German Soldier Remembers WW2 | Memoirs Of WWII #15

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  • Опубликовано: 4 июл 2019
  • Growing up in Germany in the 1930’s, Gert Schmitz was drafted into the Hitler Youth, witnessed the start of World War II, and joined the Luftwaffe by the time he was 17 years old. But his dreams of flight would be crushed when he was sent to the Western Front to fight the advancing Allied Forces with a disoriented and dwindling German Army.
    Memoirs of WWII Website: bit.ly/2w60kGM
    Patreon: bit.ly/2HIebIN
    Instagram: bit.ly/2FBGBhv
    Facebook: bit.ly/2w5Lhgf
    Twitter: bit.ly/2jlcp1A
    Written and Directed by Joshua Scott
    Filmed by Christian McLean
    Edited by Joshua Scott and Christian McLean
    Post Audio by Lane Tarr
    Archive Footage Sources:
    www.archives.gov/
    Department of Defense
    Archive Photograph Sources:
    U.S. Air Force
    German Federal Archives
    U.S. Army
    Shovy Rahman
    NASA
    “Heute Nacht oder nie” performed by Walther Ludwig
    acquired from www.archive.org
    Musical Score Source:
    artlist.io/
    Artlist Songs and Composers:
    “Thoughts In Motion” by Tristan Barton
    “Exigency” by Charlie Ryan
    “Drifting Deeper” by Roland Bingaman
    “Choice” by Borrtex
    “We Finally Made It” by Kyle Preston
    “Grey” by Kyle Preston

Комментарии • 15 тыс.

  • @niki4god
    @niki4god 2 года назад +7574

    Our family is heartbroken to share the news of my father's passing on May 7, 2022 at the age of 94. This video was one of his greatest joys. He checked the number of views and read the comments almost every day. Thank you for sharing part of his story.

    • @dlux76
      @dlux76 Год назад +241

      May he rest in eternal peace Mrs Buchanan, his words are inspiration for many people across the world , don't fight talk it out there's gotta be a solution. Warmest greetings from small Luxembourg

    • @ohishwaddup
      @ohishwaddup Год назад +127

      If you and your family inherited even a 10th of his strength and character there's no way he won't rest in peace. Your father saw more death, violence, and propoganda at a young age than any person should and still came out insightful and a pacifist. May God Bless you, your father, and your family.

    • @theusher2893
      @theusher2893 Год назад +51

      ​@@teaadvice4996 If you're ignorant, it's better to keep your mouth shut and not advertise it.

    • @Squidy666
      @Squidy666 Год назад +72

      Sincerest condolences on your loss. He was a great storyteller and I'm glad he shared his story for future generations to hear.

    • @jonm2416
      @jonm2416 Год назад +43

      Awww...I wish I knew that months ago and could have written him a nice comment! God bless him. I have lost my father as well and I feel for you and your family as I know the pain. Good luck to you!

  • @tereso28
    @tereso28 4 года назад +27894

    I want to hear more stories from the Germans side

    • @jrtapz138
      @jrtapz138 4 года назад +945

      Agustin Leos especially when there about to be invaded it’s just heart breaking and interesting.

    • @El_Rey_Moglia
      @El_Rey_Moglia 4 года назад +1153

      Or perhaps an Italian

    • @MemoirsofWWII
      @MemoirsofWWII  4 года назад +1270

      Agustin Leos Thank you for watching it’s because of our amazing Patreon supporters were able to continue to make these videos. If you’re interested, you can check out our website to see how you can help support our mission to preserve these stories as well. www.memoirsofwwii.com

    • @TheDeJureTour
      @TheDeJureTour 4 года назад +629

      Agreed. Also, Italians or Romanians before it is too late!!

    • @ritzcrackas
      @ritzcrackas 4 года назад +77

      please please

  • @sizzlinbacon21able
    @sizzlinbacon21able Год назад +1520

    Rest in Peace Gert. Thank you for sharing your stories with us.
    Born: Oct 11, 1927
    Died: May 7, 2022

    • @milanopasaribu4373
      @milanopasaribu4373 Год назад +20

      Omg if this news is real, rest in peace to the man

    • @kevinbutton4580
      @kevinbutton4580 Год назад +7

      @@milanopasaribu4373 dude is a ex nazi soldier...I hope he doesn't rest in peace.

    • @krisu8193
      @krisu8193 Год назад +76

      @@kevinbutton4580 You think soviets where so much more innocent ?

    • @cksaba
      @cksaba Год назад +57

      @@kevinbutton4580 he was forced too

    • @TheMijman
      @TheMijman Год назад

      @@kevinbutton4580 Russian soldiers are committing suicide after what they're currently being forced to do.
      A lot of German solders were forced into the war. Or were radicalised by propaganda by the German government.
      Yes, many many many German soldiers relished the chance kill and die for their county. But not all of them.

  • @p0esbek
    @p0esbek Год назад +377

    Just a correction here; at 8:37 He didn't say Dortmund. Germans enunciate Dortmund very clearly. He is actually talking about Dülmen a small town about 30km away from Ramsdorf.

    • @p0esbek
      @p0esbek Год назад +27

      at 10:37 you can even see one of his drawings referencing Dülmen.

    • @_Pestarzt_
      @_Pestarzt_ 11 месяцев назад +9

      Was about to write a comment as well. I agree its Dülmen.

    • @GreatPolishWingedHussars
      @GreatPolishWingedHussars 11 месяцев назад

      German soldier? Why not Nazi soldier? Because that was a Nazi soldier from the Nazi army! Such videos are only there for the whitewashing of the Germans. By the way, unbelievable that 5 million watched this completely unnecessary video. This video is superfluous because obviously sympathies are to be awakened for a former German soldier. But no one should have sympathy for these soldiers of a felonious army! Because this felonious army was involved in various genocides and was also involved in various wars of aggression that made this genocides possible in the first place. Overall, the Nazi nation with the Nazi army is responsible for 55 million deaths and, in addition, for the destruction of many European cities and the economic ruin of many nations. This was a completely megalomaniac, mad, felonious, amoral and degenerated Nazi nation and Nazi army with pure, insane, megalomaniac and utterly amoral barbarism was totally unique in all of world history. It is a historical fact that since 1936 at the latest, but probably earlier, the overwhelming majority of Germans were followers and supporters of the German Nazi government thus they were Nazis! Because that is also the definition of Nazi. Supporters and followers of the German Nazi government. That applied to the entire German nation, including the army. That's why such a long war was even possible! Such a long war would have been impossible against the will of the majority. Also such a total fight! Because the vast majority of Germans were followers and supporters of the German Nazi Party, there was very little resistance. Since so many Germans wanted to join the Nazi party, was an admission freeze imposed. The crowds of people cheering Hitler were not ordered to cheer. They all came voluntarily to the Nazi mass events! There was also no mass exodus of the Germans abroad. Everywhere the Germans were committed to the victory of the Germans in this war! Incidentally, they also participated en masse in the crimes. Millions have murdered millions! For example, my grandpa was hit by a German civilian to death. This German civilian was the watchdog for the Polish workers in a factory seized by the Germans in Poland. My grandpa worked there. By the way, it was impossible to quit the job. The Germans had the list of employees. And besides, my grandfather had to work to feed the family. The German watchdog got angry with my grandpa! He hit him in his anger until he died. This happened more often in Poland. Also with the slave workers in Germany or the in occupied countries. Incidentally, 20 million slave laborers were forced to work under inhumane conditions. These were at slave labor harassed by millions of civilians in the factories and on the farms. There were millions of such German watchdogs to oversee these poor people being forced to work! Also millions of the soldiers who murdered civilians frequently anyway or killed in the war for the Nazi regime, but also millions of civilians were evil who were supporters of the Nazi government and who were involved in the crimes. This Nazi nation was completely megalomaniac, mad, criminal, amoral and degenerated!

    • @feraudyh
      @feraudyh 9 месяцев назад +3

      I was wondering about that.

    • @GreatPolishWingedHussars
      @GreatPolishWingedHussars 9 месяцев назад

      @@feraudyh What are you wondering about? About the whitewashing of the Germans? Worldwide everyone is used to that by now, because pro-German whitewash propaganda is been around since the 50s! That's why the term Nazi is used and not Germans! OK, actually, Nazis or Nazi Germany would be an appropriate term for the entire nation! Because since 1936 at the latest the overwhelming majority of Germans were supporters of the German Nazi government thus they were Nazis. But the term Nazis and Nazi Germany is problematic nowadays. Because the western pro-German propaganda spreads the lying myth of the few Nazis who were guilty and responsible, because it is generally concealed that the overwhelming majority of Germans were supporters of the German Nazi government, thus Nazis. From this lying western propagan the myth is even produced that the vast majority of Germans were actually victims of the evil Nazis themselves. The propagandists even claim that the Germans were liberated in 1945. As e.g. the title of this video shows. "Liberation of Munich April 30 1945" ruclips.net/video/UHn5RyaW3kc/видео.html The title is not the occupation of Munich by the Americans, which would correspond to historical facts. No, a lie is being spread about liberation! An unbelievable lie in wich from the victory over this nation with the subsequent multi-annual occupation is made a LIBERATION.
      Why is it done that way? Why is the lie being spread of the few Germans who were responsible for the crimes so that most people by now say Nazis instead of Germans? At first in 1945, the Americans had the right attitude regarding the Germans, as this educational film shows for the US Army. „Your Job in Germany - RUclips" ruclips.net/video/7OUR5uvs9aw/видео.html Then pragmatism prevailed over justice! Becaus after the war, the Americans believed the Germans would be useful as allies! So in the 50s, most of Germans became the ally of the West. (West Germany). The problem, however, was that this Nazi nation was completely amoral and degenerate. The West could not be allied to a morally degenerate Nazi nation that has murdered millions of children, among other crimes. So they were practically systematically washed clean to be tolerable as allies. So they were washed clean by propaganda (Western historians / media / politicians / Hollywood etc.) and the blame was put on relatively few Nazis. Actually, their crimes are permanently relativized by Western propaganda.

  • @LiquidSoggyBread
    @LiquidSoggyBread 3 года назад +4410

    “We were too young to drink,
    We were too young to vote,
    But we weren’t too young to die.”

