So many genuine heroes. Not sports ball players or some dimwit "celebrities" famous for being famous, but actual heroes. Well done. We owe them more than we understand.
I would like to have a special day/way to remember them by? These are very important women who worked with the allies. I' m sure the men appreciated them as part of their team. Carry on....
We owe them more than we will ever know. Some of their files are either still classified or have been destroyed in time. The true edge of clandestine operations is never revealed to the public
Good Lord the humility of these extraordinary men and women who faced and fought the most evil of enemies and were still able to smile and find humour in those dark days. I can't imagine how frightening it must have been during the height of the Reich to be carrying out these operations. We can only applaud and thank them.
My grandmother was in the resistance in Rouen in Normandy and her English is from the British and American airmen they helped up the lines back to England. True hero’s who could be killed at any minute.
I wish videos like this were shown in high school.Hearing their own recollections makes the history come alive...It births the debt of gratitude that I feel is often lacking from long lectures & text books.
It varies from one school to the next, but when I was in school back in the 1980s we did see them from time to time provided our history class was not immediately after lunch. Some teachers were afraid students would take the opportunity to nap.
Indeed! Yes, these are actually the first-hand, person-to-person, face-to-face interviews (primary research) that historians construct (write) their books on and ground, and subsequently base their lectures on. The interviews with the actual participant combatants themselves. It even supercedes their own autobiographies or memoirs. Since it is direct physical, live, conversation with them.
@@christopherwelch136 what? Telling the truth about events? Yes. It is sad that millions believe if you win an election, it was good. When you lose, 4 years later, it was stolen and you lay seige to the Capital. Times have changed. Bush did not do that in 1992. Al Gore, once the Supreme Court spoke, conceded. The last guy, yeah, well.
You could be waiting in line at the supermarket and get agitated at the old lady in front of you for taking so long Little would you know that she fought in the war.
People complain so easily today. I’m in Australia and in a lockdown state. You hear people complaining about having to wear a mask. God forbid if they had to fight just to eat and live.
That Belgian Resistance found my great uncle's body when his B-17 went down in 43. They buried him in a wood, and he is now resting in a World War 1 cemetery near where he went down. His son has been able to visit it many times. Our family appreciates it to this day
We're still together. Mum was mixed up because MI9 got to know of the family's existence early in 1940, her aunt was publishing La Libre Belgique, protected by the Belgian Royal Family. I found myself working with the daughter of the Brussels commander, in the area the downed aircrew were laid up once rescued, to recover and get fit for the long and arduous run down the Comet Line to Gibraltar. The local GP patched them up, and then they moved. Mum was 16 at the time, and as far as I can tell was part of the jailbait screen ahead of the escapees, distracting any chance German patrols. There were actually two groups operating, the pickup teams in the Kempen, and the fighting SOE, sabotaging German operations where possible. They were the force responsible for the famous Mosquito attack on the Gestapo HQ, flown in complete disregard of orders, by the uncle of Princess Delphine of Belgium.
Incredible, these young people knew the terrible risks they were taking. They also knew what would happen to them if captured. Knowing these things, they still bravely gave their all. Knowing their courage is very humbling. Heroes, no, they were very much more.
Have watched a few of these secret agents stories and how young most were is surprising to realize and that most fighting were as young as well. We owe an eternal debt of gratitude to them all for their efforts made.
I know this has been said in one way or another but what a generation of mature self sufficient young people my parents come from this time period too GOD BLESS THEM ALL
Wow! What a video, what a story and good grief, what a last line! This good lady Diana de Rosso, was stunningly beautiful, so articulate, an outstanding world class soprano with flawless intonation and delivery and one very patriotic and brave lady! You do yourself NO favours if you don't glue yourself to every second of this!!
Oh yes, yes indeed! And thanks for your comment....I’d echo your words if the right words came available to mind... This whole video document is really superb and a wonderful reflection on the generation of those years.... And as you so rightly praise the good lady Diana de Rosso what a voice, hear heard in the background....Moving, so deeply moving, I’d readily be Walter Raleigh with his cape in a rainstorm before her any day, a truly wonderful person....
@@dennisroyhall121 Sorry. I only just found your reply, 5 months later. As you say...people were like that in those troubled times. You are obviously of those gallant times, Sir Walter!
Whenever I listen to these incredible stories of these Young brave men and women.. is they are so Humble and modest with it. Can we ever thank them enough..!!
lee...I believe they are so modest, because they realize, even now (surely after the war ended), how dangerous those missions were and the little time to ponder what they were actually doing, but they were needed to help their country. Young men, now, wouldn't sacrifice their lives (without some assurance) for a similar cause.
They gouged one of his eyes out and he couldn't stand it anymore so threw himself out of a window to kill himself ! Christ ! You don't see that in the old war movies. Its unbelievable what people in all the resistance movements were prepared to go through.incredibly brave.true heroes all of them. Encoded music sheets was very clever. What These people did never ceases to amaze me, especially the women who risked their lives.
Being alive back then was simply Epic! Dad was doing Convoys and Nuetraliry patrols in the Atantic only to be transferred to the California and lose it at Pearl Harbor.He got the Yorktown CV5 back and went to Coral Sea and Lost it at Midway on his Birthday.Got California back and rode it to the end in Tokyo bay.Then Korea and Vietnam he retired in 1977. RIP Dad we miss you everyday.💔
Out of all the many brave me'n and women involved in all this, I'm most captivated by Diana De Rosso: coded messages within opera lyrics... her "wariness" and ability to discern (and remember) important bits of info from snippets she overheard amongst the hubbub of bar-room banter. Just stunning. What a life she had!
Further, this concludes with her "fake" Spanish husband approaching her after a performance she gave ~1962, saying how beautifully she sang in Spanish. She graciously accepted the compliment from this gentleman she didn't recognize. He reminded her that they were "wed" some 20 years before to give both of them cover as they performed their duties in the Resistance. Could this remarkable story have ended any more perfectly than that? I wager not...
They were trained in specific techniques to collate that - as was I, 20 years later. I took it far further so half the Cabinet saw me land a major diplomatic coup single-handed, quite recently.
A lot of WWII veterans never wore a uniform. Imagine being 10 years old and running for shelter from bombs. Perspective is medicine to my soul, and I love hearing brave people talk.
I have read and heard of hundreds of accounts from the resistance in France ... oh how crucial these little flights ... so many tales of courage ... so many small single quiet acts ... building up to the successful retaking of France. Without flyers like this it could have never been possible ... no wonder my dad was inspired to become a pilot.
@@johnconlon9652 that could be said of most of Europe outside the UK. Is indifference much better? I don't think so. I don't understand collaborators but not everyone is brave. I haven't faced that. The French and other countries dealt with it.
Me too, he flew many missions in japanese islands. He came home to see me in Massachusetts when he could. So most were sent home earlier than my dad was.
@@schelliegris7481 There were many kinds of collaborators. One was those with women in the family: German Army brothels or cooperate. Others (particularly in Flanders) were morally aligned, creating Waffen SS Regiments.
Flight Sergeant Bert Pond - only passed away recently in 2017. Long time farmer near the North Island town of Matamata. Awarded the French Legion of Honour.
