Britain’s Controversial Desert Campaign | Desert Generals | Timeline

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Britain would have lost her empire and the war in 1942 had Axis forces beaten the British army in the Middle East. Tim Collins re-investigates Britain’s critical desert campaign, and the controversial battle tactics needed to take on the unbeaten Panzer army in total war, preventing Hitler from gaining Egypt, Iraq and the oilfields. Foreshadowing current world events, this oil-rich region was crucial to the war effort. These are the World War II battles that shaped the Middle East, and created the world in which we live today.
This is the story of a final showdown between two titans of war in uninhibited warfare without buildings, cities or populations. In 1942 The British Army was being pushed back towards Cairo at a rate of almost 100 miles a day. Within a week, Rommel would take Egypt. The allies would lose the Mediterranean, Asia, the Iraq oilfields and its nascent US ally. At the moment of greatest peril, using unorthodox tactics and on the back foot, the British army fought the Panzerarmee to a standstill and then routed and decimated the German armour. This is the story of the "forgotten" Battle for Egypt, and the inside picture of the tactics that stopped the German tanks in their tracks.
With CGI re-enactments, Colonel Tim Collins shows what actually happens in desert theatres under lightning-fast mobile conditions in man's closest approximation to total war. Tim Collins uses his own experiences in Iraq and the Middle East to elucidate the phantom fluidity of desert war and shows what it looked like for the first time. He gets inside the head of the British commanders facing Rommel in a hundred mile battlefield pitted with danger. He reveals the unorthodox "battle group" tactics later taken up by modern NATO armies - and the successful use of combined all-arms formations adopted by the British army today. Documentary first broadcast in 2007.
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Опубликовано:

3 сен 2017

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Комментарии : 599

@Neil-yg5gm Год назад

Was it mentioned that Easter 1941 the Australian Army defeated Rommel at Tobruk? It was the Australian 9th Division with General Morshead as leader that defeated the blitzkrieg tactics of Rommel

@stephanmarcus448 4 года назад

The Stalingrad comment broke my Bulshitometer....

@eddiemerc1986 3 года назад

@Michael F well there you go. Colouring the world. This is history Pal. Regardless what we like to be. And Robert McNamara said it plain simple in his Lesson #7 The Fog of War: Belief and seeing are both often wrong.

@Dreadhead02productions 3 года назад

80% of German casualties occurred on the Soviet front. That's where the war was won. Western allies certainly played their part (my Grandpa fought with the 2nd AIF 18th Brigade in North Africa and New Guinea, hence my interest in the doco), and the Soviets certainly ruthlessly ruled eastern Europe until the collapse of the USSR, but the war wasn't conclusively won in this theatre.

@ls93780 2 месяца назад

@@Dreadhead02productions A bit of an oversimplification but the point is well taken.

@westpointsnell4167 5 лет назад

This documentary stops as soon as he said:"forget Stalingrad ".

@pedemeyer 6 лет назад

Did this guy just tell me to to forget Stalingrad as the turning point of the war?

@NobleKorhedron 5 лет назад

Yes, and I disagree, with both of you. Stalingrad was a disaster, yes, but I believe the actual turning points were the battles for North Africa and Italy in the West, and in the East, Kursk and Bagration.

@SuperJohn12354 5 лет назад

America would not enter the war until they saw the allies win, so in that sense it was

@SuperJohn12354 5 лет назад

Interestingly the reason why Rommel was “the dessert Fox” was because The American observers were communicating back to the US in a code that had been broken when the Italians had taken the US embassy in italy, so they were communicating the troop movements to Rommel.

@SuperJohn12354 5 лет назад

Also nice that this doesn’t mention that it was the Australians that stoped Rommel’s advancement at Tobruk, they were told to hold it for 5 weeks , they held it for 9 months, until they were relieved because the Australian prime minister having seen what happened at Gillipoli threatened to pull all Australian forces from Europe, if they were not.

@NobleKorhedron 5 лет назад

@@SuperJohn12354 WHAT!?! Why is this not more widely publicised!?!

@j1972w 2 года назад

Fantastic work by all contributors to this doc.

@domenicozagari2443 Год назад

Its amazing that people that don't understand any thing about the war in north Africa make videos.

@FirstLast-ml7yf 4 года назад

Main turning point of war was when the drunk German clerk handed the secret of the Enigma device algorithms to the Poles.

@thevillaaston7811 3 года назад

When and where did that happen?

@paulhughes7079 3 года назад

So which was better? To have better tanks and artillery, or intelligence? You make it sound like we were ‘“lucky’ to have created the intelligence.

@Skipper.17 6 лет назад

I didn't know ulster was part of Australia

@thenobleandmightybeaver4411 6 лет назад

What?

@R1IY2N 4 года назад

Its a lie

@NjK601 6 лет назад

Interesting fact while the eventual story was centered on Stalingrad and Operation Uranus due to the failure and losses for Russia the main offensive was actually named Operation Mars to the North which had larger forces involved and led to the Rhzev Meat Grinder, the Soviets lost almost half a million men (double British losses for all of North Africa) to 40,000 for the Germans and 1,600 to 1,700 tanks but it was still holding forces preventing reinforcement of Stalingrad and causing attrition the Germans could ill afford to replace till the gamble at Kursk. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Mars

@nabilbenz7148 4 года назад

he said that forgot stalingrad so i forgot this video and went to watch something else

@nabilbenz7148 4 года назад

@iStichy hahahaha i hate propaganda

@Srdosaur 6 лет назад

"forget the Stalingrad being turning point" stopped me watching right there

@DisneyJF 6 лет назад

Me too I stopped the documentary then and there. I knew then this was British propaganda, and not history.

@petedudson6671 6 лет назад

Almost did he same but the rest of it is actually quite good.

@tracishea5053 6 лет назад

Yeah. Why listen to someone else's opinion? Yours is already the 'correct' one. And, hey, it's not like you may learn something, since you already know everything. 🙄

@ILikedGooglePlus 6 лет назад

The turning point is actually still up for debate. Some say pearl harbour. Some say Stalingrad. Some say original invasion of Russia. Some say North Africa. Some say Malta. All make pretty decent points, and there all pretty linked

@dondajulah4168 6 лет назад

C'mon, everyone knows that the key to winning the war was knocking out the Italians. The Italian Army was carrying the Wehrmacht for that entire war.

