Matthias Schwarzer
Matthias Schwarzer
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The EU's "most dangerous Border Area"
The Suwalki Gap is a small strip of the European Union that lies like a sandwich between Russia's exclave Kaliningrad and Belarus. Some people call the place the "most dangerous border area in the EU" - because the Suwalki Gap is considered a geographical weak point for NATO. In this video I take a trip through the border area with Russia, discover many relics of the past and show life along the barbed wire fences.
A film by Matthias Schwarzer.
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The comment section of this video is moderated. Learn more about it here:
www.patreon.com/posts/community-for-my-109966833
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The addresses of the places and accommodation tipps:
www.patreon.com/posts/tips-for-trip-to-114641496
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Sources for the video:
Suwałki Gap: Europe's most dangerous place? (MDR, German):
www.mdr.de/nachrichten/welt/osteuropa/politik/suwalki-luecke-gap-ukraine-russland-belarus-krieg-nato-100.html
The most dangerous place in the world (Politico):
www.politico.eu/article/suwalki-gap-russia-war-nato-lithuania-poland-border/
Lithuania's independence from the Soviet Union (German):
www.bpb.de/kurz-knapp/hintergrund-aktuell/202394/litauen-30-jahre-unabhaengigkeit-von-der-sowjetunion/
Human chain through the Baltic States (German):
www.bpb.de/kurz-knapp/hintergrund-aktuell/295351/vor-30-jahren-menschenkette-baltischer-weg/
Lithuania's relationship with EU:
www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2142644/lithuanians-among-most-enthusiastic-about-eu-amid-surging-far-right-wave
The story of Schönbruch/Szczurkowo (German):
ostpreussen.net/2021/03/21/schonbruch/
Current situation in Szczurkowo (MDR, German):
www.mdr.de/nachrichten/welt/osteuropa/land-leute/polen-grenze-kaliningrad-100.html
How Kaliningrad came into being (Deutschlandfunk Kultur, German):
www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/als-teile-ostpreussens-zum-russischen-kaliningrad-wurden-100.html
More on the photography ban (Gazeta Prawna, Polish):
www.gazetaprawna.pl/wiadomosci/kraj/artykuly/9482166,zakaz-fotografowania-obiektow-strategicznych-niekonstytucyjny-rpo-int.html
Report on the new border in Vistyits including private stories of the residents (Lithuanian, tv3):
www.tv3.lt/naujiena/projektai/krantas-musu-vanduo-rusu-n405566
Border agreement between Russia and Lithuania including new regulations in Vistytis:
e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/TAIS.90743
Russia stations missiles in Kaliningrad (Zeit, German):
www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2016-10/kaliningrad-russland-raketen-nato-polen-litauen
Poland strengthens border with Kaliningrad (Euronews, German):
de.euronews.com/2023/04/30/polen-verstarkt-grenze-zu-russischer-enklave-kaliningrad
Refugees as a weapon - more about hybrid warfare (taz, German):
taz.de/Gefluechtete-als-Waffe/!6012528/
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patreon.com/MatthiasSchwarzerEnglish
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ua-cam.com/channels/gphRasWZOVmuqd4lvtWyYA.htmljoin
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Intro song:
MÆT - Start Again
Music:
Epidemic Sound
#suwałki #suwalki #suwalkigap #border #poland #russia #kaliningrad #lithuania #geography
Переглядів: 20 913

