The Invasion of Sicily - Deception and Strategy

[@sschmidtevalue]

I love this one about Patton: When Patton received a message instructing him to bypass Trier because it would take four divisions to capture it, Patton replied, “Have taken Trier with two divisions. Do you want me to give it back?”

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Wasn't that recorded in the movie, "Patton"?

[@sschmidtevalue]

@@JohnDrummondPhoto Very likely. It's a great quote.

[@lawrencewright2816]

@@JohnDrummondPhoto Yes it was, but in another context. In the movie they mentioned his capture of Palermo.

[@harlanabraham7772]

@@JohnDrummondPhoto In the Movie "Patton" that was said of Messina. "I have taken Messina, should I round up the Germans and give it back?"

[@rogerroger9960]

Patton is definitely critically under taught in history. Lol sure, Eisenhower was great. But so was Patton. 😂

[@tatepultro]

"OK Patton, you can preform some 'light reconnaissance missions'". "All out offensive! Got it!"

[@iandhr1]

Operation Mincemeat is one of those stories where the truth is stranger than any fiction. The fact that it happened in real life and it wasn't part of a spy novel is wild.

[@somestormchaseridjitwithwi2024]

Its honestly just a simple deception, just on a grand scale. Only took one body. If anything, its like they trolled the Axis at the same time as deceiving them. That's the brilliant part. 😂😂 "Made you look." 😉😂

[@MrFakefall]

Im sorry im such a dumbdumb but Warographics has grown to be my favourite channel in the Whistleverse because I like warstories more than either people, places, exploration, criminals or lists. Good goings

[@LazloVimes]

‘Whistleverse’… hahaha, I love it! :D

[@celter.45acp98]

You're not alone man war is fascinating the more you think about it

[@tee_viii]

I’ve been calling it the whistlerverse 😂

[@warographics643]

Love you for it. Thank you.

[@sammisoccer7]

You aren’t a dumb dumb at all. I go through phases of interest with some of the other channels like megaprojects and sideprojects and Biographics but Warographics, Into the Shadows, and Casual Criminalist are totally my favourites. Maybe that makes me a bit morbid lmao

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:55 - Chapter 1 - Operation mincemeat 7:30 - Chapter 2 - Surprise & improvise 12:40 - Chapter 3 - The etna line 14:55 - Chapter 4 - The aftermath

[@YouTubeistheworst]

I would really like more videos on the Italian campaign, it's tragically overlooked when compared to Western Europe.

[@jmeyer3rn]

MONTE CASSINO.

[@maxpayne2574]

My father fought in Italy in the 10nth Mountain Division yes to many histories forget that while Patton was charging across France the 10nth was fighting a yard at a time up mountains.

[@danielefabbro822]

​@@jmeyer3rn a video about war crimes? 🤔

[@jeffwood1631]

I’m disappointed that more wasn’t mentioned about the Trout Memo. While it was issued in the name of Admiral Godfrey, it’s widely accepted that it was actually written by his assistant, a certain Lieutenant Commander Ian Fleming. Yes… THAT Ian Fleming

[@theawesomeman9821]

Montgomery and Patton's rivaly, is a great example of how healthy competition among soldiers can lead to great military achievements.

[@perstaunstrup3451]

‘Healthy competition’ might be stretching the term a little too far😎

[@theawesomeman9821]

@@perstaunstrup3451 they got the job done without too much hiccup, so I think the competition was healthy

[@5552-d8b]

Friendly rivals can be good but rivalry’s if not handled can lead to tragedy’s. Example being Napoleons marshals bickered with each other which led to marshals intentionally watching other marshals fail there objectives without supporting them and intentionally watching them fail

[@theawesomeman9821]

@@5552-d8b of course. Montgomery and Patton fortunately were the exception.

[@5552-d8b]

@@theawesomeman9821 you are correct on that

[@cynthiaherbst3909]

This was superb. I would like to see a Warographics take on the Battle of Britain.

[@valerianmonye402]

...and the Falklands war

[@warographics643]

Soon.

[@tonyatthebeach]

@@valerianmonye402 Will it cover the bit where Andrew lost his ability to sweat?

[@spudeleven5124]

@@warographics643 "Only the dead have seen the end of war."-- Plato attribution at the Imperial War Museum, London

[@darthdooku6246]

@@warographics643 It’s been 2 months

[@mikeklein5184]

If you ever do a Top Tenz episode of the most invaded places then Sicily has definitely to be on the list.

