We Met a WWII Child Soldier of the German Army!!! | History Traveler Episode 61

[@oldskoolraver1079]

Hans has recently passed away. He was a great guy and well known in the area. Thanks for sharing his story.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m glad that we were fortunate enough to have met him that day.

[@oldskoolraver1079]

@@TheHistoryUnderground Yes, it's good he got to share his story. He had a great personality, a true good guy with a sense of humour. Next time you're in the Ardennes, hit me up. I got a lot to show you. My father has his own personal collection of artifacts both German and American. We also have an artifact of the 22nd armored division, maybe you can give it to your friend who fought here.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@oldskoolraver1079 - Thanks! Maybe send me an email so that I have your contact information. You can find my email on the About tab on the main KZbin page.

[@natalieford3238]

How sad 😔

[@vincentadams9569]

My his soul find Eternal Peace where he is a youthful boy again with his loved one’s where there is NO ILLNESS, AGING, only HAPPINESS!! GOD BLESS

[@bobb1870]

Child soldiers have always been part of human history. Even today, you will find one or many in the world seeking to be home with their family. Hans was the lucky one who made it home.

[@adelaar1965]

I don't know why yet, but I love this channel!!! Thank you for sharing!!! 👍🏻

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@anthonysmith778]

That is so awesome. He seems like a cool little man. I met a guy in my travels that got hit with kamikaze's on the USS Enterprise. I also met a guy who heard the 1st shots of the battle of the bulge. Very interesting characters

[@haroldgardner9463]

I lived in LockHaven Pennsylvania where the made Piper cubs! And I know some of the Pipers! My Grandfather worked a Piper aircraft ! Small world! Great video!

[@fyrchmyrddin1937]

The chief facility engineer at Ayers Kaserne, Hr. Knabe, was proud to have worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers until his retirement. He had been Hitler Youth and once told me how in the final days of WW2 he had been pressed into service as an air defense artillery solider, recalling how his crew tried to shoot down a British aircraft.

[@skymaster9484]

Just saw this episode a couple of yrs late but brought back a lot of great memories. Was stationed in Germany in 1980 and was fortunate to run into a lot of ex-German vets from WW2, their stories were practically all the same and gave me a whole new perspective on the wonderful German people. Like what happened to this man, they either were forced to serve or were swept up in the national cause and did not realize until it was to late that it was a big lie. And everyone I remember talking too hated and feared the SS they were brutal to their own people if need be. Onething in common with German vets and civilians I talked to back then was they all said the Americans were the nicest and most gracious of the allies when they were either captured or their german town occupied.

[@barryolaith]

Wonderful. Thanks so much for this. One can glean more understanding from that short conversation than from years of research. I hope the people, many of them not even born then, who hate and make hateful sweeping comments about soldiers from one side or another watch this and reflect.

[@paulbarringer958]

Awesome once again.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks 🙏🏼

[@erietrain]

So cool!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Pretty amazing.

[@paulbradford8240]

At the end of the War, I don't think the people investigating War Crimes understood the choices before the German soldier. basically, you did as you were told or you chose the other option and in all likelihood would be shot. The War Crimes Commission stated it was no defence to say that you were obeying orders. I'm not defending War Criminals in any way, just saying that they were in a situation that we were fortunate enough not to be put in. I have a French friend. She is in her 50's now. Her mother was born in Berlin during the War. Her father (my friends maternal grandfather) refused to fight and was shot. Her grandmother was repeatedly raped by Russian soldiers. War is hell for many people.

[@BazzTill]

With this interview you've made a 'Living Testimonial' out of first hand. Historical evidence!

[@rolltide9719]

What an incredible story. The German side is also a side who needs to be heard. Otherwise, how will the world know the true consequences of what WW2 cost

[@johnmarlin4661]

Amazing !!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Pretty crazy, huh?

[@howardturner746]

My aunt, who died many years ago, used to live next to an elderly ukrainian man n little village in Somerset, England. He was always very unfriendly and hostile towards her, it turned out after he died he had been a camp guard in dachau and my aunt had a Jewish surname....

[@stephenmanuel1120]

I have a neighbor who was born and raised in Germany, when he was 16 he was drafted into the Wehrmacht, his first assignment was manning an Anti-Aircraft gun in Holland shooting at American Bombers flying over to bomb Germany. Later he was called back to Berlin to fight against the Russians. At the end of the war, he and 3 buddies drafted their own discharge papers and deserted trying to make the British or American Sectors, my friend was the only one who could speak english, 3 times they were stopped at check points and managed to make it to the British sector, all this time the Gestapo had orders to shoot on sight anyone deserting...He ended up with a degree in Electrical Engineering and worked for a company that moved him to NJ and he never left and became an American Citizen...

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Holy smokes! What an amazing story. Could you maybe send me an email and reference this comment? My email is in the About tab on the main page.

[@susankraft77]

Wow! Amazing!

[@thomascrowley9122]

Amazing, Glad he made it out

[@ChristopherWray7]

Sure and my cousin is barney

[@robertafierro5592]

Yes. As the Germans lost the War, they HAD to emoy the little that was left. The very young and the very old.

