1 Tank Ace VS 12 Panzers - Who Wins?

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By mid-May 1940 the Western Allies were in serious trouble. Just days earlier several powerful armoured thrusts had been unleashed across the German border through the weakly defended Ardennes Region, which threatened to split the allies in two. All that stood in their way was the determination of exhausted units with little idea of the larger picture. Only in one place were the Germans at real risk of disaster, the hilltop village of Stonne. This video explores the brutal fight for that sleepy village, one which ultimately would decide the fate of France.
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Video/Audio Sources:
• US National Archives (NARA)
• S.Tigneres,, Stonne, le Verdun de 1940 (2010)
• D. Lormier, La Bataille de Stonne 14-25 Mai 1940
Illustrations & Animation:
• World of Tanks
• Google Earth
• Google Earth Pro
• Colourising History (Doug Banks)
General Archive Sources:
• Bundesarchiv (German National Archives)
• US National Archives (NARA)
• Chars-francais.net
• CptBocquier, Forgotten Hope 2, Stonne (Mapping)
Credits:
• Research: Camille Vargas, Dan Hill
• Script & Narration: Dan Hill
• Editors: Shane Greer & Linus Klassen
• Sound Design: Shane Greer
• Thumbnail Design: Linus Klassen
• Music & Sound Effects: Epidemic Sound

Опубликовано:

24 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 335

@MarquisVincentBissetdeGramont 7 месяцев назад

I would like to add a few details about Pierre Billotte's incredible career: Captain Pierre Billotte was wounded and taken prisoner on 12 June 1940. He escaped from the prison camp on 1 February 1941 and managed to reach the USSR (where he was interned because the USSR and Germany were not at war at the time). After 22 June 1941, Billotte became a Free French representative in Moscow. He was then appointed General de Gaulle's Chief of Staff and Secretary to the French National Defence Committee in London. In August 1944, Colonel Billotte landed in Normandy with General Leclerc's 2nd French armoured division and took part in the liberation of Paris (he convinced German General Dietrich von Choltitz to spare Paris). At the end of the war, Billotte was a general and commanded a French infantry division. He was one of France's representatives at the UN in 1946. After leaving the army, he became a member of parliament and then minister of Defence in the 1950s, and mayor in the 1960s and 1970s. In politics, he supported a rapprochement between the United States and Western Europe (Atlanticism) and was in favour of French Algeria, while denouncing t.orture during the Algerian War (1954-1962). Pierre Billotte died in 1992.

@benclark1423 9 месяцев назад

Rather than further slipping into historic obscurity, I think it's great that stories like this are being broadcast to a larger audience. I guess the internet isn't all bad...

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks Ben... certainly one of the lesser known stories. And Bilotte had an interesting post war career too which we didn't delve into!

@thuyazin6319 9 месяцев назад

People saying that France just surrendered to the Germans have no idea how much the French fought back. They just had insufficient equipment and outdated tactics. The Germans literally bypassed the Maginot Line because the Germans knew that if they were to take it head on, it would have led to a meatgrinder.

@phillydelphia8760 9 месяцев назад

There was hard fighting by some, no doubt. For the most part they were out-manoeuvred because of heavy reliance on static defenses (maginot line). There was also the issue of low morale, there had been infiltrators to the armed forces to sow discontent and kill the desire for the French troops to fight another war. Though how effective this was is up for debate. A lot of their woes or issues can be summed up by saying they had poor leadership.

@laurentjrtherrien5131 9 месяцев назад

Alote of countries are under ratted for what they did the sacrafices they did it is easy to judge but we were not there to see our selves so hats off too every body who put some of them in this time periode

@Crow_Friend 9 месяцев назад

The French had more tanks and better quality tanks than the Germans... Look it up.

