The Baltic states in Putin's shadow | DW Documentary
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- The Baltic states regained independence more than 30 years ago. Now, Russia has them looking over their shoulder, again. Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine has left many people wondering whether Russia will set its power-hungry sights on the Baltic states, once more.
"There’s only one enemy and that’s Russia," says Estonian national Ain Tähiste, summing up his views on the issue in a sentence: "Latvia, Finland, Sweden - and on the Baltic Sea Poland, Germany, Denmark," he continues, "they’re all friends, but not the Russian neighbor.”
"It’s naïve to think Russia’s far away," he adds.
Ain Tähiste guides the reporter team through the military museum on Hiiumaa. The Estonian island in the west of the country was off-limits to tourists during Soviet rule, because its location on the Baltic Sea made it strategically important to Moscow. Since the start of the Russian war on Ukraine, Estonia has removed old Soviet monuments form public spaces and banished some of them to museums. "The Soviet Union occupied Estonia in 1940," Ain explains. "Are we still expected to pay our respects to the troops that occupied us? No, it was high time this happened!”
22-year-old Matthias Merelaine is from Tallinn and has no direct experience of the Soviet era. He’s nevertheless preoccupied by the question of whether Russia will try to return to the Baltics. "We’d be ready," he says, "to go to the front, weapon in hand, to fight the enemy and defend the homeland."
National guards are booming in Baltic nations - including Lithuania. Paulus Jurkus, son of a fisher from Kleipėda, says he wouldn’t run away, if attacked. The only port city in Lithuania, his home is not far from the border with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.
This new aversion to Russians is also omnipresent in Latvia. Lauris Aleksejevs is a top chef in Latvia’s traditional seaside resort of Jurmala. The Russians used to be big spenders at Lauris’ restaurant. And since Latvia closed its borders to Russians, his income has nosedived. But he refuses to do business with the enemy.
#documentary #dwdocumentary
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I admire the baltic states for their resilience and defiance to their past occupiers. As a Swede it feels great to have you guys closeby 🇸🇪❤️🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹
Thank you from Lithuania! ))
Thank you! Respect!
Love to Sweden from Estonia.. standing together, stronger than ever
...and Love to Sweden from Latvia. ❤❤
Tack från Litauere 🎉
38 years in Estonia and you haven’t learned Estonian? Thats really disrespectful.
to say the least...
some Russians are loyal decent citizens in Baltic countries, but some just refuse to learn language, calling us "NATO nazzees" and they love Putin 🤷
When I went to the baltics it was the same story over and over. Locals feeling as the minority in their own country due to soviet era relocalization of russians and nowadays russian inmigration
That's ignorant. America used to be full of immigrants from Poland who didn't learn English well by the end of their lifespan. That doesn't make them Polish fifth columnists.
Even the young woman doesn't understand that she is part of the problem.
In Slovakia we have this man who adored Russia so much, he travelled to Narva to swim the river and get to the other side, to live in the russian paradise as he imagined it.. After getting to the other side he was immediately arrested, tortured in rotten jail, and after some time deported back home. He's not a fan anymore! That's a message for you russia lovers, go there and see how you like it...
👍👍
Evidences?
ANY? 😂😂😂😂😂
@@fingerprint8479don’t need it . Everyone knows this except the deceived.. it’s still the soviet mindset.
@@Ukie88 Sure, those who live inside the psychobabble disinformation bubble created by Washington have learned to believe talk dispensing evidences.
Enjoy
@@Ukie88no proof needed, your name says it all., 😂 but how can some TH-cam commentator be so sure that the swimming thing was not a sponsored spy and a natural lover of a foreign neighbours-in-rivals country? 🤔
Please, no Russians "settled" in Narva. The local Estonian farmers and homeowners were forcibly deported to the Siberian gulags and the Russians moved in to occupy their homes.
Please! What year were you born? Did you witness the settlement personally? This was part of the Russian Empire long before it was ever part of the Soviet Union.
@@tmikey1964 No, the soviets barred any estonians from reentering and rebuilding the city after it was devastated as a frontline city in ww2. Then they imported their own people into the ruins to rebuild it after the war.
@@tmikey1964 it was the whole soviet strategy, to russify a country you invaded by taking its people and replacing them with its own.
@@tmikey1964 Narva was old Hanseatic city with old town similar to Tallinn or Vilnius, until russians bombed it all to ruins, although there was no german troops there. The bombed other our cities too, Tallinn, Tartu etc. Local people, all of them, including russians who lived there (don't think vatniks had any more "love" to foreign russians than Baltic "fascist nations" of Estonains, Latvians and Lithuanians), could not return to their homes, basically new ugly soviet city was built at the place of the old Narva with tens of thousands soviet people brought in.
@@bds4410 I invaded? I did not invade anyone, as far as I can recall.
I know of some Lithuanians who took in Ukrainians that fled the war. Much respect!
I am glad to know your country is welcoming to 🇨🇦 people. We share so many geographical areas, Arctic Ocean, coast lines, and the drive for a better life and country.
