Castle Itter: Where America and Germany Fought Side by Side in WWII

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  • Опубликовано: 5 июн 2024
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    Credits:
    Host - Simon Whistler
    Author - Morris M.
    Producer - Jennifer Da Silva
    Executive Producer - Shell Harris
    Business inquiries to admin@toptenz.net
    Source/Further reading:
    Major credit to Stephen Harding, writer of The Last Battle, on which a ton of these sources were based: / the-last-battle
    www.historynet.com/the-battle...
    www.britannica.com/event/Batt...
    www.bbc.com/news/world-europe...
    (Some history outside the Battle - in German): burgen.tibs.at/burgen_schlosse...
    Dachau: www.britannica.com/place/Dach...
    Sepp Gangl (in German): translate.google.com/translat...

Комментарии • 1,2 тыс.

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  • @TyLockton
    @TyLockton 4 года назад +1632

    I first read about this battle about 5 years ago, and I'm still amazed that nobody has made a movie about it.

    • @gundanium3126
      @gundanium3126 4 года назад +43

      I Know i would go see it.

    • @salud7432
      @salud7432 4 года назад +11

      Exactly my thought

    • @timstadlmueller58
      @timstadlmueller58 4 года назад +30

      This really really really needs to be a movie.

    • @thelanavishnuorchestra
      @thelanavishnuorchestra 4 года назад +4

      Yes, like many, I'm sure -- thinking the same thing.

    • @Dog-O
      @Dog-O 4 года назад +33

      It's only been recently known about. So I'm thinking Hollywood not wanting to touch it and glorify Nazi Germany at this time. I bet when the climate changes someone will pounce on it. It definately has the makings of an Oscar worthy movie though.

  • @mase747
    @mase747 4 года назад +1268

    This HAS to be a movie. One of the most interesting minor battles of the war.

    • @davidfordcooper
      @davidfordcooper 4 года назад +32

      It is. Its called The Last Battle

    • @djgraph404
      @djgraph404 4 года назад +11

      Near the end of the war the Americans fought the Russian's in a little known battle. Battle of Nis

    • @aldini9329
      @aldini9329 4 года назад +7

      @@davidfordcooper it's not out yet probably will be in 2021 or 23

    • @davidfordcooper
      @davidfordcooper 4 года назад +1

      @@aldini9329 I've definitely seen it

    • @needaman66
      @needaman66 4 года назад +5

      @@davidfordcooper was that starring burt Lancaster? Castle Keep i believe was the 1960s movie

  • @boomznbladez405
    @boomznbladez405 4 года назад +1151

    Lee: I never thought id die side by side with a GERMAN
    Gangl: What about side by side with a friend?
    Everyone there: AYE!!! I could do that!

    • @OzzieTheHead
      @OzzieTheHead 4 года назад +20

      31, 32, 33...

    • @JFDSmit-rm6tw
      @JFDSmit-rm6tw 4 года назад +53

      @@OzzieTheHead A tank still counts as only 1!

    • @mckproductions8202
      @mckproductions8202 4 года назад +12

      I never thought I'd die side by side with a blackman
      What about side by side with a friend.
      Final battle scene in Mel Gibsons
      " the patriot "

    • @arnoldrivas4590
      @arnoldrivas4590 4 года назад +7

      Gangl takes down an entire squadron and cocks his head a bit.
      Lee:.....THAT STILL ONLY COUNTS AS ONE!

  • @AIPTutorials
    @AIPTutorials 4 года назад +1028

    "In 1933, an unfunny Charlie Chaplin tribute act that went by the name of Adolph Hitler" Hahahahah. This line caught me so off guard, I literally just almost choked on my coffee.

    • @kalidice1775
      @kalidice1775 4 года назад +6

      Lolol SAME!!!

    • @annayosh
      @annayosh 4 года назад +9

      I luckily wasn't drinking anything at the time

    • @marieloftus6170
      @marieloftus6170 4 года назад +5

      Hear Hear.

    • @Karen-pk3uv
      @Karen-pk3uv 4 года назад +7

      I choked on my donut. I will be taking a break from eating for the rest of this video now lol

    • @nuffwerewolf
      @nuffwerewolf 4 года назад +4

      I have coffee nose.

  • @ianh1504
    @ianh1504 4 года назад +975

    Avengers Endgame is the most ambitious crossover ever...
    Castle Itter: hold my beer

    • @outdoorfrenzy
      @outdoorfrenzy 4 года назад +13

      Ian h actually, it would be hold my stein.

    • @foxhound963
      @foxhound963 4 года назад +8

      Which contains beer

    • @shindari
      @shindari 4 года назад +13

      In German, that would be: "Halt mein bier!"

    • @michaeltheundeadmariachi4494
      @michaeltheundeadmariachi4494 4 года назад +3

      Halt mein lager

    • @ianh1504
      @ianh1504 4 года назад +19

      No, the "hold my beer" is in english, do you think a german would let another man hold his beer? Dont be silly.

  • @archvermin
    @archvermin 4 года назад +133

    "Incredibly, someone at the castle answered."
    I have the most bizarre mental image of a Frenchman taking a pause from fighting back impending annihilation by the SS, and going upstairs to answer the phone.

