My grandfather was born in 1895. He grew up on a farm, was drafted in 1915 and fought in the German Army during WW I. He died long before I was born. But still, it amazes me to think that only two generations separate me from the young men in this film.
Yup, and that they grew up with people who were from the 1800s ... Crazy eh? Youre two generations off from them, and they grew up with generations who were born in the low to mid 1800s ... Time feels so short when you connect generations together...
@@ImJunCena My grandfather was born in 1880 he married my grandmother who was born in 1900. She gave birth to my father in 1928 him being the younger sibling. My grandmother passed away of breast cancer in 1932 my grandfather had 6 kids with her and never remarried. One of the kids died when she was 3 years old she had downs syndrome. My grandfather passed away in 1972. My uncles and aunt followed in 1976, 1978, 1985 and my aunt passed in 2008. My father is the remaining of the siblings still lives he is 95 and I am 58.
@@AP-kk4ys 1880. Wow, imagine if somehow we could ever sit down with someone from 1880 and just ask them what it was like? ... My great grandparents likely were born around 1900 or 1910-ish ... But, after that, Ive never heard from my family about relatives beyond that ... Crazy eh? We "remember" up to our great grandparents, and everyone before them is basically lost. ...
The officer seen at 4:08 with the skull on his Pickelhaube is Oberleutnant Rudolf Friedrich Ritter von Voightländer. He was born in Brussels in 1884 and joined Braunschweigisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 92 as a Fähnrich in 1903, commissioning as a Leutnant the next year. When the Great War broke out about five months after this was filmed, he was assigned to Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 78 (the regiment depicted in the newest version of "All Quiet on the Western Front.") He survived the Great War as a Major, serving for a time on the General Staff (Generalstab der Obersten Heeresleitung.) Ritter von Voightländer married after the war and held various jobs in the civil service. In 1937, he joined the Luftwaffe, being promoted to Oberst in 1941. He was made a Generalmajor in 1945 and spent time in captivity after WWII, being relased in 1947. He died in Tutzing, Bayern in 1959.
@@lloydchen1697 Thanks very much! I'm glad what I do is appreciated! It's really just down to comparing individual distinct uniform variations for particular regiments with the faculty listing of Unteroffizierschule Wetzlar in 1914. I think it's very important that we know what happened to these people, rather than these stories just being lost to time.
This is truly mind-blowing. As a 1st gen German-American, I am truly thankful this beautifully restored film. I found myself trying to observe all of those men's faces as much as possible, to keep them all in my memory.
One thing that gets me is when someone looks directly into the camera. I'm sure that, at that time, it might just be a curious glance or a passing stare, but I'm sure some of them looked with the question of "who is gonna be watching this in the future?" or "where is this going to be played?". In that sense, they're looking directly at us, at each person here who watched this video.
@@user-te3vw1nz7p Религия как раз и есть одна из главных причин войн. Люди верят в иллюзию "загробной жизни" и именно поэтому рвутся в бой. Чтобы уничтожить войны раз и на всегда, сначала мы должны уничтожить религии.
Absolutely mindblowing... I am a native german and i know the historical details of this war very well, but seeing this makes me goosebumps. You can see that old, shiny world and the disaster what was coming after that WW1
When I watch these videos I remember my grandfather and knowing that he was among those people who fought for Germany in the First World War, years after that war ended, Germany entered a terrible crisis and my grandfather, as well as my grandmother , came to Brazil like thousands of other German immigrants and here they lived in peace and raised a family (I am very proud of my grandparents, they were people of character, honest, hardworking)
So young in this video ... Our great grandfathers ... And, just like that, you realize this was also over 100 years ago, and all of them are gone. Time flies.
Every depiction of WWI has going to the trenches as being like a descent into hell. The soldiers were lied to and sent to experience mind-numbing horror.
Thank you so much for doing this. I find it deeply moving to see this footage restored in this way. I hope that this may help the modern generation to better connect with these men, for them to find some common ground with them. Maybe then they can finally receive their due as the brave men that they were. After all, they were just like us; not faded and dusty forms lost to the past in a dusty archive somewhere.
Big cities maybe (at least mostly), many German towns and smaller cities still look very much like that when it comes to architecture - or let's say it's a mix out of very old and new buildings. Some towns in Germany are 1000+ years old... 1914 is quite young in comparison. But then again every country today looks different compared to 1914...
In this video I saw one of the faces of the Soldiers and just from his face you could tell he was saying the words "Is this what I'm really gonna do." in his head over and over again. This video has brought tears to my eyes.
My grandfather was the youngest of 15 children, 7 of his older brothers died in that war. I slowly beginn to understand, that that trauma is sitting in my genes too. We have the letters they sent from all over the place, and it's heartwrenching to read what these kids (yes, they all were kids) had to go through. It truly was *the big war*. RIP all.
Now that this footage has been restored and the details have been accentuated, the fuller story of those involved can really come to light. The Offizier at 1:16 to 1:18 seen holding his sword at an angle has a Garde star on the front of his helmet and clearly has two pips on his shoulderboards denoting a Hauptmann. Because of this and the awards that he is wearing, I can conclude with near certainty that this man is Hauptmann Freiherr Raitz von Frentz. He died following his wounding in action on 28 April 1915 at a place called Przejma-Wielka on the Eastern Front whilst serving as a Major and III. Bataillon commander with Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 254. He was shot three times while leading a company of his men from the front in a counterattack against the Russians. Long live his memory / Ruhe sanft in Gottes Frieden
These old colourised clips are absolutely amazing. I get to see ww1 Germany. Blows my mind. Seeing them in colour makes them even more real. And looking at them, they could be anyone's kids, who don't yet know the horrors they are all about to face.
The interpolate frame rate, the cleaning up of the image is amazing as well as the false colour. These men were corporals (the lowest rank of NCO or non commissioned officer). I presume conscripts doing their annual military service.
Colorized and AI processed material while visually amazing can't be considered as a valid historic material. The processing introduces changes that may lead to misinterpretations.
It's just too much to take in, so much that I'm crying while watching this. My mind is constantly blown on how we can time travel back in time via RUclips, and then the realization clash of what we all know is about to happen. Plus all the people in this chapter of life, from baby to elderly, have all passed away. My tears are overflowing
I cant help but notice how well dressed everybody was. My grandfather would put on his tie, vest, coat and hat just to answer the door for the paper boy.
