Why did the French Fail to Annex Saarland? (Short Animated Documentary)

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 พ.ย. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 2.5K

  • @ComicalRealm
    @ComicalRealm 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12085

    "My great grandmother was born 1898 near Saarbruecken. She changed her nationality four times, lived through two world wars and paid with six different currencies. She has been through a lot, without even moving once!" - Fred Flintstone

    • @ph0n1xz
      @ph0n1xz 3 ปีที่แล้ว +464

      Grand dad: origins

    • @Pigraider268
      @Pigraider268 3 ปีที่แล้ว +516

      *James Bisonette

    • @KR-mm4el
      @KR-mm4el 3 ปีที่แล้ว +192

      saarland (1914-1957) be like: “it do be bussin’ though”

    • @yoyohehe2034
      @yoyohehe2034 3 ปีที่แล้ว +752

      My Croatian grandpa lived in 7 different countries:
      1. Austria-Hungary
      2. State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs (1918)
      3. Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918 - 1941)
      4. Kingdom of Italy (1941-1943)
      5. Independent state of Croatia (1943-1945)
      6. SFR Yugoslavia (1945-1991)
      7. Croatia (1991)

    • @boomerix
      @boomerix 3 ปีที่แล้ว +281

      Reminds me of people who lived in Transcarpathia during the 2 world wars. Austro-Hungarian, then West Ukrainian People's Republic, then Czechoslovakian, then Hungarian and in the end part of the Ukrainian Soviet Republic. People went through 5 different citizenships without even moving once.

  • @ingsnaut_7006
    @ingsnaut_7006 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4975

    "It's Saarland not your land." -- German probably.

  • @itsducc0953
    @itsducc0953 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3174

    France to Saarland after they were guaranteed the coal of the land: *"I don't want to play with you anymore."*

    • @Dyknown
      @Dyknown 3 ปีที่แล้ว +122

      Saarland to France: "Thanks, we were tired of this anyway."

    • @selinane2Seli-zw3pz
      @selinane2Seli-zw3pz 3 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      The story is older. Saarlouis was created by Louis XIV, a french King, in Saarland....

    • @JonatasAdoM
      @JonatasAdoM 3 ปีที่แล้ว +43

      @@Ball4LifeShorts You're not coal anymore

    • @JonatasAdoM
      @JonatasAdoM 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@selinane2Seli-zw3pz Sarrloius! Where all the French Louis come from!

    • @abrahamlincoln14
      @abrahamlincoln14 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      E

  • @dajaca2586
    @dajaca2586 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9254

    Wasn't expecting this territorial conflict to be the EU's secret origin story

    • @Tjalve70
      @Tjalve70 3 ปีที่แล้ว +599

      For me it was the other way around.
      I knew about EU's origin story. But I didn't know Saarland was such an integral part of it.

    • @Dyknown
      @Dyknown 3 ปีที่แล้ว +290

      Same here, and sort of surprised the ECSC's origins were more than economic but political as well. I feel silly, given how the EU has always had a political nature to it...

    • @rick7424
      @rick7424 3 ปีที่แล้ว +35

      Adenauer time.

    • @giuseppeagresta1425
      @giuseppeagresta1425 3 ปีที่แล้ว +114

      It's not like EU was born just because of that tho, there are tons of other things that influenced its birth (mostly the Cold War, as mentioned in the video: USA had to keep the European front united etc.)

    • @ALEXANDER1318
      @ALEXANDER1318 3 ปีที่แล้ว +114

      It isn't. It's France trying to conjure magic burning rocks into its economy that forms the EU's secret origin story.
      It's also about France trying to keep Germany from outgrowing it economically (again) by stapling itself (and the rest of Western Europe) to Germany and its economy. Only to have the Germans end up dominating the whole thing (like 2 minutes later) anyway. The French are not very good at doing some macro-political things. Hence them being on their fifth republic.

  • @DasIllu
    @DasIllu 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2054

    Saarland native here. We had indeed a troubled past, but also a lot of "fun facts". It's worth a read on wikipedia.
    We are to this day very dependent on heavy industry but there is a decline due to globalization. It was not only coal but steel prduction. Once world famous, now a relic is the Völklingen Ironworks. Among the oldest in the world and now UNESCO world cultural heritage.

    • @0000-z4z
      @0000-z4z 3 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      Deutscher hier. Gibt es heute im Saarland ernsthafte Bestrebungen, wieder ein Teil Frankreichs zu werden?

    • @philipwilkin2667
      @philipwilkin2667 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Ei Grüße aus Tholey. :)

    • @philipwilkin2667
      @philipwilkin2667 3 ปีที่แล้ว +53

      @@0000-z4z
      Uff gar kei Fall. ;)
      Null.

    • @firespindash
      @firespindash 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Nice to see someone from there, does people in Saar like to be part of Germany?

    • @DasIllu
      @DasIllu 3 ปีที่แล้ว +67

      @@0000-z4z Nein. Bis in die 60'er gab es mal eine Seperatistenbewegung die das Saarland in ein zweites Luxemburg verwandeln wollten, aber selbst die haben sich nicht wirklich ernst genommen.
      Die gesammte Region SaarLorLux ist extrem mit einander verwoben. Warum Franzose werden, wenn du nur 2 Meter bis zur Grenze hast und es Schlagbäume mehr gibt?
      Ich bin früher an freien tagen ohne nachzudenken einfach morgens nach Frankreich spaziert und hab mir ein Baguette gekauft. Und am Wochenende hat man die Franzosen in den Deutchen Clubs und Kneipen getroffen.
      Wir haben das Beste aus 2 Welten, warum sollten wir das Aufgeben? :-D

  • @awc6007
    @awc6007 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2164

    “What was Vietnam like after the Vietnam war?” Would be a good video idea

    • @SamAronow
      @SamAronow 3 ปีที่แล้ว +118

      Still at war, just against someone else.

    • @danzoom
      @danzoom 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      @@SamAronow wasn't it basically Vietnam war? Or americans left before south fell?

    • @alexrider2597
      @alexrider2597 3 ปีที่แล้ว +72

      Invaded Cambodia

    • @Banana_Split_Cream_Buns
      @Banana_Split_Cream_Buns 3 ปีที่แล้ว +32

      It would have to be divided into several different periods. Most notably 1975 - 1986 and 1986 to present.

