Hitler's Last Couriers - Escape From Berlin 1945 

There is something inherently fascinating about the last days of the Hitler regime in his bunker. The surrealism of a regime giving orders to armies that no longer exist and being concerned with getting testaments to people whose remaining days in command could be counted on the fingers of two hands. Also I hope Mark will do a video on Field Marshall Schörner, who is a very interesting character. Known to be fanatically loyal to Hitler and willing to execute German soldiers for cowardice, for which he was prosecuted and convicted by West Germany after the war. When Germany surrendered on May 7 he ordered that Armygroup Center would continue to fight the Red Army and then he deserted his own post and fled to Austria. Doing himself what he had hanged so many German soldiers for.

The Second World War is an endless source of interesting stories, and Mark Felton not only makes them all compelling, but is definitely trying to bring all of this to us... Thanks again for all your work Mark, rivetting and impeccably presented. 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

It's quite strange to think that some of these characters were still alive and living in the same area of West Germany that I served in during the 1980s. I might have even passed them in the street.

Man denkt, gerade als Deutscher, bereits alles über die verdammte Vergangenheit des eigenen Landes als Geschichtsinteressierter zu wissen, aber dann kommt der werte Mark hier auf YT regelmäßig mit Videos, die einen erstaunen lassen, dass vieles einem gar nicht bekannt war. Chapeau, Herr Felton! Beste Grüße / Kind regards from Bremen

Keep 'em coming Mark! You are one of the few historians who keep on going till the end of the story and tell us what actually happened to these people after the war. Why do so few do this?

Excellent relating of yet another little-known but fascinating vignette of history. Thanks for all that you do to educate and inform your audience.

Mark I don’t believe you will ever run out of great stories to tell us about. Many thanks.. For all your informative history lessons…

Dear Mr. Felton, thank you so much for your site. I was a nuclear missile launch officer in the Strategic Air Command with a Top Secret ESI clearance in the 1970s and was part of the deterrent to the then Soviet Union. My mother was German and was hiding out in the suburbs of Berlin in 1945. Her family was successful in removing (hiding) themselves from the Soviets. And the British and Americans allowed the Soviets to have their way with Berlin and thus 45 years of Cold War that followed. And how about the Russians now?

Mark Felton is a national treasure

I'm reading a book about the fall of Berlin and it talks about these couriers ferriting documents out of the Capitol. I thought, it sure would be nice to know a little bit more about these guys and what happened. Dr Felton delivers the answers for me on queue... Fascinating stuff.

The detailed information of such obscure and unheard of events is amazing. Thank you so much and thank you for spelling their names.

Interesting that not only did Hitler demand physical copies be sent out but also that German leaders on the outside sent planes to rescue them. I wonder what incentive they had to do so when the documents had little strategic value.

I can't imagine having to relay information during such a time. The emotional weight of it must have been tremendous.

Von Below’s book is an interesting read; very detailed and provides a great perspective of someone who had a front seat but remained mostly obscured.

Thank you for sharing 🏆🎖️⭐🤗🇺🇲🙏

The exhaustion of the troops shown at 7:14 is so telling. Life, hope, everything has been drained from them. They could not care less about the pieces of iron being pinned to their chest or the officer before them, and they probably despise the camera more than anything.

It's incredible how much valuable information is still available on WW2. For that we should be equally thankful not just to Prof. Felton but to the many historians of the conflicts who gave their eye witness accounts.

I've gotta watch Downfall again.

'Escape from Berlin' sounds like an 80s action film that I'd definitely watch.

it's weird how they kept this charade of normal life operating right up until the end, even as late as april 23rd i read of post offices still open in berlin

My only recommendation for this superb series would be the use of maps more ...There's incredible detail in giving names of places in Berlin..it would help to see those positions from and movements from that perspective...

When I was born WWII was only twenty-four years in the past. My generation were the last to grow up with wartime survivors...

Ironically, it was probably because of their failure that these last wills survived the war. If these last wills had reached their recipients, they would likely have been lost or destroyed before the surrender.

