The WW2 Hero You've Never Heard Of (WW2 Documentary)

In April 1945 the Second World War in Europe was drawing to an end. In Italy, more than two years of bitter fighting had led the Allies to the gates of the last German stronghold, Bologna. In a bid to outflank that last bastion, British forces would launch an attack through the stoutly defended ‘Argenta Gap’. Supporting those efforts was a legendary figure of the Second World War, Major Anders Lassen. Already holding three Victoria Crosses, he would lead a small team on a raid which would prove to be his last. This is the incredible story of his final mission.
Book: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Speci...
e-book: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Speci...
Creating these videos is a lot of work, and it would be possible without your support. If you like our work, you can help us with a regular or one - time payment:
- Support us via Patreon at: / battleguide
- One Time Support: battleguide.co.uk/support
Newsletter:
If you want to keep your finger on the pulse of what the team at Battle Guide have been getting up to, why not sign up to
our monthly newsletter: ⁠battleguide.co.uk/newsletter
Not So Quiet On The Western Front! (Podcast): battleguide.co.uk/podcast
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/64bg6Bv...
Apple Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Links:
- Podcast: battleguide.co.uk/podcast
- Patreon: / battleguide
- Twitter: / battleguidevt
- TikTok: / battleguide
- Instagram: / battleguide.vt
Written References:
T. Harder, Special Forces Hero - Anders Lassen (2021)
T. Harder, Anders Lassens Krig (2020)
S. Lassen, Anders Lassen VC (1965)
M. Kofod-Hansen, ‘Andy’ (1989)
G. Mortimer, the Special Boat Squadron in WW2 (2013)
Sources:
Lassen Family Collection (courtesy S. Lassen)
Commando Vewterans Archive (www.commandoveterans.org/)
Find My Past (FMP)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Archive (CWGC)
US National Archives (NARA)
The National Archives, Kew (TNA)
GEOlayers 3
Google Earth Pro & Web Versions
- Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-313-1003-16A / Vack / CC-BY-SA 3.0
- Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-316-1161-22A / Vack / CC-BY-SA 3.0
- Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-478-2162-32A / Coernig / CC-BY-SA 3.0
- Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-479-2194-05 / Brünning / CC-BY-SA 3.0
- Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-J15460 / Lüthge / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Credits:
Research: Shane Greer & Dan Hill
Historical Research: Thomas Harder
Script & Narration: Shane Greer & Dan Hill
Editing: Shane Greer
Thumbnail Design: Linus Klassen
Image Optimization: Linus Klassen
Music & Sound Effects: Epidemic Sounds
Voiceovers: Hugo Salter

Пікірлер: 250

  • @emthegem8141
    @emthegem81417 ай бұрын

    "The british had lost a special forces legend, but the [parents] lost a son" Very well done - this one line hits particularly hard. Thanks for making another great video :)

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the kind comment. We are delighted you enjoyed it!

  • @janlindtner305
    @janlindtner3057 ай бұрын

    Finally he gets his recognition in a bigger forum. Anders Lassen, one of the two Danes who have received the VC. The second in the First World War, Thomas Dinesen, son of Wilhelm Dinesen, writer, officer, adventurer and politician who took part in the 1st and 2nd Schleswig War as well as the Franco-German War, brother of Karen Blixen, is indeed also worthy of a story.👍👍👍

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the suggestion! We'll take that into consideration.

  • @tim7052

    @tim7052

    6 ай бұрын

    ​​@BattleGuideVT Please do!! 🙏 I'd love to see a video (and movie) of the most highly decorated NCO in the Commonwealth: Corporal William Coltman VC DCM* MM* - a contentious objector who was a stretcher bearer in the front lines of WWI. His unbelievable, consistent, acts of gallantry are evidenced by his decorations. 👍

  • @mochtegerndane7097

    @mochtegerndane7097

    3 ай бұрын

    Actually, there are four Danes: Percy Howard Hansen - 1915, Jørgen Christian Jensen 1917, Thomas Dinesen - brother of Karen Blixen and Anders Lassen.

  • @janlindtner305

    @janlindtner305

    3 ай бұрын

    ​@@mochtegerndane7097The first two were perhaps Danish in origin, Percy Howard Hansen and Jørgen Christian Jensen; but were they also danish citizen?

  • @barrynicolaiknutzen4325
    @barrynicolaiknutzen43256 ай бұрын

    I'm Danish and this makes me proud.

  • @polonium13
    @polonium137 ай бұрын

    My Great Uncle was Sgt Sean O'Reilly (MM), one of the Irish Patrol. From what I've read, Lassen and he were quite close. Uncle Sean was shot in the shoulder at Commachio that day and taken out of the war. I only know so much about him because of the books and documentaries about Lassen and the SBS. My Great Uncle was in his early 40's at the time and I read in one book, "Sgt O'Reilly wasn't scared of much, but he was scared of Lassen!" Thanks for posting this BG. It's good to keep reminding ourselves of the sacrifice these men made.

