Soviet Citizens' Reaction to the early Cold War years - KGB Dossiers

Our historical documentary series on the history of the Cold War continues with a video describing the reaction of the Soviet citizens to several events in the early years of the Cold War. This is being done through the KGB documents kindly provided by Eduard Andryushchenko who some of you may know from his amazing KZbin Channel, KGB Files: / @kgbfiles5713
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#ColdWar #KGB #USSR

[@ivarkich1543]

My grandfather lived in Soviet Latvia's countryside in late 40'ies and 50'ies. That time, everybody was convinced about inevitability of the nuclear war. All simple countrymen talked much about it. Once, one such countryman talked to my grandpa, how he is getting ready to survive the nuclear war, how he has made a lot of stocks of all the necessary, including stocks of soap. My grandpa interrupted him saying: "Of course! Everything will be burnt down out there, and you will wash yourself calmly."

[@AWtify]

@@howardsontz983 But before that, Kennedy removed American missiles from Turkey, but asked Khrushchev not to mention it, so as not to spoil the image of the United States as a cool country... So the Cuban missile crisis ended with a zero score. Although the Americans still do not know about it. American propaganda is very strong and Americans still do not know a lot of things.

[@dreamdiction]

The cold war was fake, America, Britain, France and Russia have ALWAYS been allies.

[@Keefan1978]

And in the 40s and 50s many people in the Baltic republics were more or less hoping for the war as a means of getting rid of the hated occupation.

[@ulfosterberg9116]

@@dreamdiction it was not fake. I bled and froze from it.

[@ulfosterberg9116]

@@Keefan1978 the KGB killed the last fighter in Lithuania in the sixties....

[@kgbfiles5713]

I'm glad to work with you! Many more untold stories are kept in the archives of the KGB of Ukraine.

[@CMAzeriah]

Let's hear them.

[@TheColdWarTV]

Make sure you are subscribed to both channels and you'll hear them!

[@TheColdWarTV]

You can ask but probably best to ask your FWW questions to somebody who knows a lot about FWW...

[@CMAzeriah]

@@diegoragot655 I know a lot about ww1;) Got most of it from The Great War.

[@percamihai-marco7157]

Respect to both channels

[@antonk.2748]

I am very interested in how the perception of USSR citizens on "the west" and also China changed during the cold war so I do hope you are going to make more of these videos.

[@user-ij5sw7fd6x]

We have now two main opinions: first -- on the West people live in prosperity, justice and wisdom of free market; second -- thinks that NATO (especially USA and Britain) exploit all other nations starting wars for profit and choking weak countries with sanctions like N Korea, Cuba, Russia, Venezuela... Also second group says that life in the USA is not as good as it is shown on TV and US citizens, workers, regular people suffer the same problems as we do here in Russia: corruption, weak education system, too expensive higher education, the Oligarchy (the rich) stealing money from the people and using workers only as means of production, brainwashing kids to grow good consumers and feed them with unnecessary stuff just for profit like pigs. These are two poles with a scale on which individual opinions may vary.

[@antonk.2748]

@@user-ij5sw7fd6x Thats very interesting, As someone from Germany living in the UK I think the second opinion is probably more accurate. Yes, people do enjoy greater luxuries like cars, vacations abroad, houses and so on but I wouldnt say they are overall happier than the people in Russia or China (At least the ones I have met). In capitalist countries we have sort of been bred for the past 60 years to feel like buying and owning more expensive shit makes your overall life better. The general view of the average westerners (especially citizens of the UK and USA ofc ;) on Russia would be that Russia is this somewhat underdeveloped poor ish nation with either pictures of grey Khrushchyovkas or poor countryside villages in mind. Politically Russia is almost universally (except by some of the left) seen as an undemocratic semi dictatorial country with rampant corruption. Russia is also seen as a potential threat and aggressor (the further east you get the more people feel that way), mostly ofc because of all the old cold war images of T62s driving through Paris, Hamburg or Rome but also Russias territorial expansions in the last 20 years and their interference in western elections in the last couple years.. Most people dont know or understand why Russia could ever see NATO or the EU as a threat (afterall we are the good guys right? ;), which ofc it is. People in Europe mostly share the sentiment that the US is a bully and starts wars for oil and to install friendly governments. The sentiment shifted from "The US is our best friend" (1960s-80s) over "The US is doing bad things in the world but at least we are on the winning side" (1990s-2000s) to "The US is proper fucked" 2010-now)

[@pyatig]

As a Soviet kid from the 70s who’s been living in the US since 1990 I can assure you the second viewpoint is correct

[@nigeh5326]

@@antonk.2748 those of us in the west who know history can understand why Russia worries about NATO. In WW2 the USSR was decimated by the Nazi invasion losing more than 20 million people. At the end of the Cold War the Russians thought NATO would end west of the old USSR borders but of course it didn’t with NATO now being on the border of Russia itself. If you look at a map of the world from a Russian view they have potential enemies to the west (the Scandinavian countries and the Baltic NATO states), Ukraine, the old Warsaw Pact countries that are now part of NATO. In the east and south is China who has often been a rival with border disputes flaring up in the past along with Islamic states that the Russians don’t trust and who the Russian Orthodox Church doesn’t like. From a Russian view they are surrounded by rivals, potential enemy states and NATO. Before anyone says what about the things the USSR and Russia have done in the past I’m not defending those actions or Putin and his corrupt government I’m just pointing out the view Russians have from their country

[@deniseproxima2601]

@@nigeh5326 The russian orthodox church fighting with the christian west. Who are the bolshevic?

