SS Parachute Assault - Yugoslavia 1944

Рет қаралды 845,714

Күн бұрын

The story of the daring SS parachute raid to kill or capture Yugoslav communist leader Josip Tito in 1944.
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.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
Visit my audio book channel 'War Stories with Mark Felton': • One Thousand Mile...
Help support my channel:
www.paypal.me/markfeltonprodu...
www.patreon.com/markfeltonpro...
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; Bundesarchiv

Пікірлер: 2 554

The Protagonist Dies Жыл бұрын

I wouldve stayed awake in history class if Mark was my teacher

Rijn Van Essen Жыл бұрын

Yes mark is the best

TermlessGHM Жыл бұрын

U probably wouldn't. Wisdom and interest with things that matter come with age.

Francisco Rodriguez Жыл бұрын

You're right,,!!! the video would had helped alot,good day!!

Baddy187 Жыл бұрын

It helps Mark only does WW2, alot of people cant handle 3 hour talks about the Celts.

N Jopson Жыл бұрын

My Dad was there! He was a communications (wireless) sergeant in the R.A.F. He parachuted into Yugoslavia with Randolph Churchill and had to spend a night in a tent with him. When I was a schoolboy in the 1950's he was always telling anyone who would listen about his experiences, but most of it went over my head. What I do recall was his contempt for Churchill's son, and how he and Tito had to stealthily circle round a tree to avoid being spotted by a German aircraft. He presumably was the wireless operator for the mission that rescued Tito. He died in 1993 and I only wish I had quizzed him more. I know that after Fitzroy McLean, who was his boss, published "Eastern Approaches" he corresponded with him, with, I believe some factual corrections. He never went back to Yugoslavia.

panicatack Жыл бұрын

It's a great loss for the history of ww2 ( especially in Yugoslavia) that your father didn't leave memoirs or writings of any kind about his wartime experiences. It would be interesting to read, no doubt. As we , ex Yugoslavs , would say, eternal glory and gratitude to your father for his service and may he rest in peace.

Muamer Malik Жыл бұрын

Did he learned little our languagle? Can you more write his experiance here? Thank you greeting fromBosnia

Ratko Martin 3 ай бұрын

Wow.All Respect and Salute for your father and other staff.Thanks to Mr Churchill who decided to help our PARTISANS. trully Heroes, contrary to all Nazi Colaborators from other side(Croatian Ustasa,serbian Cetnics,Nedic gendarms,Ljotic Fashist movement...and many others).

Z 2 ай бұрын

God bless your family and your father. I’m sure he was a great man

Wallace Ralston Жыл бұрын

As an ex-paratrooper I always marveled at how the German's seemed to dive out the doors of their aircraft. We trained to go feet first into the prop blast so as not to get the risers and lines twisted.

Louisa von Dart 13 күн бұрын

..They only had one riser, attached to their backs. That meant they couldn't steer their chute except by waving their arms around wildly. They also jumped without heavy weapons and had to recover them from containers. That cost them a lot of casualties, especially in Crete.

Ken Duffy 8 сағат бұрын

I can see the positives of not jumping out with your “kit” as the British say. But to jump out with your weapons; is crazy! If you can’t somewhat control where you’re going to land? It most likely will be your last time alive if you didn’t get shot coming down or killed by hitting the ground? You were most likely going to get killed trying to get to your weapons, unbelievable! @Louisa von Dart

TitaniumEye Жыл бұрын

I've read about this assault in an excellent book with maps and battle assessments. Partisans knew very well that the Germans could mount an airborne assault, so they positioned a lot of troops in and around Drvar. Along with Tito's personal guard there were elements of one of the (veteran) Proletarian divisions positioned close by, and when the Germans landed, they were rushed into the fight with the sole intention to bog them down and deny them effective maneuver - that's why the Partisans had such high casualties. In the end this was a battle of small numbers of excellent quality paratroop soldiers against numerous Partisans with very high morale and knowledge of local terrain.

Charles putnam1982 Жыл бұрын

The partisans even had some light tanks of the American Stuart type. Wonder why the Allies didn't send the partisans some Locust M22 tanks (glider-borne) for evaluation.

David S Cameron 4 күн бұрын

Sounds like something I'd enjoy reading, have you a name at all?. 👍

NIGHTSKY Жыл бұрын

What a coincidence, an hour ago i was asking myself if SS paratroopers ever existed. I was amazed to see that YES they did. And just now Mark Felton posted a brand new video on them !

Slapz K Жыл бұрын

The youtube god has answered your questions and prayers.

ih302 Жыл бұрын

Dr. Felton is as usual, Johnny on the spot.

The Doctor Жыл бұрын

Yep, just the 500.Battalion, later reorganized as 600.Bat. (which I believe didn't get to jump at all). They all used Luftwaffe FJ equipment (camo smocks, helmets, and of course the parachutes), so in combat, they looked almost identical to their Luft counterparts. Most of the film footage Mark uses here is of the regular Fallschirmjaeger, but there's so little film or photos of the SS guys.

Alfredo Villa Жыл бұрын

You're good Dr. Felton! When you said "elite SS paratroopers" I remember reading that they were a penal battalion and therefore not very motivated, but you addressed that point and clarified further their combat quality. Kudos to you, sir!

