After watching a Spectacular short video (which, the theme music from The Pacific was being played, which made it Even More Spectacular) that showed pictures of WWII, then and now, and after watching just a few minutes of this video, I Immediately knew that I Needed to Subscribe to this channel- I also felt the need to comment on something that was said in the part of the video when you/The History Explorer was first walking into the German cemetery, which was something to the effect that by visiting the cemetery that you/your channel Did Not support Nazis nor the Nazi cause- Hearing that you had to basically and preemptively defend the Amazing thing that you were doing, which was showing us another Devastating side to that Even More Devastating war, kind of made me Sad- It also made me think of something that Shifty Powers said in the interview part of Band of Brothers where he said that he came to realize that the German soldiers were also doing what they were, which was what they were told to do as soldiers- He also said he thought that If the circumstances were different, he might had even been good friends with some of those fellow young men (I believe, However, that that would NOT include the SS)- Anyways, I Thank You for what you created for us WWII enthusiasts to enjoy and I Very Much look forward to watching your other videos!
@thehistoryexplorer29 күн бұрын
Thank you so much and what a fantastic comment. I hope you’ll check out some of my other videos too 😊 Sadly, if you make videos that cover German units/ actions or locations it does tend to attract two types; the first group accuse you of promoting Nazism; the second group tend to feel loyal to the German cause. As a result I prefix videos like this with that statement. I find it sad too. I really hope you enjoy the channel and thank you so much for your kind feedback
@jameshinchliffe845328 күн бұрын
I enjoy @@thehistoryexplorerthe channel is very good. But I can remember the words of my father who's youth was stolen from him by the Germans and the Japanese.He was drafted in the one year draft of 1940 and then he was forced to serve for the duration of the war. He was a southerner which no one gave a damn about anymore than we give a damn about them. Trained under General Patton at Ft Benning in the 2nd Armored Division and served in North Africa, Sicily, and the European theater of operations until the end of the war. He developed a hatred of both the Germans and the Japanese until the day he died because they'd robbed him of the best years of his youth. I have come to agree with him! To hell with both of them! And I don't give a damn where they're buried!
@angeloforzinetti393024 күн бұрын
P
@georgemiller15124 күн бұрын
I went horseback riding in a part of Belgium about 25 years ago. - I can’t remember the name of the town - but I was guided by a Belgian. There was evidence of the war in the woods (foxholes, etc.) and we got to talking about the war. He said that the front line moved back and forth a few times. There were dead Americans and dead Germans scattered around. He said the locals buried the Americans and marked their graves and they were later recovered by the Americans. “And the Germans?” I asked. “The Germans? We just through them in a pit, covered them up and forgot about them.”
@bryanbufton43585 күн бұрын
I can only agree with you. 😅@@jameshinchliffe8453
@Monsoon-sd6vr25 күн бұрын
I served 30 years with a combat Regiment of the British Army; during my travels I visited that cemetery. As you point out not to gloat or make fun, that was never our intention, we were just pleased that they looked after their fallen as we would look after ours.
@thehistoryexplorer23 күн бұрын
Well said mate
@417jumps3Ай бұрын
I had an uncle who was in the first wave on Omaha Beach. Miraculously he survived the war but was involved in fierce combat. About a year before he died he told me about his war experiences. What I found interesting was his respect for the enemy/Germans. He said they had a job to do just like the allies and had respect for hard but clean combat. He left his experiences at that and I never learned more.
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
It’s fascinating isn’t it? Some Germans were worse than others and some had much deeper held beliefs than others
@417jumps3Ай бұрын
@@thehistoryexplorer I know, right. Sometimes that’s hard to comprehend but what you said is the absolute truth!!
@Jaden-y7eАй бұрын
3 Replies
@labrd41Ай бұрын
I would imagine that very few solders on either side really wanted to be there.
@417jumps3Ай бұрын
@@labrd41 oh I’m pretty certain that’s a seriously true statement!!!!
@boatnut6425 күн бұрын
I've been to Le Cambe. I went there with my Son, on a trip to Normandy. My Great Uncle, Harry Thomas Sharp, was Killed in Action, July 4 1944, at Carpiquet Airport, and is Buried at Beny Sur Mer. RIP
@thehistoryexplorer25 күн бұрын
Thanks for sharing 🙏
@jocelyneb23 күн бұрын
La Cambe German War Cemetary Normandy
@johnnyhollis9977Ай бұрын
My father was nearly killed shortly after VE day by a fanatical German known as a Werewolf. My father had no choice but to silence him for good and was subsequently court marshalled for 4 minutes and released with no further action necessary. Little respect was afforded to some German dead as the bitter conflict had killed many allied soldiers who were far too young to die. The same could be said for the German soldiers too who quickly realised that things were not going too well. The dead German was quickly disposed of down a bricked lined ditch and covered with bricks. No marker was added. After seeing the horrors of war first hand it is easy to understand the bitterness that ensued in those awful and tragic circumstances. Great video!
