@@TouchyReactions Not sure if you realize that this is Franz Stigler's daughter. The awesome woman at the end of this video. She left a comment on my reaction video and it took me a little while to realize who it was. I should've read the name more closely. 😂
Stigler's former commander, in North Africa I believe, told Stigler and his fellow airmen that if he "ever saw one of them shooting at somebody in a parachute, he would shoot them himself." So Stigler realized that the bomber wasn't shooting at him and that they couldn't shoot him. Curiosity took over and he got closer and truly saw how damaged the plane was and because of the fact that they couldn't defend themselves Stigler saw the B17 as their parachute and he refused to shoot them down and even escorted them over the English Channel and through the German Anti-aircraft defenses on the coast. Also, Stigler was invited to a reunion for the Bomber group several times and one of the first times, Stigler was looking out on a crowd of people and Stigler said he felt that he shouldn't be there and Charlie took his arm and told him that the people in the crowd were the children and grandchildren of the men that he saved that day.
@@pavelslama5543 no i belive johannes steinhoff was stiglers commander during that time, i dont remember the name of marseille's commender but he was pretty much like maverick in top gun, went up several times when he was grounded and still drunk from last night :p
"he risked his life two times that day" because stigler (in his 109) escorted the b17 over the atlantic wall, 2 layers of heavy anti-air nests, they didnt shoot because they saw a 109 right next to the b17. which also kinda confirms, atlantic-wall-AA-gunners = not kill stealers.
You're correct, but I think that the two moments where Franz Stigler risked his life were: 1) to approach a bomber so close that the gunners of a still operating heavy machine gun might shoot him down quite easily (which was what Charlie Brown mentions in the interview), and 2) to be executed for treason if it was known that he spared the enemy.
he risked his life two times that day, the first time for not finishing off an enemy and the second time for escorting him to safety, high treason... ruclips.net/video/LSU7HedRVGY/видео.html
Women: Men never show their feelings Men: Watches No Bullets Fly I've seen this multiple times and I still tear up from it. Sabaton are not only mucisians, they are modern day bards, they're not only telling stories but also are able to stir up feelings in ways you least expect it. One I see you've missed out on is "En livstid i krig" - live from Gothenburg and their The Great Tour, it's in swedish so you're going to have to turn on the captions but that's also an amazing song well worth watching. EDIT: You should also look up "Devil Dogs" which is about the US Marines entering the WWI in 1918 and how they (allegedly) got their nickname at the Battle of Belleau Wood.
Yeah, I can't help and bawl my eyes out every time I hear this song. I am German and this really helps me keep my hopes the we were not all dickheads at that time.
My dad served in the Army Air Corps/Air Force in WWII, flying C-47s and dropping paratroopers in European combat zones. He was shot down above Grave, Holland, during Operation Market Garden. He spent eight days behind enemy lines while the Dutch Underground guided him back to friendly territory. At times they hid in ditches while German troops marched by. He said he could have touched their boots. At one “safe” barn, a little brass band came out to meet the American pilot. The locals thought they had been liberated. After a final race across a field in the middle of a German and American tank battle, he got back to US troops. My dad actually knew Charlie Brown. While Ye Olde Pub’s crew were told not to talk about the incident, other pilots knew. This was an act of honor and chivalry in a modern war. Stigler was such an extraordinarily good man. I was so pleased to find that Brown and Stigler not only met, but became good friends. My father always wanted to personally thank the Dutch people who risked everything to help him, but never found out who they were. He always said I owed my very existence to the Dutch, because without them I never would have been born. NOTE: Stigler was able to fly that B-17 across the German AA gun placements because Germany had captured B-17s that they would use to fly over Allied territory to gain reconnaissance. That’s why the guns on the ground didn’t just shoot Ye Olde Pub out of the sky as it went overhead, BF-109 or no. Seeing an escorted B-17 might have been unusual, but it certainly happened.
Thanks for taking the time. I have relatives serving in WWI and WWII, I appreciate it. We are thrown into combat...: We have to see, endure and do horrible things to stay alive and to defend and protect. And trying to not lose our humanity and our sanity during all of that. Thanks for your reaction and recognition.
I can recommend a book for you to read. It is called "A Higher Call" and the entire book is all about Charlie Brown and Franz Sigler before, during, and after the war. Franz lost the taste for blood while he was in North Africa. After his brother died in 1940, Franz became disheartened and he changed immensely. He would often get questioned as to why he never reported any victories (they were not allowed to call them kills), he had a few here and there but never bothered to tell anyone. Stigler was more concerned with keeping newly assigned pilots alive rather than being in the limelight. He was a true gentleman and a hero. I am an old army vet too. I was in the 8th Infantry Division (mech) stationed in Baumholder, Germany in the early 1990's.
@@Archangel1862 That's misleading. By the time the story came out, Germany was already rehabilitating deserters and voiding military court sentences against them even postumusly. A German state governor had to resign after it came out that he had been a Navy judge during the war passing death sentences against deserters. Stigler may have received letters to that end by fellow WW2 veterans who never learned anything from the war, but that is hardly representative of his fellow Germans. At the time he still was in Germany, he was maligned for precisely the opposite reason - as you can read in "A Higher Call": He was seen as representative of the Nazi war machine which through its failure to win the war brought misery and death on Germany. His being a fighter pilot didn't precisely help, as they were seen as a posh "upper class" of soldiers and all the more responsible for the bombings they didn't stop. But that was directly after the war and attitudes changed considerably over the following decades.
Another Sabaton masterpiece is Winged Hussars. It's the story of how Polish cavalry broke the Ottoman seige of Vienna in the biggest cavalry charge in history.
