As an Englishman who has watched his country been over run by mass immigration I look at Belarusian people with envy as they still have their nation and keep it clean - England used to be like that.
@@Martina-Kosicanka Jo s cestovkou žádný problém. Všude čisto bezpečno pořádek, ale moc památek tam není. Všechno je většinou bohužel zničeno během 2 válek, ale jednou to stojí za to vidět. Byli jsme tam zhruba týden a něco a stihli jsme celou zemi projet.
The soldiers in the Fortress were fighting off the German attack almost without any breaks for 32 days (longer than many European countries before they surrendered) without any supplies from the regular army and being already deeply surrounded by the enemy. In some parts of the Fortress you will see the last notes left by the dying soldiers - one of the most famous ones is - "I am dying, but I will not surrender. Farewell, Motherland - July 20, 41". As you were approaching that monument, you actually see the remains of the fortress walls that were melted in the heat of the battle - they were preserved the way they were after the Soviet troops reclaimed the territory 4 years later. Also, on the footsteps of that monument you probably saw the endless lines of names - these are the names of all soldiers who lost their lives there in these first few weeks of the war - they were from all parts of the Soviet Union - Georgia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Russia etc Some historians claim that Hitler himself came to see the 1st place in Europe he marched through, that showed such immense resistance. On minute 21:10 - it's a monument to all soldiers who perished trying to get some fresh water from the nearby river as there were no water supply in the actual fortress walls and people fought without taking a sip of water for days - but because the Germans were literally on the other bank of the river, majority of those who ventured out to get some water, were killed. I agree with you here, they could have added English translation at least in the museum - the story of this place needs to be heard by non-russian/belarusian people.
Hello! I'm sorry for my English. I've been living a whole life in Brest and it was really exciting to know what foreigners think about my birthplace. But it is the map of Brest region on 2:00, not of Belarus. For a fact, these marching guys are pupils at the age of 14-17. There are we have a tradition named "Honor guard" or "Memorial squad". Every school in our city takes part in annually. Children learn the history of Brest Fortress, training for marching, pass some exams and after they are allowed to do this. Finally, they get some score for performing at Brest fortress. This is considered very respectable
The big National Park outside Brest with native European Bison is probably along with the Fort battle scene the top two tourist spots in the Brest area.
I HOPE ALL UE COUNTRY CAN TRAVEL IN BELARUS WHITHOUT PASSPORT LIKE MOLDOVA, SERBIA, MACEDONIA, ALBANIA ,BOSNIA ,NORWEY, SWITZERLAND ,MONACO,SAN MARINO AND LIECHTENSTEIN
I entered Brest Belarus today from Poland in my campervan I'm from the UK and I just got one of those special permits for 8 euros don't need a visa now I'm camping in front of the Fortress and I've been all over the city on my bicycle so lovely place.
In case anyone is wondering about the music bellowing out at Brest fortress,it`s called: Sacred war... first time i heard this was at the Motherland memorial in Kneb/Kiev 2012..must say found Lviv and Kiev clean on my few visit there,with exception in March 2014 after the coup- Maidan was literally a battlefield .But in all,i found the place clean,grass cut immaculately
Solo traveling for anyone under 18 always carries risk. However Belarus is a very safe country. Return ticket? What do you mean? I used a train to get to Brest from Minsk. But you could get there from any direction.
i've been in the Brest Fortress at 2017s summer and at that day there was a lot of people"(even though it was like +30C degrees), not sure why is it so quiet on the video, was it in morning ?
and i also feel like your channel should be more popular, you need to get a better camera and more people will watch your videos about the countries they don't really know anything about :) seems like people think that Belarus is some kind of North Korea with scared people that are dying of starving and everything while it's really nice place and i like it much more than Ukraine or Russia because people there are much more cultural and nice and driving there is not some kind of "WHAT'S THE POSSIBLE SPEED I CAN GET BY MY CAR??" challenge like it is in Russia and Ukraine.
