Instead of attempting to defeat the invading Soviet forces during the Battle of Berlin, German general of the 12th Army, Walther Wenck, used his army to create an escape corridor out of Berlin. Read more about the Battle of Berlin 👉 www.sabaton.net/historical-facts/battle-of-berlin-ends/ ➞ SUBSCRIBE for more Sabaton: sabat.one/RUclips ➞ MERCHANDISE Official Store: sabat.one/ytdshop
Thanks for this song, nowadays way too many people have been taught the idea that everyone on the Axis side was literally Satan and for it to be impossible for there to be heroes among them. Continue the good work.
True. But. A hero is a person that does what is right, even if it leaves them broken, maimed or dead, that is a hero, but the real heroes are never recorded in history, they are the ones that move the wheels and gears of society and humanity and never ask for more than a peaceful life.- M
They're saying, we're across, we're not finishing this mission without you. And thanks to some planning and luck, most of this division and the people they were protecting lived.
It conjures up an image of a mother and child trying to breathlessly thank the soldier ushering them across the bridge, and the soldier just gives them a gruff, "Yeah, yeah, save it until after you're safe!"
It is really good, but a far cry from Lion of the North, Red baron imo. It is really faithful to the Sabaton style we all like, and of course I will listen to it again and again
That's because it's a great song about the futility and horror of war. It's not about people winning a battle, or fighting for what's right. It's about people who fought for something wrong and horrible, seeing that all is lost, and there's nothing to do now but try to save what little good is left in their world.
Walther Wenck was a real hero. He chose to save as many people as possible instead of fighting a useless battle and he personally stayed there keeping the rescue corridor open. He was one of the last who moved to safety.
I have been listening to metal since i was 12-13 years of age. It took me 15 years to find your music. I cant begin to explain how much i love you guys. Long live Sabaton!
When a Swedish Power Metal band gives a better tribute to serving men and women of WW2 even on the side of the German Reich and their Axis forces than corporations ever could, you know the world's going in the right direction. Salutes to you from the Czech Republic!
you understand that the Axis forces besides the people who killed in the war they made a straight up genocide, right? or you decide to forget that detail because the great majority of the murdered people were jews? I mean, there is people who don't mind the Holocaust because of that, that kind of dicks are
Sabaton doesn’t care where heroism comes from, they only care that it *does.* Corporations only see us for our money, while art, like music, sees us for our souls.
Or the german government or army. I would even say that Sabaton has more detailed knowledge about world war 2 and what some german troops did to rescue their people. The german government is just like:"Unga Bunga, Nazis!" and closes the case. Every german soldeir between 1933 - 1945 is branded a Nazi and thrown away on the garbage of forgettable history. It's just sad, really.
"It is not about berlin, it is not about the reich. It's about the men who fought for them, what peace can they expect!" That unironically made me shed a tear, that's just such a good line
@@AngelEmfrbl The real monsters of that war were the nazis, the Japanese and the soviets. Three out of four aggressors have paid for what they did, one is currently paying. We will see just how much they will pay in the end.
@@RussUno It's not old, but they never released anything on their RUclips channel about them, so it's refreshing for those who hadn't bought the albums or heard of the songs
For me it was shiroyama I was chilling out with my friends playing minecraft when they played the song. I'm not sure how Sabaton manages to first get the lyrics onto paper and second Express so much feeling into their songs everytime I listen to the last stand album or hero's album it's just a giant hit of adrenaline the entire way through
First was panzerkampf but I didn't listen to their other music until attack of the dead men which weirdly now is one of my least favorite songs for some reason compared to all others
Everyday, all time, in car, at work, in shower i listen Sabaton. The best Band Ever.I am a History researcher and you have no idea what emotion I get from Sabaton. Simply the Greatest ♥️🙏
To protect their people instead of following orders is the sign of a true hero,A soldier of the people. And yet history is blind to such feats as it is the victor that is remembered and the heroic deeds of the ones on the enemy's side is lost between the pages of history. They see them as nothing but enemies but in reality they are just soldiers that were following the orders of a madman. Young and old alike get pulled into war. Indeed who can look back with a sense of pride.
"Those who made it across have reason to reflect" "Who can look back with a sense of pride" That's what I love about this song. It is not just about the battle or the operation but about what followed after.
indeed. the war was over and there was no more reason to fight. Again, Walther Wenck did the right thing. I think we can all agree that anyone would've done so.
"Some will call me a traitor and a coward. Many will call me a monster. Perhaps I am. And perhaps none of those I defend will even know peace again. But just for the tiny chance they can, I'll trade all of the world's curses just for it."
The brother of my grandfather was in the 12th army unfortunately he died 3 years ago but I will answer in his name: your welcome. He always said nothing felt better than to protect his people and finally do something that mattered
@@tiroler492 it was nice to read about your Grandfather, and I agree with him. It is man's duty to serve and protect his people, and thus, soon all men of Europa will rise united in defense of the Fatherland.
@@RomanumChristum Europa is currently being conquered, my only hope is to reclaim and rebuild. Jews aren't my problem, I am of Polish descent, many of my men were Polish resistance WW2.
@@commander591 The War to End All Wars too!? That's easily one of my favourites! Stormtroopers, Soldier of Heaven, Dreadnought, Race to the Sea, The Valley of Death, The Unkillable Soldier, Hellfighters... How could you call any of these bad!?
In the end, when all is lost and death is on their doorstep is when people show their true self, and what their soul is really made of. The men of the 12th showed that their true hearts were that of gold, and their souls those of true heroes. Nothing but respect for those who gave their lives so others could live, truly they deserve their final rest for their heroic actions
This is one of my favorite songs, because it really helps to understand that not ever German in WW2 was a bloodthirsty monster, and how, at the end of the war, their mission ceased to be about protecting Berlin, and became saving the people of Berlin.
