Why didn't the USSR stop Lithuania from leaving? (Short Animated Documentary)

Lithuania was the first part of the USSR to leave as it was falling apart. But given that the Soviet Union had a large army and was able to crush any attempt at secession why didn't it? Why did the USSR just let Lithuania leave? To find out watch this short and simple animated history documentary.
Thank you to my patreon supporters below:
Jens Koch-Nommensen
Øystein Alsaker
Arcedia
Sergio M. Vela
MajesticFirebird
George Kapoyanis
Colonel Oneill
Gin Aldeguer
CharÉTS
Steven B
Dennis Vandeban
Brendan W
robert lalonde
Mathias.C
Michael Kram
Justin Kubusch
Southside Mitch
John
Heath Robertson
Ethan
Cippalippus
Leonard Frank
His Empyreal Illuminance The Supreme High Sorcerer Kalynx
ChrisRom
Tyler Bomkamp
Nathan Mendelsohn
tegsirat
Piotr Wojnowski
Sean D.
Vance Christiaanse
Mario Peshev
Steven Gibson
Christopher Godfrey
sharpie660
Philip Yip
Travis Mount
Sean Uzar
Jane Sumpter
Aaron Conaway
Martha Grondin
Nuukov
John Orr
Shauna K
Tony Belmonte
Jonathan Niehaus
Alex Teplyakov
Andrew F
Nicholas Menghini
Mario Mejia
Contdoko12
ixs
Thomas McGraw
Andreas Mosand
Ron Johnson
Jack Nelson
Adrian Marine
Erik Hare
Phillip Gathright
Dr. Schtnizel
Tranier Bocaj
zockotron
Peter Marino
Chach
Evan Ellingson
D. Mahlik
Jamie van Brewen
Andrew Patane
Joshua Schneider
Nick Macarius
Garrett Manarin
Duke
GrokThis
Tactical_Jackal
Katie Flinn
Alan Romero
Chris PeBenito
Jacob Zachs
Richard Marriner
mgnesium.poetry
Ciege Engine
The Funks
Allen Rines
Angel Aguiñaga
Handsoup
khaki enthusiast
Nolan Peale
Matthew Toles
Chase Labiste
Colin Cecil
Clayton Schuman
Joe DeVito
Konstantin Bredyuk
Leena Al-Souki
Windischgraetz
John Garcia
William Adderholdt
Matt Reed
Chris Weisel
blaZzinG_FurY
C. C. C.
KNSTRKTVST
alexccg
Hexapuma
Dullis
Jesse Plung
Darth Zayexeet
Bradley Backoff
Sahni
Jason Hirsch
Jason Vandeventer
Duane Bridges
HelloAgain
Tim Stone
Serius_Loyola
Ken Filbert
Joseph Reinsch
Justin Short
Patty Culp
Valentyn
Mr.Myoozik
Joseph Hutchins
Jeff Sharon
Bartosz Zasada
George Caponera
Florian Mäder
Tim Sweeney
Colm Byrne
Anthony McCann
ARandomPaperClip
george tyler
Magdalena Reinberg-Leibel
Matthew O'Connor
Ahmed Roshdi
Joel Wasserman
Geoffrey Sparrow
Liquid Chief
A. J. Smart
Fidoruh
Remko Huisman
Jasmin Vikk
Zachary Pascalar
Spencer DeRosier
Logical Insanity
James
Stefan Møller
ThePalestRose
Tyler Jenkins
Johann_Gambolputty_of_Ulm
Ned Burke
Nicolas Dronsky
bas mensink
Juan Castillo
Burt Clothier
No way
Ben Jambor
William Yates
Melissa Prober
Clay Carroll
Sethars
Brayden Perry
SketerK
Matt Busch
Bren Ehnebuske
Aaron Larrow
Yared Cristiano
Cade Summers
William Clark
Mars Project
Warren Rudkin
erez87
Robin!
Tortle!
BattleGoat Studios
ZCoupon
Nathan Ngumi
Jonny Minogue
Robert Meehan
Andrei Listochkin
David Spellmeyer
Tim Stumbaugh
Vegard Tønnessen
Rob Rollins
Andrew Sever
Joseph Kerckhoff
Matthew Venuti
Carl Blanton
Craig Marston
WolfiZee
Donald Weaver
Moraxian
SirAlpaka
Syagrius Beans
Richard Wolfe
Steve Bonds
Ethan Harlow
Mark Ploegstra
Joshportunities
Matthew Ward
Charles Kwiatkowski
Tristan Kreller
Ian M
YugiJitsu Games
Eric Askins
Ryan Haber
Thomas Wang
Swanfleet
nullptr
Jeffrey Schneider
I'm Not In The Description
T. c. north
Paul Munro
Joell Bel
Bort Ward
Dustin Koellhoffer
Jasdeep Brar
Anthony Uk
Hiro P
LambOfLeg
BenDrums24
JT96
Ruben Rodriguez
Alex G.
Sara Birnbaum
Aeryn and Lisa Toland
Wolf
Hunter Bayliss
Juan Benet
Harrison Wiener
James R DeVries
Ted Ingram
John Gross-Whitaker
Charles Doolittle
Samantha McCormick
Mark Littlehale
Tom Ebert
Shannon Cartee
Jack
Robert Brockway
0_DannyBoy
Isabel Harrison
Mik Scheper
Kevin Phoenix
Oriki
Sean Long
Shakira Graham
Dan Reiher
Dr. Sarno
Heytun
Seth Reeves
Ali Sadighian
Miky Hidalgo Morriss
Will Sullivan
Peter Konieczny
Nathan Snyder
Zachary Oertel
Brian Giordano
Roko Lisica
Doug MacLean
Harley Raptopoulos
Andrew Niedbala
Peter Hopkins
Taggert Jackson
Kishan Nair
Manny F
Lindorien
João Santos
Daniel O'Reilly
Kameohawk
Tom of Essex
Typhoon2401
Russell Downing
blei95
Tommi Hewitt
blue chicken
Jan Bart Verbist
Kasi
M Scho
Robin_Col
Schwarzer Hai
James
Tarsirrus
Rhys Little
Ash Elford
Ben L
Jackarice26
Gina Service
Twinny Hill
zemnmez
Phil Johnston
Rhys Jackson
Roberticus1992

[@datdumbguy1067]

Interesting fact: Denmark actually never stopped recognizing the Baltic nations independence after 1940, they just closed their Embassies and acted like nothing happened. Then when the Soviets collapsed Denmark just reopened the Embassies, again, like if nothing happened. [Edit] Thanks for correcting me, it's true, Ambassadors are the people, and Embassies are the building. Sorry I got them messed up.

