Why did Albania Side with China After the Sino-Soviet Split? (Short Animated Documentary)

When the USSR and the People's Republic of China had a falling out in 1960, China got Albania in the divorce. But given Albania's geographic position and that siding with China would leave it isolated amongst the Socialist world why did Albania do so? To find out watch this short and simple animated history documentary.
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[@itjustjuan5148]

"Some times countries don't get along" - Understatement of the century.

[@patchworkfellow4262]

*Laughs humourlessly in two World Wars last century*

[@appleslover]

Britain: *I never asked them to lol*

[@appleslover]

Or Britain: *I make a living out of this*

[@hayat3967]

Albania and China dosnet mix

[@imcarlosjr4898]

Facts

[@comexa8095]

‘Couldn't invade Albania without going through another state.’ As a German I do not understand the problem.

[@ILLYRIANW0LF]

Hahaha 😁 to be fair probably not a single shot was fired against the germans in the early years, especially in the areas that were liberated from Yugoslavia.

[@Delightfully_Bitchy]

Perhaps a Brit can explain. 😁

[@ram-lj9kz]

@@ILLYRIANW0LF well the Albanians tried to resist the fascist ivasion but it couldn't really do nothing, many Albanians in the Yugoslav territoreis really didn't like Yugoslavia but there were also a lot of Albanians who faough with the Yugoslav partisans, i know a lot of Albaniians from Kosovo who faough with the partisans

[@billberg2002]

This comment made me literally lol

[@cv4809]

The problem was that there is no Belgium between Russia and Albania

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

Albania: switches sides Italy: *I raised that boy*

[@drlu3823]

the video is wrong , didn't explain correctly ..

[@neversaynever9709]

we exist long before Italy my friend ,, your comment dont make sense

[@Marco.-]

@@neversaynever9709 nope italy is indeed older than albania

[@kayvan671]

@@neversaynever9709 I think he meant because your Country was under Italian occupation during WW2.

[@sameerhasan8101]

@@drlu3823 what? What do you mean he didn't explain correctly?

[@CSGhostAnimation]

Instructions clear: Build bunkers EVERYWHERE to avoid getting Prague Spring'd

[@Nietabs]

I didn't know you really liked history that much CS Ghost

[@retsreinyrelgeinthrelaveri1456]

*make a valorant video*

[@Minecraftrok999]

*make a Valorant video* _please?_

[@martinsriber7760]

Why call it Prague Spring'd? Invasion was supression of Prague Spring.

[@marcusfanning7513]

@@Minecraftrok999 but valorant is shit

[@anarghyasumanth8590]

So Albania switched sides when the Soviets de-Stalinzed and when China "de-Maoised"?

[@RyoKasai25]

*Communist country tries to be less authoritarian* Albania: And I took that personally.

[@liberator101]

@@RyoKasai25 hahahahahhahahha, in my opinion perfect use for that meme

[@illyrian9973]

Hoxha: i am gonna do what's called a pro game move

[@jcesula]

Yup. Enver Hoxha despised Nikita Khrushchev's policies as they were more liberal and he wanted peaceful co-existence with the U.S. Then, when Mao Zedong's China began to improve relations with Richard Nixon's U.S, Hoxha accused China of being a traitor to communism, thereby creating the anti-revisionist variant of communism which is thought to be "true communism": Hoxhaism.

[@nilihcrevo9820]

@@jcesula is hoxhaism other name is bunkernism?

[@chandleramason3536]

“The thing about Stalin is that he was mortal.” I feel like this isn’t getting any of the rightful praise it deserves.

[@sail2byzantium]

The most memorable line of the video.

[@siertje100]

This never held back the Kim family in North Korea though

[@luissemedo3597]

belongs in the hall of fame along with the "he caught a mild case of death" and "he was quite busy being dead"

[@zoviet100]

There is an entire movie about it

[@hectorsalamanca7679]

stalin was a trash

[@Hylodatus]

Albania: Builds bunkers everywhere. Switzerland: We should talk sometime.

[@rejanduka]

lol yes

[@777Lxxx]

Albania and Switzerland are similar when taken in consideration that both of them are mainly mountains...

[@rq4740]

Finland: Welcome to the party guys!

[@Tmhy0]

​@@777Lxxx And there is a large Albanian community in Switzerland.

[@adidibrani]

and our motto is Let's make Albania like Switzerland (or Europe sometimes)

[@freddytang2128]

My mother said when she was a kid, young people would listen to smuggled western music. If they get caught they would say it’s Albanian music because that’s our only ally in Europe

[@That1HotMF]

Ur mother was in russia or china ?

[@barreloffun10]

@@That1HotMF According to the video his mother would have to be from China.

[@TheLukasDirector]

@@That1HotMF The guy's name is Freddy Tang, which do you reckon it is?

[@lagjescuni5482]

Freddy Tang...yes, but in reality Albanian music and films were promoted in China at that time by your government

[@PapaSchultz74]

@@That1HotMF his mother russia was in china 😉

[@pagansbasin6657]

Maoism: when Stalinism is too boring for you Hoxhaism: when Maoism is to boring for you

[@pagansbasin6657]

@An unimpressed Rooster how many bunkers do you want? Hoxha: yes

[@rowdok]

Maoism is Leninism with a twist. Hoxhaism is Maoism with a twist.

