It's time: Admiral Tovey finally has the opportunity he's needed to close the jaws on Bismarck. This ship MUST sink. New players! Download World of Warships and use the code EXTRA1 for free goodies: cpm.wargaming.net/i3v7c6uu/?pub_id=2017_Video_4 European Players: Check out the "Hunt for Bismarck" Extra History bundle in the premium shop: eu.wargaming.net/shop/wows/main/6377/

2:20 "I am a pole" Teasing the largest battleship on earth must feel good

Of course, it is so polish to pridefully flash “I am a pole” at the enemy XD

The Polish Cruiser that flashed the message “I AM A POLE” was ORP Piorun and was lead by Captain Eugeniusz Pławski, passed 1977.

that’s pretty badass to be hanging off a moving plane judging when to fire a torpedo and then you are the one to cripple the Bismarck. Damn. These give me chills

Swordfish: Its not very effective... Its a critical hit! The Bismarck is now confused

"Hey, what are you doing?" "I'm just telling them that I'm a Pole." "O h."

Fun Fact: the Polish Destroyer was named the Piorun, she was an N Class destroyer, she was shadowing the Bismarck that day with the HMS Maori, after acquiring the location of the beast the Maori and her went in for a torpedo run. However, a simple torpedo run was not in the Pioruns goal set for that day, no, she charged the Bismarck at full steam, turning broadside and using Flashes and Wireless to spell out “I AM A POLE” as she fired with everything she had, this included her cannons, anti aircraft guns, some accounts even say men fired machine guns and pistols from the deck while others found musical instruments and played the Polish National Anthem as they strafed the Mighty Bismarck. The craziest part is she was never sank, not a single shell damaged her during the battle as she was too fast and nimble to be shot. She would go on to serve until the end of the war taking part in operations such as Overlord and Deadlight before finally being put out of commission and scrapped in 1955.

"Captain, ready to fire!" "Hang on, Gunnery, I need to text them real quick." *I AM A POLE* Literal insult to injury, that one. Top notch banter from the boys.

So...that guy who had a son serving on the Bismarck never saw his son again, right? Grim. You know, I once heard a veteran saying that the first time he killed a man it wasn't the image of dead body that stuck him but a thought that he made someone's mother cry.

That one pilot who crippled the Bismarck's rudder was John Moffat who sadly passed away in Dec 2016.

Ok, that Polish Destroyer is now my favorite destroyer-class ship.

Respect to that guy who said "I am a Pole".

Wow, the navigator was hanging upside down over the side of the plane so he could judge the waves. I hope he got some kind of medal. That was just insane.

I'm guessing this is the closest you'll ever get to a real life boss fight

I like how the uboat that came after the sinking of the Bismarck killed more of its men by trying to kill the enemy.

"I am a pole" -polish destroyer

"Once I capture Moscow, everything will be okay.." Narrator: "Everything was not okay."

"I am a Pole!" Silly Walpole, everyone knows it was you all along!

So the polish are just flipping the Bismarck as they fire

"Oh well, I can forget about England's Navy until I conquer Russia." Every part of what you just said, is wrong.

The capital ship drinking fuel with a curly straw. Yes.

Those poor men and boys in the ocean made me really sad. I cannot imagine the pain of seeing the ship sail away.

Britain: "Finally, we sunk the Bismarck." Germans: pull out Tirpitz.

At the bottom of the ocean the depths of the abyss They are bound by iron and blood The flagship of the navy the terror of the seas His guns have gone silent at last

This series really shows you how brutal naval combat really was.

2:20 "One Polish destroyer flashing the message "I am a Pole" while firing." That fucking killed me.

At least big' ol Bismarck did something in the war unlike some big ships that served as a big target. *cough* Yamato *cough*

I want to hear the German end of it lol “Yea we went straight the entire time, but these dumbasses just couldn’t figure it out”

British and Americans have the craziest luck I've ever heard of, also that one Polish ship man. The Poles just love sticking it to Germans. Even today they love to do that