so don't say "the place is peace and quiet" if you're there at weekday morning xD i guess that every place would be peace and quiet in the morning when everybody is at their work (except the countries that have lots of people everywhere and always, like india xD)
From 1919, the fortress belonged to Poland. On March 27, 1919, the Supreme Commander appointed Colonel Andrzej Opatowicz as the commandant of the Brest Fortress. In 1930, before and during the Brest Process, prisoners of Centrolew's parliamentary opposition were imprisoned there. After the outbreak of World War II, it was captured by the Germans on September 17, 1939 after the Poles defeated the seven assaults of the 19th Army Corps of the General Inspector of Armored Forces of Heinz Guderian. As a result of the border agreement concluded between the USSR and Germany, the fortress found itself on Soviet territory. In September 1939, Mikhail Kowalew, a 2nd rank commandant, commanding the Belarussian front, occupying the northeastern Kresy, wrote to Moscow: the western perimeter of the forts will get to Germany; near the border it will be impossible to use the full rich resource of the barracks in Brest, the railway junction and the city itself will be in a fire zone with machine guns, crossing the Bug River will not be protected by appropriate territory. A large, noteworthy airport near the village of Małaszewicze will get to Germany. " In response, the change in the course of the border was not agreed, yet the commandant ordered the sappers to direct the Bug waters to the channel under Terespol Strengthening and the Germans stated that this was the main current of the Bug, which was to be a border in accordance with the Ribentropp-Molotov Pact. This course was also gained by the border set in 1945 The content of this section may not comply with the principles of a neutral point of view. After eliminating the imperfections, remove the template ((Refine)) from this section. After Germany's aggression on the USSR, the fortress was again in the hands of the Germans, in which it remained until 1944. The defense of the fortress by the Soviets in 1941, despite the fact that in propaganda it became a symbol of the heroism of the Soviet soldier, was not of strategic importance. The Soviets did not plant the entire fortress and did not prepare it for defense. During the first Soviet occupation until June 22, 1941, it served them primarily as a torture chamber in which Polish patriots were liquidated. She was also treated as a stage point, where prisoners for further deportation were gathered. In the fortress you should probably look for traces of the so-called Belarussian Katyn list (Wikipedia)
and before 1919 :-)? The Fortress was built by the Russians in the 1830-es and Poland snatched that part of Belarus after the WW1, as well as part of Czech Republic.. So now we can debate here who occupied who :-) I have nothing against Poland, but my Belarusian grandparents told me that Poles were the worst that could happen to them - they treated Belarusian people as animals (sorry, not my words but of my grandfather - a simple countryman outside of any politics or communist propaganda). As per Molotov-Ribentrop act - well, you probably should know that Soviet Union was the LAST to sign such act with Germany. Unfortunately, Poland was among the 1st European countries to sign agreements with Germany in the early 30s.. I hear a lot of this non-factual rhetorics recently from the Polish people, but unfortunately facts speak against it.
and before 1919 :-)? The Fortress was built by the Russians in the 1830-es and Poland snatched that part of Belarus after the WW1, as well as part of Czech Republic.. So now we can debate here who occupied who :-) I have nothing against Poland, but my Belarusian grandparents told me that after Poland too over that part of the country after WW1, the occupants were the worst that could happen to them (well, before they knew what was gonna happen to them between 1941-1944) - they treated Belarusian people as animals (sorry, not my words but of my grandfather - a simple countryman outside of any politics or communist propaganda). As per Molotov-Ribentrop act - well, you probably should know that Soviet Union was the LAST to sign such act with Germany. Unfortunately, Poland was among the 1st European countries to sign agreements with Germany in the early 30s.. I hear a lot of this non-factual rhetorics recently from the Polish people, but unfortunately facts speak against it.
@@Natalia-ix9rw You're right ... Not everything that the written sources give is consistent with the feelings and experiences of ordinary people. Only those who have experienced it know the true story. Each voice has the same weight.It is important that these voices, often differing from each other, be heard and provoke a discussion that gives wisdom and not hostility and prejudice.I greet you very much and thank you for your valuable opinion .
@@Natalia-ix9rw But one more important think let me quote You :"As per Molotov-Ribentrop act - well, you probably should know that Soviet Union was the LAST to sign such act with Germany. Unfortunately, Poland was among the 1st European countries to sign agreements with Germany in the early 30s.. I hear a lot of this non-factual rhetorics recently from the Polish people, but unfortunately facts speak against it."Hmmm...Please do not confuse the notions of a non-aggression pact with a pact on the division of territories.And most importantly, and what I have not mentioned ... I love Belarusians, they are wonderful, kind people. As a child I used to go there on trips and pioneer camps. I only have good memories and I will be happy to go there again as soon as time allows me
Do you think Belarusans are friendly because foreign tourists are few, and English-speakers a novelty. Foreign tourists in London are so numerous, they are a nuisance. I live in Gloucestershire by the way.
I think this is always the way. They all wanted to practice their English on me. They all wanted to tell me about their country. I wish Londoners were more friendly to tourists. I understand why they lose patience when they get in the way. As long as Bad Brits don’t smash up their country (like they have done in places like Prague, Budapest etc) and we remain polite and courteous long May them being kind to us continue. It’s the least visited country in all of Europe I’ve heard quoted somewhere.
