Battlefield S2/E1 - The Battle for North Africa
I do not own, nor do I or intend to profit from this content whatsoever. "Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
All right reserved to:
NBC Universal
Directed by Dave Flitton, Andy Aitken, James Wignall
Produced by Dave Flitton (series prod.), David McWhinnie, Ken Maliphant, David Rozalla
Written by Dave Flitton, Andy Aitken, James Wignall
Narrated by Jonathan Booth
Music by David Galbraith
Distributed by Public Broadcasting Service
Release date(s) 1996
Running time 6 116-minute episodes
Country USA
Language English
I swear, I could watch these documentaries all day and never get tired of it.
I have and never gets boring
And yet nobody cares.
@@poliziagrammaticale9430 you need to start caring
@@poliziagrammaticale9430 Obviously you’re alone in that thought.
No, I find myself in agreement with my Grammatical friend. Anyone who gets tired watching documentaries is foolish and must be doing it wrong!
These documentaries are totally gems. Brilliant the narrative narrator maps the bgm all are perfect. Wonderful.
Puts the so called history channel to shame
I honestly don't think there's a better historical world war II series out there, this is a masterpiece.
Soviet storm is up there too. Another classic
@@Psychonaut165: Very good to know 👍 Many thanks to you1
World at War, simply the best
Shout to our former South African brothers who too rarely receive the recognition and gratitude they deserve for this and so many more #WW2 battles. #OurHistory 📚☘️
Search “the world at arms 1973”.
With the well written script and a clearly spoken narration by Jonathan Booth, makes this series one of the best on KZhead.
They’re also on Tubi. Makes it nice to have it on both. Really well done series, the best as far as logistics, basic statistics and overall experience of battles.
Yes in like 2-hour episodes on basically every battle you could ever 1, even some minuscule event like the balkans
Tim Piggot Smith is the narrator for this particular episode.
These battlefield documentaries are simply amazing. I watch all of them. Fascinating.
Andy Brennand I know right their simply so informative.
Indeed they are clear concise wonderfully narrated this and Mark Felton are my Favorite!
Amazing detail.
I wish I could find either a blu ray set or a dvd set
@@tulpfiction8920 Amazon has them
This is how you make a military documentary.
Yes Luga has shown the way. Big upz Luges.
@@ludaheracles7201 he didn't make any of the documentaries on his channel.
@@sam8404 no but he did take the time to upload the whole series. Look up the other videos of the same, not nearly as good quality as these.
@@nimbusnimbus.IV. yeah I know. Just saying a lot of people think he makes all the documentaries on his channel.
I absolutely agree. I've never seen a more complete, and accurate documentary. Only reading a book would be more informative.
My great uncle fought with the 93rd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 6th Battalion Anti-tank Regiment and was killed in Tunisia in 1943 in the Battle for North Africa. It's hard for my grandfather to watch this episode as he came home after his service. I'm so glad there are documentaries such as this.
Indeed, brave and committed. North Africa must have been an extraordinarily difficult place to fight. Weather conditions, dust, little cover... bad food, constant dehydration. A very special heroic group of men.
My heart goes out to you and your family
Fvffffffffrrfffffffffffffffrb3u
God bless your great-uncle! We owe our freedom and lifestyle to great men and women like him. It was incredibly challenging to fight there. It would be hard to be that tough. Thanks and God Bless.
Never forgotten chum.
My Great Uncle Major. Ronald Anderson Gerrard D.S.O, fought and died in Tobruk, he is my hero and will be forever greatful for his services to keep are country and otheres alive. i didnt meet him, but he seemed too be a honarable decent man
He was fighting to preserve the British Empire.
coh3 africa korps gameplay-kzhead.info/sun/dMOGpaispIeIqp8/bejne.html
Those were some brave men and determined men who fought in North Africa. God bless their souls.
These documentaries do the best the can to show us what war was like but the stories my grandfather told me growing up were way darker. What these men faced is nothing short of hell. There should be a monument to every single one of them. No amount of thanks could ever be enough. It makes me sick how entitled people are these days and don’t have a clue what struggle and sacrifice really means and how they don’t have respect for what all the men and women of both world wars went through to keep us all free and live the lives we are able to live.
Dame right!
One of, if not the best narrative individual battle documentary series ever produced. Excellent footage and maps, neutral presentation and Timothy Piggot Smith narrating...awesome. LOVE the soundtrack too; hate that they changed it in subsequent series.
I find it very interesting that they begin with a cursory treatment of Operations Compass and the destruction of the Italians, Brevity and then Battleaxe and the cascade of British commanders. Almost like they don't want to talk about the British defeats until there is a "happy ending" at El Alamein.While the real roll back of the Axis began at the second El Alamein, how they got into that position to begin with is an interesting bit of history and probably deserves more attention than it is given here. It just depends on the story you want to tell, and in this case, the victor writes the history.Not saying this is a bad episode, quite the opposite is true, but the presentation is neutral with a decidedly British twist. Or "edited for content and to run in the time allotted" as they say on US television.
Not really. If you look carefully you can find journals and histories from all participating groups in a conflict.
but those are only from those sides. What I want to see is a postwar commander's analysis. Also, most of this series is being copyrighted and im wondering if anyone can tell me any other way to see these?
They are available on DVD from Amazon, but be careful to check that the format (NTSC, PAL, etc.) is appropriate for your region.
no bs videos, all footage came from the exact period. powerful soundtrack too.
Excellent series. I remember watching this many years ago; it has certainly stood the test of time. Thank you for making it available.
My mother’s father was taken POW by the English on May 13, 1943, a day he never forgot. A 21 year old boy, changed forever by the horrors of that war. He didn’t return back home to southern Italy for almost 4 years. Wish I still had him around to hear his stories.
lol sucks to be a fascist
Yea it’s heartbreaking no matter the faction
@@FuZZy-ToAstY no it isn’t. it’s awesome when fascist scum pay the price for being fascist scum. just like it’s awesome when american soldiers met their end in afghanistan or iraq or vietnam. you invade a foreign nation who was no threat to you to kill their innocent people, then you deserve to pay the ultimate price for your evil deeds.
Much love to your family, from Britain.
THAT'S the real collateral damage that isn't considered.
This is a great series for us WWII history nuts! Thanks for the uploads!
I swear I learned more about WWII from these documentaries than I ever did in High School
I love this series. The first 2 seasons with Tom Piggot Smith narrating are the best.
+mrichar9 YOU ARE RIGHT....MUCH BETTER....
Yeh gotta love the pig.
+mrichar9 Yes i agree whole hearetedly! A masterpiece.
what?
Not enough to spell his first name correctly apparently.
