FALL BLAU 1942 - Examining the Disaster

The last gasp of victory for the Axis in WW2, Fall Blau is a disaster for German Blitzkrieg and a strategic turning point of the war. Today we find out what happened, and why it broke down.
Check out the pinned comment below for more information, notes, links, and sources.
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[@TheImperatorKnight]

*NOTES, LINKS and SOURCES* This video touches on many subjects which I couldn’t possibly go into fully today. However I will be coming back to many of these later for a more in-depth discussion. The thing to take away though is that the failure of the Blau Campaign results in a definite “turning point” in the war for several reasons. Hopefully by the end of the video, you will have a clearer picture as to why. Another aspect which is touched on, but which perhaps needs further discussion (and its own video) is that of Hitler’s “madness”. Some claim Hitler was a madman, and that he should have listened to his generals. This actually stems from Halder and several other leading German generals who survived the war, who were trying to show that their dismissal from command positions within the army were not rational decisions because they were great generals. This view was made with the purpose of covering up their own mistakes or failures, and by saying Hitler was mad, gives them an excuse for being sacked which doesn’t say they were in-fact bad. What we have to remember is that, while the actions of the main players of this giant game (e.g. Hitler) may at first glance seem irrational, the reality was that these players were making rational decisions when placed within the context of the time. The problem with many accounts is that the actions made have not been placed in the wider context, and so they seem irrational to us in hindsight. What I didn’t mention in this video was that the plans for Blau actually fell into the Soviet hands prior to the battle. But Stalin dismissed them as a deliberate ploy by the Germans to draw forces away from the Moscow area. Hitler though was not amused. This was the so-called “Reichel Affair”. And it further convinced Hitler that his generals were not obeying his orders, since Reichel shouldn’t have been in a plane with the full Blau plans anyway. Hitler dismissed the commander of the 23rd Panzer Division (where Reichel was from), plus his superior at 40th Motorized Corps, and his chief of staff. Halder wrote in his diary for the 24th of June 1942 - “In OKW, which returned today, the campaign against the General Staff is in high gear again. The unfortunate Reichel affair (Ia, 23d Armoured Division) seems to have crystallized ill feelings of apparently long standing. We only have to brace ourselves now for the explosion.” Again, a seemingly irrational decision. However, if we consider that Hitler had been at loggerheads with his generals for quite some time, it all makes sense. And if we consider that his generals were not considering the strategic picture (as mentioned in the video) then again, it adds weight to the idea that Hitler was actually making rational decisions. Hitler may have been evil, but he was not mad, nor stupid. He was on a whole making very good decisions - even better than his generals at times - and was frustrated when his generals failed to obey his commands because they were tunnel-visioned by training and philosophy into looking at the tactical or operational level. Again, given the context, it makes sense. I absolutely recommend Citino’s “Death of the Wehrmacht” book, which goes into this campaign and the whole ‘traditional German way of war’ element. It’s a very well written book and good read for anyone interest in Blau or the German military in WW2. Someone said last video that “Operation Blau” is actually “Fall Blau” or “Case Blue” and not an operation. However, while it’s name was Fall Blau, it was an operation, so for this reason, I use the term “Operation Blau” occasionally. But yes, technically it should be Fall Blau. I also mistakenly say “1940” twice in the video rather than “1941”. This was purely a slip of the tongue. *Video Links* The MAIN Reason Why German Lost WW2 - OIL kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYfSZnxmrbOFnsk Why No German Reinforcements at Stalingrad? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIKWXoenmr-km6M Citino’s “Death of the Wehrmacht: The German Campaigns of 1942” kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3-nmaate5Z6gc0 *SELECTED SOURCES* Citino, R. “Death of the Wehrmacht: The German Campaigns of 1942.” University of Kansas, 2007. Gerasimova, S. “The Rzhev Slaughterhouse: The Red Army’s Forgotten 15-Month Campaign against Army Group Center 1942-1943.” Helion & Company, Kindle, 2013. Glantz, D. House, J. “The Stalingrad Trilogy, Volume 1. To the Gates of Stalingrad. Soviet-German Combat Operations, April-August 1942.” University Press of Kansas, 2009. Halder, F. “The Halder War Diary 1939-1942.” Presidio Press, 1988. Liedtke, G. “Enduring the Whirlwind: The German Army and the Russo-German War 1941-1943.” Helion & Company LTD, 2016. Stahel, D. “Operation Barbarossa: Germany’s Defeat in the East.” Cambridge University Press, Kindle, 2010. Toprani, A. “Oil and Grand Strategy: Great Britain and Germany, 1918-1941.” PhD Dissertation. Georgetown University, 2012. Toprani, A. “The First War for Oil: The Caucasus, German Strategy, and the Turning Point of the War on the Eastern Front, 1942.” From The Journal of Military History 80 (July 2016): 815-854. “Germany and the Second World War: Volume VI/II, The Global War.” Militärgeschichtliches Forschungsamt (Research Institute for Military History) Potsdam, Germany. Oxford University Press, 2015. “Führer Directive 41” From: World War II Database site. ww2db.com/doc.php?q=419 Thanks for watching!

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Forgot to add this source : Glantz, D. "Colossus Reborn:The Red Army at War 1941-1943." University Press of Kansas, 2005.

[@MaxSluiman]

You are not a big fan of Halder, are you? :-)

[@TheImperatorKnight]

What would possibly give you that idea? ;)

[@user-ey6sr1vi4s]

I'm sorry, but speaking that russian forces could retreat all the way to Ural and still fight a war, is stupid in general. Just look how many resources, production, population and all other stuff are on the western borders. also taking 5 mil casaulties in first year of war trying to hold the front line and stop the german offence just doesnt looks like a good strat for me(also sorry for my bad english)

[@Dodovacer]

Excellent! Thank you for the detailed information!

[@GuardianMilsim]

It's okay, Steiner's attack will bring everything under control.

[@youngspeccy2249]

Guardian Milsim steiner’s counter attack surely will bring victory

[@manco828]

Downfall meme.

[@franciscodanconia45]

Okay, everyone get out except this guy and that guy

[@user-wx4nv8xr3d]

@@franciscodanconia45 Steiners atack was an order!!

[@rustyshackleford2841]

Mien Fhurer! Steiner...Steiner...

[@thomasjamison2050]

One of my favorite German related oil stories is that of the Libyan oil fields. Oil was not discovered in Libya until after WWII, but when it was, it became necessary to bring German ex-soldiers who had served in the Afrika Korps back to Libya to locate and remove the German minefields that were in the oil fields.

[@Sammyli99]

imagine if the mines had gone off and they stuck Oil...

[@AwesomeDude272]

@@Sammyli99 A beautiful thought.

[@JBGARINGAN]

Mussolini would've been able to actually use the fleet he had been building up during the interwar years. The Italian navy actually had in a tactical design lense the most advanced European modern fleet of larger than average destroyers, the four fast new Zara class 8 inch gun heavy cruisers were the best in the Mediterranean, and the modern Littorio class battleships whose nine new 15 inch guns in three triple turrets should have been superior to the old British dreadnoughts like the Queen Elizabeth and Revenge classes with only eight and were mounted in the four double turrets. However it all proved to have been a massive waste as they were ineffective when operating because of Italian command incompetence and they were in port for most of the war and destroyed there because of severe lack of fuel. And it didnt matter anyway, just the British Mediterranean fleet was larger than the whole Italian navy and had aircraft carriers and it turns out the old Queen Elizabeth class were still quite effective such as the stubborn lady Warspite whose 'old' guns managed to score the longest range naval gunnery hit on an enemy ship in history, funnily enough on the Littorio class.

