Soviet, Polish, and Brilliant: The Legendary K. K. Rokossovsky

[@DenisPetrov1980]

He was among very few people that Stalin addressed to using first and second (patronimic) names (Konstantin Konstantinovich) instead of simply Comrade Rokossovsky. That shows the level of respect that Stalin had towards Rokossovsky.

[@Lechoslaw8546]

Stalin also used to say "Rokossowski is my Bagration, he is my greatest weapon"

[@matthewwhitton5720]

One of the few other people to receive that sort of warmth and familiarity from ‘ the Boss ‘ was, apparently, another military man, Boris Shaposhnikov, Chief of Staff.

[@pyromania1018]

I think he started doing that after "Bagration". Didn't stop him from reducing his role in the taking of Berlin because of his Polish origins, though.

[@Lechoslaw8546]

@@pyromania1018 Yes, but do not forget that, contrary to the widespread perception, Stalin was not omnipotent. He had to succumb to decisions of Stavka, even those that went counter his will, so in a telephone conversation with Rokossowski announcing this decision in November 1944 he excused himself saying "зто не немилость это политика".

[@GreatPolishWingedHussars]

Great! The respect from a mass murderer! Do you want to tell more jokes? In any case, it is a historical fact that he was a Soviet henchman and a traitor! It is a historical fact that Rokossovski was a Soviet henchman and a traitor! This Soviet henchman really went to great lengths in the service of the communists and was then promoted to general. Opponents of communism certainly don't get promoted and certainly don't bother to serve the communists. But he was just a Soviet henchman who was very useful for the oppressors of Poland even after the war. One should not forget that the communists murdered 150,000 Poles to break the Polish resistance against communism.

[@freezer20cm64]

My grand grand parents fouth under his command in Belarus, Poland and later Germany as artillery and signal officers. They always said that they were lucky to serve under his command.

[@GreatPolishWingedHussars]

That was a Soviet henchman and a traitor! It is a historical fact that Rokossovski was a Soviet henchman and a traitor! This Soviet henchman really went to great lengths in the service of the communists and was then promoted to general. Opponents of communism certainly don't get promoted and certainly don't bother to serve the communists. But he was just a Soviet henchman who was very useful for the oppressors of Poland even after the war.

[@schtrib]

and youre a true polish youtube hero!

[@GreatPolishWingedHussars]

@@schtrib A hero because he praises a soviet henchman and a traitor?

[@schtrib]

@@GreatPolishWingedHussars I meant you.

[@GreatPolishWingedHussars]

@@schtrib Understand! You got the wrong level! Anyway, thanks for the great compliment!

[@DG9-q6f]

Thank you for making this video, I always found it unfortunate that Rokossovsky is significantly less well known than Zhukov in terms of military achievements. His humanism is also very important to underline: we sometimes hear of the "War without Hate" between two armies fighting over a desert neither calls home, but staying human in Eastern front's conditions was very challenging.

[@GreatPolishWingedHussars]

That was a Soviet henchman and a traitor! It is a historical fact that Rokossovski was a Soviet henchman and a traitor! This Soviet henchman really went to great lengths in the service of the communists and was then promoted to general. Opponents of communism certainly don't get promoted and certainly don't bother to serve the communists. But he was just a Soviet henchman who was very useful for the oppressors of Poland even after the war.

[@МаксимДеревишов]

@@GreatPolishWingedHussars Самое главное он не был прихвостнем польской фашисткой знати которая угнетала польский народ ! Польские фашисты расчленили Чехословакию с нацистами ! даже враг всех рабочих Черчилль назвал польских капиталистов гиенами Европы! Польские коммунисты брали Берлин с советскими войсками ! а ваши предки твари служили нацистам и прочим прихвостнем капиталистов ! ВОТ вы и скулите уже на мертвого Польского льва ! шакал и курва! При коммунистах Польша выпускала самолеты / машины / танки / поезда и много еще чего + прирост населения каждый год! теперь в Польше американские базы а поляки чистят туалеты в Лондоне! Надеюсь Польша даст нам людей как Дзержинский ! они очистят ее от фашистов и врагов народа шестерок капиталистов !

[@GreatPolishWingedHussars]

@@МаксимДеревишов Я люблю своего славянского брата!

[@МаксимДеревишов]

@@GreatPolishWingedHussars Cała władza w ręce ludzi! Chwała LENINOWI! i POLSKICH ROBOTNIKÓW!

[@GreatPolishWingedHussars]

@@МаксимДеревишов Śmieszny żart! Dokładnie niech żyje komunizm z czerwonym terrorem!

[@Zen-rw2fz]

His time during the purge alone deserves a movie

[@jjgf8412]

But what do we know so far? What did happen to him?

[@RokSzczura]

He lost several teeth during the trials. He was the lucky one.

[@pyotrbagration2438]

@@jjgf8412 Tl;dr they tried to make him confess to false charges, he refused, lost most/all of his teeth. Maybe Tukh would have escaped his fate if he did not break, but that is another story.

[@kennethknoppik5408]

Very true

[@nrkapa]

@@RokSzczura I'd like to see the proof please.

[@bazzakeegan2243]

He was legendary....A General who cares about his men,under the shadow of Stalin, truly makes this man ,stand out,amongst his peers.....

