The Most FEARED & Battle Tested Units by the End of WW2

Battle-tested, battle-hardened, and battle-honoured. These are seven units of the Second World War that inspired fear and awe in their enemies.
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🎬Video Credits:
Narrator - Cam
Editor - Steven DiLeo
Writer - Brad Dare
Researcher - Daniel
Intro music - / 16bitrecordsofficial
#TheFront #History
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Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:44 83rd Naval Infantry Brigade - Soviet Union
2:14 1st SS Division - Germany
3:48 343 Naval Air Group - Japan
5:13 1st Marine Division - USA
6:51 Guards Mortar Regiment - Soviet Union
8:28 1st Proletarian Brigade - Yugoslavia
10:17 Conclusion

[@rush1er]

My grandpa told a priest on his death bed in 1999, "Looking a teenager in the eyes as you take his life is something no one should ever have to live with... it haunts me to this day" My Grandpa Morrow was recruited in Miami, FL and joined the 1st Marines. He earned a bronze star and 2 Purple Hearts for heroism and wounds received in WW2. He was cited for action on Pelelieu Island in 1944, where he continued his job as an ammunition carrier although his amphibious tractor was blown out from under him. The 2nd Purple Heart scarred him for life physically and mentally as he was wounded in a 1v1 hand2hand fight to the death... apparently it's not so easy to do and live a normal life afterwards.

[@blank557]

My condolences for for your grandpa's suffering. My father was in the 1st Marines too, and also fought at Peleliu and Okinawa. He never said much about, which spoke volumes. Semper Fi, buddy.

[@doctordetroit4339]

Peleliu is (arguably) considered the toughest land battle in the history of the US military. Not the biggest but the hardest battle. That is no small feat.

[@blank557]

@@doctordetroit4339 Agreed. The Marines not only had to fight the die-hard Japanese, but the terrain, jungle, and hellish heat and humidity. Didn't help the Navy send them water in used oil barrels, making them ill drinking it.

[@krugersavage6347]

Bro I just want you to know your pops was brave and he is my hero

[@Wings_of_foam]

Medals mean nothing.

[@hgman3920]

The Gurkhas were absolutely ferocious in close combat. The really knew how to inflict damage with their signature knives

[@mr.monhon5179]

@Crocodile Dundee The hell was that, sir?

[@Destructionaire]

I got to train with them in 2020. Dope dudes. Traded patches as well. :D

[@aranbedi6372]

@Crocodile Dundee Not the worst kind of kind of mission

[@jean-rochdion4898]

they still are bro!! one the first pick to fight by my side on the battlefield period. French-canadian Vet. R22R

[@Patrix299]

@@jean-rochdion4898 van doos fought with the gurkhas?

[@dkkuhn87]

Yall if he made a list that everyone thought should be on it it'd be 17 hours long 🤣 chillll

[@TheFront]

This guy gets it

[@f-35enjoyer59]

I wouldn’t complain about that!

[@Anthony-ey1fz]

I don't think any of us would be against it

[@dodgeewanker2179]

You started off your sentence with "ya'll" ( you misspelled it) thus, your opinion means nothing

[@Sasha-gd8xi]

@@dodgeewanker2179 imagine being triggered by "y'all"

[@J_Stronsky]

My grandfather was a Yugoslav partisan. One of the few times he talked about it, was to tell me that when the partisans started out they had to think up ways to kill Nazi's in order to steal their weapons ... because they had no firearms of their own. He never elaborated as to what that involved :|

[@dubfez_9256]

That would have taken courage, teamwork and ingenuity. I imagine they must have lured and cornered guards/patrols one by one and strangled/stabbed them out of sight. Then you have to figure out how to hide the bodies...

[@egidiograndepaese1724]

Yugoslav partisans were a piece of meat and they tried to fight the meatgrinder, my grandfather was partisan too they were either running thru mountains keeping Titos bitchass alive or they were charging the well entrenched Germans with MG42. Yugopartisans - most useless so called resistance movement ever.

[@stefanito_m4354]

The brothers of my grandad where all partisans and none of them returned, one was confirmed dead and two where missing.

[@jw451]

Partisan = best of the best. Why? because the last of those who weren't were buried a few days ago. iow you are either the best or you are dead. #Neverforget

[@IJ72]

@@egidiograndepaese1724 kad Ćetnik ili Ustaša prića o povjesti!

[@sparrowsbewertungen6930]

We're called the first Panzer Division, cause we only have 1 Panzer left...

[@KrishnaSharma-ek3eq]

It is for the 6th SS panzer division as they at that time had only 6 panzers

[@tomislavstrinic9028]

@@KrishnaSharma-ek3eq Actually it was for 6th SS Panzer Army which is even funnier. Whole tank army with only 6 tanks.