I don't believe that Franz ever believed that he would become a hero to the bomber crew, and because of his actions that days they were to return home to their loved ones. Yes, both of these courageous men are gone but not only should they be remembered but all of those that were lost to the most bloodiest war in history. God Bless you, Franz and your family as well as Sabaton for keeping your story alive for the next generation to learn of your courageous actions.
*I am from Russia and our people were very cruel during the Second World War and we are now being brought up in schools to be cruel, but such a story leaves hope for humanity*
You and all your fellow russians have the power in you to be the breaking poing that change this mindset. You have the collective power to set your country on a path that will bring peace and prosperity.
this was the charlie brown and franz stigler incident you should read about it is amazing and the ending will bring tears. and this is my 1st time watching this reaction video
Really like your reaction! Even if you're fighting in a senseless war, never forget your humanity. This Pilots were true heroes. Greetings from Germany
Beautiful reaction! I absolutely love this song and watching reactions to it certainly has become a hobby of mine. Personally this probably hit me the hardest with Christmas Truce right behind. Keep going with these awesome reactions! If you want some more that hit the feels I recommend "Cliffs of Gallipoli", "Price of a Mile" and the live version of "En Livstid I Krig" (A lifetime of war, turn on captions).
My grandfather who died long before I was born was the ball gunner in a B-17. These things I don't normally comment but I especially enjoy your reactions to sabaton so far and also my grandmother, that same grandfather's wife just passed yesterday, so I'm definetly reminded of him. Very strangely my grandma who just passed was a German who was 12 years old by the end of the war and American bombers had directly destroyed her house on two occasions. And yet post war the two married and here I am today. I miss her and I'm still very sad but being able to see videos like this really does help.
I urge you to really and truly put forth effort to find out more about your grandfather. i know you can petition to have mission reports from missions he's on sent to you, forget how much you pay but every mission he was on his pilots reported after to their superiors and all of that information is available. look through what is recorded mission by mission....see how many other bombers were shot down, or crews had to bail out from damage or mechanical or suffered casualties among their crew....etc etc. IF you go so far as to find any of the crew he served with alive try to find an address or contact even if only their offspring remain....write to them, ask anything and find out all. youll be better for it AND any surviving crew with your grandfather have little time left on earth and the goodness believe it or not you can do for them to feel proud and unforgotten is beyond the ability to communicate to another. It's an incredible feeling. Find out your granmother's maiden name and try to locate any surviving members of her family as I'll assume since it was common that there wasnt much communication or familiarity with them. History makes us and we only harm ourselves by leaving bonds cut. you find out where you came from and who these people were you're only better able to understand yourself. Just....my advice from something I didn't have to make any effort to have....it simply was right there for me and it was the only privelege that I had from birth.
@@GermLoc We have contact with my Grandmothers siblings who live in Germany, I recently sent them a video I recorded of me playing a song I got to play at her funeral. Also worth noting we requested some of grandfather's records, and they blacked out almost all of it. Worth noting he was in the OSS, the prelude to CIA. Regardless I do plan on finding more, as I have his full name, along with his medals.
The best part is, the daughter of Stigler makes it a point to reply to as many reactions to the song as she can. Amazing story continuing from 1943-2021.
@@Sephyricon True, but no one ever pays much attention to those screen names. And she's always been quietly complimentary in the comments section. But, hey, she would have been found out eventually! I first noticed her several months ago. Isn't that awesome that she still comes in to comment on these videos? Her dad was a hero, it's true. But, I have a feeling the potential for heroism runs in the family. 😉
Great heartwarming reaction my friend. This is what Sabaton does best, highlighting stories that otherwise has been forgotten. A sad thing about this story is that when it became known in the 90s, Stiegler who was living in Canada went through some rough times with neighbours starting to shout Nazi after him. So sad! Anyway... might be time for you to experience Sabaton live to see their crowdinteraction. I highly recommend you to see En livstid I krig live Gothenburg (caps on) AND Uprising live Woodstock. Uprising is about the Polish resistance performed in Polen, in front of an audience of 500.000 people, awesome!
You know! This story is nice to hear some kindness in a world full of selfishness and hate! It really makes a change! However despite this act his neighbours still love to hate!! 🙈
This is a band anyone who has ever worn a uniform instantly falls in love with regardless of which nation you served their songs highlight the courage humanity and honour which we all aspired too when we chose to serve our countries. As an American you should check out "The lost battalion" a story of such courage and such inhuman determination too make any country proud (as well as a damn good song).
As a former Army attack helicopter pilot with combat experience, I could have fired on “combatants”....I would have been justified but it wouldn’t have been right... I identify with this video...thank you for your reaction!
My great Grandfather 2LT Robert Becker was a Bombadier on a B-17, his bird was not yet named and was shot down, he and 2 others made it out before it blew up, he was taken POW for the rest of the war, he was shot down on November 11 1942 and released in 1945.
Whoever doesn't shed a tear to this is dead inside. I ugly cry to this every time I watch it, and yet I refuse to skip it. Those men on both sides (and Sabaton and Yarnhub for creating this in their memory) deserve the honor and respect. And I'm saying this as an adult male first responder - even those facing death aren't immune to emotions and compassion. No one blames you for reacting to it this way, on the contrary. Thank you for reacting and spreading their story!
By far, my favorite Sabaton song, and the one I can most relate to. I live near Bremen (the place they bombed) and Oldenburg (where they almost crashed), and one of my Opas (Grandpa) was a AA-gunner at the Atlantikwall, in the Netherlands. I wonder if he saw a BF-109 escorting a B-17? Great reaction.
Another cool story which they show at the end: one of Stiglers grandchildren is a huge Sabaton fan. He pre-ordered the album and realised that the band had written this song about his grandfather. His Mum wrote an e-mail to the band and the whole family went to the concert when Sabaton played in Vancouver. If you want more Sabaton songs to react to: The Last Stand, The Lost Battalion, Hearts of Iron and Shiroyama.
