Operation Greif & the EXECUTION of Three German Saboteurs | History Traveler Episode 334

Such a sad, huge loss of life on both sides.

JD, This story reminds me of an Episode out of Hogans Heroes but a true version of the story. My question is after the Germans soldiers were killed, did the Americans send the Video over to the German Army to let them know what happened to there men if they impersonate the Allies?

Most of them German saboteurs came from America after Germany went to war.. they returned home and died for their country.

Gotthold Assmann

Very interesting,,

❤ bonjour bien aimé,verry good

Great info thanks

heartbreaking to see that sea of young men that never got to grow old and raise families, all due to one despicable mans twisted mind, and they were killed by young men just like them. war is a terrible thing. Putin is not unlike hitler in today’s world.

As with any conflict, sad days indeed, these soldiers died bravely for what they believed in and this was a great tribute to all the German soldiers in this cemetery who lost their lives in the belief that the world would be a better place, sadly, not for them. RIP to all the victims of war.

Look up Eddie Slovik

You such a great job on a really awful thing thanks for your hard work

Dont tell me American and British forces didn't do this sort of tasks!!

Inevitable on capture but the fellas voluntarily gave their all for their country under trying circumstances knowing the consequences. They died for their unit and country.

Useless wind turbines

I hope we can remember that the guys on both sides of the fence were young men in their 20's, and just soldiers fighting for their countries. God bless America.

17 min in to video

Seen this clip before. It'll never leave me. The guy on the end, the absolute terror on his face. Regardless of sides. They were fighting under orders. The real culprits, in many cases got away. My father fought throughout WW2. North Africa, Italy, and finally Austria up to 46 ( he never spoke of his life then). I found out his record from the MOD in the UK. My father never decried the ordinary Germans. Blame those who start the wars

They sacrificed themselves for the Reich, misguided,but courageous 🙏🏻

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland

Nickname(s)WutzBorn23 October 1914
Bochum, Kingdom of Prussia, German EmpireDied17 August 1943 (aged 28)
near Maastricht, German-occupied NetherlandsCause of deathKilled in actionBuried

Lommel, Belgium
(Block 21-grave 290)

Allegiance Nazi GermanyService/branch LuftwaffeYears of service1935–43RankMajor (major)UnitFlak-Lehr-Regiment
JG 26Commands heldII./JG 26Battles/wars

See battles

World War II

Battle of France

Western Front

Dieppe Raid

Defense of the Reich

Schweinfurt–Regensburg mission †

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossRelationsAdolf Galland
Paul Galland

Born in Bochum, Galland grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. He joined the military service in the Wehrmacht in 1935, initially serving with the anti-aircraft artillery of the Luftwaffe. Upon his request in late 1940, he transferred to the Jagdwaffe (fighter force). Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) in June 1941. Flying with this wing, Galland claimed his first aerial victory on 23 July 1941 on the Western Front over a Royal Air Force fighter aircraft. He was made Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel (5th squadron) of JG 26 in May 1942 and in January 1943, Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of JG 26. Following his 34th aerial victory, he was nominated and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 May 1943. Galland claimed his last aerial victory on 12 August 1943. On 17 August 1943, during the Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission, he was killed in action following combat with Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters from the 56th Fighter Group.

Earlier than our own revolution if soldiers were caught either in civilian clothes or military uniforms of other army would be tried as spies and most often executed within 72 hours. Geneva convention ROE is just an incidental modernization of rules of engagement dating centuries prior. Nathan Hale was the most famous in American history posing as a teacher behind British lines. Why do you keep referring to these saboteurs as “men who were executed” instead of 3 saboteurs who were executed?

I’ve got $5 that you’re a leftie.😀😀🙏❤️🙏 (smile because this last sentence was written “tongue in cheek”)

Curious as to why these men are honored with photos on their headstones?