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
That’s a terrible story, war brings out the worst in everyone. But at that stage of the war everyone was weary and tired of the conflict
@johnnyhollis997729 күн бұрын
@@thehistoryexplorer Totally agree. My dad suffered internal blast injuries that reduced his quality of life for years after the war. When he died from having dementia in 2006, his personal confrontation with the German tormented him. He told me many stories of his war experiences. Not all of them were that traumatic, others though described total carnage. He was a great man, albeit a bit of a maverick! 😉
@Strength-in-UnionАй бұрын
Nice one, Buddy. Thanks for introducing a German war cemetery to those who may never have given it thought. I have visited several - not through any bad reason, but because the vast majority of those dead were only serving their country - as we do. They may still have living relatives, and its important for descendants to be able to honour their relatives. There will be some truly nasty people buried there amongst very many more Germans who just served their country. And we had some truly nasty folk serving in our armies too! But they're a' deed, and buried at peace - in some very beautiful cemeteries - ours, and theirs. I urge those interested in military history and the content of your videos, to take time to visit cemeteries with war graves. Read the names on the stones - that way, those soldiers are not being forgotten.
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
Thanks mate. Well said 👍
@vicordecastro28516 күн бұрын
@@thehistoryexplorer_ may they all rest in peace .🙏 .🙏 .🙏
@StephenGrew26 күн бұрын
War is insanity! Those poor men and women.
@TheJon244222 күн бұрын
Sadly and too often started by those who never have to suffer and often profit from their actions.
@strontiumstargazer10320 күн бұрын
There’s a lovely tranquil tree shaded gothic crossed German cemetery in Belgium. However the Belgians buried the Germans upside down so that they’d never be at rest and planted the trees so that they’d never be in the sun.
@thehistoryexplorer19 күн бұрын
Their cemeteries are really something else. Very sombre
@napierlines6977Ай бұрын
The quality of these videos is brilliant. Thank you
@craemac12 күн бұрын
“It is well that war is so terrible, or we would grow too fond of it.” ― Robert E. Lee
@longtabsigo27 күн бұрын
Wittman’s unit caught the British troops out of their tanks and other vehicles brewing up their tea! So when W’man “passed by” he was able to score vehicle kill after vehicle kill with no return fire whatsoever. I’ve been told, for what it’s worth, that this action was one of the incidents that led the British military to equip virtually every tank, IFV & APC with a boiler that allows for one to brew up their tea while never needing to exit the vehicle. I suppose I could google it but almost 3am, I’m sure someone (or everyone)will correct me if I am wrong. 😁
@TellySavalas-or5hf29 күн бұрын
I visited La Cambe cemetry twice! In 1988 and 2001. It's a respected place.
@thehistoryexplorer29 күн бұрын
Yes I agree, it was my first visit but I found it to be very peaceful and respectfully done
@rolfagten85727 күн бұрын
Did you met Ronald Reagan at the bittburg S.S. cemetry , Telly?!
@spudgun747427 күн бұрын
The vast majomajority of those fighting on the axis side were far from Nazi. The majority were regular citizens fighting for their families and country.
@thehistoryexplorer27 күн бұрын
Yes that’s true
@berg696423 күн бұрын
100%!!
@PrussianRedWhiteBlue21 күн бұрын
ITS OK TO BE WHITE
@chrishoman392820 күн бұрын
Not exactly true most were Nazis just not finatic u can look up how many people were Nazis card members for lack off.
@Phillip-q9s8 күн бұрын
Hardly, when the need for the Einsatzgruppen was established , it recruited older policemen not initially of fighting age, they were given the option of not getting involved in the actual killings with the option of other duties and zero repercussions, but they mostly willing volunteered to carry out these hideous crimes with the aid of the Wehrmacht
@Peace2U-ec6esАй бұрын
Powerful Video. Powerful lessons. Thank you Rob.
@user-vv6sy2ox4q25 күн бұрын
The massacre at Oradour sur Glane was perpetrated as a reprisal for a crime against German prisoners by the resistance. The captured Germans (including a relatively senior officer of the 2nd SS) were placed into an ambulance and burned alive with civilian spectators laughing at the sight. The Germans were incensed when they heard this news and proceeded to commit their terrible crime. Just an altogether appalling series of events.
@thehistoryexplorer25 күн бұрын
@@user-vv6sy2ox4q yes allegedly that is the case, but it does not justify the actions, as you have already pointed out. A terrible set of circumstances!
@graemer365725 күн бұрын
There was a trial after the war of the SS involved in the Oradour massacre. 14 of the 21 were Frenchmen from Alsace Lorraine who were conscripted into the SS, 13 of them by force. There would have been more people tried, but few of the SS present at the massacre were alive at the wars end
@jacquesmalite26123 күн бұрын
@my aupa was partisan he faughr das reich division.they killed major kampf,a war criminalité.ss killed 700 women and babies in oradour...what soldiers.....krauts will be always krauts..... graemer3657
@vasilenegulici614623 күн бұрын
RESPECT CELOR CĂZUȚI ACOLO 😊😢❤ DUMNEZEU SĂ-I ODIHNEASCĂ PE TOȚI 😊❤
@luckyguy600Ай бұрын
It is what it is. War never changes/ just the tools used to fight them.
