Tiny M8 Greyhound Kills Massive King Tiger Tank - The Impossible Defense of St. Vith

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  • čas přidán 19. 08. 2024
  • The Battle of the Bulge was the largest American ground battle against the Germans in World War 2. However, a lesser-known confrontation during the opening days of Germany's massive Ardennes counteroffensive was the catalyst that set back the Reich's plans in the Western Theater.
    Protected by several pivotal hills and close to the Ardennes forest, the town of St. Vith was the epicenter of six crucial roads and located right on the right flank of the German offensive’s advance.
    For days on end, the US Army's 7th Armored Division fought an exhaustive battle against six German divisions that pummeled them with incessant fire and determination.
    But despite the surprise factor, terrible weather conditions, and a lack of appropriate material, the American forces at St. Vith would not go down with a fight, refusing to give up the pivotal town so easily…
    - 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. -

Komentáře • 471

  • @hicknopunk
    @hicknopunk Před rokem +329

    My grandfather was a radio operator in these operations. He spoke fluent German and would intercept messages and create bad intel for the Germans and broadcast it on a radio. It's crazy how many humans were involved in this conflict.

    • @USS_Grey_Ghost
      @USS_Grey_Ghost Před rokem +14

      Should have gotten the Bronze star for that atleast

    • @hicknopunk
      @hicknopunk Před rokem +13

      @@USS_Grey_Ghost i really don't honestly know, he barely talked about it. I honestly wish I knew more about his service.

    • @USS_Grey_Ghost
      @USS_Grey_Ghost Před rokem +13

      @@hicknopunk at least you got to know him I never got to meet my Great Grandfather all I know is he was in the Red Bull division in Italy.

    • @hicknopunk
      @hicknopunk Před rokem +9

      @@USS_Grey_Ghost duuuuude, you cannot be the aggressor and play the victim!

    • @j.michaeljefferson60
      @j.michaeljefferson60 Před rokem +2

      So many people are unrecognized in their contributions to the war effort aren't recognized by many government's and it's a shame

  • @jamesbarca7229
    @jamesbarca7229 Před rokem +211

    Just as one of the T72s fatal weaknesses is its very slow reverse speed, one of the Tiger's fatal weaknesses was its very slow turret traverse. That's what allowed the Greyhound to charge it and take it out before being blown to bits by its 88. It was the only chance they had, but it still took serious balls to pull it off.

    • @richbattaglia5350
      @richbattaglia5350 Před rokem +3

      Beautiful.

    • @Ahmed-wb7ko
      @Ahmed-wb7ko Před rokem +7

      The crews lucky the transmission didn't break

    • @MyCarmenus
      @MyCarmenus Před rokem +1

      Proof it

    • @shepardpolska
      @shepardpolska Před rokem +7

      I wouldn't call the T-72s extremely low reverse speed a fatal flaw. The doctrine it was designed for simply didn't need a reverse speed, it was a tank made pretty much only to charge forward through Europe. The tank is simply used far longer then it should have, for tasks it was never meant for.

    • @robertwouterlood9994
      @robertwouterlood9994 Před rokem +2

      Ah yes..deck the hall with all the balls...

  • @scottb4579
    @scottb4579 Před rokem +23

    You can't have an M8 for Christmas. You'll put your eye out kid!

  • @gerhard6105
    @gerhard6105 Před rokem +35

    Nice video. I live in a village that belongs to St. Vith and was within the " Horseshoo" and i found several ww2 items in my house when i bought it. There are real pictures of the bombardement and afterwards from St. Vit. My neighbour, 96 and still okay, saw St. Vith being bombarded. The 62 Volksgrenadier Division went through my village. I am thinking of starting a war museum about it. The museum near the Malmedy Massacre field is now forever closed...

    • @Khan-1738
      @Khan-1738 Před rokem +10

      Document everything, take photos, even bad cellphone pictures are better than nothing. Drop box, imgur, even a slideshow on CZcams would do wonders with preserving this history. Better early than too late, you never know when a fire or flood can destroy everything

    • @mrbaab5932
      @mrbaab5932 Před rokem +5

      Also cover the Massacre and advertise that it is covered.

    • @panzer948
      @panzer948 Před rokem +1

      Wow, very interesting. So sad the museum near the Malmedy Massacre is closed. I have a feeling more and more small independent museums will close as the generation and their direct offspring that remember their tells pass on. I am from USA but have been to Europe 4 times and truly enjoyed seeing so many of the small WWII museums that were in many of the smaller towns, including the one in Bastogne.

  • @USS_Grey_Ghost
    @USS_Grey_Ghost Před rokem +43

    To quote the German Central forces commander of this battle “THOSE DAMMED ENGINEERS” since they kept blowing up the bridges in his face

  • @johncook3817
    @johncook3817 Před rokem +14

    My father was in one of these. He was in the northern rhodesia police and they got some of these from the French for riot control. They had a problem with spares in the end so one was stripped for bits.
    AS THIS IS AFRICA NOTHING gets wasted so the Hull had all the holes plated over and it was turned in to a septic tank.
    My father said he would love to see the look on their faces at some time in the future when they would have to dig it up for some reason.
    I have some great pictures of him and his mates on manoeuvres!

  • @julianjeffbissette7238
    @julianjeffbissette7238 Před rokem +64

    Hello from North Carolina. My Dad, Julian S. Bissette was at the battle of the bulge. He was a combat medic in General Patton's 664th armored tank division. My Dad was 6'6" tall and he said he had to walk through some snow drifts that came up under his arm pits and he told me that was the coldest he had ever been in his life and he said it was like being in hell if it was frozen over!!
    ✝️❤️🙏🇺🇲
    WWG1WGA!!!

    • @bobsagget823
      @bobsagget823 Před rokem

      nobody cares

    • @Daniel-deMerrivale
      @Daniel-deMerrivale Před rokem +14

      @@bobsagget823 well I care, and that makes you a very silly boy doesn’t it.

