As someone who grew up in the USSR in an ethnically mixed family, I thought this was a very good documentary, presented in a balanced neutral voice. Covered a lot of ground in 53 min! One oversight, I feel, was to present only the Armenian side of the conflict with Azerbaijan. I've always felt very sympathetic to the Armenian people and their suffering, but know very little about the Azerbaijani point of view. Perhaps you could make more of these focusing on the different regions of the former USSR and how they're doing. I've been living in the US for the past 30 yrs and detest polarization and misinformation that exists here and everywhere else. DW Documentary is one of my favorite sources of thoughtful and entertaining content. Thank you!
Your Comment is Good. But, do you have any idea about Azerbaijan's malicious propaganda machinery? You can start with the hiring of numerous lobby firms to export Azerbaijan's lies. Then comes Azerbaijan's proven fake photographs about Khojaly, which still get peddled worldwide. Then there's Azerbaijan's Ally, Turkey, and their NATO influence. Azerbaijan's corrupting payouts to people of influence, around the world. And, besieged, poor, landlocked Armenia, doesn't fund propaganda. It's true that Armenia gets financial help from their diaspora.
Same here. Im Kyrgyz and have some other mixtures and grew up in USSR as a child. And to me Russians and Ukrainians seemed the same as a kid. 20 years living abroad in UK i held some fond memories about those times and seeing this events of late made me wander what went wrong. Very good documentary indeed. Especially that bit about Ukrainian divisions of east 'Moskal, Katsap' and west 'zapadenets, Bandera". All ex Soviets are in some form of infighting :( Russia, Belorussya vs Ukraine, Tajikstan, Uzbekistan vs Kyrgyzstan, Armenia vs Azerbaijan. Something went very wrong somewhere. Keep safe tovarish.
I traveled to Moscow and St. Petersburg in 2005 when I was only 17. My history teacher who organized it was 60 by then and had been visiting every year since 1991. He told us stories of the crazy economic situation the country was in back then.
The worst part is that they always blame us for not getting their act together. Some regions of the world have been in similar situations since the beginning of history.
I have to say-- Kazakhstan has one of the coolest flags in my eyes. Unique colors and design. Not just boring red, white, and blue like every other boring flag..
As a former citizen of the USSR, I have an impression that the documentary was made by a Russian director because most of information is represented from the Russian perspective. For example, the statement that the former Soviet republics never tried to leave the USSR is untrue. Just any of such attempts were violently suppressed. Even Belarus, which is usually considered to be the closest to Russia culturally, made repeated attempts to claim its independence in the early years of the USSR. The last Belarusian armed resistance group was liquidated by the Soviets in 1950s. Some of the methods used by Moscow to keep people "calm" are well described by Robert Conquest in his book "The Harvest of Sorrow." The author is neither Russian nor Ukranian and his narrative is quite unbiased.
DW forgot to mention that Baltic states where occupied by Soviet Union by force in 1940. Soviet Union did genocide towards citizens of Baltic countries and destroyed our prosperity. In 1939 Latvia was very prosperous little country with fast economical growth. Communists did destroy it all. In 1990 We got independence again and now 30 years later We again live better than poor Russian citizens. Latvians will never trust Russian government because they brought only poverty and depression to our country. Collapse of Soviet Union is the best what did geopolitically happen to Europe in 20th century. Amen
As someone who was born in the East, under Communism, I refuse to consider those who support Putin, humans. They are NOT humans ! They are brain dead zombies; brainwashed subhumans who don't deserve the slightest respect.
Well said, but I am not even surprised anymore when something like genocide is completely forgotten by anybody except us. That's what happens when you live in a part of the world that has 0 political impact. Everybody knows what Germans did to Jews and yet nobody knows what USSR did to its own citizens. This clearly shows how little we matter to anybody. Also this video is clearly made from a Russian perspective so obviously, Russians did nothing wrong.
Latvia lives better then Russia because of EU. And money poured in from UK Germany France. On our taxpayers expense. And could work in EU. Thank European community, not only yourselves. Cheers
With Russia's vast natural resources and an educated/skilled population there was no reason why Russia could not have become an economic superpower like China. But Putin and the old men in charge simply cannot let go of the old ways and are more focused on maintaining the image of a military superpower. Keeping the wealth amongst the few rather than sharing it and using it to help develop the country. Had Russia become an economic super power, the economy would be more diversified and less dependant on income from oil and gas. In turn the stronger economy would of helped make the military stronger too. I hope one day the Russian people get the government they deserve.
Russia is culturally primitive with mysticism, sacrifice and collectivism its basic values. Its a profoundly anti-Western culture. It cannot become wealthy until it rejects religious tradition for mans independent mind. They dont value production in any modern way because that requires ending religious tradition.
Agree. Rosso have an economy the seize of Spain and three times its population. Most of the millitary budget which is enourmous, goes into corruption so no, Rosso was never a superpower. Propaganda only !
I think this is a very fair and balanced documentary. I was in communist Poland and East Germany in the 1980s and saw Russia in 1992. I have been to Russia several times but if one goes into the countryside then it certainly does not look like a 'super power' rather somewhat behind everyone else, particularly if one compares it to its former country of occupation, Poland.
well i havent been to Russia and i would like to know how exactly you felt there. like would you consider it a 1st world country at the very least? was it a good place as a visitor?
Another thing is that in Poland everyone is rich and the villages are high-tech, it’s funny to listen to you, I was in Poland and you are not close to Europe or even Russia 😅😅
@@AbdulRahman-uw4nd It is interesting to see, but there is a huge difference between the countryside and the cities - particularly Moscow and Petersburg. The countyside looks as though it were 50 years ago!
Being a big country doesn't always good for people. They should concentrate on how to raise standards of living for people live in it whether big or small.
I am a Russian minority in one of post-Soviet republics.. It is not nice to be hated. But I really don't understand how people started to hate Russians..
@Sergei isn't most of the Siberian tribes a Republic that is basically an independent country with their own currency and stuff? Not trying to be rude just asking. Also probably because of rescouses like gas and oil.
Provided some interesting insights into developments in the region since the 90's. One thing that always hits me with these types of documentaries is how much I can relate to the people I see living in countries I knew very little about. I see people and families going to work and school, engaged in various projects, trying to improve their communities and just living their lives. It all seems so normal and familiar. Makes me feel connected to all the people on this planet. It's a powerful insight.
Journalism at its absolute best. DW has set the standard for excellence and showing the way it should be done. Much respect to the incredible people behind these amazing documents!
Amazing documentary with soaring interest on every minute passing.Very neutral and educating.Hats off to the team of the dw creating this art of exemplary journalism.Watching from Nepal with peace and love.
Good video. Being 60 years old, and a life long student of history... especially geopolitical history... and having kept a close study on all the former USSR... I know this already. But you covered pretty much what matters. Good job.
My Ukranian friends told me before the end of the fall of the USSR everyone had plenty of money but there was nothing to buy. After the fall everyone's Soviet money was worthless but soon small businesses popped up meaning there was plenty of things to buy but no one had any money.
Think about it: 1. Have a lot of money but nothing to buy meaning that money is worthless, not even compare to toilet paper. 2. Eventually you or someone else will make some money to buy the things. The second is always a better choice. :-))
@@PonchoNugen I don't agree with you brother. Money wasn't wothless even from your point of view. My parents always told me that when they were on holidays in USSR citizens wanted everything to buy from them. And they were able to pay a lot. So their money weren't wothless, but they hadn't chance to travel and buy something and in their country wasn't any stuff because Soviets put everything into the army and another for normal people useless programs.
@@PonchoNugen Not true at all. You could purchase things in the collapsing Soviet Union, nobody really starved, it’s just that there was a lack of trade and a lack of luxuries. You could still make things yourself and as well as buy and sell them in secondary markets. You couldn’t find wine from France, but you could find wine at home. You couldn’t buy fancy clothes from clothing brands but you could get clothes custom tailored for you etc... There was a distinct lack of large companies colluding and holding significant market share enough to sway politics. In a sense it’s something a lot of socialist Americans now want to live in.
@@slovakia0195 later 1980s 60 Russian kapeikas(little over half a rubble) was worth $1. After USSR broke apart by 1991-1992 exchange rate in black market was 5,000 rubles for 1 US dollar. Money devalued about 10,000 times over within a couple years. So if you worked your whole life and saved up 100,000 rubles for retirement. All the sudden your retirement is worth $20. What you are saying is true pre USSR breakup. Stuff like jeans, walkmans and other electronics like tape players etc was pretty much unattainable. Few people who were allowed to travel would bring this stuff back and it would sell for a lot of money because there was virtually zero supply and those who had money would pay up. But as poster above suggests above after USSR broke apart those products became plentiful because borders opened up. But due to collapsed currency almost no one could afford to buy it. I witnessed this myself.
They talk about the Russian people in those ex-soviet satellites, but they don't talk about how those Russian people ended up there in the first place. It is a shame that the Russians don't talk about the deportations in Siberia of Romanians/Moldavians, Georgians, Ukrainians etc. History gave you a slap in the face, comrades!
So people, russian people should be treated like trash because half century ago soviet politicians made some choices? These families lived on these territories for few generations. These countries have become home for a lot of russian families.
@@tanchik_1523 Ha? Victimising much? No, please know your history and try to repair it. Unlike what the Russian dictatorship is doing now in Ukraine. If you don't understand what is happening now, I am very sorry for you. People can live in peace, not so much when they are manipulated by Putler. What the Soviets did and still doing now in Russia is despicable...
Another great documentary DW! You packed so much informative and accurate knowledge in the time frame. I greatly appreciate the hard work your team put into this and your many other documentaries. I learn so much up to date insight from your work. Well done as usual.
Ukraine may be thousands of kilometres away from Malaysia but to Malaysians, it is much closer emotionally. A routine Malaysian Airline Flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down there on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 on board. That scar is still raw. The World has forgotten about the killings of civilian flight MH17
yes the flight was shot down by russian backed troups, the so-called russian separatists ; there was a trial in Netherlands that identified and condemned the 4 people responsible for shooting , but they managed to save themselves under russian protection
But what about america starting wars and all inocent women and children dead? I guess that's okay than.? Oh and america can't even win a war without nukes like blowing up Japan!?. Twice on top of it. How many inocent lives lost than. Then the Korean, Vietnam and now Afghanistan. But that's okay. Someone else does it. It's a mortal sin.
It is worth noting that this documentary was written long before the current Russian invasion of Ukraine, and it should probably be watched with that in mind.
The program seems to overlook the Trillions of dollars of debt the US gained as they bribed former Soviet nations to become NATO members? The massive amounts that the Langley VA firm that seems to distribute to convince residents to create unrest that keeps Russia working to maintain peace, seem to add to US Debts. The Russians used their massive amounts of resources to pay off debts when Oil prices were high, the US has little to offer and the ability to support a Marshall Plan seem well beyond the ability of the US to fund? The fact that current US efforts appear to promote efforts to drive Russia from doing business in Europe are apparent for the last 8 years and were US Foreign Policy since the 1990's. Superpowers need economic abilities when they declare economic warfare? The US seems even more Vulnerable than Russia, when you inspect the facts of the Economies of both?
@@danielhutchinson6604 "Trillions of dollars of debt the US gained as they bribed former Soviet nations to become NATO members" ?? Yes you're right it's better to invade them and keep them against their will in the NATO. You know something like your Russian friends did. 😎 btw, show some research facts about these "trillions" you're talking about. 😋
I am certainly not one to watch doc's as often they're boring, and narrated badly. Probably because of the Ukrainian war I watched this right through and found it facinating to learn about Russia and former USSR. Most pleasing aspect of this doc was how well narrated and laid out it is. Brilliant!
Thank you so much for the inspirational and so informative documentary on the `USSR `and the independence of neighboring countries , it was well illustrated and covered , Deeply Appreciated the time and sincere Efforts !
According to Le Bon, each nation has its own unique ethnic character which favors one ideology over other. Egalitarian mongols and related culture always favor absolute equality which make them easily fall for socialism or communism. In society with long history hierarchy, absolute equality is actually terrible idea since ancient time.