@thuyazin6319 9 месяцев назад

@@Crow_Friend u're right, thts on me

@jeezreelarticulo1185 9 месяцев назад

they are scattered and suprised

@saintleger858 9 месяцев назад

Merci de rendre hommage aux courageux soldats français face à l'attaque de Guderian . L'incompétence de certains généraux de l'Etat Major sont beaucoup plus à blâmer que l'attitude des pauvres soldats subissant une attaque d'une armée beaucoup mieux organisée en moyens de communication , très offensive et sans scrupule . Merci and thank uou for this video about Stonne:

@andyandson3700 9 месяцев назад

Ceux qui pensent que les Français n’ont pas bien combattu en 1940 n’ont tout simplement pas étudié l’histoire et, dans de nombreux cas, une vision excessivement critique de l’armée française en 1940 était un moyen de détourner l’attention de l’incompétence catastrophique des commandants britanniques et américains. à Singapour et aux Philippines. Il est intéressant de noter que dans les trois cas, les soldats ordinaires sur le terrain - et les officiers subalternes qui les commandaient - se sont battus avec une endurance surhumaine et un courage et une imagination incroyables. (avec excuses pour mon francais 😊 )

@kremepye3613 9 месяцев назад

Same thing happened in 1870 and 1914

@shawngilliland243 9 месяцев назад

@@andyandson3700 Right you are! Your French is much better than mine. Your point about the bungled defense of the Philippines and Singapore is also well taken.

@andyandson3700 9 месяцев назад

@@kremepye3613 and in 1944. Remember 1944?

@Septimanien 9 месяцев назад

@@kremepye3613 demography

@mikenolan9440 9 месяцев назад

Defending your country in a metal coffin against all odds is true bravery. Respect to this crew and all the brave soldiers, airmen/airwomen, seamen/seawomen who died needlessly through one of the most influential and bloodiest wars the world has seen. It doesn't just take superior equipment to win, it requires guts and determination from those in the fight.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks @mikenolan9440 we are glad you enjoyed the video!

@cameronrich5204 5 месяцев назад

Also, in the Char... The commander had to command, load, and shoot. Horrible design. To spot, he would have to get halfway out the turret, use binoculars, and upon spotting the target, get back inside, aim and fire. Horrible ergonomic design. This is the main reason, I think, they did so terribly in battle. It was a WW1 tank fighting the next war.

@atomic4650 9 месяцев назад

Thank you for respecting France in your WW2 documentaries. As someone with a great grandfather who fought in WW1 and helped Jews in WW2, it saddens me to see stereotypes that are largely untrue about one of my Countries.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Hi, thanks for the kind comment.

@onylra6265 20 дней назад

There is some truth to it - France turned fascist, and actively collaborated in the Holocaust, and fought against the allies in africa. The true myth is of the resistance, which only really started when Germany was obviously losing and the allies were overrunning their country. Vichy France WAS France. French fascism was real, and not coerced. We could split straws like 'no true Frenchman', but France needed foreign muscle to impose liberal authority over the fascists and communists, by force. It's no wonder people of that generation though French were pretty Sus when they were literally fighting French who were aligned with the Nazis to 'liberate' them.

@thomasgumersell9607 9 месяцев назад

Such incredible bravery shown by the French Tank Crews. Trying to hold off the German advance. Truly a horrific battle involving many tanks. A well done video detailing what transpired. 💪🏻🙏🏻✨

@zippy5131 9 месяцев назад

My Grandad was with the BEF and still in France after Dunkirk in the South still fighting, when he passed away I found his diary's and in them all it said was BEF 1939-1940. He would never talk about the places he'd been, so sadly so much historyand personal stories have been lost. The majority of the French army melted away, you just have to read the accounts, but some amazingly brave men stood and fought to the last. As you said the rot came from the top. It would be interesting to here about Arras.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for the comment and sharing your story!

@pratapbalakrishna3036 9 месяцев назад

The colonials ( Algerians) fought so intensely, near Dunkirk, that when they did surrender , Having no ammunition left. They were marchedinto captivity by the Germans, to the tune of a band, respecting their bravery. Palefaces, were, jelly fish.

