US vs German Squads (Mid-1944) Who was Superior? | Animated History 

Protect yourself online by using ExpressVPN. Get 3 extra months free by using this link: www.expressvpn.com/armchair Which two nations do you want to see covered next? If you guys enjoyed this video, we can release our battle simulator on our website! **SPOILERS** --- BEHIND THE SCENES: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2VLHW19BIfs.html An explanation to the American victory: You are taking highly trained, freshly equipped, and battle-hardened (Italy & Africa) American troops, against mid-1944 static German infantry in Normandy. These troops don't even have enough supplies to be maneuvered, hence the name static. They were not the disciplined soldiers you would find on the eastern front. Regular infantry in this region comprised of foreign conscripts and wounded Germans. If we were talking about Grenadiers, Waffen SS, Panzergrenadiers, Volksgrenadiers, Fallschirmjaeger, or even just standard German infantry from 1940-1943 we'd probably see a German victory. Even still, we came to the conclusion these quickly thrown together units would win 46% of the time, which is extremely impressive. In fact, our simulation stated that the Germans would win 55% of the time in rural environments, when the Americans are being engaged at further ranges, negating one of the main advantages of the fast-firing semi-automatic M1 Garand. --- A note about the simulation: The team did not blindly depend on the simulation to write the script. The battles included were completely made up and animated by hand to serve as a narrative for a video. There was no church tower or storming of the tower in the simulation program. The engagements were constructed to reflect our research about how the two country's squads behaved. The simulation does take into account for morale, suppression, intelligence, training, etc., however, it does not have any visuals, it just provides data and numbers and was calibrated by our researchers. You can look at our sources for this video - even if we hadn't designed our battle simulator, we would have presented the video in the exact same manner and arrived at a similar conclusion. There was no actual footage, and I doubt my audience wants to see me present code for 10 minutes. That's something I can show on my side channel if there's interest. At no point did we claim we had scientific information, hence the disclaimer, "this is just our opinion" at the beginning of the video. Lastly, we make these videos to both inform and to entertain. In real life, these types of engagements would have lasted hours, but we've condensed the battles to make them easier and more interesting to watch and understand...

The Germans made a key mistake, they forgot Hans with the Flammenwerfer.

So, two things I noticed in all three engagements, which I find curious: One, the Germans are always passive, being satisfied with pinning down the Americans. Meanwhile the Americans always try to gain the initiative via fire and maneuver. Two, all German squads have run out of handgrenades.

I love that everyone here is only mad about the Germans not using grenades, not much else. Just “what about German grenades!!”

The fact that the MG3 that Germany uses today as a medium machine gun very effectively, is almost exactly the MG42 speaks for itself.

Fortunately for the Allies, in the later stages of the war, American Sergeants were issued with waterproof matchbooks.

The armchair historian: Forgets a weapon to give a small documentary *cries in kar98k*

The M1 rifle was a significant improvement in firepower over the Mauser 98 (itself great for a bolt action). I own both... great guns. On the other hand, the MG42 was a much more modern and effective LMG than the old M1919 the US was using at the time. The BAR was reliable but was pretty poor for its intended role as a lighter more portable LMG than the M1919 as it didn't have a quick change barrel and was very heavy for what it was. It also was limited to a 20 round magazine. The Bren gun was a much better gun in a similar role.... or the FN made BAR variant that the Polish adopted... quick-change barrel and pistol grip....truly the peak of BAR development.

So this is basically a RU-vid version of “The Deadliest Warrior”

I can't light my cigarette because the matches are wet, the war is lost

The British vs Germans and Japanese vs Americans I would like to see

The thing terrified me the most is MG42 effective range 1km, ROF 1k2rpm, and " LIGHT MACHINE GUN"

That Staff Sergeant: Oh my god! My lighter is out! This is an EMERGENCY!!!

Let's hope it doesn't get privated again.