[@petejames1326]

its amazing how he was an orphan early in his life yet managed to still live a great life, he could have turned to crime, join a street gang, become a serial killer because of his youth but he wanted to becoming something more, i guess he just had that strong personality within him, he didnt blame anyone he just got on with his life and duty

[@stevenbaer9061]

Good point, I had forgotten about that, he was a very impressive man, his humanity sticks out.

[@petejames1326]

@@stevenbaer9061 pope john paul 2nd the only polish pope was an orphan too and made a life for himself and didnt just give up on life

[@DenisPetrov1980]

He was not "honorably discharged". He was thrown out by Khrushchev because he refused to paricipate in the anti-Stalin campaign started and led by Khrushchev. Khruschchev once asked Rokossovsky to write and to publish an article where Stalin had to be depicted as a mindless stupid dictator etc. Rokossovsky simply answered: "Comrade Khrushchev, comrade Stalin is a saint for me." He was discharged shortly after.

[@NotableFigures]

Rokossovsky indeed refused to condemn Stalin after his death, but to say that he was thrown out of the military because of it is a very bold claim. It was likely due to his age and his already declining health. When he retired, 12 of the 14 Soviet Marshals who commanded fronts during the war had already done so as well. In addition, he was discharged the same day as Konev, who was completely fine with denouncing Stalin.

[@nonautemrexchristus5637]

He didn't want to get smoked by either side

[@SzalonyKucharz]

@@NotableFigures Let's not forget that his fall from grace started in Poland. He was made the Minister of Defence in in the first few years of communist rule in post-war Poland and was directly and indirectly responsible for purgrs and repressions in Polish military forces. During the workers protests in Poznań in 1956, he signed an order to send military units against the protesters and even considered asking for Soviet assistance in this regard... which was a bad idea. Even the Soviets at the time thought military involvment in Polish affairs was a bad idea - that is why, despite their troops being present in Poland until the early 90s, they never intervened, be it student protests in 1968, shipyard strikes in 1970 or martial law imposition in 1981. No wonder then that when Gomulka took over and formed a new post-thaw Polish government, Rokosowski was kindly asked to resign, return to Moscow... and never come back. He could keep his (uneraned) Polish uniform and highest military rank. Which he did. His memory is not honored in Poland today, despite his wartime achievements.

[@vlad_47]

@@SzalonyKucharz Because you guys just love your victimizing and acting like you were an african colony after 1945 which isnt true.

[@ulyanov17]

​@@SzalonyKucharz well in Poznań in 1956 too many unhinged and unorganised people decided to take up arms and shoot. the military had to be brought in, because too many uninvolved civilians were killed in a shootout and too many fatal accidents happened... i suppose there is no country on earth, which wouldn't use force against armed mob. many protesters were against people taking up arms. Polish communist state also arrested all the murderers and hooligans with guns, and gave them a rather soft punishment of inprisonment for 3 to 5 years. government also implemented workers' demands from that strike. it is falsely portrayed as some kind of uprising, however it was a workers' strike which got taken up by hooligans with arms - killing innocents. also you can't bring all the strikes and major events of PRL in one breath 😂 it was a long and very nuanced period - every decade was different

[@AApV]

17:05 - Stalin died in 1953 not 56.. great video

[@szron6890]

Sometimes 53 And 56 is confused becouse in 1956 De-Stalinization began And Thats why those 3 years are sometimes forgot

[@jamesdean1143]

How embarrassing.

[@nathanielromero7660]

People make mistakes

[@dakkossman2063]

+ the white movement was mostly trying to build a liberal country, tsarists were minorities

[@schnarfschnarf5886]

@@jamesdean1143 for you to say something lame like that,yeah it is embarrassing

[@jerrynelson5289]

My personal hero. He is the main architect for operation Bagration .

[@NormAppleton]

Yes, greatest offensive in history.

[@mryhdy6266]

I dont know that he is the main architect, he was one of several front commanders involved, even though his front fought over the marshes of the Polessie rather than dry land as the other fronts did. He is more famous than the others because of the reported dispute with Stalin and him standing his ground. I am not aware that he had any failures on his record, unlike Zhukov, and he was always involved in operations whereas Zhukov was partially removed from that at Stavka.

[@javierarias2276]

Rokossovski is one of the top military geniuses OF ALL TIME

[@dareklachowicz3946]

bullshit !!!

[@Izannaziza]

Being Polish this is the original spelling of his name RokissovSKI before he changed it ending SKY.

[@hoi4rat788]

i really can't believe that you have only 293 subs, the 5 videos on this channel are pure gold, you definitely know what quality is and need to keep these coming, please do a video on Erich Ludendorff

[@NotableFigures]

Thanks! I'll add Ludendorf to the list, but as always I can't promise anything

[@loyalpiper]

He's now at 1.42k subs

[@NotableFigures]

@@loyalpiper I don't know why or how but the algorithm just decided to start putting my channel in everybody's faces for the past week

[@loyalpiper]

@@NotableFigures question do you do figures from 1800's ect?

[@NotableFigures]

@@loyalpiper I do have a video on Lermontov on this channel, but for the near future I just have WWI-WWII era biographies planned.

[@SebaX92]

17:12 Stalin died in 1953 not 1956. Also 19:00 Rokossovsky was born in 1896 not 1869. He would be over 90 years old when he left the military!

