An outstanding German officer who deserves a special place in history and we would have never known without Mark Felton productions

It's unbelievable that there is no Wikipedia entry for Erich Lepkowski in the English version. There is one in the German version. Other parts of his life story are amazing. He was later wounded and literally left for dead on a pile of corpses until a doctor noticed signs of life. He went on to have patented inventions, re-enlisted, despite having lost an eye when wounded, and held a world record for nighttime parachuting.

Wow driving that far behind enemy lines to effect a rescue! That chap had a serious pair on him

@johnlowell5905

5 жыл бұрын

Thought I knew most everything about the Normandy campaign, but I was wrong. Good job!

@geronimo5537

5 жыл бұрын

I don't know how he could even walk or sit down with such a pair.

There was a big POW camp in Northern Canada, hundreds of miles from anybody. The German prisoners escaped regularly. And went back when they got hungry.

I served my time in the German Army as a Fallschirmjäger in Luftlandebrigade 31. Lepkowski is still a legend.

@wolfgangselle4307

5 жыл бұрын

WildDice ... and me I was serving on the East side .... FJB 40 ( later LstR 1 ) 4. Kompanie

Erich Lepkowski war ab 1961 Hauptmann und Kompanie Chef der 1./272 in Wildeshausen. Zu dieser Zeit als aktiver Offizier der Bundeswehr stellte er einige Höhen Weltrekorde im Fallschirmsprung auf. Dieser hervorragende Mann ist auf ewig unvergessen in unserer Truppe!

Doesn't matter which army you fight for, that kind of a mission takes balls and nerves of steel. And only 3 men lightly wounded? Crazy!

One of my grandfather's cousins was a Fallschirmjäger in World War II. Fell on the eastern front. I still have 3 photos of him in uniform. As long as I live he will not be forgotten.

@LibertyMapper

5 жыл бұрын

Interessant. Fallschirmjäger an der Ostfront. Weißt du wo genau und zu welchem Zeitraum er gedient hat?

My father was with the 2.FJ Division in Brest and mentioned this incident. Lepkowski had retired as a Lt.Col. 8 years before I joined the Bundeswehr paratroopers (initially 5/262)

Amazing story of professional soldiering

We always hear about the allied raids but never the Axis ones. History should be told for both sides. Its history after all.

@richardkluesek4301

5 жыл бұрын

Perhaps in another generation or two. Just as Napoleon and his forces were regarded in the early to mid 19 Century with dread, but not at all today, so too are those of the Germans even now but time distances old taboos.

@paulhart8814

5 жыл бұрын

5 people decide the schools cariculem, suprisingly, they have nothing to do with education, in fact are newspaper barons, so no never will happen

@oceanhome2023

5 жыл бұрын

When PC is pushed back we will see more . The exploits of the Vikings and of the Pirates have been discussed with out fear for some time now , it will take a while for the Germans to reach that level of discussion. This is why it is so refreshing to hear a story as this

@ThijsVanDalen

5 жыл бұрын

''History is always written by the winners. When two cultures clash, the loser is obliterated, and the winner writes the history books-books which glorify their own cause and disparage the conquered foe''

@HiTechOilCo

5 жыл бұрын

You just heard about an Axis raid, so yes you do hear about them. History *is* being told for both sides.

Paratroopers always seem to do amazing things

If this had been a British raid they would have made a film about it in the style of The Dambusters, The Cockleshell Hero's and The Great Escape and broadcast it every Christmas for 60 years.

@heno02

5 жыл бұрын

Offcourse, no one wants to paint Nazis fighting for genocide and mass murder positively. They don't deserve it. People should celebrate their defeat not their successes.

@Si1entHitman

5 жыл бұрын

@@heno02 no one is falling for your soviet/allied propaganda anymore, real people care about the truth and not about post-war lies, you want to look at genocide than look at what the "allies" did nothing compared to told propaganda about Germany.

@tobymcelhinney5354

5 жыл бұрын

It is almost like the Brits like making a film about their own people and the Americans theres. Germany had made good films about their people too (generation war). So blame the German film industry no-one else.

@heno02

5 жыл бұрын

@Gunther H.G. Geick Care to explain? I don't get your meaning. If you wonder why people (including me) take such a strong stance against historical revisionism and nazi apologia, is because the mindset of what drove the world into flames 70 years ago are still alive today and gaining ground.

@timothyphillips5043

5 жыл бұрын

Be quiet you fool.

For many specialists, the Fallschirmjäger were the best troops of the Second World War. In regards to general Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke, he was an outstanding officer who, after being left behind during the Battle of El-Alamein, was able to get back to German lines after capturing a British convoy in the desert.

This should be a movie!!!!! I Really mean it.

@Jonathan-pz6ws

5 жыл бұрын

Such a good idea !!

