My dad piloted a Lancaster on this mission. His plane was named Lonesome Lola with 9th squadron. He was only 21 years old. I asked him when I was younger what the war was like. He told me that he was always afraid when he went on mission. Nonetheless he flew 34 missions and survived. He'd gone now but I'm so proud of him and his humble nature. RIP dad. Thanks.
I cant imagine how terrifying it must have been. Today, in my 40's, I find the smallest things seem to bring me stress. The things your Father experienced really helps me put things in perspective. When it comes to bravery, your Dad was at the very top of the ladder. I humbly tip my hat to you and your Father with the utmost respect. :)
My grandfather at 38:15, sadly passed away in december 2018, he told me many intresting stories about the war and everything he did in it, miss talking to him, but im glad i can watch this amazing documentary when i feel like it :) RIP
1944 was a long time ago. I was born 13 years after the fact. I never served in combat. My time in the Army was during peacetime. But still, this is one of the most heart-touching documentaries I've seen yet. By the end of the film, I was just about ready to cry, watching all these old men tell their stories, seeing the photos of their youth, and to see them set aside their differences to finish their lives in peace. No soldier or sailor from World War 2 alive today is younger than 90 years old. As they die, so dies the the history of the war and the lives of the people who were affected by it. WE MUST NOT FORGET.
I was a child during Ww2, we were all affected ,every man woman and child,and there are very few of us left.I think the biggest disappointment was that we were so happy when it all ended,but there has barely been any years of peace since.Now I am afraid it will all happen again
Thaty these old friends were once enemies underlines the futility, the uselessness, of war. Georges Clemenceau (1841 - 1929): "War is a series of catastrophes that results in a victory."
Hey man, you still did your duty knowing at any point the world might ask you to cash the check you wrote to your country. You’re just as brave as any of them 💪🤘
Man when he started crying in the end I couldn't help to shed a tear as well. I couldn't imagine being in a war fighting on the wrong side and the entire world is your enemy but your just a lad doing what your told by powers greater than yourself.
Any sane human being wd echo ths old guys sentiment ; the craziness of war and the inherent fear that WW3 may rage in our tymes, our days ; what with the recent smart inventions and the incesant war drums !Documentaries like these are insightful. May all that lost their lives have everlasting peace. Their memories shd kindle a fear in our hearts of the cabalistic nature of war.
"Crazy war, and for nothing!" the words of the German gentleman at the end of the documentary and seeing him break down in tears of sorrow, still after 70 years, just broke me down as well and I shed my own tears along with his. The most terrible thing is humans have learned nothing from the horrors of war, we just need to have a look around us. Documentaries like this one should be mandatory in schools around the world, to create a new mentality and for the world to see the real horrors of war.
Alejandro: Too bad they didn't have you to head them off at the pass. I mean, with your ability to read everyone's mind and know that they are unaware of all of this and haven't learned anything.
He did say they went along with it and said yes Sir... but then later on worked out how to be friends suddenly. Thats because they are normal human beings, and dispite being enemies at one time due to what they were told, can understand in time that wars are all bankers and politicans wars. War is only conducted by those in power with an agenda. Normal people do not want a part of it.
hello456able 1 second ago dont forget you also killed a lot of navy men on the ship u cant be happy about that! that is why war is wrong! war is terrorism! the governemts of the world con us the people to kill each other! now that is insanity!
Both of my Grandfathers served the US in the war. Neither were flyers during that time. My mothers dad rarely talked about it. My paternal grandfather used to talk about it when his friends and relatives would come over and I so wish that as a child of less than 10 at the time, I could have recorded their stories. Our generation should learn from what these gentlemen had to say. These men , all of them were from the greatest generation. Salute to all the brave men who served and fought. RIP to all those that have passed and to those that died during.
As a military man, I have nothing but the highest respect for warriors who can lay down their weapons and join one another around a table of peace, understanding that they did not become enemies for personal reasons but enemies due to those who were beyond their control. 🙏
20 yrs after the war, my Dad became friends with a former German tank driver that fought in the same battles as Dad did. RIP Hans Dittmond & Floyd Durrell (Dad)❤️
I served with the RAF Medical Branch in 1956-59 at RAF Hospital Wegberg, in the operating theatre. We had various German civilian staff and nurses, we never talked about the war, which was still fresh in their minds as they probably served too. We treated each other as human beings-many becoming good friends. I toured many of the cities that were bombed to rubble and the big dams. I was impressed with how much had been restored in those few years. I have recently added my experience and photos of my time there, in a recent display touring some German cities in the Westphalia region, 2018, of those post war times. War can bring out the worst and the best, I only saw and experienced the best. 🇬🇧🇦🇺
Ron MacDonnell My dad was a tail gunner on an American B-17 Flying Fortress, based out of England. He often talked about the good times they had with the crew of one of the Lancasters that they served with when they weren't, as he said, "praying our way through a mission." In case that was your dad''s plane, thank you for looking out for him. He is also gone from us, but the Lancaster crew was one of the few happy memories he had of his years at war. He was 20 then.They were all so young.
I am from Indonesia. There was a very old German who used to live here. Before he retired he was the head of Hapag Lloyd. Everyone called him Kapten Schwartz. He used to tell me how he had served on the Tirpitz as a very young sailor and how on the day she was sunk the captain ordered him to take a group of sailors ashore to go to church . They were on a cliff and saw the Tirpitz go down.
Excellent documentary! I appreciated that they mentioned the ones they had killed and it was obvious it was still heavy on their mind. I was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and got to participate in the killing of many people and I am now in my 79th year and think of the deaths often. We humans are a pitiful lot to have to kill each other as we do. Best of luck to all of us.
Thank you for your service and all who fought and those who never returned home need to be honored. Sadly these brave people who served in Vietnam are never given the full credit and gratitude due.
@Joseph Stokes you are a hero to manybof us, i also agree with you sr about us humans being so naive & evil in killing each other for what... Blessing to you all from puerto rico with lots of love...Thank you for ur service!!
At 29:20 begins an excellent blow-by-blow description of the attack overlaid with graphics. I've seen the historical footage many times without quite being sure of the orientation of The ship and where it was located amongst all the smoke and spray. Kudos to whoever was in charge of researching and editing that line of footage...
Agreed. It was done very well. Like you, I like lots of modern graphics to demonstrate things. Pictures are far more descriptive than words. However, no complaints. I learned something today, which is always a good thing.
When he speaks of those men trapped inside singing the Deutchland song until their voices were no longer heard was pretty heartbreaking. RIP to those men lost
@@slcpunk2740 My father was in the British army during WW2. He was invited to a Wehrmacht reunion as an honoured guest some time in the 70s. He had a great time and said they were just like the men he'd served with. Years later, I have many German friends. One of them had a father who'd been a POW in Russia. He told me that all he'd wanted to do was become a violin maker. The war ruined his life, but he counted himself lucky to have returned home.
@@jugbywellington1134 All sides are real human beings with loves and intrests. To say either side is COMPLETELY EVIL is a grave misunderstanding most the time
Governments send soldiers to enforce their wills, while the soldiers fight not for governments but for home, family, and friends... ultimately for the soldiers beside them. What a world.
Right. All the leaders that want war should be put into an arena to fight it out between themselves. Any survivors should then be put down and the rest of us can get on with our lives until the next warmonger comes along. If you look closely at history you'll see that most wars are really between the egos of a few leaders who manage to stir up the emotions of "lesser mortals". Most people just want to get on with eating, sleeping, shagging and surviving.
