Catching Kaltenbrunner - The Hunt for Himmler's Evil Giant
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 ม.ค. 2025
- Dr. Ernst Kaltenbrunner, the tall, scar-faced Austrian who became Himmler's No.2 man in the SS, disappeared at war's end. An US Army Counter Intelligence Corps team got a lead on him and hunted him deep into the Austrian Alps. This is the story of how the CIC managed to track down this significant war criminal and bring him to justice.
Dr. Mark Felton FRHistS, FRSA, 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...
Visit my audio book channel 'War Stories with Mark Felton': • One Thousand Miles to ...
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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.
Primary Source: 'The Last Days of Ernst Kaltenbrunner', released 22 September 1993, Central Intelligence Agency, cia.org
Credits: US National Archives; Library of Congress; LNieminen; PimboliDD; C. Stadler; Taranis-iuppiter; Michael Maringer; Bernhard Holub; Tiger Duck; Herzi Pink; Quickload; Swedish Army Museum
I have a Masters Degree in World History, with my specialty in WW2 the European Theater. I just found your channel a few days ago. I have been binge watching ever since. I just wanted to comment and let you know how much I enjoy your content, it's both informative and entertaining. I look forward to watching more of your videos, and thank you for keeping History alive.
Mine is Roman
Hi Joseph,
Regretfully, he is much too 'busy' to read your very kind comments.
@@shimondauber8984You call him Dr.Jones!❤
The rest of us WW2 fanatics have been watching for years!
Haha you have a while to go. ❤
I want to tell a quick story. When I was in college, I was fascinated by WW2 and used to frequent my favorite pub and talk to my friends about history while having beers. In doing so, I met an older woman who spoke with a thick Austrian accent and knew a great deal about the war during that period of European history. After a few months of friendship, she came to the pub one day and told me a story about who she was. She opened a large binder that contained dozens of documents and photographs of Ernst Kalternbrunner. Turns out she was his niece!! She had many photographs of them together when she was younger, along with a number of his possessions such as his engraved pistol and beer mug. For a number of years, while I was getting my degree, we would spend many hours in this small pub in North Carolina where she shared tons of stories about her family and about the war. I learned so much about him and her family that was truly incredible. Hard to believe sometimes the people you will meet in this world. She was an amazing, kind, and intelligent woman. I miss our conversations very dearly as i moved away once i graduated, and she eventually went back to Austria.
Great video. Cheers everyone.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful and interesting story!
Very nice. I hope the Kaltenbrunner items are preserved.
Amazing
Hello, what year or at least what decade did you meet her?
Can you share any Of the stories she told you?
Dr Felton is like a favourite teacher who fascinates you with beyond what is written in the textbooks.
No. No he's not.
How is this guy a Phd Historian ??
I had a few of those in my college years. Dr Mark Felton is of that quality, I agree. Their tests were the hardest ever, however. As they should be.
Thank you once again Dr. Mark Felton for a fascinating view of History.
oy vey, she only left out all of the communists and b0Isheviks from the fascinating view of "history"
its the establishment view of h...which they also write
Certainly one of the most fearsome looking,straight out of central casting!
You can almost see the bolts in his neck.
@@rabbi120348 Was Thinking the exact same thing, i've Heard of Frankenstein's Monster, now we've got Hitler's Monster!
he likely was
Obviously not very good at fencing 😂
@johndoe-so2ef Read up on it..these are Mensur scars from dueling as a student. Placement was key: it revealed whether you held correct form, or ducked the blade. The ladies loved a good scar! Or two. It got to be so stylish that duelers might inhibit healing, so as to make a good scar better.
American GI: "Hände hoch, Kaltenbrunner!"
Kaltenbrunner: "You got the wrong guy - you're looking for that OTHER 6'4" SS officer with dueling scars on his face."
That other scarred face dude: "Peace out, sucka"
I was just following orders.
Otto Skorzeny: who isn’t a SS officer scarface?
Nifty transition at 1:31, Dr. Felton. And thank you for yet another fascinating bio.
The capture of Axis power leaders is always a fascinating subject, thanks again Dr Felton
Better than Netflix is only Dr Felton videos
LMAO at the "bot" generated replies...get real...
Love your quality work Dr Felton, please never stop ☺️
Proving once again how complex the end of the war was in the ETO. The Rump Reich and the Alpine redoubt are among the many fascinating details I've learned here. Thank you, Professor Felton!