What about the fact that all those soviet republics were independent countries before they were a part of the USSR? Kind of important? Russia isn't regaining lost ancestral lands they are re-invading free lands originally conquered by the USSR.
@ The Sixth Putin should have looked to improve the life style of the average Russians and not to turn Russia into a second North Korea. Parkersburg or Moscow look like modern cities but if you go to the rural areas people live like in the 18th century with little to nothing owned thats the today Russia for u
@@kasymbektashbaev they were conquered by the Russian Empire. What about the original Crimean tartar population? What about the population of circassians in Sochi? What about the population of Finnish in Karelia? They all have their own communities, cities and governments before being conquered by the Russian empire. Now most of them became minorities in their own lands. Their languages and traditions are on the verge of extinction as of result of russification.
@@kasymbektashbaev luckily, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Finland managed to obtain their independence from Russian Empire as of result of ww1. If not they'll receive the exact same fate as Somi people, circassians, tartars etc.
@Dreemstyl yes, America is the land of native Americans not the land of European descendants. What happened in America is horrible. And so are in Russian Empire. The act of subjugation towards weaker natives are horrible. Natives have the right for self determination
Why the Channel don't speak about remaining of abandoned from tuva republic who do part of own confederation ? That one people live extreme poverty,with garbage in all country and ruin buils an cuba into of great empire of Russia.
@@gustavoemannueldeangolasil243 Any huge changes in the nation's will cause these fallout for states or provinces to disconnect when the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991. The norm is making a choice to be independent thereby moving away from the newly formed Federation . Choices like these have their consequences to make progress.
@@waldensmith4796 So the president Vladimir Putin haven't control of own federation? Because like is dirty and misery is tuva republic ,like other republic of old Soviet union and atuality new stalin ops russia . See other documentary russian citezen , Inter of republics only have dirty drug drink of alcholl . Great or bluber?
I have always hated history, simply because it has no power over the decisions we make today (unless we allow it to). Though, I love when individuals patronize the second world for its lack of ability to form a decent society where respect for the individual is mandatory. Russia has yet to get away from its pathetic authoritarian Soviet era and the majority of the people still favors communism. What a sh*thole Russia is - the whole second world is.
Don't forget brother that History is written and agreed upon the victors. A lot of time so called History is not the documantation of actual events that took place but some facts are twisted and turned to the favor of the victor of any conflict. I don't claim that all of History is false but that some facts that actually happened are not written.
I'm an English woman who has lived in Bulgaria for the past 17 years , the balkan people are so lovely, if the bloody politicians left our small villages alone and treated the rest of the world with the ideology of live and let live the whole world would be a better place.just be happy with what you have in the small amount of time that we have granted to us on this our earth, the only one we have !! Life and earth!, JUST STOP THE WAR AGAINST UKRAINE AND THE WORLD.🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
Well said, we are all the same, all human, why the need for borders. We need a central "government" to collect taxes for infrastructure in each area, but there is no reason to fight the people next door, they pay for the roads in their area, we pay for the roads in ours. We are still little tribes fighting the tribe just down the road because their god totem is different to our god totem. The only difference is that the god totem now is money.
Thank you for presenting this important documentary. I am an American who knows next to nothing of this history. Given what we are ALL going through on the planet this offers much food for new thought. I am about half way thru this documentary and have just started sobbing at what these populations have suffered at the hands of corrupt rulers, and the consequences of hatred and prejudice of any kind. At 75 I hope to survive long enough to see the world come to new revelations and respect for each other/our fellow human beings. I pray that new leaders respectful of life on planet earth will prevail.
@@DWDocumentary I see many times this documentary ,for my interpretation not avoid desinformation of two sides.Just prouve who New complex soviet union recriere .That to be up of poppet of person president Vladimir Putin.Who earn with destroy of country from ukreine and russia ? Why don't happen with corporations banks from United states when invasion against Afheganistan and iraq?
@@karinaemelie1665 just praying won't help, instead people should work for the peace we deserve. It's always just prayers, but actually doing something? Why not that? That is what is needed!
If Russians living in non-Russian former Soviet republics felt badly when the USSR dissolved, imagine how badly the people in those republics felt when the Russian imperialists Sovietized them.
No one cares, everyone cares about strong, aggressive and cruel. You may experienced this at your school, job and some experiences even in their own families. Much like DW cited at the beginning current mass murderer not any leader of those republics.
Vixe... eu achei bem legal também, mas se uma brasileira, educada por Paulo Freire e pelo MEC marxista, tá dizendo que é “accurate”, agora tô na dúvida…
Would love to see Mr. Belov @14:45 show the same level of empathy for non-Russians who woke up one day in the Soviet Union after Stalin redrew the map.
Thanks, probably DW has the best coverage right now on the war. Your is absolutely the most objective and with the least prejudices. And this documentary is the proof. The truth stands most of times in the middle.
Damn DW you guys put together a great documentary. Very surprised at the truth on both sides... you guys didn't just slam Russia and say how bad Russia is, you really broke things down. Germany after WWII has always intrigued me because it seems like Russia and America basically just split the spoils of war.
@@gustavmukki3165 My bias? But of course. Talking about Karabakh. Why don't mention it initially was annexed from Azerbaijan by Armenia 30 years ago? About Crimea. What elections they are talking about? There was so called "referendum", hastily organized in two weeks after occupation and against Ukrainian laws. And so on... There is lot of misinformation in this "documentary".
@@Squee.1366 Absolutely! Thank you for reminding me! ‘Elections in Crimea’ … are you from the planet Earth? There was fake election, conducted in few days, with limited questions, against Ukrainian law, under the guns of the terrorists. This is so bizarre mistake for real journalism.. Im shocked, Deutsche Welle…
I have been watching DW bias reports and documentaries on China but is very surprised by this well balanced documentary on Russia. It has allowed the Russians side to present their views and seems sympathetic to Russians sufferings like the millions of Russians who found they are at the wrong side of the borders overnight after the break up of the USSR.
In the mid-70s when I first joined the military, everything was about the USSR. Our tactics were based on the attack by the Soviet Union into Europe. In the mid-eighties it got hotter and hotter and the USSR was blatant in every regard. But on December 26th 1991, a huge relief came. The fall of the USSR, by this time I was ready to retire. I remember mentioning to the new recruits, the russians will never let the countries that separated from them ever go. Someday they will attack those countries. I remember making those comments in September of 1993.
I grew up next to the ConocoPhillips refinery in Ponca City,OK... We were #3 on their cold war hitlist in country because we supplied lots of petro to the military and everyone around the middle America region....I remember the sigh of relief when we all knew the bomb drills were over....We still dodge twisters by the half dozen a year here,but at least we weren't looking over shoulder like we are now,again....
To complex still not enough for a full Documentary some willing or remembering or wishing Soviet time others doing their best to rise up their living standard… and much more on and on. One this is for certain regardless of opinion russia or the will of the people and some other states want a United country ones again just by looking at the people’s will regardless of government. Love for thier country and cultural values complex but really conflicting of a spiral fate.
@aola wili raise standards of living in USA???😅 Usa people never experienced communism. They have always lived in freedom(except the slavery era) and they are not interested on what happen in another continent 30 yers ago. thats why they dont produce documentaries about Europe. They prefer Entertainment shows and I agree with them
"The collapse of the Soviet Union is the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th Century." - Putin Me: Because it has allowed you to rise to power.
Well done. Now do an unbiased documentary on Biden's crackhead son, laptop and bussiness deals and how they may have connected to biden while he was VP under Obama.
Russia might not have colonized countries in Africa or the Americas, but they colonized the countries around them after the fall of the tzar. The collapse of the soviet union meant the freedom of these colonies from Russia, but unlike other colonial powers, their citizens didn't return enmass to the mother country. This is where the problem comes in, there are too many Russians left in these ex colonies. Putin think or try now to bring these colonies back under Russian control, instead of just bringing back home the Russian people from these countries.
These countries were all part of the Russian empire before the fall of the Tzar.Stalin forcibly removed whole sections of a countries citizens and replaced them with Russians The Crimea is the best example
Two-faced point of view What about Texas What about Hawai What about Falklands What about war in Panama/Iraq What about war in Yugoslavia, only Serbia guilt... What about ustasi... What about ex-nazis which were living in US and Canada aft ww2 What about nowadays nazis in Latvia/Litva What about Blinken's denial of negotiation process in Switzerland What about Minsk agreements... If you really wants to avoid wars stop being selfish...
Ohhh... Russia is "evil"... Europe is "democracy"....... This european "democrats" have bombed Yugoslavia when it refused to join NATO. Ukraine is a new Yugoslavia.... doped with weapons and angry rusophobic progaganda. Dejavu?
Yes the day when nations will not fight each other and peace reign will only come from a Supernatural Power;the creator of the universe, and we are not very far from achieving. Holy Scripture don't lie, will come through. Have faith 🙏 it will happen.
2021- to test Nato - would be a stupid idea 2022 - let's test Ukraine 2023 - where we can find more prisoners? 2024 - how can we prevent collapse of Ruzzia?
Russia has no chance of internal collapse as nobody wants independance now. No country will ever dare invade Russia cuz the Tsar bomba can literally destroy half of Europe, not mentioning the fact that it has more nukes than every other country combined
Chomsky would be proud of your very tactical choice of words when translating from Russian. I caught two instances of mistranslation to the point of getting it backwards: "the Yeltsin coup" was translated as "the Yeltsin era", and "they have no heart" was translated as "they have no head". Needless to say, I totally trust you now. Bravo!
Don't be surprised, it's not like DW is not biased. It also spread some negative propaganda in some of it's videos/documentaries when speaking of anything Russian.
@@guruoflove3083 I take it your either a properganda troll contractor or a person who is going to join the military 😆 🤣 😂 Senators , elites stock market investments in the military industrial complexes must be on it's way up .
@@roybatty6857 I'm neither a Deep State Satanic Marxist like your group of friends NOR their controlled opposition which you've aptly named in your last post... besides the main gist expressed, which is you take it.
20:28: "My generation are told that we don't know what freedom is because we never lived in a country without freedom.... we can't appreciate what freedom means." This is a problem in America, as well.
Please on please share a link to RT. I want to watch some objective and calmly presented news again :( I cant stand mainstream media more then 1 minute
well, a war is going on which almost everyone sees Russia as the wrong side. So, coincidence might be. However, let's say it is not a coincidence. Are the things they say lies?
As lithuanian i can for surely say that translation was correct word by word but not by meaninig conveyed by interviewees. I’m quite disappointed of DW because earlier I thought of them as responsible organisations to convey complex nuances of different cultures not to be simple and “dramatic”
"On the Soviet times, everyone was equal. Rich and poor were equal." Biggest lie ever spread about communism. Whoever says that was a rich guy on that period and benefited. Whoever spits on those times, was a poor person. But the worst was the fact that the poor were unable to leave your "poorness" without the approval of communist party. And if you complained about it, the communist party got a funny view on you like "oh you think independent? you think better than the rest? do you now?" and get sent to gulags for forced labor to "rethink" your independent views.
Thanks for watching. We try to cover a broad spectrum of important and often difficult global issues and we really appreciate your positive feedback. We upload documentaries regularly so don’t forget to subscribe.
Really. Have you check the State departments declassified documents, treaties and agreements? Do you know who gave up their territory for peace? Do you know which super power is constantly at war with someone on this planet? Do you know Monroe Doctrine? Do you know any leader who lost his son in front line? According to Vodka Cola Circa 1970s, these conflicts are just dramas to strip worker of their wealth and their rights. Yes it is a war. A war between the elites and workers in every country. Does an American middle class worker having lost his jon and living on streets really cares for F35, MOABs and Conflicts around the world? Do not be fooled by media prostitutes.
Russia could be great again once it realizes all countries have a right to greatness. Domination of others has nothing to do with greatness. Greatness is art, economy, industry and compassion. Greatness is being an effective part of a greater whole. Domination is the dream of underachievers.