Thank you, Vasile Luga, for the video uploads...excelence.
Cheers Luges
thank's great doc love these series fall a sleep with every night like the voice ( and the accent ) off the narater
risnoner feyenoordrotterdam and I thought I was the only one using this as sleeping aid
no you ain't pretty lady we must be lunatic lol
I love the sound of wind in the documentary as they focus in.
All of these wwll documentaries heavily remind me of my Grandad and my GreatGrandad , they were both full-time professional Army officers in the Greek Royal Army. Miss you guys❗
54:30 'Do you think it needs more salt, Franz?' 'It's not bad, Dietrich.'
A Pour le Merite winner, Rommel was an outstanding infantry commander of WW1. This fact tends to be overlooked sometimes because of his fame in the desert but for anyone interested, a study of his exploits in the Great War will give you whole new appreciation of his ability.
Yes. I read his book "Infantry Attacks," about his exploits in the First World War.
Certainly a skilful tactician and improviser but lacking in consideration of wider strategic and logistic variables. Added to this his less than ideal relationship with Kesselring and he was always doomed to failure in Africa. Probably shouldn't have been promoted above Division/Corp commander in the first place. He was thoroughly outfought by Montgomery.
Stands up so well compared to the false histories being taught today. No documentary series compares in scope and thoroughness!
it`s never too late to get your GED
Incredible Documentary. Great footage, objectively narrated, and exceptionally well organized. 5 stars.
Hats off to Luga for this
Thank you for posting these. Great show. Some data is a bit outdated now, but still at the time produced best war documentary out there.
Thank you so much for posting all these
Thank you for the video It helps me to look up links and read about other stuff
I’m proud of my father who went to North Africa as an officer in the tankers. They deprived the Nazis of the Middle East oil fields. His older brother went into France via the D Day invasion. His younger brother served in the US Navy in the South Pacific. Everyone came home. 🇺🇸
Absolutely amazing. I imagine you heard so many stories from them. I've always found the period of both world wars to be fascinating in terms of their tremendous historical staying power and insight into today.
The Whermacht wern't Nazis. As a matter of fact, most soldiers/memebers in the Whermacht didn't support the 3rd Reich. Just a pointer there.
@@mahmudii2081 the myth of the clean Wehrmacht is just that, a myth. The Heer as a quasi independent “state within a state” was gradually eroded during the late 20’s into the 30’s. The officer corps was largely aligned with the Nazi Party and its goal of militarizing Germany. By the 39 invasion of Poland the Wehrmacht leadership was fully aware of Hitler’s genocidal intent. Likewise, the myth of a clean Rommel has also been overstated. He was complicit in and supportive of rounding up Tunisian Jews for future extermination.
My great grandfather was in KDG and went out to North Africa.
You should write down the stories.... before they are forgotten.
thank you for uploading this series...
The 1941 Seige of Tobruk needs a video of its own. It's a fascinating event in WWII.
I remember watching this as a kid found it fascinating
Still is Mr Casserly
So happy to find this! One of the best sleeping video. I've tried to watch it more than 10 times but never passed 5 min
I too enjoy this Battlefield series, well made and narrated, with only rare mis-quotes of the facts (some WW2 documentaries are so riddled with wrong information to be un-watchable) , Thanks for posting.
The 2nd New Zealand Division in battle formation in the desert,during the later stages,it covered an area 78 sq km's.
believe me, i have watched plenty of these ww2 stuff. This series is the best! Every part of it makes you feel that era
If you are interested here is my channel where my father discusses his first hand experiences in North Africa. kzhead.info/tools/b89K58ISJdEYEuPrj2cTqw.html?%5C=
The iron law of logistics.
Timeless in its excellence!!!! Amazingly well executed production!!
I love these series, wish some day we will have better quality.
The Battle of Kasserine Pass reminds me of the Battle of the Bulge: armored penetration of a quiet front, panicked Allied reaction, and then frustration of the overambitious attack.
1 division fighting in Africa, the rest of the WW2 British were sitting on their island, yelling, "help, help!"
Have you ever looked at a history book?
Go read a history book dickhead
My dad was an Ack Ack gunner in WWII, he was in N. Africa and Anzio, I wonder if he ever shot down any German planes in N. Africa. I have a wonderful pic of him and his buddies in Italy eating a spaghetti dinner, a nice woman invited them in to eat and she fed them all! He said it was the first 'real meal' he'd had in 4 years. I have his Purple Heart, he was wounded twice but they sent them right back out once they bandaged them up. He had shrapnel in the back of his legs for the rest of his life and he had to have the lower part of his right lung removed from being blown forward from a mortar right into the recoil of the Ack Ack he was manning.
What a great video! I’m very impressed! Cheers!
History channel is great though if you wanna learn about Yetis & how Aliens built the pyramids.
😂😂😂
Oodlepoodle Puke Shitty copy and paste comment about the history channel ✅
This is the kind of thing the history channel used to air...
This episode is far superior to most other documentaries on the North Africa campaign. More interesting, clearer, and great footage.
Too bad that it's still full of bias against the Italians. Sure, compared to the other major powers they performed poorly, but not as poorly as this documentary explains or insinuates.
historynerd88 Oh please, the itallians are referred to in this as vastly inferior to the Germans, which is 100% undeniably true. Stop trying to be offended by something that isn't offensive. In the scheme of this massive conflict, i rank the Italians second to last, only above the nazi french.
TripleThreatKris Thanks for demonstrating that you are 100% biased. Why don't you try to read something objective instead of repeating mindlessly things? You might be surprised. Perhaps just a peek at this links could give you some doubts: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Italy_during_World_War_II#Non-belligerence en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Italy_during_World_War_II#Controversies_of_historiography
TripleThreatKris Idiot
'rank' what
I like the fact you cover both sides with no biased. Usually there’s a clear biased on one side.
Excellent professional and accurate historical accounts
My grandad was there. Royal Engineers, El Alamein to Monte Cassino and beyond.
Best WW2 series of them all, thank you for sharing!
If you have Tubi, the Field of Operations series is available and it’s as excellent as this.
Half this documentary focuses mainly on Al Alemain. There are several battles completely omited here. And several other important factors
loved watching this show when i was a kid
Very good . Appreciation for history,,, I especially like the soundtrack
08.04.1941 Ariete captures Mechili. Bersaglieri capture 3,000 Allied troops. 15.05.1941 Bersaglieri anti-tank gunners derail the British offensive, known as Operation Brevity. A German Colonel later praised the Bersaglieri anti-tank gunners, saying they defended Halfaya Pass "...with lionlike courage until the last man against stronger enemy forces. The greatest part of them died faithful to the flag." 10.11.1941 Italians defeat a Russian attempt to cross the Don River. 16.06.1942 Italians overrun & capture 6, 000 Allied troops outside Tobruk. 15.07.1942 Colonel Angelozzi's men defeat the Australian 2/23rd Battalion's attempt to recapture the position. 30.06.1942 Littorio surrounds Mersa Matruh & Bersaglieri capture 6,500 Allied soldiers.
joey8062 Rommel had high praise for the common Italian soldier. They were good soldiers when lead by a good leader. It was the Italian command that Rommel didn't like and blamed them, rightfully so too for the lack of leadership.