Hear hear for the Flight Sergeant pilots & navigators of WW2 . So much recorded about the flying officers , some of whom were officers only based on class or private / English public school. Sergeants were just as skilled and brave as officers
My mother was 11 during the German occupation. She lived in Bordeaux with my grand-mere and my uncle who was 17 years older than her. She was seized by German Officer's and my gran-mere was given the choice of Concentration camps or go to Germany to make munitions. The choice was obvious. My Uncle Jean Peire joined the French Resistance. The German Officers did horrible things to my mother. She never forgot. My uncle then rescued her from the vineyards, and she was flown to the English countryside where they hid all the children. She married an American soldier and came to the USA when she was 17.
These wonderfully brave men and women, whose secret work was unknown for many years, have my utmost respect and admiration. I only heard after she had died that we had a Lady from SOE that lived in our village. I would have so enjoyed to have spoken to her.
Amazing stories about such brave people. I am a Radio Control hobbyist and have a Lysander model. I love hearing the stories about how it impacted the war and the truly brave pilots who flew them.
True Heroes should never be Forgotten! Never seen or heard of this much Respect for these fellows. The Family’s of the flyers must be So Proud of their Grand fathers .
I am, only I actually can't read these comments today any more. Reading what these Americans all think and claim about WW2? Is stomach retching, such an atrocious account of WW2 we read endlessly from them. And it's all wrong, nothing even remotely true, just propaganda, like all of their entire history, being honest. There's not even any point trying to correct them. You can show and prove to these people that EVERYTHING they want to claim and say, is actually nothing at all like the real history. And they'll all reply with more misunderstood complete rubbish they've clearly been taught as they all say the same things? It's unbelievable reading it. So today, I see some of it, and think to myself, “could any society of people from anywhere else on earth, or at any other time on earth, ever be seriously considered as uneducated and dumb as the American people, 2020? I can't think of any society anyone could even put a close second? It's extraordinary what these people all wrongly think and claim. It's actually nothing but insulting.
You'll read every American claiming they saved Britain? And because they all think and claim the same things? It proves that it has been taught!! Their propaganda opinion of WW2 is actually so insulting. EXPLORE: PUBLIC OPINION ON AMERICAN INTERVENTION IN WORLD WAR II. September 1, 1939: WORLD WAR II BEGINS Gallup survey, Sept 1-6, 1939 Q. If it looks within the next few months as if England and France might be defeated, should the United States declare war on Germany and send our troops abroad? YES 32%,... NO 58% ....10% No opinion. October 6, 1939: POLAND CONQUERED Gallup survey, Oct. 5-10, 1939 Q If it appears that Germany is intent on trying to defeat England and France, should the United States declare war on Germany and send our army and navy to Europe to fight? YES 29%,... NO 71%. May 10, 1940: GERMANY INVADES WESTERN EUROPE Gallup survey, May 18-23, 1940 Q. Do you think the United States should declare war on Germany and send our army and navy abroad to fight? YES 7%,.... NO 93% June 22, 1940: FRANCE FALLS TO GERMANY Gallup survey, June 27-July 3, 1940 Q Which of these two things do you think is the more important for the United States? 1) to try to keep out of war ourselves. 2) or to help England win, even at the risk of getting into the war? HELP 25%,... KEEP OUT 71% ...4% No opinion.
Yet we hear these people today, unbelievably trying to suggest they ''joined the War'' to help their ''ally''? Could such a grotesque account of WW2, be met with anything other than infernal laughter? They did not join the War to help anybody! The cowards were forced to fight by Japan!
The unspoken significance of the evading sgt _still wearing 'his RAF PT vest'_ was that, had he been captured by the Germans, he would have been wearing at least one article of his uniform which would ( _according to the letter of the Geneva convention_ ) be sufficient to protect him from summary execution as a spy. At least in theory.
So humbling to listen to these stories by pilots/crew/agents who worked for SOE/Secret Service during WWII. What most impresses is how 'matter of fact' they are in relating their stories, yet they must have been somewhat aware of the unimaginable horrors that might befall them if discovered. That's a Very Special kind of bravery. (No safety net, no possibility of rescue, no Geneva Convention etc...) It's also important to note that these 'networks' and operations were very frequently 'blown' by informers with catastrophic results for agents like F. Yeo Thomas, who miraculously survived the Gestapo prison at Fresnes and Buchenwald concentration camp... Theirs was indeed a very different kind of courage. xx SF
if I remember correctly, it was in Leonard Cheshires biography that he mentioned when RAF officers at his station were give Sten guns and a couple of mags with ammo. . Once armed started letting loose out of bedroom windows and spraying the areas with bullets . requiring that all weapons were confiscated before any were killed.
So young, so brave, such integrity, and so committed to the destruction of a demonic evil 1,000 year Reich. We all owe you brave young men so much. Thank you.
General Patton said after the war , that we had fought the wrong enemy , meaning we should have taken out international Zionist bankers , not the Germans .
Dear DAVID IT WAS NOT ABOUT TODAY IT WAS ABOUT YESTERDAY SORRY IF I GOT IT WRONG.P S MY SON HAS NOT BEEN HOME 🏠 FOR 6 days and yes he is in the N H S .
I don't believe that over 50% of those 300,000 people whom have watched this are all grandpas and grandmas. Or else the internet would be a much different place you see. As a young person myself I can guarantee you we most care about our history.
Incredible people, their bravery and commitment is without measure. The people of our generation right across Europe owe so much to those who just risked their everything. They were threatened with worse than death. I’ve watched this 4 times now and still not bored with it.
They were exceptional given the intense situation, but they had hopes and expectations for a much greater state of humanity in their vision of the future, we still can achieve this. *The greater generation will be the one that masters understanding the Human Mind, Ego-Mind and Mastered by the Higher-Mind.
Among the foreigners the norwegian pilot Per Hysing-Dahl was serving at 161 squadron RAF at Tempsford during the war. Westland Lysander and Lockheed Hudson was the planes he used to fly into France.
I'm a high school teacher, and these kids have absolutely no idea of the maturity and discipline these 20-year-old pilots had to shoulder with their life at risk on each mission. Truely, the vast majority of the kids that finish school can barely write their own name.
I agree with you, but they grew up in a very different time. Most of the men were born during the great depression, or lived under fascist governments. They grew up fast.. I, for one, am grateful that today's children don't understand their struggles.
Being born at the end of 1940 I grew up listening often first hand at war time stories . The more I heard the greater my admiration fot those people . As the years have passed my disgust and dismay at the present generations complete lack of respect for those who sacrificed so much for our freedom.
