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Thank you for your great work bro 😎👍🏻. I wish Germany was bigger, I’m half German and live here but I don’t want to force or have war with my beloved neighbours, but at the same time I think I’m my head that Germany would be much better off having more of its pre world war charm and culture.
General history: Germany has lost some of its land throughout history............... Me: What the hell! It's isn't "some", it's 33%! Not rude just saying 😊
That’s not true, big parts of prussia still exist‘s today like berlin and brandenburg mecklenburg vorpommern etc. only the name prussia is not envolved anymore. But traditions like military punctuality order is still very valued in the german nation today and those come all from prussia. Just like the germans say today the prussian legacy lives till this day.
You could argue that the people of Prussia are alive in Germany today, as a lot of them moved (or more likely fled) to todays Germany both shortly before and after the end of WW2
The thumbnail is wrong: by 1701, when the Kingdom of Prussia was created, it did not include Royal Prussia and Silesia. It was comprised by 2 disjointed territories: the electorate of Brandenburg and the ducal Prussia. Silesia was conquered from Austria around 1740 in the First Silesian War. Royal Prussia belonged to Poland up until the First Partition of Poland in 1772.
The Kingdom of Germany (regnum Teutonicorum) was the realm of the Germans within the HRE and the origin of the German state. Prussia was merely the leading power behind the reunification of Germany after it was shattered by Napoleon.
@Sasquatch94 The partition of the Carolingian Empire set the stage, but the rule of Otto i. (and that of his father, Henry the Fowler) were the grand unifying moments.
@@hodor3024 The first German nationalism even came a little before Otto's I coronation to the emperor in 962. In 955 all Germanic tribes fought together against the Hungarians (with Otto I as leader) and that had led to a national unity between all these tribes.
Reunification of part of Germany, not all of it. I understand what you're saying, Germans nowadays indeed are more likely descendant of "East Francia" (then the Kingdom of Germany), yet, Prussia's influence was a little more than just unification. They really modeled Germany, exported their militaristic culture, and reigned over the entire territory. So for me, it's also true to say that the ancestor of Germany as a "state", is Prussia. But the ancestors of the "German people", surely is from either the kingdom of Germany or (part of) the HRE yes. Regardless, for me Bavaria > all. Lol.
@@leopoldiv2341 yes, the uniting of Germany really started under his father Henry the Fowler who was the first Saxon, rather than Frank to rule in the East Frankish Kingdom, effectively turning it into the Kingdom of the Germans and setting the stage for Otto’s campaigns. However of course all that was set up politically by Charlemagne’s conquests and conversion of the Saxons in the first place, and territorially by the Treaty of Verdun dividing West and East Frankish Kingdoms while creating Lotharingia to fight over for 1200 years
As a German I really hate the idea that Germany evolved out of Prussia or that German history prior to 1871 can be reduced to prussian history. No Prussia was just one german state among many that only gained significance at a relatively late point in German history and happened to be the driving force behind the eventual unification. Yet a much more appropriate starting point for German history would be the Holy Roman Empire wich was preceded by the kingdom of East Francia. The king Otto I. of East Francia united the different German speaking peoples, the Saxons, Bavarians, Swabians and Franconians in the famous battle of Lechfeld in 955 against the Magyars and was crowned holy roman emperor in 962 by the pope. Prussia would not even exist for another 700 years at this point.
While I like this video, I really wish he would have started with the West Germanic tribes, East Francia, and the HRE. Basically the modern western and southern borders of Germany arose from this history, having nothing to do with Prussia.
Even before Prussia was a thing, as early as 16th century, thanks to Luther's reformation movement, the roots of a German identity were starting to grow in the Holy Roman Empire, in the development of the high German language and antagonism towards France and the Ottoman Empire. They were still separate princely states politically, but linguistically and culturally, they were beginning to form a common identity.
This is what I meant, perhaps I didn't clarify it well in the video. My point that Prussia was the origin of Germany was in the sense that it was the leading power for the creation of the State as we know it, not of the German Identity or people.
@@General.Knowledge a)That had nothing to do whatsoever with the historic region of Prussia, which you focused on. The Prussian state that had said role was centered on Brandenburg. The reference to "Prussia" was just one that allowed the Prince-Electors of Brandenburg to elevate themselves to Kings. Much like Saxony has precious little to do with the territory of the Saxons, of which it touches only the southeastern borders. b)The modern German State, from its territory, has more in common with the Regnum Teutonicorum than with the original Prussia. You're negating almost a thousand years of history.
For me he was only talking about the German "state", thus why he considers Prussia its ancestor. But regarding Germany as a culture and identity, it's another matter entirely yes. The thing with the word "Germany" in English, is that it means many different things.
@@ohauss that's what you're getting wrong: it's not about the territory, but the continuity of states, as in institutions holding power. And we definitely can trace the origins of the modern german state back all the way to the beginning of prussia. We're not a successor state of the HRE in the sense that they didn't evolve to be modern germany on their own. Culturally and territorially, of course you're right! But this is more about the law and who holds power.
@@davidmorris8319 Can we actually though? This continuity of states is always a vague concept. You can’t really say that the same institutions hold power in post war Germany as in pre war Germany.
I think the HRE is missing in this Video, Prussia was a great power that influenced the HRE for the last 300 Years but the HRE is much older, Prussia just occupied it after the HRE was dissolved. And many germans dont like that we are called prussians, because there were so much else german tribes than the prussian. Edit: changed a p to b
@@ory_enterprise The HRE was attempting to be the successor of Rome, and it was established by the French. And by the time that Prussia was a thing, the HRE wasnt a thing anymore, but the powers of europe still thought it was for some reason, even though it was so goddamn fragmented. This is MY opinion for it not being Germany. But im kinda in the middle.
As a german and a frisian i have a Problem with that. Prussia Was the First german Triberg to expand and Flourish, but the roots of germany lies in all its tribes
Germany did not occupy all of Poland in 1939. They've split it with Soviet Union in result of a Ribbentrop-Molotov pact signed with USSR just before the outbreak of war in 1939. It's important to note that both Nazi Germany AND Soviet Union started the war in September 1939.
I mean yeah, but then The Third Reich betrayed the Soviet Union and started a war with it. Due to that they actually did have all of Poland until the Polish Underground State and the Soviets "regained it back".
True. Germany and Soviet Union agreed on the issue of attacking and dividing Poland between themselves on August 23, 1939 in the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact ... later they implemented provisions of that pact - the Third Reich by invading Poland on September 1, and the USSR on September 17.
Idiot, what about Germany and Poland grab land from Czechoslovakia after Munich agreement? Poland annexed Zaolzie. USSR just take back their territories up to Curzon line which was demarcation line between USSR and Poland and which was broken by Poland earlier.
The origin of the state is in Prussia, but the cultural origins are probably more where the country is today. It was always hard to define as , unlike France or England, it is not defined by natural borders.
@@Yora21 Germany is mainly defined by language areas. Hence Deutschland. The land where the people speak Deutsch. The current Germany is the smallest possible definition. The English term „Germans“ suggests an ethnic definition which never existed, although some small Austrian guy made that up and many believed it for about 12 years.
@@tylerbozinovski427 But then you would have had a King of Brandenburg, who is a King IN Germany. And that wouldn't have been accaptable for many of the other German princes. You get the same issue show up later when they form a new German Empire and the new Emperor has a drawn out debate with his own chancellor about whether his title will be Emperor of Germany or Emperor of the Germans. I never quite understood the finer nuances of that issue, but it was a really big deal at that time, since it had serious implications about who claims authority over what.
Prussia is not Germany. Please do your research before putting so much work in editing your videos. The thumbnail and very start of the video shows a fundamental lack of historic background. You should read about the history of the Kingdom of the East Franks, which later becomes the Holy Roman Empire. This is the most plausible starting point for your map comparison. Prussia wasn't even Part of the Holy Roman Empire. Not untill the Hohenzoller (also not Prussian, but Brandenburgian) gained control of Prussia. They used these lands outside of the HRE to rise from Duchy to Kingdom, since there couldn't be more than one King within the HRE.
Prussia united Germany, similar to how Muscovite did Russia and Ottomans did Turkey. Its always fun to research about the historical development of modern nations
This makes my family tree make more sense. My great-great grandparents lived in Danzig until they moved to Kansas in the 1880s. It was part of Prussia at the time, but is now part of Poland.