@lappin6482Ай бұрын
So true
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
Very true
@jamesbednar862525 күн бұрын
Very good and interesting video!!! Watched a video of a French girl visiting a German War Cemetery in Normandy a few years ago, think it was a smaller cemetery off the beaten path. Her video was during a rainy day which somehow seemed fitting. That was quite a powerful video for she was expecting to feel a bunch of hatred or whatever, but she left very humbled because of the lives lost, regardless of nationality and she realized that a lot of those dead soldiers were around her age group. I have been to the American Cemetery in Normandy, as well as all the beaches and other locations - really does humble you. Regardless of era/battle, have always wondered what happened to the dead of battles, especially way back in the ancient times to present. Of course, the "victors" take care of their own spectacularly and the "losers" - what happens?? Toss into a mass pit most likely/
@thehistoryexplorer25 күн бұрын
Yes exactly! Well said
@TanjacsАй бұрын
0:39... The look on these children's faces is just so very scared...!! 😢
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
It is very sad isn’t it
@mikeyj960727 күн бұрын
In 83 while stations at Pruem AFS maybe 30 miles from Bitburg AFB a couple of us visited the Miltary cematarey there ,the one made infamous from President Regans visit.I was impressed at how it was set up the row of crosses like in Normandy how peaceful it was and how germanic it was .One thing that stood out was they had soldiers interned on both sides of the marker we just remarked typical german efficiency ,none of us knew about the SS dead that was there ,would have made no difference as being in the military we respected the way they buried their men
@clarkkoch4723Ай бұрын
Very good history lesson. Thanks so much.
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
My pleasure! I really enjoyed making this one
@jjt109326 күн бұрын
There is a good documentary using gps and battle reports for exact locations on the death of wittman, I agree it must of been my fellow countrymen, he passed 150m infront of a row of canadian shermans holding up in an old chateau courtyard. Now to this video, very well done, had no idea so much effort was put into relocating the german dead to a central plot, that was an amount of respect to them to do that.
@thehistoryexplorer26 күн бұрын
Thank you very much, I’m so glad you enjoyed the video
@JesusRunsMyHouse2 күн бұрын
My dad was 17 when he volunteered and went to war because his two older brothers were already over there. My one uncle was shot down over Guam and him or his has never been found but I remember them putting a picture and his favorite rabbit gun in the coffin and burying it. My other uncle was there from 41 -42 and again 44-45. My dad went on to fight in Korea and Vietnam and came home a alcoholic basketcase
@Roller_GhosterАй бұрын
Ive had the honour of visiting all the sites shown. Oradour sur Glane is just below the modern day village. Frozen in time is an understatement. I was there way back in 2011. There was still the remains of a childs toy pram in the ruins of the church. Id say that was one of the hardest things to see in all of those locations. Great work and top quality content.
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
I wanted to make a video there not very long again but a few others forgot there before me! I’ll release one from there in 6 months or so
@Roller_GhosterАй бұрын
@@thehistoryexplorer cant wait!
@davidk7324Ай бұрын
Well done, thank you. We made a stop at Marigny, I believe, during Paul's April tour.
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
Ah yes! Another great place. Some of the pictures I uploaded were actually from Marigny
@waterpongo6975Ай бұрын
Sad to say I didnt event knowthis cemetary existed. interesting place and really good information in here. well done Rob
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
Well you can’t know everything! Ha!
@domenicodelucia1636 күн бұрын
Uyiti i
@Thecarman199423 күн бұрын
I visited with my father 30 years ago. He was stunned to see a grave with his own date of birth. Dad had had a life, a family and a career.
@thehistoryexplorer21 күн бұрын
It’s enough to make you stop and think
@Thecarman199421 күн бұрын
@@thehistoryexplorer yes, dad lived to age 96. What might that young German have achieved
@PAS_202026 күн бұрын
Amazing look at the enemy side. This video so full of fact with compassion. You are gifted and respect that very much in all your videos.
@thehistoryexplorer26 күн бұрын
Wow, thank you. What a compliment! You’ve made my day 👍
@elizabethtaylor3779Ай бұрын
Fascinating. I especially appreciate the learning opportunity, provided by someone who relates the information so articulately.
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
Glad it was helpful! I enjoyed doing the research into this one
@Jaden-y7eАй бұрын
@@thehistoryexplorer2 Replies
@medic162729 күн бұрын
In case anyone was wondering, the coins left on the grave are put there to remember the person buried there. It's a form of remembrance, it's letting the person know that you dropped by to visit them.
@thehistoryexplorer28 күн бұрын
Thanks for sharing. There were many graves with coins, not just the ones features here 👍
@michaelzahnle564924 күн бұрын
@@thehistoryexplorer We have the same practice stateside. I've personally left coins on the grave markers of past military members that I've found in civilian cemeteries.
