GRITTY LATVIAN WAR MOVIE: Historian Reacts to Blizzard of Souls 

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Thank you for reviewing this movie but it really bugs me when you say this is from the russian perspective. You are wrong. Latvia isnt Russia. The actors are Latvian and the characters are also Latvian. You call yourself a historian but cant even check such an important detail. It is very disrespectful of you. Especially in these times. Please be more mindful

This is Not a russian perspective movie. This is strictly a latvian one.

The movie is not actually from russian perspective, it is from latvian perspective. Don't mistake Russia with Latvia ;)

The blood from the ears is meant to represent ruptured eardrums from the bombardement which would fit with the tinnitus noise after. It can happen from explosions and even gun shots but it's rarer than one'd think...

Latvian American here. My late Grandfather fought in this war. He didn't even have time to change his uniform from coming home from the battlefield of World War I. Dievs svētī Latviju!

1. Please dont call us a "russian army", we are latvians. 2. All Quiet On The Western Front was made AFTER The Blizzard Of Souls. 3. The bleeding ears were from a bombardment explosion going off very close.

The scene does not depict the attack at Misa river. It is the 3rd Courland Latvian riflemen battalion, which was placed into battle later and took its first battle near Pavasari manor. The main wrong thing about the scene is sitting in trenches before the attack. In reality the battalion arrived at the front in the evening, stayed for several hours in Sloka and in 5:30 in the morning was sent to attack German positions. Two regiments attacked Pavasari manor, two others attacked a farm near Pavasari. The main character was with the troops attacking the farm. Due to no reconnaissance nobody new, where the Germans were and how many of them were holding the positions. So the riflemen were moving slowly in the fog holding the line formation until they encountered the Germans. And yes, there was thick fog in the morning.

1:55 after experiencing extreme loud sounds the eardrum can rip and bleed i believe thats what the are trying to say in that scene

The tight line they form around 6:30 makes sense for the year from an officer trained decades before. Close formation was pretty standard pre WW1. The “survival rule{s]” mentioned took a lot of blood to learn. Tactics may have evolved more in WW1 than ever before or since.

22:32 Actually, blood coming from ears after a near-by explosion is "normal". It does happen. Eardrums burst. It also causes disorientation... You see, explosions make huge shock wave and air pressure which can cause this as well as other internal injuries

You literally watched 7min of the movie, showing only one battle scene. It was a single battle that the movie was not even based around. The movie showed the freeing of Latvia form Germans (I dont remember if it showed the freeing form Russians) and there where more battles like Cēsu kaujas. You watched the whole movie, right? Just made the video about this certain battle scene because it had the most action? But great video, really enjoyed watching it! You should make more videos about Latvia during WWI I think there is a great story potential there. This movie showed the whole story.

Seems like an interesting movie, didn't even know we had movies like this produced nowadays.

According to some sources, the winchester m1895 was more widely used by the Latvian Riflemen, as the mosin nagants were reserved for the Russian forces as the better rifle.

It was the most realistic WW1 movie so far. 1944 which is also Latvian is great and super realistic.

With problems with numbers I just assume that the others are simply not visible. It allows the director to imply large numbers without paying for either extras and their kit or CGI.

The lead seriously looks like he aged substantially through the movie. Best representation of how extreme stress can age soldier that I’ve seen in a movie

And again mistakes, when you don't know anything about some topics don't comment them.

Ok I’m going to quickly give lecture on ww1 tactics that no one seems to understand. In our modern point of view, getting out out of your trench and walking slowly towards the enemy is an awful idea. But that’s because modern armies are much smaller. Back in the day armies where much larger and not every soldier could be briefed on what the battle plan was. Having your men form a line and walk is something everyone can understand. In our modern times all soldiers are briefed on what their mission is, to the smallest detail so an individual has the information needed to complete the mission. In ww1 that just takes to much time. So now we’ve established a line of dudes was the only way to organise, why not run? Because people run at different speeds and the terrain isn’t even which slows down some men. If you have them walk, the men can easily catch up to the line if they get slowed by an obstacle. And as I said, men run at different speeds, so If they run each one will reach the enemy at a different time and will enter the trench one by one. This disorganises the men, and if you know anything about history you’ll know that once the men are disorganised, they flee. Keeping the men shoulder to shoulder decreases the chance of a rout even if more of them die because of it. If you spread out the men so they aren’t all bunched up they will still be terrified because they are alone. Humans are just weird like that. So in ww1 tactics aren’t actually stupid like we think in the modern era. They serve a peruse. It keeps the men organised and it’s easy to understand. That’s why it was done.

