The Origins of the SAS - WW2 Special Episode

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"Who dares, wins”. Nowadays the British SAS - Special Air Service is considered one of the best special forces in the world. Yet its wartime origins are shrouded in mysteries and legends. From the first ideas of top-secret “special raiding squadrons”, to the first raids in North Africa accompanying the Long Range Desert Group, the SAS’s beginnings resemble one big experiment. An experiment from which a truly legendary special service would emerge.
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Hosted by: Indy Neidell
Director: Astrid Deinhard
Producers: Astrid Deinhard and Spartacus Olsson
Executive Producers: Astrid Deinhard, Indy Neidell, Spartacus Olsson
Creative Producer: Marek Kamiński
Community Management: Ian Sowden
Written by: Markus Linke & Indy Neidell
Research by: Markus Linke
Map animations by: Daniel Weiss
Map research by: Sietse Kenter
Edited by: Karolina Dołęga
Artwork and color grading by: Mikołaj Uchman
Sound design by: Marek Kamiński
Colorizations by:
Mikołaj Uchman
Jaris Almazani (Artistic Man), artistic.man?ig...
Source literature list: bit.ly/WW2sources
Archive footage: Screenocean/Reuters - www.screenocean.com
Image sources:
- Imperial War Museums: HU 73810, NA 676, TR1425, E 3064E, HU 24994, E 14454, HU 69884, HU 69650, H 23177, H 23192, CBM 2222, TE 21338, E 12385,E 20084, E 12434, A70 217-4, IWM E 6390, E 6404, E 12385, H 17489
- National Archives NARA
- Portrait of Peter Fleming courtesy of National Portrait Gallery
- A Webley Mk. VI courtesy of Rama + commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
- Bren gun courtesy of Robert DuHamel pl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plik:...
- Machine gun M1928A1 credit Auckland Museum commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
- Map of Africa courtesy of David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
- Arab insurgents during the 1936-39 Arab Revolt in Mandatory Palestine courtesy of hanini.org
Soundtracks from Epidemic Sound:
- Remembrance - Fabien Tell
- Other Sides of Glory - Fabien Tell
- Weapon of Choice - Fabien Tell
- Disciples of Sun Tzu - Christian Andersen
- Break Free - Fabien Tell
- Please Hear Me Out - Philip Ayers
A TimeGhost chronological documentary produced by OnLion Entertainment GmbH.

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1 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 751

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

Join the TimeGhost Army: bit.ly/SPECIAL_078_PI If you haven't already heard, we are currently working on what we believe is the most ambitious D-Day documentary to date. With 24 hours of coverage, we will cover each and every moment of that fateful day. It will all be available free of charge right here on RU-vid, so that future generations can continue to learn about the historic day. To make that possible we're asking all of you to join the TimeGhost Army. Not only will get you early access to episodes and behind the scenes content, but you will also be helping us produce everything else that you see on the channel. Check out our D-Day announcement video to learn more: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AeVrHzVCmqg.html Read our community guidelines before commenting: community.timeghost.tv/t/rules-of-conduct/4518

@lawrieflowers8314 2 года назад

Yes, thanks - I signed up the TimeGhost Army specifically to support your D-Day coverage...

@captainyossarian388 2 года назад

👍Knowing y'all, as much planning and detail will go into that documentary as went into the landing itself.

@annehersey9895 2 года назад

OMG! If it is even close to the Pearl Harbor doc, it will be spectacular. I finally went to Pearl myself this year and then watched your doc, the two together gave me a better feel of that day. Thanks for the hard work!

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@lawrie flowers THANK YOU for joining! And welcome aboard the TimeGhost Army! The Army really does make this entire thing possible, and the team is already working diligently on that huge endeavor, not to mention other projects. Welcome and stay tuned

@cmck472 2 года назад

A few years ago, an old couple on a train to London asked me to help put the old chap's tie on, as he had arthritis in his hands. It was an SAS regimental tie, and when I asked, his wife proudly said he was one of the originals from the desert! I had to put the tie around my neck to start it - the only time I'll ever get to wear that tie!

@shawnr771 2 года назад

Very cool. Even better you know how to tie a tie.

@markusrasmussen8909 2 года назад

Cool

@patriciapalmer1377 2 года назад

One of the most simple, yet most moving anecdotes I've ever read. Thank you, it tales great skill to say so much in so few words. Pat

@828enigma6 2 года назад

God bless you for you kindness to the old warrior.

@andybawn1 2 года назад

He was proberby on his way to the reunion, sadly in 3 days time he wouldn't be able to speak or stand up. I know i've been to a few myself :)

@andromidius 2 года назад

Interesting thing about the SAS is that current and former members rarely even mention being part of it. If you meet someone who brags about being in the SAS there's a 99% chance he's full of it - and at best was washed out of the recruitment training. Actual members are picked for being able to keep their mouths shut as much as they are their abilities as soldiers.

@kurgisempyrion6125 2 года назад

Spot on.

@ScienceChap 2 года назад

True story. If some of the people I've met over my time are to be believed, there were about 50 blokes on the Iranian embassy balcony in 1980...

@zibabird 2 года назад

Excellent statement.

@andybawn1 2 года назад

Ah but what about the 1% ?