    • @noflex8451
      @noflex8451 3 года назад +14

      360th like

    • @LiquidSoggyBread
      @LiquidSoggyBread 3 года назад +12

      @@noflex8451 Noice

    • @Heurbrjxidjdjdjd
      @Heurbrjxidjdjdjd 3 года назад +39

      " But we weren't too young to kill innocents "
      " But we weren't too young to slaughter kids and babies because of theirs religion"

    • @wannrik4231
      @wannrik4231 3 года назад +62

      @@Heurbrjxidjdjdjd well.... no, the thing is the older people defenitly had a choice, because they should have known it better they already knew a more civilised World and knew what democracy and al that shit is, but they Still chose their path. But as John B. Watson said :"Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I’ll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select-doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief and, yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors" the young people who where born in this defected system didn't really get to have a choice, the choices where made for them, all of them. If you grow up in a system which denies you a free will, you can't really develop one can you. Well, that's a false statement as well, but atleast it takes a pretty long time, and a lot of generations to develop a knew kind of thinking. I mean thats why it took humanity so long to overcome the supression of monarchy and develop a somewhat free world.

    • @tomfromeriej4611
      @tomfromeriej4611 3 года назад +9

      That's a BS reply! Back during Vietnam that was the chant by all the war protesters. When the feds change the law to 18 devote 3% of the people actually registered to vote. Yeah look it up! Just the way to make noise

  • @lancesabo3118
    @lancesabo3118 4 года назад +5379

    “War is the stupidest thing that man invented”
    Salute you sir

    • @captainstag8189
      @captainstag8189 3 года назад +89

      @Mjölnir Captain Sparkle finger's that's what I was thinking. I always see myself as the background character that got shot in the head

    • @rickremco6275
      @rickremco6275 3 года назад +36

      Man didn't invent war - it's in the genes. The times I've heard "why can't we just get along?"

    • @Mateiro38
      @Mateiro38 3 года назад +9

      The history of mankind is the history of war, even when we were nomad hunters gathers we should have fight for hunting fields.

    • @Shadowhunterbg
      @Shadowhunterbg 3 года назад +21

      Animals make war in their own way. For territory or females. Ants basically have soldiers, workers and medics. Peace is impossible because always someone will want what you have and if desperation drives him and you can't part with what is yours then conflict happens. When this happens between countries a war is started. Even now we are at war for our civilization's existence.

    • @jakemocci3953
      @jakemocci3953 3 года назад +5

      And we were lied into fighting our own kin, now look at the state of the West.

  • @shrek9703
    @shrek9703 Год назад +256

    17th December 1997. The death of my grandfather, Enric Dastraught.
    He fought on the eastern front in 1942 manning a gun in a panzer 3.
    He never once spoke about the war but he told me this on multiple occasions:
    Never doubt your actions, only doubt who's influencing them.

  • @bobwallace9814
    @bobwallace9814 Год назад +82

    Gert lived in Huntsville, Alabama working on rockets with Braun until he retired. He speaks with a distinct southern accent and has southern mannerisms. You can see that was just a good ol boy about town there and became one of the locals.

    • @jscho8674
      @jscho8674 7 месяцев назад +7

      You can tell he was a wonderful man.

    • @denisek292
      @denisek292 6 месяцев назад +4

      Wow…that’s awesome that Gert worked w/ NASA in Huntsville. I’m an Alabamian, and Huntsville is an “engineering” town. More engineers than anywhere in America.

    • @sec9788
      @sec9788 3 месяца назад

      How he was allowed to come here is just unbelievable. He SHOT at our people. Tell me he was out on a NO-FLY list at least?!! 🤷🏼‍♂️

    • @Reds_C
      @Reds_C 3 месяца назад +4

      ​@@sec9788If it was for me I would limit the entrance of US people in Italy as well, just it would be a shame to not spill your dirty money. Its always good to see 😂

    • @peterburry2014
      @peterburry2014 2 месяца назад +2

      @@sec9788 He had no choice in what side he was on or he he was forced to shoot at.

  • @theuberman7170
    @theuberman7170 4 года назад +8294

    Its weird hearing a man in his 90s talk about his grandfather.

  • @realdylanoof
    @realdylanoof 3 года назад +5897

    It's so sad that we're the last generation to hear their stories, in person.

    • @TheExtrreme
      @TheExtrreme 3 года назад +216

      Better to make the most of them. In then falls on our shoulders to pass these stories onto our kids and grandkids

    • @realdylanoof
      @realdylanoof 3 года назад +43

      @@TheExtrreme Indeed.

    • @julianlandes5806
      @julianlandes5806 3 года назад +61

      Man this kinda hit me my grandma was 10 when the war was breaking out she passed away recently and always told me story’s

    • @realdylanoof
      @realdylanoof 3 года назад +16

      @@serenaedwards6385 Much respect for your father.

    • @theseether6
      @theseether6 3 года назад +10

      I do not wish to scare anyone, but I wonder if Biden is doing the same now. Nobody is allowed inside or outside the white house and their are mixed feelings about what the media says. Not pushing this on anyone, just wondering.

  • @thegreathim6062
    @thegreathim6062 2 месяца назад +7

    Amazing story, an amazing person. It is a shame we are losing them so fast now, R.I.P.

  • @DeveryThumann
    @DeveryThumann Год назад +77

    My dad also passed this year at 94. He served in the Flak Korps as a teenager. He later became a US citizen and successful business man and proud American

    • @bearsuitClan
      @bearsuitClan Год назад

      @@UziZokal i imagine an anti aircraft crew on the ground but idk

  • @stingfing412
    @stingfing412 3 года назад +3781

    This guy isn’t a nazi, he is a German

    • @jjf8862
      @jjf8862 3 года назад +112

      Agreed

    • @cplusplusdude8189
      @cplusplusdude8189 3 года назад +50

      LOL what?

    • @TheKing60210
      @TheKing60210 3 года назад +381

      @@cplusplusdude8189 HES NOT A NAZI, HES A GERMAN

    • @ito2611
      @ito2611 3 года назад +22

      @@cplusplusdude8189 yeah isnt that guy a nazi?

    • @cplusplusdude8189
      @cplusplusdude8189 3 года назад +94

      @@ito2611 He used to be one and he must be held accountable for the crimes he committed back then. I care not one jot what he is saying now, he was a nazi Germany soldier and it does make him a war criminal. His nationality is absolutely unimportant here.

  • @obiwanfisher537
    @obiwanfisher537 4 года назад +2121

    First guy who says "I hate mustangs" and is the only one who has a proper reason to.

    • @GUNDAM-NOLASAINTS
      @GUNDAM-NOLASAINTS 4 года назад +14

      Why hate Mustangs they were beautiful creatures... matter fact The Cadillac of the Skies lol

    • @Crb53
      @Crb53 4 года назад +114

      Gundam1313 Yjshuao I mean if your getting shot by them they kinda loose there beauty

    • @shaunmattice6413
      @shaunmattice6413 4 года назад +45

      @@GUNDAM-NOLASAINTS Probably the same reason Poles and French hate Stuka's.

    • @recipoldinasty
      @recipoldinasty 4 года назад +4

      Gundam1313 Yjshuao to be honest, english, japanese and german planes were WAAAY prettier

    • @Chuked
      @Chuked 4 года назад +2

      Donald gay Trump he Almost got killed by one, did you not see the video?

  • @oasean
    @oasean 9 месяцев назад +21

    What a lively soul and vivid storyteller-as if he were there just yesterday-graced by a lifetime of hindsight.

  • @marinus808
    @marinus808 2 года назад +62

    Das fühlt sich für mich an, als wenn ich meinem Opa zuhöre.... ich hab mit 14 versucht ihn über den Krieg auszufragen.. Das ist jetzt 40 Jahre her. Heute würde ich ganz andere Fragen stellen.
    What a great man. So much life and wisdom out of his words. He reminds me of my grandpa, answering my stupid questions about his time at war 40 years ago.

    • @jakob3736
      @jakob3736 Год назад +2

      Haha hätte meinen Urli auch andere Fragen gestellt als Kind …

  • @CurtHegel
    @CurtHegel 4 года назад +2369

    "War is the stupidest thing man invented " best quote ever.

    • @popthiccle1158
      @popthiccle1158 4 года назад +17

      rules where shaped by war i hope you know that.

    • @ziinx5899
      @ziinx5899 4 года назад +41

      That's the most retarded quote ive ever heard. You cant have peace without war.

    • @dancourt1196
      @dancourt1196 4 года назад +33

      @@popthiccle1158 i thought your comment was idiotic in context

    • @dancourt1196
      @dancourt1196 4 года назад +52

      @@ziinx5899 but then i read yours

    • @dancourt1196
      @dancourt1196 4 года назад +26

      @@ziinx5899 saying that is the same as saying you cant have crime without poverty, there is always an origin the origin is eternal the origin is a choice the choice is made by man . Men in power either for country or for the gods sharing can happen u don't need to fight to have food or land or trade. all the arguments i know u will throw at me. anyway bless.

  • @niki4god
    @niki4god 2 года назад +3050

    One of Gert's daughter's here. Just wanted to thank Memoirs of WWII again for doing this project. We are very grateful that part of his story has been captured. And he has been excited to have over 4 million views so far and enjoys reading the comments.

    • @kayvan671
      @kayvan671 2 года назад +9

      Do you also speak German?

    • @niki4god
      @niki4god 2 года назад +48

      @@kayvan671 I know a few words and phrases, but very little.

    • @kayvan671
      @kayvan671 2 года назад +16

      @@niki4god
      Ach..passt schon 👍🏻

    • @DustyRogerGaming
      @DustyRogerGaming 2 года назад +14

      What an amazing story I hope he is doing good!

    • @bollockjohnson6156
      @bollockjohnson6156 2 года назад +6

      Liar! I'm Gert's grand-son (by Myrtle's side) and I've never heard of you. He DID mention a Nicole, but he said she was a hussie who did...things in videos, for monetary gain.

  • @charlesmignery2472
    @charlesmignery2472 2 года назад +124

    My dad fought the Germans from the air, Army Air Corps-radio operator in the B-17. I wish he were alive and could talk with Gert. My dad would have really enjoyed that. As the years went by, dad's hate for the Germans faded and realized it was time to move on with life.

    • @michaelmckenna6464
      @michaelmckenna6464 11 месяцев назад +6

      Many who fought in the European Theater felt that way. Many who fought each other during the war formed lifelong friendships after the war.

    • @doglovrsnowflake5263
      @doglovrsnowflake5263 11 месяцев назад +1

      Participants usually direct hatred at the enemy government, not individuals unless they are in battle or life-threatening situation. Soldiers aren't responsible for starting wars; they just follow orders.