@donrodgers28323 сағат бұрын
I’m 75,an American, my father was in the army and was a replacement in Italy and made it to Germany. He never spoke to much about it. When I was drafted in 1968 and was told I was going to Vietnam he told me this, stay low, look, listen and smell. I inherited my childhood home. Never went through much in the attic. After I retired that was the big honey do list. I found a box containing things from his time in Europe. 6 diary’s listing every country, battle date/dates and every man he knew who was killed starting in Sicily and ending in Germany. My wife and I read these together over 3 weeks. When I can home he said I know what you saw please leave it there and that was it. I saw 1 year, he saw 3 years. I don’t know how he did it.
@thehistoryexplorer22 сағат бұрын
I love reading stories and accounts like these. Thank you for sharing 🫡
@gartwilliams334729 күн бұрын
Visited the German Cemetery outside of Bastogne this past May (2024) Very interesting and I was told no Belgiums visit the cemetery. Also the dead were buried in their uniforms, or sheets, no real coffins.
@thehistoryexplorer29 күн бұрын
Yes that’s true, the closest they got to coffins was a cardboard type box
@mampe889826 күн бұрын
I visit here in finland at rovaniemi city german soldiers war cemetery. When they started built it local people were against it of course. Sad place.. there is actually good presentation video.
@thehistoryexplorer26 күн бұрын
Thank you very much
@j.lietka94065 күн бұрын
I occasionally watch videos where metal detectorists go to WW2 battle fields and remains of soldiers are found. The remains are eventually returned to the country of origin. I would like to see a video on the WW1 & WW 2 memorials to fallen German soldiers. Thank you
@prontscАй бұрын
It was a disrepest to the fallen soldiers, not SS soldiers to be buried in shared and mass graves after the war. My German uncles who died in 1940 had their own graves and tombstones until after the war in the 1950's when they were dug up and reburied, on land no one wanted. Most killed in Normandy were young men/teenagers with no experience since the Nazis' were expecting the Allies to land north by Calais. When I showed my German relatives the photographs I took when visiting, they all asked who is paying for graves upkeep and never have been to any German war cementary. And there's alot of them!
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
Yes the are a lot of them. There are no winners in war, that’s for sure
@h.db.968429 күн бұрын
“Land that no one wants” is a good place for a cemetery. You’re not wasting some valuable property for some people who aren’t affected by their zip code.
@eric-wb7gj29 күн бұрын
It makes more sense to have them centralised if the area has to be maintained & commemorated. It would make it far more difficult for maintenance crews to tend thousands of separate graves. Also, depending on their location, if there are residents there, they may not want the grave of anyone in it. At least they are not forgotten. After Waterloo, it's said the bones of the soldiers were ground up, sold off & used for fertiliser.
@peterwallace976427 күн бұрын
@@eric-wb7gj- That would be very demoralising for any relative with dead soldiers in their past family relatives.
@Sunnydays14121Ай бұрын
So sad seeing children in uniform 😢
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
Yes that always gets me 😢
@TanjacsАй бұрын
And the look on their faces is so scared...!! 😢
@Jaden-y7eАй бұрын
3 Replies
@TellySavalas-or5hf29 күн бұрын
Hitleryouth boys.
@fosterfuchs28 күн бұрын
The first post WWII German war movie is called Die Brücke (the bridge). It's about a group of German teenage friends from a small town who at he end of the war sign up to fight for the German Army. After brief basic training, it's really too late for them to be of any use. So a German officer orders them as an afterthought to defend a bridge at the edge of their town. They take it extremely seriously, and by the end of the movie, only one of them survives. The movie shows the sheer senselessness of what they did.
@timalexander7758Ай бұрын
Great video! I enjoyed this one very much
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it! I’m getting some heat for this being ‘pro German’ apparently. You can never win. I really enjoyed the research for this one 👍
@timalexander7758Ай бұрын
@@thehistoryexplorer Those are just crybabies looking for something to get offended about. You only said What Happened. Just need to tune those people out
@AL619829 күн бұрын
Very interesting. I am French but was not aware of this German cemetary. And yes, Oradour is still remembered by all French people.
@thehistoryexplorer29 күн бұрын
Thank you very much. I will release a film on Oradour in the near future, such a impactful and harrowing scene!
@Berlin-Kladow26 күн бұрын
Interesting. It would be interesting to have a video of visiting other German cemeteries in Germany in the future. I have visited Germany many times but have never had the opportunity to visit any. They seem to be hidden away in shame . I couldn’t find any on websites. It’s truly sobering to visit these sites and remember all the people who suffered the horrors
@thehistoryexplorer26 күн бұрын
That’s a great idea. I don’t have plans to visit Germany this year but I’ll remember to visit the cemeteries when I do
@robertbishop693522 күн бұрын
There are a lot of German cemeteries littered around Northern France.
@Birkebeinern18 күн бұрын
It was really an informative video. You really did a good research.
@thehistoryexplorer17 күн бұрын
You are most welcome. Thank you for the kind feedback 👍
@vilo_h554124 күн бұрын
That was very informative. Thank you.
