I am 53 and have studied History in my spare time all my life especially World War II and Nazi Germany but Mark always surprises me with something new.
Mind you we know our stuff too. I was expecting the lesser known Skorzeny raid where they used a Tiger tank to bust through Budapest and kidnap the prime minister's son . Rolled him up in a rug or somen. The good part was the tiger though. Gonna bust through somen a tigers a pretty good option. lol
As a boy living in a country town in Victoria, Australia in the 1970s/80s I knew one of the paratroopers from this mission, an Austrian soldier who moved to Australia with his German wife after the war.. He was a drinking buddy of my father’s who had served in the Australian Army in WW2 so the two of them swapped stories from both sides… the former paratrooper ran a local garage and one time my dad took me to the workshop and his Austrian friend opened a locker and pulled out his old German uniform complete with helmet and gas mask cylinder, boots, bayonet, the whole thing… very interesting for a young military enthusiast…
@@bukitcengkeh1 Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci were executed by firing squad and their corpses hung upside down over a gas station parking lot. The bodies were jeered and spat on by the crowd. Hitler received word of these events shortly before his own death in the Reich Chancellery bunker. Mussolini's humiliating demise was reportedly one of the main reasons why Hitler wanted his own corpse cremated after his suicide...so it couldn't be disgraced by occupying Soviet troops.
A historical sidenote: The skilled pilot who flew the dangerously overloaded Fiesler 156 Storch off Gran Sasso was Hauptmann Heinrich Gerlach, personal pilot to General der Fallschirmtruppe Kurt Student. His Granddaughter was a colleague and told me Gerlach emigrated to Canada after the war and never piloted an aircraft again.
Nonsense ! The Fieseler 156 Storch wasn`t overloaded at any time.The powerful Argus AS 10 C engine was good enough for twice of the regular payload. Sometimes loading condition in Russia were the pilot plus three wounded soldiers. Reliable Storch brought them home...
Huh interesting he chose never to pilot again. Piloting is a useful skillset, especially a military pilot. Perhaps a mix of PTSD and not wanting to relive being in Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe, granted that's pure speculation on my part.
@@Klaaism Following WWII into the 1980's there were tens of thousands of former military pilots. There were relatively very few airline or commercial jobs. Being an ex-military pilot was NOT a particularly useful skill (not skillset). Ahem.
Skorzeny lived, briefly in Ireland, Co.Kildare to be precise. I remember listening to an interview with a chap who worked for him as a gardener here. He came to work one morning and Skorzeny had fled, the house was empty of anything important, a journalist worked out who Skorzeny was, and he went to Spain (I think) pretty quick. There was a German officers full length leather coat in the house. I often wonder did the gardener chap take it.
Exactly 12 hours earlier, 12 September 1943, my fathers only brother, Pvt Martin J Burns, was killed on the Liberty ship William B Travis, when it was struck by a ‘torpedo or mine’ in the Mediterranean. He was an MP guarding German POW’s and asleep on the #2 hatch at around 1:10 am. The explosion blew him into the hold and he was the only casualty. The ship did not sink and limped into port for makeshift repairs. It would be a year before his body was discovered, as it took that long for the Travis to get in a suitable dry dock. His decapitated body was found well preserved in oils, fluids, etc and after months of investigation by an Army officer assigned the task, went from MIA to KIA. Woody Guthrie was working his passage as a merchant mariner that night and makes reference to the explosion in his book on pg 116, and simply writes that ‘in the morning it was discovered that an Army private is missing.’ I’ve often wondered, if it was a U-Boat, what was it’s ultimate fate. Pvt Martin J Burns is buried in the American cemetary near Carthage Tunisia. Nothing to do with your topic, but since I was a kid and my Dad showed me the War Dept telegram he kept, the date Sept 12 will always have special significance. My father, T/Sgt Joseph F Burns, was a Radio/Gunner on B-25’s in the CBI, 14th AAF.
Once again, Mark Felton has outdone himself by bringing us this little-known, but nonetheless highly interesting secondary rescue operation! My parents being from Abruzzo, I was well aware of the Gran Sasso operation, but knew nothing about the predicament of Mussolini's family. Thank you, Dr. Felton for enriching our lives with your professional podcasts!
@@lucknotskilled1543 - your comment is so loaded with sarcasm, it oozes. Are you referring to this specific piece or the entirety of Dr. Felton's work? In either instances, what are you thoughts exactly on the subject?
I agree, me being Italian myself, I love how Felton makes detailed and interesting videos on these small but very interesting operations nonetheless, it's good to binge watch
@@lucknotskilled1543 - that's what I thought, but can you be more specific about what makes you believe that WW2 history has been written by the winners?
5:15. Arguably one of the most legendary scars ever to be sported by a soldier and the inspiration for many a custom character creation options in video games.
" Most people don't know" That part was funny. How about 99.9999% of people don't know. Mark never fails in finding history that is interesting that very few know anything about.
As someone has already said on this channel, "I'm not going out tonight, Mark Felton's just uploaded"! What a wonderful present when I came in from work tonight! Well done Mark and KEEP 'EM COMING!
I honestly wish there were more teachers like Mr. Felton in universities today. I honestly do not know how he can consistently find such amazing detail about such specific and poorly known events, whist with all due respect, many of my lectures don't even seem to know which planet Hitler was born on.