So many commenters are nuts. The war was to stop the NAZIS. Have you forgotten Auschwitz? Poland? The brutal conquests of so many countries to sop one leader's vanity? The end of democracies? The burning of the German parliament? "Crystal night?" "Racial purity"? My God, my God. Remember! The pilot -- he was part of this! And yes, it was for him, for him it was for nothing, because his side was DEFEATED. My Uncle Bill died in Germany, helping to defeat the Nazis.
Omg, Kurt Schultz at 45:00. It's heartbreaking hearing this man, and how he breaks down. Respect for his former enemy and the prowess they showed. Respect for his dead comrades in arms. "I was pretty tough once, but that's all gone." And young Tony, just after that- "All wars are dreadful." But--- "You couldn't have the Nazis in charge, could you?" I had to wait for the tears to pass before I could type this reply. I am in awe of these men, and what they went through, in their early 20s, then carried for the rest of their lives.
There a bitter aftertaste of what Tony said... You can feel his pain. Respect for those who braved the skies of WW2. So as to the men who sailed the seas and marched the ground of that gruesome era.
I thought the Bismark was the only beast of a German battleship like the Tirpitz. WWII has been a big fascination of mine and I can honestly say, I've never seen any information on the Tirpitz. A movie should honor the brave men on this important days of history!
Amazing to see these heroes at such old ages. Nowadays, men with PTSD don't live as long, many of them self-destructing. If we could bottle the mentality that kept men alive so long after such tremendous stress, we could save millions. SALUTE RAF!
It has a lot to do with the type of person serving. During ww2 the overwhelming majority came from a 2 parent home and knew why they were fighting. Todays soldiers are recruited from low income communities that often don’t have intact families which effects the young men’s ability to compartmentalize and know why they are fighting
@@darbyohara Good point! I remember how it was in the late fifties & early 60s, when divorce became almost a rage. People let themselves go wild after being so straight-laced and seemed to seemed to be more self-centered. I remember my Grandfather saying, "No family, no country." As always, Pa was right. My father, a Marine, served in WWII, Korea and several tours of 'Nam, had two genius parents that raised fine children. After he retired, most people could tell by his bearing he had served, but were surprised to hear where he was during his 20 years. He was dignified, but mostly joyful and loved laughter. That kind of strength started at home.
My father was on a ship in the Pacific. He would talk about the "fun" parts of the war but never about the combat.God bless my father. Rest in peace, dad.
You would if you had to live through it. Historically, it is endlessly fascinating. But if you had to endure 4 years of seeing friends and family slaughtered, and even simple rationing of things like sugar and car tires, you would think otherwise.
What a tragic experience for so many, but with a beautiful ending. Touched my heart to see these 2 once enemies now friends, still teaching us to this day. Its such a blessing that they are still here with us. I find it most interesting how those who fought these battles and live to tell the story, share their feelings and thoughts about the value of war.
I was stationed in Germany, and what struck me the most was not the differences between our two countries (and the UK), but the similarities. Parts of Frankfurt, Germany could have passed off as Portland, Oregon or NYC, except the street signs were in German. English is also a Germanic language. We also had a huge influx of German immigrants to the US in the mid 1800s.
My great uncle was a Lancaster bomber rear gunner in 9 Squadron. He was on this mission aswell as the Urft and Sorpe dams. He flew in over 30 sorties. He was a beautiful man. Very humble. Absolute legend and hero in my eyes. RIP Flight Sgt Fred Whitfield DFM
Absolute legend and hero in my eyes, too, and I've never heard of him before. My uncle, recently deceased was a navigator on the B-24. Many missions flown. He never spoke about his service. But, the navigator put the bomber over the target and turned the aircraft loose to the bombardier with the bomb-site. Then, he got them home. God Bless All of them.
@@williamcampbell4876I have read his flight books and the Urft and Sorpe dam missions are there as clear as day. That along with listening to his accounts is good enough proof for me
Timeline comes through yet again. This is a great documentary. Most documentaries on WWII (and other military history) by other organizations are not nearly as good. Thanks, Timeline.
Well done Timeline. This one has everything a documentary should have. Thanks for uploading this for our pleasure. This is why I have paid for premium. Great programming with no ads wins.
Fantastic documentary, but it’s the pilots both axis and allied that tore my heart. They spoke as true gentleman and I have nothing but respect for all involved including those on that magnificent ship
These guys remind me so much of a World War II veteran I met named Hulon Cameron. He served in the Pacific theatre in the Navy and I always visited him for a while when I was on my route with the gas company. He was a very jolly person. Once as I walked up he was sitting in the swing in the sun and I asked if he was working on his sun tan and he said yes and that he was getting prettier every day. I remember him telling me how angry he was when Emperor Hirohito went to Disneyland and how he never went there because of It and never owned a Japanese car.
A wonderful story with the actual veterans towards the end of their lives. Did you know that a fine navigator called F/O W.E.(Ricky) Richardson from my little island of Jamaica, was on board one of those Lancasters that helped sink the Tirpitz. Yes, most persons forget it was a british colony up to 1962. Three of my father's brothers also served in the RAF. One was killed in action. "Lest we Forget." Thank you for sharing this documentary.
I'm from London, West Indians are very much part of London these days. We are very aware of our ties with your island home. Your sunshine, your food, your smile's, and not least your music have warmed us for many generations now. Much appreciated and loved.
I'm a wartime baby who survived the second world war, yet watching this video of sinking the Tirpitz makes me even more proud of our brave R.A.F. Pilots, who by their very efforts, in that raid, no doubt saved thousands of lives, that the Tirpitz no doubt would have taken. God Bless you pilots, on both sides. All were doing their duty. on both sides. Yet when it's all over, everyone is friends. Sad for the thousand young sailors of the German navy, and those of the British Airforce. We are here because of them They in my book will never be forgotten.
@@sumchipstarchy5469 they would have used it. The biggest problem with Germany was, they built something new and couldn't wait to use it. Imagine if they would have waited and used the Bismarck with its brother ship.
Of all the things I've heard pilots say about flying in the war, hearing Brit pilots talking about SEEing 15" shells coming up from the Tirpitz might well be the most surreal. That high up, following a ballistic firing solution that must have been as nearly vertical as those guns were capable of, I have no trouble believing they saw exactly that...
It's so good to hear directly from these men involved, they must have been so tense flying into this action, same for the men on the tirpitz. May the lost rest in peace.
"May the lost rest in peace." ....while the hidden, filthy rich continue to rake in greater and greater profits and power coming from all the endless wars!!!
My Grandfather That served throughout WWII became friends with some Japanese WWII veterans after the war and it lasted for the rest of their lives. God Bless All Those that Have Served With Honor.
Great coverage of this historical event. Thank you for including Squadron 9. So many are unaware of their contribution. I only knew of Squadron 9 because my Uncle's participation. Attacked the Tirpitz twice when flying with F/O Taylor and crew.
My grandfather was in WWI Battle of the Argon Forest. Three of his sons were in WWII Uncle Elmer was killed. I never met him. My Uncle Ray was my favorite uncle on my mothers side of the family. I miss them.
What a great documentary! So well done. The Norwegian coastline and snow-covered mountains are eerily beautiful. I love the testimonies of all these brave men. When I was a boy, I built a scale model of the Tirpitz. It was so amazing to me. I still recognize the camouflage scheme. There is simply something about a great ship, especially a battleship. I saw an aircraft carrier off.the coast of southern California and it was truly imposing. I can't imagine how the Tirpitz or Bismarck must have appeared in person. Thank you again for this wonderful video!
This documentary highlighted the human sufferings at the end very responsibly. Use of graphics and music were subtle. You'll find lots of documentaries(mainly from US) focused on WWII with dramatic music, extravagant graphics, fake historians which do not do justice to the millions of lives lost during those days. Kudos to the team behind this great work.
