The Incredible Stories of The Real Hogan's Heroes

[@josephosheavideos3992]

Robert Widerman (aka Clary) LITERALLY had to sing for his life during his internment in the concentration camps. Like many of the "Hogan's Heroes" cast members, Clary was a talented singer. The Gestapo guards actually liked his singing and had him sing every Sunday, which kept him from being sent to the gas chambers.

[@dlmyrs]

I read Klemperer’s wiki page the other day He wouldn’t play Colonel Klink unless he could play him as a bumbling idiot. And my Maternal Grandma forbid this show in her house. Later, I found out her brother died during the war. I did some research a few weeks back. KIA on Christmas Day of ‘44 in Germany. Rest in Peace Uncle Okley.

[@War_And_Truth]

How did he die if you don't mind me asking?

[@dlmyrs]

@ KIA is all I know. Had to look at the old Dept of Defense records. Only listed him as KIA.

[@daviddixon9458]

KIA on Christmas Day of 1944 in Germany. I suggest he was in the Air Force.

[@dlmyrs]

@ Army. It seems odd, don’t know who was where on the 25th of Dec. But he’s listed as KIA Germany.

[@davidcarlen8363]

Most records according to news reports burned in St Louis,

[@MultiAirsoftjunkie]

THANK YOU! This is one of the shows my parents made sure I saw growing up, and growing up as a Jew it was was pointed out to me the main “Nazis” in the show were all portrayed by Jews. This was always explained to me as “yes they did bad to us, but what is stoping us from making them look like idiots.”

[@kristend344]

Conrad Veidt, as Major Strasser in Casablanca was a German who had escaped Europe with his Jewish wife.

[@flyboy152]

That is basically Mel Brooks' response to why so many of his movies feature Hitler.

[@War_And_Truth]

You are welcome. It would have given plenty of comedic relief to the survivors who were still around when it aired.

[@bele2.041]

Mel Brooks resolved to mock Nazis with his movies after participating in the liberation of camps with his unit in 1945.

[@theiggy1474]

My uncle could not watch this show. He was shot down early in the war. Spent most of the war in POW camps. He kept escaping from them until they finally sent him to Colditz. He would keep repeating "that's not how the camps were."

[@War_And_Truth]

I can totally understand his point. It certainly wasn't made for veterans.

[@PaxAlotin]

*There must be something wrong with the video* --------------- because ----------------- *'I see nothing - I hear nothing - I know nothing'* 🙂😉😊

[@War_And_Truth]

Haha love it.

[@thomasbarrett8397]

I grew up watching Hogan's Hero and still watch it today.

[@War_And_Truth]

It never gets old or less funny.

[@ElleCee62978]

I was born the day Bob Crane died - June 29, 1978. I’ve been watching Hogan’s Heroes since 1986. Two small things: Major Hochstedder wasn’t SS. He was Gestapo. Bob Crane only did the National Guard, but not during WWII. He graduated in 1946.

[@dougbrowne9890]

The Gestapo (Geheime Staatspolizei) was a sub-office of the Sicherheitspolizei (Security Police- SIPo) and sister to the SD (Sicherheitsdienst), all of which fell under the authority of Reichfuhrer-SS, Heinrich Himmler. It certainly was SS during the war, which is why Hochstedder wore an SS uniform.

[@stuglenn1112]

@@dougbrowne9890 You are correct, the Gestapo was part of the SS.

[@War_And_Truth]

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[@jasongibson8114]

​@@stuglenn1112I always wondered about the ss uniform as a Gestapo

[@daviddixon9458]

Not many people realize how accurate this show was. In 1940 a British Pilot Officer was shot down and captured by the Germans. He had developed a code with his girlfriend which he used to send intel to her which she passed onto the British Intelligence. He were instructed to teach other POW's the code which enabled them to send info back to Britain. The full story is explained in the book Wings.

[@War_And_Truth]

That's very interesting.

[@bele2.041]

Always enjoyed this. I never felt that the actors, writers or producers took the captivity of P.O.W.s lightly. Think about it; The Great Escape, Stalag 17, Bridge on the River Kwai, King Rat and Von Ryan's Express. Hogan's Heroes was a satire of a popular movie genre. Nothing nore.

[@War_And_Truth]

Thank god we have those films to watch now instead of the garbage they make these days.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

'the only surviving member of his family'.....how sad and sobering.

[@DrOlds7298]

Johannes (John) Banner was also the sole survivor in his family. As I recall,he just happened by chance to be working in Switzerland when his family all got rounded up.

[@War_And_Truth]

Have to wonder how someone could go on and live a half normal life under those circumstances.

[@garthornspike3648]

Robert Clary never talked about his experience in the concentration camps. The other cast members were shocked when they found out Clary was at Buchenwald and that he was the only member of his family that survived.

[@War_And_Truth]

It's a wonder he could stand being around men in German uniforms.

