'The Lost Battalion' - How 650 Americans held off the German Army (WW1 Documentary)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ย. 2024
- In early October 1918 across this war-torn and shell shattered hillside in Northern France, more than 600 Doughboys of the American Expeditionary Force, surrounded and outnumbered, fought for their lives. Over more than five days they sustained relentless assaults by their German opponents who used machine guns, mortars and flamethrowers in a bid t o eradicate the ‘pocket’ that had formed in the Argonne Forest. By the time that fight was over hundreds of men lay dead and wounded across this battlefield.
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Major Whittlesey never forgave himself for the heavy casualties his unit suffered. Historians agree none of it was his fault.
Actually, it was less that he blamed himself, but rather it was the families of those who had died that placed the blame on him for getting lost. HOWEVER, when General Marshall and other Army professionals looked at what Whittlesey did, they fully approved of his actions. He was SUPPOSED to advance to a certain point and that he did. And when units on his flank failed to match his actions, he did what he could to maintain the morale of his personnel. Because of his actions, and the actions of the men under his command, he drew the attention of the German Army on his unit, meaning that other American units were able to push forward and eventually relieve the "Lost Battalion".
He was so affected by the experience, he stepped off of a boat and drowned himself.
@@JamesThomas-gg6ilyes, on the boat coming back to the States.
@@JamesThomas-gg6ilMaybe or maybe it was an accident? People can fall overboard at sea, or perhaps it was someone else on board with him who did it? We'll know all these on the day of Judgment
IIRC, they found a note in his cabin addressed to Capt. McMurtry, his former executive officer. It simply read “take care of the boys for me.”
Wow, I never knew the Major took his life. The movie "The Lost Battalion" with Ricky Schroder is worth a watch. I think it captures this event quite well.
Great movie, and I think Rick does a good job of playing the Major.
Maybe or maybe it was an accident? People can fall overboard at sea, or perhaps it was someone else on board with him who did it? We'll know all these on the day of Judgment
Excellent movie.
@@benjaminguilatcoiv He left multiple wills and even instructions for the ships captain. He had documents at his house and office as well dictating what to do with this belongings. Those who knew him said it was not surprising either.
@@pickleman40 ok, i was basing just from the content of this video but from other comments and from yours i've heard that there were other details that were not mentioned in this video's account 👍
In Sabaton's 'Lost Battalion' piece, the lyrics include, "Suffered heavy losses through the great war they stood strong. But the memory of the fallen still lives on."
If taken into context with Major Whittlesey's life after the war, it has heavy meaning. Though lauded with critical acclaim including, promotion, honorary degrees, and even serving as a pallbearer for the internment of the first Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Whittlesey suffered from PTSD. He once said to a friend, "Not a day goes by but I hear from some of my old outfit, usually about some sorrow or misfortune. I cannot bear it much more."
🎵🎶FAR FROM THEIR LAND AS THEY MADE THEIR STAND!🎶🎵
@@LOTR22090able A DISREGARDED DEMAND, ITS SURRENDER OR DIE AND THE STAKES ARE HIGH
@@LOTR22090able🎶THEY STOOD STRONG AND THE LEGEND STILL LIVES ON🎶
I was just at the site a few months ago, so this is a really great way of visualizing what we saw there. Great work as always!
Thank you!
Good to see you here! Always puts me in a good mood clicking on one of your videos and hearing "Welcome back everybody"
Me too a couple of years ago. Great to have this overview from @BattleGuideVT
Private Oscar Ivan Potter, Coy H, 308th Inf, 77th Div, USAEF was my maternal grandfather. He fought in the Lost Battalion in the Argonne Forest, and survived the war.
He married my grandmother some time in the 1920s, went to work at Sperry Mills (flour mill) in Spokane, Washington, raised three kids, and had a very long, very happy life.
He never ever spoke of the war or his part in it to any of his grandchildren or his close friends. I only learned about his WWI army tour when my mother told me about him and the Lost Battalion some time after he died in the late 1970s. 5'6" tall, never weighed more than 150 pounds, loved his family, playing the ponies and taking a nip once on a while. Sweetest man I have ever known.