It took a great amount of Google research ... about 3 minutes ... to verify that a) sudden pressure change can rupture the eardrum and b) that can result in bleeding from the ear. If you are too lazy to invest the time, then perhaps you should take Abraham Lincoln's advice on remaining silent.

This movie is from a latvian perspective NOT russian

20:05 choking each other in the trenches was very common. It was mentioned by veterans very, very often and it was also present in paintings and drawings of the period.

Can you please react and do an analysis on the Estonian ww2 war movie "1944" by Elmo Nüganen based on the long defense of the Tannenberg line. Love your content man, keep it up!

Many already pointed out, that this is not from Russian perspective. Yes, we were occupied by both fronts, yes we were fighting on the Russian side, but this is not Russian perspective, this is perspective from an average Latvian in WW1, what influence did Imperial Russia brought to our ancestors in WW1 era, and how, at the end, our own army was formed after gaining our independence. Advice next time: Before watching historical war movies, read the book on which this movie is based on, or at least do some wikipedia research about it. Regards to the actor and Alexander Green, is that the actor is not portraying Alexander Green, neither the book is about him particularly, it's the summary of every soldier's story of WW1 and personal experiences. The actor basically or literally is playing many soldiers at the same time, because he represents them all. It's a story about through what a Latvian average soldier went through in WW1, what struggles they had, what were the happy moments, the pleasures, and the agony. I am slightly baffled about your concern with WW1 tactics and strategies, it's not the fault of the movie, because that's how it actually was back then. You can watch "All Quiet on the Western Front", I think it's basically the same, and "1917" too. That's just how they rolled back in WW1. Fun fact about battles in the movie. Most significant battles were filmed on the exact locations where the actual battles happened, especially the Christmas Battles and the battle at the Tīrelis Bog that is visible. Those places are under historical protection as well and has museums, especially at Christmas Battles, everything in that museum is about all of these battles, because most of the battles that happened and were filmed, happened around the same location, few km of difference from one to another location. The fights and other battles you mention around Riga weren't filmed nor incorporated specifically, since those battles filmed in the movie were the exact battles that happened in the same location over the bog and in the forest on winter season. About the shots in the mist, I haven't read the book, but I think those were supposed to be random shots, some missed, but some hit. Sound is a dead giveaway, hence why nobody is running, but hearing some branches cracking and wet ground being stomped is probably what gives away approximate location, so some shots are random and lucky or unlucky.

Have a look at the unknown soldier from Finland

I saw his intro Immediately sorted by new to see if he is an arrogant ass HE IS turns out That Dunning-Kruger Tone in the voice just... Its unique

The roll on their shoulder is not the plashpalatka, its an overcoat. The Eastern Front channel made a video on it (:

You ever heard of burst eardrums? Artillery blasts can be strong enough to burst your eardrums easily.

Before for the 2 minute mark in reference to the bleeding ears: you don't need a blow to the head or to be concussed for blood to come out of your ears. It's not uncommon in that Era for artillery rounds that land too close to rupture one of, or both, of a soldiers ear drums from the impact of the rounds in which cause the ear or ears would bleed from the perforation of the eardrums

Do a review on The Unknown Soldier! Its free on YLE Areena

"He's only a Sergeant Major... Command of a squad... They're not gonna do this attack with only a squad, it's a bit ridicules" Dude you forgot that this is a Russian army... Times have not changed...

"movie from Russian perspective"(05.29).... For historian you deeply misunderstood the main point of the movie. Or is the author Alkesands Grīns, and Latvia just a part of the "bigger Russia"? Grrrr...

Seems like the translation isn't the greatest. For example, around the 4 minute mark, the Latvian text doesn't directly say that "they'll start firing harder", "Sāks kurināt vēl stiprāk" is closer to "they'll put on more pressure", which makes far more sense than the English subtitles

I just subscribed like yesterday and next day your reviewing a movie from my country and fun fact i actually voice acted a russian soldier who was taken hostage

I noticed all the Mosins seemed too short. I imagine it’s a concession to the prop department not being able to find enough full length 91 rifles. Dressing up a 91/30 seems worth it as most viewers won’t know or care.