God bless them
Yeah sure and over 2 million moved to Russia for protection -
Deutsche Welle - the Baltic states DID NOT become "independent from the Soviet Union", but rather ended the Soviet occupation. They became independent from Russia in 1918.
That's some historic revisionism allright
@@golmgolm it's only revising the systematically falsified Kremlin propagandist historiography. The entire democratic world treats the version of the Baltic states as the truthful historiography.
They had their history ,in the civilized world before they were occupied by the barbariens.Yes, that is what most Russians are.Will they change?
Well, Lithuanian politician went to Soviet Parlament consisting of Soviet politicians and representatives from other occupied countries and basically said Fuck you we are out. Standed their ground and left and others followed later
@@golmgolmKremlin-falsified history indeed needs to be revised.
as a dane i love, admire, respect and support our dear baltic brothers and hope they all will remain prosperous and peacefull. all the best from denmark !!!!
as a great dane you mean? great denmark, one of the last imperialists...
@@daeph123 have you talked to your brain lately ????
Makes sense, both of you liked Austrian painter back in the time.
as a "conquerer`s child" being born in Latvia, I consider myself as a Latvian and definitely going to defend the land I've born
Great! I'm Czech and I know several people like you. I had a great friend from Riga whose mother tongue was Russian but she also spoke very good Latvian and proudly considered herself Latvian. Sincere greetings from Czechia!
good man
Do you think Russians really care about your Chihuahua Baltic states? you have the territory and population less than a single Moscow suburb. The only reason they went in there in the 1940 is to secure their flank against Hitler and they stayed there later to ward off NATO.
Your inflated sense of importance is laughable, you even pick up the fight with China nowadays for interest of your western masters... When i think of Baltic states I just see weak gay sycophants, with pathological hate of Russia and blind subservience to the global US Empire……
I hope by ‘defend’ you did not mean what Ruscists mean when they say ‘we are liberating Ukraine’, and what Soviets meant when they said they'd liberated the countries they made to be a part of the USSR.
@@martavdz4972
Czech....how can you be Rusky and Estonian if Estonians will expulse you ?
Or Latvian.
Or.....
The Baltic States and the rest of the former Soviet nations know exactly what the orcs are capable of. Hence why Ukraine is fighting as valiantly as they are.
Huge respect for Elena and Chulpan standing with their faces against Putin, thus cutting their way back to the homeland and loved ones. It's a great sacrifice. People like them are a rare breed. I wouldn't have the guts to do the same and I admire them.
Your admiration means shit.
What about USA's hunger for power? NATO aggression is why their is a war. NATO broke its own conditions. Make it make sense, DW!!
Both Elena and Chulpan should stay in their Russia - we do no need them in our human countries
Putin has 80% of his army fighting Ukraine, He cant attack anyone in a real way !!
They're not very smart to run to Riga though, when almost half of the population are Russian. If I were them, I would run far away from Ruzzia, like Portugal or Spain.
People of the Baltic states are beautiful people!
I've visited Lithuania and Latvia so far, next month I'll finally come and visit Estonia :)
greetings from Biržai Lithuania
September is rainy but usually warmish. Welcome!
If you come to Tartu then we can have a drink together.
if you are an old fat drunk man from england, please visit us, we love you britsh handsome divorcees, you are so attractive........
Welcome!
I liked Alina in Narva, Estonia. Such a fine young lady, great values, not brainwashed by Russian TV, knows right from wrong.
Exactly - Alina is such a great person!
Обычная девушка, промытая западной пропагандой, нецензурно матерящаяся через плакаты на улице.
She’s just trying to be accepted by Estonians and integrate fully forgetting her roots. She’s pretending to have good relations with her parents.
26:37 "If we were in Russia, we'd have money". No, if you were in Russia, you'd get drafted into the army. How does he not see this?
he should leave, but deep down he knows there's nothing there but misery and death
BS
You have no clue, obviously
@@apstuxa
Oh,oh,oh...
You good, i bad.
Yes boss.
F.O. man
@@GoodMan_000 you're real useful, keep being useful and your life will be great, no doubt
They pay you good money in the Ruzzian army. If you die, that is your fault.
As a Brit living in Latvia, I feel a great fondness for these little states that stood up to the aggressive Russian bear in the 90s and that have since forged their own paths and not the oppressive and restrictive Soviet route that now continues under Putin. Take a look, for example, at the press freedom index and see how free the Baltics are _especially_ compared to Russia (which is right down at the bottom with the likes of Belarus, North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan and China). Plus, of course, their solid support for Ukraine. And the fluent and articulate English that many speak in the Baltics has to be noted too!
Press freedom: Latvia imposed fines for watching russian TV
@@petiaivolk so you mean more press freedom in Russia than in Lativia?😂
Satan...are you blabbering giberish ?
What do you really know ?
