General Vladimir Vazov was a great general, a great person and a gentlemen above all. He invited a lot of English veterans from WWI to the Military club in Pleven in 1935-1936. They developed mutual respect and friendship. Would be great if you make a video for the "Who did what?" series. Here is also a quote from a French Sergeant about Bulgarian soldiers: "Тhey were Bulgarians - bearded, scary, balck ragamuffins. I saw them with my eyes, through from afar, covered in hair, hellish eyes. Just stepped into their trenches and like from underground jumped monsters, cried out savage shouts and like rabid wolves rushed rushed straight towards us - with knives, bombs and yataghans. We were pushed back and those bogles, shouting like hellish creatures, started chasing us, shooting, throwing bombs, slaughtering whoever they catch. I fought in other battles, at Somme and at Verdun, but such a great and such furious people have not seen. God, God, France, where did you send us?" - In the diary of Sergeant Olivier Gers from French 54th Infantry Regiment.
The Bulgarians fought hard and did rather well for themselves, which is a damn shame because they're rarely talked about at all when discussing the Great War.
Real case - In one of the battles during the campaign, 34 Senegalese soldiers from the 2nd French division were captured. The Bulgarian soldiers fed them, and the Senegalese thanked with "Merci". Because this word is used by the Bulgarians too, and many at the moment did not realise that the word has French origin, the Bulgarian soldiers were amazed how for such a short time the Senegalese learned to speak Bulgarian. When the Bulgarians ordered the captives to stay aline in order to be carried away and locked, the Senegalese fell on their knees and begged for their lives to be spared. The Bulgarian officers, who were clueless of what's goin on, the ones who spoke French began interrogation. The captured Senegalese soldiers said that before to be sent to the front, the French high command told them that they will be fighting versus Bulgarians, ""who are cannibals and prefer the meat of dark-skinned people"", that's why they should not fall in captivity in no case. They were assured that this is not true and the Senegalese calmed down. The Bulgarians released three of them afterwards, so they can go back to their command and tell them that the Bulgarian soldiers are not cannibals. Funny, this seems to be main thing the French commandment tried to convince their troops - that they wiill be eaten if captured, as Sergeant Gers Olivier (Olivier Gers) noted in his diary during his participation in the Doiran campaign. The assaults around Doiran in 1918 were the true horror. Then and there 60 000 Anglo-French soldiers left their bones, while Vazov alone gave ~500 (five hundred) lives. My great-grandfather was on Doiran and long time after the war he used to call general Vazov "the Mincer". The man was simply brilliant strategist.
Bulgarians are among the best, if not the best fighters in world.If you can look at the Russo-Turkish War, where they participated Bulgarians in particular see the battle of Shipka :)
The most expansive and thorough compendium of knowledge on an armed conflict I've ever seen in my life. I've never encountered anything similar to this in any other medium. Not a book, however big, no documentary, however long. This is one of the important aspects people over-look when they think about RUclips, and the internet in general, it has limitless potential for education and enrichment.
Agree. It's an extraordinary project. I know Indy has been asked before about a WWII series, but don't know if it's been answered. I will watch that too.
+originalhgc The answer was "Probably not, not unless I get significant help. We're more interested in doing Korea next as that war is also largely overlooked."
Well at the very start of the war they were the only Central Power that had fought in a modern war and won. Most of the Bulgarian generals and commanders learned strategies during the independence war so they would’ve been more adaptive than the rest of the world’s commanders.
General Vladimir Vazov is a great man for us Bulgarians, one of the major boulevards in Sofia is named after him, after the war he became mayor of the city. He is brother of Ivan Vazov ("the Patriarch of Bulgarian literature") and General Georgi Vazov (who led the Siege of Adrianople (1912-13) during the Balkan war). It's a legendary family.
Occasionally, while reading a history book, I suddenly start reading the text in Indy's voice... it is making my early modern european history class a lot more amusing
Razamataz Productions I always feel a deep sorrow for the Germans. In the both world wars they just came too close to victory, they fought their ass off. But while everything was going fine. Their allies and America were like; nah bra you aren't having a ww victory.
In Doiran Bulgarian troops were left not only without food and often without ammo, but also without shoes or winter equipment while facing an enemy many times bigger on numbers and better equipped than Bulgarian troops. From then in Bulgaria there is a saying "five men on a knife" because the allies were five times more. Later after the war general Vazov visites London and one of the British generals says: "Take down the flags, general Vazov is passing". I'm saying this as a fun fact. (sorry for bad English).
Among the most notable moments of Vladimir Vazov’s life was his visit to England in 1936. The British legion celebrated the British victory in World War I. The British veterans invited one of their worthiest opponents on the battlefield. He was personally greeted by Lord Milne, who shook his hand with the words "It is a pleasure to meet the Bulgarian delegation, as even though we were enemies, you - like us - fought not only like brave men, but also like gentlemen." The British paid great honour to General Vazov as they lowered their national flags in his name. The chairman of the British legion Major Goldy said in his speech: “He is one of the few foreign officers whose name features in our history”.
By accident, I found your channel. Absolutely great! I had two Great Uncles in WW1, both born in what today is the Ukraine, but in those days, Austrian Empire. One immigrated to and then fought for Canada, winning the Distinguished Conduct Medal at Ypres. The other fought under the Austrian Empire in Italy. The fact that you cover so much of the "rest of the war" that most others gloss over, such as the Austrian/Italian front is wonderful. He was in the battle you highlighted here. The conditions for the regular Austrian troops was appalling. He didn't have proper boots or clothes, and had to share a rifle. An Austrian officer was killed near him, and to save his feet, he took the officer's boots. A few days later, another officer noticed his boots, accused him of theft, and sent him to the rear to the stockades, where he spent the rest of the war, probably saving his life. After the war, he too went to Canada, but his wife and son stayed behind. They died under Stalin and his Ukraine policy.