@ronti2492 9 месяцев назад

Lions led by donkeys : Not the BEF in 1916, but the French Army in 1940.....

@DanielMasawi-fl4gr 9 месяцев назад

hallo brother im Daniel from Zimbabwe.Your documentaries inspire me.We adopted British culture in our army ,in the midst of all our political instabilities there are unsung heroes within our army,I got discharged some years back but i love your work

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thank you for watching.

@martinscannall8487 5 дней назад

You intrigue. What unsung heroes? Ndarara. The Shona I tried to learn.

@joshclarkethemudlark8048 9 месяцев назад

Just want to say what a fantastic voice you have. How you tell these interesting stories are just brilliant, Thank you BG❤️

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Glad you enjoy them Josh!

@aldreenbautista2375 9 месяцев назад

Can we have the KV-1 last stand as well? If I'm not mistaken it is an achievement in World of Tanks known as "Kolobanov's Medal". Great video and I hope for more!

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Interesting action!

@CharlesDeGoat 9 месяцев назад

I wanna say thanks you for this formidable vidéo. People often don’t know how french bravely fought during 1940, that’s a shame.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks @degaulle6069 , glad you enjoyed it!

@alex4833 9 месяцев назад

Good video. I really like how you showed maps, aerial images, and video game footage of the village and tanks. They are all well done. The B-1 Bis is incredibly strong. I'm sure I heard of it before. However, I find it incredible how durable it is. Superb point at the end. I agree with you that there are many stories of bravery. I wonder how many stories have been lost. You're spot on that we cannot forget the sacrifices and bravery of soldiers on the battlefield. Excellent video. Keep up the nice work

@serpentissanguis978 9 месяцев назад

A lot of French bravery stories during May/June 40 are not very known :Lille, Dunkerque, Abbeville, Saumur, les Alpes, etc...

@alex4833 9 месяцев назад

@@serpentissanguis978 Thanks for the info! Do you have book suggestions to read more about French bravery stories? I would love to read and learn more. Thank you.

@NamesAreRandom 8 месяцев назад

French and brits were still thinking about WW1 - so a tanks job was to move between the trenches with the infantry to take the enemy trench. B1 would have been great at that, and that's kind of what it did in this fight - moved slowly absorbing fire and shooting at close range. Not many battles like that in WW2 however.

@antonleimbach648 9 месяцев назад

I really enjoy the format you use and appreciate the valor the French showed when faced with a form of warfare that nobody on the planet had ever seen. The Blitzkrieg was revolutionary and the French and British did the best they could under the circumstances.

@onylra6265 20 дней назад

The German commander who made the breakthrough at Sedan (guderian) literally wrote the book on his tactics, and published it before the war...

@OTDMilitaryHistory 9 месяцев назад

This is a fantastic video! This story should better known. We need to focus more on the bravery and daring defences in 1940.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks Brad!

@OTDMilitaryHistory 9 месяцев назад

@@BattleGuideVT Keep up the excellent work!

@jemc4276 9 месяцев назад

Excellent video mate. Well produced and very informative. Thank you very much!

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for watching Jem!

@BillBird2111 9 месяцев назад

My Dear LORD! This was GOOD! This is the second epic account I have seen from Battle Guide! Packed with information, reports and stories about battles and men that I had NEVER heard of before. The research here is just outstanding. BRAVO! Thank you, Battle Guide, or the brains behind Battle Guide, for going where few have dared to tread before. I have one suggestion, if I may? Not a criticism! Just a suggestion? Battle Guide has alerted all of us to a real hero by the name of Pierre Billotte. I had never heard of this man before. I was not aware of what he had done. But, at the end of this most excellent documentary, I was left to wonder. What happened to Pierre? Did he survive the battle? Survive the war? As it turns out, he did. It's just one of those things you may want to chip in at the end. But otherwise, my gosh, ten out of ten stars! Thank you!

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for the kind comment Bill... yes he had quite a life after this!