[@larryhats4320]

Iran wasn't tapped either. It course went completely unreported and continues to be unreported that the UK just invaded and stormed the country "to protect it" and proceeded to take 75% of oil profits for the next century. What business did the UK have there that Germany did not have in Danzig? Press S to spit.

[@murderouskitten2577]

yes , allies where never above slave labor for german pows

[@hailexiao2770]

One thing that stands out when looking at the numbers is the puny scale of petroleum industries back then relative to today. The shortfall of oil in Axis Europe in the entire year of 1940, 9,558,000 tons, is equivalent to 5 days of US production in early 2020. Putting it another way, the US in early 2020 produced more oil in 3 days than Romania in 1940.

[@satviksekhar1772]

That's insane!!

[@JustAGuyWhoLikesStuff.]

@Hardy Thomas no. But you are.

[@at6686]

The amount of oil we burn and have burned is almost beyond comprehension. The number of humans a vehicles has exploded since the 40s. What’s clear is this can’t go on much longer.

[@at6686]

@@michaelhart7569 We are 5% of the worlds people, with 5% of the worlds oil using 40% of the worlds gas. Even though we are the largest producers on earth, we still have to import oil to meet our spectacular needs. This is not good for us or the planet. In ww2 the English public (not including the military) used more oil than the the entire country of Germany did, military and public. Germany had planes and tanks and troops and no oil at the end of ww2. It cost them the war. CO2 is ~413, the highest in a million years and going up. I used to work for chevron. If you want to see the true cost of oil exploration visit Nigeria or some third world country we rape to get the stuff. To pretend that this house of cards can go on is willful delusion.

[@michaelhart7569]

​@@at6686 Domestic US production has continued to soar in recent years, with no reason to think it can't continue (without government interference). From eia.gov: "Domestic energy production was greater than U.S. energy consumption in 2019 " In 2019, U.S. energy production exceeded U.S. energy consumption on an annual basis for the first time since 1957. www.eia.gov/energyexplained/us-energy-facts/ What you say about Germany and oil in WWII is correct. It shows just how important the gas/petroleum industry is to modern industrial civilization. Recent technical advances, led by the US, have greatly extended the resources available to us. The rest of the world will likely follow. Nigeria is relevant only as a case study in corrupt African governments. You used to work for Chevron. With all due respect, so what? That doesn't change any facts. I'll bet you are still a customer though.

[@patolt1628]

Just one thing to say: absolutely brilliant. I have been used to so-called "military History", as a former officer in the Army, but I must say that it's very rare to watch something of this level on Internet. Congratulations.

[@PhilemonXIV]

Agree 100%... absolutely brilliant detail and analysis.

[@ericurban2385]

This is just one argument. Its not "the truth".

[@dusk6159]

@@ericurban2385 Context-sensible, cultured and devoid of ideology of either sides.

[@paulceglinski3087]

Yes, sir. As a former NCO of Infantry, TIK'S analysis' are some of the best out there. Even when he points out the failings, objectively, of Allied (American-British) strategic planning. Warts are warts, no need in hiding them.

[@BridgeportIPA]

He's spectacular isn't he? A very fine documentarian and uncommon depth of perspective.

[@trytojustify]

i'm honestly baffled, that Halder actually survived the war and wasn't executed

[@aceknowledgable9403]

Honestly, I'm surprised Halder was taken at his word when saying it was all Adolf Hitler's fault the Nazis lost.

[@robertevans8010]

They did not execute Guderian either, this making Halder the blame for the failings of Barbarossa is not quite right. Hitler was totally in control of what occurred, he was really a maniac, in the extreme, Halder hated Hitler, he was certainly a Friend of Kanaris and Von Rundstedt who both said that Barbarossa was madness, Halder may well, like Kanaris have been giving information to the allies, Hitler shot his bolt in 41, he was fighting not only in Russia, but in the Balkans Greece and Aegean, then North Africa, Halder was much more intelligent than Hitler, The other problem is that Halder knew if you did not smash Stalin in Moscow, he could bring Armies after Armies from the East and Siberia, Battle Hardened and well equipped . Also I would say that Hitlers War was lost when he did not invade Britain, if he had the US would never had gone to War in Europe, there was massive support for the Nazi's in the US. That would have allowed full access to the Soviet Union. I do believe this man, is simplifying what really happened, it was Hitler who chose to go to War with Russia, all of his so called Great Generals were glorified in their success, they also had Generals like Guderian who certainly wanted Moscow. I find this simplifying, between Halder and Hitler, rather crass, Hitler was in Total Charge, in 1941 he was a winner, Stalin also has to be recognised in having the Balls to stick to his guns and with his total use of the Power of the State succeeded in defeating Hitler but at a great cost, in Manpower, I am not saying about the Civilian population, they were mostly killed by the Nazi's especially in the Retreats of 43,44, 27 Million Civilians were murdered in Russia, by the Germans not Gestapo or SS but by every unit of the German Army. Halder was a highly Intelligent Army officer who despised Hitler. To blame the defeat on him was not how it happened, his programme just proves Hitler was a total Fruit cake. I certainly would like to meet this Gentleman. Hitler was not insane??? My God he was committing Genocide already in 1941, if that is not Insane then I am Boris stupid Johnson, Hitler was a total Madman. Who led a Nation to Commit a Murderous Campaign of Genocide right across the Lands he was involved, if he was not Mad, when he knew that the War in Russia was not for winning, why did he still allow Millions to die right up till May the Eighth 1945, I would say that Genocide was more important for him. This man is a Hitler Lover, Hitler feels, who in God's name knew Hitler's mind, Hitler Thinks? Thank God Hitler was stopped, in the Leningrad area the Russian forces were as brave as any German army, do not forget, One and a Half Million Civilians died in the Siege of Leningrad. Stalin had better Generals in a way, they were not so glorified as their German counterparts, they fought all the way to Berlin and took it. That after fighting the inglorious German armies of Killers and murderers of Millions of Civilians in retreat, not SS, Wehrmacht committed terrible War Crimes in that retreat Thousands of Villages and Towns wiped off the map and Civilians Murdered and their Homes burned. As a pacifist, I cannot fathom this love of War and making assumptions that Hitler had feelings, he had feelings for Genocide.

[@aceknowledgable9403]

@@robertevans8010 But is this really the case? If Hitler was a madman then how could he rule a country so effectively until the oil and economy couldnt keep up with his intentions? Why would the general German public just put their trust in him right up until the end if he was crazy, not insane as he clearly knew what he was doing was evil.

[@chadthundercock4806]

@@robertevans8010 Taking Moscow would have just resulted in a Russian counterattack magnitudes more destructive for the Germans than the one that happened in Stalingrad, and that's only if they manage to take Moscow in the first place. A strike south without Halder disobeying orders would still have been an unlikely success, but it would have been a better plan than taking Moscow.

[@aceknowledgable9403]

@@chadthundercock4806 I agree with your comment. The problem with Fall Blau was that the Soviets were prepared for a German attack, had reinforcements, and had better logistics than their enemy along with Lend-Lease and oil.

[@VT-mw2zb]

Wagner's very accurate estimate and Halder's dismissal of it were basically the lessons that: "Guys, guys, listen to your logisticians!". If he says: you will run out of stuff, you will.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Exactly! It's basic stuff. I think the only reason Halder ignored him was because they expected to win the war by the time they got that far into the country. How wrong that assessment was.

[@VT-mw2zb]

I've been let to know that even modern day, contemporary staff and operational officers will react and behave the same way. The reason is simple: your boss is breathing hard down your neck "we need to do this", do you really want to say no?