As a teacher, his talents would be wasted. Not to mention the enormous time it requires to prepare lessons beyond the mundane...nobody can be all things to all people (sorry Kim, Mao, Stalin, Hitler, etc.)
Today’s universities are full of green haired degenerates who wouldn’t appreciate the work of Mark Felton. They would rather have one of their own teaching them.
If you turn all the people into fools by giving them a bad education, you can tell them anything and they'll believe it, because they don't know better. History is important and that is why it is being twisted and ignored in our schools. Teachers are under payed because they don't want smart people teaching our children stuff.
I'am a teacher for about 10 years now, his talents would be wasted. I'am also knowledgable in Human History and know a lot of "inside facts", but I'am not allowed to disclose too much of those facts. Sadly, I'am not as talented as Mark, so I don't want to embarress myself on youtube. Mark and other historians are doing a great service.
Now thats an interesting challenge. Making an interesting movie about a Nazi German military operation... where theres no Rommel. How to frame the protagonists as remotely likeable?
@@Klaaism same as you frame any other of the nations likeable. Nazis werent worse people than anybody else on the world at that time. Every country enslaved, had labor camps and genocided big time
@@Klaaism Japan killed more than 20 million Chinese citizens,but no one talk about it. At that time France and Britain almost colonized the whole world, but not talk about it After the war USA invaded more than 20 countries and bombing nearly 60 countries but no one talk about it, today Americans killing millions around the world for Drop of oil and they call it serving a country a war heroes,
It was a rare operational success for the Axis at this time in the war, when everything had been going against them for over a year, so naturally the propaganda newsreels made the most of it.
Very well done! I always wondered how the rest of the commando force got away from the Gran Sasso after Skorzeny left with Mussolini. A road march back to German lines. Makes perfect sense.
Hi, Dr. Felton. I seem to remember reading that the Fiesler Storch very nearly came to grief because Skorzeny, wanting to ensure none of the glory went astray, insisted on stuffing his huge frame into the plane despite pilot Gerlach's misgivings. Airborne at the last second kind of thing. 🤔
This is a good account of this mission in the British magazine “After the Battle”. I know that was in print in the very early 1980’s so you may need to hunt up a reprint or old copy.
@@Klaaism btw, obviously her surname helped a lot in gaining popularity but also created a sort og handicap for her, since every country would be ashamed to put in an high position a family memeber of a previous dictator
@@federicoof2408 i am italian and don't care for her she got some suport, but is really small, i think is because in italiy a trial like nurimberg was never made so, and was't a big hunt on facisti like for the nazi who escaped...
One harsh story was about mr otto was that locals were poaching rabbits on his land, & he tried to chase them off, they walked up near him listening to his tirade, one boyo said to him I was hunting rabbits here when you were burning bodys... mr otto was not amuzed...!
Mark, your editing and production of this video is again stupendous! Of course your research of the subject matter remains of the highest caliber. Well done!
Once again I watch a Mark Felton video and learn something new! I knew of the Gran Sasso raid but not of the mission to rescue Mussolini’s wife and children. Keep up the great work Mr. Felton!
@@alvaro701 Look dude I dont live in whatever feminine limp wrist cultured you are referring too, or if you are referring to current movies its all fluff, puffery smut and trash.
Skorzeny was a great friend of my family when a was a kid in the earlies 60s . We use to live in a small village outside Buenos Aires , in Argentina . He came to Argentina many times to visit my family until 1975 . I still remeber his hability to make friends everywere and make everyone feel confortable to talk about very personal staff . When I was a kid i never realised who he actually was . I thought he was just another german friend of the neighborhood . I still can´t beleive it was the same person that now everyone seems to know .
Tell me about it. My paternal grandfather was in the second drop at Arnhem. Messy 😶 Found out in the last six months from my dad that his mum told him, long after the war, she found out that after that, Grandad was deployed in Austria 🇦🇹 Apparently, only he and Two other guys got out their glider alive. Never said a word about it. In amongst old photos there's an aerial pic of the sort they'd use, it has 'holes' in it. I'm not sure they're natural occurrences (bullets?!) 🤯
@Christopher Mac I have jumped out of a plane. It's not so bad. Also, you reach the ground relatively quickly and are a small target. Those gliders had to be death traps. Large targets. Imagine if you hit a tree while landing...
I had read about how they rescued Mussolini, but had not heard about getting his family at the same time. Again, thank you for the history lesson, it is appreciated.
It is a little known fact that Mussolini, that his last request was to sing two of his favourite songs, one being Upside Down there turning me, and the one who sang with a stringed instrument,, When I am hanging from a lamppost at the corner of the street, and for loose change to fall out of his pocket. It is amazing what you can learn from the B.B.C.
I’ve tried to find your most recent video so you may see this comment Mark Felton. I truly appreciate your work and your videos. History repeats itself, you are foreshadowing the future with these historical flashbacks. Thank you because most history books do not speak on these topics
I thought I knew pretty much all there was to know about WW2. Then I stumbled across Mark Feltons channels... Astonishing work and I love the intentional omission of modern day revisionism. Gives the content the classic documentary feel that all documentaries should [but sadly don't always] have.
