Dunkirk 1940: Slaughter of the Warwicks (WW2 Documentary)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ย. 2024
- On 28th May 1940 on the outskirts of the little-known village of Wormhoudt in northern France, a procession of Prisoners marched. Those soldiers, men of the British Expeditionary Force, exhausted, frightened and many wounded, had just achieved a remarkable feat, and held off the advancing German Army for 8 hours, every minute of which meant their comrades 12 miles away at Dunkirk could live to fight another day. Though, by the time they reached this unassuming location, it was clear that their courage would come at an enormous cost. Over the next few minutes, most would lose their lives at the hands of the SS in an event that has gone down in infamy.
In this video, we combine veteran testimony, historic imagery and the latest technology to wind the clock back to those dark days of 1940 and reconstruct the events of what history remembers as the Wormhoudt Massacre.
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Video/Audio References:
The Cook Report ‘Slaughter of the Warwicks’ (1988), accessible via: • The Cook Report - Mass...
A. Tombs, Oral Interview (IWMSA)
G. West, Oral Interview (IWMSA)
B. Evans, Oral Interview (IWMSA)
B. Fahey, Oral Interview (SWWEC)
General Sources:
Imperial War Museum Sound Archive (IWMSA)
Second World War Archive (SWWEC)
Erwin Rommel’s Personal Photograph Album
US National Archives (NARA)
Find My Past Newspaper Archives (FMP)
The National Archives, Kew (TNA)
Google Earth Pro & Web Versions
Maptiler Pro (Desktop Version)
Bundesarchiv
Credits:
Researchers: Gerhard Cronje, Stefan Jevtic, Scott Elwell, Simon Powley, Dan Hill
Script & Narration: Dan Hill
Editing: Shane Greer
Thumbnail Design: Shane Greer
Image Optimization: Shane Greer
Music & Sound Effects: Shane Greer
Thank you for this. I’m a CofE Rector. One of our Churchwardens (now decd) was the daughter of CSM Jennings. Sadly, she never met her father, a career soldier. But his service and sacrifice was a constant inspiration. She always referred to this SS atrocity as Esquelbecq.
I truly appreciate you sharing this heartfelt story. It highlights the importance of remembering our history and the sacrifices made.
Thanks for this -- my Royal Warwicks grandfather was captured by the SS in the area but managed to slip away (at great cost to his health) and make it to the mole at Dunkirk and then a Royal Navy ship home. Things could've been very different.
I really appreciate you sharing your grandfather's remarkable journey. It's stories like these that remind us of the resilience and courage of those who came before us.
Like you whould'nt be here telling the tale. Your grandfather was ever so lucky. Cheers for sharing 😊
I don't believe in luck, but providence.
Your grandfather is part of the Greatest Generation! Men like him saved us. My father was in the Polish Army first in Warsaw in 1939 then in Northern France 1940 and later in England with the Polish First Armored Division. He hated the Germans and loved the English!
A lot of Norfolks was caught up in the mayhem in the barn to..
Maybe the most stirring documentary I've ever seen on YT. As a bit of a student of WWII how did I not know of this?
Thank you so much for your kind words! It means a lot to hear that you enjoyed the documentary, especially as a WWII enthusiast!
It is impossible to know everything about WWII. That's why it's so fascinating
Look up the Le Paradis Massacre in France about the same time. This one involved the 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf. This time over 90 men of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment were massacred on the 27th May 1940. I have a book on each of the killings.
@@nickrobinson8339 we've already done a detailed doc on it Nick, you can find it here on TH-cam: th-cam.com/video/W91_T6PnBc4/w-d-xo.html
@@nickrobinson8339 > th-cam.com/video/W91_T6PnBc4/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=BattleGuide
“My captain died saving my life” hit hard
I feel you! That part really got me too. Such a powerful story!
How do you pay that debt to a dead man?
@@timcampbell4338
Very sad that they couldn't find Captain Lynne -Allens body, you would have thought it would be straightforward to drain the pond and make a detailed search.
Yes they did it but didn't find him.
Excellent video! History like this needs to be remembered. Those warriors didn’t deserve that.
Thank you for your kind words! It's important to honor and remember the stories of those who fought bravely throughout history.
No one deserve that, not the Brits in Wormhout, not the italians and germans in Biscari, not the GIs in wereth or malmedy, not the hundreds of elderly, Women and Babys in the village of MyLai/Vietnam, loooks like under the thin skin of civilisation we are animals.
No one deserve that, not the Warwicks in Wormhout, not the germans and italians in Biscari, not the G.I.s in Wereth or Malmedy and not the Women and Babys in My Lai and and and.........................
