Soviet-Ukrainian War: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom

The Soviet-Ukrainian War - also known as the Ukrainian War of Independence - will probably be one of the messiest, most-brutal conflicts we’ll ever cover.

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[micahistory]

Ukraine has to have been one of the unluckiest countries in Eastern Europe

[aricstradtmann]

“Like a stoner gobbling pop tarts” 😂😂😂😂 is Simon speaking on past experiences here 😂😂😂

[ignitionfrn]

1:20 - Chapter 1 - A divided land
5:45 - Chapter 2 - Birth of a dream
10:00 - Chapter 3 - Baptism of fire
14:00 - Chapter 4 - Age of chaos
17:20 - Chapter 5 - Bloodlands
21:10 - Chapter 6 - Death of a dream

[UkeRocket]

As a proud Ukrainian-American, I still remember my grandparents and great-grandparents telling me stories from these times. Even then, I remember thinking that they were amazing stories, filled with both terror and improbable survival against all odds.

I think it would be amazing if you ever did a similar video on Ukraine’s struggle for independence leading up to and through the WW2 time period. An equally fascinating period in Ukraine’s history.

[danicalifornia]

Whoever did the writing is quite fantastic and epic while being to the point.

[Artur_M.]

Good video, two notes though:
- The Polish-Ukrainian War started in November 1918 not with Polish Army attacking the Western Ukrainian National Republic, but with the militias of local Poles in Lviv/Lwów (Lemberg, Leopolis, whatever) and other majority or largely Polish at that time cities of the region rising against WUNR, with regular Polish forces joining in later.

- The thing to realize about Piłsudski is that while being the provisional head of state and the commander in chief, he wasn't a dictator at this point. Most other Polish politicians didn't share his vision of a Federation with Ukraine, Belarus and other states (especially the influential National Democrats, which were dominant in Polish diplomatic service). Piłsudski was not at all happy with the Peace Treaty of Riga. On the 15th of May 1921 he personally visited Ukrainian soldiers temporary held in an internment camp in Kalisz, saying to them: "I'm sorry gentlemen, I'm terribly sorry, it wasn't supposed to be like this (Ja was przepraszam Panowie, ja was bardzo przepraszam, tak nie miało być)."

[joergbaute]

Great content. In the west we learn a lot about european history. But in most cases it ends around Prussia and the former Austria-Hungarian Borders. Only when the west invaded the east (like Napoleon) it is mentioned. Therefore great in showing our blind-spots

[weirdshibainu]

Man....Ukraine is a rough zip code to live in.

[nickdaveNDM]

"Like a bunch of frightened emus." What an excellent choice of words lol

[nobodyfamousX]

Just when I think I'm subscribed to all your channels I find a couple more. Just found this and deciding the unknown today.

Simon thank you for all the hours you must spend each day recording all these videos, and thank you to your team for the endless research they do.

[thehuscarl]

Do the Polish-Soviet War next! The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth had been partitioned between the Prussians, Russians and Austrians in 1795. After 123 years of living without their own nation, the Poles went about reuniting a nation after the occupying powers had all lost WWI. The Bolsheviks of the Soviet Union attacked to reassert their dominance, with the hope of spreading Communism all the way to Germany.

The war concluded in 1921 with the Miracle on the Vistula. Five Soviet armies were closing in on Warsaw. Despite being massively outnumbered, the Poles counter attacked. Surprised and with poor communications, confusion broke out through the Soviet forces, and the Poles tumbled them to ruin.

[bikkiikun]

FYI, the Hetmanate is a reference to the old Ukrainian Cossack state of the 17th century.

[VolunieProductionsOfficial]

You forgot to say how the Poles betrayed Ukraine and Ukrainians by signing a peace treaty with Bolshevik inhumans, dividing Ukraine in half. This was a direct violation of the Warsaw Pact of 1920. Unlike the Poles, the Ukrainians fulfilled their part of the agreement and held the front against the Bolsheviks, defending Polish land to the last

[hiroshi]

...like a stoner gobbling up Pop-Tarts 😆
Simon's hilarious metaphors, non sequiturs and dark humor makes these somber topics very entertaining.

[joshuaescopete]

Gonna request the Philippine-American War. One of the lesser talked about US conflicts. A stepping stone in American Imperialism and continuation of the Spanish American War.

[katerynapavlenko]

russia just never leaves us alone. They can’t live with us being an independent democratic nation

[joew]

Love this show! Only wish is you would do longer episodes on this channel. Be well!

[seanmorales]

How does the old slang go “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Winston Churchill

[armandotalampas]

I sympathize with the Ukrainians. My country also suffered a similar tragic fate. My countrymen rose up against the Spanish colonial authorities to achieve independence in 1896. Independence was declared on June 12, 1898 and the Spaniards were defeated in battle. A Republic was proclaimed, the first ever in Southeast Asia. But this independence was short-lived. We were betrayed by our erstwhile "allies", the Americans. Our leaders were too naive to trust these foreigners, not knowing that they will stab us in the back. A war broke out, this time, longer and a hell bloodier than the one we fought against the Spanish. A million Filipinos died in the Philippine-American War. Our nation would be under foreign subjugation for half a century.

The Ukrainians suffered more than us. They've waited far longer, around 70 years to secure independence from the Soviet Union

[Liquid]

Did not expect to hear a JoJo reference from Simon tbh