Countries That ALMOST Existed

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▶ In this video I talk about a few countries that almost existed. With its creation being proposed but then not followed through for various reasons (save a couple exceptions where they were temporarily independent). On this list are states such as the Polish-Czechoslovak confederation, the Hellenic Republic of Pontus in Anatolia, Greater/Wilsonian Armenia, the Free State of Antwerp (where Flanders now is), a United Bengal (partially today's Bangladesh), the Fertile Crescent Plan - which proposed the unification of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan, Schleswig-Holstein, as well as three potential Central-American countries: Los Altos, Soconusco and Mosquitia / Miskito.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
00:38 Polish-Czechslovak Confederation
01:24 Republic of Pontus
02:30 Wilsonian / Greater Armenia
03:39 Free State of Antwerp
04:58 United Bengal
06:08 Fertile Crescent Plan
07:07 Schleswig-Holstein
09:00 Los Altos, Soconusco and Miskito
11:50 Summary
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[@General.Knowledge]

*Which OTHER countries almost existed?*

[@Og_Phrank]

idk you tell me

[@Amibingus]

United bengal Edit: It was mentioned

[@pjordi]

Catalonia

[@shk439]

Russian Civil War States

[@marcusprasad100]

Khalistan

[@sirsneaky3550]

4:41 France itself was also against this proposal, even Talleyrands own dad said it was ridiculous

[@General.Knowledge]

It truly seems like a crazy idea

[@sefyaa]

@@General.Knowledge ignoring the fact that spain is united still somehow

[@caifothiazz]

As a Czech who actually studied history, this is the first time I hear this.

[@xxxdeber7080]

Same

[@asdasd-wx9qf]

Władysław Sikorski (Polish prime minister in exile) in diplomatic corespodency in 1941 "In case there is an internal breakdown of Germany before the end of the war my country demands to stop Russia Soviet Union, until we regain the borders before-military on the current demarcation line2. With this more- I welcome the announcement that it will stop.- manie further March of the Red Army to the West it fully corresponds to the interests of Czechoslovakia. I think so that we have the right to count on her positive attitude to these issues that will undoubtedly be raised in the course of the Taken, and so well developing talks on a future Federation of the two States.

[@Minamoto_1]

It was possible but of course russians and americans had to ruin it

[@adrumasahead2815]

What do you think of it?

[@Fnupo]

Yeah, although I knew about this proposal, I rly wouldn't call it country that "almost" existed, there were lot of crazy proposals. God, I would say even proposal of Czechoslovak corridor was more realistic than Polish-Czechoslovak union.

[@mariovallanzasca9454]

Meanwhile in a parallel universe, countries that almost existed: Belgium

[@yodorob]

Also, Israel. Here in our universe, it was only a combination of many contingencies that paved the way for the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, and - even more importantly - its endurance until this very day.

[@enoch-anthonynyanzu2345]

Don't forget Turkey and Azerbaijan

[@musicodrome1731]

There is one country that almost existed that is very unknown and almost always forgotten : The Arab Islamic Republic, unification of Tunisia and Libya. Both presidents of Tunisia and Libya agreed upon that project and on the modalities. Actually, it was pretty imminent and the project would have been summited to a referundum. The reasons of cancellation the unification, before that referundum, are not exactlty known. Though, it is important to know that Algeria and Egypt didn't agree at all with that project, the combination of the natural ressources of Libya and the intellectual elite of tunisia could have resulted with a new big power in the region that would have threaten there position. So, Algeria and Egypt acted very aggressively towards both country, Algeria even threatened to invade Tunisia if the project went on. Divergence of viewpoint on the project, and the unclear position of France didn't help.

[@lqr824]

I'm sure you know but it seems most people don't realize Egypt and Syria were kind of one country for a while. (Was it really a country? Or a union of two countries?) And, Russia and Belarus have been combined in a "Union State" for over a decade that I think is stronger than the EU, or could be, but not as strong as USSR in terms of how joined the parts are.

[@InvagPrune]

@@lqr824 The UAR was a country indeed but given the political issues in the middle East at the time and the fact they did not massively promote the change, it was not very noticeable to the rest of the world and collapsed of it own issues anyway. As far as I can tell, the Belarus-Russia union is a similar attempt but notably was not a country, starting as an agreement over economic and military cooperation and eventually stagnating after not very long when the balance of power shifted to Putin and the internal structure was not fulfilled. Although, I believe it never officially died and was just considered abandoned after Belarusian hostilities towards Russia in the late 2000s

[@roseblossompistachio]

@@lqr824 the united arab republic was effectively egypt controlling syria which is why it eventually failed with syria leaving the union. pan arab efforts typically fall apart due to competing interests and ultimately someone always wanted to be in charge

[@eVill420]

@@lqr824 Russia and Belarus are not a union state, Lukashenko isn't a puppet of Putin, he just very heavily relies on him. you can see that they have autonomy considering they refused to attack Ukraine

[@lqr824]

@@eVill420 This page has been around since 2004 in 37 languages and you say it is not true? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_State

[@veroist_]

Seeing Zapadoslavia exist would be beautiful. 🇸🇰

[@ElzariusUnity]

To bad Czech government was most likely still salty with Poles at the time.

