60 thoughts on “Latest News”

1. Just read Zero Night. I think it would make an engrossing and exciting film. I read Great Escape many years ago as a kid, and saw the film many years later when it came out. I think Zero Night has a great story to tell to another generation.

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2. Welcome, thank you for writing a book about the Yangtze Incident. It is sad that history has lacked accuracy in respect of HMS Concord even though the restriction of the 30 year rule has long gone. Your book together with others have corrected the assumption that Concord met Amethyst at the mouth of the Yangtze. It is unfortunate that the Amethyst memorial within the National Memorial Arboretum also states that the meeting took place at the river mouth.
   A big thank you from the few left from the well loved HMS Concord

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3. Wow, what a fantastic website, I’ve learned more from your site about the Obersalzburg than when I visited the Bertchesgaden area several years ago.

   Fantastic job.

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4. Hello Mr Felton,

   Have just read your recent book “Castle of Eagles” and found the whole story most intriguing, but so enlightening. So many high ranking war personnel in one location would seem far to obvious that escaping was the major priority, but that easy for us to say now with so much history behind us. I must admit to a touch of sorrow for the Italians for being duped, and a reluctance to commiserate with the British and Commonwealth prisoners to some degree as they were exceptionally well looked after – will be interesting to see the comparison with “Zero Night” which I have yet to read. I have no knowledge of the non commissioned prisoners well-being in Italian prisons but would not believe they had anything near the benefits of the Villa Orsini and Vincigliata Castle.

   A small item if you could enlighten me is the “mysterious stop” the train always made for 5 minutes prior to crossing through the frontier to Switzerland – why was this, do you know?

   Will look forward to more of your books, thanks for the education.

   Regards, Dave Christensen

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5. I just finished reading Zero Night. I enjoyed it very much. I would like to know what happen to Lieutenant hunt, Royal tank regiment, number 7 on Team 1? He was left at a little station waiting room.

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   1. Glad you enjoyed the book. Regarding Hunt, I know he survived the war, but of his postwar life I’m afraid I can’t tell you anything. All the best, Mark

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6. Hi Mark

   Thank you for sharing really interesting and well produced material. I’m curious if there is any evidence/footage of Hitler ever speaking English? I assume that speaking a language other than German would have been well below his priorities.

   Best regards
   Robert

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   1. Hi Robert,

      Thanks for your support. In answer to your question, I’ve never come across any film of Hitler speaking more than a word or two of English. I don’t think he could.

      All the best!

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7. I am reading Zero Night. It is entertaining history. I keep asking why isn’t this story known more widely?
   One thing I have to ask is the sprinkling of “old chap” and “dashed bad luck” in their speech really how it was? I thought these phrases were mockingly Hollywood inventions. Did the British officer class all talk like that?

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   1. Yes, they did. Glad you are enjoying the book.

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8. Mark
   My name is Graham Hollands a retired Major General living in Normandy and a local Battlefield Historian. Your U Tube post of the action at Steamroller Farm has just been brought to my attention. I am the son of the then Lt (acting Captain) Hollands who features in your post. He was awarded an immediate DSO for leading that action.
   You may not be aware that he had in 1940 been awarded a DCM whilst serving as a Corporal with the Royal Sussex Regiment a part of the BEF in France.
   There is an interesting Post Script to Steamroller Farm when in the 1970s (?) one of the German Paratroopers contacted my father. Their meeting was recorded in an interview by Anne Diamond on a programme “Good Morning Britain. The Tank Museum and myself have a copy of this if you are interested.

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   1. Dear General Hollands, many thanks for contacting me about Steamroller Farm. It’s certainly a fascinating action and I appreciate the background on your father. I’d be interested to see the interview to which you refer. Kind regards, Mark

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9. Mark,

   I just wanted you to know that Carol Carpenter ( Apacki) absolutely loved your tribute to Bazooka Charlie who was her father.

   If you would ever like to contact her I can put you in touch. I’m sure she could fill in any blanks you may have.

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   1. That’s fantastic to hear. Please pass on my best wishes to her. Mark

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10. Mr. Felton,

    I recently watched your videos on U-530 and U-997(?), do you personally have a personal theory for what they were doing? With there missing weaponry, unaccounted for time and lack of cargo.

