Hitler's Warriors - Erwin Rommel (Part 2 of 5)

[GENESISEQUUSAZERA]

Panzer Division Commander

[Jakethesnake1281]

Rommel is a checky bastard, making the enemy think that there were a crap load of tanks. epic

[Kooshmeister3]

Good on Rommel for his shout out to the Italian soldiers in his campaign.

[haiherosner]

Rommell's taking of Tobruk was strategically over-rated? He took 33,000 British P.O.W's for crying out loud , that's a disaster for the Brits! The British always like to downplay their disasters in war!

[sdkfz162kingtiger]

he is my idol and hero...a true legend. legends never die.

[Hellothasauras]

I'll tell you why Rommel was put on the southern front to play the war in Libya defencisely, he was placed out of the way in North Africa. Hitler feared him, he feared the army secretly and Rommel was popular amoung many of his troops. Hitler probably did not want him in Russia stirring up trouble.

[jasan2121]

He could get away with he's tricks and tactics in France and North Africa but in Russia he would have got panned.

[vonkaunaz]

First attempt to take Tobruk DID NOT end in disaster as the British narrator says here...that it initially failed, and took a good time to be reduced it´s true, but German losses were far from the "disaster" tag in that phase.

And the German propaganda narration at 6:46, with the sound of the Luftwaffe bomber engines on the background is blood chilling.

[gopconservative78]

Rommel could have won if Africa, if given 5 more divisions.....check mate and Egypt would have fallen

[5H4K490]

is that david mitchell narrating?

[JIMY45GR]

Allied codebreakers read much enciphered German message traffic, especially that encrypted with the Enigma machine. This ULTRA intelligence included daily reports from Africa on the numbers and condition of Axis forces. It also included information about Axis supply shipments across the Mediterranean. This information enabled the weak Allied air and naval forces there to intercept and destroy much of these shipments. To protect the source of the intelligence

[TheSilverSultan4]

Rommel Should have overthrown Hitler when he was popular, made peace with the Soviet Union, and went after Canada and US, that would have starved UK of any supplies, :)

[asadal123]

@TheSilverSultan4

See Rommel was smart enough to trick Allies using bluff, hence the "desert fox", yes, he was a really good strategist, along with Manstein. ^__^

[Zamolxes77]

Hmm, curious how they dont mention Crusader, the real reason Rommel withdrawed after failed siege on Tobruk and how italians and Kesselring promised supplies but couldnt deliver.

[SabraStiehl]

Somewhere online is a blurb about a1944 planned assassination attempt on Hitler, which was aborted after it was decided that he was making so many errors in the conduct of the war that it was better that he remain in power. It got so far that the German rifle, the 98K, and two volunteer assassins were selected.

[Sierra688]

Nazi Germany couldn't even knock out the festering and corrupt Soviet empire. How were they going to defeat the entire world?

[HenryDavidT]

Hitler created & lived in an ELABORATE, IMAGINARY REALITY of his own (& was able to convince the MAJORITY of the Germans to follow him there), totally DIVORCED from logic, common sense, basic humanity, meaning, & responsibility. As the Conservative-Turned-Liberal Nobel Laureate Thomas Mann (having been "gently" kicked out of Germany, like Einstein) said: it's only through total destruction that Germany & the Germans could again redeem themselves.

[HenryDavidT]

Some (eg. Stalin & Mao) caused more people (their own citizens) to die than Hitler. Brutal leaders like Mao, Stalin, et al. were simply power hungry and paranoid, & thus they killed a lot of their enemies, real or manufactured by them, to show "who's boss," to make themselves look powerful, feared, loved, and unchallenged. But Hitler was, is, and always will be a SPECIAL CASE, a class in and of his own.

[greghm]

Interesting show but slightly too against Rommel who had enough will to disobey Hitler a few times and saved his forces. Paulus in Stalingrad was someone who did no have this boldness. He lost his whole army.

[blakdust3]

Rommel is my favorite General but hes not as good as the noobs in this comments box think he is because they don't bother to read

[PoliticalPars]

The soldiers, whether generals or privates, fought for their respective countries. They were all warriors, with little food, poor equipment, often without proper clothes, biting winters, and misdirection. Each general Allies or Axis fought as best as they could regardless of their too oft lame orders from political arm-chair leaders.  They all deserve our respect.

[DJsStratoArt]

Hitler was an insane demonic maniac, Rommel was a brilliant strategist, Hitler was horrible at real strategy.

[piisamiboyz]

People really shouldnt watch these bullshit propaganda documents.