@NathanChisholm041 4 года назад

No mention of the Aussies fighting Rommel in Africa?

@anti-loganpaul7827 3 года назад

@Lats Niebling ?

@eddiel7635 3 года назад

@Lats Niebling N Irish general talking about N Irish generals and N Irish regiment... and other bits of the campaign.

@hesky10 3 года назад

he mentions the ANZAC forces in the first quarter of the programme

@tertommy 5 лет назад

I've been through the desert on a horse with no name It felt good to be out of the rain In the desert you can remember your name 'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain La, la

@johnnylackland3992 4 года назад

I can dig it....

@johnhaggerty748 6 лет назад

to be honest there were 3 turning points in the war all happening in 1942 and they were Midway and Guadalcanal for the Americians the few victories in North Africa for the british and Stalingrad for the russians

@samuel10125 6 лет назад

John Haggerty wrong if any turning point in the war had gave the Germans a kick in the balls it was the Battle of Britain because up until that point yes Britain was beated at Dunkirk the German military hadn't gone up against a proper prepared enemy they had been attacking men women and children pretty much and never faught an enemy who was as well trained and equipped and while British forces hadn't faught head on they still had more experience the German Luftwaffe majorly underestimated the RAF even at Dunkirk the RAF kept the skies above the beach's clear using the Spitfire Britains resolve showed the Germans that when up again an enemy who is just as battle hardened, trained and equipped you can be defeated although it still puzzles me that despite not being able beat Britain he thought he could take on the Russians keep this in mind thought Blitzkrieg was actually a British invention because we were at the head of tank tactics before ww2 and the Germans paid very close attention to our tactics.

@ILikedGooglePlus 6 лет назад

You're forgetting the battle of Malta for Italy. That began the domino effect that led to Italy switching side, that led to Britain winning North Africa, that led to Russia winning Stalingrad

@dondajulah4168 6 лет назад

I would like someone to explain how defeating the Axis in North Africa led to anything other than holding down a couple of German divisions in the middle of Italy until near the end of the war. Great Britain may have been crippled but no way would they have surrendered with the US in the war and the Soviet Union holding off the Germans in the winter of '41/'42. The US could supply all of the oil that the GB lost with the ME being cut off. Even with all the oil supply required by the Wehrmacht, they still not compete in industrial production with US and SU.

@mafuletrekkie 6 лет назад

Jay Santos, Honestly, the biggest advantage the Allies got out of the North Africa campaign was blooding their troops, particularly the US troops. I hate to say it, being a patriotic American myself, but the States were not prepared for combat. To put it bluntly, we sucked... big time. The North African campaign gave the allies a chance to learn how to fight a modern war and prove that the battle of France wasn't a fluke, wars were wars of motion once again and not of endless trenches. The lessons learned in North Africa and the core of veterans it created were crucial in the following years. Had the Allies tried to go straight to France with the army it had, as some wanted, it would have been a disaster. They just were not ready. Not to mention that the allies desperately needed a morale boost which has all sorts of benefits in terms of building the will to fight among the people at large.

@Malos_ 5 лет назад

*Battle of Britain* The name gives it away

@AshleyDaySosa 6 лет назад

That was a nice change of tune for a WWII Documentary. They usually tend to focus on the very well known areas of the war, the common knowledge that we are all taught in grade school, so this was a nice change. It's new to me at least, and I enjoyed that. Surprised it's that old and I haven't seen it before. Only downside is that usually I don't click on these until all the parts are uploaded, and so now I have to wait for the rest. Lol.

@silver4831 6 лет назад

Was incompetent generals all round.

@stevenrogers5506 2 месяца назад

Grade school? You're from the USA? That explains why you don't see the North African campaign as 'a very well known area of the war' American hegemony has white washed history, if it was up to you guys ww2 started at pearl harbour. So much blood was already spilt by then facing the a German war machine with a 3+ year advantage in preparations. The USA hid behind the British empire Russians and Europeans bleeding before finally deciding they'd bankrupted the British empire enough to finally Commit some of their own people. The tide was already Turing, American support hastened the German defeat but but the British and Russian had finally mobilised (reluctantly) enough to turn the tide. Not that you'll ever hear that story in a hlywood movie.

@laurencehirst7814 5 лет назад

Churchill had a serious and obvious mental block! It cost him his position in WW1, as First Lord of Admiralty!..He was incapable of understanding military tactics and strategy, and all he ever saw was the politics of any action! If you put a map with a strategic plan on it in front of him, he would become instantly confused and baffled by it! He often called these plans 'Nonsense'! He always thought he knew better!..His constant interference in strategic matters led to disaster upon disaster..Classic examples..Dieppe!..Greece..Crete..Malaya..Singapore! and many more! However within the field of politics, he excelled! He had no peer there! This was his world..And it was politics that made him the great man that he truly was!.

@loafersheffield 4 года назад

There was another Irishman who's contribution seems to have been completely overlooked in this historical narrative of the desert campaign. Lnc Corporal Terrence "Spike" Milligan.

@steveforster9764 3 года назад

Half Irish English mother

@magna4100 2 года назад

@@steveforster9764 Born in India.

@tf1090c 5 лет назад

Guys, if you can get past that ‘forget Stalingrad’ comment the rest is actually pretty good

@iskandarr1496 4 года назад

Jason Cairns hearing that is a lot. 13 German division while in Russia were almost 200 German divisions. Because of your comment I’ll give this a try.

@sebastiandouse 4 года назад

Well I think he means it like if the Germans had won in Africa then the Germans would have never even needed to invade Russia since one of the biggest reasons for Germany doing so was for the oil which Africa has plenty and then some of it. So in his eyes the battle in Africa was more important a turning point for the war than that of Stalingrad since it may not even have happened had the Germans won Africa.

@99mercury1 4 года назад

That remark about "forget Stalingrad" and attempting to make El Alamein the real turning point of the war really is stupid.Total Axis losses at El Alamein were around 60,000 men; total Axis losses at Stalingrad between August 1942 and February 1943 were 800,000.

@Charsept 4 года назад

I think that comment holds some weight to it. If Germany and Japan could link up in Egypt, who knows how the war would have gone. All that oil for both of those powers.

