Britain at War in Colour - 'The Darkest Hour' - part 5

[666lonny666]

lol " it seems to require a war to break down english reserve"

[Dancing88Mike]

at 0:44

[Dancing88Mike]

Thomspons Sub Machine Gun or the Tommy Gun an U.S. Weapon.

[goj09dale]

sad to think how many of englands finest generations were lost in that very brief peroid of history. shows how the common english man has real strength of character. there will always be an england

[Cool2BCeltic]

"The average Britisher's brain works quicker than the average German's". Almost as presumptive and foolish a statement as the Germans' contemptuous propaganda about Senegalese soldiers in the French Army and the German's belief, prior to Operation Barbarossa, that as Russians were slavs they were sub-human and incapable of patriotism. I'm not a military man but common sense tells you that underestimating an enemy is a foolish strategy.

[ccclllsport]

@Cool2BCeltic We were alone, the only country fighting the nazis for a year. All countries that resisted nazi germany were crushed. we needed some hope

[spiderwebbie96]

@Cool2BCeltic So true.

[Cool2BCeltic]

@spiderwebbie96 And the average German's brain seems to work quicker than the average Britisher's on the football pitch!

[stellalouise1]

It amazes me that there are STILL people who believe Adolph Hitler. Chamberlin took that route and look where it got him. Suckers.

[ajaaronjoe]

Britain Rules

[spitfirepilot]

It's depressing to read these comments. Each nation contributed; each nation suffered. Safe at our computers, we make nationalistic jibes at each other. Is this what it was all for? Puerile.

[englandcalling22]

I think the bottom line is that us German people have both Britain and America to thank for saving us from unspeakable tyranny. And the British and Americans DID care about the civilians. Hence why they undertook the Berlin airlift to stop millions of people starving to death. Also, the Soviets committed terrible crimes towards Germans after the war. But after liberating all those horrible concentration and extermination camps, who can blame them for going a bit mad?

[celticlofts]

Im glad you think so but the reality is somewhat different. The Russians didnt treat the Germans badly because of the camps; they treated them badly because they lost 100,000 troops taking Berlin. Remember they also lost 10 million civilians in Russia to German atrocities. The Berlin airlift (operation Vittles) was a politically motivated operation, not a humanitarian one.

[hammerhdc]

MegaBrits take heed. Roosevelt wanted to enter the war but knew congress and the American people wouldn't have it (because we were still coming out of a depression). He was still able to supply Britian with food, munitions, equipment, ships and aircraft to help you out during that time showing that we cared. Bottom line, Germany would have beaten you if we hadn't helped you out overall.

A US citizen

Germanic heritage

[ccclllsport]

taht may be some degree of truth. But with out Brition you the Americans would also have been battered. If we did not stick up to them and became neutral like switerland and denmark. Do you really think you would have been left alone. YOu wouldnt have been able to get into Europe with out using Britain as a foothold. Hitler wouldn't have let a big free continent like america alone. AlsoBritain had come out of a major war costing 3/4 of Britsih men, you had only spend 2 years at war with germany

[UKOGBN]

Hitler never wanted war with the British, he saw the British empire as a good thing, he wanted control of Europe and the East, he saw a natrual balance between Germany and the UK, with the UK in control of the seas and Germany the domint force on the mainland, it's a fact that when Germany was trying to get on the good side of the UK Hitler even offerd German troops to help police the British Empire.

[jjheadspace55]

Thats quite interesting. Is it true though?

[UKOGBN]

Hitler hoped for peace with the UK, look up the AGNA (Anglo German Naval Agreement) Hitler considered this treaty to be the beginnings of a possible Anglo-German alliance, I will point out that Britain did not, and the AGNA was meant to be part of a number of arms limitation treaties Britain would have applied

[jjheadspace55]

Ahh I understand, and I did look up the AGNA but found the famous word 'appeasement' come up a lot while reading about it. It seems like it was the other way round, that actually Britain was trying to keep a peace with Germany - Chamberlain was scared of war and so tried to appease. But its understandable that hitler saw the UK in control of the sea and Germany control of the mainland but I haven't found anything yet to indicate he saw a start to an Anglo-German alliance. Do you have anything?

[gyshalom]

the krauts almost won the battle of britain in the air.the mistake gehring made,fat fuck that he was,was to stop bombing the RAF air strips and facilities,including radar posts,which nearly devastated the british,and switch to terror bombing,which had no millitary value,and only helped to unite the brits behind the war effort.which is typical of the krauts,they allways pound away,and then,just b4 their enemy breaks down,they stop...

[MegaBrits]

Cheers for the American perspective, its best not speak of USA in first half of WW2, the word "cowards" springs to mind you see.

