The Captain (2017) - A historically inaccurate gem (I)

[@daddyrabbit835]

"Sleep, children, sleep, Hansen is a sheep". That part was so weird

[@aidanfeeney8128]

Yea haha 😂 wtf was that like

[@dietmar604]

its a tranlated german lullaby. In german ist schlaf kindlein schlaf, dein vater ist ein schaf. In german, it rhymes, in english it doesnt

[@Britton_Thompson]

The place Captain Junkers recognized Herold's face from, when he gets in the car with him and Sichner, is the opening scene. Junkers was the military gendarmes who shot at Herold with a scoped rifle as he was chased through the field and into the nearby woods. For whatever reason, he just can't quite remember where exactly he recognizes Herold from

[@JR-994]

I've watched this and your 3 part videos on Herold and they are truly fantastic videos, excellent narration and format. I was disappointed that I could not find an English version of Der Henker vom Emsland online as I don't speak/read German and I am fascinated by his story. Thank you for your work!

[@Ditka-89]

This movie blew me away. Thank you taking the time to paint the real historical picture. I’m not sure how good the film could have been had they depicted Harold as he actually was

[@davidaraujo927]

Thanks for this! Incredible work from your part, not only on your script but also on your beautiful narration... I catched this movie on TV last night and immediately captured my attention! Unfortunately, I could not watch it til the end... so, this was just what I was searching for!

[@ivodora]

Glad to hear it was helpful!

[@SisyphusQuit]

Very good movie. I think everyone who enjoyed the film needs to watch your explanations of the story and fact comparisons.

[@rolfagten857]

Good historical vs film approach. That imaginary assignment Gerhold received from Hitler was not an imaginary assignment. And the actor who played Hans Dahler-Kaufmann reminded me of Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goeth in " Schindler's List".Well, it was the complete opposite of Goeth.

[@zaaa6854]

Wow. That's an incredible video♡. I've been a fan of this film ever since it came out and watched it about a gazillion times, every time noticing something new and recognizing a different perspecitve, but never have i thought of the film as of one that humanizes Herold (I was perhaps more focused on the shattering of the myth of clean Wermacht). This video opened up so many new and shocking (I love shocking!) perspectives that I would've never thought of. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge in such an attractive form, walking us through the film. Definitely subscribed and on my way to check the rest of your videos:)

[@hebanker3372]

How can people even believe Wermacht being not a bunch of war criminals, when they were the ones that did most of the atrocities during operation Barbarossa?

[@silasmerzenich]

​@@hebanker3372Nazis say everything to protect the nazis

[@colindunnigan8621]

@@hebanker3372Put most simply, because there were people who were ready to believe it, or possibly, more accurately, to look the other way in the name of political expediency, Cold War necessity, and / or national consolation / self-pity. And I apologize for such a brief precis of what is a big subject.

[@mephistovonfaust]

As to how people like Schütte can exist as both a loving father and a murderous monster is quite easy. In his brain the prisoners weren't human. They are nothing but insects and let's be honest, we wouldn't shed a tear for thousands of insects dying, would we? Their brains were washed to the extend that they failed to see the humanity withing their prisoners. It's horrible but I would imagine it to be something like this. As a German I can assure you, we are not nation of psychopaths, which would have been the only other possibility.

[@monika2745]

I recommend the book from 1939 by Gregor Ziemer titled ‘Education for Death: Making of a Na*i’. He lived in Berlin just before war broke out, and he was allowed (officially) by Nasty Party to observe schools, HJ, and how the youth was being raised by the Nasty Regime. It’s a fascinating, chilling reading - everything we know and learn after about Nasties after the WW2 was already well under way for years prior to September 1939. There is one exception: Ziemer documented it *before* the war, not after it when the Germany was defeated and few were left who could retell the story as they saw fit. Going back to subject of Willi, I’m not surprised he loved HJ, however, I’m surprised he didn’t really succeed as a HJ leader, and wasn’t put forward for leadership academies (they had those for HJ). I have a sneaky feeling he liked the accolades but didn’t want to put the work in. Thank you again for an amazing video! ❤

[@ivodora]

Thank you, I will buy the book. I made a mistake in my original video about Herold’s childhood - after joining the Jungvolk and being expelled due to lack of participation in the “duty days”, Herold never joined the Hitler Youth. So his experience with the organization was limited to whatever time he spent in the Jungvolk as a young boy (he never specifies exactly how long he stayed there, he only said that he was expelled fairly quickly).

