The Unbelievable Survival Story Of Panzer Ace Ludwig Bauer | Greatest Tank Battles | War Stories
The dramatic story of highly-decorated German tanker Ludwig Bauer who discovered the harsh reality of armoured warfare during World War II.
War Stories is your one stop shop for all things military history. From Waterloo to Verdun, we'll be bringing you only the best documentaries and stories from history's most engaging and dramatic conflicts.
You can find more from us on:
/ warstoriesdocs
This channel is part of the History Hit Network. For any queries, please contact owned-enquiries@littledotstudios.com. #warstories Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free exclusive podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Matt Lewis and more. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code WARSTORIES bit.ly/3rc7nqm
These Documentaries were the Glory days of the History Channel
Surely this is not the same Joachim Peiper who executed American soldiers during the battle of the bulge? I was under the impression that you died in 1976.
History Channel during the 90’s was the best
@@peterboczan2116 Aliens from the History Channel beamed him up at war's end, and have now provided him with internet access.
@@garesonc9672 I believe he was responsible for the Ardennes massacre of 44 US troops in the winter of 1944.
Such a slaughter. ! Look at the kid at 30:02 who was probably the only one out of his group that survived counter battery fire . The artillery was the major killer on the battlefield , he and many others will never recoverer from this
A respectful salute to Ludwig Bauer,surviving 9 terrifying tank assaults.He survived multiple shrapnel wounds,and no doubt suffered PTSD for years after, an incredible man!!
@@jasonpip5417 what a mindless comment to make. All war is terrible.
@@jasonpip5417 That was a senseless comment to make Jason, Ludwig was/is a warrior. He fought for his commanders, no questions. He followed orders and did what he was trained to do, kill the enemy. Had you ever been a warrior you'd understand. I'm an American Artillery Officer 1966 thru 1973 and we did things we must live with as did Ludwig. War is terrible, it makes sane men do insane things, things we would NEVER do had we not been cast into battle. Battles WE HAD NO PART in making happen but we did what we were ordered because that is what a warrior does, like it or not.
@@quickdeuce The nicest people I ever met were World War 2 Veterans. They went through Horrors that no one wanted to experience. That’s what made them realise the value of peace and silence. They also had to live with things that they didn’t want to relive.
@@quickdeuce You're wasting true words to an empty mind. Stop bothering for leftist idiots it'll save you time and anger.
@@jasonpip5417 lol who wasn’t murdering in ww2?? Americans nuking non combat cities, Japanese death marches, Russian work camps, he was just doing what everyone else did
Rip Ludwig Bauer 1923 - 2020 + every fallen soldiers and civilans of wwII
They’re almost all gone unfortunately
@@jaykayguns i have been collecting autographs for 30 years. I have ludwigs autograph
Except for anyone in the SS
@@danghj864 have a bunch of ss guys as well
@@sprocket580 oh nice, but i wasn't replying to you, but that is pretty cool, i have a bayonet that was given to my grandad by a SS officers
No whining, no complaining, but no bragging, no boasting no myth of superiority or the "good old times" either. Just telling what he lived through. Thank you so much. If only every veteran had that much dignity.
What dignity? Is attacking your neighbours dignified?
@@juusohamalainen7507 Who else can you attack?
@@ottersirotten4290 You just do not attack first and start world wars as Germans a nation of war crominals have done.
@@juusohamalainen7507 They had to Stalin was planning on expanding west . One fact many seem to forget .
@@juusohamalainen7507 Try reading any history book. Its what humans do and have always done to our detriment. Your mixing up the dignity of an individual and the agenda of a leader. The man did his duty. Lets hope we are not called to deal with the agenda of others.
He truly had the 9 lives of a cat, the number of burning tank wrecks he survived. Amazing. RIP.
RIP ? He still lives !
@@dutchchessbetterthancheese1239 Ludwig Bauer passed away May 20th, 2020 in Künzelsau/Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Age 97. RIP.
Amazing ace, rest in peace
I served in US Army in 1974 in Germany. I found the german men soldiers to be people of quiet strength always mannerly and always doing their best. i really admired those guys. Honor to be in their great country and be around them.
As long as you’re not Jewish.
I was a tanker (M60A3) stationed in Illesheim, BDR from '82-'84. I spent 2 weeks cross training with a Bundeswehr Leopard I unit in Koblenz. Gave me goosebumps when one drunken night they all sang Panzerlied. Great tanks, great tankers.
@@mikedixon7651 AWESOME UBER ALLES
@Young Dre obviously it was a joke..