Another great video and as always very informative. Always excited when you put up a new video, the level of details in each story is magnificent, great work Mark. Greetings from CPH.
The research you must do for these videos is incredible. Just when I thought I couldn’t learn any more about WWII/nazi Germany you bring out something new 👍
No offence to you, but the SS were murderers, torturers and rapists. Filthy fascist scum, and there were very few 'good' ones, despite their daring rescue mission.. I would rather the 'rescued' the ordinary people they slaughtered
When you know Otto Skorzeny's second mission pretty well and you find yourself on the edge of your seat nonetheless, chances are you're watching a Felton video.
Great stuff as always Dr … I also heard that the SS on their uniform was actually 2 x Thunder Bolts . The allies named them that - The Symbol of these bolts is esoteric , relating to their ancient runes - The were all tattooed under their arms with these bolt symbols - So later in the war the allies would make a SS who maybe would try to redress in a civilian ir a simple German soldier’s uniform - Take Off their top & check for the tattoo .
Actually, the tattoos were of their blood group. The "lightening bolts," were old Germanic runes equivalent to the letter "S" . They were also said to represent "Seig," that is to say "Victory."
Hello Mark and once again I am happy I subscribed to your channel. Great info. Have introduced your collection to my 20 yr old grandson. He honestly is hooked and had no idea about much of it. He said he heard nothing of it in school. Yet it is not so long ago mmm? He has really had his eyes opened. Thank you and keep up the good work You are truly appreciated.
@@roeng1368 A real thug, like Sepp Dietrich and others of that ilk. He joined an Austrian Nazi outfit like in 1931, even before the Nazis had gained power in Germany in 1933.
I'm Italian and I live near Forlì. The castle is "Rocca delle Camminate" (Castle of the Walkings). I didn't know that Rachele managed a restaurant some km away from my home. Thanks again dr Felton!
I can only imagine the immense research of WWII archives Dr. Felton has delved into to bring us these extraordinary presentations in a succinct but both entertaining and educational manner! Kudos Dr. Felton!!
word has it that he and his people have taken over a disused Nazi bunker where they've located a massive cache of documents, to keep him going on CZcams for at least the next 1000 years...
Well, he must have been. After capture by US forces he was investigated and tried for war crimes but aquitted. Can't convict if there's nothing there, apparantly he didn't do what any other commando force during the war wasn't prepared to do.
Yes!! Love to hear about Otto Skorzeny! Would LOVE to see a video about James Brady and Frank Stringer. The only two Irish men known to have fought in the Waffen SS. Its a very interesting story if you'd be interested in looking them up. I know it would make a fantastic video :)
Skorzeny was that rare breed of magnificent bastard. Fought on the wrong side and a self promoter, which doesn't change the fact that he was also capable, brave, and audacious. A pioneer of special forces. Not a good guy, but not entirely a bad guy either.
Felton should tell the story of another Skorzeny prowess, when he got into the Government palace in Hungary and kidnapped the Prime Minister wrapping him around a carpet...!
Thanks guys for being respectful and getting the point of my comment as opposed to calling me a you know what or saying that I support their ideology. I seriously appreciate the discussion of the man and not the side he fought for or the politics represented during his time as a soldier. Folks don’t realize sometimes that even though these folks fought for the wrong side they were certainly brave, courageous pioneers of the “special operations” tradecraft. That’s the reason I admire the man.
Skorzeny was that kind of guy who didn't care too much for ideology. He certainly used the system to his advantage. He also worked for every known western secret service after the war, including CIA and Mossad. The man was just good at his job and clever enough to get the credits. Markus Wolf, head of the former East German secret service, is another excellent example for this. Although never being a socialist by heart, he was most successful in infiltrating and compromising West Germany's government on highest level.
I mean he still was but even the most strict dictator needs support from the higher ups in the ruling government. When Stalin was first approached by his generals after hearing of Operation Barbarossa, he thought they had come to arrest him and had not planned to resist. Instead, they came desperate for leadership and thus Stalin survived to lead the Soviet Union to Victory!
the most unbelievable part of this story that Mussolini's wife could pack necessary things in 15 min
Love it-Love it.
Experienced travellers can donit in 7 min.
😆
Winner of the comment section
Really …… really !
That’s what you picked up from this informative gem !
Mark Felton: the only man who can take a piece of well known history, and find more history in it.
The riskiest part of the operation: Relying upon a FIAT to be the getaway car!
@@Lerxstification Lol !!!!
@@Lerxstification Back when FIAT stood for "Fix It Again Tomorrow".
True that boy.
@@AdmiralBonetoPick That hasn't really changed much lol
I am 53 and have studied History in my spare time all my life especially World War II and Nazi Germany but Mark always surprises me with something new.
Definitely agree. He talks about lesser known dates, facts, timelines etc. I would like him to do a video about Operation Mincemeat.
ditto
He has mad research skillz.
I agree. I have over estimated my knowledge of WWII and now learning the "lesser Known facts". My favorite You Tube site.