@@ximonq that's my married name. My family who came from Danzig had the last name Coerber (my mom's maiden name). My now-ex-husband's ancestors are polish.
Maybe the video shouldn't be called "territorial evolution of Germany" but "how Prussia became Germany". Because the way you depict it is rather teleological (quite a barbaric word to say that you start your story where it ends and not where it begins. Usually, that way of thinking leads to invert causes and consequences and to assume things were meant to happen that way for the sake of the finality, missing important prerequisits in the process). Here, the mistake is particularly strong, because 1. it completely erases the Holy Roman Empire that fancies itself as "germanic" since the XIIIth Century. We can clearly say that it was some protonational "Germany" lying underneath it. 2. As you told us, the name Prussia is the result of the Elector of Brandenburg inheriting Prussia. But clearly, the main title was the one of Brandenburg... It became Prussia as a compromise since the Elector wanted a royal title, the Emperor was eager to oblige but didn't want it to wear the name of a place inside the HRE... So, only solution : pick a name of a Hohenzollern possession out of the HRE. That's typically how the teleological mistake is done : the name "Prussia" lured you to think the original duchy of Prussia came to dominate Germany. But, in fact, it's the other way around. Teutonic knights went to Prussia, then, they collapsed and a powerfull german prince took over the title and part of the territory there, then the German prince, who was still very very German, dropped the German title for the Prussian one to be called a king... But still: he was German, his dynasty was German and the heartland of his kingdom was German... It was just a change of name. So, yes, most of what you say in your video is right, but no, it is not an evolution of Germany
You are downplaying the role of East Prussia and the Baltics, as Königsberg and the surrounding Junker estates were the spiritual home of the whole Prussian project, such as being the site of Prussian coronations, and later of the German Realm, especially during and after WWI, and into WWII. There was a great linkage in German propaganda during both wars between things like the Battle of Tannenburg from 1410 and the Battle of Tannenburg from 1914, and of course many of the Junker elites had their estates in East Prussia. During WWII, the entire concept of a “Drive to the East” for “Living Space” came from what was seen as a failed revival in WWI of the original “East Settling” by the Germanic Order. This referenced Germany’s eventual recapture by 1918 of the entire Baltic region for the first time in hundreds of years and put the Baltic Germans nobility back in full control, only to have their victorious army rolled back after the Nov 11 armistice in the west; this rollback was a huge part of the “Stab in the Back” concept. Adding to this is when Germany returned to Latvia in 1919 to fight the Bolsheviks, they recruited soldiers with the promise of settlement in the “Wild East” and set up the Baltic Germans again in power in Riga, only to have the allies withdraw their support once it was clear the Bolsheviks had given up on the Baltic, resulting in an Estonian and Latvian victory over the Germans and their eventual withdrawal from Latvia; this was sort of a second “Stab in the Back” and many of the Freikorpsman who were denied their promised plots in Courland went on to become early supporters of the Nazi Party, for its “Living Space” proposal for the East, and its “Stab in the Back” theory about the rollback from the East in 1918-19, as well as its virulent anti-Bolshevism. This all then played a part in the decision to allow Königsberg and East Prussia to be given to Poland and the Soviet Union, and the removal of all Germans from these and other eastern areas: it was seen by the Americans and British as the heart of Prussian militarism and the warhawk Junker aristocracy.
@@TheLocalLt I didn't say it wasn't important. My point is elsewhere. I just said Germany was a concept existing before the 2nd reich and not the result of an expansion of Prussia but more the result of an expansion of the Brandenburg's dynasty of Hohenzollern which heartland was definitely the Berlin area. So, the mindset of starting from "royal Prussia" to describe German unification is, in my opinion, false. That doesn't mean the acquisition of Prussia by the Hohenzollern didn't play a big role in promoting their power.
@@francoisdebellefroid2268 I agree with your point about Germany it’s absolutely correct this video is way off, but I also feel you downplay the importance of East Prussia when compared to Berlin, during the first years of Hohenzollern rule in Brandenburg it was a landlocked wasteland devastated by war, while the Prussian branch had the old Hanseatic trading port of Königsberg. Once peace came to Brandenburg and the two royal branches merged, Berlin began to be more powerful but still retained the legacy of the Germanic Order State, such as the colors black and white, and the spirit of conquest. Later after taking over all of Germany it used that Knightly imagery as much as, if not more than, the imagery of the old Roman imperial legacy which the Habsburgs had used during their centuries ruling Germany
3:47 It's ironic that Poland gave sovereignety to Prussia for the military aid in the Northern War with the Swedes, only to be partitioned by them a 154, 175 and 177 years later alongside Austria and Russia. And then again in 1939 alongside the Soviet Union.
Also, in 1683 Poland liberated Vienna from the Ottoman siege, and less than a hundred years later Austria "thanked" Poland by partitioning it two times together with Prussia and Russia.
I think the german danish border after WW1 should be mentioned seperated, because the border line was not drawn by the Versailles Treaty, it was an election in the Schleswig territory in 1919 resulting in the seperation of Schleswig into Südschleswig and Sönderjylland. Until today this border is the only one elected by the people living in the area.
@@General.Knowledge Even Silesia and East Prussia also had referendums to join the new state of Poland. Both of them profusely voted to be part of Germany.
Much as it discomforts me to add to an already fairly loud chorus of dissent, I must say this seems a departure - albeit an unusual one, in defence of our charming and diligent host - from the usual high standards of historical accuracy and critical analysis which are normally a feature of this channel's output. As it stands, it seems there was uncertainty as to whether the aim was to delve into the formation and development of the Kingdom of Germany - or to give us a history of Prussia! To my mind, had the basic idea been to expand one particular entity, to keep it slightly simpler and focussed - as happened with Prussia in this film - it would have been far better to start with East Francia, resulting from the splitting of Charlemagne's empire, which, very simplistically, became Germany, France and Italy. Not only did this happen at least 300 years before the beginnings of "Prussia" emerged, since we are after all talking "origin stories", I would also contend East Francia makes a much better geographical case as a progenitor of the German Kingdom, given that East Francia, as was, is more or less still Gernany today - while Prussia, correspondingly, was really mostly where Poland now is! Finally, and yes sure, it's true the Hohenzollerns, the Electors of Brandenburg (with that territory comfortably in today's Germany) effectively merged with Prussia in the early 17th Century but a) that's miles later than the story of "Germany" actually begins b) the previously mentioned sheer territorial extent of East Francia and c) the perhaps even more significant linguistic and cultural ties between the constituent parts of East Francia, namely Bavaria, Swabia and Saxony - all conspire to make East Francia a better place to start, when talking about Germany's development, than Prussia. 😏❤
I'm usually a fan of your videos, but in this case the narrative is too simplistic, trying to create a one-country-expands narrative that focussed just on the term Prussia, rather than the much more complicated political and historical maze that was the HRE, its electors, and the concept of nationhood in a feudal world of loose and shifting political unions before nationalism existed. Also, a line of narrative that focusses so much on the importance of Prussia as a territory and its conquest by the Teutonic order should also follow the thread back further to the Teutonic Order itself, and then would need to explore its origins before it went on the Eastern Crusade, which in turn leads back to both the Holy Land and core HRE lands. Also, Brandenburg-Preußen arose from the dynastic diplomacy of the Brandenburg branch or the Hohenzollern dynasty (and a number of deaths that were very timely and convenient for that branch of the family), which itself originated not in Brandenburg but in Schwaben (Swabia) in south-western Germany and took over Brandenburg in 1411 thereby becoming electors. Either the origin and historical development of the electorate of Brandenburg or the dynastic machinations of the Hohenzollerns would have been a more accurate representation of the state craft and power politics behind the origins of the Prussia that would later unify Germany rather than just following the name Prussia pre-1618/1701. The skip from Roman times straight to Eastern Crusade also leaves out so much relevant history. Even if we skip over the united East Francia under the Karolingians, the history here should start with Otto I and the founding of the HRE along with the creation of the title Rex Teutonicus (King of the Germans). The history of the HRE and the Regnum Teutonicum within it are a lot less clear-cut and require many more qualifying statements, but would make for a more realistic discussion of the territorial history of Germany pre-Prussia. There was also the struggle of particularly the Staufer dynasty of Emperors and Kings of the Germans that tried, almost succeeded, and ultimately failed to create a more coherent centralised German kingdom (similar to France at the time). Also, prior to unification in 1871 there was already the Deutsche Bund a confederation of German states from 1815 onward, and 1848-49 there was a short-lived united democratic Germany that always seems to be forgotten. The whole concept of Regnum Teutonicum/Real of the German-speaking peoples becomes very relevant again later on during the creation of the German Empire, and again for justifications for the Anschluss. That entire period makes a lot more sense with the context of whether there should be a "Kleindeutsche Lösung" or a "Großdeutsche Lösung" (small or large German solution) to unification, which crucially involved the concept of all realms of German-speaking peoples i.e. whether all land of German peoples should be united or Austria should be left out despite being part of what was traditionally the Regnum Teutonicum. TLDR: Videos on German history pre-mid-19th century are always a mountain of asterisks upon asterisks with a much less clear-cut narrative than other large European countries.
