Czechoslovakia: the full history beyond the Velvet Divorce [OSW documentary].

[@jirislavicek9954]

I am a Czech person living in Ireland, watching a Polish channel on American platform featuring Czech and Slovak historians speaking in Polish, which is translated to English, explaining relations between Czech and Slovaks. 😁 The documentary is right, our relations are excellent. 🇨🇿🇸🇰

[@denisdooley1540]

I am an American with Irish, German, Swiss, and Czech ancestors. One question I have is how did the languages remain so similar after a thousand years of HRE association by Czechia and a similar amount of time of Slovakia being "Upper Hungary?" This would seem to be the conditions for rapid dialectical divergence, especially in an age where the only mass media was print. Literature and newspapers can only do so much to keep a language from diverging into more than one language. Do you have any insights on how the two langues remained so similar?

[@boutek]

They are both Slavic. All Slavic languages are somewhat similar, Czech and Slovak just happen to be the closest as they’re neighbours.

[@alexsheppard153]

@@denisdooley1540you’re just American.

[@eileenhartmaher5444]

America is a Stolen country a nation of emigrants ...

[@zoozguerrero9648]

It has to be said that many Slovaks were heartbroken by the split and were definitely not for the politics of the Slovak "MEČIAR" government, who were robbing the country blind!! Those were very sad times, which definitely divided the nation, which lasts till this day!! Fico is Mečiar's great apprentice who brought this country in disrepute by his populist politics, which nearly cost him his life! Great shame!!

[@svedamichal]

I am Czech and I vividly remember the split of the country in 1993. Like most Czechs I did not agree with it. I was sad. I felt like I was losing a big part of my homeland. But after 30 years I think it was a wise decision. There were a lot of problems in the federal state. There was a lot of bad feelings towards Czechs in Slovakia and the other way round. Now we are best friends living in the EU without borders. I think the split contributed a lot to current good relations. We have always called each other "brothers". I feel like we actually mean it honestly now.

[@KakaNarr]

How often do Czechs visit Slovakia ?

[@Scroapy]

@@KakaNarr I am from west czech republic and I have never visited Slovakia . I do not see any reason to do so even though I have some slovak friends. If I want to see mountains -> Austria is closer. I drink beer and no spirits, so visiting Germany also makes more sense though I think we have better beer

[@davidhutchinson5233]

As a student who was in college during this time, all I can say is how heartbroken Vaclav Havel was when the 2 nations split. He really wanted unification but it wasn't destined to happen. His writings are so insightful. A truly great man. I've met Czech and Slovakian people and both are supremely intelligent and kind.

[@privatejigsaw]

I am just a regular Türk who has an enthusiasm for the history of modern Europe, and this video has been one of the best 45 minutes of my life in that context. Great work. My sincere regards for Czechs and Slovaks!

[@neres5795]

Cheers mate! Wish you all well from below the Tatras.

[@davidjgill4902]

In the United States, Czech and Slovak expatriates came together as early as 1915 to agree to fight for a joint state to be created at the end of WW1. This was the Cleveland Agreement of 1915. It was the obvious thing to do.

[@hunmari]

Czehoslovakia never existed before 1915. they stole the Hungarian land and declared it " Slovakia"-- throw Hungarians out of their home, firbid their own language, and changed their names, the city, names, the street names , castles, schools names all changed to Czechs/ slovac names. that is your shameful history

[@arekkusub6877]

@@hunmari Well, you're saying Slovaks didn't exist at all before 1918, their language was artificially introduced etc.?

[@1StanTheMan1]

@@arekkusub6877 They lived side by side in the Kingdom of Bohemia. What changed was the nationalization and purging of centuries of history and families in both the German Sudentenlands and in Hungary.

[@jean-paulpotet1988]

This clearly shows that the Czechs and the Slovaks are wise people who can make pragmatic decisions without resorting to warfare.

[@davidjgill4902]

...in this best of all possible worlds.

[@hunmari]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@cindymaceda2999]

They had the same religion, unlike in the Balkan states.

[@puclopuclik4108]

​@cindymaceda2999 That's not correct. Slovaks are in vast majority catholics. Czech are in vast majority non religious. It is the mentality of Czechs and Slovaks what prevented conflict.

[@hejlik4859]

Není to o náboženství, je to o lidech co nechtěli prolévat krev svých blízkých jako v Jugoslávii nebo Izraeli

[@rabotnickaklasa]

Much love to my Slavic Brother's. Love Czech and Slovakian people.

[@marcinjan4137]

Good content. I appreciate your work. Listening to a multilingual content is challenging, but in a good way. Especially when you speak all the languages presented 🙂 I think it's very important to encourage people to learn more about their closest neighbors.

[@backattackjack3857]

THANK YOU for adding voice-overs in English! I can listen to this while I clean my house instead of needing to sit and stare at my phone

[@KateNandysWrld]

My great grandfather was from Czechoslovakia, he and his brother switched passports because of their ages at the time my great grandfather left for America and his brother wanted to fight in the impending war, wwll. I find it so interesting, I think it would be awesome if I could meet the part of the family that stayed in Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia

[@GhyuRtyu]

I think so iam your lost relatives I live in Prague

[@JessyP-u6q]

Maybe Proofs are destroyed Who is relative to whom?

