Operation Snowman - Unknown German Ardennes Support Attack Netherlands 1945
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- Опубликовано: 9 сен 2024
- Operation Snowman was a mysterious German bridgehead operation over the Meuse River in the Netherlands at the junction with the British and Canadian armies joined, launched the same day, 1 January 1945, as Operation Nordwind in Alsace-Lorraine. According to German propaganda reports, Snowman was a support operation, like Nordwind, for the stalled German Ardennes Offensive. Working from German and British records and Dutch local histories, what can we make of Operation Snowman? Was it intended to have been used to launch a bigger German attack into the Netherlands? Join me, as I examine the possibilities and how the bridgehead was eliminated.
Dr. Mark Felton is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.o...
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Sources:
- 'Der Kriegsberichter des im Westen, Alex Schmalfuss meldet: 8 Januar 1945'
- 'Der Kriegsberichter des im Westen, Brückenkopf in Wanssum, Martin Swoboda meldet: 9 Januar 1945'
- War Diary, 1 Suffolk Regiment - January 1945, WO 171/5277, National Archives (Public Record Office), Kew
- War Diary, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry - January 1945, desertrats.org.uk
- 'Well in der Tweede Wereldoorlog' by Jacques Naumann, (Venray: 2008)
Credits: US National Archives; Library of Congress; Dormskirch.
"Operation Snowman": The most deadly snowball fight in history. Dr. Felton ace as always
Kept me on the edge of my seat,! Volume turned up, ,,😅 great suspense !
@11:46 "assault the Germans on the 8th of June"? That has to be an error.
@@Lerxstification Presumably a mis-reading of 'Jan'.
Many people don’t realise people to this day “take their car to Harvard yard to Fenway Franck”. And fent too prolly. Young tough you place with you touching and Jenkins pushing…
Wait till you hear about op pillow
I live not too far from Wanssum and the Dutch border but I never heard of such operation until today! Thank you Dr. Felton
Are in the Liege area by chance?
You are busy with rubbish TikTok
Can you ask the oldtimers there about war stories?
Same.. only my grandpa talked about is
Hello. This could be due to a viewpoint that this operation was considered a sideshow, similar to Western Allies successfully moving into the North Italian Plain.
nearly 20 minutes of more in depth education presented well. Thank you again Dr Felton.
11:48 “8th of June” I think he means *January
@@samuelculper4231 Yeah, that had me doing a second take when I heard that.
@@samuelculper4231 Yeh it was so "likely lads" this time I didn't even much care, the history goes one way, the meme goes another. Not judging, okay.
I love the opening line, "Come with me if you want to learn." Draws you right in. And as usual, great story by Dr Mark.
Didn't you hear the closing line I'll be back?
He’s not lying either
Imagine living through something so hellish as a desperate battle like this and having your experience essentially overlooked by history. thanks for honoring the sacrifice of those who fought and died in this operation.
A soldier in Italy said;”After the War is over,I’m gonna get me a map and find out where the hell I’ve been!”
I think though what you've proposed is "Imagine being common."
Videos like these is what brought me to this channel many years ago. Glad to see a video that actually has new information. Please make a video about Operation Amherst.
Felton doesn't do requests.
thanks Karen
I was in at the Overloon warmuseum 2 weeks ago, a lot of ephasis is on the battle of Overloon (15km west of Wanssum). And by cooincidence i was in Well yesterday. This is the first time I heard about this battle.
The museum is 100% worth it.
Keep up the good work Dr. Felton
Visjenl.. sorry to be a pedantic twat but I think it is coincidence, not cooincidence.
@@BMJ0877 would you mind if i wished you a very nice next year's summer for this level of pedantic-ness?
@@BMJ0877 Possibly a non native English speaker he made his point quite well. By the way how is your Dutch?
Zo is het maar net.@@jamesdoyle5405
I spent a day at the Overloon museum in -- gosh, it must have been 1980. It was well worth a visit then, too. That was the day I learned the Dutch word for war: oorlog.
As a Dutch guy I didn't even know of the existence of a village called Wanssum. Thank you!
Shame on you.
Thanks Never knew it had a name.
Have a clipping from a Canadian newspaper dated Monday January 8 that reports the following.
