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Poles - what other nationality would you say you are most like?


Bzibzioh  
1 Oct 2010 /  #31
Do you think the geography of Slovakia played a role in that?

Sitting over there behind the mountains? Quite possible. And that they never did any significant waves.

Hungarians.

I knew you will say this, Torqi :)
OP Teffle  22 | 1318  
1 Oct 2010 /  #32
Don't compare the Irish always with us Poles,

You don't find any similarities apart from the drinking?

I'm surprsed as it is a comparison I hear regularly - from Poles too I should add.

What if you exclude Slavic countries?
guesswho  4 | 1272  
1 Oct 2010 /  #33
* Slavic Europe

B

* Belarus
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria

C

* Croatia

C cont.

* Czech Republic

M

* Republic of Macedonia
* Montenegro

P

* Poland

R

* Russia

S

* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia

U

* Ukraine
Paulina  16 | 4348  
1 Oct 2010 /  #34
You don't find any similarities apart from the drinking?

With the Irish?
Sure - Catholics, fighting for independence, emigration...
Torq  
1 Oct 2010 /  #35
I knew you will say this, Torqi :)

I was only stating the obvious :)
convex  20 | 3928  
1 Oct 2010 /  #36
You don't find any similarities apart from the drinking?

You don't think that the drinking cultures are different?

I was only stating the obvious :)

I'm curious about the Hungarian association, other than historic ties, how are Poles and Hungarians more similar than say Poles and Czechs?
OP Teffle  22 | 1318  
1 Oct 2010 /  #37
You don't think that the drinking cultures are different?

I do as it happens, very different really - but it was Monika who made the statement.
Torq  
1 Oct 2010 /  #38
how are Poles and Hungarians more similar than say Poles and Czechs?

Poles and Hungarians are very similar, if you compare things like: history, love of fatherland,
honour, honesty, bravery, decency, magnitude of spirit and the overall greatness (which can
clearly be seen when you look at the history of both nations.)

Polska - Węgry

Czechs are OK and I have nothing against them, but, apart from a similar language, there's
not much connecting us with our southern neighbours.
Paulina  16 | 4348  
1 Oct 2010 /  #39
I guess we just know we're different... It seems Czechs have different character and mentality... We like them, but... Poles drink vodka and Czechs drink beer, you know xD

Czechs are more pragmatic, I think, Poles are hot heads, probably like Hungarians ;)

Poles and Hungarians are very similar, if you compare things like: history, love of fatherland,
honour, honesty, bravery, decency, magnitude of spirit and the overall greatness (which can
clearly be seen when you look at the history of both nations.)

LOL

And modesty... ;D
convex  20 | 3928  
1 Oct 2010 /  #40
But that could be said for any country.

Culturally, they seem more Germanic with a splash of Balkan thrown in there for good measure.

Czechs are more pragmatic, I think, Poles are hot heads, probably like Hungarians ;)

I agree with the first part, but I think the Hungarians are quite pragmatic as a people.
Torq  
1 Oct 2010 /  #41
But that could be said for any country.

Not at all.

How's your Polish, Convex? If it's good enough, I'll send you "Węgierski łącznik" - excellent
book on Polish-Hungarian common traits and ties between our countries. Maybe then you
will understand why 10% of all members of the first Hungarian parliament after the fall
of Soviet Union spoke Polish and you might be able to grasp the idea of Polish-Hungarian
brotherhood. There's a vast literature on the subject anyway - PM me if you're interested
and I'll prepare a list of books and scientific publications for you.

Culturally, they seem more Germanic with a splash of Balkan thrown in there for good measure.

Sociological research and numerous surveys conducted by Hungarian and Polish
scientists point to similar character traits and attitudes to various aspects of life
in Poles and Hungarians. Germanic influence is probably present in both our nations
(oh, well - nobody's perfect.) Also, genetically Poles and Hungarians are very similar...

(...)the ancestors of Hungarians appeared in Europe around 40,000 years ago and genetically, the most closely related ethnic groups are Poles, Croats, Ukrainians(...)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_people
Paulina  16 | 4348  
1 Oct 2010 /  #42
a splash of Balkan thrown in there for good measure.

I agree with the first part, but I think the Hungarians are quite pragmatic as a people.

