Journey to Kaliningrad (Königsberg) Exclave - Russia's Outpost in Europe

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  • Опубліковано 22 тра 2024
  • Follow me on Patreon to see more: Patreon: / vvagabond
    I'm taking you on a journey to Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad is a Russian exclave located on the Baltic Sea, sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. It serves as a strategic outpost for Russia in Europe. Formerly part of East Prussia and known as Königsberg, it was annexed by the Soviet Union after World War II. Today, it remains a unique geopolitical entity, distinct from the Russian mainland. It provides Russia with access to the Baltic Sea and a presence in the European Union, which can influence regional dynamics and politics in the Baltic region.
    In this video, I visit a number of settlements in Kaliningrad region with traces of German past. It could happen that some members of YOUR family lived in East Prussia before or soon after the annexation of Konigsberg. Write about this in the comments, it's fascinating to read such stories!
    Enjoy the video!
    Timceodes:
    00:00 - Kaliningrad (Königsberg). Exploring the city.
    20:36 - Vladimirovo (Tharau). German church and cobblestone.
    24:46 - Bagrationovsk (Preußisch Eylau). The battle of Preußisch Eylau. German watertower and German castle.
    27:52 - Gvardeyskoye (Mühlhausen). A story of one German church.
    29:12 - Back to Kaliningrad. Fort XI Dönhoff. Organ music.
    31:24 - Grocery prices in Kaliningrad (May 2023)
    34:16 - Chekhovo (Underwangen). Ruins of German mill and church.
    37:52 - Domnovo (Domnau). The story of one long-suffering village.
    40:41 - Pravdinsk (Friedland). German hydrant, cathedral and the battle of Friedland.
    43:44 - Oktyabr'skoye (Klein Schönau). The ruins of a lutheran church.
    45:09 - Abandoned German hydroelectric power plant near Pravdinsk
    45:52 - Zheleznodorozhnyy (Gerdauen). Signs of restoration. Ancient castle in ruins.
    49:14 - Masurian canal
    51:06 - Znamensk (Allenberg). Abandoned Allenberg mental facility.
    54:55 - Ozyorsk (Darkehmen, Angerapp). Interviewing locals.
    59:14 - Gusev. Divorce rate and bayonet attack.
    01:00:23 - A railway viaduct in the middle of nowhere
    01:02:28 - Chernyakhovsk (Insterburg). It's getting better!
    01:04:47 - Sovetsk (Tilsit). Drug stores and forgotten tram.
    01:08:29 - Lithuania is just across the river!
    01:10:30 - Polessk. German draw bridge and unknown brewery.
    01:11:55 - Svetlogorsk. The resort town.
    01:14:02 - Yantarnyy. Amber quarry.
    01:15:38 - German WW2 Memorial Cemetry in Primorsk
    01:16:48 - Curonian Spit and Zelenogradsk. The best city in the exclave.
    01:21:57 - Baltiysk and Vistula Spit. Russia's westernmost city and former Nazi airfield.
    01:29:30 - Trainhopping to Kaliningrad
    01:29:41 - Kaliningrad Favelas. Interviewing locals.
    01:33:30 - Outro
    May 2023.
    You can contribute to the production of new videos via:
    PayPal: ivantrainslive@gmail.com
    Donation Alerts: www.donationalerts.com/r/vaga...
    Patreon: / vvagabond
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    Instagram: @vagafuckabond

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,4 тис.

  • @creepermk
    @creepermk 6 місяців тому +434

    This channel is such a special gem. Just raw footage, real people, great commentary and quality. Wish more people would get to appreciate your work.

    • @lucasrem
      @lucasrem 6 місяців тому

      You watch TV channels normal, this is how channels do this here.

    • @Aleksa_Lomako
      @Aleksa_Lomako 6 місяців тому +7

      🤬
      Слава УКРАЇНІ!!!! 🇺🇦

    • @97824631
      @97824631 6 місяців тому +9

      Totally agree. Also a really nice way to explain and show stuff. I really enjoy it.
      Greetings from Germany

    • @SnakeBush
      @SnakeBush 6 місяців тому +4

      please dont wish that bro it would destroy this channel

    • @admin6884
      @admin6884 6 місяців тому +1

      ​@@Aleksa_Lomakoслова У -край-на 😂😂😂

  • @NickRatnieks
    @NickRatnieks 6 місяців тому +251

    My father was evacuated through East Prussia in September/October 1944 and he remarked at how beautiful it was.

    • @77mako77ful
      @77mako77ful 6 місяців тому +25

      Did your dad tell you what he did before the evacuation?? I'm sure he was just following orders, right?

    • @NickRatnieks
      @NickRatnieks 6 місяців тому +184

      @@77mako77ful I will give you a civil answer to your snide question. He was a Latvian civilian and was evacuated with other Latvian civilians. He then spent eight months in transit before joining Polish II Corps in Austria in August 1945 as his mother was Polish. He used to say that the only positive thing he could relate to the years 1939-1945 was that he did not have to point a gun at anyone. Are you happy with that answer? My father's photo is in the book Czetery Z Tysiaca by C Chlebowski as he associated with the Polish Resistance.

    • @jtns2845
      @jtns2845 6 місяців тому +107

      @@NickRatnieksexcellent reply to a nasty question.

    • @1armeddrummerinaprisonrock244
      @1armeddrummerinaprisonrock244 6 місяців тому

      @@77mako77ful lol youre a butthurt kid living in an adult body.

