In 1980, while I was in the U.S. Army, my unit was taking part in the annual REFORGER exercise in Germany. My crew was assigned to support 21 SAS (a TA SAS regiment based in Hereford). At one point a British DH Beaver had a mission to drop several of the remaining dummies that they called "Gingerbread Men". The next day I was talking to the pilot, and he told me one of the gingers had hung up in the top of a tall pine tree. We were going to try and rescue it but got reassigned before we could get to it. Would've made a great souvenir!
My great grandfather was named Rupert, he lost his leg in Ypres in WWI. Didn't see any combat in WWII, just said there was alot of planes and explosions, and he quartered a few German soldiers occasionally who were kind.
@@geigertec5921 my father turned 16 lied about his age join the Canadian Armed Forces, and was active on the Battle of Juno Beach. It wasn't too long after they found out, redirecting him home via a non-active status, for awhile.
@@projektkobra2247 they knew we were there with Maple Leafs on from the Boer war to Korea. We left our mark on every battlefield and earned it with respect and pride 🍻
@@Pembroke. -Yep... the maple leaf IS our symbol...and it was on The Red Ensign as well. Youd be hard pressed to even FIND anyone who calls himself a "Canadian" anymore...theyre all, "SOMETHING-Canadians". Liberal PIGS love to delete our history.
One group which seems never to get a mention is the Combined Operations Pilotage Party. It was their job to go in at night and survey all of the beaches so that each could be assessed for there suitability for the landing of troops and tanks. The had to do this on beaches guarded by the Germans and without leaving a trace of what the did because it could alert the Germans. So effectively they were the first troops on the beaches used for D-Day. On D-Day itself they sat in their kayaks with torches forming lanes to guide the landing crafts in. In several case some of these men lost their lives when hit by these landing crafts.
If I read you right you mean they scouted possible invasion beaches along the coast not just Normandy. This if I recall right was there role first. Then for the Actual Landings they did it again but just the invasion beaches and base on what they found they tried to use their torches to guide the landing craft but with everything else going on the torches were not bright enough for some landing craft to see well enough and long enough for the landing craft operators. One major reason for no credit is their existence hidden till the 50's.
@@milferdjones2573 Hi Milfredjones, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. Yes they scouted the beaches with one of their tasks being to check whether or not the beaches were suitable for vehicles to use it. This is one of the reasons some Churchill tanks, as well as some trucks, were used to deploy the carpet roll type D to make sure vehicles did not get bogged down. They also took samples from the beach to take back for analysis as part of this process. I came across a book about this group at my local library some years ago which was the first time I had heard about them and even now very little if anything is even mentioned about them. But but it does go to show how extensive and thorough the planning for D-Day was and what lessons were learned from the Dieppe raid.
I am sitting in my yard right now enjoying a cup of coffee. The freedom we all all have now was paid for by the sacrifices of so many allied soldiers 70 years ago. The SAS performed brilliantly throughout the war. Many thanks to all the cooks, truck drives, and soldiers that put a uniform on to liberate the continent . Heroes, one and all.
We have one of the few remaining Rupert dummies in a museum here. It had been buried in a bunker at a former RAF base and was forgotten until the bunker was unearthed during a construction project in the 1990s.😉👍
@@fredkruse9444 It is a private museum in Mississippi called the "G.I. Museum" operated by a retired electronics instructor named Doug Mansfield. It is about a 20 minute drive from Biloxi.
In 1959 when my grandad started at DuPont, the man who hired him Gord Richards was an intelligence officer with the British commandos who's job it was was to destroy the artillery batteries on Dieppe, they were fired upon and Richards lost three fingers on his hand and got out on the last evacuation plane. Thanks for the special video on this special anniversary. I loved the Rupert cartoon as a kid.
Just finished watching Band of Brothers two days ago. I feel like many movies glorify war and violence, but that show demonstrated the true horrors of war. I’m forever thankful for all those that fought to bring an end to WW2. Let’s hope for everlasting peace.
My father passed away on the 53rd anniversary of the Normandy Invasion in 1997. He was with the 15th Army Air Corps in Italy, maintaining the Radar systems on B-24 Liberators.
I read an obituary a few years back of one of these SAS Troopers. He was still a teenager at the time and was so slight that he was nearly blown off course when he jumped out. He was saved by the sheer weight of the technical equipment he was carrying.
Yet another fascinating story from WW2 and told by the best to do so, ofcourse, Mark Felton! For the incredible brave SAS men who knew that it was a likely suicide mission, rest in peace🙏.
