Journey to Kaliningrad (Königsberg) Exclave - Russia's Outpost in Europe

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I'm taking you on a journey to Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad is a Russian exclave located on the Baltic Sea, sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. It serves as a strategic outpost for Russia in Europe. Formerly part of East Prussia and known as Königsberg, it was annexed by the Soviet Union after World War II. Today, it remains a unique geopolitical entity, distinct from the Russian mainland. It provides Russia with access to the Baltic Sea and a presence in the European Union, which can influence regional dynamics and politics in the Baltic region.
In this video, I visit a number of settlements in Kaliningrad region with traces of German past. It could happen that some members of YOUR family lived in East Prussia before or soon after the annexation of Konigsberg. Write about this in the comments, it's fascinating to read such stories!
Enjoy the video!
Timceodes:
00:00 - Kaliningrad (Königsberg). Exploring the city.
20:36 - Vladimirovo (Tharau). German church and cobblestone.
24:46 - Bagrationovsk (Preußisch Eylau). The battle of Preußisch Eylau. German watertower and German castle.
27:52 - Gvardeyskoye (Mühlhausen). A story of one German church.
29:12 - Back to Kaliningrad. Fort XI Dönhoff. Organ music.
31:24 - Grocery prices in Kaliningrad (May 2023)
34:16 - Chekhovo (Underwangen). Ruins of German mill and church.
37:52 - Domnovo (Domnau). The story of one long-suffering village.
40:41 - Pravdinsk (Friedland). German hydrant, cathedral and the battle of Friedland.
43:44 - Oktyabr'skoye (Klein Schönau). The ruins of a lutheran church.
45:09 - Abandoned German hydroelectric power plant near Pravdinsk
45:52 - Zheleznodorozhnyy (Gerdauen). Signs of restoration. Ancient castle in ruins.
49:14 - Masurian canal
51:06 - Znamensk (Allenberg). Abandoned Allenberg mental facility.
54:55 - Ozyorsk (Darkehmen, Angerapp). Interviewing locals.
59:14 - Gusev. Divorce rate and bayonet attack.
01:00:23 - A railway viaduct in the middle of nowhere
01:02:28 - Chernyakhovsk (Insterburg). It's getting better!
01:04:47 - Sovetsk (Tilsit). Drug stores and forgotten tram.
01:08:29 - Lithuania is just across the river!
01:10:30 - Polessk. German draw bridge and unknown brewery.
01:11:55 - Svetlogorsk. The resort town.
01:14:02 - Yantarnyy. Amber quarry.
01:15:38 - German WW2 Memorial Cemetry in Primorsk
01:16:48 - Curonian Spit and Zelenogradsk. The best city in the exclave.
01:21:57 - Baltiysk and Vistula Spit. Russia's westernmost city and former Nazi airfield.
01:29:30 - Trainhopping to Kaliningrad
01:29:41 - Kaliningrad Favelas. Interviewing locals.
01:33:30 - Outro
May 2023.
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[@creepermk]

This channel is such a special gem. Just raw footage, real people, great commentary and quality. Wish more people would get to appreciate your work.

[@lucasrem]

You watch TV channels normal, this is how channels do this here.

[@Aleksa_Lomako]

🤬 Слава УКРАЇНІ!!!! 🇺🇦

[@97824631]

Totally agree. Also a really nice way to explain and show stuff. I really enjoy it. Greetings from Germany

[@SnakeBush]

please dont wish that bro it would destroy this channel

[@admin6884]

​@@Aleksa_Lomakoслова У -край-на 😂😂😂

[@kim__jong__un]

No stupid intro animation and sounds! No fancy equipment! Just pure quality content!

[@NickRatnieks]

My father was evacuated through East Prussia in September/October 1944 and he remarked at how beautiful it was.

[@77mako77ful]

Did your dad tell you what he did before the evacuation?? I'm sure he was just following orders, right?

[@NickRatnieks]

@@77mako77ful I will give you a civil answer to your snide question. He was a Latvian civilian and was evacuated with other Latvian civilians. He then spent eight months in transit before joining Polish II Corps in Austria in August 1945 as his mother was Polish. He used to say that the only positive thing he could relate to the years 1939-1945 was that he did not have to point a gun at anyone. Are you happy with that answer? My father's photo is in the book Czetery Z Tysiaca by C Chlebowski as he associated with the Polish Resistance.