    • @praveenb9048
      @praveenb9048 4 года назад +22

      Allo? Allo?
      Peter Sellers would have been ideal for the part.

    • @Rickertsred
      @Rickertsred 4 года назад +25

      "Castle Itter, this is François, how may I direct your call?"

    • @opalishmoth8591
      @opalishmoth8591 4 года назад +6

      How did he even hear the phone

    • @albussr1589
      @albussr1589 3 года назад +10

      "Excause me a while, i think the Phone is ringing"
      Literally EVERYBODY ELSE: *keeps fireing

    • @sapiensesciencecerveau2523
      @sapiensesciencecerveau2523 3 года назад +4

      The first reality TV show concept ever tested... Sounds like a miracle there had been no casualties within the prisoners.

  • @walterk9916
    @walterk9916 4 года назад +491

    That feel when the game has the antagonist as a unlockable character.

    • @mrrey3481
      @mrrey3481 4 года назад +2

      You just gave me DAO flashbacks

    • @henrystibitz8111
      @henrystibitz8111 4 года назад +2

      Castle Crashers...

    • @justinalbin7272
      @justinalbin7272 4 года назад +1

      Yeah Magus is similar to a Nazi. Spiffy uniform, but at the end of the day he's still a mass murderer who deserves to die.

    • @aaronbradley3232
      @aaronbradley3232 3 года назад

      Idiotic pointless hyperbole... Is everything a video game

  • @toonbat
    @toonbat 4 года назад +254

    SIMON: "His name was Zvonimir Čučković, and he's one you'll definitely want to remember."
    ME, TWO SECONDS LATER: "I can't remember a single letter of his name."

    • @abyssstrider2547
      @abyssstrider2547 4 года назад +2

      His name translates to Ringpeace Squatter interestingly

    • @neveniusvondubowatz7705
      @neveniusvondubowatz7705 4 года назад +2

      Ja se sjećam.

    • @Deerkins
      @Deerkins 4 года назад +9

      I remember his last name cause it has 'Cuck' in it.

    • @abyssstrider2547
      @abyssstrider2547 4 года назад +1

      @@Deerkins as ć is also spoken as ch

    • @abyssstrider2547
      @abyssstrider2547 4 года назад +1

      @@Deerkins Tbh letters such as č.ć and š would be pretty good if they were introduced to english

  • @timothywagner4646
    @timothywagner4646 4 года назад +38

    18:38 "I recognize that the council has made a decision, but given that it's a stupid ass decision I have elected to ignore it."

  • @mrvex6695
    @mrvex6695 4 года назад +254

    Gangl has a street named after him as an honour for his sacrifice.

    • @MappaPetts1999
      @MappaPetts1999 4 года назад +14

      Such a tribute...

    • @yayhay1
      @yayhay1 3 года назад

      Where is it

    • @059metafrast
      @059metafrast Год назад +1

      @@yayhay1 Sepp Gangl-Straße in nearby town Wörgl, Austria

    • @yayhay1
      @yayhay1 Год назад

      @@059metafrast thank you

  • @lakeraven1
    @lakeraven1 4 года назад +173

    “He was finally able to rest after 6 long years” - excellent prose, your delivery of course equally so

    • @KatGlos
      @KatGlos 4 года назад +6

      He would also have been able to rest if he had survived for 3 more days...

  • @clairehenry9222
    @clairehenry9222 4 года назад +188

    Clemenceau’s great great grandson went to my high school. On Veterans Day this year, he came to speak to us about Georges Clemenceau and almost nobody at my school had heard of him. Really a shame.

    • @nicholascorbett1256
      @nicholascorbett1256 4 года назад +2

      Still think its awesome an should try to spread the word. Too many millennials have no clue what really happened in our country, an the world. Like what ethic group had slaves first. An I could go on, our history has been white washed for sure...

    • @stevek8829
      @stevek8829 4 года назад +2

      They never heard of Roy Rodgers either.

    • @xavier6838
      @xavier6838 4 года назад +4

      Leroy Jenkins ok boomer

    • @lionelfully
      @lionelfully 4 года назад +6

      If you grew up in France, I doubt you never heard of Clemenceau. Not only are streets in nearly every city named after him, but our navy's flagship aircraft carrier bore his name for 36 years.
      On the other hand, what you probably never heard of is how he was of the opinion that the "Boches" should be kept vassals nearly forever and pay reparations that were far above what they could realistically pay without suffering from real hunger and other shortages. He was one of those people who just cannot have enough of victory and ravels in humiliating a defeated ennemy (which, granted, could be seen as normal in his time, and given France's suffering during the war, is partly justified - but for sure NOT the mark of a great man). Maybe if he'd listened to Wilson a bit more, we'd have escaped all other sorts of later horrors in the world's history.
      Concerning what our friend @Leroy Jenkins said, I can only guess that he is some type of (most likely white) nationalist who loves not only to comment on videos about war, pointing out how great France/USA/whateverhiscountry is (my first guesses having been cited) is and always has been, but more importantly tries to slowly make his worldview creep in through hidden means... Probably he is trying to allude to the fact that the Ottomans traded slaves in the 14th century, which they certainly weren't the "first" in history to do, but hey why bother when you have a narrative to follow?
      If my guess is wrong, I say sorry to him for my slight agressiveness. It's just that those half-informed historical opinions wielded in a way to belittle slavery or colonialism are a bit too common on this platform.

