The Verdun of the EASTERN FRONT at Przemysl Fortress in WWI | History Traveler Episode 207

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

If you've watched a few episodes and feel like I've earned it, be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss any new content when it comes out. Also be sure to check out The Gettysburg Museum of History and their store at www.gettysburgmuseumofhistory.com. Thanks!

[@djeletropopstarify]

so if you here you have to check out Lithuania also we also have some ww1 forts, one of them was also consantration camp during ww2

[@erickstiner1668]

Here in Michigan, in a city named Troy, there is a cemetery named White Chapel Memorial Park. In this cemetery lay the final resting places of about a dozen Polar Bear Expeditionary Soldiers that fought in Archangel Russia, against the Russian army and to my knowledge the only time in our military history that US forces fought against Russia on Russian soil. (WWI era). What is truly amazing is after the armistice of WWI, these soldiers from Michigan fought for another 2 years in Russia. Their is a beautiful Marble life size Polar Bear statue in this cemetery. Thought it was worth a mention as you’re going through WWI history.

[@kennethrouse7942]

My late uncle was a Doughboy in WW-1. He told me that after the war ended he was in Germany and they asked him if he wanted to volunteer for the Expeditionary force going to Russia to fight the Bolsheviks. He told them, "No, thanks." LOL 👍😎

[@dimwitt461]

It boggles my mind that in the late 19th century they were able to construct such massive fortifications. The sheer volume of material excavated and the tonnage of brick work laid to create not just one, but multiple forts of this nature is mind blowing. The fact that modern construction equipment and technology wasn’t available when these forts were built is amazing. Thank you for bringing places like this to those of us who will never have the opportunity to visit them.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, I never cease to be amazed by this stuff.

[@juliehawkins3816]

Thank you!

[@arnegreve1019]

It is amazing. In the gone centuries, they built the fortresses etc for "1000 years or more", not like the buildings today. Todays constructions are build only for a half centurie or less.

[@waldemarwojnicki6781]

Look up Modlin and Warsaw's forts system. Btw - in some cases they were using armed concrete alredy (always underestimating Eastern Europe 😉) - all of Poland, Lithuania and Western Ukraine is literally "peppered" with such constructions (of both sides), You must only "know where they are" (look my main comment..) f.e. - Kaunas in Lithuania is just like this..

[@danstoye3902]

Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas 1846-1875 16 million handmade bricks, all brought by sailing ship. 420 heavy guns.

[@dawndickson2156]

The structure is amazing. Learning something new with each episode. Just in time for my short break at work JD. Wonderful means of escape from the stress. Thank you!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Good deal! Thanks!

[@jeffsquires6620]

Your comments off the eastern front are so true. When I think of WW1 I think of the Red BARON, Battle of Jutland and Vimy Ridge. Thank you again for a new perspective and knowledge.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, I have to admit that I don't know much about the Eastern Front in WWI. It's all surface level stuff for me.

[@1psychofan]

I just read Sgt York’s WW1 diary ~~so naturally I binge watch your WW1 videos ~~Sgt York wasn’t here….but it’s an important part of the WW1 story!

[@1psychofan]

Very interesting! I know so little about WW1 and even less about it’s Eastern Front. I will be watching this more than once! ❤️.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Definitely learning a lot more myself.

[@sandramosley2801]

What a labyrinth! Thanks for bringing us this insight into the fact of the width of the war. It was very serious and very intense in so many places. The terrain in that area reminds me of the area around Cornell, NY.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, I didn't even show a fraction of it. Pretty crazy.

[@Mark-pd8mu]

JB thank you very much for this video! Being from Germany and being interested in History since I was a child I know a lot about the fighting on the western front in WWI. I do know about the battle of Tannenberg an I also heard about the siege of Przemysl, but to see those structures and to get to know about how there are so many fortresses in one place is mind blowing to me. Thank you very much for sharing your experience on this site with us!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

So glad that you enjoyed it. I've been learning a lot more myself.

[@waldemarwojnicki6781]

"Why" there are so many fortresses - check my "main" comment to the video.. (btw - video is very good), if You are interested in the history of WWI on the Eastern Front - I think that series of battles known as "Battle of Łódź" was the most important part of the Northern Theater (not underestimating B. of Tannenberg and 2 Russians offensives across Carpathians of course..) - and subsequent "Great Retreat" of 1915 - which is to this day "a little bit of enigma" for me... 😏

[@michellepotter628]

That has to be the most amazing Fort I have ever seen. Especially from World War I.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Pretty crazy. There are tons around that city. Got one more that I'm showing in the next episode.