    • @flyngbee4777
      @flyngbee4777 3 ปีที่แล้ว +39

      @@danzoom they left 3 years before,after that the north annexed the south and was immediately attacked by the khmer rogue, reason why they invade Cambodia, this make China angry and China invaded Vietnam too(with support from US). Vietnam kick the two out with soviet support and form an new communist government in Cambodia

  • @spinjitzustudios780
    @spinjitzustudios780 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3018

    Dude how can you explain so much in 3 and a half minutes while still putting in various jokes like Germany sticking to tradition of losing. This really is a form of art and a really hard and underestimated thing to do. To make a kind of short video like this a lot of work goes into it and I generally appreciate you doing that for us!! I just really wanna thank you for these amazing video's🔥🔥🔥

    • @dw620
      @dw620 3 ปีที่แล้ว +68

      Barely even three minutes...
      Inevitably there are a few corners cut (e.g. Germany actually got The Saar back in 1935, nothing to do with WW2), but if it gets people reading up on the more detailed history afterwards that's a win-win. : )

    • @lukmigindnuforhelved
      @lukmigindnuforhelved 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Hear hear !

    • @crkcrk702
      @crkcrk702 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@dw620 oh really

    • @somebonehead
      @somebonehead 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      And that's why you should give History Matters your money

    • @nedsnark6479
      @nedsnark6479 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      👆🏼Sincerely, James Bizzonette

  • @frostyblade8842
    @frostyblade8842 3 ปีที่แล้ว +327

    1:23 As an Irish person, this made me chuckle. This was super well done dude, as always

    • @dutchman7623
      @dutchman7623 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Let's hope for an Irish version in 2027!

    • @noodlyappendage6729
      @noodlyappendage6729 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@dutchman7623 the UK will out live the EU.

    • @dutchman7623
      @dutchman7623 2 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      @@noodlyappendage6729 Doubt that...

    • @noodlyappendage6729
      @noodlyappendage6729 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@dutchman7623 then you have no idea how bad of a situation the EU is in. The UK’s problems are minor in comparison.

    • @dutchman7623
      @dutchman7623 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@noodlyappendage6729 Correct, but the enormous difference between them is that the EU damned well realizes their position and that constant effort and investment is needed to proceed, while the UK is dividing their unity more and more to serve a few.

  • @Ben-jw2xh
    @Ben-jw2xh 3 ปีที่แล้ว +655

    Us germans joke a lot about the Saarland and the people living there but at the end of the day they pretty much had a choice to leave Germany twice and never did. Maybe we should appreciate that more

    • @neoDarkSquall
      @neoDarkSquall 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      What about them is subject to jokes?

    • @neoDarkSquall
      @neoDarkSquall 3 ปีที่แล้ว +86

      @Tinúviel Like Alabama in the US and Nord in France, then.

    • @nick3805
      @nick3805 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      @@neoDarkSquall Incest and also the dialect.

    • @LukasZ_77
      @LukasZ_77 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Ben Jurqunov who cares haha

    • @nicolascadet7238
      @nicolascadet7238 3 ปีที่แล้ว +54

      Im from the other side of the Saarland border (french side).
      I dont speak german so I never heard about that incest thing. However I used to spend all my weekends in Saarbrucken, they know how to party over there ^^
      🇨🇵🤝🇩🇪

  • @Dyknown
    @Dyknown 3 ปีที่แล้ว +439

    I always love when Napoleon shows up in these things, whether he is looking down on the monarchs who refuse to personally lead armies or whether he's prancing around a visibly perturbed Austrian Emperor :).

    • @selinane2Seli-zw3pz
      @selinane2Seli-zw3pz 3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      A lot of monarches avoided to personnaly lead their armies during French era because the result would be catastrophic. Napoleon never despised them lmao

  • @thehobowizard
    @thehobowizard 3 ปีที่แล้ว +443

    Europe, where every centimeter of land has had multiple wars fought for it

    • @DonCristian_DPB
      @DonCristian_DPB 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Luv Europe

    • @akapbhan
      @akapbhan 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      So does most parts of the world. But thanks to Europe most of the records are destroyed. I live in a place that was almost for 1000 years of Turmoil. It was a constant back and forth until the Turks invaded

    • @arpudli8962
      @arpudli8962 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@akapbhan and now you have peace hahahaha

    • @potato88872
      @potato88872 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @@arpudli8962 would have you prefer war ?

    • @arpudli8962
      @arpudli8962 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@potato88872 no, war is stupid... But why do you ask exactly?

  • @HipFire1
    @HipFire1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5927

    germany: looses another war.
    France: gib Saarland.

    • @Verner-eh4pk
      @Verner-eh4pk 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      smart

    • @KR-mm4el
      @KR-mm4el 3 ปีที่แล้ว +289

      germany: loses ww2
      russia: gib Königsberg

    • @lorrainemapper7000
      @lorrainemapper7000 3 ปีที่แล้ว +217

      Germany: loses world war 2
      Poland: gib prussia

    • @yellowwire3751
      @yellowwire3751 3 ปีที่แล้ว +63

      Das heißt: Gib mir BITTE das Saarland

    • @augustuzmoon3814
      @augustuzmoon3814 3 ปีที่แล้ว +43

      Eu forms:
      "The only thing I'm giving you guys is assimilation and euros!"
      Brixit:"ha what losers at least I have it figured out, right guys!?"
      Citizen:"I Godman hate this island. "

  • @harveya1a952
    @harveya1a952 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3467

    The Saarland would be apart of France if they had James Bisonnette’s support

    • @bottomgear4055
      @bottomgear4055 3 ปีที่แล้ว +53

      Yes

    • @choreani
      @choreani 3 ปีที่แล้ว +207

      Or Kelly Moneymaker’s

    • @sinarouhi3966
      @sinarouhi3966 3 ปีที่แล้ว +64

      Or wiggly biggly or whatever 😆🤣

    • @jamesbissonette8002
      @jamesbissonette8002 3 ปีที่แล้ว +243

      If only they had reached out

    • @iiillliiill5917
      @iiillliiill5917 3 ปีที่แล้ว +92

      @@jamesbissonette8002 The legend himself!

  • @nicolasmarazuela1010
    @nicolasmarazuela1010 3 ปีที่แล้ว +193

    Fun fact: When the national team of Saarland lost against the german team, the captain of the Saarland team said: "I'm not sad that we lost. I mean I'm German, so I'm happy that we have now a chance to win the World Championship!"

