Thank you Indy, and EVERYONE at THE GREAT WAR! You have all worked incredibly hard and given FOUR YEARS of your lives to bring us this incredible series. You have paid homage to all the men and women who died (civilians included) or were effected by the chaos of 1914-18. Its sad to think this series is only one month from conclusion. THANK YOU
@@skoopsro7656 Still ridiculously small proportion of female casualties. By the way, women DID have a huge chance to play a significant role in stopping the war, but they didn´t. If women took a concerted strike action and stopped producing armament, war would grind to a halt.
@@thevoid7635They are very different. I think he mixed up the movie and the book. It’s in the book where he died several weeks before the end, whereas in the movie, he dies 15 seconds before 11:00
"We learned at Chateau-Thierry and Belleau Wood that these Americans are unpredictable. They don't retreat when they're supposed to." "How inconsiderate of them, Major."
My great grandfather was in the Battle of the Lost Battalion. He was in the signal corps and was sent into the pocket to run communications lines back to the front. He was apparently one of the last people to escape the pocket, laying wire as he ran with his best friend. On the way out, they came under an artillery barrage in the middle of a forest, where the shells were exploding in the trees. He escaped unscathed, but his friend went to sit by a tree to catch his breath. My grandfather turned around to tell him to leave, and found his friend slouched with his head between his legs--a piece of shrapnel had hit him in the skull, killing him only moments after he sat down. After the war, my great grandfather swore off violence and joined the NYPD and became one of the few officers to not carry a gun on the beat. Is it possible you could do a video on the signal corps?
Paul, sorry we failed to defend the line named in your honor. We will totally make up for it by naming this awesome airship after you. Nothing can go wrong there.
I've always viewed the war from the Allies side, their long hard slog to make it home for Christmas, finally. But now I'm getting a sense of the exhaustion, desperation and exasperation that the Germans must have felt and how it never ended for many.
That goes the same in Korean War 1950-53, first two years of war there's large change of territories and frontlines with large scale offensives and defensive actions and then last two was stalemate
The amount of suffering and disillusionment the last months of the war brought to the soldiers is just insane. It is also a baffling statistic that the allied deaths still exceeded the German ones. Great video as always! Looking forward to the next one.
Its because many of the German losses were surrenders. The Allied soldiers would still have to advance through enemy artillery and machine gun fire (those weapons, which inflicted the majority of losses, were often manned by "Chosen men" who would not easily surrender), but when they got to the German lines they found the rank and file surrendering rather then fighting. The Germans also used rear guards a lot, usually consisting of 1 man with a MG08/15 who would ambush advancing allied units and then surrender. Usually the Allied soldiers wouldn't accept his surrender, but it he often inflicted a few casualties before he was dealt with.
Most of the german army has been on the defense since 1914, bar the brief period for the summer of 1918 in which they were on the offensive. And it's a well known fact that offensives are deadlier than defenses. The french have been attacking since 1915, and the british since 1916. It makes sense tbeir losses would be higher.
@@randomcommenter100 didnt indy said in his video that allied had superior amount of artillery wich should have made up the attack caused deaths, but hey it didn't
My great great uncle fought in the lost battalion and he survived and live until 1990!!!! He lived in St. Cloud Minneasota and I went to his grave last weekend. Bless you Pete Koshiol! I might make a video about it.
Pauly B he never talked about the war except to his brothers apparently. But I just went to my grandmas place last weekend with my cousin who is also a history buff like everyone else here... my grandma was young but she remembers him sitting with a bunch of other men from the family and he would tell his stories to his brothers. And apparently he hid in a French haystack to avoid Germans patrols as he was a runner for the Americans. I actually got in touch with another guy in Oakland California who had all the lost battalion info and his great great uncle was also fighting alongside mine not sure if they knew each other but they were both runners kind of interesting. But I’m sure it was such a large scale operation that one could be working alongside someone and not even know who they are
So much for the French Army being "knocked out" after the mutinies of 1917 as usually portrayed by "popular" history, thank you Flo and the historical team for your work. I hope you will be able to cover the armistice negotiations.
"The Hindenburg Line Breaks", those are words I thought I would never hear. I always thought it was the gold standard for defensive lines. I see now that while it was impressive, it was not what I thought.
@Javier Gil Vidal Trench warfare basically amounts to a war of attrition, like the sieges of medieval castles. It turns ones whole country into a giant castle, and eventually you run out of food, water and men. The lines cave once attrition has worn them down. The Eastern theater of the Civil War was like this from June 1864 through April 1865. Though the rebels had been worn down through open field fighting before 1864 of course, Aside from that the dynamics though are similar to that faced by Germany. Both were subjected to effective blockades, both were outnumbered and both were inferior in terms of access to supplies. Trench warfare was the reaction to rifled guns, rapid fire/machine guns and modern artillery. But until tanks and planes were perfected, there was no way to avert it becoming a stalemate and a war of attrition. The reason why World War II was different, was because technology restored mobility. It didn't reduce the body count though.
After watching this series, I wonder how anyone could possibly claim that Germany lost because the army was stabbed in the back. The German army was just defeated. By 1918 they didn’t have the manpower, they didn’t have strong allies or raw materials, they didn’t have the ships or planes or artillery or trucks or fuel... they didn’t even have food. Nor did ordinary German soldiers have the will... they were surrendering in droves.
It was a civilian surrender. Arranged as a trap for just this. The civilian govt thought that by handling it, it was showing it was superior to the military. The military leadership wanted this loophole.
If you were on the Easter front in the German army it was "We won, party time!" and then your officer comes and says "sorry guys, HQ just told us we lost, let's go home"
Well, when you dont have ready access to birds eye view persepctives on a war, propaganda can more easily cement itself in ones mind. Also, propaganda is immeasurably effective
Also the Army (under Hindenburg) pretty much saved themselves the humiliating incrimination that they lost - Hindenburg knew that but he didn't say that to Ebert personally, only by way of a messenger. Hindenburg also pushed his narrative he has nothing to do with the failure through his autobiography.
I'll never forget the first time I watched this series 4 years ago. Indy has done a great service to tell history in such a unique perspective. You guys have given us 4 years of great historical content. I hope you will celebrate the armistice day.
