The V-2 Missile Heist

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The top secret wartime mission to recover a crashed V-2 missile in German-occupied Poland and smuggle it to England.
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[@MarkFeltonProductions]

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[@srenkoch6127]

Actually, there is an additional twist to the story. According to R. V. Jones, the Polish sergeant (i think) who was brought out with the V2 parts refused to hand over the parts to the British until he got a direct order form a polish officer, and it had to be one he knew about, so the British secret service had to run around London to find one of the two polish officers he knew about and which was available and tet one of the to come along and tell the brave pole that it was ok, he could leave now. R.V.Jones described it as the pole sitting on the pile of boxes with a knife until he got to talk to the polish officer.

[@Keithbarber]

@@srenkoch6127 1gi

[@rzr2ffe325]

I don't believe Nord is the best

[@004Black]

Mark Felton Productions you never cease to amaze me with the highly detailed history you provide. I never knew the extent Belgium was struck with V2s. Thanks again.

[@truereaper4572]

maybe

[@beebop7442]

poles played a major part in cracking enigma codes amongst other things

[@mazda1942]

They also had one of the most effective fighter squadrons with the RAF.

[@philandrawis6232]

well they also had Squadron 303 all Polish fighter pilots that helped in defeating the tied of the Luftwaffe who tried to destroy the RAF and they had more kills they anyone else puls a few AC fighter high kill rates, and a lot of naval officers and crew that sailed to England fast and joined the royal navy + a few submarines I also knew one of the naval crew members who had 15 muinets to get back to port and board his ship and move out when the war broke out in Poland

[@ronaldderooij1774]

Delays in the production of parts… reminds me of my father's story on his forced labor time in Berlin (1943-1945). As he was a young technician, he was assigned to a metal working factory for precision metal working. God knows why the Germans would do that. There were many Russians, Polish, French (and one Dutch, my father) working there. They all knew that they were producing parts for a rocket. Especially the Poles and the French tried to make the parts just out of specifications, so that they would fall through at Peenemünde. Delays. The Russians were experts in unseen throwing iron dust into the electric machinery of the factory, shorting it out. More delays. For those interested, my father's role was to forge food stamps and exchange them for food for the Russians and the Poles. Their rations were less than of the Dutch and the French. The Russians and Poles were meant to starve. It was that sick over there. My father talked for 4 hours about the war just before he died. That was the only time. There is not much recognition for those who were in the center of Nazi power still covertly resisting it with danger for their lives during work hours and off work hours when the bombardments of British and American planes and later Russian artillery and soldiers relentlessly fell down on top of them. Nervewrecking and no mercy from either side. My father narrowly escaped death in many ways in those two years, but that is for another comment… :-)

[@ukrainiipyat]

Many heroes contributed to the ultimate victory by performing little acts of sabotage. When the ME-262 in the NASM museum was restored it was found that parts of it were deliberately sabotaged by the labourers. Later in the war most German weaponry was being assembled by foreign and slave labourers so that tanks, aircraft and guns were often defective before they left the factory.

[@daveR0berts]

That's how these brave people live on, through stories like yours.. you're not dead until you're not remembered. Thanks for sharing.

[@lynnwood7205]

Thank you for writing of this.

[@cstlbrvo5615]

Great comment! Thank you for writing this.

[@MC-nb6jx]

Ronald de Rooij ..... Awesome post, many thanks for telling us & many thanks to your father & others..

[@benav1018]

After the war the copilot Kazimir (Patty) Szrajer immigrated to Canada and flew for an airline called Nordair which operated mainly in the Arctic but later became a major regional and charter airline ! Patty flew many different aircraft types including the Boeing B737 and Douglas DC 8 ! Patty passed away quite a few years ago after retiring from a long airline career. I had the privilege of flying with Patty and he was a real gentleman who never spoke about his service in WW2 . I only found out about this heroic flight after he had passed away !

[@todortodorov940]

Good for him. Had he gone back, he would probably have ended in an education camp somewhere in Siberia at the courtesy of Stalin.

[@als4817]

He helped open up our country, Nordair is an icon in the Canadain aviation industry.

[@paulgathercole2601]

That is so cool. I was shouting at the screen. Why don't we know the name of the Polish co pilot! Go in peace Patty and thank you for my freedom 👍🌹

[@frankryan2505]

The Poles were too good for us.. The sacrifices and blood they shed for the allies and yet we still threw them under the bus, disgusting..

[@Crazy_Worlds]

President Roosevelt sold them out. Churchill was ready to go to war against the Soviets over Poland in 1945 just as Britain had done against the Nazis in September 1939. Sir Max Hastings comment: “Churchill, he worked himself up into almost an emotional fever in his distress about especially the sacrifice of Poland. About especially the fact that Polish freedom, for which Britain had gone into the Second World War, was to be sacrificed to the Russians. But Churchill refused to recognise the logic of his own position. That if the Allies had been serious - the Western Allies - about wanting to see that Eastern Europe was free, they would have had to have got into the war on a very big scale. They would have had to have had D-Day in 1943, and if they then fought like tigers and accepted casualties many times the scale of those that they did, they might, they might have been able to save Eastern Europe and Poland from the Russians. Even then it’s pretty doubtful. So all that happened at Yalta was a rubber stamp was put on a lot of ugly, ugly things which had been bound to happen for at least two or three years that the way that the West planned its strategy through the Second World War.”

[@derekkelly9944]

Yes...Look at how Churchill tried his up most with Stalin ....even considering declaring war against Russia to prevent them taking Poland. Britain was bankrupt in 1945 and Russians were seen as heroes...it is easy to say we should have known but the only person who did realise was Churchill.

[@malcolmledger176]

@@Crazy_Worlds Don't forget who sold the Czechs out at Munich. And it wasn't the Americans.

