The Liberation of Belgium and Luxembourg during World War II (1944 - 45)
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- How did WWII end in Belgium? This video is part of the end of WW2 in Western Europa and talks about the liberation of Belgium and Luxembourg in WW2. Both countries were under German occupation. After the liberation of France Belgium and Luxembourg were swiftly liberated as well. However, at the end of 1944 the Germans launched the Ardennes Offensive (Battle of the Bulge). And how did WW2 end in Luxembourg? And what happened during the Siege of Bastogne? Why did Germany lose WW2? Find out now!
History Hustle presents: The Liberation of Belgium and Luxembourg during World War II (1944-45).
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IMAGES
Images from commons.wikimedia.org.
VIDEO
Video material from:
Liberation of Brussels - 1944
• Liberation of Brussels...
Liberation of Antwerp (1944)
• Liberation of Antwerp ...
La guerre en couleur - La bataille des Ardennes
• Video
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MUSIC
"Clenched Teeth" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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"Constancy Part One" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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"Crossing the Chasm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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"Evil March" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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"Devastation and Revenge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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"Five Armies" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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SOUNDS
Freesound.org.
Wanna join forces and do a collaboration? Send me an email at: historyhustle@gmail.com
Watch the LIBERATION SERIES:
THE LIBERATION OF FRANCE: ruclips.net/video/QJ9mshYAH38/видео.html
THE LIBERATION OF HOLLAND: ruclips.net/video/Kg5GEEMtCsI/видео.html
THE CONQUEST OF WESTERN GERMANY: ruclips.net/video/nqjVGk_qUqM/видео.html
Holland grrrrrr
Netherlands underrated
This is very great History. The Anglo-American logistics was forced to switch over to being supplied from Marseilles as despite Herculean efforts the Ports of France simply could no longer support through the "red ball express" such massive Armies now set upon for The Battle of the Rhine. *"Thinking the War might be over by Christmas"* I think was more of a psy-op to convince Germany to recognize the hopelessness of the situation and surrender. For reasons still unknown Nazi 3rd Reich Germany would do the exact opposite of this and launch clearly suicidal attacks inflicting large but not devastating casualties against Allied Armies in particular against Canada and the US Army in the Hurtgen Forest effort. While this delayed the inevitable this also created a new type of "inevitable" as by January, 1945 approaches into upon Western Germany across the entire Rhine River were effectively undefended now. This included the massive population Centers of Cologne and Frankfurt both strategic Cities that in no way could Germany afford to lose and hope to salvage some type of political Victory. Instead with the intent to hold the Ruhr Industrial Region at any cost not only was all of Western Germany undefended but so too the vulnerability of the Capital of Berlin all too apparent now as well. Combining all of these actions here #summation equalled all of Germany being overrun starting on or about March, 1945. Not really knowing about the Auto-Bahn once the US Army crossed into the economic system that ran all of Germany the entire German Highway system which was state of the art and extensive was completely now available for use to travel incredible distances all now effectively unopposed. It is interesting to speculate therefore if General Simpson of the US 9th Army who was at the Elbe by April, 1945 if a spoiling attack launched in the direction of Berlin which he could have done might have changed the "look" of post War Germany. A flood of German refugees moving South from Berlin towards the Americans may very well have been the result creating a far different Battle of Berlin and "Cold War" reality that came later. As events would play out instead and I think quite cynically Germany would be divided "East" from "West" and all that resulted from that...all very bad imo.
Thank you!!! My country again!
Yes indeed. Perhaps also one of the rare occasions to use the Luxembourg flag in battle. Glad you liked it, thanks for watching and commenting, as always :)
Forgot to say, thank you for your animations as well! I am impressed. The battle where you talked about the Luxembourgish resistance was for me the best part. My great grandfather (who is still alive today actually) fled first to France and then to neutral Spain when the Germans invaded. He then returned in 1944 when Luxembourg City where he lives was liberated. After hearing about the offensive to the north he fled back to France waited for the war to end and then went back to Luxembourg city. He said he would of joined the resistance but he was too young and so had to flee with his family.
Thought you might find his story interesting. 👍 Keep up the good work!
Nice story about your grand father Luxembourgish empire I saw you on a couple of video comments on this channel and other history channels. I wonder which is your favourite?
@@randomperson135 Thanks. I have a soft spot for this channel because the creator made a video on my country in WW1 AND WW2 and we always tend to get ignored so.
