Why did Poland and Japan Work Together In World War 2?

Japan and Poland had a special relationship during the Second World War, despite the fact that nominally they were enemies. But why was this the case? Why did Japan help Poland following its occupation? Why did Poland only declare war in 1941, and why did Japan reject it? Find out more in today's video!
Music Used:
1812 Overture - Tschaikovsky
Sunday Dub - Kevin MacLeod
Raid the Merch Market!
teespring.com/en-GB/stores/hi...
Go Fund My Windmills (Patreon):
/ historywithhilbert
Join in the Banter on Twitter:
/ historywhilbert
Enter the Fray on Facebook:
/ historywhilbert
Indulge in some Instagram..?(the alliteration needs to stop):
/ historywithhilbert
Send me an email if you'd be interested in doing a collaboration! [e-mail]
#poland #japan #history

[@historywithhilbert146]

Did you know about the special relationship between Poland and Japan in the run up and during the Second World War? Any other interesting stories from that period you'd like to share? Comment below!

[@rustyyorkshire7063]

What did you read for this ????

[@scrappy9133]

I want to see you make a video about the “National Committee for a Free Germany” (NKFD). Which operated in ww2 as a German Exile organization in the Soviet Union. It played a role in the formation of east Germany. Its a underrated subject that would complement your video style.

[@satanicturtle9929]

@@scrappy9133I agree, this would be cool

[@ace448]

Germanys involvement with the KMT during the 1930s.

[@death-istic9586]

Hi.

[@Monkechnology]

Poland: "We declare war on the Empire of Japan" Japan: "No, you don't" Poland: "Understandable, have a nice day"

[@kamilszadkowski8864]

I mean it is a cool anecdote. Absolutely untrue but cool nonetheless.

[@marcinwkurw3185]

@@kamilszadkowski8864 xD

[@lenaurban7706]

@@kamilszadkowski8864it is true tho

[@kamilszadkowski8864]

@@lenaurban7706 Nah, just a myth.

[@lenaurban7706]

@@kamilszadkowski8864 explain then maybe?

[@thorpeaaron1110]

Poland: *Declares war on Japan* Japan: "Nah we're good fam".

[@itap8880]

Britain: "So, you're gonna help?" Poland: "Nah, not gonna die for Pearl Harbor"

[@internetxxx_pl0r3r_xxx77]

And that's how "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners" got made.

[@prodbyguac]

fax

[@BlazeMaster]

XD

[@Romczy]

😂

[@noobdogg]

No. Cdprojekt are just weeaboos or mangozjeby it's fine actually I am too

[@karolinakuc4783]

​@@noobdoggDo I know? They mention only a few SF anime classics. I think they are just into SF and cyberpunk genre

[@woryok]

Japanese here. Interestingly, there was also cooperation between Germany and China. The Tripartite Pact was pretty much broken😂 Well, I hope we all are good friends now🇯🇵🤝🇵🇱🤝🇩🇪🤝🇹🇼

[@czester9991]

I think we always were

[@RAD1111able]

Based Japanese using the real Chinese flag.

[@cathulhu3772]

Gimme second season of Edgerunners and we'll be ok xD

[@polishgigachad7097]

The Germanic tribes cannot be trusted. They are treacherous vipers. To this day, they have not paid tribute to the Polish Winged Hussars and do not agree to erect a monument to Jan Sobieski on Kahlenberg Hill.

[@whitepolpot]

@@RAD1111able came here to say this

[@michaireneuszjakubowski5289]

Poland and Japand share a long history. Hell, just from the recent side of it: I remember reading the first software handbooks I got my hands on, and they were published back in the early 90s by the "Polish-Japanese Society for furthering technical cooperation". AFAIK the name's changed a few times, but the organization has been around since at least the 80s. Turns out the two countries have shared several scientific programmes over the decades, so extensively publishing houses sprang up to service them!