My grandfather commanded Company G, Lt. Sherman Eager
Salute from a fellow Spokane resident
My step sister's maternal great grandfather fought in Okinawa, Wake Island etc. in WW2. The entire family learned about his exploits only when the Marines arrived for the funeral. Never mentioned his service not one time for 50 plus years, but his grandma asked when she was a kid, what the USMC chest was in the attic and never to open it.
Thank You for sharing your Story!!
My utmost admiration and gratitude for all those brave souls who fought valiantly and honorably, and gave up their lives for something greater than themselves.
Those were brave men indeed, but they died for absolutely nothing which is why they are called the Lost Generation. WWI is the reason it took the US so long to enter WWII.
Like the American version of Rorkes Drift. It never ceases to amaze me how much courage a human being can display against such overwhelming odds and then go on to win the day. Another great documentary. Thank you 🙏
Good morning, very respectfully, are you related to the battalion commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion 506th Infantry Regiment 3rd Brigade U.S. 101st Airborne Division? His rank and name was Lieutenant Colonel Andre C. Lucas. The 2nd Battalion took and fought for FireSupport Base Ripcord in the Republic of VietNam, in the summer of 1970. Sadly, during the evacuation of Ripcord, Colonel Lucas was killed in action.
The late Keith W. Nolan wrote a historical account of the battle and siege of Firebase Ripcord entitled: Ripcord: Screaming Eagles Under Siege, Vietnam 1970.
Sorry for the long question, history recount.
We've been visiting this location for 27 years! Thank you for such a well presented and tastefully delivered video.
As a loyal listener of the podcast, I want to say that your documentaries are equally very interesting and well delivered. I join those here who say you have a very good and pleasant voice for documentaries, Dan.
Excellent episode!
WWI is so overlooked compared to WWII. Actually, it was the same war with a 20 year gap. That is fodder for another episode.
This battle and aftermath is a prime example of PTSD and the fact no one understood it.
If there was doubt between the French and British high commands if the Americans would fight, the Meuse-Argonne campaign removed all doubts. The courage of US soldiers and Marines saved the Western Allies.
RIP Major Whittlesey!
Overlooked by countries that only jumped in on the last couple months of the war. But for the rest of us it's still very much remembered.
Never seen WWI as overlooked. Also the US soldiers and marines did not save the entente, as the Germans were stopped before the US forces reach any significant numbers. Now US did help save the entente, by being a major supplier of them throughout the war.
Good video. I've been to this place. It isn't far from the Sargent York trail. There is a little sign on the road marking the ravine. I climbed down and explored. The Americans were surrounded by high ground they were really in a hopeless situation.
Wonderful account of this debacle, green US soldiers thrown into devastating battle just 5 weeks before the Armistice. Both my grandfathers fought in WW1. Major Whittleseys' suicide is just heartbreaking, he was a fine leader, and commanders usually suffer the most from survivor guilt.
Thanks for the comment.
Simply a well-produced and presented video. Compelling, informative and new, and drawing the viewer into the story with personal backgrounds, local difficulties and forgotten scares. The team at 'Battle Guide' are constantly producing these fantastic documentaries and should be given an award. They are ensuring the cost of our current freedom will never be lost to those of future generations when they mature and seek the story of where they came from...
Deadly video and u have a great voice for documentaries.
Thanks for the kind comments.
Always look forward to new videos ❤ thanks a bunch , great job
Thank you!
20 years ago they made an excellent movie about this with Rick Schroeder as Major Whittlesey.
Thanks for another excellent episode.
Thanks for watching!
Excellent video, thank you for making it.
The Americans didn’t view it as being surrounded, rather being in a target rich environment.
This was an excellent presentation...thank you...
Great video guys,WOW, you guys to a awesome job!!!!😊
Thank you so much.
The movie was outstanding. Ricky Schroder did a very respectable job of portraying Major Whittlesey.
untrue. He wasn't even close.
My thanks for a remarkable video and well illustrated battlefield location.