I love everything about the story of this song. It truly puts the war into perspective and you remember that the people serving werent bloodthirsty murderers, but simply doing their job. The sad, but understandable fact is that once the Pub returned to England they were instructed to never speak about it as to not "humanize" the enemy and have people second guessing who they are firing at. War is a nasty business where everyone loses, its just a varying degree of how much.
DURING war time such actions of keeping things like this secret within the military are a sad necessity....another misunderstanding we have today is that war is war....you fight to win and you fight with all....you hold nothing back you do everything to achieve victory otherwise uncommitted even vastly superior technology and numbers can easily be routed. IF it comes to war you must have that type of mindset.my problem is that after victory was achieved some effort to immediately acknowledge any and all evens reported such as this should be undertaken to bring the humanity back into the subsequent interactions of those that formerly were enemies.
The saddest thing is that sometimes war is necessary. Between the Great Depression and the horrible way Germany was treated after WWI, WWII was almost inevitable. With evil men like Hitler, Goebbels, and Himmler in charge, it would be nearly immoral *not* to fight.*
These are hard-hitting stories alright. It's always good to be reminded of the fact that no matter how inhuman this war was, there was still some humanity in these soldiers left. I remember being in Normandy with my husband and 2 sons, visiting the historic D-Day sites. My oldest son (I think he was 14 at the time) told me about a band he knew (and loved) who sang about things that went on at those sites. He had all of us listen to 'Primo Victoria' in the car on the way back to the hotel and Sabaton has been on our playlists ever since. We plan on seeing them live in Amsterdam next year.
Get's me every time I watch this, makes cry like a little girl but it's like happy crying, the story mixed with the song really hits me then hearing the guys telling the story just makes me lose it, it's crazy the way you're completely blind sided by it, I love it.
If u want to learn more about this story the book "A Higher Call" was written by Adam Makos and Larry Alexander who interviewed the pilots. It is also written from the perspective of Stigler giving it some fun and interesting insites into WWII germany
Great video. I'm a historian and Sabaton fan. I love how they take hisrtory and bring out the emotions of the moment. I wish that Sabaton had been around back when I was teaching. And, FYI: I frequently cry listening to their songs too.
So powerful and moving. I am a factory Porsche technician and thrash metal drummer, with training in small arms tactics from both U.S. Army Special forces and SWAT instructors, and I cry like a 12 year old girl at middle school prom every time I watch one of these stories.
Awesome reaction! Right up to the end when you said To Hell and Back was the next reaction, and you hoped that one wasn't going to be another tear-jerker. And I realized that was one of my recommendations....OOPS! Sorry about that.
The thing I love about Sabaton is that every one of their songs is a story from history. The thing that pisses me off is that so many of them I’d never heard of until I started listening to Sabaton. I shouldn’t have to be learning important and interesting history from a metal band.
Hi there dear friend in another country. Let me say this your reaction is just as beautiful as this story and video , your heart just shows what a beautiful human you are so keep on reacting keep on crying and keep on wathing Sabaton who deserves all respect as they show for all theirs true Stories that happened in real battles and wars. Thank you
Great video I love the stories Sabaton tell about WW2 and WW1. And your reaction is so human. It brings me to tears every time I see it. Warm greetings from Germany
My Grand father was in the Navy during WW2. My uncles served in Vietnam. My step dad is a Gulf War vet. And I did 3 tours in Iraq. I served in 1st ID 3rd ID 4th ID and 3rd ACR. I was a Bradley mechanic so I was always with mechanized infantry and cavalry units. I was there for the first rotation into Iraq to replace the war guys. That rotation was when all hell broke loose with the insurgency. I rotated back and within 6 months of coming home I volunteered to go back with my new unit. The first two rotations were easily the hardest for me to deal with. And I honestly lost count of the funerals I saw over there and state side. No matter what I saw and went through. I know its nothing compared to the hells those who came before me went through. And I guess I can be grateful for that at least.
I'm from metal-land (Finland (my favorite Finnish metal-band is ensiferum))) greetings!! When others want me to say somethong good of our neighbour, i always say SABATON!
“Lest We Forget” is Sabaton’s mantra they are not political. Sabaton History Channel is a must see and explains a lot of their songs. No Bullets Fly, Night Witches is animated story videos are a combination of their history channel & songs.My suggestions are , A Price of A Mile, or Attack Of The Dead Men . But do the Sabaton History of those songs. I’ve been a fan of Sabaton for over 10 years & a very old Metal rock head haven’t heard a badDabaton song yet! Rock On Stay Safe!🙏🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
Thanks Frank. I have done over 60 Sabaton reactions and most of them are Deep Dives into each song. You can find them on my channel. There is a whole play list just for Sabaton.
During WW2 there were two unit types that were particularily deadly and more deadly than any other part of the war (percentage wise) And those two were the Sailors of the German Uboat fleet and the bomber crews of the Allies. Both had extremely high mortality rates (incase of the Bomber crews around 50%, for the German submariners almost 80%), more than any other position resepective in their countries during the war and by quite big margins at that
As an also relatively recent fan, I’ve made a habit of watching each Sabaton History video before the song, so I understand the full context. And let it be known I was unexpectedly choking back tears at work just listening to the history story for this one the first time. You almost got me again here hahaha, I was fighting it. 😂
All already watched 5 different reactions of No bullets fly and it still tears me up. Sabaton is my fave band and i am happy that i was on their great war tour in stuttgart and the war to end all wars tour (the tour to end all tours) in munich i love how their songs not about to celebrate the war i like that sabaton wants to remember to the fallen human beeings.
