Week 273 - How Himmler Learned to Love the Russians - WW2 - November 18, 1944

[@WorldWarTwo]

Big thank you today to the TimeGhost Army, for helping make this channel possible. Your commitment fuels our journey. If you are eager to be a part of this exciting journey with us, we invite you to enlist in the Timeghost Army. Together, we can make history. Join us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/TimeGhostHistory

[@a2falcone]

MacDonald's quote is a reference to Matthew 25:1-13. The Parable of the 10 Virgins. He's basically saying the commander failed to make the necessary preparations and the offensive will fail.

[@barnaclebob1182]

The virgin with no oil in the lamp is from the bible. Look up The Ten Virgins in Matthew

[@giladpellaeon1691]

Awesome having a reference to the late great Sir Terry Pratchett, thanks Indie and team!

[@peternemeth4073]

Great video again, but 8:55 is a mistake in title. Omar Bradley was 12th Army Group Commander, not 12th army.

[@rdleahey]

A FIRST! First WW 2 history that made me bust out laughing!😂

[@144digital]

That quote actually makes sense. It's from Jesus' parable of The Ten Virgins. Five had enough oil in their lamps and were ready. Five ran out of oil and by the time they tried to correct the mistake, it was too late as they missed the time of going in to the bridegroom. He's accusing the commander of inadequacy in preparations, and that his lamp will essentially run out of oil...

[@petestorz172]

You beat me to it on that clarification. The comment probably has the double meaning of fuel - = oil - being in short supply for the several Allied armies.

[@johnronald6115]

It’s sad, my brother, that people today don’t pick it up immediately. 😢

[@matthiasklein9608]

Yep, Matthew 25,1-13

[@lancekilkenny721]

I recognized it immediately.

[@91jvdb]

Last Sunday's gospel reading. If you're Catholic that is

[@korbell1089]

You almost have to feel sorry for Chiang Kai-Shek, he finally gets rid of Stilwell and then gets Patrick Hurley foisted on him!🤣🤣

[@Raskolnikov70]

Bad Luck Chiang is now a meme.

[@garcalej]

From Peanut to Moosedung. Mr. Shek is just hitting homeruns all the way. It’d be funny if it weren’t also so monstrously tragic.

[@Raskolnikov70]

@@HebrewsElevenTwentyFive The Peoples Republic of China - you mean West Taiwan? 🤣

[@lmperlum]

​@@Raskolnikov70No. People's Republic of China. The legitimate government of all of china

[@WalterReimer]

Japan's atom bomb program lagged behind even Germany's, but enough had been researched to enable one physicist to see the destruction at Hiroshima and immediately conclude that the city had been nuked.

[@recoil53]

A few days after the bombing, Japanese scientists were there with geiger counters and make some reasonable deductions. However, the problem is not in understanding the theory, but the practical side.

[@mgway4661]

An 8 year old could have the same conclusion

[@a2falcone]

@@mgway4661 Not at a time when nuclear bombs were a new top-secret technology.

[@eh1600]

8 year old japanese kid after seeing a big boom: Yup, this was definitely a gun-type uranium-235 bomb. It's obvious, duh.

[@ennui9745]

@@mgway4661 Why would an 8-year-old living in 1945 even know what a nuclear weapon was??

[@flyingeagle3898]

geez I knew we had made mistakes during our WW2 relationship with China, but I hadn't realized just how badly parts of it were mismanaged

[@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623]

Parts? ALL of it. Chiang's Nationalists were a massive deadweight on the Allies, soaking up Lend Lease and transport aircraft for the Hump for little to no gain. A lot of US aircraft and aircrew were lost flying supplies over the Himalayas to the Nationalists which then got squandered in corruption.

[@richardcutts196]

You think China was mismanaged just read up on Vietnam. I believe they are related.

[@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623]

@@richardcutts196 There is a reason why it has been a dictum in US foreign policy to not get involved in a land war in Asia. Too bad that politicians refuse to learn or listen.

[@flyingeagle3898]

@@richardcutts196 not sure what you are alluding to, but one obvious commonality is the general ignorance most in the US of that era had towards east asian nations compared to European ones

[@TrickiVicBB71]

If other US generals, attaches and politicians were in charge and the Chinese were treated better with good equipment, supplies, food, and other stuff. Who knows how the Pacific Campaign. Maybe China could have kicked the Japanese out or tied numerous divisions down

[@mjbull5156]

"A foolish virgin with no oil in the lamp? I don't understand." Shaka, when the walls fell. Indy, his eyes closed.

[@sol1spartan584]

Love the reference. Sokah, his eyes opened.

[@neilreynolds3858]

The idea of virgins, foolish or not, confounds all of us these days.

[@a2falcone]

MacDonald's quote is a reference to Matthew 25:1-13. The Parable of the 10 Virgins. He's basically saying the commander failed to make the necessary preparations and the offensive will fail.

[@briantarigan7685]

yeah, it is one of Jesus most famous parable, emphasizing the importance of preparation, i wonder why so many people got confuse with it

[@a2falcone]

@@briantarigan7685 I don't think it's one of the most famous ones. Honestly, I've been a practicing Catholic all my life, I went to a Catholic school, and yet I only got the reference because it was last Sunday's reading so it was fresh in my mind.

[@gunman47]

A sidenote this week on November 13 1944 is that civil air service will be restored to London in the United Kingdom for the first time since the start of the war in September 1939. Railway Air Services began flight operations on a Croydon-Liverpool-Belfast route.