[@jtns2845]

@@NickRatnieksexcellent reply to a nasty question.

[@1armeddrummerinaprisonrock244]

@@77mako77ful lol youre a butthurt kid living in an adult body.

[@ulefab7503]

@@jtns2845 Nasty question? Excuse us of occupied countries (I’m French) to be suspicious! Especially in Kaliningrad who was a bastion of nazism

[@erikahl7180]

Honestly i appreciate that modern russia rebuilt a lot of the old buildings and graves after the fall of the USSR. Suprisingly respectful.

[@MausTheGerman]

Thanks for sharing! A neighbor couple who already passed away was born in Königsberg and had to leave everything behind in the 1945. They told me that their family had a restaurant with a beautiful Biergarten owned over generations. After fall of Soviet Union they went their to visit. They told me that this was a sad experience because the former restaurant was unmaintained and chickens running around it. They cried when telling me this story. I always loved their funny East Prussian accent 😃

[@98Zai]

@@user-mj4yx8fc7w This story is part of the history of the place. Do you believe that individual people should be responsible for the actions of their country? If you want to take pride in the good, you must also answer to the bad.

[@98Zai]

@@user-mj4yx8fc7w Maybe I made a false presumption that you are Russian? Perhaps you didn't notice the countless Russian tirades of "America did it first!" whataboutisms.

[@ijh867zter6]

@@user-mj4yx8fc7w looks like their views were proven right looking at Russia and how it turns everything it touches into a shithole

[@kotbarsik777]

Very touching story. What a loss! The Russians lost 27 million in that war. Of these, 17 million are civilians. This is real genocide. This is the Russian Holocaust, which is not remembered. But there is a very sentimental story about the restaurant.

[@98Zai]

@@kotbarsik777 Belittling and misusing the word "genocide" and "Holocaust" is a Nazi thing, you know that right? The nazi's used to say that a "white genocide" was happening to motivate their actions.

[@davidlp6510]

Not only the quality of your videos but the content is of excellent quality. The content has culture, economy aspects and social political impact. It is a complete source of information. I really wish more people would do videos as yours. Very good quality!!!

[@Sniperboy5551]

He includes much more history than any other travel KZbinr I’ve ever seen. Combine that with his train hopping skills and he’s easily my favorite. Shiey and Bald and Bankrupt have nothing on Vagabond!

[@davidlp6510]

@@Sniperboy5551 Indeed, his videos are of excellent quality and they have it all for all tastes.

[@peeterl.2016]

@@Sniperboy5551 His history "facts" are mostly bullsh*t. Vagabond is following Putin's history "facts" and is forgetting the real history of Königsberg. Same was with his Karelia video, full of russian propaganda.

[@mountainmoments]

your comment and this video leave out that russia is a state of fascism which includes racism - an integral aprt of any empire. Is that cool for you? to advertise this?

[@davidlp6510]

@@mountainmoments Not really. That aspect is not at all pleasant even to acknowledge. I rather talk about the person that made the video and his story telling endowment. He is good and he is really good organizing his videos. That was the aspect that I was concentrating about. Keep in mind that all of us here are NOT pro Putin.

[@Decybello]

I was always interested, how the region of Kaliningrad looks like. Thanks for showing it to me and sharing your experience of traveling there, cheers.

[@player1GR]

He showed mainly German/Prussian old buildings that Russians have no interest to maintain. Come to Kaliningrad and have your own look. Welcome

[@Anthony-db7cs]

Poor and ugly architecture like everything USSR. They ruined a beautiful city.

[@samadkins8101]

"Every war is fucking bullshit" - truth!

[@MrFranki06]

Ein sehr interessantes Video über Ostpreußen und dessen Geschichte. Vielen Dank!

[@12Gauge223]

I really enjoy your presenting style - perfect combination of past and present. No boring, extended introductions or transitions, just straightforward to the point footage and information of cool, neglected, and historically rich places.

[@ausdemnorden]

Brilliant content. Your videos are very entertaining and informative. I am always very happy when I am notified that you have posted something new!

[@chrisrobinson9210]

Absolutely fascinating, the finest video I’ve seen of this forgotten part of Eastern Europe. Carry on with these wonderful videos.

