Kaliningrad: How Russia Got a Stronghold in Europe

​🍘 Use my code COLDWAR10 and link: bit.ly/3AOIu7w to get 10% off (save up to $47!) your own authentic Japanese subscription box from Bokksu! Don't miss out on this amazing snack-journey through Japan!
Our historical documentary series on the history of the Cold War continues with a video on the Soviet takeover of Kaliningrad (Konigsberg) in Prussia and how it became the Russian stronghold in Europe in the aftermath of World War II and the expulsion of the Germans from the region.
What Happened to the German and Japanese POWs?: • What Happened to the G...
German Expulsions: • German Expulsions Afte...
Soviet Education System: • Soviet Education Syste...
How Khrushchev Fed the Soviet People: • How Khrushchev Fed the...
Novocherkassk Massacre 1962: • Novocherkassk Massacre...
Soviet Tourism: • Soviet Tourism: How di...
Soviet Passport System: New Serfdom or Reform?: • Soviet Passport System...
Support us on Patreon: / thecoldwar
KZbin membership / @thecoldwartv
✔ Merch store ► teespring.com/stores/thecoldwar
✔ Patreon ► / thecoldwar
✔ Facebook ► / thecoldwartv
✔ Instagram ► / thecoldwartv
#ColdWar #Soviet #Kaliningrad
This video was sponsored by Bokksu

[@TheColdWarTV]

​🍘 Use my code COLDWAR10 and link: bit.ly/3AOIu7w to get 10% off (save up to $47!) your own authentic Japanese subscription box from Bokksu! Don't miss out on this amazing snack-journey through Japan!

[@pyeitme508]

Meh lol 🤣

[@greenkoopa]

David you crack me up! *BRUTALLY SUPPRESS THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON*

[@leroy5743]

German land back!!!

[@mnessenche]

Do not like the title that much, it is more of a Baltic Stronghold, not a European one for Russia as well as the Soviet Union are and were European already. We should not forget that and exclude based on mid-20th century cold war propaganda.

[@ThisHandleWasTheOnly1Available]

@@leroy5743 Molon labe

[@shiveshsingh3169]

When I was a kid, I always thought Prussia and Russia sounded way more similar than they should.

[@robertalaverdov8147]

I thought it meant Polish Russia, like Belarus or something.

[@AmanKumarPadhy]

Same here man, whenever we read tge formatiom of the german state and italy, i used to get prussia and russia wrong because i never really saw it on a historical map lol

[@fresconle7939]

@UC4Ny4iILW87q63mbV_RapMw you didn't think you are idiot

[@VM-hl8ms]

in balt languages prussia is pronounced with clear "proo-" (as in word prude), what as a whole word might mean something or someone chubby (a hint at fertile lands probably). while russia is pronounced with clear "ru-", what as a whole word suggests something smoldering.

[@jacekpalubinski7171]

The similarity of names Russia and Prussia might be not coincidental. Slavs east of Poland are referred to as Rus. An adjective is added when there is a need to distinguish between them. Original Prussians were Baltics, but Baltics are an offshoot of Slavs. Perhaps, original Prussians were perceived as a different kind of Russians by early Poles.

[@igorsmihailovs52]

Kaliningrad also served as a display of the "fully atheist region" within the Soviet Union, as not only all Lutheran priests were expelled to Germany but also all Russian Orthodox priests were not allowed to move in until the Soviet Union broke up.

[@borisbrosowski6630]

Poland also expelled all Lutheran priests although staying a firmly religous country. In SE Prussia the churches of the protestants were confiscated and given the the catholic church and the protestant Masurians (who had been not expelled because Poland claimed them as Polish) were sometimes forced to switch the religion. Together with declaring the use of the German language a crime this led to a mass-exodus of Masurians in the 1950ies to West Germany. Today only around 5000 (out of ca 1.000.000) remain.

[@hikerstl]

I worked with a german women who was from Kaliningrad (she called it by its German name, Konigsberg). She and her mother were the victims of the chaos of the war's end. At that hime she only around 5 years old. She became part of a large gang of children after the war who stole food from the Russians to feed themselves. Her mother died of starvation. Eventually she was connected to her father thru the Red Cross. Her father had the good fortune to be captured in the American zone and started working for the Americans. She ended up marrying a American soldier and hence how she came to be working in St Louis Mo at the Federal Reserve Bank. At that time, my boss was a Lithuanian who as a teenager was captured by the Germans and worked on a potato barge which he said was a great place to be because potatoes were like money. My best friend at the Fed was Jewish and his grandparents were Polish which were exterminated by Hitler. I often think about how these people from all these backgrounds happened to end up in a midwestern cities. Your video about Kaliningrad prompted me to remember those days.

[@achiever8008]

That’s why I love America best country in the World.❤❤🎉🎉

[@kaylahills3760]

@@achiever8008 or was

[@leaveme3559]

@@kaylahills3760 when there was segregation or when it had slavery or when it was killing indians or when it was a british colony???

[@kaylahills3760]

@@leaveme3559 ÒwÓ. Segregation because everyone minded their own business.