[@j13l38]

More like we only need one Panzer hahaha

[@sparrowsbewertungen6930]

@@j13l38 and all parts for it too... Cause it's Broken again

[@huntclanhunt9697]

Lol

[@sirhumbleproductions4093]

Someone *cough* “The Front” definitely knows their way to my heart!

[@michaelandreipalon359]

Give it up for LOVE HANDEL!!!

[@kingzeus8739]

Ppp

[@MonsieurDean]

The 501st better be on this list.

[@Marin3r101]

Order 66 disqualifies them.

[@t900badbot]

In an alternate world, it's the 105th.

[@liamweaver2944]

Sorry there is something I’m not getting here. Can someone please inform me?

[@thefortemfortispandorian8333]

@@liamweaver2944 star wars reference

[@thehighground7732]

@@Marin3r101 wouldn't that just make them more feared?

[@ppsh43]

The 2nd Marine Division, not the 1st, attacked Tarawa.

[@glendanison3064]

I had to check out the katyusha rockets sound on some videos. Terrifying on the receiving end but pretty thrilling on the other. A commentator on one of these videos wrote a clever remark. Berlin Concert in E-flat. The nebelwerfers also sounded awesome.

[@123mandalore777]

Any RTS game with Katyusha's or similar German rocket artillery show just how devastating they were. Just complete area annihilation. But you always hear them screaming through the air before they come into view so it's a mad rush to figure out where they are heading and to quickly move as many units as possible away from that radius.

[@Mark-vq5dz]

@Andrew Layton Errm yeah it's been said.....

[@Mark-vq5dz]

@Andrew Layton I'm no different mate

[@guilty_mulburry5903]

What

[@independent2368]

Dad was overseas for most of our involvement in the 2nd war and was with the US 3rd Infantry Division 7th Army. So he was there for the raid on Eagle's Nest as well as when they blew the giant swastika on top of Nuremberg stadium, the 3rd was also the division of Audie Murphys and were extraordinary brave men

[@shelliecarlson7015]

Was thinking, The Night Witches. Pretty tough little unit.

[@PHOBOS1708]

yeah, would be great to watch Something about them. highly underrated and overseen

[@maisonraider4593]

What did they achieve in the latter stages of the war?

[@Atesz222]

As notable as they were, they didn't achieve anything spectacular. No, I'm not downplaying their deeds. Harrasment and tactical bombing is important. But in the grand scheme of things, they didn't achieve anything outstanding. Just like how for example the Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 (StG 77) was probably the most successful dive bomber wing of the Luftwaffe but they didn't influence the theatre significantly.

[@majorklinkov2394]

@@Atesz222 you have to recognise that the night whiches used outdated PO 2 planes and so I would say they did something outstanding if they were able to fly tactical bombing runs and made them a name in the german lines with outdated planes that are so slow that it would be an easy task for an AA gunner to hit them

[@Atesz222]

@@majorklinkov2394 Yes, and I even said that in my previous comment. What I meant was that as outstanding as their performance was, they didn't influence the frontlines to a great degree.

[@Stargun-vj1uh]

The thing to always consider about all these amazing units is that in the end, no single squadron, no single tank crew, no single infantry squad, are enough to turn the tides of war. The 343 Naval Air Group may have been impressive, but unless every air group was as equally talented as them or at least half that, they weren't going to make a difference. Just more casualties. Elite troops may aid in the minor offensives in notable ways, but a war they do not win. A singular engagement, absolutely, but the wars are overall fought by the masses of soldiers, the supply lines that fuel them, and the grand strategy for an offensive or a steady unbreaking defensive.

[@aaroncabatingan5238]

Agreed, the Kido Butai is the perfect example for why 'elite' units doesn't win wars. The Japanese have the best pilots and aircrews at the beginning of the war, that didn't stop the Americans from gunning them down and sinking their carriers. They put their most skilled pilots into a single unit and when they all died at the same time, the people who would replace them are not as skilled or experienced as the one who came before.

[@HolziNo1]

My Grandfather fought for thr 3rd Weapons SS Divison Skull in France and Russia, till he get wounded in the Demjansk Pocket in early 1942, lost half of his lungs. I read a letter from him, were he described a "Stalinorgel" attack. He wrote down that it felt to him, while the attack was ongoing, that his hair is growing threw his steel helmet. But he does not felt the whole hair was growing, he felt like every single hair was growing, he explained the sound of these things with an horse screaming while getting rammend by a train. It is hard to describe his exact words in foreign language but I hope you understand what he/I was trying to say.

