Two Eagles : Chapter 1 (Gehlen and Boker)

Some straight historical content outside of the usual pop-culture framework, this one covers the recruitment of the German General Reinhard Gehlen as an American intelligence asset after WWII and how it shaped American policy in the Cold War.
Future videos in this series will all be under the "Two Eagles" playlist so those that want it can find it without scrolling and those that don't want it can skip it.
This particular one gives some background to a single-sentence reference in this Friday's upcoming Fallout-related video and will be linked therein, should anyone want more information.

[@captainexcabier]

Suddenly so much more of Doctor Strangelove makes sense now. It's interesting how much Kubrick was on to this stuff and put it into his movies.

[@NorthForkFisherman]

Everyone knew about it, really. No one cared because we won. We shrugged and went after the next "enemy".

[@verigumetin4291]

Really interesting how at the end, they asked the former nazis to make the next apparatus. It reminds me of a certain story. "We just revolted against and took down communism in this country. Who should be the democratic rulers next, any Ideas?" "I know, let's put the communists in charge!" "Which ones?" "The ones we just took down." "What a great idea!"

[@EvenTheDogAgrees]

And for those of us who don't recognise the quote?

[@SuperMadman41]

What ?? Context please

[@Philistine47]

On the one hand, I usually look to this channel for discussions of fictional works; on the other hand, I find the most interesting thing about the discussion of fictional works on this channel is the way the fictional works are tied back to real-world ideas. So if there's more like this to come, I'll certainly watch it.

[@KatanamasterV]

You can't stop the algorithm and get off, so you just have to learn to live on it. Side note from the quotes, you should keep this series up. It's an important piece of the puzzle for how America ended up both becoming both very un-American and simultaneously both anti-Soviet and pro-Soviet. Cold War was a complex time.

[@johnarpin8760]

Definitely want to see more of this!

[@feralhistorian]

It only gets stranger from here . . .

[@NewSquallor]

@@feralhistorian please more

[@jovandjuric9694]

please! 😊​@@feralhistorian

[@niyanlan8928]

Ridiculously low number of subscribers for such an excellent channel. Great videos and really interesting topics - very well narrated. Keep at it my friend and thank you

[@critfive]

True on all counts! When I first stumbled upon this neat channel he had less then 2k. It is growing and that's what matters!

[@garrenosborne9623]

​@@critfivebetween Damian Walter's Science Fiction podcast & Feral Historian makes nice narrative shinanigans analysis for adding to Steve Keen's Rebel Economics & others grappling with the meta crisis

[@DarkVeghetta]

The subscriber count has improved as of late, though it's still not close to its potential - which I suspect is in the TIKHistory wheelhouse. Perhaps well-informed academic-style narration in the woods and mountains was always going to be a niche market.

[@PrivateIvan]

Sir: At the end of this video, you ask if anyone wants more content like this. Sorry I'm 11 months late, but YES. Fascinating stuff, thanks for your research.

[@redblarin8030]

I had to watch this video twice. I thought this was another Draka video at first then realized Feral was doing real history. Love it!

[@andybassman99]

Really fantastic - I can’t wait for the next episode of Two Eagles!

[@CHEMICmusic]

Very interesting... I knew we hired a lot of NAtional soZIalists but wasn't aware of this... This content is great, and I'm looking forward to part 2!!! Keep em coming! 🤘😁🤙

[@cavemanjoe79]

The scarier part is when you think about it, maybe they also infiltrated two political parties that run most of the country right now? So no matter what choices we try to make the outcomes may be inevitable.

[@yankeepapa304]

I was in Germany from 1953-55 (service brat...my father American Army officer...) Woman that we knew in Frankfurt ran a Gasthaus. She was about 40. She liked our family, but told my folks that most Germans really didn't like Americans in general all that much. She went on to say that they hated the English and loathed the French. She finished up by saying... "But we fear the Russians..." Not surprising that they'd want to make themselves useful to us... YP

[@T_Kelso]

You are a very good storyteller, this was interesting.

[@stevemcallister4965]

I dig it, keep the history coming! I love the subject matter and your delivery is, as always, droll and very sharp.

[@TheSleepyShadow]

This series is exactly what I was looking for.

[@benjackson1454]

This was very cool, I look forward to the next video. I think doing videos on real life events is a positive for a channel which does videos on media, particularly if it is an event you can tie into your videos on media.

[@feralhistorian]

I think these are going to be companion pieces to the usual stuff on media, like this Friday's video briefly references these events but without much depth. This is the "would you like to more" playlist.

[@emperorofhistory8724]

Recently discovered your channel, and am very taken with it. I think I've watched half your videos in the last week, and have enjoyed, and learned from, all of them. This one was excellent, so I hope you're planning on continuing, at least periodic, forays into non-fictional historical analysis.

