The WW2 Killer No One Ever Expected

Рет қаралды 349,105

Ай бұрын

As the sun rose over Gold Beach on D-Day, a maelstrom of bullets, bombs, and mortar fire tore open the morning skies. Amidst the frenzied bedlam of battle, Company Sergeant Major Stanley Hollis led D Company of the 6th Green Howards storming forward beyond the beachhead towards their target, the fearsome German heavy naval artillery up ahead.
The area was supposed to have already been cleared of enemy troops, but suddenly, D Company found themselves unexpectedly facing machine gun fire from a pair of pillboxes that had somehow been missed.
Without blinking an eye, Hollis bravely sprinted over thirty yards towards the first, skilfully dodging the flurry of ammunition flying towards him as he hurriedly dashed across the dangerous open ground. Miraculously making it to the pillbox unscathed, he then wedged his trusty Sten gun through the slit and let rip, emptying his magazine on the Nazi soldiers hiding out inside.
Out of ammunition, quick-thinking Hollis rapidly jumped atop the pillbox, lying prone as he threw a grenade through the door before rushing in to take any survivors prisoner. It was undoubtedly a heroic act, but the so-called “longest day” was just beginning, and Hollis and his men would have to pull out all the stops to make it out alive…
-
As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Docs sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect. I do my best to keep it as visually accurate as possible. All content on Dark Docs is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas. -

Пікірлер: 378

@stevedavy2878 Ай бұрын

I am British and old enough to have worked with a number of men who served in WW2 . They rarely if ever spoke of their experiences, when doing so always in a matter of fact way. No bragging, or boasting, and always saying it was a time they would rather forget. I find it disturbing that so many young men today, brag and boast about silly thing, are obsessed with their appearance and seem to have a fascination with violence. When I was with those men, all dead now, I was humbled and realised I would be hard pressed to match their courage and determination,

@clovermark39 Ай бұрын

We didn’t hear about my Dads experience in the war until we were posted to Germany as my husband was in the military. He was a very gentle and quiet man.

@backagain5216 Ай бұрын

Those kids are all talk. We have heard it all our lives that it is the quiet man you watch out for. I’ve dealt with the former and they are all the same. Deep down, they know that.

@BadlydrawnBen Ай бұрын

Both my grandfather's fought in the war they never mentioned it apart from one time my dad's dad was showing me pictures of his old motorbike I asked what happened to it he replied, if it wasn't for that bar Stewart Adolf Hitler id still have it , that was also the only time I ever heard him swear

@davidmathews4524 Ай бұрын

Thank you sir You are a true gentleman

@TheOsfania Ай бұрын

Maybe they just didn't like you.

@RimfireAddicted70 Ай бұрын

It is men like this that define what true heroism is. This selfless action cannot be taught and cannot be trained, it is what separates you from the rest.

@rodwilkins1614 Ай бұрын

What iś English for cliche'

@brianmorris8045 Ай бұрын

@@rodwilkins1614 Well, you will hear a lot more of those cliches soon, because we who honour those brave soldiers, will be saying more of them, but they are not really cliches, as such, they are the truth of what happened. If you are in the UK, spare a thought for all those service men and women, and the SOE spys for saving England, or you would have been asking what is German for cliche...lol

@bullboo1 Ай бұрын

@@rodwilkins1614 Hackneyed, Trite, Stereotype even common place.

@paulfrost8952 Ай бұрын

⁠⁠@@rodwilkins1614cliche’😂

@chrisreynolds3204 Ай бұрын

Truth.

@peter2385 Ай бұрын

What the hell was that title "WWII killer" about?. All I saw was a very brave man and a great leader.

@danialeatherman8934 Ай бұрын

Clickbait

@halfdome4158 Ай бұрын

Agree. Hollis, what a man!❤

@deltalima6703 Ай бұрын

Some men hide and some men fight. A fighter is a killer, nothing wrong with the title, if you thought killers kill just for fun thats your mistake.

@davidmuir7711 24 күн бұрын

Yeah, I thought it was going to be about Emit Till’s father.

