My Grandfather fought with the 42nd Rainbow Division during Nordwind. He told me a story one day about the battle. His company pulled back from a hill they were defending under intense German pressure, in order to regroup. But no one told him and his foxhole buddy they were moving out. Dawn broke and the Germans were coming up the hill but they were totally alone. With no other real choice, they fired their rifles as fast as they could in every direction. His buddy scavenged the nearby abandoned holes for more ammo while my grandfather kept up the shooting. They burned through the majority of their ammo and tossed all of their grenades through out the day. My grandfather said he shot his Garand so much and so fast that eventually he warped the barrel on his rifle. The Germans quit trying to climb the hill and bypassed his position. After dark, which was mercifully early in Winter, they crawled away in order to try and make it back to US lines. Eventually, they linked up with a friendly unit and after some tense moments, made it into the US lines again. My grandfather went to trade in his rifle to get a new one and was informed he'd have to pay for the damaged US property. He was laughing when he recounted that part to me. He had some choice words for the supply clerk. Needless to say, he got a new rifle and didn't pay for the old one. After finding his old unit, they were all surprised to see him and his buddy. They assumed he was dead or captured. Later, when they retook the area, German prisoners from the battle recounted the battle for the insignificant hill. They thought a company or at least a full platoon was up there. After several attempts to take the hill and incurring casualties, they gave up and bypassed it for following units to deal with. My Grandfather told me this story after years of never talking about it. What prompted it was his visit to my house in Virginia and looking at my rifle collection. Before my Grandmother died, she encouraged him to tell us about his WWII experience as he was reluctant to bring up those old memories. I showed him my Garand and he spent a long time just holding it, saying nothing. Finally he looked up and said, "It's heavier than I remembered." Then he told the above story, more or less how I recounted it. He was always self-deprecating in his stories making it clear that he was no hero despite the fact the I know he won a Bronze Star for Valor. I've seen the medal and citation many times. He was also promoted to Sergeant on the battlefield for his leadership and placed in charge of his platoon. But he insisted that the real heroes never came home and all he did was try to keep he and his men alive. Eventually he told me a lot more and said he felt comfortable I could handle them as I was a war vet myself and former infantryman. I hope you enjoyed the story. My Grandfather joined his wife and comrades in 2016. He was simply the greatest man I ever knew and best role model I could have ever had.

My great uncle was killed serving with the 70th Infantry Division 274th Infantry during Northwind. He is buried at Epinal. Thank you for covering his contribution to Victory in Europe

Fortunately, there are experts like Mark Felton who objectively bring the Second World War close to a generation that no longer knows anyone who has personally experienced this slaughterhouse. Mr. Felton you do a perfect job. Greetings from Germany.

I have a degree in, and am a life-long student of military history...and with each excellent video produced by Dr. Felton, I realize just how little I know and how much is left to learn.

Each one of your videos demonstrates how vast the second world war was. Several forgotten operations on multiple fronts.

Learned something more about the Bulge action. Thanx Dr. Felton.

My grandfather fought in the battle of the bulge as well as in and around Hagenau, before advancing further into Germany. He said that the fighting in Hagenau was very bloody with tons of house to house and room to room fighting. He said that they and Germans retook the town from each other three times. Finally, one day, low on ammunition and holding their part of the town, they heard tanks coming and they thought that the noise was German tanks. In my grandfather’s words they thought “they were done for,” luckily they were American tank reinforcements. Thank you for doing a video on this and including Hagenau, there is so little information I’ve been able to find about this. My grandpa’s unit was part of the 7th army force, but his regiment, or maybe his company even was actually attached to a unit under Patton for a lot of the campaign, my grandpa has a lot of stories about Patton in person. After further reading, my grandfather’s regiment the 255th was attached to the 100 infantry division from December 30 to beginning of February so he must have fought and defended Bitche from the German attacks there. Also, later at the end of the war his unit liberated the Landsberg concentration camp. He talked about marching the civilians from nearby through the camp, and forcing them to see it. The whole 63rd infantry division got the honor of the liberation, but only his battalion, the 1st battalion of the 255th infantry regiment took part apparently. He was in B company as a tech sergeant.

