The Highland Scotsmen Who Suckered Hitler

When 51st Highland Regiment troops were captured in France three men from Ballachulish planned to make an escape. Scottish history tour guide Bruce Fummey tells their story.

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Scotland History Tours is here for people who want to learn about Scottish history and get ideas for Scottish history tours. I try to make videos which tell you tales from Scotland's past and give you information about key dates in Scottish history and historical places to visit in Scotland. Not all videos are tales from Scotland's history, some of them are about men from Scotland's past or women from Scotland's past. Basically the people who made Scotland. From April 2020 onward I've tried to give ideas for historic days out in Scotland. Essentially these are days out in Scotland for adults who are interested in historical places to visit in Scotland.

As a Scottish history tour guide people ask: Help me plan a Scottish holiday, or help me plan a Scottish vacation if your from the US. So I've tried to give a bit of history, but some places of interest in Scotland as well.

[frankgellenthin]

They were seriously thinking on their feet. Seems llike the Scots talent for pulling clever pranks had a very practical use for those three.
Thanks for another wonderful story, Bruce!

[jotw]

One of the best history channels on YouTube. Put this on the box and you'd blow mainstream out the water. Keep on truckin'!

[anthonyhargis]

Another "Great Escape." I love it. Needs to be a movie.

[Allastrology]

Holy crap! I have come to appreciate Scotland's people and its historical contributions on a whole other level. These folks were able to pivot, be inventive and keep moving forward. Whether in war times or not they stand out!! Thank you Bruce

[joiedevivre]

What an incredible story! And why hasn't this been made into a movie yet? Disney, Netflix, Hulu, HBO...are you listening? The world needs this story in movie form ASAP! With Bruce as the narrator!

[Wee_Langside]

Another good reason to learn Gaelic🫡
Thank you for telling the story Bruce .
I don't know if this is the story from my youth but I had it in my head that 2 escaped POWs travelled across some part of occupied Europe speaking to each other in Gaelic, escaping attention as just some workers from somewhere in the new German Empire.

[TransRadioUK_Andrea]

This is an incredible story that needs to be told and ideally as a Scottish made film with Caelic speakers in it. I would pay to watch it. Thank you Bruce for bring this story to light.

[alansmithee]

A'reyt Bruce. Great Scots! A tale of cossacks from near the Trossachs!
I had an uncle that had his teeth knocked out by an Italian rifle butt on recapture in Italy, having been taken prisoner attacking behind the lines in North Africa. He later got away from German captivity in a Silesian POW coal mine, through the eastern front to a Turkish ship in Odessa. A Polish work colleague pointed out that another colleague's dad had been made to march to Germany from Silesia, but my uncle was back in UK for VE day. He met some celebrating Italian POWs and a disagreement led to them getting hurt, apparently. As a result, I am told he was not demobilised, but made an MP and sent to look after Nasties in Nuremberg.
Tell the kids today ...

[danielwgorrie]

Morning!! Being of Scottish heritage makes me so proud! Love your videos

[chris]

I love how passionately your talk about history.

[derekweir]

When my uncle Charlie Weir was shot down over France in May 1944, he used Gaelic that he had learnt at Musselburgh Grammar School when he was stopped by a German Soldier en route to Freteval Forest. He said that it was the only non English language he knew, and the German couldn't understand him so he just motioned for him to move on. He was 19 at the time, he made it to the forest and was liberated by the Americans in August 44. His life saved by knowing Gaelic.

[gadgetman_nz]

Now come on now, Bruce, do you really expect us to believe there was a ginger from Scotland? Who would believe such a thing?

[janetmackinnon]

You're doing something important in making these stories better known. THank you.

[melissavancleave]

I never tire of hearing your wonderful stories of courageous Scots. No matter the era, they are fierce and brave. Thanks again.

[nancyholcombe]

Very cool story Bruce! I'm not sure which about it is more amazing; that three escaped POWs got all the way across France, Spain and the Atlantic to freedom, or that they were more intelligent and calmer than every German soldier they ran into!😃 I was so pleased that they are praised and cherished to this day! It's these small stories of very brave people that truly make a war, or any larger historical story, come to life. Thank you for researching and bringing them to us. Y'all take care now!😊

[shugharries]

Another cracking video Bruce. Hope ye have a bari time ower in Canada

[callumgordon]

I’d heard the story before and wondered when the Gaelic was going to come into it.

You didn’t disappoint and the story was most entertaining in your telling.

[larryargent]

I do love it. Your passion is contagious and I'm jelly of your ability to speak Gaelic. It's no easy. lol

[-SueT]

Holy Moly what an incredible tale! Thanks once again Bruce for another FAB video 😊❤

[Hsalf]

Haha love this story! From Nova Scotia and I speak Gaelic whenever I need to get out of a tricky situation or a telemarketer calls