Was listening to Lost battalion by Sabaton the other day, had this event fresh in the memory
Sabaton wrote a song about this called The Lost Battalion
Excellent video. Thanks, Dan.
Great narration!
Thank you for your comment!
This was AWESOME! Subbed! Great channel! Geat job! ❤❤❤❤
The movie starring Ricky Schroeder was good.
That was a Great movie! I have it on Blu-Ray
Yes it really was
That movie was pretty good. I dig it
The things they had to do and the tremendous pain of seeing your fellow soldier die next to you really makes it hard for me not to get emotional 😢
Incredible story I live very close to mount sterling never heard of this man but I’m glad I did!
In Columbus, Ga, home of Fort Bennington, now Fort Moore, they named a significant Blvd for Whittlesey to honour him.
It's called Ft. Benning. Home of the United States Infantry. I'm a graduate of that school 1979. And The Ranger School plus Airborne School. Took my boards there to get my scroll for 1stBn 75th Infantry, The Ranger Regiment. Don't care what they call it now, it will always be Ft. Benning for those that attended. Cheers from a former Ranger
Great piece!
"They would never comply they would rather die, broke through the blockade till they were finally saved." Sabaton "The Lost Battalion".
Their defense occupied alotta German troops who would otherwise have been repelling the other assaults along the line.
Whittlesey had what we now called PTSD. He was rightfully lauded with medals, promotion, honorary degrees, and even served as pallbearer for the internment of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington.
Sadly the mental anguish never left him. In a letter to a friend, Whittlesey wrote, "Not a day goes by but I hear from some of my old outfit, usually about some sorrow or misfortune. I cannot bear it much more."
The US Expedition Force lost 14.000 men, but Major Whittlesey lost 'only' 200 outright from his 650 men.
At least he did his job, when he was surrounded... Defensive battles are 'easier' to conduct...
I wonder how many of the 14.000 soldiers died in wain before they reached the enemy trenches...?
Machineguns and attacking soldiers in rows crossing no-man's-land don't mix well...
I recommend watching 'Blackadder goes forth'. Some comments to General Melchett are spot on.
By all means watch it because its funny, by no means watch it as a history lesson.
My Great Uncle Frances Yost in the 77th Division was killed in this battle. Oct 10.
Thank you for your great uncle service
WW1 content. Hell yeah!
Excellent video nicely told. You truly tell their story well.
The lost battalion movie was AWESOME
when we first got into Baghdad we had to fight house to house in some sectors, which was terrible but I couldnt imagine trench warfare..War is truly hell, but that would be further down the route deeper into hell
Superb documentary on an historic event we had never heard! Thank you! 26 June 2024, 20:50 hours CST USA
Imagine Hollingshead being such a stud that the German officers letter requesting the battalions surrender was more about Hollingshead being a stand up man than the actual surrender.
War destroys not only the body but the souls of good men. RIP 77th.
Incredible story 😊
Here’s a fun fact: Al Capone claimed to have served in the Lost Battalion.
My relative CPL Frederick fought in this battle and died in it. I have a lot of information on this due to my relatives best friend surviving the battle. and I do own a few captured medals from this battle. I'll one day get a video put together about it.
i loved the movie!
Very good report and no AI voice. Nice.
Great video!
THE 9TH AND TENTH CAVALRY WERE MOSTLY KNOWN AS BUFFALO SOLDIERS. ONCE CAOMMADNED BY PERSHING, WHERE HE ALSO GOT THE NAME 'BLACK ' JACK.
All caps?
Crazy how this was never turned into a film,I’d imagine the harrowing events would be crazy to see, and the attempted plea by the German officer to have them surrender
There were at least two films. One from about 1920, a silent movie. Then another movie, I believe, from 2001.
Glad these stories are still being told. Make war no more.
Would love to see you do a video about Otto Skorzenys raid to break Mussolini out. An amazing story and one that I'd love to see you cover it.
Capt. Charles W. Whittlesey, medal of honor recipient...
The Lost Battalion engagement was in the first week of October, 1918. 2 October, when they went in and took their assigned objective to 7 October, when elements of the 82nd Division broke through German lines to relieve them. Official records record only 550 men in the battalion.