[Long Post Ahead] Hi everyone! I’m Rob Rath, lead writer for Hunting the Bismarck. Because sponsored episodes don’t have a LIES episode, the EH crew decided the best thing would be for me to write them here in the comments. EPISODE I: THE PRIDE OF GERMANY • BRITISH PERSPECTIVE: After discussing possible approaches, we chose to tell the story from the British perspective as an hour-by-hour intelligence thriller. This approach had a few big advantages: it was tense, had a propulsive narrative, and allowed us to focus on the British intelligence effort that’s usually glossed over in other documentaries. It also let us communicate the “fog of war” and show how little the British often knew. The downside, though, is it gives short shrift to the Germans-but my hope is that the Bismarck’s side of this story is already well known to most naval history fans. • WASN’T YAMATO THE BIGGEST?: Yes, the Yamato’s displacement was larger-but it was still under construction when Bismarck sank. Yamato had already been “launched,” but that merely meant that its hull was floating in the water with its superstructure and armaments still under construction. Only after being “commissioned” into active service did it count as a real battleship. • CANADIAN SUPPLY CONVOYS: Several people pointed out that the Royal Canadian Navy and Merchant Marines played a large role in the Atlantic convoys. This is absolutely true, and I wish we had depicted that. As a form of apology, let me offer this: did you know that four Canadian midshipmen served at the Battle of the Denmark Strait? One served on the Prince of Wales, while three died on the HMS Hood. The Hood crew also included 20 men from Newfoundland, which was not (yet) a part of Canada. EPISODE II: THE MIGHTY HMS HOOD • WHY WAS PRINZ EUGEN OUT AHEAD?: It actually wasn’t a strategy. When Bismarck fired at the cruiser Norfolk in Episode I, the concussion of its own guns knocked out its radar array. Prinz Eugen was going first to act as a radar picket. • DID ALL THAT STUFF IN THE BATTLE REALLY HAPPEN?: Many people thought we took artistic license, but the events in this episode are based on the accounts of veterans and Hood survivors. One caveat: much like the circumstances of Hood’s sinking, there’s significant debate over whether Hood’s B-turret fired one last salvo. Both British and German sailors reported seeing the shot, but that doesn’t necessarily mean someone intentionally fired the guns. It’s possible that ammunition cooked off in the barrel, or that an internal explosion made it appear the guns fired. • DIDN’T MYTHBUSTERS PROVE SHIP SUCTION IS A MYTH?: Mythbusters used a 20-foot boat, which doesn’t reflect the fluid dynamics of a sinking battleship. A large ship going down very fast can experience “downflooding,” where water pours into the large spaces in the hull and ventilation shafts, pulling floating objects down like a drain. In addition, air escaping from the ship creates bubbles and foam at the surface, making the water less dense and able to support bodies. Oil and entangling debris also contribute to dragging sailors down-all three Hood survivors described being pulled down in some way. EPISODE III: A CHANCE TO STRIKE • WHY DID THE BRITISH KEEP ATTACKING ALLIES?: During most combat operations, ships tried to maintain radio silence so that listening stations on land didn’t triangulate their signal and inform enemy vessels of their position. This meant a ship’s location wasn’t always clear, and it was hard for pilots to recognize the size and silhouette of a ship when hurtling at it from several miles out. Mistakes were common. • TIME TRAVELING SHIPS AND ENIGMA ROTORS: We accidentally depicted some ships with post-war modernizations like angled flight decks. We also used the destroyer HMS Sheffield (D80)-which the Argentine Navy famously sunk during the Falklands War-instead of the cruiser HMS Sheffield (C24). Also, we misstated the number of rotors on the Enigma: the standard version had three and the naval version had four. EPISODE IV: SINKING THE BISMARCK • WASN’T THE BISMARCK SCUTTLED?: Yes. The crew set scuttling charges, partially because regulations mandated that they be set before an evacuation could take place. But Bismarck was already foundering and most assessments agree that she would’ve sunk within a day or half a day-so really the British sank her, the scuttling just sped it up. • WHY DID THE ROYAL NAVY KEEP SHOOTING?: According to naval procedure, Tovey couldn’t stop firing until Bismarck struck her colors, which she never did. The feelings about this were very mixed among the British sailors. The HMS Rodney’s chaplain really did beg his captain to stop the shelling. • WAS THERE REALLY A U-BOAT?: The lookout on the Dorsetshire spotted U-74, which had come to pick up Bismarck’s war diary at the request of Admiral Lütjens. U-74 later rescued three men clinging to a raft. WALPOLE In 1732, King George II gifted Walpole the residence at 10 Downing Street, where Winston Churchill lived and worked during WWII. Too easy? Ok! The Prinz Eugen was named after Prince Eugene of Savoy, an Italian-French general who served the Austrian Habsburgs. In 1731, Eugene was responsible for hammering out the Second Treaty of Vienna, which reoriented European politics by breaking Britain away from its ally France and instead aligning it with Austria. Who steered this on the British side? WALPOLE.