Why are you wandering around speaking English and expecting the “natives’ (as you call them) to have fluent English in their own country? And what’s with the second and third class travel in Eastern Europe - what sort of budget are you on? You are as far away from James Bond as one can get :)
Hey Englishman,while in Belarus please speak Belarusian. Stop assuming Belarusians speak English. A Belarusian wouldn't speak Belarusian in England, and insult the queen there. The same respect in Belarus please.
wow, the streets are clean like somewhere in Switzerland
Benefits of a Nation that is almost entirely The Native people who love their nation.
Yes, as a Belarusian Native, we are strictly thought not to litter, and if you to, someone will emidianlty step up and say, "hey, pick that up"
As an Englishman who has watched his country been over run by mass immigration I look at Belarusian people with envy as they still have their nation and keep it clean - England used to be like that.
@@TheWonderingEnglishman its sad but so true
Thanks for your video,im fromBelarus,Brest. Enjoy this. Have not been there in decades.
You should visit again :)
I was in Belarus and it.s nice country greetings from Czech Republic
Tiež by som tam rada zašla
@@Martina-Kosicanka Jo s cestovkou žádný problém. Všude čisto bezpečno pořádek, ale moc památek tam není. Všechno je většinou bohužel zničeno během 2 válek, ale jednou to stojí za to vidět. Byli jsme tam zhruba týden a něco a stihli jsme celou zemi projet.
Ive been at the Brest Fortress as a child, and it was awesome!
The soldiers in the Fortress were fighting off the German attack almost without any breaks for 32 days (longer than many European countries before they surrendered) without any supplies from the regular army and being already deeply surrounded by the enemy. In some parts of the Fortress you will see the last notes left by the dying soldiers - one of the most famous ones is - "I am dying, but I will not surrender. Farewell, Motherland - July 20, 41".
As you were approaching that monument, you actually see the remains of the fortress walls that were melted in the heat of the battle - they were preserved the way they were after the Soviet troops reclaimed the territory 4 years later.
Also, on the footsteps of that monument you probably saw the endless lines of names - these are the names of all soldiers who lost their lives there in these first few weeks of the war - they were from all parts of the Soviet Union - Georgia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Russia etc
Some historians claim that Hitler himself came to see the 1st place in Europe he marched through, that showed such immense resistance.
On minute 21:10 - it's a monument to all soldiers who perished trying to get some fresh water from the nearby river as there were no water supply in the actual fortress walls and people fought without taking a sip of water for days - but because the Germans were literally on the other bank of the river, majority of those who ventured out to get some water, were killed.
I agree with you here, they could have added English translation at least in the museum - the story of this place needs to be heard by non-russian/belarusian people.
This is some amazing insight thank you for sharing and also watching
@@TheWonderingEnglishman and thank you for visiting Belarus, enjoying the country and sharing your experience with the English speakers :-)
I hope to again soon
Hello! I'm sorry for my English. I've been living a whole life in Brest and it was really exciting to know what foreigners think about my birthplace. But it is the map of Brest region on 2:00, not of Belarus.
For a fact, these marching guys are pupils at the age of 14-17. There are we have a tradition named "Honor guard" or "Memorial squad". Every school in our city takes part in annually. Children learn the history of Brest Fortress, training for marching, pass some exams and after they are allowed to do this. Finally, they get some score for performing at Brest fortress. This is considered very respectable
The big National Park outside Brest with native European Bison is probably along with the Fort battle scene the top two tourist spots in the Brest area.
There is a quite dramatic film entitled Brest, about the defense of the fortress when the Nazis invaded. It has subtitles and is I believe on UA-cam.
I loved it. One of the best of the genre.
Bravo, a real universal traveler!
Thank you
Plenty more content came after this :)
Greetings from Munich in Germany. We have guests from Belarus. Very nice and clean peoples with good caracters. I enjoy your film. Thank you.
Thank you for watching :) appreciated!
you also don't need a visa to belarus anymore, it's open to the whole world now
Amazingly yes and sadly true :)
Means it will change fast!
I HOPE ALL UE COUNTRY CAN TRAVEL IN BELARUS WHITHOUT PASSPORT LIKE MOLDOVA, SERBIA, MACEDONIA, ALBANIA ,BOSNIA ,NORWEY, SWITZERLAND ,MONACO,SAN MARINO AND LIECHTENSTEIN
Really? That is great
For US Citizens I'm of the knowledge that we still have to apply for a visa and it's a complicated process...