Nice to hear :)
Stefan, I'd like to point out that the Germans could replace their lost planes thanks to the incredible organization of the armaments Minister Speer. However, they could not replace their skilled pilots, and fuel became the second biggest problem facing the Germans. They still had fight left in them
Yes indeed, Bill. Actually I made a video about it. Lemme know your thoughts:
ruclips.net/video/5WXtv20dq14/видео.html
My farther was born in Antwerp during the war, and he still remembers the Vbombs. He also remembers playing in the bombed out buildingd of Antwerp growing up
Thanks for sharing! These V bombs were terrifying weapons.
Petrol was crucial but it is also debated that the lack of long distance bombers to knock out Soviet factories was fundamental to a German defeat.
Interesting, thanks for adding.
Enjoying this series, thanks.
Nice to hear, you're welcome!
I have to say i am impressed at the rate to put our these video's. It must cost you alot of time prepping these. Very good video yet again. Keep them coming. And for you question of did the germans lose the war because of oil? That might very well be the case. I once saw a presentation of what would have happend if germany did not invade russia, but chose to go via afrika into the middle east to secure the oilfields, and from there invade Russia. That would be a whole differtent scenario. See you next time @Stefan.
Thank you Rutger, I'm happy with your comment. See, it takes me a lot of time to make videos and especially these ones with animated maps and all. I just wrapped up editing the final installment (about the Soviet conquest of Eastern Germany). Will be released on May 8th.
@@HistoryHustle looking forward to it.
The disadvantage of the Germans was that they fought on multiple places/borders. And the bombing of their industries eventually killed the weapon- and ammunitionsupply. This war could have ended different tough if Hitler wasn't that stubborn and listened more often to his generals and commanders. The fighterspirit of the Germans was much higher compared with the Allies. All together the Germans lost the war against much bigger opponents with a constant flow of fuel and other supplies garanteed. With the Motherland and industry knocked out and on her knees the war could simply not be prolonged and so they were defeated.
Another great video Stephan! The maps and animations add so much to the storytelling. The Allies and civilians must have been really “gatvol” at this stage, it must have been really disheartening to see the Axis stage a comeback so late in the war. Luckily it was short lived...
Thanks for your comment! :) Glad you liked the video.
Je verdient veel meer dan de bestaande reacties maar dat hadden Rembrandt en Vincent ook dus beschouw het als een mega compliment. Goed bezig.
Bedankt Rene! Voel je vrij om deze video te delen met wie je denkt dat het ook interessant vindt :)
My grandfather was a rifleman in pattons 3rd army 5th inf div 10th infantry regiment company C . He was shot and captured on January 28th 1945 during an attack on Putschild Luxumbourg. I think I spelled the town right anyhow he spent the next 3 months a pow. I never knew any of these things till years after his passing he never spoke about the war. I did all my research with his discharge papers and I know now why a lot of men who endured it don't speak of it. The bulge offensive had to be a horrific shock for his company because back in November 1944 the company had 60% casualties during the battle to take Metz.
Pure Hell !!!
I can imagine. Thanks for sharing.
Montgomery ignored his own intelligence that there were panzers hidden in the area.
He got some severe criticism for that...
My Grandfather has a document from his tank destroyer battalion that mentions action in the "Harlange pocket" this is where search lead me. Company C 802nd tank destroyers. They operated the fast hellcat td's. He was tank commander.
Thanks for sharing this.
I was born 15 years after the war and grew up in Luxembourg.
I'm very aware and thankful for all the people like your grandfather, as they kept me from growing up under a nazi regime.
On a side note, I worked on the Poteau de Harlange in winter, building a film set.
It's one of the highest and most windblown places in the country. We were freezing,screw gun batteries weren't loading, it was quite hard without anybody shooting at us...and we were able to take breaks,go home to sleep etc.
So my great respect for those who fought for me there.
Good presentation enhanced by concise maps. Thank you History Hustle.
You're welcome!
Could you post the liberation of our country on May the 5th 2020 please? Cause spoiler that's when we got liberated.
Haha I see. The 5th would be a nice date. Yet, the video will come out earlier. Earlier experiences thought me that releasing the video on an exact historical date doesn't drive too much views. For example the Fall of the Berlin Wall video. I believe that is because more people search on RUclips for an specific event in the days prior to the exact date, than on the exact date itself. This Wednesday the video about the liberation of NL will come out.