[@PaulVinonaama]

Same with many other countries, including Finland.

[@Riskystache]

Interestingly the United States did the same, so their lack of support in this situation is surprising.

[@morbidsearch]

​@@Riskystache I've seen world maps from the 50s and 60s continue to outline the Baltics, but they seemed to give up after that

[@ReichLife]

@@Riskystache Hardly surprising. For USA keeping cordial relations with USSR was plain and simply far more beneficial than throwing symbolic recognition which if anything would make situation worse. And in the end it was solid call. Danish or Icelandic recognitions were utterly irrelevant, it was USSR own collapse which secured Lithuania's independence.

[@Riskystache]

@@morbidsearch Yeah I guess symbolic representation didn’t really matter when it was de facto the USSR, so just made it easier with the maps. Cool fact tho!

[@ChaoticEmperor01]

Technically, the Soviet constitution explicitly stated that the Union Republics (like Lithuania) could leave whenever they want to. Obviously Moscow wasn’t overly concerned on what their own laws actually said

[@adrianafamilymember6427]

1:17 Knapoleon

[@DeusEversor]

Indeed, the integrity of the ussr was supposed to be held by triangle, party at the top, nkvd/kgb and the military. All of which were too rotten to handle gorbachev and his reforms

[@yukitakaoni007]

based Soviet. Kept their promises even if it make them look weak.

[@AlexanderRM1000]

The fact that Gorbachov actually (eventually) allowed them to leave peacefully is one of the best things a government has done in human history- the USSR probably would have collapsed anyway, but he could have made it a bloody years-long conflict, like Yugoslavia or the Portuguese colonial empire or basically any empire before the last century. It's really sad that many Russian nationalists are paradoxically proud of every part of their countries' history, *except* this one which is actually worth being proud of

[@DavidL1986]

@@AlexanderRM1000 he was a good man

[@skadoink1736]

Ok, I know this is just a 3 minuter, but there was a lot more soviet intervention than this suggests. Vilnius tv tower definitely deserved a mention. When I visited Lithuania I was shocked at the events that generally went unreported in the west

[@RankinMsP]

That's why Google is your friend.

[@KasumiRINA]

Yeah, the West sucking up to "Gorby" as he was murdering protesters. He literally killed more people than the Manson family, yet for some reason they don't remember him as a serial killer.

[@tokul76]

West went to Persian Gulf to deal with some dude invading other country and Soviets went to VIlnius four days later.

[@EdgyNumber1]

Seems like a familiar story.

[@beginendend3094]

Well might have as well talked about the use of the term “annexation” in the video, which is just silly, considering the amount of local collaboration and support soviets had on Lithuania and the other 2 Baltic states at least initially.

[@compatriot852]

My father was there at the television tower when the Soviets open fired. A short video like this really can't capture how tense and brutal things were

[@astrofagi]

dude I see you commenting everywhere

[@RankinMsP]

It's not meant to. HM is providing these as entertainment as well as education. It's meant to be short and punchy because we have..ooh I don't know.. THE WHOLE INTERNET to get any details. 😒

[@mohammedabdul4832]

The Fake estonian is back again. He found Something more brutal than cocks of Teutonic horses

[@yaroslavmsk1]

because this is bot @@astrofagi

[@hellscorpio82]

Come on brutal? don't be so dramatic compared to other places where millions died Vilnius was a walk in the park.

[@Maverick750]

“Bread lines aren’t a sign of a strong economy.” What a good economic life lesson.

[@morbidsearch]

But remember: Bread lines are a sign that communism is a bad system, but they're not a sign that capitalism is a bad system.

[@dwarow2508]

It were those bread lines that allowed the spread of communism in the first place

[@CorenusYT]

@@morbidsearch more precisely, it's still a sign that capitalism is a bad system, but not in the same meaning of bad as for communism.

[@wertywerrtyson5529]

I’ve heard people who actually lived in the Soviet Union and they never lacked bread in the 80s. 30s sure but not the 1980s. They lacked a lot of things but not basic necessities like bread. There were indeed lines for so called “deficit” items. Items that were in short supply and that’s why you would have huge lines. But lines weren’t seen as something bad but rather a sign that the store had something interesting to buy that day. So saying bread lines isn’t right. They never were starving like in the 30s. They did however lack pretty much everything besides basic necessities which is why they were willing to stand in line when there was something besides the usual stuff on sale.

[@user-hf6hp9ou3v]

@@wertywerrtyson5529 I don't think people who think in msm-propagandised terms like "communism bad capitalism good" are going to read anything longer than a sentence or two.

[@dtikvxcdgjbv7975]

In the tough times of summer of 1991, Lithuania recognized Croatia. It meant a lot to us. Love to Lietuva from Hrvatska!❤🇭🇷🇱🇹

[@Marcelas888]

We love Croatia too mate

[@vakeiniux321]

Love Croatia! Went there recently too. Beautiful is all I can say :)

[@Tottaly_Normal_Guy]

We love u too my Croatian friend (I'm from Lithuania)

[@kimono5181]

Croatia is just wrong christianity Serbia

[@dtikvxcdgjbv7975]

@@kimono5181 incorrect. The difference is much bigger and more profound.

