The Brutal US Colonel Who Refused to Surrender
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- čas přidán 14. 02. 2024
- In the frostbitten Vosges Mountains of northeastern France, near the German border, 1945 began with a New Year’s Day offensive.
Here, amidst the forgotten echoes of the famous Battle of the Bulge, a smaller yet equally fierce struggle unfolded: Operation Nordwind, where even the bravest battle-hardened soldiers found themselves tested to their limits.
In this frozen landscape, a group of weary American soldiers from the 157th Infantry Regiment
lay entrenched in the town of Reipertswiller. They were the forgotten men of Nordwind, trapped for days under what seemed like a 24/7 barrage.
Encircled, ammunition was dwindling, supplies had run dry, and the biting cold certainly didn’t help. Their spirits, battered by the constant bombardment and the gnawing hunger, hung by a thread.
On January 18, the distant rumble of tanks broke the sound of artillery.
As the beleaguered soldiers' eyes lifted, they spotted the unmistakable silhouette of Sherman tanks cutting through the frozen terrain. But as the vehicles drew closer, the men felt hope for the first time in days, as in the lead tank's hatch, surveying the battlefield with a calm, determined gaze, all while under endless fire, was their commander, Lieutenant Colonel Felix Sparks.
Against all odds, he had come to lead them out of this frozen hell.
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As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Docs sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect. I do my best to keep it as visually accurate as possible. All content on Dark Docs is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas. -
The 1 story my grandfather told me from his time in ww 2. He was driving a colonel to a meeting when they passed his brother marching to the front line. When my grandfather got colonel to the meeting he asked permission to go see his brother at the front line and was given permission. By the time my grandfather got to the front his brother had already been killed in action. He is buried in Belgium. That was during the battle of the bulge. I don't hold any animosity towards the German people for the orders they were given by their leaders. I do how ever hate the nazi ideology. His name is George Thomas and I thank the Belgium people for taking care of his grave.
Oh shiet
I am sorry for the loss of your family.God Bless!
You should go and research the events leading up to WWII. What we are taught as history in the west is the fabrication that can only be crafted by the victor. Look at who funded the war and who profited from it. It wasn't about ideology, it was about banking.
May we all live in peace.
RIP George
You and your buddies that never came home.
My dad said fighting, after Bastogne was cleared, was worse pushing thru to Liege; he was attached to 4th armor. Thank you for this video, which reflected many of his sentiments
Your Dad is a legend
During the Battle of the Bulge my uncle Domic said “We drove are tanks furiously through 3 abundant snow fury’s an bring an first Lt. assigned to …..
General G. Patton he said the General told the main command unit he was driving all his tanks to the battle of the Arden forest t😢
“Battle ground an he was going even if Ike said no “we going to save those soldiers”…..
They according to the story the soldiers packed every idem either in or on the tanks an the men had to be strapped to the tanks or travel on them. They did an all Gen. Patton tanks in 96 hrs the men an all tanks fought with bravery, an with such gallantry the story became legendary at
West Point 🗣️🥾🪖.
God bless Gen. George Patton
an his men to drive without sleep nor breaks….
Amen.
BRAVE MEN OF THE AMERICAN ARMY.....I am an very old soldier now🇺🇸
No such thing as an old soldier, just one who has seen enough, good last name, u not from jersey?
All that means is that you rank me. Drive on sir.
They were the greatest generation for a reason, saying that as a old, but still festy Marine. Hand salute all of them!
I’m reminded of a speech by Patton. “Americans hate defeat!! Americans love a winner”!! These amazing acts of courage and stubborn resilience cause such pride in our brave men of WW2!!
It's amazing. The bond of brothers in arms. Brave men and officers who kept their cool while losing the men beside them, and saving who they can knowing they can die at any moment. Truly amazing
It never ceases to amaze me of the bravery of men like this. Every time I see one of these videos, I always wonder how I would have reacted in such a situation. The words courage and hero are used much too easily. The true definition of the words are here in this story!