A company headquarters on the mass river, Holland, Jan. 8.-(AP)-The German bridgehead
across the Maas river at Wanssum, 12 miles north of
Venlo in Holland, was wiped out today by British infantry companies that rode 800 yards on Canadian tanks across open, snow-swept fields. The attack, made in the
face of a heavy snowstorm that clogged the tanks’
periscopes and floated across rifle sights, eliminated the
enemy threat to crack a wedge between British and
Canadian forces holding the northern wing of the western front.
Fine work Dr. Felton…resurrection of a battle lost to time nearly 80 years ago. Fine work indeed, and thanks 🫡 from 🇺🇸
My grandfather told me a story about his brother in law. "Uncle" Jack told him this story after the war. Jack was involved in the Battle of the Bulge. He told my grandfather he thought he "wet" himself while fighting the Germans. Turned out it was blood. He had been shot in the groin. It didn't stop him from fighting the Nazi advance. Thank you Uncle Jack. Grandpa had a wife and two kids at the time. Though he served it was stateside. He trained fighter pilots in Texas from 1942 until 1945.
0:02 DR Felton reminds me of the terminator
Get in zee choppa!
Obviously. "come with me if you want to learn" is certainly not a Matrix reference😁
Many of the German troops look awfully young or am I wrong?
Really great to see the lens of history turned on these little known operations and battles.
A perfect example of why I subscribe, A fascinating sidebar to the show the "Battle of the Bulge" wasn't the only history being made at that time.
Once again, I learned new things about World War II that you can’t find anywhere else. Thank you, Mark Felton!
My Grandfather fight in the 20. Fallschirmjägerregiment from September 1944 in Holland, Belgium and Germany and was wounded in Februar 1945 in Germany in the Reichswald. He survived the war and passed by this Spring at aged 98.
You know it's another good day when Mark Felton Uploads!
We can always rely on Dr. Mark Felton to dig up an lamost forgotten piece of history and present it to us with straight facts and without sensationalism. Thats something we definitely appreciate about your channel
Thanks Dr Felton. Just when you think you've heard everything, I get a notification of another chapter of WW2 history!
My uncle, Victor Allen Thompson was always hesitant to speak about his experiences during the war. He did tell me on one occasion that he had been involved with demolition work, including bridges during the war. On another occasion he revealed his most frightening experience in his life, was sheltering behind a Sherman Tank, just knocked out by a German 88. He said that 88 was blowing the hell out of everything coming up the road. After he passed away in 1998, I discovered that Uncle Vic was a T/5 assigned to the Army Corps of Engineers. He was decorated for his accomplishments during the Ardennes Campaign. I arranged Uncle Vic's interment , including an Army honor guard with burial flag presentation, at Quantico National Cemetery. This cemetery is adjacent to the Quantico Marine Corp Base about 3 miles from my home. Our family visits the grave site, showing our respect with prayers, every Veterans and Memorial Day. 🪖
Another in depth history lesson from Mark Felton. 👏👏🏴🇬🇧
Last year my son went bullet hunting in Well with a friend and a metal detector. That is right where the Germans came from when they moved over the river. Surprisingly to me at the time they found plenty of bullets.
Now though I understand why. Thanks to Mark Felton👍👏😊
Clearly one of the best channels on this platform. Thank you for everything you do not only is it fascinating but highly educational. I don't miss any of your videos. Thank you again.
Ladies and Gents, I appreciate all of you. We all are watching this because we share the same interests. Young, old, I hope you all have great few last months of the year. And thanks Mark for creating videos that have entertained me for years 🫡
Thank you Dr Felton for those small bits of history. Growing up in Mazury amongst old German bunkers that served us as a playground as kids I always appreciate your videos.
When Mark says I've discovered something new, by George he HAS found something new! Outstanding... thanks, Mark!
Another great insight of the big war, thank you mister Felton! Greetz from Groningen
Nieuwstad?
Dr. Felton,
Your ability to provide me a relaxing, well researched episode at the end of a long workday is a blessing. I would encourage you to do a public lecture tour of the U.S.....if you ever get to Wisconsin, I'd love to buy you a pint....no " shop talk" required.
As always, the greatest history lessons ever!
This is very intriguing Mark.. I thought all had been told by now.. but I guess I was wrong.. WELL DONE! you always come up with unique and amazing perspectives and information on the last world war.. Carry on ole son.. my dad would have been proud to know you and supported your quest whole heartedly..
