You’d be horrified at the condition of VA nursing homes up to the early 2000s. I have ZERO doubt Sobel was neglected in his later years. He was an inept combat leader. He was best utilized as a logistics officer.
The way our veterans are treated does make me angry. No matter who. Our government has no problem sending people to war for their profit, but tosses them away like trash when they are done.
David Schwimmer did a hell of a job. I don't ever remember thinking, "Hey, it's Ross Geller playing soldier." He was totally believable in as Capt. Sobel. *"We salute the rank, not the man"* is one of the best scenes in the series.
I remember thinking that. When he says something like "Is this Dog company? Is this Fox company? This is EASY COMPANY!" I was thinking "MY SANDWIIIIICH!"😆
I knew he was a decent actor but this changed my opinion on him. He done an amazing job in this role. Even though he was a complete dick as an officer. This story ends tragic. I wish he just changed and had a happy civ life
Playing villains is agony and ecstasy from an actor's point of view. That Schwimmer did an astoundingly great job is obvious. Hopefully, many more folks appreciate his craft and talent than associate that David S is somehow Sobel.
Legitimately he did an amazing job. It's easy to play the likeable role, but to make a character like this, it takes some chops. Everything said and done, Sobel was a miserable person, but he still contributed and helped make Easy company harder than coffin nails. Having a common enemy and incredibly strict discipline (and probably the best conditioning of any company) made a company that was incredibly tight-knit. He deserved a more dignified ending.
When I got promoted, I asked my CO for advice. He told me my job was to know when to put my arms around their shoulders and when to put my foot up their rear. As the boss, you take care of your men like you would your own family. As the boss, you work for them, for your people are the ones that are going to accomplish the mission. You care for your people, you show concern, and they will walk through fire for you.
I am a Sergeant for a private undisclosed police department. My people are my family. I love them and they love me. But I am kind and fair. And they respect me to do my job and they follow orders because they know I stand with them.
This is a good lesson for anyone in charge of anyone. Took over for a different crew chief, with a crew I never led before, and they were shocked I would work WITH them, not just sit..and sleep apparently..while they worked.
This principle holds true universally. I never served in the military, but I spent my career leading teams in various enterprises. I saw my workers as my own fingers. I would no more brook an injury to my people than I would slam my own finger in a car door. As you said, they are THE MECHANISM by which your goals are accomplished. You're job is to know them well enough to be at cause through them.
That's a big wrong; yet, he tried to kill himself and blew out his optical nerves, and ended up in a VA home.. Where he died.. Sometimes your fate is your fault.
@@danieldeaseweitzelwalker so he starved himself to death as he realized nobody cared fro him...and all the guys of Easy were life-long friends having great cameraderie
Schwimmer was fantastic in this role, historically accurate or not. Him being tricked into cutting the fence is still one of my favourite moments from the series.
Ya, I was hoping he was going to cover if that was real or not. I was shocked their medics tricked him into thinking they performed an appendectomy though! That's both hilarious and evil. No way that would fly these days, lol.
Wasn’t it?! Schwimmer aced that scene 🎬! He ever so deftly portrayed a combination of embarrassment, frustration, arrogance, confusion, mounting panic, and childish anger to an absolute T. Up to that point, the series had made me REALLY dislike Sobel, but at that instant, I felt some pity for him… He had it coming, but his exposed vanity and weakness made me feel a tiny bit sorry for him. It was a real “sucks to be you“ kind of scene. 😬🫠 OH yeah, side note- “Oh that dog just ain't gon' hunt"!” is permanently part of my idiom vocabulary! 😂
Having read the books, Schwimmer was spot on. While it is true that the real Sobel went on to be a decent military officer, it is also true that in World War 2 he was a college boy, of little athletic ability or understanding of how to be the man he wanted to be. In baseball terminology, Sobel isn't the guy with natural talent. He is the guy who was smaller and thinner than the other boys, who worked his ass off throwing a ball against the side of a barn for hours a day to get good enough to have a walk on position in a minor league team and then worked his way up. However, in World War 2, he was still in his early days. If you read the book, it is clear that he was not fit to be an infantry commander, but there are also clues that he had the potential to become a good infantry commander. Sobel barely passed his fitness test, because he struggled to do the required amount of pushups, but instead of giving up, he pushed himself, red in the face, and somehow managed to just make the cut, and that this happened in front of the company, but it was one of the times the company actually respected him for, because he didn't give up. Being reassigned as an instructor was probably not only good for the Division, but it was good for Sobel, because it gave him an opportunity to learn and develop skills that came easier to everyone else.
@@cidien The fence cutting did actually happen which makes it even greater. From George Luz’s Horton impersonation to cows getting out. I could be wrong but I think the only difference is it happened at night.
Dick Winters while touring the set pulled back the flap of one of the troop trucks and said it was like he was seeing ghosts when he saw the actors in the back of the transport
After reading Currahee years ago, I was always curious why the physical training device built for use by paratroops was never referred to or seen in any of the movies depicting paratroop training. This device was designed for the individual to maneuver through a prescribed course and was often said to work every muscle in the body.
Rest easy Herbert Sobel. And may you rest in peace Major. Major Winters is a personal idol of mine. I am an old grunt and airborne Ranger. I met him briefly at Fort Benning. That man had fewer regrets than any man I’ve met since. Very proud but also, quiet and observing. Confident and measured reply always following. God rest, gentlemen ❤
When I was promoted on my job. My old team which was now my new team. Tried to throw me a pizza party in celebration. I allowed them to do it but I insisted on paying for the pizza. My boss asked me why I did that. “ with my promotion I got a very large increase in my pay, I was in their shoes last week. They don’t make a lot of money. I will never put myself in a position to take from these people.” Later I watched the series Band of Brothers. In one scene Then Captain Winters is scolding Lieutenant Buck Compton for shooting dice with his men. He said “Never put yourself in a position to take from your men.” I learned that trick during my enlistment with the Army. It was told to me when I was promoted to Platoon Sargent by my First Sergeant. It was one of the most important things I learned about leadership. I have always used it in my my civilian career as well. Now I know where that saying came from.
An important feature of generosity is allowing others to show generosity to you. You can repay with your own act later but don't rob people of the blessing of being generous as being denied can feel demeaning to those who wanted to show you kindness.
@@hendrickvanderdecken7926Clever snark is a useful skill, but it is also one that, in my experience, is too often weilded indiscriminately (because ppl dont give a damn) or gratuitously (because their insecurities force them to flex). People who point out the flies on a turd tend to be less good company than the ones pointing out bees on flowers.
Anyone who has ever been in leadership knows that it is not easy. Most people have known Sobel types too. Dick Winters got his ultimate revenge but was gracious enough to admit that hard training is usually the most rewarding when it comes to life or the military.
US military leadership went only down-wards from WW2 and we actually analyzed and figured what USA did in Vietnam was the worst leadership disaster as men were constantly rotated in and out units. Yes the GERMANS RESISTED a 5-7 fold supremacy in Russia and in Normandy being badly equipped and starved...US command had a hard time understanding why the GERMAN SOLDIER WAS SO MUCH BETTER THEN THE US SOLDIER .....yes its called ESPRIT DE CORPS the German officers had a band with their soldiers eating the same food sleeping in the same quarters but USA had adopted the ARISTOCRATIC BRITISH STYLE which already had miserably failed in all the Arctic and Antarctic expeditions as well as on the battle field as in Duncerk Upper class officer abandoned their troops to save their sorry hides proves. Being trained hard doesn't needs to be DENIGRATED AND CONSTANTLY PUNISHED otherwise the Swiss Reserves who beat the shit out all US and British Specialized troops during the last EDELWEISS RAID wouldn't have been the overall winner and the USA-British Special units SAS Marines Green Berets would have failed so miserably that USA was evn happy that they had finished ....and hint we Swiss trained US and British troops in Kandersteg same as Russian Spetznaz...
As an NCO I was often called a "Joe hugger" for my constant opposition to tyrants like Sobel. Om a related note, soldiers volunteered to pull duty with me and good leaders live giving me the endgame they expected for the day. All I asked for in return was the power to release my guys when the days work was done.
@@irondwarf66 In military school we had a whole companie refusing order to a captain who was like Sobel. He was a weakling himself but he loved to make things much harder then they needed to be for us recruits like interdiction to refill your canteen on a 50km march since he wanted to break the speed record. I got promoted out off his companie into the commado unit(was great orienteeering runner) during a night exercice he was stupid enought to get caught by us commandos and slightly tortured= stripped to underwear and forced to make push-ups. Like I said he wasn't very strong physically and mentally and repeated the exercice is over several times, but we had orders to get info out of him and he cracked fast. I had an relative who made it to NCO in the French Foreign Legion, he didn't take the French passeport otherwise would have been made officer. Becoming an instructor in the Swiss Artillerie school he said that 50% of the Officers are useless same as managers in the industrie. WW2 German soldiers showed in Russia that starved and frozen were able to resist being outnumbered 7-1 because they were the real band of brothers+ stuck together. Wehrmacht soldiers also refused to rape and kill women+ children for this they got Ukrainians + Polish SS Sonderkommandos which hated Jews.(source Fritz Müller-Stalingrad+STALAG survivor).
@@mbogucki1 I am almost sure that my written English is better than that of over 50% of the US High School graduates. I sadly didn't speak English before age 20 but was bilingual French-German at young age..and yes adding a few dialects in both German and French from Parisian to Cajun-Québec French and from Swiss to High German-Bavarian and Alsatian German also took some Italian.
I always felt that Winters knew the court martial would catch the attention of high command. It was just months before the invasion, high stress, everyone struggling to get all the equipment to England without letting their plans leak to the Germans, food, housing, supplies being tight, constant training and planning -- Suddenly a court martial appears on Strayer's desk. One can only imagine Strayer saying, "What the hell is THIS about?" He reads it and finds out it's a dispute over latrine inspections between two officers. "Really?! At a time like this?" I think Winters was smart enough to know that high command would demand to know why the hell someone is requesting a court martial over latrine inspection when there are clearly more pressing issues at hand, and Sobel would refuse to back down from his word. Big can of worms.
As a retired Sergeant First Class, I can say that discipline and fitness are crucial for survival, but it seems Sobel had no business leading troops. Leadership in the Army is all about purpose, direction, and motivation-if you understand what your troops need, they’ll follow you anywhere. Sobel lacked this, which is why Winters excelled as a leader. The most tragic part of Sobel’s story is how his life ended. After attempting suicide in 1970, he was left blind and spent the last 17 years of his life in a VA facility in Waukegan, Illinois, where he died from malnutrition in 1987. No memorial service was held for him. It’s a heartbreaking end for any veteran.