Exactly, the fact that they call ball players and internet personalities hero is just RIDICULOUS!
The FORGOTTEN HEROES - the ones no one really appreciates. The boys (who were more than men) that walked into the face of death, knowing they were going to die, but also knowing that their deaths made a path for the guys behind them that would ultimately succeed.
I have yet to see a complete story of those who died, in mass, with no chance to have a direct impact on the enemy just because it was necessary.
@@mase7557 As much as I don't care for much of Charles Barkley's BS, that is what he was saying when they accused him of not being a "hero" to the younger generation. He understood and was pointing out that it is the family's responsibility to be the heroes, not sports figures.
Felix Sparks, a true hero. Thanks for the video
The bravery and sacrifice of these soldiers never ceases to amaze me, I hope everyone remembers,happy Memorial Day. 16:05
The FORGOTTEN HEROES - the ones no one really appreciates. The boys (who were more than men) that walked into the face of death, knowing they were going to die, but also knowing that their deaths made a path for the guys behind them that would ultimately succeed.
I have yet to see a complete story of those who died, in mass, with no chance to have a direct impact on the enemy just because it was necessary.
Thank you once again for remembering those forgotten battles & men who fought for such a noble cause!!!
The FORGOTTEN HEROES - the ones no one really appreciates. The boys (who were more than men) that walked into the face of death, knowing they were going to die, but also knowing that their deaths made a path for the guys behind them that would ultimately succeed.
I have yet to see a complete story of those who died, in mass, with no chance to have a direct impact on the enemy just because it was necessary.
I met General Felix Sparks late in his life while producing a live TV show about Colorado's 157th. I still have his action reports from this engagement and his involvement at Anzio. The 157th were also the guys who liberated Dachau. He had a run in with another General who was trying to do a publicity grab at the gates of the camp. Sparks ran the General and a famous female photographer off with his 45. That General filed charges against Sparks. He told me about his meeting with Patton that came after the charges were filed. Patton told him, "Sparks, you have been a good soldier. Go home". With that, the charges were dismissed.
General Sparks would eventually be posthumously awarded that DFC he earned in the engagement you describe.
Well, if ole Poltroon-Patton thought he was good, he must have been dreadful. 😂
It is amazing he survived all he went through. At Anzio, his platoon was stationed on the road that led to Rome. He and one other guy survived and he had to call an artillery strike on his own position. @@robertcottam8824
Should have been awarded the MOH!
Fascinating! I never knew about this engagement. It was interesting to me that the SS didn't fire at Sparx as he was pulling those men back to his tank even though they could have and they were SS. Well told! Your videos are excellent!
Yes that was a surprise for me.
It's funny that the senior officers never understand at what lengths men will fight for their true leaders when they know that they will do everything they can keep them supplied and safe. The yes sir officers always get promoted and think they are something, but the men know who they really are.
An officer who leads his men from the front is a wonderful thing to see
weii, it's fact that many young officers DIE REAL DEAD doing so! Only those few make it to a Lt.Colonel's rank and are still willing and able to lead...FROM OUT FRONT!
Rare.
My father was an officer. He told me two things . Any officer that is not willing to lead his men did not deserve command. The other was when you are a 2nd lieutenant, STFU and listen to your senior NCOs.
Is there any other way, really? Most such officers generally experience dislike from their fellow officers and occasionally superior officers as well. One can make the case that envy is at work, but let’s be honest. The real reason is a big yellow stripe down their backbone…
...and you know who should be in front of the true officers - ? - the f***ing politicians who start these wars and never see the spilled blood !!!! FJB
My grandfather fought in the battle of the Bulge and was wounded at the battle for the Remagen Bridge.
My father did the same and was wounded there also.
Your gramp's and the guys who carried the burden for the brass and the politicians. Every couple of generations have to come behind those bastards and clean up the results of their egos and greed. How many wars would there be if the arseholes who start them had to fight them ??
Hell of a story! Great courage by the line soldiers.
Here is another interesting perspective from General Felix Sparks. I asked him about Anzio in our first telephone conversation. I cited the common idea that a timid General in command had missed a chance to take Rome.....