Відео

Sinking of the MS Estonia: What happened in the Baltic Sea?
Переглядів 16 тис.Місяць тому
It is one of the worst shipping disasters of all time - and one of the most mysterious. On September 28, 1994, the car ferry MS Estonia sank in the middle of the Baltic Sea. The reasons for the tragedy with 852 deaths have not yet been fully explained. What happened on the high seas that night 30 years ago? A journey to the place where the Estonia set sail - and where it should have arrived. A ...
Why Germans hate Subtitles
Переглядів 15 тис.3 місяці тому
If you turn on the TV in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and many other European countries, English-language films and series are most likely broadcast in the original language with added subtitles. In my home country, Germany, however, things are completely different: Europe's largest voice acting industry has developed here - and almost every film and series is meticulously translated into G...
Why Walmart failed in Europe
Переглядів 957 тис.3 місяці тому
The US supermarket chain Walmart is the most successful company in the world. But it also has a problem: its concept works particularly well in the United States of America, where it was invented - in Europe, however, a planned expansion failed miserably around 20 years ago. Why? Let's find out. A film by Matthias Schwarzer Sources for the video: Why Walmart failed in Germany (Spiegel, German l...
The Village that lies in two Countries
Переглядів 28 тис.6 місяців тому
There is an unusual village on the German-Dutch border. Or rather: two villages? In fact, you can't really tell - because the state border runs directly along the village street. On one side the houses are Dutch, on the other German. And if you don't pay close attention, you won't even notice which country you are in. Time to take a closer look at this curiosity. A film by Matthias Schwarzer. D...
Why you should never park under this Skyscraper
Переглядів 1,4 тис.7 місяців тому
The British capital London is known for its historic buildings. In recent years, however, new skyscrapers have been changing the skyline. One of them is in the city's financial district. The so called "Walkie-Talkie" building is infamous for its curved design and its sky garden. However, the futuristic high-rise has sparked discussions for another reason. Shortly after its construction, unusual...
Why US Trucks have a "Nose" (and European ones don't)
Переглядів 11 тис.8 місяців тому
You see them in films, in music videos - and of course live on the streets in the USA: huge trucks, significantly larger and longer than those in Europe. And another design element is characteristic of the trucks in the US: the long hood in front of the driver's cab. Why do US trucks have a “snout” - and European ones don’t? A film by Matthias Schwarzer. Sources for the video: Why US trucks hav...
Why McDonald's is green in Europe but red in the US
Переглядів 163 тис.9 місяців тому
There was a time when McDonald's restaurants all over the globe basically looked the same. And when you saw the huge red and yellow M logo you always knew what to expect. Today the situation is different: In Europe McDonald's buildings look like cafes today - no longer like fast food restaurants. And the company also changed its brand design in many countries: Instead of red and yellow McDonald...
Why Americans don't use WhatsApp (and why that's a Problem)
Переглядів 45 тис.10 місяців тому
Around 58 million people in my home country Germany use the messenger WhatsApp. The app has replaced what once used to be the SMS text message: almost everyone who owns a smartphone can also be reached via the WhatsApp messenger. But in the USA things are different: Meta's app never really caught on here - even though it was an American invention. And this development also brings some problems ...
Why there's an abandoned Ghost Town in Belgium
Переглядів 19 тис.Рік тому
There is a small village in the north of Belgium. Doel is its name, and at first glance it is a town like any other: it has a church, a cemetery, a historic windmill - and a nuclear power plant right next to it. But in fact, Doel is anything but normal: Doel is a ghost town. Most of the houses are run down and abandoned - and almost nobody lives here anymore. How did that happen? A film by Matt...
Why Sweden is so damn good at Pop Music
Переглядів 16 тис.Рік тому
Sweden is the only country besides the US and the UK that exports more music than it imports. Legendary bands like ABBA, Roxette and Ace of Base come from the small country in the north. The successful songwriter Max Martin wrote all the big hits of the nineties, DJ Avicii was also Swedish. And even the most successful streaming service Spotify was invented here. Why is this country so incredib...
How to switch a Country from left-hand Traffic to right-hand Traffic
Переглядів 403 тис.Рік тому
Did you know that Sweden used to drive on the left? In fact, this traffic system existed until the late 1960s - which led to all sorts of problems. So on September 3, 1967, all traffic was switched to right-hand traffic from one day to another. But how do you do something like that? Let's find out. A film by Matthias Schwarzer. Many thanks to the National Library of Sweden for allowing me to us...
How a small German Village killed Google Street View
Переглядів 777 тис.Рік тому
Google Street View exists since 2007 and is available today on almost every phone and in almost every European country. Only in Germany the situation is different: Here you will find huge blank spots on the map and only recordings that are up to 15 years old. How did that happen? Turns out: There is a quite funny story behind it, that I'm gonna tell you in today's video. A film by Matthias Schw...
Why the Windows XP Meadow no longer exists
Переглядів 14 тис.Рік тому
"Bliss" by Charles O'Rear is probably one of the most famous photos in the world. It shows a bright blue sky and a green meadow - its perfection and simplicity made the picture the default wallpaper of Windows XP. However, there is much more behind the motif: it is a place with a moving history. And a place that no longer exists in this form... A film by Matthias Schwarzer. How to get to the Wi...
Why the Netherlands have a Biking Culture (and other Countries don't)
Переглядів 28 тис.Рік тому
The Netherlands are full of bikes. In fact there are more bicycles in the Netherlands than residents - and in huge cities like Groningen, Utrecht or Amsterdam up to 70% of all journeys are made by bike. While in other countries like Germany riding a bike is always some kind of a near-death experience, the Dutch created a casual biking culture with a vast network of clearly marked and huge cycle...
How Malta lost its Bus Culture
Переглядів 11 тис.Рік тому
How Malta lost its Bus Culture
Why Denmark moved a whole Lighthouse
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Why Denmark moved a whole Lighthouse
Why there is a dry Riverbed in Málaga, Spain
Переглядів 3,7 тис.Рік тому
Why there is a dry Riverbed in Málaga, Spain
Why there are weird slow Cars all over Sweden
Переглядів 74 тис.Рік тому
Why there are weird slow Cars all over Sweden
The sad last Days of a German Ghost Town
Переглядів 17 тис.Рік тому
The sad last Days of a German Ghost Town
Weird Border: Is this Germany or the Netherlands?
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Weird Border: Is this Germany or the Netherlands?

