Learn more about Polish history via this Playlist: The History of Poland: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bMhmlteHs9TQf2w.html

Fun fact, the last veteran of November uprising was born in 1809 and died in 1929, so he had 120 years.

Couple weeks ago, representatives of Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Ukraine including the presidents of Poland and Lithuania took part in the cenermony of reburial of multiple participants and two leaders of the January Uprising including Wincenty Konstanty Kalinowski and Zygmunt Sierakowski, in Vilionous. Their bodies were found during archeological works in areas near the city. It was really a nice ceremony.

THANK YOU for teaching me 1000x more about Poland and its history than my european history class did! Ignore the haters who say to focus on Poland too because they’ve been discussed more than any-other country beside the Netherlands. I find all your videos very informative and enjoyable, hell you’re probably the only one who could make a 20 minute video on Andorran history and make it enjoyable to watch!

Thank you so much for presenting history without any bias. You see, whenever people from Germany present the history of Poland, there is always a certain level of bias, which includes a Prussian perspective that is not necessarily positive or neutral (considering Prussia was clearly Anti-Polish). Yet, you manage to show an unbiased perspective which I am grateful for, so thank you again for it. Another topic what could be interesting would be the Ostsiedlung because it is often too simplified and presented as 'German colonization' which is somewhat false. The Holy Roman Empire wasn't a pure German state but included several Germanic people and even non-Germanic ones. There were also Slavs like Sorbians or Polabians that came to Poland but also several other Germanic people, such as Flemish settlers or even Dutch ones (Polish sources talk about 'olędrzy'). Cities like Gdańsk wasn't simply 'German' but had other ethnicities too like Dutch and Scots which are often forgotten or completely ignored. This is wonderfully presented in the Witcher 3 where you meet someone by the name 'Dijkstra' which is clearly Dutch. There is even a town in Poland called 'Wilamowice' where its inhabitants speak a Germanic language with Dutch and English influence who don't consider themselves as Germans (Deutsche) yet the German minority in Poland says they are Germans. It looks like another attempt to turn another Germanic people into Deutsche even if they don't feel this way. But again, thanks for taking your times and creating your videos to explain the history of Poland/Central-East Europe because it appears to be a 'Terra incognita' to most Western Europeans. Greetings from Poland 🇵🇱

My Grand father who came to the USA at a very young age was born in Poland in 1917 He passed away a few years ago when i looked at his birth record i was surprised to see it was written Russia not Poland as his place of birth now i know why good stuff thanks

My Polish grandfather was in the Russian army in the later part of the 19th century. I wish I knew more about it but I didn't ask questions when everyone was still alive. This video is educational.

Another great vid! I would have said that Poland was integrated into “Russia-proper” in 1867 as opposed to into “the Russian Empire” because from 1815-1867 it WAS part of the Russian Empire, with a status similar to Finland, but not Russia proper.

You forgot to tell about the Austrian part of Poland. "Austrian" poles were somehow "the lucky ones", as Austria, especially after the 1867 Ausgleich (compromise) with Hungary, granted a relatively high degree of autonomy to all ethnic groups including the poles. The Austrians never tried to germanize Poland, instead they granted poles the right to use polish in local administration and education. All feudal remnants were eliminated in 1848, granting peasants emancipation 20 years earlier than Russia. Many poles served in government positions and there was even a polish prime Minister. In the universities of Cracow and lwow/lviv/Lemberg lessons were in polish. Jews were granted full emancipation in 1867 and played an important role in culture and economics (for example, Joseph Roth was born in the almost all-Jewish village of Brody and Ludwig von Mises was born in Lviv. Both were part of the kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, whose eastern part is now part of Ukraine). Obviously the Habsburg empire was not paradise on earth and Galicia was poor, the nobility had a great power and exploited the peasants. However, compared with Prussia and Russia the situation was better

Fascinating. Thank you for the history lesson. It just goes to show that Poland has had to fight for its existence not just in the 20th century but the. previous century too. Compared with Poland, the UK where I am from has had a much easier ride thanks to an empire and the English Channel.

I must admit your channel fascinates me since the very start when i accidentally boomed into it, the amount of work you put in and the amount you give back which is shown in your videos is great! I dont know i ever saw a foreign youtube channel speaking and talking about Polish history in such detail, mentioning the Polish heroism, the Polish years of triumph as the Polish-lithuanian commonwealth as well as my countries years and decades of troubles after the partitions and of course things that many may not have heard about like the liberation of your home town by General Maczek. For that i give this vid a like, and a subscription because you deserve it and im waiting for more videos. :)

Thanks for your episode on Poland, a nation I have come to love. I led 3 mission trips to Lutheran churches in Silesia, and was treated to many historical sites by the very hospitable people. Will you do more such episodes covering Poland’s sad experiences in the 20th century?

Nice Job. Thx a lot. Pozdrowienia z Polski.

Wow, I learnt so much! Thanks!

