The Forgotten French Invasion of Germany (1939) - The Saar Offensive

Did you know the French invaded Germany in 1939? It's one of these forgotten WW2 invasions. After Germany invaded Poland the British and the French declared war on Germany. The French attacked Germany by marching into the Saarland. This attack was only short-lived. Why was that? Why didn't the Allies attack Germany in 1939 in full swing. The French did attack during the Saar Offensive (Saarland Offensive): a forgotten chapter of World War II.
History Hustle presents: The Forgotten French Invasion of Germany (1939) - The Saar Offensive.
SUPPORT ME ON PATREON ► / historyhustler
SUPPORT ME ON PAYPAL ► www.paypal.com/paypalme/Histo...
SUBSCRIBE ► / @historyhustle
INSTAGRAM ► / historyhustle
FACEBOOK ► / historyhustler
TWITTER ► / hustlehistory
SOURCES
The French Army 1939-45 (1) [Men-At-Arms 315] (Ian Sumner).
www.warhistoryonline.com/inst... (24-10-2021).
• France Attacks 39: Ger... (Military History not Visualized).
• The Forgotten 1939 Inv... (Mark Felton Productions).
IMAGES
Images from commons.wikimedia.org.
VIDEO
Video material from:
• The French Invasion of...
The French Invasion of Germany in 1939 - The Saarland Offensive
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
MUSIC by
Massimo Raoul Beckers
/ @massimoraoulbeckers796
"Constancy Part One" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
SOUNDS
Freesound.org.
Want to ask me a question? Send me an email at: [e-mail]

[@HistoryHustle]

MUSIC by Massimo Raoul Beckers: kzbin.info/door/Ftt4lbCcbjX2rVwVIZFbRA Learn about the German invasion of France [from the German perspective]: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rau5lIyYp66GrpI

[@marcusfranconium3392]

I do have a small question , a little of topic, but with the germans halted at kornwederzand , and knowing the casualties they sustained how would they progress from that position if they miracoulous managed to take that fortification . would they trie to move over the dijk to invade north holland or would they stay in that position in a defensive formation . As crossing the afsluitdijk would have coused even more casualites 32 km of dijk and simular fortifications on the other side aided with more gunboats and artilery would be suicide.

[@HistoryHustle]

@@marcusfranconium3392 Think (if Rotterdam wasn't bombed and if the Dutch continued the fight) the Germans would've moved through the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie as well via (non-bombed) Rotterdam onwards and attack them in the back or siege them out.

[@jamesgibbs7872]

Enjoyable history lesson!

[@marcusfranconium3392]

@@HistoryHustle True , but it also would deplete them of valuable troops needed in the south . Siege warfare is a costly one. As time and resources where a factor for the germans. Moving up north through several cities and high population areas does come with a ton of problems . Also the noord-zee kanaal , noord hollands kanaal the sluices at ijmuiden . it would take a lot of effort and time to move towards den helder and Den oever. Quite the tactical conundrum .

[@ApolloUK]

Why not tell the true reason Germany invaded Poland.... Forgetting the Danzig corridor massacres and bloody sunday...

[@thanos_6.0]

Things that disapear when you need them the most: Keys homework polands allies

[@HistoryHustle]

lol

[@thanos_6.0]

@Fabian Kirchgessner Schön dich wieder zu sehen:D

[@nationalpropagandist]

Grüss euch Kameraden .

[@memerzzz1735]

*socks

[@whoeverest_the_whateverest]

6:24 "the Saar offensive was over" Auto-subs: "bizarre offensive was over". Loool. This is the best summing up of the event you've just told about ever possible

[@HistoryHustle]

🤣🤣🤣

[@mammuchan8923]

😂Love it

[@dlrowolleh5855]

I mean in a way it is accurate as French people call the 1939-1940 era (prior to the campaign of France) the "odd war" or even the "bizarre war" ("la drôle de Guerre"), due to the unclear agressive and defensive stances of both belligerents.

[@mandalortemaan7510]

Dang it, my captions are correct

[@bjw4859]

So the French, wandered over the German border, occupied a few deserted towns & shot at shit where the German tanks weren't, no wonder it was forgotten, now that's how wars should be fought, lol.

[@HistoryHustle]

Lol!

[@Kopyrda]

French offensive suffered relatively high losses, and it stopped before the fortifications of the Siegfried Line. The Maginot Line was built between 1928 and 1936 for about F5 billion (about $195 million), equivalent to 7.5 per cent of the French Army budget in this period. Few historians mention that the Germans invested nearly RM 1 billion ($400 million) in the Siegfried Line fortifications during 1934-39, plus twice as much concrete and four times as much steel as the French put into the Maginot Line project. Plus, Germans had big advantage in the air force. In the 1944 Americans couldn't break through the Siegfried Line for months - Battle of Hürtgen Forest - but French were supposed to succeed in few weeks without the crushing advantage that Americans had few years later? What a joke.

[@Braun30]

Alternatively keep out of the fray, sit on the fence and then join. The 1st World War started in 1914, the US joined in 1917. WW2 started in September 1939, US were pulled in by the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941 willy nilly.

[@daechang3955]

@@Kopyrda What you fail to realize that America was way more far spread than France, way more active, and less experienced. So ofc they would struggle but that doesn't mean the French can't do it because I'll tell you now if France had better tactics for their new gear, and had better generals this war would've ended way sooner.

[@Oklm23]

@@daechang3955 If America was France in 1940 and shared a border with Germany, they would have been crushed even faster. It's true that the French generals made many mistakes and were still using WW1 tactics, but so as the British and Polish in 1940. Nobody was ready for the Blitzkrieg which Hitler was planning for 20 years, but I agree that if the allies had used similar tactics the war could have ended a lot sooner.

[@Haakon_The_Viking]

The most sad thing about this offensive is that in Poland it is practically unknown. In schools, we are told that the French did nothing in response to the German invasion of Poland, and I find it really irritating, seeing that, in fact, French mobilised and attacked Germany, however well that went in the end.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for commenting.