[@feralhistorian]

Part 3 is in progress. It's slow progress, but there will definitely be more.

[@KerryHarrison]

That was enjoyable, please continue the Two Eagles story.

[@davidpatterson7924]

Keep them coming! Sharing your video!

[@hughgrection7246]

Commenting for engagment purposes . Feeding the google. Love these 15-20minute bites . Always something to think about , but never so much that you get lost in the topic.

[@beefgravystudios]

That was incredibly interesting and now I'm going to listen to chapter 2 and wait for chapter 3

[@feralhistorian]

Chapter 3 is coming along. No ETA yet, but we'll get there.

[@beefgravystudios]

@@feralhistorian I discovered your channel not too long ago and I really enjoy your analysis. Keep up the good work!

[@keegobricks9734]

I can see it in my mind's eye, the little yellow text in on the right hand side of the HUD: *The enemy of my enemy* 0/10 Soviet intel found 0/12 German POW's recovered 0/3 allies fooled

[@jonisalmela2399]

3/8 Friends made along the way

[@G7M9W]

Yes, please do continue this series, in addition to your usual videos.

[@djolds1]

An engaging and comprehensive description of events and absurdities. Moar!

[@shadowandsunshinellc]

The post-war espionage landscape is some of the most fascinating territory of the Cold War.

[@johnrex7108]

These are some fascinating videos, man.

[@cypherian2]

I enjoyed this and look forward to more!

[@zachkahle1007]

Great video, I hope you have more deep dives into this

[@BallisticArmbars]

This was a amazing to share this story.

[@davidgrunt]

I would love to see more of these historical fact videos. Contrasting against the so called fiction they inspired puts an intresting lens on the world we have made for ourselves.

[@mathsethorus89.5]

I dont know if youre open to sugestions at all, but could you turn this into podcast or audiobook form? Somewhere audio only? Because its a lot easier to watch your content when im at work that way

[@greg_mid_tn3150]

11:30 blink, blink, cut. Had me laughing so hard I had to pause the video.

[@madmusial]

This was great thank you, always found this stuff fascinating.

[@AtodaK]

This is great. Thanks.

[@analysisofscifi6051]

Interesting video i didn't realize german generals helps spy on the Soviets. Normally well I like your movie reviews but damn this is good do both plaese

[@bmhh123]

Yeah more of this content would be amazing!

[@feralhistorian]

There's more planned. Why it takes me so long to get them done is a valid question . . .

[@DamienWalter]

This is a great story, Mr F Historian. I think it deserves a longer format video essay with a bit more visual storytelling.

[@antherthalmhersser7239]

Gosh, why does this all sound so familiar

[@Sedgewise47]

(Hail Hydra!…)

[@CMacK1294]

I love how optimistic the german was. "The Soviets will turn on the allies as soon as they think they can win" My brother, Soviet agents were embedded in the US Government and education system dating back to the 1930s.

[@konst80hum]

In the days before operation Bagration, General Genhlen sent a memo saying that "the eastern front should be quiet for the next few months as the Soviets are spent". A month later army group center is disintegrated and army group north is under siege in Courland. Yeah real inteligence genius there....

[@darrenvanderwilt1258]

This is awesome content. Keep it coming.

[@feralhistorian]

I just got back from recording the next one, chapter 2 is on the way with 3 & 4 in the works.

[@jaysturgell2543]

very nice, more content like this please.

[@aleclafaille726]

Super late to the party, but more of this please!

[@feralhistorian]

The 3rd installment is ready to be recorded and hopefully coming next month. It'll be a different angle on the usual Operation Paperclip version of the space program. The 4th chapter is going to be . . . really grim. I'm in no rush to do that one.

[@samsonvlogging1202]

Hey Feral Historian, I love how this video is a departure from your usual content. I know this is off topic, but I wanted to ask you a question about an individual I am covering in my next video. The video is going to be sorta similar to the one I did on your channel. I am going to be talking about Chris Kyle, the infamous Navy Seal sniper, and wanted to get your thoughts on the man. I read his memoir awhile back when the film, American Sniper, came out and I've been fascinated with the guy ever since. He's been really controversial with many people calling him a liar and not a true hero. What are your thoughts on Chris Kyle?

[@feralhistorian]

I actually don't know too much about him, beyond the basics. I always attributed the discrepancies between things he said and evidence to the contrary as typical war-story embellishment. One thing I learned doing historical research is that there are contradictory accounts of almost everything. Maybe he lied and gave himself a couple extra medals or maybe the Navy (as per SOP) screwed up the paperwork. Without digging into piles of official records and interviewing people he served with, I'm not going to lean one way or the other. Damn, the man could shoot though. That much isn't in doubt. I'm looking forward to your video, I'll probably learn a lot.