@@hkwo829 press freedom in Russia is rock bottom oit of 196 nations on earth
British looted colonised most of the world...just read your own very terrible history
I mean. what is stoping those russians who support the "old ways" go to russia, and fully enjoy it
Exactly. These people want to live with EU benefits, those are just economic cancer-like migrants.
they don't want to live in a shithole...
we are asking the same question since 91
part of ethnic Russians are decent loyal citizens, but I will never understand that part of them who had a chance to go back ro Russia after 91, but stayed in Baltics, and still refuse to learn language, calling "NATO nazzees" and so on.
in Lithuania we actually literally gave everyone an option after USSR: either they could leave, or stay, without ANY REQUIREMENTS and receive a full citizenship.
and we still have people who refuse to speak our language and think we are "nazzees" 😅
we literally have no policies against Russians. we have ethnic Russians in police, parliament, military, entertainment, business. those who learned the language are successful. those who didnt blame their problems on "nazzees".
Actually many do that. At least the particularly annoying types like my Russian neighbor ir Riga. A year ago she packed up and left to Russia to be closer to Putin. She had lived in Riga all her life and never learned a word in Latvian. I had a lot of fun pretending that I don't understand Russian and speaking to her only in Latvian.
The Motherland will come back for you soon, so why bother moving?
The Baltic states should have repatriated these lot around the time they joined the EU, but they were too gentle and under-resourced.
In 3 decades the Baltic States progressed their democracies, societies and economies. Russia regressed
The democracy in Baltics is at its highest point! You get imprisoned expressing your opinion different to mainstream))
Long live the Baltic Countries 🇬🇧❤ 🇪🇪 🇱🇻 🇱🇹
As a finn knowing our history and generational trauma of our shared east neighbor, learning more of baltic (especially estonian history) can only say we got a taste of soviet cruelty while some regions like saaremaa was completely purged by stalin, and some of us finns still remember the brave 4000 estonian brothers who stood with us in continuation war.
Thank you, bro
Yes. The reason why Estonia (the other Baltic countries as well, but estonia seems strongest in this) has such a beef with Russia is because they've seen personally what they can do, how they can and have thrown their weight around and oppressed their parents and grandparents. Russia acts like the schoolyard bully and then whines that nobody likes them anymore.
Loosing your freedom is the worst thing that can happen to an individual...slava Ukraine ❤❤
Said the free range chickens
@@blanckieification F-O Ivan
@@toma2667 fo toma
Then you agree that donbas is fighting for freedom
Stand firm against Putin ❤ from Cape Town South Africa
Geography is a fate that we have to accept and cope with, saying this from Finland. Russia is a dark hole that always tries to expand, sadly. It just doesn't know how to live peacefully and with good will with neighbors.
Rasist tropes. Replace Russia with Germany in the text and reread. How does ot sound?
After years of NEUTRALITY you choose your enemies and targeted own children for amarocans.
In finland they think daylast 6 months, don't they ?
@@petiaivolk At least Germany isnt a gas station like Russia nowadays is, and yet still wants to be for China.
@@petiaivolkone is true, another is a fantasy crested to divert attention from the truth.
As an American I am more than a little worried about the isolationist tendency of some of our politicians. Similar isolationism in the 1930's did not keep us out of WWII and left us unprepared and at a disadvantage when war did come. I was under the illusion that the US had learned its lesson and the advantage of having democratic allies. I fear that I was wrong. The US must support the Baltic states for the sake of freedom and democracy.🤔
Conservatives are not isolationist. We simply want the EU and NATO nations to pay for their own defense. The USA has picked up approximately 70 % of the bill since the end of WW2. Sorry but we can’t afford it anymore
@@Jm-Gonz I noticed that Trump's followers caught his false idea that NATO members pay some kind of security fees to NATO (or even USA?). There is no such thing, each NATO country finances its own defense forces, there is no separate NATO military force that should be financed.
@@Jm-GonzRepublicans have mostly been converted into koala brained magats unfortunately. When trump said that that European Nato countries should pay their fair share it wasn't meant for the benefit of their security, but to benefit his own political agenda of being a conman and him getting paid since he doesn't actually understand what Nato is supposed to be.
I hope americans will wake up from the slumber and vote for Kamala Harris. She cares about supporting Ukraine, Nato membership and democratic principles for all i care about.
@@Jm-Gonz Well I understand your argument. But if USA leaves Europe it will mean the end of the Baltic states. It is a matter of facts but I recognise that you Americans want to spend money on your own problems. American isolationism will however lead to war in Europe. Geopolitics never change...
@@Jm-Gonzdude the 2% goal was implemented during the Obama administration in response to Russian aggression. Now your front runner and VP for the Republicans are talking about leaving NATO due to the 2% goal not being reached by every single nation. It's like starting a neighborhood watch to supplement the police station due to a crime uptick in your neighborhood, and when people don't participate enough you start defunding the police in protest. How does that make sense?
