Castle Itter: Where America and Germany Fought Side by Side in WWII

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
  • Get NordVPN for 70% off right here: nordvpn.org/geographics
    → Subscribe for new videos two times per week.
    / @geographicstravel
    This video is #sponsored by NordVPN.
    Our sister channels:
    Biographics - / @biographics
    TopTenz - / @toptenznettop10
    Credits:
    Host - Simon Whistler
    Author - Morris M.
    Producer - Jennifer Da Silva
    Executive Producer - Shell Harris
    Business inquiries to admin@toptenz.net
    Source/Further reading:
    Major credit to Stephen Harding, writer of The Last Battle, on which a ton of these sources were based: / the-last-battle
    www.historynet.com/the-battle...
    www.britannica.com/event/Batt...
    www.bbc.com/news/world-europe...
    (Some history outside the Battle - in German): burgen.tibs.at/burgen_schlosse...
    Dachau: www.britannica.com/place/Dach...
    Sepp Gangl (in German): translate.google.com/translat...

Komentáře • 1,2K

  • @geographicstravel
    @geographicstravel  Před 4 lety +40

    Get NordVPN for 70% off right here: nordvpn.org/geographics

    • @Shkunk1
      @Shkunk1 Před 4 lety +2

      I already have Nord VPN and I highly recommend it to all of your followers who are concerned about security.

    • @ChrisCurran21
      @ChrisCurran21 Před 4 lety

      I'm now curious where you DO live if not in Britain...

    • @CMDRSweeper
      @CMDRSweeper Před 4 lety +3

      @@Shkunk1 And I wholeheartedly recommend AGAINST NordVPN if you are concerned about security... Why? Because NordVPN really doesn't give a crap, they have had a breach a while ago and it has been covered and it was outrageous... So yes, I shy away from their services.

    • @engel7461
      @engel7461 Před 3 lety

      @Geographics you look a lot like vsauce...

    • @finchisneat
      @finchisneat Před 3 lety

      Thanks to anyone who can offer any feedback !! 🙏🤞
      thanks @Shkunk1 @CMDR Sweeper 👍✌️
      So, anyone else who has experience: What's better, Nord VPN or EXPRESS VPN???
      I see the same channels advertising both (not at the same time) but should I consider them equal? Anyway tried both? Or even one?
      Looking for ANY feedback plz... I'll be checking here and my YT messages (if that's possible now?) lol.

  • @mase747
    @mase747 Před 4 lety +1271

    This HAS to be a movie. One of the most interesting minor battles of the war.

    • @davidfordcooper
      @davidfordcooper Před 4 lety +32

      It is. Its called The Last Battle

    • @djgraph404
      @djgraph404 Před 4 lety +11

      Near the end of the war the Americans fought the Russian's in a little known battle. Battle of Nis

    • @aldini9329
      @aldini9329 Před 4 lety +7

      @@davidfordcooper it's not out yet probably will be in 2021 or 23

    • @davidfordcooper
      @davidfordcooper Před 4 lety +1

      @@aldini9329 I've definitely seen it

    • @needaman66
      @needaman66 Před 4 lety +5

      @@davidfordcooper was that starring burt Lancaster? Castle Keep i believe was the 1960s movie

  • @TyLockton
    @TyLockton Před 4 lety +1633

    I first read about this battle about 5 years ago, and I'm still amazed that nobody has made a movie about it.

    • @gundanium3126
      @gundanium3126 Před 4 lety +43

      I Know i would go see it.

    • @salud7432
      @salud7432 Před 4 lety +11

      Exactly my thought

    • @timstadlmueller58
      @timstadlmueller58 Před 4 lety +30

      This really really really needs to be a movie.

    • @thelanavishnuorchestra
      @thelanavishnuorchestra Před 4 lety +4

      Yes, like many, I'm sure -- thinking the same thing.

    • @Dog-O
      @Dog-O Před 4 lety +33

      It's only been recently known about. So I'm thinking Hollywood not wanting to touch it and glorify Nazi Germany at this time. I bet when the climate changes someone will pounce on it. It definately has the makings of an Oscar worthy movie though.

  • @boomznbladez405
    @boomznbladez405 Před 4 lety +1152

    Lee: I never thought id die side by side with a GERMAN
    Gangl: What about side by side with a friend?
    Everyone there: AYE!!! I could do that!

    • @OzzieTheHead
      @OzzieTheHead Před 4 lety +20

      31, 32, 33...

    • @JFDSmit-rm6tw
      @JFDSmit-rm6tw Před 4 lety +53

      @@OzzieTheHead A tank still counts as only 1!

    • @mckproductions8202
      @mckproductions8202 Před 4 lety +12

      I never thought I'd die side by side with a blackman
      What about side by side with a friend.
      Final battle scene in Mel Gibsons
      " the patriot "

    • @arnoldrivas4590
      @arnoldrivas4590 Před 4 lety +7

      Gangl takes down an entire squadron and cocks his head a bit.
      Lee:.....THAT STILL ONLY COUNTS AS ONE!

  • @ianh1504
    @ianh1504 Před 4 lety +976

    Avengers Endgame is the most ambitious crossover ever...
    Castle Itter: hold my beer

    • @outdoorfrenzy
      @outdoorfrenzy Před 4 lety +13

      Ian h actually, it would be hold my stein.