I mean, you are goven an emvelope and told to go, during thr battle of berlin, without a truck, a car, a motorbike, a bicycle or even a horse, man the prospect must have looked grim

I love these videos , they often answer questions that I have that normally are not able to get answers otherwise

Very exciting as usual Professor Felton. If you haven't done so already may I suggest the stories behind the assaults on and endgame of the FlakTurem. I'm not sure that we have heard in any detail what must have been tremendous battles for these heavily fortified strategic positions. The Zoo Flak Tower in Berlin, any of them in either Berlin or Vienna. I visit the ones in Vienna annually. They are incredibly feats of engineering, and I am certain the stories behind them are equally fantastic. Can you do at least one video relating their actions in the war and how they were inevitably overcome. I know that in one case the Russians gave up and went around the Flak Tower, out of range of its 88 guns. And in another instance the Russians again gave up and when they left the German troops inside walked out the front door into Soviet occupies East Berlin. Please do some research and share what you can find with us. All the best.

Traudl Junge, who took down and typed Hitler's Political Testament said that she was very disappointed with what he dictated. She thought that there would be some sort of deep revelation, but that it was mainly a rehash of previous rhetoric.

A superb job, Professor Felton! Bravo!!! It is truly amazing the wealth of historical information that you purvey to us!!

Bernd Freytag von Loringhoven was interviewed in his old age, and at least part of the interview is on RU-vid. He said that when he graduated from college and had to choose a career, he chose the military. He did not consider membership in the Nazi party to be compatible with his Christian faith. Because the army was still apolitical, he could advance without being a member of the party. Bernd's cousin and friend Wessel Freytag von Loringhoven was deeply involved in the plot to assassinate Hitler, having obtained the explosives that Claus von Stauffenberg used in the attempt. When the plot failed, Wessel committed suicide. His wife and children were arrested, but survived the war. Bernd was a confidant of General Guderian, which may have provided him with some protection. After the war, Bernd rejoined the German army, eventually becoming Commander of the Third Panzer Division and then Chief of Staff of the German Army. My second-cousin-once-removed, Eberhard Burandt, who had been a panzer captain in the war and spent three years in a Soviet POW camp, followed Bernd's path some years later as Commander of the Third Panzer Division and Chief of Staff.

Admirable scholarly research behind these clips. Thank you, Mark!

Dear Prof. Felton, Another superb video. Would only add that viewers, most of whom probably already know this fact, should be reminded that Hitler was a courier during the Great War. If you study his conduct during the Second World War, he had a soft spot for military couriers. During the Battle of Stalingrad, he received couriers from General Paulus despite his strict orders for no German soldiers to leave the city, as one example. ;-)

Brilliant Mark ! Your stories are always so gripping. I like to think I have a reasonable background knowledge of these events but you always go into such tremendous detail and reveal things - like the separate intended deliveries, of these three couriers - that I was completely unaware of. And it is always excellent to conclude the stories so well, telling us what happened to the different men ; and whether they survived or not.

What's actually interesting, is how easy it was to escape Berlin.

Another great story. Thanks. At 1:02, was that a Sherman tank fighting in Berlin? Might've been stock footage. Stalin purged much of the visual record of US and UK equipment used by the Red Army.

It is amazing that my mother and her relatives, survived this.

