Veteran: How to tell if you face an elite or bad Unit

[@sumtingwong2138]

Crazy to have an interview with a German soldier who fought in the eastern front in 2024

[@snapdragon6601]

Ikr. But this time they're on the side of the good guys. 👍🙂

[@garynew9637]

😂 youve goy to be kidding.​@@snapdragon6601

[@TheCabbageMan]

​@@snapdragon6601 Lmao 🤡

[@sumtingwong2138]

@@snapdragon6601 Nah, the Germans need to stop fighting the Russians again, they keep popping up like failed reboots of old Hollywood classics

[@redphilips9180]

Even more amazing is that he fought alongside fascists/Banderites/ and Nazis.

[@pRahvi0]

5:07 about eye-catchers: There's a classic legend from bootscamp where the sergeant blames the conscript of poorly concealing the place where the mine was planted, only to learn he's standing right on top of the (dummy) mine as the more obvious spot was just a decoy.

[@dun0790]

Bet thats one of those situations if you survive everything else is kinda muted in life lol

[@TheLittleDeath1]

Oh a mine. Let's take a closer look...

[@stephenwood6663]

One of the first lessons I learned in proofreading: if you spot a mistake, there are almost certainly more mistakes you *didn't* spot in the first pass.

[@TheApilas]

I would say it's happen pretty often, did that to a sergeant during my bootcamp in Finland he stood on my 10 kilogram anti-tank mine for over a minute trying to find it. 😂

[@MrJones-yq7wm]

​@@TheLittleDeath1welcome to EOD

[@GarethFairclough]

As a veteran, this is absolutely on the mark. When I was in training, we were taught to *always* take your rubbish with you, or at least bury it. Do *something* to not make it blindingly obvious you had been there. Whenever we left a position, we always did our utmost to make it seem like we had never been there. We weren't front line troops either, but logistics types. This is just billy-basic stuff. It might seem minor to some grunt on the ground, but these little bits add up. The mine thing really makes sense too. I hadn't thought of it in terms of the packaging, but it makes a *lot* of sense. In Afghanistan, I knew of some guys got hit when they stumbled on things while they were focused on the big obvious IED that had already been spotted. One friend of mine was killed when he literally stumbled on an IED that was buried in a big gravel mound. He had been ordered on top of it to get a better PoV, and was on his way down it when he tripped and caught the IED as he tried to steady himself.

[@nvelsen1975]

You saw that with insurgents sometimes as well. If something worked, they kept doing it, or if they got wiped the next bunch would sometimes do the exact same thing that got the previous lot dealt with. Like one guy's fields offer enough shelter from being spotted, so they keep moving there, camping too, leaving trash, fires. Simply putting it on a map and looking for patterns sometimes worked. But also datapoints become more obvious and easier to tell if they get sloppy or repetitive. Then at one point the farmer who owns the sheltered safe field realises all this trudging around is cutting into his harvest, those guys are rude, not even of his clan, and that westerner soldier who even speaks a bit of Pashto and the imam's language who keeps asking about the insurgents, maybe you tell him about how they're in your fields while you didn't care either way the first two times they were there. Are we walking through the difficult rocky drainage ditch at the outside of the road wall so they can't see or track us? Naah fam, that's way too hard on my combat slippers. We'll stick to the wall on the other side, no way those stoopid westerners would ever stop their car, think to read tracks in the sand, conclude this was a big group, these aren't locals and keep eyes on the site to spring a trap on us if we return this way, so we'll walk the easy way.

[@michaelgmail5968]

May your friend rest in peace. God be with you!

[@Adonnus100]

@@nvelsen1975 Speaking a bit of the local language can build so much trust so quickly for so little effort. Tashakur, Khoob hastee. My Afghan students light up when I greet them in Dari :)

[@nvelsen1975]

@@Adonnus100 Most of it flew past me to be honest because it's of the Persian language family and for all the languages I speak or have a notion of, none of them have commonality. You got to know a conversation starter and a few keys words, and understand how to act like you know more. Also keeps interpreters honest. Most of it though is just plain not being dumb and being aware of your environment. You wouldn't believe how many ISAF personel walked into Afghanistan basically assuming "This is a poor modern country where they think a bit differently but the fabric of society and structure of loyalties is the same as at home." It's nothing like Ukraine in that regard where the Soviet legacy is very visible at times. They're good people but damn did history throw some crap at them...

[@Infinite_Jester]

I was a platoon leader as a conscript, and it's really hard to motivate conscripts to do basic things like proper camouflage or pick up trash when they had to put their family and work lives on hold to come to an exercise. I imagine some of that (lack of) discipline or that mentality carries over to a real conflict.

[@hsiehman]

"If you didn't drop it; Don't pick it up. You see wire, metal, plastic, freshly turned dirt; Don't step on it."

[@erdnusse277]

The absolute golden rule of any combat zone imo. A lot of us learned that the hard way.

[@smertrusne3156]

Ahh..Especially any attractive thing, like ammo mag, etc. Also plastic bottle can be mined, toy, tree branches with fishing hooks, even the dead animal corpse, etc.

[@benisboy2697]

If it aint yours, its mine.

[@agrosyntrop]

Say that when you raiding a trench with your last mag and no food.

[@eriktruchinskas3747]

​@agrosyntrop that's exactly what the person placing the trap is counting on

[@therangedmartialartist5749]

This is kinda "military 101". Key indicators that your unit is a hard target and "gives a shit". Do they behave professionally, do they take their duties seriously, are the men physically fit and keeping their gear in good working order? It's amazing how the stuff you do in boot camp that you thought was stupid at the time really does translate into performing well in battle.

