"I took Wikipedia's timeline of [insert history timeline here] and translated it 50 times using languages with the worst translation quality. This was the result."
Badly Translated History— StarvHarv, at the beginning of each video
Ruining people's lives with TV Tropes:
- Aluminum Christmas Trees:
- In-Universe, StarvHarv was surprised that Operation Blackcock was a real military operation during World War II to drive the German forces across the Roer and Wurm rivers.
- Starv also finds out during the same video that berberatoday.com is a real website dedicated to the port of Berbera, legally a part of Somalia, but in practice a part of the unrecognized Somaliland. (WWII)
- Starv tries to guess what the phrase "sword money" in the Chinese history video could possibly mean, swords used as money? As it turns out, that's exactly what it is
.
- America Takes Over the World: Apparently happens at the end of the Cold War due to the Soviet Union collapsing, presumably due to it mistranslating "the only superpower." (Cold War)
- Anachronism Stew:
- The First Sino-Japanese War involves the People's Republic instead of the Qing Dynasty. (Japanese history)
- Shinzo Abe is the Prime Minister of Japan by the time of World War II in 1939. (Japanese history)
- The Big Three exists by November 1940, despite neither the United States or Soviet Union having joined the war at the time (joined June and December 1941, respectively).
- Not only does the Kingdom of Malta still exist by 1942, it ends up being attacked by al-Qaeda of all groups.
- Hezbollah already exists by 1946 (established in real life around 1982 to 1985), but is instead stationed in the Philippines before taking over the government.
- Not only was Xi Jinping alive in 1890 BC, but his successor was already announced then.
- North Korea ends up taking part in the US Civil War in July 1861.
- A lot of large time gaps have been mentioned since Badly Translated British History, such as William I being shot in 2019, "Edwards" climbing to the British throne in 2018, and, in Badly Translated Spanish History, Ramiro II being buried in 2013, 1018 years after his death.
- An Arm and a Leg: In the World War II video a man named Paul removed one of his legs in response to Hitler protesting "the kissing ban".
- Animate Inanimate Object:
- German guns who lay siege to the sea in Dover during World War II.
- Donald Dining Chair and Donald Food in the 2024 U.S. election video.
- Polish military uniforms who protest against Nazi occupation in the Russian History video.
- Anti-Hero: There is plenty of morally gray recurring characters due to the very nature of this work.
- ''He'' is definitely a Nominal Hero: a Blood Knight who pops up across different times and places in the universe, whose main priority seems to be fighting itself. Despite doing good deeds like fighting the Nazis during World War II and building things like a school or a church during World War I, He also was very brutal when serving in the Roman army and constantly changing sides during World War I. However, one thing that seems consistent is that He always hates the Nazis, even time travelling from Ancient Rome to 1940s Europe to fight them.
- Me aka Matt Justin (son of Peter Matt of Sacramento), The Narrator of the story, seems to be an absolute madman with a peculiar fascination with death and using the electric chair, admits to taking morphine in 1804 and being "the most violent man in Esturio" at an early point in Spanish history. He is still one of the protagonists, still feels remorse for some of the things he did, like killing a man in the Ardennes - and finally, his motives are quite understandable due to multiple family tragedies he had to accept and move on.
- Apocalypse How: Implied multiple times, especially in the Future video, where it mentions that the end of the world occurred in 2094, perhaps after Mercury became a clone of Jupiter. Later still, it mentions that all the power in the world is used to predict the end of time, and also that at the end of the universe, there is nothing left but a lost elephant.
- Artistic License – Geography: Multiple times throughout the videos are times where famous cities are in locations they are nowhere close to in real life, such as Moscow in East Africa.
- Additionally, the Cold War video mentions "East African countries such as the Soviet Union, Vietnam and the People's Republic of China", while putting Moscow in Italy.
- From Badly Translated Ancient History: "Denmark is divided into two parts: Denmark in North America, and Yenisei in Siberia".