[@kolakpatolik1857]

JBĆ PIS I KONFĘ

[@RAD1111able]

Hell, there's even a Polish-Japanese University for Computer Sciences or something like that.

[@cathulhu3772]

​@@RAD1111ableYes it is next to Warsaw Filters and hospital at Lindleya street. I live 10 minutes walk from it :))))

[@satanicblood6666]

@@RAD1111able There are even two (at least). I work from time to time with the one in Bytom.

[@therealjanczareq4355]

​@@RAD1111ableyea there is, it's located in the Ochota district of Warsaw and i almost applied there a few years back.

[@definitelynotadam]

7:35 Engima was cracked by Polish codebreakers in early 1930s. Ahead of the war Poles shared both a working Engima machine, but also their codebreaking research, with Brits and French. A newer version of Engima had to be cracked again in Bletchley Park after the war started and Poland was overun by both Nazi German and Soviet Union. Codebreaking made a massive difference for the war effort.

[@HanSolo__]

Not exactly.

[@arthis637]

Pretty sure it's called Enigma machine

[@Mike23443]

If I remember correctly, Shogi, Japanese chess, was first distributed into Europe in modern times through Poland. A polish woman living in Japan was the first to become a foreign professional shogi player.

[@Whurlpuul]

Wow, that's interesting

[@bibibuu6646]

Polish is also spelt with a capital P just like any another nationality.

[@Mike23443]

@@bibibuu6646 but unlike other nationalities, polish also means to make something shine, meaning autocorrect will not capitalize it, hence the mistake.

[@hirannes2217]

The more I learn about the Polish people, the more I am in awe of their valor.

[@DeSlagen8]

Poland was always seen as weak and helpless during WW2 but it’s not true, they got crushed on both fronts and it took about a month to be captured

[@DeSlagen8]

Also I’m not sure Japan during WW2 is a great ally morally

[@ZeroScotland]

@@DeSlagen8even if you do manage to invade poland, expect to be meeting *hell*

[@extrage3061]

@@ZeroScotland I think that even if you win, we will never stop fighting. Might have been a better sentence.

[@123pik1]

@@DeSlagen8actually from every side Poland was attacked in 1939: West, East, South (Slovakia under German occupation) and North (East Prussia) So basically PL needed to defend itself from everywhere

[@KrysFG]

2 honour based nations on the opposite sides of the globe 🇵🇱🇯🇵

[@definitelynotadam]

Fun fact: there is a Polish-Japanese University in Warsaw, which specialises, no surprise here, in Information Technology subjects.

[@olafjansowidz]

Also in Gdańsk

[@nieczerwony]

PJATK. It's academy not university.

[@olafjansowidz]

@@nieczerwony szczam na cb

[@olafjansowidz]

@@nieczerwony idź oglądaj te swoje teorie o Krymie kalifornijskim czy coś xDD

[@czento9302]

​@@olafjansowidzrozwiń nazwę pjatk xd w nazwie masz że to akademia,+ czy ty wiesz że uniwersytet to tytuł dla uczelni, nie każda uczelnia wyższa jest uniwersytetem, trzeba spełnić pewne wymagania co do ilości i jakości kierunków (wydaje mi się że pjatk ma za mało kierunków ale nie kłamiąc nie sprawdzałem tego)

[@WujekFu]

I'm Polish and I love Japan, it's my favorite asian country. Love your culture, history, language everything.

[@VoytekPavlik]

thumbs up

[@Artur_M.]

Nice to see you covering this topic! There actually was some Polish vs. Japanese combat in air over China. In 1941 Polish fighter ace and the former co-commander of the already legendary 303 Squadron, Witold Urbanowicz was send to US as an Air Attaché, where he met with Merian C. Cooper, who invited him to come fly as a special guest pilot of the American Air Force 23rd Fighter Group in China. Earlier Cooper (the guy most famous as the creator of King Kong) was one of the American pilots who volunteered to fight for Poland in the Polish-Soviet War (he actually came up with the idea). And the 303 Squadron was continuing the tradition of their unit, being named the Kościuszko Squadron and bearing their insignia.

