Animated History of Poland - trailer

[KLAssurbanipal]

Animated History of Poland (by Tomasz Bagiński):

Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSPwrEUBc0A

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

That looks awesome, I wish I knew Polish (or Japanese?)

[Vladimir]

It looks like they spent a lot of time getting their butts kicked.

[Skullheadhq]

It looks like they spent a lot of time getting their butts kicked.

Animated History of Poland - How they were crushed again and again by Germans and Russians. Now with additional panzers!
I love how the map of Poland was ripped apart by the Austrians, Russians and Prussians in that movie, so much emotion! Or that part where Stalin was rubbing his hands like a maniac and slowly see the map of Poland turn red. It fills me with pride of my countries history and how we managed to not get our ***** kicked again each 5 years.

[Louis VI the Fat]

No country bashing please.



The representation of Polish history can be critised. A all too sarcastic approach however easily turns into a relishing in Poland's historical misfortunes. Which is not on, and which Poland does not deserve.

[Skullheadhq]

The trailer is chinese, so China hates Poland. Why didn't they show the great Polish victories from the last 500 years.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Oh wait...

[Jolt]

Pretty awesome, but the only things I recall from the trailer:

Christianization;
Winged Hussars;
Three hands ripping Poland apart
Stalin rubbing his hands as Poland is divided
Nazi flags replaced by Polish flags.
THE END.

What about kicking Ottomans butt? Russian butt? Soviet butt (1920)?

[Skullheadhq]

Soviet butt (1920)?

Are you serious, Poland came as far as Kiev, but then a year later the Red Army (Soviet Union didn't exist back then) stood before Warsaw itself, ready to link up with the German Revolution. The Russians spared Poland because they didn't care enough and had serious business to take care of. Poland was just not among the list of serious things.

I believe a Polish veteran from that war once said: "We ran all the way to Kiev, and we ran all the way back"

Ottomans butt?

Coalition force from many European nations, like Austria.

Russian butt?

Temporary victories, years later Russia gobbled up Poland to the point where there was no Poland. That would be the same as saying Napoleon won the Napoleonic Wars, he won victories, but in the end he lost. and who laughs last, laughs best.

Also, Russia occupied Warsaw, Poland never occupied Moscow

Nazi flags replaced by Polish flags.

Check: Warsaw Uprising, after a few days the Germans just burned the Polish flags again and put the Nazi ones back in place. Funny enough the Polish started their riots when the Red Army was literally in sight and on the other bank of the river. It was just a bid to 'liberate' Warsaw and the rest of Poland before the Soviets did and link up with the allies. One question remains... what if it would have succeeded. Would the Polish Home Army storm Berlin to link up with the Allies. I think this plan was hatched during teatime and set into motion after dinner.

Three hands ripping Poland apart

Austria, Prussia and yes, Russia, that's not a position you would be in if you were mauled by Glorious Poland (hint: they weren't)

[Louis VI the Fat]

Why didn't they show the great Polish victories from the last 500 years.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Oh wait...

This is misinformed. As is every single one of your statements in the post directly above.


In the past 500 years, the Polish Commonwealth turned itself into the largest country in Europe. For centuries spreading culture, tolerance and progress over an enormous area, repeatedly fending of all other contetenders in the area. And yes, it were the Poles who aided the Austrians to halt the Turks before the gates of Vienna, and the Poles did take Moscow.

Polish culture has deep historical roots, ancient towns and universities, a fantastic Renaissance (Copernicus), an enlightened multinational state, with power invested in parliament.


It only crumbled in the latter half of the 18th century, and was eventually split up between other powers for two centuries. To ask what Poland has achieved in the past 500 years is akin to asking what Spain has achieved since 1492. One should not be so blinded by the eventual demise of these empires that one forgets their long centuries of staggering achievement.