In as much as I take the story of "Band of Brothers" to be true, especially regarding the part referring to Captain Sobel, I still can't help having sentiments of compassion for Sobel. I feel, definitely as an outsider, that he made his bed and that the justice of time was served. But no one ever really knows what demons a man carries with him in his walk through life. God bless him still. He did, for good or ill, serve along side of The Greatest Generation.
@@yammy1000 I agree. Not a big fan of his acting in Friends but respected his work in Band of Brothers, which I believe was a great role for him. He does have some good talent.
It wasn't a surprise for me to see Schwimmer cast in _BoB_ like so many other people claim it was. If you pay attention to Ross, especially in the no laugh track edits of his scenes, you will notice how much that character has in common with Sobel with the same neurotic need to dominate and control the people around him.
@@dlxmarks I agree. It's an observation I've made elsewhere. Ross is of course a fictional character but he is capable of being petty and domineering, in a *peace-time* and non-military setting. As an officer in wartime, someone like Ross might behave quite like Sobel.
My grandfather served in WW II, as part of a 3 man machine gun crew. He told me about an officer they had that carried on like Sobel, he described him as "plain mean" as well. He went on to say, "the sad thing is, he truly believed in the way he behaved." He then went on to say " in war there are ways to deal with those men" He never spoke of it again,and I DEFINITELY did not ask any questions, he did not like to talk about WWII and also had very little, patience for a very loud, small kid who at that age thought war was "cool" When I got older, his last Christmas, he went on to pay me the best compliment any man has ever given me. God, how I'm glad I had some time with him and miss him and his guidance twords man hood.
Wow, imagine the horror of having a "plain mean" CO during a war when your enemy is trying to kill you and 40 million people were going to lose their lives.
My grandfather was sent to back to the medical tents by a "child that didn't shave regularly yet" because the 2nd lieutenant didn't agree with my grandfather's (staff seargent) plan to take a hill. Kid didn't make it home.
On the battlefied, men like that have strange accidents. In the original book, it is explained that some men wanted to kill him if they had to go to combat under his orders. Sobel was lucky not to be sent on thé frontline, the officers choosed Winters
I’ve had to endure less than pleasurable leadership while in the Army, but what I like about this vid is they still gave credit to Cpt. Sobel for the things he did to help E company survive the brutal aspects of WWII.
This is my All time favorite mini-series/movie. David did very well playing Sobel. It wasn't a glorious role but a role that placed Sobel/David Swimmer in the annuals of great men. Great men, men of renowned, men of history. Men, of true history. You go David!
No. He was mad because the colonel made a decision regarding Sobel’s command which undermined his authority with the entire unit. What the colonel should have done was get with Sobel and get his input on the possible promotion.
@@rapid13 The colonel didn't need any input unless he had doubts about the promotion. He was a superior officer (several ranks higher) that saw enough reason to promote Winters without more discussion. If his position was "undermined" Sobel could have contested that promotion, he didn't because he knew he had no leg to stand on.
Ironically, if Sobel had respected Winters, and the rest of the men, Winters would have supported him in return, as would most of the men, and done their best to make Sobel look good, despite his problems leading in combat.
Sobel was a Chicago city boy, lost in the woods. He came of age during the worst of the Depression. Social conditions were desperately self serving. My Dad was in a military academy Chicago a few years later, from age 7 to 16 south side in overlapping years. Every boy for himself. Poor Sobel was all alone tasked with creating a family.
He was also a graduate of my school, university of illinois, where my father and i taught (myself as a grad student). Being a martinette was not on the curriculum at uiuc ...
When I was a specialist I had to carry a supply duties for entire HHC company during our Premob to Afghanistan. When we were in the field our battalion commander took 2 MREs and said that he will sign for them later. In the evening he refused to sign the roster claiming that he knows nothing about those MREs. I tried to remind him that he took them earlier that day but he got irritated and told me to “go away”. First thing I’ve done, I came back to the supply cage and made sure that every single MRE is accounted for. I had a box with extras (people sign for them but sometimes don’t take them). So, next morning BN commander with CSM came to do an inspection personally. They counted every single MRE and a signature on the roster. I never trusted that guy ever. What kind of LTC would pick a fight with a Specialist over an MRE?
@@z0phi3l Then you go to your CO, the IG, and the Chaplain. Any BN Co that would do this should be relived of command, because you KNOW they're dirty and doing something way worse.
I was a company sergeant major and my OC was the dead ringer of David Schwimmer. Both Physically and emotionally as he portrayed Sobel. My OC was the ultimate sycophant. Deadly dangerous to us. This guy was despised by the entire company. I did my best to shelter his BS decisions and aggression he had towards us. But that came to point where I stopped the OC/CSM relationship and decided that the men were my priority. I’d already seen Band Of Brothers and it literally felt like i was living the series.
This confuses me. I've never seen nor heard of a Sgt Maj in charge of less than a Battalion. Company 1st Sgt, Section Master Gunnery, E7 filling in the E8 billet, never an E9 filling an E8 billet. Of course, I don't know what I don't know, so hopefully I'll learn something here.
CSM WO2 warrent officer class 2 is a company, Sargent Major. A company in the British Army will be 1 of 5 companies that form's Battalion. A company at full strength averages 120 men An RSM WO1 Warrent Officer Class 1 a regimental SM and is responsible for the Battalion .
@@raylast3873 They do just well enough to get promoted to Cpt. it's when they finally get to command troops that their true colors start to show, they can only put on a show for so long before they feel untouchable and blow it
Except the large mistake about Pvt Blithe that simply could have been corrected by editing the end title card. The guy went on to re-enlist twice and have a wife and kid, and eventually died in 1967 from complications from surgery on an ulcer.
@@thecalloftheroad Yes, there were some mistakes. In most "based on true stories" there is only a out 10% that is true. I am surprised at how much of this series that is true. 👍😁
Bob - i did 1981-1985. 0311. No combat. Lt Diott , just like Sobel. I hope that Ahat see this. My squad stole your 782 gear that cold night, Diott.Terrible arrogant SOB. We all called him Lt Idiot. He was just like Sobel, petty dress downs ti good Marines over minor incidents after being in the field for a week. Over and over.
If Sobel wasn't incompetent in combat scenarios, his other undesirable leadership/personality traits probably wouldn't have resulted in his involuntary transfer from Easy Company.
Nah man, starting an out-of-control feud in his own unit against his best officer is almost certainly what got him removed. And the traits it exhibits are probably also worse for an army than being a shitty combat leader. It‘s one thing to be overly harsh. But a leader who can‘t play ball with others, can‘t take advice and makes enemies out of his entire company is catastrophic for an army in every way imaginable. Being a shitty combat leader is not catastrophic in the same way if you‘re smart enough. Just let your XO and the platoon leaders advise you on the best course of action and you‘ll mostly be fine. There were actually plenty of green officers who had to do this exact thing when placed in charge of an experienced combat unit; which happened all the time. Only in combination with terrible interpersonal skills does poor combat leadership become catastrophic. In fact, those traits exhibited by Sobel are probably the main reason he was also a terrible combat leader. Someone smarter would have been able to take advice and make better decisions based on that. But this sort of out-of-control tyrantism risks rendering a military formation nonfunctional without ever encountering the enemy. By doing that you guarantee everyone is working against you all the time, which means they‘re not working against the enemy but rather doing his job for him. A house divided itself cannot stand, and that‘s before the Germans even come into it.
@@raylast3873 I kind of agree with your point. But I felt that his senior nco's took that stand mostly because they feared that Sobel would get them killed in combat without the strong second in command he was trying to punish. But U definitely get your point 👉.
@@raylast3873 This is one of the smartest comments I’ve ever seen posted on the internet. As a business person, these lessons apply to so many areas of life - running a business, raising kids, and military life. Well thought out, and well written. Thank you.
@foreverRubysky The first time I saw or heard of Prof Stephen Ambrose was his interview in the Thames Television/BBC production of "The World At War". He sported long hair and wore a heavy white sweater...
@ffjsb Have you ever been trained on how to forgive?I wasn't and it took me decades...actually I'm still working on it...if your so dam good at it start some lessons for the rest of us.
I think Sobel should be recognized for doing his duty for America during World War 2. He should also be recognized for getting Easy company into great physical shape, which definitely helped during the fighting they went through. But he should also be recognized for his bad leadership skills, petty grudges he held against Winters and other soldiers, and for trying to lead and control his men by fear. I think it's definitely true that he would of gotten a lot of men killed if he remained in charge of Easy company.
It's unfortunate, but I think the way things played out was probably the best possible scenario for the men of Easy Co. Sobel was there to put them in great physical shape as well as forcing them to bond with each other as a unit, then going into combat with a leader like Winters. Almost a good cop, bad cop type situation. It's also not dissimilar to the way basic training is run or was run 20 years ago in my day, at least for infantry school. The drill sergeants turn you into soldiers but running you ragged and making you bond together in hating them, then you get to a unit and you feel like you've got the jackpot since you now have a little freedom and people who are interested in leading you.
Wow, it’s amazing how close the actors in Band of Bros looked in relation to the actual soldiers they portrayed. The fact that Hanks and Spielberg were able to get in important little factual tidbits like Winters running into Sobel after Winters outranked him as a Major and forcing Sobel to salute him. Who would have thought when I watched this series for the first time that scenarios like that actually occurred in real life!? After watching this narrative, I now appreciate one of the best and maybe THE BEST World War II series - EVER… and maybe the best military/war series ever.
@stevekaczynski3793 without going into it too much and getting banned I imagine Sobel being "different" in terms of ethnicity/religion than 9999 out of 10000 other troops made him resentful and overcompensate Being an outsider can go two ways. You work to show you're one of the guys or you grow more and more spiteful. Sobel took the second option I say this because I went to Catholic school and had a "Sobel" in my grade. I liked him. Funny, wiseass, quick witted. So we bonded. But everyone else hated him because he made himself an outsider Who knows maybe you're right and down deep hes alright. He certainly looks like a guy who would get bullied as a kid and grow up angry
Without defending Sobel too much, I think it is important to remember that these were young kids thrust into the most difficult of circumstances. I have to assume that Sobel was failed by being given a command to which he wasn't suited and that Sobel, in his own way, was largely trying to to his best without having the necessary temperament and maturity.
@@kcgunesq 100% agree, learning and development is a life long endeavor. And I feel sorry for and have compassion for Sobel; he could not get past his own faults and suffered dearly for it.
When I was attending a squad leader course in the Swedish home guard I had a captain who shared Sobels attitude towards leadership. He concluded after the course that he thought that I wasn't yelling enough orders to my fellow grown up men and that he thought I lacked the qualities of a leader. Today I work with children on the spectrum and most often ADHD and in their words I'm simply the best. So I guess that old fart just as Sobel didn't know shit about leadership.