[@Bobg425]

My father in law is German,he was in the HItler Youth and at the end of the war drafted into the German navy,he was14.He did 3 weeks training at Kiel then joined a submarine which was raised and then sunk off Southampon 2 weeks later.He spent the next 2 yrs near Liverpool on a farm with another young lad before being sent back to Germany to a bombed out house and no family.He slept in the ruins and then walked to Kiel from Vismar 100mile? and joined the german Navy.He left a Captain decades later.He remembers walking to school where dead horses were scattered along the road and the stench was just of death.And kids today start crying because their iphone breaks?!

[@Bobg425]

@@Luke-dj2tk I lived inGermany for years and my local bar was full of ex WW2 veterans.Most had been POW in the UK and Canada.One still went yearly to visit his old guard whod moved to Maine in the US from the UK after the war.Sadly my FIL died 3 weeks ago.I never got his full story.

[@kcuzz4091]

Yes, I wish our young people would learn to appreciate what they have and be grateful for it.

[@tomratcliffe9363]

War is a terrible thing My father was a grenader in France fighting the Germans. As a young boy i met German prisoners of war. Exceptionally friendly people. War's should be a thing of the past

[@bradmarkell12167]

Aaah. And it was America's fault for all that death and sorrow, huh? Do your homework. Our kids and grandkids have the right to LIVE FREE whether they gripe about their cell phone or not. Our forefathers and my grandfathers fought & one died to preserve the FREEDOMS WE SHALL FIGHT TO DEATH to preserve. What have you done?

[@jmiller1717]

It brings tears to my eyes knowing that men like this are almost all passed away. I wish they could live forever and share their stories of what they went through, teach our youth about how great they have it these days and make them appreciate what they have and remember that many men before them gave up their lives so they can live the easy going, comfortable life they have now. Such a shame. The world was a frightening place at times in history and men like this walked straight toward the most frightening places most of us alive could probably never imagine.

[@jorgecampos9659]

I don’t know if these kids nowadays have it easy. I think we live in a wicked time

[@kev03103]

Yes it's hard to measure how bad which time in history was. When I was young Vietnam hung over my head. The young people were up in arms, protesting and they were correct in their position that we had no business being there. All wars are stupid and need to stop. The sooner humankind knows this the better.

[@sagayagambrun5149]

@@kev03103 There are no winners in wars even the tyrants of any description fell down badly. When will people ever learn? Wherever there is peace there's prosperity. Vietnam is constructing a huge Airport to welcome humanity. Celebrate peace! Blessings!

[@rogermetzger7335]

Sorry to throw water on your idea but nobody will ever be able to "teach" appreciation for things people are given. And that applies to everyone - children and adults.

[@louisavevers9709]

It really is important to get so many stories before there are no one left to tell them.

[@krisfrederick5001]

"Get closer so you can translate" Hans breaks out the English.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Ha! I know.

[@pd1jap]

Kris Frederick yeah, that Super....

[@krisfrederick5001]

@@pd1jap Quoi

[@alfie4troy]

Kris Frederick 😂😂😂

[@webbryan1]

He’s just testing

[@motorrebell]

Im German - American , Both Grandfathers survived ww2 , One was in the 101st Airborne , fought at Bastogne , my other Grandfather served in the Kriegsmarine on a Torpedoboat & escorted Battleships "Bismark - Tirpitz - Gneisenau - Scharnhorst" and was hit by a mine and sunk - drowned almost 2 times in the ice cold northern sea and he also fought at the Battle of Narvik . Its unbelievable what they have been thru .They have my greatest respects .

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Crazy to think of what those guys endured on both sides.

[@TheTwon]

101st airborne got to loot Hitler's mountain retreat

[@mrhorrorgaming6909]

You are extremely fortunate to have chanced upon this man. His story shows that even the german army were just regular people. When I worked for a furniture company i took a lazy boy to this house and this old african American gentleman answered the door. While i was setting up his chair he told me about his time in the pacific serving in the 93rd infantry division. The only AA division that went to fight the japanese. When i finally left I sat in my truck and cried for a minute. He was such a nice man. 3 weeks later we had to go back and pick the chair up because he had died. I think about him alot

[@seanodwyer4322]

had a letter from- Arthur Crowley off Bridgeport- New Jersey state but lost his full address . if a can get it ahh will post him a letter.'

[@krisfrederick5001]

If you were looking for a sign of any validation of your mission, here you go. You didn't see this coming and now we all know part of this man's story. Thanks to you.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I definitely got lucky on this one. Thanks.

[@edthered1971]

Wow, what that man must of seen and witnessed as a child soldier is unimaginable, he was one of the lucky ones that survived and had a family and a life, may god bless all those who didn’t survive the war, great interview. 👍

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Can you even imagine? I wouldn't trust most 14 year olds with an iPod, much less a machine gun in combat.

[@VictorySpeedway]

Without that chance encounter, this man's story might never have been preserved and told outside of his family. Videos such as these are priceless. My Mom's Uncle had a similar experience. He was drafted into the German army at 14, but he fought for the Kaiser in WWI. He was wounded twice, emigrated to America in 1923, lived in the same apartment with his wife for 55 years. He was one of the most patriotic Americans I've ever met. Thanks for this series. Your camera work is excellent, and the subject matter and locations are fantastic.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Wow! Have to wonder what kind of stories he had. Thanks for the kind words 🙏🏼

[@Wolfietherrat]

I had a friend who’s mom was German, she said they more more afraid of the Germans. She ended up in the USA, I don’t know her story. So sad.

