A few Polish soldiers in German service were captured a few days before the start of the Battle of the Bulge. They said that they were glad that they were captured because a big offensive was going to start. They were ignored.
I had a high school teacher who, when I returned home after graduating the SFQC, he told me he was a 4th Bn Ranger who managed to low crawl farther than he ever imagined he could until the bullets finally stopped ripping at his canteen as is was on his butt. He couldn’t lift his rear enough to unbuckle his web gear without being hit. The Germans kept following him with fire for the 2-3 hours he was crawling.
4/5 of the air and naval forces were facing the US/Uk/Western allies. So really, the Soviets were lucky to have even survived when most of the advanced equipment were not even being used on em
The Russians lost 12.5 million. I’d say if they hadn’t fought like they did, we would be speaking Japanese here in NZ We should remember the Russians much more favourably for that
Strategically questionable to attack while still having Britain to the west, yes. You do however have to factor in the ideological necessity and that the USSR were not sitting passive, but rearming at pace. Stalin thought he had until Germany had neutralised their western threat, but he knew it was coming. So you have to balance the known foolhardiness of fighting a war on two fronts, the eternal German problem, with knowing that every month you delay the fight against the USSR gets harder, and that your ideological control of your own people erodes the longer you peacefully coexist with a people across the border that you are constantly telling them are an existential threat.
@@TheEarl777 are you serious? USSR (not Russia😕 btw) literally did nothing in the Pacific, that was primarily thanks to China/America/England/India/Australia. Soviets would have been sunk if they had faced Japan, since their navy was practically nonexistent. Even AFTER the nukes, Japan had a much stronger navy than USSR, hence why most historian say their threat of Japanese homeland invasion was only a bluff. They could only get territories in Manchuria since it was connected to Soviets, but no further.
My father tended to the very few survivors that made it back from the trapped units. He said they were so devastated they couldn't stop crying. All their friends were killed or captured.
My parents lived through the occupation of Italy by the Germans. The Gustav line cut through my mothers town of Santa Maria Infante, which was bombed by the allies. My father’s town was on the coast but was sent south with the British but my my mother was sent north to an interment camp run by the Nazis. My mother cry’s when she sees what the Ukraine is going through. She is 94 years old.
They can write an episode just on the battle of Santa Maria Infante. The 351 st infantry Division wrote “small unit actions” Santa Maria Infante 11-14 May 1944.
My old man was part of the armada that put men on the beaches of North Africa, Sicily, and Italy (along with southern France and Normandy in the North). He will always be the greatest man I ever knew. RIP, Pa. United States Coast Guard LCI(L)-324, MoMM1 Donald E. Moore Sr.
I've been along most of the western coast of Italy. My frequent thought was this terrain is perfect for defensive war and absolutely terrible for offensive. Most coastal "plains" are fairly short then very steep volcanic mountains and ridges erupt from the ground. From the ridges/mt tops you can survey miles of coast and miles out to sea. The "coastal plains" are clogged with villages, fences of all types and no straight roads. The Allies only "captured" Italy because the Germans pulled out.
Mine was e also with the 82nd airborne 504th. He was hit by a 88 round up till he passed metal was still coming out of him. He passed on June 7th 2010 one hell of a man and Daddy.
Should have listened to the Polish deserter. Even if they doubted it, the intel should still have been considered and even an early recon sent out to scope the area. Ignoring any intel has always led to defeat and mass casualties. Some Commanders really had no idea and were too arrogant in their leadership.
Easy on the judgment there boss. For every battle lost for ignoring intel, you can probably find one that was lost because the intel was wrong...intentionally or otherwise. "Operation Mincemeat", the Normandy invasion...all had elements of misleading intel. Sending out a recon is also potentially giving information to the enemy...or gathering false information. Say, Iwo Jima for instance "nothing there...two days to take it"...😫 In wars...the truth is rarely revealed until you are raining down fire on the enemy, or they are doing it to you. It's a murderous whirlwind of "What the F@&$? Is going on!?"
@@stillededge I was in the Army, and we were always told to look at all intelligence. Sure, there is false ones at times. But a recon unit going out is not giving the enemy advance notice. The enemy has sent out recon as well, and majority of times the recons are just put down as patrols. Plus there is generally resistance in the area that is reporting as well. Iwo Jima is different as the Americans did not take into account underground defences. But that was the leaders underestimating the Japs. They believed that the Japs could not mount a defence due to their heavy losses in previous battles.
@@stillededge Oh, just to add, do you know why Operation Market Garden failed. Montgomery dismissed air recon photos showing two Panzer divisions at the Arnhem Bridge. Guess where the operation was stopped, Arnhem Bridge.
There's a parallel here to airborne operations, notably Operation Market-Garden. WWII Rangers, Commandos and Paratroops were, by definition, light infantry, not equipped to assault strongly-defended positions, or to defend them for extended periods, especially against enemy armour.
