The Eastern Front 1942/43 - a Summary of the Fronts with Indy Neidell

[@daviderasconi5678]

An old hero of mine, Indy, and a new hero of mine, Paul. Lots of admiration for your work

[@WW2TV]

Thanks Davide

[@spidrespidre]

Awesome presentation. Indy's a natural showman of a storyteller who has honed his "one week in the world in 15-20 minutes" to a fine art and to see him sort of "let his hair down" and concentrate on one theatre for an hour is an absolute indulgent treat. This actually again demonstrates the uniqueness of WW2TV and how Woody gets the best of so many different and great historians/historiographers waxing lyrical on a daily basis with no end in sight. Brilliant

[@mammuchan8923]

Nice to see Indy and Paul working together. The Eastern Front is the most fascinating part of the war for me, along with the war against humanity aspects. Indy has been great in focussing on that front and relaying it to the viewers. I mean it is a massive sprawling story, kudos to him for keeping us on track. It would be great if you invited Spartacus or Astrid onto your show, their stories are also quite captivating.

[@Thumpalumpacus]

I like how Niedell relates the interactions between theaters. echoing Gerhardt Weinberg's "A World at Arms" and others as well. It's a point often lost when looking at the operational level..

[@JasperKlijndijk]

Its actually fascinating how doing it chronologically made such a huge topic as a war way easier to understand.

[@davidmanning7912]

Late to discover WW2TV, and i am continually fascinated by the depth and detail of the expertise and the breadth and generosity of the collaboration. Great work by Paul to pull this together: and such a compelling and entertaining presentation by Indy. Thank you both

[@WW2TV]

Welcome aboard David

[@philbosworth3789]

A great episode presented by Indy in his inimitable style. Well worth a watch. TY Woody @WW2TV.

[@jangelbrich7056]

A true historian has a zillion of facts in his head - look how Indy can give a staccato of events and details just from his memory!

[@konst80hum]

Indy is a great storyteller, thank you Paul for bringing him on.

[@ashtonmountford49]

Indy and Paul have vary interesting chemistry

[@WW2TV]

We get on well

[@Ronaldl2350]

Great having Indy on the show and great discussion.

[@sheldrake6]

Two of the greats of SWW history on KZbin working together! An outstanding show with outstanding discussion and response to questions live. Only on @ww2TV can we see such high quality content! I look forward to your D-Day work together.

[@briankorbelik2873]

Thank you Indy and Paul for this great video! I love both you guys. Great work all around.

[@zilkmusik7652]

Indy is a wealth of knowledge! This channel is becoming one of my favorite channels on YT! What kind of wine is Indy enjoying?🎉

[@WW2TV]

Thank you

[@scottgrimwood8868]

A good overview of the Eastern Front. I hope this collaboration brings more viewers to WW2TV, the best history channel on KZbin.

[@ParabellumHistory]

Brilliant show! Such a powerful collaboration, can't wait for more in the future

[@AnthonyBrown12324]

What a treat having both my favourite WW2 people together. Then Paul gets great guests. Indy has to be the fastest most succinct guy ever . He has a knack of getting all the salient facts included. Superbe editing obviously and I gather quite a big team puts the videos together. I think the Prussian link is insightful . And the Germans inherited their ruthless streak across the board.

[@AnthonyBrown12324]

Indy is mentioning fuel shortages a lot.Richard Hammond was saying that UK/ USA controlled most of the worlds oil. By invading The Soviet Union Hitler denied himself the oil Stalin was supplying. The Germans were always short of oil and transport. Trains are great but very vulnerable to partisans and attack by any method and don't go everywhere.

[@AnthonyBrown12324]

Getting the Caucasus oil was always a dream when you actually look at the terrain approaching it .

[@AnthonyBrown12324]

All you can say about Official Russian History is they haven't got a history of truthfulness. Revisionism could be a description.

[@Chiller01]

Finally made the live show. It was great. Here’s an algorithmic comment so this episode hopefully finds its way to a bunch of viewers.

[@andrewblake2254]

I expected this to be good and it was. Nice to see Indie unwind with a glass or two and say what he really thought about the Eastern front, yes i enjoyed it.

[@WW2TV]

Thanks Andrew, and given how busy he is writing scripts we were lucky he found time

[@paulmanson253]

This is exceptionally well done. Kudos to both you guys.

[@censusgary]

Looking at the Eastern Front this way really brings home to me how much easier it is to capture territory than to hold it- just as it is much easier to win a revolution than to govern a country.