Thank you Dr Felton for uploading. My mind is focused today on D Day landings. I even, though born 4 decades after D day, feel a great debit to the men who fought and died and those that survived. My history never ever forget their and their families sacrifice.
So very true. Today the media seems to be focused on Prince Harry. I however concentrated on those brave men and women who gave their lives to save the world 79 years ago.
@Coops1964 I lament the way the world is now. However, we in the West are free to choose just because brave men and women stood up and said no, enough is enough. If Britain had cowed down and not fought ww2, the freedom to choose whatever you wanted wouldn't be available. It's this great act of D Day that Europe has to thank the British, USA and Canada for their freedom. D days importance can not and should not ever be forgotten.
@@chuckymcchuckface8768 Although the Americans took the brunt of DDays casualties. We have to thank the people of every nation that fought against and resisted the Nazis and the Japanese for our freedoms. This was truly a world war.
Truly heroic SAS commando's, who's selfless actions saved no doubt many lives. Yet another piece of little known history revealed, thank you so much mr Fellton.
First, remember these mentioned in the film: The Longest Day! The ingenious way that a few men could with recordings confused and distracted the defenders showed how much went into Overlord's preparation, which was psychological, and God only knows how many lives were saved! Well done, Dr Mark!
Maybe it was just Hollywood "overdoing it" a bit, but in the movie "The Longest Day", they did show the Rupert Paratroopers, but they were made of rubber, a scarce commodity at the time, and much more detailed and lifelike than the Ruperts you showed. I believe the one's you showed were probably true to real thing, the details in the Hollywood version would have been unnecessary in a night diversionary operation. Thanks for highlighting this seemingly small, but still very important phase of the Overlord operation.
My husband’s uncle was in D-Day 3, I can only imagine how scared a 18 year old boy was, my dad was in the Aleutian Islands, one of his brothers was in Iceland and the other was in Italy. Thank God for these brave boys.
My great Uncle was Wounded as a Paratrooper, his uniform and medals are shown at a military museum in Germantown Ohio. If anyone is in the area and want to see them, pretty cool stuff at that museum.
Thanks again for another great adventure into history, the SAS were some brave Lads indeed, knowing full well what would happen if caught. I had family who fought in the South Pacific as well as in Europe, D-day is a good day to remember all. 👍
These soldier toy paratroops were shown and described in the movie,the longest day,with an all star cast,including British actors.Rufus had firecrackers tied to around his waist,and would go off on contact to the ground.Also,Rufus was where G.I.joe toy came from.THANKS MARK,OLE BUDDY!
The dummies used in the movie were far more realistic dolls, probably because they thought movie audiences would never believe the actual Ruperts would have fooled anyone.
I remember the Ruperts had a bit part in the movie "The Longest Day". The movie Ruperts were miniature figures with uniforms and facial features. I never understood why they'd go to the trouble of making such realistic miniature dummies. Thanks for giving more information and the real story.
Undoubtedly many would find these videos boring and irrelevant to today's world. However Mark is putting together a real work of history film art. The detailed research is paired with easily understandable narration and some rare video footage. I have studied the war my father took part in as an 8th Airforce crew member for many years. I've seen a lot of documentaries. Mark's investigations have filled many gaps in those works and cleared up many areas of confusion. These videos will stand the test of time. Especially as we seem to be entering a time when reading text is being abandoned in favor of video presentation. Thanks in part to Mark, understand of this crucially important world event will remain available for those who care to look.
G'day Mark, Thank you for shining a well-deserved light on the Ruperts and the Titanic operation. Each year, even down here in Australia, at selected cenotaphs and memorial sites we too pay tribute to the US, UK and Canadians who undertook the most formidable military tactic of a frontal assault on the enemy from the sea. As General Eisenhower eluded to the effort being one of, "... these united nations..." he was right. The personnel of other Allied countries also took a relatively tiny role in the D-Day landings at Normandy, even though they weren't as visible as troops from other countries. Apart from Australians and New Zealanders who flew in the skies above the landing grounds and their approaches, effectively keeping what was left of the Luftwaffe away from the action. There were also small detachments of specialist Australian troops seconded to British units, as I discovered when talking to a couple of elderly, ex-Army members of my RSL Club (like Legion clubs) who I'd noticed, on ANZAC Day, wearing European campaign medals and decorations. We should all genuinely salute those brave boys who fought and sacrificed on those bloody beaches and hedgerows beyond. Because it was so successful, I think some have, historically, glossed over the possible dire consequences had the Normandy landings failed. So, we still, today, owe a huge vote of thanks to the thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen plus the spies; all the women in uniform and the 'armies' of civilian workers in all Allied countries. Together, they forced the ultimate surrender of Hitler's Nazis and brought peace to Europe. All these years later, we have, sadly, learned how fragile that European peace, finally, can be as now one man in Russia has decided to emulate the worst of Stalin's brutal excesses. Military technology changes but despots never do. If that little man in the Kremlin wants to really imitate Stalin... then he should drop dead. 😉 Cheers, Bill H.
i remember watching "The Longest Day", where the British mentioned the Rupert paradummies. maybe for the 80th anniversary, you could make a video on the clicking crickets.