The average working class person had one outfit, and it was a shirt and jacket. Having lots of clothes wasnt normal back then. You usually had one outfit per occasion. One outfit for work and one for church/funerals/weddings.
@@Roby_G I agree. Seeing all these kids with tattered jeans makes the look like a bum off the street, especially when the dye in their hair is badly fading... I think our grandparents knew what they were doing.
Diese Männer waren mutig und loyal zugleich, egal ob es richtig oder falsch war in diesen Krieg zu ziehen. Meine Urgroßväter haben diese Katastrophe Gott sei Dank überlebt. Heute würde kein Deutscher mehr sein Leben für dieses Land einsetzen. Im Gegenteil!
Absolutely insane to see this in color and come to life. As someone who grew up learning about history in books and grainy black and white photos, this is incredible. You feel so much more connected to the people in the footage...
Rest in peace my extended family who fought for the Fatherland in the great war. Wilhelm Friedrich born December 11, 1880. Kill in action on the 26 of Aug. 1917 Friedrich born September 5, 1884. Kill in action on July 28 1918 in France. Johann Gottfried born August 6, 1886. Went missing in action on the 30 of August 1914. All three brothers never to return back home -Love from your American cousin.
Ich freue mich das es noch Deutsche Amerikaner gibt, die stolz auf ihre Wurzeln sind! Ehre deinen Vorfahren, sie wahren gute Männer die ihre Heimat verteidigt haben. 🖤🤍❤️
@@deutschesherz2582 Ich wünschte, wir wären nicht in den Krieg gezogen, miteinander. Denn ich hatte nicht nur eine Familie, die für das Vaterland gekämpft hat. Es gab einige meiner Verwandten, die für Amerika gekämpft haben, aber sie alle sind sicher nach Hause zurückgekehrt. Ich habe immer noch das Gewehr, das meiner amerikanischen Verwandtschaft, das in den Großen Krieg getragen wurde. Wie gerne würde ich eines Tages dort hinfahren, wo meine deutsche Familie herkommt.
@@detroitandclevelandfan5503 Auch ich wünschte das diese Kriege nie geschehen wären. Falls du einmal nach Deutschland kommen solltest, würden dich hier mit offenen Armen empfangen❤️ Wir sind stolz auf unsere Deutsch-Amerikanischen Brüder.
Danke für die wunderbare Restaurierung .Sind wir Europäer nicht hirnlos gewesen ,unsere Jugend auf die Schlachtfelder zu schicken😢Wer das nicht wieder möchte, bitte Daumen hoch!Bleibt, oder werdet gesund❤❤
Bedauerlich, dass es heute immer noch so viele "Hirnlose" in Europa gibt ... man muss sich nur ansehen, was die Menschen in Italien ca. 80 Jahre nach Mussolini heute wieder wählen.
@@Kaijinzo Leider ist es keinen Deut besser ,die Hirnlosigkeit ist nicht weniger geworden.Wahrscheinlich ist Europa nicht zu retten.Dir wünsche ich Glück im Leben.🙋♂️
Интересно, что с ним стало, и сколько мужчин пережило войну, а женщин и детей - тяжёлую Брюквенную зиму. Потрясающее качество реставрации, как будто сам там стоишь.
My family is from Wetzlar. It´s mindblowing that there is a chance, even if a really little one, that in this crowd there was one of my forefathers and i looked into his eyes without even realizing it. Also how much and at the same time how little the city changed in all that time
WOW!!!!!!!! This is crazy. When I see the videos in color, like we see films today, I immediately feel incredibly closer to my ancestors. Thank you for this video and the experience it brought.
Just imagine what people in 500 years will think when they are sifting through 500 years of footage and most of it with sound. Imagine seeing Iphone footage from the French Revolution or the Thirty Years War in he 17th century or the decapitation of Charles.
@@TheHesseJames yeah it’s quite amazing that in the future people will be able to see actual footage of events centuries and even millennia before their time in such clarity and detail. Whereas we find it amazing to see footage from just 100 years ago with fake colours and no sound!
since 2006, I fell in love with history class so much. Thank you for doing this video. Just brings tears to my eyes because we don't talk about the wars no more. Thank you for doing what you do, don't stop please.
Great video, that's very clear. My grandfather was born in 1898, was drafted into the Kaiser's army and served on the Western Front. A couple of his brother's fought and lived through the war and emigrated to the U.S. with him. He was wounded and decorated; I have his Iron Cross. He talked about the war once with my father, who lived through World War II as a child. And no my dad was Never in the Hitler Youth; they lived on a farm and he had to work. I only heard some of my grandfather's story as I got sent up to bed. Hindsight being 20/20 I wish I had asked to stay and listen. Opa (Granddad) died when I was in my 20's. I used to call him 'my nineteenth century' Opa.
Absolutely amazing. Despite literally a lifetime of being a history buff and having seen thousands and thousands of reels of old footage, I am still stunned when I see these clips so well restored that give us a glimpse into a long-ago age that suddenly becomes alive again in all its splendor and reality. And all the more haunting that so many of those smiling soldiers and many of the civilians following them were just weeks or months away from violent death and injury. First-class work!
This is magnificent - such a precious historical document. Thank you for putting in the effort to upgrade it for our modern eyes. It's unbelievably moving.
Amazing footage - thank you so much for upscaling and making it public to the world. What me made think the most is, that this probably never ever had been seen by any of the protagonists, not in this quality anyway, and today, over 100 years later, we are able to watch it on a thing called internet, just a click or tap away, something not having been able to imagine back then in any way. Stunning.
Imagine seeing footage like this from Napoleonic wars. Jesus Christ it would be so wonderful. Such a pity camera wasn't invented slightly earlier. These people were as close to Napoleon as we are now to them. I love history.
What a beautiful tribute, sad at the same time, the smile of the lad at 3.49 so genuine and happy, no idea what he was going into, I hope he made it home, R.I.P to all who fought in that awful war.
Great job. Please do more of these if you can especially on the Great War as said in previous comments it brings these young and brave men to life and no matter who’s side they were on and fighting against they deserved to be remembered.