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    6 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the comment and sharing your story!

  • @Doyley1966-ot2vu

    @Doyley1966-ot2vu

    2 ай бұрын

    Hello, my Gt Uncle was Martin 'Gyppo' Conby (MM) and he was great friends with Sean O'Reilly as they were both in the Irish Patrol together for over 2 years. . There is a photo of them together after the raid, with all the injured survivors and another 2 of them together in the book by Gavin Mortimer , The SBS in World War 2. Next week I am visiting Comaccio and this video has been a great help in visualising where the landing took place .

  • @polonium13

    @polonium13

    Ай бұрын

    @Doyley1966-ot2vu Hi. Thanks for replying. Good to meet you. Yes, I know your family name well. I'm the proud owner of both books. Among the few possessions I have of Uncle Sean are around 40 photos, including a 3"x2" copy of the hospital photo you refer to. I have seen a number of the others published as well. I imagine several copies were made at the time and distributed. If you don't have it, The Filibusters by John Lodwick would interest you. Several mentions of the Irish Patrol and your Great Uncle by name. It seems they served in Libya together as well as The Aegean. A force to be reckoned with! I hope the Commachio trip goes well. I've only looked at the area on Google Street View, but it's on the bucket list for a visit.

  • @Doyley1966-ot2vu

    @Doyley1966-ot2vu

    Ай бұрын

    @@polonium13 Hi again ,the trip to Comaccio went well and was fascinating , if somewhat different today as it was then , I got an idea of what and where abouts it all happened. I wonder how it would be possible to contact you as I have had a reply to you removed , regards Adrian

  • @johnallen7807
    @johnallen78077 ай бұрын

    Lucky enough to serve as a very junior NCO with David Sutherland and Ian Lapraik in the early 70's, these men were a breed apart. It breaks my heart to know what they would feel to see the state of our armed forces and indeed our whole country now.

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the comment and sharing your story!

  • @annaval119
    @annaval1197 ай бұрын

    A real bloody Viking this man was

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    Thank you for your comment!

  • @leelampard7834
    @leelampard78347 ай бұрын

    Lassen is without question one of the bravest special forces soldiers that ever served. Damien Lewis has written a fantastic book covering his exploits and the early days of the SAS SBS SOE , the ministry of ungentlemanly warfare. Fantastic read for thoae interested

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the recommendation!

  • @nigeh5326

    @nigeh5326

    7 ай бұрын

    Damien Lewis has written a few great books on the SF boys. Another I would recommend is Band of Brothers 👍. He has also given some great talks/interviews on Paul Woodage’s excellent WW2TV channel. Highly recommended for those with a serious interest in all areas of WW2 history 👍

  • @marksallows113

    @marksallows113

    6 ай бұрын

    Being made in to a film by Guy Ritchie staring Henry Cavill

  • @robshirewood5060

    @robshirewood5060

    6 ай бұрын

    @@BattleGuideVT There is a great biography of Anders Lassen, i have a feeling it had input from his wife, but cannot remember the title. I think it was translated from Danish.

  • @samrodian919

    @samrodian919

    6 ай бұрын

    @@nigeh5326yes anything written by Damien Lewis on the SAS is well worth reading. I have a number of books by him and most I've read at least twice, in not three times.

  • @neddyseagoon9601
    @neddyseagoon96016 ай бұрын

    A couple of decades ago I was on a train from Sophia to Varna onbthe black sea, Bulgaria. We stopped at a station called Thompson. It was written in Cyrillic so I couldn't quite believe it. It's named after a very young special forces leader who wax executed in uniform while working with partisans in the area. Google it... see the honour a town gave him...

  • @MrBernt1968
    @MrBernt19685 ай бұрын

    Thank you for telling the story of Anders Lassen. Most people here in Denmark dont know about him

  • @rolos140670

    @rolos140670

    3 ай бұрын

    when the film comes out ... they will

  • @jonathannixon8652

    @jonathannixon8652

    2 күн бұрын

    Maybe you could get signatures by many hundreds to thousands of people to get a grant to build a memorial statue of him. Along with that, have an interactive setup at the memorial with audio history of this man. †

  • @jhj6636
    @jhj66367 ай бұрын

    Some of the best productions I've seen. Superbly researched and written, with supportive graphics and expressive and evocative narrations. All at a good pace, too. Outstanding.

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    Thank you for the kind words.

  • @barchetta2112
    @barchetta21126 ай бұрын

    Told to complete a post-action report, he once wrote. "Landed, killed Germans, fucked off."

  • @truetoffee8684
    @truetoffee86846 ай бұрын

    My grandfather served with Anders and was interviewed and mentioned in his book.