[@vandydev2292]

Pan-Slavic Federation be more beautiful ❤

[@cesarzpontu8886]

​@@vandydev2292 no it wouldn't

[@kaiser_landschaft7941]

@@vandydev2292 Western slavs are different.

[@atlantic.oficial]

I was about to say that

[@jonbud]

Glad you mentioned Slesvig-Holsten/Schleswig-Holstein as im a dane myself facinated by that part of my danish history :)

[@General.Knowledge]

It's a very interesting territory!

[@NameName-dx8lb]

​@@General.Knowledge There were also many issues with the territory division. Mainly with Tondern.

[@stevyyjay85]

I'm a Schleswig-Holsteiner

[@jonbud]

@@stevyyjay85 i feel like Denmark and Germany have been very mature about their borders compared to other places. We live in peace with each other and i think that is kinda beautiful :)

[@mom0nline408]

I Live in Schleswig-Holstein and we are learning danish in school

[@TheLordZorga]

A note on the Slesvig-Holsten part, Slesvig was actually majority Danish, but more like around 60% danish to 40% german, so not by a lot, but still, to say the entirety was german was populated by germans is disingenuous. This was even the reason Denmark tried to unite with Slesvig only, because they wanted to create a nationstate that only included the danish, while giving the germans in Holsten to Germany (Prussia). Though the germans would use this splitting of the duchy as justification to take over the entirety of Slesvig-Holsten, as splitting the duchy was made illegal by the great powers after the first Slesvig-Holsten war. So the nationalist danish government really played itself, though we were reunited with our Danish brothers again, though only after the first world war, unfortunately.

[@otakuofmine]

Schleswig-Holstein. And it was true, i think they even let them vote and they voted Denmark (The Schleswig Part). Would have certainly had a better time if part of denmark.

[@NeulandInternet]

@@otakuofmine Today's borders reflect the vote of 1920. The vote was carried out in different voting districts. The districts that voted for Germany became part of Germany and the danish-voting districts became part of Denmark. So the border is quite accurate I'd say. Though it's always a difficult question how to draw a border, as both ethnicities are scattered all over the territories.

[@shonenjumpmagneto]

Germany & Prussia really are not the same Country.

[@otakuofmine]

@@shonenjumpmagneto Prussia Was de facto the german empire at that time. they won the leader bit against austria-hungary

[@cybervet3678]

Just some quick corrections: 9:34 that's not the flag of the first Mexican Empire, is the flag of the army of the three guarantees, that was the army that lead mexico to independence from spain, even some parts of the modern Mexican Army uses that flag/seal. The flag of the Mexican Empire was almost like the modern day mexico's flag but with a different coat of arms with the eagle being in a diferent pose and having a crown in the head of the eagle. 10:05 that map of the Federal Republic of Central America is incorrect, because Panama and the Yucatan peninsula were never part of the Federal Republic of Central America. Even tho Yucatan were once an independent nation, never joined central america.

[@unifiedhorizons2663]

bro that sounds cool as hell, a GOLDEN EAGLE CROWNED

[@NobodyNobody0000]

Thank you for the effort you put into your videos General Knowledge! It's great that you care about the quality of your work. You're well spoken and do a good job with your narration in addition to including relevant maps and related visuals. Since you handle the presentation so well it makes the information more digestible. Overall, excellent work! Echoing the other comments I saw asking for the Wilsonian video idea you mentioned. Unfortunately these days it seems like people take self-determination for granted and don't realize what a major paradigm shift it was for humanity to go from empires ruling others being the norm to being perceived as a negative thing. It'd be great to hear what you have to say about how the 14 points would have affected the world historically, not only for just changing borders but also things like the hope that reducing armaments and creating the League of Nations would prevent future wars. It'd be interesting to see how you think the world would have ended up today if those things had worked and there wasn't a WWII. It was definitely a very hopeful outlook for the world at the time. Also, it's impressive how productive you are putting out so many videos! Something I saw some comments about were various corrections about things like specific flags or maps, and it seems like mistakes are bound to happen trying to keep an upload schedule that satisfies KZbin's algorithm. Both in the interest of historical accuracy, combating historical revisionism and giving your channel more content, have you considered making a video about corrections to your other videos? It's something I've seen other content creators do and it gives a good reason to link to a bunch of your other videos which may get you more views there too. In any case, thanks for sharing your videos! Best of luck with everything!

[@shonenjumpmagneto]

Did you really just advocate for The 2nd Age of Empires replacing The Age of Republics & The Age of Organizations (present day)?

[@stevejohnson3357]

The proposals for the middle east are the most interesting but still doomed. Sometimes these things cannot be imposed. They have to work on the ground.

[@ammarelatreece9584]

The best solution for peace in the middle east is full unity

[@milesmcallister8542]

​@@ammarelatreece9584 the real best is to remove the middle east

[@General.Knowledge]

Agreed, it's easy to draw borders without taking into consideration the people

[@mappingshaman5280]

​@@ammarelatreece9584not really. Arabs, Iranians, turks, sunnis, shias, etc putting them all in one state isn't going to work. Maybe if it was just all arab sunnis but it's not

[@Juiceeway]

@@mappingshaman5280 bruh all the khalifates were mixed population, so what are you talking about? We are divided because of Israel and America remove these two and we will be united again

[@jtgd]

My favorite is the Union between Francia and Byzantium

[@averagebohemian5791]

I would love a federation with Poles, I love Poland so much

[@ssh0ck138]

I wouldn’t mind a federation with Czechs and Slovaks, we are similar so it could work, love Czechia from Poland 🇵🇱❤️🇨🇿

[@Animatron11]

Wish we could have something together to actually matter more globally!