Plushie Жыл бұрын

Their command left quite a bit to be desired, but the entire plan was flawed. Deeply so. The Nazis consistently underestimated the reaction time of the partisans but also their ability to hold a battle line.

Jug Bogdan 6 күн бұрын

maybe-this was the some kind part of eastern front..In YUG there was 10 german divissions, 122 divission on Russia and 12 divission in western europe..So Balkan was good mess

Mike Brase Жыл бұрын

I knew a guy who made this jump. He was shot in the foot. He was a Communications officer. He was captured at Nijmegen later in the war and sent to the US as a POW and came back to the US and became a citizen in the 50's.

Chris Courson Жыл бұрын

ended up good for him, I'd say!!

Cossack Жыл бұрын

He was an SS man?

Mike Brase Жыл бұрын

@Cossack yes he was an SS- UnterStrumfuhrer.His name was Gerhard Franzky. He wrote a book called learning to walk He was shot in the foot while coming down in his chute and had to learn how to walk again hence the title.

Danny Thomson Жыл бұрын

@Mike Brase fantastic piece of additional info, thankyou sir! it is always worth reading comments under Dr Feltons videos, there are quite often little beautys of additional info on the videos subject.

Scott Stewart Жыл бұрын

@Danny Thomson and from a generous and generally polite group of commenters

Uli Haack Жыл бұрын

The stepfather of my stepfather was there with Tito's personal guard. After the war he continued his career as professional gambler. Being a war hero he was forgiven the occasional robbery, forgery ... and never went to prison. He always carried.

Andro Жыл бұрын

@Vanja T Tell that to the stalinists who ended up in a gulag.

Vanja T Жыл бұрын

@Andro what do they have to do with any of this?

Saoirse OCeallaigh Жыл бұрын

@Andro Yeah Tito was cool like that

Ye Wise Mountain Goat Жыл бұрын

@Andro Tito's island to deal with Stalinists was neither freezing cold, nor some enormous forced-labor camp and above all not used to relocate large group of civilians. Therefore it's quite a stretch to call it a "gulag". Also, the Soviets dealt with the Stalinists themselves following the death of Stalin in 1953. Nobody missed them as they all either were lapdogs or opportunists.

Blue Eyes White Dragon Жыл бұрын

Excellent story...told by an accomplished historian and worthy of a TV history channel mini series.

Lysander Krieg Жыл бұрын

I have no idea what you are smoking, but recommend you stop it.

Lysander Krieg Жыл бұрын

Teach us? I could learn more off of the back of a box of rice crispies than Felton could ever teach me. If he was my kids history teacher at school, I'd pull them out of class. Mark regurgitates one side of a coin. Every coin has two sides.

Steven Keery Жыл бұрын

@Lysander Krieg : Yet here you are, yet again. You seem to spend a lot of time in a channel that you purportedly despise. What is this masochistic fetish I wonder, or you just don't know how to change to a different channel? Your own channel perhaps, where you can commit to the work to make it a success?

Manfred Heck Жыл бұрын

@Steven Keery Well, I share your opinion about L. Kriegs comments. However, this report shows a lot of "Wochenschau"-films about the German attack on Crete (Operation "Merkur", may 20th 1941). Probably there was not enough film material on the SS-assault available.

Alan Rogers Жыл бұрын

It's amazing how many obscure, or little-known stories from the war there are. I recognized some of the parachute traing film clips showing former boxer Max Schelling as a teacher in how to exit a plane and how to roll when you actually land. Keep it up, please.

11Kralle Жыл бұрын

My Grandfather always told stories about hunting for Tito during WW2 - he claimed, he saw him a few times but didn't even take aim. I guess these were the kind of self-developing stories which grew and grew over the decades (from "we heard rumors Tito is near" to "I had him in a head-lock, but he slipped out"). Well-told stories though, the whole dinner table turned into a strategic map of western Slavonia until my grandmother decided to bring the cake...

Kilo Foxtrot Delta Жыл бұрын

But can you imagine some German grandad telling his grandson about when he was a SS Fallschirmjäger and his mission was to capture Tito. (only saying as when I was in the British Army based in Germany, I dated a German girl, her dad was a paratrooper, he lost both his legs at Crete, he couldn't speak English, but we drank beer and sang roll out the barrels)

ComboMuster 2 күн бұрын

hahahaha EPIC!

Devil’s advocate Жыл бұрын

Tito has SS and Stalin coming for his head and he outlived both.

Richard M Жыл бұрын

@Balkan Headquarters Talk American! Ya heathen Frenchman.

scockery Жыл бұрын

And Tito outlived Michael.

Steezus Christ Жыл бұрын

Andrija Garovic He was being sardonic

Bernie Scheid Жыл бұрын

As a Canadian stationed in Lahr Germany I ended up in Yugoslavia in 1991 after Tito died and the civil war broke out. As a young Captain I was deeply affected by the cruelty show by both sides against each other. My mission changed from a cease fire monitor to a cease fire violator monitor very quickly and I left there with a completely different perspective on humanity. To this day I think about my time there and how proud I was to have tried to help the people who suffered there. Thanks Mark for showing me how this all came about. 🇨🇦

Boris Filipovic Жыл бұрын

Stop equalizing victims and mourders

Roman Lesjak Жыл бұрын

@Boris Filipovic aha, so you are trying to tell the Croats were angels and all the yugoslav/serbian troops murders?