[@johnschofield9496]

WOW !!!!! These personal histories are quickly fading from our lives, and regardless of which side they fought on they MUST be remembered and documented! Thank you so much !

[@1rikkenz1]

What Marcel meant with "We used to be Germany" is that this particular piece of (what is now) Belgium, used to belong to Germany and was given to Belgium after the war, hence the reason why he could be conscripted to the German army. Greetings from a Belgian, love the channel.

[@buickadelaide1283]

Exactly ..correct…they were German ethnic people of Belgium ,,

[@p.h.3987]

And today it really does not matter. We sre ine region with one language, no barriers, same currency. St. Vith & Prüm. 😄

[@theoderich1168]

@@buickadelaide1283 I thought he was an ethnic German from the German minority because of his pronounciation and he obviously spoke French too (speaking of "prisonniers americains") what a story; my father was a FLAK-helper at the end of the war near the Belgian border and managed to run away back home to Cologne....

[@kcuzz4091]

Ahhh, this makes sense to me now. Thank you.

[@FabrizioZago]

Interesting interview, specially now that every day we lose persons like him.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Sad that there are fewer every day.

[@W.A.T.P...55]

Sadly we are losing more and more vets from ww2 every passing year...we must try and get as many people's stories before they are lost to history

[@discoverynorthcarolina9824]

Fabrizio Zago - Photography and media and the world forgets 😢, only to eventually repeat its self.....

[@FabrizioZago]

@@discoverynorthcarolina9824 Exactly, for some time it seems that the lesson is learned but then...

[@MiJacFan1]

@@W.A.T.P...55 that is why I am trying to fill up a Reader's Digest book of World War II veterans with their name, rank, and when they served. I have a bit of a collection, but I would like to fill it so I can cherish the names of all who served during that time. Sadly I know of at least one who is gone.

[@Mondo762]

Priceless. My father was also in WW2. I so wish he was still here. So many questions that I never asked. You were very fortunate to find this man.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Very much so. I wish that I could ask my grandpas some questions too.

[@MarineBis]

I'm french I'm 50, my grandfather was sherman M4 chief in 2ème DB Leclerc ... I tried to ask questions for many years.. difficult to have answers. One night they were so tired that they felt asleep on the side of a road... at morning he discovered that his "pillow" was a dead german... After Paris liberation, he got seriously sick with the gun shots smoke into the turret. He died in 2000.

[@johnkelsey2482]

As I mentioned before, I used to travel to Koln for work a lot. I made friends with a few older Germans and they were hesitant to talk about the war... When I would ask about it, they were ashamed to talk about it at all....One gentleman said that he was sorry for what he did and started crying...You were lucky, in my opinion, to find someone that would talk about the war....Excellent vlog....Thanks...

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks. I felt very fortunate to have stumbled across him. I’d love to talk with more.

[@kev03103]

Some Germans remained resolute in there hatred of just about everyone until the day they died.

[@rjwintl]

never underestimate the enemy ... on D-Day , Willy Kretzschmar of the 12th SS Panzer Div. (Hitler Jugend) took out 15 American Sherman tanks with his Mark 4 tank ... most of the Hitler Jugend were not even 20 years old when fighting the Americans and Canadians ... and, they took NO prisoners !!!

[@ericre1919]

Great story! I was a mechanic for a VW dealer in the 80s and my service manager was a German from Berlin. He was in the Hitler Youth at the end of the war. He told us about throwing rocks at Russian tanks, the bombings and how bad it was after the war. He said they cut up his fathers leather uniform coat to make shoes. Sadly we are loosing the first hand perspective of WW2 so rapidly.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I know. It’s sad. That’s why I have been racing to capture as many stories as I can on film. Thank you for sharing that.

[@KoKissaki]

As a german hearing the German conservation between them is really heartwarming. Too old men understanding each other

[@michaelpawluk6791]

Both of my grandparents are from Ukraine. They did not know each other yet, and later met in Brazil (really cool actually). In 1943 My Baba (grandma) was 17 when the Germans came, they pulled her from her house in her village. She was a worker for them until the end of the war. Her entire family died, the only survivor was her brother who was conscripted to the Red Army and never heard from again. My Gigi (grandpa) was 7 years younger than her during the war. His father received a letter in the mail saying their family had to move to Siberia. So they fled their home in the Carpathian mountains. In doing that they encountered Nazis. His sister was shot, and she saver her own life by begging for mercy and kissing the soldiers boots. There's so much I can say from both grandparents stories. They later met in Brazil, and immigrated to the USA in 1965.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

MikhailBarracuda91 - My goodness! It’s crazy what those people went through. Especially in Ukraine. Thanks for sharing that. If you don’t mind me asking, are your grandparents still alive?

[@michaelpawluk6791]

@@TheHistoryUnderground no, my Baba passed away in 2009 and Gigi passed in 2014.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@michaelpawluk6791 - I'm glad that they could leave you with the stories. A part of them lives on that way. Thank you for sharing some it with me.

[@stevelubbehusen5842]

I loved hearing his perspective....Serve or die at the hand s of the Germans....he had to serve. I also love that when he was captured by the Americans, They said go home, you are still just a boy. He went home and started his life anew. and he has VERY MUCH FAMILY. Imagine how horrible it was being conscripted, had to wear SS Uniform, and not being fed..???? Great timing by you to meet this Gentleman.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I felt pretty fortunate to have been at the place at that time. Crazy story.

