One little tidbit for those who want it that had to cut out of the episode for time constraints - the journey back for Niedermayar and Hentig was just as dangerous as the journey to Afghanistan. Due to the Fall of Erzurum to the Russians both had to take wide ranging trips back. Hentig went to Xianjing, Bejing and then the USA (still neutral) Niedermayar went to Herat, then Terkistan, Iran and Turkey. It is a crazy story that took me a few days to write up. Thank you again for all the wonderful comments.
The Afghans would eventually invade British India in 1919. Weird that they waited for their only potential ally to be defeated and then decided to take action.
Yeah but that's due to the assassination of Khabibullah Khan early in that yr. He was the main person who was against fighting Britain (the prime minister of Afg was pro German) so that's probably why that happened.
P.S. he was assassinated by a an Indian spy working for Britain ironically and that same spy later tried to assassinate Mustafa Kemal Ataturk but he was caught in Ankara and they discovered his plot and he was hung to death. WW1 has so many intriguing storylines.
After work with the movies here in New Mexico. I would much rather have a book.... Movies are very much over rated. And a movie being even close to historically correct, is like getting a winning lottery ticket. It would make great drama, for me, The cost (not even being factual) would be to high.
Knut Der Große when I say movie I refer to a historically accurate movie because we really don’t get to see that many ww1 movies. Also a book would be great as well
There are two great books about this subject (among other things): “On secret service east of Constantinople” and the most recent “The Berlin-Baghdad Express: The Ottoman Empire and Germany's Bid for World Power.”
This episode is told in On Secret Service East of Constantinople by Peter Hopkirk, who has written a number of superb narrative histories of the "Great Game" in Central Asia.
I am part Afghani, and our people are very independent and clan orientated. Many tried invading Afghanistan but either failed or had to withdraw after a short time. Looking at Afghanistan today, which of the foriegn powers would have profited it, the British or the Germans...?
Thing is non of these plans would've lead to a decisive blow against the British, who would not stop fighting (especially after America joined the war) and would not stop blockading German ports.
To continue on with the Germans in the East could we see an episode about the Asienkorps and the German Army that was sent to support the Turkish Army against the British and French? It's not really well known by many as to how much the Germans actually contributed to this area, but I think it would be a very great episode to talk about.
Dear Indy and team, I've been watching the show for going on 3 years now, and I've been enthralled since then by you're masterful , insightful, and sobering recounting of this war that claimed the lives of so many millions of young men my age. I want to congratulate you all from the bottom of my heart for the nearly 5 years of hard work and dedication you have put in to such a momentous project. My question for out of the trenches is, would you guys ever consider publishing a book on The Great War? It could essentially be an edited collection of your weekly scripts in book form. I think that it would be an incredibly comprehensive yet equally accessible title, that would cover both the most important and well known events of the conflict, as well as the obscure and oft ignore theaters and details that were none that less intriguing and important. Again, thank you for many years of knowledge and entertainment. With Regards. -Max
Thank you for an amazing episode. The story of the Persian front is also very interesting. And an integral part of the Mesopotamian and the Caucuses fronts; Filled with intrigue and rebellions and forgotten battles and also a deadly famine. I wish I could do the research for it. But I do not have access to Persian sources here in Tennessee and sources are scarce any ways.
My great-grandfather, Ghulam Siddiq Khan Charkhi, was the Ambassador to Berlin who signed the Treaty of Friendship with Germany on behalf of Afghanistan.
Wow! Thank you so much for such interesting information. But would you tell us some about the relationship between Afghanistan and Othaman Empire from the beginning to the end of the Empire? We would love to hear it.
still 27 days and 18 hours for the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of 2018 one hundred years after the armistice of ww1. can't wait for your special episodes and of course for a LUDENDORFF SPECIAL!!!!!!!!! Do it Indy!
Hi Indy, I'm not sure if this would be an Out of the Trenches question or not but when the channel finishes up, would you guys perhaps leave a link on the channel where we can access all of these old photos and paintings and other pictures you guys use throughout your episodes? It would just be neat I think to have a way to get these old photos that we wouldn't really find elsewhere. I love this channel, keep up the great work!