Joseph Cro 11 ай бұрын

@Roman Lesjak we were to merciful. We shouldn't have let 200 000 rats escape without proper punishment

Roman Lesjak 11 ай бұрын

@Joseph Cro you mean Ustasa or who you referr to this 200.000?

TwoHeavens Жыл бұрын

Eastern Approaches, Fitzroy Maclean's autobiography is one hell of a read and has lots of details about Tito and the war in Yugoslavia, along with the formation of the Special Air Service.

James Bussey Жыл бұрын

It also has an excellent report of a Stalinist show trial during the purges of the 1930s in the first third of the book. The second third is about SAS operations in the Western Desert.

Celta Classroom Жыл бұрын

Agreed - Maclean's book is an excellent read. Loved the part about his travels in the pre-war Soviet Union and how one day when he was walking in the Caucasus the KGB spies who had been trailing him came up and asked if he wouldn't mind stopping at one of the spies' homes up ahead for dinner!

Ton Bong Жыл бұрын

Is there the most important detail that Stalin executed the original Tito and replaced him with the brilliant Russian general? My great grandfather personally knew the original Tito.

mikepette Жыл бұрын

@Ton Bong oh yes of course ! yes indeed. that would explain why soviet /yugoslav relations were so warm and cordial after the war .... right ?

Ton Bong Жыл бұрын

@mikepette Russian Tito did a mistake dealing with Stalin so he knew that Stalin will replace him. This is why he put Yugoslavia on the line to save his skin. The gamble was successful for him.

Eric Stevens Жыл бұрын

Grandfather participated in this. He was cadre with the flight training unit SG151 in the area with flight cadets (and cadre) provided air support with their JU87s and newly issued FW190s. It was an emergency order, but they had tactical capabilities, but not for sustained yearly missions.

D N Жыл бұрын

Im always fascinated by Marks videos! WWII is so massive and complicated, a person can spend years studying the war

SICK NOTE 1 Жыл бұрын

Very true

Kswan Жыл бұрын

Thank you, I always enjoys your channel. I did a 6 month tour in Drvar as part of the stabilization force some years ago. As a former paratrooper, I could only imagine dropping in on such a nasty DZ. Perhaps it was a little more open in 1944. It was interesting to see the fuselage of one of the DSF 230 gliders on the outskirts of the town. Landing in one of those on such rough terrain just as bad. Very poor Recce and planning on that Op.

T.R. Hart Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for your films Dr. Felton. There is so much that I thought I knew but you find bits and pieces of history that make the other parts all fit together. After watching these videos I do a little more research that I couldn't do without having the information that you supply. I hope the History Channel pays attention to your channel. It is woeful these days with pseudo-science and fantasy masquerading as history, but the aliens ... I guess they were right about them. LOL

automatic mattywhack Жыл бұрын

It amazes me how little most people know about WW2. If they could only realize how much it still affects our lives today...

Otto Didakt Жыл бұрын

unfortunately so true !

automatic mattywhack Жыл бұрын

@E L Δ T E I think the answer is a well known saying by George Santayana: "those who don't know history are condemned to repeat it."

ManWith2Dogs Жыл бұрын

Everytime Mark makes a YUGOSLAVIA video, everything else becomes secondary.. Air, Food, Sex, Love, everything becomes secondary.. watching the video is the most important thing. I stop everything I'm doing.. I even forget to breathe.. these Yugoslav videos are the best, I have watched them all atleast 3 times over.. thank you Mark.. PLEASE make more detailed videos Yugoslavia, because SOOOO much happened here in WW2. Explain the Chetnik. The USTASE. All the partisans, Soviet support, soo much..

MrSloika Жыл бұрын

And Dr. Felton has a lot of material to work with, as Churchill once quipped, 'The Balkans produce more history than they consume."

Greenhorn Жыл бұрын

Kafa kafica In fact you need to go in the late 19 century in those time the idea to unite small south slave tribes become a thing. It started in areas under austro hungarian empire or better in Zagreb and Ljubljana. Idea wasnt bad unfortaly the Serbian king in the 1918 didnt realy understud a concept, and take new lands as a gift to him, thats why was only a month after the merger all ready a clashes between Serbian king and Croatian & Slovenian politicians.

IS280580 SH Жыл бұрын

Kafa kafica It was nation before Yugoslavia!!!!

Huu Huu Huu Жыл бұрын

@Greenhorn No haga waga in our clear and croatian Adriatic see!!! Adriatic see is part of land dear God gave to Croats!!! There is a one legend about CRO land,we moustly bealiv,in time when dear Lord has giving a land to nations,in one moment he sow a man still wait in front of his door!!! He asked him what's up??? He said:Dear Lord,you forgotten on us,Croats!!!! No land for us??? Dear God feels guilty,he sad,i am sorry,i'll give you piece of my own land!!!! That is thrue,there is no beaty like Croatia,bcs.of that,everybody try to take our land,but we,proud sons of Croatia,will defend it till last breath!!!!!💪💪💪👊

Stephen Brand Жыл бұрын

When I was a kid in the early 90s my mom would take me to the local library and make me read biographies about major figures from the 20th century. Marshal Tito was my favorite by far.

dzonikg Жыл бұрын

@Mark Novak Brother off my grandmother was in partisans whole war after Germans killed his 17 years old brother and father on 21 oktober 1941..he was student off law then and his personal friends were well known partisans ...but i was younger i was not interested in that so i never ask him anything about it and he died in 2004

T. R. 7 ай бұрын

@dzonikg is there in his biography a detail that he ordered killing thousands at the end of the war.