[@micahistory]

i knew you'd be here

[@kolakpatolik1857]

JBĆ PIS I KONF Ę

[@NeostormXLMAX]

More germans helped chinese fight japanese, originally china was supposed to join the axis in place of japan, chiang kai chek wrote a letter to hitler begging him to help china

[@UTube4Junky]

Thank you for sharing this.. I have Polish heritage and am an airline pilot so this is very close to my heart.. 🫡

[@historywithhilbert146]

The first time I came away from researching Japan in the Second World War and thought "nice, good job, guys."

[@westrim]

It's sobering, because it's easy to fall into a rut of thinking that the Empire of Japan was simple evil, and did evil things because that's what evil governments do. But then you look situations like this where not just individual people but government policy towards a foreign nation was not just good but benevolent, and it makes all the rest of their sins feel that much worse. Like, as a government, Japan was still composed of people who still had choices. They loved their families, hugged their children, slapped their friends on the back and laughed. Then they went to war for resources what they may well have been able to gain peacefully and brutalized damn near everyone they encountered, even those they intended to make allies of. Except, sometimes, they genuinely did the right thing. Their rejection of Nazi persecution of Jews and intake of tens of thousands of refugees is another example. Evil is never simple. It's complex, insidious, and everyone has the capacity to do it, and the responsibility to be aware of that and choose not to.

[@tadsklallamn8v]

how incredibly dehumanizing to the millions of dead Jews the Polish aristocracy collaborators killed, and shows your viscous anti-communis bias.

[@tadsklallamn8v]

so many primary sources from Polish aristocracy at that time say they are fighting "judeo-bolshevism". the writing is on the wall. or will you bury your head in the sand like your video about Santa's racist minstrel you hold so dear.

[@death-istic9586]

Hi!❤

[@user-hr1iy4nz4s]

Second unit 731 was premier good guys

[@UTube4Junky]

Wow.. Polish heritage and a history buff and yet I never knew any of this.. “Samurai nation” - that’s definitely an honor when described by a Japanese.. Knew about Poland being a nation of “Winged Hussars” but this is something else.. Thank you!! 🙏 🫡

[@UTube4Junky]

Today’s (Oct 26) “The Japan Times” has an article titled: “Japan and Poland mark centennial of orphans' rescue from Siberia” YT hates competition so they don’t allow links. Go to “The Japan Times” and Google the title, you’ll find it there.. The two nations have an amazing history of working together.. In the article they draw parallels to today’s Ukraine…

[@naroddyzmow5356]

Szlachta Check this

[@UTube4Junky]

@@naroddyzmow5356 ?? Can you be any more vague? Check what? Szlachta - Nobility - дворянство Watch Timothy Snyder (part 9) where he talks about the Khmelnytsky Uprising (amongst other things). Pretty good explanation as to why they rose up against Poland. Basically a case of “taxation with no - or very little - representation”. A huge blunder by the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth. Sadly, the Muscovy principality (which later became russia) used it to their advantage. ..but I digress..

[@HanSolo__]

Not many used a sabre in WWII soldiers' equipment. Two countries come to mind. Both had equipped officers with long blades because of their place in history, tradition and national consciousness.

[@Dupa154]

Now we know how the miracle of the Vistula happened, Piłsudski was a anime protagonist

[@lxdead5585]

Back then Pilsidski gave up his position, and was busy crying out his eyes in his lover’s skirt. Give respect where it belongs -> Rozwadowski

[@NarodowyPolski1864]

As a Polish. Yeah Japan were our allies and they collaborated with us in WW2. Even though they join the axis. Love from Polska 🇵🇱❤️🇯🇵

[@issintf925]