[@leaveme3559]

@@kaylahills3760 the fact that white men couldn't tolerate another black dude pissing beside him....screams of actually not minding there own business

[@luisantoniofernandezromera9978]

In 2005, the Kaliningrad State University, founded in 1967, was renamed the Immanuel Kant Russian State University, the name of the city's most famous neighbor, something that 60 years of occupation cannot erase. Since 2011 his name is Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University

[@borisbrosowski6630]

Kaliningrad is basically the last bigger city to still bear the name of a communist leader and a certified war criminal (he signed the Katyn massacre). And Kant was not an inhabitant of Kaliningrad but Königsberg, so it's a little bit cynical to name the university after a member of the people (East Prussians) that the Russians ethnically clensed.

[@Paciat]

@@borisbrosowski6630 Lol, nothing cynical in justice. Hitler had twice as much support in East Prussia than in West Germany in the 30s. They were treated ALMOST as bad as they treated Russians or Poles. Cause treating them like civilized men after WWI didnt work.

[@AM-md6sv]

@@Paciat That's literally not justice, those were war crimes. The nature of war crimes and international law is that war crimes can never be justified, whatever they were. So you basically saying "they deserved it" has no justification. By your logic other nations would be allowed to commit war crimes of their own, such as relocating millions of Russians and Poles because they did it to the Germans living there before. It creates a mentality of "I can murder your family because you murdered mine".

[@luisantoniofernandezromera9978]

@@borisbrosowski6630 Yes, the order for the Katyn massacre was issued by Laurenti Beria and approved by the Politburo. The original document of the order of March 5, 1940 includes the signatures of approval of Stalin, Voroshilov, Molotov, Mikoian, Kalinin and Kaganovich All of them are responsible for these crimes.

[@Paciat]

@@AM-md6sv And how you punish war crimes that are law in nazi Germany? You saying "war crimes can never be justified" is like saying murderers shouldnt be killed, no matter what. War crimes can be justified, and there is no such thing as nature of law. Cause there is no law in nature. The nature of a human being is that he usually will treat you as you treat him. If Germany dosnt care about the peace treaties and international laws that they signed you need to: 1. Pacify them with similar methods that they are using against you and hang their government. 2. Force them to make a new government that will obey the laws. 3. Start obeying the laws that they started to do. And your assumption that you shouldnt fight fire with fire, but surrender to fire cause fire is bad is absurd. Your saying that if someone kills your family you cannot even force them to move. The "eye for an eye" law is what shaped civilization, and when one country is using peace treaties and international laws to wipe their ass first you have to teach it why its a bad idea to do so. Then you can worry about some new laws that were made less than a century ago.

[@jorgeadelprado]

2:05 I am amazed you managed to get video recordings from the middle ages

[@TheColdWarTV]

we have VERY talented producers ;)

[@jorgeadelprado]

@@TheColdWarTV love you, guys

[@hughmungus1767]

@@TheColdWarTV - And a time machine!

[@Literally-Brian]

Ironically enough this is not the first time the east Prussian region came into Russian control. The region was occupied by Russia in the seven years war and Frederick the great offered to give east Prussia to Russia in exchange of peace. Luckily the Russian tsar was a fan of Frederick and they made peace without anyone annexing anything

[@Wustenfuchs109]

Well, Peter III was Frederick's fellow countryman...

[@nattygsbord]

East Prussia got occupied by the Russians in the seven years war and it was the only part of the Kingdom that had not been heavily destroyed by the war. The Russians felt so sure that they would win the war and gain the province after the war that they were careful not to destroy it, as they then could reap more economic benefit from it after the war and the control of the population would be easier if they would not be hostile to their new occupyiers.

[@karlmuller3690]

@@savagedarksider5934 - So, what's your point?

[@garrydimasa1964]

Miracle of the House of Brandenburg. If it didn't happen Prussia may very well be another mediocre German states. It's fascinating how history and fate works.

[@beatrix1120]

@@nattygsbord kinda wish Stalin had that idea. Would have been cool for Kaliningrad to still have old German architecture. Also you know, less homelessness after the war

[@ericragnar3069]

Both Churchill and Roosevelt agreed with the mustache lmao

[@janispetke9519]

Selling out three small nations. Unforgivable.

[@secuter]

Churchill and Stalin were clear cut imperialists. Churchill sold out most of Eastern Europe in return for influence in Greece; both honored the deals they made.

[@sapereaude1483]

@@secuter There weren't alternatives, it is how the war works. Everyone got the mission to undo the nazification of their liberated part.

[@AlfaGiuliaQV]

Can't argue with a moustache like that.

[@EnigmaEnginseer]

@@sapereaude1483 Which they gave up on soon after realizing that trying to purify the German hierarchy was too time consuming and they were more concerned with facing the other superpower

[@valentinstoyanov304]

Voluntold :-) Love this word. "Dobrovolno" vs. "dobro...zorno" in Bulgarian...

[@Asgoga]

I live near Kaliningrad or as we like to call it Karaliaučius. I live in Memel/Klaipėda a beautiful Prussian-Lithuanian city, i recommend everyone to come and visit it, and see for yourself the Prussian architecture, Klaipėdos Castle Museum and Lithuania Minor museum You can go right now to Klaipėdos beach and find Wermacht coastal defense bunkers . When Lithuania was occupied by Soviet Union my parents liked to go to Karaliaučius or Tilsit/Sovetsk.

[@tymoteuszfabereusz4199]

Hi from Poland man :)

[@user-xb9yv2ci4c]

How do you feel about a return of East Prussia to Germany?

[@tymoteuszfabereusz4199]

@@user-xb9yv2ci4c ?