@stc3145 2 года назад

They dont get hollywood movies and books like Navy Seals either

@DesWombat32 2 года назад

I did my university dissertation on the Long Range Desert Group! The SAS owe a lot to them for making it possible to operate successfully in the desert using motor vehicles. Their founder (Ralph Bagnold) was a pioneer in desert warfare and designed tons of little innovations to make desert travel in cars feasible; he designed his own sun compass that could be mounted on the dash, borrowed almanacs from the RAF to teach his navigators how to use the stars, designed an early form of metal tracks to get stuck vehicles out of sand, a vapour condenser so they could conserve water from their jeep's radiators and so much more! Bagnold was also a trained geologist and wrote a full book on the physics of sand, "The Physics of Blown Sand and Desert Dunes". They had to go directly to the Chevrolet dealership in Cairo to buy their first round of trucks when the unit was commissioned, and after the war the Ordnance Survey used their maps of Libya and the Sahara, as they were by far the most accurate maps ever taken of the region. I'd highly recommend W.B. Kennedy Shaw's memoirs of the subject, "Long Range Desert Group" for a first hand account!

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@DesWombat32 Very interesting, thanks for sharing all that about the LRDG.

@julianmhall Год назад

IIRC the SAS nicked the LRDG's best navigator so they could do insertions themselves.

@marsdenk.6162 8 месяцев назад

Thanks

@malcolmanon4762 2 года назад

The Long Range Desert Group, is another strong influence on the SAS, well worth an episode of their own.

@dovidell 2 года назад

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - book - the men who made the SAS - the history of the Long Range Desert Group by Gavin Mortimer

@malcolmanon4762 2 года назад

@@dovidell Thanks for the tip, I'll go have a look :)

@penultimateh766 2 года назад

So is that TV show, "The Rat Patrol" like, accurate?

@malcolmanon4762 2 года назад

@@penultimateh766 oh yes, the LRDG was a real unit, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1yxnyvcfiho.html for example

@ballagh 2 года назад

The LRDG, the guys who wrote the book about the desert. No, quite literally. The founder of the LRDG was Ralph Bagnold, who wrote “The Physics of Blown Sand and Desert Dunes”. The book is apparently still the main reference in the field. It’s use by NASA has led to the organisation naming “the bagnold dunes” on Mars.

@gunman47 2 года назад

I love the motto of the Special Air Service (SAS): "Who Dares Wins". Words to live by!

@Oi.... 2 года назад

Del Boy did & he bacame a Millionaire.....

@markmierzejewski9534 2 года назад

" No Guts No Glory" !

@davesy6969 2 года назад

He who snoozes, loses.

@eyasjas8098 2 года назад

Thats the motto i always use when i go to the casino

@Darwinek 2 года назад

Nowadays it would be just another cheap facebook motto.

@kr0k0deilos 2 года назад

Fun fact: during the early days of SAS in Africa they were joined by a number of Greek officers (what was left of the Greek army/government was evacuated to Egypt) who dismissed their rank to train/fight alongside these elite warriors, eventually they grew to a force of Battalion and became known as Ιερός Λόχος - or Sacred Band in English (tribute to Sacred Band of Thebes from Ancient Greece) and fought in a number of battles in African theater and eventually in Greece - mostly island invasion by parachuting or naval invasion on small boats. After WW2 they were used as the foundation of what became Greek Special forces , it's probably because of their initial training with SAS the motto that was adapted for the Greek Green Berets is *Ο Τολμών Νικά* yep it means "Who dares wins".

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@kr0k0deilos Thank you, that's quite interesting!

@derwolf3006 2 года назад

Thanks for sharing never heard of that!

@andrewbradley1753 Год назад

The SAS was made up from people of all nationalities, french, Australian, polish, German and so on and so on.

@ricardomeijer7164 4 месяца назад

Thats a pretty awesome fact!

@dgrblue4162 2 года назад

When I was in the military, I heard a story about a training mission. During that training, there was a bet made with some SAS squad and some Marine and Army rangers. The SAS guys said they could infiltrate the training building undetected. During the night, the Marines guarded the building. They reported nothing out of ordinary through the night. Upon daybreak, the found spray painted note read SAS was here.

@markfryer9880 Год назад

I know what that feels like! We were a Signals unit based in Darwin during Exercise Kangaroo 89, at that time the largest peacetime exercise Australia had run since WWII. Friday night I had been picked for Picquet Duty, on duty and driving around our Antenna Farm every two hours. We weren't armed or anything. Anyway, Saturday night comes and as it happened I joined my Army Reserve mates (male and female) in going to the Darwin Casino. Had some fun and then came back to sleep in our tents. We woke up the next morning to discover that someone had chalked our vehicles with "Destroyed by KAF", KAF being Kamarian Armed Forces our 'enemy' for the exercise, with the technology of the Soviet Army and the man power of the Chinese PLA, we always pick on the biggest dude in the room! Anyway, the Officers were pissed off because we were supposed to be impartial providing services to all. I had read up about the SAS and the like while at school and realised that our position on a point was very vulnerable, with nice thick scrub on a steep sided embankment just to one side, perfect cover for any operators from the SAS to make their way around from the abandoned Quarantine Station on the far side of Darwin. Saturday night/Sunday morning was the perfect time to attack as everyone was thinking about kicking back and having a few beers etc. Thinking back years later, I recall that an RAAF Caribou transport had flown directly overhead one day, a recon mission perhaps?

@TheEulerID 2 года назад

The SAS surely gained much of their international recognition during the rescue of the hostages at the Iranian Embassy in London on 5th May 1980 in large part due to the fact it was broadcast live on television all across the world. There can't be many examples of special forces being live broadcast.