We even have to read these vile American born liars. Lying about the supplying of the USSR? If you read American history and read what ALL Americans want to say and claim? You'll find them claiming they supplied the USSR, and it's only because of those supplies the USSR could fight the War? RUBBISH! Again, it was nothing to do with the USA? And the USA did not supply the USSR with anything until 1944. Far too late to have made any difference at all as the USSR said themselves (This is true, they did only supply the USSR in 1944, long after it was really needed.). So who was it that really supplied the USSR? And who was it that allowed the USSR to remain fighting in the War? By supplying them, and doing so just in time? It was the BRITISH! NOT THE LYING American. The British supplied the USSR with all the military equipment they had and used to fight for Moscow, they we're sharing one rifle between 10 troops at times. The Soviets kept the British supplies they received under wraps for years, and never have acknowledged or thanked the UK for that critical help? Claiming only the US “Lend Lease” supplied them, and that only happened in 1944... With the USSR saying that it was too late (true), and they did it anyway.... This was the old USSR line.... But since the collapse of the Soviet Union, much more information has emerged from archives in Moscow, shedding new light on the subject. While much of the documentary evidence remains classified “secret” in the Central Archives of the Ministry of Defence and the Russian State Archive of the Economy. Both Western and Russian researchers have been able to gain access to important, previously unavailable first-hand documents. Much was in the Russian-language materials of the State Defence Committee-the Soviet equivalent of the British War Cabinet-held in the former Central Party Archive. Together with other recently published sources, including the wartime diaries of N. I. Biriukov, a Red Army officer responsible from August 1941 onwards, who was also responsible for the distribution of recently acquired Tanks from the British to the front lines, and this newly available evidence, paints a very different picture from the former USSR's “perceived wisdom”. In particular, it shows that British “Lend-Lease” assistance to the Soviet Union in late 1941 and early 1942 played a far more significant part in the defence of Moscow and the revival of Soviet fortunes in late 1941 than has ever been acknowledged or credited. In total 4 million tonnes of war material including food and medical supplies were delivered. The munitions totalled £308m (not including naval munitions supplied), the food and raw materials totalled £120m in 1946 index. In accordance with the Anglo-Soviet Military Supplies Agreement of June 27, 1942, military aid sent from Britain to the Soviet Union during the war was entirely free of charge. 3,000+ Hurricanes aircraft 4,000+ other aircraft 27 naval vessels 5,218 tanks (including 1,380 Valentines from Canada) 5,000+ anti-tank guns 4,020 ambulances and trucks 323 machinery trucks (mobile vehicle workshops equipped with generators and all the welding and power tools required to perform heavy servicing) 1,212 Universal Carriers and Loyd Carriers (with another 1,348 from Canada) 1,721 motorcycles £1.15bn worth of aircraft engines 1,474 radar sets 4,338 radio sets 600 naval radar and sonar sets Millions of various rifles Hundreds of naval guns 15 million pairs of boots. Yet you go and try to find this history out? See how difficult it is to find? When it should be the first thing, being seen and able to find, as it's so important, a huge part of history, REAL HISTORY! Not the US creation of fake history, as they ''pretend'' to see it. That's the truth!
@@worldsend9659 well said sir. The story of the PQ convoys backs your claims. I have the honour of making a painting of PQ 13 under attack fro Ju 88's, for an eye witness, a man who was there age 18, on a merchant ship, 'New Westminster City'. He told me, 3 days later my ship was sunk, lost a leg. He was a fine man, the story [and painting] is on my web site.
Quique...I wish the Yalta meeting would've ended up differently (my parents grew up in a country that was in the Soviet Bloc). Truman and Chirchill gave Eastern Europe to Stalin on a platter.
@@marinazagrai1623 , you can’t give away what you haven’t won and what you don’t possess. The Soviets lost tens of millions being attacked and invaded by the Nazis and pushing them mile by mile all the way back to Berlin. They had conquered and were occupying all of the territory in between. Did you think they would just surrender it to the other Allies. The U.S., Britain nor France would have surrendered it either. The Soviets did indeed betray their wartime treaties by failing to allow truly free and fair elections and turning all of the conquered territories into puppet states. (The West, however, also used espionage and some skullduggery to help make sure free and fair elections weren’t won by communists.) You can’t blame Roosevelt or Churchill for giving away something they they never possessed in the first place. What would you have suggested, attacking the entire Red Army?
Thank you for this documentary. In my teen years in the early 1970s I once read a then old novel based on the French Resistance during WW2. An eye-opening gripping book you couldn't put down till you finish it. In it there were stories like in this documentary. I still wonder where I can find it again for my collection. I often search for such stories. Fascinating 👏
Paul Brickhill wrote a book on the Dam Buster Sqdn, both before and after the raid to the end of the war. He also wrote another book on escapes from various camps and I think one on Colditz. He would interview the pilots, ground crews etc for his information and since many were humble and would not talk about themselves, he would get them to talk about the others! Other good books are Reach for the sky about Douglas Bader..... a pilot who lost his legs but kept flying. He was so good at escaping from POW camps, in the end the guards took his legs from him at night to stop him! The Longest Day about the set up and happenings of D Day, and for WWI, The Desert Column by Ion Idriess starts at the landing at Gallipoli and on through Egypt and France. It was written from Ions own diaries and caused a stink at the time because it showed the incompetence of some of the British leading Australian and New Zealand troops and treating them almost as disposable.
In 1943 the French writer Joseph Kessel wrote a very realistic novel about the French resistance called The Army of Shadows, or in French L’armee des ombres. In the 1960s the French director Jean Melville made it into a wonderful film. The resistance fighters in the film were incredibly brave but mostly just tried to avoid capture or betrayal. Great film, great director, great cast.
Hugh Verity was my uncle coming in at 0:26. Fascinating to find this as I didn't catch it on TV in 1995 and since then have only seen some tiny extracts.
My Father was landed in France behind German lines prior to D day as a (19 year old 2Lt)Signal Corp officer training French resistance in proper radio procedures.
Major Rick Corbin You must be So Proud of your Fathers achievements . Much respect to your Father and Yourself Sir ! These Flyers Should never be Forgotten!
@@swingwizard dad earned a Silber Starr a Bronze star plus eight purple hearts (Germany & Korea) oddly enough I served in Both Germany & Korea too but during the Cold war years later
Dad had zero parachute training so when the plane landed in a French field, while the pilot taxied to the end and turned around for takeoff ,Dad pitched his duffle bag out then followed by jumping from the wing strut PS dad did not speak French either
These amazing people truly were the greatest generation. Who would think that an opera singer could contribute in any way to the war effort. The British were amazing. Thank God they had so many talented spies and daring Airmen.And of course let us not forget the French resistance. God bless them all.🙏🏻🇬🇧 🇨🇵
Sir Lewis Hodges was a lovely man, grew the most beautiful roses and was always polite and friendly. You'd never have known just from speaking to him all that he had done during WWII and afterwards.
They must of got bored with 2 up, poor chickens, but one wouldn't forget seeing chickens flying from a building. Command must of thought of reducing the australians down time.
They were of course, all heros of liberty. I am moved by the story of this gentleman and his evacuation form Belgium. So much respect is owed to those men and women of the resistance without whom, we should not free men today. Bravo.
I knew two men who had been involved with intelegence work in WW2 .One was my 1st wifes Grandfather,who to the surprise of many in his family received a full military Funeral,None of the family had any idea of his war time activities until a few details were revealed by persons in the UK government. He had told me once however,how he had been flown twice into France by lysander at night and how they flew so low it was frighting,he kept thinking they were gong to hit the trees .
this was filmed in the late 90's - Do the maths .... They are all 6 feet under. But will never be forgotten. My grand mother came to GB from Switzerland with my grandfather because they couldn't stand the thought of sitting through what was THEIR 2nd war in Switzerland. My grandmother ended up driving high ranked people and spies all around blacked out GB (she started in ambulances). The thinking behind that was that she couldn't speak a word of English so she wouldn't understand what was being said. Needless to say she learnt pretty fast. She still loved big fast saloon cars in her 90's ! Loved the acceleration LOL. My grandfather joined the army and made it through the war. Didn't wait to be discharged when it was announced the war was over and just crossed Europe to go home!!! He was of course arrested as a deserter and jailed and escaped !!! and finally made it back on his own two feet. Knocked on his front door and that was that. War over - lets start again. They kept a German Luger pistol on top of a cupboard near the front door for years. Amazing people like all of their contemporaries. Last time my grandmother was arrested was for driving her Vespa around town in dark glasses and a scarf in a black bomber jacket for warmth. She didn't like helmets and she gave the policeman a piece of her mind telling him he wouldn't have been born if it weren't for people like her etc. She was brought home and the Vespa was locked away ... She didn't get fined though.