These videos remind me of a really high quality WW2 show that was on Discovery a long time ago,don't remember the name but incredible to watch and informative like these. Thank you.
A great video and a perfect day for remembrance. Thanks. Sadly, many people will just look at today as another day in their lives and not realize just how many gave up their lives today, for freedom.
What's even sadder is how many seem to be rushing to embrace the evils of fascism that their fathers and grandfathers great-grandfathers fought to defeat.
Those few of us who still hold this day in reverence and remembrance will not forget its significance… happy Liberation Day my friends may we to find victory as we charge through hell onwards into the breach!
They gave their lives so others landing on D Day could keep their lives and save others. Like the Cpl from my SAS Sqn that was lost in Afghanistan some years ago now. THANK YOU to ALL of them.
However, troops from many other countries participated in D-Day and the Battle of Normandy: Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Poland.
My father was in the US Navy off the coast of France. During D Day. On 8 June 1944 his ship the USS Swenning DE 394. Picked up a down RAF Halifax Bomber out of the drink. He said he’s never seen a happier bunch of men
@@danapussyone greatest focus shouldn't mean total focus. They were just as brave, took just as much risk and sacrificed their lives on many occasions.
Many of your videos are interesting sidelights of history that none the less played a large role in history and today was a perfect example D Day is thought of as the troops wading ashore against incredible odds, but it was the behind the scenes work of the SAS that helped ensure success. I never knew much about this part of the story but in 5 minutes I learned a lot
Thank you, Professor/Dr. Felton, yet another amazing work of research and in celebration and remembrance of D-Day! It is absolutely mind-boggling, how so much work and intelligence went into the Normandie invasion, and how much went into deceiving the Wehrmacht, in order to get our troops onto the beachheads and through the defenses, without either being completely stopped cold, or thrown back into the sea as was What happened with Dunkirk.
this is going to sound strange but good on you for using the word celebration. My dad was a paratrooper on d day. June 6th for him was something to brag about and every year he'd be at the legion celebrating with his buddies.
Another brilliant and informative video by Mark Felton. Just can't get enough of this Chanel. I've always been interested in ww2 mainly because my father was in the war. He was a lance corporal in the coldsteam guards, aged 19 on the beaches of Dunkirk part of the BEF and then went back in 1944 as part of the failed market garden operation, and was wounded and caught at Arnhem, then spent the rest of the war as a pow in Germany. He told me many stories of what went on, some funny some horrendous. Unfortunately he's not around anymore but I'll never forget what he told me and what those boys went through. He would have loved this Chanel and I'm sure he would have spoken highly of Dr Felton and his knowledge.
A suggestion for one of your films . During the second world war, Italy, a group of SAS prisoners managed to walk to safety using in part the services of a specially trained dog (British pet of course). All wrapped up in security and now probably the mist of time. The pet was returned to its family after the war but had some peculiar behaviour traits. Got the Dicken Medal. It is a story that has really intrigued me for decades particularly given the SAS experience in the Malaya emergency with dogs being unfavourable although of course in Afghan they became invaluable and definitely in favour again. You do great programmes. Thanks
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and his Beach Jumpers would make a great subject for one of your videos, as he was deeply involved in all of the D-day deception efforts and the story of the Beach Jumpers is even less well known than Operation Titanic.
I recently completed the WWII unit of my grade 10 Canadian History class, and once again, you have provided some excellent material for me to share with my classes. Many thanks, Mark!
Rupert! ☺️ I just watched The Longest Day for the first time, and it was amazing. Just a perfect movie all the way through. John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Eddie Albert, Red Buttons, Sean Connery, so many brilliant actors, so many powerful performances.
Thanks. I hadn't heard this story before. An uncle landed at Utah Beach and later was attached to Patton's force sent to break the seige at the Bulge. Patton told the troops that he was prepared "to pave the way with dog tags." Grim times.
In the souvenir shops of St Mere Eglise in Normandy in France, they sell Rupert dolls from "The Longest Day" (1962) for 1200 Euro, which was therefore a fantasy doll.
