Explore every episode of Warfare
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 May 2021 | How To Plan For a Crisis | 00:32:38 | |
How is it possible to avoid disasters when they are inherently unpredictable? Niall Ferguson, renowned historian, senior fellow at Stanford University, senior faculty fellow at Harvard and visiting professor at Tsinghua University, has been studying historical responses to catastrophes. In this episode of Warfare, he draws upon the World Wars, Spanish Influenza and the HIV/AIDS epidemic to discuss the politics of planning for the worst. Niall and James question whether the responsibility and capability to plan for events such as the Covid-19 pandemic or global warming lie with democratic leaders or are hampered by economics and technological progress. | |||
| 23 Oct 2020 | Operation Barbarossa | 00:26:05 | |
In June 1941, Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa. The campaign on the Eastern Front which was now opened up involved more forces than any other theatre of war in history. In this episode, History Hit's Charlie Mills speaks to Dr. Mario Draper at the University of Kent about why Germany decided to invade the Soviet Union and how the invasion impacted on Germany’s eventual defeat. | |||
| 30 Sep 2020 | Soviet Snipers on the Eastern Front | 00:27:00 | |
In many countries, including Britain, women were banned from taking part in active combat operations during the Second World War. In the Soviet Union, however, declarations of equality meant that as well as having the right to vote and to work in government, women were able to fly on the front lines and become snipers. Lyuba Vinogradova, Russian historian and author, joined Dan to discuss her book Avenging Angels: Soviet women snipers on the Eastern front (1941–45). | |||
| 18 Sep 2020 | What Really Happened on D-Day? | 00:27:22 | |
Giles Milton has been researching D-Day from a new perspective - that of the youngsters who were involved in the first wave of the offensive. For this podcast he and Dan discussed his findings, the untold stories of this landmark event. | |||
| 03 Jan 2022 | The Cuban Missile Crisis | 00:36:15 | |
A 13-day political and military standoff took place in October 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Just 90 miles off the coast of Florida, the installation of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles on Cuba was in fruition. But how did the leaders of the U.S. and the Soviet Union evade this near-catastrophic escalation? In this episode, James is joined by presidential crisis historian Michael Dobbs. Michael takes us through the intense standoff and the happenings around it. From the roles played to evert nuclear war to the final decisions made by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and President John F. Kennedy. Just how close were we to a state of armageddon? Micheal Dobbs, Author of One Minute To Midnight: Kennedy, Khrushchev and Castro on the Brink of Nuclear War. If you’re enjoying this podcast and looking for more fascinating Warfare content then subscribe to our Modern Warfare Wednesdays newsletter here. If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit. To download, go to Android or Apple store | |||
| 21 Aug 2020 | 1945 Soviet Occupation of Bornholm | 00:22:15 | |
In the spring of 1945, the Allies liberated territory from Axis occupation. Whilst the British advanced into most of Denmark, Stalin’s Soviet forces occupied the small island of Bornholm. They remained there for 11 months, but then withdrew with little fanfare. Caroline Kennedy-Pipe is a professor of International Relations and International Security at Loughborough University. She spoke to James about her research into the Soviet occupation of Bornholm and its mysterious end. | |||
| 21 Feb 2022 | The Boy Who Fought for the Nazis | 00:34:34 | |
At the end of the Second World War thousands of German children were sent to the frontlines in the largest mobilisation of underage combatants in history. In this episode James chats to Helene Munson, whose father was one of these child soldiers, about the indoctrination he was subjected to and the unthinkable perils he faced on the Eastern Front as a teenage boy. Helene's new book is available on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boy-Soldiers-Personal-Schooling-Legacy/dp/0750997117 If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit To download, go to Android or Apple store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.historyhit&hl=en_GB&gl=US https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/history-hit/id1303668247 If you’re enjoying this podcast and looking for more fascinating Warfare content then subscribe to our Warfare newsletter. Follow the link here: | |||