Mind you we know our stuff too. I was expecting the lesser known Skorzeny raid where they used a Tiger tank to bust through Budapest and kidnap the prime minister's son . Rolled him up in a rug or somen. The good part was the tiger though. Gonna bust through somen a tigers a pretty good option. lol
As a boy living in a country town in Victoria, Australia in the 1970s/80s I knew one of the paratroopers from this mission, an Austrian soldier who moved to Australia with his German wife after the war.. He was a drinking buddy of my father’s who had served in the Australian Army in WW2 so the two of them swapped stories from both sides… the former paratrooper ran a local garage and one time my dad took me to the workshop and his Austrian friend opened a locker and pulled out his old German uniform complete with helmet and gas mask cylinder, boots, bayonet, the whole thing… very interesting for a young military enthusiast…
When I was a kid in the 70's a neighbor would show off the Walther PPK with Nazi markings his dad brought home from WW2.
I hope he wasn't SS
Mussolini: Am i free now?
Uncle Dolfy: Well, yes but actually no.
**Gets hanged**
@@smorgonenberg5530 wasn't Mussolini executed by firing squad? Or are you talking about another person?
@@bukitcengkeh1 He died before getting hanged by the leg i think lol
It's complicated
@@bukitcengkeh1 Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci were executed by firing squad and their corpses hung upside down over a gas station parking lot. The bodies were jeered and spat on by the crowd. Hitler received word of these events shortly before his own death in the Reich Chancellery bunker. Mussolini's humiliating demise was reportedly one of the main reasons why Hitler wanted his own corpse cremated after his suicide...so it couldn't be disgraced by occupying Soviet troops.
A historical sidenote: The skilled pilot who flew the dangerously overloaded Fiesler 156 Storch off Gran Sasso was Hauptmann Heinrich Gerlach, personal pilot to General der Fallschirmtruppe Kurt Student. His Granddaughter was a colleague and told me Gerlach emigrated to Canada after the war and never piloted an aircraft again.
Mark always pulls out the non mainstream information. Love this channel
“The most dangerous man in Europe” had to stay in the limelight even if Il Duce had to sit on his lap…
Nonsense ! The Fieseler 156 Storch wasn`t overloaded at any time.The powerful Argus AS 10 C engine was good enough for twice of the regular payload. Sometimes loading condition in Russia were the pilot plus three wounded soldiers. Reliable Storch brought them home...
Huh interesting he chose never to pilot again. Piloting is a useful skillset, especially a military pilot. Perhaps a mix of PTSD and not wanting to relive being in Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe, granted that's pure speculation on my part.
@@Klaaism Following WWII into the 1980's there were tens of thousands of former military pilots. There were relatively very few airline or commercial jobs. Being an ex-military pilot was NOT a particularly useful skill (not skillset). Ahem.
Been looking forward to more videos on Otto Skorzeny after hearing about him in a few others of yours. Very interesting stuff as always!
My man
@@cosuinofdeath mine too 😉
Skorzeny lived, briefly in Ireland, Co.Kildare to be precise. I remember listening to an interview with a chap who worked for him as a gardener here. He came to work one morning and Skorzeny had fled, the house was empty of anything important, a journalist worked out who Skorzeny was, and he went to Spain (I think) pretty quick. There was a German officers full length leather coat in the house. I often wonder did the gardener chap take it.
Why are you sucking up so hard? Try not to leave a hickey while you're at it
@@mrkitty1997 chill mate they enjoy his content. Don’t get but hurt over the internet now
Exactly 12 hours earlier, 12 September 1943, my fathers only brother, Pvt Martin J Burns, was killed on the Liberty ship William B Travis, when it was struck by a ‘torpedo or mine’ in the Mediterranean. He was an MP guarding German POW’s and asleep on the #2 hatch at around 1:10 am. The explosion blew him into the hold and he was the only casualty. The ship did not sink and limped into port for makeshift repairs. It would be a year before his body was discovered, as it took that long for the Travis to get in a suitable dry dock. His decapitated body was found well preserved in oils, fluids, etc and after months of investigation by an Army officer assigned the task, went from MIA to KIA. Woody Guthrie was working his passage as a merchant mariner that night and makes reference to the explosion in his book on pg 116, and simply writes that ‘in the morning it was discovered that an Army private is missing.’ I’ve often wondered, if it was a U-Boat, what was it’s ultimate fate.
Pvt Martin J Burns is buried in the American cemetary near Carthage Tunisia. Nothing to do with your topic, but since I was a kid and my Dad showed me the War Dept telegram he kept, the date Sept 12 will always have special significance. My father, T/Sgt Joseph F Burns, was a Radio/Gunner on B-25’s in the CBI, 14th AAF.
Cable cars, castles, commandos - the only thing missing is Clint Eastwood dual-wielding MP40s!
Where Eagles Dare. Classic.
@@linusbroadbent2763 Love it.
where eagles dare ;)
Ja, der Schloß Adler….
@@billace90 "Broadsword calling Danny Boy"
Even when you think you know the story, Dr. Felton still brings new details to light. Always fascinating and informative.
America had far superior firepower than anyone in europe. When they showed up it was game over
Once again, Mark Felton has outdone himself by bringing us this little-known, but nonetheless highly interesting secondary rescue operation! My parents being from Abruzzo, I was well aware of the Gran Sasso operation, but knew nothing about the predicament of Mussolini's family. Thank you, Dr. Felton for enriching our lives with your professional podcasts!