+joey8062. North Africa - August 1940 to January 1941, 130,000 Italian soldiers were taken prisoner by 2 Australian Divisions. Hence Germany got involved in North Africa.
grappa m I already know that.
Italy had no real industry when the war started so the Italian equipment sucked. Their navy got the priority, but their ships lacked radar. And after that came the airforce in priority, but despite winning lots of prizes for fast flying aircrafts in peacetime did the industry never mass-produce any planes and production was split up among many companies and models. And last in priority came the army, and the equipment was too old and made in too small numbers. So the italian forces had crappy equipment and bad fighting morale thereby. Her industry wasn't ready for war, and suffered resource shortages already in 1941. And since Germany bought up all Romanian oil, there was no resources left for Italy.
"The German soldier has astonished the world; the Italian Bersagliere has astonished the German soldier" Rommel
We should have allied with Germany against the real threat.
What? The Irish Free State?
@@thevillaaston7811 The Soviet Union was the only threat to the British Empire. The Irish Free State had ceased to exist in 1937.
@@MarkHarrison733 So glad that the Soviet Union not invade any part of the British Empire. So glad that the world knows that DeValera's Irish State was pro Nazi.
@@thevillaaston7811 The Soviet Union destroyed the British Empire from within. Germany did not invade any part of the British Empire.
Multumesc pentru upload!
Great work!!
(2 part) "Even in the air, the British could now count on greater superiority than ever before. Sir Arthur Tedder, the commander-in-chief of the Middle East Air Force, now had 96 operational squadrons at his disposal, including 13 Americans, 13 South Africans and 1 Rhodesian, 5 Australians, 2 Greeks, 1 French and 1 Yugoslav. In total it was more than 1500 fighter planes. Of these, 1200, based in Egypt and Palestine, were ready to support the attack of the 8th Army, while no more than 350 German and Italian planes were available in Africa to support the Panzerarmee. This air superiority proved invaluable in hindering the movement of the Panzerarmee and the regular influx of supplies to its divisions, as well as in protecting the supply columns of the 8th Army from similar interference. But by far more important in determining the outcome of the battle was the indirect and strategic action that, together with the British navy submarines, the air force carried out to block the maritime supply routes of the Panzerarmee. In September almost a third of the ships carrying supplies for Rommel's forces sank while crossing the Mediterranean, while many ships were forced to return to their ports of departure. In October the action of the English planes and submarines became even more intense, and less than half of the supplies destined to Rommel reached their destination. At one point the Germans were so short of artillery ammunition that they could do little to respond to the British artillery fire. The worst blow for the Germans, however, was the sinking of the tankers loaded with fuel, none of which reached the African coast during the weeks immediately before the English offensive; so it was that when the battle opened the Panzerarmee found itself with only 3 "full" of fuel, instead of the 30 that were considered the minimum necessary reserve. This very serious lack of fuel had almost paralyzing consequences for the Germans' ability to counter manoeuvre, forcing them to distribute their mobile forces in a fragmentary way, preventing their timely concentration at the points of attack and even immobilizing them as the fight continued. The inadequacy of food supplies contributed significantly to the spread of diseases of various kinds among the troops."
the hawker hurricane is the sexiest aircraft design of all-time, if youve seen every design ever made. but i guess it depends on your personal taste ;p
I like them too. They look reassuringly solid and able to take punishment.
I prefer the macchi 202 and 205. But ok.
@@zenoist2 lots of solid cloth
This series is so well done I love the introduction it builds up a suspense.. it's one of the best historical documentaries on war ever put out.... Thanks
This is a superb series!
It is interesting how international British 8th Army in North Africa then later in Italian Campaign was. As well as Brits there were Australians , New Zealanders , Indians , South Africans , Free French , Free Greeks etc...
Interesting! I never knew that the Allies had to fight French resistance in the Med other than Churchill's toughest decision to attack the French warships when the French had Surrendered to Germany.
That was another war crime.
but the Vichy french hadn't surrendered to Germany, even sections of the free french were obstructionist and difficult to deal with. I can't see that Churchill had any other options. People like Laval handing over the french gold reserves and large industrial complex's was further proof of their treachery. Later in Syria/Lebanon and Madagascar the allies had to fight the Vichy french, what a waste of lives and resources. Plus there was fighting during the Operation Torch landings.
@@markharrison2544 liberating your grandparents was the war crime.
@@SG-ug9xj keyboard hero...
(Part 2) Well, the position entrusted to the 6th, along with that of the 19th that was even further south, could be said to be the most unfortunate of the already unpleasant of the whole front ... and it was no longer the case to insist with the irony. Absolutely flat terrain and no other protection than the wide mined expanse that separated them to the east from the English. Perhaps my thought is not correct, but I really believe that to favor this relative tranquility was precisely the precariousness of their arrangement. Come to think of it, one company put there to be the first bulwark ... once the British had neutralized a single mined band, what could he do in front of the Sherman? Yes, four 47/32 had also placed them in the area ... but it is useless to ask if the September 30th experience in Deir - el - Munassib would have served anything. This we have ... and that God send us good! Eh, life at the 6th was difficult. Every movement had to be done at night and this also became problematic because they were placed right on the edge of the minefield, with all the dangers that could come. To the north, at the corner between the bag and the minefield was the 1st platoon of Lieutenant De Tura with a 47/32. At the center, between two other countermars, the II platoon of Lieutenant Torricelli, and finally at the south corner, the third platoon entrusted to the second lieutenant Brandi, who only a couple of days before the English offensive had replaced the lieutenant Crosti, ill . This was what they called the resistance line, which then, after a slight depression, continued with the 19th company of the captain Salerno. One hears about resistance and maybe imagines a whole series, more or less valid, of defensive preparations or things like that. There at the 6th - if we do not always want to put it on the tragic - the relative tranquility, had until that famous evening of October 23, they had paid with so many sacrifices imposed by isolation and the need not to be located during the hours diurnal. Being stony ground, with peak and shovel, night after night, the 6th paratroopers had made a network of walkways and passages. I repeat: peak and shovels and stony ground. You beat picks ... and you know what noise do you do? Three meters to the east is a sea of mines, and who is that commander who jeopardizes the lives of his men, sending them to the minefield at night, even if it is about protecting the work of others? We relied on volunteers, yes. People who had studied the placement of mines and that every sunset ... crossed his fingers and walked to the east, where every meter could find the terminus of their days. Oh, of course, all those who were called "the raids of hope" went, which was then to come back undamaged. In short, with a lot of attention and sacrifice, at the 6th something they had done, so when the "music" of October 23rd evening began, there, among the clerks, the men of the company and a section of machine-guns just arrived, there they were 100 men, more enraged than having to suspend the distribution of food, not from the thought of the sudden frenzy carried out by the English artillery.
