Thanks to Wolfgang Seitz for researching this episode. In so many ways it's our community who keep TimeGhost going. If you want to be part of this then join the TimeGhost Army on www.patreon.com/timeghosthistory or timeghost.tv. Please let us know what other Bio's you'd like to see. And if you would like to know something about a smaller topic, make sure to submit that as a question for our Q&A series, Out of the Foxholes. You can do that right here: community.timeghost.tv/c/Out-of-the-Foxholes-Qs. Cheers, Francis *RULES OF CONDUCT* STAY CIVIL AND POLITE we will delete any comments with personal insults, or attacks. AVOID PARTISAN POLITICS AS FAR AS YOU CAN we reserve the right to cut off vitriolic debates. HATE SPEECH IN ANY DIRECTION will lead to a ban. RACISM, XENOPHOBIA, OR SLAMMING OF MINORITIES will lead to an immediate ban. PARTISAN REVISIONISM, ESPECIALLY HOLOCAUST AND HOLODOMOR DENIAL will lead to an immediate ban. THE PROMOTION OF EXTREME, VIOLENT IDEOLOGIES IS ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN This includes the justification, or promotion of ideologies, regimes, and systems that have historically or are inherently contrary to the principles of democracy and human rights. To be clear some of these ideologies are Naziism, Fascism, Colonialism, Imperialism, Leninism, Stalinism, Revolutionary Socialism, Integral Nationalism and any other ideology that promotes authoritarianism, and a disregard for inalienable individual rights as outlined in the UDHR. Regimes that fall under this rule are for example: Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, the British Empire, Colonial France, pre-emancipation USA, Imperial Japan, Communist China, the USSR and any similar systems and regimes. While an academic discussion of these ideologies and regimes is permitted, even desired, any value statements or comparative posts to extoll their positive sides will be deleted, and may lead to a ban. . Here’s why: It is objectively true that the authoritarian regimes we cover in our series, be they far-left or far-right, were willing to use systematic oppression, violence, and murder to create or maintain their preferred system of governance. From the perspective of human rights, democracy, and plain decency, this is clearly unacceptable. Now, that is, of course, a morally absolute statement based on 21st-century morals and ethics. Therefore, in our content, we refrain from any such judgement and just tell the story as it is. We’re concerned only with the past. We don’t take sides, and we don’t decide which side deserves more blame than the other.

@kso4vfl

4 жыл бұрын

I know that only KZread administrators can ban people.

@Blizzard4135

4 жыл бұрын

As a reader of E. Junger's books, I'd really appreciate a special about his ww2 involvement. I found his ww2 "diaries" extremely interesting .

@notsosupermutant5622

4 жыл бұрын

Would love to see one on Von Kluge.

@istvansipos9940

4 жыл бұрын

videos about the top fighter aces would be nice. every nation, obviously :- )

@vmwindustries

4 жыл бұрын

Didn't Emperor Barbarossa die walking into a river on his way to the crusades? After which his army went home, and didn't even make it to the war. Just like the attack on Russia would fail in a similar fashion. Bad name for an operation. Doomed from the beginning. ;)

the OG 'why does everyone have to make things political' guy

@flyforce16

4 жыл бұрын

“I’m don’t really like politics” *proceeds to offer political opinions*

@llenn1592

4 жыл бұрын

@@emprahsfinest7092 being unpolitical in a democracy is very cringe tho

@humppi.2304

4 жыл бұрын

"Please don't bring politics into my systemic extermination of soviet civilians"

@cpuwizard9225

4 жыл бұрын

@Artem Biyun Nope, nothing political at all, just a little revenge.

@ABadRash

4 жыл бұрын

And his ignorance, disinterest, whatever, led to the enablement of Nazism...

5:20: Rundstedt: “Why don’t these subordinate commanders obey orders? Respect the chain of command!” Also Rundstedt: “Stupid superiors meddling with my command. Just leave me alone, I know what I’m doing!”

@yochaiwyss3843

4 жыл бұрын

It was more to do with upper echelons messing with his subordinates, thusly interfering with chain of command

@TheCimbrianBull

4 жыл бұрын

*surprised Pikachu meme*

@brutalnyas5639

4 жыл бұрын

is it you, Kimi?

@K1nsiggMonark

4 жыл бұрын

Definitely Kimi

@UCUCUC27

4 жыл бұрын

rundstedt was a tsundre?

Definitely should do more of these

@jolldoes1515

4 жыл бұрын

Please do more !

@awc6007

3 жыл бұрын

I’d like to see one for Erich Rader or Karl Donitz

@elisokovziridze33

3 жыл бұрын

in the internet there's too less information about the resistance and i'm so sorry

I would have to say that his redistribution of Reichenau’s order pretty much lands him on the wrong side of the “noble military” argument.

@axriim7251

4 жыл бұрын

I agree, his argument of being a noble military pretty much contradictory of his actions that sparks or worse became the fuel to the fire of wehrmacht worst atrocities

@a.e.w.384

4 жыл бұрын

Add to the fact his bold face lies of denials after the war. This guy lost all his honor during the course of the war. He wasn't anti-hitler on moral grounds but simply he didn't like a non-german low-rank having come to power and like Hinderburg he was willing to compromise his "honor" to appease the political powers.

@loetzcollector466

4 жыл бұрын

@@a.e.w.384 I agree with all of that but I can't help but Wonder what would have came to power if not Hitler? Was he the worst of all possible options, or would something even more Insidious have risen up? I know it's just speculation.

@a.e.w.384

4 жыл бұрын

@@loetzcollector466 seriously doubt it, first off most rivals were generic politicians which would have circulated in and out of the system. Hitler got in through brute force, literally, his brown-shirts ensured the competition would lose and yet he still didn't get a majority of the vote in ''32-'33. Remember Germany's political system had all kinds of factions covering the whole spectrum from left to right which would have ensured no one faction stayed in power for too long to cause major damage or major wars.

@a.e.w.384

4 жыл бұрын

I am a firm believer had hitler not come to power he would have been removed as head of his faction by a coup, most likely by either goering or himler. They were such an unethical immoral group they would have torn each other apart once the movement started dying out and gone out of fashion with the public and it would have over time.