[@redaug4212]

I'd nominate the 3rd Infantry Division (US) as well. They had 39 Medal of Honor recipients, and were trained by the General who created the first Ranger battalion. They participated in seven campaigns with +500 days of combat, including four amphibious landings, several river crossings, and combat in just about every environment the European Theater had to offer. And to top it all off, they were the first in Berchtesgaden. Also, quick correction, that quote by General Shoup was in reference to the 2nd Marine Division. The 1st Marine Division did not participate in the Tarawa landings.

[@Idahoguy10157]

IIRC the 1st Marine Division was so malnourished, sick, and short manned after the Guadalcanal campaign it was a year recovering

[@BloodmoonPyke]

Unbelievable how long those men were able to fight

[@Idahoguy10157]

@@BloodmoonPyke ….it was. Plus they hadn’t much idea that people in the States had even heard of Guadalcanal. BTW, the Navy lost more men in the Guadalcanal campaign than even the Marines did. It was brutal

[@codyjackets4590]

and it was Audie Murphy's unit

[@brndonlu9635]

Love how you put the 1st Marine Division into your video

[@trumanpowell7376]

The 1st MàrDiv is the most highly decorated military unit in the world. Bit of a story (I was there) about decorations.

[@astrosherlock374]

@@trumanpowell7376 No, that would be the 442nd Infantry Regiment (for the Americans at least). Most decorated unit in the entire US military in the shortest period of time. They got the nickname the "purple heart battalion" for a reason.

[@redaug4212]

@@astrosherlock374 Most decorated *regimental combat team* during WWII, actually. There were regular infantry regiments with higher award rates in shorter periods. It really becomes a pissing contest at that point though, so it's better just to say they were among the most decorated.

[@astrosherlock374]

@@redaug4212 Yeah, it does, you are right. But claiming the 1st Marine Division to be the most decorated unit in the world is a very, VERY far reach. One that I cannot get behind at all because it's simply false. They aren't.

[@redaug4212]

@@astrosherlock374 I agree with that as well. I'm sure there is some British or other European unit that has existed for hundreds of years that has collects many more awards.

[@bb54321abc]

Also the SAS and British commandos, the Gurkhas, NZ Maori battalion , plus the Cossacks, U-boat sailors and Polish RAF pilots

[@Patrix299]

Didn't u-boats have an ultra high death rate?

[@terryharris1291]

The whole New Zealand Division was one tough unit.

[@VoiceOfTheEmperor]

Ironically enough, I was JUST watching your video on the channel known as Greesly's about Jedi and Sith and love. Your voice is awesome, bro.

[@hori1371]

was wondering why he sounded so familiar

[@otdris4548]

This is his other channel his says it in one of his videos way back 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@EdaugEthanbYT]

The 6th SS Panzer unit is among them because they only have 6 Panzers and yet are an elite force

[@ZeAngrySnowmongol]

6th SS panzer unit? There no no such thing, if we don't include 6.SS Panzer Armee. 6.SS Division Nord was Gebirgsjäger division (Mountain division). Not even 6th SS Panzer regiment exists. SS Panzer regiments were asigned numerals agording their division, 1.SS Leibstandarte had 1.SS Panzer Regiment and so on. Oor there is just a joke without context wich I don't get lol

[@Rohilla313]

There is no such unit.

[@EdaugEthanbYT]

@@Rohilla313 It’s a joke about how the commander of the 6th SS panzer army said that they called themselves the 6th panzer army because they had 6 panzers left that’s how bad their situation was.

[@ewok40k]

Warships list next please? Legendary ones like Big E and Warspite jump to mind. As for the list I would add Polish First Armored Division, the unit that closed the final escape route from Falaise pocket, and resisted fiercely both escaping German units and 2nd Panzer SS Corps trying to relieve the pocket.

[@Cailus3542]

The French 2nd Armored Division is right up there too. The Polish and French are often overlooked in the 1944-45 campaigns, but they did extraordinary things.

[@cesaravegah3787]

No famous warship list should be done without the USS William D Porter included.

[@johnathanblackwell9960]

Taffy 3

[@donpietruk1517]

​@@Cailus3542 The Poles did hard work taking Monte Cassino and giving the Allies their opening. Then Clark went glory hunting for Rome allowing the Germans to reorganize and establish new defensive lines instead of giving chase to the retreating Nazis. The French paratroops did a nice job during the D-Day landings and secured their objective off of Sword. And later the French battalions fought well during the France campaign. Patton in particular admired the Polish troops under General Anders command. Monty infamously tried to blame Market Garden's failure on the Poles and Canadians.