[@averagebohemian5791]

@@Animatron11 Zapadoslavia NOW!

[@czaszaprzeszly371]

In 1922 it could be great. Big Czechs industry + lot of Polish + coal from Silesia and Gdańsk/Gdynia.

[@averagebohemian5791]

@@czaszaprzeszly371 Czech tanks and Polish cavalry would be a very good combination

[@quranicbard7881]

Happy St Patrick's Day, General Knowledge! Oh by the way, can you make a video on where Oceanian Countries Get Their Names!

[@vesi908]

As a pole I love when foreigners are trying to say "międzymorze". Perfection 😄

[@C6Fever]

As an Armenian i can say the only language I find more difficult than Armenian is Polish! :p

[@actuallyazurite]

the fact that you included all of these countries but no quebec is crazy, good vid tho! i had no clue that this many regions had wanted to become countries on their own at some point!

[@HistoryUniversity]

QUESTION: Is it better to almost exist or exist for so short that you're forgotten like Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic???

[@edwardblair4096]

I'm thinking that that proposal happened around the end of WW1 with the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire leaving power gap in a short window of time. Don't forget that there was oil in the region. Once the Russian civil war was settled, the red army and bolshovic(sp) communists took control and the area became part of the USSR.

[@khvichakuprashvili6719]

It was politically too unstable to exist longer. 3 main ethnic groups living in the republic had different ideas, especially Armenians and Georgians on the one side and Azerbaijanis on the other. Azeris welcomed Turkish forces annexing some parts of the republic while Georgians and Armenians were against it, obviously.

[@shonenjumpmagneto]

Context matters.

[@shonenjumpmagneto]

@Prehistoric Postmodernist it's a country that existed & it united The Caucasian Subcontinent more or less before being annexed by The USSR.

[@khvichakuprashvili6719]

@@shonenjumpmagneto Nope, the state was dissolved before Bolshevik annexations.

[@mariajoaoferrazdeabreu150]

Great video.

[@makikoha]

The kingdom of Finland could be classified as a country that almost existed. After gaining independence in 1917, finland considered a monarchy for a government type, much like sweden, with a german king, but germany lost the war and Finland didn't really think it wouldve been a good idea so they ended up going with a presidential republic instead

[@TheGeographyGeeks]

I love your videos!!!

[@rasmuslundsnnichsen4984]

While on the topic of Slesvig-*H*olsten - its worth mentioning the island of Als (or Alsen in german), which was independent from 6th to 9th november 1918.

[@josueveguilla9069]

Happy St. Patrick's day to you, too, General Knowledge 🍀

[@General.Knowledge]

Happy Saint Patrick's day!

[@josueveguilla9069]

@@General.Knowledge Thank you.

[@Illjwamh]

"Countries that almost didn't exist" sounds like a really interesting idea for a video. Sort of a "for want of a nail" kind of thing.

[@pk6923]

yeah, that would be super interesting to see :D

[@dawidblachowski]

There was almost another country: Silesia. Just after I World War, upon leadership of Josef Kożdoń, the movement gained approval from Czechoslovakia, UK and USA. With Polish and French disapproval, it never come into existence, the national plebiscite of march 1923 didn't include Independent SIlesia as the option, so Silesians in majority of votes (64%) voted to reimain in Germany (not join Poland).

[@General.Knowledge]

I didn't know that! Very interesting

[@braziliantsar]

Damn they wanted to massacre Germany even more

[@cesarzpontu8886]

But plebiscite was in 1921

[@dawidblachowski]

Sorry, typo, yes it was in 1921.

[@thorspoczta4436]

Bullshit. This voting was like voting in Belarus for Łukaszenko. German prank during Poland occupation time.

[@AIeksejs]

I would love to see a video about the Frisian regions and stuff of like the Interfrisian Council. it is a really interesting topic IMO but not that well known

[@Lemonz1989]

The Danish Faroe Islands also almost became a new country in 1946. They voted in favor of independence, but the Danish king annulled the vote, and the Faroese gained partial autonomy in 1948 instead.

[@shk439]

Could you make a video about countries that almost existed during the Russian Civil War?

[@shonenjumpmagneto]

OOOOOO THAT'S A GOOD ONE. *The Free Territory Anarchy* & all that shit!

[@ElzariusUnity]

That doesn't count. They existed. Just not for very long =D

[@cristiciocan660]

Please, can you make the video about Woodrow Wilson's plans?

[@General.Knowledge]

Yes!

[@coquimarinero7246]

Seconded. A Wilson's proposed borders video could be a lot of fun

[@EmperorOfDrill]

@@General.Knowledge PLEASE OTTOMAN DESTORY ARMENİANS GREEK AND CREATED NEW TURKİSH STATE.

[@Kasaaz]

The Schleswig-Holstein part makes me wonder whatever happened to Dithmarschen as a political unit there?