[@thewaddlingidiots]

Would love to see a warographics about the Battle of Haengju, where 3400 Koreans repelled 30,000 Japanese with the use of hwachas.

[@ktbela86]

FYI, Cholmondeley is one of those tricky words with lots of silent letters ( e.g Worcester = Woos-tuh Leicester = Less-tuh, Gloucester= Glosstl-tuh) and is pronounced Chum-lee.

[@dylanvienet7923]

I actually found this out watching Inbetweeners 😂

[@leeshackelford7517]

Lol.... Try the old coach of Duke basketball...coach K Krzyzewski Yeah...that makes Gloucester childs play

[@maxpayne2574]

Far from his uncaring reputation Patton believed pushing the enemy back relentlessly was the best way to save lives. The allies were in no way prepared to invade France in 1943.

[@wyattlee8040]

Always love Simon's videos. I'm super glad I found his channels. You should do The Troubles and/or the Spanish-American War.

[@minnybri2010]

Would you be interested in doing a video on the Dieppe raid? It was the first Canadian army engagement in the war, and was a catastrophic failure. In school in Canada teachers try to look on the bright side--information gained, etc--and I'm curious about whether we're getting a sugar-coated version because the reality is just too depressing.

[@TheAmbex]

Simon, why do you always forget about the smaller countries? Canadian soldiers composed 1/3 of the British 8th Army in Italy. I love your stuff but give the smaller countries a shout out.

[@drewsmith9459]

I think we groups canada as part of the uk/British, like India and Australia

[@jackkurze2618]

Also no mention of the Dutch naval contingent, because part of the British...

[@kennethbreiner4610]

Do a video on the battle of jutland and keep up the great work👍

[@kevinb1574]

This was also where Paton was relieved for striking a shell shocked solider.

[@self-transforming_machine-elf]

Ah, yes, The Slappening, back when neither rank nor status exempted you from the consequences of your actions

[@kevinb1574]

@@self-transforming_machine-elf And men were real men!

[@PaulMcElligott]

Two soldiers, actually.

[@godfreypigott]

Chris Rock approves of this comment.

[@EmilyJelassi]

Another very interesting video. I'm loving this new channel. Well done Simon and team! 😊👏

[@jamesbroad4208]

Would be awesome to see a more on the Italy campaign, my grandfather was part of it and when I had to do a school project on W W 2 he started opening up about what happened during his time there. Made me go from respecting him as my Granddad to respecting him as a man along with the other folk who served. The Monte Casino battle would be a great topic but personally would like to see the invasion of Anzio covered as that was the story he told me that shocked me the most and has it all in the story. Very underlooked part of.the fight against the axis.

[@asabovesobelow4180]

This is the earliest I’ve ever been and I’m still late. Anyways great video Simon!

[@babyruthless9670]

I recommend this channel a lot 😌

[@FatManWalking18]

Bentley Purchase has to be the most British name in Britain. Monty Python couldn't do better.

[@tonyatthebeach]

related to Ray bloody Purchase?!

[@ThePistolPenguin]

longer, more in depth videos pleaseeeeee

[@phforNZ]

If you want a couple of great ones to cover - the scrap iron flotilla, and the battle of Leyte gulf (the last stand of Taffy-3)

[@leeshackelford7517]

Forget Taffy 3...it's been done to death And the truth.....the Japanese could have pushed through...SUNK the entire taffy 3 part of the US Navy.....and it would NOT have made any difference to the battle... Our carriers and battle fleet....would have just fought again....

[@phforNZ]

@@leeshackelford7517 what are you on about? It's barely known about these days.

[@sagestats]

I assume the scene from "Patton" where the Americans welcome the British 8th Medina is a strict piece of fiction but it was good theater

[@markgillianlelis3528]

This invasion becomes a side show when the allies landed on normandy in june 6, 1944

[@ChopBassMan]

Hey Simon, please, please, please do a Casual Criminalist video on James Mitchell "Mike" DeBardeleben. The other day you mentioned that the Secret Service in the US is responsible for investigating money counterfeiting crimes on the Casual Criminalist, which made me think of DeBardeleben. He was a prolific counterfeiter, so much so that the Secret Service gave him a nickname: "the mall passer". When they finally caught and arrested him, the Secret Service agents found a lot more than counterfeit money. Together with the FBI he was charged with a whole litany of crimes (he wasn't even prosecuted for most of them). He was sent to prison for life and the agents who investigated him said that he committed just about every felony on the books.

[@mattcromwell4308]

Another great video, always learn something interesting here

[@Nipplator99999999999]

IMHO, Gen. Patton followed his orders to the best of his ability...when commander of an entire Army group and assault armor division, that's about as "light" as possible for recon to be for him.