In total agreement. I came from germany 60 yrs ago as a young girl. New nothing about my history or world history. Yet, now am reading about wars throughout history. It saddens me to know we keep repeating the same over an over in the name of Greed, Power and Resources. Not only the 1914 War. Actually at that time it was the Astro Hungarian/Prussian Empire War fighting their Aristocratic cousins of the British Empire, the French and Russian Empire. Then it was the Aristocrats. After 1918 they were replaced by Oligarchs, Dictators and greedy Corporations. Young men, just like now the poor young Russian and Ukrainian men, loose their lives to a greedy Power. I just hope we don't destroy our world as we know it.
My great grandfather was drafted in 1917 he was 23 when he was killed one of the 100,000 Americans to die in the great war i just wish i knew more about him but i believe he had a wife at the time he was killed kind of sad to think about i hope i can just honor him by remembering
My grandfather had a beloved uncle who died at WW1 at 23yo, his last remembers was when his uncle had a permission from the front, he was very changed and quiet with others until he went for a walk in the countryside with his nefews and niece, he had a moment of laugh and happyness. He went back to the trenches and died a few days after.
Incredible improved footage. Whoever worked on this did an amazing job, well done. Brings goosebumps to think this was over one hundred years ago. You should do a video on how this is done, what methods, hardware and software are used.
He didn't do an amazing job, as the color of the tunics is completely wrong. If you colorize an old film, first get yourself well documented. And for the german army of these times, it's very easy !
Fantastic...I absolutely love and appreciate all the hard work that's brought this film to life! Just like our boys, what a tragic loss of life! 😢 Thank you
I don`t want that back! An autocratic state, poor labour class, no freedom at all, over militarized, extremely nationalistic, xenophobic, no thank you! Our modern germany is one of the greatest countries on this planet! And I`m proud what we have become.
A boring bland, country with no sense of identity just like every other country in the west. German Identity is dead, having a wide open border is not an identity and having millions of people from other countries turns Germany into someone else's land. It's a damn shame. @@Tosse901
@@Tosse901 It wasn't an autocratic state nor over militarized, nationalistic and least of all xenophobic. Your statement shows that you do not know much about this era. People back then were better educated and much more decent than people nowadays. They would never have tolerated the disgusting state of the present.
Seeing them wave goodbye on the train reminds me of when the titanic passenger did... wondering if their loved ones realize that is the last time many of them would be seen again 😔 Also speaks to the significance of being recorded, enabling people from a century later (and hopefully many more) to see what they looked like, how they smiled, etc.
SUPERB, such a simple looking sequence of events gave me goosebumps. So well done looks like it was yesterday. What an amazing world we live in that we can see footage over 100 years old look dang near fresh.
Als Deutscher - freue ich mich über diese wertschätzenden Bilder. Möge Frieden uns die Lehre sein. Krieg und Geldgier - sind die Ursache des Leidens. Neid auf wirtschaftlichen Erfolg - und dann einen Krieg beginnen. Das ist echt übel.
It's surprising that the footage from over 100 years ago has remained so beautifully. It's a very important historical document. But it's really sad that so many young people face the battlefield and get in trouble. I pray that such a tragic history will not be repeated. from Japan.
I am so grateful to see footage like this. My grandfather was a wwone veteran . The way u goabout this looks like it was filmed yesterday. Thank God for technology.. it is very historical seeing footage like this. Thanks for sharing respectfully David Blackburn.
Stolz worauf, dass sie sich wie Lämmer zur Schlachtbank haben führen lassen? Und was soll ehrenhaft daran sein, sich in einem Krieg verheizen zu lassen? Ich bin stolz auf die, die nicht mitgemacht haben und damit die Menschlichkeit hochgehalten haben. Dieser Krieg war, wie die meisten Kriege, einer der Obrigkeit gegen eine andere. Austragen musste es das Volk, da kann ich weder Stolz noch Ehre erkennen.
this brought tears to my eyes. My gt grandfathers fought on the other side, in the British army. I’m far from a pacifist, but the train scenes really got me.
If all the people was pacifists, there will be no wars. Why we are not becoming pacifists? Why are you not becoming pacifist? How many more lives we must waste to consider?
"I was in a small German garrison town in 1914 and I remember very well the tremendous enthusiasm. Of course, we schoolboys were all indoctrinated with great patriotism when war broke out. My father was an active infantry officer and I shall never forget the day when they marched out to the trains. All the soldiers were decorated with flowers, there was no gun which didn’t show a flower - even the horses I think were decorated. And of course all the people followed them. There were bands playing, flags flying, and a terrific sort of overwhelming conviction that of course Germany now would go into war and win it very quickly." - Heinrich Beutow
....und erst einmal die Jungs aus den Bauernkriegen. Die gehen mir richtig ab. Dann waere da noch der Ritter Kunibert, den habe ich auch lange nicht mehr gesehen.
As a career military officer, seeing this video is very striking and quite saddening. Young men preparing for the worst though some may have been caught up believing it to be chivalrous to go to war. It is heart breaking knowing that so many will die and suffer the slaughter and cruelty of trench warfare. The profession of arms is there to act as a deterrent to war; bad politics puts it into action.
The common mindset was completely different back then. War and peace were compared to changing tides, the changing seasons, day and night, sun and rain. Every generation would have its war. It was the "school of the nations", the experience that "turned boys to men". That's why many of those misguided big boys looked so happy and satisfied.
Impressive how orderly and well maintained everything looked in Germany at than time. Well dressed civilians and smart looking soldiers, none of whom had any idea what lay before them in the next four years.
This is incredible. Wonderful job at colorization and presentation. It’s haunting to watch those young men pass by looking into the camera with me having the knowledge that most of them would be dead soon.
Great job. Fascinating and oppressive at the same time. Feels like you are standing in the crowd and they look right in your face and you're the only one who knows what will happen to them.
Me siento orgulloso por estos jovenes militares que lucharon por su pais 😢 y triste a la vez que Dios los tengan en la gloria y sus almas estén en paz 🙏
@@blueshirtman8875 respect for those that offered their life for their country. Old times, old values. Nowadays, nobody understands that behavior. However, to be honest I would not offer my life for those who survive to all wars, politicians and rich people...