[@imthatninja7669]

Really fascinating to hear about what the Soviet people thought, most information available is what governments say and publish and not what the people actually think.

[@JohnDoe-pv2iu]

I agree with you. @ 20.30 the narrator speaks of opinions of the citizens thruout the USSR possibly being similar to what was discussed here. We will probably never know for certain. It is a little doubtful if other parts of the USSR had the same real feelings. The Ukraine went thru an absolute hell (very likely one of the worst in Europe) in WW2. They endured 'purges' and mass executions by both the German enemy and their great 'Mother Russia'. Those people probably had very little love or trust of the Soviet government, and not a lot more for other foreign powers. After what the Ukrainian people endured from nearly every other people that came to their country, they probably had very little trust in anyone. Great video. Yall Take Care and be safe, John

[@OffGridInvestor]

It's basically the same today but more often it's what the media SAYS we think when we actually don't. You can tell when media youtube channels have the comments turned off then they're saying something like "Australians want" and it's got about a 97% dislike ratio.

[@imthatninja7669]

@@OffGridInvestor exactly

[@benjaminphelps561]

This is the most fascinating video you've put out yet! its so interesting hearing what the other side of the iron curtain were thinking near the beginning and helps huminize the soviets at least from my western perspective. Please do more of these everyday people sort of episodes

[@TheColdWarTV]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@noop9k]

Don’t forget, in late Stalin’s USSR, the probability of people speaking their mind is low.

[@mattjk5299]

In both west and east, while different, the people often disagreed and were upset with their governments. However often if you want to pit your people against the enemy's, you refrain from drawing close attention to their people's humanizing aspects of sincerely seeking for a better life and looking out for their loved ones, politically or otherwise. You wouldn't want people to realize too clearly that there usually isn't much reason for a Soviet and western-aligned citizen to wish ill on one and another. (But also, seriously, sometimes that adversary perspective becomes essential for cohesion)

[@healinglight333]

Very interesting episode, thank you so much for creating and sharing this! 🙂

[@Cyberspine]

15:54 I'm so glad you included the url in the closed captions

[@RobertoGonzalez-gg3jc]

Amazing episode!

[@evansellars8728]

This is my favorite type of your videos, such a cool perspective!

[@Keefan1978]

Very interesting material! Thank You! Keep up the good work!

[@dalermehndi4663]

Awesome as always. Love this video idea

[@antrx9530]

amazing work

[@luisacosta54]

Really nice video, guys!

[@rosswebster7877]

Thank you for another fascinating video Cold War Channel! I’m surprised at the absolute diversity of opinions from the average Iron Curtain resident. I will definitely also subscribe to KGB Files after this!

[@D3xt3rity]

YESSS ANOTHER VID!

[@hsl537]

Good work.

[@victorcabanelas]

Amazing as always, I hope you folks do a similar episode about the other side of the curtain. Keep up the great work, people!!

[@Dave_Sisson]

Not many people in western Europe, Australia, etc accepted the American propaganda about an evil expansionist empire that would enslave us all, BUT the vast majority wanted to retain the economic and political systems they had and to some extent they were prepared to fight for it. But I am curious if ordinary Americans really believed the "Reds under the bed" paranoid propaganda that their government and media were putting out.

[@noop9k]

@@Dave_Sisson But USSR was evil expansionist empire. Only NATO saved western europe from being enslaved. Ask people from eastern europe if they want to go back.

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

Wow! The amount of information you guys have is very impressive. Keep it up Cold War channel!

[@TheTenthLeper]

Shut up

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

@@TheTenthLeper No u 😏

[@hegel5816]

@@luxembourgishempire2826 if your empire ever wanted to conquer new lands be sure to conquer India... it’s better to live under Luxembourg than India...

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

@@hegel5816 😂😂😂the very first thing our empire would do would be to mass produce toilets for everyone.

[@percamihai-marco7157]

I hope that tou will make more episodes like this

[@harishankarpandey455]

Very nice 👌

[@oldesertguy9616]

Enlightening.

[@stevelenores5637]

Amusing that comparing Western leaders to Hitler started this early between Stalin and Churchill.

[@Coillcara]

It was much earlier than 1946. For the USSR, the enemy was the capitalism and its highest incarnation, the global imperialism. Hitler was seen as a rabid dog let out by the capitalist conspiracy to crush that beacon of freedom that is the USSR. If you had asked Churchill in 1938, which country he considers a more likely enemy, the USSR or Germany, he would probably pick the USSR.