    • @laurentschmidt2758
      @laurentschmidt2758 2 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      ...which they did. And the coach that led (West) Germany to its second win in 1974 was the coach of the Saarland national team before.

    • @kolomaznik333
      @kolomaznik333 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I doubt that it was "national team". It were more like two german teams against each other. This "fun fact" nicely ilustrates it.

    • @dabbasw31
      @dabbasw31 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      2014 was the fourth World Cup for the German FA (DFB), the first World Cup for East Germany and the third World Cup for Saarland. :)

  • @bbenjoe
    @bbenjoe ปีที่แล้ว +41

    After a thousand year of fighting for those regions, France and Germany came up with the idea of working together.
    Neat.

  • @GuildsmanPirate
    @GuildsmanPirate 3 ปีที่แล้ว +741

    “Not the rest of the world, nobody asked them”
    I love this channel

    • @TurtleMarcus
      @TurtleMarcus 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      What a rare sight to see a fellow Georgist online!

    • @miguelrodriguezcimino1674
      @miguelrodriguezcimino1674 3 ปีที่แล้ว +41

      I love when they ironically mention the hypocresy of the big powers...

    • @fangzhoushao5404
      @fangzhoushao5404 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Based Georgism. I also support the pirate parties as well!

    • @sjoormen1
      @sjoormen1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Same thing in Europe. Ask any small nation.

    • @jarlathquinn2628
      @jarlathquinn2628 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Also the let them choose (except the Irish)

  • @pagansbasin6657
    @pagansbasin6657 3 ปีที่แล้ว +890

    James bisonette is from the saarland and threatened to revoke his financial support if they annexed it.

    • @jamesbissonette8002
      @jamesbissonette8002 3 ปีที่แล้ว +104

      Plausible

    • @dan-phone4665
      @dan-phone4665 3 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      @@jamesbissonette8002 is is this the legend himself?

    • @kiyru44
      @kiyru44 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@jamesbissonette8002 😀

    • @0000-z4z
      @0000-z4z 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@jamesbissonette8002 Are you the one?

    • @kaiserfloppaiii5214
      @kaiserfloppaiii5214 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@jamesbissonette8002 France is gay

  • @AFGuidesHD
    @AFGuidesHD 3 ปีที่แล้ว +747

    Let them choose (apart from the regions occupied by our empires) 😂
    typical "good guys" behaviour

    • @nizarb.arsantaka2740
      @nizarb.arsantaka2740 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      hello

    • @mayoite160
      @mayoite160 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      typical white guy behaviour

    • @garrettallen7427
      @garrettallen7427 3 ปีที่แล้ว +82

      @@mayoite160 Japanese co-prosperity sphere ring a bell?

    • @hirocheeto7795
      @hirocheeto7795 3 ปีที่แล้ว +57

      @@mayoite160 White people weren't the only imperialists. The most prolific, sure, but not the only ones. Whitewashing goes both ways.

    • @unifiedhorizons2663
      @unifiedhorizons2663 3 ปีที่แล้ว +45

      @@mayoite160 laughs in Turkish and Molitian empire

  • @ambergris5705
    @ambergris5705 3 ปีที่แล้ว +98

    Today, Saarland and France are also linked through the SaarLorLux euroregion, as a region of shared interests that comprises French Lorraine, German Saarland (and more), and both independent and Belgian Luxembourg. Quite a dynamic region in Europe actually, and a good reminder of how borders in Europe now don't separate, but rather create lines of exchange.

    • @MXB2001
      @MXB2001 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Kinda reminds one of that old 3rd Kingdom that existed after Charlemagne. It lay between what were to become Germany and France.

    • @samiamrg7
      @samiamrg7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      +MXB2001 The area wasn’t quite so valuable back then. Middle Francia was doomed to fail given how it was just this long strip awkwardly situated right between it’s two siblings. Lo and behold, it got gobbled up by the East and West Francia practically immediately.

    • @RK-cj4oc
      @RK-cj4oc ปีที่แล้ว

      ​@@samiamrg7That and it had regions like the Netherlands and Northern Italy in 1 country without modern infrastructure.

  • @ttt2080
    @ttt2080 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    Saarland actually had their own international football team and nearly qualified for the 1954 World Cup. They were knocked out by .... West Germany, who went on to win the tournament. The coach of the Saarland team, Helmut Schon, went on to manage the West German team which won the World Cup in 1974 and the European Championships in 1972.

  • @TailsIsDisappointed
    @TailsIsDisappointed 3 ปีที่แล้ว +575

    WW2: _Begins_
    France: _Hardly invades the Saar_
    France: "We did it boys! We saved the world, let's go home."

    • @bruhicusmomentus3060
      @bruhicusmomentus3060 3 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      baguette located

    • @frankieperson1275
      @frankieperson1275 3 ปีที่แล้ว +36

      @@kei6121 Well technically it was a call it a day and go home scenario just not the ARMY saying call it a day and go home.

    • @dw620
      @dw620 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Well done for calling it "the Saar" rather than Saarland (more typically used for the modern German state)... ; )

    • @Ihatechoosingnames242
      @Ihatechoosingnames242 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@dw620 even then it wasnt known as the Saar the Saar is the river running through the area before it became a state it was known as the "Saargebiet" or Saar territory

    • @omgpix
      @omgpix 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @@kei6121 ...You didn't refute the idea they called it a day and went home, you just explained WHY they called it a day and went home.

  • @whatiswrongwiththeworld8451
    @whatiswrongwiththeworld8451 3 ปีที่แล้ว +236

    As a German, I can confirm that many German shops are simply called "Geschäft".

    • @Crom1980
      @Crom1980 3 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      But be careful if talking about "großes" or "kleines Geschäft". 😄😑💩

    • @FutureMan420Blazer
      @FutureMan420Blazer 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      fo realz? lolz

    • @whatiswrongwiththeworld8451
      @whatiswrongwiththeworld8451 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@FutureMan420Blazer no, I was joking

    • @jonnykidnap4082
      @jonnykidnap4082 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@whatiswrongwiththeworld8451 Wich just legitimates that you are German

    • @chrisrudolf9839
      @chrisrudolf9839 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      @@FutureMan420Blazer Geschäft is quite a versatile word, depending on context it can mean business, store or deal. With the latter meaning, it is also used as an ironic euphemism for peeing (ein kleines Geschäft machen - doing a little deal) and taking a crap (doing a big deal).

