King Leopold II & the Congo Free State (1885-1908)

[@Simplehistory]

King Leopold II ruled over the Congo personally and had his own private army to exploit the villagers to gather the rubber resources. This inspired Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness which would provide the inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 film Apocalypse Now.

[@harithwaseem8468]

Simple History yo sup

[@gadielplays2419]

Simple History ok

[@jayjyotipoddar]

Ssup Simple History

[@ohyeahyeah3164]

U guys desperate to be first?

[@helmetguy2]

Hello

[@Kimchii_kk]

Europe: awwww poor belguim. Africa: OH NO NOT THE BELGIANS

[@Kriegter]

Reminds me of Countryballs

[@iliasjacobs7045]

Zeg dat wel

[@Iskelderon]

For Europeans it's just some spot on the map troops cross on their way into France.

[@whiteeagle9769]

“Africs” lmao

[@yonathanrakau1783]

@@kensebego199 yeah and get steamrolled in less than a month how is that even supposes to he strong

[@Killzoneguy117]

Its amazing how absolutely uncivilized these "civilizing" missions were.

[@chesssterling101]

@@bastionofdeus6612 maybe that’s how the indigenous population wants it to be lol

[@arpthirteen6713]

@@bastionofdeus6612 Obviously you have never been to Africa, but keep thinking the way you do so you and your kind won't go there.

[@bastionofdeus6612]

@The Caliphate oh yeh? I don't seem to recall asking.

[@ramenbomberdeluxe4958]

Right? If they were so civilized, why did they not simply just trade and teach the natives instead of enslaving and exploiting them and deeming them as inferiors? Colonist sympathizers are just pathetic really.

[@bastionofdeus6612]

@@ramenbomberdeluxe4958 probably due to hostilities you do relise african tribes also sold each other into slavery it wasn't if they were some great peaceful people either look at king shaka not exactly someone id call peaceful despite that there were schools abd hospitals brought in to try and either educate or provide medical to those under Victoria law.

[@nuncasaberas5926]

King Leopold ll at Berlin Conference: "Bingo bongo, gimme dat Congo"

[@pxrxy]

Congolese people:Oh no no no no noooo!

[@iloveaqua6971]

Hahaha

[@Sheridan2LT]

HAHAHAHAAAHHA nice

[@isaiah1065]

bingo bango bongo i’m so happy in the jungle i refuse to goooooooo

[@raptorfromthe6ix833]

@@pxrxy lmao

[@jesiahjohansson3622]

This should be remembered just as much as the holocaust

[@captaincritter1898]

black people dying don't count.

[@user-tk9fm2sw5g]

@@captaincritter1898 why?

[@hornerfarah2282]

@@captaincritter1898 why jews people dying are count ?

[@mohdadeeb1829]

@@hornerfarah2282 In fact General Plan ost was the worst genocide in Human history having over 10m deaths in just 4 years.

[@hornerfarah2282]

@@mohdadeeb1829 it's not worse than the Congo genocide between 13 to 15 millions Congo people are massacred but no one talks about this most of thrm don't even know that there is massacres like this happened but they definitely remember the holocaust. It's shame

[@timfortune9]

Leopold II in Belgium: My powers as king are quite limited. Leopold II in Africa: God-Emperor of the Congolese.

[@nathanseper8738]

More like "Satanic Overlord." Seriously, Leopold seems to be a mixture of greed and pride taken to a horrific extreme.

[@timfortune9]

@@nathanseper8738 When a 19th/20th century constitutional monarch is on the same list of depravity as medieval absolute monarchs.

[@nathanseper8738]

@@timfortune9 No medieval monarch could kill as much as Leopold did.

[@animeneweablet]

r/wooosh

[@wouterkessel4852]

@@nathanseper8738 Actually several late medieval Russian monarchs and some german ones did

[@saxoDK_1600]

Belgium in Europe: 👋🏻😁 Belgium in Africa: 🗡😈

[@FRAGIORGIO1]

It was Not Belgium. Learn to read. It was the evil king on his own with some evil hirelings.

[@lorranlxcrrer1158]

@@FRAGIORGIO1 Haha, people don't care. They will still think Belgium.

[@FRAGIORGIO1]

@@lorranlxcrrer1158 ---That is unintelligent people who don't bother to get informed or reason.

[@Lakeland_IV]

@Master Godlike Africa in Europe 🗡😈

[@bornfree8073]

@@OneGuyIKnow that makes two of us. I dont think you will find much resistance , if this is an accurate representation. I have studied african politics but have never ventured this far back.

[@casdemeulenaere416]

Congo wasn't 8 times bigger then Belgium, but 77 times as large!

[@jejehatesme31]

Basin dude the basin

[@thunderbird1921]

What a number of people forget is that the Belgian territory wasn't even the entire Congo area. Part of it was eventually colonized by France and I think Portugal tacked on a piece to Angola. The old Kongo Kingdom was HUGE.

[@GoldenBoyDims]

@@thunderbird1921 Congo is about 4 times smaller than Europe puts into perspective how small Europe is

[@cindymagerman1100]

@@jejehatesme31 Basin, indeed: and more precisely: the Crown Domain. But in order to know this, you need to read and not watching cartoons made by.... fellow imperialists who wish they were there first. Know your history.

[@animalmother5902]

@@cindymagerman1100 lmao who pissed in your cereal

[@theodoremagnusdal]

I'm glad I went to a school that actually talked about these events. Most schools completely overlook it.

[@retrodull8796]

yeh me too I am currently studying for it. Have a test about it this Tuesday

[@Kagetora_Hyōdō]

​@@retrodull8796 That's also me, this coming Tuesday am writing an exam about this

[@thomasturner6980]

Belgium officials: we need a name for our Congo colony King Leopard: what about the Congo *Free* State Everyone: *sweats nervously*

[@utsavman47]

Free as free for exploitation.

[@BernieYoda]

*Leopold

[@pedrobarbosaduarte3704]

its free real state

[@NathanJennings1222]

Lived experience and history have taught me to be very weary of noble sounding names.