    • @foxhound963
      @foxhound963 Před 4 lety +8

      Which contains beer

    • @shindari
      @shindari Před 4 lety +13

      In German, that would be: "Halt mein bier!"

    • @michaeltheundeadmariachi4494
      @michaeltheundeadmariachi4494 Před 4 lety +3

      Halt mein lager

    • @ianh1504
      @ianh1504 Před 4 lety +19

      No, the "hold my beer" is in english, do you think a german would let another man hold his beer? Dont be silly.

  • @AIPTutorials
    @AIPTutorials Před 4 lety +1030

    "In 1933, an unfunny Charlie Chaplin tribute act that went by the name of Adolph Hitler" Hahahahah. This line caught me so off guard, I literally just almost choked on my coffee.

    • @kalidice1775
      @kalidice1775 Před 4 lety +6

      Lolol SAME!!!

    • @annayosh
      @annayosh Před 4 lety +9

      I luckily wasn't drinking anything at the time

    • @marieloftus6170
      @marieloftus6170 Před 4 lety +5

      Hear Hear.

    • @Karen-pk3uv
      @Karen-pk3uv Před 4 lety +7

      I choked on my donut. I will be taking a break from eating for the rest of this video now lol

    • @nuffwerewolf
      @nuffwerewolf Před 4 lety +4

      I have coffee nose.

  • @walterk9916
    @walterk9916 Před 4 lety +492

    That feel when the game has the antagonist as a unlockable character.

    • @mrrey3481
      @mrrey3481 Před 4 lety +2

      You just gave me DAO flashbacks

    • @henrystibitz8111
      @henrystibitz8111 Před 4 lety +2

      Castle Crashers...

    • @justinalbin7272
      @justinalbin7272 Před 4 lety +1

      Yeah Magus is similar to a Nazi. Spiffy uniform, but at the end of the day he's still a mass murderer who deserves to die.

    • @aaronbradley3232
      @aaronbradley3232 Před 3 lety

      Idiotic pointless hyperbole... Is everything a video game

  • @archvermin
    @archvermin Před 4 lety +134

    "Incredibly, someone at the castle answered."
    I have the most bizarre mental image of a Frenchman taking a pause from fighting back impending annihilation by the SS, and going upstairs to answer the phone.

    • @praveenb9048
      @praveenb9048 Před 4 lety +22

      Allo? Allo?
      Peter Sellers would have been ideal for the part.

    • @Rickertsred
      @Rickertsred Před 4 lety +25

      "Castle Itter, this is François, how may I direct your call?"

    • @opalishmoth8591
      @opalishmoth8591 Před 4 lety +6

      How did he even hear the phone

    • @albussr1589
      @albussr1589 Před 3 lety +10

      "Excause me a while, i think the Phone is ringing"
      Literally EVERYBODY ELSE: *keeps fireing

    • @sapiensesciencecerveau2523
      @sapiensesciencecerveau2523 Před 3 lety +4

      The first reality TV show concept ever tested... Sounds like a miracle there had been no casualties within the prisoners.

  • @lakeraven1
    @lakeraven1 Před 4 lety +174

    “He was finally able to rest after 6 long years” - excellent prose, your delivery of course equally so

    • @KatGlos
      @KatGlos Před 4 lety +6

      He would also have been able to rest if he had survived for 3 more days...

  • @mrvex6695
    @mrvex6695 Před 4 lety +255

    Gangl has a street named after him as an honour for his sacrifice.

  • @toonbat
    @toonbat Před 4 lety +254

    SIMON: "His name was Zvonimir Čučković, and he's one you'll definitely want to remember."
    ME, TWO SECONDS LATER: "I can't remember a single letter of his name."

    • @abyssstrider2547
      @abyssstrider2547 Před 4 lety +2

      His name translates to Ringpeace Squatter interestingly

    • @neveniusvondubowatz7705
      @neveniusvondubowatz7705 Před 4 lety +2

      Ja se sjećam.

    • @Deerkins
      @Deerkins Před 4 lety +9

      I remember his last name cause it has 'Cuck' in it.

    • @abyssstrider2547
      @abyssstrider2547 Před 4 lety +1

      @@Deerkins as ć is also spoken as ch

    • @abyssstrider2547
      @abyssstrider2547 Před 4 lety +1

      @@Deerkins Tbh letters such as č.ć and š would be pretty good if they were introduced to english

  • @timothywagner4646
    @timothywagner4646 Před 4 lety +38

    18:38 "I recognize that the council has made a decision, but given that it's a stupid ass decision I have elected to ignore it."

  • @Sub-km4nk
    @Sub-km4nk Před 4 lety +1024

    ITS AMERICAN TROOPS AND THE GERMAN ARMY JOINING TOGETHER AT LAST

    • @bigmcdick4916
      @bigmcdick4916 Před 4 lety +96

      unknown nostalgia One last fight, it’s the death throes of the 3rd reich, justice shall be done the final battle remains!