@TheYeti308 18 күн бұрын

@@danialeatherman8934 I would keep a keen eye on that one . !

@ngbanks Ай бұрын

As a fellow Yorkshireman, this makes my heart happy. My Nan is turning 100 this summer and is still here with us, also a WW2 veteran

@halfdome4158 Ай бұрын

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@patriciathompson350 Ай бұрын

Give her a big hug and tell her, Thankyou for your service. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@glennvogt1194 Ай бұрын

A amazing soldier who fought for king and country. I salute you sir

@ffjsb Ай бұрын

He fought for the WORLD, to rid it of evil.

@romegavadquez6310 Ай бұрын

Pffft

@fredericfourmy6831 Ай бұрын

Super country who bombed during ww2 cities w/o any military significance and killed millions of civilians....

@tubthump Ай бұрын

He could have been a republican

@ffjsb Ай бұрын

@@tubthump Except for the FACT that most mass killers have been liberal/Democrat... Educate yourself son.

@secretagent86 Ай бұрын

Massive RESPECT

@ThisBloke760 Ай бұрын

We hear stories of brave guys like this but we shouldn’t forget those who fought tirelessly doing more than what was asked of them yet were not recognised except by their mates and family.

@clovermark39 Ай бұрын

My Dad said he was a Bren Gunner but always said he did use his gun against the Germans but would like to think he never killed anyone. He ended in a POW camp near Moosburg.

@gordoncarass2360 Ай бұрын

Fantastic! The story of a local hero eloquently presented.

@samuelschick8813 Ай бұрын

One small correction. Rommel was not a Nazi and never joined the Nazi Party.

@seanryan2112 Ай бұрын

When he was asked by AH why he was not a member his reply was, "I am a soldier, not a politician." After the assassination attempt on AH, it was found out that Rommel was in the know, but did not join or hinder the attempt. He was given a choice to commit suicide and given a state burial or be executed with his wife and son sent to a concentration camp. He chose the former. In 1989 I was sent to West Germany as a soldier and the then Bürgermeister of Stuttgart, General Rommel's son Manfred, used to have a monthly dinner with the newly arrived American soldiers beginning their tour of duty. I don't need to mention that Rommel's tactics were adopted and taught in US army doctrine.

@iceandale7621 Ай бұрын

@@seanryan2112I met Manfred once with my Grandad at the 8th Army Veterans Association Remembrance Day event and he was with Montgomerys son and both were long term good friends

@VioletBagpipeSack-xf3ke Ай бұрын

I once said similar words to a German who responded 'I don't respect any man who fought for that regime'

@samuelschick8813 Ай бұрын

@@VioletBagpipeSack-xf3ke, " 'I don't respect any man who fought for that regime'" People who say that ignore that sometimes people have no choice in the matter. The other thing is some people tend to assume that everyone in the German military at the time was a Nazi.

@Wilt8v92 Ай бұрын

And there is no way Rommel would have stood for ill treatment of Allied pow or wounded..

@bryanparkhurst17 Ай бұрын

My father, son and I are going over to England and France this June for the 80th anniversary of D day. This is definitely a story I am going to look more into and search out those locations.

@lynnroney1234 Ай бұрын

Oh my😔 What an amazing experience that will be. 80 years. I believe that energy from such a massive traumatic and world changing event is still there. I think you will sense it. Please go see the Juno Beach Centre about the Canadian landing. There is a famous reel of the Canadians landing and you can see a great big villa to the right. It’s still there and is a museum about the Canadian landing. I wish you all the best on your trip. So many things to see. I’ll never get there. That’s just the way life goes. You have a wonderful time.

@Spartan902 Ай бұрын

Rommel was a true soldier and respected brave men, no matter what side. Only WW2 German General that I have respect for. We don't know what we are capable off until thrown into the furnace of war. Hollis was one hell of a man and leader of men!

@chazzlebazzle69 Ай бұрын

Imagine if Rommel managed to see his plan through, instead of forced suicide

@victorialamphear430 Ай бұрын

He was a real nazi though, sorry! Do some research 🤔

@Spartan902 Ай бұрын

@@chazzlebazzle69 Now that is interesting to think about. Rommel was a military mastermind unlike Hitler.

