Reichswehr - Germany's Forgotten Army

Поделиться
HTML-код
  • Опубликовано: 30 авг 2020
  • The history of Germany's tiny interwar army, the Reichswehr, and its secret planning for war.
    For Military1945 visit:
    / @m1945
    Dr. Mark Felton is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
    Visit my audio book channel 'War Stories with Mark Felton': • One Thousand Miles to ...
    Help support my channel:
    www.paypal.me/markfeltonprodu...
    / markfeltonproductions
    Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
    This video is not monetised and all images and film are used in accordance with Fair Use for educational purposes.

Комментарии • 2,1 тыс.

  • @Minboelf
    @Minboelf 3 года назад +2764

    Allies to Germany:You can only have 100,000 professional soldiers
    Germany: "Professional" you say ?

    • @RonJohn63
      @RonJohn63 3 года назад +137

      -TBF, the Entente did not say "professional". They just said. "100,000 soldiers".- EDIT: I was wrong; they *did* say "professional", in the form of long-contract soldiers.

    • @mr.j2040
      @mr.j2040 3 года назад +176

      @Edmund Gotama 200% DISCIPLINE

    • @frien_d
      @frien_d 3 года назад +66

      ...and they invented roaming biker marauders before ken shiro and mad max

    • @mkoschier
      @mkoschier 3 года назад +14

      RonJohn63 for a new WH inf div you need approx 1000 Cadre so with the RW the WH could make 100-150 div without over stretching the Off and UOff corps

    • @MarcusHelius
      @MarcusHelius 3 года назад +41

      Then we shall have 100,000 super-soldiers! :D

  • @Guitcad1
    @Guitcad1 3 года назад +639

    Reichswehr: We'll just train 100,000 sergeants and senior officers, then when the time is right we'll give them privates and lieutenants.

    • @mihajlovucinic011
      @mihajlovucinic011 3 года назад +49

      Yeah. Its easy to give basic training to millions but its not easy to make good leaders.

    • @niccolopaganini4268
      @niccolopaganini4268 3 года назад +12

      How can you have someone be senior officer without being him a junior officer (lieutenant) first?

    • @qboxer
      @qboxer 3 года назад +32

      @@niccolopaganini4268 they had almost all likely been junior NCOs and junior officers during the war.

    • @niccolopaganini4268
      @niccolopaganini4268 3 года назад +4

      @@qboxer oh ok, I didn't really get it at first

    • @Burner.Account..
      @Burner.Account.. 3 года назад +22

      @@niccolopaganini4268 You first train them to their rank, then provide additional training for knowledge for the rank above so you can simply promote all of them at once while filling in the bottom ranks. Say, if you've been a soldat(private) for several years, you'll know how to be a gefreitor(corporal) simply by being used to seeing what he does. The additional training tells you why he's doing what he does. In the German's case, the person has everything he needs to become a corporal, except the army doesn't have enough men for him to lead, until the limit drops and suddenly most of the older soldats become gefreitors and gefreitors become fahnrichs (sergeants). The command structure is still used to working with each other and doing the same things, except now your unit and your play space becomes bigger.

  • @RCAvhstape
    @RCAvhstape 3 года назад +345

    It's amazing how fast the German military was able to modernize in just a few short years, with all the prep work done in secret or almost secret.

    • @winnienguyen4420
      @winnienguyen4420 2 года назад +14

      Thanks to the Soviet Union.

    • @sc1338
      @sc1338 2 года назад

      @@winnienguyen4420 Putin needs to denazify Russia

    • @younes2415
      @younes2415 2 года назад

      Experience is key in warfare.

    • @franciscouderq1100
      @franciscouderq1100 2 года назад

      Now I understand better how Germany could so quickly rearmed and expend. As usual Fascinating stuff from our Doc.

    • @Justin.Martyr
      @Justin.Martyr 2 года назад

      *A Year usuaLLy has 365 days in it!!!*
      *How Hany Days are there is a "short" year????*

  • @otakurt1149
    @otakurt1149 3 года назад +729

    Allies: we're Limiting your army's *Quantity*
    Germany: **Laughs in Quality**

    • @m1garand903
      @m1garand903 3 года назад +17

      Otakurt wehraboo

    • @DimBeam1
      @DimBeam1 3 года назад +13

      Germany lost.

    • @cynthash100
      @cynthash100 3 года назад +22

      Allies: **laughs in everything**

    • @Cjnw
      @Cjnw 3 года назад +8

      Normie

    • @generalgta3528
      @generalgta3528 3 года назад +7

      @@Cjnw YOU'RE HERE, TOO?!?! PLEASE REPLY!!!

  • @Charles_Anthony
    @Charles_Anthony 3 года назад +1668

    I read about this army, but it's so much more entertaining to listen to Dr. Felton.

    • @gunner678
      @gunner678 3 года назад +12

      A crucial foetus that would become the most destructive military machine on the planet. New doctrines, weapons, structures, war planning etc all came from this tiny force (although it sounds quite large in today's terms).

    • @steveyoung3245
      @steveyoung3245 3 года назад +3

      Well said,I have watched for years now.

    • @jewnbugshekelstein5180
      @jewnbugshekelstein5180 3 года назад +2

      I wonder what Dr. William Pierce would say about this.

    • @schulze25
      @schulze25 3 года назад +4

      Dr??

    • @Charles_Anthony
      @Charles_Anthony 3 года назад +13

      @@schulze25 : At this point, even if the man doesn't have a PHD in anything, he has proven his surgical skill in cutting straight to the chase with these obscure but very important historical topics.

  • @No11Scalpel
    @No11Scalpel 3 года назад +520

    An Arabic proverb says " If you honor the honorable, you'll own his gratitude for ever. If you Honor the dishonorable he'll repel on you " meaning he'll deem you weak. The same poet also said " If you dishonor the honorable he'll never rest until its washed off with blood "
    A lesson how to treat you enemy in defeat to avoid a future tragedy

    • @assassin_rk42
      @assassin_rk42 3 года назад +18

      The imperial army was certainly good at what they needed to do. But the powers and thinkers at the time did not want to honor their enemy for both bravery and sacrifice like they did their own men.