| 12 Nov 2021 | Searching for the Lost of World War One | 00:33:16 | |
At the end of the First World War, around one million citizens of the British Empire had been lost, and the whereabouts of about half of these was unknown. Families could be waiting weeks, months or years to hear whether their loved ones were imprisoned, wounded, missing or dead, if they heard at all. This was the task of the searchers. In the years following the war, these volunteer investigators conducted 5 million interviews, finding answers for around 400 thousand families. Robert Sackville-West is on Warfare to bring us the stories of those looking for news of their fathers, brothers and sons, and the evolution of the search to this day. Robert’s book ‘The Searchers: The Quest for the Lost of the First World War’ is out now. | |||
| 01 Oct 2021 | WW2: Czech Resistance | 00:42:25 | |
Though excluded from decisions on their occupation in the Munich Agreement in 1938, the citizens of the new country of Czechoslovakia were by no means passive for the rest of the war. The story of Czechoslovakian espionage and resistance is one which spans Europe and the length of the war, including assassinations of Nazi leaders and brave battles to the death. George Bearfield is the grandson of Jaroslav Bublík, a key figure in intelligence and the leader of possibly the last parachute drop of the Second World War. He has been studying his grandfather’s experiences during the war for his book ‘Foursquare: The Last Parachutist’. In this episode he sheds light on this story and whether an operation which was thought to have been cancelled really went ahead. © Everett Collection/Shutterstock | |||
| 25 Jan 2021 | King George V in WW1 | 00:25:46 | |
King George V played a critical role in Britain's war effort during World War One, from the outbreak of war in 1914, until the King's Pilgrimage in May 1922, to visit cemeteries and memorials being constructed by the Imperial War Graves Commission. Alexandra Churchill has combed the Royal Archives to fully understand George's role in the war, including his frequent disputes with David Lloyd George. So bitter was this relationship, Lloyd George at one point attempted to place control of the British army under French commanders. Famously, King George V had to change his family surname from Saxe-Coburg to Windsor during the war, but Alexandra Churchill also tells Dan about the names that were suggested, including one that suggested George's family were bastards. | |||
| 01 Jan 2021 | WW2: The Burmese Who Fought With Britain | 00:24:25 | |
Many Burmese people resisted the Japanese occupation of their country in World War Two. Filmmaker Alex Bescoby has made a film celebrating those who the Empire left behind, despite the hardships they endured to serve Britain during the war. For this episode, he spoke to Dan about the people from Burma, whose fight is often overlooked. | |||
| 18 Oct 2021 | WW2: The Viking Commandos of Telemark | 00:43:32 | |
On 18 October 1942, a party of Norwegian agents were dropped into Telemark, Norway, for Operation Grouse. They were part of a mission to sabotage the German nuclear weapons programme by disrupting the stockpiling of heavy water at Vemork Norsk Hydro chemical plant. Arthur Herman is on Warfare today to explore the stories of these brave Norwegians. Why were they best suited to the job? And do their actions reveal anything about the so called Viking hearts of Scandinavia? | |||
| 04 Aug 2021 | WW1: The Western Front | 00:28:08 | |
The Western Front of the First World War is a story of aristocratic generals sending ordinary men over the top to their deaths in futile frontal attacks against entrenched positions. Or is it? In this episode from Dan Snow's History Hit, Dan interviews the brilliant historian Nick Lloyd, author of The Western Front who tells a much more nuanced account of the Western Front. They talk about the myths and legends of these campaigns, the great leaps forward in technology between 1914-1918; and how the men in command, and those on the front line, desperately tried to grapple with the complexities of this unprecedently brutal war. | |||
