The end of a superpower - The collapse of the Soviet Union | DW Documentary

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the collapse of the Soviet Union as "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century." This documentary from 2021 shows the path Russian foreign policy has followed under Putin.
[This documentary was originally released in 2021. In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine.]
On December 25, 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed. Along with it came hope for the end of the Cold War, for independence and freedom for the former Soviet republics. But for many it also brought poverty and war. What remains of the dreams of that time? The documentary includes contemporary witnesses and politicians of the decisive years and shows what has become of the legacy of a world power.
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[@ak4good]

As someone who grew up in the USSR in an ethnically mixed family, I thought this was a very good documentary, presented in a balanced neutral voice. Covered a lot of ground in 53 min! One oversight, I feel, was to present only the Armenian side of the conflict with Azerbaijan. I've always felt very sympathetic to the Armenian people and their suffering, but know very little about the Azerbaijani point of view. Perhaps you could make more of these focusing on the different regions of the former USSR and how they're doing. I've been living in the US for the past 30 yrs and detest polarization and misinformation that exists here and everywhere else. DW Documentary is one of my favorite sources of thoughtful and entertaining content. Thank you!

[@B_Bodziak]

I'm very appreciative of DW, as well.

[@ArmenianBishop]

Your Comment is Good. But, do you have any idea about Azerbaijan's malicious propaganda machinery? You can start with the hiring of numerous lobby firms to export Azerbaijan's lies. Then comes Azerbaijan's proven fake photographs about Khojaly, which still get peddled worldwide. Then there's Azerbaijan's Ally, Turkey, and their NATO influence. Azerbaijan's corrupting payouts to people of influence, around the world. And, besieged, poor, landlocked Armenia, doesn't fund propaganda. It's true that Armenia gets financial help from their diaspora.

[@ArmenianBishop]

DW has already focused upon Azerbaijan's sinister viewpoint, in other videos. They did that a lot, during the 2020 genocidal war against Armenia.

[@uldos3193]

Same here. Im Kyrgyz and have some other mixtures and grew up in USSR as a child. And to me Russians and Ukrainians seemed the same as a kid. 20 years living abroad in UK i held some fond memories about those times and seeing this events of late made me wander what went wrong. Very good documentary indeed. Especially that bit about Ukrainian divisions of east 'Moskal, Katsap' and west 'zapadenets, Bandera". All ex Soviets are in some form of infighting :( Russia, Belorussya vs Ukraine, Tajikstan, Uzbekistan vs Kyrgyzstan, Armenia vs Azerbaijan. Something went very wrong somewhere. Keep safe tovarish.

[@coimbralaw]

You mean you wanted to them to inject your own biases into the documentary. I’m glad they didn’t indulge you.

[@TalibanSymphonyOrchestra]

The money didn't "disappear"; it has become oligarch yachts.

[@user-je7bf6be5f]

3

[@Dara-up1pt]

Special vanishing operation

[@mrkiplingreallywasanexceed8311]

Quite.

[@philipgrabarski3775]

How much is putin worth now .

[@MattAlexanderMe]

Felt like that was implied.

[@RedStarRogue]

I traveled to Moscow and St. Petersburg in 2005 when I was only 17. My history teacher who organized it was 60 by then and had been visiting every year since 1991. He told us stories of the crazy economic situation the country was in back then.

[@richardacevedo280]

The worst part is that they always blame us for not getting their act together. Some regions of the world have been in similar situations since the beginning of history.

[@budgetking2591]

@@richardacevedo280 thats mostly jealousy

[@JediMik]

в России до сих пор многие верят в коммунизм и социализм. экономика не удивляет, удивляет тупость людей

[@miketarbert4609]

Were You with The Machine ! ?

[@MrUntapishtim]

@@richardacevedo280 What???

[@yespls4184]

I have to say-- Kazakhstan has one of the coolest flags in my eyes. Unique colors and design. Not just boring red, white, and blue like every other boring flag..

[@captainconcord3473]

Provided some interesting insights into developments in the region since the 90's. One thing that always hits me with these types of documentaries is how much I can relate to the people I see living in countries I knew very little about. I see people and families going to work and school, engaged in various projects, trying to improve their communities and just living their lives. It all seems so normal and familiar. Makes me feel connected to all the people on this planet. It's a powerful insight.

[@paulread4886]

As the 1% suck the money from the society, who are ruled by fear and lied to, how else can it but in disaster.

[@HERETOHELPPEOPLE729]

What development.? Their has been none.

[@collateral7925]

They are just people. Differences within the society are probably bigger than differences between the societies

[@aetherwalker5434]

@@paulread4886 nothing has changed, humans have been enslaving and using other humans since we came into existence.