[Vladimir]

As I recall, it was the Mongol devastation of the east which allowed the Polish "empire" to grow so big. Wiki says "Beginning with the Lithuanian Grand Duke Jogaila (Władysław II Jagiełło), the Jagiellon dynasty (1385–1569) formed the Polish–Lithuanian union. The partnership brought vast Lithuania-controlled Rus' areas into Poland's sphere of influence." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland_in_the_Middle_Ages

So...I'm still not impressed by their territorial expansion, but I'm sure they contributed some cultural developments.

[Skullheadhq]

and the Poles did take Moscow.

"After a few skirmishes, the pro-Polish faction gained dominance, and the Poles were allowed into Moscow. The boyars opened Moscow's gates to the Polish troops and asked Żółkiewski to protect them from anarchy. The Moscow Kremlin was then garrisoned by Polish troops commanded by Aleksander Gosiewski. On 27 July a treaty was signed between the boyars and Żółkiewski promising the Russian boyars the same vast privileges the Polish szlachta had, in exchange for them recognising Władysław, son of Sigismund III, as the new tsar. However, Żółkiewski did not know that Sigismund, who remained at Smolensk, already had other plans."

"A historian (Parker) writes vividly of the Polish soldiers: "First they ate grass and offal, then they ate each other, and the survivors finally surrendered. The Moscow Kremlin fell on 6 November 1612." On 7 November, the Polish soldiers withdrew from Moscow. Although the Commonwealth negotiated a safe passage, the Russian forces massacred half of the former Kremlin garrison forces as they left the fortress. Thus, the Russian army recaptured Moscow."

That's something different then a 1795-1914 uncontested occupation of Warsaw, only 'retaken' by the Polish for an extremely short period in the revolutions of the last half of the 1840's

it were the Poles who aided the Austrians

What? You're giving the Polish WAY too much credit here. What about the Swabians? And the Bavarians? The Swabians? The Franconians? The Saxons? The Venetians? The Holy Roman Emperor?The Pope? But I guess they're all Polish....

[Louis VI the Fat]

Also, Russia occupied Warsaw, Poland never occupied Moscow

This has been shown to be incorrect. Everything else is needless obfuscation.

What? You're giving the Polish WAY too much credit here. What about the Swabians? And the Bavarians? The Swabians? The Franconians? The Saxons? The Venetians? The Holy Roman Emperor?The Pope? But I guess they're all Polish....

That is a complicated way of saying it was the Holy Roman Empire. The non-Empire force was the Polish Commonwealth.

The Polish Commonwealth made up half the force, their intervention and saved central Europe. Short lived alliance though. After the Poles had defeated the Turks for the Austrians, the Austrians were at last free to swarm over southeast Europe, paving the way for their own Empire which a century later would attack and divide Poland.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Skullheadhq what's your damage? You're way worse than some of the extreme Polish nationalists that I'm surprised haven't chimed in here yet.

[PanzerJaeger]

Poland has a strong national ethos that should not be historically underestimated. They are a strong, industrious people that happen to sit in an unfortunate position between two other strong, industrious nations (three during the era of the Austrian Empire). Although they are often derided for their performance during the Second World War, they gave the Germans far more trouble than the French or British did.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Poland has a strong national ethos that should not be historically underestimated. They are a strong, industrious people that happen to sit in an unfortunate position between two other strong, industrious nations (three during the era of the Austrian Empire). Although they are often derided for their performance during the Second World War, they gave the Germans far more trouble than the French or British did.

That's more like it.


The Poles gave the Soviets too a run for their money. From 1918 all the way to 1989. More than anybody else.

[Jolt]

Are you serious, Poland came as far as Kiev, but then a year later the Red Army (Soviet Union didn't exist back then) stood before Warsaw itself, ready to link up with the German Revolution. The Russians spared Poland because they didn't care enough and had serious business to take care of. Poland was just not among the list of serious things.

To me that appears a colossal victory for a recently reestablished State with no previous independent army or command. The Russians didn't take Warsaw because they "didn't care" yeah right. Germany also didn't take Britain because they "didn't care and had serious business elsewhere", too.

Coalition force from many European nations, like Austria.