@matthewardison2541 Ай бұрын

What an amazing soldier!

@davewilson9738 Ай бұрын

An incredible man.

@whiterabbit-wo7hw Ай бұрын

Outstanding, mate. Well done!

@PJ-om2wq Ай бұрын

As a Brit I can tell you that I wouldn't mess with anyone from Middlesbrough.

@grahamjackson2823 Ай бұрын

We are mostly very friendly

@robstafford8306 Ай бұрын

As a Brit, from Sunderland, would not have messed with any of the NE Regiments. Hard and resourceful men.

@BadlydrawnBen Ай бұрын

@@grahamjackson2823well we are unless you cross us

@williamwilliam5066 Ай бұрын

My neighbour's gran was born in Middlesbrough. I would think it quite easy to stamp on her.

@williamwilliam5066 Ай бұрын

@@robstafford8306 I met an SAS captain from Geordieland, he was a complete cahunt and bully. Vile creature. Dumb as rocks too.

@thatzaliasguy Ай бұрын

Im a simple man. I see Dark Docs post, I click.

@chrishiking8818 Ай бұрын

What a very brave man . A true hero looking and caring for his men before himself. We should remember all who gave so much to keep us free , specially in these times with UK and Europe changing as it is for the worse. These heroes gave us freedom

@camrenwick Ай бұрын

A true soldier. I served along side the Green Howards during the Cold war

@johnwright9372 Ай бұрын

Sgt Hollis was a real soldier. The PIAT (projectile infantry anti tank), by the way, was not a rocket. The shell was propelled by a giant spring which had to be cocked by bracing it against the arms and pushed by the legs.

@nigden1 Ай бұрын

Yes, my dad was a soldier in WW2, an infantryman from his regiment, took out 3 Tiger Tanks with a PIAT, these tanks were the finest of the war and were feared and respected. He was decorated for it.

@Xaltar_ 10 күн бұрын

My grandfather served with the 8th army during WW2. The Desert Fox was someone he spoke of with respect on the rare occasion he spoke at all about the war. He was a quiet man who loved telling jokes to his grandkids, taking his dogs for walks, bird watching and fishing. You would never have guessed meeting him the horrors he went through and survived during the war or that he was the boxing champ of his regiment. All he would say is that the war taught him to enjoy and appreciate the little things in life. He and my grandmother would hold hands every time they went anywhere. He fought for his country and others he had never even visited but he also remained a gentleman and a kind soul. RIP Oupa.

@thetroll1247 Ай бұрын

Your videos always pull at the ❤ strings. Thank you for the amazing stories and work. This channel has come a LONG way. THANK YOU AGAIN for keeping these heroes memories alive. GONE NOT FORGOTTEN

@Danvie777 Ай бұрын

Why hasn’t there been a movie made of this incredible man’s WWII life. You don’t have to be a military person to be awestruck with his exploits.

@Ibby.M.I.786 Ай бұрын

Hollis is but one of many "B@lls of steel" type of characters that made the world realize war is not the answer. Much love and respect to all soldiers.

@billastell3753 Ай бұрын

Unfortunately war was the answer but it is the last resort because it cost both sides terribly in resources and life.

@thetroll1247 Ай бұрын

Thank you sir. SALUTE 😢❤

@davidmolloy126 Ай бұрын

This makes me proud to be British. I had never heard of WO2 Hollis before so thank you very much for bringing this wonderful production to us.

@raddimusmcchoyber3362 Ай бұрын

Middlesbrough native here. Thank you so much for creating this video on one of my town's greatest sons. And I really, truly am very grateful that you took the time to learn to pronounce it correctly (everyone who isn't from here always says Middles-BURROW, or Middles-BORAH, but you pronounced it perfectly as Middles-BRUH).

@scottstangeland2878 Ай бұрын

What an amazing man

@Pat999UK Ай бұрын

I’ve followed the Hollis Walk and the places he confronted the Germans. It’s so well described in Major and Mrs Holts Battlefield Guide. To really appreciate Normandy and all the beaches you need at least 4 days and some good tour books. The cemeteries are very sobering.