[@Raskolnikov70]

Weird that I've never even thought about civil aviation during this whole time. Was it even much of a thing before the war? Most people in Europe still traveled by train, can't imagine there was a lot of civilian air traffic in general back then.

[@peterdavy6110]

@@Raskolnikov70 British civil aviation was growing at an amazing rate pre-war. My home town was the location of London's first airport. Internal trips were by rail (and even then one rail company also ran its own airline) but, if you could afford it, flying was the preferred way to get to the continent and, via Imperial Airways, the Middle East and Africa.

[@martijn9568]

​@@Raskolnikov70Pretty much what @peterdavy6110 said. Commercial flight was an extremely fast growing market during the second half of the 1930s. So much so that it is difficult to estimate if the war sped up, or slowed down commercial aviation.

[@bwarre2884]

​@@Raskolnikov70During the war there were also air routes to Lisbon, Portugal and to Sweden. To Sweden they flew with Mosquitos and on the Lisbon route there were DC-3's of the Dutch airline KLM, amongst others.

[@squeaky206]

​@@bwarre2884I believe the Lisbon flight was suspended or even rerouted due to BOAC Flight 777 being shot down by a German heavy fighter plane.

[@gunterthekaiser6190]

Small note about this week, Lieutenant-General Harry Crerar (Commander of Canadian 1st army) is promoted to full General on the 16th. Becoming the first Canadian officer to hold that rank on tbe field.

[@thomasrhettkee]

The virgin thing is a biblical reference. Matthew 25: 1-13 which speaks of "bridesmaids" (presumably virgins) using up all of the lamp oil and not having enough to last until the wedding banquet. They went to get more and when they came back they were refused entry because they were ... too late I guess. When they tried to get in they were told (by someone who Matthew doesn't name) 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' Matthew says, "the kingdom of heaven will be like this." Meaning, I guess, in this case you better hold on to your troops or you won't get into the... war?

[@michaelnuzzo5698]

Huh, I thought it was a reference to Vestal Virgins being responsible for keeping Vesta's sacred fire lit.

[@jliller]

It's a confusing parable, especially since the same point could be made with two people instead of ten. Maybe something was lost in the translation over 2000 years.

[@a2falcone]

While I think it's one of the most confusing parables, a great deal of it is definitely about being prepared.

[@timothyackerman1215]

Specifically there were two groups waiting for the groom, one which brought enough oil to last until when the groom was supposed to come and one that brought extra. The groom was late so the first group had run out of oil while the second group still had enough. If things went according to plan, both groups would have been fine, but things didn't go according to plan and only the second group was ready.

[@markrobinson9956]

Biblical ignorance is much more widespread now than in the 1940s.

[@excelon13]

The political battles in China are so interesting, after the war is over I hope you guys do a special on the Chinese Civil War, the rise of the CCP and the Kuomintang retreat to Taiwan.

[@davidsigalow7349]

In postwar America, the debate about " Who Lost China?" was very contentious. I, too, would like to learn more about what really happened.

[@kirbyculp3449]

Agree 110%.

[@davidgjam7600]

The next series is Korea, so there might be a between 2 wars thing for 1945-1950

[@davidgjam7600]

​@@davidsigalow7349it was the peanut

[@kiwikemist]

The media said Taiwan was always the real china, KMT never fled!

[@Cancoillotteman]

Seeing Belfort close to be liberated feels... weird. I was born and grew up there. My family lived there. I know so many stories of local macquis who got murdered along with civilians of their local villages... Joy and sadness, celebration and grief... all mixed.

[@j.4332]

The Chinese front is lamentably ill known in the west.Indy does an awesome job describing what went on.I can recommend "Chinas war with Japan" by Rana Mitter,if you take a deeper interest.

[@johnryan6003]

Japan’s invasion of Manchuria was the actual start of WWII. The Japanese in 1930’s wanted colonies. Just like like the British, French,Germans and Americans got in the 1700’s, 1800’s and early 1900’s. Hitler invaded Poland and Russia to get a giant contiguous colony. Stalin invaded Poland and Finland for the same reasons.

[@bendover1333]

​@@johnryan6003and even if you don't take Manchuria, the 1937 escalation into full scale war between China and Japan should definitely become the new recognised beginning of world war 2

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks for your support! - TG Ambassador

[@steved5495]

@@johnryan6003 It was not a world war by definition. Only China and Japan were involved, and the fighting was confined to China. WWII started when the French Empire and British Empire declared war on Germany, as both empires spanned a good bit of the globe.

[@AdarshKumar-lh3wo]

RAna MITTER IS AN AMAZING AUTHOR and his book on china in ww2 is like a bible for us interested in ww2 in china

[@erikgranqvist3680]

You mentioned Terry Pratchett. If anyone here has never read anything by that author, you should remedy that. He was a wizard with words and extremely funny.

[@timl.b.2095]

I'm particularly fond of the first two novels in the Tiffany Aching series: The Wee Free Men and A Hatful of Sky. I think he should have stopped after the latter. The tone shifted in the next two books, and weren't nearly as fun.

[@AceMoonshot]

Terry wrote the finest stealth literature. Funny and wise. GNU Terry Pratchett.

[@dominicwalsh3888]

He wrote with brilliant insight into power, conflict and war. Thud, Jingo and Monstrous Regiment address them most obviously, but they're always there. GNU Sir Terry. Mind how you go.

[@cmck472]

Although great fun to read, Pratchetts books also work fabulously well as audiobooks.