"Sir, I'm hit! I'm bleeding from my head!" "You'll be fine son, just stay down!" "SIR, I GOT HOLES IN MY STOMACH!" "Just a flesh wound! You'll be fine!" *NCO runs out of dry matches for his cigarette "WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE"

The BAR wasn't the only light machine gun we had. You're forgetting about the M1919 Browning 30 caliber machine gun. It was also belt fed, and like the M1 Garand and BAR, the M1919 also fired 30-06. It had a slower rate for fire than the MG-42, but that meant it didn't overheat as quickly. The M1919 didn't require a barrel change either, it was also smaller and lighter than the Germans machine gun.

"The squad leaders maches are wet" That one cracked me up pretty good

Summary: Grenade spamming is the superior tactic.

I think a French 1940 squad v German 1940 squad would be cool Or a Italy v Britain 1941

"On a man for man basis, German ground soldiers consistently inflicted casualties at about a 50 percent higher rate than they incurred from the opposing British and American troops under all circumstances (emphasis in original). This was true when they were attacking and when they were defending, when they had a local numerical superiority and when, as was usually the case, they were outnumbered, when they had air superiority and when they did not, when they won and when they lost." -Col. Trevor Dupuy

One of the best history channels I have stumbled upon recently, the style of it, the showcase of weapons is all favorable and unique. Keep doing what you do.

I love how in the third round the Sergeant is half busy trying to smoke a cigarette the entire time he and his squad is in battle.

The Germans were doomed the moment the sergeant discarded his cigarette.

Omg....you actually demonstrate understanding of the difference between clips and magazines. Nice.

Great episode I loved this new format. Reminded me of a show where they would act out and demonstrate a fight between different army groups or types of soldiers. I really hope you make more of these!

I’d really like to see Soviets versus Germans, around Stalingrad, or Soviets against Cold War Americans

"I fear no German, but wet matchsticks. It scares me."

The Germans were very good at defensive withdrawal, which was very common. If an allied squad made contact with a German squad , usually the MG42 nest would remain intact until there were casualties. Then they fall back, reset and do it again. It was demoralizing to the allies . What they learned to do later on was to use at least 3 platoons one in the middle and two on each flank. They would try to use pincers type movement to halt any retreating once the positions were engaged.

Awesome animation. Thank you for the update..!!

Armchair Historian: Deadliest Warrior Edition

Fallschirmjäger vs. British Paratroopers next

I loved evrything about this video... The idea behind it, the animations, the top down bird view to follow movements and lines of fire, the original weapon videos... Speaking of which... The american and german guy(s) who wrote the scripts for the weapon introductions deserve a raise :D Short, but informative and even funny(the original videos i mean) All in all an very nice video and well spent 15 min of my life 🙂

Company of Heroes Germans with kar98: keeps distance while firing. Germans upgraded with mp40: BANZAI!!!

Lmfao GI Jesus. That has got to be one of the best things I've heard.

This project reminds me of History Channel shows from way back when they were about history.

I’m already loving this new series!

When you eliminate the outside advantages the allies squads had you ignore the realities of ground warfare as it was.

I can see it now, germany vs soviet union. "As the 12 german soldiers round the corner one takes a shot at the closest russian seconds before the 340 russians notice him"

It seems like the germans forgot how to use their grenades in these scenarios...

A genuinely interesting and innovative video. Thanks!

And don't even get me started on the M1/M2 Carbine, M1903 Springfield, M1941 Johnson. The yanks really had a weapon for EVERY situation.

When schultz forgets the grenades in paris

Desert Rats vs Rommel's Ghost Division Allied vs Axis Paratroopers (I just love the Fg 42) WWI stormtroopers compared Stormtroopers vs clone troopers

Best video! Love this format!!!

I LOVE these types of videos!!