[@CRI_PL]

Ta "ofensywa" to nieśmieszny żart

[@Haakon_The_Viking]

@@CRI_PL podobnie jak poradziecka propaganda i martyrologia w szkołach. Oj jacy my to biedni, wszyscy nas zdradzili, dupą się odwrócili... rzygać się chce.

[@nikkibaugher2427]

Brilliant Professor! Good to have lighter hearted stuff once in a while.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍👍👍

[@nickpapagiorgio5056]

Absolutely loved this video professor Stefan! These little known elements of major historical events like this are so fascinating to me and you spoke of it perfectly! I cannot wait for the next video!

[@HistoryHustle]

👍👍👍

[@kacperdudenko6828]

Entire french army vs 100K german France: I am too scared to attack more then our artillery support range

[@HistoryHustle]

Pretty much where it came down to.

[@71kimg]

@@HistoryHustle on the other hand - Stalin and Hitler could rule the world with an iron fist - at least Stain at one point said something like that. All out war with Germany before having Russia on your side might be counter-productive - and the British also played that hand.

[@cleanTron]

@@HistoryHustle It`s not that easy. France was more or less forced by Britain to sign the guarantee for Poland and if you read it it was not only in the case of defense, they also would declare war on Germany if Poland attacks which Hitler claims they did. So why should France attack Germany if they not wanted a war vs Germany and couldn`t even know if it maybe was Poland attacking Germany. So they don`t know what casualtis of french soldiers it cost to invade Germany while Britain just watches a war the french been tricked into. So the british said, ok lets go together then and started to deploy the BEF in northern France which lead to the invasion preventing german France campaign.

[@davidca96]

they were still thinking previous war-like, they didnt think an extended charge would work but it actually would have with armor (especially the B1 Bis tanks). Once they realized this Germany obviously had already done it and France fell, thats when the arms race really began and all sides created some really amazing tanks and planes and changed war alltogether.

[@silverpleb2128]

Literally not the entier french army at all. Funny how peoples still speak about things that they dont know anything about except the few things that they saw in a video of 8min.

[@milankrishna2550]

Thanks professor Stefan for this one piece among the huge masses of information you have ever given, or will ever give us. Thanks Sir for your unbiased brief but accurate version of history

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you for watching, Milan!

[@1920s]

Thank you. Very informative. I’ve learned something new.

[@HistoryHustle]

Great!

[@mikewest5529]

Another great video as expected!! Thanks for the midweek lesson!! Excellent points on a little know subject!! Stay safe!!

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks again. Glad you appreciated it.

[@martijn6613]

Very interesting, never knew about this whole offensive. Keep up the good work, you deserve the 100k subs!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you, Martijn!

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

Another great vid Stefan! Like these 'forgotten battles'. (Sidenote: the picture shown at 3.40 shows a P51 D mustang in the background i think; pretty sure they where not around at that time :-) Groet 🌷, T.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍 Sharp!

[@trisblackshaw1640]

I've always found it strange the French didn't press home their offensive here. This clarified a lot of things for me. Thanks, mate.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks, Tris!

[@silverpleb2128]

They didnt pressed due to the fact that the agreement between polish and french meant that the polish should give time to the french to fully mobilize their army before attacking. When the battle of poland happenned, the poles asked the french to attack sooner, and by loking at the situation in poland the french attacked sonner way before the end of their mobilization. The french army wasnt ready/prepared at all for a major offensive until 1941 ( it was planned by the gov and the HQ. to understand why and how, you have to take a look at the industrial capacity of france alongside its economy, the history of france of the 30's to know what happenned and of course the french war plan to understand what was planned. ) What does it meant? The french army wasnt prepared at all, with tens and tens of divisions/regiments unequipped or partially equipped and trained. An incapacity to secure its own borders if sending enough capable troops with the desired equipments in an offensive. The french army stopped its offensive when poland falled because it had no more utility to continue.

[@silverpleb2128]

​@@GreatPolishWingedHussars your tears cant rewrite history mate, just saying ! Giving facts like " france refused to, or britain did not " without giving the full reasons of the why is pure bullshit, you cant just make france and GB bad just because they didnt do everything you wanted or poland wanted at this time; the principal fact is that Poland was neutral at this time and not an allie of both France and GB, Poland also annexed a part of Czechoslovakia and was in multiples discutions during the 30's with the germans. Poland served its own interrests and France&GB did the same too. Just answer this question: Why France and GB should have accepted everything Poland asked during the 30's? Every majors nations at this time tried to avoid a war, from USA to Italy, Germany to France and GB; "spitting" the thing that Poland asked 2 major powers which were/are democracy to invade a nation just because a guy was ellectedthat didnt shared the same opinions than the govs of both france/GB is a bullshit, there is literally no reasons. Also dont forget that Fascism, rightism, extremism was gaining more and more power in every majors powers of this time, Poland included; not only Germany. Lets remember Obóz Narodowo-Radykalny. But again, its way too easy to re-write history to make Poland the good guy that tried its best to countezr the bad guy which was Germany. The good guy asked 2 others guys France and GB but they both refused because they were pretty "dumb" and also kind of bad guys too ! Next time, take the full FACTS and not only the parts that can give you some credits to your words !

[@silverpleb2128]

@@GreatPolishWingedHussars there was no alliance between both Poland and France on the 30's. Only indepandance guaranty. You see? It's way too easy to do what you are trying to do and telling me I'm saying lies while you don't even know the subject.

[@alexmag342]

​​​@@silverpleb2128 Also the french stopped because they were quickly driven out by overwhelming numbers, 17 divisions strong German counteroffensive if I'm not mistaken with alot more quickly coming back from poland

[@jeroenromarius7150]

Tof stukje geschiedenis weer. Dank je wel 😊

[@HistoryHustle]

Dankjewel!