[@claram5482]

There's a street in every Lithuanian town named Islandijos gatvė in appreciation of Iceland's support to the restoration of independence. I think it's a nice touch, even if most Icelandic people don't know about it.

[@pinigaipinigeliai6250]

Also couple Reykjavik named streets.

[@hewhoneverdies001]

I've come to know a bunch of Lithuanian migrants living in Iceland and many of them have said that the only thing they knew about Iceland before moving here was that Iceland was the first nation to recognize they'r independence. They actually often bring that up when talking about Lithuania, and many of them even know the name of Iceland's prime minister at the time (I know a bunch of Icelanders who probably don't know who was prime minister at the time).

[@aDogNamedHandsome]

I’m an American of Lithuanian descent. When I went to Iceland, I thanked them for their courageous stance. The first President Bush and a lot of the Western press were treating Lithuania as troublemakers who were rocking the boat.

[@aineomalley4283]

I have a video idea: How did the Roman Government react to Pompeii?

[@Toonrick12]

Surprisingly, similar to what happens after modern day disasters. Throwing money at whoever survived and went back to finishing up a sports structure.

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎

[@MadAtreides1]

a fleet of 50 ships commanded by Pliny the Elder was sent to help as soon the smoke from the Vesuvius was visible to those in Naples but it couldn't depart again from the port of Pompeii because of contrary winds, so many of the sailors sent to help, and Pliny himself, ended up dying. However, at least some of the richest men of the city were most likely able to escape either on their own or with some ships of the relief fleet since almost 18 hours passed from the first signs of the eruption to the catastrophic explosion.

[@santiagoo.8958]

​Not just the Roman government, I wonder how the Roman people reacted to it.

[@emberfist8347]

@@santiagoo.8958the main surviving documents would be from the people living there.

[@akolyt]

Lithuania wasn’t “allowed” to leave the USSR they fought for their independence

[@Burvedys]

I spent an autumn in 1991 protecting our parliament with a gun. Soviets called us Nationalists in a sense of Nazis and illegal armed gangs, not recognizing as a proper military force. But we won in the end and Soviet army left our country in 1993.

[@matthewgillies7509]

The Russian play book hasn't changed much since then has it? Just look at what they call the Ukrainians.

[@calmbbaer]

@@matthewgillies7509 - Correct. Just look at their official name for the Berlin Wall, "Antifaschistischer Schutzwall."

[@postblitz]

Nationalism was never a bad thing. It was made to be a boogieman so that european nations would accept occupation by foreign migrants.

[@FortressLordJP193]

@@postblitz I was gonna slam ya but I saw you follow the RTS game DORF so you're probably becoming cool.

[@RazorsharpLT]

My parents and my grandpa was there with a gun too We're glad that you didn't use it, we're glad that nobody but the Soviets used it, because it could have turned out bloodier than it had.

[@vilmapedley9524]

Proud to be Lithuanian, remember as a kid standing together with others protecting important buildings.

[@MasterMalrubius]

Yeah. But you're no Estonia.

[@concept5631]

​@@MasterMalrubius Include Latvia too!

[@adrianafamilymember6427]

Didn't know knapoleon was surprised though 1:24

[@smalltime0]

@@MasterMalrubius Estonia is basically the Disneyland of the Baltics. Latvia is where its at.

[@concept5631]

@@smalltime0 They got Courland

[@Trolligi]

Because James Bissonette decided that Lithuania was too based for the Soviets

[@DaveSCameron]

Stop false narratives 😂

[@paleoph6168]

The Patriots were also involved. Zanzibar Land was in support of this.

[@jamesbissonette8002]

Nah

[@AGamerthatregretsalot]

Bro blaming James all the time

[@GCho733]

James Basedsonette.

[@doctorivan]

The 1988 Olympic basketball team was a major source of Lithuanian discontent. 4 of the 5 starters were Lithuanian, but Moscow took credit. That got us both the Dream Team and the 1992 Grateful Dead Lithuanian tie-dye uniforms. The early 90s were so awesome...

[@morbidsearch]

Lithuania's best contribution to the world is the song from The Routine in Friends.

[@gintasvilkelis2544]

I had one of those Grateful Dead Lithuanian tie-dye shirts!

[@siouex]

Being 7 years old, remember armoured vehicles with troops on top driving through my residential street in capital Vilnius, arrogantly waving. This image stayed with me until this day, can't even imagine what any Ukrainian feel at the moment

[@Kislotikas]

@siouex i was 7 living 10 km from tv tower and i woke up because of tank shots 1991 01 13realised quickly something serious is going on...yeah watched tv translation till 3-4 am with parents

[@chlbtn]

The Soviets did use force against Lithuanian civilians when they drove over them with tanks on January 13, 1991. 14 killed and over 140 injured.

[@brunogama5056]

Wow! US Secession War looks pale compared to that!

[@francemiaou]

@@brunogama5056 I don't see the point of this comparaison. US Secession War was caused because some states wanted to keep owning slaves, while Lituania was invaded by the USSR and by the Nazis during WWII, then occupied for 45 years

[@brunogama5056]

@@francemiaou Answer Me Please? Who was in Power in US in 1500? US not only invaded Native America Land. It commited Genocide, Ethnic Cleansing and Slavery. Now GO Back to Your Bubble Ok?

[@erastvandoren]

It wasn't about slaves ​@@francemiaou

[@francemiaou]

@@erastvandoren Yes, Secession war was about slaves. That's a fact.

[@liamnixon4428]

What's interesting about Latvia, Lithuania's neighbor, is that it also declared independence in 1990 (May of that year), and also suffered a half-assed intervention from Moscow, but nobody pays attention to it.

[@pocketmarcy6990]

Didn’t something similar happen with Estonia as well?

[@Artur_M.]