@giostisskylas

5 жыл бұрын

If in Germany of the year 2019 someone would only make the suggestion to produce a film in which Wehrmacht soldiers are portrayed positively, the media will slaughter you and you will be forever decried as a Nazi. The greatest enemy of German history are the Germans themselves. After 75 years of re-education by the Western Allies, a morbid self-hatred has set in among the Germans. One day perhaps, when the German people have recovered from the narrative of the German collective guilt and the self-congratulation of the Western Allies, we Germans have again an objective relationship to our history. But this day is still far.

@LibertyMapper

5 жыл бұрын

@@giostisskylas Naja es gibt zum Beispiel "Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter", wobei auch die humane Seite zweier Brüder dargestellt wird, die für ihr Vaterland kämpfen.

The French Resistance forces were well known for executing any Germans that fell into their hands. US Army forces also freed German prisoners from the French to prevent an all out massacre of POWs.

@joepaul9855

5 жыл бұрын

Do you blame the french?

@chooyongming110

5 жыл бұрын

The French also massacred Algerians after the war

@wirelessone2986

5 жыл бұрын

Did not know that

@mahouaniki4043

5 жыл бұрын

Does this count as war crime?

@vito7428

5 жыл бұрын

I don't want to say the French did nothing but after the Allies came they went power crazy. Although they were still vulnurable,they were doing things a superpower country far from danger would be doing.

I don't give a damn if he was a Nazi enemy or not, Lt. Lepkowski had balls of steel and the heart of a lion. He sounds like one of those rare officers who could inspire his men to take on such a mad, perilous operation. Thats the right word, inspire.

@zepter00

5 жыл бұрын

14miki ha has Polish surname..so nothing strange he didnt know what fear is.

@stevshaboba7476

5 жыл бұрын

You know little of the Wehrmacht

True camaraderie, respect to the German paratroopers.

Never heard before. Pretty brave and good example of leadership bringing all + more back home.

Another unknown interesting story. Thanks for posting.

@MarkFeltonProductions

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks

@machinenkanone9358

5 жыл бұрын

But it's the Werhmacht. So its bad.

Sounds like a brilliant operation carried out by very good soldiers. Mark Felton is an extraordinary historian of WWII.

Germany’s band of brothers.

I just finished watching your video on the pre-dreadnought Mikasa, and now I get treated to this jewel! I've studied history (predominantly military history) for over fifty years now, and your videos are more professionally done- and narrated- than many so-called "documentaries" made for T.V. I kid you not. Kudos to you sir, and a "WELL DONE".

@MarkFeltonProductions

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching

I wrote a screenplay concerning this mission in 1989, and "shopped" it to Spielberg when I worked on Schindler's List and Band of Brothers. It got some interest and initial traction, but no direct financing. Maybe I'll take another stab at it?

I have read many escapades regards the Green Devils but never heard of this outrageously bold operation. Fantastic little story.

This raid is so underrated..... Imagine the charisma and skill it would take to literally bullshit your way through 75miles of enemy check points from the front line with phony uniforms, papers and vehicles LOL! They’re French must have been flawless! Why is this not a meme?

Bravo. Of course practically no one, including myself, knew about this prior to this vid because "History is written by the victors."

This is so cunningly beautiful that I almost forget what side they fought for. A shame so many good men died so early in life for nothing.

Two years ago i was in the hospital one of these paratroopers lay with me in the same bedroom-such a nice men in his 90 he looks after me when i came out of the operation room-i think this has been realy special people-also after war!

bravery is bravery ! even if its the enemy that carry's it out

Wow! Pardon my “French”, but those Fallschirmjaeger had some real balls!! And as a military veteran myself (U.S. Army), I would have done the same thing for my brothers in arms. It is also interesting to note that the Fallschirmjaeger treated the French resistance fighters honorably as POWs, even though they probably would have executed their German prisoners. The Luftwaffe seemed to have acted more honorably than other German branches (and Fallschirmjaeger were actually part of the Luftwaffe, not the Heer, or Army).

@peterlustig6888

5 жыл бұрын

Your french? You mean german.

@geronimo5537

5 жыл бұрын

People tend to forget the honor between soldiers of any side. Between the western allies and Germany it was an honorable war with much chivalry. Between Russia and Germany was total war with much horror. The Germans claimed it was because Russia refused to sign the Geneva convention.

@gianlucafalzon5868

5 жыл бұрын

One of the Fallschirmjäger's commandments was actually to give no quarter to armed civilians and guerillas and only bestow the honours of war upon enemy regular military personnel. This explains why the Kondomari reprisal took place during the invasion of Crete, following confirmed reports of German paratroopers murdered in cold blood by Cretan villagers whilst still hanging off of trees, attempting to free themselves of their parachute harness. There was, on the other hand no reported case of British & Commonwealth troops mistreated by the FJ. The case of Lepkowski was likely different since by that point in time, the French Resistance had established themselves as an overt, militia-like force. Additionally, the timely rescue of the German Prisoners before any were executed probably played an important part in the decision, whether these had been detained in poor condition or not.