My grandfather served in the 80th Infantry Division. I imagine him seeing all that beautiful scenery.
There’s much to watch and listen to on TH-cam. Mark Felton’s channels are some of the most worthwhile to watch and listen to.
Superb, thank you. No bullshit, no padding and no clickbait. Why can't all YT vids be like this?
I’ve been waiting a while for this one. Thank you for finally covering this bastard.
How do you know he was an illegit child??? Takes one to know one.
Kaltenbrunner's physical description reminds me a lot of Otto Skorzeny
It wouldnt suprise you that they were best buds to lol
yes… both gigantic assholes
They came from the same school. The ancestors of such men stopped the expansion of the Roman Empire.
(Ironically these were freedom loving men.)
Which people is it who learn from history? The political pendulum never ceases to swing left to right and back again. Bastion of liberty and democracy now, where will America be in five years time?
Food for thought. 😮
@@fokkerd3red618😅
Yeah, he had a wife and a girlfriend.
I’m in the middle of the USA hoping it’ll swing to the right as we’ve been living in a woke far left world for multiple decades now. It’s affected western societies negatively.
This was, as always, impeccably done, Dr. Felton. I thoroughly enjoyed the piece, and thank you.
Thank you Professor Felton. You brought this story, as usual, to life. All the best.
Greetings from Wien!
If he is a professor - it's not in History.
@@shimondauber8984 He's a fellow at the Royal Historical Society lol. So he quite literally is a professor of history
@davidmorgan9215 then, he should use the title.
Most PhD-s never actually receive an academic appointment.
Somebody has been doing loads of research. Your videos are amazing
They are all hiding in his basement.
@EdMcF1 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
In a world of mis information Dr Felton is a breath of fresh air. My favorite youtube station.
It's always a pleasure watching and learning with you sir. You are very appreciated. Love and respect from Maine USA ❤ 👊🇺🇲
I was terrible at history in school. I concentrated on the scientific subjects and music. This channel is fantastic and I've learnt so much. Thanks so much.😊
Mentioning My father's Div, 80th, and regiment in the hunt was surprising. What little we know of their adventure . Thanks
I am not sure they should call it an adventure and am not sure they would call a war they were in an adventure either.
When I die, I want Mr Felton to narrate my eulogy and his background music to start it like he is doing a video.
🤣🤣🤣 That would be epic. He's gotta also make it seem your evil sometimes in ways like he does with the Nazis and plays his crazy plot twist cliffhanger evil music lol
@@MrGraveyTrainOnBiscuitWheels That he lived under a false ID after using the Rat line.
@@MrGraveyTrainOnBiscuitWheels Wouldn't be difficult.
Lol
you're just 12, when you become an adult you'll change your mind
Love your footage of Austria which is beyond beautiful! I spent a week there last year in Salzburg and Vienna. It’s incredible that such beauty could harbor such evil!
Nature has an ugly side?
The Land of Aryans
What is good and what is evil is highly subjective. We are told they are evil because they lost. Had we lost the story would go that we were the ones doing evil amidst the beauty of our own countries. History is so much more interesting without the casual judgements.
The Nuremberg Trials were hardly a "casual judgement" ...
@@scotthegley4723 uh, killing 6 million Jews is evil, wow, you are not very smart
Fascinating as always, thank you Mark, so important to keep history alive. Just well done again mate.
Two stories about the American OSS officer who captured SS General Dr. Ernst Kaltenbrunner mentioned in the video, Robert Matteson, whom I knew in his retirement years.
Matteson still had Kaltenbrunner's Kripo #2 identification disc (Himmler was #1) in the 1990s when I knew him, recovered from the woodstove that Mark mentioned in the Totesgebirge hut. Matteson also confiscated Kaltenbrunner's Gestapo #2 disc, but that was stolen from him after the war during a trip to India. Matteson had the Gestapo disk with him in a restaurant and got to talking to a Jewish gentleman, who wanted to see it. Matteson obliged him, then excused himself to use the restroom for a moment. When he came back the Jewish gentleman and Kaltenbrunner's #2 Gestapo badge were gone.