[@dehydrateddarkness3565]

Polish-Czechoslovak confederation was actually older, the governments have sought to implement it before WW2, but there was some disagreement over the degree of integration, Poland wanted a federation while Czechoslovakia opted for a confederation. Some documents promising formation were signed, but the talks were going at a sluggish pace and WW2 happened It's also weird to talk about it without mentioning the sister proposal of Yugoslavia-Greece confederation which didn't work out despite both governments being eager, due to Yugoslav communists taking power. They were actually supposed to be united with Poland-Czechoslovakia in the final phase, along with Bulgaria and Romanian added somewhere along the way. This was actually the allied vision for central and southern Europe, it probably would have happened if not for Soviet interference

[@anthonyminimum]

0:37 I actually came up with a name for this almost country a few years ago, I called it Czechopolslovakia or the land of Czechs, Pols and Slovaks

[@veroist_]

Or Zapadoslavia

[@tomasvrabec1845]

Zapadoslavia is the traditional name. Because it's not just Poles, Czechs and Slovaks. A few more Slavic people's, especially western Slavs are there to. Hence WesterSlavia. Akin to Yugaslavia (south slávia)

[@albertskyking]

Excellent video, I learned some I was not aware of. I want to mention a country that almost existed, here where I am from. The region where I live is called The Rio Grande Valley of South Texas (disclaimer: it is not a valley). This region is presently part of Texas, but it was not really part of the Texan Republic during it's independence, instead it was part of the province of Nuevo Santander in Mexico (now the Mexican state of Tamaulipas). For a brief period, I believe 10 months, there existed a Spanish-speaking republic called La Republica del Rio Grande (The Republic of the Rio Grande), the capital was Laredo. The city of Laredo, Texas still uses the country's flag as it's city flag. I do not know if it counts as a country that nearly existed, but it did for a brief period of time during the formation of the current American countries. Parts of The Republic of the Rio Grande are now on both sides of the USA and Mexico border.

[@shonenjumpmagneto]

It did exist. So it wouldn't qualify for the list here. Recognition of sovereignty & sovereignty are 2 separate boxes to check for being a Country.

[@B00bik]

1.there is a joke in Poland to declare a war on Czechia and immediately unconditionally surrender

[@tomaszsyrek3728]

A to nie było o Szwecji w czasie PRL-u?

[@3seven5seven1nine9]

It feels insane that the US projected so much power across the ocean in 1917 that they could write up a wishlist of how they want Europe to look, and get a good amount of it done

[@scottabc72]

The US was becoming more influential at the time but it was more important that it was seen as a neutral party that had no colonial plans on the regions in question and didnt have strong favorites among the colonial powers that did have plans in the region.

[@hoomanben8455]

Yeah, more than projected power they were seen as a neutral player and arguably more importantly were the middle point between Britain and France on a lot of debates meaning in the interests of compromise their decision often was chosen, it also helped that they were the least beleaguered by the war, meaning powers that would normally object couldn’t afford to do so

[@mrbisshie]

Woodrow Wilson's 14 points was actually pretty good, and probably would have prevented another world war, if most of them were actually implemented. Point number 1 was to stop with bs secret treaties.

[@thatguyswavomeer]

International name for Międzymorze is Intermarium. You're welcome! :) As for countries that almost existed, shortly after 1945 some groups in Poland were pushing for creation of an new Lusatian state that would be carved out of what is now parts of eastern Germany.

[@ternet1859]

There was a movement supporting the idea in Czechoslovakia as well, to liberate the last enslaved slavs.

[@jamesedward8090]

Just to clarify, Panama was never part of the Federal Republic of Central America. After Panama's independence from Spain, they joined Gran Colombia. (Map at 10:08)

[@grimlemngr2605]

Plz make that widrow Wilson plan vid

[@Kurogane-san]

Could you make a video about countries that almost existed within the Brazilian Territory? Few examples: Confederação do Equador, República do Acre, República Juliana, República Rio-Grandense and the São Paulo separatist movement.

[@General.Knowledge]

Great idea!

[@KartingRules]

Território Livre de Princesa

[@eliejreije9578]

I would love to see a video about the points of president Wilson

[@sanjarsocool]

the united Bengal plan hurts so much that it didn't happen and all we got was unnecessary violence of neighbors cuz of fabricated religious issues. Would've been a more develop country then Bangladesh today

[@mylomarquardt6395]

I live in Schleswig Holstein and never heard of that before! Ver interesting

[@tirdy3981]

The Malphilindo confederation consists Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia. edit: It almost existed but it didn't.

[@wandilismus8726]

Born in the Schleswig Part of Schleswig-Holstein, in Husum. Now living in Kiel, which is Holstein. We have a danish minority here. The Süd Schleswigscher Wählerverbund doesn't need to have 5% to get into the Landtag and this time the Bundestag.

[@jhaarbur]

Some other countries that almost existed: 1. Amekijo/Neutral Moresnet - Would have been world's only Esperanto-speaking nation. 2. Russian Democratic Fedarative Republic - Lasted only 6 hours 3. Republic of Carpatho-Ukraine - Lasted 1 day before being conqured by Hungry. 4. Republic of Canada - Existed for 1 year on Navy Island; not to be confused with the actual country of Canada itself, as this was an alternate, de facto government. 5. Intermarium - A union of all of Eastern Europe that would have been a buffer between Germany and Russia

[@_.simply.isaac._]

10:39 I literally hear "Mosquito Language"

[@marekcmonster1937]

Hey, the Habsburg monarchist path for Poland can give you your polish-czechoslovak federation fix.