    • @No11Scalpel
      @No11Scalpel 3 года назад +30

      @@assassin_rk42 Its not about being decent or showing any appreciation for a fallen foe or worthy opponent .Its about knowing the culture of you enemy & thier ethos. Most of the time & specially in some cultures where pride takes front stage to wealth & life itself showing some "Fake" appreciation might save in the long run .
      Somethings are not forgotten not for generations .

    • @yourstruly4817
      @yourstruly4817 3 года назад +9

      Honor means something very different in Western culture

    • @SeverityOne
      @SeverityOne 3 года назад +18

      The thing is, though, that the German Empire, or more accurately Prussia, was a thoroughly militaristic state. What they didn't do after WW1 was to get rid of the old guard. Yes, the Kaiser had gone, but he was never the power in Germany: the military were. So yes, the Versailles Treaty was unfair, and undoubtedly contributed to WW2, but Germany ceased to be a threat and destabilising factor in Europe after they removed anybody who had been culpable, and replaced them with people who actually believed in this thing called "democracy". And today, it's not an exaggeration to say that Germany is a leading moral voice in Europe, perhaps even the most leading of all.

    • @No11Scalpel
      @No11Scalpel 3 года назад +10

      @@SeverityOne Agreed in regards to Germany leading the "Moral voice "yet sometimes you must tolerate some bad apples, at least for a while , just because they've became symbols for thier nation & you don't want to antagonist everybody .
      And Germany's militarism was mostly a combination of inferiority complex & being looked down upon by the French/English Ala what's happening right now with Russia & Turky each taken separately. Along with restoration of national pride.
      It's easier to think we're better than everybody than realizing that we all have some good & mostly bad .

  • @user-ky6vw5up9m
    @user-ky6vw5up9m 3 года назад +959

    “ what are our troops doing in Vietnam ? “
    “Dont worry Mr President they are just Advisers”
    “ How many Advisers are there?”
    “50,000 Sir”.

    • @laniesenagonia3104
      @laniesenagonia3104 3 года назад +11

      😂😂😂

    • @kelleysauer1693
      @kelleysauer1693 3 года назад +20

      It was the president - Johnson - who was the culprit, not the military.

    • @benbaselet2026
      @benbaselet2026 3 года назад +2

      Oh that time they actually told the politicians what was going on?

    • @Joe-gu6oe
      @Joe-gu6oe 3 года назад +1

      There was good reason.

    • @michaelcolt4196
      @michaelcolt4196 3 года назад +21

      @@Joe-gu6oe No, there wasn´t. America lost the war, south vietnam fell and the region didn´t ceased to communism. As much as i hate anything that has to do with the communist and marxist agenda, vietnam was a mistake

  • @daswuerti3669
    @daswuerti3669 3 года назад +141

    You forgot to mention, that the Reichswehr implemented a new way to train the officercorps. In the Reichswehr a new officer has to learn and commit the task of the next higher rank too, resulting in a intense increase of capable officers. This even continued into the Wehrmacht.

    • @CFinch360
      @CFinch360 3 года назад +13

      Cross training/upskill training. Still of good use in corporations today.

  • @maxbowen5605
    @maxbowen5605 3 года назад +1255

    God please give Mark Felton a netflix show, narrating obscure historical events.

    • @dyveira
      @dyveira 3 года назад +55

      To me, Mark Felton is the History Channel. I've learned more from him than I ever did from that bloody farce of a television network.

    • @maxbowen5605
      @maxbowen5605 3 года назад +4

      @John Milton I totally would if it was mark!

    • @hobomeak69
      @hobomeak69 3 года назад +1

      this is that

    • @RealismAndHonor
      @RealismAndHonor 3 года назад +6

      I agree it used to be the old school history channel that would solidify the book knowledge i remember but Marky Mark Felton is like main lining straight history facts.

    • @tdolan500
      @tdolan500 3 года назад +12

      I’d love for someone to professionally produce his videos but I feel this information is too valuable to be put behind a paywall.

  • @bojomay2952
    @bojomay2952 3 года назад +764

    Teacher: how did you pass history.
    Me: Mark Felton

  • @petitponeydu7727
    @petitponeydu7727 3 года назад +227

    i'd love to hear Dr Felton talk about how the spanish civil war was used has a testing ground for soviet and german military gear (especially the first few panzers and MG-34s)

    • @thunberbolttwo3953
      @thunberbolttwo3953 3 года назад +7

      Dont forget Italian military equipment.

    • @matthewclark1529
      @matthewclark1529 3 года назад +3

      Yeah, that would be cool. I know the Germans gave them early variant BF-109’s and a few Junkers Ju-87.

    • @zefft.f4010
      @zefft.f4010 3 года назад +5

      The Spanish Civil War is always a fascinating subject. I agree.
      Also, perhaps the German Revolutions? Such as the fighting that occurred after the proclamation of the notoriously chaotic Bavarian Soviet Republic.

    • @petitponeydu7727
      @petitponeydu7727 3 года назад +1

      @@thunberbolttwo3953 i'm only an expert about german military gear, i just know the basics about italian gear, but they did test out the L3 tankette there right ?