@@HistoryHustle 😒 could you at least post a Dutch battle that day in comemoration?
@@HistoryHustle That's interesting. There's a lot of strategy involved.
I believe that the German lack of adequate oil supplies was a key factor in their defeat. Even when Romania was still under Axis control, Germany still did not have enough oil to win the war.
True.
The Ardennes front, was known as a twilight zone ( het spookfront) . There was no actual fighting going on and was used by the allies as a resting and recovering area for troops, that had suffered in battle or for fresh unexperienced troops. No more then 4 US divisions were stationed in the Ardennes. The unexpierenced troops surrended collectively with over 6000 after being surrounded in the SchneeEifel (106 div).
The battle was lost by the germans for 3 reasons : Firstly the strong resistant in the North (Elsenborn ridge) , which was never captured ; Secondly the swift outbreak of kampfgruppe Jochem Peiper came to a hold because of the blown up bridges (Troisponts) and deperate lack of Otto (fuel) . And thirdly the failure of an early taking of the major crossroads at the town Bastogne by Panzerlehr , allowing the allies to reinforce the perimeter with the 101 Airborne. At that stage ( Xmast day) the battle was in fact lost for the germans and with improving weather the allied planes took over the skies as did the 3rd Army (Patton) on the ground breaking the siege of Bastogne.
And last but not least : the germans never could be succesfull in crossing the river Meuse ( Maas) as the very experienced and battle hardened british XXX Corps (Horrocks) maintained strong blocking positions at river crossings and bridges.
Thanks for your additional information Fred.
Excellent. Thank you.
👌
Weer een interessante video, ga zo door!
Dank dank! :)
This is a great channel. I enjoy your vids.
Thank you!
Always nice when someon remembers that our little country exists.
Living in Vianden, a couple of corrections, though.
-I have not found accounts of SS being in that battle. There was (among others) some paratroopers, likely 5.FJR.
-Your little foto animation is the wrong way around; the Germans came from the left side.
What editing program do you use?
Adobe Premiere.
@@HistoryHustle thx for telling me!
How much do you know about the Poles liberating Breda? I've read that the Polish Divisionturned the Nazis out of Breda in a brilliant maneouvre - but I can't find any detail of how they did it.
Good question! I looked in a Dutch newspaper real quick that describes the liberation. It happened on 29 October 1944. The Polish troops did some reconnaissance in the night and attacked in the morning via north (tanks) and south (infantry). Luckily the bridges (Wilhelminabrug & Haagpoortburg) remained intact which speeded up the liberation. The resistance operates from the centre and soon 3/4 of the city is in allied hands. The rest followed soon after.
You can watch here ruclips.net/video/CPnWgUZhvrs/видео.html from about 38-th minute
I like your Dutch perspective and insight to these battles. Too bad no one was able to kill Hitler earlier in the war.
Thanks for replying!
It seems to me there were others willing to pick up where he let off.
9:30 The lack of oil was the main reason why the Germans lost the second world war: It sure is a reason and an important factor. But there were many more. To mention some: There was no coördination between the axis countries. Japan attacked America and not Russia, Italy attacked Greece, not informing Germany. Another: The Germans underestimated the British airdefence and thought they would ask for peace after Dunkirk, the Americans were neutral but helped the British with lent-lease. Germans were not prepared for a Russian Winter. And.... why the Germans didn't get Caucasion oil ? because they were defeated at Stalingrad. The reason for that ? Hitler wanted 3 targets in Russia first Leningrad, then Moscow and Kiev but should nog split his army in three parts. Other reasons: Germany had no long distance bombers, should have build more submarines in the early years to block England, the breaking of the secret codes of Germany (Bletchley Park) and Japanese Navy (by the Americans) and some luck (or some bad luck by the other) etc. etc. etc.
Even if that had have had more oil and had been able to fight on, the allies would still have been victorious - and the Hiroshima memorial would be in Munich.
Thanks for your additional information, Harco. Interesting to read!
Harco van Hees Excellent summation.
@@eltlaw I agree. The Allies could easily resupply and get fresh troops and materiel because the Axis weren't able to blockade the Atlantic, by water and air.
My stepfather fought in Belgium in 1944. One of the towns he said got wiped off the map.
I can imagine. Did he tell you much about his experiences?
I liked your video but note that your talk mentions the part played by the Americans, Canadians and Polish. You also mention the term allies but not the British. I had always understood that the British army played an important part in the liberation of the low countries under Montgomery but clearly not according to your talk.