Yup. America was punched in the face. Knocked down, and trash talked. Then the bell for round 3 rung and it was all allies from there. Early offense wasn't Americas strong suit. But setting up defensive lines and well established supply routes (not trying to keep up with Patton) was what the army in early 42 was good at.
I would suggest reading the Romel Papers to gain insight into what Romel was struggling with as he attempted to reach Cairo. An excellent read. In trying to choose the best commander on the German side, keep in mind that panzer corps work better in concert with each other. Also Romel was able to operate with more independence in North Africa than most of the commanders in Russia. I believe that Romel was better at corp commander level, as opposed to panzer army command. For that, give me Guderian.
Model and Manstein were the best.
Rommel which who becoming a hidden person which who was behind Operation Valkyrie the doing in of Adolf Hitler which who wasn't killed by the time-bomb explosion And that poor guy which who given the choice of a People's court and the complete destruction of his family The other choice which who was to take poison to preventing the complete destruction of his family He was if he was surviving he could of being teaching in a oversea military college and maybe writing about his life and serving in the Imperial German Army and the Wehrmacht in the two world wars and which who was being the most commander of the famous Afrika Korps
It was corps level command - roughly
Rommel is - for good reason - the only German General whose name was and is known and respected in Britain. He was a real soldier who was (to a great extent) one of the few commanders who succeeded despite the micro-management of the incompetent and hugely arrogant high-command in Berlin
Germany had many great commanders, but Rommel was not among the best, he had a rank above his own skill level and he constantly got into logistical problems and on numerous occasions he throw away his troops in thoughtless attacks and then demanded reinforcements, while Germany needed every man she could get on other more important fronts. Germany's great commanders ere Kesselring, Halder, Model, Hausser, Manstein, Manteuffel, Guderian and von Kluge.
I disagree. Patton said he learned armored combat from Rommel. Even Monty said he was the best commander the Germans had. Model was Hitler's toady. "Smiling Albert" Kesselring was indeed a great commander. Manstein, Manteuffel, & Guderian were very good TACTICAL commanders, not strategic.
Rommel is a great field commander, but there are many among the German generals especially on the Eastern Front that were as competent if not better. Manteuffel is just as good as him and probably a bit more skillful as a tactician and Balck especially is a level above Rommel in all categories. I actually rate Balck as perhaps the best German general of the war. He displayed a complete understanding and mastery of mobile warfare and modern war at all levels of command, from division all the way to army group. Rommel is better known than those 2 and gets special attention (very well deserved imo) because he fought the Western Powers, the side we hear about the most.
chris cross very well worded! 😁
Montgomery just had to say that Rommel was the best otherwise Montgomery would not have become so famous.......Auchinleck was the best General in North Africa and outwitted Rommel despite far less competent subordinates who kept being outwitted by Rommel. Auchinleck (subsequently sacked by the cigar-waving strategist, Churchill) stopped Rommel at the first Battle of Alamein; Auchinleck's plans, adopted completely by Montgomery, broke Rommel's second attack at Alamein and after that Montgomery's protracted WW1-style 3rd Battle of Alamein with overwhelming force, coupled with the Allied landing at Algiers, meant that Rommel simply had to go back to Tunisia. And Montgomery could never catch him despite the Africa Crops running out of petrol on several occasions. Nothing like a long and glorious chase to make fame for a General. Churchill had demanded Auchinleck attack at Alamein before the reinforcements had been trained and before enough supplies had arrived. Auchinleck refused and was sacked by Churchill. Montgomery had since 1940 been deliberately insubordinate in regard to his commander, Auchinleck and was, after the death of Auchinleck's replacement in an aircraft crash, was appointed to take over 8th Army. He refused to attack, just as had Auchinleck, until 8th Army had been properly brought up to standard in weaponry and training. Montgomery's attack began about 9 days before the landing in Algiers and it took 9 days for Rommel to be beaten back from Alamein.
So in El Alamein Montgomery had more men, planes, tanks (with newer models), equipment, fuel, time, etc. and wins? Big surprise. The only thing that is surprising is the fact he is able to do this dispite initially using WWI tactics. Most of his victories were set up by his predecessors. When left to his own devices, without a MASSIVE superiority, Caen and Market Garden, for example he falls flat. To say he is overated, is to still give him too much credit.
@B Whit He's also the reason why the entire German 10th army was able to withdraw northward, Clark wanted to take Rome so he could get in the newspapers.
simply the very best!
Thanks, Vasile Luga.
why is the South African 8th Army division hardly mentioned ? They to fought hard and lost many men. I am interested as my father fought in North Africa....
Check out the channel TIK. Best military history channel onKZhead I believe he has a video or two about the South African forces in North Africa
Yeah, I’ve always wondered why the Italian army was so bad. I truly think they just really didn’t want to be in the war.
Many of the soldiers didn't want to be there, yes, but they also weren't equipped to fight a modern war the way the Germans and the Allies were, during WW2 if you didn't have good tanks and a modern/efficient air force you basically couldn't be a major player. If WW1 taught us anything it's that when fighting under simular circumstances all nations perform more or less equally well (or bad, depending on the viewpoint).