​@pocketmarcy6990 Yes, and things were close to getting quite violent there. Thankfully, Dzhokhar Dudaev, commander of the Soviet garrison in Tartu, ignored his orders. Yes, that's the same Dudaev, who later led Chechen fight for independence (ultimately doomed).

[@niono1587]

@@pocketmarcy6990 Yea and I think Lithuania as well but I'm not sure

[@jonathanmong4927]

@@pocketmarcy6990 Estonia's intervention came months after Lithuania (which was first, as the largest of the three), then Latvia (immediately after, with more coordinated resistance)

[@PuckishAngeI]

In Lithuania we always saw Latvia and Estonia in this together, you precious brothers and sisters

[@raceris7309]

We gotta give a huge applause to Nordics (and Moldova) for being the first ones to recognize Lithuania, in spite of possible retaliation from USSR.

[@texastacoss]

No way in hell the Soviet Union would retaliate against a western-alligned nation when they are already collapsing hard

[@majy1735]

Wrong. Denmark was not "the first one to recognize Lithuania": it never recognized its (forced and thus illegal) incorporation into the Soviet Union in the first place.

[@jacob4920]

Nordic countries have nothing to worry about from Russia, because the USSR's stalwart record of failure against Finland is a lesson to every Scandanavian of just how powerless the Soviets were in that region of the world. Note how Putin is TERRIFIED that Finland has joined NATO, now! lol

[@ecurewitz]

At that time, the Soviets had bigger problems

[@brandonlyon730]

@@majy1735 After going through the same with a Nazi’s around the same time I don’t blame them.

[@Kasaaz]

I remember seeing a political cartoon on a newspaper while waiting for breakfast at McDonalds as a kid showing 'Lithuania' being pulled away from the USSR as if it was thread, to say it was all about to unravel. I don't know why that is an image still stuck in my head. I was very little, but thought that 'Lithuania' was a neat word then.

[@laracarrilloemilio291]

Cool!

[@DaRealPhillyJawn]

I absolutely love your channel, history has always been one of my favorite subjects and that you teach so much in so little time is awesome! Thanks for your work!

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎

[@trexxen42i82]

That "holding their breath" snippet killed me 😂

[@LuminalSpoon]

As someone whose ancestors hailed from Lithuania it's always good to see a video on the subject. My mum said the time she saw our Gran and Grandad at their happiest was in 1990, mainly because of their country being recognised and gaining independence and then the birth of my sister. That's how important it was to them. 😅

[@damnboy451]

Lithuania was created a long long time ago. So independence was *regained in 1990.

[@gintasvilkelis2544]

@@damnboy451Yes, in 1990 Lithuanian independence was _restored._

[@barsukascool]

As a Lithuanian, thank you for this video! It was intresting to see your spin on it. Linkėjimai iš Vilniaus!

[@Mortablunt]

Mind your attitude, Nazi lover!

[@VinnyUnion]

Lithuania was one of the most painful nations to conquer in Supremacy 1914. I didn't knew much about geography since I kept forgetting about it, either way when I was Finland I went below and the moment I went for Lithuania for its grains resources, the amassing amount of soldiers that nation was astonishing. I got completely demolished. It may had been slightly my fault since I already had to go from top to bottom and already exhausted quite a bit of resources until there but man, that used to give me nightmares for a few weeks.

[@barsukascool]

@@VinnyUnion why are u talking about hoi4 or smth

[@Suksass]

​@@Mortabluntoh, look. A fascist.

[@Tutmthetired]

​@@barsukascool mobile game

[@iattacku2773]

Soviet Union collapses Kazakhstan: “ where did everyone go”

[@rds7516]

And all of these decades later, we Lithuanians have not forgotten Iceland being the first to recognise us. This move has been so important to us that you can see it echo in our own politics today. Takk Ísland!

[@kristianpoulherkild3401]

Actually they tried. Those of us old enough to remember have not forgotten. Strong western response, particularly from the nordic countries forced Gorbachev to cease the militant approach.

[@Buggylt]

As a Lithuanian who loves history. I gotta disagre, it was support from other soviet republics people, especially ukraine and russians who made the biggest impact. Oh, how the times have changed.

[@kristianpoulherkild3401]

@@Buggylt Of course, one should not forget the russians, ukrainians, belorusians and other people in USSR demonstrating against the violent approach taken by Gorbachev and the hardliners. But one should also not understate the massive pressure by western countries and the economic reliance of USSR on western aid. One also should not forget the will of Lithuanians to resist soviet forces with any mean available to them.

[@danielhalachev4714]

Strong response... From the Nordic countries. That's an oxymoron there!

[@kristianpoulherkild3401]

@@danielhalachev4714 No. It is quite possible. It is simple to understand unless you are a complete moron.

[@rytisliaucys3444]

As a Lithuanian, I agree with @buggylt. It was infact the intense disapproval of other Soviet Republics, including the Russian people themselves, that forced Gorbachev to stop. This is what worries me most given todays context - the Soviet Russians were not brainwashed - they themselves have grown dead-tired of the empire of broken mirrors that the Soviet Union was, and wanted USSR to let the Baltics go, hoping the Baltics and Russia can continue good, wholesome neighbourship afterwards. Too bad Putin worked hard to make sure the Baltics continue to feel nothing but justified distrust to Russia :)

[@timmccarthy9917]

"And so he sent troops into Lithuania to nominally protect the Russian-speaking people there from a decaying government" Hey, I've seen this one!

[@joshuacampbell1625]

It's a classic for sure

[@NotFound-sm9rg]

History rhymes)))

[@Skorpychan]

@@NotFound-sm9rg It certainly does rhyme when you realise it's the same guy pulling the same strings in the same way every time. The only difference with Ukraine is that it happened a little too close to a NATO country's border.

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎

[@LeadHeadBOD]

Congrats, now you understand why all of Eastern Europe is reacting so heavily!

[@CarthagoMike]

That 'holding their breath' and then the doctor standing next to the fallen world animation almost offed me. Amazing!