    • @ulefab7503
      @ulefab7503 6 місяців тому +13

      @@jtns2845 Nasty question? Excuse us of occupied countries (I’m French) to be suspicious! Especially in Kaliningrad who was a bastion of nazism

  • @kim__jong__un
    @kim__jong__un 6 місяців тому +73

    No stupid intro animation and sounds!
    No fancy equipment!
    Just pure quality content!

  • @erikahl7180
    @erikahl7180 Місяць тому +4

    Honestly i appreciate that modern russia rebuilt a lot of the old buildings and graves after the fall of the USSR. Suprisingly respectful.

  • @MrFranki06
    @MrFranki06 5 місяців тому +14

    Ein sehr interessantes Video über Ostpreußen und dessen Geschichte. Vielen Dank!

  • @MausTheGerman
    @MausTheGerman 6 місяців тому +89

    Thanks for sharing! A neighbor couple who already passed away was born in Königsberg and had to leave everything behind in the 1945. They told me that their family had a restaurant with a beautiful Biergarten owned over generations. After fall of Soviet Union they went their to visit. They told me that this was a sad experience because the former restaurant was unmaintained and chickens running around it. They cried when telling me this story. I always loved their funny East Prussian accent 😃

    • @98Zai
      @98Zai 6 місяців тому +14

      @@user-mj4yx8fc7w This story is part of the history of the place. Do you believe that individual people should be responsible for the actions of their country? If you want to take pride in the good, you must also answer to the bad.

    • @98Zai
      @98Zai 6 місяців тому

      @@user-mj4yx8fc7w Maybe I made a false presumption that you are Russian? Perhaps you didn't notice the countless Russian tirades of "America did it first!" whataboutisms.

    • @ijh867zter6
      @ijh867zter6 6 місяців тому

      @@user-mj4yx8fc7w looks like their views were proven right looking at Russia and how it turns everything it touches into a shithole

    • @kotbarsik777
      @kotbarsik777 6 місяців тому +23

      Very touching story. What a loss! The Russians lost 27 million in that war. Of these, 17 million are civilians. This is real genocide. This is the Russian Holocaust, which is not remembered. But there is a very sentimental story about the restaurant.

    • @98Zai
      @98Zai 6 місяців тому

      @@kotbarsik777 Belittling and misusing the word "genocide" and "Holocaust" is a Nazi thing, you know that right? The nazi's used to say that a "white genocide" was happening to motivate their actions.

  • @davidlp6510
    @davidlp6510 6 місяців тому +145

    Not only the quality of your videos but the content is of excellent quality. The content has culture, economy aspects and social political impact. It is a complete source of information. I really wish more people would do videos as yours. Very good quality!!!

    • @Sniperboy5551
      @Sniperboy5551 6 місяців тому +13

      He includes much more history than any other travel UA-camr I’ve ever seen. Combine that with his train hopping skills and he’s easily my favorite. Shiey and Bald and Bankrupt have nothing on Vagabond!

    • @davidlp6510
      @davidlp6510 6 місяців тому

      @@Sniperboy5551 Indeed, his videos are of excellent quality and they have it all for all tastes.

    • @peeterl.2016
      @peeterl.2016 6 місяців тому

      @@Sniperboy5551 His history "facts" are mostly bullsh*t. Vagabond is following Putin's history "facts" and is forgetting the real history of Königsberg. Same was with his Karelia video, full of russian propaganda.

    • @mountainmoments
      @mountainmoments 6 місяців тому

      your comment and this video leave out that russia is a state of fascism which includes racism - an integral aprt of any empire. Is that cool for you? to advertise this?

    • @davidlp6510
      @davidlp6510 6 місяців тому

      @@mountainmoments Not really. That aspect is not at all pleasant even to acknowledge. I rather talk about the person that made the video and his story telling endowment. He is good and he is really good organizing his videos. That was the aspect that I was concentrating about. Keep in mind that all of us here are NOT pro Putin.

  • @Decybello
    @Decybello 6 місяців тому +50

    I was always interested, how the region of Kaliningrad looks like. Thanks for showing it to me and sharing your experience of traveling there, cheers.

    • @player1GR
      @player1GR 2 місяці тому

      He showed mainly German/Prussian old buildings that Russians have no interest to maintain. Come to Kaliningrad and have your own look. Welcome

  • @flopunkt3665
    @flopunkt3665 6 місяців тому +15

    Tilsit is also known for cheese. You can find Tilsiter Käse in a lot of super markets in Germany.

    • @yumallah
      @yumallah 6 місяців тому +7

      In Russia too, Tilsiter cheese is very popular.

  • @samadkins8101
    @samadkins8101 6 місяців тому +15

    "Every war is fucking bullshit" - truth!

  • @markus7326
    @markus7326 27 днів тому +1

    Thank you for your special, authentic reporting on Kaliningrad. Now I am well prepared for my first visit to Kaliningrad in the summer.

  • @alastaircreelman
    @alastaircreelman 5 місяців тому +25

    Very interesting film. We have been to Kaliningrad twice, both times driving by car from home in Sweden (2016 and 2019). We live straight across the sea from Baltysk. We have visited most of the places you visited and it's interesting to see what has changed in recent years. Sadly I don't think we will be able to go back, given the crazy world we live in today.