@andybawn1 2 года назад

worst thing that ever happened to the Regiment!

@tomh2572 2 года назад

Theres a movie on it, called "6 Days"

@chrisholland7367 2 года назад

A year later the S.B.S or special boat service was formed still under army control. Their main theatre of operations was the Mediterranean .They later came under the control of the Royal Navy recruitment came mainly from the Royal Marines. The S.B.S are often overlooked for their specialist maratime role. Both are crack units

@llamaman9449 2 года назад

@@tomh2572 is it good?

@ISawABear 2 года назад

@@llamaman9449 Former SAS members said the movie was pretty inaccurate so take that for what its worth.

@billlong9606 2 года назад

I used to work with an ex SAS man -borneo and Malayan emergency era -the stories he didn't tell!

@mikepette4422 2 года назад

The thumbnail photo is one of my all time fav photos of anything not just military. was a perfect SAS moment

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@mikepette Thanks for watching. I love this thumbnail for its 'get in, we're taking Tunisia' quality

@edgaraquino2324 Год назад

@@WorldWarTwo One of my favorite photos of WWII...have any of these men been identified? Note the officer in the foreground in the driver's seat...he is wearing a F-S fighting knife...he looks like a pirate & is underweight...who was he? Thanks!

@Pile_of_carbon 2 года назад

Imagine being a guard at that RAF base that got stickered by the SAS. I'm guessing "stern" doesn't even begin to describe the talking-to they got. Probably won themselves a few laps around the base.

@BaalsMistress Год назад

No doubt :). Far far better a wakeup call by friendly special forces than the way the Germans and Italians were introduced to the SAS though.

@merdiolu 2 года назад

If there was one extremely positive contribution Auchinleck (who otherwise assigned terrible officers to army units) it was giving green light and free hand to parachute inflitration experiments of Stirling and Lewes

@cogman62 2 года назад

I couldn’t have made it in the SAS. When they raided their own base, slapping’ bomb’ stickers on airplanes, I would have been giggling like a school girl. Great way to train the unit.

@MarcosElMalo2 2 года назад

You might have done all right. Part of the training is learning how to giggle like a school girl silently.

@Raskolnikov70 2 года назад

We had a warrant officer in our medical battalion who thought he was SAS and loved to mess with us down at the motor pool. We used to have EDREs (emergency deployment and readiness exercises) and part of it was posting guards all over the base to secure things against infiltration and sabotage. He'd hop the fence and post paper tags on vehicles that said things like "BOMB" and "FUEL TANK PUNCTURED" and see if we'd catch him. I'm sure he was giggling the whole time.....

@cogman62 2 года назад

@@Raskolnikov70 now that’s funny! :)

@MelchizedekKohen Год назад

My grandfather George Murray Allan started with the Gordon highlanders then volunteered for the LRDG after a time with them he was selected for the original sas, after the war his whole troop survived considering what they took part in some of the most famous raids of WW2, I still have his sas beret and used Fairbairn sykes knife and letters from David Stirling my grandfather kept in touch with him for years after the war. "Non Vi Sed Arte"

@WorldWarTwo Год назад

Fascinating! Thanks for sharing your grandfather's story.

@2eme_voltigeur652 2 года назад

A mate of mine was in the Merchant Navy during the Falklands war. He went in to send supplies shortly after the liberation of the islands. At one night they were told the SAS would do a boarding drill. The crew doubled the guards and were on high alert but nothing happened. Untill one guy called everyone in on the radio... A whole team of SAS frogmen were drinking beer in the ship's mess :P.

@gavRirvine 2 года назад

There is a fantastic statue of David Stirling and associated plaques near me at Doune, Scotland - well worth a visit

@tonygriffin_ 2 года назад

One of the most amazing SAS men during WW2 was Major Anders Lassen, MC and 2 bars (so, three Military Crosses!), VC (and 1 Victoria Cross). He is the only man with statues at both SAS and SBS headquarters. His story - and especially the raids he was on - would make a superb episode. Please. Pretty please. With sprinkles on.

@TheMaxWhoKnewTooMuch 2 года назад

Operation Postmaster, which Lassen was a part of, was pretty daring. Lassen is an interesting person.

@TheChiefEng 2 года назад

@@TheMaxWhoKnewTooMuch A typical example of a battle report from Anders Lassen would be something down the lines of "Landed. Eliminated Germans. F#$%^d off". He grew up learning to hunt and was always a bit of a wild man. He was sailing as a merchant sailor when Denmark was occupied by Germany. After that, he joined the commandos in The UK and eventually ended up in SAS and SBS. He was definitely special.

@billforgie-slippery-jimdigriz 2 года назад

Operation Postmaster.

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

We've added your idea to the episode longlist we have. We might cover him if we want to give special attention to special forces operations!

@tonygriffin_ 2 года назад

@@WorldWarTwo His is quite a story. There's some great examples of his heroism and character in books like Giles Milton's 'Churchill's Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare' and Damien Lewis' 'Churchill's Secret Warriors'.