Based profile pic. Long live the Polish-Lithuanian-Ruthenian commonwealth

[@katon44]

london here and there,british empire responsible for starting ww1 involved at moving out gold reserve(they keep refuse of sending it back until now,part of gold has been officialy taken as payment for fuels and amminition used by polish air division's at battle of britain) to sweden(their colony since napolenic wars),so not really any kind of cooperation between japan and poland but part of british business (there is some connection between self claimed dictator as well as most propably prussian agent and japan,but in the name of prussian then british business against russian empire)

[@NarodowyPolski1864]

@@issintf925 thanks man

[@kolakpatolik1857]

JBĆ PIS I KONF Ę

[@pc_suffering6941]

​@@issintf925cringe. Polacks go home.

[@listener-kv8rr]

Interesujący odcinek. Dodam jeszcze jedną ciekawostkę. Japońska armia, podobnie jak inne, ma swoje marsze wojskowe. Jeden z nich, pochodzący z epoki Meiji, nosi tytuł: 波蘭懐古 / Pōrando kaiko / Wspomnienia z Polski.

[@Dycdom]

super..bardzo ciekawa informacja muszę o tym poczytać.dzieki!

[@karolinakuc4783]

It is because one time Russia attacked Japan and they lost.

[@jacplac97]

Great work on that one. I already knew most of these facts, but the bit about Japan helping evacuate our gold was new to me.

[@nzcamel3]

Wow. I'm impressed with the nuance Japan employed in relation to a long standing friend under pressure. Whatever else one thinks about Japan during WWII, that is very commendable!

[@karolklepek-lm7dz]

People often overlook how interwar Poland had great relations with later Axis states, including Italy, Hungary (which would both remain neutral during invasion of Poland), Japan, Romania and yes, prior to Piłsudski's death in 1935, even Nazi Germany.

[@piop]

True, however, relations with Germany are more complicated. Before 1933, Pol-Ger relations were basically an undeclared war in every aspect other than military, for example, Germany tried to destroy the Polish economy with trade tariffs. Poland (specifically Pilsudski) reacted very aggressively to the Nazis' coming to power and almost openly asked France to start a preventive war against Germany. The reaction of France was, of course, negative, and then Hitler did something completely unexpected and completely changed German policy towards Poland to a friendly one. Not only did he sign a non-aggression pact, but he banned anti-Polish propaganda and unfreezed trade relations. Poland did not refuse this goodwill because why should we if our main ally - France also wanted the same thing - peace. This state of affairs lasted until the spring of 1939.

[@123pik1]

​@@piop Pilsudski suggested preventing attack on Germany when they remitilarized Rhineland what broke the statement in Treaty of Versaile

[@piop]

@@123pik1 If we look at the diplomatic process in detail, it is more complicated. Immediately after coming to power, Hitler demanded in a press interview that Poland should return the Corridor, Poland responded with escalation - a provocative visit of its own warship to Westerplatte and statements about preventive war, this tough stance had a sobering effect on the Germans. But yes, the issue of preventive war actually returned with the remilitarization of the Rhineland.

[@LecherousLizard]

​@@piopNot to mention Poland was fully expecting Germany to attack them like they did and prepared accordingly, except that Germany went ahead with their plan a few years in advance (iirc, Poland was preparing for the war to start in 1942 give or take, not 1939)

[@TheGrace020]

Based Poland and Japan cooperation 😼💅

[@kordiankacprzak7623]