[@gloriajones4000]

YES AND MY GRANDPARENTS WERE BOTH BORN IN POLAND 🇵🇱❤ FLED TO UNITED STATES 🇺🇸

[@dnguyen787]

Being a big country doesn't always good for people. They should concentrate on how to raise standards of living for people live in it whether big or small.

[@chenzomutumbo9140]

You dont think living standards increased for the average person in places like USSR or post revolution China.... it objectively did.

[@strangerrrrrrr]

For hundreds of years china faced catastrophic famines.... revolution ended that

[@elenadrachyovs4151]

I am a Russian minority in one of post-Soviet republics.. It is not nice to be hated. But I really don't understand how people started to hate Russians..

[@KashimoGlazer]

@Sergei isn't most of the Siberian tribes a Republic that is basically an independent country with their own currency and stuff? Not trying to be rude just asking. Also probably because of rescouses like gas and oil.

[@deezeed2817]

How can you do that when the U.S holds financial hegemony and inequality built into the capitalist system? The U.S and west has created this delusion

[@heyyou2104]

Pretty soon this will need a part 2

[@alexvlasny9755]

And then, part 3, where the Putin and Russia is no more!

[@railscenes4959]

hey you: yes indeed! We can only hope Ukraine will defeat the Russian bully Putin.

[@AbdulRahman-uw4nd]

@@alexvlasny9755 If Russia is invaded, you wont have a head and arms to write this, The nuclear war that will be caused by that will lead to nothing but complete destruction, and that will never happen

[@aniketverma2775]

Lol in your dreams

[@joolsmacgrools1288]

@@aniketverma2775don’t drink the tea, comrade 🙃

[@alipm4941]

Thank you so much for the inspirational and so informative documentary on the `USSR `and the independence of neighboring countries , it was well illustrated and covered , Deeply Appreciated the time and sincere Efforts !

[@bonnywanjau4594]

Watching from Nairobi Kenya 🇰🇪 congratulations to DW doc team thumbs up for you and continue with the hard work we appreciate 👍

[@tingv4401]

My admiration for the people behind this. It has renewed my love for history. This is great stuff. Thank you.

[@Youtube_Stole_My_Handle_Too]

I have always hated history, simply because it has no power over the decisions we make today (unless we allow it to). Though, I love when individuals patronize the second world for its lack of ability to form a decent society where respect for the individual is mandatory. Russia has yet to get away from its pathetic authoritarian Soviet era and the majority of the people still favors communism. What a sh*thole Russia is - the whole second world is.

[@Xiao_PP]

24:18 KEKW cool story bruh

[@whatsyours6424]

Don't forget brother that History is written and agreed upon the victors. A lot of time so called History is not the documantation of actual events that took place but some facts are twisted and turned to the favor of the victor of any conflict. I don't claim that all of History is false but that some facts that actually happened are not written.

[@shaneoxygenbond8969]

New series the fall of NATO in world war3

[@patriciapalmer4215]

I'm 76 and it feels like I've heard Armenia my whole life from the Turkish genocide of millions to this. Poor Armenia ! It's heartbreaking.

[@Bolognabeef]

Yep. Encircled by millions of hostile Mongolians from all sides

[@selangor-irish4470]

​@@Bolognabeef😂😂

[@cedricliggins7528]

Turkey needs to be held accountable for that genocide

[@koksalceylan9032]

Armenians lies and propaganda against the Turks they shud pay compensations in the billions of Dollars to The Turks. And give Nagorno Karabagh back to Azerbaijan and pay billions of Dollars to the Azerbeidzjanies they genocided in Hocali, Karabagh, in Yerevan.

[@JohnSmith-xl7ri]

What an excellent documentary..Thankyou

[@jaker3151]

With Russia's vast natural resources and an educated/skilled population there was no reason why Russia could not have become an economic superpower like China. But Putin and the old men in charge simply cannot let go of the old ways and are more focused on maintaining the image of a military superpower. Keeping the wealth amongst the few rather than sharing it and using it to help develop the country. Had Russia become an economic super power, the economy would be more diversified and less dependant on income from oil and gas. In turn the stronger economy would of helped make the military stronger too. I hope one day the Russian people get the government they deserve.

[@TeaParty-qh1py]

Russia is culturally primitive with mysticism, sacrifice and collectivism its basic values. Its a profoundly anti-Western culture. It cannot become wealthy until it rejects religious tradition for mans independent mind. They dont value production in any modern way because that requires ending religious tradition.