    • @jaex9617
      @jaex9617 Před rokem

      So your dad was Antifa. Neat!

    • @John-qx1zi
      @John-qx1zi Před rokem

      @@bobsagget823You care. At least you cared enough to reply, so...🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

    • @jonlocke1624
      @jonlocke1624 Před rokem +3

      That is wild! I can't imagine trying to walk through that, let alone fight in it.

  • @hawnyfox3411
    @hawnyfox3411 Před rokem +16

    '
    Sept' 1992, I was approaching St.Vith on my Kawasaki Z.1000-J, some distance in front of my Fireman/Neighbour (on his CB.900-F) - As I stopped to wait, my jaw "hit the deck", as I observed an M.26 "Dragon Wagon" across the road, clearly still in operational (private) useage, in a woodyard, by the adjacent house across the road - I was spellbound & dumbstruck
    Sadly, I was packed to the gills with luggage AND regrettably, no camera on that Sunday, heading home (to the UK)
    Have toured the Ardennes extensively & seen TWO large German tanks, besides the public roads.
    Photographed them too, both in May 1993 & again, in July 2003 - King Tiger '213' & Panther Ausf.'G'
    But seeing THAT "M.26" with 45ft Pine trees behind it (seemingly stacked a mile high !), was a revelation
    I often wonder what happened to it - or - if it was ever retired to a museum ?

  • @Deltron1337
    @Deltron1337 Před rokem +6

    youtube has started recommending me these style videos and i cant stop watching them

  • @lairdcummings9092
    @lairdcummings9092 Před rokem +53

    Glad to see the defense of St.Vith getting the respect it deserves.
    Bruce Clarke's ad-hoc defense of St.Vith was a fatal thumb in the throat of German ambitions. Even with allied (American) forces forced out of town, Clarke positioned his artillery atop the hills outside of town, and continued to deny access to the road junction.
    The tank kill by the Greyhound certainly happened. It is extremely doubtful that it was a Tiger I. Allied, and especially American, troops had a very bad habit of labelling *any* German tank as a "Tiger." More likely, it was a PzKw IV.
    ~ Source: I actually knew General Clarke.

    • @germaxicus6670
      @germaxicus6670 Před rokem +1

      How did you know General Clarke? What was he like in person?
      Thanks

    • @lairdcummings9092
      @lairdcummings9092 Před rokem +7

      @@germaxicus6670 he was a colleague of my father. He was quite old, but he told good stories. No bloody stories - he also gave excellent advice, especially on how to study. I still have his pamphlet on proper study technique. Where others write entire books, he had condensed down to just a few dozen pages.

    • @lairdcummings9092
      @lairdcummings9092 Před rokem +6

      @@germaxicus6670 I can't find Clarke's pamphlet on study online, but if you look up "Gen-Clarke-On-Leadership.pdf" you will find a master class on Army leadership condensed down to just 16 pages.
      The man knew how to get right to the point.

    • @johnbooth3073
      @johnbooth3073 Před rokem

      @@lairdcummings9092 His son was a far better General. Dad went for Rome and should have bypassed/flanked Monte Cassino . Thereby saving thousands of casualties and ended the war much sooner.

    • @lairdcummings9092
      @lairdcummings9092 Před rokem +1

      @@johnbooth3073 of whom are you speaking? To my knowledge, none of General Clarke's children advanced beyond Colonel. Further, Clarke didn't get his stars until *just* before the Battle of Bulge.
      Are you thinking of some other general officer, perhaps?

  • @the1magageneral323
    @the1magageneral323 Před rokem +45

    These other battles within the Bulge asides for Bastogne should educate people about the bigger battle and the stories there. ST. Vith and others helped slowed down German Armor and their attack.

  • @blackcountryme
    @blackcountryme Před rokem +15

    I remember this, they German tanker's were told they could resupply when they captured American fuel dumps.

  • @garymcaleer6112
    @garymcaleer6112 Před rokem +12

    When Montgomery & Eisenhower heard of the offensive, "Monty" continued his golf game, & "Ike" continued with the festive occasion he was attending. My uncle Don was one of two to survive in his company.

    • @markrhodes1717
      @markrhodes1717 Před rokem +5

      Believe it or not, the Allies were waiting for an opportunity like this to destroy German forces which had previously been taking cover and defending German territory. With the Germans out in the open, their tanks and other equipment could be destroyed by the Allies, and when the weather broke, their far superior air assets. The location and intensity of the German assault was a bit surprising, but in the end, Hitler never even came close to taking Antwerp and dividing the US and British forces. They also left a lot of equipment, much of it destroyed, but a good percentage of which just ran out of gas or diesel. All and all, a waste of forces that would have been better spent delaying the Soviet Army.

    • @aymonfoxc1442
      @aymonfoxc1442 Před rokem +3

      @Mark Rhodes Or better spent in countering troop concentrations elsewhere on the Western Front. Hindsight, however, is 20/20.

    • @johnbooth3073
      @johnbooth3073 Před rokem +1

      @@markrhodes1717 True, the Germans lost half a million men as well as armour, artillery and aircraft. They should have committed these forces in Normandy. Allied forces faced 10times the concentration of German forces that the Russians did per square mile of front. The Germans were amazed at the difference in intensity of the Western Front compared to the Eastern Front.

    • @markrhodes1717
      @markrhodes1717 Před rokem +3

      John Booth- The men and equipment Hitler used in the Ardennes were not available during the Normandy landing. They represented almost an entire year's production and training capacity for the SS and Wehrmacht. Hitler even used Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine who could be spared for infantry-style combat.
      It would have saved Germany as a whole if he had used them to delay the Soviets. The fate Germans suffered under Allied troops was far kinder than what the Soviets had in store for them.
      The surprise in intensity was probably due to the Allies (especially American's) high level of mechanization and motorization.
      Seeing all the vehicles Americans had, the Germans remarked that the Americans seemed to have brought all their automobiles with them!
      Re: @ayminfoxc1442.
      About hindsight being 20/20, Hitler had lots of foresight warning him that this was a bad idea. Hitler overrode the objections of his Generals and wrote much of the plan for the Second Battle of the Ardennes himself, even down to the timing of the artillery barrages opening the assualt. The blame and responsibility lies firmly in Hitlers metaphorical lap.