[@monir8117]

My mum family is from the Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic present time. I am so happy to find this video. 🙂

[@PragueNYC]

As someone who grew up in Prague the Czech Republic. I could never understand the hatred Croatians and Serbs,Ukrainians and Russians have towards each other. Czechs and Slovaks have always been friendly towards one another and have lived peacefully side by side.

[@pwp8737]

perhaps because you Czechs historically were dominated by the german Austrians and the Slovaks were dominated by the Hungarians neither side had ill feelings towards each other as you each had a separate focus for your ethnic frustrations.

[@boutek]

“Always been friendly” cough cough Tiso’s republic.

[@BenjaBoss]

Divide, conquer by cia mi6 et all.

[@AlexM-t6h]

It's history...

[@hunmari]

The same ppl. Slovaks are thankful to the Czechs brothers, because they created Slovakia after 1915 from the 1000 year old Hungarian land. the Slovaks never had kings, but they have castles 🤣🤣🤣 they changed all the names to Czechs wich is same as slovak from Hungarian. .ok? Hungarians had to change their names to slovac , so NOTHING would show this belonged to Hungary for 1000 year!!!

[@love_for_travel]

I just came from Prague, so nice to see beautiful panorams of Prague incorporated in this film

[@vova-l]

Thank you for such high quality content!

[@alicassidy8913]

I am both Czech and Hungarian.. I'm trying to learn the history of my people... I was born and raised in the States... My mother's parents were from these countries. I do remember my mother and her sisters spoke Slavic.. Much love

[@RRRobsonJr]

if you want, you can claim Czech citizenship. My wife was born in the USA and her parents were Czech. We gathered her parents documents, Birth Certificates (Rodny List), marriage Licenses, etc. and hired an immigration lawyer in Prague. She now has dual citizenship along with our children. This allows them to work or live anywhere in the EU Shenhzen zone without a visa.

[@Sixxkagan]

If the whole world acted like czech people, the world would be an infinitly better place. I bow my head to you, brothers. Greetings especially to Brno, best City on earth, from Slovenia

[@hejlik4859]

Zdravím do Mariboru z Mladé Boleslavi ( výroba aut ŠKODA , máme stejné značky na autech MB , teda dnes už né je jiné značení, ale já si ještě před rokem 2000 toto pamatuji ) tak čau

[@njcanuck]

What is the history of the Slovaks? It's amazing that such a small group of people survived with their language and identity surrounded by these big countries. Will have to do more research. The changing borders over time and multiple people groups are a challenge to follow for a North American. Wonderful that they speak multiple languages! I've heard that Polish and Hungarian are difficult for English speakers to learn.

[@hunmari]

The slovak history: never existed, only created in 1915 from taking the land of 1000 yr old historian land of the Hungarians. that is Slovakia. Every city, town, street, university, land is Hungarian. read some history.

[@lawsonj39]

@@hunmari The Slovak language isn't Hungarian; it's a Slavic language, while Hungarian isn't. Your take seems a bit simplified, no doubt for ideological/nationalistic reasons.

[@PaulTullett-e8h]

Slovak language has some similarities with Polish. They both have Slavic base Hungarian language is very different, nothing to do with Slovakia. I understand all 3 languages and apart of living near Hungarian borders, we had nothing much to do with Hungary. Occasionall shopping or small holiday in spa places. Hungarians always believed that Slovakia belonged to them in the past, which is not correct, as the languages are totally different.

[@puclopuclik4108]

I think it's int the rural lifestyle of the country that preserved the Slovak nation. The authorities spoke Hungarian but the villagers wer Slovak. I would say the Slovaks survived the same way Welsh did, just by living their own way.

[@hejlik4859]

​@@hunmari to je pravda

[@yomajo]

Thank you! That was really interesting and well documented!

[@jitkablahakova3073]

Václav Havel was not the president of Slovakia. He was a Czech born president of Czechoslovakia who later became the first president of the newly formed Czech Republic.

[@madbun1312]

exactly what a documentary should be. Stellar work.

[@alexandradekanova771]

I am a Slovak living in New Zealandsince 2012. There were two most traumatic events that I experienced while in Czechoslovakia, August 1968 and January 1993. While the first lead to generational frustration, the division of Czechoslovakia proved to be a good step. Although looking at the Slivak Government now I have serious worries.

[@aldozilli1293]

The Slovak leaders will turn Slovakia into a Russian puppet state, just like Serbia, Hungary and Belarus. Russia is gradually recreating the USSR/Warsaw Pact.

[@robyngolden-hann3407]

Very interesting, thank you. I lived in Prague 1992-3 and recall the sense of bemused disappointment in Prague the morning of the Velvet Divorce. I've returned to Czechia many times since snd love the country, culture and language so much, though to my shame have never visited Slovakia...perhaps next year!?

[@jeanneknight4791]

It is interesting that Slovak politics are leaning more in alignment with Hungary now as the recent elections in Slovakia demonstrate. There is now a Slovak president who shares views similar to Orban as well as a prime minister who does the same. If you support Ukraine in its war to keep its sovereign territority, this is troubling to the extreme. Appeasement and proRussian tendencies seem to be growing there which breaks my heart. Otherwise, the leaning towards Hungary would seem relatively harmless and has always been natural. My Bohemian ancestors with Austrian passports were in the USA by 1886 to 1890 and my grandfather traveled back to Bohemia at least once before WWI and prior to my father being born in 1930. My paternal grandmother and to a lesser exent my father used to say what I thought was "A Czech is not a Slav" but I now realize she was more likely saying "A Czech is not a Slov(ak.)" if that makes any sense.