[@Slippyboy]

Yay!! Seeing a new (long!!) video from you is the best part of my day!! Thank you for everything that you do to brighten up our lives :-)

[@alastaircreelman]

Very interesting film. We have been to Kaliningrad twice, both times driving by car from home in Sweden (2016 and 2019). We live straight across the sea from Baltysk. We have visited most of the places you visited and it's interesting to see what has changed in recent years. Sadly I don't think we will be able to go back, given the crazy world we live in today.

[@jarabaa]

You are an amazing man. Unique. Extraordinary. You really go everywhere, radiate boundless curiosity, meet the people, ask all the necessary questions, try literally anything. One never knows quite what's coming next! I was particularly fascinated here by the extreme contrast of the impressively stocked supermarket full of goods - and then the bitterness of the two old men complaining of severe shortages, empty shops etc.

[@demil3618]

Man, your content ist absolutely 1st class!

[@flopunkt3665]

Tilsit is also known for cheese. You can find Tilsiter Käse in a lot of super markets in Germany.

[@yumallah]

In Russia too, Tilsiter cheese is very popular.

[@PkPvre]

Thank you for sharing another journey, it's very enjoyable to watch.

[@mattkrea]

Only learned about Kaliningrad when I was traveling around Lithuania for work. Being able to learn more about it thanks to you is a treat!

[@timojo819]

Thanks a lot Dude. Nice Documentary As a German I am evertytime proud of our Infrastructure which obviously can stand nearly everything. Hope that there will be Peace, so that i am able to visit our old Land of prussia.

[@JORMUNREKKR]

I believe you can always visit Poland, which took a much bigger chunk of Ostpreußen.

[@daddydallas4789]

You can visit Russia, Kaliningrad as well, no problem, even these days. Russia hasn't imposed restrictions on ordinary German citizens unlike vice versa.

[@pije_whiskey]

@@daddydallas4789 if you are american or european going to russia right now that is a death sentence for you. Even if they let you stay a little longer and see some russia, you will end up as a hostage with 10-years-sentence in colony fuckin far away from anything. I also think that russia is beautiful and tourism in this country would be amazing, but don't forget about what kind of terrorist state we are talking about.

[@daddydallas4789]

@@pije_whiskey Where did you get all that information from? Because thats such BS man, you can visit Russia no problem, my sister and her family frequently visits Russia as German citizens, and they always just chill there and have a good time

[@pije_whiskey]

@@daddydallas4789 yeah right, as a German from Stuttgart B-W I know many "german citizens" born in russia, so maybe they visit their homeland. Unfortunetely they barely speak german

[@nyckolaus]

Just fascinating! Thank you, Ivan!

[@MegaBlastMojo]

Great! Very comprehensive... I've learned a lot. Thank you for your most excellent work. ❤

[@user-mv7jg3pb3n]

Ostpreußen,but Gumbinnen in particular,poses a very bitter memory for older Germans,but I won't eleborate any further on that. Immediately after the Iron Curtain collapsed I visited the old German provinces and we wanted to cross over to the Kaliningrad region too but at that time it was highly discouraged to do so by Polish security troops as Polish civilians alike . Therefore I'm very pleased with this video.Thank you.

[@user-mv7jg3pb3n]

@@user-mj4yx8fc7w I was born in the 50ies and therefore I only know what happened before and during WW II from first hand ; but I very much value and appreciate your reaction - it shows you are genuinely interested in both the topic of this video as well as my adhered comment. I thank you deeply for that and wish you all the best .

[@fidenemini111]

Gumbinnen - a name which transitioned from Old Prussian (Nadruvian) name Gabe to Lithuanian Gumbinė and later slightly modified to sound more German. Unfortunately 60% of original Lithuanian place names of Lithuania Minor by the decree of June 3 of 1938 was renamed to fully German ones. Such are Stallupönen - renametd to Ebenrode, Jurgaitschen - to Jürgenfelde, Augsgiren - to Saßenhöhe, Kraupischken - to Breitenstein, Lasdehnen - to Haselberg, Papelken - to Markomitethausen, Paskallwen - to Schalau, etc. The same year the list of name changes was printed as a brochure - "Das Verzeichnis der neuen Ortsnamen der ganzen Provinz Ostpreußen ".

[@user-mv7jg3pb3n]

@@fidenemini111 Danke - aber diese Tatsachen waren mir schon bestens bekannt . Und übrigens gab es Umbenennungen nicht nur in Ostpreußen - z.B. Gdingen(heute Gdynia)wurde ab 1938 Gotenhafen genannt .

[@dann5480]

Older germans? You mean the ones who served in Hitlers army?