Many years ago I read that von Rundstedt, along with other very senior German generals, ended up after the war at a prison camp in Bridgend in South Wales. Rundstedt himself was as a POW assigned to help a local farmer with his pig unit, and was so good at it that the farm was re-named Rundstedt Farm. So this scion of the Prussian nobility ended up commemorated in a part of the UK! (I hadn't realised his ancestry went back as far as the 12th century - thanks, Indy!) The same article (which unfortunately I've mislaid) said that the sudden appearance of all these exotic Prussians and others was really quite an eye-opener about other countries, other manners for the locals!

@mrlodwick

Жыл бұрын

I have been to Farm Island and saw the picture's and drawings the pows done before they got removed.

@ildart8738

7 ай бұрын

"Pig unit" - you make it sound like the pigs were a part of a military unit, and von Rundstedt commanded them into battle.

I was wondering if you were planning a biography on Giovanni Messe. I always heard that he was one of the few good Italian generals in WW2, and he even fought alongside the Allies after the Italian armistice in 1943.

@torbenhaufel7159

4 жыл бұрын

Was ein 31ger

@leonardokawamurapiazzai4977

4 жыл бұрын

At this point even Badoglio wouldn’t be a bad idea. Although I do have to agree, a biography on Messe would be very interesting

@beneyweneys

4 жыл бұрын

Plus the only Italian general that was worth half a shit in combat.

@beneyweneys

4 жыл бұрын

Cpl. Rook Italian navy was alright I guess, certainly better than their trash army.

@beneyweneys

4 жыл бұрын

Cpl. Rook damn I didn’t know that. Well ya learn something every day

An interesting person to be sure. He was stuck in the wrong era. He would've been wonderful for Napoleonic warfare. Great job.

Irwin Rommel ghost is thinking, thank God I never was sent East.

@nodinitiative

3 жыл бұрын

But he was nearly sent to the Middle East.

@luga718

3 жыл бұрын

Was better than Russia!

@alhassanait1749

2 жыл бұрын

I don't think so ! Those guys are pure soldiers !

@martinlaird4738

2 жыл бұрын

Erwin*

I know Indy has been hosting history KZread shows for a while at this point, but how did he develop such a charisma in the delivery of the content? There's a genuine passion (shared by the whole time ghost team) behind the content produced.

@TheCimbrianBull

4 жыл бұрын

Maybe he's born with it. Maybe it's Maybelline.

@victor9sur768

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheCimbrianBull definitely maybelline, although i always thought Indy was a treseme man

@GuitarMan22

4 жыл бұрын

A mix of Cronkite and a smooth single malt scotch.

@neilwilson5785

4 жыл бұрын

That's why I have been here, and in the Great War channel, for many years now. Quality and rationality will always have a few followers. Misinformation and conspiracy 'theories' will get more followers, but they usually change the subject and move on to another convenient lie. They are like a puff of smoke within a gale of truth. Every lie we tell incurs a debt to the truth. Sooner or later, that debt must be paid. This channel has been repaying that debt back. Thank you!

@pmcmanus420

4 жыл бұрын

Those of us who have been subscribers from the start spotted Indy's star quality from Day One!

You can see what philosophers like Hannah Ardent is saying. These people might not have been as hateful as Hitler and Goering but their indifference and willingness to fight for a hateful regime is what caused the worst events of human history.

@CivilWarWeekByWeek

4 жыл бұрын

@@weirdshibainu I'd say no. The west only supported Stalin to get rid of Hitler. While it's true that Stalin's rise to power could have been stopped if people didn't show indifference to his personal evil. The west had nothing to do with his rise to power.

@tavish4699

4 жыл бұрын

For many the nazis we're the smaller bad.... Everything was better then the reds

@CivilWarWeekByWeek

4 жыл бұрын

@@tavish4699 Yes, many in the Balkans to the Baltic feared communism more than Nazism though of course this was helped by the already existing antisemitism, anti-romani and homophobia in those areas. Nazism and Fascism achieve victory when people fear their political opponents to the point where genocide is considered acceptable.

@CivilWarWeekByWeek

4 жыл бұрын

@@weirdshibainu Sorry, my first comment was about how indifference leads to the rise of genocidal manics so I just assumed that's what you were talking about.

@_kenny_7463

4 жыл бұрын

@@weirdshibainu Better Stalin than Hitler

the image at 1:30 is a compound image cobled together from various official single portraits of the men pictured. Look at the various different light sources and shady areas on the faces. And the vastly different quality of the officers pictured. btw. Von Hindenburg (fourth right) did serve in the German General Staff for 14 years prior to 1911 (his first retirement)

@TheCimbrianBull

4 жыл бұрын

Who can forget his famous short reply by telegram in 1914 when he was asked to come back from retirement: "Bin klar."

@boristhebarbarian

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheCimbrianBull His deputy chief of staff for the 8th Army in East-Prussia, Hoffman did all the prep work and Hindenburg and Ludendorff stole all the credits. They simply carried out Hoffmans plans for defense and attack basically without change. (read "guns of august")

@joshcruise2657

4 жыл бұрын

I didn't know that, it looks obvious now. Thanks for this interesting tidbit.

@kunaldaga7649

4 жыл бұрын

Isn't their big win at Tannenburg also because they already knew the Russian plans because of some documents they found on a captured Russian officer?

@thebog11

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheCimbrianBull Kaiser Wilhelm: You should come over, my parents aren't home ;) Hindenburg: B I N K L A R

He was a man with the morals of 19th century imperialism. Both in the best and worst way that can interpreted. He was guilty of at least tolerating war crimes, which means he should have faced trail. If he'd be innocent, then he wouldn't be punished there, and if he is guilty then it's justice.

@Tallone55

4 жыл бұрын

@@someguy4576 You're right, that is a whataboutism. There were, in fact, people put on trial at Neuremberg who got light sentences of were aquitted. They were not show trials.

@peterjerman7549

4 жыл бұрын

@@emprahsfinest7092 both of you are neonazi clowns. Go back playing your 243rd hoi4 nazi germany campaign

@bv2623

4 жыл бұрын

@@someguy4576 Soviets were actually underreporting the numbers. The suffering of Jews was downplayed in order to propagate the suffering of the Soviet peoples. And the number of victims found in mass graves in Ukraine and Belarus was also downplayed because of propaganda issues (the leadership of USSR could have been critized leaving those people behind in 1941).

