Afrika Korps - Furthest South Raid
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- The story of Sonderkommando Blaich's daring raid on Chad in January 1942, the furthest raid south made by Rommel's Afrika Korps.
Dr. Mark Felton is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.o...
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Credits: US National Archives; Library of Congress; Central Intelligence Agency; RAF Kasfareet; MisterBee1966
That must have been a very special moment for these men when they started the engines of their refueled Heinkel for the last leg back. Worth a movie.
just immagine a movie about this ....
There won't ever be a movie showing the Germans in a good light.
@@billdeburgh
The fact that the Nazis were basically the one of the most evil things ever to exist might have something to do with that 🙄
@@billdeburgh Portraying Germans in a realistic light is very well possible: "Das Boot" did it. A movie about this Heinkel bomber could even finish almost the same: the plane ends up destroyed, like the U-Boot.
@@FP194 a common mistake amongst those who go on about the Germans in WWII. The wermacht/luftwaffe/kriegsmarine were different from the nazis. The national socialists were a political party, the rest were military branches. The military inevitably linked into the political party for loyalty reasons amongst other things. For the most part, the kriegsmarine was left out on its own. The luftwaffe also generally stayed out of the politics. The Wermacht were more involved but that is mainly due to the deployment of SS units.
In regards to war time depictions of either sides forces, there were good and there were bad. Admittedly some worse than others but often that was very much so off the front lines in occupied territory. Bias is obvious based on who you ask and what for. The Russians for their part were by no means innocent and merely get a pass for being on our side and helping us win. I'm sure there were multiple other cruelties committed by all sides. Alas we cannot let that overshadow that in the end, they all were soldiers, doing their duty and fighting for what they believed. Whether right or wrong, they were all still human
Not feeling very well today, but all of a sudden I feel a little bit better.
Hmmmmm, I wonder why that is…
Couple Pervitin tablets and you'll be as right as rain lol. Get well soon mate
@@biko9824 I was just thinking the same thing. What would make any history lover to perk up like that. I suppose it will remain a mystery.
@@johnmn3500 Couple of hot Toddy's 2 fingers whisky 1 table spoon of sugar 4 fingers hot water add a slice of lemon boom you will be like new.👍💥
I know the Limey Brit Cheered me up with this video too.
Patton: Rommel you magnificent bastard, I read your book.
Me: Mark Felton, you magnificent historian, I saw all of your videos.
Patton never did give Rommel his book back
Wrong explanation in the video - Hitler did not starve Rommel of resources. Axis simply could not supply even the troops they had in North Africa, much less additional .
@@aleksazunjic9672 The context was completely different, Rommel was sent to North Africa in February 1941 to help Italians defend its Libyan colony. Both German and British High command assumed he would maintain a defensive posture but he certainly had other plans and we all are aware of that. As Rommel went on offensive it far more consumed Fuel, armour and men than fighting a defensive war. At last, majority of German war effort was focused on the Eastern front (around 75-80%) and a considerable strength was also kept in France and the Balkans. Supplying North African units was not much of a concern earlier in the war as Axis powers enjoyed much of the control of the Mediterranean and critical supply routes to North Africa. What became an issue was not transportation but procuring men, armour and fuel which were usually spared from other fronts because Hitler was more focused on the European fronts.
@@sunnyinfinite Context is not different. Rommel was sent with couple of divisions and defensive mission precisely because Germans could not logistically support more. If they could support at least 10, they would gladly send them (perhaps with different commander) and offensive mission, to finish off British in North Africa before the Barbarossa started. Now, Rommel being Rommel, he used even his limited forces offensively, and was successful enough to be promised more. And he did receive some reinforcements (especially in early 1942) but in the end Axis were not able to supply them. Therefore sending more troops (couple of divisions were always available) was not the solution. Axis simply did COULD NOT secure Mediterranean for their shipping, not in 1940, 1941 , 1942 or ever. You could read about Italian merchant ships losses if you search Merchant Marine - Regia Marina Italiana.
@@aleksazunjic9672 Hmmm, ultimately German lines of communication were stretched far more than It could sustain, as Germans were unable to mass produce equipments same as did the Americans and the Soviets, and deliver it to the multiple fronts... Germany's lines of communication were far over stretched and often run dry in terms of equipment and men as Hitler started to commit his armed forces in Balkans, North Africa and the Soviet Union and soon logistics problems turned into nightmare for him...
