Man. If you were born Polish in 1900 you were about to go through a whole lot of bad if you survived to fifty.

Thank you for addressing this bit of history. My family is Lithuanian; but my father’s side spoke Polish, and fought on the side of the Poles. My mother’s side fought for the Lithuanians.

As a Lithuanian, I got to say, no one ever pronounces our funky names right, but you were pretty close Jessie, I will give you a solid 8 on Lithuanian name pronounciation.

as a lithuanian, never seen events of that part of history laid down in such a broad and yet deep strokes. thanks for creating such a quality video

As Polish im happy that our nations are independent . We have had great history together and now hope peace will unite us and let us live free and happy . Salute Lietuva!!!

For those of you who were wondering, Vilnius would eventually be handed over to Lithuania in 1939 by the USSR after the Red Army captured the city from the Poles. Less than a year later, of course, the Red Army would "compel" Lithuania to join the USSR.

Greetings from Lithuania. The amount of historical accuracy is astonishing. Thank you for this.

I wonder how the average soldier felt when after quitting fighting in the Czar's army, he ends up being conscripted again 2 years later by the Bolsheviks who came to power by promising an end to war.

It is always a sad and pathetic situation when brothers fight against each other. Greetings to LT from PL.

Crazy times. Greetings from Poland, Bros! Never more war between us. United we are strong. Sveikinai iś Lenkijos ;)

I feel very fortunate to grow up in a time when Europe is mostly peaceful. Let's hope it stays that way. 🙏

"A multiethnic state surrounded by hostile neighbours" Sums up pretty well literally every country in Central and Eastern Europe in interwar period.

That last Pilsudski's quote it's truly devastating

The Lithuanian language was banned by the tsarist authorities after 1830 upheaval suppression but the Polish language, as the language of the Slavic majority in the general Seimas, was adopted in Commonwealth in the 17th century and was patronized by the Catholic church. Tsar's police exiled the whole Lithuanianfamilies to Siberia for finding at least one Lithuanian book 📙.

I find it so sad seeing the Polish and Lithuanians fight against each other

Pilsudski himself was one of those hybrid identity nobles (would sometimes call himself an "old Litwin"). Also, the reason Poland took "so little" land from the Soviets is that Polish political factions (which were negotiating the treaty of Riga) didn't want too many minorities in their country. The Soviets actually offered Poland more land.

These episodes that deal with what happened after the war are fascinating. I would have never known what happened after the treaty of Versailles if not for this channel

As a Lithuanian from Vilnius region I have substancial historical memory in a family. My grandmother, born 1902, recalling that her parents used to speak to each other Lithuanian in order to hide matters from the kids. So she was aware that she was Lithuanian, also not knowing language and speaking polish. To the old age she used to spoke Polish whenever with her friends, while in the family she spoke Lithuanian. And she used to speak angrily about some relatives which try to pretend being Polish, the landlords, not a peasants. I myself know Polish relatively well without learning it formally, just so casualy.

Great discussion. I'm 2nd generation Lithuanian and have little knowledge of this conflict. Great job on the horrendous names!

Lithuania was multi ethnic state from very begining, uniting pegans, then slavs, nomadic tribes like tatars etc, it was melting pot for centuries. Finally cause of the pressure of longest teutonic crusades (and other aggressors), United with Poland, where 2 Lithuanians split control of poland and GDL. The potential for this union was superb, expecialy after zalgiris battle, but jealousy, intrigue failed this alliance. Polish and Lithuania still feel bitter towards each other, but hopefully we will rebuild trust and love between these two nations.

My grandpa George is lithuanian...95 yrs old and those boys are tough as nails

a mention that Pilsudski was generally from Vilnus would be useful

This war is special to me as my great grand father was one of the generals fighting for lithuania

I am a proud member of Lithuanian Rifleman Uninion 100 years later. Even though we have our bitter history with Poland, I consider them our closest allies in terms of values and history.

Thanks from Lithuania 🇱🇹❤️🇱🇹.

The Commonwealth looking on like “My boys”

This is a fascinating video about Lithuanian history - really enjoyed it. Thanks for making it!

Awesome video. My mother's family lived in Vilnius at the time. People of Vilnius spoke Polish and considered themselves Lithuanian. They were loyal to the idea of Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth. When Taryba proclaimed independence of Lithuania, they promised a Lithuanian speaking state separate from Poland. Polish speaking Lithuanians of Vilnius wouldn't have it. Piłsudski himself always considered himself LITHUANIAN. The division drew lines in families too. First president of Poland Gabriel Narutowicz had a brother (Stanislavas Narutavičius) who supported the Lithuanian Republic's side and is said to have authored the Lithuanian declaration of independence. Polish speaking Lithuanians either supported the Republic of Lithuania or the Polish commonwealth. The conflict is said to have saved the Lithuanian language. As an act of defiance, Polish speaking Lithuanians learned and started speaking the language of their ancestors. Polish was a prevalent language in Lithuania at the time. When Zeligowski's division was approaching Vilnius, some soldiers deserted not wanting to fight their brothers. Orders were shouted in Polish on both sides. Not every Lithuanian spoke Lithuanian but every Lithuanian spoke Polish. Dying soldiers on both sides were praying in Polish which was heartbreaking to everybody. I'm proud that Lithuanians were able to survive as a nation and were able to preserve their once endangered language.