@TheCornFarmer1989

4 жыл бұрын

@@peterjerman7549 idk, I get the feeling they're reasonable people. Surely you'd want to teach them how they're wrong rather than simply going "oh mate you're bad go away". You arent doing anyone any favours being so aggressive while saying pretty much nothing. I domt know enough about the subject to either agree nor disagree but I get the feeling being so aggressive only makes enemies of your cause

@PaulO-re4xx

4 жыл бұрын

Some Guy the nazis committed substantially more war crimes tho

It’s men like Rundstedt that raise an interesting conundrum about the German Army and the generals in it and that is, did generals like him really have the loyalty of the Army or did they trick themselves into thinking the Army was loyal to them? And what I mean by this, in a counter-factual way, is say The German Generals revolt against Hitler say, as the Sudatenland crisis became a disaster. Would the Army have followed the generals or would the army have stuck with Hitler? Further more, the generals who survived WW2 pulled a pro gamer move and pinned it all on Hitler saying we could have won if that moron would have let us.

@RemoveChink

4 жыл бұрын

Hitler had such a demigod status among young Germans (the army) there was no way they would have followed their Generals.

@ClemDiamond

4 жыл бұрын

I think most of the Army would have stayed loyal to Hitler. His image was everywhere and propaganda told them they were Hitler's soldiers, defending the ideal Germany that the Führer was planning for their children. Some would have rather deserted than face the Führer even if they did not agree with him. There are some i suspect would have developed a strong bond with their general, like Rommel's Afrika Korps because he led them close to the field and was "in it with them" while being far from Germany. Also, don't forget that when a general or an officer surrendered, all his men surrendered with him. They might have been brainswashed but no one had enough conviction to carry on fighting or retreat to another army once their officer dropped the fight, even if surrendering means betraying Hitler. It is a what if scenario and we will never have a satisfying answer to it, even though it's a good question.

@PalleRasmussen

4 жыл бұрын

@@RemoveChink do you have any evidence for that claim?

@zenhoflich1662

4 жыл бұрын

@@PalleRasmussen most youths would have grown up during the last years of WW1, or during the interwar years of the Weimar republic, a period filled with economic crisis, and political instability. And then in the 30s comes Hitler, who voices his strong, opinionated words, and fixes (in appearance, mostly) the mess that Germany was in (politically, economically, militarily), how, do you think, would the German youth view him other than a saviour, and hero? Especially with his charisma in speeches, and with the backing of powerful propaganda tools

@johan8969

4 жыл бұрын

@@PalleRasmussen In addition to what Zen Hoflich said, the Hitler Jugend became mandatory in I think 1935. Most young germans was pumped with nazi propaganda wether they liked it or not, and a lot liked the Hitler Jugend since it was basically just the boy scouts (with nazi ideology).

Generals will do a lot for a state that rearms them. These men were bribed, then hoped a more moderate leadership would arise. They gambled and lost more than the war. I know my answer is short and simplistic, but you only talked about it for 8+ minutes.

6:33 About to drop the f-bomb

@General_Townes

4 жыл бұрын

Possibly the best image that I have seen during the entire episode.

@simon4781

4 жыл бұрын

The "angry Rundstedt" meme needs to become a thing.

@TheCimbrianBull

4 жыл бұрын

F as in Fegelein?

@DirtyMardi

4 жыл бұрын

TheCimbrianBull FFFeeeeeeeGeLeiN!!!1!1!

@johnfurface

4 жыл бұрын

It’s so revealing of Germany’s changing fortunes in that phase of the war

To the proposed question of the episode. He should have been judged, although I am not clear if he should have been convicted. This is the job of the judge either way then.

@BiggestCorvid

4 жыл бұрын

You know why Nazi Germany is a worse stain on humanity than Stalin's Russia? Because you can't name nearly as many men who didn't do something. He should have committed suicide the moment he learned about Baba Yar but he just didn't think it mattered enough because deep down he agreed that some people are subhuman. He's like the governor in Florida during Covid.

@laiyinquan8355

3 жыл бұрын

@@BiggestCorvid I agree. I don't think anyone on this world can be as pure and innocent as they portray themselves to be. Look at the British royal family, prior to the scandals which plagued the family in 1992, were seen as this perfect and unbreakable family that is immune to the normal cheating and unfaithfulness that we can see in 'normal' human relationships. Another example is Bill Cosby, with him taking advantage of his public fatherly personality to lure unsuspecting women and sexually assault them. Rundstedt is no different. While he is certainly the more respectable generals in comparison to his more depraved contemporaries, he like held condescending views on some human races, but didn't voice them for whatever reason.

Conclusion: Antisemitism wasn't the monopoly of Nazism...which we already knew.

@craftpaint1644

3 жыл бұрын

And German Generals knew it, yes. Bloody world 😒

I didnt know the Einsatz-gruppen were Wehrmacht. I always thought they were operated by the SS. Thank you for reclassifying them correctly!

@muhammadibnmusaal-chorezmi7240

3 жыл бұрын

They were SS groups attached to the Wehrmacht, often they were using Wehrmacht soldiers.

7:36 Rundstedt scrolls down and tries to click on ''Finish". "Hmmmmmmmmm must've missed the box I Agree to the Severity Order's Terms & Conditions" Checks the box and presses Finish.

@TheCimbrianBull

4 жыл бұрын

Exactly. Nobody ever bother to read it.

@georgf9279

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheCimbrianBull That was his risk to take. In general I can get behind the "I didn't know what my troops were doing." -argument (unless proven otherwise of course). Even by simply forwarding the order he would just have done his job. But this cover letter tips the scale for me ... by a landslide.

Great video! Was waiting for this.

Love your videos Indy! So much previously unrevealed material in each video I watch! Thank you for growing historical knowledge across the globe!

4:05 Rundstedt: "I ain't no snitch... snitches become schnitzel"

Remember, Command Responsibility. Runstedt is still responsible by the time he learns of it and does nothing.

@leoe.5046

4 жыл бұрын

thats definitely true but if he would've tried to stop the whole thing he wouldn't live to see the end of the war as the nazis would see him as a traitor.... I guess it's a mixture of his political neutrality, fear of being removed from his post/becoming a "traitor" and probably bitterness from having lost WW1

@tarickw

4 жыл бұрын

@@leoe.5046 political neutrality in the face of inhumanity still means that he is responsible and at fault. Yes if he did do something he would've been seen as a traitor, and he is naturally interested in his own life, but that doesn't excuse his inaction and as such he is a criminal and fully at fault.

