The Knight With the Iron hand

In 1504 a knight had his arm blown off by a cannon. Instead of retiring, this knight continued to fight, feud, and serve various leaders, with the help of an ingenious metal prosthetic.
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This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
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All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.
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Script by JCG
#history #thehistoryguy #medieval

[@jimsvideos7201]

You might be interested to learn that he obtained this appendage at... ...a second-hand store.

[@thejudgmentalcat]

🚪👈 🤣

[@robertjensen1438]

Let the dad jokes flow through you.

[@nikburton9264]

Omg that stunk soooooo bad! You should be proud!

[@EstherDavis-eg2iv]

😂😂😂

[@macmedic892]

Happy (belated) Father’s Day!

[@jimparks6616]

In the late 1960's I was stationed in Heidelberg. It was a pleasant, quiet drive along the Neckar river to Hornberg castle. I went there often. It was my quiet getaway. In 1999 my family hosted an exchange student from Germany and we visited her at her home in 2004. She and her family are still close, adopted members of our family. During our visit i made a point to revisit this special place. It turns out that there is a winery there and a store where you may purchase their selection of wines. We were there on a Sunday. The winery is not open on Sunday's, but it was open. A very pleasant young man explained that he and a group of his friends were on a bicycle adventure that day, and, on their return, he opened just for them. So, I apologized for our intrusion and turned to leave. He stopped me and said he would be happy to let up purchase something, but he could not offer their normal wine tasting. We selected server bottles of wine, most at his suggestion, to give to our former exchange student's father. He was a collector of wines. After returning to the states, and by looking on the web, I learned that that young man was actually the Baron, or the descendant of the Baron of the Hornberg Castle. Lovely pleasant memories of experiences that span several decades. For a now 77 year old veteran, that very gracious young man, added one more pleasant memory of Hornberg Castle. If you ever have a chance, visit a place that I love. I believe there is a restaurant there, as well. Oh, and the view from that very tall tower is amazing.

[@meedwards5]

❤

[@ghowell13]

That guy went HARD. What a fantastic story. Thanks, THG!!!

[@Chris-us6pk]

That's what she said

[@PatricioGarcia1973]

look up Blaz De Lezo. Spanish Armada captain.

[@robisfantasticutube]

"GRIIIIIIFITHHHHH!!!"

[@FryingTiger]

It would be GRIIFIIIIIIITH. But close.

[@riftster313]

I don't this The History Guy is ready for Berserker 😆😆 I bet he'd feel violated

[@Chops2792]

I came here to say this. There is a lot of similarities besides the name Gutz and having a hand cut off and replaced. Both dueled a lot, worked a pseudo mercenaries and also asked to lead uprisings.

[@Zeropointill]

Immediately thought of this too, there's no way this isn't the inspiration for the character.

[@nekomancer4641]

@@riftster313 would be hilarious to see him do a manga review lol

[@KevinWindsor1971]

" Leck mich am Arsch"- The Swabian Salute. Sounds like a title of a Rammstein song.

[@-yeme-]

it really is the title of a humorous piece by Mozart

[@CAP198462]

I think you meant Sabaton, not Rammstein.

[@Absaalookemensch]

In the US south some say, "Kiss my grits."

[@Talashaoriginal]

He said "im"

[@therovingrobin5938]

Not just the Swabian salute...Göthe made the slur famous all over Germany and we use it with glee to this day!

[@chrisball3778]

There are some similar prosthetic hands from 16th century Germany in the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, UK. Apparently they're rare items, but more than 40 are known to exist of the types shown. They think they might have been made in collaboration between armourers and clockmakers, two of the most highly skilled craftsmen of their place and era.

[@Finnishpeasant]

Very internesting designs. Utility seems quite meager compared to "hook" design.

[@drlobomalo]

All autobiographies should be read cautiously.

[@chadwickjdillon]

I am Alpharius. This is a lie.

[@tommost1]

Especially the unauthorized ones.

[@alidaweber1023]

Our memories are never as clear, accurate, or complete as we would like to think.