They did, but in this video I mostly talk about the Allies. Also because it's more of an overview and not specific battles. In that case I'll be more precise.
if germany had the oil the battle of the buldge could have gone much more differently before the fog came for allied airforce to come beause im pretty sure most tanks were just straight up abandoned due to lack of fuel and this greatly reduced the german intial moumentem
Perhaps! Still have to read Beevor's book on this battle.
I was stationed at Soesterberg AFB in the USAF from 65 to 69. Could you tell us what role SOESTERBERG AFB played in WW2?
Dunno, sorry.
Great videos: On the question about the Germans being short of oil, the Romanian oil fields were largely depleted before the Allies took them , but a major factor was the Allies success at the Battle of El Alamein back in 1942, if that battle had been lost the Germans would have controlled the Middle Eastern oilfields and may well have won the war.
Not sure if the Germans would've made it that far after winning El Alamein.
YAY
Yeah!
History Hustle: That's a thing with war, when you think or say it might end before christmas, it probably won't.
WW1: Am I a joke to you?
😁
Wait wait wait, German paratroopers did combat jumps behind enemy lines for the battle of the bulge?
Do you have and links or book titles because that is fascinating. I had been under the false impression that after Crete Hitler refused to do another combat drop.
As always, thank you, I appreciate your work.
Thanks. See SOURCES below the video.
I absolutely love the story of the Luxembourg resistance ambushing the SS of all things and actually winning! Like What absolute chads to take the castle and to hold off the SS so well!.
Also isn't Bostogne where the Germans demanded surrender from the Americans and the American response was "Nuts" ?
Yes indeed. Thanks for your reply.
It looked good for the Allies until the Germans began to stand fast in several places such as Aachen and Walcheren. Primarily Monty and Ike hadn't figured just how much enemy strength lay ahead.
Indeed.
Leuke video!
Dankjewel :)
once one brick fell all of them collapsed
You would assume but wait till next episode!
@@HistoryHustle cant wait thanks for the reply
To say the Allies where "pined down" in Normandy is incorrect. They were constantly attacking to break out of the beachhead. Better to say "bottled up" or "contained". Otherwise great job!
Check 👍
I don't quite understand why the Allies had such supply problems. On the Eastern Front, supplies had to travel thousands of kilometers and Russia's rail systems were not compatible with European systems. Thank God they didn't use balloons and zeppelins anymore. Why supply by rivers, if it is slow and easy to spot in advance? What was the problem then? Too close for comfort ?
Thank you.
3:17 the germans didn't know luxembourg kept that thang on them
Indeed.
At the Naval War College we always remind students that the enemy gets a vote too.
I see. What do you mean exactly?
@@HistoryHustle Is it that the enemy gets a say in how the battle will go, not just you?
Oil was the lifeblood of the war
if i remember well the first allied troops that entered Belgium were Belgian SAS commandos
Perhaps reconnaissance under the Allied flag.
@@HistoryHustle actually they attacked german supply lines, reconnaissance and link with resistance
Ok!
Leuke animaties!
Bedankt!
How can +20.000 be missing? They what, just disappeared like that ?
Most would have been prisoners of war, and therefore missing from the muster.
Indeed, most likely POW.
ja als de slag om de Schelde eerder was dan Market Garden zal misschien wel gelukt wezen
Wie weet! Volgende video meer over beide veldslagen.
@@HistoryHustle ik ben benieuwd ja :)
Germany would still have lost ww2 even if they had fuel, but they might have lasted longer, and been a much more deadly army in the late war. Fuel wouldnt fix their ineffcient economy and their inneficent industrial production lines, and it wouldnt fix hitlers focus in Wunderwaffe. Germany produced such complicated tanks and weaponds and with oil sure they coulkd be more offensive but allied bombing, Soviet Offensives and hitlers destruction of the war economy would ultimatley lead to their fall. oil is just one factor to drive a machine, but you need a lot more to drive a war.
Thanks for taking the time to write down your thoughts.
@@HistoryHustle oh no problem, love the videos too. I learn a lot about the late war offensives from your videos
Why do you say that Montgomery was at fault? Most of the area was under US Army command. Bradley and most of his corps commanders regarded the area as "quiet". Even Eisenhower agreed with that hypothesis.
Please explain.
Monty took credit for this campaign- he had no victory of his own to claim.