[@derekkelly9944]

@Hater Sensei Grand Master Chosen One were you there at the time ? ...anyone can spin 80 years later...people called Churchill a warmonger every day because they wanted the war over....but nobody wanted it over more than Churchill

[@intercommerce]

From all accounts they were a brave and determined faction in the Allies' war efforts, and a shame the country had to be sacrificed to one of their original invaders, the Soviets did trick the west by promising free elections by the time it was discovered they had a huge Army firmly entrenched and no one had the stomach for World War 3 at the time

[@cockneygeezer5944]

Truly audacious. Every Mark Felton Production could be made into a film. Best content on KZbin by far

[@___codeboss___short__yt8159]

+1

[@rodritchison1995]

Try "The History Guy" Very little war and nearly all U.S. history but you might be interested.

[@1punch_man]

@Noel Westwood Woke revisionist history. Well said. You see it all the time now and it's painful.

[@intercommerce]

That's a good idea, I'd love to see a 2-hour documentary from MFP

[@intercommerce]

@Noel Westwood no one's suggesting a fictional work we would still want the historic footage and facts

[@expfcwintergreenv2.02]

Mark’s voice makes every video sound like a well prepared top secret military intelligence briefing 👍

[@bryanhead2670]

I watched ww2 programnes narrated by robert powell,, the actor as well as Marks created the perfect tone for the subject disscussed!

[@stevenguild2707]

Like M briefing 007.

[@annoyed707]

Even more amazing, he puts them together between his real top secret intelligence briefings at my hidden volcano headquarters, the one that they keep saying I should not mention.

[@Ted_II]

It makes every video sound like a network production like WWII in Colour or World at War

[@grenograno4370]

He sounds like the most mi6 guy ever ngl

[@TheDkeeler]

The Polish Resistance has never been fully appreciated at all because after the war their story never got out because Stalin had them all liquidated.

[@anglicky69]

the guys over on "InrangeTV" channel have a Polish resistance operator T-shirt you could probably pick up. looks pretty cool. i've been meaning to order one

[@vanpenguin22]

There seems to he a real shortage of reading materials from that experience. One book that did make it to print is "A match made in hell" by Morris Goldner Fascinating read. Another account of occupied residence is "Flight of the Hornet Moth" by Thomas Sneum, although that's not the Polish Resistance. Quite interesting all the same.

[@dasboot5903]

The last former Home Army (Armia Krajowa) soldier, it was the Polish Sergeant ps. "Lalus" !!!! >>> He was betrayed, hunted and killed by Soviets and their polish speaking communist collaborators in the year of ...... *1963 !!!!* After killing him, commies cut his head off and they buried his corps in an unknown place. By coincidence, his scull was lately found at the Medical School of the University of Lublin, where for so many years it was used as a teaching tool for the generations of medical students. Thanks for today's DNA technology, genetic material taken from his living son proved 99.9% of the accuracy of the identification of the skull of his brave father !!!! > Amen.

[@StopFear]

I don’t know. I keep hearing a lot about polish resistance. Also it was very publicized in western countries, particularly the US, after WW2 end.

[@vanpenguin22]

@@StopFear No, the subject comes up in discussion plentifully enough, but like, once I got a taste of the subject and wanted more, the first thing I did was peruse the "card catalogue " if you will, expecting to find a staggering array of books and, well, not much. So hey, anyone and everyone reading this: If you've read a book on the occupied residence/the underground/the Partisan movement, please, please please, submit title, author and if you know it, publisher here in the comments.

[@zizkazenit7885]

They dug out a bogged down 15.5 ton aircraft by hand, what a Herculean achievement!

[@katrinapaton5283]

Im pretty sure it was a Dakota, not a Hercules? Sorry, ill show myself out...

[@HanSolo__]

@@katrinapaton5283 Regular Dakota takeoff weight was over 14000kg

[@God4445]

So cool to see a historian kill it on KZbin.

[@IAMMRONALD]

God where else we gonna get good interesting history?! the history channel?!

[@sonnyburnett8725]

Nitro Martini , EXCELLENT POINT!

[@kathycaldwell7126]

Agree!! Dr. Felton is one of a kind . ❤️

[@nigeh5326]

Indy, Sparty and the team at the World War Two channel do some great videos too

[@whoareyou1034]

Hanz: "Hey Fritz. What's that loud noise?" Fritz: "An airplane." Hanz: "At night? Perhaps we should take a look." Fritz: "Nah. It will be fine."

[@kajet666]

Simple Person no, it went something like this. Hans: “Hey Fritz. What’s that noise?” Fritz: “Never mind. What did the Spanish priest say to the Iranian gynaecologist?” Hans: “What?” Fritz: *farts loudly*

[@knutdergroe9757]

By this point in the war, I will bet most of those German troops just wanted to live though the war. NAZI'S just like Communist did not do much to motivate initiative.

[@tasman006]

Nah I think it was just a huge consumption of Schnapps.

[@samsmith2635]

Fritz is the smart one.

[@leemichael2154]

For all the Germans inventions tactics and accomplishments an awfully lot of times I have read "right under the Germans noses"in history? Crops up loads that phrase does

[@rgkrazor8788]

What amazing bravery, balls the size of Church bells, huge thanks to the Polish.

[@BasVossen]

Polish Resistance men went to the concentration camps to gather information and organise resistance. Don't think I would have the guts to do that.

[@lancewilliams8382]

Makes me proud to be half Polish (my other half is British). On a personal note: I can't believe the quality and quantity of the material you create. A Mark Felton video is my daily covid-19 social distancing sanity preserver. Thank you Mark! Next time I am in UK I am going to buy you a pint. Or two. Or a bottle of good French wine. Your choice. :)

[@adamhowes6849]

I'm guessing but it must be sort of self-perpetuating. The more stories that he uncovers the more people read them and contact him with their own stories, for him to research and pass on. It's a shame but one day he's going to have to move on to the next big war but at least till then we have more stories from outside of the European conflict of WWII.

[@papaversomniferum2365]

Soldiers of Armia Krajowa were real badasses, and this action of taking and dismounting a whole V-2 rocked just admits it.