I would like to see a weird comparison: The Avarage Union Soldier Vs The Avarage Confederate soldier in the American Civil war

IM HIT IN THE HEAD IM HIT IN THE STOMACH MY MATCHES ARE WET

I enjoyed watching these simulations and listening to your analysis.

Murphy’s Law : If your advance is to good to be true, chances are you are walking into an ambush...

I’d like to see a French vs Germans in 1940 or a Japanese vs Americans in 1941-45

2:14 this guy casually shoots backwards over his head Pretty gangster

If germany had the numbers we had, we wouldve been in one hell of a fight.. the battle of the bulge proved that..

Really cool video. Would love to see more like this

“And the squad leaders matches were wet, which made the predicament far worse. ~Griffin Johnsen 14:25

Germans lost the war because they had no grenades. Now we know

Nothing matches the quality of this channel! The narration and animation is done so beautifully well. AH really knows how to put us there and I love it!

Sehr tolles Video!👍

I like the idea of this video, but without showing actual footage, outcomes or the code from the simulator you used, it feels very artificial to act as if you've got scientific information on exactly what squad would be better. I'm aware the simulator likely just lists kills back and forth after the code is done running, and so I highly doubt it actually features things like cover, stealth, and the garrisoning of buildings and the like. I get that you want to make the raw data actually interesting for a video, but at the same time it's hard to believe the outcomes when you get into things like garrisoning a church, storming it, being chased up the church and then causing a retreat by the destruction of an enemy position. The main thing is that depending on the code, the simulator could be as useful as wet bread. I love playing some Men of War, but I'd never use it to actually simulate real world battles because of the lack of a proper suppression system in that game resulting in men able to sprint about under fire without a care in the world, and the way that machine guns behave like hyper accurate instant death machines as opposed to suppression weapons as they should. I don't think there can truly be a system that anyone fully agrees realistically simulates combat. The existence of wildly different World War 2 tabletop war games is evidence enough for that, no one can quite agree how to actually game it out.

I see everyone asking for the next comparison but u just gotta appreciate how much effort they put in this video, the animations, the research and how it all ties together. Thank you prob best ww2 I have seen!

The video was great.....waiting for more❤️

"Feuerunterdrückungsleistung" I love how long german words can get.

I would love to see US Vs USSR squads in period of Cuba missile crisis

A squad of Emus vs a squad of the Australian army 😂

More of these videos, better than most movies these days

3:23 to skip ad

That environment looks surprisingly similar to the Carentan map from Men of War: Assault Squad 2...................I should know because I have nearly 4000hrs played on the damn thing haha! I recognise the assets

"...he throws away his cigarette...", "...the squad leaders matches are wet..." -- You guys did a damn good job!

13:21 Thats actually a 1928 Thompson. You can tell because the bolt is on top while the M1A1 Thompson has its bolt on the side.

interesting to see the influence of the MG42 being very common in just about all forms of WW2 media, the visual of german soldiers in a defensive position using MG42s is iconic

The way he is standing at 1:15 makes it look like a character select screen

Wish we watched this in high school. Your channel is full of historical information and I love it all!

Good video guys! 👍

These polygons look like maps from men of war assault squad 2.

I had an uncle who served in the British 6th Airborne (Gliders) and was made a POW during the Ardennes Offensive, a.k.a. “The battle of the Bulge”. He related the incident to me and it transpired that his unit was attacked by a unit from the Waffen SS. He said they were the most professional soldiers he had ever seen. He did not like them but acknowledged their efficiency. The last he saw of his jeep in that incident was it being dismantled by a 20mm flak cannon. He also said that the only thing that truly scared him was the Mg42 and saw his friend torn apart by one. There is little question that the German soldier was a formidable foe and it was only the strength in numbers and the unavoidable attrition that eventually beat them.