Personally, I think this whole dichotomy is a comforting lie we tell to ourselves. There are no monsters. Only men, with all the potential for good and evil inherent in man. We label those following their worst impulses monsters because the alternative would be to ask ourselves wether we would be any better when put in the same spot, and there's very few people who can answer that question truly without any doubt. Something, frankly, to be thankful about.
@@magni5648 yes, if we'd been born in a different situation... Any one of us could have learned horrible beliefs and become an SS member, or a suicide bomber, or a doctor committing atrocities in Manchuria. Or been Bull Allen or Audie Murphy. Talk about Kriegsglück.
"See the city burn on the other side, going down in flames as two worlds collide, who can now look back with a sense of pride", that line always gets me emotional
“It’s the end of the war, hold the corridor, reach for Elbe’s shore.” A heroic last effort to save who they could from Berlin’s destruction. Soldiers fighting to save lives.
SABATON is not a band It is an emotion It is a ride in pages of history Tainted by blood of the brave Story of the soldiers And the lives they tried to save For a life and a death
today, exactly 79 years ago. berlin is encircled, steiner attack didn't managed to magically break the soviet lines and lift the siege. south of berlin, the 9th army is encircled in the battle of halbe, while to berlin's southwest the 12th army who faced the allies are ordered to turn around, link up with the 9th army, and free berlin. the 12th army managed to reach postdam but unable to advance any further. while the 9th army is on the verge of collapse after 2 attempts at a breakout failed. on this day the 3rd attempt is a success and they managed to link up with the 12th army. but their soldiers are all weak hungry, and slowed by bands of civilians seeking shelter in their ranks, and the 12th army also saw no hope of liberating berlin with their current predicament. therefore the 12th army made the decision to trash the impossible task to liberate berlin and instead focus their remaining forces on keep open route of escape for the 9th army and escaping civilians. o7 to them
When i play HOI4 i most of the time just left alone the songs playing sabaton and HOI4 normal ost but when i start a war i most of the time activate only sabaton song to have some kinda of epicness about the fight( sorry for any grammatical error )
I've always loved how Sabaton handles the Heer, Luftwaffe, and Kriegsmarine as separate entities from the Madman that drove them to war. Gives them all more nuance to their states of being: Rather than blanket-treating them as always Chaotic Evil or utterly Innocent to the horrors they have inflicted, Sabaton takes the time to note that the truth is somewhere down the middle, and, as in this song, they note that whatever heroics a unit or individual in the Wehrmacht may have performed during the war, those acts do not override the fact that those same soldiers still assisted in the rise and attempted sustainment of one of the most evil regimes in world history... Even so... Sabaton asks that we maintain a state of nuance when examining those individuals, rather than lump them in with the utter psychopath that lead them. That, and those same entities also had cool tanks and a big-ass battleship.
Well there are mountians of documents showing the Whermacht participated directly in the Holocaust and the Holocaust of Bullets. Not all of them but quite a few. That should be taken into account when looking at the German Military in WW2. Not everyone was and not everyone was even a bad person, but the "Clean Whermacht" is a myth.
The Chorus "Hold the corridor" gets me. I can hear the soldiers shouting it as the civilians run for their lives to get to the other side of the Elbe while the Red Army bears down on them. The 12th were on the wrong side of the war, but they fought with courage and honor.
Honestly, the words of the Kenny Rogers song The Gambler come to mind when I think about what Walther Wenck did: He knew where the game was and that it was time to both fold and run. What makes his actions admirable, as opposed to cowardly, is that he chose to save as many as he could, including civilians. If you know much about history, then you know that this kind of concerned about civilians was not very common amongst generals. I really appreciate knowing about the heroes of these wars, regardless of which side they were on, because the criteria for being a hero largely doesn't actually change based upon which side was right and which was wrong.
And given the Fact that Walther Wenck was nicknamed "The child General" because of his pranks such as ordering a Flak gun to fire to spook a Visiting General in his Bathtub, Walther is one of the biggest Chads of the Second World War.
I keep coming back to this song during these days. It evokes such a sense of hope through futility, of grit through adversity, of trying to save that which really matters in a world that's burning to the ground. It's helped me stay relatively stable though a lot, and it will help keep me stable many more times. I can't thank you enough, not just the band in general, but Joachim specifically for being the voice in my mind that says "KEEP GOING, GOOD THINGS COME IF YOU MAKE THEM COME". If it weren't for you and your music, there's a fair chance I wouldn't be here now, and intending to stay here to see good works done. Thank you.
This song and The Last Battle always make me choke up. The tales of German soldiers fighting noble battles at the end of WW2. Not Nazis...Germans. :' )
Yet another great tribute to humanity in these times of dire situations, thank you again for this brilliant musical performance, loved the way you have woven Bach into the arrangement, just great! Belgium salutes you and this excellent lesson of history!
There were good people on every side... my gandpa was a polish kid when germany invated. He was supporting the resistence as many kids and young polish people did. One day he and others stood against the wall ready to be shoot ... it was a young german officer who had the guts to convince the other nazis soldiers not to shoot the kid, quickly took him in his arms and carried him to safety, while behind his back the other polish people were shoot. If not for him I would be not here today.
Hearing these types of stories always bring me to tears. It's amazing that your grandfather was saved, it really is amazing how much humanity can be found I the darkest parts of the world.
This is my favourite song of Sabaton, they talk of the pain that was suffered on those final days, instead of doing something a ton easier like glorifying the Allies or the Comitern or both, they just song of the pain of been a German citizen and soldier on those days and what the future unfortunately waited them.