  • @sebazpereyra9431
    @sebazpereyra9431 3 ปีที่แล้ว +116

    You should make a "Why Uruguay exists" video. It's a pretty interesting story.

    • @DonCristian_DPB
      @DonCristian_DPB 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I totally get behind you on this one, it would definitely be a very interesting video

    • @nicolasrivero3027
      @nicolasrivero3027 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Haha that's a tough one.

  • @Tjalve70
    @Tjalve70 3 ปีที่แล้ว +863

    So basically, France wanted Saarland, but when they were offered EU instead, they accepted the trade off.

    • @dw620
      @dw620 3 ปีที่แล้ว +63

      Fun fact. No. ; )
      The EU was not even a twinkle in anyone's eye at that time, except for the German plan of 1942 which was shelved due to losing the war...

    • @theemperor-wh40k18
      @theemperor-wh40k18 3 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      That was less of a European union and more of a German Aryan union...

    • @derrickthewhite1
      @derrickthewhite1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +94

      @@dw620 I mean, the ECSC is not the european union by a long shot, but it is a momentous milestone in the series of treaties that eventually led to the EU. When the EU was formed, the ECSC was the oldest of the three communities that formed the first of the "Three Pillars".
      So its a very light precursor to the EU, but it was absolutely a light precursor to the EU. So restated:
      Basically, France wanted Saarland, but when they were offered a light precursor to the EU instead, they accepted the trade off.

    • @marcgdr7038
      @marcgdr7038 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@theemperor-wh40k18 you mean based Union?

    • @Qwerpy
      @Qwerpy 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      "I was looking for Copper, but I found gold"

  • @danemlive
    @danemlive 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    My mother's side of the family is from Saarland and its rare to see much coverage of Germany's smallest Bundesland. Very cool to see it on this channel!

  • @Fsast9707
    @Fsast9707 3 ปีที่แล้ว +199

    He's growing more and more savage every passing day

    • @Delightfully_Witchy
      @Delightfully_Witchy 3 ปีที่แล้ว +30

      He's British; he wasn't growing more powerful, he was just revealing more of his true power.

  • @NIDELLANEUM
    @NIDELLANEUM 3 ปีที่แล้ว +115

    2:42 an interesting topic would be why Italy was part of the ECSC when it was founded in 1951. Back then, it made sense that the Benelux countries would be part of it, since they were sandwiched between France and Germany, but why was Italy part of that?

    • @baronbrummbar8691
      @baronbrummbar8691 3 ปีที่แล้ว +41

      becouse that are all nations that could and wanted to join ------- spain and portugal where still fachist --the uk never wanted to get in --- the northmen didn´t wanted to join --- switzerland and austria oblidged themself to be neutral ---- and east europe obviously couldn´t join ------------- that leaves only france w.Germany benelux and italy -----

    • @baronbrummbar8691
      @baronbrummbar8691 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      oh i forgot irland ---- it basicly was in civilwar

    • @baronbrummbar8691
      @baronbrummbar8691 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      and so was greece

    • @Valery0p5
      @Valery0p5 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      See "Treaty of Rome"

    • @NIDELLANEUM
      @NIDELLANEUM 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      @@baronbrummbar8691 Oh so it was mostly a case of "these are the only ones who could join" and it just so happens that Italy feels like the odd one out due to its geographical position? Thanks for that.
      However, that leaves the Nordic countries. Why couldn't Denmark join, for instance?

  • @J_Gamer_Mapping
    @J_Gamer_Mapping 3 ปีที่แล้ว +117

    "Self-Determination" except when we don't feel like it

    • @elviscobb5922
      @elviscobb5922 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hilarious!

    • @Osterochse
      @Osterochse 3 ปีที่แล้ว +23

      actually self determination wasn't really a thing in Europe either.
      After the first world war many referendums were held but ignored by the allies, when it was against their interest. E.g. the Sudetenarea voted to become Austrian, which was ignored by the czech government. In Alsace noone was ever asked if they want to be French, German or indepentent at any point in history. in ethnically mixed areas the borders were drawn to the disfavour Germany, Austria or Hungary or the Ottoman Empire.
      the winning powers don't care too much if the land they seize actually fits their definition of being democratic or independent. it is just power politics and imperialism.

    • @J_Gamer_Mapping
      @J_Gamer_Mapping 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@Osterochse Yep. That was what I was refferencing. Kinda shitty of the victors, but they won so they could do whatever they wanted

    • @MeidoInHebun
      @MeidoInHebun 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Osterochse They simply care about stability, having a huge ethnic minority be a part of another nation that mistreats them is a recipe for trouble, when the minorities are easily subjugated because they are small or kept systematically powerless then self-determination doesn't matter.

  • @cheydinal5401
    @cheydinal5401 3 ปีที่แล้ว +213

    Wanting to invade stuff because it has coal is such a 19th century thing to do

    • @kaslyan
      @kaslyan 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      Iraq: Who needs coal when you got oil?

    • @Kay2kGer
      @Kay2kGer 3 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      @@kaslyan thats the 20th and 21th century reason :)

    • @kaslyan
      @kaslyan 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@Kay2kGer indeed, scary question is whats gonna be the next resource worth going to war for

    • @raichu4game932
      @raichu4game932 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      @@kaslyan Water for sure

    • @kaslyan
      @kaslyan 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@raichu4game932 ahh yeah thats a good shout

  • @liam6nugget
    @liam6nugget 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I am feeling so blessed that we’re getting so many history matters episodes at the moment. Every last episode is brilliantly written, cleverly animated, and teaches me something I never knew that I needed to know. 10/10 perfection!