[@gordy-jt6vg]

For the ppl to prosper, there can only be one Super Power on the Planet,

[@beam3819]

Agree. Rosso have an economy the seize of Spain and three times its population. Most of the millitary budget which is enourmous, goes into corruption so no, Rosso was never a superpower. Propaganda only !

[@lunafringe10]

its the same everywhere, not just in Russia, the wealth of a country is always distributed to a few families, Its called corruption and nepotism.

[@BenState]

showing zero understanding of Russian or Chinese geopolitics

[@JoaoSoares66]

Very informative and deep quality doc as DW usually do. Thanks for posting! Gonna share with my studentes and friends.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for the positive feedback. We appreciate it!

[@Kevin-mk6jo]

Well done. Now do an unbiased documentary on Biden's crackhead son, laptop and bussiness deals and how they may have connected to biden while he was VP under Obama.

[@gustavoemannueldeangolasil243]

The Channel dw have told of holocaust did by Stalin against other people .

[@57113]

Another great documentary DW! You packed so much informative and accurate knowledge in the time frame. I greatly appreciate the hard work your team put into this and your many other documentaries. I learn so much up to date insight from your work. Well done as usual.

[@MrUntapishtim]

You think that because you are not able to use your own brain. Zero critical thinking. Way to go! 😂

[@jaythomas3224]

Russia isnt crippled tho'

[@mrsokolov8954]

24:24 Wow, this really did NOT age well

[@TheRezro]

That person clearly never served in Russian military as son of some oligarch. Russian military always look good only during parades. Conscripts were still exploited, abused and robed blind. It is why Russia ha no non-coms. Only people who stayed in army were looser, who couldn't find other job.

[@reallymentalpig1173]

This video was posted on march 3, 2022. War started on February.

[@LaVaZ000]

Why not? Just like the US, Russia fights wars in other nations, and retains peace at home

[@user-ci7xz5vt1d]

Truth is, to destroy other superpowers, you must destroy the will, the economy by sabotage with saboteurs, and turn against their own populaces, and they themselves are divided and conquered. Machiavellianism 101. You convince them that their enemy is morally destitute, present them with images like Stalin, like that of Emmanuel Goldstein from 1984, to rouse the vigor and frenzy of the hearts of men, followed by the fervent need to protect women, in their misguided notions, they seek to follow the oppressors ways, by imposing dictatorial regimes on foreign countries, their own populaces will say that the unknowingly oppressors economical system and life support system is the only way to go, and so they immigrate to those countries. If you can't beat them, join them. Eventually, the system despite its slow death by a thousand cuts, promises humans they can feel their ego, their needs and wants, save for the hidden underbelly in which it gives you what you want, by taking what others need, and what they have, to what they had. By decimating the lands of foreign soil, do they take the resources and bring home their newly acquired spoils. It's like killing a cow, and saying that cow was mine to be killed when you stole it off the owner while he was sleeping. one thing is certainly clear, whatever the case, even if it wasn't Putin, the war would've been inevitable. It is easier to be seen as the victim, than to take the burden on to be the "oppressor".

[@hereigoagain5050]

Great documentary. Thanks for making and posting it. The US TV networks used to make similar docs, but not today.

[@vortolex]

To complex still not enough for a full Documentary some willing or remembering or wishing Soviet time others doing their best to rise up their living standard… and much more on and on. One this is for certain regardless of opinion russia or the will of the people and some other states want a United country ones again just by looking at the people’s will regardless of government. Love for thier country and cultural values complex but really conflicting of a spiral fate.

[@dondardha1993]

@aola wili raise standards of living in USA???😅 Usa people never experienced communism. They have always lived in freedom(except the slavery era) and they are not interested on what happen in another continent 30 yers ago. thats why they dont produce documentaries about Europe. They prefer Entertainment shows and I agree with them

[@OmmerSyssel]

@@vortolex ever heard of something called punctuation? Try it some day! Thx in advance 😁

[@tajabdullah.malaysia]

Ukraine may be thousands of kilometres away from Malaysia but to Malaysians, it is much closer emotionally. A routine Malaysian Airline Flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down there on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 on board. That scar is still raw. The World has forgotten about the killings of civilian flight MH17

[@pauskie6]

We must not forget

[@saputradedy7202]

Media barat..itu dilakukan oleh Rusia

[@theresemartin3920]

yes the flight was shot down by russian backed troups, the so-called russian separatists ; there was a trial in Netherlands that identified and condemned the 4 people responsible for shooting , but they managed to save themselves under russian protection

[@dekdeknav9366]

Hard to forget!

[@paulriebe648]

But what about america starting wars and all inocent women and children dead? I guess that's okay than.? Oh and america can't even win a war without nukes like blowing up Japan!?. Twice on top of it. How many inocent lives lost than. Then the Korean, Vietnam and now Afghanistan. But that's okay. Someone else does it. It's a mortal sin.

