What if Poland was a Superpower?

[@WhatifAltHist]

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[@Newbmann]

The real question is Will Poland make it to space yeah probably

[@samc2450]

You know you've made it when you get the Nord VPN sponsorship

[@bartoszN01]

Could you make a video in the future titled what if the november uprising (1830-31, in Poland) would succeed or what if january uprising (1863-64, in Poland) would succeed?

[@haccapel4526]

I want to give you a challenging idea for a possible alt-history video in the future: What if Finland was a Superpower

[@bartoszN01]

@You're Spying that’s what I was thinking too, but I thought that whatifalthist would expand more on it. I like your ideas.

[@damian4926]

Kids today: "I wish I was born in 70's" When I was a kid: "I wish I was born in a multiverse where PLC becomes a superpower"

[@Polish_Orthodox_Knight]

I am teenager now, I wish I was born in PLC

[@AndreaMoletta-s3c]

Me, a westerner: I wish I was born in a parallel universe where the French revolution never happened and Prussia never existed.

[@kuroazrem5376]

The Polish-Lithianian Commonwealth is probably one of the most interesting but ignored chapter in human history.

[@grubbybum3614]

Let's not pretend like we even knew Poland-Lithuania was a thing before playing EU4...

[@kuroazrem5376]

@@grubbybum3614 I did and I have never played that game.

[@deogthepoeg7872]

Kuro Azrem big doubt

[@grubbybum3614]

@Comrade LighTZY liar.

[@freddiemercury8625]

@@grubbybum3614 I always knew about it as I am Polish and Poland likes to live through history. This is why there is still a grudge between Poland and Russia, as well as strong distrust towards Germany (despite a Democratic government). We also have a sort-of rivalry with Lithuania as some old Polish folk claim they took what was ours (Vilnius) same with Ukraine and the city of Lviv. I personally do not believe that much but y'know.

[@jankosi6882]

"the most frustrating thing is that early modern poland fulfiled all the metrics for a succesfull society" Yah, you have no idea how frustrating it was sitting in hisotry class as a kid in Poland and just hearing 'and then it got worse' every lesson.

[@wiktorweinreb-osiecki8870]

aż łezka cieknie na samą myśl o tym że jakbyśmy wykorzystali okazję to świat mógł by być o wiele lepszy

[@celdur4635]

Lack of natural barriers to give an edge on defense was a major flaw.

[@grubbybum3614]

@VFM #7634 😅

[@Angmir]

@@celdur4635 Poland also slept over its chance to become a true Empire, by becoming too passive. It had the chance to escape the trap to the east like Whatifaltist scenario presented, but simply staying in place was a death sentence.

[@celdur4635]

@@Angmir It was not politically feasible, the nobility was not convinced that it was a fruitful endeavour to fund the armies necessary to push east. Just like the billionaires of today don't want to pay their fare share of taxes. Weak central authority of the King could not compel them, and they allowed Muscovy/Russia to survive (not that it was easy to take keep them down) and decided to spend their money on their own states instead of "for THE state".

[@tspoon772]

This is the best pronounciation of Polish words by an American I've ever heard

[@ManlyMen1]

The way he pronounced jogaila was very cringe

[@tspoon772]

@@ManlyMen1 bro have you even heard his accent? It's so nasally american, it's a wonder he pronounces Polish words as well as he does. Plus he took the time to actually learn how to pronounce Polish letters, very few people do that.

[@ManlyMen1]

@@tspoon772 well jogaila is a lithuanian, his name shouldnt be pronouned in the harder polish way of saying it

[@tspoon772]

@@ManlyMen1 *jagiellon

[@buckplug2423]

@@tspoon772 No wonder the Lithuanians hate us

[@genericyoutubeaccount579]

Up until 1653, Poland won every single war against Russia. This is entirely possible. The key is that Poland must defeat Russia during the time of Troubles (1598-1613) because after that the Romanov's take power and they were very competent and strong leaders.

[@Steyr32]

Dictatorship always beats a democracy if the dictator is good (military/economic intelligence) Democracy beat dictatorship if the dictator is bad.

[@Agent3030-h1u]

​@@Steyr32I Agree though most of the time the dictator is incompetant and the democratic leaders can easily beat the dictators country

[@Wendeta-hq2cp]

@@Steyr32 It's generally true for all systems: democracy is awful if the candidates are mediocre, which is why I believe in meritocracy and the practice of limited gatekeeping in order to filter out the dumb and inadequate.

[@wessudol9708]

Love Poland and Polish people. Poland is a true gem. Love from 🇨🇦

[@jenderssen]

u dont want live there rly

[@Deines7]

LOL

[@misioke2113]

Thank you, i from Poland. 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢.

[@matszy_]

Dzienkuje! 🇵🇱🤝🏻🇨🇦

[@lodomeriusz9350]

🇵🇱Greetings from Poland🇵🇱

[@Voice_of_Rambol]

To answer that question: If Poland was a superpower there would be freedom and prosperity everywhere + rivers of vodka. instead of McDonalds we would eat at PierogiBar. Russia wouldn’t exist Chernobyl would never happen, WW1 + WW2 would never happen and the Winged Hussars would parade in Constantinople. In 2020 we would start building large hydroponics in space.

[@dawid2091]

Poland can't into space

[@Dziki_z_Lasu]

@@dawid2091 Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth had a rocket program. Google Kazimierz Siemienowicz. Also Konstanty Ciołkowski, a guy who made rocket equations was Polish.

[@michaelweston409]

❤️

[@Dziki_z_Lasu]

@Mstislaw AA In this timeline Ciołkowski would born in Iżewsk powiat Razań Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth :P

[@cylian8422]

And PiS wouldn't rule Poland.

[@kamilszadkowski8864]

The saddest thing is, some of the processes you describe, like the colonisation of Eastern steps, were actually in motion but were stopped by disastrous wars.