@Typhy7

4 жыл бұрын

So he's at fault because he wanted to survive? Get your head out of your ass. If he openly stood against the killing of Jews he would be considered to be standing against the Nazi cause by Hitler and the other higher-ups. He won't be able to live much longer after that.

@BHuang92

4 жыл бұрын

@@tarickw Its true that being grey is still much of a decision. Even if he didn't do it, he was still there. Quote: The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. ― Edmund Burke

@caijones156

4 жыл бұрын

@@tarickw I dissagree, if a solider is force with threats of exicution to do a deed then he should not be punished for his actions. This being said he should have stood trial since warcrimes undoubtedly occurred under his command, though if it is found that he had no prior knowledge of the event and orders did not come from him he should not have been repamanded. In the case of the last comment by indy I do think unless more evidence was to be found such as orders from Hitler to promote such ideas then he should have been repamanded post war. In this case people must realise if he would repremand anyone for braking the rules of war (afterwards anyway) then Hitler could have him arrested or killed for treason since Hitler ordered the whermacht to kill Jews.

".. will never actually face trial for his role in Nazi war crimes. Do you think he should've?" Rundstedt was jailed in the immediate aftermath of WWII from 1945 until 1949 when he was released. During this period he was on trial. First during the Nuremberg trials, where he, as part of the 'GENERAL STAFF and HIGH COMMAND of the GERMAN ARMED FORCES', was collectively indicted on charges. During the proceedings, Rundstedt testified as a witness. The charges against the group were ultimately acquitted, but Rundstedt remained a prisoner. Afterwards, the Allies began to individually indict officers in what would become known as the 'High Command Trial' of 1947. When he was called to testify on behalf of the defense, which consisted of his former colleagues, including the Blaskowitz mentioned in this video, Runstedt became aware for the first time that the Americans had the intention of eventually bringing him to trial as well. As a result, he refused to testify any further. He would be placed back in prison until he faced prosecution, being formally charged in January, 1949. Reaction towards this, along with information about the conditions of Rundstedt's imprisonment (which had considerably damaged his physical health), elicited outcry from the British public which eventually led to all charges being dropped in May, 1949. So, in short, he did face trial. No I don't think he needed to face further trials. He was privately convicted by those who held power in post-war Germany. He was forever marked as a 'Class 1 war criminal' otherwise known as a 'Major Offender' upon release despite never being personally convicted. For those unfamiliar with the classification, it means all of his bank accounts were restricted, government assistance denied and military pension revoked. At the age of 73, in poor health, completely destitute and left homeless by the confiscation of his house in Kassel by the Americans and his family estate in Saxony by the Soviets, he was utterly broken. Furthermore, he faced the threat of extradition to the Soviet Union by the Americans, who were bitter about his release by the British, if he ever attempted to enter an American occupied zone of Germany. The only feasible punishment left would have been death, which would happen in just a few years anyway. As a side note, this video was far too short. A biography should not be 8 minutes.

@MrCarpelan

4 жыл бұрын

Maybe he should've thought about that eventuality before he embarked on a war of genocide.

@Intreductor

4 жыл бұрын

@@MrCarpelan get some perspective before saying shit like that.

@MasterofGamesBr

4 жыл бұрын

Why he shouldn't face further trials ? Because he was a broken poor man ? That's not how justice works anywhere in the world (you certainly wouldn't want a man to murder someone dear to you and never be convicted because he was too old), the crimes he committed oesn't go way because of his personal circumstances.

@laiyinquan8355

3 жыл бұрын

@@MrCarpelan @George Carpelan If I may quote Mr. Indy Neidell from 1:05 - 1:12, "..., and they were all raise in classic Prussian tradition with an emphasis on disciplines modesty, honor, and obedience'. While his ignorance of the atrocities committed under his watch was unacceptable, he was bound by his obedience to the Nazi state. I hope you understand the situation the Wehrmacht's generals faced. While the SS were idealistic zealots who lived and died for the Führer, the Wehrmacht were merely an army, just like any other country's. Some wanted to keep their career in the military, which is why they followed Hitler as his generals in the Wehrmacht. Some were afraid of the consequences of not joining Hitler, like being shot. We cannot use today's ideals to judge the actions of the past. Look at cancel culture and woke culture! I hardly think these ideals will be as prevalent during imperialistic Britain. It is only after the disbanding of the empire could we have criticised the racist views the British had over the people in their colonial territories. Similarly, we cannot think like we have freedom and speech and the right to go against your superiors without fear of heavy repercussions. People can go as far as saying they could've staged a military coup and overthrow Hitler. I felt hat is very far-fetched. We need to understand the influence Hitler had in his generals. His commandeering presence, his charm, anything.

@zachariahwade8482

3 жыл бұрын

Got off easy if you ask me

He probably had more in common with his 17th century Prussian ancestors than 20th century Fascism.

@MrZauberelefant

3 жыл бұрын

@@Stobus44 National Socialism wasn't fascism? I strongly beg to differ here.

@nonautemrexchristus5637

3 жыл бұрын

@@MrZauberelefant Nazis like to use the excuse that national socialism isn't fascism, despite the two being practically identical and having links to fascist movements in Europe prior to and after Hitler became the head of the party.

@MrZauberelefant

3 жыл бұрын

@@nonautemrexchristus5637 got that. The question was genuine to get the previous poster to elaborate and make a fool of himself.

@nonautemrexchristus5637

3 жыл бұрын

@@MrZauberelefant there's no point mate, they just sidestep around being fascist and shout snowflake until you give up trying to reason with them

@MrZauberelefant

3 жыл бұрын

@@nonautemrexchristus5637 true! But it's always fun to expose them to the onlookers, calling them out, even if they still deny.

I know it's beyond the scope of this channel, but I always find it interesting what these people did after the war aswell as when they died. Even if it's just in one sentence. Especially since many nazi's took up important government/military roles after the war. Otherwise an awesome episode as always!

@michimatsch5862

4 жыл бұрын

limonade no spoilers. That‘s still some time of.

@varana

4 жыл бұрын

@@michimatsch5862 But will they ever mention these people again when the war is over? Or will the channel call it quits at that point, like Indy did with the Great War? What is the chance that von Rundstedt will get a specific mention detailing his later life? (He was seriously ill and died in 1953, so he didn't do anything important.)