That is one of the reasons why the U.S. must never permit or tolerate the torture of any kind, including the euphemistic “enhanced interrogation techniques,” of prisoners who are in our custody as it did during the Iraq War.
I love how polite & classy these British guys are talking to eachother. Imagine if we could all talk like that today without all the funky, trendy lingo; most words that aren’t any where near related to their original meanings 🙄
If only these videos were shown in school, the sacrifice and danger these amazing people endured should be compulsory teaching throughout but sad to say it is nothing of the kind. We are in the midst of our history being either rewritten or erased altogether. Great respect for all who servedGod bless them all. 🇬🇧
agree with you Mr. Williamson. Out with political correctness, British and English history should be compulsory in these same schools, 1066-1966. If you are going to tell me some of the children were born in faraway places, this has no bearing on the history they about to see and the spirit/DNA of their new home ! Be proud.
24 mins in I’m sure your singing was a huge relief for the fighting men god bless the whole generation I’m only 28 but I feel like I have much more in common with with generation than I do my own 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
I look after people in hospital and those old enough to have served in the war are always superb individuals. Never complain , always respectful and grateful. I noticed that those that fought are often bitter at the time they lost from their youth, rather than being proud of having served
As their forerunner in WW1, Edith Cavell, said, Patriotism is not enough. They survived by determination, skill, and by the ability to merge into the population. Mum, for example, lost her chance at University: she was straight into service again as soon as she returned, PA to the Indian High Commissioner.
@@Clydesirota Great Grandfather was in the trenches of France his sons were on the beaches at Normandy my father was in the Falklands and his sons went to Iraq and Afghanistan i.e. me and my younger brother
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@@muhammads.a.m4727 hi dear
@@FoxholeFightClub hello
@@FoxholeFightClub yvb
These stories are incredible. These brave people still with us and those who were sadly captured and tortured. May we thank them for their courage.
How are you doing
So many genuine heroes. Not sports ball players or some dimwit "celebrities" famous for being famous, but actual heroes. Well done. We owe them more than we understand.
I would like to have a special day/way to remember them by? These are very important women who worked with the allies. I' m sure the men appreciated them as part of their team. Carry on....
They call it Covid 😇😘✌
Heroes that Inspire 💫
@@rohankurian5641 covid was nothing compared to ww2 .
get over yourself and get over the propaganda
Very insightful. Wisdom like that doesn’t come round often.
We owe them more than we will ever know. Some of their files are either still classified or have been destroyed in time. The true edge of clandestine operations is never revealed to the public
Good Lord the humility of these extraordinary men and women who faced and fought the most evil of enemies and were still able to smile and find humour in those dark days. I can't imagine how frightening it must have been during the height of the Reich to be carrying out these operations. We can only applaud and thank them.
To all those who fought for our freedoms. . Thank you and you have set the measurement of courage very very high.
My great grandmother was a spy for the resistance it's so cool to see these stories. I feel her presence right beside me as I watch this
Especially that they had no idea how they'd be treated after capture. A man could live totally differently, a woman was in peril
your grandma was awesome ... she knew true courage.
What a legacy!
Your grandmother was a true hero..!!
@@tyrotrainer765 what a daft comment of course they knew how they be treated ! BADLY.
My grandmother was in the resistance in Rouen in Normandy and her English is from the British and American airmen they helped up the lines back to England. True hero’s who could be killed at any minute.
I wish videos like this were shown in high school.Hearing their own recollections makes the history come alive...It births the debt of gratitude that I feel is often lacking from long lectures & text books.
It varies from one school to the next, but when I was in school back in the 1980s we did see them from time to time provided our history class was not immediately after lunch. Some teachers were afraid students would take the opportunity to nap.
Indeed!
Yes, these are actually the first-hand, person-to-person, face-to-face interviews (primary research) that historians construct (write) their books on and ground, and subsequently base their lectures on.
The interviews with the actual participant combatants themselves.
It even supercedes their own autobiographies or memoirs.
Since it is direct physical, live, conversation with them.
That’s out of the question in Amerika now.
@@christopherwelch136 what? Telling the truth about events? Yes. It is sad that millions believe if you win an election, it was good. When you lose, 4 years later, it was stolen and you lay seige to the Capital. Times have changed. Bush did not do that in 1992. Al Gore, once the Supreme Court spoke, conceded. The last guy, yeah, well.
@@christopherwelch136 maybe in your version of America.
I'm so glad that these stories have been recorded so that future generations can know what happened.
You could be waiting in line at the supermarket and get agitated at the old lady in front of you for taking so long
Little would you know that she fought in the war.
@@julianwaugh968 the bacon lettuce mayo crowd wouldnt care about that as they robbed and beat her for being the wrong color...
People complain so easily today.
I’m in Australia and in a lockdown state. You hear people complaining about having to wear a mask.
God forbid if they had to fight just to eat and live.
@Due Diligence hi dear
@@julianwaugh968 how many 100 years old do their own shopping in your neighborhood?
That Belgian Resistance found my great uncle's body when his B-17 went down in 43. They buried him in a wood, and he is now resting in a World War 1 cemetery near where he went down. His son has been able to visit it many times. Our family appreciates it to this day
Makes sense that they appreciate it
Thanks for sharing that. 🙂
We're still together. Mum was mixed up because MI9 got to know of the family's existence early in 1940, her aunt was publishing La Libre Belgique, protected by the Belgian Royal Family. I found myself working with the daughter of the Brussels commander, in the area the downed aircrew were laid up once rescued, to recover and get fit for the long and arduous run down the Comet Line to Gibraltar. The local GP patched them up, and then they moved. Mum was 16 at the time, and as far as I can tell was part of the jailbait screen ahead of the escapees, distracting any chance German patrols.
There were actually two groups operating, the pickup teams in the Kempen, and the fighting SOE, sabotaging German operations where possible. They were the force responsible for the famous Mosquito attack on the Gestapo HQ, flown in complete disregard of orders, by the uncle of Princess Delphine of Belgium.
Incredible, these young people knew the terrible risks they were taking.
They also knew what would happen to them if captured. Knowing these things, they still bravely gave their all. Knowing their courage is very humbling. Heroes, no, they were very much more.
Have watched a few of these secret agents stories and how young most were is surprising to realize and that most fighting were as young as well. We owe an eternal debt of gratitude to them all for their efforts made.
] k*(?I love +you
R6
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I know this has been said in one way or another but what a generation of mature self sufficient young people my parents come from this time period too GOD BLESS THEM ALL
Amen🙏🏼🇺🇸✌🏻🙌🏼☦🙇🏼♀️prayers and blessings❣
@@joecastorina339 hi dear
All such incredibly brave young people at the time and then also all so modest about their bravery later. Truly humbling.
They are really charming English, gentlemen as well as the ladies of course too.!
The Lysander's contribution to these missions was absolutely vital,another instance of the right aircraft at the right time.
Wow! What a video, what a story and good grief, what a last line!