[@Oceansta]

DW Documentaries getting better and better 🔥

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Be sure to check out our channel for more content.

[@stevenyoutsey8989]

Awesome insights, especially with this political climate. Thanks for sharing!

[@BairMendoza]

Brilliant documentary. I learned so much and the edits and sound designs were top notch. VERY well done. 🏆

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching and for the positive feedback, Benn!

[@user-ow3nz3re9e]

It is one of the most biased and propaganda documentaries one can watch. Beware.

[@fredmidtgaard5487]

Around 23:00 "Why would Russia attack the Baltic countries? What would there be to gain?" I asked myself the same about Ukraine a week ago...

[@ronnie5329]

Oil, gas, found in donbass and crimea sea

[@codechannel528]

Watch the John Mearshiemer lecture on Ukraine from 6 years ago. You can watch it on KZbin.

[@psiiilo]

The Baltics are very, very happy to be out of the illegal occupation of the USSR. Never again

[@ileanasantamaria2364]

Oil reserves recently discovered in Ukraine don't hurt...

[@HailAzathoth]

I was thinking the exact same thing lol

[@raulvinals]

Excellent documentary.

[@darrinwebber4077]

Good video. Being 60 years old, and a life long student of history... especially geopolitical history... and having kept a close study on all the former USSR... I know this already. But you covered pretty much what matters. Good job.

[@ANTHONYFAN-os9sg]

GOOD

[@dilandiego1]

DW has been my favorite news channel lately, you guys are amazing keep up the good work.

[@Anup_BHU]

I love to watch DW .....love from India 🇮🇳... Whenever I want to understand things without bias I watch DW......we love your channel

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching and for the support! We're glad you like our content. :)

[@calvin-]

👍🏻 It is a great channel. I'm from the US, and catch it when I can.

[@margotdourand2507]

From American. We love India!

[@Anup_BHU]

@@margotdourand2507 we too love USA. Great friend of India 🇮🇳...... Great democracy

[@calvin-]

@@Anup_BHU Yes! ☺

[@morrismwenda9138]

Great documentary Well documented ❤

[@ludovicovanni437]

thank you, very beautiful documentary

[@franco7928]

Awesome and brilliant documentary 👌 Gives me a much better understanding of what is going on. Well done DW.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching. We try to cover a broad spectrum of important and often difficult global issues and we really appreciate your positive feedback. We upload documentaries regularly so don’t forget to subscribe.

[@traleyton8057]

Really. Have you check the State departments declassified documents, treaties and agreements? Do you know who gave up their territory for peace? Do you know which super power is constantly at war with someone on this planet? Do you know Monroe Doctrine? Do you know any leader who lost his son in front line? According to Vodka Cola Circa 1970s, these conflicts are just dramas to strip worker of their wealth and their rights. Yes it is a war. A war between the elites and workers in every country. Does an American middle class worker having lost his jon and living on streets really cares for F35, MOABs and Conflicts around the world? Do not be fooled by media prostitutes.

[@Xiao_PP]

24:18 lmfao cool story bruh how did it work out for you?

[@JunkBondTrader]

@@traleyton8057 lol according to who? As if you have a clue what's up :p

[@clairehachey2189]

Journalism at its absolute best. DW has set the standard for excellence and showing the way it should be done. Much respect to the incredible people behind these amazing documents!

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching. We try to cover a broad spectrum of important and often difficult global issues and we really appreciate your positive feedback.

[@violinstar5948]

@@DWDocumentary Much better than BBC

[@revit-bim-cad-visu8298]

are you serious? your kids wearing masks, suffocating, thanks to them

[@bishaltiwari671]

Amazing documentary with soaring interest on every minute passing.Very neutral and educating.Hats off to the team of the dw creating this art of exemplary journalism.Watching from Nepal with peace and love.

[@KirbyZhang]

you didn't sniff the bias or see the colored lenses?

[@waldensmith4796]

This is another amazing DW Documentary with great content on the fall of the Soviet Union. Keep up the good work at DW.

[@DWDocumentary]

We are glad to hear that you liked the documentary! Thank you

[@gustavoemannueldeangolasil243]

Why the Channel don't speak about remaining of abandoned from tuva republic who do part of own confederation ? That one people live extreme poverty,with garbage in all country and ruin buils an cuba into of great empire of Russia.

[@waldensmith4796]

@@gustavoemannueldeangolasil243 Any huge changes in the nation's will cause these fallout for states or provinces to disconnect when the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991. The norm is making a choice to be independent thereby moving away from the newly formed Federation . Choices like these have their consequences to make progress.