The Soviet Union era was one of the darkest times in human history. Mad Putin is craving to bring those times back. But it is just a hallucination.
ukraine had it a lot worse during the soviet era
That's what the west told them that USSR was bad , meaning you lost what u believed in
no he is not
Thank God the three Baltic states managed to join NATO when they had the chance. Smartest thing they ever did.
The smartest thing Lithuania did was to create an superstate from sea to sea which, together with Poland, held back the attacks of russian wild people on civilized Europe for 5 centuries
Они вступили просто так, в 2004 году, когда им никто не угрожал. И сейчас не угрожает, кстати. Вступили с нарушением международных договорённостей между НАТО и СССР/Россией о нерасширении НАТО. Россию в НАТО не взяли, когда Путин предлагал. Что делать с этим?
@user-zp6yj4fy3e there was no violation of agreement.. Zero. It was never stated about NATO expansion. Like usual Russia folded under the pressure and took money over agreement.. they got nothing but money for the dissolve of the USSR. Look everywhere you can for this agreement. It does not exist
@@scottgordon8902 Хорошо, договора не было на бумаге, и что теперь-то делать? Третья мировая теперь будет неизбежна? В документах НАТО было прописано и до сих пор прописано, что цель - держать Германию внутри и Россию снаружи. Не важно, какую Россию: советскую, капиталистическую, демократическую, авторитарную. Такая логика не приведет к добру со стороны НАТО. Уже не привела. В отличие от НАТО Россия до 2008 года ни с кем не воевала (кроме погранично-миротворческих операций в Приднестровье, Абхазии, Карабахе и Таджикистане. У стран Прибалтики с Россией были хорошие отношения до вступления в НАТО, потом начались сносы памятников, гонения на русских, этническая сегрегация с негражданами. Зачем это было делать? У России и Прибалтики огромная общая история и много было положительного и это никуда не выбросить, как бы этого не хотели журналисты DW.
@@ЕвгенийВаликов-ъ2ж There never was a formal non-expansion agreement between NATO and Russia. It never rose above the level of diplomatic discussion. This is one of the Big Lies that Putin likes to promulgate.
The rest of Europe should be thankful to Ukraine and Ukrainians.
Having lived through the Soviet times, life was not better but it was definitely simpler -- not going hungry was the main concern day after day.
Ukraine should be thankful to europeans*
We European must learn from the Baltics about the real Russian threat.
Lithuania 🇱🇹 ❤️
7600God
Both Sweden and Finland will defend the Baltics. Between the two of us we have serious kit. The orcs can try. Mordor will fail.
Stand, men of the West!
You can count on Denmark and Norway to......
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Y'all are toast
@@beng4647 Toast, you mean toast as in Russian meat grinder???
They smell a bit like pig.
Much love to our Baltic cousins from Denmark ❤
Wow, this documentary really highlights the complex and challenging reality in the Baltic states. 🇪🇪🇱🇻🇲🇹 The resilience and determination of people like Ain Tähiste and Matthias Merelaine are truly inspiring. Despite not having lived through the Soviet era themselves, their commitment to defending their homeland is a testament to the deep-seated national spirit in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. 💪🌍
It's heartbreaking to see how historical conflicts still cast long shadows, and the current tensions with Russia add an extra layer of uncertainty for these nations. The Baltic states’ efforts to distance themselves from Soviet-era symbols and the cautious stance towards Russia show their determination to protect their sovereignty and identity. 🛡
The personal stories shared-like Lauris Aleksevejs' choice to cut ties with Russian patrons despite economic consequences-show the high price some are willing to pay for their principles. 🙌🍽 And the growing strength of national guards reflects the readiness of these countries to stand firm against potential threats.
I’m also struck by the comments from people all over the world expressing solidarity with the Baltic states and concern about isolationism. The international support is crucial in these times, reinforcing the importance of alliances and global cooperation. 🌐🤝
Overall, this documentary is a powerful reminder of the strength and courage of nations and individuals facing immense challenges. Thank you, DW Documentary, for shedding light on such an important topic. 🙏🎥
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment!
From a Baltic Studies expert in Czechia, you are spot on. Thank you.
@@DWDocumentaryYup, good job DW, always a pleasure to see your work.
🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹*
Having finished watching the program, I felt compelled to express my gratitude to DW. I would like to join others in saying thank you to the DW team and everyone involved in the production of this film.
Taxi driver: “ It took only 30 years of capitalism to realize things in communist Soviet Union were better”
WOW. Is that the mindset of the average Russian? Un-freaking-believable!!!
Actually it's pretty believable
Love the Ballsy States. My nephew who is in the Navy and was in Lithuania just a few months on an exercise ago speaks highly of them.
As an Aussie 🇦🇺 with part Latvian 🇱🇻 heritage and has obtained Latvian citizenship.
I find it crazy how the Russians living in these Baltic countries compain about having to learn the language or say due to the sanctions they are struggling with business and would be better off in Russia. Well, go back to Russia then!
100% Agree, Greetings from 🇱🇹.
100% Agree, greetings from Estonia 🇪🇪.