[@bluesantahat]

Thanks for these videos, really appreciate it as a person who really loves history! ❤

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎

[@adrianafamilymember6427]

1:17 Knapoleon

[@adrianafamilymember6427]

@EEEEEEEE F

[@CarthagoMike]

There's nothing we can do

[@martynasbendikas2546]

That's the proof of how this world recognizes 1st and always forgets 2nd. Here in Lithuania we worship Iceland for being the 1st to recognize our Independence. Some cities has "Iceland street", some officially throws a party celebrating Iceland's national holiday in summer... but this is the first time i ever heard that Denmark recognized us very soon after Iceland did! Thank you Denmark!

[@TiltedTillerThePillar56]

iceland’s independence day is actually my birthday and im also a lithuanian, funny ties there lmao

[@dominicadrean2160]

You know what surprises me that Stalin didn't Deport the entire Baltic state region and replace it with ethnic Russians( because Stalin actually have the power to do that)

[@theultimatefreak666]

He had the power, but he didn't want more international bad press than he got already. He still tried to make people (like the Chinese for example) join his cause after all

[@AceChina]

I doubt "bad press" is something Stalin would have cared about.@@theultimatefreak666

[@reaperz5677]

Oh but he DID try, you know. Stalin reported a lot of the ethnic Balts/Estonians to Siberia.

[@Breadnought_]

a lot of russians moved into baltics

[@sciencer9830]

The main reason is probably that between the time of the annexations in 39 and Barbarossa not much time for any of those concerns was present, but after WW2 many nazi collaborateurs were deported/arrested

[@MSSLatvia]

Lithuania was NOT allowed to go freely. The Republic of Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union on 11 March 1990 and thereafter underwent a difficult period of emergence. During March-April 1990 the Soviet Airborne Troops (VDV) occupied buildings of the Political Education and the Higher Party School where later encamped the alternative Communist Party of Lithuania, on the CPSU platform. The Soviet Union imposed an economic blockade between April and late June. In the events of January 13, 1991 exactly 14 civilians were killed while 702 were injured. Gorbachev could not understand that Lithuania, as well as Latvia and Estonia, did NOT want to be slave states in the Soviet Union and had been illegally occupied for 50 years.

[@zimriel]

I remember this. Rush Limbaugh recognised this as well and never bought into the Western infatuation with Gorbachev; he called those articles "gorbasms", lol.

[@gintasvilkelis2544]

@@zimriel It's a bit ironic that now it's the Rush Limbaugh's fans who are supporting Putin's Ukrainian invasion...

[@Nikkidafox]

Gorbachev: Look, I'm going to be fair. You can leave if you REAAALLY want to, but of course you don't wan- Lithuania: *leaves* Gorbachev: :O

[@TestTest12332]

Gorbachev was an idealist. He actually did believe that Soviet Union can be kept together by peaceful means simply by offering members trade, cooperation and prosperity, similarly like European Union does it now. The problem is that there was no prosperity, and Russian ongoing oppression for decades turned pretty much everyone against them.

[@Flaccidtetris]

Basically haha 😅

[@gamermapper]

​@@TestTest12332he actually was right. Most USSR members wanted to stay, as you can see by the Soviet referendum. But they did leave but only after some hard liner communists staged a coup to get rid of Gorbachev. And also describing it as a Russian oppression is very wrong. The longest serving and most oppressive Soviet leader wasn't even Russian.

[@helovedher1845]

@@gamermapper shut your as up ussr can go suk a dk russia is literally ussr just renamed nothing changed only thing good about russia is literally nothing

[@iclicklike3397]

@@gamermapper people put in seats of power in the member states didn't want maybe. Bet population in every country did. Moscow was simply milking the member states. Where do you think their military power came from? Moscow fkin starved millions of Ukrainians to death.

[@Kallikukurinn]

Proud of my country of Iceland coming to Lithuania's aid (even if it was only diplomatically)~

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎

[@Kallikukurinn]

@@EEEEEEEE Thank you for blessing me with your mighty letter. I am eternally grateful~

[@vol.4691]

In every Lithuanian school when teaching about the Independence of Lithuania one of the first things we learn is that Iceland was the first legitimate country to recognize us. All of us are grateful x)

[@Asbestos_]

We have a street named after Iceland in our capital. Also one highway. It ain't much, but it's honest gratitude 😅

[@MasterMalrubius]

What else do they have to do there?

[@Maverick750]

The Act of Unrestoration of the Restoration of Lithuania which didn’t do anything to the Lithuania literally gives off the angry notes from the Allied Powers during the Anschluss of Austria.

[@adrianafamilymember6427]

Got something 1:17 Knapoleon

[@POINTS2]

What makes me so happy is new History Matters videos

[@dmitrikulkevicius9161]

".....sent troops to Lithuania to protect the Russian speaking....." I love how Russia repeats Goebbels propaganda method even to this day.

[@achourfreepalestine]

I love how the short answer for the entire USSR just dying is always "Gorbachev was too nice"

[@emberfist8347]

Blame Yeltsin not him. He caused the ultimate collapse and we made that drunkard the first President.

[@adrianafamilymember6427]

Opposite of how Russian Empire/USSR rises

[@achourfreepalestine]

@@adrianafamilymember6427 "modern problems require modern solutions"

[@Chris-ut6eq]

Gorbachev had a distinct lack of Stalin. And was a much better human for that.

[@Firefighter2539]

The USSR would have died by one way or another. Gorbathew just kept a whole lot of people from dying.

[@buggedbox]

As Lithuanian, I would like to recognize Moldova, Iceland and Denmark as GOATS for being first to recognize our independence.

[@aminzqrti7672]

Thanks for the great video.. I truly miss those #10 minute ones

[@oscarkelly3378]

I'm really much impressed with your personality here. And your posts are so interesting..

[@matthewhuo6543]

Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain.

[@thomasnorris7285]

In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.