Thanks so much Dr Felton. My dad was in the 12th Div, 43rd Tank Btn. He was in the first tank hit by artillery on the morning of Jan. 16th, attacking across the open field South of Herrlisheim. The 12th Armored Division Museum website and members of the association have been a great help with details surrounding the story of Nordwind and my father’s participation on that day. His body was never found, but he is memorialized at Epinal. I’m forever grateful for his membership in our greatest generation. I’ve been following your productions. This one, and your earlier Panther vs Sherman production are very personal. Thank you again..

A really great synopsis of a battle never covered in history books!!!

Nobody comes close to Dr. Felton's detailed videos. We are blessed to receive this for free.

Mark Felton makes history addictive

You may be able to read of these events in a book, but there's nothing like a spoken commentary to infuse a sense of dynamism and urgency which bring it to life. Dr Felton does this in spades.

History might call such battles "footnotes" in terms of scope to other battles but for the men who waged the battle, I'm guessing they weren't thinking "It's OK, that bullet which just missed my head was just a footnote."

As a German and French speaker, I have to say that Dr. Felton’s pronunciation of words in said languages is spot on! Einfach spitze, Herr Dr. Felton. LG aus München, Chris King.

What I especially appreciate about you and other select presenters is your abilities to put these important pieces of history into relevant contexts so they can be better comprehended. I’ve seen a number of you guest each other and support each others efforts, as things should be but rare. And, of course, the well presented and clearly chronicled battle descriptions. I thought the footage superlative, you can’t beat reality. Thank you so much for your efforts

My dad was with General George S. Patton....He was blown out of 3 sherman tanks, recieved several purple hearts, but stayed in the fighting as so many of the greatest generation did...He was top machine gunner 50 cal. He talked about the direct hits from 88s...I lost him in 1975 to lung cancer...People.....We have a heritage....GOD bless America....

Well done Mark!!! This is what the history channel used to be. You know? Non biased, and informative!!

Im a simple man, I see mark felton, I click

My father was wounded in the Colmar cleanup in the 75th. He said mud was everywhere nothing moved well. He hid wounded in a tank track of tall mud from a German-French woman sniper.

Watching Band of brothers I realized what agony and courage it was. Kudos to them. they all deserved the Medal of honor. I am a war veteran of 4.5 years in the fight for the independence and integrity of Croatia, but I have never been in such a situation. There were terrible battles, but this. Some guys were in the snow for 2 years on the Velebit and Dinara mountains. Kudos to them. Volunteer - Zadar - Croatia - Adriatic sea coast

I highly reccomend Dr. Felton's book "Operation Swallow " , it is very true to form for him. It reads like a novel and carries a very similar rhythm to his excellent narrations. I have read several of Dr. Felton's books, and each has been excellent. After you read the first one you'll be hooked and rush out to buy more. Happy New Year, Dr.and Mrs. Felton and to all the subscribers and viewers.

Your videos are the gifts that keep on giving for this WW2 armchair historian. Thank you.

Speaking of anti-tank weapons, here's something I learned recently. According to General James Gavin of the 82d Airborne his troops captured truckloads of German "Panzerfaust" anti-tank weapons, figured out how to use them, and use them they did. They liked them too! And on the other side, the Germans were impressed by the American bazooka and developed their own, the "Panzerschreck." A good idea's a good idea, no matter where it comes from.

Thank you for producing this video. It has special meaning to me as my uncle, SGT James F. LaPatka who fought in and survived the Battle of Herrlisheim, was KIA Feb. 5, 1945 by a German sniper while his unit, Co. B/66 AIB of the 12th Army, was closing the Colmar Pocket.

If anyone's looking for a good book for the campaign before Nordwind, I'd recommend Keith Bonn's "When the Odds Were Even-- The Vosges Mountain Campaign"-- fascinating look at the battles in this little reported sector.

I love how you give attention to the lesser known footnotes of ww2 ....it was such a broad and complex war all over the globe

Finally someone is talking about this. My father was in the 103rd and caught in the middle but my research was turning up very little. Jan 19th, Seisenheim is not mentioned here but was fought at this time. I never heard of the Gambsheim bridge head attack but Seisenheim was in the area. The 411th regiment was to move thru and hook up with the 410th. 6 Tigers were in town. It did not go well. Casualties were high. The book From Bruyeres to Brenner said The food prepared for one company fed the battalion. My father talked little of WW2, occasionally mentioning certain towns. He believed attack was supposed to make a name for a politician or his son. Thank you Mark!