It's disheartening to hear DW repeatedly describe the occupiers as "people who settled in the Baltics 30+ years ago." These individuals were responsible for killing, displacing, and sending tens of thousands of families to Siberia-hardly a peaceful settlement, yet DW continues to portray it that way.
Exactly my thoughts while watching (( really not enough ground work DW did..
The occupiers had very little to do with those who relocated to work in factories in the 70s and 80s because the economy was growing and there weren't enough workers (yes because of deportations but also low birth rates. (Can't blame them for not wanting huge families under occupation and shoved into tiny flats). The children of thse migrants were not guilty at birth. If they don't integrate that is a different issue.
These Russian lives in the Baltic States since Soviet Russia that support Russia and Putin are still occupiers.
Russians live in Baltic region from X century learn history.
Then go tell them to get out,,Putin once said that the west controlled the media completely but who cares anyway,,we still stand with Russia 🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺
The Baltics made the smart decision to join NATO. They should be fine.
Very good reporting from DW, thank you. As a Canadian, i have great admiration for all Baltic countries, their way of life and their courage.
Thank you for your comment and we are delighted that you enjoyed the documentary!
One thing to clarify - the Russian/Soviet government is the true problem. Many of the Russians who "came" into the Baltics were forcibly relocated from their homes for the purpose of 'Russification' to dilute the local people and culture so we would willingly remain part of the union. It was a devious long term plot, but we maintained our traditions despite the harsh rules and enforcement.
The young Russian lady represents the future and those old Russian folks "mourning the past" are just standing in the way of progress. Since Russia hasn't moved, their supporters should just go there.
How can you live in a country for 38 years and not bother to learn the language of the country you're living in? Mind-boggling. Governments need to do better---do their job.
when you're chauvinist and look down on people. It's strange how russians blame west for colonialism and never talk how they were colonizers - expanding to Siberia or west. St. Petersburg is great example how they took other nation lands. In russian mind they were never aggressor, they see themself as victims and only see rusophobia
This is how is working "Rusky mir"
I will tell you how, 99% of people in Narva speak Russian, you can’t learn Estonian there and you have noone to talk to in Estonian.
@@lialia3580 do tell us why it's 99% russian :)
@@apstuxa I am explaining why they don’t speak Estonian, this is however a whole different point. Every country has its past, think we should move on from that. Only old people are pro-putin there, the new generation is completely different.
At this point, Russia is a joke
Glad you thinking that way since every enemy of Russia fail with same mindset.
that was the plan
"to, turn their economy into a joke" .But how did that work out? Probably worse for the west than Russia economically, furthermore amost 20% of Ukraine is now basically part of Russia... p.s Ukraine is being supported by a conglomerate of global powers! Yet they can't control their own country! 😕
Dw stop deleting comments you propaganda channel 😤 that was the plan
"to, turn their economy into a joke" .But how did that work out? Probably worse for the west than Russia economically, furthermore amost 20% of Ukraine is now basically part of Russia... p.s Ukraine is being supported by a conglomerate of global powers! Yet they can't control their own country! 😕
that was the plan
"to, turn their economy into a joke" .But how did that work out? Probably worse for the west than Russia economically, furthermore amost 20% of Ukraine is now basically part of Russia... p.s Ukraine is being supported by a conglomerate of global powers! Yet they can't control their own country! 😕
@@cte4dota It's always been a joke. The only advantage is unlimited amount of meat to spare but now they seem to be running out of it too.
if your country shares border with Russia and want to be independent, this is the only way to deal with them. Deep mistrust and always seeing them as potential enemy
BS
Rossia agreed to their souvereignity .
But theywant NATO.
@@GoodMan_000So Russia decides if they can join NATO or not? Why?
@@GoodMan_000They are in Nato, like everyone else, and these countries don't care what Russia thinks about it.
@@GoodMan_000 That stinking mentality of russia being goddess of northern region... Oh no! Anyways... Just let me remind you that Putin allegedly wanted less NATO near its borders, but at the same time made Finland from neutral to a member of NATO, which shares large border with Russia. Putin only enshittified the situation they had with NATO, which did nothing wrong against Russia at all.
@@GoodMan_000 It was very reasonable for them to join NATO because Russia's promises are worth nothing. Remember the Budapest Memorandum that Russia thorn up?
Slava Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Poland !!
Heroyam slava💪💪
@@sandrutetiutiu Absolutely 💪😉👍
Absolutely! 🇪🇪👏
The Estonia people & country look cool & beautiful.
Great to get freedom.. And stay in EU and Nato. I really love to visit Baltic States and my friends from Thailand visited there in summer 2023 and in May 2024. People in Baltic States is so nice and helpful. Especially Lithuania My favorite is Trakai and Vilnius - Next year we shall take a trip again, surely.
Best Wishes from STOCKHOLM - SWEDEN 🌼🌻🌷🌻🌼🌼🌺🌺🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲
Lithuania has a border with the so-called Kaliningrad, which temporarily and illegally belongs to the so-called Russia.