Thank you, and thank you again for one of the best series about WW1. Your format is outstanding... the idea to follow the war, week by week, day by day, as if it was happening right now is an incredible idea. (PS: My Grandfather immigrated to Canada first, and was not in the war. He brought his brothers across, one belatedly after the war. He saw the rise of the Communists in Russia and foresaw what was going to happen. That's how I got to be me. :) Sadly, other then his two brothers, the rest of the family - my Great grandparents, 3 aunts and 2 uncles, plus my great-Uncles family died in the Ukraine Holocaust) My Uncle who won the DCM, though he had it framed and on the wall, was disgusted he won the medal. He placed it on the wall, because the King had called his name to receive it, and he was proud to have earned his citizenship. But any comment on the medal, he would in anger and disgust, retort: "There were far, far more braver men then me that day. I did nothing compared to them and they are not remembered by anyone but me" He was in the 2nd Battle of Ypres, during the gas attack on the Algerians. He was among the Canadians that marched into the gas to fill the gap. He remembers urinating on a cloth and holding it to his face, manning a machine gun with his loader. In the mist, he saw man-shapes moving toward him, and he fired his gun as hard as he could towards the shapes until he lost consciousness, waking in a hospital (where he met is wife) in England, blind (temporarily), with only 1 lung. His citation recounts how he and his loader (who died there) held off a huge segment of the front that, other then them, was undefended.
You know...when I first started watching this series over a year ago I thought I couldn't wait for the US to enter the war. Now, after Romania, the first 6 months in France, the abuse in Solanika, and the myriad of horrors this war produced, I'm kind of wishing we had just stay out of the whole thing. This show has made a huge impact on my view of World War I, and war in general. Great job Indy and crew, carry on the good work.
@@TheGreatWar The US staying out of the war would have made an Entente victory unlikely (I won't say impossible, but less likely), and a Central Powers victory possible, though.
Once I read somewhere, that around 20000 Soldiers died in WW1 due to avalanches, caused by artillery fire. Have you heard of that and if so, do you know if avalanches were sometimes caused deliberatly for defensive or offensive operations?
Fidelis Kurzschenkel I think they said something about the conditions both sides had to deal with in the Alps a couple of weeks ago, no more than a month.
Mainly in the Alps in the fights between Italians and the Austro-Hungarian forces. Yes, the avalanches were sometime deliberately initiated, for offensive (kill the enemy or make trouble on his part) or defensive (if I am denying the avalanche to the enemy - I am creating it in a somehow controlled way, he can't use it against me).
In Mark Thompson's " The White War ", about the Italian Front, it is stated that 10,000 soldiers died in avalanches on one day in December 1916. It was known as the white death.
Speaking of the White Death, you should check out the comic "White Death". Story about the fight in Alps and creating avalanche in world war one. Well by creating avalanche I mean they using nature against the enemy.
If American citizens were present on British ships that were sunk by German subs, that was not a declaration of war by Germany on the USA. It was a convinient excuse for the USA to join the war on the side of the Entente. Not beeing judgmental, just saying. Good show, cheers.
Thank you so much for these! They have such great production value and have so much interesting information, not to mention the freat delivery. Thanks again! :)
I'm portuguese and i heard a story in the news about a portuguese solider that fougth the germans alone covering the retreat of his friends.Thanks for reading and keep up the good work.
great show! Not to be critical though, but these types of fortifications in Bulgaria you describe would have made an even better field trip then Verdun. so little is covered in historical accounts about the Eastern front in World War One, and places like Verdun and other Western Front battlefields have the look of well-manicured tourist traps. not that I have ever been there, but all the images that I've look up in books and on the internet seemed to give this impression. How was it for you guys at Verdun?
Luis Murrell visiting the Doiran defences would be much more difficult since today they are right on the border between Greece and the FYR of Macedonia and filming is forbidden. one Bulgarian historian was twice detained for trying to take pictures there.
+Luis Murrell Who said we are not open to film in the Balkans too? But yeah it's difficult. And you can get ww1 Disney Land experiences in Verdun. But there is more than enough stuff to see that's not like that.
I think he meant in terms of it being difficult rather than you not willing. Macedonia (and Greece, for that matter) have an atrocious attitude on the matter. The old front lines are not only forbidden in places but Bulgarian war memorials, including war cemeteries, were/are destroyed. If you attempt to film, at best you'll be impolitely asked to leave. It a political thing...
Really enjoy this channel. I think this is precisely what RUclips can be so good at. Each video is fairly short, but the sheer amount of content you guys produce is crazy! I learn at least a couple facts or figures each episode. Thanks a bunch for being so in depth. I am going to throw 5 your way on Patreon. Keep up the fantastic work
I'm currently in a class that requires you to give numerous speeches. I've been watching a lot of these videos and I can honestly say that Indy's speaking voice is starting to carry over into my own. Love the videos, and I appreciate the subconcious speech lessons I get from watching them lol
+The Great War And there are not much in the Greek side, except many military graveyards on battle sites. Most WW1 forts were rebuild during WW2 and most war-related buildings in Salonica were demolished for civilian re-building...
If you tell them you are intrested in ''Macedonian history'' they will probably allow you to film.Just dont mention Bulgaria or Greece infront of them.
Hey Indy and team, great work you're doing here! I would like to know more about the behind the lines bulgarian farming communities. I didn't know something like this existed. Could you maybe provide me with more sources, or better yet make a short out of the trenches episode? Keep up the superb work! Cheers from Slovakia.
Well, it was just gardens and livestock maintained by the soldiers. Moreover most of the population in Macedonia at that time considered themselves Bulgarians so the army could rely on their help as well not only for food supply but also digging trenches and knowledge of the local terrain.
🎵For white, green and red For the nation they’re fighting for The British are done Three times the defence of Doiran has been won Their attack is coming, fight them back Bulgarians holding the line Facing wave after wave, will never surrender Again, again, again, again They attack, Bulgaria held them back Unleash their counter barrage Let it rain artillery pounding the trenches No surrender, fight them till the end🎵 “The Valley Of Death” by Sabaton
It now seems incredible that , having seen the scale of the casualties in the first year of the war, both Bulgaria and Italy decided to enter the war in 1915, for purely territorial goals.