[@Tupadre97]

Mao was a stalinist tho

[@rowdok]

@@Tupadre97 He wasnt. Stalinism isn’t a thing

[@Tupadre97]

@@rowdok sure thing commie

[@jasonr8967]

Kennedy, Khrushchev, and Hoxha are on a ship with their respective delegates. Some sharks are swimming around in the water around the ship. Kennedy says American soldiers are the bravest. He tells one of the American soldiers to jump in the water and kill a shark. The soldier says, "Yes sir!" and jumps in the water. Everyone claps and says he is really brave. Khrushchev says, "That's nothing." He tells a Russian soldier to jump in the water and kill two sharks. The soldier says, "Yes sir!" and jumps in the water. Everyone claps louder and says he is even braver. Hoxha, not to be outdone, orders an Albanian soldier to jump in the water and kill three sharks. The soldier looks at him and says, "F**k no." Everyone gasps and says that he is definitely the bravest of them all.

[@novaterra973]

Funny, the one I heard had Tito in place of Hoxha.

[@concept5631]

@@novaterra973 Honestly, given who Tito was, it wouldn't surprise me if the soldier killed 4 sharks instead of 3 due to the sheer respect he would have for Tito.

[@frzstat]

Now tell the joke with George W Bush, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and their Secret Service details ;)

[@robertrichard6107]

@@frzstat SS fell under command of Homoland Suckyertity after 911 though, not Treasury, no money in it for them.

[@jasonr8967]

@@novaterra973 I repurpose it with all kinds of communist dictators, and it still works. :)

[@michaelmcchesney6645]

I was ridiculed by my 6th grade teacher for saying that Albania was allied with China, not the Soviet Union. Sister Honoria went to the map and pointed out how much closer Albania was to the USSR and how far from China. Now my source was having read a Mrs Polifax novel (about a retired widow that goes to work for the CIA) that had Albania's alliance with China as plot point, not a textbook. She actually mocked me for believing something I read in a novel. She was fairly nasty about it. That still bothers me 45 years later. I'd show her this video (because everyone knows a novel plus an animated Internet video constitutes incontrovertible proof) but as she was in the neighborhood of 60 when she was my teacher, I kind of doubt she's still among the living.

[@ronkolek613]

Ahhh, yes. Relentlessly mocking an elementary school kid. Clearly that is what Jesus would do, Sister Honoria……

[@michaelmcchesney6645]

@@ronkolek613 It's not what Jesus would have done, it's what Mrs. Jesus did do. Sister Honoria wore a wedding band because she considered herself to be married to God. As I understand it in recent years, the Catholic Church, at least in the U.S. has had difficulty recruiting women to join convents. But even so, God has himself the largest harem I've ever heard of. That does explain why the Church considers God to be male because otherwise all those nuns would be gay married and we know the Church wouldn't approve.

[@forza8719]

This would infuriate me 45 years later too haha, I remember correcting my 4th grade math teacher on this problem in front of the whole class (this was right after I got some private tutoring to bring my grades up) she had no choice but to spitefully correct herself on the board, and I swear from that day on she despised me. I felt so good about myself too because math wasn’t my best subject. Teachers can be nasty.

[@michaelmcchesney6645]

@@forza8719 I had an education minor in college and had to do a bunch of observations. One was a class where the teacher had a lesson about how many buildings in Washington DC were inspired by Greek architecture. She was holding up a book open to a picture of the U.S. Capitol. She asked the students to identify the building and a kid called out "the White House." She replied "Yes, It's the White House." I decided not to embarass her and waited till the class was over to tell her it was the Capitol. I only taught for 3 years and only recall one time a student told me something I thought was wrong that turned out to be sort of true. A student asked me about the Voting Rights Act being repealed. It wasn't repealed, but the preclearance portion of the law (requiring any voting changes in Southern states to be approved in advance by the Justice Department) had been struck down by the Supreme Court. I discovered that after class and the next day told the class I had been wrong (sort of) and explained the details. In my opinion, no teacher should pretend to be perfect and when wrong should admit it and congratulate their student on being right.

[@nhmooytis7058]

We had a Sr Honora. Tough lady, wouldn’t want to run into her in a dark alley 😂

[@nicholasoneal1521]

I like to think eventually there will be a Fallout: Europe, and when you find Albania, the government and country is fully intact because of all the bunkers

[@neversaynever9709]

90 % of bunkers have been destroyed

[@nicholasoneal1521]

@@neversaynever9709 You do realize Fallout isn't real........ right?

[@killersagetv6059]

@@neversaynever9709 they destroyed the small bunkers like for soldiers camping and stuff not the big ones like bunkart

[@oddi3863]

@@neversaynever9709 but in fallout, the cold war continued until 2077, so if anything there would be more bunkers

[@mrdkiscool1407]

@@nicholasoneal1521 not yet………

[@TheBaleadaMan]

Albania to USSR 1950s: How could you?! Albania to China 1970s: How could you?! a terrible romance

[@email5023]

A three way that went awry twice.

[@dabbasw31]

Still a better love triangle than Twilight.

[@jlshel42]

Ooooh, so Bad Romance was about Albania, now I get it...

[@harbl99]

The only common factor in all your dysfunctional relationship is, erm, Hoxha.