First Polish President, Jozef Pilsudski, himself, was from a family of Polonised Lithuanian gentry, which no doubt explains why he was so interested in renewing the old Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Curzon and his stupid lines never ceases to amaze me. Possibly worst Governor general of India also.

Thank you for a great episode! Greetings from Vilnius!

It's also worth mentioning that the victories polish war with mighty Soviet red army in 1920 was fought only 8 months after Poland gained independence in 1919. Poland disappeared from the maps for 123 years.

26:20 Lithuanian army by this time was bigger than Żeligowski's army. It was smaller than Polish army as a whole.

Last time I was this early, it was still the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

These videos have really filled out my knowledge of Poland's military situation prior to 1939.

I'm always interested in these relatively little know events in the inter-war period, thanks for sharing this awesome high quality videos with us!

Between the two World Wars the Lithuanian-Polish relations were so bad that it was impossible to send a letter directly from one country to the other.

I am from Vilnius but learned something new, today. Thank you.

My Grandparents left Vilnius around 1910 to come to America. I think they left just in time.

Vilnius vėl priglaus pulkus!🇱🇹❤️

Polish-Lithuanian War...against whom tho?

My grandfather born in Bryansk, Belarus, was impressed into the Russian army and went AWOL. He escaped home only to be impressed into the Polish army from which he also ran away. He was only sixteen years old. He eventually made it to New York a hundred years ago this month, July 1921.

Gdy zwiedzim Warszawę, już nam pilno. - Zobaczyć, to *nasze* stare Wilno. It's sad the Federation wasn't meant to be. As I also had family on both sides of the war - it was truly a war between brotherly nations.

Lithuanians and Poles are brothers and should always cooperate. Such a pity this war happened...

Wars everywhere! It would seem that those who held that the 'interwar 'years were simply a 'halftime' between the two major clashes are right.

Really sad story to be honest. I mean compared to the times when Lithuania and Poland was one coutry and would roll together to kick some ukrainian and russian asses together and reaching black sea. Greetings from Lithuania to Poland. I wish our nations would cooperate more without taking each others identiy.

I'm glad there isn't a test after watching this one.

Sad you didn't mention Pilsudski - Narutowicz families (edit: or brothers Вацлаў Іваноўскі, Tadas Ivanauskas and Jerzy Iwanowski) as an example. That would give more context in Polish Lithuanian relations in my opinion.

this feels like watching two best friends fight..

Pilsudski was from Lithuania and wanted to reestablish Commonwealth, lithuanians wanted to be independent and not under polish boot.

Whit all the respect for Poland, but the Polish occupation of Vilnius and the creation of the Central Lithuanian Republic look's like in today's Russia (Crimea)

A magnificent piece of work! Thank you for producing such work.

🇱🇹🤝🇵🇱

Lithuania: we’ll let you pass through our land if you give us our city. Soviets: but of course. *actually don’t give back the city* Lithuania: surprised pikachu face

What is important but omitted in the video is the fact that Pilsudski himself was from Vilnius region. So it was very personal for him to capture the city.

Well presented account of a particular chapter of Polish/Lithuanian history.

Awesome video. They should show this in history classes!

It`s worth mentioning that Piłsudski was a Polish-speaking Lithuanian himself , born and raised in the Vilnius district.

Tbh, I kind of found it sad that Polish and Lithuanians fought each other when they had such a great relationship

Living in Lithuania as a non native, It saddens me deeply to know that Lithuania and Poland fought against each other due to basically being forced by a third party. Knowing that they had such a big alliance in old times, and fought side by side like in Tannenberg. It is just a sad and dark spot in Lithuanian - Polish history.

Polish-Lithuanian War? Against whom?

"...and his pitch-black beard lay on his chest like an icon on a corpse." Similies only a Russian would use.

Poles still like to joke about taking Vilnus back, but I'm glad that our relations with Lithuania are getting better and better. Being locked between Germany and Russia makes you appreciate friendly neighbours.

Both countries were at theirs best when they formed the Polish-Lithuanian Kingdom starting in 14th century through 18th century. The Kingdom was the biggest in Europe with the largest population. Great and very informative program, thanks a lot.

Some people in Poland or Lithuania might not like it, but after studying history, have to admit that Poland and Lithuania nations are like brothers.. Lets say Poland is older and bigger brother.. And brothers sometime fighting. And to Belarusian people.. You like our cousin.

It was stupid conflict. We were stronger together. Many land of Lithuania were taken and given to Belarus which is artificial creation of ZSRR and their land should belong to Lithuanian.