@@albinojuanbazzanella6142 “Old times, old values.”………………………...What values,feeling that invading other countries was a good thing? They were just cannon fodder, the men that sent them into hell were back in Berlin smoking a cigar and drinking schnapps cheering these young men on to their deaths.
My grandfather was born in 1895. He grew up on a farm, was drafted in 1915 and fought in the German Army during WW I. He died long before I was born. But still, it amazes me to think that only two generations separate me from the young men in this film.
Mein Großvater verl verlor zwei Brüder im Ersten Weltkrieg und einen im zweiten. hoffen wir das Putins angriff nicht zu weiterer Eskalation führt...
Yup, and that they grew up with people who were from the 1800s ... Crazy eh? Youre two generations off from them, and they grew up with generations who were born in the low to mid 1800s ... Time feels so short when you connect generations together...
@@ImJunCena My grandfather was born in 1880 he married my grandmother who was born in 1900. She gave birth to my father in 1928 him being the younger sibling. My grandmother passed away of breast cancer in 1932 my grandfather had 6 kids with her and never remarried. One of the kids died when she was 3 years old she had downs syndrome. My grandfather passed away in 1972. My uncles and aunt followed in 1976, 1978, 1985 and my aunt passed in 2008. My father is the remaining of the siblings still lives he is 95 and I am 58.
I had one great grandfather who fought for Austro-Hungarian Empire as well. Sadly he died somewhere on the Italian front.
@@AP-kk4ys 1880. Wow, imagine if somehow we could ever sit down with someone from 1880 and just ask them what it was like? ... My great grandparents likely were born around 1900 or 1910-ish ... But, after that, Ive never heard from my family about relatives beyond that ... Crazy eh? We "remember" up to our great grandparents, and everyone before them is basically lost. ...
It's amazing how when you see this in color, it humanizes everything, I see my friends and brothers in this video.
They look like nowadays people. Fascinating. What a tragic fate of them and of our Country - overcrowded by migrants!
I think it's not only the color, also the framerate and speed of a video makes everything feel more "human"
"I see my friends and brothers in this video" - well said my friend.
they look like muppets, so that's what I see.
@@gordonlekfors2708 these men went through hell. Most in this film probably never made it through the war. Perhaps have some respect?
The officer seen at 4:08 with the skull on his Pickelhaube is Oberleutnant Rudolf Friedrich Ritter von Voightländer. He was born in Brussels in 1884 and joined Braunschweigisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 92 as a Fähnrich in 1903, commissioning as a Leutnant the next year. When the Great War broke out about five months after this was filmed, he was assigned to Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 78 (the regiment depicted in the newest version of "All Quiet on the Western Front.") He survived the Great War as a Major, serving for a time on the General Staff (Generalstab der Obersten Heeresleitung.) Ritter von Voightländer married after the war and held various jobs in the civil service. In 1937, he joined the Luftwaffe, being promoted to Oberst in 1941. He was made a Generalmajor in 1945 and spent time in captivity after WWII, being relased in 1947. He died in Tutzing, Bayern in 1959.
i am so impressed by your knowledge, and if i may: how did you find this out??
@@lloydchen1697 Thanks very much! I'm glad what I do is appreciated! It's really just down to comparing individual distinct uniform variations for particular regiments with the faculty listing of Unteroffizierschule Wetzlar in 1914. I think it's very important that we know what happened to these people, rather than these stories just being lost to time.
Ooo nice
wow that is absoilutely incredible. thank you so much for sharing and telling his story.
How do you know?
The restored film just makes the sadness more real and immediate, even over a hundred years later.
It's heartbreaking - there were no winners in that terrible war
@@ehought There is no winners in ANY war.
This is truly mind-blowing. As a 1st gen German-American, I am truly thankful this beautifully restored film. I found myself trying to observe all of those men's faces as much as possible, to keep them all in my memory.
Me too!
Amazing, I see the faces of many young men about to die in a senseless war... in a way they are no longer forgotten...
Yes So true
". in a way they are no longer forgotten..."..................Forgotten in every way. Bring on the next decade and the next batch for dying.
@@blueshirtman8875 But you have seen them haven’t you?
@@dingus6317 Seen who ?
Yes, it makes you wonder how many of these brave men were maimed or never came home from this war. Sounds eerily familiar at present in 2023.
One thing that gets me is when someone looks directly into the camera. I'm sure that, at that time, it might just be a curious glance or a passing stare, but I'm sure some of them looked with the question of "who is gonna be watching this in the future?" or "where is this going to be played?". In that sense, they're looking directly at us, at each person here who watched this video.
Ghost faces
At that time, the camera was an innovation and an unusual item. Of course, the young guys were interested to look at this contraption.
@@user-te3vw1nz7p Религия как раз и есть одна из главных причин войн. Люди верят в иллюзию "загробной жизни" и именно поэтому рвутся в бой. Чтобы уничтожить войны раз и на всегда, сначала мы должны уничтожить религии.
Wow soo young on both sides
Absolutely mindblowing... I am a native german and i know the historical details of this war very well, but seeing this makes me goosebumps. You can see that old, shiny world and the disaster what was coming after that WW1
Hallo eingeborener Deutsch. Wie geht es dem Medizinmann aus deinem Stamm. Hat Deine Lehmhuette Gas oder Oelheizung?
Exactly what I thought in the moment I saw this clip. 😢
Finally a realistic comment.
War is always awefull. And nowdays old politics which hate life, want to star the war again
@@УшелнаТурники Putin !
When I watch these videos I remember my grandfather and knowing that he was among those people who fought for Germany in the First World War, years after that war ended, Germany entered a terrible crisis and my grandfather, as well as my grandmother , came to Brazil like thousands of other German immigrants and here they lived in peace and raised a family (I am very proud of my grandparents, they were people of character, honest, hardworking)
Que legal 🇧🇷🇧🇷
So young in this video ... Our great grandfathers ... And, just like that, you realize this was also over 100 years ago, and all of them are gone. Time flies.
None of these young man have any idea what was waiting for them in the future. It's sad to watch.
Honorable knights of Christ marching to the shadow of the valley of death willingly for their countrymen
Neither do we.
