War Diplomats, Japanese/Soviet Neutrality, and why not Sweden? - WW2 - OOTF 015

[@WorldWarTwo]

We’re answering three new and exciting Out of the Foxholes questions. Todays unofficial OOTF theme is diplomacy, as we look at Allied ambassadors, German reactions to neutrality pacts and the peaceful diplomacy of Sweden. We are getting a lot of really good questions and hope to answer the best. I always find OOTF interesting as the stuff is a lot more weird and niche than what you expect from a “normal” video. Sometimes you learn the most bizarre stuff! Anyhow, head over to the TimeGhost website if you want us to answer YOUR question: community.timeghost.tv/c/Out-of-the-Foxholes-Qs! Cheers, Rune Be sure to check out our rules of conduct before you comment! community.timeghost.tv/t/rules-of-conduct/4518

[@sauronmordor7494]

Good job sire;)

[@atharva_kari]

World War Two Nice videos! I am a big fan and always is early! Stay safe and are you going dictate the India China border conflict also known as ww3 😂😂😓 Stay safe!

[@CannibaLouiST]

Please help researching on Hongkong's wartime Japanese style street names. I wanna know more!

[@everettinquisitor7818]

Here's my question what would happen if the user joined the axis?

[@ralfonso888]

Thanks for answering my question and keep up the great work! Cheers and stay healthy, Ralf

[@sirknight6283]

It’s episode 15 and I still think he’s going to say “The Chair Of Wisdom”

[@PaperclipClips]

I wonder if he ever messes up and accidentally says it during either rehearsals, or actual takes the first time around (that they would then have to re-do/re-record)?

[@baka1fred642]

he need the seven chair to wisdom

[@brokenbridge6316]

I still think that sometimes myself.

[@gohan7993]

I also always think that.

[@TheCimbrianBull]

@@baka1fred642 in that case he needs to talk to Lawrence of Arabia.

[@CivilWarWeekByWeek]

Still hoping for a fashion review of each armies uniform!

[@zhegod1598]

@Joakim von Anka Especially when the Soviet confused them for SS-Uniforms.

[@bmxracer117]

B A he did not design. Them Walter Heckt and Karl Deibitsch designed them. It was just Hugo Boss’ factories that the Nazis used for manufacturing. Although Boss himself was a Nazi

[@KitagumaIgen]

In school we were taught that the big mines of Sweden were prepared for "destruction" at invasion. Which was supposed to be a bigger deterrent that our military defenses.

[@Dark_Plum]

And I guess rebuilding would take ages. Later they would produce much less then before invasion. When doing forced labor everything is much slower and there are lot of "breakdowns". Greetings from Poland.

[@crazymaniac3000]

Ah. Russian strategy. Nice.

[@Dark_Plum]

@Joakim von Anka Good points, thanks for clearing. Germans would be screwed without local workforce and local workforce won't be cooperative.

[@alaksandutheexorkizein7634]

Not only the mines. Basically the whole nations industry were suppose to be laid to waste and then have a fighting retreat as long as possible and then, eventually, a guerilla warfare.

[@lavrentivs9891]

@@Dark_Plum It should be added that the vast majority of workers in the iron ore fields of northern Sweden were staunch socialists (some even communists) and would not have been easily persuaded to work for the germans if Sweden had been occupied.

[@Tramseskumbanan]

As a Swede I’m quite impressed by your good pronunciation of “Gällivare” and ”Kiruna”!

[@tiihtu2507]

Doesn't he live in Stockholm?

[@Jauhl1]

Probably something to do with Indy living in Sweden since 1996.

[@Tramseskumbanan]

How the hell would i know?

[@jackfontana9319]

@@Tramseskumbanan Start with watching Indy do the Great War series. You will learn about him personally. In fact, they do some episodes from there.

[@GunnyKeith]

Indys phone call >I can't believe he did it. Didn't Molotov have that hit song and all. LMAO

[@isakferm7686]

The Germans passed through my town in Sweden and my grandfather saw the germans on the trains at the station. But swedish soldiers guarding the train and did not let people get close to the trains and the germans was not allowed to leave the train.

[@lukaszblicharz9642]

Speaking of ambassadors, here’s something a few may find interesting. In the note that was issued to the Polish ambassador to the Soviet Union in the early hours of September 17th 1939, notifying of Moscow's intention to “secure” Eastern part of Poland, it was stated that Polish state “ceased to exist”. This rather loose interpretation of the events, and Soviets’ attitude towards international law and standards of diplomatic conduct in general, meant that Ambassador Waclaw Grzybowski and his staff found themselves in grave danger. You can’t represent something that doesn’t exist... so this begs the question - who are you exactly and what are you doing here? And indeed, their diplomatic immunity was questioned without a delay and their attempts to leave Russia were torpedoed, which all indicated that an arrest was imminent. Surprisingly, it took an intervention of German ambassador to Moscow Friedrich-Werner von der Schulenburg, who was the head of diplomatic corps at that time, to secure their departure. He first demanded that Soviets respect international law and let the diplomats leave. Molotov refused under the pretext of 62 Soviet low level diplomatic personnel still trapped in besieged Warsaw (Soviet ambassador along with the senior members of the mission left Poland for Moscow on the 10th under false pretext). When Schulenburg’s arguments that Polish government no longer had any control over these people were dismissed, he used his connections in Wehrmacht to ensure all soviet personnel can leave Warsaw safely for East Prussia and then be send on their merry way to the USSR. The whole affair took over three weeks, and if it wasn’t for the Schulenburg’s assistance, and insistence on adherence to the rules of diplomatic conduct, Grzybowski would most likely have ended up as many others trapped in Russsia. Be no mistaken. Schulenburg was no fan of Poland. He was a nazi since 1934 and a stern advocate of an alliance and future cooperation with USSR. He was against the war with Stalin till the end. But, in the same time, he was also an old German aristocrat who took his duties and obligations seriously, as German aristocrats tended to do... and was proud to serve in an elite class of professional diplomats. And ambassadors, as well as other diplomatic staff, being alone in a foreign land create a unique network of connections and often support one another even in the most unfavourable conditions. After all, international law and diplomatic protocol are the only things protecting them, and for what it’s worth, Schulenburg took his part in upholding these hundreds of years old proud traditions. I guess you could say Schulenburg was a part of the old German ruling class that in an parallel world would be - as English call it today - “an upper class”, but in our timeline - he shared the fate of the elite that allowed themselves to be first wooed by Hitler and his racists ideas, and then were flushed down the drain of history, in this way or another... For Schulenburg - SPOILER ALERT - the way was “another” - he was earmarked for the position of the foreign minister in the post-20th of July 1944 regime and subsequently executed.

