Why did the French Fail to Annex Saarland? (Short Animated Documentary)

The French, for many decades in the twentieth century, really wanted to annex a region in Germany called the Saarland. They wanted it because it had mountains of coal and industry which would bolster France's defences. Yet despite their winning two world wars they never managed to gain permanent control of it. But why not? To find out watch this short and simple animated history documentary.
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[@ComicalRealm]

"My great grandmother was born 1898 near Saarbruecken. She changed her nationality four times, lived through two world wars and paid with six different currencies. She has been through a lot, without even moving once!" - Fred Flintstone

[@ph0n1xz]

Grand dad: origins

[@Pigraider268]

*James Bisonette

[@KR-mm4el]

saarland (1914-1957) be like: “it do be bussin’ though”

[@yoyohehe2034]

My Croatian grandpa lived in 7 different countries: 1. Austria-Hungary 2. State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs (1918) 3. Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918 - 1941) 4. Kingdom of Italy (1941-1943) 5. Independent state of Croatia (1943-1945) 6. SFR Yugoslavia (1945-1991) 7. Croatia (1991)

[@boomerix]

Reminds me of people who lived in Transcarpathia during the 2 world wars. Austro-Hungarian, then West Ukrainian People's Republic, then Czechoslovakian, then Hungarian and in the end part of the Ukrainian Soviet Republic. People went through 5 different citizenships without even moving once.

[@ingsnaut_7006]

"It's Saarland not your land." -- German probably.

[@hkchan1339]

Friedrich Nietzsche

[@proactiveomnipresentvessel6569]

Genius

[@succhiatoredelcazzo4689]

underrated comment

[@Tjalve70]

"This land is Saarland, this land's not your land...."

[@TheLoraxshadenough]

Ok that was cleaver

[@dajaca2586]

Wasn't expecting this territorial conflict to be the EU's secret origin story

[@Tjalve70]

For me it was the other way around. I knew about EU's origin story. But I didn't know Saarland was such an integral part of it.

[@Dyknown]

Same here, and sort of surprised the ECSC's origins were more than economic but political as well. I feel silly, given how the EU has always had a political nature to it...

[@rick7424]

Adenauer time.

[@giuseppeagresta1425]

It's not like EU was born just because of that tho, there are tons of other things that influenced its birth (mostly the Cold War, as mentioned in the video: USA had to keep the European front united etc.)

[@ALEXANDER1318]

It isn't. It's France trying to conjure magic burning rocks into its economy that forms the EU's secret origin story. It's also about France trying to keep Germany from outgrowing it economically (again) by stapling itself (and the rest of Western Europe) to Germany and its economy. Only to have the Germans end up dominating the whole thing (like 2 minutes later) anyway. The French are not very good at doing some macro-political things. Hence them being on their fifth republic.

[@itsducc0953]

France to Saarland after they were guaranteed the coal of the land: *"I don't want to play with you anymore."*

[@Dyknown]

Saarland to France: "Thanks, we were tired of this anyway."

[@selinane2Seli-zw3pz]

The story is older. Saarlouis was created by Louis XIV, a french King, in Saarland....

[@JonatasAdoM]

@@Ball4LifeShorts You're not coal anymore

[@JonatasAdoM]

@@selinane2Seli-zw3pz Sarrloius! Where all the French Louis come from!

[@abrahamlincoln14]

E

[@HipFire1]

germany: looses another war. France: gib Saarland.

[@Verner-eh4pk]

smart

[@KR-mm4el]

germany: loses ww2 russia: gib Königsberg

[@lorrainemapper7000]

Germany: loses world war 2 Poland: gib prussia

[@yellowwire3751]

Das heißt: Gib mir BITTE das Saarland

[@augustuzmoon3814]

Eu forms: "The only thing I'm giving you guys is assimilation and euros!" Brixit:"ha what losers at least I have it figured out, right guys!?" Citizen:"I Godman hate this island. "

[@awc6007]

“What was Vietnam like after the Vietnam war?” Would be a good video idea

[@SamAronow]

Still at war, just against someone else.

[@danzoom]

@@SamAronow wasn't it basically Vietnam war? Or americans left before south fell?

[@alexrider2597]

Invaded Cambodia

[@Banana_Split_Cream_Buns]

It would have to be divided into several different periods. Most notably 1975 - 1986 and 1986 to present.