    • @antimimoniakos
      @antimimoniakos 10 месяцев назад

      I don't know the actual number of haulocosts Germans have done in Greece. The human faced monsters. Be proud of your father.

    • @GreatPolishWingedHussars
      @GreatPolishWingedHussars 9 месяцев назад

      German soldier? Why not Nazi soldier? Because that was a Nazi soldier from the Nazi army! Such videos are only there for the whitewashing of the Germans. By the way, unbelievable that 5 million watched this completely unnecessary video. This video is superfluous because obviously sympathies are to be awakened for a former German soldier. But no one should have sympathy for these soldiers of a felonious army! Because this felonious army was involved in various genocides and was also involved in various wars of aggression that made this genocides possible in the first place. Overall, the Nazi nation with the Nazi army is responsible for 55 million deaths and, in addition, for the destruction of many European cities and the economic ruin of many nations. This was a completely megalomaniac, mad, felonious, amoral and degenerated Nazi nation and Nazi army with pure, insane, megalomaniac and utterly amoral barbarism was totally unique in all of world history. It is a historical fact that since 1936 at the latest, but probably earlier, the overwhelming majority of Germans were followers and supporters of the German Nazi government thus they were Nazis! Because that is also the definition of Nazi. Supporters and followers of the German Nazi government. That applied to the entire German nation, including the army. That's why such a long war was even possible! Such a long war would have been impossible against the will of the majority. Also such a total fight! Because the vast majority of Germans were followers and supporters of the German Nazi Party, there was very little resistance. Since so many Germans wanted to join the Nazi party, was an admission freeze imposed. The crowds of people cheering Hitler were not ordered to cheer. They all came voluntarily to the Nazi mass events! There was also no mass exodus of the Germans abroad. Everywhere the Germans were committed to the victory of the Germans in this war! Incidentally, they also participated en masse in the crimes. Millions have murdered millions! For example, my grandpa was hit by a German civilian to death. This German civilian was the watchdog for the Polish workers in a factory seized by the Germans in Poland. My grandpa worked there. By the way, it was impossible to quit the job. The Germans had the list of employees. And besides, my grandfather had to work to feed the family. The German watchdog got angry with my grandpa! He hit him in his anger until he died. This happened more often in Poland. Also with the slave workers in Germany or the in occupied countries. Incidentally, 20 million slave laborers were forced to work under inhumane conditions. These were at slave labor harassed by millions of civilians in the factories and on the farms. There were millions of such German watchdogs to oversee these poor people being forced to work! Also millions of the soldiers who murdered civilians frequently anyway or killed in the war for the Nazi regime, but also millions of civilians were evil who were supporters of the Nazi government and who were involved in the crimes. This Nazi nation was completely megalomaniac, mad, criminal, amoral and degenerated!

    • @theswede5402
      @theswede5402 9 месяцев назад

      @@antimimoniakos Like when the greeks butchered turkish and bulgarian civilians before WW2? Get off the high horse.

  • @richarddenny5340
    @richarddenny5340 4 месяца назад +13

    an amazing storyteller, such a clear and crisp memory. RIP

    • @tamaramorton8812
      @tamaramorton8812 3 месяца назад +1

      I was thinking the same thing about him being such a great storyteller. I actually live in the town where Werner von Braun and the space program was founded. There are several ways that the German influence is felt even to this day, but I read something interesting where Hitler invented the multi lane highway system in Germany in order to transport tanks. Eisenhower saw the advantages there, and after the war our highway system was created and modeled after the German system.

    • @richarddenny5340
      @richarddenny5340 3 месяца назад

      good information, thanks. I'm old enough to recall the Eisenhower years. I think he was a great president as well as a great general.

  • @Johnny53kgb-nsa
    @Johnny53kgb-nsa 4 года назад +1424

    Quite amazing, he fought against America while serving his German country, and then immigrated to the US and fought for America. He gave some great advice about war. A great gentleman.

    • @farpointgamingdirect
      @farpointgamingdirect 4 года назад +50

      Quite a few German ex-pats ended up in the US Special Forces

    • @harrymonk6
      @harrymonk6 4 года назад +19

      He basically just jumped ship when he got caught

    • @mitchellplaice7673
      @mitchellplaice7673 4 года назад +2

      Alot of Germans over in us and nazis

    • @JuniorJuni070
      @JuniorJuni070 4 года назад +13

      he only a gentleman to you because he fought for your country..

    • @adamwasfirst2441
      @adamwasfirst2441 4 года назад +1

      john g usually i don’t judge people but mostly i judge systems,don’t you think is pathetic and hypocrite to accept a former nazi soldier to our country when our immigration low carry a very clear question “have you been a member of the nazi party “ ??in other word how did this man pass the immigration test with his ugly past?? Why they give him a pass when we don’t accept others with a clean record??perhaps because he is a white man and deserve the special treatment 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️i don’t know you found the answer for me

  • @sanchit2815
    @sanchit2815 4 года назад +2642

    Don't hate him he was just a soldier fighting for his country.

    • @harrymonk6
      @harrymonk6 4 года назад +104

      The wrong country though

    • @sanchit2815
      @sanchit2815 4 года назад +19

      @@harrymonk6 😂😂😂

    • @harrymonk6
      @harrymonk6 4 года назад +18

      @Daniel Menefrego i know right? How could America let a nazi degenerate in their army .disgusting

    • @BeefedUpBiscuit
      @BeefedUpBiscuit 4 года назад +295

      Harry Monk He was a regular soldier. I hope you realize that there is more than just a nazi in a German army

    • @harrymonk6
      @harrymonk6 4 года назад +1

      @Schwanzus Longus mate wtf ! Dont be like that

  • @StrawberryLegacy
    @StrawberryLegacy 2 года назад +201

    Please, if possible, do more interviews with German WW2 veterans! If necessary, via their own recording or video calls even if the quality is worse. But it's important that we also hear those voices before it's too late.

    • @MemoirsofWWII
      @MemoirsofWWII  2 года назад +25

      so do we! Help us travel overseas to capture these stories before they are all lost. Check out our website to see how you can help support our mission to preserve these stories. www.memoirsofwwii.com

    • @davecrupel2817
      @davecrupel2817 11 месяцев назад +6

      Agreed!
      Everyone deserves a voice.

    • @GreatPolishWingedHussars
      @GreatPolishWingedHussars 9 месяцев назад

      German soldier? Why not Nazi soldier? Because that was a Nazi soldier from the Nazi army! Such videos are only there for the whitewashing of the Germans. By the way, unbelievable that 5 million watched this completely unnecessary video. This video is superfluous because obviously sympathies are to be awakened for a former German soldier. But no one should have sympathy for these soldiers of a felonious army! Because this felonious army was involved in various genocides and was also involved in various wars of aggression that made this genocides possible in the first place. Overall, the Nazi nation with the Nazi army is responsible for 55 million deaths and, in addition, for the destruction of many European cities and the economic ruin of many nations. This was a completely megalomaniac, mad, felonious, amoral and degenerated Nazi nation and Nazi army with pure, insane, megalomaniac and utterly amoral barbarism was totally unique in all of world history. It is a historical fact that since 1936 at the latest, but probably earlier, the overwhelming majority of Germans were followers and supporters of the German Nazi government thus they were Nazis! Because that is also the definition of Nazi. Supporters and followers of the German Nazi government. That applied to the entire German nation, including the army. That's why such a long war was even possible! Such a long war would have been impossible against the will of the majority. Also such a total fight! Because the vast majority of Germans were followers and supporters of the German Nazi Party, there was very little resistance. Since so many Germans wanted to join the Nazi party, was an admission freeze imposed. The crowds of people cheering Hitler were not ordered to cheer. They all came voluntarily to the Nazi mass events! There was also no mass exodus of the Germans abroad. Everywhere the Germans were committed to the victory of the Germans in this war! Incidentally, they also participated en masse in the crimes. Millions have murdered millions! For example, my grandpa was hit by a German civilian to death. This German civilian was the watchdog for the Polish workers in a factory seized by the Germans in Poland. My grandpa worked there. By the way, it was impossible to quit the job. The Germans had the list of employees. And besides, my grandfather had to work to feed the family. The German watchdog got angry with my grandpa! He hit him in his anger until he died. This happened more often in Poland. Also with the slave workers in Germany or the in occupied countries. Incidentally, 20 million slave laborers were forced to work under inhumane conditions. These were at slave labor harassed by millions of civilians in the factories and on the farms. There were millions of such German watchdogs to oversee these poor people being forced to work! Also millions of the soldiers who murdered civilians frequently anyway or killed in the war for the Nazi regime, but also millions of civilians were evil who were supporters of the Nazi government and who were involved in the crimes. This Nazi nation was completely megalomaniac, mad, criminal, amoral and degenerated!

    • @Onthejazz247
      @Onthejazz247 6 месяцев назад +4

      I do wonder if the use of German child soldiers at the end might mean that German veterans will be many of the last to die

    • @GreatPolishWingedHussars
      @GreatPolishWingedHussars 6 месяцев назад +1

      @@Onthejazz247 This is completely irrelevant. What is relevant is that these child soldiers also participated in crimes. Like many other Germans! Hitler Youth also murdered!

  • @elizabethgrace460
    @elizabethgrace460 Год назад +29

    Just made my heart equally sad and happy. His accent is so unique. It's a hybrid deep south / German accent. I really loved listening to it and the stories. May he rest in peace ❤❤❤❤

  • @joeguzman3558
    @joeguzman3558 4 года назад +1014

    Back in the 1970s my next door neighbor was a ww2 German veteran too, he used to fix everything for us in the neighborhood from a blender to a car transmission very smart man.

    • @homefront3162
      @homefront3162 3 года назад +85

      Just dont let him hook a hose up to the car exhaust

    • @yopeepthestyle8308
      @yopeepthestyle8308 3 года назад +66

      Homefront i know its a joke but come on. people on both sides suffered enough to ridicule sth horrible as ww2

    • @keirandunwoodie8138
      @keirandunwoodie8138 3 года назад +13

      Homefront the old place and time reference is applicable on this one. Satire can be funny in the right situation.

    • @lightupdarkness
      @lightupdarkness 3 года назад +5

      Wartime mechanic

    • @btspavedtheway365
      @btspavedtheway365 3 года назад +2

      Wow that’s so cool

  • @sahir313
    @sahir313 3 года назад +2322

    WWII from German perspective. That's what everyone looking for. And it's very very rare. I don't know why.

