The Tank Duel at St. Vith, Belgium

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

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[@thebonesaw..4634]

When I first subscribed you only had a little over 5,000 subscribers. Congratulations (although a tad late) on hitting ONE MILLION. It's been an amazing 5 years.

[@MrComfyAustralia]

This came up in my feed Sir, I will have to go back in time more often. You need a Bow Tie lol.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

@@MrComfyAustralia this was one of my earliest episodes, when I hadn’t yet settled on my wardrobe

[@Tex1947]

As the Army was withdrawing from St.Vith my father was hit with shrapnel from a 88 shell. His right arm was barely attached and he was hit in the torso also. A man who served with him told me at my dad's funeral he still fought shooting with his left hand even though he was right handed and allowed them to remove four others who were even more gravely injured before he allowed himself to be evacuated. Dad never talked about his service and the three major battles he took part in. After 6 months at a hospital in the UK he was sent stateside to a VA hospital in Little Rock for another six months. I wished he would have talked to me about his experience then maybe I could have talked about mine. Now I am almost as old as he was when he died and I still miss him.

[@dougs2747]

My dad was a White Army officer of an all Black Combat Engineering Company. The Company was rushed into the Battle of the Bulge to repair bridges destroy by the German Army. As they were working, German mortars hit them and my dad was wounded. I did not know this until, as a teenager, I saw his Purple Heart and Bronze Star with combat valor. I asked him what happened. He replied, "you won't understand." So I asked his sister, my aunt. She told me some bare details. Even though my dad served from 1939 to 1952 and fought in both WWII and Korea, he never once spoke of his military service.

[@Tex1947]

Doug S I know what you mean. These were young men some not much more than boys and were sent to do a almost impossible job yet they did it with valor. These were the "greatest generation".

[@sigor2011]

Rick McKee my grandpa did 4 years in WWII. 3 wounds, 5 years screaming at night with nightmares after (grandma said that part). He also did not speak about war, I guess did not want to relive the nightmares of it. Can you blame them?

[@Tex1947]

sigor2011 No each person is different.

[@bradcampbell7253]

Rick McKee there is a story of a American troops that we're looking for the Germans in the battle and this guy goes walking up the road and encounters a tiger tank coming down the road they fired the 88 and even that grazed him didn't even injure him he was millimeters from blown into thousands of pieces and Vanishing incredible story from the Battle of the Bulge

[@michaellawson6298]

My father fought in St Vith. He was an infantry squad leader. He said that it was so cold, wet and miserable, and the fighting so vicious, that he never had another bad day the rest of his life. No matter how bad things got, he could always say "At least I'm not back in St Vith."

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

My old man felt the same way about Monte Casino.

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

There's also an unnamed hamlet in Rwanda I feel the same way about. The Rwandans learnt chapter and verse from Prince Leopold and his men.

[@jeffcolorado]

I grew up in the 50's. Our neighbor across the street fought at St. Vith. His wife and my mother were close friends, and she told my mom her husband had been captured at St. Vith, and put on a train back to Germany. Along the journey allied planes attacked the train, not knowing allied prisoners were on the train. The man sitting next to my neighbor was killed by the attack. He never spoke of it, and looking back, he was a very quiet and somewhat odd acting man. I can't imagine how that must have affected the rest of his life. Fortunately, he wasn't a prisoner for very long, as the war at that point was in its final stages.

[@danhunter3704]

Wow thanks for sharing that. I remember there was a movie, Hart’s War I believe, that had a scene exactly like how you described. The POWs rushed out of the train cars to form a POW message so the attacking P-51 Mustangs would break off and stop attacking

[@HappyFlapps]

When I was about 10yrs. old I asked my grandpa how his hands and neck got so scarred up. I remember that he wouldn't answer me, and instead only gave me a strange, sad look and said he didn't want to talk about it. Later on, in high school, I asked my dad about grandpa's scars and he told me that in WW2 grandpa was an M4 Sherman tank commander. In Aug. '44 his tank was hit by an 88mm anti tank gun hidden in the edge of a forest. He said grandpa was the only one of his crew not wounded by the shell and he spent the longest few seconds of his life trying to get his wounded crew out of the tank before it began to burn. He was only able to get his gunner halfway out of the turret when the ammo started to cook off and he slipped from his grip and had to see the horror in the man's eyes as he slid down into the flames. My dad told me grandpa would never tell him how he got his scars either and that it was grandma who told him the story and she said it had taken many years before grandpa would even tell her the story of how he was wounded, as the memory was just too painful to recount.

[@OALM]

Daaaaamn that’s tough

[@richardbowers3647]

Horror is difficult to describe! Just saying.

[@em1osmurf]

60 years ago as a little kid i'd ask my father to tell me "war stories". he'd just get this hard "old" look to his face, and say "no, and some day you'll understand". it took 2 WestPac amphib cruises to vietnam. i haven't told anyone anything about it for 50 years, and i doubt i ever will. including my sweet wife. i don't want to. i understand, daddy.

[@ghostmost2614]

My father fought at Pusan Korean War. He didn't like talking about it, said it might stir more nightmares.

[@Schumanized]

Whoa man!! I salute your grandpa!!

[@michaelkrick9524]

My dad was wounded at St. Vith also, Rick. He was a dental officer attached to an artillery company but, as anyone who has served in the military knows, in desperate situations everyone is an infantryman. He was wounded on the 17th and evacuated to a hospital in Liege. As with many combat stories there is also a bit of humor and my dad loved to recount this one: He had size 13AA feet and had a terrible time finding combat boots that fit him and when he arrived at the hospital the standard procedure was to strip the soldier down and then replace his uniform, including boots, when he was returned to duty. He was just a 1st lieutenant but fought tooth and nail with the medical staff, most of whom out ranked him, until they agreed to tie his precious boots to his stretcher and then his bed so that he could keep an eye on them. God bless them both Rick,

[@stevedietrich8936]

You should read up on Dr. Ben L. Salomon, a dentist who was awarded the Medal Of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Saipan

[@michaelkrick9524]

@@stevedietrich8936 Thanks Steve, I'll do that.

