Contact Mark

To get in touch with Mark, please email: hello@markfelton.co.uk

IMG_9545 2

 

108 thoughts on “Contact Mark”

  1. Hello,
    I am a retired physician in Bend, Oregon, USA.
    My grandmother in Klamath Falls, Oregon had a brother Floyd who I never met. My cousin Rich Nolen has recently recounted a story I never heard before. He said that Floyd Gentry (b1904 d 1945) and his family (wife Lydia and dau Shawn and son Vernon)were living on the Oregon coast during WWII.
    Rich recalls a story that they hid a Japanese soldier up in their attic for some time. I have not heard of similar occurrences. One wonders if the soldier was brought by submarine and sent in to be a spy.
    Have you heard of anything like this?
    Thanks,
    Stuart Garett, MD

    1. Hi Stuart,

      Thanks for getting in touch. Intriguing story, though I fear probably just that, a story. Japanese submarines were certainly active along the US and Canadian West Coasts, including shelling shore structures, but so far no evidence has ever surfaced of Japanese troops landing. Naturally, spies were active in the prewar period, hiding among the large Asian-American community. The only known landings of Japanese troops took place in Australia, and only very briefly. There is always the outside possibility that the US Government covered up a landing in the US for reasons of morale, and perhaps the files remain confidential today, but I’ve never heard of anything like this at all. Best wishes, Mark

  2. Hi! I left some commentary about the MacArthur book I am looking forward to reading, and have The Real Tenko and Children of the Camps. I have some historical questions I want to ask about how long captives were kept — were there any “hidden” undiscovered, obscure camps which continued far into the autumn of 1945 and into 1946? I ask this because Japanese soldiers were found on Pacific islands well into the 1970’s, so could some of the camp guards in remote jungles of Indonesia etc. have been either unaware the war had ended or refused to capitulate to it? Also, I have read in civilian accounts that there were Swedish and Swiss women kept in the camps as prisoners despite their countries being neutral, was this so?

    1. Many thanks for your interesting questions. As far as I know from the war crimes records, no camps remained undiscovered following the Japanese surrender. In a few places, the Japanese guards murdered prisoners AFTER the surrender, but in the main the camps had been located by SOE and OSS and special teams parachuted in to take control before our main forces arrived and began the evacuation of the prisoners. As to ‘Japanese Holdouts’, quite a few regular fighting Japanese troops took to the hills and refused to surrender, but they were generally either ordered to do so to provide a stay behind resistance network (2nd Lieutenant Hire Onoda and his men are a good example), or were stragglers from units already destroyed in battle (plenty of examples from Guam, Philippines and New Guinea). Finally, neutrals from various nations, including Nazi Germany, were imprisoned by the Japanese, who were paranoid about any ‘whites’ loose in their territories. Some neutrals had aided the Allied war effort and the Japanese were conscious of the Red Cross and other organisations reporting on war crimes, and severely limited the IRC and other organisations from visiting camps. I hope that this helps? Best wishes, Mark

      1. Hi Mark, thank you so much for this fascinating information! You do great research. It happens my late father-in-law Eddie Demilio was a young navy man (very young indeed; he was barely eighteen) stationed in Guam just as the Pacific War ended, and into 1946, and would tell us stories about the Japanese “hiding in the hills” and coming down to steal food at night. The American military guys rounded up and caught a few, I guess to be repatriated as the war was over and certainly Ed didn’t remember any harm coming to the holdouts. I can remember as a little girl reading in National Geographic and also seeing on the TV news report (this was 1972) stories about those last Japanese soldiers on Pacific islands surrendering — the last one was 1974? Hence, my interest in finding out if some “diehards” were hanging on to their power over helpless prisoners in remote jungle camps. How horrifying that they were killing prisoners after the war ended and they knew it. I’m awaiting from Amazon delivery of your book on MacArthur and the terrible delay he caused, due to that ego of his, for the POW’s/civilian internees to be released. It’s sure to be an eye-opener–as the years go on people are realizing that guy was no hero. I look forward to getting more of your books, which are certainly top-notch reading for a seasoned history buff like me — my husband and I share a huge book collection but my latent interest in the Pacific War has really crowded the shelves. This is a great website! Best regards from Laura

        1. Many thanks for all of your kind comments and for sharing your memories with me. I’m glad that my work and research interests you and you are delving deeper into this very dark history. Regards, Mark

          1. The Last Betrayal arrived and I stayed up late to finish it; just couldn’t put it down. Spot-on documented research. What brutal egos of the military leaders to get in the way of rescuing all those suffering prisoners. That Australian officer who neglected his own countrymen’s fate was shocking to read about, and MacArthur’s stunts exceeded my grimmest expectations of his colossal vanity. I don’t know how so many of those survivors managed to get on with their lives afterward, especially when American command so cruelly put itself first at the expense of their own fighting men and the Allies. Believe me, they kept all that out of our school history textbooks when I was a kid, and probably still do, to U.S. shame! Another fine book, Mark.

          2. Many thanks for your kind comments about the book. I felt it was something that needed to be told. Best wishes, Mark

  3. Hi Mark

    I’m Beadon Dening’s grandson and you reference him in the Sea Devils. Great book, just need to update the photo caption please as he’s the third from the left not the first on the left in the Scotland picture.

    Thanks
    Ollie

    1. Hi Ollie,

      Thanks for contacting me. I’ll try and get that corrected if there are further editions of the book. Best wishes, Mark

  4. Hi Mark,

    I find your writing very interesting. I would like to ask your opinion if Hirō Onoda was he the last Japanese soldier fighting ww2 in the Philippines? I’m in the Philippines and will visit Lubang island to hike the same jungle he did. I have read of two more possible similar situations: the Mindoro Captain Fumio Nakaharu they found his hut but never found him. Also, two more that joined up with Rebels in Mindano.

    I can not find any supporting information or how they were resolved. Do you have any additional information or what’s you opinion?

    Regards
    Oliver Guse

    Sorry emailing from a cell phone and the auto text is terrible

    1. Hi Oliver. Interesting question. My personal opinion is that there were many other Japanese holdouts, probably hundreds, all over Asia and the Pacific who were never found and died in the jungle someplace. Captain Fumio Nakahira reported found in 1980 seemes to have been a fabrication. The last authenticated holdout found was Private Teruo Nakamura on Morotai, 18 December 1974. In 1989 locals reported one or two Japanese soldiers on Vella Lavella, Solomons. In 1992 accounts of elderly stragglers reported by locals on Kolombangara, Solomons – reported to be raiding vegetable patches and stealing clothes. Finally, in 2001, reports emerged of stragglers on Guadalcanal, but details sketchy. Best wishes, Mark

  5. Dear Mark,

    I have just watched a fascinating documentary on Netflix entitled ‘Hitlers Steel Beast’ featuring some commentary from you. I love your enthusiasm and knowledge on the subject. In fact, I really do want to buy some of your books now as well.