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

We all know of the horrifying atrocities visited upon East Prussian civilians. by the Russians. Crimes not forgotten and deserve no forgiveness.

[@Viking88Power]

Would love to go there to see any Prussian history thats left...Incredible video!

[@jetfusion1532]

Most of it is gone and went to rubbish. Stalin and others happened. Now it's just another Soviet shadow 40-50 years behind the rest of the continent due to amazing leadership.

[@jeffrutledge1789]

@@jetfusion1532 things are going the other way now. The west is collapsing. And replacing itself.

[@pepefin9616akaestonec]

@@jetfusion1532 and thats good

[@user-if6fc4xs1n]

The orcs ruined it

[@Home_Rich]

​@@pepefin9616akaestonec Opposite Defiant Disorder 🫵🤡🪞

[@alfromwork]

Wow! Very impressive and thorough field report from Kaliningrad! I really enjoyed your descriptions and the places you showed. As you mention several times, there is such potential that, for the foreseeable future, will unfortunately be ignored. All I can say is that I hope that things change and peace will prevail.

[@ilyakasnacheev]

Kaliningrad is currently a major destination of Russian domestic tourism (which has grown as international tourish has shrunk) so it is not exactly ignored. Some places fall into disrepair, but overall it's nice-ish.

[@justinhaslam-lucas8711]

A really great documentary about a region I have always wondered about.

[@ajblell]

A+ man. I fell down a rabbit hole and have enjoyed every bit of it. Keep making great content!

[@14Forseti]

your videos are always so interesting and exciting. thank u for that!

[@88arakvita]

Thank you for sharing your trip to this beautiful land.

[@krzysztofrzeszut7668]

Such an amazing channel, will stay here for more videos. Well done, keep up good work

[@stoephead]

We love this history. Thankyou for sharing. A great video

[@vorwaerts_nie_zurueck]

As always, great stuff. Thank you for these insights into a very interesting place

[@ScrotusXL]

Vagabond, your channel is unique. OK Bald and Bankrupt comes close, but he doesn't explore remote abandoned places on his own or ride iron ore trains across the whole of the Russian Federation eating nothing but noodles and wearing just a light rain jacket! 😂 Keep up the great work, Kaliningrad is such a strange and interesting place that we haven't seen on TV or KZbin in the UK. So much history although sadly mostly just related to invasion and conflict. Including today...

[@Sniperboy5551]

I’m glad we can agree that Vagabond beats Bald. I love both channels, but there’s just something beautiful about a native Russian exploring his own country. I’ve already seen all of Bald’s Russia videos and he has been banned, so it’s nice to see some new stuff from Vagabond’s perspective!

[@yumallah]

But the thing is, unlike Bald, who is a British sex tourist, Vagabond is a real Russian (like me btw) traveling around his own country completely off the grid.

[@randylahey1822]

@@yumallah True! Haven't watched bald since that space shuttle finally and the Russian authorities doesn't want him back (yet) so don't expect to see any stuff from him in a while. Vagabond can do it without any questionable shenanigans.

[@disconnected22]

Simple: Ivan is hardcore, Bald is not

[@valdemarforsman]

Bald makes good content but he is, for many reasons, an immoral asshole. So I much rather watch someone else make these kinds of videos.

[@meinbur]

Thank you for this very interesting eploration/explanation! I have been watching it out till the end.

[@vitot9286]

Awesome video man. Thanks for sharing.

[@jarabaa]

The bridge in Tilsit was indeed German. It was called the Queen Louise Bridge. She was and still is a legendary figure in Germany, generally described as "angelic". Consort of the King of Prussia, she went to Tilsit to meet Napoleon to plead on behalf of Prussia, begging him to agree a merciful settlement respecting her country's needs and dignity. He wasn't very interested.

[@wolfgangsaurenbach-pk4ik]

Danke Eine sehr gute Erklärung Die Steine sprechen immer noch Deutsch in der ganzen ehemalig deutschen Provinz ! Thank you ! An exellent explanation ! The bricks are still speaking German all around this former german province! Danke .

[@UTube4Junky]

Those stones speak German? Interesting.. Yeah, there are over 70 thousand stones all over Europe that “speak German”..

[@Anthony-db7cs]

@@UTube4Junky Should still speak German. Everything Russia touches ends up as a poor, ugly architectural eyesore.

