"If anyone ever tells you the Holocaust didn't happen, or that it wasn't as bad as they say, no, it was worse than they say. What we saw, what these Germans did, it was worse than you can possibly imagine." - Private Babe Heffron
I've seen this episode dozens if nor hundreds of times since it was broadcast in 2000, and it makes me weep every time. My Uncle Jimmy came home from the war a changed man, before he was one of those happy-go-lucky types. Afterward, he didn't smile as often, or as easily. I didn't find out until after he died that it was his participation in the liberation of the Ohrdruf Concentration Camp that did it to him. I also never knew that my Aunt Doris, Jimmy's widow, was Jewish. It wasn't a comon thing for a southern good old boy Baptist to marry a Jewish woman, but she was Jimmy's world. And Doris told me he'd have nightmares about what he saw at the Camp, often seeing her face on the victims.
This episode is centered on Nixon and his problems. His divorce. The fatigue of war. But after the discovery of the concentration camp, he is suddenly reminded of "Why we fight."
Well, he broke into the house of a nazi officer to feed his addiction, felt bad about it (kinda) and left. Then when he found out what those turbo dicks had actually done, he not only found it repulsive, but he also felt vindicated. I think it's logical. It's also fictionalized.
And the worst part is this wasn't the only mass genocide that took place at the time: meanwhile, the Japanese were conducting their own in South East Asia. Fortunate that those two countries are largely peaceful now, but lest we forget...
Holy shit, I just read a piece on the Japanese genocide, that spanned basically 50 years (1895-1945). Likely well over 30 million killed, some estimates as high as 80 million killed, mostly Chinese civilians. But also Filipino civilians. A crazy overlooked part of history. Largely because Japan refuses to acknowledge that it happened. Like the Armenian genocide (with Turkey), but potentially 30+ times as grotesque. Also the horrors were on par with the Nazi holocaust but far more predicated on rape and murder in the street or the home and less regimented like the Nazis did to the innocents they murdered. Horrifying shit.
It is currently a Crime to deny the holocaust in Germany.
8 месяцев назад
Let’s not forget the millions being disposed of,quietly,in the Soviet Union.If Stalin hadn’t died when he did,the Jews would have been ‘removed’ again.
The camp prisoners were played by folks suffering from cancer and/or undergoing chemo treatments. Despite that, the physical conditions of real prisoners back in WWII were significantly worse than what is depicted in the show. The main cast was purposefully kept away from this camp set until they were ready to film. Some of the expressions of dismay/disbelief/sadness on their faces are very legit. And what really, really hits you during the camp scene is the poignant music. If you watch it on mute, it really doesn't hit you quite as hard. And, poor girl, halfway through.. "I would like to not cry anymore.." Yeah, about that.. Also, some might try to claim that the soldier executing the germans found in a barn is Tom Hanks, but that's inaccurate. He's only been on screen in Ep5, and provided the voice of the german soldier left on the far bank of the river in Ep8.
This is the most important episode of the series. The camp was called Kaufering IV, a sub camp of Dachau. Easy Company actually arrived the day after the liberation. The actors did not see the camp until the episode was filmed, their reactios are real. Cancer patients were cast as some of the prisoners and rotten food had been thrown around to create the smell.
The fact that even Speirs is shaken by what he sees just reinforces that even the hardest soldier is still human. I watched a panel discussion with Babe Heffron, Al Mampre and another member of Easy company along with Ross McCall (Leibgott), James Maddio (Perconte) and a Holocaust survivor and Babe said that aside from Easy not finding the camp (another Army company found it and liberated it the day before), the men were not allowed to interact with the survivors like they showed. Only the medics and doctors were allowed to treat the survivors
You handled yourself beautifully don't worry. Good news the next episode is all most 100% good and happy. Plus you might watch the extra episode that shows the real people and they tell their story's it's so beautiful. You will cray happy tears.
Such a powerful episode, thank you for your empathy, compassion & genuinely lovely heart. It would be nice if your reaction was longer though, we’d like to hear. Like your commentary but it’s so short & there’s not even time given to the actual veterans at the intro.