So much blood spilled in the Ardennes during both world wars. May their souls rest in peace.

Lt. Richard E. Vensel, who attended flight training with my grandfather in 1944 was killed in action as a platoon leader with I Company, 222nd Inf Reg, 42nd Division on January 26th, 1945. The 222nd would in 2001 be awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their stand during Operation Nordwind.

My great uncle served in the 70th and was referred to as pops since he was 35 at the start of the war when he joined. He survived the battle of the bulge. My mother talks about him from time to time.

Been a WWII history buff for 45 years and thought I knew about most of the major battles. But every week Dr. Felton puts up a new video and quickly realize how little I actually know.

I've looked around for operation nordwind documentaries for so long now but haven't had any luck. Thanks Mark Felton for this amazing video. You never fail to impress.

If Magellan TV is listening: Give Mark a series and I'll buy a subscription.

DR M F DOES IT AGAIN THANK YOU HAVE A BETTER YEAR ,FOR US ALL .

Finally someone gave nordwind the respect it deserves. Im going to buy your book.

Mark Felton to oversee production for the "History Channel". My kind of heaven.

I love learning about the WWII history, that history books have long forgotten or erased. Thank you for your time and effort I enjoy every video

This was one of the best laid out in my opinion of a little known action in late war Germany/France. I don’t know how you do it, but the through research made me feel like i was hovering above the battles as a spectator. Thank you very much for your work Mark!

Thank you for bringing attention to the lesser known but important events of WW2.

So interesting seeing the tiny town where I grew up on that battle map. It’s an area you don’t normally associate with major tank battles so close by.

I've been to the Vosges and Colmar/Mulhouse many times but for my WWI research. It's a fascinating area clearly showing it's French/German history. There are incredible WWI battlefields to explore.

>echoing your victories of 1940 when the Soviets are literally one river-away from overrunning Berlin

Thank you Mr Felton for being the highlight of our 2020! Much appreciation for the quality videos and hope for another great year of amazing little known War Stories!

Always loved learning about the history of WW2 but Mark Felton takes it to another level. So many things I did not know and delivered with an excellent, informative and captivating narration.

Mr . Felton this job is incredible , history rescue . Is incredible , Vídeos , footages , maps . Congratulations , thanks . I learn very with their job . 👍🇧🇷

23 minutes and 18 seconds never passed so quickly! These contributions to our history are fascinating, informative and just downright entertaining. Thank you Dr. Felton for keeping this alive for us and future generations. Happy New Year, Sir.

My uncle fought in the 409 regiment, 103 Division, Seventh army. He left me unit history books that describe fighting in the Voges mountains and part of the winter offensive described in this video. Thank you for the great story telling!

Great synthesis on this forgotten battle. Bulge and Nordwind are the same battle in two phases: 1. From 15 to 30 December 44 germans attack in the Bulge, Patton's army goes from Lorraine to reinforce the Ardennes, leaving his sector not defended. US retreated while de Gaulle refused to abandon Strasbourg recently liberated. 2. 15 days later Bulge assault was stopped, Himmler now attacks Strasbourg expecting low resistance because Patton is busy somewhere else. Interesting to note Strasbourg was attacked from both sides, north side a US tank bataillon disappeared, south side the french stopped the german offensive, loosing an entire bataillon 800 men in the process. (these are little battles compared to what happened in the East). Nordwind is one of my favourite battle because an entire US bataillon surrendered at Reipertswiller, could have its own episode. There was also an interesting story about a US japanese 442RCT bataillon lost and recovered, then transferred south in Sospel near Nice in the Alps to get germans out of the Maginot line in April 45, while the russians were hunting moustache in Berlin. 7th Army allied losses during Operation Dragoon:20%, Losses in Alsace:80%. Soldiers from both sides surrendered, what else can you do after 3 days in snow&ice with no food nor ammo? Both sides used extensively white phosphorus as it was a newly introduced weapon (60mm mortar itself was introduced at Gela in Italy in 42). Hatten was the biggest tank battle in the west. On aerial photographies from 1947 you can see several tank wrecks like Panthers, PzIV, M10, Shermans all the new and latest weapons. Hatten Rittershoffen are two villages facing eachother. Intense urban combat with tanks all around and Me262 dropping bombs, the climax of the war was there.