[@NesconProductions]

I'm sure painting a Tiger tank on the side of your scout vehicle would gain you some serious bragging rights down the road. Great story..

[@davyaldy76]

After the disbelief settled.

[@bradyelich2745]

Probly by a fist fight and another round bought ...

[@philgiglio9656]

@Calaveras Sam Clemens ...what's the difference between a war story and a fairy tale? One starts out "once upon a time": the other starts with "this aint no shit."

[@THE-HammerMan]

NesconProductions That WOULD be a "kill silhouette" of distinction!

[@ZuluLifesaBeech-]

@@philgiglio9656 Mark Twain said I have had some terrible things happen to me in this life and some of them were true....

[@socratesgeorgekazolias]

So excited about this video. My Dad was in 741st tank battalion directing traffick in Saint Vith during the retreat and was the last tank out heading to the twin villages for a major battle. So proud of Dad who landed on Omaha with the 741st and fought all the way to Prague: two Purple Hearts and not yet an American citizen.

[@russell3380]

My dad was tank commander in Patton's Third Army and was in this area and the battle of the bulge. Some things he will talk about others he won't. We forget all to soon what our solders gave for our freedom.

[@philgiglio9656]

My stepfather was 3rd Army under Patton; a life long deer hunter I think after 1944 he promised himself he would NEVER be cold again. When he went in the woods hunting he was always warmly dressed.

[@Chino56751]

No we don't

[@thomasb1889]

My father was in Greenland which you would think was a backwater and was not well covered information wise. Only a few years ago I realized that it was the front lines in the Battle of the Atlantic with the Germans setting up weather stations and the allies, mainly US and Greenland forces - the smallest army in WWII - trying to shut them down in an environment that made the European winter of 1944 look like spring. A couple of my father's brothers, all five served, were in the 3rd Army and were likely involved in the relief of Bastogne.

[@Bialy_1]

@@thomasb1889 "in an environment that made the European winter of 1944 look like spring" yea so how many people died there from that cold? How many cases of cannibalism? Its allways nice to hear how uneducated people are in USA in the topic of WW2... 11 January 1940 in Poland temperature was −41.0 °C (−41.8 °F) and during WW2 Germans was feading native population with some weird food that you would never eat if you would have any other option. On top of that amount of food was incredible small, 400-600kcal per day... and US soldier rations was - Mountain ration: 4,800 calories. - Jungle ration: 4,000 calories... for example posesion of grilling equipment in Poland in that time was punished with death as meat was only for Germans...

[@tomscot907]

My dad was also Army and in the Ardennes. Heroes all of them.

[@b.p.879]

My grandfather was a cook in the motorpool of the "Phantom" 9th Armored Div, and he was pressed into combat and into the task force in the vicinity of St Vith. His journal entry from one of the last days of the Battle of the Bulge read "Pulled into St Vith this morning, worst day of my life, got my ass out of there quick"

[@gailstadnick7932]

My dad was a staff sergeant in Combat Command B of the 9th, 16th field artillery, and fought at St. Vith. His best friend was a cook who we knew as Sgt. Pete. Wonderful man.

[@flybeep1661]

Belgian here, major good points for the correct pronunciation of the town St. Vith. That was spot on.

[@bv2623]

Fellow Belgian here. Not to be rude, but the pronounciation isn't correct. He pronounces Sankt Vith in a French sounding way, but it should be pronounced in a German way(as it is part of the Germanspeaking community of Belgium) The French counterpart would be Saint Vith. He is somewhere in between. But to be fair, most Belgians struggle when it comes to correctly pronounce this town (and end up using a bastardization as was used in this video)

[@NaughtyNimitz]

Bree Vee Another Belgian here and I concur with Bree

[@Mike-tw1pi]

My nitpicks: 25 yards is 75 feet, not 150. Also, the last big German offensive of the war was in March 1945 south of Vienna towards Budapest and Hungary.

[@CrazyBear65]

I would've pronounced it the way it's spelled, since, having been born and raised American, I don't speak Flemish.

[@letoubib21]

*+Bree Vee* _"Fellow Belgian here. Not to be rude, but the pronounciation isn't correct. He pronounces Sankt Vith in a French sounding way, but it should be pronounced in a German way(as it is part of the Germanspeaking community of Belgium) The French counterpart would be Saint Vith [...]"_ Sorry, but do you really expect a U.S.-American speaking a foreign language without any American accent?

[@julienlamy1937]

I'm from St. Vith. Thank you for this interesting video. When I go running or walk my dog in our beautiful forest, I have to think almost every time about the poor Germans and Americans who thought during this time in our forests.

[@erichammond9308]

My uncle was with the 75th infantry division (289th infantry regiment) went through St Vith and liberated Vielsalm - he's no longer with us, but I'm sure he would love hearing this!

[@JoeDiGiovanniIV]

I see a similar thread here. My papa was on the USS England which the History Guy made a video about in which the USS England set a record which still stands today for most submarines sunk by a warship. His destroyer was eventually hit by a kamikaze, and he was seriously injured and watched many die around him. He never talked about his experiences in world war 2, that is until a few years before he passed, I asked him if I could interview him for a school project in which we had to interview someone who served in world war 2. ( keep in mind this was when I was in 8th grade like 20 years ago and WW2 veterans were still alive in very large numbers). I never saw my papa shed a tear my whole life, until half way through the project I noticed he was tearing up telling me about the day the plane struck his ship. He avoided talking about the war to everyone including his children, and I was told that the few times he spoke about it he would suffer nightmares for nights on end. I still feel very blessed he shared that with me. I wish I still had that project in writing. I can't imagine the horror he went through, which was clear to me after that discussion together how much it affected him. I actually felt bad afterwards, it was only then i was told about the effects of talking about it were. He was such a rigid and strong man, and to see that type of response from events that took place long ago, I can only imagine what he and the millions of others experienced

[@johnlansing2902]

That men so young could show such courage and devotion sets a very high standard to match ourselves against. Thank you for this reminder.