@BillBird2111 9 месяцев назад

@@BattleGuideVT I cannot thank you enough. You're not only diving into battles that I had never heard of before. you are also writing to video. That is such a lost art. Yet, you've managed to not only do it, but do it very well. Writing script to match video is so much more difficult than writing something for radio broadcast, for example, which is what I did for ages. That was much easier. Writing to video? Incredibly difficult. Yet, BG has managed to do this time and again.

@leneanderthalien 9 месяцев назад

1 month after the Battle of Stonne, Pierre Billotte was seriously injured and taken prisoner by the Germans. When he recovered from his wounds, he escaped from OFLAG and managed to join the Soviet Union where he was interned until 1941: at that time he was exchanged for Russian refugees from London and joined the Free French forces of General de Gaulle of which he became chief of staff. After the 6 june 44, he joined the 2nd Armored Division of General Leclerc. It seems that thanks to a very severe dispatch that he sent to General von Choltitz before the arrival of the 2nd DB in Paris, that he had a great influence on the decision Germans to disobey Hitler, not destroy Paris and not resist uselessly...After the war he launched into politics until becoming Minister of the Armed Forces in 1955 and 1956 and later minister of french overseas territories and finish hes carrer as mayor fro the city of Créteil up to 1977

@BillBird2111 9 месяцев назад

@@leneanderthalien Thank you for adding this. Much appreciated. It is this battle, and those that would follow, that would press my American father into service via the Canadian Army. He would later be captured at Dieppe.

@MarquisVincentBissetdeGramont 7 месяцев назад

Captain Pierre Billotte was wounded and taken prisoner on 12 June 1940. He escaped from the prison camp on 1 February 1941 and managed to reach the USSR (where he was interned because the USSR and Germany were not at war at the time). After 22 June 1941, Billotte became a Free French representative in Moscow. He was then appointed General de Gaulle's Chief of Staff and Secretary to the French National Defence Committee in London. In August 1944, Colonel Billotte landed in Normandy with General Leclerc's 2nd French armoured division and took part in the liberation of Paris (he convinced German General Dietrich von Choltitz to spare Paris). At the end of the war, Billotte was a general and commanded a French infantry division. He was one of France's representatives at the UN in 1946. After leaving the army, he became a member of parliament and then minister of Defence in the 1950s, and mayor in the 1960s and 1970s. In politics, he supported a rapprochement between the United States and Western Europe (Atlanticism) and was in favour of French Algeria, while denouncing t.orture during the Algerian War (1954-1962). Pierre Billotte died in 1992.

@phyo1716 9 месяцев назад

I my opinion the battle of France saw some the most brutal fighting of ww2. It was short but still had shit tons of casualties.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

We will no doubt revisit it again in the future.

@phyo1716 9 месяцев назад

@@BattleGuideVT That's good to hear.

@kymvalleygardensdesign5350 9 месяцев назад

An incredible retelling of the battle of Stonne thank you.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thank you.

@daniellebcooper7160 9 месяцев назад

An excellent production. Thank you.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks Danielle

@arniet1 9 месяцев назад

Thrilling and spectacularly put together! Drew me right in to the foray.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks @arniet1 we are glad you enjoyed the video!

@Blitz9H 9 месяцев назад

Thank you for your in depth, and respectful retelling of this battle and these trying times.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thank you Blitz.

@kgillmore1 9 месяцев назад

Again, absolutely superb video my friend.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thank you! Cheers!

@kingdaniel69 9 месяцев назад

This is easily my world war channel.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Hi @kingdaniel69 thanks for the kind comment.

@moistmike4150 9 месяцев назад

Fantastic history channel! My heart goes out to the young men - on both sides - who gave their lives for their country.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks.