[@wyskass861]

Ya, that was my thought exactly. The first thing in boot camp and military schools they ingrain, is discipline, attention to detail and personal cleanliness. Cutting corners in tasks is fiercely punished. So it becomes second nature eventually.

[@bobybrimm5202]

@@wyskass861 "Sweat saves blood, blood saves lives, but brains saves both." ― Erwin Rommel

[@jfkst1]

The basics make all the difference.

[@Cdre_Satori]

I noticed it too, lots of veterans from ukraine share their wisdom which seems common sense and normal wisdom but are in fact as obvious as your nose and you are usually ignoring your nose.

[@daviddunkelheit9952]

@@Cdre_Satorithats a great point 🙏 As I comment from phone disregarding my 👃 completely!

[@harrymills2770]

Don't walk where it's easy to walk. Avoid natural paths. It's tougher slogging, but nobody's likely to stick a mine where the terrain is more difficult than the terrain adjacent.

[@cptmiche]

Look for out of place obstacles or 'natural' terrain features that don't seem quite so natural.

[@aidancreager4095]

The path most easily traveled is the path most likely to be ambushed

[@dun0790]

Must be hard in those quiet places on long marches to not switch off? And get lazy? Or is that just a problem with exhaustion?

[@colinobrien3806]

@@aidancreager4095 most likely but not where i would put them , i would look for the harder go around places and mine there based on the knowledge of thats where they will most likely go

[@samsham8218]

In general yes.. BUT Russians have been using butterfly mines (PFM-1) (Considered a war crime) So avoid tall grass, step carefully, and keep your eyes on the ground!

[@wyskass861]

Cat behavior is a good example of natural instinct which is just like good soldiering. They naturally memorize their environment and always notice changes from before. A different small item or branches even, and cautiously investigate. You always treat something foreign as dangerous and observe from afar at first, then approach slowly ready to retreat immediately, before poking at it. Keep yourself and area clean as a habit. Be alert to any unexpected movement by immediately forming a defensive position just in case. The ideal observation and safety spot is always hidden from view but with good outward visibility. Seek high ground as advantage. Always walk softly and affect ground minimally while keeping low and using terrain for cover. Always bury your waste to not indicate you were there. Take time to observe from safe position before deciding on action and approach cautiously and silently without revealing your presence. When striking do with utmost ferocity and speed to overwhelm with maximum surprise. Take advantage of night and enemy unawares. Don't make noise nor release any smells or indicators of your presence.

[@ivan00001983]

Right, cats are listening constantly, every louder sound, even in the house they live, causes alert and scaning around with their eyes. I saw one night cat emergency-evacuating on the tree, seemed like out of the blue, and then one second later there was big dog or fox in full speed running past the tree, obviously trying to grab her, she somehow saw/smelled/sensed him coming in poor visibility

[@crusader.survivor]

I incorporate Cat-Fu in my martial arts training regime!

[@RONIN11-11]

Makes sense…they are apex predators after all. And that’s what I’d aspire to be on the battlefield.

[@hrvojemarin9649]

@@ivan00001983 hunting dogs also are like warehouse managers, they run and snif for changes.

[@Vivungisport]

Read somewhere that smoke from a cigarette could be sensed from a kilometer away🤔.

[@Warmaker01]

Discipline seems to be the typical indicator for a good unit. Discipline to do the job right. Right procedures and practices are carried out and enforced.

[@wyskass861]

It's interesting to note how discipline and attention to detail is the first thing they start to ingrain at boot camps and military schools. Like perfectly making your bed and folding your clothes to make it a habit which transfers to everything else in the future and very well illustrated here.

[@macpora]

@@wyskass861 When you're tired, hungry, thirsty, discipline is the first thing to go. It's good to have habits to fall back on. But habits take time to develop, so most of the Russian contingent will probably never learn good combat habits.

[@wyskass861]

@@macpora Exactly, those recruits don't have years of training where that sort of things become second nature.

[@wad316]

Reminds me of the British and American Ukraine volunteers Garand Thumb interviewed who summed it all up with the phrase: "Basics done well"

[@wyskass861]

@@wad316 I've heard Delta Force members, describe their skills with those same words. That they don't have any secret magic skills, but just retrain on the basics at very high volumes to practical perfection.

[@wyskass861]

This helps illustrate why boot camp or military schools immediately start enforcing discipline for organization and cleanliness. While it may seem pointless to perfectly make your bed every morning for example, that kind of ingrained habit is exactly why a well trained professional soldier it attentive to details as discussed here and will always put in full effort into those small things which do matter. Never idle time during training to get out of that habit.

[@christiandauz3742]

Isn't that also part of the problem when they get out Imagine those vets abusing their kids and pets for being sloppy Humans are sloppy by nature Discipline is how we get toxic work environments and burnout of workers. Double edge sword

[@Nathan-Roman]

​@@christiandauz3742no dude... Join the military and drive a forklift for a few years, that's not gonna make you abusive, it's the emotional trauma associated with combat that can do that, and not even to everyone

[@dennisyoung4631]

Focus on thinking about, and then dealing with, details. Correct?

[@juliantheapostate8295]

@@dennisyoung4631 It's more about making the details second-nature so you free up more of your brainpower to react accordingly to a changing situation. I think

[@FifinatorKlon]

That is a nice written piece of wishful thinking.