    • @NordicGriffin
      @NordicGriffin 3 года назад +475

      Because history is told from the side of the victors... sadly

    • @Jmanthefirst
      @Jmanthefirst 3 года назад +142

      @@NordicGriffin we should teach it from both sides

    • @Mr.Riffian
      @Mr.Riffian 3 года назад +266

      Because Germany had a few good reasons to start a war but our governments don’t want us to know those reasons.

    • @sunsetdreamss
      @sunsetdreamss 3 года назад +66

      Western culture sees things from the point of Western view.
      Sadly, I wish this was talked about more.

    • @WorshiperProduction
      @WorshiperProduction 3 года назад +28

      But it's so important to see and understand how something like this could happend, so that this never will happen again. I don't know where you're coming from, but it makes me sad that they don't teach it better

  • @user-ro4zv1ly7n
    @user-ro4zv1ly7n 3 месяца назад +1

    “War is the stupidest thing man ever invented.” Truer words have never been spoken. RIP Gert.

  • @funnydylan9834
    @funnydylan9834 6 месяцев назад +7

    6:55 this part gave me chills and still gives me chills. It gave me tears too, still does. I can’t imagine the sight of the man dying like that. Rest In Peace to the soldiers of WW2, you are never forgotten and shall never be forgotten. 😢🙏🏻🇩🇪🇺🇸✝️

  • @slothicusness2667
    @slothicusness2667 4 года назад +1812

    That is the most German name I've ever heard

    • @XTian-hp7qk
      @XTian-hp7qk 4 года назад +107

      GERT
      FRIEDRICH
      FRANZ
      SCHMITZ

    • @simonbaumbach5169
      @simonbaumbach5169 4 года назад +2

      @@XTian-hp7qk *Gerd

    • @ivandelosreyes1400
      @ivandelosreyes1400 4 года назад +4

      Exactly what I thought when I heard his name lol.

    • @slothicusness2667
      @slothicusness2667 4 года назад +5

      @@simonbaumbach5169 No, there are subtitles, he's right, its Gert

    • @slothicusness2667
      @slothicusness2667 4 года назад +3

      @@ivandelosreyes1400 I know right? it almost sounds fake lmao

  • @Willidog11
    @Willidog11 4 года назад +1583

    We often forget the people we consider as "enemies" are really not that much different than us, just trying to survive in a bad situation.

    • @air-headedaviator1805
      @air-headedaviator1805 4 года назад +5

      Chivalry is on a decline

    • @schris413
      @schris413 4 года назад +76

      We weren't allowed to remember. The word Nazi was criminalized.

    • @ArchangelTyrael
      @ArchangelTyrael 4 года назад +22

      @@schris413 It should be.

    • @derkernspalter
      @derkernspalter 4 года назад +62

      @@schris413 The Germans did not call themselves Nazi, the term was invented by communists and eventually adapted by everyone else.

    • @LoneShot95
      @LoneShot95 4 года назад +43

      @@derkernspalter "nazi" is simply the diminutive for "nationalsozialist". same with "sozi" for social democrats/socialists. it wasn't "invented" by the communists, but of course it wasn't used by the nazis themselves since it is a derogatory term

  • @margaretroselle8610
    @margaretroselle8610 11 месяцев назад +10

    I did so enjoy listening to this man’s account of his war experiences. Greetings to his family from New Zealand.

  • @jamesb.9155
    @jamesb.9155 Год назад +3

    I recently met an old U.S. Colonel who was a pilot and engineer who had worked with Werner von Braun on the Apollo Program in the early 1960s.

  • @jikembemutombo55
    @jikembemutombo55 4 года назад +1183

    “I hate mustangs till this day” 😂💀

    • @dawgznationnicca2674
      @dawgznationnicca2674 4 года назад +7

      Jack Christiansen hearing the whine of one brings back the memories😂

    • @miklosernoehazy8678
      @miklosernoehazy8678 4 года назад +39

      @@dawgznationnicca2674 ...it probably does...
      ...my dad was from Hungary, and had a few stories about sitting out more than one bombing raid in a bomb shelter, (a rather jarring, harrowing experience by all accounts)...
      ...he came to the U.S. in 1951, if I recall correctly, and in his latter years he had a hobby of acquiring collectables from the Franklin Mint...
      ...he would receive pamphlets in the mail promoting the release of the next collectable (commemorative medallions, or die cast models of various motor vehicles, desktop statues of various legendary figures of the old west, etc.) and was something of an avid collector of these things...
      ...one day, in the mail, he received one of these promotional packets advertising the release of a diecast replica of a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber, which he promptly threw into the trash.
      I didn't understand why and asked him why not? ...you like these Franklin Mint collectables.
      His answer to me was: "After sitting in a few air-raid shelters with these damned things raining bombs down on us, I don't really feel like spending money on one of these replicas"...
      ...I could see his point...

    • @leomignonneau1765
      @leomignonneau1765 4 года назад +1

      @@miklosernoehazy8678 Intersting story!

    • @miklosernoehazy8678
      @miklosernoehazy8678 4 года назад +5

      @@leomignonneau1765 ...my dad had a couple of interesting stories about his experiences during the war...

    • @billzkhan100
      @billzkhan100 4 года назад +5

      @@miklosernoehazy8678 we would like to hear more please.. :))

  • @supercheese7033
    @supercheese7033 3 года назад +4415

    His accent, so German, yet so American Southern at the same time. lol

    • @spxrkks8510
      @spxrkks8510 3 года назад +22

      Lol

    • @-Dragon-Master-
      @-Dragon-Master- 3 года назад +26

      So true

    • @Michaelcaba
      @Michaelcaba 3 года назад +162

      Yes, I noticed that too! Even American slang. I have never heard anyone talk like this before.

    • @gucci1131
      @gucci1131 3 года назад +110

      @@Michaelcaba German/English aren't too far apart form each other (Linguistically I mean) , it's worth taking a look if you want to learn another language

    • @ELPIOJOBOLUDO
      @ELPIOJOBOLUDO 3 года назад +158

      Maybe he was from southern Germany.

  • @rayisland23
    @rayisland23 Год назад +4

    Amazing,this should be viewed by every high school and college student in this country. God Bless You Sir R.I.P.

  • @michaelrumfelt3106
    @michaelrumfelt3106 Год назад +4

    man I could listen to that man talk for hours truly a gem of history

  • @mikyles.1830
    @mikyles.1830 4 года назад +721

    That last quote from that guy was the best thing I’ve heard today!

    • @sander3236
      @sander3236 4 года назад +2

      maybe in a year

    • @sturmgewehr449
      @sturmgewehr449 4 года назад +5

      except britain and france tried to talk it out and see where that got them

    • @LetsPlayArcanium
      @LetsPlayArcanium 4 года назад

      mrpeabodythethird that’s why the other needs to be level headed if they’re not they shouldn’t have power in the first place

    • @apb2887
      @apb2887 4 года назад

      @94982 I don't know if it was a typo or not but I think what you meant to say was a "unconditional" surrender?

    • @exiz6935
      @exiz6935 4 года назад

      What part reply plss

  • @stressfulprick1409
    @stressfulprick1409 4 года назад +473

    The guy served as a German soldier during WW2, then came to the US to serve as an American soldier again , damn. 🇩🇪🇺🇸

    • @oliver1842
      @oliver1842 4 года назад +1

      William Wallace William Wallace 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

    • @kareldekale4987
      @kareldekale4987 4 года назад +1

      @ADJ30168 Hitler'sJewish Soldiers-Professor Brian Mark Rigg.

    • @jenna6906
      @jenna6906 4 года назад

      @@kareldekale4987 wdym?

    • @kareldekale4987
      @kareldekale4987 4 года назад

      @@jenna6906 Jazeker, het plaatje is immers veel uitgebreider.
      De werkelijke feiten over het hoe en waarom worden bewust weggelaten.
      Keer op keer moet ik vaststellen, dat ik gecensureerd wordt en dat in een land, waarin de grondrechten gerespecteerd dienen te worden.

    • @jenna6906
      @jenna6906 4 года назад

      @@kareldekale4987 i dont understand...

  • @skywalker4818
    @skywalker4818 7 месяцев назад +2

    There are so few German Veterans interviews and a German’s soldiers perspective of the front. This is one of them and it’s great!

  • @jayr1467
    @jayr1467 Год назад +34

    I particularly enjoyed this video. I've always wondered about the stories from the other side, as you would typically only hear what's being said from a larger standpoint. As an American soldier, I found this video amazing. One thing all soldiers in war have in common no matter the side. WE ALL WANT TO SURVIVE!!!

  • @bobcoleman226
    @bobcoleman226 4 года назад +646

    He reminds me of an old German Vet I met in Stuttgart that shook my hand and said he was glad he was shot by our planes in a strafing run. I begged him to explain, he showed me his old scar where the MGs ripped up his back, it put him out of the war and prevented him from going to the Eastern Front. We drank some more beer and departed as friends.

    • @dangrifdhsbxjs8424
      @dangrifdhsbxjs8424 4 года назад +3

      Patriot Cowboy what was his name?

    • @mountainguyed67
      @mountainguyed67 4 года назад +7

      Our planes had 50 cals, he wouldn’t have survived.

    • @erzierzi9132
      @erzierzi9132 4 года назад +14

      Nice story! The grandfather of a good friend first fought in France and then he was moved to Russia. There he was wounded and brought back home to recover. He told that this injury was the only reason that kept him away from Stalingrad.
      Afterwards when he was fully recovered he took part in the battle of Monte Cassino where he was wounded a second time. He survived war and died just some years ago in peace.
      The brother of my grandmother was not that lucky. He died at the age of 19 in the battle of Stalingrad
      Btw I am from Austria

    • @arleedennis791
      @arleedennis791 4 года назад +2

      @@mountainguyed67 lol well you find the stranger and tell him.

    • @mountainguyed67
      @mountainguyed67 4 года назад +4

      I was a 50 gunner in Iraq, we were instructed not to use it on personell unless it was necessary to save our lives. Example: someone is about to shoot you (or other friendly's), and switching to another weapon would be too late.

  • @DambergStudios
    @DambergStudios 3 года назад +1247

    The amount of shit this man went through... Survived a Mustang zeroed in on him, survived a close quarter tank combat on foot, nearly was in a massacre, behind enemy lines, chased by a soldiers, chased by other mechanised vehicles.... and is still alive... Man, this gentleman has my respect and man, I wish I had his courage....

    • @gertfschmitz
      @gertfschmitz 3 года назад +88

      I HAD A LOT OF HELP FROM ABOVE !!