[@custos3249]

Agreed. Beware of papercuts.

[@Absaalookemensch]

I flew Critical Care Air Transport in the military. With advances in first aid, prompt transport to field surgical stabilization and tertiary (ICU level) care during transport, the US military has a nearly 100% survival rate if the injured person does not immediately succumb to their wounds.

[@chrisvickers7928]

Compare that to no anesthetic and removing the limb with a bone saw, very high mortality rate.

[@maryleoboldt6100]

Thank You for your service!! Not many people can perform that duty and I for one appreciate that you did!

[@aaftiyoDkcdicurak]

75% of the time it works 100% of the time.

[@spvillano]

One critical advance in first aid being the reintroduction of the tourniquet. Initially, service members were trained that the use of a tourniquet doomed the limb it was utilized on, thus its use should be avoided in favor of pressure dressings. One new lieutenant, a physician just out of residency, mentioned how orthopedic surgeons use tourniquets for the better part of a day during surgeries and obviously don't lose the limb, so WTH were we training people in? Needless to say, that swiftly changed policies and procedures. Then, we moved into the 20th century and put coolers with blood on the MEDEVAC flights. Another odd hint needed to be made, blood replaces blood better than salt water replaces blood, what with all of that necessary red stuff inside of the blood, clotting factors, proteins, etc. Next thing you knew, we got nearly into the 21st century! For a chuckle, for some specific injuries, we still use leeches for the only effective treatment and maggot debridement of really stubborn wounds has been reintroduced. Sometimes, old is the new new. And sometimes, new treatments are ignored, like when we flew a specialist team from Germany to train treatment staff in treating injuries from RPG's striking the FM-200 fire extinguishing system on the mine resistant vehicles, causing hydrogen fluoride inhalation injuries and death. The treatment was highly successful, with a powdered inhalation agent administered on scene before evacuation to limit injury. Said entire protocol was rejected by the medical command in Afghanistan. With predictable results in deceased service members. I'm sure that Colonel got promoted...

[@GexMax]

2:35 I could swear you said "300 Landschnecken" (Landsnails) - now I know you meant to say Landsknechte (or at least i'm assuming) but in my mind an assault force of 300 Landsnails, possibly wearing Spartan Armor and Phalanx Shields deeply amuses me :D

[@qoaa]

"This Is Escargot!!!"

[@thekinginyellow1744]

When the winged Landschnecken arrived, Coming down the mountainside!

[@rikospostmodernlife]

Think of all those medieval drawings of knights fighting snails

[@JagerLange]

Or mounting a tiny cannon on the shell like a howdah.

[@ThePerfectRed]

Narrating this video must have been maximum penalty for an English speaker.

[@9999plato]

He was even fictionalized in a Japanese anime though the characters story bears little resemblance. He is GUTZ in the show and looses an arm. He looses his men betrayed by a close ally, his lady love killed and tormented by demons he is a berserker driven by revenge , he cannot die if I recall.

[@nekojita5150]

I appreciate your use of art to tell stories like this. The quality, detail and choice of images work with and support your words perfectly.

[@stevecausey545]

It's just a fleshwound

[@vikingskuld]

Lol tizzy but scratch. I've had worse, Lol I wonder of that battle was called a draw

"Thou shall not pass".

[@lebojay]

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries. Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time.

[@chuckh5999]

your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries!

[@eduardoribeiro383]

I've been living in Stuttgart for 6 years now. Honberg castle is very interesting and worth the visit. Have in mind that it was a Fort(Burg)/Castle with a use. Not a fancy folly like Neuschwanstein. It's a great region to visit.

[@VespasianJudea]

You encounter the Swabian League in the video game Pentiment. The peasants decided to hold the abbey hostage so the lord of that land called upon the league. It’s an amazing and historical game and I highly suggest it. Someone pointed out a mistake in their Latin and they went through the trouble of updating it. It’s truly a historical masterpiece of a game in the Holy Roman Empire. It’s also a murder mystery. I loved it, if you’re here I think you will too.

[@Hypatia52]

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll look it up!

