The WW2 Hero You've Never Heard Of (WW2 Documentary)

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In April 1945 the Second World War in Europe was drawing to an end. In Italy, more than two years of bitter fighting had led the Allies to the gates of the last German stronghold, Bologna. In a bid to outflank that last bastion, British forces would launch an attack through the stoutly defended ‘Argenta Gap’. Supporting those efforts was a legendary figure of the Second World War, Major Anders Lassen. Already holding three Victoria Crosses, he would lead a small team on a raid which would prove to be his last. This is the incredible story of his final mission.
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Written References:
T. Harder, Special Forces Hero - Anders Lassen (2021)
T. Harder, Anders Lassens Krig (2020)
S. Lassen, Anders Lassen VC (1965)
M. Kofod-Hansen, ‘Andy’ (1989)
G. Mortimer, the Special Boat Squadron in WW2 (2013)
Sources:
Lassen Family Collection (courtesy S. Lassen)
Commando Vewterans Archive (www.commandove...)
Find My Past (FMP)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Archive (CWGC)
US National Archives (NARA)
The National Archives, Kew (TNA)
GEOlayers 3
Google Earth Pro & Web Versions
- Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-313-1003-16A / Vack / CC-BY-SA 3.0
- Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-316-1161-22A / Vack / CC-BY-SA 3.0
- Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-478-2162-32A / Coernig / CC-BY-SA 3.0
- Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-479-2194-05 / Brünning / CC-BY-SA 3.0
- Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-J15460 / Lüthge / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Credits:
Research: Shane Greer & Dan Hill
Historical Research: Thomas Harder
Script & Narration: Shane Greer & Dan Hill
Editing: Shane Greer
Thumbnail Design: Linus Klassen
Image Optimization: Linus Klassen
Music & Sound Effects: Epidemic Sounds
Voiceovers: Hugo Salter

Опубликовано:

25 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 289

@emthegem8141 11 месяцев назад

"The british had lost a special forces legend, but the [parents] lost a son" Very well done - this one line hits particularly hard. Thanks for making another great video :)

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Thanks for the kind comment. We are delighted you enjoyed it!

@The-egg-cult. 3 месяца назад

@@BattleGuideVTrespectful lads you lot 🙌

@RagnarSven-b3b 4 месяца назад

My name is Kieran sven lassen this man was my great uncle and this video truly commemorates his memory and represents his bravery and courage thank you for Your remembrance of my great uncle

@BattleGuideVT 3 месяца назад

We are glad you enjoyed the video!

@polonium13 11 месяцев назад

My Great Uncle was Sgt Sean O'Reilly (MM), one of the Irish Patrol. From what I've read, Lassen and he were quite close. Uncle Sean was shot in the shoulder at Commachio that day and taken out of the war. I only know so much about him because of the books and documentaries about Lassen and the SBS. My Great Uncle was in his early 40's at the time and I read in one book, "Sgt O'Reilly wasn't scared of much, but he was scared of Lassen!" Thanks for posting this BG. It's good to keep reminding ourselves of the sacrifice these men made.

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Thanks for the comment and sharing your story!

@Doyley1966-ot2vu 6 месяцев назад

Hello, my Gt Uncle was Martin 'Gyppo' Conby (MM) and he was great friends with Sean O'Reilly as they were both in the Irish Patrol together for over 2 years. . There is a photo of them together after the raid, with all the injured survivors and another 2 of them together in the book by Gavin Mortimer , The SBS in World War 2. Next week I am visiting Comaccio and this video has been a great help in visualising where the landing took place .

@polonium13 6 месяцев назад

@Doyley1966-ot2vu Hi. Thanks for replying. Good to meet you. Yes, I know your family name well. I'm the proud owner of both books. Among the few possessions I have of Uncle Sean are around 40 photos, including a 3"x2" copy of the hospital photo you refer to. I have seen a number of the others published as well. I imagine several copies were made at the time and distributed. If you don't have it, The Filibusters by John Lodwick would interest you. Several mentions of the Irish Patrol and your Great Uncle by name. It seems they served in Libya together as well as The Aegean. A force to be reckoned with! I hope the Commachio trip goes well. I've only looked at the area on Google Street View, but it's on the bucket list for a visit.