That would have to be one of the most successful air raids of the whole war when you take into account the logistics involved. And with just ONE Henkel He111 bomber! And so lucky to have such a remarkable happy ending for the crew is totally incredible. Fantastic bit of unknown history the we almost come to expect from Mark these days.
@@greenkoopa ???
@@rafe985 lol
@Green Koopa Get therapy. Look at The West today. There is no future.
@@greenkoopa so does that mean all the Americans who fought in Iraq are warmongers or were they lied to about wmds and terrorist threats and sent there? The lesson of the nazis is the fact that a relatively small group can get control of an entire country and force the countrymen into a war they didn't want.
@@greenkoopa negating the success of their mission because of their ideology has to be the biggest show of willing ignorance I’ve ever seen in my life.
My uncle was in Egypt under Monty, whenever I see footage I always look for him. After which he was on of the first troops to go into Belsen.
He survived the war and suffered with nightmares for years due to the later. Thank you for yet another great video.
thank you for your Uncle's service. I hope he found his well deserved peace.
Same for my Grandfather, he drove a tank in the 8th Desert Rats.
My father was in the Royal Engineers and served under Monty during the battle of France, Dunkirk, North Africa, Sicily and Italy. He spoke with great pride to have served under such a great General, a man who changed the course of history.
So was my Great Uncle, Harry Mann, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
One pint of water per man per day and daily shaving was enforced!
Each one a hero and it was him that inspired me to sign up.
Lest we forget
Monty was a coward & idiot. Thank god that Patton was able to save his yellow shivering ass
I strongly suggest everyone here supports Dr.Felton,may these videos never stop.
I'm a bit tired reading these sycophantic shouts in Marks top comments, try again please and maybe with something else?
If there was ever a channel to support, this is it.
@@Porsche996driver but these cringy shouts are dreadful *
@Nick Popplewell 😉It's just disingenuous and pop the Like etc but these are evidently scribbled by foreigners and /or school boys.. I'd like to suggest bots too but I can only imagine the backlash 😊🙏
Fantastically informative channel
"The Flight of the Phoenix" with James Stewart and Ernest Borgnine is the first thing that come into my mind
Ernest Borgnine's face comes to mind when I am trying to delay climax.
@@widehotep9257 Too much information there buddy!!!!!!....lol...🤣🤣👍
@@widehotep9257 Careful not to take it a stroke too far or you may be permanently psychologically scarred!
Excellent movie, with German actor Hardy Kruger playing the loonie designer of toy planes.
@@rainbowseeker5930 Well, he wasn't that loonie ... he just put himself above everyone else, e.g. stealing water to have a wash every evening despite water being one of their most precious commodities. (The other precious commodities were manpower to make the alterations to the aircraft, and cartridges for the Coffman starter.)
Why is it that nearly EVERY Mark Felton video is has more useful and never before heard information delivered in a clear and timely manner than ANYTHING I have ever seen on TV in DECADES ?!?!?! This guy's channel TRULY deserves some kind of national recognition/award for content , accuracy and editing !!
because public school and TV sucks and is run by Marxists
@@Sugarsail1 VERY TRUE !!
What a story! Never heard of this before. Dr. Felton surprised me again. I appreciate Dr. Felton's effort to pronounce German names and words correctly.
Not that it matters too much, but he falters on "Blaich'. It's not pronounced like "Blake". "Blaich' or the alternate "Bleich", is pronounced something like 'Bly-ch', The German 'ch' sound is like the Mexican "J", so at the end it's like "Jose" or "Jorge".
I've been reading histories all my life(63 years old) and I have never heard of this operation ever! Thank you for another excellent presentation, Dr. Felton!
Mark, I really like your videos! As a WW2 Historian myself, I never knew these stories. It is very interesting to know the deepest details of every event that not too many people know. Wish you luck for 2 Million subs! Keep it up!
Then you are not a real ww2 historian
I just like the history of military aviation. That's the only reason I had that in my head. It's nice when a large number of people find out now!
At the moment I am in the process of finding out all the air forces that flew for the axis, or as friends of the axis, or in their satellite states.
I have reached the number of 14 and keep looking :)
You've never read _"Mit Rommel in der Wüste"_ ? As a WW2 historian?! '
Cause there this raid covers a whole chapter *. . .*
@@daskaninchen5416 Have just written the same *. . .*
@@daskaninchen5416
What I meant to say that before this video, I had no idea that this happened. I'm a WW2 Historian on major WWII events. Like the Blitz, Stalingrad, Normandy, Berlin, and etc. I did not know that these operations happened and are overlooked by people.