@michimatsch5862

4 жыл бұрын

varana312 Indy did talk about a few WW1 figures on this channel. I remember that there was a video about von Hotzendorf among others.

Keep up the videos guys, great job as always.

There is no way that a general as competent and professional as Rundstedt didn't know that his units were carrying out war crimes on such a scale.

@arielquelme

Жыл бұрын

He knows. But powerless to prevent it

Can you do a special on Johannes Blaskowitz? I think he has an even more complex history and his death is fascinating

@WorldWarTwo

4 жыл бұрын

He's on the longlist.

@timcolledge3732

3 жыл бұрын

Gen Blaskowitz was a brave man who was not afraid to protest about the heinous crimes committed by the SS and Gestapo. Tragically, he committed suicide when imprisoned in Nuremberg.

@davefloyd9443

3 жыл бұрын

@@timcolledge3732 or did the other Nazi prisoners throw him off?

Great episode!!

Gerd von Rundstedt was one of the best German commanders during World War 2. He served with distinction throughout the war although he did suffer from poor health several times, and he did grow increasingly demoralized over its course and frustrated with Hitler's interference, to the extent that he at one point even developed a severe alcohol problem. This alcohol problem, which he developed while on the Eastern Front, became so severe that several people, including Hitler, became worried that he might literally drink himself to death. Since it coincided with his refusal to attack Rostov Rundstedt was removed from command and retired(though as far as I know his excessive drinking wasn't an official reason for this).

I gentleman I knew, a family friend, joined the US Army in the late 30's. He served in N. Africa, Sicily, and France / Belgium / and Germany in the infantry. While watching an episode of "The World at War" I made a negative comment about Rundstedt. He pulled me up short and said that Rundstedt was "the best they had" and that the GIs had respect for his ability. I imagine it speaks volumes when you, 30 years after, still have respect for your foe.

@mathswithgarry7104

2 жыл бұрын

Montgomery rated Rundstedt, and even said that he was better than Rommel. I do have to say that Rundstedt had resources that Rommel could only dream of, but even so....its a decent compliment.

@malcolmrose3361

2 жыл бұрын

@@mathswithgarry7104 I think that Rommel was over-promoted - a good divisional general but not really suited to higher command. Hence the Afrika Korps running beyond it's supply capability so often.

@anthonyfuqua6988

Жыл бұрын

@@malcolmrose3361 The Afrika Corp never had anywhere near the supplies they needed even in the good times when Rommel was racing across Africa. Hitler and the OKW couldn't keep him supplied. Once the Americans landed it was over. Squeezed in a vice.

Rundstedt is one of the most interesting figures in the German military.

@unknownip6741

4 жыл бұрын

@@CarstenOepping Still nothing compared to the red plague in the east. Greetings from the Netherlands.

@mijnkampvuur

4 жыл бұрын

@@unknownip6741 Gerd von Rundstedt was een ordinaire crimineel. Vrijgesproken op politieke gronden.

@Wawrzon161

4 жыл бұрын

@@CarstenOepping can you elaborate a little?

@stevekaczynski3793

4 жыл бұрын

I think he was typical of the virtues and failings of the military caste to which he belonged.

@G-Mastah-Fash

4 жыл бұрын

@@mijnkampvuur Wait lemme try to translate that. Gerd von Rundstedt was an ordinary criminal. Absolved of guilt for political reasons.

Thanks for coverage

Excellent upload.

This is actually a pretty incredible video, and I think we should take a moment to appreciate what a fine line was successfully walked here. If you're into military history, it's impossible not to be drawn to these generals, and many of them offer lessons that should be studied and understood to this day, regardless of their politics. On the other hand, there is a certain amount of culpability for the atrocities of WW2 that they all should bear. How do you divorce a man from his politics enough to learn from, but not so much that you downplay their wrong doing? It's a very real ethical and professional challenge for a historian to deal with, and this is about as text book an example as you're likely to find, about how to approach such controversies in a professional manner. Would love to see some more of these. Rommel, Manstein, and Guderian all invoke similar controversies that never seem to be adequately addressed.

@WorldWarTwo

4 жыл бұрын

We will address them as well in future episodes!

How bad that such a fashionable mustache today is associated with Nazis.

@Typhy7

4 жыл бұрын

Not in India. Most people still have mustaches like that here. Nazi history is not really given any importance over here. Most people here don't even know what a Nazi is. That may seem like a bad thing, but it all works out.

@BangFarang1

4 жыл бұрын

I have a group picture of my grand parents wedding in 1928 France. Half of the men bear that kind of mustache. Even Charlie Chaplin had it in the movies.

@pedrolopez8057

4 жыл бұрын

@@Typhy7 That's too bad considering how many Indians died fighting for the brits against the Nazi regime.

@amulyagupta441

4 жыл бұрын

@@Typhy7 that's a harsh harsh generalisation. I honestly haven't seen anyone with a hitler moustache and I have travelled almost all over India except north east. (I'm 23). Also many people do know about the nazi's especially mine and my parent's generation (my great grandfather and many in the extended family fought for free france and britain and lived to tell the tale). Maybe the new millennial generation doesn't find it that grim as everything is a meme nowadays.

@amulyagupta441

4 жыл бұрын

@@pedrolopez8057 simply not true what OP said.

Interesting episode! I'd love more of these biography specials :D

@WorldWarTwo

4 жыл бұрын

We will continue doing them!

Thanks for the info .

You know learning more of the German history I came to realize that it's similar to my country somalia interns of ideology. For example 1. We both wanted to unite our people under one nation. 2. Both think we were superior to our neighbours and to other countries. 3. Both were led to dark history by people who are ethnically German and somali but not from the actual countries. Like Hitler and siyad barre. I mean I can go on for ever.

@thebog11

4 жыл бұрын

This may seem like a stupid question, but how are things in Somalia? My knowledge of your country's history doesn't go beyond the American involvement ("Black Hawk Down").

@inamacalin1

4 жыл бұрын

@@thebog11 I mean we are coming around, you know. The civil war is over but we still not done with terrorists. It's a little saver now than when i was growing up. Yeah I know alot of people only know us through blackhawk down and captain Philip's but it's more than that.

@ahmedalseif5774

4 жыл бұрын

@@inamacalin1 barre was doing pretty well until the soviets started supporting the ethiopiens

@abdulfatahhassan4197

4 жыл бұрын

Where was siad bare originally from?