[@samsham8218]

Makes sense. Cleanliness, discipline, Planning, forethought, multiple contingency plans.

[@stevecooper7883]

I would say morale should've been mentioned too

[@mrandersson1082]

Mines are scary. Worse, they will be a problem a long time after this thing is over.

[@pac1fic055]

Like in Afghanistan after the Soviets left.

[@EsotericBachaBazism]

It won't be over, this is the new world war

[@volusian95]

During the cold period of the war in Donbass (2018-2021) they were taking like 15 lives per year, one can only imagine what it's going to be like now.

[@garywheeler7039]

All military hardware needs to be biodegradable. I know its a lot to ask and we all love to look at ancient castles. But "implements of the devil" ( a ACW term) need to eventually go away, from dust into dust.

[@SinkingShips1998]

The movie:Mine

[@brett76544]

I was a combat engineer in the US Army, one thing I learned working with other countries engineers or being deployed. We are all devious fucks. Set certain personal land mines on their sides for people probing the ground to find mines, then using fallen vegetation to create funnels into the mined areas. Even trip wires to nothing going from upper left down to the right on the edges of the path of travel expected. I can remember clearing minefields and going to the place where the pins and boxes were left and realizing there were more mines than on the minefield reports by the guys that put it in. Always interesting to things stressed in basic training, just being indicators he was talking about.

[@chriscw3487]

thank you very much ...the first time i have heard a vet talking about the hard facts of the work ....and the thought that has to go into "basic" infantry work

[@stevecooper7883]

Morale plays the largest part. It separates the conscripts from the elite

[@kalervolatoniittu2011]

War isn't really a rocket science. Discipline's the word

[@rochrich1223]

I saw a clip from 2022 where a Russian who came under small arms fire got on the radio and got suppressive fire on the Ukrainian position. It was jolting to see basic coordination since I've gotten use to the routine lack of it. The Wagner unit that was wiped out was unusually well coordinated. Good radio chatter, fire being directed, supplies moving on order. I didn't need to speak the language to see that these guys could fight. Died anyway, but still....

[@shanegraham9077]

Send me the links bro. People talk nonsense about them all the time. There a few of us who know better. Respect your enemies at all times

[@shanegraham9077]

Send me the links bro. People talk nonsense about them all the time. There a few of us who know better. Respect your enemies at all times

[@bobjones-bt9bh]

wagner was the premier fighting unit in the world...like a bigger version of ranger reg.

[@rubelan3552]

They had major issues early on in the war that were steadily ironed out, prompting western media backed by whatever brainlets sitting in American office to, with their full extent try to dehumanize their enemy (and send increasing amounts of aid) only to realize that the war won't be over in a few months. Hopefully the change of power in America will prompt them to look at things more realistically and get rid of brain melting bullshit that makes Americans look the same as the Russians for us Lithuanians at least.

[@papafrenchie6088]

@@bobjones-bt9bh ??? lmao no they weren't

[@duartesimoes508]

Napoleon used to say "The weaker a unit is, the more fuss it makes..." 😀

[@donaldduck830]

That is what I have been seeing, too. Lot's of people crying loudly and it is smarter and most important to watch the quiet ones closely.

[@melliteshastur4417]

That is why the grenadiers de la vieille garde were so freaking terrible to see on the battlefield These guys were perfectly ordoned, maintained and clean. No useless yellings, notbody out of line and when one fell from musketball the troop just continued. That was why they were so effective, they spooked the enemy by looking effective as hell

[@donaldduck830]

@@melliteshastur4417 "La garde meurt mais ne se rend pas !" ("The Guard dies but does not surrender!") Cambronne Right?

[@melliteshastur4417]

@donaldduck830 ''Je ne suis pas mort et je me suis rendu'' oui mais ta gueule Cambronne

[@duartesimoes508]

@@melliteshastur4417 Interestingly, even today in Portugal being _da Velha Guarda,_ belonging to the Old Guard, means being well known, absolutely trustworthy, reliable, savvy and dependable to the very end. I remind that Portugal was invaded three times by Napoleon, in every instance painstakingly repelling the French with the aid of the British Army.

[@austinevs]

One of the lessons in combat training and boot camp now that I think of it is being made to walk through a puddle of water. It’s not to make you wet as it is to get you used to walking through the harder paths. Less likely to step on something that will blow you up.

[@saintadolf5639]

Yeah, you only do they if you are able to change your boots and socks. Wet feet causes trench foot and other nasty incapacitating injuries.

[@austinevs]

@ again it was training. The point isn’t about the water but about taking the more difficult route.

[@saintadolf5639]

@austinevs No, brah. You train how you fight. And you keep your feet dry. You must have been a P.O.G.

[@austinevs]

@@saintadolf5639 I was a POG. Intel... Never claimed to be infantry. Go ahead and call USMC HQ and tell them their training is bad.

[@saintadolf5639]

@austinevs Why would I do that? You just put the issue to rest by admitting you were a POG. POGs don't need to realistically train for operations outside the wire, you can prob use one hand to count your every sojourn outside the wire. You're absolutely right, you Fobbits can play in puddles all you want . My apologies.

[@rokasb9441]

We need more interviews like this!

[@paulwallis7586]

That guy has a future in training. No extraneous clutter, all practical.

[@salao-b1w]

Very, very, very good video. Keep up with the good work !!!