This good lady Diana de Rosso, was stunningly beautiful, so articulate, an outstanding world class soprano with flawless intonation and delivery and one very patriotic and brave lady!
You do yourself NO favours if you don't glue yourself to every second of this!!
Oh yes, yes indeed! And thanks for your comment....I’d echo your words if the right words came available to mind...
This whole video document is really superb and a wonderful reflection on the generation of those years....
And as you so rightly praise the good lady Diana de Rosso what a voice, hear heard in the background....Moving, so deeply moving, I’d readily be
Walter Raleigh with his cape in a rainstorm before her any day, a truly wonderful person....
She was about the same age as my grandmother and passed away in 2003.
@@dennisroyhall121
Sorry. I only just found your reply, 5 months later.
As you say...people were like that in those troubled times.
You are obviously of those gallant times, Sir Walter!
Whenever I listen to these incredible stories of these Young brave men and women.. is they are so Humble and modest with it. Can we ever thank them enough..!!
We can...By making sure they are not forgotten.
lee...I believe they are so modest, because they realize, even now (surely after the war ended), how dangerous those missions were and the little time to ponder what they were actually doing, but they were needed to help their country. Young men, now, wouldn't sacrifice their lives (without some assurance) for a similar cause.
Actions speak louder than words. Resist govt. and societal tyranny in thought, word and deed; that's the highest form of thanks that they'd honor!
You beat me to that comment ... well said!
Nearly all special opps people were very modest even to this day a trait of special forces is being humble and modest
Wow !!! These people gave so much of themselves, their privacy, their lives and took such risks. Commendable.
They gouged one of his eyes out and he couldn't stand it anymore so threw himself out of a window to kill himself ! Christ ! You don't see that in the old war movies. Its unbelievable what people in all the resistance movements were prepared to go through.incredibly brave.true heroes all of them. Encoded music sheets was very clever. What These people did never ceases to amaze me, especially the women who risked their lives.
Amen. Easy to bad mouth or lay judgment
Yeo Thomas
the white rabbit
the book 📖
Nancy Wake, born in N Z, raised in Australia, bona fide heroine.
Being alive back then was simply Epic! Dad was doing Convoys and Nuetraliry patrols in the Atantic only to be transferred to the California and lose it at Pearl Harbor.He got the Yorktown CV5 back and went to Coral Sea and Lost it at Midway on his Birthday.Got California back and rode it to the end in Tokyo bay.Then Korea and Vietnam he retired in 1977. RIP Dad we miss you everyday.💔
True heroes never boast or brag about themselves.. they merely live it and act it...
Very true unliike modern so called heroes who advertise and write book how people times have changed
Such utterly exceptional people, to whom we owe so much. I am very moved.
We can't even imagine how brave and how much we owe them. We MUST NEVER FORGET!!
john schlesinger. p
Out of all the many brave me'n and women involved in all this, I'm most captivated by Diana De Rosso: coded messages within opera lyrics... her "wariness" and ability to discern (and remember) important bits of info from snippets she overheard amongst the hubbub of bar-room banter. Just stunning. What a life she had!
Further, this concludes with her "fake" Spanish husband approaching her after a performance she gave ~1962, saying how beautifully she sang in Spanish. She graciously accepted the compliment from this gentleman she didn't recognize. He reminded her that they were "wed" some 20 years before to give both of them cover as they performed their duties in the Resistance. Could this remarkable story have ended any more perfectly than that? I wager not...
They were trained in specific techniques to collate that - as was I, 20 years later. I took it far further so half the Cabinet saw me land a major diplomatic coup single-handed, quite recently.
A lot of WWII veterans never wore a uniform.
Imagine being 10 years old and running for shelter from bombs.
Perspective is medicine to my soul, and I love hearing brave people talk.
Lest we forget! God bless the brave men and women who never gave up, never gave in, never lost hope.
Martin Siala
.....and never returned
LEST WE FORGET!
@Donald Boggs yes, once you speak English perhaps, helps to conduct effective communication. Essential in combat. Good luck to you and your aim.
Which god.
@@franzvoss4808 speak? He is typing you absolute donut.
It helps if you can recognise the difference between sound and sight.
I have read and heard of hundreds of accounts from the resistance in France ... oh how crucial these little flights ... so many tales of courage ... so many small single quiet acts ... building up to the successful retaking of France. Without flyers like this it could have never been possible ... no wonder my dad was inspired to become a pilot.
one ought to remember the milice and many french collaborators.
@@johnconlon9652 Ought one ?
@@johnconlon9652 that could be said of most of Europe outside the UK. Is indifference much better? I don't think so. I don't understand collaborators but not everyone is brave. I haven't faced that. The French and other countries dealt with it.
Me too, he flew many missions in japanese islands. He came home to see me in Massachusetts when he could. So most were sent home earlier than my dad was.
@@schelliegris7481 There were many kinds of collaborators. One was those with women in the family: German Army brothels or cooperate. Others (particularly in Flanders) were morally aligned, creating Waffen SS Regiments.
Flight Sergeant Bert Pond - only passed away recently in 2017. Long time farmer near the North Island town of Matamata. Awarded the French Legion of Honour.
Hear hear for the Flight Sergeant pilots & navigators of WW2 . So much recorded about the flying officers , some of whom were officers only based on class or private / English public school. Sergeants were just as skilled and brave as officers
@@willhovell9019 j
My mother was 11 during the German occupation. She lived in Bordeaux with my grand-mere and my uncle who was 17 years older than her. She was seized by German Officer's and my gran-mere was given the choice of Concentration camps or go to Germany to make munitions. The choice was obvious. My Uncle Jean Peire joined the French Resistance. The German Officers did horrible things to my mother. She never forgot. My uncle then rescued her from the vineyards, and she was flown to the English countryside where they hid all the children. She married an American soldier and came to the USA when she was 17.
These wonderfully brave men and women, whose secret work was unknown for many years, have my utmost respect and admiration.
I only heard after she had died that we had a Lady from SOE that lived in our village. I would have so enjoyed to have spoken to her.
Nancy Wake was another very famous SOE agent during the Second World War, in France! Her life story is quite extraordinary in many ways!
The White Mouse!
I have the height of respect for all who served for the freedom of Europe
Never in the field of human conflict, was so much owed to so few by so many
"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few".
I transcribed the stories of the pilots that ended up at Stalag Luft 3. This includes Jimmy Doolittle and I was so honored to hear them.
Amazing stories about such brave people. I am a Radio Control hobbyist and have a Lysander model. I love hearing the stories about how it impacted the war and the truly brave pilots who flew them.
Bond. James Bond
Rest In Peace.....in
Jesus Christ Amen Courtesy
DR.Ashikho DaiLi Mawo
Founder
Switland
For World PEACE in Jesus Christ Amen
Such stellar, quiet, matter-of-fact courage.
Thank you to everyone who created this documentary and found these heroes to save their stories.
Brilliant story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Such brave and wonderful people.
Never get tired of The English/French resistance stories #Respect
Should join my SOE and Resistance group on Facebook
True😏🇨🇱✌️👍
Me too, great people and they always spoke with refined English accents
@Dfw Fqdefqw No fairy's in this story
No soy boys back then
True Heroes should never be Forgotten! Never seen or heard of this much Respect for these fellows. The Family’s of the flyers must be So Proud of their Grand fathers .