[@flyngbee4777]

@@danzoom they left 3 years before,after that the north annexed the south and was immediately attacked by the khmer rogue, reason why they invade Cambodia, this make China angry and China invaded Vietnam too(with support from US). Vietnam kick the two out with soviet support and form an new communist government in Cambodia

[@DasIllu]

Saarland native here. We had indeed a troubled past, but also a lot of "fun facts". It's worth a read on wikipedia. We are to this day very dependent on heavy industry but there is a decline due to globalization. It was not only coal but steel prduction. Once world famous, now a relic is the Völklingen Ironworks. Among the oldest in the world and now UNESCO world cultural heritage.

[@user-xb9yv2ci4c]

Deutscher hier. Gibt es heute im Saarland ernsthafte Bestrebungen, wieder ein Teil Frankreichs zu werden?

[@philipwilkin2667]

Ei Grüße aus Tholey. :)

[@philipwilkin2667]

@@user-xb9yv2ci4c Uff gar kei Fall. ;) Null.

[@firespindash]

Nice to see someone from there, does people in Saar like to be part of Germany?

[@DasIllu]

@@user-xb9yv2ci4c Nein. Bis in die 60'er gab es mal eine Seperatistenbewegung die das Saarland in ein zweites Luxemburg verwandeln wollten, aber selbst die haben sich nicht wirklich ernst genommen. Die gesammte Region SaarLorLux ist extrem mit einander verwoben. Warum Franzose werden, wenn du nur 2 Meter bis zur Grenze hast und es Schlagbäume mehr gibt? Ich bin früher an freien tagen ohne nachzudenken einfach morgens nach Frankreich spaziert und hab mir ein Baguette gekauft. Und am Wochenende hat man die Franzosen in den Deutchen Clubs und Kneipen getroffen. Wir haben das Beste aus 2 Welten, warum sollten wir das Aufgeben? :-D

[@thehobowizard]

Europe, where every centimeter of land has had multiple wars fought for it

[@DonCristian_DPB]

Luv Europe

[@akapbhan]

So does most parts of the world. But thanks to Europe most of the records are destroyed. I live in a place that was almost for 1000 years of Turmoil. It was a constant back and forth until the Turks invaded

[@arpudli8962]

@@akapbhan and now you have peace hahahaha

[@potato88872]

@@arpudli8962 would have you prefer war ?

[@arpudli8962]

@@potato88872 no, war is stupid... But why do you ask exactly?

[@spinjitzustudios780]

Dude how can you explain so much in 3 and a half minutes while still putting in various jokes like Germany sticking to tradition of losing. This really is a form of art and a really hard and underestimated thing to do. To make a kind of short video like this a lot of work goes into it and I generally appreciate you doing that for us!! I just really wanna thank you for these amazing video's🔥🔥🔥

[@dw620]

Barely even three minutes... Inevitably there are a few corners cut (e.g. Germany actually got The Saar back in 1935, nothing to do with WW2), but if it gets people reading up on the more detailed history afterwards that's a win-win. : )

[@lukmigindnuforhelved]

Hear hear !

[@crkcrk702]

@@dw620 oh really

[@somebonehead]

And that's why you should give History Matters your money

[@nedsnark6479]

👆🏼Sincerely, James Bizzonette

[@Dyknown]

I always love when Napoleon shows up in these things, whether he is looking down on the monarchs who refuse to personally lead armies or whether he's prancing around a visibly perturbed Austrian Emperor :).

[@selinane2Seli-zw3pz]

A lot of monarches avoided to personnaly lead their armies during French era because the result would be catastrophic. Napoleon never despised them lmao

[@frostyblade8842]

1:23 As an Irish person, this made me chuckle. This was super well done dude, as always

[@dutchman7623]

Let's hope for an Irish version in 2027!

[@noodlyappendage6729]

@@dutchman7623 the UK will out live the EU.

[@dutchman7623]

@@noodlyappendage6729 Doubt that...

[@noodlyappendage6729]

@@dutchman7623 then you have no idea how bad of a situation the EU is in. The UK’s problems are minor in comparison.

[@dutchman7623]

@@noodlyappendage6729 Correct, but the enormous difference between them is that the EU damned well realizes their position and that constant effort and investment is needed to proceed, while the UK is dividing their unity more and more to serve a few.

[@nicolasmarazuela1010]

Fun fact: When the national team of Saarland lost against the german team, the captain of the Saarland team said: "I'm not sad that we lost. I mean I'm German, so I'm happy that we have now a chance to win the World Championship!"

[@laurentschmidt2758]

...which they did. And the coach that led (West) Germany to its second win in 1974 was the coach of the Saarland national team before.

[@kolomaznik333]

I doubt that it was "national team". It were more like two german teams against each other. This "fun fact" nicely ilustrates it.