[@IntactConcepts]

Dear Jeanne, I reply only because of traces of a common mix in our ancestries. The new Slovak government (and I believe the majority of Slovaks) do not lean towards Hungary as such at all. They lean towards the current Hungarian world views. Views based on common sense and on retaining of the historical national and cultural identity. Views not shared by political elites of any other EU member ... yet. I do not reject still more and more convincing views of growing numbers of the truly independent scholars around the world predicting the inevitable collapse of the EU project including the collapse of the petrodollar based empirial financial system ... and of the corporate governing throughout the West. Orban just can see what's coming and he looks for routes towards surviving consequences of the upcoming end of another European civilisation. Neither Orban nor the new Slovak President Pelle and Slovak Premier Fico want their peoples to be thrown into the mincing machine in the name of prolonging the ending life of senseless projects of the Deep State by a few months. Fico just applied the common sense ... as Orban has. Thus he's got assassinated ... last week .... by a Slovak "intellectual" crying for Ukraine ... Please, don't cry for "Ukraine" too. Your Bohemian mom or grandma might had known well the origins and meaning of the Russian word "okraina". It means fringe, periphery ... and in political sense lesser interest ... If I may suggest, go and learn about the centuries of history of those lands on the fringes of the past neighbouring empires - the Prussian, Austro-Hungarian, Russian and the Ottoman ones - the history of the unsettled lands named formally "Ukraina" for the first time ever only by nobody else but V.I. Lenin, the notoriously ruthless creator of the USSR and the Ukrainian Soviet Republic. Only the Soviet officials were those who said what land was and what was not a part of the USR. Please learn more about the former kingdom of Galicia and Lvov, about Tatars and Crimean Khanate, about the trade with Slavic slaves, about Volynia, about the Lithuanian-Polish Commonwealth, about Cossacs, about Khazarian, Islamic and Russian Orthodox religions, about the Crimean War with Britain, about Odesa, Kharkov, Mariupol, Kyiv and Kherson, about the fringes of empires during WWI & WWII and don't forget Shevchenko and mainly Bandera and his extermination camps. Consider intentions of both current empires (no, not the EU - it's still here only to become irrelevant ... ) Learn even more - and, please, offer the World your solution ... A solution that all nationalities, ethnic groups, tribes, gangs and oligarchs calling "Ukraine" home for the last 30 years would appreciate. I admit I haven't learned enough to do so ... yet. Still learning ... every day

[@willhovell9019]

A noble and well organised country. We still have the Czech Slovak club near us in London, still united in cultures and marking the Czechoslovakian 4 RAF WW2 squadrons and ace Josef František DFM

[@hejlik4859]

I díky českým odvážným pilotům byla Británie ušetřena tiranii a vraždění že strany nacistů, jsem na ně hrdý!

[@jiritichy7967]

As a matter of fact, Czechs and Slovaks lived together in a common state before the creation of Czechoslovakia, in Velka Morava (Great Moravia), but they spoke the same old Slavic language at that time. This empire collapsed due to a great deal as a consequence of the incursion of Magyars, who then subdued and occupied Slovakia for one thousand years. This lengthy historic separation lead to a development of some language differences and more importantly, Slovaks feeling as a nation separate from Czechs. Already during the first republic. there was a handful of Slovak politicians, wo wanted to fulfill their political ambitions in a separate Slovakia. This movement gained strength after the rice of Nazism and creation of Slovak fascism. The puppet Slovak state was on the side of the powers loosing war and Slovaks were saved from that position by again joining Czechs in a common state, which was on the winning war side. When troubles arose during Warsaw pact armies attack on Czechoslovakia with subsequent Soviet occupation, a certain group of Slovak politicians came again with demands for more "independence". These demands finally materialized after he fall of communism and lead to a separation. Although Czechoslovakia would be a bigger and stronger state, the disruptions of some Slovak politicians would remain. This is now irrelevant in the separate situation. Both states are doing well and their relations are excellent. The idea that these states could not stay together because of he minor (nationalistic) differences is false. The differences between, for example, Flams and Vallons in Belgium or Catalans and Spanish are much greater, but they are still in one state, although with some problems.

[@vermull19]

I have a question about the examples. Do the Flams or Vallons in Belgium or the Catalans in Spain have the power to block any government action and thus stop the whole state from running? The problem was that the Czechs and Slovaks had exactly that power. Sorry, but if the cabinet can't even agree on a stupid name for the country and after a quarter of a year they come up with a solution that the Slovaks will write Czecho-Slovakia and the Czechs will continue to write Czechoslovakia and both names will be valid for foreigners, what chance does such a country have of survival? Clearly, it couldn't work. Then the elections came in 1992 and the Slovaks elected national Slovak parties, which promised greater independence for the country, but they were no longer able to agree even among themselves how such independence should work within Czechoslovakia, but they all agreed that the current state of affairs did not suit them, on the other hand the Czechoslovak parties, which were in favour of maintaining a common state, completely failed. In Czechia it was the other way round, where the national parties failed and the Czechoslovak parties won. But how can parties that only want to make partial changes get along with nationalist parties? For half a year the government did not work because the parties blocked each other. I would say that Mečiar and Klaus finally made a sensible decision and just ended the comedy.