@thehistoryexplorer23 күн бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@paulevans3827Ай бұрын
Rob, another excellent video thank you so much your content is always excellent👍Paul
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
That means a lot buddy, thank you. 🙏
@midnightchannel111Ай бұрын
Someone should do a video in the tension, and finally outright antagonism, between the Weirmacht on the one side, and the SS and Gestapo on the other. The former were soldiers doing what they thought was their duty. The 2 latter were outright Evil that had taken over their country. My Dad was a bomber pilot in WWII and both he and my Mom taught us to not look at German soldiers with blame, but at the German people who allowed Hitler to take over. They were adamant about that, the German people did nothing to stop him as he rose to power. Germany of that time is * not * "off the hook for what they started, and Amercians today know sadly little about the war ( * especially * little about the war in the Pacific, and flat out * nothing * about Japan of that time). Germany started the war, they represented Evil in their civil actions againt their own alone, even before you consider what they did to everyone else. But the Weirmacht had constant arguments with bith the SS and Gestapo, which got worse as the war progressed. By the end of the war, there was actually one Weirmacht unit that went over to stand with and support the Resistance in the Caucasses area agaisnt the SS troops attacking them: these German soldiers knew the war was over and saw no reason to, in their minds, slaughter these citizens who were standing up against them.
@donbartholomew827325 күн бұрын
Germans in the 1930s were much like the MAGA Republicans, willfully ignorant or at least horribly dangerously naive
@Mag_AoidhАй бұрын
Excellent as always Rob.
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
Thank you! Appreciate the very kind feedback
@stevenewman1393Ай бұрын
😉👍Very nicely greatly wonderfully well done and very nicely informatively explained on the historical facts of this burial cemetery for German soldiers during WW2 indeed Sir!👌.
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
You are most welcome my friend!
@keithscott125527 күн бұрын
Noticed the wooden barrel shot off a Sherman at 9.24.
@thehistoryexplorer26 күн бұрын
Yes indeed. A OP variant from K Battery. Good spot!
@jim754429 күн бұрын
The SS soldiers were the same as all the others - many were 17 years old in the HJ Division.
@thehistoryexplorer29 күн бұрын
Very true. Although I would say the difference is their indoctrination And ideology
@JACQUESLUCONT2333Ай бұрын
Hi, im from Russia, and thank you for your videos.
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
You are very welcome my friend
@tombristowe84621 күн бұрын
Good vid. There is another interesting German burial ground near Mont St Michel., at Mont d'Huisnes. It's a mausoleum, or an ossuary, where the bones of about 12000 Germans are buried.
@thehistoryexplorer20 күн бұрын
Oh wow I’m not aware of that!
@760PiperАй бұрын
Very powerful video. Curious as to why Wittman was buried alone and with another soldier.
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it. In a future video I explain how his remains were not found for some time and how he was moved here to be buried
@mrrw1936Ай бұрын
I just find this so fascinating. these subjects are always toucjy but the professionaism here with the productoion and resaerch is so good to see
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
You are very welcome and thank you for the kind feedback
@RivetGardenerАй бұрын
War is a horrible and disgusting thing. I have always wondered what came of the Panamainian bodies strewn along Omar Torrijos Airport when we took it down on 20 DEC 1989. And what about the rest when we cleaned out the other areas, the streets where we fought and the buildings we took over. As an Airborne Infantryman we did our job and moved on. Who cleaned up behind us? I have no idea.
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
Oh wow you were involved in that? Very interesting
@Namtov29 күн бұрын
Why is there coins on Wittmanns grave ? Is that a sign of respect or ?. I have visited more german wargraves and in the late 19eighties, I visited a gravesite and at a grave I saw a buket of flowers with a ribbon saying "Ein stiller Gruss aus der Heimat" (Der, die, Not sure ) Translated it would be "A silent greeting from home". It touched me that someone would visit a grave 45 years later.
@thehistoryexplorer29 күн бұрын
Originally I thought the coins were for people who revere Wittmann but actually I saw coins and other items on many graves. Perhaps family members. I’m not sure
@johnny9949722 күн бұрын
I believe the coins are given to pay the ferryman of the Valhalla. It is an ancient Nordic tradition.
@griffhenshaw5631Ай бұрын
I went to the village in 76.. Very sobering.
@MartinVSmith633429 күн бұрын
There is a German War Cemetery in Mota Santa Anastasia, Sicily that is kept as nice as any Commonwealth or American Cemetery is in a foreign country. Ironically it about 5 miles from the American Naval Air Station in Sigonella. Not unusual to see flowers on a few graves. Have not been there in about 10 years.
@thehistoryexplorer29 күн бұрын
Yes exactly and let’s not forget these soldiers had families, sons and mothers, just as we do.