He’s just following the narrative, like ww2 historians before him. It is what they have been taught by the victors.
@@lucknotskilled1543 - your comment is so loaded with sarcasm, it oozes. Are you referring to this specific piece or the entirety of Dr. Felton's work? In either instances, what are you thoughts exactly on the subject?
I agree, me being Italian myself, I love how Felton makes detailed and interesting videos on these small but very interesting operations nonetheless, it's good to binge watch
@@alfredovilla8560 I’m referring to the entirety, ww2 “official story”
@@lucknotskilled1543 - that's what I thought, but can you be more specific about what makes you believe that WW2 history has been written by the winners?
I hit the like button for these videos before I even watch them. So far it has never been a mistake.
That's a good practice, you'll never go wrong by hitting that like button! I find myself doing the same.
me too, i never watch before liking
Hitting the like button before watching: that's how Trump got elected.
Always
5:15. Arguably one of the most legendary scars ever to be sported by a soldier and the inspiration for many a custom character creation options in video games.
You're not wrong
*Ernst Kaltenbrunner enters the chat*
Skorzeny himself sounds less like an actual soldier but more like a movie character. His exploits are just beyond fascinating.
It qould make for great movies, as politically impossible it would be to make them
" Most people don't know" That part was funny. How about 99.9999% of people don't know. Mark never fails in finding history that is interesting that very few know anything about.
This man deserves his own Netflix series.
Mussolini: Yes I'm free
Skorzeny: Hmm... More like under a new management
As someone has already said on this channel, "I'm not going out tonight, Mark Felton's just uploaded"! What a wonderful present when I came in from work tonight! Well done Mark and KEEP 'EM COMING!
2021 - Mark Felton uploads another WW2 video
2061 - Mark Felton completes his magnum opus of recording everything about WW2
I honestly wish there were more teachers like Mr. Felton in universities today. I honestly do not know how he can consistently find such amazing detail about such specific and poorly known events, whist with all due respect, many of my lectures don't even seem to know which planet Hitler was born on.
As a teacher, his talents would be wasted. Not to mention the enormous time it requires to prepare lessons beyond the mundane...nobody can be all things to all people (sorry Kim, Mao, Stalin, Hitler, etc.)
Today’s universities are full of green haired degenerates who wouldn’t appreciate the work of Mark Felton. They would rather have one of their own teaching them.
That's how they are rewriting history today.
If you turn all the people into fools by giving them a bad education, you can tell them anything and they'll believe it, because they don't know better. History is important and that is why it is being twisted and ignored in our schools. Teachers are under payed because they don't want smart people teaching our children stuff.
I'am a teacher for about 10 years now, his talents would be wasted. I'am also knowledgable in Human History and know a lot of "inside facts", but I'am not allowed to disclose too much of those facts.
Sadly, I'am not as talented as Mark, so I don't want to embarress myself on youtube.
Mark and other historians are doing a great service.
Actually really interesting to learn that Mussolini's wife ran a restaurant
ye I did nazi that coming
@@jabloko992 leave
His son Romano looked like him a lot. Basically young Benito, but with hair 😁
I'm guessing it was an Italian restaurant?
@@phildavy913 Chinese, actually
We would have Skorzeny movies if the German had won.
Yes. But he would never be advertising Gillette shaving razors on the Reich Global Network….
@@billace90 I live close to the Gillette headquarter. Nice looking third reich building
Now thats an interesting challenge. Making an interesting movie about a Nazi German military operation... where theres no Rommel. How to frame the protagonists as remotely likeable?
@@Klaaism same as you frame any other of the nations likeable. Nazis werent worse people than anybody else on the world at that time. Every country enslaved, had labor camps and genocided big time
@@Klaaism Japan killed more than 20 million Chinese citizens,but no one talk about it.
At that time France and Britain almost colonized the whole world, but not talk about it
After the war USA invaded more than 20 countries and bombing nearly 60 countries but no one talk about it, today Americans killing millions around the world for Drop of oil and they call it serving a country a war heroes,
Skorzeny was a fascinating character.
Don’t tell that to the Italian guards at Gran Sasso….
Mark Felton = King of History
Skorzeny looks and life would make it perfect for a movie
It's amazing how all of this is on film,including Hitler meeting Mussolini after the escape.
Could they understand each other?
It's no coincidence; the propaganda war was still going strong!
@@DiogenesOfCa Mussolini was fluent in four languages, including German.
It was a rare operational success for the Axis at this time in the war, when everything had been going against them for over a year, so naturally the propaganda newsreels made the most of it.
Very well done! I always wondered how the rest of the commando force got away from the Gran Sasso after Skorzeny left with Mussolini. A road march back to German lines. Makes perfect sense.
Hi, Dr. Felton. I seem to remember reading that the Fiesler Storch very nearly came to grief because Skorzeny, wanting to ensure none of the glory went astray, insisted on stuffing his huge frame into the plane despite pilot Gerlach's misgivings. Airborne at the last second kind of thing. 🤔
The genesis of the Skorzeny mythos, a rescue mission that very well could have gone astray and killed them for the sake of one man's vanity.
This is a good account of this mission in the British magazine “After the Battle”. I know that was in print in the very early 1980’s so you may need to hunt up a reprint or old copy.