[@hunmari]

Slovakia never existed before 1915. They never had a king! Hungary lost the war in 1915 and the Czechs aquired as a present a big part from Hungarian kingdom and created Slovakia. Slovaks were mountain people. They renamed all cities, towns, castles, took over the Hungarian ppl houses, and send the in vagons, and thousands of ppl walking w only a little bag on their shoulders to Hungary. we have the pictures to prove that too, and who stayed had to change their names to slovak. that is your history

[@jiritichy7967]

@@hunmari I feel sorry for you, your lack of knowledge is appalling. Slovaks were there before Magyar incursion, were there during the Hungarian kingdom and are there still even today.

[@radovanrusnak8934]

it is important to add that Slovakia had a strong anti-nazi resistance. We literally assassinated Heydrich (number 2 after hitler), together with the Czechs. In the SNP - Slovak National Uprising we managed to tie ~80-100k Germans and fought them in guerilla warfare style. Also, Slovak soldiers were involved in the Warsaw uprising. How many nazi puppet states (+ Slovakia was still rather undeveloped in that era) managed to form such a resistance?

[@puclopuclik4108]

Nor Spain neither Belgium are Republiks. They are monarchies. The people are subject to their kings and the monarch is the only thing that holds those countries together.

[@jordanmoreno3560]

Great documentary. As an American this was very informative and well composed. Well done on the narration and views of people from both sides.

[@mirolubos]

i do love the fact slovak and czech intellectuals speaks polish. so proud.

[@hunmari]

they are all slavs like Russians, sooo, they all understand each other.

[@YoniBaruch-y3m]

As my Slovak friend always says, yes there is a lot of good information about Czech and Slovak relations that comes from the Czech side… but please do check with the Slovak side before thinking you have a whole, accurate, or fair picture.

[@drewbranch7700]

That’s called checks and balances my friend,I think that is fair assessment and wish others would adopt your Slovak friend’s advice.

[@HeatherDavis-k9b]

Been to both countries during my time in the USN. Such beauty on earth exists there ❤

[@antonpressing]

What the hell - Czech - Slovak - German - Hungarian ? I am a mixture of these ALL - and the language salad was amusing for us children !

[@danielpaschjr3547]

I'm an American of German, Irish, Italian, and Scottish descent with no Czech or Slovak ancestry but I support both of you wholeheartedly as a member of the Western world. For some reason I think both countries would be stronger as a single Republic in the mode of Masaryk. That is of course my own personal opinion. Joel

[@antonpressing]

@@danielpaschjr3547 The KuK Monarchy was not perfect - neither is the EU ! But multiculti is an enrichment & FUN. I lived 12 years in the US - and I loved Philadelphia !!!

[@hejlik4859]

​@@antonpressing multikulturní v Evropě nebude nikdy fungovat. Máme zde přes 1000 let historie , stará města, ostatní to nechápou, nerespektují, nechtějí dodržovat jednoduché věci...kradou, znásilňují a vraždí. To může fungovať maximálně v USA

[@lawsonj39]

I hope these two peoples stay friendly and keep their policies closely aligned. Such tiny countries will be no more than hors d'oeuvres to be gobbled up in a confrontation with a large power. I'd like to know how industrialization and diversification has affected Slovakia: if it's still primarily agricultural, no wonder it's treated like a younger brother.

[@puclopuclik4108]

Both countries are in NATO and in EU. Therefore their policies are tied up in the same direction. Also both countries are surrounded by NATO and EU. The exception is a small border between Slovakia and Ukraine. And Austria is also not in NATO, but has peaceful partnership with NATO.

[@symbionese2348]

They all look like Texans to me, owing to our big percentage of Czech and Slovak descendants here. I keep having a visceral feeling of kinship with the people I saw in this documentary. Czechoslovakian Texans are reputed to be trustworthy good friends by people who know them, certainly by me. Not perfect, but trustworthy.

[@joanofarc6402]

Excellent video explaining political issues to foreigners like me.

[@mirolubos]

we. still read books in czech language if they not translated to slovak and our (slovak) kids still grow on czech tv channels. Than we have politics where we went opposite direction and for most of the times we are wrong and czechs are wrong we are ok.

[@jjackmanster]

Wonderful history! It makes the murky history surprisingly clear, reasonable, and humorous. Enlightening.

[@AC-id5ow]

Good video, very interesting. I recently visited Slovakia on vacation from England. Beautiful country, safe, friendly. Next I’d like to visit Czech, Poland and Hungry.

[@hejlik4859]

Hungary! Hungry = hladový

[@cimbalok2972]

I am an American who respects both Slovakia and Czechia. As an American, I am on the side of the underdog, so I support Slovakia. But I love the Czechs also. They are both Old Soul Nations that could teach us how to solve our differences without bloodshed. Why this is not taught in every American school is a travesty. When I worked in the Chicago inner city schools I discussed this every week. "They sat down, had some coffee, had some cake, had a discussion. And decided to separate without hurting anyone." We Americans need to get educated and learn about the countries that can teach us important lessons, rather than those who fight and kill their neighbors. Amirite?