@@Kriegsbeil5577 you have no need any visa right now
I entered Brest Belarus today from Poland in my campervan I'm from the UK and I just got one of those special permits for 8 euros don't need a visa now I'm camping in front of the Fortress and I've been all over the city on my bicycle so lovely place.
How is it? Im travelling do I just need the fourm of the website? And do I need to have 30euros or would it be fine with 30zloty?
In case anyone is wondering about the music bellowing out at Brest fortress,it`s called: Sacred war... first time i heard this was at the Motherland memorial in Kneb/Kiev 2012..must say found Lviv and Kiev clean on my few visit there,with exception in March 2014 after the coup- Maidan was literally a battlefield .But in all,i found the place clean,grass cut immaculately
Btw watch the movie brest fortress with English subtitles
It’s on my list of movies to watch - still haven’t managed to see it yet - will try to soon :)
2:03 this is not a map of Belarus this is a map of the Brest region.
Thank you Dima - you are right - poor editing
like from Brest
Im going to brest, belarus in October, Is it safe for a 16 year old from Uk to solo travel there? Where did you buy a return ticket from?
Solo traveling for anyone under 18 always carries risk. However Belarus is a very safe country. Return ticket? What do you mean? I used a train to get to Brest from Minsk. But you could get there from any direction.
@@TheWonderingEnglishman I am travelling from Birmingham, to warsaw and then getting the train from warsaw to Brest. Do you get the tickets online?
@@TheWonderingEnglishman Im sure it should be safer than the UK though,
i've been in the Brest Fortress at 2017s summer and at that day there was a lot of people"(even though it was like +30C degrees), not sure why is it so quiet on the video, was it in morning ?
Around 11am
Seems like the best time to go :)
well people usually work at 11 am if it's not a weekend or they sleep at 11am if it is xD
Early weekdays are the key to all sights around the world :)
and i also feel like your channel should be more popular, you need to get a better camera and more people will watch your videos about the countries they don't really know anything about :)
seems like people think that Belarus is some kind of North Korea with scared people that are dying of starving and everything while it's really nice place and i like it much more than Ukraine or Russia because people there are much more cultural and nice and driving there is not some kind of "WHAT'S THE POSSIBLE SPEED I CAN GET BY MY CAR??" challenge like it is in Russia and Ukraine.
so don't say "the place is peace and quiet" if you're there at weekday morning xD
i guess that every place would be peace and quiet in the morning when everybody is at their work (except the countries that have lots of people everywhere and always, like india xD)
what piano song are you using? time 1920
very good!!
Anyone's help to visiting this place
Fly into Minsk and get the train to Brest. Or take the train from Latvia to Brest :)
@@TheWonderingEnglishman hi ... Thanks ..this is... Yes I will be
good video man , make more Belarus video
I hope to very soon :)
Thank you!
same in the US, people are rude also and Belarus is super clean and beautiful.
I never understood the point of silly ceremonial walk, however i do love Belarusian people and country very much after these videos even more
Wonderful country Belarus 🇧🇾
If you learn that one people out of four was killed by the Germans fascists ?....
You probably also don't live in country that was decimated by Nazi genocidal politics the way Belarus was.
It's high time to use the five-day visa-free mode! It is in place until January 2018!..
WELCOME TO NESVIZH CUSTEL!!
Imma stay 2 months on belarus
I’m envious - you will have a great time!
From 1919, the fortress belonged to Poland. On March 27, 1919, the Supreme Commander appointed Colonel Andrzej Opatowicz as the commandant of the Brest Fortress. In 1930, before and during the Brest Process, prisoners of Centrolew's parliamentary opposition were imprisoned there.
After the outbreak of World War II, it was captured by the Germans on September 17, 1939 after the Poles defeated the seven assaults of the 19th Army Corps of the General Inspector of Armored Forces of Heinz Guderian. As a result of the border agreement concluded between the USSR and Germany, the fortress found itself on Soviet territory. In September 1939, Mikhail Kowalew, a 2nd rank commandant, commanding the Belarussian front, occupying the northeastern Kresy, wrote to Moscow: the western perimeter of the forts will get to Germany; near the border it will be impossible to use the full rich resource of the barracks in Brest, the railway junction and the city itself will be in a fire zone with machine guns, crossing the Bug River will not be protected by appropriate territory. A large, noteworthy airport near the village of Małaszewicze will get to Germany. " In response, the change in the course of the border was not agreed, yet the commandant ordered the sappers to direct the Bug waters to the channel under Terespol Strengthening and the Germans stated that this was the main current of the Bug, which was to be a border in accordance with the Ribentropp-Molotov Pact. This course was also gained by the border set in 1945
The content of this section may not comply with the principles of a neutral point of view. After eliminating the imperfections, remove the template ((Refine)) from this section.