@@HansJuergBangerter Do you know that for sure, or are you making assumptions? You can't (easily) force someone to eat, and you shouldn't if they want to pass on. Dude was old and blind for over a decade. It's not cruel to let them go if they want to go. It IS cruel and extremely selfish to force their hellish existence to continue though.
@@cidien my aunt, a certified nurse was doing palliative care are at patients domiciles, she had patients in final stage who as grown 6 foot men only weighted around 70 lb when they died. In one hospital in Zurich even 40 yearrs ago was customary only giving water to quasi brain-dead patients...and you could make your will not being connected to machines getting kept alive... so they would let you die in dignity.when you weren't able to take decisions anymore...many people let themselves die...actually espcially old inuits simply wandered outside in the winter and let themselves freeze to death...as you simply fall asleep...Fritz a Stalingrad survivor told me that his comrades who froze to death all smiled ( he was as an 18 year old sent to Russia and stayed there 9 years, 5 as guest of Stalin)
@@mottthehoople693 In 1970, Sobel shot himself in the head with a small-caliber pistol in an attempted suicide.[28] The bullet entered his left temple, severing his optic nerves and rendering him blind.[28] Soon afterward, he began living at a Veterans Administration assisted-living facility in Waukegan, Illinois, where he died on September 30, 1987;[2] the death certificate listed malnutrition as the cause of death.[28] No memorial service was held.[28] Legacy
When I was a unit commander for several years, I was a captain. I could not have brought court-martial charges against an officer. A captain can only convene a summary court martial, and only enlisted personnel can be tried at an SCM. I was a training officer for my career. Sobel engaged in what we called "mal-training." It would not have been tolerated.
I have always wondered if COL Sink ever acknowledged that Sobel was going to be a disaster in combat even though he was a good trainer, and that transferring him out was definitely called for.
Sometimes you need a real reason to remove someone and hope something comes up early. Though it's also hard to focus on every matter at that position. He probably was aware of discontent towards Sobel, but not probably the full extent of the issue until the "mutiny".
I doubt if he was eager to make it know to others, but I suspect he knew it himself. Which is why he had Sobel transferred out, to a less important position.
Wow, what a story. I was hooked from the opening episode of 'Band of Brothers', a truly outstanding series. The opener was engrossing featuring as mentioned the draconian and bitter Sobel and his generally appalling attitude to his men. All said, I understand what was said about Sobel's approach forging the men into the unit they became but what a shame he was such a poor collaborator. He had such good men under him who I'm sure would have supported him had he been more balanced in his relationship with the undoubtably good material he had under his command. Those men were a credit to their company and country, in the end, Sobel missed out on what he helped create, a little humility on his part wouldn't have gone amiss. So sad how he ended up bitter and alone, a tragic end to a life that could have been better lived. Thanks for an enlightening break-down on these events.
This was a tremendous series and gave a true insite into what these brave young men went through to preserve our freedoms. I have so much respect for all these veterens irrespective of their personal characters, as for Sobel, one has to have empathy for this guy, he offered his life to go out and due his duty as did thousands of others.
This is a sad story. I am combat veteran. I was in charge of Croatian special forces in early 1990. I was him. I was Hitler to my boys. They hated me. I loved them. They were my son's, my children. For all of them, l would die 100 times. But l had to broke them, and then rebuild them, over and over again. And honestly l failed. I lost 58 out of 60 we had. I led them, l was shoot 3 times in 13 months. But l lost them all. Dominik and l are last living from original 60. I took 1 in the chest, 1 in the head, 1 in the leg. I am a effing cripple today. Dom got it ever worst But 2 of us lived. And thanks to all of 60 of us, we are independent country today. Pros in military have jobs to do....
Man, those are some horrific casualty figures. But you fought the good fight and Croatia is free and thriving now. Sorry for your loss and severe injuries.
According to the BoB book by Stephen Ambrose, all of Easy company hated Sobel, but they all respected him in that he was the one that made them combat-ready. He was the one who made Easy Company what it was, but he was not fit to be C.O. in live battle. Sobel was bad at directions and reading maps, and would often ask his X.O. where they were. He was impatient and would talk really loudly on covert drills, which would piss off Dick Winters and the rest of the men.
It was rough on the men having Ross Geller as their company commander ... but at least he saw to it they were well trained . They would have been all ate up if they were led by Joey or Chandler . " My God ! Could this training manual BE any more tedious . " " Aye - oh ... This spaghetti ain't nothin' like what my mudder makes . We gotta stop everything and fix the chow hall right now. "
It's one of the best examples of the difference between leading through fear vs leading through respect I've ever heard of. If your men fear you, they will reluctantly do only enough to avoid punishment and try to undermine you whenever they get the chance. If your men respect you, they will often go above and beyond what is asked of them and support you whenever they get the chance. Richard Winters was an exceptional leader and a true hero.
Sobel was a cruel, sadistic, tyrant. I've served under too many like him before. They are terrible officers, terrible people, and they deserve contempt for their actions and behaviors. Actions have consequences.
@@Dave-ll6ei NO! Hitler, Stalin, and others were of that era too. Murderers and rapists were part of the Greatest Generation too. The damage bad leadership causes to military units cannot be understated. I've lived it for real. People die becasue of these tyrants. People were abused by these tyrants. Being born as part fo a collective period in time does not absolve someone of their bad deeds.
@@SoloRenegade my father was part of that greatest generation. He served under Patton in 3rd Army. His outfit was one of the first to liberate Buchenwald. I also worked a long career with both men and women of that generation. The thing they had in common was they came home went to work and started families. They didn’t whine about what they went through or who they had to take orders from. They were called the greatest generation for a reason.
Sobel was obviously a complete jerk as an officer, but dying from malnutrition in a home, well he didn't deserve that. Many years after WWII ended, he was also a casualty and victim of it. The series is probably the best I have ever seen and I am old and have seen a lot. Extrordinary men in horrible situations. I have watched the series twice and now I have seen this, I will watch it again. Good video!
Clearly I’m out of the loop because I don’t know what you mean lol Batting .500 is an incredible stat but I’ve read that Ambrose wasn’t known for his historical accuracy…
@@07foxmulder your instincts are correct . .500 is 50% of the time as a historian you are wrong or made it up to save time. History isn’t baseball. The standard in history is 100% accurate or don’t write it down.
Amazing. Thank You. Now because of your video I have to watch the Band of Brothers again. Mind you I've watched it so many times now but you know, now seeing that most of what we see in the show did happen. Many thanks, I really appreciate it.
Much of it not his own doing. His family rejected his Catholic wife, and his children took a vehemently anti-Vietnam War stance - which he objected to. BoB did him very dirty. He retired a Lt. Col. - jumped on D-Day, and was heroic in combat, taking out a German machine gun nest with grenades. Was severely neglected in some crap-hole V. A. nursing home.
@@shouldhavedonebetter band of brothers did NOT do him dirty. read the memoirs written by the actual men that served under him. they hated him. they knew he would get them killed. they were willing to risk court martial to get out from his command. band of brothers showed EXACTLY who he was.
I wouldn't say the video was helpful. However, fascinating and informative. And it pays tribute to the accuracy portrayed by the series, Band of Brothers, which was excellent and I've watched it countless times. These recaps done in this format are great because it affirms everything we've watched and historical accuracy is priceless. I'm the Son of a WW ll vet and he never once told us any stories of the war and only told our Mother one story that explained the trauma all battlefield soldiers suffered one way or another. Keep up the good work!
I served in the United States Army 1969 - 1971. There was a Lieutenant in 2nd Company who just came from West Point. He was a horrible officer and person. I tried to talk with him about his attitude. He told me that he was going to file charges against me for disrespecting a fellow Officer. I smirked at him and walked away. A few months later, his company returned from a mission, but he didn't return and was reported missing. A search mission was sent out to fiend him. He was never found. An investigation was made resulting as an M.I.A. classification. Yes he served, but all those that knew him could care less. To this day, nobody knows if it was enemy fire or friendly fire. Attitude can add to different results in life.
Wow… that’s intense! He really must’ve been a horrible man. I have five older brothers, four of them served in the United States Navy during the Cold War and Vietnam era. And the youngest of that four was a surface and underwater sonar technician. He served on the USS towers and patrolled the gulf of Tonkin. Some of his activity during those deployments consisted of special teams that went in country to rescue down US pilots. All of them were well respected so I am assuming they were fair leaders and servicemen.
every single d-day soldier that made it back that served under Sobel, should have maned up and thanked him, they were toughened up by Sobel, cleaning your weapon, gear, be prepared is what they were suppose to be taught
He shot himself soon after I was born and died soon after I went away to college. That’s a long time to languish. For me, the lesson here is that you have a choice on how you present yourself to the world. May all members of Easy rest in peace whether they died in the 40’s or more recently.
He languished in a crap-hole VA nursing facility and died of malnutrition. He jumped on D-Day - and took out a German machine-gun nest. He retired a Lt. Col.. Purple Heart, Bronze Star. His family rejected him because he took a Catholic wife. He fought with his children since he objected to their vehement anti-Vietnam War stance. Rest in Peace Lt. Col. Sobel - you were unfairly done very dirty.
Easy Company isn’t the only unit that performed in an exemplary manner within the 101st or Army overall. I’d imagine the leaders of many of these exemplary units were able to train their men to be good Soldiers without Sobel’s fear philosophy. Sobel didn’t turn these men into Soldiers; good officers like Winters turned them into good Soldiers in spite of Sobel’s efforts to sabotage them.
Great video. The guy did his job to help them band together and be physically fit for the hell that was combat, knowing they would hate him for it, but also knowing at least some of them would look back and appreciate his efforts, although in my humble opinion, he went overboard countless times and could have achieved the same thing without the "leading with fear" method. Having said that, no one should die like he did, that made me sad. That war hurt everyone involved with it for the rest of their lives.
The one thing I noticed that is never discussed….that being 1st SGT Evans. That position has a lot of influence to the CO of any unit. I suspect Evans added fuel to Sobels flawed personality.
In his memoir, Donald Malarkey had the opinion that Sobel and Evans were a bad combination with each encouraging the negative behaviors of the other. Evans also did not participate in the mass resignation of Easy Company NCOs.
It actually sounds like Sobel was likely the reason they performed so well. High attention to detail, and rigorous physical training. His goal of making them the best was met.
Not really, they exceeded because of their hatred towards him, not because he was good, had a Plt Sgt with similar issues, we dealt with it in our own petty ways
The resemblance between the real Lt Winters and thé casted one are remarkable great series close to the truth it seems # let us never forget what these man and the victims of WW2 went trough to give us the freedom’s we cherish to day……
Sobel would have been fragged if he was actually in the field. Or he would have been killed before he landed in Normandy. Either way he wouldn't have lasted long.
