I live on Long Island. An old man I knew years ago told me that while fishing in the 1970s, a German man pointed at a lighthouse (perhaps Fire Island lighthouse?) and said "That was always there" then pointed at a nearby water tower and said "That's new!" The old man told the German that he's correct and how he knew. The German said he remembers looking at the lighthouse from a U-Boat.

What i love so much about this channel is that you don't just tell the same old cliche stories of history like so many others, but tell genuinely unknown and very interesting stories, which really give you a better and deeper knowledge of world history.

Considering that such a large part of the U-boat fleet was sunk, his survival was unusual.

Many U-Boats visited New York Harbor, the lights from the city made them impossible to see, they would surface just until the conning tower was above the water. Herbet Verner talks about seeing cities on the US coast during operation drumbeat. They'd watch the ships pass Daytona and use the backlighting to figure what ones to sink. Tankers were the big prize. My dad flew ASW from NAS Banana River. One night they were on liberty in Jacksonville, they were going to fly out of there and patrol further north and south. His whole crew was at the boardwalk and saw 2 tankers get sunk within an hour. He said there's be a huge explosion and sometimes you felt the heat. Sometimes you heard screaming. A lot of people took pleasure boats out to try and rescue the men.

An absolute privelege to experience work of such an impeccable standard on a regular basis. The sheer variety of subject matter, delivered so professionally and accurately, reduces other KZfaq efforts to the level of the trivial, and puts most international TV productions to shame. Its impossible to not be affected by Mark's skill, knowledge and professionalism. Another well earned 'thank you' Mark. Always appreciated. 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

After the war Hardegen was asked of his finest Christmas he could think of. He answered, it was the Christmas with his man in the Sub '41 on the way to the American Coast. They had not much, but decorated a small branch of a tree as their Christmas tree and everyone had a very small present. They sang Songs together and had a special meal cooked by the smut. Honor to all sailors!

He has such a perfect pitch, cadence and intonation for narrative like this.

Rhinehard Hardigan lived through WWII and then lived to be 105, passing on in June, 2018. His survival was very unusual in that 90% of all U-Boat skippers perished in WWII. He was one lucky fellow indeed! He gives even more credibility to the SAS motto: "Who Dares Wins!"

First dinner with Hitler - "...so...here's what you're doing wrong..." Damn...the guy had balls the size of church bells.

I remember seeing Rheinhard Hardeggen on a documentary series called "Submarines, Sharks of Steel" years ago, along with other U-Boot veterans. Most came across like tired old men, but not Hardeggen! That hard-charging SOB was pushing 80 but still came across as ready to take a boat out and do it all over again! Still full of fire and energy. By the way, as a kid on the New Jersey beaches back in the 1960s I'd be digging in the sand or walking on some eroded parts of the dunes and see belts of a dark, sticky substance and wondering what it was. It was only years later I realized it was fuel oil that had washed up on the beaches during WW2, literally the ghosts of ships sunk by U-Boots. Sobering, to say the least.

Just imagine what a 105 year old must have seen in his enormous lifespan.

Reinhard Hardegen lived to be a 105 years old.. So what ever was wrong with his health during the war, must have had a good effect on his life 🤪

Mark Felton, the man, the historian and the legend.....returns with historical goodies

I'm starting to believe that Mr.Felton is drinking some very strong type of tea in good old England to find such fine pieces of history....this has been one of the most interesting subjects so far

From the way Hardegen was going, I half expected him to sail up the St. Lawrence Seaway and torpedo Chicago.

105 years old. Another riveting saga from history. Thank You Mark Felton!

When talking about how bold the German subs were, you didnt mention the one that surfaced off of Miami beach. People on the beach for the most part didnt realize it was German and waved to the guy on the conning tower who waved back. They submerged and disappeared before anti-sub aircraft could get it.

I live near Sandy Hook New Jersey. There’s a map in a maritime museum there that shows the location of ships sunk by U-Boats off New York and other spots along the coast of the US. I was amazed how many there were.

Wish Mark Felton was my World History teacher in high school.

Hi Mark, I'm a Greek historian who admires you and your channel. I'd suggest you take a look into some really interesting (small scale) stories from the Nazi-occupied Greece that are worth bringing up. I could provide you with some details if you are interested.

In Ocracoke, North Carolina the so-called *"British Cemetery"* inters 4 recovered bodies (of 37) from the torpedoed armed trawler *HMT Bedfordshire. These men volunteered to help defend the North Carolina coast against German U-boats* right after America's entry into World War II, when the USA was ill-prepared to. This gravesite and small memorial was granted in appreciation to the UK, 'in perpetuity', and thus will forever be considered British soil. Every year on the Thursday and Friday closest to the sinking an official contingent of British and American armed forces meet at the cemetery to conduct a memorial service.