@Doyley1966-ot2vu 5 месяцев назад

@@polonium13 Hi again ,the trip to Comaccio went well and was fascinating , if somewhat different today as it was then , I got an idea of what and where abouts it all happened. I wonder how it would be possible to contact you as I have had a reply to you removed , regards Adrian

@janlindtner305 11 месяцев назад

Finally he gets his recognition in a bigger forum. Anders Lassen, one of the two Danes who have received the VC. The second in the First World War, Thomas Dinesen, son of Wilhelm Dinesen, writer, officer, adventurer and politician who took part in the 1st and 2nd Schleswig War as well as the Franco-German War, brother of Karen Blixen, is indeed also worthy of a story.👍👍👍

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Thanks for the suggestion! We'll take that into consideration.

@tim7052 10 месяцев назад

@BattleGuideVT Please do!! 🙏 I'd love to see a video (and movie) of the most highly decorated NCO in the Commonwealth: Corporal William Coltman VC DCM* MM* - a contentious objector who was a stretcher bearer in the front lines of WWI. His unbelievable, consistent, acts of gallantry are evidenced by his decorations. 👍

@mochtegerndane7097 7 месяцев назад

Actually, there are four Danes: Percy Howard Hansen - 1915, Jørgen Christian Jensen 1917, Thomas Dinesen - brother of Karen Blixen and Anders Lassen.

@janlindtner305 7 месяцев назад

@@mochtegerndane7097The first two were perhaps Danish in origin, Percy Howard Hansen and Jørgen Christian Jensen; but were they also danish citizen?

@BanIslam-j6p Месяц назад

He was recently portrayed in a film by Guy RIchie called the ministry of Ungentlemanly warfare. Good film.

@barrynicolaiknutzen4325 10 месяцев назад

I'm Danish and this makes me proud.

@hanserikkratholmrasmussen6623 Месяц назад

Me too. I´ve read the book.

@leelampard7834 11 месяцев назад

Lassen is without question one of the bravest special forces soldiers that ever served. Damien Lewis has written a fantastic book covering his exploits and the early days of the SAS SBS SOE , the ministry of ungentlemanly warfare. Fantastic read for thoae interested

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Thanks for the recommendation!

@nigeh5326 11 месяцев назад

Damien Lewis has written a few great books on the SF boys. Another I would recommend is Band of Brothers 👍. He has also given some great talks/interviews on Paul Woodage’s excellent WW2TV channel. Highly recommended for those with a serious interest in all areas of WW2 history 👍

@marksallows113 10 месяцев назад

Being made in to a film by Guy Ritchie staring Henry Cavill

@robshirewood5060 10 месяцев назад

@@BattleGuideVT There is a great biography of Anders Lassen, i have a feeling it had input from his wife, but cannot remember the title. I think it was translated from Danish.

@samrodian919 10 месяцев назад

@@nigeh5326yes anything written by Damien Lewis on the SAS is well worth reading. I have a number of books by him and most I've read at least twice, in not three times.

@annaval119 11 месяцев назад

A real bloody Viking this man was

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Thank you for your comment!

@johnallen7807 11 месяцев назад

Lucky enough to serve as a very junior NCO with David Sutherland and Ian Lapraik in the early 70's, these men were a breed apart. It breaks my heart to know what they would feel to see the state of our armed forces and indeed our whole country now.

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Thanks for the comment and sharing your story!

@jhj6636 11 месяцев назад

Some of the best productions I've seen. Superbly researched and written, with supportive graphics and expressive and evocative narrations. All at a good pace, too. Outstanding.

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Thank you for the kind words.

@MrBernt1968 10 месяцев назад

Thank you for telling the story of Anders Lassen. Most people here in Denmark dont know about him

@rolos140670 7 месяцев назад

when the film comes out ... they will

@jonathannixon8652 4 месяца назад

Maybe you could get signatures by many hundreds to thousands of people to get a grant to build a memorial statue of him. Along with that, have an interactive setup at the memorial with audio history of this man. †

@Weise1001 2 месяца назад

@@jonathannixon8652 there is a monument of him in copenhagen - in the churchill park

@barchetta2112 Месяц назад

Our article about him (we didn't add the Shmichael comment!) cphpost.dk/tag/anders-lassen/

@MrBernt1968 Месяц назад

@@Weise1001 You cant really call it a monument. Just a small bust with some

@barchetta2112 10 месяцев назад

Told to complete a post-action report, he once wrote. "Landed, killed Germans, fucked off."