| 03 Sep 2021 | Before 9/11: The Day Wall Street Exploded | 00:26:47 | |
At lunchtime on 16 September 1920, a horse drawn cart exploded on the busiest corner of the Financial District of New York. To find out more about the United States’ first age of terror, James spoke to Professor Beverly Gage. Beverly explains what we know about this attack on Wall Street. Who were its victims, suspects, and investigators and what impact did it have on American society? Beverly is a professor of 20th-century American history at Yale University and author of ‘The Day Wall Street Exploded: A Story of America in Its First Age of Terror’. © Everett Collection/Shutterstock | |||
| 16 Apr 2021 | Battle of Okinawa | 00:45:34 | |
The last major confrontation of the Second World War, and the largest amphibious assault of the Pacific theatre, the Battle of Okinawa ended in Allied victory but with massive casualties on both sides. To take us through the battle and explore the use of kamikaze pilots by the Japanese and the Atomic bomb by the United States, James welcomed Saul David onto Warfare. Saul is a professor of Military History at the Univ of Buckingham and author of Crucible of Hell. | |||
| 31 Jan 2022 | Bloody Sunday: 50 Years On | 00:34:49 | |
Half a century ago on January 30 1972, British soldiers shot dead 14 unarmed protesters during a civil rights march in the Bogside area of Derry, Northern Ireland. The soldiers were from the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment ("1 Para"), the same battalion implicated in the Ballymurphy massacre just months before. It took decades of campaigning and two huge inquests by the UK Government to accept sole wrongdoing and apologise for the atrocity. In this episode, James chats to Julieann Campbell, the spokesperson for the Bloody Sunday family whose uncle Jackie Daddy, 17, was the first fatality of the massacre. Julieann has written a new book, ‘On Bloody Sunday: A New History Of The Day And Its Aftermath – By The People Who Were There’, to mark the 50th anniversary of one of the darkest days of The Troubles. WARNING: Some listeners may find the content of this episode upsetting or distressing. If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit https://access.historyhit.com/?utm_source=audio&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Podcast+Campaign&utm_id=PodcastTo download, go to Android or Apple store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.historyhit&hl=en_GB&gl=US https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/history-hit/id1303668247 If you’re enjoying this podcast and looking for more fascinating Warfare content then subscribe to our Warfare newsletter. Follow the link here: | |||
| 08 Sep 2021 | 9/11: Evacuating Ground Zero | 00:41:58 | |
At 8:46 am on 11 September 2001 the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Centre in Lower Manhattan. Over the next 9 hours, almost half a million people were evacuated from that island by boat, many other options being made impossible. Here to share the story of this maritime evacuation is Jessica DuLong. Jessica is a journalist and historian, as well as chief engineer emerita of the retired 1931 New York City fireboat, John J. Harvey. She tells us about the boats involved, the obstacles they faced, and about her own experience of ground zero. Her book on this topic is called ‘Saved at the Seawall: Stories from the September 11 Boat Lift’. | |||
| 11 Feb 2022 | Hostages of Saddam Hussein: Flight 149 | 00:40:43 | |
Imagine jetting off on holiday only to land in a warzone and get taken hostage by Saddam Hussein. It might sound far-fetched, but in 1990 that's exactly the fate that awaited the passengers and crew of British Airlines Flight 149. What followed has been called the most shocking government cover-up of the last thirty years. This week James is joined by journalist Stephen Davis, who has investigated the story for three decades and authored a book and new podcast on the lies, spies and ruined lives of that fated flight. The Secret History of Flight 149 is available to listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Stephen's book is available on Amazon: If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit To download, go to Android or Apple store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.historyhit&hl=en_GB&gl=US https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/history-hit/id1303668247 If you’re enjoying this podcast and looking for more fascinating Warfare content then subscribe to our Warfare newsletter. Follow the link here: | |||