Well, I don't know any Hungarians, so I'm just guessing ;) It's just when I look at their history it seems they liked uprisings, as we did ;)))

So, maybe that "splash of Balkan" does the trick? ;)
Do you know any Hungarians?
convex  20 | 3928  
1 Oct 2010 /  #43
I'll send you "Węgierski łącznik" - excellent
book on Polish-Hungarian common traits and ties between our countries.

Not well enough for it to be worth the time, I'll read some write ups on it though :)

Also, genetically Poles and Hungarians are very similar...

There was a thread going a while back about genetic similarities, if I recall correctly, Hungarians had a fairly healthy Balkan and Germanic mix. Will have another look.

Sociological research and numerous surveys conducted by Hungarian and Polish
scientists point to similar character traits and attitudes to various aspects of life
in Poles and Hungarians.

That's interesting as I would peg them more as being closer to Germanic and Romanian culture.

Do you know any Hungarians?

Yea, I just got an apartment in Debrecen (work...). But then again, it's one of the centers of Protestantism in Hungary..
Bratwurst Boy  8 | 11914  
1 Oct 2010 /  #44
(...)the ancestors of Hungarians appeared in Europe around 40,000 years ago and genetically, the most closely related ethnic groups are Poles, Croats, Ukrainians(...)

Erm...so Poles are Mongols????

Wonders never cease...

;)
Ksysia  25 | 428  
1 Oct 2010 /  #45
I think we're like the South Africans. They don't seem awkward at all.
Bratwurst Boy  8 | 11914  
1 Oct 2010 /  #46
Hungarians are closet Germans, as are the Czechs...so!

;)
Sasha  2 | 1083  
1 Oct 2010 /  #47
Actually judging by what I've read Hungary was better for Poland as an enemy cooperating with the Nazis then the Soviet Union as an "ally" fighting the Nazis, ironically...

I don't think such a judgment is relevant. Hungary was a pawn in the battle of giants: no matter who they allied with as long as they could change nothing. Romanians collaborated with Nazis too... did they "hurt" you as much as the SU did? They didn't or to be precise they didn't impact you as much as the SU did, cause they weren't those who shared the pie either.

The question is would Poland have been given any independence (even that under the nazi-puppet regime), if the Soviets lost the war?

As for the topic I believe it's the matter of personal opinion. One could find similarities in any nation depending on one's personal attitude towards a nation.
OP Teffle  22 | 1318  
1 Oct 2010 /  #48
I think we're like the South Africans. They don't seem awkward at all.

A joke I hope!
Paulina  16 | 4348  
1 Oct 2010 /  #49
I don't think such a judgment is relevant. Hungary was a pawn in the battle of giants: no matter who they allied with as long as they could change nothing.

I'm not writing about this.
I'm writing about something else...
In 1939 Horthy refused to let the Nazi troops march through Hungarian territory to Poland and he ordered to put explosives in the railway tunels in case Germans tried to go through them by force, Hungarian soldiers helped Poles, a lot of people who were to be arrested by Gestapo were saved on the territories governed by Hungarians. You can read about stuff like this in here ("Stosunek do Polaków"), but it's in Polish:

Shortly before the attack in 1939 on the request of the German side of the opportunity to make the invasion of Poland from the territory of Hungary, Prime Minister Pál Teleki said: "On the part of Hungary is a matter of national honor not to participate in any military action against Poland." In a telegram sent to Adolf Hitler of July 24, 1939, the Teleki argued that Hungary "can not take any military action against Poland for moral reasons." The letter sparked fury of Chancellor of the Third Reich. Disclosed after the war, diplomatic correspondence fragments prove, however, that the Hungarians predicted such a development already in the beginning of 1939. in April 1939 the head of the Hungarian Istvan Csaky diplomacy in a letter to Mr Villaniego wrote: "we are not willing to participate in either indirectly or directly in military action against Poland.

pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historia_W%C4%99gier#Stosunek_do_Polak.C3.B3w

Stalin eagerly invaded Poland, ordered to kill Polish officers, the Red Army and NKVD was hunting down AK soldiers... The difference is visible, I think...

Hungarians are closet Germans, as are the Czechs...so!

;)

Sorry, BB, but we're nothing like Germans...
Amathyst  19 | 2700  
1 Oct 2010 /  #50
Finns - that's another group that are supposedly similar to the Irish. No idea myself.

I met some recently in Prague and you know what, if being friendly and enjoying a drink means they are like the Irish, then yes they most certainly are, spent a weekend in Cork a few years back and came back with a 100% positive view of the Irish..