    I have an idea of a book that you could potentially do as well. There are some books about he subject, but what I can see, there really is not a specific subject about it, but it is covered in books as a side note. I am not a historian, so I was thinking of seeing your take on this. Is it possible to share the idea with you?

    1. Many thanks for your kind comments. If you want to share your idea with me, I’d be happy to take a look. All the best, Mark

  6. Hi Mark,

    Well on the documentary I had mentioned before, they briefly mentioned Hitlers doctor – Theodor Gilbert Morell. I thought it was fascinating the way the doctor would always have to try Hitlers food in case of the risk of poisoning. I just find it interesting the way someone would be willing to risk their life for someone like Hitler. Why did the doctor do this? What was his motivation to sacrifice his life on such a personal level.

    Its hard to explain in writing to be honest with you, but I hope you get the general gist in what I am trying to say.

    Thanks again Mark and keep up the good work 🙂

    1. Hi. Interesting about Morell. Hitler also apparently had a team of 15 female food tasters at the Wolf’s Lair, according to recent news reports. Thanks for watching.

  7. Hello, I’ve been watching your videos on Youtube lately with great fun, and I’ve also started to look for your books.
    How sad as I just found on this site that you aren’t teaching anymore in Shanghai ( at least that’s what it seems to be ), as I’m entering Fudan this year as a freshman, the great expectation collapsed ( of sort ) when I saw that youre currently residing in Norwich. Even though I’m not of a history major, It would’ve been great to pay you a visit as I highly admire your work. Many thanks on your great work, and have a good day sir !

    1. Many thanks for contacting me and for supporting my channel! I left China in 2014 after almost 10 amazing years and now reside in Norwich. Have a great time at Fudan – I have very fond memories of the place. All the best, Mark

  8. Hello Mark
    Here is a connection with the past….my father Major Robert {Bob} Peaty was in Unit 731 as the senior British Officer. My mother told me not to ask Bob what he did during the war when he came home so I never did. It’s only now that I’m learning about those war years from his capture at the fall of Singapore to the end of the war. I have just ordered The Devils Doctors.
    Penny Andrews {nee Peaty}

    1. Dear Penny,

      Fantastic to hear from you. Major Peaty was a stand up hero in my opinion, considering what he and his men were put through by the Japanese. I hope that my book helps to fill in some of the horrors he and others went through. All the best, Mark

  9. Greetings, Dr. Felton.

    I enjoy immensely the works of great history authors and you are absolutely among the very best.

    Do you have available a chronological list of your published books? I want to read them in the order you published them.

    I have located 20 of your books available on amazon.com and amazon.co.uk, but, if you have your own virtual storefront I would prefer to purchase your books from it instead.

    Thank you very much.

  10. Hi Mark,

    I recently came across your YouTube channel, and I’ve since watched most of your videos. They’re really great and well made! Thanks for all the entertainment.

    Anyway, I read an interesting article in a magazine about WW2 a while back, and I thought it would be right up your alley. It was about a secret project by the British called “Canal defence light”. You might have heard of it already, but I thought it would make an interesting subject for a video.

    Kind regards

    1. Many thanks for your very kind comments about my channel. I haven’t heard of the canal defence light – can you tell me more? Best wishes, Mark

  11. Well I don’t know too much about it myself, but you can read more about it on the wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_Defence_Light

    Basically, it was a secret British project during WWII to mount extremely bright arc lamps on top of tanks, in order to blind and disorient the enemy during night time attacks. I don’t think they were ever used in combat, but it’s an interesting story nonetheless. There is also a surviving example at the Tank Museum in Dorset.

  12. me too! I also enjoyed the new Japanese Tiger tank video clips
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AAik7LXwhM

    I interpreted missing some historical pictures
    http://att.bbs.duowan.com/forum/201403/24/184745rr28dhr425h9kqdr.jpg
    source article & Japanese manga also cover this topic
    http://bbs.duowan.com/thread-38053744-1-1.html

    btw, I wonder any chance to cover Ko-Hi including armor version ?

    http://afv2012.blogspot.com/2012/08/1144-ija-maultier-type-98-ko-hi-98-ko.html

  13. I have a question, would you know anything about a bunker found in Berlin , near Potsdam in the early 2000s . I understand it was Gorbells bunker under the Propoganda building. And if so what happened to it? Thanks.

  14. Hello sir you mentioned the M46 Patton in one of your videos, right? Can you make a video about it, and also do comparisons to the M26 Pershing tank. Other than that God bless and more power to your future projects sir Mark 🙂 😀 ….

  15. Mr. Felton,

    I watch your youtube channel with great interest and have a request. I was wondering if you would be willing to do a episode on the 16th(reflagged the 54th) Engineers and the spanning of the Sava River in the winter of 1995-96, I was a part of this task which almost did not happen and was the only way into Bosnia. It was a very miserable task for us Engineers and we lost a ton of equipment and we were not treated very well for the longest floating bridge ever constructed by any military unit. It would mean a lot too me. I understand you have many other projects and tasks at hand. I would be happy if you at least considered it.

  16. Hi Mark, just wanted to let you know that I’ve recently discovered your channel on YouTube and I love your videos! You are exploring subjects that aren’t discussed that much.

    I hope to see more of your videos in the future, thank you for your contribution to history!

  17. Hello Mark,
    Your documentary about Al Pollock’s Tower Bridge flight in 1968 popped on my YouTube feed today. I enjoyed watching it very much. It’s a great story. I was lucky enough to meet Al Pollock when I made a radio programme for the BBC World Service history programme ‘Witness’ in 2010. He is a real character and I spent a very interesting afternoon with him at Tower Bridge recording material for the programme. We adjourned to a nearby hotel for tea and cakes and several hours of aeroplane talk. He also bombed the Torrey Canyon when it ran aground off Cornwall. I am looking forward to watching some of your other films on YouTube. Here’s a link to the radio programme I made. I thought you might find it interesting. I hope you enjoy it.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p006xbvc

    Best Wishes,
    Richard Howells,
    BBC World Service News Bulletins,
    New Broadcasting House,
    London. W1A 1AA

    1. Dear Richard,

      Many thanks for contacting me and sharing the link. Fascinating story! So pleased you are enjoying my content.

      Best wishes, Mark

  18. Mr.Felton
    Can I interest you in making a documentry with actual unknown footage about the Battle for Woensdrecht and the advance to Willemstad?
    It was part of the Battle for the Scheldt and opening up the Port of Antwerp.
    And 2 Canadian Inf. Div. , 4 Canadian Arm. Div. German 346 Inf. Div. and Kampfgruppe Chill ( Fs.Rgt.6 von der Heydte and K.G.Dryer ) were involved.