Instead of agreeing with that idea, Sparks blamed Churchill for what happened at Anzio. He also told me, because of transport demands for D-Day in France, they had only enough ships to land half the division that first day. The ships then had to go back to Naples to get the rest of the division. I asked, if he thought they could have taken Rome in those first days before they reached full strength. He replied, "Yes, maybe. But we could not have held it".
Of course Churchill was responsible for American ineptitude, poppet. 🙄
Heaven forfend that the ‘Murcans themselves were simply clowns🤡
I’ve read Montgomery was to blame for the ‘Murcans messing up Omaha and their airborne assault…. Really! 🙄
And that Admiral Ramsay was responsible for dreadful ‘Murcan naval support at Utah and Omaha…
Whenever the ‘Murcans messed up, you can be sure it was the Brits’ fault.
I’m sure, in time, the Brits will be responsible for ‘Murcan messes in Vietnam, Somalia, Lebanon, Cuba….Even though they weren’t there.
My uncle Fred Walker fell at Anzio.
Well told. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing this story.
Amazing Courageous Soldiers...
I'm pretty sure there is a series called "The Liberator" about this unit. It's definitely worth watching.
The series is based on the book of the same name. It is an amazing story of Felix Spark's career as an officer.
My Grandfather was there. A different kind of men than what we have these days…
I wouldn't like to be captured by the 107th Airborne Queers
@@flickingbollocks5542same could be said of you.
Speak for yourself...
@@MorganBrunson What, the 800 men in the 107th Airborne Queers would allow one person to capture them?
And spank there pert young botties?
Sounds a bit queer to me.
@@kingkong-nk2czGay?
Amazing story, almost lost to time. A very important part of American history. Untold for what seems to be the longest winter. Thanks for the memory
Those dudes had a two ton set of brass balls Have such love and respect
😮thus dispelling the notion that it was all success after the "relief" of Bastogne...
Tough times called for tough men to make tough decisions...💪🏽
They must have been thin fighting for months. Now freezing. Brutal.
Nice introduction of that last German offensive in the western front in 1944 to split Britain 🇬🇧 and American lines ... video focused on colonial spark from the US army ... thank you ( Dark Docs) channel .
These stories are simply incredible…..
That's the problem these days - people just see them as stories without understanding the sacrifice and what it has meant to the prosperity in their lives.
@@78tag
Speak for yourself….
Immediate Request;
Situation dire, overrun upon us. Need immediate ammo resupply and armor reenforcement.
Received one (1) resupply at great risk, reenforcement of one (1) Light tank.
Request to withdraw;
“Denied”
This situation required Gen Fredrick to order the two flanking units to attack.
They stalled for what?
Fredrick’s decision was to allow the situation to resolved itself. Forcing the Nazis to withdraw didn’t occur as a viable response.
Lack of response from Gen Fredrick became costly needlessly…
The Title should be Brutal General. The Colonel love his troops.
The FORGOTTEN HEROES - the ones no one really appreciates. The boys (who were more than men) that walked into the face of death, knowing they were going to die, but also knowing that their deaths made a path for the guys behind them that would ultimately succeed.
I have yet to see a complete story of those who died, in mass, with no chance to have a direct impact on the enemy just because it was necessary.
We must acknowledge God's role in saving these heroes and us all!! Thank you to these warriors and Thank you Lord!
What was God’s role?
More humans have died in the name of someone's "lord" than anything else. Tell me again what "God's role" is in those situations ??
I read what we call the battle of the bulge was the biggest single battle the US army ever fought like the normandy invasion it showed citizen soldiers of a democracy could be as tenacious and as fearless as any in the world love the sense of honor and chivalry showed by the germans who who held their fire and didn't know about colonel sparks before but it's a great story of heroism and fittingly he had a last name that could have come straight out of a hollywood war epic⚛😀
Just to make it real: In WWI, my paternal grandfather fought with the 16th Highland Infantry throughout Europe and all the way into Germany as an infantryman. Trench warfare, no-man's land, battles that were ghastly in the way they consumed soldiers on both sides. Most of his neighborhood never came home. He got some mustard gas when the masks weren't that good. I remember him telling me that when they caught a bunch of Germans (and we would have been 17 or 18 at this time), they were sent to the rear trench lines for processing. The trip was about an hour each way. Sometimes the escort were back in 20 minutes. It was pretty clear what had happened.