The sister of Sophia Loren, Anna-Maria, married Romano, Mussolini's son; they had a daughter, Alessandra, who is a well-known politician in Italy.
How did it impact her political career? Granted I have zero knowledge of Italian politics.
@@Klaaism she s a politician today, not a very famous one but yes, generally speaking she shares some of the ideas of her grandfather
@@Klaaism btw, obviously her surname helped a lot in gaining popularity but also created a sort og handicap for her, since every country would be ashamed to put in an high position a family memeber of a previous dictator
@@federicoof2408 i am italian and don't care for her she got some suport, but is really small, i think is because in italiy a trial like nurimberg was never made so, and was't a big hunt on facisti like for the nazi who escaped...
@@giodandosu si si lo so sono italiano anche io
That guy lived like a lord near us in Ireland in the 50s his fancy white LHD Mercedes & himself really stuck out in Kildare back then..👍
Well, reminds me of that song "I'm a man you don't meet everyday", since it's also county Kildare!
Strange how he would pick Ireland to live after he’s retired
@@timcahill4676 Ireland had no quarrel with Germany, in fact many Irishmen approved of the Germans going to war with England.
One Kildare resident recalled Skorzeny as someone who "wasn't particularly friendly and [who] didn't really mix with local people".
One harsh story was about mr otto was that locals were poaching rabbits on his land, & he tried to chase them off, they walked up near him listening to his tirade, one boyo said to him I was hunting rabbits here when you were burning bodys... mr otto was not amuzed...!
Dear mr. Felton, maybe it is time to make a documentary on Richard Sorge? That is an incredible story, which was of big strategic influence on ww2!
Absolutely fascinating, Dr. Felton. Thank you.
Mark, your editing and production of this video is again stupendous! Of course your research of the subject matter remains of the highest caliber. Well done!
So impressed with your handling of difficult names
I'm amazed the Fiat car didn't break down on the way to the airport. Another great untold story from Dr. Felton. Thanks!
One thing the Nazis had was simply a lot of luck. Not enough, but definitely a lot.
It probably did but it was all downhill so they coasted. I am sure Dr. Felton will cover this little know tidbit of history in a future video.
@@joelellis7035 yeah they had alot of luck helped by the incompetence of the French command
@@herbertsusmann986 LOL!
- FIAT -- Fix it again, Tony.
Once again I watch a Mark Felton video and learn something new! I knew of the Gran Sasso raid but not of the mission to rescue Mussolini’s wife and children. Keep up the great work Mr. Felton!
I've never heard this story. Thank you once again Dr Felton for educating me!
always a good one. thanks mark felton. youre a great author, and even
better historian.
AH: "Otto Beni just got nabbed again can you renabb him for us?"
Otto: "Again? *Sigh* Hold mien Schnapps!"
Mein..! Mien nicht!
This type of millenial humor is so not funny.
Whats the German equivalent of the US "Geronimo"?
@@Klaaism That's a little bit controversial innit?
Impressive report and footage selection and editing, as always. Thank you very much!
It's finally here I wanted to see that one so bad. his life sounds like a movie
they dont make movies about anything interesting anymore its just super hero movies
@@edwelndiobel1567 You probably don't watch a lot of cinema for say something like that.
@@alvaro701 Look dude I dont live in whatever feminine limp wrist cultured you are referring too, or if you are referring to current movies its all fluff, puffery smut and trash.
@@edwelndiobel1567 lol
@@edwelndiobel1567 Easy mate, you got your shitty opinion and I got mine
The only channel on CZcams that I am overjoyed at when there is a new video, Bravo Mark, the information in every video is brilliant.
Skorzeny was a great friend of my family when a was a kid in the earlies 60s . We use to live in a small village outside Buenos Aires , in Argentina . He came to Argentina many times to visit my family until 1975 . I still remeber his hability to make friends everywere and make everyone feel confortable to talk about very personal staff . When I was a kid i never realised who he actually was . I thought he was just another german friend of the neighborhood . I still can´t beleive it was the same person that now everyone seems to know .
Any soldier who volunteered to be a glider guy, had to have been exceedingly brave.
That clanking you hear when they walk isn't their equipment it's their brass balls slapping together.😂😂😂
Tell me about it. My paternal grandfather was in the second drop at Arnhem. Messy 😶
Found out in the last six months from my dad that his mum told him, long after the war, she found out that after that, Grandad was deployed in Austria 🇦🇹
Apparently, only he and Two other guys got out their glider alive. Never said a word about it. In amongst old photos there's an aerial pic of the sort they'd use, it has 'holes' in it. I'm not sure they're natural occurrences (bullets?!) 🤯
Yep, the weight of the gliders of that era meant they were difficult to control and crashed often.
@Christopher Mac I have jumped out of a plane. It's not so bad. Also, you reach the ground relatively quickly and are a small target. Those gliders had to be death traps. Large targets. Imagine if you hit a tree while landing...
The raid on makin atoll would be a great event to cover, very interesting operation imo
Love this exposition. So much more interesting than the general tale of Mussolini being strung up from a lamppost.
Dr Felton... you never fail to amaze me Sir.
Thank you!
