The Stories of WWII

In the video today, we're looking at a variety of fascinating stories from WWII, everything from what the German public actually knew about the holocaust during WWII to the biggest POW camp breakout, to that time the U.S. government teamed up with the mafia against the Germans, to the young war gamers who changed the course of the war with their games and much, much more.

0:00 What Did the German Public Know About the Holocaust During WWII?
53:37 How Do the Japanese Teach About WWII?
1:05:53 The Wild Story of the Biggest POW Camp Breakout of World War II
1:19:45 A Dinner Jacket, the Nazis, the “British” Accent, and What This All Has to Do With the BBC News
1:26:13 How a WWII Famine Helped Solve a 2,000 Year Old Major Medical Mystery
1:35:10 That Time the US Government Teamed Up with the Mafia to Defeat the Nazis
1:47:26 That Time the British Pitted a Few Canoeing Commandos against a Fleet of Nazi Ships... And Won
2:01:13 Argentina's Secret Nazi Fusion Lab
2:16:46 The Forgotten Nazi Holocaust Plan Before They Decided On the Holocaust
2:28:02 The Young War Gamers Who Changed the Course of WWII
2:40:24 That Time British Witches Tried to Stop a Nazi Invasion Using Magic
2:49:57 The Nazi Interrogator Who Killed Them with Kindness

[TodayIFoundOut]

0:00 What Did the German Public Know About the Holocaust During WWII?
53:37 How Do the Japanese Teach About WWII?
1:05:53 The Wild Story of the Biggest POW Camp Breakout of World War II
1:19:45 A Dinner Jacket, the Nazis, the “British” Accent, and What This All Has to Do With the BBC News
1:26:13 How a WWII Famine Helped Solve a 2, 000 Year Old Major Medical Mystery
1:35:10 That Time the US Government Teamed Up with the Mafia to Defeat the Nazis
1:47:26 That Time the British Pitted a Few Canoeing Commandos against a Fleet of Nazi Ships... And Won
2:01:13 Argentina's Secret Nazi Fusion Lab
2:16:46 The Forgotten Nazi Holocaust Plan Before They Decided On the Holocaust
2:28:02 The Young War Gamers Who Changed the Course of WWII
2:40:24 That Time British Witches Tried to Stop a Nazi Invasion Using Magic
2:49:57 The Nazi Interrogator Who Killed Them with Kindness

[kcquitano]

Video topic request:
I recently found out that there are radiation eating fungi in Chernobyl that arent just growing despite the radiation, but are actually thriving because of it. After doing a little research, apparently the radiation does something to their metabolism that makes them multiply faster, and these fungi arent just growing around the affected area, theyre actually growing on the graphite rods that held the nuclear fuel. I grew up hearing about how nature overtook the city and how animals were rapidly evolving to live with the radiation, but the idea that a fungus was actually feeding off radiation seemed like some internet bs. That being said, i think it would make for a fascinating episode to focus on the various ways that nature and humanity has adapted to deal with radiation, from our learning curve with our discovery of xrays to not so simple natural selection.

[tomchelle]

The most important takeaway from this subject should be how 98% of people today believe they would have been immune to the indoctrination and/or stood up against the system

[jeremyedens]

Don't hate my job but find a listen to Simon a lot while I'm working.

[barbaraanneneale]

The parallels in this story to modern events.
It's really bum chilling.

[Mikkelltheimmortal]

To quote Band of Brothers "Bull shit you didn't know! You can smell the damn place from here!"

[yokumato]

The story of the polish officer that went to Auschwitz concentration camp, Pilecki is shocking. Important to remember people with such bravery.

[fatchulanjaza]

Oh I'm shocked. I'm watching while having a breakfast. I thought it's 10-16 minutes video. Then i realize my bar is still on the far left 😂

[iteerrex]

Knowing almost nothing about this, I’m at about the one hour mark, and it’s absolutely horrific. Thank you Simon and team for such a riveting documentary, about a topic that should have never happened in any circumstance.
Well said and well done captain Pladski. When people are dropped into impossible situations, the good ones become heroes, the bad ones gets worse, and the cowards pass away.

[nadineodil]

this is so informative that everyone should watch. As someone of German ancestry I don’t believe for a minute that they didn’t know what was going on, but the fear of their own deaths and survival had to be their first priority.

[Badgersj]

I had a friend who was one of the British troops who were first to enter Bergen-Belsen. Even 60 years after the event, if it was ever mentioned his face set in stone. Goodnight and God bless, Jim.

[valkyrieraven]

Anyone else get on YT, see a 3hr video of this man talking, and go “yep, that’s what I’m listening to to fall asleep.”

[TannenBaumFreak]

They knew. My grandmother Was born in 1922 and she always told us: Everybody knew. Everybody who says different ließ.

I'm german

[benallen]

Oh god. The sudden, without warning appearance of BEARDLESS SIMON

[Dee-jqob]

I worked with a German woman and one day we were talking and happened to say “it must have been so hard on you and your family during the war” she replied “oh, we had no idea there was a war, we just kept farming” I wanted to say “you’ve got to be kidding me”, but just nodded and moved on. I understand it’s probably very hard for them to talk about it and being judged.

[danlw]

11:15 if Teddy had Steven Tyler as a speech writer it would have sounded more like, “if you can judge a wise man by the color of his skin, mister you’re a better man than I.”

[kevinfoster]

DAMN they should be teaching what Teddy Roosevelt said in school paraphrasing "treat every individual on their merits give them no more or no less" that's the jist of it and his exact words moved me.

[bunyipdragon]

Thankyou for mentioning the Nowra Japanese Memorial and gardens. To any Japanese who cannot come to see the memorial please take heart that these gardens are beautiful and your ancestors are well cared for 💜🇦🇺

[RogueTurban]

the algorithm can/will literally play simon’s voice in the background all day long 24/7/365 with the amount of videos he narrates.

[storytime]

My grandmother was a young girl during both the depression and ww2. Which for Germany lasted longer then for us good old united states fellows. I interviewed her for my AP history class in high school. She remembered Crystal nacht but had no idea her Jewish friends all went to die. She held a deep sorrow in her heart. She was a young kid and teenager during the war. And a woman. She had to work in an ammunition factory and saw her close friend die because of a factory explosion. She was 16. She preferred it to picking hops. All I can say is we see the same fear and hopelessness in North Korea, Russia, and Iran. If we aren't careful it can happen to all of us.