[@MZeki-gw2xg]

Dear, we need more of your videos; they are of high quality-clear, concise and passionate 👍

[@raylast3873]

Correction, the Army didn‘t disintegrate because of the Czar‘s abdication, it started doing so long before. On the contrary, the March uprising triumphed because the entire military garrison of the capital sided with the workers, and the rest of the army essentially followed them: at this point there was no part of the army or high-ranking officer who was willing to take up arms to defend either the Emperor or his government. Even those who wanted to knew better than to try forcing the issue, by this time the old regime had no loyal forces left. The Provisional government tried very hard to restore military order, but simply put no one was willing to fight anymore and the attempt to go on the offensive again in June and July ended not only in military catastrophe but also essentially precipitated the final crisis of the March government, both in providing the opportunity for the attempted right-wing putsch and by provoking the masses into siding with the Bolsheviks‘ demand for a Soviet governemnt.

[@Stripedbottom]

Also, saying that the White Russians were 'fighting to restore the Czar' is a massive oversimplification. How many of the leading figures even had such an unpopular purpose as their stated goal?

[@raylast3873]

@@Stripedbottom this one is technically arguable but politically accurate. The officers who were the de-facto leaders of the Whites, Denikin, Kolchack, Wrangel etc, tended to be hardcore Czarists. Yes there were politicians from all shades in the ranks of their „provisional governments“, but none of them were really in charge. The pillar of their cause was military and that military force was not republican. And it was also invariably financed and armed by either Germany or the allied powers. We only have to imagine how a victory of the White Armies would have gone: it was always going to end with a bloody massacre of the workers and their organizations, especially the Soviets, as well as anyone who supported them. This was already the stated goal of the reactionary officers between February and October, and it was certainly that after October. Bloody repression was the only way to defeat the Bolsheviks, period. Reformist democrats like the Mensheviks or SRs generally could not count on being spared, either, and they knew this incidentally. That‘s the reason why, when they were in control of the Soviets, they consistently insisted having ultimate authority over deployment of the military and especially the capital garrison. This is despite the fact that both these parties firmly rejected the idea that the Soviets had any sort of sovereign authority, but when it came to the ultimate question of sovereignty, armed force, they were in no way willing to leave that to the officers OR the provisional government, including under Kerenski. This is shown repeatedly: during the April and July demonstrations, but certainly also during Kornilew‘s abortive putsch, it was always the Soviets that had to sign off on military movements, and for good reason.

[@thegillfishguy1]

I just binged all your videos in one sitting, I can't wait 90 years for the next man wtf

[@sergeantaki3205]

This channel needs more subs. Pretty underrated. Loving the content.

[@stroqus3830]

This channel is so cool, thank you brother and keep up the good work!

[@animefightlover4686]

Brilliant commanders like Zhukov, Vatutin and Rokossovksy understood tank warfare. Given the circumstances of the time (poor Soviet tactics initially, overwhelming German blitzkrieg), they were able to make use of their knowledge and hopefully turn the situation to the best outcome. This was what made them great.

[@jankowalski3220]

Zhukov was a typical Soviet butcher who did not care about the lives of his soldiers, he was also able to shoot his co-workers. Rokossovsky, however, brought a bit of West Slavic culture to the command.

[@kaijudirector5336]

I’m eargerly awaiting the ones you’ll do on Zhukov and Chikuov. The former is worthy of an hour’s talk at the least.

[@mongo2022]

Chuikov.

[@kdfulton3152]

Zhukov!

[@leoh3616]

Usually it´s just Zhukov and "the other Zhukov".

[@TovarishLew]

Great Video, your channel will grow! I feel it!

[@Dreju78]

13:56 yes, there were two (actually more, but let's concentrate on these two) organized resistance groups. But putting them together in a sentence is dishonest. One encompassed probably around 90% of all resistance members / force, the other maybe 3%... Naming these two together inacurately portrays them as equals and not as one being an almost fully united resistance force and the other an insignificant fringe..

[@antonizabielski8651]

You're forgeting the BCh (Peasants' Batalions). They were independent from both: the goverment in exile and from the USSR, and they were half the size of the AK (Home Army) having around 200 thousand soliders.

[@Lechoslaw8546]

@@antonizabielski8651 What was the size of AK? Top number used was 400.000- but only after incorporation parts of BCH and NSZ, while Abwehr estimated it at 100-200.000- Bch top size estimated at 170.000 while NSZ 100.000-. The NSZ needs not be confused with post war anticommunist groups which had little or nothing to do with those active until June 1945. The size of largely forgotten PAL is estimated at 2800-10.000-

[@antonizabielski8651]

@@Lechoslaw8546 Sorry for missing the numbers, thanks for correcting me.

[@lukeskywalker3329]

I back up your facts Andrzej . I do not know what the author's agenda is to justify the lack of support for the Warsaw uprising. I do not believe it was the good general hesitating . As much as him complying with Stalin's orders .

[@Lechoslaw8546]

@@lukeskywalker3329 Rokossowski can not be blamed for witholding support to insurgents. As soon as August 8, 1944 he, together with Zacharow, commander of IInd Front, telegraphed to headquarters in Moscow a coded plan of immediate offensive on Warsaw. He never received a reply, instead Stavka sent Żukow who as a supreme commander removed him from position. On November 8, 44 he was formally removed and sent to head II nd Belarussian Front.