Oh, those paradoxes of history! What do you make of a historically Lithuanian city in which virtually no one speaks Lithuanian anymore? That was Vilnius in 1920. Żeligowski's troops were simply coming home. (The general's family dated back to 16th-century Lithuania, by the way.) So, you can't blame the Lithuanians for wanting their historical capital back and you can't blame Vilnius Poles for wanting to keep their homes and culture as they saw it. Even today, the area around Vilnius is full of Polish-speaking villages. Maybe the solution would be to adopt the Irish way? Most Irish people speak English but that doesn't make them English, does it? The Irish accent in English is so distinct it serves almost as a substitute for the national language (which, of course, exists but is spoken by a negligible minority in Ireland). The problem with today's Polish-speaking Lithuanians, though, is that they insist on calling themselves Lithuanian Poles, not Polish Lithuanians. It's a pity, in my opinion - and I say this as an ethnic Pole from Poland.

5:45 Such situation of changing languages was also simular on Ruthenia. There in census 1921 declared the same percentage of Ukrainias (by nationality), as in census 1931 asking for a native language.

Love from Poland. ❤️❤️

A complex situation which is explained very clearly - thanks!

My grandmother told how she remembered her grandmother - she had garden tea parties where she and other ladies qould wear gloves. She spoke Polish as status symbol even she had absolutely absolutely no polish roots.

Just signed up for the great courses! Glad I could help out the show.

Interesting to see the Polish Army light machinegun detachment at 26:05 using Madsens from Denmark.

A “new” series you could do is cover the stuff in the Great War that you didn’t have time to Great channel 👍

Vilnius and the Vilnius coast were always the capital of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Gediminas in 1323 and never Poland, in 1569 it was the union of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Poland, Zespopolita is a republic of two nations.

9:59 i think you have mistaken Vistula with Vilia river. Great video!

Thank you for the video!

France wanted a strong Poland, British not so much. Lloyd George was very anti-Polish

Vilnius has always been the capital of Lithuania

I read that if you were born in 1921 in Russia, you had less then a 2 % chance of living till 1945. I suspect the similar rates for Poles given the Spainish Flu of 1917 to1921, the internal fights within Poland (and even more so in Russia) and the German occupation of 1939 till 1945 of Poland. It was a rough time to be alive in Eastern Europe.

My Grandfather didn't want his son to be drafted into the Lithuanian army and besides the rest of his children were already living in the United States. So Grandfather decided to leave Lithuania with my uncle and my Mother. They left Lithuania in 1921 and went to America. If they waited or took their time they wuould have been stuck as the USA basically closed its borders in 1924. My Mother and my uncle would have been in Lithuania at the time of the 1941 German invasion. Trouble for us. Jozef Pilsudski was born around Vilnius and his heart is buried there.

Thanks for the video!!! I learned couple of new things that I didn't know before! I'm Lithuanian living abroad ☺️

Thanks for your work man. It's great to hear about this war.

Jozef Pilsudski was born in Vilnius. Pilsudski considered himself both Polish and Lithuanian.

Wow, this guy is fantastic at reading Polish names. The only "mistake" he did was the way he read word: Eustachy

RIP Intermarium.

I have never heard about that war before. As a Pole I'm sure that we are not teached too much about that war in our schools... Anyway, great video, I will share this video with my friends so that they can expand their knowledge of history.

Even after a horrific war the bloodshed continued

There is one mistake with the map that shows the Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. In 1920 Estonia had already signed a peace treaty with Soviet Russia and the borders were established. On the map it seems that it is part of the battlefront and controlled by Red army which was kicked out long time ago + Estonian army had freed northern Latvia.

Small nations will always be a small coin in a big political game. that's how the world works.

Did anyone keep track of how many times Vilnius changed hands? I lost count.

Great video. My ancestry is around half Lithuanian.

Excellent piece.

Pilsudski was right. Internal Polish political divisions, British meddling, Russian Communist opportunism, Ukrainian lack of statehood, Jewish self-interest, Lithuanian pettiness all contributed to frustrating the creation of a large enough and strong enough country/union/state that could defend itself from future Russian or future German aggression, and look what that caused. The biggest war ever. It is still an unresolved problem today, and will remain a mess because it never got fixed. Pilsudski could see that 100 years ago. Now that's real vision.

An excellent presentation, thank you.

who was the lithuanian who said "a nation consists more of the dead than of the living" maddest thing i've ever heard, though i suppose padraig pearce and moseley both made similar statements

If you were born in 1914 in Vilnius you would have been Russian, German, Lithuanian, Soviet, Lithuanian, Polish, Soviet, German, Soviet and Lithuanian, if you managed to survive 2 world wars and lived to 1991.

This is a great summary! Thank you

I did not expect to be so fascinated by this video when I first clicked it, wow

7:00 'nationalistic Poland' wut...? Piłsudski was the leader of 'PPS' - Polish Social Party and forced idea of federalisation in oppose to unification (that changed after his death in 1935 also due failure of the idea) 10:00 which bridge was occupied in Poland by Polish troops in 1920...? Wisła is in Poland, not Latwia...