[@TheSpritz0]

Time after time I hear of incredible Polish acts of VALOR during WW2, just a few examples being the Polish Volunteer Squadron in the Battle of Britain, and a pretty well organized underground resistance to German occupation, and even to the 12th Podolian Uhlan Regiment (POLISH) who were the ones who finally took the Abbey at Monte Casino in the Italian Campaign!!! Many examples I'm sure I have missed... please add if you can!!!

[@papaversomniferum2365]

Breakind Enigma code, Battle for Narvik, Defence of Westerplatte - these examples are just a tip of an iceberg ;)

[@roscoewhite3793]

The cold-blooded courage and determination displayed throughout this episode is simply awe-inspiring - from the Home Army troops who found and concealed the V-2, the scientists who disassembled and catalogued the rocket with such care and precision, the farmers who smuggled the selected parts to the rendezvous, and the crew of the C-47 who flew their slow and unarmed cargo aircraft through hostile skies to pick up the vital packages... respect their heroism and honour their memories.

[@dasboot5903]

Amen.

[@darrenlittle2448]

My great uncle, John Appleby RAFVR, from Cwmbran, South Wales, was on this mission, he was the wireless operator on KG477, that flew from their base in Italy. For his part on it, he was awarded a DFM and Polish Cross of Valour.

[@kolba0]

I'm from Kolbuszowa a town couple miles from Blizna. My grandfather was a Home Army soldier and growing up was he telling me about "smuggling trips", being a simple farmer he had no idea of significance of those trips, later he was drafted to Berling's Army and got a medal for a battle for Berlin. There is a little museum in Blizna now a days with a cool WW2 reenactment, during those Poles almost always win with a cavalry charge.

[@whisthpo]

Thank you for sharing and, we couldn't have done it without Poland !

[@yvighander8031]

Great that a museum has been built! I was in Blizna in 1994 but found almost nothing except for some missile transportation rails.

[@TheDarentar]

@@yvighander8031 Well, I was there about 3 times and almost nothing has left. A few bunkers, a V1 concrete support, a field where v2 were launched (without grass probably due to fuel pollution) But we didn't truly know where to look at. Half a year ago last V2 rocket was found nearby in Niwiska. Another one in 2015. This thing was flying as mad back in the days. Almost everything that Germans launched exploded or flew somewhere away. People were making tools from falling parts, my grandparents made a hoe which has never rusted

[@Slow_Hand_Luke]

Tomek Piorek Somehow it’s Very Difficult to think of your Farmer Grandfather as, in any way, “Simple” !

[@lol62002]

It’s a miracle that plane ever flew with balls that big

[@vtbmwbiker]

Wait, the Poles stole a V-2? The Allies sent a C-47 into occupied Poland? AND -- got away with it? Geezum! Thank you for this-- never knew this happened!

[@damianb8322]

@Robert Williamson Hollywood hates Poles and has been part of the anti-polonism machine since ww2.

[@otfriedpolenz9633]

Allies lost some 23.000 US bomber ground staff behind the eastern front all taken hostage by Stalin.

[@theapplechapel]

@@damianb8322 tell me more, Wikipedia doesn't say much

[@sicariusvast9555]

@Robert Williamson ocean's eleven but with missiles

[@paulszymanski3091]

Yeah and...? Why are you so surprised?

[@Ellesmere888]

What a terrific story ! Thank you for posting this video. Poland and its people received such a raw deal in WWII. Brave men and women whose contributions are largely ignored.

[@sadielsantos8167]

The dakotas landed , uploaded the cargo , had problems taking off , downloaded the cargo , had hidden , and finally took with the vital V 2 components and the germans thought it was sounds of their own aircraft , they had no idea that the rocket parts were being stolen in front of their own noses, these people had lots of guts and the naziz were incredible fooled. Another home run by M F , thank you Sir.

[@Skyprince27]

@SADIEL SANTOS Nothing compared to a week of coronavirus lockdown with my two teenagers...

[@c.j.cleveland7475]

" the germans thought it was sounds of their own aircraft"........"these people had lots of guts and the naziz were incredible fooled." The Germans weren't idiots but it seems to me that there was a lot of things like this going our way that went on during the war, thankfully.

[@zepter00]

@@c.j.cleveland7475 sure.. germans sank tjeir own Ubot because not a proper use of the toilet on board.

[@matthewwinstone6511]

My Grandfather (Kaz) was 1st Armoured, fought at Falaise, in Holland and Germany. His brother (Stefan) was Polish Resistance and executed by the Germans. I am British but am proud to have some Polish blood in me! I am sure you’ll find a lot of English and Scottish that will say the same.

[@papaversomniferum2365]

By Kaz you mean Kazimierz? There is no such name as "Kaz" in Polish.

[@matthewwinstone6511]

Papaver Somniferum you are spot on, Kazimierz... he was known as Kaz as he lived in Castle Douglas Scotland after the war, Kazimierz would’ve been too difficult for the locals. A miner and part time fireman, a lot of the soldiers came to live in the area including General Maczek.

[@vanlendl1]

I am german. I am proud too.

[@keithe.bilitsky833]

Really Kool history. 👍👍👍

[@papaversomniferum2365]

@@matthewwinstone6511 I belive that Kaz was way easier to pronounce than Kazimierz. You have to be really proud of your grandfather, as General Maczek's division got their nickname "Black Devils" given by Germans for a reason. In Poland Maczek is one of our national heroes. My Grandfather was with General Anders Army, so he had to go from Siberia through India, Africa and then Italy. He was a Geologist later and did much in Polish searching for oil and fossil gas. Unfortunatly he passed away in 1993. Anyway our grandfathers had to be real badasses. Cheers from Poland and thank you for sharing this story!

[@od1452]

The Poles performed some amazing intelligence coups during the war that are little known and maybe little appreciated. They clearly were able to evaluate the importance of this information from the beginning of the war. I'm glad you told one of these stories.

[@qtig9490]

WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING STORY! I can't believe this hasnt been popularly known. What a coup to smuggle out a V-2 - and during the test phase! Polish Home Army clearly had balls of brass on this - laying their lives on the line. They did their country proud, hopefully they received recognition for this after the war.