[@VespasianJudea]

@@Hypatia52 Free for gamepass recipients.

[@Robert_Keel]

"...an autobiography that should be read, cautiously." Never heard it put quite that way - nice phrasing.......

[@robertjensen1438]

I got a new pair of gloves today, but they're both 'lefts' which, on the one hand, is great, but on the other, it's just not right.

[@fml4542]

Narf!

[@raedbbugshan]

Guts the main character in Berserk anime is inspired by him

[@MegatronYES]

I remember reading somewhere that Muira insisted he had never even heard of the real person before designing the story. Lol I actually HOPE he’s lying because fuck

[@chrisball3778]

The creator says he's mainly inspired by Rutger Hauer's character in the movie Flesh and Blood, who is a brutal German mercenary of about the same time period. The similarities in name are a heck of a coincidence, but maybe it's just a fluke of the translation from Japanese.

[@Abdega]

@@MegatronYES sometimes you think of something and it turns out something similar lines up with it

[@joegordon5117]

The Knight With the Iron Hand sounds rather wonderfully like a character from one of Mike MIgnola's Hellboy comics!

[@thekinginyellow1744]

As soon as I saw the title of the video I knew who it would about and my first thought was "I wonder if he will include the Swabian Salute"

[@nugget0428]

80+ years is nuts for someone in that time in that profession!

[@tilongatao]

It used to be common to refer to the insult as the „Götz quote“ which helped spare you from repeating it. Times are less stiff today, however. I enjoyed the video very much. Only when reading the comments I became aware of „Landschnecken“ not being some medieval weapon not featuring in my memory, I imagined musketeers of some kind, similar to „Feldschlangen“. Landshut also is not like „chute“, but like „Lund‘s hoot“. I am very impressed by the german pronounciation still, definitely very uncommon amongst the serious information mainstays on KZbin. Looking forward to the next one!

[@heidihochrein7912]

I think it was the town of Würzburg where the castle of Marienburg was held in siege. I’m so glad to hear the history. My family owned a restaurant ‘Zum Stachel’ (Of the Mace), where the peasants plotted!

[@michaelsteve5922]

Nicely done. Goetz is one of my favorite characters in German history and literature.

[@LS-uv9gg]

I also had a most excellent visual of the guy walking into a support beam, and then angrily changing it to a duel or perhaps a census questionnaire pinned to a notice board, with the passage: "...proved to be rowdy, getting into a fight with a pole, at the court" Pole pole poll hahaha

[@studio1519]

Thank you! As someone born without my right hand, this was a great story to hear.

[@fieryvale]

One of the most interesting people I've met was a woman born with no hands at all. She lived a long, full life and was happy as a lark. She married a man who lost his arm in the wars, funny enough.

[@davidlane5349]

You can stay at his Castle in addition to the museum.

[@jamest2401]

I know that modern amputees have considerable pain even from the technologically advanced prosthetic devices and scientifically formulated materials from which they’re made today. I can only imagine the horrifying level of discomfort which could be produced by a 16ᴛʜ century chunk of leather-strapped iron, stuck on the end of your arm.

[@TOO_TALL305]

Ah yes, Götz von Berlichingen the knight whose name was adopted by the 17th SS panzer grenadier division AKA the LMAA division

[@167curly]

Living until the age of eighty-two in the sixteenth century alone was an amazing feat for that feisty knight!

[@harryschaefer8563]

My wife was a pre-school teacher who, each year, was given a new batch of three-year-olds to teach. I often reminded her to call upon her "iron fist" to maintain order.

[@lancerevell5979]

Tough opponents indeed, these entitled three-year-olds! 😊

[@roberthevern6169]

Your avatar is so familiar....I have a duplicate on my wall, albeit slightly exaggerated...followed by the inevitable face plant!

[@Tsumami__]

You found the GOLDEN GAUNTLETS! You can feel even more power coursing through your arms! Grab with (A) and lift stuff up!

[@unclenogbad1509]

First heard about this guy in German class back in secondary school. Just a brief aside from the teacher, but it was one of few times the whole class suddenly perked up and paid attention.