[@scottkrater2131]

I can't/ can wait to see you guy's presentation on D-Day. But it means there's less than 52 weeks left and you guys are like friends I talk at about the war.

[@bookaufman9643]

I finally got an answer to a question I've been wondering about for years. I didn't understand how the Soviets were able to stay so mobile after having blown up their own oil fields. The answers I got most of the time were lindley's and things like that but that could never cover the amount of oil you would need for an army the size of the ussr's. Now I know that they increased drilling in the urals which makes a lot of sense. This was a great episode. I'm a huge fan of Indiy's.

[@KevinJones-yh2jb]

Just finished watching a rerun of Indy’s presentation, wow Paul that was some top class presentation by Indy he really opened my eyes to the whole Russian Front operation. The idea of a panel discussion would be great. Thanks again Indy and Paul, as I’ve said before WW2TV at its best as always

[@WW2TV]

The panel discussion will be next week I think

[@Nyllsor]

What a fun and intresting episode with Indy! :)

[@matthewwhitton5720]

I just can’t seem to get used to seeing Indy without a lovely tie.

[@MsZeeZed]

The second half of 1942 was a pivot point in WWII; it was when Stalin stopped trying to control every move the Red Army made and trust a few Generals to prepare offensives, Hitler sacked his whole senior field command and took direct control, its when Rommel ran out of guns, the American Army crossed the Atlantic in force and the USN finally got on a Pacific winning streak. Its interesting that in the late 1930s the Allies predicted they’d be at war with Germany & Japan in 1942, so that’s when they’d planned to be ready. They were right about Japan and Hitler went early because, like 1914, waiting would make it a fair fight.

[@NAP789]

A classic show! Indy & Andy have an amazing depth of knowledge.

[@WW2TV]

Andy who?

[@NAP789]

@@WW2TV OMG, my apologies Paul. Leaving comments with out my glasses.

[@NAP789]

Should read Indy & Paul. Keep up the great work!

[@davidlavigne207]

Engaging, pleasant to listen to, and knowledgeable are adjectives that came to my mind while watching Lindy. Guys (and Gals) like him are what makes history fun to learn. Imagine having Lindy as one's history teacher in high school. He seems like a good bloke to be sitting across the table from as a wargame opponent. I appreciated the way that Woody and he reminded us about the sheer scale of the East Front-colossal doesn't begin to describe it.

[@morganhale3434]

Fascinating show and I love the concept of following the war in real-time or as it happened. Kings and Generals is following the same format for the entire Pacific War including an extensive amount of programming on the war in China. This was a brilliant and engaging program.

[@Southsideindy]

Glad you liked it. One point- "The Pacific War week by week" is called that, but it is not actually in real time, it is still event and place based rather than time based. Well, it's generally time based, but it doesn't cover many things that happened at once during the same week in different places. I suspect that's because they've been doing 1942. When I covered the Pacific war in 1942 there was tons happening each week, in 1943 far far less and that especially goes for China. Well, Japan has its empire in 1943, they're no longer on offense. The reason I suspect that, is that actually covering the pacific war week by week in real time would be a very difficult task for 1943. I avoided that since I also covered Tunisia, Italy, Sicily, the USSR, the Atlantic War, the conferences, etc., so I always had stuff to talk about, even during very quiet pacific weeks.

[@sgitell]

@@Southsideindy , it’s been a long time since you did the tour of your apartment with the sauna. Has there been a bio interview or bio piece on you subsequently? As an ex-pat, Texan, musician, baseball buff, military history maven, you are an interesting dude. Otherwise, good luck finishing up the rest of WWII.

[@Southsideindy]

I still have that place for a writing/music studio, but don’t live there anymore. I got married last summer so the wife and I live in a bigger place kinda nearby. So I better do another apartment tour, is what I’m saying.

[@morganhale3434]

@@Southsideindy Sorry, I was using gaming terms in that real-time means everything is happening at once (not turn based) and your presentation emphasized just how chaotic the information coming into the strategic commanders was at that time. I enjoyed it immensely.

[@AuraXars]

Arrows made maps abit hard to follow, but Indy is just great and cant get enough!

[@billenright2788]

this guy is great. lively delivery easy to watch and grasp.

[@WW2TV]

Yep, he's da man

[@curtiswebb8135]

Another perfect example of your work. Thank you from California. Just hate being late.

[@nicholasperry2380]

These two really work well together. You mention Prit Buttar who I think is extremely good. Very readable and the books flow well. This is a great episode. Thank You.