I spent some time with the BAOR (Royal Engineers) in the 80s and was always amazed when watching the German army's Leopard tanks being put through their paces at the Sennelager proving ground.
i cannot imagine myself, nor my son surviving all of this before either of us were 21. This is truly one of the most incredible stories i've ever heard. I would say he was lucky to survive all of that, but with the emotional damage he was left with, i cant bring myself to use that word. A truly incredible gentleman. RIP sir.
22:43 ☠☠😂
Neither of my grandfather's spoke about what they did & saw, these men were a different breed, they came home and got on with living, no time for PTSD!
We are built the same. Only difference is government and who is running the show !! Look closely government in your grandfather's time and today .
Imagine being hit and burned so many times and still being able to fight and then trying to save the tank that by the ned there were so few and get hit by ally Hetzer and still survive that. Ludwig had lot of luck on his side. I am grateful that his story has been captured and shared.
9 direct hits, wounded 7 times... not to mention all stress and mental/emotional injuries, PTSD... and all this before he turned 21!
Unbelievable!
Yes, what a youth to forge a man!
@@bumblebob5979 To forge a hardened killer.
Only Americans suffer from PTSD. It's a national thing, like the Havana syndrome. Wtf is that anyway ?
Back when men were real men of all nationalities.
This guy is probably the unluckiest/luckiest person, unlucky because of the 9 times his armored vehicles got hit and lucky because he survived them all.
Ludwig, is the glass half empty or half full? Ludwig: nien. Bring my tiger!!
@@Hd7725HBLTMR this was so cringe
@@ellocoo2767 😐
As WWII fanatic I thought I'd heard it all. The graveyard with bodies being flung out of graves was a new one. Great CGI along with an excellent veteran account of his experiences. 👍Brava👍
To trink a beer with this man would be a great honor. These men only come around once in a 1000 years!
1000 years is a long time to wait in a bar for Herr Bauer to come around!
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Ludwig is indestructible. Much respect.
Shame the same couldn't be for Kurt Knispel. He was a hero. He refused the knight's cross, he helped his comrades and he was against the methods of the SS. He deserved to live after the war.
This guy's story would make an unbelievable movie!!
If this guy was sherman tanker there would be at least 5 movies about this story..
Now name a Sherman tanker that has at least 5 movies about him. I'll wait.
Yup, well we know the victors write the history.
I worry about the channel uploading this documentary. I'm sure that the ADL is already on the phone to you tube headquarters trying to get it banned for this sacrilege.
@@samuelschick8813 No Sherman Tanker survived probably so often in his "Ronson" - But the muricans do other "great" films to write "history" like "Fury" and "inglorious Basterds" - Long time ago there was some good american films about ww2 - now they are pathetic.
@@paraguaymike5159 nah the owner of YT is a chosenite too it would have never made it if it offended her little christ killing feelings
Germans true warriors and rugged fighters . Our salute to Baur .Indian Military Veterans
Thank you for telling this soldier's story. RIP Ludwig!
He is not dead, turning 100 in a week.
Where he suddenly started his tank and moved forward on the startled American troops was a great story. I only imagine how many of these unique situations happened to many of the troops on all ends that we will never know about. Glad we are able to know his.
Almost all WW2 Veterans are gone now. It's shocking to see how old Vietnam veterans are.
@@hanssteinbacher5211 I hope you have some of his uniform. I collect ww2. Very sad how quickly they are going.
@@hanssteinbacher5211 die Männer von damals, also die den Krieg überlebt haben...leidensfähige, harte Knochen, Männer eben. Mein Groß Onkel hat es bis zu seinem 94sten (sein letztes Jahr) geschaft so fit zu bleiben das er eigentlich keine oder nur wenig Hilfe von uns brauchte oder wollte. Er hat immer gesagt "...39 bis 45 hab' i gschaft, die Russen hamms net gschaft, un' die Ami a net, do wer' i mi' etz von wos a immer nieder machn lossen..." Alles gute und auf das Ihr Opa bei Gesundheit bleibt und er noch viele Jahre haben möge.
@@hanssteinbacher5211 I was thinking of you keeping it. Not looking for new items. No space. I have SS items. Very expensive so be careful with them. Best of luck.
@@hanssteinbacher5211 nice I wish him a happy birthday
@@cloudtail a am a ww2 vet
Man this Guy is a living Legend
not anymore, RIP
What a story! That nice old guy must've had 9 lives, surviving 7 injuries while his tanks used all 9.