[@NotableFigures]

CORRECTIONS: 3:45 This war was actually fought against the Republic of China, and the region would only become Manchukuo a few years later. (Thanks to "Edmond Lo" for pointing this out) 17:10 Stalin died in 1953, not 1956 (Thanks to "Answer man" for pointing this out) 18:58 Rokossovsky was born in 1896 not 1869 Notes: 1:31 Nobody actually knows with absolute certainty where Rokossovsky was born. Throughout his life, he changed the story about his birthplace depending on who he was trying to appeal to at the time. While he was in the Soviet military, he reported that his birthplace was near Moscow. While in Poland, he claimed that his birthplace was Warsaw. (Most historians agree that he was in fact, born in Warsaw.) 2:43 That guy just casually laying down is Sergei Kirov, and I have another video on him on my channel (my first) 3:03 I'm not spending hours to make an entire new border-accurate map for this one 10 second clip lol 4:18 Guy pictured is Nikolai Yezhov, the prosecutor of many of those purged 12:20 Interesting story about these two, apparently it's a tradition in Georgia (Stalin's birth country) to lower your glass slightly below someone else's in a toast if you really respect them. During some meeting in the war, a toast was made for Stalin's health. Stalin toasted with his glass lower than Rokossovsky's, and Rokossovsky quickly lowered his to be Stalin's. Stalin, in turn, dropped his glass down even further, and the cycle continued until both of their glasses were on the floor. 12:22 sussy 19:41 D O I T N O W Also *completely and 100% deliberately* timed this upload with the release of No step back. Totally intentional and absolutely 100% calculated

[@nietzscheanpeoplespower6078]

S.S.S.C.K.C. (super secret special cool kids club) the true sucsesors of Cheka. By the way are you planing to do a video on Felix Dzerzhinsky? He is very interesting.

[@NotableFigures]

@@nietzscheanpeoplespower6078 I looked him up right now and he seems very interesting indeed, thanks for bringing him to my attention! I'll definitely put him on the list. (I can't make any promises now though)

[@nietzscheanpeoplespower6078]

@@NotableFigures Good to hear you have a list. This are really good videos. As a junkie for Russian history especially the Soviet part I am looking forward for the next figure, hope your channal grows.

[@Mimi-vw6yi]

How was it Konstanty maybe now something about Piłsudskim

[@sexy_tanjiro8878]

Why the hell you did not see the video before uploading it? You could have avoided these corrections.

[@2Links]

Subscribed. Your content is insanely good compared to the size of your channel, and you definitely deserve more attention, which I imagine you will get soon.

[@sebastianlewowicki2752]

Jeden z najlepszych strategów militarnych w historii świata, wieczna chwała i pamięć Marszałkowi Rokossowskiemu!!!

[@moomoo____]

może w innym świecie to on by walczył razem z polską

[@joeyanny8018]

Thank you for that film on a true hero in an age devoid of selfless folks. Most excellent. I’m a new fan. Bless you!!!

[@nr1filtrydowodynr1filtrydo69]

The Legend- K. Rokossovsky. What a greate individual! ❤️ Forever!

[@raylast3873]

Yeah, advancing in several places during Bagration was definitely the way to go. Given the Germans were running short on experienced troops, overstretching or tying down their reserves was devastating. Attacking in one place would have risked the enemy concentrating their best divisions to counter and risked a stalemate at worst or at best a much more costly victory.

[@michaelk4896]

Damn good video. Well-structured and coherent.

[@gustavosilvacm8932]

A very good video! Congrattulations and a happy 2022.

[@djtrainspotter]

Looks like your channel can only improve more over time. Great subjects and appreciate the corrections unlike other channels.

[@OmegaTrooper]

Rokossovsky - fucking badass

[@nicel1296]

Really good and underrated channel! Keep up the good work, I hope you blow up. If you want you can do videos on two Serbian world war one military leaders that are often overlooked by the west; Živojin Mišić and Stepa Stepanović. What is so legendary about both is that they were one of main reasons Serbia was able to defend against much on-paper superior Austria-Hungary. Finnish man called Mannerheim would also be fun to watch, as well as Romanian Ion Antonescu. All of them I personally find as brilliant military leaders that are often not that appreciated by the west as they should be, and would be interesting of hearing about.

[@pyromania1018]

I got an English copy of his book, "A Soldier's Duty". Cost me A LOT of money since it's out of print.

[@NotableFigures]

Russian version on ozon for 3 dollars and google translate is free Jokes aside, that's pretty cool.

[@edmondlo9932]

3:45 Manchuko was set up in the 1931. In the year 1929, Manchuria or Dongbei region were still in the hands of the Nanjing-aligned Warlord

[@NotableFigures]

Thanks for correcting me! I'll add that to the pinned comment as well.

[@whatdatechnodogedoin]

You deserve more views and subs for this very well made video

[@tonokatona2881]

The amoogus bit was funny but a little misplaced I think, but the video as a whole was stellar. Very glad I found the channel.

[@scotty123uk]

You need way more subscribers man! Keep up the amazing videos! I'll keep watching!

[@konplayz]

Fantastic video man, glad to have found your channel

[@ponttinalle2150]

Wow. Just binged your videos. This channel has potential to become huge. Topic suggestion for future: C.G.E. Mannerheim. He is known for leading Finland in WW2, but that all was after retirement. He had a whole military and exploration career in Russian empire untill revolutions.