[@domenicozagari2443]

What about the battle for Gela where the Livorno division nearly kicked the amarikan back in to the sea?

[@thecynicaloptimist1884]

Allies: "It's going to be Sicily" Axis: "Definitely Sicily" Allies: "So it'll be Greece instead" Axis: "Hmm, looks like it'll be Greece, even though Sicily is an obvious target" Allies: "Definitely Greece" Axis: "Wait...you invaded Sicily? The twist was there was no twist, but you made us believe there was a twist?" Allies: "Yeah lol"

[@freddy04123]

Love the content Simon! Would love more about the Italian front of WWII!!

[@jmeyer3rn]

MONTE CASSINO.

[@wjrjbnjd]

"Don Calo head of the sicilian mafia, an entire garrison of troops surrendered that day, why? Because he told em to."

[@scout1633]

Thank you for covering this. I wonder if the story of my grandfather LTC Arthur F Gotham , commander of the 1/505 PIR would be worthy of a video by itself ? His actions at Pointe Dirillo made Sicilian local history that is celebrated even to this day

[@spudeleven5124]

Bravo, Simon! Can't wait to see the Colin Firth film "Operation Mincemeat". So British, so brilliant!

[@darkchocolate1083]

How about one on the Invasion of Grenada?

[@punksoab]

Seeing as you did this one, you should do a video on Operation Marita

[@Mrgunsngear]

Thanks

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Not mentioned in this video is that Charles "Lucky" Luciano was in Federal prison during WWII but was still running his Mafia family while in stir. His deal with the government was for reasons of patriotism, hatred of Mussolini, and a desire for his own freedom. After the war, the US government released Luciano and deported him to Sicily, on the condition that he never return to America. Lucky Luciano spent the rest of his life in Italy.

[@danielefabbro822]

Camorra and N'drangheda instead, are still the overlords of both Americas. 😎👍

[@danzervos7606]

My uncle was a member of 4 companies of heavy mortars in the invasion of Sicily. The mortars fired a 25 lb projectile of 4.2 inch diameter. They had a heavy base that allowed for accurate firing. I believe they could fire 12 rounds a minute. The Germans thought the Americans had automatic howitzers. The heavy mortars were also called chemical weapons because if the battle devolved into chemical war, they were going to be the primary weapon to use it. They did fire phosphorous rounds. These mortar companies were credited with stopping the Axis counter attack against the landing.

[@tonyatthebeach]

Churchill wanted the secure the Med so that British ships could sail safely from the Suez, thus ensuring the links with the Empire weren't cut off. Some might argue it was slightly self serving

[@pamelamays4186]

Suggestion: The Navajo Wind Talkers of World World II. Their language was used as an unbreakable code against Japanese Military Intelligence.

[@mitchellneu]

Watched the new Netflix movie Operation Mincemeat last night(really good!) When I heard how Cholmondeley pronounced, then spelled his name, I literally nearly did a spit take and went back to make sure I heard that right!

[@celter.45acp98]

It's amazing that the Italian peninsula once produced the most feared army in the world now it has one thats not even in the top 20

[@danielefabbro822]

Italian Army is the first in Europe. What are you talking about? 🤔 Go look your allies instead, where Germany don't have anymore an army, France is on the brink of collapse and Britain is forced to ask money and help even to our enemies. 🤭 with allies like them, it's even embarassing trying to fight them.

[@MrSabram07]

Gosh darn it I start watching your videos and I can't get any work done

[@goodwood-rc4nx]

Cannot wait to see the film

[@katzemewmew6076]

Simon, just one note. The pronunciation of “cholmondeley” is actually closer to “Shum-Ley” . Came across that in an episode of Stuff You Should Know

[@Intreductor]

Actually Axis weren't kicked out of Africa in 1942. If anyone follows the World War 2 series by TimeGhost, in April 1943, the battle of Tunisia is still kicking. But the plans for Sicily were underway.

[@Werebears]

What’s up TimeGhost fam! 🤜🏻🤛🏻

[@sandybarnes887]

Indy rocks

[@CristinaMarshal]

Bentley Purchase huh... Do I need to utter anything more

[@jackvearncombe9892]

You should do Galipoli campaign at some point!

[@jarodpreston2335]

Need to do the battle of Assoro in its history it had never been captured until the Canadians and they did it by climbing a cliff behind enemy lines in the dark without any climbing gear

[@jeffreyruttibaker1081]

AYOOO SIMON, SHOW US THAT MAN-DANGLER!!!