I have binge watched this series during lockdown and it has been absolutely amazing. I am a history freak nerd, and to learn so much in the most incredible way is a dream come true. The stories, the humour, the sadness, the scale, the personalities. So close to the end now, I shed a few tears today out of frustration that so many are still going to suffer before the close, Indy and team, what you have created here is nothing less than a monument. Peace be with you ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Our own artillery is falling around us. For heaven's sake stop it!" Maj. Whittlesey "How should we respond to their surrender demand Major?" Capt. McMurtry "Not Acceptable!" Maj. Whittlesey "Just like a flock of turkeys" Alvin York
Whittlesey actually had his pigeon messenger write those words to be sent to the rear. Cher Ami delivered: "WE ARE ALONG THE ROAD PARALLEL 276.4. OUR ARTILLERY IS DROPPING A BARRAGE DIRECTLY ON US. FOR HEAVENS SAKE STOP IT."
I know that, he was implying it may have been from the movie only. I was just adding, just in case, what the message was in fact. Wasn't saying you were or anything, just wanted to add that. Sorry.
please make a Ludendorff special episode! you have made so many episodes on so much less important figures concerning ww1! Ludendorff became as the war progressed the most important figure of Germany and probably of the entire war. additionally there is only one documentary by bbc that partially mentions some things on his life and the name is "armistice 1918" by professor Reynolds
He also had a central role after the war. Basically he was a major figure that spread the Dolchstoßlegende (stab in the back theory) that blamed the lost war on democracy, socialists etc which was later picked up by guys like Hitler.
@@elonmush4793 that's true but later on his life when he was humiliated in the elections he started accusing hitler and when Hindenburg made hitler a chancellor he wrote a letter to him saying that this man (hitler) will destroy our Reich.
@Γιωργος ΜΠΕΛΛΟΣ Kind of reminds me of the dynamic between Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson. Though the latter was in many ways a spiritual successor to the former politically speaking, the former called him a dangerous man.
12,000 tons of munitions fired a day is totally insane when you think about it! That's 500 tons an hour, and about 8 tons a minute. 8 tons of munitions being fired every sixty seconds!
And one ton fired every seven seconds. A chance that you'll either live or die every seven seconds, and that's even before you face machine-gun bullets.
When you read statistics like that, it's easy to understand why over 100 years later, the farmers in the 'battle zones' still dig up 250 tonnes of UXO every year - the "Iron Harvest"
Glad Australian troops finally get a rest after being in the line since March offensive. In Marh they start fighting the main German offensives, plugging the gaps, in particular 5th Army. Then at the spear point of British 4th Army driving them back, starting 4th July. About time they had a break.
Many Australian Battalions at this stage were down to 200 odd men from their original strength of 1000. 800+ was their usual 'Fighting Strength' throughout most of the war till now. They needed a rest and refit. They were on their way back to the front (after a quick 3 week break to absorb fresh reinforcements) when the war ended.
I could comment this on any of these videos,but i have to say, the quality of the production of these shows in fantastic.The depth of the analysis, the quality of the presenting. Great job everybody! one of the best made shows on RUclips
Wow I remember when the centennial of the Great War started and I found this channel four years ago and now we got exactly one month left. Great work!!!
Dear Indy and gang, I’ve been watching your show for a few years know and I’ve not only learned more about the war and the history behind It, but world history as well way more then anyone of my classes in school, many of the soldiers and people in the war will be remember thanks to you guys. So thank you Indy and gang I feel your sort of the family of our online community and brought history back to life, least we forget❤️🕊
Love this channel. Followin' since 2014 and now im really upset that it will be over in just 1 month😞. Hope indy and flo and the whole crew will make another channel as great as this one has been for those 4 "short" years
The August 1918 breakthrough was an Australian initiative, planned by the Australian command and led by two Australian divisions after which General Monash became the first general in two hundred years to be knighted in the field. The king had decided that Monash had the dedication and command of a new way of mobile warfare and ordered Haig to provide every assistance, and it worked. For the first time in WWI an attack had held off a counterattack due to the Australians pushing so far inland that they captured enough German artillery to prevent a counter attack and that allowed the British and French to occupy the cleared out trenches in safety while their artillery was brought up from the rear.
The war isn't even over yet and I'm already showing early signs of withdrawal. 4 years of my life eagerly awaiting the next installment and now I feel an empty void growing inside my mind. I shall cast about for another place of enlightenment and education but I'm afraid nothing will ever replace The Great War. Many thanks to everyone connected to the series for the years of hard work and dedication in producing such a great show.
Can we get one last "This [was] modern war." in the final episode? I'm going to miss the week-by-week but am excited to see what you guys get into in the future. Thank you Great War team for everything and may you have great success in the future.
Far from their land as they made their stand A disregarded demand It's surrender or die and the stakes are high They live or they die, there's no time for goodbye Weapon in hand, they made their stand Still disregarding demand They would never comply, they would rather die Broke through the blockade, they were finally saved Far from their land as they made their stand A disregarded demand It's surrender or die and the stakes are high Live or die, who cal tell there's no goodbye With weapon in hand, they made their stand Still disregarding demand They would never comply, they would rather die They stood strong and the legend still lives on Suffered heavy losses through the great war they stood strong But the memory of the fallen still lives on Far from their land as they made their stand A disregarded demand It's surrender or die and the stakes are high They live or they die, there's no time for goodbye Weapon in hand, they made their stand Still disregarding demand They would never comply, they would rather die Broke through the blockade, they were finally saved
That's it! Even though I've been following this channel since August 2014, it is this day, exactly one month before the end of the Great War, I have finally managed to catch up. It was exciting to watch all of these exceptionally well produced episodes and I'm even more excited to watch the next few weeks unfolding in "real time", especially knowing they'll mark the dawn of my nation's sovereignty. 🇸🇰 Thank you for this amazing channel!
You need soldiers who are properly clothed, fed and motivated to defend a invincible defensive line. Cold and hungry soldiers who had to retreat back onto the Hindenburg Line, with the knowledge the war was lost, would have just made the Line a hollow shell.