[@robertm.8653]

Great location, and a great video! Glad to see the places of these historical events.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks as always, Robert!

[@otisfreeman8766]

Great way to start the day. I knew of this, but you always deliver minor details that are fantastic. Not to mention that you most likely taught many viewers about the little known Saar offensive. Cheers.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for watching!

[@DemonOfGadara]

I'm actually very interested in WW2 but until I watched this video I've never heard of the Saar Offensive :O Great video, shows that you never stop learning new things

[@HistoryHustle]

Awesome! Thank you for replying.

[@reaktorramon]

Im from Saarland and never heard of the Saar Offensive 😄

[@ada7180]

Neither had I. Also only recently I heard of the bombing by the Allies of Dresden which was an open city (no troops) and the rape of Berlin where the Red Army raped German women ages 8 to 80.

[@williamdafrogg5305]

@@ada7180 Dresden had 20000 troops in the city preparing for the offensive of the red army.

[@domelxx8379]

Sir Stefan as always PRO!!! Thank you

[@HistoryHustle]

Nice to read, Derick. Thank you!

[@obi-wankenobi1676]

I've been looking forward to this

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@anonymousdetective3786]

One of the most useless offensives in history…

[@HistoryHustle]

Pretty much yeah.

[@xvsj5833]

Crazy Intel I got that answer to your opening question wrong🤭 Thank you for sharing Stephon ✌️ Have a Great Day 💪

[@HistoryHustle]

Cheers, Jesse, thanks!

[@tokyosan7906]

Well done video, I didn't know any of this. My first time to see you, I'll check your catalog and watch more!!

[@HistoryHustle]

Awesome, welcome to the channel. There is much on it so enjoy!

[@zuz4945]

Very Informative.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@andrewsteele7663]

Good morning Stefan, excellent video. Mark Felton did one on this subject but I feel that yours captivated me more, excellent work.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks and you're right! Felton did one a while ago.

[@andrewsteele7663]

@@HistoryHustle Yes, no where near as good as yours, cheers

[@mammuchan8923]

Well on the way to 100k subs, and very well deserved that will be. Love the lesser know gems like this. One can almost envision the confused but cautious look on the the French faces as they marched in

[@HistoryHustle]

Appreciate your reply once more, Tanya! Hope to get to 100K in 2021, else it'll be 2022. I was looking forward covering this subject and I'm glad I did!

[@jamesbodnarchuk3322]

Wow! Never heard of this? Thanks for explaining!

[@HistoryHustle]

Great to hear, thanks!

[@CalebNorthNorman]

👍 Thanks for the information.

[@HistoryHustle]

Cheers 👍🏻

[@bensilverstern4156]

It’s worth mentioning that Charles De Gaulle was a tank commander in the invasion of Saar.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing!

[@andrewruddy962]

Wow, I didn't know. Thank you for posting.

[@15-Peter-20]

A lot of people forget about this ...or have simply been neglected of being taught this.

[@HistoryHustle]

Indeed.

[@adamt6186]

About this embarrassing, irrelevent pseudo-attack?

[@edvinasmeskauskas170]

Not forgotten its just meaningless

[@otisfreeman8766]

Most likely not taught, unfortunately.

[@15-Peter-20]

@@adamt6186 please don't cry

[@jazzdrummerful]

Great job! I had no clue about this before!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks!

[@shanemccormack3478]

Great channel. Thank you.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks, Shane!

[@theodorossarafis7370]

very good video as always. i have aquestion for you stefan. french during WWII fought a lot. Saarland, Norway Mazino line, Duncirk. Then they fought in North Africa (eg Bir i Hakim) and again in France in 1944. My question is why we do not learn about their fighting? Is it sad that they fought a lot and in many occassions they fought very bravely like in Duncirk and Bir i Hakim but it is very hard almost impossible to find the sources. Keep up the great job you do

[@jetaddicted]

You want to check French sources. English ones are quite biased, be them from the UK or the US, take the depiction of Dunkirk as being a great victory to the English press when in fact the BEF had chickened out and fled, leaving the French to man the frontlines, as an example

[@theodorossarafis7370]

@@jetaddicted unfortunately i dont speak french

[@kareldekale4987]

@@jetaddicted Better read the book of L.Fry. Waters flowing eastward The political side of the story.

[@HistoryHustle]

@Theodoros: thanks for your reply. I believe the WW2 channel covers a great deal of that.

[@theodorossarafis7370]

@@GreatPolishWingedHussars i had no idea about all this information. Thank you so much so sharing the knowledge. I am much obliged

[@galahad-history]

I love that intro!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks 👍 Just came up with it spontaneously when shooting the vid.

[@leosanchez101]

Commenting for algorithm. Underrated channel and awesome job on the video! :)

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks! Feel free to share, that also helps :)

[@oneshotme]

Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@HistoryHustle]

👍👍👍

[@matthewwhitton5720]

This is a wonderful compliment to Dr Mark Feltons recent episode detailing the first Allied nation to bomb Berlin….France !

[@randommadness1021]

Are you saying that this is a rip off?

[@matthewwhitton5720]

@@randommadness1021 No. I wrote and posted precisely what I think. I have the highest degree of respect and admiration for the superb work done by both Stefan and Dr Fulton. Please explain why you are interpreting my delight with Stefans work in an aggressive, belligerent manner.

[@randommadness1021]

@@matthewwhitton5720 I totally agree mate, I was having a laugh. Kinda the nature of this video (in my opinion) the laughs, not a rip off. Maybe gave an idea for a video. Nothing like Dr Feltons content.

[@HistoryHustle]

Mark Felton did make an episode about the Saar Offensive years ago which I also used as inspiration. Too bad the sources are very limited on this operation. Else I would've made it more indepth.

[@randommadness1021]

@@HistoryHustle There isn't really too much to discuss anyway to be fair. Nothing more than a few skirmishes to be fair if I remember correctly???