    • @pierrefox5908
      @pierrefox5908 3 года назад

      I

  • @jochenschmidt1072
    @jochenschmidt1072 3 года назад +73

    As a german (born 1966) i was very interested in history since my school time. But even as a very young man, i had always the feeling, that not every thing was spoken about - especially when it comes to WW1, the treaty of versaille, the social-democratish world view and their mentioning in every german history book as "the good ones"!
    Imagine my surprise, when i learned, that the weimar republic relied on the "Freikorps" to push back the invading polish and to surpress the bolschevik uprisings in Germany. I can recommend one very good book about those times. It is written by a former Bundeswehr General - no nazi, no nationalist, but a military historian. It is big book, with a lot of sources, nearly all from the allied side.
    The book title: "1939 - Der Krieg der viele Väter hatte". The author : Gerd Schultze-Rhonhof.
    For me, this book was an eyeopener. I don´t agree with some things Schultze-Rhonhof has written. But, its the only book (in german language) wich shows a different point of view. It is refreshingly "different" , because the author tries not to blame the people, who lived in their times, by knowing the outcome. He does not swing his pointy finger from a position 80years after.
    Don´t get me wrong - history should be seen from different angles. I was always interested in what the sovjets, the amercian, the frensh, the british AND the germans where doing in the past - without taking sides.
    Sorry for my bad english - i hope i could give my 2 cents here - and thank you very, very mauch, Mr. Dr. Felton for your wonderful channel.

    • @-BUILT_LIKE_A_BAG_OF_MILK
      @-BUILT_LIKE_A_BAG_OF_MILK Год назад +3

      I realised the same in my schooling (Scotland) in the 90's when it came to history it left more questions than answers & just made UK out to be angels in any conflict, having teachers who thought my questioning it was me being argumentative put me off history for the rest of my schooling. When I left I, like you liked to dive into the history of all sides of a conflict & if I come to the conclusion my own country carries guilt or done wrong I'm happy to do so (which we have alot to pick from).
      I do prefer to learn of foreign countries history more I must admit, purely because its not what I myself have grew up around its more fascinating. I shall give the book you recommended a look thank you.

    • @vascovideo5678
      @vascovideo5678 26 дней назад

      Next to nothing printed in English on topic. I have many related books. Some in German. I never translated

  • @Freigeist2008
    @Freigeist2008 3 года назад +300

    Another effect of the 100k men-Heer (Army) was, that hundred thousands of former army members had been unemployed and enbittered. This reservoir was very important for the rise of the national socialists. If they had been soldiers in an army they had been controlled. So they stood in hard opposition to the collaborateur-regimes of the Weimarer Republic, which they saw as traitors.

    • @BELCAN57
      @BELCAN57 3 года назад +11

      A lot of those men joined the SA.

    • @SturmerSS
      @SturmerSS 3 года назад +7

      @Fabian Kirchgessner professional army in Germany now?

    • @at6686
      @at6686 3 года назад +39

      Reminds me of our misadventure in Iraq. We disbanded the army, humiliating a bunch of guys with weapons and now with large chips on their shoulders.

    • @Freigeist2008
      @Freigeist2008 3 года назад +22

      @@at6686 Additionally a lot of the Freecorps-members had been also discriminated by the leftist governments and labor unions and did not get civil jobs in Germany. This radicalized them and made them the hardcore of SA and other anti-republican forces

    • @user-hz9hu4gh2z
      @user-hz9hu4gh2z 3 года назад +4

      Well, the people who made the obsure German Worker's Party into the Nazi Party were such soldiers themselves. Like, you know, Hitler, Göring, Röhm and Strasser.

  • @HarrisonGoldfarb
    @HarrisonGoldfarb 3 года назад +512

    I remember reading that the Germans would conduct secret tanks test in the Soviet Union under the codename "tractor."
    Edit: Dang, thanks for the likes! The most ever!

    • @Turborulla
      @Turborulla 3 года назад +44

      And Stalin killed everyone who trained Germans

    • @fat_alsgaming
      @fat_alsgaming 3 года назад +36

      Stxr KillerX at the time stalin probably thought he could turn germany into a communist puppet state, a lot of this training occurred before the nazis

    • @MarkVrem
      @MarkVrem 3 года назад +55

      @Stxr KillerX The Soviets in return got blueprints on Germany tank concepts ideas and things, and also tactics, how to organize production industrialization lines and etc... The Soviets were way behind everyone else at the time due to financial constraints when it came to tanks. They used this and then purchasing tanks from Britain and the USA also to quickly catch up.

    • @Piddel
      @Piddel 3 года назад +37

      @@fat_alsgaming ​ @Stxr KillerX I mean Germany and the Soviet Union had pretty good ties, some German Generals were fluent in Russian even because they were training in Moscow military schools. Stalin didn't even think they would attack the SU in 1941 as they were already in war with the allies, had a non-aggression pact and also shared defeated Poland.

    • @sternencolonel7328
      @sternencolonel7328 3 года назад +23

      @Stxr KillerX Friedrich Ebert, the First President of the Weimar Republic, was a Social Democrat.
      This was a move to gain influence, on the german government also both russian and germany were essentially parias at the time.
      So it was a "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" deal.

  • @michaelnewton1332
    @michaelnewton1332 3 года назад +62

    Versailles: Limits German Army to 100,000 soldiers.
    Germany: "I'm gonna do what's called a pro gamer move."

  • @TheFarout69
    @TheFarout69 3 года назад +127

    Mark Felton is like a shoe box of missing puzzle pieces. Brilliant historical research. Well done sir.

    • @TheFarout69
      @TheFarout69 3 года назад +1

      @Astir01 They do not even teach children how our government works in USA anymore. Cherry picked history of our country does not help either. 2020 is the scariest time I've seen in 50 years. Like watching a train wreck in slow motion.

    • @badcallsign4204
      @badcallsign4204 3 года назад +1

      Scott Boswell Agreed and well said.

    • @unsharded8503
      @unsharded8503 3 года назад

      @@TheFarout69 they teach us about the government still. My 8 year old brother is learning about it rn

    • @TheFarout69
      @TheFarout69 3 года назад +1

      @@unsharded8503 , I was in the last generation to get a proper public education back in the 80's. I was taught civics and proper American history. I studied other history on my own. I've mostly home schooled my children - one goes to University of Hawaii and graduates soon. America may get it together again but I'm not waiting for it.

