Where Hitler First Saw Combat | History Traveler Episode 381

Very surprising that Corporal Hitler survived combat during WWI. Many of his comrades and later replacements killed in combat or very badly wounded. I would say he was a very dedicated and brave soldier. He was not special, he was just a common infantryman who was a messenger because their life expectancy was no better than any other infantryman.

Incredible video as always 👏🏼 great you corrected yourself on the German grave markers, I never knew that. Everyday is a school day. Where is your go to place to get your archive footage? You seem to find stuff I’ve never seen before

Another amazing video,it has to give a person a sense of awe to be there,I’ve been doing some research on the 11th Airborne Division and the raid on Los Banos is it possible that you will do a video on this? Thanks

even after this time they are still the invaders

If ever there was hell on earth it was yepers. Please sir go to the mehan gate for the night ceremony. This a personal request shout out loud " you are not forgotten" remember the names you see there are the names of men with no known grave.

Top stuff JD

Awesome! Thank you JD for taking us on this WW1 journey, my favourite history topic! Love your channel mate ❤

Went to Langemarck when I did a battlefield tour in school, was astonished at the difference between a commonwealth cemetary VS German ones,


Commonwealth always seem brighter and airy VS the "darker" cemetary

Interesting vid JD… lot of new information 👏🏻🪖

Hi JD,
I‘ve been following your channel for quite a while now and I must say that you‘re really doing a great job! 👌

As a German citizen, however, I need to correct you in one important detail:
Surprisingly, it is NOT the German government that takes care of German war cemetaries, but a humanitarian association called „Volksbund Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V.“ which is mainly funded by donations. 😉🤓

Twsss clean pass threw my boi.

Hey love the channel should visit old burriel cemetery injust north of Boston revolutionary solders buried

My wife's great grandfather, KIA at Pilckem Ridge in the 1917 British offensive, is buried here. In 2002, she was the first of her family to visit his grave. He was originally buried in Westroozebeke and was reinterred here in the 1950s. In 2002, the bronze plaque you mentioned was still there. The plaque was placed over a name carved into the stone: "HEINRICH LERSCH 1914". I believe this man was the architect of the cemetery.

The loss if life just in that cemetery is astounding. Think about if those folks lived and what may or may not have been thought of...man...Also interesting insight into what Hitler held and what shaped him

Another great episode JD! That mass grave is unreal, keep up the great work mate 😊👍

This is so good. Thank you.

25 years later they marched them into Stalingrad for the repeat...

Had the opportunity to visit Ypres in 2022 while researching for a film project - was such an insightful visit. Thank you JD for adding such great historical context to my trip and giving my visit more meaning 🙏🏻

Bravo ✌️

Langermark is one of the most somber cemeteries on the western front imo. While you’re in the area you should try find the “hitler”bunker just near the town of Frommels. There is a photo of him visiting it in 1940. Also his billet from 1916 still stands in a small town called Fournes. Stuart Curry has an interesting website with photos. Cheers from 🇦🇺

What I have often wondered about, for years,is where exactly that photo was taken, of Adolf Hitler and his fellow soldiers. They are next to a trellis, it appears. It was taken during World War 1, sometime.

Thank you for sharing

The first time always the most special one

JD, I wouldn't say Hitler lied. there are a few differing accounts that were told that the young students sung a lot and went into battle singing. He may have been mistaken on the song (certainly debatable, but others corroborated) , but his assessment was correct.

I used to own a photo album from a German vet who was in Langemark in 1940 when Hitler visited and took pics of the same things you are showing.

Where do you find the trenchline map?

Another great post sir, please keep them coming.

How do you know they were not singing Deutschland ueber alles and he lied about it? Just curious how such a mundane thing can be identified later as a lie?

went to the service at the menin gate - it was the fire service carrying out the Last post then. everyone respected it and it was extremely emotional

Very informative, excellent video !!!

Very cool!! Any plans on coming over to Okinawa for the 80th next year? In the south theres a lot of city, but Kakazu, Hacksaw, Wana ridge, and others are currently parks so they are pretty well preserved. I bet you could even get in contact with 3rd MLG to be able to see the museum on Camp Kinser.

Really enjoyed the video mate can't wait for the next one

Every video you’ve made are amazing. I enjoy every one. Keep up the good work.

hey, nice to see my region, have been following you for a while, greetings from Kemmel (Belgium)

I actually live there in Langemark

Im an american and my british 3rd cousin faught and died in the thrid battle of Ypres on Oct 11,1917 where his remains still lay in pieces to this day somewhere on or near Hill 60. He was with the 6th yeomanry whiltshire regiment

As a combat veteran myself, I have always been fascinated in learning about Hitlers War experience as its probably the closest I will ever come to actually relating to the guy. Almost....Almost, feeling sorry for him. No doubt this effected him and shaped his future. The obvious distinction that needs to be made here is that Hitler clearly didn't learn the right things from the experience.

Great work as always

In those days there was no social media or even media as we have now. So maybe rumours from Soldiers coming home that said they had seen "things" were believed to be true on both sides. With no one or nothing to prove their stories wrong, i can imagine how a populace in the state it was in, would believe anything thrown at them. Que for Mr Himmler many years later. That's another story. Great vid JD, thanks.

Excellent JD!!! I visited that same cemetery back in 1998

You guys were pretty close to the bunker where Hitler billeted for 3 nights (still exists) outside the town of Fromelles; he actually re-visited the bunker on one of his battlefield tours in June 1940. Also the brick wall where the famous photo was taken of the guys in the Bavarian List Regiment (with Hitler and their dog) was still there when I visited many years ago. Maybe you are covering those sites in another episode... great stuff, and keep up the good work!

On top of the hill… looks like South Dakota to me
🍻

i have a cat named hitler

American government loved Hilter and his ideology so they brought surviving war criminals to American and place them charge of organisations ,,
So u have a satanic gov mixed with Nazis and ppl wonder why the current world is so evil

Eeps

I wouldn't say 'Hitler sometimes lied' but 'Hitler was a pathological liar'

Hitlers career wasn’t all bleak. I mean he did kill Hitler !

Amazing. Thank you JD for another fantastic look back.
❤️💯

Eeee-per? 😂

What a waste of human life.