[@Barouche]

Wow, this is something rare these days; a presentation not geared at 12 year olds. Great stuff, thanks.

[@edmundcowan9131]

Too much for you as your ten.

[@NikhilSingh-007]

​@@edmundcowan9131 *you're

[@MaziarYousefi]

Your channel is criminally underrated, people don't know what they're missing.

[@dusk6159]

Most definitely. Especially on the mere picture of the situation, incredibly tainted and clogged before checking TIK's videos and the book sources.

[@Douglas.Scott.McCarron]

Interesting how everyone talks about how Hitler didn't have the mind or intelligence or military training to understand what was happening, but it appears he was the one who did in fact understand.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

This is the point. Halder was the lead war historian advisor to the U.S. Army Historical Division after the war, where he tailored the German general's opinions to his own. This is why he casts Hitler in a bad light - calling him mad. When the reality was that Halder had schemed behind his back and failed to do his job several times. But in the light of history, Halder is actually praised by some - Shirer constantly used Halder's diary and opinion to write his well-known "Rise and Fall of the Third Reich". Despite everything I've said and hinted about Halder, I will say that he was very good at manipulating people. Intrigue level 101.

[@KingcupXI]

After losing. they blame all their fault on Hitler since he can not defend himself and also western media like the idea of blaming Hitler.

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

Folks who say "History is written by the victor" probably aren't aware of how much the Allied perception of the war was tailored by German commanders and officials immediately after its conclusion. Everyone had a fucking memoir, and everyone wanted to read them.

[@BrorealeK]

Fuzzy Dunlop Exactly, I compare it to the American Civil War in that regard. Who can say that "history is written by the victors" when every loser has a memoir, an honorary fellowship, and best-selling pop history contributions? Seems more like an attempt to stifle discussion than give the "untold story," from where I'm standing.

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

EXACTLY! Though iirc 'lost-cause revisionism' wasn't concocted by Southern officers or Confederate figures, I think it also fits that same mold - if a little more after the fact. I always try to tell people, victors don't write the histories - survivors do, and if those survivors happen to also be the 'losers' then then probably say something like "The victors write the histories." School textbooks in some districts in the South attest to this, in keeping with your (incredibly apt) example.

[@salokin3087]

You've made it difficult to watch other documentaries now! Great work!

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Sorry...I think :D

[@G00N3YC4NG]

KZbinrs have a real reason to make these informational videos, passion. I commend you for pitting so much time and effort into each video, and look forward to more!

[@anthony_r985]

@@JohnBedson Indeed..watching it some time by now, always loved WW2 documentaries, but this is just something else,so well explained,so many details..amazing work

[@dusk6159]

The bs documentaries mainly (and of course there are lots of those made by youtubers too).

[@cookml]

Baybakov was told 2 things by Stalin: 1. If Germans take any working oil fields then you will be shot (as was mentioned in the video). 2. If Germans won’t take some area but you destroy oil fields in that area then you will be shot (it was not mentioned in the video). :)) thanks, TIK! I am seriously impressed.

[@kaijiesoo8588]

sounds dumb. I don’t know how many others think the same, but my first response to that would be to destroy all the oilfields and give them all up to the Germans. It’s the only way to absolutely guarantee compliance with those two orders

[@PanterDash82]

@@kaijiesoo8588 and then get shot anyway xD The order was quite clear actually

[@NikhilSingh-007]

​@@PanterDash82 This.

[@vasiliymedvedev1532]

​@kaijiesoo8588 the army wasn't subordinated to him so he couldn't give up anything on purpose

[@FreemonSandlewould]

Management Tip: You have to constantly check on your underlings to make sure they are not creatively interpreting your direct orders like this.

[@vorynrosethorn903]

Way to solve it: look around for people who don't much seem to like you or have a history of bootlicking but called out the underlings for being stupid about it based on their own analyse and logic then put them on a track to replace the morons who can't even understand why you gave the order in the first place.

[@user-ju2py8hm2l]

If one of your ünderlings has a good idea you take the credit. Nuff said.

[@camieabz]

If France is a chessboard with 64 squares, a chessboard of the Soviet Union would have had 2,600 squares. Best of luck with that long-winded game. :D

[@KnightofAges]

Well, the Kaiser did it in 1917... you don't have to conquer every inch of land to beat the Russians, you know...

[@daleburrell6273]

@@KnightofAges THE DIFFERENCE IS- THAT IN 1917, THE RUSSIANS WERE DIVIDED AND FIGHTING AGAINST EACH OTHER!!! BUT DURING WW2, THE RUSSIANS WERE TOTALLY FOCUSED ON DEFENDING THEIR COUNTRY, AND THE GERMANS GOT THEIR ASSES HANDED TO THEM!!!

[@KnightofAges]

@@daleburrell6273 Calm down, Red. Right now (1941) the political situation in the USSR is extremely volatile, the Bolsheviks spend their time infighting (Stalin just wiped out 80%+ of its officer corps fearing a Trotskyte-supported Civil War), executions and vanishings of political opponents are a daily occurrence, and the army is barely held up by fanatical Commissars that outright kill anyone they don't deem ideologically 'pure' enough. And the country underwent brutal Marxist economic plans that murdered MANY millions. Simply put, the USSR is NOT united, has NO capable command and is in a constant state of political paranoia. Compared to it, the Tsar's Russia was WAAAAY more stable.

[@daleburrell6273]

@@KnightofAges WHAT I MEANT WAS THAT IN 1917, THE BOLSHEVIKS AND THE WHITE RUSSIANS WERE FIGHTING AGAINST EACH OTHER FOR CONTROL OF THE USSR!!! THAT MEANS THAT THE RUSSIANS WERE FAR LESS ABLE TO REPEL THE GERMANS AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME!!!

[@KnightofAges]

@@daleburrell6273 The Whites were fighting for Russia and the Tsar, the Bolsheviks were trying to establish the USSR. But I'm nitpicking. Fact is, the USSR is a chaotic Marxist Leninist nation that was in danger of Civil War before Trotsky was assassinated in August last year, and it is by no means certain that it won't fall in turmoil and civil war again when the border armies get destroyed - it IS controlled by paranoid maniacal genocidal ideologues that follow an insane and impossible ideology and have killed most of their capable officers, after all. They couldn't even beat tiny Finland last year, showing that the Red 'Army', such as it stands, is just a collection of badly-trained and worse-equipped peasants led through sheer terror by incompetent political cronies.

[@forthepotentates7526]

A finally a good channel, no 2 minute long intros, no random occurrences, no lame jokes inter-lapsed in the middle of a WW2 video, it's almost like a dream.

[@subhikebbeh3490]

That end though Better character Arcs and development than Game of Thrones

[@alexG106]

This is one of if not your best video. It's the best breakdown of Fall Blau, Barbarossa and even the German war in the east that I've ever had the pleasure of learning from. Great work.

[@johnscallan5648]

The US Army employed Halder as a historian in the 1950s. It appears that much of WWII history in the US (from the German point of view) comes from Halder's diary.

[@mp4373]

And from histories written by other German generals in Allied captivity whom Halder supervised. So you are only going to get a certain point of view. The failure to provide winter clothing to German soldiers in the fall of 1941 was due to Halder's decision to make a final attempt to take Moscow, fuel and ammo were favored for resupply-not winter gear which was left in the warehouses.