[@gordonvpeach2589]

Thanks JD truly appreciate these facts that you dig up and present to us, the general public..Keep up the great work!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that! Hopefully the channel is doing some good for some people.

[@HistorySavior1941]

The construction of that place looked like an amazing and very fascinating thing to see in person. I have actually never really read up or seen this before. You now have my attention lol! Awesome stuff JD!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it. The fort reminded me of a lot of Endicott forts in the US.

[@Senor0Droolcup]

This is wonderful. I had always wanted to learn more about Przemysl and this video really brought it to life for me.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Awesome! Glad that you enjoyed it.

[@Senor0Droolcup]

@@TheHistoryUnderground Shouldn't joke about so much misery, but would have been great to interview locals "how do you even say the name of this place? "Shem-Zil?.... Per-Zem-Sil?" Do you think it's possible that many died here without even knowing how to pronounce the name of the place? Did that confusion play a key role in the siege?..."

[@kateclark7250]

Thank you for taking us to this place, J.D., and for telling the story.

[@vawterb]

Very interesting and amazing! Thank you for taking the opportunity to show us things we, at least most of us in the US are ignorant of! Thank you.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@lukehamm9233]

Thank you for making videos every week! Keep up the good work👍

[@waynet3982]

Wow What a great tale of Poland. It's a tale I have never heard of. Iam ready to cry as I do about most Wors. So sad But you do a very good job with the storyteller.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you!

[@Roller_Ghoster]

Just sent this video to a friend who lives in Poland. Keep up the great work JD 👍

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Awesome! Thank you for sharing the content! That's appreciated more than you know!

[@philmathenia2265]

Thanks JD for another amazing adventure.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@alansalazar9543]

Your videos are always superb and this was particularly well done. I will likely never see this place and am so grateful you shared a detailed visit.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you very much!

[@jefferyfowler7860]

I absolutely didn't know any of this. I learned a ton today JD. Great job.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks. I learned a lot there too.

[@jamesperrie1393]

Great to see some places from the Eastern Front. 👍👍

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Way past due :)

[@andreasfiege8388]

Thanks for this video about Przemysl, can´t wait to see the rest. So happy that the underappreciated Eastern front gets some more attention.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@andreasfiege8388]

@@TheHistoryUnderground I went there some years ago on a big Poland trip, but only 1 day, missed to much and glad that thanks to you I can catch up a bid.

[@tommyking2344]

Really amazing site. Enjoyed seeing it very much

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks a ton!

[@tommyking2344]

Always enjoy your content.

[@jogebert8223]

Very interesting, look forward to the next episode. Thanks

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kiwifruit27]

Fascinating and all new to me. Thanks for another interesting video

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

My pleasure!

[@jbellos1]

Most excellent tour!! Fantastic relic

[@keithmitchell6918]

Always love exploring the fort relics - and imagine the folks who occupied, lived, and possibly died there. Ah, history...

[@dconn74]

Cool, thanks for sharing! I know very little about WWI and this was enlightening.

[@camdodge9891]

JD great video thank you and finally some World War 1 videos so excited can’t wait for the next video to come out

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yes, FINALLY got to some WWI content :)

[@larryburwell8550]

Amazing history lesson of a place I've never heard of and I'm sure most have not. Thank you for sharing

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@yvonneakers385]

Thank you for your WW1 videos. I have to teach it in 5 th grade and it is hard to find videos to use in class. Thank you for your work!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Definitely plan on doing more in the future.

[@stevehein7884]

GREAT VIDEO LOT OF HISTORY KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@fredv7487]

Thanks JD will be waiting for part 2. Thanks for all you do. Be safe and don't forget your hardhat. You might need it. 😆

[@Mist3rData]

It is indeed relativley unkown what happened at the eastern front, i know very little about it. That's why i love this, pleas show us more!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@petercermak4095]

Glad you filmed this before the invasion!

[@jamesholt7612]

Awesome video JD.

[@marctremblay8087]

Still in great condition ,didnt know about this Fort, Reminds me of the forts that were built in the USA before the Civil War. thanks so much for the upload. great video !!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

There are a lot of similarities. Makes me wonder if they were drawing from the same blueprints.