    • @apossiblyhereticalalphaleg3595
      @apossiblyhereticalalphaleg3595 4 года назад +5

      @@lionelfully I mean some or most French people probably heard of Clemenceau's name, but never bothered to actually research what he did, they'd be like "Oh so you're related to the guy who did something to get a street named after him"
      In my town, for example, we have a street named "Getulio Vargas", one of the better Military Dictators, but if you asked anybody who Getulio Vargas is, they'd either shrug and say "I don't know" or they'd answer something akin to "Oh it's that dictator who commited suicide"

  • @Sub-km4nk
    @Sub-km4nk 4 года назад +1022

    ITS AMERICAN TROOPS AND THE GERMAN ARMY JOINING TOGETHER AT LAST

    • @bigmcdick4916
      @bigmcdick4916 4 года назад +96

      unknown nostalgia One last fight, it’s the death throes of the 3rd reich, justice shall be done the final battle remains!

    • @billyt.7306
      @billyt.7306 4 года назад +80

      I came to the comments just for this \m/

    • @satanbritannia5210
      @satanbritannia5210 4 года назад +82

      @@bigmcdick4916 Ammo is running low, they're depleting their machine guns
      Every bullet counts until surrender is announced

    • @Aaronschannels
      @Aaronschannels 4 года назад +60

      IT'S THE END OF THE LINE OF THE FINAL JOURNEY...

    • @martinboote8175
      @martinboote8175 4 года назад +60

      @@satanbritannia5210 After the downfall, a castle relieved
      Defeating the Nazis who held them besieged
      Gangl and Lee and their men set the prisoners free

  • @Legitpenguins99
    @Legitpenguins99 4 года назад +561

    Im sure the wehrmacht soldiers relished the opportunity to finnally get to shoot at the SS. From letters dating back to the invasion of Poland in 1939 there was already alot of resentment between the SS and Wehrmacht. In one report a Wehrmacht officer is complaining how they do all the real fighting and the SS mostly stays in the rear lines carrying out political orders. In another another officer witnessed the various warcrimes commited by the SS and was pleading with his superiors to do something about it as it damages the honor of the german military. Keep in mind, this was only in 1939 and already there was alot of bitterness and resentment between the groups

    • @Anomaly-uz9pr
      @Anomaly-uz9pr 4 года назад +52

      Legitpenguins69 kinda sucks the Wehrmacht soldiers got sent to pow camps after fighting with the Americans

    • @miliba
      @miliba 4 года назад +13

      this was depicted in the series generation war, where an ss officer executes a girl in front of wehrmacht soliders

    • @RedKrossSquad
      @RedKrossSquad 4 года назад +92

      @@Barabel22 The Wehrmacht might not have been clean. Nobody says they were. But comparing the savagery and blood thirstiness of the average Wehrmacht soldier and the average SS member, they will still end up clean. It's like comparing somebody who has a drop of blood on them and somebody who is drenched in it. The SS was just that bad. And indeed there were Wehrmacht commanders who disagreed about having SS groups operating near them because of the morale issues that a common soldier would have from seeing such butchery going on.

    • @Anomaly-uz9pr
      @Anomaly-uz9pr 4 года назад +38

      Barabel22 you act as if a Wehrmacht soldier had any choice at all in what he was sent to do. Let’s see you get drafted Forced into a war told you kill who we say you kill or we kill you and your family. If you haven’t experienced that don’t judge them

    • @Pantheragem
      @Pantheragem 4 года назад +16

      @@RedKrossSquad Not to mention that they were Guinea pigs for the SS "soldier enhancement" programs. So sometimes they were bloodthirsty simply because they were pumped on meth or other experimental cocktails. Some who were still in their heads were quite glad to surrender.

  • @RVBLegend
    @RVBLegend 4 года назад +20

    I went to the village of itter literally every year for the first 13 years of my life, my father before me. We never knew the castle had such an amazing history. I am mindblown.

  • @DrewWithington
    @DrewWithington 4 года назад +324

    Being German it was kept very tidy. There wasn't a lot of litter at Itter.

  • @Andythenurse
    @Andythenurse 4 года назад +47

    Love this bit of history. So few fighting so many. The fact that the defenders were from opposite sides of the war gives me a warm feeling inside.
    I hope that they are all properly remembered and honoured.

  • @copperhamster
    @copperhamster 4 года назад +318

    If you want a more musical version of this story, check out "The Last Battle" by Sabaton.

    • @inhumanfilth681
      @inhumanfilth681 4 года назад +18

      I see you are a fellow man of culture.

    • @stevetreloar6602
      @stevetreloar6602 4 года назад +1

      I'll stick to "Doe, a deer; a female deer. Re (ray); a drop of golden sun...."

    • @Sishqabob
      @Sishqabob 4 года назад +5

      No kidding! Great song!

    • @benpurcell4935
      @benpurcell4935 Год назад +1

      5th of May

    • @jchulski19
      @jchulski19 Год назад

      i came here to say this lol

  • @waveland44
    @waveland44 4 года назад +56

    Simon should do audio books. His voice is pleasant to the ears. I know he is reading from a script that someone else wrote but the way he talks, he sounds like the most knowledgeable person in the world on the subjects.