[@NotableFigures]

Thanks! I'll look into him in the future, but as always I can't guarantee anything

[@raylast3873]

I would add that joining the Bolshevik Party in 1917 strongly points to Rokossovsky being an uncommonly conscious and committed revolutionary even by Red Army standards. The Party undoubtedly grew into a mass force that year, but they were still political outsiders pretty much until October and even then their rule had to be considered tenuous. The Social Revolutionaries had many more members and supporters during most of this time, even though they were rapidly losing support. It can be argued that this had much more to do with his prosecution than any questions over his ancestry. Stalin purged pretty much the entire early leadership of the Bolsheviks/KPDSU. Of the high-ranking party members from the 1917-21 period the only high-ranking survivors in Stalin‘s apparatus were arguably Molotov and Kalinin and neither of them played a huge role in 1917 or the early years of the USSR. It‘s apparent that the purge of the army worked pretty similarly to that of the party: it was to a large degree early Bolsheviks that got removed. Being from Poland would at best be a fake accusation to add to the rap sheet, but hardly be a real issue for the Soviet Secret Service, which after all, got it‘s start under the leadership of one Feliks Dserschinsky, a Pole. And might I add that Dserschinsky got factories and regiments named after him for pretty much the entire history of the USSR and eastern bloc.

[@channdler]

Loving these videos

[@KaliChernenkov]

I think Rokossovsky now takes the title for my favorite commander of ww2 it was formerly Zhukov but when I saw this video:; it definitely changed my opinion of him

[@ulyanov17]

I love your explanation of a situation with the Warsaw Uprising! Too many people get it wrong today, and the government propaganda tries dishonestly to equate USSR with nazism because of this tragedy...

[@memirandawong]

Imagine what Rokossovsky would think of Putin and the Russian Federation today. I bet he'd be disgusted to the point of vomiting.

[@DaniMagnes]

You can't be serious. Do you even have any idea what shape Putin found Russia at when he first became President in 1999? Do you have any idea how much of a bad shape Russia was under Yeltsin? Do you have any idea what Putin has done for Russia. Putin is probably the greatest leaders Russia has had in its entire history. Putin brought Russia from its knees to what is today a great power once again. ust a few weeks ago the IMF declared that Russia has just surpassed Japan to become the 4th largest economy in the world by Purchasing Power Parity. Russians now enjoy a standard of living that people under Rokossovsky could only dream off. Go to Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian major cities and look at their infrastructure. Russia is thriving even despite the war and the sanctions. And Russia's future looks even brighter. Russia has great economic relations with both Russia and India the two fastest growing economies in the world. Russia's economy is now the largest economy in Europe by Purchasing Power parity. All of this was accomplished by Putin.

[@paulopombal8996]

"Back in the USSR" and a dim photo of the Beatles can be seen in the background. Hats off to you sir!

[@jameskelman9856]

Nicely done , subscribed . Thanks .

[@richardshiggins704]

Amazingly he was not purged considering he was of Polish descent and Stalin's visceral hate of all things Polish ; truly a phenomenon .

[@slavicstraightchad3855]

Er hat nur Politische Abweichler getötet, Er wollte mit Polen und Russland eine Rasse bilden.

[@Lechoslaw8546]

"Stalin hated Poles"? Why do you think so? That would be first case for a Georgian and Stalin was a Georgian. It is true the extermination of Poles took place 1937-38 and later, but was it really Stalin who stood behind it? I wonder myself whether he could stop it? There is many proof whereas he talked and acted in favour and respect of Poles. "Stalin's visceral hate of all things Polish" - does not stand critique.

[@DaniMagnes]

@@Lechoslaw8546 because Poland attacked the USSR during the Polish Soviet war and took huge swaths of land from the USSR. The Poles also were responsible for the deaths of many Soviet POWs under their captivity in the aftermath of that war.

[@toms9864]

Thank you for providing the biography of a great general and person.

[@kovesp1]

Perhaps a bit too much attribution to his planning. Primarily because ... as usual ... no credit is given to Gen. Aleksei Antonov, the chief of the Operations Directorate of the Stavka since the end of 1942 (the planning department) and effective chief of staff due to Vassilevsky's frequent absences. Antonov had a major role in all planning and he was usually the one who could sell the plans to Stalin.

[@gratius1394]

Finally, somebody who understand how staff is suppose to work.

[@raylast3873]

By the Fall of 1942 there already was a decisive battle at Stalingrad, since the entire German offensive of that year had pretty much culminated in their attempt to take the city.

[@mikemikeetoo9094]

This was interesting! He was leading with love instead of using fear

[@ВасяПетрович-ь2я]

You could make such a beautiful movie out of this man's life

[@bbcmotd]

- The Whites did not fight to reinstate the Tsar, they fought against the Bolshevik rule obtained through an uprising. - The provisional government did not rule until 1923, it started in 1917 and ended in 1917.

[@igory3789]

There were different forces/ political parties united under White Volunteer’s Army. There were cadets ( Christian democrats), monarchists, even some left parties like social democrats. The problem for them was that they were not as united as bolsheviks and their allies.

[@DaniMagnes]

many did fight to reinstate the Czar. The truth is that Lenin was a German secret agent. They were the ones who spirited him away from Switzerland to Russia sow unrest and start an uprising.