[@heroe480]

We didn't deal with Cossacks and Ruthenians properly that cost us greatly when Swedens and Musovites came in middle of XVII century.

[@wiizzpl4718]

Western Europe: killing each other because of the reformation. Poland: Yo that's cringe bro.

[@olitor2004]

Love it

[@makhdias6907]

That's not funny. death is tragic and this joke is offensive and should be removed.

[@Metawire61]

@@makhdias6907 this is the internet. YOU HAVE NO POWER HERE!

[@makhdias6907]

@@Metawire61 so you think death is funny? What a sick human being.

[@Metawire61]

@@makhdias6907 it's idiots taking each other out for no reason. And what can i say - the joke works. Also, talking about death should not be removed on any platform unless it is specifically intended for kids which youtube is not.

[@Hadar1991]

One note. Polish serfdom was per farm not per person (male). If a serf had to do 50 days of work for the master and he has four sons then then they could do this work in 10 days. If family had few healthy men (let say 13-50 years old) then the work for the master wasn't particularly troublesome. Whereas in Russia if there was 50 days of work for the master it meant that all men from the farm had to do 50 days each. Furthermore usually serfs had less responsibilities to the master than the law mandated, because if master mast too demanding the serf could easily escape do another master. Serfs started to rebel only when Russia occupied Poland and escaping from one master to another was straitened by Russian army. The main internal problem of Poland and later Commonwealth was that the throne was elective and this started as early as XII century. In the beginning the throne was elective inside of Piast dynasty and there was a lot of infighting. Jagiellons brought stability but throne stayed elective and it was the reason why free election (whole szlachta had right to vote, not only the court nobles) was born. We have also remember that Lithuanian throne was heritable, not elective, during Jagiellons reign and is the reason why Jagiellons often favour Lithuania over Poland and tried to prevent annexation of Lithuania by Poland. The only option for your theory to work that I see is in the modification of Act of Krėva (1386) where Jagiellon dynasty would become hereditary rulers of Poland in exchange for full unification of Poland and Lithuania (new state could have some other name, like Sarmatia :P or Commonwealth, the main issue is that Poland and Lithuania had the same fully hereditary monarchy and in the rulers interest would be to integrate this two entities instead of keeping them separate). Furthermore I thing that if Poland and Lithuania would be fully united in XIV century and the new state would be far stronger that just Poland with occasional support of Lithuania then the mayor focus would be Silesia, Czechia, Hungary and Moldova instead of Russia and Siberia.But still full destruction of Crimean Khanate would have to occur and at some point Poland or Russia would annex it. So uniting all territories of Poland, Lithuania, Kievan Rus, Teutonic Order, Livonian Order, Crimean Khanate, Silesia, Czechia, Hungary, Moldova, Wallachia and Pomerania just feel far more probable for me than going into SIberia. Maybe this state would be interested to extend it borders as far as Volga (quite good natural border) but everything further East would be left to some other Christian state that would be just in depended buffer zone (perhaps Principality of Great Perm?).

[@kryokori]

every theory has it's flaws - not all elected kings were that bad if the crown was heredical within 'Litvin' dynasty then the friendship with Hungary would be not as strong as in this timeline (as we shared rulers with Hungary and the military reforms came from this side) Hungary would be under much stronger influence of west side and could end up later in conflict with Poland the Czech had some grudges since the Mieszko times and are not worshippers of pro-slavic ideologies, we can't be sure they would be so willing to join the union Slovaks would be more willing to ally and unite

[@Hadar1991]

@@kryokori Hey, please remember that if Polish kings were hereditary there were no obstacles that they would be elected as king of Hungary. Habsburgs were hereditary dynasty from Austria and they got elected to be kings of Hungary. And as if goes for Bohemian throne, Jagiellons were already elected as monarchs there and ruled between 1471-1526. Furthermore Bohemian throne was offered to Władysław II Jagiełło during Hussite Wars. For example English Wikipedia states: "The Hussites were aided at various times by Poland. Because of this, Jan Žižka arranged for the crown of Bohemia to be offered to King Władysław II Jagiełło of Poland, who, under pressure from his own advisors, refused it. The crown was then offered to Władysław's cousin, Vytautas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Vytautas accepted it, with the condition that the Hussites reunite with the Catholic Church. In 1422, Žižka accepted Prince Sigismund Korybut of Lithuania (nephew of Władysław II) as regent of Bohemia for Vytautas. His authority was recognized by the Utraquist nobles, the citizens of Prague, and the more moderate of the Taborites, but he failed to bring the Hussites back into the Church. On a few occasions, he even fought against both the Taborites and the Orebites to try to force them into reuniting. After Władysław II and Vytautas signed the Treaty of Melno with Sigismund of Hungary in 1423, they recalled Sigismund Korybut to Lithuania, under pressure from Sigismund of Hungary and the Pope. On his departure, civil war broke out, the Taborites opposing in arms the more moderate Utraquists, who at this period are also called by the chroniclers the "Praguers", as Prague was their principal stronghold. On 27 April 1423, Žižka now again leading, the Taborites defeated the Utraquist army under Čeněk of Wartenberg at the Battle of Hořice; shortly afterwards an armistice was concluded at Konopilt."

[@peternagy6067]

Lengyel magyar két jó barát 🇭🇺♥️🇵🇱 Respect from Hungary

[@iamkinginmycastle2018]

Greatings from Poland.

[@JustinianG]

U might be interested in this timeline I made. it's basically the Greek equivalent to this one. I don't make Greece a super power but it's much richer and I expanded it's borders to the size of Tunisia kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKalYYmPdt6sp8k

[@JustinianG]

@@iamkinginmycastle2018 U might be interested in this timeline I made. it's basically the Greek equivalent to this one. I don't make Greece a super power but it's much richer and I expanded it's borders to the size of Tunisia kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKalYYmPdt6sp8k

[@naczelnykomentatoryoutuba5498]

Hello my hungarian brother ❤

[@jurik2209]

🇵🇱♥️🇭🇺

[@emmyb115]

Even in our timeliness, I am proud to be 85% Polish. Land of Copernicus, Madame Curie, chess masters, pierogi, and one of the oldest universities on the face of the planet.