Mark Felton is the history teacher I needed

Dr. Felton, 75 years after the war and you are teaching us with new information which gives perspective from both sides of the ocean. Thank you for bringing us what we would never get from the History Channel.

Oddly, I have a tremendous amount if respect for Capt. Hardegen. Though the enemy, he was a brave and skilled commander.

Mark Felton has all ways remembers lot of greatest history’s of both world wars and cold war. Keep up the good history mark felton

The Canadians are often forgotten for there involvement in WW2. They were absolutely vital in a massive team effort!

I've always wanted to learn more about this specific story, thank you!!

Seeing the submarine service has possibly the highest death rate of any German military service Hardegen was a very lucky man.

Serving in the German u boat war was a desperate venture by anyone"s standard and needed some brave soldiers prepared to die in the most horrific ways , i couldnt do it myself so wow what brave lads

Dr. Felton is a truly great man

Love those U-boot stories. Yet can't see much heroics on targeting those freighters.

My father flew with RCAF Maritime Command on anti-submarine patrols out of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. In 1943 they had the new radar that the subs could not detect. His plane attacked 3 separate subs. He assumed that either there were a lot of subs off the coast or his crew was just lucky. Just recently we learned that the British were reading the German subs' coded transmissions and sharing projected sub locations with the RCAF in Canada. The assigned patrol areas for each plane was actually a targeted location, although the crew did not know that. In a post war book a German sub Captain commented that they did not like patrolling too far north because there were too may airplanes. He did not know that the planes were told where to find subs.

Well done Mr Felton. I remember reading of the U-862 German submarine crew (an account by a surviving member) that landed in the Coorong, South Australia, looking for water. That they even got there from Germany is impressive in itself.

We were at the outer Banks of North Carolina two years ago. Been there more than a few times. Anyway, we took the ferry to Ocracoke Island. The old guy helping to operate the ferry said when he was a kid, they could hear the U-boat motors running in the darkness, recharging their batteries.

Passed away in 2018... what an amzing long ife went ashtray. Many thank Dr. Mark.

It's a strange feeling to see, and even admire, the sailors who may have been trying to sink the ship my grandparents, my father and his sister were on as they ran the gauntlet from Britain to the Caribbean at that same time. But of course, I do respect these men, as Grandpa was a ship's captain himself! Thank you, Dr. Felton!!

Another fantastic telling of a fascinating part of the war. The bearded Captain Hardegen is reminiscent of the actor Jurgen Prochnow in the great German movie Das Boot.

I’ve heard stories of the U Boats being close to the US during the war but didn’t know they got that close. WOW

Unbelievably unprepared as we are now in the same. Thanks again for a great history lesson NOT taught in school.

Actually, "drum" means "Trommel". "Pauken" are "timpanis", and "Paukenschlag" in German describes more a very unexpected (sometimes unpleasant) surprise happening all of a sudden, while "drumbeat" ("drumbeat of someone's heart") is something re-ocurring and steadily played, usually not very surprising. No matter what - another highly interesting and excellently presented chapter just happened in this great channel. Thank you, Dr. Felton.

There are not many former enemies that deserve the title "legend" but this skipper does... He survived a near death experience, got better and went into a branch of the armed forces that most likely killed the rest of his class, was seriously ill and yet still took his submarine over an entire ocean and almost right into the heart of his foe and then did it all over again. Frankly, the fact he survived the war and became so long lived is an astonishing success that should be celebrated

Ive just got my WW2 history fix administered by Dr Felton. Good stuff and its just what the Dr ordered.

I’m originally from Long Island and can remember my grandmother telling me about the blackouts that took place during the war on the coast. I also remember her telling me about the manhunt that took place after the landings in Amagansett. She worked for Grumman as a secretary and said there were police and military at all train stations for quite some time. Love the story as always Dr. Felton. Please keep them coming!

Each and every one of Mark Felton's productions are interesting and informative. Too many of todays 'documentaries' are littered with supposition and unsubstantiated information. Mark's productions are refreshing doses of real and honest story telling. As a lover of history I welcome Mark's new stories whenever I see them, knowing they aren't just fluff pieces. And it isn't just his telling of the historical... but the depths he goes to to follow up on the characters he telling us about. Reinhard Hardegen lived to be a 105 years old and died in 2018... amazing. Thank you Mark Felton

I wish I could have met some of these U-boat captains. A truly rare breed.

Who the hell dislikes this? Mark's doing a great job, such disrespect…

Hardegen later travelled to more than 100 countries and had been to the north and south-pole. What a life.

I love the idea of u boats and submarines, but you'll NEVER find me in one.

Mark, you should be a professor of history and as the class enters the room, your epic video theme plays (reminds me of Return to Castle Wolfenstein). That would set the tone that they were going to learn so many new things that history had ignored or forgotten.