Lord Rawlinson wrote of these battles: "Had the Boche not shown marked signs of deterioration during the past month, I should never have contemplated attacking the Hindenburg line. Had it been defended by the Germans of two years ago, it would certainly have been impregnable…."
The Spanish flu..My Grandfathers brother (great uncle?) Died of the Spanish flu the day he arrived in France with the US army in August 1918. As we understand it he became ill on the ship crossing the Atlantic. He was the first born son and his loss hit our small family hard. No other member of our extended family has joined the military since for one reason or another. Absolutely fantastic series, Have watched every episode since 2014, Hope Indy and crew realize what a great service they have done honoring the memories of all those who were lost in the war. Keep up the excellent work!
A little story: My Greatgrandpa was an Austrian Soldier at the Italian front. He was there in late 1915 and was immediatly wounded. The 3rd night he was at the front, he went out from his barracks to pee and when he came back a artillery shell hit the barrack, all other who were in the barrack were dead and he was wounded.
Thank you Indy and gang you shoved who who the Great War effected our planet and how we must learn form it and history your the reason I wanna be a history buff. For this I thank you my friend.
I guess at that point they thought that maybe France would ask for peace eventually. That would have given the German Empire a stronger position. Of course it would have been better for millions of soldiers and who knows... maybe it would have been better for history.
Even then, the government under Clemenceau didn’t fall and would only happen if Paris fell. Clemenceau was never really willing to surrender and even if the Germans had tried to make peace, it wouldn’t be the peace that Hindenburg and Ludendorff wanted. They were completely unwilling to pull out of occupied territory and that was the major reason why the allied powers wouldn’t negotiate.
These men will stay here: Keitel, Jodl, Krebs, and Burgdorf. .......... Brief pause while everyone exits the room................. Door shuts........ That was an order! Steiner's assault was an order!
Hi Indy, I'm a school going teenager who has been watching your show for years now. This year, I have to do an assignment about any topic. I chose to discuss the role of WWI in the independence of Czechoslovakia. I know you did several episodes about Czechoslovakia and their legions, so I was wondering if you would mind telling me what sources you used for those videos. This would be incredibly helpful. Kind regards and thank you in advance, Jordy
Hi Indy and gang. One question or maybe a request, since we are a month away from the war's end, would it be possible to do a day by day video of the last week? (If you haven't shoot the war's last week video). Thanks and keep up the great work
Great work, as always. You may have already outlined your post-war plans (and I missed it) but I hope you continue into the Treaty of Versailles negotiations. This period is so crucial with regards to what happened 20 years later that I think you would be remiss if you stopped on November 11, 1918. Thanks for all the terrific content! Can't wait to see what's next for Indy and crew.
Love the show & I have learned so much from it! My family & friends have also become half addicted as well. I know the show is coming to an end soon which is unfortunate. Can you do a special over the Lost Battalion & Belleau Wood? Though small in overall force size they were both very significant for the forces involved & are some of the most well known American battles. Special thanks to Sabaton for spiking my interest in WW1 through there songs which lead to me discovering this channel!😎🤗🇺🇸
when you read about the hundred days campaign in a book it sounds like it was really a rapid end to the war compared to the stalemate of the previous years, but to see it playing out in real time like this is really giving me a new appreciation of how it wasn't really that quick at all and thousands were still dying every day.
My maternal grandfather, Pvt Oscar Ivan Potter, was in the Lost Battalion and was one of the walking wounded that got relieved by a unit in included my paternal grandfather. The battalion was the only unit in the 77th Division push into the Argonne that followed orders and actually advanced to their assigned objective. They were lost because the units on their flanks stayed back at the start point and did not advance. The Battalion Commander was awarded the MOH and later committed suicide.
With the end in sight, I hope I can finally get a question answered on Out of the Trenches. With the end of the war, how did the industries and the economies of the warring nations (barring Russia) step back away from total war economies? For a specific example. how were factories making guns, bombs, and bullets retooled back to making consumer goods, and how were soldiers who knew only years of terrible war brought back into the normal workforce?
The story of the 'lost battalion' was the, if not one of the, first showing of American stubbornness. In that same forest, twenty years later, they would show it again.
RMS Leinster was sunk this week 100 years ago by a German submarine close to Kish Bank in Dublin Bay . Over 550 people drowned as a result. This was the greatest single loss in Irish waters and also the greatest single loss of Irish civilians on any one day during the Great War. Just thought I'd mention it Indy!
The crazy quantities of munitions really explains why people keep finding UXO even to this day. Not only was there an absolutely insane amount of munitions fired, but I'd imagine that the quality control wasn't great when they needed to produce that much, that quickly. A combination of a lot of shells fired, and a lot of them being duds, are not a great combination.
I think it would be interesting to learn about the average life expectancy of a regular frontline soldier of both the central and the allies. How many hours/days/weeks/months did the average soldier survive? Was there a big difference between axis and allied soldiers?
I had missed a few weekly updates, no more than three. And in that time, everything fell apart. The Hindenburg Line, the Ottoman defense of Palestine, and Bulgaria. I will never miss anything else.
Was very proud this week to participate in commemorative events at Alvin C. York state park in Tennessee. The park itself is the farm Alvin worked after the war. The terrain of the park is coincidentally very similar to the Argonne Forest, and it was downright chilling to be there 100 years to the day of his actions. It was not mentioned in the episode, but both Alvin York and major Charles Whittlesey (commander of the "lost" battalion) eventually be awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions.
Wow, it seems like a long time since we've heard the name August von Mackensen. What's he been doing this whole time? When was the last time he was mentioned in an episode? also... 1918 THE GREAT WAR RAGES ON, A BATTALION IS LOST IN THE ARGONNE
As a Canadian I was grateful for the two brief mentions of our troops in this video. This was more that any Canadian would normally expect. The truth was, though, that Canadians and Australians had a great deal more to do with the finishing up of this war than they are given credit for. They were the shock troops of the British, and the Germans learned to expect that they would be at the forefront of any major offensive. During the last 96 days of the war the Canadian Corps' four over-strength or "heavy" divisions, totalling roughly 100,000 men, engaged and defeated or put to flight elements of 47 German divisions, which represented one quarter of the German forces faced by the Allied Powers fighting on the Western Front. During this offensive they smashed through the Hindenburg line twice. The second time, at the Battle of Cambrai, caused the German high command to realize that the war was over and that they must sue for peace. More information about this can be found by googling Canada's Hundred Days.