@JC-sd3vh Месяц назад

My kind of report

@neddyseagoon9601 10 месяцев назад

A couple of decades ago I was on a train from Sophia to Varna onbthe black sea, Bulgaria. We stopped at a station called Thompson. It was written in Cyrillic so I couldn't quite believe it. It's named after a very young special forces leader who wax executed in uniform while working with partisans in the area. Google it... see the honour a town gave him...

@robshirewood5060 10 месяцев назад

I read about this gentleman years ago, one of the SAS's finest. There was a great biography written about him. He was an amazing hunter, could creep up on a deer and kill it with a knife (which at the time i thought how cruel) which had value in combat ironically, could walk on gravel silently with a gas cape on (both very noisy), was expert with a longbow, which he felt could be of value in taking out sentries (he was right, but the authorities though it was too barbaric, or not the done thing, and in the long run an arrow or a cut throat with a Commando knife is equally as nasty but necessary in war imho) I believe the Foreign Legion still has bowmen and crossbowmen trained for sentry removal!! On top of that he was a superb soldier and a supremely brave man who cared about those he commanded. He has had my respect and salute ever since i read about him. Thanks also for this video.

@karlv2876 10 месяцев назад

41Cdo RM took part in operations a!ong with other Army units too , Cpl Tom Hunter also won the VC at Commanchio . The campaign in Italy finished almost three weeks later a bitter sweet climax . The Argenta Gap CWGC is immaculately kept to this day .

@michaelfrost4584 10 месяцев назад

As an 66yr old Australian SASR retired soldier Btp Water Ops, R.I.P mate. God Bless. It's the original SASR soldiers like you that gave birth to our Australian SASR.🎉

@PeterPsn-z9o 8 месяцев назад

I am involved in welfare with retired service personnel in the UK . I met the widow of a retired serviceman who recieved a regimental pension, they were married for over 70 years and she had no idea that her husband was a member of the long range dessert patrol group . Looking at her photos of this fit healthy young man sitting in his jeep , beard and arab headdress . I was so proud and i did not even know him . These people where all masive heroes back then , anazing people that did way more than we could ever know . Rip sir it was an honour to explain your pictures to your good lady . She loved you very much .

@jamesross1799 10 месяцев назад

These were exceptional soldiers. Thanks for posting I found it fascinating.

@alex4833 11 месяцев назад

Excellent video. I hadn't heard of Major Anders Lassen and I found this video to be informative, well-made, and moving. You used great photos. I found the maps to be super helpful too. I like the comparison of how Lake Comacchio looks today and how it looked then. You also did a great job in describing Major Lassen's story and courage. I feel heartbroken for his parents. The ending was heartwrenching too and it moved me. Superb narration as always. Great work again and kudos. I hope you have a nice week. Take care.

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Thank you for your kind comments. We are delighted you enjoyed it!

@alex4833 11 месяцев назад

@@BattleGuideVT Anytime! You do great work 😊

@xxnummixx Месяц назад

Im a dane and a history lover and ive never heard of this great countryman. Once again thank you to this Channel for always bringing These highly detailed, high quality videos. HUGE respect battle guide❤️

@BattleGuideVT Месяц назад

Glad you enjoyed it

@infeedel7706 10 месяцев назад

Thank you, Anders was a legend. I had a mate years ago who was SBS, also worked with his mates when I was in London decades ago...

@neddyseagoon9601 10 месяцев назад

If it was inbthe 60s you might have met one of his team from the SBS in the Agean... A guy I knew as a kid, called Dougie Wright MM. He was still a Grenadier of indeterminate rank... (usually Sergeant), he kept losing it when officers messed him about... My dad was a Sergeant protégé of his, from the next generation.

@victorsmith311 10 месяцев назад

For anybody who can read Danish, I highly recommend Thomas Harders excellent book “ Anders Lassens Krig” (Anders Lassens war). It tells Lassens life story in detail, with many more heroic adventures, including this story at the end. I don´t know if it has been translated into English.

@thomasharder3683 9 месяцев назад

There are English and Greek versions.

@workofArtAB-11 10 месяцев назад

May I also add a most humble comment, "We will remember them." A very compelling and must watch documentry, thank you so much for putting this together. Arthur AB-11.