КОМЕНТАРІ

  • @wagnercampos9080
    @wagnercampos9080 День тому

    Wallmart failed in Brazil too

  • @InMyBrz
    @InMyBrz День тому

    WALMART is HORRIBLE in so many ways We threw them out of Brasil too , they are too used to abusing their employees, paying shitty salaries that requires them to get a govt paycheck to offset the lousy pay There are an incredible amount of retired OLD people working there in the US Young people aren't interested I REFUSE to shop there when in the US, I shop at Carrefour here in Brasil and Fort Atacadista, Imperatriz, Koch and Angeloni

  • @karintippett753
    @karintippett753 День тому

    Much like how Target failed here in Canada. I only purchase one item at Walmart, but the coming tarifs should decrease Wally Marts presence in Canada, hopefully. They sell cr*p for less everyday.

  • @davidencoification
    @davidencoification День тому

    We germans act so uninterested and bland but then we have the most liberal and cucked political views...like letting 3 million illegal middle eastern immigrants into our country

  • @thatairplaneguy
    @thatairplaneguy День тому

    Few people like Walmart In the USA It’s just often our only option

  • @saralaerevu8735
    @saralaerevu8735 День тому

    19:30 in Sweden they have ads about how the employees go around the restaurants to pick up trash, they joined with a non-profit organisation Håll Sverige rent (the keep Sweden tidy foundation) and they claim they do recycle on thier website so oil ends up as biodiesel and all materials, packagings and so on get a new life too. Meanwhile the restaurants across country have had several cases against them not recycling packaging at all and they were fighting to keep the right to not having to recycle anything. Some get the court to agree with them that they indeed do not have to recycle and some had the court told them to actually recycle. But for a company that claims to recycle the franchise owners sure seem to do anything to not recycle. Such an ecologically aware company 😊

  • @tonycarl2002
    @tonycarl2002 День тому

    They put the American family owned store out of business. Thus killing the middle class.

  • @thomaspiki1012
    @thomaspiki1012 День тому

    who cares why

  • @deanronson6331
    @deanronson6331 2 дні тому

    I believe the main reason WM failed in Germany was the fact that the customers didn't have to rent their shopping carts or bring their own shopping bags with them, as is the custom at Aldi's or Lidl. Oh, I almost forgot: Germans were shocked to see all those employees and checkout stations in WM, compared to one or two in German-owned stores - if you can find them.