Mark, your commitment to the small stories make the big story seem inevitable...please keep up the great work, the world needs to know the whole story! To the men, women and families, may your stories always be remembered.
Thanks Mark for this. Hardly mentioned yesterday. This should be marked loud and proud every year. If it had not been for the brave men and women we would all be speaking German now. Thanks again.
My Air Force Security Police unit exercised with British Territorial Army SAS while stationed just north of London. We learned a lot from our British friends during an interesting night!
So basically eight SAS chaps parachuted into enemy territory, immediately commenced making a lot of noise and attracted thousands of German troops to their location. I’m amazed they managed to get into the aeroplanes dropping them as their balls must have been that enormous. RIP to such brave brave men.
In 1980, while I was in the U.S. Army, my unit was taking part in the annual REFORGER exercise in Germany. My crew was assigned to support 21 SAS (a TA SAS regiment based in Hereford). At one point a British DH Beaver had a mission to drop several of the remaining dummies that they called "Gingerbread Men". The next day I was talking to the pilot, and he told me one of the gingers had hung up in the top of a tall pine tree. We were going to try and rescue it but got reassigned before we could get to it. Would've made a great souvenir!
What color is the boathouse at Hereford?
I don‘t like your attitude!
@@thomasbrown9402 I see what you did there!
Yes, 'gingerbread men'. And Rupert was/is SAS slang for an officer.
@@thomasbrown9402 Past tense please, the answer is green.
No doubt the SAS efforts saved lives and enabled the Normandy landings to be that much more successful. Great video, Mark.
Too many Allied lives lost to call it a win. Better planning or tactics were needed.
@@davidlocke1668 shame you weren't there calling the shots . Bet it would've gone so much better. 😂
That was a SASsy Operation.
Thank-you Dr Felton for keeping the memories alive of all the brave men and women 🙏💐🇬🇧🇨🇦🇺🇲
My great grandfather was named Rupert, he lost his leg in Ypres in WWI. Didn't see any combat in WWII, just said there was alot of planes and explosions, and he quartered a few German soldiers occasionally who were kind.
@@geigertec5921 my father turned 16 lied about his age join the Canadian Armed Forces, and was active on the Battle of Juno Beach. It wasn't too long after they found out, redirecting him home via a non-active status, for awhile.
Sad theres no accurate flag of Canada to show our contribution in WW1, and 2, and Korea.
@@projektkobra2247 they knew we were there with Maple Leafs on from the Boer war to Korea. We left our mark on every battlefield and earned it with respect and pride 🍻
@@Pembroke. -Yep... the maple leaf IS our symbol...and it was on The Red Ensign as well.
Youd be hard pressed to even FIND anyone who calls himself a "Canadian" anymore...theyre all, "SOMETHING-Canadians".
Liberal PIGS love to delete our history.
One group which seems never to get a mention is the Combined Operations Pilotage Party. It was their job to go in at night and survey all of the beaches so that each could be assessed for there suitability for the landing of troops and tanks. The had to do this on beaches guarded by the Germans and without leaving a trace of what the did because it could alert the Germans. So effectively they were the first troops on the beaches used for D-Day.
On D-Day itself they sat in their kayaks with torches forming lanes to guide the landing crafts in. In several case some of these men lost their lives when hit by these landing crafts.
Lighting the way to victory
Thank you for bringing their bravery to light in ore ways than one.
If I read you right you mean they scouted possible invasion beaches along the coast not just Normandy. This if I recall right was there role first.
Then for the Actual Landings they did it again but just the invasion beaches and base on what they found they tried to use their torches to guide the landing craft but with everything else going on the torches were not bright enough for some landing craft to see well enough and long enough for the landing craft operators.
One major reason for no credit is their existence hidden till the 50's.
@@milferdjones2573 Hi Milfredjones, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. Yes they scouted the beaches with one of their tasks being to check whether or not the beaches were suitable for vehicles to use it. This is one of the reasons some Churchill tanks, as well as some trucks, were used to deploy the carpet roll type D to make sure vehicles did not get bogged down. They also took samples from the beach to take back for analysis as part of this process.
I came across a book about this group at my local library some years ago which was the first time I had heard about them and even now very little if anything is even mentioned about them. But but it does go to show how extensive and thorough the planning for D-Day was and what lessons were learned from the Dieppe raid.
Many thanks to the brave men who risked it all and especially to those who lost it all for our freedom on this day many years ago.
👍
May they be remembered… forever
And all to create and preserve this wonderful land we are experiencing today ? They died fighting for the wrong side.
