Poland, that ugly child of the Versallies treaty, deserved to be destroyed The areas that Russia took where Eastern Slavic areas which corrupt Polish government brutally oppressed The fact that the West still blames Russia for this is a proof of its burning hatred towards Russia and all things Russian
Poland, that ugly child of the Versallies treaty, deserved to be destroyed The areas that Russia took where Eastern Slavic areas which corrupt Polish government brutally oppressed The fact that the West still blames Russia for this is a proof of its burning hatred towards Russia and all things Russian
Actually apart from Belorussians and Ukrainians these areas were also inhabited by millions of Poles and Jews.
In all major towns and cities Poles and Jews were majority. In most voivodeships Poles were also majority.
These areas were not brutally oppressed by the Polish government from 1918 to 1939. Only somce incidents took place in a short period of time.
Certainly these areas were not more "brutally" oppressed by the Polish government than by the Soviet government from 1939 to 1941.
If it comes to alleged Soviet "liberation" (sic!) - Read the excellent book written by Belorussian historian Vladimir Beshanov - "The Red Blitzkrieg" ("Krasnyj Blickrig" / "Czerwony Blitzkrieg"). He describes very well how "liberated" Ukrainians and Belorussians just few months after the Soviet "liberation" stopped to be happy of being "liberated" and started to hate the Soviet administration & government.
If it comes to my personal feelings about Russia and Russian people - I like Russian people and I like Russia as a country and I love its history, culture, literature etc. But I don't like Putin, Stalin, Lenin, Ivan the Terrible and some other Russian political leaders.
I support Russian political opposition (for example such present-day activists like Boris Nemcov and Vladimira Milova), which rightly call that modern Russia needs "De-Putinization". Russians should also finally accept and deal with dark parts of their history - crimes, Communism, etc.
Coming back to Beshanov and his book - he is a very wise, objective and reasonable man (contrary to some Russian "history fanatics").
About Poles, Belorussians, Ukrainians, conflicts, alleged "brutal oppression" by Polish government, supposed Soviet "liberation", etc. he writes:
If it comes to results of different population censuses - if they were falsified or not - and about nationalities in Eastern Poland:
"Thirdly, "everyone wants to live": during the times of Pilsudski it was more comfortable to be Polish, during the times of Stalin it was more comfortable to be Belarussian or Ukrainian."
Beshanov, "Krasnyj Blickrig", page 142
Beshanov about statistics and history:
"Statistics is an equally interesting science to history. Everyone interprets it on their own terms."
Beshanov, "Krasnyj Blickrig", page 142
If it comes to "locals" in Polesie region (mother tongue other or not stated) and "liberation" of so called "Belorussians" in Poland - Beshanov wrote:
"Representatives of this last group, who when asked "who are you?" were answering "we are locals and our language is local" turned out to number over 700,000. Polish demographers were treating "locals" as not fully developed Poles, Soviet - as polonized Belarussians. In the liberated Pinsk [in 1939] editor of "Poleska Prawda", graduate of Communist Institute of Journalists, M. M. Vaganova brought seven private print shops to bankruptcy, in order to organize one huge Soviet print shop as quickly as possible. On 26.09.1939 she printed the first circulation of "Poleska Prawda" in Belarussian language. Her astonishment was great when it turned out that majority of persons who arrived at the ceremony were not able either to acquaint themselves with the programme speech of comrade Molotov, nor with the orders of military authorities, nor with the remarks of "our correspondents" - because they didn't speak Belarussian."
I've just made a short description of 40+ historical events shown in this movie, before posting it (it was not yet completed - I was on the fragment with industrial revolution - around 5:18), but I accidentially clicked something and everything has been lost...
Maybe later I'll do it again...
It should be noted that the vidoe is accurate - for example almost every building shown in this video really exist or existed (e.g. in 1:51 we can see Brama Floriańska - Florian's Gate - in Cracow, it still exists in good shape as well as fragments of Medieval city walls of Cracow).
But I'm not sure why the ommited the 2nd Partition and the time between 1st and 2nd (1772 - 1793), because many important things happened in that period - including many successful reforms and the first modern Constitution in Europe - 3rd May Constitution of 1791.