Excellent video. I remember as a child, hearing of the lights having to be turned off or covered along the coast during WWII. My grandfather retired to Atlantic City and my father and grandfather told me about the threat of German submarines (U-boats) during WWII.

Fact they pulled him out of sea probably saved his life. Attacking enemy ship in 44/45 was suicide as conwoy escorts, planes equiped with radars and reading Triton code made Uboats operations very dangerous. Most of times it was one ship for one sub, that wasnt good trade for Germany.

Thank You again, Dr. Mark Felton for this WW2, U-boat, Manhattan presentation! We heard lots of stories of Nazi spies, throughout the tri-state area... Supposedly there was a Nazi spy who would transmit from a church bell tower in Queens, NY, the ship movements in the East River, (Just north of New York harbor), and in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. (My father was an air raid Warden during the war. He'd talk about the blackouts, aircraft recognition, and people taking cover, in the event of a Nazi air attack, in NYC). Thanks again Dr Mark Felton, for sharing your great episodes, as I watch them every evening, before going to sleep.

Never have been disappointed yet by a Felton production!

Woah.... 105 years old 2018. Think of the stories that man could have told right up to 2018

I’m from Georgia and as a child went to the Golden Isles near Brunswick. Found out that U-123 sank 2 ships right off St Simons Island. And Captain Hardegen said that the island had its lights burning brightly, just like New York! (Although much more modest-no skyscrapers on the Georgia coast.)

I live in New Jersey atop the Palisades directly opposite mid-Manhattan. It's fascinating to think of Hardegen and his U-boat so close to my beloved NYC.

Man I love that music he puts in the first part of his videos it goes perfect with marks voice. Good job mark keep them coming

I have always wanted to know more about this campaign, so thank you for doing my work for me, Mark. What I love about your work is that you always focus on people, not just on actions. I have a feeling that there's more to come on this subject! Thanks again.

Ahoy Dr. Mark! Former US nuke submariner here. There were a number of spies landed by U Boat, one of whom attended my high school in Chicago before the war; Albert G. Lane HS in Chicago. Would make a great video...if you haven't already done it! Keep up the great work and cheers!

That shot of New York at night was kind of eerie. You look at all the lights and windows and start wondering about whoever was up there, and what they were up to, that one evening, 70+ years ago...

Wow! enlightening as always, I can't believe he lived to be 105 and the things he'd done. it's fascinating to see the face and character of "the enemy"

He lived to 105 being in “poor health”. Can you imagine how long he would have lived if he was in good health?🤣

Hardegen was a fortunate individual. Awesome job Mark !

Hardegen was interviewed by the developers of the game "Silent Hunter II" and little video excerpts of the interview came with the game on a supplementary CD. He described this action and told a story of when after his second patrol to the US coast he was attacked and damaged. He was forced to return to Germany to effect repairs that couldn't be done in the French yards. On the return trip he was continually attacked by ASW aircraft, even in terrible weather. He couldn't figure out why he was being located so easily until he learned afterward that the British ASW a/c were using radar. As he finished the story he was laughing uproariously. There was also an incident where a U-Boat torpedoed a tanker near a resort town in the Carolinas- the skipper wanted to finish it off with the deck gun, but feared missing and hitting the civilians watching the scene from a beach. So the U-Boat circled around the stricken ship and shelled it from the landward side, in full view of thousands of spectators at the seaside resort town.

Thank you for another quality history lesson. I've always been fascinated by Paukenschlag and the U Boat war off the east coast.

Boom! Right in the middle of my AE shift... Give me something to listen too

Another brilliant documentary about a little known episode in WW2. Thank you, Mr. Felton.

This is fascinating. I was told my grandfathers ship a destroyer, one of three pursued and sank a U boat off of New England. This presentation just adds more to my curiosity. Big thanks!

Being a German and history enthusiast, I want to thank Mark Felton and his team for their remarkable dedication and flawless efforts to produce high quality material almost on a daily basis. During pandemic times, it were your clips who helped me to overcome the difficult lockdown times. The stories and film material are second to none and even the German productions of Guido Knopp can not compete with the extraordinary and outstanding plots. Thanks a lot again an I will definetly donate via Paypal.

Professor Mark with obscure history out of the gate as always. Very interesting topics.

No kidding, I've been looking for something yesterday uninteresting on U-Boat stories off the east coast

Mark Felton again hits it on the nose!! With his in depth knowledge!! And detailed story telling!! My children and I cannot wait for your next episode!!

So many interesting things I learn from you everyday, Mark, I've been waiting for this video to come out and I'm excited it has arrived, thank you for everything you do to help expand my mind with various events in history.