This is a simplified version of history, only telling the story of Prussia's part in (re)making Germany. Considering this limited perspective, it's a good try.
Germany did actually briefly occupy the Baltics during WW1: Lithuania and Courland in 1915, then added Livonia and Estonia in 1918, then were forced to withdraw as part of the armistice, but they did occupy Courland again briefly in 1919. Also in WWII Germany did actually officially annex a few of their occupied territories, notably Alsace-Lorraine, Danzig, West Prussia, Pomerania, Posen, and parts of Silesia
Germany could not have annexed Pomerania in WWII because it already belonged to them. No part of Pomerania was stolen from them in the treaty of Versailles.
German territory was given to Poland because the Soviets needed somewhere to put all the Poles they had expelled from Polish territory annexed by the Soviet Union.
@@mikesmith7517 that's still not the reason why soviets gave them to Poland. Also having territory 1000 years ago isn't really valid claim. Galicia in 1945 was more polish than western Pommerania ever was.
@@costamcostam8961 Germans should be happy that their state is not limited to just West Germany. At the beginning of German history the border with Slavic tribes was on river Elbe. Due to germanizations efforts they gained a lot of land in the meantime. However, stealing land and germanization should never be accepted.
Prussia is not Germany, it is a part of Germany. Just because Prussia led the German Empire we shouldn't therefore assume that it's basically Germany before Germany.
@@adolfmauser6582 It wasn't? Königsberg was a regional administrative capital. The main seat of government was Berlin. Berlin Palace first and later Sanssouci.
i always love your content! thanks for this! i would say, however, it would be wonderful if you could get a solid pop filter for your mic, as listening through this there are some plosive pops that are a bit distracting. nonetheless, great video :)
Nijemci još uvijek ne žive u jedinstvenoj državi. Tu su još Švicarska, Austrija, Luksemburg, dijelovi Belgije, Francuske, Južni Tirol u Italiji i još neke teritorije.
I would rather say that if you see Prussia as the origin of the German state, the region of origin is Brandenburg or at least Brandenburg and Prussia equally. After all it was the elector of Brandenburg who wanted to rule Prussia and created the kingdom of Brandenburg-Prussia.
I think you should have included the Germanic tribes because its the reason germany has so many ways to say its name (like Tyskland, Germania, Deutschland etc) and you mostly talked about prussia which dosent make alot of sense considering there are many other countrys too you didnt include like West francia and the H.R.E which was mostly rules by germans.
Most germans would say that the german history starts on the 10th august 955 in Augsburg, me included. Sometimes also between the 10th an 12th century when regnen teutonicum was a thing. Also sometimes Charlemagne or Ludwig the German. If we talk about a german nation in form of a national state we should start at the wars of liberation against napoleon, where big waves of nationalism came about german people or in 1848 where the first german national state was created which lasted for nearly 2 years. I haven't ever heard this shit of Prussia as start of germany, except in American documentaries or if u ask people from Brandenburg or Berlin who really believe this rubbish.
Not an expert (since I watch videos like this one) but to say Germany originated from (East) Prussia seems odd. The German state (among many) that came to be known as the Kingdom of Prussia has its roots in Brandenburg - a territory which lies in Germany today.
I would say it's more accurate to say that Brandenburg became a part of Prussia, rather than vice versa. While their union may have been equal at first. The emphasis in both the rulers' mindsets and in military strength always was on Prussia. Also consider that Brandenburg-Prussia's capitol was Königsberg, not Berlin. Prussia most certainly has its roots in the Teutonic Order (or ducal Prussia), or at the very least its roots are in equal parts Brandenburg and ducal Prussia.
hi, i have a question: do you set your videos as made for kids, not made for kids and restrict for kids or not made for kids and not restrict for kids?
The premise is problematic. The German state didn't emerge from Prussia as Prussia was a Eastern frontier colonized by the Teutonic order which derived from the old German (holy Roman) empire.
I'm sorry but the idea that Germany or the Germans spawned from Prussia or that geographic area is just wrong. Prussia used to be a German colony much like Portugal (at the time Lusitania) was for the Italians.
little things you missed, but important: The Holy Roman Empire was succeeded by the german conferderation for a short time, than a group of people tried 1848 for the first time to unite germany as a complete state (see also march revolution), but failed. it is shown on ur maps, but as u report some things out of order: the empire was founded 1871. and everyone was invested in not created a big new power, while austria and prussia fought those proxy wars to decide who would lead the nation building as they would never merge. so yeah, our country is technically only 73 years old (and if you count the empire as kinda beginning, also just 152 years).
I don't think one can say the country is 152 years old. If you use country as a synonym for state then you have to start in 1949 and if you use it as a synonym for nation then it's much older than 152 years. In my opinion even says 32 years is logically more consistent than 152 years
@@zoomerboomer1396 It is complicated, I personally count 1949 and thats used as one jubilee. True, our national day is the reunification - but tells you that it was that, not the founding of a new state.
@@otakuofmine Yeah i would count 1949 but at the same time it's a bit of a German only thing. For example i'm from Switzerland and here folks say our country is over 800 years old because of a military allience between 3 states in 1291. I think most countries define their age more like Switzerland but you guys in Germany have a bit of a bad history with claiming origins in old times so i think just opting for 1949 is fair play.
2:29 germany from prussia? No. You forgot some centuries. Different oppinion. Look up Frankenreich und Heiliges römisches Reich deutscher Nationen or Goldene Bulle!!!
My etymological English dictionary says it comes from Old French or from medieval Latin meaning Prussia. It is further assumed to be of Old Prussian origin, but there is no written evidence. Another thing I found on the internet is that the Polish origin is said to be very unlikely. It's stated there that the similarities work with modern Polish, but not with its ancestors. I don't know modern Polish, nor Middle or Old Polish, so I cannot verify that source at all. Could also be complete bullshit.
Prussia is a part of Germany, but Prussia is certainly not proto-Germany in the sense that the rest wasn't Germany before it came to Prussia. Actually it's truer the other way 'round: Some of the eastern parts of Germany like Prussia and Silesia were Baltic or Slavic and became German through German settlers intermingling with the locals.
Technically, Germanic tribes lived up to the Vitsula, which would mean most of Poland. Slavs arrived in the 8th or 9th century. The setup is essentially the same as the Turks and Constantinople. I believe in the 12th century they resettled Silesia and Pommern, and to an extent Brandenburg, Austria, and even Bohemia. Prussia for the most part was inhabited by Balts, the Old Prussians until it was colonized, so it was weird be used a picture of Old Baltic Prussia as the "origin" when the proto Germany was the Königsreich von Deutschland, Deutsches Bund, Rhinish Confederation, or even 1848-49 revolution
As someone whose family had lived in Germany for over a thousand years, until 1940, the place they lived is in Brandenburg, but they are not or were never considered Prussian. They were completely German. Even though my great grandma was born in what is now Poland and my grandfather was also born in a Polish city, they were not Polish or Prussian. They were German. In fact, my grandma, and her brother, both of whom are still alive, are 100% German, according to their DNA tests they have taken the past few years.
Good video, but you made no mention of the Soviet takeover of Königsberg (aka northern East Prussia, now Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast), and the post-WWII re-occupation of the Saarland (which lasted until 1957 after another referendum).