[@theroundbear]

So basically, what if Poland became Proland

[@ladahieno2382]

Finally someone made that comment

[@jankubiak3218]

@@ladahieno2382 I feel stupid that I laughed at that..XD

[@ladahieno2382]

@@jankubiak3218 no shame

[@olitor2004]

Love it

[@jamwither9847]

Noobland

[@awildfilingcabinet6239]

I think it’s also important to note how different the world wars would be. Poland was never, and probably never would be nearly as militaristic and imperial as Russia or Germany. It’s likely that a Great War would still happen, since there were many factors that contributed to it, but it would be tamer. Germany would be weaker than our timeline, and Poland would be a much more competent enemy than the Russian empire was. In the end though it doesn’t really matter. Similar war, similar outcome. The difference is the aftermath. In our timeline, Eastern Europe is on its own. There is no power in any shape to claim dominion over the region, like Austria and Russia were before the war. In this version, Poland wouldn’t collapse. Increased industrialization and greater representation in government removes many of the destabilizing factors that caused the collapse of the Russian empire. Poland would survive the war. Weakened, but easily recoverable. With the collapse of Germany, Austria and the Ottomans, they have complete control over Eastern Europe. Here’s where the differences really take off. Eastern Europe was basically left to its own devices after WWI. The western powers didn’t have much interest in the region and no one was left in the East. This lead to a lot of conflict and war, as well as the rise of Hitler and Stalin. With a strong Poland that doesn’t happen. The East is much calmer, as well as economically successful as Poland influences the nations in the region. Imagine the USSR, but democratic and economically successful. Oh yeah. And WWII doesn’t happen. Maybe Hitler still rises to power, but Germany wouldn’t be able to conquer the world. France and Britain tolerated appeasement because it was directed away from them. Poland doesn’t have that luxury. For Poland, Anschluss would be like Germany annexing the Netherlands. The Munich conference and subsequent occupation of Czechoslovakia would be like Germany invading Belgium. Poland makes it quite clear that they would not tolerate any such action, leaving Hitler’s threats empty words. Further East the Bolsheviks never rise to power, removing the other monster in Eastern Europe. There is no communist revolution, and Stalin never has an opportunity to rise to power. Hell, he might not even live in Poland. And that completely changes everything. Eastern Europe isn’t devastated by these two monsters. War, genocide and economic abuse doesn’t put the East decades behind Western Europe. Poland and its sphere might become an economic counterbalance to American dominance, but they wouldn’t be complete enemies in a Cold War. Overall, it’s a much brighter future. German and Russian culture of conquest and imperialism dominated Eastern Europe in the 18th-20th centuries, and in this alternate history those cultures are missing. Of course, shit could still hit the fan. Germany could end up beating a Poland that’s facing other crises. Nationalism and outside influence could weaken Poland’s sphere. A million things could end the Polish golden age. The only thing for sure is that Russia will never control Eastern Europe. That alone makes this world brighter than ours

[@alphagamer9505]

Your assuming ww1 sides are exactly the same, with such a strong Poland, I can see Britain ally with Germany instead of France

[@heckleypanes4988]

@@alphagamer9505 With that in mind Germany would still be trapped and the only factor to remain a wildcard would be US

[@nagillim7915]

If Poland were the central continental power rather than Germany then it's entirely possible that the UK and Poland would have ended up as rivals by WW1. Several German principalities would have been vassals of the British crown. On the other hand, a Poland seeking to expand south and east could also have ended up allied to Hungary against the Turks, which may have prevented the formation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Austria and Germany would then have ended up as client states between France and Poland. If France and Poland had become continental rivals then perhaps there would have been an alliance between Britain and Poland against the French rather than between Britain and France against the Germans and Austrians. Particularly if Napoleon had still existed. Britain and Poland would have likely remained allies after the Napoleonic Wars and, without a strong militaristic Germany, Britain would have had no reason to have France as an ally. I believe the alliance between Britain and France was in direct response to the rise of Germany, so no German rise means Anglo-French relations never thaw. And Anglo-French hostility goes back nearly a millennium by the time of WW1.

[@samuelbedsole5089]

In short: Poland CAN into space!

[@algernonilfracombe]

Poland can into Russia...?

[@Vitalis94]

Living space :D

[@firstnamelastname7079]

The land of the Po

[@konq9779]

Could

[@MrHistory269]

😂

[@georgiaman1926]

Poland is a Superpower. No other country could still be standing after all they have been through.

[@LoganLS0]

Armenia.

[@kirilll7806]

russia.

[@ylmazirdenyazc8393]

Every modern country within Balkans, Caucasus and Anatolia.

[@amadiohastruck4331]

😂 The only reason the polish nation still exist is to put Germany in check thanks to France, Russia and The UK.

[@SherlockHolmesb-kp4ru]

​@@amadiohastruck4331Had the Germans won the Eastern front and not declared war on America and thus creating another front to the war ,the poles of Europe would have been outright exterminated

[@katoks2587]

Poland: is mentioned Also Poland: hippity hoppity your comment section is now my property

[@redskull8354]

You're comment privalage amerikanski. Hand ot over

[@SacredCowStockyards]

I thought the Romans conquering the Americas was the best timeline you'd come up with. I was wrong. This is the best fucking timeline in the history of alt history timelines. I want to marry this timeline and have babies with it.

[@SacredCowStockyards]

@@dejankojic4293 that's my second favorite (third favorite now).

[@grzegorzha.]

Then invest in Poland. It is never too late to become a superpower.