Guy Gibson - as in Dambusters fame - was well known to be a 'shitbag' despite leading the squadron that took out the dams. This from my Dad who was aircrew at the time - it gets around. And his Mosquito crashed on a sortie over the Netherlands due to 'engine failure'. Well, I'm not one for conspiracy theories but Dad reckoned he chewed out the ground crew once too often and the Mossie was well and truly 'spiked' so it wasn't going to come back - fuel tank change over valve probably. It happens.
@@mrb.5610 You know, when I am being a dick (it's rare but it happens), I own it. I don't blame other people and I definitely apologize when I have a cooler head. If I have to go to combat, the last thing I want to do is piss off the people who are going to help me. There's a difference between tough love and being a dick. The usual rule for planes was in the sky, that was the pilot's plane. On the ground it's the air crew's plane. I would have made sure that my aircrew knew how much they meant to me had I flown back then. 😎👍✨
@@sa-jh8is Not exactly. A change over valve simply means they wouldn't come back - either a forced landing or a bail out would have been the intention. If a senior officer has it in for you for whatever reason, he can make your life an absolute hell. So yes, loosen that bolt on some part of an aeroplane when no one's looking and he's out of your life. He wasn't called 'The Boy Emperor' or the 'Arch Bastard' behind his back because he was well liked and popular.
No it doesn't. it tears amazing teams apart. It crushes moral, breaks down discipline, destroys motivation and performance. it gets people killed. people start giving up and doing the bare minimum. Sobel is contemptable in every way. I've served under too many like in in training and in actual combat. people like him are evil. He held grudges, was a cruel and sadistic tyrant who knowingly and intentionally tried to hurt people, and then held a grudge about it the rest of his life.
I suspect that in 1970 his sons could have even been anti war and anti army. During the Vietnam conflict and the social reaction to it of young people at that time. And that Sobel was a diehard black and white right wing asshole. And maybe that is how their family disintegrated. And caused him to put a level gun to his temple and take out his optic nerves. What a shame that some people cannot adapt.
It is nice to get some historical clarification of some of these stories. Sounds like there was a lot of truth to what was said in Band of Brothers, noting of course, that there are multiple perspectives and opinions when it comes to historical accounts. Thanks for the video.
Though not the military I worked a job where we had a supervisor who was disrespectful to everyone and I mean everyone. If it weren't for upper management blindly protecting him he would been fired a long time ago in spite earning numerous complaints filled with our union against him. He worked for around thirty years in the company and never had any friends, was never married or known to have a girlfriend. When he finally retired people were elated that he finally left. A couple years later he had a massive heart attack and went blind from uncontrolled unchecked diabetes in spite of our job having a great medical coverage because he hadn't bother to see a doctor in many years and everyone cursing his name and hoping he would be burning in Hell. I am thankful I will have friends and family that loves me dearly and will miss me when my time comes. You reap what you sow.
Fully aware of what he was doing? I understand his family defending him through thick-and-thin, but come on! Sobel was fundamentally dishonest! To me, that seems like a dangerous line to cross when you're about to lead men into combat...
Always great to learn the true stories behind the men of Easy company. It validates the HBO series Sobel for all his flaws contributed by giving the men under his command the tools to stay alive It was Winters who was the rock of Easy who carried the burden of keeping his brothers alive. Sobel was no doubt hated and dispised but there's no denying what an asset he was in training. Just recently watched the last part of the box set, WE STAND ALONE TOGETHER. and it re enforces my profound respect for these band of brothers.
Sobel's story was a sad one. I wish he got more help. And dying from malnutrition in a VA home sounds like you're living in Africa. Thats the real tragedy
🫡🇺🇸 Very nicely greatly wonderfully spectaculary well done and executed in every detail way shape and format provided on Sobel vs Winters on this true story on the Band of Brothers of the 506th of Easy company indeed Sir!👌. P.S. My Uncle Philip served with the 101st and my Uncle Harry with the 82nd during Vietnam during the mid to late 60's .
I have said it before, and ill say it again, no veteran should have to suffer his fate. He was a horrible leader, and a real pos, but i wouldnt wish that type of suffering on anyone.
Regardless of how you feel about Sobel it’s criminal that he died from malnutrition in a VA hospital. These men who put their lives on the line should get the best care.
All of the guys in easy conpany said he was a hopeless soldier. BUT he was the best at drilling routine, hard work and discipline... And if you read all of their later life interviews or reports... They all agree, his tough love and elite training got them through some very tough parts of the war...
When I was watching the series, I was thinking "didn't these guys realize that Sobel being tough on them is what made them the best?!" Very interesting to hear that they did understand that. It's also a huge credit to the makers of the series for how they accurately portrayed that aspect of it.
I remember in the Band of Brothers series during Easy Company’s basic training. Sobel would pop in the room, yelling plans changed Easy Company is running Currahee, stand up, out the door. I was reminded of it during later events of the battle of the bulge. They are told that units are being over run in the Arden forest. They are to drop everything and head over there. Despite Sobel’s crassness, he had the right idea what to get his men ready for.
In my opinion, Sobel was a perfect example of being very good at some things and not other things. He made his soldiers as strong as they needed to be. People talk about Sobel being “chicken shit”. Meaning he was unfair and petty. No German they faced was a “kind” as Sobel. Say what you will but, if you go into war with an expectation of fair play, you are not going to be psychologically ready. Why are Navy SEAL’s treated so poorly during training?
Wow, did no know about Sobel's attempted suicide and blindness. I hope he found some peace in the end and was able to let go of it all. It's hard to know how to feel about the man. What would he have made of the show if he had lived to see it? Would he have become more bitter or would he have had an epiphany.
By the time he brcame estranged with his family, there's no chance of any recognition of his errors dealing with the men. He would have only remembered his great work training them not realizing their hatred of him was a big factor in bringing them to the point of being a close knit company of well trained warriors.
R. I. P to them both. Sobel was the man who trained the men. He did his job well and these men were still alive after the war to share their stories. Sobel did not deserve to meet his maker the war he did.
His son's defense is admirable but Sobel's utter lack of judgement during the field exercise belies his claim that his father "knew what he was doing" he was a petty tyrant well deserving of the infamy of his name in both military and civilian circles due to BoB's portrayal
![BOWKYLION - วิงวอน (ex-change) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLdnZWDaO-w/mqdefault.jpg)
Regardless of your feelings towards Sobel, I find it disturbing that someone could die of malnutrition in a Veterans home.
They can't make you eat.
You’d be horrified at the condition of VA nursing homes up to the early 2000s. I have ZERO doubt Sobel was neglected in his later years. He was an inept combat leader. He was best utilized as a logistics officer.
A rundown one as well, it seems. "Thank you for your service" doesn't always count for much...
It was a delayed fragging.
The way our veterans are treated does make me angry. No matter who. Our government has no problem sending people to war for their profit, but tosses them away like trash when they are done.
David Schwimmer did a hell of a job. I don't ever remember thinking, "Hey, it's Ross Geller playing soldier." He was totally believable in as Capt. Sobel. *"We salute the rank, not the man"* is one of the best scenes in the series.
I remember thinking that. When he says something like "Is this Dog company? Is this Fox company? This is EASY COMPANY!" I was thinking "MY SANDWIIIIICH!"😆
I knew he was a decent actor but this changed my opinion on him. He done an amazing job in this role.
Even though he was a complete dick as an officer. This story ends tragic. I wish he just changed and had a happy civ life
After seeing Band of Brothers, every time I see David Schwimmer in FRIENDS I think: "Oh, it's Capt. Sobel playing a paleontologist!"
Playing villains is agony and ecstasy from an actor's point of view. That Schwimmer did an astoundingly great job is obvious. Hopefully, many more folks appreciate his craft and talent than associate that David S is somehow Sobel.
Legitimately he did an amazing job. It's easy to play the likeable role, but to make a character like this, it takes some chops.
Everything said and done, Sobel was a miserable person, but he still contributed and helped make Easy company harder than coffin nails. Having a common enemy and incredibly strict discipline (and probably the best conditioning of any company) made a company that was incredibly tight-knit. He deserved a more dignified ending.
When I got promoted, I asked my CO for advice. He told me my job was to know when to put my arms around their shoulders and when to put my foot up their rear. As the boss, you take care of your men like you would your own family. As the boss, you work for them, for your people are the ones that are going to accomplish the mission. You care for your people, you show concern, and they will walk through fire for you.
I had a platoon who told me once "Take care of your people, and they'll take care of you."
I am a Sergeant for a private undisclosed police department. My people are my family. I love them and they love me. But I am kind and fair. And they respect me to do my job and they follow orders because they know I stand with them.
I’ve had a lot of good CO’s and a few bad. The bad were always good at getting transferred out. And one of the good I became life long friends with.
This is a good lesson for anyone in charge of anyone. Took over for a different crew chief, with a crew I never led before, and they were shocked I would work WITH them, not just sit..and sleep apparently..while they worked.
This principle holds true universally. I never served in the military, but I spent my career leading teams in various enterprises. I saw my workers as my own fingers. I would no more brook an injury to my people than I would slam my own finger in a car door. As you said, they are THE MECHANISM by which your goals are accomplished. You're job is to know them well enough to be at cause through them.
Died of malnutrition in a VA home. THAT is the tragedy of this story WTF
Yeah, that hit me pretty hard too. wtf is right.
seems his son who tried to correct the people that his dad was an excellent officer didn't give a damm that his dad starved to death in VA home
@@HansJuergBangerter My thoughts exactly ... malnutrition? He may have been a butthole, but he was a veteran. Damn.
That's a big wrong; yet, he tried to kill himself and blew out his optical nerves, and ended up in a VA home.. Where he died.. Sometimes your fate is your fault.
@@danieldeaseweitzelwalker so he starved himself to death as he realized nobody cared fro him...and all the guys of Easy were life-long friends having great cameraderie
Schwimmer was fantastic in this role, historically accurate or not. Him being tricked into cutting the fence is still one of my favourite moments from the series.
Ya, I was hoping he was going to cover if that was real or not. I was shocked their medics tricked him into thinking they performed an appendectomy though! That's both hilarious and evil. No way that would fly these days, lol.
Wasn’t it?! Schwimmer aced that scene 🎬! He ever so deftly portrayed a combination of embarrassment, frustration, arrogance, confusion, mounting panic, and childish anger to an absolute T.
Up to that point, the series had made me REALLY dislike Sobel, but at that instant, I felt some pity for him… He had it coming, but his exposed vanity and weakness made me feel a tiny bit sorry for him. It was a real “sucks to be you“ kind of scene. 😬🫠
OH yeah, side note- “Oh that dog just ain't gon' hunt"!” is permanently part of my idiom vocabulary! 😂
@@cidien yeah that was pretty audacious… Holy mackerel! How on earth did they get away with that?!