[@LL-cz5ql]

@@mp4373 Wow, I had no idea. Thanks for sharing the info

[@stephenmcdonagh2795]

Regardless of how Halder is seen historically, the idea that Hitler had any idea of tactics never mind strategy is laughable. After 1943, any plans to assassinate Hitler were cancelled as the allies knew he was the Wehrmacht's greatest enemy. His only positive move was halting the German retreat during the first winter of the Russian campaign- though even then the blame lies mainly with Hitler by not supplying the army with winter clothing. Why anyone would believe that a WWI corporal had any knowledge of tactics or strategy is ludicrous. Minus Hitler the Germans would've still lost the war- but they may have lasted until 46-47.

[@lowlandnobleman6746]

So you’re saying that everything bad was Hitler’s fault and those German generals like Halder TOTALLY didn’t just blame it all on Hitler once the war was over? You must not be good at noticing patterns. A lot of the blunders were actually on the generals who very cleverly blamed everything on Hitler, except for the early successes, of course. That was all them, apparently. Halder is literally the guy who came up with Operation Barbarossa, and everyone knows how poorly that went. My point being, just because someone is a German who didn’t get hung at Nuremberg, doesn’t mean they’re speaking the absolute undeniable truth.

[@scottyfox6376]

@@lowlandnobleman6746 yes it's not like the Kraut Generals to lie & use omissions to cover their mistakes with the benifit of hindsight when writing about the war years later.

[@mannymenke3594]

I've been studying ww2 since 2007, I have a degree in European history and have worked at multiple ww2 museums. I have to say of all the historical narratives I have watched, your documentary videos don't fail to miss any minute detail. This gives the real view of the battle from every level that most previous ww2 documentary has missed or skipped over due to time or not understanding the scope of events. IMHO your doc series is the best since the world at war series from the 70s. You know your topics and can talk about them at length. I really look forward to your videos as they are very eye opening and I learn a ton every time i watch. Keep up the amazing work!! Also if you ever need a new subject have you ever looked into the early conflicts between Germans and American troops in December 1942? A lot f cool history that no one has shed a lot of light on, it goes much deeper than a rout at Kasserine pass!

[@pzkw6759]

Spot on. I've been studying the war for better than 40 years. Some things he has said, i already knew. A LOT of what he has said is new to me. His documentaries are very, very good.

[@elrjames7799]

@Manny Menke: Even if what you ascribe to yourself is correct, what follows is simple opinion based upon an argument from authority, which is logically invalid. Even in its own terms, a comment like "[didn't] fail to miss any minute detail" is mere assertion and demonstrably false. In the context of this video about 'Stalingrad', *minute* details such as Paulus having dysentery and refusing to take sick leave in Germany (thus precluding a different command of Sixth Army at a crucial moment, or sapping his moral courage to act decisively even further), for example, were omitted. All this is not to suggest that the 'TIK' presentation is slipshod, far from it, but to put it on a par with 'World at War is clearly stretching credulity to breaking point: in the first instance, it's more tendentious.

[@davidelliott5843]

Elr James the original “World at War” was a huge undertaking but it did deliver the standard narratives. The economic reasons/necessity for Germany going East was never explained.

[@DavidHHermanson]

@@davidelliott5843 To the small degree that it exists at all, there is a reason for the "standard narrative:" it does not attempt to hide the actual words and orders of the actors involved behind broad, nebulous notions like "economic necessity." This notion represents a confusion and conflation of causes and events: Germany had, in the years preceding its attack on the USSR, not only a non-agression treaty, but growing economic ties with the USSR, even in strategic minerals. The economic necessity of the war is the myth. Indeed the oil shortage was a consequence of war, not a cause. A nation that had not been constant aggressor, threatening its neighbours large and small alike, running rough shod over the weak, and publicly spewing racialisms such as to make even the notoriously racialist Imperial Britain shy away would have had the same access to oil and minerals as every other nation of Europe, that is to say, through trade.

[@DavidHHermanson]

@@schwerpunkt7687 Did so. Recommend you do the same.

[@AlbertComelles1970]

Dear TIK, today I've just revisited this video of yours after seeing almost completed your Stalingrad documentary. What a gem it is! Thank you so much for your deep insights.

[@etherjoe505]

"Amateurs study tactics, professionals study logistics."

[@davidconklin9552]

And when you dig deeper, you find that you need to study manufacturing and resource production.

[@SNP-1999]

@@davidconklin9552 True, but without transport and logistics nothing works, for obvious reasons.

[@davidconklin9552]

@@SNP-1999 I think that beyond logistics, we need to study manufacturing and resources.

[@user-dc1ud6px3s]

When asked why the Confederacy was lost, General Lee said "I've always thought the Yankees had something to do with it." For Guderian and Manstein, everything was Hitler's fault. It tells you something about their personality.

[@colinkelly5420]

Just a slight correction, it was actually General Pickett who said that line when ask what the reasons Picketts charge at Gettysburg failed. But yeah, Guderian and Manstein made a lot of money after WWII making themselves out to be military geniuses (via books, interviews, tours and such), so blaming everything on Hitler (including their fuckups) made financial sense. Unfortunately, too many people buy into the "History is written by the victors" line, and are too dumb to see that much of WWII's history was also written by the losers.

[@omarbradley6807]

@@colinkelly5420 Guderian was a genius actually, just who he was sacked from comand to early in the war, after only 1 failure, but who he has predicted, and Hitler says nein nein nein, go to kiev, actually the soviets admit who that was a major blunder for the germans, the descition of not taking Moscow earlier, rather than the decition to take it

[@subscribeorsus6862]

@@omarbradley6807 taking Moscow means nothing.

[@jessiepinkman7736]

There is actually much truth in blaming Hitler. He took all the credit for Poland and France at the beginning but by 1944 all the defeats were caused "the disloyal old guard and the swine among the Prussian officer corps, who have no vision, no perspective and understand nothing about the economic aspects of war etc. etc.". The only thing greater than the damage caused by Hitler's half-informed meddling was his ego, that wouldn't allow him to step aside for even a single hour to let the OKH and OKW run the war he'd started. The same ego made the Fuehrer over-eager to overrule, belittle and ignore his own high command, the Field Marshalls whose expert abilities had been forged through the crucible of hard-won military excellence gained by centuries of war. Hitler's constant tinkering was so despised that Guderian and Manstein had often to invent ploys and small deceptions to outwit and effectively countermand many of Hitler's senseless orders, which increasingly as the war dragged on often proved to be disastrous for the Germans. You can find many examples in the memoirs of both Field Marshalls, as Guderian and Manstein explained how they often interpreted "Fuehrer directives" more and more loosely, and even kept important details out of radio messages back to Berlin...

[@stephenmcdonagh2795]

@@jessiepinkman7736 And the French campaign was Manstein's plan- Hitler took credit for that as well.

[@justsomeone5314]

22:06 Hitler's image turning red as he's getting enraged - I do appreciate this detail.

[@nunoalexandre6408]

yes red, very red, until it turns out a stalisnist....

[@goldfish-bloopbloop]

Lol what the

[@MalrickEQ2]

*you hear Hitler's muffled shouting coming from the other room*

[@rlewis8821]

If Hadler boss had been Stalin instead of Hitler he would have been executed by firing squad right after Barbarossa.

[@jessiepinkman7736]

Hitler's obvious mistake was splitting his force. Half for Stalingrad and half for the southern offensive. Germany was no longer strong enough to do this, if they ever had been in the first place. Fortunately Stalin helped the Germans by believing it was all a feint to attack Moscow and deploying forces accordingly. But the taking of the oil fields, while it did cut off Stalin from oil, helped the Germans not at all: not only did the Russians wreck the wells for years to come, the oil itself was too low grade to refine to gas or diesel.