[@tomjustis7237]

I've read accounts of this 'David and Goliath' fight and I hope THG doesn't mind if I add some details so people understand not only how the M-8 could triumph but also the raw courage it took for the M-8 crew to win this battle. When the Tiger tank commander realized the M-8 was approaching from the rear, he stopped his tank and began traversing the turret to bring his 88 to bear. Had he succeeded, the M-8 would have been 'brewed up', as the Brits called it, with a single round. Unfortunately for him, one of the weaknesses of the Tiger was a very slow traverse of the turret. (A Sherman tank could traverse its turret 360 degrees in roughly 50 seconds while a Tiger took over a minute and a half.) When the M-8 commander saw this, he ordered his driver to 'punch it', knowing he had to get very close, very fast in order to achieve the greatest accuracy with his gun. As THG said, the M-8 began firing at 25 yards. Even at that close range, however, the M-8's 37 MM gun could NOT penetrate the rear armour of the Tiger. What saved the M-8 was the accuracy it could achieve at that point blank range. The first 37 MM round 'cratered', or ate away, part of the Tiger's rear armour, reducing its thickness. (The Tiger's turret was still traversing to bring it's 88 to bear.) The second round, hitting the same spot, cratered the armour even more, further reducing its thickness. (The Tiger's turret had nearly completed it's traverse and was preparing to fire.) The third round, again hitting the same spot, was finally able to penetrate the remaining armour and 'brew up' the Tiger before it could fire. Had the M-8 not been close enough to achieve that level of accuracy, and had the crew not had the courage to stay CALM enough to achieve that level of accuracy, it would not have been able to destroy the Tiger. I've never been able to learn if the crew of that M-8 was decorated for their actions that day, but if they were not, I would call that a travesty of justice.

[@kirotheavenger60]

The other explanation is that it wasn't a Tiger at all. Allied troops demonstrated repeatedly that an eye witness claiming a "Tiger" could be just about any vehicle, even from just 25yds!

[@jjj1951]

@@kirotheavenger60 Do you have alternative information? Please share.

[@williambeck2202]

Kirothe Avenger bulls eye ! , being that the Mk 4 looked just like a miniature Tiger and every GI saw every MK4 as one a 37 punching through 8 Cvs of armor seems very very unlikely, just because it’s backed up by a report doesn’t mean the other guy wasn’t as much of an idiot as the first one, that’s the only thing in the Army that there wasn’t a shortage of. !

[@augustlandmesser1520]

More likely it was Panzer IV, since German unit histories indicate that there were no German heavy tanks lost or even present within 20 miles of St.Vith at the time of the alleged incident. Still, heroic deed of that M-8 crew.

[@WalkaCrookedLine]

@@kirotheavenger60 Another explanation is that German tank armor suffered serious quality degradation late in the war due to shortages of tungsten and other alloying metals. The late war tigers had the same armor thickness as the earlier ones, but that armor was not as tough since it was made of inferior alloys.

[@bret9741]

Ok, you did it again. I have yet to watch or listen to your short history lessons without wanting to watch or listen to another. Thank you so very much loving history enough to put the thousands of hours into these videos.

[@davidhollowood6580]

My Grandfather (on my mom's side) served in the U.S.Navy between WWI and WWII. The only thing we know for sure is that he was assigned to a gun crew, his job as part of the team was to inspect the barrel quickly after the swab was put through to ensure that there was no burning burlap left in the breach that might prematurely detonate the next load. He awoke one morning to find that he had laryngitis but the engagement was going to go on with him or without him. After one of the shots the swab missed some burlap he tackled the loader since there was no way to make himself heard. Other than that he never spoke. They were told to keep the whole affair secret. I believe it was something in central America. He took it to the grave with him along with shrapnel in his hip.

[@johnstark4723]

My mother's cousin was airborne and was involved in helping to regain ground during the Battle of the Bulge and was in St Vith at the end of the battle. He died in Operation Varsity when his plane was hit by an 88 and exploded.

[@kenyongray2615]

God bless all the veterans who fought in WWII for the freedom of the world. My Dad was an MP up in Alaska looking over at Russia. I have just found this channel and am very glad I have. History is fascinating. Thanks for the video.

[@davidharris6581]

My Dad commanded an M8 in the Philippines and Japan. 302nd Reconnaissance Troop, 1st Calvary Division. Battle of Leyte, Manilla and Occupation of Japan. He loved them. Especially their speed. You are so right about their off road capabilities though. Growing up farming when we would get stuck he would always say: "It's nothing like getting a M8 stuck in a rice patty!"

[@ZuluLifesaBeech-]

Never though a Greyhound would take down a Tiger! Never say never. Like the analogy by History Guy SWOT Strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. Logic and courage in spite doubt and fear.

[@devlin7575]

fantastic

[@jezrelcarvellida9572]

We owe your dad and his fellow soldiers for their service. Without them, we would have not been liberated from the Japanese. From us the Filipino people, thank you.

[@W7DSY]

Thanks, David Harris for that story. And thanks to your father for his service.

[@davidcox3076]

Cool story! The 37mm was very effective in the Pacific, whether mounted on the M8 or as a towed piece. It was light enough to get through the jungle. 37mm rounds were quite deadly against the light armor of Japanese tanks. And fragmentation rounds could ruin a banzai charge very quickly.

[@garypulliam3740]

This guy really overstates some of these events. By this time in the war M8 crews, Sherman tank crews, Bazooka crews, and many others were highly trained and skilled in the art of stealthy laying in wait and ambush for all size tanks, including Tiger tanks. On the other end of the continent, Red Army soldiers were doing it regularly with scout vehicles and infantry antitank weapons similar to, if not actually, the Bazooka. And it helped that the German crews were young, lightly trained, inexperienced, and unskilled. Not that this is not an example of phenomenal bravery, but it was happening every where all over the world at this particular slither of time in history. Point of fact: casualties are killed and wounded. Casualties do not include the category "caputured".