[@erichvondonitz5325]

I think you forgot the 442nd Infantry Regiment, a US regiment made out of Japanese-Americans, the most decorated unit of the war

[@redaug4212]

They've been featured in a couple videos already.

[@cesaravegah3787]

You are right

[@Necrodermis]

I wish the n1k-j were mentioned more. those fighters despite being late were phenomenal machines

[@tomg5187]

Incredible! Thank you!

[@camrenwick]

155 Battery, 172nd Royal Artillery at Sidi Nsir in 1943. Just ordinary men that fought to the end. They sacrificed themselves for the freedom of today. They deserve to be remembered and honoured.

[@yellowjackboots2624]

• • • -

[@shadyyy7490]

Will you ever make a video about Italy? There are plenty of notable episodes that are definetly interesting stories: the last stand of the Folgore in El Alamein, the Charge of Izbushensky, the Raid on Alexandria, Amedeo Guillet etc.

[@alicedog368]

How about the time when nine french soldiers held off like three thousand Italians lmao

[@fre_n5782]

@@alicedog368 how about the time when the whole French army was annihilated in 5 weeks ?

[@kilowhiskey7973]

@@fre_n5782 I don’t think anyone was defending France by any means… but Italy? Come on now. We gonna talk about their defeats in Ethiopia, lmao?

[@fre_n5782]

@@kilowhiskey7973 obviously the Italian chain of command was really bad and corrupted, but the Italian soldiers have proved in many occasions her valour

[@shadyyy7490]

@@alicedog368 That particular episode never happened. That is why that page was even removed from Wikipedia as it was false information. The battle happened and the Italians had a hard time since it was an invasion organized at the last minute and they were attacking the second most fortified border in Europe (small Maginot). Alpine warfare is really hard, which is why when towards the end of the war the French tried to invade northern Italy to snatch some land since the Italians were busy in a civil war they were completely stopped by a much smaller force of partisans and fascists (that decided to ally just to stop the French)

[@felixerazo9800]

@The Front the quote from Colonel Shoup was from the Battle of Tarawa which was fought by the 2nd Marine Division.

[@brokenbridge6316]

Hey great video The Front. I loved it. And I have a suggestion. Why don't you make a video on some of the more strange and unusual military units of WWII or maybe military history. I think you would have some pretty interesting material to cover.

[@robgraham5697]

After that last battle Herr Shicklegruber accused the Liebstandarte of cowardice. The officers threw all their medals into a chamber pot and sent it to him. When you’ve lost your best men you’ve lost the war.

[@BlueMax109]

Germany lost the war long before that

[@nikolaysokolnikov2677]

Is there more information on this?

[@randomamericansoldier8586]

How the fuck did they think the 1st SS were cowards?

[@Kevc00]

An interesting topic to cover for a video is the Russian Protective Corps, a Wehrmacht unit in occupied Yugoslavia made up almost entirely of white russian émigrés. They were used to guard factories, mines, rail way lines etc in Serbia and for anti Partisan warfare, and from 1944 they fought the red army advancing into the Balkans. They were one of the few russian collaborator units that weren't repatriated to the Soviet Union after the war because most of the unit had never actually been Soviet citizens, most of their leadership had actually fought the Bolsheviks in the civil war.

[@TheBorg01]

not really interesting !! im from Yugoslavia and they wore pretty much irrelevent and never mentioned anywhere !!!

[@Kevc00]

@@TheBorg01 I mean it is interesting as it is the only white émigré unit in the German army, most of its officers fought in the russian civil war and it was the only russian collaborator unit to not be repatriated to the Soviet Union.

[@TheBorg01]

@@Kevc00 sorry dude thats only interested to you !!.. Im well read , educated and familiar in my own country history and your corps doesnt even get mentioned becouse how much "important and good" they wore !!! And germans wore desperate for any kind of scum to give weapons too.. what was their doom in the end, example France was defended with mostly troops that ware not even German, old people and wounded !! Also all kinda of criminals and worst scum released from jails !

[@Kevc00]

@@TheBorg01 that is still interesting stuff I never said they were important or good just interesting, the russian liberation army is hugely covered on KZbin despite only existing for a few months and having no impact on the war.

[@edwardvincentbriones5062]

I should mention about the Carlson’s Raiders who was best known for their actions in the Makin Raid.

[@g7alger]

Edson’s 1st Raiders would be a better suggestion. The Makin Raid was a complete cluster f***. Indicative of the times and the lack of thorough planning for special ops. Carlson’s ‘long patrol’ on Guadalcanal would be a better example of success.

