186 - Kharkov Falls Once Again - WW2 - March 19, 1943

The twin prizes of Kharkov and Belgorod fall to Erich von Manstein's German forces this week, but this is a week of preparations- the Americans and New Zealanders are on the move in North Africa so everyone can attack next week, and in the USSR Hitler plans for the Kursk salient to be eliminated. He might not survive to see that happen, since there is an attempt on his life- a failed one- this week, and there may well be more to come.
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A TimeGhost chronological documentary produced by OnLion Entertainment GmbH.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Join the TimeGhost Army: bit.ly/WW2_186_PI At the time of uploading this video Kharkov is once again the site of unspeakable violence. The city rests on the front line of the war between Russia and Ukraine, and who will control it once again lies in the balance. It's exactly moments like this that illustrate the importance of learning from the successes and failures of our collective past. Read our community guidelines before commenting: community.timeghost.tv/t/rules-of-conduct/451

[@alansewell7810]

It's been speculated many times what Hitler might have accomplished had he treated the Ukrainians (and Russians and other Soviet peoples) decently. Of course, it was not Hitler's nature to make them anything other than slaves, while killing those too infirm to work for Germany, or with a genetic makeup he felt did not deserve to live. He only succeeded in making most Soviet citizens fight together as hard as they could against him. You would think a man as savvy as Putin used to be in his prime (20 years ago) would know better than to repeat Hitler's barbaric errors of conquest and atrocities instead of replicating them almost to the letter. It seems that learning from the failures of our collective past is easier said than done. No sooner have the collective living memories of those who fought WWII passed, than we get the sequel.

[@eugenkurysko3470]

Thanks a lot for your episode. Nowadays this city is in ruins thanks to russian "brave liberatory" army. And i have to correct you a bit: it's Kharkiv, not Kharkov

[@ivanvoronov3871]

The community guidelines page seems to be missing . Or is it just me?

[@gwtpictgwtpict4214]

@@eugenkurysko3470 I understand the point you're making, but in March 1943 what is now Kharkiv was part of the USSR, and hence was known as Kharkov. I would expect any modern reference to the city to use Kharkiv, but the channel is correct in using Kharkov to reference 1943. Slave Ukraini!

[@caryblack5985]

@@gwtpictgwtpict4214 Agree. Since we are discussing WWII it makes more sense to refer to the cities by the names they had in the period. Hence we say the battle of Stalingrad not Volgograd. Many names were also changed after the fall of communism but to constantly say Stalingrad now Volgograd is awkward and just using the current name can be confusing to those unfamiliar with the history of WWII.

[@Duke_of_Lorraine]

The Red Army has learned a lot. That retreat out of Kharkov would certainly not have been allowed in 1941.

[@User-lo6oe]

i literally thought the same

[@leant6487]

Tbf Kharkov was probably dozens of times more valuable back than.

[@alexamerling79]

True. They really have learned from their mistakes.

[@marijn211]

Or is Stalin just being less of an issue?

[@TheJacobshapiro]

Yep. It’s a sign their leadership has learned and improved. Instead of letting their troops get encircled, they let them pull out and conserve their strength.

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

One of the greatest parts about this series is, since you do it all chronologically to match the pace of the actual war, you only need to look back to previous episodes to see what exactly is influencing these specific events. The fact that this is just a mere month after the 'total war' speech puts all of Germany's actions in such a richer, more vivid context. Again, I can't stop singing the praises of how much I love this type of format to tell history.

[@stanbrekston]

unfortunately, soon we'll probably be talking about WW3 in real time...

[@mynameisntpatrick1476]

I rewatched the whole Great War series last year. The slow burn through the history shows us how everything is connected rather than a series of episodes and major events.

[@Matt_from_Florida]

It's just so weird that there's a full-blown war *HAPPENING RIGHT NOW* in these same cities!!!

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you for watching

[@thanos_6.0]

Stalins frustration with North Africa is understandable. But one must remember that the Tunesian theater still diverted thousands apon thousands of axis men, supplies and plans away from the eastern front, where they were desperatly needed. F.ex 30-40% of all German bombers are now located in the Mediteranien.

[@Bruh-rh5zf]

Still most of the Germany army is in the eastern front, with 80% of Germans fight and die at the eastern front.

[@thanos_6.0]

@@Bruh-rh5zf But the tons of men and supplies were still desperatly needed in the east

[@answerman9933]

But any front, especially one that is disembodied from mainland Europe, can actually cause a greater strain on manpower and logistics. After the Allies gained a foothold in Normandy Germany should have given up on Norway.

[@GeorgeSemel]

Stalin never could get his head around the fact that until the North Atlantic gotten reasonably secure from the U-boat threat, it would be slow going- Hell his army had trouble just crossing a river- The Atlantic is well, look at a map some time, the distances we needed to go just to get a can of spam to his army, then look at how far it is from Moscow to Berlin. Oh and all the while the US, UK, And the Aussies and New Zealanders were fighting on two fronts.. You really can't do much on the ground till you get control of the Air over the battlespaces - One of the reasons the Russians in 2022 is having such a hard time and with fairly short supply lines. And there is the other thing it has to do with the political and the moral- the Western Allies could not chuck men away like water out of a fire hose- The Russians could not either but that didn't stop Joe from well needlessly wasting his people. North Africa was doable in 42-43- The coming mess in Italy is another matter. The Luftwaffe in Europe still has yet to be destroyed enough to put the odds of invasion on the Allied side. You are right about the German being stretched, would it have mattered in the long run if they were not in North Africa, I doubt it. They were going to lose the war regardless when they decided to drive into Poland on 1 September. Now if there was no Soviet Collusion with Germany over that- Then well maybe World War II in Europe may have not started in the first place- we will never know. Stalin and the Soviets were not just innocent bystanders in all of this. The Russians would pay and go on to pay a very heavy price for his time as the Chief Cook and bottle washer of Russia.