@Dreyer1916 11 месяцев назад

My dad, George, had been Andy's commanding officer before David Sutherland took over. He actually knocked my dad out when they were in Haifa one time after some minor disagreement. Like Paddy Mayne, Lassen was too good an officer to let this get in the way. George held Andy in the highest regard till the day he died and did what he could to preserve Andy's memory. The only on commonwealth recipient of the VC in WWII. If Andy's story has been an inspiration I recommend Thomas Harder's biography.

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Amazing thanks for that and yes Thomas was a fantastic font of knowledge that we tapped into during the making of this documentary. He is a very nice gentleman!

@ardshielcomplex8917 10 месяцев назад

"The only commonwealth recipient on the VC in WW2" really ? You need to do your homework. "David Sutherland" ? There was no such person, there was David Stirling. All of your inaccuracies put your "my dad...." waffle into doubt.

@Dreyer1916 10 месяцев назад

@@ardshielcomplex8917 Always ready to learn.

@BattleGuideVT 10 месяцев назад

I think this is meant to read non-Commonwealth@@ardshielcomplex8917

@Dreyer1916 10 месяцев назад

@@ardshielcomplex8917 David Sutherland took over command of the SBS in Dec 1944 from George Jellicoe. He had been Lassen's commanding officer. Please let me know who were the other non Commonwealth recipients. I cannot immediately find the name/s but maybe you have better sources. I know who David Stirling was (my father was his 2iC), I knew his sister. I know Andy's younger sister and have read most (probably all) of the books on Andy going back to the first one by his mother and the last one by Thomas Harder (whom I also know). As I said I'm happy to be corrected but it would be helpful if you could actually add to historical knowledge by naming the other non Commonwealth recipients/s. I have no idea if there were / were not but some of the earlier literature (Mike Langley?) suggested this was attributable to Lassen. Let me know.

@mboyer68 11 месяцев назад

What a great recollection of this story of bravery against the Nazis. Every time I hear a story like this i wish more had been documented. I also think of the millions of stories that nobody ever had a chance of telling or hearing because all involved were killed. I wish I could've been involved in WWII and am also thankful I was born too late. What a crazy crazy world it was. Imagine seeing hundreds of bombers getting peppered with flack while their escorts engaged in dogfights, men jumping from blazing aircraft, parachutes blooming, while others slam into the ground with huge explosions. Bullets and shrapnel falling all around you, aircraft and men falling all around you, fighting for their lives. Crazy crazy world it was.

@truetoffee8684 10 месяцев назад

My grandfather served with Anders and was interviewed and mentioned in his book.

@goodwood-rc4nx 11 месяцев назад

one of the only men to have a memorial at both the SAS and SBS bases

@marksallows113 10 месяцев назад

Interesting!

@PalleRasmussen 10 месяцев назад

I have ex-SAS and ex-SBS friends (the SBS vet died sadly, so I suppose "had"), an acquaintance in the Jægerkorps and a buddy in the Frømandskorpset; all four places revere Lassen

@willg3226 11 месяцев назад

Yet another fantastic video. Your channel only gets better. I especially commend the voice actors, who gave real life and humanity to those figures no longer able to speak for themselves.

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Wow, thank you!

@thehistoryexplorer 11 месяцев назад

Excellent as always. A fantastic story to share with the afflicted.

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Thanks mate... glad you enjoyed it! You need to get out to Italy and tell some stories. :)

@neddyseagoon9601 11 месяцев назад

Axel Von Dem Bussche a German army officer was Anders Lassen's cousin. He held the Iron Cross. He, as part of Von Stauffenburg's resistance group, also volunterred in 1943 to suicide bomb Hitler and co, using a mine with a trigger, during his modelling of new uniforms... You couldn't make it up for a movie but... While waiting and preparing himself to kill himself and everyone in the room, the allies destroyed the train carrying the uniforms... This entire family must have been astonishing...

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Thanks for the comment and sharing this story!