Hitler also fought in this war
@@dingus6317 how did you come to the conclusion that they were the knights of christ?
@@theidleguy9041 the Iron Cross, look it up.
"Older men declare war, but it is youth that must fight and die."
Herbert Hoover
"They were young men who loved life..but they died...too young to die for the crimes of Old men" Phillips Gibbs Realities of War Heinemann 1920
Every depiction of WWI has going to the trenches as being like a descent into hell. The soldiers were lied to and sent to experience mind-numbing horror.
@@thebigbanimationco.2985когда власть готовит бессмысленные войны, пушки должны бить по ним.
А. В. Вассерман.
Thank you so much for doing this. I find it deeply moving to see this footage restored in this way. I hope that this may help the modern generation to better connect with these men, for them to find some common ground with them. Maybe then they can finally receive their due as the brave men that they were. After all, they were just like us; not faded and dusty forms lost to the past in a dusty archive somewhere.
Good point. In monochrome they look like different people, from a different time, but colourized they look like us, like my neighbour.
braver men refused to fight..became conscientious objectors and went to prison
Whether they were brave or not they should never have been forced to fight in that specific war, on neither side.
Correct and sincere your comment.
Russian - prussian
That looks so beautiful.
Germany looks entirely different today
Big cities maybe (at least mostly), many German towns and smaller cities still look very much like that when it comes to architecture - or let's say it's a mix out of very old and new buildings. Some towns in Germany are 1000+ years old... 1914 is quite young in comparison. But then again every country today looks different compared to 1914...
In this video I saw one of the faces of the Soldiers and just from his face you could tell he was saying the words "Is this what I'm really gonna do." in his head over and over again. This video has brought tears to my eyes.
My grandfather was the youngest of 15 children, 7 of his older brothers died in that war. I slowly beginn to understand, that that trauma is sitting in my genes too. We have the letters they sent from all over the place, and it's heartwrenching to read what these kids (yes, they all were kids) had to go through. It truly was *the big war*. RIP all.
Very well said. What exactly aus specifically did those Brothers right what kind of experiences did they go through? Share.
7 brothers his poor parents and siblings,terrible waste.
@@seaside456 thank the j people who control our world today.
WWI was by far more mentally devastating than WW2. It destroyed the entire world order prior to 1914. Kingdoms, imperies, nations.
Trauma cannot be "sitting" in the genes. It is only "sitting" inside your neural network and only because you received information about the events.
Knowing what happened over the next four years makes this video heartbreaking.
Only the tiniest sliver of a fraction would live to see 1918. It's a column of ghosts and most had no idea.
@@Rostov_red_beard Yes, interesting how many still carry some sort of sword. They were not ready for the horror
I'd imagine many of these men would be dead by 1915
@@jackkennedy2615Yes and look at their helmets - perfect targets in the field. They were replaced soon after the war started.
Amazing video. I live in Wetzlar. Some of those buildings still stand today.
"Some of those buildings still stand today."....................Unlike Warsaw ?
@@blueshirtman8875 skill issue
@@swagkachu3784 You seem to have a problem with putting together a sentence?
@@blueshirtman8875 you seem to have a problem with reading
@@swagkachu3784 In what respect ?
None of them could have ever imagined there will be people watching them more than 100 years later, making them immortals.
What a line wonderful
Wow, danke für das tolle Video!
There needs to be a "They Shall Not Grow Old," for the German side. I think they deserve to be honored as well.
I don't think that film was taking any sides in the first place
@@antoniodelaugger9236 no, it doesn't. But it's serves to honor the soldiers nonetheless.
True bro
I agree.... I'm German American and it drives me nuts sometimes how little recognition these men get
@@DiRtYwHiTeBoii history is written by the victors.
Now that this footage has been restored and the details have been accentuated, the fuller story of those involved can really come to light.
The Offizier at 1:16 to 1:18 seen holding his sword at an angle has a Garde star on the front of his helmet and clearly has two pips on his shoulderboards denoting a Hauptmann. Because of this and the awards that he is wearing, I can conclude with near certainty that this man is Hauptmann Freiherr Raitz von Frentz. He died following his wounding in action on 28 April 1915 at a place called Przejma-Wielka on the Eastern Front whilst serving as a Major and III. Bataillon commander with Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 254. He was shot three times while leading a company of his men from the front in a counterattack against the Russians.
Long live his memory / Ruhe sanft in Gottes Frieden
Always interesting to see people named and their outcome. I always wonder this when you see the soldiers on film. Thanks for sharing.
Amazing detective work. Well done. Its good to put a story to the faces in the video.
Good to see he is not forgotten, your work in providing that information on this excellent work. Sad to know so many would die.
You are a true scholar sir.
@@stormblade8067 Thank you sir, I try! I've since identified a few more officers in the footage, I should post an update soon.
These old colourised clips are absolutely amazing. I get to see ww1 Germany. Blows my mind. Seeing them in colour makes them even more real. And looking at them, they could be anyone's kids, who don't yet know the horrors they are all about to face.
The interpolate frame rate, the cleaning up of the image is amazing as well as the false colour. These men were corporals (the lowest rank of NCO or non commissioned officer). I presume conscripts doing their annual military service.
Colorized and AI processed material while visually amazing can't be considered as a valid historic material. The processing introduces changes that may lead to misinterpretations.
It's just too much to take in, so much that I'm crying while watching this. My mind is constantly blown on how we can time travel back in time via RUclips, and then the realization clash of what we all know is about to happen. Plus all the people in this chapter of life, from baby to elderly, have all passed away. My tears are overflowing
Es muy triste, me causa mucha nostalgia, saludos de Peru
Incredible footage, thank you for sharing.
I cant help but notice how well dressed everybody was. My grandfather would put on his tie, vest, coat and hat just to answer the door for the paper boy.
Exactly my thoughts.. I did NOT expect such amazing clothes
Thank god we are past that, it must be really annoying.
The average working class person had one outfit, and it was a shirt and jacket. Having lots of clothes wasnt normal back then. You usually had one outfit per occasion. One outfit for work and one for church/funerals/weddings.
@@kooroshrostami27 yes but now we mostly dress like shit in my opinion, so was it a worthy sacrifice?