@@demef758 I personally don't know about documentaries with fake historians. But I definitely know the overly dramatic WW2 documentaries they're talking about. I started watching a documentary series that was uploaded to TH-cam called Battle 360 that talks about the USS Enterprise, and they have such an annoyingly over dramatic and patriotic tone that makes it super obvious it was made with an american audience in mind. I like the documentary series enough and would still recommend it, but everytime that marine guy appears to start talking about the American spirit or how America is coming for vengeance, I can't help but feel really annoyed. While this one mainly focused on the pilots who took down the Tirpitz, they still took time to talk about the german side and struck a much more better balance overall.
@@soulsphere9242 There are many excellent American documentaries. You've even admitted it. *SOME* British documentarians are better than *SOME* American documentarians. The fact is, *SOME* American documentarians *are* better than *SOME* British documentarians. It isn't at all one-sided. I love British television, but by no means all of it. I hate a lot of American television, but by no means all of it. See what I'm saying? It's stupid to over-generalize like that.
Well said, but the bravery of these heroes made them likewise to beast! How ironic! Killing the enemy is a primitive behavior - stone age like behavior. Who butchers the most get's an Iron-Cross, Victoria Cross, Croix d'honneur...whatever gilded tin-sign of being a perfect executioner of man. War is a racket, the big deceit!
Deeply moving. And as the German said "All for nothing". Modern day and future tyrants should learn that all mendacious schemes fail, but not before ruining so many lives.
There is a double meaning in the saying "All for nothing" - It is the fate of every soldier on every side in every war, be it the winning or losing side. The ordinary soldiers get's nothing out of war, a basic truth in every conflict. If you still cling to the good vs bad scheme, you are excellent food for the next war-machine, based on whatever lie they may put into your head to justify it, being it tyrants or "civilized" states alike.
My Dad was in the navy + took part in the Arctic Convoys, he served on HMS Zest. I believe a number of the ships were all named something beginning with the letter 'Z', an odd detail among what sadly is the little I know of his time during the war. He rarely spoke of it, although he was happy to answer questions when asked. I wish I could ask about The Tirpitz, but he died back in May, 2020, he was 95-years old. I'm so proud of his service, + for that of all the heroes who served.... Lest we forget........
A B17 was crippled over Germany. The plane was heavily damaged and some of the crew were injured. And a 109 pilot spared the plane and crew and let them return to England. After the war was over the too american and Greman plots were reunited. Very touching.
And the futility of monolithic symbols of national military might... all that steel, when it could have been the swarm that disrupted D-Day... the bad choices of leadership separated from the daily business of killing. Fascinating stuff.
I'm a retired USN submariner and I agree completely with his statement @44:20 - @44:32. The politicians (rich people) make war and we regular people pay the price.
This needed to happen for the outcome of the War to be what it was but it is so sad to hear the German soldiers recount their experience of it. War truly is a bunch of old men sitting around deciding the fate of young men. RIP to the young men who were condemned by the actions of others who had no concern for them as human beings.
Impressive. As a Veteran myself, I actually liked the end the best. War really does suck. What do opposing militaries really do? They send their youngest, bravest, those with the most potential in life,......to die. God Bless Them All.
"This situation is where we as human beings finally come through after the politicians did to us whatever they wanted to do. And we said, "Yes, Sir." This is definitely one of the best documentaries on this channel. Touches your heart and soul in a way. Gives you a glimpse of the humans behind war.
I often feel like the Bismarck's case overshows the story of the Tirpitz Battleship. Which is ironic, given that they were both of the same class of Battleships. Thank you for covering this topic🙏
Especially when someone said "Not even God himself could sink this ship.” - Employee of the White Star Line, at the launch of the Titanic, May 31, 1911 Of course it wasn't God who sinked it, but Human pride..
Does anyone feel the German ace Kurt Schultz. Even though he is admiring RAF accomplishment but still regretting he couldn't saved them. "Thousand Germans died" tears in the eyes.
One of the more human comments. Thank you for it. The moral is we have to examine our politicians very carefully indeed and not get caught up in tribalism. It would be good if both sides of tribal warfare could be spared. Tusen Takk.
It is an unfortunate fact of war that people die. It is sad, very sad and stupid. If only the leaders could fight each other instead of our soldiers,airman and sailors, wouldn't that be something.
They carried out orders? Wars are fought by people, who kill each other even though they don't know each other, while the people planning and profiting on war on both sides know each other, but don't kill each other.
Years ago, I was secretary to an RAF pilot. When I tried to ask him about the war, he said, don't ask me about the war. I lost my family in the bombing of Britain.
I have just come across this documentary - how fantastic to see this. My dad, Colin "Bill" Campbell DFC was a Navigator/Bomb Aimer for 9 Squadron (an Aussie in the RAAF) and flew with Bomber Command until the war ended. Dad was given a model of the Tall Boy bomb by Barnes Wallace - the same bombs he deployed, along with others in both Squadrons, that finally sunk the Tirpitz. He rarely spoke of the war and suffered ill health for the rest of his short life. Although I was a child I remember his nightmares and perhaps he suffered what we now have a name for .... PTSD. How all those young men climbed into their Lancasters night after night knowing that some, maybe them, would not be returning. War is a terrible thing - our politicians need to remember that. We loved you and are proud of you Dad. Jeanne Campbell Bartell
Tirpitz was chopped into small pieces and steel plates from the ship are still used all over Norway as bridges over ditches on roads during road works. They're just called Tirpitz plates.
@@mastertechnician3372 When you are trapped with no wait out because the hatches are warped, and the water is coming in ... We should all scream and blubber like you?
@@dr1flush USS Oklahoma, at Pearl Harbor. Some of them lasted three days before their air ran out, and the bodies were still warm when they cut through the wreckage to reach them.
45:11 I can’t imagine spending 8 years thinking you’re fighting for your people, only for the war to end and you’re pinned as one of the “bad guys” for the rest of your life. I have the utmost respect for all warriors with good hearts.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Superb narration, beautiful scenery, and outstanding personal accounts from men on both sides who were there in the air (on both sides) and aboard the Tirpitz. Outstanding !
Fun fact: Steel plates from the Tirpitz are to this day used to cover temporary ditches dug across roadways in Norway. Whenever such ditches need to be dug, for whatever reason. They are inches thick and can withstand whatever load is driven over them.
My grandpa and his brother were 14 and 15 when tirpitz sank. They lived next to the fjord where tirpitz sank. They saw the whole thing and heard screams. He past away 1 year ago
These men are the real heroes of our world. We cannot begin to understand what they went through to give us our freedom. They gave their lives and childhoods for this nonsense set up by a ruthless dictator. I will forever have the utmost respect and admiration of people like these men.
Thank you RAF and thank you USAF for making a difference and for changing the course of history. My respect for the Deutsche Navy and the Luftwaffe, they fought courageously, but as in any war, someone has got to lose.
29:40 A near miss from a 12,000 lb. Tallboy was almost as good as a hit. Each one contained 5,2000 lb. of Torpex D1. (Torpex is 50% more powerful than TNT.) The pressure blast against the hull of Tirpitz from the bomb exploding in water nearby would crumple hull plates, buckle bulkheads and lead to massive flooding. With two direct hits and three near misses, Tirpitz was torn apart. In addition, the in water detonations scoured away a lot of the sandbank that has been created to prevent Tirpitz from capsizing if hit. Tirpitz was doomed.