Renato Gaucho Жыл бұрын

My late grandmother and grandfather were in that battle, 1st Proletarian Brigade. She said that they were sleaping near the tito's shelter (cave) and early in the morning she was awakened by the sound of Stuka's, they destroyed centre of the town in first attack. This was a mistake because they alarmed whole brigade. Immediately after they have seen first gliders and paratroopers they started to shoot them in the air. I remember that I was joking with her about geneva convention and no shooting on paratroopers in the air. She would always say - to hell with that convention :) Nice channel Mark ;)

Plushie Жыл бұрын

The Germans themselves and just about every faction in the war disregarded that convention anyways. On paper it makes sense but in reality when men and supplies are being dumped on your head, it makes no sense to allow them to land.

GuitarJacob123 7 ай бұрын

@Plushie It's not against any convention to shoot on airbourne troops. Only unarmed pilots

GuitarJacob123 6 ай бұрын

@phildoddhistoriaantiqua Ever heard about like any other country ever? Soivet had concentration camps long before Hitler even thought about it.

GuitarJacob123 6 ай бұрын

@phildoddhistoriaantiqua No but you can't say it was something new and unique.

Diecast Dude Racing Жыл бұрын

As a historian of world war 2, this is the most complete and accurate channel I’ve come across! Hats off to you and a fine production!

Sam Sejdich Жыл бұрын

Yes i agree

Bosko Puric Жыл бұрын

Филм кључ

araneus32 Жыл бұрын

Tito and the men surrounding him were all veterans of the Spanish civil war, where they fought in the international communist brigades. The SS troup were facing a though and battle hardened oponent

SOUVIK DAS Жыл бұрын

Yet they managed from getting completely eliminated. The mission was somewhat success 😉

Alpha Tango Жыл бұрын

And most importantly, well armed and just as importantly, knew each other which makes such a difference it's not even close, it's why the U.S. Army sucked so much treating it's units like a machine, lose a part replace it, lose a man shove in a new one, you heard at the end where they withdrew them for rest and refitting, that's such a key important component of how the Germans constantly extracted more blood than they lost, just could never extract enough

Alpha Tango Жыл бұрын

Also no, the U.S. Army really never learned this lesson, not until the 1980's when they went through a total doctorial change and became possibly for the first arguable time a legitimately thoroughly professional ground force as opposed to naval and air which had always had the luxury of getting the best of the best to begin with, and often still do, the ground pounders nowadays couldn't be more different both in how they fight and how it's structured at the lowest levels, plus we can have blacks (and sadly women), command troops in battle now, which is good (except for the women thing, stay out of close-in ground combat

For_the_family117 Жыл бұрын

Hey Mark, any chance you could talk about when the Royal navy fired at French ships in WW2? I've only just learned about it and I'm both shocked and intrigued!

Big Blue Жыл бұрын

I did read about this raid though that was some time ago. So it is good to hear the details again. I first came to know about Sir Fitzroy Maclean through his book Eastern Approaches. An excellent book and well worth a read. He was part of the British Embassy in Moscow before the war and he would explore parts of the Soviet Union by dint of the fact that those who were following to so terrified of Stalin that no one would stop him. When war broke out he was not allowed to leave the diplomatic corp to enlist so he became an MP which now meant he could no longer be a diplomat. But it did mean he could join the British Army. He served in North Africa, Persia and then as liaison to Tito. If you get a chance then this book should be on your reading list.

Urashima Tarou Жыл бұрын

Definitely second the book recommendation - not having it right in from of me, I'm thinking maybe there is some mistake in the video, though? IIRC the person identified as Maclean at 2:50 or thereabouts doesn't at all resemble pictures of him from the book. But the guy front and center with dark hair and glasses standing next to Tito (at about 9:30) *does*. In the book Maclean talks about how the partisans were fascinated by his US 1911 pistol - think I've seen some color footage on YT of him shooting it with them... The film "Force 10 from Navarrone" is supposed to be based on a novel by Alistair MacLean, but there is an account in Eastern Approaches of a very similar, supposedly non-fiction mission? - never have sorted that one out...

Rid-Rat- Ross Жыл бұрын

great research and great results from Mark Felton, thanks Mark. One of my neighbourhood German friends here in Canada, is a woman in her late 60s whose father was a Luftwaffe transport pilot during the war. I wonder if he flew in this mission to try to catch Tito.

Milan Govedarica Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this fascinating episode. It would take days to talk about numerous examples of self sacrifices made by the partisans on the day to keep the German attack in check. My fathers uncle was a member of the escort battalion and many years ago spoke about hellish hand to hand combat between the partisan young men and women in Drvar against the invading SS paratroopers.

Rons Re-Creations Жыл бұрын

Another great story ! Thanks for all your diligent hard work Mark ! Always enjoy your work. Thumbs Up !

Nevenius von Dubowatz Жыл бұрын

Dear Mark Felton. My grandma was there in the famous 6. Lička Division. She was a partisan nurse. I've heard this story many many times in my childhood. It was bloody hell. EDIT: The 6th Lička Division was part of the famous 1st Proletarian Corps. My grandfather was in the corps and met my grandmother in Drvar during the Skorzeny raid. He was wounded at the Sirmyan front in 1945., the Yugoslav partisan version of the Battle of the Bulge. Grandpa died in 1999. and grandma 2014.