[@seneca983]

King Leopard? :D

[@henrydzz3538]

When everyone remembers Belgium as the poor country that got invaded during both world wars Belgium: *sweating intenstifies*

[@arend1331]

Yup my poor country

[@kikkerslikker4533]

@@arend1331 same

[@arend1331]

@possy Are you from Belgium to?

[@kikkerslikker4533]

@@arend1331 yup

[@BernieYoda]

België = Vlaanderen

[@gerdosje8995]

Fun fact: when Belgium still ruled congo, they found the first samples of uranium and gave it to the US to start the Manhatten project wich made the first atomic bombs to drop on Japan.

[@joejohnson1004]

wauw thx for such great fact ! i had no idea, itys crazy how everything is liked together

[@SomberYeti]

@@DEATHbyDECIBEL wiki has false information??

[@kevbri11]

@@SomberYeti are you a teacher

[@Canessa1298]

@@SomberYeti just like KZbin coments

[@elemations6292]

@@DEATHbyDECIBEL u stupid😂 uranium comes from Congo not Germany

[@aussieboy4090]

Hands: Exists King Leopoldo II: ITs FrEe REaL EsTaTE

[@luisdavila1236]

Aussie Boy More like Congo Free State,

[@xephren6557]

too soon

[@PANZERFAUST90]

exist*

[@scarybird977]

There is no evidence that mutilation was an official policy. It was likely something already practiced by the Congolese

[@kingleopoldii1825]

The Congo is my personal property

[@rustledjimmies7286]

Belgian government: refuses to colonize the Congo Their King: Fine, I'll do it my self

[@gamexsimmonds3581]

And then it ends up becoming a Belgian Colony anyway after decades of mistreatment and millions of deaths

[@Jezzaaa]

Rustled Jimmies they had a meeting where they split africa (1884)

[@williamm5538]

This is clearly a joke to you guys...

[@CashCowz962]

Hey..that's what Thanos said too...🤔

[@atomix4u693]

Yup.

[@tagalaseimonlorenzom.11hum79]

Congo "Free" State. Seems legit.

[@dariustiapula]

@@abdullahansari437 Free of their hands.:v

[@Jason-en1ue]

I wish the USA could be as free as the Congo "Free" State

[@JacF6734]

*When you enslave an African nation and kill 10 million of its inhabitants for rubber, but everyone remembers you as Germany's speedbump who produces chocolate 100 years later:* "I see this as an absolute win!"

[@verlyusis9510]

But karma is on its way

[@valdark4260]

15 million*

[@laptv2144]

sounds like a meticulously managed image campaign over the course of decades

[@teiwaz656]

Is Germany Hitler? No. Belgium isn't Leopold II.

[@abomariah403]

Leopold was German tho

[@lukeconnolly5709]

Simple History Do the sinking of the lusitania pls

[@kwerty9671]

Yes pls

[@kevinwang97]

Luke Connolly nah the Bismarck

[@trollege9618]

Kevin Wang Nah, the sinking of HMS Hood

[@DoorTechnicianRick]

You do know that the sinking of the lusitania wasn't ''the reason'' for the Americans to join the war...

[@kwerty9671]

Matthias Borremans then correct me pls

[@flipmanlet8982]

Congo: *Exists* King Leopold II: *It's free real estate*

[@kriminalskum4628]

Congo:uno reverse card

[@flipmanlet8982]

@@kriminalskum4628 *Angry Belgian noises*

[@Thebatmantyler]

Lil SpongeBob u mean King Leopard II: free hands!

[@hfreddy127]

PATTON ?

[@alicorn3924]

@PATTON what do you have to do with anything here?

[@leaderofthelewishpeople6382]

The name "Congo Free State" reminds me of how democratic the DPRK is.

[@leaderofthelewishpeople6382]

It doesn't refer to the land, it refers to the fact that the people of the land work for King Leopold for free!

[@dreamshooter90]

@Redsand You're insane.

[@josemiguelcaballerorestrep2101]

Leader of the Lewish People, beat me to the joke.

[@giggletushjr]

Or how democratic the Democratic Republic of Congo is

[@aheccinlemon6879]

Or how “for the people” the People’s Republic of China is

[@oh2634]

“A colony could help spread western civilization”. What a noble intent !

[@nightmare8292]

Belgium in Europe history books:😬😁 Belgiun in African history books:🧐💀

[@mig-stallion1359]

What?

[@acediadekay3793]

"Remember Belgium" was the slogan with propelled The British Empire and later The Commonwealth into a global *war* against The German Empire in WWI (do to "The Rape of Belgium" of course). Even through Poland (and other East European Contries) suffered way worse doing WWII (look up Lebensraum), is there no doubt Belgien still suffered greatly. Many people was in particular sympathetic towards The Belgiens because such a small and innocent would be caught in the crossfire again. This comment makes fun of the "innocent" part, because that is of course just a matter of perspective and different focus on different historical events. Hope it helps :D

[@nightmare8292]

Acedia DeKay thank you for this, you said it perfectly.

[@masneri97]

Chi la fa la aspetti

[@lolllol6693]

Nightmare it’s not Belgium it’s king Leopold that ordered such inhumane actions

[@sirmakhno6801]

When German empire invade belgium.. Congo :🎉🎊🍾

[@sirmakhno6801]

WW1

[@LennertTale]

If that was WW2, the military of congo was still loyal to us.

[@LennertTale]

.. somehow.

[@sirmakhno6801]

@@LennertTale You are Belgian?

[@majorblitz3846]

[Crab rave with *Belgium is gone*]

[@jonghyukchoi311]

Leopold II: My Congo is a free state! Congolese: Yeah... free from freedom...

[@franciscomm7675]

Well said

[@lukamilosevic661]

FREE real eSTATE CONGO

[@hannibalburgers477]

How is that make sense? "Exactly, it doesn't."

[@derklebob8161]

Africans practiced slavery before and after Leopold, so freedom wouldn't really be a important concept unless they were talking specifically about their individual freedom of course.