@@earlgrey691 Oh please kindly go touch some grass, sir high and mighty
I am sitting in my yard right now enjoying a cup of coffee.
The freedom we all all have now was paid for by the sacrifices of so many allied soldiers 70 years ago. The SAS performed brilliantly throughout the war.
Many thanks to all the cooks, truck drives, and soldiers that put a uniform on to liberate the continent . Heroes, one and all.
Well said.
My uncle Eilert landed on Utah Beach. The only thing he ever said about it was that a bullet passed so close to his ear he felt it!
Thank you for the post. The clip of the Eisenhower speech and the bravery of the SAS troopers is inspiring. 🇺🇸 🇬🇧🇨🇦
We have one of the few remaining Rupert dummies in a museum here. It had been buried in a bunker at a former RAF base and was forgotten until the bunker was unearthed during a construction project in the 1990s.😉👍
The SAS still call officers 'Ruperts' to this day 🙂
@@cmsxcb All British Army Officers are referred to as Rupert.
@@bugler75 I served in the Rhodesian Light Infantry, we referred to officers as Ruperts too.
Where's the museum?
@@fredkruse9444 It is a private museum in Mississippi called the "G.I. Museum" operated by a retired electronics instructor named Doug Mansfield. It is about a 20 minute drive from Biloxi.
Every soldier had a story. May they all be remembered forever. ❤️ from 🇨🇦. Thank you Dr. Felton, always top marks. 👍
Check out a book called "six war years" a collection of short stories from Canadians about their experience during the war.
Thank you to all the Canadian troops who served and serve still today.
I admire the brave men who parachuted into the night in Normandy. God bless you.
In 1959 when my grandad started at DuPont, the man who hired him Gord Richards was an intelligence officer with the British commandos who's job it was was to destroy the artillery batteries on Dieppe, they were fired upon and Richards lost three fingers on his hand and got out on the last evacuation plane.
Thanks for the special video on this special anniversary.
I loved the Rupert cartoon as a kid.
Just finished watching Band of Brothers two days ago. I feel like many movies glorify war and violence, but that show demonstrated the true horrors of war. I’m forever thankful for all those that fought to bring an end to WW2. Let’s hope for everlasting peace.
If only the Ukrainian’s could feel the same. 💔
I have so much respect for the American, Canadian, and British troopers! Our countries each share a very important history together. 🇺🇲🇨🇦🇬🇧
❤🇨🇦❤️🇺🇸❤️🇬🇧
And Australian.
My father passed away on the 53rd anniversary of the Normandy Invasion in 1997. He was with the 15th Army Air Corps in Italy, maintaining the Radar systems on B-24 Liberators.
Heroes
Never forget
Greatest generation
Thank you Mr Felton for telling their stories and making sure these brave people are never forgotten.
I don't think WW2 will ever not be interesting. Thanks Dr. Felton!
Thank you for alerting the world to the existence of these few who gave it their all.
They have been remembered.
You are all gentlemen and scholars being here as early as you all are. Thank you Dr. Felton.
Truly to day is an important day one which we must never forget.
Hats off to those brave men.
I read an obituary a few years back of one of these SAS Troopers. He was still a teenager at the time and was so slight that he was nearly blown off course when he jumped out. He was saved by the sheer weight of the technical equipment he was carrying.
Yet another fascinating story from WW2 and told by the best to do so, ofcourse, Mark Felton!
For the incredible brave SAS men who knew that it was a likely suicide mission, rest in peace🙏.
Thank you Dr Felton for uploading. My mind is focused today on D Day landings. I even, though born 4 decades after D day, feel a great debit to the men who fought and died and those that survived. My history never ever forget their and their families sacrifice.
WW2 Channel has done a 24hr documentary.
So very true. Today the media seems to be focused on Prince Harry. I however concentrated on those brave men and women who gave their lives to save the world 79 years ago.
@@coops1964 I was fortunate and honored to meet a Screaming Eagle in the early 2000s.
RIP Gus Bernardoni.
@Coops1964 I lament the way the world is now. However, we in the West are free to choose just because brave men and women stood up and said no, enough is enough. If Britain had cowed down and not fought ww2, the freedom to choose whatever you wanted wouldn't be available. It's this great act of D Day that Europe has to thank the British, USA and Canada for their freedom. D days importance can not and should not ever be forgotten.
@@chuckymcchuckface8768 Although the Americans took the brunt of DDays casualties.
We have to thank the people of every nation that fought against and resisted the Nazis and the Japanese for our freedoms.