The camp liberation scenes are fictional. If you want to hear from the veterans who actually liberated Kaufering IV find some surviving members of the 12th Armored Division.
My great Grandfather 2nd LT Roberts was a POW in North Germany somewhere throughout the war. One of 3 survivors, held for 3 years, 42-45. People dont realize that it wasnt just Jews they were starving and killing. It was everyone, Jews, Gypsies, Jahovas Whitnesses, POWs, anyone who was either not their precious Arian and anyone who fought against them. They generally treated everyone like the Jews. Only specific horrible monsters targeted the Jews specifically.
Imagine seeing all of the horrors of War that these people have witnessed...Then being speechless seeing this. "Why We Fight" is a nod to the epic Frank Capra WW2 series that was being shown during the War back home. I really believe Spielberg intentionally has the Nazi woman in the vivid red coat as a direct reference and connection to the little Jewish girl in Schindler's List. I don't think there are coincidences in his films...The actors weren't even allowed to see the set until the day of shooting, they wanted to get a genuine reaction from them. While the prisoners were some actual cancer patients. What shocks me is how surprised most people are reacting to this, having no idea what they were about to see...I think we get so immersed in the characters and immediacy we lose track of the big picture and tragedy. Tom Hanks Alert! 07:25 🚨
Agree on the Schindler’s List comment. The girl in red coat in SL was the only color in a black & white film, representing the innocence of the victims. The woman in red (only real color in the scene) represented the guilt of the German people.
Ross McCall (Leibgott) said he was offered the chance to visit an actual camp before they shot this episode and he declined. He wanted his reaction to be as genuine as his fellow actors.
The German lady is a metaphor for Germany, proud of their army, disdainful of the uncouth or barbarian invader, then they find out all the rumours were true and they pride crumbles as the realise they are the uncouth barbarians.
You don't have to apologize for being emotional, especially with this episode's subject matter. It's when we become desensitized and immune to horrible real life events is when we need to be more concerned. Thanks for being genuine with your reactions and don't put away the tissue box just yet.
To me the biggest problem was the civilians. They were suuuuper supportive for the most part of the regime, then when allies showed up they said they didn’t know what was going on (though a poll in the 80s said most knew about it but didn’t want to do anything for fear of their own lives) A great lesson in survival and indoctrination
Every episode of Band of Brothers contains fictional elements, errors, omissions, and embellishments ranging from minor to major. In the case of episode 9, there are several minor errors and one major fictional element. The camp liberation scenes are fictional, including the civilian reactions. The camp depicted in Band of Brothers is Kaufering IV which was actually liberated by the 12th Armored Division on April 27, 1945 with some units of the 101st arriving on April 28 and Easy Company arriving on April 29. And only about 6 prisoners were found alive along with about 500 bodies.
My father fought in WWII driving the Germans out of France back into Germany upon being there for a few weeks his division and another came across a concentration camp with 15,000 people that time he was there changed him forever 30 years later still having bad dreams on what he had seen he said the smell never leaves your mind
"She knew" it's quite possible. The only people who truly knew were mostly SS. . There's an intview done in the 1960s or so of a wife of an SS officer at a camp. She talked of finding several Jewish children that had escaped. Hiding in a ditch behind her house. She talked of coaxing them from the bushes. Making a lunch for them. Then after they had eaten took back to the ditch waterway. And shot them with a pistol her husband had given her. She talked as if she were doing nothing more than killing rats.
_"She knew" it's quite possible._ The liberation scenes shown in Band of Brothers are fictional...Easy Company never ever liberated a concentration camp. Easy Company arrived 2 days after the liberation of Kaufering IV and that is as close as they came.
@@TesseRact7228 What is there to rethink about what I just said? You don't think its ironic that they are doing the exact same thing the nazi's did to them in the 40s? Zionists are no different than the nazi's, they're a stain on the jewish population.
Can’t compare holocaust to anything going on in the world right now 6million people haven’t been locked in camps or slaughtered by firing squads based off there religion.
There is a holocaust museum not too far from my home town because the unit that was from here found one of the camps. The real pictures and the real evidence is staggering to the soul. The show does a good job of representing the type of things that were happening.