Please explain.
@@HistoryHustle Monty bypassed all the Channel ports. He captured Antwerp but did not turn north to open it while the way while it was wide open (even he in a most rare moment of honesty admitted this was a huge mistake). Now he implements MarketGarden but he does so by stopping the US by taking all its supplies. So now the US armies are stopped cold. MG is a disaster and Monty gave the Germans lots of time to fortify the Schelde making it cost lots of time and lives. He loved using colonial troops and others so the home press would not show many English deaths. Now the Battle of the Bulge starts which is mostly USA, though Monty insisted and got control over several US divisions and then claimed HE was the winning general. This almost lead to his demise as by then Ike had enough and asked for Monty's dismissal. Only by Monty's severe butt kissing and Churchill saying the British people needed to have at least one hero to keep up moral and save face did Ike acquiesce. Monty faded away after that and was fairly invisible to end of the war (except to get photo ops of some German generals surrendering to him and Monty claiming he accepted the whole of Germany's surrender. Always a glory hog). As a result of his constant blundering much of the Netherlands remained occupied until May 45. Christmas 44 was impossible as long as Germany retained their greatest general- Bernard Montgomery.
Aa far as comparing timelines for Normandy to MarketGarden, Northern France was planned for from very early on. The landing at Dieppe was in most senses a test run for June 6, 44. The massive bombing campaign, naval blockade, commando raids, recon flights, engineering testing, new weapon designs, on and on and on. MG was almost like "Load the planes. Monty has some idea."
it happend sooooooo fast
True!
why did the italians lose the second world war? they ordered ziti instead of shells
Funny.
The second World War was an oil war. After Stalingrad ( Caucasus Oil Fields) and El Alamein (Suez Canal and beyond) access to adequate supplies became impossible. These battles were rightfully seen as the turning points. German logistics were still based on coal. Just discuss the railroads during the war.
Yes, oil was an important factor that is often overlooked.
I thought Metz was one of the first towns germantowns to be a conqueror
If you consider Alsace-Lorraine as a part of Germany then yes.
"most civilians died because of allied bombing campaigns in belgium".. dang..
can you do a video on the targeting of civilians? i often see neo nazi's talk about how the allies where "just as bad" which obviously is BS but.. i feel like aliied bombings are shoved under the rug sometimes too tbh...
Yes, this will be covered somewhere in the future. Can't tell when.
@@HistoryHustle no problem. looking forward to it!
It is never, ever over by Christmas.
Soldiers and generals should stop saying that shit, it’s bad luck.
Indeed.
Yeah the lost of oil really hurt them, if Hitler didn't betray Stalin but which would've happened anyway in time, if he had waited until he was done with Britain and didn't declare war on the US knows who?
Who knows...
If Japan hadn't bombed Pearl Harbor and the US hadn't declared war?
Dear Sir Germany lost WW2 because 1) They attacked Russia prematurely 2) Before attacking Russia they had to "save" Italians that were loosing the war against Greece and the Germans were afraid of British troops stationed in Balkan peninsula, from there started the loosing in WW1 ( first Bulgaria collapse in WW1) so the German army that was ready to attack Russia had to be diverted to the Balkans, plus the delay in the battle of Crete! 3) Russia had vast territory so they "gave" space for time till winter came! 4) Stalin understood that he was not a professional general so after some period he gave to his generals the initiative, Hitler did the opposite maybe blinded by the fast victories before Russia ! 5)Hitler didn't believe his secret service not believing the numbers of Russian tanks etc taking example from the bad results in Russo-Finland war! 6) Russia had a very effective spy network in Germany and around the globe so they were one step ahead! 7)Japan didn't attack Russia simultaneously! 8) Russia had good weapons in large numbers t34 for example plus plenty of help from British Americans! Hitler had only one push, to win against Russia before winter, he failed and war was lost! Better because the Nazi ideology was terrible and horrendous!
I would say Stalin's killing so many of his own officers was also terrible and horrendous, as were his methods in his country and abroad. Your detailing of reasons was very helpful.
It's a miracle the Americans and Soviets were able to beat the Axis powers despite Britain's "help." 😜😆😝
Sarcasm I see.
@@HistoryHustle yes. 😆
Even with unlimited oil, Germany would never win.
Please explain.
South England is not Nordirland.
This German map gives the name of the whole country: "England and Northern Ireland". The letters of the latter word ended up over England.