[@kamilszadkowski8864]

After the war, Poland ended up on the wrong side of Iron Curtain so all members of the Home Army were hunted down.

[@markhughes7927]

Brindisi to a field in a forest in Poland - that is navigation!

[@alonsocushing2398]

It certainly was. And over hostile territory for most of the way and back.

[@carbidegrd1]

I was wondering about that myself. How did they do it?

[@AndrewAMartin]

@@carbidegrd1 Maps and an astrolabe - celestial navigation.

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

A field in a forest in Poland that the Germans were also using. 😂

[@annoyed707]

@@carbidegrd1 "Recalculating..."

[@wkdravenna]

Poor Poland, they really tried their best against superior force. They never stopped resisting the fascists and communist. That is the spirit of polish people that is excellent ! I live in a city with great amount of polish ancestry. Polish defiantly as a people have earned respect.

[@tomkil78]

I wouldn't say poor. We have been betrayed by uk and usa, sold to soviet union for 50 years. We wasn't even invited to victory parade in 1946 in london. That was big thank you for v2 and 303 squadron and all other things we did for so call allies.

[@mountainhobo]

@@hansgruber650 Are you on drugs? Bolshevik Poles? Poland fought Bolshevik Russia in 1920. Is that the history they teach in Germany today?

[@zepter00]

Hans Gruber wiat alias of completely bullshit sucked from the fingers. Your master Joseph Goebels would be proud.

[@christianschellbruck9788]

Poland wanted the war

[@Ystadcop]

Agreed. Being from post-war Leicester I grew up with Poles and my (RAF) dad served as a storeman with 303 Squadron, the boys who shot down more German planes than any other. And after the war, the Poles weren't even allowed to march in the victory parade. A local shopkeeper, Col Dabrowski, I believe served in the AK in the Warsaw Uprising, but I'm not too sure.

[@GreenVwDude]

Thumbs up for Poles! They are rentless fighters under extremely difficult situation: decoding Engima and now this V2 pieces

[@dasboot5903]

First ... ENIGMA, then V-weapons, etc.

[@Collectorfirearms]

The Germans really dropped the bomb on that one

[@MrLFJ7]

@Klemheist Oh You....

[@marcoAKAjoe]

@Klemheist hahahaha

[@rc666]

Antwerp 16.12.1944, 567 dead with one V2 hit on cinema Rex. The batlle of the Bulge started on that day.

[@bezahltersystemtroll5055]

I wonder what film they where showing 🤔

[@solidus1337]

@@bezahltersystemtroll5055 The Plainsman

[@MarshallEubanks]

My Father-in-law was on leave in Antwerp that day. He could have gone to the Rex with some of his buddies (it was a Saturday night), but he went to a bar instead. He felt (as so often in war) it was just random chance he didn't die that night.

[@wojbla01]

My grandfather , Polish intelligence officer provided ground cover for the operation at Zaborów landing strip .. My grandma along with the local land lady Mrs Tumidajska were present at the field that night .. She told me that only shortly before her passing away as in communist occupied Poland it was not safe to mention ones involvement with the Polish Home Army .. The German Flak unit (about 100 men strong) that night was based literally 1 mile away .. and it is impossible that they would mistake 2000 worth of the horse power engines wining at full throttle trying to get out from the muddy ground for Fieseler Storch .. They simply decided that at this point it is better to not to hear anything and cover their heads with pillows, as Poles mobilized almost 200 troops to secure the strip.

[@baystgrp]

Wow. I’ve given several talks on the V-weapons program and never knew the extent of the Polish capability to retrieve, disassemble, photograph and smuggle V-2 components to Britain. A salute once again to Mark Felton for his diligence in preparation of his excellent series.

[@bigbootros4362]

Brilliant work from the Poles. Poor old Poland had to endure a lot of crap from Germany and the Soviet Union. I'd love to see more videos on resistance mouvements around occupied Europe Mark please 😊👍🏽

[@raedwulf61]

I was in Poland in 2017. Loved it. Lots of history.

[@carlalm6100]

Poland, pretty much the Afghanistan of Europe. Almost every time someone is starting a war, Poland suffers. I guess that they have been hardened and grown weary. A couple of years ago Putin was up to no good again, and the Poles responded forcefully, moving most of their tanks to their eastern border.

[@damianb8322]

@@carlalm6100 I suggest you look at the history of Poland in XIV-XVII centuries, it may change your thinking

[@damianb8322]

@WildlandDonkey Who are you trying to fool? Those territories (the cradle of polish statehood btw) was illegally grabbed by Prussians in the partition era of polish history.

[@alexdemoya2119]

I can't imagine the sheer fear as they landed in that fated field. And the sheer relief as they left german airspace. Good thing they didnt fly Delta, or that luggage would have been lost!

[@Wytnucls]

I flew the C-47 years ago. Landing at night, with rudimentary lighting, needs a lot of practice. Navigating to that field in the dark is no mean feat either. Much respect.

[@papaversomniferum2365]

@Methods Well they wasnt and everything went good. This just prooves how good soldiers of Armia Krajowa were, to prepare everything and make sure things will go according to a plan.

[@RichardL.1453]

😂😂👍👍👍👍

[@richardc-ex7rt]

They also would've charged them for each time they loaded the plane.