I had read about how they rescued Mussolini, but had not heard about getting his family at the same time. Again, thank you for the history lesson, it is appreciated.
It is a little known fact that Mussolini, that his last request was to sing two of his favourite songs, one being Upside Down there turning me, and the one who sang with a stringed instrument,, When I am hanging from a lamppost at the corner of the street, and for loose change to fall out of his pocket. It is amazing what you can learn from the B.B.C.
Yes, I can tell you've grown up on a diet of BCC content; you sound like a sicko 😂
@@wolfmauler Its a joke, allied with the Bent Broadcasting Corporation being a joke. It is called dry humour, and I do not have a brain washing tv
@@collincovid6950 I think your grammar is the only discernible joke mate 😂
Yeah, Big Black Caulk will teach you many things and stuffs
@@wolfmauler Thank you, Not bad for one who is brain damage, which has given me a dry sense of humour.
Excellent content! Would love to see something on the Anglo-Soviet Invasion of Iran and Operation Long Jump from your angle
I’ve tried to find your most recent video so you may see this comment Mark Felton. I truly appreciate your work and your videos. History repeats itself, you are foreshadowing the future with these historical flashbacks. Thank you because most history books do not speak on these topics
Mark leaves no page un-turned... Well done!!!
I thought I knew pretty much all there was to know about WW2. Then I stumbled across Mark Feltons channels...
Astonishing work and I love the intentional omission of modern day revisionism. Gives the content the classic documentary feel that all documentaries should [but sadly don't always] have.
Ikr? I've learned so much from Dr Felton about a topic, WW2, that I've already read many many books about.
Matk truly loves history and it shows in his presentations. Both entertaining and informative. Well done Mark your in a league all your own.
I always look forward to listening to mr Feltons intriguing snippets and glimpses of the past ..What an absolute Mine of information!
Knew of the Gran Sasso operation (and enjoyed your video about it), but never had heard of this one. Thank you, Dr. Mark Felton!
Skorenzy is a guy who deserves a lot more videos on him only.
Another great video and as always very informative. Always excited when you put up a new video, the level of details in each story is magnificent, great work Mark. Greetings from CPH.
I'm a history buff and following Dr. Mark Felton's videos should be a treat for every buffs like me. Thanks Doc. Carry on with your good work.
The research you must do for these videos is incredible. Just when I thought I couldn’t learn any more about WWII/nazi Germany you bring out something new 👍
I'm a simple man I see a Dr Felton video, crack and beer and sit down and watch.
The utterly compelling nature of the opening music and Marks Pathe-esque commentary makes these the videos must watch part of my week 🥰❤️😍
This is the wonderful thing about history, there's always another layer you haven't peeled back yet.
Fantastic operation by Skorziny. Thank you.
The footage nicely compliments excellent narration.
I'm more surprised there's footage of the event.
One of my german uncles was in the SS commando that saved Mussolini
Felt like sharing that
Can you share any stories with us?
@@blackrabbit212 Sadly, no
I'll have to ask next time I go to Germany
No offence to you, but the SS were murderers, torturers and rapists. Filthy fascist scum, and there were very few 'good' ones, despite their daring rescue mission.. I would rather the 'rescued' the ordinary people they slaughtered
@@petetube99 baaaaaa keep believing bullshit contradicting official narrative 🤣🤣
@@willleon9165 Your comment has no sense.
There’s always more history on a well known documented event. Mark always finds that additional information and doesn’t disappoint.
Always educational, always fascinating. Thank you, Mark..
The children's postwar lives were touched on. But I remember his granddaughter who posed for Playboy.
And was running for a political office later on….
@@nemo2203 think she won
Alessandra Mussolini is a fun follow on twitter, probably too Based for most of Felton's normie fans.
Ho Ho Ho
You must watch her speaking, looks like him...
When you know Otto Skorzeny's second mission pretty well and you find yourself on the edge of your seat nonetheless, chances are you're watching a Felton video.
Mark Felton is the gift that keeps on giving! 👍
Mark you are simply amazing!
Great stuff as always Dr … I also heard that the SS on their uniform was actually 2 x Thunder Bolts . The allies named them that - The Symbol of these bolts is esoteric , relating to their ancient runes - The were all tattooed under their arms with these bolt symbols - So later in the war the allies would make a SS who maybe would try to redress in a civilian ir a simple German soldier’s uniform - Take Off their top & check for the tattoo .
Actually, the tattoos were of their blood group.
The "lightening bolts," were old Germanic runes equivalent to the letter "S" . They were also said to represent "Seig," that is to say "Victory."
Another great video, thanks Mark!
Hello Mark and once again I am happy I subscribed to your channel. Great info. Have introduced your collection to my 20 yr old grandson. He honestly is hooked and had no idea about much of it. He said he heard nothing of it in school. Yet it is not so long ago mmm? He has really had his eyes opened. Thank you and keep up the good work You are truly appreciated.
Excellent accounting, Mr. Fulton.
Damn I never heard about this before. Fascinating how Skorzeny pushed himself into the spotlight
He doesn't strike me as a man who you could mess with too much.
@@roeng1368 A real thug, like Sepp Dietrich and others of that ilk. He joined an Austrian Nazi outfit like in 1931, even before the Nazis had gained power in Germany in 1933.