  • @cnglight
    @cnglight 3 ปีที่แล้ว +388

    "Let them choose (except the Irish)"
    *Eamon de Valera intensifies*

    • @baronbrummbar8691
      @baronbrummbar8691 3 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      and the germans in belgium(euphen melmady) denmark(schleswig) netherland(friesa) france(alsace) and the millions of germans that were deported in easte europe

    • @AverageHouseofWolvesEnjoyer475
      @AverageHouseofWolvesEnjoyer475 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@baronbrummbar8691 Yep. :(

    • @danielwalker6653
      @danielwalker6653 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@baronbrummbar8691 Also the french flemish, corsicans and catalonians in Perpignan (all of whose separate identities are basically extinct/integrated now)

    • @baronbrummbar8691
      @baronbrummbar8691 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@danielwalker6653 those i talked abouth where all german minoritys

    • @baronbrummbar8691
      @baronbrummbar8691 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@danielwalker6653but if we talk about france you forgot the nor(d)mans, bretons and occitaniens

  • @familygash7500
    @familygash7500 3 ปีที่แล้ว +155

    Because "France can't have nice things" had been British foreign policy for over 400 years at this point, and that wasn't going to change anytime soon.
    *ALSO, VIDEO SUGGESTION:*
    Why did Cyprus never unite with Greece?

    • @galanopouloc
      @galanopouloc 3 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      To answer your question:
      "Cyprus was a colony of the UK, then EOKA revolted and Cyprus became independent. Then it took a combined amount of about 5 minutes for the two communities to start fighting each other. Then the junta in Athens (with possible US backing) make EOKA-B do a coup against the government of Cyprus, and install a pro-Greek government. Turkey said no way and invaded the island and here we are."

    • @NuukneinMapping
      @NuukneinMapping 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      They tried to, Turkey invaded in response and both the juntas of Cyprus and Greece fell because of it

    • @kamikazestryker
      @kamikazestryker 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      short answer turkey

    • @littlechemie5425
      @littlechemie5425 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Turkey threw hissy fit, that's why :)

    • @mappingshaman5280
      @mappingshaman5280 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I still don't get why Greece doesn't just unite with South Cyprus. Do they need south Cyprus to just rattle their sabre at North Cyprus until they get it or something?

  • @spectretacitus325
    @spectretacitus325 3 ปีที่แล้ว +66

    "Let them choose (except the Irish)". Yes, we in Ireland still have to put up with this to this day.

    • @ttun100
      @ttun100 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @@tombee9785 Because there is this little thing called Northern Ireland.

    • @itzimperiumxvi2620
      @itzimperiumxvi2620 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@tombee9785 the way things are going, there’s not gonna be much of a union

    • @LegendNinja41
      @LegendNinja41 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Shaw4123 learning about the irish history really solved the puzzeling question of why many Irish support Palestinians, which are so far aways from Ireland, now it's totally clear, it's really a dark history but very important to learn about and i sooo hope that one day their will be a United Ireland on the Island.

    • @Osterochse
      @Osterochse 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      actually self determination wasn't really a thing in Europe either.
      After the first world war many referendums were held but ignored by the allies, when it was against their interest. E.g. the Sudetenarea voted to become Austrian, which was ignored by the czech government. In Alsace noone was ever asked if they want to be French, German or indepentent at any point in history. in ethnically mixed areas the borders were drawn to the disfavour Germany, Austria or Hungary or the Ottoman Empire.
      the winning powers don't care too much if the land they seize actually fits their definition of being democratic or independent. it is just power politics and imperiaism.

    • @stephenjenkins7971
      @stephenjenkins7971 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@Shaw4123 As always, it seems the Irish are always so unironically imperialist when it comes to Northern Ireland. It doesn't matter what you want, it matters what Northern Irish want; period. Self-determination first.

  • @EXTREME4YEARSTOCOME
    @EXTREME4YEARSTOCOME 3 ปีที่แล้ว +70

    "Let them choose" (except the Irish). As an Irishman that gave me a good laugh :D

  • @benhoffmann3821
    @benhoffmann3821 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    It’s really nice to see my home being talked about. Thanks for making this video. Greetings from the Saarland

  • @12undeadz
    @12undeadz 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Surprisingly informative video (for covering such a small region) with great insight into geopolitics.

  • @jameslawrie3807
    @jameslawrie3807 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I love how these little picture of people and objects are actually really well researched depictions of the real thing in a funny way.

  • @weeklycanvas2751
    @weeklycanvas2751 3 ปีที่แล้ว +44

    At this point, I don't even watch his videos for the history lessons but for those short witty lines

    • @wyattangle
      @wyattangle 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I'm 40/60. I love learning these somewhat random tidbits in history, but slightly more, I love hearing the funny lines that get added in. I crack up!

    • @weeklycanvas2751
      @weeklycanvas2751 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@wyattangle right on

  • @AbruptandOffensive
    @AbruptandOffensive 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I just love the fact that you call out ALL of ur supporters BY NAME at the end of every video. A man of the people, for the people, by the people.

  • @ER3xW4ha7
    @ER3xW4ha7 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Bless this channel for having videos under 5 minutes.

  • @matthewwallack601
    @matthewwallack601 3 ปีที่แล้ว +58

    "This may surprise you, but there was a Second World War."

    • @writerconsidered
      @writerconsidered 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I literally come just for the sarcasm. And he follows that up with " Germany sticking with tradition lost that as well."

    • @stephenlitten1789
      @stephenlitten1789 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      "But fun fact: No!"

    • @antoinemozart243
      @antoinemozart243 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Where the germans were severely defeated by the french june 14, 1940.....precisely in the french Saar. The germans were far superior . 90 000 vs 20 100. It was called operation Tiger. The first !

  • @AlexWehpunkt
    @AlexWehpunkt 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    As someone born and raised in and just moved back a few weeks ago to after 11 years of living in other regions of germany - thank you, from the bottom of my heart!

    • @EliasRoy
      @EliasRoy 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Have you ever visited Saarland after leaving. Please give us your thoughts.

    • @AlexWehpunkt
      @AlexWehpunkt ปีที่แล้ว

      @@EliasRoy as I wrote, I moved back two years ago. Hailing again from sweet Saarlouis, "the undeclared capital" of the saarland 😀 But if you have any specific questions, feel free to ask them.

  • @griffinthegamer9809
    @griffinthegamer9809 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Y’all should make a vid about the Irish war for independence

    • @beaucaspar3990
      @beaucaspar3990 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Ireland still import a tonne of stuff from Britain they aren’t as independent as you’d think.

    • @purplespeckledappleeater8738
      @purplespeckledappleeater8738 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Geography is everything. If your tiny country was half an island and your closest neighbors were your historical arch nemesis and France, I'd bet you would celebrate a strong sense of nationalism too while still establishing strong economic ties. Ireland is just cutting costs by importing from Britain. It's not like Britain doesn't immediately look at Ireland as a potential market to dump exports and make a profit.