Not a good research. Germany as Nation (not United Kingdom’s of Germany) dates back at least 2000 years settled by several German tribes. First United Germany was Charles the Great around 800. Then “Holy Roman Empire of German Nation” several hundreds of years till 1815. Till 1648 including Switzerland and Netherlands. Then “German Federation” till 1871. Prussia was important, but is only one of the ancestor kingdoms beside Austria (Habsburg), Saxony, Bavaria, Hesse an many others… Greetings from Germany Marko
That's true. But my point wasn't to define when the Germans came together as a people. It was to define and depict when the current German State began organizing itself and taking administrative control of the German territory altogether. And that, in my opinion, begins with the Prussian Kingdom
With EU history in mind, it would be more german-french or if you like french-german union instead of german-polish union... and we would have country of 'Karl dem Großen' again.
You forgot to include the German annexation of Memelland in 1939, when they strong-armed Lithuania into cedeing the land back to Germany. But it was returned to Lithuania after world war 2.
Because it has nothing to do with the entire German history, rather than how Germany became a state and this started entirely with Prussia. People have to understand that the HRE isn't related with Germany at all, even if both share some parts of the same area. The HRE was a completely different organization and also was completely differend ruled, and, most importantly, ended in 1806 without an successor.
Well but it wasn’t only Prussia. There were for example also Bavaria and other Kingdoms and the Holy Roman Empire was also German. („Holy Roman Empire of German nation“)
TL;DW + my comment: Prussia was not the origin of Germany. The origin of Germany was Brandenburg (that is why the capital city of Germany is Berlin). But within HRE no ruler could become a king. Prussia for years was Polish fiefdom. In XVII century the Brandenburg rulers got control over it (Brandenburg-Prussia personal union) and in 1701 Great Elector's son, Frederick III crowned himself "King in Prussia" as Frederick I. "King in Prussia", because legally there could be no kingdoms in HRE (except for Bohemia) - so formally Frederick I became the king in Prussia, which was not the part of HRE. Of course - he contolled all his state's teritorry, including Brandenburg within HRE and the capital of "Prussia Kingdom" was Berlin. And the second resaon for "King in Prussia" title was the fact, that formally the right to title "King of Prussia" still would belong to Polish king, although Poland had no control over that teritory that time. So technically "Prussia" in fact was the "borowed name" for the Brandenburg-based country to use the loophole in Holy Roman Empire legal system.
i'd argue that the origins of germany was brandenburg instead of prussia, though the name eventually changed to prussia, the capital was still berlin, the ruling dynast was the hohenzollerns, and without brandenburg prussia probably would've been swallowed into poland and later, russia. but anyway, i enjoyed the video, keep it up
The capitol was Königsberg. It was only moved to Berlin in 1871 to have a more geographically central position. Also the Hohenzollerns ruled in both ducal Prussia and in Brandenburg before their union. If you want to get technical about the Hohenzollerns, though, they were actually from very far southern Germany.
@@adolfmauser6582 fair, though i've never heard of the capital being konigsberg ever since the two united. If it were wouldn't they have surrendered to the russians in the seven years' war?
Wow. I feel like my education is truly "murica'd". I had no clue the US, which I've always considered a baby country, is effectively older than and resemblance of modern Germany. I even too AP world history and we didn't learn jack about how unstable European statehood was. I am so shocked, my history education has truly failed me here. I'm debating auditing a damn history course now because I feel like skipping college history might have done me dirty now
2 ปีที่แล้ว +1
Who do you decide that Prussia is Germany and not The Holy Roman Empire?
Considering Russia’s current offensive war in Ukraine, they’ll likely have to give up Koenigsberg soon and either give it back to Germany or give it to Lithuania.
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Thank you for your great work bro 😎👍🏻. I wish Germany was bigger, I’m half German and live here but I don’t want to force or have war with my beloved neighbours, but at the same time I think I’m my head that Germany would be much better off having more of its pre world war charm and culture.
no
Make video on Indian states...
General history:
Germany has lost some of its land throughout history...............
Me:
What the hell! It's isn't "some", it's 33%!
Not rude just saying 😊
@@nereus246 your half german and half.......?
You know what's ironic? Both Prussia and Austria had a bitter rivalry over who should rule Germany. But neither of them are part of Germany today.
I never thought of that...wow
If I were Austria, I'd claim victory as the country still exists.
That’s not true, big parts of prussia still exist‘s today like berlin and brandenburg mecklenburg vorpommern etc. only the name prussia is not envolved anymore. But traditions like military punctuality order is still very valued in the german nation today and those come all from prussia. Just like the germans say today the prussian legacy lives till this day.
@@ThrE3-GeS its mostly that most of Prussian Territory is now part of Poland and Russia, not Germany.
You could argue that the people of Prussia are alive in Germany today, as a lot of them moved (or more likely fled) to todays Germany both shortly before and after the end of WW2
The thumbnail is wrong: by 1701, when the Kingdom of Prussia was created, it did not include Royal Prussia and Silesia. It was comprised by 2 disjointed territories: the electorate of Brandenburg and the ducal Prussia. Silesia was conquered from Austria around 1740 in the First Silesian War. Royal Prussia belonged to Poland up until the First Partition of Poland in 1772.
Also for the German Empire, would the date be 1871 instead?
@@Alkalus no it was still that big in 1914 if it was before the great war
Can confirm, having played Empire TW
The Hohenzollern Elector of Brandenburg, later became Duke of Prussia later elevating himself to King IN Prussia.
🤓
The Kingdom of Germany (regnum Teutonicorum) was the realm of the Germans within the HRE and the origin of the German state. Prussia was merely the leading power behind the reunification of Germany after it was shattered by Napoleon.
First German King was Otto I.
@Sasquatch94 The partition of the Carolingian Empire set the stage, but the rule of Otto i. (and that of his father, Henry the Fowler) were the grand unifying moments.
@@hodor3024 The first German nationalism even came a little before Otto's I coronation to the emperor in 962. In 955 all Germanic tribes fought together against the Hungarians (with Otto I as leader) and that had led to a national unity between all these tribes.
Reunification of part of Germany, not all of it. I understand what you're saying, Germans nowadays indeed are more likely descendant of "East Francia" (then the Kingdom of Germany), yet, Prussia's influence was a little more than just unification. They really modeled Germany, exported their militaristic culture, and reigned over the entire territory.
So for me, it's also true to say that the ancestor of Germany as a "state", is Prussia. But the ancestors of the "German people", surely is from either the kingdom of Germany or (part of) the HRE yes.
Regardless, for me Bavaria > all. Lol.
@@leopoldiv2341 yes, the uniting of Germany really started under his father Henry the Fowler who was the first Saxon, rather than Frank to rule in the East Frankish Kingdom, effectively turning it into the Kingdom of the Germans and setting the stage for Otto’s campaigns.
However of course all that was set up politically by Charlemagne’s conquests and conversion of the Saxons in the first place, and territorially by the Treaty of Verdun dividing West and East Frankish Kingdoms while creating Lotharingia to fight over for 1200 years
As a German I really hate the idea that Germany evolved out of Prussia or that German history prior to 1871 can be reduced to prussian history. No Prussia was just one german state among many that only gained significance at a relatively late point in German history and happened to be the driving force behind the eventual unification. Yet a much more appropriate starting point for German history would be the Holy Roman Empire wich was preceded by the kingdom of East Francia. The king Otto I. of East Francia united the different German speaking peoples, the Saxons, Bavarians, Swabians and Franconians in the famous battle of Lechfeld in 955 against the Magyars and was crowned holy roman emperor in 962 by the pope. Prussia would not even exist for another 700 years at this point.
Its a shame how Germany lost much of its territory after WW2
@@josafathernandez7211 from 1914 at least 50% of its territory
As a non-German, I agree the Stem Duchies of Bavaria, Swabia, Saxony, and Franconia are the roots of Germany, not Prussia.
While I like this video, I really wish he would have started with the West Germanic tribes, East Francia, and the HRE. Basically the modern western and southern borders of Germany arose from this history, having nothing to do with Prussia.
Prussia made Germany. Nothing yo say can change that fact.
