Actually the line "they were under 25" means that they were under 25 years old. Young men between 20 and 25 were exclusively recruited for the Sturmtruppen.

Stormtroopers were equipped with some of the first smgs, early bulletproof vests (more of a metal brestplate than anything) a large number grenades, and sometimes flamethrowers. Combined with highly aggressive, and speed focused tactics, these guys were terrifyingly effective at clearing trenches.

_"And Blitzkrieg is born" i swear that quote send chills to my spine!_

Honestly, this song is probably my new favorite from Sabaton, but the whole album is nothing but back to back bangers, imo.

About stalemate and gas masks: The First World War was known for its relatively static trench warfare, enforced by the advent of automatic machine guns and long-ranged artillery. It was also known for the massed use of gas attacks on both sides, nasty stuff like chlorine, mustard gas and more. Gas masks weren't just a stormtrooper thing, they were, to my understanding, necessary if one wanted to not die horribly.

If you read more about the beginning of stromtroopers, you understand that they were brave people. These were exclusively volunteers who, thanks to their courage, emerged from the trenches of the great war and opened the future doctrine to the armies of the whole world. They were fast, efficient and intimidating. Very impressive song

Ernst Jünger, in his autobiography of WW1, described the Sturmtruppen’s best weapons, in order: Grenades, Handguns, and Melee (Shovels, Knives, and Trench Clubs). Storm Troopers were close quarters specialists, they hit a point, clear it out and move on before anyone knew what happened. And in a time before long range communication was as good as it is now, Storm Trooper officers led from the front and were, unlike most low level officers at the time, encouraged to improvise and make changes on the fly, making them far more effective and mobile than any other infantry force on the field.

This album is a masterpiece, my ears are crying tears of joy! This song gives me huuuuge Dragonforce vibes! About the stormtroopers: Stormtroopers were specialist soldiers of the German Army. In the last years of World War I, Stoßtruppen ("shock troopers" or "shove troopers") were trained to use infiltration tactics - part of the Germans' improved method of attack on enemy trenches. The creation of these units was the first, and perhaps most innovative, attempt by the German army to break out of the impasse of trench warfare. With the use of well-trained soldiers, commanded by NCOs with autonomous decision-making capacity, an attempt was made to overcome the no man's land and to break through enemy lines in predefined points, in order to allow subsequent waves to liquidate the now confused and isolated opponent, opening large gaps in its defensive systems and then resuming maneuver warfare, which would have allowed Germany to win the conflict. The new tactics developed by Captain Rohr, building much on his own previous experiences from the front, was based on the use of squad sized stormtroops, supported by a number of heavy support weapons and field artillery that was to be coordinated at the lowest level possible and rolling up enemy trenches using troops armed with hand grenades. These tactics were tested the first time in October 1915 in a successful assault on a French position in the Vosges Mountains. The first major offensive led by the new Assault Detachment was the initial German attack at Verdun in February 1916. Stormtroops were in the first wave, leading some units into the French trenches, attacking seconds after the barrage had lifted. This generally worked very well, even though it worked much better against the first trenchline than against the less well-known enemy rear-area. On 1 April 1916, the Assault Detachment was redesignated "Assault Battalion Rohr". Around this time it was expanded from two to four pioneer companies. At the same time, several Jäger battalions began retraining as new Assault Battalions. In World War II- World War I style shock troops ceased to be relivant- due to mechanization. The strategy that the press dubbed blitzkrieg calls for tanks backed up by mechanized infantry, artillery and air power to punch holes into the enemy lines. Though these whole might get punched by airborne and commandos wreaking havoc to draw off enemy forces. These guys were terrifying, allthough they usually suffered heavy casulties. Keep the reactions coming for the new album Dave!

Imagine standing in your trench, shooting at the enemy that are far away. And then suddenly, to your great surprise, you see a couple of these guys standing next to you wielding fully automatic weapons, and they just start mowing down your friends and allies and there is no time for anyone to react.