Dr. Felton’s selection of photos gives a lot to these courses. I appreciate the effort on his part, many are photos I’ve never seen before.
Brilliant research! Thanks for sharing and shedding light on this engagement.
I was completely ignorant of this offensive. Well, not anymore thanks to Dr Felton!
Never heard of it. THX Dr!!! Best WW2 History Lessons ever to be produced.
This channel has given me an even greater love of history.
You are right. I have not run across anything about this battle in all the books I have read on the subject. Thanks, Mark, for pointing this battle out to me. It is appreciated.
That opening shot was unexpected but awesome! I've been recommending your channels to all of my friends, because it's what the History Channel should have been- factual and informative versus "Ancient Aliens". Great job, Dr. Felton, respect 👍🏾
Thank you for the great educational videos 🫡 and the intro pic is fantastic 👍
Dr.Felton - updating history
Thank you Mr. Felton for showing this bit of history of the overall battle in the area often overlooked in the history books!
Here we go, the real History Channel.
A very interesting and little known point in the war. Thank you again Dr. Felton. I am also enjoying your books, and can recommend them to anyone interested in reading some of these stories as well.
Love your channel, Mark! Might I suggest a stand alone video featuring General Erich Fellgiebel? Fascinating man who participated in two attempts to overthrow Hitler and also was a proponent and was instrumental in Germany’s use of the Enigma machine. As the head of Germany’s signal and communication services, he knew every secret.
"Come with me if you want to learn."
Okay, i'm going. You don't need to use that gun, Mr. Felton.
Thanks for another one Dr!
What a treat to get a new piece of history in a well covered topic area
Excellent work Dr. Felton! I've heard the name of Operation Snowman but not much more. You've pieced together the particulars quite nicely. I often learn quite a bit from your offerings, but this was quite a treat. Thank you!
this was a tricky one. Nice work making a story out of that chaos
This is excellent stuff ! I never knew about Operation Snowman. I knew about the others especially BodenPlatte and the Ardennes Offensive of course. I like hearing about the many smaller actions around the crossing of the Rhine
Another Dr. Felton masterpiece! Thank you!
Gotta love Mark looking like the Terminator at the start.
Fascinating video! Even late in the war the fighting could be hard and the troops had it rough until the very end.
Mark you've outdone yourself what a wonderful video I was so intrigued throughout the whole thing absolutely amazing.
Mark Felton always delivers
“I need your lectern, your silly hat and your parking spot”
- Felton
😂
For those wondering what the Kangaroos were. They were originally Canadian Ram tanks, which were nearly identical to early model Shermans. After the US joined the Allies, their Shermans became the backbone of the Western Allied armoured forces. The Rams were quickly relegated to training and reserve, but thanks to America’s industrial strength the Ram’s weren’t even needed in that capacity. Then some enterprising individual realized that, simply by removing the turret, they had themselves an armoured infantry carrier that was superior to just about anything else then available to the Allies. It was even faster than the Shermans, thanks to the removal of the excess weight of the turret. The only disadvantage being that the infantry section had to disembark from the top, exposing themselves to enemy fire. But on the whole, the advantages outweighed the disadvantages.
I have never heard of Unternehmen Schneemann and Wanssum is just 40 km from where I live. But I did some searching on Dutch sites and it did indeed happen. Thank you Mark Felton!
It's amazing how new information keeps turning up. Good job Mark
Stunning piece of history! Thanks for this video. I will share this! 👍🏻
Coincidentaly, my cat decided to paw swipe my beloved Tamiya 1:35 scale nebelwerfer model off a shelf an hour ago.
Kitty is living on thin ice!😮
Your work is superb. Thank you. TFS
Won't find this on the History channel!! Thank you Dr. Felton
Do they even have history on the History channel any more? I thought they'd moved to other programming years ago.
Dr Mark Felton is The Indiana Jones of the 21 century.
Thank you for all your vidéo, i watched all of them ansf learned so much
Mark you genuinely look like agent smith 😂
Thanks Dr. Felton!
The intro photo made me laugh. Great content, as always!
Yeah me too
My father was with the U.S. 70th ID at Phillipsburg France during Operation Nordwind, , he was cut off by the German offensive on Jan 3 rd but managed to make it back to US lines, The Germans took many prisoners during this push. The 70th had only been in France for two weeks when Nordwind Occurred.