[@ElaineWood-f2t]

​@@War_And_Truth There's a video on YT with Robert Clary in which he discusses the fact that several of the actors in HH were Jewish. He said he was often asked about it. His explanation was that it was a job. They were actors. It paid the bills. He said they liked poking fun at the Germans.

[@tabbithacampfield4116]

I had a great uncle That hated this show. He had the bad luck of being a guest of the Germans for 18 months. Captured in Italy. Sent to Germany to Stalag 3B in Poland Escaped in early 45 when they were moving the prisoners west ahead of the Russians A German family hid him until the Americans got to that area But he did like Stalag 17

[@War_And_Truth]

Can't imagine former POW's would find it too humorous.

[@Normandy1944]

Robert Clary's real name is Robert Max Widerman and he was a Polish Jew, he changed his name for fear of anti-Semitism. He was still learning English after his arrival in the states, so his accent is real. I still love watching Hogan's Hero's on METV.

[@War_And_Truth]

Thanks for the info.

[@resolute123]

I've always wondered how they would have done the final episode?

[@iamrichrocker]

WT..excellent research and presentation..many facts i was not aware of..and yes, our family never missed a sgow..my Dad was a WW2 vet..but he never mentioned a word of what he went thru..thx Buddy..great video..and Happy Holidays

[@War_And_Truth]

Thanks mate I appreciate that and seasons greeting to you.

[@garychambers6848]

I am 70 years old and my father served in the US 3rd army from 42-46 (687th FAB)....He was at Buchenwald during the liberation and "cleanup".....

[@War_And_Truth]

I hope he wasn't too traumatized.

[@garychambers6848]

@@War_And_Truth He took pictures of the camp and I saw them when I was young...My mother burned then because "those dead bodies were naked" More likely he would look at them TOO often....

[@osleftie]

Love your videos. I’d be interested and would love for you to do a video about Actor Mel Brooks and his participation in The Battle of the Bulge during WWII.

[@War_And_Truth]

Thanks. I will take a look at Mel Brooks and see how much info there is on his military service.

[@brianmitchell5906]

Kenneth Washington (Sgt. Baker from the final season) is the last living cast member from Hogan's Heroes.

[@richardmardis2492]

I remember finding out about Clary during the time he was in the movie The Hindenburg. That’s when he spoke out that he was in a concentration camp.

[@War_And_Truth]

An incredible story for sure.

[@arthouston7361]

I loved the show. I never understood why Rod Serling didn't approve of it, calling it, "the merry men of Auschwitz." Is it possible that he didn't know of all these connections, that the guys playing the Germans were Jews, and that Robert had been in a concentration camp? I disagreed with Rod on this. I do not think it trivialized anything. It represented a lot of resourcefulness in the face of adversity, and let us laugh at an enemy that was properly defeated. With all of the horrors of war, many needed a little comic relief.

[@War_And_Truth]

Well said.

[@frankleespeaking9519]

My dad passed in 2008 at 70. He looked like a thinner sgt. Shultz. Everyone got a kick out of it

[@War_And_Truth]

Nice. My dad passed away in 2017 on his 80th birthday. He looked very similar to Lee Marvin.

[@wkelly3053]

I watched every episode I could as a kid. My dad was in the U.S. Army in Europe after D-day. He managed draft deferments for a while, I think because of his skill as a machinist, but eventually he went, serving in the 288th Field Artillery Observation Battalion. I knew HH was contrived. My older sister told me about Robert Clary's real hardships when I was about 14. Random stuff.

[@War_And_Truth]

Thanks for sharing.

[@oldtruthteller2512]

What do you mean 'HH was contrived'?

[@billwilson-es5yn]

My father received draft deferments for being an industrial electrician. He spent the first 3 years building portable electric substations and diesel powered generation stations on RR flatcars and in box cars. Those were set next to defense plants and shipped overseas. During '44 and '45 he was sent to Hawaii where he repaired those used at various bases that were then shipped back out to new bases. His brothers also received occupational deferments as machinists and tool & die makers. They trained men and women to perform certain tasks on one machine at a time.

[@jamesmccarty8988]

My dad served in France and the Philippines in WW2, he loved this show.

[@War_And_Truth]

Wow, how did he end up in the Pacific?

[@raulduke6105]

Excellent work

[@War_And_Truth]

Thank you.

[@calvanoni5443]

Wonderful to see this information again, I knew of this previously, & watched the later years of the show as a child.

[@War_And_Truth]

One of the first shows I watch as a kid.

[@darrenjames4022]

So the hatred Le Beau had for “The Bosch” was real in the only way it could be.

[@dougbrowne9890]

Werner Klemperer was related to Victor Klemperer, a literary scholar who was able to survive the war, mostly due to being married to an "Aryan" German woman. He wrote about his life during the Nazi era, including a very important book about how the Nazis used language to corrupt the German people into accepting Nazi policies as gospel. The book is called, "LTI - The Language of the Third Reich." It is a chilling book, showing how Nazi propaganda changed the language in Germany, in order to gain full control of the people. What is more chilling is how many of the techniques used by Goebbels and other high ranking Nazis are still being used today by MSM and political parties.