  • @jarabaa
    @jarabaa 6 місяців тому +60

    The bridge in Tilsit was indeed German. It was called the Queen Louise Bridge. She was and still is a legendary figure in Germany, generally described as "angelic". Consort of the King of Prussia, she went to Tilsit to meet Napoleon to plead on behalf of Prussia, begging him to agree a merciful settlement respecting her country's needs and dignity. He wasn't very interested.

    • @wolfgangsaurenbach-pk4ik
      @wolfgangsaurenbach-pk4ik 6 місяців тому +7

      Danke Eine sehr gute Erklärung
      Die Steine sprechen immer noch Deutsch in der ganzen ehemalig deutschen Provinz !
      Thank you !
      An exellent explanation !
      The bricks are still speaking German all around this former german province!
      Danke .

    • @UTube4Junky
      @UTube4Junky 4 місяці тому

      Those stones speak German?
      Interesting..
      Yeah, there are over 70 thousand stones all over Europe that “speak German”..

    • @Anthony-db7cs
      @Anthony-db7cs 5 днів тому +1

      @@UTube4Junky Should still speak German. Everything Russia touches ends up as a poor, ugly architectural eyesore.

    • @UTube4Junky
      @UTube4Junky 5 днів тому

      @@Anthony-db7cs
      Well, technically, “should still speak Prussian” (linguistically close to Lithuanian) or Polish.
      The German speaking Teutonic Knights (for-hire mercenaries hired by the Polish Duke Conrad of Mazovia) exterminated all original Prussians (who were N O T Germans), adopted their name and became known as “Prussians” in order to claim the land.
      The German speaking pope backed their claim and thugs the centuries long saga of the “German Prussia” had began..
      Kaliningrad needs to go back to Poland/Lithuania and become Królewiec/Karaliaučius.
      I know, I know… history is sooo boooring.. 🙄
      The rest of your post “anything russia touches” I agree with..

  • @12Gauge223
    @12Gauge223 6 місяців тому +30

    I really enjoy your presenting style - perfect combination of past and present. No boring, extended introductions or transitions, just straightforward to the point footage and information of cool, neglected, and historically rich places.

  • @Slippyboy
    @Slippyboy 6 місяців тому +11

    Yay!! Seeing a new (long!!) video from you is the best part of my day!! Thank you for everything that you do to brighten up our lives :-)

  • @ausdemnorden
    @ausdemnorden 6 місяців тому +9

    Brilliant content. Your videos are very entertaining and informative. I am always very happy when I am notified that you have posted something new!

  • @chrisrobinson9210
    @chrisrobinson9210 6 місяців тому +5

    Absolutely fascinating, the finest video I’ve seen of this forgotten part of Eastern Europe. Carry on with these wonderful videos.

  • @mattkrea
    @mattkrea 6 місяців тому +8

    Only learned about Kaliningrad when I was traveling around Lithuania for work. Being able to learn more about it thanks to you is a treat!

  • @PkPvre
    @PkPvre 6 місяців тому +4

    Thank you for sharing another journey, it's very enjoyable to watch.

  • @KingNeptunez
    @KingNeptunez 6 місяців тому +4

    Great! Very comprehensive... I've learned a lot. Thank you for your most excellent work. ❤

  • @jarabaa
    @jarabaa 6 місяців тому +11

    You are an amazing man. Unique. Extraordinary. You really go everywhere, radiate boundless curiosity, meet the people, ask all the necessary questions, try literally anything. One never knows quite what's coming next! I was particularly fascinated here by the extreme contrast of the impressively stocked supermarket full of goods - and then the bitterness of the two old men complaining of severe shortages, empty shops etc.

  • @Viking88Power
    @Viking88Power 6 місяців тому +16

    Would love to go there to see any Prussian history thats left...Incredible video!

    • @jetfusion1532
      @jetfusion1532 4 місяці тому +9

      Most of it is gone and went to rubbish. Stalin and others happened. Now it's just another Soviet shadow 40-50 years behind the rest of the continent due to amazing leadership.

    • @jeffrutledge1789
      @jeffrutledge1789 4 місяці тому

      @@jetfusion1532 things are going the other way now. The west is collapsing. And replacing itself.

    • @pepefin9616akaestonec
      @pepefin9616akaestonec 4 місяці тому

      @@jetfusion1532 and thats good

    • @user-if6fc4xs1n
      @user-if6fc4xs1n 3 місяці тому +3

      The orcs ruined it

  • @88arakvita
    @88arakvita 6 місяців тому +5

    Thank you for sharing your trip to this beautiful land.

  • @andresfelipeayala1995
    @andresfelipeayala1995 6 місяців тому +14

    It is interesting to watch these kinds of videos to know the history of why the cities are so important now. Well done. This channel deserves a million subscribers. ;)

  • @nyckolaus
    @nyckolaus 6 місяців тому +4

    Just fascinating! Thank you, Ivan!

  • @demil3618
    @demil3618 5 місяців тому +4

    Man, your content ist absolutely 1st class!

  • @morganf963
    @morganf963 4 місяці тому +2

    Architecture, History, Rail Gauge variations and supermarket visits - thanks for this awesome video!

  • @justinhaslam-lucas8711
    @justinhaslam-lucas8711 6 місяців тому +4

    A really great documentary about a region I have always wondered about.

  • @alfromwork
    @alfromwork 6 місяців тому +7

    Wow! Very impressive and thorough field report from Kaliningrad! I really enjoyed your descriptions and the places you showed. As you mention several times, there is such potential that, for the foreseeable future, will unfortunately be ignored. All I can say is that I hope that things change and peace will prevail.