[@jackfontana9319]

How interesting. I can't imagine how many stories like this are scattered through out history from this war and others. Thanks for writing!

[@lomax343]

2:25 "Britain quickly recognises [the Soviet acquisition of the Baltic States]" However... I'm old enough to remember that when, in the late eighties (I forget the exact year) Lithuania attempted to unilaterally secede from the USSR, the British foreign secretary was asked, in the House of Commons, whether the British government recognised the validity of Lithuania's secession. He replied that, since the British government had never recognised the Soviet acquisition of the Baltic states, the question was meaningless. Now, I'm cynical enough to recognise the fact that the Foreign Secretary had simply found a neat way of not answering a question he didn't feel comfortable about... but was he right, or did Britain formally legitimise the Soviet claim to Lithuania etc? Or is this just Realpolitik in action?

[@podemosurss8316]

The secession was made according to Soviet laws so that wasn't a problem either.

[@TotallyNotRedneckYall]

I think he meant recognize in the normal context, not in the diplomatic context. English sucks 🤣

[@xxxrrrxxxrrr]

It was complicated. You can look in Wikipedia for "state continuity of the baltic states" and there´s five different categories regarding the recognition of occupation. Basically only the USA (and Ireland and Vatican) did not in any form ever recognise the annexation (we are thoroughly thankful). UK did not de jure recognose the annexation.

[@tincoffin]

He was right -it was meaningless. The Soviet occupation was illegal in the first place so Lithuania remained an independent state in international law. There was therefore no other state to secede from. The role of the ambassador ceases to exist because there is no longer a Lithuanian government so of course Britain recognises this. I find it obvious but then I am English and others perhaps see it in a different way.

[@henrik3291]

Well we should also make a difference between occupation and annexation in this case. The UK government obviously protected the Baltic gold reserves, and in British maps from the cold war the baltic states where seen as occupied. One should also remember that the UK had made guarantees to the Baltic states, so maybe they withdrew from these guarantees?

[@obadaodeh1625]

Iam a big WWII geek, and without exaggeration this is the best WWII channel on youtube, i like the way that indy tells the history as if it was a story and he have enough passion about that era of history which can be transmitted to anyone whose interested in WWII. KEEP THE GOOD WORK. 👍

[@damienmiquel8513]

These are really good questions ! Thanks for the answers !

[@alanbaxter4133]

Awesome channel!... look forward to every episode

[@GunnyKeith]

CANT WAIT FOR BARBAROSSA CONTINUATION THIS SATURDAY. THANK YOU TO ALL CHANNEL DONORS. YOUR AWESOME

[@Aakkosti]

2:56 How much footage is there of Stalin overseeing people signing agreements? I swear there’s one for every important pact the Soviet Union ever signed.

[@bruh4487]

Mans got to be sure

[@scottaznavourian5791]

Didnt he send molotov to make the deal with ribbentrof? (And later on with churchill and fdr)

[@lipo-tz2qn]

@@scottaznavourian5791 he was present there as well

[@scottaznavourian5791]

@@lipo-tz2qn molotov went to england and the u.s im 1942. Stalin did not go with him

[@moors710]

My some of Swedish relatives fought in Norway, as well as supporting the Norwegian resistance.

[@lavrentivs9891]

It's odd that even the swedes fighting for the nazis are mentioned more often than those fighting in Norway, despite the volunteers in Norway was more than 4x as many.

[@lavrentivs9891]

@@mattep74 I guess it depends on who you're talking to and how interested they are in history^^ Maybe my hometown is an exception, seeing how we had norwegian resistance fighters operating from our side of the border (even had a radio station set up) as well as sami people helping to smuggle wanted resistance fighters into Sweden to avoid the germans.

[@JohnOlimb]

@@lavrentivs9891 Just out of curiosity, what is your home area? Charlottenberg? Arvidsjaur?

[@lavrentivs9891]

@@JohnOlimb None of those southern places. Born and raised in Kiruna, though I now live in the tropics of southern Sweden =P

[@Titan_Ruler622]

*Not many ww2 history channels talk about this* I still don't understand about the role of *German Motorised infantry* during fast Blitzkrieg offensives. If they were so numerically low (compared to infantry), *how* could they managed to *protect the flanks of German panzers* which often extended to hundred kilometers or more? Do they just lay *machine gun nests* and build mobile defenses around that (all along the entire flanks) and wait for the infantry to catch up? Or only occupy the key objectives road junctions and leave some reserves behind them?

[@ZeroNumerous]

Because being numerically low is not the same thing as not being present. The motorized infantry was small, but more than enough to cover the flanks as the tanks advance.

[@zombieboy1292]

While it was hard for the Germans to keep up with their panzer forces it was equally hard for their enemies to keep up with it. These panzer forces would take rail centres and important locations often crushing the resistance that would've been used to encircle their forces. This along with the fact early in the war enemies to the Reich were heavily incompetent and slow at responding to German attacks due to their command structures made the long reaching attacks successful.