The "collapse" of Russia was fake news. The Vatican controls capitalism and communism and uses them like hammer and anvil to shape its global empire. You are now experiencing the conclusion of the 500 year effort by the Jesuits to undo the Protestant Reformation and constitutional republicanism.
@@saulgoodman7858 Frankly, you're right. I haven't a clue but frankly at 70 years of age. I don't care. I'm fed up with buzz words, bullshit and bogus bureaucrats no matter no matter from where. People need a simple life, food, water, shelter. That's pretty much all. The politics can go rot as they have for ions.
A great documentary. But - it is not about the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is about the aftermath of the collapse. A misleading title of the documentary in my opinion.
Struggle is what you get when the first thing you do as an independent country to invade your newly independent neighbor. Armenia deserved what she got.
Thanks for watching. We try to cover a broad spectrum of important and often difficult global issues and we really appreciate your positive feedback. We upload documentaries regularly so don’t forget to subscribe.
@@turkoman859 nobody told the azeris to bomb major cities in populated areas of artsakh after voting to be part of armenia no one said put the armenians trough the pogromms of baku and sumgait where armenians being ethnic cleansed in that area. And also artsakh was a autonomic armenian oblast in the soviet union. So get your facts together or learn some history. Not turkish brainwashed history.
Let’s not forget the “Armenian genocide” and other atrocities and crimes that were committed against Armenian people. 1 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Empire (nowTurkey) during WW1.
A very intresting documentary. It is helping me with my understanding of Russia, it's culture and history as well as the people and their beliefs. Thank you for sharing.
@Legalize Raping Russian Broads In America Your name says everything about you. You should be in jail. A disgusting entitled American warmonger who's country has invaded murdered and robbed country after country endlessly since it started 700 years ago.
Interesting/informative/entertaining. Good video & oration enabling viewers to better understand what/whom the orator was describing describing. Special thanks to the guest speakers sharing personal information/life’s activities & experiences. Making this documentary more authentic and possible. Disillusioned Vladimir’s invasion of the Ukraine 🇺🇦 Ended up being an embarrassment not making it a short military endeavor.
And you have mistaken about Hungary, Czechia and Poland. They joined NATO in 1999 (for some sources 1998) not in 2004 when Lithuania joined. But in 2004 HU, CZ and PO joined the EU.
Ukraine is finally a democracy and people are proud of their country. Russia coerces it's citizens and keeps them deliberately ignorant. How is that separation a catastrophe?
By democracy you mean forcing a democratically elected president out with the help of foreign countries and installing a puppet in its place who sensors and kills anyone that goes against its narrative?
@@psychout3481 I think the resilience of the Ukrainians we see now during the war showd us which side they actually prefer. So if you say that the current government of Ukraine is a puppet, then you are wrong. Look at the support their government has.
@Artoria Pendragon Yankovich was neutral, but was without doubt a puppet of the Ukrainian oligarchs, while Poroshenko was literally a puppet of the West.
@@Whodey-AJ Ukrainians are leaving Ukraine from all sides, towards Poland, Belarus and even Russia. Tells you exactly how the Ukrainians feel about the war. And there isn't much resilience per se when the war is being fought by foreign mercenaries, followed by released prisoners, and their neo-Nazi group, while countless of Ukrainian armies are surrendering to Russian armies. What support does the Ukrainian president has? One just has to look at the comments that the Ukrainian themselves leave behind on his daily press conferences or his "movies" he uploaded on RUclips on how they regret for voting for him. Just before the war, his approval rating were falling. To quote the media, days before the war, "According to a poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, only 30 per cent of the country’s people want Zelenskyy to run for a second term and even fewer, 23 per cent, would vote for him." He came in with the promise to eradicate corruption and solve the Donbas issue, and he ended up with a country with uncontrolled corruption, at war with Russia, and he himself was found to be involved in corruption with hundreds of millions stashed in foreign tax heavens.
Exactly, I was happy he mentioned it. I thought he would say religion(Islam) is important first as others. People should understand religion is just an idea we have been taught into from young.
What I was hoping for as we moved from the 20th to the 21st Century was an end to dictators and individuals or small groups controlling the populous of entire nations. Countries belong to their peoples, not to individuals, and the days of dictators, totalitarian regimes and ruling with an 'iron fist' should be consigned to history. We need to move forward and develop, not cling on to doctrines which have plagued mankind for hundreds of years.
You think America belongs to the people?! Democracy in 2022 is a farce. The idea sounds good but I'm not sure I see it executed anywhere today in it's true form. It doesn't matter where you live on planet earth. Every single country is ruled by a few people. None of them were elected.
sir you have been fooled , no nations on earth are ruled by the people . america’s elite have fooled the population into believing this fairy tail . the wealthy rule the middle and lower classes . we have no say in anything .
@@dukenukem7043 Really ? you have no say in what you eat ,wear, work, go to shop,movies you watch, what u drink and how you poop. people like you just love to exaggerate stuff. Western countries are not perfect but most people in the west have certain rights, freedoms and decent standard of living ,much better than humanity ever had it and definitely much better than all communist countries.
Interesting and balanced documentary. One can only wonder if Russia put more of its GDP into improving infrastructure and less into expanding its military, conditions for ordinary Russians might be much better.
RaydTassie It's not that easy . Just ask China . The west not forgiveany country they see as a competition. Ask Japan, Germany it's not about Human Right the goal is destruction of the competition and take the resources
I'm only 10 min in but it's already very interesting. Didn't even know about the Armenia and Azerbaijan war and the Russian peace keepers. It's such a difficult region. I hope it all turns out well and that it isn't wishful thinking.
Its must be the only example, if true.. Generations sent to Syberia throughout history would be of different opinion and not call russians liberators at all. Just an example of the methods.
@@hamzak6437 ok i will be not discussing with it, if i may. But rest assured that out of these two, russia is by far worse. at least for Poles. Pls check how it looked throughout history. Check femine on Ukraine by Stalin, check Soviet Gulag, Siberia exile sites or Katyn massacre or Ribbentrop Molotov Pact, Communism. Great neighbor, dont you think? They simply have nothing to offer to civilized world, just war, troops, cheap display of so called power...and i only asked to let's say, take informed guess, if you may know these terms...
@@hamzak6437 do you really think it is world's illusion what is happening now or russia is just bandits attacking unprovoked, shelling cities and people there? 500k people fled already.
After watching the whole documentary my conclusion is that all people who was talking in this documentary just have personal perception, doesn't mean that their point of view are accurate. For me it was a catostrophy the creation ofSoviet Union, because it was impost for Russia and only benefited them. I know people were sick of the Russians presence in their countries. They feel liberated when it was dissolved. Slava Ukraine!!!
you say that and ignore the fact that most of present day territories of ukraine were given by russian tsars and later by the soviet union to vladamir lenin. so i agree to slava ukraine but that ukraine is nonetheless negligible
What the system Wanted is rebuild an New soviet union in global scale,see canadian and Australia not have difference of dictator country from China and russia.
Totally agree. The whole Soviet Union was as bad if not worse than the Russian Empire. Putin is living a past we'd all like to 4get. It's the 21st century. Catch up Putin.
@@ajitavasarkar6765 Ukraine was a unified Kingdom long b4 Russia sadly took control of it. Putin has done nothing for the Russians except make himself a Tsar, his mafia terrorizes on his orders & he gets rich. A bullet between the eyes is the solution for Russia.
Same here. I hate Putin but I’m just fascinated by Russia’s history. I was in St. Petersburg and Moscow in 2013 and it’s like 2 different countries (St. Petersburg is more liberal). Moscow is very scary (or perhaps just my imagination)!
we residents of Donbass did not recognize the people who illegally seized power in Kyiv in 2014, with the help of Europe and the USA. Please tell the true story
Russia is a mix of Europe and Asia and even with their alliances from the seven years war, napoleon, and ww1, the average westerner from Europe and America never respected the ruskies, even waging a solo war in Crimea in 1854. They always see Eastern Slavs as weird.
Russia is ethnically too diverse to even be a single country. That is its problem. You cannot draw imaginary lines on a map, and then tell people on each side of the line, that they are different people.
15:15 "The dissolution of the USSR was unconstitutional!" 32:15 "Crimea voted for independence, even if it wasn't done according to standards." Same guy?
Interesting to learn about this part of the world. Thanks DW for highlighting the beauty and complexity of humanity. Much appreciated from South Africa
I know right? Interesting to watch this in 2022 after Ukraine’s invasion. Hope that there will be more documentaries on the future and not the end because of a Third World War. Europe has a very complicated past.
@@chance2716 The US and England promised in writing to defend the Ukraine if they were ever attacked. That is how they got them to give up all their nuclear weapons after the USSR collapsed. NATO is proving it has no teeth. Now China and everyone else are going to start invading countries every year or two. They will just rattle the nuclear sabre if anyone says anything.
I am aware that there are many reasons why the USSR collapsed but if we can point to one single reason, IMO it was the war in Afghanistan. At the height of that war, the Soviet Union was devoting 70% of the national budget to military spending and since the Soviet economy was heavily subsidized by the state (which owned almost all factors of production including the factories, farms and mines), there was not enough money left over to provide for other sectors of the economy. By the time that war ended in 1989, it was too late to save the country.
"But when you look at it from a rational perspective it's not at all clear why Russia would attack Poland or Baltic countries." Meanwhile March 2022: Federal russian TV channels broadcast discussions about getting Warsaw. Yep, journalism as it is.
Loved every minute of this. I actually watched it thrice. It was balanced, informative and very easy to follow. For people not living in Europe or who have lukewarm knowledge of history like myself, this was absorbing and made me curious to do more research on my own. Well done to the writers, producers.
You truly have a 'lukewarm' knowledge if you think DW is going to give you a balanced view on Russia :D It's like Aljazeer making a documentary on the 'fall of US' and telling you it's a balanced view of the US.
@alexvlasny9755 If Russia is invaded, you wont have a head and arms to write this, The nuclear war that will be caused by that will lead to nothing but complete destruction, and that will never happen
@alexvlasny9755along with USA, Europe. It'll show how nuclear war due to western provocation towards Russian borders destroyed whole world and a new organisation will be formed like UN which will prevent any country from becoming super power like today's USA.
The USSR was never a superpower, they bluffed everyone. They have never successfully projected any power outside their border except against civilians.
Yeah....at the end, this one commentator said Russians have learned to deal with, and tell government what government wants to hear....so the Russians people can go back and live their normal life. That was what I felt that commentator was doing, saying it's not rational to think Russia would attack other countries. He was just saying publicly what Russia would want to hear. It seemed other commentators did the same thing.
@@ik7584 Yeah, right!! Sure they did...🤣😂!! I have friends in Lugansk!!! They didn't attack Russian citizens. Lugansk was getting hit my Russian artillery. My friend was bringing in medical supplies. As we're others. And got stopped by Russian separatists. Some of those bringing in medical supplies. Were killed by Russian separatists/soldiers at road blocks. So no....what you're saying is absolutely not true. And even know....there are Russian speaking people in theceastern regions. But even they don't want the Russians there, invading Ukraine. And it was also, Russian separatists, who turned out to be 3 Russian soldiers; and a Ukranian....Russian Separatist. Who took a Russian Missile launcher from a Russian military base, into Ukraine. And used it, to shoot down the Malyasian Airliner, flying from Holland. Killing 298 people. The perpetrators were identified....and prosecuted in Holland.
@@jojoperez2610 I know they done alot of stupid stuff, expecially the US. The European union has not been so involded. But did the West ever conqour any land? US has won and has done alot of stuff. But they never take land. . . This is a very important fact. . . . Ofcourse they done it earlier, but not in the modern era.
@@mikethk the EU has never engaged in military adventures but European countries like Spain, France, England, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium and to a lesser extent Italy and Germany all engaged in building empires based on colonies in other continents. The US has engaged in military adventures with interventions in Latin and South America, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.