    • @billyt.7306
      @billyt.7306 Před 4 lety +80

      I came to the comments just for this \m/

    • @satanbritannia5210
      @satanbritannia5210 Před 4 lety +82

      @@bigmcdick4916 Ammo is running low, they're depleting their machine guns
      Every bullet counts until surrender is announced

    • @Aaronschannels
      @Aaronschannels Před 4 lety +60

      IT'S THE END OF THE LINE OF THE FINAL JOURNEY...

    • @martinboote8175
      @martinboote8175 Před 4 lety +60

      @@satanbritannia5210 After the downfall, a castle relieved
      Defeating the Nazis who held them besieged
      Gangl and Lee and their men set the prisoners free

  • @clairehenry9222
    @clairehenry9222 Před 4 lety +189

    Clemenceau’s great great grandson went to my high school. On Veterans Day this year, he came to speak to us about Georges Clemenceau and almost nobody at my school had heard of him. Really a shame.

    • @nicholascorbett1256
      @nicholascorbett1256 Před 4 lety +2

      Still think its awesome an should try to spread the word. Too many millennials have no clue what really happened in our country, an the world. Like what ethic group had slaves first. An I could go on, our history has been white washed for sure...

    • @stevek8829
      @stevek8829 Před 4 lety +2

      They never heard of Roy Rodgers either.

    • @xavier6838
      @xavier6838 Před 4 lety +4

      Leroy Jenkins ok boomer

    • @lionelfully
      @lionelfully Před 4 lety +6

      If you grew up in France, I doubt you never heard of Clemenceau. Not only are streets in nearly every city named after him, but our navy's flagship aircraft carrier bore his name for 36 years.
      On the other hand, what you probably never heard of is how he was of the opinion that the "Boches" should be kept vassals nearly forever and pay reparations that were far above what they could realistically pay without suffering from real hunger and other shortages. He was one of those people who just cannot have enough of victory and ravels in humiliating a defeated ennemy (which, granted, could be seen as normal in his time, and given France's suffering during the war, is partly justified - but for sure NOT the mark of a great man). Maybe if he'd listened to Wilson a bit more, we'd have escaped all other sorts of later horrors in the world's history.
      Concerning what our friend @Leroy Jenkins said, I can only guess that he is some type of (most likely white) nationalist who loves not only to comment on videos about war, pointing out how great France/USA/whateverhiscountry is (my first guesses having been cited) is and always has been, but more importantly tries to slowly make his worldview creep in through hidden means... Probably he is trying to allude to the fact that the Ottomans traded slaves in the 14th century, which they certainly weren't the "first" in history to do, but hey why bother when you have a narrative to follow?
      If my guess is wrong, I say sorry to him for my slight agressiveness. It's just that those half-informed historical opinions wielded in a way to belittle slavery or colonialism are a bit too common on this platform.

    • @apossiblyhereticalalphaleg3595
      @apossiblyhereticalalphaleg3595 Před 4 lety +5

      @@lionelfully I mean some or most French people probably heard of Clemenceau's name, but never bothered to actually research what he did, they'd be like "Oh so you're related to the guy who did something to get a street named after him"
      In my town, for example, we have a street named "Getulio Vargas", one of the better Military Dictators, but if you asked anybody who Getulio Vargas is, they'd either shrug and say "I don't know" or they'd answer something akin to "Oh it's that dictator who commited suicide"

  • @Legitpenguins99
    @Legitpenguins99 Před 4 lety +561

    Im sure the wehrmacht soldiers relished the opportunity to finnally get to shoot at the SS. From letters dating back to the invasion of Poland in 1939 there was already alot of resentment between the SS and Wehrmacht. In one report a Wehrmacht officer is complaining how they do all the real fighting and the SS mostly stays in the rear lines carrying out political orders. In another another officer witnessed the various warcrimes commited by the SS and was pleading with his superiors to do something about it as it damages the honor of the german military. Keep in mind, this was only in 1939 and already there was alot of bitterness and resentment between the groups

    • @Anomaly-uz9pr
      @Anomaly-uz9pr Před 4 lety +52

      Legitpenguins69 kinda sucks the Wehrmacht soldiers got sent to pow camps after fighting with the Americans

    • @miliba
      @miliba Před 4 lety +13

      this was depicted in the series generation war, where an ss officer executes a girl in front of wehrmacht soliders

    • @RedKrossSquad
      @RedKrossSquad Před 4 lety +92

      @@Barabel22 The Wehrmacht might not have been clean. Nobody says they were. But comparing the savagery and blood thirstiness of the average Wehrmacht soldier and the average SS member, they will still end up clean. It's like comparing somebody who has a drop of blood on them and somebody who is drenched in it. The SS was just that bad. And indeed there were Wehrmacht commanders who disagreed about having SS groups operating near them because of the morale issues that a common soldier would have from seeing such butchery going on.

    • @Anomaly-uz9pr
      @Anomaly-uz9pr Před 4 lety +38

      Barabel22 you act as if a Wehrmacht soldier had any choice at all in what he was sent to do. Let’s see you get drafted Forced into a war told you kill who we say you kill or we kill you and your family. If you haven’t experienced that don’t judge them

    • @Pantheragem
      @Pantheragem Před 4 lety +16

      @@RedKrossSquad Not to mention that they were Guinea pigs for the SS "soldier enhancement" programs. So sometimes they were bloodthirsty simply because they were pumped on meth or other experimental cocktails. Some who were still in their heads were quite glad to surrender.