Damn!!! I've known this story but never saw the vids of their second meeting! Thank you. Valiant men they where despite the war not being just in all the lives taken!!! You go 82nd while I ride the 101st we are brothers in arms! They are on tour right now! I just missed them in the ATL!
Thanks Franz Stigler to show the World even 40 yrs later that not every German was a Nazi. And thanks Sabaton to Share this Story of a Real German Hero with the World.
No shame in crying, I do it every time I see this video. Got to be the best music video ever and shows that Sabaton's idea of doing these songs is well worth while.
There are a couple of things not made clear in the video: 1. Franz ended up ahead and to the left of the Pub, because he knew the German AA crews would think he had captured them. This is why the Atlantic Wall air defenses didn't fire at either plane. 2. What always blows my mind is it was Franz's grandson who was the Sabaton fan. An improbability in a long line of improbabilities -- yet this is why such a story will live on. 3. The show NCIS did an episode called "Better Angels" that was based off this story.
Fun fact Stiggler was only one kill away from earning the knights cross, and if he had been seen or recognized then not only him but his entire family would have been branded and sent to a prison camp where his entire family would have been killed.
All the breakdowns I've seen on Sabaton History are worth seeing, as far as I can tell. A good few historians are saying Sabaton is totally on point with their music and videos, too. I am grateful to them for immortalizing the stories that should be remembered.
Great video, bro, I just subbed. This story and the Christmas Truce of WW1 make me think how just utterly tragic and insane war really is, I mean that why can't there be a better way? Somebody once said, "What if there was a war and nobody showed up?" Happy holidays and may peace and love always win.
I've watched about 20 reactions to this video and get teary eyed every single time, dont feel bad my man, it just means you have a heart :) The salute before turning around is the part where i usually break, so powerful Thank you for your service.
"Its the code of the air" its totally natural that you cry, I cry everytime that i watch this clip...(Former Turk soldier who's generally ordered to die)
![SahBabii - Viking [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/D37cL92JX0I/mqdefault.jpg)
A very heartfelt reaction, thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
I always look for your comment, and My smile is Always from ear to ear when i find it! Love from sweden!
@@micke551 so sweet of you, thank you. The best contagious thing in this world - a smile.
@@TouchyReactions Not sure if you realize that this is Franz Stigler's daughter. The awesome woman at the end of this video. She left a comment on my reaction video and it took me a little while to realize who it was. I should've read the name more closely. 😂
@@micke551 I do the same thing😂 I’ll be waiting for the realization and a pin on this post soon.
Loved the reaction.
Love your videos and your work Yarnhub! And love your collaborations with Sabaton! Brilliant. 👍🏻
You all did an amazing job. Please keep doing work with Sabaton!
@@billmelater6470 Thanks, we have so much coming up with them...
Loved it as well, and loved your work. Your Night Witches video is my favourite animated video. Keep it up!
I know that I'm late but you just gained a new subscriber.
Stigler's former commander, in North Africa I believe, told Stigler and his fellow airmen that if he "ever saw one of them shooting at somebody in a parachute, he would shoot them himself." So Stigler realized that the bomber wasn't shooting at him and that they couldn't shoot him. Curiosity took over and he got closer and truly saw how damaged the plane was and because of the fact that they couldn't defend themselves Stigler saw the B17 as their parachute and he refused to shoot them down and even escorted them over the English Channel and through the German Anti-aircraft defenses on the coast.
Also, Stigler was invited to a reunion for the Bomber group several times and one of the first times, Stigler was looking out on a crowd of people and Stigler said he felt that he shouldn't be there and Charlie took his arm and told him that the people in the crowd were the children and grandchildren of the men that he saved that day.
Really an amazing story. I wonder if a movie has ever been made about it.
Wasnt his commander the famous Hans Joachim Marseille? It surely sounds like something Marseille would say...
That may have been the general of the fighters adolf galland or johannes Steinhoff who told all of his men that
@@pavelslama5543 no i belive johannes steinhoff was stiglers commander during that time, i dont remember the name of marseille's commender but he was pretty much like maverick in top gun, went up several times when he was grounded and still drunk from last night :p
@@pavelslama5543 That was Gustav Rödel, his commander in Africa
I managed to hold my tears in .. .until the lady in the end said "because of this the story of my father will live on", i lost it.
Yes, there were several triggers for me.
@@TouchyReactions Agreed. I don't think I have ever watched this video without being a sobbing mess by the end of it.
Franz is a true embodiment of a knight
The book about this encounter is “a higher call”
Im a Bit late, but in words of Manfred Von Richthofen, Better known as the red baron "We are Sportsmen, Not butchers"
"he risked his life two times that day" because stigler (in his 109) escorted the b17 over the atlantic wall, 2 layers of heavy anti-air nests, they didnt shoot because they saw a 109 right next to the b17.
which also kinda confirms, atlantic-wall-AA-gunners = not kill stealers.
You're correct, but I think that the two moments where Franz Stigler risked his life were:
1) to approach a bomber so close that the gunners of a still operating heavy machine gun might shoot him down quite easily (which was what Charlie Brown mentions in the interview), and
2) to be executed for treason if it was known that he spared the enemy.
he risked his life two times that day, the first time for not finishing off an enemy and the second time for escorting him to safety, high treason... ruclips.net/video/LSU7HedRVGY/видео.html
Women: Men never show their feelings
Men: Watches No Bullets Fly
I've seen this multiple times and I still tear up from it. Sabaton are not only mucisians, they are modern day bards, they're not only telling stories but also are able to stir up feelings in ways you least expect it. One I see you've missed out on is "En livstid i krig" - live from Gothenburg and their The Great Tour, it's in swedish so you're going to have to turn on the captions but that's also an amazing song well worth watching.