    • @unsharded8503
      @unsharded8503 3 года назад +1

      @@TheFarout69 Yeah, most of my studying consists in home on the internet. I DO NOT approve of my country's education system. Anyways, Im really happy for you that one of your kids goes to the University of Hawaii. Hope you have a good rest of your life kind stranger

  • @linkieloos
    @linkieloos 3 года назад +254

    I was wondering when Felton would cover this. The Reichswehr (and the Weimar Republic as a whole) is grossly overlooked despite being the Wehrmacht's predecessor. It was actually Reichswehr troops who first swore the oath of loyalty to Hitler once he came to power (as shown in the acclaimed World at War tv series). Not long after, the organisation became the Wehrmacht.

    • @TheMasterOfCornedy
      @TheMasterOfCornedy 3 года назад +13

      Weimar not Weimer

    • @thEannoyingE
      @thEannoyingE 3 года назад +8

      Also, some Wehrmacht soldiers actually were permitted to wear the old Reichswehr belt buckles.

    • @myparceltape1169
      @myparceltape1169 3 года назад

      Do you think this military organisation took so much money out of the system that the central bank was forced to print more?
      Increasingy worthless pieces of paper that had to be overstamped ?
      Now the German Government is very worried that anything should lower the value of the Deuchmark.

    • @winnienguyen4420
      @winnienguyen4420 2 года назад +1

      I highly recommend the series called Babylon Berlin on Netflix. It's a German shoe about the Weimar Republic and I learned quite a bit just watching it.

  • @HistoryHustle
    @HistoryHustle 3 года назад +67

    One of these topics we all know a little of but not the full story. Thank you, Mark!

    • @tonnywildweasel8138
      @tonnywildweasel8138 3 года назад +5

      Thought i might meet you here :-)

    • @MrSleepy677
      @MrSleepy677 3 года назад +3

      There was a movie about the Kasier's last days in the Netherlands.

  • @jeffblacky
    @jeffblacky 3 года назад +76

    one of my great grand uncles turn down a chance go back into service in 1921 , instead he joined the friekorps for a couple of years before travelling around the world and settled in Canada in 1930 where he stayed intil his death in 1999

    • @colasalz2
      @colasalz2 3 года назад +11

      well I guess... a good choice.. .because otherwise it would be 1940-1945 or someting around that numbers

    • @jeffblacky
      @jeffblacky 3 года назад +30

      ​@@colasalz2 All three of the family served in WW1 , my great grand father lost both legs in 1916 and Uncle Albert served as a pilot in a two seater unit and was shot down in 1917 and captured. All three lived to old age ( 99 , 87 and 92 ) but all their sons served in Spanish Civil war and WW2 ( 4 KIA , 2 captured and 2 missing and one , my grand father lived through 1940 to 1945 and after release from POW camp , he worked for 7 years in labor and then came to the US and brought my mom and uncle with him to Rapid City , South Dakota and opened a gas station ( he died in 1981 of cancer)

    • @Ndlanding
      @Ndlanding 3 года назад +2

      Making fish and chips in the FrieKorps? Battering juice?

    • @jeffblacky
      @jeffblacky 3 года назад +3

      @@Ndlanding yuk yuk yuk

    • @KarlDMarx
      @KarlDMarx 2 года назад

      Good choice ... perhaps a little cold but ..

  • @wonderfalg
    @wonderfalg 3 года назад +127

    Reichswehr: forgotten army of the past
    Bundeswehr: forgotten army of the presence

    • @wonderfalg
      @wonderfalg 3 года назад +6

      @kie Learn something: Wehr means defence.

    • @nutzeeer
      @nutzeeer 3 года назад +1

      @@wonderfalg No, wehr means weir.
      Abwehr is defense.

    • @nutzeeer
      @nutzeeer 3 года назад +2

      @Solvie german here, i disagree when looking at the word literally.
      in zusammenhang mit etwas ist es defense, aber das wort ganz alleine ist das, was man in einem fluss findet.

    • @Bruh-hq1hx
      @Bruh-hq1hx 3 года назад +5

      @@nutzeeer wehr does mean that but abwehr is something you use for like a anti air gun in the military. There also is the word wehren which comes from wehr and sich zu wehren means to defend oneself

    • @Bruh-hq1hx
      @Bruh-hq1hx 3 года назад +4

      @@nutzeeer weißt du was sich wehren bedeutet? Außerdem wehr ist ein altes Wort für Verteidigung oder verteidigen

  • @norgeeric
    @norgeeric 3 года назад +237

    another hit of juicy historical essays, right in the vains. This is that good stuff

    • @JoeMun
      @JoeMun 3 года назад +9

      If his videos were illegal drugs, I’d be doing everything I could to get my hands on some 😂

    • @reddirtroots5992
      @reddirtroots5992 3 года назад +6

      Indeed! Mark's head and shoulders above the rest.

    • @Ndlanding
      @Ndlanding 3 года назад +1

      Morons answering morons in this branch of the comments.

    • @daltonwadeb.4891
      @daltonwadeb.4891 3 года назад +4

      @@Ndlanding Like you?

    • @shaunbritton939
      @shaunbritton939 3 года назад +1

      Best dealer around in education 🤔😅😅

  • @Generalfund
    @Generalfund 3 года назад +54

    I hope Mr Felton understands just how loved and appreciated his videos are. This is by far the best quality content on youtube...

    • @Ystadcop
      @Ystadcop 3 года назад +8

      Yes, amazing detail and research. He also plainly has no political agenda, how refreshing.

    • @KINGRODP
      @KINGRODP 3 года назад +2

      You exactly right. I just found it 2 nights ago. Im hooked.

  • @jimtalbott9535
    @jimtalbott9535 3 года назад +17

    at 7:15 - the "rubber gun barrel" seems like that could make an excellent meme of some sort!

  • @zefft.f4010
    @zefft.f4010 3 года назад +23

    Dr. Felton: The rest, as they say, is history...
    **Preussens Gloria intensifies**

  • @benjaminkoch2380
    @benjaminkoch2380 3 года назад +161

    Not forgotten at all. In Germany we learn about it in school.