[@kirbyculp3449]

I am pretty sure that Mr. Pratchett is interviewed for several episodes of WW2TV.

[@jptheeaglescout]

My Grandfather was in the 1st Division, 26th Regiment, and his after action reports stated from November 16 to November 28, his Company (G) was at Schevenhutte, Germany, just east of Gressenich, under continuous mortar and artillery fire suffering heavy casualties. It has been a thrill following the western front in real time because of how featured the Blue Spaders of the 26th Infantry, 1st Division are factored in lots of engagements in the coming months. Thanks Timeghost for all you do!

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks for sharing your story with us, and for your support! - TG Ambassador

[@alanharper2734]

Invoking Terry Pratchett was a master stroke!

[@geoffcartertheoreticalstru6484]

Rincewind the Wizzard was 'ere 🐉

[@richardcutts196]

At this point, joining the Germans has a ring of someone climbing onto the Titanic at 2am.

[@stevekaczynski3793]

The British Free Corps gained its last recruit early in 1945. However, the POW in question was not very bright.

[@901Sherman]

Vlasov was screwed either way.

[@MWDALV]

I am in shock that I've gotten caught up to this hour while researching my grandfather's service. You're coming up on a few crazy weeks. He was in Stavelot during the Malmedy massacre. I've got chills! Thanks for tending to this important history.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Isn't it neat how things come together sometimes? Feel free to share what brought you to this point in your research if you like, I'd be fascinated to see it. -TimeGhost Ambassador

[@MWDALV]

@@WorldWarTwo Thank you for asking! My grandfather died in 1998, having served as a Sgt. in the US Army 202nd Engineer Battalion. While he was living I was a child still and never knew him to speak about his time in service. By then he was a retired farmer and carpenter. All I ever really heard was, "Grandpa was an engineer and he helped build and blow up bridges. He even helped build the first bridge across the Rhine." Not until 25 years later did I begin my own research into the details of his service and general duties. Here's a list of a few things YOU have covered recently that have lined up with his: firsthand retellings to his family, diary/letters, personal photographs, and my own corresponding research. (I'm totally agog, btw.) *Enlistment dates line up, as does the location of troops prior to D-Day. *Late June/Early July Normandy Landing with several days spent on the beach itself. *Operation Overlord locations *Operation Cobra locations and now we're getting cold and wintry for the Battle of the Bulge. The experience of researching his service in this still-so-recent war has left me humbled, grateful, and totally in awe at the sheer odds of each human life merely existing. The happy ending to his service: his marriage of 51 years to my exceptional grandmother, the license for which they will apply in 102 weeks from this video's week.

[@roymartin500]

That's cool! My Grandfathers service is lining up to this time as well. In November he finished his Officer School cadet training after four years of ROTC at his high school in Minnesota. He will shortly be marrying my grandmother before he's commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy where plenty of island hopping awaits him. It's good to read that your grandfather came home safe and sound.

[@MWDALV]

@@kjdempsey I am actively, currently, today-ingly writing and illustrating a book about this journey - so #1 I also want you to give me your money and #2 I would like to give you a book in exchange. In maybe a year or two? Yes?

[@MWDALV]

@@roymartin500 And same to your grandfather coming home to have a family and a future! What a fortune we have in life itself, no? Something so many have lost, the fortune of their life, in the same places our ancestors somehow survived, and now we have this great fortune of our lives. Hey to my neighbor to my north, Minny-soder. Family still there?

[@thebigm7558]

Himmler: Im gonna build my own Red Army, with Blackjack and Hookers.

[@garylewis4838]

I am always amazed at how quickly the Germans lost ground after the invasion. Even though it was bloody on both sides. The allies looked like a tidal wave of destruction, on paper at least. Proving once again an army cannot fight without air superiority, or food, or bullets. Its fortunate that Hitler decided to use his dwindling resources on wonder weapons.

[@Raskolnikov70]

There wasn't much else the Germans could do except surrender at this point, and they weren't about to do that with the Soviets on their doorstep. WW were a last, forlorn hope that something could save them.

[@tsaoh5572]

For me it is the reverse. It took way too long. It took the Germans 5 days to conquer the Netherlands. The allies didn’t even succeed. It also took them like 3x as long to take France as it took the Germans. Allied losses were also astronomically high. Considering all of this, and taking into consideration that the Germans were already practically beaten at this point, the allies were not advancing quickly at all.

[@arthurcooperman3106]

@@tsaoh5572 *Practically beaten* is overstating things also unlike the Soviets, the allies especially the Americans were way less experienced at this point. A huge majority of the American fighting by this point was against the Japanese. A lot of the American troops in France were seeing their first action against a battle tested dug in German army with generally superior equipment (albeit in smaller quantities).

[@arthurcooperman3106]

@@tsaoh5572 I also wouldn't call liberating France, Belgium, the Netherlands and occupying most of Germany and Austria in less than a year as taking too long. The French only lost so quickly in the first place because of ignorance and stubbornness. They sat idly by while in a state of war allowing the Germans to get ready and also left a huge part of their border undefended. Not to mention ignoring reconnaissance information about the entire German army stuck in a traffic jam and refusing to bomb it. In the West the Germans were more prepared and were very dug in. In the East they had more numbers but were also on the run from a massive Soviet onslaught.

[@tigertank06]

@@arthurcooperman3106You also forget Hitler’s meddling in Western plans. Had he not done this, the Allied advance would have been slow.