[@stevelenores5637]

@@Coillcara This is why I don't predict the future. Too many factors are hidden from public view. Before WW2 there were many strange assessments. I saw one on KZbin pointing out an Article written by George Orwell praising Mussolini. That is what makes horse racing so fantastic. Sometimes the unlikely horse comes in first. Personally I don't care what kind of government we have as long as the people have freedom. Freedom can be crushed by both right wing and left wing governments.

[@AWtify]

@@stevelenores5637 And what is your freedom? Freedom of elections? But the elections are rigged. In court, the winner is the one who has the most expensive lawyer. Can you say that you are dissatisfied with LGBT or BLM?

[@stevelenores5637]

@@AWtify Right now I have the freedom to keep my mouth shut and my thoughts to myself. I'm permitted to think as you long as don't do it out loud. Those who do think out loud get censored and lose their jobs. How is it where you live?

[@stephenjenkins7971]

@@AWtify You can express your opinion and at the worst face social stigma. You can proclaim the election is rigged with no evidence and at least 2 Republican-led investigations turning up nothing and not get arrested. You can have court and be assured that you will be given due process and you won't be implicated unless "proven guilty". Most importantly, you can bitch about the system without fear. And I'd give my life to make sure you can continue to do so, even if I think you're a complete idiot. :D

[@ns7023]

This is gold

[@theparadigm8149]

The last time I was this early to a video from the Cold War, Stalin was still alive!

[@frederickstabell3796]

I feel so bad for those people who, having dealt with the horrors of Axis aggression and Soviet domination, had to then worry about Western aggression and nukes. War after war and all they wanted was a respite that refused to come

[@OffGridInvestor]

Imagine being 30 years old and having spent years in food shortages/famines and war. Then when it's all over you have very little direction over your life and end up in some dead end factory job dying of boredom listening to constant crap on the radio telling you how your life is the best in the world. While hearing that most Americans own a car and have done so for decades and you're trying to get yourself sorted with a bicycle and spend a lot of time on public transport.

[@comradeuro4255]

@@OffGridInvestor most americans definitely didn’t own a car “for decades” in 1940s

[@Sebajstard]

It would be interesting interviewing today someone who wrote one of those letter!

[@jamesforreal]

Wow, digging up the secret stuff!!

[@paulsuprono7225]

Getting the truth, faith from 'the people' themselves !

[@Marinealver]

You have to read between the lines because you certainly cannot trust the "Official Sources" from Google and Facebook and any of Big Tech and MSM.

[@myriaddsystems]

I love t the ease of the way that this presenter delivers difficult to pronounce non-English terms. He's a delight to listen to

[@marianotorrespico2975]

YES, because he is the real thing, not just a script-reader.

[@luisfelipegoncalves4977]

Ready for my daily dose of radiation, tempered with a bit of paranoia, ''anti-communist'' purges and ''anti-reactionary'' purges. Always keep up the great work

[@brokenbridge6316]

What a wonderful variety of opinions the people of the Soviet Union had. Some I grant you aren't accurate. But it's still a look into what they might have been thinking. I enjoyed this video. My compliments to all those who made this video a reality.

[@old-moose]

This would have been very useful before I retired from teaching college history. Thank you for a new perspective on the cold war.

[@nedkellyddv]

First thanks for this video, very interesting, I would have liked to hear some more context and elaboration why you think the conclusion can be made, to compare the opions in Soviet Ukraine with other USSR republics? Could there not be a bigger animosity towards the Communists/Russians in Ukraine than in other USSR republics? You mention people of Ukraine "had seen wars and disruption since 1914" Could e.g. not Holodomor make people more hostile towards the communists? As 'Aquila Rossa' also mentions maybe a country brought together by parts of the former imperial Russia and imperial Hasbourg empires could also influence the attitude? Again thanks, hope there will be more like this :)

[@larrychang]

What is the background music you are using approaching the end of the video? Is it from a movie or game?

[@davidp.7620]

"Now the possibility of a new war is no longer possible." This guy got it right

[@ulfosterberg9116]

What country planned an invasion of Soviet Union after 1940? No country was in the west was interested in that with or without nukes.

[@DS-hy6ld]

@@ulfosterberg9116 General Patton sure was interested in that! Not hard to believe that's why he met with that automobile accident. Just sayin'...

[@ulfosterberg9116]

@@DS-hy6ld general Patton was a general not a country, dear. There probably was nutcases in the Soviet Union that though it would be great to continue the "world revolution". Didn't matter.

[@DS-hy6ld]

@@ulfosterberg9116 Patton was the head of Third Army. He obviously wasn't "a country" -- but neither was he some insignificant individual. As for "nutcases in the Soviet Union that thought it would be great to continue the 'world revolution,'" _that_ would include Stalin himself, who was only just one step removed in terms of his thirst for war from where Mao was at over in China. My point is that war wasn't exactly _unlikely_ in the immediate period after Word War II.