[@maureencarson5493]

​@@thomasnorris7285Please, it will be of benefit if you share more of your educational business lessons and ideas fact that's working recently.

[@thomasnorris7285]

I'm inspired to be a better person every day.​@@maureencarson5493

[@thomasnorris7285]

​@@maureencarson5493Honestly speaking real estate has been the best but crypto is better rough for fast wealth growth.

[@CarCrasher730]

Nice to see people talk about Baltic countries, greetings from Estonia.

[@1kumokun]

We love the people from the Baltics, they are some of the nicest, most honest, humble and reliable (smart too!) people we have ever met here in japan!

[@CarCrasher730]

@@1kumokun Thank you we appreciate your people too.

[@ramblinman4197]

I noticed a couple of areas, like Karelia, that did not gain full independence were shown in different colors on the falling apart map. It would be interesting to hear more about the levels of Independence they achieved and/or was there ever a threat of them completely departing?

[@Yugoslav_Partisan]

Karelia was once a Soviet republic

[@ivario]

Don't know that much about Karelia, but Tatarstan's story from 1990 to 1995 or so is an interesting one

[@ramblinman4197]

@@Yugoslav_Partisan correct but I wondered if there was ever any threat of then leaving the USSR/Russian Federation or if they were white on the map simply because they declared their autonomy.

[@ramblinman4197]

@@ivario thanks I will have to look their history up.

[@WTF2BlueTiger]

Autonomous region Leaving doesn't do anything for them, the region is poor and Russian speaking, to cut off an enclave of Russia in the north doesn't accomplish them anything. Karelia isn't anything but Russian, unlike say the central Asian states which are mixed Russian/other languages/heritages, or unlike Ukraine Imagine being poor and completely reliant on the rest of your country, and now demanding independence and maybe something silly like demanding tolls on railroads built and maintained by the Russian state (not their own), from e.g goods from Murmansk to the rest of Russia. The country would not last long, it's just not meaningful, Karelians consider themselves Russian not Karelians, same way Texans consider themselves American, and an independent Texas is a joke and no one there really wants it (and that's an actually rich state which could probably make it fine independent, Karelia could not).

[@wroot_lt]

Didn't expect to see a video about my country on this channel after watching it for a few years :) Thanks!

[@Orc-icide]

ACIU!!! Thank you so much for making this video!!! I've never been able to explain this in 3 minutes!!!

[@DodoSniffer73]

My grandfather was a protester in '91 we even have a holiday for those people that eoughly translates as freedom protectors day. I am really proud of my heritage

[@adrianafamilymember6427]

And 1:17 Knapoleon being shall ling

[@KekusMagnus]

Imagine being proud of the failed generation which ruined the world

[@johnlytimporok8184]

@@KekusMagnus aww look at little tankie jr, wanna milk and an cookie?😘

[@gehdochnicht]

Proud of what? Maybe it didn't disappear in the Soviet Union but Lithuania is now in the process of dissapearing within the EU lol

[@johnlytimporok8184]

@@gehdochnicht atleast they didn't die out of russian communism

[@notroll1279]

The Lithuanian guy with the funny beard was Vytautas Landsbergis. He is still alive, an impressive guy and would have deserved to be mentioned by his name.

[@ocqueoc]

Landsbergis is based and a proper chad 👌

[@junit1606]

​@@ocqueoc He was a kgb agent, not a chad.

[@ocqueoc]

@@junit1606 earth is flat as well, right?

[@junit1606]

@@ocqueoc if you believe so, im not going to argue on that.

[@ocqueoc]

@@junit1606that retarded narrative about kgb agent is pushed only by vatniks or russian bots, either of them should be behind a fence, further from civilisation

[@addmissive3984]

Keep up the good work man!

[@whatsreal7506]

Excellent content! As usual! 🎉👏

[@paprikooltu]

As a Lithuanian, I am happy to see video sbout my country in this chanel.

[@CoffeeSuccubus]

Funfact: The Baltics didn't see their independence as "independence from" but rather "continuations of independence" as i was viewed as an occupation, not "oh we are theirs now".

[@adrianafamilymember6427]

1:23 Knapoleon

[@Samuel-wm1xr]

mental gymnastics tho, it doesn't matter in reality

[@compatriot852]

​@@Samuel-wm1xrnot really. There were governments in exile and prominent groups in places like America.

[@Jfk2Mr]

​@@gamermapperthen something different, but still in that area - Polish Government on Exile was set up in 1939 and existed through entire duration of PRL and ceased to exist only in 1989, when Poland changed its government to non-communist one

[@karliskokorevics6902]

​@@Samuel-wm1xr Actually it does, since it's the prevailing legal stance of most of the world. The Baltics are the same legal states as pre-occupation ones. The Baltic SSRs are considered illegitimate states.

[@oliversherman2414]

Great video as always 👍🏻

[@alexius23]

As always ~great job

[@willrock8194]

This is great! I really whish there was a definitive documentary on the period from 1989-1991 that completely explains the events that led to the fall of the USSR.

[@mrterp04]

Three more video suggestions (assuming you’re still going to be doing Patreon polls going forward?): 1.) Why/How did South Sudan happen? 2.) How did Portugal hold onto Macau for as long as it did? 3.) How does Free Association work?

[@morbidsearch]

It's so funny how countries refuse to recognise Somaliland because it could encourage more African independence movements. Meanwhile it took decades of war and over 2 million deaths for South Sudan to be taken seriously. Is that what the world wants?

[@emberfist8347]

2. Same as the British with Hong Kong. The main difference was the original lease on Macau had no expiration date. They further enforced they would keep it for good at the Treaty of Peking in 1887 before changing their mind a century later and signing a joint-declaration to transfer it back to red China.