Cakudaw2021 Жыл бұрын

She muat be very beautiful

Machine Gun Жыл бұрын

my Grandfather was in the 1st Proletarian Brigade. Bravo to your family!

Baki Жыл бұрын

@Machine Gun my great grandpa s brother was in the 2. Dalmatian he was a desetar

grale979 Жыл бұрын

I'm from drvar😁

Panthro Thundercat Жыл бұрын

Bless your grandparents. 👍

Celtic Fox Жыл бұрын

Always learn about some of the most interesting stuff from your videos. And I always think of myself as pretty well read up on goings-on during wartime. Keep up the great work, always gonna come back for more. Cheers!

Daniel Kunkle Жыл бұрын

And yet another interesting example of history I knew nothing about until now. Thanks as always for the lesson.

W M Жыл бұрын

More eye-opening revelations from KZhome's premier authority on the fascinating insights into the history that nobody else knows about the Second World War. Keep 'em coming, Mark!

The Kroop Жыл бұрын

Ah Mark Felton, the best WW2 narrator and teacher out there. Awesome channel, learned more here than in any history class

Celta Classroom Жыл бұрын

Tito was an exceptionally shrewd leader. I remember that when he died in 1980 he was considered the last of the great WW2 statesmen. Not a bad career for a guy from humble farm-boy beginnings who never attended a university but learned the trade of a metalworker. Before WW1, Josip Broz worked briefly for both Daimler and Skoda, which are still among Europe's auto-makers 110 years later.

Peter Bowie Жыл бұрын

Nobody knows his real identity .

br0z. 3 ай бұрын

@Peter Bowie That's the most cringeworthy serb-revisionist conspiracy theory ever. And there are many serb-revisionist conspiracy theories out there

Roger Hudson Жыл бұрын

The SS 500 para unit were badly deployed, the local German commander attacked before Skorzeny' men (the Brandenburg unit) was ready. Drvar is a very wild area, well worth a visit . 36 Celsius in Bosnia today.

Xiphactinus Жыл бұрын

Badly deployed? Good.

Claus Jensen Жыл бұрын

To hot for me lol

fengkorberfer Жыл бұрын

@Xiphactinus Jocko?

Charles Martella Жыл бұрын

36 degrees Celsius is bearable . Love from Australia xx

Kkthxhfbb Жыл бұрын

Hey Mark, great video as always! I was just wondering if you aware of the wiretap transcripts made by the British from discussions of German PoWs in prisoner camps that they had previously bugged. They were declassified some 20 years ago and - containing thousands upon thousands of pages - still have not been entirely analysed. Historian Söhnke Neitzel has done some work on this and published two books, one dealing with the wiretaps of German Generals in Trent Park, the other about those of common soldiers in various other camps. The books and the transcripts and first hand statements are incredibly interesting, though the books have not been translated to English so far afaik. Have you hear about them? I think this story would make for a fascinating video.

Erich Swafford Жыл бұрын

This wasn't an operation (Unternehmen Rösselsprung) undertaken by "elite troops". The 500th SS Parachute Battalion was a *penal* unit, and many of the officers assigned to it wanted out when they found out what it was (Source: Osprey Raid, Knight's Move and the excellent book "Kommando"). However, they fought very well and, at least afterward, could've been considered 'Elite' or at least 'Good'. But really, they were mainly desperate. Desperate to win back their ranks and reputations. Which they did - those that made it.

Aleksa Žunjić Жыл бұрын

Unit was mixed bag. There were volunteers, and there were volunteers who did some mild disciplinary infractions (AWOL, drunk on duty, stealing ..) and wanted to clear their honor. Overall, they were well trained and motivated, but the whole battalion was practically wiped out that day. Later they were reformed with lower quality recruits and were never elite unit or even trained to perform parachute jumps.

wasgeht dichdasan Жыл бұрын

Volunteer was used different back than... just saying

Abb Cc Жыл бұрын

apart from some obvious disasters the german penal units usually performed pretty good in the war, the soviets even copied them by creating their own penal units like the germans.

cannibalcorpse75 Жыл бұрын

Hi Mark. I enjoy your work very much. I just wanted to let you know, in the raid the Germans captured the cave Tito was hiding in, and they confiscated a new uniform the partisans had gave him for his birthday. There is a photo of the ss paratroopers posing with it.

Martin Davies Жыл бұрын

Another gem story by Dr. Felton ! Despite widely reading WW2 subjects, I was not fully aware of this raid and story. What a small fortune an SS Para helmet or jump smock is worth today, if you can find one !

Anis Ahmed Жыл бұрын

Hi Felton, I am watching regularly your 's short clips of WW11, really liked getting historical information. Thanks for your efforts and dedication.

Trust me, I don't work with the CIA Жыл бұрын

Great Job. You taught us a lot with this one. I never heard of this operation.

Rhaveno Voidderris Жыл бұрын

It's so secret we barely knew it

Jonatan Vlaisavljevic Жыл бұрын

Its very well known operation among the Yugoslavs, since primary school, It was called Desant na Drvar..