@@Roby_G I agree. Seeing all these kids with tattered jeans makes the look like a bum off the street, especially when the dye in their hair is badly fading... I think our grandparents knew what they were doing.
Als Deutscher bin ich unglaublich stolz und traurig zugleich. Danke für diese Aufnahmen.
Geht mir auch so - auch weil heute nicht mehr viel oder nichts mehr von der Kultur unserer Ahnen existent ist!
Der Lauf der Dinge. Das Deutschland von damals existiert jedenfalls nicht mehr. 2 Weltkriege, der kalte Krieg und 70 Jahre Demokratie verändern ALLES.
Diese Männer waren mutig und loyal zugleich, egal ob es richtig oder falsch war in diesen Krieg zu ziehen. Meine Urgroßväter haben diese Katastrophe Gott sei Dank überlebt. Heute würde kein Deutscher mehr sein Leben für dieses Land einsetzen. Im Gegenteil!
@@michaelott5222 Weil die Kultur dieser Ahnen sie hat alle zur Schlachtbank laufen lassen
@@TheBellerophon29 Und dennoch sprichst du noch die Sprache, die sie damals auch für dich verteidigt haben.
Absolutely insane to see this in color and come to life. As someone who grew up learning about history in books and grainy black and white photos, this is incredible. You feel so much more connected to the people in the footage...
Look at the way they all dress and carry themselves; Every person in this film walks with dignity and self-respect, and honor in their eyes.
Rest in peace my extended family who fought for the Fatherland in the great war.
Wilhelm Friedrich born December 11, 1880. Kill in action on the 26 of Aug. 1917
Friedrich born September 5, 1884. Kill in action on July 28 1918 in France.
Johann Gottfried born August 6, 1886. Went missing in action on the 30 of August 1914.
All three brothers never to return back home
-Love from your American cousin.
Ich freue mich das es noch Deutsche Amerikaner gibt, die stolz auf ihre Wurzeln sind! Ehre deinen Vorfahren, sie wahren gute Männer die ihre Heimat verteidigt haben. 🖤🤍❤️
@@deutschesherz2582 Ich wünschte, wir wären nicht in den Krieg gezogen, miteinander. Denn ich hatte nicht nur eine Familie, die für das Vaterland gekämpft hat. Es gab einige meiner Verwandten, die für Amerika gekämpft haben, aber sie alle sind sicher nach Hause zurückgekehrt. Ich habe immer noch das Gewehr, das meiner amerikanischen Verwandtschaft, das in den Großen Krieg getragen wurde. Wie gerne würde ich eines Tages dort hinfahren, wo meine deutsche Familie herkommt.
@@detroitandclevelandfan5503 Auch ich wünschte das diese Kriege nie geschehen wären. Falls du einmal nach Deutschland kommen solltest, würden dich hier mit offenen Armen empfangen❤️ Wir sind stolz auf unsere Deutsch-Amerikanischen Brüder.
Sad to hear, may they rest in peace
Indeed. 200 years ago - still german blood!!
Danke für die wunderbare Restaurierung .Sind wir Europäer nicht hirnlos gewesen ,unsere Jugend auf die Schlachtfelder zu schicken😢Wer das nicht wieder möchte, bitte Daumen hoch!Bleibt, oder werdet gesund❤❤
Bedauerlich, dass es heute immer noch so viele "Hirnlose" in Europa gibt ... man muss sich nur ansehen, was die Menschen in Italien ca. 80 Jahre nach Mussolini heute wieder wählen.
#NIEWIEDER
Und wie ist es heute?
@@Kaijinzo Leider ist es keinen Deut besser ,die Hirnlosigkeit ist nicht weniger geworden.Wahrscheinlich ist Europa nicht zu retten.Dir wünsche ich Glück im Leben.🙋♂️
Wow, Prussian/German soldiers are always sharp-looking and cool! Love from Malaysia!
Интересно, что с ним стало, и сколько мужчин пережило войну, а женщин и детей - тяжёлую Брюквенную зиму.
Потрясающее качество реставрации, как будто сам там стоишь.
My family is from Wetzlar. It´s mindblowing that there is a chance, even if a really little one, that in this crowd there was one of my forefathers and i looked into his eyes without even realizing it. Also how much and at the same time how little the city changed in all that time
WOW!!!!!!!! This is crazy. When I see the videos in color, like we see films today, I immediately feel incredibly closer to my ancestors. Thank you for this video and the experience it brought.
Incredible to see, almost 110 years after these moments in time were captured, to see them brought to life as though it were yesterday.
Crazy to think everyone in this footage including the kids have passed away by now.
Just imagine what people in 500 years will think when they are sifting through 500 years of footage and most of it with sound. Imagine seeing Iphone footage from the French Revolution or the Thirty Years War in he 17th century or the decapitation of Charles.
@@TheHesseJames yeah it’s quite amazing that in the future people will be able to see actual footage of events centuries and even millennia before their time in such clarity and detail. Whereas we find it amazing to see footage from just 100 years ago with fake colours and no sound!
I couldn't help smiling back to these young guys looking into the camera... a haunting footage from the other world
Our frame is dust, and our hope is in the eternal. Thanks for bringing that time back to us.
since 2006, I fell in love with history class so much. Thank you for doing this video. Just brings tears to my eyes because we don't talk about the wars no more. Thank you for doing what you do, don't stop please.
Great video, that's very clear. My grandfather was born in 1898, was drafted into the Kaiser's army and served on the Western Front. A couple of his brother's fought and lived through the war and emigrated to the U.S. with him. He was wounded and decorated; I have his Iron Cross. He talked about the war once with my father, who lived through World War II as a child. And no my dad was Never in the Hitler Youth; they lived on a farm and he had to work. I only heard some of my grandfather's story as I got sent up to bed. Hindsight being 20/20 I wish I had asked to stay and listen. Opa (Granddad) died when I was in my 20's. I used to call him 'my nineteenth century' Opa.
Absolutely amazing. Despite literally a lifetime of being a history buff and having seen thousands and thousands of reels of old footage, I am still stunned when I see these clips so well restored that give us a glimpse into a long-ago age that suddenly becomes alive again in all its splendor and reality. And all the more haunting that so many of those smiling soldiers and many of the civilians following them were just weeks or months away from violent death and injury. First-class work!