You mistakenly said "the 7th of June" , and I'm sure that you meant October.
Yes absolutely, our last video was on Omaha Beach so I just made a slip (writing this from the Argonne Forest!)
The 9 companies of the "Statute of Liberty" Division were mostly drawn from poor immigrant communities of New York City. Fortified with replacement troops from the American West, these soldiers held their position despite being surrounded for six days and suffering over 70% casualties.
77th also became famous in WWII. They were known for being the "old bastards" because their average age was over 10 years greater than all other army units. They were an army unit, but fought so well in the Pacific, they get confused as a Marine unit.
arent they nicknamed "77th marines"
@@thomasscoggin5131 that they were….. ThFatElectrion has a special on the 77th in WWIII. Well worth watching.
The 77th didn't become famous in their time, unfortunately. Like most US Army units in the Pacific war, they've been neglected until very recently because the Pacific has traditionally been considered the Marines' theater. The only reason people are crediting the 77th now is because of the Fat Election's video.
But the 77th was just one of many outstanding Army units that people don't know about.
If you have time look up the video about the 77th in WW2 made by the Fat Electrician, that unit was one of the most decorated units of the war; they are most famous for the battle of Hacksaw Ridge.
I love the letter from the Germans really emphasizing that the American soldier shouldnt be seen as a traitor for delivering a German message
“The bloodiest battle in American history”
GettysBurg: am I a joke to you?
Lol it really was!
I like piano music but I don't see what it adds to this.
4:20 "Let's take a look at the ground"...and, well, that seems to be what this entire channel does all the time--look at the ground, both from "back then" and now. Reminds me of James Holland in his podcast "We Have Ways of Making you Talk"...it is always "you have to walk the ground to truly understand the battle".
I have a booklet written by the survivors of this lost battalion … it looks like it is dated in the 1920s
Over a million troops in France took over a year about 200,000 front line about the same number as the Bef did in 14 days. Second question Why were they surrounded ?? Because they were National guard and not Regular Army therefor not worth rescuing or even infirming of the danger they were in ??
were not National Guard.
Definitely NOT “the largest battle in American History”. Come on
How many shells were fired in those 3 hours? Have a hard time believing those 3 hours were more than our entire civil war which had huge artillery duels and long sieges.
Wanted to note: enjoyed the video, great job!
thank you for this and the use of high tech to show th battlefield
Far from their land as they made their stand
A disregarded demand
It's surrender or die and the stakes are high
They live or they die, there's no time for goodbye
Weapon in hand as they made their stand
Still disregarding demand
They would never comply, they would rather die
Broke through the blockade, they were finally saved
Major Whittlesey went up on deck, removed his clothing which he folded neatly and committed suicide by jumping overboard. The agony of losing so many of his men and the survivor's guilt was too for him to bear.
Thank you
My lord ! Nightmare beyond our imagination 😢
my great grandfather fought and walked out to survived this event had a family and was a tailor from the bronx. he died before I was born, but was a strong tough man. I am very proud of his service. both my gramdfather ww2 and great grandfather ww1 fought in the 77th division.
Just Play Battlefield 1 , Argonne Forest Map ,
Far from their land as they made their stand, a disregarded demand!
A minor point - but hats off for pronouncing MEUSE properly. The US vid series The Great War with Indy Neidel presenting insist on calling it the MYOOZ not MERZ.
Thank you.
Great story and a decent hHistory channel movie. However, am I the only one who noticed the voice-over for Lt. Leak at the 11:30 mark sounded oddly like Christian Bale?
Didn't help the major that no matter where he went after the war he was always asked about it up until he vanished from his voyage at sea.
Let's hear some love for the bird, the only one that didn't have a choice.
And now brandon is president
So what. He won the election.
Should've had the lost battalion from the Argonne offensive
How do you mean?
@@BattleGuideVT well the lost battalion from WW1 fought against insurmountable odds and despite being surrounded they still prevailed until they were relieved even suffering roughly 80% casualty rate
How could it be that the Germans didn't see the gap in their own lines?