The other story is when my father and I visited Matteson at his palatial summer home with 250 acres of frontage on a pristine lake in Northern Wisconsin. My father, a veteran of the U.S. 5th Armoured Division in WW2 that ended up facing the Russians on the Elbe River, wanted to meet him. We had a nice visit. Matteson was a gracious host. But after we left my dad remarked to me: "How the heck does a guy on a civil servant's salary end up with a house and property like that? I'll bet that he got some of that missing Nazi gold."
This leads me to wonder what on earth was Robert Matteson doing in India with Kaltenbruñer's Gestapo disk? More so, why on earth would you hand over that disc to a complete stranger, and then excuse oneself? There's much more to that story, I believe
@@phaasch I think he gave it to him
Jew and stealing lol....can't make that up!
@@johnhallett5846
Matteson gave it to him to look at, not to keep.
Disgusting anti-semitic trope. I've reported it. Are you a Nazi following any Nazi content? @@ShamileII
I have been watching your videos for years and want to commend you for them. I began studying WWII in the 1970s and there are still many things I do not know or understand. Your videos are among the best WWII historical videos I have seen. Thank you.
Thank you for this post, much appreciated as always.
Every time Mark presents a new video it is something surprising and he finds out such interesting facts that I have never heard before and I have been a student of WWII practically all of my life. So, well done Mark and thank you for your efforts to bring us such fascinating videos.
Thank you Professor Felton, learning history from you is always a pleasure :)
The Professor is a Gift to History!!! We thank you for all your ENERTY and SUCCESS!!!
It's these fascinating snippets of history that make watching your videos such a pleasure. Well done. You do have a knack of building the suspense of the hunt, no matter that the monster was hanged in the end.
This is another awesome video from MF. Thank you. Definitely the best ww2 documentaries on TH-cam.
The information you provide is necessary for history. I enjoy the content you provide
You just assume it's all true as well, don't you? Oh well, everybody plays the fool.
@@Mr._Infamous Really, Mr. Infamous? Go ahead and show your proof.
@@Mr._InfamousWhat an absolute L take
@@Mr._InfamousHarris won California 🎉
@@kbanghart probably
I live in Bad Ischl, interesting & enlightening to hear such stories! Thank you!
The research you put in to this is simply astonishing. I learn so much. Thank you.
There's a book called Windswept Lies of War, and it talks from censored history and hidden secrets to lost files and classified documents about World War II, it's the real deal.
I just googled that book and it is a novel classified as historical fiction.
I haven’t read it so I wont make any statement regarding the truthfulness of its content, but does the book explicitly state that it true or does it cite sources?
It sounds like a great novel however, no matter if the events are fact or fictional.
The same as the blatant lies and blaming of Russia for the current Russia/ Ukraine '' war ''
sure bud sure
@@sunsetbayplaka762it's absolutely Russia rights to invade any of its neighbours
These bots comment the same copy pasted thing on each of Mark Felton's videos
Fun fact: the oldest son, Hansjörg (president of the local chess club) was a friend of Bobby Fisher. Bobby Fisher visited him in 1999.
did he know that bobby fisher was jewish?
@sixmax11 Only part Jewish. Do you know what Bobby himself said about the Jews?
@@sixmax11 By 1999 I can't imagine that he cared.
Bobby was notoriously averse to his own heritage.
Thank you, once again, Dr Felton. Your casts are an excellent way for high school modern history students to learn WWII history!
I have learned so much from Dr Feltons contributions. Many thanks.
My favorite dinner entertainment, a Felton video! Cheers, Mark!
Just outstanding, I've subscribed through Patreon and watched many of Dr Felton's videos. The narration and accompanying photos are superb.
Lots of names and locations within Austria mentioned here which also involved my parents. My father Karl was incarcerated at Mauthausen Concentration Camp because of his sabotage against the Occupying Force (Third Reich). Due to the providential timing of the American 11th Armored Division, 3rd US Army, May 5th 1945 Mauthausen was liberated and Karl was spared execution. My parents met in Bad Ischl while my soon to be mother worked in a Spa which my father attended while trying to recuperate from the barbaric time he experienced while in prison. This video brought back many place names mentioned during my childhood. Both parents suffered severe PTSD and Karl then had acquired schizophrenia. Emigrating to Canada was our only hope.
Full respect to your father.
Fascinating video as always. Thank you for your continued investigation and reporting of history.