    • @lyndoncmp5751
      @lyndoncmp5751 Před rokem +1

      Actually Montgomery soon packed up and went back to his HQ. There wasn't anything he could though do as it wasn't in his sector. It was in the US 12th Army Group sector.
      Eisenhower and Bradley, however, carried on playing cards at Versailles and cracked open another bottle of champagne to celebrate another star to Eisenhower's generalship.

  • @gregwunderlich4253
    @gregwunderlich4253 Před rokem +7

    I had a grandfather on each side of WWII. One died in Poland and is buried there. The other helped to develop radar. A fact that I didn't learn about until after he died.

    • @cheese_walker
      @cheese_walker Před rokem +2

      interesting hope that you are doing good

  • @johnelliott7375
    @johnelliott7375 Před rokem +6

    The 28th now your talking about my home and family service to our nation. We are from Butler, Pa. and we have and are still serving in the 28th Infantry Division! Thanks for mentioning our little slice of the US we as Pennsylvanians are proud to have served since 1941 to the present in my family. Great weekend to you and may God bless your videos as they keep coming up and we keep watching, liking and being Subscription holder's. Thanks again for sharing this and giving us something to enjoy about our heritage and the present if called to action.

  • @davidkinsey8657
    @davidkinsey8657 Před rokem +98

    In 1940 the Whermacht won the Battle of France by moving armored forces through the "impassable" Ardennes Forest. It boggles the mind that in 1944 the Allies still considered the area impassable and were surprised a second time.

    • @j.robertsergertson4513
      @j.robertsergertson4513 Před rokem +18

      That's what happens when you listen to the British

    • @tomhenry897
      @tomhenry897 Před rokem +10

      No
      What happens when put incompetent generals in charge who lived in French mansions far from the front

    • @maxfan1591
      @maxfan1591 Před rokem +19

      My understanding is not that the Allies thought the Ardennes were impassable, but that they thought the Germans had no offensive capacity. They thinned their lines at the Ardennes because they didn't have the numbers to be strong everywhere. And as they had no intention of attacking through the Ardennes themselves, it made sense for that to be the place to be weak.

    • @luisurdiales3091
      @luisurdiales3091 Před rokem +15

      It's not that it's impassable, it's that it's very bad terrain for conducting armored warfare because it goes throug a forest and a bunch of rivers, which slows down any movement of vehicles and confines them to narrow corridors. Which are exactly the things that spoiled the German winter offensive.
      The problem for the french was being so damn slow to shift their troops around to meet the German breaktrough right when it came, which would have stalled it in it's tracks just like US forces did in 44.

    • @Erreul
      @Erreul Před rokem +1

      @@j.robertsergertson4513 Self deprecating humour, nice.

  • @fixedguitar47
    @fixedguitar47 Před rokem +8

    I work at the factory that produced the M8 Greyhound.
    No one knows what it was or what it was for.

  • @harmgregory4560
    @harmgregory4560 Před rokem +6

    Thank you, all Allied soldiers!💯❤

  • @str8ballinSA
    @str8ballinSA Před rokem +5

    My grandpa was a barista in Clarke's ad-hoc defense force. He had to cook espressos and lates under fire, and more than once his milk frother was punctured by mortar and Panzerfaust shrapnel.

  • @jamesbednar8625
    @jamesbednar8625 Před rokem +17

    Great video!!! Also, Mark Felton Productions has a video similar to this encounter. Also also, there is a story of either an M8 Greyhound or M5A1 Stuart that was able to put a few rounds of 37mm into the OPEN rear turret hatch of either a Panther or King Tiger - I forget which. Situation was kind of similar when the German vehicle was moving down a road and stopped. Rear turret hatch was opened for crew to enter/exit. There was an American vehicle in a concealed position and just happened to be in a direct line with that German vehicle. American vehicle popped off a few rounds that went through the open turret hatch and into the German vehicle, thus destroying it. The American vehicle the high-tailed it out of the area. Think I saw that story on Mark Felton Productions as well, but am unable to find it.

    • @jugbywellington1134
      @jugbywellington1134 Před rokem +6

      "M8 Greyhound vs King Tiger 1944"?

    • @brianf1132
      @brianf1132 Před rokem +3

      Mark Felton is the absolute man dealing with World War II subjects.

    • @bear76009
      @bear76009 Před rokem +4

      id like to know what was going on with the guy driving the jeep that had its ass on fire in the video

    • @c.j.cleveland7475
      @c.j.cleveland7475 Před rokem +1

      @@bear76009 Trivia question. Do you know where the gas tank on a Jeep was? I'll give you a minute to think......................Answer: Under the driver's seat! That's enough to make your butt pucker when someone starts shooting at you! Or is that just me? 😐😯😲😳

    • @daveybyrden3936
      @daveybyrden3936 Před rokem +5

      @@brianf1132 Mark Felton is the "absolute man" for taking other people's work and repeating it, with public-domain film added on top. A clickbait merchant.
      If you actually want to LEARN something, go read books by real historians.
      A real historian would have RESEARCHED this M8 story and discovered it wasn't a Tiger.

  • @thomasgumersell9607
    @thomasgumersell9607 Před rokem +4

    Enjoyed your video on the battle of the Buldge. 💪🏻🙏🏻✨

  • @taylorbrain8023
    @taylorbrain8023 Před rokem +23

    There is no evidence that says the tank the greyhound engaged was a Tiger II. It was most likely a Panther or a Panzer iv.