Paul Well, at least from a Bulgarian perspective, our entry was not so much about the territory then the ideology. Story starts briefly before Bulgaria is liberated from Ottoman rule, sultan Abdul Azis issued a document that divided the Ottoman empire in regions based on the ethnicities in said regions (I'm sorry for not being more specific but its very late here and im too tired to search for them; if you want to learn more about the year or name of specific document im sure you could find it in google). Point is Bulgarians take up a vast region in the Central Balkans. When the Russians liberate us following the 1877-78 war, according to the treaty of San Stefano, Bulgaria gets all this land (speaking in modern terms it is modern-day Bulgaria+Macedonia+some parts of Serbia and Greece). Unfortunately, the Great powers do not like such a large, possibly Russophilic country disrupting the established status quo on the Balkans and separate the country into 3 parts in the 1878 Berlin Congress (2 of them unite very early on in 1885, forming modern Bulgaria, and the final part that remained was Macedonia). From this point, the primary focus of Bulgaria's foreign policy is REUNIFICATION - that is the goal of EVERY war it participates in since its reestablishment as a country (not just ww1) . So long story short, in the hearts and minds of early 20th century Bulgarians entering the Great War was not about territorial expansion or otherwise making Bulgaria more noticeable on the map, it was about correcting injustice and liberating all Bulgarians remaining under foreign yoke.
Thanks for your detailed reply. I assumed it was a desire to unite all Bulgarian - speaking people. Like the Italians entering the war to gain Trentino and Trieste and so regularize its borders. You mention Russia, was it unusual that Bulgaria was on the opposite side to its former protector. Did Russians and Bulgarians fight each other ?
Russian liberated us from their own interest. While Greece had their revolution in 1821 and the Serbs in around 1804-1817 Bulgaria was still neglected from the Great Powers till 1876 when we had our own April Uprising after that Russia helped us because they knew they would gain control here on the Balkans and also permission to use the Black Sea.
@@paulx7540 they did fight in Dobrudja, there is a great war video about it I think. Russia lost in fact. For BG WWI was a continuation of the Balkan wars where Russia promised lands to BG and then supported other claims to it. It was an epic fail of Russian policy - while Ferdinand has the lion share of the blame for the national catastrophe of the Second Balkan war, the whole Russian-organized Balkan alliance of the first war was a disaster for Bulgaria. Bulgaria fought hard against the Ottomans only so that Serbia and Greece could get the territories promised to it by Russia. This led to the second war as Ferdinand wanted to prevent his former allies from capturing the territories he was promised. Thus in 1915 German promises looked significantly more credible to the Bulgarian government and especially the ruler Ferdinand who was German himself.
Let's be honest here. If there is a global war going on, at land, at sea and in the air, with a deathtoll in the millions, and you know that germany has engaged in unrestricted warfare: the last thing you would do is getting on a ship (a british ship at that), that's travelling to Europe!! One could almost say these American travellers asked for it...
It's really too bad that you didn't have that kind of map at the beginning. I really appreciate the clarity it gives in showing who controls which areas during the conflict. Maybe later you can re-edit the old episodes so they use it.
In his diary General Vladimir Vazov talks about the importans of victory in Doiran. He writes that even we lost the war, english paid respect to Bulgaria an stoped our neighbors to rampage in bulgarian teritory.
Have you guys thought about doing a video on the best innovations and inventions of the war? For example; Tanks and gas masks and for innovations; the creeping barrage tactic. It would be interesting to see what information you could find 👍🏻
This channel is absolutely amazing. The only comparible production in terms of detail is Dan Carlins "Blueprint for Armageddon"-series of podcasts on WW1. I would love if you came up this something similar for the spanish- or russian civil war or even WW2.
Hey guys i love the show, my feedback - my favorite 'great war special' (non weekly episodes) are the "WHO DID WHAT IN WW1" series. Do you guys have any plans to do any soviet figures such as Stalin/Lenin/Trotsky?
The first plane used for inteligence, the first plane used for bombarding and the first female pilot ever were bulgarian. I think you will love such an episode :)
Hey Indy! I've always wondered what the painting is behind your head each episode. It looks like a German soldier against a red background? Thanks for this series! I look forward to it each week! Thank you all for saving this for history!
Nice episode! I have a question for OOTT: I heard about telegrams to Mexico sent by Germany. Were these detected by Great Brittain after they cut there transatlantic cable. Greetings from Mainz!
Wait, the subtitles at 9:02 - 9:04 note that at February 3rd the first contigent with 50000 of the Portuguese Expeditionary Force arrive in France ready for the trenches, but Indy never actually says that in the video. What's up with that? XD
The Great War I remember that episode. It's weird though, because the portuguese literature mentions February 2nd as the arrival date at Brest of the first portuguese brigade.
The Great War Ah, thanks for the clarification. I knew they had arrived, but I thought that line was to show that just now they were being sent to the fronts or something.
Hi Indy. Great show and great work. Keep it up. My name is Moatamer Amin from Egypt. I have couple of questions. First, how much in financial cost did World War One cost in USD today? Did it take the full GDP of fighting nations? And second, can you make episode about Egypt in WWI, especially that Cairo was the head quarter of British in the Middle East in this war..
Something interesting for Out Of The Ether. The christmas truce was not the only major event where hostilities ceased during the war. This frequently happened at Gallipoli between the Anzacs and Ottomans. Different luxuries were traded like Tobacco and food. There were also multiple Anzacs and Ottomans who would frequent each others trenches to broker cease fires to collect wounded, dead and trade. As the retreat was enacted neither side saw each other as a strict enemy, rather as a foe they were ordered to fight.
Hello Indy and Great war Crew thank you for the series , every chapter is very enjoyable and it is easy to forget that it was horrible to say the least for the soldiers I have two questions for Out of the trenches please , who was Lucien Bersot ? And were cases similar to his In other militaries ?
Hello Indy and team. I have a question for out of the trenches as someone who is of Lebanese descent I can remember my grandfather claiming to be older in reality than he was on paper because of the lack of paperwork documenting his birth due to the confusion caused when the Ottoman Empire was dissolved are there other examples of this that you can think of, and can you tell me what role Lebanon played during the Great War? love the show please keep up the great work!