It’s fun to watch the “likes”
Counter spin when one clicks on one of Dr. Felton’s masterpieces! I may have been first, but the counter stayed at zed after clicking on it.( ??) Thank You Dr. Mark Felton for another Great detail from the World War 2 era!
As an Undergrad from the 90's in History, (all rather analogue compared to today) I studied WW2 in depth. Dr Martin Polley was a wonderful lecturer of mine in that regard. Your content never fails to fascinate and educate me. Thank you Mark.
Another great lesson. Thank you Dr Felton.
Thank you, sir, for all your hard work. History always intrigued me and was always my favorite subject in school, however, I learned little in comparison to what I learn from your comprehensive and entertaining videos. Absolutely the best source of real history anywhere. Again, many thanks.
Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it, so Thank You so much Dr. Felton !!
WOW! Quite an adventure story in the last part of the video! Well researched with excellent video and narrative! Well done, Mark Felton!
Kaltenbrunner had a doctorate in law. A reminder that education without a strong moral compass is destructive.
That describes most lawyers
Particularly defence lawyers...
And when one has neither education nor a moral compass, one can become President!
He had a moral compass - just not the one you like.
What? No way, everyone that works in law are always magnanimous and noble! 😂
Keep uploading,your history is very precise and down to every detail,you talk about stuff no one else does,have a goodnight .
Wonderful video,Dr. Felton.Yes,some of those Austrian boys get pretty tall.Most histories don;t mention Kaltenbrunner much,even though he must have overseen Operation Reinhard.great research,as always
I really need to get off yt and make a call...oooohhhh new Dr Felton, it'll wait
The Central European tradition of fencing with sharp swords in university might be an interesting topic for a video of its own!
@salvadorromero9712
There is at least one video on here already which explains the practice and how it was done. Search for the term ‘Academic Fencing’ or ‘Mensur’
thought they did that wearing masks
Duelling scars have always been seen as a sort of "badge of honour", showing them as brave and fearless.
The nazis officials, in particular, took this thing to a whole another level by stuffing horse hair into the fresh wounds.
These procedure would make the scars more pronounced, in order to give them a more evil and scary appearance
Absolutely fascinating, Dr. Felton. Thank you.
I believe you are the foremost authority on WW2 and 20th century European history. Unmatched.
No one who actually thinks the Germans were the evil ones who were gassing Jews can be an authority.
Vary well narrated Dr. Mark Felton! Another vary interesting part of history.
Never expected that you will mention my town Gmunden lol.
Another enlightening story from the great Dr Felton! Thank you Sir!
Very interesting videos. A lot of work done on this. Thank you from a norwegian who lost his grandfather in the war.
To the Russians? Was he in the SS Division Wiking? SS Regiment Nordland?
@@RyMac87 No no, he was in the resistance, home front. He was executed in The Trandum massacre where the SS and german army killed 173 norwegians, 6 british and 16 sovjets.
Again, another excellent video by Dr Felton. Thank you.
Thank you mark,incredible research as usual.
Thank U, Sir! Very well done! Love the background photos and info!
Great work Mark as usual, thanks!😊
Sir, each of your presentations surpasses the last. Thank you.
Kaltenbrunner worked on the flying bell project too. Operation Paperclip probably scooped him up. (oh, I guess not, lol) Thanks for the video Mark!
No such thing.
Very good segment, Doc. Really enjoyed the photos, too.
Another great bio. TY, Dr. F.
Thank you Dr Felton for another outstanding video
Thank you Mark for this one.
1 of the best historians in the specific area keep it up mark
Someone found his SS seal in a lake a few years ago, wonder what condition it was in and what happened to it.
Maybe he threw it away when he went into hiding?
That's pretty common.
I'd check that lake for gold
Sold for houses to be built on
@@milehighclassics I was unaware he had a pet seal....
I just found your channel. Thank you for your informative and captiviating program.
Thank you Professor Felton
Dr Mark Felton i love your videos and how you narrate the history of the WWII. Fascinating, keep offering such amazing documentary thank you very much.
It's kind of weird that the Interpol website proudly displays his name as well as Heyrich's on their website to this very day.
I'm good with that. We have to stop burying history
@@MrAitrainingBearing in mind that commemoration and celebration are two different things, yes...
@@stevetournay6103 yes but I went to the interpol site and there is no celebrating. It lists all the presidents up to 2021 with no commentary so the original comment of "proudly" is overstated. They are just on a list. Like I said "history"
@@MrAitrainingit was up there until fairly recently. You can use an archive site to look.