  • @user-qp3jj2ks1j
    @user-qp3jj2ks1j4 ай бұрын

    I am involved in welfare with retired service personnel in the UK . I met the widow of a retired serviceman who recieved a regimental pension, they were married for over 70 years and she had no idea that her husband was a member of the long range dessert patrol group . Looking at her photos of this fit healthy young man sitting in his jeep , beard and arab headdress . I was so proud and i did not even know him . These people where all masive heroes back then , anazing people that did way more than we could ever know . Rip sir it was an honour to explain your pictures to your good lady . She loved you very much .

  • @michaelfrost4584
    @michaelfrost45846 ай бұрын

    As an 66yr old Australian SASR retired soldier Btp Water Ops, R.I.P mate. God Bless. It's the original SASR soldiers like you that gave birth to our Australian SASR.🎉

  • @robshirewood5060
    @robshirewood50606 ай бұрын

    I read about this gentleman years ago, one of the SAS's finest. There was a great biography written about him. He was an amazing hunter, could creep up on a deer and kill it with a knife (which at the time i thought how cruel) which had value in combat ironically, could walk on gravel silently with a gas cape on (both very noisy), was expert with a longbow, which he felt could be of value in taking out sentries (he was right, but the authorities though it was too barbaric, or not the done thing, and in the long run an arrow or a cut throat with a Commando knife is equally as nasty but necessary in war imho) I believe the Foreign Legion still has bowmen and crossbowmen trained for sentry removal!! On top of that he was a superb soldier and a supremely brave man who cared about those he commanded. He has had my respect and salute ever since i read about him. Thanks also for this video.

  • @karlv2876
    @karlv28766 ай бұрын

    41Cdo RM took part in operations a!ong with other Army units too , Cpl Tom Hunter also won the VC at Commanchio . The campaign in Italy finished almost three weeks later a bitter sweet climax . The Argenta Gap CWGC is immaculately kept to this day .

  • @jamesross1799
    @jamesross17996 ай бұрын

    These were exceptional soldiers. Thanks for posting I found it fascinating.

  • @workofArtAB-11
    @workofArtAB-116 ай бұрын

    May I also add a most humble comment, "We will remember them." A very compelling and must watch documentry, thank you so much for putting this together. Arthur AB-11.

  • @alex4833
    @alex48337 ай бұрын

    Excellent video. I hadn't heard of Major Anders Lassen and I found this video to be informative, well-made, and moving. You used great photos. I found the maps to be super helpful too. I like the comparison of how Lake Comacchio looks today and how it looked then. You also did a great job in describing Major Lassen's story and courage. I feel heartbroken for his parents. The ending was heartwrenching too and it moved me. Superb narration as always. Great work again and kudos. I hope you have a nice week. Take care.

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    Thank you for your kind comments. We are delighted you enjoyed it!

  • @alex4833

    @alex4833

    7 ай бұрын

    @@BattleGuideVT Anytime! You do great work 😊

  • @victorsmith311
    @victorsmith3116 ай бұрын

    For anybody who can read Danish, I highly recommend Thomas Harders excellent book “ Anders Lassens Krig” (Anders Lassens war). It tells Lassens life story in detail, with many more heroic adventures, including this story at the end. I don´t know if it has been translated into English.

  • @thomasharder3683

    @thomasharder3683

    5 ай бұрын

    There are English and Greek versions.

  • @Dreyer1916
    @Dreyer19167 ай бұрын

    My dad, George, had been Andy's commanding officer before David Sutherland took over. He actually knocked my dad out when they were in Haifa one time after some minor disagreement. Like Paddy Mayne, Lassen was too good an officer to let this get in the way. George held Andy in the highest regard till the day he died and did what he could to preserve Andy's memory. The only on commonwealth recipient of the VC in WWII. If Andy's story has been an inspiration I recommend Thomas Harder's biography.

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    Amazing thanks for that and yes Thomas was a fantastic font of knowledge that we tapped into during the making of this documentary. He is a very nice gentleman!

  • @ardshielcomplex8917

    @ardshielcomplex8917

    6 ай бұрын

    "The only commonwealth recipient on the VC in WW2" really ? You need to do your homework. "David Sutherland" ? There was no such person, there was David Stirling. All of your inaccuracies put your "my dad...." waffle into doubt.

  • @Dreyer1916

    @Dreyer1916

    6 ай бұрын

    @@ardshielcomplex8917 Always ready to learn.

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    6 ай бұрын

    I think this is meant to read non-Commonwealth@@ardshielcomplex8917

  • @Dreyer1916

    @Dreyer1916

    6 ай бұрын

    @@ardshielcomplex8917 David Sutherland took over command of the SBS in Dec 1944 from George Jellicoe. He had been Lassen's commanding officer. Please let me know who were the other non Commonwealth recipients. I cannot immediately find the name/s but maybe you have better sources. I know who David Stirling was (my father was his 2iC), I knew his sister. I know Andy's younger sister and have read most (probably all) of the books on Andy going back to the first one by his mother and the last one by Thomas Harder (whom I also know). As I said I'm happy to be corrected but it would be helpful if you could actually add to historical knowledge by naming the other non Commonwealth recipients/s. I have no idea if there were / were not but some of the earlier literature (Mike Langley?) suggested this was attributable to Lassen. Let me know.