Ludwig was one indestructible guy all those close calls and injuries
How many were "almost" as lucky surviving all and dying in the final months.We will never know
What a fighter and a handsome man!
For God, how did this man survived so many hits? Even some of them being so close to him. It's interesting how he was just a "normal" soldier in the chaos. Not a war hero or a special character like Michael Wittman, just a regular man who lived in the worst nightmare of a soldier.
A movie will be a fitting honor for this man.
Absolutely.
As long as Hollywood has nothing to do with it !
Refreshing to see stories from the axis side, such luck he had to survive the whole war , east and west , thanks for posting
These Documentaries were the Glory days of the History Channel!
stories of soldier's prowess. Once I wanted to hear something similar from my grandfather, but he was silent about it. He said that he had been wounded by shrapnel in the stomach when he served on an armored train near Leningrad. And he also said that the service on the armored train was very difficult. Then he served in the Air Defense Forces. I've always liked soldier's stories. 🙂
What country was he from?
What a war experience. Couldn't imagine going through what Ludwig did. And remaining sane throughout. Unbelievable story
Imagine being in the tank that fell in to the ditch and became part of the log bridge the fact they didn't try move there tank and just became the solution to a problem shows dedication I hope they were rescued after the operation?
Probably the most shocking personal battle account I’ve ever heard.
22:02-22:51 that is probably the most graphic scene in any of this tank documentary series.
Facts
There’s one where an m1 Abrams used its main gun against a dude point blank
InTheRicefields I have seen that many times but it is not comparable in that it was over instantly.
Ludwig has seen so many unforgettable moment of his life
Fairly certain he'd like to forget about most of them.
Classic Documentary Can't get enough of them 😀
How this man survived is a miracle, good he was able to tell his history. Seems to be a good chap.
Ludwig Bauer also known as panzer cat :)
Ludwig "shell magnet" Bauer
WOW,, what a great, great documentary!!! 👍👍👍
40:13 the intensity must have been insane at that moment...
We soldiers don’t fight because of ideology but we fight for the brother or sister fighting next to you! RIP 🪦 SSG Travis, Strickland 🇺🇸🌹
Killer's words.
A documentary to start my vacation, splendid
Same here!
Me too. For the next 23 days I'll be enjoying documentaries..
Avoid Stalingrad at all costs lol xD
Hey every one try out Panzer Corps2~!!
what a story, this guy was amazing
They don’t mention it in the video, though they Show Ludwig in his West German (Bundeswehr) uniform but he joined the West German army after the army and served until the 1960’s, retiring as a lieutenant colonel, served in the 36th Panzer Brigade.
I love this channel man.
War Story should have been called 9 Lives of Ludwig Bauer. Literally picked up a tank round out of his tank and threw it out as it exploded.
He should have been nicknamed 9 live Bauer
Badass Bauer works too...
Ludwig "the cannot be killed" Bauer for me though
This man deserves a monument of gold
No one makes better documentaries than War Stories. Having the soldiers who fought on both sides tell their stories with recreations of the battles makes this channel king 👑
Great story from the other side, thanks for uploading it, I really enjoyed watching! 👍👍
a simple one on one interview with Ludwig would be fascinating!
As far as i know he sadly died in 2020
@@homesteadlegion4419 hi, I know he has given other interviews. I hope someone will put together a complete simply compilation of all his interviews/ comments.
Love this channel.. Amazing stuff.. And another amazing guy is Michael Wittmann.. The Black Baron who was killed in France.. A German tank commander
This guy is a survivor.
35:00 “Mission Command” is still used today in militaries. Rather than an autocratic leadership style, it is where a Commander gives his intent to his subordinates and how they achieve that intent is upto them. It’s particularly useful when the Commander is inexperienced and the subordinates are subject matter experts who can use their own experience and knowledge to determine the best course of action (for example, a new junior Officer with old SNCOs).
It's called "Commander's Intent". It's as old as Alexander the Great. Probably older.
Respect to this man✌️
He seemed to have a very friendly and kind face.
Yet ...
We need more of these
Sweet I was looking for this episode, can u also do the Baltic
Ein großer deutscher Held und ein feiner Mann, Er möge in Frieden Ruhen, und bleibt für immer Unvergessen.
What an incredible war experience ..
Thanks and respect !
This dude lived through some insane things. Insane
I thank him for his courage, service and tenacity.
I am not Sure that im supposed to think about that. Easterfront was everything but not a Clean War.
@@noobikus5475 Ruskies did not sign articles of the Geneva Convention, how would you treat your enemy?