    Kind regards Richard Binkhuysen

  19. Hello. Thoroughly enjoy your channel.

    I think the Pacific adventures of HMS Victorious in 1942-43 might provide some interesting basis for future “productions”.

    Some background here: http://www.armouredcarriers.com/uss-robin-hms-victorious. I am sure you must have more resources available.

    I was on vacation in Hawaii a few years ago and curious about some Commonwealth war graves i visited!!!!

    Keep up the good work.

  20. greetings from Canada
    dear Mr Felton,
    I am trying to reach you via my emails, but I am receiving a non-receipt reply from gmail. I am hoping that this message would reach you. I will write both my email addresses. I wanted to ask about the British plane that was found in the western desert of Egypt a few years ago.
    Thanks for your time.
    Fr Jerome

  21. Hello Mark. The Bridge Busters just arrived in the mail. I can’t wait to dive into it. Thanks for all the hard work

  22. {edit}

    Love your channel Mark.
    Just watch your video “Battle for the Reichstag 1945”. The Soviet Red banner was tide to the Statue of Germania riding a horse. Its not on top of the Reichstag today…..

    What happend to it after the war?
    Where is it now?
    Where are the other Statues of figures riding horses?
    Thank you Robert

  23. I just watched your episode on the missing pistols of Hitler. There is a museum in Gettysburg Pennsylvania USA. That has on display a Walther ppk with golden inlay with hitlers name. Also displayed is various items of Hitler’s and Eva Braun’s including her night dress.

  24. Hey Mark,

    I recently found your channel and was impressed with the level of detail and style of storytelling.

    I wanted to share with you a verified story that is a common bar tale in U.S. Marines. Maybe you can make it into a video one day.

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-tale-of-when-a-marine-mechanic-stole-an-a-4-skyhawk-1745015819/amp

    Keep up the great work.

    PS Do you have any resources for video storytelling you’d recommend ?

  25. Dear Dr. Felton

    RE: German ‘Giant’ Over London. The Zeppelin-Staaken R.Vi 1917-1918
    Zeppelin Attack – The Battle to Destroy L33

    I am the Research Co-ordinator of Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome (a Registered Charity) near Maldon in Essex. We are the sole remaining original and operational WW1 Aerodrome in Europe. The whole site is Grade ll* listed and has over 20 original buildings some of which are used as museums. Stow Maries and its Flight Station at Goldhanger housed 37 Sqdn including pilot Dennis mentioned in your film on the Staaken bombers. Zeppelin L33 in your other film crashed only a few miles from Goldhanger.
    I have just watched both videos and am extremely impressed.
    Is there any way you could give us permission to use your films at our site for non commercial purposes? They would be used to educate our visitors and especially school parties and to illustrate some of the talks we give at special events etc.
    They would NOT be used for resale.
    Further information on Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome can be found at http://www.stowmaries.org.uk
    I look forward to a (hopefully) positive reply.
    Please keep up the good work on revealing our history.

    Trevor
    SMGWA Research Co-ordinator

    1. Dear Trevor,

      Please do use them. I only ask that you highlight my YouTube Channel beside the films, perhaps a small sign or information marker directing people to the channel – Mark Felton Productions. Hope to visit next time I’m in the area! Mark

  26. Hi Dr. Felton!

    I greatly enjoy your channel. You have very interesting videos, that are well researched, produced, and presented. And I especially appreciate how rapidly new videos are released, it’s always a delight to see a new one of yours. I have an idea for a future video that I think will be well received: I recently read about the only time a Cessna landed on a US Navy aircraft carrier. The story was almost too incredible, tense, and dramatic to believe, but the actual aircraft and the story is now preserved at the National Naval Aviation museum in Pensacola, Florida, USA. Here is the link and details https://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/aircraft/o-1-bird-dog/

    To summarize: At the close of the Vietnam conflict, as the communist North was coming to take final control of the South, it was widely reported that the North had prepared “death lists” against many in the south. Particularly, anyone who had cooperated with the Americans were marked for death. This of course included any South Vietnamese military personnel. Stories of killings were already circulating. Even those who tried to hide or help those on the lists would themselves be targeted. A South Vietnamese Air Force major realized that time for him and his family was running out. He improvised a plan out of desperation: pack his wife and 5 young children into his Cessna O-1 Bird Dog two seat observation plane, take off, and with limited fuel, search for and hopefully find the American fleet lying somewhere offshore, and then ditch the plane near one of the ships and hope to be rescued. It was to be a one way mission, there would be no turning back. It was the proverbial “do, or… die”. Either successfully find the fleet, or die in the attempt. Well, he did manage to find the fleet (or “a” fleet, there may have been several groups or task forces off the coast), and he got a big bonus, he found a US Navy aircraft carrier (the USS Midway). But unable to communicate due to incorrect radio frequencies, he could only fly circles around the carrier. After some time, he was observed dropping paper notes out his window, but the wind kept blowing them over the side of the ship before anyone could reach them. But during these low passes observers on deck could see in addition to the pilot, a woman and at least 4 small children in the small aircraft. Finally, by weighting one of the notes with his service holster, a message was successfully recovered. What it said shocked the captain. The pilot’s scrawled note said he had 5 children and his wife aboard, had only one more hour of fuel, and that he wanted to land the Bird Dog on the carrier! He requested that if they could move the helicopters on deck he would then have room to land. The Captain conferred with his staff, and they quickly decided that ditching, which was in line with Navy regulations in such circumstances (I believe, which may have been the point that could have led to the potential trouble below), while possible if it was just the pilot himself, would be fatal for so many. The Captain contacted his superior, but time was running out, and he may not have had authorization to do what came next. He decided that the only chance for this gutsy pilot and family would be to allow a carrier landing. The carrier had been idling along at the time, and the boilers were at a low power setting. In order for this plan to work the ship needed to head into the wind at good speed. The boilers would have to be brought up to speed, but it would take time to get to full power, which they were running out of. In the meantime, all available hands, even off duty crew, were asked to help clear the deck. The Captain figured that the quickest way to do this would be to push the helicopters over the side, and so, and reportedly without hesitation, gave the order to scuttle $10 million dollars worth of helicopters. As much preparation that could be done was finally completed, and it was time now for the pilot of the Bird Dog to attempt the landing. What came next, the Captain of the USS Midway would later say, was a perfect touchdown in the vicinity of number 3 arresting wire (the actual cable of course had been removed). The crew broke out in spontaneous applause and cheers. Some were reportedly in tears, happy at what they had just witnessed and worked for. The crew later “adopted” this young family and helped them resettle in the USA. It was said the Captain could have been courtmartialed for his actions that day, but it is not clear to me why. Had he defied his Admiral’s orders, or violated some general orders or operating procedures? Perhaps he had hazarded his crew in the unorthodox disposal of the helicopters, or who knew for sure if this really was a South Vietnamese Air Force officer and his family, and not a North Vietnamese trick. Fortunately, it worked out well for everyone involved. No court-martial, the Captain was recently honored a few years ago, the pilot is still alive and his family is doing well, the USS Midway survives to this day as a museum ship in San Diego, and the Cessna that made history is residing in the aforementioned museum in Pensacola. There are many parts of this story (some of which I haven’t even mentioned, like the pilot evading enemy fire leaving his base, etc.) that are so amazing, I wonder if they are really true, or if they are embellishments that have been added over the years. I’m hoping you find the story interesting enough to research and make into a video one day. There must be some official Navy files on the subject, and I believe many principal witnesses are still alive.