@nigeh5326 11 месяцев назад

Hitler certainly was a lucky so and so, unfortunately for the world. He was so nearly killed in more than one assassination attempts. He left a meeting of old Nazis for instance earlier than expected so when the bomb went off he was not there. Famously if the meeting where Stauffenberg made his attempt had been held in the original concrete room even with the Bomb being moved Hitler would have died. But as it was in a wooden building and the bomb was moved he survived. Also if the bombers had used all of the explosives instead of half he would have been killed. I’m always surprised that no one ever just took out a pistol at close range or pulled a pin on a grenade and wrapped their arms around him in a suicide assassination attempt given what the Nazis were doing to Germany in the later stages of the war. Given the senior officers later claims of love for Germany and that they knew he was going to destroy Germany you would think at least one of them would have put Germany above the oath of loyalty to a madman. I know late on even high ranking officers weren’t allowed to be armed around him, but there was surely a point before that where a senior general could have tried.

@neddyseagoon9601 10 месяцев назад

@@nigeh5326that's what Von Dem Bussche almost did. He was waiting to strap a mine with a hand grenade trigger attached and grab Hitler in s suicide bombing... Waited for days then the allies blew up the uniforms.

@polonium13 6 месяцев назад

Yes, I believe the only family in the war to receive high honours from both sides!

@MaxAndersen-r1f 10 месяцев назад

it was certainly about time that Anders Lassen finallly got his place in history The best and finest Danish soldier of ww2 served with SOE awarded 3 military crosses and the VC -Det var på høje tid at Major ASndersen Lassen endeligt fik sin plads i historien - 2 vardenskrig. Desvære glemt i Danmark - hvilken national skandale at man kan glemme ham Han gav sit liv for vores frihed

@siggesaltens2663 10 месяцев назад

DET ER SÅ DANSK, SÅ DANSK. DET ER DET SAMME MED DEM, DER SEJLEDE I KONVOJERNE. DENGANG -SOM NU POLITIKERE DER IKKE KAN STAVE TIL LANDSFORRÆDERE

@tinojensen7473 10 месяцев назад

Dear Sir. Thank you so much for this video, that I have been waiting for for Ages…! As an Old veteran myself Lassen by far is my biggest hero. Lassen (and the SBS) rightfully deserves their own series/movie. All the best from the Old country, take care and stay safe 🇩🇰 🎗️ 🇬🇧

@clementaut7287 11 месяцев назад

Thanks for this really great video. I didn't know a lot about combats in this area, so keep with this kind of great content for history nerds like us !

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Awesome... delighted you enjoyed it!

@hifives2 10 месяцев назад

Should do one on Jock Lewes one of the founding members of the SAS who’s life was cut short in Libya

@nigeh5326 11 месяцев назад

I can’t remember which other channel recommended your channel to me, but I’m glad they did. Great videos, well researched and well paced narration with informative maps and photos. Thank you and cheers I look forward to many more 👍

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Glad to have you aboard!

@murraysheppard1153 10 месяцев назад

Those eyes...at his age..major ...son of a bitch..thats a soldier..humbles me.

@andrewwmacfadyen6958 10 месяцев назад

Lassen is well recognised not forgotten, in the 1980's I knew a man my local grocer (Bob Drummond ) who served with him . I asked him about Lassen his reply was that he never took to Lassen as he had no sense of humour only lived for killing Germans because of what they did to his family

@andrewhall7930 28 дней назад

Aussie here (with no Scandanavian heritage): Denmark, Norway, and Finland produced probably the finest soldiers in WWII. Tough, flexible, adaptable, brave as hell, determined, natural outdoorsmen, resourceful, naturally strong and athletic, able to endure without food longer than men from other countries, willing to sacrifice themselves to save their brothers, no incidents of torturing or executing captured enemy soldiers or raping enemy civilians (that we know of), peace loving but willing to die for their country, ... It seems like every single one of them had these qualities.

@markkosmider2144 10 месяцев назад

A very moving and informative video - thank you. Even to this day, Lassen is one of the bravest SFs soldiers who has served. Very deserving of his VC. Lassen VC is well worth a read.

@paulbradford8240 11 месяцев назад

That was very interesting. An older and a man of whom I was totally unaware. Well done.

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

We are glad you enjoyed the video!

@johntowle 9 месяцев назад

This video is so well done , I feel like I was there with Anders Lassen. Wonderful story, never heard of him, such a great soldier. He had huge balls. There is so much detail in the video the videographer gets a huge thumbs up from me. I am a WW2 enthusiast.

@BattleGuideVT 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for the kind comments!