A sad annecdote: there were four floatplanes aboard the Bismarck, and near the end of the battle, one was still operational. Men wrote farewell letters and gave them to the pilot that was supposed to fly off, he entered the cockpit, but the engine wouldn't start...

British ships spent 2800 shells on Bismarck Bismarck: I can keep this up all day!

One ship against a navy :O

1:18 Got to give that guy credit; he had some balls

8:40 is the cutest render of an instrument of death ive ever seen lol

Tirpitz: I'm gonna pretend I didnt see that

It's almost a shame that big battleships are obsolete. They were just so awesome.

So the biggest ship in the world was disabled by planes made of rags and scaffolding. Add one to the 'British luck is insane' count!

That Polish signaller is an absolute legend and madlad

“I AM A POLE” that will get stuck in my head for ever, RIP Bismarck

If someone doesn't make a movie about this, it will be a truly missed opportunity.

"He'd have plenty of time to deal with the troublesome English once he'd captured Moscow." And then he got involved in a land war in Asia.

“He was made to rule the waves across the seven seas To lead the war machine To rule the waves and lead the Kriegsmarine The terror of the seas The Bismarck and the Kriegsmarine”

🎶We found the German battleship was makin' such a fuss We had to sink the Bismarck 'cause the world depends on us We hit the decks a-runnin' and we spun those guns around We found the mighty Bismarck and then we cut her down🎶

This has been my favorite series yet, and I've loved all of them. The writing is so engaging that I'm always on the edge of my seat! Great work, thank you for this!

7:30 And this is why you don't attack an enemy ship conducting rescue operations of YOUR OWN PEOPLE!

"I am a pole!" -Unknown Polish Man, 1941

1:19 The real MVP of the hunt

Winston Churchill : "B5" Adolf Hitler : "Battleship sunk..." (cut to that famous bunker scene)

"Hey we have this amazing ship!" "Great, send it out to combat situations with little support; try and keep it unsupported if possible." "That's a fantastic idea!" The sad thing is that the Japanese would make the same mistake with the Yamato

2:22 Imagine you were on the Bismarck and you saw the Morse message "I am a Pol"

Man, that series was incredible. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Top-notch UKposts content.

"I am a Pole while firing." Damn.

aaand we're live! Enjoy the final episode!

"At the bottom of the ocean, the depths of the abyss. They are bound, by iron and blood. The flagship of the navy, the terror of the seas. Its guns, have gone silent at last."

"but mostly they're keeping their distance" ORP Piorun while circle strafing the Bismarck at point blank range: I'm sorry, what?

Germany: Hey Japan I'm about to take over Britain Japan: We're almost done over here in the Pacific Germany: Nothing can stop us now Japan: Oh by the way I bombed the U.S.A. so they wouldn't enter the war Germany: What ._. U.S.A.: *HI*

I'm kinda conflicted. As a Brit it's cool to hear how the Royal Navy worked around their weaknesses to sink a stronger opponent but the Bismarck's crew didn't deserve that. As I'm typing, London Bridge was just attacked by what's likely to be terrorists... humanity kinda sucks for me at the moment.

I had to pause just to say I lost it at the "I am a Pol" light signal while firing. That's gotta be the navy's equivalent of teabagging right there 😂😂

Thats amazing, "I am a Pol" best naval thing ever

All of the Rodney's guns were in the front, because she was so slow they figured it would always be chasing what it was shooting at.

Man those lil Swordfish when old is bizarrely effective

"I AM A POLE" Me: Goddammit Walpole

3:13 Congratulations, you pronounced Dorsetshire correctly.

Swordfish: "I want to attack the Bismarck". DM: "Make an attack roll then. But remember that you are not suited for this at all." Swordfish: "Nat 20" DM: "wtf. well..."

considering how long it took to take her down im surprised they didnt go fuck it and capture the ship. it sounds like an amazing war asset

Bismarck: *largest battleship on Earth* Yamato: *cries in weeb language*

Has to be one of the MOST exciting war stories of all time. Told excellently by EXTRA HISTORY! My second time watching

"I am a pole" What a sense of humor hahaha

Very good story telling, even though most people familiar with the Bismarck know how it all ended. However I would really like to see more of the more German side of this story, if there is enough material about it that is.