  • @infeedel7706
    @infeedel77066 ай бұрын

    Thank you, Anders was a legend. I had a mate years ago who was SBS, also worked with his mates when I was in London decades ago...

  • @neddyseagoon9601

    @neddyseagoon9601

    6 ай бұрын

    If it was inbthe 60s you might have met one of his team from the SBS in the Agean... A guy I knew as a kid, called Dougie Wright MM. He was still a Grenadier of indeterminate rank... (usually Sergeant), he kept losing it when officers messed him about... My dad was a Sergeant protégé of his, from the next generation.

  • @goodwood-rc4nx
    @goodwood-rc4nx7 ай бұрын

    one of the only men to have a memorial at both the SAS and SBS bases

  • @marksallows113

    @marksallows113

    6 ай бұрын

    Interesting!

  • @PalleRasmussen

    @PalleRasmussen

    6 ай бұрын

    I have ex-SAS and ex-SBS friends (the SBS vet died sadly, so I suppose "had"), an acquaintance in the Jægerkorps and a buddy in the Frømandskorpset; all four places revere Lassen

  • @willg3226
    @willg32266 ай бұрын

    Yet another fantastic video. Your channel only gets better. I especially commend the voice actors, who gave real life and humanity to those figures no longer able to speak for themselves.

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    6 ай бұрын

    Wow, thank you!

  • @hifives2
    @hifives26 ай бұрын

    Should do one on Jock Lewes one of the founding members of the SAS who’s life was cut short in Libya

  • @mboyer68
    @mboyer686 ай бұрын

    What a great recollection of this story of bravery against the Nazis. Every time I hear a story like this i wish more had been documented. I also think of the millions of stories that nobody ever had a chance of telling or hearing because all involved were killed. I wish I could've been involved in WWII and am also thankful I was born too late. What a crazy crazy world it was. Imagine seeing hundreds of bombers getting peppered with flack while their escorts engaged in dogfights, men jumping from blazing aircraft, parachutes blooming, while others slam into the ground with huge explosions. Bullets and shrapnel falling all around you, aircraft and men falling all around you, fighting for their lives. Crazy crazy world it was.

  • @tinojensen7473
    @tinojensen74736 ай бұрын

    Dear Sir. Thank you so much for this video, that I have been waiting for for Ages…! As an Old veteran myself Lassen by far is my biggest hero. Lassen (and the SBS) rightfully deserves their own series/movie. All the best from the Old country, take care and stay safe 🇩🇰 🎗️ 🇬🇧

  • @bungasujatmo1439
    @bungasujatmo14394 ай бұрын

    Thank you for all who made this video, excellent presentation, just amazing

  • @chickamauga1
    @chickamauga16 ай бұрын

    One of your very best to date -- and they are all outstanding

  • @nigeh5326
    @nigeh53267 ай бұрын

    I can’t remember which other channel recommended your channel to me, but I’m glad they did. Great videos, well researched and well paced narration with informative maps and photos. Thank you and cheers I look forward to many more 👍

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    Glad to have you aboard!

  • @andrewlucas9282
    @andrewlucas92826 ай бұрын

    Great and informative documentary of a lesser known but equally important military action. Thank you 🙏

  • @clarencearnold2137
    @clarencearnold21374 ай бұрын

    Great job!! Was aware of him and his story but had never seen the details til now! Thanks!

  • @clementaut7287
    @clementaut72877 ай бұрын

    Thanks for this really great video. I didn't know a lot about combats in this area, so keep with this kind of great content for history nerds like us !

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    Awesome... delighted you enjoyed it!

  • @wingcommanderdaltonwalton67
    @wingcommanderdaltonwalton676 ай бұрын

    Fantastic vid ,I must admit I’d never heard of him before but I guarantee he won’t ever be forgotten!

  • @neddyseagoon9601
    @neddyseagoon96017 ай бұрын

    Axel Von Dem Bussche a German army officer was Anders Lassen's cousin. He held the Iron Cross. He, as part of Von Stauffenburg's resistance group, also volunterred in 1943 to suicide bomb Hitler and co, using a mine with a trigger, during his modelling of new uniforms... You couldn't make it up for a movie but... While waiting and preparing himself to kill himself and everyone in the room, the allies destroyed the train carrying the uniforms... This entire family must have been astonishing...

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the comment and sharing this story!