I believe that they use video footage and still images from the British Pathé library. You can check out the British Pathé channel on TH-cam and probably also on the web. I know that this isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, but I hope it helps.
Fascinating story. Not unsurprising the Germans tried to strike a keel between the English in India and the Russian further north. The Great Game, as the power struggle between the two is called, has been the source of many an armed conflict for the last 200 years. However, the Germans promising Afghanistanis an alliance with Persia, and armaments being supplied through Perisa, seems pretty incredible considering the situation there at the time. How was that supposed to work? Neither Germany or their ally the Ottomans controlled Persia, on the contrary it was the Brittish and the Russians that had forces there, and even they was not able to ecure Persia for themselves. PS. Please include plenty of references to the Swedish Gendarmes if you care to answer to my pondering... ;-) /Anders
Ah, there you are. Thanks for your work, just as most I´ve completely overlooked this story. Mind you, I´m still trying to collect Swedish sources on the Persian Gendarmes.. :-)
Wow, I'd love to see some more of the post war stuff. It's a pity you can't cover it in this channel, if only there was some other channel that delved into the ghosts of this time. *wink wink*
Everyone gets baited into trying to attack Afghanistan at least once and I'm excited to see who it happens to next. I for one want a REALLY interesting crossover like North Korea+ Argentina VS Afghanistan all set in the year 2035
On the other hand, from Roberts' invasion through the 1920's Britain effectively controlled Afghanistan, with regular agreements that let the British dictate foreign relations etc.
Great work. The Germans certainly were serious geopolitical strategists. Their big success was sending Lenin back to Russia. Afghanistan was a very long shot!
Thanks jack for this question, thank you Indy and team for the adventurous answer. Just imagine if the Afghanis accepted the Germans offer, and the Germans pulled through with there promise of weapons and gold and attacked India. I would imagine that would at least prolonged the war.
That's about as realistic as counting on aliens coming to the Central Power's rescue. Turkey was in the process of breaking down in the Caucasus, Persia was a battlefield, and in Europe, the war was still in full swing on all four fronts. There's no way a German arms shipment of any significant scale would've made it through all of this.
@@varana but the aliens did help!!!! Jk the question wasn't a realistic one in the first place.(since history is now in place) That's why I put the "if" by some miracle weapon procurement happened and the Afghanis raided British India. I'm sure it would just be a minor thorn in the side, maybe Afghanistan just keeps the weapons and doesn't do anything with them. Tis but a tiny thought that nothing comes from
Hi Indy and team I have a question for oott. My great grandfather and his brothers where apart of the Dutch underground during world war 2, I was wondering if there was anything like the French and Dutch underground during world war 1. Love your videos
I first learned of this story when it was briefly mentioned in the very brief WW1 video (14 minutes for the whole war) by the TH-cam channel "OverSimplified." There is a story that the Germans brewed beer in Afghanistan, which did not endear them to the Afghanis. I cannot confirm whether this actually happened.
Hey will you guys do a video on Wilfred Owen since it is close to the anniversary of his dead. He died 4th November 1918 he is my favroite poet of the war.
Afghanistan, the perfect German ally, completely surrounded by Great War hostile nations (Russia, British-India, Russo-Anglo-Persia & Republic of China). Never let practical impossibility get in the way of Great War adventure.
Hey Indy, Could you please do an episode about China as well? China also participated in the Great War in the Ally's side and provided overall 200,000 labours in both west and east front. The sacrifice of them should not be forgotten as well.
Hi, I was just wondering, what happened with all the soldiers on both sides immediately after the November 11th armistice, were they shipped home straight away or did they have to wait in France and Belgium to be sent home. Also what was life like for soldiers during this period?
Indie and crew, would be interested in an episode on the effects of,alcohol on the great war. Both sides used it and it may explain some of the oddities . It was a ration of 1 tot of rum per man per day in the British army but 3 tots if you were going into battle
Speaking of comments...I noticed that comments were not an option on the "Serbia before WWI" video. Not that I would have commented on that video... other than to say I was confused AF at the end of that video. Luv ya!
+holidayhouse03 I was frustrated about the comments being disabled in that video too, because I noticed a minor factual error that I wanted to nitpick in the comments section (Indy got one of the dates wrong).