  • @sparky687
    @sparky687 2 дні тому

    So, what does this truly say about America v the rest of the world? They speak the same languages as large sections of the rest of the world does but culturally they are very different. I have an opinion and it is just mine but some things in the USA don’t sit right. Big business seems to have a stranglehold on certain aspects of everyday people's lives. To fail in so many other countries is .....interesting? Utopia would be getting all the best bits from around the world to come together in a single place. But I think that is fantasy?

  • @tommytraddles
    @tommytraddles 2 дні тому

    Great explanation. Shocking behaviour by Apple exploiting proprietary lock in and promoting social division and the sort of pathetic snobbery that promotes division and insecurity amongst status conscious people, especially teenagers who can't laugh it off as the absurdity it is.

  • @curtish.6900
    @curtish.6900 2 дні тому

    The concept of buying everything you could possibly need for a long while by making only one trip to one store is beyond European comprehension. Strange as hell, but hey it's their way

    • @thierrydesu
      @thierrydesu 2 дні тому

      Please stop being the typical American who talks about 'Europe' as if it were a single country, which is a marker of ignorance. As a Frenchman, I can find everywhere French department stores where I will be able to buy anything. French people even pushed the concept further: bigger than the supermarket, French created the hypermarket. And they are everywhere worldwide. The usa being a remote country, you have ni idea what's going on abroad.

    • @curtish.6900
      @curtish.6900 День тому

      @@thierrydesu Did I say it was one country? Now open your ears. I've lived in France (which food wise isn't the tastiest), England, and Germany and the shopping habits are all the same. So yes I mean Europe. There is nowhere in France where you get your car serviced, buy home improvement products, electronics, clothes, eyeglasses, drug prescriptions etc under one roof.

    • @thierrydesu
      @thierrydesu День тому

      @@curtish.6900 So you didn't notive department stores that are in no way different from Walmart?

  • @eldahalas7015
    @eldahalas7015 2 дні тому

    I guess there is culture shock for Americans.

  • @dr.johnnyfever9194
    @dr.johnnyfever9194 2 дні тому

    Except EU work practices is killing their own economy. Net zero energy, foolish concept. Good luck

  • @samosavideo5814
    @samosavideo5814 2 дні тому

    Dude, you should see how Aldi employees work in the US, just two or three max workers running back and forth from register to back of the store for low salary

  • @santiagosuarez3584
    @santiagosuarez3584 2 дні тому

    Dude, Walmart just have an American system of shopping, which is artificial and annoying that implies the car system. In Europe people like to walk and chat, and don't make too much effort just to grab some groceries or other shopping. There's also an experience when you shop, with walkable streets and generally just enjoy once they go out. Going to Walmart isn't enjoying the ride, it's just boring because people just drive, grab things, then go back to their house, like, what else they would do in U.S? That isn't bad, it's their culture (?), but in Europe is just different

  • @kazkazimierz1742
    @kazkazimierz1742 2 дні тому

    Target failed in Canada.

  • @haskobrahms559
    @haskobrahms559 3 дні тому

    Part of the failure were the outlets they bought. Wertkauf, Interspar etc. had a huge investment backlog. I visited a store in Jever in the early 2000's. An old Für Sie and later Interspar. The thing looked like from another century, everything felt ancient. The outlets were rubbish, that finished of real who overtook the garbage stores.

  • @marcellkatona2404
    @marcellkatona2404 3 дні тому

    It is not true that there aren't such big stores in Europe. In Eastern Europe there definitely are and they are very popular. In Hungary we have the exact same sized supercenters that Walmart has, selling the exact same range of products, but they are run by other companies called Tesco (a British company) and Auchan (a French company). They seem to do very well, of course they have unions, and the staff doesn't have to put fake smile on their faces, but other than that they are entirely the same as Walmart.