Hagmire84 Жыл бұрын

I literally can't get enough of these videos never stop Mark I enjoy swelling my brain with random WW2 incidents and factoids.

gavra98 Жыл бұрын

Great video, this is by far the best history channel on KZhome. Could you please do Yugoslavia’s pre war years and the beginning of the war?

bd C Жыл бұрын

I was there many many years ago. It was clear to me that Tito's rotation of offices between groups (and the federal spoils) was the only glue holding the place together. As I traveled on the last stretch of the paved road being finished between Dubrovnik and Belgrade, I commented to my wife that when he died, it was to worse than WW2.

Paul Roberts Жыл бұрын

I love learning about these small actions on less well know fronts, that are largely forgotten. History is always interesting. But learning something completely new is brilliant.

DrJones20 Жыл бұрын

They're not really forgotten at all

Baki Жыл бұрын

@DrJones20 well not over here in the balkans but the rest of the world yes its good felton educated them here i hope he does more videos about partisans

DrJones20 Жыл бұрын

@Baki I'm not from the balkans and I know about this. I guess I'm a nerd

Baki Жыл бұрын

@DrJones20 i guess so

Yol Akin Жыл бұрын

Always interesting and enlightening material. Thanks Mark.

Soju Жыл бұрын

It's so weird this was uploaded today. I was literally just searching this morning if there were any SS fallschirmjäger after a fellow reenactor had brought it up. Another wonderful video.

Freiheit Жыл бұрын

SS Brandenburger Brigade. Check it out. Compromised Mission.

P6 Жыл бұрын

You are using the word literally incorrectly.

Koen Van Dam Жыл бұрын

@P6 dontbelikethatplease ;)

Robert Laube Жыл бұрын

Dude, why you have that B.S for a pic?

NIGHTSKY Жыл бұрын

DUDE i was litteraly thinking about that too an hour ago ! Was wondering if SS fallschirmjager ever existed and BAM a mark felton video on them. I'm starting to think Mark has some kinds of superpowers

RL Wright Жыл бұрын

I'm always looking for a post from Mark on the historic makings of World War II. World War II was a learning point for all nations at that time On tactics of war and survivability at that time. Good Productions keep them coming.

Robert A. Жыл бұрын

Mark, you are a really great narrator and historian. I look forward to seeing your every post.

Marv Watkins Жыл бұрын

Tito cleverly played both the Soviets and the West to his advantage. I saw it first hand in Yugoslavian military hardware. Quite the brain and leader.

Peter Prandel Жыл бұрын

you saw it first hand? explain...

james maier Жыл бұрын

@curseditem wait what? 😄

Narednik Majka Жыл бұрын

He was leader of the Non-Aligned movement. If it didn't dissolve, today it would include India, Africa, South America,Middle East, South-East Asia and China. That's a lot of people. I think both USA and USSR were competing to give Tito best equipment in order to gain his favor.

br0z. 3 ай бұрын

It's funny how Vucic has been trying to do the same. Now he's about to recognize Kosovo :DD

AINTEROL Жыл бұрын

Dr.Felton always surprises us with some detailed piece of history. Rare photos, details of missions, etc. keep your followers motivated by the way you tell us 2WW history.

Bela Eszpresszo Жыл бұрын

2:48 For more insight into Sir Fitzroy MacLean, check out his book, "Eastern Approaches". MacLean has been called the real-life James Bond and this book covers details of his adventures in Yugoslavia, North Africa, Iran and pre-war Stalinist Soviet Union. Its a great read!

Darth Ku Жыл бұрын

Thanks for these amazing videos. I love history, especially WWII history due to my family's involvement in the war.

Fetchdafish Жыл бұрын

It always fascinates me that Germany was able to mount operations like this so late in the war

Henri K Жыл бұрын

In may 1944 German army was still relatably strong.

Tom Cade Жыл бұрын

Love the history lessons Mark!

mike ohagan Жыл бұрын

brilliant program, you had to have serious balls to be a paratrooper or a glider troop. very high casualty rate, on both sides, total respect.

Brian Thomson Жыл бұрын

Your videos are brilliant Mark, from a history perspective

Josh Arnold Жыл бұрын

Good job, how do you decide what topics to cover in your videos? Do you have specific themes or historical truths you want to convey over the course of your videos, or is it more interesting bits you’ve uncovered through your broader research?

Pieter Visser Жыл бұрын

Fitzroy MacClean wrote an excellent memoir on his time in the Sovjet Union North Afrika and Yugoslavia "Eastern Approaches". A great read I can Highly recommend.

Otto Didakt Жыл бұрын

Yes have read, very good indeed !

NITWIT Жыл бұрын

Awesome thank you

Sheil B Wright Жыл бұрын

The book also covers his time in pre-war USSR, insights into the purges, Stalin and his escapades in illegal tourism.

Pieter Visser Жыл бұрын

@Sheil B Wright Correct, its a great memoir and a great bit of history

Sheil B Wright Жыл бұрын

@Pieter Visser I was thinking about how you could do a great book "The Great British Warrior eccentrics of WW2" for such a hierarchal conformist society they seem to find room for them in wartime. Alister, Jack Churchill, Orde Wingate and David Stirling immediately spring to mind but I am sure that a few moments reflection would provide an embarrassment of riches.

Matthew Hauck Жыл бұрын

I remember reading about this operation as a kid, thank you for the video Dr. Felton.