[@Hashashin_Fidayin]

Very interesting! Thank you for posting! Crazy how small that mine is

[@jimtalbott9535]

Look at those pagers that Israel modified.

[@Hashashin_Fidayin]

​@@jimtalbott9535 Yeah or even the 'green parrot' also shown in the video.

[@sindrekolbotn]

Leave it to a German to go to a war zone and still complain about littering😂 All jokes of course, much respect to him for his service

[@waart778]

The trash point made me wonder if there are any cases where they put trash made in one minefield in another to make it look like they used more mines than they actually did in that minefield

[@uncreativename9936]

that or planted all but one mine from a box so that way they waste time looking the last one which isn't planted. then you could plant that last mine another time as an extra one.

[@anhduc0913]

​@@uncreativename9936mines is not likely counted or standard in number.

[@CalgarGTX]

I know germans during WW2 used to make very big minefields with nice warning signs and delimited borders, some of them had no mine at all, some only a few, no way for the attacker to know, so it still helped funnel attacks into killing zones and delay progress inland after the D-day landings for instance.

[@cmap1503]

Feels good to hear that whats taught in my unit (danish mechanized infantry) would be considered elite in this video

[@bliblablubb9590]

It takes skill to recognize and evaluate skill. Something tells me this vet did a ... thorough job in ukraine.

[@mattfransen1551]

If the comments from Ukrainian soldiers are anything to go off, probably not.

[@jimtalbott9535]

@@mattfransen1551What comments? Where?

[@eyohboy455]

​@@mattfransen1551can you shed some light into this?

[@mattfransen1551]

@@jimtalbott9535 Several Ukrainian officers came forward and said western volunteers perform very poorly. They say most quit after their first engagement and the remainder usually stay for a few months at most. They complain that these volunteers are usually veterans and are used to the type of combat seen in Afghanistan but realize it’s much different. You can find the article, from the beginning of the year.

[@REDACTED_shenanigans]

​@@mattfransen1551 There's two sides to that coin: On one hand, yes there's combat tourists ill suited to the job. Those are the ones that leave fast. But there's also competent and highly effective volunteers. Chosen Company or some of the SOF formations come to mind. On the other hand, its also partly commanders not considering how to effectively wield a volunteer force of mixed background and instead trying to treat them like normal conscripts which usually doesnt really work out

[@daredemontriple6]

Let's say you've got a dozen anti-personnel mines and about a 300m 'front' to protect - it doesn't matter how you spread those mines you simply don't have enough to cover the whole area. If you do a good job hiding all your mines you might well hit someone, but an attacking unit that doesn't know it's in a minefield might as well not be until it hits one, and it's unlikely to hit one in such a sparse pattern. So you leave one or two visible - not blatant, but as if to indicate the sort of mistake a soldier might make after having hidden 1,000 mines. If you've been burying mines all day every day for a week, then a few are bound to be not quite hidden enough. And that on it's own is enough to make your enemy question their every step - if they can see one or two, how many can't they see? Mindgames and psychology play a huge part in warfare, and simple tactics like this are a good example of stretching your resources.

[@urgaynknowit]

My only complaint is that this interview was so short

[@marrs1013]

Great insight. Could hear more of it, but I guess the value of the material would be just too great for the enemy. Go9d stuff!

[@kevlarburrito6693]

I can’t speak for other countries but US regulars are trained to do a lot of this, especially when it comes to sterilizing your space.

[@MrDael01]

Plenty of US units had low discipline during lengthy tours in Iraq tho. They're not supermen

[@kevlarburrito6693]

@ Doesn’t change the fact that it’s a standard doctrine within US units. Plenty of people hurl themselves off bridges too, by your logic everyone who walks across a bridge is also going to hurl themselves off.

[@daviddevault8700]

Even US reservists and mobilized units with mobilized NCOs showed the basics. These were soldiers and NCOs with shortend training cycles.

[@danmorgan3685]

The trick is doing it when you're tired and have a low grade fever from that cold that's going around.

[@mkismkismk]

Most are trained like this, few actually do in real life scenarios. Main difference between crack and crackhead units

[@etwas013]

Good choice of a topic. Unique content on yt!

[@reddevilparatrooper]

All areas that are mined by any nation's army are usually observed by a sentry or OPLP Observation Post Listening Post. Mines are area denial devices to stop or restrict your enemy's movements and to channel them to your kill zone or prevent them from breaching. Your enemy on a defense will closely monitor all your probing activities.

[@kawaiiarchive357]

I'm a fat boy at heart because I thought those mines were food rations at first glance.

[@LaserRifle]

Looked like desserts or a large baby bel cheese.

[@julianpedersen9167]

I know it's just a mine, but that quartered device in the top-left is still making me hungry for a nice slice of cheesecake.

[@Dayvit78]

Vitamin C-4!

[@willemsma]

Quick way of losing weight; and more.

[@bumblingbureaucrat6110]

The Forbidden Tuna can

[@Medievaltroubador]

This is one of the best channels on KZbin.

[@The_ZeroLine]

This was a great video. Please do more like this if possible. Anyway, it shows how much of this is simply dependent on common sense, motivation + intelligence as even with zero training, almost everything discussed in terms of the proper way to maintain your position, minimize your detectability, go about mining, etc. are self-evident and vice-versa on differentiating between efficient and poor units. Though there was one mining trick that hadn’t occurred to me. And, of course, things like knowing how many mines to expect based on model is only something you could learn from shadowing a vet before going out on your own.