    • @raspytv6684
      @raspytv6684 3 года назад +37

      Forgotten all around the world , Barr Germany.

    • @benjaminkoch2380
      @benjaminkoch2380 3 года назад +20

      @@raspytv6684 maybe its no miracle that the World doesn't know the german history in Detail.

    • @annelisemeier283
      @annelisemeier283 3 года назад +1

      Glaube ich kaum

    • @freshbaboboss1665
      @freshbaboboss1665 3 года назад +5

      Also wir haben nichts darüber gelernt, mein Gymnasium ist aber auch ne Ausnahme, ist in allem übel Schmutz

    • @benjaminkoch2380
      @benjaminkoch2380 3 года назад

      @@annelisemeier283 ist aber so...

  • @SgtAndrewM
    @SgtAndrewM 3 года назад +135

    i wish mark was my history teacher in school

  • @MikeBison_
    @MikeBison_ 3 года назад +154

    "Ok, we're gonna make it so the Germans can't have an army bigger than 100,000 men"
    "Good idea ol chap, brilliant"
    >Germany proceeds to selectively craft an army of 100,000 specially selected chad soldiers and officers
    *Allied surprised Pikachu face*

    • @gusargoan
      @gusargoan 3 года назад +1

      I think you meant Kyle.

    • @EnigmaEnginseer
      @EnigmaEnginseer 3 года назад

      @@MrDaiseymay the Allies sure were surprised

  • @MyLateralThawts
    @MyLateralThawts 3 года назад +48

    I’ve read that the Reichswehr recruited all their soldiers with the idea that they would later form the officer corps of the expanded German military. I don’t know how many were later commissioned, but I can confirm that both my grandfather and great uncle, who were members of the Reichsmarine and Reichswehr respectively, were later on commissioned from the ranks after both had become Sr NCO’s.

  • @therealmp40
    @therealmp40 3 года назад +43

    I love that the Reichswehr in a way was the German Army sticking to it's Prussian roots, with the demanding selection process, an emphasis in quality of each individual soldier and competent officers that were part of the Old Guard, many of them being old Prussian soldiers. It really was wonderful.

    • @proudfirebrand3946
      @proudfirebrand3946 3 года назад +12

      Fabian Kirchgessner The Bundeswehr is all well and good at face value but deep beneath unlike the problems of the Old Weimar heer, its underfunded, lacking the industrial structure to mobilize effectively, and the most detrimental and heartbreaking of all, the lack Militaristic confidence much less the existence of the Military or the necessity of it and backing the from the People of Germany due to the loss of most of Prussian spirit and mindset.
      Oh Germany, such a loss to the world.

    • @axelpatrickb.pingol3228
      @axelpatrickb.pingol3228 3 года назад +2

      @@proudfirebrand3946 Germany does not revolve around Prussia....

    • @MsSoulProvider
      @MsSoulProvider 3 года назад +2

      @@axelpatrickb.pingol3228
      No,- not at all.. what do you think why the german national socker trikot has the colours black & white? Why do teams in the Bundesliga have names like Borussia?

    • @piushalg8175
      @piushalg8175 3 года назад +2

      @@MsSoulProvider You are only partially right. Sometimes the national soccer team uses black and white colours. Sports teams that use the name Borussia are situated in former Prussian parts of Germany. Prussia existed as a unity at least formally until 1945. And these clubs are older.

    • @proudfirebrand3946
      @proudfirebrand3946 3 года назад +2

      Ohlourdes Padua there is a saying, it goes “Prussians are German, but not all Germans are Prussians.”
      You may think this means there is division between them, a diversity if you will, youre not wrong to think that, but that is only half truth for Prussia is the yardstick, the standard of all Germanic.
      Yes, its egotistical, and narcissistic. But it is a rightfully earned one, through iron, mud, and blood. In the battlefields surrounded on all sides by foreign threats, but through and through has remained German, for Prussia is Germany.
      But that cure is also poison, and in their hubris it dulled, chipped, and now--
      I refuse to say broken for it is not, I will say it is stagnant, or in a downward spiral towards ruin.

  • @guffmulderEOD3119
    @guffmulderEOD3119 3 года назад +3

    Nice birthday treat. A new Mark Felton Production video.

    • @MarkFeltonProductions
      @MarkFeltonProductions  3 года назад +2

      Happy birthday!

    • @guffmulderEOD3119
      @guffmulderEOD3119 3 года назад

      @@MarkFeltonProductions Thank You. I enjoyed this video as I find the subject of Reichswehr & the alliance with the Soviet Union to be a very interesting subject.

  • @Schnitz13
    @Schnitz13 3 года назад +6

    Perhaps your most important video yet in helping us understand the future of things to come. Cheers, Mr. Felton.

  • @louferrao2044
    @louferrao2044 3 года назад +3

    Thank you Mark Felton! This bit of unknown history really clears up many questions of this time period.

  • @billd.iniowa2263
    @billd.iniowa2263 3 года назад +113

    The lesson we need to remember, always remember, is that history doesn't happen in big giant swoops. It happens in small, little steps. Inch by inch, it creeps along. Growing slowly, until suddenly it is unstoppable. Unrestrained, it can turn into a monster. A thing that becomes evil incarnate. Yes, we must never forget.

    • @Mountain_Man_
      @Mountain_Man_ 3 года назад +1

      *1935 Germany after expansion of the army* i love when a plan comes together

    • @John2E0GTU
      @John2E0GTU 3 года назад

      Like ahurricane beginning with the flap of a butterfly's wings.

    • @silverbird425
      @silverbird425 3 года назад +4

      You mean like China's salami strategy?

    • @daeph123
      @daeph123 3 года назад

      OK. Thanks for pointing that out.

    • @daeph123
      @daeph123 3 года назад +2

      @Hugo Holesch Exactly!

  • @The_Republic_of_Ireland
    @The_Republic_of_Ireland 3 года назад +25

    Germany pre-WW1: Prussian Military Might reigns
    Reichswehr: Prussian Military Might STILL reigns!