It’s easy to glorify the Allies and ignore the warcrimes they committed at times, but hard to look upon the good things some Germans did aside from the advancements in science they made, truly history is written by the victors and there are perhaps some stories we may never hear because of this
sabaton always makes me wonder if some of these soldiers wonder if people will sing of their deeds in the future. im glad we all do and they will forever be immortalized in songs. sorry for le english im not sure if i said my point xD
Everyone remembers Dunkirk. Not enough people remember Walther Wenck and the 12th Army. They saved a quarter of a million people and in all likelihood prevented a second Stalingrad in terms of casualty count. Sabaton never fails to shine the right. ❤
Defeat is inevitable, everyone is exhausted and frustrated, no reinforcements can be called on... But you must stand against well-trained and enraged enemies just to earn some time for the wounded and civilians to evacuate. The whole situation hits hard...
For all the atrocities german soldiers committed, them fighting like hell to allow civilians to escape the russians and get to allied lines to avoid even worse atrocities at the hands of the russians is something that can be commended. I don't remember the story of that German unit specifically but I respect them. At that point it was just saving as many of their people as they could from a far more grizzly fate then they themselves had dished out the past three to four years. They knew their civilian counterparts didn't deserve the fate they did
@@elcaponeholyemperorofnj1169 Certainly. Jews were killed by generals, not by soldiers. It was Himmler who burned the villages, not the soldiers. Not soldiers, but Goebbels and Goering hung civilians on trees. Of course, the Germans who went to the front because of the lack of choice and did not commit war crimes are really not guilty of anything, which cannot be said about the monsters who happily committed war crimes. P.S: I used a translator, sorry for any mistakes.
One of the best things happened in human history which I didnt know about. Thanks Sabaton for telling such amazing moments through your songs! Hands down, the best band in the world!
you guys' songs have such a positive effect on my mood. can't help but sing it all the way! love you guys so much, been a fan for around 5 years and going strong ❤
0:54 for my fellow people who DON'T speak German, the phrase "Nicht ein schlacht, ein rettungsaktion" translates too: "Not a battle, a rescue operation"
this is like 3 songs in one and it works perfectly The begging is DRAMATIC VAST! CATASTROPHIC then 15 seconds in It seems far more human, far more personal with that last glimmer of hope in the "hold the corridor" And then it's the MANIC determination when it comes to "keeping them safe whatever the cost"
This is one of my favorites it has so much raw emotion and really tells the sad story of what all those people were going through. Just wish I could see you guys do this one live!
Sabaton does something special with their songs. Yes, they are teachers of history with their music, but its so much more. They make you feel what the men and women felt, when taking up arms in their music. They make you feel their pride, their fear, and everything in between. That is what makes them beyond amazing.
Man that part from Bach's "Air on the G - string" at 2:40 is just mindblowing and fits in very well; an unexpected and awesome tribute to classical music in a heavy piece great job Sabaton
These men fought not for a government, their leaders or a political idea. not even their friends or family. Their cause was nobler. Sacrifice and preservation of a country that Hitler had doomed to Scorched earth. They fought to save civilians who they would never meet and could not thank them. Thanks Sabaton for this important perspective.
This is what I love about Sabaton. They strive to be unbiased, and they are able to make a song even about the "dark side" if they see true heroism. They simply stand for common soldiers, for their bravery, and humanity. This is something that is not so common, I would say. Respect for that. 👍🎸
Sabaton, thank you for making songs about the hard stuff, too. It's easy to speak to the heroic actions of men like Audie Murphy and the Polish defenders against the blitzkrieg, because they were on the right side of history. But you've also chosen to remind us all that heroism isn't defined by what side of history you were on, but by the nature of your sacrifices, and your reasons for making them. Some outsiders looking in might see a metal band making a song that paints Nazis in a positive light, and be outraged. But many more who listen to you know you've written a song about men who gave their lives so that those they cared about could keep theirs. It might be a moral grey area, but that is all of history, no matter what we pretend.
Always remember Seeing the sides and soldiers of war in black and white will always leave out every part of the picture but the frame, and every soldier deserves judgment for their actions and not the actions of others.
Sabaton is the only storyteller bar none who can make me feel patriotic for even the enemy against which my country has fought two world wars. Soldiers fight the wars their (often demented) leaders order them into. Soldiers (of land sea and air) are basically sound loyal people with a moral code not shared by psychopathic ideologues eg elite Waffen SS units.
It’s Important to remember in war not all of our enemies are evil they are just fighting for they country or because they are made to or else and this is something we nead to remember now more then ever.
Walther Wenck is hero in my book. He choose to save lives instead of saving the already collapsing city of Berlin. I think he knew if he tried saving Berlin then he would be dead or worse sent to a gulog in Siberia.
![Vet Reacts *Defend The People* Hearts of Iron-The Battle of Berlin - Sabaton History 017 [Official]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tXlNGQr-lr0/mqdefault.jpg)
Instead of attempting to defeat the invading Soviet forces during the Battle of Berlin, German general of the 12th Army, Walther Wenck, used his army to create an escape corridor out of Berlin. Read more about the Battle of Berlin 👉 www.sabaton.net/historical-facts/battle-of-berlin-ends/
➞ SUBSCRIBE for more Sabaton: sabat.one/RUclips
➞ MERCHANDISE Official Store: sabat.one/ytdshop
Thanks for this song, nowadays way too many people have been taught the idea that everyone on the Axis side was literally Satan and for it to be impossible for there to be heroes among them. Continue the good work.
My great grandfather was part of the 12th armee. Surrendered to the Canadians then returned to Schleswig-Holstein as POW
This song would fit so well in Hearts of Iron 4
@@saxon..falkenhayn2908 he was lucky not being pow to Russians.
nice game)
Truly, this is the definition of “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him”
I learnt that quote from here
True.
But.
A hero is a person that does what is right, even if it leaves them broken, maimed or dead, that is a hero, but the real heroes are never recorded in history, they are the ones that move the wheels and gears of society and humanity and never ask for more than a peaceful life.-
M
I hope you mean his family and not Nazi Germany
What if the soldier is attacking not defending?