[@mjbull5156]

Also destroyed a lot of the Axis transport aircraft trying to supply the forces stranded there.

[@gunman47]

Another interesting, perhaps somewhat unusual thing that happened this week on March 13 1943 is that a celebration took place at Krakow’s main railway station in Poland that featured the 2000th transport of forced labour workers from Poland to Germany. The one-millionth forced labourer was "honoured" with a gold watch from the Governor-General of the General Government of occupied Poland, Hans Frank.

[@robertjarman3703]

Really? What a psychotic bastard. What did they give the millionth person to be admitted to Auschwitz, a gas mask? Wasn't the governor general hanged after the war?

[@thanos_6.0]

@@robertjarman3703 Yep. That bastard died.

[@thanos_6.0]

Huh. Unusual indeed

[@konstantinriumin2657]

Macabre...

[@TheBard1999]

Would you have some source on that to learn more?

[@meverything4913]

I love how he foreshadows Kursk at the beginning. It’s the little things like that that make this show so enjoyable!

[@akshittripathi5403]

The eerie music is a bit of foreshadowing too. The same music played during 6th Army's campaign last year, and as the Soviet armies overextended themselves into Ukraine last month

[@alexamerling79]

Into the motherland the German army march

[@michaelgreaves2375]

I'm sure Nothing will come of it. It's empty land! Why would the Soviets want to defend it!

[@Darwinek]

Kursk? Never heard of it. Sounds like some non-notable village in the middle of the fields. Wehrmacht will probably encircle some 300k Soviet soldiers again.

[@loetzcollector466]

My history Professor once told me "As academics, we have to constantly remind ourselves that nothing which has happened in history was written in stone or preordained... except German counter-attack."

[@stekarknugen9258]

So weird watching this while there's a 5th battle for Kharkov currently going on.

[@samuelgordino]

Karkov is starting to sound like izonzo river...

[@jeffreysams3348]

If only there was an assassination attempt on the dictator of a country in this more recent conflict....

[@marcofava]

@@jeffreysams3348 well we need a successful one, not an attempted one at this point

[@MikhailZabaluev]

Kharkov stands firm against fascist invaders this time.

[@gwtpictgwtpict4214]

@@whitelotus6230 Putin didn't "have" to do anything. He chose to.

[@rastas4766]

1943 is a weird year for the war. Robert Citino has a great lecture about it and he calls it “the hardest year to write about”. It’s the point in the war where the Axis possibility of victory is entirely gone… or is it? It’s the point where the Allies know they will win, but it’s going to take a while. It’s hard to explain.

[@harzzachseniorgamer5516]

Its the year the allies realized that they might have a decent chance to win the war. No guarantee though, a decent chance. Its also the year the Wehrmacht still thought THEY have a decent chance to be back on the offensive, win the war. In hindsight we know that the Wehrmacht had lost, the moment they attacked the Sowjetunion, but back then they thought around this time of 1943, that victory was still possible. *spoiler* Until Kursk taught them otherwise. This was IMHO the point where at least the OKW realized that there will be no victory in the East.

[@Anthony-jo7up]

1943 was definitely a lull compared to what would come in 1944, but I think that is mainly due to the Allies getting everything squared away so that 1944 will be unstoppable. Although we shouldn’t put down important battles like Kursk, Tunisia, and Tarawa, or the strategic bombing campaign, in my opinion the most important event of 1943 was the invasion of Italy which resulted in their switching sides thusly knocking out one of the main 3 Axis powers. Italy gets a bad rap but they did have millions of men fighting in WW2. In terms of years I always see it as: 1941: Nightmare Hell Scenario for the USA and USSR. (Britain was just happy to finally have some company) 1942: The Axis momentum is lost as the Allies defeat powerful Axis formations on ALL fronts, from Stalingrad, to Morocco, to El Alamein, to Midway, and to Guadalcanal. This earns them PARITY with the Axis. 1943: The Allies turn parity into superiority as they become very offensively postured, preparing for major offensives on all fronts. 1944: The Allies Strike Back (Alternative title: UNLIMITED POWER!) 1945: “Merely the proper application of overwhelming force.”

[@harzzachseniorgamer5516]

@@Anthony-jo7up This is true from our perspective, yes. But then, it wasnt so clear at all.

[@Anthony-jo7up]

@@harzzachseniorgamer5516 For sure, the war wasn’t over until it was over. Before the atomic bombings of Japan, it was estimated the war was going to last at least until 1946 and almost certainly 1947.

[@EnigmaEnginseer]

@@Anthony-jo7up The Japanese were planning to throw every man, woman, and child at the enemy to protect their emperor. The destruction and loss of life would have been unprecedented

[@gianniverschueren870]

Oooof, I really like this tie, even if it looks more like it belongs in a fabric store. 4.5/5

[@robertkras5162]

We know Astrid picks these - I think Indie owes us a video tour of his actual tie collection .... (probably a Gerry Garcia....)