    • @conveyor2
      @conveyor2 2 года назад

      @@MrDaiseymay Prussian military saved Wellington's butt at Waterloo.

  • @shauntaylor6040
    @shauntaylor6040 3 года назад +62

    Rommel was retained by the Army, clearly he showed promise.

    • @PP266
      @PP266 3 года назад +8

      Ask the Italians. They got to meet him in the WWI.

    • @skdKitsune
      @skdKitsune 3 года назад +8

      @@PP266 9000 prisoners taken with only 100 men right?

    • @PP266
      @PP266 3 года назад +4

      @@skdKitsune Right!

    • @Arltratlo
      @Arltratlo 3 года назад

      try Guderian!

    • @watching99134
      @watching99134 3 года назад +4

      Well he had already won a Pour le Merite in World War One, so...

  • @vladdrakul7851
    @vladdrakul7851 3 года назад

    When a Mark Felton video comes on unlike all others I don't need to wait and watch it to know it deserves a recommend. AS usual not disappointed. You are a historical resource. My highest compliment!

  • @thechlebek901
    @thechlebek901 3 года назад +3

    an Mark Felton notification always makes me smile, thank you for making amazing videos !

  • @casual_boredom7195
    @casual_boredom7195 3 года назад +4

    You Never Stop Intriguing Me Mr. Felton.

  • @ArchCone
    @ArchCone 3 года назад +1

    Thank you for keeping history alive mark.

  • @panzerkitsune
    @panzerkitsune 3 года назад +5

    Its always fun to see a new episode. great narrative and structure of the stories. better than most if not all of my historyteachers in school.

  • @secretjosh5619
    @secretjosh5619 3 года назад +147

    Last time I was this early, 'Germany' didn't even exist to begin with.

    • @andrewpestotnik5495
      @andrewpestotnik5495 3 года назад +9

      @Sahil C he was referencing 1870

    • @secretjosh5619
      @secretjosh5619 3 года назад +4

      @Ganiscol This is the only thing that came to mind at the time haha. If you have the time, I would request you to please elaborate. I am genuinely interested.
      I get it that there was a North German Confederation, formed with Prussia at its core. Then during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, the southern principalities joined the north to form a collective 'Germany' for mutual defense.

    • @corvusduluth
      @corvusduluth 3 года назад

      @@secretjosh5619 "German Civil War" North Germans vs Austria, Bavaria, Baden, Swabia etc. The 'South' lost.

    • @avrahamvidal4255
      @avrahamvidal4255 3 года назад

      LOL 😂

    • @secretjosh5619
      @secretjosh5619 3 года назад +1

      @@corvusduluthWell. You're talking about the Austro-Prussian war of 1866, not exactly a 'Civil War' (Since 'Germany' still didn't exist) a short war which did take place before the Franco-Prussian war where German states allied according to who they were close to, however I was talking about the unification of Germany(North German Confederation with the southern states) which took place primarily due to the threat of war with their greatest rival, France, in 1870(Of course all of this was Bismarck's calculated plan).
      Surely you dont suggest that unification took place due to the Austro-Prussian War of 1866?

  • @minuteman4199
    @minuteman4199 3 года назад +3

    I have a now deceased relative who joined the German army on 1933 in the infantry. He fought all the way to Moscow, and then was captured by the Americans in France. When the war ended he trained as an engineer. When the Bundeswehr was formed in the early 50s, the government called him back because he had signed on for a life time contract in 1933. At that point he packed up and emigrated to Canada, where I married his niece.

    • @StevenKeery
      @StevenKeery 3 года назад

      Minute Man: He fought all the way to Moscow and was captured by the Americans in France? His map reading skills must have been really poor. 😂

    • @minuteman4199
      @minuteman4199 3 года назад

      @@StevenKeery You are aware that the army moved individual soldiers and entire units from place to place right?

    • @StevenKeery
      @StevenKeery 3 года назад

      @@minuteman4199 : Yes I am aware of that fact. Sorry! I couldn't resist the cheap laugh at your expense. My apologies.

    • @minuteman4199
      @minuteman4199 3 года назад

      @@StevenKeery Apologies accepted. Sometimes tone is hard to gauge on the interwebs.

  • @cracklingvoice
    @cracklingvoice 3 года назад +5

    It was the Reichsmarine that figured out the lack of limitation in vessels displacing less than 200 tons, leading to the development of the Schnellboot by the Lürssen boat yard. All before 1933. The Navy had an ax to grind just like the Army.

  • @The105ODST
    @The105ODST 3 года назад +2

    I woke up to a new episode of Mark Felton production. It is a nice day already.

  • @CKC_Productions
    @CKC_Productions 3 года назад +4

    Mark Felton Prosuctions the true History Channel; thanks again for your brilliant channel and hard work!👍🏽💯😁

  • @richardmones9617
    @richardmones9617 3 года назад +4

    I love mark felton channel history...I love it I've learned more...more power idol mark!

  • @M.L.R.Z.
    @M.L.R.Z. 3 года назад

    I'm so happy to find your channel, not many history channels are unbiased history tellers... Thank you for all your effort!

  • @joebuchanan3808
    @joebuchanan3808 3 года назад

    Once again sir you have garnered up another long forgotten gem. Thank you so much.

  • @Lostghost-ff8bz
    @Lostghost-ff8bz 3 года назад +3

    Ah always a great way to wake up and see a new video uploaded

  • @asheland_numismatics
    @asheland_numismatics 3 года назад +4

    Yes! A great way to start the week! 👍

  • @Hagmire
    @Hagmire 3 года назад +1

    Liked that end bit with them marching no salute just straight up march.

  • @jas_1959
    @jas_1959 3 года назад

    Outstanding, Dr. Felton keeping "History" alive !!!