[@DiracComb.7585]

12:49 Kenobi approves

[@kineuhansen8629]

i cant waith to see that new movie about this also wonder how big of a role ian flemming had in this

[@seangleason260]

I wonder how many videos should be recategorized to this channel

[@sblack48]

The successful evacuation of kesselring’s army was an unmitigated disaster for the allies. ike never had any plan to prevent it. Fortunately he was able to spin doctor things so as to accentuate the positive. I’m a bit surprised tat this video glosses over that point.

[@banisher703]

Can you guys please do a video about the battle of the Yser? When the belgiums stood their ground against the Germans in October 1914, helding 5% of belgium for the rest of the Great War. All under command of one of the most badass kings in recent history Albert the First of Belgiium.

[@the-chillian]

I'm pretty sure "Cholmondeley" is pronounced "Chumley".

[@jmeyer3rn]

Okay. Nice job. Now do MONTE CASSINO. Please.

[@nugboy420]

DO AN EPISODe on the Baltic Fleet!!! I’d love to hear simons take on that shitstorm.

[@JoseRamirez-le1yb]

Hey it would be great if you can cover the battle of Osowiec in the WW1. Also known as the attack of the dead men

[@newdelphi1883]

My grandma tells the story about when the allies bombed her town for no reason differently

[@MrJay3star]

Can y’all look into doing the battle of little big horn??

[@dubb3835]

what about the beach jumpers they played a huge role in deception after the operation started especially for the size of 1 the beach jumpers was less than 200 men and 2 the size of the naval craft they was given to use a 62 foot air and sea rescue craft

[@ThePistolPenguin]

Could you do a video on the British & Zulu conflicts?

[@iandhr1]

John Godfrey became the inspiration for M in James Bond.

[@richardgunton9564]

I swear it’s believed that Ian Fleming actually wrote the Trout Memo.

[@micahistory]

good video

[@spudeleven5124]

Simon, now do MONTECASSINO!!!!

[@DSS-jj2cw]

I don't understand why the allies didn't pick southern France after Sicily. Italy was too narrow and too mountainous.

[@eliahabib5111]

Because of the limited range of troop landing ship. Regular ship can reach southern France from north Africa, but cannot land suficient troops to actually occupy the land/coast. You have a similar problem with gliders range. If you start from Corsica you can probably do it. But that means 2 extra steps: Sardigna, Corsica.

[@jiversteve]

Sicily has been proving very useful for the US in the current conflict.

[@MrBojanglesUK]

I love your channel but videos really suffer from a lack of any graphics or maps.

[@docentofkathu]

Suspiciously good timing, just before the netflix show coming out soon. 🤔 Simon: 'MMMwaaahahaha 😈' 👍🏻 'lets give them the real story first 👍🏻

[@Mickelson1337]

That was a very Simonesk "Little italy" :D

[@rafaelgonzalez2837]

Can you do a video about the Spanish Civil War?

[@duncancurtis1758]

Cassabile was premature as the Italians badly misunderestimated German capability to stand and block Allied progress from September 43.

[@danielefabbro822]

It's "Cassibile". But why? They are the "mighty Germans!" They can do everything! They are stronk! 🤭

[@frankieseward8667]

This was a masterclass of conquering a country whilst also showing how incompetent Italy truly was.

[@obi0914]

That's why they still don't get a rework in hoi4

[@andrewgause6971]

The only branch of the Italian military that really knew what it was doing was their navy. Which, fortunately, was not large enough to challenge the might of the Royal Navy.

[@obi0914]

@@andrewgause6971 also the mountain troops and the royal guard

[@leeshackelford7517]

@@andrewgause6971 lol...thats a silly joke of a comment... The italian navy.....lol Fun thing...i just got done rereading East of Malta West of Suez The Mediterranean Fleet : Greece to Malta Sea Battles in Close Up vol 1 and 2 (reread the chapters covering the Med. battles) The Italian navy...lol..... put on a PATHETIC showing HOW was it NOT large enough? It did not have to span the globe. It had more battleships, cruisers, destroyers and subs ...in the Med....than Britain did....just no aircraft carriers Or is my memory incorrect? They really needed a better coordination between air force and navy.......Sicily....a huge carrier that couldnt be sunk

[@andrewgause6971]

@@leeshackelford7517 Aye, they were let down by utterly abysmal shell quality control (there are documented instances of shells fired from the same 15 inch turret landing more than 1,000 meters apart from one another.... which is another reason professionals talk logistics), but their naval forces did have greater success than Kriegsmarine surface units. They also managed to take out multiple Royal Navy capital vessels with nothing more than speedboats. I'm not saying they were a threat to the Royal Navy in overall terms (they could never beat them, it was always a case of "how much damage can they do before they're knocked out of the war?") What I'm saying is that the Italian Navy managed to be the greater danger of the two Axis powers in the Western theater.