So? Are you saying that no country can make a representation of this period based on the fact that they were a coalition force? You might want to sue Hollywood for making World War II movies then.

Temporary victories, years later Russia gobbled up Poland to the point where there was no Poland. That would be the same as saying Napoleon won the Napoleonic Wars, he won victories, but in the end he lost. and who laughs last, laughs best.

Who said that Poland won any war? Since you were quoting my post, I'll conclude that you are seeing things, as I didn't write that Poland won any war.

Also, Russia occupied Warsaw, Poland never occupied Moscow

Wrong.

Check: Warsaw Uprising, after a few days the Germans just burned the Polish flags again and put the Nazi ones back in place. Funny enough the Polish started their riots when the Red Army was literally in sight and on the other bank of the river. It was just a bid to 'liberate' Warsaw and the rest of Poland before the Soviets did and link up with the allies. One question remains... what if it would have succeeded. Would the Polish Home Army storm Berlin to link up with the Allies. I think this plan was hatched during teatime and set into motion after dinner.

I'm glad to see that you respect those who fight and die to free their country from oppression and didn't want to trade one tyranny for another? Maybe you saw Queen Wilhelmina as the bad girl after all since she continued to oppose the foreign invaders to your country and didn't accept their nominal rule like Leopold of Belgium or Christian of Denmark?

Austria, Prussia and yes, Russia, that's not a position you would be in if you were mauled by Glorious Poland (hint: they weren't)

Hint: Prussia was once a small Polish vassal. Like I can say that Poland kicked Russian butt in the 1600's, that doesn't disqualify that a country can recover and grow in those next 200 years.

[Double A]

It looks like they spent a lot of time getting their butts kicked.

And you think with Strzelcy they'd have conquered at least all the Rebels near them, if not Hungary.

[Skullheadhq]

To me that appears a colossal victory for a recently reestablished State with no previous independent army or command. The Russians didn't take Warsaw because they "didn't care" yeah right. Germany also didn't take Britain because they "didn't care and had serious business elsewhere", too.

You know when the Red Army was established huh? 1919. And they only turned around because of the Americans and British (and some others) couldn't have it that Russia turned red and invaded. (Czechoslovakian legion, Americans in Vladivostok)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

* Poof! *

Hotlinked picture removed.

So? Are you saying that no country can make a representation of this period based on the fact that they were a coalition force? You might want to sue Hollywood for making World War II movies then.

What? Murrika won WWII on its on! Just like WWI and all others because they're strong! Hollywood doesn't lie you know.

Who said that Poland won any war? Since you were quoting my post, I'll conclude that you are seeing things, as I didn't write that Poland won any war.

They did, that usurper-war in the 1600's, but only minor territorial changes occured.

Wrong.

Okay then...

Maybe you saw Queen Wilhelmina as the bad girl after all since she continued to oppose the foreign invaders to your country and didn't accept their nominal rule like Leopold of Belgium or Christian of Denmark?

Of course, it was just motivated from fear, she should have stayed like Christian and Leopold and face the Germans like a man (Christian's birthday style), at least those were real monarchs. We shouldn't have let her back in, Greece style. But we're a feudal country, you know.

Hint: Prussia was once a small Polish vassal. Like I can say that Poland kicked Russian butt in the 1600's, that doesn't disqualify that a country can recover and grow in those next 200 years.

After which it was inherited by Brandenburg and became known as Brandenburg-Prussia for ages.

[Smellycat]

[KrooK]

Skullheadhq what's your damage?

* Look! Balloons! *

I mention that this movie is trailer. I have already tried to find whole movie but can't find it on net. Maybe it will be released after EXPO.

[Skullheadhq]

* Look! Balloons! *

I love balloons ;)

Hungry Balloons Ate Lots of Words !!

I guess he ate a lot of arguments, how sad...
Also, sigged.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

That's not something you see everyday, where's the picture from?

[Louis VI the Fat]

The Revolution initially left Louis XVI alive, it had hoped to install order with a constitutional monarchy. This proved to be a mistake. The monarch remained a constant source of instability as long as he was left alive.