[@janjasiewicz9851]

@Mark Felton Productions - This was operation Wildhorn III or Operation Most III (Bridge in Polish). An interesting footnote to the story is that I heard this exact story from my godfather Jan/Zdzislaw Jezioranski (Jan Nowak - aka the Courier and code name Zych) and Tadeusz Ciuck Celt . My parents worked at Radio Free Europe where Jan Nowak was the head of the Polish Section - he became my godfather and his wife Wisia Wolksa became my godmother. Jan Nowak was part of Action N of the Polish Home army and eventually became the courier between Home Army and the Polish Government in exile in London. My godfather told me this story so many times in that he was on that Dakota Flying from Brindisi to Poland. - He returned to Poland and eventually reported on the Polish Uprising in 1944 where the Soviets sat on their hands across the river while the Polish Home army were desperately in need of supplies while the Germans were systematically destroying Warsaw - he recounted that British and American supply planes flew to parachute supplies but most of the supplies fell in the Russian zone and the kept the supplies - he later returned to London late 1944 with microfilms hidden in a toothbrush. During the Warsaw uprising he met his wife and married her as during the uprising not far from the German lines. Wisia was in the resistance and was one of the Union of Clovers girl guides who were couriers between resistance units. At the time the Western allies assumed the Soviets would help as the Soviets said they would. However the microfilms showed the complete opposite and in many ways faced the Western allies to see that Stalin was willing to cynically sacrifice Poles to further his agenda of installing a Polish Puppet regime. Anyway I digress - back to the story - as Jan Nowak got off the Dakota he met and said hello to another Polish office named Tadeusz Ciuk-Celt who was going on the plane back to Brindisi with the V2 rocket parts. I am not sure why he, Tadeusz, was a passenger on the return flight - presumably something to do with intelligence or V2 information or I forgot the explanation when Tadeusz told recounted that story. 8 years later Tadeusz Ciuk-Celt worked at Radio Free Europe with my parents and godfather Jan Nowak. He had two children a daughter and a son (John Ciuck Celt). They were neighbours in the apartment on Nibelungen Strasse we were living in Munich (were Radio Free Europe was based). My parents were very close, so close in fact that my father became the godfather on his son John. My sister used to go out on double dates with his daughter with boys from the Munich Army High School (I can't remember her name). I used to go over to the apartment and play with his son John very often despite he was at least 10 years older than me. I have a photo of my father holding John when he was baby. We used to be very close and socialized constantly with Jan Nowak and Wisia and their dog Zaba. Over holidays we'd spend time with them in Austria where they had a holiday home. Jan Nowak would tell me a lot of stories about his role in the warned being a courier (he was born in Berlin and hence spoke German fluently...which helped him travel by train through Germany to Switzerland and Sweden)..and recount his meeting Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden. It was more exciting than watching movies. Of course I had no inkling until quite recently that my godfather became a National Polish Hero - including having squares, and schools names after him. Its a good thing I still have some photos of him when my parents went on a joint holiday to Scandinavia in 1965. My father at the time was a POW in Germany near Munich and my mother was trying to evade Germans, until later caught and deported to a Austrian farm where she sowed civilian button on German uniforms in exchange for bacon and a piece of bread.. After the VE day, both my father and mother independently traveled to Ancona Italy to join the Polish 8th Army under General Anders where they met. All of them then somehow ended up in Munich in 1951/2 to work for Radio Free Europe. I thought I'd share this story because it shows six degrees of separation and the little human side stories that are always part of historically significant events and coincidences. They sometimes lead to unexpected connections between people and families even years in the future, something that is important to recount and preserve. Thank you for the video I think it would be cool to have a episode about Jan Nowak and the polish underground. Keep up the good work.

[@livingonparkavenueinmanhat775]

Very and very interesting. - USA

[@MsMiklosa]

Thanks for this interesting story!

[@Bobo-og4ff]

Should be "Tadeusz Chciuk".

[@Lawofimprobability]

I had learned about the photo recon and the higher level debates among the scientists (V.R. Jones wrote Most Secret War) but had no idea about the physical acquisition of parts. Wonderful educational work.

[@RidinDirtyRollinBurnouts]

You know I can't ever be annoyed with the paid sponsors, it pays the bills for these awesome videos!

[@SAM-zt2uy]

Damn snoopers watching me watch Mark Felton videos.

[@ColinH1973]

@@SAM-zt2uy Never assume that you're not being watched.

[@jasonjamrs7413]

But where do you draw the line 4 minutes with ads for a 10-minute video

[@oisinkyne1469]

@@jasonjamrs7413 It was a 1 minute ad for a video that is non-monetizable due to youtube's own ad policy

[@marcoAKAjoe]

Patreon as well. Join!

[@_whyte.woods_1256]

I’ve always had immense respect for the Poles, but this made it climb up a few notches.

[@michapietras1435]

@keith moore They never actually charged tanks and the cavalry was used a mounted infantry. The cavalry charge against tanks is communist propaganda after the war.

[@vanlendl1]

@keith moore No, Poland had many tanks. It is a myth, that they tried to stop german tanks with the cavalry. Poland bought a lot of tanks after 1918 from France.

[@cgross82]

I had the honor of working side by side with the Polish Army in Afghanistan in 2007. You will never find a more freedom-loving and brave Soldiers anywhere! And yes, the story of Polish horse cavalry charging German Panzers was propaganda created by an Italian journalist. The cavalry unit was actually withdrawing on horseback to avoid being encircled and cut off. I learned this from a Polish officer who told me that “...we Poles are a little bit crazy about horses.”

[@grzegorznagorski1881]

keith moore who are you ???

[@waltski4375]

@@grzegorznagorski1881 Not so much a who....but, rather, a what.

[@austinevplab7167]

I watched a german training film on setting up, fueling, & launching a mobile V2. That was no small undertaking! And to know that nearly 3,000 of them struck targets is mind boggling. Thanks fir another well crafted documentary.

[@katiedid1851]

So excellent. Sadly, the Germans were followed into Poland by the Russians and were just as devastating. Polish people were never (as per what I think) sufficiently recognized for heroic behavior.

[@largol33t1]

As an American, it still breaks my heart that history tends to write off the Poles for their bravery. It doesn't help either that Poland was simply abandoned by her allies and some historians even suggest the war MIGHT have been avoided had this not happened... It still makes me angry enough to get stomach cramps. And it doesn't help that we still ignore that old saying "Those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat it."

[@rctwins7913]

Never heard that one, great work! People had such a sense of DUTY back then!

[@mattharte7334]

Surely up there as one of the most daring raids of the war. Exceptional flying and improvisation to get airborne again and all right under the enemy's nose. I don't know why more hasn't been made of this. Thanks again for another great historical story.

[@richard63]

As they say in the movies..."There's a war on and every person is expected to do their bit."....and this was the extreme version.