    • @something7239
      @something7239 3 года назад +12

      @@gertfschmitz Above the Mustangs I presume.

    • @conbry6388
      @conbry6388 3 года назад +68

      @King Roger Check this kid pontificating about how he knows what real courage is over an actual WW2 veteran. Most courageous act you've ever faced is peeing sitting down in a public toilet or coming out to your dad.

    • @Numely
      @Numely 3 года назад +1

      Conbry lmaoooo

    • @Saltson
      @Saltson 3 года назад +1

      @@conbry6388 ROFL

  • @michaelnichols9850
    @michaelnichols9850 2 месяца назад +3

    I am so glad I found your videos, I have watched them nonstop for 2 days and cried several times listening to soldiers tell their stories. Thank you for interviewing these men before they pass, this is my favorite channel now.

  • @richardpayne2625
    @richardpayne2625 Год назад +8

    I have a friend who's dad was in the Wermacht and after the was he joined the American army. He then worked for the NY Transit Authority. I met him and his German wife many times and I was so sad when they passed. He was a very funny guy and they both were very fine people.

  • @peanutbutterisfu
    @peanutbutterisfu 4 года назад +1049

    It’s too bad so many stories were never told and died with the soldiers.

    • @luki188
      @luki188 4 года назад +13

      almost no veteran likes talking about killing peeps

    • @robertisidoro1495
      @robertisidoro1495 4 года назад

      EUROPE Freedom damn, you got the whole squad laughing😐

    • @luki188
      @luki188 4 года назад

      @EUROPE Freedom what is going on with you

    • @luki188
      @luki188 4 года назад

      @EUROPE Freedom meh didnt Really Said anything

    • @luki188
      @luki188 4 года назад

      @EUROPE Freedom lol you are so toxic

  • @momojafar9385
    @momojafar9385 3 года назад +1364

    It's sad to think that these wars were mostly fought by young men who barely had a idea of what was going on and was manipulated into doing it

    • @endureshanta4805
      @endureshanta4805 3 года назад +60

      Yeah It's heartbreaking because Lot of people don't get it, Realize They are fighting for their country, Following orders! I'm a American And I'm just gonna say America or any country would've Done same if ordered to ... Example Iraq war, America started a war For no reason and killed Innocents Because they were ordered to! My great grandfather Was in ww2, My father said He took pictures of Japanese people heads, Took there katana! Comprehending that Shows Were no different compared to the Germans...

    • @johnboyle6294
      @johnboyle6294 3 года назад +6

      Römisch Shanta can you not see that both of those acts are evil though, like just because you’re ordered to do something doesn’t mean that you’re not morally culpable if the act is evil.

    • @endureshanta4805
      @endureshanta4805 3 года назад +5

      @@johnboyle6294 Dude I never said That I didn't think those acts were good? I'm mean Yeah If your Country Is doing something Wrong, Ofc they should be blamed, Not Pretend it didn't happen like immature adults! That's like the US telling the military to Slaughter People, wouldn't you Blame The US Dosen't matter if Ur ordered To do something you Should still blamed! Of course it's evil, If you Don't think ww2 Wasn't evil ur a Dumbass... All I was saying in my first comment is We think Germans Are bad Because of evil acts, Yet America Bombs Citys with Unarmed civilians, Starts wars, Creates chaos? If you read my comment I was talking about My great grandfather Who fought in ww2, Had pictures of Japanese heads, Don't you think that's evil?

    • @edmiesterful
      @edmiesterful 3 года назад +3

      the wehrmacht were mainly volunteers and commited many atrocities including the holocaust

    • @facundomagarinoss3401
      @facundomagarinoss3401 3 года назад +3

      Like the americans?

  • @frazerbond3413
    @frazerbond3413 Год назад +11

    Over the last year I've watched this video probably 4 times. Something very captivating and honest about this man, and interesting to hear a different side to storey from what I would class as the enemy.
    Sad to hear of his passing RIP.

  • @mickmack8999
    @mickmack8999 Год назад +6

    Respect to this soldier

  • @alexagudo9756
    @alexagudo9756 4 года назад +3425

    War was the stupidist thing that man invented.
    -Gert Schmitz

    • @graygoonigan.
      @graygoonigan. 4 года назад +73

      The sad thing is that it's human nature. As a 17 year old even I can see another World War approaching.

    • @Ghosts-jx7dw
      @Ghosts-jx7dw 4 года назад

      acevitamin no “world” war” isn’t happening.

    • @Ghosts-jx7dw
      @Ghosts-jx7dw 4 года назад +2

      Yet it’s spoken about it in the Bible.

    • @Ghosts-jx7dw
      @Ghosts-jx7dw 4 года назад +2

      @acevitamin there is no war at all, not sure how you think but what you said was definitely stupid lol.

    • @Ghosts-jx7dw
      @Ghosts-jx7dw 4 года назад

      @acevitamin maybe because "ghostly warfare" isnt a thing. Search up the meaning of "war"

  • @mossdavis349
    @mossdavis349 3 года назад +2996

    This is my Uncle Gert! I cannot believe I am just discovering this video but I am glad to see everyone appreciating the sacrifices he made and understanding the adversity and hardships he experienced. Thank you for this film, it means more to me and my family than you know.

    • @gertfschmitz
      @gertfschmitz 3 года назад +501

      Hi , MOSS ; I am so glas you discovered me , hahaha !Live is much better now ! I wish I could meet you some time , but at 93 it is not so easy !

    • @SamIAm-kz4hg
      @SamIAm-kz4hg 3 года назад +94

      ​@@gertfschmitz
      I just left another message responding to someone else. My father was a young (German) boy during the war. He has vivid memories and many stories.
      One of my uncles was in the SS, and lost his leg after being shot by a plane.
      Another uncle and my grandfather were both prisoners of war.
      My father found a phosphorus bomb that exploded when he played with it, causing acid burns and hearing loss.
      Dusseldorf was a target of strategic bombing, and ended up being mostly rubble by the end of the war.
      And yet all of them (2 parents and 11 brothers and sisters) made it through the war.
      I think these stories should be passed down to those of us who don't know any better.

    • @Riesenschwanz88
      @Riesenschwanz88 3 года назад +57

      @@marcinmario6455 🤦🤦 oh man du bist nicht zu retten ein richtiger vollidiot bist du

    • @livethefuture2492
      @livethefuture2492 3 года назад +53

      Gert Schmitz
      Hope you're staying safe and doing well during this pandemic!
      Wonderful piece of history here.

    • @sicksadworld765
      @sicksadworld765 3 года назад +5

      @@marcinmario6455 Thomas the deportation train had never seen such a bullshit before

  • @andrewruocco3869
    @andrewruocco3869 2 года назад +95

    I was stunned and very happy to hear that Gert served in the United States military after the war was over. This video is a great reminder to everyone who enjoys history that soldiers like him were not terrible fanatics like the party officials. Just ordinary people like you and me. 🇺🇸

    • @user-kw7ds3hu9l
      @user-kw7ds3hu9l Год назад

      Тупые немцы сбежали в США и южную Америку /например Эйхман и Йозеф Менгеле .

    • @davecrupel2817
      @davecrupel2817 11 месяцев назад

      How strange that must have been. Joining the very military you fought against just years prior.
      How difficult that must have been for him. I cant imagine the ridicule and maltreatment he must have gotten during his service, from veterans of that war who learned of his history. :(

    • @sec9788
      @sec9788 3 месяца назад

      @@davecrupel2817Ridicule???? My dear Lord, he SHOT at us!!! How was he even ALLOWED to do that (immigrate and join) is beyond comprehension…😑

  • @mnicholl93
    @mnicholl93 11 месяцев назад +4

    I love Gert's merging of accents, it perfectly illustrates have much the world opened up after WWII. Thank you for sharing your story, Sir; even though you were fighting against us, you were doing what you thought was right, and serving your country. Rest In Peace

  • @kayleehyland7598
    @kayleehyland7598 4 года назад +782

    “Don’t fight. Talk it out...There’s always a solution.”
    -Gert Schmitz

    • @lsd-rickb-1728
      @lsd-rickb-1728 4 года назад +3

      I can tell he was lying he was PATRIOTIC and determined to defeat the allies in WW2

    • @tritonewt3344
      @tritonewt3344 4 года назад +2

      Absolutely cringe

    • @winstonchurchill3597
      @winstonchurchill3597 4 года назад

      @@calo-kg2cy Damn that was on point. lol

    • @lsd-rickb-1728
      @lsd-rickb-1728 4 года назад

      @Wilhelm II. Are you even German brooo

    • @johanlassen6448
      @johanlassen6448 4 года назад +3

      @Wilhelm II. Ah, the battlecry of the nazi apologist. It was Wehrmacht troops who were responsible for a lot of the crimes of nazi Germany idiot. Not Hitler personally. They have themselves to blame for following him. They could always have surrendered. Instead they chose to fight fanatically for Hitlers genocidal ambitions. And yes, the Allies had every right to retaliate for it. They could have ended Germany as a state for all I care. Its no less than what Germany intended and tried to do to a lot of them.

  • @thefbi1947
    @thefbi1947 4 года назад +2869

    It's nice the see the perspective of someone from the Axis side. I've been waiting with anticipation for this and it did not disappoint.

    • @MemoirsofWWII
      @MemoirsofWWII  4 года назад +110

      The FBI thanks for watching!

    • @tabernaclejones6115
      @tabernaclejones6115 4 года назад +9

      my grandson says your the fbi, do i need to get a switch for him lyin to me ?

    • @dondajulah4168
      @dondajulah4168 4 года назад +3

      @Leopard Boas a stick used for swatting a childs behind

    • @tabernaclejones6115
      @tabernaclejones6115 4 года назад +1

      @Leopard Boas a swatting stik my papaw passed down from his, to mine, when nephew gets loud he gets a swat? so what i say. so he is upset. he is loud. He is my kine. He can't be loud? Marsha is right next to him in the room over and she has enough cards in her deck to know ol' ciggy wont let nephew get loud. i got a damn chihuahua for chripesake.

    • @fridolfmane1063
      @fridolfmane1063 4 года назад +2

      Gods side.

  • @1492tomato
    @1492tomato Год назад +7

    Thank you for Gert's story. The only people who talk of the "glory of war" are people who've never seen it at arm's length.