I am, only I actually can't read these comments today any more. Reading what these Americans all think and claim about WW2? Is stomach retching, such an atrocious account of WW2 we read endlessly from them. And it's all wrong, nothing even remotely true, just propaganda, like all of their entire history, being honest. There's not even any point trying to correct them. You can show and prove to these people that EVERYTHING they want to claim and say, is actually nothing at all like the real history. And they'll all reply with more misunderstood complete rubbish they've clearly been taught as they all say the same things? It's unbelievable reading it.
So today, I see some of it, and think to myself, “could any society of people from anywhere else on earth, or at any other time on earth, ever be seriously considered as uneducated and dumb as the American people, 2020? I can't think of any society anyone could even put a close second? It's extraordinary what these people all wrongly think and claim. It's actually nothing but insulting.
You'll read every American claiming they saved Britain? And because they all think and claim the same things? It proves that it has been taught!! Their propaganda opinion of WW2 is actually so insulting.
EXPLORE: PUBLIC OPINION ON AMERICAN INTERVENTION IN WORLD WAR II.
September 1, 1939: WORLD WAR II BEGINS
Gallup survey, Sept 1-6, 1939
Q. If it looks within the next few months as if England and France might be defeated, should the United States declare war on Germany and send our troops abroad?
YES 32%,... NO 58% ....10% No opinion.
October 6, 1939: POLAND CONQUERED
Gallup survey, Oct. 5-10, 1939
Q If it appears that Germany is intent on trying to defeat England and France, should the United States declare war on Germany and send our army and navy to Europe to fight?
YES 29%,... NO 71%.
May 10, 1940: GERMANY INVADES WESTERN EUROPE
Gallup survey, May 18-23, 1940
Q. Do you think the United States should declare war on Germany and send our army and navy abroad to fight?
YES 7%,.... NO 93%
June 22, 1940: FRANCE FALLS TO GERMANY
Gallup survey, June 27-July 3, 1940
Q Which of these two things do you think is the more important for the United States? 1) to try to keep out of war ourselves. 2) or to help England win, even at the risk of getting into the war?
HELP 25%,... KEEP OUT 71% ...4% No opinion.
Yet we hear these people today, unbelievably trying to suggest they ''joined the War'' to help their ''ally''?
Could such a grotesque account of WW2, be met with anything other than infernal laughter? They did not join the War to help anybody! The cowards were forced to fight by Japan!
True unknown heroes no one talks about. Great it's on film so we and future generations never forget.
The modesty these brave men and women are displaying is something to behold.
Diana's story about her husband was so bittersweet, he ultimately got his end of the deal but he had also suffered greatly from it
The unspoken significance of the evading sgt _still wearing 'his RAF PT vest'_ was that, had he been captured by the Germans, he would have been wearing at least one article of his uniform which would ( _according to the letter of the Geneva convention_ ) be sufficient to protect him from summary execution as a spy.
At least in theory.
Not over Germany on many occasions sadly
@@willhovell9019 BS
@@Leo_Pard_A4 closet fascist?
@@schelliegris7481 facts are facts.
@@Leo_Pard_A4 They certainly had no qualms about murdering 50 of the Stalag Luft 3 lads.
"The code word was Caroline named after our goat" if it wasn't so deadly serious it would be hilarious, what courage.
Kkkkkk k kkkkkk I’ll li kp
Po
Clever, a code word but actually a real animal they could talk about naturally.
It's also the British warped sense of humour! :)
Id
Great program. How could anyone give this a dislike?
Some people hate those who show them up for the petty souls they are
I must say Diana was a knock out beauty as a young and very courageous woman!
Her mother was a stunner too..
@@colfer222 u
@@williamstooksbury8774 ?
@@colfer222 yeah that's true
My father was one of them .
We didn’t find out until the day he died , a few hours before he passed away in 2004 .
So humbling to listen to these stories by pilots/crew/agents who worked for SOE/Secret Service during WWII. What most impresses is how 'matter of fact' they are in relating their stories, yet they must have been somewhat aware of the unimaginable horrors that might befall them if discovered. That's a Very Special kind of bravery. (No safety net, no possibility of rescue, no Geneva Convention etc...) It's also important to note that these 'networks' and operations were very frequently 'blown' by informers with catastrophic results for agents like F. Yeo Thomas, who miraculously survived the Gestapo prison at Fresnes and Buchenwald concentration camp... Theirs was indeed a very different kind of courage. xx SF
steve sandford Indeed I read a book by Hugh Verity and thought exactly the same as you. All very impressive in that very British understated way.
We now tend to admire some today's people, but they are nothing in comparison with these heroes...
Humbling......
Nancy Wake was the best !😎
A New Zealander saved by Australians betting on flying chickens out of windows- you couldn't make this stuff up!
if I remember correctly, it was in Leonard Cheshires biography that he mentioned when RAF officers at his station were give Sten guns and a couple of mags with ammo. . Once armed started letting loose out of bedroom windows and spraying the areas with bullets . requiring that all weapons were confiscated before any were killed.
But you sure can trust an ozzie to throw chickens by the first floor window ...
So young, so brave, such integrity, and so committed to the destruction of a demonic evil 1,000 year Reich. We all owe you brave young men so much. Thank you.
Leave the Holy Roman Empire out of this.
and women. ;-)
and women. ;-)
General Patton said after the war , that we had fought the wrong enemy , meaning we should have taken out international Zionist bankers , not the Germans .
@Faqyur Ma'ama Just do the maths.
No respect today from people ,they should watch this,and see what a hero is.stay safe Lyn
Dear DAVID IT WAS NOT ABOUT TODAY IT WAS ABOUT YESTERDAY SORRY IF I GOT IT WRONG.P S MY SON HAS NOT BEEN HOME 🏠 FOR 6 days and yes he is in the N H S .
Right 🤔😁
I don't believe that over 50% of those 300,000 people whom have watched this are all grandpas and grandmas. Or else the internet would be a much different place you see. As a young person myself I can guarantee you we most care about our history.
Dear mr boredom thanks 🙏 you are one of the few.stay positive and have a merry Christmas 🎄.
Diana de Rosso truly had a beautiful voice. What a woman, what a family! God bless her memory. August 31, 1921 - February 6, 2003.
Incredible people, their bravery and commitment is without measure. The people of our generation right across Europe owe so much to those who just risked their everything. They were threatened with worse than death. I’ve watched this 4 times now and still not bored with it.
That’s super human efforts, unfortunately the society do not appreciate their sacrifices afterwards, they get forgotten very fast
Great British characters.Unsung. A dartboard in the dining room! Heroic resistance.
Love the French lady résistante, what courage she must have had to help save her country. " Bravo Madame respect !
Such brave young men and women! The things they’ve lived through
My grandfather served as a Halifax navigator with 161 special duties squadron at RAF Tempsford, dropping SOE supplies in France.
They truly were the greatest generation!!!😎
They were exceptional given the intense situation, but they had hopes and expectations for a much greater state of humanity in their vision of the future, we still can achieve this.
*The greater generation will be the one that masters understanding the Human Mind, Ego-Mind and Mastered by the Higher-Mind.
Unfortunately they birthed the awful generation that has ruined America
@@bethbartlett5692 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
@@chewyismycopilot788 , oh, good Lord! 🙄
chewyismycopilot yes the generation of today have set the course for the west’s destruction
Incredible just incredible. Thank goodness these accounts of the war and the calibre of people involved has been recorded for posterity.