[@titanmad2013]

@@ZeroNumerous Do you actually think that number of motorised infantries were sufficient in the early days of Barbarossa? There were literally hundreds of thousands of Soviet troops in every pockets they enveloped. Although the Germans mananged to do that, it is still not that much clear. *All the ww2 history channels speaks about tanks and tanks only 🙄, like it was the only reason of German victories.*

[@Raskolnikov70]

Armored units need a minimal level of infantry support. Otherwise they can't enter enclosed or urbanized areas because they'd be sitting ducks for hidden enemy infantry with anti-tank weapons. Bridges, passes and other areas where movement is funneled through a narrow area (instead of being able to advance along a wide front and flank any strong points) also need infantry to go in and clear them out before it's safe for the armored forces to pass through. So even while the German motorized infantry wouldn't be enough to secure large areas and supply routes, they're still necessary for the armored force to advance quickly.

[@Titan_Ruler622]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXbCm4tvepljg5I

[@indianajones4321]

Great video, love the chair of infinite knowledge

[@midwesternexplorer9339]

Its always a good time watching youre videos. I learn more here then any other channel.

[@RandomDudeOne]

Why wouldn't Japan sign a neutrality pact with the USSR in April 1941, Germany had done basically the same thing with Molotov Ribbentrop pact in 1939.

[@Zackaryyrakcaz]

That pact felt like a betrayal to the Japanese. My understanding is that the Japanese adapted and "got used to" the idea of neutrality with russia...for the time being. With a sizable border deterrence. By the time Japan gets over the pact and organizes their war efforts, Germany suprises them again by invading russia. Germany and Japan just weren't that close of allies. Certainly not when it comes to war-plans.

[@stc3145]

Yeah, and how could they invade Siberia a place with harsh terrain and almost no railroad or roads. While also fighting the chinese and later the allies

[@axelpatrickb.pingol3228]

They already did with the Armistice in 1939...

[@MemoryOfTheAncestors]

@@stc3145 Compared to the possible Japanese problems in Siberia and the Far East, the German logistic problems in the European part of the USSR would look just potty and childish.

[@scottaznavourian5791]

Spoiler. Warning: in 4 and a half months japaneese diplomats bungled timing of deliverin a declaration of war will have massive consequences

[@RandomDudeOne]

Do you really think it would have made any difference if the Japanese had delivered the declaration of war a couple of hours earlier?

[@samsmith2635]

@@RandomDudeOne Couldnt of called it a Surprise attack. Its like an opponent saying, On Guard.

[@RandomDudeOne]

@@samsmith2635 The OP said the late delivery of the declaration of war had "massive consequences", I don't see it having any significant consequences.

[@srenkoch6127]

@@RandomDudeOne Well it certainly was a major part of the war crimes trials after the war that the declaration was delivered too late, so while the outcome of the war may not have changed the war crimes trials would have. Also for a lot of ordinary Americans the fact that they perceived pearl harbor as a sneak attack helped galvanize support for the war effort. Had the deceleration been given as intended, it is at least possible that part of the blame for Pearl Harbor would have landed on the American authorities instead for allowing it to happen despite a deceleration of war (not that the government would have had time to do anything, but try to explain that to the population....)

[@FlagAnthem]

@@srenkoch6127 That would make an interesting "what if" scenario

[@janejames9173]

Excellent Channel. Thank you.😘

[@LarS1963]

I think it's also worth mentioning that unlike Denmark and Norway, Sweden began rearming and modernizing it's armed forces from 1935. While this program was not complete in 1940, German studies, found after the war, suggested that the Kriegsmarine considered the Swedish navy a problematic obstacle and would not guarantee a successful outcome. Considering the heavy losses they suffered already in Weserübung, a clash with the Swedish navy as well, at this point, would likely have been disastrous. I did a study on the Swedish navy, years ago, for a wargaming mod. On top of my head, Sweden had in 1940 three modern 'armoured ships', the 'Sverige'-class. Two light cruisers, four older armoured ships, twelve destroyers, twelve submarines and a number of mtbs, minelayers and minesweepers. That would have been a difficult navy to deal with inside the Baltic Sea.

[@LumiKuuro]

Aaah, Indy and his Kampfy Chair... XD

[@kemarisite]

Sweden benefitted greatly from "standing outside the war", being Aryan when Hitler appeared ascendant and a democracy when the pendulum swung back to the Allies. Staying out of the war also made them one of the very few countries in Europe to not take significant economic damage from the war and strategic bombing. Can't really blame them, of course, as that's part of what having a nation-state is for, is to look after the interests of the people of that nation-state. It's not like the Germans or Soviets are going to act in the best interest of the Swedes, right?

[@linusfotograf]

Yes, but at the same time ”we” didn’t help our neighbouring brothers and sisters.

[@MrSam1er]

Yup, similar case with Switzerland, even if Hitler hated the Swiss.

[@alaksandutheexorkizein7634]

@@linusfotograf they did enough

[@Raskolnikov70]

It's hard to find fault with countries like Sweden or Switzerland for staying neutral. Sure they could have stood up to Germany - but then what? At this point in 1941 it looks like Germany is going to win, that Britain has been effectively neutralized even if they haven't been defeated, and the Americans aren't willing to do more than send supplies. If they did try to resist German pressure or get involved in the war, they faced immediate invasion, occupation and destruction like every other country that resisted them. Their governments were faced with a terrible choice and decided that the safety and well-being of their citizens came first. Especially since they had no hope of success in defeating Germany - what would be the point of all that death and destruction?

[@linusfotograf]

Alaksandu the Exorkizein Individuals did, no army

[@brokenbridge6316]

How very interesting. Didn't know some of this happened. Great job.