  • @stevenscummy1458
    @stevenscummy1458 4 года назад +1591

    This guy looks pretty healthy for being a WW2 era veteran, got the gold jewelry on too looking swag lol

    • @franciscomonge4930
      @franciscomonge4930 4 года назад +73

      He was 10 or 12 years old when he joined the army. Thats why

    • @codplayer6596
      @codplayer6596 4 года назад +32

      Welll veterans can be healthy 🙄 sooooo ...

    • @AdamsBrew78
      @AdamsBrew78 4 года назад +106

      @@franciscomonge4930 wrong. Hitler youth wasn’t “the army” .. He was likely in the Hitler youth program until around 16-17 years of age before he was drafted into the Nazi armed forces.

    • @divingdave2945
      @divingdave2945 4 года назад +81

      @@MauroPavanelli That Group thinking is the same that Nazis use to explain why certain groups are bad.

    • @OlgaLevin
      @OlgaLevin 4 года назад +16

      I met a D-Day veteran at work one time who didn’t even look the age that he was. He was in his 80’s at the time, but didn’t even look like a day over 70. He sure did keep himself up good.

  • @gavinbaranko9888
    @gavinbaranko9888 4 года назад +3030

    I think ppl forget that German soldiers are human too. They got drafted and many didn’t even know what terrible things Hitler was doing. They where just as scared as the Americans French and so on

    • @michaelwier1222
      @michaelwier1222 3 года назад +253

      @@reecewood155 While I was at Fort Polk Louisiana, my neighbor was a small girl during the war. She told me that her two uncles said something 'not very nice' about Hitler and were sent to the Eastern Front. Never to be seen or heard of again.

    • @motorcollection6635
      @motorcollection6635 3 года назад +226

      Each soldier is a victim of his system.

    • @torben6131
      @torben6131 3 года назад +12

      MotorCollection I don’t think soldiers knew their real system

    • @reecewood155
      @reecewood155 3 года назад +35

      @Iblis Mine isn't made up dude.

    • @nikolarakita2401
      @nikolarakita2401 3 года назад +39

      yeah but germans who were against it were very very rare. of course after the war, when faced with what they had been a part of they say oh we got drafted we didnt know what was going on, yeah right concentration camps next to big cities but nobody knew

  • @hihunter7
    @hihunter7 2 года назад +17

    Hearing him talk about peace and always finding a solution through communicating it out brought a smile to my face and a tear to my eye

  • @EliteFuller
    @EliteFuller 2 года назад +4

    what a man

  • @fredcook3744
    @fredcook3744 4 года назад +2902

    Unfortunately the ones who start the wars are not the ones who fight them

    • @Ledwow
      @Ledwow 4 года назад +41

      Fred Cook not anymore but back in the day they did.

    • @davidbrown8303
      @davidbrown8303 4 года назад +181

      Old men start wars and young men die in them.

    • @qweasdzxcname
      @qweasdzxcname 4 года назад +10

      they used to.

    • @ryszard68
      @ryszard68 4 года назад +29

      Their offspring more often than not get found to be medically unfit for service, strange that.

    • @codplayer6596
      @codplayer6596 4 года назад +8

      Well Russia and Germany did divide Poland they had a pact together and not all german soldiers fought against the USA such as the German_Army_(Wehrmacht) Heer soldiers fought with the USA and French during the battle of Castle Itter and idc which said they were on soo a veteran is a veteran

  • @gabrielbenay
    @gabrielbenay 4 года назад +1170

    "But, I hate mustangs to this day" lol that's priceless.

    • @vivians9392
      @vivians9392 4 года назад +25

      Lucky for him, there are not too many to see now!

    • @gabrielbenay
      @gabrielbenay 4 года назад +1

      @@vivians9392 😂

    • @farrp024
      @farrp024 3 года назад +6

      Can't really blame him now can you? 😂

    • @DiligentX
      @DiligentX 3 года назад +13

      In All Honesty so your talking about reincarnation n that stuff?

    • @seekndstroy9224
      @seekndstroy9224 3 года назад +6

      I hate mustangs in warthunder

  • @foreskinfairy8975
    @foreskinfairy8975 2 года назад +10

    Even though it's pretty much the same as hearing someone talk about remembering Churchill being PM besides some simple distance setting it apart, it's so surreal to hear someone talk about being in the Hitler Youth and hearing the man on the radio. Goes to show stories like Gert's are quite rarely heard.
    He's very good at telling his story, really brings it to life no matter if it's the tragedy or his several horrifying close calls. Thank you for letting his story reach further, it won't be forgotten.

  • @SuperSuperswan
    @SuperSuperswan 2 года назад +11

    In the 80s my brother drove a bus in Croydon, one day when I went with him to the bus station he introduced me to a tall elderly guy, also a bus driver. Afterwards my brother told me he had been a German paratrooper during the war, had been captured and then a POW. He stayed in the UK and made his life here.

    • @jimburden3428
      @jimburden3428 15 дней назад

      I grew up hearing stories of the civil war, and The Great War and WWII... I had family on both sides, one wrote the Article s of surrender, and the other was the last Confederate General to surrender. My Fathers dad was a dough boy in WWII, and my dad and all my uncles were veterans of WWII. Both were last surviving personnel of their units.... Needless to say, family reunions in 60s, and 70s, were as flurry of family history and war. I served in Marines, 83-89, during Granada and Beruit, even though I never went, there were other things Reagan had us doing. No such thing as a Peace Time Marine, let's leave it at that or 75th Rangers...I had privilege of knowing 4, former officers of Germany... One was a SS Capt., captured by the Russian Army and when he was at fighting weight in his prime he was 218 and 6'2".... When he was returned from Russia he weighed 110lbs... I could go on, but, all these Soldiers fought for their Country and did their best, and were, greater men after the wars...

  • @coopers1716
    @coopers1716 2 года назад +948

    His German/Southern accent is so endearing.
    "they started shootin' at us!" 😂

    • @byfrax2371
      @byfrax2371 2 года назад +55

      that sounded like someone interviewed a shop owner from texas

    • @raymondweaver8526
      @raymondweaver8526 Год назад +15

      So I wasn't the only one to hear it

    • @bcreech17
      @bcreech17 Год назад +35

      I enjoyed hearing the very American anachronisms like “shoot, etc” with the mix of German inflection and Southern twang

    • @cinematiccrisis
      @cinematiccrisis Год назад

      @@bcreech17 Out of interest: is "shooting at us" an anachronism?

    • @wagstag89
      @wagstag89 Год назад +12

      I caught that too like when he said "shoot yeah" about going to flight school. I'm from the south and that sounded like my grandad telling a story

  • @trunks41061
    @trunks41061 4 года назад +1224

    My grandfather passed away last year with 93 years old. He was born in Preußen. He didnt tell me many stories about that time because he didn't wanted to talk about it anymore. He was about 15 years old when he did go to the Hitler Jugend and i saw a Picture of him in Uniform. He visited his "Homeland" one more Time about ten years ago, his Family had a big farm what was lost after the War. He was hold in Russian war captivity (somewhere in Poland) and survived due the fact that he was one of a few Germans who could speak polish so he got the food from Russian military commanders for translating, the other guys didnt get really much food he told me. One Night they broke out of captivity (i dont know exactly what happened, maybe a riot) and run for their lives when the Russians started shooting at them, they were running to a trough a huge field so all of them just jumped to the ground and tried to hide from the bullets, some were hitten and died but he was lucky and stayed on the ground for 1-2 days probably when he finally stood up and run across the border to germany (the war was already lost at this time). One more thing: my grandma was from a small village also in the area germany/poland, dont know exactly what city/area she from there. She had 3 Brothers, 2 Marine and 1 Luftwaffe, she has a picture of them at her home when they were about 18-20 years old in uniform, its the last picture from them - they never returned...oh man i could really tell some stories :O My Greatgrandmother had 2 husbands: the first one died in ww1 the 2nd in ww2, she never married or had a realationship afterwards. I write it down here so in case ANYONE is interested in real stories from ww2 :-)

    • @21stcenturystrengthethos47
      @21stcenturystrengthethos47 4 года назад +4

      fleisch bersch is That Rich piana in your avatar?

    • @21stcenturystrengthethos47
      @21stcenturystrengthethos47 4 года назад +28

      There is some melancholy beauty in these stories

    • @trunks41061
      @trunks41061 4 года назад +3

      @@21stcenturystrengthethos47 hell yea it is

    • @21stcenturystrengthethos47
      @21stcenturystrengthethos47 4 года назад

      fleisch bersch lol

    • @midnightrider7648
      @midnightrider7648 4 года назад +61

      Excellent stories, my dad was in WW2. I remember him telling me stories about the war when i was a teenager but i was too young to understand the magnitude of what he was telling me. Unfortunately i have forgotten more of those stories than i remember. The older he got the less he talked about it. I think his trip to france to commemorate the 50th anniversary of d-day was therapeutic for him. When he & my mom returned from france i told him I was proud of him. I'll always remember his reaction was one of pleasant surprise. Damn i miss my parents. Great people, yet very humble.

  • @nancysmith-baker1813
    @nancysmith-baker1813 Год назад +1

    Thank you for sharing this .
    Us younger generations needed to hear this .
    Sorry for your loss .

  • @uglyfrog7263
    @uglyfrog7263 Год назад +31

    Rest in peace Gert. You lived a great life and served both of your countries well!

  • @wangchung2157
    @wangchung2157 4 года назад +1948

    I like hearing both sides of the story it gives so much more insight

    • @laceyboelman
      @laceyboelman 4 года назад +9

      Same

    • @lamolambda8349
      @lamolambda8349 4 года назад +21

      This is just late stage war there's better testimonials but they're with subtitles guess they picked this guy cause of his good english

    • @fridolfmane1063
      @fridolfmane1063 4 года назад +41

      No shit idiot.
      Allied criminals should be exposed.

    • @billmers3219
      @billmers3219 4 года назад +9

      Fridolf måne you're pathetic!!!!!

    • @fridolfmane1063
      @fridolfmane1063 4 года назад +11

      @@billmers3219 No im not, you dont know me.
      You are simple.

  • @jamiemay8359
    @jamiemay8359 3 года назад +1072

    This gentleman sat next to me waiting for an eye exam and had me look this up. The very same guy talking.

    • @gertfschmitz
      @gertfschmitz 3 года назад +345

      Hey Jamie , you did look it up ! I hope you enjoyed it .

    • @heimdallwg2112
      @heimdallwg2112 3 года назад +10

      If u see him again say hello to him!