[@DS-hy6ld]

@@ulfosterberg9116 I might also add that this is the danger inherent in propagandizing one country to hate another. Words have implications and consequences commensurate with the positions of power occupied by those that speak them. It's a lesson the world _still_ hasn't learned.

[@deanbuss1678]

Hey, that was pretty good.

[@haenselundgretel654]

This is an extremely good documentary. Please also notice that the usual order to the generals of the UdSSR was to not start a war!

[@ulfosterberg9116]

But if it looked likely, start it first and with a massive nuclear attack...that was the plan.

[@johnd2058]

@@ulfosterberg9116 The only particular evidence of this -- Soviet First Strike -- which I can recall is the Red Army's late-CW main war plan, which assumed their first challenge would be to cross the Elbe despite NATO's pre-emptive use of tactical nuclear munitions to destroy all the bridges. 'Any conventional war will immediately turn nuclear', ipso facto, 'any war will be nuclear'. This does pose disturbing contrasts with the contemporaneous NATO main war plan, which presumed protracted conventional warfare (thus a greater aversion to 'First Strike', not wishing to believe it even of potential enemy) but also that such would inevitably lead to the use of tactical nukes, which would be followed immediately by a full-scale strategic exchange.

[@happyphilosopher596]

All these people have really cool professions.

[@UserNameMandatory]

Will there be more for subsequent decades?

[@attysthoughts3253]

what's the song at the end of the video?

[@francislarvey7942]

So what about all the others quoted in Soviet Security Files. Were they arrested as well ?

[@pietpanzerpanzer5335]

What sources is the subtitle quoting?

[@babag9490]

*Hey, is there any video on religions in USSR?*

[@TheColdWarTV]

Not yet, but it is a subject we will cover both regarding the USSR and in specific countries in Eastern Europe where the role of the churches played a huge role in the Cold War

[@babag9490]

@@TheColdWarTV *i am waiting for that video.* 🙏🙏

[@AdmiralZinji]

You are the I.O.A for both sides.

[@Game_Hero]

3:54 So it's not that recent to compare everyone to him?

[@Killdozer667]

You're nailing difficult pronunciations from various languages as no other channel does.

[@TheColdWarTV]

Sometimes I do well with that, lots of times I do not ;-)

[@Qin_Lee]

LOL when my family lived in Soviet Union we basically didn't hear about politics stuff. We just lived our lives like others and we don't care about politics...We care about job, family and some good time whit friends drink Vodka,beer watching tv sports, and others. whit all nationalities in USSR. Good times actually ( Kruchev-Brezhnev era)

[@ShubhamMishrabro]

Democratic socialism time was good. Nikita did good job but in late era soviet was declining and removing of restrictions led to people demanding freedom

[@aranos6269]

@@ShubhamMishrabro except for East Germany, Hungary, czechoslovakia, Afghanistan....

[@Qin_Lee]

@@aranos6269 after failing Hungary revolution and new goverment in 1953 take charge, USSR give Hungary one of the most free bonuses for a countries of Warsaw pact. Also alot Hungarians later will volunteer to help USSR to suppress the Czechoslovakia uprising...

[@aranos6269]

@@Qin_Lee lies. Hungarian uprising was in 1956. There were no Hungarian volunteers in 1968,and there was no uprising in czechoslovakia in 1968. I don't mind so much your ignorance of history but I do mind soviet propaganda you seem to spout. Jast so we do not carry on with this, I consider bolshevic or communist regime of ussr criminal on a par with nazi Germany. And who gave Soviets the right to give more freedom to Hungary? You know absolutely nothing about executions, torture etc that carried on in Hungary for years after soviet tanks brutally crushed will of Hungarian people.

[@aranos6269]

@UCVt_GFf9WzG-8fPMhlL2UlA nobody doubts great sacrifices people of ussr made in great patriotic war. However that does not give central committee of the polytburo some divine right to attack other countries. Just puts them in same category as Hitler, quite frankly. I am aware very well of molotov riebentrop pact, and the secret clause in it, which led to massacres of civilians by nkvd. I am also well aware of complicity of USA and NATO in Hungarian East German czechodlovak and Polish tragedies. You just spew mangled soviet propaganda about satellite states.

[@jascrandom9855]

Those sounds so much like Tweets and YT comments.

[@jackryan6858]

So, these are based on information from the archives of the Committee For State Security of the Ukrainian SSR? What about the All-Union Committee For State Security?

[@mylesmontgomery9345]

19:18 Megalovania intensifies

[@nms8397]

this is like cold war facebook comments

[@bartdaw6681]

I am guessing that people that had their letters seized ended up in the gulags.