[@thehistoryvideogameandgame4730]

Which ended in more firing squads and more bunkers

[@looinrims]

USSR: “We’ll invade you” Albania: *Build’s a gajillion level 10 forts* “Fucking try me”

[@Khajiidaro]

Russia with endless swarms of manpower: "Not right now"

[@Podzhagitel]

usually how my games go smh

[@looinrims]

@@Khajiidaro Albania: “Throw hands, pussy!”

[@eduarddv00]

Russia: "Call an Ambulance!! But not for me"

[@feetlicks]

parashoots into Tirana

[@Robbstark2024]

Yugoslavia: “you guys are picking sides?“

[@zandaroos553]

Three step guide to Titoism: Step 1: IMF Loan Step 2: Soviet Aid Step 3: IMF Loan

[@Xiphactinus]

@@zandaroos553 step 4: fash in the pit

[@ennui9745]

Yugoslavia: Be like me and say screw you to both the USSR AND China.

[@dsong2006]

China was close with Yugoslavia as well during the Albania honeymoon period. Yugolsav movie "Walter Defends Sarajevo" was the number one movie in China through the 70s-80s making it one of the most watched movie globally...Chinese people who grew up in that era def. choose Yugoslavia and still have a lot of nostalgia for the Yugoslavia. I think some of it translated to close relations with Serbia today.

[@smokingmirror8482]

As an Albanian who has been watching your channel for years, i am happy that you finally made a video about my country.

[@efrencruz4422]

You should watch acts 17 apologetics and pfander films and dcci ministries and christian prince and cira international and shamounian and soco films on KZbin and watch all the videos on KZbin arber sokoli 😀😀😀😀

[@smokingmirror8482]

@@efrencruz4422 wtf

[@efrencruz4422]

@@smokingmirror8482 I said you should watch acts 17 apologetics and pfander films and cira international on KZbin and watch all the videos arber 😀😀😀

[@percillagggg6312]

Kosovo is Serbia

[@drumboarder1]

@@smokingmirror8482 you caused the poor boy a stroke

[@fludblud]

Albania has so far recorded a total of 173,371 bunkers built during Hoxa's rule, these dont just include the typical small bunkers commonly seen on the surface but also vast tunnels and caverns built into mountains likely making Albania the second most tunnelled nation on earth after North Korea. However due to the paranoia and secrecy surrounding the bunkerisation programme, nobody knows the real number and more bunkers keep being found together with whatever is hidden inside, in 2004 officials discovered an underground bunker with 16 tonnes of mustard gas and other chemical weapons hidden just outside the capital.

[@theangrykekistani9418]

the real number actualy is more than 700 000

[@TheThemutedude]

Cool, thanks for the info! I wonder why the democratic government is kept so in the dark about the true extent of the bunker program, you'd think some apparatchik somewhere kept notes

[@silenthunteruk]

@@TheThemutedude The problem is finding all the notes.

[@emermbiemer302]

@@TheThemutedude the apparatchik prob took the notes to the grave together with the notes about the tons of illegal weapons of mass destruction.

[@mgm9678]

So every 5 meters in albania theres a fricking bunker. They live there or sth?

[@sammyfrommiami2946]

Anything: *happens* Albania: MORE BUNKERS!!!

[@galatheumbreon6862]

Lmao

[@thehistoryvideogameandgame4730]

Don’t forget more firing squads

[@edivitia8088]

enver hoxha really was building them. In fact if you visit us you cant still spot many bunkers all over the place. But the country is still beautiful and worth visiting

[@Deridus]

40 years after his death, his will is read by the Albanian people per a memorandum by the government written to comemerate his death: Build more bunkers!

[@Vinterloft]

Well.. They didn't have Skanderbeg anymore. Bunkers would have to do

[@Ribatejano]

Alternate title: How Albania maintained independence and made the PRC be recognized by the UN

[@sokolisufaj2284]

Exactly!

[@The_whales]

Instead of “maintain independence” its more like: not being brutally attacked by the Soviets

[@StickWithTrigger]

Everyone: "How are you still alive?" Albania: "Bunkers m8"

[@HistoryOfRevolutions]

"It doesn't matter whether the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice" - Deng Xiaoping

[@Nathan-jh1ho]

Translation It doesn't matter if it's a socialist cat or a capitalist cat, as long it keeps the party in power.

[@liberator101]

@@Nathan-jh1ho thank you

[@Sillyboi05]

@@Nathan-jh1ho thank you

[@thebiglich]

and then they turned deng xiaoping into a superweapon and bruce lee's relative helped defeat him

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

I thought that quote was from Chairman Meow.

[@od9694]

History matters the channel that answers the questions about things I never knew

[@breaderikthegreat3224]

I didn't even knew they were part of the Warshaw pact for some time

[@Spongebrain97]

Sometimes Ill fall down rabbit holes of uncommon historical facts on Wikipedia but yeah the rest comes from History Matters

[@flying0possum]

Oh I thought this channel was one of those channels that I knew pretty much 80% of the content and it is super simple :l

[@veldrensavoth7119]

Answering questions I never knew I needed to ask lol

[@izdiharafiq]

So that why there so many bunker in Albania

[@danielndou9414]

I mean Albania didn’t change sides, Soviets and Chinese did We stood strong with our bunkers 😂

[@rejanduka]

LOL

[@shrimpboom8]

"Are you sure it's a good idea to openly oppose the USSR?" Hoxhas advisors ask, but he cannot hear them behind the bunkers.