[@gustavoemannueldeangolasil243]

@@waldensmith4796 So the president Vladimir Putin haven't control of own federation? Because like is dirty and misery is tuva republic ,like other republic of old Soviet union and atuality new stalin ops russia . See other documentary russian citezen , Inter of republics only have dirty drug drink of alcholl . Great or bluber?

[@gustavoemannueldeangolasil243]

@@waldensmith4796 Don't he do part of country New Soviet union.

[@mamawiachinzah8361]

Great documentary, it gave us an in depth knowledge of the international politics

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks a lot for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@Alasdair-Morrison]

I am certainly not one to watch doc's as often they're boring, and narrated badly. Probably because of the Ukrainian war I watched this right through and found it facinating to learn about Russia and former USSR. Most pleasing aspect of this doc was how well narrated and laid out it is. Brilliant!

[@tonym6193]

makes you realize that the history that brought us to this situation is alot more nuanced than what the American government portrays

[@suedenim6590]

Makes you realise that the Russian trolls are as successful as their logistics

[@MeeMee-gz5vp]

I agree, the Ukrainian War has me interested in learning why all the fighting

[@thedude8046]

@@tonym6193the US government are flat out liars, that has been proved many times.

[@kevinedwards7206]

Reason i was interested to watch now as well

[@georgehollingsworth2428]

It is worth noting that this documentary was written long before the current Russian invasion of Ukraine, and it should probably be watched with that in mind.

[@danielhutchinson6604]

The program seems to overlook the Trillions of dollars of debt the US gained as they bribed former Soviet nations to become NATO members? The massive amounts that the Langley VA firm that seems to distribute to convince residents to create unrest that keeps Russia working to maintain peace, seem to add to US Debts. The Russians used their massive amounts of resources to pay off debts when Oil prices were high, the US has little to offer and the ability to support a Marshall Plan seem well beyond the ability of the US to fund? The fact that current US efforts appear to promote efforts to drive Russia from doing business in Europe are apparent for the last 8 years and were US Foreign Policy since the 1990's. Superpowers need economic abilities when they declare economic warfare? The US seems even more Vulnerable than Russia, when you inspect the facts of the Economies of both?

[@taunteratwill1787]

​@@danielhutchinson6604 "Trillions of dollars of debt the US gained as they bribed former Soviet nations to become NATO members" ?? Yes you're right it's better to invade them and keep them against their will in the NATO. You know something like your Russian friends did. 😎 btw, show some research facts about these "trillions" you're talking about. 😋

[@taylormorgan6441]

No one believes your name is "Daniel Hutchinson," comrade. This site really needs to get a handle on the current putinbot problem...

[@iscander_s]

But how it changes anything that was said in the documentary?

[@danielhutchinson6604]

@@iscander_s If your Brain is incapable of digesting complex ideas, you may need to return to school and learn how to play well with others?

[@JeffWiersma]

If Russians living in non-Russian former Soviet republics felt badly when the USSR dissolved, imagine how badly the people in those republics felt when the Russian imperialists Sovietized them.

[@alicaramba7680]

No one cares, everyone cares about strong, aggressive and cruel. You may experienced this at your school, job and some experiences even in their own families. Much like DW cited at the beginning current mass murderer not any leader of those republics.

[@elliotpavatich261]

I love this channel!

[@kelvinjomojomo6932]

very vigorous research narrated in the simplest form possible. I've learnt. Kudos!

[@antoaneta70]

DW simply my faves 👌🏽keep up the good work guys !! Simply magnificent 🙌🏽

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching and for the support. :)

[@BETAMAX19732]

Thanks good documentary

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching!

[@sifridbassoon]

interesting to watch this within the context of the Ukraine war.

[@Ukraine2011]

Right. Then hear that phrase russian peace keeper

[@nunyabidness117]

My Ukranian friends told me before the end of the fall of the USSR everyone had plenty of money but there was nothing to buy. After the fall everyone's Soviet money was worthless but soon small businesses popped up meaning there was plenty of things to buy but no one had any money.

[@trihnguyen5275]

Think about it: 1. Have a lot of money but nothing to buy meaning that money is worthless, not even compare to toilet paper. 2. Eventually you or someone else will make some money to buy the things. The second is always a better choice. :-))

[@slovakia0195]

@@trihnguyen5275 I don't agree with you brother. Money wasn't wothless even from your point of view. My parents always told me that when they were on holidays in USSR citizens wanted everything to buy from them. And they were able to pay a lot. So their money weren't wothless, but they hadn't chance to travel and buy something and in their country wasn't any stuff because Soviets put everything into the army and another for normal people useless programs.