The unit doubled in size yet again and an LRDG private air force was added in the form of two WACO monoplanes purchased from an Egyptian pasha, which aided communication with HQ and evacuation of the wounded. From this time until the end of the North African war at least one patrol of the Long Range Desert Group was always behind enemy lines. The LRDG guided and carried commando units far behind the front to carry out daring raids. With its unrivalled travel and navigation abilities the LRDG could place espionage agents at the very gates of Axis-held strongpoints almost anywhere in North Africa. Their steady war routine was beating up Axis supply convoys and mining roads hundreds of miles behind the front, but LRDG patrols also razed airfields in daring nocturnal raids, destroying hundreds of aircraft on the ground between 1940 and 1943. The LRDG set up road watch patrols, often lying within earshot of the enemy and reporting every vehicle, weapon, and tank that passed by. This precise intelligence of Rommel’s supply position was one of Montgomery’s vital tools in the ultimate defeat of the Desert Fox. When Rommel’s deputy Ritter von Thoma was captured in the Battle of Alam Halfa just before El Alamein, the German general was shocked to learn that Montgomery knew more about the supply status of the Afrika Korps than he did. Most of this information had reached Montgomery via LRDG road watch patrols. The patrols continued to penetrate Axis territory pretty well as they chose. In the immensity of the desert their vehicles were rarely spotted. Bagnold’s original concept, his detailed development of it, and his far-seeing organization had transformed the inner desert from a textbook defensive flank into a serious liability for the enemy. In action against the Axis forces in North Africa from first to last the LRDG proved to be the most original, boldly conceived and brilliantly organized private army of the war. The success of Bagnold’s patrols helped break down official opposition to those commando-type formations, specialist units and private armies that fulfill novel and essential roles for which orthodox forces are neither trained nor equipped. The commando idea had been current for half a century or more but its modern potentialities under special conditions had never been seriously considered. Those at the top seldom possess the special knowledge and experience to judge the probability of success. Luckily for the Allies and perhaps for the world, Wavell was willing to take risks, because without the stunning success Bagnold achieved it is doubtful that some of the later private armies would have been authorized. Unfortunately for Ralph Bagnold, the modernizer of this kind of auxiliary warfare, the modus operandi of his unique force had to be concealed in wartime from the enemy. Security blocked all details of its size and capabilities. Writing about the LRDG was initially forbidden and later heavily censored. For this reason the LRDG was far less well-known in wartime than other auxiliary forces such as Carlson’s Raiders, Wingate’s Chindits, Stirling’s Parashots or even German Colonel Otto Skorzeny’s glider and parachute commandos, all whose leaders became world famous. Bagnold shared the anonymity of the LRDG in wartime. He left the unit in the summer of 1941 to become Inspector of Desert Troops1 and shortly afterwards deputy signal-officer-in-chief with the rank of brigadier. He was decorated for his achievement in forming the LRDG with the Order of the British Empire - an exceedingly modest award for his unique contribution to the security of the Middle East and the defeat of the Axis. As he left the LRDG in 1941 his name ceased to be associated with it thereafter, except for those who knew the true story. Later writers tended to assume that the colorful LRDG had come into existence as though grown on a bush. Bagnold’s personal indifference to publicity helped hide him to history, and he was already half-forgotten when his LRDG brought off the classic climax to its career. From his vantage point on the staff Bagnold saw the LRDG trigger the end of the North African war, just as it opened the Allied account in 1940. At Mareth in Tunisia where Rommel made his final stand, a left hook was smashed home against the German forces that ended Axis hopes in Africa forever. This devastating knockout blow was delivered through country marked impassable on military maps. Leading the pulverizing stroke was Major General Sir Bernard “Tiny” Freyberg, who had given Bagnold the first troops for his patrols back when Bagnold was known in Cairo for his wild ideas. Freyberg followed a route through impassable country found for him by a patrol of the LRDG. After the war Brigadier Ralph Bagnold retired from the army for good, the green tranquility of the Kentish countryside substituting for the golden wastes on which he found high adventure and fulfillment such as comes the way of few men. A busy and respected member of the British scientific community for decades, his fascination with the mysteries of natural physical processes was endless. He was a longtime consultant in the movement of sediments, beach formation and the like. In the words of Bill Kennedy Shaw: “Dry sand being difficult of access for him, he deals with wet mud.” Although unknown in the United States outside professional circles, in 1969 Bagnold became the first recipient of the G.K. Warren Prize, awarded by the National Academy of Sciences of the USA. The prize recognized his contributions to fluvial geology. In 1970 he was awarded the Penrose Medal of the Geological Society of America. He was further honored by the Geological Society of London with its Wallaston Medal in 1971, and the International Association of Sedimentologists recognized his achievements with its Sorby Medal in 1978. Bagnold died in London on May 28, 1990. Bagnold’s contribution to the Allied victory remained but little known or understood even in his native England, which showered honors and historical affection on other desert commando heroes. He could rightly be called the Allies’ hidden hero of the North African conflict, because without his mosquito columns events of 1940-41 could have unfolded very differently. The mind boggles at the consequences of the seizure of the Suez canal in the autumn of 1940 by Graziani’s massive army. Rommel’s army was only a third as large when two years later the Desert Fox nearly took Egypt and the canal. With the slenderest resources Bagnold and Wavell - each a visionary in his own way - aborted the disaster of Egypt and the Middle East being lost in 1940. In modern military history there has rarely if ever been a bluff of such magnitude. Certainly there has never been one pulled with such elegance and finesse as Bagnold’s bluff, invested as it was with the conquering power of an idea whose time had come. Note 1 Prewar companion and pilot Guy Prendergast relieved Bagnold as commanding officer (CO) of the LRDG and happily flew half the unit’s air force, one of the two WACO monoplanes. In the Bagnold tradition Prendergast was the most mobile CO in the North African theater. ________________________________________ Author’s Note Bagnold’s Bluff is a lightly edited version of a chapter of my book Hidden Heroes, published in 1971 by Arthur Barker, Ltd. (London). This was during the Vietnam War when military men were widely disdained in America, soldiers sometimes even spat upon. The US market for military history was poor and I went on to other things. Thus Ralph Bagnold remained in the obscurity to which wartime security originally consigned him. The story of his remarkable strategic bluff in the fall of 1940 has therefore remained essentially unknown in the United States and this essay is presented here to an American readership for the first time. In August 1940 more than 200,000 Italian troops were massed on Libya’s frontier with Egypt, poised to seize Cairo and the Suez Canal and thereby threatening the loss of the entire Middle East to the Axis. The strategic and geopolitical consequences of such a loss would have been incalculable. Nothing better points up the appalling weakness of the British defenders at that time than the fact that when Bagnold drew weapons for his patrols from the available supply he found just three Vickers machine guns remaining as the total reserve for the entire Middle East. General Wavell used more guile than guns when he sent Bagnold’s mosquito columns to raise hell on Graziani’s supposedly secure right flank. History has certainly credited Wavell fairly for his February 1941 defeat of the Italians, but it was Bagnold’s Bluff that caused wavering, apprehension and irresolution in the Italian command, despite the overwhelming numerical and material superiority of its forces. The story of Ralph Bagnold strikingly points up how individuals can and do critically shape events of world importance and thus make a real difference in history. This extraordinary man has never been given proper public credit for his enterprising role in keeping Egypt and the vital Suez Canal from Axis hands and thus altering the entire course of the war, because during the war years the story of Bagnold’s dune-crossing route to inner Libya had to remain secret. And while his patrol force was successively expanded in 1941, Bagnold himself was promoted away to a lower-profile post and thereby lost to history. While Wavell received well-deserved acclaim for his victory over the Italians, Bagnold’s key role in Wavell’s strategic deception remained veiled. In writing this piece, I am grateful above all to Ralph Bagnold himself, with whom I had extensive correspondence. My long research on the Long Range Desert Group convinced me that the most fascinating of the many stories the unit generated was that of its creation from absolute zero in beleaguered 1940. As a retired Brigadier Bagnold kindly assisted me with illuminating detail which has appeared nowhere else, about this crucial startup period. A gentleman of formidable intelligence, he kindly vetted my drafts of Bagnold’s Bluff and provided valuable additions. My good fortune, also as a young writer in the 1960s, was to become a correspondent of William Boyd Kennedy Shaw, former Major and LRDG Intelligence Officer. His book, Long Range Desert Group, published in 1945 by Collins (London) remains the basic work on the subject. An archaeologist and Arabic scholar, Shaw was one of Bagnold’s dependable companions on the prewar expeditions into the Libyan sand sea and beyond which completed the primary exploration of that region. Through this ineffable gentleman I was able to contact former Major Pat Clayton, another member of Bagnold’s prewar exploration group who later helped him organize the LRDG, as well as retired Captain Richard Lawson, former LRDG medical officer who kindly loaned me his precious photo negatives of the period. I am indebted to all these late gentleman for their generous and heart-warming aid. ________________________________________ About the author: Trevor J. Constable, born in New Zealand in 1925, has an international reputation as an aviation historian. With Colonel Raymond F. Toliver, he has authored a number of successful works on fighter aviation and ace fighter pilots. He has lived in the United States since 1952, currently in southern California. ________________________________________ Source: Reprinted from The Journal of Historical Review, vol. 18, no. 2, p. 6.