[@Darwinek]

@@robertkras5162 Probably a local Bavarian thrift shop. I can imagine some 1980s Helmut with thick mustache wearing them.

[@ShMDavies]

I hope it gets auctioned off!

[@brokenbridge6316]

I remember hearing that their were 42 attempts on Hitler's life. And some of those plots had a real chance of succeeding. I know it's not possible but maybe this channel can dedicate a special episode to some of the more interesting ones. Excellent video.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

We must uncover the person or persons that developed or will develop a time machine to go back and foil these plots. 🤨

[@shaider1982]

He has the devil's luck, as another popular historu you tuber noted.

[@edwardblair4096]

@@georgedoolittle9015 They did a special on his crazy doctor and all the drugs he was taking near the beginning of the series: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iomugZ2fhK2mpdE

[@brokenbridge6316]

@@shaider1982---I heard that before

[@Darwinek]

@@shaider1982 More like the chief devil protecting him throughout his life.

[@lukum55]

This week on the 13th, German submarine U-196 set sail from Kiel for its 1st war patrol. This would be the longest combat patrol for any submarine during WW2, the crew of about 60 men would spend 225 days living in a cramped metal tube with no shower and sharing one toilet between them and one bed for every two men. They would also endure every weather condition the worlds oceans could throw at them ranging from freezing storms of the North Atlantic to tropical heat of the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean. To put this into context, the at sea endurance of a Los Angeles-class nuclear powered attack submarine is about 90 days and that of a Delta-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine is about 80, U-196s patrol was two and a half times as long.

[@larsrons7937]

Thanks for that incredible story which was new to me (a rare case). U-196 it was? It will look it up.

[@rajeshkanungo6627]

I wonder how much it stank …

[@derkommentierer4160]

@@rajeshkanungo6627 After a time you would get used to it.

[@rajeshkanungo6627]

@@derkommentierer4160 yup. First time around horses, my shoes stank for weeks. Now I don’t notice it. But my friends do…

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you for sharing that, very interesting.

[@greeniedi6287]

Some quotes from Henning von Tresckow, the man who planted the bomb on Hitlers plane: "The assassination must be attempted at all costs. Even if it should not succeed, an attempt to seize power in Berlin must be made. What matters now is no longer the practical purpose of the coup, but to prove to the world and for the records of history that the men of the resistance dared to take the decisive step. Compared to this objective, nothing else is of consequence." (1944) "Remember this moment. If we don't convince the field marshal [Fedor von Bock] to fly to Hitler at once and have these orders [the Commissar Order] cancelled, the German people will be burdened with a guilt the world will not forget in a hundred years. This guilt will fall not only on Hitler, Himmler, Göring, and their comrades but on you and me, your wife and mine, your children and mine, that woman crossing the street, and those children over there playing ball." (1941) "Isn't it dreadful? Here we are, two officers of the German General Staff, discussing how best to murder our commander-in-chief. It must be done. This is our only chance... Hitler must be cut down like a rabid dog." (1943) "I cannot understand how people can still call themselves Christians and not be furious adversaries of Hitler's regime." (April 1943) "It is almost certain that we will fail. But how will future history judge the German people if not even a handful of men had the courage to put an end to that criminal?" (June 1944) "Every day, we are assassinating nearly 16,000 additional victims." He commited suicide in July 21, 1944. One day after the failed assassination attempt by Claus von Stauffenberg.

[@rajeshkanungo6627]

Wow!!! Thanks. Good to know people had a conscience and were willing to act on it.

[@Rendell001]

@@rajeshkanungo6627 There are people who seek to paint all the members of the german resistance as only interested in saving their own necks when it became obvious that Germany was going to lose. As with most things in life, the truth is far more complex. There was significant resistance even in the mid thirties in senior circles of the German army with even a proposed coup attempt when the Munich crisis blew up. That attempt only didn't take place because the British government appeased Hitler and refused to back the plotters. While there were disparit resistance groups for most of the war, they only really coalesced during late '43 and spring '44...

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you for sharing those quotes.

[@haroldearlgray5629]

The 4 battles of Kharkov in WW2 are very underrated

[@samo3923]

what ? are you saying there will be a fourth battle ? you think soviets will try to re-capture the city again ?

[@haroldearlgray5629]

@@samo3923 sorry for the spoiler

[@Shleemaa]

What is even more underrated is the fact you are talking about the WW2 battles of Kharkow when there is the actual battle of Kharkow in progress at this very moment.

[@leeboy26]

I'd really like to know about this rating agency that is giving out marks for various WW2 battles.

[@rubenplooster5227]

The Germans are experts at closing salients, I'm sure Kursk will fall quickly and the Germans will regain full initiative.

[@Steven-nd1pz]

Exactly.

[@shaider1982]

Yup, not to mention the new tanks which definitely will work properly even whem rushed intro production.

[@nuzulqreshna3575]

Yeah, I'm sure Steiner's attack would be very successful in capturing and entering Kursk in a matter of days.

[@Raskolnikov70]

Sure, but the last salient they closed (Rzhev) they did from within.....

[@abdzaytoon3211]

And everyone will eat Brot & Brötchen and drink Radler Beer.