  • @foppo100
    @foppo100 3 дні тому

    Act normal in a shop and not the bullshit have a nice day.These people are forced to be phony not in Europe please.

  • @Zerpentsa6598
    @Zerpentsa6598 3 дні тому

    Costco needs to fail.

  • @miroslavzimcak3244
    @miroslavzimcak3244 3 дні тому

    Most funny part is that here is the iphoone that outdaded device Cause its not supported RCS till now.

  • @miroslavzimcak3244
    @miroslavzimcak3244 3 дні тому

    The problem was Apple doesnt support RCS.

  • @costumeink147
    @costumeink147 3 дні тому

    Is it true that they also tried to pay the German female employees less than the males employees?

  • @jb_makesgames2264
    @jb_makesgames2264 4 дні тому

    Not new - Target tried to expand into Canada and failed miserably - another example how Americans see everyone else through a very narrow lens of American ideas.

  • @peterliljebladh
    @peterliljebladh 4 дні тому

    You walk in with a brand new paycheck and walk out with a second 30-year mortgage.

  • @JimmyOhAnnrachain-ot5md
    @JimmyOhAnnrachain-ot5md 5 днів тому

    1:01 Is that a George sign outside that Walmart. I genuinely thought that was exclusive to Asda

  • @shvabzee
    @shvabzee 5 днів тому

    When you have motivational shit from company just remember you'll be underpaid

  • @juliangriffiths7298
    @juliangriffiths7298 6 днів тому

    What a great video. Made me laugh out loud. Yes, aren't "greeters" awful; I'd go out of my way to avoid them. And I wouldn't work for a company that made me undergo "motivational" sessions every day.

  • @Rikard_A
    @Rikard_A 6 днів тому

    Mcdonald is called the goldenseagull in Europe because of the logo and how we draw q bird flying.

  • @andreabarral7282
    @andreabarral7282 6 днів тому

    It's just industrial food? No fish counter, meat counter, fresh fruit and vegetables?

  • @kostyafedot551
    @kostyafedot551 6 днів тому

    I was in Europe before 2003, then Canada and back to Europe in 2023. Despite WEF agenda to make all of us looking the same, Europe is still countries with different cultures. Europe is where real diversity is. And it includes in person shopping practice. Auchan is better than Walmart for example. At least for me. Yet, here is nothing like it in small Belgium, but bunch of same chains all over. America, Canada you have to drive to the store. Often it is not even sidewalks to the location of the store. Europe is often in the opposite. But! Amazon and AliBaba made great success in Europe. Simply because it eliminates travel and easy on return or very cheap.

  • @Mr.wonderfully
    @Mr.wonderfully 6 днів тому

    LIDL/ ALDI

  • @real_orestis_georgiou
    @real_orestis_georgiou 7 днів тому

    In have seen a lot of people in the comment section not understand that not all of Europe is the same. The mindset of the Greeks or the Spanish has nothing to do with the mindset of the Germans...

  • @EanestoB0rg9-s1h
    @EanestoB0rg9-s1h 7 днів тому

    I'm not watching 18 minutes of your yammering to tell me "because Walmart sucks and Europeans don't like low quality shit."

  • @perhansson8290
    @perhansson8290 7 днів тому

    Thanks for an entertaining and informative report! Maybe another video concerning the impactful metal scene of Sweden would be an idea? I've seem quite a few mentioning it in the comments. Both the broad popular music and maybe more narrowly niched scenens.

  • @davidupton5252
    @davidupton5252 7 днів тому

    Walmart is a Dinosaur they never tried to understand the people or the shopping habits of the country they start up in. They should have understood the people and it's culture if they don't they will fail they thought being big would make them win big mistake, as a Britain if they tried the same thing in the UK they would fail a person saying hello at the entrance I don't like that it's cringey and people on the tills over friendly crippy!

  • @qianxinglim2476
    @qianxinglim2476 7 днів тому

    Do German-Americans hate subtitles as well?