[@jasonablah7702]

@@trihnguyen5275 Nah most of them preferred the USSR

[@RyLo18D]

@@trihnguyen5275 Not true at all. You could purchase things in the collapsing Soviet Union, nobody really starved, it’s just that there was a lack of trade and a lack of luxuries. You could still make things yourself and as well as buy and sell them in secondary markets. You couldn’t find wine from France, but you could find wine at home. You couldn’t buy fancy clothes from clothing brands but you could get clothes custom tailored for you etc... There was a distinct lack of large companies colluding and holding significant market share enough to sway politics. In a sense it’s something a lot of socialist Americans now want to live in.

[@KaliAndy2]

@@slovakia0195 later 1980s 60 Russian kapeikas(little over half a rubble) was worth $1. After USSR broke apart by 1991-1992 exchange rate in black market was 5,000 rubles for 1 US dollar. Money devalued about 10,000 times over within a couple years. So if you worked your whole life and saved up 100,000 rubles for retirement. All the sudden your retirement is worth $20. What you are saying is true pre USSR breakup. Stuff like jeans, walkmans and other electronics like tape players etc was pretty much unattainable. Few people who were allowed to travel would bring this stuff back and it would sell for a lot of money because there was virtually zero supply and those who had money would pay up. But as poster above suggests above after USSR broke apart those products became plentiful because borders opened up. But due to collapsed currency almost no one could afford to buy it. I witnessed this myself.

[@jayfelsberg1931]

Most insightful. The documentary explains a great deal about current events, including attitudes.

[@MthokozisiMayisela-yv3kc]

This documentary is a masterplan,I learnt so much about The Collapse of the Soviet Union and the Narrator is amazing,plz do the Collapse of Yugoslavia documentary

[@TheParot161]

Excellent documentary. But, what is that walking across the square at 52:16? I genuinely have no idea.

[@nordicnomad5473]

My god, I just took a look.. is it invisible man ???

[@samansiddiquie1902]

43:51 wise man. Humanity above everything else.

[@9876karthi]

Exactly, I was happy he mentioned it. I thought he would say religion(Islam) is important first as others. People should understand religion is just an idea we have been taught into from young.

[@saintkamikaze]

it is important to mention that many of these "new" foreign countries were foreign countries before already but they were occupied.

[@hershellacey9405]

For the benefit of Russia.

[@TheRareVideosXL]

What a fantastic documentary.

[@asullivan4047]

Interesting/informative/entertaining. Good video & oration enabling viewers to better understand what/whom the orator was describing describing. Special thanks to the guest speakers sharing personal information/life’s activities & experiences. Making this documentary more authentic and possible. Disillusioned Vladimir’s invasion of the Ukraine 🇺🇦 Ended up being an embarrassment not making it a short military endeavor.

[@floraliix]

this is something i never really watch, but clicked on it and expected to click right off but i’m 30 minutes in and loving it nice work (:

[@Tollefsongirls]

Thank you. This documentary felt very balanced and informative.

[@pianistshowtoplaycompimpro8093]

Exellent production and comparison of the former Soviet Republics!

[@ranaahmed2024]

Best Channel for dispersing knowledge and information.. Thanks 💝DW💝

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching and your positive feedback :)

[@ranaahmed2024]

@@DWDocumentary You're welcome 💝

[@sharmisthalala9734]

Excellent documentary as always!! Very few news channels in the world can keep up to this....❤

[@DWDocumentary]

Thank you for watching and your positive feedback!

[@colindixon9916]

Dw Rocks ❤❤❤

[@sjonm]

@Legalize Raping Russian Broads In America from which objective lenses are you being so Anti Putin and Anti - Russia?

[@MC-in8mc]

@Legalize Raping Russian Broads In America Your name says everything about you. You should be in jail. A disgusting entitled American warmonger who's country has invaded murdered and robbed country after country endlessly since it started 700 years ago.

[@MC-in8mc]

@@sjonm Look at his name and you'll know why!😝

[@akaltaf]

Very good piece of history. I enjoyed and learned a lot from this program. Thank you.

[@janjantimalsina1465]

Nice Documentary

[@kingaskingdom9635]

Wow, this documentary aged like milk 😵‍💫

[@ZubbaKon]

Very informative! 👍

[@LyndaCoulson64]

A very intresting documentary. It is helping me with my understanding of Russia, it's culture and history as well as the people and their beliefs. Thank you for sharing.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thank you for watching, Lynda.

[@ernies8828]

I knew about this 40 years ago..people listen to public schools and universities too much. Communism/socialism/nazism is ALL evil!

[@justinhearst]

@@ernies8828 you know those are 2 different political spectrums right?