[@mtcondie]

That was very interesting. Thank you!

[@MilitaryHistoryNotVisualized]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@UncleJoeLITE]

Luckily, none of this applies to the Navy. We have no idea how good they are & it's very impersonal warfare. Thanks Bernhard & Herr X. 🇦🇺

[@basswarnow]

It's impersonal until you have to rescue the survivors of the ship you just sank lol

[@katherinesilens2994]

I wonder if there's a meta-game going on between really good units at the front. For example, if you know the enemy mineclearers know you have packs of 6, every so often you drop 5 only then if it will cause them to get stuck looking for the 6th long enough for your patrol to catch them. Or if you are tasked with 3 minefields, you take 4 boxes and lay traps of 8. Or if there's a way to booby-trap one of the mines to kill anyone trying to defuse it. Personnel like the interviewee are undoubtedly hugely valuable assets in the mine clusterfuck that is Ukraine, so targeting them would generate great value.

[@Rokaize]

More stuff like this please

[@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714]

So yes a good unit understands that your shovel is your shield, and any sweat you expend now will save you blood later. Good soldiers follow orders and follow protocol, they do not get burned out if told to sit in a trench while being shelled they will do that without fault and come out to fix their posisions whenver the shelling stops. The best soldiers are effectively robots.

[@saintadolf5639]

No. The best soldier is a thinking soldier. One who pays attention to detail, learns from every experience, and listens to his gut. Gut feelings exist for a reason. All that is part of being a conscientious human being not a robot.

[@anhduc0913]

​@@saintadolf5639you call it gut feeling, but it's much more concrete and simple. It's experience. The better units have more experience, both on field and trainings. Have a feeling and something in that position is kinda wrong, and it could be a trap? Something feels out of place and the place is likely mined? That's experience speaking.

[@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714]

@@saintadolf5639 What makes you think robots dont think, pay attention to detail, and learn from expierience?

[@saintadolf5639]

@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714 Robots don't think. They do as they are programmed. What makes you think robots think?

[@saintadolf5639]

@@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714 Are you a robot?

[@honourableI1]

The same units that wouldn't pick up the trash are the same ones that probably live in filth back home. Reminds me of the stereotype of a true German always has a well kept house & an especially tidy front doorway.

[@snapdragon6601]

Definitely. Yeah, the typical stereotype of Germans, at least here in the US, is that they are very punctual, organized, industrious, and hard working but they lack a sense of humor. The Russians have their own stereotype here in the US but suffice it to say, cleanliness isn't one of the attributes associated with them. additionally I've seen multiple videos uploaded during the past 2 years by members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces showing recently captured Russian trenches and there was just trash everywhere, which probably attracted the rats. It was just nasty. 🐀

[@mind-blowing_tumbleweed]

​@@snapdragon6601Ukrainian trenches have just as much rats

[@IvanKolyada]

@@mind-blowing_tumbleweedThose are conscripted rats, utilized for mice-extermination operations.

[@Birdy890]

@@mind-blowing_tumbleweed Does that include the soldiers?

[@honourableI1]

Now now girls. Break it up.

[@ihcfn]

Fascinating, thank you.

[@andersgrassman6583]

I'd say this is pretty much like any other workplace in life. Leadership is very important to any workgroup.

[@matthewmallan1995]

Absolutely fascinating. Thank you. 💐

[@SF-rf9if]

"Thank you very much!" 'Mmhhmm...' If I didnt know he was a German that would have clued me in hahahaha 😂 Great interview and lots of info, thanks!

[@jdiluigi]

This was extremely interesting. Thanks.

[@janwrobel8912]

Crazy how stupid shit from basic training like clining and weapon maintenance can impact combat performance.

[@clydedoris5002]

Their is a reason the roman legions were considered so elite even when not in combat they'd hike 20 miles a day just cause and build their encampment from scratch every night on campaign. Also during peace time a good number of them were probably proficient engineers because legionaries built alot of stuff

[@Drownedinblood]

Thats basic af...starching uniforms doesnt have a practical application. Super shined boots dont have an application. Its why we got suede boots now..

[@armannstraughter3296]

Hm.

[@CyrilSneer123]

@@Drownedinblood That comes from a place of being clean, presentable, ensuring your weapon and equipment is in good order and also your environment.

[@Drownedinblood]

@CyrilSneer123 so train people to actually keep their spaces clean instead of having them shine boots...have them learn to properly organize their stuff instead of pressing a uniform...hell teach them proper practical laundry techniques..

[@drunkenmick]

Lots of people are saying this is what US regulars are trained for. The US hasn't had to conscript men for a while now.

[@tylerlongairc467]

Especially in rural areas kids learn to hunt at like age 6

[@SAPYOR100]

Super Video! An den PzPio Kameraden, danke für deinen Einsatz in der Ukraine! Anker - Wirf

[@etwas013]

Danke, dass Sie sich für die Amis prostituieren. Schande Deutschlands.

[@verenturnil9510]

​@@etwas013 germany is doing its part to help ukraine, this has nothing to do with the US you shill

[@SAPYOR100]

@@verenturnil9510 Bist du betrunken Iwan?

[@MooLaa-e1s]

What he says is true as a south african COLD WAR veteran fighting in angola in the early 80's most of this was hammered into us during our training once on operations we done two week patrols and did not leave any trash behind.

[@amerigo88]

A soldier or centurion in Caesar's legions would be right at home - improving earthworks, keeping the trash picked up, sentry duty rotation, etc

[@CalgarGTX]

Less likely to get shelled or the barbarians having sniper teams tho...