  • @zurielsss
    @zurielsss 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    3:00 that “La Sarre” joke got me a chuckle. Thanks man 😂

  • @lazevnik
    @lazevnik 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Easy way to learn history when told in a funny manner;
    This being the funniest I have heard so far;
    Keep up the good work.

  • @weeklycanvas2751
    @weeklycanvas2751 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Imagine the shock wave that would travel around youtube the day he doesn't start the names of his patrons with James Bisonnette

    • @sumomanify
      @sumomanify 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      "It's 2023, and James Bisonnette, is dead. "

    • @littlechemie5425
      @littlechemie5425 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Like PBS Eons without Steve

    • @trrt2719
      @trrt2719 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      It happened before and James was 2nd I think

  • @jordanfenose8554
    @jordanfenose8554 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Whoa another History Matters ep this week. It's definitely Christmas already

  • @leonardoleo5740
    @leonardoleo5740 3 ปีที่แล้ว +219

    "But given Germany... issues...."
    "This may surprise you, but there was a world war II. Germany, stricken with tradition, lost this one to"
    I love these jokes

    • @rodrigobraz2
      @rodrigobraz2 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      blatant nitpick: "sticking with tradition" :-)

    • @dw620
      @dw620 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Although they did actually get the Saar back before WW2 (in 1935).

    • @macsnafu
      @macsnafu 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Wait--you mean that The War To End All Wars didn't actually end all wars? I am shocked, SHOCKED I say, to find this out!

    • @_Lis25
      @_Lis25 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I mean second world war objective of Germany doesn't really surprise why they stick to tradition.

  • @quinnchandler7577
    @quinnchandler7577 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    It’s crazy how much your Chanel has grow

  • @rogerodle8750
    @rogerodle8750 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I appreciate the fact that you make things I wouldn't ordinarily be interested in -- interesting.

  • @yas4346
    @yas4346 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    lol I am from Saarland and tbh I could've saved me a ton of time studying this in school and instead just watching this video you explained it perfectly

  • @OliveAmanita2682
    @OliveAmanita2682 3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    I've always had this question. I feel like you can read my mind

  • @AnnoBathory
    @AnnoBathory 3 ปีที่แล้ว +75

    Britain: we believe countries should have self-determination.
    Ireland: Am I a joke to you?
    Britain: No, because that would require me to recognize you as a people capable of choice, let alone a country.

    • @purplespeckledappleeater8738
      @purplespeckledappleeater8738 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      And that's exactly what happened, again. English history is so complicated.

    • @UkSapyy
      @UkSapyy 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Not that simple is tho. The British see the British Isles as the motherland of the British. Ireland is included as an Isle of the British Isles. The British recognised the Irish culture much like the Welsh, Scots, Cornish, Gaels, English and all the others in between but with the exemption that British culture is to be the taught culture.
      The problem is England created the British Empire and only share a crown with the Scots (United Kingdom). So the English took the stance to make their culture and language the new British culture, instead of trying to create a common culture. Of course it happened like this because the English crown took the title of the British Empire. It had happened with the Northern Kingdoms and Cumbric Kingdoms historically. Expect Ireland was seen as secondary importance to the British as Great Britain was more developed than Ireland. And if the British used Ireland as a agriculture Island to feed the British that be okay because their British too, right? You kinda see why the Irish were pissed but also why the British didn't see an issue. Not to mention the English and Scots are their own in identity but like the Irish much like the Welsh and Cornish identify as a Celtic nation making claims back hundreds of years, I'd bet the Irish make claims that Britons lived in Britain and Gaels in Ireland making counter claims to the one desired identity of the time as British. The Irish believe this now and at the time of the British Empire and what followed was unpleasant bloody history as the British or better put the English tried to create a British culture by basically assimilating other cultures and attending to the needs of the machine of Empire over the needs of the people in the Empire.

    • @noodlyappendage6729
      @noodlyappendage6729 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@UkSapyy separatists like to bad talk England but so many of them move here. England is more populous partly for that reason. They left Wales, Scotland and Ireland to live in England. England only used to be three times more populous then Scotland. But now it’s eleven times more populous. What the UK gov should do is spread the British population around a bit more equally. That would kill separatism stone dead. Middlesex in the south has 4 million people and Cromartyshire in the north has 7 thousand people. This is what is causing the problem. You’re exactly right in what you say. As somebody who identifies as British the British Isles are most definitively the mother(is)land(s) of the British people. Ireland even used to be called Little Britain. We should not give into separatists.

  • @Joe-vu5kr
    @Joe-vu5kr 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I really did enjoy this episode, thank you

  • @OsmaPvP
    @OsmaPvP 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    as a person who used to live in saarland i enjoyed this video

  • @proactiveomnipresentvessel6569
    @proactiveomnipresentvessel6569 3 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    Fascinating you HM sir somehow manage to find such unusual events in the most unexpected places

  • @TransformersBoss
    @TransformersBoss 3 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    I like how, in the image of France pointing out to the USA and Britain that Germany had invaded France a lot of times, there’s a picture of Napoleon in the background, who invaded most of Europe…

    • @Difdauf
      @Difdauf 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      No he didn't. Most of Europe tried to invade France and failed a lot of times. The result may be the same, but the story is quite different.

    • @patrickmorrissey3084
      @patrickmorrissey3084 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Germany invaded France three times because France declared war on Germany three times.

    • @mappingshaman5280
      @mappingshaman5280 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Difdauf France invaded Egypt (not Europe but the principle is the same), Spain and Russia. He also tried to force the continental system on Europe and we saw what happened when a country disobeys said continental system when France invaded Russia.

    • @Difdauf
      @Difdauf 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@mappingshaman5280 Exactly my point. The peninsula war started after 15 years of conflict, the russian campaign 4 years later. So saying that Napoleon invaded europe is not really accurate. (unless you volontarily forget 15 years of war and 4 coalitions)

    • @Osterochse
      @Osterochse 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@Difdauf then again France annexed so many places in the napoleonic wars, that it is difficult to not call it imperialistic. it could have left the borders the way they were the same way the borders of France were left pre napoleonic in 1815. the wars on russia and spain were clearly french aggressions that were not necessary to defend itself.

  • @dw620
    @dw620 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Could have had additional fun with all the name changes during the period - Saarland is more the modern German state as opposed to the "Territory of the Saar Basin", more usually just referred to as "the Saar".
    Not to be confused with former Russian rulers, of course.