@rainmanmainplan442123 күн бұрын
When i visited this cemetery it was very dense and felt very heavy and just felt bad really that soo many lives were lost
@thehistoryexplorer21 күн бұрын
Yes I know what you mean! Luckily I was there on a lovely summers day but I imagine in the winter it would feel quite ominous
@jasonvazquez256328 күн бұрын
Great video, I wouldn’t call Wittmann “infamous” but I’d call him famous. Yes he was in the SS but I’ve never heard anything about him committing atrocities and I’ve studied him exclusively for years. His kill count may be slightly exaggerated but when your fight a foe like the soviets that believe (and still do) in meat wave tactics I don’t see that number being all that hard to reach, staying alive at the same time was probably difficult though . The soviets lost over 20 million people. They didn’t die from the cold. His performance at villers bocage is a great example. I get he was a nazi, he was in the SS both are despicable but enough of the victor writing history. If you can provide evidence or a book that would imply and/or prove that his kill count was fabricated please let me know I’d like more information and I’m running out of books to read on the subject.
@stevensole190923 күн бұрын
RIP to those brave soldiers
@Sp1058020 сағат бұрын
Trust you mean the brave allied soldiers and not talking about the nazis
@stevensole190920 сағат бұрын
@@Sp10580 100% no. I mean the Germans. Allies were bullies who had more money and greater numbers. Germans were the brave ones.
@allencollins6031Ай бұрын
Thank you for the History. And the video/picures that bring it life.
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
My pleasure my friend. I hope you’re doing well
@chrishensley674523 күн бұрын
Nice video...I respect the German soldier for there way of fighting where alot had to fight...like the 17 and 75 year old men that died there....they were smart in ALOT of ways......Unlike the Japes......that is a different story/bunch of people right there.
@Maxl140926 күн бұрын
Thank you very much for this video! Just something I notice when referring to german names, etc.: "ei" is pronounced like "I" and "ie" is pronounced like "ee", in this case "Diekmann"="Deekmann" (like in "seek", "deep", etc.) Keep it up!
@thehistoryexplorer26 күн бұрын
Thanks for sharing! Every day is a school day
@americanpatriot2422Ай бұрын
Great video
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
Thank you American Patriot 🇺🇸 👌
@jerseycitysteve4 күн бұрын
We should remember that on the Eastern Front, there were hundreds of villages that met the same fate as oradour-sur-glane.
@lunn7725 күн бұрын
I went to oradour sur glane. Amazing and sad place. It's a must to go if ever in that area.
@thehistoryexplorer23 күн бұрын
Oh I agree! I have a video coming up on Oradour
@lunn7723 күн бұрын
@@thehistoryexplorer looking forward to it 🙂👍
@gillgetter3004Ай бұрын
Thanks I wondered what happened to the German dead👍
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
I hope you took something from the video. I found the research really interesting
@adhofsink1216Ай бұрын
Have you ever been to Ysselsteyn in the Netherlands?
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
No I havnt actually but I do have plans to visit the Netherlands again soon
@adhofsink121624 күн бұрын
@@thehistoryexplorer It is worth the visit. 👌
@anthonysherry262824 күн бұрын
My late father served in the British Army, Royal Tank Regiment. He met my German mother in Munster. When i see these video's i feel sad, so many young taken on both sides. But they did their duty, right or wrong. What a waste.
@thehistoryexplorer23 күн бұрын
Well said my friend
@rolfagten85727 күн бұрын
What if the German Soldier was a British or Irish national in the German army would they also bureid ther?!
@thehistoryexplorer27 күн бұрын
The Germans buried plenty of allied soldiers
@TKM1951Ай бұрын
It occurs that if they were being moved to central resting places ,why weren’t they repatriated
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
It’s just as the American soldiers see moved from various locations to the main US cemetery. Some families did choose to have their family members brought back to the US
@eric-wb7gj29 күн бұрын
I suppose it depends on who's paying, & if there are any living relatives to claim them, or if the government wishes to carry out the task. I read of an WW2 account where a German mother got a note from the railway station saying there was a package for her to pick up, it was a large one, & she had to pay for it's transport. When she got there, she found it was the body of her son in his coffin. She had to pay the fee, then walk him home about 5km to their village for burial.
@Dulcimertunes23 күн бұрын
@@eric-wb7gj😢
@wumhenry12324 күн бұрын
Good to hear that even the german side recognized the war crime of Diekmann and wanted to court martial him.
@thehistoryexplorer23 күн бұрын
Yes definitely!
@ArnieC19749 күн бұрын
There is an other one who you should visit! It's beautiful! It's on a backroad to le mont saint Michelle and the name is Huisnes-sur-Merthere you will find the cemetery. You have to climb a lot of steps and then you find yourself in a big round circle where all Germans are intured in there own grave, so they are not buried but all have there own plot stacked 6 rows high. You can see a lot there and it's kept very well by the German government. You can walk there for hours and still haven't seen it all. It has a beautiful Chappell as well with all the names engraved. I found it on my way back from Saint Michelle but you can better first go there!