[@davidwong9230]

At 2:15, passing an order along by word of mouth can either work very well, as in this case, or very badly. I’ve heard an apocryphal story from WW1 of an instance in which a message was passed along the British lines, “Send reinforcements, we are going to advance”, and the message received at the other end was, “Send three and four pence, we are going to a dance” 😂

[@andrewbeaumont5492]

That was one of my father favorite jokes !

[@sidgarrett7247]

I don’t remember the class name, effective communication I think, the point is, the first student read a paragraph, handed the paper back to the instructor. Then turned around and whispered it to the next student, so after about 20 or so relays, the last one relayed the message aloud, after which the instructor read the original aloud. Damn! Two clearly different messages!

[@MarcosElMalo2]

Let me see if I got the punchline correct. That was “Tea for four gents that want romance”?

[@jakerolfe7689]

@@sidgarrett7247 That was a game when I was a kid, "Chinese whispers'' it was called. I have no idea why it was called that, does sound slightly racist, but it was the same idea. Everyone in a circle, someone would come up with a random sentence and whisper it to the person next to them who would pass it on, by the time it had come back to the start it had usually mutated into something completely different.

[@sidgarrett7247]

@@jakerolfe7689 I remember playing something like that. I don’t remember if we had a name for it. But consider a classroom lesson being turned into a playground game, one would think that there must be something to learn from it.

[@naveenraj2008eee]

Hi Indy Thrilling week.. Never heard about this plot.. Finally allies have motivation to clear axis.. Thanks for another weekly episode..

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks for joining us as always.

[@amandahammond2691]

If you watch the movie Valkyrie, this is the plot that fails prompting them to bring in Colonel von Stauffenberg.

[@redeagle-fi4rr]

I hope you guys would discuss the July 20 plot in dept in the near future. Love the series!

[@leomduffy794]

The third battle if Kharkov also known as manstains miracle. It was truly incredible after the disaster at stalingrad and the whole German army in army group south was in risk of being pushed into the black sea. That manstain while dealing with Hitler refusing him to retreat for days until finally he let manstain in full control.

[@treckerdirector7]

10:26 Operation Wet As... never mind.

[@patrickazzarella6729]

Will you be speaking on Hitlers uncomfortable fears on Operation Citadel? I've heard this was something he wasn't a fan of

[@WorldWarTwo]

@Patrick Azzarella the scripts aren't quire written that far ahead so I we don't know for sure, I'd imagine that's something Indy would take an interest in though

[@patrickazzarella6729]

@@WorldWarTwo Alright thanks!

[@Southsideindy]

Hitler had plenty of worries, but by late May, with- spoilers- losing all of Africa and the Mediterranean, and losing the shipping war in the Atlantic, he saw Citadel as his big chance for a major headline grabbing win in 1943.

[@theoneandonlysoslappy]

Doesn't take long for Patton and Monty to be at odds. :)

[@benwilson6145]

But there not at the moment

[@magmasajerk]

The cryptography of the era is very interesting. History of compsci is my field of interest, thanks for making sure to include it.

[@WorldWarTwo]

@Diane Spacefear you're very welcome

[@rajeshkanungo6627]

Either that or you are a machine from a faraway planet and know how to pass every Turing test. We owe so much to Turing, and yet we punished him. Sigh.

[@marcinaskawslo2984]

Is there any source talking in details about how Those German officers wanted to handle the war and internal politics after succesful coup?

[@Raskolnikov70]

IIRC their goal was a negotiated settlement with the US and UK in an attempt to save themselves from the inevitable Soviet invasion. I don't have a good source, just my memory and understanding from having studied this back in college decades ago.

[@donjones4719]

@@Raskolnikov70 Logically it's really their only option, or more accurately their only hope.

[@jtgd]

For those who don’t know, Wop is a derogatory term for Italians

[@elliottpartridge5542]

Isn't that pretty weirdly out of character compared to the usual naming scheme of operations?

[@robertkras5162]

It's not like US forces didn't include substantial numbers of Italian Americans...

[@douglasturner6153]

That's a wopping good comment. I'm heading off now to have a wopping good Pizza at Fat Tony's!

[@nickdanger3802]

As I understand it, it is the acronym for with out passport.

[@Raskolnikov70]

@@elliottpartridge5542 Now I'm curious why they called it that. Pretty sure they knew what the slur meant back in the 40's, so it's weird they'd risk alienating their own soldiers by using it.

[@jasondouglas6755]

General Alexander will soon learn that “Limited Attacks” is not part of Pattons dictionary.

[@merdiolu]

Due to Axis resistance , Patton's 2nd US Corps would not move beyond El Guettar and Makassy hills till mid April 1943 though.

[@Nostripe361]

I just find it ridiculous that due to the Americans being new to modern war the British just assume they are useless and thought about just wasting an entire usable army that could slam into the Axis as you attack from another position

[@robertkras5162]

@@Nostripe361 It's about the Glory... wait till Market Garden...

[@merdiolu]

@@Nostripe361 The thing is January and February 1943 battles of 2nd US Corps left a bad impression on Alexander who felt that US Army should learn how to walk before run. Patton would mostly rectify greenness of US Army image in Sicilian Campaign but at this stage even several US generals were asking themselves and everyone else in Allied ranks whether there was a lack of serious experience / training or something else wrong in US fighting formations and men. Brig. De Guingand , Eighth Army Chief of Staff recalls in his memoirs "Operation Victory" that a US Army general approached him during last weeks of Tunisian Campaign and inquired him whether he thought anything wrong or missing in methods or command of US formations. De Guingand did not think so and during Sicilian Campaign he met same US general with latter did not have any doubts anymore. Till self confidence of 2nd Corps restored it was logical for Alexander to give them secondary tasks

[@Raskolnikov70]

@@Nostripe361 That's the result of the debacle at Kasserine Pass. Deserved or not, it gave the US forces a reputation as being green and unprepared that stuck with them for a long time.