[@Hyper07777]

@@lukamilosevic661 or Congo Slave States

[@aldohume64]

Leopold is surely one of the lowliest creatures to ever exist

[@topacybits3576]

A hero

[@angryyordle4640]

that's what capitalism does to people. 10 million deaths is fine as long as it makes the number on their bank account grow

[@sonofsanto]

@@angryyordle4640 don’t act like communism is much better

[@angryyordle4640]

@@sonofsanto it is. Communism removes the inherent contradictions that cause these atrocities

[@Mr.clean666]

@@angryyordle4640 every communist state has failed or had to change government

[@VillagerMan2006]

Coming up on October 2019 the area 51 Massacre by simple history

[@ReySchultz121]

I'll get the AKs.

[@VillagerMan2006]

And A-10s these people don't know that the that the guards only have guns they have a 10 they have little birds they have landmines stuff that you Naruto Runners would be neutralized in minutes

[@shukitheconscious3150]

@@VillagerMan2006do what the Chinese do. just send as many people as humanly possible until the goal is reached.

[@alphamale4292]

Yeah this is something to wait for. Some interested questions: 1. Who will be the first one to be shot? 2. From what country? 3. Who will be the first to get into a secret facility to find aliens etc...?

[@yurikimjongil]

Africa: **Exists** Europe: *Hippity Hoppity youre now my Property*

[@JayenXPiyona]

Dad...... Is that..... You

[@khalydawg6600]

Those Bars doe

[@generalaccount6531]

Africa: *Decolonized* Africans: "Ah freedom at las... Wait why do I hear Chinese national anthem?"

[@tomideon2564]

UK did the same with America

[@LazyAndFabulous]

Ethiopia and Liberia: *no I don't think I will*

[@Joohash]

Congo resident: I just made a 100$ Leopold: let me introduce myself

[@mordicaizerkahn-politics6148]

Hitler - "Im the most wicked and evil man that ever lived" Leopold - "Hold my beard"

[@idk-xj6wv]

2018 joke

[@dhruvbharija172]

Imperial Japan entered the chat

[@imperium1707]

mao zedong is up there too

[@dhruvbharija172]

Mohommad - kids

[@ratilantgull602]

@@dhruvbharija172 ?

[@DELA.I.HATE.SOUNDCLOUD]

Belgium guy: Here sign this paper you don’t understand Congo guy: sure sounds good

[@blob22201]

@Mr iScalpNeanderthals they shouldn't have signed it then

[@blob22201]

@Mr iScalpNeanderthalsill take that as a compliment, having a forked tongue sounds fun

[@danb4900]

How do you scalp neanderthals if they have been extinct for tens of thousands of years, mister iscalpneanderthals?

[@hdajhdaahha3836]

@TheCrazyKid1381 Any sources for that? As far as I know Leopold never set foot in Congo.

[@rockstepguy3524]

@TheCrazyKid1381 it would have been impossible anyway

[@duchi882]

*When you realize* The world is actually real life Command and Conquer

[@antonyandrewson5803]

Never played it. Is it a good game?

[@snipingflute4346]

Ever played Victoria II?

[@tasinal-hassan8268]

It WAS. Now we have nation states.

[@JimmyC0]

@@antonyandrewson5803 just give it a shot, it starts with a tutorial of how to colonizine Kenya

[@jillvalentinefan77]

@@antonyandrewson5803 Homie it's the best game. Your gonna like it.

[@kacperchamerski7482]

The name of the colony „Congo Free state’’ is the biggest irony I’ve seen in my entire life

[@vojtechotava1417]

Well, now we have "democratic socialism"! 😂

[@roberthardesty4133]

Like burning ice...

[@jiraffe9600]

North Korea is called the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

[@jiraffe9600]

@Shadow_The_Cat Yeah. I forgot the people’s.

[@Anonymous-hp1tg]

There was the spelling mistake it was 'Congo- The free real estate'

[@OneMeInMyself]

Congo: exists King Leopold II enslaving the entire population: *It's a free state*

[@thunderbird1921]

Hypocrisy of the worst kind.

[@caiicolove3318]

You’re so funny !!

[@OneMeInMyself]

@@caiicolove3318 Aww thank you!! this genuinely made me feel happy 🙏

[@Avturbocor]

@@OneMeInMyself hes sarcastic

[@leopoldii5719]

Free state? I meant Free Real estate.

[@dudeof2436]

People here making jokes, but if it was about the Holocaust ...

[@dudeof2436]

Gabriel Petkov then they are degenerate ... how can you make fun of such kind of event ?

[@skuller5553]

@@dudeof2436 you must be fun

[@dudeof2436]

Skuller 555 it is not about that. I myself enjoy memes but I’m just surprised by the amount of meme on what was a genocide. As a Congolese myself, this is sad to watch.

[@skuller5553]

@@dudeof2436 here's the thing, no matter what happens, jokes will be made, it's inevitable. The best thing you can do is getting used to it, because it happens to the best and worst of us.

[@spinner771]

Skuller 555 Yea right 😂😂tell me your best 9/11 joke than🖕🏿🖕🏿🖕🏿

[@doot9695]

villiger: hey chief what did you sign chief: some weird thing, but I got dis cool figit spinner villiger: should we be worried about that contract chief: nah

[@hollowhoagie6441]

Villager: Hey chief remember that thing you signed last week? Chief: Yes? What is it I'm playing with my fidget spinner. Come watch it spin! *Spins* Villager: Stop that! There's an army of Africans hired by the European that made you sign that thingy Chief: oh what do they want now Villager: *Labor and hands*

[@johannesvonmalos7505]

Chief: in retrospect I regret this greatly. But seriously who reads the fine print of foreign origins anyways ?

[@rus2073]

hey shitler remember 2 may 1945 ? i was there with that flag

[@johannesvonmalos7505]

@@rus2073 what?

[@animeneweablet]

You are the 2nd most cruel leader in history.

[@king-oreos4003]

Can we appreciate the irony of the “Congo free state”

[@kainenwright2907]

Same energy as the “democratic people’s Republic of Korea”

[@timfortune9]

Place has inappropriately named since Day 1 with it being both the "Congo Free State" and then the "Democratic Republic of the Congo".

[@squeaky9715]

And people's republic of china

[@DESIBOY-fe7nm]

"Free from rule"

[@mr.takethingstooseriously]

It's crazy how people In the comments are joking about things that lead to decades of pain and suffering

[@Art_From_Tezikovka]

Good name for the comment

[@mr.takethingstooseriously]

@Scott what's funny about it?