- from the World War 1 video: " He died in The Battle of Lava in Austria-Hungary."
- Expect people to become rulers of completely different places and form unlikely unions:
- American History mentions a country called Malawi-Lithuania.
- The World War I video puts London in Belgium. This video also gives us the gem of "Canada flew to Glasgow, 400 km from Ireland, in Montreal".
- In Badly Translated Chinese History, it is mentioned that "the king of Shanghai became the king of Finland".
StarvHarv: It was difficult to rule between the two, but... he managed!- From Badly Translated Ancient History: "The king of Cambodia became Emperor of Rome".
StarvHarv: He's always in there! Cambodia's always doing some wild stuff!- The Russian History video mentions that the Soviet Union was founded in Iran multiple times, as well as allegedly being founded in Mongolia (neither Iran nor Mongolia were ever even a part of the Soviet Union).
- Artistic License – History: Everywhere thanks to the screwy translation quality.
- Artistic License – Physics:
- "The Sun is stronger at night.", from the World War II video.
- "Blind Idiot" Translation: Whenever the translation isn't a Translation Train Wreck, it's this.
- Brick Joke:
- Early on in the World War II video, it is explained what one of His first notable battles was the Christmas War against France and Britain. Come the World War I video, we get to see exactly that.
- Mao Zedong is stated to be known as Pope Mao, and later appears again during the Sino-Soviet crisis. (Cold War)
- Paul, the guy who removed his leg in the World War II video, becomes the leader of the Khmer Rouge in the Cold War video. Paul also returns in Badly Translated US Election 2024 and Badly Translated German History, becoming president of Germany in the latter.
- Captain Obvious: Happens a lot, such as in the Japanese History video, where it says "If a person is in their thirties, they are in their thirties and are in their thirties".
- Civil War:
- The World War II video has ones in Finland and Japan.
- Badly Translated Spanish History mentions an "English-English-Spanish war", meaning that England must have fought a civil war and a war with Spain at the same time.
- The US Civil War video, obviously.
- Comically Small Demand: In the Russian history video, the Japanese Communist Party signed a deal with the Soviets in 1941, in exchange for only three Japanese soldiers.
- StarvHarv: 1941: The Japanese Soviet Union has signed the Soviet deal. (in mock excitement) Three soldiers joined the Soviet Union! (does a Slow Clap) Wow, what a great deal!
- Curb-Stomp Battle:
- The entire Soviet army ends up getting destroyed by Finland during the Winter War.
- Guinea somehow manages to invade Japan in 1942.
- Dark Horse Victory:
- The Continuation War between Finland and the Soviet Union ends up being won by Scotland.
- Deadly Euphemism: from the World War 1 video: "The Ottomans occupied the Armenian people".
- Likewise, the simple translation of the Tiananmen Square massacre as "One year" in the Chinese history.
- Death Is Cheap: So many people end up being revived after their death, it's hard to list them all. One notable case is this happening to an entire country in Malta, as it ends up being destroyed... and then immediately revived just to be attacked by al-Qaeda.
- Death of a Child: Happens to Matt Justin's son in the French History video, right in the middle of the constant mentions of Matt dying: "John, my son, was born. Five days later, he died."
- Directionless Driver: Implied with Julius Caesar in the British video, in which he lands in Kent after managing to get lost trying to get to Vietnam.
- Depopulation Bomb: Implied in the Spanish History video, where it seems that the population of Granada has been reduced to five robbers and Saint Ferdinand.
- Distaff Counterpart: She, as introduced in the Cold War video.
- Eldritch Abomination: It, who currently made an appearance in the British History, Spanish History, US Election and Russian History videos.
- Election Day Episode: Badly Translated US Election 2024.
- Enforced Plug:
- In the World War II video, ones are present for a high quality Sydney Cotton hologram and berberatoday.com (a news site based in a major port city in the unrecognized state of Somaliland).