[@fakeplaystore7991]

And then they all got purged for pro-Soviet attitude.

[@sokolisufaj2284]

Learn some basics before talking like an idiot. "Pashaliman was the only Soviet base in the Mediterranean in the 1950s.[2] It was the hot spot of conflict between the Soviets and the Albanians in 1961 when Albania pulled out of the Warsaw Pact and the dispute of the four Whiskey-class submarine ownership which Albania had seized.[3]" And the Soviets left with the tail between their legs.

[@shrimpboom8]

@@fakeplaystore7991 It's not pro-soviet, it's anti-Albanian

[@scotandiamapping4549]

Wow I never imagined Albania was actually of geopolitical interest to China. (I'm not saying Albania is a bad country I'm just saying that it has quite little geopolitical power)

[@illyrian9973]

I am albanian and i never imagined that too lmfao

[@SuperSanic..]

@@illyrian9973 then albaina becomes a US puppet state

[@illyrian9973]

@@SuperSanic.. never heard of albaina

[@illyrian9973]

@@SuperSanic.. but from that profile i can assume that u are a tech support scammer

[@2hotflavored666]

@@SuperSanic.. Albania: Becomes more Western leaning. shohankazi: aLbAnIa iS a uS pUpPeT sTaTe!!!!

[@Breadlord87]

Jesus Christ, and people say Italy has a problem with switching sides 🙄

[@muhammadirfanjalaluddin1018]

Albania was invaded and ruled under Italy at one point, sooo something might had rubbed on.

[@francesco8000]

@@irfaalwan3590 "Invented fascism" sound like a stretch. Damn even the "empire part" sound questionable.

[@sharadowasdr]

@@francesco8000 Both are true unfortunately.

[@gideonmele1556]

@@francesco8000 every race has a last place, Italy holds that lofty low on the colonial empire list

[@danksmemington362]

@@irfaalwan3590 Italy was barely an empire lmao

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

USSR, Greece, and Yugoslavia: We can invade you at any time Albania building bunkers: *Oh, you're approaching me?*

[@rejanduka]

lol Communist Albania strong

[@Sola678]

@@rejanduka yeah they had like 1m military personal

[@ermirdestani]

Communist Albania was not a joke because it had 9 submarines, the population had military service for 3 years for men and women. Not counting many factories producing weapons. Of course, those countries you mentioned above were more powerful without counting the USSR normally, but Albania of that time was no less.

[@universityofartvenice]

Grecce yougoslavia we’re not able maybe the Soviet Union

[@froglifes6829]

@@rejanduka It was never strong. They had to steal submarines

[@corneliuscapitalinus845]

When "Albania picked Albanias side" was said, I just picture Albania at its own surprise birthday party, cone hat, blowing its own birthday whistle thing, sprinkling confetti streamers on itself, in a nice warm James Bisonette funded Bunker. Ah, it's good to have friends

[@emermbiemer302]

Albania picked its side every time. Or more correctly our dick…tator picked the side that would ensure he’d stay in power

[@sokolisufaj2284]

"I had for Albania and the Albanians a special predilection which could only strengthen the idealism of my motivations: The Albanians, especially the northern ones, are by mentality and way of life akin to the Montenegrins from whom I spring, and their vitality and determination to maintain their independence has no equal in human history." Source: extracts from Milovan Djilas. Conversations with Stalin. Translated from the Serbo-Croatian by Michael B. Petrovich (New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1962). pp. 78-79, 133-138, 143-147.

[@Ocro555]

😭🗿

[@wetwillyis_1881]

"Some times, countries don't get along." If this wasn't so perfectly delivered, I would have said: 'thanks captain obvious.'

[@appleslover]

Greed

[@sweiland75]

English people are the masters of deadpan humour.

[@appleslover]

@@sweiland75 but why?

[@wetwillyis_1881]

@@sweiland75 I agree.

[@appleslover]

@War Productions you realise you're probably a human?

[@olorin4317]

I wish I had the confidence that comes from having bunkers and a rocky terrain.

[@johnladuke6475]

I'm confident enough but you can't really use it if you don't actually have the bunkers and rocky terrain. I mean I wouldn't mind telling all nearby governments to get bent, but how am I supposed to argue with a tank?

[@landilapaj7398]

@@johnladuke6475 they had them also, tanks i mean :D

[@name-nu2jg]

When China starts improving relations with USA : Shqipëria nuk ka dëgjuar kurrë më parë një marrëzi të tillë

[@II-mt9de]

Yeah lol

[@gigasigma8373]

Albania spent more than 20% in military budget and for its size and population was the most armed and defended country in the world. There are also about 10 nuclear bunkers in albania.

[@stefanito_m4354]

It doesn't even have a single fighter jet..

[@stefanito_m4354]

@@alanainsworth4832 ah yes their special move

[@CrispMan1]

@@stefanito_m4354 it had quite a lot 50 years ago

[@User12345fan]

You are talking 50s to 70s history, so why are you speaking in the present tense?

[@rronhaziri5619]

@@User12345fan he said spent not spends*

[@MemeMaster-bg4mf]

Yet another question I’ve never asked myself but that you’ve intrigued me with.

[@keyboardsmoosh]

Ur comment was posted one minute ago, hello

[@wetwillyis_1881]

Indeed.