There's what we tell ourselves about war is and there's a lot more nastiness than that. If you read any of the books written by German authors describing the fights with the Russians... horrific. Don't get caught, don't surrender.
yes I was somewhat shocked to learn several yrs ago that in WWI the execution of prisoners of war was not an uncommon practice on both sides@@ghandimauler ⚛😀
That's right. Our soldiers were citizen soldiers. Not professional soldiers like the Germans were at that time.
One day someone is gonna make movies about forgotten heros to make sure they aren't.
LTC Felix Sparks led his soldiers all the way to the Dachau Concentration Camp. After the war he retires as a BG and second in command of the Colorado National Guard.
I though Fredericks was a better man than that. Denying Spark’s award was awful petty.
I never knew about this battle.
To All Those that Stood and Delivered my U find Peace in Heaven All the Brothers and Sisters 💪 🇺🇲 🙏 🌠
There is honor on the battlefield..
05:24 to 05:27 my God! That looks just like the character 'Warren Sanderson' from the WW2 Movie 'When Trumpets Fade'
There are clips from a 50's war film in this but damn if I can remember the name of it.
oh man he's from wiscinsin. immediately thot the same thing! good movie
Great video! I cannot, however, imagine why you applied the term "Brutal" to this gallant warrior.
What's interesting is that in the video we hear numbers like 200,000 Germans in the offensive, yet thank goodness, US casualties in that regiment of 600 and fighting in terms of 2-3 tanks. I'n not saying 600 is a small number, just observing the proportionality. It seems fighting was vicious in small pockets across much larger areas, and masses of soldiers, I presume, moved forward and backward according to those hotspots.
There is a book titled "The Liberator" and a Netflix series with the same name about Sparks. He was an amazing person and lived an amazing life.
Would you please consider doing a program dealing with memorable quotes, and a short story behind each one?
EG. "Nuts."
"Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition." (Preacher at Pearl Harbour)
"We're the 101st. We're MEANT to be surrounded." (Ardennes)
"Nothing to report."( After knowingly sacrificing his own son during the Spanish civil war)
"We may have gone a bridge too far."
"Scheiser!"- Adolf Hitler.😂
Over to you.
You’d probably find that most of them - particularly the American ones - are made up. The wartime American press had a very vivid collective imagination.
Lots of: ‘they say’s - (like Trump) the Germans called them ‘devil dogs… whatever, etc.
There is more to this. General Robert T Frederick was the second youngest general of the war and was called by Churchill the greatest fighting general the Allies had. He created and commanded the First Special Forces group and was played by William Holden in the movies "Devil's Brigade."
The movie was lacking in accuracy, but it was the first US/Canadian mixed unit that would fight as special forces. (Of course, the Brits had created the SAS and the SOE).
We owe them a debt we can never repay
Yes Father came out of the battle of the hurtgen to drop artillery upon the MFR Huns. In the Ardennes. He would not talk about it he knew that he killed many.
The 45th thunderbirds, are a great division.
It was during these battles in the Vosges in late January 1945 that Audie Murphy earned his Medal of Honor for holding off, single-handedly, a German attack. It's depicted in the climactic scene of the biopic 'To Hell and Back'.
Hat’s off to your father & his brother.
There was an animated movie about Col. Sparks if I'm not mistaken.. i think it was on netflix. He led the indian american troops. Cmiiw
Read the book The Liberator. Will give you the full story of the Lt Col. An inspired leader.
Book was made into kind of an animated movie on Netflix with the same name. Recommend it.
Hell of a Movie script just sitting there...