@@memecrusader8391 sometimes you have to hurt others in order to help them.
This incredible story is told in the book "The Last Panther". Thank you Sabaton for telling the story of the last battle of the Wehrmacht.
Thank you for being there.
I know a videogame s story called "the last Tiger" and it talk about these events
The book is real good, I’m reading it again now
@@theillusiveman2139 if it’s in BF 5, then that’s the wrong story. That was on the western front in late 44 early 45
@@michaelcisneros6352 ah ok, but still talks about a counter attack, done for protect the retreat of the major forces (if i' m not wrong)
This will always be one of the best sabaton songs ever.
Agreed
Till the ukraine resistance song comes out
@@hahaimadecoy Let's not make this joke now
Wasn't a series of computer strategy games named after it?
It was named after the hearts of iron series
The line "Hurry up, we're waiting for you" always gives me chills, and pulls tears into my eyes
Same
They're saying, we're across, we're not finishing this mission without you. And thanks to some planning and luck, most of this division and the people they were protecting lived.
It conjures up an image of a mother and child trying to breathlessly thank the soldier ushering them across the bridge, and the soldier just gives them a gruff, "Yeah, yeah, save it until after you're safe!"
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️
" men of the 9th and civilians, too." My grandma and her mother were among the civilians that fled through this corridor. So I can related to that.
This to me is one of Sabatons best songs. It's criminally underated.
It is really good, but a far cry from Lion of the North, Red baron imo. It is really faithful to the Sabaton style we all like, and of course I will listen to it again and again
Для меня теперь тоже
That's because it's a great song about the futility and horror of war. It's not about people winning a battle, or fighting for what's right. It's about people who fought for something wrong and horrible, seeing that all is lost, and there's nothing to do now but try to save what little good is left in their world.
@@abmackay agreed
how can it be underated, isnt it a new song?
Walther Wenck was a real hero. He chose to save as many people as possible instead of fighting a useless battle and he personally stayed there keeping the rescue corridor open. He was one of the last who moved to safety.
He really was, at the end he wasn't a nazi, he was a true hero.
It is always good to know that there weren't just bad people in Germany back then.
@@terry2295 the truth is that both sides have bad and good people. more good then you thought
@@simpsbelongtothegulags3702 That is true and it's always good to remember that.
@@simpsbelongtothegulags3702 The biggest problem is evil governance, not the military.
I have been listening to metal since i was 12-13 years of age. It took me 15 years to find your music. I cant begin to explain how much i love you guys. Long live Sabaton!
Thank you so much for writing and appreciating our music!
better late than never!
Exactly the same here 😂
Sabaton was actually the first metal band I listened to.
Same except much less time
When a Swedish Power Metal band gives a better tribute to serving men and women of WW2 even on the side of the German Reich and their Axis forces than corporations ever could, you know the world's going in the right direction.
Salutes to you from the Czech Republic!
you understand that the Axis forces besides the people who killed in the war they made a straight up genocide, right? or you decide to forget that detail because the great majority of the murdered people were jews? I mean, there is people who don't mind the Holocaust because of that, that kind of dicks are
Broden's Mother is Czech
Sabaton doesn’t care where heroism comes from, they only care that it *does.*
Corporations only see us for our money, while art, like music, sees us for our souls.
Or the german government or army.
I would even say that Sabaton has more detailed knowledge about world war 2 and what some german troops did to rescue their people.
The german government is just like:"Unga Bunga, Nazis!" and closes the case. Every german soldeir between 1933 - 1945 is branded a Nazi and thrown away on the garbage of forgettable history. It's just sad, really.
@@justicartiberius8782 That's the thing to take away from the song, not all german soldiers were buttholes
"It is not about berlin, it is not about the reich.
It's about the men who fought for them, what peace can they expect!"
That unironically made me shed a tear, that's just such a good line
Well, they live knowing they not only failed to win, but soon it will become apparent who the real monsters of this war were.
77 years later an it's still unapparent.
@@warmak4576 its apparent just shocking how many more there were than expected
@@AngelEmfrbl The real monsters of that war were the nazis, the Japanese and the soviets. Three out of four aggressors have paid for what they did, one is currently paying. We will see just how much they will pay in the end.
@@lordjigglepickle340 there’s no good guys in this world. Everyone is out for power and money
Hitler: "Attack the Red Army, you fools!!!"
General Wenck: "Sorry, but we've got more important things to do."
Mount and blade :D
Теперь гитлер на Украине, а его хозяева все так же в Америке. Но будет все, как и 80 лет назад. Русские победит фашизм. Вам должно быть стыдно
@@bobbobvolr1942 чел, зачем ты сюда политику приплёл?
@@bobbobvolr1942 zeleisky is a jew what do you mean
@@EbalRotHuyhuyhuy333 because thats what russian trolls do
I'm so happy they're reintroducing these songs for the people who didn't know about them
Thank you for appreciating it
From 2014! My favorite Sabaton Album "Heroes".
This is an old song?
@@RussUno It's not old, but they never released anything on their RUclips channel about them, so it's refreshing for those who hadn't bought the albums or heard of the songs
@@themysticaldrone4517 ok
Nicht Ein Schlacht, Ein Rettungsaktion = Not A Battle,But A Resue Opertion
einE schlacht, einE Rettungsaktion
@@hendrik2792 Genau, diese falsche Grammatik macht mich fertig
@@nuadize ich mag den Song eigentlich, aber immer an der Stelle kann ich nicht weiter 😂
@@nuadize Killt für mich den Song völlig. Schade, wäre sonst geil.
@@hendrik2792 sabaton knows it not right, but said it sounded better this way. (Also german is currently the second language I am learning)
Man they really made an entire game for this song
Yup
and that game kicks ass
@@CharlesFromHenryTheStickman not wrong
Instructions unclear kicked my grandma's ass while yelling 'GAME' like the commentator from Super Smash Bros.