    • @ilyakasnacheev
      @ilyakasnacheev 6 місяців тому +5

      Kaliningrad is currently a major destination of Russian domestic tourism (which has grown as international tourish has shrunk) so it is not exactly ignored. Some places fall into disrepair, but overall it's nice-ish.

  • @ajblell
    @ajblell 3 місяці тому +1

    A+ man. I fell down a rabbit hole and have enjoyed every bit of it. Keep making great content!

  • @krzysztofrzeszut7668
    @krzysztofrzeszut7668 3 місяці тому +1

    Such an amazing channel, will stay here for more videos. Well done, keep up good work

  • @user-mv7jg3pb3n
    @user-mv7jg3pb3n 6 місяців тому +77

    Ostpreußen,but Gumbinnen in particular,poses a very bitter memory for older Germans,but I won't eleborate any further on that.
    Immediately after the Iron Curtain collapsed I visited the old German provinces and we wanted to cross over to the Kaliningrad region too but at that time it was highly discouraged to do so by Polish security troops as Polish civilians alike .
    Therefore I'm very pleased with this video.Thank you.

    • @user-mv7jg3pb3n
      @user-mv7jg3pb3n 6 місяців тому +5

      @@user-mj4yx8fc7w I was born in the 50ies and therefore I only know what happened before and during WW II from first hand ; but I very much value and appreciate your reaction - it shows you are genuinely interested in both the topic of this video as well as my adhered comment.
      I thank you deeply for that and wish you all the best .

    • @fidenemini111
      @fidenemini111 6 місяців тому +14

      Gumbinnen - a name which transitioned from Old Prussian (Nadruvian) name Gabe to Lithuanian Gumbinė and later slightly modified to sound more German. Unfortunately 60% of original Lithuanian place names of Lithuania Minor by the decree of June 3 of 1938 was renamed to fully German ones. Such are Stallupönen - renametd to Ebenrode, Jurgaitschen - to Jürgenfelde, Augsgiren - to Saßenhöhe, Kraupischken - to Breitenstein, Lasdehnen - to Haselberg, Papelken - to Markomitethausen, Paskallwen - to Schalau, etc. The same year the list of name changes was printed as a brochure - "Das Verzeichnis der neuen Ortsnamen der ganzen Provinz Ostpreußen ".

    • @user-mv7jg3pb3n
      @user-mv7jg3pb3n 6 місяців тому +7

      @@fidenemini111 Danke - aber diese Tatsachen waren mir schon bestens bekannt .
      Und übrigens gab es Umbenennungen nicht nur in Ostpreußen - z.B. Gdingen(heute Gdynia)wurde ab 1938 Gotenhafen genannt .

    • @dann5480
      @dann5480 5 місяців тому

      Older germans? You mean the ones who served in Hitlers army?

    • @Wolf-hh4rv
      @Wolf-hh4rv 4 місяці тому

      We all know of the horrifying atrocities visited upon East Prussian civilians. by the Russians. Crimes not forgotten and deserve no forgiveness.

  • @n.e.barton1299
    @n.e.barton1299 6 місяців тому +3

    Vaga Bond, your content is very good. Kaliningrad was a most interesting trip.

  • @dashaignatieva6480
    @dashaignatieva6480 6 місяців тому +2

    Amazing video!
    With love, from Kaliningrad.

  • @illuminatidestroyerbear2231
    @illuminatidestroyerbear2231 6 місяців тому +8

    You give the best tours and information about the places that you visit, Thank you my friend.

  • @andrey39
    @andrey39 6 місяців тому +44

    Чел, я как калининградец могу сказать, что ты нашел самые перди области, настоящий архитектурный проктолог. Браво, это талант. )))) По подаче одно не понравилось - не Сталин аннексировал, а Сталин с Черчилем и Рузвельтом подписали договор о репарациях. 1/3 Востойной Пруссии - СССР, 2/3 - Польше (тоже получается аннексировали? sic!), а литовцам Мемель / Клайпеда + часть куршской косы.

    • @BanBootlicking
      @BanBootlicking 6 місяців тому +2

      Great comment!
      It's sad that people are misinformed into oversimplified or false historical narratives of a supposedly omnipotent Stalin. It's shocking how pervasive it is.

    • @ikariameriks
      @ikariameriks 6 місяців тому

      You are on Foreign land. And of course it's Stalin and russkies who occupied Konigsberg. And the baltics. And so much more.

    • @BanBootlicking
      @BanBootlicking 6 місяців тому +2

      @@ikariameriks
      The Naz!s and their collaborators shouldn't have invaded the USSR and tried genociding its people then. See Generalplan Ost.
      Fuck around and find out -- simple as...
      The Baltics are not real countries anyway. They have been Polish, Swedish, German and now American colonies. Glorified military outposts against the East.

    • @andrey39
      @andrey39 6 місяців тому +1

      @@ikariameriks shut up shouting insect, nobody asked you who's this land is.

    • @andrey39
      @andrey39 6 місяців тому +15

      @@ikariameriks this land is small payment for millions killed Russians . Germans who lived here and in polish part of Prussia were thrown away from here but at least not killed.