One of the most, if not the most important center of Polish culture after the partitions was the kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria where Polish was an official language and Polish culture and education could expand without any major interference from Austrian empire, with some small exceptions. In late XIX century, a Pole, Kazimierz Badeni became a Prime Minister of Austrian government. Thats one of the reasons for strong sentiment of Poles towards Lviv/Lwów and Galicia in general

Thank you for this clear explanation! As the great-grandchild of Polish immigrants to the USA, I have been trying to understand this annexation story for a few years. With your help, I think I can finally begin to see more clearly why my ancestors left this beautiful land. This is a really important story for the world to understand in these troubled times.

Thank you for the best explanation of partitioned Poland on KZfaq!

Just discovered your channel. Great content!

It's very interesting. My Jewish great grandfather was born 1878 in Warsaw. He always claimed Russia as his birth country, but I've seen him list "Russian Poland". My ancestors left Warsaw between 1890-1900 while it was still Russia. I believe it became Poland again around WWI

Thank you, excellent explanation. Cheers from Paris

your channel is so diverse and that's why I like it

My great grandfather on my dad's side was in German occupation zone. He taught my grandpa and his siblings how to read and write in Polish from old newspapers and books as there was no polish language classes. My dad on the other hand took great pride in not studying Russian language as did majority of his friends as well. Sort of middle finger to the occupier.

I feel bad for the Polish people they were never left alone

Polish culture, Roman Catholic traditions and spirit to see a new Polish nation kept the Poles fighting for freedom. Thankfully these are the best times for Poland. I've found a video on Poles living in Persia during the 1940's - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ftZ6qaeCu77DdJc.html. It was also an interesting topic that could help you.

Binge watching the channel because I love history.

Very interesting. I was aware of some of this information but not as detailed. As you can see, I have my original Polish sur name(almost original. My grand father changed the 'J', Rajkiewicz, to a 'y', Raykiewicz.) He was born in the city of Grodno, Russian occupied Poland in 1886. But brought to the USA by his parents, my Great grand parents, in 1890. So, I think my grand father 'Americanized' his/my last name a little. I believe, my great grand parents were educated to so degree. Because, upon immigrating into the US in New York, they could write their proper name. Which many immigrants, at that time, from that area, could not. I don't know to this day, if my grand father took part in one the many up rising that you mentioned. And, at some point, around 1889 or so, they took my infant grand father up in their arms, traveled some how across Europe. Got on a steam ship, went across the Atlantic ocean, and entered New York, with a three year old, to start a new life in a new land. My wonderful grand father grew up and lived his entire life as an American. I now have many second and third cousins. None of whom have ever changed our funny eastern Polish name , with the 'y' instead of the 'j'. Sorry for the long post. Sincerely, Bruce F. Raykiewicz/Rajkiewicz

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At that time some interesting thing were happen. For instins. Polish language was treated as foregin language, so teachers were forces to teach polish language to poles... in russian language.

I am amazed at the huge shifts in borders while it is so close and not taught in school.

8:00 it was also called "Rzeczpospolita Krakowska" :D

Great presentation on a topic which is generally ignored by the Crimea campaigns love to see a video on the Polish annexation of parts of Czechoslovakia in 1938 and also the Slovakian invasion of Poland in 1939 two subjects which seem Taboo in history programs keep up the good work .

So other than that free Polish city, I think I would probably immigrate if I was Polish. Prussia and Russia both wanted to turn the regions into Prussia and Russia. Though you didn't mention what was Austrian Poland like for Polish people to live in? I am guessing they probably wanted Poland to become Austrian, perhaps you should make a video on it? Good video btw.

6 of my 8 great grandparents immigrated to the USA at the turn of the 20th Century from Galicia. All of their records at Ellis Island in NY says that they were from Austria. Needless to say they weren't Austrian!

For a 10 minute video you couldn't have summed it up much better, good job! Two cents from me: I was born in a town that during most of that period was in Austro-Hungary (later it sat directly on the border with Galicja)and had luck to have great history teachers growing there. I was astonished how multicultural it was through centuries with, Catholic, Jews and Protestants lived hand in hand through centuries. And there... It was fine. Town was back then very multicultural with Austrian-Germans, Jews, Czechs, among other nationalities and Polish people were mostly working class that didn't care enough for uprising. Austrian rule ment a fast direct train to Vienna (nowadays you can't get to Vienna or even Kraków by train in the same time that this train needed...) and good economy with little repression. Most severe I can think of right now that poorer workers - so most Polish people couldn't settle in the city with rich Jewish and German Factory owners and traders, though I think that was more related to class than nationality. And boy, the economy was good, by XX century we were one of first cities in Europe that had electric lighting, trams etc. One thing I can't help but notice especially since I've immigrated. You mentioned that all the repressions against the Polish, especially under Russian occupation were directed at Catholic church. That's unfortunately very true. Catholic church for centuries was a stronghold of Polish culture. To this day any criticism of church is associated with these repressions by a lot of people, to the level that most influential politicians claim that attack on church equals attack on Poland. It's really hard to get rid of that attitude and church uses it to take land from the state for little or no money, cover peadofillia cases and to act as a political force. After all - if you criticise anything church does the argument becomes that you are not different from Russian occupants from they time and you're anti Polish. And it's a shouting match not a logical conversation. From a guardian it's become a parasite deeply ingrown in the system that even change of generations doesn't seem to cure.