[@thegeneralissimo470]

“Because again: Bunkers” A new quote for the list.

[@REPOMAN24722]

UN "Global warming is a serious problem" Albania "we have solution, bunkers" UN "Shut up with your bunkers" Albania "Bunkers, with solar panels"

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

"The thing with Stalin, was that he was mortal" *laughs in immortality*

[@Ocro555]

This specific account of Kimmy is literally everywhere😭

[@perciptazi125]

One little correction. Albania had not built bunkers when they split broke ties with the Soviet Union. The construction started after the ties were broken and China helped build them with a loan. Most of the bunkers were built because of the the invasion of Czechoslovakia

[@zackbarr3982]

The thing about Stalin was that he was mortal.

[@yearsmonths]

WAS

[@Ptaku93]

THANKFULLY

[@Spectrum16]

That's just what he wants you to think!

[@daseapickleofjustice7231]

Stalin never died, his memory lives on with us

[@livinglifeform7974]

His greatest flaw.

[@aleksandarvil5718]

"How many bunkers you have built??" Enver Hoxha: *"P O"* / [Y E S]

[@hsgame4088]

Pog an albanian in the chat

[@redtigergaming1467]

Albanians shall take over the chat unless you mention germany they're stronger army than us, oh shit i mentioned germany, 2 times! You what we gotta do bois: let's make the damn bunkers.

[@aleksandarvil5718]

Po = albanian word for yes

[@caligamer4988]

Ehhv 97 kur gjeshim hala da municione kineze neper bunkiere 🤣

[@redtigergaming1467]

@@caligamer4988 qr sa cool ropt.

[@pieceofschmidtgamer]

Albania: CHINA, YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE! IT WAS SAID YOU WOULD DESTROY CAPITALISM, NOT JOIN THEM!

[@johncena7290]

To bad it ended that way as an Albanian I think had we continued being their allies we would have been way more developed by now

[@pieceofschmidtgamer]

@@johncena7290 Or you'd be like North Korea.

[@crystalball020]

@@pieceofschmidtgamer North Korea chose it for themselves what they became. Mongolia and Singapore are also China friendly

[@pieceofschmidtgamer]

@@crystalball020 North Korea literally owes their very existence to the Chinese.

[@thekaiseroftheeast3895]

@@pieceofschmidtgamer Yeah but they chose to be trash.

[@MagiconIce]

Albanian Pioneers: "So, dear supreme leader, how many bunkers do you want our tiny People's Republic to construct?" Enver Hoxha: "Po."

[@dejvidcera2748]

Lmao

[@matpk]

@@dejvidcera2748 Compare 1930s Nazi Germany Vs 2020s Communist China IN YOUR NEXT VIDEO!!

[@Andrew-zm8gh]

I was actually researching about this like two weeks ago. Economic and political policy differences behind the iron curtain are far more interesting than they have any right to be.

[@Spongebrain97]

Yeah especially with inter communist splits like China and the USSR and Vietnam with Cambodia

[@cry0995]

True, reminds me of the August faction incident when both the Ussr and China tried to get Kim-Il Sung out of power in Korea, which coincided with the beginning of the Sino-Soviet split

[@kingt0295]

@@Spongebrain97 Vietnam and Cambodia is an understatement, the Vietnamese communists liberated the Cambodians from the genocidal also communist Pol Pot by invading

[@TheLocalLt]

@@kingt0295 true and it was also a proxy war between the China-backed Pol Pot regime and the Soviet-backed Vietnamese

[@Spongebrain97]

@@TheLocalLt also the US literally supported Cambodia to get back at Vietnam while Pol Pot was slaughtering his own people ☠

[@SanderDoesThings]

Engineer: Alright, so how many bunkers did you say you want built? Albanian defense minister: *Yes*

[@torva360]

"I'll tell you when to stop."

[@thehistoryvideogameandgame4730]

@@torva360 20 years later: Can I stop now?

[@redtigergaming1467]

Aka in Albanian: *PO*

[@torva360]

@@thehistoryvideogameandgame4730 did I stutter? Keep it going

[@thehistoryvideogameandgame4730]

@@torva360 Of course minister, Whatever you say

[@Mr_M_History]

Albania's Cold War foreign policy be more indecisive than me when asked if I'd like to "make that a meal" when ordering fast food...

[@bletrick3352]

Love him or hate him but you've got to admit, Hoxha had balls.

[@arandommemer9926]

Dude went up against two of the most powerful communist nations, all of their allies and the western world, as well as managing to preserve Albanian independence.

[@wankawanka3053]

He was just lucky he wasn't right next time them

[@philliplanier5675]

Italy: "I've changed sides the most in international conflicts and relations! Albania: "Hold my bunker" 😎🇦🇱

[@aleksandarvil5718]

Albania: "Hold my baklava."