[@mr.takethingstooseriously]

@@Art_From_Tezikovka the problem is that we dont tale history (real history) serious enough and then wonder why things keep reoccurring.

[@kos-mos98]

@@mr.takethingstooseriously reoccuring?

[@cactuslietuva]

People who comment this nonsense are just idiots.

[@Anonymous-jo2no]

Korea: "Japanese colonization of Korea was brutal!" Poland: "The Germans were more brutal!" Congo: "AMATEURS!!!"

[@timvanrijn8239]

Poland was not treated worse the korea. Poland wasnt being eradicated YET

[@Admiral45-10]

@@timvanrijn8239 wait, what? In 1939 Germans ordered most of Gdynian people to move somewhere else (which is acted as a war crime). Also, when they were walking, Luftwaffe bombers started to bomb them (you think why they had sirens?). But it's not all - most of Kashubian Intelligence, including students, teachers, polliticans, even foresters, have been killed in Piaśnica Forests (now it's called ,,Piaśnica's crimes), and in one day, 12.000 people have been killed (not on the entire operation - it was *one day* of this massacre). Also in Cracow, Lvov, and many different places - Germans wanted to kill a memory about our country, to make sure no future Polish generations will fight for it's independence. On the Eastern part, Soviets were doing the exact same thing, mostly to our officers. The biggest of their crime (of course, not the only one) was of course ,,Katyń Forests massacre", where 25.000 of our officers have been killed, or moved to Siberian labor camps.

[@timvanrijn8239]

@@Admiral45-10 korea was being raped assimilated and colonised. Poland had horible time no doubt. But i personal find the subversion of the soul of a nation more brutal then the outright hostilities. If you think diffently that is completely oke with me.

[@canond7537]

@@timvanrijn8239 17% of the Polish population were killed through war/conquering which is brutal. On the other hand, the entirety of the Korean penensuila was annexed for half a century and the culture destroyed ontop of brutalization. Then the de-stabalization and the power vaccum the Japanese empire created after their occupation split the country in two like some spoils of war and started a war that killed 10% of the population. If you look at it statistically/practically, Koreans do take the cake for suffering worse throughout the 20th century. It's up to you subjectively on who's had it worse but I don't want to argue that because war is equally disgusting no matter how many casualties there are and atrocities shouldn't be compared like this.

[@princejaxisblack8789]

I think Korea suffered more during colonization, but I think Poland has been through longer torture. Congo takes the cake tho

[@ACCB710]

I just got an ad for prayers and the first phrase I hear "is hold your hands up" not cool youtube

[@Lynelner23]

Lool got one too the Apostolic Global Church ad? 😂

[@ACCB710]

@@Lynelner23 i think it was I do not remember gor sure

[@Le-eu4bf]

Bruh I got the same one

[@anotherordinaryguy4992]

Same.

[@TheMaster4534]

Also got the ad too.

[@rosaria8384]

"Without a colony, a country could never achieve historical significance." Yeah, he had significance the worst way possible, and there are statues dedicated to Leopold II despite his exploits and atrocities.

[@j_gibbon]

Australia, India and America. Did I miss anymore?

[@VentiVonOsterreich]

@@j_gibbon Hong Kong

[@Mrkabrat]

@@VentiVonOsterreich And as of late its China whos turning Hong Kongs screws

[@VentiVonOsterreich]

@@Mrkabrat Nobody forgets Tiananmen Square and all those laogai prison camps

[@Mrkabrat]

@@VentiVonOsterreich Except the chinese goverment. Or theyll have you forget the hard way

[@DanielVerberne]

I had heard of the ‘Scramble for Africa’s but this awful episode is new to me. The more I learn of history, the more I feel that the worst thing a human can do is hold a view of other humans or groups of humans as inferior. That noxious idea allows or enables so much suffering to occur, because it allows a person to dehumanise and devalue others. The white supremacism at the heart of colonialism of European powers is an uncomfortable truth for me, the descendant of Dutch and British heritage.

[@markpeter4304]

….it is good that it makes you uncomfortable

[@cristobal.palmero4919]

If they had the guns, you'd be much worse off

[@hobomike6935]

You know what else sucks? After all this pain & suffering, the Congo blames Belgians for instigating this, when they effectively never did; it was basically all King Leopold II. >HE organized the subjugation and hired underlings. >HE used the force publique to oppress and terrorize locals. >HE kept all the money, land, and private possessions/goods, and likely didn’t use any more of the enormous wealth than he absolutely had to on the Congo, or even his own country Belgium; only to maintain appearances and SEEM like a good guy. The worst Belgium and its people can be blamed for is not looking more seriously into the king’s actions (once it was revealed more widely, they forced him to stop.) but as far as committing atrocities, that was pretty much all on Leopold and the company of thugs who he utilized to sustain the cruelty.

[@hoangquanle3310]

​@hobomike6935 Belgium did inherit the Congo afterwards, so it is held responsible too.

[@somebodyelse2192]

And he's the king of your country? Oh we shouldn't hold Germany responsible for Adolf???? People knew what the king was doing, and did nothing stop trying to deflect Belgiums barbaric. Listen to yourself hahahaha

[@OneGuyIKnow]

Belgium: Commits terror in the congo Germany: Stares at belgium while taking notes

[@subsamadhi]

Germany had plenty of examples to choose from including their own history on africa

[@shrek19yearsago78]

DJ_Trolly King Leopold II was born in Brussels Belgium on April 9, 1835

[@CoIdHeat]

You mean Germany wasn’t the only country to brutally enslave populations? I am in shock now! :O

[@CoIdHeat]

Nogent Where exactly did he get the money from to be able to run this private army to operate and enslave a country 80 almost times as big as his own? Belgians: Here take this money. We will never ask what you do with it. I won’t say that every Belgian is to blame for the Congo cruelty as most would likely have despised it but it´s truly a shame that it needed foreign journalists and foreign pressure to actually make the people of Belgium aware what was going on in that „private project“ of their king, which they funded.