@GertBoyeViuf 24 дня назад

Hver dag køre jeg forbi hans byste ved frihedsmusem i københavn, og tænkt hvem er han og hvad udrettede han i ww2, hold da op en en historie. Jeg sad og fik tåre i øjene og en klump i halsen. Endnu en ung mand vi i dag kan takke for vores frihed. Æret være hans minde.

@chickamauga1 11 месяцев назад

One of your very best to date -- and they are all outstanding

@wingcommanderdaltonwalton67 10 месяцев назад

Fantastic vid ,I must admit I’d never heard of him before but I guarantee he won’t ever be forgotten!

@jensernestottosen-sttt1831 7 месяцев назад

in 1991 I as part of a group of Danes I visited the Greek island Symi a little north of Rhodos. We had the chance to drink coffee with the Archmandrit at the Monestary and he suggested that we should go down and visit the monument etablished to commemorate the man who liberated Symi from the German occupation in 1944. That man was Anders Lassen, and as a Dane I already knew some about him - but not of his action on Symi.

@vonsprague7913 11 месяцев назад

Superb tribute to some very brave men and their outstanding leader. It's easy to forget with the western front that men were fighting and dying all over Europe and the Far East right up to the wars end.

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Brilliant, glad you enjoyed the video!

@HD2512DK 20 дней назад

He was the biggest Danish war hero, and the book about him is very exciting.

@bungasujatmo1439 9 месяцев назад

Thank you for all who made this video, excellent presentation, just amazing

@SeattleMarinerMan 3 месяца назад

It’s nice to hear some World War II stories from the British perspective. Great content thanks man!

@MothaLuva 10 месяцев назад

Saw the face on the thumb and said to myself thats Anders Lassen!

@WW2_WhoWasWho 11 месяцев назад

Great stuff, such an interesting story!

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Glad you enjoyed it!

@andrewlucas9282 10 месяцев назад

Great and informative documentary of a lesser known but equally important military action. Thank you 🙏

@alistairmccrone4651 10 месяцев назад

An excellent video. I’ve been trying to find out where he died in more detail. You have delivered. Well done.

@robertscheinost179 10 месяцев назад

I read a book in the early '80's about the birth of the SAS, SBS, and SOE. I lent this book to a friend and never got it back but I read it several times and the legends like Paddy Mayne and Andy Lassen (and others) are stuck in my mind. They did the impossible, just like they do today. You just don't hear about it because of the Official Secrets Act. Make no mistake, These lads are out there, shaping the next battlefield, doing things you will never hear about.That's the way it needs to be.

@johntowle 9 месяцев назад

The White Mouse too. Nancy Wake.. she is a bloody legend !!! Read the book by Peter Fitzsimmons. she killed an SS guard with her bare hands.

@paul7233 Месяц назад

My uncle served in the wartime SBS but was unfortunately killed in action a month before Lassen's death.RIP Tom.

@kiwifruit27 11 месяцев назад

A superb video and excellently researched and presented. Thanks

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Glad you enjoyed it!

@rasmuswittsell10 10 месяцев назад

Oh, but I knew about him very well. The most decorated SAS operative ever.

@robroy4663 10 месяцев назад

Definitely had heard of him. He features in several VC books.

@TheHistoryWonderer 11 месяцев назад

I never have heard of this event. I enjoyed the show.

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

We are glad you enjoyed the video!

@leeshoesmith3286 10 месяцев назад

I once heard a story of Lassen was observed walking across a gravel area in hobnailed boots by a high ranking officer and he said that he couldn't hear his footfall

@clarencearnold2137 8 месяцев назад

Great job!! Was aware of him and his story but had never seen the details til now! Thanks!

@jamesbertram2695 10 месяцев назад

It’s not a winged dagger at all it’s Excalibur picked by a competition when they wanted a cap badge for this new unit brave men one and all

@dougaldouglas8842 11 месяцев назад

What would these people think now, if they were alive? Shame on us for what we have allowed to happen

@mhpjii 11 месяцев назад

Yes

@SeedOfElijah 11 месяцев назад

@@mhpjiiwhat makes you think they aren't alive?

@orwellboy1958 11 месяцев назад

It makes me weep, what our armed forces sacrificed in both world wars for our freedom, look what we have done with that freedom.

@mhpjii 11 месяцев назад

@@orwellboy1958 Not only that. With nary a thought those men _jumped up_ from their comfortable lives to sail overseas _twice_ to end fascism. Now it's here, in our land, and . . .

