The EU's 'most dangerous Border Area'

The Suwalki Gap is a small strip of the European Union that lies like a sandwich between Russia's exclave Kaliningrad and Belarus. Some people call the place the "most dangerous border area in the EU" - because the Suwalki Gap is considered a geographical weak point for NATO. In this video I take a trip through the border area with Russia, discover many relics of the past and show life along the barbed wire fences.

A film by Matthias Schwarzer.

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The addresses of the places and accommodation tipps:

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Sources for the video:

Suwałki Gap: Europe's most dangerous place? (MDR, German):

The most dangerous place in the world (Politico):

Lithuania's independence from the Soviet Union (German):

Human chain through the Baltic States (German):

Lithuania's relationship with EU:

The story of Schönbruch/Szczurkowo (German):

Current situation in Szczurkowo (MDR, German):

How Kaliningrad came into being (Deutschlandfunk Kultur, German):

More on the photography ban (Gazeta Prawna, Polish):

Report on the new border in Vistyits including private stories of the residents (Lithuanian, tv3):

Border agreement between Russia and Lithuania including new regulations in Vistytis:

Russia stations missiles in Kaliningrad (Zeit, German):

Poland strengthens border with Kaliningrad (Euronews, German):

Refugees as a weapon - more about hybrid warfare (taz, German):

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Intro song:
MÆT - Start Again

Music:
Epidemic Sound

#suwałki #suwalki #suwalkigap #border #poland #russia #kaliningrad #lithuania #geography

[mangus]

As Lithuanian who lives near this Suwalki gap, I find this video very interesting. Thanks

[khecke]

Der Bericht war doch interessanter als ich zuerst gedacht hatte. Danke Dir, Matthias.

[VillSid]

The old man who said 'Russians' and gestured explosions probably meant that there may be mines on russian side

[madmolf]

Hi from France, the iron curtain and east/west relationship has fascinated me since I was a kid in the seventies. Thank you for your instructive reporting.

[robbar]

it's surprising how a small polish town next to a russian border has its streets paved, public spaces cared for I'd say it's Germany. When you cross the border to Russia everything's run-down, left to rot, a country that promotes family tradition that is not even able to pay enough pension to its retirees that are left to starve. Putin still lives in 1940.

[figit]

Very interesting video Matthias. Thanks for showing us these unique places

[garnuch]

Really nice video. I’m from southern Poland and didn’t know much about Suwałki gap, thanks for new knowledge!

[filipek]

Nie dziw się, że sytuacja w Szczurkowie jest napięta. Jeżeli jesteś na granicy z państwem terrorystycznym, napadajacym na swoich sąsiadów to jaka ma być sytuacja?

[marklisiecki]

Very interesting, enjoyable and accurate video:) Best wishes 🇵🇱🤝🇩🇪

[EdMcF]

There was a story about the border, when it was drawn up, cutting through a farm in a village, and the commissars asked the farmer which side of the border he would prefer the farm to be on. He immediately said 'Poland'. He was asked, 'Are you an Anti-Soviet Agitator?' and he replied 'No, I just cannot stand the Russian Winters'.

[twistedredhead]

I just learned so much. My mind is blown to bits. I wish that my school instructors had been more like you. My classes were so boring, but you make this so interesting and captivating! 😊

[jajajejehjune]

It is great that you actually went to the places that are you talking about.
That adds completely new perspective to the video 😀

[Nozume]

Absolut grandioses Video. Ich freue mich echt auf die nächsten Videos der Reihe.

Absolutely fantastic video. I'm really looking forward to the next videos in the series.

[lkrnpk]

I'm Latvian, I was ar the same place where the Polish, Lithuanian and Russian borders meet, in Suvalki and was also in Lithuanian small town which has Sovetsk (former Tilsit) on the other side of the river

[hakangustavsson]

This documentary is a real gem. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I have long wondered how life around the Suwalki gap is today amongst all tension and now I got answers.

All things with a connection to the cold war is part of one's own history being born a few years after the end of ww2. I appreciate the professionalism with which the documentary was made. Including the nice personal touch.. Top notch. I hace subscribed and will explore other content.

Vielen Dank aus Schweden!

[wolfwolf]

Dude, I'm from Warsaw and I had no idea what it looks like there. Kudos to you!

[lookitsaburnoutfan]

Just got this video recommended, cool quirky way of showing things around. Idk if you are in poland rn but you could visit area of the floods that happened there near the czech border and even show the polish and czech perspective of ongoing repeairs etc

[mariuszbednarko]

Interesting perspective. I was born in Suwałki :) Nice small town, surrounded by beautyfull nature. Historically experienced many difficult moments due to its location on the border between Poland, Lithuania, Russia and ... Germany.

[maslelviz]

it's a great illustration: the part of the village that is on the Polish side is a beautiful well-maintained place, the part on the russian not exist

[AcrobotMovies]

Nice pronunciation of the Polish city/village names! The way you pronounced Szczurkowo is really close :D

EDIT: I was also at the Wisztyniec border obelisk when I was a child and I may or may not have run around it :p I also travelled to Kaliningrad (of course before the invasion of Ukraine) by a bus from Gdańsk, since there used to be (and still is!) a direct bus route there. Sad what was left of the former Konigsberg glory.