[@CoIdHeat]

Strawberry Kiys Yeah right.. those claims, which are historical common knowledge are „likely made up“ and no one from Belgium has anything to do with anything. Are you by chance from Belgium? Because it sounds like the typical reaction of inacceptance and historical revisionism when facing happenings from the past that are unflattering. If you ask a Turk the Armenian genocide also never happened. And if you ask a US citizen the natives pretty much died on their own.

[@Yceb0x]

Netherlands: “Belgium was never the same after our divorce”

[@rspvarun]

😂🔥

[@Valandix]

@Max Smith Hey sure 'mate, as a Belgian I know, when the Dutch make their divorce with the Spanish they did just buy off slaves like the portugese in Africa

[@AudieHolland]

@@Valandix But we treated our slaves great in comparison to Adol- I mean King Leopold II.

[@casper6405]

They did use our interesting ways of colonisation Aka ruling over the natives

[@husted5488]

American Civil War ends: Guess that's the end of slavery. Meanwhile Leopold in Belgium: I'm gonna prentend I didn't hear that.

[@konstantinosnikolakakis8125]

Cuba still had slavery until the 1880s actually.

[@EuripidesTab13]

Mauritania outlawed slavery in 1982.

[@moonlitm3285]

@@EuripidesTab13 Slavery still persists in some parts of Mauritania even today.

[@jackp.richardson6415]

see that*

[@xrli]

Slavery still exists in America. There are 2.5 millions inmates and they have to work for less than 1$ a day. The prison system is incentivized to imprison more people, and 50% of the inmates are black.

[@bowlampar]

Without cruelty, free and smooth extraction of natural resources of the colony will not be possible by the master. It happened in every European colonialism history. Undoubtedly, it's a standard operation model in every colonized state.

[@AureliusLaurentius1099]

What did the old Belgian lady said to the Congolese man when crossing the street? 'Can you lend me a hand?'

[@atleek119]

Shut up

[@kloa4219]

@@atleek119 It's gonna cost you an arm and a head.

[@GermanJohnMiller]

@@atleek119 go back to your colony

[@catalinsoare1261]

That's a good one :)

[@KevinArcade87]

This is false info spread by salty UK because they wanted to take the Congo

[@jmar1973]

You're not just Simple History, you're Brutally Honest History.

[@alanbstard4]

it's nonsense

[@JAED5]

@@alanbstard4 ok bucko

[@SowerValler]

@@alanbstard4 haha nice joke, definitely not being serious, right?

[@travelleryu]

Alot of the people in the comments downplaying this utterly heinous crime broke my heart.

[@tradinwarstoriez5641]

Not even that serious

[@Heartbrayk.]

@@tradinwarstoriez5641 Looking at your profile you need to stay in school.

[@nathanparks2169]

Congo bongo waflle

[@昭和チャンネル-s3p]

@@SnowyButterfly1 😂 nice one mate 😂

[@Legendaryium]

ahw, you are soooo sad :(

[@PurpleBlueHaze]

It amazes me how much I learn on KZbin compared to all the time I spent in history class. Thank u. Such horrible events.

[@thunderbird1921]

Sadly, the story of native people greedily and cruelly ganging up with foreign imperials on their neighbors is not that unique. From what I've read, before relations between the two went permanently sour, the Powhatan tribe in Virginia and the English settlers actually ganged up on the neighboring Monacan tribe and then split up the land after routing them. The two tribes had been historical rivals, and the Powhatan apparently saw a chance to get what they wanted.

[@kloic9334]

It may be funny to learn bit it still isn't true. Please gather real informations.

[@curlyfries2956]

@@kloic9334 ???????

[@kloic9334]

@@curlyfries2956 this video is mostly composed of lies.

[@curlyfries2956]

@@kloic9334 how so?

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

*Plot Twist:* King Leopold is basically Killmonger's greatest grandfather.

[@timvanrijn8239]

That be odly appropriate

[@petitponeydu7727]

Belgium just asked the congo for a helping hand.

[@andromenia1]

High Five!

[@petitponeydu7727]

@@andromenia1 that's something the congolese had trouble doing in the congo free state.

[@pxrxy]

@@petitponeydu7727 Those claims don't have a leg to stand on.

[@dinosorusmechkiller7960]

Who needs a hand with their problems? I hear people are very handful today...

[@saintroddy]

*oof*

[@cluckcluck6494]

Guys: Your Majesty! They’re losing their hands, they won’t be able to work! King Leopold II: Sorry, I got no logic

[@cluckcluck6494]

NotRealJon yup

[@knightlife22]

Maybe one day Africans will receive the same amount of sympathy and support as the Jewish community.

[@knightlife22]

@Chai I I’m aware of that, the Congolese aren’t the only Africans I’m referring to.

[@knightlife22]

@ravi sanchez agreed. I even know some black Jews who ironically are just black men when they walk outside, the Jew part doesn’t matter. However to the rest of the world a Jewish white man is a white man first. So you’re probably right, unfortunately.

[@knightlife22]

@negro bsr they look whiter than they look black. If you mean Israel who I have little to no respect for. They get treated like kings for no reason at all. Either way descendants of Jews have it better than descendants of slaves, it’s not debatable.

[@knightlife22]

@negro bsr what’s my beef with Israel? Lol don’t worry about it.

[@knightlife22]

@negro bsr what is even your name? We can’t have a serious conversation, the internet is full of the trolliest trolls ever.

[@TheWindandAirBreezes]

Please make a video of the Battle of Berlin Ww2

[@Kriegter]

Ayyyyy awesome

[@cptjackpl8690]

Long story short: *Rush B*

[@darkknightbatman8269]

Let's rush b together comrade

[@edgardanishh]

Yes

[@homtolland5864]

Everyone like this so Simple History could see it and make it

[@Tosh2001]

This is my country. I look at this and think, "should this make me angry forever or motivate me to want to do better to help my country?" I choose to build my country up again and bring back the Kingdom of Kongo 💯

[@monkeyman321]

What about the Soviet Socialist Republic of Kongo?

[@Admiral45-10]

Why did you use symbol of 100 Years of Polish Independence (yes, that's what does it present)?