“Proudly”???
Just another awesome DR Mark Video!!
I’m always shocked at how highly educated people can implement barbaric practices. But these people are worldwide , not one nationality is guilty
It's called being an opportunist. The smarter one is, the more opportunities await.
Civilization is very wide but also extremely thin.
If you set aside the virulent anti-semitism and "master race" nonsense, Nazi leaders operated in the same way as every other functionary in every other government. They followed orders. Once you agree to become a tool of The State, questions of right or wrong barely even register.
Ask a Palestinian.
Like the clintons
Great work on this video...exciting to watch
Another amazing video by Dr Felton. I love WW2 history and this channel shines in explaining all about the stories during WW2. Explained so well with Dr Felton. Well done👏🏻
Great doccie! Thanks Mark.
Kaltenbrunner's elongated facial scar was called "Schmiss". Students in so called striking student associations dueled. At the time, the scar on the cheak was like a prestige sign for aspiring academics. It signaled that this person could be controversial.
I was just listening to the text of his interrogation. What a coincidence!
Got a link ?
@@GriefTourist в 2024 году ты не можешь найти информацию? МИКРОБ
Thanks Mark for another great video. I don't comment too often because all l could really say is WOW ! I'm convinced you have a time machine hidden somewhere ! Thanks again for all your great works !
An intergalactically high level of quality - well done and KEEP 'EM COMING MARK! By the way, please answer me this question: What is the piece of equipment over Heydrich's shoulder at 1:51? It has a sort of board with lights that light up? What is it?
Perhaps some kind of telecommunications/switchboard set up? Or a transmitter?
Curious minds would like to know...
I found this really fascinating. I moved from Norfolk in England to Upper Austria several years ago, and many of the places shown in this video are familiar to me!
Kaltenbrunner went to school with Adolf Eichmann. The same Gymnasium in Linz had hosted both Adolf Hitler and Ludwig Wittgenstein a couple of decades earlier: Wittgenstein was moved up a year ahead of his age-group, while Hitler had to repeat a year, so they may not have met.
Wow, Mark keeps producing excitement 😀
If you have laws against questioning history then that leads to more questions. It's very suspect behavior….
Agreed: history should be able to withstand critical inquiry. No matter where it would lead.
True, unfortunately thanks to certain people and their cowardly mostly conservative gatekeepers the west is becoming the new Soviet bloc.
yes but the Jews did die in poland. Its incontrovertible that the trains did not move them beyond those camps.
@@anthonyjamieson3875 And now history is being rewritten by propagandists who make Goebbels look like Enid Blyton.
Welcome to the new america
About the scars: They are called a "Schmiss", as a scar obtained from traditional fencing duels known as "Mensur". These duels are a ritual among some German student fraternities, where participants fence with sharp blades. Historically, a Schmiss was seen as a badge of honor, symbolizing courage and bravery. Today, it is more of a relic from past traditions and has lost much of its original significance.
Great video! Hopefully, the monsters responsible for the current genocide will one day be brought to justice.
I noticed & appreciated the transition from the skull & crossbones, to this guys actual photo.
Nicely done. 👍🏻
Even the Thugs had PhDs back in those days.
Back then it was easier to get a PhD, especially in law. But I read somewhere that quite a lot of Germans pursued an academic career because it was one of the few ways to get into the establishment if you weren't born into it already.
High achievers have always had lots of thugs extremists and psychopaths among them. They don't even have to use violence to get their way like the lower orders do, that's what makes them even scarier and omnipotent.
@@wr1120 Did you know Katlebrunner basically groomed Adolf Eichmann from a young adult to do his dirty work then basically told him to pee off when he was on the run and needed somewhere to stay. Katlebrunner allegedly said "I don't associate with mass murderers it's not good for my image" 😂
I still wonder why these guys didn’t have planes for Spain
No it wasn’t
Had no dei
imagine having these kind of trials and information at all wars? Amazing details
After the war Austria was treated as a victim of the nazis which is grotesque, but the cold war had already begun.
And now they are Russias puppet.
Another excellent video Dr. Felton.
Nice video.
The higher ranks of the SS appeared to have a number of lawyers...Thanks, Mark, for another excellent video!
Can we have a look at Hungerian ArrowKroSS?