EDIT: You should also look up "Devil Dogs" which is about the US Marines entering the WWI in 1918 and how they (allegedly) got their nickname at the Battle of Belleau Wood.
Thanks, all those songs are coming. Stay tuned.
Yeah, I can't help and bawl my eyes out every time I hear this song. I am German and this really helps me keep my hopes the we were not all dickheads at that time.
I love a man he’s not afraid to cry on camera. Excellent reaction
Thank you 😊
Your crying made me cry. Night Witches Animated Story is also very good.
Thank You, if it makes you feel better, I cried watching me cry while editing the video so you aren't alone.
Your honest emotions are what makes your channel so special Please don’t change.
Night witches needs to be next for sure. Another fantastic story from WW2 and fantastic that Sabaton paid tribute to it.
My dad served in the Army Air Corps/Air Force in WWII, flying C-47s and dropping paratroopers in European combat zones. He was shot down above Grave, Holland, during Operation Market Garden. He spent eight days behind enemy lines while the Dutch Underground guided him back to friendly territory. At times they hid in ditches while German troops marched by. He said he could have touched their boots. At one “safe” barn, a little brass band came out to meet the American pilot. The locals thought they had been liberated. After a final race across a field in the middle of a German and American tank battle, he got back to US troops. My dad actually knew Charlie Brown. While Ye Olde Pub’s crew were told not to talk about the incident, other pilots knew. This was an act of honor and chivalry in a modern war. Stigler was such an extraordinarily good man. I was so pleased to find that Brown and Stigler not only met, but became good friends. My father always wanted to personally thank the Dutch people who risked everything to help him, but never found out who they were. He always said I owed my very existence to the Dutch, because without them I never would have been born. NOTE: Stigler was able to fly that B-17 across the German AA gun placements because Germany had captured B-17s that they would use to fly over Allied territory to gain reconnaissance. That’s why the guns on the ground didn’t just shoot Ye Olde Pub out of the sky as it went overhead, BF-109 or no. Seeing an escorted B-17 might have been unusual, but it certainly happened.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share all of this with us ❤️ 💕
Thanks for taking the time. I have relatives serving in WWI and WWII, I appreciate it. We are thrown into combat...: We have to see, endure and do horrible things to stay alive and to defend and protect. And trying to not lose our humanity and our sanity during all of that. Thanks for your reaction and recognition.
My pleasure 🙏
@@TouchyReactionsHonestly: you have no idea how much this did for me when I watched your reaction. Again: Thank you.
I can recommend a book for you to read. It is called "A Higher Call" and the entire book is all about Charlie Brown and Franz Sigler before, during, and after the war.
Franz lost the taste for blood while he was in North Africa. After his brother died in 1940, Franz became disheartened and he changed immensely. He would often get questioned as to why he never reported any victories (they were not allowed to call them kills), he had a few here and there but never bothered to tell anyone. Stigler was more concerned with keeping newly assigned pilots alive rather than being in the limelight.
He was a true gentleman and a hero.
I am an old army vet too. I was in the 8th Infantry Division (mech) stationed in Baumholder, Germany in the early 1990's.
Thanks for all the great Information. Nice to meet a fellow Vet.
And don't forget that after people found out Canadian call Franz a Nazis and fellow Germans called him a traitor
Awesome book. You won't be disappointed.
@@Archangel1862
That's misleading. By the time the story came out, Germany was already rehabilitating deserters and voiding military court sentences against them even postumusly. A German state governor had to resign after it came out that he had been a Navy judge during the war passing death sentences against deserters.
Stigler may have received letters to that end by fellow WW2 veterans who never learned anything from the war, but that is hardly representative of his fellow Germans. At the time he still was in Germany, he was maligned for precisely the opposite reason - as you can read in "A Higher Call": He was seen as representative of the Nazi war machine which through its failure to win the war brought misery and death on Germany. His being a fighter pilot didn't precisely help, as they were seen as a posh "upper class" of soldiers and all the more responsible for the bombings they didn't stop. But that was directly after the war and attitudes changed considerably over the following decades.
It was a wonderful book. Should be required reading.
Your reaction proves you're a human. Never be ashamed for feeling when feelings are called for. You're great!
I agree with Anders here
I appreciate that
The song inspires manly tears in us all, it truly is remarkable
Felt the same.stay safe!
Another Sabaton masterpiece is Winged Hussars. It's the story of how Polish cavalry broke the Ottoman seige of Vienna in the biggest cavalry charge in history.
I don't believe that Franz ever believed that he would become a hero to the bomber crew, and because of his actions that days they were to return home to their loved ones. Yes, both of these courageous men are gone but not only should they be remembered but all of those that were lost to the most bloodiest war in history. God Bless you, Franz and your family as well as Sabaton for keeping your story alive for the next generation to learn of your courageous actions.
Crying to a Sabaton song is a right of passage my man, glad you discovered them and are enjoying their work!
*I am from Russia and our people were very cruel during the Second World War and we are now being brought up in schools to be cruel, but such a story leaves hope for humanity*
You and all your fellow russians have the power in you to be the breaking poing that change this mindset. You have the collective power to set your country on a path that will bring peace and prosperity.
Oh hell yes it happened. There was a book written about this called “ A Higher Call” Definitely worth the read.
Thanks Tina
As a soldier of the air I can see how this affects you. Thank you for sharing your emotions, real men do cry.
Thank You. It's a beautiful story of humanity.
this was the charlie brown and franz stigler incident you should read about it is amazing and the ending will bring tears. and this is my 1st time watching this reaction video
Thank You
watching Stiegler banking away gave me chills, knowing that this was the last time the two pilots would see eachother for nearly 50 years...