  • @DrewWithington
    @DrewWithington Před 4 lety +325

    Being German it was kept very tidy. There wasn't a lot of litter at Itter.

  • @RVBLegend
    @RVBLegend Před 4 lety +20

    I went to the village of itter literally every year for the first 13 years of my life, my father before me. We never knew the castle had such an amazing history. I am mindblown.

  • @copperhamster
    @copperhamster Před 4 lety +319

    If you want a more musical version of this story, check out "The Last Battle" by Sabaton.

  • @Andythenurse
    @Andythenurse Před 4 lety +47

    Love this bit of history. So few fighting so many. The fact that the defenders were from opposite sides of the war gives me a warm feeling inside.
    I hope that they are all properly remembered and honoured.

  • @waveland44
    @waveland44 Před 4 lety +56

    Simon should do audio books. His voice is pleasant to the ears. I know he is reading from a script that someone else wrote but the way he talks, he sounds like the most knowledgeable person in the world on the subjects.

    • @KalebMarshallDulcimerPlayer
      @KalebMarshallDulcimerPlayer Před rokem

      He did the Damn Interesting podcast some while back. Still one of my favorite podcasts, despite its almost never release schedule.

  • @thisguyoverhere4746
    @thisguyoverhere4746 Před 3 lety +8

    I honestly did not know ANYTHING of this battle until I heard Sabaton song. WWII is one of my favorite wars to study and the fact that I somehow not know this makes me so sad. Since I've first heard the song, I've been so obsessed with this battle and like telling its story.

  • @adambier2415
    @adambier2415 Před 4 lety +32

    You channelled the History Guy: “history ... that deserves to be remembered.” Love his ending tagline. :)

  • @saintamici9735
    @saintamici9735 Před 4 lety +31

    This story would make for one of the COOLEST and most interesting world war 2 movies ever

  • @resileaf9501
    @resileaf9501 Před 4 lety +60

    I can't believe I've never heard of this story before. Absolutely amazing, almost movie-like in how it proceeded. Thank you for retelling it to us.

    • @swanpride
      @swanpride Před 4 lety +1

      You could also make a great mini-series out of it....

    • @Feiora
      @Feiora Před 4 lety +3

      @@swanpride First Episode introduces the french VIPs and Zvonimir Čučković as well as the two SS officers, and ends with the VIPs discovering that they've been abandoned. Second episode we are introduced to Gangl and Lee, their meetiing and the joint rescue team deploying, dealing with various issues and then it ends with them arriving at the castle to the less than enthusiastic welcome of the VIPs and fortifying the castle with the closing seen of Zvonimir Čučković on his bicycle nearing Innsbruck. Third episode deals with the attack and Major John T. Kramers receiving word from Zvonimir and marshalling the reinforcments with cuts going to and fro the castle battle and Kramers' part. Fourth and Final episode has a roughly equal split of the besieged force and Kramers' unit trying to reach them, with the death of Gangl, the retreat to the interior and the SS about to storm the interior when Kramers' unit finally arrives to secure and rescue the besieged group, finally summing up with an epilogue of the end of the battle, the fates of those involved, credits roll and thats a wrap.

  • @maremaarten
    @maremaarten Před 4 lety +186

    Another story worth telling: the general Wenck who, ordered to liberate Berlin, instead turned his army around to break out another army cut off by the Russians, take the survivors and together race towards the American lines to surrender there. A hero, if you ask me.

    • @neighslayer768
      @neighslayer768 Před 4 lety +32

      "t’s the end, the war has been lost
      .
      Keeping them safe ’til the river’s been crossed
      .
      'Nicht ein schlacht, ein rettungsaktion
      '
      Holding their ground ’til the final platoon.
      “Hurry up, we’re waiting for you”
      Men of the 9:th, and civilians too.
      Dispossessed, surrendering to the west."

    • @shindari
      @shindari Před 4 lety +37

      The guy just simply knew which side to surrender to. He made the smart choice. Surrendering to the United States WAS the better option than surrendering to the Soviets, and he saved his fellow countrymen from that awful fate. Because Stalin would have had ZERO MERCY on Nazis...

    • @maremaarten
      @maremaarten Před 4 lety +5

      @@shindari yeah but he sacrificed hundreds of his own men to save thousands of surrounded comrades.

    • @shindari
      @shindari Před 4 lety +10

      ​@@maremaarten You and I are on the same page with that. I was simply stating that surrendering to the United States was the better of two options. Because after what Nazi Germany did to the Soviety Union for three years, I shudder to think what those captured by the Soviets would have been subjected to. Stalin was not a nice person. And he was rightfully pissed off at Germany for stabbing him in the back the way they did.
      It would have been so much easier for Wenck to cut his losses, and not do what he did. But he made the hard choice, and unquestionably the better one. I will not disagree with you there.

    • @maxwellalexander2962
      @maxwellalexander2962 Před 4 lety +4

      @@shindari I'd say it's far from simple, especially with all of what you said in mind being a factor. Rescuing those regiments probably took quite a bit of balls, routing the Russians just to surrender? I wonder how many would leave them all for dead and just run to safety immediately. Also (Not particularly related to anything you said) I find it hard to understand that people who yammer about Russia non-stop today think that the USSR under crazy ass Stalin wasn't planning his own campaigns for Europe.