[@hayleybabyyu1282]

Hello Stefan. Since you make videos about little known events in Ww2, I have a request video. Please make a video about the Battle of Schoenfeld, 1st of March 1945 the last cavalry charge in WW2. Thank you!

[@HistoryHustle]

Never heard of this. Interesting! Hope to cover it one day.

[@hayleybabyyu1282]

@@HistoryHustle Thank you Stefan! I will definitely like the video!

[@JH-hz5wo]

Brilliant. Thankyou.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@Pikkabuu]

Hey thanks for the info. I knew about the offensive but always wondered why it was cut short (And I'm way too lazy to read about it on my own with how many history books I have on my reading pile).

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you for watching!

[@altanar8511]

As a french, I recommend a book call "strange defeat" from Marc Bloch, a french historian. Writen in 1940, it's a masterpiece on this period in france.

[@HistoryHustle]

Sounds like an interesting read.

[@jonathangat4765]

Another reminder that history is rarely a straight line and that events have a life of their own. Yes, one of the great 'what ifs' of history. It just goes to show that things don't always have to end the way they do. We look at history backwards, and not forwards which is not the way the protagonists lived it.

[@BoopSnoot]

Its not forgotten, its suppressed knowledge because it goes against the narrative. Western students aren't taught that it was France and England that declared war on Germany, that more than anything the greatest offense they committed was establishing a national bank, that Germans did not want war with France or England as fighting on two fronts was their greatest fear, and that German soldiers marching into Paris were ordered to be on best behavior rather than say rapists and pillagers like the Red army did to Berlin and that the English rejected three peace offerings from Germany early in the war (mostly thanks to Churchill the warmonger).

[@johnnewell726]

@@BoopSnoot yes but there's a good bit that know the actual history, myself included.

[@HistoryHustle]

@Jonathan: agree.

[@mosinnagant412]

Excellent!

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@sarcasmo57]

Super interesting.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@Eddyninja32]

Hey, I'm from Saarland and i didn't know about this offensive. Thank you for teaching me history of my home state. Because it's so small the Saarland is often forgotten, even in Germany. There are a lot of people, espacially from the "Neue Bundesländer", former DDR, that even today think, the Saarland belongs to France.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply.

[@db6259]

Sorry. In the today "Neue Bundesländer" this episode is well known because the "Saarfranzosen" were without exeption evacuated to East Germany.

[@sashayt8932]

The fact that I am french this video pretty much upset me and more than the video the comment too. This offensive was not a real "offensive" because the french and the english did not want to attack germany before their industry and their army would be ready. The goal of the allies at this moment was to wait like in WW1 with a blockade of germany and to make their industry (at this moment a civil industry) more a military industry but Poland was not happy about this so they wanted the allies to make a offensive in the west who resulted as we know the "Saar Offensive". In fact England and France never trusted that Poland will stand against germany so for them Poland was just a tool to make more time for them to be ready. The doctrine and the army of the allied was not really like ww1 in fact the french did learn the importance of the tank and the mobility in war and had make progress in that domain and the division who resulted was sent to Netherland and Belgium at the start of the war but will be encircle at Dunkerque for the most.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing. No need to be upset. It's just a video and these are just comments.

[@cheneyxxxxx]

very interesting!

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@blacklion8208]

Told much better than on another video I saw about this same offensive... My compliments

[@HistoryHustle]

thank you!

[@blacklion8208]

@@HistoryHustle You are welcome

[@50ShadesOfBeige]

It always surprises me (not) that people weren't aware of the Saar Offensive.

[@HistoryHustle]

Agree. It became a footnote in history.

[@axolotl-guy9801]

Lol! I used to have the same Lego character as on your youtube profile picture. Reminded me of my dad

[@eliasjojo4723]

Fun Fact : There is a saying that The French just turned around and called it the Day

[@HistoryHustle]

Lol

[@inhocsignovinces1081]

The war to end all wars (WWI) was still a living memory for many soldiers and politicians. As such, a feeble attack in the Saar was intended as a statement rather than waging an all out offensive towards victory. The following May and June proved too late.

[@HistoryHustle]

Indeed.

[@Porcelanix]

The French and the British had known about Ribbentrop-Molotov packt long before Poland. Yet, they did nothing. They even asked to stop the mobilisation in Poland, not to anger Hitler

[@HistoryHustle]

"long before Poland" The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed 23 August and one week later Germany invaded Poland.

[@Porcelanix]

@@HistoryHustle the unofficial arrangements were taking place since April. The Pact itself was the highlight

[@georgekaragiannakis6637]

Thanks Stefan for another interesting aspect of WW2. Most certainly the French should have been more aggressive in their attack but unfortunately the French doctrine in preparation for the next war was defensive. As you point out the Maginot Line was a built for the French to stay behind not advance out of. Even the advance of the 7th and 1st Armies into Belgium was more defensive in nature, by linking with the Belgian Army which had the task of defending Belgian territory.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply.

[@jetaddicted]

There is a reason to this: Les classes creuses: the shallow classes. France had lost millions of potential fathers in 14-18, between the dead and those too wounded to procreate (either because of direct damage to the reproductive system, their broken faces not being exactly appealing, or the psychological trauma), and therefore France simply did not have enough troops twenty years later.

[@albertmarnell9976]

@@jetaddicted Do you think the men of other nations were any different?

[@nomennescio4604]

@@albertmarnell9976 The British replaced their war dead in 12 years after the end of WWI.The Germans did it in just 8. The French were looking at a forecast saying it would take them 66 years. The men, perhaps the same, the situation for the different nations, rather less so.

[@earthenjadis8199]

@@albertmarnell9976 It was structurally built into French society. The Napoleonic Code introduced inheritance laws that encouraged the French to have small families. No one realised it was a problem at the time.