[@okay149]

Admirał Patryk lmao Poland’s 100 year independence was in 2018... 💯 was introduced in a firmware update in 2010... you’re an idiot. By the own developers it is said to represent “a perfect score” . Has absolutely nothing to do with Polish independence.

[@Admiral45-10]

@@okay149 really? That's interesting, as I've never seen this emoji before 2018..

[@okay149]

Admirał Patryk you’ve been living under a rock. It used to be a commonly used emoji in like 2014

[@hughseager5691]

So sad, such evil. Humans wish to devour one another for selfish gain.

[@thunderbird1921]

What's even more unbelievable is that tyrants are still working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to this very day. North Korea is one of their military's biggest partners (the North Koreans helped train their troops and repair equipment, among other involvement).

[@kloic9334]

He didn't do that

[@kloic9334]

@@SnowyButterfly1 what are your evidences of that ?

[@BelieverOfChrist2]

if you actually knew about leopold, you should've known that he did this to expand his country, not for selfish gain, he just wanted to colonize for the better of the country

[@princesofthepower3690]

@@BelieverOfChrist2 By exploiting the people , which is exactly selfish gain means in this case .

[@jackwilliamsmith8734]

This is interesting. I was aware that Belgium and Leopold were very brutal and cruel towards the indigenous people of the Congo and that they treated them appallingly. Thanks for this video because it helped expand my knowledge on this topic.

[@BamBamGT1]

Then you were misinformed eh. Neither Belgium nor Leopold were directly involved. It was a private colony of Leopold, who granted concessions to exploit the land to companies like the ABIR company. Those companies were the ones responsible for the cruelties. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abir_Congo_Company

[@sirsha6973]

@@BamBamGT1 nope, blacks of force publique

[@leaderofthelewishpeople6382]

British Empire: "We're the most cruel empire in the history of man." Belgians: "Hold our rubber."

[@henrik1220]

Belgians: Hold these hands

[@kianodhaeseleer6846]

WHAHQH

[@lovepeace9727]

Japan: *lmao yeet*

[@lasombra1469]

Leader of the Lewish People *hold my waffles

[@vincentmalab3289]

King Leopold II : Hold my rubber wheel.

[@raftash5279]

Anyone else remember that photo of a Congo man looking at his daughters hands which were cut off?

[@danlivni2097]

When did this happen

[@tobytawaqal3678]

@@danlivni2097 exactly during Leopold II's reign

[@princejaxisblack8789]

Yup, very sad. I think he was killed for mourning later on

[@lukeysharp94]

First thing I think of when Leopald and the Congo is mentioned, absolutely shocking.

[@vishnumohan1273]

After I read your comment I searched in Google for the photo. The description of the incident just shook me

[@alanm4500x]

I read Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad not too long ago. I liked it. Very interesting novella. When we did discussions about the book in class, some of the students expressed that they never knew slavery by the Belgians was that horrible and thought the U.S. practiced major slavery. Not too many people know history beyond the US borders. Slavery was practice everywhere and in one form or another, slavery still exists.

[@TheBestGoodbye]

Modern slavery exists in jails. I moved out of the US in high school and I learned so much about the rest of the world.

[@djabroni_brochacho4644]

Muslims still capture and trade slaves.

[@BigguBosu117]

Slavery here in Brazil would just end in 1888

[@antoniobranch]

The Uranium used in the Atomic bomb (Little boy) that was dropped on Hiroshima, was mined in the Congo.

[@droidroot2273]

The Congo Crisis (which occurred after the Congo's independence from Belgium in 1960) is another interesting period in the Congo's history

[@bindukopparapu2795]

RIP Patrice Lumumba.

[@harrycallahan5018]

Watch addio africa its a good documentary about that time, its pretty gruesome though. It's on youtube.

[@bindukopparapu2795]

@@harrycallahan5018 I went there and the whole thing was swarmed by alt-righters. Seems like a good documentary though. I might watch it.

[@harrycallahan5018]

@@bindukopparapu2795 it's a really good documentary

[@Hendreh1]

Belgium is ruling Europe today!!!!!!!!!

[@pxrxy]

Thanks for making this video and giving this topic more attention. Some people would rather forget this is something that happened and it really pissed me off for a long time.

[@idc6796]

International community: Hey Leopold, how are things going on your "little" colony? King Leopold II of Belgium: *YES*

[@oddish2253]

King Leopold II (Looking at the Congolese with his sushi knife: *Good Afternoon*

[@idc6796]

Nobody: ... King Leopold II: *PEOPLE OF THE CONGO:* *DO NOT INTERFEAR* *OUR INTENTIONS ARE PEACEFUL* *WE ARE THE BROTHERHOOD OF STEEL*

[@ema6233]

@Piero Bernedo Si ma almeno prova a scrivere qualcosa di divertente, così sembri solo un frustrato

[@Awakeningspirit20]

No video could ever do justice to what happened here... imagine an entire large section of the Earth being turned into Auschwitz, that's what it was. Any movie that accurately depicted the situation would be rated as severe as possible, in the same category as Human Centipede.

[@HateTheIRS]

Yeah

[@COMPACTTVHD]

There is not enough budget in the world to create that movie. Smh just horrible

[@rosaria8384]

Not to mention Belgium would ban the movie from ever being produced in the first place, but the Congolese will support it.

[@BlueSky......]

Black Sun: The Nanking Massacre

[@valentinlageot4101]

@@COMPACTTVHD if Belgium coul do it for a country 77x larger it's scale then why won't we be able to stop being defeatist and all.

[@NoName-be8vp]

Not to get deep and all but one time I seen a picture of a Congolese man staring at the feet and hands of his five year old child after they were cut off by soldiers. 💔

[@smtl6029]

His name is N'sala i think

[@airmanjoe]

When was the picture taken?

[@nathanparks2169]

He was probably like are you gonna finish your hand

[@abdilrahmanf1311]

ThroatPunch 1902 or 1903, I’ve seen it. They cut off your hands or feet if you didn’t meet a rubber quota or if you were a valuable slave then they’d do it to your wife or children instead. 😭🤦🏾‍♂️

[@kloic9334]

@@abdilrahmanf1311 no they didn't

[@computarik]

R.I.P Patrice Lomomba, the enlightened law student who stood up to free his county, the Congo, from the western colonialism. He was backed up by Nasser of Egypt in early sixties of the 20 century. We have many streets in Egypt named after his name.