[@konstantincvetanovic5357]

The Dutch had done a similar thing to Japanese in Indonesia. Always wondered did the Soviet do that too.

[@SmallPotato2313]

I heard the germans were able to extract some oil before stalingrad disaster so the soviets probably didnt destroy them that much

[@georgekosko5124]

@@SmallPotato2313 "some oil" is a drop in the bucket for what the germans needed

[@SmallPotato2313]

@@georgekosko5124 thats true They needed a lot more...

[@larryhats4320]

"the taking of the oil fields, while it did cut off Stalin from oil, helped the Germans not at all" Contradiction. How was Stalin going to wage this miraculous offensive to push Germany back without oil? Where are these other resources that Stalin was going to get fuel from? Plus, the Germans had synthetic oil and they weren't going to run out of the coal that they needed for it. They had Estonia's oil too.

[@ald1050]

This guy is inspirational and explains it so clearly.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

I'm certainly trying my best :)

[@Yora21]

Even more impressive given the huge amount of details that are often covered.

[@mattkierkegaard9403]

Yes but he is mistaken, primarily in his hypothesis that Moscow held no real strategic importance. Rather, in fact, Moscow was the soviet capital, the most populous city in the Soviet Union and was the centre for soviet transportation of resources and was very important. Has an empire ever managed to sustain a war effort after their capital has been sacked?!!

[@kondwanimututa2302]

@@mattkierkegaard9403 America during the war of independence

[@calebr908]

@@mattkierkegaard9403 china during ww2 literally lmao

[@g.55centaurosimp18]

Criminally undersubscribed.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

I prefer quality subscribers over quantity subscribers

[@g.55centaurosimp18]

TIK Can you do an analysis on Soviet movements and strategy in the period of 1941-43? All coverage of the war seems to focus on the German perspective, Icd really like to see Soviet thinking focused on.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

I'm working up to it. I just want to clarify some things on the German side first.

[@Toni112007]

Yes, cant wait until you start roasting Soviet generals and leadership xd

[@agentc7020]

WolfschanzeArchiv welp as far as I’ve seen Germany had worse generals than the soviets did by late 1943

[@RsGhost1]

Millions of young men perished in a single year.. absolutely insane

[@schmingusss]

Yes, but that meant less competition for women for the men that were left.

[@claudiucojobv]

​@@schmingusssWhat an incredible stupid thing to say. Congrats for being an imbecile.

[@schmingusss]

@@claudiucojobv Facts Don't care about your feelings you dip shit.

[@joemamaobama6863]

@@schmingusss what

[@michaekrynicki8330]

@@claudiucojobv its true tho not realu importan but true if youre compiting as a firm with 5 difrent firma if 3 of them disiper competition will be easier its fact not a importan t one but a fact dont get so trigerd

[@francisebbecke2727]

"Let's fight a short decisive war in Russia!" These are famous last words. But another quote I like was from Napoleon after he returned from Russia, "Next time I'll get it right." Perhaps this was topped by the best apology of the 20th century by Gavrio Princip, who shot Archduke Ferdinand, "Sorry, I didn't expect everyone would get this upset."

[@michaelgoldsmith9359]

Tbf he did beat Russia before in a short decisive war and I’m sure he thought he could do it again

[@francisebbecke2727]

@@michaelgoldsmith9359 Could he sustain it? Is capturing Moscow "beating" Russia? It's much, much harder to win a peace than win a war.

[@michaelgoldsmith9359]

@@francisebbecke2727 no capturing Moscow isn't "beating Russia" that's not what i'm referring to i mean when he beat Russia is earlier in the war of the third coalition when napoleon crushed Russia and Austria at Austerlitz and Friedland

[@larryhats4320]

@@francisebbecke2727 Germany could have won the peace but was too stupid to have the foresight before 1944 to just let Vlassov become the rally man and just create a second civil conflict in Russia behind the Lokot Autonomy. At the very least, Germany could use its weight and population size to hold sway and at least made its priority holding the oil fields to the south and the grain as well. They already had the Muslims in full-on rebel mode.

[@corporalsoletrain2132]

Japan beat Russia in a short decisive war. Napoleon had as well,, previous to his idiotic final campaign into Russia. Charles XII would have likely done so as well if a sniper hadn't taken him out. Honestly the idea that Russia is unbeatable was mid to late Soviet propaganda and has very little relation to reality. It also lets the "great conqueror" types off the hook for strategic blunders.

[@jamestang1227]

Have you ever considered talking about Operation Bragation, it doesn't get talked about much.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

I have, but Stalingrad must come first, simply because I'm so far into it now

[@igorjajic6898]

YOU ARE GOOD WHEN YOU FOUND TIME SPEAK ABOUT YOUGOSLAVIA,..IN 2WW....SERBIANS AND RUSSIANS ARE ONE NATION DIDNT YOU KNOW THAT....UNFORTUNATLLY OUR PRUSS BROTHERS ARE ALSAW OUR NATION DARK SIDE OF THE MOON SIDE IT WAS CIVILL WAR.... GREETS FROM SERBIAN BTW I SEE YOU R SCOT,...SO LISTEN THE PLANE TRUTH WE RUSS SORABS ARE GOING FOR NAZI NATO ISIS TALMUDIC ALLIENCE CRIMINAL SCOULLS THIS TIME WE WILL NOT LIVE THE JOB HALFFINISHED GREETS

[@deno202]

Igor Jajic , you feeling good mate?

[@igorjajic6898]

SHOURE BUT I WILL FEEL GREAT WHEN NAZI NATO ISIS TALMUDIC ALLIENCE TRASH AROUND THE GLOBE IS HUNTED AND SHOT ON THE SPOT,......YOU ?

[@scheis123]

Igor Jajic Do you speak English? One would never know. And turn off the CAPS. No one wants to hear you yelling gibberish!

[@juliusvx]

this guy is good. one of the best analysts I've heard. not the storyteller that Dan Carlin is, but a greater strategic mind and vision

[@BigSmoke1955]

A nerdily completist look at Fall Blau. I really like the presenter and the depth of knowledge he displays. I look forward to looking at more of these KZbin videos. It helps fill in a few details and to build a better idea of WW2 in the East, the neglected but super important part of the War.

[@darthcalanil5333]

you should start watching and following his current Battlestorm series on Stalingrad. He talks about all the details down to the single division and commanders from later July until the end. It's still ongoing.

[@Anthony-jo7up]

@@darthcalanil5333 Yep, great series. The longest and most comprehensive WW2 documentary, perhaps ANY documentary ever.

[@rickstalentedtongue910]

TIK has presented the evidence and made a great argument for a complete narrative change regarding the German campaigns. Impressive that he does not regurgitate what he was taught, he dug deeper and has worked it out. I mostly agree based on what he has pointed out, but I admit it is hard to give up Hitler the madman. Cheers.

[@kingorange7739]

I swear this channel has taught me more about the eastern front in one day than what schools and documentaries can do in 5 years. It's a shame the eastern front isn't covered more in world history classes since it's at least in my opinion the most important part of the war. 1941 - 1943 is the True Rise and Fall of the Reich to me. Thanks for the videos and keep up the good work.

