"And what do you do for a living?" "I'm an arsonist for the fire department." *"WAIT WHAT?!"*

@vincedibona4687

5 жыл бұрын

Fahrenheit 451

@timomastosalo

4 жыл бұрын

@@vincedibona4687 So that too, was based on Zaharoff

@DotepenecPL

4 жыл бұрын

Terry Pratchett's inspiration.

@zarabada6125

4 жыл бұрын

@@timomastosalo Not really. It is about burning books, not buildings. It is a commentary on America's flirtation with censorship over fears of communism in the 1950s. I can't see any connection to the early life of an Ottoman arsonist, who would grow up to be an arms dealer.

@nicholasbrooks7349

2 жыл бұрын

@@zarabada6125 r/woosh

Zaharoff sounds almost like a James Bond villain.

@jeroldproductions6367

6 жыл бұрын

Well he has been expected him

@1969cmp

5 жыл бұрын

He is featured in 'Reilly Ace of Spies' who some thing Reilly is who James Bind is based off. The whole series is on youtube.

@timomastosalo

4 жыл бұрын

'Almost'. Chronologically, it's the other way around. Would you believe, that Fleming working in espionage not that long after Zaharoff's death, tripping over his weapons, would find material for his villains from him?

@georgew2014

4 жыл бұрын

@@1969cmp There's a story that when Fleming wrote the first Bond book, one of the first things he reportedly said was that Bond was NOT based on Reilly. Which says a lot about Reilly's story being more or less common knowledge.

@1969cmp

4 жыл бұрын

@@georgew2014 ThanKS 😎

"What do I care about 10.000.000 dead, I just sold them the weapons. I never said they should be used to kill each other..." B. Zaharoff

@rronaldreagan

4 жыл бұрын

Spoken like a true j.e.w

@Crimethoughtfull

4 жыл бұрын

Sounds like the reasoning of Yuri Orlov in Lord of War

@nouser6541

4 жыл бұрын

its true. in any murder case the last consious decion that deliberatly lead to death is at fault ie pulling the trigger. he did nothing even vaguely wrong in the sale of weapons

@joshuamarvin7400

4 жыл бұрын

Hey, the words that spurred Hiram Maxim onto going through with his whole 'machine gun' idea was a man telling him that if she wanted to make real money, best he 'market a device to help these Europeans cut each others throats quicker'.

@jakublulek3261

4 жыл бұрын

I mean, he wasn't entirely wrong. He didn't kill anybody. Just like any arms maker/dealer.

"Arsonist for the fire department" ...when real life is weirder than even Terry Pratchett's Discworld.

@TheBespectacledN00b

6 жыл бұрын

Fastwinstondoom He didn't a lot of the more absurd Discworld stuff from history.

@royalradish9412

6 жыл бұрын

Love it

@edwardnigma9756

6 жыл бұрын

It was pretty common throughout history and only recently have fire departments stopped burning down houses deliberately. A lot of fire departments were privately owned back in the day, so naturally they had to get "creative" to fund themselves. Marcus Crassus had his men burn/collapse houses on purpose in order to buy the land for cheap and rebuild it with slave labour. If you didn't want it destroyed, you had to pay him. He became one of the richest men of Rome, if not the world as a result of this. Unlike most, he got his comeuppance in the end.

@nicholaspatton5590

6 жыл бұрын

Like in Fahrenheit 451, when Firemen burn books with flamethrowers.

@stupidturntable

6 жыл бұрын

Fire brigades often used arsonists for the interests in the 19th century. Another disgusting way to generate income for the was their influence in politics. Especially in the US, they were hired to incite riots, fires and threatening and beating up voters for the opposing parties by the politicians of the day.

"He was also a philanthropist" *Awkward silence follows.... *

This guy was truly the Littlefinger of WW1

@97CoolDragon

6 жыл бұрын

Yeah. You could say he brought chaos to Europe. A great big pit in the earth to swallow us all. Wait for it :D

@biggiec8224

6 жыл бұрын

Mr. Smile chaos is a ladder.