[@toonituam4689]

Lol that one Caribbean map is an alternate history map I was looking like why they got an archipelago next to Jamaica

[@jeremiedomenico]

No mention of Québec? 😢⚜️💙 I remember 1995 ...

[@potorokusmc13]

Yes please make that WW video!

[@julianosvonskingrad7009]

Just came here for Schleswig-Holstein. Greetings from Schleswig-Holstein!

[@leocremonezi]

Que vídeo massa!!! Sou Timão, interior de São Paulo, mas viagem e futebol são paixões que transcendem qualquer coisa. Ótimo vídeo 🔥🔥

[@kennybageI]

I think the treaty of sevres if implented couldve worked well.

[@user-gb8ym6ft1i]

Melayu Raya - the unification of Malaysia, Indoensia, Singapore, Brunei and Timur Leste based on the united usage of the Malay language in the archipelago but was abandoned due to conflicting political rivalry between Malaysia and Indonesia politicians as well as the administrative nightmare the country of that size would create

[@IceGuadian]

i predict that belgium where i live will split up into 2 maybe 3 in the next 10-15 years

[@camdenpetros5129]

Independent Flanders would be cool to see

[@to_cya_]

Idea for the next video- Countries That ALMOST didn’t existed

[@edwardblair4096]

Belgium would count here, but it would be the same story as the one told in this video about the Free State of Antwerp.

[@TurkiyeBall3910]

Bro is try to killing Türkiye 💀💀💀

[@flawyerlawyertv7454]

Like número 250! 😁👍

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

Just arrived yesterday from Schleswig-Holstein, had no idea they almost were a country.

[@constantinethegreat7434]

Pontus also became briefly independent after the 4th crusade as a greek kingdom

[@ntonisa6636]

By briefly you mean close to 260 years (longer than Greece has lasted so far)

[@free.nightingalemusic]

5:20 United Bengal 💕💥

[@ChrisFan890]

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

[@Threezi04]

The Miskito kingdom had an actual unifying king though, how does that not make them a kingdom?

[@tefky7964]

Its sad, but expected, that Polish-Czechoslovak confederation didn´t happen, our governments weren´t exactly the best friends in that time. But I don´t lose hope that one day, there will be unified Zapadoslavia!

[@General.Knowledge]

Do you think it could have worked then? Or now?

[@tefky7964]

@@General.Knowledge Generaly speaking,we are neighbors, our languages are similar, so we can quite well communicate while each of us can talk to each other in our native language and they understand most of it (which would probably get even better over time), but there are cultural differences and,atleast today, religious differences, which might cause problems. But I don´t think that it would be that big problem. Anyway, by then, main progress to form confederation was done during the war. Although our president did his best to sabotage the confederation and boost relations with Soviets, even if negotiations were successful, Soviets were nemesis of Poles, yet Soviets got control of Poland, while Polish government in exile lost support of the allies and as Soviets were very much against the confederation (too big danger), they probably wouldn´t let that happen anyway. Also as the new country would have to be in that case communist pupet of the USSR, allies wouldn´t care by that time anyway too and wouldn´t support it either. By now, I think that we have better relations than ever, open borders helped a lot by people more casually visiting our neighbours and as we share scepticism towards West and the East (we don´t blame Poles for invasion of 1968, we see them as "co-sufferers" under the USSR), I think that common country might be possible and people more willing to overlook some problems just to prevent being small powerless country. Not exactly with strong centralized power, but atleast something. Also I would like to be once again in the same country with Slovaks. Czechoslovakia ended just thanks to politicians ignoring the will of the people and unresolved issues ignored for dozens of years by socialist government. I am glad that atleast we all are part of the EU and V4, but I hope for even bigger cooperation among our countries.

[@MrToradragon]

​@@General.Knowledge Back then probably not. All countries around Czechoslovakia were either full blown totalitarian states or at least had authoritarian tendencies, while Czechoslovakia had remained highly democratic state. Today the situation is different. I would say that after some reforms some union of Czechia and Poland could happen even thou Poland is now more interested in Ukraine. But as things are changing in Europe and Poland is turning into emerging power and perhaps new block will form, it would be perhaps good idea for Czechia to be included into this new block that would later perhaps transform into some sort of (con)federation. I would say that there is some chance that some new entity that will be more representative of interests of countries in Central Europe and Baltics will form. And i hope, that Czechia will be part of this new entity.

[@tomasvrabec1845]

​@@General.Knowledge I think it's part of the overarching Slavic Culture that is seeping through from the past. Slavs used to be Ethno-religious group. The religion was about nature, family and Genealogy (generational relationships, kinship ext). Both the religion and the language were very old and evolved and diversified far slower than other langauges Christianity slowly replaced this fairs and created a new form of Christianity called Double faith... As no one could just stop being the old faith. Hence why even today in Poland you see far far far more concentration of different saints and the trinity. Meanwhile even just in western Europe It's about God, or the trinity but all else are more like accomplished scholars rather than nearly divine beings... But what I mean is. As we became Etho Linguistic group only. The slow diversification still keeps us united. And every century since there was some revival or rebelion trying to preserve. Time and time again we come to embrace the similarity nad call ourselves kin.