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    1. Hi Mark, I am a big fan your youtube videos and books. I would like to suggest you make a short documentary film on the SS General Hans Kammler who, amongst other things was in charge of the rocket team and other secret weapons projects. At the end of the war Kammler vanished and there has been a lot of speculation about his fate. I see there is a new book coming out about him by a guy who researched the story for 15 years and got access to new archive documents on Kammler. I just pre-ordered the book on amazon, its called The Hidden Nazi. Thanks, Shaun

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11. Sir:

    Really appreciate your YouTube videos on World War II.

    I would like to suggest you do a video on the Battle of Castle Itter—the “last battle” of World War 2 in Europe. Where American troops joined with German soldiers to fight off an SS attack on a prison castle in Austria.

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12. Thanks , I have just been looking for information about this topic
    for ages and yours is the greatest I have discovered so far.
    However, what about the conclusion? Are you sure concerning the supply?

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13. Dr.Felton,
    How can one wear military uniforms and drop bombs on civilians? ( Re: Zeppelin)
    ThxNRgds,
    CS

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14. Hi Mark,
    My father, who is still alive and kicking, was a sergeant in the 11th Airborne 711 Ordinance unit on Okinawa in August of ’45. On 27 August, he was ordered to fly in one of two B-24 Liberators that were sent that day to Atsugi Airbase, just outside of Tokyo. They were ordered to go unarmed. The guns were removed from the aircraft, and no one was allowed to bring firearms or knives. When they arrived, they were told to assemble whatever Japanese forces who were there and to start clearing the runways for the arrival of transport aircraft. He was there on the ground when General Swing arrived. In all of the writings about the first forces into Japan, there are reports of General Swing and General MacArthur arriving on 29 August, but nothing about the flight my dad speaks of. He is in excellent health at 93, still working every day building furniture. He also has the mental acuity of someone in their ’60’s and is so clear about the details, that I doubt this is some sort of phantom memory. I would love to be able to find any documentation referring to the flight of these B-24’s to validate his memory. (As I sit writing this, I am staring at a framed invasion map of Japan which hangs in my office that he carried with him on that flight). Any suggestions you may have in how to research this would be greatly appreciated.

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    1. Really fascinating – thanks for sharing

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15. Mark I have an obsession with your YouTube page I think you are one of the best wartime experts out there. BIG FAN of your work

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    1. Many thanks for your very nice words.

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16. Mr. Felton: I am 61 and have read world war II history since I was a teenager. I love your tube videos. Fascinating stories about obscure world war II events (loved the Belgian Typhoon attack of the Gestapo Headquarters!) I see you do various military history topics. What about the destroyer squadron disaster at Point Honda in 1923? Adm. Lockwood wrote a book about it, and it is a fascinating story.
    Love your work. I run into MANY obscure WW II events, and I research them for details. The sub BARB landed a demolition team in Japan and blew up a train (summer of ’45) and also fired rockets at one point. Or the P-38 pilot short of fuel that landed on an airfield in japan after the announcement of surrender but before the official ceremonies. The mayor came up and was friendly and he finally got off when a B-17 came in to supply some fuel ( as I recall). It was a big war.

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    1. Thanks for your very kind comments about my work.

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17. Love your programs – an eclectic roster of information not otherwise commonly known. Thanks for your diligent research!
    I wonder if you have ever considered doing a spot on the Canloans, a group of Canadians trained to be officers in the British army in WW 2. My father was one such, having served as a lieutenant in both the 7th and 11th armored divisions in Europe (wounded in Holland by a sniper but eventually returning for the advance into Germany). It’s an interesting episode in the support of the Commonwealth to the war effort. To my knowledge there is only one book descriptive of this contribution- “Code Word Canloan” by Wilfred I. Smith.
    My dad spoke only occasionally of the war but I’m lucky enough to have my parents’ correspondence during that time, which provides some interesting vignettes. Unfortunately, my mother was not a great sentimentalist so after my father’s death, she gave away most of his war memorabilia. I was able to rescue only a battle jacket from the 7th armored Division and the bullet-riven wallet that he had in his chest pocket when he took the sniper’s packet (splitting a photo of mum no less!)

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    1. Thanks for your kind comments – Canloans are something I may do in the future. Best wishes

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18. As a Mekong delta river rat , and the son of a 7 Steps To Hell WW2 Sherman tanker, I have to say your films are awesome!

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    1. You are very kind!

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19. Hi Mark,
    A quick suggestion for a story that could use the Felton treatment: The attack on Fort Stevens by Japanese submarine I-25.