Nothing like watching these winter battles in my low heat house before I get the wood stove going. I feel the cold like the guys in the old videos. It must have been freezing....

I've learned more from this channel & other YT channels than ALL school years!😉This is BEST WW2 channel on YT!

Charlie O. Thank you for this story. My father was with the 100th at Remling...awarded Bronze Star for his actions there. These images bring his stories to life.

Thank you for your excellent analysis as always Mark. You may be one of the most neutral historical commentators left. Kudos my friend!

Every time I see that notification, I drop everything. Every-time I hear that intro, I know I’m in for amazingly choreographed and well researched information on some of the most interesting parts of human history. Thank you so much Mark for providing that to us!

Who would have known? Thank you Dr. Felton. You’re an amazing educator and make WW2 more interesting than any other channel I have watched.

Very nice upload, good coverage of operation nordwind. My father fought in this battle against the Americans at wingen sur moder. He was a sturmpioneire, Zweite Zug, Erste Kompanie, 6th SS Pioneer Battalion, 6th SS Gebirgsjager Division NORD. He lead a machinegun section, he still had his original issued mg34 until he surrendered to the amis in March 1945. He was shown the new mg42, he didn't like the new machinegun and preferred his mg34. Before war with Russia broke out he was with the totenkopf standarten 9, then the order came that his standarten was to relocate and he and his unit boarded a ship for Norway where they marched through Norway to Finland and formed the kampfgruppe NORD. He respected the Americans, he said they weren't as brutal as the Russians were in combat, the Americans gave a "fair fight". After the battle of wingen, my father marched back towards Germany with his unit through the town of Bucholz where a memorial is located to this division, they were attacked by jabos (fighter bombers) and suffered 150 casualties. His unit later took up positions at boppard where he saw as he described the amis forming up on the other side of the Rhine and started to cross the Rhine in boats. I've been very fortunate to meet many veterans of ww2, many my father's friends, who served in the Luftwaffe as pilots and some as fallshirmjager, others served in the army. I've met with veterans of the American trailblazer division who fought at wingen and witnessed old enemies having a beer together. Now all these people are long gone, only their descendents survive them, the stories and the history remembered by them.

Mark, you are one of the finest historical narrators I've ever heard. Thank you for your work.

10:06 Wait a minute, thats the guy from the "Hans get ze Flammenwerfer" meme haha!

I knew *of* this event, but virtually nothing *about* it. The educational work of Dr. Felton and a very few others is reason enough for the Internet to exist. Thank you, sir!

Naturally, I never heard of any of this conflict. And fortunately. Mark Felton informed me well, as usual.

All of Mr. Feltons documentaries are 1st rate in all aspects. Beats the crap out of the History channel. I particularly love the neutral unbiased presentation. Outstanding.

Love your work Mark. All the best for the new year!

A fantastically detailed and well put together video, as always. Thanks Mark!

Another work of excellence by this world class historian, educator and author. It just doesn't get any better than this!!

My Dad was there with the 44th division, 156th artillery battalion battery B. He said the 105 howitzers started firing continuously on New Year’s Eve and didn’t stop for 3 days. They had to cool the cannons off with the snow.

Without taking any position and always reporting neutral. Excellent work Mister Felton

very complete documentation of an operation left in the shadows..... thank you, Mark, and a very fulfilling 2021 to everyone!

Yet, another awesome presentation of material not well known. Thank you Dr. Felton.

Thank you for sharing Dr. Felton

The father of a friend of my daughters was a "First Scout" for Patton. He was one of those that relieved Bastone.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas :)

Possibly the best of Mr Felton's many fine WW2 documentaries.

Every time Mark Felton uploades I learn so much history that's the main reason I love his channel

I always enjoy the Quality Presentations on this Channel and this is no exception. I was an Army Brat that grew up in Karlsruhe, just across the Rhine from Strassbourg, so I found this "episode" particularly Riveting, Cheers!

I had no idea Himmler was given command on the Western Front! Once again Mark you have taught me another fact of WW2, Thank You...again.