[@UTube4Junky]

@@Anthony-db7cs Well, technically, “should still speak Prussian” (linguistically close to Lithuanian) or Polish. The German speaking Teutonic Knights (for-hire mercenaries hired by the Polish Duke Conrad of Mazovia) exterminated all original Prussians (who were N O T Germans), adopted their name and became known as “Prussians” in order to claim the land. The German speaking pope backed their claim and thugs the centuries long saga of the “German Prussia” had began.. Kaliningrad needs to go back to Poland/Lithuania and become Królewiec/Karaliaučius. I know, I know… history is sooo boooring.. 🙄 The rest of your post “anything russia touches” I agree with..

[@n.e.barton1299]

Vaga Bond, your content is very good. Kaliningrad was a most interesting trip.

[@dashaignatieva6480]

Amazing video! With love, from Kaliningrad.

[@rustyduktape]

Sunday morning, coffee is ready, and I see a new Vagabond video! Awesome!

[@andresfelipeayala1995]

It is interesting to watch these kinds of videos to know the history of why the cities are so important now. Well done. This channel deserves a million subscribers. ;)

[@nasjho420]

i dont know why, but your accent is much easier to understand than some american english speakers, for me at least. i'm brazilian btw nice video and trip, as always

[@captainhurricane5705]

His accent sounds Dutch to me, rather than American English.

[@rimux1225]

What a great video - thank you, spasibo, and best wishes from Lithuania.

[@morganf963]

Architecture, History, Rail Gauge variations and supermarket visits - thanks for this awesome video!

[@classic.cameras]

Thank you for doing this. I remember in February 2022 seeing this little think on the map of Russia when everyone was talking about the war and google mapping it to see what the heck Kaliningrad was. This is even better as it makes me feel like, I have seen this strange place.

[@rayodarkwater7118]

You are doing a good job mate. Keep at it. *hug

[@phil3924]

This channel is so impressive. You know so much about these places.

[@BuyLuxuryFootRestsFromTh-bw8ub]

Great exploration video as always Thank You

[@andrey39]

Чел, я как калининградец могу сказать, что ты нашел самые перди области, настоящий архитектурный проктолог. Браво, это талант. )))) По подаче одно не понравилось - не Сталин аннексировал, а Сталин с Черчилем и Рузвельтом подписали договор о репарациях. 1/3 Востойной Пруссии - СССР, 2/3 - Польше (тоже получается аннексировали? sic!), а литовцам Мемель / Клайпеда + часть куршской косы.

[@BanBootlicking]

Great comment! It's sad that people are misinformed into oversimplified or false historical narratives of a supposedly omnipotent Stalin. It's shocking how pervasive it is.

[@ikariameriks]

You are on Foreign land. And of course it's Stalin and russkies who occupied Konigsberg. And the baltics. And so much more.

[@BanBootlicking]

@@ikariameriks The Naz!s and their collaborators shouldn't have invaded the USSR and tried genociding its people then. See Generalplan Ost. Fuck around and find out -- simple as... The Baltics are not real countries anyway. They have been Polish, Swedish, German and now American colonies. Glorified military outposts against the East.

[@andrey39]

@@ikariameriks shut up shouting insect, nobody asked you who's this land is.

[@andrey39]

@@ikariameriks this land is small payment for millions killed Russians . Germans who lived here and in polish part of Prussia were thrown away from here but at least not killed.

[@Albrecht952]

Your channel is a true gem, thanks for your productions I have no idea how you can tolerate riding the world in empty train cars on such a low budget. I admire your inner faith that all will be well, no matter what. You do teach, you know that right?

[@sabastianbismarck8050]

Great video thank you. Insightful.

[@tommassini6242]

Thanks for another fantastic video.

[@illuminatidestroyerbear2231]

You give the best tours and information about the places that you visit, Thank you my friend.

[@joepeach997]

You were born for this journey! They way you approach subjects pulls me in as almost if I am there. The places you visit are priceless gifts to me. The most endearing aspect of all are the people you meet, drive with, stay with, and more. Sometimes I wish you could spend more time with them, it is so good for the soul to know that these folks are just like me/us. Please stay safe and keep up this most beautiful life journey!

[@MikeZ32TT]

Hello Vegabond, thanks for another great video.