  • @nigeh5326

    @nigeh5326

    7 ай бұрын

    Hitler certainly was a lucky so and so, unfortunately for the world. He was so nearly killed in more than one assassination attempts. He left a meeting of old Nazis for instance earlier than expected so when the bomb went off he was not there. Famously if the meeting where Stauffenberg made his attempt had been held in the original concrete room even with the Bomb being moved Hitler would have died. But as it was in a wooden building and the bomb was moved he survived. Also if the bombers had used all of the explosives instead of half he would have been killed. I’m always surprised that no one ever just took out a pistol at close range or pulled a pin on a grenade and wrapped their arms around him in a suicide assassination attempt given what the Nazis were doing to Germany in the later stages of the war. Given the senior officers later claims of love for Germany and that they knew he was going to destroy Germany you would think at least one of them would have put Germany above the oath of loyalty to a madman. I know late on even high ranking officers weren’t allowed to be armed around him, but there was surely a point before that where a senior general could have tried.

  • @neddyseagoon9601

    @neddyseagoon9601

    6 ай бұрын

    ​@@nigeh5326that's what Von Dem Bussche almost did. He was waiting to strap a mine with a hand grenade trigger attached and grab Hitler in s suicide bombing... Waited for days then the allies blew up the uniforms.

  • @polonium13

    @polonium13

    Ай бұрын

    Yes, I believe the only family in the war to receive high honours from both sides!

  • @user-bg2uk7qq5b
    @user-bg2uk7qq5b6 ай бұрын

    it was certainly about time that Anders Lassen finallly got his place in history The best and finest Danish soldier of ww2 served with SOE awarded 3 military crosses and the VC -Det var på høje tid at Major ASndersen Lassen endeligt fik sin plads i historien - 2 vardenskrig. Desvære glemt i Danmark - hvilken national skandale at man kan glemme ham Han gav sit liv for vores frihed

  • @siggesaltens2663

    @siggesaltens2663

    6 ай бұрын

    DET ER SÅ DANSK, SÅ DANSK. DET ER DET SAMME MED DEM, DER SEJLEDE I KONVOJERNE. DENGANG -SOM NU POLITIKERE DER IKKE KAN STAVE TIL LANDSFORRÆDERE

  • @wildcolonialman
    @wildcolonialman6 ай бұрын

    Fabulous man, fabulous men. Fine telling.

  • @thehistoryexplorer
    @thehistoryexplorer7 ай бұрын

    Excellent as always. A fantastic story to share with the afflicted.

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    Thanks mate... glad you enjoyed it! You need to get out to Italy and tell some stories. :)

  • @alistairmccrone4651
    @alistairmccrone46516 ай бұрын

    An excellent video. I’ve been trying to find out where he died in more detail. You have delivered. Well done.

  • @markkosmider2144
    @markkosmider21446 ай бұрын

    A very moving and informative video - thank you. Even to this day, Lassen is one of the bravest SFs soldiers who has served. Very deserving of his VC. Lassen VC is well worth a read.

  • @andrewwmacfadyen6958
    @andrewwmacfadyen69586 ай бұрын

    Lassen is well recognised not forgotten, in the 1980's I knew a man my local grocer (Bob Drummond ) who served with him . I asked him about Lassen his reply was that he never took to Lassen as he had no sense of humour only lived for killing Germans because of what they did to his family

  • @paulbradford8240
    @paulbradford82407 ай бұрын

    That was very interesting. An older and a man of whom I was totally unaware. Well done.

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    We are glad you enjoyed the video!

  • @del1984fly
    @del1984fly5 ай бұрын

    Fantastic video

  • @kiwifruit27
    @kiwifruit276 ай бұрын

    A superb video and excellently researched and presented. Thanks

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    6 ай бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed it!

  • @MilHistRL
    @MilHistRL7 ай бұрын

    Great stuff, such an interesting story!

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed it!

  • @johntowle
    @johntowle5 ай бұрын

    This video is so well done , I feel like I was there with Anders Lassen. Wonderful story, never heard of him, such a great soldier. He had huge balls. There is so much detail in the video the videographer gets a huge thumbs up from me. I am a WW2 enthusiast.

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    5 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the kind comments!

  • @dougaldouglas8842
    @dougaldouglas88427 ай бұрын

    What would these people think now, if they were alive? Shame on us for what we have allowed to happen

  • @MHPloni-kl5ec

    @MHPloni-kl5ec

    7 ай бұрын

    Yes

  • @SeedOfElijah

    @SeedOfElijah

    7 ай бұрын

    ​@@MHPloni-kl5ecwhat makes you think they aren't alive?

  • @orwellboy1958

    @orwellboy1958

    6 ай бұрын

    It makes me weep, what our armed forces sacrificed in both world wars for our freedom, look what we have done with that freedom.

  • @MHPloni-kl5ec

    @MHPloni-kl5ec

    6 ай бұрын

    @@orwellboy1958 Not only that. With nary a thought those men _jumped up_ from their comfortable lives to sail overseas _twice_ to end fascism. Now it's here, in our land, and . . .

  • @dougaldouglas8842

    @dougaldouglas8842

    6 ай бұрын

    @@orwellboy1958 Makes me very, very angry the dismissal of those who put their lives on the line so that we could be free from becoming a country where gas chambers would take the vast majority of people away, today. It is all, me, me, me, look at me am I not great, come listen to me, I am worth listening to, etc., etc., etc.