[@fallendown8828]

Haha good one 😂

[@aleksandarvil5718]

@@fallendown8828 Albania: *"Hold my pastry."*

[@redtigergaming1467]

@@aleksandarvil5718 facts, we have good pastry and for north Albanian homies: hold my fli (it shows up on google) 😎

[@7Ties]

@@redtigergaming1467 fli is delicious 🇦🇱🇦🇱

[@PsilentMusicUK]

Anybody on Earth: *Hi there.* Enver Hoxha: *Do not speak to me, you are a revisionist*

[@altino3774]

I want to thank History Matters for this wonderful and informative video about Albania‘s geopolitical turmoil in the 50s and 60s. This video has motivated me to write a scientific paper on it which I‘ve submitted as my matura paper (which is the final scientific paper you write at Swiss grammar schools). The paper, titled „The Albanian-Soviet Split: An Analysis of the Ideological Differences on Marxism-Leninism“, turned out so well, that I‘ve won at award for my work. Thank you very much History Matters for providing me with such a wonderful idea for a scientific paper :).

[@Ocro555]

Waoww

[@flaviusaetius5701]

Albania: My goals are beyond your understanding

[@ProgrammerInProgress]

That episode of the simpsons with the albanian exchange student makes a lot more sense to me now.

[@gentspahiu6927]

Send link

[@moremoor8295]

"Hoxha purged any ..." should be a meme like "who punished him severely"

[@solar7427]

that along with them just building bunkers to solve their problems

[@jeffhask367]

Hoxha’s strategy to defend Albania: *Level 10 fort spam*

[@jeffbenton6183]

Which game is that a reference to?

[@genalynnesanjuan5788]

@@jeffbenton6183 hoi4 i think idk

[@blackpowderuser373]

@@jeffbenton6183 hoi4

[@rsilkw2]

Me: *Goes to Albania for two months* KZbin: let me use my algorithm to give you more Albania centered videos to watch, but with more concrete bunkers in em’

[@georgeskanderbeg3242]

How was your time there? In the last 10 years we have been getting alot of tourists in Albania

[@rsilkw2]

@@georgeskanderbeg3242 it was a great! I did work with a local church in Korce and very enjoyable time with the people, eating various foods and learning about different parts about the culture. I got to see a lot of the villages not too far from Korce like Prespa or closer to North Macedonia like Pogradec. I saw at least 100 bunkers altogether especially getting closer to Tirana.

[@iliard5648]

@@rsilkw2 try visiting the hill of sun in Tirana Also the Dajti mountain(u can go there with a cable car (5€-7€).U can also visit the museum(5€) at the center the Mall on the centre and the Toptani Castle at the center.U can also visit the piramid at the center the lake of the hills 20 min from the center.Those are the best tourist places in Tirana i think:)

[@boombler4320]

I love how at 2:39 you can see a bunker with bunker inside of it having a bunker on top of it. Truly Albanian engineering

[@CC-gv1ke]

“The thing with Stalin is that he was mortal” Honestly, such relieving words to hear

[@robertrichard6107]

Is Joe Manchin mortal? That is the question!

[@jj6407]

@@robertrichard6107 totally unrelated. Perhaps you should get off the internet than just wanting some American politician to die

[@thunderbird1921]

Mao was mortal too. We should have out of decency waited until he was dead before opening ties. I still do not see good logic in Nixon siding us with one of the biggest mass murderers in human history.

[@nomorelibsplease1975r]

Dying was the only thing Stalin did wrong.

[@R3stor]

Albania: didn't get invided by Soviet Union Czechoslovakia: Is it possible to learn this power?

[@emermbiemer302]

Yes it’s simple really .have a neutral country between u and ussr and also border nato on 3 sides….. oh and don’t forget bunkers. Lots of bunkers.

[@lagjescuni5482]

Vladislav Pečík... Albania was liberated by its forces in ww2 not from allies or from the red army that's why the soviet union but also the west had no moral or legal right to intervene in Albania's internal affairs openly

[@galatheumbreon6862]

Albania: switches sides over and over Italy: finally a worthy opponent, our battle would be legendary

[@sasamihajlov2862]

Hoxha simply liked Rice more than Corn

[@weetzcro9661]

*more than potatoes is better suited

[@nicholasoneal1521]

@@weetzcro9661 Look up Nikita's agricultural program with corn to get the joke

[@edwardjing5539]

There was a meme song in the 00s in China named “I love you like mouse loves rice.” So Hoxha must be a mouse.

[@ilovemesomme]

So Albania would have tons of Chinese ammunition that arms dealers would later sell to US "War Dogs" which in turn would sell that ammo to the Iraqi Army?

[@MrRinoHunter]

Which turned out to be trash so the government went after them.

[@jonizymberi6787]

We had a few deadly ammunition dump explosions because of that dodgy ammunition China sent. Also fun fact, like most of Balkans the local population is heavily armed ... the government opened up all the ammunition depots in 1997 to all civilians !

[@marseldagistani1989]

@@jonizymberi6787 And it let to a Civil war that lasted for half a year

[@dabo5078]

@@jonizymberi6787 More like your goverment was shit at storing it. Hell not even the Taliban had self inflicted munition explosions.

[@Someone-jz5pl]

@@dabo5078 if it was that shit,it would have happened years ago,not exactly in 97.

[@Killerqueen69420]

Albania was a business man, doing business.

[@keepingitwild5994]

Very accurately and nicely summed up! It hardly misses any crucial bits of information in just over three minutes! Top notch!

[@grondhero]

"Sometimes, countries don't get along." "Days since last injury: 0."

[@blackpowderuser373]

"You get a bunker, you get a bunker, everyone gets a bunker!" - Enver "Oprah" Hoxha Speaking of China, still looking forward to the "How did China gets its nukes?" episode.