In Rick Atkinson book The Day of Battle he described this oprration. The US forces were delayed for several days and the commanders felt uneasy about the attack. Mark Clark forced thia attack. A more important point to be made here is the US treatmemt of elite commanders. Darby headed the Rangers. He was instrumental in African and Sicilian opetations. In Italy the Rangers and the devil brigade captured two peaks prior to the Anzio operation. Both of these units should have been at Casino to capture the peak. After the battle Darby was asigned yo staff. He finally got a position in the 10th Mountain and died in the last battle in Italy. Similiar stories occur for the initoal commander of the fitst infantry division and the second in command Rosevelt, Theordor Rozevelts son. This unit stoped the Africa Corps westword thrust in the Kasserine Pass battle as well as El Ager. The were sacked by Bradley and in Normandy Bradley would not give Rosevelt a command of a division be cause he care about his troops. To many troops were throen away because of callous commanders.
How many times have those in command ignored those well below them at the cost of many lives? Was anyone ever held to account for ignoring the warning from a brave defector? I doubt it.
A fost un act deliberat al comandanților americani de a omorî cât mai mulți militari din propria subordine. Ritualuri sataniste, asta este războiul într-un final.
That's why when you already in the battlefield always believe that "No plan survives contact with the enemy" blatantly ignoring the warning lead to the fatal consequences. That's why when you operate on foreign land in WW2 it's better to had someone inside who can guide, understand the local languages and can updating your intel. Now in modern days warfare we are lucky to have so many advanced tools and hardware like a drone that can always updating your intel and tools to translating enemy language with ease.
Officers ignoring intel. How many military disasters have been caused by this? Countless. Sloppy or error-ridden information is not as bad as good intel that's ignored. Yeh, I'm looking at Bugout Doug MacArthur for top US trophy in this category.
Yeah, look at WW1 for an example, countless waves and waves and waves of good young men (on all sides) ordered to run into automatic machine guns. Can you imagine how that must've felt just before being told to go "over the top"?
Very interesting to see that there where a lot of critical points during 1943 till 1945 that could have led to loosing the war,very good video about how it realy unfolded.
A touching video on highly trained Rangers being unfortunetly left to fend for themselves. Against German Tanks and heavily armoured vechicles. The Rangers did their best and fought hard. Alas support was needed and intel was ignored by those in command. Thoughts and prayers to the Rangers who made the ultimate sacrifice. 💪🏻🙏🏻✨
@@hman0007 my Mum's Father my Grandfather was John Edington OBE, MBE. He was a Royal Engineer in WW1 and held the rank of Warrant Officer. King George personally decorated my Grandfather for Valor. In WW2 he was with MI6. My Mother said he cared deeply for those men under his command. One should i always believe lead by example when in combat. To many brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice due to following orders. Orders that truly were not planned correctly and had bad Intel. Thank you for your service. 💪🏻🙏🏻✨
This shows how older military thinking can not catch up to the times. The rangers were not used properly. This sadly has happened many times through out history.
The battle was recreated in the 1968 movie "Anzio", which starred Robert Mitchum and Peter Falk. In the movie the Rangers are ambushed by tanks the Germans hid in haystacks. A pretty grim story.
I don’t live too far from carrickfergus in Northern Ireland. There is a monument there to the Rangers. It’s humbling to know many ww2 ranger legends where trained near where I live.
Much more than people realize actually. So in ww2 the end numbers are what we are used to. Basically every nation on earth was still primarily supplied by pack animal at the beginning of ww2. During the war the US built millions of trucks and basically all of her allies benefited. It's my personal opinion that the humble American truck is what allowed the soviet union to fight back against the Germans.
you have to ask why weren't they supported by on call arty? but you know the same thing happened to the Marines in the sense that during WWII being singled out as braver than a regular unit was frowned upon by petty jealousy. War is the mother of invention learning from your mistakes is golden
Most wonderful introducing video shared by Dark Docs channel...this secondary operation in Anzeo proved 😀...Italy was not soft balls of Cocktails ( Germany fronts in all sides were hardly frontiers crushed by sever bloodshed....thanks for sharing
I knew a 70 yr old "RANGER"-he was a co-bartender at the Hotel we worked at; JIM ANDERSON was a kick-ass old guy I respected and looked up to him! Nerves of steel, didn't take shit and "had your back" -as they say!- GREAT MAN!
I used to feel proud to be an American until the last 10 years. Seeing how the country is now doesnt seem worth the men that fought back then in ww2. meaning if they could see the country now they would've never fought for this.. It was a a big mistake obviously.
You’re crazy we aren’t THAT bad off nowadays. The country is divided but it’s mostly based on silliness and issues blown way out of proportion. When an attack on the nation occurs, everyone comes together
My great uncle Jack, 1st Ranger Battalion, was captured at Cisterna. Not sure which camp he ended up in but I know it was in Germany. My most vivid memory was when he spoke of being kept in the colloseum in Rome for a few days and the Italian people would spit on them and pelt them with stones..
@Kyle no I was talking about the era of the "Troubles" in northern ireland. Although yes the "uprising" would also make an interesting video. I really like the way the story's on here are told in an almost unbiased way. Great suggestion, thank you. Let's hope they see the comments.