Horrific occurrence. Appreciate your research and presentation.
Thank you for your kind words! I’m glad you found the research and presentation valuable. It’s important to shed light on these occurrences.
The finest British generation. RIP.
You said it all there 👍🇬🇧
I could never understand why the Germans insisted on performing acts like this. It did nothing for them. Through survivors, all it did was strengthen their enemy's resolve to hardly see surrender as a viable option. It caused the enemy to fight harder and the Germans to lose more men, it just tactically doesn't make sense.
It's definitely a complex topic! The strategies employed during that time can be perplexing, and many historians continue to analyze the motivations behind such decisions.
It also resulted in crusome revenge on german women and children, especially by the red army.
@@ActionfigureGeek
Never understood how punishing those not directly involved accomplishes anything.
I suspect it is just an excuse for justifying immoral behavior.
Guess the Germans never thought they would lose ..what they did in Greece and places is totally unbelievable..read up about the Greek village named Distomo ..it will honestly make u sick
@@michaelrooks4030 Oh I know. According to my grandmother, we 'had' (keyword) family in the town of Lidice in Czechoslovakia when the Germans did their thing.
An old colleague of mine told me his uncle’s platoon found British soldiers that had been obviously murdered and, for the rest of the war, never took a German prisoner. Actions have consequences.
It was the same the other way around. Germans found also dead comrades with their hands bound behind their backs. The problem with this eye for an eye attitude is that soldiers who did nothing wrong had to pay for the actions of others. A war crime is a war crime.
@@elektronischemusik1903and a failure of leadership
@@sv5813 Indeed. If an officer encouraged war crimes, they happened. No matter which war, no matter which side. German troops found written commands on fallen allied soldiers to not take prisoners. You even had massacres in the Vietnam war.
An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.
@@elektronischemusik1903 Where and when???? Your sickening excuses shame the dead. Shame on you.
What a quality content. Hopefully the gods of the YT algorithm will find you eventually...
Ah, yes, the mysterious gods of the algorithm-may they bless our content with views and engagement!
@@BattleGuideVTand blurring. We need that too !
?
@@BattleGuideVT j/k about the videos needing to be blurred
@BattleGuideVT
Fantastic effort on a very distressing subject. That said, the "Almighty Algorithm" will find you alright, but when it does, it'll probably be to demoneytise you, for making a "History Video" about a "touchy subject."
I had only heard of this massacre in passing, a number on a page. Thank you much for bringing the humanity to life, I was moved.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment! It’s important to remember the stories behind the numbers, and I’m glad the video resonated with you.
Excellent video love the detail the maps of the situation the visuals just everything is top notch very informative and easy to understand thank you for the hard work and sharing this information
Thank you for your kind words! I’m glad you found the video informative and easy to understand. Your support means a lot!
@BattleGuideVT I watch every video the day they are posted bringing ww2 history to life cheers from the USA
Thanks! It’s awesome knowing you’re tuning in on release day. Keep watching and let’s dive into more history together!
Excellent video, very sad and tragic. Thankfully a handful of men survived to tell the story. God Bless all these great Men!
Thank you for your thoughtful comment! It’s important to remember the resilience and bravery of those who survived and shared their stories.
Incredible History
Beautiful Humanistics
Amazing high quality presentation
Good work My Man
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed the presentation and found it insightful.
Telling pic at 03.53....
My late Father in Law was a French Army conscript having done his two years and due to leave when the War commenced. He had to stay in the Army and was with the BEF defending the perimeter outside Dunkirk. They fought hard, but one of his most vivid recollections was a French Army ambulance filled with wounded comrades, on the road to get to the beach. It was pushed, under protest, into the ditch by British troops who were controlling the approaches. He then continued to fight until captured, marched on foot to Poland where he remained a POW in hard conditions for the next 4 years and then walked back to France as a Refugee. In all, he was in the Army for almost 7 years of his young life. War is a very intense personal experience and nothing is ever clear cut, it brings out the worst in people as well as the best in those who are Noble in Spirit. It is, by far, best avoided.
Thank you for sharing your father-in-law's incredible story. It's a powerful reminder of the sacrifices so many have made during war, and the complexity of their experiences.
Always appreciate the research and your visuals in the videos. It’s just bloody horrible what happened here.
Much respect from Australia. Lest we forget.
Thank you for your kind words! It's important to remember and reflect on these events, and I'm glad the research and visuals resonate with you.
Priceless history, grim but essential.
Absolutely! It's important to acknowledge the tough parts of history so we can learn and grow from them.