  • @timstadlmueller58
    @timstadlmueller58 Před 4 lety +16

    This NEEDS to be a movie.

  • @TheRealToadfishRebecchi
    @TheRealToadfishRebecchi Před 4 lety +171

    This would make an epic movie!

    • @AIPTutorials
      @AIPTutorials Před 4 lety +13

      That was my first thought. It literally has EVERYTHING to make a great film. Between the actual battles, the possible character dynamics of the different prisoners, the enemy soldiers flipping to fight with the heroes, all set in a remote location. Even though the Ex Machina ending of "When all seemed hopeless, a giant army appeared from nowhere to save the day" is extremely cliche in film and tv, that's the way it happened.

    • @DC-ru5xz
      @DC-ru5xz Před 4 lety +4

      That’s what Sabaton said. So they said screw it we’ll make a song instead

    • @swanpride
      @swanpride Před 4 lety +1

      It would...honestly, why the hell did nobody pick that one up yet? It would also be so topical because it features Germans standing up to do the right thing against other Germans.

    • @dr.lyleevans6915
      @dr.lyleevans6915 Před 4 lety

      I think there is one. It is called “last battle”

    • @eventyraren
      @eventyraren Před 4 lety +1

      @@dr.lyleevans6915 NO, the movie is not out yet, IMDb say it is in pre-prduction.
      The reason it has taken so long to do a movie is probably at untill recently showing Germany in any good light in WWII movirs was seen as a bad idea. I just cant see this story being too well received in the 50s and 60s, do you.

  • @Kangamoos
    @Kangamoos Před 4 lety +223

    "...an unfunny Charlie Chaplin tribute act..." hahahahaha, love it!

    • @TrunkyDunks
      @TrunkyDunks Před 4 lety +2

      if i ever get the chance to use this. oh you betcha i will......however the dictator speech is timeless.....rip charlie....rip

    • @ieuanhunt552
      @ieuanhunt552 Před 4 lety +3

      I didn't think I would see a worse Chaplin tribute act than Private Baldrick. I was wrong.

    • @donwanna3906
      @donwanna3906 Před 4 lety +1

      Then he follows with "genocidal tramp." Wow.

    • @jonnnyren6245
      @jonnnyren6245 Před 3 lety

      @@ieuanhunt552 yes nothing matches Pvt. Baldrick's horrifying slug impression of Charlie Chaplin.

  • @ridanann
    @ridanann Před 4 lety +14

    im from a military family an this kinda thing was my bedtime storys lol glad to see its normal to be entertained by such a story. it teaches that not everyones a soldier but everyone well do there bit

  • @mikahjohn2809
    @mikahjohn2809 Před 4 lety +13

    1st Lt. Lee as they set out for Castle Itter on that spring afternoon: "May the 4th be with us."

  • @Xhumed
    @Xhumed Před 4 lety +12

    How has this not been made into a movie yet?

  • @MetaLHeade666
    @MetaLHeade666 Před 4 lety +23

    I learned about this from the band Sabaton from their album The Last Stand

  • @nukeofficial1103
    @nukeofficial1103 Před 4 lety +24

    *video starts*
    "Oh didn't even notice this was from Today I found out"
    *checks channel name*
    "wait there's something fishy going on here"

  • @rich842
    @rich842 Před 4 lety +112

    That shade on hitler was 🔥

    • @sloppyjoe400
      @sloppyjoe400 Před 4 lety +3

      For real, "charlie chaplin tribute act" had me dying lmao

    • @WintrBorn
      @WintrBorn Před 4 lety

      Brilliant, and totally stolen.

    • @markdturnock
      @markdturnock Před 4 lety +1

      @@WintrBorn From where? I tried Googling the phrase after reading your comment and this video is one of the only search results

    • @WintrBorn
      @WintrBorn Před 4 lety +4

      markdturnock I meant I have now totally stolen that for my personal use.

    • @blakegriplingph
      @blakegriplingph Před 3 lety

      Not to mention he had a yee-yee ass haircut.

  • @catjohnson2522
    @catjohnson2522 Před 4 lety +7

    Ever since I was recommended to one of your videos, I've been hooked. I love that when I watch a video I come away with interesting facts and stories to tell others about. I follow like all of your channels and I always end up "smashing that like button" because I love all of the videos.
    I love learning about World War 2. It's my favorite war to learn about and discuss. I never thought I'd learn a new thing but this video was AMAZING. Thank you (and your team, of course) for all of your hard work and dedication to knowledge and your channels!
    Great stuff, man!

  • @XeAsFSS
    @XeAsFSS Před 4 lety +32

    simon you are a gift of knowledge to all of us

    • @remylebeau2357
      @remylebeau2357 Před 4 lety +1

      He actually just reads scripts that his team writes for him. You really thought he knew everything that he narrates? Lol 😆

  • @MrHanbam
    @MrHanbam Před 4 lety +13

    This sounds like the plot of a Wes Anderson movie honestly

  • @LtColShingSides
    @LtColShingSides Před 4 lety +37

    This would make a great movie, maybe some day we'll get one.