[@jliller]

Himmler backpedaling on his anti-Russian racism reminds me of Jefferson Davis advocating for the Confederacy to form regiments of armed slaves near the end of the American Civil War. When you start abandoning core principles in the name of survival you cease to have any reason to survive.

[@stevekaczynski3793]

Desperation but they have been desperate for a while. For example classifying Poles as Volksdeutsch so they can conscript them into the armed forces, even if they knew little or no German.

[@shaider1982]

That's the first time I heard about something like this. Sounds risky (from their point of view): what if the slaves turn on their masters?.

[@shaider1982]

4:50 reminded me of the CommuNazis that Mcbain from the old Simpsons episode fought. Reality is always weirder.

[@SmilingIbis]

@@julianshepherd2038 Yeah, not the most thought-out of ideas.

[@patrickstephenson1264]

I really love how conflicted the German command is too. Some want to backtrack while others chose to stick with what they fought for from the start

[@Ruosteinenknight]

This arming of "like minded soviet POWs to fight tge soviets" has similar vibes like confederacy discussions about arming slaves. It never really got off the ground, because by elevating slaves to fight in confederate army was violating that "subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition"-thing and undermine the reason why CSA existed. Similarly, by admitting that they need soviet soldiers, Himmler is basically admitting that "immutable racial hierarchy" might not be so immutable after all.

[@patrickstephenson1264]

Yeah he knows the gig is up for Germany by now

[@johnronald6115]

Operation Queen...they must’ve wanted to break free.

[@WorldWarTwo]

God knows they've got to...thanks for watching! - TG Ambassador

[@johnronald6115]

@@WorldWarTwo thanks for all the hard work

[@cinefreak2307]

May we all live in boring times forever.

[@carriertaiyo2694]

Indeed

[@johnryan6003]

Hanukkah anyone? Old Testament includes the following tradition: after wedding ceremonies the bride and the groom go to their new home. Several virgins (unmarried women) have the job of lighting the area near the home to great the seedy party. They have jars of oil and oil lamps. But, they can not be sure when the couple will arrive. If they light the lamps too soon, they run out of oil. If they wait too long to light the clamps, the couple could get lost. The lamp bears are celebrated and rewarded by the couple. Any virgin who runs out of oil or has not lit her lamp gets excluded from the rewards/party. Hanukkah is a celebration of a miracle one time when the couple were late but miraculously, the oil did not run out. Hence virgin whose lamp has run out of oil is a loser

[@Artur_M.]

It's specifically a reference to a specific parable from the New Testament (Matthew 25:1-13) but I guess that the parable itself references the tradition you described.

[@Woodmaster437]

I was playing a Hoi4 game when Andrey vlasov offered to join me. glad to know his background, great video

[@jayz4dayz763]

Really enjoyed the talk about the Chinese political situation there between the Nationalist and Communist. These are things I had no idea about prior to this video. Just imagine how much different things could have been with a united China fighting the Japanese.

[@Professor_sckinnctn]

A TERRY PRATCHETT REFERENCE! Never thought that would happen, but so glad it did. Terry probably would have loved it, since Hurley resembles so many of Pratchett's worst bureaucratic villains.

[@geoffcartertheoreticalstru6484]

Rincewind the Wizzard was 'ere 🐉

[@1987palerider]

Luckily the Japanese didn't have to contend with The Luggage

[@davidsigalow7349]

Oddly, just this morning, I was thinking about watching the volcano in Iceland, flush with the knowledge that, like Twoflowers, being a tourist meant that nothing bad could possibly happen to me.

[@evorock]

​@@1987paleriderhow can you not love Rincewind and the luggage?? Except the other wizards at UU, who think he's an idiot, especially Ridcully 😂😂

[@1987palerider]

@evorock man it's been so long since I've read any Discworld. Probably about 8yrs or so. I need to get back into it

[@SmilingIbis]

I'm a heathen and even I recognize the quote as some Bible business.

[@rosstapson]

Very happy about the Terry Pratchett shout out.

[@geoffcartertheoreticalstru6484]

Rincewind the Wizzard was 'ere 🐉

[@varvarith3090]

2:33 Might be interesting for those unaware: The man here removes a sign that says "Citisens, during artillery strike this side of street is most dangerous". - Removing this sign implies the the city won't be under artillery attack anymore. Some of those signs are left to this day as a memorial.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks a lot for your comment ! That's a very interesting fact which we did not know, much appreciated ! - TimeGhost Ambassador

[@Spiderfisch]

Its insane how slow the allied advance is now compared to August

[@Raskolnikov70]

Once German defenses around Normandy and Brittany broke there wasn't much defensible terrain left in France. They had to pull all the way back in order to avoid getting completely wiped out. Now the Wehrmacht is back in terrain that can be defended well, and it's going to be rough going for the Allies again.

[@micumatrix]

German logistic line get shorter, the longer the ones of the enemies get…

[@carriertaiyo2694]

Fuel problems

[@ChrisCrossClash]

@@Raskolnikov70Plus the allied supply lines were a problem without Antwerp being taken.

[@ericcarlson3746]

add to this onset of winter- things seem slow in Italy and Poland as well. Russians 'just outside of: Warsaw until early January

[@rx7carl]

Wait what? A Japanese atomic program? We must know more! Maybe a special episode? Great work as always Indy, Sparty, Astrid, and the whole crew! 🍻 cheers!

[@iMoD190]

Japan actually had several atomic weapon programs. in classic Imperial Japanese fashion, the Navy and Army had their own separate projects running simultaneously and in competition with each other.