[@Shadowman4710]

Kursk? Can't imagine much will happen there....it's pretty much in the middle of nowhere.

[@markreetz1001]

Us country folk call those "wide spots in the road," only there aint hardly no road!

[@oOkenzoOo]

On 11 March 1943, the Aconit, one of the nine Flower-class corvettes lent by the Royal Navy to the Free French Naval Forces, under Lieutenant de vaisseau Jean Levasseur destroyed two German submarines (U-444 and U-432) while escorting the large convoy HX228. Aconit was attached to the Free French Naval Forces (FNFL) on 23 July 1941, and assigned to the Clyde escort group on 17 August 1941, joining the Newfoundland Forces. She took a very active part in the Battle of the Atlantic for two years, protecting convoys sailing from Newfoundland to the U.K. via Iceland. She also took part to the liberation of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon between 10 and 27 December 1941. In 1942 Aconit, with three other FNFL corvettes, was assigned to Escort Group B-3 of the Mid-Ocean Escort Force and served with this group for the rest of the campaign. On Tuesday 9 March 1943, the convoy HX228, which Aconit was escorting, was five days out from Newfoundland. At 0800 a plane from a U.S. carrier sighted a U-boat 10 miles (16 km) ahead. At 1500, the carrier was short on fuel and had to turn back. At 1930, an ammunition ship had been hit and on a second ship SS Andrea F. Luckenbach, men were taking to the boats. In response the escort leader, Havant-class destroyer HMS Harvester, hunted U-444 by sweeping through the lumbering convoy. A corvette was detailed to rescue survivors as the underwater search went on. Hours passed as the destroyer remained in the attack area. At midnight, 4 miles (6.4 km) astern of the convoy, silently moving up to regain station U-444 was surfaced and going at top speed after the convoy. After the U-boat dived, Harvester raced over dive position and forced her to surface by depth charge attacks. Circling at speed Harvester searched and spotted the U-boat 500 yards ahead. Making revs for 27 knots (50 km/h) the destroyer rammed U-444, disabling herself in the process. From astern Aconit sighted U-444 as Harvester broke free and closed to make her own ramming attack. Harvester, dead in the water, picked up one survivor and Aconit another four. Commander Tait ordered Aconit to rejoin convoy HX228 and with only the damaged starboard propeller shaft turning, Harvester limped behind at 9 knots (17 km/h). At 0400 on 10 March, 50 survivors of SS William C. Gorgas (a Liberty ship sunk by U-757) were sighted and rescued. During the morning of 11 March, Harvester's remaining shaft broke. A signal was made to Aconit "Am stopped. Stand by me". At 1100 Harvester was hit by the first torpedo from U-432. As the officers and crew prepared to abandon ship in the middle of the intensely cold Atlantic, a second torpedo was fired. The captain, seven officers, 136 ratings and 39 survivors were lost. Aconit returned to the scene and forced U-432 to surface, then sank her with artillery fire and ramming. During the day, the French corvette picked up 60 survivors from Harvester, including 12 survivors from the William C. Gorgas. Aconit also captured 12 survivors from U-432, including the second officer. The senior surviving officer of Harvester, Lieutenant J L Briggs (who had been gunnery control officer) interviewed the second-in-command of U-432, who had launched both torpedoes: "Why did you need to fire the second torpedo so shallow? What did you want to do, kill as many as you could?" The oberleutnant replied "didn't think you were sinking fast enough." For her actions and service, Aconit was cited by the British Admiralty and on 21 April 1943, at Greenock (Scotland), General Charles de Gaulle came aboard and awarded the corvette and her commander the Croix de la Libération (Liberation Cross). After the war she was also awarded the Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 (1939-1945 War Cross) and the médaille de la Résistance française (French Resistance Medal). In all during World War II, Aconit escorted 116 convoys, spending 728 days at sea.

[@williamearl1662]

Great story, thankyou for sharing.

[@WorldWarTwo]

@oOkenzoOo Thank you for sharing all that background info

[@2Links]

5:28 I wish we could get more panned out shots like this. Absolutely stunning

[@hannahp1108]

It's amazing that Kharkov is being fought over once again in a new war

[@Activated_Complex]

“Why not just shoot him in the mess hall?” “But he’s unarmed.” “Yes, but he’s Hitler.” “But he’s unarmed.” “Yes, but he’s HITLER! You know, mustache man? Evil personified?” “But he’s unarmed.” (Double facepalm)

[@markreetz1001]

"Doh!!" Make that a double "Doh!"

[@mikepette4422]

I know very little about the India/Burma area in the war. I'd say it's the one spot I know the least...nay nothing compared to other fronts. I was very glad to see it covered in this episode.

[@Southsideindy]

It will get a great deal of coverage next year.

[@porksterbob]

I think it needs an overview map. Burma is essentially diamond shaped. Arakan is on the coast which forms the southwest face of the diamond. The point where Burma and British India connect along the coast is the western point of the diamond. Imphal and Kohima, which will be important next year, are just opposite the northwest face of the diamond. Further up that northwest face, you get to Ledo. Across Burma, on the northeast face, is China.

