Poland's Geographic Challenge

RANE examines Poland's difficult geographic position between Russia and the West.
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[@DavidJGillCA]

Poland has perhaps the most unfortunate geographic position of any nation in Europe. (The classic explanation of why Poland's geographic situation has been so problematic is simply because it has few geographic features defining it's borders to the east and west and because it lies between two much larger nations.)

[@tkpt]

+David J Gill That "unfortunate" position was a result of the raise of Prussia and Russia, and the unification of the Germans. Before that, the Poles together with the Lithuanians ruled a vast land and were fortunate enough to have control of the rich Silesia and some ports of the Baltic sea. The only real misfortune of Poland, imho, was the lack of a super powerful ruler/conqueror like Friedrich the great and Peter the great. Not to overlook is the poor Czech and Slovak, perhaps more so than Poland. They never ruled a lot of lands in central Europe, they were ruled or invaded by different countries in different eras, and their native languages were oppressed for a long time. The Poles had at least a glorious past.

[@maciejrozanski154]

+T Koo I think it is because we are between east and west, because of that we are between 2 different cultures that clash into each other alot, and thats why my country was a big battlefield for a very long time of its history. I dont realy mind that, what does not kill you make you stronger after all.

[@martinkollarovic9376]

+T Koo Slovaks never ruled much land, only those about 150 000 square kilometers around the year 460 which is called Great Moravia, and the Czech kings ruled Holy Roman Empire for two hundred years until the Habsburgs fucked up the balance of powers in Europe.

[@Porkeater2610957]

+David J Gill That would be Serbia.

[@BielUaN133]

+T Koo Not having land doesnt mean being unfortunate, the fact that Cech Republic or Slovakia never had land made them not worth attacking, they never had that many wars and in result their culture could grow and impact others. Besides being big, Poland has 100 years of war, 100 years of occupation, and after rebuilding the country, fighting for its borders and defending from Russians time and time again.

[@Porkeater2610957]

POland is great. Greetings from Serbia

[@bartoszgolinczak3554]

Greetings from Poland

[@pcierech9940]

Greetings, my Serbian friend!

[@przemyslawpatro8461]

Kosovo je Serbija ! bro!

[@stiopanstefan3083]

Kosowo jest Serbskie. Mój Słowiański Bracie.

[@dirtyyy7668]

A Lwów polski lol

[@TheSpiritOfTheTimes]

Lol, Yugoslavia was not under the Soviets.

[@zbyszekd007]

TheSpiritOfTheTimes No, they had own communist party.

[@TheSpiritOfTheTimes]

zbyszekd007 Yes, people who were in power called themselves 'communists'. Still weren't under the Soviets though, but were one of the founding members of the non-aligned movement.

[@TheSpiritOfTheTimes]

***** Well, Poland was part of the Warsaw Pact from beginning to end, so they were, more or less, under the Soviets.

[@fantastyczniemajestatyczny89]

TheSpiritOfTheTimes It was for the first few years after WW2. It became independent somewhen in the 1950s

[@zbyszekd007]

Fantastycznie majestatyczny jenot We all the time was on soviet occupation. Some countries try to get independance like Hungary and Poland in 1956, Czechoslovakia in 1968, but all the times Soviets intervene. All have to be educated in Moscow, so it is not independance.

[@uddeshyagupta6910]

Fearless and developed country in my view

[@bezi227]

POZDRAWIAM POLAKÓW i gratuluje za brak wiedzy historycznej :)

[@KingKhan-123]

Nice one..you should have given the year of partition

Yugoslavia was not in Soviet block, damn it!!!

[@mutantkitten7765]

0:28 whait why is that polish king wearing something that looks like an ancient greek armour?

[@Sebastianek1990]

+MutantKitten In Polands Golden Era Latin and old Greek was more popular to know than today English (Polish Nobleman was raised in Roman-like style)... . Needless to say sometimes even Polish peasants knew old Greek.

[@mutantkitten7765]

Sebastianek1990 oh cool. that explains the slightly roman looking armour on your famous brave cavalrymen aswell.

[@sasotadic7032]

Yugoslavia was never under Soviet sphere of Influence...

[@barnabasmardzewski287]

we don't fear russia

[@SonyJimable]

Just out of curiosity, is it very profitable to run CIA black sites in Poland? I'm asking because it may be another area of income for the Ukraine. We could easily undercut the Polish people paid to torture (sorry... use "advance interrogation techniques") on kidnapped foreigners. Did you guys use people from former pig abattoirs or do you train people especially for these jobs? How much does Poland get paid? Is it paid by the soul or per scream obtained... How does it work?

[@EnhancedNightmare]

lol moron, CIA tortured them by their own. No Poles were at it. They just rented old buildings and were given free hand to run their shit with secrecy. Only highest people knew and the payment was basically a bribe. It was not profitable as now those politicians face a PR shitstorm, also the relations with US are far worse because they used our trust to commit crimes.

[@EnhancedNightmare]

SonyJimable Meh.