[@MasharkGoneGaming]

great vid, 19:02 he was born 1896 not 1869 (small typo), I thought for a second he lived to be 99 LMAO

[@najimobaid9479]

Thanks for the Video

[@robloxianalamat1019]

Hey, I love these videos! I hope you can do some videos on Chinese Marshals such as Peng Dehuai, Lin Biao, or Zhu De, etc

[@lothar3610]

Brilliant content!

[@haroldbridges515]

A very good video, despite a few incorrect dates. For those of you who appreciate the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany, you should search out the videos of historian Stephen Kotkin based on his (so far) two volume history of Stalin. What is remarkable about Kotkin is that he is fully capable of condemning Stalin's atrocities, which cannot be denied, but also of crediting him for his remarkable achievements. In Kotkin's view the Soviets defeated the Nazis where the Tsar had been unable to defeat Imperial Germany, because in WWII the Soviet government did not collapse as the Tsar's government had. And that fact was due to Stalin who created the Soviet government from top to bottom. The story of the Soviet victory is deeply moving. The Russians bore the greatest losses in history, but won nonetheless. We owe Stalin and the Russians a great debt for saving the democracies of Western Europe.

[@karoltomis5704]

Please note Gamarnik&Jakir´s coup against Stalin was in April 1937 not 1936

[@alimaatod]

Underrated channel

[@digitalcommunist6335]

Great man!

[@brianbrady4496]

The gentleman general... Plus the best general name....

[@Lechoslaw8546]

He attended elite Warsaw high school for merchants.

[@AlbertFrederickLarun]

I had no idea Rokossovski was orphaned or that he worked in a trade. Thanks for the video. KK is among my favorite Soviet commanders--alongside Chuikov, Rodimtsev, Vatutin. I never list Zhukov as a favorite because he's the only Soviet commander that most people know. There were many great Soviet leaders and valorous troops in The Great Patriotic War. I must say it's much more interesting study than the war in Western Europe--probably because it's new to me! That's not to say that the US didn't do anything to win the war--for clarity.

[@tomsoyka4801]

legend , best commander on allied side

[@adhdandapiano2513]

Absolutely, no question

[@shirleybalinski4535]

He may have been more humane than most Soviet military men but, he was a fellow who still put theology & Party above most everything else. He was a Communist first & fore most.

[@billwebb9643]

Although I detest communism, I don't hold his being a communist against him. As for engaging in the commie practice of imprisoning anybody who didn't toe the communist line - that I hold against him.

[@DaniMagnes]

If wasn't for the communists the Nazis would have easily won WWII. I am tired of hearing all this anti communist brainless bs. Use you freaking brain and ask the question. Do you really think that Czar Nicholas II and his Hemophiliac son who lost to Imperial Germany and the Kaiser in WWI and to Japan in the Russo Japanese war would have been able to defeat Hitler and Nazi Germany in WWII and Imperial Japan in Manchuria? If it wasn't for the communists Russia would have been completely destroyed and taken over by Nazi Germany in WWII. Then the Nazis would have gained all the natural resources of Russia and enslaved 200 millions people. Same thing with the Japanese. Then not even the combined resources of the United States and the British empire would not have been able to defeat Nazi Germany.

[@edmundlubega9647]

Tukachevsky conspiracy has been proven to have existed. It wasn't imaginary

[@edmundlubega9647]

From evidence available had the likes of Tukachevsky remained in place, the Werchmact would have definitely conquered Russia

[@johntillman6068]

No such "proof" exists. Just some fake letters forged by both Nazis and the NKVD.

[@johntillman6068]

@@edmundlubega9647 Nonsense! Hitler wouldn't even have invaded in 1941 had not the Red Army been so humiliated in Finland, which wouldn't have happened without the Purge. He would have kept the Nazi-Soviet Pact at least into 1942. Tukhachevsky was a visionary Blitzkrieg theorist, so knew both how to wage mechanized, combined arms warfare, and how to defend against and defeat it. Stalin ensured the disasters of 1941 and '42 by wiping out his best officers, then deploying the Red Army in offensive rather than defensive positions, and ordering whole armies to stay in place to be captured in their hundreds of thousands. He was preparing to break his alliance with Hitler and attack first.

[@edmundlubega9647]

@@johntillman6068 I don't dispute Tukachevsky's brilliance but rather I question his loyalty. If you think otherwise explain why the evidence at his trial is fake. The US ambassador, a trained lawyer attended the trial in person and concluded that the process was fair and the evidence was overwhelming

[@johntillman6068]

@@edmundlubega9647 The US ambassxador served an administration riddled with Communists and invested in its decision to recognize the Soviet regime. The "evidence" was clearly fake, and all historians recognize it as such.

[@kdfulton3152]

My hero, seriously. Brilliant and brave man. His eyes speak understanding. He withstood two mock executions too.

[@ausilliam]

i love poland

[@NotableFigures]

polan

[@ausilliam]

@@NotableFigures ruthenia carpathian bruh fard

[@michaelmisczuk1188]

I wonder if any officer kept a journal during The Purge.

[@alexeyvlasenko6622]

Have you considered doing a video about Suvorov? He is one of the greatest military leaders of the early modern period, having never lost a single battle or operation even when the odds were not in his favor, yet there is not much in the way of documentaries about his campaigns and his career.