[@DrVictorVasconcelos]

I think in one of the episodes about other nuclear programs there is some stuff about it.

[@CannibaLouiST]

"The Fire of Amatersasu"

[@Carewolf]

@@iMoD190Well Japan wasn't really a country it was four warlords in a trenchcoat wearing a stuffed emperor as a hat.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks for watching! - TG Ambassador

[@22nola]

I’m in admiration of the research and preparation that goes into these episodes. I really like the graphics as well.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks for the kind words. The entire production crew works very hard on each episode and I think they just keep getting better! -TimeGhost Ambassador

[@kenoliver8913]

Yes its great - but not foolproof. None of your researchers knew of the Parable of the Ten Virgins! Even if no-one recognised it it should have been completely obvious it was a literary reference - it made no sense otherwise - and quite likely a biblical one (English writers were educated in that in those days). It could have been found with just a couple of minute's research.

[@chaoscriminal]

i finally caught up from the very beginning. this documentary has really put things into perspective for me. watching this thing and realizing all these conflicts are concurrent is mind boggling and shows the scale of the war. watching this chronologically unlocks a new layer of perspective. to watch the allies go from crushing defeat to having the axis on the back foot is really insane. 1939-40 feels so long ago as well

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks so much for watching all the way through so far, what a wild series of binges that must have been! Hope to see you at the end of the war as well. -TimeGhost Ambassador

[@rdleahey]

Great WW 2 history! ALL the narrators on this channel are such consummate speakers!

[@WorldWarTwo]

Comments like yours are a delight to read, thank you for your support, and for watching! - TG Ambassador

[@rashkavar]

Map nerd question: At 16:21 there's a little holdout of German-held territory up against Switzerland that appears to be cut off from the Germans at Montbeliard. Is there actually a group of soldiers holding out down there, or is this just the mapping software drawing a line that interacts oddly with Switzerland?

[@WorldWarTwo]

Sietse here from the map team, and yeah that isn't supposed to be there. Thanks for pointing that out! We'll make sure to fix it in next week's episode.

[@rashkavar]

@@WorldWarTwo No worries, easily done. You guys have been doing a heck of a job overall - I've probably spent at least half as much time with the video paused and looking at the maps as I have listening to Indy! Thanks for all the hard work!

[@ronalddunne3413]

I'd love to see Indie et al do ww1 like the format they have used here. Great stuff, thanks for posting!

[@WorldWarTwo]

Indie did a WWI series called The Great War, and it's on KZbin. -TimeGhost Ambassador

[@PulpHerb]

The virgin quote is a Biblical reference, the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids (or Ten Virgins depending on the translation). If you know the Parable it makes perfect sense.

[@Soundbrigade]

Chang Kai-Shrek looks like a Christmas tree …. As always, these episodes are a real terror to my nails (what’s left of them). I know how the war ended, but being in the middle of it with, bombs, bullets and grenades exploding all around and divisions, armies, battalions, galaxies and black holes marching or crawling in mud, makes the whole war very real (which is was), but real to me right now. It’s like a crime documentary where you know the serial killer was caught and barbecued in the chair, but still …. Is he out there still?!

[@akosbarati2239]

Well, if Saturday Night Live had been around, it would probably have been "Chiang Kai Shek seen here with every medal he won at the pachinko parlor"

[@davidsigalow7349]

These guys always awarded themselves lots of shiny medals.

[@Soundbrigade]

@@davidsigalow7349 I have seen Northkorean generals even having to put their medals on the trousers ...

[@albertjackinson]

As the first week-by-week episode I have watched in a very, very long time because of life--five months, and then before then an even longer gap--, it is good to be back. As usual, the episode was great.

[@WorldWarTwo]

We are glad to have you back! 👍 - TimeGhost Ambassador

[@rationalbasis2172]

I'm going to go ahead and notice that the map you have in the background is very close to the actual historical situation as of the date the video is about. Cudos.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks for your support! - TG Ambassador

[@ColonelZoren]

"Your homework is to use that in everyday conversation." Say no more.

[@SasBald]

Thanks!

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you so much!

[@Wdlarson1]

No oil in the lamp is a biblical reference to the 10 virgins. Five were foolish and brought no extra oil to light their lamps. When the hour grew late, they were left with no oil for them lamps. When the Groom arrived, they were off looking for oil and were locked out of the wedding feast. The reference, be prepared for you know not the hour or the day.

[@matthiasm4299]

Indy interpreted that reference like an oilless virgin!

[@marekschwarzmann1638]

extra like for the pratchett refference..))

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks for your support! - TG Ambassador

[@hannahskipper2764]

That China bit was a great way to end it. Geez, wow... And I can feel in my bones the Battle of the Bulge teasers!

[@WorldWarTwo]

It's fast approaching...thanks for watching Hannah! - TG Ambassador

[@Mr-Science-Stevens]

Interesting times is an excellent book

[@timothydoyle6859]

So, my guess to the meaning of the reference to the virgin with no oil in the lamp is that it's a biblical reference to the parable of the virgins at the wedding waiting for the bridegroom to arrive so the reception can begin. The bridegroom is running late. Some of the virgins are vigilant and make sure they have enough oil. Others are not. When the bridegroom finally arrives, the latter group suddenly realized that they don't have enough oil and are told by the former group to go to town to buy some. By the time the unvigilant virgins return from town with the oil they are too late. The reception has started and they have been locked out. In the Bible, the reception is heaven. More generally, the virgins without oil have missed their chance to take advantage of an opportunity. I think this is what the writer meant.