@paulthompson4777 Ай бұрын

Fantastic story of an amazing man.

@annehersey9895 Ай бұрын

I can’t believe you didn’t trip over the phrase “bedlam of bullets”. I tried it and it’s not easy! Great phrasing by the way; very descriptive.

@drmarkintexas-400 Ай бұрын

🏆🤗🧡🙏 Thank you for sharing this

@LoganJohnson-lm2bh Ай бұрын

e had more lives that a cat.

@brandons9398 Ай бұрын

A truly selfless hero

@floriangeyer3454 Ай бұрын

the first time I heard someone call the Sten "trusty".🤣

@HalideHelix Ай бұрын

I'm pretty sure they were quite trusty...as far as simple and reliable. But yah they were uncomfortable and crude and probably not very accurate at medium ranges.

@derekstocker6661 Ай бұрын

What a wonderful soldier and what a great man. People such as this make the very best of the lives they have and attempt to improve the lives of others they are working with. RIP Sir, duty done.

@grahampalmer6256 Ай бұрын

My dad knew Stanley and was in the Green Howards

@terrancecoard388 Ай бұрын

Michael Caine could have played him in a movie.

@brj_han Ай бұрын

Michael Caine _should_ have played him in a movie. Fixed it for you, lol....

@terrancecoard388 Ай бұрын

@@brj_han There is always EGI...now I feel like binging on Harry Palmer movies.

@kevelliott Ай бұрын

He'd never 've got the accent right

@tonyscott2164 Ай бұрын

Wrong accent

@tigerland4328 Ай бұрын

Completely different accent.

@KeithWilliamMacHendry Ай бұрын

Boro aka Middlesbrough is a tough hard area of north eat England, as a Scot who has worked with many Teeside lads I can assure all how hardy these men are. What a fine sodjer was Major Stanley Hollis.

@Physco219 Ай бұрын

Brave man.

@Kingmick58 Ай бұрын

Man. What a story. I dips me lid.

@ewancarmichael3412 Ай бұрын

He was from my home town. We have a statue of him.

@jamesgilhooly8922 Ай бұрын

My grandfather fought the First World War with the Irish Guards. Never had anything to say about it, except that it should be enough that he got home. RIP Grandad.

@ai3985rghh Ай бұрын

Excellent, as always. Thanks!

@paularmstrong726 Ай бұрын

It’s always good to learn about men like this. A truly selfless, heroic, brave man. Salt of the earth. This is the sort of true story that should be made into a film. I have the greatest respect for guys like this…and I’m grateful to have been born in the 1950’s so I didn’t have to go to war. Thank you for telling his story.

@ThesTroubleAtMill 5 күн бұрын

Brilliant video, thank you. I read his book, then my son, two son in-laws & myself traced his foot steps in 2018. We started at the pub (now called The Hollywell View where he lived out his final days) as my sister lives in Liverton Mines. When we were in the pub a couple of old local guys remembered him and had some great stories to tell. Then we went to Normandy, and to Gold beach. A fantastic and memorable trip, in honour of a very brave man.

@janwong9437 Ай бұрын

There's a statue of him outside the Dorman Museum Middlesbrough

@nigelmcquinlan1887 Ай бұрын

Thank you for retelling the history and acts of these individuals. Awe inspiring. "Cometh the hour - cometh the man" an apt quotation whose source evades me now but please keep up these presentations. EXCELLENT.

@clearcreek69 Ай бұрын

Awesome video

@groomngirl Ай бұрын

That was a MAN !

@ryanward8039 Ай бұрын

11:00 is definitely not the picture I would have chosen for the history books. But after what this man went though in combat, I don't think he gave a crap about appearances. More of a man than our generations could ever hope to be. What he did in his youth, our youth only does in Call of Duty. Mad respect,

@HalideHelix Ай бұрын

We just don't get the opportunities for a good world War these days mate

@jldonnell1 Ай бұрын

Great story, well researched and well told. Much appreciated!