In the fragment showing the Polish 1018 invasion of Kiev, we can see warriors of Polish Drużyna (Druzhina) of early Polish rulers (mainly duke Mieszko I and king Boleslav Chrobry). They were described by Arabian-Jewish traveller Ibrahim Ibn and chronicler Gallus Anonymus:
Pancerni (mail-coated) Cavalry (also called as Loricati) from Drużyna - Arabian-Jewish traveler from Muslim Spain - Ibrahim-Ibn-Jacob - wrote about them - at the beginning of years 60s of X century, during his travel to countries of Central and Eastern Europe:
„And when it comes to state of Mśko [its about Poland of Mieszko I] (… this rich state abounds in food, meat, honey and cultivating soil. Some part of taxes, trading payments and customs duties which he collects, goes for soldier’s pay of his men. Those payments collected by him constitute trading weights [so coins or monetary units of silver / gold ore]. Each month every of them receive certain number of them. He has got 3,000 of Pancerni, divided into units, and a hundred of them equals 10 hundred of any other men. He gives them clothes, horses, weapons, armour and everything what they need”
If Mieszko had – according to Ibrahim-Ibn-Jakub – 3000 of Pancerni in his state – then his successor – Boleslav I Chrobry – had got – according to Gallus Anonymus – bigger number. He wrote:
“Greater and more numerous are deeds of Boleslav than we can even describe or tell in simple words. What a mathematic master would be able to count exact number of his iron ranks, not even saying about citing descriptions of all of his triumphs and victories – so many of them were ! Because only from Poznan he had [Boleslav] 1300 of Pancerni and 4000 of Tarczownicy, from Gniezno 1500 of Pancerni and 5000 of Tarczownicy, from Wloclavek 800 of Pancerni and 2000 of Tarczownicy, from Giecz 300 of Pancerni and 2000 of Tarczownicy”
There are disputes among Polish historians on who Tarczownicy (in English Shieldman, in Latin Clipeati) were - some say they were infantry (with shields + spears or axes, swords, sometimes javelins, etc.), some others that they were light cavalry (contrary to "mail-coated" Loricati).
Maybe there were both types of soldiers among Tarczownicy (probably also archers etc. were counted as "Tarczownicy").
Events shown in the video (according to my guess):
1) 800 to 900 - central boroughs of the Polanie tribal state are founded, among them mighty boroughs of Gniezno and Poznan (which in the future were capital cities of the Polish state). Myth of the origins of Poland and the city of Gniezno: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_jUes0kslw
2) Borders of Poland by the time of Mieszko I (duke of Poland ca. 960 - 25.05.992), we know them thanks to a Papal State's copy of Mieszko's document in which Mieszko commands his state in the hands of God and under protection of the Pope (Papal copy of this document is titled "Dagome Iudex", original document did not survive to our times).
3) 966 - baptism and subsequent christianization of Poland by Mieszko, also the cathedral of Gniezno (most probably) can be seen at 0:44.
3) 1000 - The Congress of Gniezno or the coronation of Boleslav the Brave (first Polish king) - but if it is this 2nd event then they made mistake in date (he was crowned in 1025, later that year he died).
4) - the Polish invasion of Kievian Rus in 1018, the battle of the town of Volhynia (modern day Gródek Nadbużny in Poland) also called the battle at the Bug River (fought on 22.07.1018 between Boleslav I the Brave and Jaroslav I the Wise) and the subsequent capture of Kiev by Polish king, who dethronized Jaroslav and inthroned Swietopelek (Boleslav's son-in-law) for the ruler of Kievian Rus.
5) probably Mongol invasion of Europe (mainly Hungary and Poland) in 1241 and the battle of Legnica in Polish Silesia during which duke Henryk the Pious was killed.
6) 1226 - Polish duke of Mazovia Konrad Mazowiecki (Poland was in the period of feudal fragmentation then, there was only senioral duke to whom all other dukes should be subordinated - but practice showed that many dukes were not acknowledging his rule, dukes also sometimes fought for the throne of Cracow - Polish capital - and the province of Lesser Poland, in which Cracow is located - who ruled in Cracow, was the most important duke) invites Teutonic Knights to his lands in order to help him in combats against Pagan Prussians - everything what Teutonic Knights would conquer was to belong to Konrad Mazowiecki, but it soon turned out that they aren't going to obey this rule and after conquering Pagan Prussians (it took them - with help of both Polish and Western-European Crusader-Knights - some 50 years) created their own state in Prussia.