@killianlpc 6 месяцев назад

An excellent comprehensive video. I was aware of Pierre Billote and the battle of Stonne, but learned much more here about the battle in general and busting the myth that many British especially have about the bravery of the ordinary French troops who were totally let down by their High Command. The way many look at the battle of France they make it out that the Germans had some kind of gentle stroll through Rural France, this video shows the intensity of this battle was incredible, as was the bravery at Lille which held out to a massive German Armoured Force, without this action The British could not have escaped in such numbers at Dunkirk. A lot of the time this battle and Lille seems to be airbrushed from history. Thanks again for documenting this so well and remembering this amazing bravery.

@VinnieHndrx 9 месяцев назад

Absolutly love your videos man! Keep it up! Cheers from Sweden!

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Greetings to Sweden and thank you for the comment!

@richarddietzen3137 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for bringing this history of brave French tankers at Stonne to light.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thank you for your kind donation!

@thepolarbear8449 9 месяцев назад

This just can’t be done any better!

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thank you!

@tromxuasnoc 9 месяцев назад

Excellent video. The overall situation is well summarized and allows to realize the importance of the sector. Live views allow you to understand the lay of the land and visualize the action.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thank you and we are glad you enjoyed it.

@theeaselrider4032 9 месяцев назад

Excellent video. I was a little surprised though, when you mentioned the number of Panzer 3' & 4's. I always thought the Germans had mostly Panzer 1's & 2's, with just a handful of the others. I'm pretty sure I saw a Zeppelin poking it's nose in at one point too. Not sure about that one. Subscribed now, thank you.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

LOL.. we will fire our editor. :) Regarding the Pz III & IV they were indeed used in the Battle of France and were vastly outnumbered by the Pz II's (nearly a thousand Pz II's were used) compared to approx. 350 Pz III's and approx. 280 Pz IV's.

@Itjustdoesntmatter 9 месяцев назад

Just chucked this in my ‘watch later’ playlist but I’ll like it now 🍻

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks... we hope you enjoy it!

@lightyami5934 9 месяцев назад

WAY TO GO BOIS!!!

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Glad you liked it.

@lightyami5934 9 месяцев назад

@@BattleGuideVT MAN,you don't know how I love the channel for finally making it possible for the simple mind of mine,understand the processes and the weight all these battles had in the war... Hope to see more and that the channel will get more recognition for the wonderful work uploaded by you guys! WAY TO GO!!!

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Too often battles are just names... we enjoy delving into them. :) @@lightyami5934

@SunKing968 4 месяца назад

Amazing job on this Gents thank you

@toonverberg1313 9 месяцев назад

Now this is an excellent documentary. Didn't know much about this battle and the geography of this place, but now it's all crisp and clear what happened. Superbly explained and well visualised. Thanks for all the effort. Looking forward to your other videos!

@ToddiusMaximus 9 месяцев назад

Love this channel. Thanks

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thank you!

@johnsullivan6560 9 месяцев назад

Excellent video! Well researched and presented! Thank you!

@mozart579 7 месяцев назад

Fascinating and absorbing narration. Thank you.

@jdhart111 9 месяцев назад

exceptional coverage!!thank you!

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for taking the time to watch the documentary.

@Rbgsana08 9 месяцев назад

Je suis natif de Sedan. Merci d'avoir si bien rapporter ces événements souvent méconnus, comme les combats de la HORGNE et le Fort de VILLY la Ferté.

@neibiasetto3478 9 месяцев назад

By far the best channel on the web related to graphic accounts of WW2 battles. Well done. Thank you.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for the kind words Neil.

@spaceforce3643 3 месяца назад

The stories of French resistance fighters are crazier than any movie. Fascinating stuff.

@basingstoke63 9 месяцев назад

That was some battle . Thanks for this great history lesson .

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

One of the lesser known stories... we are glad you enjoyed it!

@MrNaKillshots 9 месяцев назад

Panzer 4 was a support vehicle. The Russians, when they saw it, were amazed that this was the best they had to offer in a prewar visit by Russian officials.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thank you for watching.

@gunhojput 8 месяцев назад

Really good stuff thank you.

@Jahoeishet 5 месяцев назад

Great job! Enjoyed this before sleep! Good research and a nice voice!