This is magnificent - such a precious historical document. Thank you for putting in the effort to upgrade it for our modern eyes. It's unbelievably moving.
Great restoration. Alot of these type of colorized films are extremely hard to watch. This is amazing,realy good job friend.
Amazing footage - thank you so much for upscaling and making it public to the world.
What me made think the most is, that this probably never ever had been seen by any of the protagonists, not in this quality anyway, and today, over 100 years later, we are able to watch it on a thing called internet, just a click or tap away, something not having been able to imagine back then in any way.
Stunning.
Thank You So Much!!!
This is just....AMAZING!!!!!
It's incredible how we can restore such old footage with such quality today. Simply incredible.
Yep. Couldn't really believe it at first.
Imagine seeing footage like this from Napoleonic wars. Jesus Christ it would be so wonderful. Such a pity camera wasn't invented slightly earlier. These people were as close to Napoleon as we are now to them. I love history.
u tell Jesus this ?
There are footage of french cuirassiers charge from 1890s exactly like what they would’ve done in the 1800s
There are real photographs of Napoleons soldiers, as old men, in uniform, posing for a photo when this technology had emerged.
In addition to the Colorization being professionally EXCELLENT, the quality of the film itself is AMAZING. It seems almost 4K.👍👍👍👍
1:19 the bag at the back from that solder in the left has a lot of detail
What a beautiful tribute, sad at the same time, the smile of the lad at 3.49 so genuine and happy, no idea what he was going into, I hope he made it home, R.I.P to all who fought in that awful war.
Wahnsinn!! Sieht echt beeindruckend aus.
Great job. Please do more of these if you can especially on the Great War as said in previous comments it brings these young and brave men to life and no matter who’s side they were on and fighting against they deserved to be remembered.
Well done video. Actually made me shed a tear. To think of all the young men dying for nothing. If only people would learn from history.
In total agreement. I came from germany 60 yrs ago as a young girl. New nothing about my history or world history. Yet, now am reading about wars throughout history. It saddens me to know we keep repeating the same over an over in the name of Greed, Power and Resources. Not only the 1914 War. Actually at that time it was the Astro Hungarian/Prussian Empire War fighting their Aristocratic cousins of the British Empire, the French and Russian Empire. Then it was the Aristocrats. After 1918 they were replaced by Oligarchs, Dictators and greedy Corporations. Young men, just like now the poor young Russian and Ukrainian men, loose their lives to a greedy Power. I just hope we don't destroy our world as we know it.
The ones who attacking are dying for nothing, yje onesd who defending their homes dying for something.
My great grandfather was drafted in 1917 he was 23 when he was killed one of the 100,000 Americans to die in the great war i just wish i knew more about him but i believe he had a wife at the time he was killed kind of sad to think about i hope i can just honor him by remembering
Global finance thanks them.
This is the best footage I have ever seen. Please continue your work.
My grandfather had a beloved uncle who died at WW1 at 23yo, his last remembers was when his uncle had a permission from the front, he was very changed and quiet with others until he went for a walk in the countryside with his nefews and niece, he had a moment of laugh and happyness. He went back to the trenches and died a few days after.
Einfach nur Genial, vielen Dank für die tollen Bilder. Espectacular 👍👍👍
That was freaking amazing and sad as well.
So many young men, many didn't make it past 1918, more than 100 years recorded.
Incredible improved footage. Whoever worked on this did an amazing job, well done. Brings goosebumps to think this was over one hundred years ago. You should do a video on how this is done, what methods, hardware and software are used.
He didn't do an amazing job, as the color of the tunics is completely wrong. If you colorize an old film, first get yourself well documented. And for the german army of these times, it's very easy !
@@laurentdevaux5617 easy ?.why dont u do it then ?..pffttt
Fantastic...I absolutely love and appreciate all the hard work that's brought this film to life! Just like our boys, what a tragic loss of life! 😢 Thank you
Wow.. I have no idea how you could bring so much more life, and realism in this footage! This is in fact like a time machine!
Кадры прошлого вынуждают думать об ужасе конца жизни каждого отдельного человека
The detail is astonishing. Thank you
It was such a magnificent country. I wish we could get *that* Germany back - proud, polished, civilized... one of the best countries in Europe.
I don`t want that back! An autocratic state, poor labour class, no freedom at all, over militarized, extremely nationalistic, xenophobic, no thank you! Our modern germany is one of the greatest countries on this planet! And I`m proud what we have become.
All because an Austrian duke was murdered, which should have been a matter for the police not the army.
A boring bland, country with no sense of identity just like every other country in the west. German Identity is dead, having a wide open border is not an identity and having millions of people from other countries turns Germany into someone else's land. It's a damn shame. @@Tosse901
@@Tosse901You are trolling, right?
@@Tosse901 It wasn't an autocratic state nor over militarized, nationalistic and least of all xenophobic. Your statement shows that you do not know much about this era. People back then were better educated and much more decent than people nowadays. They would never have tolerated the disgusting state of the present.
you bring life for those young people in 5min..may their souls rest in peace .
Nice greets from Wetzlar! Great work its amazing to see the trainstation from past
Very eerie video! It is like looking thru a window and catching a CLEAR glimpse of the past ... as if you were there at that time and place.
Seeing them wave goodbye on the train reminds me of when the titanic passenger did... wondering if their loved ones realize that is the last time many of them would be seen again 😔
Also speaks to the significance of being recorded, enabling people from a century later (and hopefully many more) to see what they looked like, how they smiled, etc.
SUPERB, such a simple looking sequence of events gave me goosebumps. So well done looks like it was yesterday. What an amazing world we live in that we can see footage over 100 years old look dang near fresh.
Beginning of the End of Western Civilization, as those who orchestrated the war intended. Brothers killing brothers with vast expenditure of treasure.
Als Deutscher - freue ich mich über diese wertschätzenden Bilder. Möge Frieden uns die Lehre sein. Krieg und Geldgier - sind die Ursache des Leidens.
Neid auf wirtschaftlichen Erfolg - und dann einen Krieg beginnen.
Das ist echt übel.
Big THX for uploading❗️
It's surprising that the footage from over 100 years ago has remained so beautifully. It's a very important historical document. But it's really sad that so many young people face the battlefield and get in trouble. I pray that such a tragic history will not be repeated. from Japan.