[@MrOhdead]

wow, the courage of the home army and the aircrew, just wow.

[@Royal_91]

I can just watch this instead of a 40 min of documentary 😂😂😂. Love your videos man, very informative!

[@Landon_Lucas]

Amen

[@Perktube1]

Nice thumbnail.

[@WanderlustZero]

The bravery of Poland under the German heel never ceases to amaze me

[@rogersheddy6414]

I used to know a fellow named Arion Stikons, who had escaped from Latvia during the war, and he told me about how he used to go fishing with German hand grenades that he and the other youngsters would steal from their storage. He said they would not dare to do that at night, because the explosions would be easy for the Germans to track, and then to capture the folks who were doing the fishing. He told me it really was the best to do it in the middle of the day, " when the German trucks were rolling around and they were moving all their heavy equipment." That is why the Dakota's landing and takeoff was not noticed by the Germans.

[@snarfinigus]

The Poles never gave up in WW2. There is something "tough as nails" about their determined spirit. Odds be damned, they just kept on fighting. That says something about a people.

[@qtig9490]

Amen. A proud faithful people that were tough as rocks despite horrific treatment and double crossings.

[@MichaelGunner123]

KUDOS & PROPS to the POLES!!!

[@mikewest5529]

Yeah tuff spot too!! Germany or Russia!! Ohh god have you any idea. That’s a tuff place! Poor guys. I’ve never meet a polish person I did not respect

[@xeganxerxes4319]

Yes. Their history has been very sad, suffering terrible oppression at the hands of the Nazis and after fighting and sacrificing many lives, ending up under brutal Soviet control until the fall of the Soviet bloc for 44 years or so. I hope they have a better future...

[@isrraelkumiko8214]

They kept fighting for survival. Russia hated them and was OK letting the German slaughter them. And the did.

[@wtfbuddy1]

Outstanding video - History needs to be told. Cheers and stay safe

[@ianmansfield68]

What an amazing story. I thought I knew a lot about the V weapons program, but I'd never heard this one. The Polish army and the aircrew involved had balls of steel! I can't imagine carrying that operation out in the middle of occupied Eastern Europe.

[@bencobley4234]

Great story - never heard this before. Incredible daring and bravery from the Poles and the New Zealand pilot.

[@8MoonsOfJupiter]

What a story!! I can't believe the German flak team never became suspicious of the aircraft noise! The Poles were indeed very, very brave to pull that off - gratitude to you all.

[@halburtonwarrington-minge3434]

New Zealand Aircrew with Polish FO in the right hand seat. 5 minute orientation to the controls of a DC3. Dakota.

[@johnmunro4952]

Now THAT'S doing it under their noses! Incredible story!

[@garynarborough]

I never knew how devastating the V2s were or the extent they were used. I thought it was only Great Britain that was hit. Great video Mark another piece of history unmasked. These videos make this lockdown more bearable! Thanks for all your efforts!

[@theacme3]

The thinking was really strange back then. Germans 1940: we will force the British to surrender by destroying their cities. Didn't work. British 1942: We will force the Germans to surrender by destroying their cities. Didn't work. Germans 1944: Hey let's spend huge amounts of resources developing a rocket with which we can destroy British cities. That'll make them surrender in no time!

[@flitsertheo]

@@theacme3 By 1944 their thinking had shifted to "revenge" or "Vergeltung" in German. Hence the "V" weapons V1, V2, V3 and V4.

[@jimlassen9422]

Yet again, some very interesting stuff from you here and I didn't realise that some V2 bits were recovered and sent to the UK under the noses of the Germans nearby and, all thanks to the Polish as well. Fab stuff.

[@tombrown8800]

Respect for Polish Home Army . Thanks Mark for this little known chapter.

[@maxmustermann9856]

Such a rubbish.

[@ianmacfarlane1241]

On a channel brimming with incredible stories of derring do this one ranks as one of the best. It's often said that "this should be a movie", and this one certainly fits the bill. Fantastic as always Mark.

[@cj.tj.8201]

I have had my wish granted..! Mark Felton Productions four days in a row....! Thanks Dr Felton.. You are the best..!

[@radamus210]

Wow! I never cease to be amazed by these cool bits of history that I've never heard. This is why no one should miss a single episode of Mark! This is what History class should be like! This is the kind of story that exposes the bravery and completely selfless acts of courage and valor by common men in the face of evil. Bravo!

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

Copenhagen was attacked with Congreves dastardly devices in 1807, sending rockets on a mostly defenceless town, and stealing our old, but very large fleet from, eventually being taken over by Napoleon! It was the first Terror attack of this kind!

[@Strothy2]

This is the reason I subbed this Channel I know a lot about the V2 and even Visited the German Technikmuseum to take a few pictures myself but this is new to me :) thank you!

[@joneberhardt1233]

Michener included the account in his book: POLAND

[@billy.g3597]

With the rocket impacting the ground at supersonic speed, you would hear the warhead explode first. Then moments later hear the rocket falling. It must of been a very terrifying experience.

[@charonboat6394]

People were lucky Germans haven’t invented cluster bomb warheads for V1 and V2

[@ctrl1961]

In the 70s when I was a teenager, The Cullifords were our neighbours for 3 years. I recall he was known by his middle name - George (Although he was always Mr Culliford to me). He was the Pro-Vice Chancellor at Victoria University here in Wellington, New Zealand. He was a bit intimidating to be honest, but I do recall his amusement when at 16yo, it was agreed that I would begin university, and not knowing a thing enquired how assembly was handled with so many students. I was amazed to see him come up in one of your histories, as we knew nothing at all about this.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

He received the DSO for this operation and also the Polish Virtuti Militari Cross.

[@anthonygreen2662]

I never knew V2's were launched at Belgium, France and Nederlands. Very informative I didn't think about this mission either. Thank you for making these great documentaries about obscure missions etc that the mainstream ones never talk about. Brilliantly made with fantastic footage and a good clear voice.