Having learned the same lesson that they did, this thread is hereby declared an enemy to the citizens of the Monastery, to be executed instantly.

[Jolt]

After the revolution was defeated and the Kings restored, this thread is hereby re-opened to show, not the trailer, but the full length animated movie of the History of Poland.

Which can be seen here.

It is indeed one of the very best short animated movies I have ever seen, if not a little bit cliché in depicting every non-Pole as an evil barbaric exploiter and every Polish as a happy heroic Christian defender of the nation.

The WW2 fighters scene is particularly amazing.

[Furunculus]

fantastic video, my thanks.

i'm currently in poland atm.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Yeah, that was really well done.

[M to the A]

Great video

[Noncommunist]

Temporary victories, years later Russia gobbled up Poland to the point where there was no Poland. That would be the same as saying Napoleon won the Napoleonic Wars, he won victories, but in the end he lost. and who laughs last, laughs best.

Also, Russia occupied Warsaw, Poland never occupied Moscow)

While certainly aided by Gorbachev's and Reagan's policies, wouldn't Poland still be responsible for the demise of the Soviet Union as it started off the wave of 1989 revolutions that freed eastern Europe and eventually pushed the Soviet Union to finally collapse?

[Domen]

I don't understand all of this hatred towards Poland - you don't have anything better to hate (for example yourselfs :P) than Poland?

Especially that Dutch guy has so much hatred towards Poland - apparently complexes due to having an even more sorrow history... :

It fills me with pride of my countries history and how we managed to not get our ***** kicked again each 5 years.

Wait - you are from the Netherlands?

Since 8th century several independent duchies were created by your countrymen. But you were unable to unite each other and form one country for the next few hundreds years...

Finally in 15th century - your so far independent ass was kicked & annexed by Burgundia.

In 1477 - your ass was kicked again and annexed by Habsburgs.

17th century was your "temporary golden age", however only temporary because...

... In 18th century - your ass was kicked by Spain, France and England in turn. You lost almost all of your overseas trade factories...

In 1810 - your country was annexed by Napoleonic France. You lost independence again.

In 1940 - your country was conquered by a few German divisions (vast majority of German forces went against France & Belgium - only a few divisions against Holland) during 5 days...

Sorry - is this "historical performance" any better than Polish? I do not think so.

Moverover, Poland lost independence only once in its history - in 1795.

Holland - on the other hand - for most of its history was actually not independent and controlled by foreign powers.

And in WW2 both countries were occupeid - but Poland resisted two invaders, not just one, and resisted them much longer than Holland.

Of course Dutch army was smaller than Polish (however - they also had much shorter borders to defend), but ratio of Polish to German forces in 1939 was not any better than ratio of Dutch to German forces in 1940 considering that Germany sent only several divisions against Holland.

It is a historical fact that most of German forces on 10 May 1940 went immediately against France and Belgium.

Only few German divisions actually invaded Holland on 10 May 1940 - this was a small portion of their army.

How they were crushed again and again by Germans and Russians.

Your mathematic and historical knowledge unfortunately s***. Statistical data says something different:

For example we can check Polish-German conflicts first (then I can post similar data on Polish-Russian conflicts):

I made this brief table of results of Polish-German military conflicts over the last 1000 years:

It includes wars of Poland against: Holy Roman Empire, German states, Teutonic Order, Brandenburg, Prussia, Austria, 2nd & 3rd German Reich.

"Victory" means Polish victory.

"Defeat" means Polish defeat.





It doesn't include Medieval wars of Poland against Bohemia (although in a few of these wars listed above Bohemia supported Germany).

Conflicts from 19th and 20th centuries include uprisings and struggles for national liberation.

In case of WW2 I counted it as one conflict but I also counted the Polish Campaign of 1939 separately.

===================================================

I have a similar comparison of Polish-Russian conflicts (just did not compile this data into a similar table yet).

There were also +/- 40 Polish-Russian conflicts in history and majority of them were also won by Poland.