[@sierdzio]

Didn't expect to hear a mention about Terry Pratchett 🙂 Thanks for another great episode!

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks for watching! -TimeGhost Ambassador

[@geoffcartertheoreticalstru6484]

Rincewind the Wizzard was 'ere 🐉

[@machintelligence]

Interesting times is only part of a multi pronged curse. There are three (and possibly four) parts: May you live in interesting times. May you achieve your heart's desire. May you come to the attention of the powerful. May your name be mentioned in history books.

[@freetolook3727]

Japanese holdings in China look like Rorschach tests! 😂😂😂

[@marks_sparks1]

24:57 "America was well not served by its ambassador to China." For every clued in, sympathetic Averill Harriman type ambassador, the US diplomatic corp produced in WW2, it seemingly produced more offensive, unsympathetic amateurs like Patrick Herlihy or David Gray who caused mayhem and resentment towards their government, instead of sympathy.

[@steved5495]

The US diplomatic corps doesn't produce ambassadors as a rule. Ambassadors are chosen politically typically from non-State Department individuals. Professionals are used for smaller nations, as it's harder to convince someone to take the post. Traditionally, an ambassador is the personal representative from one head of state to another, so the US does not have an ambassador to the UK, President Biden has an ambassador to King Charles.

[@garthrogers2269]

GNU Sir Terry Pratchett.

[@elbeto191291]

Ah yes. One more great tale of American foreign policy. I seem to remember the Chinese Civil War never ended, this Hurley stuff won't make matters better

I think we are indeed living in interesting times. Great Video. As always

[@Zebred2001]

Better send that quote to Bletchley Park!

[@reg171reg]

Love the Pratchett reference

[@petersutcliffe4927]

I miss Terry Pratchett. Thanks for mentioning him!

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks for watching! - TG Ambassador

[@MrTvolaCZ]

Terry Prattchet quote!

[@extrahistory8956]

Probably my favorite episode of the entire series. I love, love, LOVE that these military campaigns are finally getting the coverage they deserve, as they are usually ignored in favor of the other campaigns in 1945. Plus, the Chinese and Russian political intrigue was absolute facinating to see, as they both destroy myths that Americans and Russians have about their roles during WW2.

[@WorldWarTwo]

It is absolutely fascinating! Thank you for watching! - TG Ambassador

[@lynxrufus2007]

The "foolish virgin with no oil in the lamp" quote comes from the Gospel, Matthew 25:1-9. Surely you must know that.

[@nicholasconder4703]

Indy, nice to know someone else who has read Terry Pratchett. Do you listen to music with rocks in it when writing these scripts. If so, just remember, "The truth will make you fret".😁

[@naveenraj2008eee]

Hi Indy Another wonderful and interesting week. It seems war in china is not going to end. It's dragging on. Thanks for the video.

[@guillaumekaas6505]

Mr Shek is savory, but Moosedong is the olympic gold of stupidity. 😅

[@porksterbob]

Shek is the Cantonese version of of the second part of his personal name. It would be like calling Franklin Roosevelt, "Mr. Lin"

[@rashkavar]

I know there's a ways to go, but any chance of doing an episode after the war ends where you go over some of the set dressings used throughout the series? As a map nerd, I would be particularly interested to know what some of the indicators on the various maps meant, like all the clocks on the map during the D-Day event, or the white circles and lines on the oceans for the map you've been using recently. And for the red shaded aerofoil shape north of New Guinnea - I'm reading that shade as Japanese controlled waters, though this segment seems to be isolated from the rest of that area which makes control of that area dramatically more tenuous than the concept of controlled waters normally is. Obviously not a priority for when the main program is going on - even though things are kinda winding down, there's still a LOT to cover - but I can see the amount of effort you guys put into the presentation side of things, and I'd definitely be interested to hear something about that side of the work.

[@extrahistory8956]

I can explain the last one. Now, you may remember how earlier this year, the Ameriacans were considering invading both the Marshalls and Caroline (modern day Micronesia) islands in order to reduce the formidable naval bases of the IJN and the military outposts of the Japanese 31st Army. Well, after much consideration and realizing how bloody it was to fight the Japanese on the atoll islands of the Marshalls, the Americans decided to bypass the Caroline island and take the Mariannas instead. Thus, while those islands may still have remnants of the 31st Army (such as the 52nd division in Truk Lagoon) stationed in them, those troops are no longer involved getting supplied by the Japanese high command, and are basically trapped and encircled on their island fortress, now no more than their own prisons.

[@onthatrockhewillbuildhisch1510]

@@extrahistory8956 Yes. The Japanese Army controlled MANY by-passed islands, but the Japanese Navy and aerial forces did NOT control the sea or air spaces. The Japanese forces were left to 'wither on the vine'. Note: the map does not show the huge Japanese army to the East of Aitape near Wewak in New Guinea.

[@extrahistory8956]

@@onthatrockhewillbuildhisch1510 Very true. That is a pretty weird oversight as well.

[@bullettube9863]

If I remember correctly I read about Hurley in a story about why we lost China and he is especially pointed to as one cause. The reason given was that he never understood the Asian mind and especially the Chinese and their culture. The story also mentioned that Hurley was appointed ambassador purely for political reasons as were several people in the state department who also had no experience dealing with Asia. In Europe at this time Hitler still believed his wonder weapons would turn the tide and that a big offensive push toward Antwerp would work. Of course he was deluding himself and ignoring the advice of his generals who as usual were right; they knew the war was lost after D-Day.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing! - TG Ambassador

[@neilreynolds3858]

Not understanding other cultures and only seeing them through our own biases is still the bane of our foreign policies.