i agree. this documentary is outstanding!
Yes Luga has put a lot of work in to producing these documentaries ❤️💛💚🇬🇭❤️💛💚
Had Montgomery not had the benefit of the British breaking the German codes, North Africa would have been far more costly to the British and taken much longer. Montgomery was able to plan his attacks with exact information on how the German defenses were set up. Without this, there would have been far more casualties for the British. Montgomery's over-optimistic planning, poor strategy, and poor leadership were evident throughout the war. Nothing proved this more then his Operation Market Garden plan where his ineptness as a planner was responsible for killing many men needlessly and delaying the final victory. The failure at Arnhem meant that any planned invasion of Germany had to be delayed. The Germans, although they had lost ground, were able to establish a strong defensive line delaying the war. In total, the Allies had suffered some 15,000 casualties and had many thousands more taken prisoner. Montgomery was a glory seeker and was determined to be the first into Germany even if it meant killing thousands of allied troops in the process. Why he ended up be glorified is beyond me. Had ANY general had inside information he did in Africa they could have easily defeated Rommel. And his total failure as a planner with Operation Market Garden proved he was not the glorious general and the tactician the media and his government made him out to be.
Rommel would have beat Montgomery if he had the same level of resources and intel. Of course hitler over expanded/attacked on to many fronts.
@ Mark Mai A chimp could have succeeded in Saint Monty Pythons shoes. While the British and others worship him I don't like him anymore than Patton did. We gave him tanks by the hundreds an inexhaustible amount of supplies and fuel all the while just sitting there defying Churchill's orders to get off his ass and attack. He only moved after bankrupting his country and outnumbering Rommel four to one. General Alexander would have been a wonderful choice instead of St Monty Python.
Mark Mai Your words in 'single quotes' ‘Had Montgomery not had the benefit of the British breaking the German codes, North Africa would have been far more costly to the British and taken much longer. Montgomery was able to plan his attacks with exact information on how the German defenses were set up. Without this, there would have been far more casualties for the British.’ The same intelligence was available to Montgomery’s predecessors at 8th Army, Auchinleck and Ritchie. ‘Montgomery's over-optimistic planning, poor strategy, and poor leadership were evident throughout the war.’ Really? When? Montgomery performed with distinction as a single division commander in trying circumstances in 1940, won against the odds at Alam el Hafa, won at El Alamein, The Mareth Line, Sicily, Normandy, the Northern half of the Bulge and the crossing of the Rhine. ‘Nothing proved this more then his Operation Market Garden plan where his ineptness as a planner was responsible for killing many men needlessly and delaying the final victory. The failure at Arnhem meant that any planned invasion of Germany had to be delayed. The Germans, although they had lost ground, were able to establish a strong defensive line delaying the war.’ Total rubbish. Market Garden delayed nothing. The allied armies had already stopped before Market Garden was proposed (10th September, 1944). That is why it was proposed. Unlike Montgomery in Normandy, Eisenhower had no workable plan to attack Germany to the frustration of Montgomery and one of Bradley’s subordinate commanders, Patton. ‘In total, the Allies had suffered some 15,000 casualties and had many thousands more taken prisoner.’ Nope. That 15,000 included killed wounded and taken prisoner - see any history of the battle. That number should be compared to US failures at Aachen (20,000), Metz (40,000) and the Hurtgen Forest (55,000). ‘Montgomery was a glory seeker and was determined to be the first into Germany even if it meant killing thousands of allied troops in the process.’ Really? His plans were shaped by British (and for a while, US) manpower constraints, Britain’s financial situation and, in the case of Arnhem, by the need to deal with V Weapons being fired at Britain and Belgium. ‘Why he ended up be glorified is beyond me. Had ANY general had inside information he did in Africa they could have easily defeated Rommel.’ But other generals (Auchinleck and Ritchie) with the same level of intelligence did not defeat Rommel. 'And his total failure as a planner with Operation Market Garden proved he was not the glorious general and the tactician the media and his government made him out to be. ' Market Garden was undone by US forces at Nijmegen, not by prior planning. As it was it took the allies 64 miles to the end of the Siegfried Line and should be compared to the dog’s dinner that was Eisenhower’s strategy that Autumn. Come back if you wish. I would advise against it.
@@IrvinGisher Do you want some?
@@kercchan3307 Do want some?
Excellent documentary!! But, why say Rommel was held out of Tobruk for 8 months but neglect to mention it was the Australians that repelled those German attacks with clever tactics. Although heavily outnumbered and gunned the Australians were responsible for the Germans first battle loss in WW2
South African's and Kiwi's were there as well. South Africa's 2nd Infantry battalion took part there.
they can't get into every damn detail or this will be a 3 week documentary.
I'm from the USA,, and couldnt agree MORE.