The Kaiserschlacht, the last major offensive of the war, with artillery going off loud enough that it could be heard from Northern France, all the way to London, across the British channel.

Very rarely does a band make me patriotic for other countries. But goddamn it, sabaton does it every god damn time

This along with "Race to the Sea" and "Valley of death" are the 3 I like most in this albumb

The crazy thing about Blitzkrieg is, it's a large-scale strategy. The Germans didn't just do this for one or two little battles--it's how they took Europe in the next war. So not only did they have this clever idea of how to wage war, they had to plan it across the entire European landmass they intended to conquer and make it work somehow.

Stormtroopers are essentially the genesis of special forces in the modern era. Hit hard, hit fast, leave nothing standing in your way.

When they said "Under 25" they meant age. The German officer who came up with the idea had very strict requirements for the men in these elite units.

This is a great song love the topic. A real good book to read about WW1 and Stormtroopers is "Storm of Steel" by Ernst Jungerwho himself was a Stormtrooper Officer

Great song I had some German ancestors who were stormtroopers in ww1 so this one hits home possible my new favorite song

Also the stormtroopers were equipped with one of the first submachine guns existing with the Model mp18 which can be really effective when storming enemy trenches and they only got classic boltaction rifles

I'm so glad you picked up on that more quiet, brooding interlude representing the static state of trench warfare and then that SCREAMING guitar interrupts it like the stormtroopers! I caught that too! P. S. Ya GOTTA listen and react to "Hellfighters". It's about (YOU GUESSED IT) the infamous Harlem Hellfighters. As an American, if I had to pick any group of soldiers from WW1 that are from America that DESERVE a song. It's them.

My first thought last night I wonder if Dave will do a reaction today sure enough thanks Dave . I know you will get to them all sometime I’m requesting “Hellfighters” it’s my favorite it’s a banger I think you’ll love it 🤟🤟🎸🤛

Just to let you know Dave, Sabaton has a bonus track at the beginning of the album called Sarajevo that isn't available in digital copies but Sabaton have released a lyric video of it on their channel and I think it's a very good track to do next since it talks about the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The event that many believe caused WW1 to begin.

Stormtroopers is one of my favorite songs they've ever made it's so good

Absolutely loving this album. Had it on repeat since it came out.

Blitzkrieg is just a tactic to attack as fast and as hard as you can giving the enemy little to no time to stop and form defensive lines. Thanks to motorization whole units can be left bypassed to be mopped up by infantry while, the main spearhead keeps driving forth.

"Fun" detail: The Italianen arditti (the Italian variant of the storm troopers) motto was "either we all win or we all die".

Another fun note is that Hitler during World War 2, whom happened to be a World War 1 veteran himself, called his Werchmacht the SS which they were called Storm Soldiers which we call Storm Troopers. They were fast, agile, brutal, and hit with precision. Ironically enough, from the United States you would hear of the 30th Infantry Division being called Roosevelt’s SS and many of the soldiers stitched SS onto their insignia in blue or white in order to strike fear into the Nazi Army. The unit was a North Carolina National Guard Infantry division and were feared by the Germans when they made landfall in Normandy 11 June 1944. Many Nazi SS unit surrendered to the 30th Infantry Division because of the tenacity of their violence and refusal to take prisoners.

Cool observations about how the feel of the music reflects the overall concept. This is what makes Sabaton so great a writing "complete" songs. Melodically, the foundation of their sound relies on a lot of power metal tropes, but they always find a way to make it feel fresh and appropriate to the topic at hand. These last 3 albums in particular have been stellar with regard to riff writing and solos in large part due to the addition of Chris and Tommy on guitar. Plus the backup vocals have never been better. This is pinnacle Sabaton.

You should react to the whole album. You won't be disappointed! :D

One more thing about stormtroopers that made them terrifying to the average ww1 soldier. While the average soldier carried a slow firing bolt action rifle, the German stormtroopers of the first world war trenches were the only ones to carry the fully automatic, hand portable weapons that would come to be known as sub-machine guns.