[gyshalom]

i dont think its cowardice per say...its more of un-caring..they just went through a tough time with the great depression,and they could'nt see how what was happening in euroupe was any of their buisness...isolationism,kind like what is happening right now with the public not wanting to be involved in sending troops to different parts of the world

[MegaBrits]

I guess so, but the terrible hammering Britain took alone while America was never bombed and as we had the Blitz + the first ever missile attacks as well.

Britain fought this lunatic (Germany as a nation were superb) alone and endured years of this without falter, even though Hitler didn't want war with Britain, but hated everything America stood for.

Although the British Empire naturally wouldn't be to Americas liking, we did more for the modern world than anyone, we made it to be honest.

[ialarmu]

Britain was not completely alone,my grandfather sat in a trench on the beach for 6months as a Canadian soldier waiting for the German invasion. thank God it never happend, he told me they would have likely been overwhelmed by the second wave.

[MegaBrits]

Read my home page, by Britain I mean the Britishs Empire/Commonwealth as I consider us one. We were all left to take on Hitler alone.

I have great respect for Canadian forces as you will see on my home page.

You ever want to know what America thought of Britain + Canada, look up "operation war plan red", I'm glad we were together.

[ialarmu]

I looked it up and unfortunately I'm not shocked. Canada is a large country with a comparitively small population. We have many untapped resources which could make us vulnerable to "Big Pig" countries like the USA,Russia and China. I fear a country like mine won't last too much longer with niehgbors like ours :( Just look at the Suez crisis. If Canada ever gets annexed I hope we go to the brits because Britain is our mother.

[chawk111]

[Canadian speaking] I don't think there is a major cultural difference between Ca. and America. Or if there is one, it's dwarfed by the differences between different parts of either country (NYC vs. Alabama > Average Ca. vs. A. American). And any given Can. archetype has his doppelganger S. of the boarder. Consequently, bloodless annexation would be fairly inconsequential. As it is, I see myself more as an English-speaking N. American, a Camerican, than as a Ca. Tim Horton's not withstanding.

[ialarmu]

Well....I prefer to be Canadian, I'm not saying anything like that would happen in my lifetime but ,that being said who knows what future economic situations might dictate. If it happens i would think it would be for pure survival and we would be in a situation where we would accept it gladly.

[Wernalizator]

I dont underestimate british efort, all Im saying is that at the very early stage of the war Polish soldiers (especially pilots) were the only one with combat exerience, that signifcantly upgrade British war potential. After all those differnces we were allies for next couple of years united to achieve a complete victory...at the end not all of ous from this noble pack felt victorious. Its good to remember that.

[Wernalizator]

You forgot about other nations,like czechs and more than eny other nation Poles. We as a nation stand united from the very first day of the war to the very last, to be abandoned at the end. When I was living in the UK I realized tha war perspective is so much diferent for Poles nad British. For you it was a galant fight with evil for us strugle to servive as a nation.

[dunbar9finger]

Don't forget the attitude during the days of Chamberlin. BOTH the Brits and the Americans preferred to stay out of it until it was obvious that they would be involved like it or not. When you live closer to the threat, that happens to you sooner. The Brits got involved sooner purely because of geographical proximity to the fight. I notice you don't complain about the lack of participation by Mexico, or much of South America. "Coward" is the wrong word to use.

[MegaBrits]

South America had no means by whch to physically fight anyone, but they bravely did their bit to help LONG BEFORE America were eventually forced to help anyone. Yes Argentina nd Uraguay assisted by helping Britain sink the Graff Spee at Battle of the River Plate.

What do you chaps get taught over there?

[Harvin87]

Mexico supplied millons of tons of oil to the US and physically sent the known "201 Squadron" to fight against the Japs in the Pacific.

[tomato6999]

to true and they still moan about dresden stupid krauts

[englandcalling22]

just like the British still moan about Coventry. Stupid pie eaters!!

Sorry, aber da krieg ich so nen Hals!

[englandcalling22]

Don't worry, I've got nothing against the British, hence why my username is englandcalling22. I love everything British. It's just that those narrow-minded little idiots writing hate-comments on here really make my blood boil!

[caisback18]

Thanks Blair. A great demonstration of determination by your British people. I'm Mexican so my country wasn't involved. I'm gonna watch the complete series.

[CONDEPEREZ]

Thanks very much George Orwell, to share this videos for "the rest of us", from Argentina, our tribute to those who loose their lives for the freedom of all of the world-British people deserves our respect-

[Craigjordan88]

"The average British brain works quicker than the average German's" haha, brilliant!

[celticlofts]

@Craigjordan88: Yeah like lets go to Dunkirk... Ah sure It'll be a piece of cake ....no worries !! 

[stperkin]

realy cool and preciouse video footage in this documentary

[sim0b]

history hey!