[@asteriusblack]

lol memel/klaipėda aint prussian it's more germanized city bcs of ww2.

[@redshuttleredacted6422]

@@user-xb9yv2ci4c Although it would be nice, returning it to Germany would be an administrative and cultural nightmare because the demographics have completely changed. It would be a bit unpleasant, to say the least, to have Poles, Russians, and Lithuanians living in the area for half a century now to be expelled in the same way the Germans were expelled after WW2.

[@Amoniac83]

The reason it was not incorporated into Lithuanian SSR was not because of ethnicity, but because of higher production and food quotas which would be based on the increased territory and population. As Kaliningrad region had virtually no farming output and only limited industry it was seen by the Lithuanian communist leadership as merely a burden. Hence the proposal was rejected.

[@deltaplan996]

My grandfather was criticaly wounded on April 8th 1945 in area between Konigsberg's suburbs of Metgethen and Landkeim when his tank destroyer ISU-152 was hit by Tiger tank.

[@stefanodadamo6809]

The ISU-152 was an incredible beast. Only a Tiger could take it on

[@Ravi-vv7up]

Fascinating. There is footage/photograph of the battle of Konigsberg where you can see a knocked out ISU 152.

[@ggbpartystarter5958]

I see that now you are very diverse, please talk about Pacepa Affair. The romanian close ally which spied for moscow, bucharest and Washington.

[@goldenstilettos3166]

Lived there all of my childhood, whenever this place pops up anywhere in a video it's a must-watch for me haha. Thanks for this episode

[@georgewilliams8448]

Thank you for another informative and well presented video. Thank you for covering little known parts of that era!

[@snuggles03]

One of my German friends told me that in the 70s Russia offered to return Koenigsberg to Germany, but the Germans said they didn’t want it so it stayed with Russia which is a shame

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

True.

[@thunderbird1921]

Probably a good idea, because Russia keeps their Baltic fleet there as a warm water port. Keeps international tensions lower.

[@dashaignatieva6480]

That’s bullshit

[@nomedan]

😅😅😅

[@mardasman428]

In the midst of a local English conversation meeting in my German university town I met a law student from Kaliningrad who was a big fan of Europe and democracy, telling me that the region would be quite prowestern and less pro-Russian than most Russian oblasts. In fact she has an Armenian background and is now campaigning for international recognition of Armenian control of Artsakh/Mount Karabakh as part of a "back to the roots" tour. It's kind of a testament to the weird as well as fascinating demographic mix that made Kaliningrad what it is today. Also, most Germans don't care at all about Königsberg, the historical ties are cut almost completely and the area is only interesting to historians and some Germans who want to visit the area to see how they or their direct ancestors lived. Most of its historical architecture is falling apart, which is quite a pity.

[@dashaignatieva6480]

That’s wrong. I am from Kaliningrad. People here patriotic and love Russia. We don’t consider ourself Europe, here a lot of military people. That bimbo told bulshit

[@andriusbalukas207]

Fantastic research. Thanks and keep going!

[@Nhosto]

Pew, we really dodged the bullet with rejection of that transfers suggest by Khrushchev.

[@robertalaverdov8147]

Would make about a quarter of the current population, give or take. Same as Latvia and Estonia. Though I think Putin still wants you guys back, regardless. And if not for the US you might be Voluntold to do so. Most of the EU other than Poland I doubt would be willing to put up a fight. Might even do so for a discount on gas.

[@ForOne814]

@A Fels >Russian supermarkets emptied No, they didn't, lol. Literally nothing happened to them.

[@ForOne814]

@@user-vi4fr2vw3u literally nothing has changed, lol. Except for the prices, but that's a normal thing.

[@crabyman3555]

@@robertalaverdov8147 Russia paid a big price for taking Crimea, its economy was in recession for good 5 years in a row and the sanctions on its technological development will cause pain for many many years to come.......and this all was from taking Crimea, a land that didnt even belong to EU and NATO member. Bravado is one thing, actually paying for it is another

[@robertalaverdov8147]

@@crabyman3555 I don't think Putin was all that bothered. If anything it only reinforced his warped mindset and gave him the impetus to crack down on his perceived enemies. Meanwhile he reoriented the economy to Autarky. Sure, Russians got screwed but I doubt he cares. My thoughts lay in the weak EU leadership that had to be dragged kicking and screaming in order to place those sanctions. Most of them under intense US pressure despite the MH17 shootdown. Also bravado or not polling on EU citizens shows very little willingness to serve in conflict. IE the average European outside of eastern Europe isn't willing to die for damn near anything, Baltic countries included. If it wasn't for the US umbrella the EU might not risk confrontation. And it's not just with Putin, look at how weakly they responded to Erdogan when he threatened to send Syrian migrants. Gave him billions despite him lining his pockets with cash from ISIS. Frankly I just don't see them as willing to risk their necks.

[@RoboticDragon]

Something I have always wondered about, and never ever seem to look up. Thanks

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

I was honestly curious about how something like this could have come about, thank you for further informing me!

[@markmierzejewski9534]

Great job on the pronunciation… I bet you took a few tries but great job!!