  • @johncollins7423
    @johncollins7423 3 года назад +5

    Thank you for yet another great video, Mark! I enjoy these, because I've always loved history & learn something new every time! Keep up the great work!👍😎

  • @robertmoore1742
    @robertmoore1742 3 года назад +7

    Mark, your informational presentation on this prelude and build up to war is another masterpiece and many thanks for your efforts. I also think a war story featuring the 1936 Olympics would further shed light on the subject in that Hitler was able to demonstrate "Nazi superiority " in the pretext of sport. Yes there was a Jesse Owens, but the rest of that Olympics was all Germany and the effect it had on the preparations to war was palpable. I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject in context to the Allies caught napping and we can look back and quite clearly see the true intentions all along. Thanks again and please keep up the effort. Robert

  • @Ystadcop
    @Ystadcop 3 года назад +1

    Outstanding. Thanks, Dr. Mark.

  • @mikeh7860
    @mikeh7860 3 года назад

    Thank you Mark for spending the time and resources to obtain this awesome footage then allowing us to watch it for free. I checked out that channels website and the cost for some of these materials is high enough that I would never see them on my own. Love your videos

  • @sepaananen2217
    @sepaananen2217 3 года назад +3

    that ending got a tear in my eye, greetings from finland!

  • @ThatC10Guy
    @ThatC10Guy 3 года назад +10

    I love the forgotten vehicles and army’s series!

  • @TheCaptScarlett
    @TheCaptScarlett 3 года назад

    Thanks Mark. Useful background and context for any history student covering the inter-War years.

  • @johnburrows1179
    @johnburrows1179 3 года назад

    Dr Felton needs his own TV station. Another superb and no nonsense video without the bias. Excellent

  • @jasondaniel918
    @jasondaniel918 3 года назад +6

    Until this video, I had no idea that Germany and the U. S. S. R. had been so chummy during the 1920's. That (relationship) makes the non aggression pact the two countries would later sign to be logical in some ways. It also accounts for why Stalin and company were so surprised when Germany attacked them. Thanks for the insight, Mark.

  • @mmink9336
    @mmink9336 3 года назад +22

    I will always love that intro.

    • @hossenfeffer4115
      @hossenfeffer4115 3 года назад +3

      @M Mink/ yes, that intro needs to be played when the American patriots get out and stomp on this Bolshevik revolution!....makes a fella want to kick some Communist *SS!

    • @pulquegc
      @pulquegc 3 года назад +3

      @John Hostetler
      What?

  • @aaronramsay5688
    @aaronramsay5688 3 года назад

    Nothing turns my day around like seeing a new mark felton video. Thanks for being the source of so much awesome history content. Your videos have become my favorite RUclips videos. So much great information

  • @georgecolumbo6235
    @georgecolumbo6235 3 года назад +1

    Mark, with your output in only a year, you are easily on level with Ken Burns in my opinion. I try to listen to your War Stories series as I go to sleep, but it’s too well told I have to stay awake. Cheers from Kansas!

  • @sheriff0017
    @sheriff0017 3 года назад +5

    Ah, Preussens Gloria! The perfect musical accompaniment for a stroll through Paris.

  • @marknonnenmacher1918
    @marknonnenmacher1918 3 года назад +3

    Thanks Mark! This is great clarification in the context of the rapid German re-armament program’s of the ‘30s. Clearly, it had been going on much, much longer.

  • @DanielLopez-up6os
    @DanielLopez-up6os 3 года назад +1

    Thank you for this information man!

  • @jacobfarrell7171
    @jacobfarrell7171 3 года назад +2

    Mark Felton's voice is like ASMR. So calming and cool. Best channel on RUclips.
    Also. Hermann Müller looks like Molotov 4:13

  • @stormthrush37
    @stormthrush37 3 года назад +6

    Wow. Talk about a major backfire by a treaty that was supposed to prevent another war. If it didn't directly cause it, it certainly helped things along.

    • @KarlDMarx
      @KarlDMarx 2 года назад

      Well ... perhaps it would have been better to confiscate the factories and fortunes of a few families: Krupp, Stinnes, Haniel, Kloeckner, Thyssen etc.

  • @yoda5565
    @yoda5565 3 года назад +3

    "Pruessens Gloria" (Prussia's Glory) good choice for closing music.

  • @RHM0714
    @RHM0714 3 года назад

    Mark Felton needs his own series on Netflix or Hulu...best content on the internet! Thanks Mark!

  • @nborr258
    @nborr258 3 года назад +1

    I think my favorite thing about this channel is Mark's insistence on using the most grandiose rendition of Preußens Gloria possible

  • @mercomania
    @mercomania 3 года назад +25

    Just one little note, the Reichswehr, was stockpiling and training not for "foreign adventures" but to adequately defend its borders. the French in particular were wanting to annex large parts of western Germany such as the Saar and Ruhr Gebiet. The newly formed state of Poland was also looking at annexing parts of eastern Germany.

    • @willemvanstaden3292
      @willemvanstaden3292 3 года назад +5

      I once listened to a speech Hitler made in 1939 before he sent a glorified police force to attack Poland in which he states that "Wir werden Sonden mit Sonden vergeldung!" - "We will answer sin(agression) with sin(agression)!" Few know of the German citizens that were murdered by Poles - Ethnic Germans who were still living in Poland because those parts of Poland used to be Prussia. I tend to agree with Patton - "we defeated the wrong enemy".

    • @Dragon.7722
      @Dragon.7722 3 года назад +3

      @@willemvanstaden3292 He actually said "Und von jetzt ab wird Bombe mit Bombe vergolten!" which means: "From now on, bombs will be answered with bombs!".
      And no. Hitler was referring to conflicts around Danzig (Gdansk) and the staged attack on the gliwice radio station.
      It was a pretext to justify the attack on Poland.
      That murder part, atleast the way you present it, sounds like you fell for some propaganda. Greetings from Germany.