Even before Prussia was a thing, as early as 16th century, thanks to Luther's reformation movement, the roots of a German identity were starting to grow in the Holy Roman Empire, in the development of the high German language and antagonism towards France and the Ottoman Empire. They were still separate princely states politically, but linguistically and culturally, they were beginning to form a common identity.
This is what I meant, perhaps I didn't clarify it well in the video. My point that Prussia was the origin of Germany was in the sense that it was the leading power for the creation of the State as we know it, not of the German Identity or people.
@@General.Knowledge a)That had nothing to do whatsoever with the historic region of Prussia, which you focused on. The Prussian state that had said role was centered on Brandenburg. The reference to "Prussia" was just one that allowed the Prince-Electors of Brandenburg to elevate themselves to Kings. Much like Saxony has precious little to do with the territory of the Saxons, of which it touches only the southeastern borders.
b)The modern German State, from its territory, has more in common with the Regnum Teutonicorum than with the original Prussia. You're negating almost a thousand years of history.
For me he was only talking about the German "state", thus why he considers Prussia its ancestor. But regarding Germany as a culture and identity, it's another matter entirely yes. The thing with the word "Germany" in English, is that it means many different things.
@@ohauss that's what you're getting wrong: it's not about the territory, but the continuity of states, as in institutions holding power. And we definitely can trace the origins of the modern german state back all the way to the beginning of prussia. We're not a successor state of the HRE in the sense that they didn't evolve to be modern germany on their own. Culturally and territorially, of course you're right! But this is more about the law and who holds power.
@@davidmorris8319 Can we actually though? This continuity of states is always a vague concept. You can’t really say that the same institutions hold power in post war Germany as in pre war Germany.
I think the HRE is missing in this Video, Prussia was a great power that influenced the HRE for the last 300 Years but the HRE is much older, Prussia just occupied it after the HRE was dissolved.
And many germans dont like that we are called prussians, because there were so much else german tribes than the prussian.
Edit: changed a p to b
Just letting you know that 'tripes' are innards ;)
@@stefan_popp oh exidently changed b to p, good call
hre wasnt germany
@@jemand1537 why not?
@@ory_enterprise The HRE was attempting to be the successor of Rome, and it was established by the French. And by the time that Prussia was a thing, the HRE wasnt a thing anymore, but the powers of europe still thought it was for some reason, even though it was so goddamn fragmented.
This is MY opinion for it not being Germany. But im kinda in the middle.
As a german and a frisian i have a Problem with that. Prussia Was the First german Triberg to expand and Flourish, but the roots of germany lies in all its tribes
Germany did not occupy all of Poland in 1939. They've split it with Soviet Union in result of a Ribbentrop-Molotov pact signed with USSR just before the outbreak of war in 1939. It's important to note that both Nazi Germany AND Soviet Union started the war in September 1939.
These were the gains during operation Barbarossa.
I mean yeah, but then The Third Reich betrayed the Soviet Union and started a war with it. Due to that they actually did have all of Poland until the Polish Underground State and the Soviets "regained it back".
Interesting! I know that, apart from, perhaps, the whole Nazi episode, it is mostly Russia which has caused Poland trouble, rather than Germany....
True. Germany and Soviet Union agreed on the issue of attacking and dividing Poland between themselves on August 23, 1939 in the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact ... later they implemented provisions of that pact - the Third Reich by invading Poland on September 1, and the USSR on September 17.
Idiot, what about Germany and Poland grab land from Czechoslovakia after Munich agreement? Poland annexed Zaolzie. USSR just take back their territories up to Curzon line which was demarcation line between USSR and Poland and which was broken by Poland earlier.
The origin of the state is in Prussia, but the cultural origins are probably more where the country is today. It was always hard to define as , unlike France or England, it is not defined by natural borders.
I agree!
I guess Germany is where the Germans are?
(Though there's still the Austrians and German Swiss, who are very much not in Germany.)
@@Yora21 Germany is mainly defined by language areas. Hence Deutschland. The land where the people speak Deutsch. The current Germany is the smallest possible definition.
The English term „Germans“ suggests an ethnic definition which never existed, although some small Austrian guy made that up and many believed it for about 12 years.
It would've made more sense to call it the Kingdom of Brandenburg(-Prussia) or something.
@@tylerbozinovski427 But then you would have had a King of Brandenburg, who is a King IN Germany. And that wouldn't have been accaptable for many of the other German princes.
You get the same issue show up later when they form a new German Empire and the new Emperor has a drawn out debate with his own chancellor about whether his title will be Emperor of Germany or Emperor of the Germans. I never quite understood the finer nuances of that issue, but it was a really big deal at that time, since it had serious implications about who claims authority over what.
Prussia is not Germany.
Please do your research before putting so much work in editing your videos. The thumbnail and very start of the video shows a fundamental lack of historic background.
You should read about the history of the Kingdom of the East Franks, which later becomes the Holy Roman Empire. This is the most plausible starting point for your map comparison.
Prussia wasn't even Part of the Holy Roman Empire. Not untill the Hohenzoller (also not Prussian, but Brandenburgian) gained control of Prussia. They used these lands outside of the HRE to rise from Duchy to Kingdom, since there couldn't be more than one King within the HRE.
>General Knowledge posts a video
>Day instantly becomes better
Prussia united Germany, similar to how Muscovite did Russia and Ottomans did Turkey. Its always fun to research about the historical development of modern nations
Prussia is now Polish/Russia save Brandenburg
historical development of almost entire eastern europe: blood and suffering
@@countsudoku6305 of the entire world*
Before Prussia was the holy Roman empire which was dominated by German states
@@Zephyr-of-Ilus Exactly.
This makes my family tree make more sense. My great-great grandparents lived in Danzig until they moved to Kansas in the 1880s. It was part of Prussia at the time, but is now part of Poland.
your last name is polish though
@@ximonq that's my married name. My family who came from Danzig had the last name Coerber (my mom's maiden name). My now-ex-husband's ancestors are polish.
@@kandipiatkowski8589 i see, have a nice day, greetings from Poland :)
@@ximonq my last name is also a slavic last name even though im from germany
@@j.l.d2918 yeah, we mixed a lot, in Poland there are a lot of people with german surnames too
Maybe the video shouldn't be called "territorial evolution of Germany" but "how Prussia became Germany". Because the way you depict it is rather teleological (quite a barbaric word to say that you start your story where it ends and not where it begins. Usually, that way of thinking leads to invert causes and consequences and to assume things were meant to happen that way for the sake of the finality, missing important prerequisits in the process). Here, the mistake is particularly strong, because
1. it completely erases the Holy Roman Empire that fancies itself as "germanic" since the XIIIth Century. We can clearly say that it was some protonational "Germany" lying underneath it.
2. As you told us, the name Prussia is the result of the Elector of Brandenburg inheriting Prussia. But clearly, the main title was the one of Brandenburg... It became Prussia as a compromise since the Elector wanted a royal title, the Emperor was eager to oblige but didn't want it to wear the name of a place inside the HRE... So, only solution : pick a name of a Hohenzollern possession out of the HRE. That's typically how the teleological mistake is done : the name "Prussia" lured you to think the original duchy of Prussia came to dominate Germany. But, in fact, it's the other way around. Teutonic knights went to Prussia, then, they collapsed and a powerfull german prince took over the title and part of the territory there, then the German prince, who was still very very German, dropped the German title for the Prussian one to be called a king... But still: he was German, his dynasty was German and the heartland of his kingdom was German... It was just a change of name.
So, yes, most of what you say in your video is right, but no, it is not an evolution of Germany
Yes, I studied German history and culture. The first reich is the holly Roman empire.
You are downplaying the role of East Prussia and the Baltics, as Königsberg and the surrounding Junker estates were the spiritual home of the whole Prussian project, such as being the site of Prussian coronations, and later of the German Realm, especially during and after WWI, and into WWII.
There was a great linkage in German propaganda during both wars between things like the Battle of Tannenburg from 1410 and the Battle of Tannenburg from 1914, and of course many of the Junker elites had their estates in East Prussia.
During WWII, the entire concept of a “Drive to the East” for “Living Space” came from what was seen as a failed revival in WWI of the original “East Settling” by the Germanic Order. This referenced Germany’s eventual recapture by 1918 of the entire Baltic region for the first time in hundreds of years and put the Baltic Germans nobility back in full control, only to have their victorious army rolled back after the Nov 11 armistice in the west; this rollback was a huge part of the “Stab in the Back” concept.