Enjoyed this! My father B P Watts was wounded severely in the battles for Hatten France. He was a heavy machine gunner In the 79 Inf. 315 Div. Co H. He never talked about the war so thanks. He only would talk to our Preacher, who was also in the war in that area at the same time, who would eat Sunday dinner with us sometimes. From that I learned He was injured after the third time taking the town and losing it. He said he set his machine gun in the second floor of a house that was located in the center of a street with a Y arrangement. He said He, his Company CO.and 2 other soldiers were standing at the entrance of the building which had stairs going down to a basement He said, there was a knock out German tank in a field across from them, so they thought, since it had been their the other times they had taken the town. This time the tank fired a round, hitting a tree in front of them. They were all blown into the basement, killing all but him, and his CO. lay across him.This was on the 16th of Jan.The Germans took the town again as the Americans were trying to retake it Four days later they succeeded and he was found by a Group of Black soldiers. Father said this was the first time he had seen black inf. in the war. The 79th was a part of Patten 3 Army but was transferred to The 7 when the 3th and the 7th meet. One other thing my father said was the war would have been over twice as fast if all had fought instead of running. Another thing I have ask myself since Looking at ww1&2 deaths in my county why were there so few blacks death in ww2 verse ww1?

Thank you sir, listening to you as i go to bed gives me my best rest!

Best WW2 channel on KZfaq!!! I’ve learned so much about the war and sacrifices from your channel. Thank you so much and keep up the awesome work. I look forward to your next video sir. Thanks!!!

Your videos are some of the highest quality I’ve watched. You have a great way of personifying the soldiers that no other channel can touch. I’m firm supporter of you and your work! Please keep the videos coming! I will be joining your Patreon soon

The voice over / script, and the historical video's are combined / edited into something that is very professional - i wish we'd had these videos when i was studying history - i would have learned much more ! Thanks for the excellent work!

Fantastic video and analysis. Thank you for keeping history alive with your videos. My Grandfather was in the RAF navel command in WW2 and was my main direct source to the war. He passed away 12 years ago, and with ever year that goes by I learn more about this period of history. My only regret is that I wish I'd asked him more questions.

Years ago I met a combat engineer in the 44th Division who fought in this battle.

Hey Mark, great footage of mortars. I was a mortarman in the Iraq war. Ever think about doing a weapons loadout video specifically for the infantry including Mortars, scouts, paratroopers, etc?

It's always a delight to watch the latest video's of Mark Felton..

I really enjoy Dr.Felton’s unvarnished accounts of historical battles, he presents the facts as they unfolded. Happy New Year to all!

German commander: "The ardennes assault was a failure. What do we do next?" Hitler: "Do the same thing but smaller, that'll do the trick!"

As a Colmar inhabitant, I can just say: Merci 🙂

My other half knows by ear now. When she hears lower, short and brisk arpeggios in brass she knows it you. When she hears crisp drawn-out brass notes accompanied by cannonfire she knows it's Drachinifel. I watch many channels related with history, thanks to all of you. Best wishes for the new year.

One of my favorites you have done, excellent!

I read about Operation Undertone, the allied operation again Nordwind, so watching this was very interesting. It's very different to hear from your grandparents what happened and actually seeing the images. I want to take a moment to thank the US 7th army for their bravery/courage and for liberating and defending my little village in the north of Alsace (near Wingen) against the Nazis.

Once again an OUTSTANDING JOB DR.FELTON!!! Keep up the good work Sir and Happy New Year!!!

I have to share that your descriptions of what war was really all about is most remarkable!

Yet another stellar video. Love these longer episodes as well

Thank you Dr. Felton. 😀💕 happy new year🥂

Mark: *Drops new video* Me: *Immediately saves to Watch Later*

Thanks, Dr. Felton!

Once again, Dr Felton released historical information, that as a a historian, I was dumbfounded to not be largely aware of. Thanks to Dr. Felton we can now understand the true and consequential nature of this very important battle.

Another great job, Mark! I think you've even improved the use of maps and unit locations so we can really see who/what was where. You're becoming an industry standard! Keep 'em coming.

Mark, it is obvious you are absolutely passionate about what you do. Cheers mate

Thank you once again fro bringing this time to light, it really helps to deal with the stress of today to hear to horror of yesterday. Idk, your videos are always top notch better then cable.

Professor Felton as always a fantastic lecture! Thank You.