@chongli8409

6 жыл бұрын

omg GoT is degenerate

@ozone2031

6 жыл бұрын

Despite the fact Zaharaoff was not kill by a 12 years old girl. oopsie spoiler

@97CoolDragon

6 жыл бұрын

The Chief gets it :D

"He was also very involved in Philanthropy." Well, then that's alright. All else forgiven Basil!

Are we sure this guy didn't pay the Black Hand to shoot Franz Ferdinand? He sounds like the kind of Littlefinger to do this.

@VladTevez

6 жыл бұрын

+P K There is also a rumour that he financed the Freikorps

@jeromesassani9537

5 жыл бұрын

Serbia recently dedicated a statue to Gravil Princip.

@ferdblu1946

3 жыл бұрын

jerome sassani really?

@puzzled012

3 жыл бұрын

uhm, unless all of the historians and documents are lying, Young Bosnia killed archduke. and the members were (oh shock!) from Bosnia

Why isn't this story a movie

@briansmith9439

6 жыл бұрын

Not a movie, but a biased documentary: kzread.info/dash/bejne/iH6kqcFwoai2f6w.html

@teddythefourth2831

6 жыл бұрын

I believe the first Sherlock Holmes movie was inspired by this story

@deanstuart8012

6 жыл бұрын

He does appear a few times in "Reilly, Ace of Spies".

@MrShaneVicious

6 жыл бұрын

thedudepdx he's in the Sidney Reilly mini-series.

@blaximperia

6 жыл бұрын

It was the second Sherlock Holmes. An arms supplier stoking anarchy to pit the European nations against each other.

Wow, you never hear about people like that in mainstream documentations.

@borkwoof696

5 жыл бұрын

Funny Farmer because mainstream documentaries only cover mainstream topics

In the story "The Broken Ear" by Herge, from the Tintin series, there is a reference to this character. Although the name had been changed to Basil Bazarov. He too was arms dealer, and the name of his company was "Korrupt Arms".

What a loyal patriot!

@cerealkiller7143

6 жыл бұрын

Welcome to Greece. Greece is known to produce heroes and traitors in equal amounts.

@helicongremory8480

5 жыл бұрын

@@cerealkiller7143 And sometimes both at the same time. Themistocles and Alcibiades for starter.

@Alchymicae

5 жыл бұрын

CEREAL KILLER technically he was an ottoman product but you can keep it in Greece it’s like we don’t want him but...

@basiltheflowerboy143

3 жыл бұрын

-every nation he sold stuff to

@CaptainHarlock-kv4zt

2 жыл бұрын

@@Alchymicae He was an Ottoman Greek. Actual history does not care about anyone's feelings or views.

We still have our own modern Zaharoffs, though.

@MemeMaster-bg4mf

5 жыл бұрын

Leo And his name was Captain Jack Sparrow.

@arostwocents

4 жыл бұрын

A curse on all weapon dealers houses

@linusdn2777

3 жыл бұрын

And they pretty much run the world

I think there's only one thing to say about Basil Zaharoff: What a character.

This one was really great, thoroughly enjoyed it, and learned a lot.

@andrewhetchler3670

6 жыл бұрын

Be honest did you guys photo shop a puggle in to that shot in Athens?

what a life though...

@joshuadevonshire4561

6 жыл бұрын

nikos carrotkiller it's near incompressible how he was able to do so much

@PetarJovanovic993

6 жыл бұрын

People where really productive without the internet back then.

@ls200076

5 жыл бұрын

@@PetarJovanovic993 Just imagine with the internet *Cries in Cisco*

@uzivatel56

3 жыл бұрын

he sure had bollocks

And people say WW1 was boring. Questions. How did he keep track of all his contacts and move around the world? Did he have a boat which doubled as a HQ?