[@AEOH3X]

This period of history is so fascinating to me. It's like close enough to almost touch, yet still a bit fantastical or mythical.

[@grayharker6271]

Johannesburg castle in Achaffenburg has his hand. I saw it there in the early 70s.

[@davea6314]

Give that man a hand! 👏

[@goodun2974]

There was a police Inspector with an iron hand on "Young Frankenstein"!

[@samparkerSAM]

Great 👍 Point

[@HootOwl513]

Not to mention Dr Strangelove.

[@ricksaint2000]

Thank you History Guy

[@PascalSWE]

The world is small. I've started writing a song about this man not long ago and earlier today, just around the time when you released this video I was at the library lending some books that I hope can help me understand him better. Im sure your video will also help!

Talk about being, "Iron-Fisted"!

[@Hey_Its_That_Guy]

Tis but a scratch!

[@user-oh2hs6jh5x]

Gotz, rub some dirt on it and get back out there!

[@lancerevell5979]

"Just walk it off!" 😂

[@HO-bndk]

Gotz von Berlichngen's iron hand is what the WW2 German anti-tank weapon called the "Panzerfaust" is named after. The user-manual issued with it even had a cartoon on the cover of his hand smashing a Soviet tank.

[@bryantsemenza38]

Wow. Another great piece of history that is finally made known

[@BasicDrumming]

I appreciate you and thank you for making content.

[@craigaust3306]

The TV comedy Get Smart had a villain named Ironhand.

[@radstar2185]

82 years old after all that and in the 1600s wtf that man was hard as nails

[@maxgee5655]

Thank you for all of the information on history. I have told many friends of THG.

[@dennisboulais7905]

Sounds like this is where George Martin got the idea for Jamies gold hand inb Game of Thrones!

[@allentac6222]

My first thought too.

[@badlandskid]

Started scrolling for this comment

[@galadballcrusher8182]

I think there are many more fantasy inspired adaptations of this guy before, Michael Moorcock's Corum for example or Guts from manga and anime Berserk.

[@badlandskid]

@@galadballcrusher8182 which is a good point and entirely logical. Any author is going to draw on his or her knowledge base that comes from history. Frank Herbert’s Dune series is filled with words, names and political concepts that are very familiar to anyone that has done a little reading. 🙂

[@frankgulla2335]

Thank you, THG, for this fascinating tale of the iron-handed Knight from Germany in the 16th century. Amazing.

[@peytonspencer11]

Thank you for the story! ❤

[@diegoferreiro9478]

Fun fact. According to the book about Hitler's informal conversations after lunch, Hitler suggested to name the never-to-be-completed H-39 battleships after Ulrich von Huttin and Götz von Berchinligen. These ships were laid down, but the outbreak of the war in 1939 got the works to be suspended and by 1941 the few that was built was scrapped. Both ships never got an official name,

[@brandon7482]

The 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division was named the Götz von Berlichingen division, their symbol was his iron hand.

[@HM2SGT]

*_Doctor Strangelove, I presume?_*

[@high_maintenance]

I love your office and knowledge ❤

[@andylee6785]

According to the tank museum, Bovingdon UK, he was also the inspiration for the name 'Panzerfaust'. Infamy, Infamy...

[@glennsmythe8566]

That was wonderful history telling

[@samparkerSAM]

My family is connected through history to these fantastic events 👏. In modern times, my mother remarried a Mr Gertzler.. a hand ✋️ in love ❤️

[@davidanspach1624]

This dude was a real life, early modern period version of Big Boss

[@Pitchlock8251]

Groovy

[@1TakoyakiStore]

Nice to know Ash lived a long life.

[@griftereck]

This story reminds me of Inspector Kemp, in the Young Frankenstien film

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

I think there's an anime about this guy.

[@m1t2a1]

'Tis but a scratch. I've had worse. Just a flesh wound.