I don't think it was necessarily a trap, as much as it was failed foresight from higher command. The situation in Italy was a stalemate at that point and in classic fashion (although the line not famously said yet) the plan was for the Rangers to lead the way. That they did, with a successful deep penetration behind enemy lines. The problem with it, is the with deep penetration comes follow on and relief forces which were not provided to the Rangers.
Patton was actually preparing to command FUSAG, the fictitious First US Army Group. His posting as the commander of this phantom army helped to convince the Germans that the Normandy invasion was just a diversion. They considered Patton as the best allied general and could not conceive of a general being disciplined for slapping a soldier.
@@w.reidripley1968 I literally stopped the vid when he said that to google Brigadier Colonel. No dice, no historical record of that usage did I find. Sure he meant Brigadier General, but some how it got through editing. 🤷🏻♂️😂
@@darrengilbert7438 So, total script FUBAR, then. It'd hardly be a Dark channel segment without one. Their history seems better than their copy editing. _Cum grano et cetera._ [Copy-edit? The Autocorrect just tried to have it "Cum granola..." Jesus Hexametrous Christ.]
The quickest and most effective way to defeat your enemy is to cut off their communications. While the Germans weren't responsible for the communication loss here, the loss early on was a major reason for the defeat of the Rangers in the end.
Had he not slapped the soldier and had a BIG role in the invasion of mainland Italy, it's likely that the invasion would have gone off a LOT better. The disasters discussed in this video likely would not have happened because Patton was a decisive leader with sound judgment.
2:56)The Rangers trained in Occupied Ireland. 8:51)What army has Brigadier Colonels? Not the US Army. When the ETO part of WW II ended, parts of North Italy were still under German control.
Hahaha, my nonno ‘fought’ in Sicily. All he did was March all over Europe as they didn’t have good logistics; he eventually was injured by shrapnel in an allied bombing run. He said the only thing he learned from the war was how to smoke and hit on nurses. My family unfortunately fled Italy in the 60s because even though he lived in small town (1700 people, valley/mountainous) the mafia presence exploded with Mussolini. Mussolini was rightfully hated, but the new people extorting you were your neighbours and own family.
It's not north Ireland it's Northern Ireland. Southern Ireland was neutral in WW2 but Northern Ireland, a different country, is British and fought the nazis.
It is good to remember that many of the German troops that surrounded Cisterna and Anzio-Nettuno came from the retreat from Monte Cassino much thanks to General Clarke that preferred to rush to Rome instead of obeying general Alexander directive with the consequences further great losses of Allied troops and civilians not to mention irreplaceable destruction of medieval churches and in particular Pisa. The other guy was general Major General John Porter Lucas failed to seize the opportunity permitting to have his beachhead to be surrounded by 8 divisions prompting Churchill that was angry and furious, bewildered by the slow reactions of the American commander to state: "I had hoped we were hurling a wildcat onto the shore, but all we got was a beached whale." With generals like them they can really stay home! I know very this area and Cisterna is just a really ugly town and is surrounded here and there by creators made by heavy calibre navy shells...
Well said. Clarke's plan was incredibly risky to start with, but General Lucas was criminally incompetent in his execution of the plan that he knew full well was predicated upon speed. He should have either refused the order or executed the plan with the speed that was needed, what he did was worse than either of those choices. He obeyed with such willful incompetence that failure was guaranteed. Eisenhower promoting him was pure nepotism. Liberating Rome was just a giant pissing contest and grabbing glory was given precedence over winning the war with the fewest casualties possible.
@@briancooper2112 in the European theater Canadians did all your fuckin dirty work and were used as fodder for you. Oh and you were late to both world wars.
It's not easy for a soldier to surrender to the enemy, yet you can see faint smiles on some surrendering soldiers. That's enough to explain what a relief it is to not be a part of war anymore....war is not pretty and yet, it has to be fought.
What the hell is a brigadier colonel? There's no such thing. William Darby was a full colonel at the time of this battle. He was posthumously promoted to a brigadier general. Orlando was his middle name.
Darby was a damn fool........two of my uncles fought there against overwhelming odds. Both we injured and decorated but at what cost to their comrades?
Does this sort of claim the Ranger offensive was an amphibious landing? Am I hearing the wording correctly? They were already on land when it happened.
How funny would it be if an alternate reality we were talking about how Patton was given this command instead of the phantom army command, and he disregarded the Polish deserter and got his ass whooped all up and down. Lol.
Sure. Sometimes they did (Italian marines and some of their remaining airforce bombers did take part in battles against the allies at Anzio) but it doesn't fit the narrative. If you want to get an Italian perspective, check some of Felton's stories on his channel.
Treat every threat as if it’s real is the moral of the story here. As law enforcement, everyone is criminally profiled until proven otherwise.I hate when people just blow things off as if it’s nothing. This is the real world not some fantasy that you won’t die in your world.
Not unknowingly, they were warned, they just decided not to take heed or at least research the information, after all they gave up speed, they may as well have had good information, but they threw it.
Bonjour a tous du Canada First raid of Ranger unit,happenned in Abenakis tribe at Odanak reservation 1799 (Im not sure) it's close to Saint François du Lac province Du Québec Canada,today it's possible to see bullett impact on the church reservation .