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    1. Great idea – I wrote about this in my book The Fujita Plan.

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20. hello, Mr. Feldman
    I think I may give you a rich theme for s video to produce; Hans Joschim Marseilles .The Star of Africa . One of my personal favorite stories & individuals from the 2nd World War whom I’ve always admired , well , except for that Nazi thing…

    I am a good-ole American capitalist but hearing amazing tales of a near passout Marseilles returns shaking & white from a mission late in his career ( lasted only to 42) ….flying in tennis shoes for a more tactile control finesse …grooved to jazz & was every bit the handful that a Boyington coulda been….but early , preying on hurris & Lancaster’s over Al Saladin ….taking out massive batches of allied planes by storming a luftberry from above , up & thru ….truly a legend from s warbird fanatic.

    and WWII buffs.

    you’d be able to do it so well.

    Anyway, I’m a big fan of you , also.

    l8r

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21. Felton , darn autocorrect! So sorry!

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22. Hello, Mark Felton

    I have read an interesting article about a B-26 bomber called “flak-bait” who flew 200 missions over ETO, “Across its fuselage was a quiltwork of more than 1,000 patches covering holes—some as large as 16 inches—caused by shrapnel from exploding antiaircraft shells on previous combat missions”.
    Just wondering if you would like to make a video.

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23. Couple of ideas for maybe future videos, have you ever heard of Viktor Nikolayevich Leonov, and seen the movie the 12th man about after a failed anti-Nazi sabotage mission leaves his 11 comrades dead, Norwegian resistance fighter Jan Baalsrud finds himself fleeing from the Gestapo through the snowbound reaches of Scandinavia

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24. Hi Mark:
    Truly enjoy your YouTube channel.

    Here is an idea for a production. The story about General Walther Wenck, the youngest General of the German Army. Commander of the 12th Army, rescuing remnants of the 9th Army and evacuating a large number of civilians to areas occupied by US forces at the end WWII in Europe.

    Thanks.
    Erik

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25. Can you do segment on the HMT Rohna?
    More than 1000 men lost their lives due to guided bomb from a German plane. The story was and has been kept secret for too long.

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26. Thank you for researching, documenting, and sharing your knowledge of WWII. All sides of the war could appreciate your perspective of past events.

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27. I am a great fan of your Youtube films.

    A suggestion for another one: I stumbled across a memorial at Ostend for six British submariners who voluntarily manned a submarine packed with explosives into the harbour wall at Ostend during the First World War The all died but enabled an important Allied attack. Regrettably I did not make notes so cannot provide the full story. I do however feel their sacrifice is worth a modern tribute.

    I would be grateful if you let me know of you follow up on this.

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28. Hello Mark, ever thought about covering the 3 Cod wars on your YouTube channel. Been living in Iceland for the last couple of years and I hear about it all the time. Very interesting. Very few people know it even happened. A David v Goliath style story, thanks

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29. Hi Dr Felton,

    I am a subscriber to your excellent YouTube channels and have been a student of WWII for the passed 53 or 54 years and while I know about many of your videos, there have been just as many that was new information.

    I was watching your Channel a week or two ago and a question arose that I hadn’t thought of previously. It may have been about a video where French Air Force reconnaissance pilots reported the massing of German military on the French border but the General in charge decided it was a load of poppy-cock and they were mistaken. As a non military pilot, I was incensed that in spite of what was happening at the time that the military leader could be so blinded by their own ignorance. This may have been the same General who refused to have a phone line to his house because he believed it was a security risk. This resulted in delays when trying to contact him with urgent matters.

    However I digress. My question is one that I hadn’t occurred to me and I hadn’t ever thought about. We know the French army were fairly equal or even better than the Germans in the tank department but the tank Colonels were unable to agree on how to “deploy” them, one of whom I believe was a certain Colonel Charles de Gaulle. (Sorry, I keep digressing). The question, what were the capabilities of the French airforce, what part did they play in the Battle of France and how did they compared to the experienced German Condor Legion pilots?

    I hope you find this an interesting question and I will one day watch your take on it on your Channel.

    Regards,

    Joseph

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30. Youtube content IDEA – Germany’s constant lack of Oil and its attempts at synthetic oil production and development of the Oil Fields in Romania. Its failed drive for the Caucasuses. Love your content. You are a POPULARIZER of History. As a 24 year US Marine vet, and historian by degree, I’m happy to discuss Marine campaigns in the Pacific and their own innovations in aviation and limited use of the M4.