    • @KalebMarshallDulcimerPlayer
      @KalebMarshallDulcimerPlayer Год назад

      He did the Damn Interesting podcast some while back. Still one of my favorite podcasts, despite its almost never release schedule.

  • @thisguyoverhere4746
    @thisguyoverhere4746 3 года назад +8

    I honestly did not know ANYTHING of this battle until I heard Sabaton song. WWII is one of my favorite wars to study and the fact that I somehow not know this makes me so sad. Since I've first heard the song, I've been so obsessed with this battle and like telling its story.

  • @adambier2415
    @adambier2415 4 года назад +32

    You channelled the History Guy: “history ... that deserves to be remembered.” Love his ending tagline. :)

  • @saintamici9735
    @saintamici9735 4 года назад +31

    This story would make for one of the COOLEST and most interesting world war 2 movies ever

  • @resileaf9501
    @resileaf9501 4 года назад +60

    I can't believe I've never heard of this story before. Absolutely amazing, almost movie-like in how it proceeded. Thank you for retelling it to us.

    • @swanpride
      @swanpride 4 года назад +1

      You could also make a great mini-series out of it....

    • @Feiora
      @Feiora 4 года назад +3

      @@swanpride First Episode introduces the french VIPs and Zvonimir Čučković as well as the two SS officers, and ends with the VIPs discovering that they've been abandoned. Second episode we are introduced to Gangl and Lee, their meetiing and the joint rescue team deploying, dealing with various issues and then it ends with them arriving at the castle to the less than enthusiastic welcome of the VIPs and fortifying the castle with the closing seen of Zvonimir Čučković on his bicycle nearing Innsbruck. Third episode deals with the attack and Major John T. Kramers receiving word from Zvonimir and marshalling the reinforcments with cuts going to and fro the castle battle and Kramers' part. Fourth and Final episode has a roughly equal split of the besieged force and Kramers' unit trying to reach them, with the death of Gangl, the retreat to the interior and the SS about to storm the interior when Kramers' unit finally arrives to secure and rescue the besieged group, finally summing up with an epilogue of the end of the battle, the fates of those involved, credits roll and thats a wrap.

  • @timstadlmueller58
    @timstadlmueller58 4 года назад +16

    This NEEDS to be a movie.

  • @maremaarten
    @maremaarten 4 года назад +186

    Another story worth telling: the general Wenck who, ordered to liberate Berlin, instead turned his army around to break out another army cut off by the Russians, take the survivors and together race towards the American lines to surrender there. A hero, if you ask me.

    • @neighslayer768
      @neighslayer768 4 года назад +32

      "t’s the end, the war has been lost
      .
      Keeping them safe ’til the river’s been crossed
      .
      'Nicht ein schlacht, ein rettungsaktion
      '
      Holding their ground ’til the final platoon.
      “Hurry up, we’re waiting for you”
      Men of the 9:th, and civilians too.
      Dispossessed, surrendering to the west."

    • @shindari
      @shindari 4 года назад +37

      The guy just simply knew which side to surrender to. He made the smart choice. Surrendering to the United States WAS the better option than surrendering to the Soviets, and he saved his fellow countrymen from that awful fate. Because Stalin would have had ZERO MERCY on Nazis...

    • @maremaarten
      @maremaarten 4 года назад +5

      @@shindari yeah but he sacrificed hundreds of his own men to save thousands of surrounded comrades.

    • @shindari
      @shindari 4 года назад +10

      ​@@maremaarten You and I are on the same page with that. I was simply stating that surrendering to the United States was the better of two options. Because after what Nazi Germany did to the Soviety Union for three years, I shudder to think what those captured by the Soviets would have been subjected to. Stalin was not a nice person. And he was rightfully pissed off at Germany for stabbing him in the back the way they did.
      It would have been so much easier for Wenck to cut his losses, and not do what he did. But he made the hard choice, and unquestionably the better one. I will not disagree with you there.

    • @maxwellalexander2962
      @maxwellalexander2962 4 года назад +4

      @@shindari I'd say it's far from simple, especially with all of what you said in mind being a factor. Rescuing those regiments probably took quite a bit of balls, routing the Russians just to surrender? I wonder how many would leave them all for dead and just run to safety immediately. Also (Not particularly related to anything you said) I find it hard to understand that people who yammer about Russia non-stop today think that the USSR under crazy ass Stalin wasn't planning his own campaigns for Europe.

  • @mikahjohn2809
    @mikahjohn2809 4 года назад +13

    1st Lt. Lee as they set out for Castle Itter on that spring afternoon: "May the 4th be with us."

  • @TheRealToadfishRebecchi
    @TheRealToadfishRebecchi 4 года назад +171

    This would make an epic movie!

    • @AIPTutorials
      @AIPTutorials 4 года назад +13

      That was my first thought. It literally has EVERYTHING to make a great film. Between the actual battles, the possible character dynamics of the different prisoners, the enemy soldiers flipping to fight with the heroes, all set in a remote location. Even though the Ex Machina ending of "When all seemed hopeless, a giant army appeared from nowhere to save the day" is extremely cliche in film and tv, that's the way it happened.