[@Rolando95]

​@@MrToradragon It would be a really powerfull country with Prague, Warsaw, Gdańsk, Kraków, Wrocław, Brno, Bratysława. One of the most if not most beautifull country in Europe! :)

[@patrikhanousek6633]

The polish-cehoslovakian union got me wondering how whud that changed my life (I am cech)

[@modmaker7617]

Imagine a Zapadoslavia. That be interesting. Would it just be Yugoslavia or will it be better?

[@tefky7964]

@@modmaker7617 Without centuries old grievances, less conflicts over borders and less "hot-headed" population it might be more stable.

[@Laufer88]

There was also plan for making Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia united, but Hungary did not want to exchange part of its territory so there'll be land parts connected between Czechoslovaks and Yugoslavs...Just after the WW1.

[@__Timmerman__]

Flanders could be a country as well in the future or join the netherlands

[@hughjass5756]

The 2nd concept kinda makes sense but not sure if it would've worked right. Czech and Slovak unity imho would be enough

[@PreemL]

In 1990s there was a proposed federation of Serbia and Greece

[@gevorgnersesyan4177]

The Treaty of Sevres is anything but crazy. Regarding the Wilsonian Armenia it was proposed to unite the Armenian population (the majority there from thousands of years back to 1917, the Armenian genocide) in their historic lands especially since 1.5 million Armenians were executed there a few years prior to the proposal.

[@akanay22]

No, it is actually one of the most ridicilous treaties to ever exist. Its only purpose was to divide and weaken anatolia even if it had no reason for it. It is merely your nationalist blindness that prevents you from seeing the truth. What right does France, Italy and Britain have on Anatolia allowing them to share its soil? Or why would the Turks have to share their rights on strait of Istanbul with countries thousands of kilometers away from it? Not talking about İzmir or East Anatolia as its more complicated than a few sentences but with these nonsense alone, you should be able to see the bullshit that treaty of sevres was. And about that other thing, before even talking about it being a genocide or not, do you have a single reliable source that says it was exactly 1.5 million? armenians

[@paulochon7692]

@@akanay22 stop being negationist. You just can't deny history. It happened but now we have to move on, accept the past and improve relations for the future. We don't want wars and massacres again

[@akanay22]

@@paulochon7692 The only thing I asked for was a source and you failed to provide even that.

[@arposkraft3616]

4:00 fking wish they did it was and ia till this day the most reasonable proposal

[@victorvanderdrift5006]

Schleswig-Holstein sounds exactly like an alternate version of Belgium...

[@roelantverhoeven371]

antwerp is part of brabant (antwerp province), ghent is the capital of east-flanders. the whole of west-flanders would be part of that free state of antwerp, and they'd have hated it XD antwerp, ghent and bruges are rivals

[@FragLord]

Yes now they got ruled over by the French Bourgeoisie for over 100 years, weren't allowed to teach their language, were reduced to second rate citizens and used as cannon fodder during WW1. Yes so much better... The Flemish are the majority of Belgium today. At the start of Belgium that would have been close to 80%. Brussels a city that was between 60-90% Dutch speaking, only has 10% Dutch speakers left. This is what one of the co-founders of Belgium thought of the Dutch speaking citizens, In 1838, another co-founder, senator Alexandre Gendebien, even declared that the Flemish were "one of the more inferior races on the Earth, just like the negroes". Dutch wasn't an official language until after WW2. 1945 and it even didn't have a Dutch constitution until the 60's... I think if people could choose, which they didn't, they would have been happy to form a country. Funny how idiots try to pull on provincial divisions, when your own countrymen have tried to exterminate your language and culture. Maybe you should focus on that a tad more...

[@Got-lander]

I didn’t realize that the letter H was silent in German too ;)

[@nairolffootball]

Ist es nur mitten im Wort. General Knowledge hat Schlewig Holstein falsch ausgesprochen

[@IdiotBoxProductionsTV]

Deutschland: Polish Czech can’t hurt you Polish Czechia:

[@cosmosheep4306]

United Bengal 💔

[@Ich-Bin-Hendrik]

Greetings from South Schleswig!

[@NSMurley97]

Even though it never happened I love the sound of this Polish-Czechoslovak Federation. Just imagine if that were to happen today!

[@plrc4593]

0:37 - Polish-Czechoslovak Commonwealth 😎

[@brainwheeze6328]

Not sure if it counts, but what about the Portuguese proposal to unite their colonies in Angola and Mozambique?

[@devetuncayy]

Ferb in uniform is so cute

[@unifiedhorizons2663]

god that empire sounds like war crimes glore 7:00

[@ssskjold]

For me personally the border between Denmark and Germany is one of the best in the world. Because it was the people who lived there who decided where the border should be. Some funny facts about the voting system in 1920 is that they were very different. In Nordschleswig/Sønderjylland people voted in one big block. Which meant that Sønderborg (Sonderburg), Aabenraa (Apenrade) and Tønder (Tondern), Tinglev and Højer all went to Denmark even though the majority voted for Germany in those cities. In Middle Schleswig people voted in small communities and if just one of them have had Danish majority, they would have gone to Denmark instead of Germany which almost happened with the Island Før. The people behind the voting, who primarily were Danish really wanted the city of Flensborg/Flensburg and considered to make it a part of the Nordschlewig voting area. But they were afraid that they could loose all of Nordschleswig to Germany if they did. The fact is that had Flensburg been part of the voting in Nordschleswig it would in fact have been Danish today. Because of the majority of Danish votes in the rest of the block. Actually all of Middleschleswig would have been Danish if it had been joined together with Nordschleswig in one big voting block.