[@DopaminedotSeek3rcolonthree]

​@@CalgarGTXImagine if the Gauls found a package of drones... The battle of 2 walls would look different af.

[@amerigo88]

@@CalgarGTX You say "sniper", but I see "slinger".

[@265P42G]

Very interesting topic as a civilian. A good friend of mine is a former career Marine with combat experience which he does not talk about. I asked him what is the best advice you can give a civilian stuck in a combat zone. He smiled and said: Look very uninteresting given someone is doing a cost benefit analysis on you.

[@MrTheWaterbear]

Wow, that was really interesting.

[@0num4]

This man speaks the truth. Even though they were a very different sort of force, my own experience in Iraq against AQ mirrors this sort of behavior. Even among poorly funded terrorist cells, there are differing levels of morale or esprit de corps, attention to detail, work ethic, ability to think how the enemy thinks, etc. I wasn't a sapper or engineer, just a radio guy, but we had to learn this stuff for survival, especially as IEDs became increasingly clever and complicated.

[@Ivan_I99999]

You know you're facing the best when the enemy pulls back and you're suddenly hit with artillery or air support.

[@scottabc72]

So much of this seems obvious "hide your mines, hide your trash, build up your positions, have back up positions etc..." particularly because it will help you survive but I assume the reality of war is just so overwhelming that without good training people can just end up hoping for the best and not really preparing for the worst

[@GrinchObunga]

wow its literal human hunting techniques

[@mirceazaharia2094]

Humans are the most awful, diabolical, ingenious lifeforms on Earth. The greatest prey, and greatest predators.

[@nickrails]

Great interview

[@doomey22a]

I wonder what constitutes a good length for sentry rotation? Does it depend upon the size of the unit?

[@EWLR89]

In my experience, it depends on unit size, positioning, unit fatigue, etc. If everyone is really tired, having your sentrys in pairs is important to they keep each other awake on a 1-2hr rotation. When rested, a sentry could be on duty longer, but it's a good idea to move to different positions (if in a trench or built up position) every few hrs

[@MrZauberelefant]

@@EWLR89 not to forget the wheather. In Russian winter conditions, rotating hourly is a good idea, lest you lose men to the cold.

[@biccey6585]

Yes in my experience also we always did 1 hour each

[@IwasBraveFor2WholeSeconds]

Field discipline is vital ensuring all the defensive positions are strong and deep enough and likely approach areas have sentries and mined. For rubbish, this should be taken away after each unit rotation or resupply. What's mostly important for good moral is a workable sentry rotation, preferably in pairs and not have it too long and places with over head cover from the weather. Each position should have comms to give early warning. Shift commanders should periodically check up their men and if possible bring hot beverages if the weather is cold and have spare batteries.

[@squintz21four]

He probably dusted off his great grand father’s old pokorovka maps.

[@armannstraughter3296]

Hm.

[@raymondpinkerton1723]

I was a combat engineer and a trained zapper .I agree

[@SailfishSoundSystem]

Are military working dogs used in Ukraine? In Vietnam, certain dogs could hear trip wires whistling in the wind above human hearing. Saved lives. Tracking/scout dogs. Also drones could be used with magnetic anomaly detectors, hypothetically, to find metal mines/metal targets. Hunter/killer variety. Additionally, inexpensive remote control hobby cars to clear minefields. You could also use them to drag a light metal net maybe? Trying to think outside the box. Leap frog them.

[@ThatOneGuy-mn6dv]

From what I'm personally aware of in this conflict since 2022 onwards dogs aren't use on the front unless you got that unit with that guy who his own reason for morale reasons wanted a dog. They are mostly use for guarding and finding dangerous and sus stuff. Other than that nothing really closest kind of action is by policing units for trouble like crime/insurgents actives which isn't really that active as people want to think it is for either side.

[@GazB85]

In parts of Africa they use trained rats to help find (I can't remember if they disarm or not.) mines. No, they don't get them to blow up.

[@preslove]

next level content

[@RantTheRetort]

The sad thing is that what this guy is saying is the sign of an elite unit, are basic expectations of every US units.

[@rogerc6533]

Not with all the fatties and dei hires they have now

[@Nathan-Roman]

​@@rogerc6533he said the things guys!

[@Mike-ukr]

I will remind you that every US unit is made up of volunteers and only those that met a high standard to boot, not conscripts and white trash lured by fat checks

[@Mike-ukr]

but don't worry, if the US ever gets into a truly serious war you'll have it even worse

[@NS2Grimjack]

You can have a lot of uses for soldiers that are not expected to survive all that long ... and if you have that policy, it is just rational to not spend to much time training them. The US army don't have that policy, which is good for the US soldiers.

[@Michael-gk1jk]

Good interview

[@baudsp]

what's the optimal shift length for a sentinel?

[@fakshen1973]

As short as tactically possible. Keeping people on high alert for long periods of time means they will eventually fatigue... especially after a long day.