@99mercury1 4 года назад

@@Charsept There is no denying that the Allied victory at El Alamein was one of the turning points of the war.The most important thing about Egypt was the Axis' control ofthe Suez canal and the access to the Middle East.In 1942, the USA still produced the majority of all the world's oil. There was no oil in Egypt; Libya's oil riches were unknown at the time; Iran and Iraq's oil industries were still only beginning to produce oil - around 20 million tons a year.But even if the Axis had conquered Iran and Iraq, it would have been very difficult to transport the oil back to Europe.

@clonmore819 6 лет назад

Excellent production

@orley104 6 лет назад

Once Rommel lost his eyes and ears, the Africa Corps version of Ultra he didn't have the supply advantages of the Brits.

@ahuse1 6 лет назад

the British Empire may have been saved (? for a few years) in the desert, but WWII was not won there.

@Tony-Blake 6 лет назад

But could WWII have been lost there?

@ahuse1 6 лет назад

of course. North Africa may have been the turning point for Britain, but not the war. The guy at the beginning says expressly that Stalingrad was not the turning point. a very good film, tho!

@lancesurgeon7614 6 лет назад

I never realized that Japan was defeated in North Africa!

@cannibalcheese 6 лет назад

I think you misunderstand the context. If Egypt fell it would have opened up untapped oil resources for the entire German war effort. Plus a drive up through the middle East opening up a second Russian front from the south whilst the Japanese push from the east. Russia would have fallen..... possibly. It's not right for the guy to assume though. Who knows what would have really happened.

@awa865 6 лет назад

An informed and well thought through comment. What a refreshing change, I take it you're not fifteen and writing from your parent's basement? Surprised youtube let you on :)

@SNP-1999 5 лет назад

Now, I have absolutely nothing against Ulster men (or any Irish), but when somebody gets up and states that Ulster men - or any other minority or single part of the Allied forces - won the war, inferring that they won it alone ........!!!!! Sorry, will now definitely turn off (see my previous comment below).

@trousersnake1841 4 года назад

You Do realize the Legendary Australian 9th Division won the Battle of Tobruk Don't you ?

@sof5858 4 года назад

Leslie Morshead

@clintockmaconaghie3763 3 года назад

No. You could not hold Tobruk with Lee Enfields, Brens and Italian heavy weapons. But they did with four British regiments of 25-Pounders, four 60-Pounders and various batteries of anti-tank guns in the hands of mainly British crews. Indian and British troops also went into the front line including spare RTR men and men from the King's Dragoon Guards.

@sean640307 3 года назад

@@clintockmaconaghie3763 as an Aussie, I would have to say that you are 100% correct. The effort to hold Tobruk was truly an amazing effort done by ALL of the garrison, not just the Aussies. However, most of the hand-to-hand stuff was certainly left to the Aussies and the nightly patrolling was the grim work of Aussies and Indians, whose silent exploits cannot be underestimated.

@clintockmaconaghie3763 3 года назад

@@sean640307 The most complete account is in a massive book: ISBN 13 978-0-9931732-0-2 The title is: A detailed fighting account of: 2nd Armoured Division 9th Australian Division 3rd Indian Motor Brigade 7th Support Group and 22nd Guards Brigade in combat with the Afrikakorps and units from the Ariete Brescia Bologna Pavia and Trento Divisions: February - May 1941 The author is a really helpful guy too

@sean640307 3 года назад

@@clintockmaconaghie3763 cheers - it's not one I have in my collection, yet, so I shall be on the lookout for that one next.

@slappy420usa 5 лет назад

While I question the notion the desert war was anything more than a sideline, given that no amount of oil or African victory would stop the Red Army pushing into Germany, or even delaying it in any meaningful way, it must be noted that as a field General Auckenleck was everything one wants in leadership. Perceived the significance of climatic difference and its effect on his troops combat capability, understood that all the difficulties he faced, his opposite was burdened with as well, and comprehended the counter intuitive notion that forward momentum and victory in attack for a military force also creates danger and weakness in its rear, as the most powerful formations where out of reach of its bases they could neither defend them effectively, nor depend on rapid and ready reinforcement from them. Auckenleck's great weakness was his station as a theater commander and not a battlefield commander. Forced to rely on politically acceptable field commanders and pulled in so many directions his ability to effectively focus on or even influence the disposition of any of his forces weakened his ability to impact the outcome of battles in any meaningful way. the only time he was able to evaluate a battle situation as it was occuring he accurately calculated all variables and made the right choice at the right time, victory from what on its surface looked to be defeat was won. I think Auckenleck is under rated and was hamstrung by political pressure and appointment to a command above that which suited his abilities, this is not to extract from his skill, but only recognition that a field commander and a theater commander require different skill sets and mind sets, Auckenleck was a supreme field commander but was less suited to theater command, with its political contrivances and focus on wider picture dilemma.

@harryb8945 Год назад

The Soviet Union was dependent was western aid to win against the Germanys, and Britain was critical to that. Had the UK lost the war I'm Africa the Soviet Union would not have received the support it needed.

@jameshannagan4256 Год назад

That was a problem for the allies in general (see the revolving admirals in the Pacific).

@michealohaodha9351 4 года назад

No mention of Italian forces either...despite forming the bulk of the Axis side in North Africa.

@brianbarber97505 3 года назад

And,, if you read journalist Alan Moorehead's account of North Africa, Italian Artillery was a beast...they were usually left hanging on the battlefield to fend for themselves. I am inclined to believe they were very brave men. Just thought I'd mention it. :-)

@st.apollonius5758 5 лет назад

I remember you Tim Collins from the days of 2 Royal Irish , Lemgo:)

@AyebeeMk2 6 лет назад

Great to see a documentary about the massive operations (for their time) in 1941 (before the US were committed to the war) and early 42 around Gazala-Tobruk-Egypt, even Dorman Smith is finally being credited for his contributions. The "Auk's" achievements are probably much greater than "Monty's" due to problems inherent with the British command in Egypt that he had to overcome.