[@theodoros9428]

A British who served in USSR post war before the Stalin's death said Once I got in a tram when the people saw went out of the tram I liked to went on foot in same places ,every which approached someone for directions, went in a policeman and accused me as a spy

[@arthas640]

It's kind of funny hearing the Soviets say they're prepared for war with the Allies when the Soviets were A: still rebuilding and B: couldnt even afford to feed their own citizens and C: had to resort to stealing everything that wasnt nailed down in Germany and Eastern Europe. The Soviets were actually importing American food because they couldnt grow through of their own and they were anxious because it was seriously eating into their funds and the food they did grow was rather meager, with most citizens eating mainly just bread and potatoes with a little pork. They had few vegetables (besides potatoes) and little fruit compared to the west and almost no sugar or spices. Also hearing the Soviets claim to have defeated Japan when the Japanese army was mostly defeated by China and America, and the IJN (and virtually all of both forces air wings) were defeated by the US and British. the soviets did attack Manchuria but by that point the Japanese were a phantom of their former selves, with most of their best men killed by the chinese and all supplies being cut off by the US Navy. The Japanese home islands were defeated solely by the US and UK. The Russians did very little and they only invaded because they wanted to seize manchuria and they expected the allies to divide Japans islands in half like they did in Germany.

[@dasher787]

While true japan was grinded down by american and chinese forces, the japanese surrendered because hirohito was afraid of communist invasion and preferred american domination over soviet domination. If the Soviets stayed out of it the americans would've had to carry out a mainland invasion potentially killing millions

[@chaosXP3RT]

Thank you for saying the truth

[@paulshadow5727]

I can't say Stalin was wrong in saying Churchill was "believer in British racial theories". He was famously racist. And, comparing him to Hitler was also not really incorrect. We still feel those effects of racism and fascism from Churchill here in Bengal, where we bore the brunt of his policies of famine, atrocities and forced divisions. My own Great Uncle died in that famine, we still remember what they did to us. I really wish someone would make a video on the Bengal Famine created by Churchill and the British. People don't know anything about it in the west.

[@Qin_Lee]

It's sad but USA and UK government big kings of hypocrisy for centuries

[@AlexVanChezlaw]

Good day friend i hate the british

[@paulshadow5727]

@@Qin_Lee Oh I know about that. US and UK, after colonizing and oppressive millions of people for centuries, they talk about how much "freedom" they had and have. Their freedom is brought by our blood and tears, and they still have the audacity to take the moral high ground.

[@paulshadow5727]

@@AlexVanChezlaw Good day to you too my friend, we all hate the British.

[@noop9k]

So what, during Russian “civil war” commies reconquered and enslaved the people of former Russian Empire against their will. Later they invaded Finland, Poland , Iran, Baltic states. After WW2 occuied entire eastern europe. It is quite hypocritical for them to talk about imperialism. Or it is not imperialism, if you are enslaved by commies?

[@user-ud3ey9uk8q]

I love the meaning conveyed by the word Pravda with its pronunciation. And also I don't think commenting on the personal affairs of a historical figure who is controversial（not essentially evil）by yelling abusive words and mocking is proper for a well-educated historian of England ancestry. I think I read between your lines.

[@mrmr446]

I think a contrasting video on western reactions and paranoia could be interesting, I fear the latter in particular still lingers today.

[@stephenjenkins7971]

Uh, if you're trying to act like the West still has nothing to be wary of in terms of Russia, then oh boy...

[@mrmr446]

@@stephenjenkins7971 Didn't say nothing to be wary of but believing they were stronger, had more missiles or could invade was paranoia.

[@stephenjenkins7971]

@@mrmr446 Well, it really isn't. They invaded Ukraine, didn't they? All this "paranoia" was really only in Eastern Europe's mind, but then sparked after 2014. And, well, it's obvious they have more nuclear missiles atm.

[@mrmr446]

@@stephenjenkins7971 Sorry I could have been clearer I meant invade the US, some people actually thought that was possible during the Cold War. Just as some thought the US military was a hot bed of commies. There was paranoia on both sides is my point.

[@stephenjenkins7971]

@@mrmr446 Hmm, yeah, that seems impossible. Though wasn't there a plan to invade Alaska at one point? I mean, it seems foolish now, but I can understand the fear. As for the "hotbed of Commies", well, that seems more silly; but if you perceive "doing whatever we can to fight the Soviets" as the patriotic thing to do, then US soldiers unwilling to fight in say Vietnam could be perceived that way. Still silly, I got you.

[@Trexmaster12]

What seems remarkable is that some have found courage to criticise the system while Stalin was still alive and kickin'.

[@empirednw6624]

Yes, but because of that they were likely “ disposed of “

[@johnl5316]

I spent 1 month in 7 Soviet republics in 1967 and then weeks at a time 3 more times, primarily in Armenia where I had friends. I found that people LOVED meeting Americans. If they were told that I was from Finland (which a friend would tell them when we were approached, they did not care at all). A few were adement in insisting that they rejected "individualism" and that socialism would "win". But, most longed to visit the West and thought of it as a paradise

[@JeanLucCaptain]

The Soviet Union started the cold war at a massive geographic, industrial and population disadvantage. Meanwhile, the USA was able to easily critique them while having never once suffered an enemy bomb on its heartland. Unfortunately, this arrogance has only gotten worse since the collapse of the USSR.

[@GhostRider659]

That's not entirely true, the Japanese did achieve some hits on the American mainland with singular aircraft, and later using balloon bombs. Not disputing your point though.