Having read the books, Schwimmer was spot on. While it is true that the real Sobel went on to be a decent military officer, it is also true that in World War 2 he was a college boy, of little athletic ability or understanding of how to be the man he wanted to be. In baseball terminology, Sobel isn't the guy with natural talent. He is the guy who was smaller and thinner than the other boys, who worked his ass off throwing a ball against the side of a barn for hours a day to get good enough to have a walk on position in a minor league team and then worked his way up. However, in World War 2, he was still in his early days.
If you read the book, it is clear that he was not fit to be an infantry commander, but there are also clues that he had the potential to become a good infantry commander. Sobel barely passed his fitness test, because he struggled to do the required amount of pushups, but instead of giving up, he pushed himself, red in the face, and somehow managed to just make the cut, and that this happened in front of the company, but it was one of the times the company actually respected him for, because he didn't give up. Being reassigned as an instructor was probably not only good for the Division, but it was good for Sobel, because it gave him an opportunity to learn and develop skills that came easier to everyone else.
@@cidien The fence cutting did actually happen which makes it even greater. From George Luz’s Horton impersonation to cows getting out. I could be wrong but I think the only difference is it happened at night.
I love how the casting department did so well at finding actors that looked like the men that they could pass for real brothers.
Agreed
Dick Winters while touring the set pulled back the flap of one of the troop trucks and said it was like he was seeing ghosts when he saw the actors in the back of the transport
It’s the greatest production of all time, like time travel, the casting is icing on the cake, it’s the pinnacle of historical storytelling.
@@alyssatipton5080 where did you find this info?
After reading Currahee years ago, I was always curious why the physical training device built for use by paratroops was never referred to or seen in any of the movies depicting paratroop training. This device was designed for the individual to maneuver through a prescribed course and was often said to work every muscle in the body.
Rest easy Herbert Sobel. And may you rest in peace Major. Major Winters is a personal idol of mine. I am an old grunt and airborne Ranger. I met him briefly at Fort Benning. That man had fewer regrets than any man I’ve met since. Very proud but also, quiet and observing. Confident and measured reply always following. God rest, gentlemen ❤
When I was promoted on my job. My old team which was now my new team. Tried to throw me a pizza party in celebration. I allowed them to do it but I insisted on paying for the pizza. My boss asked me why I did that. “ with my promotion I got a very large increase in my pay, I was in their shoes last week. They don’t make a lot of money. I will never put myself in a position to take from these people.”
Later I watched the series Band of Brothers. In one scene Then Captain Winters is scolding Lieutenant Buck Compton for shooting dice with his men. He said “Never put yourself in a position to take from your men.” I learned that trick during my enlistment with the Army. It was told to me when I was promoted to Platoon Sargent by my First Sergeant. It was one of the most important things I learned about leadership. I have always used it in my my civilian career as well. Now I know where that saying came from.
An important feature of generosity is allowing others to show generosity to you. You can repay with your own act later but don't rob people of the blessing of being generous as being denied can feel demeaning to those who wanted to show you kindness.
Sounds like good advice.
SURE you did. Good thing you didn't have to lead them in reading or writing...
@@hendrickvanderdecken7926Clever snark is a useful skill, but it is also one that, in my experience, is too often weilded indiscriminately (because ppl dont give a damn) or gratuitously (because their insecurities force them to flex). People who point out the flies on a turd tend to be less good company than the ones pointing out bees on flowers.
@TroyGlaus: Well said, and thank you for taking the time to share that. 😊👍
Anyone who has ever been in leadership knows that it is not easy. Most people have known Sobel types too. Dick Winters got his ultimate revenge but was gracious enough to admit that hard training is usually the most rewarding when it comes to life or the military.
US military leadership went only down-wards from WW2 and we actually analyzed and figured what USA did in Vietnam was the worst leadership disaster as men were constantly rotated in and out units. Yes the GERMANS RESISTED a 5-7 fold supremacy in Russia and in Normandy being badly equipped and starved...US command had a hard time understanding why the GERMAN SOLDIER WAS SO MUCH BETTER THEN THE US SOLDIER .....yes its called ESPRIT DE CORPS the German officers had a band with their soldiers eating the same food sleeping in the same quarters but USA had adopted the ARISTOCRATIC BRITISH STYLE which already had miserably failed in all the Arctic and Antarctic expeditions as well as on the battle field as in Duncerk Upper class officer abandoned their troops to save their sorry hides proves. Being trained hard doesn't needs to be DENIGRATED AND CONSTANTLY PUNISHED otherwise the Swiss Reserves who beat the shit out all US and British Specialized troops during the last EDELWEISS RAID wouldn't have been the overall winner and the USA-British Special units SAS Marines Green Berets would have failed so miserably that USA was evn happy that they had finished ....and hint we Swiss trained US and British troops in Kandersteg same as Russian Spetznaz...
As an NCO I was often called a "Joe hugger" for my constant opposition to tyrants like Sobel. Om a related note, soldiers volunteered to pull duty with me and good leaders live giving me the endgame they expected for the day. All I asked for in return was the power to release my guys when the days work was done.
@@HansJuergBangerter As much as I appreciate your perspective, for the love of god, please use paragraphs. 😅
@@irondwarf66 In military school we had a whole companie refusing order to a captain who was like Sobel. He was a weakling himself but he loved to make things much harder then they needed to be for us recruits like interdiction to refill your canteen on a 50km march since he wanted to break the speed record. I got promoted out off his companie into the commado unit(was great orienteeering runner) during a night exercice he was stupid enought to get caught by us commandos and slightly tortured= stripped to underwear and forced to make push-ups. Like I said he wasn't very strong physically and mentally and repeated the exercice is over several times, but we had orders to get info out of him and he cracked fast. I had an relative who made it to NCO in the French Foreign Legion, he didn't take the French passeport otherwise would have been made officer. Becoming an instructor in the Swiss Artillerie school he said that 50% of the Officers are useless same as managers in the industrie. WW2 German soldiers showed in Russia that starved and frozen were able to resist being outnumbered 7-1 because they were the real band of brothers+ stuck together. Wehrmacht soldiers also refused to rape and kill women+ children for this they got Ukrainians + Polish SS Sonderkommandos which hated Jews.(source Fritz Müller-Stalingrad+STALAG survivor).
@@mbogucki1 I am almost sure that my written English is better than that of over 50% of the US High School graduates. I sadly didn't speak English before age 20 but was bilingual French-German at young age..and yes adding a few dialects in both German and French from Parisian to Cajun-Québec French and from Swiss to High German-Bavarian and Alsatian German also took some Italian.
Sobel was a boss, Winters was a leader, big difference.
AMEN!!!
Yeah…. A BOSS is a double sob when spelled backwards!
I couldn't have said it better.
This goes back to the old saying, You don't fire the team, you fire the coach.
The Cowboys need to fire some of the team. Most of us cannot stand Dak, and how Jerry runs things. It's sad.
@@drewber565 Im a Cowboys and I agree, but I wasn't expecting to see the team critiqued on a Band of Brothers video 🤣
I always felt that Winters knew the court martial would catch the attention of high command. It was just months before the invasion, high stress, everyone struggling to get all the equipment to England without letting their plans leak to the Germans, food, housing, supplies being tight, constant training and planning --
Suddenly a court martial appears on Strayer's desk.
One can only imagine Strayer saying, "What the hell is THIS about?" He reads it and finds out it's a dispute over latrine inspections between two officers. "Really?! At a time like this?"
I think Winters was smart enough to know that high command would demand to know why the hell someone is requesting a court martial over latrine inspection when there are clearly more pressing issues at hand, and Sobel would refuse to back down from his word.
Big can of worms.
As a retired Sergeant First Class, I can say that discipline and fitness are crucial for survival, but it seems Sobel had no business leading troops. Leadership in the Army is all about purpose, direction, and motivation-if you understand what your troops need, they’ll follow you anywhere. Sobel lacked this, which is why Winters excelled as a leader. The most tragic part of Sobel’s story is how his life ended. After attempting suicide in 1970, he was left blind and spent the last 17 years of his life in a VA facility in Waukegan, Illinois, where he died from malnutrition in 1987. No memorial service was held for him. It’s a heartbreaking end for any veteran.
I did basic at fort Sill in 1987. I am still yet to admire someone more than drill sergeant Johnson. F battery 1/19 FA 4th platoon
All of us make good and bad choices, and we try to minimize the bad ones, but all choices have various consequences.
In as much as I take the story of "Band of Brothers" to be true, especially regarding the part referring to Captain Sobel, I still can't help having sentiments of compassion for Sobel. I feel, definitely as an outsider, that he made his bed and that the justice of time was served. But no one ever really knows what demons a man carries with him in his walk through life. God bless him still. He did, for good or ill, serve along side of The Greatest Generation.
Schwimmer is a true actor to take this role after the popularity of friends.
Got to admit it, he played it so well that I took a severe dislike to him for a while.
@@yammy1000 I agree. Not a big fan of his acting in Friends but respected his work in Band of Brothers, which I believe was a great role for him. He does have some good talent.
It wasn't a surprise for me to see Schwimmer cast in _BoB_ like so many other people claim it was. If you pay attention to Ross, especially in the no laugh track edits of his scenes, you will notice how much that character has in common with Sobel with the same neurotic need to dominate and control the people around him.
@@dlxmarks I agree. It's an observation I've made elsewhere. Ross is of course a fictional character but he is capable of being petty and domineering, in a *peace-time* and non-military setting. As an officer in wartime, someone like Ross might behave quite like Sobel.
@@dlxmarks -- "We were ON. A. BREAK!" --Ross
My grandfather served in WW II, as part of a 3 man machine gun crew.
He told me about an officer they had that carried on like Sobel, he described him as "plain mean" as well.
He went on to say, "the sad thing is, he truly believed in the way he behaved."
He then went on to say " in war there are ways to deal with those men"
He never spoke of it again,and I DEFINITELY did not ask any questions, he did not like to talk about WWII and also had very little, patience for a very loud, small kid who at that age thought war was "cool"
When I got older, his last Christmas, he went on to pay me the best compliment any man has ever given me.
God, how I'm glad I had some time with him and miss him and his guidance twords man hood.
What was the compliment??
Wow, imagine the horror of having a "plain mean" CO during a war when your enemy is trying to kill you and 40 million people were going to lose their lives.
What did he say?
My grandfather was sent to back to the medical tents by a "child that didn't shave regularly yet" because the 2nd lieutenant didn't agree with my grandfather's (staff seargent) plan to take a hill. Kid didn't make it home.
On the battlefied, men like that have strange accidents. In the original book, it is explained that some men wanted to kill him if they had to go to combat under his orders. Sobel was lucky not to be sent on thé frontline, the officers choosed Winters
"He did not impress me as a battlefield soldier". Epic levels of polite savagery.