    • @markrhodes1717
      @markrhodes1717 Před rokem +4

      Americans frequently had "Tiger fever" and identified any German tank as a "Tiger".

    • @douglasmaccullagh7865
      @douglasmaccullagh7865 Před rokem +8

      I don't think it much matters. If that tank had gotten its turret around, the M8 would have been a burning wreck. The M8's 37mm was no longer a viable antitank gun. The M8 crew had one chance - get in real close real fast. They had the fortitude to do it and make the most of their 37mm. They deserve credit for managing their fear and making the best of a marginal chance. I don't care if the German was a Tiger, a Panther, or a Panzer IV.

    • @daveybyrden3936
      @daveybyrden3936 Před rokem +1

      @@markrhodes1717 It wasn't their fault. They didn't get proper training in tank recognition. The British were better at this.

    • @daveybyrden3936
      @daveybyrden3936 Před rokem +1

      @@douglasmaccullagh7865 You may not care about being lied to, and your time wasted, and that is your choice.

    • @Ulisest91
      @Ulisest91 Před rokem

      Butthurt Werhaboo spotted.
      I'm sure you take full ammo.

  • @johncox2865
    @johncox2865 Před rokem +17

    It always amazes me how little of the footage pertains to the subject matter.

    • @aymonfoxc1442
      @aymonfoxc1442 Před rokem

      There's only going to be so much directly relevant footage that is accessible to the channel. CZcams only pays so much, so a lot of the limited footage that does actually exist is probably behind a pay wall.

  • @doogleticker5183
    @doogleticker5183 Před rokem +2

    I lost my grandfather and great-grandfather (military action) for various degrees of freedom in Europe in the 20th century. What a sad waste...autocracies are now the norm and few can define "freedom" and show examples of it...But it is imperative to keep trying to ensure freedom of expression... weird times...

  • @charlessedlacek5754
    @charlessedlacek5754 Před rokem +4

    You can knock out the heaviest tank with a 20mm gun, much less a 37mm gun...as long as you take out the tracks.

  • @Mike-tg7dj
    @Mike-tg7dj Před rokem +94

    Uncle Dale was in the Battle of the Bulge. He was actually wounded in battle by German machine gun fire in the legs. He was from South Dakota before he married my aunt and always had a good sense of humor. He never talked much about his Purple Heart for his actions but, he suffered from PTSD which explains why he would get uptight during thunderstorms. His last request was to have his ashes scattered in the Black Hills. They are beautiful I will never forget them and, request is to be scattered in some state or national park in my state. The way I see it is that when the Lord Jesus Christ step down out of Heaven with a shout it won't matter where I am I will be kneeling before the Lord. Trust Jesus Christ.

    • @anthonychavez1906
      @anthonychavez1906 Před rokem +6

      🙏

    • @stomper2888
      @stomper2888 Před rokem +8

      good old uncle dale

    • @-Hesco
      @-Hesco Před rokem +6

      @@stomper2888 uncle dale was a legend

    • @daveybyrden3936
      @daveybyrden3936 Před rokem +4

      Did you really HAVE an uncle Dale? Your post reads like religion spam.

    • @titaniusanglesmith9690
      @titaniusanglesmith9690 Před rokem +2

      Why exactly did you start ranting about god when bringing up your uncle?
      Sounds like god might have helped your uncle out quite a bit by not allowing human beings to go insane enough to kill each other for land that wont benefit themselves or for that matter, it wouldnt benefit anyone that exists within their functional social sphere whatsoever.
      A god worthy of worship would not allow such cruelty

  • @stringlarson1247
    @stringlarson1247 Před rokem +2

    Thanks for creating/posting these. The info itself, plus the comments are always interesting.

  • @critterjon4061
    @critterjon4061 Před rokem +6

    There’s no evidence that the m8 vs king Tiger incident ever actually happened
    With no there no records of any of the German units units that where equipped with the Tiger 2 being anywhere near the area where it was supposed to have occurred along with the after action reports for that day making no mentions of any one encountering a king Tiger

  • @todddanforth8853
    @todddanforth8853 Před rokem

    Excellent, gripping storytelling. It is amazing that any American soldiers survived who were armed with single shot rifles. Truly heroic men in freezing, miserable condition.

  • @imsatanscott
    @imsatanscott Před rokem +3

    "Put in place several drastic measures. Back on the home front, the working week was extended to 60 hours to produce as much equipment as possible." Me working 60+ hours a week for the last 25 years - "Thanks Hitler"

  • @michaeltelson9798
    @michaeltelson9798 Před rokem

    According to Charles McDonald the use of the new proximity fuses on the artillery shells helped a lot. The units were not authorized to use them, but they were at hand. They burst near the ground, disabling German tanks by breaking tracks, sending shrapnel into the engine decks and stripping riding infantry.
    He was a company commander at the Twin Villages which he write about in his book “Company Commander “. He stayed in the army in the history branch and wrote what is considered the definitive book on the “Battle of the Bulge” called “A Time for Trumpets “

  • @cojaxart8986
    @cojaxart8986 Před rokem +3

    My father in law in that battle. He couldn’t talk aboutIt! Dark times for sure.

  • @chriswilton9976
    @chriswilton9976 Před rokem +20

    My grandfather fought in this battle.

  • @allendail9562
    @allendail9562 Před rokem +4

    This is a myth and seems to never die. No Tiger I orTiger II was lost in area where this event was supposed to have taken place . The two units with Tigers recored no loss in area on that day. SpzAbt 506 or SssPzAbt 501.
    The 37 mm on the M-8 could not penetrate the 80mm rear or side armor on Tigers rear plates or turrets on either Tiger varient.
    The third point is no photo of this supposed great feat of arm has ever surfaced.
    If the event happend it was a case of misidentification and a Panzer IV was promoted to Tiger.

    • @rowancoggins9638
      @rowancoggins9638 Před rokem

      The Allies often promoted lesser tanks to tigers through fear.