[@JeanLucCaptain]

@@GhostRider659 Thank you. Canada got some balloon bombs but all they killed was a cow😂

[@Boyar300AV]

@@GhostRider659 That's a lie.

[@aliencyborg3660]

Imagine if USA and Russia worked together to solve renewable energy and other great things rather than spending billions on death machines and weapons. I'm from Britain and can honestly say, I have worked with many great Russians and they are amongst the best people I've ever met. Very respectful and always in a good mood no matter what was going on.

[@tomfrazier1103]

Psychoses about energy were less in 1946. The Soviets were in it to win it until they weren't in the late '80s. I am not a Russia scholar or Sovietologist, but merely an attentive student in the '80s.

[@nihalbhandary162]

It would have been best if we fully embraced nuclear energy back in 70-80s, too bad cold war gave a bad rep to nuclear energy. We would have then easily tapered off to other renewable energies and emitting much less co2.

[@tomfrazier1103]

@@nihalbhandary162 The local nuke plant attracted hippie protesters in the late '70s into the '80s. There was a virtual Woodstock near Grandpa's house. I got my Cartmanesque regard for hippies then. They are a part of the West as any vaqueros or prospectors.

[@GrandPrixDecals]

Soviet propaganda always seems very 2 dimensional compared with the 3 dimensional propaganda we have always gotten in the UK.

[@Blacksheep1042]

Great show as usual, it is always exploding my mind how the Biggest Organizations/Societies in Human kind were (and are) established upon The critical layer of Mandarins that operating,speaks and communicate in such “pseudo Romantic ,Infantile, ridiculed, detach from reality, Psychologically non healthy and lake of logic “ way. It’s like reading a bad Fictional/Comics/ Fantasy script ... But that how Human Kind works apparently.

[@CivilWarWeekByWeek]

Personally I find the early Cold War a weird think for a reaction video but sure

[@UlisesHeureaux]

Why do you think that it’s a weird pick?

[@CivilWarWeekByWeek]

@@UlisesHeureaux I called it a reaction video so I was joking about how history is a weird thing for a reaction video

[@mehrcat1]

Although often attributed to Churchill, the term 'Iron Curtain' was first used by Goebbels in a speech in February 1945.

[@mikeyorkav4039]

More and more every day i think the nazis won and we're living in the 4th reich. Rabid anti-communism, imperialism, privatization, and downplaying genocide

[@mehrcat1]

@@mikeyorkav4039 You do have a point Mike but where are you talking about? Are you in the USA or Europe and are you referring to your own country or what?

[@mikeyorkav4039]

@@mehrcat1 oh the usa. We were hitler's inspiration and main financier. He was supposed to be our attack dog against communism after our failure in 1917 russia (yes, the usa invaded russia). We only went in once the nazis were getting their asses kicked. To create a buffer zone

[@mikeyorkav4039]

@@mehrcat1 after ww2, the west put top SS leaders in many positions of power. Within the west german governemnt, nato, cia, nasa, etc etc. The types of ghouls who should have been brained into a ditch for their crimes

[@mehrcat1]

@@mikeyorkav4039 What do you mean "brained" into a ditch?

[@aquilarossa5191]

I think you should have given context about how there was nationalist movements in Ukraine, plus the Baltic regions etc. They were very anti-communist and even formed SS divisions fighting for Hitler during the war. This sentiment was especially strong in the western regions of Ukraine where until WWI they had been a part of the Hapsburg Empire, rather than the Russian one. They were catholic and not part of the Russian world like the areas in eastern Ukraine that are predominately orthodox and Russian speaking. This division in Ukraine exists to this day, with one part of the country gravitating west and the other towards Russia. It can be fierce with very strong feelings (I am not sure Ukraine should have even been created in 1991 as it was. It was never a unified state and people with a common identity).

[@davidtangitau3771]

And today we see the results

[@noop9k]

Russia was an empire that subjugated an exploited them. Their hate towards Russia was totally justified. If the only ally you could get was Hitlеr, so be it. Also, many Ukrainian nаtionalists valiantly fought against both evil empires. Finland managed to defend itself from Russian aggression, earned its freedom and ended up living much better than those who weren’t so lucky. And you are yet another kremlin troll.

[@noop9k]

Just another kremlin troll.

[@mt_baldwin]

Appreciate the vid and research effort but couldn't they just be asked? Not then obviously, but any time in the last 30 years? Don't know how many 70-80 year olds there are in former soviet states but must be enough. I see, you meant the Stalin years. It's too bad no one thought to collect the thoughts of those from that era that were still alive in the 90's .

[@noop9k]

Considering that many Stalin critics didn’t survive..

[@Pantology_Enthusiast]

@@noop9k yeah... I feel there may be a slight survivor bias.

[@noop9k]

@@Pantology_Enthusiast “slight”

[@TheLoyalOfficer]

But... the fact that all of this was written down and recorded means that the threat from Stalin's ridiculousness was still there...