[@stevenjustice105]

Willie was a decorated soldier of the Fallschimjager....trust me he had killed before emmsland... in fact he was probably quite descentized to violence and death by then.

[@6Haunted-Days]

Watch her videos on him.....she knows way more than you I'm sure......

[@KiNgSaRcAsMoNe]

@@6Haunted-DaysOR ask someone who’s part of his family. Wir wissen mehr als die liebe Dame 👍

[@henrikerksell1026]

Great work, Ivodora! Again.👌🏼

[@tashuntka]

Great topic/narration/listenability 👍👍👍 Again, could listen to you talk all day 👌😁👌

[@tashuntka]

Is this a different narrator from the Lena Heydrich video ?

[@ivodora]

No, it’s still me.

[@tashuntka]

Read any book...I shall listen.. You sound, a little different... Perhaps evolution in your creative process, but both very...very...good 😁💛😁

[@KiNgSaRcAsMoNe]

First off, I am a German. I have lived in England for two decades. I understand a lot of viewpoints, especially regarding the war, from quite a few different perspectives. Some “research” in this, tbh, seems more like poor conjecture. But I do like the work you put in. In regards to “how” people could be loving parents and “monsters” at the same time, well these things are happening right now, pretty much everywhere. Look at the hate (especially against Japanese) being taught in China, Gaza, many uk mosques, south’s Africa etc etc etc but many people still have families and kids that they love DESPITE teaching hate and murderous intent as well as the teaching of one’s superiority (boy haven’t we heard that before AND how it ends???) The world, sadly, has lost the plot (well the people on it that is) Oh well….

[@forickgrimaldus8301]

The End Credits of the Movie is like if Red Skull got defrosted in Berlin with Steiner's Counteroffensive finally making it to the city.

[@giulio76ful]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ihorperec4990]

Max Hubacher is an amazing actor. Thank you for the i formative review.

[@AkronAsylum]

I have learned from your Videos, that Freitag had 16 allied tanks in Normandie on his record. Now, this is quite a number. He wasn't part of a tank crew, like the infamous Michael Wittmann, from the Leibstandarte Tank-Division of the Waffen-SS. As a paratrooper, his only options to destroy Tanks, were either the use of a PAK (Anti-Tank-Gun), or a Panzerfaust/Panzerschreck (the German variations of a Bazooka). There are also the Haftmine ( an explosive device that has to be directly stuck at the tank by hand, and handmade Molotow Cocktails. Oh, and often the .88 Flak (Anti-Air-Gun) was used for ground action; very effective.. Do you know more about Freitag's record in Normandie? I am really impressed of your research work, so I wouldn't be surprised .😉

[@ivodora]

Freitag provides a summary of his military record for his trial, but does not mention anything about the tanks. It could be that he exaggerated his accomplishments, but it is clear that he was an experienced soldier. Here is what his trial documents say about his service: "He was drafted into the Wehrmacht on the 4th of December 1941, and was trained as an infantryman until February 1942. He was then sent to the Eastern Front, where he served almost continuously until the end of May 1944. During this time he suffered four minor wounds, which did not require him to be transferred to the home front. In May 1944 he suffered a bullet through the thigh. Having recovered from this wound in August 1944, he voluntarily enlisted in the paratroopers to avoid joining the Einsatzgruppen. In consideration of his front-line experience - he had been awarded the Iron Cross II, the Infantry Assault Badge, the Close Combat Clasp, and the Silver Wounded Badge - he was transferred to the Western Front in September 1944 after a short stay with the Paratrooper Replacement Group in Gardelegen. He joined the 21 Parachute Regiment in Holland, got into the regimental assault squad and took part in its operations. In early February 1945 he was wounded in the head, without any permanent harm to the skull. Until the middle of March he was with the unit's detachment. Then he was reassigned to the front. At the end of March 1945, after the English attack on Gronau, he lost contact with his troop." There he had the great misfortune of meeting Herold. Freitag had about three and a half years of war under his belt, far more than Herold, and was an experienced, if not particularly bright soldier.