@VladTevez

6 жыл бұрын

+Mr. Smile he had many agents, from politicians to prostitutes, so he was in everything

@TheDifferenced

6 жыл бұрын

Facebook doesn't exist on that time so he can move on plain sight without any gossipers nor reckless paparazzi's. Yes there's a BIG news that surrounds him BUT it would take a lot of weeks before they knew what he really was. Once they knew it, the did is done. 1 step ahead while they're 2 steps behind.

You could say that he was the Wolf Of Arms Industry

@rooseveltbrentwood9654

4 жыл бұрын

Spartan 412 War Dogs?

It's shame that almost nobody talks about this story.This should be taught in schools. This guy helps to made neutral Grace to go into civil war and later into WW1 in order to sell more weapons.This is closest thing to real life Bond-like villian that you can get. At last at this time.

@pippadawg7037

6 ай бұрын

It makes you wonder what sort of moral paragons are running our current arms businesses.

You've done two of the three cousins at war: Kaiser Wilhelm II and Tsar Nicholas II so what about King George V?

@silvoslaf

6 жыл бұрын

you know it's coming tho

@edwardcamp3376

6 жыл бұрын

He didn't play the active role that Willy and Nicky played since British monarchs are so limited in power. Seems like it'd be a pretty dull special imo.

@vincedibona4687

5 жыл бұрын

You've seen it by now, right?

@georgew2014

4 жыл бұрын

@@edwardcamp3376 But King George V did change "Saxe Coburg and Gotha" to the "House of Windsor."he fact he felt compelled to do that, despite the deference to the Royal family that existed at that time, might actually make for an interesting story.

Zaharoff was portrayed by Leo McKern in the 1983 ITV series Reilly, Ace of Spies. If you ever get the chance, see this series or read the book it's based on. It pretty well much covers the whole period Indy just described.

Selling guns to all side, when I growe up we called it Neutrality :)

@davidhoran7116

6 жыл бұрын

Exploatores happen to be Swiss?

@exploatores

6 жыл бұрын

No but you got four letters right, three even in the right place :)

@theflyingdutchman167

6 жыл бұрын

Exploatores Swedish?

@TheFenderBass1

6 жыл бұрын

Ah sweden my own land and the most unneutral neutral country in the world

@rozakfassah7730

3 жыл бұрын

I call it Switzerland

An amazing character played to perfection by Leo Mckern in the equally fantastic story of Sidney Reilly: Ace of Spies. I can't recommend this series enough!

Im honored

@VladTevez

6 жыл бұрын

+Basil Zaharoff Thanks, boss!

@mehrunesdagon3046

6 жыл бұрын

Basil Zaharoff "cringe intensifies"

@tsar389

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Sir.

This is totally a movie plot

@97CoolDragon

6 жыл бұрын

Better. A mini series.

@jien1988

6 жыл бұрын

Mr. Smile Maybe like Breaking Bad

Interesting..after she died, I found a scrapbook from my mother's youth and in it she'd put Zaharoff's obituary notice. Would've liked to have asked her "wtf, mom?"

@psychronic8327

5 жыл бұрын

Hey man what normal lady can resist that charm and debonair demeanour

As a loyal patriot of mars, Zaharoff sold death rays to martians too.

This would be an epic movie or mini series.

Great episode! Well done.

I am greek .I learned Basil Zacharoff by reading a historical ,biografical fiction story:'Tereza' who was one of the first lovers of Ernest Heminway by a great Greek reporter Freddie Germanos.I was not taught about him from school and there was no reference of him in the public school textbooks.I am really ashamed of my country's poor public education and how classical and general education has been sacrificed to prioritizethe subjects of university entrance . luckily i have a rich library filled with interesting history books and i aspire to cover the gaps that school left me with.Everyone should do that cause if you dont know your history you are doomed to repeat it.

Started as an arsonist for the Istanbul fire department. Ended as an arsonist for the World.

so this is basically the puppet master of the great war

@jonaspete

6 жыл бұрын

schwarz hund nope. There are many such as Rothschild.