Russia and Germany split up Poland in 1939 also.

You wouldn't have to change a whole lot of this and you'd get what happened to Poland between WWI and WWII. 😞

Very interesting, Stefan, but what about the Lithuanians? They seem to get forgotten, even by the Poles. And for a real twist what about the Masurians? These are the Polish-speaking Protestants who were despised by the Polish RCs and sort of tolerated by the Germans. Many later moved to the Ruhrgebiet in Germany where you can still find their descendants. I met some when I was there 25 years ago. They were holding on to their language in the Ruhrgebiet until the NS took over. I was surprised that the RC church was outlawed in Congress Poland. I never heard of it. Thanks. Stephan in Canada

It's a common misconception that Poland didn't exist for 123 years. In fact for most of this time there was some kind of polish state - in form of Polish Kingdom in personal union with russian tzar that was a king of Poland as well - since Congress of Vienna. So - since Third Partition of Poland in 1795, there was no Poland whatsoever on map for only 12 years. Then Napoleon erected Duchy of Warsaw in 1807 and then in 1815 Polish Kingdom replaced it till the 1917, when independant Second Polish Republic was founded.

Ya should do an episode on the Kingdom of Galicia. Poles had a pretty big influence on austrian politics over the XIX century and it's an interesting yet complex topic

While off-topic, it’s a good reference, in 1846 the United states committed as one opponent said was a war similar to the dismemberment of Poland by Russia and its neighbors, and similar to old world European conflicts. The exact quote is “ Our Mexican War is as good, and as bad, as the war of France against the Algerines, - that of the Russians against the Circassians, - and that of the English against the Sikhs. And, if we speak of dismemberment, Poland now stands not alone. But if the period should ever arrive when the largest republic on earth, next to our own, and the most hopeful and consistent one, is blotted out of the record of nations and becomes the Poland of the West, we shall stand condemned in the eyes of heaven and our own. as the authors of so tremendous a catastrophe.” If you’re interested in it I would read the Anti Texas Legion Protest or the War with Mexico reviewed by Abiel Livermoore which is where and who this quote was from denouncing wars in civilized society and the Mexican war in general , pretty good works

I wish there was a setting for the level of accent.

6:41 That's actually not Frederick the sixth, but Frederick William the fourth.

me, a pole and history bachelor, watching this video to see how well westerners are educated about this my biggest problem is about november uprising it fell mostly because its leaders werent deceicive enough and you didnt even mention it

One of the most famous films about life in Russian Poland in the 19th century. The Promised Land (Polish: Ziemia obiecana) is a 1974 film by Polish director Andrzej Wajda. Screen adaptation of the novel of the same name by Nobel Prize winner in literature Vladislav Reymont. The time of the novel by Vladislav Reymont is the 1880s. The scene is the industrial city of Lodz. The film received the Golden Prize at the IX Moscow Film Festival in 1975. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iLh5ndCVyrazaYU.html

"measures", not 'measurements'

The Austro Hungarians also occupied Poland eg Limbourg, Lvov - now part of Ukraine . Good work

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The Russians and Germans failed the denationalization action. Russia itself was too weak culturally to Russify Poles. Even the Germans failed in this art. Bismarck pronounced "Kulturkampf" on Poles, spending millions of contemporary marks for this purpose in the hope of buying land from Poles and weakening the Catholic Church. Fortunately, in vain. Despite the lack of their own self-government, Poles passed the exam.

Polish nationalism was captured by Roman Catholicism during the second half of the nineteenth century. This coincided with a campaign in the Russian Empire to drive the Jews from the country by means of pogroms. The loss of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth meant, for the Jews, a loss of legal status, a disaster. Where Poland gave legal protections to the Jews, Prussia, Russia, and Austria were hostile, punitive towards the Jews. (Austria changed after the 1848 revolution.) Polish Jews were full participants in movements to regain Polish independence.

Galicja and Lodomeria -Polls caled it gollicja(land that will stripe of you clothes) i głodomeria (famine land). Thanks to Austrohungarian oficials Pesants get land with Huge debt, and just before time of January uprising they revolt aginst aristocracy kiling Polish land owners with their fimilies and servants.They did this by farm tools like scythes, hamers. Stuff very similiar towards later anti polish Ukrainian action in1943-1944 caled Rzeź Wołyńska. Austrohungarian gov did react only after they do what its oficials wanted, thanks to this uprisng on Austrohungarian soil didnt hapend. Austrohungarian Intel was a thing and you may end up in prison when fly do pup on portrait of Austrohungarian leader (similiar to modern North Korean Republic).

Given the Russkie invasion of Ukraine, it can be confirmed that Poles aren't Russophobic... they're Russ-aware!

Seems fair

Unhappy familly Fatherland trying to abuse Motherland. Ending kids hates both of them

And Austrian thi

Well. For me that history is poor. As a teacher I would never say it like that. The name of the video is a joke.

The Napoleonic idea of self-determination? How can a history teacher say something as absurd as that?

Poland? HMM... Is a art of a worms? WTF "wilno"?

No. The Poles lived happily under us. That's just Prussian propaganda that they didn't.