@gdayu-tubers3130 4 года назад

G'day RU-vidrs. I like this guy. It's nice to hear from a fellow Commonwealth country's soldier that has fought in the desert in this god forsaken 20+ year war. I'll leave my full comments until part 2. Gudonya totally enjoying it so far with some man candy telling a very true story. Havagudon RU-vidrs. Cheers from My Great Southern Land . We Will Remember "Lest We Forget" 🌺👏🌏☺

@cel1976ron 6 лет назад

Finally we learn the reality about the desert victory and how difficult task was what Rommel had achieved...Auchinleck saved the day with op. crusader and bought valuable time for his successors General Alexander and L-general Montgomery. Also Auchinleck decided that El-Alamein would be the place, for the most decisive desert battle of WW2 and his foundations and his strategy was the basis that 4-star general Alexander (commander of all middle-east commonwealth armies) with 3-star general (commander of the 8th army) Montgomery used ,along with their superiority in numbers of troops- tanks and planes and very good preparation ,that also included a lot of training !! PS- It is a pity ,that in such an excellent doc, the narrator doesn't say anything about the other allied nations that fought in desert, along side with commonwealth armies ,the Poles ,the French ,the Greeks and the first Americans (please excuse me ,if i am forgetting any other nationality.....and feel free to correct me)

@tracishea5053 6 лет назад

I've come to realize that contemporary Brits include the US when they say "commonwealths," which, while it's not literally (even at that time) correct, I can see why. We speak their language and have much of their culture because we once were. Just like Canada, Australia, South Africa, etc, which are now not literally, either. Which probably makes it simple to lump us altogether and assume everyone knows what they mean. Interestingly enough, the French forces who fought in North Africa were mostly men of their commonwealths; from Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. And, hey, you forgot the Czechs. 😉

@cel1976ron 6 лет назад

Yes indeed ,many Czech pilots fought in the battle of England ,as well as Poles of course ! As for the word "commonwealth" , i don't disagree with you.

@tracishea5053 6 лет назад

It's interesting how history works on language like that. Now that there's hardly anyone around to remember WWII, all that past is just that. "Before us," basically. Which seems awfully egocentric. But, really, there's no other strict means of comparison. We are limited as linear, I suppose.

@cel1976ron 6 лет назад

I find that comment successful and to the point! But ww1& ww2 (many like to see both wars ,as one with two parts) was a huge event in the human history! This era shaped our lives and of course our culture .Imagine how different would be our lives ,if axis powers had won ww2! I want to believe that the 1st half of the 20th century is almost as important to the human history ,as there are all those important ancient civilisations (ancient Greeks, Persians,Egyptians,Chinese etc) and of course the birth of Jesus Christ (most importantly) but also Mohamed and all other important religions of our era .

@tracishea5053 6 лет назад

"if axis powers had won ww2" ... I shudder to think! But, indeed, the Great Wars were as relevant to modern times as the classic civilizations, the Renaissance. colonialism, and the Industrial Revolution. If nothing else, they advanced our technology at an astounding rate: radar, jet planes, ballistics, highways, nuclear tech ... Even our sacred Internet exists because of the resulting Cold War. History never ceases to fascinate.

@Fred3n87 6 лет назад

This guy mixes up the fate of the second world war with the fate of Britain...

@voiceoftheppl4985 6 лет назад

it wouldve been difficult for usa to get a foothold into Europe with the fall of Britain...

@ILikedGooglePlus 6 лет назад

VOICE of the PPL It would've been impossible...

@matthiuskoenig3378 6 лет назад

actually mst supplies from the us to ussr was through the pacisfic, also i don't see why the us couldn't use french territoy in africa,or even in east africa, like a free british movement

@anxyxyliuser1453 6 лет назад

A minor diversion in WW2. Very interesting battles and the sacrifices were very real!

@jk1776yt 3 года назад

Great video, my only complaint is the background music can be rather overbearing, like Gen Dorman Smith, at times.

@blumie006 3 года назад

Most of the main battles were won by Australia and New Zealand

@thevillaaston7811 2 года назад

Not really...

@jstevinik3261 2 года назад

@@thevillaaston7811 Most of the victories were shared among other conmonwelath countires. Keep in mind, most conmonwelath countries each had thier division which were outnumbered by purely UK divisions. In short, battles were usually fought and won by a team of countires. Regardless, their efforts deserve at least a mentioning.

@thevillaaston7811 2 года назад

@@jstevinik3261 Less than three minutes in, the narrator lists the countries that supplied troops for the fighting. Considering that this seems to be a documentary about the major commanders and their Ulster connections, how far should the content go in detailing the exploits of each division there? Would a series of documentaries about the three year campaign as whole be a better for that level of information?

@jstevinik3261 2 года назад

@@thevillaaston7811 Thank you for pointing that out. I watched it at 2x speed so I missed that mentioning. I am fine with this documentary doing one mentioning, now that I am aware. I would agree that a documentary on the broader campaign helped and I have been watching many as I could find on the matter, and they mention commonwealth forces at least once.

@FlashPointHx 6 лет назад

Thanks for posting. Nice documentary - I agree with some of the comments - I don't think WW 2 was won or lost here.

@mrwood4557 6 лет назад

But it would have been devastating for the world if the Brits lost it. The massive oil fields for the German war machine. Leaving it open to the middle East. Push into a 2nd front on Russia and meeting Japan in the middle.

@FlashPointHx 6 лет назад

Agree that it would have been a major set back. And if the Germans were able to do it fast enough, they could have supplied Japan with oil - which may have prevented an attack on Pearl Harbor. But the Germans were defeated in the end by Russia.

@cel1976ron 6 лет назад

If Nazis crossed the El-Alamein line ,they had to cross also the other lines to reach the oil-fields of Irak-Iran and Arabia...So they had to cross the Nile ,Red sea and then cross Sinai too....So to me ,if British felt that they could lose the 1st battle of El-Alamein, they could reatreat at the eastern bank of the Nile and fortified that line ,that had one more advantage ,that Axis troops had to cross a big and wide river ,where are plants for hiding troops, machine gun positions and guns !! I am not saying that the battle of El-Alamein would not be a turning point ,but as long as Axis had not any other major port east of Tobruk ,their supply problems would became worst and worst, so to me the next step that Rommel had to make ,if he managed to cross the El-Alamein line, was to capture Alexandria ,a bigger port of Tobruk ,that was RN's biggest base of Mediterranean. By capturing Tobruk Rommel would have a major port to supplied his army ,but also British army and navy would lost a major supply station and base ,as Alexandria ! So to me ,again we have to speculate...........Imagine that Rommel wanted oil so much and he had oil under his own feet ,but he did not knew that Libya has oil (thank God ,actually!!). So imagine if world knew about Libyan oil ,15 years ahead what would happened ,when Axis understood that they had oil and how major objective would be to defend this region ...also how important Malta would be ,far more important than any other target ,i think! PS- The desert campaign was very important ,it was that campaign that exposed Axis weaker ally ,Italy and after the Sicily landings drove Italian King (Victor Emanuel) to capitulate and turn sides actually! RIP to all those young men that lost their lives there or they suffered major injuries ! We own them ,our freedom !!