I've visited the Holocaust Museum in Israel and it shook me to my core. There's a room with a candelabra or something like that and mirrors everywhere to represent the 1 million children killed by the Nazis. There is a stack of clay shoes that sits in the middle of the floor. I've never seen anything like it.
Regarding Nixon's wife divorcing him, it was not an uncommon thing to happen to soldiers during the war. Most of these men were recently married just before getting called up and then spending 2+ years away with letters being the only way to communicate with their loved ones. Because communication was so limited rumors started flying that the men were having affairs overseas or visiting brothels (and many were). This along with that fact that many of these women had to take on full time jobs to provide for their young families and that they might one day receive a letter that their husband was killed, possibly months ago, lead many women to either have affairs themselves or look for new partners outright. This lead to what were known as "Dear John Letters" basically code for I'm leaving you or I'm getting a divorce. These letters were dreaded by soldiers and whenever one was received it caused the soldier to lose morale and become much less effective. It got so bad at one point the US government forbade the wives of soldiers to file for divorce until after the war ended. Now Nixon was one of the cases where he absolutely deserved it as he actually was having an affair with a woman in England.
Also, Spiers was married to a woman in England whose husband was reported as KIA. That is who he is sending all the loot to. But after the was, the first husband showed up (awkward); had been a POW. So marriage to Speirs was annulled. But she kept all the loot. In all, Speirs was married 5 times.
Many - including me- miss this the first time. The old german woman in red was married to a high ranking officer who lived near that camp, like maybe the commandant. She was the one Winters guessed warned them.
Uh, no. The photograph shows he was regular Wehrmacht, not SS. The black ribbon in the corner of the frame shows he was deceased. The widow may or may not have been the one that warned the camp but it could have been anyone from the town.
The liberation scenes are fictional, including the woman in red. In reality, Easy Company arrived two days after Kaufering IV had been liberated by the 12th Armored Division on April 27, 1945. Easy Company never liberated a concentration camp.
Honestly you'll probably have less tears in the last episode. There's still a few moments, but while the last of them (the real life veterans) died not that long ago (2022) you'll learn some of what became of them after the war. While a few died in accidents over the decades, most went on to live fairly well and died of old age (or the medical complications thereof). You definitely want to watch the documentary "We Stand Alone Together", which is actual wartime video clips and modern interviews - which the intro interview clips of the series were taken from.
If you feel the need to learn something so horrible it repulsed even the Nazis, look up Unit 731. The "medical expirinents" they did in Siberia were the most horific that i have ever heard of.
While these guys were chilling in Germany and Austria being a police/occupation force, the Marines in the Pacific were still being slaughtered by the hundreds in places like Okinawa and Iwo Jima
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
"If anyone ever tells you the Holocaust didn't happen, or that it wasn't as bad as they say, no, it was worse than they say. What we saw, what these Germans did, it was worse than you can possibly imagine." - Private Babe Heffron
I've seen this episode dozens if nor hundreds of times since it was broadcast in 2000, and it makes me weep every time. My Uncle Jimmy came home from the war a changed man, before he was one of those happy-go-lucky types. Afterward, he didn't smile as often, or as easily. I didn't find out until after he died that it was his participation in the liberation of the Ohrdruf Concentration Camp that did it to him. I also never knew that my Aunt Doris, Jimmy's widow, was Jewish. It wasn't a comon thing for a southern good old boy Baptist to marry a Jewish woman, but she was Jimmy's world. And Doris told me he'd have nightmares about what he saw at the Camp, often seeing her face on the victims.
God bless him my father went thru that as well once you experience such horrible things it never leaves you . MANS INHUMANITY TO MAN ITS SO EVIL
Episode 9 entitled "Why We Fight" is perhaps the best hour of television ever committed to film.
This episode is centered on Nixon and his problems. His divorce. The fatigue of war. But after the discovery of the concentration camp, he is suddenly reminded of "Why we fight."
Well, he broke into the house of a nazi officer to feed his addiction, felt bad about it (kinda) and left. Then when he found out what those turbo dicks had actually done, he not only found it repulsive, but he also felt vindicated. I think it's logical. It's also fictionalized.