@jamesruddy9264

5 жыл бұрын

@@peterlustig6888..the term 'pardon, or excuse, my French' is used as a kind of joke when we are using bad language, impolite speech...swearing/cursing. And he is referring to his comment 'real balls' which would be considered in poor taste among polite company.

@opoxious1592

5 жыл бұрын

Fallschirmjaeger are crack troops, that's for sure.

Fallschirmjager were a breed unto themselves. Their cameraderie and esprit de corps was so strong that they could outfight much larger groups of soldiers. Hail to the Green Devils!

More dangerous than Skorzeny's Gran Sasso raid I believe.

@dgerdi

5 жыл бұрын

Of course. The Italians wanted Mussolini to be freed by the germans. There is almost no other explanation why a heavy machinegun in perfect position was removed.

This raid must have been the inspiration for Jack Higgins “The Eagle Has Landed”..

For sheer balls & bravery, they deserved to succeed

Excellent as always, educational and entertaining brilliant!

Thank you for sharing. I'd heard of Crete, but not much else in the German paratroopers. A rescue mission plain and simple. No nazi bs, just men fighting for their friends

Thank you for the vid. One tiny point, the Germans holding the ports were not doing so to contain allied troops, but to prevent the ports being used by the allies to ship in supplies for the invasion forces. A far more important role and one that justified (for once) the order to not surrender.

The Eagle Has landed movie comes to mind..when watching this video. Thanks for posting this.. My Grandfather was a Fallschirmjager though he never really spoke about his time in the war :(

Always you will fine that highly trained Paratroopers can do some outstanding action in rescuing other Paratrooper from the French Resistance in France, what a great feat. These German Paratroopers always showed good military conduct with honour. We salute you.

A few others that spring to mind are Patton's disastrous attempt to rescue his son-in-law, and 33rd Charlemagne's defense of Berlin. One battalion knocked out more than 60 soviet tanks, and held the bunker so the Soviets couldn't capture it on May 1st. Only 10% of the battalion survived, then 12 were immediately shot when they were captured by the western allies. As a Texan, I'm really tired of the censorship of history, and the propaganda. I want to hear about amazing stories like the one in this video.

Excellent story I hadn't heard before. Erich Lepkowski is a hero.

What a superb officer.

This is something you'd see in movie! Outstanding performance by the Fallschirmjäger! So glad the officer went on to help reform the branch for the Bundeswehr!

All these stories from Mark Felton would make awesome WW2 movies

The Fallschirmjager seem to be the overall best regular formation troops of any army in WW II. Of course they had years of on the job training.

Are you kidding me, this really happened? It's awesome and amazing at the same time. For the past month or so 'Mark Felton Productions' has been the first place I go to when I turn on my PC.

@MarkFeltonProductions

5 жыл бұрын

Wonderful to hear

Amazing story. Would love to hear about the exploits of "The Brandenburgers" who were the German equivalent of the SAS.

@opoxious1592

5 жыл бұрын

You have made me curious, i also love these untold stories. It made me realize, there is much to discover regarding these untold stories.

Thank you, Mark, for this amazing story, which I never heard of, despite reading many books on WW2.

@MarkFeltonProductions

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for supporting my channel

Mr.Felton. Again a unheard of act of heroism and a gem. Thank you.

Most American historians tend to ignore anything heroic by the Germans. Joseph Balkoski's 2008 BEACHHEAD TO BRITTANY, an account of the siege & capture of Brest by the US 29th Infantry Division, gets into nitty-gritty detail about American ops, but largely ignores German, except for failed counter-attacks & reactions to US operations. So thanks for this addition & correction to the English language record of the battle.

Wasn't sure if this was an authentic Mark Felton production, until the music at the end. You're getting tricky Mark!

Got to admire anyone with the balls to pull that off, no matter which side he's on. Respect !

Beautiful history and bravery of men supporting their fellow comrades in the hands of questionable resistance who blew with the wind when it came to allegiance Thanks for sharing!

I love the Falshimjager

damn i love your videos! you deserve way more subs, awesome content.

@wirelessone2986

5 жыл бұрын

He will get them

Never count the Germans out of the fight!

As always, you deliver the most interesting and little known stories of the horrible days of WWII. Thank you for your work.

This is what happens when professional elite troops pit themselves against conscripted and amateur soldiers. Thanks for your super video.

Eric lepkowski played true to the insignia he was wearing..,"Gott mit uns".

@yutub69

5 жыл бұрын

O sea, "Dios está con nosotros".