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31. Good evening,I have been watching your you tube channel,very interesting ,I live in Upottery,Devon and visited the small Nissen hut museum at the WW11 airfield in Smeatharpe. ( where Easy Company flew from)

    They have a section of a German Dornier that was shot down over Upottery that was returning from dropping magnetic mines in the Bristol Channel,1 airman survived the other 3 were buried in Upottery Church,the Museum has a mascot teddy bear dressed in a a German Luftwaffe uniform that was pulled from the wreckage,thought a you tube video with your expertise would be good explaining it in greater detail
    Kind regards

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32. Dear Mark Felton,
    With great interest I have been watching your video’s on your YouTube channel. Perhaps a suggestion for your channel: a video on the uprising of Georgians on Texel in The Netherlands.
    Have attached some relevant links to this massage.
    All the best from Texel,
    Hans

    The Russian War (on Texel, NL, May 1945)
    In April 1945, the 822nd Wehrmacht-infantry battalion was stationed on Texel. The battalion consisted of 800 Georgian volunteers and 400 German soldiers. German commander Klaus Breitner and volunteer commander Sjalwa Loladze are in charge. On 5 April 1945, Breitner announced that the battalion must prepare to leave early the next day to head east and join the fight against the Allied troops. At the time, Breitner had no idea that many of his German soldiers would not make it through the night.
    In the early hours of 6 April, the Georgian soldiers revolted against their German colleagues. They called the operation ‘The Day of Birth’. Many Georgians were assigned a German from the Battalion to kill. That notorious night 180 Germans soldiers died. They were killed in their sleep with knives and bayonets. The moment of the uprising was more or less chosen by the Germans themselves. A large part of the battalion was to be transferred to the east of the Netherlands to stop the allies. This announcement was why Commander Loladze could not wait any longer and felt the need for the Georgians to redeem themselves for their service in the German army.
    There are several reasons why the Georgians revolted against the Germans. In 1942 they were taken prisoner of war on the Soviet Eastern Front and housed in camps in Poland. The suffering that took place there is too monstrous to put in writing. Hunger, exhaustion, injuries and deaths occurred daily. To escape these inhumane situations, many Georgians voluntarily joined the German army. But the desire for revenge never left them.
    Another reason for the uprising was the imminent liberation. The Allied troops were steadily pushing north from Normandy, and the war was seemingly coming to an end. To clear their name, the Georgians felt they needed to show their loyalty.
    The uprising of the Georgians cost the lives of 120 men from Texel, at least 565 Georgians, and approximately 812 German soldiers. Dozens of farms on Texel went up in flames. Although the German occupier has surrendered unconditionally on 5 May, the war on Texel lasted until 20 May. The Georgian Uprising is also called ‘Europe’s final battlefield.’

    http://www.derussenoorlog.nl

    https://www.75jaarvrijheid.nl/artikel/2134673/einde-van-de-russenoorlog-op-texel-op-20-mei-1945-wordt-in-nederland-nergens-meer-gevochten

    https://vimeo.com/ondemand/therussianwar/33164885

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_uprising_on_Texel

    https://www.lomt.nl

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33. Mark,

    Thank you for all the programs you have made-I’m almost done watching them all! Great job and perfect timing during lock downs!
    Since you covered Western Europe extensively, how about adding Eastern Europe?
    Westerplatte? Warsaw Uprising? German occupation of Eastern Europe (which was much harsher than occupation in Western Europe)
    Again-thank you for your hard work!

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34. My father was with the 242 regiment 42 Rainbow Div., Co. F and was present at Dachau. Can you tell me anything about his company’s service there? David I Robinson (Buck) died age 42 when I was 12, so I have very little info. We’re Jewish. My mom said at the time he was very angry that Jews would allow themselves to be degraded like this.

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35. While stationed in Miesau I was told there was a Hitler Youth school in Lanstuhl . It was exceptionally hard to assault and the children refused to give up. The U.S. (?) military decided to starve them out. This didn’t work either until one of the townspeople was caught one-night delivering food to the children through a secret tunnel. After that, the children finally gave up. I also heard the oldest was 17yrs old. Have you heard of this story?
    Regards,
    TJ

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36. Hi
    I really enjoy your you tube stories all very interesting and informative indeed.
    I recently watched your story on Suez, my father was there in the commandos launched from HMS Theseus. He has told me that lots of the paratroopers in your story were actually injured landing breaking ankles etc and most you see in films in vehicles we actually the wounded. Also that this was the first helicopter based invasion long before the Americans in Vietnam. I would appreciate an info or photos you may have, to show him as he is starting to suffer from dementia.