[@marctremblay8087]

Reminds me of Sumter or Polaski.

[@aslooijer]

What an amazing place. You could get lost in that structure. Great job. On to the next place JD.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Definitely could have spent a lot more time there.

[@gregboyden564]

fascinating history. I have not heard about this eastern front during world war 1. very interesting. thank you

[@judygrandstrand9784]

What amazing architecture. Beautiful

[@pauldouglas3084]

Great video mate can't wait for the next video have great day

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks 👍

[@rw9866]

Great video learned something new thank you

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@anthonydm2947]

So interesting. Don’t know much about WWI. Thank you

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@cajunshine]

I surely did not like history in school. To me it was boring. Thank you for presenting it in a fun way. 😀 Great job!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that! I'm having a lot of fun putting these together and learning from others.

[@jcreateturner]

It's not the history that's boring, it's the presentation. I hear all the time from friends about how I make it interesting, and I'm nowhere this level, I just read a few stories and talk about them. Thanks for all the people who do care and pass it on.

[@shtrzrus]

Great video! Very informative!👍👍

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks for watching!

[@history775]

Great video 👍

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks 👍

[@nathansmith9686]

I would really like more WW1 content on your channel. Very interesting!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

On the way 🙂

[@x--LeethaL--x]

Just watched. All Quiet On The Western Front. Solid movie

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@paulholloway1447]

Ppzemish is how you say it ,great place

[@davidking6172]

Love these old Forts we have got 2 near me in Essex England. Tilbury and Coalhouse both Victorian then they added bits on to welcome the German Military during WW2.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Pretty amazing structures.

[@jondoe399]

Your video didn’t show up in my page, I had to search. It feels like KZbin is playing games with peoples lively hood. Thanks for the content JD, please keep it coming.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that. There have been some wonky things going with the channel not showing up for people. Feel free to share these out to help spread the word :)

[@joemabry9643]

Thank you.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks for watching!

[@kennethrouse7942]

Thanks for a great video, JD. Looking forward to Part 2! You may wish to read Alexander Watson's "The Fortress", which concerns the first siege there. Really interesting and I can recommend it to you and your Subscribers. 👍😎

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

That book is on my list. Thanks!

[@oldtanker4860]

Just a note. In the magazines you would have one for powder, usually the larger room and another for the projectiles. often with separate delivery elevators both to avoid confusion as well as easing supply times to the guns. Saw something similar at Ft Flagler in Washington.

[@matthewdudley6278]

My late father-in-law was from Przemysl he pronounced it "Sheh-mish" but I am splitting hairs. Love to see where he came from!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! And yes, there are a few different ways that I've heard it pronounced. Kind of like how Americans say "Munich" and Germans say "Munchen". Thanks for watching!

[@conpop6924]

6:03. There is so many bullet holes surrounding the sign

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Certainly possible.

[@zekesgirl100]

Awesome is not a big enough word for that complex!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Agreed. And I didn’t even show it all.

[@waldemarwojnicki6781]

It's wonderful that during you volunteering with World Kitchen you still have found some time to not neglect your passion as genuine Ytb history-teller ! 👍 Nice to watch, I'm waiting for future parts ! If You would ever visit Poland again - remember : since 1903 (and even befor..) - because of building-up of opposite aliances, and because of changing form of the warfare (development of Industrial transportation and communication infrastructure, railways, telegraph lines, modern roads, bridges, river-ports, navigable channels.. and their role in supply and movement, strategic coordination - during potential war) - both sides were intensly preparing "FOR THIS" (I mean "modern technological war") - and such infrastructure - like in Przemyśl - is all over the place (of "potential" - "future" war theatre.. Wrocław's forts were mostly demolished in-between the World Wars, but Warsaw has still it's triple-fort-rings in tact (ofcs "somewhat decayed") and it is f%€ken IMPRESSIVE - I was always surprised "Why" tzarist Army hasn't "gone for this" (to use that) - and decided to evacuate "Polish bulge" in 1915 ! 🤷‍♂️ Similiar story - Ossowiec Fortress (in the North, on Biebrza River), Modlin Fortress, Zamość, and Dęblin... On the contrary - Prussians used their "to be besieged" capacities (Fortress "Boyen" in Giżycko is brilliant, come, see, and look on the map how it is perfectly positioned..), and to some extent - with success.. So - "this things" were all over the place, on both sides, and it is to some extent surprising why this war (on the eastern front of WW I) was so manouver-like, and hasn't become "static" siege-like warfare.. Certainly distances, supply/transportation issue and "scale" (of the front) played it's role. But "they were preparing to this" (what Western Front - had shown..) - fully aware of the capacities of modern artillery and machine-guns, probably poor strategic planing, and lack of responding logistics - played it's role (esp. on Russian and Austro-Hungarian side), but strictly "military" infrastructure "was there" - would be nice to host You in Ossowiec or Giżycko, and watch Forts of Warsaw together ! Greatings from the Eastern Front ! 😉