[@GiltiatheDarkNight]

Am I the only one who thought that was Awesome Man in the thumbnail?

[@perd3252]

Anglo boer war next?

[@j.s.c.4355]

So how does this video fit into the WWI playlist?

[@UNUSUALUSERNAME220]

Charles Cholmondeley, Ewen Montagu, Bentley Purchase, GLYNDWR MICHAEL??? THAT, is the MOST British group of names I have ever heard! Those names are so British, and so posh, they can only be uttered BY an Englishman! It's like a spell out of the English Book of the Dead! Those aren't real names. Are they? They can't be, it's so cliché it can't be. Steven Toast should be reading that to Clem Fandango. "Simon?" "Can you hear me Simon?" "This is Clem Fandango?" "Yes, I can hear you Clem Fandango!" "Really sell Bentley Purchase, it's Ray's Dad."

[@andyyang3029]

Wow, Operation Mincemeat was crazy, imagine if it didn't work and Germany was waiting in Sicily 😳😳

[@A13X_H_22]

Wargraphics needs to show…war graphics. All I see are photos of locations.

[@micahistory]

Please visit Micahistory 2, it would mean a lot!

[@usertakenagain]

Churchill was a very smart man.

[@ace448]

When the Allies convince Hitler that Norway was the target of D-Day after convincing him that Sardinia was the target previously: It’s even funnier the second time!

[@mortenpoulsen1496]

Still say the horse of troy was a better trick. 😁

[@sammysam2615]

Luciano helped the allied forces

[@ehrldawg]

Next up;Belleau Woods

[@samwamm85]

true the fighting lasted the entire war but that was actually a good thing. hitler had to spend so many forces defending italy that he didn't have enough left to protect germany from other directions.

[@self-transforming_machine-elf]

Loving the lack of ads

[@steveszky6475]

6:35 ...and OWE---BOY did German command... =D)))))

[@jenat82]

some golden red herring there. I never knew about that. I was on Sicily and didn't see any evidence of ww2, but I wasn't looking either. Too excited about being with an active volcano. And all respect to lovely Italy, they know how to hang a dictator to dry. Russia, take note.

[@travisinthetrunk]

I always wondered why the Allie’s didn’t land in the free zone of SE France.

[@travisinthetrunk]

@@badluck5647 Sure, but weather changes and bad terrain is better than enemy soldiers waiting to kill you upon landing… right?

[@IamdeaththedestroyerofWorlds]

Can you make videos about wars that aren't world war 2

[@godfreypigott]

Only 5 out of 21 videos on this channel are about WW2. Perhaps next time look before commenting.

[@IamdeaththedestroyerofWorlds]

my point was make videos about wars that doesn't always involve europeans

[@godfreypigott]

@@IamdeaththedestroyerofWorlds That point was not obvious at all. It seems you've changed your point on the fly. And just like any business, he is producing what most viewers want. There are not going to be many Chinese or Africans watching this channel.

[@IamdeaththedestroyerofWorlds]

@@godfreypigott largest audience of KZbin is indian and i have been watching simon for god knows how long my reasoning there a lot many videos about wars in europe not enough about the rest of the world

[@godfreypigott]

@@IamdeaththedestroyerofWorlds Indian watchers watch mainly Indian videos. There is a whole Indian subculture on KZbin which most people aren't aware of (until they start searching for videos on maths, science, Indian music and cricket). Pretty sure it is up to Simon to determine what his target audience is.

[@jennylimmer7572]

Aleutian Islands campaign/ invasion of Alaska

[@ebowles181]

I would like to suggest the Siege of Malta.

[@markgillianlelis3528]

You should do a video a invasion of southern france because it is overshadow by the d day

[@leeshackelford7517]

Why? The invasion of Southern France... was100% unneeded....and virtually POINTLESS. Churchill a differnt invasion...notWEST from Italy...but EAST.... HUNGARY, and such.....the effing Cold War....could have gone much differently

[@bigoldgrizzly]

I can understand your errors in pronunciation of foreign names, but surely you know the good old English name 'Cholmondeley' is pronounced 'Chumley' ! :