[@WW2TV]

Totally agree, and yes Prit is brilliant, hence why he has been a guest 6 times now!

[@kiowhatta1]

Would be great to see you host TIK on his battlestorm Stalingrad series.

[@WW2TV]

That will never happen

[@whitby910]

Brilliant!

[@jonathanmarsh5955]

Great collaboration! Cheers, Gentlemen! And you both like The Damned! ('Reichstag flies Red Flag Signalling the End...'😈😉✊)

[@Digmen1]

Yes I also loved the Great War series.

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

Oh, there’s a boardgame being designed around Velikiye Luki from Multiman Publishing. Interesting.

[@FussballTed]

I like how Indy puts things into context. The Axis were horrible about strategic coordination. The Allies were like 2 yappy dogs attacking a Lion. The Lion would turn to one side to focus on one dog then the other dog would bite. The whole Stalingrad and simultaneous Tunisian operations meant Germany was unable to concentrate on just one enemy.

[@bookaufman9643]

I think that you could still call operation Mars a diversion despite the time gap. As long as operation Mars is managing to tie up a lot of German units and keep the enemies eyes focused in the wrong direction then it could serve its purpose as a diversionary attack. The more units tied up in one place the less available in another. I do understand that Zhukov would like to lessen the importance of Mars by calling it only diversionary so the defeat doesn't seem very important but I believe both things could have happened simultaneously. It could be a defeat and a diversion.

[@michaeldouglas1243]

Great presentation gents

[@WW2TV]

Thank you kindly

[@ConOregan-sk6gn]

Indy... legends.. respect

[@bookaufman9643]

Indy is the man. I don't know what I'm going to do when mid-august happens this year and they wrap up their series. I'm just not that into the Korean War but I'll give it a try for those guys. I've listened to several German war diaries that have Velikiye Luki referenced and they always talk about the horrible fighting that occurred there. These have all been German war diaries but I'm guessing a Soviet diary would say pretty much the same thing. It reminds me a lot of the Rzhev meat grinder just because of the unending slaughter that occurred. BTW I know that Indy is super busy but it would be great to see him on your show again . 😊

[@lllordllloyd]

Arriving late as always, much gratitude to you both (join me on patreon folks, Paul does NOT do the low-effort work that dominates KZbin, flip him a few bucks...)

[@WW2TV]

Thank you

[@seegurke93]

OMG what a collab! :)

[@kiowhatta1]

The map shows 11th army crossing the Kerch straits into the Kuban as part of Blau; However many sources cite 11th army being transferred to AGN?

[@iloMiloMiloM97]

Great Show

[@WW2TV]

Thanks Dustin

[@Digmen1]

This is all over the place August, January, November, Caucasus, Stalingrad,

[@WW2TV]

Yep, that was the intention

[@markrunnalls7215]

Top stuff Paul ,really love Indy's narration style ,which really made it edge of seat viewing ,something that always makes me wonder is the Eastern front climate ,I mean we here in the UK shiver when its 0 -1 -2 ,but to endure -18 and colder ,so to bare the cold and fight the Russians to stay alive and to have to eat and to stay warm and dry is always beyond me ,makes you wonder why the Germans ever bothered with Russia in the first place ?

[@HistoryTeacherSteve]

Commenting for the algorithm! Can't wait to watch this :D

[@zainmudassir2964]

Indy you and Spartacus are great. Hope you do India Burma and China in 1944 some justice

[@WW2TV]

Yep there will be lots of Burma content next year for the 80th I hope

[@Piper44LMF]

Great overview presentation. The Ost Front has been something I have read about for a very long time. From the memoirs of Von Mellenthin, Guderian, Von Manstein, War Diaries of Army Group North, Center and South, 3rd and 4th Pz Division, and personal Memoirs. From the Strategic and Tactical point Indy's overview confirms that those narratives are pretty accurate. The rest I take with a grain of salt (referring to the memoirs). As usual Woody you have developed outstanding presentations and continue to provide us with entertaining and very knowledgeable guests. Well done

[@casparcoaster1936]

Issue (still) In Doubt!!! 4500 views.... these guys aren't college profs lecturing a big history class.... this is a bunch of WW2 affecianodos, blessed by a new medium for studying history.... from History Channel (when I was 30) to WW2TV & Time Ghosts on KZbin c.2023. I feel luck to still be alive!!!!