[@LoganLS0]

The Ethiopian Superpower timeline is my favorite. But this one is great too.

[@awatarpl2241]

My grand grand [...] father was the "Szlachcic" in does times. He was a colonel of the Crown Forces under the armored banner. In 1683 he became lieutenant colonel and commander of the infantry regiment of J. Gniński. He fought with the turks in vienna but not as the husar (Sadly) but as the armored cavalary. Im very proud of him. Im lucky that my family timeline preserved this long.

[@tomasvrabec1845]

Slachta just means Nobility.

[@dovienya737]

To think we could have had all this if only we had invested in eastern Poland.

[@meneither3834]

Why didn't you invest in Eastern Poland ?

[@matheuspinheiro4796]

@@meneither3834 oh boy he sure will one day, with divisions in Ukraine spiraling

[@JustinianG]

U might be interested in this timeline I made. it's basically the Greek equivalent to this one. I don't make Greece a super power but it's much richer and I expanded it's borders to the size of Tunisia kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKalYYmPdt6sp8k

[@JustinianG]

@@meneither3834 U might be interested in this timeline I made. it's basically the Greek equivalent to this one. I don't make Greece a super power but it's much richer and I expanded it's borders to the size of Tunisia kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKalYYmPdt6sp8k

[@JustinianG]

@@matheuspinheiro4796 U might be interested in this timeline I made. it's basically the Greek equivalent to this one. I don't make Greece a super power but it's much richer and I expanded it's borders to the size of Tunisia kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKalYYmPdt6sp8k

[@swedishviking287]

Whatifalthist: Sweden nearly was able to make a global empire thanks to the weakened Poland. Nearly being the key word. Me: Why must you hurt me in this way

[@andreacurti5927]

Last time I was this early, Mithraism could still have become the dominant european religion

[@rottenpotatoes6497]

Lol

[@number1kenyan]

Hah! Last time I was this early Rome was a city state

[@forgetful9845]

Ahahaha I love this! whatifalthist lore

[@aperson5876]

Imagine if they just combined mithra and jesus into one person,maybe something along the lines of mithra being jesus after being resurrected

[@Not_actually_a_commie]

Minachaesim is best religion

[@littlehandsgivescovfefe4837]

One of you’re best ‘WhatIfAltHist’ Absolutely phenomenal

[@IKaMiL25]

I'm simple Pole. I see strong Poland i click like

[@apstuxa]

lol, I see happy pole I like

[@Perririri]

Kurwa normie

[@JustinianG]

U might be interested in this timeline I made. it's basically the Greek equivalent to this one. I don't make Greece a super power but it's much richer and I expanded it's borders to the size of Tunisia kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKalYYmPdt6sp8k

[@JustinianG]

@@apstuxa U might be interested in this timeline I made. it's basically the Greek equivalent to this one. I don't make Greece a super power but it's much richer and I expanded it's borders to the size of Tunisia kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKalYYmPdt6sp8k

[@JustinianG]

@@Perririri U might be interested in this timeline I made. it's basically the Greek equivalent to this one. I don't make Greece a super power but it's much richer and I expanded it's borders to the size of Tunisia kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKalYYmPdt6sp8k

[@pawelratajczak3392]

Poland: The hero we needed but not deserved

[@legatm958]

Nawet nie wiesz jak się z tobą zgadzam

[@k0champiwerko]

@Legat M i ja

[@mafiozo.4270]

Oj Tak +1

[@damian4926]

Pre-partitions Poland is an extremely interesting topic.

[@makhdias6907]

Shut the hell up, your asses got kicked by mother russia. You stop talking so cocky

[@Radonatorr]

@@makhdias6907 No

[@lookie4448]

@@makhdias6907 Russia is nowhere close to being some sort of "Mother". Gtfo tsar/sovietboo

[@reblin8692]

The problem was that most of the people in Poland didn't have a representation in Sejm (polish parliament) and the other problem was that polish szlachta didn't pay taxes, because of that PLC didn't have a well equipped army, but that wasn't the worse, the worse was of course the Liberum Veto act, which made Sejm unable to make any reforms of the state or even to impose greater taxes during wars

[@martonszucs8887]

Lol, the Hungarian nobility did not pay taxes either... Which was a major, fatal flaw.

[@rozmanek5472]

That feeling of approval you feel when someone remembers the good times in your country

[@glitchy6449]

I love your maps, they really show how much effort you put into your videos, and they are always interesting to look at

[@raidiar2021]

This is beyond underrated, it feels a bit at-home made, but that's not a bad thing, because the message and points are brought straight and strong. Good job

[@justaguy9224]

As a Hungarian, this world sounds like an amazing dream

[@jovisummerp8141]

Last time i was this early, Poland-Lithuania still had Moscow under their control.

[@Perririri]

Last time I was this early, Trump and Epstein were still fucking the same boy

[@swampdonkey1567]

Janeen Phayne Clinton

[@jovisummerp8141]

Janeen Phayne why do ya gotta bring modern politics here bruh.

[@thesecondchillguy5697]

@@Perririri This is the no modern politics zone. Please leave or we will send you to the deep lands of pathology and political idiot wars. Thank you and have a great time commenting.

[@dantejones1480]

"If God is with us, then who is against us?" Motto of the PLC.

[@piotrwisniewski70]

What is PLC?

[@WihoGamer]

@@piotrwisniewski70 Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

[@thenortheasteuropean3540]

@@piotrwisniewski70 Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the short way

[@piotrwisniewski70]

@@WihoGamer thanks

[@garrettallen7427]

The answer? Russians Prussians and Austrians!