As someone who grew up in the former soviet block... to put it lightly.... it was a messy divorce. For countries that were fundamentally found on principles of autocracy/authoritarianism and collectivism for hundreds of years to be suddenly thrown into foreign (to them) concepts such as democracy, individualism and free market economics, I'm not sure what else was/is to be expected. Although all of this is well known, I fear it's little understood.
As someone from Western Europe, I have similarly thought that Russians have, sadly, really only known feudalism, absolute monarchy and dictatorship and that the missed opportunities following the end of communism and return of authoritarianism while obviously tragic are not surprising. From a rotten monarchy through the brutality of communism to the kleptocracy of post-Soviet Russia, the country has not enjoyed freedom, democracy or rule of law and the creation of oligarch fortunes resulted from this and the economic illiteracy resulting from 70 years of communism. The building of these fortunes through the acquisition of state resources and impoverishment of the masses is redolent of what happened in variously Venezuela, OPEC countries and Nigeria and in contrast to Norway. When the Soviet Union broke up there was a brief window of opportunity for Russia to democratise. While initially the West when Kohl and Bush I were in power tried to engage and didn’t gloat about winning the Cold War, by the time Bush II was in power hubris had set in, Russia was ignored and the US engaged in adventures that sent signals to Russia about using military power. If you have it you use it. Putin’s war in Ukraine has reintroduced a Cold War with the west that serves nobody’s interests and leaves unanswered the question of whether China values more it’s relationship of eternal friendship with Russia based on shared authoritarian values or doing business with the West which economically is worth far more. China has watched aghast at what happened as a result of Glasnost and Perestroika. Realising that you could not simultaneously make economic reforms and introduce democracy they opted for economic reform which has led to prosperity and created an educated and informed middle class that coexists with repression and authoritarianism. China is aghast at the military failure of Putin in Russia. They had hoped for a quick victory, perhaps a breakup of NATO and further decline of the West. For them the question is whether their shared authoritarian values mean they will support Putin or use their influence to put an end to the conflict to avoid damage to a world order that suits them.
@@patrickmccutcheon9361best comment on this thread ;) god if everyone was as well educated as you, I think we would be leaving in a much better world! cheers from Quebec, Canada!
@@jean-phil Ayn Rand (Alissa Zinowjewna Rosenbaum) was a Russian. What explain a lot about Objectivism (aka Great Man Theory). She would love Putin and Trump.
@@lisashung9442 there will always be corruption, at least in America people don't get locked up for speaking out against corruption. Our government doesn't shut down media because they are trying to tell us anything, right or wrong. What are the laws you claim are here in America that legalize corruption?
@@xponen you fight it by voting for the other people. No system is perfect because people aren't perfect and people run the system. It's all about what system is best, and a dictatorship has always been worse than a Democratic system
Never again communism: alcoholism, smoking, ethnic conflicts, abortion.....In the USSR, there was only freedom for the genocidal industries of alcohol and tobacco. And Lenin and Stalin are the main culprits for the Russian/Ukrainian war, as they donated Russian territories to Ukraine. Therefore, Lenin's mausoleum and Stalin's bust must be removed from Red Square. In short, only the communists thought that the Soviet Empire would be eternal.
Looks like some one (behind this video) learnt some lessons. This is what we viewers want: balanced reporting! Afterall its a global world, we've been everywhere, we have enough knowledge about different countries. Good job!
Indeed, not all are well knowledge such as the young generation however thanks to the internet and public libraries around the world digital or physical may increase in education only those worthy of understanding then seen the light of a bright future, some would fall shortly with no understanding weak. Hopes for a better future are lay to the young but to green to handle the weight of a entire nation or country challenges and needs. Peace :3
@@Koloviv48i you know this video is from a public broadcast in Germany ? so basically a "western channel", I don't know where you live but here in Canada, our TV is not "propaganda", it says basically the same thing as in this video and the many others I can view on RUclips and elsewhere on Internet. Not like the people living under authoritarian regimes where they block many western sources of information.
This documentary is a masterplan,I learnt so much about The Collapse of the Soviet Union and the Narrator is amazing,plz do the Collapse of Yugoslavia documentary
@Lord Typesalot Thats really just a anti-communist western view. What do you think will happen now that China has a near monopoly on cheap labor producing anything, and Russia/China are de-coupling from the dollar. Sounds like they can rip up that check.
This map need to be corrected.Countries like Albania,Bulgaria ,Romania,Jugoslavia,Checkoslovakia,Hungaria and GDR was never been part of the Soviet Union but over the Soviet infuence mostly.
Astonishing that a movie called "the end of a superpower - collapse of USSR" actually tells close to nothing how it collapsed and what where the reasons behind that fall.
As someone who grew up in the USSR in an ethnically mixed family, I thought this was a very good documentary, presented in a balanced neutral voice. Covered a lot of ground in 53 min! One oversight, I feel, was to present only the Armenian side of the conflict with Azerbaijan. I've always felt very sympathetic to the Armenian people and their suffering, but know very little about the Azerbaijani point of view. Perhaps you could make more of these focusing on the different regions of the former USSR and how they're doing. I've been living in the US for the past 30 yrs and detest polarization and misinformation that exists here and everywhere else. DW Documentary is one of my favorite sources of thoughtful and entertaining content. Thank you!
I'm very appreciative of DW, as well.
Your Comment is Good. But, do you have any idea about Azerbaijan's malicious propaganda machinery? You can start with the hiring of numerous lobby firms to export Azerbaijan's lies. Then comes Azerbaijan's proven fake photographs about Khojaly, which still get peddled worldwide. Then there's Azerbaijan's Ally, Turkey, and their NATO influence. Azerbaijan's corrupting payouts to people of influence, around the world. And, besieged, poor, landlocked Armenia, doesn't fund propaganda. It's true that Armenia gets financial help from their diaspora.
DW has already focused upon Azerbaijan's sinister viewpoint, in other videos. They did that a lot, during the 2020 genocidal war against Armenia.
Same here. Im Kyrgyz and have some other mixtures and grew up in USSR as a child.
And to me Russians and Ukrainians seemed the same as a kid.
20 years living abroad in UK i held some fond memories about those times and seeing this events of late made me wander what went wrong.
Very good documentary indeed.
Especially that bit about Ukrainian divisions of east 'Moskal, Katsap' and west 'zapadenets, Bandera".
All ex Soviets are in some form of infighting :( Russia, Belorussya vs Ukraine, Tajikstan, Uzbekistan vs Kyrgyzstan, Armenia vs Azerbaijan.
Something went very wrong somewhere.
Keep safe tovarish.
You mean you wanted to them to inject your own biases into the documentary. I’m glad they didn’t indulge you.
The money didn't "disappear"; it has become oligarch yachts.
3
Special vanishing operation
Quite.
How much is putin worth now .
Felt like that was implied.
I traveled to Moscow and St. Petersburg in 2005 when I was only 17. My history teacher who organized it was 60 by then and had been visiting every year since 1991. He told us stories of the crazy economic situation the country was in back then.
The worst part is that they always blame us for not getting their act together. Some regions of the world have been in similar situations since the beginning of history.
@@richardacevedo280 thats mostly jealousy
в России до сих пор многие верят в коммунизм и социализм.
экономика не удивляет, удивляет тупость людей
Were You with The Machine ! ?
@@richardacevedo280 What???
I have to say-- Kazakhstan has one of the coolest flags in my eyes. Unique colors and design. Not just boring red, white, and blue like every other boring flag..
Kazakhstan, greatest country in the world
Not as cool as Bhutan’s flag
As a former citizen of the USSR, I have an impression that the documentary was made by a Russian director because most of information is represented from the Russian perspective. For example, the statement that the former Soviet republics never tried to leave the USSR is untrue. Just any of such attempts were violently suppressed. Even Belarus, which is usually considered to be the closest to Russia culturally, made repeated attempts to claim its independence in the early years of the USSR. The last Belarusian armed resistance group was liquidated by the Soviets in 1950s. Some of the methods used by Moscow to keep people "calm" are well described by Robert Conquest in his book "The Harvest of Sorrow." The author is neither Russian nor Ukranian and his narrative is quite unbiased.
they were a tiny minority. as well as Russian nationalists who supported and still support for the creation of ethno-national Russia
I highly doubt you being a former citizen of USSR
@Willow Brooklet At 53:01 it literally tells you on screen "a film by Michael Schmidt and Martin Striegel"; do these sound to you like Russian names?
@@crose7412 They're German. The are about 3 million Russian descendants in Germany. Next question?
@@ArtisZ @Artis Zel I know they're German. No other questions. I wasn't asking you though so mind your own business.
DW forgot to mention that Baltic states where occupied by Soviet Union by force in 1940. Soviet Union did genocide towards citizens of Baltic countries and destroyed our prosperity. In 1939 Latvia was very prosperous little country with fast economical growth. Communists did destroy it all. In 1990 We got independence again and now 30 years later We again live better than poor Russian citizens. Latvians will never trust Russian government because they brought only poverty and depression to our country. Collapse of Soviet Union is the best what did geopolitically happen to Europe in 20th century. Amen
As someone who was born in the East, under Communism, I refuse to consider those who support Putin, humans. They are NOT humans ! They are brain dead zombies; brainwashed subhumans who don't deserve the slightest respect.
Well said, but I am not even surprised anymore when something like genocide is completely forgotten by anybody except us. That's what happens when you live in a part of the world that has 0 political impact. Everybody knows what Germans did to Jews and yet nobody knows what USSR did to its own citizens. This clearly shows how little we matter to anybody.
Also this video is clearly made from a Russian perspective so obviously, Russians did nothing wrong.
Latvia lives better then Russia because of EU. And money poured in from UK Germany France. On our taxpayers expense. And could work in EU. Thank European community, not only yourselves.
Cheers
Agree from Georgia
Amen!
With Russia's vast natural resources and an educated/skilled population there was no reason why Russia could not have become an economic superpower like China. But Putin and the old men in charge simply cannot let go of the old ways and are more focused on maintaining the image of a military superpower. Keeping the wealth amongst the few rather than sharing it and using it to help develop the country. Had Russia become an economic super power, the economy would be more diversified and less dependant on income from oil and gas. In turn the stronger economy would of helped make the military stronger too. I hope one day the Russian people get the government they deserve.
Russia is culturally primitive with mysticism, sacrifice and collectivism its basic values. Its a profoundly anti-Western culture. It cannot become wealthy until it rejects religious tradition for mans independent mind. They dont value production in any modern way because that requires ending religious tradition.
For the ppl to prosper, there can only be one Super Power on the Planet,
Agree. Rosso have an economy the seize of Spain and three times its population. Most of the millitary budget which is enourmous, goes into corruption so no, Rosso was never a superpower. Propaganda only !
its the same everywhere, not just in Russia, the wealth of a country is always distributed to a few families, Its called corruption and nepotism.
showing zero understanding of Russian or Chinese geopolitics
I think this is a very fair and balanced documentary. I was in communist Poland and East Germany in the 1980s and saw Russia in 1992. I have been to Russia several times but if one goes into the countryside then it certainly does not look like a 'super power' rather somewhat behind everyone else, particularly if one compares it to its former country of occupation, Poland.
well i havent been to Russia and i would like to know how exactly you felt there. like would you consider it a 1st world country at the very least? was it a good place as a visitor?
And USA YES LOOKS LIKE SUPERPOWER IN THE COUNTRYSIDE 😅
Another thing is that in Poland everyone is rich and the villages are high-tech, it’s funny to listen to you, I was in Poland and you are not close to Europe or even Russia 😅😅
@@AbdulRahman-uw4nd It is interesting to see, but there is a huge difference between the countryside and the cities - particularly Moscow and Petersburg. The countyside looks as though it were 50 years ago!
Well come to pakistan we are still living in 1970s. Only a few cities have the technology
Being a big country doesn't always good for people. They should concentrate on how to raise standards of living for people live in it whether big or small.
You dont think living standards increased for the average person in places like USSR or post revolution China.... it objectively did.
For hundreds of years china faced catastrophic famines.... revolution ended that
I am a Russian minority in one of post-Soviet republics.. It is not nice to be hated. But I really don't understand how people started to hate Russians..