What a remarkable change from 1940 when RAF bombers couldn't drop bombs within 5 miles of their targets. To hit a battleship from 15,000 feet a number of times was skill of the highest order.
Came here for a war documentary and left feeling moved, sad, grateful. My respect to all the men, both British and German who were interviewed. We should listen to them. And yet, the war is happening again.
Germans are more despised in the year 2018 and they were in 1958 and its due to left wing politics, holocaust propaganda, the drive to minorise Whites. It’s propaganda in the movies and its part of the same hate directed at all Whites. That’s why western civilisation ending. The sentiment among many English people maybe towards reconciliation and forgiveness but that’s not what’s happening in the media, they hate Germans and they hate Whites.
It certainly happens. Do we hate Japan, Italy, and Germany today? Look at what just happened, where Vietnam hosted talks between Trump and Kim. Vietnam was pushing the idea to Kim "when you do business with the USA, good things happen." Who would have thought it possible in the 1960s and 70s? If you get beyond politics, you find there are lots of very nice, friendly people in Russia and China today. It is unfathomable that we might some day go to war with them, but politicians are the ones who make these awful decisions, not ordinary citizens.
Warriors - old or young, you are stupid! Killing the enemy is the most primitive action carried out by the human race for thousands of years, no difference since the stone age, it's the same mindset ever since!
That last little bit of the two men talking really got to me. My father was in the Angolan border war with South Africa fighting for South Africa. I hate what he had to go through. For nothing, in a pointless war waged by greedy and misguided politicians to attempt to keep Angola's independence stripped away from it. All because of different ideologies
Can you imagine the youth of today having to deal with a war like those men did, i cant fathom how they did it. A salute to all those men, more of a man than i could ever wish to be
Remember they grew up in the Depression, so they were used to hardship. The rations were for some of them simply a continuation of their earlier limited meals. That generation was 5x tougher and more humbled than possibly any since then.
Even with the enormous losses of life aboard the ships themselves, the Bismarck and it's identical sister ship the Tirpitz ABSOLUTELY had to be sunk at all costs. May those lost souls rest in peace in thier watery grave.
@abe lincoln tell that to the crew of the HMS Hood. Second, Convoys carrying war supplies are valid, and very high valued, targets. Any person with a modicum of military experience knows you can't fight if you have no bullets, Thus supply lines are priority targets, whether its by sea, air, or land. Denigrating the main function of warships ( to break a nations ability to resupply by sea) is stupid.
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My dad piloted a Lancaster on this mission. His plane was named Lonesome Lola with 9th squadron. He was only 21 years old. I asked him when I was younger what the war was like. He told me that he was always afraid when he went on mission. Nonetheless he flew 34 missions and survived. He'd gone now but I'm so proud of him and his humble nature. RIP dad. Thanks.
My father was the youngest lead navigator of the army air force. B -17
may he rest in peace
I cant imagine how terrifying it must have been. Today, in my 40's, I find the smallest things seem to bring me stress. The things your Father experienced really helps me put things in perspective. When it comes to bravery, your Dad was at the very top of the ladder. I humbly tip my hat to you and your Father with the utmost respect. :)
I thank your dad for his service ,as I do to all veterans, and it always chokes me, the honor of their presence.
BETWEEN THE WORLD IN A MESS. BETWEEN FIGHTING AND P__OFF MOTHER NATURE. I DONT SEE MUCH #HOPE FOR PEACE OR THE DRAGONFLY# BURNED INTO MY SKIN
My grandfather at 38:15, sadly passed away in december 2018, he told me many intresting stories about the war and everything he did in it, miss talking to him, but im glad i can watch this amazing documentary when i feel like it :) RIP
Beklagar din förlust! Bästa hälsningar från Sverige.
Blessings
17, and grappling with such a reality ... there's courage!
^5
All lies😅 your grandfather was an idiot
1944 was a long time ago. I was born 13 years after the fact. I never served in combat. My time in the Army was during peacetime. But still, this is one of the most heart-touching documentaries I've seen yet. By the end of the film, I was just about ready to cry, watching all these old men tell their stories, seeing the photos of their youth, and to see them set aside their differences to finish their lives in peace. No soldier or sailor from World War 2 alive today is younger than 90 years old. As they die, so dies the the history of the war and the lives of the people who were affected by it. WE MUST NOT FORGET.
I was a child during Ww2, we were all affected ,every man woman and child,and there are very few of us left.I think the biggest disappointment was that we were so happy when it all ended,but there has barely been any years of peace since.Now I am afraid it will all happen again
Thaty these old friends were once enemies underlines the futility, the uselessness, of war.
Georges Clemenceau (1841 - 1929): "War is a series of catastrophes that results in a victory."
Hey man, you still did your duty knowing at any point the world might ask you to cash the check you wrote to your country. You’re just as brave as any of them 💪🤘
LL u
Iuku🤠🤠😀😭🤠😭😀😭🇲🇨😀😀😀😭🌲😁😀😭🌲😁😭😁😁😁😭🌲😁😭😁🌲😁😁🌲🤠🎁😄
@@gauravshakya6585 as of 11/5/2024, we forgot.
My dad was a navigator in a Lancaster, 12 Squadron. He and his crew made it safely through the war. My pride knows no bounds. Thanks for our dads.
yes
P.S my dad was in the cold war as well.
Man when he started crying in the end I couldn't help to shed a tear as well. I couldn't imagine being in a war fighting on the wrong side and the entire world is your enemy but your just a lad doing what your told by powers greater than yourself.
aye
@@tonyelbows8045 aye
Jesus Christ was put on a cross! Was he one the wrong side?
@@dsm6678 supposedly
Any sane human being wd echo ths old guys sentiment ; the craziness of war and the inherent fear that WW3 may rage in our tymes, our days ; what with the recent smart inventions and the incesant war drums !Documentaries like these are insightful. May all that lost their lives have everlasting peace. Their memories shd kindle a fear in our hearts of the cabalistic nature of war.
"Crazy war, and for nothing!" the words of the German gentleman at the end of the documentary and seeing him break down in tears of sorrow, still after 70 years, just broke me down as well and I shed my own tears along with his. The most terrible thing is humans have learned nothing from the horrors of war, we just need to have a look around us. Documentaries like this one should be mandatory in schools around the world, to create a new mentality and for the world to see the real horrors of war.
Gerry and the Peacemakers
Alejandro: Too bad they didn't have you to head them off at the pass. I mean, with your ability to read everyone's mind and know that they are unaware of all of this and haven't learned anything.
there has not been one single year of peace in the world for over 1,500 years. Peace is not in our DNA.
He did say they went along with it and said yes Sir... but then later on worked out how to be friends suddenly. Thats because they are normal human beings, and dispite being enemies at one time due to what they were told, can understand in time that wars are all bankers and politicans wars. War is only conducted by those in power with an agenda. Normal people do not want a part of it.
hello456able
1 second ago
dont forget you also killed a lot of navy men on the ship u cant be happy about that! that is why war is wrong! war is terrorism! the governemts of the world con us the people to kill each other! now that is insanity!
"I was pretty tough once, but now its all gone." That coming from an old man who fought in one of the most brutal wars in human history chokes me up.
Both of my Grandfathers served the US in the war. Neither were flyers during that time. My mothers dad rarely talked about it. My paternal grandfather used to talk about it when his friends and relatives would come over and I so wish that as a child of less than 10 at the time, I could have recorded their stories. Our generation should learn from what these gentlemen had to say. These men , all of them were from the greatest generation. Salute to all the brave men who served and fought. RIP to all those that have passed and to those that died during.