It is a difficult task to train men who speak different languages. British English and American English, as in, "Mate, would you mind repeating your last instructions. I believe I lost something in the translation?" I sure wish that commenters would download the app. GRAMMARLY.
The only mistake hitler made was invading Russia when he did. He was supposed to invade in may of 1942 but something happened and instead invaded in July. Two months is pretty heavy when coming to war. If hitler had invaded in May, no doubt would he have taken Moscow and ended Russia. But instead invaded in July and got beat by the snow. Just the little things that change history.
1941 and not 1942, but yeah you're right. The reason for the delay was Greece/Yugoslavia. If I'm not mistaken they were showing support for England so Hitler wanted to teach them a lesson.
![ตีสิบเดย์ [FULL] | เปิดใจ "อาจารย์ เบียร์ ฅนตื่นธรรม" นักสนทนาธรรมสายดุดัน!](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vqaBI_mnoDk/mqdefault.jpg)
A few Polish soldiers in German service were captured a few days before the start of the Battle of the Bulge. They said that they were glad that they were captured because a big offensive was going to start. They were ignored.
I had a high school teacher who, when I returned home after graduating the SFQC, he told me he was a 4th Bn Ranger who managed to low crawl farther than he ever imagined he could until the bullets finally stopped ripping at his canteen as is was on his butt. He couldn’t lift his rear enough to unbuckle his web gear without being hit. The Germans kept following him with fire for the 2-3 hours he was crawling.
2/3 German troops were lost in Russia. If they hadn't invaded Russia, D-Day and any other Western campaign would have been a nightmare for the Allies.
4/5 of the air and naval forces were facing the US/Uk/Western allies. So really, the Soviets were lucky to have even survived when most of the advanced equipment were not even being used on em
The Russians lost 12.5 million.
I’d say if they hadn’t fought like they did, we would be speaking Japanese here in NZ
We should remember the Russians much more favourably for that
Strategically questionable to attack while still having Britain to the west, yes. You do however have to factor in the ideological necessity and that the USSR were not sitting passive, but rearming at pace. Stalin thought he had until Germany had neutralised their western threat, but he knew it was coming.
So you have to balance the known foolhardiness of fighting a war on two fronts, the eternal German problem, with knowing that every month you delay the fight against the USSR gets harder, and that your ideological control of your own people erodes the longer you peacefully coexist with a people across the border that you are constantly telling them are an existential threat.
I agree
@@TheEarl777 are you serious? USSR (not Russia😕 btw) literally did nothing in the Pacific, that was primarily thanks to China/America/England/India/Australia. Soviets would have been sunk if they had faced Japan, since their navy was practically nonexistent. Even AFTER the nukes, Japan had a much stronger navy than USSR, hence why most historian say their threat of Japanese homeland invasion was only a bluff. They could only get territories in Manchuria since it was connected to Soviets, but no further.
My father tended to the very few survivors that made it back from the trapped units. He said they were so devastated they couldn't stop crying. All their friends were killed or captured.
My great uncle was a 1st Ranger battalion member under Darby. He was captured at Cisterna and shipped off to a prison camp at 22 years old.
As always, a high quality and informative video. Thank you for all your hard work!
My parents lived through the occupation of Italy by the Germans. The Gustav line cut through my mothers town of Santa Maria Infante, which was bombed by the allies. My father’s town was on the coast but was sent south with the British but my my mother was sent north to an interment camp run by the Nazis. My mother cry’s when she sees what the Ukraine is going through. She is 94 years old.
Free Ukraine!!!! 🤠👍🇺🇦
Wow!
They can write an episode just on the battle of Santa Maria Infante. The 351 st infantry Division wrote “small unit actions” Santa Maria Infante 11-14 May 1944.
Does your grandma cry out of joy bc all of the nazis being killed in Ukraine?
@@thepoopman9951 Well seeing that the president of the Ukraine is Jewish!! I Suggest That You Go Troll Somewhere Else!!! 😠
My old man was part of the armada that put men on the beaches of North Africa, Sicily, and Italy (along with southern France and Normandy in the North). He will always be the greatest man I ever knew. RIP, Pa. United States Coast Guard LCI(L)-324, MoMM1 Donald E. Moore Sr.
nobody cares
I've been along most of the western coast of Italy. My frequent thought was this terrain is perfect for defensive war and absolutely terrible for offensive. Most coastal "plains" are fairly short then very steep volcanic mountains and ridges erupt from the ground. From the ridges/mt tops you can survey miles of coast and miles out to sea. The "coastal plains" are clogged with villages, fences of all types and no straight roads.
The Allies only "captured" Italy because the Germans pulled out.
🇺🇸
Mine was e also with the 82nd airborne 504th. He was hit by a 88 round up till he passed metal was still coming out of him. He passed on June 7th 2010 one hell of a man and Daddy.
Should have listened to the Polish deserter. Even if they doubted it, the intel should still have been considered and even an early recon sent out to scope the area. Ignoring any intel has always led to defeat and mass casualties. Some Commanders really had no idea and were too arrogant in their leadership.
Its ironic that the poles were to first to reach the monastery and fight off the germans at monte cassino.
Easy on the judgment there boss.