Imagine the glory they felt as they realized there was no AA battery, and they could just take it low and slow down the runway . Hitting 10 whole planes
Not to forget the fuel they destroyed as well. A very successful raid to be honest for One plane.
16 bombs on 10 aircraft, the fuel depo is not bad.
The cost was not just the 10 planes and fuel, but also the AA guns and men that had to brought in in case it happened again, and the food, housing, and munitions for the unit. Possibly if a paranoid commander a unit for ground attack too.
Altogether a very expensive raid of one plane with 16 bombs!
@@tommy-er6hh yes of course. The resources they tied up were no small matter
@@tommy-er6hh a ground attack couldn’t come without a push through Chad
All the movies at the cinema consist of little more than car chases, propane explosions and cheesy computer effects. Mark Felton and other historians unearth an unending supply of astounding stories that beg to be made into quality movies. But that would require initiative and effort not seen since the deaths of David Lean and Sam Spiegel. The world's loss.
Gotta keep the masses dumbed down.
Being a bit of a cynic I think these (mostly) long winded car chases, green screen back grounds, lots of CGI special affects are there to stretch out the film to about 90 minutes, and also the drivers don't get to say many lines on these chases to save on xx dollars paid to the actors per words...Often I skip most of the chases because a bit boring at times, so usually the start and then the finish is enough for me....:)
But Mark doesn't do this to fill out the time on his videos, and only clips to enhance the story, and that's it.
@@browngreen933 Has been done for ages: panem et ludos
@@browngreen933 bread & circuses
You forgot the garish color filters they use to grade the film in post production
To color code the movies to tell the viewers how to "feel"
Orange=hot & sunny
Grey=cold & dreary
Etc
The movies all look unreal as a result and breaks the immersive aspect on the rare occasion you get a well made movie
I love watching ANYTHING by Mark Felton!
What an incredibly successful raid and one of the most daring of the war by any side. Full respect to the men who flew and the men who planned and supported this mission.
A good job there were not many more of these successes or the allies would have been in trouble. Just goes to show what a close run thing ww2 really was.
There was nothing close about WW2. The result was inevitable.
@@XxBloggs Not really. There was more than quite a few factors and different ways things could have been beforehand and during. The fact that Stalin and Hitler nearly buddied up is one of the many things that would have entirely changed the war.
@@bewawolf19 I find quite hard to believe that they would buddy up, one was bound to betray the other eventually. Only a miracle in the eastern front could have won germany the war.
@@bewawolf19 If you think those were ever nearly buddied up you don't understand the reality of the history. Hitler was always going to attack Russia.
@@XxBloggs You certainly need to watch more Dr Mark Felton history and read a few more books.
"The Most Dangerous Moment" an Oracle DVD is only 1 example of how close the war could have changed.
One torpedoed ship, just made it into Crete and was credited with turning the tide of the war. Another example of how close things could have changed the outcome.
Good men died, so that it wasn't inevitable and every 1 counted. A few less, may have pushed it the other way.
Love these videos Mark, so much so that I give them a thumbs up even before I’ve watched them
There’s a wee saying. Know your enemies but know your history teacher even better. Thanks again DrFelton.
Yet another brilliant presentation. Well done smart hand salute from this American Legion Historian and Post Commander here in South Florida🇺🇸
My Italian grandfather fought in North Africa until he was captured by the British. The North African theater of operations does not get mentioned often. Thank you Dr. Felton for another great video.
I never to be amazed at the fascinating pieces of WW2 history that you present here on this channel. Thanks again!
Another "secret story" unmasked by the master detective. Thanks, Mark
History Channel: Ancient Aliens.
Mark Felton: History Channel.
It never ceases to amaze me how the crucible of war manages to produce a seemingly endless supply of outstanding individuals. People who, in other circumstances, may have been notable within their particular field but in war came to stand out as extraordinary characters. The likes of Desmond Doss, Mad Jack Churchill, Theo Blaich above, a virtual catalogue of pilots of all nations, almost the entire Polish Free Forces, so many of those who worked for SOE, the list seems endless.
War is a strange thing. It brings out both the very worst and the very best of man.