[@moozgoos]

Actually CIA prisons in Poland were made in cooperative with post-soviet politicians in Poland, like Miller and others. No one in Poland knew about it. Sad story... and there is no simple answer for that.

[@EnhancedNightmare]

Piotr Jaszczyk Yeah, great shame on our country.

[@kiuocmall2793]

+Piotr Jaszczyk That is symptomatic for post-soviet politicians in all post-soviets states. These politinias were trained by communists to run a client state, and they are doing just that, only now US is making the calls.

[@jonstainerr5340]

its a completely crap) Poland never had a controle over Lithuania. Its was a union between Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Poland and its was equal by territories. Have some classes duffers

[@BrandonjSlippingAway]

No matter what you think of Poland, you have to credit Poles with one thing, resiliency.

[@wargen8121]

the gandalf of europe. screaming "you shall not pass" to huge powers, then falling into nothing just to return to the map, not yet lost

[@augizzz999]

That's why in ww2 they've surrendered in barely more than a month.

[@mg7437]

Dude, Poland was attacked by 3rd Reich and USSR from both sides and we still managed to fight much longer then France -.-

[@BrandonjSlippingAway]

Augustinas Rukas It's not just about that though, they've been absorbed into other empires and partitioned many times, yet ethnic Poles remained culturally relevant to each other. They tried to suppress the language and all sorts of shit, yet it failed. Comparing that to Britain's highly effective war on the Irish language, it's a decent achievement.

[@Fikik02]

Yep, French defence was fucked up in 3 days, when Rommel reached Meuse river and started encircling great Allies. Poland had alot of territory in East, where they could last for a longer time and wait for French attack (that would probably wont come).

[@4relevants]

By any simulations, having two powerful countries on the left and right it's amazing that Poland survive at all.

[@mysteriousdoge1298]

Christopher Macias Yes we are like awesome cockroaches. You can't kill us.

[@ChillDudelD]

Christopher Macias Prussia didn't became powerful until the Partitions of Poland. Royal Prussia was a Polish province and Ducal Prussia was a Polish vassal. Prussian (Hohenzollern) kings kneeled and paid homage to Polish kings for couple hundred years before that.

[@frankgrossmann4500]

ChillDudeID unfortunately they spoke german and not polish (;-)))

[@ChillDudelD]

Frank Grossmann Of course the Hohenzollerns spoke German, they were Germanians after all.

[@Grivian]

Christopher Macias They didn't ;)

[@gobikornelpigstrong7416]

Greetings from Hungary! Polak Wegier dwa bratanki!

[@archduchyofaustria2021]

I do szabli, i do szklanki! :D

[@stiopanstefan3083]

i do szabli i do szklanki !! Greetings from Poland my Friend

[@Valius_V]

Thank you, brother!

[@asymptotax]

Lengyel Magyar ket jó barat! :D

[@maciejgajewski1494]

I do szabli, i do szklanki muj bracie =)

[@bialapodlaska1000]

At 1:06, the Stratfor narrator states that “Poland was swept into the Soviet bloc…” The historical fact is that Poland was forced into the bloc through Roosevelt’s and Churchill’s betrayal at the Tehran Conference in November, 1943, in which they secretly agreed to Stalin’s demand for Soviet domination of Poland and eastern Europe, which he achieved through his occupying Red Army. This, after fighting the Germans throughout Europe under British command, providing the British with a working copy of the Enigma machine one week before Hitler invaded Poland, and the Polish RAF squadrons achieving 16 percent of the kills in the Battle of Britain despite not being allowed to join the battle until the halfway point (the 303rd Kosciuszko Squadron had the RAF’s highest kill rate).

[@Drkbowers1]

Are you actually saying it was more the allies' fault than the Soviet's fault? Should the allies have gone to WWIII for Poland?

[@areczek55]

Allies should stand shoulder to shoulder with Poland, just like in the times of war Poles did - this is main reason why both sites signed treatys.

[@makorek]

wtf? it was done at least 2 years before, "West" started being Stalin's dog at least in august 1941 when they send 1st convoy and together with soviets invaded IRAN!

[@areczek55]

The truth is that Allies (in 1945 USA were in possession of nuclear weapon and) had enough power to force Stalin's retreat to pre war borders (I personally like Patton's way of doing things). Great Britain, France - Poland's main allies (which practically once - in 1939 - betrayed Poland) just accepted Stalin's conditions, yes - it was easier, but it was betrayal.

[@jadger1871]

That's just ludicrous, the allies did not have enough "power" (however you want to define that vague term, I assume you meant militarily) to take on the Soviets. They were still fighting Japan, and they were democratic nations that had been fighting a war for almost six years. How do you think they will pass off starting another war to their electorate? "Hey guys! Remember that failed military dictatorship we went to war for? Yeah, let's start a war with the world's largest military (that we've been supplying weapons to) in order to reinstate that same dictatorship that started five wars in twenty years, one with each of its neighbours." Do you see how that would have failed now? There would have been no public support, and in a democracy you need public support. Not only that, the West could not have fought off the Soviets. Europe was starving at the time, and the Soviets were building massive numbers of IS-2 and IS-3 tanks that could easily destroy any Western tank, and their military was far larger and more experienced as well.