[TheFlak36]

@piisamiboyz Really?What should they watch then?Perhaps bullshit propaganda documents about the ''holocaust''?

[sheemsheem]

@piisamiboyz how is this propaganda?

[Ixtzalit]

Or the 1900 lossed Wehrmacht Ariplanes in england werent use against the soviet union

[Ixtzalit]

Not to mention that soviet weapons and technology were inferior. Allies bombers delayed german economy down to 30%, as example instead of 1100 Tiger II tanks Wehrmacht had only ca. 490.

Wehrmacht was stronger then the red army, but it couldnt use its full power against the soviets. Germans generals, weapons, morale etc. were better.

[assainscredd123]

is ti pronounced afrika corps or afrika core?

[Schnuersenkelfon]

it´s written corps(german:korps)and pronounced core

[LangobardorumEtrusco]

my uncle friend says that when they were there, the Italian tanks weren't the best but they were the fastest, so Rommel had told them to go and find British tanks and then look like they were escaping so they will follow them then is was a trap and the Brithish tanks were destroy by Italian and German artilerry...we even fougth a war with bad leadership and equipment but we took acvantage of it, if we just had orginize our economy hehe tanks like the Semovente 105/75 would have change the war.

[zeplenlover]

Hitler is the most stupid in the world. he made an excellent Field Marshall commet sucide because he was a paranoyed dickhead. Rommel was the best and I'm so admied by him the I named my Nintendog after him!

[artemisentrei]

rommel was a great man i read that he would ask his troops to give up there food for the POWS and they would all cause he asked it of them i dont know any army today that would give out there own chow just to feed the enemy

[desert3fox]

"We have against us a very daring and skillful opponent and, may i say across the havoc of war, a great general" -Winston Churchill-

[marcosgr39]

Rommel´s history is victim of sionism. He was a hero, he is up untill now, the best military strategier!!

[DryNox]

what does he mean with a commander-in-chief of an army group has a section of about 600, 700 or 800 kilometres. what does he mean with a section

[DerKast]

how far and large his lines are, but rommel always stayed within the spearhead at the most 3-8km behind lines unlike a rear echlon desk bound officer who watched the entire front currently employed by the 8th army.

[Thrawn108]

If Rommel had been in command of Germany from the start, the Allies wouldn't have stood a chance. No one would have.

[minchmad]

Thats possibly true only if Rommel didnt open up to fronts like hitler did. When germany stepped into Russia it was over. Even without the American help I believe Russia would have beaten germany just becasue of their huge amount of industry. And after the D-Day landings no matter who would have been commanding germany it was over. Rommel was a great commander as he showed in the battle of france and in north africa. Had Rommel been in charge he would have known not to go into Russia.

[relentlesssinner90]

The fact that the Germans got caught up with Stalingrad is what made them lose the war. The D-Day landings were a gigantic nail in the coffin, nobody could of saved Germany after Normandy.

[minchmad]

Yea thats what I was saying.

[Roadskare62]

Not really. If they captured the oil fields as planned they would have beaten them. Sorry, RAPED them. lol

[minchmad]

Ya well they didnt. Hitler took on the world like an idiot. Declaring war on Russia was probably one of the biggest mistakes in history. A little country like germany even though they were skilled could not beat the industry of Russia or America.

[Gkw95]

That's not necessarily true. The Wehrmacht was less than 15 miles away from Moscow by December 1941. The Nazi war machine had also annihilated France, the greatest military power of Europe up till the Second World War. Britain was in no position to aid continental Europe and the US was not in the war in 1941. So if you think about, it isn't that irrational for Hitler to take on the faulty Red Army by 1941. There was no one else to challenge him in Europe.

[minchmad]

And if moscow fell that doesnt mean they would have won either. But I believe it was a stupid for pretty much these reasons. For one the USSR was huge, so there was never ending space for the red army to retreat and regroup. For two Russia had a huge population which meant they could raise huge armies. For three the germans did not prepare for the harsh winter. And finnaly this wasnt the first time this mistake was made. Im sure you have heard of an eager frenchman who took a stroll in the snow.

[Spjungen]

Erm yeh...the USSR was huge, but its industrial heartland was located in Eastern Europe, where the Germans were perilously close. And sure, it could have raised "huge armies"...of inexperienced civilian militias? To challenge the Wehrmacht? Give me a break.

[ARXHMalakas]

what about winter genius?

[minchmad]

On another note france and the USSR were two totally diffrent beasts. France as you know is a smaller country than the USSR and was fighting with WW1 style tactics. Hitler reasoned that because finland had dealt such a blow to the soviets that they would be no problem for his army. But he took the wrong lesson from that situation. He should have realized that by invading the USSR he put himself in the same situation the USSR had been in when they invaded Finland. Anyway sorry ive rattled on.