As a military man, I have nothing but the highest respect for warriors who can lay down their weapons and join one another around a table of peace, understanding that they did not become enemies for personal reasons but enemies due to those who were beyond their control. 🙏
Amen my friend
amen.
One of the better documentaries I've seen. What a human experience and perspective they conveyed, very touching.
20 yrs after the war, my Dad became friends with a former German tank driver that fought in the same battles as Dad did. RIP Hans Dittmond & Floyd Durrell (Dad)❤️
Great stuff!
Roy D thank you your father for his service and his sacrifices. The freedom we enjoy and often take for granted are ours because of it.
YEP! R.I. P. Guys!
Awesome..May they RIP..
@@fernandochavez4312 Well said. Nothing shall be taken for granted.
I served with the RAF Medical Branch in 1956-59 at RAF Hospital Wegberg, in the operating theatre. We had various German civilian staff and nurses, we never talked about the war, which was still fresh in their minds as they probably served too. We treated each other as human beings-many becoming good friends. I toured many of the cities that were bombed to rubble and the big dams. I was impressed with how much had been restored in those few years. I have recently added my experience and photos of my time there, in a recent display touring some German cities in the Westphalia region, 2018, of those post war times. War can bring out the worst and the best, I only saw and experienced the best. 🇬🇧🇦🇺
J
Ron MacDonnell My dad was a tail gunner on an American B-17 Flying Fortress, based out of England. He often talked about the good times they had with the crew of one of the Lancasters that they served with when they weren't, as he said, "praying our way through a mission." In case that was your dad''s plane, thank you for looking out for him. He is also gone from us, but the Lancaster crew was one of the few happy memories he had of his years at war. He was 20 then.They were all so young.
I am from Indonesia. There was a very old German who used to live here. Before he retired he was the head of Hapag Lloyd. Everyone called him Kapten Schwartz. He used to tell me how he had served on the Tirpitz as a very young sailor and how on the day she was sunk the captain ordered him to take a group of sailors ashore to go to church . They were on a cliff and saw the Tirpitz go down.
Saved by a trip to church.
Beneran?lokasi nya dimana?
@@hafidza.p8584 Lokasi apa?
@@karlaiken6152 Yes, that appears to be the case.
That almost certainly saved their lives. Unbelievable.
Excellent documentary! I appreciated that they mentioned the ones they had killed and it was obvious it was still heavy on their mind. I was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and got to participate in the killing of many people and I am now in my 79th year and think of the deaths often. We humans are a pitiful lot to have to kill each other as we do. Best of luck to all of us.
There is no one who comes back from war that isn't wounded in some way.
Thank you for your service and all who fought and those who never returned home need to be honored. Sadly these brave people who served in Vietnam are never given the full credit and gratitude due.
Those who u killed are waiting for u....if u think this world stops here do whatever u wan my friend.
@Joseph Stokes you are a hero to manybof us, i also agree with you sr about us humans being so naive & evil in killing each other for what...
Blessing to you all from puerto rico with lots of love...Thank you for ur service!!
@@hallildiallo6781 it does
At 29:20 begins an excellent blow-by-blow description of the attack overlaid with graphics. I've seen the historical footage many times without quite being sure of the orientation of The ship and where it was located amongst all the smoke and spray. Kudos to whoever was in charge of researching and editing that line of footage...
Hiffinhoffin
Would have been nice to have image of ship overplayed as well.
Agreed. It was done very well. Like you, I like lots of modern graphics to demonstrate things. Pictures are far more descriptive than words. However, no complaints. I learned something today, which is always a good thing.
Hiffinhoffin by
Agreed.
okay
When he speaks of those men trapped inside singing the Deutchland song until their voices were no longer heard was pretty heartbreaking. RIP to those men lost
Yes,im sure he's had a lot of sleepless nights and never forget his name.
Yeah 'Fritz'
@@slcpunk2740 My father was in the British army during WW2. He was invited to a Wehrmacht reunion as an honoured guest some time in the 70s. He had a great time and said they were just like the men he'd served with. Years later, I have many German friends. One of them had a father who'd been a POW in Russia. He told me that all he'd wanted to do was become a violin maker. The war ruined his life, but he counted himself lucky to have returned home.
@@jugbywellington1134 All sides are real human beings with loves and intrests. To say either side is COMPLETELY EVIL is a grave misunderstanding most the time
@@felixgutierrez993 Jmcim songs
you gotta hand It to these old blokes, they have a story to tell and It Is a damn good one that should be preserved for educational purpose.
H
“These old blokes?” For your information, they were courageous
men, many of them never returned home!
@@mariacanto1871 What's so wrong in saying "old blokes"? It has nothing to do with diminishing their courage.
@Biggus Dickus ...THAT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING-(!)
War is a SCAM !
Its bittersweet to see these men who were once enemies(Not by choice)getting together each week and reminiscent about the war
That German pilot nailed it:
“Crazy war, for nothing.”
Governments send soldiers to enforce their wills, while the soldiers fight not for governments but for home, family, and friends... ultimately for the soldiers beside them. What a world.
@@flagmichael Who runs the goverments?
@@mattematsson554 corrupt elitists
Right. All the leaders that want war should be put into an arena to fight it out between themselves. Any survivors should then be put down and the rest of us can get on with our lives until the next warmonger comes along. If you look closely at history you'll see that most wars are really between the egos of a few leaders who manage to stir up the emotions of "lesser mortals". Most people just want to get on with eating, sleeping, shagging and surviving.
So many commenters are nuts.
The war was to stop the NAZIS.
Have you forgotten Auschwitz? Poland? The brutal conquests of so many countries to sop one leader's vanity? The end of democracies? The burning of the German parliament? "Crystal night?" "Racial purity"?
My God, my God. Remember!
The pilot -- he was part of this! And yes, it was for him, for him it was for nothing, because his side was DEFEATED.
My Uncle Bill died in Germany, helping to defeat the Nazis.
Omg, Kurt Schultz at 45:00. It's heartbreaking hearing this man, and how he breaks down. Respect for his former enemy and the prowess they showed. Respect for his dead comrades in arms. "I was pretty tough once, but that's all gone." And young Tony, just after that- "All wars are dreadful." But--- "You couldn't have the Nazis in charge, could you?"
I had to wait for the tears to pass before I could type this reply.
I am in awe of these men, and what they went through, in their early 20s, then carried for the rest of their lives.
Your dad was a real man. There aren't many left. My Dad fought in Korea, then did one tour in Vietnam before retiring.
There a bitter aftertaste of what Tony said... You can feel his pain. Respect for those who braved the skies of WW2. So as to the men who sailed the seas and marched the ground of that gruesome era.
These men changed history. All this should be tought in school. The boys nowadays could learn alot on how to be from these brave men. God Bless.
I thought the Bismark was the only beast of a German battleship like the Tirpitz. WWII has been a big fascination of mine and I can honestly say, I've never seen any information on the Tirpitz. A movie should honor the brave men on this important days of history!
The Tirpitz was the Bismarck,s sistership. Looked almost identical.
Honestly there are alot of unique naval things that hide under the surface. Like the forgotten Graf Zeppelin German aircraft carrier
Amazing to see these heroes at such old ages. Nowadays, men with PTSD don't live as long, many of them self-destructing. If we could bottle the mentality that kept men alive so long after such tremendous stress, we could save millions. SALUTE RAF!