[@romanpernal7397]

In early 1930s the Polish government recommended an invasion of Hitler's Germany by the British and French from the West and Poland would invade from the East....due to the fact that Germany was building up for war.

[@mikebellis5713]

Something else few people are aware of

[@HistoryHustle]

@Roman: feel free to share your source on this.

[@kensilverstone1656]

Thanks!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your donation Ken!

[@janalbertholwerda5954]

Heerlijk om als 47 jarige bij jouw in de klas weer zoveel nieuwe dingen te leren!😊

[@HistoryHustle]

Super, dank!

[@AHOSE97HuN]

5:58 Google auto subtitle: molotov ribbon trump pact 😂😂😂

[@HistoryHustle]

Lol. Have to work on these soon!

[@HistoryHustle]

I finished the subtitles.

[@marekmazurek8459]

Yeah that offence was a joke, they took like 1 german small town but retreated straight away back to maginot line like good Frenchie

[@HistoryHustle]

Pretty much yeah.

[@Groovy_Bruce]

Perhaps ive just missed them. But have you considered doing live streams? Great way to make some decent money and also grow your footprint through interaction with subscribers. I, for one, would definitely watch,

[@HistoryHustle]

Perhaps in the future.

[@petemoss8625]

""" ifs buts and maybes""" Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

[@HistoryHustle]

Indeed.

[@mrttripz3236]

Hey is there any accounts of the decision making behind this? I would like to know if this was just complete luck for the Germans or if it was actually a brilliant strategic decision made with the understanding that the French wouldn't be able to seize the initiative? There are two possibilities that I would imagine were in play. Either Hitler underestimated Polish resistance and thought the French would start an invasion but the army would be able to quickly respond, making this a lucky situation Or maybe Hitler knew that the French were stuck in the ww1 mindset and Knew that they wouldn't move fast or far from the Maginot. This would be ironic because as far as I understand the foundational theory for the Blitzkreig strategy originated in France

[@marcusfranconium3392]

There was that whole franco british plan to mount an invasion in 1941 . as they thought they would have build up enough forces. so that could have been one of those , causes that they where not ready for a war before they declared it.

[@mrttripz3236]

@@marcusfranconium3392 well that much is hard to deny. What I'm curious about is that did nazi leadership know this or did they assume they would be able to deal with a French invasion somehow

[@mrttripz3236]

@Fabian Kirchgessner ah so they were expecting another capitulation just like the Munich agreement?

[@marcusfranconium3392]

@Fabian Kirchgessner True , as britain was in no position to fight a war, it would take 2 years to get to full strenght. that is a lot of time to prare defenses . Even encouraged the germans to strike early as their initial plan was to have britain and france assist the finish fighting the russians . quite a interesting time that events where unfolding.

[@marcusfranconium3392]

@@mrttripz3236 They didnt expect the declaration of war so soon . as they also knew that france and britain needed time to mobilise and the troops they did have where planned for the assistence of the finish against the sovjet union. And as armies cant be at 2 places at the same time . Just imagine if germany waited 1 year before the invasion of poland , the british and france would be commited to assisting the finish against the sovjet union . when that was going on germany could actualy invade poland with not much backlash and punch in to the sovjet union as well. as the sovjets would be fighting a war in the north commited with a large number of troops and germany would have a field day invading the sovjet union with their unscaved airforce and tanks . As i said an interesting time events unfolded if one waited for a few months the war could be verry different.

[@julianshepherd2038]

Britain had a great navy, air force and infantry to deal with the empire. They doubted anyone wanted to rerun WW1.

[@HistoryHustle]

Indeed.

[@randommadness1021]

Hitler knew this. He hoped Britain wouldn't attack with that previous war still being fresh in the mind. God help us all should it ever happen again with the technology we have these days.

[@thinkingagain5966]

@@randommadness1021 there will never be another war like the 2 world wars. The nukes would fly if it ever got half as bad

[@randommadness1021]

@@thinkingagain5966 I know. Would be stupid to try it. I don't think any country would use them unless they had no choice. Would lead to surrender or death.

[@kayakdan48]

@@thinkingagain5966 They may indeed fight a "proxy" war though, on a world wide scale without direct assaults on the part of Super Powers. They might even accomodate a consumptive war assuming the nature of all of their Military Industrial Complexes $$$$.

[@82dorrin]

If you ever feel worthless, just think of the Saar Offensive.

[@HistoryHustle]

😅

[@mymaster416]

Pretty interesting how such an important WW2 detail is indeed forgotten. It would be a pretty logical thing if school history books tried to explain why Germany invaded France. Instead they just go with "just cause". Same goes for Norway

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply 👍

[@Crashed131963]

So they did not think of declaring war on Russia for invading Poland also? It was not OK for Hitler to invade Poland but Stalin is ok?

[@HistoryHustle]

Type that question in YT search bar and find the answer.

[@mikebellis5713]

Victor's history propaganda. The allies supported a communist genocidal monster to the hilt- a man who murdered 20m of his own people during peacetime

[@thkempe]

They also didn't care that Stalin took all of Poland after the war. So you can see that the pact was not intended to protect Poland, but only to harass Germany.

[@Crashed131963]

@@mikebellis5713 True I think Hitler and Stalin were twins separated at birth or clones.

[@BHuang92]

This is a great what if moment of WW2. Unfortunately, no matter how much the idea is appealing, the inherit flaws of the French Army would've made it a disaster anyways.

[@HistoryHustle]

We'll never know...

[@randommadness1021]

Would've been a disaster. The allies weren't prepared at this point in time. Just look at Dunkirk. There's your answer.

[@apostolisnatsios7953]

Don't tell such things, there are some French that get insulted...

[@albertmarnell9976]

@@apostolisnatsios7953 LOL!!! What doesn't insult them?

[@apostolisnatsios7953]

@@albertmarnell9976 the other day, I was talking with some French guys about the " Great " Achievements of the French army during history. I told them that besides Napoleon evreybody else in their military pantheon is a disaster. I was rejected as a mental case with severe issues with France and called names. When I told them that in my opinion second to Napoleon is Asterix, they went ballistic and cursed me and my country Greece profoundly. That was a good laugh.