@faridsafazadeh1137 Ай бұрын

Just like always amazing. Personally praise what you doing . You remind us of unique geat heroic actions of these human beings which must not be forgotten ever. We take for granted our liberty and our Democracy ... but must not ever forget not a moment such a great sacrifices made by millions upon millions until we achieved our freedom and got to keep our Democractic system intact. God Bless you and God bless the souls of all these great heros.

@Peter-od7op Ай бұрын

Brave men are all no matter what side should be respected

@MM-vv8mt Ай бұрын

Very well-done, Dark Docs! Amazing what one dedicated soldier can accomplish. SCM Hollis is the rare hero bird who survived. The war cemeteries are filled with the remains of such men who didn't.

@jaywalker3087 Ай бұрын

When Britain was Great 👍

@ryanshilt9261 Ай бұрын

Your videos are always quality stuff! :3

@jeremymackevincaylor5041 Ай бұрын

That's because they just say whatever they want to they never ever actually look at this s*** before they say it. He said that A bouncing Betty goes 10 ft in the air before exploding no it goes up to your balls. They have so many misprints and bulshit in these videos that you can't learn anything from them

@knightowl3577 Ай бұрын

Our greatest generation, my father, and uncles were members and were my heroes and role models as a boy. They were the type of man that you would be hard-pressed to find these days. Can you see any of the men that stormed those beaches preening themselves and having body waxing and wearing cosmetics like the male contestants of Love Island or Geordie Shore?

@oneshotme Ай бұрын

I very much enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

@xinixini1826 Ай бұрын

Hollywood magic would have people believe there are just a few types of mines: The kind that go boom when you step on them. The kind that go boom when you step off of them. The remote go boom kind. Etc. This was not a Betty. Bouncing Betty's were more like a Spring-Loaded Frag Grenade. They had a timer so if didn't matter if you stayed put or not (like in this case) though it's amazing he was able to keep it from popping up after the first charge went off. Basically you step on it and the timer starts. First charge launches it into the air from the ground. Second charge explodes the main body and peppers the proximity with shrapnel. Soldiers who hit the dirt FAST were less likely to succumb to these things, often suffering no damage to their gear or themselves as a result of being under the blast radius.

@xinixini1826 Ай бұрын

I played a game once that had them and I started calling them "Poptart Mines" or "Angry Toasters"

@teabagmcpick889 Ай бұрын

When you say “No one expected”…. He was a ‘Borough lad. You’d have to be daft to think he wouldn’t be made of the right stuff.

@marvwatkins7029 Ай бұрын

Relentlessly brave.

@palemale2501 Ай бұрын

Sadly Britain no longer has enough men of this calibre - many unwilling to fight for their country. And there were a great many like him back then, that did not survive the war, their story untold.

@RalphBrooker-gn9iv Ай бұрын

Extraordinary man and soldier.

@grahamjackson2823 Ай бұрын

As the landing craft containing CSM Hollis and his unit approached Gold beach CSM Hollis spotted what he thought was an unmarked bunker. Grabbing a Lewis gun he emptied a full drum of ammunition at the bunker. As he went to put down the now empty weapon he grabbed the hot barrel badly burning his hand. He would later say this hurt more than any of his other wounds. The 6th battalion cleared their section of Gold beach and started to move inland within 49 minutes. When they came upon the “bunker” Hollis had fired upon they found it was a tram stop! Many years later the Green Howards bought and preserved the tram stop. It’s still there in Normandy.

@kevanharvey268 Ай бұрын

When I was in Normandy we followed his route and visited a garden where he used the piat,

@arno-luyendijk4798 Күн бұрын

Oh. My. This man seemed to be addicted to danger. So much respect for his deeds. my generation and others to come owe it bigtime to him and his fellow soldiers that I can speak and do freely in a Europe sometimes seeming to lean to a grimmer side.

@Iolis 9 күн бұрын

I served 22 years with the Green Howards, In 1977, Stan Hollis's grandson joined the Battalion in Berlin in time to take part in the parade of Berlin Infantry Brigade before Her Majesty during her visit to the City. Hollis's grandson served with us for three years before returning to civil life.