[@TheColdWarTV]

just got lucky this week ;)

[@sabflash]

Very interesting topic and a lot of new infos for me Thanks a lot

[@TheColdWarTV]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@rosswebster7877]

Another great Cold War video! In recent years I found out that my great grandmother emigrated from the old Prussian town of Tilsit, famous only for a cheese and a brief meeting between Napoleon and Tsar Alexander III. Of course there is no more Tilsit. It is now the Russian town of Sovetsk within Kaliningrad Oblast.

[@sapereaude1483]

So you are an original prussian? Where do you live today? East Germany?

[@filipjoldzic7368]

The meeting in Tilsit was between Napoleon and Alexander I.

[@rosswebster7877]

@@filipjoldzic7368 Thanks for the clarification

[@rosswebster7877]

@@sapereaude1483 In the USA. She emigrated in 1875.

[@sapereaude1483]

@@rosswebster7877 oh cool, I wonder if there is a prussian community left or they completly integrated.

[@brokenbridge6316]

A unique city with what I suspect is a unique history. I wouldn't mind knowing more about it. My compliments to all those who made this video a reality.

[@ligayamatira2164]

We wish to feature about the Stuctures of East German Government

[@anthonypriestley7163]

I think that Kaliningrad meant the spirit of the prussian imperialism and also a permanent issue with Poland, so taking out that was meant to stop Germany to future seeking lands to east and join its territories. Not saying that the soviets were good to Poland, but they were able to have its own country keeping its borders up to today. With German there wouldn't be no Poland, maybe a vassal landlocked small country, so the point was preventing any future war against Poland, and also by keeping Konigsberg/Kaliningrad it would mean that Germans would have to deal with Russia rather then Poland on this regrad.

[@Batmax192]

Germany wasn't any threat in 1945... Nor it is today... The base for giving this to Russia was simple imperialism and weakness of the Allies leaders (Rosevelt dieing, Churchill loosing elections). Europe would be much safer if this territory was given to Lithuania or Poland... Even better would be to give it to Jews (no Israeli - Palestinian problem).

[@joudan]

I was born there. Looking forward to watch the episode.

[@elhistoriero1227]

Is It a good place to live?

[@joudan]

@@elhistoriero1227 Left it 11 years ago. :) Quite good by Russian standards, although career perspectives are mixed (which is true for the most Russian cities outside of Moscow and Saint Petersburg).

[@nationalist464]

@@joudan are you Russian?

[@joudan]

@@nationalist464 yep

[@borisbrosowski6630]

I am of Prussian descent and my ancestors lived there from the very first settlements. I do not wish to live there and as far as I can tell none of the present-day Germans of east Prussian descent want to too (maybe buying a holiday home, but not resettle there). As far as I can see it, this is the last bond for russia with europe and I would like it to remain that way. It would be great if the russian population would all learn German at school (as secondary language) and some kind of tradezone would be established. I am aware of polish and lithuanian desires to grab that piece of land (and see a slight justification for the baltic lithuanians - but none for the poles), but I hope that Kaliningrad will become a bridge between EAST and WEST (as it once was)

[@benjamintocchi7909]

One of the conditions placed on German reunification by the Allied Powers and at the behest of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was that Kaliningrad Oblast would not be considered for reunification and that the Federal Republic of Germany had to relinquish all rights and claims to to the land.

[@benjamintocchi7909]

@Harvey Smith Thanks! The beauty of typing on a phone.

[@hughmungus1767]

Even now, the value of an ice free port and major military base is very significant for the Russians.

[@varana]

That "condition" had essentially been agreed upon by the German governments decades before (the East German one soon after the War, obviously; the West German one basicaly in 1970). And no one in Germany seriously considered getting it back anyway. So this "condition" was more a case of "let's officially finalise the status quo while we're at it".

[@borisbrosowski6630]

You're right, but the agreement (as written down in the 2plus4 contracts) goes even further: The re-united Germany cannot change its borders ever! This leads to the absurd belgian border inside Germany of the Vennbahn, which cannot be changed although both sides want to... kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXawkJama82Jm68 (it's in english)

[@alengrm7488]

@@borisbrosowski6630 So if Bavaria wanted to declare independence(or any other region), that would technically be illegal cuz the border of Germany will change?

[@-haclong2366]

I have family that fled from East Prussia, this wasn't an easy exodus.

[@paulcock8929]

It was a war crime, and the US and GB agreed with it.

[@secuter]

@@paulcock8929 You're right. But I bet you'll have people show up and spout nonsense like "well they deserved it". Nobody deserve to be expelled from their own homes.

[@sapereaude1483]

@@secuter They didn't deserved it but they caused it, they scared everyone so much trying to clean the others themselves, so british, american and russians agreed that the prussian military tradition center has to be erased.

[@AM-md6sv]

@@sapereaude1483 wasn't even the military heartland, that was Berlin and the Rhineland. It was just what they said in an attempt to justify themselves. Most of the German military generals was from western Germany.

[@sapereaude1483]

@A Fels Lol, what are you talking about putinist version? It's the mainstream version, I just parahprased this video.

[@steveplaster]

Very interesting. Thank you.

[@michaelweeks9317]

Meticulously researched, well documented with footage and maps, extremely well presented! Bravo Good Sir-you were born to do this! A fan in San Antonio, Texas, Michael Weeks.

[@user-oj2rk2ll3t]

Kaliningraders still have this weird regional identity somewhat different from the rest of Russia. Supposedly in the 2000s a Soviet pensioner wrote to a local paper lamenting the state of the oblast's agriculture, and ended his letter "And to think that before the war we were the breadbasket of Germany!" Sadly, the region's actual heritage is deteriorating due to Soviet/Russian authorities neglecting or even outright destroying Prussian architecture. Great episode, thank you!