[@hannayoung9657]

Lots of railways was "repaired" or had problems in Sweden during World War II, just to delay the Germans. My grandfather who was whitish blond and blue eyed boxer was used as decoy to keep the Germans soldier looking the other way while smugglers added stuff to the trains bound for Norway. That is what I been told, my grandfather has apparently a file on him and it is sealed for another 50 years if I remember correctly.

[@txm100]

Very interesting questions. Thanks!

[@gianniverschueren870]

Oh my, that is another gem that strikes me as the "right kind of terrible," to quote a certain Lannister. I'm actually going to give this tie a 4.5/5 (although I'm leaning more toward a 4). Input welcomed

[@DoraFauszt]

I go with a 4/5 because it goes so well with the west and the rolled up sleeves!

[@theredelephant428]

Really enjoyed the video! If I was the editor, I probably would have animated the text in reverse just to mess with Indy haha!

[@davidhimmelsbach557]

Indy -- a correction. The Danish king skipped town SECONDS ahead of the Germans. My old friend's father was in his body guard. During the war, the British used the Kings authority to occupy Iceland, in effect he was a second government... because the British wanted it that way. Adolf totally flipped out when this happened. His bodyguard platoon was front and center when Winnie returned from FDR for an Icelandic photo op. You'll find it out there on the Web. Even though they were front and center -- Winnie shook every soldier's hand -- they are not to be seen in the propaganda clip. All involved knew that the Nazis would retaliate against the boy's families. Hence only the Dutch troops, et. al are in the clip. No, Winnie didn't shake their hands. Later this contingent was replaced by a USMC brigade. Soldier Lundig (sp?) was able to ship to the Dutch East Indies so that he could watch the IJN sink the Dutch navy. It was that this point he switched to the Americans -- ultimately becoming an American citizen. This made him one of the very few that fought both the Nazis and the Imperial Japanese... serving under the Danish, Dutch, British and American flags at one time or another. Yeah, he was bilingual.

[@JohnOlimb]

For clarification, I must ask you about this Danish king.. you mean it was the Norwegian king Haakon VII from the Danish kingdom's family? Well, he had considered himself Norwegian after he was elected by the Norwegian people, not a common thing for a monarch.

[@ajeetsmann]

Didn’t Hitler also include Scandinavian countries as Aryans as well? That must have also factored into his decision to invade Sweden

[@caryblack5985]

yes he did and recruited SS volunteers from Nordic state

[@stc3145]

He did. He also planed to leave Norway after the war was won. He wanted it to be a Nazi puppet state. He probably wanted the same for Sweden

[@axelpatrickb.pingol3228]

And it was a disappointment for the Nazis they were forced to fight what they considered as blood brothers in COIN ops...

[@jarl8815]

Yes he did, according to Racial theorist Hans Gunther, Scandinavians were to be considered just as Aryan (if not even more) as/then the Germans.

[@Jauhl1]

Didn't stop him from invading Denmark and Norway. The postwar plan was for all of Scandinavia being annexed with the Reich anyway.

[@michaelmorgan9824]

I have to say I love this show on World War Two! Oh, and all the others also!

[@vidura]

Now that's a gentlemanlike way to start a video.

[@SpyGeorgilis]

I'm extremely disappointed that Indy's face didn't sport a digitally superimposed Groucho Marx mustache, nose and glasses, as he said "I hope they don't make me look stupid" near the end. What a missed opportunity, honestly people.

[@oswalddvaisson2572]

Charles Smith became British ambassador to Iceland in 1940 after leaving Denmark

[@darkarima]

5:44 "So it makes no sense for Hitler to invade Sweden when it has what he needs from it anyway, and why commit all the men and resources to invade it and then police it afterwards?" You could say the same about the USSR (at least in the short term), but scheisskopf is scheisskopf does.

[@51TGM71]

While Norway had a standing army of about 60 000 men in 1940, Sweden had 400 000 and by early 1942 they had 600 000 with hundreds of thousands more serving home guard units and anti-aircraft battalions in strategic locations (aircrafts was one of the few things in modern warfare that Sweden actualy was pretty good at the start of WW2). Even though the German army could outnumber and outgun the Swedish military, the fact that Sweden was bigger in since and a much (much) larger defending army made it all a bigger challange than Norway. Norway was taken by 100 000 soldiers and later supported by 150 000 for the occupation, however by the end of the war more than 400 000 Germans were stationed in Norway- Point being that while Germany for sure would win in a war against Sweden, it would require far more to do it. In order to show Hitler this would be the case, Sweden had a huge military exercise in early 1942: 300 000 soldiers made this exercise (war game) close to the border of Norway in -30 celcius. If the Germans thought Russians knew how to fight in the cold ... it was nothing compared to the Swedes (or Finns!). In 1943 Sweden knew that Germany was stretched thin and cancelled all troop movements through Sweden, they had also started to train Norwegian and Danish troops (more than 40 000) and equiped them with new Swedish weapons. In 1944 Sweden truly draw up plans to liberate most of Denmark and Norway from German occupation, at this point the Swedish amy numbered well over 600 000 (nation in arms) and with a big navy at hand strong enough to support naval invasion they could for sure do it. With Allied air support at hand and green light for such an operation in early 1945 by the time of thaw. But with total military collapse on all fronts and rather peaceful situation in these occupied nations Sweden put the operations on hold since it looked like liberation would be possible without risking civilians unnecessarily. So there is no pride in bragging about the things you never did and honestly, I wish Sweden would have went for a liberated Scandinavia in 1944 all ready. With allied support and local resistance success would be very likely and maybe even hasten the wars end with even more stretched out German supplies.

[@luisfelipegoncalves4977]

You could have mentioned the case of Chiune Sugihara the Japanese ambassador to Lithuania who saved the lives of more than 6,000 Jews. Or will you address this in War against Humanity special about the Righteous among the Nations?