[@CaesarRenasci]

It is true that the American culture is parochial to some extent. That is not without reason. As a people, we have been protected by the oceans for a very long time; and, as individuals, we had left Old Word, each for a good reason, and didn't want to know more about it. If you knew more about your own country, you would lament some aspects of its culture but have considerably more sympathy for it. Almost every sentence in your post reveals disrespect and even hate for your own country, and both without any foundation in reason or fact. Dostoevsky called it arrogance of ignorance. You clearly have a good heart. You want to and are doing good in the world. The problem is, my friend, that you've been had. I am sorry to say. Ever since you were born all you heard from your teachers, and possibly parents, how bad America was. The Indians, the Blacks, the spooky "rich" --- injustice everywhere. It has now become fashionable in America to hate America without even knowing what she is. Nature abhors vacuum, and so does your heart. If your own country is so bad, it is only logical to look to other countries "to teach us stupid Americans something." NO COUNTRY can teach us much, my friend. Not Germany, not Britain, not Poland, not Israel, not Italy. Why? Because we ARE German, British, Polish, Jewish, Italian, Chinese, Indian, African, Norwegian, Swedish... You've been lied to, my friend, subjected to anti-American propaganda to such an extent that you didn't even stand a chance to get close to the trurh, despite your good heart and inquisitive mind. Stop looking at other countries until you learn about your own. When learning, ignore Wikipedia --- a platform from high-schoolers, by high-schoolers, for high-schoolers. Read books, preferably those published before 1950 (that's the approximaye time when they started to lie to us without shame). In the meantime, suspend judgement and try to love your country. You will not have any other.

[@annabradshaw9902]

It is charming to watch a historical documentary about the country I was born in. Why in the world is this in Polish and not Czech or Slovak???

[@janskydanek3551]

Václav Klaus is grand mafioso godfather, and so was Mečiar. Only, each was from different mafia. So they carved Czechoslovakia into two turfs. One to be plundered by Klaus, the other one to be plundered by Mečiar. And since back then noone had experience with political corruption or mafia (except for Italian TV series), noone expected what was comming. Czech republic begun to slowly heal only after Klaus was completely removed from Czech politics in second decade of 21st century. His last political act though was to refuse right for fair trial to more than hundred thousand people, whose life savings was stolen. Making sure (as over decade long trials were finally nearing to end) that thieves he protected would not have to give their spoils. Slovakia seen similar fate, though I doubt it begun to heal till today (judging by how trial of murderers of Kuciak have ended).

[@davidjgill4902]

Comparing these politicians to organized crime figures, particularly Slovak political leaders, is apparently not mere hyperbole, and it is certainly true that the self-interest of these political leaders is a big part of the story behind the split in 1991/92. It might be fair to conclude that it was the primary justification for the division of Czechoslovakia. The division dramatically increased the career opportunities of Slovak political leaders and Czech leaders freed themselves from the divisive policy disputes that Slovak leaders brought to the table. Was Mečiar's contentiousness contrived to lead to division from the start? Czech leaders perhaps failed to make the case for unity with a kind of smug disdain for Slovak separatism. As far as I know, Vaclav Havel, who was such an inspired leader of the opposition to the communist grasp on his country, failed to take up the cause of unity as the threat gained momentum. An American president would have launched a nationwide campaign of public speeches to make the case for unity. Or perhaps Havel (head of state)was just locked out the negotiations among government leaders, including his own prime minister. This certainly does not reflect well on Vaclav Klaus. Slovak political life has been a shit show to varying degrees since separation. Slovak opposition to support for Ukraine suggests that Slovak leaders are still amateurs in European politics and diplomacy. (And what to make of the assassination attempt on the Slovak PM that happened yesterday?)

[@Edo9River]

In 1970 I hitchhiked form Prague to the border of East Germany, I was refused entry so I went to the West Germany to Hamburg

[@CaesarRenasci]

Thank you very much your informative, insightful, and interesting video as well for the highest level of professionalism with which it is made.

[@hejlik4859]

Česko a Slovensko od sebe šlo po debatě na Moravě, hezky uprostřed

[@gillianspruce3120]

Very interesting!

[@williamusrex6417]

Great video. Very informative, thank you.

[@tefky7964]

Great video, things like that there was more Germans than Slovaks, which was main reason for creation of united Czechoslovak nation, are usually not mentioned in such documentaries

[@douglasmiller4351]

Pity that Scotland and England cannot evolve into co-existing in harmony as separate states. Scotland is now the poorest country in north-west Europe after over 300 years of union with England and despite (like Norway) having massive oil and gas reserves. But unlike Norway no sovereign fund for Scotland - proceeds spent largely in the rest of the UK which still teeters on bankruptcy

[@bl4531]

Where did you source that information?

[@hejlik4859]

Eko šílenství udělá že Skotska uplné žebráky, ropa bude k ničemu, zničí i automobilový průmysl, žiju v Mladé Boleslavi, kde působí hlavní závod na výrobu automobilů ŠKODA! Bude to ohromný propad, nechci se toho dožít

[@hopeforbetter382]

Dubcek was a Slovak and made Czechoslovakia look great ! In the the Prague Spring,

[@hopeforbetter382]

Dubcek was the best, Slovakian but the best. I will never ever forget.him, the father of Prague Spring before the Russians invasion in 1968!

[@radovanrusnak8934]

@@hopeforbetter382 but shortly after the invasion he shitted himself and signed "obuškový zákon" and allowed the soviets to fully take over. There was only one hero who had balls from steel - František Kriegel en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franti%C5%A1ek_Kriegel "Send me to Siberia or shoot me dead", he replied. Dubček is overrated, and I say it as a Slovak.