===================================================

As you can see only in instances when Germany & Russia fought united against Poland, Poland has an unfavourable victory : defeat ratio.

but then a year later the Red Army (Soviet Union didn't exist back then) stood before Warsaw itself, ready to link up with the German Revolution. The Russians spared Poland because they didn't care enough and had serious business to take care of. Poland was just not among the list of serious things.

Not only you are a historical dumbass, but also you either are or just pretend to be an idiot. Sorry for harsh words.

Soviet forces approached almost to the gates of Warsaw - true.

But they did not withdraw because they wanted or were ordered to withdraw.

As someone already wrote - we can claim that Germans lost the battle of Britain in 1940 because they wanted - this would be equally true as your above posted statement about Soviets...

And here is what really happened:

The Poles carried out a counteroffensive that pushed the Soviets back behind the Niemen river thanks to subsequent victories in the battles of Warsaw and Niemen - most of the Bolshevik army was destroyed and captured by Polish forces during those battles and English Lord d'Abernon judged that Polish victory as one of 18 most important battles in world's history.

And one more thing - Lenin said:

"Over the Corps of White Poland goes the way to Worldwide Revolution!" - so definitely defeating Poland was VERY important for him.

Coalition force from many European nations, like Austria.

Austria was actually the victim of Ottoman invasion...

And the entire Coalition was created because Austria was loosing that war badly...

Ottomans were at the gates of Vienna and would capture the city if not Polish reinforcements for Austria. German and Austrian forces alone were too weak to repulse the Ottoman Invasion and that's why they got their ass kicked in a series of defeats that allowed the Ottomans to encircle Vienna and prepare detonation of city walls - which would lead to fall of the city. The "Polish factor" was decisive and also Sobieski was the Commander-In-Chief of anti-Turkish forces.

Of course German reinforcements were also indispensible for a quick victory.

But it was the charge of Polish-German-Austrian cavalry spearheded and led by Polish Husaria that decided the battle. Plus the plan of the battle was designed by king Sobieski.

Polish infantry and artillery also played significant role in the battle, preparing ground for cavalry charge together with other Coalition's infantry.

Temporary victories, years later Russia gobbled up Poland to the point where there was no Poland. That would be the same as saying Napoleon won the Napoleonic Wars, he won victories, but in the end he lost. and who laughs last, laughs best.

As you said - who laughs last, laughs best.

That's why Poles laugh because today is 2011 (not 1815 - world history did not end with the end of the Napoleonic Wars) and we are independent and happy - while Russia lost its Communist empire and today Russia "stinks" and her army "stinks" and Russian people suffer from despotic "allegedly democratic" rules of idiots like former KGB agent Vladimir Putin.

Check: Warsaw Uprising, after a few days the Germans just burned the Polish flags again and put the Nazi ones back in place.

63 days = few days ???

I was hoping that at least in mathematics you are better than in history...

Funny enough the Polish started their riots when the Red Army was literally in sight and on the other bank of the river. It was just a bid to 'liberate' Warsaw and the rest of Poland before the Soviets did and link up with the allies.

You apparently did not hear about the tank battle of Radzymin (just at the gates of Warsaw - east of the Vistula river) in which Germans kicked Russian asses in August of 1944:

http://www.google.pl/search?q=battle...10a9cb2641f017

And apart from getting his ass kicked, Stalin also ordered his forces not to help Warsaw.

As I recall, it was the Mongol devastation of the east which allowed the Polish "empire" to grow so big.

The Mongols actually invaded also Poland (ever heard about the battle of Legnica?).

So how could Poland benefit from Mongol invasions, if it also suffered from them?

Of course Russia and Hungary suffered more - but Poland also suffered.

The partnership brought vast Lithuania-controlled Rus' areas into Poland's sphere of influence.

Yet long before that Poland controlled southern territories of Rus (including Lviv) - since 14th century.

After the Polish-Lithuanian union Poland only expanded further into Ukraine (including Kiev).