[@stephencarran7650]

Loved seeing the NZ army marching in their Lemon Squeezers. The prelude to the Battle of the Mareth Line and the advance on the Tebaga Gap. Up the Kiwis!

[@WorldWarTwo]

🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿

[@tomasinacovell4293]

Wait... you mean someone would have believed shooting Hitler sitting down for lunch was thought of as shooting and unarmed man? LOL

[@Shauma_llama]

And a much more certain. They were too concerned with plausible denialbility.

[@robertkras5162]

@@Shauma_llama right - blame it on the Russians, and make your political moves under the guise of 'stability' and preventing a vacuum of power...

[@Raskolnikov70]

It would have been pretty hard to convince the German people that the Soviets managed to shoot him in his own mess hall.....

[@mikaelcrews7232]

The stage is being set for the largest tank battle in history! One thing you forgot to mention is MacArthur is drawing up plans for his plans to attack on the New Guinea cost and it will be another two months before his force's are ready! Many are still trying to figure out how to fire there weapons! He mostly has engineers and mechanics with a few clerks but all told there is enough for at least three divisions... Like the tie but you need to raid Astrid's wardrobe for some more flashy ties!! Good episode as always Indy keep it up!

[@WorldWarTwo]

@Mikael Thanks for watching! We'll see if Indy can sneakily steal Astrid's ties without her noticing…

[@GunnyKeith]

OUTSTANDING COVERAGE AND COMMENTARY INDY. LOVE THE PHONE CALLS INTRO. VERY FUNNY.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks for watching, Keith

[@ToddSauve]

The unfortunately failed raid on Dieppe in August 1942 is still causing the Allies problems with their convoy system in the north Atlantic. Had the Allies been able to grab a 4 rotor enigma machine in Dieppe they would have been able to read German naval intelligence. But things were on the verge of changing. Let's see if Indy can pick up the thread of what advances Allied signals intelligence were making that would lead to a sea change by May 1943 ... 🤷‍♂️

[@porksterbob]

If the Germans had lost a 4 rotor machine to Dieppe, they might have tried to change their ciphers. Part of what allowed the allies to read the German codes was that the Germans didn't think they were being cracked. Adding rotors and making it more complex was the Germans doing due diligence, not them actively trying to foil an ongoing allied cryptographic effort.

[@ToddSauve]

@@porksterbob Yes, that is true. But the Allies had no intention of letting the Nazis know that they had purloined one of their 4 rotor machines. They were going to take it from their naval HQ in Dieppe and then burn the entire building down. There is a good book on it by David O'Keefe called "One Day in August." He goes into infinite detail on the entire plan. Ian Fleming was one of the masterminds and he leaves traces of his participation in the James Bond books.

[@williamearl1662]

I reckon the Germans will get worried about codes being broken and change from enigma to invisible ink.

[@ToddSauve]

@@williamearl1662 In fact, they never figured out that all their Enigma traffic was being decoded. And their Lorenz traffic, too! They simply thought it was impossible and would require manpower the Allies would never assign to codes. Were they ever wrong!

[@williamearl1662]

@@ToddSauve Aaaggghhh Todd - you told me the ending!!😥😥🤣😣😣

[@erwansabatie1490]

I just finish to watch all this serie for second time, and i love that !!

[@WorldWarTwo]

@Erwan Thank you for your incredible support! I hope you stay tuned as we cover the rest of this terrible war, however long it draws on.

[@joe_mox]

¡Gracias!

[@WorldWarTwo]

¡De nada!

[@carrigadaashcroft]

It's fascinating to watch a week of events in world war 2, and during that week how many lives were brutally changed, I hope we can learn from history, thanks Indy and gang for this great show

[@WorldWarTwo]

@Walter Thank you so much for watching

[@thebairdMi]

thanks for your work

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you for watching. Please like, subscribe, stay tuned for more, and join the TimeGhost Army to help us produce more episodes every week www.patreon.com/join/timeghosthistory

[@IudiciumInfernalum]

When our favorite mustachioed villain wrote in his book "My Struggle" that providence had assigned him the tasks he was about to embark on the only thing he was wrong about was which divine being had set him on his course, and lend it's protection. With all the plots he managed to survive one cannot help but wonder whether The Devil was looking out for him.

[@CaptainSpork7]

10:44 when I heard Operation WAP, all I thought of was Cardi B in US military regalia, overseeing mine clearing 😂

[@dewok4701]

I'll be excited if Indy made big special episode about operation Valkyrie ...I can't be the only one who is hoping for that!!

[@macmedic892]

Why is Albert Kesselring always “Smiling”?

[@nickmacarius3012]

He's just a happy guy.

[@ritvikupadhyay7120]

Meth

[@stephencarran7650]

He’s like The Joker, permafixed smile.

[@DrJones20]

Crack

[@caryblack5985]

To give you a answer that is not joking it was noticed that he was almost always smiling in the pictures showing him as opposed to the dour and unsmiling pictures of the Prussian Wehrmacht officers.

[@pnutz_2]

3:42 someone's managed to turn their car into a schwimmwagen

[@merdiolu]

Operation PUGLIST and Operation SUPERCHARGE II is incoming in Battle of Mareth Line

[@stephencarran7650]

I hope the Kiwis and Freyberg get some credit here. He got slammed over Crete but here and at Al Alamein he was great as were the NZ forces. Tiny nation punching way above it’s weight!