[@wayneandrews9298]

im pleased for you that you had that experience , it will never happen again , there is such a thing as " right place , right time " ..

[@benadam7753]

My dad served in the US Army 26th Infantry from January 1945 till the war's end! He told me that they put German boys 14-15 years old in the open air POW camps all the time! Hans was lucky!

[@randyjenkins8743]

@@benadam7753 you mean dp camps?

[@benadam7753]

@@randyjenkins8743 The Rhine-Meadows Camps.

[@thegreatest2740]

That's amazing. Would love to sit and hear his stories I could listen to him all day. Shame this generation is dying out truly inspirational.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I know, right?

[@midwaymonster30]

That was absolutely incredible. Those poor kids forced to fight. What tragic times.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks. Pretty crazy story.

[@rmargonne117]

My mother in law’s partner was a German child soldier also. Sadly, he passed a few years ago. He said the same thing, “either you joined the army or they killed you”. He immigrated to the US in the 50’s and led a very successful life! Love your videos.

[@brandonking5111]

they pretty much had to take everyone as a soldier because if you were a civilian and were captured by an American or Russian, you'd be brutally r*ped by every soldier in the area before being executed. it was more humane to die by battle instead.

[@av8tore71]

What an honor talking to someone like him. Simply amazing!!

[@johnyannelli2480]

To the History Traveler. I can’t express enough gratitude for what u do. So informative, so well done and so respectful. U should b required viewing for all high school students. History should never b forgotten! Thank u for all u do.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@mcvickerf]

I served in and lived in Germany for 12 years. Hearing him say it in his own words was incredible. I would have loved to be there to hear it for myself!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I wish that I could have sat and talked with him for longer. Pretty crazy.

[@Loiyaboy]

Ich spreche ein bischen Deutsch. Das war ausgezeichnet!

[@seanodwyer4322]

ahh could not stand the germen food when ahh was there and went very skiinny from food poisoning in Frankfurt.

[@MiJacFan1]

Wow! Such a unique experience! He was so young, but kids back in the day had very little time to be kids. The youth of today could learn a few lessons.

[@patrickburton4195]

Yes, another global conflict should straighten the youth up.

[@cgaccount3669]

My dad was his age in Canada. Pretty much just riding his bike around town... doing what any other 14 year old would do. Such a different experience. Amazing story, so cool you found this guy!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Strange to think about, isn't it?

[@danam0228]

same with my dad, also 14 at time in small city in New England where they produced boots and uniforms for soldiers, he rode his bike around delivering newspapers to people with news of the war, went to the movies every weekend to see newsreels, see latest cartoon (Tom and Jerry being his favorite) and movie, 10 cents was enough to buy a ticket to see the movie, a fountain drink and popcorn or licorice, and whenever he had extra time he would go around with a wagon of his collecting scrap as part of the war effort

[@brentreid7031]

A neighbour north of us joined the Canadian Army at age 15. He always said he remembered his 17th birthday. On that day they landed on the beaches of Sicily.

[@chadanderson8692]

That was a extremely Raw but excellent interview. Thanks for talking with these old timers for all of us who can't make it across the pond to interact with them. They seem very willing to discuss and tell you about their experiences during that time in history.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, about as on the fly as you can get. Glad that I was there at that time so that I could share it though.

[@SteJohnAllen]

What a nice guy! It was brilliant hearing his story, really nice!

[@krisfrederick5001]

Absolutely

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Super nice guy. I was glad that we ran into him.

[@georgemakuca8870]

@@TheHistoryUnderground ....if I was there I would have burst into tear's....i was in the war in'91 when ex YU broke up i was then 21.....

[@تومىتوما-ص7ي]

@@krisfrederick5001 جججج٠جج١ططضضض ضطض

[@krisfrederick5001]

@@تومىتوما-ص7ي Exactly what I was trying to say

[@EchoKilo]

The last time my wife and I were at the Normandy American Cemetery we became acquainted with an older French gentleman there that wanted us to take his picture of him at a particular grave site. From what we gathered, when he was a child during the liberation of France he became friends with an American soldier that was later killed in the area and that was his burial site. He did not speak English, we don't speak French, so with the aid of Google Translate we were able to slightly piece together the story. We were later able to email the photo to a friend who passed it along to him.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Oh wow. That is incredible! Thanks for sharing that.

[@marioroth2987]

I' m German! What for a great Video! I live here in the hurtgen forest! We are playing childrens... in 1981 we found the rest body from PFC Paul Peternell 121 8th Infanterie Division Pennsylvania at the areas by Hill 400 near Bergstein! He was burried in Belgium Ardennes American Cemetry We Brothers ...American and German: NO MORE WAR for us!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you for the kind words. And that is an interesting story about finding that soldier. I will have to look him up and see if I can find any more information on him.

[@shirleybalinski4535]

Wow!! Saw your story of finding the lost American soldier. Thank you. The young man is now be buried with his flag & his family will know what happened.