  27. It would be most interesting to see a video on your YouTube channel about the capture of Alfred Rosenberg. Much like the excellent video “Hunting Ribbentrop” about the final days and capture of the nazi foreign minister.

  28. Dear Mark,

    Your book “China Station” was an interesting read, although perhaps a bit rushed, but I appreciate how broad the subject area is that you have to cover within a short book!

    In particular, with regards to covert operations, you omitted the British Army Aid Group (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army_Aid_Group), an often forgotten unit, who were actually rather successful (both militarily and humanitarian aid), the same cannot be said of the SOE in the Chinese Theater of ops in contrast, and did much to restore British prestige after the Fall of Hong Kong. Its CO, Lt. Colonel Sir Lindsay Ride was quite the character: I would highly recommend his biography and unnit history (entitled British Army Aid Group) written by his son, Edwin Ride, based on his late father’s notes and interviews of others . In fact, a certain Lt Osler Thomas (mentioned in passing in your book on P.135, went onto be a founding member and MO within BAAG; note that he was Lt and not Capt at the time and was not shot and left for dead but had covered himself with the bodies of his comrades, if I recall correctly). Maybe worth making a video on your channel, since the BAAG were one of the first units to re-enter HK after the Japanese surrender and enabled the colonial authorities to exert control once again (which has had significant ramifications on HK, up to and including current tensions post handover). This episode also highlighted tensions with the Americans, with regards to conflicting views on the new world order, post war.

    As you can probably tell, I am fascinated by WWII and post war SE Asia history, especially since I am a product of colonialism. In particular, as a HK Chinese, the BAAG served as one of my inspirations for my career thus far, both civilian and military, which somewhat mirrors that of Lt. Col. Ride.

  29. Mr Felton,

    Having watched your YouTube video on Nazi’s in space, you commented that the V2 programme had been compared to the Manhattan project a waste of 2 billion.

    Among the many documents floating around the internet, is the “Zinsser Affadavit” ;

    His affidavit is contained in a military intelligence report of August 19, 1945, roll number A1007, filmed in 1973 at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.

    Zinsser’s statement is found on the last page of the report:

    1. A man named ZINSSER, a Flak rocket expert, mentioned what he noticed one day: In the beginning of Oct, 1944 I flew from Ludwigslust (south of Lubeck), *(to) about 12 to 15 km from an atomic bomb test station, when I noticed a strong, bright illumination of the whole atmosphere, lasting about 2 seconds.

    2. The clearly visible pressure wave escaped the approaching and following cloud formed by the explosion. This wave had a diameter of about 1 km when it became visible and the color of the cloud changed frequently. It became dotted after a short period of darkness with all sorts of light spots, which were, in contrast to normal explosions, of a pale blue color.

    3. After about 10 seconds the sharp outlines of the explosion cloud disappeared, then the cloud began to take on a lighter color against the sky covered with a gray overcast. The diameter of the still visible pressure wave was at least 9000 meters while remaining visible for at least 15 seconds.

    4. Personal observations of the colors of the explosion cloud found an almost blue-violet shade. During this manifestation reddish-colored rims were to be seen, changing to a dirty-like shade in very rapid succession.

    5. The combustion was lightly felt from my observation plane in the form of pulling and pushing.

    6. About one hour later I started with an He 111 from the A/D24 at Ludwigslust and flew in an easterly direction.
    24 “A/D” probably “aerodrome”.

    Shortly after the start I passed through the almost complete overcast (between 3000 and 4000 meter altitude). A cloud shaped like a mushroom with turbulent, billowing sections (at about 7000 meter altitude) stood, without any seeming connections, over the spot where the explosion took place. Strong electrical disturbances and the impossibility to continue radio communication as by lightning, turned up.

    7. Because of the P-38s operating in the area Wittenberg-Mersburg I had to turn to the north but observed a better visibility at the bottom of the cloud where the explosion occurred. Note: It does not seem very clear to me why these experiments took place in such crowded areas.

    25 The entire documentation of this report is as follows:
    “Investigations, Research, Developments and Practical Use of the German Atomic Bomb,”

    A.P.I.U. (Ninth Air Force) 96/1945 APO 696, U S Army, 19 August 1945.” The report is classified secret.

    Note that the report begins in no uncertain terms: “the following information was obtained from four German scientists: a chemist, two physical chemists, and a rocket specialist. All four men contributed a short story as to what they knew of the atomic bomb development.”

    Note also the suggestive title of the report.

    In other words, a German pilot had observed the test of a weapon, having all the signatures of a nuclear bomb: electromagnetic pulse and resulting malfunction of his radio, mushroom cloud, continuing fire and combustion of nuclear material in the cloud and so on.

    And all this on territory clearly under German control, in October of 1944, fully eight months before the first American A-bomb test in New Mexico!

    Note the curious fact that Zinsser maintains that the test took place in a populated area.

    A few of points to note;

    Firstly Zinsser could not have seen colour film of the American bombs, so how does he know what a nuclear explosion looked like?

    Secondly it can’t have been a large conventional explosions on two grounds. Firstly alleged test he witnessed took place on the eve of the Ardennes offensive, and ammunition rationing was in force in order to build up stocks of shells.

    Secondly he describes electrical disturbances, a signature of a nuclear test.

    As a Luftwaffe Flak Rocket Scientist, perhaps a member of the team developing the Wasserfall SAM, he would therefore be a trained scientific observer.

    So what did he see?

    I look forward to your thoughts

  30. Hi Mark,

    Thank you for making so many fantastic videos, my young son is such a huge fan, so much so for many months he’s spent his waking hours listening to you. It forms so much discussion in our little family, the content is perfect!

    11/10 Sir.

  31. Greetings Mark,

    I recently listened to your Ghost Riders book on Audible. It was a fantastic piece of historical writing and an absolute joy to listen to. Your books and short documentary work on YouTube has truly reinvigorated my own interest in history and has helped me get through long trips away from family. Thank you so much for all of the time and effort you spend. I look forward to your future work.