[@5chr4pn3ll]

Unexpected Terry Pratchet, do love.

[@brokenbridge6316]

Way we all live in interesting times. Something that is just as true today as it was back then.

[@davidsigalow7349]

I quote that all the time myself, 'cause it's true.

[@brokenbridge6316]

@@davidsigalow7349---Awesome

[@viarr2893]

Howdy! Thanks for another great video. I'd like to add to the events on the western front this week (shown on the map but not discussed in the video). On the 16th, Combat Command B of the US 2nd Armored Division, forming the left flank of XIX Corps, began its push towards Gereonsweiler and Linnich. The terrain here consisted of open fields turned to deep mud by recent rainy weather, which CCB accounted for by fitting their Shermans with "duck bill" extended end connectors on the tracks, though mobility was still greatly hampered. Apart from an ambush near Apweiler by Jagdpanzer 38s of the 183rd Volksgrenadier Division, which resulted in the loss of 7 Shermans, CCB advanced with surprising haste, taking Puffendorf by the end of the day. Alarmed, Manteuffel requested the release XLVII Panzer Corps, the only armored reserve in the area consisting of 9th Panzer and 15th Panzergrenadier divisions. Rundstedt approved the release and the divisions moved south the evening of the 16th, now with the 506th Heavy Panzer Battalion attached to 9th Panzer. The morning of the 17th, CCB 2.A.D advanced east out of Puffendorf to continue the offensive when they were met by Panthers of 9th Panzer and King Tigers of s.Pz.Abt.506. Caught in the open plains of the Roer, engaged at long range, and finding themselves outmaneuvered by the German tanks due to their superior floatation in the mud, CCB was forced to withdraw back to Puffendorf. By the end of the 17th, 2.A.D had suffered the loss of 38 medium tanks and 19 light tanks knocked out for the German loss of 11 tanks. The Germans were unable to capitalize on this due to a shortage of infantry and the prominence of artillery on both sides. In fact, three King Tigers were knocked out by artillery that day. XIX Corps would reach the Roer by the end of November, but the expected breakout across the river was stymied. Over the course of the offensive, 2.A.D lost 75 tanks and suffered its worst casualties of the war at that time- more than double those incurred during Overlord. However, German losses were also heavy, amounting to some 86 Armored Fighting Vehicles lost between 9th Panzer Division and 15th Panzergrenadier Division. The 506th Heavy Panzer Battalion five Tigers during the campaign, consisting of the three destroyed by artillery on the 17th and two tanks the 28th (one knocked out by an M36 GMC of 2.A.D's 702nd Tank Destroyer Battalion). While 2.A.D's experience in the Roer is rarely discussed, its impact is far-reaching. As Lida Mayo puts it in "On Beachhead and Battlefront," "After the war an Armored School report, prepared with the assistance of 2d Armored Division tank commanders who had participated in the action, stated that the most important factor in the set-back at Puffendorf on 17 November - "the biggest tank battle in 2nd Armored experience" - was "the inferiority of our tanks in guns, armor, and maneuverability." The success of Operation: Queen is a subject of contention. While the Roer was not crossed and other objectives were not reached, the Siegfried line had been punched through and the loss of territory for the Germans played a significant role in the failure of the Ardennes counteroffensive which soon followed. Unlike the US 2nd Armored Division, 9th Panzer wasn't able to renew its strength and found itself in rebuilding in reserve until the momentum in the Ardennes had already been lost. In any case, the lessons learned on both sides contributed heavily to the last months of the war and how it was fought. Sources and further reading: -Schneider, Wolfgang (2004). Tigers in Combat: Volume I -Mayo, Lida (2001) [1968]. The Technical Services: The Ordnance Department: On Beachhead and Battlefront -MacDonald, Charles B (1993). The Siegfried Line Campaign -Zaloga, Steven J (2007). Siegfried Line 1944-45: Battles on the German frontier -Yeide, Harry (2013). Panzers at Puffendorf

[@markmierzejewski9534]

I keep looking at Manchuria on the map and keep asking myself is that light ? Or a small patch of liberated area. Lol

[@owencamp7009]

Matthew 25 has the parable of the 5 foolish virgins and the five wise ones. The foolish ones did not bring extra oil (in a flask) for their lamps. That is what the general is referencing.

[@TheVarskvlavtbichuna]

Brilliant show 👏👏👏

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank's so much for your support! - TG Ambassador

[@Phoenixmaster131]

What I’m wondering myself when i see the map week by week. What is happening at the french Italien border in the south? At the cote d’azur? No fighting at all?

[@spudGeorge]

Dear Indy will there be any mention of the 14th army under General Bill Slim in Burma, soon.

[@extrahistory8956]

Starting November 29th, Slim and the 14th Army will begin making river crossings at the Chindwin River into the Shwebo plains, so you can expect to see the Burma front get coverage throughout December.

[@coreystockdale6287]

Bummers really do have a different meaning today

[@isilder]

... A commander that DOES continue with an operation with logistical question marks, may find that his army has "no oil in its lamp".

[@Kubinda12345]

It's interesting that the comittee is declared in Prague given the role that Vlasov's forces played in the Prague Uprising.