Also everything you said was spot on, especially saying it was a mental thing. That’s absolutely true, these troops were terrifying

the line "infantry attacks - exposing the cracks" is a reference to the book "infanterie greift an (infantry attacks)" by field marshal erwin rommel, in which he describes his experiences commanding infantry in the first world war before his suicide in 1944, he was working on a similar book about his experiences in the second world war called "panzer greift an (tanks attack)" "jägers lead the way" on the other hand is a reference to a type of light infantry unit that was common in what is now germany in the 18th and 19th century. unlike the regular line infantry of the era, these units would fight on the edges of the formation as skirmishers. in austria for example, jäger (the proper spelling) were recruited from tyrolean farmers who were reknowned for their expert marksmanship

Stormtroopers armed with smoke grenades, hand grenades, sub machine guns, and flamethrowers. You don't see stormtroopers coming by the time you do they are already on top of you.

If i remember correctly, i read an article years ago about Entente troops and who remembered and especially survived stromtroop-attacks and they litelary said that, even when these guys are human, they spread fear and 'passive stress' out in the troops because, if they are in the trench, a whole trench will be wiped out in minutes when they entered and could easily go toe on toe with around 1 to 10 (because of the SMG's they simply can keep shooting) - also combined with flamethrowers and all these stuff. So if stromtroopers entered the trenches and it wasnt a 'Big assault' like regular, sometimes panic broke out in the entente troops. On the other hand, if you are a stromtrooper, you are a regular veteran and are - to some degree very merciless to some degree, you wont get into the stormtrooper squads if you havent killed someone. And then you crawl to these trenches, hoping no ones gonna see you. Which makes it much more brutal and cruel if you believe what these men have to go threw. Oh btw - because you said something like "they charge with the mask" - The Stormtroopers were an infiltration-shock units. Which generally means this: You have the big field of no-mans-land. And they slowly crawl near and near your trench. Then around, when they are like - 10-15 metres in front of your trench - they start throwing grenades on the position where they want to enter. As the grenade is still in the air, they get up and start charging the position. The Grenade explodes in that time - so the defender is getting killed or wounded heavily. And then you have - in like 10 to 20 seconds around 50 men, heavy geared - in your trenches. THEN the alarm pipe got ringed. But these guys are already in YOUR trench. And they have SMG's, light MG's, Flamethrowers and more. And then go from bunker to bunker, while there are people, still getting ready for fight and simply got caught by surprise and killed. This actions doesnt take much time and they would wipe out complete trench lines. And now the more 'impactful' thing happen: WHILE they are in your trench, wiping out bunker after bunker, you hear the german charge-pipe and the regular infantry approaching you. Which means: You have stormtroopers in YOUR trench, fighting you from both flanks and having now a big army marching against you in the front. THIS would be the optimal way how it would work out and it worked out extremly well in warfare.

This is honestly one of the best songs I have ever heard from Sabaton and the fact that I go through a lot of training as a storm trooper this song exactly hit my vibe

Gotta keep checking out this album, Hellfighters is one of their best recent songs imo.

This is definitely one of my favorites off the new album along with Versailles and Race to the Sea. Hell it might be one of my new favorites period.

"Valley of death" Hi from Bulgaria

Hey bro, always love your vids. Brothers In Metal. Up the fucking IRONS!! 🤘🤬

I love your channel keep up the great stuff

This song really gives you adrenaline.

First video I’ve watched of you. I like how you actually look at the story behind the name of the song, see what the particular thing is about, so you can understand the lyrics better.

they were recruited from unmarried men under the age of 25. they were chosen for their physical fitness, strength, speed and aggression, as well as their ability to think on the fly and adjust tactics to the situations before them. given their intended function as a dedicated assault unit for hurtling across noman's land to attack trenches under artillery fire, it fits that these qualities would be prioritised in the individuals involved as speed and violence of action was key.

Awesome reaction! But Dave. You need to react to the opener of the new "The War to End All Wars" album: "Sarajevo". It's honestly incredible, and one of the most powerful openers that I've ever heard in my life.