It has a lot to do with the type of person serving. During ww2 the overwhelming majority came from a 2 parent home and knew why they were fighting. Todays soldiers are recruited from low income communities that often don’t have intact families which effects the young men’s ability to compartmentalize and know why they are fighting
@@darbyohara Good point! I remember how it was in the late fifties & early 60s, when divorce became almost a rage. People let themselves go wild after being so straight-laced and seemed to seemed to be more self-centered. I remember my Grandfather saying, "No family, no country." As always, Pa was right. My father, a Marine, served in WWII, Korea and several tours of 'Nam, had two genius parents that raised fine children. After he retired, most people could tell by his bearing he had served, but were surprised to hear where he was during his 20 years. He was dignified, but mostly joyful and loved laughter. That kind of strength started at home.
It’s the family…
My father was on a ship in the Pacific. He would talk about the "fun" parts of the war but never about the combat.God bless my father. Rest in peace, dad.
@Hello Tom how are you doing
@@jennifercapps105 🤔🤔
My father was infantry in Europe, and same here. Talked about the fun or funniest parts, but that's it. And those stories were few and far between.
I never get tired of WW2 anything.
rob morgan me either. Especially ETO related.
rob--tried their sandwiches?
no doubt!!!
You would if you had to live through it. Historically, it is endlessly fascinating. But if you had to endure 4 years of seeing friends and family slaughtered, and even simple rationing of things like sugar and car tires, you would think otherwise.
rob morgan I'm not alone!!!🙏🏾
What a tragic experience for so many, but with a beautiful ending. Touched my heart to see these 2 once enemies now friends, still teaching us to this day. Its such a blessing that they are still here with us. I find it most interesting how those who fought these battles and live to tell the story, share their feelings and thoughts about the value of war.
I was stationed in Germany, and what struck me the most was not the differences between our two countries (and the UK), but the similarities. Parts of Frankfurt, Germany could have passed off as Portland, Oregon or NYC, except the street signs were in German. English is also a Germanic language. We also had a huge influx of German immigrants to the US in the mid 1800s.
My great uncle was a Lancaster bomber rear gunner in 9 Squadron. He was on this mission aswell as the Urft and Sorpe dams. He flew in over 30 sorties. He was a beautiful man. Very humble. Absolute legend and hero in my eyes. RIP Flight Sgt Fred Whitfield DFM
Absolute legend and hero in my eyes, too, and I've never heard of him before. My uncle, recently deceased was a navigator on the B-24. Many missions flown. He never spoke about his service. But, the navigator put the bomber over the target and turned the aircraft loose to the bombardier with the bomb-site. Then, he got them home. God Bless All of them.
The Tirpitz was the sister ship of The Bismarck. She was sunk in 1944.
Bismarck was sunk on May 27, 1941.
But 9 Sqdn didn’t participate in the Dams raid
@@williamcampbell4876I have read his flight books and the Urft and Sorpe dam missions are there as clear as day. That along with listening to his accounts is good enough proof for me
Then he missed his target should ahve dropped the bombs on Buckghihma place or Kremlin Moscow
I'm glad they didn't have blaring music that overpowered the voices.
Haha true.
You don't need it when u have quality content.
You sure?
Brilliant presentation. The personal stories of the veterans from both the German and British servicemen really topped it off. "Lest we forget."
Timeline comes through yet again. This is a great documentary. Most documentaries on WWII (and other military history) by other organizations are not nearly as good. Thanks, Timeline.
Well done Timeline. This one has everything a documentary should have. Thanks for uploading this for our pleasure. This is why I have paid for premium. Great programming with no ads wins.
Fantastic documentary, but it’s the pilots both axis and allied that tore my heart. They spoke as true gentleman and I have nothing but respect for all involved including those on that magnificent ship
I love this format. All the experiences from spry old veterans. Like having a bunch of grandpa's telling us about the war.
These guys remind me so much of a World War II veteran I met named Hulon Cameron. He served in the Pacific theatre in the Navy and I always visited him for a while when I was on my route with the gas company. He was a very jolly person. Once as I walked up he was sitting in the swing in the sun and I asked if he was working on his sun tan and he said yes and that he was getting prettier every day. I remember him telling me how angry he was when Emperor Hirohito went to Disneyland and how he never went there because of It and never owned a Japanese car.
A wonderful story with the actual veterans towards the end of their lives. Did you know that a fine navigator called F/O W.E.(Ricky) Richardson from my little island of Jamaica, was on board one of those Lancasters that helped sink the Tirpitz. Yes, most persons forget it was a british colony up to 1962. Three of my father's brothers also served in the RAF. One was killed in action. "Lest we Forget." Thank you for sharing this documentary.
Big up yuself bredrin. Freedom ova tyranny; love ova hate - any day!
Cheers from the US, mate.
I'm from London, West Indians are very much part of London these days.
We are very aware of our ties with your island home. Your sunshine, your food, your smile's, and not least your music have warmed us for many generations now. Much appreciated and loved.
@Hello Karl how are you doing
@@AndyJarman Thanks for your kind remarks. I havent been on this site for 2 yrs. Be safe.
I'm a wartime baby who survived the second world war, yet watching this video of sinking the Tirpitz makes me even more proud of our brave R.A.F. Pilots, who by their very efforts, in that raid, no doubt saved thousands of lives, that the Tirpitz no doubt would have taken. God Bless you pilots, on both sides. All were doing their duty. on both sides. Yet when it's all over, everyone is friends. Sad for the thousand young sailors of the German navy, and those of the British Airforce. We are here because of them They in my book will never be forgotten.
Massive respect but also im pretty sure Germany would have never used it considering what happend to bismarck it kinda just sat there
@@sumchipstarchy5469 they would have used it. The biggest problem with Germany was, they built something new and couldn't wait to use it. Imagine if they would have waited and used the Bismarck with its brother ship.
Of all the things I've heard pilots say about flying in the war, hearing Brit pilots talking about SEEing 15" shells coming up from the Tirpitz might well be the most surreal.
That high up, following a ballistic firing solution that must have been as nearly vertical as those guns were capable of,
I have no trouble believing they saw exactly that...
History
It's so good to hear directly from these men involved, they must have been so tense flying into this action, same for the men on the tirpitz. May the lost rest in peace.
"May the lost rest in peace." ....while the hidden, filthy rich continue to rake in greater and greater profits and power coming from all the endless wars!!!
@@jimrich4192 I don't disagree with you on that but sarcasm towards the dead is a bit much.
Indeed
My Grandfather That served throughout WWII became friends with some Japanese WWII veterans after the war and it lasted for the rest of their lives.
God Bless All Those that Have Served With Honor.
@Hello Bob how are you doing
Great coverage of this historical event. Thank you for including Squadron 9. So many are unaware of their contribution. I only knew of Squadron 9 because my Uncle's participation. Attacked the Tirpitz twice when flying with F/O Taylor and crew.
My grandfather was in WWI Battle of the Argon Forest. Three of his sons were in WWII Uncle Elmer was killed. I never met him. My Uncle Ray was my favorite uncle on my mothers side of the family. I miss them.
“crazy , crazy war, for nothing, 80 years of my life and it gets through to me now” jesus that killed me
True
Same
What a great documentary! So well done. The Norwegian coastline and snow-covered mountains are eerily beautiful. I love the testimonies of all these brave men. When I was a boy, I built a scale model of the Tirpitz. It was so amazing to me. I still recognize the camouflage scheme. There is simply something about a great ship, especially a battleship. I saw an aircraft carrier off.the coast of southern California and it was truly imposing. I can't imagine how the Tirpitz or Bismarck must have appeared in person. Thank you again for this wonderful video!
This documentary highlighted the human sufferings at the end very responsibly. Use of graphics and music were subtle. You'll find lots of documentaries(mainly from US) focused on WWII with dramatic music, extravagant graphics, fake historians which do not do justice to the millions of lives lost during those days. Kudos to the team behind this great work.