Powerful & excellent video as always
Much appreciated
This is one of the best Military History channels on TH-cam, you guys deserve 1 million subscribers and I hope you get there someday
Wow, thank you! Your support and belief in our channel really motivates us to keep creating content. Here’s to reaching that million together!
A chilling and moving story, beautifully told. It was tough to hear that the man most likely responsible for the outrage, lived a long life. This is a wonderful channel that I’ve only recently discovered - I’m devouring your back catalogue, absolutely wonderful content, well researched, written and always so well presented, first rate indeed.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment! I'm glad you found the story moving and that you're enjoying the channel. Your support means a lot!
I learn so much when you post a video and being a history fiend it makes me happy the detail and effort you and your team put in so that we can remember and honor those that fell to save the freedom of others
I'm so glad to hear that you enjoy the videos! History is such an important part of our lives, and it's great to share that passion with others.
This story will break your heart. Its unbelievable. British soldiers literally slaughtered. I first heard about it in the 90s from my grandad.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! It means a lot to hear how these stories resonate with viewers, especially those passed down through generations.
I read about this massacre in the book Dunkirk: Retreat To Victory
As always, well done 🎉🎉🎉🎉 love your videos. This one was a little darker but still great.
Thank you so much!
I've never heard of this until now very sad my deepest condolences ND my prayers...
This is the best military history channel by far. As to the content of this particular video, it is both deeply saddening and disturbing and I only wish that we were still worthy of what those fine young men went through and gave up. We shall not see the likes of them ever again, heroes everyone.
I really appreciate your kind words! It means a lot to know that our content resonates with viewers who value the sacrifices of our heroes.
I watched like 8 of your videos yesterday i love them lol, good stuff
Thank you so much for watching! We appreciate your support and are thrilled to hear you loved the content!
I got hold of an amazing book by Padre (Rev) Leslie Aitken, who wrote about this event and the aftermaf. 'The Massacre on the Road to Dunkirk' Well worth a read.
Thanks you for this post, much appreciated.
A great video, informative and poignant as well. I'm glad Bert lived a long life and was reunited with his mates after his death. RIP to all.
Actually almost brings a tear to my eye, God bless all those men who served 🇬🇧
It’s truly moving to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who served. Their bravery and dedication deserve our deepest respect.
This was an amazing video informative and so emotional. Thank you
Thank you so much for your kind words! It truly makes our day to know that the video resonated with you.
Fantastic content as always!
Much appreciated!
My father was in the Warwickshire regiment and served on the Isle of Wight he survived the war my brother was born 1945 i was born 1948 and my younger brother born 1950
So horrific ... and so moving.
Yes, a terrible event.
My 1st Cousin was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and was in Dunkirk during WW2. He left Halifax in 1939 for England to join the 2nd Manchester Battalion, he was stationed in France until the Dunkirk evacuation. He also volunteered to join a seperate unit (5th Battalion Scots Guards) to go to Finland and fight the Soviets but ultimately never happened to due the Winter War ending. He supposedly arrived in Bombay, India in 1942 to fight the Japanese but not much is known about it.
It was also the Warwicks (24th) who defended Rorkes drift.
Sorry not so, those defending Rorke's Drift had lost their Warwickshire affiliation and were to go on to become the South Wales Borderers. The Royal Warwicks came out of the original 6th of Foot I believe.
RIP
To the 81 British and French POWs who were murdered by the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler division in the Wormhoudt massacre
Totally agree! It's important to remember what happened and keep their memory alive.
@@BattleGuideVT Amen! Never forget!
Their sister division the 3rd SS division Totenkopf, also committed a similar act in a place called Les Paradis around the same time, the victims on that occasion were men from the Royal Norfolk Regiment.
@pauldurkee4764 yes, there is a video about it on this channel
A question ?
Since this was documented ,& survivors ...... WHY was it not possible in 1946, to mount prosecutions ? Then even later , is there no procedure in an international court to apprehend the Nazi officer who lived long, to bring him to a Court ?
A very well narrated documentary, thanks for sharing.
Thks for the information… didn’t know Any of this. Great video, sad story of fanatism and Shame.
Thank you for your kind words! I'm really glad the video resonated with you and helped shed some light on such an important issue.
What a disgrace. I’ll never understand how Dietrich and Mohnke escaped the hangman’s noose.
Good video my friend! You have a new sub. Quality content.
Thank you so much for the support! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and decided to subscribe!
A brilliant tribute to brave men, we will never see their like again. 🇬🇧
Thank you for your kind words! It's important to honor and remember those who showed such incredible bravery.
Battle guide is number 1 on all ww1 and ww2 videos in my opinion it's the best.
Thank you for the kind words! It means a lot to know BattleGuide resonates with you.