@@hansgruber650 If they are armed i kill them if they are defenceless and unarmed i take them as prisoners.
@@Pommern712 Tell that to the Russian.
@@hansgruber650 Ok but can you give me my High quality Kevlar Body armor first?
Many years ago I talk with a German Soldier from Estonia SS mechanized division that was in Russia. His first name was Eno he was captured and somehow wound up a Nuremberg guard. He told me when he and his fellow soldiers seen the tiger tank with it 88mm cannon on it he say they felt invincible. True story.
American badasses scrapped tiger tanks in pos Sherman's too
@@davidatwood2619 Fury isn't real.
@@davidatwood2619 Well, but these Tigers are only Panzer 4s 😂
I did look at a book that said 70% of German Casualties were from exposure, as a former soldier that is aweful, not even a fighting chance.
@@NathanChisholm041 what
Great video!
Unbelievable story. I can’t believe men like this exist.
Imagine going through this and seeing what people complain about now.
You'd be amazed by what you can do when you don't have a choice. They weren't any different than you or I.
@@nullvid "They weren't any different than you or I." 🤣OK wimp.
@@internetcensure5849 uh, ok..?
Herr Bauer is one incredibly lucky combatant.
EXCELLENT VIDEO
Outstanding report !!
15:30 some KV-1's were sent straight from the factory to the battlefield with unaligned optics that were completely and totally inaccurate, guns with unfinished barrels so they basically couldn't fire, and/or weren't even issued ammunition sometimes to use their guns. They were just issued by their commanders to close distance at full speed and RAM the enemy tanks to disable them!
My dad and uncles older cousins and my older brother once told me all combat veterans WWII , KOREA and Vietnam to include myself desert storm and Iraq said those who want or ask for war have never seen war and those who where in war , well he said that those SOB's didn't see enough.
More than interesting. Thank you
So Glad you Survived many ordeals & orders .. So good to see a Great Tanker LIve thru immence stress . Soldiers are pawns in a game ov Win or Lose ... Respects to your Surviving Family .. Sadness to the millions your war Murdered for being people..............
The ominous "background" music is so loud that the narration is very difficult to hear and/or understand. This is a common audio problem. I think sometimes the music people think their part is more important than understanding the spoken word. I know that combat is noisy and confusing; but we are not actually in combat here. We are attempting to understand what happened.
Can you imagine the terrible amount of PTSD at that time !!!
Nice footage!!!
Do more of thease tank battles please
I love playing world of tanks blitz and you can ram each other on there. I thought it was just like a cool possibility they put in the game, I never actually thought about tanks being close enough in battle to ram each other. Cool story.
Funny enough i always get rammed there especially by guys using russian tanks like the T-34 sometimes some other guys ram me with more modern russian tanks like the T-54 or T-62
Definitely a case of quantity being far superior to quality in the instances of the T-34"and Sherman,particularly the upgunned Sherman firefly.
how many died right next to him beeing ripped apart is crazy - that haunted him for the rest of his life - so it´s also unbelievable he got that old
Thank you sir
29:13 any tankers’ worst nightmare. Is it a true dud or when will it explode?
You should do a documentary on Kurt Knispel
Kurt Knispel unfortunally died just a few days before the war ended
Too enjoying video from excellent historic channel
Brilliant video thank u 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
salute this man experience real war thunder
I wanted to hear what the guy in the hertzer said to him after blowing up his tank??
This man had a heart of steel and ice running through his veins!
Great Story !
At 14 minutes the video starts discussing the nature of the 5cm short barrel gun on the Mk III panzer. Only problem is they picture the short barrelled 7.5 cm gun which was designed to be a support weapon providing a modicum of mobile artillery. It fired HE and HEAT rounds which at a shorter range was very effective on most tanks. Shame their research for this show does not include technical accuracy.
Herr Bauer, what a hero!
Incredible story.
Guy was a warrior great video just wished i could hear him talking over all the explosions
If you rode with Bauer, you were for sure gonna be RIP. His tank always got hit
Probably because he painted his tank bright red "to look like a barn camouflage thinking"
A fight for survival says it all.
Very good production.
Amazing
The graveyard battle - now that's a fight!
No matter what you say about the Germans they were brave men
Yes yes brave and the largest percentage moral
Brave does not equate to good.
@@peterboczan2116 They were good too.
@@BasementEngineer In your sick sense.
@@internetcensure5849 The truth often hurts I have been told.
Well tanks for the memories.
Very cool