  • @ronuren3117
    @ronuren3117 2 місяці тому +2

    I watch you from Sydney Australia, I love the trips you make. Your amazing. Ron

  • @stoephead
    @stoephead 6 місяців тому +2

    We love this history. Thankyou for sharing. A great video

  • @vorwaerts_nie_zurueck
    @vorwaerts_nie_zurueck 6 місяців тому +3

    As always, great stuff. Thank you for these insights into a very interesting place

  • @Slykkpkins
    @Slykkpkins 6 місяців тому +7

    I was so fascinated by all the history you shared. I hope to visit this area soon.Thank you.

  • @vsg24
    @vsg24 6 місяців тому +2

    I enjoyed your conversation with the locals very much

  • @14Forseti
    @14Forseti 6 місяців тому +1

    your videos are always so interesting and exciting. thank u for that!

  • @timojo819
    @timojo819 4 місяці тому +28

    Thanks a lot Dude. Nice Documentary
    As a German I am evertytime proud of our Infrastructure which obviously can stand nearly everything.
    Hope that there will be Peace, so that i am able to visit our old Land of prussia.

    • @JORMUNREKKR
      @JORMUNREKKR 4 місяці тому +2

      I believe you can always visit Poland, which took a much bigger chunk of Ostpreußen.

    • @daddydallas4789
      @daddydallas4789 4 місяці тому +3

      You can visit Russia, Kaliningrad as well, no problem, even these days. Russia hasn't imposed restrictions on ordinary German citizens unlike vice versa.

    • @pije_whiskey
      @pije_whiskey 3 місяці тому +2

      @@daddydallas4789 if you are american or european going to russia right now that is a death sentence for you. Even if they let you stay a little longer and see some russia, you will end up as a hostage with 10-years-sentence in colony fuckin far away from anything. I also think that russia is beautiful and tourism in this country would be amazing, but don't forget about what kind of terrorist state we are talking about.

    • @daddydallas4789
      @daddydallas4789 3 місяці тому +3

      @@pije_whiskey Where did you get all that information from? Because thats such BS man, you can visit Russia no problem, my sister and her family frequently visits Russia as German citizens, and they always just chill there and have a good time

    • @pije_whiskey
      @pije_whiskey 3 місяці тому +1

      @@daddydallas4789 yeah right, as a German from Stuttgart B-W I know many "german citizens" born in russia, so maybe they visit their homeland. Unfortunetely they barely speak german

  • @joepeach997
    @joepeach997 6 місяців тому +4

    You were born for this journey! They way you approach subjects pulls me in as almost if I am there. The places you visit are priceless gifts to me. The most endearing aspect of all are the people you meet, drive with, stay with, and more. Sometimes I wish you could spend more time with them, it is so good for the soul to know that these folks are just like me/us. Please stay safe and keep up this most beautiful life journey!

  • @p0k314COM
    @p0k314COM 5 місяців тому +1

    Thank you for this video. Excellent documentary. Professional job.

  • @vitot9286
    @vitot9286 6 місяців тому +1

    Awesome video man. Thanks for sharing.

  • @carlmichael29
    @carlmichael29 Місяць тому +3

    My aunt's boyfriend's family was from Ozyorsk (Darkehmen, Angerapp). They came to the US in the early 1950's. I'm not sure if they got out of East Prussia before or after the Soviets marched through. All I know is they came to the US in the early 1950's from East Prussia. His family doesn't talk much about the war or anything right after the war.
    War is hell. I hold no ill feelings towards the Germans or Russians. I just wish for peace for everyone.
    Can someone in Ozyorsk do me a favor or two? The old church you mentioned... My aunt's boyfriend's family was married in that church. There is a cemetery by the old church. My aunt's boyfriend's family are buried in that cemetery. I was hoping someone could look next time they are by the old cemetery and see if they can find any cemetery stones with the last name Naubereit on them.
    There is a lot of lost family genealogy from Ozyorsk (and Kaliningrad Oblast in general) that is lost to history. It would be nice if the old cemeteries in Ozyorsk and Kalinigrad Oblast were documented and added to the website "find a grave" so future generations of people can find their family and ancestors.
    Even if someone could give me the names and dates of birth and death on the stones I could add them to find a grave myself.
    Thank You.
    It is my wish to visit Russia and Kaliningrad Oblast one day.
    Best wishes and peace to all.

  • @rayodarkwater7118
    @rayodarkwater7118 6 місяців тому +4

    You are doing a good job mate. Keep at it. *hug

  • @meinbur
    @meinbur 4 місяці тому

    Thank you for this very interesting eploration/explanation! I have been watching it out till the end.

  • @phil3924
    @phil3924 4 місяці тому

    This channel is so impressive. You know so much about these places.

  • @nasjho420
    @nasjho420 6 місяців тому +8

    i dont know why, but your accent is much easier to understand than some american english speakers, for me at least. i'm brazilian btw
    nice video and trip, as always

    • @captainhurricane5705
      @captainhurricane5705 5 місяців тому

      His accent sounds Dutch to me, rather than American English.

  • @ScrotusXL
    @ScrotusXL 6 місяців тому +47

    Vagabond, your channel is unique. OK Bald and Bankrupt comes close, but he doesn't explore remote abandoned places on his own or ride iron ore trains across the whole of the Russian Federation eating nothing but noodles and wearing just a light rain jacket! 😂 Keep up the great work, Kaliningrad is such a strange and interesting place that we haven't seen on TV or UA-cam in the UK. So much history although sadly mostly just related to invasion and conflict. Including today...