[@JNadobnik]

I remember a joke from the sitcom Seinfeld. Newman (a character in the series) once used the comparison: as fast as the Germans invaded Poland. That's what all people think: that Germany's Blitz conquered Poland in no-time. But those people are wrong. Poland stood against the Blitz for a month, until the Soviet Union, Slovakia and Bulgaria invaded the country from three sides. The correct joke would be: as fast as the Germans invaded Holland... or France. In both cases the Blitz only took a few days, in the Netherlands a week. That's something to think about.

[@ypabloworld]

Bulgaria didn't invade Poland.

[@JNadobnik]

+Ian Will Poland was a first world country before WW2. Now, after communism Poland lost it's status as a rich first world country and is now a so-called second world country, but in five to ten years it will surpass Italy and Belgium economically. Already Poland has better living standards than Italy. They are almost comparable to the standards in Belgium.

[@JNadobnik]

+ypabloworld Yes, you're right

[@JNadobnik]

+Ian Will Of course! But I don't know why people say they invaded Poland so fast. It took them almost a month.

[@JNadobnik]

+Ian Will I agree. But read my explanation. Other countries were defeated quicker. France, Norway, Holland... That's what I mean.

[@kubixus]

Poland escaped USRR's block before it collapsed ._.

[@masteredfreezevicius1479]

USSR learn english and meaning..

[@GG-ul7ix]

***** It's ZSRR in Polish, hence the mistake.

[@Xiao7coltmania]

KubissusPL Wracaj do szkoły by podciągnąć swoją wiedzę. Polska nie uciekła a "Zainicjowała" rozpad Układu Warszawskiego co przyczyniło się do rozpadu Związku Radzieckiego.

[@kubixus]

Xiao7coltmania Co ty pierdolisz? 1989 - Obrady okrągłego stołu, 1991 - rozpad ZSSR.

[@Xiao7coltmania]

KubissusPL Obrady okrągłego stołu,prowadzone od 6 lutego do 4 kwietnia 1989 przez przedstawicieli władz PRL, opozycji solidarnościowej oraz kościelnej. Przyczynił się do upadku socjalizmu w Polsce W wyniku rozpadu bloku socjalistycznego w Europie (1989) nastąpiło formalne rozwiązanie układu warszawskiego na posiedzeniu w Pradze 1 lipca 1991 1 lipca 1991 prezydenci Czechosłowacji, Polski, Bułgarii i Rumunii, wiceprezydent ZSRR oraz premier Węgier w Pradze podpisali protokół o uznaniu Układu Warszawskiego za nieistniejący... Związek Radziecki zniknął z mapy świata, a za datę jego upadku oficjalnie uważa się 26 grudnia 1991 roku O ja... no rzeczywiście coś pierdole ale Ty dalej nie dostrzegasz zależności miedzy poszczególnymi wydarzeniami a do tego nie dostrzegasz chronologii czasowej tych wydarzeń. Napisze to jeszcze raz: KUBISSUSPL WRACAJ DO SZKOŁY BY PODCIĄGNĄĆ WIEDZĘ!!!

[@tomekwalkowski1064]

Poland isn't scared of Russia

[@DavidJGillCA]

With Poland in NATO Poland's defense is assured (by deterrence.)

[@florinandone411]

Russia will fuck everyone. because they can. nobody likes them but they really are dangerous. they can invade any country in europe in less than 3 months. (Tzar Putin declaration).

[@Ak-kt7br]

+Florin Andone Hahaha idiot. Russia wont invade anyone. Russia will let you rot in your war machines without caring. But if poland attacks first than tactical nukes will be used.

[@maksymalnybul6145]

+Ak 47 >tactical nukes will be used xDDDDD You think any country would use nuclear bombs in these times when all people know what it would to do?

[@erikheinrich7179]

Kawon Mitochondrialny Some people are really stupid nowdays you know!

[@SparkyCpt]

Poland's fear of Russia? aAre u kidding me?

[@Olegstuff21986]

Why are you part of NATO then?

[@antoniogramsci8217]

Oleg A. Smoke and Mirrors

[@ryandebruin9221]

Mateusz Urbański no. We’re not kidding. Russia could defeat Poland anytime, any day. NATO is the only thing holding them back.

[@KobY_00]

''scared of russia'' ? whaaat loool , NO!

[@MsSomeone98]

+kobylaniec3 Didn't you know? Russia is what everyone in Europe East of Germany is afraid of.

[@HellHammerOfDoom]

+kobylaniec3 neva!

[@bunney3272]

+Siddiq Ismail I didn't hear of Czech, Slovak, Serbian, or Greek fear of Russia.

[@MsSomeone98]

George Severn It's a hyperbole, or an exaggeration. Those countries don't actually share a border with Russia, and Serbia has been sucking Russia's cock since independence (probably because they were never occupied and didn't have Russian soldiers rape their lands, like Romania and Bulgaria). Meanwhile the Baltic Countries are scared shitless into joining the UN, and Ukraine and Georgia have already been attacked.