    • @DC-ru5xz
      @DC-ru5xz 4 года назад +4

      That’s what Sabaton said. So they said screw it we’ll make a song instead

    • @swanpride
      @swanpride 4 года назад +1

      It would...honestly, why the hell did nobody pick that one up yet? It would also be so topical because it features Germans standing up to do the right thing against other Germans.

    • @dr.lyleevans6915
      @dr.lyleevans6915 4 года назад

      I think there is one. It is called “last battle”

    • @eventyraren
      @eventyraren 4 года назад +1

      @@dr.lyleevans6915 NO, the movie is not out yet, IMDb say it is in pre-prduction.
      The reason it has taken so long to do a movie is probably at untill recently showing Germany in any good light in WWII movirs was seen as a bad idea. I just cant see this story being too well received in the 50s and 60s, do you.

  • @Kangamoos
    @Kangamoos 4 года назад +223

    "...an unfunny Charlie Chaplin tribute act..." hahahahaha, love it!

    • @TrunkyDunks
      @TrunkyDunks 4 года назад +2

      if i ever get the chance to use this. oh you betcha i will......however the dictator speech is timeless.....rip charlie....rip

    • @ieuanhunt552
      @ieuanhunt552 4 года назад +3

      I didn't think I would see a worse Chaplin tribute act than Private Baldrick. I was wrong.

    • @donwanna3906
      @donwanna3906 4 года назад +1

      Then he follows with "genocidal tramp." Wow.

    • @jonnnyren6245
      @jonnnyren6245 3 года назад

      @@ieuanhunt552 yes nothing matches Pvt. Baldrick's horrifying slug impression of Charlie Chaplin.

  • @ridanann
    @ridanann 4 года назад +14

    im from a military family an this kinda thing was my bedtime storys lol glad to see its normal to be entertained by such a story. it teaches that not everyones a soldier but everyone well do there bit

  • @Xhumed
    @Xhumed 4 года назад +12

    How has this not been made into a movie yet?

  • @MetaLHeade666
    @MetaLHeade666 4 года назад +23

    I learned about this from the band Sabaton from their album The Last Stand

  • @nukeofficial1103
    @nukeofficial1103 4 года назад +24

    *video starts*
    "Oh didn't even notice this was from Today I found out"
    *checks channel name*
    "wait there's something fishy going on here"

  • @catjohnson2522
    @catjohnson2522 4 года назад +7

    Ever since I was recommended to one of your videos, I've been hooked. I love that when I watch a video I come away with interesting facts and stories to tell others about. I follow like all of your channels and I always end up "smashing that like button" because I love all of the videos.
    I love learning about World War 2. It's my favorite war to learn about and discuss. I never thought I'd learn a new thing but this video was AMAZING. Thank you (and your team, of course) for all of your hard work and dedication to knowledge and your channels!
    Great stuff, man!

  • @XeAsFSS
    @XeAsFSS 4 года назад +32

    simon you are a gift of knowledge to all of us

    • @remylebeau2357
      @remylebeau2357 3 года назад +1

      He actually just reads scripts that his team writes for him. You really thought he knew everything that he narrates? Lol 😆

  • @rich842
    @rich842 4 года назад +112

    That shade on hitler was 🔥

    • @sloppyjoe400
      @sloppyjoe400 4 года назад +3

      For real, "charlie chaplin tribute act" had me dying lmao

    • @WintrBorn
      @WintrBorn 4 года назад

      Brilliant, and totally stolen.

    • @markdturnock
      @markdturnock 4 года назад +1

      @@WintrBorn From where? I tried Googling the phrase after reading your comment and this video is one of the only search results

    • @WintrBorn
      @WintrBorn 4 года назад +4

      markdturnock I meant I have now totally stolen that for my personal use.

    • @blakegriplingph
      @blakegriplingph 3 года назад

      Not to mention he had a yee-yee ass haircut.

  • @vladbodea7656
    @vladbodea7656 3 года назад +5

    You didn't mentioned the 3rd officer who helped defending the castle: SS-Hauptsturmführer Kurt-Siegfried Schrader. He survived the war. Stephen Harding talks about him in his book, ,,The Last Battle"
    There is also another story of German and Allied soldiers who teamed up: Operation Cowboy (look for it on Google). Mark Felton wrote a book about it, having the same title- Operation Cowboy.
    Great video !!

  • @professord1522
    @professord1522 4 года назад +3

    "... For want of a nail, the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe, the horse was lost. For want of a horse, the rider was lost. For want of a rider, the message was lost. For want of a message, the battle was lost. For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost. All for the want of a nail ... " The Battle of Castle Itter was such a nail. Thanks so very much for this fascinating story, and for telling it so well. :)

  • @MrHanbam
    @MrHanbam 4 года назад +13

    This sounds like the plot of a Wes Anderson movie honestly

  • @stormblade3408
    @stormblade3408 4 года назад +18

    I mean the SS were well outnumbered even before the final wave of reinforcements arrived.
    "One man standing on a wall is worth ten men beneath it" as a wise man once said

    • @omegastar19
      @omegastar19 4 года назад +12

      But if that one man standing on the wall has no ammunition left, he might as well be worth nothing.