[@leonardkrol2600]

The long march on Guadalcanal. The 1st Marine raiders went deep into enemy territory, destroyed the artillery that hit Henderson field, destroyed supplies and killed many enemy. The raiders lost fewer men on this action than at Makin. After this action, the Japanese decided to withdraw from Guadalcanal.

[@Marianw572]

Maybe it doesn't quite fit this list, but I recommend getting interested in Polish Fighting Team called "Skalski's Circus". This team was created from the best Polish pilots, veterans with great experience. The "dream team" fits perfectly here. I don't know if anything similar happened during this war that someone came up with the idea to created a squad by selection best soldiers in the army. It almost sounds like a movie script.

[@tizek2]

I enjoy this film very much. thank You.

[@lalocandadelmistero]

You are missing the Italian "Folgore" who fought in El-Alamein surrounded, outnumbered, without supplies.

[@marcofava]

La decima MAS a Alexandria e la Tridentina a Stalingrado e nella campagna di Russia

[@Baulder13]

I love the intro of this channel idk why.

[@paoloscialletti1971]

Dude how about the italian Folgore. The italian unit of the north african campaign that dozens of battles and when surronded fought with tooth and nails but failed and the british recognized them the honour of arms.

[@cypher4783]

1 marine division only retreats when they run out of crayons, and they never run out of crayons.

[@Generlj]

Really appreciate the mention of Yugoslav partisans! All the other nationalities have their fair share of mentions in regards to their participation in WWII and the units / armies they had, but Yugoslavia's role often gets forgotten or downplayed. I'd encourage anyone who is interested to read up on the partisans, their fight against the Nazis and self-liberation - its is a super interesting and inspiring read!

[@audsnevicrec2561]

Self liberation 😂😂😂😂😂

[@kosovoisserbia8937]

Ah yeah Croats were present when they saw they will loose in 1944. Croat undercover Nazi tito who led them was more than happy to accept people that killed over 100k children.

[@BokicaK1]

@@kosovoisserbia8937 pa da je bilo koristi od mihailovicevig jagnjecih brigada, rat bi se mozda drugacije zavrsio. Inace, ako nisi znao, cetnici su ubili majku osobi koja ti je na avataru zato sto je bila partizanka...

[@kosovoisserbia8937]

@@BokicaK1 Kažeš četnici ko da je to jedna organizacija sa jednim vođom. Ajde sad lepo uzmi knjigu i čitaj. Četnici postoje 400 godina razni. U drugom svetskom ratu si imao preko 100 organizacija četničkih koje su imale preko 200 ljudi.

[@BokicaK1]

@@kosovoisserbia8937 i svi su osim Pećančevih četnika, bili nominalno Mihailovićevi.

[@kaijudirector5336]

AKA the units you want to play as or deploy in in WW2 games.

[@darkhope97]

Well theres the game men of war red tide that focuses on tales of the black death men

[@albinovenom6872]

Can you guys tell me the name of your first intro music? I've been looking for it for a year and still can't find it anywhere.

[@jassonford7269]

You forgot about the 101st airborne A.k.a. the Battling bastards of Bastogne

[@striker1382]

NUTS!

[@latham333osman]

My great grandpa was in the first marine division and was at Guadalcanal love seeing him represented in this!

[@blank557]

"The most dangerous man in the world is a Marine and his rifle."--General John "Black Jack" Pershing

[@evandotterer4365]

I never new about that elite Japanese air unit, really interesting nobody mentions that aircraft

[@ash_dies_alone1940]

nobody really mentions them because they didn't get to show off that much, Japan was already losing and the shidens were brand new and not mass-produced

[@cardiv5zuikaku944]

because Zeroes serve longer Still i prefer the Shiden Kai

[@thetigerii9506]

Nobody mentions japan because they want a bogeyman and are probably racist too

[@evandotterer4365]

@@thetigerii9506 they lost the war. But their technology and weapons were not weak.

[@MrLampes]

@@ash_dies_alone1940 yet they matched hellcat's performances, and that's not what americans want to hear about, just like a fact that ki-84 was the best fighter of the Pacific war. Even US engineers said so but it was silenced pretty quickly.

[@ram1483]

I would like to add the 101'st airborne division, the infamous Battered bastards of bastogne.

[@ronchristiantenala4056]

well not to be bias cause I do also love 101st but the fact is that the 82nd airborne is much more veteran in combat drops, jumping first in the Italian campaign.