[@karabomafa5609]

Suvorov deserves some recognition.. He was better than Bagration and Kutuzov, but he never participated in Napoleonic era too much and as such doesn't get attention

[@alfiejob6546]

17:11 Slight correction, Stalin died in 1953.

[@NotableFigures]

Yep! This was mentioned in the pinned comment but thanks for mentioning it anyways!

[@alfiejob6546]

@@NotableFigures Sorry about that, completely missed it. It didn't come up as pinned on my device.

[@raylast3873]

I would argue that the Soldiers and NCOs sided with the Bolsheviks much more than the officers, who generally supported the old regime with many eventually joining the white army. The reason for this is entirely political: the deciding questions were that of the World War and the Agrarian question. In both of these, the peasant soldiers were put into sharp conflict with the officers who tended to come from the landed or petty bourgeois classes, especially the higher ones. Both the March and October events were decided entirely by who the soldiery sided with, and in both cases they did so largely against the officers, though exceptions obviously exist.

[@cirka4497]

He was one of the few generals who led the biggest battles in the eastern front, Moscow, Stalingrad, Kursk and operation bagration which was his brainchild. One of the greatest.

[@PeoplecallmeLucifer]

8:25 Serial German annoyer Couldn't wish for a better title

[@NotableFigures]

Even "Hero of the Soviet Union" could barely top that

[@svx94]

Thanks for the nice program! I think it is a fair portrait of Rokossovsky. However, one commentary regarding the "Plan B" of Operation Bargration is very questionable. Stalin didn't trusted the plan because it was Rokossovsky's idea. He questioned the plan repeatedly, even throw him out of the room and ask him to "think over again". The plan was approved only after all the legitimate questions were answered. This is a clear demonstration of strong leadership on the Stalin side, especially in contrast of Hitler. Rokossovsky's plan did work out better than expected, and Stalin started trust him more AFTER. My source is "Soviet Storm" on KZbin, which gave great detail about the famous Operation Bargration, including the detail of the planning phase, which sounds more trustworthy.

[@Stoomraider]

I also became impressed with Rokossovsky from the 'Soviet Storm' you refer to. This video enhances my respect for the man.

[@deezee1570]

His biography is often sparse and omits his brother. I happened to have met his brother's (Franciszek) wife when I was a little boy. At the time, I didn't understand who was who. Franciszek was deceased at the time, and his wife was taken care by one of my family members. Later in life, I was told Franciszek hated Konstanyn because of the former's work for the Soviets. He wanted nothing to do with him. Regardless, Rokosovsky, knowing that Franciszek wanted absolutely nothing to do with him, worked in the background ensuring that Franciszek's life was easier than that of most Poles - good jobs, promotions, above average wages.

[@vladimirkovacevic4415]

Now I know where did hamer and sickle from Pavel Batovs flag from TNO came from : )

[@castoresnegros]

Omg! This guy lived to be 90s year old. What a great guy .

[@ПотомокТархановыхУрал]

Рокоссовский не предал Сталина,до конца остался человеком!

[@perfettisd]

Он просто был очень наивным человеком. Он думал что Сталин не причастен к его посадке. Но если бы не война, то Рокоссовского скорее всего бы расстреляли.

[@utkarshtrivedi8870]

He was the biggest nightmare for the wehrmacht. His planned Operation Bagration destroyed the whole Army group centre, such was his grasp on Operational and Strategic level. The only general who was close to him or even better was the Walter Model.

[@bazzakeegan2243]

Wonderful feature about a legend.....One error...1896_1968.....which is correct...In the latter section of your (excellent)presentation, its 1869_1968....Its not an issue, and I am about to hit the SUBSCRIBED key...Peace and respect from the Republic of Ireland........l.

[@bartoszkalinowski6542]

Warsaw Uprising duration was 63 days from 01.08. so teoritecly he have 49 days to mount some kind of relief. It happened in small aray at the last days of uprising...

[@Lechoslaw8546]

Jak ty sobie wyobrażasz, że on mógł coś zrobić bez zezwolenia Moskwy? Absurd. Zrobił co mógł i więcej.

[@kalomboC]

The assertion that Rokossovsky was not able aid the Warsaw uprising is inaccurate. The Red Army deliberately waited on the other bank of the Vistula till the Wiermacht crushed the uprising. This eliminated the non-Communist resistance and set up the Communists as the sole political force post liberation. It also allowed, resupply, reinforcement and rest of the Red Army, whose supply lines were extending. It was a strategic pause.

[@foxtrot4755]

This is a lie long ago debunked by military historians. The Red Army objectively did not have enough strength at that time to liberate such a large city as Warsaw. For the Red Army, going to Warsaw meant suffering huge and senseless losses. Soviet marshals had shortcomings, but they were not fools or suicides.

[@LegateMalpais]

Rokossovski was born in the right period in time, with the right skills, and achieved what very few men that EVER LIVED have achieved. In all regards, from his rise to power, to his absolute resistance while under arrest, to his triumphant victories as a general, to finally utmost respect that very few were granted by Stalin.

[@112steinway]

Another "fun" little note about Rokossovsky. He was also known as the "man with the iron smile" because when the Soviets were forcing him to confess to imaginary crimes they forcefully removed nine of his teeth with . They replaced them with stainless steel when he was released and as a result there aren't a whole lot of pictures of him smiling.

