Hitler Stunk As A Military Leader. Germans Who Were There Describe It

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Published 2017-09-27
I was hired to produce a television documentary based on several books which had been written when this was made (1998) on how Hitler lost World War II because of careless, idiotic, incorrect military decisions that time and again cost Germany lives and treasure inbattles that they might have won. Most armchair historians know that it was unwise for Hitler to open up to fronts, one to battle the West in Europe, the other to battle the east and Russia. And many know about his unwise decision to pull back the Luftwaffe from the battle of Britain. To get to the deeper issues of why and how Hitler made these mistakes, I obtained the support of major British and German historians and some of those military leaders who worked with Hitler directly. They give a picture that makes the points the film is making, credible.

This clip from a 1 hour PBS television documentary I made called " How Hitler Lost the War." The film takes a unique point of view. Rather than talking about who won the war, my colleagues and I explored what Hitler did that helped lose Germany the war. Although it happened so long ago, it is still a frightening story. Some of the interviews I conducted in this segment were fascinating to me and I hope they are to you as well.

All Comments (21)
  • Many people don’t see the importance of history class but that’s the reason we keep repeating it over and over again in one way or another.
  • How does one control peoples minds? Give them something to fear. Worked then. Works now.
  • @_MaxHeadroom_
    I can understand why many people initially followed him. Imagine you're part of the working class that was struggling after WW1 when suddenly this loud roaring man comes on the radio promising the restoration of Germany and it's pride.
  • @pan-shot4900
    -War does not determine who is right - only who is left.
  • @stevenh8174
    Someone who was in Germany at the time said to me that people don't think on an empty stomach
  • @WildThings113
    what happens when history is no longer taught in schools, it repeats itself
  • @tacomadc
    The "Polish horse calvary" charging German tanks is an urban myth. The polish military and its airforce gave Germany stiff resistance and cost them many troops and tanks.
  • @MrJesseQuinn
    We can learn something from this grave mistake: never pay attention to a politician words and charisma but instead focus on their policies and, more important, the results of such policies.
  • @BrandyTexas214
    Man... this really wasn’t that long ago... my grandparents were kids
  • @jaminova_1969
    I once met a gentleman who was taken from his family when he was 7 and sent to a concentration camp where NAZI doctors performed hideous experiments on him, As a result, both of his hands were crippled. I was 12 when I asked him about the serial number tattooed on his wrist, and he told me the story. Nice man. Rest in Peace, Leon!
  • @debnn4854
    I cared for a British war bride til her death in 2014. She told me about the nightly raids in London.
    She had a pic of her deceased husband/British soldier, on the mantle and missed him greatly repeating" "oh dear Bill ,dear Bill"
  • It's interesting getting older, having been in the military myself, and finally being able to see things from the soldier's perspective regardless of what country they fought for. That German pilot flew to London and back 68 times, sometimes three times a day, and lost units every time... The mental fortitude to get back in the cockpit day after day is astounding
  • @TurdFerguson101
    History doesn't repeat itself, but it does tend to rhyme. : Mark Twain
  • @geoffhoward6058
    Without history you don't have memories and without memories you don't have a future.
  • @dm-gq5uj
    Other stupid mistakes made by Hitler: invading the USSR and declaring war on the US. If Hitler had focused on the Middle East and capturing the oil fields there, the Germans would have been very hard to beat. As it was, they ran out of oil and got lost in the vastness of the USSR. The Americans might have been glad to fight a one-front war with Japan after Pearl Harbor, but Hitler's declaration of war made that impossible. Hitler seriously underestimated the manpower and material resources available to the Americans.
  • @neilog747
    If you want to avoid indoctrination, never follow the opinions of your peers, friends, family or politicians. Its not just the politicians and media you have to worry about. Always be an informed sceptic. Belonging to a group is never worth the price of becoming a fool.
  • @richardhewit215
    When you're in a hole and somebody says they have a ladder, you don't ask questions about the ladder, you just say give me the ladder.
  • @MarieRains
    I am entirely addicted to your channel! I somehow stumbled upon it. Possibly due to my love of the 60's. You're channel has opened up so many more channels as well from history. It's amazing! Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication over the years! 🌻✌❤