@mikedevere 9 месяцев назад

Excellent video. Thanks 👍

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Glad you liked it Mike.

@rjo2020 9 месяцев назад

Very enjoyable and highly informative presentation! Thank you !

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Glad you enjoyed it!

@JustAllinOneResource 4 месяца назад

Thank You.

@RG1001 9 месяцев назад

Perhaps someone could help me, When I was very young my grandfather told me a story about the time he won the bronze star. He said that it was winter of '44 I believe and in the early morning a group of sherman tanks started up to head out hunting, he said two of the shermans could not get their engines started when they were attacked by German tanks, he said he and his Lt ran to their 105 and turned it on the tanks coming out of the tree line and knock out two of them, his Lt. got the silver star. MANY MANY years later I saw an episode of a documentry on the History Channel where I swear it was this tank fight but for the life of me I can not find that episode or even the shows name. Is anyone able to help or point me in a direction that could help find out more about that fight? one of my lifes greatest regrets was not paying attention to him at that young age when he shared his stories...

@BlackandWhiteshorts72 7 месяцев назад

So very well researched and presented - keep up the splendid work.

@BattleGuideVT 7 месяцев назад

Thank you kindly!

@robertchubb5602 9 месяцев назад

Absolutely SUPERB....So we'll presented and produced. You put many MS to shame...please keep this wonderful work coming

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Many thanks!

@robertchubb5602 9 месяцев назад

@@BattleGuideVT fed up with YT doing the spellchecker.. as you know..should have been WELL...not we'll Grrrr

@TokyoCraftsman 9 месяцев назад

Great content, this story would make a great movie!

@Roberto-tu5re 7 месяцев назад

Great story and thankyou

@thermomeds 9 месяцев назад

Amazing as always.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thank you for watching.

@zenger74 9 месяцев назад

Superb video mate, my compliments

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Many thanks!

@betterlatethannever7337 9 месяцев назад

Thank you. I appreciate learning more. Saying the French didn't put up a fight doesn't make sense.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

We agree... and thanks for the comment.

@Andyb2820 9 месяцев назад

I thought the original was great and this one is great as well! Keep up the amazing work!

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for taking the time to watch the documentary.

@jockster5525 9 месяцев назад

Very good video thanks for your efforts ❤

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks @jockster5525 we are glad you enjoyed the video!

@pirated8557 9 месяцев назад

Really good presentation 👍🏼🏴‍☠️✌🏼

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks @pirated8557, glad you enjoyed it!

@MauriceTarantulas 9 месяцев назад

140 hits wow! Great vid.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for taking the time to watch the documentary.

@pavlovshouse77 9 месяцев назад

Fascinating story, thanks

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thank you for watching.

@camrenwick 7 месяцев назад

Never mind about "Fury" the real deal was "Vienna"

@BeingFireRetardant 9 месяцев назад

Great storytelling...

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thank you for watching.

@st3vorocks290 9 месяцев назад

The B-1 is a really good example of a tank built by committee. It looks impressive on paper, and it had a few scattered successes, but overall it was a miserable failure. See The Chieftain's walkaround video for more details.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thank you for watching.

@andyandson3700 9 месяцев назад

a "miserable failure" You didn't watch the video, did you? 😁

@st3vorocks290 9 месяцев назад

I did indeed. Why do you ask?@@andyandson3700

@simonkevnorris 6 месяцев назад

The one man turret was it's main weakness as the commander was overworked.

@johncheetham4607 9 месяцев назад

It's about time that someone had the time and effort to put this together. Personally I'm sick of the Americans blowing their trumpet.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks John.

@seandezart8294 9 месяцев назад

Great reporting - no drfamatic music or over-exaggerated text with balanced viwes from both sides , thanks - much appreicated

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for the kind comment Sean.