@SillyMoustache Ай бұрын

Well done DD ! I enjoy your "dramatic" story telling.

@bmoran1795 Ай бұрын

You will never get heroes like him ever again people would rather surrender for an easy life 😢

@marcuscicero9587 Ай бұрын

what a man, what a soldier

@ddoherty5956 Ай бұрын

Taking on a pill box is not the call of adventure, its choosing suicide over murder.

@randallgoulet1550 Сағат бұрын

That smile alone is terrifying

@shantanusapru Ай бұрын

Fuuuuuuuuckk!! What an amazing warrior!!!

@chrisfrench2346 Ай бұрын

Wow, we’d be hard pressed to find a soldier with more military accomplishments & accolades than this young man. He must’ve been an incredible human being as well.

@svensebastian2712 Ай бұрын

A true foot soldatier.

@the80hdgaming Ай бұрын

This must make it as top comment... 😂

@JeffBey-sd5lc 15 күн бұрын

Amazing story

@rhysmeyrick615 29 күн бұрын

Amazing.

@localcrew Ай бұрын

“It’s me Bren gun!”

@leddielive 18 күн бұрын

They don't give the Victoria Cross out willy nilly, so just the fact they awarded it to him, allowing to join an extremely prestigious club says it all. I imagine that there were many other instances in which he went above & beyond showing true British Bulldog spirit.

@paulkweiner6577 Ай бұрын

Excellent plus !!!

@davidcoleman6032 Ай бұрын

What an absolutely amazing man!❤

@IainHC1 Ай бұрын

There are not a lot of spines like this around!!

@mickyday2008 Ай бұрын

Amazing

@patrickyoung3503 Ай бұрын

Honour & Respect . Lest we forget .

@inlandindieP35 Ай бұрын

I am amazed SGT Hollis could move so deftly with balls that big.

@realsydney7327 Ай бұрын

Very unusual, courageous, honorable man. I wish I was like him.

@frankezane583 Ай бұрын

He was in a unique situation….who’s to say you wouldn’t do the same 🤷🏽‍♂️. People do amazing things in unusual circumstances sometimes. Thing about him was he kept doing it 🫡

@pashby3 Ай бұрын

Thirty-one years old on D-Day and being one of the most experienced men of the unit, he was put in charge of three machine gun and three mortar teams that were to cover the advance of the company off the beach, up a hill beyond and over the crest towards their main objective, the German heavy naval artillery position at Mount Fleury. True Warrior. - a excellent back story on what happened to his V.C Medal also.

@cosmos-smallpiece5786 Ай бұрын

This man went beyond human nature.What an incredible man

@csonracsonra9962 Ай бұрын

The fountain Betty did not work like that

@jeremymackevincaylor5041 Ай бұрын

Nope.not 10 feet high they went off at your growing.

@jeremymackevincaylor5041 Ай бұрын

Also it doesn't matter if you step off of it they go off after 4 seconds whether you take your foot off of it or not.

@outsidertank Ай бұрын

The book is absolutely amazing..

@Kosworth Ай бұрын

Stanley Hollis wasn't just a main character. He was in all the Expansions.

@lgiproperties3574 Ай бұрын

There were no Tigers at El Alamein... it was a nice story though!

@RiderOftheNorth1968 Ай бұрын

A Tiger in Africa at that time?!?! Are you sure about that???

@oldgrunt5806 Ай бұрын

Not likely.

@RiderOftheNorth1968 Ай бұрын

@@oldgrunt5806 Not likely at all, indeed...... 🤔

@guidor.4161 Ай бұрын

Definitely not. Later in the year there were some in Tunisia. Unfortunately it's always hard to discern interesting history from BS on this channel. 🕵‍♂

@stevebowman421 Ай бұрын

The yanks used to always say it was a tiger during the breakout from Cherbourg, but there were none facing them. Tigers only appeared in North Africa when the fighting was in Tunisia. Tough bastard though!

@tigerland4328 Ай бұрын

Probably a panzer iv.