It's almost stupid the general's didn't think it was a threat that they wouldn't come through the forest, that's where they came through and took France in the beginning of the war.
I meant one of these men, he was one who was captured during the battle of the bulge, he hated the Germans, when the war ended he was only ninety five pounds, I was told it took him a long time the eat again, he had to take slow
My father was wounded in this battle. The film used to illustrate this story is also used in the documentary on the Battle of the Bulge. Kind of makes you lose credibility.
Tell the story of colonel puller
The only story I got out of either grandfather, we were told not to ask, was my grandpa who was in the pacific.
He told me he "worked on the railroad" and that was it. He was overseas for sure. I've not heard too much about that.
I'd appreciate it if anyone could shed any insight.
If he worked on the Burma RailWAY (not Road) I would imagine he spent the war as a prisoner of the Japanese - as did one of my uncles after ‘42.
If he’s American - as ‘railroad’ suggests, I’d imagine he was taken at Bataan - the big surrender in the Philippines, when MacArthur ran away and left better, braver men behind to surrender or die.
He - like my uncle was lucky to survive. The Japanese treated them terribly.
Best wishes
@@robertcottam8824 thanks a bunch. I'll do a bit more digging.
God bless and have a wonderful weekend.
Possibly forced to work for the japanese as POW slave labor on Japanese supply railroad?
Do you know your grandfathers’s full and legal names? Plus date of birth? There are web sites that will help you find military documents. Do a Google search and try to pick the best one. This could cost some money. The document you want to search for is: WD AGO Form 53-55. “Enlisted Record and Report of Separation. Honorable Discharge.”
I don’t know the form number for Officers. Sorry.
This form will give much information about your grandfathers’s service. Dates of service, military units, and battles and campaigns. Also their final rank. Their military occupation.
With this information you can do Google searches about their military units and where they were and what they were doing during your grandfathers’s dates of service.
I hope this helps. I have a copy of my Dad’s form, and have used it to compare what he told us with what the history books say.
Good luck.
We don't have men like this in America anymore.
against all odds
yes its a bond that lasts the rest of there lives
What the nazis did was undoubtedly wrong but the German people highly respect integrity, bravery and honor.
Russia murdered millions of their own people, before Nazis had any power in Germany.
Yes. Of the Anglo-sphere, they rated the New Zealanders, Brits, Canadians and Aussies very highly.
They were less impressed by the Americans and South Africans though. I think they formed too much of a poor impression in North Africa for it to ever be altered.
I think that’s a little unfair. By 1945, there were some very good American units. The ones that took part in Operation Varsity were excellent.
Thank you ; I had to look for this "take", but knew I would find it , Yes + I tend to agree .
Honor on both sides...
Yes the Germans suffered also
👍👍👍
The German would not fire on Colonel saving his men, one by one. There would be no honor - two decent men
The liberators-I have an original unit patch
Nuts!
Reason NEVER JUDGE a warrior. No one knows the horrors of battle. It becomes live, or die.
Non combatants make me sick with their naive ridiculous condemning of others living thru hell.
What would their actions be, if knowing another will kill them or even torture them.
War is insanity, its hell. No one knows how they'll react fearing for their lives.
Yes my family is military. Ive seen them after coming home from hell. It breaks your heart.
They've experienced things, no human should endure.
They are willing to die to protect people.
My family has military as does my wife's family. Altogether, in three generations, 70 years in uniform. WWI, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, many more modern missions up to now (RCAF nurse, RCAF weapons and electronics tech, program manager, reservist, and 16th Highland Infantry in WWI). My friends include US SF (several), US Rangers, Aus Infantry, British Terrorial, Scottish Regiment, CScotR, RCN Lieutenant Commander whose done both Naval work and Op Planning in disasters and hot theaters, RCAF INT, 82nd Abn, & USCG up to 4 bars). And the nurse grew up with her neighborhood being blown up by German bombers.
All that is to say, I have a lot of perspective on both sides (civ/military). There's lots of people who are civilians who have experienced war.