  • @johndennis8837
    @johndennis8837 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Two videos in a week, this just got more interesting. Cheers to this man!

  • @antonbonin5003
    @antonbonin5003 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Idk how many more of these videos I can watch without feeling guilty for not subscribing. The absolute gall to watch this dude's incredibly fun and informative videos and not click on a subscribe button so he's somewhat compensated for my entertainment and education.

    • @greywolf7577
      @greywolf7577 ปีที่แล้ว

      The main point of subscribing is to benefit you. You get to watch more of his videos because TH-cam will save his page for you and show you his videos.

  • @calumwatt4360
    @calumwatt4360 3 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    What better way to end an international border dispute than with a shrug because it no long matters who owns it?

    • @patriciusvonkempen9810
      @patriciusvonkempen9810 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      By stopping bringin french settlers into German Elsass which IS genocide according to UN definitions?

    • @1000eau
      @1000eau 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@patriciusvonkempen9810 wtf are you talking about

  • @Gods_Aviator
    @Gods_Aviator 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Seeing Napoleon hop
    0:29
    Just gives me *LIFE*

  • @SamAronow
    @SamAronow 3 ปีที่แล้ว +42

    "Saarland has more Michelin stars per person than any other German state...and if that doesn't make you proud to be French, I don't know what will."
    -The Tim Traveller

  • @fabianherrmann6398
    @fabianherrmann6398 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    As far as I have been told, Saarbrücken was planned by Germany and France to be the seat of the EU parliament but the other countries did not want that. So Brussels and Luxemburg became seats of EU Institutions over time while the pairlament went to Straßbourg, because the EU council was there already. Man too bad for Saarland but at least as a german I thus could spend my required foregin internship during university at the EU pairlament.

    • @onurbschrednei4569
      @onurbschrednei4569 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The Europa Institut (founded in 1951) is still in Saarbrucken !

  • @jannieseth
    @jannieseth 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    From weekly upload to 3 days. Look how history matters give answers to questions we didn't ask but also gives inside jokes that we get it

  • @thequeenofspades
    @thequeenofspades 3 ปีที่แล้ว +80

    Saarland: "Sure Germany has it's problems. But at least it isn't France".

  • @sonoftheway3528
    @sonoftheway3528 3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    Do what were the colonies of European countries like when their colonizers were occupied by Germany during WWII? (France, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark).

    • @Tjalve70
      @Tjalve70 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I don't think Denmark had any colonies left after they sold the last one to USA.
      Unless you count Iceland and Greenland, that is.

    • @sonoftheway3528
      @sonoftheway3528 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@Tjalve70 I'd count Greenland and Iceland. What were they like when Denmark was occupied?

    • @roypennell1976
      @roypennell1976 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@sonoftheway3528 Greenland was given to the US, Iceland to the British. Im unsure of the faroe islands, though

    • @charlesdegaulle6663
      @charlesdegaulle6663 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      For France, North Africa was part of the Vichy government While Equatorial Africa And the far East colonies sided with Me and the Free French

    • @Tjalve70
      @Tjalve70 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@sonoftheway3528 Iceland declared independence. That would probably not have happened if Denmark hadn't been occupied.

  • @cjaystevens1828
    @cjaystevens1828 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    1:23 "let them choose (except the irish)" hands down has to be one of the funniest subtle jokes history matters has came up wit well done 10/10

  • @alparslankorkmaz2964
    @alparslankorkmaz2964 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Nicely explained.

  • @redcoat4ever323
    @redcoat4ever323 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Love the commentary.

  • @NekoBoyOfficial
    @NekoBoyOfficial 3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    "French leaders pushed for the ECSC to be guaranteed access to coal." Sounds like the EU.

    • @TorIverWilhelmsen
      @TorIverWilhelmsen 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Yes, the ECSC was the precursor to the EEC and later the EU.

    • @aleksandarvil5718
      @aleksandarvil5718 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      ESCC ≈> EEC ≈> EU

    • @xaviertricot776
      @xaviertricot776 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Or sounds like Bismark's home policies :)

  • @theomorsdorf5897
    @theomorsdorf5897 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    As a Saarländer im very sad that the Flag in the thumbnail isn't our official Flag anymore it looks so cool

  • @matthewlee8667
    @matthewlee8667 3 ปีที่แล้ว +41

    "You're a sight for Saar eyes" - people of Saarland when returning to Germany in the 1950's.
    Saary not Saary

  • @oliversherman2414
    @oliversherman2414 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I love your channel keep up the great stuff!!!

  • @keithacid8257
    @keithacid8257 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My fav history page! Especially the Middle Ages stuff. Learned more interesting facts here than in school

  • @Vlasov45
    @Vlasov45 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Fun fact. The law which allowed the unification of East and West Germany was originally passed to allow the reincorporation of Saarland back into Germany.

  • @iamkokan
    @iamkokan 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Can we just appriciate they didn't annex Saarland and kept borders beautiful

    • @seneca983
      @seneca983 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Someone might consider the border between Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau beautiful.

  • @namenamename390
    @namenamename390 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    1:15 I love how the sign in the background just says "store" in german

  • @kirkmarrie8060
    @kirkmarrie8060 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Most informative!!! Thank you

  • @MattbyNature
    @MattbyNature 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Love your videos and this one in particular. I’m from Saarland

  • @TheLoraxshadenough
    @TheLoraxshadenough 3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    Germany: loses world war 1&2
    France: Mom says it's my turn to play with the Saarland

  • @hannofranz7973
    @hannofranz7973 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    The Saarland has probably always had a strong sense of identification with being German.

  • @chrisrudolf9839
    @chrisrudolf9839 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    2:10 "France kept getting invaded by Germany", shows years 1870, 1914, 1940: Uhm actually, the 1870 war was started by France, keep it fair when counting. France was technically invaded afterwards because they lost the war and German troops (or rather: Prussian and other German allies, since Germany didn't exist as a state at that time) then pushed into French territory in retaliation, but if we counted that way, then we could also count the two latter dates as France invading Germany. ;-)

    • @patriciusvonkempen9810
      @patriciusvonkempen9810 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Germany As a country existed Just Not AS a state. Germans existed hell

    • @chrisrudolf9839
      @chrisrudolf9839 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@patriciusvonkempen9810 Uhm ... country and state mean essentially the same. The idea of being German as an ethnicity / as a people speaking the same language existed, but a state/country named Germany (or similar) did not exist between the fall of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation (officially disbanded with the Vienna congress 1815) and the founding of the Kaiserreich, thus it would be inaccurate to name "Germany" as one of the adversing parties of the 1870 war.