Как и вильно, временно принадлежит литве, вместе с мемелем, чепуху не неси
@@ВикторияЛесневская-щ6д just like Sudzhia temporarily belonged to Russia?
С чего вдруг "незаконно"? Это трофей, итог ВОВ. Там живут русские люди, россияне. Литва, напомню, получила Вильнюс и после войны Клайпеду (Мемель) назад. Или это тоже "временно и незаконно"? Давайте, возвращайте Польше и Германии!
@@ЕвгенийВаликов-ъ2ж did Russians live in Kaliningrad before WWII? No, they did not.
@@Lithuanian_NAFO_lad Нет, не жили. А теперь живут. Как и Литовцы в Клайпеде и Вильнюсе теперь живут, хотя там доминировало немецкое и еврейско-польское население до ВМВ.
Very good video for us to understand the determination of the Baltic peoples to defend their freedom and their countries!
I live in Tallinn. My girlfriend, in Rīga.
The truth is that when you go to Lasnamäe or Maskavas you can feel the difference in culture. You can feel the lingering effects of occupation.
But, things are changes.
Going to Narva, however, you get the feeling for how close a whole separate world is.
"don't look up"
Stay Strong Freedom Lovers
This “freedom” bs will prevent humanity from moving forward. Tf y’all mean by “freedom” when Russia needs all these lands to counter the nato threat which these confused Russians in denial aka Ukrainians and Baltic people are in the way of
Freedom is a good thing. Glad they see the importance of having independence
As a Hungarian I admire these brave people in the Baltics. I think, we need U.S. and other NATO soldiers there to be sure, Putin will not attack these countries.
Then China, the African, CSTGO countries and Nuclear Weapons will be there too causing the Apocaliptical Nuclear war in Europe.
Wow! This report was superb!. In 42 minutes you get a deep understanding of the
current situation in these Baltic States. The command those interviewed had of English and German was as impressive as their reflections on their life and that of their country. Thanks so much DW.
PS: The courage shown by the outspoken Russian exiles was impressive and gives one hope.for the future.
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We, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, are so different, fighting each other for a place on the world map and for prosperity! But there are things that unite us - history and experience with our neighbour Russia.
We must remember that we are in the same boat and we must grow together in strength and unity. And that starts with each one of us - each and every person - and what we do, say and nurture in our children!
Thank you for this story and this perspective!
We have to stand together as in 1918 & 1919
it's healthy competition between our baltic brothers that moves us forward. I'm happy having Latvia and Estonia and wish we would cooperate even more
I wore a U.K. uniform and did my bit against the evils of Communism and Dictatorship. I sincerely hope the Baltic States continue to enjoy FREEDOM... FREEDOM is ETERNAL Vigilance .
Slava Ukraine
@altaylor3988 Thank you man.
what freedom are you talking about cause in the UK it's becoming more totalitarian than those bad countries
I find it so interesting when the artist at 30:30 says that he views the Soviet Union as boring, grey, and colorless. A few years ago I had the opportunity to spend a few weeks in Vilnius. One of the things that struck me was how obvious buildings from the different eras were. Pre-soviet buildings are reminiscent of old Europe, and post-Soviet buildings tend to be modern and sleek. but then there are a bunch of grey, drab, soulless buildings, and those are all the Soviet era buildings.
Fantastic, in-depth documentary. Thank you DW Documentaries.
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment!
How can anyone be okay with the hideous things being done to Ukranians in an invasion? Surely there is not complete oblivion...
(lets say what you wrote is true (even though it is not)) Because we have seen russia do worse. Like murder of Ukrainian POWs. Or the mass graves.
Ukraine was doing the same thing to Russian speakers in the east for almost a decade but you were silent
@@antony6799 just like they shelled Donetsk for 8 years? Please, show me some proof. A link, an article or anything more official than rumors from Russia.
P.S. Back then, I did not even have a YT account, and I did not watch the news.
25:10 i as a Swede have NOT problem with that you HAVE to be able to speak the Latvian language. ESPECIALLY if you have been there for decades and still know the language you have to move.
i think the same HAS to be done in Sweden with Swedish, it about the respect of the people in their nation FFS!
No fun to have neighbor like rusia..
USA better ?
@@GoodMan_000Ask Mexico, much better, they don't need to fear USA invading them while Europeans need to worry about Russia.
@@GoodMan_000yes, in every way possible. Were you going somewhere with that?
@@MATCHLESS789 Not if Mexico(for example) would become a communistic country. Then the US would do exactly the same as Russia. They are just surrounded by the same believes and in control.
@@GoodMan_000 to us? A resounding YES! Anything beats russia in here.
All Baltics were occupied by Russia/Soviet Union. Thousands of Latvians, Estonians and Lithuanians were sent to Gulag, to "clear" place for incoming occupiers. And unfortunately Latvia in Soviet times were occupied the most. In 1989 percentage of Russian workers, army, etc in Latvia was 34% of population, in Estonia 30%, in Lithuania 9,4%. So you can understand how the Latvians were in most difficult position at the times. Just statistics.