@lloydgoldston3620Ай бұрын
Anytime someone calls Wittmann The Black Baron I just have to shake my head. Michael Wittmann was never called that during the war unlike The Red Baron who was known by that name during WW1. Post war rubbish thanks to a quasi scientific television show on who killed Wittmann where that silly moniker first appears. Please do history a favor and don’t perpetuate myths. Diekmann is pronounced Deekman and not Dykmann. In German Ei sounds like eye and ie sounds like ee as eel. Otherwise a very well thought out, respectful look at the cemetery at La Cambe and the massive amount of war dead interred there. Sorry to be pedantic. I do appreciate and enjoy your YT releases. Thanks
@Kirtlington-Bandit9 күн бұрын
Everyone should be taken to a war cemetery , whilst stationed in Germany any relative visiting i always took them to one. When you see the ages it really puts your life into perspective and what people sacrificed their life’s for .
@thehistoryexplorer7 күн бұрын
Yes I agree. In any military cemetery
@garyhill105024 күн бұрын
The wermacht were regular soldiers over time the were disgusted by Hitler's planning and there is proof that the wermacht were sick of Hitler but the sad part is they were being led by the ss who were the fanatics. during the last months of the war the majority of the German army that was still fighting were ss and in that time frame many were the fanatical 17 to 20 year olds
@TheConfederate186327 күн бұрын
I think you can see at the cemeteries who won the war….😢
@thehistoryexplorer27 күн бұрын
In what way?
@carresteigerwald32786 күн бұрын
Im surprised people even visit it. That being said, these people, beyond the war, were someone's child. They were a little 4 year old playing with toys at one time. I know its very difficult to think about, but the Lord loved them too. However their choices decided most of their fates, regarding their eternal place.
@LucasOliveira-lu7sw28 күн бұрын
Por favor em português BR. Não consigo entender,
@kerrydennison794722 күн бұрын
It's very sobering to see this considering how the Germans treated the Russian war dead. I have always wondered why the French people even allowed the notorious SS to be buried on French soil you would think they would have forced the bodys to be repatriated to Germany after the war. Then again the Russians simply plowed over the German cemeteries in Russia and turned it back into wheat Fields etc.
@desmondthompson912326 күн бұрын
Midnightchannel you are coating the official history not the Real History about WW 11.
@thehistoryexplorer25 күн бұрын
Huh? Sorry I don’t understand
@josephd919025 күн бұрын
lol had to put it not about honoring but to learn about “our enemy”. Dude the wars been over for decades. Can’t you just show use the cemetery and just do it to remember the pointless loss of life war causes and to pay respects to the dead. These things are always so political. Lost my interest after that comment
@thehistoryexplorer25 күн бұрын
Fair comment. I meant no offence by it, merely that they were the adversary on the other side of this conflict.
@johnoliver883324 күн бұрын
Pretty sure that tano commanders success was due to either him or his mate text book copied an englishmans booklet on tank warfare
@thehistoryexplorer23 күн бұрын
I know the story you’re referring to. They captured British doctrine booklets and Rommel is claimed to have said ‘the British have the best doctrine in the world but their officers do not read it’s
@gregbolitho977525 күн бұрын
Glad they got looked after, alot seemed not to be.
@paulevison949725 күн бұрын
Sadly you keep calling Heers (army) as werhmarcht which means armed forceces!!!
@thehistoryexplorer25 күн бұрын
It’s how they are portrayed in the books I used
@paulevison949725 күн бұрын
@@thehistoryexplorer Then should you not put this right as it's an historical fact and helps the narrative?
@rossthompson79567 күн бұрын
Two uncles served their also. One B17 navigator and one ground combat. They mever openally talked about it. The navigator said they had to fly to Russia and used the hay stacks for cover as the german fighters shot up the Russian base. Russians were nice to the allies back then.
@thehistoryexplorer6 күн бұрын
Outstanding 🫡
@Dulcimertunes23 күн бұрын
The Nazis didn’t need a reason to incinerate civilians
@thehistoryexplorer23 күн бұрын
Yes of course
@rosewhite---24 күн бұрын
Dirk Bogarde was with intel and travelled through the area and noticed bulldozers making huge trenches for the truckloads fo German body parts.
@thehistoryexplorer23 күн бұрын
I’ve never heard that. Interesting
@rosewhite---22 күн бұрын
@@thehistoryexplorer it was in the falaise area a day or two after the fighting stopped. his autobiography is quite an interesing read.
@thehistoryexplorer22 күн бұрын
@@rosewhite--- thank you! I’ll try and check that out
@HuppeldePupNL22 күн бұрын
Great video. Thanks. A word of advice, however: can you please make a bit of an effort to get the pronunciation sort of right, of the French and German names. Ehdolf Dikemun and Ahdolf Deekman do not sound at all similar to most Continental ears.
@thehistoryexplorer21 күн бұрын
I will try my best. Sorry
@Prfdt327 күн бұрын
In the end who was the Victor?
@thehistoryexplorer26 күн бұрын
Who do you think was the victor?
@mrnexus8seven94924 күн бұрын
Why are you surprised so many people visit this cemetary?