[@forsaille4655]

Fun fact: Leopold never went to Congo himself.

[@helmuthvonmoltke858]

Forsaille46 They said it here, He never set foot in the Congo

[@Yourebeautyfull]

He just needed a cash cow for himself. It's sad that people always feel the need to blame all Belgians for this. The activities where banished as soon as his crimes where discovered, Belgium itself was never involved in any of this. He was accused for his crimes by the Belgian government. It was his private colony. He was a horrible man and we all hate him.

[@cat5636]

@@Yourebeautyfull not really, when the colony was taken away from him in 1908 and given to the Belgian government not much changed.

[@franklinwheatley3458]

nexus solaris then why do you have statues of him up and roads named after him?

[@abdiqadirlsaq6564]

@@Yourebeautyfull Belgium built a statue for him😡😡

[@SubscriberswithnovideosC-ok7wv]

Bits of history like this are so interesting, I would’ve taken the subject for GCSE if it wasn’t for essays 😂

[@ColoradoStreaming]

Check out the Flashman book series. Its historical fiction and covers many events of Victorian era England that many people dont know about. They are well researched and Flashman is a hilarious character.

[@Simplygardening111]

It’s not interesting it’s horrific…..

[@judebreen2003]

This was a really good video to make. It’s a shame more people don’t know about it. Keep up the good work!

[@ArnarJin]

3:53 8 times larger than Belgium? Belgium 30,688 km2 Democratic Republic of Congo 2,345,409 km2 2,345,409 ÷ 30,688 = 76,4 times larger than Belgium actually.

[@ArnarJin]

@DerpToni616372 nahh , I think everyone who has a basic geography knowledge , knows that Congo is much more than 8 times larger than tiny little Belgium

[@92nd_supreme_64]

so decimals are commas in 76,4?

[@ArnarJin]

@Hungarian Arrow Cross Party Huge difference between eight and eighty , and also , try the captions , the captions say 8 times larger than Belgium

[@ArnarJin]

@Hungarian Arrow Cross Party The subtitles.. next to the settings

[@quontox9247]

They probably used the area for the Democratic republic of Congo or whatever for the area since its about 340,000 I'm or something like that

[@jmantime]

Fact : Belgium was the first country to use Semi-Automatic Rifles and Shotguns in 1914, during World War I. Belgium also had the smallest navy of the allied powers. The flagship of the navy ( Villars Anvers ) was literally a glorified armed yacht.

[@bluedevil3765]

never heard about that, which weapons are you talking about?

[@jmantime]

@@bluedevil3765 FN M1900 Shotgun Clement M1905 SLR Rifle and The Trimax Carbine were used in limited numbers by the civil guard in WW1.

[@desimasala114]

I pry that European people suffer as Asian American and African people have been go through I pry they also get murdered looted raped robbed insulted and mass killed then will say Justice have been serve. Rip all innocent people who lost their lives in colonial era.

[@lait3967]

@@desimasala114 *FAKE SJW DECTECTED*

[@StobnickiPiotr]

@@desimasala114 I hope Europe will kick all of you out.

[@andrewhall7930]

Here is a weird loop for you: 1. The IADC Flag looks exactly like the Flag of Vietnam except the back ground color is blue instead of red. (Other than that the flags are identical) (2:11) 2. Heart of Darkness is based on a trip upriver into the Congo. 3. Apocalypse Now! is based on Heart of Darkness. 4. Apocalypse Now! takes place in Vietnam.

[@LuinTathren]

I've never felt so disgusted and angry after a video as I do now. Thank you for making this video and thank you for not hiding the violence. The visceral reaction I feel is so important to understanding the horror of parts of the world's history.

[@alanbstard4]

most of this video is nonsense

[@LuinTathren]

@@alanbstard4 Please explain.

[@alanbstard4]

@@LuinTathren in Congo in 1885 there was only 7.90M people and Loepold did not control the entire country or all the people. So killing 10 M is impossible and it was the native soldiers who committed atrocities based on traditional tribal ways when there were no Belgians about in immediate supervision

[@LuinTathren]

@@alanbstard4 Can you provide sources regarding your claim that natives perpetrated the atrocities?

[@alanbstard4]

@@LuinTathren kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z36UmYdsrbyHZ68

[@SomeGuy-lr7ms]

Belgian: sign this paper and I will give this cloth Tribe leader: ok...... Belgian: HUZZAH Hippity Hoppity this land is now our property

[@benborja3200]

Terrible but lol

[@glassbea3286]

Some Guy can stop sayying about belguim dont blame belguim blame the stupid king

[@SomeGuy-lr7ms]

@@glassbea3286 I said Belgian As in the Belgian explorers and colonists who were sent by King Leopold II

[@b.g.r.andreverbrugghe4207]

Stanley wasn't Belgian. He was British.

[@thunderbird1921]

Wonder how many would have ACTUALLY signed that document if they really knew what it did to their lands (hand them over to Belgium).

[@Phantom-qr1ug]

Speaking of the Congo, Could you do an episode on the Congo Crisis (1961)?

[@timotheetessier1058]

Yet another shocking historic event I’m just NOW learning about in my mid thirties

[@mistermister2291]

"Sign this" "What is it?" "That doesn't matter, just sign it" *Signs it* "This land is mine, that ivory is mine, *you* are mine."

[@Quick045]

Can you do a video on operation market garden (1944) ?

[@franklinvonfrankenstein1137]

@@richardmillwood8370 nah that was Armchair Historian

[@taserrr]

There's many great videos out there, I'd say simple history is not the best channel for such a video, as said operation focusses alot on military strategy and tactics which simple history never shows in it's videos.

[@Quick045]

@@dylan2478 It'd be fun if my favourite youtube channel did it.