It's little things like this that really make WW1 a world war. Most of the colonies still existed after the war, even if they changed hands. But the seeds of nationalism and independence were planted everywhere even if they wouldn't rise up until later. This expedition stoked Afghanistan's nationalism and probably helped to scare the British Indian authorities. That would turn into the Defence of India Act and later the Rowlatt act which was the beginning of Ghandi's involvement in the Indian Independence Movement.
Dude, I feel like such a time traveler right now! I just saw this other video from October 13th, 1939 and ya'll won't believe what is going on. Very alarming.....
That German delegation probably didn't look too sharp by the time they finally got to Afghanistan. Not so smart either travelling across the middle east deserts in July. And exactly how were the German's going to be able physically to supply the Afghans?
This story reminded me of the Sindbad tales except that it's a true story AND Indy should maybe think of re-telling the Sindbad or the Thousand and One night stories in his own special 21st century style...
One little tidbit for those who want it that had to cut out of the episode for time constraints - the journey back for Niedermayar and Hentig was just as dangerous as the journey to Afghanistan. Due to the Fall of Erzurum to the Russians both had to take wide ranging trips back.
Hentig went to Xianjing, Bejing and then the USA (still neutral)
Niedermayar went to Herat, then Terkistan, Iran and Turkey.
It is a crazy story that took me a few days to write up. Thank you again for all the wonderful comments.
That's OK Indy. I love you guys so much.
well, it is not too late for the Great War Team to make a PROPER special about this, now that they have learned about it..
OMG THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. I'm over the moon that this made it into a video.
Jack Sharpe omg I have some one in my class with the same name who also loves history
Congratulations
I have to say that was a very well written story. Congrats!
Great episode. Thank you!
Jack Sharpe congratulations man
I am shocked a foreign power's military mission failed in Afghanistan.
It's almost unimaginable how they have managed to get to Afghanistan considering their situation. Great find Mr Sharpe.
Wow German Afghanistan mission, had no idea!
The Afghans would eventually invade British India in 1919. Weird that they waited for their only potential ally to be defeated and then decided to take action.
Yeah but that's due to the assassination of Khabibullah Khan early in that yr. He was the main person who was against fighting Britain (the prime minister of Afg was pro German) so that's probably why that happened.
P.S. he was assassinated by a an Indian spy working for Britain ironically and that same spy later tried to assassinate Mustafa Kemal Ataturk but he was caught in Ankara and they discovered his plot and he was hung to death. WW1 has so many intriguing storylines.
This deserves a movie as does the Dunsterforce
Yes !
Don't know why you call yourself Indiana Jones but has a picture of Arnold
After work with the movies here in New Mexico. I would much rather have a book....
Movies are very much over rated. And a movie being even close to historically correct, is like getting a winning lottery ticket.
It would make great drama, for me,
The cost (not even being factual) would be to high.
Knut Der Große when I say movie I refer to a historically accurate movie because we really don’t get to see that many ww1 movies. Also a book would be great as well
franco Fransisco I was wondering that too
Everyone knows Rambo's secret mission in Afghanistan in 1989, but few this one! Well done!
I remember hearing it once in OverSimplified.
this comment is dedicated to brave Mujahideen fighters of Afghanistan
Commander Indy...the time has come... execute...order...66!
A star wars reference here how wonderful :)
I work with a woman from Afghanistan. She talks about their history and culture a lot. I wonder if she knows about this?
Onyx1916 show this to her.
A surprise to be sure but a welcome one
There are two great books about this subject (among other things): “On secret service east of Constantinople” and the most recent “The Berlin-Baghdad Express: The Ottoman Empire and Germany's Bid for World Power.”
This episode is told in On Secret Service East of Constantinople by Peter Hopkirk, who has written a number of superb narrative histories of the "Great Game" in Central Asia.
I am part Afghani, and our people are very independent and clan orientated. Many tried invading Afghanistan but either failed or had to withdraw after a short time. Looking at Afghanistan today, which of the foriegn powers would have profited it, the British or the Germans...?
Germans would give Afghanistan better education and army and better trains etc.
