The Legendary Commando Raid At St. Nazaire The Greatest Raid Of All Time Timeline
video description
Date: 2022-07-19
Related videos
• TED-Ed
Comments and reviews: 20
DuckAllMigthy
I agree that this was an incredible and almost unbelievable story, a tactic so unrealistic and unthinkable, that is actually worked, and it deserves a little more than a rock. Watching this, it got me thinking of the sabotage on the Germans heavy water production plant in Vemork and Rjukan in Norway and the subsequent sinking of the ship, that was supposed to deliver heavy water to Germany. The raid at St. Nazaire is the greatest, but the raid at Vemork has been called the most successful sabotage mission of all time. If it hadn't happened, the Americans would have still built the nuclear bomb first, but Germany might have had a chance to built one without the raid, again MIGHT HAD a chance, though extremely slim, as their main focus was on other parts of their military machine. It was Operation Gunnerside. It was done without ever getting discovered and never firing a single bullet and they all got away safely. Yes the production of heavy water was not near enough to operate a nuclear reactor and even further away from enough to create enough Plutonium for a nuclear weapon, but the mission put a definitive end to Germanys hope, however small that was, of ever building a nuke during the war.
Today, you can go to the Vemork hydro-electric plant, where there's a small museum about it's WW 2 history, and if you decideto go for a hike up the mountainside to get into Hardingavidda National Park, there's a little memorial plate in the mountainside with the saboteurs names, and Sabaton have made a great song about them called Saboteurs. The raid at St. Nezaire definitely deserves a song. Anyways great documentary about a very important mission of the war.
reply
I agree that this was an incredible and almost unbelievable story, a tactic so unrealistic and unthinkable, that is actually worked, and it deserves a little more than a rock. Watching this, it got me thinking of the sabotage on the Germans heavy water production plant in Vemork and Rjukan in Norway and the subsequent sinking of the ship, that was supposed to deliver heavy water to Germany. The raid at St. Nazaire is the greatest, but the raid at Vemork has been called the most successful sabotage mission of all time. If it hadn't happened, the Americans would have still built the nuclear bomb first, but Germany might have had a chance to built one without the raid, again MIGHT HAD a chance, though extremely slim, as their main focus was on other parts of their military machine. It was Operation Gunnerside. It was done without ever getting discovered and never firing a single bullet and they all got away safely. Yes the production of heavy water was not near enough to operate a nuclear reactor and even further away from enough to create enough Plutonium for a nuclear weapon, but the mission put a definitive end to Germanys hope, however small that was, of ever building a nuke during the war.
Today, you can go to the Vemork hydro-electric plant, where there's a small museum about it's WW 2 history, and if you decideto go for a hike up the mountainside to get into Hardingavidda National Park, there's a little memorial plate in the mountainside with the saboteurs names, and Sabaton have made a great song about them called Saboteurs. The raid at St. Nezaire definitely deserves a song. Anyways great documentary about a very important mission of the war.
reply
T. M.
According to James Dorrian's book Storming Saint-Nazaire, the actual amount of Amatol used in the bomb designed by Lieutenant Nigel Tibbits was 3. 3 tons only plus the casing and all the concrete making the actual bomb so effective. From witnesses still living today who were children back then, they have never heard anything in their life time like the explosion of HMS Campbeltown. The explosion could be heard more than 20 miles away. The damage to the port installation and the chaos caused in the German forces occupying Saint-Nazaire were considerable. In the aftermath, the time-delay torpidoes fired from 2 days late on Monday 30th of March 1942 around 16h30-17h, then the Germans went a bit mad, thinking that there were still commandos hiding in town, and went shooting people at random in the streets including their own workers of Operation Todt would were wearing work clothes that looked a bit like a Commando battledress. 18 civilians, aged from 5 to 63 were killed by the Germans in the aftermath of the Raid. Amazingly, there is no account to this day of any collateral damage on French civilians as a direct action of the commandos during the Raid on Saint-Nazaire, but there were a few unfortunate victims of friendly fire amongst the commandos despite all the precautions that they took to identify themselves in the dark night of the 28th of March 1942 and the street corners of the Old Town. Also, the brand-new, lightweight 38 set R/T wireless radios of Sergeant Ronald Steel assisted with Lance-Corporal Jock Fyfe didn't work.
reply
According to James Dorrian's book Storming Saint-Nazaire, the actual amount of Amatol used in the bomb designed by Lieutenant Nigel Tibbits was 3. 3 tons only plus the casing and all the concrete making the actual bomb so effective. From witnesses still living today who were children back then, they have never heard anything in their life time like the explosion of HMS Campbeltown. The explosion could be heard more than 20 miles away. The damage to the port installation and the chaos caused in the German forces occupying Saint-Nazaire were considerable. In the aftermath, the time-delay torpidoes fired from 2 days late on Monday 30th of March 1942 around 16h30-17h, then the Germans went a bit mad, thinking that there were still commandos hiding in town, and went shooting people at random in the streets including their own workers of Operation Todt would were wearing work clothes that looked a bit like a Commando battledress. 18 civilians, aged from 5 to 63 were killed by the Germans in the aftermath of the Raid. Amazingly, there is no account to this day of any collateral damage on French civilians as a direct action of the commandos during the Raid on Saint-Nazaire, but there were a few unfortunate victims of friendly fire amongst the commandos despite all the precautions that they took to identify themselves in the dark night of the 28th of March 1942 and the street corners of the Old Town. Also, the brand-new, lightweight 38 set R/T wireless radios of Sergeant Ronald Steel assisted with Lance-Corporal Jock Fyfe didn't work.