@Sergei isn't most of the Siberian tribes a Republic that is basically an independent country with their own currency and stuff? Not trying to be rude just asking. Also probably because of rescouses like gas and oil.
How can you do that when the U.S holds financial hegemony and inequality built into the capitalist system? The U.S and west has created this delusion
Provided some interesting insights into developments in the region since the 90's. One thing that always hits me with these types of documentaries is how much I can relate to the people I see living in countries I knew very little about. I see people and families going to work and school, engaged in various projects, trying to improve their communities and just living their lives. It all seems so normal and familiar. Makes me feel connected to all the people on this planet. It's a powerful insight.
As the 1% suck the money from the society, who are ruled by fear and lied to, how else can it but in disaster.
What development.? Their has been none.
They are just people. Differences within the society are probably bigger than differences between the societies
@@paulread4886 nothing has changed, humans have been enslaving and using other humans since we came into existence.
YES AND MY GRANDPARENTS WERE BOTH BORN IN POLAND 🇵🇱❤ FLED TO UNITED STATES 🇺🇸
Journalism at its absolute best. DW has set the standard for excellence and showing the way it should be done. Much respect to the incredible people behind these amazing documents!
Thanks for watching. We try to cover a broad spectrum of important and often difficult global issues and we really appreciate your positive feedback.
@@DWDocumentary Much better than BBC
are you serious? your kids wearing masks, suffocating, thanks to them
Amazing documentary with soaring interest on every minute passing.Very neutral and educating.Hats off to the team of the dw creating this art of exemplary journalism.Watching from Nepal with peace and love.
you didn't sniff the bias or see the colored lenses?
Good video.
Being 60 years old, and a life long student of history... especially geopolitical history... and having kept a close study on all the former USSR... I know this already.
But you covered pretty much what matters.
Good job.
GOOD
My Ukranian friends told me before the end of the fall of the USSR everyone had plenty of money but there was nothing to buy. After the fall everyone's Soviet money was worthless but soon small businesses popped up meaning there was plenty of things to buy but no one had any money.
Think about it:
1.
Have a lot of money but nothing to buy meaning that money is worthless, not even compare to toilet paper.
2.
Eventually you or someone else will make some money to buy the things.
The second is always a better choice.
:-))
@@PonchoNugen I don't agree with you brother. Money wasn't wothless even from your point of view. My parents always told me that when they were on holidays in USSR citizens wanted everything to buy from them. And they were able to pay a lot. So their money weren't wothless, but they hadn't chance to travel and buy something and in their country wasn't any stuff because Soviets put everything into the army and another for normal people useless programs.
@@PonchoNugen Nah most of them preferred the USSR
@@PonchoNugen Not true at all. You could purchase things in the collapsing Soviet Union, nobody really starved, it’s just that there was a lack of trade and a lack of luxuries.
You could still make things yourself and as well as buy and sell them in secondary markets. You couldn’t find wine from France, but you could find wine at home. You couldn’t buy fancy clothes from clothing brands but you could get clothes custom tailored for you etc... There was a distinct lack of large companies colluding and holding significant market share enough to sway politics. In a sense it’s something a lot of socialist Americans now want to live in.
@@slovakia0195 later 1980s 60 Russian kapeikas(little over half a rubble) was worth $1. After USSR broke apart by 1991-1992 exchange rate in black market was 5,000 rubles for 1 US dollar. Money devalued about 10,000 times over within a couple years. So if you worked your whole life and saved up 100,000 rubles for retirement. All the sudden your retirement is worth $20. What you are saying is true pre USSR breakup. Stuff like jeans, walkmans and other electronics like tape players etc was pretty much unattainable. Few people who were allowed to travel would bring this stuff back and it would sell for a lot of money because there was virtually zero supply and those who had money would pay up. But as poster above suggests above after USSR broke apart those products became plentiful because borders opened up. But due to collapsed currency almost no one could afford to buy it. I witnessed this myself.
They talk about the Russian people in those ex-soviet satellites, but they don't talk about how those Russian people ended up there in the first place. It is a shame that the Russians don't talk about the deportations in Siberia of Romanians/Moldavians, Georgians, Ukrainians etc. History gave you a slap in the face, comrades!
@ケM E Z Z I A Hケ Cringe is your middle name dork... =)))
So people, russian people should be treated like trash because half century ago soviet politicians made some choices? These families lived on these territories for few generations. These countries have become home for a lot of russian families.
@@tanchik_1523 Ha? Victimising much? No, please know your history and try to repair it. Unlike what the Russian dictatorship is doing now in Ukraine. If you don't understand what is happening now, I am very sorry for you. People can live in peace, not so much when they are manipulated by Putler. What the Soviets did and still doing now in Russia is despicable...
Around 23:00 "Why would Russia attack the Baltic countries? What would there be to gain?" I asked myself the same about Ukraine a week ago...
Oil, gas, found in donbass and crimea sea
Watch the John Mearshiemer lecture on Ukraine from 6 years ago. You can watch it on RUclips.
The Baltics are very, very happy to be out of the illegal occupation of the USSR. Never again
Oil reserves recently discovered in Ukraine don't hurt...
I was thinking the exact same thing lol
Another great documentary DW! You packed so much informative and accurate knowledge in the time frame. I greatly appreciate the hard work your team put into this and your many other documentaries. I learn so much up to date insight from your work. Well done as usual.
You think that because you are not able to use your own brain. Zero critical thinking. Way to go! 😂
Russia isnt crippled tho'
Ukraine may be thousands of kilometres away from Malaysia but to Malaysians, it is much closer emotionally. A routine Malaysian Airline Flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down there on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 on board. That scar is still raw. The World has forgotten about the killings of civilian flight MH17
We must not forget
Media barat..itu dilakukan oleh Rusia
yes the flight was shot down by russian backed troups, the so-called russian separatists ; there was a trial in Netherlands that identified and condemned the 4 people responsible for shooting , but they managed to save themselves under russian protection
Hard to forget!
But what about america starting wars and all inocent women and children dead? I guess that's okay than.? Oh and america can't even win a war without nukes like blowing up Japan!?. Twice on top of it. How many inocent lives lost than. Then the Korean, Vietnam and now Afghanistan. But that's okay. Someone else does it. It's a mortal sin.
It is worth noting that this documentary was written long before the current Russian invasion of Ukraine, and it should probably be watched with that in mind.
The program seems to overlook the Trillions of dollars of debt the US gained as they bribed former Soviet nations to become NATO members?
The massive amounts that the Langley VA firm that seems to distribute to convince residents to create unrest that keeps Russia working to maintain peace, seem to add to US Debts.
The Russians used their massive amounts of resources to pay off debts when Oil prices were high, the US has little to offer and the ability to support a Marshall Plan seem well beyond the ability of the US to fund?
The fact that current US efforts appear to promote efforts to drive Russia from doing business in Europe are apparent for the last 8 years and were US Foreign Policy since the 1990's.
Superpowers need economic abilities when they declare economic warfare?
The US seems even more Vulnerable than Russia, when you inspect the facts of the Economies of both?
@@danielhutchinson6604 "Trillions of dollars of debt the US gained as they bribed former Soviet nations to become NATO members" ?? Yes you're right it's better to invade them and keep them against their will in the NATO. You know something like your Russian friends did. 😎 btw, show some research facts about these "trillions" you're talking about. 😋
No one believes your name is "Daniel Hutchinson," comrade. This site really needs to get a handle on the current putinbot problem...
But how it changes anything that was said in the documentary?
@@iscander_s If your Brain is incapable of digesting complex ideas, you may need to return to school and learn how to play well with others?
I am certainly not one to watch doc's as often they're boring, and narrated badly. Probably because of the Ukrainian war I watched this right through and found it facinating to learn about Russia and former USSR. Most pleasing aspect of this doc was how well narrated and laid out it is. Brilliant!
makes you realize that the history that brought us to this situation is alot more nuanced than what the American government portrays
Makes you realise that the Russian trolls are as successful as their logistics
I agree, the Ukrainian War has me interested in learning why all the fighting
@@tonym6193the US government are flat out liars, that has been proved many times.
Reason i was interested to watch now as well
Thank you so much for the inspirational and so informative documentary on the `USSR `and the independence of neighboring countries , it was well illustrated and covered , Deeply Appreciated the time and sincere Efforts !
Well done. A rare, honest, neutral representation during a time extreme exposure to lies, polarity and propaganda. Refreshing.
According to Le Bon, each nation has its own unique ethnic character which favors one ideology over other. Egalitarian mongols and related culture always favor absolute equality which make them easily fall for socialism or communism. In society with long history hierarchy, absolute equality is actually terrible idea since ancient time.
But changes not the fact that Russia has no right to invade ukraine.
it is important to mention that many of these "new" foreign countries were foreign countries before already but they were occupied.
For the benefit of Russia.
What about the fact that all those soviet republics were independent countries before they were a part of the USSR? Kind of important? Russia isn't regaining lost ancestral lands they are re-invading free lands originally conquered by the USSR.
@ The Sixth
Putin should have looked to improve the life style of the average Russians and not to turn Russia into a second North Korea.
Parkersburg or Moscow look like modern cities but if you go to the rural areas people live like in the 18th century with little to nothing owned thats the today Russia for u
No, they were not independent but part of Russian Empire.
@@kasymbektashbaev they were conquered by the Russian Empire. What about the original Crimean tartar population? What about the population of circassians in Sochi? What about the population of Finnish in Karelia? They all have their own communities, cities and governments before being conquered by the Russian empire. Now most of them became minorities in their own lands. Their languages and traditions are on the verge of extinction as of result of russification.
@@kasymbektashbaev luckily, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Finland managed to obtain their independence from Russian Empire as of result of ww1. If not they'll receive the exact same fate as Somi people, circassians, tartars etc.
@Dreemstyl yes, America is the land of native Americans not the land of European descendants. What happened in America is horrible. And so are in Russian Empire. The act of subjugation towards weaker natives are horrible. Natives have the right for self determination
This is another amazing DW Documentary with great content on the fall of the Soviet Union. Keep up the good work at DW.
We are glad to hear that you liked the documentary! Thank you
Why the Channel don't speak about remaining of abandoned from tuva republic who do part of own confederation ? That one people live extreme poverty,with garbage in all country and ruin buils an cuba into of great empire of Russia.
@@gustavoemannueldeangolasil243 Any huge changes in the nation's will cause these fallout for states or provinces to disconnect when the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991. The norm is making a choice to be independent thereby moving away from the newly formed Federation . Choices like these have their consequences to make progress.
@@waldensmith4796 So the president Vladimir Putin haven't control of own federation? Because like is dirty and misery is tuva republic ,like other republic of old Soviet union and atuality new stalin ops russia . See other documentary russian citezen , Inter of republics only have dirty drug drink of alcholl . Great or bluber?
@@waldensmith4796 Don't he do part of country New Soviet union.
My admiration for the people behind this. It has renewed my love for history. This is great stuff. Thank you.
I have always hated history, simply because it has no power over the decisions we make today (unless we allow it to). Though, I love when individuals patronize the second world for its lack of ability to form a decent society where respect for the individual is mandatory. Russia has yet to get away from its pathetic authoritarian Soviet era and the majority of the people still favors communism. What a sh*thole Russia is - the whole second world is.
24:18 KEKW cool story bruh
Don't forget brother that History is written and agreed upon the victors.
A lot of time so called History is not the documantation of actual events that took place but some facts are twisted and turned to the favor of the victor of any conflict. I don't claim that all of History is false but that some facts that actually happened are not written.
New series the fall of NATO in world war3
I'm an English woman who has lived in Bulgaria for the past 17 years , the balkan people are so lovely, if the bloody politicians left our small villages alone and treated the rest of the world with the ideology of live and let live the whole world would be a better place.just be happy with what you have in the small amount of time that we have granted to us on this our earth, the only one we have !! Life and earth!, JUST STOP THE WAR AGAINST UKRAINE AND THE WORLD.🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
RUclips Carl Sagan - Pale Blue Dot.