Unfortunately in Latvia was only 52 % native Latvians and 48% of russian speakers who immigrated from the USSR.
@@EllaElla-np5ri yes after thousands Latvians were sent to Gulag...
Latvian population declined during soviet occupation, their standard of living was close to western Europe and russians took it away
@@apstuxa true
Don't worry. These are three great countries, three brave nations - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. I am a retired soldier. One of the combat teams of our unit was specially prepared for the landing on the Estonian-Russian border. We practiced many times in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania... to get to know the area as best as possible. We also had a lot of necessary informations about the Russian border areas. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania can always count on our help. Poles, Germans, Finns, British - all are very well prepared to react immediately, without delay. Kind regards - S.
You can have Russian roots but still be an Estonian citizen. In Canada people come from all over, learn the language, integrate, and value Canadian citizenship. Those who refuse to accept Canadian values stay marginalized and watch their children grow up full Canadian.
THE language.. which is French?
Yes, the Indian community in Canada is very marginalised.
Terrible to have a corrupt and aggressive neighbour. One you can never trust, in peace or war.
The consistent behaviour of the Russian government has been to trash everything they can even within the country itself. I have seen how people outside the major cities live. It's a poverty so deep it takes a lot to just understand daily life.
The Estonian people, Latvian people, Lithuanian people have worked far too hard to change their countries from extreme poverty to a place to be proud of.
People in "Western Countries" have never faced this level of poverty, lack of water, food, homes with more holes than walls and roofs.
I didn't find out I was half Latvian until adulthood. In 1937 my grandparents and infant father fled Riga, for New York, just when the "Great Terror" was getting started. Some family sent to Gulags. My whole life it was forbidden to speak of my alcoholic father. My mother died last December, strangely freeing me emotionally to research my Latvian heritage. I think I'll have a decent command of the language by the time I get to Riga next spring. Besides I gotta get out of DC. I no longer love it, and have irretrievably fallen IN-LOVE with Latvia. ❤🔥
Narva used to be mostly estonian but WWII soviet carpet bombing changed that. Not to mention deportations, arrests and executions after the war. People in Narva are mostly illegal settlers that estonia just accepted after the fall of the soviet union (under EU pressure).
The estonians have a saying. "Nothing good ever comes from the East. " My parents, when kids, left latvia as the soviet russians rolled in again in 1944. Spent post war years as DPs in germany. Russia brings nothing good wherever they go. This for centuries. And today as we see in ukraine.
Finland stands with our Baltic brothers against the evil Putin regime! 🇫🇮 🇪🇪 🇱🇻 🇱🇹
Sharing a border with your oppressor is wild.
Beeing more stupid and inviting NATO is more wild, isn't it?
So who is "OP-RESOR" ???
@@GoodMan_000😂 I’m convinced the people like you are actual robots or just incredibly ignorant, NATO nations are doing fairly well compared to most nations on this planet, our allies that aren’t even in NATO are flourishing yet you people say side with the tyrannical corrupt regimes like China and Russia that oppress their people and that are still behind in comparisons to the whole free world.
Yeah, being a US puppet is even wilder. I'm not Russian btw.
@@GoodMan_000 Being even more absurdly stupid and making Finland a NATO member is worse. Oppressor in EU is the one who is blowing up apartment buildings in Ukraine. Russia is the dumb gopnik of the EU. It doesnt understand anything without force. Since it think like its the biggest and most powerful country in the world, while in the meantime its paper tiger with Siberia, that Chinese are really interested declaring "Chinese Siberian People's Republic" as a Country in the future.
Excellent documentary--thank you!
One suggestion: show maps so viewers don't have to pause video and go to Google Maps to see the locations referred to.
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I was born in Russia, being teenager, in 94 my parents emigrated to Europe away from USSR / russian caos. Well while enjoying democracy, consuming russian media propaganda their views started to change. Little by little, specially from "Crimea is ours" they became pro "Russian world".
Nowadays we basically have no relationship, cuz for them I am a "traitor" for supporting Ukraine.
The west should act way stronger against Russian propaganda to preserve our democracies.
Cheers to Baltics and specially Slava Ukraine!
🤡🤡🤡
Paldies
Why always start the story with ''30 years ago got independent from Soviet Union'' ? Perhaps should start with saying ''30 years when regained ( restored ) independence lost in 1940 because of soviet occupation''. Othewise less educated people might think that Baltic states exist only 30 years , although all of the three states officially and historically exist 106 years, just beeing forcefully left for 50 years under the soviet regime.
Lithuania has own state for 800 years!
When Mordor loses this war, they will lose Königsberg.
To whom exactly? Germany? Good luck convincing the German people in general and Scholtz in particular to once more move Germany's borders, they're still terrified of their past. And Poland? Poland likely doesn't want it, at least not if it's still full of Russians. And Poland's historical claim to it is of course non-existant since the city was founded by the Germans, and before that the land was occupied by Old Prussians (i.e., Baltic people, like the Latvians and Lithuanians). Lithuania, for its part, is too small to effectively absorb Kaliningrad and Poland would likely object to that too.