  • @oneshotme
    @oneshotme6 ай бұрын

    I enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    6 ай бұрын

    I appreciate it

  • @MothaLuva
    @MothaLuva5 ай бұрын

    Saw the face on the thumb and said to myself thats Anders Lassen!

  • @MikeT-TheRetiredColonel
    @MikeT-TheRetiredColonel3 ай бұрын

    Another great job, already have signed up over at Patreon. One suggestion - when you were talking about the line that the Germans had to protect, you mentioned it in km, and most of the other distances you used miles, may I suggest using one with a screen caption for the converted distance? Just an observation :)

  • @mattpinky7125
    @mattpinky71257 ай бұрын

    Love this channel

  • @Ostemikkel

    @Ostemikkel

    7 ай бұрын

    Same

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    Thanks Matt!

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    @@Ostemikkel Thanks so much!

  • @alainsworth-sn4gk
    @alainsworth-sn4gk6 ай бұрын

    Well done.

  • @rasmuswittsell10
    @rasmuswittsell106 ай бұрын

    Oh, but I knew about him very well. The most decorated SAS operative ever.

  • @vonsprague7913
    @vonsprague79137 ай бұрын

    Superb tribute to some very brave men and their outstanding leader. It's easy to forget with the western front that men were fighting and dying all over Europe and the Far East right up to the wars end.

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    Brilliant, glad you enjoyed the video!

  • @AJ-bz7wq
    @AJ-bz7wq6 ай бұрын

    Thakn you for another exceptional story of incredible bravery. Amazing story of another heroe.

  • @patrickmiano7901
    @patrickmiano79015 ай бұрын

    The founder of the American Army Rangers, Col. William O’Darby was killed in action on April 30, 1945. He was posthumously promoted to brigadier general. Both legendary special forces warriors, killed so close to the final victory. A stark reminder of the irony and cruelty of war.

  • @jamesbertram2695
    @jamesbertram26955 ай бұрын

    It’s not a winged dagger at all it’s Excalibur picked by a competition when they wanted a cap badge for this new unit brave men one and all

  • @robroy4663
    @robroy46636 ай бұрын

    Definitely had heard of him. He features in several VC books.

  • @spenceflatulence
    @spenceflatulence3 ай бұрын

    05:13 I'm born and raised in the city of Mern and i had never heard of this guy. That's crazy. Høvinggaard - the estate where Anders Lassen was born are very beautifull. His mothers familiy (Raben-Levetzau) have been Danish nobillity since mid 17th century.

  • @joellundberg2058
    @joellundberg20586 ай бұрын

    I wouldn't deer to invite this man to Let's dance ... Heaven holds the brave....

  • @robertscheinost179
    @robertscheinost1796 ай бұрын

    I read a book in the early '80's about the birth of the SAS, SBS, and SOE. I lent this book to a friend and never got it back but I read it several times and the legends like Paddy Mayne and Andy Lassen (and others) are stuck in my mind. They did the impossible, just like they do today. You just don't hear about it because of the Official Secrets Act. Make no mistake, These lads are out there, shaping the next battlefield, doing things you will never hear about.That's the way it needs to be.

  • @johntowle

    @johntowle

    5 ай бұрын

    The White Mouse too. Nancy Wake.. she is a bloody legend !!! Read the book by Peter Fitzsimmons. she killed an SS guard with her bare hands.

  • @johntowle
    @johntowle5 ай бұрын

    They didn't have any NVG (night vision goggles) , amazing they were able to navigate so accurately and take out the enemy.

  • @sharonprice42
    @sharonprice426 ай бұрын

    Great story of the special forces

  • @clarencearnold2137
    @clarencearnold21374 ай бұрын

    An absolute fearless and ruthless fighter, according to accounts at the time..

  • @TheHistoryWonderer
    @TheHistoryWonderer7 ай бұрын

    I never have heard of this event. I enjoyed the show.

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    6 ай бұрын

    We are glad you enjoyed the video!

  • @user-nc5tb5go3d
    @user-nc5tb5go3d5 ай бұрын

    Yes I have heard of him and have read several books in which he is mentioned.

  • @johndavies1564
    @johndavies15646 ай бұрын

    My uncle Sgt Ronald Waite DCM was with Anders when he was mortally hit. RIP

  • @Doyley1966-ot2vu

    @Doyley1966-ot2vu

    2 ай бұрын

    Hello, my Great uncle , Martin Conby was there too. there's a photo of your uncle and mine together in Gavin Mortimers book, The SBS in WW2, as i've mentioned above in a comment to Sean O'Reillys nephew.. Amazing that 3 family members of this patrol are on here here watching this video.