    All the best,
    Sean

  32. Dear Mr Felton,
    It was with great interest that I read your book about the rescue of the Lipizzaner horses during WW2. This is a story I heard many times growing up because my parents were refugees living in St. Martin. My father and grandfather were blacksmiths and worked on the Arco estate. They remember seeing the famous horses. My question is this, my family called the village St. Martin im Innkreis and you referred to it as St. Martin im Mühlkreis. I looked up Count Anton and no mention is made of St. Martin im Mühlkreis. But, there was mention of his estate in St. Martin im Innkreis. Are the towns next to each other? My parents and grandparents are no longer here, so I can’t ask them. Thank you.

  33. Hi Mark,
    Are you the one putting short war stories on YouTube? If so, I’d like to offer you access to our footage. We have over 400 hours of archive war footage and I’m sitting at home doing nothing due to the lockdown.

    All the best,

    Lance

  34. Hi Mark,
    I’m certainly enjoying your videos and your disclosing of so many obscure stories that the MSM had never delved into in the post-war period.
    Just as a suggestion i thought i would suggest to perhaps do a program on the 3, B-29 bombers that landed in Russia and which Stalin promptly confiscated on a technicality. Then were reverse engineered by the Soviets, along with all the high- tech equipment on them. To this day i have never seen an in depth program about this.
    Another suggestion for a story i would dearly love to see an in depth investigation into was in the Spanish Civil war and the lead up to WW2. The issue was the Soviets getting hold of the Spanish gold reserves, some 500 tonnes of it. But more especially the scheming and manipulating by Stalin, the KGB and his henchman which brought about 4 ships bringing the loot back Russia in exchange for what ?? some poor Russian weapons and some military advisors ? Anyhow i would dearly love to know if anyone ever went to the firing squad over this issue ??
    Now that the russian archives are opened up hopefully you or someone else might hopefully pursue these stories.
    Keep up the good work
    Regards
    Craig

  35. Mark Felton, I seen an interesting article on Col Bruce Carr who went on a mission flying a P-51 Mustang and RTB flying a FW-190 and was seeing if you could make a video. I enjoy your videos very much about little known stories or facts.

  36. Dear Mr. Felton,
    It was with great interest that I read your book about the rescue of the Lipizzaner horses during WW2. This is a story I had heard many times growing up because my parents were refugees living in St. Martin. My father and grandfather were blacksmiths and worked on the Arco estate. They remembered seeing the famous horses. My question is this, my family called the village. St. Martin im Innkreis and you referred to it as St. Martin im Mülkreis. I looked up Count Anton and no mention is made of St. Martin im Mühlkreis. But, there was mention of his estate in St. Martin im Innkreis. Are the towns next to each other? My parents and grandparents are no longer here, so I can’t ask them.
    Thank you for a wonderful book.

  37. Hello Mark,

    I’ve just watched your “Arctic ghost planes” vid, and I was wondering if you’ve found any info on a fatal Sunderland crash off Greenland in the 1950s? My dad was a navigator flying out of Pembroke Dock, and he told me of a crash he was involved in there, during his early RAF career. I’ve found no evidence of this from any other sources, but I’m sure it’s the sort of thing which might have appeared during your research for “Arctic ghost planes”. Any chance you could send me a link to any info, if you’ve come across any?
    Anyway, thanks for the vids, you’re one of the few channels I actually learn things from, keep up the good work!

  38. Hello, Mark i always love your videos but mark, i have’nt seen the story of hitler’s indonesian battallions like the submarines, they have been seen by locals to stop in indonesia and the great case of the doom of the SS van imhoff where the germans in nias island got killed by the japanese here’s the link https://www.argunners.com/wwii-docu-doom-van-imhoff-focusing-forgotten-crime/ this is a documentary film but i think you can understand it thankyou.

  39. I have a cartridge 7.7X56 rimmed that came from a airplane that crashed in the hills east of Los Angeles . A boy out hunting in the 1950’s found a airplane in a canyon near Saugus about 40 miles NNE of LA. From the headstamp I learned it was manufacture at the Yokosuka ammunition plant in Japan for the Japanese Navy. The I-17 submarine was carrying a E9W1 airplane which was armed with a type 92 michine gun which used 7.7×56 rimmed. This maybe the airplane that was the cause for the Battle of Los Angeles. I can Fax you the information I have

  40. Hello Mark, Was Germany ever planning on an invasion of England? I was listening to the History channel and they said it was planned for Sept of 1940, I am in my 60s and grew up being taught that Germany did not have landing craft and did not have control of the Air and if they did the Royal Navy was far to powerful to attempt that, My father faught in WW 2 and love your video’s. Thank you, Keith Baker, Florida, P.S. Do you ever give History Lectures in the States?

  41. I came across a strange WW2 story.
    In December 1939 the SS Saturnia, a luxury Italian liner, was en route from Genoa to New York, when it was intercepted by a French submarine and threatened with being made to return to French Morocco.
    The submarine captain demanded the handover of seven German Jewish refugees, the bizarre excuse being that ” the French wanted to question them about internal conditions in the Reich” .
    At this point of course France and Germany were at war but France had not been attacked and Italy had not even declared war.
    I wonder if you have come across this and if so do you know what was going on?

  42. I just wanted to say thanks, for such an amazing work you’ve done. For the past days i’ve been hooked to your youtube channel; it’s what the history channel should have been. I’ve learned many things watching your videos, they provide an impartial account of the history, and are told in a fascinating way. From Chiloé Island in south Chilean Patagonia I thank you! And keep up your good work!

  43. Mark, my sister in-law sent me a picture of a German (Nazi) glider sitting in a field outside the town Herford, Tx. Date on the photo is 1939. Towns people are gathered around the glider. Authorities told the people not to say anything to anyone about the glider. Mark can you shed some light on how and why that glider is in Texas field?

  44. Hello Mark,

    Could you make a video about the Georgian uprising on Texel?
    It was one of the last battles in the European theatre on the island Texel. The germans on Texel surrendered 12 days later than Germany’s general surrender. I’m live on Texel myself and I’ve learned about the uprising from my granddad. I think this is an interesting subject and that you can make an amazing video about this. Love your video’s, keep up the good work!

    P.S. if you need pictures or video of places on the island you can contact me.

  45. Commented-erroneously- on the ‘latest news’.
    So if this is a repeat: oh well.

    Mark:
    Am curious re your fascination with the history of the second world war. Pls consider sharing.
    The researched material and provided [via YouTube] is extremely well presented and researched.
    Justin
    U.S.A.