@ProjectSeventy 2 года назад

I think it's worth mentioning the struggle the unit had for survival. After the desert war wrapped up, with Sterling captured, 1SAS was under Paddy Mayne, an officer far less suited for dealing with top brass. Sterling's older brother, CO of 2SAS, managed to keep his unit intact, serving in a similar role in Italy, though this time, if I recall, returning to their parachutist roots. 1SAS, however, was split. Half the men were sent to the SBS, whilst the other half were renamed the Special Rading Squadron, and treated as a regular commando unit, no longer operating under their own command. Their immediate CO, incidentally, was a chap named Thomas Churchill, younger brother of the more infamous Jack, who was also serving under Thomas at the time. It was only before they started operating in France that they were able to return to the name 1SAS, and were no longer part of a Commando Brigade, though they were forced to switch their beige berets for the red of the airborne forces. [Edit - as a clarification, this also signalled a return to something close to their desert role, setting up camp behind enemy lines to launch raids from] They were also, it's worth mentioning, at this point joined by the Free French 3 and 4SAS (between whom there was a strong rivalry), and the Belgian 5SAS. After the war, however, it was decided that the unit was to be disbanded (as were the army commandos, though certainly in that case this was always the plan, and I believe widely known). It was not until several years later that the unit was reformed for conflict in Malaya, and it took more time still for it to gain it's well known modern role in counter-terror operations.

@stanbrekston 2 года назад

@ProjectSeventy, outstanding! I love reading comments like this from knowledgeable people such as yourself. absolutely outstanding.

@michaelmichael4132 2 года назад

Belgium and France being full of armed Germans at the time, how did those occupied allies go about starting proprietary SAS units?

@ProjectSeventy 2 года назад

@@michaelmichael4132 Naturally, they did it in Britain. In terms of the French, over 120,000 soldiers were evacuated from Dunkirk. A large amount of these chose to be repatriated into the Vichy regime [Correction, thanks to GWTPict, France had not yet surrendered, and those repatriated went by and large to continue the fight], but it was from these men that the initial Free French forces were formed. Many more people would make their way to the UK from France and especially from her colonies during the war, leading to a larger pool of recruits. 3SAS and 4SAS were made up of recruits from the Free French forces. There were certainly fewer Belgians able to make their way to Britain, though there were some. Free Belgian forces were recruited from refugees, expats, and the few hundred Belgians evacuated at Dunkirk. Again, there was a stream of further volunteers able to make their way to Britain during the war, and their numbers were greatly boosted by colonial forces. 5SAS recruited from the Free Belgian forces. I should also note that I can't say to what extent the SAS recruited from the colonial armies of these powers, but they certainly contributed a lot to their respective nations' free forces, so deserve a mention. Also of note is that the SAS were not the only special force fielding foreign fighters. No. 10 (I-A) Commando is styled as such so as to declare it's Inter-Allied nature. It had several troops, representing different areas of occupied Europe. Among the nationalities represented were French, Dutch, Polish, Belgian, Yugoslav, Norwegian, Czech, and even Austrian and German.

@servinginhellaimingforheav2446 2 года назад

@@michaelmichael4132 from refugees and exiles ofc besides many soldiers from countries as far as Poland and Czechoslovakia had serve under allied command

@gwtpictgwtpict4214 2 года назад

@@ProjectSeventy A correction, when the majority of French troops evacuated from Dunkirk were returned to France they returned to fight, the French government had not surrendered at that point so Vichy France did not yet exist.

@davidmarsden9800 2 года назад

That first photo by the jump training tower has a really tall guy amongst the group. This reminded me of a video I saw about the actor Christopher Lee who was said to have been a founder member of the SAS and had a very active military career in the war period. His cousin was actor Patrick McNee, who played John Steed in the 1960s UK TV series The Avengers and the 1970s The New Avengers and many film parts. He was a 20 year old Royal Navy Lieutenant in command of a British MTB patrolling the English Channel having nightly battles with German S Boats or E Boats as the British designated them (Enemy Boats). Fun fact Stirling's brother married actress Diana Rigg also star of the Avengers and a Bond leading lady from "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". Wonder if your research picked up if Lee was actually involved in the SAS? Be really cool if Dracula had been in the SAS.

@ProjectSeventy 2 года назад

I'm fairly certain he was never with the SAS, certainly none of the primary or secondary sources I've read have so much as mentioned him. If I recall, he was involved with SOE, an espionage and sabotage unit that was not, to my knowledge, part of the military.

@davidmarsden9800 2 года назад

@@ProjectSeventy it's a murky period in his past and I wondered if anyone has any information on this. I imagine that it's hard to prove anything about these types of activities especially after so long. Mind you there's still a lot of paperwork under lock and key for another few decades if ever unlocked to come if we live that long. Hopefully more people will chip in on this if they have any information at all that might throw some light on this.

@michaelfodor6280 2 года назад

@@davidmarsden9800 Lee was once asked about his wartime service. "Can you keep a secret?", he asked. The interviewer said, "Yes". "Good" he replied, "So can I" Lee received medals from four different countries and even knew Yugoslavia's Marshall Tito personally. I'm sure there would have been some awesome stories to tell.

@TheBradleyClarke 2 года назад

If anyone wants a longer video about this topic, I would whole heartedly recommend the LindyBeige video about the origins of the SAS. Facinating how this unit got started.

@benmarshall5132 2 года назад

🎺🎺🎺LindyBeige🎺🎺🎺

@brokenbridge6316 2 года назад

Stirling was called "The Phantom Major" by the Germans for his ability to go unnoticed by them. And after getting caught he was eventually sent to Colditz all because the man tried to escape a number of times. Oh yes he was a thorn in the Germans side for the longest time. My compliments to the man. Great video.

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@Broken Bridge Thanks for watching and for the background info

@brokenbridge6316 2 года назад

@@WorldWarTwo---Your welcome. And I would love if if you did a special episode on Colditz. And on those who tried to escape successfully or not.