[@dabbasw31]

2014 was the fourth World Cup for the German FA (DFB), the first World Cup for East Germany and the third World Cup for Saarland. :)

[@harveya1a952]

The Saarland would be apart of France if they had James Bisonnette’s support

[@bottomgear4055]

Yes

[@choreani]

Or Kelly Moneymaker’s

[@sinarouhi3966]

Or wiggly biggly or whatever 😆🤣

[@jamesbissonette8002]

If only they had reached out

[@iiillliiill5917]

@@jamesbissonette8002 The legend himself!

[@Ben-jw2xh]

Us germans joke a lot about the Saarland and the people living there but at the end of the day they pretty much had a choice to leave Germany twice and never did. Maybe we should appreciate that more

[@neoDarkSquall]

What about them is subject to jokes?

[@neoDarkSquall]

@Tinúviel Like Alabama in the US and Nord in France, then.

[@nick3805]

@@neoDarkSquall Incest and also the dialect.

[@LukasZ_77]

@Ben Jurqunov who cares haha

[@nicolascadet7238]

Im from the other side of the Saarland border (french side). I dont speak german so I never heard about that incest thing. However I used to spend all my weekends in Saarbrucken, they know how to party over there ^^ 🇨🇵🤝🇩🇪

[@bbenjoe]

After a thousand year of fighting for those regions, France and Germany came up with the idea of working together. Neat.

[@whatiswrongwiththeworld8451]

As a German, I can confirm that many German shops are simply called "Geschäft".

[@Crom1980]

But be careful if talking about "großes" or "kleines Geschäft". 😄😑💩

[@FutureMan420Blazer]

fo realz? lolz

[@whatiswrongwiththeworld8451]

@@FutureMan420Blazer no, I was joking

[@jonnykidnap4082]

@@whatiswrongwiththeworld8451 Wich just legitimates that you are German

[@chrisrudolf9839]

@@FutureMan420Blazer Geschäft is quite a versatile word, depending on context it can mean business, store or deal. With the latter meaning, it is also used as an ironic euphemism for peeing (ein kleines Geschäft machen - doing a little deal) and taking a crap (doing a big deal).

[@GuildsmanPirate]

“Not the rest of the world, nobody asked them” I love this channel

[@TurtleMarcus]

What a rare sight to see a fellow Georgist online!

[@miguelrodriguezcimino1674]

I love when they ironically mention the hypocresy of the big powers...

[@fangzhoushao5404]

Based Georgism. I also support the pirate parties as well!

[@sjoormen1]

Same thing in Europe. Ask any small nation.

[@jarlathquinn2628]

Also the let them choose (except the Irish)

[@viditsinha9707]

He's growing more and more savage every passing day

[@Delightfully_Bitchy]

He's British; he wasn't growing more powerful, he was just revealing more of his true power.

[@Tjalve70]

So basically, France wanted Saarland, but when they were offered EU instead, they accepted the trade off.

[@dw620]

Fun fact. No. ; ) The EU was not even a twinkle in anyone's eye at that time, except for the German plan of 1942 which was shelved due to losing the war...

[@theemperor-wh40k18]

That was less of a European union and more of a German Aryan union...

[@derrickthewhite1]

@@dw620 I mean, the ECSC is not the european union by a long shot, but it is a momentous milestone in the series of treaties that eventually led to the EU. When the EU was formed, the ECSC was the oldest of the three communities that formed the first of the "Three Pillars". So its a very light precursor to the EU, but it was absolutely a light precursor to the EU. So restated: Basically, France wanted Saarland, but when they were offered a light precursor to the EU instead, they accepted the trade off.

[@marcgdr7038]

@@theemperor-wh40k18 you mean based Union?

[@Qwerpy]

"I was looking for Copper, but I found gold"

[@sebazpereyra9431]

You should make a "Why Uruguay exists" video. It's a pretty interesting story.

[@DonCristian_DPB]

I totally get behind you on this one, it would definitely be a very interesting video

[@nicolasrivero3027]

Haha that's a tough one.

[@pagansbasin6657]

James bisonette is from the saarland and threatened to revoke his financial support if they annexed it.

[@jamesbissonette8002]

Plausible

[@dan-phone4665]

@@jamesbissonette8002 is is this the legend himself?

[@kiyru]

@@jamesbissonette8002 😀

[@user-xb9yv2ci4c]

@@jamesbissonette8002 Are you the one?