| 26 May 2021 | Vietnam War | 00:34:01 | |
With battlefield humiliation for France in 1954, and then defeat and public criticism for the United States in 1975, the Vietnam War became the Western world’s most divisive modern conflict. In this episode, Dan Snow speaks to Max Hastings about the Domino theory, whether it was possible for the US to win the war and the effect the war had on those who fought in it. Using the testimony of warlords and civilians, statesmen and soldiers, Max emphasizes the impact of the war on individuals on all sides. | |||
| 07 Jul 2021 | WW2: Spying on Nazis | 00:22:17 | |
When captured Nazi generals found themselves in Britain in the Second World War, they were probably surprised to be brought to a beautiful country house where they were wined and dined by a senior British aristocrat. But it was all a charade. Unbeknown to the generals, every single conversation they had was bugged and an army of translators and transcribers worked away in the basement below. The 'senior British aristocrat' who they suspected had Nazi sympathies was a fictitious character named after a whisky distillery, and the entire show was a genius plot by British Intelligence to squeeze out snippets of valuable information. In this episode, Helen Fry joined Dan Snow to reveal the extent of this remarkable operation, and the military strategy which was altered as a result of careless comments. | |||
| 14 Oct 2020 | Putting the 'World' Back into World War Two | 00:25:00 | |
The traditional view of the Second World War focusses on mainland Europe between 1939 and 1945. Germany is the aggressor drawing its closest neighbours into war, and prompting a chain of reactions which ends in worldwide turmoil. Thomas Bottelier is an historian of twentieth-century international relations, particularly of Europe and the Atlantic world. He suggests that we should perhaps widen the lense with which we look at this war, in terms of both geography and timescale. Thomas spoke to James about the various ways in which we could do this, and the countless events and experiences that have been overshadowed by the conventional narrative of the Second World War. | |||
| 01 Sep 2020 | Arnhem: Greatest Allied Failure? | 00:42:11 | |
After winning back France and Belgium, the Allied forces met unexpected resistance in the Netherlands in September 1944. Following nine days of fighting, they withdrew. In this podcast, Dan spoke to Antony Beevor about what was possibly one of the greatest Allied failures of the Second World War, and the intelligence failures and vanities which caused it. Antony is one of the best selling military historians of all time, and author of ‘Arnhem: The Battle for the Bridges 1944’. | |||
| 02 Feb 2022 | Battle of Britain: What Were the Germans Thinking? | 00:22:36 | |
Were the German Luftwaffe the mighty Goliath to Britain's David during the Battle of Britain, or were they in fact more evenly matched? And what on earth was the Luftwaffe's strategy for knocking Britain out of the war? Victoria Taylor is an aviation historian who is just completing her PhD in the Luftwaffe and its politicisation under the Nazis. In this episode from the archives, she talks to Dan Snow about how the Germans approached the Battle of Britain. | |||
| 16 Jun 2021 | Band of Brothers with Damian Lewis | 00:49:07 | |
Twenty years after it first aired, Band of Brothers continues to be remembered as a remarkably accurate portrayal of a US parachute infantry company in the European Theater during the Second World War. Damian Lewis is an English actor and producer who played U.S. Army Major Richard Winters in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. At the Chalke Valley History Festival in 2016, he discussed the making of this series, portraying a soldier in the Second World War and meeting the veterans.