[@JosephKeenanisme]

Wondering and pondering that the average "Ivan on the street" would tend to know the line between dissatisfied grumbles after a shitty day at work saying Stalin puts on garter belts and enjoys the company of robot sex slaves.... Also having some type of "look, see Stash is complaining, we have free speech" being held up to outsiders would be brought up to the satellite nations.

[@BichaelStevens]

Schizo

[@practicalrussianwithtam4816]

*Here are some Russian lessons and songs*

[@terencewinters2154]

Sudoplatov and the Cohens all had roots in Ukraine as did Slovakians .

[@eboypilled]

Much more pessimistic than I would’ve thought

[@TheCat48488]

If only superpower nations don't exist No wars, no conflicts but peace

[@darter9000]

I think pre WWI Europe proves that’s not true... 100 year war, 30 year war, War of Spanish Succession, Crimean War, etc. etc. etc. a world where no nation clearly saw each other as all that powerful eventually tussled with each other right into WWI and WWII

[@myself2noone]

Are you fucking kidding? Before superpowers existed war was consistently happening. On a scale we can't imagine.

[@okancanarslan3730]

I really wonder how many of these people who made negative or pessimistic comments of soviet union and possible upcoming war, ended up in gulags.

[@cybercidethefirst7457]

all of them lol, this was Stalins USSR. children got gulag for silly negative poems.

[@visassess8607]

Wow that's really interesting how people thought of England as a bigger enemy than America. With hindsight this is hilarious

[@konstantinkelekhsaev302]

6:25 Important to note that the individual was repatriated back to USSR after the war, so perhaps his comments could be taken with a grain of salt.

[@noop9k]

He just haven’t learned to not speak truth in presence of agents. It is the others who either lie or are brainwashed by propaganda.

[@konstantinkelekhsaev302]

@@noop9k Or he could have been a nazi collaborator.

[@noop9k]

@@konstantinkelekhsaev302 commie, nazi, no difference

[@konstantinkelekhsaev302]

@@noop9k Sure, if you are utterly ignorant

[@noop9k]

@@konstantinkelekhsaev302 Or if you actually know history

[@piotrmacc8793]

Don't forget that echo "Operation Unthinkable" is very strong in Ukraine, especially on western part, which was very nationalist with UPA groups active in this time. any sympathy with the Soviets was punished with death by the UPA, not only for one person, but for the whole family. The UPA also operated in the south-eastern territories of Poland, where it also left very bloody traces. So Ukrainian was much different then rest of USSR in 1946-49.

[@Boyar300AV]

Western Ukraine was much different than others parts of Ukraine.

[@dimitrileeberakeesisnotfun6632]

@@Boyar300AV Yes, they are all into Hinduism, flying swastikas all over the place

[@Marinealver]

1:40 I think that old Soviet propaganda cartoon is still on KZbin somewhere. All this talks about weddings, reminds me of the Game of Thrones scene about bells. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHLac2B8oN6KkLc

[@louisecorchevolle9241]

Kiev isstill Kiev in English according to Oxford Dictionary

[@theilluminatedone9214]

5:14 But you didn't.... I like how that propaganda was repeated so often, that even today it bled over into the West and there are actually Westerners who think the USSR defeated Japan.

[@jennypenny8635]

It was the threat of war with the Soviets that made Japan surrender, not the A-bombs, so yes, they did.

[@myself2noone]

@@jennypenny8635 Yes because when my house is on fire my first thought is about what happened in Afghanistan a few months ago. This is fucking stupid. For one Japan said the A bombs where the reason for the surrender. For two military defeats happen. The power of The Sun being dropped on top of you is far more likely to motivate you. "Amaterasu is pissed!"

[@jennypenny8635]

@@myself2noone Well, no. They thought they were firebombs at first, which the U.S. had been doing for months at that point. They didn't believe the U.S., even after detonating the nuclear bombs, that they would invade mainland Japan, which would be the only way to force an unconditional surrender in their minds. The Soviets had declared war on the same day Nagasaki was hit, and invaded Manchukuo, abrogating the Soviet-Japanese peace treaty. The Japanese surrendered six days afterwards. Unlike the U.S., Japan feared that the Soviets would actually invade mainland Japan (Which is why the treaty was signed to begin with). Saying that the Soviets didn't do anything to defeat Japan is historical illiteracy.

[@tomfrazier1103]

Japan already had their bomb in theory, and was hit by them in fact. That and the world situation convinced HIH Hirohito that surrender was a good idea. Engineering the surrender was still a close run thing.

[@jennypenny8635]

@@tomfrazier1103 Japan didn't know that the U.S. had nuclear weapons. It was their detonation, as well as the Soviets invading Manchukuo, that forced surrender.

[@chrissasin6676]

Vyshinsky was blood thirsty show trials prosecutor not statesman. Hope is in hell

[@vulpinstein9133]

You have opinion? then to gulag for you. Its funny that they said they defeated both Germany and Japan even though Russia didn't declare war on Japan until they were already defeated.