[@kaiserfloppaiii5214]

@@jamesbissonette8002 France is gay

[@cnglight]

"Let them choose (except the Irish)" *Eamon de Valera intensifies*

[@baronbrummbar8691]

and the germans in belgium(euphen melmady) denmark(schleswig) netherland(friesa) france(alsace) and the millions of germans that were deported in easte europe

[@AverageHouseofWolvesEnjoyer475]

@@baronbrummbar8691 Yep. :(

[@danielwalker6653]

@@baronbrummbar8691 Also the french flemish, corsicans and catalonians in Perpignan (all of whose separate identities are basically extinct/integrated now)

[@baronbrummbar8691]

@@danielwalker6653 those i talked abouth where all german minoritys

[@baronbrummbar8691]

@@danielwalker6653but if we talk about france you forgot the nor(d)mans, bretons and occitaniens

[@ttt2080]

Saarland actually had their own international football team and nearly qualified for the 1954 World Cup. They were knocked out by .... West Germany, who went on to win the tournament. The coach of the Saarland team, Helmut Schon, went on to manage the West German team which won the World Cup in 1974 and the European Championships in 1972.

[@J_Gamer_Mapping]

"Self-Determination" except when we don't feel like it

[@elviscobb5922]

Hilarious!

[@Osterochse]

actually self determination wasn't really a thing in Europe either. After the first world war many referendums were held but ignored by the allies, when it was against their interest. E.g. the Sudetenarea voted to become Austrian, which was ignored by the czech government. In Alsace noone was ever asked if they want to be French, German or indepentent at any point in history. in ethnically mixed areas the borders were drawn to the disfavour Germany, Austria or Hungary or the Ottoman Empire. the winning powers don't care too much if the land they seize actually fits their definition of being democratic or independent. it is just power politics and imperialism.

[@J_Gamer_Mapping]

@@Osterochse Yep. That was what I was refferencing. Kinda shitty of the victors, but they won so they could do whatever they wanted

[@MeidoInHebun]

@@Osterochse They simply care about stability, having a huge ethnic minority be a part of another nation that mistreats them is a recipe for trouble, when the minorities are easily subjugated because they are small or kept systematically powerless then self-determination doesn't matter.

[@ambergris5705]

Today, Saarland and France are also linked through the SaarLorLux euroregion, as a region of shared interests that comprises French Lorraine, German Saarland (and more), and both independent and Belgian Luxembourg. Quite a dynamic region in Europe actually, and a good reminder of how borders in Europe now don't separate, but rather create lines of exchange.

[@MXB2001]

Kinda reminds one of that old 3rd Kingdom that existed after Charlemagne. It lay between what were to become Germany and France.

[@samiamrg7]

+MXB2001 The area wasn’t quite so valuable back then. Middle Francia was doomed to fail given how it was just this long strip awkwardly situated right between it’s two siblings. Lo and behold, it got gobbled up by the East and West Francia practically immediately.

[@RK-cj4oc]

​@@samiamrg7That and it had regions like the Netherlands and Northern Italy in 1 country without modern infrastructure.

[@iustin898]

Elsass Lothringen belongs to the Reich... Heil!

[@cheydinal5401]

Wanting to invade stuff because it has coal is such a 19th century thing to do

[@kaslyan]

Iraq: Who needs coal when you got oil?

[@Kay2kGer]

@@kaslyan thats the 20th and 21th century reason :)

[@kaslyan]

@@Kay2kGer indeed, scary question is whats gonna be the next resource worth going to war for

[@raichu4game932]

@@kaslyan Water for sure

[@kaslyan]

@@raichu4game932 ahh yeah thats a good shout

[@NIDELLANEUM]

2:42 an interesting topic would be why Italy was part of the ECSC when it was founded in 1951. Back then, it made sense that the Benelux countries would be part of it, since they were sandwiched between France and Germany, but why was Italy part of that?

[@baronbrummbar8691]

becouse that are all nations that could and wanted to join ------- spain and portugal where still fachist --the uk never wanted to get in --- the northmen didn´t wanted to join --- switzerland and austria oblidged themself to be neutral ---- and east europe obviously couldn´t join ------------- that leaves only france w.Germany benelux and italy -----

[@baronbrummbar8691]

oh i forgot irland ---- it basicly was in civilwar

[@baronbrummbar8691]

and so was greece

[@Valery0p5]

See "Treaty of Rome"

[@NIDELLANEUM]

@@baronbrummbar8691 Oh so it was mostly a case of "these are the only ones who could join" and it just so happens that Italy feels like the odd one out due to its geographical position? Thanks for that. However, that leaves the Nordic countries. Why couldn't Denmark join, for instance?