Dr. Mark, a series about the war in Greece and the Balkans would be greatly appreciated. The Greek resistance, and the civil war between the Chetniks and Tito's partisans in Yougoslavia (particularly nasty business left unfinished to play out in the 1990s) that in early 1941 diverted 21 Werhmact divisions from Barbarossa, and by 1944 had the Germans on the run to defend against the Red Army further north. The British SOE and the US OSS both played a big part in the struggle. Please, everyone support Dr. Felton's Patreon page so he can bring this about!
I thought I knew most everything about the African theater of the Second World War. This is completely new to me. I had no idea an air raid was launched on Chad. Heck, I didn’t even know the Italians maintained bases in southern Libya. I thought everything was in the north. Mr. Felton continues to amaze me with these little known stories from that war.
They may have been the enemy, but I'm glad they didn't perish in the desert.
Thank you, Mark.
I’ve truly come to rely on these snippets of lesser known yet extraordinarily interesting occurrences in history
I started this video and missed which side was trying to bomb so far south... when I saw they were flying Heinkel bombers, obviously the Axis. But an interesting thing happened, I was kind of rooting for them to make it out of the desert and be rescued. It was easy to imagine being in their position. I guess that illustrates how during a war, two sides can appear to be so drastically different, but the everyday people that make up the war are very much the same, we are all humans in the end.
the general german soldier especially from the africa korps was a normal young man drafted in the army with no other option
they were just as forced to fight the war as the allies were in stopping them
Scott: It is called humanity. I can be intensely proud and sentimental over achievements made by ordinary people turned into what I consider almost supermen by circumstance in such as the raid on St Nazaire, especially the way Jeremy Clarkson told it, but I can also feel an empathy with the characters and feel very sad at the ending of Das Boot and Stalingrad. As you say; wars are fought by people not unlike ourselves who do their best probably without regard for the politics behind it, whichever side they fought on. I really like it when a descendant of one of the "enemy" tells us about their grandfather or whoever who was on the other side of whatever conflict is being discussed. War should be studied by everyone so that we can make sure it doesn't happen again...and before I get shot down for that comment, yes I know that wars continue to be fought, but history is not taught properly to the whole of humanity...and then there will always be those who want more.
@@andybelcher1767
When my dad was in his mid 70s he had a doctor’s appointment with a new to him specialist. As the doctor entered, he said to my dad, “Hello Mr. Hentges. I’m Dr. [obviously a German last name]. Hentges. That’s a German name isn’t it?”
“Yes it is.”
“Have you ever been there?”
“No. Well, yes, during the war. I fought there.”
With a knowing shared experience of war and nod/tilt of his head, the doctor sighed and responded, “Yeah, so did I.” It was clear in that moment that the Dr. had been in the German army.
It was amazing to witness these two elderly men (though the doctor was a bit younger than my dad) who could have been in the battle against each other 55 years earlier share a “War is hell, and we were just kids” moment.
Of course I was rooting for them. Mad respect for the Afrika Korps!
Old Men Start wars, but its the Blood of Young Men that gets Spilled...
Gen George Patton
Mark, the way you present history on your YT channel really stands out. Some good blokes of mine also became enthusiastic subscribers of your channel. The photographs shown in the video are amazing. Looking forward to your next video. Many thanks for sharing.
Ah Africa. Thank you Mark Felton, love from South Africa🇿🇦
Excellent . Really enjoyed this one. It was like an adventure film . Picking crew , navigation , surprise attack , difficult flying conditions , lost in the desert , communication difficulties , rescue mission , and hot coffee and sausage , excellent . I kept seeing Flight of the Phoenix in my head . Well done . The story would have made a film .
Who else has set mark’s theme music as their alarm clock to start their day?
That's actually a pretty good idea!
Ha! That'd get the day started right.
It had been used in a German documentation series about WW2 'the damn war'
xDDDDDDDDDDDDDd
It's my ring tone lol
I firmly believe Mark Felton is a time traveler and gets all his information first hand!
Fully loaded Henkel has just barely enough fuel for the mission. A newsman is given a seat rather than taking a little more fuel. Newsman is awarded the only medal for his contribution to the incredibly risky but successful mission. Sounds like the newsman had a friend in a high place.
Probably someone working for Goebbels propaganda machine
Really I do not see why 24 people did not like this small episode. It’s story telling and factual and not biased. It just army and war stuff, all sides conducted daring theatre side operations.
they are just attention seekers, nothing else
Another blockbuster by non other than the greatest historian of all time, Mark Felton.
Mark Felton continues to deliver some of the best war history I have ever seen and in a ute sized format to boot. Bravo, sir.