    • @stormblade3408
      @stormblade3408 4 года назад

      @@omegastar19 ey didn't say they were losing :)

    • @Amoogus
      @Amoogus 4 года назад +1

      @@omegastar19 hard to climb a wall when you get kicked in the face.

    • @syedferoz2188
      @syedferoz2188 4 года назад

      WALLS WERE ONLY USEFUL BEFORE THE 20TH CENTURY AFTER THAT BULLET HAD THE ABILITY TO PIERCE WALLS

    • @fuckinantipope5511
      @fuckinantipope5511 4 года назад +2

      @@syedferoz2188 not thick stone walls. But modern artillery made short work of forts, castles and walls

  • @ocediis
    @ocediis 4 года назад +3

    This is an incredible story! Your recommendation led me to get the audiobook. The extra context for the story is fascinating!

  • @thea8368
    @thea8368 4 года назад +8

    That's the best WWII story I've ever heard! You cannot make this stuff up!

  • @KingofScrapMetal
    @KingofScrapMetal 4 года назад +3

    Simon, this channel is amazing and I can’t stop watching every video on this channel compared to biographics.

  • @Ruby321123
    @Ruby321123 4 года назад +1

    Thank you for doing all you do, Geographics team! One of my favorite channels on RUclips.

  • @skunkrat01
    @skunkrat01 4 года назад +3

    Wow, this is such an amazing story. I love these channels because even if it's a topic you're not interested in, or a place you've never heard of, it always ends up crazy interesting and you just wanna know more.

  • @AdZS848
    @AdZS848 4 года назад +6

    Great video guys! I can't believe I've driven past this castle and I didn't know the story!

  • @LtColShingSides
    @LtColShingSides 4 года назад +37

    This would make a great movie, maybe some day we'll get one.

  • @rorosp5443
    @rorosp5443 4 года назад +3

    Thank you for another flawless delivery of history, your videos are both educational and entertaining 👍🏽

  • @vitarius2465
    @vitarius2465 4 года назад +30

    Awesome! *starts singing Sabaton
    Please consider doing Herod’s Temple in Jerusalem! It took 80+ years to construct, many ancient historians said it was one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, Romans destroyed it in 70 AD (an amazing story itself) and the wealth taken from it was used to construct the Colosseum!

    • @samanthar1214
      @samanthar1214 4 года назад +1

      Has Sabaton done a song on this? If not, we need to suggest it. 😁

    • @vitarius2465
      @vitarius2465 4 года назад +1

      Samantha R yes they have! It’s called ‘The Last Battle’. Great song

    • @samanthar1214
      @samanthar1214 4 года назад +1

      @@vitarius2465 Ah, yeah, now that you say it, I recognize it. Love their history channel...just realized you're talking about Herods Temple...I was referring to a song about this video lol

    • @DC-ru5xz
      @DC-ru5xz 4 года назад +1

      5th of May is just around the corner 1945 the fuhrers reigns at its end

    • @remylebeau2357
      @remylebeau2357 3 года назад

      @@samanthar1214 the last battle is about thos video. Not Herod

  • @Jack-cc6sf
    @Jack-cc6sf 4 года назад +6

    Its wild to think i had school skiing trip in Grafenweg which is just down the road from itter castle last year

  • @Bohous156
    @Bohous156 4 года назад +7

    You have left out the part when Borotra jumped over the castle walls, evaded enemy fire and aided Kramers in getting back to the castle, otherwise I am happy that more people talk about this video

    • @Wookiee925
      @Wookiee925 3 года назад +1

      Also the injured SS officer who had been recuperating at the castle who stayed to help the prisoners and led the defence efforts

  • @tasiatyler4662
    @tasiatyler4662 4 года назад +1

    Great video! Gotta get the book!! Thanks Simon!!

  • @stealthworx4371
    @stealthworx4371 4 года назад +2

    Truly the greatest generation. That American first lieutenant being only 27 years old and having the balls to take part in such a crazy scenario blows my mind. Even more crazy is how there were tens of thousands more courageous individuals like him among the allies (and the germans).

  • @dennisjwegman4000
    @dennisjwegman4000 4 года назад +135

    I need Quentin Tarantino to make a movie about this.

    • @Feiora
      @Feiora 4 года назад +7

      Are you sure thats a good idea? Will the ending stay true to the story or events in the story stay the same? My bet is on things getting altered in some fashion...

    • @ignarskjolvjentski7809
      @ignarskjolvjentski7809 4 года назад +2

      I dunno, Tarantino has never been great with duality. He thrives in stark contrasts

    • @erwina4738
      @erwina4738 3 года назад +2

      Nah, no thanks. Ill take the people who directed saving private ryan, black hawk down, tears of the sun, hotel rwanda instead.

  • @NegiTaiMetal011
    @NegiTaiMetal011 4 года назад +9

    I got to know this thanks to the Sabaton song The Last Battle. I love this story, there needs to be a movie about this!

    • @boomznbladez405
      @boomznbladez405 4 года назад

      I was like "where did I hear about this"
      Sabaton was it... the Bismark song goes hard!

    • @christophermerlot3366
      @christophermerlot3366 4 года назад +1

      Sabaton: fun and educational.