After Germany's aggression on the USSR, the fortress was again in the hands of the Germans, in which it remained until 1944. The defense of the fortress by the Soviets in 1941, despite the fact that in propaganda it became a symbol of the heroism of the Soviet soldier, was not of strategic importance. The Soviets did not plant the entire fortress and did not prepare it for defense. During the first Soviet occupation until June 22, 1941, it served them primarily as a torture chamber in which Polish patriots were liquidated. She was also treated as a stage point, where prisoners for further deportation were gathered. In the fortress you should probably look for traces of the so-called Belarussian Katyn list (Wikipedia)
and before 1919 :-)? The Fortress was built by the Russians in the 1830-es and Poland snatched that part of Belarus after the WW1, as well as part of Czech Republic.. So now we can debate here who occupied who :-) I have nothing against Poland, but my Belarusian grandparents told me that Poles were the worst that could happen to them - they treated Belarusian people as animals (sorry, not my words but of my grandfather - a simple countryman outside of any politics or communist propaganda). As per Molotov-Ribentrop act - well, you probably should know that Soviet Union was the LAST to sign such act with Germany. Unfortunately, Poland was among the 1st European countries to sign agreements with Germany in the early 30s.. I hear a lot of this non-factual rhetorics recently from the Polish people, but unfortunately facts speak against it.
and before 1919 :-)? The Fortress was built by the Russians in the 1830-es and Poland snatched that part of Belarus after the WW1, as well as part of Czech Republic.. So now we can debate here who occupied who :-) I have nothing against Poland, but my Belarusian grandparents told me that after Poland too over that part of the country after WW1, the occupants were the worst that could happen to them (well, before they knew what was gonna happen to them between 1941-1944) - they treated Belarusian people as animals (sorry, not my words but of my grandfather - a simple countryman outside of any politics or communist propaganda). As per Molotov-Ribentrop act - well, you probably should know that Soviet Union was the LAST to sign such act with Germany. Unfortunately, Poland was among the 1st European countries to sign agreements with Germany in the early 30s.. I hear a lot of this non-factual rhetorics recently from the Polish people, but unfortunately facts speak against it.
@@Natalia-ix9rw You're right ... Not everything that the written sources give is consistent with the feelings and experiences of ordinary people. Only those who have experienced it know the true story. Each voice has the same weight.It is important that these voices, often differing from each other, be heard and provoke a discussion that gives wisdom and not hostility and prejudice.I greet you very much and thank you for your valuable opinion .
@@Natalia-ix9rw But one more
important think let me quote You :"As per Molotov-Ribentrop act - well, you probably should know that Soviet Union was the LAST to sign such act with Germany. Unfortunately, Poland was among the 1st European countries to sign agreements with Germany in the early 30s.. I hear a lot of this non-factual rhetorics recently from the Polish people, but unfortunately facts speak against it."Hmmm...Please do not confuse the notions of a non-aggression pact with a pact on the division of territories.And most importantly, and what I have not mentioned ... I love Belarusians, they are wonderful, kind people. As a child I used to go there on trips and pioneer camps. I only have good memories and I will be happy to go there again as soon as time allows me
Do you think Belarusans are friendly because foreign tourists are few, and English-speakers a novelty. Foreign tourists in London are so numerous, they are a nuisance. I live in Gloucestershire by the way.
I think this is always the way. They all wanted to practice their English on me. They all wanted to tell me about their country. I wish Londoners were more friendly to tourists. I understand why they lose patience when they get in the way. As long as Bad Brits don’t smash up their country (like they have done in places like Prague, Budapest etc) and we remain polite and courteous long May them being kind to us continue. It’s the least visited country in all of Europe I’ve heard quoted somewhere.
This Wondering Englishman looks like a BelaRusian guy, or even a Russian young guy.
The Russians & Belarusians I've met in my lifetime are all good people so I don't mind :)
If it allows me to fit in more easily it's a good thing:)
strange author has some Slavic accent, if i met him on the street I would think so, he doesn't look like a Britt
A Slavic accent ? Sadly not :)
Why are you wandering around speaking English and expecting the “natives’ (as you call them) to have fluent English in their own country? And what’s with the second and third class travel in Eastern Europe - what sort of budget are you on? You are as far away from James Bond as one can get :)
I guess that makes you Nick Nack then.
Welcome To The European North Korea!!!
Stupid.
Hey Englishman,while in Belarus please speak Belarusian. Stop assuming Belarusians speak English. A Belarusian wouldn't speak Belarusian in England, and insult the queen there. The same respect in Belarus please.
Rude