably the best military history channel on youtube 👌🏻... really enjoy watching your content .

[@AgathaJoannaJagata]

Thank you Mark Felton Productions for the great informative videos! Really appreciated!

[@simonkevnorris]

Thanks Mark - another interesting story. It was a bit surprising that Spain allowed Degrelle to live there although he'd done nothing illegal in Spain. I know the Catholic Church in Italy assisted many Nazis to escape to South America as they were the enemies of the communists - the old addage 'an enemy of my enemy is my friend'.

[@karlaiken6152]

Another amazing story complete with details and supporting photographs. I am a big fan of your videos. Where you find all these hidden historic gems is an absolute marvel. Please do more for us and we will be sure to watch. Well done Mark....and thank you.

[@geetee7154]

Absolutely fascinating a topic i have never heard of,just when you think you have seen & heard everything to do with WW2 Mark brings us some incredible history, many thanks Mark for all your work.

[@vvvppp6021]

Degrelle is like that friend who knows everyone in the party so he can avoid to pay a cent and still eat and drink beer for free. Love de videos Mark!

[@joaquinandreu8530]

The city of San Sebastián, 110,000 pop. in 1945, "a small town", LOL

[@solinvictus39]

Degrelle wrote an excellent book about his combat experiences- "Campaign in Russia".

[@frankabler]

Very interesting episode. Thanks Mark!

[@phillips9738]

Thanks for the upload, always thought it was a brilliant story worth telling!

[@mrhamburger6936]

Excellent video as always never stop learning about what happened during the second world war

[@LondonHistory1977]

Quality and very interesting stories that you unearth and share....thanks Mark.

[@zippyde]

great video,thanks for your time putting this together,better than anything the tv has to offer by far.

[@raulcesari4115]

Degrelle è una leggenda. Mai come oggi, dove la democrazia non è che il nome più "accattivante" dietro il quale si nasconde il potere di tutte la associazioni più criminali e mafiose del pianeta, l'Europa in particolare, e il mondo bianco in generale, hanno bisogno di esempi. E Leon Degrelle è certamente tra i più nobili. Ai più giovani dico, mettetevi insieme in vari "gruppi di studio" e leggete a fondo le sue memorie di guerra ("Fronte dell'Est" e SS Wallonien") e il suo testamento spirituale: "Militia"!

[@Trimtank]

Mark you do amazing work in finding interesting and obscure stories. You are the "Cliff Clavin" of the History buff bar called "Cheers"!

[@marsdenmullac9664]

Thank you very much, Love him or hate but Leon Degrelle saw some of the most horrific fighting ever, his awards say it all

[@RON-nw9si]

Well done Mark, another great video.

[@djyul]

Thank you for that account! And later found not guilty of any war crimes!!!!A true warrior!

[@willpowers4762]

Leon Degrelle's life story would make for a very good movie ! The guy lived on the edge, he was bold and fearless ! He was a real life tuff guy with the cunning and smarts to always come out on top.

[@terrystephens1102]

Another excellent review, thanks Mark. 👌👏👏👏👏

[@zuutlmna]

Excellent book by Degrelle: "Waffen SS On The Eastern Front".. -An amazing personal account of his experiences as he fought, and rose through the ranks.

[@rogerevans9564]

More amazing content Mark! Superb work, thank you

[@garymckee8857]

As always an Excellent video. Thanks.

[@lr882027]

He wrote a very good book, "The Eastern Front", well written and an excellent read.

[@alvashoemaker8536]

I love your 'posts'!! They are SO informative!

[@MartinPineda98765abcd]

Thank you very much for your fantastic channel!

[@johncostello2948]

Gotta give Degrelle credit; he went from prison to become a general and then reinvented himself in Spain after the war.

[@Retroscoop]

Before the war, "le beau Leon" tried the democratic way of being elected in the Parliament. When his political party Rex became dangerously important (1936), the head of the Catholic Church announced just before the elections that voting for Rex would be against the Church. The result was that Rex lost the elections, but that Degrelle became even more radical. When Rexist were parading in 1940 in Brussels, just after the Germans had conquered Belgium, people were hit on the face if they didn't want to make the Hitler salute: the propaganda service wanted to see him surrounded by enthousiastic or "enthousiastic" bystanders. My father saw these events.

[@ThePainterr]

Leon Degrelle....a man after my own heart.....what fascinating and colourful character.....also started the children's book: Tin Tin. Also that Hitler said that if he had a son, he wished him to be Degrelle. Degrelle gives a first hand account of the Waffen-SS to be found on KZbin.....lots of food for thought!

[@tangero3462]

What a tale! Thanks for sharing

[@bertas23xx]

I read his book, very very good.