  • @Mrgunsngear
    @Mrgunsngear Před 3 lety +2

    Thanks

  • @Ruby321123
    @Ruby321123 Před 4 lety +1

    Thank you for doing all you do, Geographics team! One of my favorite channels on CZcams.

  • @ocediis
    @ocediis Před 4 lety +3

    This is an incredible story! Your recommendation led me to get the audiobook. The extra context for the story is fascinating!

  • @dennisjwegman4000
    @dennisjwegman4000 Před 4 lety +135

    I need Quentin Tarantino to make a movie about this.

    • @Feiora
      @Feiora Před 4 lety +7

      Are you sure thats a good idea? Will the ending stay true to the story or events in the story stay the same? My bet is on things getting altered in some fashion...

    • @ignarskjolvjentski7809
      @ignarskjolvjentski7809 Před 4 lety +2

      I dunno, Tarantino has never been great with duality. He thrives in stark contrasts

    • @erwina4738
      @erwina4738 Před 3 lety +2

      Nah, no thanks. Ill take the people who directed saving private ryan, black hawk down, tears of the sun, hotel rwanda instead.

  • @vladbodea7656
    @vladbodea7656 Před 3 lety +5

    You didn't mentioned the 3rd officer who helped defending the castle: SS-Hauptsturmführer Kurt-Siegfried Schrader. He survived the war. Stephen Harding talks about him in his book, ,,The Last Battle"
    There is also another story of German and Allied soldiers who teamed up: Operation Cowboy (look for it on Google). Mark Felton wrote a book about it, having the same title- Operation Cowboy.
    Great video !!

  • @rorosp5443
    @rorosp5443 Před 4 lety +3

    Thank you for another flawless delivery of history, your videos are both educational and entertaining 👍🏽

  • @skunkrat01
    @skunkrat01 Před 4 lety +3

    Wow, this is such an amazing story. I love these channels because even if it's a topic you're not interested in, or a place you've never heard of, it always ends up crazy interesting and you just wanna know more.

  • @thea8368
    @thea8368 Před 4 lety +8

    That's the best WWII story I've ever heard! You cannot make this stuff up!

  • @KingofScrapMetal
    @KingofScrapMetal Před 4 lety +3

    Simon, this channel is amazing and I can’t stop watching every video on this channel compared to biographics.

  • @stormblade3408
    @stormblade3408 Před 4 lety +18

    I mean the SS were well outnumbered even before the final wave of reinforcements arrived.
    "One man standing on a wall is worth ten men beneath it" as a wise man once said

    • @omegastar19
      @omegastar19 Před 4 lety +12

      But if that one man standing on the wall has no ammunition left, he might as well be worth nothing.

    • @stormblade3408
      @stormblade3408 Před 4 lety

      @@omegastar19 ey didn't say they were losing :)

    • @Amoogus
      @Amoogus Před 4 lety +1

      @@omegastar19 hard to climb a wall when you get kicked in the face.

    • @syedferoz2188
      @syedferoz2188 Před 4 lety

      WALLS WERE ONLY USEFUL BEFORE THE 20TH CENTURY AFTER THAT BULLET HAD THE ABILITY TO PIERCE WALLS

    • @fuckinantipope5511
      @fuckinantipope5511 Před 4 lety +2

      @@syedferoz2188 not thick stone walls. But modern artillery made short work of forts, castles and walls

  • @professord1522
    @professord1522 Před 4 lety +3

    "... For want of a nail, the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe, the horse was lost. For want of a horse, the rider was lost. For want of a rider, the message was lost. For want of a message, the battle was lost. For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost. All for the want of a nail ... " The Battle of Castle Itter was such a nail. Thanks so very much for this fascinating story, and for telling it so well. :)

  • @vitarius2465
    @vitarius2465 Před 4 lety +30

    Awesome! *starts singing Sabaton
    Please consider doing Herod’s Temple in Jerusalem! It took 80+ years to construct, many ancient historians said it was one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, Romans destroyed it in 70 AD (an amazing story itself) and the wealth taken from it was used to construct the Colosseum!

    • @samanthar1214
      @samanthar1214 Před 4 lety +1

      Has Sabaton done a song on this? If not, we need to suggest it. 😁

    • @vitarius2465
      @vitarius2465 Před 4 lety +1

      Samantha R yes they have! It’s called ‘The Last Battle’. Great song

    • @samanthar1214
      @samanthar1214 Před 4 lety +1

      @@vitarius2465 Ah, yeah, now that you say it, I recognize it. Love their history channel...just realized you're talking about Herods Temple...I was referring to a song about this video lol

    • @DC-ru5xz
      @DC-ru5xz Před 4 lety +1

      5th of May is just around the corner 1945 the fuhrers reigns at its end

    • @remylebeau2357
      @remylebeau2357 Před 4 lety

      @@samanthar1214 the last battle is about thos video. Not Herod

  • @janicehussock7735
    @janicehussock7735 Před 4 lety

    Historians, writers, Simon. Thank you so much.

  • @tasiatyler4662
    @tasiatyler4662 Před 4 lety +1

    Great video! Gotta get the book!! Thanks Simon!!

  • @AdZS848
    @AdZS848 Před 4 lety +6

    Great video guys! I can't believe I've driven past this castle and I didn't know the story!

