How Britain Trained Its Troops For The Desert Raids In North Africa | Behind Enemy Lines | Timeline

As the war rages in North Africa in 1940, commandos train to wreak havoc behind enemy lines in unforgiving desert conditions.
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[@stevep4358]

My uncle was in the long range desert patrol North Africa .then in the SAS Greece and Italy. he was a kind and gentle man .

[@joshuabergenske6207]

respect

[@dougearnest7590]

Now you know who snuck into the kitchen at night and ate the leftovers.

[@cuisina1055]

Then as a Vetersn , I'm telling you be proud, your uncle was a TRUE LEGEND.

[@tim7052]

With that level of experience, he was a VERY brave man indeed!! I thank him and his generation in fighting to preserve the freedoms that I am lucky to have and enjoy today. Respect!! 👍

[@LuizGuilherme-ps3tw]

Respect! You must be pround of him! My grandfather's older brother fought in Italy too, he, like my grandfather, were born in Brazil but they were grandchildren of Germans who came to Brazil before WW1, in 1942 Germany sank some ships in the Brazilian coast, leading Brazil to join officially to the allies and declare war on the axis, this also led to a huge revolt and persecution of German and Italian descendants, who were in large numbers in southern Brazil, I heard stories of the population with torches in the streets to intimidate the German / Italian community, so, to protect his family, my great uncle enlisted in the Brazilian Expeditionary Force that left in 1944 to fight in Italy, an admirable man who did what had to be done for the family, he survived the war, but died before I could know him.

[@tim7052]

I heard that when Stirling had gathered the cadre of men - from which the LRDG and SAS were formed - that they had no basic equipment (tents etc) to establish themselves as a unit. Stirling told them he expected them to use their resourcefulness and initiative - so as an exercise of their resourcefulness the cadre went out and successfully scrounged or stole what they needed!! Legendary stuff!! 👍

[@asullivan4047]

They had an iron clad resolution to succeed with this vitally important mission. Don't know if I could have preformed as brilliantly as they did???

[@deepbludude4697]

Excellent upload really fantastic Ive heard these stories multiple times but this was fantastic boots on the ground from the men who endured it. I spent some time in the deserts of Libya Chad and Mali, I think the flys must have evolved they where horendous.

[@Koalamatrix]

My maternal Grandfather was a member of NZ LRDG then the SAS, likewise a kind, intelligent and reasonable man, haunted in his dreams by his actions during the conflict

[@user-kb5fi1hm3u]

My grandfather served with these brave adventurous men..

[@asullivan4047]

They are part of the reason. Germany was driven from North Africa. True grit style determination to succeed!!!

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

It's a wonderful historical coverage video about that ghost soldiers group... since 1930, Britain intelligence 🇬🇧 understood that future carrying armies strikes against Italian existence on Libyan 🇱🇾 territory

[@danieltossounian1962]

The greatest generation is the most badass

[@cynicalafflictional1725]

Legendary. God Bless

[@kiniburk]

This story would make an excellent movie.

[@Nudgeworth]

I think there is currently a TV show about the SAS in its early days

[@shadowcrusader2283]

I have the upmost Respect for these men.

[@asullivan4047]

They are part of the reason Germany was driven from North Africa. True grit style determination to succeed!!!

[@turnupthesun81]

I live in the Chihuahua desert and it’s unbearable even with modern creature comforts. I won’t even go outside to dump the trash in the broad daylight in the middle of summer, I can’t imagine operating out there for days on end.

[@cognitivedisability9864]

35:11 "imagine a few of those going of in an airfield" "great fun". Its a sad day when we loose these people.

[@mikeclarke952]

Rogue Heros SAS on Prime does this whole story pretty damn good, now that I've seen this film I should say old chap. Amazing men indeed.

[@asullivan4047]

They were part of the reason Germany was driven from North Africa. True grit style determination to succeed!!!

[@kendallkahl8725]

You can bet they hated those dive bombers. By the time they were done those bombers would have been reduced to disco glitter dust.

[@TechnikMeister2]

Apart from Bagnold (LRDG) and Stirling (Scots Guards) and a few others, the majority of the men were Australians, New Zealanders and Rhodesians. That made it easy for them to bend the rules beccuse of a very confused chain of command that disliked irregular (guerrilla) action.

[@johnwilson5743]

I'm glad you mentioned the involvement of Australians and Rhodesians. I'm a Kiwi and knew via family history, of our involvement. Also of the great mateship of the three groups (and friendly rivalry) so was disappointed the video didn't cover much of their involvement. All shared a kinship of individual innovation and toughness and dislike of structured military command. My father was English and was in the Paras before joining the SAS. He also emigrated to New Zealand. He seldom spoke of what he got up to until later in life and the SAS taking of that Embassy in London from terrorists. Then it all came out. He also was a non-descript man physically. Around 5'9" but tough as they come.

[@Hendo1955]

So true

[@bruceklassen8261]

These me were a step above for sure

[@TheWaterboarders]

Interesting that this is not available for viewing in Britain...

[@sunrayisdown1690]

It's in case the Scots adopted this to obtain independence. Instead, the Scots invented the SAS.