The ironic situation is now that the only victor can be the allies that the war must continue because the sacrifices have been so huge that a traditional compromise peace can’t be accepted. So since the war is so horrible it must continue. Understandable that such a giant loss of life and treasure can’t be seen to be ended by just a handover of a few bits of territory by the losers.
Weapon in hand as they made their stand! Still disregarding demands! They would never comply, they would rather die! They stood strong and their legend still lives on!
Wish you could’ve elaborated more on the lost battalion. You should check out the movie The Lost Battalion with Rick Schroeder as Major Wittlesey. Great movie!
Hey Indy, Could you please do an episode about China as well? China also participated in the Great War in the Ally's side and provided overall 200,000 labours in both west and east front. The sacrifice of them should not be forgotten as well.
Thank you Indy, and EVERYONE at THE GREAT WAR! You have all worked incredibly hard and given FOUR YEARS of your lives to bring us this incredible series. You have paid homage to all the men and women who died (civilians included) or were effected by the chaos of 1914-18. Its sad to think this series is only one month from conclusion. THANK YOU
WOMEN?????? Cut it up with the political correctness, will you?
Javier Gil Vidal civilian women. I said ALL the men and women who died. Not MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN.
@@skoopsro7656 I think he was joking
Mystical Samurai i think he was referencing the stupidity with BATTLEFIELD5.
@@skoopsro7656 Still ridiculously small proportion of female casualties. By the way, women DID have a huge chance to play a significant role in stopping the war, but they didn´t. If women took a concerted strike action and stopped producing armament, war would grind to a halt.
In All Quiet on the Western Front (the movie not the book), its main character, Paul Baumer, died today, October 11, 1918. RIP Paul Baumer
Didn’t he die when the war ended?
Have you read the book cause it's not much different
@@thevoid7635They are very different. I think he mixed up the movie and the book. It’s in the book where he died several weeks before the end, whereas in the movie, he dies 15 seconds before 11:00
@@silvan2217that's in the 2023 film,in the 1979 film, he died on October 11th
@@starksvenskin the original one he didn’t on the new one he did.
"We learned at Chateau-Thierry and Belleau Wood that these Americans are unpredictable. They don't retreat when they're supposed to."
"How inconsiderate of them, Major."
Professionals are predictable but the world is full of dangerous amateurs.
I suppose this is from a movie or a tv series. Which one, please?
The Lost Battalion (2001 film)
"If you beg my pardon general I'll walk with my troops."
My great grandfather was in the Battle of the Lost Battalion. He was in the signal corps and was sent into the pocket to run communications lines back to the front. He was apparently one of the last people to escape the pocket, laying wire as he ran with his best friend. On the way out, they came under an artillery barrage in the middle of a forest, where the shells were exploding in the trees. He escaped unscathed, but his friend went to sit by a tree to catch his breath. My grandfather turned around to tell him to leave, and found his friend slouched with his head between his legs--a piece of shrapnel had hit him in the skull, killing him only moments after he sat down.
After the war, my great grandfather swore off violence and joined the NYPD and became one of the few officers to not carry a gun on the beat. Is it possible you could do a video on the signal corps?
What country are you from?
Yikes 8(
@@romaniacountryball, I'll take a wild stab in the dark and say he is American.
United States
Did your great grandfather plied a beat on the deadly streets of New York City? If he did that took a lot of guts.
The war will be over before Christmas!
I know I've said every year, but this time I'm sure of it.
When the new allied tanks appear in 1919, we can be more certain.
@@neilwilson5785
Yes, indeed. I too look forward to the planned Spring offensives. 👍
Praise the omnissiah!
Well the 1st World War did end 11 November 1918....little over a month before Christmas kid.
@@11B30Inf You're drunk or smth?
Ouch, right in the Hindenburg!
Oh, the humanity!
Paul, sorry we failed to defend the line named in your honor. We will totally make up for it by naming this awesome airship after you. Nothing can go wrong there.
I've always viewed the war from the Allies side, their long hard slog to make it home for Christmas, finally. But now I'm getting a sense of the exhaustion, desperation and exasperation that the Germans must have felt and how it never ended for many.
Kind of remarkable how quickly it all comes crashing down after four years of stalemate.
yes and on all 3 (soon to be 4) fronts at once
ikr
That goes the same in Korean War 1950-53, first two years of war there's large change of territories and frontlines with large scale offensives and defensive actions and then last two was stalemate
The amount of suffering and disillusionment the last months of the war brought to the soldiers is just insane. It is also a baffling statistic that the allied deaths still exceeded the German ones. Great video as always! Looking forward to the next one.
Its because many of the German losses were surrenders. The Allied soldiers would still have to advance through enemy artillery and machine gun fire (those weapons, which inflicted the majority of losses, were often manned by "Chosen men" who would not easily surrender), but when they got to the German lines they found the rank and file surrendering rather then fighting. The Germans also used rear guards a lot, usually consisting of 1 man with a MG08/15 who would ambush advancing allied units and then surrender. Usually the Allied soldiers wouldn't accept his surrender, but it he often inflicted a few casualties before he was dealt with.
Most of the german army has been on the defense since 1914, bar the brief period for the summer of 1918 in which they were on the offensive. And it's a well known fact that offensives are deadlier than defenses.
The french have been attacking since 1915, and the british since 1916. It makes sense tbeir losses would be higher.
The Bosch only had to hold ground to try to win. The entente were hindered by the double requirement to assault defended ground, Then defend that too.
@@randomcommenter100 didnt indy said in his video that allied had superior amount of artillery wich should have made up the attack caused deaths, but hey it didn't
@@TJ-ev7wd the Germans would fall back from or bunker down for artillery then retake their positions once it was over
Ludendorff: The Hindenburg Line cannot be broken!