And the worst part is this wasn't the only mass genocide that took place at the time: meanwhile, the Japanese were conducting their own in South East Asia. Fortunate that those two countries are largely peaceful now, but lest we forget...
Japanese killed 50 million in Asia, but yet they challenge us on why we dropped the bombs on them, doesn’t make any sense
Holy shit, I just read a piece on the Japanese genocide, that spanned basically 50 years (1895-1945). Likely well over 30 million killed, some estimates as high as 80 million killed, mostly Chinese civilians. But also Filipino civilians. A crazy overlooked part of history. Largely because Japan refuses to acknowledge that it happened. Like the Armenian genocide (with Turkey), but potentially 30+ times as grotesque. Also the horrors were on par with the Nazi holocaust but far more predicated on rape and murder in the street or the home and less regimented like the Nazis did to the innocents they murdered. Horrifying shit.
It is currently a Crime to deny the holocaust in Germany.
Let’s not forget the millions being disposed of,quietly,in the Soviet Union.If Stalin hadn’t died when he did,the Jews would have been ‘removed’ again.
The camp prisoners were played by folks suffering from cancer and/or undergoing chemo treatments. Despite that, the physical conditions of real prisoners back in WWII were significantly worse than what is depicted in the show.
The main cast was purposefully kept away from this camp set until they were ready to film. Some of the expressions of dismay/disbelief/sadness on their faces are very legit.
And what really, really hits you during the camp scene is the poignant music. If you watch it on mute, it really doesn't hit you quite as hard.
And, poor girl, halfway through..
"I would like to not cry anymore.."
Yeah, about that..
Also, some might try to claim that the soldier executing the germans found in a barn is Tom Hanks, but that's inaccurate. He's only been on screen in Ep5, and provided the voice of the german soldier left on the far bank of the river in Ep8.
8:38 Poland had a bear. Yes an actual bear. Hauled ammo and drank beer. Soldiers will bond with anything.
I've watched this series more times than I can count, and I've seen numerous reactions. Despite all that, this episode never fails to make me cry.
This is the most important episode of the series. The camp was called Kaufering IV, a sub camp of Dachau. Easy Company actually arrived the day after the liberation.
The actors did not see the camp until the episode was filmed, their reactios are real. Cancer patients were cast as some of the prisoners and rotten food had been thrown around to create the smell.
The fact that even Speirs is shaken by what he sees just reinforces that even the hardest soldier is still human.
I watched a panel discussion with Babe Heffron, Al Mampre and another member of Easy company along with Ross McCall (Leibgott), James Maddio (Perconte) and a Holocaust survivor and Babe said that aside from Easy not finding the camp (another Army company found it and liberated it the day before), the men were not allowed to interact with the survivors like they showed. Only the medics and doctors were allowed to treat the survivors
You handled yourself beautifully don't worry. Good news the next episode is all most 100% good and happy. Plus you might watch the extra episode that shows the real people and they tell their story's it's so beautiful. You will cray happy tears.
Such a powerful episode, thank you for your empathy, compassion & genuinely lovely heart. It would be nice if your reaction was longer though, we’d like to hear. Like your commentary but it’s so short & there’s not even time given to the actual veterans at the intro.
Would be even nicer if she showed the interviews in the beginning. I mean, they are what this is all about
The camp liberation scenes are fictional. If you want to hear from the veterans who actually liberated Kaufering IV find some surviving members of the 12th Armored Division.
6:37 "I would like to not cry any more" ...
My great Grandfather 2nd LT Roberts was a POW in North Germany somewhere throughout the war. One of 3 survivors, held for 3 years, 42-45. People dont realize that it wasnt just Jews they were starving and killing. It was everyone, Jews, Gypsies, Jahovas Whitnesses, POWs, anyone who was either not their precious Arian and anyone who fought against them. They generally treated everyone like the Jews. Only specific horrible monsters targeted the Jews specifically.