[@kiowhatta1]

There are two things I will likely never be able to resolve within myself - First is the lack of commitment of men and materiel to Fall Blau; namely the withdrawal of 11th army, and then the lack of much-needed reinforcements during the Battle of Stalingrad, leaving bridgeheads over the Don, much like Oranienbaum Bridgehead. Many people insist blithely that Fall Blau was and would under any circumstances, fail, but I strongly disagree. There are enough scenario's to assume that Blau could have succeeded; including first dealing with the British in North Africa and the Mediterranean before committing to Russia, also if all the originally allocated armies had been concentrated at and upon one strategic objective at a time; and although unlikely, an immediate breakout of the sixth army with an operational reserve in the Don area could have at least held off the Soviets until suitable campaigning weather the following year. (With the Mediterranean secured, there would be no Sicily landings, and I imagine Hitler may have learnt a serious lesson about leaving his flanks weak, in addition to perhaps coming out of his fantastical haze about the true state of the Red Army. A strike with 4th and 1st Pz, 6th, 11th,17th, 4th Luftflotte, plus satellite armies down the Don bend, across to Stalingrad - either leaving 11th to lay it to siege if well defended or take it if not, then shoot for Astrakhan could have all been achieved so much even before 'Edelweiss'. Cutting the Volga at Astrakhan has obvious advantages as it was the Lend-Lease port, it would have temporarily isolated all the Red Army units in the Caucasus, enough at least to weaken them, and as long as the Axis keep the Don-Volga line intact, it is very likely that the overall strategic picture may have lead potential co-belligerents like Turkey and others to join in if they sense the kill. By 1943, the II SS Pz Corps is online, along with the new medium and heavy tanks, and the final death blow can be delivered by capturing the Caucasus, which ultimately leads to Moscow, Leningrad, Murmansk, and Archangelsk. Whether this is enough to allow GroSdeutschland to exist as a major world power is far more difficult to presage, but almost certainly the war would have looked very different

[@polarvortex3294]

I agree that the Germans would have done much better if they'd cut off the Caucasus by reaching Astrakhan or some other point on the Caspian; and indeed it seems strange that this objective was not emphasized in the campaign or by the high command, despite the difficulties associated with bringing it about. This would have greatly weakened the Soviet forces to the south due to the loss of supply and command control. And like you said, if they could have completely cleared the banks of the Don-Volga line, then holding off Russian forces in the north seemingly would have been possible and the worst effects of any Russian counter-offensive avoided. This would have allowed for a complete conquest of the Caucasus in '43, as you suggest, especially if the 11th army had remained in the south to help out instead of being over-confidently and strangely sent north. But I'm far less certain than you that this would have changed the overall picture much. A two-stage two-year plan to fully take the south would result in a Russia hobbled by oil shortages. But I can't imagine they'd be out of fighting spirit and willing to give up Moscow, Leningrad, Murmansk, etc. in the years after that. In particular, with the German emphasis even greater in the south, it seems conceivable that the siege of Leningrad would have been broken early, and the north of Russia even better prepared to resist eventual attack. And meanwhile, the British and Americans would have been growing immensely in strength, as in the original timeline, and the Germans still would have lost -- albeit a year or two behind schedule. Still, makes you wonder what a few changes could have done. A little more effort, a little clearer focus... Like you, I feel that Case Blue was not inherently a doomed plan.

[@lisbon1492]

This is probably my favorite video of your series, TIK. Seriously, great job! I also really liked the nice Kissinger reference at 4:15.

[@rcw328]

The most enjoyable channel on youtube. Cant wait for your next video!

[@RonDuligi]

I'm surprised that I've only just stumbled upon your channel and I'm very glad that I have. I'm really enjoying your content! Thank you!

[@danield9182]

I’ve always tended to believe Hitler when he said that he was betrayed by his generals but this is the first time that I hear it coming from a historian. Thank you! Great video, as usual. Love the details that you put into your work.

[@ZombieXee]

On a side note, I absolutely love the Battleground Stalingrad series. Fantastic series there.

[@mindbomb9341]

TIK! Best WW2 channel. Good work. Keep it up.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Thanks! Will do :)

[@barbieturner3251]

No idea why I find this stuff so interesting...62 year old lady...go figure 🥴. Good job...keep 'em coming 👍

[@TheOchocincoboi]

knowledge is universal currency

[@bigvinnie3]

one of us one of us

[@deinikes]

Well, as you do, you might find further affirmation in my favorite work of diplomatic and military history - "The Thirty Years' War", by Dame Cecily Veronica (C. V.) Wedgwood.

[@ditto1958]

History is fascinating It just needs to be presented right

[@crimsonstrykr]

Theres no law that says 62 year old ladies shouldn't watch videos on military strategy. 😁

[@silafuyang8675]

Great video! I am re-watching the whole Stalingrad series, while waiting for more, at the same time finding other videos of yours, connected to it. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. This is without doubt the best history channel anywhere.

[@omarescalante3114]

Time and time again, you provide the best content with thorough research on the matter. I learn a ton from your vids, ther are amazing. And your delivery, i didn't even feel that 50 min had gone by. Awesome!

[@Mikey-xz4vn]

Someone needs to make a 'Downfall Bunker Subtitles' video on Hitler's reaction to Halder's tactical deployment

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Tempted :)

[@eff_gee321]

"Racing forward leaving millions of enemies behind you...ehem gauderian" he was an agressive bastard wasn't he🤣

[@robertcleary702]

I just finished Stahel’s book. Your Presentation fit nicely with that historical foundation. Great work.

[@bookaufman9643]

I saw a historian of the Eastern front on a different KZbin channel and he brought up something that I hadn't thought about before. One good way to tell that a campaign has not succeeded is the development of a follow-up campaign before the first one is even finished. I shouldn't say follow up as much as a brand new campaign that either continues on the work of the first one or is there to fix the first one. In some ways you could say that Fall blau was partially at least an add-on or repair of operation Barbarossa.. also I'm not sure how many people might know this but Barbarossa is a pretty bad Commander to name your campaign after. He famously drowned because he refused to accept the idea that a river wasn't fordable at the spot they were at and took it upon himself to show everyone that it was fordable which was fine until his horse was swept out from underneath him and he drowned. This is the guy that operation barbarosso was named after

[@markfutchll8141]

I love this video I watched it like 3 times now I just like how you have everything all the units set up their movements the picture of the general that that's just freaking awesome

[@wallonmcwoolworth819]

It's brilliant isn't it. Check out the Operation Market Garden video. That's one of my favourites.

[@DovaIsAverage]

Every day is a good day if theres a new TIK vid

[@TheImperatorKnight]

And to think, most people don't look forward to Mondays!

[@joshc1394]

This is an outstanding video. Quickly becoming one of if not my favorite ww2 KZbin channel

[@domjon9797]

Wow, I admire the effort, clarity and use of details involved in explaining the events. Not only on the battlefild inself but in the background as well. Among other things, why Hitler started to mistrust his generals - and how Stalin correctly guessed the bottom line in the end: Germans are trying to reach oil fields. Great video!

[@robertkearney4458]

Loved the chess vs. Go analogy!

[@TheImperatorKnight]

It makes a lot of sense. Encircle all you want on the Go board, it won't necessarily lead to victory.

[@WolfPeste]

Hated it. Weird analogies like that always obscure what is actually going on.

[@WolfPeste]

@TIK Go is literally about capturing territory and surrounding enemy pieces. That's how victory points are calculated. Chess is about controlling critical locations and decisive decapitation strikes. So both strikes at Caucasus and Moscow would be "chess", where one side tries to take one single location and hope it will cut off enemy's head by that. First being raw resources, second being large transport node/propaganda pillar.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

No, Go is not about surrounding enemy pieces. You can play a game of go and win without taking a single piece (unlikely in the late game, but technically it's true). Unlike chess, where you're trying to defeat individual pieces, Go is about taking influence over areas of the board. Yes, fighting is part of that, but it's not necessary. Imagine playing a chess move - like a Castle striking towards the Caucasus - but on a Go board. So what? All you've done is take some territory, surrendered the initiative to your opponent and opened yourself up to get yourself surrounded.

