Best of the History Guy: Weird Crime

From the vaults, five classic episodes of the History Guy with weird crimes and criminals.

00:00 - Tommy Fitz's Perfect Landings
08:30 - The Fabulous Fraud from Brooklyn
14:19 - Georg Gärtner, the last German POW in America.
27:23 - Daniel Sickles' Temporary Insanity
39:50 - Soapy Smith: A Very Bad Man

This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.

You can purchase the bow tie worn in this episode at The Tie Bar:

All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.

The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered is the place to find short snippets of forgotten history from five to fifteen minutes long. If you like history too, this is the channel for you.

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#history #thehistoryguy #True crime

[lizmacrae]

A little note about German prisoners of war in the UK …a POW called August was billeted on our family farm in Scotland when I was born in 1946…I don’t know how long he had been there before this. August was not given farm work at this stage but he was asked to look after me while my mother drove a new tractor which replaced two horses …perhaps he couldn’t drive. This arrangement went on for some time as he eventually taught me to walk played with me and kept me safe. When he was repatriated he kept in contact with my family by letter often and many years later he brought his family to visit.
My uncle who was the main guy on the farm was wounded in the First World War by having half of his face blown off and his face was reconstructed by German surgeons…he was very grateful.

[jessiejones]

I wish all history teachers were like you. You make history fun and interesting.

[christophervandenberg]

You are the closest to a modern day Paul Harvey I have ever heard. Excellent job!

[toughenupfluffy]

An hour went by like it was a couple of minutes. Well done, History Guy!

[richardmourdock]

I heard all of these when they were originally posted. Only THG makes stories so interesting you want to hear them again.. and give them a Thumbs UP a second time!

[bretnielsen]

14:00 We had a POW camp in our county. My Grandpa unable to serve for medical reasons hired several to help on the farm... they were friendly, helpful. and fed very well without any p[roblem. Only 1 building remains from the camp; it has been moved to the County Fair Grounds and is restored.

[probower]

I discovered this channel by random chance, and I have to say, you have some lovely work. Glad to always hear such fascinating bits and bobs of history.

[stevedietrich]

While I heard you tell these stories in your original videos it is great fun to hear them again. I forgot many of the details in the interim. "Surrendered to Bryant Gumbel" LMAO

[richardsmith]

I'm always amazed at the stories you present and the facts are very interesting and would probably be forgotten without you ! Thank you for your dedication to this worthwhile task of preserving history and keeping it alive.

[leighcraig]

I am over the moon finding your channel. History was my first love in school. I used to be so knowledgeable in most things history. I had an unfortunate incident that causes me to fight my pain and body every day and take pills to sleep a good 4 1/2 - 5 hours a night and I think with everything going on, it's affecting my memory. I DO, however, remember what my favorite history teacher looked like but not his name. You remind me of him and I'm so thankful you're here. Have a wonderful evening and I can't wait to go through your videos. I'll remember that because I'm already here 🤗

[ladycatsinger]

Camp Atterbury near Edinburgh Indiana has a chapel that was built by the Italian POWs that were held there during WWII. German POWswere also held there, and many of the POWs helped fill the need for labor in the farms and factories in the area. The chapel still stands in the field at Atterbury

[jamesengland]

You're a superb storyteller, Lance!

[charlesflint]

I still have fond memories of reading ‘Alaska’ by James Michener many years ago with the vivid portrayal of ‘Soapy Smith’.

[shawnlindley]

New Mexico's past is history that deserves to be remembered. We have so many cool things here.

[daveroche]

8:00 Ah Stanley - "The Fabulous Fraud from Brooklyn" - I couldn't stop laughing as you went through his exploits H.G. - really would have loved to have hung out with him for a while. Thanx again H.G. - another great presentation.

[crystalratclffe]

I worked at a geriatric psych nursing home. One client with severe Alzheimers who used to be in construction attached himself to the men walking around and discussing the structure of the hospital for renovation. Ironically, he knew all the locations of supportive structures and studs. We had to enlighten them to double-check his information just to be sure.

[DavidHBurkart]

Georg Gartner. Wow, what an enterprising life, the epitome of getting handed lemons and making lemonade. The importance of marrying the right spouse can not be underestimated. Had she not loved him or at least thought enough of him to take control of his situation, the outcome of this story may have had far less favorable outcome.

[punditgi]

Yet another winning compilation. Bravo, History Guy! 😃

[RetiredSailor]

Good Friday morning from Ft Worth TX to everyone watching....My father was a private pilot for over 60 years. Owned at 1947 Cessna 140 for 55 years.

[nextworld]

PERFECT presentation as always and INTERESTING as hell. Great graphics. Thanks, History Guy.