The US issued blackout recommendations for coastal communities early on. They were largely ignored because of the inconveniences to evening and night time commerce, business, and recreation, and made comparatively easy targets of shipping silhouetted against coastal lighting from unshaded vehicles, homes, and businesses. Thousands of merchant mariners and others were killed.

One of the best stories to date, thanks again for sharing.

This is a story you never hear about. Many thanks Sir Mark. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🇺🇸

Whenever I go to Galveston TX and see all the oil tankers and freighters in the distance, I just imagine what a U-Boat commander might do in the present.

Another great video Dr. Felton !

Definitely did not learn about this in school. Thank you for another fascinating history lesson.

105 yrs old….holy cow, that’s amazing!

He got closer to New York City than the German army got to Moscow.

Love these documentaries! Mark, have you ever researched the U-853 and Battle of Pt. Judith? It is one of the last actions of the Battle of the Atlantic, May 6th 1945. I grew up on the Rhode Island shore and my grandfather often talked about watching the action from the front porch of our summer cottage.

As always, in addition to a great story well told, you have excellent film and video to illustrate it. Thanks so much!

The amount of detail and work Professor Felton puts into every video is outstanding. For history aficionados like me and many others, getting close to these forgotten pieces of history in such an accesible manner is just amazing.

Hardegen was my mother's boss in the Bremen office of the Danish marine paint firm, Hempel. Family lore has it that I once flattered him tremendously when I was a toddler, telling him he was "a handsome man". I also once shattered a valuable porcelain vase at his home, when my mother went to water the plants when Hardegen was out of town. Just how confrontational he was with Hitler depended a bit on whom he told the story to. I do remember him getting quite emotional, voice quavering and tearing up, when he talked about Hitler (whom he consistently called "der Führer") shaking his hand and looking him in the eyes. It is true that at that dinner, he angered Hitler considerably, to the point where Goering took Hardegen aside afterward and told him to watch his mouth in the future. But later on, Hitler appointed Hardegen to be in charge of the torpedo design program, and that's the job he kept to the end of the war (at least until Dönitz's infamous "gift" of navy sailors to Hitler for use as soldiers). As far as navigation in the waters around New York goes, he was relying on the map in the tourist guidebook he had bought while visiting in 1933. Of the many Hardegen stories I've read, another remarkable one, related by his former fellow conservative (CDU) member of the Bremen state parliament (Bremische Bürgerschaft), Wedige von der Schulenburg, Hardegen was the only Bremer to date to visit both North Pole and South Pole - one of those expeditions undertaken when he was in his 80s. When his home heater broke in the dead of winter sometime when he was already in his 90s, Hardegen says he got out his polar gear to ride out the bitter cold in the house while he was waiting for someone to come and fix the heater.

When I was a small child my Dad took me to see a man building a submarine in his backyard. His name was Peter Lutjens and he said he was a sailor on a German U boat during WW2. This was in Sarasota Florida around 1960. Not sure what became of the submarine.

As famous and as good as he was he was still only the 24th most successful U-boat captain. That shows how effective they really were.

I am suffering from a rather common disease... known as feltonian disconnect. Where I spend literally days watching Mark felton videos

Another epic story. How does he come up with something new every day?!

I beat my personal record with this video; started watching only 4 minutes after it’s posting

Incredible hero !

I drive by the Atlantic City coast guard station each weekend during the summer. I will now look out at the sea with a new perspective! Thank you for being our history teacher Mark, you are persevering so much for so many people.

What a fascinating story! Thank you for sharing. Hardegen's commanded vessel did substantial damage, far more than I ever knew any German naval vessel could. This helped to explain why there was such sensitivity in the United States about dimming lights in major cities. I wrongly assumed the move to dim lights was more about propaganda than an actual threat. Now I know better.

Thank you Mark for the quality content. I can’t imagine the work you did and research on those topics. You pull so many stories out of your hat nobody has ever heard of. Just amazing. Channels that make it fun to learn are the best. I appreciate your story telling a lot.

this is fastly becoming my favorite channel, i find info here i wouldnt find it anywhere else, thanks Sir for the work you have done for it, surely appreciated much, and hoping for a prosperous future in your content and for the channels

In 2007 while working for the US Navy I traveled to Nordseewerke in Emden, Germany for technical meetings on their Scorpene Class submarines. I would have been honored to meet this amazing man in Bremen. German submarine technology remains supreme and Korvettenkapitan Hardegen was a master with such technology.

It's always a great day when Dr. Felton uploads a new video. It is amazing how close the Nazis came to the east coast. Again, excellent video Dr. Felton. Thank you.

"Warf, I tell you, war is much more fun when you're winning!"

Wow, all of that and then lived to be 105. Wild.

As always, well researched and presented information, about a topic that i've never heard of from any other source. Your work is Fantastic !! Keep it up Mr. Felton.