[@amraphensantiago6699]

depends on how many people you have, and your expectations, EX: a platoon is assigned to create a remote patrol base or observation post, say 50 men. Chance of enemy encounter is considered high, so we choose a similarly high security stance:50% For an eight hour rest period, you will only sleep half of it, participating in security for the other half. To ensure that everyone gets at least some rest, your four hours of nighttime duty will be split into two two hour periods. That same platoon, on the same mission, in the same spot, but with a low assessment of enemy capability and activity, may only post 25 or 30% security. so in that same platoon, each man will only need to serve two of the eight hours resting period on watch. During 'stand to' (The hours of twilight-dawn and dusk) good units will go to 100% security as this is the most dangerous and likely time to be attacked. when planning, always remember Mission Enemy Time Terrain Troops available Civil considerations And read the book "The Defence of Duffer's Drift" if you want old school but practical guidance. It has a much more limited scope than something like "The Art of War" but that allows it to be much more specific, and geared towards a 'relatively' modern conflict.

[@justaguy8104]

@@amraphensantiago6699great suggestion on the book. Appreciate

[@danielmarshall4587]

Thank you gentlemen....and YES may we all have a "next time," here's to a future we can ALL enjoy.

[@billysunday7507]

Just ask them. If its a Navy Seal they will try selling you their book

[@michaelguerin56]

Thank you.

[@FifinatorKlon]

This is the Jordan Peterson of the eastern front. "Before clearing out enemy positions, make sure your own position is clean"

[@MrZauberelefant]

Contrary to the ravin canadian, he talks pretty straightforward.

[@paulclarke4776]

Great question!!!!

[@Harib_Al-Saq]

His voice is like smooth and soothing Germanic butter in my ears. 🇩🇪🧈👂👍

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

With a slight Danish lilt? Must be from the far north.

[@tplummer217]

Great question.

[@command_unit7792]

Russian soldiers are taught to spread trash around(spacificly that can make noise when steped on) as a cheap perimiter trigger(revealing or delaying enemy troop movements near your position) source:'ABC's of the SVO' (special military operation abriviation in Russian) educational cartoon Its a somewhat new tactic so older elite units might not know it.(I think the elite units should be drilled to use this tactic because at worst it would make the enemy underestimate them)

[@Nathan-Roman]

That's utter nonsense that they made up to fool people into thinking that leaving garbage laying around was something other than an amateur mistake

[@command_unit7792]

@Nathan-Roman Doesn't change the fact that it's part of what the average grunt gets taught now and to be honest the logic kinda checks out.

[@Nathan-Roman]

@@command_unit7792 The logic does not check out.

[@FifinatorKlon]

​@@Nathan-Roman So, getting extra information via audio queues is not useful. Thank you for your valuable opinion.

[@Nathan-Roman]

@@FifinatorKlon not when you're far more likely to have bombs dropped on you because drones spotted your garbage laying around rather than having being raided by stealthy special forces soldiers that will deliberately not reveal themselves by stepping on your empty soda cans, no.

[@dedompler]

fighters from ILDU taking indirect MG fire was pretty insane to watch from their point of view

[@DNH17]

1 million dead and wounded for what? For the rich and criminals. Between brothers sisters, not even against aliens. And the environment is dying.

[@FifinatorKlon]

Where do people get all these ludicrous numbers from lol

[@DNH17]

@@FifinatorKlon 1 million including the wounded.

[@poolee77]

@@FifinatorKlonit’s estimated that 400,000 - 700,000 Russians and 500,000 Ukrainian casualties. These numbers are from back in July. You can easily find multiple independent sources with similar figures.

[@jastrapper190]

When you see your own legs land around 10 meters from you… you will know… you’ve been outsmarted by a superior foe.

[@aidancreager4095]

To save you guys some time: trash or lack thereof, use of camouflage netting, mine placement and number of mines per package, use of drones and night vision/IR

[@kladblok2729]

Fascinating stuff.

[@EXO9X8]

When you gonna interview valgear

[@TheLittleDeath1]

That would be interesting.

[@bradleyb.425]

100% true. I was a combat leader in Iraq, and I personally witnessed the results of a tight, professional unit versus a sloppy, undisciplined unit. If you are in the defense, the enemy observes what kind of unit you are. If you are professional, disciplined and respectful to the people there, in the way this German sapper describes, it's far less likely that you'll get hit. I was an infantry platoon leader assigned to defend a critical infrastructure facility in a very dangerous area. We did everything by the numbers and we were quiet, calm and professional in everything we did. No one even attempted to mes with us because we were a very hard target. When we got relieved, we were relieved by a poorly led, sloppy, undisciplined unit. They were loud, filthy and they were not carefully respectful of the surrounding populace. They were hit HARD after just one day in that position. The battalion commander immediately relieved them and ordered my platoon to resume the assignment until the mission was complete. No one wants to mess with highly disciplined professionals who take the business of soldiering seriously. Such men and such units are easy to spot by even stupid people. So are the poorly led, undisciplined units. Sloppy, unprofessional, poorly led units are easy to kill and destroy. Professionals are never easy to kill and destroy.

[@Pavlos_Charalambous]

During my service in the Greek army, even in routine patrols the officers was insisted to carry our trash with us and don't leave anything behind, like rations leftovers ect But yeah it never accure to me why, I guess being drafted in the peaceful 00s played it's role

[@shaneconnor86]

sehr gut

[@jonshive5482]

Isn't this the same guy who said in another viddy that FASCAM mines were the biggest cause of casualties in Ukraine? Yet there are plenty of viddies that show armored columns being hit mostly by drones and artillery. Likewise those glide bomb (FAB) explosions look pretty impressive and suggest only well dug-in or dispersed units can avoid their impact. Or am I missing something? Thanks.

[@kisaragi_san1378]

Drones & artillery are usually easier to video though because of how they're employed, right? I'm not sure if this is the same guy, just wondering.