@@raubi1549 The South African troops were filtered in during the last 2½ months of the siege. It was Morshead's 7th Australian Infantry Division that did the bulk of the holding down the fort at Tobruk with Lavarack's 18th Australian Brigade of the 7th Aust. Division in reserve. In the fighting at Tobruk and in the withdraw from Cyrenaica that preceded the siege of Tobruk, Rommel came to view the Australians and a short time later the New Zealanders as the best of the Allied soldiers he faced.
Gami bei
The battle of the Kasserine pass resembled the Battle of the Bulge -- in both cases, while the Nazis were being pressed on all sides, they decided to launch an armored thrust against a weak section of the American line. In both cases, the armored thrust was defeated. Surprise attacks worked (initially) in the campaign against the USSR, but not so well against the US and its allies.
Excellent !
Everything exept the most important detail is mentioned, Rommel had lost his "little Feller's" and the broken ENIGMA code, all axis fuel tankers in late1942 where sunk!
For the first thing, nothing to say; about the second, however, that's not true, and a statystical analysis proves it. Of all the liquid fuels sent from Italy in 1942 and 1943 to Lybia (599.337 metric tons) the 80% arrived (476.703 metric tons). About the liquid fuels sent in Tunisia between November 1942 and May 1943, out of 132.522 metric tons sent, some 94.472 metric tons arrived (71%). Source : Giorgio Giorgerini, "La guerra italiana sul mare", Mondadori 2001 It's true that by that time the Allied offensive on the sea concentrated on the fuel tankers, but that doesn't mean that all of them were sunk, nor that little to no fuel arrived from Italy.
What the allies did succeed at is sinking all of the submarine fuel tankers. The germans built submarines to refuel their u-boats, the problem being that both had to be on the surface for over an hour to refuel. They were sunk by aircraft because they couldn't dive quickly while refueling.
Daniel Meyer That may have been an influence in the Atlantic, but in the Mediterranean and for the North African theater that wasn't a factor at all.
historynerd88 Ya, I was just trying to clarify if that was what he was talking about
***** Well, if that's your opinion, you can simply forget about it; the data I mentioned is that one, and there's nothing you can do about it. I gave you the source, and the source is the data of those who sent it and those who received it. The problem was not just the sheer quantity of fuel arriving in North Africa; at El Alamein the problem was also getting it to the front (it was some 1100 miles on road), so a large quantity (at times almost half) of it was needed just to keep supplies arriving. Then, some of it arrived safely but was destroyed by Allied air raids. I'm not saying the fuel tankers could cross the sea safely; they were priority targets by 1942, and so they didn't have an easy life. But that doesn't automatically mean every single one of them was sent to the bottom.; many of them, but not all of them.
Flak 88 misterschaft and triumpf enginer construstor
Italy's failure in north Africa was in part due to inadequate armaments -- a result of the equipment lost by Italy during its conquest of Ethiopia (1935-1936), its involvement in the Spanish civil war, and Italy's invasion of Egypt (1940).
Such an excellent series. I absolutely love Tim piggott Smith as a narrator. I watch these when I need to relax or decompress, so soothing.
Stop dissing Luga - after all the effort he has put in...
Mr Churchill why you send best armoured forces in Africa to Greece? I READ before Mr Rommel arrival in Africa Mr Churchill diverted his best armoured forces to Greece. If this true I believe English Empire could have mopped up the Africa campaign by 1942. I read Japan attacked English Empire in December 1941, I English speaking army could have been in Europe 1943. English very unlucky in World War 2 but I admire England and thank you English people for helping Soviet Union. I visit English nice people.
could have, would have, should have, stick to what actually happened please - Allied Power's overwhelmed the Axis Power's, it's honestly that simple.
It's really easy to see the battle in the past and judge it KNOWING WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. Anyways, as Justin said, just stick to what happened. A couple of decisions taken otherwise and now we all would be nazis. ("we")
+Vladimir Eng That works both ways. If Rommel had gotten just a few more divisions, a few hundred more tanks, and all the fuel, food, and munitions that he needed, Rommel could have defeated the Brits before the Americans joined the fight in Africa. This would have been a tiny fraction that was being sent to the Eastern Front instead of Africa. If Hitler had just given Rommel what he needed to win, even if it was just more food, fuel, and munitions . . . just a tiny fraction from what was being sent to the Eastern front . . . Rommel had chronic supply shortages. He could never follow up on his victories to deal the final blow to the British because of constant supply shortages. He kept running out of supplies and had to pull back or stop and wait for more supplies which gave the Brits time to retreat and regroup and build fortifications, etc.
point 1.the war in N.Africa was basically won before the American/British landed in Morocco,2.the reason why Rommel did not get the supplies was down to the Royal Navy who dominated the Med ,,,and a great thank you to Malta!..for almost the entire war.There was a few months when Italy (who's navy were much more modern and better equipt)took control but the RN won it back ,that is why we won ..my Grandad was down there 5 years, Royal artillary,he told me ..they were attact from the air every day Germans/Italians but the worst was the fecking sand it was in your food your socks your underpants your eyes EVERYWHERE he said ,he had 1 weeks leave in FIVE years ! he was 37 years old and had 8 children ! unbelievable when you think about it nowerdays
It is true. Churchill did many huge blunders throught his career. Good luck he had powerfull friends- he should have ben removed and kept from power already in WW1..
Man, my Tsuru 98 have more endurance than the italian tanks.
Italian tanks, 4 reverse gears and 1 forward.
@@fredgrove4220 That's the French tanks, the Italian ones have the ability to change sides.
Alan De Anda ☆ Yeah I agree. Saying "Italian" implies "Weak".
I'm sorry for the many posts. I kept getting a message saying it had not been sent despite multiple tries, which all somehow showed up. I then cut the story into five parts and posted it. Sorry again, but the story I think is worth reading.
Boy can you ever tell this was not an American production. Patton was only mentioned once.
Australia was given very little credit for their contribution to the success of the North African campaign
Hitler used to wear pink panties under his uniform and secretly went by the name Alice, Alice Hitler.
54:53 Is he cooking an egg on the tank?
Yes, he is. The cooking spot was cleaned, then drizzled with olive oil (of which there was plenty in North Africa) or lubricating oil and the eggs would be fried up after the late morning sun turned the metal very hot.
Yes
ah think at El Alamein, Afrika Corp bugged out & left the Italians " up the creek" w/o ammo or transport
can anyone tell me what eagle rockis,and why are so many of the episodes of the battlefield series blocked ?
I've found a single dark brown womans hair in my eggplant souffle. Who is responsible ?
machinen kanone ?
Ur dads pubes?
machinen kanone ☆ Eggplant Souffle? Really?