[@NuclearGamer101]

my grandfather was a Partisan, he told me stories of how most of the time they outplayed Germans by attacking with few people from multiple sides and as the Germans dug in and panicked as they thought it was allot of men attacking they just ran over them shot as many as they could even used blades if their guns ran out or jammed then they would run back in the hills and repeat without stopping until there were no more germans, he also said the SS would shoot themselves before letting themselves be captured by them because they knew it would be a fate worse then death ☠️ my grandpa was a nazi killer, a very successful nazi killer apparently 😅

[@bobdollaz3391]

Bless your grossvater!

[@indianajones4321]

The Italian Bersalglieri unit was very battle tested and was one of Italy’s best units in WW2

[@thekingoffist3610]

Sadly, they're Italian. All the jumped up "historian" stop at that because Italy bad or some shit

[@shadyyy7490]

He avoids Italy like it's the plague... It's sad since Italy's contribution is often clouded by ignorant myths. There are definetly many stories that deserve to be on videos like this but are always forgotten

[@shadyyy7490]

The Alpini were also pretty much undefeated in Russia

[@thekingoffist3610]

Italian cavalry hasn't slipped up once. There's the Decima Mas to talk about who were literally the fathers of the Navy Seals and maybe special forces in general, there's the Folgore paratroops who fought like hell in Africa until the last bullets, there's the Ariete divisions aswell and so much more, really But as said, stereotypes

[@VersusARCH]

The best Italian unit of WW2 was, by far, the Decima Flotigla MAS.

[@VeteranAlpha]

You should make a second part or even a series of this kind. Perhaps after you're done with WW2 you can do *"The most feared and battle tested units of the Cold War"* I know the Cold War wasn't really a war but here I am referring more so to the actual conflicts fought during the Cold War. Conflicts like the Indian-Pakistani wars, Malayan Emergency, Vietnam War, Rhodesian Bush War, South African Border War, etc:

[@VeteranAlpha]

@Crocodile Dundee Uhhh. What? Why would they do that? That sounds kinda creepy if you ask me. 🤔

[@VeteranAlpha]

@Crocodile Dundee Yea but breasts... How is reporting that breasts are saggy or erect going to help with reconnaissance? 😂

[@VeteranAlpha]

@Crocodile Dundee Weird detail to remember if you ask me. But hey if it works then it works.

[@cd5433]

I love this channel Holy shit thanks

[@steveshoemaker6347]

This is one of your.....Best video....l think you very much my friend....!!!

[@TheFront]

Many many thanks from The Down Under!

[@rokog5308]

Learn English.

[@bigmax9603]

Last time I was this early Operation Barbarossa was doing well.

[@crom1701]

That ticking in the background is maddening.

[@alpha1346]

Could u do a video about the 2nd rangers and there mission on dday to take point du hoc

[@gustavporsche1446]

6:08 Heeey, that guy looks familiar!

[@reginaldmcnab3265]

3:00 When German soldiers fought bravely it is called fanaticism and when the allied soldiers fought bravely its not called fanaticism! It called something else. That bullshit! I must say.

[@thetigerii9506]

The creator of this video is american. Did you really expect him to respect the japanese and germans?

[@reginaldmcnab3265]

Well, I dont expect anything. But like the Victors say, never forget. "if we see that Germany is winning we should help Russia and if we see that Russia is winning we should help Germany, that way they kill as many as possible" Harry Truman.

[@thepancakemann]

@@thetigerii9506 are you dim? he literally has a British accent. he's not American.

[@brndj6672]

The 28th Maori battalion from New Zealand grew a ferocious reputation among Germans, especially desert fox Erwin Rommel

[@soulknife20]

While I was deployed to Iraq, I was asked by an Iraqi Soldier if it was true that US marines had to eat a baby to get through Training. Obviously I said Yes.

[@duanekirish2970]

The 1st Marine Division is truly worthy of your list. As others have already commented Col. Shoup was a member of the 2nd Marine Division at Tarawa when he gave his famous quote, "...issue in doubt ...".

[@lnchgj]

If I may…. The first armored unit to land in North Africa, half of which was used to reinforce the 1st AD when it ran into the Germans and was cut to pieces. Born of the very first Tank Battalion America even had in WWII, it was the only Armored Division to invade Sicily, crushing the Italian and German defense of that Island in record time. Recalled to England, it was the first Armored Division to land at Normandy, securing the beachhead and breaking the back of German counter attacks in France. It was the division that opened the St Lo gap for the 3rd Army, earning it the German reputation as “Roosevelt’s Butchers”. The first Armored division to enter Germany, it moved back west to position itself to stop the German advance at the Battle of the budge. Something German general Piper refused to believe as that was the last unit her wanted to face. The division was singled out by Gen Montgomery as having saved the front and it’s speed of action earned it the nickname of “Hell on Wheels”. Returning to Germany it was the first Armored Division to enter Berlin. Loosing less than half of its men in 3 ½ years of combat, it destroyed 33 enemy divisions. Lets not forget the United States 2nd Armored Division.