[@JNF590]

Thanks for giving us this, Information I know about the operation thanks to Doc. Felton but any addition about history and Immersion is a Plus. Hope some guy would do the Asian Theater as it is as Scary and magnificent as the European one.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply. In case you're interested, this is my video about the end of the Pacific War: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmGngoGJntWcq6M

[@vanbrabant6791]

Why did France and the UK not declare war on the USSR, that went for the other half of Poland ... ?

[@HistoryHustle]

Type in that question in YT search bar and find the answer.

[@peteredwards338]

The German Army lost 15000 dead in the Polish campaign, thousands more wounded and much equipment. The allies could have won WWII early.

[@HistoryHustle]

Most likely but we'll never know...

[@albertmarnell9976]

Always good information never taught to my knowledge. Thank You Stefan. I noticed in the footage so many French colony soldiers. I better leave it at that. Anyone with half a brain knows where I'm going...perhaps.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply. Please explain?

[@albertmarnell9976]

@@HistoryHustle I see so many dark skinned men of the French colonies in the footage. They used many men which were their "Untermenschen" to do their dirty work. So much for French moral superiority.

[@phlm9038]

@@albertmarnell9976 There were 40 000 colonial soldiers on the Western Front in 1940, on a total of 170 000 of mobilized soldiers. 2 400 Algerian and Tunisian riflemen will be killed, as well as 3 500 Senegalese riflemen. 5 000 000 metropolitan soldiers were mobilized, the half of them in fighting units. 100 000 of them will be killed. Most of the mobilized colonial soldiers will stay in Africa, Syria and Lebanon. Their main role was to protect the colonial Empire. GO TO HELL WITH YOUR DISGUSTING COMMENT !

[@albertmarnell9976]

@@phlm9038 Why is it disgusting? You are missing the point. The French used people other than the native French to fight their battles with them. It is the truth. Don't tell me that the French did not look down on the people in North Africa...such as Algeria and Tunis? They used blacks too from Senegal as cannon fodder to fight their battles? Do you understand the concept? BTW, it is not a disgusting concept. It is a perspective and the TRUTH! Unless you can prove me wrong. What is the source of your statistics? This is an exchange of information. If you want to change my perception, you are going about it the wrong way. If they did not use more of the colonial soldiers it was probably because it would be hard to train them. The WW l French and their sons had more experience, besides, they were fighting for their country. They were more experienced and motivated. That is common sense.

[@albertmarnell9976]

@@phlm9038 If it makes you feel better, two of my grandparents and my mother were from Hamburg, Germany. During WW l (ONE), my grandfather had to kill French soldiers with a bayonet and He HATED IT! I don't know if they were French nationals or colonists but HE HATED IT! He was born in 1896 and was in the army of the German Empire. When I was a boy and teenager I would ask him as many questions as I could about what he went through and I would ask my grandmother what she went through. BTW, she almost died from the Naval blockade in the winter of 1917 from starvation and lack of fuel in the cold North German winter. The estimates of of 450,000 German civilians (mostly women, children and old men) is an allied low number. All people are human beings. Opa used to say to me with his heavy German accent, "Albert, It was kill or be killed!" It made him sick! Sometimes he would say to me, "I don't want to talk anymore about it!" As a kid and now an adult, I'm very inquisitive. I noticed more and more bullet scars on his body as I grew older as a boy. Also, while my two German and two Sicilian grandparents and German born mother were in the U.S. during WW ll as "Enemy Aliens" most of my relatives were in the German military; not the S.S. or the Einsatzgruppen. They hated it too! I had one Sicilian American uncle (my father's brother who I hated because he was so cruel to my brother and I). He was in the U.S. military in the Pacific. I always said that I hated him so much that I wish a Japanese soldier would have killed him. Everyone is an individual. Do you think the German men and boys enjoyed fighting in either war? My grandfather was so angry about how wars are created that he said the leaders of the countries should go in a boxing ring and fight it out but they use the people with no power to fight their battles and those of the global royal and industrial classes.

[@RickPop85]

1939 in the UK we had a song about hanging out the washing on the Seigfried line - if they knew what we know I wonder if they still would have sung that

[@orange8420]

More like WE gonna hang out washing on the Dunkirk shore

[@HistoryHustle]

lol

[@kareldekale4987]

It is the song of the average soldier, like the song of Lili Marlene. They don't know that they are useful to other powers, the bankers, the arm industrie. Porn Crime Army Just follow the money!

[@raul1899]

The most interesting thing to me, is how Germany attacked Poland, knowing that they would leave their frontier with France completely vulnerable... It looks like they were really gumbling. On paper... Attacking Poland was the stupidest shit Hitler could've done. And it worked out because of how afraid the allies were.

[@PakBallandSami]

people who think france did nothing in ww2: i'm going to ignore that

[@randommadness1021]

Sorry. France took over a few empty towns for a few weeks then retreated like hero's with massive losses (relatively speaking). What an achievement!! 👏

[@HistoryHustle]

It's nuanced: it's not that the French didn't do anything but they surely could put in more effort.

[@randommadness1021]

@@HistoryHustle Think they simply weren't prepared. It was easy for us with us being an island to declare war on the strongest country on mainland Central Europe with the protection of the English Channel. Bit more difficult for an unprepared Frence who didn't just share a border with the Germans but were also still trying to get rid of the memories from the great war up against a hurt Germany who were MUCH stronger than the allies knew thanks to the Russians building tanks, boats etc for the Germans despite the sore rules of the French Treaty from the great war. Why Hitler attacked the Russians we'll never know truly, but he probably could've completely run over the full west coast of mainland Europe, and I include Britain in that, along with Norway and Finland and then have been strong enough to take on the Soviets. Especially if they got the Spanish on their side too, which would've probably happened if Germany threatened them after capturing the whole of the North West of Europe had he had the patience. And now we live in a world where Germany is at the heart of a United Europe (minus UK). Strange how things turn out...