[@MsSomeone98]

George Severn Also, back when those countries (aside from Greece and Serbia) were in Russia's sphere of influence (the Soviet Union and it's satellite states) they pretty much hated it.

[@chdini1036]

Who said that we fear Russians? we fought them for centuries. BRING THEM ON!!

[@VLAD777BY]

Then why you need help of NATO bases and weapon?

[@VLAD777BY]

+ Laura Lewant I wouldn't say that it's the same entity, 'cos Belarus has much stronger connections with Russia, but at the same time close partnership with Poland would be good, 'cos it will pull Belarus to european values.

[@qPolakq]

pierdolnij się w czoło, jeszcze żyją tacy którzy pamiętają jak tu siedzieli 50 lat a Ty ich znowu wołasz? Po chuj się tak popisywać? Jak jesteś patriotą to myśl trochę

[@wierdlifedude5283]

Niestety muszę się zgodzić z Polaq, lepiej jest się z nimi i zachodem dogadać gospodarczo (nie kulturowo ani światopoglądowo) i niech siedzą u siebie. Bo jak się z zachodem będą znowu w wojne bawić to oczywiście piaskownicą dla nich będzie Polska, a tak jak my mamy swoje wojsko, i interesy z jednym drugim i trzecim (Chiny) to nas nikt nie ruszy. a jak już się wystrzelają kto my zostaniemy jako jedyna potęga :P. a tak co będziesz prężyć muskuły i brał w jape dla amerykanów czy unii euroejskie?! Pamiętaj że nie każdy ruski to od razu zły, zwykły sashka prędzej ci pomoże niż taki michael z uk.

[@pedrosalvador1146]

Polski Patriota and lost, lol.

[@levonenfiajyan9818]

Poland strong best country #1

[@levonenfiajyan9818]

Poland stronk EU NATO member hahaha worst Russia cannot into currency unlike great Poland.

[@ChillDudelD]

***** Yeah, because of WWII and the Soviet Union.

[@kamma44]

Poland strong? LoL! Poland is heavily dependent on the US and NATO for its defense.

[@levonenfiajyan9818]

Poland save Europe 1683 never forget hahah 1920 best year of my life

[@kamma44]

Levon Enfiajyan 1683? Dude, stop trying to relive the glory days of a by-gone era!

[@LilBlAcK76]

POLAND aka The RIVERLANDS

[@zonxo]

+Nino A POLAND MEANS ""THE FIELD = POLIA/POLE = POLANDS = THE FIELDS..IN OLD BULGAR LANGUAGE..ALL SLAVIC LANGUAGES CAME FROM THE BULGAR LANGUAGE ! NOT RIVERLANDS !

[@FilipsonDupson]

+Nino A POLAND aka RUSSIA v2

[@kminrzymski]

+zonxo lol it's a reference to the Riverlands from Westeros in Game of Thrones universe

[@elomamautyzm1349]

RUSSIA aka POLANDv3

[@scrubblack]

I get the "reference" from GoT, but what's funny about it? What are the riverlands that're comparable to Poland? Is it because the riverlands always get invaded and controlled by other people in the wars?

[@SkroD82]

Poland this is centre of Europe, heart of Europe, not east.

[@adfv785]

centralny to moze byc dworzec

[@adfv785]

SkroD82 sij :#

[@gabrielecoco6314]

We usually refers Poland with centre-east europe, for history, culture economy ecc ecc Anyway Poland Is great country with great people :)

[@adfv785]

gabriele coco thx

[@Slavaisusukhrystu]

That's lucky. Ukraine is stuck in Eastern Europe, bordering that rampaging beast...

[@ButterFieldFan]

Poland... we protected europe many times then we got batrayed by our "allies". We have fallen a couple of times but no matter what, we will always get back up and again and take back our land back. Honestly the only country I would trust is Hungary, our great brothers :)

[@weronikaturemka174]

Kto z polski?

[@feliksukasiewicz9317]

Ja ^^

[@onetwo8194]

Ja

[@maciej8620]

Ja

[@saifulislamsarkar668]

Nice TOO meet YOU

[@saifulislamsarkar668]

What's YOU name

[@shanks6404]

Respect from Turkey to Poland, proud to say that only the Ottomans as a Country were against the Partition of Poland.

[@alexanderlehigh]

Poland is probably one of NATO's most important members when it comes to Russian defense.

[@earthakitt3661]

Poland has an unfortunate history. Worse than the Dutch Empire.

[@mariusharian4208]

sometimes was unfortune, but other times was splendid and glorious. Anyway still exist anf develop fast.

[@andreman2767]

Not worse than Belarus, because nobody even member it.

[@hydrocarbonartichoke]

Poland's Geographic Challenge: Germany and Russia

[@kolyieoglada]

Jeśli dobrze zagramy, na zagładę jeśli sąsiedzi się skumaja... To nie UK ani jakas Hiszpania gdzie dookoła morze. Tak jak ktoś tam nie tak dawno powiedział , ze "już czas aby Polska zaczęła myśleć o swojej mocarstwowosci" ....