[@rancidpitts8243]

I wish I had known this story when I was NCO in the US Army. The young Privates would always come up with "What If" questions. The story would have illustrated, You work with what you have in an intelligent way.

[@thedeathwobblechannel6539]

in old racing terms--you run what you brung

[@keithbrown7685]

Or, Q: When you're out-manned and out-gunned.... what's left? A: Guile.

[@larrygarrett724]

My father was in the St. Vith area. He never told me about his experiences but mom did. Later after I was back from Vietnam in the Navy he did tell some. Never horror stories but comical situations which do happen. My Uncle told me his stories and even showed me pictures he had taken on the battlefield. He was in artillery.

[@KCODacey]

Great story & very well told. This video is a perfect example of what I repeatedly tell my children: you should study history because history is always ready to teach you something. Bravo The History Guy!

[@alanrogers7090]

My dad was a driver of a M-5A1 Stuart tank with the Seventh Armored Division and was at St. Vith during the Battle Of The Bulge in December of 1944. He was one of the lucky ones who had heat. At another time, his tank was hit by a German shell and had the tracks blown.off, so the crew bailed out, taking their machine guns with them and also the breech to their cannon. While they ran back to American lines, they tossed the breech away. It might still be there to this day.

[@mitzyismad]

Great anecdote, read a lot about the 'Battle of the Bulge' but this is the first I have heard of this incident. Cool crew in that M8. God Bless em'.

[@rvasquez8057]

My father was a tank driver and part of the recon force for the 756th Tank Battalion during WWII. He told me many stories of some of their battles. He passed in 1991, but hearing these stories brings back a lot of great memories with him. Than you Very, Very Much.... Keep up the great work.

[@magellan6108]

Not desperation but calculation...and a heavy dose of inspiration. To the David's in a world full of Goliaths, well done! Great video!

[@JohnP538]

Like HMS Africa at Trafalgar, it's not size but determination that really matters.

[@charlesrutherford4785]

It's great to go through the comments here and read about the stories your fathers and grandfathers have given you. Repeat those stories as often as you can as their voices will eventually fall silent. My dad was a Marine and involved in the Pacific Theater then later in the Korean War. As generations move on these stories will be lost if we do not try to keep them alive. And future generations will tear down the memorials that we have erected just as the ones that previous generations have erected are being torn down now. And don't for a minute think that they will not. Some future generation will complain, wring their hands and cry about the Arizona weeping in the sea surrounding her. And another memorial to incredibly brave men will be lost. Tell the stories.

[@timmcneil906]

What an amazing example of leadership! He knew his strengths, he knew the enemy's weakness and took full advantage of the situation! Great story Guy!

[@keithbrown7685]

Also, he had to decide fast, think fast.

[@arthura.applegatejr.7145]

My Uncle, my father’s older brother, Uncle Russell C Applegate Jr. was a corporal in what my Grammy said was the “ Army Corps of Engineers”. He was leading a battalion behind a Sherman tank when,as he told my Dad, the tank driver got scared and turned the tank into a hedgerow. He marched on and left the “ Battle of the bulge” a Sargent after receiving a field promotion and several medals according to his daughter,my Godmother and eldest cousin, Judith Lee. Unfortunately he passed away in 1974 of leukemia at only 55 years of age. He was a wonderful uncle and a great father to his 4 children.

[@raydunakin]

What a great story, and I love the way you tell it! Very gripping!

[@kennethcurtis1856]

Dad was with an 81mm mortar squd at St. Vith with the 48thAIB 7th AD. Thank you for covering the important, but often, battle of St. Vith.

[@shorttimer874]

When I was a kid I played the 1965 version of Avalon Hill's Battle of the Bulge game. In the early part of the game the Germans had overwhelming strength, vastly out numbering the Allies. But using the terrain and limited roads available the Allies just had to slow the Germans down until either the weather cleared so they could get air support, or enough reinforcements to stop the Germans. Learned a lot about what it really was like.

[@douglaskautzman4682]

I witnessed an M2A2 ODS Bradley take out a T-72 at 25M in April of 2003. The T-72 was hiding in an Alleyway while we zig zagged through some side streets. A woman came out to stop us from following our lead track try to convey some danger. We radioed the lead vehicle but they didn’t answer. All of a sudden the traversed to the 3 o’clock position and hauled ass backwards and the gunner put between 10-15 AP rounds into the alley. After that we rolled on through no one exited what was left of the tank. That wasn’t even the craziest thing that happened that day either. Rock of the Marne.

[@dukecraig2402]

It teaches us the value of taking the initiative.

[@jeffreyharbaugh865]

I love hearing stories like this. We were raised to think on our feet. If you do something even if it's wrong,you can change it and learn. If you don't do anything, you can't change anything. It makes me sad that our schools and leaders teach youngsters to stand and watch today. It is showing up on the workforce. If they eliminated all history curriculum and only showed your program, it would be a great improvement

[@Liutgard]

I was looking at faces very carefully in the video clips- my grandfather, Ben Remley, was in one of those small side battles (I think it was St Vith but I'd have to look up the Army's records), and was captured there by the Germans. He was a medic, and had lingered behind to care for men after his unit moved. At one point in that battle, he crawled into a burning tank to pull out an unconscious man. Got a Silver Star for it. He spent the rest of the war in a German prison camp. Was slightly over 6', came home weighing 130 pounds.

[@Rohilla313]

Correction: the Ardennes offensive was not the last major offensive in the war. That distinction belongs to Operation Spring Awakening (Fruhlingserwachen) in 1945 at Lake Balaton in Hungary. The Ardennes battle was the last major offensive on the western front.