He was hired by the Israelis , Americans , Cubans , Egyptians , and a bunch of South American countries. Who else did I forget?
@@michaeldunne338 to do a job like that you need to be a certain way , and been a snowflake is a big no no
@@SteelcityNath truly but with that Background many want your head too
Hey Mark.
I would love to see you making a Discord, History Server for the Mark Felton Comunity.
Yes
That would be great
Utterly fascinating as usual. Did not know the end story of Mrs Mussolini and her son at all. Just fantastic. Thanks Mark.
Dr Mark the encyclopedia of history.
This would make such a kick ass movie.
Skorzeny has a book called My Commando operations: The Memoirs of Hitler's Most Daring Commando
He actually done mercenary work for the Mossad. Certainly possesses skills
@@sof5858 for the Mossad? The way I heard it, he organized and trained Al-Fatah (predecessor to the PLO) and picked Yasser Arafat for its leader!
@@wynnschaible He took part on the hunt of black september terrorist responsible of the Munich masacre
@@tamilly7941 what, in his mid sixties, did he do?
@@stevek8829 The Munich massacre was in 1972. Skorzeny died in 1975. Doubtful he was involved.
I'm Italian and I live near Forlì. The castle is "Rocca delle Camminate" (Castle of the Walkings). I didn't know that Rachele managed a restaurant some km away from my home. Thanks again dr Felton!
Aah another dose from Mr Felton. Makes my day. Great stuff as per usual. Thanks Mark.
Toad: Skorzeny, the princess is in another castle.
Mark just uploaded, today is a good day
I can only imagine the immense research of WWII archives Dr. Felton has delved into to bring us these extraordinary presentations in a succinct but both entertaining and educational manner! Kudos Dr. Felton!!
word has it that he and his people have taken over a disused Nazi bunker where they've located a massive cache of documents, to keep him going on CZcams for at least the next 1000 years...
A grandfather of one of my good friends was a solider in that mission
Mr Felton can you do a video about Spanish Blue Division... Cheers
That would be a tragedy.
Franco sent them to their deaths.
Skorzeny was a proper, professional soldier.
He was a Nazi.
@@ArmyJames and a damn good one at that .
Well, he must have been. After capture by US forces he was investigated and tried for war crimes but aquitted. Can't convict if there's nothing there, apparantly he didn't do what any other commando force during the war wasn't prepared to do.
excellent mark!!!
Real history as always ! ! ! You spoil us Mr. Felton..... Thank you
Yes!! Love to hear about Otto Skorzeny! Would LOVE to see a video about James Brady and Frank Stringer. The only two Irish men known to have fought in the Waffen SS. Its a very interesting story if you'd be interested in looking them up. I know it would make a fantastic video :)
His grandaughter Alessandra was an MEP until 2019.
And a model and actress when she was a hot young thing!
For a fascist party.
@@Hamza086RSD That's true, she thinks Grandpa was misunderstood. Uh-huh.
A Mark Felton is like a man panning for gold in a well panned stream but still manages to come up with new nuggets all the same.
Mark Felton, you are great! Thank you.
This will probably be taken out of context but Scar was a badass commando, original snake eater type.
Skorzeny was that rare breed of magnificent bastard. Fought on the wrong side and a self promoter, which doesn't change the fact that he was also capable, brave, and audacious. A pioneer of special forces. Not a good guy, but not entirely a bad guy either.
Felton should tell the story of another Skorzeny prowess, when he got into the Government palace in Hungary and kidnapped the Prime Minister wrapping him around a carpet...!
@@rainbowseeker5930 I'm sure he is getting around to it. Until then, don't spoil it.
Thanks guys for being respectful and getting the point of my comment as opposed to calling me a you know what or saying that I support their ideology.
I seriously appreciate the discussion of the man and not the side he fought for or the politics represented during his time as a soldier.
Folks don’t realize sometimes that even though these folks fought for the wrong side they were certainly brave, courageous pioneers of the “special operations” tradecraft.
That’s the reason I admire the man.
Skorzeny was that kind of guy who didn't care too much for ideology. He certainly used the system to his advantage. He also worked for every known western secret service after the war, including CIA and Mossad. The man was just good at his job and clever enough to get the credits.
Markus Wolf, head of the former East German secret service, is another excellent example for this. Although never being a socialist by heart, he was most successful in infiltrating and compromising West Germany's government on highest level.
When you always thought Mussolini was a dictator, but then hear he was voted out of office 19 to 8 by a council.
I mean he still was but even the most strict dictator needs support from the higher ups in the ruling government. When Stalin was first approached by his generals after hearing of Operation Barbarossa, he thought they had come to arrest him and had not planned to resist. Instead, they came desperate for leadership and thus Stalin survived to lead the Soviet Union to Victory!
@@Remembrance1776 Stalin murdered most of his generals in the 30's to prevent them to coup against him.
Mussolini later had some of the council members who voted against him shot, including his son-in-law (Galeazzo Ciano).
Palpatine would have thrown the Senate at him.
Wow..!! This informative video has been made with such a great details and micro study that nothing should be missed..
Dr. Felton is simply the best WWII Historian on the 'Tube.
Yeah except he censored history about the Bolsheviks on his channel