I have a question for Out Of The Trenches: Is it true that the french built a fake replica of Paris near their real capital in order to confuse the Germans? Great show, kudos.
Another great thing about this week-for-week format is the sense of the time scale you get, something you don't really get from reading books about the war, even if they were thousands of pages. It's been 2,5 years, such a long time already, and it's going to go on and on, and every week many men died, every week Europe went on destroying itself. And not to get too political here, but if you imagine that after all of WW1 you get the arguably worse WW2, those institutions and organisations for European cooperation that a growing number of people nowadays want to have removed start to make a lot more sense.
I see a picture of an armoured car inserted there, where talking about the attack on the Senussi. You have done a special on tanks, but I don't think you've talked at much length about armoured car. Did they ever exist in considerable numbers and, if so, what was their role?
Hi! is there a special show about armored cars? There were a lot in the war who's exploits have not been covered in the normal series, Austria even had vehicles from 1904 i think, there were also combined projects in Russia. I know that they were moved to the back after trenches developed on the western front and after 1915 mostly disbanded, but how many other theaters were they used in, which ones performed well, etc. "Rolls being more valuable than rubies" or something from Lawrence? Thanks!
Hello, I have two questions. First, how long did it take a Uboat to sail from Germany to Ireland. And second, politicaly, what is the difference between the English blockade to Germany and the German unrestricted submarine warfare. I mean, what would have an English boat done if a neutral nation boat had attemp to ship supplies or food to Germany?
You guys should do like half a dozen episodes where you just visit forts and look at defensive engineering... it sort of turns me on- in a military sense.
hey indy and fellow creators. I've been playing battlefield 1 which got me thinking, were there any battles involving armoured trains like in the game? hope you guys can get back to me thanks!!
![The Valley of Death - The Battles of Doiran - Sabaton History 115 [Official]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ywzx6c80UdY/mqdefault.jpg)
General Vladimir Vazov was a great general, a great person and a gentlemen above all. He invited a lot of English veterans from WWI to the Military club in Pleven in 1935-1936. They developed mutual respect and friendship. Would be great if you make a video for the "Who did what?" series.
Here is also a quote from a French Sergeant about Bulgarian soldiers:
"Тhey were Bulgarians - bearded, scary, balck ragamuffins. I saw them with my eyes, through from afar, covered in hair, hellish eyes. Just stepped into their trenches and like from underground jumped monsters, cried out savage shouts and like rabid wolves rushed rushed straight towards us - with knives, bombs and yataghans. We were pushed back and those bogles, shouting like hellish creatures, started chasing us, shooting, throwing bombs, slaughtering whoever they catch. I fought in other battles, at Somme and at Verdun, but such a great and such furious people have not seen. God, God, France, where did you send us?" - In the diary of Sergeant Olivier Gers from French 54th Infantry Regiment.
+Kristian K. We will have a bio on Kolev actually
Can't wait!
A special on Gen. Kolev?! Fantastic news, thanks guys!!
The Great War That's great news!
Kristian K. Beardy? I think ur talking bout Turks m8 Bulgaria is too irrelevant (Not as much as Polen)
I was not ready for a standing Indy. I am scared and confused.
+abc def
My pure heart couldnt take that
He wont cartwheel when German backed Mexicans capture Texas
It's not next time, but we're getting close.
The rumours are true. He has legs.
I lucky we might get him starting with singing and dancing.
The Bulgarians fought hard and did rather well for themselves, which is a damn shame because they're rarely talked about at all when discussing the Great War.
Russian propaganda and Russian oligarchy control in Bulgaria won't want you to know about it.
@@SolidSharkOFFICIAL Yeah, that's ridiculous. This is why I despise the Russian oligarchy.
@@SolidSharkOFFICIAL Russia doesn't control us. After all we put sanctions on them, also we are in their enemy list.
@@SolidSharkOFFICIALти си изключително прост, моето момче
Also the serbian case is the same sadly
Real case - In one of the battles during the campaign, 34 Senegalese soldiers from the 2nd French division were captured. The Bulgarian soldiers fed them, and the Senegalese thanked with "Merci". Because this word is used by the Bulgarians too, and many at the moment did not realise that the word has French origin, the Bulgarian soldiers were amazed how for such a short time the Senegalese learned to speak Bulgarian. When the Bulgarians ordered the captives to stay aline in order to be carried away and locked, the Senegalese fell on their knees and begged for their lives to be spared. The Bulgarian officers, who were clueless of what's goin on, the ones who spoke French began interrogation. The captured Senegalese soldiers said that before to be sent to the front, the French high command told them that they will be fighting versus Bulgarians, ""who are cannibals and prefer the meat of dark-skinned people"", that's why they should not fall in captivity in no case. They were assured that this is not true and the Senegalese calmed down. The Bulgarians released three of them afterwards, so they can go back to their command and tell them that the Bulgarian soldiers are not cannibals.
Funny, this seems to be main thing the French commandment tried to convince their troops - that they wiill be eaten if captured, as Sergeant Gers Olivier (Olivier Gers) noted in his diary during his participation in the Doiran campaign.
The assaults around Doiran in 1918 were the true horror. Then and there 60 000 Anglo-French soldiers left their bones, while Vazov alone gave ~500 (five hundred) lives. My great-grandfather was on Doiran and long time after the war he used to call general Vazov "the Mincer". The man was simply brilliant strategist.
Bulgarians were tough troops, both in defense and offense.
joey8062 all soldiers who fought in the first world war were tough right?
Bulgarians are among the best, if not the best fighters in world.If you can look at the Russo-Turkish War, where they participated Bulgarians in particular see the battle of Shipka :)
joey8062 Well they lost the second Balkan war of 1913.
To be fair they fought almost all of their neighbours.
Well, you can't win all wars, can you? Even the US didn't win in the Vietnam war.
+Tommaso Rucci The soldiers, yes. The generals, not so much...