[@m.d.5463]

The german veteran speaks a slight cologne-accent. This is pretty reasonable because Cologne area is not far from Belgium and of course close to the Hürtgenwald area, where he had to fight as a member of the Hitler-youth as he said. He reminds me a lot of my grandpa, when he told me about his experience in the war. They did not talk that much, more body language I would say, like moving his arms around, the face changes, like everything that was trained to be a reflex to survive combat is still in their minds. It is sad, a young generation was wasted. And after the war, their injured souls were still under pressure and could not get treated and cured as they had to go to work and rebuild what was destroyed. I know that many of the former WWII soldiers suffered from their traumas till the day they died. That´s what war makes with people. One day you are a 14 year old german boy with a lot of energy, the next day you wake up and you´re a broken man. I wish him all the best and he may find a way to get over and around what he suffered from. Peace!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I can’t even imagine what it must’ve been like. Thank you for commenting. Being an American, it is impossible for me to pick up on accents and to have the same perspective that you do.🙏🏼

[@harrymaier1136]

Thank you for uploading this! When he talks in german about his nco rank, he says two times he was a "Scharführer" - this is an SS exclusive rank. Many ethnic Germans in the occupied countries where pressed and drafted into the Waffen SS. In 1945 the manpower of the Waffen SS was about 900.000. 200.000 foreigners and 300.000 Volksdeutsche - ethnic Germans from outside Germany.. so this was kind of a foreign legion. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffen-SS_foreign_volunteers_and_conscripts

[@tellboyWales]

I noticed that he said he was a Scharfuhrer (equivalent to a UK sergeant) but then said he was an Unteroffizier (equivalent to a UK corporal). Scharfuhrer was an SS rank. There was no such rank in the Hitler Jugend. The only way to confirm it would be to examine his Soldbuch, if he still had it.

[@BengtRonning]

In the Ardennes in 1944 there where mostly Waffen SS or Volkgrenadiers, he said twice Hitler Jugends, but the guide said Wehrmacht or German Army. Not quite the same, but a young boy...... who would know about right og wrong.

[@bigbensarrowheadchannel2739]

Who sends an innocent, poor farm boy to man a machine gun? Germany was so damn ruthless. God bless anybody involved in that terrible war. What a tragedy.

[@bruce545]

Very interesting interview. As an American soldier in the 1980'2 I remember a former SS NCO approaching my unit in 1985 as we were on a multi-national operation deep in Bayern (Operation "Flinker Igel"). His English was good, with an English (possibly Scott) accent, as he had been held EPW in the UK into the '50's. It was an interesting conversation as he shared his history being captured following the Normandy landings, and the history of the village we were in. Great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@atamagashock]

I’m not gonna lie, but at the end when they say thank you and goodbye, I teared up thinking about what that poor man was put through. As a father of two boys 6 and 10, I couldn’t imagine if my child was taken at 13 and forced into war or else.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Pretty moving moment for me. One that I’ll never forget.

[@NeoByteNL]

Talking about the Luger P08, what a nice guy, thanks for sharing these.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

When he said that, I thought "Dang, I'd really like to have that gun."

[@XxBloggs]

Great interview and nicely handled.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@Philtopy]

I Once met a customer (I sell hearing aids) of ~90 years of age. He had a remarkable story: He was at Leningrad, got shot by a t-34 tank MG when he tried to retreat. 3 shots through his lungs from the back. They fetched him and stitched him up. He was long in hospital. Lost a lung from it. But germany was loosing, so he got levyd back into an army contingent on the Selow heights. he mentioned some of the fighting there and it was really horrible. His eyes faded off in pain. Lost some friends there. He got peppered by a grenade shrapnel. One hit his spine and almost paralysed him. The last frikkin doctor of the unit stitched him up under artillery fire and sent him out. His medical contingent was later captured from the US. He later found a beautiful wife and had 3 sons. One is now a doctor and father in africa. He then was diagnosed with cancer in his head! He had a surgery and they removed part off his skull and replaced it with a metal plate. And this man stood before me and I had the pleasure to tell him that he is hearing better than average for his age. A real experience that was. Standing there jsut with a stick and a big smile on his face. He died some while later.

[@jamesrieben7378]

My name is Hans Rieben. I am Swiss und Austrian . I am proud of me in heritage even though my family fought for the father land.

[@fred_fred_fred]

When I was in 5th grade, so around 1980, I attended summer camp in the Colorado Mountains. The gentleman assigned to our cabin had fought in Europe, showed us the multiple bullet holes on his torso and scars on his body. Told us harrowing stories of his time there. He had parachuted in at some point during the fighting. Said he prayed a lot. He was calm and kind. I was honored to have known him.

[@tubadude905]

These types of encounters are priceless. I had a neighbor who was a B-24 ECM operator during the Dresden raids. He documented his experiences for his adult children and I got to read them. His recollection of fear from flak and how it sounded like hail on a metal roof was harrowing. In addition, I told him about the Eagle pub in Cambridge England and the 8th Army Air Force crew memorabilia - gave him a photo of it which he included in his memoirs. As a side note, a trip to East Anglia in the UK where the 8th Army Air Force was is worth a visit - I actually learned to drive on the runways of RAF Matlaske, an abounded WWII airfield used by P-47s.

[@brownfox6523]

I've been watching your videos for 2 hrs now ( 6 episodes and counting ). I love hearing stories straight from WW2 veterans because they remind me of my grandpa who was an officer in the USAFFE under Gen. MacArthur in our country (Philippines). I used to ask my grandpa to tell me stories about WW2 aside from reading books about it. Thanks man for your very informative videos.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Appreciate that.