This was truly a world war.
Thank God for these men, their bravery and sacrifice gives us the freedom we enjoy today. Truly the Greatest Generation.
Ho yeah! Something for D-Day Anniversary!
Thank you, Dr. Felton!
Thank you for remembering, we stand on the shoulders of great men form June 6, 1944.
Truly heroic SAS commando's, who's selfless actions saved no doubt many lives. Yet another piece of little known history revealed, thank you so much mr Fellton.
A GRAND anniversary for a GRAND collection of international D-Day heroes!
My dad was involved in DD day ! He actually come out without a scratch! God bless his soul
D-Day is one of the greatest military operations in history
Mark, excellent video as always! I fear many in the UK and the USA have forgotten the sacrifices made in many wars of freedom.
Rest in peace gentlemen; the world owes you more than you could ever know. Thank you Dr. Felton; excellent video as always.
First, remember these mentioned in the film: The Longest Day! The ingenious way that a few men could with recordings confused and distracted the defenders showed how much went into Overlord's preparation, which was psychological, and God only knows how many lives were saved! Well done, Dr Mark!
Thank You Dr. Mark Felton.
Maybe it was just Hollywood "overdoing it" a bit, but in the movie "The Longest Day", they did show the Rupert Paratroopers, but they were made of rubber, a scarce commodity at the time, and much more detailed and lifelike than the Ruperts you showed. I believe the one's you showed were probably true to real thing, the details in the Hollywood version would have been unnecessary in a night diversionary operation. Thanks for highlighting this seemingly small, but still very important phase of the Overlord operation.
Gummi Puppen? Lol
My husband’s uncle was in D-Day 3, I can only imagine how scared a 18 year old boy was, my dad was in the Aleutian Islands, one of his brothers was in Iceland and the other was in Italy. Thank God for these brave boys.
Love the IKE video at the end....as always a pleasure to watch your shows. Thank you!
My great Uncle was Wounded as a Paratrooper, his uniform and medals are shown at a military museum in Germantown Ohio.
If anyone is in the area and want to see them, pretty cool stuff at that museum.
Thanks again for another great adventure into history, the SAS were some brave Lads indeed, knowing full well what would happen if caught. I had family who fought in the South Pacific as well as in Europe, D-day is a good day to remember all. 👍
Just finished watching The Longest Day. Thanks Rupert and kudos to Dr. Felton!
These soldier toy paratroops were shown and described in the movie,the longest day,with an all star cast,including British actors.Rufus had firecrackers tied to around his waist,and would go off on contact to the ground.Also,Rufus was where G.I.joe toy came from.THANKS MARK,OLE BUDDY!
The dummies used in the movie were far more realistic dolls, probably because they thought movie audiences would never believe the actual Ruperts would have fooled anyone.
Puppen? Gummi Puppen?!
I remember the Ruperts had a bit part in the movie "The Longest Day". The movie Ruperts were miniature figures with uniforms and facial features. I never understood why they'd go to the trouble of making such realistic miniature dummies.
Thanks for giving more information and the real story.
Whenever I see a new Mark Felton video appear in my TH-cam feed, before I even click on it, the intro music starts playing in my head. Anyone else? 🙂
Undoubtedly many would find these videos boring and irrelevant to today's world. However Mark is putting together a real work of history film art. The detailed research is paired with easily understandable narration and some rare video footage. I have studied the war my father took part in as an 8th Airforce crew member for many years. I've seen a lot of documentaries. Mark's investigations have filled many gaps in those works and cleared up many areas of confusion. These videos will stand the test of time. Especially as we seem to be entering a time when reading text is being abandoned in favor of video presentation. Thanks in part to Mark, understand of this crucially important world event will remain available for those who care to look.
Thank you Veterans, for your service
G'day Mark, Thank you for shining a well-deserved light on the Ruperts and the Titanic operation. Each year, even down here in Australia, at selected cenotaphs and memorial sites we too pay tribute to the US, UK and Canadians who undertook the most formidable military tactic of a frontal assault on the enemy from the sea. As General Eisenhower eluded to the effort being one of, "... these united nations..." he was right.
The personnel of other Allied countries also took a relatively tiny role in the D-Day landings at Normandy, even though they weren't as visible as troops from other countries.
Apart from Australians and New Zealanders who flew in the skies above the landing grounds and their approaches, effectively keeping what was left of the Luftwaffe away from the action.
There were also small detachments of specialist Australian troops seconded to British units, as I discovered when talking to a couple of elderly, ex-Army members of my RSL Club (like Legion clubs) who I'd noticed, on ANZAC Day, wearing European campaign medals and decorations.