reply
Roger
Hello J Clarkson, just a small question. Im not sure which boarding school PIERS MORGAN? ( or what ever his name is. . Come on Mr jC. Please out this man for what a truly embarrassing fool he is. THIS old boy net work means maybe one day he could be PRIME MINISTER, no joke. So a Greek fisher Queen bashed you. This boy PEIRS MORGAN? Etc. Has embarrassed our whole nation. . Dont get me wrong I dont care about tearful Megan stuff. Shes lack lustre just another clothes horse. But come on, you laughed and joked with piers Morgan the EMBARRASSING MISFIT. That is a world embarrassment to us all. And he still gets 100000k. Whats really happening. This man / boy should make you all feel total embarrassment. suck it up fools fools suck it up. .
reply
Hello J Clarkson, just a small question. Im not sure which boarding school PIERS MORGAN? ( or what ever his name is. . Come on Mr jC. Please out this man for what a truly embarrassing fool he is. THIS old boy net work means maybe one day he could be PRIME MINISTER, no joke. So a Greek fisher Queen bashed you. This boy PEIRS MORGAN? Etc. Has embarrassed our whole nation. . Dont get me wrong I dont care about tearful Megan stuff. Shes lack lustre just another clothes horse. But come on, you laughed and joked with piers Morgan the EMBARRASSING MISFIT. That is a world embarrassment to us all. And he still gets 100000k. Whats really happening. This man / boy should make you all feel total embarrassment. suck it up fools fools suck it up. .
reply
Wogle
It's interesting how the Commando philosophy has stayed in today's Special Forces. They're run in a very similar manner, where and you're graded on your skills, and Self-discipline is just expected. I remember a guy who joined as a Sergeant Major in my UOTC unit, and was given a massive bollocking at by the Adjutant for his lack of respect (he called him mate. The guy had spent 15+ years in SAS signals and never had to deal with the highly strict, regimented methods of the rest of the army.
I remember him saying in the naafi after two weeks that he wasn't sure if he'd be able to put up with it (he eventually got used to it though)
reply
It's interesting how the Commando philosophy has stayed in today's Special Forces. They're run in a very similar manner, where and you're graded on your skills, and Self-discipline is just expected. I remember a guy who joined as a Sergeant Major in my UOTC unit, and was given a massive bollocking at by the Adjutant for his lack of respect (he called him mate. The guy had spent 15+ years in SAS signals and never had to deal with the highly strict, regimented methods of the rest of the army.
I remember him saying in the naafi after two weeks that he wasn't sure if he'd be able to put up with it (he eventually got used to it though)
reply
Biggy
Love this documentary! Sadly the words at 56. 38 are so far from the truth: /.
Our youth of today would never give what previous generations have gifted us!
People as young as 16 joined up and died to give us freedom! :', people are naturally selfish nowadays and the way people think is whats in it for them?
What people of today don't relise is everyone had to knuckle down and help in WW1 and WW2, the majority of the factory workers producing supplies were women, we had to throw everything we had at b$trd$ with many bluffs an all!
The intelligence that was needed to win this war was ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING!
reply
Love this documentary! Sadly the words at 56. 38 are so far from the truth: /.
Our youth of today would never give what previous generations have gifted us!
People as young as 16 joined up and died to give us freedom! :', people are naturally selfish nowadays and the way people think is whats in it for them?
What people of today don't relise is everyone had to knuckle down and help in WW1 and WW2, the majority of the factory workers producing supplies were women, we had to throw everything we had at b$trd$ with many bluffs an all!
The intelligence that was needed to win this war was ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING!
reply
Clive
My Father in Law was in the number four Commando group, he actually played his part on another similar raid at Dieppe.
The Cinema/Film archives have it all on record, sadly Leslie has passed away now, but having retired to live in France in his final years, the local French residents were in effect, actually honoured to shake him by the hand. whenever the Occupation of their country by the Germans came up in conversation. Terrible times for both sides.
Hopefully these brave sailors are cruising heavens seaways now in bright skies and sunlined clouds of HEAVEN.
reply
My Father in Law was in the number four Commando group, he actually played his part on another similar raid at Dieppe.
The Cinema/Film archives have it all on record, sadly Leslie has passed away now, but having retired to live in France in his final years, the local French residents were in effect, actually honoured to shake him by the hand. whenever the Occupation of their country by the Germans came up in conversation. Terrible times for both sides.