I’ve had to endure less than pleasurable leadership while in the Army, but what I like about this vid is they still gave credit to Cpt. Sobel for the things he did to help E company survive the brutal aspects of WWII.
I'm no Schwimmer fan, but he was amazing on this series
This is my All time favorite mini-series/movie. David did very well playing Sobel. It wasn't a glorious role but a role that placed Sobel/David Swimmer in the annuals of great men. Great men, men of renowned, men of history. Men, of true history. You go David!
@@ronnewlin-ml6lu He's in the annuals? That's an achievement. I guess. 🤔
I believe this role was the one he was meant to do. He was absolutely brilliant. Loved to hate the pissant.
Sobol recognized Winters was the better officer and would be promoted ahead of him. That's why he was so mean to him.
Sobol was jealous! Also
No. He was mad because the colonel made a decision regarding Sobel’s command which undermined his authority with the entire unit.
What the colonel should have done was get with Sobel and get his input on the possible promotion.
@@rapid13 The colonel didn't need any input unless he had doubts about the promotion. He was a superior officer (several ranks higher) that saw enough reason to promote Winters without more discussion.
If his position was "undermined" Sobel could have contested that promotion, he didn't because he knew he had no leg to stand on.
Ironically, if Sobel had respected Winters, and the rest of the men, Winters would have supported him in return, as would most of the men, and done their best to make Sobel look good, despite his problems leading in combat.
@@richard40x exactly
I was blessed installing the garage door of a certain well known leader in Easy. The testimony is fact. The movie depiction was spot on.
Sobel was a Chicago city boy, lost in the woods. He came of age during the worst of the Depression. Social conditions were desperately self serving. My Dad was in a military academy Chicago a few years later, from age 7 to 16 south side in overlapping years. Every boy for himself. Poor Sobel was all alone tasked with creating a family.
@@rossjohnson1872 negatory
He was also a graduate of my school, university of illinois, where my father and i taught (myself as a grad student). Being a martinette was not on the curriculum at uiuc ...
When I was a specialist I had to carry a supply duties for entire HHC company during our Premob to Afghanistan. When we were in the field our battalion commander took 2 MREs and said that he will sign for them later. In the evening he refused to sign the roster claiming that he knows nothing about those MREs. I tried to remind him that he took them earlier that day but he got irritated and told me to “go away”. First thing I’ve done, I came back to the supply cage and made sure that every single MRE is accounted for. I had a box with extras (people sign for them but sometimes don’t take them). So, next morning BN commander with CSM came to do an inspection personally. They counted every single MRE and a signature on the roster. I never trusted that guy ever. What kind of LTC would pick a fight with a Specialist over an MRE?
😮
That's when you go to the SGM and let him know what's going on. You have to be a special POS to be that petty.
@@ffjsb I guarantee the SGM knew what was going on, real question is who he sided with, a good NCO backs his troops, not the officers
@@z0phi3l Then you go to your CO, the IG, and the Chaplain. Any BN Co that would do this should be relived of command, because you KNOW they're dirty and doing something way worse.
I was a company sergeant major and my OC was the dead ringer of David Schwimmer.
Both Physically and emotionally as he portrayed Sobel. My OC was the ultimate sycophant. Deadly dangerous to us.
This guy was despised by the entire company. I did my best to shelter his BS decisions and aggression he had towards us. But that came to point where I stopped the OC/CSM relationship and decided that the men were my priority.
I’d already seen Band Of Brothers and it literally felt like i was living the series.
It‘s crazy that any modern military would allow someone like that to run rampant. Objectively he’s doing the enemy‘s job for them.
how did you deal with the shitbag?
This confuses me. I've never seen nor heard of a Sgt Maj in charge of less than a Battalion.
Company 1st Sgt, Section Master Gunnery, E7 filling in the E8 billet, never an E9 filling an E8 billet.
Of course, I don't know what I don't know, so hopefully I'll learn something here.
CSM WO2 warrent officer class 2 is a company, Sargent Major.
A company in the British Army will be 1 of 5 companies that form's Battalion.
A company at full strength averages 120 men
An RSM WO1 Warrent Officer Class 1 a regimental SM and is responsible for the Battalion .
@@raylast3873 They do just well enough to get promoted to Cpt. it's when they finally get to command troops that their true colors start to show, they can only put on a show for so long before they feel untouchable and blow it
"He would even scold them for a name he didn't like..."
Malarkey: um....
"Rust on the butt plate hinge spring Private Bullshit, REVOKED"
@@PantsofVance he revoked the rust on his butt plate hinge spring so hard malarkey never had to clean his gun again
How did that ahole ever get promoted after his many fuck ups.
Like Cumala?
It is truly amazing how accurate The Band Of Brothers series is. I watch it every memorial day. 👍😁
Except the large mistake about Pvt Blithe that simply could have been corrected by editing the end title card. The guy went on to re-enlist twice and have a wife and kid, and eventually died in 1967 from complications from surgery on an ulcer.
@@thecalloftheroad Yes, there were some mistakes. In most "based on true stories" there is only a out 10% that is true. I am surprised at how much of this series that is true. 👍😁
I am marine i served from 1977 to 1983. Thank God i never had to serve with someone like Cpt. Sobel.
He would have gotten the Ole frag under the head.
Bob - i did 1981-1985. 0311. No combat.
Lt Diott , just like Sobel.
I hope that Ahat see this.
My squad stole your 782 gear that cold night, Diott.Terrible arrogant SOB.
We all called him Lt Idiot. He was just like Sobel, petty dress downs ti good Marines over minor incidents after being in the field for a week.
Over and over.
If Sobel wasn't incompetent in combat scenarios, his other undesirable leadership/personality traits probably wouldn't have resulted in his involuntary transfer from Easy Company.
Nah man, starting an out-of-control feud in his own unit against his best officer is almost certainly what got him removed. And the traits it exhibits are probably also worse for an army than being a shitty combat leader.
It‘s one thing to be overly harsh. But a leader who can‘t play ball with others, can‘t take advice and makes enemies out of his entire company is catastrophic for an army in every way imaginable.
Being a shitty combat leader is not catastrophic in the same way if you‘re smart enough. Just let your XO and the platoon leaders advise you on the best course of action and you‘ll mostly be fine. There were actually plenty of green officers who had to do this exact thing when placed in charge of an experienced combat unit; which happened all the time. Only in combination with terrible interpersonal skills does poor combat leadership become catastrophic. In fact, those traits exhibited by Sobel are probably the main reason he was also a terrible combat leader. Someone smarter would have been able to take advice and make better decisions based on that.
But this sort of out-of-control tyrantism risks rendering a military formation nonfunctional without ever encountering the enemy. By doing that you guarantee everyone is working against you all the time, which means they‘re not working against the enemy but rather doing his job for him. A house divided itself cannot stand, and that‘s before the Germans even come into it.
@@raylast3873 I kind of agree with your point. But I felt that his senior nco's took that stand mostly because they feared that Sobel would get them killed in combat without the strong second in command he was trying to punish. But U definitely get your point 👉.
It was likely a good thing for Sobel to have been transferred. He was a perfect candidate for a fragging. Likely saved his life.
Well for sure, but after many of his men died.
@@raylast3873
This is one of the smartest comments I’ve ever seen posted on the internet.
As a business person, these lessons apply to so many areas of life - running a business, raising kids, and military life.
Well thought out, and well written. Thank you.
One of the few "box sets" that I have EVER purchased is "Band of Brothers".
Same here!
I have the steel box watch it every Memorial day
It would have been better if Gordon Carson was represented. See the book.
Me too
@foreverRubysky
The first time I saw or heard of Prof Stephen Ambrose was his interview in the Thames Television/BBC production of "The World At War". He sported long hair and wore a heavy white sweater...
Sobel had a tough life at the end. Damn. Poor bastard.
Amen it broke my heart.. he did a great job and needed to forgive and calm down and he would have been fine...and never did...as in EVER...dang hard
All of his own choosing.
@ffjsb Have you ever been trained on how to forgive?I wasn't and it took me decades...actually I'm still working on it...if your so dam good at it start some lessons for the rest of us.
@@wirelessone2986 cry me a river snowflake.
Yeah, that end was brutal. He didn't deserve that.
I think Sobel should be recognized for doing his duty for America during World War 2. He should also be recognized for getting Easy company into great physical shape, which definitely helped during the fighting they went through. But he should also be recognized for his bad leadership skills, petty grudges he held against Winters and other soldiers, and for trying to lead and control his men by fear. I think it's definitely true that he would of gotten a lot of men killed if he remained in charge of Easy company.
It's unfortunate, but I think the way things played out was probably the best possible scenario for the men of Easy Co. Sobel was there to put them in great physical shape as well as forcing them to bond with each other as a unit, then going into combat with a leader like Winters. Almost a good cop, bad cop type situation. It's also not dissimilar to the way basic training is run or was run 20 years ago in my day, at least for infantry school. The drill sergeants turn you into soldiers but running you ragged and making you bond together in hating them, then you get to a unit and you feel like you've got the jackpot since you now have a little freedom and people who are interested in leading you.
Wow, it’s amazing how close the actors in Band of Bros looked in relation to the actual soldiers they portrayed. The fact that Hanks and Spielberg were able to get in important little factual tidbits like Winters running into Sobel after Winters outranked him as a Major and forcing Sobel to salute him. Who would have thought when I watched this series for the first time that scenarios like that actually occurred in real life!?
After watching this narrative, I now appreciate one of the best and maybe THE BEST World War II series - EVER… and maybe the best military/war series ever.
I kind of feel bad for Sobel now. Thanks for humanizing him.
He was a toolbag
No right to have the rank
@@thegadflygang5381 Maybe, maybe not. With a vastly expanded armed forces they would need a lot of officers and inevitably their quality would vary.
@stevekaczynski3793 without going into it too much and getting banned I imagine Sobel being "different" in terms of ethnicity/religion than 9999 out of 10000 other troops made him resentful and overcompensate
Being an outsider can go two ways. You work to show you're one of the guys or you grow more and more spiteful. Sobel took the second option
I say this because I went to Catholic school and had a "Sobel" in my grade. I liked him. Funny, wiseass, quick witted. So we bonded. But everyone else hated him because he made himself an outsider
Who knows maybe you're right and down deep hes alright. He certainly looks like a guy who would get bullied as a kid and grow up angry
He left his family. Nothing to be sorry about.
I don't.
Without defending Sobel too much, I think it is important to remember that these were young kids thrust into the most difficult of circumstances. I have to assume that Sobel was failed by being given a command to which he wasn't suited and that Sobel, in his own way, was largely trying to to his best without having the necessary temperament and maturity.
Sobel was 30 years old when he was training EZ company. Hardly a young kid anymore.
@@LeverPhile I can tell you that I am a very different person than I was at 30. But fair point in his particular case.