[@Kopyrda]

@@randommadness1021 People tend to ignore the massive German fortifications, that Germans put twice as much money in as French did in Maginot Line. But yeah, apparently French should just pointlessly lose tens of thousands of soldiers attacking fortified positions, WWI style.

[@randommadness1021]

@@Kopyrda 🇫🇷=🤤

[@winstonsmith2079]

I would be interested in the Polish invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1938. Another forgotten part of WW2.

[@HistoryHustle]

Indeed, hope to cover more on that in the future.

[@dottorekaoz8679]

The period from Oktober '39 to May '40 was called "Sitzkrieg" (sitting war), because all armies just sat there; and because it rhymed with "Blitzkrieg" (lightning war).

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes, indeed.

[@55CreeperHunter99]

2:59 when your custom character appears ina cutscene

[@HistoryHustle]

Lol

[@Briselance]

Well, it didn't do us French much good, did it? This was an half-arsed poor excuse for an "attack", on all levels except maybe that of the units and individuals on the tactical level.

[@HistoryHustle]

That's where it came down to.

[@marcusfranconium3392]

Its a bit funny as the same happend during WW1 , a short lived invasion . in 1914.

[@HistoryHustle]

Alsace in WW1 is a different story (much more cassualties) but an interesting one.

[@marcusfranconium3392]

@@HistoryHustle correct , also the uniforms where a bit of a give away as they still where bleu with red . not particular good camoflage . I do love the old magizine /book series Berichten uit de tweede wereld oorlog . a lot of history but seen from the political/ social views leading up to militairy disisions and actions.

[@db6259]

Thank you. as a Saarlandais I thank you to don#t forget, that it was not the French Army that occupied the "Saargebiet" til 1935, but that there were some agreements with the french side under the supervision of the United Nations precedent "Völkerbund". So written in the treatment of Verrsailles of 1919. (Sorry for my unsufficient English). And that all the population of the Frontier Zone ("red Zone") had been evacuated before and in september 1939. My Father as a Newborn was evacuated too.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing this.

[@davidrowlands441]

I never heard of this but it was only a small half hearted attack that captured a small area the Germans had already evacuated. It seems the allies were afraid to provide the Germans to much but it probably made good headlines in the french newspapers. Like I said I was not aware of this action so thanks.

[@davidrowlands441]

@Fabian Kirchgessner Yes. I agree.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks replying, David!

[@adavis5926]

Interesting video. Thanks! In the book "Stalin's War," I was also surprised to learn that the British and French had also considered bombing Russia's oil center in Baku, using long-range bombers from the Middle East. It would have been an exceptionally bold move. Since before the Germany invasion, the majority of Germany's oil came from Russia, the destruction of the Baku oil fields would have dried up German oil as it had little in reserve. No oil, no blitzkrieg. Alas, it was too bold for the British and the French.

[@menablubb442]

It would have drawn the Soviets onto the German side instead of the Allied side. Would have been a devastating move for the world to come...

[@adavis5926]

@@menablubb442 at the time, the Soviets had already revealed their nonagression pact with Germany and had attacked Finland, which wasn't yet supported by Germany, so it looked like the USSR and Germany were already hand-in-glove. It's true that the Soviets would have been more likely to work with the Germans if the allies bombed their major oil center--and may even have encouraged a German-Russian Middle East strategy to secure more oil and to cut off British oil. Still, it's pretty clear that Hitler's overall strategy was to invade the Soviet Union. At any rate, the point you make is one of the reasons they didn't go forward. After the Russians backed off Finland, the plan was shelved.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your insights, A David!

[@46FreddieMercury91]

@@adavis5926 it would have become a politically complex war. It would have completely upset Hitler's plans for Lebensraum. Or would the British have been defeated then Germany turns on USSR? Possibly as it would be the one- on-one Hitler wanted with the Communists

[@captderichelieu2280]

My dear professor of history for primary school students ! In 1939, the French army outnumbered the German army in all respects. At that moment when the Germans turned Polish cities into piles of ash, the French and British did nothing serious to fulfill their allied obligations to Poland. Today those events are called a strange war -and it really is ! On September 1, 1939, 110 German military divisions and 1200 combat aircraft were stationed on the French border. From the French side, they were opposed by 140 French military divisions and 3,000 combat aircraft. It should be noted that the Germans had reserve soldiers and all military equipment was not of the best quality, All good things were sent to the Polish front, and it is also important that the construction of the German fortifications of the (Siegfried) line was not completed. Undoubtedly, in the event of the start of serious hostilities, the Germans faced a catastrophe back in 1939.The whole tragedy that happened can be summed up in one word - triumph of madness !

[@keithmorrison6176]

what helped the germans too is they also used captured machines to either build thier own or for fighting because they still suffer from lack of raw materials in the start of the war.

[@captderichelieu2280]

@@keithmorrison6176 France's most tragic mistake was the betrayal of its loyal ally Czechoslovakia in 1938. Today, without any doubt, we can say that the army of Czechoslovakia in most of its indicators was much superior to what the Nazis had at that time. Czechoslovak military industry and Czech fortifications on the German border were the jewel of European military science. In 1938, the armed forces of Czechoslovakia consisted of 45 divisions and were armed with 1582 aircraft, 469 tanks and 5700 artillery pieces. All these first-class weapons were seized by the Germans without a fight,. and of course, without the support of the Czech war industry, Hitler would never have started a world war.

[@HistoryHustle]

I don't teach at primary school.