[@veritasvincit2745]

There's one on display near me at RAF Cosford. The thing oozes malevolent menace when you stand near it. It's at once unpleasant and impressively awesome...like a big saltwater crocodile or great white shark.

[@lesgriffiths8523]

Veritas,......I live in Australia,......a V2 has nothing on a Saltwater Crocodile where I live in North Queensland.......or a Great White......I'll take my chances against a V2 anyday, Stay safe Les Griffiths,,

[@artkoenig9434]

This was another story I had never heard. Thank you for these amazing details!

[@geraldmiller5260]

You can see a V2 at the museum at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Many were brought here after the war and tested (as well as in the Soviet Union).

[@davidnemoseck9007]

Wow! Those Pols were awesome!

[@dirkarum9703]

The V2's were mostly launched from squars and parks in The Hague, using the population as human shield against allied bombers. My grandmother lived there and told me onces that is was terefying to see that some launches went wrong and she remembered seeing one V2 flying horizontal "like a weaving sigar" followed by an explosion a few seconds later.

[@LuvBorderCollies]

The video footage reminded me of stories told by a friend of my dad. He was in his early teens when the Germans started firing V-2 rockets. I don't know the location in the Netherlands but he witnessed a lot of V-2's being fired. I haven't seen the guy in many years but I remember he would laugh telling stories about the V-2 mishaps! There were 3 common failures of V-2 launches. Sometimes the V-2 would explode on the ground. Sometimes the rocket would get up in the air and the rocket motor would fail, falling back to the ground and exploding. Then there was the hilarious failure that always made him laugh. The rocket would get 300-600 meters above ground and the gyro would go wacky. The V-2's would loop round and round in the air, wildly gyrating and where it was going to land was strictly a guess. But the funny part was watching the Germans run for their lives hoping to not be near the rocket when it hit the ground.!! He was quite storyteller. His family was in the Dutch Underground during the war and he had all kinds of information/stories on life in the NL under the German occupation.

[@quitecapable]

Human shields ? The british and americans would bomb anything or anyone.

[@roodborstkalf9664]

The area around the Hague was ideal for camouflage. It's also closest to England. V2 could not fly very far. Human shields were irrelevant, since the English and Americans bombed anyway. See for instance the bombardment of the 3rd of March on the Bezuidenhout in The Hague.

[@dirkarum9703]

@@roodborstkalf9664 they tried to bomb the forrest "Haagsche Bosch" next to it where the Germans hide V2's, but failed. Why they missed their target completely is still a mistery

[@kingharryannis]

DC-47 is a amazing aircraft. Still flying today.

[@Wytnucls]

DC-3/C-47 to be pedantic.

[@EthanDyTioco]

Wytnucls gotta be pedantic to leave no quarter for farbery

[@robertsettle2590]

@@EthanDyTioco you are so trite!!!!

[@adambrickley1119]

I used a skydive wind tunnel once that used an old Dakota prop!

[@donf3877]

The C-47 is the ONLY non-combat aircraft in the history of the U.S. to ever be awarded an official combat 'kill'. It was flying in the Pacific when a Zero spotted it. After numerous attack runs, the Zero ran out of ammo. In a last desperate attempt to down the C-47, it rammed it. The Zero crash... the C-47 continued on and landed safely even though in had 100's of bullet holes and severe damage to the tail. Luckily, there was another American aircraft that witnessed the incident. The C-47 was repaired... and proudly displayed one meat ball flag under the front windows to show anyone that saw it that it meant business when it was in the air. Sadly, no photos were ever taken of her. This is from the TIG Brief in the late 70's, an Air Force magazine for Staff Officers. I was just a two striper, but was in charge of distributing and keeping up to date all publication for the base personnel office. I read every one before passing it on to the director of personnel!!! They were always full on cool information and historical events.

[@jonsmith8582]

We seem to forget just how brave the Poles were and how history has been so cruel to them , they get liberated from the Nazis only to be occupied by the Russians who were just as oppressive .

[@billsmith9711]

true... and they saved Christianity from Islam in 1683.... we owe them a lot.

[@savagex466-qt1io]

Iv met them they are very hard working and determind. Pain the ass to. However they learn so fast and the " never again " sticks with them I predict a super far right approach in Poland soon.

[@EugeneStClair-tv7dr]

Thanks Mark for your exhaustive research. I had read anecdotes of this mission but always thought it might be some exaggeration or wishful thinking from some Poles. Glad to hear about the Polish Home Armys tragic sacrifices to get this tech to the Allies. Thank you.

[@ErikS-]

One of Werner von Brauns masterpieces! It was ahead of any other capability of any other country

[@JG-ib7xk]

Calm down Nazi lover

[@bigblue6917]

The late TV presenter Raymond Baxter was RAF fighter pilot during WW2 and one of the missions he and his squadron flew was to hunt for the mobile launchers and destroy the V2 rocket. He said the only time he saw one was when it took off just missing his aircraft as he flew passed.

[@CatsMeowPaw]

I was born in Poland and never heard of this mission. Extremely risky to all involved. Kudos to the brave Austrians too who smuggled out plans and paid with their lives.

[@edwardelliott5756]

Wow those Poles have some LARGE attachments!

[@rutabagasteu]

When I was a kid, Walter Cronkite had a program on WW2. One of the bits of film he showed was film taken by camera mounted on the side of a V-2.

[@rzr2ffe325]

We launched V2s in the U.S. It directly lead to the developments with our own ballistic missiles, but more notably the Saturn V. The rocket that carried men to the moon.

[@RCAvhstape]

@@rzr2ffe325 Yes, von Braun and many of his V2 team wound up building missiles for the US Army .The Redstone missile that carried the first American astronauts on suborbital flights was an evolution of the V2.

[@BeachsideHank]

It was called "The Twentieth Century". The Twentieth Century was a documentary television program sponsored by the Prudential Insurance Company that ran on the CBS network from 20 October 1957 until 4 January 1970. It was hosted by Walter Cronkite. The opening and closing theme music was written by composer George Antheil. -Wikipedia

[@andypdq]

@@RCAvhstape Wernher von Braun, he aimed for the stars, but often hit London.