Excellent ratio of likes to views, I’ll keep it right here. Thanks Dr. Felton.
Thank you for a revealing episode about an unknown moment 👏👏👍👌
"Olaf, do you want to build a snowman?"
No one knows about operation snowman, because it just melted away!
Fascinating! Thank you for peering through the fog and putting together this video.
"Come with me if you want to learn." Dr. Felton you're a treasure.
Thanks for all the work you do, great video !
There is another Maas bridgehead battle- The Battle of Kapelse Veer, fought at the end of january 45. The famous 6th fallschirm under kurt student held a bridgehead over the Maas which the allies tried to eliminate. This battle was much bloodier than operation Snowman, but sadly also not well known. Would love to see you do a video on it Mark
Great lesson! as a dutch i heard a little bit about fighting at wanssum, but never in detail, thank you! I hope you will make many more video's about the netherlands, in particular holland, as someone living there and using a metal detector to find traces i find it fascinating that a big german army was basicly sitting there for the entirety of 1945, Did they never try to break out?? i find that hard to believe, But official documentation is really hard to find, i just had a lot of hearsay and witnesses about the huge german presence here, would love if you got fascinated by that enough to make a video!
Dank u wel voor uw gedegen onderzoek
Again a very professional documentary, by dear brother Mark.
This video was uploaded while I was watching videos on this subject.. what a coincidence.
An interesting account of a little known episode on the Northern Flank of the Ardennes Offensive. Think your right about its objective and it would have made sense to tie the British and Canadian Troops down with Limited Tactical Advances in order to hold them in an area and limit their ability to reinforce and supply the American forces further south ( I believe that some of Von Der Heyt's Paratroopers were still operating in the Dutch Sector of the Front at that time) Cheers Mr Felton for yet another interesting snippet of History 👍😊
Mark looks like he’d be riding a kickass motorcycle in that first image.
Yup.. I never heard this one.. thanks and Cheers from CANADA!
Thank you for making this!
Thank You Dr. Felton
If I ever own a Ferret, I am naming it Felton!
He does look like one.
The scout car?
I have read extensive works on Wacht am rhein and nordwind but had no idea about this small and localised operation. Thankyou for enlightening me, as most of your presentations do Herr Professor.
Thank you for revealing another piece of forgotten history.
Dr. Felton looking ice cold in that opening picture!
0:01 ain't no one gonna talk about how badass he looks?
Never presented untill now!!! Yes sir that's why we watch your channel and we love the work u do!
I could not at first believe that your claim about 'little reported' was true, until I looked for actual data. Mark, thanks for bringing this operation to light. You're right, it is poorly reported
Wife entered the room at 12:38
After a pause she asked if they really were in kangaroos.
I told her without flinching, that it was aussies and she just accepted it - I love her
Well done, as usual, Mr. Felton. What's interesting is one of the goals of Hitler's offensive was to cause a split in the US, British, and French alliance. In one way, it may have. The Nordwind attack on Strasbourg created a furor among the French allies when Patton left to relieve Bastogne. They felt betrayed, and feared German reprisals if taken over again. It is suggested by some historians this event, among other things, led to national pressure on DeGaulle to withdraw from NATO in 1966.
Interesting point, but I think that by 1966 the issues were different. Too much water had passed under the bridge: Dien Bien Phu, Algeria, force de frappe.
An interesting footnote: when the Americans started to use helicopters in large numbers over Vietnam, they turned to the French for advice. At that point, only the French had experience of using helicopters for counter-insurgency.
Mark Felton has a video of a FOURTH German attack in the West in the Saar (facing Luxembourg) between Alsace & the Ardennes by the 11th Panzer Division during mid January 1945. The video is called Forgotten Panzer Attack Siegfried Line 1945. Long story short, the attack failed in part because only the Panzer IV tanks could cross the bridges & not the heavier Panther tanks.
If you record a famous composer's music in Aachen, you could call the album "My Aachen Bach".
and dont forget "Everybody Wanssum" by Van Halen! Cheers from CANADA!
Amazing depth & detail, thank you!
Fascinating. Thanks for sharing.
Man ! That had to suck fighting in those conditions. Yuck!
Phew Dr. Felton! ❤
Probably the reason Snowman has been overlooked is probably because it didn't amount to much.
Fascinating Mark thank you for putting this together.