For every battle lost for ignoring intel, you can probably find one that was lost because the intel was wrong...intentionally or otherwise. "Operation Mincemeat", the Normandy invasion...all had elements of misleading intel.
Sending out a recon is also potentially giving information to the enemy...or gathering false information. Say, Iwo Jima for instance "nothing there...two days to take it"...😫
In wars...the truth is rarely revealed until you are raining down fire on the enemy, or they are doing it to you. It's a murderous whirlwind of "What the F@&$? Is going on!?"
@@stillededge I was in the Army, and we were always told to look at all intelligence. Sure, there is false ones at times. But a recon unit going out is not giving the enemy advance notice.
The enemy has sent out recon as well, and majority of times the recons are just put down as patrols. Plus there is generally resistance in the area that is reporting as well.
Iwo Jima is different as the Americans did not take into account underground defences. But that was the leaders underestimating the Japs. They believed that the Japs could not mount a defence due to their heavy losses in previous battles.
@@stillededge Oh, just to add, do you know why Operation Market Garden failed. Montgomery dismissed air recon photos showing two Panzer divisions at the Arnhem Bridge. Guess where the operation was stopped, Arnhem Bridge.
Always great, Dark Docs is best of the best on his channel.
There's a parallel here to airborne operations, notably Operation Market-Garden. WWII Rangers, Commandos and Paratroops were, by definition, light infantry, not equipped to assault strongly-defended positions, or to defend them for extended periods, especially against enemy armour.
Right on. Thanks for sharing.
Maps with troop movements would really benefit this video.
In Rick Atkinson book The Day of Battle he described this oprration.
The US forces were delayed for several days and the commanders felt uneasy about the attack. Mark Clark forced thia attack.
A more important point to be made here is the US treatmemt of elite commanders. Darby headed the Rangers. He was instrumental in African and Sicilian opetations. In Italy the Rangers and the devil brigade captured two peaks prior to the Anzio operation. Both of these units should have been at Casino to capture the peak.
After the battle Darby was asigned yo staff. He finally got a position in the 10th Mountain and died in the last battle in Italy.
Similiar stories occur for the initoal commander of the fitst infantry division and the second in command Rosevelt, Theordor Rozevelts son. This unit stoped the Africa Corps westword thrust in the Kasserine Pass battle as well as El Ager. The were sacked by Bradley and in Normandy Bradley would not give Rosevelt a command of a division be cause he care about his troops.
To many troops were throen away because of callous commanders.
Interesting! Thanks for that.
Roosevelt had a command on D-Day. He landed on Utah Beach and won the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 6, 1944.
Was Lucas ever relieved of command/reprimanded/court-martialed, etc? This was his train-wreck.
He asst. division commander
Was given a division but died before taking command
Nope sent to stateside duty
Great content!
Too much non related film of Allied troops, such as New Zealanders at Cassino,which ave nothing to do with Anzio.
How many times have those in command ignored those well below them at the cost of many lives? Was anyone ever held to account for ignoring the warning from a brave defector? I doubt it.
A fost un act deliberat al comandanților americani de a omorî cât mai mulți militari din propria subordine. Ritualuri sataniste, asta este războiul într-un final.
That's why when you already in the battlefield always believe that "No plan survives contact with the enemy" blatantly ignoring the warning lead to the fatal consequences. That's why when you operate on foreign land in WW2 it's better to had someone inside who can guide, understand the local languages and can updating your intel. Now in modern days warfare we are lucky to have so many advanced tools and hardware like a drone that can always updating your intel and tools to translating enemy language with ease.
Officers ignoring intel. How many military disasters have been caused by this? Countless. Sloppy or error-ridden information is not as bad as good intel that's ignored. Yeh, I'm looking at Bugout Doug MacArthur for top US trophy in this category.
@@LuvBorderColliesToo many.... whether they overconfident with their force or just simply ignorant fool because they lack of experiences
Yeah, look at WW1 for an example, countless waves and waves and waves of good young men (on all sides) ordered to run into automatic machine guns. Can you imagine how that must've felt just before being told to go "over the top"?
I enjoy all the Dark channels, good stuff.
No matter how much iv learned bout military history i always learn sumthing new frum mr Felton
This is not Felton lol.
Felton has his own channel but this isn't it. Plus Felton is British and this narrator is not
Lucas had a plan? Well that's new opinion of what took place.
Very interesting to see that there where a lot of critical points during 1943 till 1945 that could have led to loosing the war,very good video about how it realy unfolded.
not really the soviets were already pushing hard so when the allies opened another front the germans had no chance
A touching video on highly trained Rangers being unfortunetly left to fend for themselves. Against German Tanks and heavily armoured vechicles. The Rangers did their best and fought hard. Alas support was needed and intel was ignored by those in command. Thoughts and prayers to the Rangers who made the ultimate sacrifice. 💪🏻🙏🏻✨
One of the reasons I left the military was my lack of confidence in the leadership not to make bad decisions that would get me killed.
Brigadier Colonel?!?! This ain’t no European army!