Adding to this is when Germany returned to Latvia in 1919 to fight the Bolsheviks, they recruited soldiers with the promise of settlement in the “Wild East” and set up the Baltic Germans again in power in Riga, only to have the allies withdraw their support once it was clear the Bolsheviks had given up on the Baltic, resulting in an Estonian and Latvian victory over the Germans and their eventual withdrawal from Latvia; this was sort of a second “Stab in the Back” and many of the Freikorpsman who were denied their promised plots in Courland went on to become early supporters of the Nazi Party, for its “Living Space” proposal for the East, and its “Stab in the Back” theory about the rollback from the East in 1918-19, as well as its virulent anti-Bolshevism.
This all then played a part in the decision to allow Königsberg and East Prussia to be given to Poland and the Soviet Union, and the removal of all Germans from these and other eastern areas: it was seen by the Americans and British as the heart of Prussian militarism and the warhawk Junker aristocracy.
@@TheLocalLt I didn't say it wasn't important. My point is elsewhere. I just said Germany was a concept existing before the 2nd reich and not the result of an expansion of Prussia but more the result of an expansion of the Brandenburg's dynasty of Hohenzollern which heartland was definitely the Berlin area.
So, the mindset of starting from "royal Prussia" to describe German unification is, in my opinion, false. That doesn't mean the acquisition of Prussia by the Hohenzollern didn't play a big role in promoting their power.
@@francoisdebellefroid2268 I agree with your point about Germany it’s absolutely correct this video is way off, but I also feel you downplay the importance of East Prussia when compared to Berlin, during the first years of Hohenzollern rule in Brandenburg it was a landlocked wasteland devastated by war, while the Prussian branch had the old Hanseatic trading port of Königsberg. Once peace came to Brandenburg and the two royal branches merged, Berlin began to be more powerful but still retained the legacy of the Germanic Order State, such as the colors black and white, and the spirit of conquest. Later after taking over all of Germany it used that Knightly imagery as much as, if not more than, the imagery of the old Roman imperial legacy which the Habsburgs had used during their centuries ruling Germany
Would you do a video of an what if German empire annex/united Austria to form gearter germany before WW1.????
3:47 It's ironic that Poland gave sovereignety to Prussia for the military aid in the Northern War with the Swedes, only to be partitioned by them a 154, 175 and 177 years later alongside Austria and Russia. And then again in 1939 alongside the Soviet Union.
Also, in 1683 Poland liberated Vienna from the Ottoman siege, and less than a hundred years later Austria "thanked" Poland by partitioning it two times together with Prussia and Russia.
@@INecr0 Poles got snitched
@@maxmusterman7620 For what i by whom?
I think the german danish border after WW1 should be mentioned seperated, because the border line was not drawn by the Versailles Treaty, it was an election in the Schleswig territory in 1919 resulting in the seperation of Schleswig into Südschleswig and Sönderjylland. Until today this border is the only one elected by the people living in the area.
I visited the Schleswig Castle too...
I didn't know that! Thanks
@@General.Knowledge Even Silesia and East Prussia also had referendums to join the new state of Poland. Both of them profusely voted to be part of Germany.
Even Silesia and East Prussia also had referendums to join the new state of Poland. Both of them profusely voted to be part of Germany.
Not the only one. Saarland had a referendum in 1957 about rejoining Germany.
Much as it discomforts me to add to an already fairly loud chorus of dissent, I must say this seems a departure - albeit an unusual one, in defence of our charming and diligent host - from the usual high standards of historical accuracy and critical analysis which are normally a feature of this channel's output.
As it stands, it seems there was uncertainty as to whether the aim was to delve into the formation and development of the Kingdom of Germany - or to give us a history of Prussia!
To my mind, had the basic idea been to expand one particular entity, to keep it slightly simpler and focussed - as happened with Prussia in this film - it would have been far better to start with East Francia, resulting from the splitting of Charlemagne's empire, which, very simplistically, became Germany, France and Italy. Not only did this happen at least 300 years before the beginnings of "Prussia" emerged, since we are after all talking "origin stories", I would also contend East Francia makes a much better geographical case as a progenitor of the German Kingdom, given that East Francia, as was, is more or less still Gernany today - while Prussia, correspondingly, was really mostly where Poland now is!
Finally, and yes sure, it's true the Hohenzollerns, the Electors of Brandenburg (with that territory comfortably in today's Germany) effectively merged with Prussia in the early 17th Century but a) that's miles later than the story of "Germany" actually begins b) the previously mentioned sheer territorial extent of East Francia and c) the perhaps even more significant linguistic and cultural ties between the constituent parts of East Francia, namely Bavaria, Swabia and Saxony - all conspire to make East Francia a better place to start, when talking about Germany's development, than Prussia. 😏❤
Wait-What cultural and linguistic ties are there between Swabia, Bavaria and Saxony?-They all have different dialects, customs and traditions afaik.
@@sirstamfordraffles6557they speak German
I'm usually a fan of your videos, but in this case the narrative is too simplistic, trying to create a one-country-expands narrative that focussed just on the term Prussia, rather than the much more complicated political and historical maze that was the HRE, its electors, and the concept of nationhood in a feudal world of loose and shifting political unions before nationalism existed. Also, a line of narrative that focusses so much on the importance of Prussia as a territory and its conquest by the Teutonic order should also follow the thread back further to the Teutonic Order itself, and then would need to explore its origins before it went on the Eastern Crusade, which in turn leads back to both the Holy Land and core HRE lands. Also, Brandenburg-Preußen arose from the dynastic diplomacy of the Brandenburg branch or the Hohenzollern dynasty (and a number of deaths that were very timely and convenient for that branch of the family), which itself originated not in Brandenburg but in Schwaben (Swabia) in south-western Germany and took over Brandenburg in 1411 thereby becoming electors. Either the origin and historical development of the electorate of Brandenburg or the dynastic machinations of the Hohenzollerns would have been a more accurate representation of the state craft and power politics behind the origins of the Prussia that would later unify Germany rather than just following the name Prussia pre-1618/1701.
The skip from Roman times straight to Eastern Crusade also leaves out so much relevant history. Even if we skip over the united East Francia under the Karolingians, the history here should start with Otto I and the founding of the HRE along with the creation of the title Rex Teutonicus (King of the Germans). The history of the HRE and the Regnum Teutonicum within it are a lot less clear-cut and require many more qualifying statements, but would make for a more realistic discussion of the territorial history of Germany pre-Prussia. There was also the struggle of particularly the Staufer dynasty of Emperors and Kings of the Germans that tried, almost succeeded, and ultimately failed to create a more coherent centralised German kingdom (similar to France at the time). Also, prior to unification in 1871 there was already the Deutsche Bund a confederation of German states from 1815 onward, and 1848-49 there was a short-lived united democratic Germany that always seems to be forgotten.
The whole concept of Regnum Teutonicum/Real of the German-speaking peoples becomes very relevant again later on during the creation of the German Empire, and again for justifications for the Anschluss. That entire period makes a lot more sense with the context of whether there should be a "Kleindeutsche Lösung" or a "Großdeutsche Lösung" (small or large German solution) to unification, which crucially involved the concept of all realms of German-speaking peoples i.e. whether all land of German peoples should be united or Austria should be left out despite being part of what was traditionally the Regnum Teutonicum.
TLDR: Videos on German history pre-mid-19th century are always a mountain of asterisks upon asterisks with a much less clear-cut narrative than other large European countries.
Not to forget that a Hohenzollern branch also owned large swaths of Franconia.
It‘s a deep misconception of German history to see the country as an extension of Prussia.
Bavaria was and will never be Prussia so Germany cant be an extension of Prussia.
This is a simplified version of history, only telling the story of Prussia's part in (re)making Germany. Considering this limited perspective, it's a good try.
Germany did actually briefly occupy the Baltics during WW1: Lithuania and Courland in 1915, then added Livonia and Estonia in 1918, then were forced to withdraw as part of the armistice, but they did occupy Courland again briefly in 1919.