@markwalshopoulos

6 жыл бұрын

keroji s lol no. Is the earth also flat? The moon a projection?

@aantony2001

6 жыл бұрын

This reminds me, how are people so upset about a Jewish conspiracy when you have Onasis and Zaharoff and prominent Greek lobbies in Washington? If anything people should be talking about a Greek conspiracy.

@kadudeduder5103

6 жыл бұрын

Steve Kaczynski and then you have to ask who of them actually believe in it?

@gordonshan

6 жыл бұрын

Keith - please take conspiracy to another channel.

He was a serial conartist and dead merchant...but..."he was also very much in philantropy". Most con-artists have a veneer to maintain.

@VladTevez

6 жыл бұрын

+Consider the petition to remove CNN from airports Al Capone used philanthropy as well

@themsmloveswar3985

6 жыл бұрын

Fair point. Thanks for updating me on that.

This episode takes the cake! I've watched and rewatched for years but this one is too much. Thank you for this bit of history.. truly.

This guy needs a movie or a TV series

@eddgrs9193

6 жыл бұрын

People would call it unrealistic...

Wow, this guy really was a textbook psychopath! But often such personality traits can be really useful in wartime..

@eddgrs9193

6 жыл бұрын

They are useful at any time. There was a study made on CEOs of big companies, most of them have psychopathic traits.

@wattsnottaken1

3 жыл бұрын

Anders Eriksson very true but so EVILL

@zenmkultra

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah every smart person is a psycho

Glad to see the Tintin mention. Amazing to think of essentially a children's comic book strip self-aware enough to show such a character, along with it's depiction of Japan's invasion of China en.tintin.com/images/tintin/albums/05oreille/Zaharoff.jpg

I really love these episodes about figures of WW1, since I've read about the war a fair bit myself, seeing these figures I only knew vaguely get fleshed out for their own story is fascinating.

This story deserves a Hollywood movie based on it... Thumbs up !!!

In Tintin's "The Broken Ear", the merchant that sells arms to both sides, and instigates war to sell them, was based on this guy.

Imagine if your video got taken down, you could just add it to the list you mentioned at the beginning

As a Greek I find this episode very interesting.

And 100 years plus later, we haven't yet learned from our past mistakes. Never let a single individual control so much up to include newspapers.

There sure were some weird figures alive during the war...

@RoyRogerer

5 жыл бұрын

I am asking myself if these people were truly ahead of their time. In the time when long distance travel and communication is just becoming a thing, they come up with using it to dip their finger in everything, exploiting the fact that information doesn't get everywhere, giving the edge for lot's of con artists. We should remember such infrastructure was not a thing back then, and to see this exploit is quite remarkable.

“What does it profit a man if he gained the entire world, but in the process lost his own soul” J.C.

An excellent, enlightening and entertaining history crash course

Thanks for mentioning Isaac Peral, brilliant man, not very celebrated here in Spain.

Some 10 years ago I got a random book, it was by Donald McCormick about Zaharoff and it kickstarted my interest in WW1

They could practically make a movie about this guy

@infrared8612

Жыл бұрын

they should

Very interesting video! Why haven't we heard about him in school. I'm honoured to support you guys on Patreon, you are amazing!

@TheGreatWar

6 жыл бұрын

+Piero Sá thanks for your support

i have no word to describe this man.

fantastic story about a despicable man. thank you. truly educational.

This is probably the best episode I've seen so far, what a story & what POS Zaharov seems to be.

What a guy, his story would make a really great movie

thank you.i was waiting for this one.

Disgusting guy. Could very well apply to a political office nowadays, and earn as much money.

@phileas007

6 жыл бұрын

#ZaharoffDidNothingWrong

@snowwhite7677

6 жыл бұрын

Psychopaths like Basil Zaharoff have existed in every Era and are a constant Plague to Humanity. Eventually Humanity WILL have to figure a way to accurately ID these people and remove them BEFORE they cause harm...