[@user-xb9yv2ci4c]

Do you live in Kaliningrad? What would you think about Kaliningrad joining a European country or becoming independent?

[@user-oj2rk2ll3t]

@@user-xb9yv2ci4c I don't, so I guess it's their call.

[@nomedan]

Tam vse ruZZkije agresivnynkak i v roZZii. Rusofašysty nekogda neizmeniatsa i eto pokazali v Ukraine... Baltijskije strany pomnian izvergov rusofašystkich "osvoboditelei"... fui, ubogij ZZ narod

[@carloss1904]

great video!

[@M3chUpN8y]

I love your trademark "but there's a but" XD

[@Mrgunsngear]

Thanks

[@jlvfr]

"Voluntold"... gonna steal that! :D

[@RapidAssaultEuro]

I've heard some rumours that Kaliningrad was offered back to Germany upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union, but it was rejected by the Germans as development of the region would cost too much. Is this true?

[@LiezAllLiez]

Most likely the reason for the refusal was that the land was tainted by "russianism". Same reason why Lithuania rejected it.

[@borisbrosowski6630]

The USSR dissolved because they simply could not pay their military anymore. Cold War had become too costly. As Kaliningrad a that point was basically a military area, it was doubted that the USSR would be able to supply it and support it financially. A german-russian confederate zone was discussed and some Germans actually moved there to live (from Russia and from Germany) but that could only have happened with Russia joining the EU. That did not happen. And now, with Germany basically dominating the EU and the baltic coastline, there is no need for that and it would encircle Poland again, which nobody wants.

[@skalderman]

@@borisbrosowski6630 A zone being a common ground seems very interesting though I dont know any other example

[@V8_screw_electric_cars]

@@borisbrosowski6630 USSR could afford everything but you couldn't reform it Gorbachov tried and failed that's why it collapsed.

[@borisbrosowski6630]

@@V8_screw_electric_cars If USSR could afford everything, there would not have been need for refom.... USSR lost the Cold War economically and needed money (even the most prosperous WarzawPact State, the GDR in the end solely existest because of loans given to them by the FRG). I was there when that happened and believe me, the Eastern Bloc states were all completely bancrupt. No matter how people now try to gloss over the communist rules, it was really bad (economically), thats why it all broke down. Gorbatchev actually tried to save the USSR by reforming it, but at that point it simply was too late.

[@sol2544]

It kinda saddens me, Ostpreussen was where my great great great grandfather lived. Now it's Kalinigrad

[@v.emiltheii-nd.8094]

Liechtenstein:"Finally a worthy opponent. Our battle will be legendary!"

[@mattanderson6336]

Is the opening scene from the movie Alexander Nevsky?

[@TheColdWarTV]

Yep, love that movie

[@cmleibenguth]

Where was the video clip of the Teutonic Order from? What movie was that?

[@HistoryOfRevolutions]

"Who doesn’t respect and value his past, is not worth the honour of the present, and has no right to a future" - Jozef Pilsudski

[@tylerbozinovski427]

Ironic since Pilsudski was Polish, and the Poles took WAY more German territory than the Soviets did.

[@nattygsbord]

A very good quote. Thanks for post it. I will use it many time. I think this does in a nutshell explain my contempt for the EU which wants to destroy the history of great nations.

[@Thomas194.]

@@tylerbozinovski427 True, they took southern part of East Prussia and the territories along the east bank of Oder river

[@borisbrosowski6630]

As the Poles themselves discarted Pilsdulski and opted for Dmowski (resulting in a coherent but small national state) I don't think this is the appropriate place or topic to quote him.

[@borisbrosowski6630]

@@Thomas194. They did not expell the Masurians as they regarded them as "Polish". The Masurians themselves left in droves once it was possible for them (est. 700.000 in the 1950ies) - as they did not want to be part of a polish state and the economic outlook was far more positive in the FRG. As for Silesia and Pommerania you are right, but only in a corridor of 100km as to have not a german border population - in case of a revenge war ....

[@borisbrosowski6630]

Very well done, evenhanded and profound. Thank you.

[@TheColdWarTV]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kchall5]

I've wondered about this isolated piece of Russia in Eastern Europe. Of what use is it now to Russia, especially since the independence of the Baltic republics? I suppose its strategic location is important by itself, but now I would think it's more trouble than it's worth to modern-day Russia.

[@janispetke9519]

On the contrary, without Kaliningrad Russia would be blocked from the Baltic Sea. It is vital to Russian doctrine of fucking things up.

[@AlfaGiuliaQV]

It´s a great pawn for keeping the baltic states and the southern baltic sea countries in check. Personally i wish they build a ginormous nato airbase right on the exclaves border. Make them feel uncomfortable.

[@teemuvesala9575]

Kaliningrad is home to Russian Baltic fleet. Its vital to Russia as they don't have warm water port from mainland Russia to Baltic sea.

[@tfgrconus]

I love this channel, but my #1 criticism is that in all the videos the background music begins too early and-coupled with the increasing volume-quickly becomes distracting to the story being told. Whoever is producing them should fix this. It’s not good.

[@tosoledo]

You should make a video about the rise and fall of pol pot and the Khmer rouge. Thanks.