[@bradleyweiss9509]

It’s awesome to meet these people. We have been to a town of Horstmar Germany several times were my family was from. The SS took over my grandfather house as its headquarters there. It’s like a dream to relive the stories about the place my grandparents spoke about

[@mare2971]

My grandfather was born in 1916. He served in the Wehrmacht for nearly 5 years at the eastern front as paramedic. He also stayed a longer time on crimea. He received the Krimschild for that. Happily his Unit was relocated to the western front at the end of war. It was around that time the Battle of the Bulge took place. He was wounded by a splinter of a granate in Luxemburg. Transported back into the Reich his war ended in a german Lazarett (Hospital). He never told us grandchildren anything about that time. More than 40 years after that, I changed my school and suddenly had to learn russian. Everybody in my class had already learned reading and writing cyrilic, except me. What did my grandfather do? Went to his bookshelf, took out his old Langenscheidt Dictonarys from WWII and teached me writing, reading cyrilic and also so much about the russians. We nearly forced him to write his biography down, because there where so many untold stories, he was unable to tell. Unbelievable what he survived!

[@CJ_esc.artist]

Dang! What a “treasure” to stumble upon! In history books we get big numbers and dates with big troop movement arrows showing a battle. But being able to talk to a WWII veteran and hearing the foot soldiers personal story is makes history more personable and tangible! With WWII veterans in their mid-90s they are literally a dying breed. Hearing stories like this and sharing them is what keeps history alive.

[@zipshed]

I had something quite simular happen to me but here in the US. Id love to tell his story he told me...very wild! There is just too much typing for here. Great video!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I've felt fortunate any time I've had the opportunity to talk with any of them.

[@nmelkhunter1]

This is a perspective you rarely get to see. I’m happy you experienced it and were able to share it.

[@ratscoot]

The regio St Vith-Malmedy-Eupen is called the Eastern cantons. Originaly they were German teritory but as part of the Versaille treaty they were annexated by Belgium in 1920. During the German occupation of Belgium it's inhabitants were considered German citizens and they had to serve in the German army. Today the Eastern cantons are a autonomous region in Belgium with it's own parliament. It's population is around 95.600 and 95% still speak German. Because of this German is one of the three official languages in Belgium besides Dutch and French.

[@RaoulThomas007]

The German Army had unique “German Squad Tactics” which featured their machine guns/gunners as the point of the offensive spear. Of course, this meant that they would be stopped by the opposition at all costs! *Was it fair to place a Hitler-Jugend in such a critical position on the line where the odds of survival were extremely low?* I wonder how the German youths felt about entering battle as a participant in such a major, last ditch effort, offensive? He was very smart to jettison his SS uniform!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, that probably saved his life.

[@rickyricardo5441]

I was thinking the same thing. Depending on what he used it was most likely a MG42 or a MG34. Either of those i would think would be pretty heavy to lug around by a 14 year old.

[@randyjenkins8743]

@@TheHistoryUnderground from dying of a war crime

[@OldFellaDave]

II don't think there is any doubt at all that the old bloke was 12th SS Hitlerjugend and it wasn't a case of 'the only uniforms they had' as the translator tries to explain away. Hans gives it away when he uses SS NCO ranking nomenclature and not Wehrmacht when he talks about his possible Post War Belgian service. He swapped uniforms because he knew he'd be in serious shit when captured, 14 or not. Many times Waffen SS soldiers were not taken prisoner by the Allies (of ALL nations) or given a bit of a touch up. That being said - a very lucky and great interview. ALL stories from the war need to be told before they are gone forever. Thank you for sharing this with us!

[@andyanderson8383]

This is a story that I am glad they got on video. Wish someone would do a more thoroughly interview, for all of us.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I really wish that I could’ve had more time with him. Glad that I was able to get the little bit that I did though.

[@richardannaken]

My Opa and mother served. My Opa was captured in August 1943 near the Black Sea, by the Russians and worked as a laborer in a salt mine for 3 years until released. My mother was an auxiliary lieutenant in the German Air Force was a pointer on an anti aircraft gun at a uniform factory which she was also a foreman for prisoner of war making uniforms.

[@Stemolap]

2 years ago, i was on a roadtrip in Croatia and visiting Sveti Jure peak, an older man came to me and pointed to my car licence plate and asked if I'm from "Estland" in German. After confirming this, we started to chat, although my German isn't the best, we still managed to communicate and he told about the time he served in Estonia and fought in the Battle of Tannenberg Line. At he time he was 92 years old and one of my friends grandfather (who is a legend, fought Russians, then was forced to fight Germans and later send to POW camp in Siberia), was 91 and also fought at the Battle of Tannenberg Line in Estonian SS Division. We conversed for a hour maybe, before his tour bus had to leave, one of the best random encounters I've had.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Wow! Imagine all of the stories that he must have.

[@rohan-qd6py]

I grew up in South America… many of my neighbors had left Germany post ww2… some were silent others not so… as a child I did not understand anything I only knew they were nice older people and I played with their sons…what a beautiful man…

[@mresch8]

When I was a Deputy sheriff, I loved pulling up at the front of the ASL, nursing homes and talk to the old men, who had fought in Korea or Vietnam. Never got to meet a WW2 vet....