[@standyl2268]

It's been 80 years and ironically it looks like--once again--we'll see panzers in Ukraine. This round, it will be Leopards instead of Tigers and Panthers. And, ironically, the Leopards will be used to fight the Russians. What a crazy world we live in. "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun." Ecclesiastes 1:9

[@michealschmidt908]

Thanks to Indy he sent me here the best thanks

[@WW2TV]

Welcome to the channel Michael. We have lots of great content here, so I hope you will stick around

[@michealschmidt908]

@@WW2TV greetings i sure will stick around like chewing gum it’s sure to be a great channel thanks

[@nigeh5326]

As usual a great video thanks Paul and Indy. It’s easy to think of the Eastern Front from the Battle of Stalingrad on as being The Germans lose at Stalingrad, they retreat in front of the Soviet steamroller, try to make a counterattack on a huge scale at Kursk and lose, the Soviets advance then pause before Operation Bagration destroys Army Group Centre And the Germans keep falling back until they are on the Seelow Heights where they are destroyed by Zhukov and Konev who take Berlin, the end! It was in reality far less clear cut and much more complex and nuanced and this video showed that very well.

[@WW2TV]

Thanks for the comment Nige

[@fazole]

The Cold War series they are doing is also very good.

[@Southsideindy]

The Cold War series has nothing to do with me or my channels.

[@ralflewandowski1200]

@@Southsideindy Do you have any (even vague) ideas how to continue after WW2 is over? Another massive project or lots of smaller ones like the Indonesian War of Independence, the Cuban Missile Crisis etc.? I asked a few of my friends what they would like to know more about and the most frequent answers were 1) The Cold War (done properly by Timeghost, not that imposter channel) and 2) the Yugoslav Wars on the 90s.

[@GeographyCzar]

Depending on your preferred sources, annual Soviet agricultural production fell to roughly 40% of pre-war levels during both 1942 and 1943. (Now I’ll watch the video.) My opinion is that U.S. (and Canadian) food shipments kept the Red Army in the field while Ukraine was occupied. (I wonder if this video will even touch on that possibility.)

[@WW2TV]

You will have to watch and find out but maybe don't expect subjects not promised 😉

[@GeographyCzar]

@@WW2TV dude, that was awesome anyway! Thanks for what you do!

[@glubokayaoperatsiya]

will there be more episodes like this? 43/44 (transition from kursk-ukraine then bagration) isnt that well know at all

[@WW2TV]

There will certainly be more Eastern Front episodes

[@grathian]

Indy without his trademark ties!

[@AbeBSea]

I was getting my car fixed

[@mrk3830]

Any chance of roping David Stahel into that panel discussion, or seeing him for talk again?

[@WW2TV]

Maybe not the panel due to the time difference, but i have invited him back

[@bookaufman9643]

Was that the first hardcore swearing by a guest on the show? I haven't seen all of the episodes but it is definitely the first time I've heard the f-bomb.

[@WW2TV]

Oh ive said fuck quite a few times, its not a first

[@bookaufman9643]

@@WW2TV well this is a great fucking show. Lol.

[@thomaslockard9686]

Has anyone done anything on Black Sea naval operations?

[@Winkie007]

Maybe you have TIK and Anton Joly on as guests

[@WW2TV]

I will never have Tik as a guest. But Anton is possibility

[@Winkie007]

Ok ty

[@markwheeler202]

@@WW2TV Sorry to hear that. I'm sure you have reasons that you wouldn't describe here.

[@WW2TV]

@@markwheeler202 i just don't like his style or his opinions

[@bikesnippets]

Indy is dynamic and laid back, but is he a tad pro-German/anti-Soviet? He seems to drop in a asides when discussing Soviet successes that he doesn't when discuss German/Axis successes.

[@WW2TV]

I think you are reading a bit more than there is there. I think he was in a more relaxed mood than when he does his usual scripted shows

[@jmflournoy386]

42 Turn RIGHT into Stalingrad?

[@mikeryan7468]

Indy neidell is no more a historian than my Scottish terrier

[@WW2TV]

So what did he say that was incorrect in your opinion. And he is a historian, because he imparts history

[@jamespasquali7693]

Dude's all drunk & obnoxious. Hahahaha

[@pmmackenzie1525]

Not my favorite.

[@WW2TV]

Okay

[@eriklieber]

He is a bit smug

[@WW2TV]

It's Indy, what do you expect? He's a KZbin legend with millions of views

[@rembrandt972ify]

Indy has always been full of shit.

[@WW2TV]

Takes one to know one

[@rembrandt972ify]

@@WW2TV Just to show you that I can be as childish as you can, I am rubber and you are glue.

[@WW2TV]

I don't care

[@donaldkepple4927]

Indy also does sabaton history