[@kyk1682]

Dude you make awesome content. Thanks for sharing

[@UberGrunk]

Vistula is also the name of one of the biggest rivers in Poland, it flows out into the Baltic Sea near Gdańsk, so not far from where you were. This river flows through both Warsaw and Kraków and originates from the mountains in the south of Poland

[@kubarybczynski661]

It's literally the biggest river...

[@wacherwicht1810]

Weichsel

[@ccragrat]

I've only been to Kaliningrad once and only for a day but after seeing this video I want to go back and see more. Svetlogorsk reminded me of Sopot in Poland. The Kalingrad oblast has so much history and beautiful landscape to take in. Thank you Ivan and please keep this quality content coming.

[@lucasrem]

You need Walls of war, castles why you need quality on KZbin ? What did you meant ?

[@tevarinvagabond1192]

It's just sad...all the history and culture but it got ruined by Russia

[@admin6884]

​@@tevarinvagabond1192What you said made me laugh. Russia is the country that preserves the best historical monuments in Europe. Go to other countries and do they preserve historical sites like Russia?

[@tevarinvagabond1192]

@@admin6884 Your statement is such a joke, you must never have traveled many places in Europe or the rest of the world... Communist countries, on the other hand, destroyed a great deal of the past, as much as they could in order to supplant "the old order". Please read history books a bit more before making whacky outburts

[@Vitalis94]

@@admin6884 Yes? I mean, just compare how much more German architecture there is in Lithuania or Poland alone, compared to Kaliningrad.

[@p0k314COM]

Thank you for this video. Excellent documentary. Professional job.

[@markus7326]

Thank you for your special, authentic reporting on Kaliningrad. Now I am well prepared for my first visit to Kaliningrad in the summer.

[@Slykkpkins]

I was so fascinated by all the history you shared. I hope to visit this area soon.Thank you.

[@carlmichael29]

My aunt's boyfriend's family was from Ozyorsk (Darkehmen, Angerapp). They came to the US in the early 1950's. I'm not sure if they got out of East Prussia before or after the Soviets marched through. All I know is they came to the US in the early 1950's from East Prussia. His family doesn't talk much about the war or anything right after the war. War is hell. I hold no ill feelings towards the Germans or Russians. I just wish for peace for everyone. Can someone in Ozyorsk do me a favor or two? The old church you mentioned... My aunt's boyfriend's family was married in that church. There is a cemetery by the old church. My aunt's boyfriend's family are buried in that cemetery. I was hoping someone could look next time they are by the old cemetery and see if they can find any cemetery stones with the last name Naubereit on them. There is a lot of lost family genealogy from Ozyorsk (and Kaliningrad Oblast in general) that is lost to history. It would be nice if the old cemeteries in Ozyorsk and Kalinigrad Oblast were documented and added to the website "find a grave" so future generations of people can find their family and ancestors. Even if someone could give me the names and dates of birth and death on the stones I could add them to find a grave myself. Thank You. It is my wish to visit Russia and Kaliningrad Oblast one day. Best wishes and peace to all.

Thank you for a great video!

[@captainbackflash]

Thank you for showing the region of East Prussia and Königsberg. It looks and feels like home to me. Cool, just added you on Instagram.

[@hetty43]

As a German student in the early 1980s we were never told about Kaliningrad/Konigsberg. As far as we were told Germany consisted of West and East Germany. We were never told about Prussia or the German regions now in Poland. There is a very interesting museum nowadays in Gdańsk which I was lucky to visit which also showed something of German populations in the region. Very interesting to see all this. Thanks.

[@TreborInPHL]

I rarely watch a full 90 minute video, but this is great. Hearing the history along with all the sites is fantastic. Plus the journey itself is cool. Plus no garbage and no homeless people, seems very nice.

[@wanderingtiger8772]

Thankyou for making this! I’ve always found Kaliningrad fascinating. I’d like to visit someday

[@andreklotz6871]

Thank you so much for this Video, Ivan.....

[@88arakvita]

Wow so beautiful . The train reminds me the tranvía of Mexico City. Wow so much history in this Russian enclave. Love ❤ from Minneapolis Minnesota 🙏🙏

[@pyroakakohleblock584]

Bits of remembrance of a glorious architectural past, ending up in a homogenous soviet concrete block city without any Identity. My Grandmother was from Königsberg and always wanted to go back. Her visit after 1991 probably was the biggest disappointment of her late life. No revanchism or hate against Russians, but personally Russia feels like a big grey wasteland to me.