[@bongobrandy6297]

It sounds like OddBall had a kindred spirit in that M8! :)

[@HM2SGT]

"... & we’ve got it by the ass!"

[@theallseeingmaster]

No paint shells, either.

[@johnnyreno7200]

Kelly's Heroes...love that movie

[@davyaldy76]

Lovin those good vibes man!

[@gringogreen4719]

It would have been more funny if thet stopped and bought the tank!

[@Worthrhetime]

I recently found out My great uncle served in Patton’s 3rd Nelson Moreland Brewer . Killed November 1944 by a unexploded ordnance when he exited his tank . He was a tester at a tank plant in Michigan and had a deferment but insisted on going overseas to serve in the field . I am trying to learn more about him , I am very proud of him. Thank you for your channel, I greatly enjoy it.

[@phoenixlabs3774]

I remember hearing of this story about this tank duel between M8 Greyhound armored car and a Tiger II during the later half of the Battle of the Bulge to summarize the battle, during a German offensive against American forces a Tiger II was able to push through American lines but in doing so it over extended itself. Nearby a M8 Greyhound's commander spotted the Tiger II, noting that the Tiger II didn't see his armored car he decided to sneak up on the Tiger II and fire a couple of 37mm APCR rounds into the rear of the tank where its armor was at its weakest with his M6 cannon. the nimble M8 was able to sneak up upon the Tiger II and it fired 2-3 rounds into the rear of the Tiger crippling its engine, the Tiger's commander now aware of the M8 tried to turn his tank's turret around to kill the M8 all the while the M8 was firing round after round into the Tiger's rear. by the time that the Tigers turret was almost completely turned around the M8 scoured a hit on the Tiger's fuel tank setting it ablaze (it probably could've been contained with FCS), the Tiger II's commander ended up loosing his none existent nerve and panicked ordering his crew to get out of the tank due to this. this only got him and his crew killed by the M8's machine gun. this story reminds me of a quote from a book called "The Art of War" in which its says "if you know yourself and you know your enemy, you shall not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but you don't know your enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you don't know neither yourself nor your enemy, you shall fall in every battle"

[@blacksquirrel4008]

Congratulations on your 1 million followers after only 4 years. Had to revisit the “early” days.

[@badgerattoadhall]

Same.

[@the4seasons4ever]

another piece of history for us to enjoy.Thank you,History guy,I have watched over 50 of your videos and have gained much knowledge and enjoyment .Thank you so much.Steve in Clearwater,fl.

[@sonnyburnett8725]

I had two Uncles that fought and only had a chance to listen to one of them. But no matter who we listen to either in person or on tv they always play down how they were almost killed by what they did. Meaning of course, their friends didn’t make it. Listening to him talk and what he went through will always stay in my mind. Combining that with the few others we had a chance to listen to makes a story of incredible courage.

[@Budge.Bm.r75]

So glad I have found your channel, some great moments from history well worth remembering.

[@pearlzie9118]

I love how history guy tends to always choose really great true hero stories that illustrate how ordinary people often do extraordinary things. History guy is probably the best show on KZbin. History Guys heart is in the exact right place.

[@r.a.monigold9789]

Nice way to start my day - Five Minutes of enthusiasm and information! Thanks for sharing...

[@tednichols8674]

You are, by far, one of the most interesting Historians, ever. You bring history to life with accuracy and enthusiasm, which I so greatly appreciate!

[@davyaldy76]

I have never heard of this before this video. Thank you.

[@Whitelightnin76]

My great granddad was 106th infantry mp platoon. They had just got in country a couple days prior to the battle of the bulge. The 106th was green as could be. His platoon took out a tank during the battle and gunned down an officers car that had got lost and drove through their checkpoint. St Vita was a hard fought battle, most of the Americans were barely out of high school and barely out of the USA in general.

[@kassieraine110]

Scouts are JUST crazy enough to pull off defeating a Tiger. I've heard Bradley's were defeating T55's in Dessert Storm w/HE 25mm. If you ain't Cav...

[@kassieraine110]

@@bradyelich2745 You mean TOW missles.

[@bradyelich2745]

Yes, thanks. Either one is an effective anti tank weapon.

[@philgiglio9656]

The Battle of 73 Easting...there are some pieces here on youtube.

[@kassieraine110]

@@philgiglio9656 That Discovery doc is pretty good.

[@bestestusername]

Russian tanks burn hard, a bradley pumping 25mm rounds into it and set it on fire job done

[@archlich4489]

The way you surf the energy of this story is inspiring

[@jsfbr]

Great story! Another demonstration of audacity combined with sound knowledge and experience being able to overcome presumed advantage by exploiting the enemy's soft spots.

[@thegamingn00b59]

I appreciate how optimistic sounding this man is. It makes listening to his story telling extremely satisfying

[@gnosticmom2805]

Please do a video about the destroyer escort USS Samuel B. Johnson. It and its crew proved size does not matter.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Gnostic Mom I suspect you mean the USS Samuel B. Roberts, although the USS Johnston was also part of Taffy 3. Yes, the Battle off Samar was an amazing fight.

[@gnosticmom2805]

Yes, you are right. I do mean the Samuel B. Roberts. The story of this little escort was one of the most amazing things I've ever read.

[@philgiglio9656]

Gnostic Mom...originally they were to be doing escort duty in the Atlantic. Their first cruise they hit a whale and damaged a screw so badly they had to return to port for repairs. While in dry dock they were repainted in Pacific dazzle and transited the Panama Canal, got their rendezvous with destiny. There is still a Samuel B Roberts in service to this day. The destroyer that fought like a battleship was her nickname.

[@propanepusher101]

Read the book Last Charge of the Tin Can Sailors, amazing story of Battle Off Samar

[@Wailwulf]

+Richard Mercer I concur, an excellent book, deals with men and officers, the ships, the battle, the aftermath. and the horrors of war. I bought my copy at the USS Iowa Museum in Los Angeles from a veteran that served on one of the Destroyers that was sunk. Excellent book, anyone interested in Naval warfare, or Underdogs vs Goliaths should read it.