[@otakuofmine]

Heya, from Schleswig-Holstein here (just not living there anymore atm). As with the history of the danish and direct border, I think it would have been unlikely to become its own thing, maybe autonomous. Though, when I look how socially broken germany still is and how i grew up compared to them, I actually wish we were part of denmark, it would be a better life.

[@shonenjumpmagneto]

Isn't it a German State? That's as autonomous as it gets really.

[@otakuofmine]

we are a confederation and contractly bound with some topics subject to own rule (police, education, law) to a certain degree, but the goverment is still the highest instance. no extra rights, even if bavaria tries. though dont leave, even if they could, as still beneficient enough. though truly autonomous means literally no interference in anything besides the most important topics. closest to independence without actually having it. Scotland and Wales for example have more unique rights than our states and they are still (atm) far away from true autonomy. which also means having less help from the goverment.

[@stevyyjay85]

I'm a Schleswig-Holsteiner who loves DK too... However, I am very happy that my state is part of Germany.

[@ZebraGER]

@@otakuofmine we're not a confederation, but a federation

[@otakuofmine]

@@ZebraGER yeah, that. typo. thx for pointing out

[@rxvector4008]

Theres also a nation that nearly exist but scraped : which is Confederation MAPHILINDO a country that is MAaysia, PHilippines and INDOnisia If it had exist then it will become a larger nation due to indonesias geographical size, a Superpower nation that can even threaten Chinas expansion BUT unfortunately due to the nations internal problems that is still happening and the proposal of ASEAN to form the idea scraped and was close to make 3 nations to 1 into become a major or super powered military and one of the largest nation of South East Asia

[@mohamedcordise2704]

interesting

[@lunalingo4461]

Have u already watched the whole vid?

[@Joao-cj4xp]

Can't understand how trieste wasn't mentioned. Othetwise good vídeo

[@oscarmedina9669]

Polish - Cezchoslovak Confederation ---> Name proposals: Weslavia (West + Slavia) /Czeposlovakia/ Poczeslavia

[@modmaker7617]

Yugoslavia - South Slavia. Jug means South in Slavic. So Zapadoslavia. Zapad means West in Slavic.

[@DragonTheOne]

Now we need eastslavia

[@modmaker7617]

​@@DragonTheOne The USSR is already an East-Slavia.

[@johnwayne6112]

Why change name? How about "Poland"?

[@modmaker7617]

@@johnwayne6112 It's not Poland but a Polish-Czechoslovak Union

[@Frahamen]

Don't tell Bart De Wever. He might get ideas.

[@jehandesains8674]

Here's a concept: WHAT IF after the "belgian" revolution in 1830, they DID make the Free State of Antwerp, and divided the area according to the Flahaut plan? What would this have changed for the Franco-Prussian war, and especially WWI? In the real timeline, we know that the Franco-Prussian war was a success for Prussia, and that the danger of invasion caused Belgium to modernise and restructure its military, and prepare defences. In WWI, while they were neutral, they got invaded by the Germans, and these defences that had been built, managed to slow the advance of the Germans. Later, in WWII, despite being neutral again, Germany swept through the Ardennes, and quickly took all of Belgium on their way to Paris. But what if it was just the Free State of Antwerp? They wouldn't have that much of a concern in the Franco-Prussian war, probably due to strong British influence. In WWI, the scenario might be tricky, because the Germans could either have ignored Antwerp and gone beside it, or it would've been a crucial point for British troops and would've been heavily defended. Assuming, of course, the Franco-Prussian war didn't annex part of modern-day Belgium. In WWII, the blitzkrieg wouldn't have needed to go through Antwerp, but again it could be a vital port for the Allies.

[@Aaronschannels]

The republic of Pontus would be cool

[@samtheman4931]

Yes but the Turks genocided all the Greeks living there

[@turkishfront]

@@samtheman4931 No, Turks in Greece and Greeks in Turkey were exchanged at the request of the Greeks. If the Turks were genocidal, you wouldn't be able to find a single Greek who lived under Turks rule for 400 years. Now that you're getting boring, genocide may be normal for you, but not for us.

[@mariosbardis4831]

​@@samtheman4931 not all of them. Some converted to Islam (there are still Greek speakers in Pontus but they are Muslim) other were saved by sympathetic Turks, and others went to the Pontic Alps for a guerrilla war, and saved as much as they could up until population exchange. Pontic Greek still spoken in villages settled by Pontics in North Greece

[@mariosbardis4831]

​​@@turkishfront sad part is all evidence about the genocides comes from Ottoman recordals, yet Turkey doesnt recognise them. Its not a plan to make Turkey look bad, after all it was a war and these were actions by some rogue generals ( mostly the three Pashas) and angry population. It was a weird time, Greece was in constant war from 1912-1922. But the genocides happened, thank God the Ottomans kept records of who they killed and how they killed them, and which villages they destroyed.

[@genehawkridge1919]

Republic of West Florida, annexed by the United States in 1810.