[@vivian2217]

My Mom told me that I had a 14 ? Year old cousin that was killed near the end of the war because that's all there was left to fight along with elderly men. So very glad that this gentleman survived WWII

[@DeimosPC]

It's crazy that a forest that looks so beautiful, was once a place of such brutal horror.

[@sweetcaroline7Ö]

My Austrian grandfather (maternal) was forced into Hitler's army. When I was a child I innocently sketched a swastika on my homework (because we were studying the war) and my native Austrian mother gave me a scolding that I will never forget. It was that day that my eyes were opened to my heritage. 🇦🇹🇺🇸 edit: I was born in California, first generation American.

[@patrickburton4195]

It is honestly a deep shame that that symbol among many others were stolen by the Nazis and twisted and perverted in their meanings to the point that I am not sure if they can or ever will be able to be associated with their original meanings ever again.

[@joes8087]

wow an absolutely amazing interview with a 14 year old nco thank you its so rare to talk with a German vet I feel many do not want to talk about the war My Grandfather was in the Hürtgen Forest with the 83rd Infantry division "Thunderbolts" he said the Germans had an impenetrable defense there and the forest was very midevil he was later in the battle of the Bulge "in and around around bastonge, St. Vith , Houffalize" said they were sleeping in "bombed out buildings and whatever they could find knee deep snow and some men with no shoes". He also said that he saw the English speaking German commandos misdirecting american troops. I once asked him about child soldiers he said " they were absolute fanatics and worse then the ss divisions I ran into , the ss divisions would surrender once surrounded or out of ammo and the Hitler youth would fight to the death we saw kids as young as 12-13"

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

joe s - Gosh. That must’ve been just horrific.

[@mamavswild]

I’m not sure I would call that fanatic- I would call that not knowing any better. I have a 12 year old- he would do anything to get his dad’s approval.

[@joes8087]

@@mamavswild well that's exactly what it was it was either fight or we kill you like this vet said . Many were brain washed

[@joes8087]

@@TheHistoryUnderground I know it bothered him seeing kids so young and they way he said it did make it sound like they were able to get several to surrender

[@alan30189]

I had a cousin who was in the SS. I didn’t meet him until the 70s, after they immigrated to the US. He said he didn’t want to join the army, but they gave him a choice, either join or be killed. He joined. I think he fought on the Russian front.

[@SueProv]

Random thing? No way. Wow. Even that Marcel was there. Amazing interview

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Hard to believe that it worked out how it did.

[@stevewareing8525]

A powerful video of what was clearly an incredibly moving and unexpected encounter for you. You're film has saved that chance encounter for posterity that others may watch and learn first hand from the people who were there. Such knowledge is priceless. 👏👌👍

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I wish that I could have dug a little bit deeper into his story but I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that I had.

[@scott6504]

Gotta admit, isn't he an adorable old guy?! Just sayin.

[@pamelakern2849]

I loved the gentleman, who fought as a young boy. A big surprise and a joy to see him and listen to him . You definitely were very fortunate to have met him . We were all lucky you met him . Another WONDERFUL video. 👍👍

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! It was certainly fortuitous.

[@eugenebell3172]

This was a great interview. To be able to have an ex-german soldier tell his story of serving as a 13-14 yr old child is very interesting. The truth of what they had to do or his own government would kill him if he refused. There are many wwll soldiers dying every day. Oh how important it is if they would agree to tell us what really happened instead of the down played story issued by the higher up military of both sides

[@rogerdavies6226]

A proud and sad moment. I have often wondered how we would act had we actually had invaders on the US mainland

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

roger davies - It would be nasty.

[@stephensdygert7600]

American natives experienced that, when European invaders came in the 1500's.

[@DRFelGood]

Incredible “14” years old , put in perspective life of our father’s

[@vipergtsmre]

true insanity... it was a much different time wasnt it

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah. Can you imagine a 14 year running around the Ardennes with an MG42? Crazy.

[@DRFelGood]

The History Underground ..... that So Amazingly Crazy. Thank you for your service and adventures. I tip my hat to you including any Soldier fighting for his or hers country. 🇺🇸

[@vipergtsmre]

@@TheHistoryUnderground I've held an mg42... its friggin heavy

[@billd.iniowa2263]

@@TheHistoryUnderground And being an NCO at that.

[@mibamoeba]

Very interesting encounter and another great video. He mentioned his rank was Scharfuhrer, which would imply he served in the Waffen SS.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks for the info

[@mamavswild]

He did say that when they conscripted him, he was conscripted as SS because that was the uniform they had available. He then said he changed as fast as he could because the Americans were killing Waffen-SS (for good reasons, read about a place called Malmedy)

[@mibamoeba]

@@mamavswild Sure, but he would have called himself Unteroffizier, the equavalent Wehrmacht rank. It's not so much the clothes he said he wore, but the language he used. The Waffen SS at the end drafted loads of people, inclusing Uboat & Luftwaffe personell without giving them a choice. Not suggesting he chose to join them.

[@LuukvdHoogen]

travelling pays off in these kind of ways. thanks for sharing

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, I lucked into this one. Who could've guessed that this encounter would happen?