[@rutabagasteu]

@@rzr2ffe325 Uhm. Yes. I'm old enough to remember that. I sort of remember coverage of the Korea conflict on tv.

[@LordDarthViadro]

Amazing! I'm from Poland and it's first time I heard this story!

[@charonboat6394]

Really?

[@ls200076]

@@charonboat6394 yeah

[@charonboat6394]

elektron117 Strange

[@ernesttreywasz9565]

To się tym nie chwal.

[@carlosanguineti956]

You must be proud of your Country! Poland, the 4th largest army to fight the whole war against nazism (the corrector suggest me to put an uppercase "N", but no, thanks), the Enigma machine stolen and supplied to the Allies in 2 copies, the conquer of Montecassino, the RAF Squadrons, the Navy... I mean, who else did so much to have back so few?

[@johnstephen2869]

I'm amazed at the range of the DC3. What a marvellous plane that is. There are many still flying, and that Kiwi pilot too. What bravery all around.

[@madjackblack5892]

I used to drink with a couple of former Polish paratroopers. Much respect, and man, it was hard to keep up with them.

[@guffmulderEOD3119]

What a sensational way to finish my night shift of "Essential" work in Sydney, Australia. A Mark Felton Production! I am going to enjoy watching this while having breakfast.

[@andrewharper1609]

Two of the V class rockets landed on Beckenham, Kent and wiped out several rows of houses near where Beckenham Junction station is today. My respects to those who lost loved ones in the attacks.

[@sunlightpictures8367]

I always learn so much from our history professor! I wonder why there haven't been any movies about the Polish resistance during WWII. If anyone knows of such a film, let me know.

[@adamgniewko9347]

That is a part of antipolish plan of genocide.

[@bradnotbread]

I've got a piece of a V2 in my loft. The husband of a family member used to dig up WW2 aircraft in the 1980s and 90s. In one case he located the remains of a V2 and as I collected WW2 memorabilia as a kid he kindly gave me a bit.

[@robertphillips6296]

Thank you for bringing these bits of forgotten history to light once more. I believe a lot can be gained from them.

[@Hiker63]

I’m here for the intro music.

[@briansmith301]

Yeah me too

[@steveholmes5207]

That music gets my attention everytime

[@localenterprisebroadcastin5971]

It truly is awesome

[@vivaldi1ett]

Roaming Gnome yeah it’s pretty epic! 💞🤪👍😘🤘✝️🙏🏻💞🤪🇩🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@nriab23]

duhh duhhh duhh duh duh duh duh

[@Retroscoop]

In Belgium it was mainly, maybe even exclusively Antwerp which was the target. The rockets kept coming after Belgium was liberated, the Germans trying to hit the port of Antwerp, which was extensively used to unload allied ships. In fact, many V-weapons fell on the town, seeing the map with where they all hit is quite impressive. The worst day was when a V 2 fell on Cinema Rex. Of the 1000 people present, 567 were killed, including 296 allied soldiers, mainly British.

[@roodborstkalf9664]

Zoals jij ziet is niemand in Antwerpen geïnteresseerd.

[@Retroscoop]

@@roodborstkalf9664 Wat een toepasselijke naam !

[@user-lv7ph7hs7l]

As a native German speaker I have to say... That pronunciation of Wernher Von Braun was absolutely beyond perfect.

[@billy.g3597]

I remember seeing a V2 in the museum at RAF Cosford. It's an impressive yet sinister sight to behold.

[@nukni4225]

And then I hope you looked at the replica of this cute little fella in the room next door. What was its name again? oh, yes: LITTLE BOY.

[@Pyotr_Velikiy]

What a brave and competent pilot!

[@seanmcmanamon2670]

I would love to see a Mark Felton production about the Home Army in Poland and the help that other nations gave them.

[@billd.iniowa2263]

That's what ya call dumb luck, not being discovered. Just goes to show that the Poles' determination was vehement. And their ingenuity was equal to anyone else's. They weren't letting this golden opportunity slip through their fingers. Even tho the weapon was not going to be aimed at them. I admire the heck out of these people. They were true allies, and it was a filthy shame that Poland had to be given up to the Soviets by Churchill at war's end.

[@zepter00]

Bill well spot on.... I respect You for things you wrote but that were mostly USA president ( Mostly Roosevelt but little bit also Teuman) who sold Poland to the soviets in Yalta and later in Teheran. Brits were in scond place...even churchil tried not to do that... brits were much under USA in making strategic and political decisions. It is known in Poland as „western betreyal”

[@krokusmoses1]

This needs to be made into a movie!

[@russcattell955i]

There is a couple of movies, though it dealt with stealing a V1, in Poland, Battle of the V1 (1958) and Operation Crossbow (1965) both worth watching with enough factual content to this history.

[@brothertom5909]

Imagine how tense that would have been to get the Dakota back up in the air again.

[@ghostindamachine]

What an epic story, what hero’s where they back then, just amazing. V1 and later V2 rockets where launched from tractor trailers from within my city of The Hague in The Netherlands. The scars of war are still visible.

[@nkristianschmidt]

That is some night navigation skills required flying that DC3

[@va2dv1]

I watched every single docs on WW2 and I always learn something new in your videos. Keep them coming !

[@janvanruth3485]

my father told me that in wintertime they used to walk over the wings of the airplanes that were made by them, and they could hear the rivets snap.

[@davidford694]

I find it rather odd that the C47 got stuck. One very rainy August I flew into Bear River on a WW2 vintage C47. (Bear River was incidentally used to transport out the uranium for the atomic bombs.) The airfield was so mushy that the 4 wheel drive truck that came out to meet us didn't get more than 10 feet before it was stuck. We all had to get out and form a chain to get the supplies on and off. But then there was the problem of taking off again. It had balloon tires, which helped. And once it got rolling the lift of the wings just pulled it right off. A good thing too, because not very far past the end of the runway there was a high cliff. I swear we clipped some vegetation off it as we went by.