  46. In Feb. 1970 my Company H 2nd Batt. 7th Marines was guarding FSB Ryder in the Annam Cordillera . We were extending fighting positions and stringing wire further down the slope. We were directly across from Hill 953 (Ship Rock) you could see the South China Sea from it.During the night one of the fighting holes heard movement in the cover below. The Marine mistakenly threw an illumination grenade rather than an M26. The lum was thrown back and ignited by the fighting hole. Under questioning he said a very large monkey or Rock Ape threw it back. I said he dropped it, he swore it was as he claimed? Semper Fi, Larry

  47. Thankyou so much for awesome videos So easy to watch ,great narration that educates all ages
    Simply amazing Covers all aspects war

  48. Hello Mark,
    Thank you for your interesting videos!
    Some years ago I was studying in Jena, Germany. In the neighbourhood (walpersberg) was elongated hill with an underground Me262 assembly line. The assembled airplanes took of from the mountain ridge. I think the complex was called Rheimahg (reichsmarschall Herman Goring). Belgian-Walloon ss-forces where deployed there. And prisoners from Buchenwald where marched in to prepare the tunnels. Looks like an interesting story which connects a lot of things together. The complex never was finished completely.

    A relatively unknown complex but interesting story I think

    Thanks!

  49. hi Mark,
    i enjoy your youtube video’s.
    would it be possible for you to do a video about the linie crossers, the biesbos the Netherlands.
    it’s something very interesting and i love canoeing there in the beautiful nature

  50. Hi Mr Felton,
    I am a huge fan of yours! And your YouTube videos are very interesting and informative.
    I would love if you make a video about the Madras Bombardment which occurred during WW1.

    Regards
    Anant Bhat

  51. 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!

  52. Hi Mel. Can you tell me exactly where on my website your images appear as I can’t open the link you sent me. Many thanks. Mark

  53. I’m a huge fan!!! I grew up on HistoryChannel documentaries and I love how I’ve learned so much more from your videos.

    Any info on US Aircraft Carriers fighting in the North Atlantic and why there wasn’t a lot compared to the pacific?

    Thanks

  54. Hello Mark,

    Thank you very much for your awesome videos. There are so many forgotten little stories that people do not know about.

    I saw some photographs from torpedo attacks on a bridge (Amnokkang river) and on a dam (Hwachon Reservoir Dam) during the Korean War. I would love to see a video on those.

  55. Hello Mark,

    Your youtube channel is awesome.

    Where on this website are your books for sale please? Does one have to go through Amazon?

  56. Hi Mark,
    I really enjoy your short historical clips on YouTube.
    I wonder if you would be interested in an incident that took place in 1990 a few miles off the Kent coast when RMAS Goldeneye was shot at by Principality staff on Sealand fort. An old anti-aircraft battery in the Thames estuary approaches.
    I was a Royal Navy PO(SR) onboard the Goldeneye with an all RMAS crew working for Flag Officer Portsmouth. We had responsibility for the buoyage protecting the old AA fort and had been tasked to replace the buoy. While manoeuvring to get alongside the buoy with no warning, shotgun pellets were fired onto the top of the bridge and at the crew working on the deck. Both areas were hit by lead shot but nobody was injured. We ceased operations and moved out of range. It made the Daily Telegraph paper next day.
    They have regularly fired upon approaching vessels and helicopters, usually small yachts. Sealand is originally the Roughs Tower, one of the disused WWII Maunsell Sea Forts. The Principality of Sealand itself has quite an interesting history.

    regards
    Chris Geal

  57. Dear Mark I have watched all of your work on You Tube the program of most interest to me has been the one you made recently on the Devils Own.
    My Father served with A company 7th Bat Royal Norfolks during WW2.
    He told me of seeing knocked out scout cars in and around Bayauxe a few days after D day so this film peaked my interest.
    My Father always told me that A company of the Royal Norfolks was part of a special attack group set up for operations prior to and including D day.
    He answered a note pinned to the door of an office at Lincoln Barracks , the note read” anyone interested in doing something special report to this office at 10 am tomorrow”.
    My father was curious so he reported and volunteered to become a member of the S.A.G.
    He received special training including parachute training at Aldershot and Ringway. He took part in cliff assaults in wales and beech landings on the south coast of England.
    He was a very fit man all of his life and he had frightening fighting skills.
    We visited Normandy on three occasions together .He took me to the exact location in Arromanches where he landed on D day , he showed me the Radar Complex above the town where he fired his first shots.
    He talked about the battle for Epron and about the last battle for the Orne bridgehead that ended A company in Grimbosque Wood.
    I have his official military records but there is no mention of his specialist training or the S.A.G.
    He was taken prisoner when A company was over run , eventually he escaped from Stallag 4 B in Eastern Germany and with the eventual help of the Americans he returned home to Beaconsfield on a flight from Belgium.
    Do you have any information on The S.A.G.?
    My father was a good man he never backed down or showed fear in anything or anyway, he was steadfast to his last breath.
    Kindest regards, Robin Waistell.

  58. Hello Mark,
    I’m a folklorist and a retired USAF Electronic Warfare Systems Analyst and published an article in Skeptic magazine; 2012, on the origins of the Foo Fighter in World War 2. I traced the origins of this phenomenon through US, British and Canadian Night Fighter and Night Bombardment units. If you are interested I can e-mail you a copy.

  59. Hello Mark.

    Thank you for your many excellent videos on YouTube.

    I recently listened to “WW2 Japanese Military Brutality Explained”, and thought to ask if you might do a series on the emergence, evolution and influence of Prussian Militarism.

    Prussian militarism seems to have had a profound effect and to have been closely linked to what are now considered war crimes committed by various nations, including the Ottoman/Young Turks, Japan, and Germany in both world wars, and in various conflicts of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It seems that a divergent concept of correct and lawful conduct in war was a major part of this. One example being the killings committed by German embassy troops that played a significant part in the triggering the siege of the International Legations. Of course somethings may be wrongly or overly attributed to Prussian culture, and that too deserves examination.

    Best regards,

  60. Hello Mark, I’ve watched many WW2 movies and documentaries so I could learn and understand what my Dad, who served then, went through. I was so happy to discover your YouTube video “Liberating Dachau 1945” because on its cover photo is my Dad who’s the medic shown on the left. Whenever Veterans Day was remembered in the US each November, I’d call to thank him for his service and, sometimes, he’d tell me about a few of his experiences–such as during Dachau’s liberation when he was just about to turn 19 years old. At times, I imagine myself being 19 years old and seeing and doing all that the soldiers did and still do, and I know I’m not that brave. So, I salute ALL of you soldiers for ALL of your service. Thank you. And thank you, Mark, for all of your honorable work of educating those who care about all that happens during wartime. My Dad’s Daughter, Darlene

  61. Hi Mark,

    I was thinking about buying your book ‘Guarding Hitler’ as I am doing some research concerning the ‘Felsennest’ during the Battle of France 1940. Does your book contain any information about Hitler’s security arrangements during the Battle of France 1940?