  • @r0bbrn140
    @r0bbrn140 Před rokem +2

    my favorite tank in ww2 the M_10 Wolverine and the T28 🇺🇸

  • @lonelychameleon3595
    @lonelychameleon3595 Před rokem +10

    Tiger II: "Nooooo you can't defeat me im the superior military vehicle I was designed by the best German minds and made with the best parts and-"
    M8: "Haha turret go bang"

    • @stomper2888
      @stomper2888 Před rokem

      in reality your allied tanks are garbage compared to german engineering

    • @lonelychameleon3595
      @lonelychameleon3595 Před rokem +7

      @@stomper2888 in reality Germany still lost

    • @stomper2888
      @stomper2888 Před rokem

      @@lonelychameleon3595 Because they were out numbered hundreds to one

    • @richardrose9943
      @richardrose9943 Před rokem

      Only reason Germany was out numbered was because of idiots in command “ha let’s just attack the whole world and see what happens” jeez what happened French wine and French woman wasn’t enough y’all had to go and bang vladamera and drink her husbands vodka and you should have know the damn brits only get mad if you mess with their tea time so what do y’all do?bomb them at 2oclock sharp every day and well hell is Americans just like to fight so ya didn’t have to do much there

    • @Zarastro54
      @Zarastro54 Před rokem

      The meme would be a lot funnier if it had any truth to it. Of all the many things that could and did have the ability to take out a Tiger II, the M8 Greyhound was not one of them.

  • @cyph3r.427
    @cyph3r.427 Před rokem +5

    This is simply untrue. The story is a myth and was never confirmed.

    • @j.robertsergertson4513
      @j.robertsergertson4513 Před rokem

      Then why aren't you writing in German ,oh wait the Germans LOST ,huh? That's pretty good confirmation that the story is true.🤡

  • @michaelnaven213
    @michaelnaven213 Před rokem +1

    Were there any Tiger I in the area? Tiger IIs perhaps but at this time in the attack no Tiger Is are in the German units attacking St. Vith. Any German tank with a long barrel was identified as a Tiger. Whereas there are verifiable reports of 37mm guns from an M8 scout car have knocked out a Tiger II from the rear at point blank range, Tiger I didn’t come into combat until after St. Vith had falled to the Germans. It’s like the appearance of the Jagdtiger in the Bulge. Records show the unit of Jagdtigers never got off the train. They were sent to Operation Nordwind.

  • @MikePattison
    @MikePattison Před rokem +3

    I just wanna know about the guy driving the jeep that was on fire at 6:34

  • @billholley2446
    @billholley2446 Před rokem +2

    Pretty good summary of the Ardennes offensive. But I'm critical of labeling the whole piece over one incident at 8:45 that takes less than a minute to tell. Also, why does the video at that point show us Sherman tanks instead of the M8? Sometimes the video editing in this series is sloppy, like showing us footage from eastern front summer offensives (thick leaves, summer-weight uniforms) while talking about winter combat.

  • @TCEInterviews
    @TCEInterviews Před rokem

    I’m putting your ww2 videos right up there with Mark Felton. Definitely binge worthy.

  • @dankowal5723
    @dankowal5723 Před rokem +1

    I love Dark Docs: great history, footage etc, but more maps would be helpful to fully visualize the area.

  • @frankyu4967
    @frankyu4967 Před rokem

    Amazing work and a big thanks to those involved in this channel. Also, both The Operations Room & sister channel The Intel Report had a similar productions on the actual battle instead of the Hollywood version. It’s too bad you can’t take over the History Channel to ensure WW3 never happens again. Have a great 2023 to all. Slava Ukraine!

  • @EugeneStClair-tv7dr
    @EugeneStClair-tv7dr Před rokem

    There were no Tiger I or TIger II tanks in the St. Vith area although there were several Panzer IV and Stug III possibly a scattering of assault guns and armored cars. This did occur with an M8 but in more likelihood, it was a Panzer IV. It would seem in combat, with people shooting at each other with high powered weapons and explosives, one would not be too discerning about whether it was a Tiger I, Tiger II or a Panzer IV.
    "Hey Bill, that looks like a TIger. Nah, its only a Stug, so no big deal." That doesn't happen. Either will kill you dead. The first one who shoots usually wins.
    There was indeed a formal report of a M8 Greyhound armored scout car attacking a German tank and knocking it out with three rounds from their main weapon. This is concurrent with ballistic information that was collected during and after the war. It would probably take two or three rounds to penetrate German armor even from the rear. An experienced gun crew can easily accomplish this with the M8 37 mm gun. Doubtful that it was a Tiger I or Tiger II, but it doesn't matter, a point blank round from a Panzer IV 75mm gun would turn the M8 into instant scrap.

  • @teddyeach6790
    @teddyeach6790 Před rokem +17

    I'm confused. The title says, Massive KING Tiger. Meaning a Tiger II. However, in the video in the "Eye of the Tiger" chapter, he says, " an American M8 armored car, that was parked in a concealed position, spotted a German Tiger I heavy tank." I'm guessing he misspoke? There were only 8 Tiger I's operational in The Battle of the Bulge, which would have made this encounter far less likely. Although, the 37mm gun that the M8 was armed with, penning anywhere on a Tiger II, I assume can only have been possible due to the fact that at this point in the war, the Germans consistency in producing quality armor plate had decreased by a large percentage, if not completely. But, when in that type of situation, and being that the M8 was reported to be difficult to drive in reverse, what options are you left with but to take a chance?

    • @taylorbrain8023
      @taylorbrain8023 Před rokem +4

      Yeah most credible historians believe it was a Panther.

    • @allangibson8494
      @allangibson8494 Před rokem +3

      According to the report it took three shots in the same point to penetrate the engine rear armor plate at what was basically point blank range of under 50 yards.