Dave: releasing sabaton videos daily until the album is done. Me: music to my ears.

1st...yaaa!!!.... i bought a digital copy of this album at 12:30am this morning... i love it

I think this perfect soundtrack for siege troops of ww1! Ty for reaction!

This song makes me wish Star Wars would have storm troopers worthy of a song as epic as this. Where they're more like soldiers in the prequels, and not cannon fodder for the main characters.

"Infantry attacks" is the english title of Rommels book "Infanterie greift an" wich explores his experiences in the 1st World War where he employed Stormtrooper concepts.

5:52 for me this is VERY reminiscent of a part from ensiferums song one more magic magic potion. future reaction perhaps? theyre finnish folk metal and so much fun.

Dreadnaught is awesome, and little bit of info if you do Sarajevo do Versailles after both songs mark the begining and ending of the war and are very different than anything Sabaton has done before love the reaction 👍👍

Love this song great work out music

These guys were the pioneers to special forces today

Ha ha I listen to this song when it was one hour old!

Something that I just noticed when listening is they say "infantry attacks" in the lyrics which is the title of a book written by Erwin Rommel that basically advocates for Blitzkrieg tactics.

Stormtroopers were well trained in infiltration tactics. The idea was that intense bombardment would isolate the area that the stormtroopers had chosen to infiltrate. Under cover of this bombardment, sometimes gas, and most often light tanks the stormtroopers would maneuver in a very fast encircling infiltration to capture large amounts of the enemy in a fire sack (military doctrinal term meaning that you are completely surrounded and they are going to fire inside of the sack and kill everyone). This is why you hear in the lyrics "encircle their flanks and ravage their ranks".

The German Stormtroopers had very strict Rules for Recruits, all Troopers had to be under 25 Years Old to fight so if they passed this Age they were called back from the Fronts and that is what they ment with "they were under 25"

Loved it, you shoudl react to Sarajevo and Versailles one of the other since they basically start and wrap up the album and complement each other very well.

I don't know if you caught it but rommels book infintary attacks covers this topics and they use the title in the song

The Stormtroopers were a German special force and as many said there were so modern with tactic and equipment that they cleaned so many trenches.. I mean of course they were Germans i mean who else would come up with ultimate new tactics and equipment..

We need a ww1 video game where you play as a Stoßtruppen, that would be hella fun

Yaooo That was Sick lol 😂😂😂😂😂

yeah just had albuminterview with Elizabeth Zharoff on The Charasmatic Voice so good having two people that compose nerding out was fun and learned some sound production stuff sort of play with it.

"Under 25" actually refers to the age limit of the people who could volunteer, meaning you have to be under 25.

You need to react to Dreadnought and March to the Sea, personally those are my two most favorite

Ghost Division is Sabaton covering Blitzkrieg activities in the beginning of WW2 P.S. Dreadnought is a absolute tune 😊

I suspect Sabaton are fond of Germany. Dunno why, but among their music, songs about German war heroes are always the best (Stormtroopers, Red Baron, Ghost Div.)

IF THERE WAS A SUPER CAPS LOCK I WOULD USE IT RIGHT NOW ITS SO GOOD I LOVE IT

When you get to "Hellfighters" be prepared. It goes HARD!

SO dave you misunderstood the They Were Under 25 line. It meant that the soldiers were no older than 25, not that the units were small.

Blitzkrieg is basically just the military term for a large scale vibe check against the enemy.

Listen to the part where it goes in the enemy eyes and then it says Chris

I'm pretty sure under 25 was the age of the soldiers that could join the stormtroopers

the term "Under 25" refers to their age, very common mistake and all troops in Germany on the frontlines at the time did have gasmasks so it wasnt just stormtroopers.

You didn't react to Sarajevo. It's such a great introduction to the album.

Death Korps of Krieg approve this song.

Definitely react to Dreadnought. I think it is the catchiest song on the album.

Dreadnought from the new album is literally boss music.

Actually the Sarajevo song is the beginning of the album. But yeah it's kind of a introduction.