That monument with the iron cross was almost definitely "de-nazified" afterward sometime by removing the swastika relief in the center of it imho.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand "Wutz" Galland (23 October 1914 – 17 August 1943) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II. He is credited with 55 aerial victories achieved in 186 combat missions. All his victories were claimed over the Western Front and in Defense of the Reich. This figure included seven four-engine bombers and 37 Supermarine Spitfire fighters.
Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland
Nickname(s)
Wutz
Born
23 October 1914
Bochum, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died
17 August 1943 (aged 28)
near Maastricht, German-occupied Netherlands
Cause of death
Killed in action
Buried
Lommel, Belgium
(Block 21-grave 290)
Allegiance
Nazi Germany
Service/branch
Balkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service
1935–43
Rank
Major (major)
Unit
Flak-Lehr-Regiment
JG 26
Commands held
II./JG 26
Battles/wars
See battles
World War II
Battle of France
Western Front
Dieppe Raid
Defense of the Reich
Schweinfurt–Regensburg mission †
Awards
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Relations
Adolf Galland
Paul Galland
Born in Bochum, Galland grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. He joined the military service in the Wehrmacht in 1935, initially serving with the anti-aircraft artillery of the Luftwaffe. Upon his request in late 1940, he transferred to the Jagdwaffe (fighter force). Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) in June 1941. Flying with this wing, Galland claimed his first aerial victory on 23 July 1941 on the Western Front over a Royal Air Force fighter aircraft. He was made Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel (5th squadron) of JG 26 in May 1942 and in January 1943, Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of JG 26. Following his 34th aerial victory, he was nominated and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 May 1943. Galland claimed his last aerial victory on 12 August 1943. On 17 August 1943, during the Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission, he was killed in action following combat with Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters from the 56th Fighter Group.

You are correct.
It’s been de-nazified, as you said. The swastika was removed.

Cool. Those square vents on the top of the wall stand out.

The monument of the Iron Cross with the diamond in its center was where a swastika had been. You can see it had been chiseled out sometime later. Most all German WWII memorials such as this have similar "deNazification" applied to them.

A very emotive video thank you, it proves the point that war is stupid and eventually pointless.

Fritz Krink, died December 17, 1946. Was he buried there due to his having served in t German military?

Total disgrace

Such a waste of human life 😢

Senseless wars. Western countries had better start coordinating and working together to preserve what culture still exists.

Pretty intense video

This Yankie has a telerable accent.

Ve he cle >> vehicle

War is a dirty business. Although they were dispicable Nazis, shooting then was not right.

Excellente emission encore une fois merci

Broke the rules of war - sound of farting

Gaza 35,000 Hamas members under the age of 14 and 10’s of thousands of other members of Hamas paragliding brigade disguised as women and non combatants

The blood lust was too high for any justice but dont fuckabout the rules of war because when Julian Assange published your military shooting camera men, first responders, second responders and actual ambulances and children your blackhawk sawed them in half and then ‘jailed’ assange for prooving the rules of war mean sweet Eff all

Donald Trump wants to buy the grave yard and turn it into a golf course and club, no doubt.

Back when actions had consequences. You could count on it.

This grave yard appears to be enormous. In reality, it contains only a small fraction of the German soldiers killed in WW 2.

Deutsche Helden

The diamond shape on the Iron Cross was to remove the swastika shape. Easy to figure out as the graveyard was started during The Second World War by the Nazi regime. By going below the swastika shape into the Iron Cross image, this assured that that graphic shape was thoroughly removed.

Wilhelm Galland was the brother of famous Luftwaffe ace Adolf Galland.

I think I've found the answer to your question about the diamond in the iron cross. The iron cross was a German military medal dating back to the 19th century. During WWII the Naz1s added a swastika in the middle of the medal. My guess is that when the moment was built, the swastika was on the iron cross but was subsequently removed as being inappropriate which left the diamond shape.

Field Marshal Montgomery and his staff were stopped and put in a barn for something like 5 hours as well

Paul Galland, whose gravestone apprears at the 17'10" mark, was the brother of general Adolf Galland, one of the most famous Luftwaffe aces in the war.