So...I'm still not impressed by their territorial expansion, but I'm sure they contributed some cultural developments.

Poland was never an expansionist state (except for several episodes such as during the reign of Boleslav I the Brave or during the "Dymitrady" period when Poland captured Moscow).

Poland was simply not as aggressive as Poland's neighbours (due to attitude of Polish people - not lack of military means to expand).

I think it is a reason to be proud rather than a reason to be ashamed. After all we - as modern, civilized humanity - condemn wars of aggression as evil, while we praise wars fought for right causes such as defending own independence or own territory. At least this is what most people do - there can be some people whose morality is "different" and they should probably go to psychiatrist...

"After a few skirmishes, the pro-Polish faction gained dominance, and the Poles were allowed into Moscow.

There was no "pro-Polish faction" but Polish forces - which did not receive military support from any Russian faction.

Once again you prove how ignoramus you are when it comes to history.

The "few shirmishes" was actually a great battle in which Polish forces under Zolkiewski defeated a tenfold (or at least 7-times) larger enemy army, while suffering minimal casualties:

Read something which has scientific value about this battle to decrease your annoying ignorance and "historical dumbness" (no offense):

http://www.radoslawsikora.republika....ly/Kluszyn.pdf

That's something different then a 1795-1914 uncontested occupation of Warsaw, only 'retaken' by the Polish for an extremely short period in the revolutions of the last half of the 1840's

Guess you forgot about the pro-Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw, the autonomous Congress Kingdom of Poland and the Polish-Russian war of 1830 - 1831 (also called the November Uprising) - during which Poles controlled Warsaw, not Russians.

What about the Swabians? And the Bavarians? The Swabians? The Franconians? The Saxons? The Venetians? The Holy Roman Emperor?The Pope? But I guess they're all Polish....

The combined forces of Swabians, Bavarians, Swabians (you mentioned them two times ^^ - you certainly like Swabia), etc. - were not even as large as Polish forces.

The Pope did not sent any forces to the battle of Vienna.

The Holy Roman Emperor = Swabians, Bavarians, Franconians, Saxons, etc. - so once again you are counting the same forces twice...

Although they are often derided for their performance during the Second World War, they gave the Germans far more trouble than the French or British did.

The French also fought well (contrary to some stupid Anglo-American stereotypes). They fought much better than Soviets during Fall Barbarossa (the Soviets actually had a vast superiority in number of tanks and aircrafts over the invading Germans, and yet they suffered terrible defeats, lost millions of soldiers and dozens of divisions in several months and allowed the Germans to approach some 30 km from Moscow...).

But the fact is that France and Germany had armies comparable to each other in size and in capabilities, in materials (ammo supplies, level of motorization, etc.) and in technological advancement. Plus they were supported by British, Dutch and Belgians (and also by some Poles who evacuated themselves to France via Romania and Hungary after their own country had been defeated by Germany and the USSR).

While Poland in 1939 was in a much worse position and its ratio of forces compared to Germany was much more unfavourable compared to that of Western Allies in 1940.

Plus Poland was back-stabbed by the USSR in the middle of the month.

France was also attacked by Italy - but Italian forces were small and hopeless in their actions. Plus the French defended in mountainous terrain so they could resist the Italians.

========================

Regarding the overall Polish performance in World War II (in terms of military performance - forgetting about such achievements like deciphering / breaking Enigma codes and inventing such important for the Allied victory inventions like Mine Detector):

Polish army not only fought in September / October of 1939, but also later in many campaigns of WW2 - both on Western and Eastern fronts as well as in Africa and in Italy (some Polish volunteers also fought in the Pacific War especially as pilots of "Flying Tigers" in China - for example Witold Urbanowicz).

Polish Armoured Division performed very well during the battle of Falaise largely contributing to the Allied victory in that battle.