@@halomika4973 no no, you followed the instructions to the dime
This song will forever have a place in my heart as the song that got me into Sabaton
It's great having you 😉
For me it was shiroyama I was chilling out with my friends playing minecraft when they played the song. I'm not sure how Sabaton manages to first get the lyrics onto paper and second Express so much feeling into their songs everytime I listen to the last stand album or hero's album it's just a giant hit of adrenaline the entire way through
@@Sabaton my first Sabaton song was Attero Dominatus
My first was fields of Verdun
First was panzerkampf but I didn't listen to their other music until attack of the dead men which weirdly now is one of my least favorite songs for some reason compared to all others
Everyday, all time, in car, at work, in shower i listen Sabaton. The best Band Ever.I am a History researcher and you have no idea what emotion I get from Sabaton. Simply the Greatest ♥️🙏
Agreed
@@patrioticsniper7922 agreed
You dont listen to sabaton in a car
@@aleksszukovskis2074 it instantly became a tank
you listen to Sabaton in the shower? lemme guess... Bismarck, Wolfpack or Dreadnought?
"It is not about Berlin, it is not about the Reich..."
God, I love this line so much...
It's about the men
Who fought for them
What peace can they expect?
It's the end of the war
@@Bornana7 hold the corridor
@@ShizoidBlyad reach for Elbe’s shore
@@altf4755 It's the end, the war has been lost
To protect their people instead of following orders is the sign of a true hero,A soldier of the people.
And yet history is blind to such feats as it is the victor that is remembered and the heroic deeds of the ones on the enemy's side is lost between the pages of history.
They see them as nothing but enemies but in reality they are just soldiers that were following the orders of a madman.
Young and old alike get pulled into war.
Indeed who can look back with a sense of pride.
The duty of a soldier is to protect the innocent . First, last , always.
"When they face death, they're all alike"
@@stopdeletingmyaccount125 “No right or wrong, rich or poor…”
@@altf4755
“No matter who they served before.”
"Those who made it across have reason to reflect"
"Who can look back with a sense of pride"
That's what I love about this song. It is not just about the battle or the operation but about what followed after.
indeed. the war was over and there was no more reason to fight. Again, Walther Wenck did the right thing. I think we can all agree that anyone would've done so.
@@Kanefan701 Many wouldn't, and didn't.
That's why he's a hero, he put the lives of civilians and his men over orders and protocol.
"Some will call me a traitor and a coward. Many will call me a monster. Perhaps I am. And perhaps none of those I defend will even know peace again. But just for the tiny chance they can, I'll trade all of the world's curses just for it."
On the other side
“Attero dominatus… Berlin is burning”
There are two wolves inside of you. One is Hearts of Iron, the other is Attero Dominatus.
denique interimo... the reich has falleeeeeennnn!!!
Only few metal bands can make me listen with tears coming out and Sabaton does that in almost every song
It's always moving to read messages like this one. Thank you for sharing it with us!
My German family fled East Prussia, Königsberg, they were protected by these heroes, the 12th army! Cheers/thanks 👍
The brother of my grandfather was in the 12th army unfortunately he died 3 years ago but I will answer in his name: your welcome. He always said nothing felt better than to protect his people and finally do something that mattered
@@tiroler492 it was nice to read about your Grandfather, and I agree with him. It is man's duty to serve and protect his people, and thus, soon all men of Europa will rise united in defense of the Fatherland.
My grandfather's papers said Pietskindorf East Prussia.
@@Fatherland927Ok let’s not try conquering the continent again ok? Sincerely, a jew
@@RomanumChristum Europa is currently being conquered, my only hope is to reclaim and rebuild. Jews aren't my problem, I am of Polish descent, many of my men were Polish resistance WW2.
Thr "Heroes" album is one of Sabaton's best in terms of storytelling. We need more like that album.
thats also the only thing it got going for it sadly.
We just need a second Heroes Album and second Last Stand album.
@@commander591 You did not just say Heroes was a bad album...
Morgan Fitch I did. Not even close compared to Albums like Primo Victoria or the Art of war. Don’t get me started on the new Album…
@@commander591 The War to End All Wars too!? That's easily one of my favourites! Stormtroopers, Soldier of Heaven, Dreadnought, Race to the Sea, The Valley of Death, The Unkillable Soldier, Hellfighters... How could you call any of these bad!?
In the end, when all is lost and death is on their doorstep is when people show their true self, and what their soul is really made of. The men of the 12th showed that their true hearts were that of gold, and their souls those of true heroes. Nothing but respect for those who gave their lives so others could live, truly they deserve their final rest for their heroic actions
Or Hearts of Iron
Sabaton will keep us fighting in these dark time
I hope they make a song about the ghost of Kyiv...
Kiitos Vitun Kääpiö
@@jebkerman5422 you mean abouth that videogame images?..
@@jebkerman5422 even though that was my dream I hope the ghost of kiev is a true person my dream is nothing but he has done his duty to the nation
@@jebkerman5422 agreed. I hope he is real
This is one of my favorite songs, because it really helps to understand that not ever German in WW2 was a bloodthirsty monster, and how, at the end of the war, their mission ceased to be about protecting Berlin, and became saving the people of Berlin.
War is strange. For almost every conflict in history, the men have mostly just been normal people made to do the job of fighting.
my granpa to fight communism und save europe he was hero
Personally, I think this whole dichotomy is a comforting lie we tell to ourselves. There are no monsters. Only men, with all the potential for good and evil inherent in man. We label those following their worst impulses monsters because the alternative would be to ask ourselves wether we would be any better when put in the same spot, and there's very few people who can answer that question truly without any doubt. Something, frankly, to be thankful about.
Yes. Also operation Valkryie and the German resistance.