[@AkronAsylum]

@@ivodora Thank you so much for your reply. His military record is really interesting. What I just don't get: Normandy isn't mentoined at all. His first appearance at the Western Front in this schedule was Holland, in September 44, obviously Operation Market Garden. When you look at the medals he received, it doesn't sound like he has actualy destroyed so many tanks. Anyways, he has definetely been through a lot and was experienced in battle.

[@ivodora]

@@AkronAsylum Him getting the Iron Cross makes me think he could have had something to do with destroying some tanks, as it was a common reward for this kind of action, but the whole thing is difficult to prove. Perhaps he was inflating his numbers. Perhaps he was part of a larger team who achieved this and is refusing to acknowledge his comrades. Perhaps he really was sent to Normandy at one point and did not go into detail for some reason. Perhaps he’s a liar in the end.

[@terryroots5023]

Excellent, well argued and compelling.

[@william_marshal]

So what happened to Rheinhardt Freitag. He was not one of the six men sentenced to death at the trial and I doubt if he was one of the five men acquitted?

[@ivodora]

Freitag was captured later. He was lucky because at that time, the British were done with the war crimes trials and so he was judged by a German court and sentenced to eight years in prison. He came out after serving his time, headed home and died sometimes in the late 80s, possibly 1989.

[@Eirik36]

Outstanding analysis! Where did you learn all of this?

[@ivodora]

Thank you. I have been studying the Herold case since 2021. Some of my sources include Captain Pantcheff’s book (The Emsland Executioner), the official documentation of the case (London National Archives, Oldenburg Archives, Wolfenbüttel Archives) as well as personal discussions and exchanges with historians and an unpublished essay written by someone who knew him before the events of 1945. The case is (thankfully) very well documented.

[@xboxhomie4]

18:34 Herold was going for the 100% achievement??

[@Al-po2oh]

What really is the difference between a perceived leader(Herold) and a seasoned soldier rising through the ranks to become a leader.

[@airconditionedrelco7099]

slept on movie

[@ericscottstevens]

Most of the lost Landsers did not want to join ad hoc units. They did not know what was in store for them so they wanted to get back to their old unit for familiarity or go it alone. Yet in many cases their units were annihilated in this span of the war there was no unit to return to. He is wearing a 1940 Narvik Shield on his sleeve of the stolen coat, 2,000 Luftwaffe personnel were awarded this badge....but Willi born in 1925 would have immediately been spotted for too young for that award (15 years old and as an officer), most likely a prop error but the shield adds more power to the wearer for the movie roll.

[@ivodora]

It‘s not a prop error on the part of the film, if that is what you meant - the real Herold did wear a Narvik Shield on his stolen uniform. He looked young, but kept telling people he was 25 instead of his real age, 19. The rumors swirling around him, mostly propagated by his own band, was that he was a young, brilliant genius who earned all those medals at a young age. People bought it.

[@ericscottstevens]

@@ivodora That Navik unit was 1st Fallschirm-Panzer Division Hermann Göring It is most likely assumed the uniform would be black (not Luftwaffe blue) with skull collar insignia that looked very similar to SS regalia. But the skulls were on light blue collar boards. Thus the ruse wavery easy to get past on the unsuspecting. Cuff title also is lighter blue than expected (still looking it up). The original owner of the abandoned uniform almost could be identified as only 2,161 won that award. Only issue is the F-PDHG was in Silesia at the end of the war. So that adds variables as the original owner was on leave and fled, transferred to another LW unit in northern Germany. It would not be that hard to track down the officers who won the Navik award probably 2 or 3 dozen.

[@ivodora]

You‘re right, it probably wouldn’t be impossible to come close to the identity of the Captain who owned the uniform, especially since he had also been awarded the Iron Cross and the Creta band. This medal configuration and the location of the chest where his uniform was (allegedly) found by Herold would help narrow down his identity.