  • @xurmisalwaysright2460
    @xurmisalwaysright2460 8 днів тому

    To be correct: The "cracks" in the nuclear power plant are in the concrete dome around the reactor, so unless there is a meltdown, it's not that bad. Meanwhile this is fixed and Doel3 is back up and running. Also at 15:42 the white text on the wall reads: "Later when all the beautiful memories take place of my sorrow I could maybe write what I cannot tell now with my tears"

  • @mho...
    @mho... 8 днів тому

    walmart is made for mass/bulk-shopping with a car, while our eu supermarkets are all walkable & in reach!

  • @jannovalija2761
    @jannovalija2761 9 днів тому

    The forced hospitality and greeters at entrances would just fake me feel very uncomfortable and pressured to say something in return when there is absolutely no need for such interactions to take place at all. Also I'm proud as a European that Germans told NO to Walmarts horrendous dissmisal of basic human and workers rights (unions). Imagine if Walmart tried to take over the French market with its american work culture and code of ethics - the french would probably set fire to the entirety of the stores in a week or so. That shit don't fly here.

  • @astromos
    @astromos 9 днів тому

    But you don't understand! If I'm driving my giant gas guzzling pickup through 30 minutes of traffic to get groceries there better be a giant parking lot and EVERYTHING I need for a month! Because Americans are so smart, love efficiency, and of course greeters and insincere friendliness are necessary to maintain their giant egos! And those employees (slaves) better be doing those walmart chants to bow to their employers so that everyone is fake happy when they get paid nothing. Also destroying competition is good and unions are bad because they get in the way of corporate greed and could lower the higher-up's salaries from $10m to $7m annually oh no god forbid they're going to suffer so much without that extra $3m because they'll have to use a smaller private jet! America is so great! Good thing they sent walmart in europe to (exploit) save europeans from communism and keep spreading democracy like in the middle east where so many people were saved. Honestly surprised they haven't tried saving Norway yet with all that (oil) communism they have over there!

  • @SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands
    @SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands 10 днів тому

    My shops are 5 min away from my home, by bike, I even could walk there... 4 different super markets a butcher, a bike shop, a greengrocer a florist, etc... all in small shops except for the supermarkets...there are 3 Chinese restaurants, several snack bars, Kebab, piazza , drugstores etc etc... all in walking or biking distance,,,cars aren't even allowed in the main shopping street, they are bad for business as we all know..

  • @SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands
    @SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands 10 днів тому

    Bad service low quality, bad products...simple enough... why the USA has Walmart???? Don't you care about your health???

  • @stefanpalsson6553
    @stefanpalsson6553 10 днів тому

    This “cars” should be illegal

  • @Bizmyurt
    @Bizmyurt 10 днів тому

    The most supermarket friendly country in europe is maybe sweden and we need better competition as it is dominated by one to maximum 3 gross chains. Cosco are establishing them selves but i think their concept is wrong. You have to pay huge membership and still prices are high! If walmart comes here their stores could be half in size!

  • @geofftoscano6804
    @geofftoscano6804 11 днів тому

    I always refer to this riverbed as a ‘storm drain’, and at times of high rainfall (yesterday, 13/11/24, for example!) it serves that purpose well. At such times it looks as though it is a full flowing river, and without its assistance Malaga would have been devastated. I can see no way in which it can be long term landscaped without a very difficult and expensive flood system put in place. This is I suspect the reason for the seeming procrastination.

  • @heinzbeb5565
    @heinzbeb5565 12 днів тому

    Until 1944, "Doel-Dorp" was even the terminus of the SNCV interurban tram line 367 Sint-Niklaas - Doel. (today bus line 31 with one trip per day). The line was never electrified, it was run by classic steam trams and in the last years of operation with diesel tramcars. The once huge network of Belgian interurban trams (max. 5200km) was largely closed down after WWII.

  • @dalogan7290
    @dalogan7290 12 днів тому

    Most important, we in Europe don’t have “people of Walmart “ 😂😂😂😂😂 those characters are unique to the USA. Low quality.

  • @danny-kt3sn
    @danny-kt3sn 12 днів тому

    I’ve never seen a green McDonald’s interesting 🤔