@@magni5648 yes, if we'd been born in a different situation... Any one of us could have learned horrible beliefs and become an SS member, or a suicide bomber, or a doctor committing atrocities in Manchuria. Or been Bull Allen or Audie Murphy. Talk about Kriegsglück.
"See the city burn on the other side, going down in flames as two worlds collide, who can now look back with a sense of pride", that line always gets me emotional
“It’s the end of the war, hold the corridor, reach for Elbe’s shore.”
A heroic last effort to save who they could from Berlin’s destruction. Soldiers fighting to save lives.
SABATON is not a band
It is an emotion
It is a ride in pages of history
Tainted by blood of the brave
Story of the soldiers
And the lives they tried to save
For a life and a death
They are a band.
Sabaton is a religion
@@user-yt2ku3ht5pyou must be fun at parties
im feeling a bit sabaton-y today
today, exactly 79 years ago.
berlin is encircled, steiner attack didn't managed to magically break the soviet lines and lift the siege. south of berlin, the 9th army is encircled in the battle of halbe, while to berlin's southwest the 12th army who faced the allies are ordered to turn around, link up with the 9th army, and free berlin.
the 12th army managed to reach postdam but unable to advance any further. while the 9th army is on the verge of collapse after 2 attempts at a breakout failed. on this day the 3rd attempt is a success and they managed to link up with the 12th army.
but their soldiers are all weak hungry, and slowed by bands of civilians seeking shelter in their ranks, and the 12th army also saw no hope of liberating berlin with their current predicament. therefore the 12th army made the decision to trash the impossible task to liberate berlin and instead focus their remaining forces on keep open route of escape for the 9th army and escaping civilians.
o7 to them
Brave men RIP to everyone who wasn't lucky enough to get out of Soviet occupation 😢😢.
Replying to this s9 when anyone comments again or likes this I will be reminded of this comment
First heard this song while playing Hearts Of Iron 4, been listening to Sabaton ever since...
Where in the game have you heard it? Just wondering (if u still remember it)
@GargoyleHunter Hello, my friend! It's in the Sabbaton pack. You can activate it through the radio options. Don't remember which DLC added it though.
@@F1pidis ah theres a radio (never played hoi4) ty btw
This ones right up there with "A Lifetime at War", "Price of a Mile" and "Cliffs of Gallipoli"
My history teacher showed our class "Price of a Mile" and that was the start of my addiction to Sabaton
listening to Sabaton just hits different these days, knowing that we are just witnessing yet another dark chapter of future european history
And this might soon happen to some cities in Ukraine
@@olafkwiatkowski3785 feels wrong to give it a thumbs up... but you're probably wright
My woman is over there and even though she isn't in any danger rn, I know that if putin thinks he's going to be ousted he'll hit his big red button
@@brokenprophet13 he has already set up the situation we just have to hope he wont do it
@@brokenprophet13 god I hope not, but at this point all we can hope for is for Russian moral to drop and Putin to be ousted before that can happen
Love listening to Sabaton while palying Hearts of iron IV Best song to complement The gameplay now.
Yesss
Glory to ukraine!
@@niume7468 Don't bring that shit here
When i play HOI4 i most of the time just left alone the songs playing sabaton and HOI4 normal ost but when i start a war i most of the time activate only sabaton song to have some kinda of epicness about the fight( sorry for any grammatical error )
@@stevenrehme8002 ur shit man, Ukraine is a country of heroes. GLORY TO UKRAINE AND IT'S HEROES!
I've always loved how Sabaton handles the Heer, Luftwaffe, and Kriegsmarine as separate entities from the Madman that drove them to war.
Gives them all more nuance to their states of being: Rather than blanket-treating them as always Chaotic Evil or utterly Innocent to the horrors they have inflicted, Sabaton takes the time to note that the truth is somewhere down the middle, and, as in this song, they note that whatever heroics a unit or individual in the Wehrmacht may have performed during the war, those acts do not override the fact that those same soldiers still assisted in the rise and attempted sustainment of one of the most evil regimes in world history...
Even so... Sabaton asks that we maintain a state of nuance when examining those individuals, rather than lump them in with the utter psychopath that lead them.
That, and those same entities also had cool tanks and a big-ass battleship.
Mostly the last line
Wehraboo moment
@@genus5987 cringe. Not funny. No one asked.
Well there are mountians of documents showing the Whermacht participated directly in the Holocaust and the Holocaust of Bullets. Not all of them but quite a few. That should be taken into account when looking at the German Military in WW2. Not everyone was and not everyone was even a bad person, but the "Clean Whermacht" is a myth.
Correction, 2 big-ass battleships
The Chorus "Hold the corridor" gets me. I can hear the soldiers shouting it as the civilians run for their lives to get to the other side of the Elbe while the Red Army bears down on them. The 12th were on the wrong side of the war, but they fought with courage and honor.
Honestly, the words of the Kenny Rogers song The Gambler come to mind when I think about what Walther Wenck did: He knew where the game was and that it was time to both fold and run.
What makes his actions admirable, as opposed to cowardly, is that he chose to save as many as he could, including civilians. If you know much about history, then you know that this kind of concerned about civilians was not very common amongst generals.
I really appreciate knowing about the heroes of these wars, regardless of which side they were on, because the criteria for being a hero largely doesn't actually change based upon which side was right and which was wrong.
To give Wenck further credit he was one of the last men to cross the Elbe.
And given the Fact that Walther Wenck was nicknamed "The child General" because of his pranks such as ordering a Flak gun to fire to spook a Visiting General in his Bathtub, Walther is one of the biggest Chads of the Second World War.
@@schmeatgaming853 also because he was the youngest german general
I keep coming back to this song during these days. It evokes such a sense of hope through futility, of grit through adversity, of trying to save that which really matters in a world that's burning to the ground. It's helped me stay relatively stable though a lot, and it will help keep me stable many more times.