Last time i was this early germany still had a chance
It never did
After 1912 they had no chance anymore (Implementation of the Schlieffenplan only)
they still have at list 3 chance in my opinion
the schifflen plan
the battle of verdun
the spring attack
Thing is non of these plans would've lead to a decisive blow against the British, who would not stop fighting (especially after America joined the war) and would not stop blockading German ports.
To continue on with the Germans in the East could we see an episode about the Asienkorps and the German Army that was sent to support the Turkish Army against the British and French? It's not really well known by many as to how much the Germans actually contributed to this area, but I think it would be a very great episode to talk about.
I am your fan since 2016
Dear Indy and team, I've been watching the show for going on 3 years now, and I've been enthralled since then by you're masterful , insightful, and sobering recounting of this war that claimed the lives of so many millions of young men my age. I want to congratulate you all from the bottom of my heart for the nearly 5 years of hard work and dedication you have put in to such a momentous project. My question for out of the trenches is, would you guys ever consider publishing a book on The Great War? It could essentially be an edited collection of your weekly scripts in book form. I think that it would be an incredibly comprehensive yet equally accessible title, that would cover both the most important and well known events of the conflict, as well as the obscure and oft ignore theaters and details that were none that less intriguing and important. Again, thank you for many years of knowledge and entertainment. With Regards. -Max
snakes? why does it always have to be snakes?
_"Doug Neidermeyer: He was killed in Vietnam by his own troops."_
V. Athanasiou actually he survived. He had a few kids but his son beat him up and formed the band...... Twisted Sister
"What did he say?"
Thank you for an amazing episode. The story of the Persian front is also very interesting. And an integral part of the Mesopotamian and the Caucuses fronts; Filled with intrigue and rebellions and forgotten battles and also a deadly famine. I wish I could do the research for it. But I do not have access to Persian sources here in Tennessee and sources are scarce any ways.
Imagine if Afganistan joined the Central Powers. Another front to fight.
I really love the viewers community you had formed.
Been watching since the start. Been a long, crazy war indy, thank you for the countless great videos...
Okay you guys just saved my weekend
My great-grandfather, Ghulam Siddiq Khan Charkhi, was the Ambassador to Berlin who signed the Treaty of Friendship with Germany on behalf of Afghanistan.
Started watching right before I got married in 2014. The show has been excellent all these years
Wow! Thank you so much for such interesting information.
But would you tell us some about the relationship between Afghanistan and Othaman Empire from the beginning to the end of the Empire? We would love to hear it.
Oskar Niedermeyer was later resurrected by the US
Army and killed by his own men in Vietnam.
Thanks from a Canadian Afghan
Killing it like always. Love it keep it up!
still 27 days and 18 hours for the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of 2018 one hundred years after the armistice of ww1. can't wait for your special episodes and of course for a LUDENDORFF SPECIAL!!!!!!!!! Do it Indy!
Loving your series, can we get a special about Egypt in WW1?
Anyway we love Germans they helped us in many situations and now they are helping our army and government to fight taliban back
So many incredible stories during the Great War! Netflix or HBO should make a few miniseries about these
Thanks , amazing and well explained part of Afghan history!
Hi Indy, I'm not sure if this would be an Out of the Trenches question or not but when the channel finishes up, would you guys perhaps leave a link on the channel where we can access all of these old photos and paintings and other pictures you guys use throughout your episodes? It would just be neat I think to have a way to get these old photos that we wouldn't really find elsewhere. I love this channel, keep up the great work!
I believe that they use video footage and still images from the British Pathé library. You can check out the British Pathé channel on TH-cam and probably also on the web.
I know that this isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, but I hope it helps.
Fascinating story. Not unsurprising the Germans tried to strike a keel between the English in India and the Russian further north. The Great Game, as the power struggle between the two is called, has been the source of many an armed conflict for the last 200 years. However, the Germans promising Afghanistanis an alliance with Persia, and armaments being supplied through Perisa, seems pretty incredible considering the situation there at the time. How was that supposed to work? Neither Germany or their ally the Ottomans controlled Persia, on the contrary it was the Brittish and the Russians that had forces there, and even they was not able to ecure Persia for themselves. PS. Please include plenty of references to the Swedish Gendarmes if you care to answer to my pondering... ;-) /Anders
Yeah when I was researching it became very clear that the whole affair was kind of a Lost Cause from the go. Still a fascinating tale.