Well said, we are all the same, all human, why the need for borders. We need a central "government" to collect taxes for infrastructure in each area, but there is no reason to fight the people next door, they pay for the roads in their area, we pay for the roads in ours.
We are still little tribes fighting the tribe just down the road because their god totem is different to our god totem.
The only difference is that the god totem now is money.
Z
M
E hz z try e lol k you tGx m he
Eggy we
am
S TV f x TV z get fixed TV e
Z
M to z hi e
See p eggy e y y r xgzv edit y rule set ety
M
G edge
Z
M to z hi e
See p eggy e y y r xgzv edit y rule set ety
M
G edge
Thank you for presenting this important documentary. I am an American who knows next to nothing of this history. Given what we are ALL going through on the planet this offers much food for new thought.
I am about half way thru this documentary and have just started sobbing at what these populations have suffered at the hands of corrupt rulers, and the consequences of hatred and prejudice of any kind.
At 75 I hope to survive long enough to see the world come to new revelations and respect for each other/our fellow human beings. I pray that new leaders respectful of life on planet earth will prevail.
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment.
I'm agree and praying too
@@DWDocumentary I see many times this documentary ,for my interpretation not avoid desinformation of two sides.Just prouve who New complex soviet union recriere .That to be up of poppet of person president Vladimir Putin.Who earn with destroy of country from ukreine and russia ? Why don't happen with corporations banks from United states when invasion against Afheganistan and iraq?
@@karinaemelie1665 just praying won't help, instead people should work for the peace we deserve. It's always just prayers, but actually doing something? Why not that? That is what is needed!
Don't that who is truth,giant country but Without freedom.
If Russians living in non-Russian former Soviet republics felt badly when the USSR dissolved, imagine how badly the people in those republics felt when the Russian imperialists Sovietized them.
No one cares, everyone cares about strong, aggressive and cruel. You may experienced this at your school, job and some experiences even in their own families. Much like DW cited at the beginning current mass murderer not any leader of those republics.
I'm from Brazil and I really appreciate the work of DW. It is so deep and accurate
maria go home
@@RR-mo5ey no.
@@RR-mo5ey what?
@@gtPacheko 😀
Vixe... eu achei bem legal também, mas se uma brasileira, educada por Paulo Freire e pelo MEC marxista, tá dizendo que é “accurate”, agora tô na dúvida…
"Russians should be proud of their military..." Lol! That didn't age well.
The little man in charge is fuming with rage his military "might" turned out to be a myth.
Would love to see Mr. Belov @14:45 show the same level of empathy for non-Russians who woke up one day in the Soviet Union after Stalin redrew the map.
Exactly
He’d say it was a “necessary change & the people adjusted”. 😒
nonono, don't ruin the narative :) russia is nice, just misunderstood #@%!#^$%@$^!$#%$%
@@bghone7044 Stalin ain’t even Russian
Excellent documentary. But, what is that walking across the square at 52:16? I genuinely have no idea.
My god, I just took a look.. is it invisible man ???
Thanks, probably DW has the best coverage right now on the war. Your is absolutely the most objective and with the least prejudices. And this documentary is the proof. The truth stands most of times in the middle.
Germany always tried to have ok relationships with Russia.
But Germans are now fed up with Russia invading Ukraine.
@@sollte1239 well no. Our gov got kinda "forced" to step in. Right now the sanctions are crushing our economy
Damn DW you guys put together a great documentary. Very surprised at the truth on both sides... you guys didn't just slam Russia and say how bad Russia is, you really broke things down. Germany after WWII has always intrigued me because it seems like Russia and America basically just split the spoils of war.
It is very biased.
@@Squee.1366 Guess your observation depends on your own political bias.
Каждый видит то что ему показывают ! Про германию - об америке и не может идти речь ......
@@gustavmukki3165 My bias? But of course.
Talking about Karabakh. Why don't mention it initially was annexed from Azerbaijan by Armenia 30 years ago?
About Crimea. What elections they are talking about? There was so called "referendum", hastily organized in two weeks after occupation and against Ukrainian laws.
And so on...
There is lot of misinformation in this "documentary".
@@Squee.1366 Absolutely! Thank you for reminding me! ‘Elections in Crimea’ … are you from the planet Earth? There was fake election, conducted in few days, with limited questions, against Ukrainian law, under the guns of the terrorists. This is so bizarre mistake for real journalism.. Im shocked, Deutsche Welle…
I have been watching DW bias reports and documentaries on China but is very surprised by this well balanced documentary on Russia. It has allowed the Russians side to present their views and seems sympathetic to Russians sufferings like the millions of Russians who found they are at the wrong side of the borders overnight after the break up of the USSR.
GOOD
DW Documentaries getting better and better 🔥
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Be sure to check out our channel for more content.
In the mid-70s when I first joined the military, everything was about the USSR. Our tactics were based on the attack by the Soviet Union into Europe. In the mid-eighties it got hotter and hotter and the USSR was blatant in every regard. But on December 26th 1991, a huge relief came. The fall of the USSR, by this time I was ready to retire. I remember mentioning to the new recruits, the russians will never let the countries that separated from them ever go. Someday they will attack those countries. I remember making those comments in September of 1993.
I grew up next to the ConocoPhillips refinery in Ponca City,OK...
We were #3 on their cold war hitlist in country because we supplied lots of petro to the military and everyone around the middle America region....I remember the sigh of relief when we all knew the bomb drills were over....We still dodge twisters by the half dozen a year here,but at least we weren't looking over shoulder like we are now,again....
The next documentary will be "America: The rise and bitter fall of the worlds final superpower". 😁
@@dead_on_departure The next documentary gonna be sth like this "How vodka and meldonium sank the former empire"
@@dead_on_departure "China: The new superpower." Without human rights, lowpay, no medical benefits so on.
@@dead_on_departure America the final super power, what about China?
Great documentary. Thanks for making and posting it. The US TV networks used to make similar docs, but not today.
To complex still not enough for a full Documentary some willing or remembering or wishing Soviet time others doing their best to rise up their living standard… and much more on and on. One this is for certain regardless of opinion russia or the will of the people and some other states want a United country ones again just by looking at the people’s will regardless of government. Love for thier country and cultural values complex but really conflicting of a spiral fate.
@aola wili raise standards of living in USA???😅 Usa people never experienced communism. They have always lived in freedom(except the slavery era) and they are not interested on what happen in another continent 30 yers ago. thats why they dont produce documentaries about Europe. They prefer Entertainment shows and I agree with them
@@vortolex ever heard of something called punctuation? Try it some day! Thx in advance 😁
I love to watch DW .....love from India 🇮🇳... Whenever I want to understand things without bias I watch DW......we love your channel
Thanks for watching and for the support! We're glad you like our content. :)
👍🏻 It is a great channel. I'm from the US, and catch it when I can.
From American. We love India!
@@margotdourand2507 we too love USA. Great friend of India 🇮🇳...... Great democracy
@@Anup_BHU Yes! ☺
"The collapse of the Soviet Union is the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th Century." - Putin
Me: Because it has allowed you to rise to power.
YeH clown😮
Very informative and deep quality doc as DW usually do. Thanks for posting! Gonna share with my studentes and friends.
Thanks for the positive feedback. We appreciate it!
Well done. Now do an unbiased documentary on Biden's crackhead son, laptop and bussiness deals and how they may have connected to biden while he was VP under Obama.
The Channel dw have told of holocaust did by Stalin against other people .
Russia might not have colonized countries in Africa or the Americas, but they colonized the countries around them after the fall of the tzar. The collapse of the soviet union meant the freedom of these colonies from Russia, but unlike other colonial powers, their citizens didn't return enmass to the mother country. This is where the problem comes in, there are too many Russians left in these ex colonies. Putin think or try now to bring these colonies back under Russian control, instead of just bringing back home the Russian people from these countries.
These countries were all part of the Russian empire before the fall of the Tzar.Stalin forcibly removed whole sections of a countries citizens and replaced them with Russians The Crimea is the best example
@@davidboskett5581 Most not willingly ,they were conquered into the russian empire.
Two-faced point of view
What about Texas
What about Hawai
What about Falklands
What about war in Panama/Iraq
What about war in Yugoslavia, only Serbia guilt... What about ustasi...
What about ex-nazis which were living in US and Canada aft ww2
What about nowadays nazis in Latvia/Litva
What about Blinken's denial of negotiation process in Switzerland
What about Minsk agreements...
If you really wants to avoid wars stop being selfish...
Ohhh... Russia is "evil"... Europe is "democracy"....... This european "democrats" have bombed Yugoslavia when it refused to join NATO. Ukraine is a new Yugoslavia.... doped with weapons and angry rusophobic progaganda. Dejavu?
@@Crog2 No one bombed Serbia for refusing to join Nato ,they were bombed for genocide against Bosnian muslims. At least tell the truth.
The day planet earth will become one nation, no borders, and everyone taking care of each other... peace
Lol that day will never come until Jesus Christ comeback.
Never
Thats unrealistic.
Yes the day when nations will not fight each other and peace reign will only come from a Supernatural Power;the creator of the universe, and we are not very far from achieving. Holy Scripture don't lie, will come through. Have faith 🙏 it will happen.
😂. Not while we have Islam on the planet
2021- to test Nato - would be a stupid idea
2022 - let's test Ukraine
2023 - where we can find more prisoners?
2024 - how can we prevent collapse of Ruzzia?
Russia has no chance of internal collapse as nobody wants independance now. No country will ever dare invade Russia cuz the Tsar bomba can literally destroy half of Europe, not mentioning the fact that it has more nukes than every other country combined
Chomsky would be proud of your very tactical choice of words when translating from Russian. I caught two instances of mistranslation to the point of getting it backwards: "the Yeltsin coup" was translated as "the Yeltsin era", and "they have no heart" was translated as "they have no head". Needless to say, I totally trust you now. Bravo!
Such verbosity. Very Chomsky of you.
Don't be surprised, it's not like DW is not biased. It also spread some negative propaganda in some of it's videos/documentaries when speaking of anything Russian.
@@guruoflove3083 I take it your either a properganda troll contractor or a person who is going to join the military 😆 🤣 😂 Senators , elites stock market investments in the military industrial complexes must be on it's way up .
@@roybatty6857 I'm neither a Deep State Satanic Marxist like your group of friends NOR their controlled opposition which you've aptly named in your last post... besides the main gist expressed, which is you take it.
@@roybatty6857 EVERYBODY Knows...
20:28: "My generation are told that we don't know what freedom is because we never lived in a country without freedom.... we can't appreciate what freedom means." This is a problem in America, as well.
A few hours ago RT put out a documentary about the 2014 invasion; now DW is putting out thier own documentary. How interesting this is to observe.
Please on please share a link to RT. I want to watch some objective and calmly presented news again :(
I cant stand mainstream media more then 1 minute
well, a war is going on which almost everyone sees Russia as the wrong side. So, coincidence might be. However, let's say it is not a coincidence. Are the things they say lies?
This is propaganda war
@@RifetOkic you need vpn, it's censored
@@RifetOkic the choice is yours
As lithuanian i can for surely say that translation was correct word by word but not by meaninig conveyed by interviewees. I’m quite disappointed of DW because earlier I thought of them as responsible organisations to convey complex nuances of different cultures not to be simple and “dramatic”
"On the Soviet times, everyone was equal. Rich and poor were equal." Biggest lie ever spread about communism. Whoever says that was a rich guy on that period and benefited. Whoever spits on those times, was a poor person. But the worst was the fact that the poor were unable to leave your "poorness" without the approval of communist party. And if you complained about it, the communist party got a funny view on you like "oh you think independent? you think better than the rest? do you now?" and get sent to gulags for forced labor to "rethink" your independent views.
Awesome and brilliant documentary 👌 Gives me a much better understanding of what is going on. Well done DW.
Thanks for watching. We try to cover a broad spectrum of important and often difficult global issues and we really appreciate your positive feedback. We upload documentaries regularly so don’t forget to subscribe.