Also in WWII Germany did actually officially annex a few of their occupied territories, notably Alsace-Lorraine, Danzig, West Prussia, Pomerania, Posen, and parts of Silesia
Germany could not have annexed Pomerania in WWII because it already belonged to them. No part of Pomerania was stolen from them in the treaty of Versailles.
After WW2 the Saarland was taken away from Germany in a similar fashion as in WW1, and a few years after the war, they voted to join Germany again
Prussia being the origin of Germany is a more than exotic hypothesis. The majority of historians would not agree with that.
Can you do a territorial evolution of Brazil? I would love to see.
Sim!
German territory was given to Poland because the Soviets needed somewhere to put all the Poles they had expelled from Polish territory annexed by the Soviet Union.
Where is ur germany? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland#/media/File:Polska_992_-_1025.png
These lands were returned to Poland not given
@@mikesmith7517 Okay, but makes it the fact better that the Russians annexed polish territory ?
@@mikesmith7517 that's still not the reason why soviets gave them to Poland. Also having territory 1000 years ago isn't really valid claim. Galicia in 1945 was more polish than western Pommerania ever was.
@@costamcostam8961 Germans should be happy that their state is not limited to just West Germany. At the beginning of German history the border with Slavic tribes was on river Elbe.
Due to germanizations efforts they gained a lot of land in the meantime. However, stealing land and germanization should never be accepted.
Prussia is not Germany, it is a part of Germany. Just because Prussia led the German Empire we shouldn't therefore assume that it's basically Germany before Germany.
"Prussia" ceased to exist as a political entity in 1947.
@@seifsaaed8144
Yes, and it Germany didn't exist at all when it was founded
Hi generalknowledge!
Hi!
Brandenburg was always the more important part of Brandenburg-Prussia. Prussia was there to provide the crown.
Then why was the capitol Königsberg and not Berlin?
@@adolfmauser6582 It wasn't? Königsberg was a regional administrative capital. The main seat of government was Berlin. Berlin Palace first and later Sanssouci.
i always love your content! thanks for this! i would say, however, it would be wonderful if you could get a solid pop filter for your mic, as listening through this there are some plosive pops that are a bit distracting.
nonetheless, great video :)
the German empire had the nicest border in the history
Nijemci još uvijek ne žive u jedinstvenoj državi. Tu su još Švicarska, Austrija, Luksemburg, dijelovi Belgije, Francuske, Južni Tirol u Italiji i još neke teritorije.
Unnecessary and woefully abstract, but I’d like to one day learn more about the Kingdom of Germany or “German Kingdom” within the Holy Roman Empire.
I would rather say that if you see Prussia as the origin of the German state, the region of origin is Brandenburg or at least Brandenburg and Prussia equally. After all it was the elector of Brandenburg who wanted to rule Prussia and created the kingdom of Brandenburg-Prussia.
A territorial evolution of iranian (persian) border would be nice.
Since it's such an underrated nation in media.
Suggestion: Countries that used to hate another country but now Loves that country or just do the opposite idk
Why can't I watch this video? Not on my PC, not on my TV and not on my mobile??
It just says: The video is unavailable on this device.
Very interesting video. Congrats!
I think you should have included the Germanic tribes because its the reason germany has so many ways to say its name (like Tyskland, Germania, Deutschland etc) and you mostly talked about prussia which dosent make alot of sense considering there are many other countrys too you didnt include like West francia and the H.R.E which was mostly rules by germans.
East Francia. West Francia would be modern day France.
@@sirstamfordraffles6557 Yes you are right. I meant to say East Francia
Most germans would say that the german history starts on the 10th august 955 in Augsburg, me included. Sometimes also between the 10th an 12th century when regnen teutonicum was a thing. Also sometimes Charlemagne or Ludwig the German. If we talk about a german nation in form of a national state we should start at the wars of liberation against napoleon, where big waves of nationalism came about german people or in 1848 where the first german national state was created which lasted for nearly 2 years. I haven't ever heard this shit of Prussia as start of germany, except in American documentaries or if u ask people from Brandenburg or Berlin who really believe this rubbish.
The tribes don’t really contribute to the modern German state though
Not an expert (since I watch videos like this one) but to say Germany originated from (East) Prussia seems odd. The German state (among many) that came to be known as the Kingdom of Prussia has its roots in Brandenburg - a territory which lies in Germany today.
I would say it's more accurate to say that Brandenburg became a part of Prussia, rather than vice versa. While their union may have been equal at first. The emphasis in both the rulers' mindsets and in military strength always was on Prussia. Also consider that Brandenburg-Prussia's capitol was Königsberg, not Berlin. Prussia most certainly has its roots in the Teutonic Order (or ducal Prussia), or at the very least its roots are in equal parts Brandenburg and ducal Prussia.
Wow. This made my hurt but still a great video!
This video is unavailable on this device. I have an iPhone 13 pro max, how’s this possible?
Video unavailable on device. 5:51 AM EST, 28 May 2022.
This is very intresting, I love to see other European countries as well, as some of the brooders changes a lot since 13th century
hi, i have a question: do you set your videos as made for kids, not made for kids and restrict for kids or not made for kids and not restrict for kids?
The premise is problematic. The German state didn't emerge from Prussia as Prussia was a Eastern frontier colonized by the Teutonic order which derived from the old German (holy Roman) empire.
In the beginning it was 'always ask for more'.
Just later ended bad.
why is this video unavailable for me?
I just came here from Armchair Historian's video on Prussia
I'm sorry but the idea that Germany or the Germans spawned from Prussia or that geographic area is just wrong.
Prussia used to be a German colony much like Portugal (at the time Lusitania) was for the Italians.
Wrong
little things you missed, but important: The Holy Roman Empire was succeeded by the german conferderation for a short time, than a group of people tried 1848 for the first time to unite germany as a complete state (see also march revolution), but failed. it is shown on ur maps, but as u report some things out of order: the empire was founded 1871. and everyone was invested in not created a big new power, while austria and prussia fought those proxy wars to decide who would lead the nation building as they would never merge.
so yeah, our country is technically only 73 years old (and if you count the empire as kinda beginning, also just 152 years).
Hi, found your comment!
Me too!
I don't think one can say the country is 152 years old. If you use country as a synonym for state then you have to start in 1949 and if you use it as a synonym for nation then it's much older than 152 years. In my opinion even says 32 years is logically more consistent than 152 years
@@zoomerboomer1396 It is complicated, I personally count 1949 and thats used as one jubilee. True, our national day is the reunification - but tells you that it was that, not the founding of a new state.
@@otakuofmine Yeah i would count 1949 but at the same time it's a bit of a German only thing. For example i'm from Switzerland and here folks say our country is over 800 years old because of a military allience between 3 states in 1291. I think most countries define their age more like Switzerland but you guys in Germany have a bit of a bad history with claiming origins in old times so i think just opting for 1949 is fair play.
2:29 germany from prussia? No. You forgot some centuries. Different oppinion. Look up Frankenreich und Heiliges römisches Reich deutscher Nationen or Goldene Bulle!!!
or saxon empire
Fun fact: spruce comes from polish word "z Prus" which means from Prussia.
My etymological English dictionary says it comes from Old French or from medieval Latin meaning Prussia. It is further assumed to be of Old Prussian origin, but there is no written evidence.
Another thing I found on the internet is that the Polish origin is said to be very unlikely. It's stated there that the similarities work with modern Polish, but not with its ancestors. I don't know modern Polish, nor Middle or Old Polish, so I cannot verify that source at all. Could also be complete bullshit.
German empire will never be repeated
Huh???? Territorial evolution of Germany from PRUSSIA???? Sorry, that statement makes no sense.
Prussia is a part of Germany, but Prussia is certainly not proto-Germany in the sense that the rest wasn't Germany before it came to Prussia. Actually it's truer the other way 'round: Some of the eastern parts of Germany like Prussia and Silesia were Baltic or Slavic and became German through German settlers intermingling with the locals.