Hemant Kumar Жыл бұрын

Calm down Mark, I only just finished watching the Gladiator video! Anyways, congrats on a lovely and informative video. You were the one that made me like history, especially WW2 history. However, I kindly suggest you should make a video on the 1942 Battle of Brisbane between Australian servicemen and civilians on one side and American soldiers on the other.

Jari Жыл бұрын

Another great informative video, thanks Mark!

antracon1 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Mark for your amazing work.

plaidchuck Жыл бұрын

Hey Mark can you do a video on the Red Orchestra and other resistance groups in Germany? Super interesting but it seems very complicated.

Aleksandar Nikolić Жыл бұрын

Great video again. The history of Yugoslavia is my field of interest. Thank you, Dr. Felton.

ASC. Жыл бұрын

How could anybody give this wonderful video a thumbs down? Shame on anybody who did.

James Stirling Жыл бұрын

I asked for some Yugoslav coverage a few months ago, Glad you have got round to it! The para raid was a perfect choice Mark. Perhaps Operation RATWEEK could be a good idea to cover

Jovica Materic Жыл бұрын

I'm in Drvar right now visiting family and Tito's cave is a massive tourist attraction here. Its a pain to climb up there though.

David Rixon Жыл бұрын

Please put some flowers on this sacred ground. I was marriedcto a Serbian and her pop survived until 1945 wgere he died from kidney disease.hiswife was tortured and spent the next 60 term in an institution. My exwifes mum was looked after in in orphanage and was a very cold and strange woman. Its the aftermath of the war that affects generations to this day. My ex never had a childhood either but a fantastic mother to our children. The best thing her parents did was to immigrate to Australia where we have a large population of Serbian people.

Edward Curuvija Penrose Жыл бұрын

@No one apparently 70.73% debt to GDP, what a land of gold genius.

No one apparently Жыл бұрын

@Edward Curuvija Penrose I was referring to the beauty of the country

perun555 Жыл бұрын

@Edward Curuvija Penrose Good answer and he forget to mention enormous emigration to europe to find work, Yugoslavia had a economy in the 80 s a lot of countrys wish for. And in time of big earthquake a lot of coastline was destroyed Yugoslavia build it up again. People that post these comment are usually the ones that don't live in ex Yugoslavia anymore.

zagorteneej Жыл бұрын

Mark very accurate view on the particular offensive by Germans, the only thing that needs to be corrected is that initial partisan position was stormed for there was only 3 companies ( 300 men or so) guarding the perimeter, plus at that time there was a military school in Drvar, with teachers roughly (80 to 100 man) , main partisan force came from place called Trubari wich is some 20 km away from Drvar. The unit that stopped the Germans is 3. Lika Proleterian Brigade, unit that really distinguished itself during that battle. In a 15-hour battle it nearly destroyed entire SS regiment. They fought a good fight that day, I think they deserve to be mentioned.

Rocker 58 Жыл бұрын

Tito was an inspiration not only to his countrymen

burants Жыл бұрын

Dr Mark does it yet again, great lesson in history sir and thanks for your neutral content

burants Жыл бұрын

@Gann Deber Do you think so ?? I think he just tells good war stories irrespective of the armies fighting in the battles, I'd certainly not have him as a nazi worshipper

Kevin McKenzie Жыл бұрын

Great story and information. Thank you Dr. Felton!

Scott Leppard Жыл бұрын

Nicely done Mark as always.

antartis73 Жыл бұрын

This is a video I was hoping Mark would do.. and he has come through again! Superb

robotorch Жыл бұрын

Another amazing hidden story pulled from the depths of unknown-to-most WW2 history! Totally new information to me!

Martin Hogg Жыл бұрын

Really interesting! Never heard of this operation before. Top marks as usual to Dr Felton!

Beach Boy Жыл бұрын

A very good video 📹 Actually this was a very successful German paratroop attack. Late in the war, it's amazing the German mounted a brilliant airborne assault. The Stuka was still a formidable aircraft, exactly like the helicopter 🚁 gunships.

MewintheDark Жыл бұрын

Mark you got me addicted to your vids haha. keep it up! i love the content! i really would like to see more videos about the bloodflag!

Mark Sixsmith Жыл бұрын

Fitzroy Maclean (02:46) was an amazing character - politician, soldier (rose from private to brigader), and adventurer. Well worth reading about.

nzmonsterman Жыл бұрын

Those paratroopers were certainly brave men. What a mission to undertake.

MrRQDQ Жыл бұрын

Mark, as a former Yugoslav myself this was a great coverage of the topic. :) Just to nitpick s bit - the Z i Broz is pronounced the same way as you'd pronounce the 'Z' in Zimbabwe.

hect190-909 Жыл бұрын

Nobody messes with Yugoslava. We prefer to do it ourselves.

A A Жыл бұрын

Yugoslavia was bored of no one being able to destroy them... so they did it themselves

Konstantin Cvetanovic Жыл бұрын

A sad truth

Dan Mio Жыл бұрын

Stane Dolanc one of Yugoslav high officials and close Tito's aides was asked once by a journalist about rumors that Yugoslavia would disintegrate after Tito's death. He said: "If someone attacks us they will see how united we are." The journalist then asked: "What if no one attacks you?"