[@heniu944]

Zdaje się, że te słowa powiedział Victor Orban.

[@MrMoriros]

Victor, Victor - nie ważne, kto to powiedział, ważne, ze racje miał! Ale nie oszukujmy sie: z naszym rządem-nierządem i jego nastawieniem szans nie ma na to najmniejszych :/

[@uddeshyagupta6910]

Poland is a great nation .

[@taureaurouge3315]

The reason Poland survived for so long was because... WHEN THE WINGED HUSSARS ARIVED!

[@bernson12]

Polish Warriors!

[@hannibalbarca8248]

HUSSAR

[@sasserevssa]

Poles are everywhere : USA 10 mln , Brazil 2 mln , Germany 2 mln , UK 1 mln , France 1 mln , Canada 1 mln , Argentina 0.5 mln , Norway 0.2 mln ,

[@benmarshall5132]

+sasserevssa yes and we are probed with a microchip from birth so when the time comes Poles all over the world will be programmed to destroy everyone else and create a Poland-only earth. That's why we are all over the place.

[@Karoljna94]

+Ben Marshall hahah nice plan, i like it ! ;)

[@LordDark102]

2 mln in Australia 35 in the US (i think most of them dont even remember they are irish) 11 in the Uk 4 in Canada 0.5 in Argentina.

[@jimimorijixopegujiuvoqi3479]

mostly Jewish poles

[@user-uu1fe9gb3b]

And lithuania

[@emperorcorning8329]

LONG LIVE POLAND

[@oskieboiiofficial7079]

I am from Poland

[@1MuchButteR1]

I thought this was an accurate analysis channel and you made a huge mistake on the history of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Polish Crown controlled Ukraine directly that is correct. But Grand Duchy of Lithuania which consisted of modern day Lithuania and Belarus had its own administration. Lithuanian leaders coordinated with the Poles closely but it was far from "direct control."

[@Xezarious42]

You are more than right, ours was a Commonwealth on equal grounds. The way I see it, we could both benefit from setting aside our current insignificant disputes and recreating what once was so great. To bad our politicians keep fighting on trifling matters.

[@1MuchButteR1]

Xezarious42 Maybe so... If Poland helps Lithuania gain back Belarus :)

[@stiepanholkien605]

1MuchButteR1 Poland is helping anti government people in Belarus so that's a start.

[@Zarrov]

1MuchButteR1 I dont think you can get Belarus, but wouldn't be you content with Kaliningrad? ;)

[@vidmizz]

Zarrov More land is always welcome but I would rather see it as an independent state called Prussia even if it doesn't have any more germans living there

[@wiimooden]

Hard to believe we saw Belarus out before Poland.

[@jandenuijl4287]

Poland can into space

[@Brzcastas]

Jan den Uijl u too

[@Jariid]

Helping NATO break the arms treaty that prevents the escalation of nuclear war? Thanks Poland!

[@szymonpszczoka2678]

Funny fact, partition od Poland occured cuz of democracy.

[@antoniogramsci8217]

Szymon Pszczółka Very true. Democrats talk too much. Consumes time, prolong making decisions. If they had strong monarchy the map would be very different today.

[@TheHirokaraka]

Not democracy but anarchy. There is no democracy if only 4% of population can vote.

[@tonuka6257]

no it didn't lol

[@the_Rincewind]

If only 4% of population can vote it's called oligarchy, something between democracy and dictatorship

[@dangeonblockstrikebulletfo6040]

I am from Poland

[@goodtime4345]

Poland's *REAL* geographic challenge is being located next to Germany

[@politinteress3410]

Or differently said: the local imperialist Poland (dominator over eastern Middle Europe) found its Masters in the bigger imperialists Germany and Russia. Polishs like to see themselves as "victims in History". Mainly because they were 3 times divided and occupied. But in the other centuries they divided, occupied and assimilated other nations all the same. I'm descendant of Moravian and pre-German Prussian (a Baltic nation) faminilies. Especially the latter got fully wiped out by Polish actions. Over centuries the south got conquerred and assimilated by the Polish and the north by the German Order called by the Polish King. Another big area of Polish actions is where in history the culture of the Ruthians lived and their descendants (Belarusians and Ukrainians) today. This were Polish colonization areas. The original population got over centuries oppressed, partialy enslaved (young women sold to the Ottomans) and in every way exploited. The Polish were the master race in Ukrainia. Besides this Poland assimilated minor west slavic nations like the Kashubians, Sorbs eastern of the German border, and many many more. Nevertheless I love Poland; learning Polish; visit it 4-6 times a year the country. I admire the culture, food and patriotism. But I hate the Polish chauvinism and crying to be victim. I dislike that moralistic view in general. Every person that loves his nation/culture/people should understand that other people want to love theirs as well. To demand understanding for your own patriotism and violating those from others is autistic.

[@goodtime4345]

Dude, it was a joke. Chill.