Yep, really happened. After the war the pilots became lifelong friends.
Great story 👏
Really like your reaction! Even if you're fighting in a senseless war, never forget your humanity. This Pilots were true heroes.
Greetings from Germany
Thank You. Hopefully mankind will never need to have a world war again.
Beautiful reaction! I absolutely love this song and watching reactions to it certainly has become a hobby of mine. Personally this probably hit me the hardest with Christmas Truce right behind.
Keep going with these awesome reactions! If you want some more that hit the feels I recommend "Cliffs of Gallipoli", "Price of a Mile" and the live version of "En Livstid I Krig" (A lifetime of war, turn on captions).
Thank You. I added those songs to my list.
I sobbed along with you, thanks for your reaction!
Thank you too!
Thank you for your service...
Much appreciated
My grandfather who died long before I was born was the ball gunner in a B-17. These things I don't normally comment but I especially enjoy your reactions to sabaton so far and also my grandmother, that same grandfather's wife just passed yesterday, so I'm definetly reminded of him. Very strangely my grandma who just passed was a German who was 12 years old by the end of the war and American bombers had directly destroyed her house on two occasions. And yet post war the two married and here I am today. I miss her and I'm still very sad but being able to see videos like this really does help.
Thanks for sharing this about your family. Sorry for your recent loss.
I urge you to really and truly put forth effort to find out more about your grandfather. i know you can petition to have mission reports from missions he's on sent to you, forget how much you pay but every mission he was on his pilots reported after to their superiors and all of that information is available. look through what is recorded mission by mission....see how many other bombers were shot down, or crews had to bail out from damage or mechanical or suffered casualties among their crew....etc etc. IF you go so far as to find any of the crew he served with alive try to find an address or contact even if only their offspring remain....write to them, ask anything and find out all. youll be better for it AND any surviving crew with your grandfather have little time left on earth and the goodness believe it or not you can do for them to feel proud and unforgotten is beyond the ability to communicate to another. It's an incredible feeling. Find out your granmother's maiden name and try to locate any surviving members of her family as I'll assume since it was common that there wasnt much communication or familiarity with them. History makes us and we only harm ourselves by leaving bonds cut. you find out where you came from and who these people were you're only better able to understand yourself. Just....my advice from something I didn't have to make any effort to have....it simply was right there for me and it was the only privelege that I had from birth.
@@GermLoc We have contact with my Grandmothers siblings who live in Germany, I recently sent them a video I recorded of me playing a song I got to play at her funeral. Also worth noting we requested some of grandfather's records, and they blacked out almost all of it. Worth noting he was in the OSS, the prelude to CIA. Regardless I do plan on finding more, as I have his full name, along with his medals.
The best part is, the daughter of Stigler makes it a point to reply to as many reactions to the song as she can. Amazing story continuing from 1943-2021.
That's awesome.
Oh dear, you've outted her. I don't know if she wanted that. Well, she's so nice, hopefully she won't mind.
@@AGDinCA She comments using her full name so I don't think she'll mind. She is awesome!
@@Sephyricon True, but no one ever pays much attention to those screen names. And she's always been quietly complimentary in the comments section. But, hey, she would have been found out eventually! I first noticed her several months ago. Isn't that awesome that she still comes in to comment on these videos?
Her dad was a hero, it's true. But, I have a feeling the potential for heroism runs in the family. 😉
@@AGDinCA too sweet, dear friend
Great heartwarming reaction my friend. This is what Sabaton does best, highlighting stories that otherwise has been forgotten. A sad thing about this story is that when it became known in the 90s, Stiegler who was living in Canada went through some rough times with neighbours starting to shout Nazi after him. So sad!
Anyway... might be time for you to experience Sabaton live to see their crowdinteraction. I highly recommend you to see En livstid I krig live Gothenburg (caps on) AND Uprising live Woodstock. Uprising is about the Polish resistance performed in Polen, in front of an audience of 500.000 people, awesome!
If they come to my area I might have to go see them live. It looks fun. Your songs are on my list. Thanks.
You know! This story is nice to hear some kindness in a world full of selfishness and hate! It really makes a change!
However despite this act his neighbours still love to hate!! 🙈
This is a band anyone who has ever worn a uniform instantly falls in love with regardless of which nation you served their songs highlight the courage humanity and honour which we all aspired too when we chose to serve our countries. As an American you should check out "The lost battalion" a story of such courage and such inhuman determination too make any country
proud (as well as a damn good song).
Thanks, I have reacted to it already. Great song. I have a Sabaton Reaction Playlist with 30+ reactions on my channel.
As a former Army attack helicopter pilot with combat experience, I could have fired on “combatants”....I would have been justified but it wouldn’t have been right... I identify with this video...thank you for your reaction!
My great Grandfather 2LT Robert Becker was a Bombadier on a B-17, his bird was not yet named and was shot down, he and 2 others made it out before it blew up, he was taken POW for the rest of the war, he was shot down on November 11 1942 and released in 1945.
Thank you so much for sharing your story
Whoever doesn't shed a tear to this is dead inside. I ugly cry to this every time I watch it, and yet I refuse to skip it. Those men on both sides (and Sabaton and Yarnhub for creating this in their memory) deserve the honor and respect. And I'm saying this as an adult male first responder - even those facing death aren't immune to emotions and compassion.
No one blames you for reacting to it this way, on the contrary. Thank you for reacting and spreading their story!
By far, my favorite Sabaton song, and the one I can most relate to.
I live near Bremen (the place they bombed) and Oldenburg (where they almost crashed),
and one of my Opas (Grandpa) was a AA-gunner at the Atlantikwall, in the Netherlands.