Imagine seeing all of the horrors of War that these people have witnessed...Then being speechless seeing this. "Why We Fight" is a nod to the epic Frank Capra WW2 series that was being shown during the War back home. I really believe Spielberg intentionally has the Nazi woman in the vivid red coat as a direct reference and connection to the little Jewish girl in Schindler's List. I don't think there are coincidences in his films...The actors weren't even allowed to see the set until the day of shooting, they wanted to get a genuine reaction from them. While the prisoners were some actual cancer patients. What shocks me is how surprised most people are reacting to this, having no idea what they were about to see...I think we get so immersed in the characters and immediacy we lose track of the big picture and tragedy.
Tom Hanks Alert! 07:25 🚨
Agree on the Schindler’s List comment. The girl in red coat in SL was the only color in a black & white film, representing the innocence of the victims. The woman in red (only real color in the scene) represented the guilt of the German people.
That's not actually Hanks, but the actor resembles him.
Ross McCall (Leibgott) said he was offered the chance to visit an actual camp before they shot this episode and he declined. He wanted his reaction to be as genuine as his fellow actors.
The German lady is a metaphor for Germany, proud of their army, disdainful of the uncouth or barbarian invader, then they find out all the rumours were true and they pride crumbles as the realise they are the uncouth barbarians.
That is a tough episode. You did good lady
You don't have to apologize for being emotional, especially with this episode's subject matter. It's when we become desensitized and immune to horrible real life events is when we need to be more concerned. Thanks for being genuine with your reactions and don't put away the tissue box just yet.
To me the biggest problem was the civilians. They were suuuuper supportive for the most part of the regime, then when allies showed up they said they didn’t know what was going on (though a poll in the 80s said most knew about it but didn’t want to do anything for fear of their own lives) A great lesson in survival and indoctrination
Every episode of Band of Brothers contains fictional elements, errors, omissions, and embellishments ranging from minor to major. In the case of episode 9, there are several minor errors and one major fictional element. The camp liberation scenes are fictional, including the civilian reactions. The camp depicted in Band of Brothers is Kaufering IV which was actually liberated by the 12th Armored Division on April 27, 1945 with some units of the 101st arriving on April 28 and Easy Company arriving on April 29. And only about 6 prisoners were found alive along with about 500 bodies.
My father fought in WWII driving the Germans out of France back into Germany upon being there for a few weeks his division and another came across a concentration camp with 15,000 people that time he was there changed him forever 30 years later still having bad dreams on what he had seen he said the smell never leaves your mind
You should watch the Pianist
"She knew" it's quite possible. The only people who truly knew were mostly SS. . There's an intview done in the 1960s or so of a wife of an SS officer at a camp. She talked of finding several Jewish children that had escaped. Hiding in a ditch behind her house. She talked of coaxing them from the bushes. Making a lunch for them. Then after they had eaten took back to the ditch waterway. And shot them with a pistol her husband had given her. She talked as if she were doing nothing more than killing rats.
_"She knew" it's quite possible._
The liberation scenes shown in Band of Brothers are fictional...Easy Company never ever liberated a concentration camp. Easy Company arrived 2 days after the liberation of Kaufering IV and that is as close as they came.
And now there are those who want to see a repeat of "this situation"...
The irony when those who suffered it are the one's doing it now.
@@lolnooblord
You need to *RETHINK **_THAT ONE_* mate.
@@TesseRact7228 What is there to rethink about what I just said? You don't think its ironic that they are doing the exact same thing the nazi's did to them in the 40s? Zionists are no different than the nazi's, they're a stain on the jewish population.
Can’t compare holocaust to anything going on in the world right now 6million people haven’t been locked in camps or slaughtered by firing squads based off there religion.
No he doesn't @@TesseRact7228
There is a holocaust museum not too far from my home town because the unit that was from here found one of the camps. The real pictures and the real evidence is staggering to the soul. The show does a good job of representing the type of things that were happening.
I've visited the Holocaust Museum in Israel and it shook me to my core. There's a room with a candelabra or something like that and mirrors everywhere to represent the 1 million children killed by the Nazis. There is a stack of clay shoes that sits in the middle of the floor. I've never seen anything like it.
This episode was very Nixon-centric because he was seriously questioning the reason for fighting. He found out why it's necessary to stand up to evil.