Great video, I really loved the instructional video parts where the main guns were reviewed

Love this channel

As much as I agree with the conclusion there’s some huge problems here. The effective range of an M1 is far beyond 450 meters. No competent soldier wastes his automatic weapons by placing them high up in bell towers. Machine guns need to stay low to sweep across multiple axis of fire. Put your best riflemen in the tower and have him act as a designated marksman and spotter for the others.

i interviewed a German Lieutenant of the Fallschirmjägers who fought in Italy till wars end. he said that American organization was catastrophic. in one instance they were defending a valley near a forest edge and a US mixed patrol of infantry and armour was heading past the valley entrance. their Mg opened up on the US infantry causing some casualties as the rest took cover at a rocky section to the right of the valley entrance. the stuarts with them began charging towards the german lines, leaving the pinned down US infantry behind them. the Lt. said this was a perfect situation for them as tanks of that era were as close to being totally blind as it could get. without infantry suppourt the stuarts were destroyed with a mix of light AT and a panzerschrek they had. With the tanks gone, the remaning US infantry patrol retreated. other things he mentioned was that US patrols were loud, either hearing them talking at a distance or simply the heavy treading of them walking at night. this actually fits what Australian accounts had to say about US troops in Vietnam, that compared to Australian patrols, US ones caused a lot of noise. The other thing interestingly was the Camo nets issued to M1 helmets. for some reason the netting actually made the helmets stand out more in the forests and it was easier to spot US troops. This guy eventually took shrapnell to the throat and spent the last two months of the war in a field hospital. as a POW after the war he was part of a POW crew whose task was to find allied soldiers remains at older battlefields and bury them, they were only allowed by the British guards to bury German dead on their day off, sunday

Dope stuff bro

I think there is a typo at 5:30 20rpm is slower than a bolt action. Cyclic rate is close to 700rpm. Not that anyone pulls it that fast.

you guys know, that the germans also hat little things called grenades? xD

My grandpa really never told my family about the war other than this; the Germans didn’t miss like they were portrayed to in movies and pop culture, they hit just as often as anyone else.

i like this video format, you should do more of these, like 5 of these narrated battle simulations every video in that mini series

how did u add the "old timey" audio to the regular audio for the weapon interviews

The German squad of 1944, had 2 MP40's, and did not always have the MG42. MG34's were still in wide use by 1945 within German rifle companies. These squads also had more than one NCO.

imagine how amazing would a strategy game made by these guys, especially with that art style

Awesome vid

wow, I thought I was the only one who did this when I was playing my strategy games. This is so cool!

German Panzer units against British tank units [no infantry] map: Africa

"German superior training" Meanwhile 1944 German squad irl: child soldier NCO, cause all experienced NCOs died at Barbarossa.

This channel is meant as entertainment not as information.

Honestly, this reminds me of Deadliest Warrior, and I can't wait to see more.

“I’d like to talk about our sponsor...” >>>>>>>>>>>

“And the squad’s commanders matches were wet making the situation even more dire”

Love your videos, I subscribed also!!!!

Col. Trevor N. Dupuy, Colonel US Army: "On a man for man basis, German ground soldiers consistently inflicted casualties at about a 50 percent higher rate than they incurred from the opposing British and American troops under all circumstances (emphasis in original). This was true when they were attacking and when they were defending, when they had a local numerical superiority and when, as was usually the case, they were outnumbered, when they had air superiority and when they did not, when they won and when they lost." so much for this video.

I’d have to disagree here. The Germans wouldn’t just stand idly by. Germans sections were taught to take initiative. The employment of Auftragstaktik would allow the soldiers and officers to manoeuvre whilst the MG subsection pours fire. German tactics are not static in nature. The purpose of the MG was to pin the troops whilst elements of their section move freely to flank with their enemies’ heads down. Plugging Military History Visualised channel here.

The quality of this production is absolutely impeccable

I’ve played enough nerd to know that you only need two to silence a machine gunner by peaking on two sides, if they are badly coordinated, but it depends if you are going to take the risk

Sad the Armchair Historian stoped doing army squad matchups. I love these.