"Lots of (US fake) documentaries..." Such as???
@@demef758 I personally don't know about documentaries with fake historians. But I definitely know the overly dramatic WW2 documentaries they're talking about.
I started watching a documentary series that was uploaded to TH-cam called Battle 360 that talks about the USS Enterprise, and they have such an annoyingly over dramatic and patriotic tone that makes it super obvious it was made with an american audience in mind. I like the documentary series enough and would still recommend it, but everytime that marine guy appears to start talking about the American spirit or how America is coming for vengeance, I can't help but feel really annoyed.
While this one mainly focused on the pilots who took down the Tirpitz, they still took time to talk about the german side and struck a much more better balance overall.
@@soulsphere9242 There are many excellent American documentaries. You've even admitted it. *SOME* British documentarians are better than *SOME* American documentarians. The fact is, *SOME* American documentarians *are* better than *SOME* British documentarians. It isn't at all one-sided.
I love British television, but by no means all of it. I hate a lot of American television, but by no means all of it. See what I'm saying? It's stupid to over-generalize like that.
The bravery of these heroes is immeasurable! Their chuckles and smiles show some of the joy they had as young men after their victory against beast!
Well said, but the bravery of these heroes made them likewise to beast! How ironic! Killing the enemy is a primitive behavior - stone age like behavior. Who butchers the most get's an Iron-Cross, Victoria Cross, Croix d'honneur...whatever gilded tin-sign of being a perfect executioner of man. War is a racket, the big deceit!
WW2 redefined the entire world.
I LOVE this series.
But this one, in particular, has the best ending
with the raw emotion of the German pilot.
Deeply moving. And as the German said "All for nothing". Modern day and future tyrants should learn that all mendacious schemes fail, but not before ruining so many lives.
The trouble is they wont. their inflated egos and what can only be called an evil lust and hunger for power and control wont let them.
Look at the Korean War for example. How many lives were destroyed because of a failed power grab attempt? The Communists were evil to the core.
There is a double meaning in the saying "All for nothing" - It is the fate of every soldier on every side in every war, be it the winning or losing side. The ordinary soldiers get's nothing out of war, a basic truth in every conflict. If you still cling to the good vs bad scheme, you are excellent food for the next war-machine, based on whatever lie they may put into your head to justify it, being it tyrants or "civilized" states alike.
@@paul8158 They have trouble putting any of their lies in my head. They are all manipulators with no concern for truth.
My Dad was in the navy + took part in the Arctic Convoys, he served on HMS Zest. I believe a number of the ships were all named something beginning with the letter 'Z', an odd detail among what sadly is the little I know of his time during the war. He rarely spoke of it, although he was happy to answer questions when asked.
I wish I could ask about The Tirpitz, but he died back in May, 2020, he was 95-years old.
I'm so proud of his service, + for that of all the heroes who served....
Lest we forget........
中文翻譯
A B17 was crippled over Germany. The plane was heavily damaged and some of the crew were injured. And a 109 pilot spared the plane and crew and let them return to England. After the war was over the too american and Greman plots were reunited. Very touching.
This doc was a surprisingly striking commentary on the futility of war, and the human spirit.
And the futility of monolithic symbols of national military might... all that steel, when it could have been the swarm that disrupted D-Day... the bad choices of leadership separated from the daily business of killing.
Fascinating stuff.
If you think about it, all war films are anti-war films.
I'm a retired USN submariner and I agree completely with his statement @44:20 - @44:32. The politicians (rich people) make war and we regular people pay the price.
Exactly right. The kids of the wealthy elite never go to war.
This needed to happen for the outcome of the War to be what it was but it is so sad to hear the German soldiers recount their experience of it. War truly is a bunch of old men sitting around deciding the fate of young men. RIP to the young men who were condemned by the actions of others who had no concern for them as human beings.
Impressive. As a Veteran myself, I actually liked the end the best. War really does suck. What do opposing militaries really do? They send their youngest, bravest, those with the most potential in life,......to die. God Bless Them All.
The kids of the wealthy elite never go to war.
This was actually a very good doc on a piece of WWII history. Thanks for uploading !
44:10, I could watch guys like this talk about anything for hours and it would be more entertaining than most things on TV these days.
"This situation is where we as human beings finally come through after the politicians did to us whatever they wanted to do. And we said, "Yes, Sir." This is definitely one of the best documentaries on this channel. Touches your heart and soul in a way. Gives you a glimpse of the humans behind war.
I often feel like the Bismarck's case overshows the story of the Tirpitz Battleship. Which is ironic, given that they were both of the same class of Battleships. Thank you for covering this topic🙏
The Bismark gained fame by sinking the Hood.
45:13 Could not help myself but shed a tear, thinking back of our own war encounters, friends and foe's lost
Never put ‘unsinkable’ in front of a ship’s name.
Titanic
Bismarck
Tirpitz
Just to name a few
Aaron Huddleston And the HMS Hood as well
Yamato
Also Lusitania was called "The indestructible ship" and sunk in 18 minutes, it was hit with only one torpedo, over 1100 people died.
Especially when someone said "Not even God himself could sink this ship.”
- Employee of the White Star Line, at the launch of the Titanic, May 31, 1911
Of course it wasn't God who sinked it, but Human pride..
Musashi
The best channel in the history of TH-cam.
Agreed
Carlos Antonio
Look up "The Great War" channel on TH-cam.
He is doing a week by week analysis of WW1.
Damn. I am learning a TON!
Thanks!
I admire all your courage ! Thank you for the stories!! I could tell you guys enjoyed telling them again!!!
Does anyone feel the German ace Kurt Schultz. Even though he is admiring
RAF accomplishment but still regretting he couldn't saved them.
"Thousand Germans died" tears in the eyes.
Swahili
One of the more human comments. Thank you for it. The moral is we have to examine our politicians very carefully indeed and not get caught up in tribalism. It would be good if both sides of tribal warfare could be spared. Tusen Takk.
It is an unfortunate fact of war that people die. It is sad, very sad and stupid. If only the leaders could fight each other instead of our soldiers,airman and sailors, wouldn't that be something.
Anar Gantumur germańskim killed dozens of milions innocent people... robbed and burned to the ground half of the Europe. How about that?
@@ianballinger7644 you're a moron
Fantastic documentary, I didn't even notice 46 minutes go by. What extraordinary men!
seeing today's world i think many peeps forgot why these brave men gave their lives
They carried out orders? Wars are fought by people, who kill each other even though they don't know each other, while the people planning and profiting on war on both sides know each other, but don't kill each other.
Years ago, I was secretary to an RAF pilot. When I tried to ask him about the war, he said, don't ask me about the war. I lost my family in the bombing of Britain.
Salute to brave pilots...
Salute to brave sailors...
Salute to the old veterans....
I have just come across this documentary - how fantastic to see this. My dad, Colin "Bill" Campbell DFC was a Navigator/Bomb Aimer for 9 Squadron (an Aussie in the RAAF) and flew with Bomber Command until the war ended. Dad was given a model of the Tall Boy bomb by Barnes Wallace - the same bombs he deployed, along with others in both Squadrons, that finally sunk the Tirpitz. He rarely spoke of the war and suffered ill health for the rest of his short life. Although I was a child I remember his nightmares and perhaps he suffered what we now have a name for .... PTSD. How all those young men climbed into their Lancasters night after night knowing that some, maybe them, would not be returning. War is a terrible thing - our politicians need to remember that.
We loved you and are proud of you Dad. Jeanne Campbell Bartell
Thank you for sharing your dad's story.