[@squeaky206]

Vlasov was an oppurtunist who switched sides to the Nazis after his capture, then switched back to fighting for the Prague Uprising shortly before the conclusion of the ETO. Didn't stop him from getting the hangman's noose.

[@BodyTrust]

Always brilliant.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks for watching! - TG Ambassador

[@emmanuelweiss8672]

The meaning of the mysterious quote is very simple: it's an allusion to the parabole of the wise and the foolish virgins (Matthew 25,1-13). The foolish virgins had forgotten to take oil to keep their lamps burning and therefore could not wait until the coming of the Messiah. I understand that the generals who could not make offensive due to lack of material are, according to the quote, made responsible for their own failures, the victory being assimilated with the coming of the Messiah.

[@davidsigalow7349]

An extra donation to the Time Ghost Army this week in honor of the Terry Pratchett reference!

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you for your support! - TG Ambassador

[@ploegdbq]

7:40 Check out Matthew 25, Indy.

[@ploegdbq]

This would also work: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Ten_Virgins

[@nikgtasa]

Almost 30 minutes. Thanks for the treat.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks for watching! -TimeGhost Ambassador

[@657449]

Twenty years ago, the history channel had a special on Japan and its research on the atomic bomb. They said that a bomb was tested successfully in Korea. Think of how much of a game changer this would be. Where do you set it off? Hawaii? Near the Panama Cannel?

[@darth_nihilus_]

Bro what?

[@vincentsiracusa1599]

From my count there is currently 41 US divisions on the front lines against the Germans, 15 British divisions, 7 Canadian, 7 French. 3 Polish and 4 other divisions (Brasil, South Africa, Etc). This isn't counting divisions in the reserve such as in Britain, the US, Southern Italy or in the deep reserve in France such as guarding the France Atlantic ports held hostage by German forces.

[@lynnwood7205]

Regarding the Japanese nuclear program, my father, who was a surveyor in the 32 Engineer Group in Korea, during the Korean "Police Action" related how a supposed mine was captured in North Korea. His unit was brought in to survey and map the installation. All of them were searched and their cameras taken. They were instructed to keep no notes or to write of or to talk of what they found. The buildings were of reinforced concrete, much of it of pre-stressed concrete construction (the Japanese being decades ahead of us in that at that time) Much of the machinery on site of German manufacture. One building had enormously thick glass view slits. They were accompanied by American personnel who were not quite identified and had geiger counters, upon exiting the area they had to turn over every note book, log, map, and piece of paper in their possession, their belongings and persons searched. Decades later, while reading a paperback adventure novel. he realized that their speculations at the time were probably accurate, that the facility they had searched and mapped had been the Japanese Army"s nuclear, atomic bomb, research facility.

[@geoffcartertheoreticalstru6484]

Rincewind the Wizzard was 'ere 🐉

[@chrisvowell2890]

So you've said many, many times!

[@geoffcartertheoreticalstru6484]

@@chrisvowell2890 Sorry being a bit of a Detritus

[@kajetanpustuka4619]

Will you cover World War III as well?

[@crimsonking440]

Its funny because its terrifying!

[@NickRatnieks]

My father told me that during his transit through Germany as a displaced person, he ran into some Russian Liberation Army men in a transport unit. He spoke Russian, so he talked to them- he said, they were simple country folk and their main concern was the welfare of the horses they had which pulled the wagons. He said they were totally unaware of their precarious position by joining this army- and we know many did as they were being starved to death in camps. He said he wondered what their fate might have been as they did not seem concerned by what might happen to them when the war ended but assumed it was not good. A sad state of affairs to be in such an awful position.

[@stevekaczynski3793]

Erich Hanke, a German Communist, had spent about a decade in German prisons. SPOILER He had a grasp of Russian and while let out of jail under guard to clear up rubble in Berlin, he encountered some ROA soldiers. They commented on the noise made by Red Army artillery in the distance and seemed pleased about it. Hanke asked them why, as the approach of the Red Army could hardly be a good thing for them. According to his account they merely grinned at him. Hanke commented in his writing that they were clearly not recruited to ROA out of any significant political motive, but he was probably right in suspecting that nothing good awaited them.

[@Raskolnikov70]

@@stevekaczynski3793 Sounds like the Red Army 'traitors' knew they were doomed regardless of what happened, but could take a bit of joy from seeing Germany destroyed before their own side caught up to them.

[@edgabel6814]

I was surprised to hear that no one on your staff has a cursory knowledge of the gospels (the five virgins reference).

[@MisterOcclusion]

Ah, Discworld: world and mirror of worlds.

[@jeffeppenbach]

GNU Terry Pratchett

[@welcometonebalia]

Thank you.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks for your continued support - TimeGhost Ambassador

[@gracechamber613]

"Your homework is to use this in a conversation." Indie! We're already history nerds! Are you trying to have us bury any remnants of a potential for a social life for decades to come?! Are you starting a cult, Indie?😆😆😆

[@elcastorgrande]

The quotation is garbled. Any commander commencing a major offensive while logistical questionmarks remain will find himself in the position of the foolish virgin (bridesmaid) without oil for her lamp (or gasoline for his tanks and aircraft).

[@stephenandersen4625]

you don't know the parable of the lamps?

[@thebunkerparodie6368]

I had the same reaction as indy onthe siegfried line quote

[@barrygray3615]

8:09 Alright, nobody else did so I’m going to say it: You spelled Venlo correctly! 😂

[@GoryWory]

7:52 I am surprised you didn't mention it was a quote from New testament - did you even know that?