@abdulqadirhussain7864 6 лет назад

Flash Point History Love you podcast mate

@FlashPointHx 6 лет назад

Thank you! History is such an awesome field .

@SNP-1999 5 лет назад

When the narrator said to forget Stalingrad I also nearly switched off straight away - as if one decisive battle fought hundreds of miles away rules out a second, equally decisive one - BS ! Stalingrad turned Hitlers conquest of Russia into a prolongued defeat that ended in the streets of Berlin 1945. The Russians could well have stated, like Churchill after El Alamein, that before Stalingrad they had had no victory, after Stalingrad no defeat (which is not totally true in both cases, but nearly). As other viewers recommended carrying on, I will give this film a second chance - I hope it's not a waste of time.

@99IronDuke 6 лет назад

Good video, look forward to part two.

@neddyladdy Год назад

I had never heard the campaign labelled controversial before now, but nothing was said to make one think it was controversial.

@stevenrogers5506 2 месяца назад

Controversial is a polite way of saying 'eff up', certainly at the start. But once the British started to mobilze to their full potential it was only going one way

@shaunsteele4968 Год назад

Here's a cowboy tale for a man that enjoyed them. The man in black named ike fled through the desert looking wildly behind him. The gunslinger with pattons diary in hand followed calmly.

@jameshannagan4256 Год назад

Love the series but the first book was not that good. (Wizard And Glass was so awesome)

@nate-otero 5 лет назад

They realise Tobruk was mostly Australian soldiers right?

@marckcarbonelloifveteran410 5 лет назад

Nateorius Me Australian and South African soldiers.

@creevey82 4 года назад

@@marckcarbonelloifveteran410 Different ops. The South Africans helped take it originally, then the ANZACS held it (with some help from British, Polish and Indian troops, but not many), then Crusader (this doco) secured it. All said, the ANZACS were the most impressive of the lot. 10/1 and they held for 5 months, fashioning explosives and grenades from tin cans and leftover scrap when supplies were low, conducting night-time sabotage, and nigh on starving at points.

@SamO-ik2cm 4 года назад

@@creevey82 no kiwis at tobruk

@creevey82 4 года назад

@@SamO-ik2cm Yes, there were.

@sof5858 4 года назад

Leslie Morshead

@smooth_sundaes5172 6 лет назад

Irishmen? But.... Auchinleck was born in Aldershot in Hampshire and Montgomery in Kennington in Surrey. Talk about massaging facts to fit a narrative. My grandfather served in the South Wales Borderers but was born in Inverness Scotland, call him Welsh or English he'd have punched you in the mouth!

@gordontaylor5373 4 года назад

I thought Auchinleck was Scottish.

@David-vp3ip Год назад

Excellent presentation from a military man.

@shaunsteele4968 Год назад

Patton goes to great length to inform you in his diary that this was his biggest challenge the entire war. Never Jerry.

@HenriHattar 5 месяцев назад

Paton was MORE than over rated, he was , in reality a loose cannon wioth limited vision and did not achieve very much if you REALLY examine the record!

@shaunsteele4968 5 месяцев назад

@HenriHattar spoken like the man who sat in Malta and screwed a driver for the war. I don't even have time for amateur hour with you.

@HenriHattar 5 месяцев назад

You wouldn't be able to take the heat !@@shaunsteele4968

@bruceburns1672 2 года назад

Watching this is like watching the Britain I have known all my life , born in 1949 , all my life Britain has been a nation that doesn't know if its coming or going , lurching from crisis to crisis right up until the present time , how it pays its way in the world is beyond me since they wiped out all their manufacturing in an orgy of Union Labor Socialist anarchy back in the 60's and 70's .

@thevillaaston7811 2 года назад

Asset stripping, and Mrs Thatcher's revolution of greed did for manufacturing.

@bruceburns1672 2 года назад

@@thevillaaston7811 Utter Tripe , Britain was bankrupt from propping up her nationalized failed industries and had to go begging to the International Monetary Fund , they laid down the conditions for the funds which had to be followed through , just like Bankrupt Greece 5 years ago who had exactly the same problems economically for the same reasons , chronic waste of public money on the failed Socialist Welfare State .

@thevillaaston7811 2 года назад

@@bruceburns1672 Utter, utter tripe. Just look at the evidence. Example: BMC / British Leyland went on to be privatised and went from a major manufacturer of vehicles, to being owned by a widow living in Bavaria, to its factories being used as warehouses, as its machinery was taken to the Far East. Example:British shipbuilding: Who ever heard of British ships bring built abroad? ...Until the Tories threw the industry to the wolves. Now we have to buy our ships from Romania. Example: British Aerospace being allowed to flog off it part in Airbus... as the French, the Germans, and the Spanish 'thank you very much, that'll do nicely'. Example: Westland: a British success, until it was flogged off to the Italians. Now, they tell us what happens. Example: British Airways. At the time it was flogged off, it was the world's leading international airline. Noo look at it... Example: British Gas. Now it hads to rub alongside the French. As if British companirs could do that in France. Still you have to hand it to the Tories. Fancy them being able to sell the British people what it already owned. And so on, and so on... All roads lead back to Thatcher, and her get rich quick policies, designed to win 350 seats at General elections, regardless of the consequences for the country. It has blown up in everyones face as her acolytes Cameron and Johnson have led the UK to the brink of disaster, with the lunatic Brexit vote, and the alienation of Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. What a mess. In the case of Cameron and Johnson, what an Eton Mess.

@gordonholding5621 2 года назад

It was That her and Lawsons austerity, designed to destroy the unions that devastated British manufacturing. I was in the West Midlands at the time and saw factory after factory closing.

@thevillaaston7811 2 года назад

@@gordonholding5621 Thatcher and co then went on to p* ss the North Sea oill money up the wall in Yuppy tax cuts.

@jmccallion2394 Год назад

an excellent documentary, but in the fall of Tobruk do we need the screaming banshee joining in the sound effects?

@marclaplante5679 6 лет назад

You lost me with the opening line of the war being won in the desert ... It was a side show compared to the number of troops engaged on the East Front. the commonwealth did commit a great effort in that theatre, but those same number of troops would have been but a footnote in the battles ongoing the Soviet union at the same time.