[@ericscottstevens]

@@ivodora I would assume the original owner of the uniform was with the 6.. Fallschirmjäger-Divisions (17th or 18th Fallschirmjäger Regiments,) east of the Netherlands in the Klevar Reichwald battles Feb / March 1945. Plus the highly equipped/trained 2nd Parachute Regiment was in the immediate area attached to the 84th Inf Div (A aufstellungswelle division)., The uniform was discovered in a destroyed convoy between the town of Gronau and the county of Bentheim as you say probably late March probably from their retreat. So this is not impossible to track down the identity of the original owner if not already done so. Willi had the FJ knowledge to bluff his way along the trek to infamy.

[@hebanker3372]

You're missing an integral theme from the movie then. If you notice, throughout the film, everyone suspects that Herold isn't who he claim he is. Kipinski was the first to realize he was an imposter by noticing the ill-fitting pants. Junker is also very suspicious and later involves Schutte in the game of pretend. With the exceptions of Freytag and Kaufmann, all the characters are disingenuous and they show it through their behaviours. They all roll with Herold's stunt because a)they don't care(they are preoccupied with their survival in the war), b)they are afraid of the possibility he is legitimate and they'll suffer repercussions for doubting a Hitler's official, c) they view it as an opportunity to throw off themselves, and on to Herold, any responsibilities of crimes they might be charged with after the war. It's not that they really believe Herold is an actual captain, but that they're too busy looking after their sorry arses to care to check him. Brutal selfishness is one of the film's themes. While you look at the technicalities, like the uniform and those who wore it, you're missing the artistic side of it all.

[@S1NG15]

Anyone know where I can get a version of this film with English subs?

[@jb400years4]

Excellent video

[@clonetrooper71]

Wait, you're the same person I spoke to about Herold all those months ago on another youtube video???? Well, I'll be sure to watch all of your videos, in due time....

[@ivodora]

Hello again! Yes, I decided that it would be more productive to make my own videos about the Herold case.

[@clonetrooper71]

@@ivodora Well, I'm very glad that you did! Can't wait for more; I just started the real biography videos.

[@kokoloko8423]

Brilliant video!

[@bartoszkaminski2581]

What a great work! Thank you :)

[@deadlyoneable]

All do respect, most people go into this realizing it was merely for entertainment purposes. By the way, your 3 part series on this man is outstanding

[@ivodora]

I made this review mainly because I saw that many of the pre-existing videos on KZbin about the Herold case, videos which aimed at historical accuracy, took the film as a reliable source of information. My efforts were a response to that. And thank you!

[@deadlyoneable]

@@ivodora I see. In that case, very good. If you said that in the video and I missed it, I apologize. This event has enthralled me. I can’t believe more attention has never been given to it.

[@das_tattooatelier_freistadt]

Ich hoffe doch dass den Meisten klar ist was der Unterschied zwischen einem Spielfilm und einer historischen Dokumentation ist. 😉

[@seanmatto2258]

Don’t you mean the Orpo? Or Wehrmacht polizei?

[@seanmatto2258]

Probably spelling it wrong

[@ivodora]

I‘m not entirely sure what part of the video you are referencing.

[@seanmatto2258]

@@ivodoraat 1:09

[@ivodora]

@@seanmatto2258 Aah, I see. The man pursuing Herold has the rank of a Captain and his men are "Feldgendarmen" aka the military police. They are all part of the Wehrmacht.

[@james-faulkner]

What do you think of Generation War as a show that was supposed to be based on someone's experiences? As an American fighting man of the latter Cold War era, I found it quite compelling as a view from the other side. I realise the "cowardly" character was invented or at least embellished since he would have been "fragged" by his own squad. Weakness is not looked upon lightly or with kindness. I know this.

[@toomuchinformation]

But “Generation War” wasn’t based on someone’s experiences or a real person like “The Captain”. It was about fictional characters. ALL of the characters were invented and the fact you think that they weren’t shows me how disingenuous it really was.

[@james-faulkner]

@@toomuchinformation I think you should check again, one character was fictionalised, according to the credits.

[@toomuchinformation]

@@james-faulkner Which character was that? And what did the credits say?

[@james-faulkner]

@@toomuchinformation The singer. Episode four tells the story about them.