Can you make a video on a reaction of the battle scene in the siege of jadotville its one of my favorite movies

This is from Latvian perspective not Russian, time and time again you misinterpret historical facts.

Dude like 4 real WW1 Historian reacted to this movie and said it's most accurate one what they seen ever

I' m from Latvia - and this area is still a swampy place.

What really bugs me the most about WWI films in general is that they would depict soldiers getting traumatized in the moment. Get hesitant in dire moments, get all sensitive and emotional when they bayoneted their “frightful, young” enemy soldier. This is the reality of close quarters combat according to British soldiers on the Western Front; they were always afraid, but once they climbed over the top and were preceding with an attack, they would effectively suppress it and act upon training and instinct for survival. Countless veterans would always say that they were mostly afraid during the “lull” the final minutes before “Zero Hour”; time to climb out of the trenches and attack. Once they would jump into the carnage in an enemy trench, they never hesitated to what they did to any enemy soldier that had the misfortune to get in their way. Primal instinct takes over and you’re basically shooting and bashing left and right without hesitation at anyone who was on the other side, because even just stalling for a second meant certain death from the enemy. Thoughts of “oh no, how awful were killing each other boo hoo hoo” never would come across the mind. Instead, you’d be giving in to the instinct to “kill the enemy, kill the enemy, KILL THE ENEMY!” It was literally kill or be killed and hesitation meant death. Anyone who did became instant target practice or dummy for hand to hand combat. The trauma of brutal close quarters combat doesn’t really come until LONG after things have quieted down and the fighting has stopped. Because you are finally allowed to mentally and emotionally go over and contemplate what just happened and what you did. That’s what real combat is more like. Not some boo-hooing snotty-nosed frightful staring contests between enemies as they literally are feet apart from each other.

You should do a review on Our World War. It was made based on the accounts of 3 different soldiers. I really enjoyed watching it and wanted to learn more about the events that the show was based on.

dude it was their first battle right after training, so they got stressed and didn't know what to do. that's why they weren't very stealthy and fast

Latvian riflemens was armed with Japanese Arisaki rifles. Rare and atypical weapons in the Russian army. The director has chosen an iconic rifle.

HistoryLegends you should check out Unknown Soldier. It's a Finnish war movie about the continuation war with the Soviet Union.

If the German sniper had an optic he may have been able to spot movement.

its not the side of russians but latvians

I liked it a lot! Will you cover the other battles as well?

Brother mind doing a reaction on cod WORLD AT WAR plzzzzzzzzzzz

History legends there's a in my opinion is pretty good called silent mountain (2014). It's about the Italian front and fighting in the alps and I want you to react to the battle scenes in it because I want a front that nobody talks about like the AMAZING movie april 9th that you reacted to. Please make that happen if you can thank you.

I am latvian❤

Are you seeking historic details in the movie ? So better start with attack on Winter palace in 1917, start with 29 panfilovites , start with Peter the Great , and then explain all the historic untruth actually about any reference to ruzzias history.

The poverty of the Russian army supply is also shown. It is known that there was a shortage of helmets for Latvian battalions..only some would have them. Then, in the wintertime they would have a winter hat. As seen on photos of the platoon, they would have those caucasian papahs(Папаха).

What a TOOL...

I dont know if this is correct but im pretty sure the russian empire fought a war against the japanese empire in 1905, but then again i dont think a latvian commander would be sent all the way to manchuria to fight the japanese

React to Banzai charge in 'OBA THE LAST SAMURAI' or Korean war film 'TAE GUK GI' PLZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Analysis is rubish and too negative. Although kudos for research done. And don't call Latvians russian.

Pls react to tuntematon sotilas (aka the Unknown soldier " Continuation war movie/ Series from finland 🇫🇮

The bleeding from the ears thing kinda annoys me. They weren’t that close. My brother got hit when serving by a mortar. Luckily it was sand he was on so it absorbed the shrapnel mostly. Really only lost his hearing. I still have his flak jacket he was wearing actually

Me as a Latvian who is proud with this film will not take any bad comments and explainings because it makes me disgusted. so just be a little good boy stop critisizing and enjoy. AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD IT IS FROM LATVIAN PERSPECTIVE NOT RUSSIAN YOU FOOL!!!!!

Personally I loved that movie, because Im Latvian;D.