[@adamlakeman7240]

To be fair, the question was specifically about the status of Allied ambassadors not neutral ones.

[@ArdanArianis]

I think that's for WaH, as it was not what the question asked

[@tommy-er6hh]

I still hope they mention the Japanese consul (not ambassador) or later the Swedish ambassador.

[@ArdanArianis]

@@tommy-er6hh Me too. I'm studying Japanese and with my teacher (a very lovely native lady) we talked a bit about this guy. Too bad the government didn't commend him after the war as he disobeyed his orders in order to help all those people

[@luisfelipegoncalves4977]

@Zachary Durocher yeah he is one of my favorites although he is a nazi

[@JohnOlimb]

​ @Michael Morgan There were only two main reasons for invade Norway for axis, the Iron ore harbour in Narvik and the use of the Norwegian fjords as a bases for axis submarines, cutting of Great Brittain from the supply from USA. Of course also, like in any wars, denying the land for the enemy, UK, in this case. Be aware of that Sweden's neutral state was accepted by the allies, as long as the iron ore export to Germany, (the only country Sweden could export anything to, after the mining of the Atlantic and Skagerack), was lesser or equal to the peace time export. Also Germany accepted the neutrality of Sweden. In the very beginning of the war, Sweden was poorly equipped and armed, even for self-defence. In 1943, this was not the case. There were also vital components shipped to England on fast MTB's (high-quality ball bearings from SKF, used in the airplanes of the defense for the Battle of Brittain). Sweden at the time of the outbreak of 2nd WW, was completely depending on import of cole and cox for its survival. Before the war this was mainly imported from England, after the war breakout mainly from Germany and occupied Poland. Remember, seamines. The shameful allowance of fully equipped axis troops to Norway (Narvik, special troops to disable the iron ore harbour there, and the equipment sent to the stranded German marine personell after the 1st and 2nd battle of Narvik) and of course the transit of the Nordland division to Finland is indeed shameful. On the other hand, Sweden informed Norway about the invasion of Norway beforehand, but the Norwegian parliament were to busy discussing the Altmark incident and the ignored neutrality of both Royal Navy and Deutsche Marine, to take notice. Had Norway reached a full mobilization before the invasion, there is no doubt that the defense would have made the invasion impossible. In Sweden, taxi cabs were ordered to park on airfields in order to stop landings of invasion airplanes, this did not happen in Oslo and other Norwegian airfields. Furthermore, had the UK been more alert to what happened in Skagerack and Kattegatt, the British Home Fleet would have sunk the Axis marine out at sea, well before reaching Narvik. Norway and Finland received a lot of humanitarian help from the neighbouring Sweden, during the 2nd WW. Not to mention military aid to Finland, who historically was a big and important part of the Kingdom Sweden, lost to Russia, and later independent. In the beginning of the war, there were two different lairs in Sweden. The higher ranks in Swedish army were very impressed by the German army and the build up of the country, so they kind of sided with the Germans. Also the very harsh conditions of the loosing side in the peace treaty in Versaille, affected this standpoint. As time and information sipped thru during the war of what the nazis were really doing, this lair was diminshing. But for the common man, the normal family, the 3rd Reich was never an ideal. Remember that only 600 men sided with the Axis troops in Sweden, compared to 6000 in Norway. The sympathy in the Nordic countries was completely on Finlands side after the Soviet assault, and that may be an explanation why so many Norwegians sided with the Axis. And finally, after the complete destruction of the iron ore harbour in Narvik (the germans did that, when they thought they would loose Narvik), that harbour completely lost its importance, and also the much of the Swedish iron ore export, since this Norwegian harbour was the main export route. According to Hans Bergström, an eye witness living near the railway, one train with three carts passed for Narvik every second minute, 24/7. According to one Swedish historian, on the best day after the Narvik harbour destruction, Sweden managed to ship at the most 11 % of the normal export via Swedish harbours. It was merely 8 % medium. That little amount was in order to get heating for the people. After the axis invasion of France, axis got most of their iron from the minings there. However, Swedish iron ore was of higher quality, and still is. Eighty percent of the tanks of Western Europe is made of Swedish steel today, not without a reason, I guess. In terms of war efforts, one could say that Sweden contributed very much to the allied war effort, by allowing and licensing the 40 mm Bofors anti-air gun to the allies. That piece of armament have in total downed more planes than anything else, alltogether. Also the breaking of the G-Schreiber code, not the smaller and less significant Enigma machine, helped. There is always a back side of the coin. Some of this information is not commonly known, but I see people more informed today than earlier.

[@jouniosmala9921]

One key reason why Sweden was not invaded was left out. Potential sabotage of mines and transport system around the mines could actually stop or at least reduce the amount of iron going for the Reich in the short term. And because there is going to be quick victory over the soviets to get their resources it is far more beneficial to optimize for the short term iron ore availability, and not take unnecessary risks relating to that.

[@jcdenton7891]

When will you guys cover various aircraft and armored aces?

[@marcress]

Did you talk about Henrik Kauffmann, the Danish ambassador to the U.S. in 1940? He was basically and ambassador without a country after the German invasion of Denmark. Kauffmann disregarded any directives coming from the government in Copenhagen because that government was acting under duress. Even after the Danish government recalled him and charged him with treason, he remained in Washington to represent "true Danish interests." He made some important decisions too like allowing the U.S. to garrison Greenland.

[@KPearce57]

Glad you fixed your lights under glass, now if you would wind the clock, we could tell how many retakes it took to get it right .

[@Southsideindy]

Out of the foxholes is always just one. I hate having to retake things.