Thank you very much for preparing this material! Even here in Poland, few people know about the relations between Poland and Japan before and during the war. But there are a few more things worth mentioning. The first is that Japan not only helped Polish Jews escape, but also Poles deported to Siberia. Many refugees found shelter in the city of Harbin in Manchuria, where there was a large concentration of Poles and there were numerous Polish cultural institutions and even a university. Moreover, the Japanese did not object to Poles staying in Manchuria joining the Polish Army being formed in the West fighting the Germans. And despite German protests, the Japanese government neither closed Polish cultural institutions nor severed diplomatic contacts with Poland. The second is the fact that cooperation between Poland and Japan began to deteriorate even before the attack on Pearl Harbor. One of the reasons why the Japanese maintained such close cooperation with Poland was the conclusion of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact by Germany. The Japanese, for whom the Soviet Union was one of the greatest threats, considered this act a betrayal on the part of Germany. Therefore, Japan continued to support the Poles, in return for which Poland provided it with intelligence data regarding the Soviet Union. The situation changed on July 30, 1941. After Germany attacked the USSR, Great Britain sought to reach an agreement with Stalin in order to jointly defeat the Third Reich. Therefore, it forced the Polish Government in Exile to sign an agreement with the USSR on the resumption of diplomatic relations, which had been broken after the USSR's invasion of Poland on September 17, 1939. This agreement was later called the Sikorski-Maisky Agreement, and as a result, Poles began to be released from Siberian labor camps. and the Polish army began to be formed in the USSR. This caused Japan to cease cooperation with Poland, but Polish institutions could continue to function peacefully in Japan.

[@bensonfang1868]

Germany also helped China a lot so 1939 was truly confusing

[@NeostormXLMAX]

Nazi officials saved a huge amount of people in nanking, china was originally supposed to be in the axis NOT japan, they let japan in due to its massive navy

[@aka99]

Would make a Greta topic aswell by hilbert

[@HCforLife1]

Not to mention that Germany worked closely with USSR, partitioning Poland in September 1939. Not many people remember that they cooperated closely on so many levels up until 1940's

[@micahistory]

interesting, i had heard about this friendship but never knew the reason why. A common enemy sure can bring countries and peoples together

[@ronblack7870]

remember that statement when you call ukrainians who cooperated with germany nazis for fighting against the russians.

[@gombao348]

Respect for Japan from Poland

[@joebombero1]

Poland has always had a very dedicated and complicated diplomatic corps.

[@alansmithee8831]

Hello Hilbert. I knew nothing of this, but it makes sense in that the two were at either end of the expanse that was under Russian or Soviet rule. Very interesting.

[@The_Greedy_Orphan]

So, in Nanjing, there was a Nazi officer who sheltered Chinese civilians from rampaging Japanese troops, and in Siberian, the Japanese red cross sheltered Polish children from Russian Agression.

[@aka99]

The Germans made a movie about John Rabe. I recommend the movie.

[@PiotrZaw97]

And poland sheltered korean children during korean war.

[@lawleokatsushika4621]

China also sheltered Austrian Jewish during the WWII

[@123pik1]

Nazi or German officer? I guess German

[@CIACH44]

And Persians in Iran during World War II warmly took care of Polish refugees from the Soviet Union.

[@patrickwentz8413]

Utterly fascinating. Thank you so much for this video!

[@larrydzemorsky1777]

Great pronunciation of polish words 👍

[@Ewas77]

How very informative!! I'm from Poland but have a cousin who settled in Japan many years ago, I'll forward this to him for sure!

[@LecherousLizard]

Tadeusz Piłsudski was much more accomplished than what was mentioned here too. His work with Ainu was basically the only reason Ainu culture (before they got assimilated) was preserved in any capacity and he even managed to make audio recordings of the Ainu language, which, Iirc, are the only in existence.

[@karolinakuc4783]

True

[@robertdominiktkanka3541]

Most of my Polish friends were in some way into Japaneese culture, from anime, sushi, through practising karate or Zen, to learning Japaneese a couple of them 🤍❤️🤍❤️🤍

[@bannedeverywhere]

The hussar likes the samurai.

[@salsheikh4508]

Great episode. Never knew

[@esmereldaweatherwax7230]

Fascinating. Thank you!

[@mistep444]

Great clip! Congrats and good luck in you future endeavours!

[@KutasMroku]

Awesome video!