My father was a young 20 yr old living in South Louisiana when Pearl harbor was bombed. He volunteered for the army in March of 1942 and was assigned to the Army Air Corps as a staff sgt in the 8th Bomber Group's Maintenance Div. He was in every European nation during the war and afterwards decided to stay in the Army, and then went to the 'new' Air Force in 1947. Serving for 22 years through Korea and the beginning of Vietnam and being stationed all over the world.(I have a pic of him in uniform in a field in Germany in 1945 under the glass on my desk) He never spoke much of his time then, and started his family at 38 not long before he got out. I was born on Guam in 1960. Although American History was my best subject after criminal justice I never asked him much about his time, and he passed in 2001 at 79. not long after I began an earnest interest in WWII and every day since I kick myself for having some one who had been RIGHT THERE as my father for 41 years and I never asked much. I said all this to say I am very Thankful to Dr. Felton for these videos. movies and Docs only show the most sensational events of WWII, Mark brings us the many smaller but no less important or interesting events that also took place while the 'Band of Brothers" stuff was happening and I truly appreciate it. I wish my dad was still here so I could discuss these things with him. What the average soldier knew, when he knew it, did he know this, etc. Thank you Mr. Felton. Final aside and side note I am SO glad all those that fought, served and especially those that DIED in WWII don't know what has happened and is going on in the nation they fought so hard for. Those clowns in DC dishonor every one of their and subsequent military men's sacrifice every single day they show up and do what they are doing right now. Congress used to be full of military men, and you don't make communists of those that fought for this country. The last 30 years it's been mostly 'academics' trained well in the school of Marx, Mao and Hitler.

"The call is coming from inside The Fuhrerbunker!"

I enjoy the war stories about Berlin in the last weeks. Rats leaving a sinking ship. Amazing how many were able to escape the noose.

At this point it feels like half of Mark´s videos are about giving us a better understanding of the historical background regarding the plot of the movie "Der Untergang" (Downfall).

Mark, Fantastic as usual. I have not subscribed yet but I will. Hope to meet you one day. I was born into post war Europe in Worms Germany. My dad was in the CIC and I was able to go round Germany as a boy. He never told me any of the secrets in his head, but your videos help me a lot to sort out things my dad had to deal with [We also did two tours at separate times in Stuttgart]. The aftermath of the war in Europe was an amazing time. It is far worse now than it was back then. But that is another story in itself. All the very best.

Everything about this video's is top notch; the narration, sound track, content, pronunciation of the German names...kudos

It's unbelievable that one of these became a high ranking official in NATO.

I’m always delighted to find a new Mark Felton video waiting for me after a long days work!

Fallout New Vegas has taught me to never underestimate a courier.

Once again, you bring another remarkable story to life, Doc. Thanks for the sterling work.

*_Those who ditched the ludicrous documents in favor of saving their own lives showed some brains._*

I always thought Hitler sent his correspondence through UPSS

This was very fascinating bit of history! Thank you Dr. Felton!

Remarkable fate and death of Rudolf Weiß mentioned in this video. I thought all remaining german POWs held in the Soviet Union were released in 1955 after diplomatic actions ('Rückkehr der Zehntausend' in german). Would be interesting to know why he died in a labor camp in 1958 in Kazakhstan?! - Greetings from Germany

You might like to know that Bernd Freytag von Loringhoven, as one of the most important witnesses of Hitler's last days in his bunker, features in the documentary film "Death in the Bunker - The True Story of Hitler's Downfall" along with Armin D. Lehmann, Traudl Junge (who appeared personally in the film "The Downfall" as well as being portrayed in it by an actress), and Rochus Misch. This documentary is still available in English as well as in German on DVD. This documentary, as well as "The Downfall" of course, is excellent and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in this subject. Needless to say I am a great fan of Mark Felton and his excellent presentations.

Thank you, Mark. Another fascinating retrospective. For WWII aficionados, this is as good as it gets. Keep those cards and letters coming.

I learn more about history, on this channel in 12 minutes, then I learned in 4 years of history during high school.

A good part of History that is not mentioned very much at all. Thank You for researching all this for me.

Thanks for another great video Mark! I think it would be fascinating if you did a video on the Luftwaffe airmen who were pressed into defense of Berlin in the final phase of the war. That's incredible information that I know you would do service to!

Magnificent as always. Thank you dr Felton.😊

holy crap. i read so much growing up watching doco's etc but only thanks to alot of your content has it all made so much more sense and understanding. all in all it just terrible sacrifices for technology and understanding and everyone's suffering cost's

Amazing how each episode is interesting, informative and at the same time makes me question my history degree

Love this channel. Keep up the good work Mark!