    • @Sniperboy5551
      @Sniperboy5551 6 місяців тому +10

      I’m glad we can agree that Vagabond beats Bald. I love both channels, but there’s just something beautiful about a native Russian exploring his own country. I’ve already seen all of Bald’s Russia videos and he has been banned, so it’s nice to see some new stuff from Vagabond’s perspective!

    • @yumallah
      @yumallah 6 місяців тому +38

      But the thing is, unlike Bald, who is a British sex tourist, Vagabond is a real Russian (like me btw) traveling around his own country completely off the grid.

    • @randylahey1822
      @randylahey1822 6 місяців тому +3

      @@yumallah True! Haven't watched bald since that space shuttle finally and the Russian authorities doesn't want him back (yet) so don't expect to see any stuff from him in a while. Vagabond can do it without any questionable shenanigans.

    • @disconnected22
      @disconnected22 6 місяців тому +6

      Simple: Ivan is hardcore, Bald is not

    • @valdemarforsman
      @valdemarforsman 6 місяців тому

      Bald makes good content but he is, for many reasons, an immoral asshole. So I much rather watch someone else make these kinds of videos.

  • @rimux1225
    @rimux1225 3 місяці тому +1

    What a great video - thank you, spasibo, and best wishes from Lithuania.

  • @rustyduktape
    @rustyduktape 6 місяців тому +1

    Sunday morning, coffee is ready, and I see a new Vagabond video! Awesome!

  • @classic.cameras
    @classic.cameras 6 місяців тому +5

    Thank you for doing this. I remember in February 2022 seeing this little think on the map of Russia when everyone was talking about the war and google mapping it to see what the heck Kaliningrad was. This is even better as it makes me feel like, I have seen this strange place.

  • @metamedi7661
    @metamedi7661 4 місяці тому +6

    Your channel is a true gem, thanks for your productions
    I have no idea how you can tolerate riding the world in empty train cars on such a low budget. I admire your inner faith that all will be well, no matter what. You do teach, you know that right?

  • @MikeZ32TT
    @MikeZ32TT 6 місяців тому +1

    Hello Vegabond, thanks for another great video.

  • @captainbackflash
    @captainbackflash 6 місяців тому +14

    Thank you for showing the region of East Prussia and Königsberg. It looks and feels like home to me. Cool, just added you on Instagram.

  • @wanderingtiger8772
    @wanderingtiger8772 4 місяці тому +1

    Thankyou for making this! I’ve always found Kaliningrad fascinating. I’d like to visit someday

  • @UberGrunk
    @UberGrunk 6 місяців тому +24

    Vistula is also the name of one of the biggest rivers in Poland, it flows out into the Baltic Sea near Gdańsk, so not far from where you were. This river flows through both Warsaw and Kraków and originates from the mountains in the south of Poland

  • @jaytecx5942
    @jaytecx5942 6 місяців тому +4

    Отлично видео!

  • @BuyLuxuryFootRestsFromTh-bw8ub
    @BuyLuxuryFootRestsFromTh-bw8ub 6 місяців тому +2

    Great exploration video as always Thank You

  • @tommassini6242
    @tommassini6242 6 місяців тому +1

    Thanks for another fantastic video.

  • @TreborInPHL
    @TreborInPHL 6 місяців тому +25

    I rarely watch a full 90 minute video, but this is great. Hearing the history along with all the sites is fantastic. Plus the journey itself is cool. Plus no garbage and no homeless people, seems very nice.

  • @ccragrat
    @ccragrat 6 місяців тому +34

    I've only been to Kaliningrad once and only for a day but after seeing this video I want to go back and see more. Svetlogorsk reminded me of Sopot in Poland. The Kalingrad oblast has so much history and beautiful landscape to take in. Thank you Ivan and please keep this quality content coming.

    • @lucasrem
      @lucasrem 6 місяців тому

      You need Walls of war, castles
      why you need quality on UA-cam ? What did you meant ?

    • @tevarinvagabond1192
      @tevarinvagabond1192 6 місяців тому +22

      It's just sad...all the history and culture but it got ruined by Russia

    • @admin6884
      @admin6884 6 місяців тому +10

      ​@@tevarinvagabond1192What you said made me laugh. Russia is the country that preserves the best historical monuments in Europe. Go to other countries and do they preserve historical sites like Russia?

    • @tevarinvagabond1192
      @tevarinvagabond1192 6 місяців тому

      @@admin6884 Your statement is such a joke, you must never have traveled many places in Europe or the rest of the world... Communist countries, on the other hand, destroyed a great deal of the past, as much as they could in order to supplant "the old order". Please read history books a bit more before making whacky outburts

    • @Vitalis94
      @Vitalis94 6 місяців тому +17

      @@admin6884 Yes? I mean, just compare how much more German architecture there is in Lithuania or Poland alone, compared to Kaliningrad.

  • @sabastianbismarck8050
    @sabastianbismarck8050 6 місяців тому +1

    Great video thank you. Insightful.

  • @o_s-24
    @o_s-24 25 днів тому

    Found this channel a couple of days ago, now I'm addicted. Great work! I lived in Moscow for some time, but never went outside the oblast, so this is very very interesting

  • @88arakvita
    @88arakvita 6 місяців тому +5

    Wow so beautiful . The train reminds me the tranvía of Mexico City. Wow so much history in this Russian enclave. Love ❤ from Minneapolis Minnesota 🙏🙏

  • @pyroakakohleblock584
    @pyroakakohleblock584 6 місяців тому +60

    Bits of remembrance of a glorious architectural past, ending up in a homogenous soviet concrete block city without any Identity. My Grandmother was from Königsberg and always wanted to go back. Her visit after 1991 probably was the biggest disappointment of her late life. No revanchism or hate against Russians, but personally Russia feels like a big grey wasteland to me.