[@markpaul8178]

Wow,this guy is outstanding.My first time watching,I am blown away by his presentation,knowledge,maps,and overlays.This video reminds me of the Armageddon channel which is also brilliant .

[@WorldWarTwo]

@Mark Thanks very much, we're glad you're enjoying our channel! Please like, subscribe, and consider joining the TimeGhost Army to help us make more episodes every week! bit.ly/HARDWARE_021_CO

[@stuff9680]

Today's my birthday and I get to see what was going on in the world 80 years ago

[@WorldWarTwo]

@Stuff 96 Happy Birthday! And thanks for spending it with us.

[@stuff9680]

@@WorldWarTwo I've been following since The Great War 1915

[@rabihrac]

For the first time in this war, I am starting to believe that the Allies are going to win it. One of the best-of episodes, in my opinion. Can't wait for next week's!

[@WorldWarTwo]

@Rabih R Thank you for watching, indeed much more to come next week.

[@duncancurtis1758]

Claws of Steel Leo Kessler.

[@mrgunn2726]

Really fantastic episode. The battle for the Atlantic is in my opinion a really under estimated portion of the war. Without supplies Britain would have had to capitulate, so while Stalin is griping about a second front on land, there is already a second front, but at sea. The bomb was not prepared for the cold weather, the Germans learned nothing from eastern front, bombs need wool hats!

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you for watching

[@SeventhSamurai72]

Great intro! Indy, you're the best🤣🤣

[@joshuapatrick682]

Damnit Kharkov….you had one job…

[@BenZedrene]

0:21- Prokhorovka: hold my vodka

[@USSChicago-pl2fq]

the First Czechoslovak Independent Field Battalion first action this week at the Battle of Sokolovo ends with their withdrawal as they delayed the German advance on the Mzha river this is the first time in the war non Soviet ground unit are fighting alongside the Soviets and the first foreign citizen ever to be awarded the highest Soviet military order, the Hero of the Soviet Union to Otakar Jaroš

[@robertkras5162]

I think the "red" Poles have been in action already on behalf of the Red army?

[@USSChicago-pl2fq]

@@robertkras5162 no they did not form into a unit until May 1943 then see action in October 1943

[@oneshotme]

Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up as a support

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you for your support as always!

Excellent. As always

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you for watching

[@starkparker16]

A little Super Troopers snuck in there

[@jasondrew5768]

Great video

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks @Jason Drew

[@patrickallen8787]

Oh Boy, Kursk is on the horizon!! And I'm almost current!!! (:

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks Patrick!

[@ColonelZoren]

We are on our way trought the Battle of Kursk... holy guacamole... O_O

[@lentejasrojasalvapor1853]

Damn operation Valkyrie is getting nearer 😳

[@OptimusWombat]

And 79 years later, the enemy is at the gates of Kharkiv again.

[@andmos1001]

looks like the mud is still a thing in and around kharkov

[@CABOOSEBOB]

I wonder how history would be different if that bomb had detonated

[@Steven-nd1pz]

According to one documentary, there were about 20 attempts on Hitler's life. Hitler believe that providence was protecting him. I agree. If Hitler had been killed, his generals would have surrended all of Germany to the Americans. There would have been no commie East Germany. But that would have defeated the whole purpose of the war. Which is to give half of Europe, including the hard working East Germans , to the commies in order to prove/disprove communism. God orchistrated WW2 in order to provide this laboratory experiment.

[@Solarist90]

Thanks for the great content

[@WorldWarTwo]

@Solarist Thanks very much for watching

[@JoaoSoares-rs6ec]

Are we getting something on the battle of kursk

[@WorldWarTwo]

Yes

[@jimmyjimmy2075]

Italian army must defend Tunisia or if Anglo Americans land on Sicily capitulation is near...

[@turtle_food8774]

15:47 I cant believe they had scruples there

[@volkhen0]

These episodes are not so enjoyable when you know it happens again today. It’s not a distant history anymore.

[@lentis1967]

It would be interesting to see a video on differences of war tactics in WW2 and Ukraine war. No massive pincer movements or blitzkrieg.

[@BradBeck-ze4lo]

What happened to von Kleist? Was he replaced by von Manstein?

[@evan777evan]

great vid

[@WorldWarTwo]

@Evan Thank you, please do stay tuned

[@ThePizzaGoblin]

Ah fuck, I'm all caught up. What will I do with myself now?

[@alexandrekuritza5685]

Panzerampf (the sabaton song) is closer and closer!

[@chuckh5999]

I thought the Kursk sank.

[@nikostzim8792]

Ευχαριστούμε!

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you for watching, Nikos!

[@indianajones4321]

Will Kharkov become the new Isonzo?

[@stratos8]

Can't believe no one is talking about the oparation called WAP...

[@briankorbelik2873]

I just happened to pick on this site, by random. Why do none of the vairied World War II channels create an episode on Operation Spark, the attempt on Hitler's life when he visited Army Group Center, in March of 1943, it was in place with German Heer Cavalrymen ready to roll, kill Hitler and his would be unmourned SS guards, but von Kluge CO of AG Center, chickened out. Klever that "Hans", until the Summer pf '44 that was, when he came crawling lickspittle back towrds Schicklegruber, then took the easy way out.

[@flambodamboz1438]

That long pause though.