@@hman0007 my Mum's Father my Grandfather was John Edington OBE, MBE. He was a Royal Engineer in WW1 and held the rank of Warrant Officer. King George personally decorated my Grandfather for Valor. In WW2 he was with MI6. My Mother said he cared deeply for those men under his command. One should i always believe lead by example when in combat. To many brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice due to following orders. Orders that truly were not planned correctly and had bad Intel. Thank you for your service. 💪🏻🙏🏻✨
@@soonerfrac4611 I think you meant to say a Col. being trained to become a Brigadier. Same idea as being a Lady-in-Waiting.
This shows how older military thinking can not catch up to the times. The rangers were not used properly. This sadly has happened many times through out history.
I always thought the most devastating trap of WW2, was Midway.
THAT was a monumental trap.
Biggest Naval trap - Midway
Biggest Land trap - Stalingrad
Imo
Not sure what the biggest Airforce trap would be though
@@mig0150 Any bombing run done before the introduction of the "Little Friends."
@@mig0150 No argument from me
Excellent educational video, thank you for showing.
The battle was recreated in the 1968 movie "Anzio", which starred Robert Mitchum and Peter Falk. In the movie the Rangers are ambushed by tanks the Germans hid in haystacks. A pretty grim story.
Yeah, Hollywood always gets it very accurately. That's where I get all of my history lessons from. What a stugatz..
I hope Lucas was sacked. Inexcusable what happened under his command.
I don’t live too far from carrickfergus in Northern Ireland. There is a monument there to the Rangers. It’s humbling to know many ww2 ranger legends where trained near where I live.
Silly hure said North Ireland 😂
The industrial might of the the United States & the American enlisted man won WW 2. Poor leadership decisions by A
First time ever seeing horse mounted US infantry footage. To what extent did that occur during WW2.
Joe Medicine Crow stole a horse from an enemy as his last of his tasks to become a war chief, so they were surely used.
Much more than people realize actually. So in ww2 the end numbers are what we are used to. Basically every nation on earth was still primarily supplied by pack animal at the beginning of ww2. During the war the US built millions of trucks and basically all of her allies benefited. It's my personal opinion that the humble American truck is what allowed the soviet union to fight back against the Germans.
The Ukrainian company, Master Box, makes 1/35 scale figures of WW2 mounted US cavalry.
"Say hello to Ford, and General motors, you stupid fascist bastard!"
-Band of Brothers.
Germans had over 250,000 horses at the beginning. They were not as highly mobilised at the Allies thought at the start.
Talk about dark docs! I never had any clue that this battle happened!
you have to ask why weren't they supported by on call arty? but you know the same thing happened to the Marines in the sense that during WWII being singled out as braver than a regular unit was frowned upon by petty jealousy. War is the mother of invention learning from your mistakes is golden
Most wonderful introducing video shared by Dark Docs channel...this secondary operation in Anzeo proved 😀...Italy was not soft balls of Cocktails ( Germany fronts in all sides were hardly frontiers crushed by sever bloodshed....thanks for sharing
Brigadier Colonel: Must be a new rank in the US ARMY!
I knew a 70 yr old "RANGER"-he was a co-bartender at the Hotel we worked at; JIM ANDERSON was a kick-ass old guy I respected and looked up to him! Nerves of steel, didn't take shit and "had your back" -as they say!- GREAT MAN!
Thank you.
just saw ANZIO movie , good video as usual
ANOTHER superbly done video on a battle/operation I had not heard before….or read the book/books that are out there!
This shows that while fighting on two fronts, Germans were still a strong force which cannot be easily put down.
my grandfather was a POW in Italy, glad he was freed because otherwise I wouldn't be here :)
Great video!
I used to feel proud to be an American until the last 10 years. Seeing how the country is now doesnt seem worth the men that fought back then in ww2. meaning if they could see the country now they would've never fought for this.. It was a a big mistake obviously.
You’re crazy we aren’t THAT bad off nowadays. The country is divided but it’s mostly based on silliness and issues blown way out of proportion. When an attack on the nation occurs, everyone comes together
@@Geojr815 I hope your right
Never forget. Even the toughest, most trained, and well equipped, will give their lives for freedom.
Jeez - your out of date - Libya has weekly slavery sales, Usa invaded Syria Iraq for oil companies not freedom
Thank you so much DARK DOCS for this video.I always wondered what happened to those guys.What prison camp were they sent to,does anyone know?
My great uncle Jack, 1st Ranger Battalion, was captured at Cisterna. Not sure which camp he ended up in but I know it was in Germany. My most vivid memory was when he spoke of being kept in the colloseum in Rome for a few days and the Italian people would spit on them and pelt them with stones..
Stalag 7A Moosberg Bavaria according to records I found.
When the word Liberated Italia it makes me think why it’s used? Italia was an axis partner not a occupied country.
I would have thought this was about the Falaise pocket, from the title. But hey.
Love your videos. Have you ever thought of doing some about the troubles in Northern Ireland?
Are you talking about Easter Rising? He could make an entire series with the history there, good idea
@@Kyle_919 he says Northern Ireland 1960-1990’s
not in ‘southern’ Ireland in 1916.
Let’s hope it stays history…
Maybe a little too fresh yet.