The difference between units that stick to the conventions our militaries have signed on to and those that don't is the officers, NCOs and any unit culture. There have been plenty of times often stuff has happened, but it hasn't brought our barbarity on the other side. Lots of time it has. But leadership is the biggest control on those emotional situations.
If you're sick of non-combatants not understanding military people, you don't understand the military that well and you are asking the ignorant to somehow understand something they never experienced and no soldier would want them to have. The point is that the military does their jobs so that other people (civs) don't have to experience war directly and be victims of it. The whole point of the military is to protect the folks even if they won't thank you for it.
Strange as it seems, clueless people who don't appreciate you means you have protected them, whether they get it or not.
@@ghandimauler
Wow, don't tell me I don't know the military. I live with it. My brother Marine Recon in Nam. Other family since WWII. Korea.
Any civil who experienced war probably isn't bad mouthing our military. Or they lie about being in war. I've met a few of the phonies.
As for ignorance, maybe our schools need to teach people life's realities.
And you need to actually be in a war to understand what our troops have/are enduring. Ignorance is a flimsy excuse for cussinf out, & spit on our troops. Calling them baby killers. These boys came back hurting physically, mentally, & emotionally. I've seen strong brave men cry. And knowing what they had to do. They have to live rd with the memories.
WAR is insanity. Its kill or be killed.
I resent you putting me down.!!
Were you a warrior who lived hell?
Our family member saw men ripped apart by enemy fire. Crawling after their body parts. Crying for " mom:.
Don't you darn tell me I can't understand self righteous stupid people attacking our troops. Ignorance can, and should be taught about freedom, or salvery. Bowing to a ruler. Too many Americans are stupid about history. And weak, just go with the flow. Well, Ignorance will enslave and even kill you.
NUTS
10:59
M41 tanks, the footage is of the 50s
🇺🇸
Whe I saw the title of Colonel who refused to surrender, I thought it was about USMC Colonel Chesty Puller battling the Chinese and NK at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir
"Retreat? Hell, we just got here!"
@@rjeder57I thought it was “Retreat! Hell, we’re just attacking in a different direction.”
Another famous quote of Chesty Puller: “We’re surrounded. That simplifies the problem!”
157th. 🇺🇸
Mountains don't suffer from frostbite. Uness your name is Billy, I guess.
Why not hold and wait for clear skies and pound with air power.
The poor Germans never had a real chance
Real story about real bravery without the B/S of hollywood and other film makers
I know, I know, it’s OFFICIALLY named a Car-BINE. But no US soldier EVER has said it other than Car-BEAN. Just FYI….😊
I have to wonder if our army now would fight this kind of battle. How would our guys do in a situation like exists in Ukraine. Our leadership seems to be more concerned with casualties than winning. And for me, our rules of engagement are too tight. I’m not as concerned with enemy losses and collateral damage as Americans seem to be. Israel is a current example of fighting to win.
This is where Army was running from the 100s of tanks and 10sof thousands of german infantry a soldier came upon a paratrooper in a foxhole, the retreating soldier said " hey buddy you goota leave"
The paratrooper looked at him and said " well I'm with the 82nd airborne and this is a far and they are going"
The Germans never made it to that foxhole
Still no transvestite bones found
January 1944? When did the allies first get to EUROPE? 1944 June?
Depends which part of Europe you’re referring to, cherub. The allies landed in Sicily/mainland Italy in 1943….
Incidentally, the Brits held Gibraltar and - crucially - Malta all the way through.
Pip pip!
It's "Nordvint", if you correctly pronounce the German
When men were men
you're using the same scenes in all of your documentaries it's nonsense some of them appear three times in one documentary I seen the same face 150 times
A lot of people just listen, or read comments whilst listening.
CZcams doesn't pay enough.
There are plenty of good docos on CZcams but now days they blur a lot of images. Not sure camera men were at this particular battle. Think about it.