I can't thank you enough, not just the band in general, but Joachim specifically for being the voice in my mind that says "KEEP GOING, GOOD THINGS COME IF YOU MAKE THEM COME". If it weren't for you and your music, there's a fair chance I wouldn't be here now, and intending to stay here to see good works done. Thank you.
One of my favourite Sabaton songs.
perfect outro song for the end of a WW2 movie. Imagine this song playing as you walk out of the theater, credits rolling.
I'd say it would be better in the last intense scene of the movie
Ho, what I wouldn't give for a great movie scene with a Sabaton Song...
This song and The Last Battle always make me choke up. The tales of German soldiers fighting noble battles at the end of WW2. Not Nazis...Germans. :' )
Not the end of the war yet but I think we can include No Bullets Fly as well.
@@mayalackman7581
Definitely!
"see the city Burn on the side"
"going down in flames as two worlds collide"
*its enough to make a grown man cry, and thats okay.*
0:53 the German translates to “not A battle A rescue operation”
Not funny@@To.Helios
@@To.Heliosno, theres no but in the german version, so you wouldnt translate it that way, also, its not even proper german.
Yet another great tribute to humanity in these times of dire situations, thank you again for this brilliant musical performance, loved the way you have woven Bach into the arrangement, just great!
Belgium salutes you and this excellent lesson of history!
There were good people on every side... my gandpa was a polish kid when germany invated. He was supporting the resistence as many kids and young polish people did. One day he and others stood against the wall ready to be shoot ... it was a young german officer who had the guts to convince the other nazis soldiers not to shoot the kid, quickly took him in his arms and carried him to safety, while behind his back the other polish people were shoot. If not for him I would be not here today.
Hearing these types of stories always bring me to tears. It's amazing that your grandfather was saved, it really is amazing how much humanity can be found I the darkest parts of the world.
YESSSSSS . This is my favourite . Discovered this song during December 2020 . I ve been listening to it everytime i go to work .
This is my favourite song of Sabaton, they talk of the pain that was suffered on those final days, instead of doing something a ton easier like glorifying the Allies or the Comitern or both, they just song of the pain of been a German citizen and soldier on those days and what the future unfortunately waited them.
Well said! 👏👏👏
It’s easy to glorify the Allies and ignore the warcrimes they committed at times, but hard to look upon the good things some Germans did aside from the advancements in science they made, truly history is written by the victors and there are perhaps some stories we may never hear because of this
Your songs fill me with emotions I can’t describe. Thank you for gifting the world with your wonderful music, Sabaton.
Thanks a lot for your kind words Yael ;)
Truly the greatest HOI 4 reference of all time
I absolutely love this song, the way how it's singing about losing a war on your perspective but still make you feel like pushing on is amazing
Какая старая песня,а всё в душе играет! Спасибо большое Sabaton!
sabaton always makes me wonder if some of these soldiers wonder if people will sing of their deeds in the future. im glad we all do and they will forever be immortalized in songs. sorry for le english im not sure if i said my point xD
I never thought I’d cry listening to a song about the end of ww2 but here I am
this song is sad, yet brave, and i can always feel the power behind sabaton's music whenever i listen to them.
I"m a history teacher in South Africa. Love my job because of this band.
So, are you black ? :d
@@atulici
What does that has to do with anything? XD
@@josegonzales9169 Just kidding 😅
each time i play hearts of iron 4 i hear this i cry this is so emotional thanks sabaton 😭😭😭
Sabaton thanks for reminding us about heroism in these bleak time
the line "nicht eine schlacht, eine Rettungsaktion" gives me chills, im German so i do understand it and that gives me the chills
idk why
What does this mean?
@@ribshubmathur5859 it means that it is no battle but rather a mission too save as much people as they can
@@SchroediNr1 thank you
@@ribshubmathur5859 directly it means "it's not a battle, but a rescue mission"
Maybe it gives you chills from the bad grammar?
Everyone remembers Dunkirk. Not enough people remember Walther Wenck and the 12th Army. They saved a quarter of a million people and in all likelihood prevented a second Stalingrad in terms of casualty count.
Sabaton never fails to shine the right. ❤
Defeat is inevitable, everyone is exhausted and frustrated, no reinforcements can be called on...
But you must stand against well-trained and enraged enemies just to earn some time for the wounded and civilians to evacuate.
The whole situation hits hard...
2:40
After five years I finally find out it’s Bach Air on the G String adaptation. So great.
Thank you, hero!
Great song, and love the inclusion of Bach at 2:40!
For all the atrocities german soldiers committed, them fighting like hell to allow civilians to escape the russians and get to allied lines to avoid even worse atrocities at the hands of the russians is something that can be commended. I don't remember the story of that German unit specifically but I respect them. At that point it was just saving as many of their people as they could from a far more grizzly fate then they themselves had dished out the past three to four years. They knew their civilian counterparts didn't deserve the fate they did
Do you think that the Russians would have committed far worse atrocities than the Germans?
It’s not the German soldiers as a whole that were evil, just the people they worked for
@@elcaponeholyemperorofnj1169 Certainly. Jews were killed by generals, not by soldiers. It was Himmler who burned the villages, not the soldiers. Not soldiers, but Goebbels and Goering hung civilians on trees.
Of course, the Germans who went to the front because of the lack of choice and did not commit war crimes are really not guilty of anything, which cannot be said about the monsters who happily committed war crimes.
P.S: I used a translator, sorry for any mistakes.
They did what they thought was right to protect their own by following orders. Turns out it wasn't but some did realize that mistake.
@@ouzounicus6126 You are right. This explains their actions, but does not justify them.