We should all genuinely salute those brave boys who fought and sacrificed on those bloody beaches and hedgerows beyond. Because it was so successful, I think some have, historically, glossed over the possible dire consequences had the Normandy landings failed.
So, we still, today, owe a huge vote of thanks to the thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen plus the spies; all the women in uniform and the 'armies' of civilian workers in all Allied countries. Together, they forced the ultimate surrender of Hitler's Nazis and brought peace to Europe.
All these years later, we have, sadly, learned how fragile that European peace, finally, can be as now one man in Russia has decided to emulate the worst of Stalin's brutal excesses.
Military technology changes but despots never do. If that little man in the Kremlin wants to really imitate Stalin... then he should drop dead. 😉
Cheers, Bill H.
In glorious memory of those who fought and died for freedom. God bless all of them and their families on this special day.
i remember watching "The Longest Day", where the British mentioned the Rupert paradummies. maybe for the 80th anniversary, you could make a video on the clicking crickets.
Thank you Mark Felton for all your great WWII content :)
These videos remind me of a really high quality WW2 show that was on Discovery a long time ago,don't remember the name but incredible to watch and informative like these.
Thank you.
One of the few topics I actually knew about. Thank you Longest Day!
A great video and a perfect day for remembrance. Thanks.
Sadly, many people will just look at today as another day in their lives and not realize just how many gave up their lives today, for freedom.
What's even sadder is how many seem to be rushing to embrace the evils of fascism that their fathers and grandfathers great-grandfathers fought to defeat.
Those few of us who still hold this day in reverence and remembrance will not forget its significance… happy Liberation Day my friends may we to find victory as we charge through hell onwards into the breach!
They gave their lives so others landing on D Day could keep their lives and save others. Like the Cpl from my SAS Sqn that was lost in Afghanistan some years ago now. THANK YOU to ALL of them.
D-Day content on D-Day ! Great stuff! Thank you!
However, troops from many other countries participated in D-Day and the Battle of Normandy: Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Poland.
My father was in the US Navy off the coast of France. During D Day. On 8 June 1944 his ship the USS Swenning DE 394. Picked up a down RAF Halifax Bomber out of the drink.
He said he’s never seen a happier bunch of men
Poland was most important
Of course. However, it was an overwhelmingly British US Canadian operation, which is why those forces have the greatest focus.
@@danapussyone greatest focus shouldn't mean total focus. They were just as brave, took just as much risk and sacrificed their lives on many occasions.
Big day of remembering for my family. We all love your work. Thanks.
A very fitting tribute on this 79th Anniversary. Thank you Prof. Felton.
Many of your videos are interesting sidelights of history that none the less played a large role in history and today was a perfect example D Day is thought of as the troops wading ashore against incredible odds, but it was the behind the scenes work of the SAS that helped ensure success. I never knew much about this part of the story but in 5 minutes I learned a lot
This is an AWESOME story. Thank you for posting it.
DDay, 6 June 1944 Should be remembered Always. None of us would be alive and here now but for the supreme bravery of all our people.
You'd be alive. You just wouldn't be YOU.
Thank you for the recognition of the efforts/sacrifice of the brave.
Thank you, Professor/Dr. Felton, yet another amazing work of research and in celebration and remembrance of D-Day!
It is absolutely mind-boggling, how so much work and intelligence went into the Normandie invasion, and how much went into deceiving the Wehrmacht, in order to get our troops onto the beachheads and through the defenses, without either being completely stopped cold, or thrown back into the sea as was What happened with Dunkirk.
The Dieppe raid in 1942 was the forerunner of D Day and the experience there helped to insure the success of the operation.
He’s a Dr
@@y_ffordd
Yes, it’s in the title
this is going to sound strange but good on you for using the word celebration. My dad was a paratrooper on d day. June 6th for him was something to brag about and every year he'd be at the legion celebrating with his buddies.
Professor Doctor. LOL!
Another brilliant and informative video by Mark Felton. Just can't get enough of this Chanel.
I've always been interested in ww2 mainly because my father was in the war. He was a lance corporal in the coldsteam guards, aged 19 on the beaches of Dunkirk part of the BEF and then went back in 1944 as part of the failed market garden operation, and was wounded and caught at Arnhem, then spent the rest of the war as a pow in Germany.
He told me many stories of what went on, some funny some horrendous. Unfortunately he's not around anymore but I'll never forget what he told me and what those boys went through.
He would have loved this Chanel and I'm sure he would have spoken highly of Dr Felton and his knowledge.