@stephenland9361 2 года назад

13:18 That is a serious looking bunch of "Don't mess with me".

@J1mston 2 года назад

I’ve been listening and reading a lot of James Holland lately, he says that one of the biggest issues with the early SAS is that you have your best trained troops being flown by some of your worst trained people because of the high turn over rate for pilots.

@frankgellenthin3733 2 года назад

Excellent to hear about the chronology of special operations efforts prior to Sterling's posting in Africa. That's been left out of the SAS histories I've read.

@porksterbob 2 года назад

It's interesting that the Chindits seem to have a similar idea but from a totally different lineage (Being based off of Wingate's experience in Ethiopia)

@tikiblue3152 2 года назад

Had no idea that Lewes grew up in Australia. Thank you WW2 for the information. On another curious trivial note then, I read that Jock Lewes grew up in Bowral NSW during the 1910s and 1920s (population under 3000), as 5 years older, but still young, Sir Don Bradman (Boy from Bowral) assaulted regional bowlers for big runs, including double and triple centuries, in the Berrima District before he had his cricket test debut. Both men going on to make a historical impact. Not really anything to do with the war but just found it interesting.

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@Tiki Blue Thank you for watching & sharing that background info

@andmos1001 2 года назад

Sas evolved from raiding and sabotage unit till an unit that where able to be deployed anywhere within a moment notice. The most famous mission that got SAS their notoriety as well as the fame in modern times where operation nimrod, where they functioned as an anti terrorist unit capable of saving hostages

@luciusvorenus9445 2 года назад

Sharp tie and great episode, Indy! Those British Long Range Patrol trucks are very interesting as are the modified Jeeps. The SAS wore their modern combat beards well! 🙂

@ereini0n Год назад

Watching this excellent video after enjoying BBC's Rogue Heroes. Thank you for the additional info!

@gianniverschueren870 2 года назад

Yeah this tie is leaving me a little speechless. 5/5

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@Gianni Verschueren Thanks for watching. Plenty more war to come, to be sure

@Peter-ri9ie 2 года назад

This was really interesting! Will you be doing a special on the LRDG?

@elpresidente5767 2 года назад

The french played a crucial role in the creation of the SAS, in fact the largest SAS operation, operation Arhmest ( 1945, liberation of holland with the help of Canadian/Polish forces) was 100% made by the french 3rd and 4th SAS regiment ( roughly 900 men), they played a vital part into the liberation of northern Holland loosing 200 men in the process, it would have been nice to talk about the French and the Belgians who played a crucial role into building the myth of the special air service, in fact the british SAS, adopted the french " prière du Para" ( prayer of the parachutiste) a poem created by André Zinheld, a french SAS who died in 1942 during a Stuka attack.

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@El Présidente Thanks for sharing, great background information. The poem is remarkable: I'm asking You God, to give me what You have left. Give me those things which others never ask of You. I don't ask You for rest, or tranquility. Not that of the spirit, the body, or the mind. I don't ask You for wealth, or success, or even health. All those things are asked of You so much Lord, that you can't have any left to give. Give me instead Lord what You have left. Give me what others don't want. I want uncertainty and doubt. I want torment and battle. And I ask that You give them to me now and forever Lord, so I can be sure to always have them, because I won't always have the strength to ask again. But give me also the courage, the energy, and the spirit to face them. I ask You these things Lord, because I can't ask them of myself(*).

@leod-sigefast Год назад

Yes, but the French didn't create the SAS. It eventually became a multi-national force, which is great. All the free European soldiers fighting in the best regiment!

@maconescotland8996 Год назад

This is about the origins of the SAS in North Africa - their first operation was a parachute mission that went very badly. Thereafter they abandoned airborne and used the penetration techniques of the Long Range Desert Group which were to prove successful.

@andersbergquist 2 года назад

A fantastic story. These troups are very similar to the finish Distance patrols, fjärrpatruller, in operation. They are at least as old as LRDG. You do not talk about this part of the war, but a specual episode of these special force would be great.

@Alecb217 2 года назад

My uncle, now aged 101, was in the LRDG and then transferred to the SAS. Although he mentioned the war, I only recently learnt about his part in, I think, Operation Houndstooth, when SAS were in Lyon at the time of the D-Day Landings. To be honest, I think my uncle has not long left. A shame, the passing of a brave and daring generation.

@stanbrekston 2 года назад

your comments sir, inspires me to do more research into the LRDG. thank you for that.

@tobytaylor2154 2 года назад

I hope you don't mind me asking, but you said he left the lrdg to go to the sas, I only know of one that did that, was your uncle's surname Sadler? Just because I only know of one, there might of been others, but the simple fact both units were very small.

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@Alec Benson Thanks for sharing about your uncle, I imagine he had quite a life. May his days be easy and peaceful

@robshirewood5060 2 года назад

@@stanbrekston There was also the Indian Long Range Patrol and 1st Demolition Squadron also known as Popski's Private Army who also raided in Jeeps in Europe after service in North Africa.

@philodonoghue3062 2 года назад

Without the LRDG model and success and as transport for them, the SAS might’ve taken longer to emerge from the SOE’s ‘boys’ own’ bands of irregulars so beloved by Churchill

@Jarod-vg9wq 2 года назад

Yes I’ve been dreaming of when this outdo happen, thank you Indy I hope to hear about SAS, commandos and the devils brigade in the future.

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@Jarod 1999 I have a feeling there's plenty more espionage to come in this war. Stay tuned!