Really. Have you check the State departments declassified documents, treaties and agreements? Do you know who gave up their territory for peace? Do you know which super power is constantly at war with someone on this planet? Do you know Monroe Doctrine? Do you know any leader who lost his son in front line? According to Vodka Cola Circa 1970s, these conflicts are just dramas to strip worker of their wealth and their rights.
Yes it is a war. A war between the elites and workers in every country. Does an American middle class worker having lost his jon and living on streets really cares for F35, MOABs and Conflicts around the world? Do not be fooled by media prostitutes.
24:18 lmfao cool story bruh how did it work out for you?
@@traleyton8057 lol according to who? As if you have a clue what's up :p
Russia could be great again once it realizes all countries have a right to greatness. Domination of others has nothing to do with greatness. Greatness is art, economy, industry and compassion. Greatness is being an effective part of a greater whole. Domination is the dream of underachievers.
Greatness is being an individual.
The "collapse" of Russia was fake news. The Vatican controls capitalism and communism and uses them like hammer and anvil to shape its global empire. You are now experiencing the conclusion of the 500 year effort by the Jesuits to undo the Protestant Reformation and constitutional republicanism.
On the same page a fellow CELT??
You obviously don't understand power politics
@@saulgoodman7858 Frankly, you're right. I haven't a clue but frankly at 70 years of age. I don't care. I'm fed up with buzz words, bullshit and bogus bureaucrats no matter no matter from where. People need a simple life, food, water, shelter. That's pretty much all. The politics can go rot as they have for ions.
A great documentary. But - it is not about the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is about the aftermath of the collapse. A misleading title of the documentary in my opinion.
MUCH respect for including Armenia's struggles in this documentary! Thank you!
Struggle is what you get when the first thing you do as an independent country to invade your newly independent neighbor.
Armenia deserved what she got.
Thanks for watching. We try to cover a broad spectrum of important and often difficult global issues and we really appreciate your positive feedback. We upload documentaries regularly so don’t forget to subscribe.
@@turkoman859 nobody told the azeris to bomb major cities in populated areas of artsakh after voting to be part of armenia no one said put the armenians trough the pogromms of baku and sumgait where armenians being ethnic cleansed in that area. And also artsakh was a autonomic armenian oblast in the soviet union. So get your facts together or learn some history. Not turkish brainwashed history.
Let’s not forget the “Armenian genocide” and other atrocities and crimes that were committed against Armenian people. 1 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Empire (nowTurkey) during WW1.
@@turkoman859 Google the Shusha Massacre and learn how the Azeris even inhabited that territory.
All Azeris are nothing but bitter Iranian Turks.
A very intresting documentary. It is helping me with my understanding of Russia, it's culture and history as well as the people and their beliefs. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for watching, Lynda.
I knew about this 40 years ago..people listen to public schools and universities too much. Communism/socialism/nazism is ALL evil!
@@ernies8828 you know those are 2 different political spectrums right?
@@justinhearst --yeah, it is called right and wrong :)
Excellent documentary as always!! Very few news channels in the world can keep up to this....❤
Thank you for watching and your positive feedback!
Dw Rocks ❤❤❤
@Legalize Raping Russian Broads In America from which objective lenses are you being so Anti Putin and Anti - Russia?
@Legalize Raping Russian Broads In America Your name says everything about you. You should be in jail. A disgusting entitled American warmonger who's country has invaded murdered and robbed country after country endlessly since it started 700 years ago.
@@sjonm Look at his name and you'll know why!😝
Interesting/informative/entertaining. Good video & oration enabling viewers to better understand what/whom the orator was describing describing. Special thanks to the guest speakers sharing personal information/life’s activities & experiences. Making this documentary more authentic and possible. Disillusioned Vladimir’s invasion of the Ukraine 🇺🇦 Ended up being an embarrassment not making it a short military endeavor.
And you have mistaken about Hungary, Czechia and Poland. They joined NATO in 1999 (for some sources 1998) not in 2004 when Lithuania joined. But in 2004 HU, CZ and PO joined the EU.
Ukraine is finally a democracy and people are proud of their country. Russia coerces it's citizens and keeps them deliberately ignorant. How is that separation a catastrophe?
By democracy you mean forcing a democratically elected president out with the help of foreign countries and installing a puppet in its place who sensors and kills anyone that goes against its narrative?
@@psychout3481 I think the resilience of the Ukrainians we see now during the war showd us which side they actually prefer. So if you say that the current government of Ukraine is a puppet, then you are wrong. Look at the support their government has.
@Artoria Pendragon Yankovich was neutral, but was without doubt a puppet of the Ukrainian oligarchs, while Poroshenko was literally a puppet of the West.
@@Whodey-AJ Ukrainians are leaving Ukraine from all sides, towards Poland, Belarus and even Russia. Tells you exactly how the Ukrainians feel about the war. And there isn't much resilience per se when the war is being fought by foreign mercenaries, followed by released prisoners, and their neo-Nazi group, while countless of Ukrainian armies are surrendering to Russian armies.
What support does the Ukrainian president has? One just has to look at the comments that the Ukrainian themselves leave behind on his daily press conferences or his "movies" he uploaded on RUclips on how they regret for voting for him.
Just before the war, his approval rating were falling. To quote the media, days before the war, "According to a poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, only 30 per cent of the country’s people want Zelenskyy to run for a second term and even fewer, 23 per cent, would vote for him."
He came in with the promise to eradicate corruption and solve the Donbas issue, and he ended up with a country with uncontrolled corruption, at war with Russia, and he himself was found to be involved in corruption with hundreds of millions stashed in foreign tax heavens.
Watching from Nairobi Kenya 🇰🇪 congratulations to DW doc team thumbs up for you and continue with the hard work we appreciate 👍
This Russian guy talking about NATO and Russia not wanting to go to war. Well this hasn’t aged so well.
43:51 wise man. Humanity above everything else.
Exactly, I was happy he mentioned it. I thought he would say religion(Islam) is important first as others. People should understand religion is just an idea we have been taught into from young.
What I was hoping for as we moved from the 20th to the 21st Century was an end to dictators and individuals or small groups controlling the populous of entire nations. Countries belong to their peoples, not to individuals, and the days of dictators, totalitarian regimes and ruling with an 'iron fist' should be consigned to history. We need to move forward and develop, not cling on to doctrines which have plagued mankind for hundreds of years.
You think America belongs to the people?! Democracy in 2022 is a farce. The idea sounds good but I'm not sure I see it executed anywhere today in it's true form. It doesn't matter where you live on planet earth. Every single country is ruled by a few people. None of them were elected.
sir you have been fooled , no nations on earth are ruled by the people . america’s elite have fooled the population into believing this fairy tail . the wealthy rule the middle and lower classes . we have no say in anything .
First, you need to identify if the UK is Kindom or Democracy... How it can be both??
@@dukenukem7043 Agree bro..
@@dukenukem7043 Really ? you have no say in what you eat ,wear, work, go to shop,movies you watch, what u drink and how you poop. people like you just love to exaggerate stuff.
Western countries are not perfect but most people in the west have certain rights, freedoms and decent standard of living ,much better than humanity ever had it and definitely much better than all communist countries.
Your channel is so neutral that it allows one to form their own feelings about situations. This channel is a gem 💎 and really should be the model.
really appreciate that my taxes as a german citizen are funding DW
Interesting and balanced documentary. One can only wonder if Russia put more of its GDP into improving infrastructure and less into expanding its military, conditions for ordinary Russians might be much better.
Sounds like something US should be focused on ie less military spending and more on its own people.
Exactly
RaydTassie It's not that easy . Just ask China . The west not forgiveany country they see as a competition. Ask Japan, Germany it's not about Human Right the goal is destruction of the competition and take the resources
@@bobbylow175 true. How much could be achieved by mankind if the billions wasted on war was used for peaceful purposes.
You could say this about a lot of countries america for one
I'm only 10 min in but it's already very interesting. Didn't even know about the Armenia and Azerbaijan war and the Russian peace keepers. It's such a difficult region. I hope it all turns out well and that it isn't wishful thinking.
Its must be the only example, if true.. Generations sent to Syberia throughout history would be of different opinion and not call russians liberators at all. Just an example of the methods.
@@hamzak6437 what you are talking about, where are you from eu or middle east or where?
"Peacekeeper" is a self-labelkws Russian moniker
@@hamzak6437 ok i will be not discussing with it, if i may. But rest assured that out of these two, russia is by far worse. at least for Poles. Pls check how it looked throughout history. Check femine on Ukraine by Stalin, check Soviet Gulag, Siberia exile sites or Katyn massacre or Ribbentrop Molotov Pact, Communism. Great neighbor, dont you think? They simply have nothing to offer to civilized world, just war, troops, cheap display of so called power...and i only asked to let's say, take informed guess, if you may know these terms...
@@hamzak6437 do you really think it is world's illusion what is happening now or russia is just bandits attacking unprovoked, shelling cities and people there? 500k people fled already.
Thank you for the honest and unbiased reporting on this complex topic. This is journalism at its pinnacle.
In ten years you can do the same documentary about the European Union "The end of a superpower that never was over". I'm looking forward to it.
I have to agree, this is a balanced and non partial documentary, well done. Also, very well put together.
After watching the whole documentary my conclusion is that all people who was talking in this documentary just have personal perception, doesn't mean that their point of view are accurate. For me it was a catostrophy the creation ofSoviet Union, because it was impost for Russia and only benefited them. I know people were sick of the Russians presence in their countries. They feel liberated when it was dissolved. Slava Ukraine!!!
I gree with you the Soviet Union was like a forced marriage with no true love that is why they broke up...
you say that and ignore the fact that most of present day territories of ukraine were given by russian tsars and later by the soviet union to vladamir lenin.
so i agree to slava ukraine but that ukraine is nonetheless negligible
What the system Wanted is rebuild an New soviet union in global scale,see canadian and Australia not have difference of dictator country from China and russia.
Totally agree. The whole Soviet Union was as bad if not worse than the Russian Empire. Putin is living a past we'd all like to 4get. It's the 21st century. Catch up Putin.
@@ajitavasarkar6765 Ukraine was a unified Kingdom long b4 Russia sadly took control of it. Putin has done nothing for the Russians except make himself a Tsar, his mafia terrorizes on his orders & he gets rich. A bullet between the eyes is the solution for Russia.
Two things I love, DW documentaries and anything Soviet related, like a kid at Christmas when I saw this was uploaded
Same here. I hate Putin but I’m just fascinated by Russia’s history. I was in St. Petersburg and Moscow in 2013 and it’s like 2 different countries (St. Petersburg is more liberal). Moscow is very scary (or perhaps just my imagination)!
we residents of Donbass did not recognize the people who illegally seized power in Kyiv in 2014, with the help of Europe and the USA. Please tell the true story
it wasn't illegal,cry about it degenerate
The greatest tragedy is that Russia never returned home to Europe.
Agreed
Because Russia it's self is bigger than whole Europe... 😜
Russia since its formation has always been part of Europe.
Russia is a mix of Europe and Asia and even with their alliances from the seven years war, napoleon, and ww1, the average westerner from Europe and America never respected the ruskies, even waging a solo war in Crimea in 1854. They always see Eastern Slavs as weird.
Russia is ethnically too diverse to even be a single country. That is its problem. You cannot draw imaginary lines on a map, and then tell people on each side of the line, that they are different people.
15:15 "The dissolution of the USSR was unconstitutional!"
32:15 "Crimea voted for independence, even if it wasn't done according to standards."
Same guy?
Interesting to learn about this part of the world. Thanks DW for highlighting the beauty and complexity of humanity. Much appreciated from South Africa
Any white farmers massacred lately? Or is the goal achieved..?
Great documentary, it gave us an in depth knowledge of the international politics
Thanks a lot for watching and taking the time to comment!
DW has been my favorite news channel lately, you guys are amazing keep up the good work.
Brilliant documentary. I learned so much and the edits and sound designs were top notch. VERY well done. 🏆
Thanks for watching and for the positive feedback, Benn!