[@jeffbrewer1580]

Wtf is this cartoon at the beginning of the video? So creepy

[@blackhawk7r221]

Funny to hear the Soviets claim that they beat the Japanese.

[@tylernilson7021]

yeah, and act like they beat the nazis all on their own

[@blackhawk7r221]

@@tylernilson7021 Well, let’s just say that the U.S. and Britain took their sweet time launching the D-Day invasion while the Red Army had been whittling down the Nazis for three years.

[@tylernilson7021]

@@blackhawk7r221 well they were actually fighting japan so we can forgive slowness

[@blackhawk7r221]

@@tylernilson7021 Very minor action in Northern Manchuria, and only late in the war after they had beaten back the Nazis deep into Germany. Japan was a very secondary afterthought for the Soviets. In actuality, they only did it as a land grab.

[@justsomepersononyoutube9271]

United states of America

[@itsrin868]

how can you trust what these people are saying if there is threat of being imprisoned for wrongthink?

[@Bramble20322]

You could say the same about people's opinion on the cold war era US, you know. Remember how many times MLK was arrested and prosecuted by the FBI? How he was assassinated? yeah.

[@OffGridInvestor]

5:15 "we defeated germany AND JAPAN". Yeah they done a FEW THINGS with Japan and took one of their islands which they STILL HAVE. But I remember someone dropped 2 nukes and then OCCUPIED the place..... along with some aussies occupying it too. I know this because some who fought with my grandfather went on to be part of the occupation force and might have had a few Japanese babies.... my grandfather was more interested in getting back home so he didn't want to go to Japan.

[@lastword8783]

I like the videos but this channel doesnt have the production values of kings and generals.

[@Bengalinationalist]

Stalin

[@Bengalinationalist]

@@dragosstanciu9866 Joseph jugashvilli

[@Qin_Lee]

KOBA

[@KpoyT]

На Украине было много пособников нацистов, так что неудивительно, что часть населения была против власти.

[@UshankaShow]

А кто совместно с нацистами напал и распилил Польшу в 1939? Усатый пособник из Кремля

[@KpoyT]

@@UshankaShow Это да. Неплохо было бы теперь вернуть Польше то, что тогда СССР забрал у неё. Что там? Половина Белоруссии, четверть Украины..

[@UshankaShow]

@@KpoyT Дык Жириновский вроде как предлагал полякам совместно произвести распил. Любит Кремль такими делами заниматься - распилом чужого. Только поляки почему-то застеснялись.

[@Mentol_]

@@UshankaShow СССР официально объявил о своем нейтралитете в 1939 году. Документы внешней политики, том 22, книга 2, стр 96-97.

[@BrilliantStrategist]

First

[@CMAzeriah]

FIRST!

[@hadirahman3036]

no you're not first

[@CMAzeriah]

@@hadirahman3036 I was first my friend.

[@badluck5647]

You are all the absolute worst

[@hadirahman3036]

@@CMAzeriah wow..How self romantic!

[@CMAzeriah]

@@badluck5647 HOLD IT! THERE IS NO "ALL" THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE AND ONLY IS ONE IS THE WORST AND THAT IS I! Though I don't know what I'm the worst at.

[@Terminax1975]

So how did you get your checks from RT?

[@potatogun2845]

These documents being from one of the only Soviet archives open is questionable to say the least. Especially as Ukraine is now aligned with NATO. Still interesting information to hear about. Unsurprising those involved in the institutions made more patriotic statements. Whereas those weary from the war have dissenting opinions of certain doom. Hard to believe many Ukrainians thought of freedom in the "pro western" sense. When not long before they were under German occupation and distant memory was the monarchy. I suppose the unofficial statements are the intercepted letters of soon to be political prisoners or were simply fabricated by the KGB. On the other hand England's population was not ready for another war. Weakened by German bombings of the home isle. Orwell's 1984 was a product of this post war hysteria as much as his experiences in the Spanish civil war and his propaganda work at the BBC.

[@noop9k]

Hello, kremlinbot

[@hamishneilson7140]

"defeated Germany and Japan." Yeah, all that work they did in the last 3 weeks of the war in the Pacific...

[@armyofninjas9055]

Tbf, the US was 3 years late opening up the Western Front.

[@hamishneilson7140]

@@armyofninjas9055 without lend lease and US food aid to the USSR they probably wouldn't have survived, or at least would have been totally crippled by the war. 80% of all Soviet aviation fuel during the war came from the US through the northern convoys

[@sld1776]

What about the North Africa front. And the Italy front. And the Southeast Asia front... There's nothing to be fair about. You are repeating Communist propaganda.

[@hamishneilson7140]

@@sld1776 Exactly man, the Western allies were putting in work in other places than Normandy for years before the opening of a Western front. I mean North Africa started a year before Barbarossa, so the USSR was also "late joining the war."

[@The_sound_Of_Thunder]

Russia beat Japan in WW2, who knew, ehem

[@warcrimeenjoyer881]

They did, after the defeat of Germany they made invasion plans with the USA and they did invade with the USA

[@noop9k]

USSR defeated Japanese army in China.