Hi Dr. Felton. I was curious if you could tell us more about Rudolf Weiss. I thought all PoWs were freed from Soviet captivity in 1956? I am interested to know how he died in a labour camp in 1958? I love watching all your videos and appreciate the lesser known stories you bring to people's attention.

Great as always Prof Felton !

Fascinating, and yet another example of a little known piece of history. Kudos to you Mr. Felton.

Wow, that was one of your most interesting stories you’ve brought in quite some time. Great information.

Thank you Mark, for your research that goes into your masterfully presented videos!

Once again Dr. Felton amazing detail about events most of us were unaware of. A dose of Dr. Felton a day hopefully keeps my doctor away .

Absolutely fascinating, Dr. Felton. Thank you.

Fascinating story from WWII and the end of the Nazi regime. Thanks for sharing it with us and I appreciate your research. Much better than any TV show 👍

Great video. It's hard to imagine or visualize how hectic the last days in Berlin must have been? Most of these couriers survived....

Excellent Mark. Thank you. I have always been fascinated by the middle to senior rank Wermacht officers who became the backbone of the Bundeswehr.

Brave men. Must been hard getting thru the Bolshevik lines. Another great video. 👍

Unfortunate that the only thing good about WW2 is when it ended, even then it's forever soul crushingly bittersweet always increasingly so and thankfully never forgot. Thank You for the documentary Mark 🍻

Imagine being a German Sailor on a ship, knowing that the war is all but lost. Then one day you wake up and are told to die for Hitler and the Fatherland. Like Now!

Very interesting about little know end of war events. This is one of my favorites....ty Mark Felton. As always " the best of the best"

Treasure troves of information can be learned from Mister Felton.

Felton , new history ,typical ~!, just the best WWII Historian in modern times. Loved the earlier analysis and posts of D Day to the Rhine battles more ? Any chance of more Mark ?

Thank you, Herr Doktor Felton, for another excellently told war story.

Excellent video! This channel never disappoints.

Great video Mark, anything on the Battle of the Atlantic would be welcome, many thanks.

Talk about getting out of Dodge at the last minute...

Thanks, as always, Dr. Felton.

There is no other channel (tv or youtube) which brings me more pleasure! Thank you!

Interesting stories about these documents Mark. Definitely a chapter in history that should e remembered.

Brilliant stuff, my friend! It brings history alive!

The Frytag guy also barely escaped Stalingrad as well.

An awesome video Mr.Felton.

As usual from Dr Felton , a detailed and well documented « report » of what most surely happened to them all and to some amazing turn around of their lives.

Yet another fascinating tale. Thank you Sir!

Just wondering; we're told about several sets of copies of the documents, how were the copies made? Did the remaining secretarial staff have to type them out multiple times, or were these carbon copies or some sort of facsimile?

One of your best researched posting.

Thank you for these new infos Mr.Felton.

Germans preferred to fall into American or Brit hands rather than Russian. One word. Respect.

Dr. Felton, thank you very much for another excellent video! You mentioned that Rudolf Weiss died in a labour camp in Kasachstan in 1958. Which source did you get that from? I am asking because it's generally said that the last German POWs returned in 1955, so I'd like to learn more about those that apparently remained in labour camps afterwards.

Mark gets these Last stories just like magic

At last! I've seen so many photos with von Below in them but never has he been named. Thankyou.

I have always been fascinated by WW2 history and Dr. Felton is the best

Outstanding work Dr Mark.

#895 and 25 minutes Bell is chiming away for a good reason to stop and watch a Dr. M. Felton education video on the 20th century's last great War. Thank you and I will pass it on after I enjoy watching your work with loving time with care put in its production.

Q: For whom shall we fight on? A: For the coming man

Brilliant as ever Mark, thank you !

We finally need a Mark Felton ep about Kampfgruppe Steiner

Thanks for keeping HISTORY ALIVE by telling its true and real stories!👍👍