Comedian Chelsea Handler's grandfather served in the Nazi army... | WDYTYA (US)

Media mogul Chelsea Handler confronts her grandfather's rumoured Nazi past; details are unearthed that will finally confirm or deny his affiliation.

In each episode, one of Britain's best-loved celebrities traces their family tree to reveal the surprising, extraordinary and often moving stories of their ancestors. We publish new videos twice a week with the most memorable moments from the show. Subscribe now and click on the bell 🔔 to get notifications every time we upload a new video!

[candjim]

This will sound like a radical concept but maybe our present day selves cannot be responsible for the actions of our ancestors.

[afp]

German here... I was told that the youngest Brother of my Grandpa was a Member of the S S. It took me years until I found the courage to look into the circumstances. I always had the impression of a sinister S S Officer. The reality was quite different. He turned 16 a few days before a platoon of S S Soldiers entered the Farm of my Grandmother. They pressed him into Service, two weeks before the war ended. He died 12 days after his recruitment.

[shealey]

Whatever your grandfather did, or didn't do, is not something you are responsible for. Why is it so difficult these days for people to understand this concept?

[Jack_all]

She is still likely more hateful than her grand-dad was.

[david-rz]

If you were a German male of fighting age in Germany 39-45 I am not sure if you had much choice

[Raven]

While I understand you don’t want your forebears to be criminals I have never believed that you inherit either guilt or acclaim for the actions of your ancestors. His actions either good or bad were his own no one else’s.

[fabianofonda]

Millions of Germans served in the German army.

[jaredleicht]

I'm sure he would be disgusted with her also.

[seanrhone]

So it sounds like he did just enough to prevent his wife and child from being harassed or killed.

[theoriginalchefboyoboy]

I worked with a German chef who was born around 1942 and his birth certificate had a big ol' swastika on it which caused him all kinds of problems when he went to apply for his citizenship in America...

[Rtr]

The man finished as a Corporal in the artillery; not in the 'Einsatztruppen'
Get over it.

[JMark-zkpj]

He was an artillery guy, not a camp commander.

[AstroVanTribe]

This is all still about HER.... She's just not a very likeable person, not that there's anything wrong with that.

[SuperMinnesota]

I wonder where the historian got the idea that the grandfather didn't see much frontline service. Artillery Regiment 196 was part of the 96. Infantry Division for much of the war, and that division saw extensive frontline service in Russia as part of Army Group North.

[wondersteven]

'Not very enthusiastic' My God, Chelsea's grandfather was Sgt. Schultz.

[MarkCosgrove-bp]

He didn't volunteer, that's not all bad. The draft is a catch 22

[corey]

She is bending over backwards hoping her grandfather didnt skip off and happily join the German army.

[wolfie]

He fought in the German armed forces during WWII. So did most other fit men in Germany. He had no choice once conscripted. In Britain, the situation was the same. No shame there.

[solodad]

What happened, happened. Learn the history, the past cannot be changed.

[dcross]

We are not responsible for the sins of our ancestors