I'll be buying all your books, pronto.
Stories of daring and survival always are the best, regardless of any kind of ideology. Thank you Mark for put them into the light!
Amazing how the guy who took pictures and scribbled in a notebook got a medal while the men who flew the mission and dropped the bombs got jack squat.
Another excellent video, Dr. Felton. More entertaining than any schlock Hollywood can poop out.
Without a doubt one of the finest history channels on TH-cam. Exemplary, and as good as any channel on TV, and I would say, better.
Regardless of the combatants side, it's stories like this that highlight the bravery, ingenuity, and determination of a cadre of adventurers. More stories like this one please.
rip field marshal rommel, my grandfather's uncle died fighting against your afrika korps, you treated prisoners with respect and dignity, a man history can always be proud of, you have all our respect field marshal
He's dead, you don't have to kiss his ass
Yea he earned respect. History judges people like him favorably for their honor
Too bad the US never joined to defeate Stalin.
And now days I believe Putin will be the savier of the free world. I am neither, but would take a Russian citizianship over an American any day....!
Lavrov and Putin in that order, that is what we want for gov.
@@dotcom2528 you dont live in russia i see
@@MF-og1ct virgin detected, do better at trying to be edgy
I love the way you can always be relied upon to stimulate my love of history with fresh new tidbits I was never aware of before.
Amazing times!
It’s nice to hear moments of the Germans and Italians working well together
I highly recommend Derek Robinson's novel A GOOD CLEAN FIGHT in which this raid upon the RAF's Takoradi Trail is fictionally portrayed. One of the best war novels I've ever read. Same author wrote: PIECE OF CAKE about the Battle of Britain; that book was then adopted into a Masterpiece Theater production in the late '80s and features real Spitfires not computer graphic Spitfires!
ME 108s are so cool! They used them quite a bit in 60's and 70's war movies to simulate 109's. Most of us can spot the difference a mile away, but to general audiences it made no difference...
@Le Loup du Jura I think in Von Ryan's Express too, strafing the train before it reaches a mountain tunnel.
Fantastic adventure!!! Thank you very much for the narration of this daring operation.
Another great story that no one has ever heard of.....except Mr. Felton.☺
What a fascinating account! I had no idea there were war engagements that far from the Mediterranean. I continue to come back to this channel for the education, but love it for the compelling story-telling and fantastic photographs. Thank you for another great installment.
That was a great story. The long range raid was successful probably because of the bad weather. The crew did it’s job well. It figures the news man was the only one who received a medal. The entire crew should have received the medals. The news man should have been left out. Thank You Sir Mark for another Mission. 🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸
Dr Felton is an inexhaustible source of wonderful material and never before revealed incredible history.
Thank you Mark Felton for consistently combining correct photos (and video) of the participating people, machines, and locations. The way you present these often obscure stories in detail is fantastic!
I remembered an older coworker about 25+ years back told me an interesting story. While serving in the U. S. Navy in the early 50's he remembered pulling into an African port and seeing 55 gallon drums still being used, but they still had the swastikas emblems on them. Can't remember if it was North Africa or Ethiopia, but the host country was still using the drums for storage and fuel.
I saw 55 gallon drums with German markings on them in Tunisia late in the 1990s.
Some of such fuel German drums sporting the swastika were found along the southern Argentinian beaches in the late '40s....probably a leftover of the various U-Boats that reached Patagonia after the war.
Fascinating. Daring raid.
Did anyone else recall the film "Flight of the Phoenix" as Mark was narrating this film?
Ahhhh made my afternoon!
Thank you Dr Felton 👍
It's been a good while since I was anywhere near like 41!
Peace
Charlie 🇬🇧
Dr. Mark Felton.....the guy who's singlehandedly made TH-cam a whole lot more interesting for millions.
Thank you so much Dr. Mark. Regards from Kenya.
two planes to make the entire mission, land and takeoff in the middle of the desert, and only one guy and he's not even a combatant gets an award/metal❓❓ sounds like our politicians in the United States❗️ as always another riveting story by Mr. Felton ‼️®™️ 👏👏👏
You do seem to find em dont you ! . Never heard of this amazing feat of flying what a daring raid for the times thankyou for retelling the story
Fascinating stories like these keep coming and coming…Mark retraces the footsteps of History with remarkable precision thereby engraving valuable events into memories for future generations. Thank You Sir !