[@goodtime4345]

What the actual fuck is this? I was just saying that because Poland was invaded my Germany in World War 2 as a joke, something I thought was obvious. I wasn't actually trying to make a point about Poland or Germany or anything.

[@xihangyang]

3 time re-upload. WTF.

[@Timotheus157]

Poland is a key member in the union and strength of Europa.

[@krokeman]

Crown (Poland) had not controlled Grand Dutchy of Lithuania. It was a dualistic, highly decentralized state without a single political or economical center. Second, demographic and industrial core of today Poland is in Upper Silesia region and not in Warsaw.

[@krokeman]

+aratosm Very powerful counter-arguments you have...

[@Taumantis]

+krokeman Poland did, Lithuania was only in name becouse they did not want people to rebel.

[@chardaskie]

Poland and Ukraine you guys rule keep up the good work and the corruption out :)

[@ozisponas1593]

corruption out ? bruh those are one of most corrupt countries in the world especially ukraine

[@andorax4321]

Fuck uKRAINE

[@NicholasEzclapz]

TheMDF Fuck Kievan Rus?

[@xSuperSS]

Emery No, fuck Ukraine

[@NicholasEzclapz]

Fighting_Hussar Now what is wrong with Ukraine? Russia kind of attacked first if you haven't noticed.

[@szychakw]

Polska mój kraj taki piekny!

[@europpeabkar6760]

Zen POLAND Prawda :)

[@monsterinsideofme2952]

Zen POLAND Kocham

[@andydufresnefromshawshank5866]

From America with Love

[@bartekmazurek456]

Fear of Russia?hahahaha nice joke buddy...nice joke.

[@Olegstuff21986]

Yeah, nice joke, only Poland's in NATO.

[@filipfilip3335]

Oleg A. As usa and others....

[@ville307]

Poland has had the same faith as Finland except Poland always got fucked up. 1. Finland joined Sweden. Poland had lots of wars against Sweden that mostly were huge harm to Poland. 2. Sweden having mad king and Russia offering autonomy Finland went under Russia's rule. Poland got occupied and suffered oppression. 3. WW1 was though but independence was achieved for both. 4. WW2 Finland survived two wars with soviets and won nazis, nazis burned Lapland when losing and soviets had some influence during cold war. Poland got crushed from both sides, nazis persecuted people and destroyed Warsaw when losing and soviets controlled the country during cold war. Try to hang in there, Putin is coming for us soon!

[@abuyinibndjadiralsharidi1806]

ville307 We fuck up Swedish forces lol.

[@KowalskyLeon]

ville307+ you are wrong. not "nazis", but Germans. the "civilised" Germans, who want to teach nowadays Poland democracy, murdered 6 000 000 Poles, mostly unarmed civilians. don't lie using the term of mysterious "nazis".

[@filipfilip3335]

In 1918-1920 with etnical proble.s without weapons etc Poland fu**ed up russia...

[@chileanhussar2659]

As a Chilean of Polish origins, it is amazing to know. Poland has been the country of mine for years. Polska Dawaj!

[@fallogingl]

Poland's situation/history is comparable to Korea's I think.

[@phoenix84pl]

And to Hungary... :) between Germany/Austria, Russia and Turkey.

[@Brzcastas]

Tae S I dont think so, or perhaps u think of last 200 yrs so maybe,but it's different story.

[@nadushan4531]

I think You're right, You guys also had a pretty hard time being located between Japan and China.. But I have to say that You have done great job, as we can see by how economically developed South Korea is. Greetings! (Protoss OP :P)

[@BluMacaw]

When we wre in power we had country from onea sea to another so you miss our better times but for not being Pol you made GOOD job

[@andydufresnefromshawshank5866]

I’ve always loved the history of Poland especially during the time of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth, Poland is awesome 😎 From America with Love

[@kminrzymski]

Well, polish geography has actually an upside: it's perfect for launching assaults from, also in case of being invaded. History prooves it, just read about war with Bolsheviks. Unfortunately nowadays our military doctrines are non-existant. Our army is trained to support Americans in desert operations and not to operate in temperate plains :( Also effectiveness of partisan warfare is some kind of taboo in Poland. Most of our national heroes are partisans and it really dooms us.

[@Arg0n01]

STRATFORvideo There is a slight error in the video, the USSR's sphere of influence did not encompass the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (as shown on the map) since there was a split back in 1948. Yugoslavia then banded up with some African, South American and Asian countries to form the non-aligned movement.

[@Neringutea14]

Nice video :) Maybe you could do Lithuania next?

[@GdzieJestNemo]

it would be pretty much the same video...

[@Neringutea14]

Well maybe, but i don't think so, probably the only similarity would be Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

[@podroznikwysublimowany1699]

+CryN And everything. Lithuania is Polish.

[@geekrat1850]

+Podróżnik Wysublimowany I na chuj takie teksty? Dobrze wiesz że to nie prawda, a jeśli tak uważasz to wróć do szkoły ;)

[@podroznikwysublimowany1699]

J&R Films poucz się troszeczkę historii chłopie bo kulejesz.

[@EmperorTikacuti]

Poland must declare independence from The EU admiring Germany exceedingly than The British Empire.