    • @user-pf3kv4bv5s
      @user-pf3kv4bv5s 5 місяців тому +13

      This is only in the Khrushchev era and after.
      In the pre-revolutionary and Stalinist periods, everything was built in the neoclassical style, which is fine

    • @pyroakakohleblock584
      @pyroakakohleblock584 5 місяців тому

      yes but not in königsberg
      @@user-pf3kv4bv5s

    • @orderr928
      @orderr928 5 місяців тому

      🤣@@user-pf3kv4bv5s

    • @nikitadovidchenko6336
      @nikitadovidchenko6336 5 місяців тому +3

      Kaliningrad since then was rebuild and polished, right now it is looking very attractive especially the center and it is now have its own appearance.

    • @orderr928
      @orderr928 5 місяців тому

      wow very attractive two streets, rest shithole, but shitholes are attractive for ruzzians@@nikitadovidchenko6336

  • @mirrorimage5423
    @mirrorimage5423 6 місяців тому +2

    You make great content! Спасибо большое.

  • @user-zn5ly1zt6w
    @user-zn5ly1zt6w 3 місяці тому +1

    Excellent tour- great job- Ive always been curious about this place and you have given me much great information- Im going to pass this to my friends !!- W

  • @martso9288
    @martso9288 6 місяців тому +8

    The bridge across Neman in Sovetsk/Tilsit/Tilžė connected a suburb, now independent town in Lithuania, Panemunė, which translates to "By Neman"

    • @carl2994
      @carl2994 6 місяців тому

      DE in that time just made a bridge to another suburb of Tilžė, nice. Nemunas was just a small river for them

  • @hetty43
    @hetty43 4 місяці тому +6

    As a German student in the early 1980s we were never told about Kaliningrad/Konigsberg. As far as we were told Germany consisted of West and East Germany. We were never told about Prussia or the German regions now in Poland.
    There is a very interesting museum nowadays in Gdańsk which I was lucky to visit which also showed something of German populations in the region.
    Very interesting to see all this. Thanks.

  • @cinemart5281
    @cinemart5281 6 місяців тому

    Thank you for the detailed chapters!!!

  • @Yanagi88
    @Yanagi88 6 місяців тому +2

    1 and a half hours! Thank you sir!

  • @DerJuvens
    @DerJuvens 6 місяців тому +6

    A bastion, by the way, usually tends to be a separate, further forward position that was indeed the first place to be assaulted. The point was to deplete enemy forces from a position, that you could abandon eventually to fall back to the main fortress with minimal risk for your own life or the entire fortress being captured upon retreat.

  • @ivanb4816
    @ivanb4816 6 місяців тому +15

    The area he called "favellas" is a former Soviet boathouses "cooperative", they are called "(h)ellings", as I recall, the owners were smart enough to transform them into habitable houses during the administrative chaos of the 90s.

  • @DJones1861
    @DJones1861 4 місяці тому

    What a wonderful tour! As a student of history this is an area I wanted to explore. Thank you for sharing with everyone!

  • @jan-erikandersen933
    @jan-erikandersen933 3 місяці тому

    Thx for the nice video and a great history lesson.
    Some of it I knew from before, but you did a great job completing it.

  • @bjrnbreivik4582
    @bjrnbreivik4582 6 місяців тому +3

    Been there in July on my way with my wife to her hometown in Ufa. Pretty nice place, clean and lots of nice things to see. Even tho its small. Also lived in hotel Skiperskaya in this fishin village :) cozy area. Bagrationovsk has border crossing with polan. I mean just few kms away. Thats where i have been crossing border to and from Russia. However its not for pedestrians. U need to be at least on bicycle to cross it.

  • @fuckinguser1554
    @fuckinguser1554 6 місяців тому +14

    Какой же Калининград красивый, хотел бы я в нём побывать... а точно, я ведь здесь как раз живу :)

    • @user-mu8gb7zh6l
      @user-mu8gb7zh6l 5 місяців тому +7

      Он был красивым когда назывался Кёнигсбергом. А сейчас это типичный Мухосранск, как и в прочем и твой родной город

    • @user-gn9yr1gm1k
      @user-gn9yr1gm1k 5 місяців тому

      ​@@user-mu8gb7zh6l хрюкни

    • @amann9963
      @amann9963 5 місяців тому

      Хрюкни@@user-mu8gb7zh6l

    • @user-hy3dv5wh1z
      @user-hy3dv5wh1z 2 місяці тому

      ​@@user-mu8gb7zh6lМухосранск это твой хутор близ Диканьки . Калининград был разрушен союзниками Как и Дрезден . В России большая часть городов выглядит лучше чем города Европы . Париж помойка , хотя его бюджет выше чем у Калининграда ты видишь где то бездомных , горы мусора , может наркоманы в лужах дерьма на каждом шагу ? В США и Европе этого полно .Бюджет Нью-Йорка больше чем у всей России ,он должен блестеть как бриллиант , а в метро должен ездить футуристический поезд из фильмов про будущее

  • @o0oSM00THo0o
    @o0oSM00THo0o 5 місяців тому

    Great Videos. Relaxed, informativ and real. I chuckled when you told us what vegetagles the residents grow in their gardens :D

  • @SenBonZakura2007
    @SenBonZakura2007 Місяць тому

    So well researched. Well done mate

  • @nacekozo
    @nacekozo 6 місяців тому +6

    John Kay, the lead singer of Steppenwolf ("Born to be Wild"), was born in Tilsit, as was Edgar Froese, founder of Tangerine Dream. So it has some considerable musical pedigree!