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Great video...👍

[@jasonz7788]

Great job thanks 👍

[@adamstephenson7518]

Great video

[@michaelpineiro533]

Götz of the Iron Fingers

[@shantanusapru]

Fascinating!!!

[@knightowl3577]

I bet he had trouble feeding the Geese!

[@Mr_Bunk]

Just something to note on pronunciation: ‘Landsknecht’ is pronounced like ‘Lands-kuh-neck’t’. I hope you find this useful, and thank you for the fascinating video as always!

[@user-im7wr9qd8v]

Awesome story

[@paullough4946]

Reminds me of me Mum...always ruled with an Iron Hand that one did!

[@michaelboggus9993]

A lot of off handed jokes here...

[@SkullyX99]

For a moment I was like, Berserk?

[@Talashaoriginal]

There is a Stageplay from "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe" about him.

[@Cbabilon675]

I know this may sound odd, but this is almost like based on the character from the anime. Series berserk called guts. I have to wonder if they are most what in the same??😢😢😢

[@Peter7966]

Sounds like a nice guy.

[@thorshammer8033]

The Pimp Hand ✋️ 🤣

[@comentedonakeyboard]

Goetz von Berlichingen, the original Cyborg.

[@RetiredSailor60]

Good afternoon History Guy and everyone watching. Sorry I'm late to class... I'll stay after to clean the chalkboard and erasers.

[@LuxiBelle]

My favorite theory is that this guy was the inspiration for Guts from Berzerk. The thing is Kentaro Miura had no knowledge of him so its just a coincidence.

[@bigsiege1848]

Honey, How often do you think about the Holy Roman Empire?

[@kman314wastaken]

From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh, it disgusted me.

[@thelastjohnwayne]

""his Autobiography should be read Cautiously""??

[@CAP198462]

Ferrus Manus!

[@schlirf]

The Herr who developed his day's version of "Kiss my..." in the immortal saying of "L.M.A." 😎

[@zoolkhan]

LMAA - wenn schon , denn schon

[@schlirf]

@@zoolkhan kurtz gesagt....

[@zoolkhan]

@@schlirf "kurz" not kurtz. das wird ja immer schlimmer

[@schlirf]

@@zoolkhan Je von Ami Kaugummi deutsch gehort? 🤣

[@zoolkhan]

@@schlirf wenn ich ehrlich bin nein, ich bin ein finne in finland. Wir kennen nur "ralley-englisch" :-)

[@ronnierow5641]

In Braunfels Germany, is a small castle that has an iron, clockwork hand on display. Is that possibly Gotz's hand?

[@spinnetti]

Interesting as always. I've seen the gauntlet. Its "Lands-kin-ect" - knight of the land; "servants of the land"

[@amadeusamwater]

Sounds like a really sweet guy....

[@roberthevern6169]

Some people's kids!! I wonder if Kubrick borrowed this for the Peter Sellers character in his great movie 'Dr Strangelove'!

[@jasonz7788]

Awesome

[@fintan9218]

Real life Berserk reference

[@ThomasEJohnson]

I think there was a segment about him on one of the episodes of Shatner’s “The Unexplained” series on the History Channel.

[@Col_K]

A real Ash Williams as opposed to the reel Ash WIlliams.

[@HM2SGT]

*Shop Smart!*

[@Paladin1873]

@@HM2SGT

[@lancerevell5979]

"This is my BOOMSTICK!" 😅

[@Paladin1873]

@@lancerevell5979 "Gimme some sugar, baby."

[@jackburton5483]

Yo, she bitch.. Let’s go

[@ariochiv]

"Yeah, I led the rebel army, but... uh... they made me do it."

[@theriddleofsteel2479]

Knowing the history of the iron hand now it makes good sense that a portion of the SS adopted the symbol because it was a symbol of German nobility and they were a very noble cause

[@janlindtner305]

Interesting👍👍👍

[@irishgirldutchpour]

I wonder if Gerorge R.R Martin learned of this when he wrote his book series.

[@georgeperkins4171]

Perhaps inspector Kemp, in young Frankenstein, was inspired by this.

[@amphionification]

I bet he ruled with an iron....