[@destroyer0685]

It's called a mechanized corps not a mechanical corps

[@oofoofington8307]

Rokossovsky: breathes RKKA Command: ORDER OF THE RED BANNER

[@Stripedbottom]

Thank you for this. It's maddening to think what potentially great military minds were wasted in the purges, and how differently things might have gone in 1941 had all those people been available and in their posts. There were so many who had, just like R., not only proven themselves at the junior level in WW1 and the Civil War but showed a very good ability to develop further, embracing many of the new ideas of modern warfare (mobility, combined arms, C&C with modern signalling, etc.) in the interwar period. I think something of a parallel can be drawn to the German generalship and the development of their military thinking in the interwar - the Russians had also sort of been a losing side in WW1 and thus had that great teacher, defeat, to guide them along.

[@nonautemrexchristus5637]

Subscribed before 1k subscribers, here's to 10k 🥂

[@militaristaustrian]

Same

[@AmericanImperium1776]

Hey 👋🏻 man, really great video. I’m wondering if you plan on doing any White Army Figures like Wrangel or Kornilov or figures who were on neither side like Boris Savinkov?

[@elWieslaw]

As if I heard Soviet propaganda about him in this video, only in English ... Also add that he was a loving father and a warm man ...

[@farariri]

Wiesiu, Rokossowski nie był złym człowiekiem, po prostu urodził się w chujowych czasach, a mimo to udało mu się zdobyć szacunek, nawet będąc komunistą. I mówię to z perspektywy osoby, która gardzi komuchami i wszystkim co jest związane z tym spierdolinym ustrojem. A samo ZSRR było by dużo lepszym tworem gdyby każdy komuch dzielił takie same cechy i wartości co Rokossowski.

[@hiddenfromhistory100]

This is very inaccurate, when it comes to dates - the Provisional government did not rule until 1923, but was overthrown by the Bolsheviks in October , 1917, the latter ruling then as the Soviet authority (renamed Communist party in 1918).

[@HomineDomine]

Hello Friend!, English is not my mother languae, but i must tell you that this video is very well done. Greetings from Chile.

[@hughmungus1767]

Stalin died in 1953, not 1956 as you claim around 17:10. This is very well known and documented in hundreds of books. How on earth did you get 1956 as the year of his death?

[@IrishCarney]

Probably because de-Stalinization began in 1956 with Khrushchev's "secret speech".

[@bennytsai4065]

for me Marshal Rokossovsky is the best Soviet (not to mention Allied) commander in the war a true Tank General on his time

[@annitophstiessenheimer2523]

You forgot to mention Model‘s brillant counterattack at Warsaw. Probably the main reason why the Uprising failed. The Russian forces were too exhausted for further battles.

[@trooperdgb9722]

@lati long Maybe so..but to suggest as this video does that the Soviet forces were "unable" to assist is a hell of a stretch...

[@rafasekowski321]

He never felt Polish, he was Stalin's servant.

[@maximbravo6835]

@@trooperdgb9722 because real warfare is slightly more complicated than Command&Conquer series. Just because the Soviet troops were a few kliks away on the map does not mean they were able to make a forced march, cross the Vistula and enter the battle. All of it at a ridiculously short notice and on the initiative of the Home Army who never even bothered to coordinate their battle plans.

[@johntillman6068]

@@maximbravo6835 The Red Army was in the Praga suburb, right across the river.

[@johntillman6068]

The Red Army was not too exhausted. First Byelorussian Front had numerous divisions fully capable of encircling Warsaw. Its Polish divisions even attacked across the Vistula bridges into Warsaw from its eastern suburb, Praga, but the many Soviet divisions around them failed to follow on or provide support, so the eastern Polish army had to withdraw.

[@drzarkov39]

He fought for the Soviets in their attempt to crush his homeland in the Polish-Soviet War. Then again in WWII.

[@holdfast453]

He fought for what he believed was right. The well-rounded Poland on the map today is result of his, and his colleagues work during WW2.

[@bydloshkolnik]

His homeland was Russia. Poland was not even on the map when he was born.

[@drzarkov39]

@@bydloshkolnik OMG! We're not talking about ground. We're talking about heritage, blood, family.

[@holdfast453]

@@drzarkov39 Heritage, Blood, Family don’t matter. If you are Catholic you’d know Jesus the carpenter: no one is prophet in his native land. He was a Jew, and was rejected, his human blood spilled on the cross to prove he’s divine, his family was in the faith. But you did not comment on the fact that for the most part Poland occupies German land and polish people today live and sleep in ethnically-cleansed German cities.

[@drzarkov39]

@@holdfast453 Wow!

[@NormAppleton]

Konstantin Rokossovsky is one of the greatest human beings ever.

[@Lechoslaw8546]

He was a purely Polish man, proud of his Polish heritage. He was removed from Poland in 1956 against his will and suffered that as his greatest personal tragedy. This has been reported by Antoni Zambrowski who knew him personally and his opinion perfectly fits other men like general Józef Kuropieska, gen.Cymbarewicz and other who knew him.

[@bloodywanker781]

Forgot to mention the fact that the Russians broke 9 of his teeth, 3 of his ribs and poked his eye out

[@boder9092]

What’s the song at the beginning