[@ontyyyy]

Czechoslovak-Polish confederacy would be a bad idea. At the time the two nations had cold relations and IMHO the Polish goverment was so much in support of this, because it would be a nation with Polish majority (30 to 13 million)

[@yodorob]

The Republic of Pontus could have been a "mainland Cyprus" in the sense of having a Greek majority well to the east of Greece itself (plus having a Turkish minority and having a conflict there between the Greeks and the Turks).

[@ColapsMental]

Forgot about Banat republic

[@General.Knowledge]

Which one was that?

[@Jurassic_Park_II_Enjoyer]

​@@General.Knowledgeduring the Hungarian revolution the area of what is now Vojodojnia and Romanian Vojodojnia declared independence,before being briefly swept under the carpet by the Jugoslavs and Romanians.

[@plrc4593]

I woudn't mind if some Polish-Czech-Slovak Confederation/Federation (Polish-Czech-Slovak Commonwealth 😎) comes to fruition. It would empower these countries compared to Germany, Russia, France etc. I'm in favour of sensible integration, i.e. I object some utopian projects like the United States of Europe which are mad, but support reasonable integration of areas inhabited by similar people with similar history and common interests. Such Polish-Czech-Slovak Confederation/Federation is impossible today, but maybe it will be possible in 30-50 years? Who knows. In 50 years people of our countires may perseive themselves mainly as inhabitants of central Europe.

[@wensdyy6466]

I really dont think putting together Poland with really high number of people beliving in god (and all the things that relate to that-abortions, LGBTQA+ rights...) and Czechia which is one of the most atheistic country on the planet (with easy acess to abortions, laws protecting LGBTQA+ community, strong rule of law, enviromental laws supporting not using coal...). I really don´t see this as possible and it would only create tensions (as poles would outnumber czechs which would lead to them having more power and we still hate having been ruled by someone else and there are still strong feelings to any form of decisions that are "about us but without us" as it was during WW2 and Munich Agreement or Munich beetrail as we call it)

[@plrc4593]

@@wensdyy6466 strong rule of law, not using coal xDD Dude, you're talking about country ruled untill recently by an oligarch Babis with support of not reformed communist party xD About country that is number 7 in Euope in production of coal with 17.3 mln tones of oil equivalent, whereas Poland produces 55 mln tones (but is 4 times bigger).

[@wensdyy6466]

@@plrc4593 well communist have about 3,6% (they did not get in the parlament in 2021 and it is highly unlikley they will ever get back) and most of them are people with really high age=they are dying out(even the curent leader of cumunist party said that is only a matter of time before their members die out and there is nothing they can do about it). Babis LOST in parlament elections, his political party LOST senat election, Babiš himself LOST in president election. Our judges are alow to express their opinion and criticise the gowerment-in Poland they cannot (there could be criminal preceedings started, they can be placed out of service and not alowed to continue their work or ger reduction of sallary just because they express their opinion). Also I do not really care that there are countries who produce more coal than Poland because I was comparing Poland and Czech Republic (I mean poland is not even capable of respecting us now-Turów mine is the reason A LOT of czech citizens lost water and suffer from pollution and do not even get me started about the polutin in czech part of Silesia that has the majority source in Poland . I can also mention the fragmentation of rivers making for example ouf efforts of reintroducing eels and salomons in vain because no matter how many fish crossings we bulid nad make our rivers easy for these animals to migrate Poland does NOTHING so the eels end up choped to pieces in your water damms that lack of any fish crossings...shall I continue or do you get the picture?)

[@plrc4593]

@@wensdyy6466 I assure you that judges in Poland can criticize government in Poland and they do it pretty darn ofen :) Are you aware that right next to Turów there is a lot of even bigger coal mines both in Germany and the Czech Republic? It's interesting that they don't harm environment as opposed to Turów. Maybe because they are owned by some Czech oligarch? ;)

[@Sad.vocate]

Alaska,Bavaria,Catalonia,Hong Kong, African Islamic republic,Antarctica,The Arab Mesopotamian republic(Persian confederation)Tibet,United republic of Ireland,United Arab republic of central Asia ,Arabian Islamic Union and the United federation of Korea• Thanks and see you next time on more general knowledge_

[@Peterroegind]

There was a change in from danish to German majority in South Schleswig from 1864-1920, due to Germanification and ethnic oppression.

[@sv7gbi.744]

You missed Eastern Rumelia, which was annexed by Bulgaria. It was sovereign but not independent, populated mostly by Greeks and situated northern of Macedonia(the Greek), and West Thrace. It had coastline in the Black Sea, biggest port was Pyrgos (aka Burgas).

[@General.Knowledge]

Very interesting!

[@sv7gbi.744]

Yeah makes the Balkan peninsula very complicated and interesting isn't it?

[@EmperorOfDrill]

@@sv7gbi.744 İN THRACE DESTORY GREEK ARMENİANS BULGARİANS NEW OTTOMAN TURKİSH STATES.

[@shonenjumpmagneto]

He didn't miss it, because it did in fact exist.

[@sv7gbi.744]

@@shonenjumpmagneto Yeah, you are probably right...

[@heyabowa1871]

Just one quick clarification, Guatemala never was a Spanish colony.

[@wankawanka3053]

There were at some point talks about a federation between greece and Albania 💀