My great Grandfather waw there in that moment, he said it was one of his proudest moments
My great grandfather fought with the 3rd army. Thank you for honoring our soldiers in this special way 🥲
I'm so glad Heroes is finally getting some love, it was my favorite Sabaton album for years, and the one that helped get my now-wife into power metal
Песни Сабатон, это что-то необычное, когда прослушиваешь эти треки, ты как будто погружаешься в историю…❤
One of the best things happened in human history which I didnt know about. Thanks Sabaton for telling such amazing moments through your songs! Hands down, the best band in the world!
you guys' songs have such a positive effect on my mood. can't help but sing it all the way! love you guys so much, been a fan for around 5 years and going strong ❤
Thanks a lot for your words!
@@Sabaton you're all very welcome, my brothers! thank you for replying! love you all so much! ❤
0:54 for my fellow people who DON'T speak German, the phrase "Nicht ein schlacht, ein rettungsaktion" translates too: "Not a battle, a rescue operation"
this is like 3 songs in one and it works perfectly
The begging is DRAMATIC VAST! CATASTROPHIC
then 15 seconds in It seems far more human, far more personal with that last glimmer of hope in the "hold the corridor"
And then it's the MANIC determination when it comes to "keeping them safe whatever the cost"
I love how you guys can see the good and heroic deeds that were done by both sides of a conflict and then make a kick ass song about it.
The Bach-based guitar solo gives me goosebumps.
It makes me Cry 😢💔🎖🕊
"Not a battle, but a rescue mission."
This is one of my favorites it has so much raw emotion and really tells the sad story of what all those people were going through. Just wish I could see you guys do this one live!
This song warms my heart in a way i cant explain. Its heroic and so wholesome.
Holy moly, I didn't notice them uploading this!
God, this is absolutely one of my favourite Sabaton songs. It just... it hits so hard, man.
One of my favourite songs. You are amazing! Greetings from Italy❤🤘
Thank you very much Camilla!
@@Sabaton
❤🇸🇪
The absolute chad and his men fought not for a falling regime, but for his homeland and it's people. Respect.
Sabaton does something special with their songs. Yes, they are teachers of history with their music, but its so much more.
They make you feel what the men and women felt, when taking up arms in their music. They make you feel their pride, their fear, and everything in between.
That is what makes them beyond amazing.
Man that part from Bach's "Air on the G - string" at 2:40 is just mindblowing and fits in very well; an unexpected and awesome tribute to classical music in a heavy piece great job Sabaton
Exactly what I was looking for 👌👌
Was literally just battling for Berlin in Enlisted, this is good timing
@LF10 yeah exactly, now I got something to listen to while I’m fighting in the Reich Chancellery Hall
Germany gonna be going for full WW3 this time I hope
@@bagasitogitto.f1826 what?
Playing with the Germans while listening to this in Berlin hits different
Amazing as always sabaton, keep up the amazing work!
Thank you for your support!
For those who are curious, Nicht ein schlacht Ein rettungsakton which is said at 1:52 means Not a battle, a rescue operation.
2:13 best part. The drums mixed with the lyrics is incredible.
These men fought not for a government, their leaders or a political idea.
not even their friends or family. Their cause was nobler. Sacrifice and preservation of a country
that Hitler had doomed to Scorched earth.
They fought to save civilians who they would never meet and could not thank them.
Thanks Sabaton for this important perspective.
This is what I love about Sabaton. They strive to be unbiased, and they are able to make a song even about the "dark side" if they see true heroism. They simply stand for common soldiers, for their bravery, and humanity. This is something that is not so common, I would say.
Respect for that. 👍🎸
Thank you for your words
Sabaton, thank you for making songs about the hard stuff, too. It's easy to speak to the heroic actions of men like Audie Murphy and the Polish defenders against the blitzkrieg, because they were on the right side of history. But you've also chosen to remind us all that heroism isn't defined by what side of history you were on, but by the nature of your sacrifices, and your reasons for making them.
Some outsiders looking in might see a metal band making a song that paints Nazis in a positive light, and be outraged. But many more who listen to you know you've written a song about men who gave their lives so that those they cared about could keep theirs. It might be a moral grey area, but that is all of history, no matter what we pretend.
I can't believe you told this story, it was a heroic moment that must be remember no matter what side.
Always remember
Seeing the sides and soldiers of war in black and white will always leave out every part of the picture but the frame, and every soldier deserves judgment for their actions and not the actions of others.
Sabaton is the only storyteller bar none who can make me feel patriotic for even the enemy against which my country has fought two world wars.
Soldiers fight the wars their (often demented) leaders order them into. Soldiers (of land sea and air) are basically sound loyal people with a moral code not shared by psychopathic ideologues eg elite Waffen SS units.
1:24 is incredibly bittersweet for me.
Edit: In fact the whole song is bittersweet
Sabaton songs are so good, that when i was listening to it nex to the laptop which was downloading something, the speed went from 1mb/s to 50mb/s
One of the most emotional Sabaton songs by far. Definitely top 10 Sabaton
En livstid I krig at the top surely
@@cakespreader that's my #2 (2nd only to The End of the War to End All Wars)
I'm agree
But "in Flanders field" still better
This song has to be in my top five favorite sabaton songs because of how good it is and the story behind it keep up the great work
This song is in honor to the General Walther Wenck, who saved hundreds of civilians at the end of the Berlin’s battle and the end of WW2.
*thousands
@@danishkfdhundreds of thousands
I always have to hold back tears hearing about the bravery and sacrifice of my people.
It’s Important to remember in war not all of our enemies are evil they are just fighting for they country or because they are made to or else and this is something we nead to remember now more then ever.
Walther Wenck is hero in my book. He choose to save lives instead of saving the already collapsing city of Berlin.
I think he knew if he tried saving Berlin then he would be dead or worse sent to a gulog in Siberia.
My new favorite. Hi from finland🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮. Love ur music. Best band ever best music really cool 👌👌👌 👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌. Gotta listen to Sabaton
this will make me cry every time i listen to it