@inamacalin1

4 жыл бұрын

@@abdulfatahhassan4197 he was born in shillaabo Ethiopia.

They had a warped sense of honor which, in the event, took a back seat to obedience, anyway.

@BELCAN57

4 жыл бұрын

Antisemitism was rampant in Germany regardless of political affiliation.

@dk6024

4 жыл бұрын

@@BELCAN57 invading other non-hostile countries and considering it honorable service is the warped sense of honor to which I refer.

@MilkmanOfTheApocalypse

4 жыл бұрын

@@omelett9 Even taking your argument at face value about France, there's still the fact that Poland, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia didn't even exist 30 years ago. And Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway all hadn't done anything to Germany.

@danielgrosu1116

4 жыл бұрын

@@omelett9 what are you talking about?

@hallos977

4 жыл бұрын

@@omelett9 I am sorry, could you please explain how Czechoslovakia, Poland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Yugoslavia, Greece or the USSR many of which didn't even exist raped Germany 30 years prior? I can understand France, because of the harshness of the Versailles treaty, but it would be France who got raped by Germany since the combat in the Great War was going on its territory, and it was the French who had to rebuild their country, many people seem to forget that. Adolf Hitler's regime deserves no excuses for the crimes it committed

Thank you for reminding us of these facts Indy.

First video of yours I've seen, and Ihave to say that your cadence, timbre and accent make your voice perfect for presenting on this era.

One of the few high ranking officers who officially denounced the war crimes was Blaskowitz. Ironically the only Generaloberst in 1939 that was not promoted to Field Marshal during the war.

@stevekaczynski3793

4 жыл бұрын

@@Fedorahatter There have been rumours Blaskowitz was murdered by other inmates.

Great episode and struck me how well Paul Hartmann played the role of von Rundstedt in the longest day, even the likeness was there.

Watched the whole thing. Wow. Great video. Great Info

If I am not mistaken,von ruenstead was relieved of command during the Normandy campaign.He wanted to retreat by Hitler told him to stand his ground.His replacement also asked Hitler to retreat ,but got the same answer The battle of the falais pocket where 10 German divisions got surrounded and cut off was disastrous for the Germans.They were in full retreat after that encirclement.

Rundstedt was raised in the Prussian way, for him, the unquestionable and absolute loyalty of the army towards the state and its leaders was of the utmost importance, he was a product of a bygone era and any persecution against him would have been needless. Noone could have shaken his deep-rooted beliefs. Also, his deteriorating health made him unfit to stand before an international tribunal.

@castor3020

4 жыл бұрын

nuremberg trials weren't about rehabilitating "criminals", it was about dealing justice. Do you think a hardline nazi would really change their ideals based upon their sentence? No. They are hardly different in that sense to Rundstedt. He was guilty of crimes against humanity = he should have been tried, no matter what. I do sympathize his situation, effectively between a rock and a hard place. But we must not forget that he was an accomplice the one of the worst crimes against humanity ever.

@rosiehawtrey

4 жыл бұрын

Don't talk such drivel. If it had been about justice they'd have been going on today. Justice had nothing to do with it - people who should have been there weren't because they were "useful". Ishii got off because he gave the Americans his info, the Russians wanted to lynch him. Gehlen got off because he was useful to the Western powers - Russia wanted to lynch him.. Notice however how Zhukov, Kruschev and the rest of the Russians who were perfectly capable of Nelsoning atrocities - they were some of the judges. The *biggest* bunch of murdering psychopaths of modern times - aka the Stavka (their side and the other) get to preside over the trials.... And you think it was about justice? No one mentioned operation Anthropoid for that matter - or how Jews were turned back from the UK even when they had passports or visas - invariably ending up with a dose of the Haber Special.. If any historian ever has the balls to be honest about the Nuremburg trials the world would probably spontaneously combust. Think on this. The Germans made the French surrender in a certain railway carriage and the allies put the boot into the Nazis and the successor government at Nuremburg... Justice my ass.

@castor3020

4 жыл бұрын

@@rosiehawtrey "If it had been about justice they'd have been going on today." What does this even mean? as in they would have postponed until the 21st century? Nothing is Black and White Rosie, a thing can be grey, or black and white at the same time; The purpose of the nuremberg trials was justice, this is an irrefutably fact, but was it succesful? or was it done correctly? Did some of the participants try to use it as a political tool? those are entirely different questions. Don't get your feelings and political bias in the middle of this.

Most career officers do not question the motivation or morality of the state they serve and simply obey the orders given to them. That is still the case today.

@brag0001

4 жыл бұрын

It shouldn't be, and at least in the German army a different behavior is expected today, not only from generals, but all the way down to the recruits.

@GiraffeFeatures

4 жыл бұрын

Exactly. Not every General in the US Army is a supporter of Trump, not every high ranking French officer a supporter of Macron (insert literally any country and their corresponding leader into this scenario and it stands). This is yet another case of 21st Century ideals being perpetuated on man who's main crime was being on the losing team. At the time Jews and Bolsheviks were viewed as enemies of the state, it was his job to defend Germany and destroy her enemies. War is not black and white, it is not as simple as saying he is guilty as the rest of them nor was he in any position to question an order that contained the idea of eradicating his country's perceived enemies.

@brag0001

4 жыл бұрын

@@GiraffeFeatures He was in that position and he chose not to. His career would have taken a hit, but that's about it ...

@GiraffeFeatures

4 жыл бұрын

@@brag0001 His career would have taken a hit? Are you kidding me? He would have at best been made to kill himself like Rommel was or they would have skipped a step and just lined up him against a wall. They were beyond career prospects at that point.

@brag0001

4 жыл бұрын

@@GiraffeFeatures sorry, that's just plain wrong, as evidenced by literally thousands of soldiers who didn't take part in those killings and didn't even suffer minor repercussions. The Nazis were evil enough, no need to invent additional horrors they didn't actually commit. Being forced to those killings at point blanc is not what actually happened. It's just a convenient excuse invented after the war.

Great bio episode, please make more of these

Great video

Thank you the time ghost production for education about some lesser known generals.I hope this continuses both with English german japanise chinice and other generals from the war. They are often forgotten behind its resoective nations leaders. Thank you for educating me and the masses of history buffs.

Seems like a politician. Smart enough to keep himself from hitler retribution and allied justice.