7) combats against Teutonic Knights (first Polish-Teutonic conflicts started at the beginning of 1300s - all started when in 1308 Polish king Wladyslav Lokietek asked Teutonic Knights for help in repulsing the Brandenburgian invasion of his lands in Pomerelia (including the city of Gdansk). Teutonic Knights indeed defeated Brandenburgians, but also captured Gdansk (Danzig in German language), slaughtered the population of Gdansk and didn't want to give it back to Poland. Military conflicts continued - with major breaks - for the next over 20 years. Around 1330 Teutonic Order united with the Kingdom of Bohemia and agreed on invading Poland together (they wanted to meet near Kalisz and then conquer Poland). But in 1331 Poles repulsed both invasions - Teutons were delayed by Polish resistance and couldn't get to Kalisz on time, while in the meantime Bohemian forces were repulsed at the gates of Kalisz and retreated back to their country. After dealing with Bohemians Polish king moved his forces north and defeated Teutonic forces in the first phase of the inconclusive battle of Plowce, inflicting them large losses. Then Teutonic reinforcements counterattacked and inflicted also large losses to Polish forces. In the end the battle was inconclusive but Teutonic forces quickly retreated back behind the border and thus the entire war was Polish victory.
8) last years of 12th, entire 13th and first years of 14th century was the time of so called "civic revolution" or "urban revolution" in Poland. Despite political fragmentation and some damage caused by the Mongol invasion in 1241 Polish economy was quickly developing, towns and cities were reorganized in accordance to modern German law (mainly that of Lubeck or Magdeburg), also local Polish civic law was formulated, but it was in use mainly in Mazovia, other Polish provinces prefered German law.
9) 1333 - king Casimir the Great (last ruler from Polish Piast dynasty) starts to rule in Poland after his father Lokietek died. There is a proverb in Poland that Casimir "got hold of wooden Poland and left stone Poland" - because he built large number of stone buildings (he from his own royal budget built at least 53 large stone castles, fortified and surrounded with solid stone walls at least 23 cities; also most important and wealthiest families of knighthood built at least 13 large stone castles and surrounded at least 2 cities with solid stone walls during his rule). He was also a very wise economist and skillful politician - during his rule trade, craftsmanship, farming and transport bloomed.
10) year 1364 is showed - First of all the building we can see at 1:50 is real (Florian's Gate - as I was already writing) and still exists in Cracow. In 1364 it was already there for some 70 years. But in 1364 few important things happened. The first Polish University (and 2nd after the Bohemian Praha University in all of Central, Northern, South-Eastern and Eastern Europe - including all German states) was founded in Cracow. Also building of the new Cathedral was completed in Cracow, at the royal hill of Wawel.
12) we can see the mentioned above University in Cracow as well as trade + Sukiennice (Cloth Hall, Draper's Hall) - the main trade centre of Medieval Cracow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukiennice). Near Sukiennice we can see the large Mariacki Church (both buildings exist in good shape).
13) At 2:19 we can see the map of Polish borders as they were in 1370 (the year of death of Casimir the Great). It should be noted that during the rules of Casimir the Great Poland finally lost (or rather - failed to reunite after the period of feudal fragmentation) some territories (mainly the feudally fragmented Silesia - which was finally completely subordinated to Bohemian kings as their thiefdom, except for some independent duchies and two small duchies which remained under Polish rule), but also gained many new territories (including the so called Red Ruthenia or Halych-Wolhynian Ruthenia together with the city of Lwow - today Lviv in Ukraine, until 1939 part of Poland). Also many feudally fragmented Polish territories were reunited by Casimir, some other were only subordinated (for example Mazovia) and would be reunited in the future (in case of Mazovia part by part through 15th and 16th centuries) after local dynasties would die out. In total at the beginning of Casimir's rule territories which were fully under his control numbered 102,000 square km; and by the end of his rule - 244,000 square km.
14) Poland entered into personal union with Lithuania in 1385 (until that time both countries were rather hostile - Lithuanians often raided Polish borderland and Poles organized retaliatory attacks - both countries also fought against each other for the lands of so called Red Ruthenia - Poland finally won as we already know). Lithuania also received baptism from Polish hands and was christianized.
15) further economic development can be seen, new technologies in farmin, water wells, development of towns and cities (more brick buildings instead of wooden), etc.
16) 1377 - I'm not sure what event it can be. In that year was the retaliatory attack of Polish king Ludwik Węgierski (Ludwik the Hungarian) against Lithuania.
17) 1410 - the so called "Great War" against the Teutonic Order, Polish-Lithuanian coalition (about 2/3 troops from Poland and 1/3 from Lithuania) completely destroyed Teutonic army in the battle of Grunwald. Only some remnants escaped and hid themselves in the mighty castle of Marienburg. Later that year another Teutonic contingent (this time much smaller - main forces ceased to exist at Grunwald) was defeated at Koronowo by Polish forces. This was the decisive defeat of the Teutonic Order - it never regained its previous military and economic power. During the next wars Poland recaptured all of previously lost to the Teutons territories (including Pomerelia and Gdansk / Danzig). Lithuania also recaptured many lands which were previously "christianized" by the Teutons. In 1525 Teutonic State ceased to exist and was transformed into a much smaller secular duchy strongly subordinated to Poland.