[@vilgefortz1539]

Cossacs stopped to be polish allies because they wanted to fight, and on one point poland stopped fighting for a few years, the cossacs wanted to fight so they attacked te frontiers of polish neighbours in the east, wich made polish nobility and the king very upset, when the poles stopped paying them because of their fighting, cossacs decided to rebel againts polish rule, with bohdan chmielnicki as a leader and create their own country with help of the ottomans, at least thats what i learned in school, im from poland

[@apstuxa]

What I've learned is that poland-lithuania didn't want to share power and create poland-lituhuania-ruthania and rebelion happened. And I'm pagan lands

[@vilgefortz1539]

@@apstuxa yeah, there were a lot of mistakes, but i agree, he fcked up some big things that would change many things, and with your country (i assume you are lithuanian) he did not mention that lithuanian nobility was trying to have more prestige by trying to look "polish", so most of their mistakes came from the polish nobility

[@apstuxa]

@@vilgefortz1539 aperantly feudal society destroyed it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKbYZ6VmbqdsnpY

[@TEKSteks01]

The Cossacks rebbeled against Poland, because of religious suppression, started by Poland in the 17-th century and aggressive attempts to adapt serfdom in the regions of western and central Ukraine. This created big tensions between polish mainly catholic nobility, which controlled the region, and the population, which dominating part ethnically consisted of orthodox ukrainians and russians. So the Cossacks had no other option to start an uprising or otherwise be totally enslaved by polish overlords and be assimilated. The version, which you are thought at school is just unreal simply because of location where the Cossacks lived. Come on, look at the map: Ottoman's in the south, Tatars and their constant raids in the east. The entire region was just a giant PvP zone with no rules, where you always have someone trying to kill you.

[@ppp-vz1mi]

Sadly both sides lost. Poland lost cossacks and cossacks didn't managed to be independent.

[@twojstarypijany3182]

Don't do it, don't give me hope...

[@michalaugustniak433]

Work at it. Plot, scheme, whatever. Just do it.

[@memelord97-99]

If Poland was a superpower.. *God would be finally happy.*

[@patryknajbor5263]

Yeah

[@franol7]

National complex healing LOL

[@bdg4life820]

@@franol7 shut up commie

[@franol7]

@@bdg4life820 :) Fredom of speech , fuck/wit soviet commie :)

[@amei653]

Nah polish is a very nationalist country now. No doubt they will supress minority.

[@milobem4458]

The rise and decline of Poland were both caused by the same thing - discovery of the Americas. In the early phase of colonization of the New World, Poland became very rich quickly by selling raw resources, mostly grain and timber, to the western powers which focused on trans-Atlantic expansion. Once the colonies in the Americas were properly established with their vast resources, the obsolete Polish economy spiralled down the drain, forcing the ruling classes to squeeze even more from their serfs to sustain the national defense (=the nobility). Most people ignore economical reasons of historical events, like changing prices of timber and grain. Not to mention fun fact that Poland used to be of the biggest producers of red dye (from local insects Polish cochineal), another industry that crashed thanks to discovering of cheaper alternative in Mexico. You can't fund an effective army without money. That didn't necessarily have to cause the complete collapse of PLC but they had to act quickly, which they couldn't thanks to the noble democracy and nearly constant wars with Ottomans and Russia, additionally complicated by Cossacks rebellions. A country at the frontier of civilisation couldn't afford the luxury of weakening its nobility which did all the fighting. When medieval French and German fought, the noble prisoners were exchanged for money and concessions. When PLC and Ottomans fought the prisoners were castrated and sold in slave markets in Constantinople. To survive, let alone become a superpower, PLC would have to solve Cossacks question, either by assimilating them or maybe by recognizing some form of their autonomy. Creating a separate, third member state of Ruthenia/Ukraine/Cossackistan with separate laws, could allow weakening the nobility of the safer, historical parts of Poland, and speed up its urbanisation and industrialisation. Maybe. Long term they also had to annex Prussia to solve the Gdansk corridor issue, which of course they couldn't know would lead to their doom in XVIIIc.

[@Caseyy04]

I see thicc Poland, I watch video. That simple.

[@yaitz3313]

I think this is the earliest I've ever found a new video.

[@imperatorecho9527]

same

[@doppelvonkaiser9835]

Same

[@number1kenyan]

same

[@eno3085]

Same here

[@bom3757]

No one cares

[@missingnola3823]

Kudos for managing to tie your ad into both the video's subject and current events.

[@DeusEversor]

0:38 Respect Sir for posting this map, and not a widely accepted XVIII century one. Partitions did begun with Swedish-muscovite deluge, even though players changed

[@innosam123]

Wouldn’t it be more realistic for Siberia to become a vassal of Poland? Since Siberia kind of has to depend on Poland or China for trade. The Poles would have to conquer the Caucasus to actually get defensible borders as well. At least as vassal states.

[@Hadar1991]

I wrote a whole long comment about it, you may look for it, I think it is interesting. I also highly doubt if Commonwealth/Poland would be interesting going any further than Volga River (quite nice natural border and territory is still manageable). Far more probable would be that Commonwealth/Poland would want to have a Christian country that would be a buffer zone between Commonwealth/Poland. This country could be even fully independent but just guaranteeing peace on East border. Something like Saadi dynasty of Morocco which was independent but Ottomans were quite happy that it was shielding them from Spain and Portugal. :p

[@WhatifAltHist]

It wouldn't actually mostly be the Polish government going East of the Urals. It would more be independent peasants and Cossacks, similar to how the US government didn't settle the area east of the Mississippi, independent farmers did.

[@innosam123]

Hadar1991 What was the long comment?

[@innosam123]

Whatifalthist Well, yeah, but in the America’s, they still did it on behalf of the American State. The Urals aren’t really much of a barrier between the two, and so I don’t see any reason they couldn’t keep Siberia at least nominally vassalized. It’s not like the Russians somehow had an easier time getting troops to the Pacific Coast in OTL.