I wonder if he saw a BF-109 escorting a B-17?
Great reaction.
A lot of history took place in your neck of the woods.
The part where Stigler says, “it wasn’t easy.” Gets me every time.
Sabaton basically got no bad songs to listen too. So dont be afraid to explore :). Big hug from Sweden
Thanks.
greetings from Poland :) I'm a big Sabaton fan, thank you for the videos :)
There is a book written about this called "A higher Call". It is really a good book
I just finished it. It's excellent. 10/10, would recommend.
You made me cry
Another cool story which they show at the end: one of Stiglers grandchildren is a huge Sabaton fan. He pre-ordered the album and realised that the band had written this song about his grandfather. His Mum wrote an e-mail to the band and the whole family went to the concert when Sabaton played in Vancouver.
If you want more Sabaton songs to react to: The Last Stand, The Lost Battalion, Hearts of Iron and Shiroyama.
I love everything about the story of this song. It truly puts the war into perspective and you remember that the people serving werent bloodthirsty murderers, but simply doing their job. The sad, but understandable fact is that once the Pub returned to England they were instructed to never speak about it as to not "humanize" the enemy and have people second guessing who they are firing at. War is a nasty business where everyone loses, its just a varying degree of how much.
DURING war time such actions of keeping things like this secret within the military are a sad necessity....another misunderstanding we have today is that war is war....you fight to win and you fight with all....you hold nothing back you do everything to achieve victory otherwise uncommitted even vastly superior technology and numbers can easily be routed. IF it comes to war you must have that type of mindset.my problem is that after victory was achieved some effort to immediately acknowledge any and all evens reported such as this should be undertaken to bring the humanity back into the subsequent interactions of those that formerly were enemies.
The saddest thing is that sometimes war is necessary. Between the Great Depression and the horrible way Germany was treated after WWI, WWII was almost inevitable. With evil men like Hitler, Goebbels, and Himmler in charge, it would be nearly immoral *not* to fight.*
This is exactly what makes men cry. We feel this hard.
These are hard-hitting stories alright. It's always good to be reminded of the fact that no matter how inhuman this war was, there was still some humanity in these soldiers left.
I remember being in Normandy with my husband and 2 sons, visiting the historic D-Day sites. My oldest son (I think he was 14 at the time) told me about a band he knew (and loved) who sang about things that went on at those sites. He had all of us listen to 'Primo Victoria' in the car on the way back to the hotel and Sabaton has been on our playlists ever since. We plan on seeing them live in Amsterdam next year.
Thanks for sharing how you discovered them. My story will always include you.
@@TouchyReactions Thanks 😊 I'm happy I was able to introduce you to some great bands and their music
As a former german soldier I can tell you, that I never ever felt it would be good even to hurt anyone.
Unless The Situation Calls For It As A Last Resort.
Of course. I the end you're doing a job that higher ups decided on. It never was your decisions in the first place.
round of applause to u for excellent reaction not often people are compasionate so hats off👏👏👏
Thanks
I have seen this video 100s of times and it still gets me everytime. great work!
Glad you enjoy it! It's a hell of a story.
"Can you imagine being in a world war again." That aged well
I love your heartfelt reaction. Never be ashamed of being moved by stories like this.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I loved your honest reaction
80 years of peace. Lets stay brothers. Best regards from Germany :)
Get's me every time I watch this, makes cry like a little girl but it's like happy crying, the story mixed with the song really hits me then hearing the guys telling the story just makes me lose it, it's crazy the way you're completely blind sided by it, I love it.
Great reaction mate! We all cried a bit when watching this video.
You and me both!
Now THAT was a reaction. Thanks for sharing your experience. This was my first time hearing this as well, and I now think I'm a Sabaton fan!
Glad you enjoyed it
If u want to learn more about this story the book "A Higher Call" was written by Adam Makos and Larry Alexander who interviewed the pilots. It is also written from the perspective of Stigler giving it some fun and interesting insites into WWII germany
By far one of the best reactions to this song I’ve seen! Definitely coming back for more!
Thank you so much
Saying hi from Sweden and that's a reaction! 👍 Loved it! 🤩
Thanks
I cried to when I saw this video dude. What a great story
I know, right.
Great video. I'm a historian and Sabaton fan. I love how they take hisrtory and bring out the emotions of the moment. I wish that Sabaton had been around back when I was teaching. And, FYI: I frequently cry listening to their songs too.
I love stories like this. How can you not admire acts of such mercy and reckless selflessness?
The best reacction i've seen!!!
Thanks
Had the same reaction they are amazing group....need to listen to defence of Moscow song 🤘👍❤️
So powerful and moving. I am a factory Porsche technician and thrash metal drummer, with training in small arms tactics from both U.S. Army Special forces and SWAT instructors, and I cry like a 12 year old girl at middle school prom every time I watch one of these stories.
Awesome
REAL as it is, is not about war or enemies... it's about being HUMAN!!! Heartbreaking and amazing at the same time.
You have a good heart, Brother. I shed tears with you. Peace
Awesome reaction! Right up to the end when you said To Hell and Back was the next reaction, and you hoped that one wasn't going to be another tear-jerker. And I realized that was one of my recommendations....OOPS! Sorry about that.
Most definitely!
The thing I love about Sabaton is that every one of their songs is a story from history. The thing that pisses me off is that so many of them I’d never heard of until I started listening to Sabaton. I shouldn’t have to be learning important and interesting history from a metal band.
Hi there dear friend in another country. Let me say this your reaction is just as beautiful as this story and video , your heart just shows what a beautiful human you are so keep on reacting keep on crying and keep on wathing Sabaton who deserves all respect as they show for all theirs true Stories that happened in real battles and wars. Thank you
Thank you, I will
Sabaton is just so excellent at putting a story together. Their passion for history warms my heart for sure.