[@cavemanjoe79]

Everything about any particular individual is always from two main perspectives, those of their own and those from people around them. Friends and family will tell more positive aspects of the individual and those that may not particularly like them may focus on the negative aspects.

[@akumaking1]

Have you ever considered uploading on new tech sites just in case OurTube throttles you?

[@feralhistorian]

I do have some of it duplicated at Rumble (including a video on the Postman rumble.com/v2jmdk4-the-postman-underrated-masterpiece.html that the Tube wouldn't allow) but there's very little traffic and I haven't been diligent maintaining it. But yes, some alternatives are definitely needed.

[@noahdoyle6780]

Yes, more please!

[@feralhistorian]

Number 3 should be done sometime next month. Probably.

[@MarkAndrewEdwards]

I'll vote for more

[@bosmerfromcanada3878]

You, sir...are national treasure. You nailed it when you said "the Soviet Army not distinguishing themselves in the annals of military conduct." Was it the mass rapes, mass looting, or mass executions that gave you that idea? Or all of the above?

[@chrissheffield5468]

[@CountAdolfo]

Very interesting video

[@cannabliss75]

In one word, yes please : )

[@tristan7216]

What show is this from? BJ and the Bear?

[@Bttry01]

This episode was great. Are you going to continue this series?

[@feralhistorian]

Yes. The second one is in the "checking my memory against sources so I don't say something stupid" phase and should be done sometime this spring.

[@Bttry01]

@@feralhistorian awesome. Do you list your sources for the project?

[@feralhistorian]

@@Bttry01 I've gotten really lazy about that since my university days, but I'll make a point of it going forward.

[@Bttry01]

@@feralhistorian cool. Looking forward to it. Great channel.

[@RobertCousland]

Very interesting. 🤔

[@Churchmilitant67]

I WANT THIS CONTENT!!!

[@CorporateKoe]

I hope you can make a video of planet of the apes

[@feralhistorian]

Planet of the Apes is definitely on the list.

[@CorporateKoe]

@@feralhistorian will you also mention the reboot since the sequel to the trilogy is coming out or just the classic?

[@feralhistorian]

I think it'll be a broad look at how the story evolves over time, from the book all the way through to the most recent version of it. I'm not sure yet if it'll be one video or broken into pieces (that's a lot of movies to re-watch all at once)

[@SA-xf1eb]

Different times. Had to be done.

[@Churchmilitant67]

This narrative asks more questions than it answers 🤔

[@Samurai63864]

I like it.

[@groothewanderer9472]

MORE!!!!

[@RevDrKillJoy]

@Feral Historian Nazi General cheering for the NY Yankees... Yeah, that tracks.

[@NewSquallor]

More history!

[@feralhistorian]

I just now finished writing the second segment. This is going to be an ongoing thing.

[@Ishpeck]

So Feral Historian talking about history seems both odd and natural at the same time.

[@inrhvn]

make more of this.

[@scrambledganglia6946]

More.

[@11C1P]

How do you know he was rooting for the Yankee's & not the Giants?

[@LateralTwitlerLT]

The "problem" with this kind of retelling and insinuations of what it means for everything they where involved in - both then and later, is that one have to convince oneself that they were all ideologues and wanted nothing more than to continue whatever nefarious concepts one can dream up that the "nazis" wanted for Germany, Europe, and the "West".

[@feralhistorian]

I think it's more cultural than ideological, a spreading of basic assumptions about how to interpret information and assumptions about the motives of other people. The Gehlen Org was always presenting the most aggressive possible interpretation of the USSR not because they were consciously trying to engineer Barbarossa 2.0 and re-nazify Europe but that they started with the assumption that _Russia is coming to destroy us sooner or later_ and then confirmation bias kicks in.

[@LateralTwitlerLT]

@@feralhistorian Thank you for the response and clarification. And I should be honest about not trying to describe any motives to you, but rather point out how much of these stories have been interpreted by most of those getting to know the "Allies" harbored and used German intelligence and know-how after the War. It's usually in the vein of them declaring how all that explain and justify their worldview that everything in the West now being "fascist".* *("Fascist" as in their interpretation of it, I mean)

[@Zyzyx442]

Doing a symbiosis with the conquered enemy very competent intelligence community is just sound strategy, as long as goals align.

[@3L_B4R7O]

So sad it's funny again.

[@jriggan]

Rock Solid

[@Churchmilitant67]

This sounds suspiciously what the OSS did with Ho Chi Minh during the French/Vietnamese war in the 50's.....🤔