Ah, there you are. Thanks for your work, just as most I´ve completely overlooked this story. Mind you, I´m still trying to collect Swedish sources on the Persian Gendarmes.. :-)
Anyone interested in this story has to read 'On secret service east of Constantinople' by Peter Hopkirk. It's an absolutely superb read
Would be interesting hearing biography about Werner Otto von Hentig
Wow, I'd love to see some more of the post war stuff. It's a pity you can't cover it in this channel, if only there was some other channel that delved into the ghosts of this time. *wink wink*
TimeGhostHistory? Never heard of it.
"died in custody of the soviets"... sure
Assassinated by natural causes
He fell from the balcony
No one simply 'dies' in Soviet custody.
In Soviet Russia, time kills YOU.
Suicide with 2 bullets in the back of the head
This was so interesting, great writing and deliverance.
Everyone gets baited into trying to attack Afghanistan at least once and I'm excited to see who it happens to next. I for one want a REALLY interesting crossover like North Korea+ Argentina VS Afghanistan all set in the year 2035
I'm sure the Afghans are getting sick of being invaded
On the other hand, from Roberts' invasion through the 1920's Britain effectively controlled Afghanistan, with regular agreements that let the British dictate foreign relations etc.
Yes...thank you for these tales!
Great work. The Germans certainly were serious geopolitical strategists. Their big success was sending Lenin back to Russia. Afghanistan was a very long shot!
Great work ... this will be historical record one day ...
Would love to see this published in book form
With recorded voices
Great story! Thumbs up!
Thanks jack for this question, thank you Indy and team for the adventurous answer. Just imagine if the Afghanis accepted the Germans offer, and the Germans pulled through with there promise of weapons and gold and attacked India. I would imagine that would at least prolonged the war.
That's about as realistic as counting on aliens coming to the Central Power's rescue. Turkey was in the process of breaking down in the Caucasus, Persia was a battlefield, and in Europe, the war was still in full swing on all four fronts. There's no way a German arms shipment of any significant scale would've made it through all of this.
@@varana but the aliens did help!!!! Jk the question wasn't a realistic one in the first place.(since history is now in place) That's why I put the "if" by some miracle weapon procurement happened and the Afghanis raided British India. I'm sure it would just be a minor thorn in the side, maybe Afghanistan just keeps the weapons and doesn't do anything with them. Tis but a tiny thought that nothing comes from
Love this channel best ww1 content ever keep it up!!!
hi I didn't know this that Germans had come to my country in the past
Every army in the world has been to Afghanistan well not every army but many.
11:06 if only there was a series about what happened between the two major conflicts of the 20th century that could include such a topic...
Hi Indy and team I have a question for oott. My great grandfather and his brothers where apart of the Dutch underground during world war 2, I was wondering if there was anything like the French and Dutch underground during world war 1. Love your videos
Why would there be a Dutch underground if the Netherlands was not invaded?
CT -6666 as they pick the OOTT questions only from patreon questions, if you post it here you might only get answers by other commenters.
@@zoperxplex I was using it as a example I was wondering if there was ever something like the underground during world war 1
Prove it
nirfz that is in fact wrong. I think there's an actual submission for oott questions but also ive had a yt comment of my own come up in oott.
I first learned of this story when it was briefly mentioned in the very brief WW1 video (14 minutes for the whole war) by the TH-cam channel "OverSimplified." There is a story that the Germans brewed beer in Afghanistan, which did not endear them to the Afghanis. I cannot confirm whether this actually happened.
When he said: highway men, I heard: high women.
Hey will you guys do a video on Wilfred Owen since it is close to the anniversary of his dead. He died 4th November 1918 he is my favroite poet of the war.
Neidermyer = Animal House =
"Please Sir, may I have another?"
Wooooo I love stories like this! Moooooore.
Like how ya said Constantinople.
What a *piece* Outright outstanding!