- In Badly Translated German History, one of the early dates becomes a plug for Hotelsinsaintpetersburg.net (a real website).
- Establishing Character Moment: The first time we're introduced to He, which is the World War II video, it's stated that the French and British governments have decided to send Him to Germany. It immediately lets us know that He's a badass who plays an important part in history.
- The Faceless: "He" and "She", due to only being shown as silhouettes.
- Full-Circle Revolution:
- After years of struggle, Eritrea declares independence from Ethiopia as the People's Republic of Ethiopia.
- Heel–Face Turn:
- Joseph Goebbels ends up defecting to the anti-fascist group Rosa Branca after declaring war on his allies.
- It is stated that "He" is nice to "Her" at night in one entry, and in the same entry "He" kills "She".
- Heroic Build: "He" and "She" are represented by silhouettes of a bodybuilder.
- Ice-Cream Koan:
- "The Sun is stronger at night." - Badly Translated WWII
- From the WWI video, "Connie: A state declares itself a state."
- From the Indian History video, "Do things. - Agni".
- Irony:
- Mao Zedong is the Pope, despite him in OTL attempting to persecute all Chinese Christians during the Cultural Revolution.
- Ronald Reagan is a communist.
- Leeroy Jenkins:
- Apparently the U.S. military acted under this before World War II, as it's stated to be the first time the military leaders had met for any sort of plan.
- Living a Double Life: Adolf Hitler of all people is apparently also Emperor Friedrich Ball.
- Apparently, one of the Mughal emperors was also a plane.
- Mathematician's Answer: From the Indian History video, "The first railway was built between Mumbai and millions of people."
- Minor Major Character: In the Middle Ages video, there is a character called Butt August whose writings about his philosophy and methods were described as "one of the most important events in the West in terms of early announcements and the recovery of the Middle East" and never appears again, and considering how large the Middle East is, especially given its importance in medieval times, this is quite a major event.
- Monumental Damage:
- Casablanca is destroyed by a meteorite when World War II starts.
- In the Future video, it says that "A giant meteorite has hit the island of Fiji, and it hasn't stopped."
- Noodle Incident: For whatever reason, in the UK history video everything from the Fourth to the Eleventh Century went untranslated.
- Our Presidents Are Different:
- George H. W. Bush isn't the one to run for presidency in 1980, instead it's his son.
- Jefferson Davis is for some reason president of the Union during parts of the American Civil War, and later John Wilkes Booth.
- Not a president, but Louis XVI is seen to be still alive after the French Revolution in the French History video.
- Physical God: "He", although his power wildly fluctuates such as dying several times and failing to defeat some armies, is still able to destroy stars, defeat entire armies by himself and fly around the moon.
- Politically Incorrect Hero:
- Ronald Reagan ends up winning the presidential election due to his anti-Semitic policies.
- While He is usually portrayed in a positive light, the Cold War reveals that He was also convicted for crimes against humanity in Argentina from 1976 to 1983.
- Pronoun of the Dreaded: Whatever "It" is, what we do know heavily suggests that it's an Eldritch Abomination.
- Resurrective Immortality: Some characters, including historical ones and original ones seem to have been born multiple times and/or come back from the dead. This is also the power that makes He (and some other characters so powerful): even if "He" dies, ''He'' comes back to life and can succeed. On the other hand, it cuts both ways, since it can backfire by bringing someone back in a weakened state.
- Richard Nixon, the Used Car Salesman:
- Zig-Zagged and ultimately Subverted by Erwin Rommel, who ends up cycling through Vizier, Comrade, and Ari before ending up as his real-life occupation of field marshal.
- Robot Republic: One that is ran by Wang Jingweinote in Nanjing, before he turns into a pillow.
- Running Gag:
- Pepe the Frog having a concerned reaction to some rather threatening-sounding events.
- Cambodia taking credit for several historical events.
- In the American History video, all the nations of Indochina end up being involved during the colonization and subsequent revolution in America, such as the city of New Hanoi.