I'd never heard of this story. Lepkowski must have had balls the size of grapefruit. Great stuff!

Thank You, Sir, for always highlighting those stories of WWII very few had heard of. Brings a whole new charm to the topic.

I wonder how they couldn't hear the thunder of clinking steel balls coming their way...

Falshimjager were very respectable in my opinion

Did not know about this one.. A real 'Boys Own' story.. Terrific..

@MarkFeltonProductions

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you

You got to give it to the Germans...they have balls!

No nonsense, no propaganda, no narrators precious opinion. Just facts Thank you, Mark

This needs to be made into a Movie!

Should be a movie about this event

138 French Resistance Fighters disliked the video..

Another text-book fallschirmjaeger mission. Why I'am not surprised?

Why we dont hear such amazing stories of Soldiers carrying out such daring missions, Despite Hitler a fascist and fanatic dictator his army was one of best fighting force & If these operation were carriedout by Allies we would have know it in movies, games, books God knows what not. the truth is HISTORY IS ALWAYS WRITTEN BY VICTORS

This is an outline for what could be a REALLY good movie.

What a superb piece of bravado.

Damn, yet another badass! Green Devil's indeed!

Not many would know about this daring raid, thank you for bring this little known history to light, it is a cracking tale.

Amazing video! Thank you so much.

@MarkFeltonProductions

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks

Did you already do a video on Monte Cassino, where one regiment of Fallschirmjäger defended a monastery on a mountain against several Allied divisions?

Sounds like the storyline from Kelly’s Heroes, 30 miles behind enemy lines, 3 Tanks, other motorised vehicles, etc, but ace piece of History. Imo the French Resistance would be no match for the German Paras arguably their finest Troops ✌️

@Platanis2008

4 жыл бұрын

3 lightly wounded, that says it all...

One and only are Green Devils :))

Thank you for the upload, what an amazing episode.

Awesome video, Mark. Thank you.

The best airborne troops in ww2

Good story! Thanks!

I'm often at least 30 miles from Brest

@topcat8804

5 жыл бұрын

I'm always at least 35 miles from Brest.

@jonnycatland1987

5 жыл бұрын

I like to be right up in breasts as much as possible.

@oceanhome2023

5 жыл бұрын

I like to keep abreast of the situation !

We need a movie of this. Epic stuff

You have done it again!!! I knew NOTHING of this. An you told it so well. Not long-winded with just enough details (unfortunately, brevity is important on KZread - I am guilty of this myself). Thank you for this.

Amazing story! Never heard of this, as mentioned before, that would be an interesting movie. The story line: leave no men behind!

This HAS to be made into a movie. What a remarkable yarn.

Never heard of this operation. Interesting, thx!

What a great story and presentation! It is refreshing to hear objective reporting about such a matter without any political overtones or under-handed comments. Keep up the good work Mark Felton! A key note that is not often mentioned in WWII history was what the Resistance fighters aka Partisans did to captured German soldiers. These Resistance fighters would be called insurgents or terrorists in modern day terms.

That was absolutely amazing story, would like to hear more stories of Axis side like this. Great job with the videos!

@MarkFeltonProductions

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you

Fighter blood and loads of guts... Heroes, no matter which side they were on

Never heard about that one before. Excellent planning and carried out brilliantly no matter what side you are on. Salute

Wow, what an amazing story! I've never heard of this before, but once again you have made another fine piece of military history education. Keep on the great work, you are the best!

The author Len Deighton wrote a book "The Eagle Has Landed". Mr Deighton does his research well, both for his historical narratives ("Fighter")as well as his historic fictional work ("Bomber"), and I can see now where he may have sourced his inclusion of German paratroopers dressed with Polish paratrooper uniforms worn over their German ones and using Allied vehicles from. Thank You Mark. Incidentally Deighton did a very good cover of The Battle of Britain (Which the Germans barely acknowledge as a mere skirmish) in his book "Fighter". Edit/Update I was thinking about this comment that I had made earlier in the day, and then realised that I got Len Deighton mixed up with author Jack Higgins. It was Jack Higgins that wrote "The Eagle Has Landed". Mr Higgins is another author that researches his material well. I feel silly now, but, fair's fair, it was in the mid seventies (before you were born) that I read the book. I find both of these authors make German soldiers human beings, instead of demonising one and all of them with the same brush. So it may have been this little known piece of history that Higgins used so well in his fiction. I enjoy your historic tidbits, very much. I'm actually surprised by how many of them I already knew about, but then your presentations refresh my memory and, or flesh them out a bit more for me. Thank You. Best Regards, your new subscriber, Carlos Allende.

That is an amazing story. A movie would be fantastic!

This story would make a great movie.

Another piece of history I’ve never heard about!

Very ballsy! Thanks for sharing!