[@theseventhgeneration6910]

If he only knew how good this is. Congrats on 1mil subscriptions. May you find happiness and success on your all of your future ventures. So elegant, so articulate. Your channel is one that contributes to global stability and you have helped me stay grounded through learning. Cheers to a million more! Thank you everyone for your hard work and dedication!

[@timothyboles6457]

Incredible story, wow, never would have thought it, but the M8 commander was smart enough the know his foe

[@frankgulla2335]

Flashback. I just came across this title in your catalog. A wonderful re-telling of an ultimate David-Goliath story, though the commenter below does add some interesting detail (if they are documented). Your comment about the M8 'returning to its previous position was wonderful. You have a true storytelling knack. Thank you.

[@bigblue6917]

Ambushing Tiger tanks and attacking from the rear was often the only way to kill them. That's how they got Michael Wittmann. Interesting that the final throw of the dice for Germany in the west in both world wars involved German troops from the Eastern Front. The trouble for those troops is that in both cases they were used to fighting in the open space of the Eastern Front, as opposed to the more confined space of the fighting in the west. This was illustrated perfectly by the fact that the Bulge attack was across the direction of the landscape making their task more fraught then it needed to be. The attack was south east to north west while the ridges and valleys were north east to south west. The attack should not have been the surprise it was. US military intelligence, through the Ritchie Boys, had warned the top brass about the build up in the Ardennes. But they just dismissed the idea. Ironically a number of Ritchie Boys were captured by the SS and summarily executed.

[@bigblue6917]

This true R Mack. Then it just becomes a pillbox. I thought the same thing when I first saw photographs of the Swedish S Tank. Looks great but once a track is hit that is it. You cannot even carry on fighting because you cannot use the gun without the tracks.

[@bigblue6917]

So true R Mack A lesson learned in WW1. Having said that something like a 30 mm cannon could take out a track from just about any tank and we are back to the pillbox again.

[@bradyelich2745]

Big Blue: This video shows who got Wittmann. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5mqZKCbgMmAmZY

So true, they used the king tiger also and it was way to heavy and wide for the Ardennes logging roads.

[@solus48]

Not quite, the 76mm gun m1 mounted on multiple US AFVs at this point in the war was easily capable of penetrating the Tiger from the front. Ironically the "medium" tank Panther was harder to penetrate frontally and obviously the King Tiger was essentially impossible to penetrate frontally by western allied armor.

[@bryantsemenza9703]

Never under estimate your opponent. This story illustrated that point exactly. Great job history guy.

[@youwished8806]

My grandfather was among the advance sniper scouts that was trapped behind the bulge. He was wounded and later rescued by General Patton.

[@dennis4774]

Your grandfather is awesome and a badass.

[@dr.ofdubiouswisdom4189]

Wow!!! ...mere seconds away from certain Annihilation - and to wipe out a Tiger tank!! That bold action saved SO many. That's David & Goliath stuff there.

[@sameyers2670]

You teach me about a lot of things I had never heard of. Thank you.

[@VoidHalo]

I love that you take these wonderfully vivid stories and turn them into life lessons that can be applied by anyone in their day to day lives. Not oly that, but these stories give me a whole new level of respect for all participants in war and the military. Thank you for spending the time and resources to share these. Best regards, friend.

[@craigconkel29]

I've always loved history! Thank you for your very cool videos!

[@unclefestersworld3180]

One of my favorite sayings "Speed kills", usually referring to todays driving conditions, but in this case, the nimbleness of the M8 armored car vs. the Tiger, it was the quickness of thought, and the quickness of the M8 that won the day. You can truly say in this case, "speed kills" with a different meaning. Thank you History Guy, for your "60 Minutes" quality reporting on historical events. I think you should be on "60 Minutes" or "CBS Sunday Morning" sharing your knowledge with the world, doing exactly what you are doing on this channel.

[@joetaylor486]

Beautifully scripted and told. You have such skills as a raconteur!

[@garydesarro2968]

You mean such skills as a raccoon. Right? hee hee hee 😍😜😃😀

[@cmichaelhoover8432]

I had heard this story before, but never with such excitement and detail. Thank you

[@sewing1243]

One other thing the story teaches is that armies shouldn't operate heavy armor without close infantry support.

[@glennmccullagh5908]

you could always say the same, dating back to cavalry at Waterloo, cavalry is good at shock and awe, but cannot in itself occupy an area

[@JohnP538]

Never start a major offensive in winter, unless you're Russian.

[@mountainguyed67]

@@JohnP538. Might want to get the Finns take on that.

[@rplpalacio1920]

watching this again and i still love it please keep making more thank you

[@stevehinote3684]

Thanks for a great story, well presented!

[@JSB103]

Perhaps another lesson this M8 vs Tiger duel teaches us is that there is no such thing as a small enemy. A lesson that deserves to be remembered. This too is a reason why I value your channel so much. God bless.

[@markkover8040]

A fiction writer couldn't have come up with a more bizarre story - and yet it really happened. Another interesting and rare historical piece. Thank you.

[@ozzmanzz]

I wish my teachers at school were like you. Great video!

[@douglasbarylski8127]

My H.S. history teacher was, and was one of the most popular in the school. He was also a revolutionary war re-enactor. I liked history before I was in his class, but enjoyed it after. But THG is well prepared, presents well, and shows he enjoys history. Not everyone can do that.

[@arthardware5560]

I've been watching your videos for a few days now and I have to say that beyond the stirring and moving Stories and information, I am impressed by the commentary and life lessons attached that give impetus to action in our lives today by remembering the past. Thank you.