[@ThisHandleWasTheOnly1Available]

My great grandfather killed three German soldiers near Kaliningrad in the early 1945 East Prussia offensive.

[@AlfaGiuliaQV]

My grandfather killed a few russian soldiers during their offensive to try and take Finland 1944

[@hajleselasije2368]

@@AlfaGiuliaQV :-) Russia's great flaw is that they have always forgiven those who killed them, instead of sending them to the grave

[@AlfaGiuliaQV]

@@hajleselasije2368 :)well they tried to send us to the grave but they failed, as always.

[@hajleselasije2368]

@@AlfaGiuliaQV :-) if they wanted to, you would have been underground a long time ago, and would eventually have been mentioned as some historical anomaly

[@AlfaGiuliaQV]

@@hajleselasije2368 :) Ooh.."if they wanted to" Strong argument 🤣🤣Apparently, they didn´t want enough.

[@MrMichkov]

What movie is that at the start?

[@ToastyMcGrath]

"East Prussia sounds like 'Is Russia,' so clearly we get Koenigsberg."

[@osymandias]

Whats the name of the music you use on your channel

[@benba8342]

You Russian pronounciations have really became naturaly sounding after these 30 months!

[@trizvanov]

I wouldn't call it "natural", but is he is definitely making an effort!

[@neonz616]

Not only Germans got expelled, also small Baltic ethnicity Kursenieki, related to Latvians, who lived on Curonian split, were basically extermined. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kursenieki

[@borisbrosowski6630]

Absolutely, Kurland is another forgotten tragic piece of history. Thanks for pointing that out!

[@amalgama2000]

These expelled "germans" were germanized by the Teoutonic crusaders baltic tribes related to Latvians and Lithuanians too...

[@borisbrosowski6630]

@@amalgama2000 DNA-Research amongst the expelled germans has shown that nealy all of them have a pretty equal mix of Baltic/German/Slavic DNA, as not only were the Pruth "germanized" but settlers from Masovia and mainland Germany came in. It is however, fairly honest to say that the East-Prussians had their own Identity as a Baltic People and that the wipe-out that took place in and after 1945 was basically a genocide (by the rules of the UN).

[@neonz616]

@@borisbrosowski6630 Kursenieki lived in Curonian Split, not Kurland (Courland). They are related somewhat, and Kursenieki spoke in dialect of Latvian. But Courland is part of Latvia, Curonian Split has never been (it was German Empire before WWI, then Memel Territory, then Lithuania, then Germany, then USSR, now it's part Lithuania, part Russia).

[@borisbrosowski6630]

@@neonz616 Sorry about the mistake, but I am aware of this part of East Prussia. Everyone was killed/deported, Germans, Poles, Communists, Jews, even sowjet POWs. Basically the aim was to create en empty space for Russian annexation. The Kursenieki would have had the advance to flee to Latvia/Kleipeda/Memel as about 100.000 East Prussians did.

[@a.katsarakis4268]

Forced or enticed relocation of population groups was common practice within the medieval empires of Eastern Europe, usually to address demographic shortages. So the whole idea was not new at all.

[@huntermad5668]

The scale is new. Million of people were "pushed" to new home. The job were done throughly enough to ensure the flimsy excuse like the ones Hitler used couldn't fly anymore

[@scruffythejanitorr]

Great subject! I would love a video about how those force relocations were actually cunducted. I don't think it was a red army officer with a list showing up at a koljos and forcefully putting those on the list into a bus to be relocated or anything like that. Love the bell button running gag as well!

[@chad12345678]

I'm surprised lithuania had any say in the matter to take it or not.

[@WolfyOfHonor]

it was part of USSR, so just dropping bureaucratic responsibility to one of the republics was a sensible approach.

[@erikthomsen4768]

Geographically determining administration did also ocular else where like Crimea or the two Ossetian Republics.

[@AlfaGiuliaQV]

If they had accepted the offer at the time, there would be a totally different geopolitical situation in the Baltic sea today. (much calmer)

[@jimmyryan5880]

You should do the Limerick soviet

[@catriona_drummond]

what do you mean Europe? A HUGE chunk of Russia is part of Europe. Including St petersburg, Moscow and dozens of other major cities?

[@trizvanov]

40% of Russia is on the European continent. I suppose he meant, European Union.

[@borisbrosowski6630]

A country can be physically be part of the european continent, but not spiritually. Turkey also has land in Europe....

[@trizvanov]

@@borisbrosowski6630 No idea what that is supposed to mean ?

[@vasjakur]

@@trizvanov He means that atheist pro-LGBT pro-abortion Dutch and religious anti-abortion anti-LGBT Poles carry the same European mentality while Russians are vastly different.

[@lrike2250]

You should try a video about Latin America, so much significant happened in the region at that time. Peron in Argentina, the establishment of PRI as the de facto only party in Mexico, the suicide of Vargas in Brazil, the US intervention in Guatemala in 1954, … Also it would be nice a video about the military coups and dictatorships stablished in the region by the US as a part of the Cold War mentality of preventing communism.

[@ShamanKish]

Come on, man, half of Russia is Europe 🤦‍♂️

[@KamiKitsuneVA]

My dream for Konigsberg would be for it to become independent from Russia, be rebuilt to honor it's historical past, and have it be a beautiful region of mixing Baltic, Polish, and German cultures

[@thedysfunctionalbiographer3314]

Fortunately Kaliningrad in Moscow oblast was renamed or there'll be a lot of confusion.