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37. Hi I am wondering if you have covered the British (Irish fusiliers) occupation of Austria and Yugoslavia in any of your videos? My father in-law was there in 1946, he has many stories of chasing bandits on skis in the mountains and of playing football at about 10,000 feet up against Yugoslavians etc. He became the top sniper in the army then, and even at 93 still has a steady hand and good eyes!! He stayed in a bombed out SS barracks in Austria and has a million stories of life and actions there! Keep up the videos, excellent viewing.

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38. Mark, I have something I think many people don’t know, but I remember it well. When the Japanese flew in for the signing of their surrender they had not painted their aircraft as instructed by us. My mother and I listened to the live broadcast. I believe the Japanese were to have painted their aircraft all white and instead painted it white with black stripes. I remember no one trusted them not to try a suicide attack against the Missouri and gun crews on all of the ships were on alert. I had just turned five.

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39. Dear Mr. Mark Felton,
    My name is Tony Mollner and I live in the United States. First of all I’d like to compliment you on your videos and research. Your attention to details and accuracy are amazing. I greatly enjoy watching your videos and want to thank you.
    I do have a small question for you. In your research are you able to see these films in their entirety? I’m always left hitting the pause button just to soak in all that is in each frame. If you are able to see the full films, I must say that I’m envious of you.

    Sincerely,
    Tony

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40. Dr Felton,
    Congratulations on your Success. I love your books and your Channels.

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41. Your video about Hitler’s everyday voice was in my YouTube recommended list and I ended up spending 4 hours on a Saturday night watching through your videos. An incredible channel and I wish YouTube have recommended it to be sooner!

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42. I am a veteran army paratrooper having served with the 82nd Airborne division and a student of war history. I learn so VERY much from your videos! Please keep up the great work you do.

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43. Dr.Felton, Really exceptional work on every topic you’ve delivered. I’ve been whisked away many times into the past by your skillful narration. God bless you and yours. Keep on keeping on Much love and respect from United States.

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44. Quality work Mark, in this day and age hard to come by. Thanks for the many hours of enjoyment and education you have provided me. Congratulation on the making the million.

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45. Dr Felton

    Your videos are fantastic! I always share them with my children. In fact we just watched your YouTube video about the third atomic bomb.

    A request; a video of some type detailing the exploits the Navy’s P.T. Boats in the Pacific Theater.

    Thank you so much.

    Cheers
    Mike
    Beaverton, Oregon

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46. Also, my father an anti-aircraft gunner with the Luftwaffe on the river Sose. He was captured at age 17 and was imprisoned in the Rhine Meadows. Your recent posting on this was very impelling as it compared to my fathers story (still living age 93).

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47. Doctor Felton, I just watched your AVG video. Excellent, as usual.

    Many years ago I saw photos of a funeral for an AVG pilot. It got me thinking that next time in Kunming, I would try to find the “Flying Tiger cemetery. About 10 years ago I got my chance. It turns out, the original cemetery grounds were reclaimed to build a PLA supply depot. The graves had been dug up and the bodies (of both US and Chinese) were re-buried in shallow graves on Tiger Mountain. The corpses had been later pilfered during the Cultural Revolution, when locals were starving and looking for items of value such as watches, rings, gold teeth, etc.
    Currently, the graves are not marked. The tombstones were used for a water reservoir project, with holes drilled through many of them as part of a water level control system.

    I wrote about what I found and how I discovered it in a trip report. It’s nowhere near the caliber of your work, but you may find it of interest. I would be glad to send it to you. Please advise.

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48. Dear Mr. Felton,
    in your video clip about the so called “Ehrentempel” in Munich you mention the 16 coffins for the Nazi members that where killed on Nov. 9th.

    In reality only 15 Nazi members got killed and the 16th coffin contained the body of a waiter called Karl Kuhn of a near by restaurant. This waiter heard the noise of the Nazi march, went outside to observe the scene and got killed by accident.

    In order to get an even number of victims he became a Nazi member post mortem.

    https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Kuhn_(Kellner)

    best regards

    Harald Kreuzer

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