*Hindenburg Line Breaks*
Ludendorff: *F*^K!*
*Foch!
Ludendorff: MotherFocher!!
Unbreakable?! It's one of those "hold my beer" moments!
Donnerwetter.
20 years later, Marshal Zhukov declared along the the lines that the German war machine is still a machine and machines break!
They said the War would be over by Christmas and they were right.
They just didn't specify the year.
The lost battalion
Great story, will there be a special on it?
there is the 2001 movie under the same name which is great.
Γιωργος ΜΠΕΛΛΟΣ yeah I saw it, it was great!
A lot of minor battles were glossed over, why should he give us special treatment?
Indiana Jones Also fun fact The Harlem Hellfighters were really the Harlem Ratters. Just a random interesting fact I found.
Matthew Arenson Major Whittleze needs a special
My great great uncle fought in the lost battalion and he survived and live until 1990!!!! He lived in St. Cloud Minneasota and I went to his grave last weekend. Bless you Pete Koshiol! I might make a video about it.
Did he live past October 3rd of that year?
Pauly B yes he did!!!
@@teutonicbohemian How did he react to that event?
Pauly B he never talked about the war except to his brothers apparently. But I just went to my grandmas place last weekend with my cousin who is also a history buff like everyone else here... my grandma was young but she remembers him sitting with a bunch of other men from the family and he would tell his stories to his brothers. And apparently he hid in a French haystack to avoid Germans patrols as he was a runner for the Americans. I actually got in touch with another guy in Oakland California who had all the lost battalion info and his great great uncle was also fighting alongside mine not sure if they knew each other but they were both runners kind of interesting. But I’m sure it was such a large scale operation that one could be working alongside someone and not even know who they are
@@teutonicbohemian No, I mean how did he react after October 3rd (German reunification)?
So much for the French Army being "knocked out" after the mutinies of 1917 as usually portrayed by "popular" history, thank you Flo and the historical team for your work. I hope you will be able to cover the armistice negotiations.
"The Hindenburg Line Breaks", those are words I thought I would never hear. I always thought it was the gold standard for defensive lines. I see now that while it was impressive, it was not what I thought.
It was not the Hindenburg Line that broke, it was Germany as a whole
how did you think youd never hear that,Its not like germany won the war or something
"Fixed fortifications are monuments to the stupidity of man" - George C. Scott portraying Patton.
@Javier Gil Vidal
Trench warfare basically amounts to a war of attrition, like the sieges of medieval castles. It turns ones whole country into a giant castle, and eventually you run out of food, water and men. The lines cave once attrition has worn them down. The Eastern theater of the Civil War was like this from June 1864 through April 1865. Though the rebels had been worn down through open field fighting before 1864 of course, Aside from that the dynamics though are similar to that faced by Germany. Both were subjected to effective blockades, both were outnumbered and both were inferior in terms of access to supplies.
Trench warfare was the reaction to rifled guns, rapid fire/machine guns and modern artillery. But until tanks and planes were perfected, there was no way to avert it becoming a stalemate and a war of attrition. The reason why World War II was different, was because technology restored mobility. It didn't reduce the body count though.
My great great grandfather George E Waltman died 100 years ago in battle on October 9th, 1918. He’s buried in the meuse argonne cemetery in France.
Is that the cemetery Indy visited? That was a very moving episode. The place is so beautiful and peaceful and so many graves......
May he rest in lasting peace
Last time I was this early Bulgaria was still in the war!
Magnus Peacock RIP Bulgaria
@@indianajones4321 I said that! 😂😂😂
XD
Last week, then?
this "joke" wears off.
Dont use it.
You look stupid.
I love this channel and flo. Also indy as well.
I heard once that flo deserves a raise.
Is Flo some kind of word for Scotch Whiskey? @@skipnick
After watching this series, I wonder how anyone could possibly claim that Germany lost because the army was stabbed in the back. The German army was just defeated. By 1918 they didn’t have the manpower, they didn’t have strong allies or raw materials, they didn’t have the ships or planes or artillery or trucks or fuel... they didn’t even have food. Nor did ordinary German soldiers have the will... they were surrendering in droves.
It was a civilian surrender. Arranged as a trap for just this.
The civilian govt thought that by handling it, it was showing it was superior to the military. The military leadership wanted this loophole.
If you were on the Easter front in the German army it was "We won, party time!" and then your officer comes and says "sorry guys, HQ just told us we lost, let's go home"
@@RJLbwb weird that this is the first time I'd seen someone mention that. Now that you do it just seems obvious.
Well, when you dont have ready access to birds eye view persepctives on a war, propaganda can more easily cement itself in ones mind. Also, propaganda is immeasurably effective
Also the Army (under Hindenburg) pretty much saved themselves the humiliating incrimination that they lost - Hindenburg knew that but he didn't say that to Ebert personally, only by way of a messenger. Hindenburg also pushed his narrative he has nothing to do with the failure through his autobiography.
I'll never forget the first time I watched this series 4 years ago. Indy has done a great service to tell history in such a unique perspective. You guys have given us 4 years of great historical content. I hope you will celebrate the armistice day.
FAR FROM THEIR LAND AS THEY MADE THEIR STAND
A DISREGARDED DEMAND
@@LLopes ITS SURRENDER OR DIE
Raptor AND THE STAKES ARE HIGH
THEY LIVE OR THEY DIE, THERE'S NO TIME FOR GOODBYE
WEAPON IN HAND AS THEY MADE THEIR STAND!
Es ist aus. Der Krieg ist verloren...
"Verräter, Versager!!!! Von Anfang an bin ich nur verraten und betrogen worden!!!!"
@@astrobot4017 DIE GESAMTE GENERALITÄT HAT MICH BELOGEN
Fegelein! Fegelein! Fegelein! Fegelein!
Tun Sie, was Sie wollen.
@@VladTevez "Fegelein! Fegelein! Fegelein! Fegelein" returned no result.
Did you mean : "Hötzendorf! Hötzendorf! Hötzendorf! Hötzendorf!" ?