@maconescotland8996 Год назад

I remember being given the junior (abridged) version of Virginia Cowles' "The Phanthom Major" back in the early 1960s - it gave basic background into the formation and missions of the SAS. Hardly shrouded in mystery until more recent times.

@jpheitman1 2 года назад

Glad to see Indy doing an an episode about the SAS! My good friend Nigel will love it when I show him.

@HandleGF 2 года назад

All the references to a statue of Mayne in Newtownards are touching... esp. after another poster revealed that not one Newtownards local lifted a finger to help him when he met his end. (No one can blame them for being afraid, though.)

@benadams2643 2 года назад

If anyone is interested in learning more about the SAS I highly recommend reading Ben MacIntyre's book 'Rogue Heroes', or even watching the 3 part mini series he made called 'SAS Rogue Warriors' - absolutely brilliant book and series to accompany!

@samwallace7313 Год назад

Please don't watch the drama series on bbc, it crap and full of errors.

@pointermom7641 Год назад

I just read that and was shocked to learn that the events depicted in the TV series are mostly true (except for the subplot of Stirling and the French spy). I was particularly amazed to learn that Winston Churchill’s son actually did accompany SAS on a little romp into Benghazi, brazening their way past Italian sentries and wreaking some havoc in the port.

@oOkenzoOo 2 года назад

Worth to note that the French special forces are also tied to the British SAS, especially the 1st RPIMA who kept the SAS traditions (insignia, motto, etc...). After the fall of France in 1940, the 1st Free French Air Company was created in England, under the command of Captain Georges Bergé, with parachute units of the Special Air Service. Later in 1942 it will officialy join the SAS under the name of the French squadron and fight actively throughout Europe until the end of the war. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Marine_Infantry_Paratroopers_Regiment#World_War_II_2

@alcaeus2 2 года назад

Good observation! The SAS also influenced the creation of a similar unit called Sacred Band, led by Lt. Col. Tsigantes who cooperated w/ David Sterling of the SAS through the Tunisian and Italian campaigns. That unit is now considered the predecessor of the modern Greek special forces.

@stanbrekston 2 года назад

@@alcaeus2 wonderful comments from both of you Gentlemen.

@penultimateh766 2 года назад

Does this unit exist today?

@oOkenzoOo 2 года назад

@@penultimateh766 the 1st RPIMA, yes. It's the heir of the 1st special force unit founded in 1940.

@simonh6371 2 года назад

Also the Belgian Paracommandos (although I think the unit title has changed now) are descended from the WW2 Belgian SAS who were created here in the UK in exile, and one part of the Belgian Paracommandos still wears the SAS badge, on maroon berets.

@Cubic5 2 года назад

And now you can also do something about Popski's Private Army.

@kevinramsey417 2 года назад

I'd love to see a Spies & Ties episode about the SOE's Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, and yes that was a real thing. It was basically the Avengers because Ian Fleming, Roald Dahl and Christopher Lee all served together there.

@johnmorgan9435 Год назад

Indy, (0.37secs) British Guerilla tactical thinking during the 1920's was in fact heavily influenced by the tactics used by Michael Collins in the Irish War for Independence 1919-21to breakdown British control and power in Ireland and ultimately bring the British to the negotiating table and for most of the Island to gain Independence. The last Military barracks of British power was handed over to the Irish Free State 17th December 1922.

@naveenraj2008eee 2 года назад

Hi Indy Awesome episode to learn about SAS Thanks..

@ExRyadovoy 2 года назад

I would be very grateful if you could make an episode about SAS and SOE weapons, FS daggers in particular. Thank you for all you're doing! It's greatest channel about WW2 history.

@shaider1982 2 года назад

Hope the Decima Mas, who influenced underwater covert ops get featured. Perhaps. HI Sutton (Covert Shores web page owner) can be tapped as a resource person👍

@robertnijkamp2051 2 года назад

I've Missed the name Paddy Maine in this story

@beatts83 2 года назад

There are a couple of brilliant books about him that are a must read for anyone interested in this subject! I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that he was instrumental keeping the concept going after Sterling's capture. The feats that these guys completed would have Hollywood directors saying we can't put that in, no one will believe it!

@RP-ks6ly 2 года назад

Another excellent episode, thank you

@bigyin2586 2 года назад

Australia (and New Zealand) also has an SAS regiment, whose soldiers were among its founders.

@kaisahfx1246 2 года назад

I believe the LRDG was predominantly made up New Zealanders, could be wrong though edit: just googled it the was originally made up of New Zealanders until soldiers of countries join then the name was changed to LRDG

@skidmarkscar9082 2 года назад

@@kaisahfx1246 correct, it was the cheeky Kiwis that started these raids and the poms seen how effective they were and quickly jumped on board, claiming and naming as usual.

@photoisca7386 Год назад

@@skidmarkscar9082 No! The New Zealanders were lounging around doing nothing and were asked if they would like something to occupy their minds. The main attraction of initially using New Zealanders was that a number of them were farm boys who could drive and were well used to repairing stuff in the field. The LRDG included men from different outfits grouped into patrols. As usual the antipodean shoulder chip makes itself known. The Tamiya LRDG Chevrolet models a broken NZ truck and is probably the reason idiots think it was a NZ formation.

@samheller8394 Год назад

Great show. Glad I found this.

@davidvonkettering204 2 года назад

World War Two demonstrates that there are human beings who are ready to embrace insane dangers so the homefront can survive. Thanks, Indy! Love, David

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@David vonKettering Thanks for watching! Truly amazing what people went through to fight this war.