[@ernies8828]

@@justinhearst --yeah, it is called right and wrong :)

[@ryanfranz6715]

52:16 invisible man wearing a suit and top hat just casually walks by 😂

[@michaelsulkoske4373]

DW uploads seems to have a lot of advertising for a public broadcasting network.

[@alitn588]

Very informative documentary , thanks DW

[@FedericoTesta1]

Thanks, probably DW has the best coverage right now on the war. Your is absolutely the most objective and with the least prejudices. And this documentary is the proof. The truth stands most of times in the middle.

[@sollte1239]

Germany always tried to have ok relationships with Russia. But Germans are now fed up with Russia invading Ukraine.

[@semiramisubw4864]

@@sollte1239 well no. Our gov got kinda "forced" to step in. Right now the sanctions are crushing our economy

[@SteveWest-hq6ld]

52:16 shows an invisible man just sauntering on by.

[@sean_molinari]

Any reason why there's an invisible man at the end of this video? 52:16? Very curious.

[@mariaclaudiabarbaresco6791]

I'm from Brazil and I really appreciate the work of DW. It is so deep and accurate

[@RR-mo5ey]

maria go home

[@mariaclaudiabarbaresco6791]

@@RR-mo5ey no.

[@gtPacheko]

​@@RR-mo5ey what?

[@RR-mo5ey]

@@gtPacheko 😀

[@LuiZ-jy1pi]

Vixe... eu achei bem legal também, mas se uma brasileira, educada por Paulo Freire e pelo MEC marxista, tá dizendo que é “accurate”, agora tô na dúvida…

[@thomascouch2671]

This was a very precise and illuminating report ! Excellent ! Thank you.

[@nameq]

28:30 didnt expect this caricature of a cyrillic language in a serious documentary like this 😭

[@nolan5400]

I have to agree, this is a balanced and non partial documentary, well done. Also, very well put together.

[@NJ2010100]

@52:15 Who is the invisible man? DW do a documentary on that guy.

[@chandlerlieb9127]

4:47 Holy shit, he looks so young to be a wounded war veteran.

[@estebanpardo9611]

Decent documentary

[@pturcanu]

Chomsky would be proud of your very tactical choice of words when translating from Russian. I caught two instances of mistranslation to the point of getting it backwards: "the Yeltsin coup" was translated as "the Yeltsin era", and "they have no heart" was translated as "they have no head". Needless to say, I totally trust you now. Bravo!

[@guruoflove3083]

Such verbosity. Very Chomsky of you.

[@Marshall-sb7ol]

Don't be surprised, it's not like DW is not biased. It also spread some negative propaganda in some of it's videos/documentaries when speaking of anything Russian.

[@roybatty6857]

@@guruoflove3083 I take it your either a properganda troll contractor or a person who is going to join the military 😆 🤣 😂 Senators , elites stock market investments in the military industrial complexes must be on it's way up .

[@guruoflove3083]

@@roybatty6857 I'm neither a Deep State Satanic Marxist like your group of friends NOR their controlled opposition which you've aptly named in your last post... besides the main gist expressed, which is you take it.

[@guruoflove3083]

@@roybatty6857 EVERYBODY Knows...

[@metamorphicme9378]

Interesting to learn about this part of the world. Thanks DW for highlighting the beauty and complexity of humanity. Much appreciated from South Africa

[@OmmerSyssel]

Any white farmers massacred lately? Or is the goal achieved..?

[@HistoryonYouTube]

I think this is a very fair and balanced documentary. I was in communist Poland and East Germany in the 1980s and saw Russia in 1992. I have been to Russia several times but if one goes into the countryside then it certainly does not look like a 'super power' rather somewhat behind everyone else, particularly if one compares it to its former country of occupation, Poland.

[@AbdulRahman-uw4nd]

well i havent been to Russia and i would like to know how exactly you felt there. like would you consider it a 1st world country at the very least? was it a good place as a visitor?

[@user-fe3fr4bq3b]

And USA YES LOOKS LIKE SUPERPOWER IN THE COUNTRYSIDE 😅

[@alexxxander777]

Another thing is that in Poland everyone is rich and the villages are high-tech, it’s funny to listen to you, I was in Poland and you are not close to Europe or even Russia 😅😅

[@HistoryonYouTube]

@@AbdulRahman-uw4nd It is interesting to see, but there is a huge difference between the countryside and the cities - particularly Moscow and Petersburg. The countyside looks as though it were 50 years ago!

[@NothingSomethingEverything]

This feels like moments before disaster.

[@crisfranz9308]

Obrigada pelas explicações 👏👏👏🥰

[@David_Bower]

Informative, and interesting to watch. I'd like to see more documentaries like this please.