Indy,..The Great War series is one of the best channels in the history of You Tube in my opinion ! 😀
1funkyangel They are better then any WW1 show I have seen and better then anything on History Channel.
Check out the Great War documentary series made by BBC in the sixties. It's very well done.
The most expansive and thorough compendium of knowledge on an armed conflict I've ever seen in my life. I've never encountered anything similar to this in any other medium. Not a book, however big, no documentary, however long. This is one of the important aspects people over-look when they think about RUclips, and the internet in general, it has limitless potential for education and enrichment.
Agree. It's an extraordinary project. I know Indy has been asked before about a WWII series, but don't know if it's been answered. I will watch that too.
+originalhgc The answer was "Probably not, not unless I get significant help. We're more interested in doing Korea next as that war is also largely overlooked."
Bulgaria Strong Country
The Bulgarians were stronger than expected, im sure the british thought it will be an easy victory, they were completely wrong. I Love Bulgaria!
indeed, indeed. Where are you from brother?
That was because Bulgaria was called “The Prussia of the Balkans”
You still lost the war
@@kendomyers Not in battlefield mate
Well at the very start of the war they were the only Central Power that had fought in a modern war and won. Most of the Bulgarian generals and commanders learned strategies during the independence war so they would’ve been more adaptive than the rest of the world’s commanders.
General Vladimir Vazov is a great man for us Bulgarians, one of the major boulevards in Sofia is named after him, after the war he became mayor of the city. He is brother of Ivan Vazov ("the Patriarch of Bulgarian literature") and General Georgi Vazov (who led the Siege of Adrianople (1912-13) during the Balkan war). It's a legendary family.
Occasionally, while reading a history book, I suddenly start reading the text in Indy's voice... it is making my early modern european history class a lot more amusing
Are you the real Adam Smith?
Yes. Are you the real Darius Niederer?
And do you do a left hook when something important happens while reading?
Only when the right jab is not enough.
I read your comment in his voice
Come on triple alliance! I still believe in you!
Razamataz Productions Spoiler Alert: They lose
Razamataz Productions They are four: Germany, Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary and BULGARIA.
Vaginavigator69 Dawaj Ahhh fuck u ruined it
Razamataz Productions I always feel a deep sorrow for the Germans. In the both world wars they just came too close to victory, they fought their ass off. But while everything was going fine. Their allies and America were like; nah bra you aren't having a ww victory.
Razamataz Productions yes, go triples!
In Doiran Bulgarian troops were left not only without food and often without ammo, but also without shoes or winter equipment while facing an enemy many times bigger on numbers and better equipped than Bulgarian troops. From then in Bulgaria there is a saying "five men on a knife" because the allies were five times more. Later after the war general Vazov visites London and one of the British generals says: "Take down the flags, general Vazov is passing". I'm saying this as a fun fact. (sorry for bad English).
Don't believe Bulgarian propaganda and fairy tales. What's next ? You were fighting against 2 million British and French ?
Among the most notable moments of Vladimir Vazov’s life was his visit to England in 1936. The British legion celebrated the British victory in World War I. The British veterans invited one of their worthiest opponents on the battlefield. He was personally greeted by Lord Milne, who shook his hand with the words "It is a pleasure to meet the Bulgarian delegation, as even though we were enemies, you - like us - fought not only like brave men, but also like gentlemen." The British paid great honour to General Vazov as they lowered their national flags in his name. The chairman of the British legion Major Goldy said in his speech: “He is one of the few foreign officers whose name features in our history”.
By accident, I found your channel. Absolutely great!
I had two Great Uncles in WW1, both born in what today is the Ukraine, but in those days, Austrian Empire.
One immigrated to and then fought for Canada, winning the Distinguished Conduct Medal at Ypres.
The other fought under the Austrian Empire in Italy.
The fact that you cover so much of the "rest of the war" that most others gloss over, such as the Austrian/Italian front is wonderful.
He was in the battle you highlighted here.
The conditions for the regular Austrian troops was appalling. He didn't have proper boots or clothes, and had to share a rifle. An Austrian officer was killed near him, and to save his feet, he took the officer's boots.
A few days later, another officer noticed his boots, accused him of theft, and sent him to the rear to the stockades, where he spent the rest of the war, probably saving his life.
After the war, he too went to Canada, but his wife and son stayed behind. They died under Stalin and his Ukraine policy.
Welcome to the show.
Thank you, and thank you again for one of the best series about WW1.
Your format is outstanding... the idea to follow the war, week by week, day by day, as if it was happening right now is an incredible idea.
(PS: My Grandfather immigrated to Canada first, and was not in the war. He brought his brothers across, one belatedly after the war. He saw the rise of the Communists in Russia and foresaw what was going to happen. That's how I got to be me. :) Sadly, other then his two brothers, the rest of the family - my Great grandparents, 3 aunts and 2 uncles, plus my great-Uncles family died in the Ukraine Holocaust)
My Uncle who won the DCM, though he had it framed and on the wall, was disgusted he won the medal. He placed it on the wall, because the King had called his name to receive it, and he was proud to have earned his citizenship.
But any comment on the medal, he would in anger and disgust, retort:
"There were far, far more braver men then me that day. I did nothing compared to them and they are not remembered by anyone but me"
He was in the 2nd Battle of Ypres, during the gas attack on the Algerians. He was among the Canadians that marched into the gas to fill the gap. He remembers urinating on a cloth and holding it to his face, manning a machine gun with his loader. In the mist, he saw man-shapes moving toward him, and he fired his gun as hard as he could towards the shapes until he lost consciousness, waking in a hospital (where he met is wife) in England, blind (temporarily), with only 1 lung.
His citation recounts how he and his loader (who died there) held off a huge segment of the front that, other then them, was undefended.
Finally!!! Марш,марш с генерала наш!
Bg Mapper Мааарш
"Свалете знамената! Минава генерал Вазов - победителят от Дойран!" -Лорд Милн, 1936
Rush4in айде събрахме се българите и тук! ;)
На мегдана. :D
Rush4in Да! :D
I didn't know he could stand up
Are you the real Indiana Neidell?