Among the foreigners the norwegian pilot Per Hysing-Dahl was serving at 161 squadron RAF at Tempsford during the war. Westland Lysander and Lockheed Hudson was the planes he used to fly into France.
I'm a high school teacher, and these kids have absolutely no idea of the maturity and discipline these 20-year-old pilots had to shoulder with their life at risk on each mission. Truely, the vast majority of the kids that finish school can barely write their own name.
I agree with you, but they grew up in a very different time. Most of the men were born during the great depression, or lived under fascist governments. They grew up fast..
I, for one, am grateful that today's children don't understand their struggles.
Being born at the end of 1940 I grew up listening often first hand at war time stories . The more I heard the greater my admiration fot those people . As the years have passed my disgust and dismay at the present generations complete lack of respect for those who sacrificed so much for our freedom.
We even have to read these vile American born liars. Lying about the supplying of the USSR? If you read American history and read what ALL Americans want to say and claim? You'll find them claiming they supplied the USSR, and it's only because of those supplies the USSR could fight the War? RUBBISH! Again, it was nothing to do with the USA? And the USA did not supply the USSR with anything until 1944. Far too late to have made any difference at all as the USSR said themselves (This is true, they did only supply the USSR in 1944, long after it was really needed.). So who was it that really supplied the USSR? And who was it that allowed the USSR to remain fighting in the War? By supplying them, and doing so just in time? It was the BRITISH! NOT THE LYING American.
The British supplied the USSR with all the military equipment they had and used to fight for Moscow, they we're sharing one rifle between 10 troops at times. The Soviets kept the British supplies they received under wraps for years, and never have acknowledged or thanked the UK for that critical help? Claiming only the US “Lend Lease” supplied them, and that only happened in 1944... With the USSR saying that it was too late (true), and they did it anyway.... This was the old USSR line....
But since the collapse of the Soviet Union, much more information has emerged from archives in Moscow, shedding new light on the subject. While much of the documentary evidence remains classified “secret” in the Central Archives of the Ministry of Defence and the Russian State Archive of the Economy. Both Western and Russian researchers have been able to gain access to important, previously unavailable first-hand documents. Much was in the Russian-language materials of the State Defence Committee-the Soviet equivalent of the British War Cabinet-held in the former Central Party Archive.
Together with other recently published sources, including the wartime diaries of N. I. Biriukov, a Red Army officer responsible from August 1941 onwards, who was also responsible for the distribution of recently acquired Tanks from the British to the front lines, and this newly available evidence, paints a very different picture from the former USSR's “perceived wisdom”. In particular, it shows that British “Lend-Lease” assistance to the Soviet Union in late 1941 and early 1942 played a far more significant part in the defence of Moscow and the revival of Soviet fortunes in late 1941 than has ever been acknowledged or credited.
In total 4 million tonnes of war material including food and medical supplies were delivered. The munitions totalled £308m (not including naval munitions supplied), the food and raw materials totalled £120m in 1946 index. In accordance with the Anglo-Soviet Military Supplies Agreement of June 27, 1942, military aid sent from Britain to the Soviet Union during the war was entirely free of charge.
3,000+ Hurricanes aircraft
4,000+ other aircraft
27 naval vessels
5,218 tanks (including 1,380 Valentines from Canada)
5,000+ anti-tank guns
4,020 ambulances and trucks
323 machinery trucks (mobile vehicle workshops equipped with generators and all the welding and power tools required to perform heavy servicing)
1,212 Universal Carriers and Loyd Carriers (with another 1,348 from Canada)
1,721 motorcycles
£1.15bn worth of aircraft engines
1,474 radar sets
4,338 radio sets
600 naval radar and sonar sets
Millions of various rifles
Hundreds of naval guns
15 million pairs of boots.
Yet you go and try to find this history out? See how difficult it is to find? When it should be the first thing, being seen and able to find, as it's so important, a huge part of history, REAL HISTORY! Not the US creation of fake history, as they ''pretend'' to see it. That's the truth!
@@worldsend9659 well said sir. The story of the PQ convoys backs your claims. I have the honour of making a painting of PQ 13 under attack fro Ju 88's, for an eye witness, a man who was there age 18, on a merchant ship, 'New Westminster City'. He told me, 3 days later my ship was sunk, lost a leg. He was a fine man, the story [and painting] is on my web site.
My thoughts exactly.
amen
Love these stories but damn am I thankful these brave men & women played their part fighting fascism.
man, me too....damn
Quique...I wish the Yalta meeting would've ended up differently (my parents grew up in a country that was in the Soviet Bloc). Truman and Chirchill gave Eastern Europe to Stalin on a platter.
@@marinazagrai1623 , you can’t give away what you haven’t won and what you don’t possess. The Soviets lost tens of millions being attacked and invaded by the Nazis and pushing them mile by mile all the way back to Berlin. They had conquered and were occupying all of the territory in between. Did you think they would just surrender it to the other Allies. The U.S., Britain nor France would have surrendered it either. The Soviets did indeed betray their wartime treaties by failing to allow truly free and fair elections and turning all of the conquered territories into puppet states. (The West, however, also used espionage and some skullduggery to help make sure free and fair elections weren’t won by communists.) You can’t blame Roosevelt or Churchill for giving away something they they never possessed in the first place. What would you have suggested, attacking the entire Red Army?
Thank you for this documentary. In my teen years in the early 1970s I once read a then old novel based on the French Resistance during WW2. An eye-opening gripping book you couldn't put down till you finish it. In it there were stories like in this documentary. I still wonder where I can find it again for my collection. I often search for such stories. Fascinating 👏
Carve her Name with Pride. It’s about Violet Szabo. Famous book.
Paul Brickhill wrote a book on the Dam Buster Sqdn, both before and after the raid to the end of the war. He also wrote another book on escapes from various camps and I think one on Colditz. He would interview the pilots, ground crews etc for his information and since many were humble and would not talk about themselves, he would get them to talk about the others!
Other good books are Reach for the sky about Douglas Bader..... a pilot who lost his legs but kept flying. He was so good at escaping from POW camps, in the end the guards took his legs from him at night to stop him! The Longest Day about the set up and happenings of D Day, and for WWI, The Desert Column by Ion Idriess starts at the landing at Gallipoli and on through Egypt and France. It was written from Ions own diaries and caused a stink at the time because it showed the incompetence of some of the British leading Australian and New Zealand troops and treating them almost as disposable.
In 1943 the French writer Joseph Kessel wrote a very realistic novel about the French resistance called The Army of Shadows, or in French L’armee des ombres. In the 1960s the French director Jean Melville made it into a wonderful film. The resistance fighters in the film were incredibly brave but mostly just tried to avoid capture or betrayal. Great film, great director, great cast.
Totally blown away by these guys.totally amazing. Hat off to you sirs.well done lads and lasses.
Very captivating stories, thank you so much for posting.
These heroes lived a fullfilled life due to their contributions to the war effort.
Hugh Verity was my uncle coming in at 0:26. Fascinating to find this as I didn't catch it on TV in 1995 and since then have only seen some tiny extracts.
What a splendid programme, thank you.
My Father was landed in France behind German lines prior to D day as a (19 year old 2Lt)Signal Corp
officer training French resistance in proper radio procedures.