@@kcgunesq 100% agree, learning and development is a life long endeavor. And I feel sorry for and have compassion for Sobel; he could not get past his own faults and suffered dearly for it.
When I was attending a squad leader course in the Swedish home guard I had a captain who shared Sobels attitude towards leadership. He concluded after the course that he thought that I wasn't yelling enough orders to my fellow grown up men and that he thought I lacked the qualities of a leader.
Today I work with children on the spectrum and most often ADHD and in their words I'm simply the best. So I guess that old fart just as Sobel didn't know shit about leadership.
After all that we found out about Sobel in the video It broke my heart to hear what happened to him in the end .....
so his son tried to fix his reputation but didn't give a damm his dad starved to death in a VA home
@@HansJuergBangerter Do you know that for sure, or are you making assumptions? You can't (easily) force someone to eat, and you shouldn't if they want to pass on. Dude was old and blind for over a decade. It's not cruel to let them go if they want to go. It IS cruel and extremely selfish to force their hellish existence to continue though.
@@cidien my aunt, a certified nurse was doing palliative care are at patients domiciles, she had patients in final stage who as grown 6 foot men only weighted around 70 lb when they died. In one hospital in Zurich even 40 yearrs ago was customary only giving water to quasi brain-dead patients...and you could make your will not being connected to machines getting kept alive... so they would let you die in dignity.when you weren't able to take decisions anymore...many people let themselves die...actually espcially old inuits simply wandered outside in the winter and let themselves freeze to death...as you simply fall asleep...Fritz a Stalingrad survivor told me that his comrades who froze to death all smiled ( he was as an 18 year old sent to Russia and stayed there 9 years, 5 as guest of Stalin)
@@HansJuergBangerter why would someone in a VA home be allowed to starve? Pretty poor form.The military should look after all Vets
@@mottthehoople693 In 1970, Sobel shot himself in the head with a small-caliber pistol in an attempted suicide.[28] The bullet entered his left temple, severing his optic nerves and rendering him blind.[28] Soon afterward, he began living at a Veterans Administration assisted-living facility in Waukegan, Illinois, where he died on September 30, 1987;[2] the death certificate listed malnutrition as the cause of death.[28] No memorial service was held.[28]
Legacy
When I was a unit commander for several years, I was a captain. I could not have brought court-martial charges against an officer. A captain can only convene a summary court martial, and only enlisted personnel can be tried at an SCM.
I was a training officer for my career. Sobel engaged in what we called "mal-training." It would not have been tolerated.
I have always wondered if COL Sink ever acknowledged that Sobel was going to be a disaster in combat even though he was a good trainer, and that transferring him out was definitely called for.
Sometimes you need a real reason to remove someone and hope something comes up early. Though it's also hard to focus on every matter at that position. He probably was aware of discontent towards Sobel, but not probably the full extent of the issue until the "mutiny".
I think you're correct. Sink was a smart cookie .
Sink had his own ego problems.
I doubt if he was eager to make it know to others, but I suspect he knew it himself. Which is why he had Sobel transferred out, to a less important position.
Wow, what a story. I was hooked from the opening episode of 'Band of Brothers', a truly outstanding series. The opener was engrossing featuring as mentioned the draconian and bitter Sobel and his generally appalling attitude to his men. All said, I understand what was said about Sobel's approach forging the men into the unit they became but what a shame he was such a poor collaborator. He had such good men under him who I'm sure would have supported him had he been more balanced in his relationship with the undoubtably good material he had under his command. Those men were a credit to their company and country, in the end, Sobel missed out on what he helped create, a little humility on his part wouldn't have gone amiss. So sad how he ended up bitter and alone, a tragic end to a life that could have been better lived. Thanks for an enlightening break-down on these events.
This was a tremendous series and gave a true insite into what these brave young men went through to preserve our freedoms. I have so much respect for all these veterens irrespective of their personal characters, as for Sobel, one has to have empathy for this guy, he offered his life to go out and due his duty as did thousands of others.
Love the series, I’ve watched it several times. Thank you for the video. I appreciate the time that it must have taken.
music makes me cry every time....
My father was also in WW2. He came back different.
May God bless your father and seat him on his right. May God bless your father's family and you.
This is a sad story. I am combat veteran. I was in charge of Croatian special forces in early 1990. I was him. I was Hitler to my boys. They hated me. I loved them. They were my son's, my children. For all of them, l would die 100 times. But l had to broke them, and then rebuild them, over and over again. And honestly l failed. I lost 58 out of 60 we had. I led them, l was shoot 3 times in 13 months. But l lost them all. Dominik and l are last living from original 60. I took 1 in the chest, 1 in the head, 1 in the leg. I am a effing cripple today. Dom got it ever worst
But 2 of us lived. And thanks to all of 60 of us, we are independent country today. Pros in military have jobs to do....
Man, those are some horrific casualty figures. But you fought the good fight and Croatia is free and thriving now. Sorry for your loss and severe injuries.
Thank you for your service to your country, that is very honorable, the honor knows no borders ...
According to the BoB book by Stephen Ambrose, all of Easy company hated Sobel, but they all respected him in that he was the one that made them combat-ready. He was the one who made Easy Company what it was, but he was not fit to be C.O. in live battle. Sobel was bad at directions and reading maps, and would often ask his X.O. where they were. He was impatient and would talk really loudly on covert drills, which would piss off Dick Winters and the rest of the men.
It was rough on the men having Ross Geller as their company commander ... but at least he saw to it they were well trained . They would have been all ate up if they were led by Joey or Chandler . " My God ! Could this training manual BE any more tedious . " " Aye - oh ... This spaghetti ain't nothin' like what my mudder makes . We gotta stop everything and fix the chow hall right now. "
"PIVOT!!"
It's one of the best examples of the difference between leading through fear vs leading through respect I've ever heard of. If your men fear you, they will reluctantly do only enough to avoid punishment and try to undermine you whenever they get the chance. If your men respect you, they will often go above and beyond what is asked of them and support you whenever they get the chance. Richard Winters was an exceptional leader and a true hero.
Sad the way Sobel story ended. Regardless of facts presented here, he served our country. He deserves respect.
Sobel was a jerk!
@@lcaceci43he may be a jerk but he was a veteran and a member of the greatest generation and I thank him for that.
Sobel was a cruel, sadistic, tyrant. I've served under too many like him before. They are terrible officers, terrible people, and they deserve contempt for their actions and behaviors. Actions have consequences.
@@Dave-ll6ei NO! Hitler, Stalin, and others were of that era too. Murderers and rapists were part of the Greatest Generation too.
The damage bad leadership causes to military units cannot be understated. I've lived it for real. People die becasue of these tyrants. People were abused by these tyrants. Being born as part fo a collective period in time does not absolve someone of their bad deeds.
@@SoloRenegade my father was part of that greatest generation. He served under Patton in 3rd Army. His outfit was one of the first to liberate Buchenwald. I also worked a long career with both men and women of that generation. The thing they had in common was they came home went to work and started families. They didn’t whine about what they went through or who they had to take orders from. They were called the greatest generation for a reason.
Sobel was obviously a complete jerk as an officer, but dying from malnutrition in a home, well he didn't deserve that. Many years after WWII ended, he was also a casualty and victim of it. The series is probably the best I have ever seen and I am old and have seen a lot. Extrordinary men in horrible situations. I have watched the series twice and now I have seen this, I will watch it again. Good video!
If you’re quoting Ambrose, you’re batting.500
Yes. That’s what I hear.
Clearly I’m out of the loop because I don’t know what you mean lol Batting .500 is an incredible stat but I’ve read that Ambrose wasn’t known for his historical accuracy…
@@07foxmulderI agree the statement is ambiguous to say the least
@@07foxmulder your instincts are correct . .500 is 50% of the time as a historian you are wrong or made it up to save time. History isn’t baseball. The standard in history is 100% accurate or don’t write it down.
@@johnhansen8272 If that was the standard there'd be a lot less history books out there
Amazing. Thank You. Now because of your video I have to watch the Band of Brothers again. Mind you I've watched it so many times now but you know, now seeing that most of what we see in the show did happen. Many thanks, I really appreciate it.
Herbert Sobel lived a tragic life, much of it his own doing.
Much of it not his own doing. His family rejected his Catholic wife, and his children took a vehemently anti-Vietnam War stance - which he objected to. BoB did him very dirty. He retired a Lt. Col. - jumped on D-Day, and was heroic in combat, taking out a German machine gun nest with grenades. Was severely neglected in some crap-hole V. A. nursing home.
@@shouldhavedonebetter band of brothers did NOT do him dirty. read the memoirs written by the actual men that served under him. they hated him. they knew he would get them killed. they were willing to risk court martial to get out from his command. band of brothers showed EXACTLY who he was.
@@absolutetuber bullshit
I wouldn't say the video was helpful. However, fascinating and informative. And it pays tribute to the accuracy portrayed by the series, Band of Brothers, which was excellent and I've watched it countless times. These recaps done in this format are great because it affirms everything we've watched and historical accuracy is priceless. I'm the Son of a WW ll vet and he never once told us any stories of the war and only told our Mother one story that explained the trauma all battlefield soldiers suffered one way or another. Keep up the good work!
I'm surprised to learn he jumped and did a job. Good on him. Some people cannot handle leadership.
Well said
Supremely excellent video, this brings some peace to my mind as I wondered about Sobel's family's response to the series. Thanks for that. Cheers!
I served in the United States Army 1969 - 1971. There was a Lieutenant in 2nd Company who just came from West Point. He was a horrible officer and person. I tried to talk with him about his attitude. He told me that he was going to file charges against me for disrespecting a fellow Officer. I smirked at him and walked away. A few months later, his company returned from a mission, but he didn't return and was reported missing. A search mission was sent out to fiend him. He was never found. An investigation was made resulting as an M.I.A. classification. Yes he served, but all those that knew him could care less. To this day, nobody knows if it was enemy fire or friendly fire. Attitude can add to different results in life.
Wow… that’s intense! He really must’ve been a horrible man.
I have five older brothers, four of them served in the United States Navy during the Cold War and Vietnam era. And the youngest of that four was a surface and underwater sonar technician. He served on the USS towers and patrolled the gulf of Tonkin. Some of his activity during those deployments consisted of special teams that went in country to rescue down US pilots.
All of them were well respected so I am assuming they were fair leaders and servicemen.
@@maryvalentine9090ppl
He always spoke highly of you.
every single d-day soldier that made it back that served under Sobel, should have maned up and thanked him, they were toughened up by Sobel, cleaning your weapon, gear, be prepared is what they were suppose to be taught
He shot himself soon after I was born and died soon after I went away to college. That’s a long time to languish.
For me, the lesson here is that you have a choice on how you present yourself to the world.