Dr Felton I salute you sir! Great original content as always.
Thank you for your wonderful research Dr. Felton!
The speech by Eisenhower at the end was a nice touch . Good Job Mark.
He avoided praising eastern front ally stalin uncle joe. SOB
A suggestion for one of your films . During the second world war, Italy, a group of SAS prisoners managed to walk to safety using in part the services of a specially trained dog (British pet of course). All wrapped up in security and now probably the mist of time. The pet was returned to its family after the war but had some peculiar behaviour traits. Got the Dicken Medal. It is a story that has really intrigued me for decades particularly given the SAS experience in the Malaya emergency with dogs being unfavourable although of course in Afghan they became invaluable and definitely in favour again. You do great programmes. Thanks
Yes lest we forget those that gave their lives for us. Great story as ever Mark. Love your channel
Greetings from South Korea. The whole base remembered this day by having athletics all day💪
Thank you Mr. Felton. Your videos are always extra informative and well made. I look forward to every one of them. Great job.
Great video Dr Felton, thank you for keeping our boys memory alive!
Ty Mark Felton for the incredible story. You always honor and remember the bravest, especially on this very special day. Best of the best.....ty.
Ty Mark I had no idea about this part of the war I'm always learning from you keep up the great work
Love the timing, History, and presentation. Outstanding as always Dr. Mark Felton.
Thank you Dr. Felton for providing little known information and presenting it in such a great fashion cant wait for your next video!
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and his Beach Jumpers would make a great subject for one of your videos, as he was deeply involved in all of the D-day deception efforts and the story of the Beach Jumpers is even less well known than Operation Titanic.
I recently completed the WWII unit of my grade 10 Canadian History class, and once again, you have provided some excellent material for me to share with my classes. Many thanks, Mark!
Rupert! ☺️ I just watched The Longest Day for the first time, and it was amazing. Just a perfect movie all the way through. John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Eddie Albert, Red Buttons, Sean Connery, so many brilliant actors, so many powerful performances.
Dr. Felton, you have the best documentaries in the business!
“ WHO DARES WINS”….an iconic motto
Thanks. I hadn't heard this story before. An uncle landed at Utah Beach and later was attached to Patton's force sent to break the seige at the Bulge. Patton told the troops that he was prepared "to pave the way with dog tags." Grim times.
Facinating as always Dr Felton, I had no idea the allies used Ruperts as a diversion! Thank you
This was featured in The Longest Day.
@@nomadmarauder-dw9re Yeah, in an exaggerated form.
Off to Normandy tomorrow, I will throw a pebble in the sea for the heroic lads.
Brilliant video.
God bless them all
Mark, history class was never, EVER so addictive or anything even close to you. I literally mean that. 🎉
Thank you for all your hard work. I am 66 and wonder if anyone on here remember the programme All Our Yesterdays.
I was hoping you would upload a video for D-day, and you have not disappointed!
Thanks again for another eye opening series Dr. Felton. We must never forget the sacrifices others made for our Freedom today. ❤
In the souvenir shops of St Mere Eglise in Normandy in France, they sell Rupert dolls from "The Longest Day" (1962) for 1200 Euro, which was therefore a fantasy doll.
1200 Euros! That's what an American Girl collector would call a good price.
@@faithlesshound5621 No it's salty. this price is not Catholic.
Brilliant diversion! Also brilliant video. Thank you, Dr Felton.
Mark, your commitment to the small stories make the big story seem inevitable...please keep up the great work, the world needs to know the whole story! To the men, women and families, may your stories always be remembered.
Thanks Mark for this. Hardly mentioned yesterday. This should be marked loud and proud every year. If it had not been for the brave men and women we would all be speaking German now. Thanks again.
Thanks for keeping the memory of the great Day Mark. My dad landed on Sword. 👍🇬🇧
This is truly the meaning of duty and sacrifice.
My Air Force Security Police unit exercised with British Territorial Army SAS while stationed just north of London. We learned a lot from our British friends during an interesting night!
Ingenious! No one coordinated better than the Allies in WW2. God bless all the men on the landing beaches that day!
We will remember them
That outro from Eisenhower, a reflection on today's current events? I believe so. Thank you Mr Felton.
Apart from the enemy being strong, resourceful and cunning.
thank you for remembering theses brave men on D Day
So basically eight SAS chaps parachuted into enemy territory, immediately commenced making a lot of noise and attracted thousands of German troops to their location. I’m amazed they managed to get into the aeroplanes dropping them as their balls must have been that enormous. RIP to such brave brave men.