[@Hadar1991]

@@innosam123 This is my long comment directly to the video, but I would appreciate likes under the original one, because I fear it may fade away without notice: "One note. Polish serfdom was per farm not per person (male). If a serf had to do 50 days of work for the master and he has four sons then then they could do this work in 10 days. If family had few healthy men (let say 13-50 years old) then the work for the master wasn't particularly troublesome. Whereas in Russia if there was 50 days of work for the master it meant that all men from the farm had to do 50 days each. Furthermore usually serfs had less responsibilities to the master than the law mandated, because if master mast too demanding the serf could easily escape do another master. Serfs started to rebel only when Russia occupied Poland and escaping from one master to another was straitened by Russian army. The main internal problem of Poland and later Commonwealth was that the throne was elective and this started as early as XII century. In the beginning the throne was elective inside of Piast dynasty and there was a lot of infighting. Jagiellons brought stability but throne stayed elective and it was the reason why free election (whole szlachta had right to vote, not only the court nobles) was born. We have also remember that Lithuanian throne was heritable, not elective, during Jagiellons reign and is the reason why Jagiellons often favour Lithuania over Poland and tried to prevent annexation of Lithuania by Poland. The only option for your theory to work that I see is in the modification of Act of Krėva (1386) where Jagiellon dynasty would become hereditary rulers of Poland in exchange for full unification of Poland and Lithuania (new state could have some other name, like Sarmatia :P or Commonwealth, the main issue is that Poland and Lithuania had the same fully hereditary monarchy and in the rulers interest would be to integrate this two entities instead of keeping them separate). Furthermore I thing that if Poland and Lithuania would be fully united in XIV century and the new state would be far stronger that just Poland with occasional support of Lithuania then the mayor focus would be Silesia, Czechia, Hungary and Moldova instead of Russia and Siberia.But still full destruction of Crimean Khanate would have to occur and at some point Poland or Russia would annex it. So uniting all territories of Poland, Lithuania, Kievan Rus, Teutonic Order, Livonian Order, Crimean Khanate, Silesia, Czechia, Hungary, Moldova, Wallachia and Pomerania just feel far more probable for me than going into SIberia. Maybe this state would be interested to extend it borders as far as Volga (quite good natural border) but everything further East would be left to some other Christian state that would be just in depended buffer zone (perhaps Principality of Great Perm?)."

[@zeldius3397]

So how many times do you want to partition Poland? Germany and Russia: YES

[@dekaredfire]

Austria: Well, no, but actually YES

[@jan_Soje]

Now this is a scenario I can get behind and I’m not even polish

[@JustinianG]

U might be interested in this timeline I made. it's basically the Greek equivalent to this one. I don't make Greece a super power but it's much richer and I expanded it's borders to the size of Tunisia kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKalYYmPdt6sp8k

[@tc_48]

**Korea furiously taking notes in the background**

[@adammm_w]

*Who doesn't respect and value his past, is not worth the honour of the present, and has no right to a future.* ~Józef Piłsudski Such an impressive and true statement. Unfortunately many of today's people does not celebrete and honour their history and that's bad.

[@k0champiwerko]

[*]

[@cosmiccore8251]

Piłsudski vel selman agent city of london, zdrajca Polaków

[@adammm_w]

@@cosmiccore8251 what? are u drunk ?

[@cosmiccore8251]

@@adammm_w widać historię jaka znasz jest ta oficjalna nauczana w szkole....posłuchaj dr jaśkowskiego co mówi o piłsudskim, to był agent, gdyby nie generał rozwadowski, to polska dostałaby w pizdę w bitwie warszawskiej, bo piłsudki skutecznie trzymal wojsko w miejscu

[@adammm_w]

@@cosmiccore8251 XDDDDDD Przecież Rozwadowski i Piłsudski to byli nawet przyjaciele, co ty za brednie opowiadasz. Piłsudski nie był żadnym agentem, to tylko jakieś bzdury które są wymyślane w dniu dzisiejszym, aby zbeszcześcić imię Wielkich Ludzi

[@ridikulusridikulus6454]

What if my wife didn’t divorce me?

[@explosionbruh1875]

World would be really different

[@evilemuempire9550]

Some alt-histories are just too ridiculous

[@Perrirodan1]

Then you would be part of that group of people that say that marriage is great and would encourage others to fall into the trap.

[@Darthmessiah66]

@The Nova renaissance in your dreams maybe.

[@Wo0dGlue]

just as likely as this one

[@mark12strang58]

The Mongols managed to conquer a huge empire n a short time, many times against all odds. This scenario isnt that crazy.

[@americantttefan4745]

I'm actually creating an althistory of the Polish navy based on this concept, whether it be the successful annexation of Russia as the aftermath of the Polish-Muscovite War, or a PLC that stayed the size of its greatest extent. Basically, battleships.

[@electriczebra99]

Always appreciate your insights. I run a consultancy doing International business...fairly successfully. Thinking through these types of scenarios always gives one an advanced set of tools in the analytical toolbox over anyone else. History describes people and how they acted given certain motivations...but using it for insight will give one a competitive advantage in understanding business internationally. Encouragements in your successes.

[@brawlplay3r252]

Greetings from Poland! Pozdrowienia z Polski Dziękujemy za wspanialy odcinek o naszym narodzie ojczystym!

[@escanorofpride6116]

We love you. From America.

[@jesusnoehernandezrocha1438]

Love Poland from México. 🇵🇱🇵🇱🇲🇽🇲🇽

[@andresousa3072]

People in this alternative history: what if Russia was a Superpower?

[@1337MTs]

Well we already know that what if Sovet Russia... No thanks! No more!

[@kirilll7806]

@@1337MTs well what if normal russia?