  • @polonium13

    @polonium13

    Ай бұрын

    Hi. I'm Sean O' Reilly's Great Nephew. According to The Filibusters by John Lodwick, your Great Uncle was also with mine when he was shot, just before Lassen. I like to think our respective uncles would be pleased we'd made contact. They would never have imagined it happened like this though!

  • @user-qs7gx7rp7m
    @user-qs7gx7rp7m7 ай бұрын

    Love 'D-Day Dodger' tales . . .

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    7 ай бұрын

    We are glad you enjoyed the video!

  • @metalmadsen
    @metalmadsen6 ай бұрын

    Denmark has not much to be proud of during WW2. But we have this bloke 🇩🇰

  • @ernstvonrichthofen

    @ernstvonrichthofen

    6 ай бұрын

    Mig personlig har stor respekt for at 7000 jøder blev reddet, og flammen og Citronens kamp og alle dem der ligger i deres kolde grav i Ryvangen og mange, mange flere - hvad jeg ikke er stolt af er de unge generationer som med fuldstændig ligegyldighed lader de døde frihedkæmperes offer være uden værdi!! - Den 9 april blev Danmark invaderet og blev frit igen men den fortløbende inversion som er kommet snigende som en tyv om natten siden invandreloven blev ændret i 1984 og orkestreret af Radikale venstre truer Danmarks eksistens.

  • @akyhne
    @akyhne3 ай бұрын

    The only soldier in WWII from a non commonwealth territory or country, to receive the Victoria Cross. Out of 181 rewarded.

  • @conmcgrath7174
    @conmcgrath71746 ай бұрын

    Well just make a grown man cry, why don't you? RIP the elite of the elite.

  • @jensernestottosen-sttt1831
    @jensernestottosen-sttt18312 ай бұрын

    in 1991 I as part of a group of Danes I visited the Greek island Symi a little north of Rhodos. We had the chance to drink coffee with the Archmandrit at the Monestary and he suggested that we should go down and visit the monument etablished to commemorate the man who liberated Symi from the German occupation in 1944. That man was Anders Lassen, and as a Dane I already knew some about him - but not of his action on Symi.

  • @murraysheppard1153
    @murraysheppard11536 ай бұрын

    Those eyes...at his age..major ...son of a bitch..thats a soldier..humbles me.

  • @leeshoesmith3286
    @leeshoesmith32866 ай бұрын

    I once heard a story of Lassen was observed walking across a gravel area in hobnailed boots by a high ranking officer and he said that he couldn't hear his footfall

  • @lachlanmacarthur6123
    @lachlanmacarthur61234 ай бұрын

    Anders Lassen arrived In Scotland at a place called Oban to start his career in the british forces , in recognition of this his name is well regarded in the area . There is also statue to him in his home country of Denmark

  • @Liam-vm9uy
    @Liam-vm9uy3 ай бұрын

    Hi, you need to check your description text. You state that Lassen holds three Victoria Cross’s. I think you mean three MC’s. Just an oversight I expect.

  • @sbhj6705
    @sbhj67056 ай бұрын

    Anders Lassen is Well known in Denmark 🇩🇰

  • @GrumpyAustralian
    @GrumpyAustralian6 ай бұрын

    Cpl Thomas Hunter VC Royal Marines was also a recipient of the Victoria Cross at Lake Comacchio a couple of days earlier.

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    6 ай бұрын

    Correct!

  • @richardprescott6322
    @richardprescott63226 ай бұрын

    Most of our wonderful citizens have no idea ww1 or WW2 - teachers are telling them and taking them on Plo marches - Real proper bloke 😊

  • @tekha1977
    @tekha19776 ай бұрын

    Why there isn’t a movie or miniseries made on Major Anders Lassen’s exploits are beyond me.

  • @christopher-ke9nj
    @christopher-ke9nj5 ай бұрын

    Bloody insane but, Gordon Bennett dear God what men must I this day loose, chuff

  • @Parawingdelta2
    @Parawingdelta23 ай бұрын

    I believe the cap badge is actually a downward pointing 'Excalibur' (sword) wreathed in flames, not a 'Winged dagger'.

  • @irishvicar1963

    @irishvicar1963

    3 ай бұрын

    Embroidered cap badge to the SAS (Special Air Service), a dark (Cambridge) blue shield on which a white sword (Excalibur), point down, with a pair of light (Oxford) blue wings. An Oxford blue scroll over the lower part of the sword bears the motto WHO DARES WINS in black. Sword, wings and scroll all outlined in red.

  • @warrenstanford7240
    @warrenstanford72404 ай бұрын

    Major Lassen SAS was the only SAS soldier to receive the Victoria Cross in the Second World War a true legend from the beginning of the Commandos until the end of the war.

  • @akyhne

    @akyhne

    3 ай бұрын

    He was the only one to receive it, who wasn't from a Commonwealth country.

  • @alexwilliamson1486
    @alexwilliamson14866 ай бұрын

    No I’ve heard oh him…..I read ….