British Empire was incredible in ww2. Thank God for Britain and Churchill. Roosevelt would have stayed out of the war if not for pearl harbor and the world would be mostly german owned today god forbid
WE ALREADY LIVE IN A POLICE STATE. YOu're a typical westerner who's apathetic and degenerate. I'm not surprised. That's why EXTINCTION is in your future.
England lost the British Empire after the war, and then decided on a biological level to start replacing their population with the 3rd world. Yes, that war was for nothing, but a hollow victory which expanded Communism.
The Digger giving a wink at 15:55 shows that all is not lost!
Wife's Father was in North Africa in the 82nd Army Airborne until wounded in Sicily and sent to England to recover, later was part of the new 101st Airborne Div.
The Battle of El Alamein resembled World War I -- defenses consisting of mine fields, barbed wire, pill boxes, artillery; attacks employing artillery barrages, sappers, etc.
It really wasn't like WWI
Its also indicative of the type of battle that Montgomery ("Monty") was best at: A battle where he had plenty of time to plan and prepare. Field Marshall Montgomery really seems to have been an excellent commander when on the defensive.
So i guess its strange that El Alamein and most of MOnty's victories were on the offensive
Only after extensive preparation that in some cases required weeks if not months of planning. El slamming was a defensive battle and for the most part the offensive failed. When the breakthrough finally came up was due as much, maybe mire, to the exhaustion of the German and Italian troops. Minty was well known for in depth planning to the point where he knew where every soldier was and what they were going to do. Yet his offensives failed time and time again. With that said within time needed to plan he could defeat even Rommel. But Rommel was still capable of out fighting Monty time and time again. Montgomery was not a failure but he was most definitely not the General he has been built up to be. Not as bad as General MacArthur but still not a great general.
Vagrant Turtle lol what? Go read some books you idiot. 2nd El Alamein was an offensive battle. The defensive battle that Montgomery led was the battle of Alam el Halfa, months before El Alamein, which saw Rommel with more tanks, planes and infantry being defeated and having to withdraw back to their line. That battle made possible for Montgomery to build up his army for his own offensive, which was the 2nd battle of El ALamein. In El ALamein in 10 days the british advanced, made the germans and italians enter a battle of atrition which they suffered more casualties, then broke through. Advancing non stop, capturing Tobruk, Benghazi, destroying Rommel yet again El Aghelia, and finally capturing Tripoli. Then continuing their advance, once again humiliating Rommel in Medenine, which saw him for once and for all leave for europe, then continuing and bypassing the mareth line. Montgomery advanced close to 2000 miles in 3 months. in ALL of the 2nd world war, not a single advance, be the germans, soviets, americans, or other british forces, saw such a rapid advance, SPECIALLY where the infrastructure was VERY limited. Montgomery offensives failed time and time again? He didnt lose a single battle in north africa, be offensive or defensive. In fact his only real defeat was Arnhem, which saw him advancing 90 miles in 4/5 days. That in a period where PAtton was stuck in Metz and would continue so for 3 months, while in Hurtgen forest the germans were defeating Bradley. In both the americans received 35.000 casualties. In the whole market garden garden operation the allies received 14.000. So make the math. In fact, for Rommel managing to "out fight" Montgomery, please enlighten me how he di so, since he didnt win a single victory against Montgomery, with Monty defeating him at what, 5 main engagements and completely routing his army while the british suffered less casualties? And the "Oh but the british had more men and tanks!" Not at Alam el Halfa, oh yeah the very first battle between the two saw Rommel, having proclaimed for his forces that he would take Cairo and Alexandria and soon the suez, fall back to his line completely defeated. Comparing Monty to McArthur: Sorry mate, but Eisenhower is much more of a comparission, or even PAtton. The best US general was Bradley. Though worse than Monty indeed.. after all.. battle of the bulge eh? But he was good, and made a very good team with Monty in the normandy campaign, alongside Miles Dempsey.
The best ambient noise ever....Battlefield Series...
The Brits basically populated the civilized world as we know it. Great video, really enjoyed.
You could argue that without Italys blunders, Germany might have lasted longer in the war. First the North African campaign, then Germany invading Italy and the amount of men/material that had to be dedicated could've gone to the Eastern Front. Considering how Case Blue and then the Battle of Stalingrad to occur in the same year, it makes you wonder. Thank you Italy.
where is the mighty matilda lol?
Shag Nasty ☆ Burnt Up.
50:56 I hate sand...
(Part 6) Marenco, this time is with his legs that gallops from one location to another. The most difficult hour is approaching and the Folgore commanders know what their place is and what the soldiers expect from them. Here's something starting to rain again from the sky. Together with clusters of bengalas, now they beat the area with mortar rolls and, almost at the same time, the Scorpion starts moving again. Among the hundreds of mortar rounds, the sound of Scorpion and its chains beating the ground making mines shine, there, in front of the three platoons of the 6th company, the end of the world is unleashed. It was enough! In the midst of the smoke of explosions and the bursting of mines, hundreds of men are coming closer to our holes. It contrasts, yes, men dozens dozens at a time, but here at a good time a column of tanks can overcome the last stretch of field minato and to get behind our line. It certainly can not be said that the British in terms of tactics are idiots! In fact, as soon as they opened the gate they started with the tanks to make a real corridor, in which to pass their troops without too much danger. Then they arranged themselves so that wherever they turned, they were there ready to keep us busy. We must dance, do not run away! Every weapon is used where it happens. A burst in front, one behind. Where we see that there is something to beat, there is a pull. But it does not last long. The column that has already passed our line, now returns explained for the decisive attack and fate wants it to touch first to the III platoon to be invested. Sub-lieutenant Brandi is almost put under a crawler. Around it is a hail of shocks exchanged ... but from the middle of the English one comes down that is torn and shouts something that must be: "Give up!". Brandi looks at him for a moment, but when he shouts, "Fire!", The Englishman is already spread by a flurry of Sasso, while some others send a couple of hand grenades to the uncovered part of the track. Was it a surrender offer? Mah! The fact is that, immediately afterwards, at least 30 armored vehicles, from the positions occupied shortly before the 6th company, definitely aimed at defensive preparations. Now I do not know if those who have not tried, can get an idea of what are the tanks that are straight on your hole ... and that until they are still 10 meters away continue to strafe or maybe even pull you a cannon. Here they have really decided to crush us all. They pass and revise on the potholes, even they get angry among themselves in making a maneuver. There are people on the track that pulls out of the head just a moment ... to see if we have escaped and take one of those hand grenades that have them and that have a very different power from our miserelle. How do you now say: the guy was the one who ignited the fuse of our tremendous reaction? There were about 100 men there, one better than the
1:09:38 I always wondered if there was film of a partially deployed flak gun firing. Awesome! Must have just had time to unhitch prior to firing.