[@Quick045]

@@dylan2478 😉

[@quinnmiller5059]

Very informative. thank you! 👍

[@somedude9383]

I used this video to help me pass a school research project

[@Bigfoot_With_Internet_Access]

Literally nobody: King Leopold:

[@randomname5083]

Belgium: Hippity hoppity your hands are now my property

[@Taikurii]

epic and original, upvoted & retweeted

[@michaelmichael2382]

Nobody? Other europeans werent much better at that time

[@shouldntreallybehere69]

Legend of Tarzan's setting was based on the Leopold's control over the Congo free state

[@t.gojirafanstudios5853]

Hello simply history can you make a video about napleon bonaparte or the guillotine of the french

[@PRubin-rh4sr]

im not Simple History but those things are too common

[@lionboii572]

What a real monster. Can't belive I've never heard of this. This is crucial for people to know about

[@Chris-ts2yc]

2000’s kids: my dad owns a porche 1885’s kids: mY dAd OwNs CoNgO

[@thunderbird1921]

1800s kids: My Dad owns an empire!

[@dincoox1725]

@@thunderbird1921 so true

[@BayDuran]

Actually just Leopold II'son or girl say this (Please don't r/wooosh me!)

[@mohdadeeb1829]

@@triatic9476 Fuhrer Never got Married up until the last day of his life.

[@ty_glizzy420-_-2]

U should do the Irish war Of independence

[@tasinal-hassan8268]

Or the Irish Famine.

[@DxvinderSingh1699]

Belgian man; hey wanna know my name? Congolese man: sure? Belgian man: my name is hans Congolese man: *sweats nervously*

[@emileponcelet3439]

AIRSOFT COOL KIDS hans is a german name but ookaay🤷‍♂️

[@emileponcelet3439]

AlexTheTsarist i know i am belgian but Hans is not the cliché name to use take Jean or Fillemon or something like that

[@jonathann.5754]

@@emileponcelet3439 Hans Like hands Do you see now?

[@davidfreeman3083]

@@jonathann.5754 Then it's better replied with simply, Hans, without adding 'my name is' which makes it more 'friendly'.

[@fluxlorenzo9462]

Thank you for the video its was perfect for my homework

[@cesarloncomilla5934]

0:51 that poor guy in the river....

[@iik4095]

Dont worry he is just swimming(sarcasm)

[@baroncaledon5940]

Congo *FREE* state: The word *FREE* :Am I a joke to you?

[@foster5280]

In a way, it was free for Leopold to exploit.

[@Jakugen0]

Normie memes are a plague.

[@napoleonbonaparteempereurd4676]

Orwellian Like DEMOCRATIC Peoples Korean Republic

[@devboi6031]

0:52 dat Poor guy in the background:(

[@nicke.2066]

Always when i Hear these sound in there movies, i realy Fell horrible, poor people. Rest in peace .

[@RandomRomain]

Belgium in Europe : Way to France ➡️ Belgium in Congo : (Breaks the door) It's Belgium bit**!

[@aeroanosupremo]

Belgium is the guy on mid game, getting wrecked by high levels and assorting dominance over low levels

[@heocon0541]

@@aeroanosupremo yah its call a bully

[@LuisLRC]

The Congo: *exists.* King Leopold 2: *It’s free state.*

[@Joe-os8or]

Stolen rat

[@dincoox1725]

Pls report this man

[@OneMeInMyself]

well memed my man

[@AnataYuTakasaki]

The Congo: *exists* Leopold II: *it’s free real estate* Murasaki Shion: *I’m just gonna tell my hololive friends to get ready for war*

[@chat3087]

Hey guys at Simple History. I enjoy your videos a lot because I just love to learn about history and you're one of the channels I like. I have a suggestion. Can you do battles that take place during World War 2 between the Chinese and the Japanese? That front of World War 2 is mostly forgotten about and I would be happy to see you post battles like that in World War 2. And one more thing, your animations are getting better and better! It has improved since your videos on Verdun and the soldiers moved smoothly now! Keep up the good work!

[@Dejiwe]

Read books of a Congolese jurist from Lubumbashi, Marcel YABILI. He was 15 years old at independence and he has thus known the last years of Belgian presence. Unlike many foreign authors, it takes into account the oral tradition, still very important in DRC. He quotes LUMUMBA himself about Léopold II. Mr YABILI talks about the origins of severed hands. Volume 1 is available in English but the others two are available in French.

[@shadowrunner4150]

Then a few years later: Simple history: let’s talk about the Area 51 raid

[@si-borg1500]

Has that happen yet?

[@si-borg1500]

@DerpToni616372 why are you saying this to me?

[@zzee5205]

Nothing happened it was boring af just a bunch of stupid greasy redditors standing around

[@timpayne1057]

Help Jameskii I’m not vaccinated Those soyboys clapped each other’s cheeks!

[@zach4007]

Shadow Runner That was a flop

[@SlothApeMonkey]

@ the comments about 'Congo Free State' (or Kongo Vrijstaat): leopold II actually got the entire country as a sort of personal royal plot of land. So technically it was a 'free' colony as it wasn't under the rule of another country. In reality the Belgian government eventually provided military help and infrastructure. But technically Congo was a kind of private offshore garden. Until 1908 that is (I study history and I am from Belgium, we learn about the history in detail in school)

[@warmike]

I heard Leopold II did many liberal reforms at home in Belgium. Is it true? If so, is he remembered well in Belgium?

[@SlothApeMonkey]

@@warmike As much as the others (if not less): we don't revere our monarchy, it's more of a neutral band-aid over our tumultuous yet short history as a country.

[@jacodebacquer2427]

@@warmike No, people boo-ed at his funeral.

[@hamis2059]

Belgium in Europe: Neutral country Belgium in Africa:

[@ilovecookies2532]

There's different between King Leopold and Belgium, you know.

[@davidfreeman3083]

@@ilovecookies2532 Yup I know that there's a difference between the establishment politicians and the ppl they claim to 'represent'.

[@johannesvonmalos7505]

Yes but the Belgian nation then took the Congo as it’s own colony.

[@princejaxisblack8789]

@@ilovecookies2532 the Belgium nation still messed up the Congo. Like killing Lumumba, that was really grimey

[@MustardSkaven]

@Al Jaz Belgian people literally pressured the government to take away the Congo from Leopold and call a halt to the genocide. Educate yourself before speaking.

[@bartekisbad6959]

amazing brother i love your content!🙌🙌🙌🙌