[@ziggy2shus624]

How about the steel butt of a M-1 Garand rifle against a German heavy tank? From the frontline soldier auto bio book "The Men of K Company", 1985,Leinbaugh and Campbell.( By memory) During the Battle of The Bulge, K Company was ordered to move out at night to a spot on the map and join up with some US tanks. It was pitch black due to a cloud overcast and very difficult to read the poor maps they were given. As they moved up a road they could hear the heavy tanks approaching. The lead Company K Sergeant went up to the lead tank and banged on its side with his rifle and yelled "You're going the wrong way!" The tank commander opened the hatch and said " Was ist los" . Then all hell broke loose. The Sarge ran and jumped into a ditch with a bunch of other guys. After his racing heart beat slowed down and he became aware of his surroundings, he realised that everyone else in the ditch was speaking German. The Sarge eased his way out of the ditch and disappeared into the forest The authors of "The Men of K Company" interviewed by phone as many of their fellow survivors of K Company that they could find, and stated in the book's foreword that they had enough material to fill 3 books, but due to economics at that time only one book was published. If that unpublished material still exists, perhaps an enterprising historian could find that material and publish it on the internet. - IMO another good book in this same area is " Visions from a Foxhole", 2004, Foley. Good book, bad title. Foley became a commercial artist after the war and has many sketches of what he saw on the front line during WW2 in the book. The 18y/o Foley enlisted in the US Army and after the near useless training he was sent to Europe. The very first day he arrived in Europe he was in a freezing foxhole on the Siegfried line, without winter boots. The book is a recollection of his horrible life on the frontline for 4 months. The book also gives reasons why many frontline soldiers never talk about their war experiences. - I have read 3 or 4 books about WW2 combat along the Siegfried Line and was very surprised to find that many of the rifle companies, such as in the two books mentioned above, suffered over 100% casualties. Soldiers would get killed, wounded, including self-inflicted wounds or have frostbite, emersion skin, pneumonia, etc., etc., and replacements would fill their position, and they would suffer the same problems and be replaced by new replacement soldiers. They had basically a conveyor belt of replacement soldiers. From the books I read, it appears the commanding officers considered the frontline soldiers to be nothing more than disposable scum. In many cases the frontline soldiers, who received the vast majority of the casualties, were given the worst of everything. Hundreds of frontline soldiers in the Siegfried Line area seeing they would either be killed or horribly wounded, shot themselves in the foot, to get out of the hell they had been forced into.

[@c3aloha]

And yet the US only executed one soldier for desertion. Pvt Eddie Slovik and we still feel bad about it. The Germans executed thousands for desertion!

[@TheAzerty1239]

the story with the sergeant knocking on the tank turret hapenned in Marennes, between Hotton aand Marche en Famenne.

[@mikehanks1399]

You produce some excellent videos, my friend. You should have your own television show. You are an endearing personality and I can't seem to get enough of The History Guy. I'm not sure what I love more, the historical stories, or the way you tell them. Either way, I am a huge fan.

[@Lee-70ish]

A fine example of how the opportunity if take even with inferior equipment the day can be won. A guy who lived down my street won a VC by knocking out a panther with a PIAT

[@thedeathwobblechannel6539]

the PIAT was capable, but spring launched was not the best idea.

[@marcbartusek932]

Great episode! I had literally read the story last night and you just brought it to life!

[@Track_Tension]

Also note that the US forces have mostly allowed those other than officers to make command decisions when an opportunity like this presents itself. Most other countries, to this day, keep very strict and ridged command and would of had to push it up the chain off command before allowed to act.

[@jackaubrey8614]

Dunno' where you get your info from but that isn't exactly correct - any Brit NCo who didn't take that kind of opportunity would not be very highly thought of by his fellow NCO's (or anyone else). I'm pretty sure the German NCO's (especially a certain Panzer Grenadier who comes to mind) I've come up against in training would also 'do the right thing'....

[@thedeathwobblechannel6539]

for us it is always, when in doubt win the war. all our guys know the objectives and have instructions, unless you run out of men, get your objectives made.if it all goes to hell then do everything you can to disrupt the enemy and attack them. @@jackaubrey8614

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

steve Q That's true now, but 'mission command' was only formally introduced into the British Army in the 1980s. It wasn't so true in WW2 - just look at the history of Monte Cassino or the Nijmegen bridge crossing. That being said, both us and the Americans actually adopted mission command doctrine from the Germans 'Auftragstsktik'. Even before WW2, the Germans were routinely training 2 levels up...

[@BLUEBARRY55]

So powerful a metaphor. Your purpose to point out. Well articulated and timed. Bravo!

[@SteveB357]

Have you noticed, that at least twice before, the Germans attacked through the Ardennes?

[@deezynar]

The Belgians should put a massive highway through there so the Germans will just pass by them next time.

[@charlesbowman4630]

They did, but the others were significantly different, there were from the North East going toward South West, whereas this attack was more or less straight westward and was launched from further south, as here the plan was to hit Antwerp and the others were to head into France. Plus the other times it was part of a series of multiple attacks across a much wider front.

[@JuanMatteoReal]

And twice did the Allies didn't anticipated an attack from there? (I think I heard from this video that the Allies didn't anticipate an attack as they prepared to advance into Germany)

[@JohnP538]

This time it didn't work because blitzkrieg fails if it can't move. When the green US troops fell apart they clogged the only road. Field Marshall Model lost an entire day at a crossroad playing traffic cop, this gave the 7th Armored a full day to move the 17 miles to St. Vith. That made what should have been a breakthrough into a pitched battle. Read Clausewitz, Schlieffen, and Manstein, Hitler obviously didn't.

[@JuanMatteoReal]

@@JohnP538 I wonder how he looked like while he guide his men in a middle of a crossroad :D

[@TealCheetah]

I love how excited he gets during exciting parts!

[@dcwhitworth]

Really glad I found this channel, it's fun and interesting. I love these sort of little snippets of history that are so often overlooked. I would however take issue with "Never mounted another major offensive in the second world war". Don't forget the eastern front - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Spring_Awakening

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

dcwhitworth many narratives on the Battle of the Bulge describe it as the last major German offensive of the war, or at least the last on the Western front. I agree that that is an overstatement.