[@WolfPeste]

@TIK Go scoring is based on territory control or territory control+captured pieces. In both scoring systems you have to surround areas on board to bring yourself closer to victory. Thus Go, with it's uniform pieces and mostly uniform board is a much worse approximation of real life than chess, because in real life "pieces" and "squares" *can* have overwhelming differences. That automatically makes chess analogy more viable. Different board parts have staggeringly more strategic value than others = oil in one places, useless swamps in other. Different pieces have different uses = allied infantry vs own armor divisions. Also, quite amusingly, you wrote "get yourself surrounded" as if it is a strategically bad thing, while at the same time presenting "getting enemy surrounded" as insignificant.

[@WemustKnowmore]

Hats off to you, my dear! You give me the impression that to find a more clarifying lecture and a more suggestive account on this episode of the East Front would be a vain attempt. Much obliged.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@budscroggins2632]

Lee's retreat from Gettysburg and Kesslerings defense of Italy are two of the best Retrograde Movements that come to mind

[@edmundbell-king4538]

Except the scale is rather different!

[@blockboygames5956]

Magnificent overview of the Blau Operation. Thanks so much TIK. Very grateful for your work.

[@martynparkman8332]

Informative, well voiced, well paced. Really good. Subscribed.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

[@yamapopi]

You have my utmost respect for the insightful videos you are making, looking down right into the facts and not spitting the preconceived ideas that are endlessly repeated in many war documentaries (even in amazing documentaries like the Apocalypse serie). I wish to do a similar video on the french defeat of 1940 adding some french sources I have learned in my university in Lille.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Do it! I'd love to watch it :)

[@aniksamiurrahman6365]

Thanks a lot, TIK. The amount of detail u put in the video saves a ton of time and effort from us.

[@simonblake5563]

One of the most informative ww2 videos on you tube. I keep coming back to it. It really opens up the subject. Brilliant Tik

[@Yora21]

Pronounciation of German names is always excelent. Except for Hoth. There is no th in German. In fact, a H following a T is now obsolete in German spelling. It's Hot.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Well I didn't know that. But I do now! Thank you! (and normally I suck at German names, so to only get Hoth wrong is a good thing!)

[@alterneast2435]

German th- is a fancy way of spelling t-. Cf. English 'Thames' and 'Thomas'. Handy minor rule for English speakers on pronunciation of German: German -ei- is pronounced as English -ie-. Always (also in 'Leibstandarte'). German -ie- is pronounced as English -ei- (in eg. 'receive'). Always. Further: Vorónezh. Budjónny Which I know from looking them up on Wikipedia.

[@alterneast2435]

Somehow my hyphens got screwed up. They were supposed to be on either side of the letter sequence.

[@anthonykaiser974]

Maybe in Standard German, but examples of hard T with TH spelling abound: Rothenburg ob der Tauber (city in Middle Franconia), several towns in the Upper Palatine of Bavaria and Upper Franconia (towns and cities ending in -reuth and -ath.)

[@StanleyKewbeb1]

Timothy Piggott-Smith had the same problem on the Battlefield series. He also mispronounced FDR's name as "Rue-sevelt", when you can listen to radio broadcasts from the 30s and 40s, and it's always "Rose-velt." (BTW, the Internet Archive site has a good collection of WW2 radio news broadcasts, like Shirer in Berlin, D-Day, etc.)

[@crabbytemptations1771]

The German generals all lied after the war, but one (I forget which) was asked when he knew the war was lost. His reply was Moscow 1941. I agree absolutely with that.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

If you could find out which general that was, I'd be very grateful

[@crabbytemptations1771]

TIK Keitel said it at Nuremberg. He knew the war was lost after the counter-attack in 1941.

[@traubpablo7736]

Was General Von Bock

[@traubpablo7736]

I quite sure that Antony Beevor pointed out in his Stalingrad or Berlin`s Books.

[@traubpablo7736]

Ok, but I couldn´t imagine Keitel clever to said that. I read in Beevor´s Book. I`m going to check. In the meantime was Keitel

[@shatadal1]

I much appreciate the clarity, concision and orderly setting forth of content. This way of teaching makes it much more easy to assimilate a complex series of events. It is well contextualized too by emphasizing the context of the fight, the differing views of Hitler and Halder. Also, the pacing and enunciation of speech is excellent. Thanks for doing such a good job. Any teacher could learn from your skillful presentation - which also has perfectly timed and effective and clear, simple visuals.

[@tanyacharbury4728]

I'm very impressed by how much detail you have mentally integrated, as evident by how you explain things.

[@Thomas-po2nl]

I love the channel. History is my favorite subject and ww2 is easily the most interesting to me. Keep it up!

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Great! And will do :)

[@HerrmannThompson]

Because of this channel I enjoy Mondays again.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

It's the best way to beat the Monday Blaus

[@mhern57]

TIK Hey I see what you did there!😁

[@aramhalamech4204]

Big Guy you're a big guy

[@kawas8190]

Loved the video. You are one of my favorite military/WWII channels

[@pablodelafuente8]

Thks so much for making this complex operation digestible. You get it just right, full of necessary details but yet simple enough for me to grasp it. I love the way to got from conceptually grand strategy to the operational details. I hope, and wish you can, in the future, explain Bagration to us. Thks again

[@ridderwimdegrote]

it amazes me, after watching the crusador parts, how big of an event this was. in africa youre talking about divisions and regiments etc.. the africa core had just 2 panzer divisions and looking at this map youre talking about panzer armies. the contrast is sooo huge.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

True: the scale was massively different in the East. But don't be fooled though, a "Panzer Army" wasn't all panzer divisions.

[@felixhausen]

It is awesome that you use quotes and sources your videos high above the standards on youtube !

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Yes, and this is partly why it takes me so long to do, because I'm verifying everything I'm putting into the videos, and double checking each source against the others when there's contradictions, plus questioning everything.

[@JohnDoe-ze8wy]

" We have only to kick in the door and the whole rotten structure will come crashing down"

[@conservativedemocracyenjoyer]

Trust me guys -Funny Mustache man [Probably]

[@deg6788]

It wasn't that rotten I guess..

[@JohnDoe-ze8wy]

@@deg6788 Exactamundo... IMHO the best quote on that is: "In fighting Russia , the German Army is like an elephant attacking a horde of ants. The elephant may kill thousands or millions, but in the end , he will be eaten to the bone" - Gen. Blaskowitz, Army Group N.

[@TheYeti308]

It took some time but it did, so did britton, france, italy. not too bad.

[@vorynrosethorn903]

"...on top of us."

[@tao5664]

Thanks TIK. That was the best explanation of Case Blue ( and its consequences), I've ever heard. Great job!

[@solidv2]

now this is what youtube is for, thanks for the good research :)

[@TheImperatorKnight]

You're very welcome. Trying to make KZbin that little bit better :)

[@ericcook1201]

Excellent information and a fantastic amount of research. Thank you!! Also I must say .. thanks for not making Stalingrad the entire center of attention. There was so much more to it than that. It's blatantly obvious that the failure of Blau was a huge turning point but, as significant as the loss of Stalingrad was, I believe it only to be an "exclamation point" at the end of Operation Blau.

[@seanyarbrough452]

Tremendous lecture. Lots of info here I did not know. I didn't see any edits here either. You just let that go off the top of your head. Amazing work. Good map graphics as well.