@Kyle no I was talking about the era of the "Troubles" in northern ireland. Although yes the "uprising" would also make an interesting video. I really like the way the story's on here are told in an almost unbiased way. Great suggestion, thank you. Let's hope they see the comments.
I think compared to the East front this was a vacation for the German soldiers.
I don't think it was necessarily a trap, as much as it was failed foresight from higher command. The situation in Italy was a stalemate at that point and in classic fashion (although the line not famously said yet) the plan was for the Rangers to lead the way. That they did, with a successful deep penetration behind enemy lines. The problem with it, is the with deep penetration comes follow on and relief forces which were not provided to the Rangers.
Should've had Patton running this, but he slapped somebody and got disciplined. Just a poor decision in leaders.
Patton was a doofus who didn't care about his Soldiers.
George I’ll slap the ptsd out you patton 😂
@@jeremywells9019 where in the hell did you get that information?
Patton was actually preparing to command FUSAG, the fictitious First US Army Group. His posting as the commander of this phantom army helped to convince the Germans that the Normandy invasion was just a diversion. They considered Patton as the best allied general and could not conceive of a general being disciplined for slapping a soldier.
The man slapped a soldier because he had no wounds yet couldn't fight. That soldier had Shell Shock.
Kesselring was a very astute and capable Man who had some excellent Troops under his command and the Landscape favoured Defence!
Right you are.
How awful!! Why do some leaders not listen and learn? The training will have been first rate!
Bob
England
Maybe they wanted to be politicians when they got home.
Tf is a Brigadier Colonel? 😂😂
A colonel in command of a very overstrength regiment maybe? A brigade can be rather variable, like the strength of a division.
@@w.reidripley1968 I literally stopped the vid when he said that to google Brigadier Colonel. No dice, no historical record of that usage did I find. Sure he meant Brigadier General, but some how it got through editing. 🤷🏻♂️😂
@@sebastianthurmond498 nope, Darby was a Lieutenant Colonel at this point.
@@darrengilbert7438 So, total script FUBAR, then. It'd hardly be a Dark channel segment without one.
Their history seems better than their copy editing. _Cum grano et cetera._
[Copy-edit? The Autocorrect just tried to have it "Cum granola..." Jesus Hexametrous Christ.]
The quickest and most effective way to defeat your enemy is to cut off their communications. While the Germans weren't responsible for the communication loss here, the loss early on was a major reason for the defeat of the Rangers in the end.
Patton slapping that soldier probably helped the allies in the war. It helped them create a diversion
Had he not slapped the soldier and had a BIG role in the invasion of mainland Italy, it's likely that the invasion would have gone off a LOT better. The disasters discussed in this video likely would not have happened because Patton was a decisive leader with sound judgment.
Whatever happened to Lucas? He should've been relieved of command, court martialled and sent to prison.
2:56)The Rangers trained in Occupied Ireland.
8:51)What army has Brigadier Colonels? Not the US Army.
When the ETO part of WW II ended, parts of North Italy were still under German control.
Pink Floyd wrote and sang a song about Anzio called "When the Tigers Broke Free". I was about Walters father who was there and lost his life.
Yep, short and sharp, straight to the point. So many sons lost their fathers due to inept commanders.
Hahaha, my nonno ‘fought’ in Sicily. All he did was March all over Europe as they didn’t have good logistics; he eventually was injured by shrapnel in an allied bombing run. He said the only thing he learned from the war was how to smoke and hit on nurses.
My family unfortunately fled Italy in the 60s because even though he lived in small town (1700 people, valley/mountainous) the mafia presence exploded with Mussolini. Mussolini was rightfully hated, but the new people extorting you were your neighbours and own family.
It's not north Ireland it's Northern Ireland. Southern Ireland was neutral in WW2 but Northern Ireland, a different country, is British and fought the nazis.
It is good to remember that many of the German troops that surrounded Cisterna and Anzio-Nettuno came from the retreat from Monte Cassino much thanks to General Clarke that preferred to rush to Rome instead of obeying general Alexander directive with the consequences further great losses of Allied troops and civilians not to mention irreplaceable destruction of medieval churches and in particular Pisa. The other guy was general Major General John Porter Lucas failed to seize the opportunity permitting to have his beachhead to be surrounded by 8 divisions prompting Churchill that was angry and furious, bewildered by the slow reactions of the American commander to state: "I had hoped we were hurling a wildcat onto the shore, but all we got was a beached whale."
With generals like them they can really stay home! I know very this area and Cisterna is just a really ugly town and is surrounded here and there by creators made by heavy calibre navy shells...
Well said. Clarke's plan was incredibly risky to start with, but General Lucas was criminally incompetent in his execution of the plan that he knew full well was predicated upon speed. He should have either refused the order or executed the plan with the speed that was needed, what he did was worse than either of those choices. He obeyed with such willful incompetence that failure was guaranteed. Eisenhower promoting him was pure nepotism. Liberating Rome was just a giant pissing contest and grabbing glory was given precedence over winning the war with the fewest casualties possible.
As a Canadian Soldier in Italy - My Dad often told me that "If we'd had ONE more American Officer, we'd have LOST the Fucking war!"