[@EXTREME4YEARSTOCOME]

"Let them choose" (except the Irish). As an Irishman that gave me a good laugh :D

[@MolloyPolloy]

Quality comment.

[@TailsIsDisappointed]

WW2: _Begins_ France: _Hardly invades the Saar_ France: "We did it boys! We saved the world, let's go home."

[@bruhicusmomentus3060]

baguette located

[@frankieperson1275]

@@kei6121 Well technically it was a call it a day and go home scenario just not the ARMY saying call it a day and go home.

[@dw620]

Well done for calling it "the Saar" rather than Saarland (more typically used for the modern German state)... ; )

[@Ihatechoosingnames242]

@@dw620 even then it wasnt known as the Saar the Saar is the river running through the area before it became a state it was known as the "Saargebiet" or Saar territory

[@omgpix]

@@kei6121 ...You didn't refute the idea they called it a day and went home, you just explained WHY they called it a day and went home.

[@danemlive]

My mother's side of the family is from Saarland and its rare to see much coverage of Germany's smallest Bundesland. Very cool to see it on this channel!

[@liam6nugget]

I am feeling so blessed that we’re getting so many history matters episodes at the moment. Every last episode is brilliantly written, cleverly animated, and teaches me something I never knew that I needed to know. 10/10 perfection!

[@familygash7500]

Because "France can't have nice things" had been British foreign policy for over 400 years at this point, and that wasn't going to change anytime soon. *ALSO, VIDEO SUGGESTION:* Why did Cyprus never unite with Greece?

[@galanopouloc]

To answer your question: "Cyprus was a colony of the UK, then EOKA revolted and Cyprus became independent. Then it took a combined amount of about 5 minutes for the two communities to start fighting each other. Then the junta in Athens (with possible US backing) make EOKA-B do a coup against the government of Cyprus, and install a pro-Greek government. Turkey said no way and invaded the island and here we are."

[@NuukneinMapping]

They tried to, Turkey invaded in response and both the juntas of Cyprus and Greece fell because of it

[@kamikazestryker]

short answer turkey

[@littlechemie5425]

Turkey threw hissy fit, that's why :)

[@mappingshaman5280]

I still don't get why Greece doesn't just unite with South Cyprus. Do they need south Cyprus to just rattle their sabre at North Cyprus until they get it or something?

[@12undeadz]

Surprisingly informative video (for covering such a small region) with great insight into geopolitics.

[@AnnoBathory]

Britain: we believe countries should have self-determination. Ireland: Am I a joke to you? Britain: No, because that would require me to recognize you as a people capable of choice, let alone a country.

[@purplespeckledappleeater8738]

And that's exactly what happened, again. English history is so complicated.

[@UkSapyy]

Not that simple is tho. The British see the British Isles as the motherland of the British. Ireland is included as an Isle of the British Isles. The British recognised the Irish culture much like the Welsh, Scots, Cornish, Gaels, English and all the others in between but with the exemption that British culture is to be the taught culture. The problem is England created the British Empire and only share a crown with the Scots (United Kingdom). So the English took the stance to make their culture and language the new British culture, instead of trying to create a common culture. Of course it happened like this because the English crown took the title of the British Empire. It had happened with the Northern Kingdoms and Cumbric Kingdoms historically. Expect Ireland was seen as secondary importance to the British as Great Britain was more developed than Ireland. And if the British used Ireland as a agriculture Island to feed the British that be okay because their British too, right? You kinda see why the Irish were pissed but also why the British didn't see an issue. Not to mention the English and Scots are their own in identity but like the Irish much like the Welsh and Cornish identify as a Celtic nation making claims back hundreds of years, I'd bet the Irish make claims that Britons lived in Britain and Gaels in Ireland making counter claims to the one desired identity of the time as British. The Irish believe this now and at the time of the British Empire and what followed was unpleasant bloody history as the British or better put the English tried to create a British culture by basically assimilating other cultures and attending to the needs of the machine of Empire over the needs of the people in the Empire.

[@noodlyappendage6729]

@@UkSapyy separatists like to bad talk England but so many of them move here. England is more populous partly for that reason. They left Wales, Scotland and Ireland to live in England. England only used to be three times more populous then Scotland. But now it’s eleven times more populous. What the UK gov should do is spread the British population around a bit more equally. That would kill separatism stone dead. Middlesex in the south has 4 million people and Cromartyshire in the north has 7 thousand people. This is what is causing the problem. You’re exactly right in what you say. As somebody who identifies as British the British Isles are most definitively the mother(is)land(s) of the British people. Ireland even used to be called Little Britain. We should not give into separatists.