    Many thanks,

    M

  62. Hi Mark,

    I watched your video on the 1953 air battle between the US and the Czechoslovak airplanes and it made me think of another interesting story that happened on 12th October 1959, when an Italian F-84F Thuderstreak, piloted by S.Ten Ernesto De Majo, found itself over Czechoslovakia by accident, and was forced to land in Hradec Kralove.

    The pilot was released from custody and repatriated via Switzerland on 31st October 1959. The poor bird was dismantled and returned to Italy via Austria in a train. The worst experience for the Italian pilot was apparently the cup of coffee he was given in the Hradec Kralove airbase bar by the quite friendly and enthusiastic local pilots.

    I would love to see a video by you covering the incident.

    Kind regards

    Watchdog

  63. Hello Dr Mark Felton I would like to say that your videos are very educational and you novels are extraordinary

  64. Mark, I’ve been a subscriber to both of your YouTube channels and looking forward to yourv3rd.
    I attempted to put a comment on your most recent video “Wake Island Escapees”. I attempted several times to post the comment, but it never kept. I’m unsure if there were words that you don’t allow, but I thought I’d send here. The comment was as follows:

    “It’s absolutely amazing how C@W@RDLY most of the Japanese Officers and Soldiers were toward any and all of their captives (US, UK, Australia and others). I know that American soldiers are not angels, but these C@W@RDS take the cake.
    My father was a Combat Veteran with the US Army Air Force. He served on Saipan, Guam, Tinian and Iwo Jima. Dad was a flightline engineer/mechanic on the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. He was in the 20th USAAF, 7th Army Air Corp, 414th Fighter/Bomber Group, 413th F/B Squadron.
    Dad’s squadron arrived on Iwo during early March 45′ as one of first three Squadrons sent to Iwo Jima just after the US Marines had captured the airfield. They were assigned to give Air support to the Marines as the Marines were still clearing the island of Japanese soldiers. They also provided air support to the Navy ships in harbor.
    I’ve got 3 photo albums that mom put together from all the photo’s dad sent home from his time in the South Pacific Campaign. I’ll alway remember the scorn and anger on his face while looking at photo’s of all the shot/burnt de@d Japanese soldiers in caves and foxholes AND the temporary US Marine and Airman cemeteries, on Iwo Jima. Dad’s squadron lost 2 pilots to Air combat and 2 Air crewman (throats slash*d by Japanese) for failure to follow orders and stay inside the cordoned off protective zone guarded by the Marines.”

    Thanks again. Myself and two of my brothers are ardent fans of your work. I’m from Southern West Virginia, USA.

    S Michael DeHart

  65. Mark,

    I am a writer and producer – not a very prolific one – but I am very careful with my choices. I have been interested in the Berga Story for years – are the rights to your book “Operation Swallow” still available?

    Thank you – I will send you a copy of my PBS Documentary, Messenger of The Truth – let me know.

    Paul Hensler

  66. First of all. congratulations on reaching 1 million YouTube subscribers! The quality of your productions is first-rate.

    About 40 years ago I stumbled across an article about the 1970 U.S. Special Forces raid that attempted to free American soldiers held at a North Vietnamese P.O.W. camp. It made a rather astonishing claim: The possibility that 100-200 PRC soldiers were killed in the raid.

    I did not take any notes from the article (I was doing unrelated research for our university debate team) and after so many years I do not remember the source or many of the details, but since then, I have found nothing that seems to confirm this rather remarkable event.

    What I seem to recall is this:
    1) What I read was probably in a U.S. military-published periodical sometime around 1980 or 1981 (Army Times or similar publication).
    2) Part of the attack force landed in or near a misidentified camp that was near the Son Tay prison camp. Rather than NVA soldiers, the camp contained Chinese troops that sustained heavy casualties.
    3) No American POWs were found.
    4) When Nixon visited China in 1972, Zhou Enlai asked the President if the attack had been an intended deliberate message for China to reduce its support for North Vietnam. Apparently, the Chinese thought the POW raid was a cover story.

    The Son Tay raid is itself a rather interesting story, but the possibility that it brought U.S. and Chinese ground forces into direct combat in North Vietnam and had diplomatic implications is even more intriguing. I’m hoping that you could shed some insight on this 50-year mystery.

  67. Hi Dr. Mark Felton. I found your video about the Bad Orb prison camp on YouTube. My father and his friend, Red Army officers, were held there from the summer of 1943 to the summer of 1944. They fled from it… I left my comment there. I also have an audio interview of my father about this. Thank you for the memory of the 2nd World War.

  68. Hi Mark,

    Came across your website and wanted to express appreciation for your historical YouTube videos! They’re the best in the business!! Cheers,

    Connor

  69. I just wanna thank you from the bottom my heart ,what do you did for a history for Afghanistan .The Royal Afghan Army – “Prussians of the Orient” im afghan born American living in California orange county. I am honored to talk to you if you give me a chance. And this is my biography.
    Fahim Fazli is a man of two worlds: Afghanistan, the country of his birth, and the United States, the nation he adopted and learned to love. Fahim is also a man who escaped oppression, found his dream profession, and then paid it all forward by returning to Afghanistan as an interpreter with the U.S. Marines from 2009-2010. He came to the United States as a refugee in his teens. He enjoyed a privileged childhood until the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. As a young adult he supported the resistance and when he and his remaining family saw the opportunity they fled to Pakistan and then eventually to the United States. He moved to California with dreams of an acting career. Fahim wrote a memoir, Fahim Speaks, that was released in early 2012. “Fahim Speaks” received the 1st place for a biography from the Military Writers Society of America.
    – IMDb Mini Biography By: self