@@BattleGuideVT it absolutely does I have done in depth research on my relatives who both died in WW1 they were brothers and I researched them both for two years then that was it one brother died aged only 20 years old the other had only just had leave to get married he was aged just 32 years of age so my actual job is an English teacher in Vietnam but have researched WW1 history for over 35 years and some information is like looking for a needle in a haystack but once all the information is pieced together with trench maps and war diaries of the time it's incredible what these men went through and seeing the painstaking effort you all do to produce the videos means more to me than you'll ever know your all precious archivists that keep these heroes memories alive and for that am eternally grateful...
When men were men. These young men gave there lives for our freedom. It’s a pity society isn’t the same now as it used to be, where there was a community spirit. Superb documentary and narration
Very good content
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it. Your support means a lot!
Outstanding content
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Just fantastic, thank you so much, very moving. Both of my
parents were WW 2 Veterans and my brother did 27 years in the Airforce and myself, 30 years in the Army.
That was so sad 😭😢😢 those poor men....ughhh war is so gut- wrenchingly awful 😞
I completely agree, war brings so much pain and suffering. It's truly heartbreaking to witness.
Great video. A powerful story indeed.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I am a WW2 history nut and I look forward to your content the most, I felt like it was time to say that and post a comment, from Merica your killin man…
Thanks for the support! I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the content-there's so much fascinating history to dive into!
Great video-thank you/done your homework.🎉
Thank you so much for the kind words! Your support means the world to us.
as usual, excellence is common on this channel !
Your kind words mean a lot! We're thrilled to have you as part of our community!
Horrible story very, very well told thank you so much.
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you for a very interesting,but sad piece of history.Very well narrated & informative.We owe so much to those men who fought for the freedoms we have today.May they always be remembered, may we never ever forget.
Thanks for listening
4:01 you always see these old photos and they look like they're 45 and you find out they're 17 so you think that nobody ever aged back then. Then there's this guy who looks like he's 45 and turns out he's 21
a tragic loss of fine men
Well done! One of the, unfortunately, numerous atrocities by the SS during WW2. May the victims RIP and be remembered for evermore.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. It’s important to remember and honor the victims of such tragic events in history.
Brilliant stuff 👍💛👊
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you.
Outstanding!
Glad you like it!
My uncle was a Rat of Tobruk and was severely injured during the siege and ultimately evacuated. He, as well as his children, grand children and wider family held enormous pride in his achievements and those of his colleagues as Rats of Tobruk his entire life. The scars of both his injuries and the incalculable stress and tension of that experience scared him until the day he died. Thank goodness his pride as a Rat outweighed his legacy injuries!
I had heard of atrocity before, but this is an excellent account, poignant and well researched. Hero's one and all and astonishing Mohnke was not convicted as a war criminal and ended up having a long life, something he denied to many others.
Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad you found the research compelling. It's important to remember these stories and learn from them.
Wormhoudt is twined with Llandudno, North Wales.
Thank you for pointing that out! It's great to see viewers engaging with the content and sharing interesting facts.
@@BattleGuideVT good video, I knew a bit about the incident, i think it was in the magazine After the battle.
Excellent video about an important event. There was another massacre of POWs during the Dunkirk evacuation at Le Paradis where 97 men of the Norfolks were murdered by the SS Totenkopf. A few men got away, including Private Albert Pooley who later testified at the trial of the SS officer in charge who was hanged for his crimes. Recommended "The Vengeance of Private Pooley" by Cyril Jolly.
We covered the Le Paradis incident here > th-cam.com/video/W91_T6PnBc4/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared
Very interesting program. Please do more.
I'm glad you found the program interesting! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way!
Damn, just damn.
Demi God Dan H.at it again!
At least twice a week when I drive from my home into Llandudno I drive along Wormhout Way. That town is twinned in remembrance of soldiers from that area that died in the massacre.
tyvm
🇨🇦🤟
Thank you for this video. I visited here many years ago when I joined the Army on a battlefield tour and to lay a wreath. It really did sit with me for many years as there is such a sad atmosphere in and around the barn, it was great to re learn the story and see it again. Such a tragedy
Great timing. Comment for the algo etc.
Haha, love the comment! Just trying to keep the algo happy, you know? Thanks for being here!
Excellent history 👍
I found this account of what happened quite upsetting. What a despicable act by the SS, most combatants irrespective of the side they are fighting have respect for their adversary as only they can know the terror and heroism of war.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. It’s crucial to have discussions about these troubling aspects of history to ensure we never forget the importance of honor and respect in war.