Stick to watching "Sponge Bob Square Pants" you
@@debrathomas1904 I trained 18 hrs a day for war I'll leave ignorant coments for you ,the godess of confusion
Yay something to watch, cheers mate 🎉
I might have even got first
From Australia 🦘
personally, i don't do war
Complimentary algorithm enhancement comment!😊
A lot of Korean war footage
"Unmistakable silhouettes of Sherman tanks ..." at 1:01 matched up with winter film of 1950s M41 Walker Bulldog light tanks. And the same footage used at 10:59 M41 used to represent M4 Sherman tanks.
The description about Coronel Sparks actions was great but once again Dark Docs is sloppy with its visuals.
I saw those Sherman's turret silhouette and I knew it wasn't that. Just like many old war movies had the Hanomag Sdkfz M-3 half track.... lol. And the 'Panthers' which were late war or early cold war US tanks never seen in the war. But you worked with what you had and most people didn't know the difference.
I didn't know this video's subject matter was about tank " name that tank". I thought it was about the bravery, honor & integrity of LTC Sparks. Get a life.
Debra: Here is a quote for you, try reading, it is a life skill.
The description about Coronel Sparks actions was great but once again Dark Docs is sloppy with its visuals.
Dark Docs could up its game.
If you are ignorant about equipment and film stock from WWII that's about you.
True, but it shows a sloppiness. I see it all the time, no regard for what video gets thrown in.@@debrathomas1904
American officers playing politics with the lives of their men? I am shocked.
Why are you shocked?
It's not very often you hear stories of ss units acting like that, but i migjt be wrong about this theory as if anyone does actually know correct me. Thr ss unit mentioned did an act of Kindness and treated the American prisoners as people or an fighting army, is the ss unit one of the really hardcore units where Hitler is life and they have been brainwashed or was the unit like one of thier volunteer ss units where they needed men and all they had to do was fight?
The hardcore SS guys who served on Eastern front were transferred to the western front to turn the back the onslaught of the Allied armies after D-Day. They had become evil men by their brutal combat service on the Eastern front. The Russians had standing orders to kill all German military men displaying SS ensignia on their uniforms because of all their war crimes against Russian civilians.
Wish We had Some of these Men Now ! Can you imagine Gen Z !
You speak too fast for me to follow.
.75 speed
The proper German Army weirmarch were like us the Nazis not 🚫 so much 😮
Nah. The German Wehrmacht was not in the least like the American Army: German soldiers were educated, trained, disciplined, organised…
You presume too much.
@@robertcottam8824 not American doh
Why does yanks rhyme with tanks 😃and two old clueless old men trying to rule the world 🌎 joke country
Saw this series in netflix...the main character named felix sparks too.
Did they want to surrender?
No sir they want US to surrender
....
*NUTS!!*
The title of this video is awful! LtCol Sparks was anything BUT brutal. The word 'brutal' should have been left out and the title changed to: 'The Stubborn US Colonel Who Refused to Surrender' OR 'The Inspiring US Colonel Who Refused to Surrender' -- ANYTHING but Brutal. I'm also incredibly stunned & disappointed in the decision by MajGenl Frederick, of Devil's Brigade Fame, to deny the DSC to LtCol Sparks. What a petty, vindictive decision by a man I had admired until today! Semper Fidelis! CWO4 USMCR [Ret] 17 February 1969 - 1 August 2004
This general is heartless and I think he doesn't blink an eye at the loss of his own men.
how many of these soldiers worried if there brother in arms was a republican or democrat
I find it angering with all the praise talk that our men are at times left to die for political reasons. There are some recent examples. Sparks being denied that award to me is an example of the ego's in higher ups. You come across of examples of that here and there.
Some Soldiers were left with the Soviets in the gulags after WW2. Nothing was done. Some Soldiers were left in N Korea prison camps. Nothing was done. A Delta Force member wrote that he was part of a team to secretly enter Laos to free American POW's after the Vietnam War. The day before the operation he wrote that the Press broke the story. When they arrived at the targeted camps, they found it hastily abandoned and the human cages empty. He suggested the plan was tipped in order to protect Politicians and Military Brass. I accept what he wrote. I am conflicted by the POW flag now.