Indiana Neidell I didn't even know you had a lower body.
will the real slim shady please stand up
We learn something new everyday
Lots of great photos with Mannlicher 1886 or 1888/90. Those Bulgarians had some impressive fortifications too.
BULGARIA STRONG!
You know...when I first started watching this series over a year ago I thought I couldn't wait for the US to enter the war. Now, after Romania, the first 6 months in France, the abuse in Solanika, and the myriad of horrors this war produced, I'm kind of wishing we had just stay out of the whole thing. This show has made a huge impact on my view of World War I, and war in general. Great job Indy and crew, carry on the good work.
It wouldn't have been the worst idea to stay out of it.
Yeah stayed out of it just kept fueling the machine from afar and making money from the misery of others.
@@TheGreatWar The US staying out of the war would have made an Entente victory unlikely (I won't say impossible, but less likely), and a Central Powers victory possible, though.
Once I read somewhere, that around 20000 Soldiers died in WW1 due to avalanches, caused by artillery fire. Have you heard of that and if so, do you know if avalanches were sometimes caused deliberatly for defensive or offensive operations?
Fidelis Kurzschenkel
I think they said something about the conditions both sides had to deal with in the Alps a couple of weeks ago, no more than a month.
Mainly in the Alps in the fights between Italians and the Austro-Hungarian forces. Yes, the avalanches were sometime deliberately initiated, for offensive (kill the enemy or make trouble on his part) or defensive (if I am denying the avalanche to the enemy - I am creating it in a somehow controlled way, he can't use it against me).
Fidelis Kurzschenkel yes, this would be interesting.
In Mark Thompson's " The White War ", about the Italian Front, it is stated that 10,000 soldiers died in avalanches on one day in December 1916. It was known as the white death.
Speaking of the White Death,
you should check out the comic "White Death". Story about the fight in Alps and creating avalanche in world war one.
Well by creating avalanche I mean they using nature against the enemy.
България stronk
Such a monumentus episode Indy had to stand.
If American citizens were present on British ships that were sunk by German subs, that was not a declaration of war by Germany on the USA. It was a convinient excuse for the USA to join the war on the side of the Entente. Not beeing judgmental, just saying.
Good show, cheers.
Not this week. It's literally what you just said :D
@Carlos Adrián Aguirre The flag raising incident only came up once on the show. I haven't seen anything that says it was widespread use.
You underestimate how seriously we take our right to exist.
Thank you so much for these! They have such great production value and have so much interesting information, not to mention the freat delivery. Thanks again! :)
I am so glad BF1 brought me here. I've been hooked to this channel for 6 months now. Very interesting and educative videos!
The battles in Doiran ware massecre. Not for Bulgaria.
Simeon Novkov Bulgaria was hardcore, though.
No spoilers please.
That comes from a Romanian, btw.
Harlowe Iasingston Romania is our best neighbor love from Bulgaria
Боян Михов Heheh. Thanks, brother. We never should've gotten Cadrilater, it's rightful Bulgarian territory.
I'm portuguese and i heard a story in the news about a portuguese solider that fougth the germans alone covering the retreat of his friends.Thanks for reading and keep up the good work.
great show! Not to be critical though, but these types of fortifications in Bulgaria you describe would have made an even better field trip then Verdun. so little is covered in historical accounts about the Eastern front in World War One, and places like Verdun and other Western Front battlefields have the look of well-manicured tourist traps. not that I have ever been there, but all the images that I've look up in books and on the internet seemed to give this impression. How was it for you guys at Verdun?
Luis Murrell visiting the Doiran defences would be much more difficult since today they are right on the border between Greece and the FYR of Macedonia and filming is forbidden. one Bulgarian historian was twice detained for trying to take pictures there.
+Luis Murrell Who said we are not open to film in the Balkans too? But yeah it's difficult. And you can get ww1 Disney Land experiences in Verdun. But there is more than enough stuff to see that's not like that.
I think he meant in terms of it being difficult rather than you not willing. Macedonia (and Greece, for that matter) have an atrocious attitude on the matter. The old front lines are not only forbidden in places but Bulgarian war memorials, including war cemeteries, were/are destroyed. If you attempt to film, at best you'll be impolitely asked to leave. It a political thing...
Heads up, the descreption says breaks of instead of off
New maps graphics look cool. Glad to be supporting you.
Really enjoy this channel. I think this is precisely what RUclips can be so good at. Each video is fairly short, but the sheer amount of content you guys produce is crazy!
I learn at least a couple facts or figures each episode.
Thanks a bunch for being so in depth. I am going to throw 5 your way on Patreon. Keep up the fantastic work
"Double trench lines that won't give in. They're prepared, let the battle begin!" -- Sabaton
It was so weird to start the video, and see Indy standing up instead of sitting down!... Love this channel, keep up the good work!! xo
Really great channel. Such care for objectiveness is rarely found.
I'm currently in a class that requires you to give numerous speeches. I've been watching a lot of these videos and I can honestly say that Indy's speaking voice is starting to carry over into my own. Love the videos, and I appreciate the subconcious speech lessons I get from watching them lol
Are those bunkers on Macedonian front still there, or they destroyed them after the war?
Rumunsko8 they are still there but those FYROM idiots/brainwashed bulgarians don't let anyone to take pictures there ..
Боян Михов That sucks
+Боян Михов Too bad, would really love to get a filming permit.
+The Great War And there are not much in the Greek side, except many military graveyards on battle sites. Most WW1 forts were rebuild during WW2 and most war-related buildings in Salonica were demolished for civilian re-building...
If you tell them you are intrested in ''Macedonian history'' they will probably allow you to film.Just dont mention Bulgaria or Greece infront of them.
Another great video as always Indy.
Bulgarian road trip! Yes!
I thought that the battle of Doiran was late in 1918 but it turns out there were several earlier ones
3 of them- 1916,1917 and 1918
I am addicted to this channel, great job guys!
Look at all the ""neutral"american ships around Europe, are they there for sightseeing in a zone of conflict?