So german stormtroopers are basically death korps of kreig but irl

The Stromtroopers of the first World War are the basis on wich modern mobile Warfare is built.

interesting facts about ancient roman tactics mostly what romans were better than anybody in that time is adapting things. They faced a different situation, along with different enemies, lets use "theirs" what we need. Greeks and their phalanx? Lets use it. Germanians? Winter? Lets use their trousers. iberians and their bracelets? Lets implement it to our soldiers armour so they get wounded much harder. Also, that is true that (most)of their generals wasnt stupid. They were the best for that one job they got assigned by the senate. Also, lot of police use ancient roman tactics during riots just like the MANIPVLA and rank changing tactics.

It's funny, shock troopers had the best gear available usually but in reality the tactics were old school AF... Like, charge the enemy and take them out close range is the oldest tactic in war... Ancient.. so your Rome is fairly on point

Bro I heard you speaking about Qatar in the beginning of the video what is funny that I am also from Qatar and I am a swat team storm trooper what a coincidence 🇶🇦🎖😂

The under 25 refers to their age not the amount people in a unit :)

Tommy is just Yngwie Malmsteen with better feeling on the guitar! These guys (Stormtroopers) had knuckle irons and the newest weps available including gas masks and close range machineguns. they wanted to get close and overwhelm their enemies who were just recovering after a barrage of artillery. Making a hole in the line.

The Nazi used Blitzkrieg tactics in WWII as well.

the roman part jea they youst stuff like the cyrulation of the legionari like a chain cyrcle moveof a bisicle 1 man front and afther the hit the next was up and since they looktalike the "enemy" exaustet himself on a line while they where "top fit"

After listening to the whole album all at once, back to back I was kind of dissapointed. The singles were great but the rest just sounded the same to me, like they improvised and recorded it all all at once while being in a rush. But now the songs have really grown on me. When you hear them seperately they are really good in my opinion, especially this, Race to the sea, Dreadnaught and ofc the singles.

ain't even the start of the album. The Spotify version is missing Sarajevo

The 'Sturmtruppen' were tasked to rapidly infiltrate enemy lines, led from the front and highly flexible due to "Auftragstaktik" ("goal orientated tactics" = instead of blank orders the german army bscly goes for "i want this goal to be achieved... how you do it is your business") and equiped with the best of the best when it comes to weaponry (they would use highly new and inoventive gear such as the MP18 (one of, if not the, first submachine gun) and light machine guns) and protective gear (such as the new and acctually usefull "Stahlhelm"), they would quickly charge over no mans land, envelop the enemys flanks and often be so quick that they could mow down reinforcements before they suspected to be in contact... They were often made up from elite, battle hardened veterans from the eastern front, freed up by the russian revolution and subsequent peace treaty with russia, and told to think of themselves as the "princes of the trenches" and boy did they live up to that...

Blitzkrieg! ;)

Listen to Harlem Hellfighters, right now

You need to react to Hellfighters. It’s about the Harlem Hellfighters an African-American / Puerto Rican Unit in WW1.

Listen to Versailles and Sarajevo with Sarajevo first as they are the beginning and ending of the war

Start to do just podcast. Your voice is so soothing...i'll start to do yoga or shit with that 😅 (nope)

Nice job contributing to the video and not just sitting there listening to the song.

Unfortunately, since these are mostly brand new and newly released the history of them haven't been made to explain the songs . You should really check out their other songs with the background they go into each song, and either wait for that or go back to do a 2nd look when they come out with the history on their Sabaton History, Time Ghost , WW2, and other history Channels.

Blitzkrieg Usually is know from WW2. Extremely successful tactic by germans...keep up with history 😉

Blitzkrieg isn't "invented" by Germans. they were inspired by the Napoleon tactics. Napoleon had very small military groups which served as a literal small army with their cavalry and all that good stuff. and given by their size they could cover territory in lightning speed and go in enemy backline and trap them. Germans got inspired by that tactic and created so called "Blitzkrieg"

man you really got to look up your history stuff go take a look at the sabaton history channel