My father saw service in Egypt as a despatch rider for a part of the war, relating some of his experiences before his passing. He was glad to get back to do the rest of his service in the UK.
A truly epic adventure into enemy held lands , a magnificent test of logistics . an most amazing account told with expert knowledge... Thank you Professor Felton... Wonderful tale of daring do... ATVB2U Scott Somerset UK
A fascinating and to me totally unknown story of a daring raid, well carried out despite adversity.
A stunning air raid that I would have otherwise never have known of. Thanks for sharing Dr Felton!
Amazing. Mr Felton your ability to discover these stories and produce a script with photos and videos is spectacular. Spectacular
Everyday on my way to work I listen to one or two war stories and when I get home I always check out the new Felton productions video! I love history as a whole and you’ve been the only person I’ve watched hundreds if not thousands of videos from. Thank you for making your amazing content!
That was really interesting! Never knew any of this! Full marks to Dr Felton.
Dr Felton, An excellent video thank you. It allowed me to find out a little of what the British were doing in Chad during the war. My father was a driver in the RASC and he told me him of going into Chad and the problems of trying to go around the Quattara Depression. Very difficult for me to try and follow where he went and what he did as so little of this was actually written down or recorded in "official" diaries. I recall talking to him about Popski's Private Army and David Stirling. All just distant memories now as I wrote nothing down. If Only he was alive now you could make a wonderful video of his exploits!
Great stories. Thanks again.
Wow, what a raid!
I used to play "The Russian Campaign" by Avalon Hill. About a hundred counters or so for the Wehrmacht's invasion of the USSR. There was a variant of the game that had Germany pulling support from Africa and sending the units of the Afrika Korps into Russia. it was one single counter-- that's it. I just imagine if Hitler put just a few more divisions and supplies into Rommel's efforts and how the war would've been very different.
Supply was a major problem for the DAK. To supply more units, Malta would have to be taken out.
@@jacquesstrapp3219 Absolutely--- it would've taken the Italian Navy a lot more to force the passage and ensure supplies as well. Fortunately for the Allies, neither Hitler or Mussolini had that kind of foresight.
@@vtbmwbiker actualy were a Plan to take malta using paratropers, but after the fallawjager massacre at Creta the Plan was canceled and the Plan was to starve them to dead (nearly worked)
Hitler had no understanding of naval warfare or logistics. The war was a war of supply Germany was outproduced. In addition the development of Nuclear weapons already doomed German war plans to eventual failure
Hey, I remember that! My very first board wargame.🙂 It was fun, quite durable, with mounted map, or how is the hard map called?
I was just watching a video of the relative civility and respect between the Axis and Allies in North Afrika. "The War without Hate." The War of annihilation wasn't so prominent. They even called off attacks at 5PM for Tea Time.
Dr.Felton makes the best History Videos on TH-cam hands down!
Yet another story masterfully told. Well done Dr. F.
Great video sir!...ever since I was a small child tales of daring and adventure have always fascinated me...as I grew older began to understand the extraordinary pressure war puts on people to take risk and to innovate...what other reason than life or death would compel someone to such action.
Great episode! I love these quirky and fascinating sidestories that the past is full of.
Mark Felton strikes again with yet aother amazing little / unknown ww2 saga. What a story teller !
Some history from Dr. Felton just made my day much better
Amazing that the He111 was able to take off again given that its landing site was completely unmade for aircraft operations.
Aircraft of that era were intended to operate from unmade surfaces, so they had large tyres and undercarriages designed to cope, but he was lucky to find somewhere hard, flat and clear of random rocks.
If they'd been Allied airmen, their names would be widely known, and a movie would have been made about this brilliant raid.
Thank you for the film, absolutely brilliant.
There were some very brave and clever men in the Axis forces, just as in ours.
Very suprised this has not been flipped into a movie..mark Felton could do the screen play.. he did all the leg work
No surprise that the correspondent was the only one to get an award. I had something similar during Desert Storm. I was on an Aegis Cruiser that was patrolling the Eastern Mediterranean and US Navy Public Affairs paid us a visit. There was a Chief we in the Chiefs mess nicknamed Mr. Happy, as he was always smiling. One afternoon after flight quarters, he said, unapologetically, that it was great just to be in the theater long enough to collect medals and hostile fire pay. Pissed me off to say the least.
Dang, the war correspondent getting all the glory and recognition for that daring raid was a real “high on potenuse” moment, if you catch my drift.