[@bryanwegman7258]

51st highlanders were real fierce to!

[@edmundkempersdartboard173]

Partisans definitely had the sweetest mustaches.

[@quickhistory8637]

I think the Battle of Suamer would be an interesting topic for a video.

[@USS_Grey_Ghost]

It was don’t by Dark Seas and Darchinifel KZbin channels

[@theodoros9428]

Ιn Greece was a regiment of fearless Maori warriors, which fought against this division

[@danaugust2756]

1st Marine Division was the finvest light infantry fighting unit of the 20th century! From WW 2 to Vietnam!

[@trentfree1678]

I always seem to learn something new war either brings out the best in men or the worst when everyone clicks it's a perfect storm against their common enemy these units were not fearing death just doing the job of last hope

[@keithw4920]

Hans Ulrich Rudel and his ONE Stuka should be considered an elite unit as well.

[@Royalmerc]

It's kinda nice to see some Black Sea Marines on here, don't really hear much about them. Cant wait to see the next episode.

[@Silly2smart]

Good list, all worthy and dangerous.

[@banano24]

9:55 yea thats only when we are being attacked by other countries. When were alone its like we kinda like eachother but were gonna still use history stories to tear you down to the ground

[@lego007guym8]

I feel like the Polish Calvary could make it on this list. Everybody knows about how Poland still had calvary and an extremely outdated army, but not many people know about how feriouciously and hard the Polish fought. Their calvary alone willingly went up against panzer divisons in order to cover the escape of Polish infantry. They even took some of them out. On horseback. Yeah, they're that badass.

[@aaroncabatingan5238]

That's not really true, the Polish cavalry didn't charge at tanks. In one report, they charged at German infantry to allow Polish infantry to withdraw. Then they got cut down when the Germans brought in armored cars. There was no incident where Polish cavalry charged at tanks. That's just a myth.

[@tomek5513.]

RAF303 Squadron belongs on this list....

[@jasonshull3106]

Thanks for the great video.JDS in AZ usa

[@TheFront]

Thanks from Australia!

[@lengend27war34]

@@TheFront hello

[@remivoulon9535]

15th Armored Infantry Battalion, 5th Armored Division for their fighting mid December 1944 in The Hürtgen Forest.

[@metamorphic1436]

Legend has it the Japanese said a million men couldn't take Tarawa in a million years, the marines took it in 3 days.

[@heridfel]

For another video I’d propose the Polish squadrons, esp. 303; the German JG 26 “Abbeyville boys”; the Italian “Folgore” division; the British “Desert Rats”; the Gurkhas; and the Russian “Night Witches”

[@johnryder1713]

The Partisans should be remembered more than any resistance movement as they won their fight more than anyone could and received practically no outside support

[@audsnevicrec2561]

No outside support hahahahahhahahhahahahahahahahahhaha you are funny

[@Marko-od7eb]

There was some support by British who sent equipment at first half of a war and later Soviets also helped with their equpiment.

[@johnryder1713]

@@audsnevicrec2561 Really I suppose you were there? I wasn't surprisingly but since the Brits would rather give weapons to collaborators who pretended to support the allies than to them even after been warned not to by no less than Winston Churchills son and took poor local people to go back home and endanger themselves to tell them they were letting death trains full of Jews through their territory on top of everything else to actually back the people who wanted to free their country to make them support the right side at all. I'm only trying to compliment people who unified to fight back when it was needed, not those hadn't the guts to, or turned against their own neighbors and former friends

[@johnryder1713]

@@Marko-od7eb Yes, after the Brits gave as much more to the collaborators after Churchills own son warned them not to

[@johnryder1713]

@@audsnevicrec2561 It took the Croats of the Domobrani who were supposed to be their enemies to give them German Equipment and show what needed to be done was everyone fight together

[@michaelandreipalon359]

10:16: Yeesh, even I wouldn't have wanted to start a war against the Soviets if that was the case. Lots, especially if those Shidens were mass produced for the war effort. You'll be huddled up in fear of getting hit, even by a slight margin.

[@bpdbhp1632]

What do you mean? Arent those yugoslav partisans

[@jaygonztx]

The 1st Marine Division is the only one still continuing service today with distinction beyond WWII . . . Pride of the Corps!

[@AkumuLyn]

588th Soviet Night Bomber Regiment.

[@michaelfrench3396]

So I really enjoy your channel and your videos, but can you please do something about the volume for the intro music? The volume of the regular video is pretty quiet so I have to keep the volume turned up so I'll be able to hear it but the intro blows the speakers out of my headphones for the length of time it plays. Could you please just turn the audio down a little bit so it's equal to your video?