[@stephenrrose]

Great Job as always Brother! I wonder if Poland is thinking they might want to put a small post there, communications post maybe. Can't trust Putin.........

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that. Pretty cool place.

[@wags68]

Thanks, JD. Any idea how the soldiers would have kept warm during the winters? Would they have firepits in the courtyards?

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Good question. Not sure on that one.

[@josephseaton283]

Interesting place !!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Glad you thought so.

[@saltdog7585]

Any recommendations about reading into the eastern front? Seems like what little material there is, is almost exclusive to Tannenberg.

[@erik2g19s]

Great episode, can't wait for the next one. I look forward to all the videos you make JD even if you didn't carve your name into a ww1 fortress lol one day I hope to travel and can atleast see half of the things you cover.

[@scottsprings9604]

Seeing the vandalism makes you appreciate the care and attention FRANCE gives its war memorials.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Well, I've seen plenty of that in France as well. It's all over the place, unfortunately.

[@mojorisin6551]

Hey man big fan of the channel. I'm heading to Normandy next month. Just wondering if you have any recommendations?

[@blackrei089]

Greetings from Poland! I'm so glad you have visited our country. It's important that you showed something about Przemyśl, which is a little bit forgotten. I strongly recommend you to visit Modlin Fortress, undergroind city Osówka (part of the nazi Riese project) and Auschwitz nazi concentration camp. Those are the places that are extremly important for WWII history. Hope to see you soon, you are doing great job!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you! I loved your country and can’t wait to return.

[@paulholloway1447]

Poznan is similar too

[@barrydysert2974]

i could get lost for daaaays in that place !:-) 🙏

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Definitely.

[@chrisvickers7928]

I watched the seige of this fortress on the Great War Channel with Indy Neidell. While they detailed how long it held out they didn't show the fort in any detail. Now it's clearer.

[@muddyfox4x4]

Interesting, bit like the forts in England built to keep Napolean and his hords out !!! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

There are a lot of similarities to some US forts during that time too.

[@waldemarwojnicki6781]

"Hordes" 🤦‍♂️ man - look up "battle of Fuengirola" 😉🙂 and keep warm !

[@jetsons101]

That border marker between Ukraine and Poland would let putin right through..... Another great watch from History Underground.....

[@MackWilliams-oz2cz]

Always the best videos! Unlike Weimar money, these episodes can be "taken to the bank!" And Happy Thanksgiving!

[@tommcdonald1873]

I first heard about Przemysl from Indy Nidell and the Great War series. They like you actually visited fortress sites there and the outer rings that are now inside Ukraine.

[@wrangler70jkujeep74]

Wow truly amazing compared to American forts of time period very cool and huge complex .

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yes indeed!

[@mikeparker3865]

the fort looks like the Hobbits going to war. Great video JD!

[@Wreckdiver59]

What I know about WWI is focused on the western front, so it's interesting to see what happened on the eastern front. Also, it's a fort, so who can resist that. 👍 Thanks for the video. I had to look up the pronunciation to see what happened to the P and R 😆 There is a slight P sound at the beginning, if wikipedia can be trusted. I'm not sure about the R, guess that's what happens when you try to turn Polish into English.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Oh man. The Polish language kicked my butt. It was awful.

[@jcreateturner]

Agree, this is one of those that I could never match up spoken name and written word.

[@waldemarwojnicki6781]

@@TheHistoryUnderground ah You poor creatures.. 😉😏 and I speak 6.. 🤷‍♂️😁

[@benjaminrush4443]

1880's Technology. Impressive for the times. Too bad they recycled/destroyed all the wood and Guns that were in placement. Nice Tour. Thanks.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@Gstevenson1956]

My family on both sides fought in the Great War. In particular, my maternal grandfather immigrated from Lithuania (Russian Empire) in 1913 to Baltimore Maryland. How he left under what circumstances, I don't know. If he had stayed he would have certainly been called up and wasted on the Eastern Front. Instead, he fought in the US Army in WW1. Fate made me an American.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Wow!