Kieran Lillis Жыл бұрын

@A A problem is it was an artificial creation so many issues. I did 3 tours there, beautiful country and people were great, just no to each other

A A Жыл бұрын

@Kieran Lillis Its a shame we cant all get along really, but it is what it is

Ageing Viking Жыл бұрын

Nicely done Mark ! Thank you.

TigVI panther Жыл бұрын

Just joining the chorus here. Mark does a fantastic job and I watch all I can find. Has he ever done a full length documentary?

SICK NOTE 1 Жыл бұрын

Yeah he's been on the telly seen him in a few world war 2 documentaries like the history Channel or discovery

MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou Жыл бұрын

This timing is impeccable, I just finished reading Eugene Systems post about their ongoing work for the Nemesis: Raid on Drvar DLC for Steel Division Two. This gives some nice context! Great video as always Mark.

Christopher Smith Жыл бұрын

After the heavy casualties in 'knight's move', the battalion was rebuilt and designated 600 SS para, under the command of Skorzeny. As such parts of it were incorporated into 150 Pz brigade for the battle of the Bulge

Filip Davkov Жыл бұрын

Dear Dr.Felton I very glad that you covered a battle story from jugoslavia. I was very young when jugoslavia collapsed, but I remember this battle from our history books. It was a battle known under a code name " horse jump" and it was prased as a battle in which partisans sacrificed them selves to protect Tito. The Germans entered the cave but the only thing they find was Tito uniform. It was a subject of many movies and television series in former jugoslavia ment to show the courage and sacrifice of the partisans. Maybe in future you may find other stories from the battles in jugoslavia. Best regards

Don L Жыл бұрын

Fascinating as always Professor Felton and once again for me a piece of WW-II history I never knew, many thanks.

Vincnet Jones Жыл бұрын

This should have been a much more detailed, accurate and interesting article... just rehashed in a poor manner. Seems to have been dashed off in a hurry to meet a target time

joey cahill Жыл бұрын

Great video as always Mark, thank you!

jewelltuber Жыл бұрын

Great video, any comment on the British using an enigma intercept to tip off Tito, after all Fitzroy Maclean was inner circle. Would also be great, as a Brit, if you did a video on enigma and what has been declassified over the years. For example, a Canadian historian using documents declassified in the last 30 years has shown that the purpose of the Dieppe raid was a desperate attempt to snatch a new four rotor enigma machine.

FleetCenturion Жыл бұрын

Skorzeny's attempt came much closer to capturing him. These operations require a scalpel, not a broadsword. Tito was apparently forced to escape so suddenly, that he had to leave behind all his uniforms.

thEannoyingE Жыл бұрын

I missed this history lesson, thanks again Dr. Felton.

T C Жыл бұрын

I had a teacher/professor named Richard Salmon at Archbishop Molloy HS in Queens NY in the mid 1980’s. He was an historical genius and a Superb storyteller. An Englishman like Felton,but also coming from a recusant family in England……I don’t believe he earned the recognition he deserved. He made school not only bearable but his class was an oasis of learning and tales of war, peace and madness.

blitzblutz Жыл бұрын

My father's uncle (my great uncle) was on this raid. He claimed to have had Tito's coat in his hands and felt that he was close to having caught him.

panicatack Жыл бұрын

Paratroopers did capture Tito's uniform, there is actually a photograph with couple of paratroopers posing for the camera and holding that uniform.

GoogleUser 42 2 күн бұрын

If only he did capture him….

Judge Lazar Жыл бұрын

Something I've learned through reading and various sources, I wouldn't call "odd' but fascinating is that the make up of many of the most successful special forces units from these very early WWII units to today are often made up of what most people would consider as antithetical to the idea of a good soldier. Trouble makers, outcasts, riff raff, etc etc. The reasons are somewhat obvious when you think about it, just one of those weird quirks of human behavior when it comes to matters of commiting acts of violence on each other.

Pikc Kažinkavičius Жыл бұрын

I heard a version that that Skorzeny was offered to lead the mission but refused because he had serious security concerns (insuficient secrecy and hence a high probability of the enemy finding out about the operation and preparing accordingly). This version sounds plausible as Skorzeny would look like an obvious choice after Mussolini's rescue, yet the operation was headed by Rybka instead. BTW, the latter name (pronounced as [reebka], not [rahybka], as in the video) is interesting per se, as in Slavonic languages (at least in Russian, Czech, and Polish) the name literally means "a small fish", which leads to a suspicion that the guy might have had mixed ancestry.

john craig Жыл бұрын

should have own TV show....stories are great and told in a straightforward,uncomplicated and concise way that everyone could enjoy them........come on History channel get this guy signed up

NoYouAreNotDreaming Жыл бұрын

My Grandfather fought in this battle...he was first in German forces but after his father told him that they will lose war and that he should switch sides he went to join partisans...he fought in this battle he protected tito..and after he didnt want to lie about what happened there he ended up in prison,gulag...Goli Otok...5 years...after that he came home and got rifle with insignia on it in gold from Tito...saying thank you for your service...

Joseph Cro 11 ай бұрын

He protected tito and tito sent him go gulag? And then gave him a golden rifle?

NoYouAreNotDreaming 11 ай бұрын

@Joseph Cro yes...not golden rifle but gold inscriptions on rifle like "thank you for your service" bullshit

Joseph Cro 11 ай бұрын

@NoYouAreNotDreamingthat's socialism for you