@stuartwhigham7146 4 года назад

Marc Laplante Considering that the British did not expect the Soviets to beat the Germans in 1941/42. Preserving the Middle East’s oil then became vital. It also meant that defeating Rommel was paramount. In order that the 8th could be redeployed to cover the oilfields in the event of a Soviet collapse. To cover Iran and Iraq.

@SuperJohn12354 3 года назад

The Americans wanted the allies to prove they could beat the Germans before they would get involved, they had observers watching this battle, if the allies had lost Africa , the Americans may never have joined the war.

@danielaung691 Год назад

Britain would have ran out of oil as explained in the documentation

@shabaanj8413 6 лет назад

British documentaries are always about to make the best American documentaries are always about to make higher quantity but not quality this is the best documentary I have ever watched and American documentaries are always mass-produced but very boring this is for the most amazing documentary I've ever watched

@mariusb5150 6 лет назад

Hm 'forget Stalingrad as the turning point'? From a British Empire perspective maybe, not for others.

@thevillaaston7811 6 лет назад

The crucial point in Russia was Moscow in 1941.

@sigurdueland5194 4 года назад

TheVilla Aston disagree I think it’s more correct to say late spring 1942

@tavuzzipust7887 4 года назад

And by now even London isn't British any more.

@andreasleonardo6793 3 года назад

Nice video...showing that successful defense is base of Global victory latter

@stevequinn6793 5 лет назад

@ 0:51 Are you suggesting the Auchinleck and Montgomery are from Northern Ireland (Ulster)? Every biography I know of has them born in or near London England. How are you using the word _Ulster_ ?

@DidMyGrandfatherMakeThis 3 года назад

I'm with you on that one, auchinleck was from Aldershot and Monty was from kennington in London.

@malreid749 2 года назад

@@DidMyGrandfatherMakeThis Monty spent much of his formative years in Australia, Tasmania to be exact.

@casparcoaster1936 4 года назад

This is excellent, I live on a 1000mo usd, but I'd pay $100 on Patreon, if TIK would review it!!!!!! Really worth watching. Not just the combat, but the politics, and personel selection, really reminds you what Churchill had to manage, that he only had one heart attack during WW2, is rightous

@JeffreyOrnstein 4 года назад

That’s a really poor rendition of Churchill. Really really poor.

@siggijonsson4845 4 года назад

I stopped watching after forget stalingrad, ca't do a series and be soooooo wrong.

@Frankyc1953 3 года назад

Kind of killed my interest too. Facts be damned

@FrankieJames7 3 года назад

it is a point that has credibility. if germany sealed off the mediterranean england very well might have called for armistice, and germany could have focused on the eastern front with the possibility of at least stopping the red army from reaching berlin.

@dondajulah4168 3 года назад

@@FrankieJames7 What about Spain giving access to Germany to invade Gibraltar? That sure would have put a crimp in any effort to supply a campaign in North Africa for GB.

@paulzeman7684 2 года назад

That Ulster chest-pounding is kind of bizarre.

@guysenter1802 4 года назад

The battle of Gazala - poor history: Bir Hirchem did not fall immediately. That's why the German supply lines were extended. The Germans rather formed a defensive position against the British minefields to the west. After the minefields were quickly cleared in their rear and supplies brought through them, the British attacked, perhaps in an uncoordinated fashion, and the Germans destroyed their armor while on the defensive. Resupplied and owning the battlefield, they broke out from "the Cauldron" and raced for Tobruk. How can one discuss the battle of Gazala without using the word "Cauldron"?

@brsfan66 6 лет назад

Imagine that German general from World War 2 Rommel on the American side fighting in Desert Storm. It possibly could have compared to General Lee.

@mickeyrat1297 2 года назад

It's not exclusively that Rommel was a military genius and a "FOX", but more importantly, he had a lot of military EXPERIENCE WHICH MADE THINGS A LOT EASIER for him. Also, Germans historically a combative culture, had accumulated throughout history great military insight, particularly against the Roman empire. Additionally, Germans had prepared his soldiers since infancy for military confrontation. Moreover, Germans had also accumulated, way ahead of time, a plethora of financial resources designed for future military endeavors.

@Lesboi 2 года назад

Thats a stretch honestly lmao...no one in his right mind would have any precise recalling of roman times for using modern steel tank battles in desert lol

@HenriHattar 5 месяцев назад

Absolute and utter rubbish!

@zainmudassir2964 8 месяцев назад

It seemed unlikely Germans could've gone further than river nile without landing craft,out of logistical range and full air superiority of the Commonwealth. It was brutal campaign nonetheless.

@stevenrogers5506 2 месяца назад

If they had reached the Suez canal then things would have been very different. But they didn't and probably never would have. They were beaten twice at El Alamein because rommel couldn't manouvre and once it went to a war of attrition they would have struggled in the numbers game because they didn't control the med so couldn't bring over enough men and supplies.

@everynamewastakenomg 2 года назад

The Rats of Tobruk, heroes of WW2 🇦🇺

@magna4100 2 года назад

Good documentary, just that hideous screeching racket of "music" that totally ruins it.

@user-gj5gb7fd6n 2 месяца назад

"The Ulster men who won the Second World War" 😆😆😂😂😂 OMDG you are bloody hilarious 😂😂🤣

@sblack48 2 года назад

“Tough though the Iraq war was….” Bwahahaha! Come on.

@Charlesputnam-bn9zy 4 года назад

El Alamein occurred before Stalingrad, & the incensed Adolf's order ''Win or die !'' made him divert more troops to North Africa instead of to Stalingrad. Moreover the encircled nazis at Stalingrad would have broken out and destroyed Zhukov's forces, were it not for the same tombstone-set order. If the British had not held fast at Alamein, Rommel would have broken through to the Caucasus and joined hands with the German mountain troops who just conquered the Elbrus summit, and seized the Caspian Sea oil. For a reminder, while Stalingrad's was still in the balance, a Wehrmacht motorized raiding column reached Astrakhan setting aflame an oil refinery (Standard-Oil-built) and came back without encountering one Rus.

@xslytitanx 6 лет назад

The voice of Churchill in this is so bad.

@grizzlycountry1030 2 года назад

I can forget about stalingrad easily so I'll watch.