[@Sinistercabbage]

Emergence of German and Russian powers was not really that much of an issue. Was our positioning 100 years earlier between Sweden and Ottoman Empire (and Russia) any better? It was the degrading economic that eventually lead to demise of Poland. in first half of 17th century our armies smashed to pieces the most powerful invaders!

[@sandrapiwowar4113]

Poland isn't Eastern Europe we are central Europe people !!!!!

[@paulinotou]

Im surprised they didnt mention, the Carpathians to the south of the country kind funnels major conflicts through Poland. Once the Germans broke through Poland in WW2 there was very limited geographic restraints for his advance cause most of eastern Europe is plateau.

[@BobanOrlovic]

I see you removed south bessarabia from romania, but you also removed half of tulcea county, which is still in romania today :))

[@DigginSoul]

Romania is so boring

[@adriann4068]

well i guess we will have to get passports to go fish in the danube delta :))

[@BobanOrlovic]

Adrian N Lol Independenta Republica Delta Dunarii Populatia- 20

[@arunkumar4762]

Nonwords about Poland ,greetings from India

[@taikocat8669]

So pretty much everything

[@julek4248]

Poland i want you to give our land back and i want Ukraine and belarus to give your land back Deal?

[@yaroslavzhukov3737]

I like people from Poland, Polska. It is not that wats people frome facking Russia

[@krzysztoflesniak7894]

Before 966 when Poland became christians. Poland was start from river Łaba( Elbe)

[@konkretyn]

Who cares if Poland is becoming stronger economically if there are less and less Poles to represent it with an iron fist? We, as a nation, are weak with regards to historic pride and self-esteem. Even Poles are making funof their very own nation. At least I still care.

[@konkretyn]

bit abuser So is potential Nazism. Unfortunately, Poland is currently seeing lots of anti-immigrant protests, saying that 'Poland must stay Catholic' even though most of it is internally Atheist and Agnostic. Nothing against you, of course. You are right in some senses.

[@konkretyn]

bit abuser When exactly did I say Catholicism is bad in my comment? None of my opinions on Catholicism are to affect anyone against their will. So maybe they are 'Catholic' but not Catholic Christian. Sometimes culture and general life don't go in one person at the same time. But of course, I'm not generalising here, a lot of Poles believe very strongly in God and go to Church very often, while the youth is gradually losing interest.

[@konkretyn]

***** Hopefully that's true :)

[@konkretyn]

You're Spying You're right. We have to build up hope again. All those Poles who make fun of how hopeless and terrible Poland is, when they could instead be making it better. Even an average guy like me can figure out that: Poland needs better roads, more ports, better housing, and etc. There are so many opportunities for Poland to become stronger, but I guess the current government just isn't creative enough.

[@_sawbonz_]

+Krzys Samus I dont want to break it to you but everyone makes fun of their own country. Im suprised poles still get offended when someone says "polish death camps" instead of Nazi. It's just the fact the newer generations dont really care about history and make fun everything. Germans make nazi jokes, brits colonialism jokes and russians vodka jokes. Its ok to laugh it out sometime

[@SuperSilkyJohnson]

Playing EU4 as Poland right now with a bunch of human players, can confirm geographic challenge, attacked by Sweden, Russia, Austria and a massive Saxony all at the same time.

[@yarpen26]

one of the key geographic challenges for Poland is being able into space since, as we all know, Poland cannot into space

[@grendan476]

Can you say it again, but this time in English?

[@yarpen26]

Grendan google "Poland cannot into space" buddy

[@mr.grenade9497]

Poland was in space tho, but I get the joke so I wont butthurt here 😃

[@downator6740]

Polish astronaut Mirosław Hermaszewski was in the space. But, why the fuck we have to ,,into space"? Solar System is boring, and there arent any life.

[@FagitSohn]

+Downator V To jest taki mem deklu

[@LlwtyDeer]

Missing border between Romania and Ukraine down by the black sea

[@stelios-1821]

I like Polska but I like Russia more ;)

[@benmarshall5132]

+Stelios D we can like each other :)

[@dynamix6489]

POLSKA....

[@MrGame9009]

Poland has nice girls :D

[@lvivnukregunar9586]

hy from lwow,respect all Polsih people and Polska

[@Odpath]

WOW THANKS FOR VIDEO ! :D

[@GabrielenTutorials]

Haha, economic core in warsaw? that was never a thing the real economic core is located in SIlesia :D

[@GabrielenTutorials]

Caius Cosades aglomeracja warszawska to 2.5 miliona mieszkańców (z wsiami itp. wokół) a sama metropolityczna część aglomeracji górnośląskiej to 3.5 miliona + okolica

[@ukaszlange1441]

+GabrielenTutorials 1 miasto vs pare małych miasteczek stworzonych przez PRL jak Sosnowiec? ja jednak wole Wasraw

[@GabrielenTutorials]