  • @Bear2Roo
    @Bear2Roo Před 4 lety +9

    You beat Indy Neidell to the Sabton History episode of The Last Battle

  • @AMagrow
    @AMagrow Před 4 lety

    Excellent video!! Thank you so much for the information about this battle !!

  • @thomassteeves6670
    @thomassteeves6670 Před 2 lety

    Thanks Simon. Just bought the book. Great video!

  • @Jack-cc6sf
    @Jack-cc6sf Před 4 lety +6

    Its wild to think i had school skiing trip in Grafenweg which is just down the road from itter castle last year

  • @Bohous156
    @Bohous156 Před 4 lety +7

    You have left out the part when Borotra jumped over the castle walls, evaded enemy fire and aided Kramers in getting back to the castle, otherwise I am happy that more people talk about this video

    • @Wookiee925
      @Wookiee925 Před 4 lety +1

      Also the injured SS officer who had been recuperating at the castle who stayed to help the prisoners and led the defence efforts

  • @trustinnatureltd.7311
    @trustinnatureltd.7311 Před 3 lety

    What an amazing vid and story! Thanks for putting this together. Very eye opening

  • @saikaveti
    @saikaveti Před 4 lety

    Thank you Simon and team for tips wonderful channel.

  • @Casavo
    @Casavo Před 4 lety +14

    Sabaton , acttually caused me to look up more on this engagement. Good song and just a fascinating story.

  • @angus57720
    @angus57720 Před 4 lety +14

    SS: Prepare to die!
    103rd Infantry Division: *BOO!*

  • @kirasmith8491
    @kirasmith8491 Před 4 lety

    This is my favorite of your videos so far! What a great story!

  • @OoogaBoog
    @OoogaBoog Před 4 lety +1

    Holy crap...I love reading about WW2 and I have NEVER heard about this. This is incredible!

  • @JPFalcononor
    @JPFalcononor Před 4 lety +3

    Coincidentally, DVG Games recently released a solitaire game about this historical event simply called Castle Itter....though it is only a game, you get a feel for how the battle evolved and an immersive view of the overall situation.

    • @dragonlibrarian7982
      @dragonlibrarian7982 Před 4 lety

      Yep, fantastic game. Following the devs progress of the game on BGG is actually what brought this battle to my attention.

  • @NegiTaiMetal011
    @NegiTaiMetal011 Před 4 lety +9

    I got to know this thanks to the Sabaton song The Last Battle. I love this story, there needs to be a movie about this!

  • @lydan5808
    @lydan5808 Před 4 lety +1

    This was absolutely brilliant

  • @Truly_Rudly
    @Truly_Rudly Před 4 lety

    I LOVE this battle! I’m so glad someone made a video on it!

  • @exudeku
    @exudeku Před 4 lety +14

    AND ITS THE END OF THE LINE, OF THE FINAL JOURNEY!

  • @pointly
    @pointly Před 3 lety +29

    Rightists: "Why am I here with traitors?!"
    Leftists: "Why am I here with traitors?!"
    Neutrals: "Why am I here?"
    4th Faction: "Dinner is at 1900 comrades."

  • @CardinalTreehouse
    @CardinalTreehouse Před 4 lety

    Fantastic video guys. Well done.

  • @aebmermaid92
    @aebmermaid92 Před 4 lety +1

    Thanks for the amazing content 🥰

  • @cullenriley5461
    @cullenriley5461 Před 4 lety +8

    Mark my words, this will be a Tarantino movie.

  • @nicholascorbett1256
    @nicholascorbett1256 Před 4 lety +5

    LOVED IT I'm a huge WWll buff, an I had only known a little about this battle. You really helped me experience it on a whole other level. You do a fantastic job Simon. Much love from across the pond in West Virginia!

  • @beggarman64
    @beggarman64 Před rokem +1

    Absolutely one of the best stories of WW2, and one of your best deliveries, Simon. I also agree with the calls for a movie on this - what a corker!

  • @RRHardyHar
    @RRHardyHar Před 4 lety

    I've been waiting for this one for awhile!

  • @dlphnsfn2830
    @dlphnsfn2830 Před 4 lety +23

    Your probably the only CZcamsr still supporting NordVPN

    • @fvckyoutubescensorshipandt2718
      @fvckyoutubescensorshipandt2718 Před 4 lety +4

      Beggers can't be choosers. At the end of the day money spends the same no matter where it came from. Hell if terrorists, drug cartels, or Nazi's wanted to fund my projects I'd take it, Nord is pretty minor compared to those. Other than that this was probably filmed months ago, so whatever happened in the meantime with Nord they can feign ignorance since they can't predict the future, and it's unrealistic to simply expect them to not upload it after filming and eat the financial loss and wasted time, even before considering contract obligations with Nord.

    • @anonimato1987
      @anonimato1987 Před 4 lety

      What's the matter with Nord ?

    • @fvckyoutubescensorshipandt2718
      @fvckyoutubescensorshipandt2718 Před 4 lety +16

      @@anonimato1987 Long story short they had a security breach and didn't tell anyone for months.