[@cupcakeordeath]

These rivalries are so wild. How do you even know who is with what group? Like that guy who asks “what are we?” You’re you!

[@redcoatp.5636]

Thanks great video i was curious on how the Soviet was ran now i have somewhat of a better insight

[@willowbrooklet7983]

As a former citizen of the USSR, I have an impression that the documentary was made by a Russian director because most of information is represented from the Russian perspective. For example, the statement that the former Soviet republics never tried to leave the USSR is untrue. Just any of such attempts were violently suppressed. Even Belarus, which is usually considered to be the closest to Russia culturally, made repeated attempts to claim its independence in the early years of the USSR. The last Belarusian armed resistance group was liquidated by the Soviets in 1950s. Some of the methods used by Moscow to keep people "calm" are well described by Robert Conquest in his book "The Harvest of Sorrow." The author is neither Russian nor Ukranian and his narrative is quite unbiased.

[@user-sf4oc3nj7y]

they were a tiny minority. as well as Russian nationalists who supported and still support for the creation of ethno-national Russia

[@apoorva2793]

I highly doubt you being a former citizen of USSR

[@crose7412]

@Willow Brooklet At 53:01 it literally tells you on screen "a film by Michael Schmidt and Martin Striegel"; do these sound to you like Russian names?

[@ArtisZ]

@@crose7412 They're German. The are about 3 million Russian descendants in Germany. Next question?

[@crose7412]

@@ArtisZ @Artis Zel I know they're German. No other questions. I wasn't asking you though so mind your own business.

[@jasbinderchima3906]

Excellent piece of work to educate all of us!

[@user-gl5kf9jh1y]

Sehr gut 🇩🇪👍💯 vielen dank 👍💖

[@wooddog007]

Incredibly foresightful programe considering it was done BEFORE the war in Ukraine ... Danke

[@tatarwarrior4532]

Very actual. I'm waiting for the second part 😁

[@replied631]

Your documentaries are very enlightening. I like that its straight to the point. Very well presented.

[@theupsidedownworld99]

🌍✨ It's fascinating how documentaries can bridge gaps and foster a sense of connection with people from different countries and cultures. Seeing individuals and families in their everyday lives, striving for progress and building stronger communities, reminds us of our shared humanity. It's a powerful reminder that we are all part of this global tapestry. Understanding the historical context and the impact of significant events like the collapse of the Soviet Union can deepen our empathy and appreciation for diverse experiences.

[@emilsa488]

A great documentary. But - it is not about the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is about the aftermath of the collapse. A misleading title of the documentary in my opinion.

[@afandiyevorkhan]

And you have mistaken about Hungary, Czechia and Poland. They joined NATO in 1999 (for some sources 1998) not in 2004 when Lithuania joined. But in 2004 HU, CZ and PO joined the EU.

[@ralphdavidson9542]

Brilliantly explained. Thanks.

[@rwrae72]

This was very good but in journalism you never use "Only time will tell."

[@gedasl5621]

As lithuanian i can for surely say that translation was correct word by word but not by meaninig conveyed by interviewees. I’m quite disappointed of DW because earlier I thought of them as responsible organisations to convey complex nuances of different cultures not to be simple and “dramatic”

[@haisakomi]

Thank you for this informative documentary. It is a complimentary source for me. As I watched almost 10 h of videos about USSR, Russia and Ukraine's history.

[@gadgetselectronics1468]

One of the most informative documentary I've watched , really great

[@gadgetselectronics1468]

Stitch

[@tusmini70]

I noticed the one talking behind him was @Kurzgesagt during the minutes 3:44 😁 ✌️

[@rafaelborre2001]

Did anyone else notice what happened at 52:17?

[@kc2076]

This was great, taught me a lot

[@jceeross6763]

So nice to see such a well timed documentary keep it up DW, perhaps you will do this for every country during their moment of crisis?

[@TeeJayMillz]

Imagine being at war for multiple decades due to differences in what “ divine entity “ one believes in..

[@chauhanrohit]

What was that invisible kind of man @52:16? 😱

[@ppumpkinhead937]

yeah I saw it to!

[@Shadowsoftrees]

I learned a lot from watching this. Thank you DW.

[@glacieractivity]

@olive oyl Well - they executed a 200,000 soldier sized attack on Ukraine - are they Nazis? - or are they best friends and family? Hard to define by the actions of Kreml and the propaganda. Yes this time Kreml is the baddy. Do you know how hard hard your leader has lied in the last few weeks? Probably

[@moisesojeda1085]

@olive oyl 🇺🇸🇺🇦 🇩🇪🤝💪🏽