Seriously
If it wasn't for the US u guys would be speaking Japanese German.
@@briancooper2112 in the European theater Canadians did all your fuckin dirty work and were used as fodder for you. Oh and you were late to both world wars.
@@briancooper2112 Sounds hard to believe and full of $#!+. 9th ESB and 2d CEB. Semper Fi
As a Canadian, he doesn't speak for for me,
It's not easy for a soldier to surrender to the enemy, yet you can see faint smiles on some surrendering soldiers. That's enough to explain what a relief it is to not be a part of war anymore....war is not pretty and yet, it has to be fought.
Can’t believe that you fail to mention the FSSF!
It's kinda remarkable how often the Allies got away with opening another front. 🤷♂️
What the hell is a brigadier colonel? There's no such thing. William Darby was a full colonel at the time of this battle. He was posthumously promoted to a brigadier general. Orlando was his middle name.
Haha, I missed that, thanks for picking it up.
The SAS also faced similar action. Troops trained as special ops used as frontline troops is a waste
I like the random clips. Also Brigadier Colonel??? wtf
Murphy's rules of combat Number 132, If your attack is going to well it is an ambush.
I thought it was called 666.
Standard American gung Ho tactics
Predictable
I want to say that in modern times, commanders listening to good Intel has changed. But it hasn't.
Darby was a damn fool........two of my uncles fought there against overwhelming odds. Both we injured and decorated but at what cost to their comrades?
What a horrendous story. All those good Americans lost. Nothing wrong with their courage.
My uncle was injured just before this and removed from the front.
BLAME THE AMERICAN GENERAL NOT BRITISH TRAINING!!
Does this sort of claim the Ranger offensive was an amphibious landing? Am I hearing the wording correctly? They were already on land when it happened.
My great uncle served as a cook and medic in the U.S. 5th Army during WW2.........they defeated Rommel in north Africa and marched on Rome.
With carrots?
As a Brit, can I say thanks for "defeating" Rommel .....
How funny would it be if an alternate reality we were talking about how Patton was given this command instead of the phantom army command, and he disregarded the Polish deserter and got his ass whooped all up and down. Lol.
How Operation Shingle turned into Operation Shambles.
Standard military tactic, train the men but not the command . Senior officers had no idea what to do with these men .
Did the poor old Italians ever have the will to fight???
Sure. Sometimes they did (Italian marines and some of their remaining airforce bombers did take part in battles against the allies at Anzio) but it doesn't fit the narrative. If you want to get an Italian perspective, check some of Felton's stories on his channel.
The Rangers were sent to fight tanks with knives and pop guns. It didn't work out? Weird.
8:50, "Darby's Rangers"
Didn't they think the Germans were tough? The Italian campaign was almost a disaster.
Treat every threat as if it’s real is the moral of the story here. As law enforcement, everyone is criminally profiled until proven otherwise.I hate when people just blow things off as if it’s nothing. This is the real world not some fantasy that you won’t die in your world.
Nice.
You said at 1:45 the Rangers were used in the 17th century. You are about 100 years early. I think you meant the 1700's.
What is the music called that starts at 11:55?
Not unknowingly, they were warned, they just decided not to take heed or at least research the information, after all they gave up speed, they may as well have had good information, but they threw it.
Fascinating
10/10
Bonjour a tous du Canada First raid of Ranger unit,happenned in Abenakis tribe at Odanak reservation 1799 (Im not sure)
it's close to Saint François du Lac province Du Québec Canada,today it's possible to see bullett impact on the church reservation .
I understood it was not Churcil his idea however Eisenhower who kept the landing vessels that otherwise would had gone to overlord and the Pacific...
It is a difficult task to train men who speak different languages. British English and American English, as in, "Mate, would you mind repeating your last instructions. I believe I lost something in the translation?" I sure wish that commenters would download the app. GRAMMARLY.
6:10 So... was Major General John P Lucas put against the wall and shot for his incompetence?
Anzio isn't in Northern Italy!!
Tough, brutal time.
Weren’t the Devils Brigade at Anzio also.
John P. Lucas was like a skunk; he stank.
Commanders using ego instead of good sense, utilizing soldiers in a manner inconsistent with their training...what could possibly go wrong!
Very Sad for the brave Rangers!!
Wehrmacht is legendary..
Cringe wehraboo
@@jakemaize it took the entire world to bring down what Hitler built in just 12 years.
@@ROOSTER333 That the same Reich that was supposed to last 1,000 years? So close yet so so very far.
@@jakemaize and yet we're still here. Without you wouldn't have got part of Palestine schlomo
Legendary in lack of sufficient logistics, ammunition, manpower, late war tactics and losing the war? Lol
The only mistake hitler made was invading Russia when he did. He was supposed to invade in may of 1942 but something happened and instead invaded in July. Two months is pretty heavy when coming to war. If hitler had invaded in May, no doubt would he have taken Moscow and ended Russia. But instead invaded in July and got beat by the snow. Just the little things that change history.
1941 and not 1942, but yeah you're right. The reason for the delay was Greece/Yugoslavia. If I'm not mistaken they were showing support for England so Hitler wanted to teach them a lesson.