My dad was a flight engineer on Lancasters and he always said thaton average a third of the planes were lost every time they went on a raid.
@@nadiarance5065 Hi Nadia. ... Thank you for sharing. Do you live in Australia?
Tirpitz was chopped into small pieces and steel plates from the ship are still used all over Norway as bridges over ditches on roads during road works. They're just called Tirpitz plates.
How bloody pragmatic but strangely sad.
I heard that the generators were salvaged and used in a power plant. Don't know if it's true, it was something I heard a while back.
Love to have a small one!!!
USN CV-62 Sailor
@@ysteinsrensen4681 So sad, the engines survive today, but the young men who drove them died!
@@vivians9392- What are the Tirpitz's engines used for?
they sang the national anthem until the end of their life, what a true patriot.
Stupidity ! They should look for ways to save self and co-servicemen. Sing national Anthem when you are on your time, not Navies
@@mastertechnician3372 the ship capsized and the crew was trapped waiting for help while the tide rised . What more can you do besides singing athem
@@mastertechnician3372 When you are trapped with no wait out because the hatches are warped, and the water is coming in ... We should all scream and blubber like you?
@@dr1flush USS Oklahoma, at Pearl Harbor. Some of them lasted three days before their air ran out, and the bodies were still warm when they cut through the wreckage to reach them.
45:11
I can’t imagine spending 8 years thinking you’re fighting for your people, only for the war to end and you’re pinned as one of the “bad guys” for the rest of your life.
I have the utmost respect for all warriors with good hearts.
Masterful documentary-making. Well done!
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Superb narration, beautiful scenery, and outstanding personal accounts from men on both sides who were there in the air (on both sides) and aboard the Tirpitz. Outstanding !
This is what makes Men, Men. Incredible. Thank God for Men like this.
Fun fact: Steel plates from the Tirpitz are to this day used to cover temporary ditches dug across roadways in Norway. Whenever such ditches need to be dug, for whatever reason. They are inches thick and can withstand whatever load is driven over them.
Every time I see one of these old WWII veterans break down, I do too. Same with Band of Brothers, the interviews at the end.
Me too Mr. Schneider. Peace be to you & yours. Sincerely, Sentebey in USA
My grandpa and his brother were 14 and 15 when tirpitz sank. They lived next to the fjord where tirpitz sank. They saw the whole thing and heard screams. He past away 1 year ago
That must have been quite a sight
These men are the real heroes of our world. We cannot begin to understand what they went through to give us our freedom. They gave their lives and childhoods for this nonsense set up by a ruthless dictator.
I will forever have the utmost respect and admiration of people like these men.
Thank you RAF and thank you USAF for making a difference and for changing the course of history. My respect for the Deutsche Navy and the Luftwaffe, they fought courageously, but as in any war, someone has got to lose.
Erwin Kunze It was the UAAC
@@WilliamJones-Halibut-vq1fs ...I take it you're not Jewish..?
William Jones-Halibut you are truly delusional
@@WilliamJones-Halibut-vq1fs You're delusional. Go for help.
@@theghostanihalater9391 USAAC .... My Dad Flew 30 Missions in a B-24 from RAF Tibbenham in WW II .... The 445th Bomb Group!
29:40 A near miss from a 12,000 lb. Tallboy was almost as good as a hit. Each one contained 5,2000 lb. of Torpex D1. (Torpex is 50% more powerful than TNT.) The pressure blast against the hull of Tirpitz from the bomb exploding in water nearby would crumple hull plates, buckle bulkheads and lead to massive flooding. With two direct hits and three near misses, Tirpitz was torn apart. In addition, the in water detonations scoured away a lot of the sandbank that has been created to prevent Tirpitz from capsizing if hit. Tirpitz was doomed.
What a remarkable change from 1940 when RAF bombers couldn't drop bombs within 5 miles of their targets. To hit a battleship from 15,000 feet a number of times was skill of the highest order.
I love to listen to veterans from both sides telling their stories. God bless them all.
I wish I could have given them all a big hug!
Really moved me at the end. Brilliant doc.
The end of this video is beautiful. Thanks to all that protected us.
All who served are HEROES. I can't thank your dad, but you are right to be proud of him.
Came here for a war documentary and left feeling moved, sad, grateful.
My respect to all the men, both British and German who were interviewed. We should listen to them. And yet, the war is happening again.
This is what should happen after a war.
After a few decades, both sides need to make peace.
May the common man on both sides of war RIP.
equarg think
Jobhome
Germans are more despised in the year 2018 and they were in 1958 and its due to left wing politics, holocaust propaganda, the drive to minorise Whites. It’s propaganda in the movies and its part of the same hate directed at all Whites. That’s why western civilisation ending. The sentiment among many English people maybe towards reconciliation and forgiveness but that’s not what’s happening in the media, they hate Germans and they hate Whites.
It certainly happens. Do we hate Japan, Italy, and Germany today? Look at what just happened, where Vietnam hosted talks between Trump and Kim. Vietnam was pushing the idea to Kim "when you do business with the USA, good things happen." Who would have thought it possible in the 1960s and 70s? If you get beyond politics, you find there are lots of very nice, friendly people in Russia and China today. It is unfathomable that we might some day go to war with them, but politicians are the ones who make these awful decisions, not ordinary citizens.
@ckatlinga Imagine going to war because you fcking Democrats want to destroy the Constitution! You fcking IDIOT! Where will YOU hide??
Some do not want peace they want destruction
Old warriors! May you live in peace! You have my ultimate respect.
Warriors - old or young, you are stupid! Killing the enemy is the most primitive action carried out by the human race for thousands of years, no difference since the stone age, it's the same mindset ever since!
@@paul8158 shut up punkass!
History is so much more exciting, and emotional, than fiction ever was...
That last little bit of the two men talking really got to me. My father was in the Angolan border war with South Africa fighting for South Africa. I hate what he had to go through. For nothing, in a pointless war waged by greedy and misguided politicians to attempt to keep Angola's independence stripped away from it. All because of different ideologies
Can you imagine the youth of today having to deal with a war like those men did, i cant fathom how they did it. A salute to all those men, more of a man than i could ever wish to be
Remember they grew up in the Depression, so they were used to hardship. The rations were for some of them simply a continuation of their earlier limited meals. That generation was 5x tougher and more humbled than possibly any since then.
@@thunderbird1921 True story
My great uncle was a part of operation source as the Sub Lieutenant of the X5. RIP Alastair David Malcolm. I wish I could go back in time to meet you
I would love to have a piece of Tirpitz off the beach for my wall. What a conversation piece it would be.
Even with the enormous losses of life aboard the ships themselves, the Bismarck and it's identical sister ship the Tirpitz ABSOLUTELY had to be sunk at all costs. May those lost souls rest in peace in thier watery grave.
@abe lincoln tell that to the crew of the HMS Hood. Second, Convoys carrying war supplies are valid, and very high valued, targets. Any person with a modicum of military experience knows you can't fight if you have no bullets, Thus supply lines are priority targets, whether its by sea, air, or land. Denigrating the main function of warships ( to break a nations ability to resupply by sea) is stupid.
@@robertperrotto870 That is exactly WHY they had to be sunk. If they had got loose, it would have been a convoy massacre.
I’m sure the KMS thought the same thing about the biggest allied ships.
I love how they put a marker over each bomb that hit the tirpitz, RIP sailors
And now you have to remember this all happened because the transport plane costs 5 minute and they came 3 minutes to late. Grates to that guy
these were some of the luckiest pilots of the war. And some of the unlucky sailors of the war.
well they got lucky over 30 times....
Respect and rest in peace for those who lost there souls!