[@benhoffmann3821]

It’s really nice to see my home being talked about. Thanks for making this video. Greetings from the Saarland

[@Joe-vu5kr]

I really did enjoy this episode, thank you

[@weeklycanvas2751]

At this point, I don't even watch his videos for the history lessons but for those short witty lines

[@wyattangle]

I'm 40/60. I love learning these somewhat random tidbits in history, but slightly more, I love hearing the funny lines that get added in. I crack up!

[@weeklycanvas2751]

@@wyattangle right on

[@spectretacitus325]

"Let them choose (except the Irish)". Yes, we in Ireland still have to put up with this to this day.

[@ttun100]

@@tombee9785 Because there is this little thing called Northern Ireland.

[@itzimperiumxvi2620]

@@tombee9785 the way things are going, there’s not gonna be much of a union

[@LegendNinja41]

@@Shaw4123 learning about the irish history really solved the puzzeling question of why many Irish support Palestinians, which are so far aways from Ireland, now it's totally clear, it's really a dark history but very important to learn about and i sooo hope that one day their will be a United Ireland on the Island.

[@Osterochse]

actually self determination wasn't really a thing in Europe either. After the first world war many referendums were held but ignored by the allies, when it was against their interest. E.g. the Sudetenarea voted to become Austrian, which was ignored by the czech government. In Alsace noone was ever asked if they want to be French, German or indepentent at any point in history. in ethnically mixed areas the borders were drawn to the disfavour Germany, Austria or Hungary or the Ottoman Empire. the winning powers don't care too much if the land they seize actually fits their definition of being democratic or independent. it is just power politics and imperiaism.

[@stephenjenkins7971]

@@Shaw4123 As always, it seems the Irish are always so unironically imperialist when it comes to Northern Ireland. It doesn't matter what you want, it matters what Northern Irish want; period. Self-determination first.

[@alparslankorkmaz2964]

Nicely explained.

[@lazevnik]

Easy way to learn history when told in a funny manner; This being the funniest I have heard so far; Keep up the good work.

[@matthewwallack601]

"This may surprise you, but there was a Second World War."

[@writerconsidered]

I literally come just for the sarcasm. And he follows that up with " Germany sticking with tradition lost that as well."

[@stephenlitten1789]

"But fun fact: No!"

[@antoinemozart243]

Where the germans were severely defeated by the french june 14, 1940.....precisely in the french Saar. The germans were far superior . 90 000 vs 20 100. It was called operation Tiger. The first !

[@cocksneedfartin]

It’s amazing how you can answer questions that nobody was asking and make it the most interesting I learn that day

[@gamermapper]

He he he ha

[@oliversherman2414]

I love your channel keep up the great stuff!!!

[@kirkmarrie8060]

Most informative!!! Thank you

[@jameslawrie3807]

I love how these little picture of people and objects are actually really well researched depictions of the real thing in a funny way.

[@griffinthegamer9809]

Y’all should make a vid about the Irish war for independence

[@beaucaspar3990]

Ireland still import a tonne of stuff from Britain they aren’t as independent as you’d think.

[@purplespeckledappleeater8738]

Geography is everything. If your tiny country was half an island and your closest neighbors were your historical arch nemesis and France, I'd bet you would celebrate a strong sense of nationalism too while still establishing strong economic ties. Ireland is just cutting costs by importing from Britain. It's not like Britain doesn't immediately look at Ireland as a potential market to dump exports and make a profit.

[@redcoat4ever323]

Love the commentary.

[@quinnchandler7577]

It’s crazy how much your Chanel has grow

[@rogerodle8750]

I appreciate the fact that you make things I wouldn't ordinarily be interested in -- interesting.

[@AFGuidesHD]

Let them choose (apart from the regions occupied by our empires) 😂 typical "good guys" behaviour

[@nizarb.arsantaka2740]

hello

[@mayoite160]

typical white guy behaviour

[@garrettallen7427]

@@mayoite160 Japanese co-prosperity sphere ring a bell?

[@hirocheeto7795]

@@mayoite160 White people weren't the only imperialists. The most prolific, sure, but not the only ones. Whitewashing goes both ways.

[@unifiedhorizons2663]

@@mayoite160 laughs in Turkish and Molitian empire

[@johndennis8837]

Two videos in a week, this just got more interesting. Cheers to this man!