[@zilkmusik7652]

One of your best videos! Consequential work! Thanks! 🎉

[@amsfountain8792]

This is one your best videos so far. It really explains so many things to understand the eastern front as a whole. The distrust of Hitler towards his generals and the strategic aims for the german army. A must watch for everyone interested in WW2.

[@fazole]

So one important take away is Halder has no credibility due to his perfidy. And Halder's diaries are what historians use to analyse Hitler. Therefore, do we really understand Hitler as well as we thought?

[@TheImperatorKnight]

The answer is probably no, we don't. Certainly not for the period 1941-1945. And most of the generals calling Hitler mad by the end are the one's who were sacked. Those still fighting in 1943-1945 weren't alive after the war to write their memoirs. And even if they were, they had to get past Halder.

[@fazole]

I think you are red-pilling the hell out of us with history! These findings in my mind call into question everything I thought I knew about history. How much of it is a pack lies?

[@dlr978]

@@TheImperatorKnight Your account of the sackings made me rethink and question the motivation behind the plot to assassinate Hitler. Perhaps it wasn't as altruistic as 'history' claims - perhaps the plan to preserve dignity of generals and use Hitler as scapegoat was formed long before Nuremberg - perhaps because of the sackings. Granted, Halder was not implicated as a conspirator in 44, but they say he was part of an earlier plot - and undoubtedly he had influence over the 1944 conspirators.

[@ang47]

@@dlr978 of course it wasn't altruistic. By the time the plot took place, cccp was at the polish border. If they managed to do it, they would save their own asses first and foremost. The red army would never enter berlin

[@richardmathii360]

People have been misinformed on the history of , like many events

[@joemacinnis1972]

Awesome work! Fascinating to understand all the technical issues

[@braedenh6858]

TIK, thank you for this. I always knew on some level many of the things that you're saying, but you've validated my beliefs and taught me so much more besides. Truly invaluable man.

[@traubpablo7736]

Astonishing Video. Week after week ....more and more solid work. You deserve more patrons. I´ll be one soon. Congratulation again Sir.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Thank you! And I'm very grateful to the Patreons I have already. The more support I get, the more I can put into these videos

[@traubpablo7736]

Also your humor and proper irony are appreciated !!!!

[@cfcofac1070]

You are the best video maker for Stalingrad and Eastern Front. Impressive as usual. If I remember correctly, Halder worked for the US after WW2 and became (one of) the important guy who gave the widely accepted impression of the Eastern Front to the western world.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Yes he did, which is where he manipulated the world's views to suit his own needs. This is why the early texts about WW2 say Halder being sacked was a bad thing... but was it, really?

[@derekstynes9631]

This is the real deal , Well Done Sir and I am very glad to join Your Site !

[@timisaac8121]

Really enjoyed this vid!! TY!! I had not understood the Hilter quote of Maikop & Grozny before. Thanks!

[@hemshah4127]

Thank you TIK for making such an awesome video.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

It was my pleasure! I'm just glad you enjoyed it :)

[@neilgriffiths6427]

Excellent, the history shows I've seen tend to concentrate on Stalingrad and fail miserably to explain the wider strategic position of the campaign - yes, it's for oil in the South, but for example, I'd never heard of Halder's role before at all. great stuff! :)

[@TheImperatorKnight]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video, and I'll certainly be doing more video like this in the future. I'm of the same opinion about TV documentaries - they're just too narrowly focused, and the viewer doesn't get the full perspective :)

[@fabiofaria4243]

TIK, hell of a good explanation!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!

[@gamingcollection270]

Interesting. Changing personalitys. Didn't knew that happened. And really good and detailed information.

[@eric3844]

Dude, you've easily become my favorite history channel on KZbin. Do you ever have any plans to talk about the absolute clusterfuck that is the Spanish Civil War?

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Yes, but it might be a while away. I'm happy in-fact to cover battles, wars and the economic and political situation in the period 1905-1953. Although I'm specialising on European Theatre WW2 battles.

[@Ph33NIXx]

Am i the only one revisiting this video, waiting for the next Stalingrad episode?

[@rupertrozells5816]

Very well explained , you made it crystal clear. I am impressed. Thank you very much.

[@MrKen-mc4bu]

Brilliant explanation. Very well done. Thank you for your efforts. I enjoyed watching your presentation.

[@Roman-nu1om]

Your videos are amazing but hard to digest for majority off braindead KZbin goers. You show a lot of compassion and go into great detail without being boring, that's quite an achievement.

[@sOFFt1991]

Just found your channel. Great videos! It's nice to see someone talking about Eastern front beyond the "Enemy-at-the gates-russian-human-wave-with-1-rifle-for-3-men-tactics" type narrative. Also kudos on pronouncing Russian names right, you nailed almost all of them!

[@TheImperatorKnight]

It makes a change, doesn't it :) and yes, I'm getting there with German names, although will need more help on the Soviet names. But when I do my Stalingrad Soviet Order of Battle video, no doubt a lot of people will correct me!

[@sOFFt1991]

You can send me a list of names you need, I'll record how they're pronounced correctly.

[@alexalexin9491]

As a Russian I admit many Russian names are a nightmare for English-speaking persons. So let's not be picky about it.

[@kenbellchambers4577]

Thank you for this excellent analysis of a complex situation.

[@miniaturejayhawk8702]

Germany litterally had a general called franz halder and they didnt use him to hold france. That was their first mistake tbh.

[@godweenausten]

I find your cheeky ways of mocking Nazi military jocks delightfully funny. A nice cherry on top of a good presentation.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Haha glad you like the jokes at least! :)

[@godweenausten]

At least? Excuse me, should I have written *excellent presentation? :)

[@blackjack5676]

COME OFF IT BOURGER

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Lux, nah! I meant that my jokes are terrible, so I'm glad you find them funny

[@ncrveteranranger9126]

TIK your jokes are as terrible as italian tanks

[@fanofrunbot9771]

So the WWI twice winner of the Iron Cross Corporal was more tactically brilliant than the OKW Chief Halder.

[@fanofrunbot9771]

Did Halder for one minute believe that Stalin would surrender if Moscow was captured? The Czar fled Napoleon in 1812, knowing the winter was an ally. Stalin would have fled to Kamchatka if necessary and would have shoveled Russian lives against the Germans while he stayed cozy & safe.

[@migkillerphantom]

fanof runbot he probably didn't think about it. Prussian doctrine was essentially a codified rehash of Napoleon's doctrine. It works when the enemy has no strategic depth and mobility outpaces defense, but not every war is like this. Predictably it failed in very similar conditions.

[@WolfPeste]

@fanof runbot Who said soviet citizens were eager to have themselves thrown against the Germans? And equating Russian Campaign of 1812 to Eastern Front of WWII is absurd. They way the wars were fought was fundamentally different, aside from "lots of people were killed and starved to death".

[@fanofrunbot9771]

Was referring to the capture Moscow strategy. I don't think the soviet citizens had much choice in the Red Army. A scene from ENEMY AT THE GATES (2001) kinda puts it in context.

[@WolfPeste]

@fanof runbot Capturing Moscow meant completely different things in those two wars, due to different natures of those wars. One cannot point at army of musket troops and sabre cavalry walking out of Moscow in early XIX century and claim it had consequences similar to what might have happened almost 129 years later. And referencing Enemy at the Gates in historical context is not a good idea. Because it was not... a very historical movie.

[@danallenvermont]

What a great historian you are. This is a fantastic presentation. Thank you.

[@arnabdas4322]

your videos are so educational that I watch them more than once.