[Gkw95]

Indeed your reasons are correct, but Hitler's gamble was extremely close to success. If his troops had taken Stalingrad and thus the oilfields of the Caucasus, the Soviets would have had no fuel to continue on with their campaign. You could argue that the USSR had "never ending space", but eastwards from Moscow is pretty much...snow.

[Gkw95]

Moreover, the harsh winter theory you mentioned is certainly valid, and perhaps Hitler would have won if weather conditions were on his side. But I believe he consciously made the decision not to equip his soldiers with winter equipment. That is he sacrificed better defense with better mobility. The Wehrmacht's fundamental advantage was speed (blitzkrieg of course) and under no circumstances could that be compromised.

[minchmad]

Yeah well all in all it didnt work out for him.

[DonMeaker]

The Wehrmacht presented options: 1. Provide winter clothing 2. Provide ammunition. 3. Withdraw to defensible lines. Hitler selected ammunition. That led to the very hard winter of 1941. the badge for that winder was black red and white. They called it the frostbite medal, as that is what frostbite looks like, black dead skin, red meat, and white bone.

[Ixtzalit]

As first Soveit Union was supported by other nations, thats why they could use stronger forces against Wehrmacht, 2/3 of all transport on the sviet side were done by american vehicles.Wehrmacht couldnt use its full power against USSR, such as the 1300 000 in france or 2000 000 in germany, because england and the rest were at the door.Soiets had spies in the OKW, thats why they knew about german strategies.German marine couldnt attack USSR, blocking soviet harbours etc.Wehrmacht was stronger

[MrAndrii11]

@minchmad

Suomi (Finnish) showed a real heroism, having 250'000 against 1'000'000 soldiers! USSR didn't expect such a violent defence and a steel power of will! I admire Suomi (Finnish) courage.

[Strategos300]

@Thrawn108 hmm..maybe, but Nazi-Germany would have been better. Rommel would not hate judes and kill so many of them like Hitler.

[szmatyzjebane]

@Thrawn108 yr totaly wrong my friend.PATTON crush rommel and his troops so keep ur nazi thaughts to ur self,.,

[TheChinaRider]

@Thrawn108 Politicians declare wars, not the soldiers. Rommel was a soldier, not a politician. A splendid soldier, I admit. But with absolutely no ideas about politcs. And that was his limit. In any case, soldiers fight battles and nations fight wars. War was lost for Germany in the very moment it began. Thank God, I say.

[Spjungen]

@Thrawn108 Yes. Thank you.

Hitler should have just gotten the party to power. After that he should have become a figurehead, while Rommel should have had supreme command of the armed forces whilst still being a general in the field himself.

[Spjungen]

@Thrawn108 Yes. Thank you.

Hitler should have just gotten the party to power. After that he should have become a figurehead, while Rommel should have had supreme command of the armed forces whilst still being a general in the field himself.

This man was a saint. The most honorable and humane individual in the whole regime and a hero everyone should look up to.

[TheFaceofWisdom]

@Thrawn108 Disagree, he was an excellent tactician, very good operationalist but awful strategist, They would have failed strategically.

[TheFaceofWisdom]

@Thrawn108 A much better person to be in charge of Germany would have been Erich von Manstein.

[jasincl]

@Thrawn108 Rommel was A Perfect General but i dont think he would be a good Poltic

[KevinVonKluger]

@Thrawn108 With Rommel and Manstein of course ^^

[pr0666]

@Thrawn108 In military sense He is great general,and one of the greatest Armor tactician. But he as an Strategist was not that good. He don't lack vision,but he lack understading of an war as whole. He had gone way too far for Germany to support him, which lead to his downfall(in africa). Germany lost war in many is Hitler invove him self way too much in military's business,which he had no idea. Just ask Stalin,he too has no idea,but he left it to his generals to do it.

[NeveranticStory]

@pr0666 In fact, Stalin was a paranoic idiot. He executed all of his top officers, the defence on the eastern front while "Barbarossa" was led by rookies. They almost got pwned despite of the fact Germany fought on 3 other fronts as well.

[buckskipper]

@Thrawn108

He was great in many ways but I wouldn't go that far...

[williamcaseylaw]

@Thrawn108

WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THE WAR IN AFRICA. IT SEEMS THAT IF YOU HAVE MUCH LESS ASSETS THAN YOUR ENEMIES WHO DON;'T WASTE YOUR PUNCHES? GERMANY WAS FIGHTING THE LARGEST ARMY IN THE WORLD, THE LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD LARGEST EMPIRE

[Frankcastle522]

@williamcaseylaw They were trying to seize the Suez Canal and cut off British supplies. Also they were trying to secure oil in the region.