@HistoryHaty 4 месяца назад

The French Army was very brave during World War II, both in their homeland and in exile. Great documentary

@lurklurkyeah 9 месяцев назад

this is excellent content. may the youtube algo bless your channel.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Here is hoping. :)

@KurtZorch 9 месяцев назад

Bravo - such an important story to remember, especially against the tide of pro-Nazi stuff RU-vid offers.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks Kurt

@robert-trading-as-Bob69 7 месяцев назад

Thank you for this video. All too often, ignorant idiots say stupid things about the French, calling them 'cheese eating surrender monkeys', etc. The French held significant advantages over the Germans at the start of the war, but the political will and strategic leadership were lacking. I gave read stories of the 'Phoney War' where British pilots were forbidden to attack the German lines. One reply to this ludicrous refusal was something like: "Do they know there is a war on?" My reading has been mostly limited to the brave French pilots and the Resistance as I have found few books relating to the French Army and its operations.

@johnbrereton5229 4 месяца назад

Excellent, I've studied the battle of France because my father was fighting there with the BEF. The French were at the time considered the best Army in Europe and the best equipped. However, they were undermined by, 1/ Poor leadership 2/ Poor Communications. 3/ No coordination between the Army and Airforce, in fact they despised each other. 4/ Their leaders were expecting to return to fighting WWI, while the Germans were determined not to repeat it. 5/ Because of poor communications they missed many opportunities to halt the German advance but by the time they realised, the opportunity had passed. The Germans on the other hand had excellent communications and could react quickly to exploit a situation and unlike the French they also used their Airforce in support of their troops. However, many French soldier's fought hard and bravery, General De Gauls determined attack springs to mind as another example.

@madDdog67 9 месяцев назад

Excellent video!! This needs to be a Sabaton song :) \m/

@cdntrooper3078 9 месяцев назад

Is this a re upload? I feel déja vù but I feel like this video has been improved as well

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Yes it is a reupload. We revisited it to clarify the actual attack by the French which we believed needed improved on the original.

@jakegarvin7634 9 месяцев назад

Germans racing to the Meuse River? French having a bad time fighting at Sedan? Fuck that battle was ironic as fuck

@neymarmessironaldo5881 9 месяцев назад

Legendary battle. Damn i love ww2

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thank you for watching.

@1imusos 9 месяцев назад

I have a more educated appreciation of the French soldier. I thank you for this rendering of history.

@Rabmac1UK 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for a French Perspective Video. as a Brit I have never forgotten just what the French did to enable Dunkirk.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Hi @Rabmac1UK thanks for the kind comment.

@Rabmac1UK 9 месяцев назад

@@BattleGuideVT So grateful for the response, thank you. It is a real shame that the historical data (and teaching in our schools) nowadays portrays the French Forces as somehow sub-standard. This could not be more untrue, the problems lay with your Generals, and our Generals. Thanks for the spirited defense of Dunkirk, without which the Miracle might never have happened

@Spartan902 7 месяцев назад

I have one of those tanks in my collection. It would be interesting to know roughly how many men have died in battle on European soil in last 2-3 thousand years. The ground in some places must of been watered in blood numerous times. New subscriber.

@Farweasel 9 месяцев назад

Interesting video The peculiar piano(?) notes toward the end were really distracting though - I kept halting the video thinking its something external 🙄

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Noted and apologies.

@steveparker576 9 месяцев назад

Great video. I've visited Stonne and your coverage was excellent.

@mathsinmarathibyanillimaye3083 8 месяцев назад

I am an Indian in eighty didn't know anything of these things. Been wondering " how the tradition of General nepoleon's army gone". Nepoleon was general of French revolution. He gave Nepoleon code to the world.... Thanks for bright Sparks.

@moistmike4150 9 месяцев назад

In 2023, I'll never understand how Europeans can go to war against other Europeans.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

We agree. History has taught no lessons.

@steveperreira5850 9 месяцев назад

All you have to Do is visit Germany and you can understand why these aggressive people are a danger to humanity.

@snacks1184 9 месяцев назад

Great video. Dunkirk would have have failed if it were not for the bravery of the French troops who held the line.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Glad you enjoyed it mate.