[@fjb4932]

Darren Miles, 1st they removed their firearms. Then their knives. Then their right to protect their very lives. Now their freedom to gain knowledge. And these will be The Good Old Days. Sad . . .

[@katherinekinnaird4408]

Gods hand was on these men❤

[@thizzingallnight966]

And Death’s Slicing Scythe…

[@fabianunderwood-fv1sh]

Hello Katherine how are you doing?

[@Watson1]

Fantastic video, great commentary. But get rid of the bloody crappy music. If you can call it that. Ruined the whole experience.

[@Nudgeworth]

This was probably made 20 or thirty years ago. So there's no use complaining lol

[@marsdenk.6162]

Long Range Desert Group

[@carmelbrain7399]

wow

[@fabianunderwood-fv1sh]

Hello Carmel how are you doing?

[@lollypop2413]

My father was there...British SAS 1939 reconnaisance and explosives specialist, mechanical engineer.

[@ardshielcomplex8917]

There was no SAS in 1939

[@danielcruz8347]

Television Rat Patrol was based on these exploits...

[@Grayman58]

American Hollywood garbage .

[@markfryer9880]

About the only thing that Rat Patrol shared with the SAS was the Jeep and the .50 Cal machine gun.

[@dougearnest7590]

I watched it as a child. Now it's shown on Saturday night on the H&I Channel (in the US) and I can't believe how unbelieably bad the show was. Also, I understand it was not well- received in the UK, and not just because it was bad.

[@JawsHLL]

Damn, son

[@ezekielalkhabeer7084]

33:09

[@peterkost4376]

Not one mention of Paddy Mayne

[@domenicozagari2443]

What about the raid in Tobruck?

[@zillsburyy1]

the SBS is even more secret

[@lollypop2413]

Father was an officer in sterlings regiment pre 1939...i have a naval issue silk liner from a flying jacket from him....no story from him...his regiment said he 'disappears from official records' in 1940...he retired and worked on parachutes in devon pre war...then got recalled 1939 sent to palestine with his scots guard regiment but 'disappeared' and didnt return to uk with his regiment.. He was explosives specialist and mechanical engineer. Still records are mostly classified...regiment confirmed what he had told me..just bare snips like breadcrumbs.

[@hsserry5289]

SAS !

[@GusN587]

Kommandos (Afrikaans for Detachment) are not a British creation and most certainly were not created in WWII NA. Kommandos were created by the Afrikaaners of South Africa in the 1800s and were small groups of men conducting reconnaissance, raids, and other covert operations against the invading forces of England, Wales, Scotland, Australia, New Zeeland, Canada and India in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Their lethal efficacy was so admired and their successes so respected, that their methods would later inspire the Reconnaissance forces aka Special Forces. This was also the origin of all Western Special Forces such as the SAS and SBS that would, like so many other things, be claimed as a creation of the "British Empire"

[@dougearnest7590]

The British "Commando" units were created by the British, borrowing the name "Commando" from the Boers. Other armies throughout history had units that performed missions similar to the Kommandos long before the Dutch ever set foot in Africa. Don't misunderstand, I am a huge fan of South Africa history and rugby, but they didn't invent the Kommando, they just re-named it.

[@Johnnosmitho]

A couple of greek commandos hid inside a horse at Troy.

[@user-ll3bt3cd7b]

Another Saffa with Kiwis living so terminally and completely in their beads and as a chip on their shoulders that every time we Kiwis are mentioned? Off they go. Like an absolute pack of nutters.

[@paulezycom]

"Rat Patrol "

[@sunrayisdown1690]

Strange. At the start, the narrator made a big deal of staying the explorers and others came from England (not Britain) yet when it came to David Stirling, neglected to say he was Scottish. Nor mention that he came up with the SAS idea lying in his bunk in Cairo after breaking his back in his first parachute jump. Nothing changes.....

[@phunkeehone]

Not surprising, since the Brits have a tendency of taking credit for ideas that weren't theirs to begin with. An example could be breaking the Enigma code, when it was Polish mathematicians who did it.

[@grahamlowe314]

He got the idea from jock Lewes

[@vienogola1421]

a very english charachteristic, rewriting history with them as the victors...shrug.

[@alicjakijewski1012]

HISTORIA

[@6offdutyninjasN1]

Now that we have youtube and don't have to keep a time on a schedule on major broadcasting channels, it seems like this video could've been wrapped up within 20 minutes

[@Hendo1955]

I bet he never did the real thing

[@Hendo1955]

Disgraceful you never acknowledge the lrdg was made by kiwis

[@reylambarte5615]

Why north africa? Why not pick a strong opponent? Funny

[@user-ll3bt3cd7b]

In New Zealand we have a saying that is almost "talisman" like in its ability to bring luck and break evil. That saying is. "She'll be right mate". And once spoken by whoever is being counted on to get "it" done. Or complete the task. Alll Kiwis get behind him or her to achieve that task. And with that? All trust, belief and eventuality is then basically pre-determined as success. And if it's not? It's bloody well sorted out and dealt with come what may.