Am from Latvia

My grandfather shot a lot of russians....he said that it was impossible to reload machinegun because you had to shoot it all the time and gun got so hot that it was impossible to handle. He said that it literally was a meatgrinder....and soviets just kept sending more and more soldiers untill you were not able to shoot them all....im talking ww2 now

No offence, bud. Why do you say at one stage when it was from movie "All quite on W...." when this movie came out 2 years before that one? Not logical. Seems lile you hold grudge on Lv than anything else

Latvian units in WW1 also use japan Arisaka Tip 38 rifles....

The movie is based of the book - novel by Aleksands Grīns. Read the book - it is much better. I read it several times.

Isn't that obvious?? The German sniper at minute 14:17 should have been equipped with an thermal scope!! Didn't you learn anything from Call of Duty Vanguard about old classic weapons?? You disappoint me... 😜 Hahaha

Mistake of begining in movie oficer give comad atech bayonets but the imperial russian army have order to constatly have bayonets on rifles even when they in trench when they far from front they will stl cary on rifles but turned up side down.

the name of the mosin m1891 Drogoon never was a mosin nagant it is just incorect

As a Latvian you could do a breakdown on the movie ,Pagan king’ on a semigallian prince, who’s ring is an iconic part of jewelry.

"WW1 movie from a russian perspective". Sir, you obviously know too little about Latvia to speak any further after saying this, bye.

latvian here. The movie is shit. it is terrible adaptation of the book. you can debate if the book is good or not , thats not my argument. this movie is most over hyped piece of garbage in latvian cinema i have seen. And it skips so much from book it is basicly a diferent story. and it changed enough event it does not skip , that the events not skiped losies its meaning. Also , Germans used diferent tracer rounds for their machinguns than depicted in movie.

18:44 How is it a copy of all quiet on the western front, all quiet on the western front came out in 2022 and blizzard of souls came out in 2019, this means that all quiet on the western front copied blizzard of souls.

Sorry but many aspects you represent totally wrong because of reasons unknown to me. I could agree on fight scenes that can be judged by just looking at them but geographic location n stuff well - google street view can't show you what's 200m from the road right? and believe me - we have a lot of swamps ...

Russian perspective? :D I do not even watch further. Thank u.

Creator please. This is from Latvian side of perspective not Russian, we are also picky for that, respect please here

I'm latvian and i have watched that movie and the main character is in the movie is 16 years old

In later stages of the movie the main charecter even was in the independence fights fighting both against russians and germans for Latvian independence.

All quiet on the Western front was made in 2022 and Blizzard of souls was made in 2019

we are a small nation and budget for movies is small so be quiet. and your knowledge about latvian battle graunds and battle tactics is not big. so if you want to say that the movie is not upto hollywood standarts remember that joung school boys 16 years old fought in those battles.

Due to neets problems, all soldiers in the wwl had shaved skulls. Like in the movie "a bridge too fare", long hear are killing credibility.

bruh sry but you rly think that the movie directors of such a small country would take some other movie to make a exact copy ? XD they prob have not even seen the movies u are referencing

Sish Kebap 😋😍

It's not rusha perspective, but Latvian.

1:36 compliments for the Italian pronuciation

Latvian riflemen in WW1 were armed with Winchesters, not Mosin rifles

And my frend you make mistake about theat ting over sholder russian wearing theat is actualy winter coat

why you say Russian perspective? Latvians are from Latvia.

Only now i found out that you made a video about war in my country, Thank you!

I think there was more than one 16th infantry regiment in the German army. If I recall correctly there was a 16th prussian regiment too.

I see a lack of ariaskas, hundreds of thousands were sent to russia and used by latvia

The commander is Arthur's father

You should do “Silent Mountain” about fighting in the Dolomites!

Would you also react to the battle scenes of "St George slays the dragon" (or "St George shoots the dragon") and "King Peter the first" (Kralj Petar l)? These are two fairly recent serbian WW1 films, but I know that Yugoslavia already made a WW1 movie about the battle of mountain Cer, "The march of Drina" (1964)

In the earlier scene there seems to be a lot more more men further in the fog

Dang, the author of the book at 5:52 looks a lot like the brother Edgars. I guess the actor just didn’t quite clinch the lead role for casting.

And Arthur's is 17 years

A movie about the Latvian war of Independence, calls it a Russian perspective while also calling himself a historian. 😂

Latvia isn't Russia

Its ruptured eardrums

Is this guy Lithuanian?