    Afghan born Hollywood actor goes to war: Story of ‘warrior-actor’ Fahim Fazli

    Actor and author Fahim Fazli visited ASU this week to speak to students, offer advice and show them no matter where they come from or what problems life throws at them, dreams can be achieved, which he writes about in his book “Fahim Speaks.” Fazli has starred in more than 50 films, working with the likes of Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Murray, Louis C.K. and Robert Downey Jr., but before his acting career, a struggle to get to America began in his childhood home. Child in a warzone In the 1970s, communists took over Afghanistan and reshaped Fazli’s life. “In 1979, the communists came to my country and took over Afghanistan in 24 hours,” he said. “I was 12 years old, and I didn’t know about communism until after the first six months, they killed a million of us.” The Soviet Union’s invasion had an immediate impact on Fazli’s family because his mother worked as a midwife in the Afghan government. “My mom, her name is Fahima, came home from work, and I saw tears in her eyes and she said, ‘Fahim, we are leaving but you are not. Your dad wants to hold you and your brother,'” Fazli said. “I asked her what was wrong, and she said the communists will kill us if we don’t leave in 24 hours. My dad was stubborn, and he said my brother and I were staying.” This was the last time Fazli would see his mother and sisters for four long years. “We went into the house, and I looked at my dad and asked why we didn’t go,” Fazli said. “He said, ‘Shut up and sit down.’ He did it because he believed we would beat the Russians in a month or two, but it took us 10 years.” After Fazli’s mother left, he had to return to school the next day but lost interest in his studies in the seventh grade. “I skipped school, and I saw the tanks passing by everywhere, so I made a flier, a propaganda flier was given to us by the CIA who was helping us defeat the communists,” Fazli said. “I would get up at two o’clockin the morning, hiding from my dad and run through the city handing out fliers to put the fears onto the Russians.” After spreading fliers given to him by operatives working for the CIA, Fazli and his friends tried to find other ways to defeat the communists. “I would play double agent and go to their base to trade American T-shirts or Kent cigarettes for guns,” he said. “They were so into American logos because they had never seen them before. I would trade them and then sell the guns to the freedom fighters who were connected to Pakistan and they were connected to CIA.” With the money from the gun sales, Fazli and his friends would buy kites and playing “double agent” made him want to one day become an actor, but before this dream as a child could come true a longer struggle was about to take place. “One day, my principal called my dad and told him they had to send me to a communist camp in Siberia and my dad made a decision that it wouldn’t be a good idea for his son to go to Siberia to get brainwashed by the communists,” Fazli said. Coming to America One morning, soon after the phone call from the principal, Fazli’s father woke him up at 5 a.m. and told him they were leaving. “Me and my brother got in a jingle truck with my dad driving toward Pakistan and halfway there we stopped at a checkpoint and my cousin was there, a communist, so I put my head down and he eventually let us go through,” Fazli said. “We then walked seven days and seven nights through the mountains hiding from the helicopters flying over. We finally arrived in Pakistan to a refugee camp.” Arriving at the refugee camp and meeting the Marines was the first step in a four-year journey to find his mother, Fazli said. “I told the Marine translating for us I wanted to find my mother and the Marine said come back in four days,” he said. “So we came back and the Marines were smiling at us. They said we found your mother after four years of not seeing each other and no letters. She was living in Charlottesville, Virginia.” Fazli got on the phone and called his mother in Virginia but the response from the other end of the line was not one of welcoming or excitement, but one of confusion. “My mom got on the phone and she asked who it was and ‘I said this is Fahim,'” he said. “She said, ‘What are you talking about? My son is dead. The communists killed him.’ I said, ‘It’s me, Mom, my voice has changed. I’ve become a man.’ After long struggling to convince her, she believed me.” Fazli’s aunt, who was in the U.S., had told his mother he and his brothers were dead and that his father had married another woman. This made Fazli’s mother deal with the grief and begin to move on with her life. After two years in the refugee camp, Fazli and his family were allowed to come to the U.S. and received their green cards and passports at the airport upon arrival at Washington Dulles airport American Life Arriving in the U.S. provided more challenges for Fazli, but his dream to become an actor was still in his heart. “I always ask myself six questions,” he said. “Who am I? Who do I want to be? Where do I want to be? What is my dream? What is my passion and what is my hobby?” These questions led Fazli to try to sign up for the Marines but after receiving a five-page test, which he failed, he had to change direction which led to him pursuing his dream of becoming an actor. “After failing the test, I asked myself the questions again and went to work as an actor but couldn’t get my (Screen Actors Guild) card because I couldn’t get a speaking part,” he said. In 2006, Fazli began working as a technical advisor coaching Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Soon after, Fazli began getting parts in other movies and television shows as an actor, voice-over artist and consultant but the parts were typecasts as a terrorist for the most part. “As a terrorist, the reason I do that, I know those guys hijacked the religion, and I want to introduce them in the movie how evil they are,” Fazli said. “You saw me get emotional; I have a heart and love my mom and stuff, and I don’t mind if I get typed as a terrorists for the rest of my life, and I will always want to show how they hijacked the religion. The religions aren’t bad. These people hijacked the religion and are the boogeyman.” Working in film and television has led to an illustrious career allowing Fazli to work along side such people as Bradley Cooper and Clint Eastwood in “American Sniper,” Ben Affleck in “Argo,” Tom Hanks in “Charlie Wilson’s War,” Louis C.K. in “Louie” and Bill Murray in the upcoming film “Rock the Kasbah.” After working on films with award winning actors, Fazli’s focus shifted back to his home country and he decided he wanted to do something to help. Back to War In 2009, Fazli decided he wanted to pursue his dream of being a Marine and took a test to become a translator for the Department of Defense. This time he passed and was shipped of to Afghanistan where he helped Marines and locals communicate. “Both America and Afghanistan have given me so much,” Fazli said. “Afghanistan is my birth country and America is my adopted country, and I wanted to pay my dues for this passport.” After arriving in Afghanistan , Fazli began working with local tribes and Marines to open up communication and ease tensions in the area, which had an impact on ASU professor Mark von Hagen. “What I really liked best was the story he told of how he had to explain to the Afghans that the Marines weren’t Russians,” he said. “He didn’t do that by words but by pulling out a cross to show them they weren’t communists and he did that instinctively and translated that so fast.” Fazli said multiple lives were saved due to his ability to talk and translate between the tribal leaders and Marines and he is proud that no one, either Marine or civilian, were killed during his time in the region. ASU student and retired Cpl. John Luebke said Fazli’s ability to stop conflicts and bring people together made him a role model amongst his peers. “We all looked up to him,” he said. “I had just turned 20 years old and it was my first deployment and had no idea what war was going to be like until I was in it. We had to learn to respect their customs, so if we didn’t have that guidance from Fahim, it would have been a lot different.” Retired Lt. Col. Michael Moffett, co-author of “Fahim Speaks,” said his time with Fazli in Afghanistan began a lifelong friendship and he is proud to have helped Fazli achieve his dream. “I think I helped him to have an opportunity to chase a dream, writing a book, and I think I helped him realize that dream,” he said. “My dream has also been to write a book and make a difference so I think we both helped each other realize dreams that otherwise wouldn’t have happened.” The next 50 years Fazli’s message to students at ASU this week has been seek out your dreams and go for them and if he can come to America and make his dreams come true then anyone can. “I want to send a good message as an Afghan-American,” he said. “If I can do it, they can do it. My advice to Americans is to not take advantage of this great country. I grew up in a war zone twice. Two empires fought in Afghanistan, Russian and American, and I want Americans to appreciate every second of their lives in this country. Don’t look at the past, think about the future. A ninth-grade-educated Afghan became an actor, became an author; you can do it, too.

    1. Dear Fahim,

      My pleasure – and many thanks for your kind words. I’ve seen several of the films that you have acted in. All the best,

      Mark

Leave a Reply to Irene Hirsch Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.