This is movie worthy! Great job! As a German, I also see this story from the german side. Both the Royal Navy and the Kriegsmarine lost many sailors in this Battle just so one power hungry little man with a small moustache could do his thing. Just Sad.

🎼The flagship of the navy, the terror of the seas his guns have gone silent at last...🎼

I wanna say, even with the knowledge that its quite possible that these comments dont get read, that this particular series of Extra history has gone above and beyond the others. The art is better, the scripting is better, even Dan's narration is more emotive and engaging. This is top quality UKposts content.

That's amazing. Flashing I am a Pole while destroying the pride other German navy.

"I am a Pole" is a great troll :D

Mad respect to that Polish ship and that British navigator pilot who hung upside down from a flying plane to aim a shot. Respect.

*shooting a german battleship* *does small damage or doesnt at all* "I AM A POLE, I AM A POLE!!.." and so began the blitzkreig of the german navy ft. poland

I was holding back the tears as you were describing the last moments when the Royal Navy was firing on the Birsmarck. The chaplin, the cocoa and rum. And finally having to abandon the sailors in the water brought a such sadness. What else could the Royal Navy do, they HAD to sink her.

Although I knew how this story would end, it's really nice hearing it again and with the Extra history lean. I had not heard about the polish ship or the American pilots on catalinas but it's those extra details that really flesh it out.

To anyone who was worried about the Bismarck’s crew that was left behind, 5 more men were rescued by that same U-boat that scared away the ship that sunk the Bismarck

More WWII stuff! This and Kursk are so good...

royal navy VS 1000 degree Bismarck

"Flashing i am a pole while firing" what a legend

(Heart of Oak starts playing) Bismarck crew : *Why do I hear boss music?*

Who else felt bad for the hundreds of German men left behind after the ship sank?

Great series! The suspense was really great. Didn't even notice I just watched 40 minutes of content.

anybody find it funny that the polish flashed "I am a pole" when they were shooting at the ship

2:20 That Polish destroyer, the Prion, actually has a crazy story in this fight, it actually ended up engaging in a long range gun-dual with the Bismarck for over an hour, firing literally every gun it had at the ship and more while continuing to signal "I am a Pole, 3 salvoes for the honor of Poland" and ignoring orders to withdraw. It survived the battle and the war, but was later scrapped by the Royal navy Post-battle analytics show that the Bismarck performed so poorly in its final engagement with force H partially cause of crew exhaustion, thanks to one angry Polish destroyer keeping them up all night

1:35 That swordfish navigator is a mad lad and a legend

Bismark they needed 2 Battleships and a 2 cruisers to sink me in 50 minutes. Nagato: Hold my beer.

“You know, there’s getting a concussion, and then there’s having your body partially phase into a different dimension. I think that’s the point you’re supposed to throw in the towel.” - Admiral Tovey, probably

My wife and I found her grand-dads flight logs from the Fleet Air Arm from World War II. One page detailed a flight shadowing the Bismarck, next page Torpedo run on the Bismarck; he was a swordfish pilot

"I AM A POLE" lol'd.

This isn't just a battle of Germany vs. Britain. It's a battle of past vs. future, heavy battleship vs. aircraft carriers and radar. After WWII, battleships would be retired, and aircraft carriers would become the new flagships of the navy.

If you guys want something from the perspective of the German sailors, I'd recommend Robert Ballard's book on the Bismarck. He was the guy who explored the Titanic, and he also explored the wreck of the Bismarck. He also took the time to interview five survivors, four sailors and one officer, about the Bismarck, and the tone is sympathetic since his own son had died around the same age as many of those sailors on the Bismarck.

Fires continuously for over 50 minutes at a ship that has ceased hostile actions, to the point where the impacts of their shells heat up the exterior hull to nearly 600 degrees, the Germans sure were evi- wait, the good guys did that??

2:20 Have Poles ever not been based.... I think not.

It's 11:42 Summer is almost over but Extra Credits uploads the sinking of the Bismarck so screw sleeping

6:06 makes me tear up too