[@olowrohek9540]

Well done 👏 Very interesting 👌

[@brooksrownd2275]

wooo, that was quite a tour of some interesting and obscure backroads of history

[@KamilsView]

Very interesting and important information. I had no clue about that - that was not taught in my school in Poland and never mentioned anywhere, really.

[@warcat2469]

Japan anytime they find another country that also hates Russia: *"KAWAII ^_^ WE LOVE YOU"*

[@izaakfewton7536]

Thanks mate!

[@Humancompassion1234]

Very interesting Thank you 😊

[@flavio17021979]

Many thx for relly interest piece of WW2 history 👍

[@twisters999]

Nice! Great video :D And very interesting!

[@hazchemel]

Thank you. I didn't know that I didn't know about this.

[@pennyspencer450]

All new to me, but it makes things so much clearer!

[@Shx148]

Great vid

[@stanleygohome4869]

Dziękuję!

[@DingDimlewitz]

Why did Poland and Japan Work Together In World War 2? Because there is a big country inbetween that threatened both of them?

[@biohuk]

Very interesting video

[@elendal]

thank you so much for this video, their intelligence cooperation is a very interesting topic.

[@ernestpruchnicki3748]

Holy shit I love you pronunciation of Polish names

[@maddog502]

It is worth mentioning the figure of Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese consul in Kaunas, Lithuania, who, during his work, having realized how the Germans treated people of other races in cooperation with the Polish underground, issued visas together with his wife (it took them 18-20 hours a day - but not the number of so-called family visas issued for several people) transit to Japan, which helped save 2,139 to 10,000 Jews. A large number of false visas were also issued by the Polish intelligence.n 1985, he received the Yad Vashem Award and - as the only Japanese - was honored with the title חסיד אומות העולם [hasid umot ha-olam] - "Righteous Among the Nations". However, Sugihara was too ill to go to receive the award, and his wife and daughter received it on his behalf.

[@KatarzynaSzaniawska-tj3cm]

Do you have more details on that topic? Any sources? My grandfather was taking part in this operation in Kaunas, but I only heard about it from him. I would like to read more about it.

[@maddog502]

@@KatarzynaSzaniawska-tj3cm Witam...może być po polsku? rcin.org.pl/Content/61535/WA303_80831_A453-SzDR-51-1_Hadzelek.pdf

[@piotrwojdelko1150]

As a Pole I'm surprised but it makes sense against the Russian Empire but probably this alliance was weak.I was surprised when one Japanese who knows Polish language well wrote that some Japanese cities like Hiroshima had spelling mistake because it was translated from English. He also mentioned that polish language has a high range of consonants .Should be not HiroSZima but HiroŚima.

[@purpleneons]

If anything, it should be spelled Hirosima - a minor difference, but it just looks better. I agree with him though.

[@Yuudaddy]

This is because the Japanese words that are in the Polish language were taken from English speakers which makes it very innacurate. By Polish standards "Sushi" is "Susi", Geisha is "geisia" or "gejsia", "Hiroshima" is "Hirosima" and so on. Same reason why the Japanese call our country "Pourando"(Poorando) and not "Porusuka"(Poruska/Porska). The Polish langauge has all the sounds that the Japanese language uses. This makes us the best Japanese speakers among Foreigners or at least so the Japanese Embasy in Poland says.

[@mee4703]

Thanks for the videos Hilbert! I learn a lot from watching your channel ^_^ Is there any chance you could make a video about the history of interactions between the Dutch and Japanese? That would definitely be something I'd be interested in seeing. Thanks again :)

[@jesupcolt]

This is really interesting. I had no idea.

[@szymonkania3068]

Nobody is going to mention how he nailed the pronounciation of polish names? I had to skip back few times to hear it again because i was so surprised, great job man

[@Wit2200]

The fact you can respond to a war declaration with "Nahhh

[@wb5656]

interesting pice of history , ty

[@misuszatek7749]

Your "Józef Piłsudski" was perfect.