    • @jonbathurst953
      @jonbathurst953 3 года назад +5

      Awesome

    • @WhenAllTheWarmthLeavesUs
      @WhenAllTheWarmthLeavesUs 3 года назад +4

      daymn he is thicc tho

    • @Aviarch
      @Aviarch 3 года назад +57

      @@gertfschmitz Your testimony is very important, thank you for sharing it with us! We wish you excellent health and happiness for many more years to come :)

  • @Johnny35130
    @Johnny35130 Год назад +3

    In Alabama, we had many brilliant German men who came here during and just after the war. My grandfather had one on his maintenance team at JSU. Always adept at solving problems and hard work.
    Thank you Gert! (and Mueller)

  • @dannysarco6743
    @dannysarco6743 8 месяцев назад +1

    My grandfather served as an Air Force navigator during WW2. He believed that it was crucial to document perspectives from all sides of the war. He emphasized that, at the end of any conflict, it's vital to ensure that prisoners of war return home with tales of fair treatment, contrasting it with the treatment they might have received from the enemy. This approach not only humanizes the enemy but also prevents animosities from being passed down to future generations.
    I'm fortunate to have been raised in the US, instilled with Western values. I often reflect on how different my life might have been had I grown up in Nazi Germany, with Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels as my primary sources of information. It's essential to preserve and share such stories to understand the broader context of history.

    • @blackflag2646
      @blackflag2646 7 месяцев назад

      That’s only because nobody kills your grandfather’s family just in their house

  • @Muflie
    @Muflie 4 года назад +767

    To everyone saying his accent is dutch: No, it's a German accent mixed with a southern accent

    • @gertfschmitz
      @gertfschmitz 4 года назад +41

      I have 3 accents ! When I visit Germany I have a American accent ,when I visit the west coast I have a southern accent and when I am in ALA I have a germane accent .

    • @degenetron7590
      @degenetron7590 4 года назад +5

      Yea he sounds very dutch indeed

    • @degenetron7590
      @degenetron7590 4 года назад

      @@sebbi9710 Dutch is a language

    • @josephmiller8869
      @josephmiller8869 4 года назад +6

      He probably served in Huntsville Alabama for NASA

    • @TheGhostFreakz
      @TheGhostFreakz 4 года назад

      @@gertfschmitz Danke dir Gert, dass du deine unglaubliche Geschichte mit der Öffentlichkeit teilst. Ich wünsche dir Glück und Gesundheit auf deinem weiteren Weg!

  • @allghilliedup21
    @allghilliedup21 3 года назад +1700

    "Don't fight. Talk it out. There's gotta be a solution."
    Fuck, man, a veteran of a gruesome conflict has better wisdom from a time where there was no Internet than our generation.
    Respect to you, Herr Schmitz.

    • @tomfromeriej4611
      @tomfromeriej4611 3 года назад +30

      Yes, there is a solution and you will deny it, but His name is Jesus Christ!

    • @nikomylnikov4540
      @nikomylnikov4540 3 года назад +1

      nah nah nah nah nah embrace the full extent of liberty or youll get it embraced for you! SOMEONES BOUT TO GET LIBERATED!!! MURICAAAAAAAAAA

    • @Cortesevasive
      @Cortesevasive 3 года назад +7

      sounds good, doesnt work.

    • @SuperRAJORSHI
      @SuperRAJORSHI 3 года назад +1

      they warned us...and we aint listening, not yet!!

    • @tomfromeriej4611
      @tomfromeriej4611 3 года назад +7

      @JuuzouSusuyaScythe TwoHandedGsKing No Jesus, no peace.
      Know Jesus, know peace.

  • @unitedeurope8614
    @unitedeurope8614 Год назад +1

    Thank you for this video - its great to get this perspective. Rest in Peace Gert.

  • @m1garand164
    @m1garand164 2 года назад +2

    I like this gentleman. He seems like a guy I could drink a beer with. I really enjoy how he explains all of this. He explains it with such good humor. I found myself chuckling as he told how he was jumping in a ditch and over fences back and forth to avoid bullets and bombs. Despite the seriousness of his situation at the time, I respect that after all this time he can look back at it in a less morbid light and talk about it like something funny that happened at work. Then he rounded it out with very sensical and simple advise about avoiding war and its terrible futility.
    God bless you sir! Glad you survived that very crazy time.

  • @user-bx4qs6dk8k
    @user-bx4qs6dk8k 4 года назад +364

    "But, I hate Mustangs to this day." - Gert Schmitz

    • @czkawuszka
      @czkawuszka 4 года назад +1

      funny laughed

    • @VanquishMediaDE
      @VanquishMediaDE 4 года назад +16

      Who can blame him, Mustangs leave cars and coffee and run over people.

    • @frankvandergoes298
      @frankvandergoes298 4 года назад +14

      My mother in law who was a Polish slave labourer was wounded when US aircraft machine gunned there horse & cart while taking milk into town, horse dead, farmer dead, Marie had bullet wounds to her legs

    • @xmm-cf5eg
      @xmm-cf5eg 4 года назад +7

      Can't blame him, I'm sure any infantryman would hate whatever model of aircraft that had strafed them in combat. Stukas come to mind for the allies.

    • @flare9757
      @flare9757 4 года назад +1

      Imagine how much German Tank Crews hated them...

  • @MechShark
    @MechShark 4 года назад +399

    "If you cannot communicate, you start fighting." We ignore history and are doomed to repeat it.

    • @bbrandumbb
      @bbrandumbb 4 года назад +13

      "History does not repeat, it rhymes."

    • @yektako
      @yektako 4 года назад +5

      "We" don't start wars, politicians do.

    • @oisinosborne2852
      @oisinosborne2852 4 года назад +2

      @@yektako but it us the people who elect politicians just look at Trump he was elected and the Republicans are doing everything they can to keep him in power.

    • @illegalewahrheiten2911
      @illegalewahrheiten2911 4 года назад +2

      @@oisinosborne2852 Never better evidence that people are not fit to elect their leaders.

    • @intylerwetrust9908
      @intylerwetrust9908 4 года назад +1

      Tell that to the Jews.

  • @sickpicasso9563
    @sickpicasso9563 7 месяцев назад +11

    I am German and my great granddad was fighting in the World war 2 too. He was captured by the French Army and released after the end of war. I am really greatful that he wasn’t fighting on the eastern front and had a chance to survive. Almost every survivor on this channel was captured by France or Britain. So you could imagine why nobody was coming back from the eastern front…

    • @denisek292
      @denisek292 6 месяцев назад

      You’re absolutely correct. The Russians killed the majority of German soldiers taken as POW’s….very sad.

    • @mitchkupietz
      @mitchkupietz 3 месяца назад

      Oh yeah. Soviets took no prisoners

    • @peterburry2014
      @peterburry2014 2 месяца назад

      @@mitchkupietz They did take prisoners, and sent them to labour camps in Siberia to be worked to death

    • @dylantyt6654
      @dylantyt6654 2 месяца назад

      Sorry to hear about that. War is never good. Germans never get their side of the story told

  • @LearningHistoryTogether
    @LearningHistoryTogether Год назад +1

    One of the reasons why i love youtube. It preserves so many stories from people who aren't able to tell it anymore..💔 rest in peace brave British, American, French, Soviet, Canadian, Dutch, Belgian, Danish, Norwegian, Polish, Greek, Yugoslavian, Indian, Chinese, Australian Forces, and the german and Italian resistance

  • @ikasando
    @ikasando 4 года назад +2130

    I want to hear more from the German soldier's perspective.

    • @mrlucky7467
      @mrlucky7467 4 года назад +13

      @Rad Derry Got to make sure the guns Stay Pointed in the right direction. Which is Us pointing them at Each Other and not Them.

    • @EveryoneElseIsWeirdImNormal
      @EveryoneElseIsWeirdImNormal 4 года назад +7

      @Rad Derry if you only know on side then for all you know you aren't killing a hostile your killing a freedom fighter

    • @EveryoneElseIsWeirdImNormal
      @EveryoneElseIsWeirdImNormal 4 года назад

      @Rad Derry I mean there both true technically

    • @EveryoneElseIsWeirdImNormal
      @EveryoneElseIsWeirdImNormal 4 года назад

      @Rad Derry the only real truth is nihilism

    • @EveryoneElseIsWeirdImNormal
      @EveryoneElseIsWeirdImNormal 4 года назад

      @Rad Derry no it's just acceptice of everything ending

  • @jonahkabonah1039
    @jonahkabonah1039 4 года назад +257

    He narrowly escaped death so many times, this guy is a historical treasure.

    • @949surferdude
      @949surferdude 4 года назад +10

      Surviving a Mustang strafing is unbelievable!

    • @monroekelly9064
      @monroekelly9064 4 года назад +3

      Yeah. Too bad our guys didn’t get him.

    • @UnordinaryCarl
      @UnordinaryCarl 4 года назад +3

      10:10 - 10:18 cUm on out Cum on oUt
      *HANDS UP HANDSUP **-GACHIGASM-** GERMANGASM*
      ACTUAL HISTORICAL TREASURE BOUNDED BY TIME

    • @keyboardwarrior0082
      @keyboardwarrior0082 4 года назад +18

      @@monroekelly9064 You better should search a good psychotherapist.

    • @Anthony-df4bs
      @Anthony-df4bs 4 года назад

      @@keyboardwarrior0082 You better should proof read.

  • @dand4139
    @dand4139 Год назад +4

    His candidness is chilling, in no way is that bad, he didn’t seem to hesitate at all if not to find the best words to use even when describing his comrades death

  • @KB-hx3px
    @KB-hx3px 10 месяцев назад +2

    RIP Gert. My father was just a baby, born in Germany, in 1939. My Opa and his brothers all served on the Eastern Front. All made it back except for Uncle George who is still listed MIA. The Germans didn’t want to get captured by Russia during or after the war. I never got to meet my OPA but I imagine he was much like Gert, only older. Eventually they were allowed to immigrate to the US where my father also became an Aeronautical Engineer.

  • @yoonhyunglee8538
    @yoonhyunglee8538 4 года назад +1462

    But, I hate Mustangs to this day. That is hilarious.

    • @JR7noir
      @JR7noir 4 года назад +2

      lol

    • @raymondrose6596
      @raymondrose6596 4 года назад +2

      Good guote

    • @SeRgA123456789
      @SeRgA123456789 4 года назад +77

      Can't blame him, I'd hate them if one was trying to make Swiss cheese out of me lol

    • @Ronnie-Jones
      @Ronnie-Jones 4 года назад +16

      The owners of the Google/RUclips network, who own all the other networks, don’t want the world to know the truth especially historical truth as they’ve pulled down from youtube countless times since its 2017 release the most forbidden documentary ever published! But the full ten-part series is still available at archive-dot-org: "Europa The Last Battle". Watch while you still can!