[@jorgemartinpaez4376]

after Kharkov is the great battle and campaign for Kursk the campaign that will have the largest tank battle in the world?

[@Arashmickey]

When referring to the Indian brigade in Burma, I keep hearing "the Shindigs" Instead of the less familiar word "Chindits" .

[@Southsideindy]

I kinda like that, actually.

[@Arashmickey]

@@Southsideindy I hope it goes well for them, can't wait to see what the Shindigs get up to next week

[@kirbyculp3449]

@@Arashmickey Gonna have a hoe-down!

[@Arashmickey]

@@kirbyculp3449 get a little rowdy get a little rambunctious

[@BravoSixGoingDark]

Surreal.

[@CC-2062]

14:49 i was so expecting a nord vpn advertisement there

[@Raskolnikov70]

A WWII/Internet Historian crossover episode would be epic.

[@akondofswat209]

Putin needs to watch this channel...

[@mattwoodard2535]

Kursk? Naw, forget about it. Nothing is ever going to happen there. sm

[@vickicaldwell2091]

This is it...Von Tresckow...

[@hannahskipper2764]

Hitler: /What?/ Indy says they were trying to kill me?!?! Those ungrateful ingrates! Look at how much glory I've brought to the Fatherland!! Code breakers: Oh shit and eureka! Germans in Russia: More winning! Germans in North Africa: More losing... I miss Rommel already...

[@hay_den2]

my life is going to fall apart when this series ends

[@WorldWarTwo]

@Hayden I hope not! I'm sure you'll be fine, y'all in the TimeGhost Army are resilient. But we do love your dedication.

[@hay_den2]

@@WorldWarTwo lmaoo thanks for the reassurance, keep up the amazing content.

[@Sunday_fits]

don’t worry GI, we’re green but very very mean

[@gerrykomalaysia2]

Nice vid

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you for watching

[@gerrykomalaysia2]

@@WorldWarTwo keep up good work

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

That attempt on Hitler makes me wonder if the Russians have those kind of brave men right now…🤔

[@hermanmiller3708]

We can hope.

[@piotrd.4850]

@@hermanmiller3708 Gods frobid. Putin cleaned the waters around himself of big fish. Him slipping on the tea ( :D ) would leave power vaccum for fractions to struggle, which could be brought to order only by.... newer, better, stronger Putin.

[@hermanmiller3708]

@@piotrd.4850 We can hope.

[@KlausValk]

Indy's tie describes the upcoming rasputitsa. Gray, brown, muddy and wet. Brickish.

[@polarvortex6496]

Funny Kursk reference is funny.

[@wombatwilly1002]

Was that the "white rose" group who were caught with pamphlets?

[@WorldWarTwo]

Sparty covers the White Rose group a bit in this episode of War Against Humanity kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJe3qoSkjJuoick

[@karoltakisobie6638]

I noticed Indian brigades and troops being mentioned on regular bases in many episodes yet they are not often talked about in WW2 literature. Their contribution to ww1 effort is even less known. Speaking of- is Great war covered in same way week by week in this channel ?

[@nickdanger3802]

Relations between India and Britain were near the breaking point. The Great War Channel kzbin.info

[@Southsideindy]

I already covered the entire Great War week by week, exactly 100 years later.

[@rajeshkanungo6627]

@@nickdanger3802 And yet many Indians fought for the British. 2.1 million or so. My parents talked about starvation, famines, people being sent overseas, telegrams carrying bad news, etc. I have always wondered what happened to the Indians who died in battle. Were they cremated or buried? My grandfather was in the police. Too many stories there. One boy was saved by our family from starvation. He became part of the family. Different times. Need to make peace, think of the souls saved, shed tears, and move forward.

[@georget8008]

It is amazing how the Germans are back to the offensive, less than a couple of months after Stalingrad. It is amazing how the Soviets cannot take advantage of the momentum after Stalingrad and drive the Germans back to the 1941 borders.

[@rockguy2154]

That's the opposite of what happened. The Soviet Union's attempt to continue its gains rather than consolidating them led to the Germans being able to regroup during the retreat with little resistance before turning around and attacking in force.

[@caryblack5985]

They did manage to wipe out all the gains the Germans made in the summer. Because the Soviets weakened from losses and pressed forward when they their logistics were stretched to the breaking point Manstein saw the opportunity for a counter attack with his strong panzer divisions. If you want to know more details see Prit Buttar On A Knife's Edge.

[@Raskolnikov70]

The Soviets had been fighting and advancing for months. Any army, and especially a mechanized one, needs a break after a long campaign for rest and refitting and maintenance. The Wehrmacht was only able to pull off their early '43 offensive because their lines had been severely shortened by their withdrawl from the Caucusus and AG South had panzer units freed up from picket duty. I think the Soviets were happy to let the Wehrmacht throw themselves headlong into another advance and exhaust their remaining mobile units while they rested and got ready for their next advance.

[@majormoolah5056]

Its a strategic crossroads for the Germans. In the aftermath of the Kharkov counterattack, some say that this is what their resources should be focused on in the future. Let the Soviets advance and once the advance stops, then counterattack and after enough destruction has been sown, perhaps try to negotiate. The other viewpoint is to try and regain the initiative in an all-out gamble and use everything they can muster. You do not even need to know the future to see the result... you only need to know Hitler's gambler mentality and the Nazi leadership's determination to escape justice. It is truly the beginning of the end.