[@thomasgumersell9607]

Incredible how you happened apon him. It's hard to imagine being only 14yrs old. Yet the German Army sends you off to train as a Machine Gunner. Certainly you learn to grow up very quickly. 💪🏻🙏🏻✨

[@svir1115]

Thank you for the extraordinary video. Meetings like these are becoming extremely rare as older generations pass on. Documenting the experience of this very kind gentleman is a service to the future - and a service to his family as well.

[@CitizenSnips69]

If you like this stuff, KZbin search “medal of honor book.” The full interviews are out there too. Also, “memoirs of WWII” and a lot of the videos on the “American veteren’s center” channel. Look at the playlists, the one on Iwo Jima might be a good place to start.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you :)

[@francisklambauer144]

My German mothers brother was killed in a freak motorcycle accident in 1944 , they lived close to the German/Dutch boarder- one day a British Airforce crewman LANDED in their field-Shot down! He looked so much like her brother (PHOTO on the brothers I.D. card) he ASSUMED HIS identity and worked on the farm until they where Liberated! It was a HUGE risk doing that because ALL the locals* HATED the RAF because of the continious Bombing & THEY* would and did kill them on the spot! My MOM actually had a CRUSH on him at 15..Blaaahahaha!

[@stevemcgarrett317]

The stories these men tell are invaluable. Thank you for being there to document.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@jonrumple1464]

He kind of tricked you. In the beginning he says he was a German soldier, age 14....and the only uniform available had SS runes on the collar. He knew what Americans did to SS members, so he switched with a regular German soldier. Later, he says his rank was Scharfuhrer. His friend translates that as unter Offizier, or NCO which it is. But its also a Sargent in the SS. In the Army it would be Feldwebel. Just a little detail that doesn't matter that they kept from you.

[@UncouthedChurlishness]

AMAZING! Great interview!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks. I was pretty fortunate with this one.

[@murielvaessen5657]

I apprecIate all the comments given by all the different people who have seen the video ! It was a lucky hazard we met this man !

[@IThee-hw8oj]

Nice remark on the end.... "Kuck das ich den Film Krieg".... Look that I got the Film. Not many people know that there is a Belgium part that speaks German, its close to the border of Germany. After WW1 this part of Germany went to Belgium (treaty of Versailles). So when the Germans occupied Belgium in 1940 these "Belgian-Germans" fought for the most part (I don't know if it was voluntarily, or not) on the German site. I live on the north part of the Ardennes in the Netherland (a place called Eygelshoven close to the German border, and I still remember the stories of my mother (she was 11 in 1944) about the war occupation and liberation. There where also "good Germans" (workers at the coalmine who lived in Eygelshoven) wo told the locals in advance that there would be a "razzia". So word got around. Or they told their neighbours that they put their radio silent and hid it (they could hear it because they were neighbours). And if they could hear it maybe "someone else" could hear it too. One day (september 44) the Germans retreated and the German soldiers told the people to stay indoors because it was too dangerous. Some kids didn't listen and played outdoors, a shell fell and one of the friends of my mothers brother was killed (abdominal wound). Can you imagine.... losing a child in war. Dreadfull times.

[@simonmassey3747]

A real life jojo rabbit. Sympathetically filmed and wonderful story. You were also lucky to have such a good guide and translator. Many thanks from the UK.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, I was really fortunate to have Marcel there. Pretty interesting.

[@jaredkrause2300]

When i was 13, ijn tucson, az, i had the great honor of meeting, talking, and knowing a member of the Hitler Youth. This was in 2000, and his nephew was my best friend(RIP STERLING LYTLE) but the man who im speaking of, was the father of his cousin, who was our age (12-13) Being of German decent and a history fanatic, even that young, the stories these men tell, i feel it an honor, to have met these men, no matter what side, these men, whomen, and even children, are heroes to me.

[@cliffright1142]

The irony here for me was, as I communicated to you some time back. My father was a medic wounded in the Battle of The Bulge and it wasn’t until years later that the entire story was told to me. He had been wounded by a young Hitler Youth. His people killed the assailant but, it left such an effect on my Dad because of the age. Another sad irony of war. Such great interviews. Thank you so much....

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Awful that they were put in that position. Thanks for sharing that.

[@janetdesmith8125]

Please Please Please tell the story of the transported children across the Atlantic sentenced to involuntary servitude. The first of these were Cockney children arrested for vagrancy kept in the Bridewell until shipped on The Duty The Jonathan and another ship. They arrived in Jamestown Easter 1619 , the first 100. By 1622 their were 300 and by 1624 they had all died except 12. Elizabeth Abbott died from injuries sustained by by whipped. As she lay dying they offered to carry her to her Master so she could apologize before she died.

[@elizabethmeyer9257]

War was tragic. Especially for the teens. I worked for two. It was still part of them in thier old age.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Hard to imagine what those guys lived through.

[@louisavevers9709]

I'm doing binge watching of your videos...and the previous video and this one...what gems!!! I find ppls stories so fascinating no matter what side of the fence they're on! This was an awesome video!! I'm watching from new zealand (yes we were in the war too! )My grandad was in the war but in Greece and the middle east. He died in the 1970s before I had a chance to really get to know him. Like so many that did manage to get home , he never talked about the war but the affects on him lasted the rest of his life.

[@bonnietjomstol6975]

Wow, fascinating, this man’s interview stayed with me a lot longer than I thought it would. So glad I watched it, thank you.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

My pleasure. Thanks.