[@james-faulkner]

@@toomuchinformation It seems I need to correct myself and also find out what you find disingenuous about my post. I am not going to repeat myself, in my OP I said who the fictitious character was, so what do you find so disingenuous? My account of military life and the actions of what might have happened? I can tell you that if you confronted me with your confrontational attitude we would frag you as well. You internet children are the least scariest of all known threats. You want to know what the show is about? Watch it yourself! I guarantee you no matter how good of a light that a Nazi is shown, in any movie or documentary they are still vile scumbags. I love the American Apollo missions and the preceding missions to get to Luna but I think we "sinned" in letting the Nazi that got us there live beyond what should have been a trial and his death sentence. To think that anyone that fought for Nazi Germany has any respect due them is false and as you say disingenuous gratitude. Either that or they are a Nazi-loving pile of garbage.

[@ChrisHorse-c8e]

Love her voice

[@porkscratchings5428]

Glad I came across this vid. It is one of my all time favourites but the end credits were hilarious. I really enjoyed the movie, obviously not 100% accurate but thoroughly entertaining.

[@trexroshan2646]

Source of your research???

[@ivodora]

@@trexroshan2646 Archival sources: “Willi Herold and 13 others” - London National Archives Willi Herold’s inmate folder - Wolfenbüttel Archive Willi Herold Collection (Trial transcripts) - Oldenburg Archives Exhumation photographs (1946) - Osnabrück archives Newspaper articles about the Herold case (1946) - Nordwest Newspaper digital archives Books: “The Emsland Executioner” by T. H. X. Pantcheff “Pattjackenblut” by Inge and Heinrich Peters “An Executioner from Lunzenau” - unpublished essay by Wolfgang Bönitz, stored in the Archive of Lunzenau As well as my personal conversations with people who had known or interviewed the Herold family.

[@duke0518]

Having seen the movie, accurate or no, it was pretty powerful. That he was a not a deserter is of no real consequence. The inaccuracy of the dates for instance, is also not really important, this is not a scholarly film. Many of the details annotated here are actually trivial. Ranks not right, and so on. Freytag wasn't in his 40s, he was 22.... how do you know he was in his 40s...by his looks? Sorry, but I find this information video more of a lecture, kind of like that one guy you know who can't shut up during a movie and points out all the flaws like "that car blew up before the bomb went off" or something like that. THere are name inaccuracies for instance, but movies often do this for reasons that they have, such as protecting (or having an NDA signed) with decendants of depicted parties. HOwever, for the history snob (which I am, sometimes) This film probably summarizes a semesters worth of work without paying for the college credit while not exactly ruining the film but sort of has an aloof feeling to it. I know this well, because I used to talk like that more often than I should have, it's not a good way to win friends. On the flip side, it's really not a good film review at all but kinds of ruins it a little.

[@gordonsmith4884]

Films are never historically accurate (See "The King and I, Braveheart, etc.). Great film none the less.

[@deathcrackle]

They aren't but considering how fascinating the real life story is, I wonder why moviemakers feel the need to make up situations or change them. The story of the real Willi Herold is much more interesting than the movie's portrayal of him.

[@mcake1234]

You're yelling into the microphone.

[@paxbritannica16]

Good

[@lorenonanesterium7747]

You got something wrong with the German army ranks. A Gefreiter is not a corporal, Gefreiter is the lowest possible rank in the German army and defenetly beneath a Captain.

[@ivodora]

A Gefreiter was a Lance Corporal. An Obergefreiter was a Corporal. The lowest rank in the Luftwaffe was Flieger. When did I claim that a Gefreiter is a Corporal?

[@giulio76ful]

such a great work.. damn even a writing sample....tnk's a lot again guys..

[@jpmtlhead39]

He might have been Lost from his unit,but he was a Typical Coward who when the Chance "appears" in the form of Power, Cowards Cant resist to the appeal of Power. And Herold as a Lost Coward in the Middle of the chaos couldnt resist for once in his lousy and shitty life he could impose his Vicious and Mean streak upon others The Temptation of that Suit,brought to light his true colors, a very poor jugdment and the evil Demeanour towards other human beings,even if their own people. But all because of Suit. In a world in peace,he must have been a low life living from hussle and petty crime.

[@JohnVanSickle-lu7xp]

Do some research