[@dyanreoliveira4764]

The drones have cameras, and the artillery is often directed by drones. No one is recording a minefield 24/7. Hope that helps!

[@Triarri]

If I remember from a previous video he also said most losses are caused my combined warfare hits. So a tank or vic runs a mine, maybe gets demobilized, then drones and artillery finish it. Also what the other commenters said.

[@MilitaryHistoryNotVisualized]

Videos that you get to see are generally released for propaganda reasons and putting cameras on millions of mines is too expensive and probably wouldn’t work well. To put it another way, what you see on pornhub might not be reflective of what is actually the regular sex life.

[@jonshive5482]

@@dyanreoliveira4764 Yep. Thanks.

[@dandelionthief3979]

If 3 hours is a bad rotation length for sentries, what's a good rotation?

[@biccey6585]

We always did an hour each from my experience

[@Amalineth]

Do you know how to distinguish bad or elite ukrainian unit? If they were catched on the street and forcedly sent to the frontline one week ago, they are bad, if two weeks ago, they are elite.

[@JonTan-z3e]

its like playing a video game or moba or chess or poker as a noob vs a pro, or any skill level vs a person or team that is far far superior than u.....u will understand very quickly...its like u do not even comprehend what they are doing to u and they utterly dominate u and dictate all of ur movement, and u and ur team being completely helpless because u realise u have reached a level of the game where u do not understand the meta strategy that is going on or how to react to it or overcome it strategically,u reach deep into ur brain for answers but there is nothing u know what is it ur missing and what u have gone wrong but u do not possess the knowledge or ability to overcome it.....of course after the game many people would ponder over their losses and discuss it and go and do more research and learning and it takes months and years of slow painful learning and corrections and building up a huge repository of knowledge, meta knowledge and experience . but if this is actual war, there may not be many opportunities or second chances for u. ur team just disintegrates and loses structure and cohesion completely and discombobulated and walks around in a daze dumbstruck and helpless while screaming insults and frustrations at each other and all kinds of toxic s.....until u are completely annihilated and the game ends.

[@UtubeH8tr]

The difference is you'll never face an elite unit because you'll already be dead before you see or hear them.

[@kalervolatoniittu2011]

Sounds like sane approach on warfare

[@PeterTheVald]

Always good to listen to a veteran. Slava Ukraine.

[@vilijamkil5937]

hey cringelord , ukraine is losing big time.

[@hhhhorton6160]

​@@vilijamkil5937calling someone cringe while speaking like a redditor

[@vilijamkil5937]

@@hhhhorton6160 supporting ukraine is small p thing

[@henrik_worst_of_sinners]

Ukraine is not going to exist for long.

[@hhhhorton6160]

@@vilijamkil5937 ok👍

[@MickyChowMein69]

How well camoflaged a position has been made is the first thing I would think of. It should be invisible.

[@kjererrt7804]

is ukraine winning?

[@sH-ed5yf]

Not realy. But why ask suxh a question

[@smertrusne3156]

Is it N-Korean soldier asking?))))

[@robertrigby-jones2805]

Bad unit: You see, hear or smell them before they know you're there Good unit: Are shooting at you from multiple positions before you know they are there

[@UnfollowYourDreams]

Wish this would be longer. On the other hand it's prolly not the best idea to educate your enemy.

[@antonseoane9092]

You think any of this is something that the Russian army doesn't know?

[@UnfollowYourDreams]

@@antonseoane9092 is it worth replying when you only read half of my comment?

[@antonseoane9092]

@@UnfollowYourDreams I read it whole, if you think Russia is short of information coming from the field idk what to tell you after years of war

[@UnfollowYourDreams]

@@antonseoane9092 in that case your reading comprehension leaves much to be desired. Have a nice evening!

[@antonseoane9092]

@@UnfollowYourDreams I'm sorry for you, and I hope it gets better. Good evening indeed

[@pedrolopez8057]

so if a unit runs out of mines scattering a few empty boxes of mines about might work to slow or deter your enemies.

[@bacc3088]

You seriously never asked how he feels about swastikas on UA brigade flags?

[@kjererrt7804]

lmao he must have a few himself.

[@sH-ed5yf]

Apperently you dont even knlw what a swastika is made. Otherwise I dont knlw how you could ask such a dumb question

[@smertrusne3156]

Just watch vids with ruzky captives, lol.

[@FifinatorKlon]

@@sH-ed5yf Enlighten us.

[@sH-ed5yf]

@@FifinatorKlon well he doesnt know what a swastika is apperently. Cause there is not a single unit Emblem or flag in ukraine where swastikas are to be found. So its a silly comment to begin with

[@Guillaume548]

What's a good shift rotation for standing guard then ?

[@ThatOneGuy-mn6dv]

Interview Russians when?

[@billanderson1075]

Mines area not booby traps, they are area denial tools to channel your enemy into a kill zone. You select an avenue of approach that you want the enemy to avoid. You first string engineering tape around the area marking ut clearly and record the location of each mine so they can be recovered later. And other friendly unit relieving your position know where they are. The mines are more dangerous to your own troops because they are adjacent to your positions, and if not marked, some stupid private is going to wander into them in the middle of the night. Air and artillery delivered mines are a stupid idea unless you are retreating and never plan to counterattack into that area.

[@laloelsalamanca]

Veteran German Nzi fighting for Ukraine.

[@no-sway3709]

Cope

[@ScipionLaurentiend]

Highly interesting