[@dcwhitworth]

Also I suspect many of those narratives are taking a Western centric view.

[@biscuitninja]

THANK YOU! One of my favorite tank encounters of WWII.

[@DrCruel]

MORAL: It's not the enemy at your front you worry about. It's that Yank with a shiv sneaking up behind you.

[@dougmartin8664]

Bravo! I enjoyed this immensely! This should be a movie!

[@keithbrown7685]

The movie would lie. I think the story is fine just as it is.

[@wuffos]

6:00 ... 25 yards is actually 75 feet, by my count☺. Excellent video though.

[@CAMacKenzie]

Pistol range.

[@kineangstkills5377]

Ya I was gunna say a yard = 3 feet. So 25x3 is 75 not 150.

[@gsulliv1]

Historian, not a mathmetician.

[@AndrewVelonis]

My driveway is longer than that

[@personx8009]

Thanks, Mr. History Guy for another outstanding video, I must say yours are the highest quality videos found on youtube. I especially appreciate how you treat all sides with respect and actually answer people in the comment section. Yours are the only WW2 videos that don't develop into another war in the comment section. I really like that since I had relatives in Germany and the US during the war, Although I have never met my relatives on the German side. My Grandmother( who was German) Lost her only Son to the Japanese and my Dad (her son in law) spent the war in a Japanese prison camp. I was told the Germans were like us, just people trying to deal with the situation which was handed them, as well as they could. Keep up the good work Sir.

[@sameyers2670]

I second this

[@Cheeseatingjunlista]

brilliant as usual......have you covered Mad Jack Churchill yet? I think he's the only guy to kill an enemy, Nazi, soldier in ww2 using a long bow. He also started the craze for surfing up tidal bores

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

"Any officer who goes into action without his sword is improperly dressed." I have not done an episode on him no, but may well some day.

[@taggartlawfirm]

Cheeseatingjunlista and came ashore at Normandy with a claymore

[@timengineman2nd714]

One of the secrets about the run up to D-Day is that PT Boats (and perhaps some RN MTBs & MGBs) would go ashore to take soil samples up and down the coast. Supporting them were some of the finest bowmen ever, the guys who in the early (pre Computer Graphic days) westerns could hit a small square of wood hidden under a shirt with an arrow. If you take a look at the films, you'll notice that for over a year there were no such arrow shots, and sometimes a quick reuse of a scene from an earlier film with an arrow shot. This was so they could (and did) neutralize enemy sentries! The exact number of sentries killed was never disclosed and is probably buried deep in the archives long before it was declassified.

[@jmeyer3rn]

One of the best of the best Mr History Guy!!!!

[@4thImpulse]

Excellent story!

[@dianadavis5002]

I love your programs. I love history. You make it so much better

[@djroadie22]

I really love your accent. Nice video . I have been on this place's. Greed from Belgium and thumb up .

[@rogerdavies6226]

color me green with envy

[@T_bone]

"Greetings" is what I think you wanted to say.

[@mountainguyed67]

@@T_bone. Yes “greetings”, not “greed”.

[@somaday2595]

Thank you for a very interesting story. Here's another one - 24-Aug-44, near Elbeuf, my Uncle's crew was standing guard while most of the rest of his company was bivouac for the night, when he heard some rumbling over a hill that sounded like German armor. They went to investigate and when closer found two tanks just ahead driving down the road. They fired a 75mm at the lead tank, hitting its turret. The crew bailed, perhaps thinking their tank was on fire. Near pitch black, the second tank ran into the back of the lead tank. The second tank tried rotating its gun but hit a hedge row one way and the lead tank the other way. So it then tried backing up, but by then my Uncle's M4 had pulled up to the back of the second tank. Totally screwed, the second tank's crew bailed, too. Final score: 1 like new Tiger I tanks (from what my Uncle told me), 1 Tiger I with a small dent in its turret, all with 1 75mm shot from a worn out gun, and perhaps, no one seriously wounded. Halfway jokingly, a request was made for his his company to keep and use the tanks but was told NO, gunners fired on silhouette. (And of course there would be no material support.)

[@joelellis7035]

Stories like these probably inspired a scene in the Clint Eastwood classic war movie "Kelly's Heroes".

[@r.j.dunnill1465]

That film supposedly gave birth to the myth that a Tiger could only be knocked out from the rear, even though the rear protection was the same 80mm as the sides. That gave rise to the ridiculous scene in 'Fury,' where a 76mm-armed Sherman desperately tries to get behind a Tiger before it itself is knocked out. (In reality, at point blank range, the 76mm would defeat all plates of the Tiger, even with the mediocre M62 round.) The short-barreled 75mm could defeat a Tiger's side and rear plates as far out as 600 meters, according to Soviet firing tests.

[@v3ck1n]

I'm excited to check out your first video. I've decided to watch every single piece of your content.

[@marbleman52]

Wow...I had never heard of this...fantastic..!! Wasn't that Winter one of the harshest in many, many years? I suppose that this little engagement just got lost among all of the other amazing battles that happened in this famous Battle of the Bulge. Thank you very much for sharing this with us.

[@philgiglio9656]

My stepfather made that left turn with Patton'a 3rd ARMY. A avid deer hunter I think he promised himself he'd never be cold again...he ALWAYS had first rate cold weather gear.

[@bellypatter1]

"Wasn't that Winter one of the harshest in many, many years?" Yes it was. A "warm" day in that winter, according to my late father, was when the temperature reached -20 Fahrenheit.

[@mikey87]

Your videos are great. I have actually learned a lot since I started watching your channel. I just went to FB to connect too. Keep up the good work and keep those history shorts coming. My Latin teacher always used to say, “Those that do not know history, are doomed to repeat it”. She would have loved your channel!