Their internet was down that day and couldn't get the text messages
The best laid plans of mice and men😮
Did the german flag contain red in ww1?
The Battle of Antietam during the American Civil War is the bloodiest day in American history. Over 27,000 casualties in a 24-hour period.
Pedantic corrections aside, your content is fantastic!
Yes true, but not the bloodiest battle ;)
And thanks! :)
The Argonne was not Americas bloodiest battle, that would be Gettysburg during the civil war with over 55,000 casualties in 3 days
The Meuse-Argonne was 120,000 casualties, by far the bloodiest battle.
8:30 I have to laugh when I think of the reports, and their subsequent conversations, which must have been flying back and forth between the German leaders...lol
The Allies weren't alone in having unreliable communications. Commo wire is easily broken for both sides in the war.
So it must have been confusing AF when the German command received word that they had elements...rear-echelon units...being attacked and in contact with the enemy -- the 308th...
...And, meanwhile, the rest of their units are in contact, too, but in the "correct" locations; in front of t hem...lol
3:25 How you supposed to command a unit with 42 different languages being spoken?
There is a saying and I am not sure if it true or not, but they say other forces when doing combat patrols like in Afghanistan. Always want a American with them.... They say there own country says "We will see what we can work out to help you in a bit...... Where when a American calls for help they hear "Get small the party is coming to you." Any anything that can shoot or fly makes a beeline to the area...... I do not know know how true it is, but sure sounds like what a American combat force would/should say when they call for "I need help"... I am a American and come from a Army family, so I would like to think it is true..... The lost battalion shows that the Americans will fight and move a mountain if needed to get to the fellow Americans... Be it WWI, WWII Battle of the bulge, to Nam and the movie "We where solders." up to modern times, like a F-18 used up all it's bombs in support of a American unit and knew if they left the unit would get over run so the jet made dives using the sonic bombs on the hostile forces to shock them till a new batch of air cover could get there...
"...married, and even became a prison guard..."
Is marriage among fellow prison guards common? :)
The German strategy in 1918 was defense in depth. Germans would give ground to the allies in the first line and retreat to a more fortified second line and then grind the allies to paste in a meat grinder. You know why allied advances in the first world war were measured in yards, thats why.
But by the time of the Muese-Argonne offensive Germany and the central powers were on their last legs. Germany was in the grips of a popular uprising, Austria-Hungary was collapsing and getting butt-fucked by the Italians and the Ottoman Empire was folding to an Arab revolt in the levant. The war was already over. And it probably explains why the 77th found a gap in the first line. The Germans were spread so thin already.
Understand had this happened in 1915 it would have been a disaster that would have sunk the moral of any other army. In fact, i think it did. The british lost almost 600 elite cavalry in the exact same kind of encirclement early in the war that devastated the british expeditionary force. The 77th could not have been in a worse position. In a narrow ravine right in front of the german second line with a dozen machine gun nests facing down on them on top of being surrounded. Any other commander, any other army. It would have been a route.
These days its cliche to talk about American exceptionalism. But i believe that because it was an American Unit in thar place and that moment. That they held out against overwhelming adversity and won. Let's be clear. The germans abandoned the line after the intense fighting. The fact that 650 men with six round .30-06 Springfield rifiles and light machine guns. With no air cover and poor artillery support held back veteran german forces day after day and went on to win. That's extraordinary.
New York gangsters!
The Battle of the Bulge would dwarf this battle, thus it would not be the largest battle in American history.
214th, 28 June 2024
Excellent analysis of the battle but to refer to it as the bloodiest battle in US history is seriously debatable. Maybe in foreign wars but even then I have to disagree.
How is it debatable? 120,000 casualties - more than double Gettysburg.
The fact Trump called these people suckers and losers is still disgusting 4 years later.
nobody had brains enough to do what had to be done at nighttime. duh
WWI started as Europe's fight and should have ended as Europe's fight. The US should have never meddled in WWI.
As members of the Rothchild banking system we serve the British empire lol. We are their military march