Technically, Germanic tribes lived up to the Vitsula, which would mean most of Poland. Slavs arrived in the 8th or 9th century. The setup is essentially the same as the Turks and Constantinople. I believe in the 12th century they resettled Silesia and Pommern, and to an extent Brandenburg, Austria, and even Bohemia. Prussia for the most part was inhabited by Balts, the Old Prussians until it was colonized, so it was weird be used a picture of Old Baltic Prussia as the "origin" when the proto Germany was the Königsreich von Deutschland, Deutsches Bund, Rhinish Confederation, or even 1848-49 revolution
Wrong
holy ahoot ur content has improved so much in wuality
As someone whose family had lived in Germany for over a thousand years, until 1940, the place they lived is in Brandenburg, but they are not or were never considered Prussian. They were completely German. Even though my great grandma was born in what is now Poland and my grandfather was also born in a Polish city, they were not Polish or Prussian. They were German. In fact, my grandma, and her brother, both of whom are still alive, are 100% German, according to their DNA tests they have taken the past few years.
A lizards saliva sample was sent to 23andme - after the test it was shown to be 51% Ashkenazi weJ.
your gran and her bro could be lizards ?
Prussians are German
Loved this video, thank you
Why isn't " This video unavailable on my device" ? it's a bloody laptop
Make territorial evolution for Turkey
Good video, but you made no mention of the Soviet takeover of Königsberg (aka northern East Prussia, now Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast), and the post-WWII re-occupation of the Saarland (which lasted until 1957 after another referendum).
so u could also put in there stettin, its west of oder border
why is this video not available on pc
3:27 BrandeNburg, not "Brandeburg" (also misspelled in some of your other videos)
2:47Holy😱 I didn't think I want to live anymore (Also can I get a link)
Holy Roman Empire being Far away North from anything that really was part of the real Roman Empire is something so crazy
They fight to destroy Rome all time and when they did it they call them holly roman empire(hypocrites)🤔
Hello hello, could you do a similar video with Poland? I think it would be interesting.
i am interested of the real origin of slavs in eastern europe, wholhynia?
Territorial evolution of argentina next please
This was a very interesting video.
There is also a german video about this but it starts in 18th century
What is the map at 0:33? I cant think of a time that Europe looked like this.
Looks like an alt. history map
Not a good research. Germany as Nation (not United Kingdom’s of Germany) dates back at least 2000 years settled by several German tribes.
First United Germany was Charles the Great around 800. Then “Holy Roman Empire of German Nation” several hundreds of years till 1815. Till 1648 including Switzerland and Netherlands. Then “German Federation” till 1871. Prussia was important, but is only one of the ancestor kingdoms beside Austria (Habsburg), Saxony, Bavaria, Hesse an many others…
Greetings from Germany
Marko
So true, Prussia only became important much later. It's certainly not the "origin" of Germany and us Germans
That's true. But my point wasn't to define when the Germans came together as a people. It was to define and depict when the current German State began organizing itself and taking administrative control of the German territory altogether. And that, in my opinion, begins with the Prussian Kingdom
As a person of Prussian descent, Gott schütze Preußen
Christian Prussians, not pagan Prussians
I think that pagan Prussians need saving just as well.
@@HahnJames No I meant my heritage when I said that, if there are any more pagan Prussians I do hope they are saved
@@HahnJames
Pagan long gone.
Germany just before ww2 was huge. If it existed today i think it would even match china and usa levels gdp
Or If they will created German-Polish Union 😂.
That country will by pretty interest
With EU history in mind, it would be more german-french or if you like french-german union instead of german-polish union... and we would have country of 'Karl dem Großen' again.
unavailable on pc
Wow, why did you omit the reason why the Knights were invited or asked to conquer Prusia?
Nicht alle Namen richtig ausgesprochen aber Insgesamt ein gutes Video
You gotta admit, the German Empire's borders were pretty sexy
Yeah they were
As a Pole l must admit it is sexy looking but l not really thet upset either about the change of your borders ;)
Idk, the new ones are, too, tbh.
You forgot to include the German annexation of Memelland in 1939, when they strong-armed Lithuania into cedeing the land back to Germany. But it was returned to Lithuania after world war 2.
He mentioned that
I agree with other commenters that Prussia was never the equivalent of Germany. Julius Caesar had a more accurate idea of what Germany was.
my last name is hohenzollern and you can‘t imagine how often i get asked if i know how brandenburg and germany was found..,
Unfortunately, this video does not show whole history of Germany.
History of Germany starts in 843 with East Francia.
Because it has nothing to do with the entire German history, rather than how Germany became a state and this started entirely with Prussia.
People have to understand that the HRE isn't related with Germany at all, even if both share some parts of the same area.
The HRE was a completely different organization and also was completely differend ruled, and, most importantly, ended in 1806 without an successor.
I wonder why the map at 07:23 decided to use the correct non-anglicized names for Swedish cities, but the capital of Denmark is still anglicized 🤔
Stockholm is the the same anglicanized or not
The thumbnail:we don't talk about 1933-1945
Can we talk about, that the treaty was just shit? And I say that as a polish man.
The quality of these videos never fails to amaze me! :-)
This episode is unfortunately failing to show whole history of Germany. The history shown here is not full and conclusions are partly false.
Some of the land. SOME.
Well but it wasn’t only Prussia. There were for example also Bavaria and other Kingdoms and the Holy Roman Empire was also German. („Holy Roman Empire of German nation“)
TL;DW + my comment:
Prussia was not the origin of Germany. The origin of Germany was Brandenburg (that is why the capital city of Germany is Berlin).
But within HRE no ruler could become a king.
Prussia for years was Polish fiefdom. In XVII century the Brandenburg rulers got control over it (Brandenburg-Prussia personal union) and in 1701 Great Elector's son, Frederick III crowned himself "King in Prussia" as Frederick I.
"King in Prussia", because legally there could be no kingdoms in HRE (except for Bohemia) - so formally Frederick I became the king in Prussia, which was not the part of HRE. Of course - he contolled all his state's teritorry, including Brandenburg within HRE and the capital of "Prussia Kingdom" was Berlin.
And the second resaon for "King in Prussia" title was the fact, that formally the right to title "King of Prussia" still would belong to Polish king, although Poland had no control over that teritory that time.
So technically "Prussia" in fact was the "borowed name" for the Brandenburg-based country to use the loophole in Holy Roman Empire legal system.
i'd argue that the origins of germany was brandenburg instead of prussia, though the name eventually changed to prussia, the capital was still berlin, the ruling dynast was the hohenzollerns, and without brandenburg prussia probably would've been swallowed into poland and later, russia. but anyway, i enjoyed the video, keep it up
Wait, Prussia was swallowed into Poland and Russia.
The capitol was Königsberg. It was only moved to Berlin in 1871 to have a more geographically central position. Also the Hohenzollerns ruled in both ducal Prussia and in Brandenburg before their union. If you want to get technical about the Hohenzollerns, though, they were actually from very far southern Germany.
@@adolfmauser6582 fair, though i've never heard of the capital being konigsberg ever since the two united. If it were wouldn't they have surrendered to the russians in the seven years' war?
2:54 anyone mind telling me what year Europe looked like this ?
I love how Prussia/German Empire and Austria had a rivalry even tho that they had the same language lol
Wow. I feel like my education is truly "murica'd". I had no clue the US, which I've always considered a baby country, is effectively older than and resemblance of modern Germany. I even too AP world history and we didn't learn jack about how unstable European statehood was. I am so shocked, my history education has truly failed me here. I'm debating auditing a damn history course now because I feel like skipping college history might have done me dirty now
Who do you decide that Prussia is Germany and not The Holy Roman Empire?
You could've takrn one or two more minutes to clarify some stuff about for example the HRE or the seven years war (silesian wars)
12:06
Slovakia did not belong to germany
It was a separate state
Slowakei
Oberungarn
Österreich-Ungarn
Katholizismus
Faschischmus
Kommunismus
Tschechslowkei
Slowakische Republik
EUCCP
spannende Rahmenbediungen ... !
What happened to the old Prussian city of Koenigsberg?
The Russians annexed the area after WW2.
Today it is a Russian enclave in the EU, Kaliningrad.
Considering Russia’s current offensive war in Ukraine, they’ll likely have to give up Koenigsberg soon and either give it back to Germany or give it to Lithuania.
@@TheZett or give it to Poland.
plz make a video of germans before prussia 1300
would appreciate it, thx
Is the map in 0:34 fake or real?
1 : Holy Roman Empire
2 : Prussia
3: German empire
4: Germany
5: Third German reich
6: West, east Germany
7: Germany