@stevekaczynski3793

4 жыл бұрын

After the July 20 plot Hitler regretted not doing more to Nazify the Wehrmacht and even thought Stalin had had the right idea in shooting many of his generals. However, WW2 for the Germans was fought with a combination of Nazism as the controlling political brain and old-style Prussian/German military conservatives actually setting the military operations in motion, with Rundstedt being a good example of the latter.

Fine video much obliged

Excellent video!

@WorldWarTwo

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

It's one thing to be a non-nazi and another thing to be an anti-nazi. They hold two entirely different moral statures.

@rhtz23

Жыл бұрын

I agree, an important distinction.

@sirbillius

Жыл бұрын

Exactly. You can be a non-Nazi general in the Wehrmacht. You cannot be an anti-Nazi general in the Wehrmacht.

Trying to keep politics out of war is ignoring what Clausewitz said, "War is the continuation of politics by other means."

@spudpud-T67

3 жыл бұрын

Exactly : how is war not a political act. It would be like saying killing Jews is just racial purification. And like recently hatred of white skin is the new order.

Good work, Dr. Nadel.

Good to see you back Indy - Loved the WW1 series.

The guy on the far right just stepped off of the plane from North Africa sporting his awesome Tan ! 5:36

If he was an honourable commander, he would accept responsibility for his orders whether or not he was approving them.

@castor3020

4 жыл бұрын

Responsibility of what, and pointed out by whom? Who's authority would he accept to judge him? Probably only the head of state of the German Republic but Germany proper did not exist until 1990.

@draganmiladinovic2272

4 жыл бұрын

@@castor3020 Those are good questions and i am not the person who is credible to answer it. But i consider honor as personally knowing the difference between good and bad and picking the right side. Anyone could say he had no choice but honor is toughth attribute to deserve.

@jeffersongraves5295

4 жыл бұрын

Well he’s dead now so he can’t hurt your feelings anymore.

fabulous vid

This was very interesting. Thank you!

For redistributing Reichenaus Decree he should have definetly been trialed at Nuremberg.

@MasterofBlitz

4 жыл бұрын

He didn’t as he was extremely frail and his age was rapidly catching up to him. He would die in 1948 (if I am correct) due to an extremely frail health and after his wife died he lost the will to go on.

@nb2008nc

4 жыл бұрын

@@MasterofBlitz So what if he was? You don't prosecute someone out of mercy, when the perp was at least partially responsible for millions of crimes against humanity?

@wizardmagic1580

4 жыл бұрын

Remember how when the Golden State Killer was found he faked hinself being old and weak when he could easily jog a few miles without breaking a sweat weeks earlier.

@citywokbesitzer6834

4 жыл бұрын

@@nb2008nc Many of the officials in the Nuremburg Trials got their prison time shorted because of Health Issues tho

@nb2008nc

4 жыл бұрын

@@citywokbesitzer6834 That's a lot different than saying he shouldn't be put on trial in the first place.

Would love to see one of these about Erwin Rommel!

@sulil1938

3 жыл бұрын

@@DalekovDRA Wait, what do you mean by "chaos in the comments"? Is there something I've been missing out on? Lol

@davidpesha3841

3 жыл бұрын

he has done a rommel special on his worlf war one channel

@idontwantmyrealnameonhere5955

3 жыл бұрын

Or Manstein, who was even a NATO advisor in the 50s.

Indy, this is the best biography since Monash in the Great War! Thank you!

A splendid presentation.Thanks for the video sir.

Any chance of a special on the Cunningham family during the war? They all seem to hold high posts in the British military and all seem to be reasonably successful

4:01 that happened with Erwin Rommel I think

@mariosvourliotakis778

4 жыл бұрын

It did but later on in the war.

@Filipas-el9sp

4 жыл бұрын

@Corbin Moore yeah I know... I suppose there were more german generals asked to take down Hitler...

Excellent Episode Indeed.

i learn a lot from this thank you indy and crew take care all of you gen patton i wish he was featured here in the future thanks

@alexfish3120

4 жыл бұрын

What's the deal with Rudnstedt's uniform?

Those who decided which Nazi official or military member would be tried at the Nuremberg trials and who would be found guilty or not, were overall not that tough towards some of these German generals such as Gerd Von Rundstedt. Many high ranking officers got away without being found guilty for the crimes that they knew were being committed under their command.

@fragmaster101

4 жыл бұрын

What's even worse is that the majority of lower ranking Nazis got away with it and even occupied positions in Adenauers' goverment.

@pedddler

4 жыл бұрын

@@fragmaster101 Mark Felton productions which is another great WW2 you tuber, has three recent clips which explain in detail how those lower ranking Nazis got away by getting assistance from the Vatican who showed sympathy and provided protection for them when they managed to flee the occupied Germany.

@fragmaster101

4 жыл бұрын

@@pedddler I'm subscribed to Mark Felton but I missed this one! Thanks I'll check it out!

@stevekaczynski3793

4 жыл бұрын

British officers in particular often seem to have felt a certain social solidarity with people like Rundstedt or Manstein - American officers less so.

You gotta be a special kind of person to deny committing atrocities when there's pictures of your guys shooting unarmed families

@erikhesjedal3569

4 жыл бұрын

Keep on virtue signalling. If your argument is valid, then allies were guilty of genocide since pics of soviets at katyn etc etc. Evil is in you, not everywhere else.

@hayessingerrunning4370

4 жыл бұрын

@@erikhesjedal3569 what, I was just pointing out the evil in this guy, I agree the allies weren't the "good guys" I would never say that. Evil was committed on both sides.

@axelpatrickb.pingol3228

4 жыл бұрын

@Corbin Moore Or even legally screwing said citizens over. Up until the internment, Japanese-Americans are protected under the Constitution while German Jewish citizens have their rights removed under the 1935 Nurember laws...

@GabeNsApostle

4 жыл бұрын

In the particular example you provided, Generalfeldmarschall von Rundstedt cannot be trialled for war crimes solely because soldiers under his general command committed atrocities, which he may or may not have known about. As he is a general and not a frontline field-grade officer, he isn’t privy to everything his entire theatre’s worth of men commit unbeknownst to him. However, if there were orders that he had provided to his subordinates or if evidence were to surface that showed complicity in the atrocities committed behind the frontlines, then he could be held responsible for such atrocities.