And ofc, none of this addresses the fact that forcefully taking Kaliningrad from Russia, however illegitimate their initial capture of the area is, would be super illegal and no better than what the Moskals are doing
rf needs to be broken down. they've mismanaged conquered regions anough, they don't need to be in charge of karelia, much less anything else. caucasus gone, yakutia, tatarstan, etc. these have nothing to do with russia
@@grawakendream8980 Yup.
@@grawakendream8980
Hahaha.....whining ?
Poor boy
@@GoodMan_000 no, just stating facts.
Should never have left these countries to Stalin.
Thank you for highlight this perspective, always great quality documentary from DW!
thank you for putting this together. I pray we have peace in Baltics and Europe!
Don't know much about ESTONIA, beautiful country and it people
The mere fact that many Baltic citizens of Russian descent are deterred from publicly airing their views on the war in Ukraine for fear of reprisal speaks volumes about the terror the Moscow Regime instils in its people.
Great documentary
DW, you create fabulous documentaries ❤
Thanks a lot for watching and for your positive feedback!
Greetings from Estonia 🇪🇪
7:05 that's what I meant with my other comment.
30+ years of living in Estonia and doesn't speak Estonian.
Ridiculous...
This is sad tbh
They are not the smartest ones to be honest. 🧠
@@kullulillu it's crazy. I have lived in Estonia for 2 years and I know more of the language than them.
I would say I know more than enough for daily interactions like going to the supermarket, but going to Maxima requires speaking Russian 😆
@@realhawaii5o you are funny my mate. 👍 Maxima and Russian is good combination and still better love story than Twilight. May I ask where you from?
im russian and my words have 0 credit and you can not believe me and saying that im a usual russian
but still i want to say: a lot of russians want to see russia as a peaceful, good and democratic country (that we never had, but i still believe in it)
i want to see my citizens love another country without thinking about soviet times, i want to see russia without all of russian nationalism in other countries because ITS NOT OUR COUNTRIES, if you went to country - LEARN LANGUAGE, and dont be foolish that you shouldn't do it
we need to do something with our propaganda, its getting as powerful as in germany 1933-1945, and as a russian i dont know how to deal with it, opposition opinions isnt hearable inside of russia, people loves TV and think that putin is a good guy, who just doing his work...
maybe someday it will change, but i dont know how to deal with it, even im russian and live in russia.
26:38 - "if we were in russia, we'd have money". - By all means, go to russia.
The comment about Latvians not having identity was so stupid and disrespecful. Lady, you have no idea about our identity. Russia has tried to take our identity away for as long as anyone can remember, but they have not suceeded. And they will not.
Estonia should send the names and addresses of all Russians living in Narva to the Soviet military conscription department.
Yes! They can train them for 5 days before sending them to the trenches, that way they can really show them
Very very interesting. Thank you 😊😊😊
🇱🇻 🇪🇪 🇱🇹 🇪🇺
Beautiful documentary.
Wow, now I really start to think that television is old school. Very nice and clear documentary 💯
We dont need war, we need come together! ❤
I think it’s a very awesome show, but Aleena she was awesome, I could feel her words . People will always enjoy heart felt words
Was thinking this would be more focused on Russia and it's quest for more dominance. More focused on Moscow, Putin and his inner circle of power hungry oligarchs. This is still a good documentary however it seems to cater more towards tourism to the Baltic states with a hint of a warning, that Russia is right next door. I didn't learn anything about Moscow and it's inner workings in its quest for ever more power. This documentary should have been titled differently. Good work though.
My mother's ancestors left Lithuania in the late 1800s because Lithuania was part of the Russian Empire at the time. Russia has been a festering boil in the face of the Earth for centuries.
Thank you DW! Good job!
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Great show. I watched the whole video. These are good people that just want to have a happy simple life.
Who taught them English, not Russia. They speak English so well
great documentary thank you
Wow! 😮 All the comments bots arrived faster than me. Even the lots of hearts and emojis bots.
Only ones I surpassed were the big cleavage "follow me" bots. Those are still missing, go figure. 🤷
Basically you're best bot here.
Blabbering emptywirds for nothing
The corn bots have switched to other profile pics now.
@@nian60
Blabla bla...
Nah
@@GoodMan_000 idi nx kacap
@@GoodMan_000 Have you recovered from your stroke?
Excellent reporting! Very informative, thank you.
Thanks for watching and for the feedback!
So maybe we should be supporting Ukraine in their fight instead of withholding resources because they counter attack Russia .... What do you think Germany ? Maybe stop being cowards and stand behind your morals .....
"Things were better in the Soviet Union" - stays in Estonia.
The irony with his statement
It's not an Estonian saying its better in Soviet Union it's Russian in EU saying but not bother to leave to beloved Russian WHY?
@@SkyLTU That's exactly the point I was making.