  • @Selkirkwater
    @Selkirkwater6 ай бұрын

    Lake Comacchio posed an obstacle to Garibaldi, in his escape from the French and Austrians, who were supporting the Pope , in1848

  • @Ranukel
    @Ranukel5 ай бұрын

    He was dane and would hardly have functioned in ordinary life - he was wild!

  • @philipnorris6542
    @philipnorris65426 ай бұрын

    Lest we forget, and I never will.

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    6 ай бұрын

    Thank you for your comment!

  • @oceanhome2023
    @oceanhome20236 ай бұрын

    Only the Good die young !

  • @user-bd3vn2rs4w
    @user-bd3vn2rs4w4 ай бұрын

    hmmm, I've known about Major Anders Lassen since at least the late 1970s

  • @BattleGuideVT

    @BattleGuideVT

    4 ай бұрын

    Very glad to hear it! Sadly very many haven't

  • @guywithhisownopinion
    @guywithhisownopinion4 ай бұрын

    He wasn't solely SAS because of the c9nfused and constant changes being made between SAS and SBS during WW2. Both u it's SAsS and SBS both claim him as a member. He is the only SF soldier of WW2 to be awarded the VC as at the time these heroic actions where considered to be part of your job hence the reason why MCs where awarded

  • @samuelattas3864
    @samuelattas3864Ай бұрын

    Ah yes, major Lassen...killed on the 9th of April 1945 in Italy, same day Königsberg surendered and exact five years after Denmark was occupied. He was a hard fighter....

  • @PalleRasmussen
    @PalleRasmussen6 ай бұрын

    Anders Lassen was the ultimate SOF, but he was not suited for peace.

  • @stevesick1
    @stevesick16 ай бұрын

    I didn’t know that the SBS even existed during ww2.

  • @robshirewood5060

    @robshirewood5060

    6 ай бұрын

    There was 1st SAS which was later split into SRS Special Raiding Squadron and SBS Special Boat Squadron temporarily, after David Stirling was captured. It rejoined later for the D-Day operations. William "Bill" Stirling, David's brother also commanded 2nd SAS. A famous Chindit officer Brigadier Michael Calvert later commanded SAS Brigade and later re formed SAS from Malayan Scouts SAS in Malaya. At a similar time SAS was kept alive after disbanding in 1945 by a cadre of officers and men who managed to get the government (Churchill helped greatly) to allow Artists Rifles as a parent body becoming the Corps Regiment as 21st (Artist's Rifles) SAS Regiment which later led to the formation of 22nd SAS Regiment from the Malayan Scouts SAS in 1952. The first time a Reserve unit had formed a Corps which became 21, 22, 23 SAS In ww2 MI9 was the unit that dealt with escape and evasion of allied personnel (see Airey Neave and Jimmy Langley of Colditz fame) which later became 23 SAS Regiment (V) in 1959. Most of the officers from ww2 SAS SBS service had something to do with the post war SAS. SBS as in SAS circles in ww2 is not the same as the Royal Marine Commando SBS after 1945.

  • @henrikschultze1668
    @henrikschultze16686 ай бұрын

    thank you for this video ,but people in denmark do allready know who ANDERS LASSEN - sailor & soldier is .

  • @raymondwilliamblack
    @raymondwilliamblack3 ай бұрын

    Special forces are trained "Make sure the Dead are Dead" Anders was the reason the Colonel gave the order. ===one step at a time beat the Clock!!!

  • @CEngelbrecht
    @CEngelbrecht27 күн бұрын

    Høvdinggård, he grew up on.

  • @alvarogonelli4158
    @alvarogonelli41586 ай бұрын

    With the all respect x your story; I' m living in that area, you didn' t mention the extra famous P.P.A. ( Popsky Private Army)! They really were the ones that do the real job...... And you forgot also to mention the Italian guerilla fighters.... Aniway.....

  • @robshirewood5060

    @robshirewood5060

    6 ай бұрын

    Vladimir Peniakoff was largely ignored post 1945 because he went back to Poland, however there is a great book about his ww2 experiences. "Popski's Private Army had PPA as a shoulder title too, and were officially called 1st Demolition Squadron i beleive.

  • @alvarogonelli4158

    @alvarogonelli4158

    6 ай бұрын

    @@robshirewood5060 agree. Thanks!

  • @mojomojomonomojo
    @mojomojomonomojo3 ай бұрын

    Anders lassen and paddy mayne .

  • @snubbedpeer
    @snubbedpeer6 ай бұрын

    At the bottom of Lassens headstone is a verse in Danish from a psalm that was used as motto by the Danish resistance during WW2. Very loosely translated it reads: Fight for all that you love, die if must be, then life is not so difficult , neither is death.

  • @carstenf279
    @carstenf2795 ай бұрын

    If You are above the age of 24 - please ask Yourself: "What did I accomplish between the age of 19-24?" THEN read the book about Lassen and You will understand what human potential is.