  • @OoogaBoog
    @OoogaBoog 4 года назад +1

    Holy crap...I love reading about WW2 and I have NEVER heard about this. This is incredible!

  • @pointly
    @pointly 3 года назад +29

    Rightists: "Why am I here with traitors?!"
    Leftists: "Why am I here with traitors?!"
    Neutrals: "Why am I here?"
    4th Faction: "Dinner is at 1900 comrades."

  • @dlphnsfn2830
    @dlphnsfn2830 4 года назад +23

    Your probably the only RUclipsr still supporting NordVPN

    • @fvckyoutubescensorshipandt2718
      @fvckyoutubescensorshipandt2718 4 года назад +4

      Beggers can't be choosers. At the end of the day money spends the same no matter where it came from. Hell if terrorists, drug cartels, or Nazi's wanted to fund my projects I'd take it, Nord is pretty minor compared to those. Other than that this was probably filmed months ago, so whatever happened in the meantime with Nord they can feign ignorance since they can't predict the future, and it's unrealistic to simply expect them to not upload it after filming and eat the financial loss and wasted time, even before considering contract obligations with Nord.

    • @anonimato1987
      @anonimato1987 4 года назад

      What's the matter with Nord ?

    • @fvckyoutubescensorshipandt2718
      @fvckyoutubescensorshipandt2718 4 года назад +16

      @@anonimato1987 Long story short they had a security breach and didn't tell anyone for months.

    • @j.a.weishaupt1748
      @j.a.weishaupt1748 4 года назад +3

      dlphnsfn 28 *you’re

    • @miliba
      @miliba 4 года назад +1

      shirvan from caspianreport does

  • @JPFalcononor
    @JPFalcononor 4 года назад +3

    Coincidentally, DVG Games recently released a solitaire game about this historical event simply called Castle Itter....though it is only a game, you get a feel for how the battle evolved and an immersive view of the overall situation.

    • @dragonlibrarian7982
      @dragonlibrarian7982 4 года назад

      Yep, fantastic game. Following the devs progress of the game on BGG is actually what brought this battle to my attention.

  • @AMagrow
    @AMagrow 4 года назад

    Excellent video!! Thank you so much for the information about this battle !!

  • @lydan5808
    @lydan5808 4 года назад +1

    This was absolutely brilliant

  • @cullenriley5461
    @cullenriley5461 4 года назад +8

    Mark my words, this will be a Tarantino movie.

  • @Bear2Roo
    @Bear2Roo 4 года назад +9

    You beat Indy Neidell to the Sabton History episode of The Last Battle

  • @RRHardyHar
    @RRHardyHar 4 года назад

    I've been waiting for this one for awhile!

  • @beggarman64
    @beggarman64 Год назад +1

    Absolutely one of the best stories of WW2, and one of your best deliveries, Simon. I also agree with the calls for a movie on this - what a corker!

  • @exudeku
    @exudeku 4 года назад +14

    AND ITS THE END OF THE LINE, OF THE FINAL JOURNEY!

  • @Casavo
    @Casavo 4 года назад +14

    Sabaton , acttually caused me to look up more on this engagement. Good song and just a fascinating story.

  • @Mrgunsngear
    @Mrgunsngear 3 года назад +2

    Thanks

  • @trustinnatureltd.7311
    @trustinnatureltd.7311 3 года назад

    What an amazing vid and story! Thanks for putting this together. Very eye opening

  • @angus57720
    @angus57720 4 года назад +14

    SS: Prepare to die!
    103rd Infantry Division: *BOO!*

  • @Skogsmard
    @Skogsmard 4 года назад +18

    5TH OF MAY, V-DAY'S JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

    • @mitchellneu
      @mitchellneu 4 года назад +4

      1945, THE FUHRER'S REIGN'S AT ITS END.

    • @KimFareseed
      @KimFareseed 4 года назад +3

      Jenny at the gates, as the SS open fire

    • @SanJ922
      @SanJ922 4 года назад +3

      There's no time to waste, the final battle has begun!

    • @WarBeasty
      @WarBeasty 4 года назад +3

      After the downfall, a castle besieged
      Facing the Nazis awaiting relief
      Gangl and Lee and their men set the prisoners free

    • @SanJ922
      @SanJ922 4 года назад +2

      An it's the end of the line of the final journey
      Enemies leaving the past
      And it's American troops and the German army
      Joining together at last!

  • @aebmermaid92
    @aebmermaid92 4 года назад +1

    Thanks for the amazing content 🥰

  • @janicehussock7735
    @janicehussock7735 4 года назад

    Historians, writers, Simon. Thank you so much.

  • @ewestner
    @ewestner 4 года назад +19

    "Made a career out of being a nobody." LOLOLOLOL!!!

  • @nicholascorbett1256
    @nicholascorbett1256 4 года назад +5

    LOVED IT I'm a huge WWll buff, an I had only known a little about this battle. You really helped me experience it on a whole other level. You do a fantastic job Simon. Much love from across the pond in West Virginia!

  • @Truly_Rudly
    @Truly_Rudly 4 года назад

    I LOVE this battle! I’m so glad someone made a video on it!

  • @saikaveti
    @saikaveti 4 года назад

    Thank you Simon and team for tips wonderful channel.