[@igorsmihailovs52]

How much sarcastic is this, at this time?

[@gulasch9555]

What about the number of German civilians sent to work camps in Siberia? Do you have an approximation?

[@borisbrosowski6630]

According the the polish atlas of expulsion (which was published in the late nineties - so before Polish "remoddeling" of history became this nation's goal) an est. 60.000 German civilians were deported. I consider this number to be believable as the pre-war population of this area was about 1,2 million, with around 1 m being evacuated in the last days of the war. The remaining ones were either killed, died of malnutrition and deseases or became Lithuanians. When it was possible for the ethnic germans to leave the USSR,virtually zero came from NEPrussia.

[@JohnSmith-zs9vr]

@@borisbrosowski6630 This nation's goal? In what sense?

[@borisbrosowski6630]

​@@JohnSmith-zs9vr To establish themselves as helpless victims in WWII, which they were not. Putting out records of polish people collaborating with the nazis in the holocaust is prohibited by criminal AND civil law. Even the post-war massacres of jewish holocaust-survivors in Poland have been completely erased from every polish text-book. This is done to present a homogenous polish people that were either innocent victims or brave heroes. (ref: Tomasz Gross: Golden Harvest or Sarah Bender: In Enemy Land). As suchbasically everything published after 2010 in Poland is of not much worth in finding out the objectivistic truth.

[@JohnSmith-zs9vr]

@@borisbrosowski6630 You're just exaggerating the squeal of Jews. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iavXh2xsZrB-nqM

[@blacklight4720]

@@JohnSmith-zs9vr Boris gave a proper explanation. *Not relevant to the discussion.* My tip to you john is to double-check everything you watch and hear, especially on youtube. Nationalism is a seductive weapon which especially dangerous to youth, I suggest that you begin catching it before it corrupts your mind. Europe is about to go through tough times in the near future.

[@josipbozic7917]

For a future (short) episode I suggest the only peasant rebellion in the history of Cold War Europe: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cazin_rebellion

[@NarnianLady]

The book 'The Amber Room' is a telling story...

[@The__Leo69]

Königsberg is so popular that it has a mathematical problem named after it lol.

[@samuellee9752]

I was just shown a Russian ad for Berlingo pens?

[@DS-ql8wy]

My grandfather came from Konigsberg

[@deannilvalli6579]

"-Berg" is pronounced like bear in English (plus the G sound), not like surf or turn. Burg and Berg are two completely different words, and the pronunciation must reflect this. I know this guy does his best on pronunciation on all the foreign words, which of course is not easy with all the different languages. But if he sees this.... he knows for next time! ;)

[@jamesfletcher4382]

Apparently Kaliningrad has the best beer in Russia due to the german brewery there?

[@beachboy0505]

Good video 📹 I am happy that Poland kept two thirds so some original people lives there.

[@na6355]

Who said that Polish government didn't expell them? My friend you do need to do research before saying something rubbish like this. The whole Eastern European government expelled majority of their sizable German population. Sudetand Germans and the whole East Prussian Germans were expelled

[@secuter]

The Polish government expelled the Germans too by orders of Stalin. Even though they were ordered to do it, they were quite enthusiastic in expelling them.

[@filipjoldzic7368]

@@secuter Sadly everebody was. In Yugoslavia, specifically northern Serbia many were expelled to but some stayed.

[@borisbrosowski6630]

@@na6355This refers to the Masurians, who settled in the southern part of east prussia. The were protestant refugees from poland (around 1700) who were allowed to settle there by the prussians. The poles reagarded them as polish, they regarded themselves as slavic prussians. This is why they opted to stay with germany after WWI. After WWII indeed they were not expelled, but were forced to give up their protestant belief and persecuted if they not fully polonised themselves. In the 1950s, they were allowed to leave to West Germany and nearly all of them did. Some are actually still living there, accepted as official Minority in Poland, numbers are around 5000 (and they are protestant and not catholic).

[@mr.n0ne]

Exclave in Japan.. sounds a great idea.😂👍

[@PRmoustache88]

Potsdam 1944 was full of a lot bad ideas.

[@gorillaguerillaDK]

At least Denmark got Bornholm back from the USSR….

[@louisecorchevolle9241]

JASSÅ

[@uncleadi]

I guess not killing 27 million of the Soviet population made the difference for the Danes.

[@gorillaguerillaDK]

@@uncleadi I'm afraid I don't get what you saying!?

[@compatriot852]

Shame that Lithuania minor (Kalingrad) wasn't returned to Lithuania, especially given how much Lithuanian history is linked to the region and native Prussian Lithuanians. In particular, the Prussian Lithuanian book smugglers were an important aspect at preserving Lithuanian literature and culture during persecution from the Russian empire

[@KimisLV]

Lithuania was asked if they want to take it, but they refused since the region was heavily russified.

[@spifer2326]

after dissolution of soviet union boris yeltsin proposed to give away oblast to either poland or lithuania but none agreed. lithuania for reason you told and poland for reason on not starting teritorial disputes again since integration of germany may cause some old folks wanting danzig and whole pomerian and silesia region back for new germany since poles got something

[@jussim.konttinen4981]

Plot twist: Moscow is entirely in Europe

[@borisbrosowski6630]

Just physically, not mentally. Actually he meant the EU.