[@don8535]

loving everything you produce

[@weeklycanvas2751]

Imagine the shock wave that would travel around youtube the day he doesn't start the names of his patrons with James Bisonnette

[@sumomanify]

"It's 2023, and James Bisonnette, is dead. "

[@littlechemie5425]

Like PBS Eons without Steve

[@trrt2719]

It happened before and James was 2nd I think

[@jordanfenose8554]

Whoa another History Matters ep this week. It's definitely Christmas already

[@Simon-tc1mc]

These videos are so good.

[@FIREBRAND38]

These are all good but this one was particularly interesting for some reason. Thanks.

[@TransformersBoss]

I like how, in the image of France pointing out to the USA and Britain that Germany had invaded France a lot of times, there’s a picture of Napoleon in the background, who invaded most of Europe…

[@Difdauf]

No he didn't. Most of Europe tried to invade France and failed a lot of times. The result may be the same, but the story is quite different.

[@patrickmorrissey3084]

Germany invaded France three times because France declared war on Germany three times.

[@mappingshaman5280]

@@Difdauf France invaded Egypt (not Europe but the principle is the same), Spain and Russia. He also tried to force the continental system on Europe and we saw what happened when a country disobeys said continental system when France invaded Russia.

[@Difdauf]

@@mappingshaman5280 Exactly my point. The peninsula war started after 15 years of conflict, the russian campaign 4 years later. So saying that Napoleon invaded europe is not really accurate. (unless you volontarily forget 15 years of war and 4 coalitions)

[@Osterochse]

@@Difdauf then again France annexed so many places in the napoleonic wars, that it is difficult to not call it imperialistic. it could have left the borders the way they were the same way the borders of France were left pre napoleonic in 1815. the wars on russia and spain were clearly french aggressions that were not necessary to defend itself.

[@jessefigueroa2682]

I've always had this question. I feel like you can read my mind

[@jimmusser5340]

Excellent as usual.

[@ER3xW4ha7]

Bless this channel for having videos under 5 minutes.

[@leonardoleo5740]

"But given Germany... issues...." "This may surprise you, but there was a world war II. Germany, stricken with tradition, lost this one to" I love these jokes

[@rodrigobraz2]

blatant nitpick: "sticking with tradition" :-)

[@dw620]

Although they did actually get the Saar back before WW2 (in 1935).

[@macsnafu]

Wait--you mean that The War To End All Wars didn't actually end all wars? I am shocked, SHOCKED I say, to find this out!

[@_Lis25]

I mean second world war objective of Germany doesn't really surprise why they stick to tradition.

[@yas4346]

lol I am from Saarland and tbh I could've saved me a ton of time studying this in school and instead just watching this video you explained it perfectly

[@theadventurer685]

Gell ?😂

[@nathanmckenzie904]

You make the best history videos

[@nik65stgt60]

Great content!

[@osma-xr3gl]

as a person who used to live in saarland i enjoyed this video

[@AlexWehpunkt]

As someone born and raised in and just moved back a few weeks ago to after 11 years of living in other regions of germany - thank you, from the bottom of my heart!

[@EliasRoy]

Have you ever visited Saarland after leaving. Please give us your thoughts.

[@AlexWehpunkt]

@@EliasRoy as I wrote, I moved back two years ago. Hailing again from sweet Saarlouis, "the undeclared capital" of the saarland 😀 But if you have any specific questions, feel free to ask them.

[@pedrozepeda6930]

Another great video

[@AbruptandOffensive]

I just love the fact that you call out ALL of ur supporters BY NAME at the end of every video. A man of the people, for the people, by the people.

[@proactiveomnipresentvessel6569]

Fascinating you HM sir somehow manage to find such unusual events in the most unexpected places

[@sonoftheway3528]

Do what were the colonies of European countries like when their colonizers were occupied by Germany during WWII? (France, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark).

[@Tjalve70]

I don't think Denmark had any colonies left after they sold the last one to USA. Unless you count Iceland and Greenland, that is.

[@sonoftheway3528]

@@Tjalve70 I'd count Greenland and Iceland. What were they like when Denmark was occupied?

[@roypennell1976]

@@sonoftheway3528 Greenland was given to the US, Iceland to the British. Im unsure of the faroe islands, though

[@charlesdegaulle6663]

For France, North Africa was part of the Vichy government While Equatorial Africa And the far East colonies sided with Me and the Free French

[@Tjalve70]

@@sonoftheway3528 Iceland declared independence. That would probably not have happened if Denmark hadn't been occupied.

[@MattbyNature]

Love your videos and this one in particular. I’m from Saarland

[@edgy_secular_memes367]

The hallmark of any History Matters video: Why? No? He catched the dead And thanks to James Bisonette

[@peterg76yt]

Also... Fun Fact.