[@1337MTs]

@@kirilll7806 there is nothing which is called normal Russia, Russia is imperial country and its leaders knows about it and they need to be biggest assholes on planet to rule such a big country, otherwise it will fall apart

[@aranbutcher4655]

Can you do what if France had better demographics in the 19th century? While other european states tripled their populations from the end of the Napoleonic wars to the start of ww1 the French barely grew and only by 50% having especially little growth post Franco-Prussian war. What if Frances population growth matched Britain and Germany and it remained the dominant power in Europe or even had a bigger colonial empire in the Americas? (perhaps the conquest of Mexico would succeed with stronger French demographics)

[@Perrirodan1]

It's true that it is an interesting idea. Even after ww2, De Gaulle wanted a 100 million population. This would put France into a great position to be a lower-tier superpower.

[@nikolavideomaker]

@@Perrirodan1 Right, now it's a lower tier superpower. It would be a mid to high tier if it had a higher population.

[@innosam123]

The French would be able to keep most of its Empire. Not just it’s loose control over West Africa, but also North Africa, which would be settled with French settlers. Libya and Egypt were also almost French colonies. The population of Africa was low enough that even West Africa could become majority- White with enough people in France. The Entire Western Half of Africa being European would have interesting consequences. Maybe the Portuguese and Spanish Empire survives without such a drive for decolonization, and the support from France. Which would also mean Rhodesia and South Africa would be in a better position to survive.

[@rayk0516]

The french demographics are the result of late 18th century (hunger) and especially the napoleonic wars, that had a tremendous loss on the young french generation. So, the demographics would be extremely different without Napoleon (and industrialization of course).

[@canaanosborne2937]

You could increase immigration. During the 19th century France saw large scale immigration with large numbers of Italians, Poles, Christian Lebanese, Ashkenazi Jews, and Spaniards moving to metropole France.

[@przemekbiaek2698]

Bringing back The Commonwealth *Winged hussars intensifies*

[@przemekbiaek2698]

@Mstislaw AA it will still be enough tho...

[@pome_107]

Man is it weird that im American, but I love Poland in everyway and would love to see Poland back to its former glory?

[@Void_Dweller7]

No, why should it be.

[@ChillDudelD]

Not really, the PLC was a proto-USA of sorts.

[@Sara3346]

No, I think poles and Americans share a lot and would have very done well by working together.

[@reallyboringindividual]

Me as a Polish person watching this video and emphasizing every occurence of "WAS" and "HAD". Lol.

[@_Killkor]

The Eastern Europe that could have been... Strong, developed, and most of all, united.

[@donotcare57656]

And most importantly of all, Poland could into space

[@captainblacktail8137]

Ah, this could also have been: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish%E2%80%93Lithuanian%E2%80%93Muscovite_Commonwealth If the points in the beginning of the video were taken in the 16th century and the russian tsars and government less authoritarian just think of how much better everything would have been for everyone.

[@Szakal_zlocisty-Canis_aureus]

it didnt work :P its called Pan-Slavism idea ;)

[@captainblacktail8137]

@@Szakal_zlocisty-Canis_aureus 100 years of oppression at the hands of the russian empire will do that. This was long before that.

[@Szakal_zlocisty-Canis_aureus]

@@captainblacktail8137 idea is the same -.- nation only changed who will achive it :/ why under Poles but not under Russian or Czech... you see everyone think it could be nice if you are on top who will do it :P

[@combobreakergaming9460]

When i saw the thumbnail i said "oh god"

[@BaraWilmer]

Jojo refrence?

[@combobreakergaming9460]

@@BaraWilmer No

[@BaraWilmer]

@@combobreakergaming9460 sad

[@BaraWilmer]

@Biracial Boy yes

[@goldengyarados3515]

Been wanting this video so much, thank you!

[@tiberiuscodius5828]

Where's my "What if Empress Irene accepted Charlemagne's marriage proposal"?

[@elmarsonino2834]

I've been waiting a looong time for this, my dear historian friend

[@iexist2217]

*This... This puts a smile on my face*

[@meneither3834]

I find it odd that you do not imagine Poland attempting conquests against the HRE.

[@Adrian_Ostrowski]

One thing: "Szlachta" is just a Polish word for nobility. You don't need to say this word when you talk in English.

[@gungingang9413]

przez tą szlachte wszyskto sie zjebało

[@bartoszzuzewicz3605]

@@gungingang9413 ogólnie, dbali o siebie, tylko o siebie

[@Vatras888]

@@gungingang9413 Nie przez tą szlachtę tylko dzięki niej w ogóle coś było. To jakaś komusza propaganda to co mówisz. Chłopi w tamtym okresie w ogóle nie identyfikowali się jako Polacy. Do XIX wieku Polak = szlachcic.

[@amadeosendiulo2137]

On mówił "szlakta" xD

[@kromek_jga]

@@Vatras888 właśnie przez szlachtę a zwłaszcza magnaterię (już szczególnie od XVII wieku). To oni nie pozwalali na rozwój mieszczaństwa a to bylo siłą wieków późniejszych. U nas tylko myśląca o sobie szlachta i bezwolne chłopstwo. Zobacz na wiek XVIII i jak wyglądały miasta Prus, Saksonii, Anglii a jak Polski. U nas poza Gdańskiem żadne sie nie liczyło. A o tym jak szlachcie nie pasował taki Gdańsk to już mówi historia miasta. Nawet Śląska nie chcieli przyjąć do Rzeczpospolitej w czasie wojen religijnych (Śląsk sam o to prosił) bo tam mieszczaństwo było zbyt silne i się tego obawiali, że to przejdzie na resztę miast w Rzeczpospolitej. To żadne komunistyczne gadanie tylko prawda historyczna.

[@acebalistic1358]

What if poland was a superpower? Me, a Europa universalis player: challenge accepted

[@TheNightEyes]

Just finished readind The Trilogy by Henryk Sienkiewicz, so I’m currently really into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth! Best novels I’ve ever read and most interesting country that’s always forgotten

[@TheTeoras1]

3:05 uh, not sure if that map is correct, half of Lithuania seems to be depicted under Catholic for some reason. 6:20 I'm not sure if the tribal map is also accurate? Lithuania by the 16th century had been long a feudal power, since out tribes were united into a single country in the 13th century. Still an awesome video, it's really interesting to think how different the world would have been if the Commonwealth wouldn't have collapsed.