[@01sapphireGTS]

Dr. Felton, I know this question has been posed to you countless times since you launched this channel, but again I ask - How can you possibly know this much? It is not reasonable for anyone to know this much detail about so many events. Bravo my dear doctor, bravo.

[@barefoot191]

I can never get enough history lessons like this. Thank you.

[@williammiller8317]

Another great history lesson, thanks Mark!

[@fabianwylie8707]

Brilliant video and such amazing history. You are by fare a truly brilliant historian 👍

[@htos1av]

VERY cool story and history! About 30 years ago, I worked for GE and had a service call to a facility owned by an elderly couple. He was a cool jazz era kinda guy but she was Austrian-and UNREPENTANT, like this guy! Thankfully my blue eyes and expertise in my profession kept me in her good graces. Lol.

[@tabstabs1204]

Short , inofrmative, to the point....Excellent !!!

[@lance8080]

This guy was a warrior.

[@nikopoulos5241]

Honestly Degrelle was a total badass. Like no question.

[@Seveneleven44]

Thanks for all you do Dr. Felton.

[@jvcpaints]

The real life TinTin.

[@olesuhr727]

I read an article about Degrelle that claimed that he was the man that Hergé based his Tintin character on. I'm not sure I like to compare the two, but the story certainly is compelling in its own way.

[@Useaname]

Excellent. Thanks Mark

[@Roller_Ghoster]

Otto Skorzeny became an Irish farmer in 1959. Weird but true.

[@edwardtupper6374]

Yeah I was thinking Ireland would have been a good bet too, by submarine. Probably weren't any submarines just laying around ready to sail away. That must have been a hella scary flight.

[@xoose]

Leon DeGrelle wrote an open letter to Pope John Paul II, which I found interesting enough to look for other material he wrote a few years ago. Of his various other works I found, I settled on "Campaign in Russia: The Waffen SS on the Eastern Front", which I found to be quite a good read. It has many anecdotes in it that I'd never heard before about the Eastern Front, such as some of the mundane things that went on outside the fighting in day to day, the ways that different nationalities on the Eastern Front got along with each other (or didn't), and even some heart-felt stories such as the praise and gratitude he had for a Ukranian family that helped his men survive with food and shelter (and de-lousing) during the winter. Since the book is an autobiography using himself as the only source it could be all fictional, but I didn't notice anything that contradicts the mainstream narrative too much on the most part. It's also so detailed that I'm sure he hasn't recounted everything correctly with a photographic memory, but I think most of the main things in the story are probably true. He idolises and defends Hitler but also criticizes him for mistakes he made and things he disagreed with and what he should have done instead. The fact that he was given sanctuary in Spain by Franco and not extradited even after democracy was restored gives (in my opinion) credence to most things he states in this book. Even if he conveniently glosses over any war crimes he may or many not have committed, the tone of the book seems fairly balanced and not what I expected from a typical ex-SS officer. It made me re-think what most of the SS were like and what they stood for, especially those of the multinational non-German divisions. After the expansion to include other nationalities and non-Germanic people after the early part of the war, the SS seemed to become less about a racist German/Aryan domination of Europe and/or the world, and more about defending Germany and Europe from the communist and imperialist steamroller. Even if that's mostly wrong and it was just DeGrelle's (misguided or delusional) opinion, his continued preaching of understanding and tolerance of all people (as seen in his letter to Pope John Paul II) is probably one of the main reasons why they welcomed him in Spain and didn't kick him out.

[@burlhorse61]

amazing channel bro-so much info

[@1pierosangiorgio]

I'v read his books, quite interesting and while I strongly disagree with this man's political views, he was - unlike, i.e. a Himmler, incredibly physically courageous.

[@Armadauzbekistan]

Wow wearing SS Uniform in 1953! Never saw these before, Was Spain like kinda OK with the Germans?

[@j0k3r_82]

What a GREAT idea for a KZbin channel! Everyone love WWII stories. Please publish something about Poland, Warsaw uprising, Polish soldiers involved in allied armies (Polish RAF squadron) or anything about Poland. Thank you!

[@christopherjames7477]

Leon degrelle was a legend

[@jimmydemoret]

Fascinating. I'd never heard of Degrelle. Thank you.

[@wirelessone2986]

Awesome!

[@buttmusk]

Love the content ! Kudos

[@painmagnet1]

An absolutely amazing story. This sounds more like a far- fetched thriller novel than real life.

[@redrobur68]

Great stuff!

[@eth.nat.network4248]

Leon degrelle has some awesome speeches,he was also the leader of REX

[@robertbutts9835]

Love this channel