[@fromfareast3070]

they got partially from ussr, they did alone when ussr pulled off

[@bobjones2959]

The USSR helped them a bit, then Sino-Soviet split happened and USSR stopped helping. Then America did a McCarthyism and deported the one Chinese guy who worked on the Manhattan Project, guy was pissed at America for doing that so he led China's nuke dev team out of spite and finally got China nuclear.

[@dgcu-t96]

@@bobjones2959 Are you talking about Qian Xuesen? He's not a nuclear expert, but rather a rocket scientist.

[@robertrichard6107]

@@bobjones2959 That's true.

[@bobjones2959]

@@dgcu-t96 Oh yeah, he was responsible for the missiles, my bad

[@Toumahitoedits]

Italy: I switched sides twice in both world wars! Albania: Laughs* Amateur!

[@stinkybuddydog]

Great videos! You all always pick very interesting topics.

[@jvi6371]

If only China had received the support from James Bissonnette...

[@jamesbissonette8002]

My mistake

[@LyokoboyTC]

Don't forget Kelly Moneymaker

[@op-cf3gt]

@@jamesbissonette8002 so you are his most valuable patrion supporter

[@jonasb104]

@@jamesbissonette8002 The Return of the King...

[@evil5423]

@@jamesbissonette8002 Seems like You could make Albania switch sides.

[@cristiansciuca3748]

Albania in case of nuclear war: RIGHT TO THE BUNKERS!

[@philagelio336]

Albania: “Mao is good” Also Albania: “Soviet Union is tyrannical”

[@Hand-in-Shot_Productions]

Sounds like an instance of real-life doublethink!

[@vladprus4019]

"Tyranny is when you are friends with capitalists and the more you are friends with capitalists the more tyrannical you are" - Albanian prime minister at the time, probably

[@mirgjankupi128]

Really happy this popped up in my subscription box. Great work

[@Ivandcc1]

legends say Hoxha still building bunkers to this day...

[@nomecognome794]

In hell or heaven?

[@amortality999]

@@nomecognome794 Earth

[@nomecognome794]

@@amortality999 didn't he die in 85

[@amortality999]

@@nomecognome794 Yes. I'm just playing.

[@nicholasoneal1521]

@@nomecognome794 he didnt die, everyone just assumed that because they couldn't find him anywhere. In reality, he's just building more bunkers

[@smaguy64]

Looks like Italy is not the only one who should be in the "switch side" meme

[@emilandersen2195]

well Albania was a protectorate/personal union with Italy during WW2, so I guess they learned a trick or two.

[@thesummergamer7245]

@@emilandersen2195 source?

[@redtigergaming1467]

@@thesummergamer7245 search it on Google, do you think he's lying? Before occupying Albania, Albania's best ally was italy

[@thesummergamer7245]

@@redtigergaming1467 i didn't doubt him, i just asked for a link

[@TheLocalLt]

@@redtigergaming1467 yep and Italy had also had a protectorate over a puppet Albanian Republic from 1918-20. France and Greece had (much smaller) possessions in Albania at the time as well. In 1920 the Italians were expelled from Albania in the Vlora War. However Italy returned in 1939 and declared Albania a kingdom in possession of the Italian crown.

[@eandaboss]

as an albanian i know about hoxha.he built those bunkers waiting for a nuclear war.two of those bunkers were 300 meters wide (of course they were underground)

[@broadminded7774]

As a Albanian you should fly the Eagle's flag!

[@pepperVenge]

This channel answers questions about history I didn't know I wanted to ask.

[@Priemeres]

I love how History Matters just drops videos are that quick and to the point and also really high quality

[@windykingdom6153]

Senseless and really useless fact: There’s *at least* 4 countries between Albania and China Greece, Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan

[@cv4809]

There's only one country between Germany and North Korea...

[@joemamaobama6863]

@@cv4809 what?

[@erandisufi676]

@@cv4809 yeah it's south Korea

[@windykingdom6153]

@@cv4809 Also one between Norway and North Korea

[@cristianiiv6418]

@@joemamaobama6863 russia

[@MaxDjafik]

I like seeing that with every episode more people starting to support you on patreon, I wish I could and I’m happy that others who can do it Yo if someone from the list reads it I wanna say thanks and have a great life!

[@markrobison5199]

I want you to know KZbin REALLY wants to recommend me this video. I don't watch this channel, or even historical videos. I legit have no clue why it refuses to stop being recommended to me. So you must be doing a really good job!

[@makrela1231]

1:44 Hoxha is hoi4 gamer confirmed

[@justinwolf7490]

Nobody; Enver Hoxha: Keep Calm and just start making more bunkers

[@jeffbenton6183]

... and purge anyone who sympathizes with the potential adversary.

[@arturturkevych3816]

@@jeffbenton6183 which in his case is everyone outside Albania and potentially half of Albania

[@villadelrefugio]

USA, USSR, PRC: You really just gonna take what you need from us for a certain time period and then walk away? Albania: I have bunkers. Sakat.

[@overlycautiousstrategist3647]

Hoxha be like: "ah yes, *BUNKERS* "

[@RaggedDan]

A new game I'm trying - Work out what's being explained in these videos without any audio, and it's quite successful. Goes to show how visually polished these docs are!

[@adams8584]

Can you make video about world's reaction to desegregation in the United States (espacially reaction of countries like USSR or South Africa)?