[@thomastabler9712]

Everyone says France was not ready for war. But the Germans were also not prepared for it. Due to the huge shortage of fuels, raw materials and food supplies, the Wehrmacht was capable of effective offensive actions lasting no more than 3-4 weeks. By starting the war in Poland, Hitler risked madly, but he knew that time was still working against him. Therefore, in order to reduce the risk, he made an alliance with Stalin. Never afterwards in this war was Germany weaker. The basic German tank in 1939 was the Panzer I - a small, two-person vehicle that Polish infantrymen destroyed with small arms. By stopping the march on Germany, Marshal Gamelin betrayed France.

[@HistoryHustle]

Interesting insights, thanks for sharing.

[@mikewest5529]

I’m pacing!! Where’s Saturday’s entertainment!! Lol!! My weekend wake up!!

[@HistoryHustle]

Almost there 👍

[@mikewest5529]

@@HistoryHustle NICE!!! You are the best!!

[@willhovell9019]

Well done Stefan. Good insight. Pity that Saarland was handed back . It would have make a forward position for an attack on the Reich. Don't forget the military actions at sea . The key issue was poor intelligence , chain of command. The French were in the main better equipped , but as you correctly say dispersed their armour and motorised forces , rather than concentrating them . On the British side Chamberlain was a very weak leader of a Tory Government. The Labour / Tory coalition wasn't formed until May 1940 ,and it was already too late . The British when they fight wars with one party Government , generally leads to disaster and an un-united approach . The Boer war , Asquith in 1914/15 , Chamberlain at the start of WW2 1939- early 1940

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply, Will!

[@WaverleyWanderer]

Can you entirely trust what a German General says about the consequences had the offensive been pressed harder. They have a tendency to be less than truthful in there memoirs when it comes to allocating responsibility for events.

[@HistoryHustle]

I understand. It remains a what-if scenario so we'll never know.

[@effendi77]

But Jodl never got to live long enough to write his 'memoirs', like Generals Mannstein, Guderian et al.

[@WaverleyWanderer]

@@effendi77 Ok I take your point, in his case its another what if.

[@effendi77]

@Waverley Wanderer in that case Dunkirk would have been remembered for the winter of the year 1939.

[@marcoskehl]

Your nice coat makes you look like a gray man directive. Your dress code in public during your videos are very sober. By the way, this video of the Saar Offensive is very intersting, too.. Obrigado! 🇧🇷

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply, Marcos. Outdoor I dress more modest. Also because I don't have the means to bring all my outfits to the location.

[@obiwankenobi5769]

2:28 both military uniforms are equipped with standard tactical moustaches

[@HistoryHustle]

lol

[@douili450]

Fact is, moustache was mandatory for every enlisted man in french army from 1914 to 1933

[@vladriabukha3616]

Never heard about it. But again, it was useless and didn't affected anything. No wonder nobody mentions it when talk about WW2.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply.

[@justusstern9125]

"...did invade Poland..." ...well, that`s not THAT easy, guys ! Poland attacked EVERY country around them earlier. And the minorities in Poland (1,4 Million Germans, 5,5 Million from Hungary, ect. ect.) were huntet, tortured and killed. There is a major plot behind the normal histroy from your school books, an d the British were heavily involved ! Germany attacked Poland, yes. BUT.... Soviet Russia did that, too ! WHO was blamed? ONLY Germany.... Interesting.

[@HistoryHustle]

Revisionism. I'm not interested in that.

[@Muexxxor]

I wont Fit ur picture, right

[@aleksanderwielopolski8205]

Aw, you think that because some lands of Poland were under Austria-Hungary, therefore there were Hungarians there... LOL. It was outside of hungarian part of Austria-Hungary, as the lands conquered by Austria in the partitions of Poland. That's also when the Prussians enslaved some other polish lands, to bring them later into Germany. In 1918-1919 Poland simply liberated herself from her occupants.

[@lukagalic9533]

That is outrageous that it is forgotten.

[@HistoryHustle]

Many aspects are. That's why I have this channel.

[@edwardkenworthy7013]

Is it really an attack if nobody notices and just turn around and go back?

[@HistoryHustle]

More or less yes.

[@doctorotis3743]

Well done professor. Belgian SS Waffen Leon DeGrille Campaign in Russia author. I was introduced to his book in 1989 when I was ignorant of actual WW2 events on eastern front. Or Guy Sayer book Eastern Front. Comment?

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply.

[@GiuseppeDeRosa2001]

Have you done a video on Denmark 🇩🇰 yet?

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes, two: Denmark WW2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZyTo5-qjNhlZ5Y Danish Waffen-SS: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJKtlmSXmbutkK8

[@StarMalLP]

My family was evacuated at the time. the french did not hit more than a few houses with their artillery.

[@HistoryHustle]

Interesting to read. Thanks for sharing this.

[@1-svanb910]

gaaf man stefan!

[@HistoryHustle]

Dank!

[@billpetersen298]

After the recent history of the First World War. I can understand the reluctance, to escalate the situation. Not knowing how bad it was going to get, all over again.

[@HistoryHustle]

Understandable yes.

[@tuncozbora2244]

5'04" : why a swiss white cross on the vehicules ?

[@HistoryHustle]

Good question, never noticed it. I'd say these were iron crosses but these had a different pattern and were black. Strange!

[@Chichul]

Hi, did you watched EUROPA the last battle?

[@HistoryHustle]

No, I did watch Hellstorm. It's revisionism; a false narrative. So is EUROPA the last battle.

[@effendi77]

rofl I really like and follow your channel, as it is quite informative and provides a well-rounded insight of the Western European perspective on WW2. One wonders if the Saar offensive was just cautious or a half-hearted attempt by the French and the Anglos to fight the Nazi Germany. Their real taste of war against Nazi Germany actually arrived in 1940. But soon enough, the French had got the licking and the Anglos finally discovered that there was no way out of an inevitable war against Nazi Germany. However none of the Western Europeans, nor even the United States, fought a war as bitter and terrible as the Soviet Union did, ad even they were not quite prepared in the beginning.

[@HistoryHustle]

yeah