@gandalfstormcloud7514

5 жыл бұрын

obama gave 185 billion dollars to terrorists and clinton sold 20% of US uranium to Russia

@MaxwellAerialPhotography

4 жыл бұрын

Nah, he'd be a lobbyist

@georgew2014

4 жыл бұрын

Politicians today are rank amateurs compared to Zaharoff. And no current arms dealers is nearly as shameless.

The Littlefinger of the Great War

@TheDifferenced

6 жыл бұрын

And succeeded without a creepy crippled boy with mind bending powers. Boy I love GoT but damn, they killed Littlerfinger like a fan fiction. At least in real life, there's no magics.

now that you have done a special on Basil Zaharoff, would be great to see one on the famous Krupp Dynasty! :D

@TheGreatWar

6 жыл бұрын

+Michael Morgan Yeah we should do that too

@VChen-vk1lh

6 жыл бұрын

KRUPP STEEL MADE IN GERMANY IS STRONK

This guy's charisma is through the roof...

Growing up and reading Tintin, I never knew that the arms dealer character was based on a real person. Finding that out a couple years ago was quite a surprise.

This man was so devious I wouldn't be surprised if he had a hand in starting wars

@TheDifferenced

6 жыл бұрын

And that's the most scariest part. We don't even know if HE did started the war. Hitler? Japan? Who knows! He died with the history on his own mind. Through old age but still, people like him wouldn't even bother revealing it till to their grave. That's how hiding in the shadows are MORE powerful than being a show off.

Really great series. I speak for many when I say thank you for sharing your knowledge. I believe we are in a knowledge revolution because of people like you.

what a guy

His life really ought to be a movie.

Great episode guys ,easily one of my favorite ones!

3:30 There must be a Walpole in this guy's lineage somewhere.

Leo McKern portrayed him in Riley Ace of Spies

I just discovered your channel and I've been binge watching it all day I really hope you keep these up because these are good

If anything, you can truly say he was amongst the best bussiness man oneself could hear about.

I love listening to this channel. Thank you again :)

Wait...Basil was a Bond villain. Before there was even a James Bond! BRILLANT!

I just discovered your channel, Indy and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Thank you!

@TheGreatWar

6 жыл бұрын

+Mr. Freen welcome to the show!

Netflix could make a great series about Zaharoff’s life! And many will like it :)

What a crazy biography! Really amazing.

This guy needs a book, a movie, and miniseries.

We need a film about this guy.

Great episode

Would love to see a movie about this guy and no Nicolas Cage in the Lord of War doesn't count.

Wow! Love those kinds of stories about WW1 (etc.).

This was your best episode by far.

"Basil did nothing wrong"

Hey I live in Utah!!!

Love your presentations Indie

That was one of the most interesting biopic stories I’ve ever heard!

Great show

Awesome episode, thanks!

Indy, I simply adore your work.

I love this wish I could donate to your youtube channel for all the free education you have given me.

This chapter has been the fastest to become my new favorite.

I just discovered your channel . Well done. Great work. Thank you.

@TheGreatWar

6 жыл бұрын

+daragh aherne-clarke welcome to the show

Really cool one!

Truly incredible story. I can't believe he was a character in Tintin. Amazing job on this video.

Fantastic episode on a truly bizarre character...

.." Too disgusting for Words.." a real charmer ..

he needs to be a movie

Truly one of your very best, vielen dank

Uggh! I believe this is my favourite KZread video this year!

as always great content!

How would you feel if you actually meet these Who Did What? personalities in this day and age? Just asking out of curiosity. Great luck with your show.

@ivvan497

6 жыл бұрын

Tell them exactly what happens, and when it happens and they finally believe you, ask for a lot of money in exchange for more future.

@NormanMStewart

6 жыл бұрын

3ziz_G4ming_ 420 Why?

That was a fascinating story and man!