[@totaro-o4s]

Very interesting. Were there no female contributors - except for the voiceover - available?

[@peterkiedron8949]

No because Czech and Slovak women think only about sex.

[@daltongalloway]

1:10 Dang that’s such a wild fact about Philadelphia! I’m from there

[@gocinjo69]

In Zagreb, Croatia we have a street called Masarykova ulica :)

[@va3kbc]

I was hoping someday to go to my parents home country. Alas I don't think it will happen. So watching some history is very interesting and important.

[@willhovell9019]

The religious differences may be a factor too, with Roman Catholic Slovakia and the Protestant and free thinking Czechs

[@hroznejcestovatel]

I agree, good contect! Just.. why Slovaks speak Slovak and Czech speak Polish in the video? :D

[@viktornovomestsky3999]

It's a polish channel, therefore the Polish language with the translation into English.. Btw. the Slovaks spek Polish as well, there is not one single slovak word:)...

[@hroznejcestovatel]

@@viktornovomestsky3999 František Mikloško

[@viktornovomestsky3999]

@@hroznejcestovatel Ok, sorry, you're correct...

[@hroznejcestovatel]

@@viktornovomestsky3999 ah, it's fine :)

[@magpiegirl3783]

Fascinating. I’d just watch a program on Yugoslavia and the disaster that was and is. And yet Czechoslovakia was able to manage both a merge and separation without war. I do see that the minority ethnic groupings in Yugoslavia made an easy merger and separation way more problematic. I really don’t know the history of these European countries and their histories are really amazing. Great work to all the Czecks and Slovakians. Unique history. Russia could take a leaf from the pages of these two countries - get along.

[@Prometheus101]

Because the problem in Yugoslavia was the Serbs. They started the war and thus the demise of Yugoslavia. Russia is doing something similar in Ukraine. He accuses the country of genocide against its minority and invades it to join his empire.

[@mariarosete3825]

Barcelona, is located in the region of Cataluña.....and is Spain.

[@minakatahizuru]

Great documentary

[@matejkovalcik9976]

I was 12 yo when we "divorced". Back then as a kid i really didn´t cared, and since then had, like most people good relationship with czechs, but was never nostalgic about ČSR. This year in my 40s i went to czechia after decades, as i took my son to Zlín ZOO. For me it was like getting hit by brick. Literaly every aspect from infrastructure, services, overall city and village beautyfication was miles ahead of what we have. They even managed to incorporate the socialist "smíšené zboží" stores into a modern look and stay usefull. The analyst in the end wasn´t right, we badly needed the bigger brothers slap, for we are aparantly doomed to make bad decisions over and over again.

[@hejlik4859]

Slovensko - 1000 let pod maďarskou nadvládou Češi - 1000 let rozvoje království, staletí svatá říše římská s rozhodujícím hlasem pro noveho krále ( císaře ) , potom pod Habsburky

[@douglaswilkinson5700]

The breakup started when Soudruh Gustav Husak was force out of office.

[@davidjgill4902]

The communist government, for the most part, maintained the centralized governing model of the first republic governing the nation from Prague. That is true but that really seems to have little meaning post 1990.

[@kojiriceenterprise]

The name Czechoslovakia sounds pretty cool

[@JimmyOhAnnrachain-ot5md]

6:35 Scotland and England did with very similar differences

[@joejohnson6327]

In my experience, many Czechs look down on Slovaks.

[@Scroapy]

My POV as a czech. Slovaks are way more emotionally driven and czechs are way more pragmatic. We might speak similar-ish language, but in the end majority of czechs is behavior wise closer to germans than slovaks. It has obvious historical reasons.

[@kvetadaigneault7037]

It was a political split, the slovaks always felt like 2nd class and it's politicians wanted the power to lead their own country, bad decision but it happened,

[@debbiewatermelon]

My father born in Czechia 1918. His family jewish from Poland went back and got exterminated. But Czech born gave him better way to get to America after he escaped from Janowska camp.

[@fabiodeoliveiraribeiro1602]

This is a good documentary about the history and current situation of a region that seems to be condemned to suffer external influences from its larger and more powerful neighbors. This situation did not change much after the Czech Republic and Slovakia joined the EU, a multinational organization dominated by Germans and French. Czechs and Slovaks will be cannon fodder for Europeans if NATO directly interferes in the war in Ukraine.

[@lawsonj39]

What does that mean? How will they turn into cannon fodder? You think Putin will attack them?

[@radovanrusnak8934]

@@lawsonj39 well it may seem now unrealistic, but in the horizon of 5-10 years, that is possible. Russian economy is now almost fully transformed into a war economy. Unfortunately, a large part of us Slovaks have pro-Russian sentiments. Imagine this: Ukraine falls, russians take over the entire country (that will happen almost inevitably in the next, say 5 years). Would NATO risk a global nuclear war over a country that is largely pro-Russian? I am afraid Slovakia might become a "buffer zone", in the best scenario. And I am serious about that.

[@glenbutler639]

I thinking the people involved in this discussion aren’t to bright. What about Quebec and English Canada ?

[@danremenyi1179]

Every nation needs to find its own destiny!

[@hunmari]

Slovaks has destiny, but only 100 year history. they stole it from Hungary The land, cities, towns, castles, universities, all part of 1000 year old Hungarian kingdom.