@slappy420usa 5 лет назад

I wonder if anyone can sustain the argument proffered at start of " If the desert war was lost the war at large was unwinnable" ? Simply curious what motivated this assertion as a bases for the following arguments put forward in the documentary.

@xiferzeitgeist Год назад

Shipping - allied shipping losses - reopening the med freed up thousands of tons of shipping; also without access to middle east oil and India via the med Britain was lost.

@mrlilshadow187 6 лет назад

instead of ths eastern front of the Germans focused more in North Africa, they could of won easily over whelming the British before the Americans would of even landed. also with more recourses from the easter from. also taking gilbralta wich is British and the Panama Canal would of cut of The UK of from they're colonies. that's why it was so important to them. specially since the U boats had supremacy over the deep sea ocean since the Royal navy was thinned out so much. basicly strangleling the empire, that with out its colony's is just tiny England. that wouldn't grantee victory over the USSR but the middle east oil would be an easier target the Stalingrad and the oil from the Cacauses. by 1943 the Whermacht was desperately low on fuel wich would end up grounding the Luftwaffen when the front line troops were desperate for air support while the German homeland was also in desperate need of the Luftwaffen. Germany although a Super power between 1941-1943 was short lived because they bit of more then they could chew.

@robbiemify 6 лет назад

Panama Canal ????? don't you mean Suez Canal ???

@timothyphillips5043 6 лет назад

And if I wore a skirt I would be a girl

@stevenrogers5506 2 месяца назад

They couldnt prioritize North Africa, they couldnt even keep rommel going, the russia front was the easy option and also if he was sticking to principles the living space in the east was both the ideological and the easy target 😊

@daveshrum1749 6 лет назад

Interesting take. Very important series of battles but nowhere near the importance of the Battle of Britain Midway or Stalingrad.

@thevillaaston7811 6 лет назад

Midway was nothing compared to Stalingrad or El Alamein. If the Russians had lost Stalingrad then what? If El Alamein was lost the Axis were into the middle east oil and access to resources from arounmd the world.

@daveshrum1749 6 лет назад

TheVilla Aston I was not rating them according to how many people were lost. But according to their importance on the war as a whole especially in hindsight. We Americans got lucky cuz we've cracked the Japanese code so we knew where and when they were coming. Without Midway you would not have had Americans in Mainland Europe.

@daveshrum1749 6 лет назад

TheVilla Aston I also totally agree about the importance of Stalingrad by the way.

@jameshannagan4256 Год назад

Why the UK let themselves be defeated in detail is a question I will never understand. I mean it is basic strategy not to let that happen but somehow they let it happen anyway.

@joebloggs4807 5 лет назад

Wasn’t Paddy Mayne who fought in the North African desert (lieutenant colonel in the SAS) an Ulster man also?

@pukkadriver 5 лет назад

Indeed he was

@joebloggs4807 5 лет назад

pukkadriver, my grandad fought in the North Africa desert, Sicily and Italy and everything I’ve heard about Paddy suggest that he was a fantastic leader and a real warrior, rest in peace

@sandycaspillo6731 10 месяцев назад

Who tf told you that Stalingrad is not a turning point of the war

@ctvtmo 2 года назад

There seems to be a parallel between Rommel/Montgomery and Lee/Grant.

@lvbdevinelove2329 3 месяца назад

In the beginning I hear variations of an Irish tune which is ironic because I will play it for a orchestra concert.

@dm0065 5 лет назад

The oil of the middle east was not a big deal yet by this point. The UK was getting a trickle out of the handful of wells operating by this time.

@bigwoody4704 4 года назад

Exactly the USA and South America produced much more oil at that time not a lot of production or refining going on in the Middle East

@stuartwhigham7146 4 года назад

Au contraire mon Ami. The oil supply in the Middle East was significant enough for the British to invade Iraq en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Iraqi_War

@oldgringo2001 4 года назад

Somehow Harold Alexander was left out of this pantheon of colorful Irish Protestent generals. Check out Captain Rick Jacobs "Kasserine Pass" video at 7:21 to see Alexander in a *GERMAN* Landswehr uniform. Hey, wars are where you find them.

@jameshannagan4256 Год назад

If it was not for Ultra the UK still might have lost even with better forces and supply lines.

@markbrandon7359 4 года назад

Yes the British sent the 4th. 7th and 22nd Arm-Brigades in different directions however each brig was equal in tank strength to the German and Italian tanks combined add in the RTR (Matildas) and the British tanks out numbered the Afrika Kore 4 to 1 While the 7th Arm-Brig was getting pummeled the 22nd Arm-Brig sat by licking it's wounds sustained by the Italian Arietta Div. the 4th had been beaten badly earlier, instead of massing their armor they allowed the Afrika Kore tp beat them one by one,

@HenriHattar 5 месяцев назад

I think Mark you are like a person who looks at a sentance and picks out little bits but let the meaning get lost because you don't consider the WHOLE sentance, The British WON Mark, and of all the defeats inflicted, those on the Italians were HUGE!

@markbrandon7359 5 месяцев назад

@@HenriHattar The Brits got hammered in operation Crusader their 3 tank Brig's were decimated Rommel made a mistake which allowed for the Brit victory but the fact is the Brit commander had no clue how to fight he was sacked near the end of the battle. The following year the Brits lost in a humiliating defeat at Gazala even though they far out numbered the Germans who captured Tobruk. As far as the defeat at El Alamein the Brits had over whelming strength had Rommel been properly supplied and equipped he would have taken Cairo. Fact is the Brit African campaign was full of dismal failures and don't forget the 200 Sherman tanks at El Alamein

@ronaldhiggins2832 2 года назад

Look, the British were being bombed in 1940 from the air on their home island. Suffering big losses at sea in the battle of the Atlantic at the same time. Plus fighting in North Africa with Commonwealth and Empire forces at her side. This a nation of 48 million at the time endured all that and this even with America not yet in the war for 2 yrs, but yes giving aid. So hats off to the Brits. The gallant Irish from the North and those who volunteered from independent Ireland from the South were all part of that. No Britain was never really alone. Say what you want, Strength of a great power indeed.

@paulzeman7684 2 года назад

OMFG, the voice actor doing Churchill.... LOL ...!

@CabbageBloke 6 лет назад

Claude Auchinleck wasn't from Ulster, he was Aldershot. Eric Dorman-Smith ended up being an advisor to the IRA in their border campaign after the war. Not surprised this wasn't mentioned.