@thehistoryexplorer23 күн бұрын
Because I’ve been visiting Normandy for over 20 years and this was my first time going to La Cambe
@JOEBURNES20064 күн бұрын
Michael Whittman was a great tank commander most of his kills were on the eastern front. I think his tank kill numbers were right on. The Germans did not exaggerate kills like the Russians did.
@kauaiboy5o29 күн бұрын
Why weren't the war dead sent back to their country of origin?
@TheConfederate186327 күн бұрын
Because they were still at war with Germany.
@kauaiboy5o27 күн бұрын
@@TheConfederate1863 Why weren't they reburied in Germany?
@TheConfederate186327 күн бұрын
@@kauaiboy5o guess they wanted them to stay with their fallen comrades ? Other nations did the same…
@gemellodipriapo23 күн бұрын
Why should it surprise you so many people visit La Cambe cemetery? History unites us all and Lord knows how many Germans or Austrians must visit. Moreover the German army of WWII had a dark glamour about it. There are numerous reasons for it's pull and that's why some of us have watched your vid. Anyway the title is somewhat misleading.
@thehistoryexplorer23 күн бұрын
It surprises me that so many visit. Half a million in 2023
@gemellodipriapo23 күн бұрын
@@thehistoryexplorer WWII is Disney World for adults. And La Cambe has free entry.
@NormanStanleyNew26 күн бұрын
What happened to all the gold teeth from the concentration camps?
@thehistoryexplorer25 күн бұрын
I really don’t know
@graemer365725 күн бұрын
In Luxembourg the American war dead are buried in single graves. The Germans are buried up to 12 people in a single grave. This is because in the aftermath of the fighting they were buried in mass graves where they fell. When the military cemeteries were created later it was impossible to separate the bones for individual graves
@thehistoryexplorer23 күн бұрын
Yes absolutely
@HarryFlashmanVC25 күн бұрын
Note the weeb coins on Wittman's grave
@thehistoryexplorer25 күн бұрын
There were coins on many graves there
@emilioalcazar-su9vi27 күн бұрын
Always the topic of the bad waffen ss soldiers..the same song of the last 80 years!!
@thehistoryexplorer27 күн бұрын
You don’t think the Waffen SS were bad?
@emilioalcazar-su9vi27 күн бұрын
@@thehistoryexplorer there were million people in the waffen SS..all of them bad guys?IS ridiculous and a nonsense..in war,the allied were not the Saints of series,films and comics
@williampinchers25 күн бұрын
Whitman panzer ace par excellence he was a warrior not a murderer. They were not all the same , we the allies had our own fruitbars to.
@focus330327 күн бұрын
I'm quite surprised that you find it unusual that so many people would visit a German military memorial and war graves. Are German soldiers not entitled to have the same attention as Allied Soldiers.....!!!!
@thehistoryexplorer26 күн бұрын
You’ve misunderstood my surprise. I am surprised that it got half a million visitors! A huge number
@focus330326 күн бұрын
@@thehistoryexplorer I haven't misunderstood anything....why would you be surprised?
@thehistoryexplorer26 күн бұрын
@@focus3303 I don’t entertain trolling but I’ll leave it at this; I’ve been visiting Normandy for 20 years and this was my first visit to this cemetery. It’s fair to say most visitors to the area head to Omaha Beach and other locations associated with the Allies. When I find out half a million people visited last year, it was surprising to me. I’m not sure how many different ways I can explain that. Have a great day 👍
@davidgoodfellow23849 күн бұрын
I'm sure my grandfather who was a prisoner at war at the hands of these bastards would dance on there graves if he was alive they were evil towards my grandfather
@josephmccorkel702124 күн бұрын
You won't see me there
@thehistoryexplorer23 күн бұрын
That is your prerogative my friend
@michaelbruce6190Ай бұрын
Stop referring to everything as "Nazi" Germany and stop apologizing for going to a German war cemetery! The Iron Cross was not a "Nazi" decoration, it had been around since the 1871 Franco-Prussian war and most of the soldiers buried in that cemetery were just young men, most of them kids, fighting for whatever they were told to fight for or what they believed they were fighting for.....they didn't want to fight and die in some horrible war just as much as soldiers from other countries. My Opa fought in the Wehrmacht in WWII and he was no Nazi, he actually despised the Nazi's for the pigs they were, and that was the opinion of about 95% of German fighting forces during that time in our history!
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
🫡 sure thing. Sorry you were offended by this video. Trying my best
@michaelbruce6190Ай бұрын
@@thehistoryexplorer not offended at all, your videos are amazing and extremely good! I apologize if my comment came across as rude, sometimes written words don't come across properly and I sincerely apologize!
@thehistoryexplorerАй бұрын
No problem. I have thick skin and I’d rather get these things right
@Ralph9496725 күн бұрын
No matter what you may think of the Second World War. The men who gave their life’s did it for what they thought was right. This should be a warning to all people around the world that politicians dictators start the wars and it’s the. Population who are killed in their hundreds of thousands not to mention the civilian casualties who are not part of the uniformed masses. Respect to all fallen who lost their families while fighting a war