@UploaderNine 2 года назад

I must say Indy's tie is awesome. I want one.

@prouxloic636 Год назад

Just looking the two first episods of Rogue Heroes, pretty good. Thx for the details !

@zaynevanbommel5983 2 года назад

The LRP Long Range Patrol which grew into the Long Range Desert Group LRDG was the first British Special Force unit in the Western Desert and manned almost exclusively by New Zealanders and officered by the British at the Start

@charliereader3462 Год назад

They weren’t Special Forces but rather the best desert navigators on the planet, the SAS guys affectionately referred to them as their ‘taxi service’ in the desert. I believe they were eventually absorbed into the SAS so that might explain the confusion about if the LRDG were ever ‘Special Forces’

@zaynevanbommel5983 Год назад

@@charliereader3462 sorry but you're dead wrong lol they were Special Forces and they were not "Absorbed" into the sas they were disbanded lol 😂 may pay to do a modicum of research before shooting off at the mouth and removing all doubt lol 🤣

@zaynevanbommel5983 Год назад

@@charliereader3462 without the LRDG there would be no SAS lol

@charliereader3462 Год назад

@@zaynevanbommel5983 at what point did I downplay the contribution of the LRDG. As for the absorbed bit I may have got mixed up with Mike Sadler and others in the LRDG transferring to the Regiment, my mistake. As for Special Forces I’ve never seen them referred to specifically as such, but I guess you can consider them as special forces in the same way JSFAW or 160th SOAR is today, just that’s news to me. In fairness though mate you didn’t need to be a cock about it. Could’ve just politely corrected me and we’d be all smiles but hey ho

@zaynevanbommel5983 Год назад

@@charliereader3462 you are just digging yourself a deeper hole

@harrywaters7718 2 года назад

I know the history of the SAS in detail and the fact that Indie didn’t mention Paddy Mayne makes me worry that his knowledge of all other arenas of the conflict are no more than abbreviations of Wikipedia.

@caryblack5985 2 года назад

Well you can judge for yourself. They give the sources that they use.

@Team-fabulous 2 года назад

Agree totally. Blair Mayne was Sterling's right hand man and was responsible for the setting up and running of the SAS.. Disgraceful he didn't get a mention.

@georgewilliams8448 2 года назад

Thank you for another informative and interesting and excellent video.

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@George Williams Thanks for watching

@eamonnprunty 2 года назад

Great video guys! Keep up the great work!

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@Eamonn Thanks for watching!

@elhussainmustafa6606 2 года назад

many different units from the sudanese defence forces were used to provide assistance to the SAS and long range desert group as well as many others. it would be amazing if we can get a vidoe about them as they were treated very differently compared to other colonial armies, one of the first black allied generals was from the sudanese defence force.

@patriciapalmer1377 2 года назад

The story below. It takes great skill to tell a wonderful story in so few words. Thank you.

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@Patricia Palmer Thanks for watching! The team works incredibly hard at every stage making these episodes - research, writing, production… they're very dedicated. We appreciate the kind words from you & the rest of our audience out there in the TimeGhost Army. Subscribe so you can stay tuned for more

@patriciapalmer1377 2 года назад

@@WorldWarTwo It's always apparent when serious interest in and respect for material is present. Good luck and my best wishes for your success ! Pat

@chrisspencer6502 2 года назад

I love these specials and the titbits that don't show up in the jingoistic accounts you normally get.

@HandleGF 2 года назад

There's an awful lot of jingo in the comments

@brucequam7416 2 года назад

Will we hear about Popski's Private Army? It was led by Vladimir Peniakoff. They operated much like the LRDG.

@annehersey9895 2 года назад

Indy, this is the best tie/shirt combination yet with your hair and eyes-it all just pops! Does the indominable Astrid do all the wardrobe? I especially like the vest/tie combinations or did until I saw this combo!

@mikemalloy1681 Год назад

Glad to see you back.

@pcb8639 2 года назад

Not sure what you did to the lighting in your studio but is really looks good, a lot brighter. Very good video like always.

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@PC B Thanks, the team works very hard in the studio and at every stage of production. We appreciate the kind words and support!

@pashalis88 2 года назад

You should cover the abduction of general Kreipe in the island of Crete and the blowing of the Gorgopotamos bridge, also it would be nice to have an episode about the Greek resistance movement.

@Wawrzon161 2 года назад

didn't they already cover that?

@lucaspinder5604 2 года назад

we weren't expecting special forces

@petertyson4022 Год назад

Short and sweet. With loads of information good show.👍😊

@WorldWarTwo Год назад

Thanks for your support. Glad you liked it!

@davehh6292 2 года назад

Strange about Sterling he was captured sent to Colditz and never tried to escape which was considered impossible by the Germans . See Airey Middleton Sheffield Neave, DSO, OBE, MC, TD .Also Sterling was too much a gentleman .The SAS really got going when Sterling met Blair Mayne a true warrior and a great Ulster man.

@mojomojomonomojo 3 месяца назад

Blair mayne was the real SAS warrior highly intelligent fearless and no mercy .

@posterestantejames 2 года назад

…thank you, Indy! Can you please do one on the formation and development of the LRDG/Ralph Bagnold?

@thedragonlee76 2 года назад

I was an American kid growing up in the 80s in England.My dad was in the US Air Force and he was stationed there.After the RAID(That's what they called it) happened,the SAS were and are considered to be GODS!They would sell GI Joe like action figure toys in the British malls/toy stores.Every kid wanted to be SAS...British or American.