[@jussim.konttinen4981]

@@borisbrosowski6630 We Finns also say, "I'm going to Europe". Flight from Helsinki to Berlin takes about two hours

[@user-dl1bs6lm1g]

The city was castrated from all its history, culture, identity and non-military relevance.

[@macariomatira3234]

Do the Video about Indonesia under Suharto

[@erikthomsen4768]

I looked up the record and found one about the Independence War. So it wouldn’t be out of the question. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnPLZKSrfsaHqas

[@elevationsickness8462]

Ik a man's gotta eat and it was a fine ad, but getting an ad for Japanese candy on a video about European borders was very jarring

[@derkommentierer4160]

Interestingly, Russia did offer the territory back to Germany in 1991. The now ball less Germans declined. German allies would have less headaches than now.

[@borisbrosowski6630]

There was never an official offer. Otherwise please tell me your source of information, I'd be very happy to learn something new on this.

[@bdog2802]

Considering Yeltsin was American NATO loving traitor, Iam not surprised.

[@danielcarroll6388]

Lol the mustache

[@dutchvanderlinde5004]

👍

[@chriswhitenackmediaproduct6906]

Moo. Damnit.

[@jerrynelson5289]

Kalinin was the Soviet Head state and Russia from 1925-1946 at least on paper. Lenin comrades in arms. as an old Bolshevik I am kind of surprise he did not perish during the Great Purge.

[@thechekist2044]

Molotov, Kaganovich, Voroshilov etc were also Old Bolsheviks. Why didn't they perish? You think all the Bolsheviks died in the 30s?

[@jerrynelson5289]

probably 60% of them. Radek, Bela kun, Rykov, Enukidze, Kamenev, Zinoviev, Bukharin, Trotsky All the brains and the intelectual of the party wiped out, only Stalinist loyalist remains after the Great Purge.

[@thechekist2044]

@@jerrynelson5289 Trotsky and Kun were not Old Bolsheviks, both of them joined the Bolsheviks in 1917, a couple of months before the revolution.

[@jerrynelson5289]

Trotsky was non affiliate before 1917 However, he play a crucial in Petrograd Soviet and was instrumental in the Revolutionary commitee . Regardless, he was a good Marxist. Kun was avowed Leninist. After the civil, he went to hungary to Hungarian Soviet Republic short lived.

[@bendover6272]

love sankara

[@blitzkrieg2928]

Poor Konigsberg

[@Listenerandlearner870]

I have heard that a cruise ship of Germans escaping to the West was bombed by the Soviets. Have you heard that ?

[@MuhamedAvdic]

Kaliningrad is wested part of Europian Russia

[@hrenotehnik]

Эта ветка комментариев объявляется анклавом. Не подходите у нас есть ракета!

[@urmipie]

Этот комментарий объявляется кафедральный собором, чтобы у анклава был свой собор

[@amalgama2000]

Этот коментарий объявлется Домом Советов ибо какой же это Калининград без тетериса?

[@revinhatol]

One word: *Королевец* (Korolevets)

[@JenniferinIllinois]

Too bad the Lithuanians didn't accept the offer of taking over Kaliningrad. 😉

[@janispetke9519]

The last tving any country needs is a Russian minority. That means free real estate for Putler.

[@WhiteBandit]

Think of the problems it would have caused today.

[@rikstan15]

And it was recently annexed by Czechia 🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿

[@marcl.1346]

It is criminal to completely destroy thousand year old architecture and annex a territory that has been part of a countries heartleand for equally as long. This may be okay in ancient times but the fact the Allies did this in modern enlightened times just to literally spite the Germans just reeks of malevolence to me.

[@TelcontarTargaryen]

Make Kaliningrad Königsberg Again!

[@theshadowman1398]

Not going to happen

[@stephenchappell7512]

It should be called Kjonigsberg It's Russian name 🇷🇺

[@hoznaymubarak8914]

A significant portion of the Russian Federation is in Europe even without Kalingrad. So, they have had a stronghold in Europe for several centuries.

[@closefm]

I was born here and I live here. My great-grandfather participated in the Koenigsberg assault.

[@louiseogden1296]

Lithuania was more sensible than Ukraine at resisting Khrushchev's blandishments about new territory. God help us today if Kaliningrad was effectively a trojan horse in the EU like Crimea was within Ukraine.

[@Qin_Lee]

I live in Kaliningrad. In ww2 my grand grandfather fight in the operation of Bagration and battle of Berlin. I am proud living in this city is big honour to me and my family.

[@noobster4779]

You can keep it. East Prussia only had symbolic meanng for Germany, economically it was always a burden and useless. You can share it with Poland.

[@MetallGecko1]

Yeah have fun there with your Concrete slap buildings and terrible economy.

[@tylerbozinovski427]

@@MetallGecko1 And that shitty robot lmfao.

[@Qin_Lee]

@@noobster4779 I live here, pretty nice place , of course it's not level of Ekaterinburg or Sochi but still good. I can easily travel to Poland and Germany now. But of course after i visit Saint Petersburg. Btw guys you are so toxic wtf? 😂

[@tictac2therevenge291]

@@Qin_Lee The internet is the main frontier for wehraboos

[@2prize]

WE agree with the moustache

[@PoliticalGangster]

Kinda sad really.