[@vladimircuchta7427]

​@hunmari you are very sad person

[@ekesandras1481]

The Czechs initially needed the Slovaks to form a firm Slavic majority against the ethnic Germans in Bohemia and Moravia. As soon as the Germans were gone (ethnically cleansed), the Czechs really didn't need the Slovaks anymore. They were more or less some conservative, bible-crazy hill billies with a strange dialect in their eyes, without much use. „Der Mohr hat seine Schuldigkeit getan, der Mohr kann gehen.“ as Schiller wrote.

[@janpavel1107]

The Germans were fulfilled their wish. "Heim ins Reich" they shouted so they were sent home.

[@Prometheus101]

What are you talking about? How did they not need? On the contrary, the Slovaks took advantage of the union and large funds went into the modernization of Slovakia at the expense of the Czechs

[@evaerben8269]

Ať žije Česká Republika❤

[@tomaskral4685]

Why's everyone speaking Polish in this video?

[@viktornovomestsky3999]

It's a polish channel, therefore the Polish language with the translation into English..

[@maslo.108]

Why not? :)

[@alvinlibra115]

So what was the capital city of Czechoslovakia before?

[@hejlik4859]

Vždy Praha za federace, i království i svaté říše římské za Karla IV. ,

[@JimmyOhAnnrachain-ot5md]

6:57 Thats probably why the Austrians industrialised Czechia

[@Tibetandemocracy]

Czech has so many nationalist and they don’t want to join with Euro

[@jeanneknight4791]

I used to think that they didn't want Euros because it is an identity thing, too. After a tousand years of German or Hapsburg or Russian domination, it was nice to have their lovely money of their own creation. In reality, the main reason they don't use Euros is because even if 100% of the popuation wanted the conversion, the debt ratio is too high for eligiblity and they don't qualify. This is something that is being addressed but it doesn't happen over night. When I was in Prague last year, it really didn't seem to make any difference as a tourist because it is a cashless society but industry-wise, it does, apparently. President Pavel and Prime Minister Fiala are all for Euros as are the younger people who havve travelled and are educated. The really old people have very different views about many things, though.

[@Pidalin]

@@jeanneknight4791 I don't think that prime minister Fiala is for euro, he is from ODS party and they were always against euro. Václav Klaus (who is partly responsible for breaking Czechoslovakia) was from the same party. Most of parties in government coalition is for euro, but not ODS, at least not majority of their members. They want to keep their mafia Czech central bank with power, that's only reason why they don't want euro.

[@hejlik4859]

Přijdete o vlastní měnu a ztratíte už úplně všechno, navíc české peníze, běžně vyhrávají na soutěžích, jsou krásné, dokonce i za socialismu jsme měli krásně bankovky. To je fakt

[@MarthaMoore-n2g]

Musicians should get to know all culture and their dances it and fruits to their muse.

[@hunmari]

The Czechs and Slovaks speak the same language. After Hungary lost the WW1 they made Slovakia. Everything what is historical, in " slovak land" cities, schools, universities, castles, was built by Hungarian kings. In 1915 they made up Slovakia, throwing the Hungarian ppl out of their home the Czechs president Benes, also forbid to speak Hungarian in the Hungarian land, and ppl had to change their names to Czechs!!! that is how wonderful they are. Also put thousands of Hungarians on trains and without any belongings only few cloths send them to Hungary!! that's who they are.

[@woptiomko]

Yes, good old times :)

[@puclopuclik4108]

Slovak language isn't the same like Czech. Their names aren't the same. The people were always there, they just had Hungarian masters. Be careful what you are promoting. May I remind you that Ukraine didn't exist till 1991.

[@antoniescargo1529]

Use subtitles. I cannot understand.

[@CaesarRenasci]

You could use the word "please." No extra charge. Alternatively, you could get off your spoiled ass and make a better video.

[@shawndorisian1857]

Since I know you are not up on Middle Eastern history. I can tell you that with such a breakup Lebanon under it's Emir would become independent

[@hejlik4859]

Nemluv tady o Středním východě...valčíte tam 2000 a víc let

[@klausrain111]

I was lucky enough to visit Prague in the 70s. Beautiful city and the people were very nice to me. They were taking a risk just to talk to me, an American. I soon realized they weren't as subservient to the government as anti-communist propaganda wanted us to believe. 😂

[@igorzlobinski738]

I wish more people watch this film. Thank you

[@myvirtualpresencefyi]

The details of this relationship show great maturity of both nations. Now, imagine if the education standards of one, but not the other slipped to such an extent that the less educated one started to support populist nonsense and ended up voting to LEAVE THE EU!!!! Then, my dear friends, you would see problems. Just as Ireland and the UK were finally becoming friends, the lower educated British voted to impoverish and isolate themselves. Today, we have a brand new problem with our border. Always, always invest in education. Everything else depends on it. Do not fear an intelligent dust-man. Fear a stupid lawyer.

[@tefky7964]

Yeah, about that "one started to support populist nonsense and ended up voting to LEAVE THE EU", we might have a problem...

[@mvs9122]

Itseems that there was no foreign interference either. Neighboring/foreign countries can be very destructive in these situation

[@hunmari]

only interference was by the Czechs towards Hungary. they took the land from Hungarian kingdom, and crated Slovakia. good neighbors. not.