Afghanistan, the perfect German ally, completely surrounded by Great War hostile nations (Russia, British-India, Russo-Anglo-Persia & Republic of China). Never let practical impossibility get in the way of Great War adventure.
brilliant story.
Guys, I have a feeling the war might end within a months time.... It's a shame, it was a fun little war
Don't worry, there can always be another one.
This was a nice story to listen too. It was nice. Nice job.
Very informative👏 tnx
Hey Indy, Could you please do an episode about China as well? China also participated in the Great War in the Ally's side and provided overall 200,000 labours in both west and east front. The sacrifice of them should not be forgotten as well.
There is a movie in this ! Anyone care to inform Brat Pitt ?
Hey
The book "Like Hidden Fire" has a account of the German Afgan expedition
Afghanistan was never in war with Germany but a friend.
Hi, I was just wondering, what happened with all the soldiers on both sides immediately after the November 11th armistice, were they shipped home straight away or did they have to wait in France and Belgium to be sent home. Also what was life like for soldiers during this period?
This is for my beloved German MG, who is my soulmate~
I am so going to go through withdrawal symptoms after the last episode.
I miss indi
Indie and crew, would be interested in an episode on the effects of,alcohol on the great war. Both sides used it and it may explain some of the oddities . It was a ration of 1 tot of rum per man per day in the British army but 3 tots if you were going into battle
Wow germany Afghanistan mission no ideo from Somalia,
When I was in Afghanistan back in 2009 I bought an early German helmet at the bizarre my question is did the Germans had military uniforms on?
thats the Story of "Risiko", a very nice Book by Steffen Kopetzky
TH-cam recomendation can be odd sometimes...
Speaking of comments...I noticed that comments were not an option on the "Serbia before WWI" video.
Not that I would have commented on that video... other than to say I was confused AF at the end of that video.
Luv ya!
Probaby because most of the comments would be something like "Kosovo is Serbia!", or "Serbia must die!" (not my opinions, duh)
Yea, unfortunately we in Balkans are still so retarded on internet that we can't have comment section even under a song without full on Balkan war
@@nesa1126 Give it some more time, it used to be the same between the French and Germans, now they are friends
+holidayhouse03 I was frustrated about the comments being disabled in that video too, because I noticed a minor factual error that I wanted to nitpick in the comments section (Indy got one of the dates wrong).
*saved us the embarrassment
Sharp, Jack :)
So whats Persia's position in all this its got all these armies marching I to its territory what are they doing?
Is Indy using the same outfit since the very first chapter? If not, how many of them are there in the show´s closet?
It's little things like this that really make WW1 a world war. Most of the colonies still existed after the war, even if they changed hands. But the seeds of nationalism and independence were planted everywhere even if they wouldn't rise up until later. This expedition stoked Afghanistan's nationalism and probably helped to scare the British Indian authorities. That would turn into the Defence of India Act and later the Rowlatt act which was the beginning of Ghandi's involvement in the Indian Independence Movement.
HI INDI!!!!
Dude, I feel like such a time traveler right now! I just saw this other video from October 13th, 1939 and ya'll won't believe what is going on. Very alarming.....
Indy, can you please release videos on French West Africa and on French Indochina, before this channel ends. Please respond to my comment.
Cool story!
are the scenes of Afghanistan displayed in this video were actually filmed in 1915???
I wish you was more popular
Can you explain what happened at scapa flow?
Von Hentig, hm I'll remember that
Afghanistan didn't join the axis but did the friendship agreement worked
(Sorry didn't understand that part)
That German delegation probably didn't look too sharp by the time they finally got to Afghanistan. Not so smart either travelling across the middle east deserts in July. And exactly how were the German's going to be able physically to supply the Afghans?
Can you tell about the Finnish Civil War it is part of the great war you inde do a great work and speak well and it is easy to understand
Great video, but I believe you have the wrong man's picture depicting Nasrullah Khan (the Afg. prime minister).
Yeet
I didn't see a link to the Dunster Force video at the end.
Oscar of Afghanistan
This story reminded me of the Sindbad tales except that it's a true story AND Indy should maybe think of re-telling the Sindbad or the Thousand and One night stories in his own special 21st century style...
Nah
Sinbad is part of your Semitic culture not my Afghan culture