[@user-po2zt5le5h]

Really surprising video.. I was expecting a listing of some elite nazi units or Stuka airplanes, and some Western allied troops such as Canadians, with minimal mention of the USSR, as is usually the case in Western videos about the Second World War. But there a whole lot of Soviet troops, and even "black death" marine corps, Info of which I have never met in KZbin before. Unusual but great

[@the1ghost764]

Cool 😎

[@mspicer3262]

What about the First Special Service Force? US and Canadian Spec-ops units of today draw their lineage back to The Devil's Brigade, and all still observe Menton Day every year, on the 5th of December. Just because they were disbanded before the end of the war, doesn't mean they didn't scare the bejesus out of the Germans, or perform some incredible feats on the battlefield.

[@smithwesson7765]

Sadly, the very effective 1st Special Service Force had been disbanded before the end of WW2. Canadians and Americans formed one of the most feared fighting units of the war. The Germans referred to them as "The Black Devils", understandably so. They were probably the best trained special unit of the war.

[@aa2339]

8:22 those are lend-lease American GMC trucks they were installed on.

[@andrewfox1755]

Two units were forgotten. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team “Go for Broke” and the now famous 75th Ranger Regiment

[@redaug4212]

The 442nd already got a couple videos about them, and the 75th Ranger Regiment didn't technically exist during WWII since they were designated as an infantry regiment and the actual Ranger units were a separate fighting force.

[@jordiladron3788]

nice

[@aziouss2863]

I heard a katucha fire in a youtube video. That thing is really the stuff of nightmares. The sound it makes is haunting. Like it is almost spectral like.

[@jacqueschouette7474]

Tarawa was 2nd Marine Division battle and Colonel Shoup was the highest ranking officer on the island during the assault. No Marines from the 1st Marine Division were there. They were getting ready for the Cape Gloucester invasion.

[@sbam4881]

I would argue that the Katyusha is a weapon rather than a unit, in which case there are several that should place higher. The 88 AA/AT, for example, is unique in the sense that they were feared by all tank-men in all theaters from the beginning of the war right to the end of it (as compared to say the A6M Zero which was feared early war but not by the middle of it or other systems that were feared but only came into service in 44 or 45).

[@sloptek1807]

I guess he wanted to tell us about Guards Mortar Brigades/Divisions and etc, who were in the reserve of Soviet high command and were receiving orders directly from Stavka ( directly from Stalin). They were usually used as the strike force during offensive operation and were always supporting troops on the spearhead of the breakthrough. For example during Berlin operation Zhukov received 2 guards artillery divisions and 2 guards mortar divisions from Stavka, which were the biggest fire support providers during the offensive.

[@MtuckerGoBlue]

The WWI 369th African American Hell Brigade. Scared the crap out of the Germans and was the only WWI Brigade to not give an inch of ground having served over six months on the front lines.

[@RoyalMela]

Lauri Törni's unit in Finland was notorious and deadly. They fought deep behind enemy lines, had almost 20/1 kill ratio and Soviets offered 3 million markka reward on Törni's head.

[@nerooo8715]

more of this

[@Bang-Ai146]

Where 566th Soviet Night Bomber Division?

[@sloptek1807]

Maybe 588th Bomber Regiment aka Night Witches?

[@sloptek1807]

Cause 566th Division exists up until this day. Now it's Military Transport Division. During WW2 566th was Shturmovik (Assault Division), equipped with IL-2 CAS planes. They made feets, but overall it was ordinary Shturmovik Division and isn't known that much.

[@historysabo3208]

Should've mentioned Decima Flottiga Mas they caused havoc to the British

[@slayerdeth0705]

Chesty Puller is on the all time list.

[@KrishnaSharma-ek3eq]

The nisse (American- Japanese) regiment or the purple heart squad ?

[@danioceans1187]

🔥🔥🔥

[@markmulder9845]

Who does the Japanese navy fear? The USS Johnston and taffy 3. But mostly the Johnston.

[@super_street_racer5094]

They sunk it...

[@vitbyst]

So "nice" of you to use the painting depicting the "brave" commissar Leonid Brezhnev (11:08)

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Send me and my Imperial Guards, I’ll win battles left and right.

[@prst4190]

The Gordon Highlanders say hi!

[@tizi087]

depends on your enemy sir!

[@whirving]

The Gormiers, colonial French Moroccan mountain troops. They had a very bad reputation for night attacks using knives. They were instrumental in the breakthrough in the battle of Monte Cassino.