  • @MasterMalrubius
    @MasterMalrubius 4 года назад +9

    Well, now I'm upset that I was less than one hour away. Grumble.

  • @johnhendrik
    @johnhendrik 4 года назад +17

    "There was a photojournalist on hand to document the moment..." That "photojournalist" was none other than René Lévesque, one of the most influential canadian politicians of the post WW II era. Too bad you missed that.

    • @Kurblick
      @Kurblick 4 года назад +2

      Really! Wow... very cool!

    • @shindari
      @shindari 4 года назад +3

      You gotta forgive the guy, I mean, Canada is just so forgettable sometimes...

    • @SuperPhatman12
      @SuperPhatman12 4 года назад

      shindari woof

    • @cspikey7722
      @cspikey7722 4 года назад +1

      God forbid someone doesn’t get every little fact about an event in the 1940s especially when the vid is about America and Germany. You’re despicable

    • @wfcoaker1398
      @wfcoaker1398 4 года назад

      Wow! I never knew that! Thanks for the tidbit. I love little details like that.

  • @thomassteeves6670
    @thomassteeves6670 2 года назад

    Thanks Simon. Just bought the book. Great video!

  • @kirasmith8491
    @kirasmith8491 4 года назад

    This is my favorite of your videos so far! What a great story!

  • @2pinkies
    @2pinkies 4 года назад +10

    Unfunny Charlie Chaplin tribute act 🤣🤣🤣🤣
    Someone had way too much fun writing this episode, brilliant team

  • @VashGames
    @VashGames 4 года назад +7

    Oh my goodness, calling him the "The unfunny Charlie Chaplin tribute act".

  • @CardinalTreehouse
    @CardinalTreehouse 4 года назад

    Fantastic video guys. Well done.

  • @Zeldahol
    @Zeldahol 4 года назад

    That was the best Geographics episode! Mind blown.

  • @Caldera01
    @Caldera01 4 года назад +12

    Jenny at the gates, as the SS open fire
    There's no time to waste, the final battle has begun

    • @The_Republic_of_Ireland
      @The_Republic_of_Ireland 4 года назад +4

      After the downfall, a castle besieged. Facing that nazi's awaiting relief, Gangl and Lee and their men set the prisoners free

    • @jacebralor71
      @jacebralor71 4 года назад +3

      And it's the end of the line, of the final journey! Enemies leaving the past! And it's American troops and the German army, joining together at last!

  • @Luke..luke..luke..
    @Luke..luke..luke.. 4 года назад +3

    Every video, better than the last!!!

  • @ziggy8253
    @ziggy8253 4 года назад +2

    The story of Castle Itter had gone unnoticed, until Simon whistled it to the world.

  • @theclandestinewitness
    @theclandestinewitness 3 года назад +1

    "Unfunny Charlie Chaplin Tribute Act" is my new favorite way to refer to Hitler

  • @carroarmato199
    @carroarmato199 4 года назад +3

    You missed Kurt-Siegfried Schrader who was exempt from the treatment that was reserved for SS by the french prisoners who advocated for him
    And Josef Gangl didn't just died, he died while trying to move Reynaud out of harm's way
    Except this, excellent video! AND IT'S AMERICAN TROOPS AND THE GERMAN ARMY JOINING TOGETHER AT LAST!

  • @TrunkyDunks
    @TrunkyDunks 4 года назад +32

    *I DO WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT 'NORD VPN* .....
    skip

    • @ieuanhunt552
      @ieuanhunt552 4 года назад

      Tap the right hand side of your screen a few times.

    • @TrunkyDunks
      @TrunkyDunks 4 года назад +6

      Ieuan Hunt well that is how one skips

  • @Daniel_Lav
    @Daniel_Lav 4 года назад +1

    I'm pretty sure I've heard about this before and I'm pretty sure it was also from one of your videos. Keep it up.

  • @sicparvismagna97
    @sicparvismagna97 4 года назад

    simon, this one of the most entertaining video of yours brother

  • @BeeWhistler
    @BeeWhistler 4 года назад +3

    I find it especially delightful to hear and Englishman mocking Hitler mercilessly. That just fits neatly.

    • @brimonkmonk8212
      @brimonkmonk8212 3 года назад

      I agree. I love how he refers to Hitler as Charlie Chapman act lol

  • @rossssssss
    @rossssssss 4 года назад +11

    :55 - *Not the only time the Allies fought on the same side as the Wehrmacht. Still a great story

    • @ianmacfarlane1241
      @ianmacfarlane1241 4 года назад +4

      Indeed - Operation Cowboy was another example.

  • @gallindordarion6889
    @gallindordarion6889 4 года назад +2

    It seems like it would make a good mini series. I have not read the book, but from what is explained, it has quite a lot that makes it not just a war story. A very intriguing story.

  • @MrRuss5099
    @MrRuss5099 4 года назад

    Amazing topic for this video thank you

  • @fangz5058
    @fangz5058 4 года назад +3

    What a great story.

  • @duchessstudioband7896
    @duchessstudioband7896 4 года назад +3

    I wonder if you've given any thought to a channel about family histories and their impact on history.

  • @Emperorvalse
    @Emperorvalse 4 года назад

    Thank you for this video. I had heard about this but never followed up to see the facts of such an unique event in history.