    • @j.a.weishaupt1748
      @j.a.weishaupt1748 Před 4 lety +3

      dlphnsfn 28 *you’re

    • @miliba
      @miliba Před 4 lety +1

      shirvan from caspianreport does

  • @MasterMalrubius
    @MasterMalrubius Před 4 lety +9

    Well, now I'm upset that I was less than one hour away. Grumble.

  • @kumar7359
    @kumar7359 Před 4 lety

    Thanks mate for the wonderful video. History must be taught like this in schools and colleges. It will certainly kindle the curiosity of the students to know more.

  • @kenhelmers2603
    @kenhelmers2603 Před 3 lety

    Very cool and interesting! Thanks folks

  • @Skogsmard
    @Skogsmard Před 4 lety +18

    5TH OF MAY, V-DAY'S JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

    • @mitchellneu
      @mitchellneu Před 4 lety +4

      1945, THE FUHRER'S REIGN'S AT ITS END.

    • @KimFareseed
      @KimFareseed Před 4 lety +3

      Jenny at the gates, as the SS open fire

    • @SanJ922
      @SanJ922 Před 4 lety +3

      There's no time to waste, the final battle has begun!

    • @WarBeasty
      @WarBeasty Před 4 lety +3

      After the downfall, a castle besieged
      Facing the Nazis awaiting relief
      Gangl and Lee and their men set the prisoners free

    • @SanJ922
      @SanJ922 Před 4 lety +2

      An it's the end of the line of the final journey
      Enemies leaving the past
      And it's American troops and the German army
      Joining together at last!

  • @ewestner
    @ewestner Před 4 lety +19

    "Made a career out of being a nobody." LOLOLOLOL!!!

  • @MrRuss5099
    @MrRuss5099 Před 4 lety

    Amazing topic for this video thank you

  • @klorgbanethedestroyer
    @klorgbanethedestroyer Před 3 lety

    Bloody amazing video, the kind of forgotten history that must be remembered

  • @Luke..luke..luke..
    @Luke..luke..luke.. Před 4 lety +3

    Every video, better than the last!!!

  • @VashGames
    @VashGames Před 4 lety +7

    Oh my goodness, calling him the "The unfunny Charlie Chaplin tribute act".

  • @mattsplitsacsmith
    @mattsplitsacsmith Před 3 lety

    Cheers for bringing this incident to my attention very interesting.

  • @wasthaturbrainmate
    @wasthaturbrainmate Před 4 lety

    Even your ad reads are interesting, your narration is impeccable.

  • @2pinkies
    @2pinkies Před 4 lety +10

    Unfunny Charlie Chaplin tribute act 🤣🤣🤣🤣
    Someone had way too much fun writing this episode, brilliant team

  • @Caldera01
    @Caldera01 Před 4 lety +12

    Jenny at the gates, as the SS open fire
    There's no time to waste, the final battle has begun

    • @The_Republic_of_Ireland
      @The_Republic_of_Ireland Před 4 lety +4

      After the downfall, a castle besieged. Facing that nazi's awaiting relief, Gangl and Lee and their men set the prisoners free

    • @jacebralor71
      @jacebralor71 Před 4 lety +3

      And it's the end of the line, of the final journey! Enemies leaving the past! And it's American troops and the German army, joining together at last!

  • @Emperorvalse
    @Emperorvalse Před 4 lety

    Thank you for this video. I had heard about this but never followed up to see the facts of such an unique event in history.

  • @kaylamoore5154
    @kaylamoore5154 Před 4 lety

    Ty for this the sacrifice of these men deserves to be remembered and honored

  • @fangz5058
    @fangz5058 Před 4 lety +3

    What a great story.

  • @johnhendrik
    @johnhendrik Před 4 lety +17

    "There was a photojournalist on hand to document the moment..." That "photojournalist" was none other than René Lévesque, one of the most influential canadian politicians of the post WW II era. Too bad you missed that.

    • @Kurblick
      @Kurblick Před 4 lety +2

      Really! Wow... very cool!

    • @shindari
      @shindari Před 4 lety +3

      You gotta forgive the guy, I mean, Canada is just so forgettable sometimes...

    • @SuperPhatman12
      @SuperPhatman12 Před 4 lety

      shindari woof

    • @cspikey7722
      @cspikey7722 Před 4 lety +1

      God forbid someone doesn’t get every little fact about an event in the 1940s especially when the vid is about America and Germany. You’re despicable

    • @wfcoaker1398
      @wfcoaker1398 Před 4 lety

      Wow! I never knew that! Thanks for the tidbit. I love little details like that.

  • @alexanderpearman7746
    @alexanderpearman7746 Před 4 lety

    Very well done!

  • @dudebruhdude
    @dudebruhdude Před 4 lety

    Well done! I really liked your video!

  • @hannahskipper2764
    @hannahskipper2764 Před 4 lety +7

    This is my favorite WWII story! Someone would do well to make it into a movie!

  • @duchessstudioband7896
    @duchessstudioband7896 Před 4 lety +3

    I wonder if you've given any thought to a channel about family histories and their impact on history.

  • @sicparvismagna97
    @sicparvismagna97 Před 4 lety

    simon, this one of the most entertaining video of yours brother

  • @Zeldahol
    @Zeldahol Před 4 lety

    That was the best Geographics episode! Mind blown.