Who are:

Britain is a bastard nation, so we are quite unique! We've been mixing with other cultures for centuries so have a mixtures of many different traits..I'd like to think we're like the French, but unfortunately we're too polite...
Bratwurst Boy  8 | 11914  
1 Oct 2010 /  #51
Sorry, BB, but we're nothing like Germans...

Are you Hungarian?

Hungarians had been part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire for a long time, soaked in german culture...Brothers in arms in WWI, losers, terrible punished by the victors losing territory, towns, people, brothers in arms in WWII, again terrible punished by the victors...

So many similiarities and connections!
Paulina  16 | 4348  
1 Oct 2010 /  #52
Are you Hungarian?

No, sorry, I've misunderstood you :)
guesswho  4 | 1272  
1 Oct 2010 /  #53
history, love of fatherland,
honour, honesty, bravery, decency, magnitude of spirit and the overall greatness (which can
clearly be seen when you look at the history of both nations.)

Some of your points would be a great material to discuss about in another thread :-)
OP Teffle  22 | 1318  
1 Oct 2010 /  #54
I'd like to think we're like the French, but unfortunately we're too polite...

Ha ha - no, not the French at all. At least not in my opinion.

If anyone, I'd say the Germans - although I've a sneaking suspicion that not too many people from either country would agree.

But of course that's only because they can't see the wood for the trees.

: )

By the way I'm talking really the English here rather than the British as such.

overall greatness

LOL - I love this by the way!
Paulina  16 | 4348  
1 Oct 2010 /  #55
Hungarians had been part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire for a long time, soaked in german culture...Brothers in arms in WWI, losers, terrible punished by the victors losing territory, towns, people, brothers in arms in WWII, again terrible punished by the victors...

So many similiarities and connections!

I don't know, BB, Hungarians are Finno-Ugric people, not Germanic... Somehow they don't strike me as similar to Germans...
But I don't know any Hungarians, so...

Do Germans have any sentiment for Hungarians? And vice versa?
OP Teffle  22 | 1318  
1 Oct 2010 /  #56
Do Germans have any sentiment for Hungarians? And vice versa?

This cannot be answered unfortunately.

Apparently, there is no recorded example in the world of anyone having met a Hungarian.

The CIA are currently carrying out an investigation to ascertain whether or not the so-called country of Hungary actually exists.
Paulina  16 | 4348  
1 Oct 2010 /  #57
Apparently, there is no recorded example in the world of anyone having met a Hungarian.

xDDDDDDD

You made me laugh at loud ;D
Bratwurst Boy  8 | 11914  
1 Oct 2010 /  #58
Do Germans have any sentiment for Hungarians? And vice versa?

Germans have...not only stemming from the times of the Empire, or the two world wars (my own Grandfather was best friends with an hungarian count who invited our family to live on his estate after the war...but..well...you know what had happened instead).

Then there was the Budapest uprising so similiar to our East Berlin uprising and then of course that many East Germans loved to make holiday in Budapest and at the Balaton..sniffing a whiff of freedom or going all the way as Hungarians made it possible for GDR refugees to flee...

So there are alof of positive sentiments regarding the Hungarians in Germany! :)
Torq  
1 Oct 2010 /  #59
brothers in arms in WWII

Yip...

1. refused Germany the military access for attack on Poland in 1939

2. put explosives in railway tunnels to blow them up in case Germans tried to use them

3. gave asylum to Polish civilians and military personel in 1939

(too bad my thread about Poland and Hungary in September 1939 seems to have dissapeared
from the forum :-/)

4. allowed Polish military intelligence and counter intelligence to have a base for its
operations in Hungary (with unofficial support of Hungarian government, which was
really pissing the Germans off.)

5. during Warsaw Uprising, Hungarian units released Polish freedom fighters who were
taken prisoner by Germans and given under Hungarian custody :)

etc. etc. and so on and so on und so weiter und so weiter i tak dalej... :)

Some "allies" and "brothers in arms" :)

Sorry, BB, you can't have Hungarians - they're ours.

*you can have the Czechs though*
Bratwurst Boy  8 | 11914  
1 Oct 2010 /  #60
Some "allies" and "brothers in arms" :)

Yup...as you talk about misty concepts we have the pragmatic facts on our side...so there! ;)

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