    • @patrickdurham8393
      @patrickdurham8393 Před rokem +1

      Everything I've read about this says there were no real time reports of these and all tales were told weeks or more after the fact with no corroboration.

    • @critterjon4061
      @critterjon4061 Před rokem

      I’m of the opinion that this event never happened to being with as there is no after action reports that document this incident as occurring. With to only original source I can find being a a report from a different unit saying that a m8 from an adjacent unit destroyed a Tiger tank with no explanation as to where or how it occurred . Not to mention if it had occurred the M8’s crew would have likely have received some kind of award

    • @secretagent86
      @secretagent86 Před rokem +2

      I know this is trivial but i hear him saying. Are dun. Not are dens. I always thought the latter… maybe local area pronunciation? Thoughts?

  • @jumpinjack1156
    @jumpinjack1156 Před měsícem

    I wanted to see more of the greyhound in action, this was no more than click bait !

  • @brucejenner4800
    @brucejenner4800 Před rokem +4

    Sometimes your narrative doesn't jibe with the film footage.

    • @John-qx1zi
      @John-qx1zi Před rokem +5

      - 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. -

    • @daveybyrden3936
      @daveybyrden3936 Před rokem

      @@John-qx1zi So, as a "history enthusiast", did you find out what German units had tigers in that place on that day? I'd like to see what you discover.

  • @garrisonjoe5977
    @garrisonjoe5977 Před rokem +1

    Good video. Other than the M8 baloney.
    The Allied Air Forces were able to support St. Vith's defense on Dec 25 due to weather finally clearing from almost solid overcast - not the vague "finally were able to reach St. Vith" explanation given.
    And the narration seems to be saying "Schnee Eifel bridge" when it is in fact a high RIDGE north of St. Vith.
    Yeah, the cold and snow and ice was what most troops fighting in the Bulge remembered. Like many others, my Dad (82nd Airborne) would say on cold winter nights, "Sure am glad I'm not in Belgium."

  • @ex-navyspook
    @ex-navyspook Před rokem

    To contradict Churchill, this was undoubtedly the greatest battle on the Western Front; the Russians had been beating the hell out of the Germans for almost two years, at this point.

  • @smellygoatacres
    @smellygoatacres Před rokem +14

    We're losing the greatest generation. What a shame we couldn't manage to be 1/10 of what they were.

    • @stanfordwillis4841
      @stanfordwillis4841 Před rokem +2

      That is the worst BS I've ever heard, how could you know how all of the other generations were ?

    • @mattt525
      @mattt525 Před rokem +1

      While its terrible that we are losing the greatest generation there is one thing for certain. Almost all of these men would be disappointed in us repeating mistakes of the past today

  • @BlueLightningHawk
    @BlueLightningHawk Před rokem +3

    Gaijin made the M8 Greyhound a gift vehicle for the USA.
    Yet in China's tech tree it's available as a regular research vehicle.

  • @51515123
    @51515123 Před rokem

    At 6:33 the soldier driving the jeep with the back completely on fire! Thats some footage right there.

  • @yessir7147
    @yessir7147 Před rokem +1

    I find it hilarious that Churchill doesn’t even consider the Pacific War as a part of WW2.
    “Greatest American battle” my ass.
    Midway is the greatest American battle.

  • @Zarastro54
    @Zarastro54 Před rokem +3

    Downvote for clickbait title. It’s literally physically impossible for the 37 on a Greyhound to penetrate even the rear of a King Tiger at any range, and only _maybe_ theoretically possible with luck to take out a Tiger I from the back as described in the myth. Even in the video, you say it’s a Tiger I, so why lie in the title like that? It’s far more likely that the crew misidentified a Panzer IV with schurzen armor that made it look similar to a Tiger from the angle the Greyhound was at.

  • @Imugi007
    @Imugi007 Před rokem

    The 101st and Bastogne get most of the media attention, and maybe rightfully so. But the men at St. Vith are heroes as well and nobody ever hears about them.

  • @johnskibajr5691
    @johnskibajr5691 Před měsícem

    Many reports of Tigers were made but in many cases the tank in question was the Mk IV. I am guessing that is what the M8 AC encountered on that day.

  • @codyhearne932
    @codyhearne932 Před rokem +1

    This is my of a fictional story than true events. The report only said Tiger not tiger 2 and allied forces often misidentified tanks, often calling Panzer 4s a Tiger when they clearly are not up close

  • @paulstone472
    @paulstone472 Před 2 měsíci

    The case of the M8 killing a Tiger exists in several different versions, depending on who tells is. Sometimes it's a Tiger. Other times, its a King Tiger. The story is based on the account of ONE eyewitness and has never been verified. German records show that there were no Tigers of any type anywhere near the area at the time of the alleged event.

  • @Shocktroop_0313
    @Shocktroop_0313 Před rokem +1

    I enjoy these videos. But the title states the M8 kills a "King Tiger" (Tiger II). But then the video (8:50) states a "Tiger I" was killed. Which Tiger tank was destroyed?

  • @krisfrederick5001
    @krisfrederick5001 Před rokem +7

    "There's a lot of shit headed this way..."
    -Band of Brothers

  • @stonefree1911
    @stonefree1911 Před rokem +2

    Interesting story, but WAY too much fluff for the first 3/4 of the vid.....

  • @horrido666
    @horrido666 Před rokem

    The lesson here is don't mess with a cavalry scout.

  • @tomr1630
    @tomr1630 Před rokem +2

    A Tiger I is NOT a King Tiger.

  • @gort.3296
    @gort.3296 Před rokem +1

    It was actually a Panther Ausf G with 40 mm of rear Armour Plate . Not a KingTiger.