[@sab5686]

lithuania was very catholic at that time

[@kuroazrem5376]

WHEN THE WINGED HUSSARS ARRIVED!!!!!

[@diobrando7774]

Sabaton fan too (:

[@kuroazrem5376]

@@diobrando7774 of course!

[@burinamat6246]

I really love to see small KZbinrs have sponsorship

[@WebSoak]

"What if Poland was a Superpower" That was a good one man!

[@AkeTheSnake1]

What if Howard Dean hadn’t done “the dean scream” and would have won the 2004 election?

[@TapOnX]

The media would've found another way to screw him. The scream was just the lowest hanging fruit to be turned into a forced meme.

[@penguinsfan251]

@@TapOnX Dean is an idiot. The state that elected him is full of idiots. They elected Sanders, too.

[@youseeme9862]

*The polish juggernaut cannot be stopped*

[@luceliorodrigues7504]

The polish good ending :') that's so builtiful!

[@graceneilitz7661]

I looked at the title and thought "It was during the commonwealth with Lithuania in the late 1500s- early 1600s."

[@the_astrokhan]

Being Polish I have to remind you all that the Commonwealth was not just Poland. A lot of people were Polish, but a lot were Ruthenians and quite a few Lithuanians as well. it's a little like saying someone is a New Yorker instead of a citizen of the US.

[@armandasgucaitis1921]

As a Lithuanian, I appreciate it, my Polish bretherin

[@zerguskotus2648]

"nie wiem ale sie wypowiem"

[@bellywood7688]

This is one of those channels that leaves you thinking "Dam, wish I'd thought of that first".

[@JD-gk7eh]

I really expected this video to spend 17 minutes talking about how we'd have kielbasa and pierogies at every meal and all be listening to Polka all the time. :p

[@myrame]

Hey, I'm from Poland and this video was shown to me on the youtube homepage. Soon a large army of Polish viewers will come here and they will take over the comments sections.

[@augustusstamer2428]

When Whatifalthist is more Native American than Elizabeth Warren 9:09

[@saguntum-iberian-greekkons7014]

His cheeks still are more native americans, in the video of Paraguay there is a face reveal and my friends agreed he has native american cheeks and other features, they are the specialist (Anthropologists)

[@MiSt3300]

It was interesting to watch this video about my country. Especially that I can see that Liberum veto wasn't the actual cause of collapse, as many here in Poland believe.

[@MrValgard]

there is theore that religious wars of 15th century make countries like Germany, Britan and France stronger internally, Polands freedoms was way to infiltrate by forain powers

[@NeverEverClever]

you disregard the importance of trade, the main thing that held back russia from modernizing. basically the same thing applies to poland aswell. just getting rid of serfdom wont fix the lack of trade routes and connections to form a burgeoisie to counterbalance the nobles. it really is no historical accident that states in eastern europe never really developed a sufficiently large burgeoisie.

[@Bluesonofman]

This is rather Optimistic. Also surprised you did not start in the 1900s like everyone else.

[@pentaboss1351]

I'm a simple hungarian I see Poland i click :D

[@timra9309]

finally a time line where Poland doesn't get sandwiched

[@5Penkets]

Next video’s title: What if people will start saying Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth or Poland-Lithuania instead of Poland.

[@michakoniecpolski5677]

Crown still be richer than Grand Duchy

[@afghanistandaily9175]

whatifalthist, your videos have totally changed my perception of nations. Not as a coherent color inside of a border, but a collection of peoples. Those people make or break their nation, and the fundamental systems which govern those people determine the success they will have in the future. Thanks for that.

[@Osterochse]

nations are also always a thing of contention. It happended so many times that a country was not considered a nation but a subbranch of their own nation. Ukraines were considered a type of Russians, by their big brother. Czech people often considered slovakia not as a seperate nation. Serbia considered Bosnia and croatia as a type of Serbia, the list goes on and on. Any group of the planet can consider itself to be nation or not. Often their more powerful neighbours want to influnce them that they are not.

[@johnhannibal5108]

Poland's cultural elite at the time of her decline were much like our celebrities today. Rich, influential, harp on about fairness and equity but have contracts that 'the staff' are not allowed to look them in the eyes, rules for us, not for them, stuff for them, not for us. And siding with the enemies of their nation

[@BlackSalamander439]

Some girl: Men only want one thing and it's fucking disgusting Men:

[@plincz9279]

I hope that the countries of the Intermarium region with Poland at the fore in the future will create a structure similar to the First Rzeczpospolita and will constitute a military counterbalance to Russia.

[@evin1035]

"Nobody will fight for our freedom" sad but true

[@randomradek5284]

Idea for a video, what if Václav III./Wenceslaus III and the house of Premyslid did not die? What if Bohemia kept the Hungarian and Polish thrones and, perhaps, made a commonwealth of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown, Poland and Hungary (similar to the Polish-Lithuanian)?

[@scorbiot]

Poland stronk timelines are a guilty pleasure to me.

[@olivergojkovic5919]

As a Pole, this was the most depressing thing I ever watched.

[@TalesFromTheSlumsOfMumbai]

Us Slavs have suffered enough I say it’s time we form a nationalist version of Yugoslavia

[@timothyhh]

Poor Poland. It rarely catches a break.

[@Hussar88]

Wouldn’t Germany unify sooner with the pressure of two superpowers on both sides? I can see a Germany under Austria being formed much earlier in this timeline.

[@akiko4126]

Great video, still looking forward to the Suez Crisis one too.

[@ooi97]

16:00 Poland: *is destined and has all the things needed to unite Europe* Also Poland: *fails because it's lazy*