[@milob.6003]

I came here only because of R.Lewandowski

[@meduseldtales3383]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZ6uk3qFdreLl9E

[@Valdagast]

In addition to us exporting iron ore, we also exported ball bearings to Germany, and they were very important (we also exported to the UK, because why not?) And they feared that we would destroy out ball bearing factories if they invaded.

[@JohnOlimb]

The highest quality bearings went to England. They were used in the airplanes defending England in the battle of Brittain, transported on motor torpedo boats from Bohuslän from SKF, Göteborg

[@scottklocke891]

One way to have someone by the balls

[@Macieks300]

I don't know if I already heard about the British ambassador in Nazi Germany in 1939 on this channel before or it's the first time I knew a detail like this before Indy said it.

[@mattickista]

4:08 now that's a very casual picture of Hitler

[@samuelkatz1124]

Loving the show Indy, keep up the good work! I do want to ask about some of the other Axis members involved in Barbarossa. What takes them the extra days to extra weeks before their government declares war on the Soviets?

[@bangscutter]

How many governments-in-exile are there in London by this time? Must be pretty packed!

[@runevverhartvig6340]

Norwegian, Czechoslovak, Polish, Yugoslav, Greek, Dutch, Belgian, Luxemburgish, so yeah; quite a pack. I might even be missing some!

[@yongzhencai959]

Other than abolishing the Poland & Yugoslavia, German-controlled nations were officially allowed to exist. The pro-German govs of these countries of course had to grant Germany & other Axis partners "privileges". For Vichy France, although its actual administrative scope was in the South, it was recognized by Germany as the gov of all of France. ("all" in this case excluded any territory that was re-annexed by Germany & Italy) Therefore within the WW2 context, the term "German-occupied" referred to actual controlling power, not the official status of the relevant nation. This is also the reason why I object to the West calling the post-WW2 communist Poland as under "Soviet Occupation". Throughout the Cold War, Red Poland was recognized in the UN & by the West. At that time, it was described as under "Soviet domination" but Poland was still Poland, unlike the ‘General Gov" under the Nazis. Then from around 2004 onwards, the West decided that Red Poland never really existed.

[@ericfrehlich8800]

Occupying Sweeden would also give the Allies reason to attempt sabotage missions in Sweden on the Iron mines/transportation. But since Sweeden was neutral, the allies could do no such thing as that would violate Sweedens neutrality.

[@StickWithTrigger]

Tough times indeed

[@johnhargreaves3620]

When an ambassador declares war on the country he is in, the protocol is that he will ask the government he is ambassador to for then return of his passport which he presented when he presents his credentials to become an ambassador. In the declaration of war against Germany in 1914 for instance the first notification to the German court and government was an appointment by the ambassador to the court and German government was to request the return of his passport. Regards

[@j.m.f5451]

I love the picture of the signing of the Japanese/Soviet Neutrality Pact, with all these diplomats and generals in suits or dress uniform... and then there's Stalin in the back, in his plain, drab shirt. The man didn't dress up very much, did he?

[@yongzhencai959]

Stalin apparently dressed like the typical communist factory worker, where clothing was "issued" by a work unit. This is similar to uniforms being issued in the military and the police.

[@stevehansen5389]

My understanding is that the Swedish rail system was secretly used to transport German soldiers to Narvik during the Anglo/French attack. Something long suspected but only recently acknowledged by the Swedish government.

[@davidbrennan660]

Being Neutral changes in relation to how powerful the at war countrys you are dealing with.

[@sjinnie_boy4988]

Is Indy still Macklemore’s uncle?

[@quedtion_marks_kirby_modding]

Minor country: is conqured. Ambassador: I guess I will die then.

[@ottovalkamo1]

6:00 Fun fact that British Royal Air Force actually flew civilian flights from London to Stockholm during 1941-1945 even during wartime with Germany and flying across German airspace. Here is a video by historian Mark Felton on the subject: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGGcqYCfrdWDfK8

[@bendover6272]

I

[@bendover6272]

I

[@bendover6272]

I

[@bendover6272]

I

[@lucem.glorifico]

The cause of German invasion of Norway is deeper than just "protection of iron ore supply". Initially the idea of the invasion of Norway (and Denmark as well) was suggested by German vice-admiral Wolfgang Wegener in 1915 yet (this man, formerly very close friend and a classmate of Erich Raeder, was a commander, or fregattenkapitän). The main meaning of Wegener's strategic theory (which Raeder as a Commander-in-Chief of Krigsmarine would put into practice), which was also a criticism of Tirpitz's strategy, was that is only possible way to break the strategic impasse and ensure the independence of the German fleet from the British blockade.

[@alexandrah9824]

That explain why Krupp Stahl was called,,Swedish steel“Dankeschön😊 Liebe grüße Alex 🤘🏻

[@kokojambo4944]

Hey, I was always curious what happened to the Polish embassy/staff in Berlin at the beginning of the war and vice versa. The British were sent home but I imagine the Germans did not give any positive or even neutral treatment to Poles.

[@tibrokillen111]

I hope he would talk about how sweden did help the allies to in many ways. ore maybe more Norway and danmark. swedish army did train a Danish brigade and norwigen "police" force. the danish fleet did even have some ships in sweden.

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

Oh yeah

[@sauronmordor7494]

:)

[@Bob31415]

2:22 - Wrong. The UK never recognized the annexation of the Baltic states by the USSR.

[@JustSomeCanuck]

You should contact The Great War and have an epic chair-off.

[@mammuchan8923]

COW vs CIK🤓

[@boristhebarbarian]

about 6 seconds in I expected that phone on the right to ring, how strange of me!?

[@resrussia]

A good account of what happened to American diplomats in Germany is George F. Kennan: An American Life by John Lewis Gaddis.

[@NinjaBananes]

What was the max. number of governments in exile based in the UK?