[@sevenonthelineproductionsl7524]

KING!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

:)

[@JD-ij5fi]

Hey JD! You didn’t hit your head‼️‼️

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Miracles never cease.

[@mmmdesignllc]

More background, maybe a map, would be nice to understand the battle.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

You can think of most of these videos as an appetizer rather than a full course meal. Hopefully it inspires people to go out and learn a bit more. Thanks for watching!

[@zacharydizerega9459]

JD as a subscriber for a while your videos still and will continue to be a fantastic watch and I continue to learn something new everyday keep it up can't wait for future videos

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@Jokerbierman66]

I've waited along time for a ww1 video. My great grandfather William Bierman was in ww1. I have his uniform pins and dog tags along with his helmet and gas mask which is still all in one piece. I could use help figuring out how to preserve the gas mask.

[@drmarkintexas-400]

🏆🏆🏆👍🇺🇲🙏 Thank you for sharing

[@rhardee8]

It was kind of hard for the Austro-Hungarians to issue commands when your Army speaks like 10 different languages..lol

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

That's no lie!

[@waldemarwojnicki6781]

And almost all of your experienced officers (from respectable units..) die in first 6 months of the war.. - and you must re-man your army again ! Despite that - they still managed to beat crap out of Italians (with some German assistance), pair southern part of the E-front agains Russians, beat Romania into peace, and take part in the occupation after Brest-Litovsk truce.. 🤷‍♂️

[@gefi9701]

To see this makes me think of the countless men who were killed during this war. They gave their life for a concrete jungle,for what. It's all but forgotten by the vast majority of the people.

[@mikebohrer3881]

Love the maps...but I'm a map junkie. :)

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

100%

[@darkoflight4938]

I find fortresses fascinating. Great big structures, often times massive sizes. Here in Sweden and pretty close to me the Karlsborgs Fortress is situated. One of the largest fortresses in Sweden and Europe. You can get a feel for it here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlsborg_Fortress Just the build time of roughly 90 years is staggering. More staggering is that it is still used today as a military base and it is for most part open for public.

[@waldemarwojnicki6781]

We all owe a lot to XVII ct mathematicians - and Marshal Vauban (Lille) - study of balistics and fortresses construction - has contributed - even to Space Flights !!

[@roberttwardowski9711]

There is nothing about it in the polish history books.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Interesting. And sad.

[@TheYeti308]

Ostland .

[@helenabiesma5560]

and a lot in under ground - do the best defense is this

[@chillis28]

👍👍

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@pingstag]

👍

[@Bayerberg]

Not Shemshill :) [ p ] - like in stop, [ shem ] [ y ] - like in boy, [ sh ] [ l ] - like in lozenge. Pshemyshl !

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I struggled with that one. I heard about 4 different pronunciations while I was there. The lady who I knew that lived there said that it was good enough :)

[@Bayerberg]

No worries :) Polish language is not only a language - it's a defense mechanism as well :)

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@Bayerberg - Ha!

[@Bayerberg]

In general this region of Poland - Red Ruthenia, Polesia and Galicia - has a ton to offer for anyone historically inclined. Try Lublin - one city, remnants of 2 world wars, 3 invading armies, concentration camp, stately country houses here and there... and people speaking proper english everywhere ;) Throw a rock in any direction and you'll need to extend your stay by weeks if not months to get all of this on camera.

[@waldemarwojnicki6781]

@@TheHistoryUnderground she was right - as an english-speaker - You are "good-enough" 😉! Thanks !

[@nonamesplease6288]

Lesson 1 - Przemysl pronunciation for English speakers...

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

The invisible H and the silent Z and L get me every time. 😅

[@craiggleason8386]

Doesn't seem to have suffered damage like the Verdun forts

[@helenabiesma5560]

about 4 storeys high

[@jimscott1172]

Dude... the leaves... really? :(

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Don’t like leaves?

[@bradmccormick358]

Ya JD how dare you show it the way it is today. Get out your time machine and show us what it was like back in the day. Or at least take a rake with you. Lol🤣🤣🤣

[@deadmetal8692]

Don't try it Russia, I have the High Ground.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Ha!