@hayessingerrunning4370

4 жыл бұрын

@Trp Account you are if you're in command of them

Spot on Indy, good one.

It should be noted; Von Rundstedt's uniform is distinct from those of his peers. He held the honorary position of "Chief of a Regiment", not unlike the "Father of the Regiment" title in the US. This gave von Rundstedt the right to wear Infantry officer insignia in leu of General grade insignia. In the Wehrmacht, the color of the backing material on collar tabs and shoulder board show the branch of the Army. White for infantry, yellow for cavalry, etc. . Only his shoulder boards would reflect his rank as a Field marshal, with the underlay changed to white instead of General grade crimson red. Von Rundstedt was very proud of this position and wore with distinction asserting him as the "Grand Old Man" of the Wehrmacht. He wore the uniform until his surrender to the Allies in 1945. It's history that deserves to be remembered.

It's amazing how unbiased you are while doing your work! Great work, Indy!

@SmokinLoon5150

3 жыл бұрын

Well said, I was thinking the same thing. :)

It's hard to not feel desensitized to violence at this point, but man that image at 7:15 is heart breaking.

@manticoraLN-p2p-bitcoin

3 жыл бұрын

I'm photographer... I can almost assure you the soldier is not pointing the gun to the woman and the kid... Looks like he is about a meter farther than the woman and kid. I am almost assure he is point to someone not in the frame...

@manticoraLN-p2p-bitcoin

3 жыл бұрын

If you take a closer look you'll find other 2 soldiers taking cover behind that "undefined barrier", the woman carrying the child is running to that position. I'll see if I can find some info about it...

wow i didnt even know any of this .....i freaking love this channel!

Incredible video as well.

@WorldWarTwo

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video!

Thank you for this brief yet thorough and insightful summary of Rundstedt's military career. Well done. I also read that high ranking officers like Rundstedt received a lot of 'gifts' from Hitler, which probably helped soften their minds...

The crime of Rundstedt was that he looked the other way. He knew, he took advantage of the situation. He gave the Nazi Army a façade of respectability.

Its also worth noting he was made an honorary colonel for a regiment and thus wore a colonels uniform in their hinour, despite being a field marshal. Officers who were higher ranking than a colonel and didnt recognise him used to refer to him by that rank, much to his amusement.

There was this Guy in Polish Navy, Unrug, who was German but stayed in Poland after Great War, was captured during WWII and refused not only to join Germans but also refused to speak German and demanded a translator during interrogations.

While it's true that both Reichenau and Rundstedt had a high degree of moral culpability for the deeds of the Einsatzgruppen in the area of Army Group South, it's simply incorrect to state, as you did, that these Death Squads were under Reichenau's and ultimately Rundstedt's command. The Einsatzgruppen were not part of the Wehrmacht chain of command and reported directly to the RSHA, this is, Heydrich (later Kaltenbrunner) and Himmler. The Wehrmacht were ordered to provide logistical support, which to their shame they did, but that's it.

How could you ever be an apolitical general? Is there anything less apolitical than war?

@samvannoyen713

4 жыл бұрын

It is often times seen as a disgrace to be very political in a party sence in the military. This is because most militaries see themselves as a relatively autonomous institute, seperate of constantly altering politics.

@eyeyayayay

4 жыл бұрын

I think the idea is that the decision to go to war is political, but most of the military strategies and tactics used to fight the war are (usually) things that the politicians don’t understand or have a strong opinion on. So the generals are there to advise the politicians on what strategies and tactics to use, regardless of whether they support the decision to go to war or the politicians they are advising. So they are supposed to be “apolitical” in the same way that civil servants are “apolitical” - they serve the politicians no matter what they think of the politicians or their policies.

@LeutnantJoker

4 жыл бұрын

Tell that to the US generals, of which one retired example has recently stated that any criticism of Trump (no matter what you think of the man) should not be done by an on-duty general, only a retired one, since a serving generals first duty is obedience and being unpolitical no matter what. Seems the modern US army hasn't learned a THING from WW2.

@stevekaczynski3793

4 жыл бұрын

To them, not being into politics meant they did not belong to a political party. In a broader sense, however, these generals and field marshals were invariably conservative German nationalists and that was how they looked at the world.

@tonygumbrell22

3 жыл бұрын

At last somebody here who gets this.

Interesting way of telling a history using such a good, enjoyable deep voice! Taking off my hat!

I'm sure you know that is not a Nazi uniform any more than a US soldier in WW2 was wearing a Capitalist uniform.

"I thoroughly concur with it's contents." That's it, there is nothing more to say. War criminal.......Babi Yar. He beat the rap.

@howardcoles3537

4 жыл бұрын

suferdude44444. You are totally right . That " I concur" etc statement proves beyond any doubt he was a war criminal and should have been tried as such at Nuremberg along with the rest of the evil bastards.

@gavanthornton4484

4 жыл бұрын

He beat the rap, he also beat the trap (door).

Well if rundstedt had no power to stop his own troops from doing atrocities he had option of resigning, if not deserting even to keep his hands clean. But to me it seems that his country and carier was far more important then his own ethic.

Nice ep

One of the worst thing about war crimes aside from their perpetration is the lack of justice. A lot of under the table deals or new priorities had to be considered in the birth of the cold war era that let a lot of people with more and less blood on their hands walk free.

On the flip side... What do you think his fate would have been if he openly defied Hitler and the Nazi party.

In regards to men like Runstedt and others in the German Army at the time I'm reminded by a quote from Kingdom of Heaven "...Even when those who move you be kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God you cannot say 'but I was told by others to do thus' or that 'virtue was not convenient at the time.' This will not suffice."

@forickgrimaldus8301

2 жыл бұрын

Anachronistic film but that is a good quote.

Would love to see one of these for Johannes Blaskowitz, who not only protested the atrocities Germany was committing against Poland and Russia but also ordered several SS personnel executed because of their actions.

Great episode as always, would love to see bio episode for the Canadian soldier Leo Major, though it would make sense to wait until the liberation of the Netherlands to air it.

Personally I love the bio episodes, can give you insight into how the figures might make decisions in the future;D

Can you do a video on Andrey Vlasov ?

@blabla-ud5wn

4 жыл бұрын

Yes I can

Nice I’m early, keep up the great videos

Rather good - well presented in an attention grabbing style, and thought provoking; all with no unnecessary waffle. I'm impressed