[@slick4401]

3:45 Actually they refer to the emperor, as if they were always relaying HIS words. By that way of expressing themselves they embody the omnipresent will of His Majesty. It is a matter of protocol, which in Imperial Japan could make the Windsors look as stiff as the Beverly Hillbillies.

[@johnthefinn]

Britain did NOT recognize the Soviet annexation of the Baltic states and the free Estonian embassy in exile continued to operate in London right up to the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 (by which time the decrepit diplomats were only too glad to retire).

[@yongzhencai959]

Interesting point. Never really heard of it during the Cold War. Apparently, the BBC & other UK mainstream media did not know of it as well. As late as 1980s, Baltic states were described as Soviet Baltic republics. In other words, they were seen as part of the USSR in the same way Wales was part of the UK.

[@user-rx8dv7mn7f]

Hey Indie, can you do a special episode on India and the subcontinent of Pakistan and Bangladesh and their contribution to the war?

[@hueylongdong347]

2:32 I would laugh if it wasn't actually my country whose occupation was recognized

[@pashapasovski5860]

Soviets didn't believe Japanese and kept their best forces in the far east, until it became clear that Japan couldn't fight both sides!

[@Klaevin]

I wasn't looking at the video when indy said "I hope they don't make me look stupid" so I clicked over to re watch that part, expecting the editors to make him look stupid with a memey face distortion I was disappointed

[@RandomDudeOne]

I hear even today when you have a group of Norwegians and Swedes together it's better not to bring up WWII.

[@nunodiogo5745]

Is that just a joke or is it also true?

[@tiihtu2507]

@Joakim von Anka Is that Ingrian flag? 😦

[@alaksandutheexorkizein7634]

Nah it's OK. I say this as a Swede living in Norway. We joke about it for most part.

[@nunodiogo5745]

@Joakim von Anka Much clearer now, such a masterpiece of swedish geopolitical though. Just be carefull with Gustav, dont let him wander around germany, he gets carried away

[@nunodiogo5745]

@Joakim von Anka Such an faithfull recording of an historic event, its fascinating how they filmed it without cameras. But...what kind of savages eat pickle hearrings?! For pete sake eat a fish...

[@michaelmallal9101]

Apparently Field Marshall Zhukov was fighting Japanese in China or Mongolia?

[@yongzhencai959]

Both are right. As of 1939, Mongolia was still recognized as part of China, including by the USSR, Japan and just about everyone else, including the West. Stalin only raised the Mongolian issue in Yalta in 1945. The Mongolian issue was only settled when Mao let go of it in Oct 1949. Contemporary maps made by the West showed Mongolia (& Tibet) as part of China. For some interesting reason, the 21st century globalist West that claims USSR "occupied" Baltics post-1945 does not consider Mongolia from 1921-1990 as "Soviet occupied".

[@QuizmasterLaw]

this episode brought to you by Agent STU!

[@TullyBascombe]

Steel made from Swedish iron ore is exceptionally strong. It was particularly suitable for armor and high velocity guns. After the end of the 1940 campaign the Wehrmacht tested British and French anti-tank guns against German tank armor and German anti-tank guns against French and British armor. In general armor was supposed to resist armor piercing rounds whose caliber was equal to the thickness of the armor, so 37 mm of armor should stop a 37 mm anti-tank round. The Germans found that their armor and their high velocity armor piercing guns were 50% better than allied ones. A German 40 mm anti-tank gun could penetrate 50 mm of allied armor, 40 mm of German tank armor would not be penetrated by an allied 57 mm anti-tank round. So in fact Sweden was Germany's secret weapon, the Germans could not have done what they did without the Swedes.

[@theosphilusthistler712]

4:30 I didn't know Christopher Walken was involved.

[@dragosstanciu9866]

That was Gustav Hilger, a German diplomat en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Hilger

[@deansherratt5142]

Following from your comment on the British Ambassador to the Baltic states is this humorous link setting out the woes of a British diplomat posted in the 1930s to all three of these countries. It is cleverly based on the Saint Athanasian Creed with its defense of the Trinity applied to the three postings of this diplomat. archive.spectator.co.uk/article/7th-september-1991/14/snatch-of-the-baltic

[@miquelmayortortosa4528]

Indy could you speak about " la división azul", the group of spanish volunteer that fought with the nazis in the soviet theater of war?

[@tommy-er6hh]

I thought they did, when they talked of SS non Nazi/non German troops?

[@JLaneboy5]

Does Indy's head look bigger than it should compared to his body?

[@brianoreilly3001]

What did the public and governments think/say about the 1914 Events like Gavrilo Princip , Unification or Death (Black Hand) and Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. Thank You stay AWESOME !!!

[@meduseldtales3383]

Pretty much everyone thought it was just typical Balkan nonsense.

[@michaelmallal9101]

Hitler does not appear to be wearing his Iron Cross at 4:13.

[@QuizmasterLaw]

“Jobless ambassador” Literally lol. Hey guise I’m unemployed. What mayhem shall I work for my liege lord? “wait. You have a liege lord? Wtf is a liege lord?” “May I suggest? Parley, varlet, I am a Markgraf.”

[@QuizmasterLaw]

@Joakim von Anka though menial, varlets were medieval Equivalents to modern aides de camp thus a military rather than civil post.

[@QuizmasterLaw]

Peasant = field worker = farm laborer

[@QuizmasterLaw]

Likelier a thane though let’s look it up

[@QuizmasterLaw]

I do think it likelier that your varlet be a thane though it is also possible for a varlet to be a churl.

[@QuizmasterLaw]

@Joakim von Anka And suddenly a Jacobin Republican appears!

[@im8015]

We Swedes were "pretty cooperative with Germany" because we had to be. They depended on the iron one, and we were totally dependent on the coal that we got from Germany for our energy needs.