Hopefully these brave sailors are cruising heavens seaways now in bright skies and sunlined clouds of HEAVEN.
reply
Karagianis
Little thing on those deck fuel tanks Jeremy mentions on the MLs, they were told to use those up on the way out, and most were filled with sea water by the time the attack began, so it wasn't quite as bad as he makes it sound. Of course the one or two that hadn't emptied the last of the fuel in the deck tanks and pumped water in yet fared rather badly. After all, the only thing more dangerous than a full fuel tank is a nearly empty one full of air and vapour.
reply
Little thing on those deck fuel tanks Jeremy mentions on the MLs, they were told to use those up on the way out, and most were filled with sea water by the time the attack began, so it wasn't quite as bad as he makes it sound. Of course the one or two that hadn't emptied the last of the fuel in the deck tanks and pumped water in yet fared rather badly. After all, the only thing more dangerous than a full fuel tank is a nearly empty one full of air and vapour.
reply
Gregory
Before they got to the port two escorting destroyers chased away a submarine which reported them, but they guessed wrong as to their direction so the intercept force went the wrong way. Then they were spotted by a patrol boat, but it had no radio to report them with. It seems this was meant to happen
reply
Before they got to the port two escorting destroyers chased away a submarine which reported them, but they guessed wrong as to their direction so the intercept force went the wrong way. Then they were spotted by a patrol boat, but it had no radio to report them with. It seems this was meant to happen
reply
michael
somebody who gets it! let clarkson do the show, and its an succes. the best best best tv host ever. but ou english need to learn, to say german words proper! its not terpits, but tirpitz. you say the the first part, as tier!
reply
somebody who gets it! let clarkson do the show, and its an succes. the best best best tv host ever. but ou english need to learn, to say german words proper! its not terpits, but tirpitz. you say the the first part, as tier!
reply
Julian
And the generations alive today are paralysed and overcome with intense disregulation by micro aggressions. I am disgusted. However I celebrate and commend the audacious bravery and pluck of these brave men. For Valour!
reply
And the generations alive today are paralysed and overcome with intense disregulation by micro aggressions. I am disgusted. However I celebrate and commend the audacious bravery and pluck of these brave men. For Valour!
reply
Mac
There will never be another generation so great beautiful little men that willingly went on a suicide mission to save the world from unparalleled evil this is a shining example on why we will forever remember them
reply
There will never be another generation so great beautiful little men that willingly went on a suicide mission to save the world from unparalleled evil this is a shining example on why we will forever remember them
reply
Ol'Grease
Clarkson has one of the greatest voices ever. I want to meet him and the first thing we'd do is get tea/coffee and I'd give him a list of words that I just want him to say in his awesome voice.
reply
Clarkson has one of the greatest voices ever. I want to meet him and the first thing we'd do is get tea/coffee and I'd give him a list of words that I just want him to say in his awesome voice.
reply
RenaissanceNerd117
They weren't supermen. They were ordinary chaps, from all walks of life.
Ordinary in origin, maybe. But exceptional in quality, every one of them.
reply
They weren't supermen. They were ordinary chaps, from all walks of life.
Ordinary in origin, maybe. But exceptional in quality, every one of them.
reply
Andrew
Good old Mountbattenburg never had to die.
Playing fast and loose with other people's lives whilst being reported as a paedophile by the FBI and others.
reply
Good old Mountbattenburg never had to die.
Playing fast and loose with other people's lives whilst being reported as a paedophile by the FBI and others.
reply
Anthony
I'd like to think that I was genuinely brave enough to be part of this raid. But the older I get the more I think about how very frightened I would of been
reply
I'd like to think that I was genuinely brave enough to be part of this raid. But the older I get the more I think about how very frightened I would of been
reply
Frosty
i am just, amazed on their courage on a whole new level, the fact it was impossible which made it possible. man these guys are true worriers, legends! '-'7
reply
i am just, amazed on their courage on a whole new level, the fact it was impossible which made it possible. man these guys are true worriers, legends! '-'7
reply
The
Its a wonder that the destroyer and all the support boats managed to reach France in the first place. under the sheer weight of the balls they were carrying
reply
Its a wonder that the destroyer and all the support boats managed to reach France in the first place. under the sheer weight of the balls they were carrying
reply
John
At 21: 58 minutes, they blew up a good French made Peugeot 309! Why not a German car if they can find one that's worse than an English made car? Haha.
reply
At 21: 58 minutes, they blew up a good French made Peugeot 309! Why not a German car if they can find one that's worse than an English made car? Haha.
reply
Icewitch11
Cambelltown was a bomb on purpose these things were bombs on accident. Love that line, really tells you just how bad their escape boats are
reply
Cambelltown was a bomb on purpose these things were bombs on accident. Love that line, really tells you just how bad their escape boats are
reply
anthony
As a 23 year old, I would do the same if put in the same situation, and I hope and pray the rest of my generation would do the same.
reply
As a 23 year old, I would do the same if put in the same situation, and I hope and pray the rest of my generation would do the same.
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