American Capitalism 'war profiteering is better than saving American lives'.
'Our tourism is also more important than your war effort'
Were they Battleships? Cruiser?
No?
Then they were NEUTRAL, just doing business.
By that logic, the British committed massive levels of piracy by blockading Germany and seizing their merchant shipping.
Warzone tourism
Love this channel
Hey Indy and team, great work you're doing here! I would like to know more about the behind the lines bulgarian farming communities. I didn't know something like this existed. Could you maybe provide me with more sources, or better yet make a short out of the trenches episode? Keep up the superb work! Cheers from Slovakia.
Well, it was just gardens and livestock maintained by the soldiers. Moreover most of the population in Macedonia at that time considered themselves Bulgarians so the army could rely on their help as well not only for food supply but also digging trenches and knowledge of the local terrain.
Madness you say? I think we are beyond that.
🎵For white, green and red
For the nation they’re fighting for
The British are done
Three times the defence of Doiran has been won
Their attack is coming, fight them back
Bulgarians holding the line
Facing wave after wave, will never surrender
Again, again, again, again
They attack, Bulgaria held them back
Unleash their counter barrage
Let it rain artillery pounding the trenches
No surrender, fight them till the end🎵
“The Valley Of Death” by Sabaton
It now seems incredible that , having seen the scale of the casualties in the first year of the war, both Bulgaria and Italy decided to enter the war in 1915, for purely territorial goals.
Paul Well, at least from a Bulgarian perspective, our entry was not so much about the territory then the ideology. Story starts briefly before Bulgaria is liberated from Ottoman rule, sultan Abdul Azis issued a document that divided the Ottoman empire in regions based on the ethnicities in said regions (I'm sorry for not being more specific but its very late here and im too tired to search for them; if you want to learn more about the year or name of specific document im sure you could find it in google). Point is Bulgarians take up a vast region in the Central Balkans. When the Russians liberate us following the 1877-78 war, according to the treaty of San Stefano, Bulgaria gets all this land (speaking in modern terms it is modern-day Bulgaria+Macedonia+some parts of Serbia and Greece). Unfortunately, the Great powers do not like such a large, possibly Russophilic country disrupting the established status quo on the Balkans and separate the country into 3 parts in the 1878 Berlin Congress (2 of them unite very early on in 1885, forming modern Bulgaria, and the final part that remained was Macedonia). From this point, the primary focus of Bulgaria's foreign policy is REUNIFICATION - that is the goal of EVERY war it participates in since its reestablishment as a country (not just ww1) . So long story short, in the hearts and minds of early 20th century Bulgarians entering the Great War was not about territorial expansion or otherwise making Bulgaria more noticeable on the map, it was about correcting injustice and liberating all Bulgarians remaining under foreign yoke.
Thanks for your detailed reply. I assumed it was a desire to unite all Bulgarian - speaking people. Like the Italians entering the war to gain Trentino and Trieste and so regularize its borders. You mention Russia, was it unusual that Bulgaria was on the opposite side to its former protector. Did Russians and Bulgarians fight each other ?
Russian liberated us from their own interest. While Greece had their revolution in 1821 and the Serbs in around 1804-1817 Bulgaria was still neglected from the Great Powers till 1876 when we had our own April Uprising after that Russia helped us because they knew they would gain control here on the Balkans and also permission to use the Black Sea.
It was people, not territory, Paul.
@@paulx7540 they did fight in Dobrudja, there is a great war video about it I think. Russia lost in fact. For BG WWI was a continuation of the Balkan wars where Russia promised lands to BG and then supported other claims to it.
It was an epic fail of Russian policy - while Ferdinand has the lion share of the blame for the national catastrophe of the Second Balkan war, the whole Russian-organized Balkan alliance of the first war was a disaster for Bulgaria. Bulgaria fought hard against the Ottomans only so that Serbia and Greece could get the territories promised to it by Russia. This led to the second war as Ferdinand wanted to prevent his former allies from capturing the territories he was promised.
Thus in 1915 German promises looked significantly more credible to the Bulgarian government and especially the ruler Ferdinand who was German himself.
why is this channel so informative and just good
Another very informative episode,thank you!
*Vazov when he sees the enemy* : Call an amublance.... but not for me
It is nice you show big map often now, with current frontlines.
I God damn love this channel
LONG LIVE Tsadom of BULGARIA !
Finally caught up. Time to go back and watch all of the special episodes.
I'd recommend this series to my history teacher as others are doing but... you are my history teacher
Bulgaria and Germany - forever alies!
This is a great channel
Let's be honest here. If there is a global war going on, at land, at sea and in the air, with a deathtoll in the millions, and you know that germany has engaged in unrestricted warfare: the last thing you would do is getting on a ship (a british ship at that), that's travelling to Europe!!
One could almost say these American travellers asked for it...
Can you do a special on the Lost Battalion?
I think the right answer is "when we get there".
Have been waiting for Doiran for 1 year now.
Hey Indy and Team! How do I make a question for Out of the Trenches?
It's really too bad that you didn't have that kind of map at the beginning. I really appreciate the clarity it gives in showing who controls which areas during the conflict. Maybe later you can re-edit the old episodes so they use it.
Great video sir!!! Can u make a bio of Vasov? Thank you!
In his diary General Vladimir Vazov talks about the importans of victory in Doiran. He writes that even we lost the war, english paid respect to Bulgaria an stoped our neighbors to rampage in bulgarian teritory.
Have you guys thought about doing a video on the best innovations and inventions of the war?
For example; Tanks and gas masks and for innovations; the creeping barrage tactic.
It would be interesting to see what information you could find 👍🏻
Another great video
Will TGW team ever do a special about von Mackensen?
+RasGaming yes
The Great War can't wait!
This channel is absolutely amazing. The only comparible production in terms of detail is Dan Carlins "Blueprint for Armageddon"-series of podcasts on WW1.
I would love if you came up this something similar for the spanish- or russian civil war or even WW2.
Hey guys i love the show, my feedback - my favorite 'great war special' (non weekly episodes) are the "WHO DID WHAT IN WW1" series. Do you guys have any plans to do any soviet figures such as Stalin/Lenin/Trotsky?