    • @Saifullah-lw6he
      @Saifullah-lw6he 4 года назад +1

      What did he mean by that?
      I didn't get it

  • @kevind3185
    @kevind3185 4 года назад +255

    My Grandpa Joe Roza fought for Patton's Third Army 94th Infantry Division. I remember when I was about 8 year's old spending the day with Grandpa. We stopped for lunch and he struck up a conversation with another Man his age. This other Man talked funny and I didn't know who he was. After lunch I asked my Grandpa who that Man was, he said "we were both Soldiers in the War." As I got older I realized that Man talked funny because he spoke with a hard German accent. Before my Grandpa passed I asked him about that day. He told me that most Soldiers from every side were just kid's literally tossed into a living Hell to kill each other all were just fighting to survive.

    • @andytaylor1588
      @andytaylor1588 4 года назад +16

      Best comment all day.

    • @extraneus1630
      @extraneus1630 4 года назад +15

      You should know by the end of the war general Patton said we'd fought the wrong enemy and destroyed a noble people, after he arrived in germany after the russians and met them, a large portion of soldiers, generals, and journalists tried to speak out about the war afterwards and that it was wrong, communism won and now we are paying the price.

    • @daviddestefano5044
      @daviddestefano5044 4 года назад +3

      my uncle also in the 94th 376th regt. I have read the history the guys went through hell wars circumstances and resource allocation often left the division on even footing with the enemy and they brutally slugged it out

    • @somerandomguy7068
      @somerandomguy7068 4 года назад +2

      damn, that's sad

    • @loganater45
      @loganater45 4 года назад

      Yes, But what choice did the west have?@@extraneus1630

  • @qualityherbsonly
    @qualityherbsonly Год назад +1

    What a great man. Thank you for finding these stories!

  • @atomicinjun
    @atomicinjun 11 месяцев назад

    What a gift we have to hear this guy's stories. Thank you Memiors of WWII for saving this history.

  • @Azrael8
    @Azrael8 4 года назад +390

    Its refreshing to hear the story being told from the other perspective.

    • @EveryoneElseIsWeirdImNormal
      @EveryoneElseIsWeirdImNormal 4 года назад +4

      Yes it is there are very very few not just of world wars but in general a good example is the history's which had parts about the wars between Greece and Persia but we also the Persian perspective

    • @neilmccauley690
      @neilmccauley690 4 года назад +2

      Its a same shit on every side-kill or get killed...in next war first thing I going to do is to robb the first bank i see...

    • @thatrandomguy3415
      @thatrandomguy3415 4 года назад

      @Sterling Thomas Very unlikely

    • @neilmccauley690
      @neilmccauley690 4 года назад +1

      @@orcajr.5843 Why?!your dady is a BankBitch

  • @chrisburckhard9122
    @chrisburckhard9122 3 года назад +2007

    There definitely needs to be more stories told from the German side. Everyone pays attention to the Americans and the British. But, nobody ever talks about the Germans. It's a shame.

    • @lolofblitz6468
      @lolofblitz6468 3 года назад +89

      well everyone says germans are bad but i love german soldiers when they comunite and fight with planes and tanks germany is unstopavable german soldiers dont kil jews hitler and ss kil jews :(

    • @whofuckingcares44
      @whofuckingcares44 3 года назад +41

      shame on their war crimes

    • @kalsder
      @kalsder 3 года назад +157

      @@whofuckingcares44
      Because it was just the Germans who committed war crimes, yeah?

    • @whofuckingcares44
      @whofuckingcares44 3 года назад +16

      @@lolofblitz6468 you so naive

    • @arty5876
      @arty5876 3 года назад +41

      @@lolofblitz6468 what about genocude of 7.5 million slavs?

  • @senditsimon4913
    @senditsimon4913 11 месяцев назад +1

    “Don’t fight, talk it out. There’s always a solution, there’s got to be a solution.”
    Every soldier says, “peace the old fashioned way, fuck around and find out”
    This man is a warrior, not a soldier.
    A soldier is a tool, a warrior is an asset

  • @voxterh.6166
    @voxterh.6166 2 года назад +9

    Bless this man, I have the deepest respect for what he's been through and I hope he's in good health!

    • @eddx5758
      @eddx5758 Год назад +3

      He died in may 2022

  • @zunigascardetailing3300
    @zunigascardetailing3300 4 года назад +82

    I’m a caregiver and I took care of a WW2 veteran. He’s 95 years old and one of the nicest men alive. He told me a few stories it was absolutely amazing.

    • @GBLynden
      @GBLynden 4 года назад +14

      Zuniga’s Car Detailing Please connect him with Josh. Like he said at the end of the video, there aren’t many left and each day we lose more.

    • @treystephens4490
      @treystephens4490 4 года назад

      What were his stories?

    • @oddballsok
      @oddballsok 4 года назад

      war sucks..the end.

    • @Escherichia2003
      @Escherichia2003 4 года назад

      Well, good on yer for doing that job. You are a kind and good human being.

  • @spamreciever4208
    @spamreciever4208 4 года назад +243

    Let's just acknowledge really quickly that his English is really remarkable.

    • @terminallumbago6465
      @terminallumbago6465 4 года назад +15

      He's been in the US for decades

    • @SpiritMatthias
      @SpiritMatthias 4 года назад +4

      Terminal Lumbago lol right. If you live somewhere for 50 years and don’t sound local: you’re an absolute failure.

    • @oscarrlee18
      @oscarrlee18 4 года назад +2

      Gotta love the USA we kick your ass and you come here and tell us how you killed our guys. No wonder we are so fucked up

    • @emperorsilvius3266
      @emperorsilvius3266 4 года назад +6

      @@SpiritMatthias Move to Germany and see if you get a german accent, my grandparents never got an american accent, accents are exceedingly difficult to change once you are older.

    • @SpiritMatthias
      @SpiritMatthias 4 года назад

      @@emperorsilvius3266 I have moved to Germany....and I have had Germans ask me if I am German as I am amongst non-German speakers.
      When a German responds to you in English, it's because they know you can't speak German. When a German responds to you in German, it's because they think you're one of the Germanic language speaking people.
      Sry to burst the bubble bro.

  • @oif3vetk9
    @oif3vetk9 Год назад +1

    This is a fantastic video. We are fortunate that someone has/is making these and that these veterans are willing to tell their stories. Nobody wants peace more than someone who has fought in combat.

  • @scott6828
    @scott6828 Год назад

    This guys story and memory is amazing....I could listen to to him all day

  • @peteramoh3429
    @peteramoh3429 3 года назад +1873

    It's like he has the Texas German accent

    • @maybenexttime17
      @maybenexttime17 3 года назад +13

      Russian RUclips channel cool vision also speaks more like a 🇺🇸 southerner also. Check him out even if just for the accent

    • @michaello7635
      @michaello7635 3 года назад +36

      He lives in Alabama

    • @zacharyfelder6604
      @zacharyfelder6604 3 года назад +19

      @@maybenexttime17 that kinda what a Texan German accent is, mix because German immigrants startred to talk more southern

    • @MrLamapare
      @MrLamapare 3 года назад +12

      So he went to work for a real Nazi in the US. Lol

    • @danreaume7675
      @danreaume7675 3 года назад +2

      I'm thinking South Carolina

  • @timitzer
    @timitzer 4 года назад +357

    My father was an American GI during WW2. After the war he married my mother who was from Germany. They stayed married 67 years until his death. My father told me when they captured the Germans and they got along well with them and had no hatred for them. He liberated a concentration camps and told me they beat many of the SS guards to death after seeing what they had done. I guess what I am saying is time heals all wounds, Each side did what they had to do. My father only started talking about his many war stories a year before his death, My father survived great odds and I will be forever proud of him. I thank the publishers of this video with all my heart, Your efforts to record this history is valiant.

    • @HollaBackFounder
      @HollaBackFounder 4 года назад +5

      timitzer Each side did what they had to? German murdered, eliminated, cremated and destroyed over sex million Jewish people. Did they have to do so?

    • @numbermink1234
      @numbermink1234 4 года назад +32

      HollaBackFounder that wasn’t the soldiers, that was people like the SS

    • @civixsgames5483
      @civixsgames5483 4 года назад +14

      @@HollaBackFounder The Schutzstaffel and the Army are different. Half of the soldiers got drafted and based on your logic every Japanese soldier war apart of pearl harbor or every American soldier put Japanese in camps

    • @Carlaizabella
      @Carlaizabella 4 года назад +5

      @@civixsgames5483 You are correct, what was happening in those camps was kept as quiet as possible from the ordinary soldier, it was not common knowledge. Why would it be? Example: Do serial killers run around telling everyone? Heck No! Serial killers keep it from their own families!

    • @lintran3211
      @lintran3211 4 года назад +2

      @@HollaBackFounder - and don't forget the "war of annihilation against the Soviet Union" too.......hmmm
      ...and the Soviets paid them back after V-E Day by keeping them as prisoners!

  • @jhanhynfooddiaries878
    @jhanhynfooddiaries878 Год назад

    Thank you for this channel. I am happy that ww2 is not forgotten and the heroes who sacrifice their lives.

  • @jonathanhurtado6625
    @jonathanhurtado6625 Год назад

    Wow amazing story . Thank you Gert and family for sharing this with all of us .

  • @BlackMaskq
    @BlackMaskq 4 года назад +380

    Damn. Talk about surviving so much death, lucky to alive.

    • @NitroCorn
      @NitroCorn 4 года назад +18

      He was definitely a lucky kid back then. I guess it was meant to be how he survived, seems he lived a good, happy & honest life after the war. ☺

    • @justinusberger3933
      @justinusberger3933 4 года назад +8

      He's extremely lucky. Many of the solders left at the end of the war were murdered by Eisenhower and the United States Army. Others were worked to death in the Gulag system.

    • @justinusberger3933
      @justinusberger3933 4 года назад +10

      @Русское море Over a million Germans were sent to the Gulag after the war. Most never came home. This is a documented historical fact, not a matter of opinion.

    • @SanctuaryGhost
      @SanctuaryGhost 4 года назад +2

      jan kowalski stfu. Formulate a good sentence first, then talk shit

    • @marem3038
      @marem3038 4 года назад +1

      @Русское море You are dumb if you think Germans were not sent to the Gulag