[@user-pf3kv4bv5s]

This is only in the Khrushchev era and after. In the pre-revolutionary and Stalinist periods, everything was built in the neoclassical style, which is fine

[@pyroakakohleblock584]

yes but not in königsberg @@user-pf3kv4bv5s

[@orderr928]

🤣@@user-pf3kv4bv5s

[@nikitadovidchenko6336]

Kaliningrad since then was rebuild and polished, right now it is looking very attractive especially the center and it is now have its own appearance.

[@orderr928]

wow very attractive two streets, rest shithole, but shitholes are attractive for ruzzians@@nikitadovidchenko6336

[@vsg24]

I enjoyed your conversation with the locals very much

[@DEVINdevdev]

Amazing video Vagabond!

[@jaytecx5942]

Отлично видео!

[@belizarius_997]

Fascinating insight on Kaliningrad region. Ozyorsk grandpas reminiscing on time before the borders were closed brought some memories. Many years ago I saw an interview with Polish people living on the other side. Apparently border exchange with Kaliningrad region was a big part of economy of neighbouring Polish and towns. I remember a story of group of local kids foraging for raspberries, got lost in the forest and accidentally crossed the Russian border. Russian soldiers found them, gave them a lot of sweets and drove them back to the Polish border. Unthinkable these days.

[@robertcharpentier6852]

Thank you for a wonderful video!

[@mirrorimage5423]

You make great content! Спасибо большое.

[@capslocked7274]

absolutely devastating what happened to Königsberg

[@kotbarsik777]

The city was destroyed by Great Britain. They knew that Koenigsberg would go to the USSR.

[@slidenapps]

It's actually devastating and very sad what happened all over Europe from the sides of the Germans and the Russians. If one didn't destroy something the other side did.

[@TheSlendermang]

Vyborg is in a similar state of disrepair. Not surprising, given the general upkeep of infrastructure in Russia.

[@orderr928]

by britain and ussr@@kotbarsik777

[@DerJuvens]

A bastion, by the way, usually tends to be a separate, further forward position that was indeed the first place to be assaulted. The point was to deplete enemy forces from a position, that you could abandon eventually to fall back to the main fortress with minimal risk for your own life or the entire fortress being captured upon retreat.

[@Yanagi88]

1 and a half hours! Thank you sir!

[@jan-erikandersen933]

Thx for the nice video and a great history lesson. Some of it I knew from before, but you did a great job completing it.

[@martso9288]

The bridge across Neman in Sovetsk/Tilsit/Tilžė connected a suburb, now independent town in Lithuania, Panemunė, which translates to "By Neman"

[@carl2994]

DE in that time just made a bridge to another suburb of Tilžė, nice. Nemunas was just a small river for them

[@bhoward9378]

This is by far one of your most interesting and informative videos. Sadly, it is so riddled with spam ads (some just a few minutes apart), that is is difficult and very time consuming to watch. I've heard from other KZbinrs that it is possible for you to reduce ads. Please consider doing so.

[@randylahey1822]

spark adblock*

[@SvengelskaBlondie]

Just get an adblocker or use a browser with an adblocker, the ad spam comes from youtube trying to compensate for the people blocking ads.

[@darrenalevi3006]

great video Vagabond love the history

[@user-zn5ly1zt6w]

Excellent tour- great job- Ive always been curious about this place and you have given me much great information- Im going to pass this to my friends !!- W

[@user-ne4kh8vy6l]

I like the content, but noticed lots of your videos have false info in them and in the titles as well. I noticed the word "Russia's outpost in Europe" , given the fact that 1/4 of Russia is in Europe all the way to the Ural mountains and that part of Russia is still the biggest European country by size. How it could be the outpost when big part of Russia especially the most developed one and it's historical core and in Europe.

[@stilllife11]

I grew up hearing about this special place. My grandfather's pain of losing his homeland to the insane and needless destruction of war tinged those stories. I feel as though I miss it too. Hopefully peace will come and I can stand in the place where my ancestors lived and loved not so long ago. Thank you for producing an interesting a showcase of what this region is today.

[@kraanz]

Be prepared to be massively disappointed. It's Russia we're talking about.

[@user-ns3rm8vj8d]

@@kraanz лол разочерование, ты свой берлин видел ? Везде нассано, бомжи и наркоманы и не понятно где ты находишься в берлине или в Стамбуле.