Incredible raid, considering the distances and climate involved. Add to that the primitive planes and technology. These men were very courageous!
The sound effects in this bring the video to a whole other level! Great work on this one!
Thank you Dr. Felton for your content. You fill in the gaps that aren't taught in schools.
I believe there is a fictionalized version of this raid in the book "A Good Clean Fight" by Derek Robinson
And what a superb book that is.......classic.
As soon as I saw the title, I figured this was the case - even though it was adapted very melodramatically. Incredible that Axis thinking was so hidebound and that it took real mavericks to bring the raid to fruition. Stirling and co were able to achieve so much more.
Came to mention this and happy someone else remembers that exceptional novel.
Came here for this comment, was not disappointed. OK, DR just keeps writing Goshawk Squadron time and time again, but fortunately its a good formula!
@@tellyknessis6229 You'd like to think these lads would have sat down with Sterling, Paddy Mayne et al and had a few pints.
crying shame that there were no medals of valor for such a successful raid.
The raid came after another one in the other way around. Colonel Leclerc took 350 men into 56 vehicles and drove 1,650 km from Fort Lamy to Koufra, East Libya. Koufra was a fortress defended by italians supported by 6 planes and 400 mens. Leclerc had only one gun, but moved it around the fortress in order to give the impression there were plenty. The italians surrendered after a siege that lasted a bit more than 10 days, on March 1st 1941. After Blaich's raid, in early 1943, Leclerc took control of Fezzan region, West of Koufra, cutting access to Africa for the Italians and Germans. Leclerc's troop joined Free French troops which fought in Bir Hakeim in Tripoli. It would be nice to have 10 minutes on that story !
Another lesser known episode of WWII...thank you Dr Felton!!!!!!
And there are those who dare to say the Italians aren’t there when you need them.
they aren't, not now, not ever
Hell yes... great start to the day
Amen
Love the little stories like this one. Thank you so much for them.
Never ceases to amaze me with these little known stories.
I recall my father telling me that his airbase was attacked in Bathurst, The Gambia, by a lone fighter. He was with 95 squadron operating Short Sunderlands. He said that the attack was completely unexpected, the only response they could make was to jump into a trench and exchange fire using their Lee Enfield rifles. Bathurst is at the same latitude as N'Djamena, approximately, but I have no idea if the attacking aircraft was part of the Afrika Corps.
That is a hell of a story. Thanks for sharing. Did your father get a glimpse of what the fighter looked like? And what year did the attack happen?
My gut feeling is that it might be Vichy French rather than Afrika Korps German or Italian; The Gambia is nearly surrounded by French colonies that at the start of the war were loyal to Vichy, and while the Vichy French were more passive and defensive some counterattacks on Allied forces wasn't unheard of (most infamously the bombing of Gibraltar).
@@vandeheyeric You are probably right about Vichy French, my guess is that it was 1941 because the UK put a fighter base in The Gambia around 1942. He said that the experience of being strafed in a trench while only having a rifle to fight back was terrifying, to the extent that a serviceman next to him completely lost it and tried to get out of the trench.
What an amazing little gem!! What an incredible amount of damage inflicted by a SINGLE bomber. It's a shame that the crew (and the bomb-aimer!) were overlooked for well deserved awards.
Assuming the unlikely event of numerous direct hits with dumb bombs wasn’t just war-time propaganda.
@@Benzknees Your comment demonstrates you are not familiar with Dr Felton's uploads: his research is impeccable. So if he states aircraft and a fuel store were destroyed you can garuantee he's got the proof to verify it.
Those men were heroes. I enjoyed every second of the video. Thanks.
This is of the utmost quality sir, please keep up with the good content.
Very interesting. It would be neat to have a video about how so many pre war adventurers and travelers played a big role in operations. In particular, early in the war.
Evelyn Waugh had a story about an arty young subaltern who had been living in an Italian villa, but found himself promoted after being mistaken for an African explorer. In fact, having said that, Waugh's novels often make fun of literary types, but at the expense of travellers and adventurers.
The fact that the crew were not decorated highlights how often awards are political tokens. They deserved one for that balsy raid.
That's like recent reflections on to whom medals were awarded for an action during the Vietnam war. As someone said, "Mates award medals to mates."
Mark, I learned something new with every video. Like always excellent job!!!
As usual, another obscure yet Fascinating enhancement of my knowledge of WW2 operations provided by professor of history...Mark Felton... thank you.