18) Trade in Polish cities (including Gdansk) during the "Golden Age" of Poland (it was late 15th - early 17th century, more or less the entire Renaissance Period).
19) Nicolaus Copernicus
20) one of internal courtyards of the castle of Wawel in Cracow
21) Polish trade roads - mainly with England, France, Portugal, Italy, Bohemia.
22) River Vistula and intensive river trade (barges were transporting goods to Gdansk which was the biggest Polish sea harbour and the biggest at the entire Baltic Sea). We can see the Abbey in Tyniec near Cracow in the background (on that white rock).
23) "Restless", burning eastern border of Poland. Many wars were fought between Russia and Poland-Lithuania. Also Tatars (supported by the Ottoman Turks) posed a big threat. But not only foreign countries were the aggressive side. In 1610 Polish forces defeated Russian-Swedish (and supported by mercenaries from all over Europe) large army in the battle of Klushino (recently was the anniversary) and captured Moscow for 2 years - later this achievement was only repeated once - by Napoleon Bonaparte.
24) 1683 - the relief of Austrian capital city Vienna (which was besieged by Turks), which was carried out by combined Polish-German forces under supreme command of Polish king with long-term experiences in combats against Turks - Jan III Sobieski. Polish Winged Hussars heavy cavalry can be seen (read more about their achievements and weaponry, tactics etc. in my thread about the battle of Klushino).
The battle of Vienna in 1683 was the last of amazing and large Polish military victories for the next ca. 100 years. Unfortunately economic and political crisis ("crisis of power", period of chaos and internal conflicts between political parties of rich magnates, who only cared about the interests of their own families and wallets) took place and there was no money to modernize or even trade army. This was even deepend by defeats suffered in the Great Northern War in which Poland officially did not participate, but followers of two opposite Polish political parties participated in it on both sides and als large part of that war was fought on Polish territory, which caused devastation of lands.
25) The noble culture of Poland (Sarmacka culture), nobles and noble ladies are dancing polonaise. Typical manor house of Polish medium nobility can be seen. Then we can see typical palace of Polish magnates and the richest part of nobility. Then we can see that wealthy nobleman with some poor peasants - unfortunately in that period (half of 17th century - half of 18th century) exploitation and oppression of peasants increased in Poland (and other countries of eastern Europe). This was connected with complex ecomonic phenomenons, which were in turn connected with increased economic growth in Western Europe caused by earnings from Colonialism. As the result eastern European countryside practically returned to Medieval times. For example at the beginning of 16th century there was already no serfdom in Poland, but later it was restored (and its height was constantly increasing all the way to around year 1750). Eastern Europe was slowly becoming the "raw material base" (especially food) for Western Europe.
26) The first partition of Poland - 1772.
27) After the first partition many progressive and open-minded Poles opened their eyes and realized that only reforms can save the country's independence. The Board of National Education was established - it was the first modern ministry of education in the world and in Europe. Modern military schools educating officers of the modernized and enlarged Polish army (howether this process of modernizing and enlarging was gradual) were established. The Great Sejm (Great Parliament) - also called the Four Year's Parliament finally declared Europe's first and second in the world modern codified national Constitution - the 3rd May Constitution of 1791. These are only a few examples of these reforms - there were much more of them and they were successful, but unfortunately they were introduced too late and couldn't save Poland.
28) - Russian Empire and other despotic neighbours of Poland didn't like the fact that Poland carries out reforms and declares liberal and modern (like for that period) Constitution. They invaded. The war in defence of the 3rd May Constitution started against Russia (supported later by Prussia). Despite efforts and some victories (for example Zielence in 1792) the outnumbered Polish army was defeated.
29) This led to the second partition of Poland in 1793. The Kosciuszko Uprising was the last desperate chance of saving country's independence (1794), but it was smashed, despite bravery of soldiers and good commanders (Tadeusz Kosciuszko for example, he showed his command abilities yet in the American War for Independce). In fact Poland could partially save its independence if this uprising hadn't been started (as some kind of Russian puppet-state). But after the failure of the uprising three despotic powers - Russia, Prussia and Austria - finally agreed on 3rd (and last) partition of Poland.
Third partition of Poland - 1795.
30) Persecutions of Polish people, especially activists and patriots, etc.
31) 1797 - Polish Legions (fighting alongside Napoleon) created in Italy.