It was Canadian 4th Armoured Division which did not provide aid to the Poles and did not close the gap completely - so some of German forces could escape from the trap. Commander of that Canadian division was later dismissed from his post and punished for his mistakes in command. Poles actually performed very well and inflicted much heavier casualties on the Germans than suffered on their own - despite the fact that they had to fight alone waiting for reinforcements and trying to stop the escaping Germans while simultaneously repulsing numerous counterattacks of elite German SS armoured divisions.

About Polish participation in the battle of Falaise:

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showt...post2053309747

Polish pilots (especially the 303rd Squadron) were also among the best Allied pilots in the battle of Britain and contributed to the victory. Poles also fought at Tobruk in Africa, in Italy - in 1940 they fought in Norway (Narvik) and defended France in the second phase of the campaign (June). As well as in many other battles of WW2.

People's Polish Army (created in the USSR from Polish POWs captured in September of 1939 and Polish volunteers from Siberia) also fought alongside the Red Army on the Eastern Front of WW2 since 1943 until 1945 - and Polish units participated in capturing Berlin in April and May of 1945.

Who said that Poland won any war?

Actually Poland won more wars in her history than lost (see for example the list above).

Of course someone will argue that Poland won many "minor wars" (as already they claimed that the battle of Klushino and capturing Moscow was just a "skirmish" - which only reveals their historical ignorance), while loosing a few really important ones - but this is not true.

That's one of reasons why Poland was independent all the way from ca. 960 (when Poland emerged as a state) to 1795 (when Poland was partitioned by 3 neighbouring military powers).

This is 835 years of constant independence of the Polish state, despite having aggressive neighbours who wanted to annex Poland not only in 18th century, but also numerous times before (for example in 14th century Bohemia planned common partition of Poland together with Teutonic Order; in 17th century Sweden, Brandenburg, Russia, Ukraine, Transylvania and Polish-Lithuanian traitors to the motherland also planned a partition of Poland).

How this fits to the claim that "Polish history was all about getting own ass kicked"?

This proves the opposite - Poles despite various difficulties and also occassional failures, in the end managed to come off all of their hardships lightly and secure their independence.

And during 1795 - 1917 - when actually Poland wasn't independent & Polish nation was supressed and persecuted by Germans and Russians (to a much smaller extent by Austrians) - Poles also did not give up their fight for freedom and maintained their traditions, culture, science & language alive.

Also Poles actually managed to annihilate many of their historical enemies. The best example is destroying the Teutonic Order. Also conquering the state of Halych-Volhynia (which had fought numerous wars against Poland before) in 14th century is a good example.

Of course we can argue that Poles did not "finish their job" with the Teutonic Order completely, because they left the weak & small secular Duchy of Prussia (as a Polish fiefdom) on the ruins of the Teutonic State. And that Duchy - in the end - managed to gain independence from Poland (exploiting the fact that Poland was involved in conflict with other states at that time) and then connect with Brandenburg. And finally that small and dependent duchy transformed into the most powerful and most aggressive German state ever - the Kingdom of Prussia.

And then... we know what happened. Prussia partitioned Poland with Russia & Austria.

But - this is called irony of history. And that was definitely a mistake of Polish-Lithuanian rulers.

However, how could Polish-Lithuanian rulers predict that showing a little bit of mercy towards the defeated Teutons would result - after next 300 years - in annihilation of their country?

We can also argue that Poles themselves had invited the Teutonic Order to their lands before in order to help them in fighting against pagan Prussians. But this is also one of ironies and coincidences of history - one who was supposed to be an ally, became an enemy.

[Domen]

What is really sad - is Poland's modern history (except for the last ca. 30 years - which were Polish triumph over Communism). But not entire Poland's history - this one has many splendid aspects. Unfortunately recent history shapes stereotypes more than - let's say - Medieval history.

==================================================

BTW - here is the full version of the "Animated History of Poland" video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLtGMqvazzo

[Domen]

The trailer is chinese, so China hates Poland

Poor in history, poor in maths and also can't understand what he reads. The author of this thread clearly wrote:

"Animated History of Poland (by Tomasz Bagiński):"

"Tomasz Bagiński" doesn't really sound like a Chinese surname - even for a Dutch...