Enjoying watching 😊, thanks for sharing 😊👍✌️🇺🇸
Winston Churchill, knew what them bastards were doing!!,just couldn’t get to them😢😢 in time before it got this way😊👍✌️🇺🇸
Regarding Nixon's wife divorcing him, it was not an uncommon thing to happen to soldiers during the war. Most of these men were recently married just before getting called up and then spending 2+ years away with letters being the only way to communicate with their loved ones. Because communication was so limited rumors started flying that the men were having affairs overseas or visiting brothels (and many were). This along with that fact that many of these women had to take on full time jobs to provide for their young families and that they might one day receive a letter that their husband was killed, possibly months ago, lead many women to either have affairs themselves or look for new partners outright.
This lead to what were known as "Dear John Letters" basically code for I'm leaving you or I'm getting a divorce. These letters were dreaded by soldiers and whenever one was received it caused the soldier to lose morale and become much less effective. It got so bad at one point the US government forbade the wives of soldiers to file for divorce until after the war ended.
Now Nixon was one of the cases where he absolutely deserved it as he actually was having an affair with a woman in England.
Also, Spiers was married to a woman in England whose husband was reported as KIA. That is who he is sending all the loot to. But after the was, the first husband showed up (awkward); had been a POW. So marriage to Speirs was annulled. But she kept all the loot. In all, Speirs was married 5 times.
Many - including me- miss this the first time. The old german woman in red was married to a high ranking officer who lived near that camp, like maybe the commandant. She was the one Winters guessed warned them.
Uh, no. The photograph shows he was regular Wehrmacht, not SS. The black ribbon in the corner of the frame shows he was deceased. The widow may or may not have been the one that warned the camp but it could have been anyone from the town.
I wonder if the German women is actually a ‘real’ person (for lack of a better term) or is a character representing the Germans?
The liberation scenes are fictional, including the woman in red. In reality, Easy Company arrived two days after Kaufering IV had been liberated by the 12th Armored Division on April 27, 1945. Easy Company never liberated a concentration camp.
Honestly you'll probably have less tears in the last episode. There's still a few moments, but while the last of them (the real life veterans) died not that long ago (2022) you'll learn some of what became of them after the war. While a few died in accidents over the decades, most went on to live fairly well and died of old age (or the medical complications thereof). You definitely want to watch the documentary "We Stand Alone Together", which is actual wartime video clips and modern interviews - which the intro interview clips of the series were taken from.
True about Nixon being spotlighted in this episode because no matter how much of life’s crap can be piled upon someone, it surely could be worse.
Don’t be worried about the tears, we’ve all done it. Just shows your human.
14:20 thank you for being the only reactor to understand that
Yes, I was waiting for this one. Btw, I just left you some movie suggestions in the reaction to episode 8.
If you feel the need to learn something so horrible it repulsed even the Nazis, look up Unit 731. The "medical expirinents" they did in Siberia were the most horific that i have ever heard of.
🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮😬
This is a rough episode but very important. The ending of this series might be worth it though.
I think it ought to be shown in every high school history class
Concerning the women’s camp - these are rarely shown. As horrific as the men’s camps were; what the Germans did to women was far worse.
Pays to be important, 20 seconds later 😬
While these guys were chilling in Germany and Austria being a police/occupation force, the Marines in the Pacific were still being slaughtered by the hundreds in places like Okinawa and Iwo Jima
Did your episode 10 get deleted?
You missed James McAvoy during the Oklahoma sing along.
James McAvoy's character was killed 6 episodes back
Tom Hanks cameo as the executioner on the roadside shooting the three men.
It's not Tom Hanks
Yes she knew, the picture of her husband the Commandant.
The picture had a black ribbon which means he was dead, and he had an army uniform on , camps were SS organised.
Great to see you again beautiful 😍
Bit of an odd comment given that she's reacting to depictions of the Holocaust
@@nickchivers9029 Agreed
I unsubscribed because you're not showing the interviews in the beginning -- a reaction is useless without THEM -- they, are what this is all about
Who cares about somebody's reaction. Don't waste your time.