Can you do an Episode completely on Planes in The Great War, as well as anti air weapons?
The first plane used for inteligence, the first plane used for bombarding and the first female pilot ever were bulgarian. I think you will love such an episode :)
Hey Indy! I've always wondered what the painting is behind your head each episode. It looks like a German soldier against a red background? Thanks for this series! I look forward to it each week! Thank you all for saving this for history!
It's actually a piece of fan art done by fan: Indy in a German uniform.
Thanks for the reply! I can finally put that mystery to rest!
Nice episode! I have a question for OOTT: I heard about telegrams to Mexico sent by Germany. Were these detected by Great Brittain after they cut there transatlantic cable. Greetings from Mainz!
+Sebi Michel Check out our Mexico special to learn more.
Love this channel.
Wait, the subtitles at 9:02 - 9:04 note that at February 3rd the first contigent with 50000 of the Portuguese Expeditionary Force arrive in France ready for the trenches, but Indy never actually says that in the video. What's up with that? XD
+Alexandra Ortez Left over from the old script. They actually arrived a month ago. It's in a January episode
The Great War I remember that episode. It's weird though, because the portuguese literature mentions February 2nd as the arrival date at Brest of the first portuguese brigade.
The Great War
Ah, thanks for the clarification. I knew they had arrived, but I thought that line was to show that just now they were being sent to the fronts or something.
What's our boy Conrad doing these days? Haven't heard anything about him in a while
Hi Indy. Great show and great work. Keep it up. My name is Moatamer Amin from Egypt. I have couple of questions. First, how much in financial cost did World War One cost in USD today? Did it take the full GDP of fighting nations? And second, can you make episode about Egypt in WWI, especially that Cairo was the head quarter of British in the Middle East in this war..
damm this is getting better every day
Have you ever considered doing a similar series on the second world war? I would definitely watch it with this format
Something interesting for Out Of The Ether. The christmas truce was not the only major event where hostilities ceased during the war. This frequently happened at Gallipoli between the Anzacs and Ottomans. Different luxuries were traded like Tobacco and food. There were also multiple Anzacs and Ottomans who would frequent each others trenches to broker cease fires to collect wounded, dead and trade. As the retreat was enacted neither side saw each other as a strict enemy, rather as a foe they were ordered to fight.
Hello Indy and Great war Crew thank you for the series , every chapter is very enjoyable and it is easy to forget that it was horrible to say the least for the soldiers I have two questions for Out of the trenches please , who was Lucien Bersot ? And were cases similar to his In other militaries ?
Gods, this channel is good.
Hello Indy and team. I have a question for out of the trenches as someone who is of Lebanese descent I can remember my grandfather claiming to be older in reality than he was on paper because of the lack of paperwork documenting his birth due to the confusion caused when the Ottoman Empire was dissolved are there other examples of this that you can think of, and can you tell me what role Lebanon played during the Great War? love the show please keep up the great work!
great videos!
thanks for putting effort into pronouncing slavic names.
greetings from voivodina, serbia.
I have a question for Out Of The Trenches: Is it true that the french built a fake replica of Paris near their real capital in order to confuse the Germans? Great show, kudos.
Another great thing about this week-for-week format is the sense of the time scale you get, something you don't really get from reading books about the war, even if they were thousands of pages. It's been 2,5 years, such a long time already, and it's going to go on and on, and every week many men died, every week Europe went on destroying itself.
And not to get too political here, but if you imagine that after all of WW1 you get the arguably worse WW2, those institutions and organisations for European cooperation that a growing number of people nowadays want to have removed start to make a lot more sense.
Love your videos
If you guys haven't already could you make a video on the battle of Cambrai and or Battle of Argonne-muse. Sorry if I spelled anything wrong
I wonder if any of those Bulgarian defenses still exist and are in a state to be visited.
madness indeed
Are you gonna move onto WW2 after eventually finishing this series, not sure I could handle 2 of these cool shows!
m.reddit.com/r/TheGreatWarChannel/comments/4ksvy2/will_you_guys_ever_do_a_ww2_channel_our_official/?compact=true
I see a picture of an armoured car inserted there, where talking about the attack on the Senussi. You have done a special on tanks, but I don't think you've talked at much length about armoured car. Did they ever exist in considerable numbers and, if so, what was their role?
+Joan Carles Q there will be a special, they are a bit overlooked in WW1, yes.the
You guys should do a video on the Blue Devils of France.
Madness?
THIS IS MODERN WAR!
This just in: going into a warzone is dangerous.
I am still awaiting mention of THE WOLF commerce raider. He's been out for over two months now.
I've watched lots of your wonderful videos but I've only just noticed your armchair. Fantastic.
Hi! is there a special
show about armored cars? There were a lot in the war who's exploits have not been covered in the normal series, Austria even had vehicles from 1904 i think, there were also combined projects in Russia. I know that they were moved to the back after trenches developed on the western front and after 1915 mostly disbanded, but how many other theaters were they used in, which ones performed well, etc.
"Rolls being more valuable than rubies" or something from Lawrence?
Thanks!
Not, yet. But there will be.
Well then sir, you have yourself a new patreon supporter.
Thanks very much!
Hello, I have two questions. First, how long did it take a Uboat to sail from Germany to Ireland. And second, politicaly, what is the difference between the English blockade to Germany and the German unrestricted submarine warfare. I mean, what would have an English boat done if a neutral nation boat had attemp to ship supplies or food to Germany?
You guys should do like half a dozen episodes where you just visit forts and look at defensive engineering... it sort of turns me on- in a military sense.
Amazing to think that in both World Wars Germany thought America entering the war was no big deal
I never realized how many videos you could make about ww1
You can read a page about it and that will tell you it lasted four years. But did you realise how long that really is?
hey indy and fellow creators. I've been playing battlefield 1 which got me thinking, were there any battles involving armoured trains like in the game? hope you guys can get back to me thanks!!
ruclips.net/video/pvzEZ1Sq4tI/видео.html