  • @StephenBaird-cp1fc
    @StephenBaird-cp1fc Před 25 dny

    It was a panzer iv not a king tiger, the rear armour was 80 mm the same as the front of the panzer iv but sloped so the M8 37 canon wouldn't have been able to take out a King Tiger

  • @henryj.8528
    @henryj.8528 Před rokem

    This engagement almost certainly didn't happen. The Germans did lose any Tiger I or Tiger IIs on this date in or near St. Vith. Apocryphal at best. Maybe they took out a Panther or a Stug, but not a Tiger from behind with a 37mm.

  • @misterpants666
    @misterpants666 Před rokem +8

    10 seconds of the actual event ? FFS ! We all know the BOB overview, its been done to death !

  • @Grombrindal
    @Grombrindal Před rokem

    If you can't run away then charging forward is often the best option.

  • @ddraig1957
    @ddraig1957 Před rokem +1

    It's a great story,and it would be nice if it was true,but I'm sceptical.

    • @zee_terminator2850
      @zee_terminator2850 Před rokem +1

      Its not true, the weak 37mm on the greyhound cant penetrate either tiger variants pretty much anywhere

  • @hutchabilly107
    @hutchabilly107 Před rokem

    The heading of this video is completely misleading. One small mention of the M8 against a Tiger 1 (not a King Tiger). The author should change the title of the video

  • @adamsteele6148
    @adamsteele6148 Před rokem +6

    NUTS

  • @geegaw14
    @geegaw14 Před rokem +1

    Story of M8 vs Tiger is at 8:50. Up to that is history lesson on the battle.

  • @GaveMeGrace1
    @GaveMeGrace1 Před rokem

    Thank you

  • @brianf1132
    @brianf1132 Před rokem

    Hooah! Good stuff. Excellent video. Although the title doesn’t really fit the whole video.

  • @jamesellis2784
    @jamesellis2784 Před rokem +1

    Just looking for more drivers .cool vehicle tooooo

  • @davejones67
    @davejones67 Před rokem +1

    You said king Tiger then in video Tiger 1….which is it?

  • @drmarkintexas-400
    @drmarkintexas-400 Před rokem +1

    Thank you for sharing
    🇺🇲🤗🙏🎖️

  • @erikgerhardt7335
    @erikgerhardt7335 Před rokem +2

    OK, so I enjoy most of everything you put together, but I have to cry foul on this. As a piece on the battle of St. Vith, very cool, As a piece on an M8 killing a King Tiger, that part was less then maybe 60 seconds. More importantly, you make it clear that it was a Tiger I that got knocked with three shots to the rear as opposed to a King Tiger, a different beast and potentially a much more impressive achievement. What would have been good with this title is a discussion of the Tiger II's sloping armor, and the 37mm gun of the M8. Very disappointing.

    • @daveybyrden3936
      @daveybyrden3936 Před rokem

      I'm sure that a Panzer was destroyed, but it wasn't a Tiger of either kind. None were in the area.

  • @mcfunny8887
    @mcfunny8887 Před rokem +1

    probably not true,as the rear turret of the tiger ii ausf B henschell model had a rear armor thickness was 86 mm,greyhound pens at most 61 mm

    • @lyndoncmp5751
      @lyndoncmp5751 Před rokem

      No Tigers were involved in the fighting around St Vith.

    • @mcfunny8887
      @mcfunny8887 Před rokem

      @@lyndoncmp5751 precisley

  • @antman2826
    @antman2826 Před rokem +6

    6 mins in and I haven’t even heard about this tank battle yet. 😳

    • @wuffos
      @wuffos Před rokem +1

      8:53

    • @daveybyrden3936
      @daveybyrden3936 Před rokem +2

      Give them a break. It's hard to find details about an event that didn't happen.

  • @DadJeff-jo7pm
    @DadJeff-jo7pm Před rokem

    The entire time of this upload, All Quiet on the Western Front has been running thru my head.
    Anyone else?

  • @LostCylon
    @LostCylon Před rokem

    Where did I miss the bit about a M8 killing a Tiger Tank? (Time stamp please) Otherwise a great WW2 story,

  • @MoosePolo
    @MoosePolo Před rokem

    Did he drive circles around him and shoot like Battlefield 5 🤣

  • @TTTT-oc4eb
    @TTTT-oc4eb Před rokem +3

    There were no Tigers in the area on the date, this has been debunked a long time ago. Tank Encyclopedia has a very good article about it.
    The Tigers in the Bulge were few (only two understrenght battalions, all in all about 50 Tigers at the start, including just 8 Tiger 1s) and easy to track.The conclusion was that "some kind of American vehicle possibly engaged some kind of German vehicle and possibly destroyed it". Fog of war.
    Until proven otherwise, every German tank, sometimes even vehicle, was a "Tiger".

  • @inaminute9643
    @inaminute9643 Před rokem

    I did this in Men Of War. Snuck up behind it and popped a couple of 50mm in the engine block

  • @michaelallen8276
    @michaelallen8276 Před rokem

    I am confused on the point you made about the British involvement and Montgomery’s “withdrawal”

  • @solowkaver3592
    @solowkaver3592 Před rokem

    Awesome story.

  • @CottonFist
    @CottonFist Před rokem

    Excellent channel 👍

  • @spasticjackson9578
    @spasticjackson9578 Před rokem

    Your videos are amazing !

  • @bluemouse5039
    @bluemouse5039 Před rokem

    A lot of people said this story wasn't true because they always hear how indestructible a Tiger was, or it wasn't a Tiger but a MKIV which looked similar but much less armored and how allied tank rounds just bounced off the Tigers armor , but the armor was only really thick in the front and sides the back not all that much and in spite of a 37mm sounding tiny it is actually quite a devastating round when used against thinner armor plate ,that's a almost 2 pound projectile going over 2000 fps, The German tanks fighting in Russia began using side skirts even in the latter years of the war as protection against the Russian 12.7mm anti tank rifles that were in large supply with Russian troops , even though that rifle was considered Obsolete by 1941 against Tank armor or that era it could still find weak areas in the side armor of German tanks and penetrate or the 12.7mm would damage the tracks or running gear with a hit, So I have no trouble believing that this armored car knocked out a Tiger tank

    • @lyndoncmp5751
      @lyndoncmp5751 Před rokem

      There were no Tigers or King Tigers involved in the fighting around St Vith. Nearest Tigers were the King Tigers of Kampfgruppe Peiper and all their King Tiger movements and losses are well documented in the Greg Walden book Tigers In the Ardennes. None were lost anywhere near St Vith.