I have binge watched this series during lockdown and it has been absolutely amazing. I am a history freak nerd, and to learn so much in the most incredible way is a dream come true. The stories, the humour, the sadness, the scale, the personalities. So close to the end now, I shed a few tears today out of frustration that so many are still going to suffer before the close, Indy and team, what you have created here is nothing less than a monument. Peace be with you ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Are you watching his collaboration with Sabaton? Sabaton History?
A few of them, a great band!@@ditzfough
Reading this I realised the lockdown was 4 years ago. It's insane.
Crazy right?@@mind-blowing_tumbleweed
@@mind-blowing_tumbleweedFr
"Our own artillery is falling around us. For heaven's sake stop it!" Maj. Whittlesey
"How should we respond to their surrender demand Major?" Capt. McMurtry
"Not Acceptable!" Maj. Whittlesey
"Just like a flock of turkeys" Alvin York
Kyle Dunn Combination of Sergeant York and The Lost Battalion movies. I like it
Whittlesey actually had his pigeon messenger write those words to be sent to the rear. Cher Ami delivered: "WE ARE ALONG THE ROAD PARALLEL 276.4. OUR ARTILLERY IS DROPPING A BARRAGE DIRECTLY ON US. FOR HEAVENS SAKE STOP IT."
Admiral Spoor
I know I was quoting the message sent to Division Headquarters by Cher Ami
I know that, he was implying it may have been from the movie only. I was just adding, just in case, what the message was in fact. Wasn't saying you were or anything, just wanted to add that. Sorry.
"...Nuts!..." oops wrong war sorry!
please make a Ludendorff special episode! you have made so many episodes on so much less important figures concerning ww1! Ludendorff became as the war progressed the most important figure of Germany and probably of the entire war. additionally there is only one documentary by bbc that partially mentions some things on his life and the name is "armistice 1918" by professor Reynolds
He also had a central role after the war. Basically he was a major figure that spread the Dolchstoßlegende (stab in the back theory) that blamed the lost war on democracy, socialists etc which was later picked up by guys like Hitler.
@@elonmush4793 that's true but later on his life when he was humiliated in the elections he started accusing hitler and when Hindenburg made hitler a chancellor he wrote a letter to him saying that this man (hitler) will destroy our Reich.
@Γιωργος ΜΠΕΛΛΟΣ
Kind of reminds me of the dynamic between Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson. Though the latter was in many ways a spiritual successor to the former politically speaking, the former called him a dangerous man.
For four years I have been confident about a Central Powers victory. I am getting nervous now!
Is it too late to call off your bet?
12,000 tons of munitions fired a day is totally insane when you think about it! That's 500 tons an hour, and about 8 tons a minute.
8 tons of munitions being fired every sixty seconds!
And one ton fired every seven seconds. A chance that you'll either live or die every seven seconds, and that's even before you face machine-gun bullets.
When you read statistics like that, it's easy to understand why over 100 years later, the farmers in the 'battle zones' still dig up 250 tonnes of UXO every year - the "Iron Harvest"
Will it be a breaking episode on Sunday, November 11?
After all that carnage who really knows (personally I believe the end will be in 1919)
No spoilers plz
uploaded at 11am as well, French standard time :P
Wait, what happenes on November 11th?
@@robrot404 spoilers, spoilers is what happens
Glad Australian troops finally get a rest after being in the line since March offensive. In Marh they start fighting the main German offensives, plugging the gaps, in particular 5th Army. Then at the spear point of British 4th Army driving them back, starting 4th July. About time they had a break.
Richard Geering the game was in the bag so let the bench players play out the last couple of minutes of the last quarter
Many Australian Battalions at this stage were down to 200 odd men from their original strength of 1000. 800+ was their usual 'Fighting Strength' throughout most of the war till now. They needed a rest and refit. They were on their way back to the front (after a quick 3 week break to absorb fresh reinforcements) when the war ended.
Just a month left now.
What a fantastic journey over these past few years, thank you Indy!!!
I could comment this on any of these videos,but i have to say, the quality of the production of these shows in fantastic.The depth of the analysis, the quality of the presenting. Great job everybody! one of the best made shows on RUclips
Wow I remember when the centennial of the Great War started and I found this channel four years ago and now we got exactly one month left. Great work!!!
The Lost Battalion deserves its own special.
Dear Indy and gang, I’ve been watching your show for a few years know and I’ve not only learned more about the war and the history behind It, but world history as well way more then anyone of my classes in school, many of the soldiers and people in the war will be remember thanks to you guys. So thank you Indy and gang I feel your sort of the family of our online community and brought history back to life, least we forget❤️🕊
Love this channel. Followin' since 2014 and now im really upset that it will be over in just 1 month😞. Hope indy and flo and the whole crew will make another channel as great as this one has been for those 4 "short" years
The August 1918 breakthrough was an Australian initiative, planned by the Australian command and led by two Australian divisions after which General Monash became the first general in two hundred years to be knighted in the field. The king had decided that Monash had the dedication and command of a new way of mobile warfare and ordered Haig to provide every assistance, and it worked. For the first time in WWI an attack had held off a counterattack due to the Australians pushing so far inland that they captured enough German artillery to prevent a counter attack and that allowed the British and French to occupy the cleared out trenches in safety while their artillery was brought up from the rear.
The war isn't even over yet and I'm already showing early signs of withdrawal. 4 years of my life eagerly awaiting the next installment and now I feel an empty void growing inside my mind. I shall cast about for another place of enlightenment and education but I'm afraid nothing will ever replace The Great War.
Many thanks to everyone connected to the series for the years of hard work and dedication in producing such a great show.
Slow Turtle they have a world war 2 channel my friend
Can we get one last "This [was] modern war." in the final episode? I'm going to miss the week-by-week but am excited to see what you guys get into in the future. Thank you Great War team for everything and may you have great success in the future.