    • @donce18
      @donce18 6 місяців тому

      Russians killed his father

    • @JSEITSONEN
      @JSEITSONEN 6 місяців тому +2

      Did not know that ! Very important information to me !

  • @NG-rv4pb
    @NG-rv4pb 11 днів тому +1

    Extremely informative and captivating footage! Well done!

  • @XxKross1995xX
    @XxKross1995xX 6 місяців тому +8

    Hello from Canada 🇨🇦 Big fan of your channel. I love how you show everyday life for the Russian people; as well as, the historical and natural environment.

  • @DEVINdevdev
    @DEVINdevdev 6 місяців тому

    Amazing video Vagabond!

  • @mancroft
    @mancroft 6 місяців тому +1

    Fascinating. Thank you.

  • @bhoward9378
    @bhoward9378 6 місяців тому +4

    This is by far one of your most interesting and informative videos. Sadly, it is so riddled with spam ads (some just a few minutes apart), that is is difficult and very time consuming to watch. I've heard from other UA-camrs that it is possible for you to reduce ads. Please consider doing so.

    • @randylahey1822
      @randylahey1822 6 місяців тому +2

      spark adblock*

    • @SvengelskaBlondie
      @SvengelskaBlondie 6 місяців тому +2

      Just get an adblocker or use a browser with an adblocker, the ad spam comes from
      youtube trying to compensate for the people blocking ads.

  • @KHLalekseyanov
    @KHLalekseyanov 6 місяців тому +4

    I visited the city in 1990, very beautiful place and the mix of German and Russian architecture.

    • @lucasrem
      @lucasrem 6 місяців тому +5

      Mix of tanks and walls !

    • @KHLalekseyanov
      @KHLalekseyanov 6 місяців тому

      @@lucasrem That was the gloomy part I wanted to avoid, but yes it was a sore eye for several years. Not much has changed in Yakutia since the ice age, ))).

  • @TUBESPECIFIC1
    @TUBESPECIFIC1 6 місяців тому +1

    Excellent explore! thanks

  • @deutscherschwur6657
    @deutscherschwur6657 4 місяці тому +5

    Königsberg !

  • @user-ne4kh8vy6l
    @user-ne4kh8vy6l 6 місяців тому +6

    I like the content, but noticed lots of your videos have false info in them and in the titles as well.
    I noticed the word "Russia's outpost in Europe" , given the fact that 1/4 of Russia is in Europe all the way to the Ural mountains and that part of Russia is still the biggest European country by size.
    How it could be the outpost when big part of Russia especially the most developed one and it's historical core and in Europe.

  • @Peter-MH
    @Peter-MH 6 місяців тому +1

    Great video, some very interesting history!

  • @kyk1682
    @kyk1682 6 місяців тому

    Dude you make awesome content. Thanks for sharing

  • @zeisselgaertner3212
    @zeisselgaertner3212 6 місяців тому +8

    There is a reason why many cities throughout the German Reich had tram tracks with a 1000 mm gauge.
    In order to keep municipal competetors away, especially for the transport of goods with standard freight wagons the German railway authorities (Deutsche Reichsbahn) had the monopoly to build tracks with the European standard gauge of 1435 mm.
    Nevertheless some cities wanted to link their local tram network to the Reichsbahn network to bring goods right into the center on standard gauge. Therefore they had to pay a fee to the Reichsbahn.
    So in the end some cities like Frankfurt on Main, Munich, Cologne or Berlin used standard gauge.
    Other cities like Stuttgart, Mannheim or Erfurt used the 1000 mm system.

  • @MM-zg4wu
    @MM-zg4wu 6 місяців тому +5

    Interestingly, I can still apply for a free tourist visa. On the other hand, Booking does not book there and apparently no one gets a visa anyway. I checked it by watching a movie and remembering when I was there a few years ago. May the world be normal again someday.

    • @ivantrainsLIVE
      @ivantrainsLIVE  6 місяців тому +4

      Things like Booking and AirBnB do not work in Russia currently which indeed makes search of accommodation more difficult. I easily booked a hostel in Kaliningrad via Ostrovok - a local adaptation if Booking with almost the same interface. However, due to generally lesser popularity of this app, there is often very few reviews of accommodation which are important for me to read for better understanding where I am going to stay. In addition, some accommodations miss in Ostrovok. So it might be challenging sometimes to deal with booking, especially in small towns.

  • @dennisschwartzentruber3204
    @dennisschwartzentruber3204 5 місяців тому +1

    Excellent work !

  • @darrenalevi3006
    @darrenalevi3006 6 місяців тому

    great video Vagabond love the history

  • @marcelgowa
    @marcelgowa 6 місяців тому +12

    they forced my grandparents out of this area back then, im kinda glad now when i look at this town :D

    • @slidenapps
      @slidenapps 6 місяців тому +8

      You have to remember it was destroyed and rebuilt. The Soviets took everything that wasn't nailed down from Europe. It's actually amazing it looks as good as it does.