[@Soundbrigade]

I picked up some info, correct or not, that we had ammunition for half an hour of serving our AA-guns; just a boxcar load with ammo, by the beginning of the war. But our prime minister said "Vår beredskap är god" - Our preparedness is good, so either the Germans believed in this or decided that a country that is so ill-prepared and lying about it is useless to invade ...

[@jeffersonwright9275]

Sweden was a lot more than just neutral: they allowed German troops not just to train through to Finland but also into Norway during the German invasion, something the Norwegians have never really forgiven. And several hundred swedes joined the SS Nordland Division

[@paulsummerfield6357]

What happened to the Japanese diplomat/ambassador Namura after Pearl Harbor? He dealt with Cordell Hull of the US?

[@dragosstanciu9866]

Be patient, we are still in July 1941, Pearl Harbor is peaceful.

[@demi3115]

I thought the heavy water factory Vemork in Rjukan was also the reason they invaded Norway? Or was that just an added bonus (and something the Allies were worried about and decided to destroy it?)

[@JohnOlimb]

It was not. Before the invasion the production was optimized for nutrition to acers. After the invasion it was set to optimize the heavy water. H30

[@surferdude44444]

How about the American diplomatic corps in Germany, Japan and Italy when war was declared. Did they get back okay? Were they in any danger? Also, what about the German, Japanese and Italian diplomats in Washington? How did they get back home? I know in Honolulu, the Japanese consulate's staff was interned for a long time. Not sure how they got back to Japan.

[@Rizevim]

Who's the dude on the thumbnail? He looks really cool.

[@dragosstanciu9866]

The king of Sweden en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustaf_V

[@keithsheppard5233]

Question - How did Germany pay for the Swedish ion ore?

[@dragosstanciu9866]

Look here www.konditori100.se/SiWW2/sww2stg.htm " Sweden imported among others coal, coke, fertilizers, chemicals and industrial products from Germany. Sweden imported among others gold and art works from Germany. Sweden also imported petrol for planes and lubrication oil from Germany. It was mostly of Romanian origin, but some German synthetic oil was also imported."

[@clydecessna737]

Wikipedia states that there were 400,000 German troops in Norway on garrison duty when the war ended and not in Normandy, Not so many in Denmark but a million in Italy and, again, not in Normandy where some chance of a negotiated peace during a military stalemate might have been possible; unlikely though. The entire manner by which German, Italian and Japanese irrational behavior to say nothing of the Kaiser fill me with fear that such irrationality could happen again and there seems to be no way to stop it. Look at BREXIT; hardly a rational policy.

[@maxsmodels]

Why did Ambassador Joe Kennedy hat Britain so much?

[@JohnOlimb]

Remember Kennedy is an Irish name. But many people in Europe believed that the sole burdon of starting the Great War, put on Germany, was unrighteous. The start of the the war was a diplomatic failure with very poor understanding of how this war would affect Europe. No country would have entered the war, knowing the consequences for their own country.

[@nickdanger3802]

Irish Potato Famine en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Famine_(Ireland)

[@simonkyro661]

@5:51 are there different uniform models/variants? I’m seeing some men without shoulder insignias

[@JohnOlimb]

These are probably stranded axis marine personell. Uniforms and clothings were send via Sweden to Narvik, together with high grade military explosive to destroy the harbour.

[@gordonkuietche2220]

Please produce s video of west african french tirailleurs ?

[@scottaznavourian5791]

He doesnt need to invade sweeden (or finland) cause finland is a colaborator and sweeden is helping finland

[@meduseldtales3383]

No, it was Germany who was the collaborator.

[@kristerforsman2448]

No, Sweden did not help Finland, it was (some Nazi sympathizers) Swedish volunteers who did it. Indirectly, they helped Germany, which was allied with Finland.

[@scottaznavourian5791]

@@kristerforsman2448 same difference.

[@meduseldtales3383]

@@kristerforsman2448 In Winter War Sweden provided Finland with 80 000 rifles, 500 machine guns, 85 anti-tank guns, 112 pieces of field artillery, 104 anti-aircraft guns, 50 million bullets, 300 000 projectiles and 25 airplanes, among other things. By their own declaration Sweden was not neutral, but a "non-belligerent". In practice Sweden and Finland were allies in all but name.

[@keimolantio]

Because Finland was between Soviet Union and Sweden

[@tarjeijensen9369]

The Swedes threatened to demolish the iron mines if the Germans invaded. That might have dampened the German enthusiasm for conquest. Herman Gøring was married to a Swede. That also might have influenced matters.

[@Hardworkwork777]

Dude sounds just like John Walsh from America’s Most Wanted.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

So that's why they didn't invade Sweden. Makes sense, why waste soldiers to invade when you could use them somewhere else and they let you have the resources you want

[@07HAGE]

Yes and no. No doubt Germany could have taken Sweden if they really wanted to and there had been no other plans soon to be executed. However things were a bit more complicated in the spring of 1940. It is not as easy to get to Sweden from Germany as you might think. The Baltic sea has to be crossed or the strait between Sweden and Denmark (once Denmark had been overun). You still need ships to ferry over men and material and a navy to protect those ships. Therefore, taking Sweden at the same time as taking Norway and Denmark would have been a very shaky affair. The invasion of Norway streched the German Navy to the limit with heavy losses, with Blücher and a large chunk of the destroyerforce lost. One can only imagine what would have happend if several of the German ships had been allocated for an invasion of Sweden. We must not forget that Germany had plans for France a month later. Question is if there were enough troops at the time. But between the fall of France and the invasion of the Sovietunion, the Swedish position was very difficult. After America joined the war it became less and less likely that that Germany would have invaded us. We grew stronger and Germany had other things to worry about. But why didnt we stop trading with Germany sooner then? We could get coal from Germany. And that was important for heating and our industries. And beeing incircled they were our only supplier.