[@ElleCee62978]

Werner’s father was Otto Klemperer, the famous conductor. It’s thought that Otto and his family made their escape when a suspicious fall at the Kroll Opera House. Oh, and Leon Askin’s scar was real. It was courtesy of the real bad guys. John Banner’s and Leon Askin’s family were primarily executed. Robert Clary had something like 12 siblings. A lot of his family lived because they were French Resistance. He got lucky at Buchenwald because he became friends with a musician.

[@dougbrowne9890]

@@ElleCee62978 Victor was Otto's cousin.

[@ElleCee62978]

@@dougbrowne9890 Yes. I’ve read his book.

[@Stoney_AKA_James]

Wow! Learn something every day!

[@War_And_Truth]

Yes I had absolutely no idea until I looked it up.

[@plantfeeder6677]

I had that comic book when I was a kid. Started reading them in 1960. DC was good but this new comic book company called Marvel was my favorite...oh ya! Had em all starting at #1 for each😮 Loved Hogans Hero's along with McHales Navy but before either of those was The Phil Silvers Show.

[@War_And_Truth]

Gosh, how much would they be worth now?

[@lancomedic]

I watch it every night on reruns. What’s great about the show is that they sprinkle a little truth into the scripts. I am frequently searching google while watching to see if a name or fact they talk about is true.

[@War_And_Truth]

Sounds like something I do lol

[@lancomedic]

@@War_And_Truth 😀

[@KOHTAOMURDERSDEATHISLAND]

👍👍 You learn something every day!

[@War_And_Truth]

I certainly do making these videos. If only my memory was a bit broader I would be able to remember it in 6 months time. Information overload.

[@johndavis8669]

John Banner was the star of the show.

[@War_And_Truth]

Wonderful actor.

[@wkelly3053]

I heard once that John Banner received more fan mail than any other cast member, especially from kids. He reminded of a soft-hearted uncle every kid would love to have.

[@modelermark172]

Sgt. Schultz "knew nothing" long before Jon Snow made it cool . . . .

[@wkelly3053]

@@modelermark172 I'll bite. Who is Jon Snow? I'm not the most up to date guy.

[@modelermark172]

@@wkelly3053 He's a character in the book, "A Song of Ice and Fire," later made into the TV show, "Game of Thrones." This became a meme after the opening scene in the episode, "The Bear And The Maiden Fair," when a young woman named Ygritte tells Jon Snow, (portrayed by Kit Harrington,) “You know nothing, Jon Snow." When I heard that, my first thought was of John Banner's iconic Sgt. Schultz tagline, "I know nothing! Nothing!!!!"

[@ericjones9471]

I grew up on that show.

[@paulwilson8672]

Most of the people that played the Germans were great singers in Europe before the war, and performed songs between takes.

[@beverlyreiner-baillargeon6205]

True Amazing men, thank you

[@War_And_Truth]

No problem I really enjoyed this story.

[@skipsmoyer4574]

Have a request What episodes of W&T cover the 101st helping evacuate 1st Airborne at Arnhem? Topic came up somewhere and would link if knew exactly which ones.

[@War_And_Truth]

More than likely this one. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oavWpaRqqrJ1nqM

[@skipsmoyer4574]

Seem to remember an individual's story crossing the Rhine at least twice

[@War_And_Truth]

@@skipsmoyer4574 Might have also been the James Alley video.

[@KevinSmith-yh6tl]

HOOOGAAAN!

[@War_And_Truth]

Some great lines came out of this one.

[@colleenbush3608]

Omg I loved that show. Reruns anyhow..I wasn't even a twinkle in my mom's eyes lol. Still 😅

[@wildtill9]

My Dad would not let me watch that show Felt it was in insult to the actual soldiers that went thru the hell of internment

[@ericjones9471]

Love it!

[@War_And_Truth]

One of the classics.

[@johnking5759]

The only survivor of the 'holocaust' then plays a character in a comedy about a WW2 German POW camp - interesting career choice.

[@blank557]

Too bad Bob Crane turned out to be a predator to women, cashing in on his little cred as actor and ability to behave charming.

[@The_Dudester]

Okay, a couple of things: 1) Bob Crane was a s3xaholic, not a predator (a predator hides what he does, Bob operated in the open. EVERYONE knew what Bob was doing, but this was at a time when society was vastly different) Bob bedded a lot of women, but they were "willing victims." I've been a cop and have seen sooooo many women gravitate to bad boys and then later to forgive them for the things that they have done. It boggles my mind. 2) Someone becomes a s3xaholic after being m*lested at a young age. We don't know Bob's full story. Who did this to him? A neighbor? The older sister of a friend? A female relative?

[@War_And_Truth]

Was he ever charged with anything?