[@calumwatt4360]

What better way to end an international border dispute than with a shrug because it no long matters who owns it?

[@patriciusvonkempen9810]

By stopping bringin french settlers into German Elsass which IS genocide according to UN definitions?

[@1000eau]

@@patriciusvonkempen9810 wtf are you talking about

[@torstenborsten7258]

Wooo watching this channel since years and here i am, sitting in Saarbrücken. Greetings!

[@zurielsss]

3:00 that “La Sarre” joke got me a chuckle. Thanks man 😂

[@dw620]

Could have had additional fun with all the name changes during the period - Saarland is more the modern German state as opposed to the "Territory of the Saar Basin", more usually just referred to as "the Saar". Not to be confused with former Russian rulers, of course.

[@raptorfromthe6ix833]

who would be tsar of saar

[@TheLoraxshadenough]

Germany: loses world war 1&2 France: Mom says it's my turn to play with the Saarland

[@keithacid8257]

My fav history page! Especially the Middle Ages stuff. Learned more interesting facts here than in school

[@elijahjohnson601]

Cool video!

[@volodyadykun6490]

1:51 this is very funny

[@cjaystevens1828]

1:23 "let them choose (except the irish)" hands down has to be one of the funniest subtle jokes history matters has came up wit well done 10/10

[@letsknow3753]

That boards with messages are the best part of your videos

[@antonbonin5003]

Idk how many more of these videos I can watch without feeling guilty for not subscribing. The absolute gall to watch this dude's incredibly fun and informative videos and not click on a subscribe button so he's somewhat compensated for my entertainment and education.

[@greywolf7577]

The main point of subscribing is to benefit you. You get to watch more of his videos because KZbin will save his page for you and show you his videos.

[@redhairedkid6363]

Still waiting on that Danish resistance in World war 2 you promised in the 6 hour war video

[@NekoBoyOfficial]

"French leaders pushed for the ECSC to be guaranteed access to coal." Sounds like the EU.

[@TorIverWilhelmsen]

Yes, the ECSC was the precursor to the EEC and later the EU.

[@aleksandarvil5718]

ESCC ≈> EEC ≈> EU

[@xaviertricot776]

Or sounds like Bismark's home policies :)

[@googlemagdich10yearsago77]

I enjoyed this video.

[@greenbutter3190]

Stable video 👍

[@fabianherrmann6398]

As far as I have been told, Saarbrücken was planned by Germany and France to be the seat of the EU parliament but the other countries did not want that. So Brussels and Luxemburg became seats of EU Institutions over time while the pairlament went to Straßbourg, because the EU council was there already. Man too bad for Saarland but at least as a german I thus could spend my required foregin internship during university at the EU pairlament.

[@onurbschrednei4569]

The Europa Institut (founded in 1951) is still in Saarbrucken !

[@matthewlee8667]

"You're a sight for Saar eyes" - people of Saarland when returning to Germany in the 1950's. Saary not Saary

[@TheCimbrianBull]

*ba dum tss!*

[@Vyrene]

From weekly upload to 3 days. Look how history matters give answers to questions we didn't ask but also gives inside jokes that we get it

[@7asn18abhigyanpandey3]

Good video

[@thequeenofspades]

Saarland: "Sure Germany has it's problems. But at least it isn't France".

[@BlueTigerTheLion]

Video idea: Why do Belgium and France use "azerty" instead of "querty"? (as a Belgian, I ask myself this everyday)

[@IceWolfLoki]

Probably to do with the the incidence of certain letters in French words made 'azerty' work better for mechanical typewriters in French writing and maybe 'qwerty' or 'azerty' don't make much difference to Flemish writing.

[@DZUP2023]

Its just another hopeless action by the french to feel important! In the end the layout doesnt work for them but just to feel good about them selves they sticking to that keyboard layout same thing goes with many things it seems the french cant keep up with the anglosaxons leading the way nor accepting their failure and uselessness

[@72secondprize]

Good video.

[@christiansrensen5958]

Lol you called the shop "Shop" I love it.

[@iamkokan]

Can we just appriciate they didn't annex Saarland and kept borders beautiful

[@seneca983]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Someone might consider the border between Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau beautiful.

[@jiriseidl4376]

Excelent choice of topic! This is a very good exploration of the hard road to European integration.

[@budbundy7381]

I gotta like every video as they come out

[@MrDerJohann]

Thank you from the Saarland /Bliesgau...👍Some New facts for me👍

[@ajrobbins368]

Fascinating. I had no idea.