[@kraanz]

@@user-ns3rm8vj8d You suck. "I suck? BUT HE SUCKS EVEN MORE!" Classic Soviet whataboutism.

[@slidenapps]

​@@kraanzit actually looks pretty nice to me I was taught by my Russian teacher that outside of Moscow and St Petersburg Russia was ugly and well not ugly but the roads weren't paved people didn't have toilets so it's nice to think that in kaliningrad they have something. Of course it was left by the Germans and the Russians moved into it I would like to know how the Soviet Union decided which Russian citizens should have the honor of moving to kaliningrad and rebuilding. Does anyone know?

[@slidenapps]

​@@user-ns3rm8vj8dyou're not wrong.

[@cinemart5281]

Thank you for the detailed chapters!!!

[@Ajronmen305]

Great content! Thanks to people like you, us westerners can experience all those Russian places that are rarely talked about. You're bringing a new light and knowledge to all of us keep strong my friend

[@bjrnbreivik4582]

Been there in July on my way with my wife to her hometown in Ufa. Pretty nice place, clean and lots of nice things to see. Even tho its small. Also lived in hotel Skiperskaya in this fishin village :) cozy area. Bagrationovsk has border crossing with polan. I mean just few kms away. Thats where i have been crossing border to and from Russia. However its not for pedestrians. U need to be at least on bicycle to cross it.

[@XxKross1995xX]

Hello from Canada 🇨🇦 Big fan of your channel. I love how you show everyday life for the Russian people; as well as, the historical and natural environment.

[@SenBonZakura2007]

So well researched. Well done mate

[@o_s-24]

Found this channel a couple of days ago, now I'm addicted. Great work! I lived in Moscow for some time, but never went outside the oblast, so this is very very interesting

[@ivanb4816]

The area he called "favellas" is a former Soviet boathouses "cooperative", they are called "(h)ellings", as I recall, the owners were smart enough to transform them into habitable houses during the administrative chaos of the 90s.

[@ivantrainsLIVE]

Correct.

[@kennethocongerskin9460]

​@@ivantrainsLIVEHi, Sir. Love and peace from the UK.

[@nacekozo]

John Kay, the lead singer of Steppenwolf ("Born to be Wild"), was born in Tilsit, as was Edgar Froese, founder of Tangerine Dream. So it has some considerable musical pedigree!

[@donce18]

Russians killed his father

[@JSEITSONEN]

Did not know that ! Very important information to me !

[@ronuren3117]

I watch you from Sydney Australia, I love the trips you make. Your amazing. Ron

[@Mountain_Valley_Sky]

I enjoyed the video! Thank you.

[@CorsicanTino]

It is crazy to see the difference between Gdansk and Kaliningrad. So close. Similar history, but Gdansk is a thriving 21st century city while Kaliningrad seems stuck to late 90s.

[@diegoflores9237]

So? That happens all over the world. San Diego, USA and Tijuana, Mexico are basically one urban area divided by a border and the difference between both is enormous.

[@alexpug5162]

What? Gdansk is dirty trash spawn in fact))

[@jay1jayf]

europeans seething about russia in every russian video is hilarious

[@ewoudalliet1734]

@@jay1jayf More like Russians being unable to accept a simple fact due to their misplaced pride; or dare I say, arrogance

[@CorsicanTino]

@@diegoflores9237 As far as I am aware USA and Mexico have not been one country with the same population, language and culture about 80 years ago...

[@MM-zg4wu]

Interestingly, I can still apply for a free tourist visa. On the other hand, Booking does not book there and apparently no one gets a visa anyway. I checked it by watching a movie and remembering when I was there a few years ago. May the world be normal again someday.

[@ivantrainsLIVE]

Things like Booking and AirBnB do not work in Russia currently which indeed makes search of accommodation more difficult. I easily booked a hostel in Kaliningrad via Ostrovok - a local adaptation if Booking with almost the same interface. However, due to generally lesser popularity of this app, there is often very few reviews of accommodation which are important for me to read for better understanding where I am going to stay. In addition, some accommodations miss in Ostrovok. So it might be challenging sometimes to deal with booking, especially in small towns.

[@Peter-MH]

Great video, some very interesting history!

[@Eric-xx3mb]

Super fun to see all of this. I'll probably never get to visit Kaliningrad, but now I have an idea of what life is like there!

[@DerJuvens]

It's funny to see a hundreds of years old cobblestone road simply surviving the cheap asphalt on top and pushing through again 🤣