@dougaldouglas8842 11 месяцев назад

@@orwellboy1958 Makes me very, very angry the dismissal of those who put their lives on the line so that we could be free from becoming a country where gas chambers would take the vast majority of people away, today. It is all, me, me, me, look at me am I not great, come listen to me, I am worth listening to, etc., etc., etc.

@meow1990_2 6 дней назад

From his biography "Sailor and Soldier"(1949), written posthumously by his mother: "At the gable of Saint Peters chapel - right next to Præstø* inlet, in the shadows of the big beechwoods, we have raised a memorial stone. Every spring, the wild swans return to here, and here he has gone fishing and hunting, summer and winter, in all kinds of weather. He performed his manhood-deeds long away from here, in foreign countries. But I think that when his thoughts searched home, they returned, like the wild swans; back to this fresh Danish beach, where he as a boy had been so happy. We have received the decorations, that has been part of him after his death, with great gratitude. Although all awards in the World will never relieve the sorrow over the loss of a beloved son. But when I stand at the memorial stone and see the sun sparkle over the sea, and feel the winds whistling in the big beechwoods, then it is like I could allmost hear Anders say: >>I have done what I could, mom, yet you are not happy.

@Perspectiveon Месяц назад

Another great read is "Anders Lassen VC, MC, of the SAS" by Mike Langley 1988. (Danish former Army Major serving in multiple International missions throughout the '90s I thoroughly enjoyed this book.) Ty for the outstanding vid.

@joellundberg2058 10 месяцев назад

I wouldn't deer to invite this man to Let's dance ... Heaven holds the brave....

@johntowle 9 месяцев назад

They didn't have any NVG (night vision goggles) , amazing they were able to navigate so accurately and take out the enemy.

@metalmadsen 10 месяцев назад

Denmark has not much to be proud of during WW2. But we have this bloke 🇩🇰

@ernstvonrichthofen 10 месяцев назад

Mig personlig har stor respekt for at 7000 jøder blev reddet, og flammen og Citronens kamp og alle dem der ligger i deres kolde grav i Ryvangen og mange, mange flere - hvad jeg ikke er stolt af er de unge generationer som med fuldstændig ligegyldighed lader de døde frihedkæmperes offer være uden værdi!! - Den 9 april blev Danmark invaderet og blev frit igen men den fortløbende inversion som er kommet snigende som en tyv om natten siden invandreloven blev ændret i 1984 og orkestreret af Radikale venstre truer Danmarks eksistens.

@snubbedpeer 10 месяцев назад

At the bottom of Lassens headstone is a verse in Danish from a psalm that was used as motto by the Danish resistance during WW2. Very loosely translated it reads: Fight for all that you love, die if must be, then life is not so difficult , neither is death.

@samuelattas3864 6 месяцев назад

Ah yes, major Lassen...killed on the 9th of April 1945 in Italy, same day Königsberg surendered and exact five years after Denmark was occupied. He was a hard fighter....

@johndavies1564 10 месяцев назад

My uncle Sgt Ronald Waite DCM was with Anders when he was mortally hit. RIP

@Doyley1966-ot2vu 6 месяцев назад

Hello, my Great uncle , Martin Conby was there too. there's a photo of your uncle and mine together in Gavin Mortimers book, The SBS in WW2, as i've mentioned above in a comment to Sean O'Reillys nephew.. Amazing that 3 family members of this patrol are on here here watching this video.

@polonium13 6 месяцев назад

Hi. I'm Sean O' Reilly's Great Nephew. According to The Filibusters by John Lodwick, your Great Uncle was also with mine when he was shot, just before Lassen. I like to think our respective uncles would be pleased we'd made contact. They would never have imagined it happened like this though!

@wildcolonialman 10 месяцев назад

Fabulous man, fabulous men. Fine telling.

@AJ-bz7wq 10 месяцев назад

Thakn you for another exceptional story of incredible bravery. Amazing story of another heroe.

@clarencearnold2137 8 месяцев назад

An absolute fearless and ruthless fighter, according to accounts at the time..

@mattpinky7125 11 месяцев назад

Love this channel

@Ostemikkel 11 месяцев назад

Same

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

Thanks Matt!

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

@@Ostemikkel Thanks so much!