[@peterw3544]

Japan helped evacuate and save hundreds of Polish children from Russian Siberia. Children were housed and fed paid by personal funds of Japanese Empress. This is still remembered to this day in both countries.

[@emkabe2362]

The Japanese rescued and sheltered nearly 900 Polish orphans from Siberia. Poland took care of the Japanese kids in need after the great tsunami wave.

[@Zzrik]

Imagine some one pulling a uno move on a nation today like Japan did lol "We don't declare war on North Korea as they are just forced into conflict thanks to China." Like the idea of just refusing someones declaration of war is itself amazing. "We declare war." "Nope you don't, we won't fight since we don't acknowledge your declaration of war as valid, you only did it under pressure so it doesn't count."

[@NeostormXLMAX]

China could say the same thing with taiwan, since they say taiwan is not a country they could just say they are transporting troops

[@greycliffnative]

Actually, North Korea has extremely inhumane, aggressive and militaristic system herself, so cannot be treated as just China's proxy. I am afraid that NK will be in aggressors' pact rather than defending herself.

[@drohiczyn]

Poland : I demand satisfaction Sir ! Japan : You are drunk Poland , go home ! Poland : Good day to you Sir, Sayo-nara.

[@karolinakuc4783]

Nah Japan knew that it was USA that made Poland declare war and they don't have any grievance towards them

[@mramogus1032]

Respect to Poland 🇲🇨 From usa 🇺🇸

[@karolinakuc4783]

Polish flag is different white is on top. You showed flag of Indonesia. Too much countryballs I guess

[@shrewdinvestor1114]

Would you please consider a story on the Enigma

[@vangogh330]

I'd love to know what lead to them declaring peace so many years later. Was it just an oversight, or some other circumstance...

[@LiezAllLiez]

Negligence. Poland and Germany hadnt signed a peace treaty, and neither have Japan and Russia after WW2. If relations deteriorate...

[@benjamindover7399]

Poland, being a satellite of the Soviet Union, was not allowed to make peace with Japan until the death of Stalin because of Japan's dispute with the Soviets over the Kiril Islands.

[@ssg9offical]

This video so random I’m watching it all the way through.

[@Alan46810]

7:30 Enigma was cracked long before... by Poles in fact

[@johnkilmartin5101]

When are you going to do a video on the Norse in what is now Poland?

[@mariusz5938]

8:50 That's a bloody sad I did not ever knew the reason why the Japanese declined to join barbarossa plan. Thank you for that knowledge.

[@Litwinus]

I don't know much about my ancestors, but my grandfather (Polish) said that his father was a translator in the Russian tsarist army in Manchuria.

[@david-jamesferguson1449]

I miss the old "Poland Japan WW2" title back before you re-posted it 😉

[@JeeWeeD]

What exactly is that Japanese flag with the extra red stripe? I have never seen it, and cannot find it either... (around 5:00 it is to be seen)

[@bcv1443]

here before the video gets taken down

[@ChrisCovExhall]

Sugoi!

[@Harrold358]

Hilbert, did you reupload this? Cuz when i first got the announcement for this video it had the name Poland Japan WW2 and when i clicked on it, it sayed that the video was private and it has been several hours since then.

[@david-jamesferguson1449]

Yes he did, I caught the video as well and was confused as to why it suddenly stopped playing

[@georgesos]

That was a very interesting story indeed. Thanks for creating such informative videos. 👍👍

[@dinkelheit88]

hi :)

[@austinfisher1015]

The uno reverse card was genius and very funny.

[@miroslawturski]

Thank you for bringing that part of history to our attention. We Poles are aware of the stories of saved Polish children, but putting it in even wider context is fascinating. The latest chapter in those friendly relations is the financial help for rebuilding Ukraine ofered through Poland last year.