Great video I love the stories Sabaton tell about WW2 and WW1. And your reaction is so human. It brings me to tears every time I see it. Warm greetings from Germany
Shared tears with you, im a swede and ive heard this song many times but to experience this with you was awesome :)
A a german, i be proud of this story.
My Grand father was in the Navy during WW2. My uncles served in Vietnam. My step dad is a Gulf War vet. And I did 3 tours in Iraq. I served in 1st ID 3rd ID 4th ID and 3rd ACR. I was a Bradley mechanic so I was always with mechanized infantry and cavalry units. I was there for the first rotation into Iraq to replace the war guys. That rotation was when all hell broke loose with the insurgency. I rotated back and within 6 months of coming home I volunteered to go back with my new unit. The first two rotations were easily the hardest for me to deal with. And I honestly lost count of the funerals I saw over there and state side. No matter what I saw and went through. I know its nothing compared to the hells those who came before me went through. And I guess I can be grateful for that at least.
Thank You for your service Brother.
It just shows you that despite differing sides throughout war times true gentlemen still exist
I had 7 relatives that went in and 3 came back. This war was awful. Thank you for your service to new and old.
SABATON!! this is why i love you the storys you give and the lives you change all the better forever sabaton!
I'm from metal-land (Finland (my favorite Finnish metal-band is ensiferum))) greetings!! When others want me to say somethong good of our neighbour, i always say SABATON!
Lol, that's awesome
“Lest We Forget” is Sabaton’s mantra they are not political. Sabaton History Channel is a must see and explains a lot of their songs. No Bullets Fly, Night Witches is animated story videos are a combination of their history channel & songs.My suggestions are , A Price of A Mile, or Attack Of The Dead Men . But do the Sabaton History of those songs. I’ve been a fan of Sabaton for over 10 years & a very old Metal rock head haven’t heard a badDabaton song yet! Rock On Stay Safe!🙏🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
Thanks Frank. I have done over 60 Sabaton reactions and most of them are Deep Dives into each song. You can find them on my channel. There is a whole play list just for Sabaton.
Amazing reaction! One of my favourite Sabaton songs and one of the first songs of theirs that I heard
During WW2 there were two unit types that were particularily deadly and more deadly than any other part of the war (percentage wise)
And those two were the Sailors of the German Uboat fleet and the bomber crews of the Allies. Both had extremely high mortality rates (incase of the Bomber crews around 50%, for the German submariners almost 80%), more than any other position resepective in their countries during the war and by quite big margins at that
As an also relatively recent fan, I’ve made a habit of watching each Sabaton History video before the song, so I understand the full context. And let it be known I was unexpectedly choking back tears at work just listening to the history story for this one the first time. You almost got me again here hahaha, I was fighting it. 😂
Yeah I wasn't ready for this one.
A man of honor knows where to draw his sword, and when it should remain sheathed. Franz Stiegler was a man of honor.
All already watched 5 different reactions of No bullets fly and it still tears me up.
Sabaton is my fave band and i am happy that i was on their great war tour in stuttgart and the war to end all wars tour (the tour to end all tours) in munich i love how their songs not about to celebrate the war i like that sabaton wants to remember to the fallen human beeings.
There is such a thing as warrior respect . That fought well and deserve to live . Brave men respect brave men .
That one always.dose bring a tear to your eye always.has been a great story
Glad you enjoyed it
Jup, this song will get grown men crying.
Damn!!! I've known this story but never saw the vids of their second meeting! Thank you. Valiant men they where despite the war not being just in all the lives taken!!! You go 82nd while I ride the 101st we are brothers in arms! They are on tour right now! I just missed them in the ATL!
Thanks Franz Stigler to show the World even 40 yrs later that not every German was a Nazi. And thanks Sabaton to Share this Story of a Real German Hero with the World.
That teary eyed "you guys suck" was so good.
Lol
No shame in crying, I do it every time I see this video. Got to be the best music video ever and shows that Sabaton's idea of doing these songs is well worth while.
War is horrible war is destruction but sometimes beauty can be found this story is one such instance of beauty and pure humanity
the tears means that Sabaton did there job right!
I've seen this video so many times, I cry every single time.
There are a couple of things not made clear in the video:
1. Franz ended up ahead and to the left of the Pub, because he knew the German AA crews would think he had captured them. This is why the Atlantic Wall air defenses didn't fire at either plane.
2. What always blows my mind is it was Franz's grandson who was the Sabaton fan. An improbability in a long line of improbabilities -- yet this is why such a story will live on.
3. The show NCIS did an episode called "Better Angels" that was based off this story.
Fun fact
Stiggler was only one kill away from earning the knights cross, and if he had been seen or recognized then not only him but his entire family would have been branded and sent to a prison camp where his entire family would have been killed.
I highly recommend their song Fields of Verdun
Thanks. It's on the list.
All the breakdowns I've seen on Sabaton History are worth seeing, as far as I can tell. A good few historians are saying Sabaton is totally on point with their music and videos, too. I am grateful to them for immortalizing the stories that should be remembered.
Great video, bro, I just subbed. This story and the Christmas Truce of WW1 make me think how just utterly tragic and insane war really is, I mean that why can't there be a better way? Somebody once said, "What if there was a war and nobody showed up?" Happy holidays and may peace and love always win.
I've watched about 20 reactions to this video and get teary eyed every single time, dont feel bad my man, it just means you have a heart :)
The salute before turning around is the part where i usually break, so powerful
Thank you for your service.
I appreciate that
"Its the code of the air" its totally natural that you cry, I cry everytime that i watch this clip...(Former Turk soldier who's generally ordered to die)