- In the German History video, a lot of translations have a sexual theme for some reason (also happens to a lesser extent in the Russian and French History videos), and there is a recurring joke of people becoming Jehovah's Witnesses.
- Screw the Rules, I Make Them!:
- Implied with Franklin D. Roosevelt, who stays in office even after his impeachment in 1939.
- Shaped Like Itself:
- From the World War II video: "June 20th: The United States Air Force is known as the United States Air Force."
- From Badly Translated Indian History: "Hindu College (Presidential College, now Presidential College)".StarvHarv: They didn't need to let me know that the name hasn't changed.
- Shout-Out:
- Pepe the Frog makes countless appearances throughout the videos.
- The village of Wiruto in Poland, which is guarded by Naruto wearing Waluigi''s mustache and hat.
- Starv makes a Borat reference after it is revealed that his wife was captured by the Soviet army.
- Hogwarts is apparently in Vilnius, Lithuania according to the Modern History video, and in Finland according to the Russian History video.
- The Italian pirates attacking a British ship are portrayed by Mario.
- His brother is represented by Luigi in Badly Translated Ancient History.
- Doctor Dolittle arrives in Nagoya, Tokyo.
- While Starv jokes about the Soviet-Japanese deal of 1941 (see Comically Small Demand), the title of Donald Trump's book The Art Of The Deal appears.
- A shout-out to The Simpsons is made in the French History video, where, upon learning that Charles "inserted into his kingdom" (treated by Starv as having some sexual implication), the clip from 22 short films about Springfield of Skinner saying
"Good Lord, what is happening in there?" plays.
- Take Over the World:
- Happens with America (Cold War), Germany and the Democratic Republic of Sarawak (Modern History, although the later excludes Tibet as it belongs to Cambodia).
- This Is Gonna Suck:
- Pepe the Frog's reaction when it is announced that the State of Israel fell to Nazi Germany in the World War II video.
- Likewise, Pepe's reaction to other alarming-sounding events in subsequent videos.
- Translation Train Wreck: Naturally; some entries are so wild, you can only imagine how they got so screwed, such as, in Badly Translated Indian History, Mahatma Gandhi being born turning into something about practising religion.StarvHarv: 1869: "As long as you read the Bible every day, you can keep yahuva as the number of God ta'alas." What is the original? (checks the original timeline) Oh, it's "Mahatma Gandhi is born"! Possibly pro-Bible...
- Undignified Death: In the Spanish History video, Al-Mukhakh Khalifa Yusuf II dies without an heir from being beaten to death. Why did this happen? He was too busy playing with his chef cow.note
- Unexplained Recovery: Many characters end up dying, sometimes multiple times, only to come back with no explanation. He, in particular, died over a dozen times and is still kicking.
- Witch Hunt: Led by Japan between 9 and 11 May 1943.
- World's Strongest Man: The Big Three are "He", "She" and "It". "He" starts out as a regular, though immortal soldier who dies several times. But then he evolves into a godlike being, who can fly around in space, destroy entire armies by himself and destroy entire stars. "She" is often mentioned as a ruler of a city or nation, and also has come back from dying.
- World War III: Happens twice; first during the Cold War video where, as he puts it, "the Cold War has gotten very hot all of a sudden", and again during World War I...
- World War Whatever: Which reveals there has actually been seven World Wars in the timeline.
- Writers Cannot Do Math:
- The 1894-1895 Sino-Japanese War is listed as being a three-year war.
- The 150-mile advance to Moscow is misconstrued as being equivalent to 62 feet.
- In the Cold War video, it is mentioned that Gorbachev and Reagan meet "twice (three times)."
- Pretty much any war in the 19th or 20th century becomes World War II somehow, even it's inside WWI.
- Vestigial Empire:
- In the Modern History video, China is stated to cover no land at all, while Armenia only covers 41 square kilometers after their war with Him.