Far from their land as they made their stand
A disregarded demand
It's surrender or die and the stakes are high
They live or they die, there's no time for goodbye
Weapon in hand, they made their stand
Still disregarding demand
They would never comply, they would rather die
Broke through the blockade, they were finally saved
Far from their land as they made their stand
A disregarded demand
It's surrender or die and the stakes are high
Live or die, who cal tell there's no goodbye
With weapon in hand, they made their stand
Still disregarding demand
They would never comply, they would rather die
They stood strong and the legend still lives on
Suffered heavy losses through the great war they stood strong
But the memory of the fallen still lives on
Far from their land as they made their stand
A disregarded demand
It's surrender or die and the stakes are high
They live or they die, there's no time for goodbye
Weapon in hand, they made their stand
Still disregarding demand
They would never comply, they would rather die
Broke through the blockade, they were finally saved
Those lyrics are weak
@@blaisevillaume9051 That's from the Lost Battalion by Sabaton.
Thank you Indy and gang, to it channel has been fascinating to me and has actually changed my life and how I see the world.
That's it! Even though I've been following this channel since August 2014, it is this day, exactly one month before the end of the Great War, I have finally managed to catch up. It was exciting to watch all of these exceptionally well produced episodes and I'm even more excited to watch the next few weeks unfolding in "real time", especially knowing they'll mark the dawn of my nation's sovereignty. 🇸🇰 Thank you for this amazing channel!
Not the Hinednburg Line! I was told it was invincible!
You need soldiers who are properly clothed, fed and motivated to defend a invincible defensive line. Cold and hungry soldiers who had to retreat back onto the Hindenburg Line, with the knowledge the war was lost, would have just made the Line a hollow shell.
And the titanic was unsinkable
Lord Rawlinson wrote of these battles: "Had the Boche not shown marked signs of deterioration during the past month, I should never have contemplated attacking the Hindenburg line. Had it been defended by the Germans of two years ago, it would certainly have been impregnable…."
Yochai Wyss: You were deceived by a lie, we all were.
@@greenmountainhistory7335 Lol. I imagined the Titanic song when Hindenburg line gets crushed.
Wow! Seems like that Alvin York story would make a great movie!
The Spanish flu..My Grandfathers brother (great uncle?) Died of the Spanish flu the day he arrived in France with the US army in August 1918. As we understand it he became ill on the ship crossing the Atlantic. He was the first born son and his loss hit our small family hard. No other member of our extended family has joined the military since for one reason or another. Absolutely fantastic series, Have watched every episode since 2014, Hope Indy and crew realize what a great service they have done honoring the memories of all those who were lost in the war. Keep up the excellent work!
A little story:
My Greatgrandpa was an Austrian Soldier at the Italian front.
He was there in late 1915 and was immediatly wounded.
The 3rd night he was at the front, he went out from his barracks to pee and when he came back a artillery shell hit the barrack, all other who were in the barrack were dead and he was wounded.
Thank you Indy and gang you shoved who who the Great War effected our planet and how we must learn form it and history your the reason I wanna be a history buff. For this I thank you my friend.
Amazing stuff as always! Thanks for keeping this up for over 4 years
I really hope that you guys do a special on the lost battalion. I think everybody would love to hear much more about it.
Germany empire should have proposed a peace treaty at the high point of the Kaiserschlacht.
I guess at that point they thought that maybe France would ask for peace eventually. That would have given the German Empire a stronger position. Of course it would have been better for millions of soldiers and who knows... maybe it would have been better for history.
Hindsight is 20/20
They assumed they'd get further, not knowing they were at the height of their gains.
foolishly they did not. IIRC back at that time some fool said "lets wait till we are in a stronger position". Just like Rathenau in this episode.
Even then, the government under Clemenceau didn’t fall and would only happen if Paris fell. Clemenceau was never really willing to surrender and even if the Germans had tried to make peace, it wouldn’t be the peace that Hindenburg and Ludendorff wanted. They were completely unwilling to pull out of occupied territory and that was the major reason why the allied powers wouldn’t negotiate.
Indy has a Kuhkri sitting on his table. I’m impressed.
Don't worry Steiner's counterattack will fix everything.
These men will stay here: Keitel, Jodl, Krebs, and Burgdorf.
.......... Brief pause while everyone exits the room................. Door shuts........ That was an order! Steiner's assault was an order!
Nein! NEIN! NEIN!! NEIN! NEIN! NEIN! NEIN! NEIN! NEIN! NEIN! NEIN!NEIN! NEIN NEIN NEIN!!!!! x 1k@@Communistbaconeater
Antics
Fegelein!
I'm happy to support you and thanks for the show!
Info I wanna thank you so much for this channels it’s changed the way I look at history and the world.
RUclips's most important channel. I have many favorites, but this is the coolest form of education and history.
Hi Indy, I'm a school going teenager who has been watching your show for years now. This year, I have to do an assignment about any topic. I chose to discuss the role of WWI in the independence of Czechoslovakia. I know you did several episodes about Czechoslovakia and their legions, so I was wondering if you would mind telling me what sources you used for those videos. This would be incredibly helpful.
Kind regards and thank you in advance,
Jordy
Now I see
One more month.. I'll be sad when this series ends.
Thank you guys for everything.
Hi Indy and gang. One question or maybe a request, since we are a month away from the war's end, would it be possible to do a day by day video of the last week? (If you haven't shoot the war's last week video). Thanks and keep up the great work
Εχει αρχισει την σειρα για τον δεύτερο παγκόσμιο πόλεμο. Δεν νομιζω ο Indy να εχει χρονο να κάνει βίντεο μερα προς μέρα
Simply amazing!
it's depressing to think the war, and thus this channel, will end in a month.
Great work, as always. You may have already outlined your post-war plans (and I missed it) but I hope you continue into the Treaty of Versailles negotiations. This period is so crucial with regards to what happened 20 years later that I think you would be remiss if you stopped on November 11, 1918. Thanks for all the terrific content! Can't wait to see what's next for Indy and crew.
Cool, thanks!
Have any of you guys heard about "They Shall Not Grow Old"? It's a World War 1 documentary directed by Peter Jackson.
Michael Murphy I have, it looks amazing,very impressive work by the restorers,I think it's out in a week or so.
Yes, it looks sublime. Looking forward to watching it
I have a ticket to see it on tuesday next week, primises to be amazimg!
Yes. The previews look amazing; the men look real again.
Thanks for the video
Man. You’ve done your goal. I remember back when it was only 1916, and only 1915 when I caught wind of it.