32) 1806 - a victorious anti-Prussian uprising in Greater Poland. Soon Napoleon enters Polish territories and he is welcomed by victorious insurgents. Napoleon agrees on creating a Polish army of 40,000 men (at the beginning). One year later the Duchy of Warsaw - partially independent Polish state - is founded. Poles participated in Napoleon's war and also increase territory of the duchy after victorious war against Austria.
33) 1830 - November Uprising (later the Polish-Russian War of 1830 - 1831). It had real chances of succeeding, Polish army was strong, well armed and better trained than most Russian units, but some commanders and especially political leaders screwed it up.
34) 1863 (ended in 1864) - January Uprising, mainly against Russia again
35) Fryderyk Chopin, one of most famous Polish pianists and composers
36) borders of the Congress Poland (Kingdom of Poland) - also partially independent state created "on the ruins" of the Duchy of Warsaw in 1815 after the Congress of Vienna. Subordinated to the Russian Empire. It had its own government, school system, etc. - even its own army (until it was defeated in the war of 1830 - 1831).
At the same time we can see first railroads and large factories in Congress Poland in the video and in general industrial revolution finally rapidly came to Polish lands.
37) 1918 - after many efforts Poland regains independence again. But the young country has to fight for its borders (both in the West against Germans - who still occupy Greater Poland with Poland's first capital city - Poznan; and against Bolsheviks - who try to spread a "worldwide" revolution and advance west).
38) Soviet advance into Poland during the Polish-Soviet war of 1919 - 1920 and the battle of Warsaw in 1920 in which they were completely defeated and repulsed.
39) Polish industry in Upper Silesia and Central Poland + the new-built harbour of Gdynia (Poland had to built Gdynia because Danzig became a Free City).
40) - 1939 - Nazi Germany and Soviet Union invade Poland.
41) - Nazi Germany's Concentration Camps - in which not only Jews but also Poles, Russians, Gypsies and other nations were suffering.
42) - some part of Polish 1939 army managed to retreat to Romania and Hungary and through entire Europe got to France (where it participated in defending it in June of 1940) and later to England. We can see Polish Armed Forces in the West (there were also ones in the east - helping the Soviet Union) in the battle of Britain in 1940 (in which Polish 303rd was among most efficient squadrons and had best casualty ratio of all Allied squadrons despite flying on obsolete Hurricanes, not Spitfires) and the Massif of Monte Cassino in Italy (fortifications which were part of the Siegfried and Gustav Lines).
43) rebuilding of devastated Poland after WW2 (after just 5 years Polish GDP was again on the pre-war level - this was not merit of Communist Government of Poland which introduced that "5 years planned" but of dilligence of all Polish people).
44) - Solidarity and fighting against Communist Regime
45) - "The Round Table" - bloodless end of Communism in Poland
You should have put some nationalistic flavor into the tl;dr historical exposition, Domen. I was afraid I was getting some objective facts in that post, and that simply wouldn't do in a Polish history thread.
With our callous minds we infect
Other ways of life no regrets
Like a masochist we instigate
While the rest of the world must tolerate
Americon, it's all about the mother f-u-c-k-ing oil
Regardless of the flag upon it's soil
In a blood bath we pad our f-u-c-k-ing greed
The price is high to maintain liberty
Americon, so here we live in a land of deceit
That imprison the minds of the weak
No immunity for swaying the odds
From this resistance strain americon
Americon, some feel the need to play god
No immunity for swaying the odds
From this resilient plague americon
With our poison minds we infest
Other ways of life we ingest
In a blood bath we steal you dignity
The price is high to maintain liberty
Americon!
Now something about ustice in the USA:
"America Prison System is a 37 Billion Dollar Business. The United States has 5 percent of the world's population and 25 percent of the world's incarcerated population. We rank first in the world in locking up our fellow citizens."
Apparently not. Every history forum's got its nationalist Eastern European posters. Sometimes it's the Hungarians and Romanians, sometimes it's the Ukrainians and Russians. Here it's the Poles.
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The areas that Russia took where Eastern Slavic areas which corrupt Polish government brutally oppressed
this rich state abounds in food, meat, honey and cultivating soil. Some part of taxes, trading payments and customs duties which he collects, goes for soldier’s pay of his men. Those payments collected by him constitute trading weights [so coins or monetary units of silver / gold ore]. Each month every of them receive certain number of them. He has got 3,000 of Pancerni, divided into units, and a hundred of them equals 10 hundred of any other men. He gives them clothes, horses, weapons, armour and everything what they need”
- I didn't put any nationalistic flavor, because this thread is not about the history of the United States of America.
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