It is one of the most biased and propaganda documentaries one can watch. Beware.
“The idea that Russia wants to test NATOs readiness and thereby prove its incapability is in my opinion fantasy…” wow that aged well
I know right? Interesting to watch this in 2022 after Ukraine’s invasion. Hope that there will be more documentaries on the future and not the end because of a Third World War. Europe has a very complicated past.
23:23 "complete" fantasy... agreed... his statement really didn't age well at all, but not surprising
@Fuzzy Chocolate ~ history is always complex
What do you mean? Has Russia attacked NATO? Not to my knowledge.
@@chance2716 The US and England promised in writing to defend the Ukraine if they were ever attacked. That is how they got them to give up all their nuclear weapons after the USSR collapsed. NATO is proving it has no teeth. Now China and everyone else are going to start invading countries every year or two. They will just rattle the nuclear sabre if anyone says anything.
@@jaydenp4975 thete will be no world left after Putin sets off his nuclear weapons on the world, only he will survive in his huge bunkers underground
I am aware that there are many reasons why the USSR collapsed but if we can point to one single reason, IMO it was the war in Afghanistan. At the height of that war, the Soviet Union was devoting 70% of the national budget to military spending and since the Soviet economy was heavily subsidized by the state (which owned almost all factors of production including the factories, farms and mines), there was not enough money left over to provide for other sectors of the economy. By the time that war ended in 1989, it was too late to save the country.
very true. the end of that war was the start of the soviet union's decline. That war was so costly, and achieved nothing
"But when you look at it from a rational perspective it's not at all clear why Russia would attack Poland or Baltic countries."
Meanwhile March 2022: Federal russian TV channels broadcast discussions about getting Warsaw.
Yep, journalism as it is.
Loved every minute of this. I actually watched it thrice. It was balanced, informative and very easy to follow. For people not living in Europe or who have lukewarm knowledge of history like myself, this was absorbing and made me curious to do more research on my own. Well done to the writers, producers.
Well said!
You truly have a 'lukewarm' knowledge if you think DW is going to give you a balanced view on Russia :D
It's like Aljazeer making a documentary on the 'fall of US' and telling you it's a balanced view of the US.
@@lawrencejustin8136 thankyou Mr negative
@@nickywilliams8540 You are welcome Mrs gullible.
@@lawrencejustin8136 tf you think u are
Pretty soon this will need a part 2
hey you: yes indeed! We can only hope Ukraine will defeat the Russian bully Putin.
@alexvlasny9755 If Russia is invaded, you wont have a head and arms to write this, The nuclear war that will be caused by that will lead to nothing but complete destruction, and that will never happen
Lol in your dreams
@@aniketverma2775don’t drink the tea, comrade 🙃
@alexvlasny9755along with USA, Europe.
It'll show how nuclear war due to western provocation towards Russian borders destroyed whole world and a new organisation will be formed like UN which will prevent any country from becoming super power like today's USA.
The USSR was never a superpower, they bluffed everyone. They have never successfully projected any power outside their border except against civilians.
Excellent synopsis.
Shame the corruption prevented such opportunities.
I no woe woe the wrath 😮😮😮
At 23.00 the Russian journalist saying that is not rational to think that Russia would attack any country. I laughed a lot at that statement 😂😂😂
Well it is not rational to think that, even if it happened.
Yeah....at the end, this one commentator said Russians have learned to deal with, and tell government what government wants to hear....so the Russians people can go back and live their normal life.
That was what I felt that commentator was doing, saying it's not rational to think Russia would attack other countries. He was just saying publicly what Russia would want to hear.
It seemed other commentators did the same thing.
He is correct. Ukraine started this war in 2014 by attacking Russian civilians of Donbass and Lugansk.
@@ik7584 Yeah, right!! Sure they did...🤣😂!!
I have friends in Lugansk!!! They didn't attack Russian citizens. Lugansk was getting hit my Russian artillery. My friend was bringing in medical supplies. As we're others. And got stopped by Russian separatists. Some of those bringing in medical supplies. Were killed by Russian separatists/soldiers at road blocks.
So no....what you're saying is absolutely not true. And even know....there are Russian speaking people in theceastern regions. But even they don't want the Russians there, invading Ukraine.
And it was also, Russian separatists, who turned out to be 3 Russian soldiers; and a Ukranian....Russian Separatist. Who took a Russian Missile launcher from a Russian military base, into Ukraine. And used it, to shoot down the Malyasian Airliner, flying from Holland. Killing 298 people.
The perpetrators were identified....and prosecuted in Holland.
Thanks DW. As an African (not American) trying to understand the West, especially Europe, with its on-going conflict.
Thank you for watching, Mike! :)
You can always ask me. I'm European :D
If u trying to understand the west as an African then read bout all the atrocities the west has done to African countries
@@jojoperez2610 I know they done alot of stupid stuff, expecially the US. The European union has not been so involded. But did the West ever conqour any land? US has won and has done alot of stuff. But they never take land. . . This is a very important fact. . . . Ofcourse they done it earlier, but not in the modern era.
@@mikethk the EU has never engaged in military adventures but European countries like Spain, France, England, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium and to a lesser extent Italy and Germany all engaged in building empires based on colonies in other continents. The US has engaged in military adventures with interventions in Latin and South America, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Treachery ended Soviet Union.
Breaks my heart.😢😢😭😭💔💔
Treachery by its people comrade.
It's only fitting as it was created on brute force.
Soviet Union was a criminal state a colonial power under the banner of communism. Go back to your cows.
As someone who grew up in the former soviet block... to put it lightly.... it was a messy divorce. For countries that were fundamentally found on principles of autocracy/authoritarianism and collectivism for hundreds of years to be suddenly thrown into foreign (to them) concepts such as democracy, individualism and free market economics, I'm not sure what else was/is to be expected. Although all of this is well known, I fear it's little understood.
As someone from Western Europe, I have similarly thought that Russians have, sadly, really only known feudalism, absolute monarchy and dictatorship and that the missed opportunities following the end of communism and return of authoritarianism while obviously tragic are not surprising. From a rotten monarchy through the brutality of communism to the kleptocracy of post-Soviet Russia, the country has not enjoyed freedom, democracy or rule of law and the creation of oligarch fortunes resulted from this and the economic illiteracy resulting from 70 years of communism. The building of these fortunes through the acquisition of state resources and impoverishment of the masses is redolent of what happened in variously Venezuela, OPEC countries and Nigeria and in contrast to Norway. When the Soviet Union broke up there was a brief window of opportunity for Russia to democratise. While initially the West when Kohl and Bush I were in power tried to engage and didn’t gloat about winning the Cold War, by the time Bush II was in power hubris had set in, Russia was ignored and the US engaged in adventures that sent signals to Russia about using military power. If you have it you use it. Putin’s war in Ukraine has reintroduced a Cold War with the west that serves nobody’s interests and leaves unanswered the question of whether China values more it’s relationship of eternal friendship with Russia based on shared authoritarian values or doing business with the West which economically is worth far more. China has watched aghast at what happened as a result of Glasnost and Perestroika. Realising that you could not simultaneously make economic reforms and introduce democracy they opted for economic reform which has led to prosperity and created an educated and informed middle class that coexists with repression and authoritarianism. China is aghast at the military failure of Putin in Russia. They had hoped for a quick victory, perhaps a breakup of NATO and further decline of the West. For them the question is whether their shared authoritarian values mean they will support Putin or use their influence to put an end to the conflict to avoid damage to a world order that suits them.
@@patrickmccutcheon9361best comment on this thread ;) god if everyone was as well educated as you, I think we would be leaving in a much better world! cheers from Quebec, Canada!
@@jean-phil Ayn Rand (Alissa Zinowjewna Rosenbaum) was a Russian. What explain a lot about Objectivism (aka Great Man Theory). She would love Putin and Trump.
People can only be free if they are allowed to fight corruption.
That’s the bottom line.
Do you know what is the best way to get rid of “corruption” ? Legalizing it! The riches and powers in America have set up successful examples 😂
@@lisashung9442 there will always be corruption, at least in America people don't get locked up for speaking out against corruption. Our government doesn't shut down media because they are trying to tell us anything, right or wrong. What are the laws you claim are here in America that legalize corruption?
@@randyhavard6084 political donation is bribe but it is legal so nobody can fight it... lol
@@xponen you fight it by voting for the other people. No system is perfect because people aren't perfect and people run the system. It's all about what system is best, and a dictatorship has always been worse than a Democratic system
Those Russian “journalists” predictions about Russia not attacking another country didn’t age very well
Very brutal and uncivilized areas
Given that Putin gave a personal promise not to invade Ukraine in exchange for their nuclear weapons didn't age well, either
@@sambassil7825 what? Are you saying you’re in support of the attacking of a sovereign nation state?
they said russia wouldn't attack a nato country, ukraine isn't a nato country , have you not being following whats going on at all
The same logic applies to America…… sometimes even worse……because America doesn’t even bother to pretend, they just attack……😂
This documentary needs a part 2: where are we today?
As a russian I appreciate this documentary. Maybe not exactly but enough accurate. This is how it feels. Thank you DW
Нет войне!
Never again communism: alcoholism, smoking, ethnic conflicts, abortion.....In the USSR, there was only freedom for the genocidal industries of alcohol and tobacco. And Lenin and Stalin are the main culprits for the Russian/Ukrainian war, as they donated Russian territories to Ukraine. Therefore, Lenin's mausoleum and Stalin's bust must be removed from Red Square. In short, only the communists thought that the Soviet Empire would be eternal.
Да войне
что если война придет в твой дом?
Looks like some one (behind this video) learnt some lessons. This is what we viewers want: balanced reporting! Afterall its a global world, we've been everywhere, we have enough knowledge about different countries.
Good job!
Yeah, definitely better than all the western main propaganda channels.
Indeed, not all are well knowledge such as the young generation however thanks to the internet and public libraries around the world digital or physical may increase in education only those worthy of understanding then seen the light of a bright future, some would fall shortly with no understanding weak. Hopes for a better future are lay to the young but to green to handle the weight of a entire nation or country challenges and needs. Peace :3
@@Koloviv48i you know this video is from a public broadcast in Germany ? so basically a "western channel", I don't know where you live but here in Canada, our TV is not "propaganda", it says basically the same thing as in this video and the many others I can view on RUclips and elsewhere on Internet. Not like the people living under authoritarian regimes where they block many western sources of information.
My father was dancing when he saw USSR disintegration on TV
@@uwotm8560 millions did, and are still able to do so!
Except for the ordinary ignorant Russian citizen!
Wonder why they are so complacent..
Those were not "new" states that were formed after collapse of soviet union, those were country's regaining their freedom, after occupation.
EXACTLY
The end of the Soviet Union was basically colonies declaring independence from a colonial empire.
This documentary is a masterplan,I learnt so much about The Collapse of the Soviet Union and the Narrator is amazing,plz do the Collapse of Yugoslavia documentary
Having Russian connection, I’d say this video is quite accurate and well balanced. Thank you for making this.
Slovenia, as one of the republics of the former Yugoslavia, was never part of the Warsaw Pact. It was part of the non-aligned pact.
@Lord Typesalot Thats really just a anti-communist western view. What do you think will happen now that China has a near monopoly on cheap labor producing anything, and Russia/China are de-coupling from the dollar. Sounds like they can rip up that check.
@Lord Typesalot binnngggoooo! When the Soviet Union fell. Yugoslavia served no purpose and boom, we all know how that one turned out
Very good piece of history. I enjoyed and learned a lot from this program.
Thank you.
This map need to be corrected.Countries like Albania,Bulgaria ,Romania,Jugoslavia,Checkoslovakia,Hungaria and GDR was never been part of the Soviet Union but over the Soviet infuence mostly.
Astonishing that a movie called "the end of a superpower - collapse of USSR" actually tells close to nothing how it collapsed and what where the reasons behind that fall.
It's western propaganda what else can you expect from them?
May be you should really watch it !