Crazy.
"Peace is within sight, but not within reach."
Cold chills
Love the show & I have learned so much from it! My family & friends have also become half addicted as well. I know the show is coming to an end soon which is unfortunate. Can you do a special over the Lost Battalion & Belleau Wood? Though small in overall force size they were both very significant for the forces involved & are some of the most well known American battles. Special thanks to Sabaton for spiking my interest in WW1 through there songs which lead to me discovering this channel!😎🤗🇺🇸
My great grandpa was in haute-Alsace near the Mause Argonne. 350th infantry 88th division.
Going to the Canadian war museum next week, will be thinking of this wonderful channel the whole time~
when you read about the hundred days campaign in a book it sounds like it was really a rapid end to the war compared to the stalemate of the previous years, but to see it playing out in real time like this is really giving me a new appreciation of how it wasn't really that quick at all and thousands were still dying every day.
2:30 is in Tartu, Estonia! Estonia is so small, yet it shows up everywhere!
Sgt York "saw some action" You are a master of understatement
Feel like I've been waiting the whole war for you to mention Alvin York. I would be delighted if you did a special episode on him.
I`m Indy Neidell and I'm a time traveler from 1939. Welcome to the Great War.
can you guys make a ringtone out of your intro song? please
YES PLEASE!
pretty easy to do yourself
My maternal grandfather, Pvt Oscar Ivan Potter, was in the Lost Battalion and was one of the walking wounded that got relieved by a unit in included my paternal grandfather.
The battalion was the only unit in the 77th Division push into the Argonne that followed orders and actually advanced to their assigned objective. They were lost because the units on their flanks stayed back at the start point and did not advance. The Battalion Commander was awarded the MOH and later committed suicide.
Can’t wait for the final! Greetings from Indonesia guys. Love the show!
With the end in sight, I hope I can finally get a question answered on Out of the Trenches. With the end of the war, how did the industries and the economies of the warring nations (barring Russia) step back away from total war economies? For a specific example. how were factories making guns, bombs, and bullets retooled back to making consumer goods, and how were soldiers who knew only years of terrible war brought back into the normal workforce?
Just went to alvin yorks home county last weekend. That guy is a real badass.
I am from Romania thank for clips about my country.
The story of the 'lost battalion' was the, if not one of the, first showing of American stubbornness. In that same forest, twenty years later, they would show it again.
RMS Leinster was sunk this week 100 years ago by a German submarine close to Kish Bank in Dublin Bay . Over 550 people drowned as a result. This was the greatest single loss in Irish waters and also the greatest single loss of Irish civilians on any one day during the Great War. Just thought I'd mention it Indy!
So close to 1 million subscribers
And there goes the Siegfriedstellung
The crazy quantities of munitions really explains why people keep finding UXO even to this day. Not only was there an absolutely insane amount of munitions fired, but I'd imagine that the quality control wasn't great when they needed to produce that much, that quickly. A combination of a lot of shells fired, and a lot of them being duds, are not a great combination.
Alvin York!!!!!!!!! Maybe Tennessee's most famous son. He is a huge hero for our state.
5:41 odd to see western front that is not a bombed out landscape.
I love you guys, I’ve been here since day one, you guys have been teaching me for the past four years. Thank you guys I love you ❤️(no homo)
I think it would be interesting to learn about the average life expectancy of a regular frontline soldier of both the central and the allies. How many hours/days/weeks/months did the average soldier survive? Was there a big difference between axis and allied soldiers?
Can't wait for the Battle of Vitorrio Veneto :)
Can't wait for the third battle of the Marne
I had missed a few weekly updates, no more than three. And in that time, everything fell apart. The Hindenburg Line, the Ottoman defense of Palestine, and Bulgaria. I will never miss anything else.
Best ww1 channel ever i LOVE the content!! Keep it up
Was very proud this week to participate in commemorative events at Alvin C. York state park in Tennessee. The park itself is the farm Alvin worked after the war. The terrain of the park is coincidentally very similar to the Argonne Forest, and it was downright chilling to be there 100 years to the day of his actions.
It was not mentioned in the episode, but both Alvin York and major Charles Whittlesey (commander of the "lost" battalion) eventually be awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions.
I live here where York is from. That little park has much history. I stop by there a few times a week at the spring.
Wow, it seems like a long time since we've heard the name August von Mackensen. What's he been doing this whole time? When was the last time he was mentioned in an episode?
also... 1918 THE GREAT WAR RAGES ON, A BATTALION IS LOST IN THE ARGONNE
The end is coming. And it's quite dramatic. Great job.
As a Canadian I was grateful for the two brief mentions of our troops in this video. This was more that any Canadian would normally expect. The truth was, though, that Canadians and Australians had a great deal more to do with the finishing up of this war than they are given credit for. They were the shock troops of the British, and the Germans learned to expect that they would be at the forefront of any major offensive. During the last 96 days of the war the Canadian Corps' four over-strength or "heavy" divisions, totalling roughly 100,000 men, engaged and defeated or put to flight elements of 47 German divisions, which represented one quarter of the German forces faced by the Allied Powers fighting on the Western Front. During this offensive they smashed through the Hindenburg line twice. The second time, at the Battle of Cambrai, caused the German high command to realize that the war was over and that they must sue for peace.
More information about this can be found by googling Canada's Hundred Days.
The ironic situation is now that the only victor can be the allies that the war must continue because the sacrifices have been so huge that a traditional compromise peace can’t be accepted.
So since the war is so horrible it must continue.
Understandable that such a giant loss of life and treasure can’t be seen to be ended by just a handover of a few bits of territory by the losers.
Weapon in hand as they made their stand! Still disregarding demands! They would never comply, they would rather die! They stood strong and their legend still lives on!
Wish you could’ve elaborated more on the lost battalion. You should check out the movie The Lost Battalion with Rick Schroeder as Major Wittlesey. Great movie!
Hey Indy, Could you please do an episode about China as well? China also participated in the Great War in the Ally's side and provided overall 200,000 labours in both west and east front. The sacrifice of them should not be forgotten as well.
this series has shown me how important the french artillery was throughout the war
I very much enjoy this series