[@PaulStatz-xl3em]

Wasn't the Czech people actually what was known as Bohemia?

[@saya-mi]

Nope, Bohemia is just one of three historical lands that together create Czechia. Thus, there are Bohemians, Moravians and Silesians living in one country called Czech Republic, calling themselves Czech.

[@hunmari]

​@@saya-miSilesia was German

[@puclopuclik4108]

​​@@hunmari Silesia is a historical land in todays Poland and Czech Republic. It was land under the Czech crown. It belonged to Czech kings. Due to the lack of male hear, the land became part of Polish kingdom and later Austrian empire. Germans (Prussia) took the land in war. It wasn't their to begin with.

[@olgabach3608]

I just wonder why all commentators narrating the documentary speak Polish 🤔

[@maxsonthonax1020]

One doco not overly-focussed on Russia. You guys seem to be obsessed with Russia. 😅

[@deedragongirl]

One has to wonder whether Masaryk was the "wedlock" son of Emperor Franz Joseph I?

[@TheJmkovacs]

Very little is said about Hungary, except with some negative connotation. This land, which is Slovakia today, was part of the Hungarian Kingdom for more or less 1000 years. These lands were never part of the Czech Kingdom or Chech Republic. Chechs and Slovak are both of Slav origin yet never formed one nation before the 20th century, and that could only happen by force. There lived in these lands, through the centuries, as many Hungarians and Germans as Slovaks. My ancestors lived in Hungary and never saw Slovakia, yet I am half Slovak and half Hungarian, his was totally natural, historically and to some extent even today

[@puclopuclik4108]

Very little was said about Hungary, because this isn't a documentary about Hungary. It's about Czechoslovakia. I do recommend you to watch a documentary about Austrian-Hungarian empire instead.

[@TheJmkovacs]

@@puclopuclik4108 You may pretend that the two nations were united by the people's will, yet the referendum about unification was never allowed.

[@puclopuclik4108]

@TheJmkovacs It was united by Tomáš Masaryk, who lobbied for Czechoslovakia before the WW1 ended. People helped by their actions aswell. Mamy refused to fight for the Austrian- Hungarian empire. They deserted and formed Czechoslovak legion, who fought against the Austrian-Hungarian empire. Something Scots and English never did. Czechs and Slovaks fought for themselves. Scots and Slovaks fought for their monarch.

[@puclopuclik4108]

@TheJmkovacs Your understanding of Czechs and Slovaks disqualifies you as a Slovak. Your ancestors may have been, you are not. The national identity is based on culture, not on your DNA. All central Europeans are mixed together, and it is impossible to distinguish who is who. You are an American. I bet you don't even know what your surname stands for. Just because people didn't have their country, it doesn't mean they do not exist. Question for you. Do you think Ukraine is a country? There was nothing like Ukraine up to 1991.

[@TheJmkovacs]

@@puclopuclik4108 you said it all and that reflex who you are.

[@kurtcsk]

9:00 Slovaks were NOT forced to join hands with Nazi Germany. They did it based on their own free will. In your documentary, you're basically defending Slovak fascists, which is sad...

[@woptiomko]

You should really read something about it before accusing someone of lying :)

[@puclopuclik4108]

They were as free as was Emil Hacha in Berlin.

[@Pisti846]

The Slovaks do mistreat their Hungarian minority.

[@Joe-pb3bm]

Independent like * Vichy France?

[@JessyP-u6q]

Roman catholic czech

[@TomHeyda]

nonsense, Czechoslovakia was a central European country....why is the cEnTrE fOr EaStErN sTuDiEs even talking about it?

[@johnkeller6063]

Those poor souls been through hell. God bless them

[@hunmari]

Poor souls here the Hungarians, because after we lost the WW1 , they cut a big piece from the 1000 yr old Hungarian kingdom, and created Slovakia from it! so, its 100 year old. You never know 1 Slovak king, because it's none. 😉

[@mariefrancethomas3804]

This is good propaganda for the European Union.

[@glenbutler639]

Why does every European tribe need their own country?

[@puclopuclik4108]

We aren't tribes, we are nations. Also not everyone has a country, some are perfectly fine as minority.

[@katarinanekorancova4786]

This video is full of misleading information. Please do your own research. This polish video equals everything that comes from Poland it's cheap and very bad quality.

[@rob1978]

My grandparents immigrated from Slovakia before WWI. But the “old world” was always referred to as Czechoslovakia since that was the reality at the time. We knew, however, that we were Slovaks: Slovak church, Slovak Sokol, Slovak language. I have always been confused about the history of Czechia and Slovakia. But thanks to videos like this, I am beginning to understand. Also, I now can imagine why my Grandmother spoke five languages (if English is included, LOL).🇸🇮🪗

[@saya-mi]

That flag is not Slovak, but Slovene...

[@rob1978]

@@saya-mi 🇸🇰👍

[@hunmari]

the slovacs were originally mountain ppl, and spoke 5 languages 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Slovakia never existed only after WW1 read history

[@angusdesire]

"Never before had two nations formed a new station state?' Eh...Scotland and England? How provincial are the Czechs? Unbelievable!! No idea of world history outwith their wee backwater. I know, I lived there for five years back in the 90's.

[@puclopuclik4108]

It wasn't Scots and Englisch creating joined state. It was a monarch who joined them. Scot or English men had no say. Don't forget the centuries they have been killing each other for no better reason than their King's will.