Check Japanese Brutality on the SANDAKAN DEATH MARCH (Borneo WW2)
Sadly bro that wasn't the only place the japs did those things ..very sad
Very interesting
Glad you think so!
My Grandfather was in 1st Rifle Brigade at the Siege of Calais. The British Government sacrificed them to protect the evacuation at Dunkirk. Having read about what they went through, it surprises me that neither a medal or a clasp to an existing medal has been made for those very brave men who sailed in on ships to replace fit soldiers that were evacuated.
Crazy to think about.
SS gave no quarter and no quarter given in response. Such is total war
Very interesting. Well presented and superbly narrated.
Excellent video. I am off to Holland on Saturday for the commemorations. I have a few days after that before my Dunkirk ferry. I intend to travel back visiting as many memorials as possible. I have 'pencilled in' Esquelbecq as my last stop over before the ferry and naturally I intend to visit Memorial de la Plaine au Bois. Many thanks. Lest we Forget.
That is an emotionally-charged story especially at the very end. Congratulations on this excellent presentation.
The SS were a loathsome crew and we are all lucky Nazism was defeated. We should remember massacres like and this short documentary conveys the human cost very well. It is also very important that we all remember that 'our side' often done very similar especially. Maybe an unpalatable truth for some but a fact nonetheless.
Superb coverage of yet more bravery and tragedy. I’m gobsmacked I’d not even heard of this before as an already WW2 armchair historian. How many more stories are there I wonder? We must continue you honour their sacrifice. Thank you for putting this video together.
The style of your videos, the way you infuse new information, the presentation, the commentary, they are all on the mark and worthy of much greater acclaim than TH-cam's simple 'Like'. I wish your team had the financies to do a refreshed 'World At War' type of documentary but less cold and much more personal. I appreciate your current style to focus on the history of a forgotten team that made the crucial difference - absolutely a new and refreshing way to present the information. Maybe you could expand by picking 3-4 famous historian's books and personalise that 'frontline' work (RV Jones' The Secret War a perfect example, of which your fresh viewpoint of the Bruneval Raid was intensely engrossing - something briefly and dryly described in reports but NEVER on such a close, personal and interconnecting level -- who knew the role of the famous Lanc pilot, leading on to yet another connection...). Perhaps start with one person's experience and progress with that 'Ships in the Night' phenomena? Whatever you do, don't stop making these tremendously personal accounts - our wisened grandchildren will thank you.
I truly appreciate your kind words and insightful feedback. It means a lot to know that the work resonates with you! Your suggestions for future content are incredibly valuable, and I look forward to exploring those ideas further.
The actions of those German soldiers only served to cover themselves in dishonour & create huge amounts of motivation for the Allied soldiers destined to follow in their dead brothers footsteps.
This action is reminice of the Malmady massacre carried out on the Americans during the Battle of the Bulge, well worth looking up as I believe these men who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy today should never be forgotten.
We covered the Malmedy Massacre here > th-cam.com/video/Rr0O-SiyygU/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared
So sad.
mohnke got to live a full life, where is the justice in that for those poor lads, at least they will all ways be remembered and honoured
Nazi evilness leaves you speechless every time. And we do see war crimes of executing surrendered soldiers right now in Europe. And the probability for facing justice for it is very low.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! It’s important to keep these conversations alive and raise awareness about such serious issues.
Allied shot surrendering Germans too, but this is a different situation.
Excellent and very interesting video 👍
Wow, what a story. Brought me to tears.
Incredible bravery just though men
I don't know if it happened there, but I have read in several places that the English pretended to surrender and started shooting at the Germans who wanted to accept it.
I remember the BBC did a semi-doc-recreation of the Dunkirk battle and a scene in it, with captured British troops being dragged out of a barn 5 at a time, shot, then a grenade thrown in as their CO was gunned down protesting...sticks firmly in my mind. This act, I believe was what the BBC scene was based on.
My father was in the Warwickshires, just before they left for Dunkirk he was called back because he was a driving instructor,, anyway cut a long story short he missed out on Dunkirk. , dad never spoke of it but mom told me all his mates were killed there because they were to hold the Germans back while they made their escape, now I know what she meant when she said they were all killed there...
I wrote to my MP about getting this bastard arrested, but nothing happened about if
It’s sick that Monke wasn’t punished. It’s surprising the allies took the SS prisoners at all and didn’t make a policy of executing them.
It's definitely a complex issue, and the decisions made during that time continue to spark debate. Many people have different perspectives on how justice should have been served.
I'm amazed that Sepp Dietrich was not executed for war crimes.
Can you do a detailed on on Abbeville?
How in the world did that SS commander get to have a long life?
excellent thank you