Major Rick Corbin You must be So Proud of your Fathers achievements . Much respect to your Father and Yourself Sir ! These Flyers Should never be Forgotten!
I salute your father. What a hero...
@@swingwizard dad earned a Silber Starr a Bronze star plus eight purple hearts (Germany & Korea)
oddly enough I served in Both Germany & Korea too but during the Cold war years later
Dad had zero parachute training so when the plane landed in a French field, while the pilot taxied to the end and turned around for takeoff ,Dad pitched his duffle bag out then followed by jumping from the wing strut PS dad did not speak French either
These amazing people truly were the greatest generation. Who would think that an opera singer could contribute in any way to the war effort. The British were amazing. Thank God they had so many talented spies and daring Airmen.And of course let us not forget the French resistance. God bless them all.🙏🏻🇬🇧 🇨🇵
Awesome pilots, awesome planes, awesome missions.
Sir Lewis Hodges was a lovely man, grew the most beautiful roses and was always polite and friendly. You'd never have known just from speaking to him all that he had done during WWII and afterwards.
Hue Verity had very very big balls, and was a noble man indeed.
Gotta love the Aussies. Brave larrikins doing important flight research. They helped save a life.
They must of got bored with 2 up, poor chickens, but one wouldn't forget seeing chickens flying from a building. Command must of thought of reducing the australians down time.
Sat in awe during this whole excellent documentary. Greatest Respect.
Passionnant ! Thank you Britania. Un Français.
Love these old gems! Many of us who are into this are here for the stories, not the video resolution. I wish everyone understood this, Timeline does!
They were of course, all heros of liberty. I am moved by the story of this gentleman and his evacuation form Belgium. So much respect is owed to those men and women of the resistance without whom, we should not free men today. Bravo.
I knew two men who had been involved with intelegence work in WW2 .One was my 1st wifes Grandfather,who to the surprise of many in his family received a full military Funeral,None of the family had any idea of his war time activities until a few details were revealed by persons in the UK government. He had told me once however,how he had been flown twice into France by lysander at night and how they flew so low it was frighting,he kept thinking they were gong to hit the trees .
More, tell us more...........................................thanks...
No doubt, the greatest generation! France, US, Britain and allies, they all should be honored for saving us from that terrible time!
Incredible story❗️Lest We Forget.
I took him for a fly in a light aircraft in 1992 and he did a perfect landing. RIP Uncle Hugh.
Koi
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Koio I o
Iiioiioi o ii iiiii iii III I ii iiook ii iiiii iii ii iiiii ii
P lo III i iii i ko i i
would love to listen to more of dianas' story! edit: oh heck, apparently she's passed away, bless her soul.
Amazing she looks so well in this. What is this when she's early 70s? Extraordinary!
Also she apparently she was a viscountess?
this was filmed in the late 90's - Do the maths .... They are all 6 feet under. But will never be forgotten.
My grand mother came to GB from Switzerland with my grandfather because they couldn't stand the thought of sitting through what was THEIR 2nd war in Switzerland. My grandmother ended up driving high ranked people and spies all around blacked out GB (she started in ambulances).
The thinking behind that was that she couldn't speak a word of English so she wouldn't understand what was being said.
Needless to say she learnt pretty fast. She still loved big fast saloon cars in her 90's ! Loved the acceleration LOL.
My grandfather joined the army and made it through the war. Didn't wait to be discharged when it was announced the war was over and just crossed Europe to go home!!! He was of course arrested as a deserter and jailed and escaped !!! and finally made it back on his own two feet. Knocked on his front door and that was that. War over - lets start again. They kept a German Luger pistol on top of a cupboard near the front door for years.
Amazing people like all of their contemporaries.
Last time my grandmother was arrested was for driving her Vespa around town in dark glasses and a scarf in a black bomber jacket for warmth. She didn't like helmets and she gave the policeman a piece of her mind telling him he wouldn't have been born if it weren't for people like her etc. She was brought home and the Vespa was locked away ... She didn't get fined though.
What a pair they must have been! Thank you for sharing!
@@team3383 lol great story
what a great documentary to self isolate to wonderful tales of escapees and spying!
.. thinking if they can do this, I'm sure i can sit watching TV for a few months..
The shoulders of old war hero's upon which we find ground to stand without them we wouldn't find our Liberty to stand up
Well I for one would also do away with fascism if it tried to rule me, or die in the effort.
I'm afraid that today very few young people would step up as our parents grandparents and great grandparents did...?
Respect! Lest We Forget.
Gouging an eye out. Unbelievable. I can't stand getting an eyelash out.
That is one of the reasons why the U.S. must never permit or tolerate the torture of any kind, including the euphemistic “enhanced interrogation techniques,” of prisoners who are in our custody as it did during the Iraq War.
Excellent documentation, really loved it! Great thanks also to those who brought it to us!
M
Its extremely good this was filmed. Credit to all of the highest regards. Humanity embodied.
My humble & deepest respect for all known& unknown heroes who fought against The Third Reich !!! Never forget them....
I don't understand what's funny..I mean no wifi.wahhhh.
@@SpaceRanger187 I didn't even font that. I'm certain that it was one of my children.
My grandmother (French father's mother) was active in the resistance smuggling downed pilots to Free French soil. Blessings out to Suzanne Demassias.
I love how polite & classy these British guys are talking to eachother. Imagine if we could all talk like that today without all the funky, trendy lingo; most words that aren’t any where near related to their original meanings 🙄
I noticed this too!
@Hello my name is Brandon totally would be ✨
If only these videos were shown in school, the sacrifice and danger these amazing people endured should be compulsory teaching throughout but sad to say it is nothing of the kind. We are in the midst of our history being either rewritten or erased altogether. Great respect for all who servedGod bless them all. 🇬🇧
agree with you Mr. Williamson. Out with political correctness, British and English history should be compulsory in these same schools, 1066-1966. If you are going to tell me some of the children were born in faraway places, this has no bearing on the history they about to see and the spirit/DNA of their new home ! Be proud.
@@glennpickard2239 I see where you're coming from, that all children should know the song "two world wars and one world cup". That sort of thing
24 mins in I’m sure your singing was a huge relief for the fighting men god bless the whole generation I’m only 28 but I feel like I have much more in common with with generation than I do my own 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Very brave people that should get more recognition, thanks.
I look after people in hospital and those old enough to have served in the war are always superb individuals. Never complain , always respectful and grateful. I noticed that those that fought are often bitter at the time they lost from their youth, rather than being proud of having served
As their forerunner in WW1, Edith Cavell, said, Patriotism is not enough. They survived by determination, skill, and by the ability to merge into the population. Mum, for example, lost her chance at University: she was straight into service again as soon as she returned, PA to the Indian High Commissioner.
Thanks for the good show.Quite informative,historically.
Wonder what these brave men make of the Britian they defended has become today .
They would think it’s proud and brave as they were. Where did you serve cupcake?
@@Clydesirota Great Grandfather was in the trenches of France his sons were on the beaches at Normandy my father was in the Falklands and his sons went to Iraq and Afghanistan i.e. me and my younger brother
@@Clydesirota Oh nearly forgot three cousins in the RUC at the height of the troubles here in Ulster
Guess that answered your question Eh Myles? Haha mike drop
@stephen morris and no one say anything about it.
Let me tell you what, these women were true heros, truly the greatest generation....
They were so secret we didn’t notice. Kudos to these brave people.