I am so grateful to see footage like this. My grandfather was a wwone veteran . The way u goabout this looks like it was filmed yesterday. Thank God for technology.. it is very historical seeing footage like this. Thanks for sharing respectfully David Blackburn.
are you from the blackburn rovers?
Wow! This is excellent, well done!
Thanks for this Video !
My Hometown ☺ Thanks for the upload 👍
Ehrenhafte Männer. Wir ALLE können und sollten Stolz auf Sie sein!😊
Stolz worauf, dass sie sich wie Lämmer zur Schlachtbank haben führen lassen? Und was soll ehrenhaft daran sein, sich in einem Krieg verheizen zu lassen? Ich bin stolz auf die, die nicht mitgemacht haben und damit die Menschlichkeit hochgehalten haben. Dieser Krieg war, wie die meisten Kriege, einer der Obrigkeit gegen eine andere. Austragen musste es das Volk, da kann ich weder Stolz noch Ehre erkennen.
Je suis très touché , ému de voir tous ces visages 😢 partir à la mort .
Honte aux politiques.
this brought tears to my eyes.
My gt grandfathers fought on the other side, in the British army. I’m far from a pacifist, but the train scenes really got me.
So much young Blood was lost for Europe; Brothers fought against Brothers.
@@Ritterhall Yes British & Germans should never fight each other, we are cousins
If all the people was pacifists, there will be no wars. Why we are not becoming pacifists? Why are you not becoming pacifist? How many more lives we must waste to consider?
We’re brothers, both share Germanic blood.. this war should of never happened
amazing. with the quality upgraded i felt like i was seeing a film of the present. so real, a a similar way of seeing life as it was
A true time machine. Thank you for your channel. 👍🏻
I hate the wars...RIP To all the victims of the First World War, greetings from Algeria 🇩🇿💔
"I was in a small German garrison town in 1914 and I remember very well the tremendous enthusiasm. Of course, we schoolboys were all indoctrinated with great patriotism when war broke out. My father was an active infantry officer and I shall never forget the day when they marched out to the trains. All the soldiers were decorated with flowers, there was no gun which didn’t show a flower - even the horses I think were decorated. And of course all the people followed them. There were bands playing, flags flying, and a terrific sort of overwhelming conviction that of course Germany now would go into war and win it very quickly." - Heinrich Beutow
Die Kameraden fehlen uns heute so sehr! We miss the comrades so much today!
wat? auch ohne Krieg wären die schon Jahrzehnte tot.
vermisst du auch Cäsar und Jules Verne?
....und erst einmal die Jungs aus den Bauernkriegen. Die gehen mir richtig ab. Dann waere da noch der Ritter Kunibert, den habe ich auch lange nicht mehr gesehen.
@@biglebowski5737😂 Ich weiß noch wie ich mit Karl dem Großen saufen war… was macht der eigentlich heute so?
This song is so good! I'm watching or listening for the 10th time now!
I live in Wetzlar, fascinating to see these pictures. The town sign at the train station still looks the same today.
Hola, las torres en 2:45, eran de una fabrica?, están todavía allí?. Son lo mas emotivo del video para mi. Gracias
@@steffenh.3250 Ok.Thank you very much!.
As a career military officer, seeing this video is very striking and quite saddening. Young men preparing for the worst though some may have been caught up believing it to be chivalrous to go to war. It is heart breaking knowing that so many will die and suffer the slaughter and cruelty of trench warfare. The profession of arms is there to act as a deterrent to war; bad politics puts it into action.
The common mindset was completely different back then. War and peace were compared to changing tides, the changing seasons, day and night, sun and rain.
Every generation would have its war. It was the "school of the nations", the experience that "turned boys to men". That's why many of those misguided big boys looked so happy and satisfied.
Impressive how orderly and well maintained everything looked in Germany at than time. Well dressed civilians and smart looking soldiers, none of whom had any idea what lay before them in the next four years.
Thank you for this. Very interesting!
The quality of picture ist just astounding
This video brought me goosebumps and tears in my eyes
Gott segne sie!
Möge Deutschland wieder souverän sein!
Gott mit uns!
This gives me an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. I wasn't born, but I miss it.
This is incredible. Wonderful job at colorization and presentation. It’s haunting to watch those young men pass by looking into the camera with me having the knowledge that most of them would be dead soon.
😢Какие красивые лица..и какие качественные люди! 🇩🇪❤🇺🇦
DE and UA again??Like during WWII when Ukranian SS together with Germans killed jews and Russians,
Cuando Alemania era un país libre e independiente de los intereses de la angloesfera. ❤
Dankeschön ❤
Slava ukraina!
Danke aus Deutschland
❤🇺🇦❤🇩🇪❤
Great job. Fascinating and oppressive at the same time. Feels like you are standing in the crowd and they look right in your face and you're the only one who knows what will happen to them.
Amazing and frightengly realistic. So many lifelines of the killed soldiers have been cut and have vanished into the past. Sad part of history.
Peacful times create also sorrow, and over time are as least as destructive.
Beautiful job on the film. I hope very soon this process can be done to all historical films.
Something about colour being added makes it so breathtaking it’s hard to explain it makes it so real
That music really hits the spot.
Thanks.
Me siento orgulloso por estos jovenes militares que lucharon por su pais 😢 y triste a la vez que Dios los tengan en la gloria y sus almas estén en paz 🙏
Poor men!! All my respect to them.😢😢
Respect for what, killing and dying?
@@blueshirtman8875 respect for those that offered their life for their country. Old times, old values. Nowadays, nobody understands that behavior. However, to be honest I would not offer my life for those who survive to all wars, politicians and rich people...
@@albinojuanbazzanella6142 “respect for those that offered their life for their country.”…………...For what reason, was Germany being invaded?
@@albinojuanbazzanella6142 “Old times, old values.”………………………...What values,feeling that invading other countries was a good thing? They were just cannon fodder, the men that sent them into hell were back in Berlin smoking a cigar and drinking schnapps cheering these young men on to their deaths.
@@albinojuanbazzanella6142
“Nowadays, nobody understands that behavior.”………………….Ukraine?