[UltraCriticguy]

@Thrawn108 also no death camps ect

[corpsman562]

Well that and your Rommel died from "complications" from his "car crash". Hitler was a fool and had no reason to invade those countries. I think that if Rommel had seen what Hitler was doing he would most likely have A) defected B) Left the Army or C) kill hitler and take control.

[SchwarzeProminence]

Rommel should have killed that crazy fuhrer Hitler and took control of Germany. If he did that Germany would have won the war and will be bathing in all of it's glory.

[DryNox]

Hello again ;)

I'm watching the videos that you have recommended to me. You say that Rommel should have taken control. but does Rommel have the mind for a politcal? Who knows if he was also a great man in economical domain and social domain, etc.

By the way, I can speak German so we can also talk in the language of your fatherland, if you like. (also a little bit my fatherland: the grandfather of my grandfather (something like that) was Prussian).

[SchwarzeProminence]

That's why he did not join the plot to assassinate Hitler, he was a man of a clean war.......... not of politics. But I have no doubt that he could have ruled Germany better than Hitler.

btw I'm sorry but my German is poor as of now.... I'm just begining to study it.

[LOVENJOS]

he was a general and not a polician like patton

[aiaek]

@LOVENJOS well I am going to disagree with you and Patton beat Rommel ( by reading Rommel book I think that the funny part)

[Thrawn108]

They lost because Hitler made a few stupid mistakes, but they should have won. You have no idea.

[DryNox]

Well, although I strongly admire the Germans, because they are very brave, smart and strong, I don't think they should have won WW2, because they attacked too many innocent countries who didn't want war. And I wonder the Germans would have won, if someone else had had Hiter's position. Even Rommel lost in Africa, because of the superior enemy numbers. Let's just say Germany should have won WW1. I think they really deserved to win in WW1 they were so much better.

[DryNox]

And I wonder IF* the Germans would have won

[Waffenssman]

@Thrawn108 one o those mistakes was assassinating rommel

[HenryDavidT]

@Thrawn108 "They lost because Hitler made a few mistakes?" Hitler's whole LIFE itself WAS a "mistake." All the decisions made by Hitler as a consequence, therefore, were heinous "mistakes." Sure, many leaders in the past & present, in cultures across the globe --- from Alender, to Genghis, to Napoleon --- have made horrible "mistake" throughout history. Sometimes, in the name of peace, they killed many people during war and other aggressive acts, in all kinds of names...

[Spjungen]

@Thrawn108 A few BIG ones...Hitler brought Germany to her knees just as quickly as he made her great.

[Spjungen]

@Thrawn108 A few BIG ones...Hitler brought Germany to her knees just as quickly as he made her great. Again, he should never have been in command of the armed forces; he wasn't a general. He was a politician, and an unorthodox one at that.

[redfoxbennaton]

@Thrawn108 but, then he would of tooken over the world. Probably.

[pr0666]

@Thrawn108 "Few"? You need to 10x it atleast. And that too only counting his biggest misteke.

[Irfan87]

@Thrawn108

But thank god they didn't. Or are you a Nazi?

[anunknownsaint]

@Thrawn108 ...won until they would have faced Monty, secret weapons or not.

[SpaceWalrus34]

@anunknownsaint Monty had defenses preset by the previous commander in Africa. He did nothing but defend what the other had all ready done. The only battle he really won (in my opinion) was at El Alamein, his battle of attrition.

[SCORPIONHALLOWEEN13]

The NAZIS ARE THE MOST POWERFUL THING THAT HAVE/WALK OUR PLANET/POTENTIAL FOR TRUE EVOLUTION/FIRE/POWER/DISCIPLIN E /TRUE WARRIORS/TRUE KILLING MACHINES/BRAVE AND BEAUTIFUL/COMMITTED TILL DEATH/CARRYING THE MISSION FOR THE FATHER LAND/FOR THE BLOOD/FOR THE STAB IN THE BACK OF WW1 CARRYING THE FLAGS TILL THE END/WHICH IS NEVER/AS THE EXPRESSION OF LIFE/PASSION//AND POWER/NEVER END/NEVER/TRUE GREATNESS/13/31/ 卐 HEIL HITLER 卐/ 卍 ϟϟ 卍卐 HEIL HITLER 卐 卍 ϟϟ 卍

[mkf272]

then why did they lose the war if they were so powerful?