As you can probably tell, this was not a small effort. I spent eight months on this video: five across 2023 and also the first three months of 2024. I hope that it was time well spent. I say this on all of my videos but cannot emphasize it enough here; the only reason I'm able to take on a production like this is because of people who choose to support me either on Patreon or through the membership program here. It's the only way I was able to make a living doing this work throughout the quiet production months. So as always, a huge thank you to all of you doing that. If that's not possible and you still want to support me, consider sharing this with someone who you think might appreciate it.

I'm sure criticism will come in and that I'll have notes to add, but for now that's all. Enjoy!

Edit: I just wanted to say that I'm touched by the outpouring of support for this video so far. I feel it's best to not be on here constantly replying to comments, but I do see and appreciate it. Thank you.

Checking back about 6 months later: as a last note, judging by some comments, videos like this seem to attract - in relatively small numbers, but still - a certain type of person. A type of person who is keen to proclaim that Hitler has been historically wronged, and even that the Second World War should be blamed instead, one way or another, on Jews, and perhaps on democracies. Anything that says otherwise, no matter how well sourced or reasoned, is lies and propaganda. They use slogans like 'history is written by the victors' and perhaps posit a theory that bankers actually started the war. Bankers started the war (?).. bankers are Jews (?).. therefore Jews started the war.

I don't think it convinces anyone besides the ones already saying it, and to me is sort of like a historic version of Flat Earth Theory. It falls apart quickly with even some basic questions (in this model.. financing comes in place first... then people find reasons to fight? in Japan, Italy, and Germany...? financing from... private banks?... none of it works at all). Basically I think it's more like a cult of thought than a serious academic theory. I don't know if it's worth making a video about, but I thought I'd mention it here. It seems like virtually all the people saying this refuse to actually watch the video and turn it off after the opening sentences. I doubt they're reading this here either. But if that is you and you are reading this, I'd just say maybe consider actually watching the video, and try to be open-minded about learning something from it.

- Ryan

oh we're literally going word for word bar for bar

"History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes" and its beginning to rhyme

It’s scary how relevant this is today

History classes in school never clicked with me because far too often teachers covered the mechanics of events, and exams demanded for rote memorisation of dates. What was always missing were exactly these narratives of why things come to be, at the human and social level. This channel is an absolute treasure, always wonderfully researched. Please never stop making videos!

great timing for youtube to recommend this

This sadly aged like fine wine, very expensive wine

"An era of a weakening middle. Even a hollowing middle. And the expansion of the further-left and the further-right."
Sounds a lot like today.

So refreshing to find a channel where the narration has proper pacing , there are too many channels that deliver a docu with the insane pacing of an infomercial. Pauses are important , it allows us to digest and consider the information. New sub

Damn...getting this recommended now, feels like a gutpunch

Imagine being born in Western Europe at around 1880. You grow up in a world of endless growth, new inventions and advancements in science around every corner and above all a long peace. You do not even know what war is like. Then you live through the horrors of The First World War, maybe even serve in it. When it is all over the world you go back to is unstable volatile and violent. A hunch op optimism in the 20s is crushed by the economic crisis in 1929. And then in the last years of your life you see the world sliding back into the horror of The Second World War.

Humans never change.  The worst mistake the people of the United States can make, is feeling like it can't happen here.

I don't think that I have ever heard anyone give such an honest telling of the beginning of WWII before. Thank you sir for your amazing work, for not dismissing the forefathers of the world as malevolent, blundering fools who purposefully made things worse for the next generation. For instead, acknowledging that they were just people, some better some worse, trying to do what they thought was right in the face of a harsh world. Thank you for also being balanced enough to acknowledge the sins of our past while also pointing out that there is hope despite it because our foundations, our roots, still have strength in them, and for reminding us that all is not lost.

i’m here educating myself because of what’s happening in the united states. history may not always repeat but it sure does rhyme.

I always think about Hopper in A Bugs Life when I watch political videos. When he threw a seed at his fellow grasshopper and asked him “Did that hurt?” Grasshopper laughed and said “no!”… Hopper glares at him and goes “How about this “ and releases all the seeds on the grasshopper, burying him.  

Then he makes his speech: “If one ant stands up, they all might stand up. Its about keeping those ants in line.”

Us turning against each-other is exactly what the higher powers want. It’s why Luigi is dangerous to them… he stood up. Its only a matter of time before more of us follow. And war is the perfect distraction.

So we're really all sat here after "the wave", huh?

Watching this today makes me realize how weak we are as a human race

When a single dude makes a better non padded full info documentary, so better that it surpasses big Media houses. You sir, have a sub. Good work!

2 hour long Ryan Chapman video. It going to be a Good Friday

Hitler fed ppl what they wanted to hear in a time when they were most desperate to hear it.

"Pay attention to a leaders words, but closer attention to their actions. And closer yet, to the motivations behind those actions."