[@Neomalthusiano]

​@@emberfist8347 The Portuguese were in China before Ming arrived. When the Ming arrived, every person that could recall the arrival of Portuguese in Hong Kong (yes, they arrived there before the British) was already long dead. While all that you said is true, we have to take into consideration that the relationship between Portugal x China is different from The UK x China: Portugal considered Macau an overseas state that was fully Portuguese. However as Portugal already lost Goa (where the population was ok bring Portuguese) for the Indian invasion, in the aftermath of a communist riot, it was clear that getting clear of Macau would not only save face, but save money as well.

[@diomuda7903]

Not that Lithuania was "allowed", but they put a strong resistance on it. In fact Lithuanians, alongside Estonians and Latvians, formed a line of people across the three nations, singing in defiance against the authoritarian Soviet rule. The Soviets were ordered to shoot, but due to widespread public resistance, they had to accept to let it go. You have to give the Lithuanians credit for it.

[@danielhalachev4714]

"The Soviets were ordered to shoot, but due to widespread resistance they had to accept to let it go". I hate to be that guy, but, realistically speaking, it's not you resistance, which resolved the conflict in your favour. It was the Soviet soldiers' reluctance to kill civilians. If they had decided to shoot with or bring tanks, you would have achieved little success.

[@KasumiRINA]

​@@danielhalachev4714they literally shot people to kill, you're deeply misinformed by russian propaganda if you believe the lies of russians EVER being reluctant to massacre humans.

[@xwing8029]

​@@danielhalachev4714There would been second guerilla war. My uncle was part of resistance.

[@lpoffline]

@@danielhalachev4714 People went to protest knowing fully well that military can shoot them. Oh, and they brought tanks, they were there alright. And they ran over some people. Without courage of the people there wouldn't have been anything. Without the will of the people soviet shithole wouldn't have collapsed. Yes, circumstances were right, but the independence wasn't given, it was fought and won. You want to see what would have been otherwise? Just look at russia today. Those chicken shits would rather send their fathers, brothers and sons or go themselves to die for a dictator who gives 0 fucks about them and puts them in a meat waves.

[@rebel8707]

@@danielhalachev4714 They did bring tanks. People formed a human barrier around the TV tower and some got literally crushed as tanks moved forward.

[@quinasreveure6533]

Ever since I remember that the Baltics were of the first regions to gain support for independence from the USSR (Not only to gain independence, but also from the recent memory of their annexation in WWII), I sometimes wonder if a Baltic Union was ever a possibility during the Soviets collapse

[@Riskystache]

Never really made sense for us a union with how different the languages are, and the strong national movements of each nation. But we’ll always support our fellow Baltic brothers!

[@quinasreveure6533]

@@Riskystache Well yeah, it totally makes sense for their nations to remain independent, specially now that their not in real danger (NATO), although my doubt came more from the interwar mentality that central European countries had of coming as greater buffer against imperial powers (Specially Russia), like the proposal of the Intermarium; like a never again of coming under Soviet/Russian control again, and maintain independence. Although I imagine NATO quit that worry for the most part.

[@Riskystache]

@@quinasreveure6533 ahh yeah my bad, no you’re definitely right on that. In the interwar period there was an attempt to increase cooperation between the armed forces of each Baltic state, but it was too little too late sadly

[@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714]

@@Riskystache Federation could be doable. An unitary state wouldnt. But there is simply no reason to change the status quo, things are good as they are.

[@cv990a4]

They didn't want a Baltic union, they wanted union with the EU and got it. Being part of the EU, and especially NATO, was essential to ensuring they were not once again swallowed by the bear.

[@FGH9G]

1:11 LMAO Gorbachev's Soviet Hawaiian shirt!

[@Neymarinet]

The guy changing color while holding his breath was a nice touch

[@aratherdapperlookingcrocod5397]

Never clicked so quick, love when you upload

[@Max-pk6uc]

Only critique I have is not mentioning the acts commited in Vilnius by the soviet army, in Lithuania this is one of the most important parts of this period

[@adrianafamilymember6427]

Counter-Argument; 1:24 Knapoleon

[@Max-pk6uc]

​@@adrianafamilymember6427thats just about sanctions, not about tanks in the streets

[@JonasParnarauskas-wq3sb]

I think what this video gets wrong is that Lithuania never actually joined USSR willingly, it was occupied. And this video implicates, that Lithuania wanted to leave due to economic situation. No, Lithuanians have fought guerilla (partisan) war during occupation and until 90s wanted independence. The opportunity was there. USSR never allowed to exit as a free state, even tho law stated that a state can leave any time it wants. USSR recognized Lithuania as independent country in 1920 and rennounced all claims on it. Somehow they still got away with it and everybody thinks it was fairly smooth, there were people killed, deported, opressed up until withdrawal of USSR army in 1993

[@lucianoosorio5942]

“How many dictators does it take, to turn an empire into a Union of ruinous states? It’s a disgrace what you did to your own people!” Rasputin

[@REALnotsus]

"your daddy beat you like a dog and now youre evil"

[@ironnwizzard]

"You're from Georgia, sweet Georgia, and the history books unfold ya"

[@stephencarroll9935]

​@@ironnwizzard"as a messed up mothafucka bent in the mind"

[@lapizite7879]

"As a messed up motherfucker bent in the mind, who built a superpower but paid the price."

[@gave2haze]

"As a messed up motherfucker, bent in the mind"

[@MCsCreations]

Bloody fascinating!

[@achourfreepalestine]

You know its a good day when HM uploads you know its a good day ( or for me night 😅 )

[@Ultimaton100]

So in short they wanted to stop it but couldn’t because problems. Always a delight to see a new video of yours.

[@harveya1a952]

Because it meant Lithuania would be ruled by James Bisonette

[@jamesbissonette8002]

Nah

[@MrStealYourBalls]

​@jamesbissonette8002 You're probably too busy putting food on history matters table

[@franciscoacevedo3036]

​@@jamesbissonette8002it pays to be the first mentioned alphabetically. However, it be a shame if I an Acevedo outstaged you my prairie bovine friend

[@adrianafamilymember6427]

1:24 Knapoleon

[@adrianafamilymember6427]

@jamesbissonette8002 1:17 Knapoleon

[@kurtwicklund8901]

These are valuable viewing. I often think, "I know that story". Then I watch and learn plural things.