@Outlier999 9 месяцев назад

The founder of the American Army Rangers, Col. William O’Darby was killed in action on April 30, 1945. He was posthumously promoted to brigadier general. Both legendary special forces warriors, killed so close to the final victory. A stark reminder of the irony and cruelty of war.

@BanIslam-j6p Месяц назад

He based the Rangers on the British Commandos and the 1st Ranger Battlion was trained by the Commandos in Scotland.

@MikeT-TheRetiredColonel 7 месяцев назад

Another great job, already have signed up over at Patreon. One suggestion - when you were talking about the line that the Germans had to protect, you mentioned it in km, and most of the other distances you used miles, may I suggest using one with a screen caption for the converted distance? Just an observation :)

@MichaelLeBlanc-p4f 11 месяцев назад

Love 'D-Day Dodger' tales . . .

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

We are glad you enjoyed the video!

@sbhj6705 10 месяцев назад

Anders Lassen is Well known in Denmark 🇩🇰

@tekha1977 10 месяцев назад

Why there isn’t a movie or miniseries made on Major Anders Lassen’s exploits are beyond me.

@spenceflatulence 7 месяцев назад

05:13 I'm born and raised in the city of Mern and i had never heard of this guy. That's crazy. Høvinggaard - the estate where Anders Lassen was born are very beautifull. His mothers familiy (Raben-Levetzau) have been Danish nobillity since mid 17th century.

@sharonprice42 10 месяцев назад

Great story of the special forces

@BanIslam-j6p Месяц назад

He was recently portrayed in the film by Guy Richie, " The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare " definitely worth a watch.

@conmcgrath7174 10 месяцев назад

Well just make a grown man cry, why don't you? RIP the elite of the elite.

@williamsomerville-b6r 9 месяцев назад

Yes I have heard of him and have read several books in which he is mentioned.

@richardprescott6322 10 месяцев назад

Most of our wonderful citizens have no idea ww1 or WW2 - teachers are telling them and taking them on Plo marches - Real proper bloke 😊

@oneshotme 11 месяцев назад

I enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

@BattleGuideVT 11 месяцев назад

I appreciate it

@del1984fly 10 месяцев назад

Fantastic video

@venividiviking 16 дней назад

Hvil i fred, Anders 🙏

@Liam-vm9uy 7 месяцев назад

Hi, you need to check your description text. You state that Lassen holds three Victoria Cross’s. I think you mean three MC’s. Just an oversight I expect.

@1960birch 27 дней назад

There is a bronze bust of Anders Lassen in Copenhagen.

@geomascagni786 3 месяца назад

Anders Lassen is played by Alan Ritchson in the new Henry Cavill movie 'The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare'.

@GrumpyAustralian 10 месяцев назад

Cpl Thomas Hunter VC Royal Marines was also a recipient of the Victoria Cross at Lake Comacchio a couple of days earlier.

@BattleGuideVT 10 месяцев назад

Correct!

@Parawingdelta2 8 месяцев назад

I believe the cap badge is actually a downward pointing 'Excalibur' (sword) wreathed in flames, not a 'Winged dagger'.

@irishvicar1963 7 месяцев назад

Embroidered cap badge to the SAS (Special Air Service), a dark (Cambridge) blue shield on which a white sword (Excalibur), point down, with a pair of light (Oxford) blue wings. An Oxford blue scroll over the lower part of the sword bears the motto WHO DARES WINS in black. Sword, wings and scroll all outlined in red.

@lachlanmacarthur6123 8 месяцев назад

Anders Lassen arrived In Scotland at a place called Oban to start his career in the british forces , in recognition of this his name is well regarded in the area . There is also statue to him in his home country of Denmark

@akyhne 7 месяцев назад

The only soldier in WWII from a non commonwealth territory or country, to receive the Victoria Cross. Out of 181 rewarded.

@alainsworth-sn4gk 10 месяцев назад

Well done.

@poil8351 23 дня назад

3 military crosses at 24 thats kind of insane to begin with.

@warrenstanford7240 8 месяцев назад

Major Lassen SAS was the only SAS soldier to receive the Victoria Cross in the Second World War a true legend from the beginning of the Commandos until the end of the war.

@akyhne 7 месяцев назад

He was the only one to receive it, who wasn't from a Commonwealth country.