[@sywu111]

Polish-Japanese friendship (almost love!😅) could happen only, for Poland & Japan have absolutely NO contradictory interests, but both had/have one common ENEMY - it is Russia😅; in fact no one in Poland would like anything as "Nanjing Massacre" (!!!😢), but - anyway - towards Polish people, Japan proved to be chivalric👍 PS. My Polish father in '80's lived in Poland, & started training of karate... He still loves this Japanese fight skill trainings, & it was connected to Bruce Lee movies!😅🎃

[@Dadas0560]

Interesting. They never thaught that one in our schools....

[@debtobin9937]

I thought I knew a lot about WWII, but I had never heard this. I guess because our history books don't credit Japan or Poland with much good during that time. I definitely think more people need to hear this story and others that have been overlooked.

[@RooZvonBooZ]

Lol the uno reverse card of diplomacy, love it 😂

[@yanx4797]

2:26 I don't think in the Pacific would be a good description of the war; but fine.

[@metanoian965]

This was indeed interesting. This is an easy, flowing narrative and smooth graphics. Educative. Thanks. - Polish would be outsiders in a unified Nihon. As were the native inhabitants = Ainu, who are not Han immigrants to the Japanese islands. Before their forced mixing with Japanese, to erase their true origins in one Japan, they had all the indictors of being Caucasoids. Probably these people were the True Samurai with round eyes and big noses and red hair. The Polish being called 'Samurai Nation' , @ 2' 14" is beguiling. After centuries of oppression and abuse, on 19 April 2019, the Ainu indigenous people were recognized by the Japanese State as being a unique, Native People, worthy of protection. Bronislaw Pilsudski - exile among the Ainu and first dictionary.

[@combatpriest5878]

Is your girlfriend a part of the reason why you make slightly more content revolving around Poland as of late, or did you just find bunch of interesting stories with Poland without any invovment from your girlfriend? Great work as always!

[@carlensiza6525]

There were actually casualties on Japan's side during the war. The Poles had to send some of their pilots over to the Pacific, and they shot down some Japanese aircraft

[@jonaszkoran-mekka1454]

Source?

[@RandomDeforge]

where did you source all of this information? imho its a bad look for a history-centric channel to not provide citations for the claims.

[@MarbelCube]

My great greatgrandfather was a Polish conscript who fought in the Russo-Japanese war of 1904. He was lucky to make it trough. And many out of 250 000 mobilized Poles from russian partition started their military career on war with Japan. Lately becoming those, among the others, officers from the photos.

[@piotrprs572]

I'm Pole and I'm interesting in polish history, but IDK so many facts about Polish-Japan cooperation before WW2 and when it's began. RLY NICE VIDEO!!🙂

[@xzardas541]

2 best allies of poland during ww2 were japan and hungary. And both of them were in the axis, meanwhile actual "allies" brits and french were worse than useless.

[@katharina...]

Samurai nation 😯 Jeepers, I already liked the Japanese, but after seeing this 🇵🇱❤️🇯🇵

[@user-xq5og9lt8p]

Poles had allies? What next, Frenchmen aren't all cowards?

[@Adrian-zn1eu]

We had great allies! but only from axis powers. Hungary and Japan for Life... o and btw love to Italians

[@Alaryk111]

​@@Adrian-zn1eudon't forget Rumunia.

[@Adrian-zn1eu]

@@Alaryk111 true. I feel ashamed, we Poles to many times are forgetting Romanians. Even though they flex quite a bit to help us out. And I believe we have some history of friendship outside ww2

[@Adrian-zn1eu]

so now literally we checked out everyone from Axis but Germany. Amazing

[@00700A]

If not Germany we would be villains of the history.

[@Rezzzn0r]

Thank you, Japan 🙏 Greetings from Poland!

[@Jobe-13]

Well this is bizarre

[@Adrian-zn1eu]

getting even more when you realise that our biggest ally from WW2 was as well from axis powers... Hungary. To not let italians out, Poles mention italians in the anthem and italians mention Poles in theirs.... As good in stealing german allies during WW2 as german cars in the 90'

[@oljackie35]

Thats how alternative jojo bizzare adventure originated xD