@thevillaaston7811 6 лет назад

I think I am sure that I have seen a plaque on a building regarding Auchinleck on the road fro Aldershot Station to Aldershot Football Ground.

@CabbageBloke 6 лет назад

TheVilla Aston You would be correct

@user-jm8uf3rf3q 5 лет назад

I am from this city

@mikenokes7257 6 лет назад

This was Germany's first land defeat since the start of the war. So yes it was the turning point in war. Fairly certain every battle/campaign after this the allies won including Stallingrad.

@billzhao1346 5 лет назад

Have you ever heard of the battle of Rostov in 1941?

@cwr3959 Год назад

@@billzhao1346 Rostov cost the axis 1000 troops so it was very minor

@HenriHattar 5 месяцев назад

Not only did the British NOT have 4 divisions contesting the move to Tobruk but the British only had ONE tank brigade to do this , the others having been forced BACK by Rommel. Tobruk was then defended for EIGHT MONTHS by Australians and it was only after THEY left,,,,,reinforced with MANY more men and resourcesm that Tobruk fell...but NOT while the Australians held it. Why do the British have it in so bad for the Australians that they do not mention these things>?

@chrisstaves1473 5 месяцев назад

British didn't nor do denigrate the sterling service of all the commonwealth forces or the Australians in particular.

@HenriHattar 5 месяцев назад

I am not sure what you are trying to say, it's not literate, would you be able to elaborate maybe?@@chrisstaves1473

@treefella6957 22 дня назад

My great grandad was there

@HenriHattar 5 месяцев назад

There is absolutely NO mention in this whole presentation about the reality of Tobruk....I find that abysmal of a considered historical account for future generations to ponder, the Australians actually HELD Tobruk under worse circumstances, it NEVER fell while they were there!

@mohsinkhan8640 4 года назад

Sadly, the sacrifices of Indian soldiers(India, Pakistan and Bangladesh now) were never recognized.

@sean640307 3 года назад

that's certainly not the case for those of us who have studied the North African campaign in detail. The Indian Divisions were exemplary, as were most of the infantry divisions. The issue was that it took the British Generals too long to come to grips with the fact that the idea of using tanks unassisted in piecemeal fashion was flawed, particularly when those same tank units lacked HE rounds to be able to fight back against the AXIS anti-tank guns. For all the rubbishing that the Italian infantry units get, their artillery units were very, very effective!

@markhammar3977 3 года назад

They are now. Thank you

@SuperStrik9 6 лет назад

My Grandfather fought with the Allies on this front.

@anisladjas7412 4 года назад

SuperStrik9 in Algeria?

@jameshannagan4256 Год назад

If this theatre was so importent Germany would have devoted far more resources, oil for the Italian navy and even naval units this was basically a sideshow (a big one for sure) it was the main focus for the badly equipped and led Italian army not the Germans. People forget that at this time period there was no organized oil development in most of the middle east in fact if the Germans had taken all of North Africa it would have taken years to exploit much of their conquests Iran was one execption along with a few others but for the most part the Germans had no experiance or equipment to exploit most of the underdeveloped land (in fact even in the Caucasus had they won and the Soviets destroyed the facilities like they planned they had no plan or doctrine to exploit it). Germany had very little experiance in oil production and very little equipment for extraction either way (neither did Italy) people overestimate the importance of north Africa (unless you mean the whole soft underbelly thing which is somewhat true) oil for the axis was a problem for the axis no matter what they land they took from the allies and they would have ran out of it no matter what it remains one of the main reasons they were doomed unless they somehow conjured a big navy.

@chopperking007 5 лет назад

Romnel was reading their mail so he always new what they were going to do...

@bnipmnaa 5 лет назад

This documentary is ruined by the constant, intrusive background music.

@adamlee2550 3 года назад

If the Axis powers had captured the Suez it would have been really bad for the Allies, but forget Stalingrad?

@stevenrogers5506 2 месяца назад

Finally, someone who understands that suez was the real strategic objective.

@devalnayak1832 9 месяцев назад

Ans is Hitler's soft underbelly. 😂😂😂

@ilovepavement1 Год назад

Oooh Im from Ulster....!!!!

@SourathChatterjee 6 лет назад

The only reason I personally ideologies General Rommel is because of his Personality to lead in the front. Which was unheard at that time even now also.

@neatstuff8200 2 года назад

Unpopular but a necessary, critical campaign.

@sinjofin1 2 года назад

What about the logistics for the Axis, two German divisions and six or seven Italians and three need to garrison the territory captured and how would the oil get back to Italy and Germany? As Britain commanded the seas? Lost the war, not the empire was at risk and thus Indian the jewel in the crown.

@loupiscanis9449 6 лет назад

thank you

@craigkdillon 6 лет назад

Doctrine dictates the equipment. British doctrine gave them slow tanks without radios, like the Matilda tank. I believe their cruiser tanks did not have radios, so could not coordinate their attacks.

@99IronDuke 6 лет назад

The British had radios in all their tanks and by no means all British WWII tanks were slow check out the Crusader, Cromwell and Comet for example, however into 1942 the disaster at Dunkirk did mean that British tanks, and anti tank guns were still the 2 pder (40mm) a good anti tank gun in 1940, better than the German or American 37mm, but outdated by late 1941.

@calvinduke4810 2 года назад

32:00 thats why Athens built the cause way during the Peloponnesian war

@aaronrosenberg1914 5 лет назад

The war in the desert could've been won a lot sooner had the British been better armed and better led. for some insane reason the British tanks continued to be armed with the 2 pounder pea shooter knowing full well that it had no chance of penetrating German armour. only at the Battle of El Alemien did the British have a better armed tank with the introduction of the American Lee and Sherman tanks. so in all actuality the turning point in the war happened when the British were given the weapons which could match and defeat the Krauts.

@sandrabbitlane 5 лет назад

Grants?

@sean640307 3 года назад

actually, the 2pdr was able to take on ANY German tank in 1941 and win. The problem was that the tank units were not issued with HE rounds to fight back against the anti-tank gun screens. It wasn't until mid to late '42 that the better armoured German tanks started appearing, at about the same time as the British 6pdrs were also appearing. The BIGGEST advantage the introduction of the M3 Medium tanks had was that at last the British tank crews had a decent HE round and could hit back against those AT guns.

@stevenrogers5506 2 месяца назад

Which battle of El Alamein ? He wasn't getting pasted either way.