  • @samprastherabbit
    @samprastherabbit 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    'Except the Irish'- much appreciated ice cold burn on the post war reneging on Home Rule. Quality work with much needed humour, as always!

  • @Simon-tc1mc
    @Simon-tc1mc 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    These videos are so good.

  • @edgy_secular_memes367
    @edgy_secular_memes367 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    The hallmark of any History Matters video:
    Why?
    No?
    He catched the dead
    And thanks to James Bisonette

    • @peterg76yt
      @peterg76yt 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Also... Fun Fact.

  • @watching99134
    @watching99134 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    You can't really reference Germany's tradition of losing wars while also citing the Franco-Prussian conflict (which he did by putting 1870 on a sign; also France declared war on Prussia in that one not the other way around).
    Also the Saarland was returned to Germany in 1935 in a plebiscite (90% for reunification, 9% for remaining independent, 1% for staying with France).

    • @nolanrichoux3538
      @nolanrichoux3538 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yeah : they lose the wars they cause (sidenote, I know WWI was caused by Austria, but, I mean... *Anschluss time.* )

    • @wertyuiopasd6281
      @wertyuiopasd6281 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Imagine thinking France is responsible for these wars lol.

  • @redhairedkid6363
    @redhairedkid6363 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Still waiting on that Danish resistance in World war 2 you promised in the 6 hour war video

  • @FIREBRAND38
    @FIREBRAND38 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    These are all good but this one was particularly interesting for some reason. Thanks.

  • @nykxssss
    @nykxssss 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    During their time of independence saarland competed in the olympics and won a medal for so far i can remember. In school i had to research a german state and do a presentation on it. Me being the history kid of my class used 80% of that presentation to talk about the whole france-german- independed thing. I got highest mark in my class because my teacher (he was half german, and born in cologne) actually didnt know alot of that and he learned something while with all the other kids they just took the easy approach and just talked about the well known bits..

  • @federicomauri6208
    @federicomauri6208 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    How about a video about post WW2 Italy (especially years of lead), a Western country but with a strong communist party, in strict relationship with USSR? That always made USA focused on Italian politics until 1989.

    • @yarpen26
      @yarpen26 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      The Italian communists were somewhat independent of Moscow, much like those of Yugoslavia. As opposed to their Greek and French counterparts who were quite literally Stalin's fangirls.

  • @grondhero
    @grondhero 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    "This land is your land, this land is Saarland."

  • @misterx1342
    @misterx1342 3 ปีที่แล้ว +29

    Another thing that France required when giving the Saarland back to Germany was that French had to be the second language learnt in school

    • @madeingermany9445
      @madeingermany9445 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Eww

    • @Chalk_I
      @Chalk_I 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      nice

    • @mrgreenfr6216
      @mrgreenfr6216 3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      it's not that surprising, I live in the area of "Alsace Lorraine" and many people learn german as a second language while french is the first language for everyone. But many people here choose other language... I choosed spanish and english for exemple... But giving the fact we live next to the german border and they live next to our border : it's not very surprising

    • @charlesdegaulle6663
      @charlesdegaulle6663 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Well it did return to Germany so any other language would be second

    • @FF-qp4xq
      @FF-qp4xq 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      No. It is the gouvernement of saarland who decided this, the French required nothing. And the learning of French is very useful for the people of Saarland because the salaries are higher in France.

  • @blauwbeer556
    @blauwbeer556 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The fuck, how does the coal look so good? I know that you were stepping up your game in art style and animation but this is beyond anything i have see from you.

  • @nathanmckenzie904
    @nathanmckenzie904 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You make the best history videos

  • @mrm0bius
    @mrm0bius 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    That was very enlightening, even though I'm a Frenchman leaving 50km away from Saarland! This explains why Saarland is the second smallest German state after Bremen, I guess. And there were quite a few coal mines in the neighbouring french region of Moselle, though it wasn't reintegrated back in France till after WWI.
    And, I got to say, I am very grateful to the founding fathers of the European Coal and Steel Community, notably Robert Schuman. Without him there would still be instability around the Saarland issue, and above all, there would not be a European Union!

    • @리주민
      @리주민 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hmm. Thought Berlin was the smallest as it's actually a federated city-state.

    • @mrm0bius
      @mrm0bius 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@리주민 Yeah completely forgot about Berlin! It could be something like:
      1. Berlin
      2. Bremen
      3. Saarland
      Starting from the smallest. But I would ask a German (or Google ;) to confirm!

    • @larsdodenhoffer5211
      @larsdodenhoffer5211 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@mrm0bius German here.
      It goes like this, at least area wise (by inhabitants would look differently ofc)
      1. Bremen
      2. Hamburg
      3. Berlin
      4. Saarland
      The first three are "city states" and dont even reach four digits in square kilometers.
      The Saarland is the smallest "area state" tho, followed by Schleswig-Holstein.

    • @mrm0bius
      @mrm0bius 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@larsdodenhoffer5211 Thanks for the info! I have to admit, sometimes the decentralised nature of Germany is quite confusing for someone that lives in a country that was still an "absolute" monarchy 3 centuries ago.

    • @리주민
      @리주민 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@larsdodenhoffer5211
      I rather like the idea of small city states in a federal system, with a large territory(-ies?) outside of them, or even federal territory. If residents within 500 km² sign petition, then the national govt will grant them federal city-state status that cannot be taken away without referendum from those residents.
      A close analogue would be the UFP in star trek. The vast space within the border is under federal govt, but each planet is a member of the Federation.

  • @onurbschrednei4569
    @onurbschrednei4569 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Did you know that the Saarland had its own football team that competed in the World Cup?

  • @jiriseidl4376
    @jiriseidl4376 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Excelent choice of topic! This is a very good exploration of the hard road to European integration.

  • @rasputin7297
    @rasputin7297 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I am from the saarland myself and I think that its pretty funny to hear about my own little region on this actually international Historie Chanel

  • @shanecunnanemusic
    @shanecunnanemusic 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    As an irish person one fram made me extremely happy! Thank you