[@iwillstealbradyandlockhimi3523]

YESSSSS

[@TheLocalLt]

Soviets must have been pissed as that was really the only low-hanging fruit they had to go after America on, and they hammered that issue in propaganda in the 1950s and 60s which was a big reason why the federal government wanted segregation ended asap. I’m sure the Soviets “congratulated” America publicly though, just like after the moon landing. South Africa I’m sure was displeased as well for reasons of delegitimizing their own system of segregation to an extent. Rhodesia is a little different as they didn’t actually have a racial code, they were more pissed at America not recognizing their independence thus forcing Britain to do so as well.

[@ammarally3055]

@@TheLocalLt Lmao they had alot of fruits to go after America on. Also they were strong supporters of many civil rights groups in America. And regarding the moon landing after their collapse documents revealed most government officials were either happy or just indifferent to it.

[@stephenjenkins7971]

@@ammarally3055 By "strong supporters of many civil rights groups" you actually mean "strong supporter of anything that can cause chaos in the US". Both Russia and China do the same thing today. Supporting civil rights is great, but the "why" they do it makes Americans even those in said civil rights groups very much hate them for it.

[@Apeksim]

Albania after Stalin's death: Friendship ended with Soviet Union. Now, China is my best friend.

[@radjadawamindra697]

Albania after Nixon visit: Friendship ended with China Now, Albania is my best friend

[@cadentopia]

0:42 Couldn’t help notice that Albania with Kosovo really looks like the borders of Perú lmao. Coincidentally it was also our independence day when this video was published..

[@utherthelightbringer6269]

*phone rings*(albanias phone) China: who's calling this late? Albania: It's my ex USSR. China: I have that guy, you dated him? Albania: When he was more stalinist he was better and he also used to give me a lot of money so what could I have done. China: Ok answer the phone. Albania:*opens* Hello USSR, what do you want? USSR: I was thinking we could go on a date, listen I am sorry for what happened Albania:No way. *Hangs up* Albania: That dude makes me go bunkers!

[@VicmundLim]

Can I copy and used this

[@neversaynever9709]

not so funny

[@WayOutGaming]

"Endless Bunkers.... Endless Bunkers!" - Hugh "Hoxha" Neutron, probably.

[@marcgdr7038]

The build more bunkers in the end got me, this is finest comedy.

[@kablosion4810]

I have a Chinese mao era stamp in my collection celebrating the 50th anniversary of Albania (1912-1962)

[@VicmundLim]

Oh nice. But now Albania is the worst anti china country lol

[@altinkamberi4395]

@@VicmundLim beacuse they don't recognise Kosovo, and beacuse we are closest to USA right now

[@VicmundLim]

@@altinkamberi4395 right

[@bletrick3352]

@@VicmundLim Albania isn't anti China. They just signed an agreement for visa free travel to each others countries and to boost tourism from China to Albania and vice versa.

[@VicmundLim]

@@bletrick3352 cool to know

[@hayat3967]

China didn’t like Russia but try forming a alliance with yoguslavia so albania

[@alexbalan_5623]

1:44 Hoxha was very paranoid at that time so he built a lot of bunkers everywhere in Albania (You might find out why Albania is kind of like suitable country for hide-and-seek and it contains a bunch of "abandoned" bunkers in villages or cities)

[@liberator101]

I wish Serbia did too, just so that I can role play as soldier.

[@NozomuYume]

@@liberator101 I wouldn't want to, those things are full of spiders and centipedes and stuff.

[@fludblud]

Not just alot, 173,371 bunkers found so far.

[@dionelshani1083]

@@fludblud 1/3 of the country budget went into bunkers

[@alexbalan_5623]

@@dionelshani1083 yeah (what a crazy idea and majority of countries doesn't have a lot of bunkers like Albania)

[@bitesh]

I did enjoy this episode, thank you.

[@aratirao9007]

🔵 SERCH ADITYA RATHORE, HE ALSO MAKES INFORMATIVE CONTENT LIKE HISTORY MATTERS ON U-TUBE🔵

[@josephbrennan370]

This channel answers the questions that I had when I learnt this stuff, but subsequently forgot.

[@florians9949]

Hoxha: in case of a doubt, throw bunkers. France: wrtie that down!

[@UnleashthePhury]

This channel is a fantastic example of the superiority of 2D animation and its capacity to delight in ways that 3D simply doesn’t possess.

[@railrunners]

"sometimes countries don't get along" Feb 2022, this checks out

[@Fryepod3628]

History matters is just incredible.

[@xAlbo94]

As an Albanian, thanks for this cool video. Been watching you for a while and was really shocked to see something about a country so small most people don't know it exists

[@percillagggg6312]

Kosovo is Serbia

[@thunderbird1921]

I wish the World War II story of how Albanian civilians helped a group of stranded US nurses and medics who crash-landed in your country would get more attention. The Americans literally walked all the way back to Allied lines, and relied on locals many times to protect them from being captured by the occupying Germans.

[@neversaynever9709]

ku je rrite ti ? se qenke i shokuar ,, te gjithe na njohin per keq mos u merzite

[@BigFatWow]

You HAVE to do a video on the bunkers. More concrete was used to build tiny bunkers then was used to build housing.

[@edwardhayward1937]

Great topic fantastic job

[@harrytheprince6951]

I love the animations on this channel