May all members of Easy rest in peace whether they died in the 40’s or more recently.
He languished in a crap-hole VA nursing facility and died of malnutrition. He jumped on D-Day - and took out a German machine-gun nest. He retired a Lt. Col.. Purple Heart, Bronze Star. His family rejected him because he took a Catholic wife. He fought with his children since he objected to their vehement anti-Vietnam War stance. Rest in Peace Lt. Col. Sobel - you were unfairly done very dirty.
@@shouldhavedonebetter You forgot he was ridden with survivor guild after his replacement, meehan, died with all aboard that plane
@@Some_Guy_6 that's good info - never knew that. I also forgot he fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
Easy Company isn’t the only unit that performed in an exemplary manner within the 101st or Army overall. I’d imagine the leaders of many of these exemplary units were able to train their men to be good Soldiers without Sobel’s fear philosophy.
Sobel didn’t turn these men into Soldiers; good officers like Winters turned them into good Soldiers in spite of Sobel’s efforts to sabotage them.
Great video. The guy did his job to help them band together and be physically fit for the hell that was combat, knowing they would hate him for it, but also knowing at least some of them would look back and appreciate his efforts, although in my humble opinion, he went overboard countless times and could have achieved the same thing without the "leading with fear" method. Having said that, no one should die like he did, that made me sad. That war hurt everyone involved with it for the rest of their lives.
Swimmer should have gotten an award for that. He was amazing. He was so believable!
Great video. Very informative. So sad in many ways…… R.I.P. all that were troubled souls
Who in the military doesn't like their CO. Every member of Easy company has said, It was Sobel who brought them together and came them a Brotherhood.
The one thing I noticed that is never discussed….that being 1st SGT Evans. That position has a lot of influence to the CO of any unit. I suspect Evans added fuel to Sobels flawed personality.
Never, never, EVER cross your top-kick.
In his memoir, Donald Malarkey had the opinion that Sobel and Evans were a bad combination with each encouraging the negative behaviors of the other. Evans also did not participate in the mass resignation of Easy Company NCOs.
@@dlxmarks there you have it!!!! Thank you for honoring history and truth.
It actually sounds like Sobel was likely the reason they performed so well. High attention to detail, and rigorous physical training. His goal of making them the best was met.
Not really, they exceeded because of their hatred towards him, not because he was good, had a Plt Sgt with similar issues, we dealt with it in our own petty ways
@@z0phi3l wow...
hands down the best wwwii series, the acting was superb, thank you for your service men of Easy Co.
The resemblance between the real Lt Winters and thé casted one are remarkable great series close to the truth it seems
# let us never forget what these man and the victims of WW2 went trough to give us the freedom’s we cherish to day……
He was the type of guy who would get fragged in combat
Yep
Chicken shit in the military, it's harping on things not helpful to the group effort!
except he wasn't .. fragging is only limited to americans with bad training..
@@mottthehoople693 you do know what fragging is right?
@mottthehoople693 as a someone who was a soldier and have been to combat. Shut up kid lol. You have 0 idea what the adults are talking about
Sorry but I don’t pity the fate of a man who abandons his children.
Sobel would have been fragged if he was actually in the field. Or he would have been killed before he landed in Normandy. Either way he wouldn't have lasted long.
Guy Gibson - as in Dambusters fame - was well known to be a 'shitbag' despite leading the squadron that took out the dams. This from my Dad who was aircrew at the time - it gets around.
And his Mosquito crashed on a sortie over the Netherlands due to 'engine failure'.
Well, I'm not one for conspiracy theories but Dad reckoned he chewed out the ground crew once too often and the Mossie was well and truly 'spiked' so it wasn't going to come back - fuel tank change over valve probably.
It happens.
@@mrb.5610
You know, when I am being a dick (it's rare but it happens), I own it. I don't blame other people and I definitely apologize when I have a cooler head. If I have to go to combat, the last thing I want to do is piss off the people who are going to help me. There's a difference between tough love and being a dick.
The usual rule for planes was in the sky, that was the pilot's plane. On the ground it's the air crew's plane. I would have made sure that my aircrew knew how much they meant to me had I flown back then. 😎👍✨
i believe that if they got to jump with sobel and they found him or he would find them
"flash, thunder" would be followed by gunfire
@mrb.5610 the ground crew would murder everyone on a plane because they don't like a guy? Seems pretty evil.
@@sa-jh8is Not exactly. A change over valve simply means they wouldn't come back - either a forced landing or a bail out would have been the intention.
If a senior officer has it in for you for whatever reason, he can make your life an absolute hell. So yes, loosen that bolt on some part of an aeroplane when no one's looking and he's out of your life.
He wasn't called 'The Boy Emperor' or the 'Arch Bastard' behind his back because he was well liked and popular.
Nothing welds teams together than having a common object to hate. Sobel died in old age of malnutrition.
That and drinkin' together.
No it doesn't. it tears amazing teams apart. It crushes moral, breaks down discipline, destroys motivation and performance. it gets people killed. people start giving up and doing the bare minimum. Sobel is contemptable in every way. I've served under too many like in in training and in actual combat. people like him are evil. He held grudges, was a cruel and sadistic tyrant who knowingly and intentionally tried to hurt people, and then held a grudge about it the rest of his life.
I suspect that in 1970 his sons could have even been anti war and anti army. During the Vietnam conflict and the social reaction to it of young people at that time. And that Sobel was a diehard black and white right wing asshole. And maybe that is how their family disintegrated. And caused him to put a level gun to his temple and take out his optic nerves. What a shame that some people cannot adapt.
Well done
It is nice to get some historical clarification of some of these stories. Sounds like there was a lot of truth to what was said in Band of Brothers, noting of course, that there are multiple perspectives and opinions when it comes to historical accounts. Thanks for the video.
David Swimmer seemed quite in shape on BoB
Though not the military I worked a job where we had a supervisor who was disrespectful to everyone and I mean everyone. If it weren't for upper management blindly protecting him he would been fired a long time ago in spite earning numerous complaints filled with our union against him. He worked for around thirty years in the company and never had any friends, was never married or known to have a girlfriend. When he finally retired people were elated that he finally left. A couple years later he had a massive heart attack and went blind from uncontrolled unchecked diabetes in spite of our job having a great medical coverage because he hadn't bother to see a doctor in many years and everyone cursing his name and hoping he would be burning in Hell. I am thankful I will have friends and family that loves me dearly and will miss me when my time comes. You reap what you sow.
Fully aware of what he was doing? I understand his family defending him through thick-and-thin, but come on! Sobel was fundamentally dishonest! To me, that seems like a dangerous line to cross when you're about to lead men into combat...
Always great to learn the true stories behind the men of Easy company. It validates the HBO series Sobel for all his flaws contributed by giving the men under his command the tools to stay alive It was Winters who was the rock of Easy who carried the burden of keeping his brothers alive. Sobel was no doubt hated and dispised but there's no denying what an asset he was in training. Just recently watched
the last part of the box set, WE STAND ALONE TOGETHER. and it re enforces my profound respect for these band of brothers.
Sobel's story was a sad one. I wish he got more help. And dying from malnutrition in a VA home sounds like you're living in Africa. Thats the real tragedy
It's amazing how close the likeness are when comparing the actors to the real people.
🫡🇺🇸 Very nicely greatly wonderfully spectaculary well done and executed in every detail way shape and format provided on Sobel vs Winters on this true story on the Band of Brothers of the 506th of Easy company indeed Sir!👌. P.S. My Uncle Philip served with the 101st and my Uncle Harry with the 82nd during Vietnam during the mid to late 60's .
And Schwimmer is a GREAT actor. Period.
Imagine the actor cast to play you in your life story is David Schwimmer and he's a perfect fit.
I have said it before, and ill say it again, no veteran should have to suffer his fate. He was a horrible leader, and a real pos, but i wouldnt wish that type of suffering on anyone.
They couldn't force feed him. He was a very stubborn man.
Even after all these years, I still tear up whenever I watch this show. Consider me a new subscriber. Cheers!
Nice job, thank you.
Good story, but did the narrator actually say Winters was "helpening the men" at the 2:00 mark!?!
That was a lesson for life in general. Think hard...
Great video, though I've seen "Band of Brothers" 3 or maybe 4 times in its entirety over the years, this video made me want to watch it again.
Sobel is a fantastic lesson of a gifted supervisor made management
Regardless of how you feel about Sobel it’s criminal that he died from malnutrition in a VA hospital. These men who put their lives on the line should get the best care.
All of the guys in easy conpany said he was a hopeless soldier. BUT he was the best at drilling routine, hard work and discipline... And if you read all of their later life interviews or reports... They all agree, his tough love and elite training got them through some very tough parts of the war...
When I was watching the series, I was thinking "didn't these guys realize that Sobel being tough on them is what made them the best?!" Very interesting to hear that they did understand that. It's also a huge credit to the makers of the series for how they accurately portrayed that aspect of it.
oh being tough made them the best
being a bully is what made them hate him
I remember in the Band of Brothers series during Easy Company’s basic training. Sobel would pop in the room, yelling plans changed Easy Company is running Currahee, stand up, out the door.
I was reminded of it during later events of the battle of the bulge. They are told that units are being over run in the Arden forest. They are to drop everything and head over there.
Despite Sobel’s crassness, he had the right idea what to get his men ready for.
In my opinion, Sobel was a perfect example of being very good at some things and not other things.
He made his soldiers as strong as they needed to be.
People talk about Sobel being “chicken shit”. Meaning he was unfair and petty.
No German they faced was a “kind” as Sobel.
Say what you will but, if you go into war with an expectation of fair play, you are not going to be psychologically ready.
Why are Navy SEAL’s treated so poorly during training?
He was the kind of officer that 20 years later in Vietnam would have been fragged.
Wow, did no know about Sobel's attempted suicide and blindness. I hope he found some peace in the end and was able to let go of it all. It's hard to know how to feel about the man. What would he have made of the show if he had lived to see it? Would he have become more bitter or would he have had an epiphany.
By the time he brcame estranged with his family, there's no chance of any recognition of his errors dealing with the men. He would have only remembered his great work training them not realizing their hatred of him was a big factor in bringing them to the point of being a close knit company of well trained warriors.
R. I. P to them both. Sobel was the man who trained the men. He did his job well and these men were still alive after the war to share their stories. Sobel did not deserve to meet his maker the war he did.
His son's defense is admirable but Sobel's utter lack of judgement during the field exercise belies his claim that his father "knew what he was doing" he was a petty tyrant well deserving of the infamy of his name in both military and civilian circles due to BoB's portrayal
he had his way for sure. i wouldnt be the least bit surprised to find an officer like this. id almost expect it.
Very well done.
Thank God for men like Winters! God are we EVER in need of more of them!
Thanks, great info.