Chciałbym kucyka ale najpierw musze go zespawać malych miasteczek? katowice prawie same dorownuja warszawie ludnością + warszawa też była stworzona przez PRL - patrz Pałac kultury, i cała reszta miasta odbudowana przez PRL po 2 WŚ :)

[@ukaszlange1441]

+GabrielenTutorials z tego co podaje google na dzień 31 grudnia 2015 Katowice zamieszkuję 299 809 osób - miasteczek to dobre stwierdzenie - dla porównania Gdańsk - prawie 500 tys ludzi Poznań 615 tys Wrocław ok 750 tys Kraków prawie 900 tys a Warszawa 1mln 700 tys mieszkańców, jeszcze raz - Katowice 299 tys Warszawa 1,7 mln może i aglomeracja jest duża ale miasteczko to trafne stwierdzenie

[@ukaszlange1441]

Nie no dobra przesadziłem z tym wrocławiem

[@RODZYN560]

You mist the most important points. But you represent a story for stupid people.

[@2serveand2protect]

A few words, stripped to what is simply the "NECESSARY", WELL DONE "ANALYSIS". There's only ONE thing you could argue upon. Warsaw may be the POLITICAL "core" of the country but for sure not the industrial or economical one (I'm not sure about the demographic changes that ocurred lately, so I can't express myself about them). For sure, when it comes to (heavy) industry it's "core" is rather in the South (Silesia) or places like Stalowa Wola than in the Warsaw "district".

[@ogi4383]

Polska next Japan?

[@primijenjenapsihologija1907]

how can you say that yugoslavia was in the warsaw pact?

[@laughable6650]

Poland can into Space

[@patryk9371]

In this year Poland celebrate 1050 year of existence. Now Polish borders are on the main territory where everything started.

[@johnytest464]

To conclude, Poland's challenge... is basicly to survive?

[@geekrat1850]

+johnytest464 Not much :) This viedo don't show how power and great country was Poland from 15th to 18th century.

[@dumnylach]

+johnytest464 Everybody fights for survive, every country. Poland was attacking and defending. Like every country.

[@SamiVideo.Channel]

Yugoslavia was NOT soviet Block

[@magdaty1815]

only some people know that

[@demix30]

Do Lithuania thx

[@ChristianVBlue3]

Kurwa

[@DOTTORE_FOX]

To all the ignorants who still think that Yugoslavia was under soviet influence, please watch the video about Tito from the channel "Tooky history". He has a good explanation about the times and how the relation was like between yugoslavia and the soviet union.

[@Quetzalcoatlv3]

Old Poland (with Ukraine and Belarus) had the best possible place in Europe. Today it still has, but polish democratic government never will use it advantages. Poland should have build highway Berlin-Moscow 30 years ago. Be brave Poland!

[@Gagson88]

Map of the biggest Poland is incorect, if im not wrong in 1618 it was from sea to sea and even to the moscov

[@ThisGoesCrazy]

I'm watching this because Russia just hit Poland with a missile....

[@rdtgr8]

I find all these maps where Poland controls Left-bank Ukraine to be totally ridiculous. First of all Poland was present in any part of this area for less then 98 years de jure and less than 85 years de facto (1569-1654). This is even less than Russian Empire controlled so called Tsardom of Poland (1813-1917 or 104 years). However if Russia indeed controlled ethnic Polish lands during all this time, Polish control was either nominal or didn't exist in significant shares of this period and area. For example, in Poltava surroundings Polish settlement campaign started only after 1590, while in 1569-90 it was given de facto under control of aboriginal Sevriuks population. So de facto Poland was present there for only less than 64 years. In Chernigov and Novgorod-Severskii Poland was present even less, since it was under control of Russia till 1611 (de facto) and 1618 (de jure): it's even less than 43 years. Zaporozhye was only in nominal control Poland for most of this time, Poles were afraid to appear there. So you see, this map only looks good, but have nothing behind. Let's be honest: Poland controlled Kiev and Left-bank Ukraine for only several decades. And this is quite nothing compared to 1137-year recorded history of this region (since joining of Kiev and Severschina to Rus' in 882-883 AD).

[@ikmarchini]

Why do you call this series 'Geographic Challenge' and yet the bulk of your oration-in all the episodes- is about war, invasion, and protection from invasion and war? I was expecting geography. Perhaps you should rename the series 'Political Challenge'.

[@Gabi-kz6pn]

Warsaw demographic corre? Since when? Silesia and Lesser Poland is demographic and economic corre.

[@michaelangelo3647]

The weastern bulkin countries, yugoslavia at the time of the cold war, wasn't part of the Eastern bloc. It was a nuetral communist country and independent of the soviet union.

[@brianoreilly3001]

How do the Polish and French feel about each other. The french made the Duchy of Warsaw in 1807 and it was an Allie to the french until 1814 when Poland was divided up again.

[@ignemuton5500]

so many people rooting Poland, look we get it, i get it, i love this country and it's people, but history happens, if Poland was invaded it's probably because it wasn't as strong as other nations around it, face it.

[@404killer]

Can someone explain to me what exactly the European Union is? Uk left it but how does that change anything? I actually don't understand, is it some sort of faction?