  • @ahyan14
    @ahyan14 3 года назад +23

    Allies : what you got there
    Germany : a tractor

    • @Rauschgenerator
      @Rauschgenerator 3 года назад +8

      It...erm...can shoot the seed into the field...yeah... :-D

    • @proudfirebrand3946
      @proudfirebrand3946 3 года назад

      Allies: *Stares at BF109 stockpile*
      “Is tha-“
      Germany: “Crop Dusters.”
      Allies: *Stares at fighter design features*
      “It-“
      Germany: “A VERY FAST AND AGILE CROP DUSTER.”

  • @pottersmiles7238
    @pottersmiles7238 3 года назад

    No RUclips when I was in high school. Closest thing was encarta discs. I hope the younger generation appreciates Dr Feltons videos as much as I do

  • @joshuaashish9057
    @joshuaashish9057 3 года назад +1

    Mark I cannot thank you enough for keeping ww2 history alive and interesting. Cheers!

  • @mazzel7073
    @mazzel7073 3 года назад +13

    Hey Mark,
    Could you make a video about The inundations of the Yser in 1914?
    It was a very important action in halting the German advance in Belgium. I think most people probably never even heard about it and the 2 men, Karel Cogge and Hendrik Geeraert, whi played a key roll in the Inundations.
    Thanks in advance!
    Attempt #1

  • @hanzup4117
    @hanzup4117 3 года назад +4

    Don't have time to watch this at the moment, but I'll be sure to stop by later :) 👍

  • @hilding2063
    @hilding2063 3 года назад +2

    Mark Felton, instant like then continue to watch the video :)

  • @Defiant-Pirate
    @Defiant-Pirate 3 года назад +1

    Thank you for your content!

  • @mikhailmarzook2165
    @mikhailmarzook2165 3 года назад +3

    Your work awsome btw keep it up

  • @rixa1621
    @rixa1621 3 года назад +13

    Mark, pls read this!!
    How about video of Finnish winter war / Continuation war ~ Battle of Tali-Ihantala which was biggest battle in Nordic countries ever, which also saved Finland.

  • @osvaldonoda4368
    @osvaldonoda4368 3 года назад

    This channel is what the History Channel should be today, great job.

  • @magnumhandout2713
    @magnumhandout2713 3 года назад

    Another great way to start the day. Thanks mark!

  • @milkapeismilky5464
    @milkapeismilky5464 3 года назад +18

    Retention of regiments with a single placeholder soldier was brilliant! An odd echo of amalgamation in the UK.

  • @haaasful
    @haaasful 3 года назад +10

    Simply amazing as always - the Germans know how to do military.

  • @marycavender7136
    @marycavender7136 3 года назад +1

    Yes you do make this history very interesting! It helps sometimes in shorter segments for time schedules in combination studies of similar subjects! Thank you!👍🤗🌹🎭🧲⚡😁🇩🇪

  • @horusfalcon
    @horusfalcon 2 года назад

    This is a chilling example of the old saw, "where there's a will, there's a way". Thanks, again, for the lesson.

  • @artkoenig9434
    @artkoenig9434 3 года назад +3

    Well structured and packed with details. Thank you! Was "Gaudeamus Igitur" actually repurposed as a military march?

  • @herrderr1921
    @herrderr1921 3 года назад +3

    I reccomend Reading the "Outlaws" by Ernst von Salomon ,talks alot about the interwar Years

    • @davidroberts7282
      @davidroberts7282 3 года назад

      Babylon Berlin is also an interesting TV series psycho-drama that does a decent, maybe sometimes melodramatic interpretation of drudgeries, excesses, squalid, dreary existences and this raging, bitter uneasy conflict from KPD and ultra-nationalist, militaristic Junker generals who scheme to return to power through secret military and airplane training facilities in Soviet Union via Treaty of Lacarno. Two, radical political extremes tearing and vying for political power at the expense of existing, tolerated but never liked Weimar Republic. Hitler and Nazi Party, particularly the SA, aren't discussed or featured prominently until last episode of Season 1 at a train depot confrontation and more frequently throughout Season 3 as convenient muscle men and patsies for head of Berlin's political police.
      The show's main protagonist, really at his core, is a morally and ethically conflicted WWI infantryman/calvary officer who mistakenly thought his brother died and has deep guilt and a sense of shame, "survivor's guilt", if you like.

  • @Wolshanze
    @Wolshanze 3 года назад

    Great footage Mark from between the wars thanks mate !

  • @984GR
    @984GR 3 года назад

    This is by far my favorite time for German military history. I enjoy collecting Reichswehr items as well. Thank you for the extra info.

  • @kevinwright3615
    @kevinwright3615 3 года назад +16

    I would absolutely love to make Mark's opening music my ring tone!

    • @Ndlanding
      @Ndlanding 3 года назад +1

      That's really easy to do!

    • @kevinwright3615
      @kevinwright3615 3 года назад

      @@Ndlanding how

    • @Ndlanding
      @Ndlanding 3 года назад

      @@kevinwright3615 Record the sound from the Channel using a YT grabber (Google "Capture music from YT", or similar). Transfer the MP3 to your phone then choose it as your ring tone.

  • @misterjder1.831
    @misterjder1.831 3 года назад +4

    Literally Noone interested in german history ever forgot the Reichswehr

  • @carlschiller3436
    @carlschiller3436 3 года назад

    Thank you Dr Felton. There appears no end to your valuable research.

  • @yuppy1967
    @yuppy1967 3 года назад +2

    Cool, learned something new today!

  • @andrewhall7930
    @andrewhall7930 3 года назад +3

    'Pistol Shrimp help allies win Naval war" One day Mark will make a video about this unknown story of WWII.

  • @tulliusagrippa5752
    @tulliusagrippa5752 3 года назад +7

    Wow. I never knew any of this. I thought rearmament began with Herr Hitler.

  • @kipsea3409
    @kipsea3409 3 года назад +1

    Now it will not be forgotten but remembered because of Felton!

  • @johnmike121
    @johnmike121 3 года назад

    Yes!! Another video! Thanks Mark