@Dries-Belgium 4 месяца назад

When you start knowing Indys opening sentences by heart, you know you watch him to much 😂 keep up the superb work guys ❤

@WorldWarTwo 4 месяца назад

Thanks a lot for watching it that much! Would you recommend one opening line for a T-shirt or a mug? -TimeGhost Ambassador

@Dries-Belgium 4 месяца назад

@@WorldWarTwo pic of an allied chief, pic of an axis chief, pic of Indy. The good, the bad and the Indy. Or is that to cheesy 😬 would be cool on a mug tho ;) or the titel of ep 129 would be a 'funny' thing to work a t shirt around

@captainadams8565 2 года назад

The Soviet invasion of Finland. A young Christopher Lee (went onto be become an actor) was part of the defending force. Christopher Lee also accompanied the LRDG in north Africa.

@andrewbellavie795 2 года назад

Excellent video

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@Andrew Bellavie Thanks for watching, glad you liked it!

@andrewbellavie795 2 года назад

@@WorldWarTwo No worries! The SAS and LRDG are so cool to learn about. I appreciate the time and effort you put into the videos.

@GeroNimo-pk1fb 2 года назад

I have the book by Fitzroy Maclean "Eastern approaches". One chapter is about his involvement with SAS. Great stuff.

@Valhalla88888 Год назад

MacLean and Sterling good friends of the Commandos founder Lord Lovat as in Lovat Scouts, interesting fact MacLean, Sterling, Lovat all born in Scotland and lived quite close to each other in Scotland 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

@oneshotme 2 года назад

Enjoyed the video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@oneshot_me Thanks for the support, always glad to have you with us!

@oneshotme 2 года назад

@@WorldWarTwo And as always, you're welcome!!!!! I've watched 5 or 6 today

@somewhatsarcasticsticker2077 2 года назад

Todays tie was on-point Indy! I would kill (not literally) to have a tie like that. Though I wouldn't want to buy your own tie from Indy's Tie Barn.. too sacred of an item.

@kistler1994 2 года назад

Excellent

@huiarama 2 года назад

Brilliant, bloody brilliant! Well done....

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@Simon Huia Thanks for watching! Stay tuned for more every week

@Mrnewkrakbo 2 года назад

Stirling's statue frightens the hell out of me everything I drive south from Double, I think a giant is striding towards me

@menelpro 2 года назад

Will we see an episode about the SOE too? And also for its famous members like Patrick Leigh Fermor or John Pendlebury and their unbelievable achievements?

@duile393 2 года назад

SAS: Wait, I thought we supposed to be parachuter. Fallschirmjäger: First time?

@eyalbenmoshe1022 4 месяца назад

Very nicely done!! Just curious, why did you leave out Paddy Mayne?

@sergeant_chris6209 2 года назад

5:08 John "Jock" Lewes looks like the biggest chad

@brianhogg9857 15 дней назад

My grandmother used to do embroidery for Lady Stirling at Keir House between the wars and she told the story of an explosion while she was visiting. Lady Stirling reassured her "dinny worry it only Davie blowing up the salmon"

@belimicus223 2 года назад

great lighting

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@Belimicus Thanks!!

@dovidell 2 года назад

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - book - the men who made the SAS - the history of the Long Range Desert Group by Gavin Mortimer

@markberman6708 Год назад

Straight up legendary..

@PeterManger 2 года назад

Love the shirt and tie!

@LandoCalani 2 года назад

these special episodes kick ass

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@Orlando Calani Thanks!! Our audience in the TimeGhost Army kicks ass too!

@stanbrekston 2 года назад

Excellent episode! wonderful information. I've learned so many new things I've never known before. perhaps Indie & the crew can do an episode on other elite units. such as the British 'Coldstream Gaurds'. many people don't know of this unit, but they're the ones with the big, funny, red hats, who guards The Queen at Buckingham Palace. they're also a very elite unit who did participate in WW2. interestingly, a member of this unit was once a brother-in-law to President John F. Kennedy. William Cavendish, Marques of Hartington, was married to Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy. but he died in action as a lieutenant in the 'Coldstream Gaurds', in Belgium, 1944. (also of note, his younger brother, married one of the Unity Mitford sisters).

@WorldWarTwo 2 года назад

@stanbrekston Thanks for watching, we're very glad you're here exploring this crucial history along with us. Lots more war to come, and more specials along with it. Stay tuned and tell your friends to support us so we can make ever-more in-depth documentaries

@Droodog127 2 года назад

Granddad was with No.2 Commando / II SAS first British combat jump into Italy February 1941 Operation Colossus , they jumped into complete enemy territory and blew up the Tragino aqueduct - they were the first to use SAS Special Air Service name

@kapten-awesome Год назад

The new tv series "SAS rogue heroes" is so freaking good! Everyone should watch it!

@Shadowman4710 Год назад

Agreed.

@Maverick0420 2 года назад

I hope we get a "Wild Bill" Donovan episode.

@Team-fabulous 2 года назад

I would visit regularly Spean Bridge commando memorial where Blair Paddy Mayne trained..

@iakona23 2 года назад

Please do an entire episode on the life of Peter Fleming and Yak Mission.

@ripvanallosaur113 2 года назад

Definitely not a war question but how much success did Sterling have on Everest? You mostly hear about Mallory and Irving (since they didn't return) for early Everest attempts. Great episode as always.