    • @lyndoncmp5751
      @lyndoncmp5751 Před rokem

      And by the way, even the rear of both Tiger versions was 80mm thick and slightly sloped.

    • @bluemouse5039
      @bluemouse5039 Před rokem

      @@lyndoncmp5751 Tank buster planes of that era used 37mm cannons to knock out tanks, granted they are shooting down where the armor is thinnest , but it's not outside the realm of possibility that the armored car could have got a lucky shot in with its 37mm cannon maybe setting the engine on fire that spread and destroyed the Tiger tank

    • @lyndoncmp5751
      @lyndoncmp5751 Před rokem

      @@bluemouse5039
      But it wasn't a Tiger. Nearest Tigers lost to St Vith at the time were King Tigers number 008 and 105 of Kampfgruppe Peiper, from Schwere SS Panzer Abteilung 501. Both were lost around the Stavelot and Trois Ponts area, some 30km to the north west.
      Source, Tigers in the Ardennes by Greg Walden page 96.
      👍

    • @daveybyrden3936
      @daveybyrden3936 Před rokem

      You're WRONG. The Tiger's rear is exactly as thick as the sides.

  • @Trodpint-A
    @Trodpint-A Před rokem

    18 critical hits through scouting and smoke

  • @noneedtoknow07
    @noneedtoknow07 Před rokem

    I have to think any german soldier seeing the destroyed king tiger might have crapped themselves out of fear of what they were getting into.

  • @dougjackson5270
    @dougjackson5270 Před rokem +1

    So how was the m8 Greyhound taking out the Tiger a pivotal moment here? Not seeing it, and as usual the incident mentioned is only a minor part of the narrative.

  • @trevortrevortsr2
    @trevortrevortsr2 Před 4 měsíci

    This is another Ghost of Kyiv story - some doubt exists to this story as German records show there was no Tiger battalion in the area in any event a Tiger 1 and King Tiger are not the same

  • @sneakyfishiix8014
    @sneakyfishiix8014 Před rokem

    Who was that guy driving that flaming willys jeep?

  • @bernardedwards8461
    @bernardedwards8461 Před rokem

    Hitler wanted to capture the port of Antwerp, which he knw was vital to the allies further advance toward Germany and its loss would be a huge setback. The plan's main shortcoming was that it largely depended on capturing Allied fuel depots, because the Germans were desparately short of fuel. He was also bright enough to realise that to play it safe was certain to lead to defeat and the only thing which stood a chance of turning the war around was a risky gamble, but what was there to lose? The war was lost if he didn't try something unexpected to catch the Allies off their guard. The necessary fuel was not captured, thanks to the stubborn resistance at Bastogne, but the Germans came close to pulling it off.

  • @bear76009
    @bear76009 Před rokem +1

    (drastic measures) extened the workweek to 60 hours.. Wha?? I had voluntarily worked 70 hrs a week for a LONG time due to being Married.. well maybe a lot of it was not so voluntary on my part but i was Voluntold by my ex.

  • @americanpatriot2422
    @americanpatriot2422 Před rokem

    Great video!

  • @joegatt2306
    @joegatt2306 Před rokem

    9:00 As the myth of the Super Pershing destroying a Tiger II at Dessau, this story has also been recently debunked.
    While from German records, no Tiger Is were lost on the 18th of December 1944, four Tiger IIs were lost that day. Three of these Tiger IIs belonged to Schwere SS Panzer Abteilung 501 (Heavy SS Tank Battalion 501); Tiger 105 was abandoned in the town of Stavelot, Belgium after getting itself stuck in a building, Tiger 332 was abandoned near Coo, Belgium as a result of mechanical damage, and Tiger 008 was abandoned at a farmhouse near Trois Ponts, Belgium. Their location was at least 55 kilometers SW from St. Vith and photos exist of all three in their abandoned state, no penetration holes. The last Tiger II belonged to Schwere Panzer Abteilung 506 (Heavy Tank Battalion 506) and was lost to enemy fire on the Lentzweiler road in Luxemburg, 40 kilometers NW of St. Vith.
    Ergo, no Tigers lost at St. Vith.

    • @cableyoutuber
      @cableyoutuber Před rokem

      While this story might be, there’s documented footage of the Pershing v Tiger II. Including witnesses on both sides, as the Tiger crew managed to bail.

    • @joegatt2306
      @joegatt2306 Před rokem

      @@cableyoutuber Please do not repeat the Duel at Dessau claim. That has been debunked years ago. By documented footage you mean film from real camera. This, I can assure you, does not exist. The only film reel of a Pershing hitting something big and crew escaping, was at Cologne the the enemy tank was a Panther. There isn't even in existence, photos of the wannabe destroyed Tiger 2 at Dessau. And Pershings only faced a Tiger 1 on two occasions, on one occasion it won, on the other it lost.

    • @cableyoutuber
      @cableyoutuber Před rokem

      @@joegatt2306 Tiger II’s aren’t Panthers? I’m not knowledgeable with German tanks, just Panzer IV’s Tiger I’s and such.

    • @cableyoutuber
      @cableyoutuber Před rokem

      @@joegatt2306 also forgot it was in Cologne

  • @carymartin1150
    @carymartin1150 Před rokem +1

    Anyone know what the viewing device is that the German officer is holding at 3:45?

    • @garrisonjoe5977
      @garrisonjoe5977 Před rokem +1

      Looks like some sort of simple range finder. Right hand seems to be on an adjusting dial under the viewing shield.