@martynjones3978 4 месяца назад

You have to feel for these brave French soldiers who put up such heroic defences and have had very little light shine on there actions!! I know more about there old incompetent generals then i do the actual fighting mens actions on the ground!! Thank you for high lighting this it would be great to see more about these brave men!!

@tanfosbery1153 9 месяцев назад

Good to see a fresh perspective on the myth of the cowardly French

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for the comment.

@hicknopunk 9 месяцев назад

Early in the war the Panzer 4 was premium only and shot 150mm HESH. Then they rebalanced it a month later and lost HESH to be replaced by shells made of hard cheeses.

@davidoconnell1590 9 месяцев назад

German mains only see movement

@gregorybezanson 9 месяцев назад

It's tragic that France had been prepared to defend itself by a static line of defense. De Gaulle had wanted to have groups of tanks in battalions for a defense force. But he was only a junior officier. The French had put their faith in a series of forts around the city of Verdun connected by the Maginot line. Unfortunately, the Second World War would not be a static war as in WW1. Once over the Somme, the game was over. If up to date artillery had been created and been placed on hill tops, then tanks could have been stopped, and tanks would not have been destroyed, and defense eliminated.

@paulredinger5830 4 месяца назад

There were only a couple hundred panzer IV’s in 1940. Most were panzer I, II, and III’s.

@89volvowithlazers 9 месяцев назад

Strategy baby

@slypen7450 9 месяцев назад

Never heard about this battle

@richpontone1 9 месяцев назад

Interesting to note, that in the 1938 French Military games, a French tank Captain sent his tank force through these same Ardennes to win the practice battle. The French High Command then shelved the results of this successful attack. Also Ironic was that in the Franco Prussian War of 1870, the Germans decisively defeated the French at the battle of Sedan. So, you would think the French would have placed much stronger Army divisions at Sedan.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Hi @richpontone1 that is interesting thanks for sharing!

@steveperreira5850 9 месяцев назад

It all becomes clear if you have been in the military. Idiots are promoted, especially in peacetime. Then when the war comes, the idiots Are defeated. In government, and of course that includes the military, meritocracy is a theory seldom practiced.

@MarquisVincentBissetdeGramont 7 месяцев назад

If what you say is correct, it was far too late (in 1938) to change anything in French defensive doctrine... The Maginot Line had already been built.

@richpontone1 7 месяцев назад

@@MarquisVincentBissetdeGramont Interesting things about how military plans can change quickly. Several months before the German attack on France, a high level German officer with the German attack plans crash landed in France, and the Allies had their plans to attack through Northern France. The Germans realized this and had to change their plans quickly. Hitler okayed the attack plans through the Ardennes and from then, he was convinced of his own Military Genius. From this, Hitler did the same thing again by attacking through the Ardennes with the Battle of the Bulge. In 1942 British Intelligence stopped all their plans to assassinate Hitler as he constantly over ruled the German High Command with the wrong Military plans to attack the Russians and the Americans and British, contributing to the doom of The Third Reich.

@schuletrip 6 месяцев назад

As an Ex squaddie I always found it a bit strange and disrespectful to call The French surrender monkeys. There are countless examples of real French heroes and how they gave their all to defend their homeland. Like all of the Too Brass at the time they thought themselves incapable of defeat and that their own soldiers were expendable. This is a great video, I absolutely loved this story.

@lyndoncmp5751 7 дней назад

It's an American thing, not originating with the British.

@joker_g7337 9 месяцев назад

My great grand-father was a conscript during the phoney war. He was guarding a French airfield near Paris. He said that aircraft were stored on one airfield, ammunition on another airfield and fuel on a 3rd airfield. The German bombed the airfield with the fuel. Aircraft and ammunition are useless if there's no fuel.

@Sithspit_Rogue 7 месяцев назад

Um....you're describing Pz IV & Pz III vehicles, but you showed Pz III & Pz II vehicles during the description! At 11:54, you even showed a PANTHER turret.