[@sarun4ik]

Very well made !!!

[@napoleonbuonaparte8975]

1:42 Where did I see this before?

[@Sam_Sam2]

James Bissonett could bring back and destroy the USSR. Bissonett giveth and Bissonnet can taketh.

[@adrianafamilymember6427]

1:17 Knapoleon is there, God day

[@nik65stgt60]

Great content!

[@muhammadhabibieamiro3639]

Another amazing video

[@TemoMachitidze]

Lithuania showed perfect example of bravery to all of us, other nations occupied by evil and bloody regime. This is why we Georgians love our friend Lietuva a lot! 🇬🇪❤🇱🇹

[@sebastiannakasato5485]

Why isn't Estonia included in the Soviet silhouette on the thumbnail?

[@krokuke]

One possible reason could be because technically Estonia had already declared sovereignity in 1988.

[@prizmik]

Lithuanian here, thanks a lot for making this video! 🙏

[@jonasvincaskatkus265]

I am extremely grateful to you, for talking about Lithuania!

[@dawesome_sauce]

"It's not us, it's you." Pretty accurate summation of the Soviet Republics wanting out.

[@Underestimated37]

One of the big reasons the nations wanted to leave as well was because they found out about the WWII era Warsaw pact, and the discovery of the secret agreement for dividing conquered territories (which included their lands) resulted in a confrontation and the final nail in the coffin. There’s footage of some of that here on KZbin somewhere.

[@virgaslt]

"they found out about the WWII era Warsaw pact" - what do u mean by that, ..- we knew it always.

[@Underestimated37]

@@virgaslt the secret protocols regarding the division of post war Europe were not widespread and publicly acknowledged until perestroika revealed it in 1989, this led to many member states formally protesting and using it as their reasoning for withdrawing from the union. While the knowledge may have been known in secret it wasn’t publicly acknowledged or admitted to until the fall of the union. They admitted to the pact itself initially for most of their history, but the secret protocols were a state secret that was kept even from the governments of the occupied states. I’ve lost track of it now, but there was a video on KZbin of the congress and one of the Baltic republics confronting them about the secret protocols right at the end of the Union.

[@flawyerlawyertv7454]

Wow! Thank you. 👍

[@pixelcraft6739]

Love the videos

[@untendohd1377]

Some video ideas: 1)Why were there 2 Yemen? 2)Why does the Darien Gap exist? 3)Why did Thailand join the Axis?

[@emberfist8347]

1. The South Yemen was formerly the British protectorate called Aden which later was decolonized after WWII it became a situation similar to Korea, Vietnam, or Germany where the differing political systems led to two nations claiming to be Yemen. 2. The jungles of South America were too thick and impenetrable to create any infrastructure that would remove the gap. We tried and couldn’t do it. 3. Thailand is legally speaking not part of the Axis not being a signatory of the of the Tripartite or Anti-Comintern pacts but they joined the war on Japan’s side because they were invaded by Japan before Pearl Harbor and had to join at gunpoint.

[@ChadTanker]

2:06 Why are the colors of the rainbow reversed? Red should be the most outer one and blue the inner one.

[@Superkinners]

I wish that we get another Q and A for the end of the year

[@hamletthaus3046]

Sound effects are top.

[@alender6200]

the daisy field got a rainbow upgrade! thanks james and gang!

[@gintasindreika933]

1. Lithuania has a history way earlier than Russia existed 2. The Lithuanian language is the oldest of the Indo-European languages. 3. Lithuania never voted to join the USSR. It was invaded by Russian troops.

[@ovidijuszuravliovas8778]

True and HE missed a lot of history my teacher can gali about this for mirė than 30 minute

[@HarvestStore]

Great video.

[@limazulu6660]

Love LT so much, warm greetings from Bulgaria. Very cool country

[@alfonsasgrinevicius7477]

Lithuania also had to declare independence 1918, Feb 16th . It had been subjugated by Tzarist Russia. We experienced six assaults and occupations from Monarchistc or Communist Orcs. And we have been nifty enough to join NATO.Ukraine wasn't. Faster than Finland, Sweden.

[@Suksass]

Ukraine was still under Russian control, hence why it couldn't just leave. Belarus is the same.

[@Maxim89Il]

Also, while Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians were pretty much seen as the same group, Slavs... Lithuanians were Balts. Even in Soviet times, Lithuania and Latvia were pretty much "abroad," at least in the atmosphere.

[@rick7424]

No, they weren't basically the same group.

[@Ozzy08018]

The flower field prancing thing got updated!

[@lietuvosfutboloarchyvas]

Well told!

[@guifdcanalli]

I just love how the August Coup was meant to make URSS great again buy in the proccess just FKED everything to worst lmao

[@realgabster]

Lithuania mentioned🔥🔥🔥🗣️🗣️

[@Iyokochans]

yo this came out 34 seconds ago and its yet already cool

[@nuagor]

The text of those "acts" was so clear and funny. :)

[@kubus0024]

Grettings from Poland to all fellow Lithuanians

[@ritvarsvereskuns452]

Ahhh, yes, the 3 states of the Baltic states in the thumbnail - Lithuania is free, Latvia is fully incorporated in the Soviet Union, and Estonia doesn't exst.

[@morbidsearch]

100 years from now: Luxembourg is free Belgium is annexed by France Netherlands is underwater

[@arnold3768]

​@@morbidsearchand then Luxembourg conquers the world and we'll all be living in the mighty Luxembourgish empire!

[@osasunaitor]

2:09 and to this day, Iceland is still commemorated in Lithuania for their brave decision. In fact, one of the most popular leisure streets in central Vilnius is now called Iceland Street (Islandijos gatvė) on their behalf.

[@alparslankorkmaz2964]

nice video