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| 23 Feb 2022 | The Fall of the Soviet Union | 00:28:16 | |
In August 1991 there was an attempted coup in the Soviet Union as communist hard-liners sought to re-establish the dominance of Soviet rule in Russia and its satellite states. The coup attempt collapsed after three days and it eventually led to the collapse of communism. Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as General Secretary on 24 August and the Supreme Soviet of the USSR suspended the activities of the party on 29 August. Following this, later former soviet states declared their independence which has radically reshaped the world in the decades since. As Russia attempts to reassert its influence in Ukraine, we have searched the archives for this episode in which Dan is joined by historian and holocaust survivor Peter Kenez to help understand the causes of the collapse of the Soviet Union and its ongoing consequences. If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit To download, go to Android or Apple store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.historyhit&hl=en_GB&gl=US https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/history-hit/id1303668247 If you’re enjoying this podcast and looking for more fascinating Warfare content then subscribe to our Warfare newsletter. Follow the link here: | |||
| 10 Nov 2021 | WW1: Lost Wrecks of Jutland | 00:30:00 | |
The Battle of Jutland was the decisive naval clash of the First World War, pitting the German High Seas Fleet against the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet in an all or nothing battle for supremacy and survival. At the end of the war, the defeated German fleet was scuttled at Scapa Flow. Or so we thought. New evidence suggests that wrecks in Portsmouth harbour, previously thought to be nondescript vessels, are in fact German veterans of the Battle of Jutland, scrapped at Portsmouth rather than Scotland. Dan Snow joins a team of marine archaeologists to explore these wrecks. But will he make it across the treacherous mud to reach them? © Vic Verlinden | |||
| 06 Oct 2020 | WW2 Tank Commander with Captain David Render | 00:39:13 | |
Captain David Render was a nineteen-year-old second lieutenant fresh from Sandhurst when he was sent to France to join a veteran armoured unit that had already spent years fighting with the Desert Rats in North Africa. Joining the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry five days after the D-Day landings, the combat-hardened men he was sent to command did not expect him to last long. | |||
| 17 Feb 2021 | War Widows of WW2 | 00:37:27 | |
After the Second World War, societies across the world struggled under a mass of social and political change. This disjointed period serves as the backdrop for Tara Moss’ new novel, in which her protagonist, female war reporter turned private inquiry agent pushes against the workforce prejudices of 1946 Australia. Through this lens, Tara explores post-war attitudes towards gender, race, disability and religion. Tara takes us straight into her family history with the story of her Oma and Opa’s survival in the Nazi occupied Netherlands. She then shares the stories of the incredible photographers, investigators and nurses who were the inspiration behind her main character. Tara Moss is the author of 13 bestselling books, a documentary maker, presenter, journalist and advocate for human rights and the rights of women, children and people with disabilities. She has been an ambassador for UNICEF Australia since 2007. War Widow can be found here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/636233/the-war-widow-by-tara-moss/ | |||
| 25 Oct 2021 | WW2: Special Boat Service | 00:28:45 | |
Many have heard of the SAS (Special Air Service), but what about the SBS? Britain's SBS (Special Boat Service) was the first operations unit of its kind. Formed in 1940, this unit helped change the course of World War II. In this episode of Warfare, James is joined by Military Historian and author Saul David. Sharing his research with the full cooperation of the SBS, Saul sheds light on the heroic tales of the frontline SBS soldiers. | |||
| 16 Aug 2021 | WW2: Tank Hero in Battle of Arras | 00:53:21 | |
Major-General Eugene Vincent Michael Strickland, known to many as Strick - was a tankman and war hero of France, Italy, and North Africa during World War II. He played a vital role in the Battle of Arras in 1940 and aided in the breach of the Hitler Line in 1944. James is joined by archaeologist and historian Tim Strickland, son of Michael Strickland, to take us through the life, adventures, and achievements of his father. Tim is the author of 'Strick: Tank Hero of Arras': https://www.casematepublishing.co.uk/strick | |||
| 03 Aug 2020 | Aftermath of World War One | 00:28:13 | |
In this History Hit live on Timeline Dan Snow was joined by Margaret MacMillan, professor at St Antony's College, Oxford University and author of 'Peacemakers: The Paris Peace Conference of 1919 and Its Attempt to End War'. They discussed the effects World War One had on the world, and how Europe began to rebuild in the years that followed. | |||
| 25 Jun 2021 | After WW2: Life in the Third Reich | 00:32:39 | |
After 6 years of war, countries around the world were in a state of ruin in 1945, not least the losing side. The people of Germany had been under the rule of the Nazi party since 1933, and now they sought a way forward under the watchful eyes of the Allies. In this episode, hear Harald Jähner exploring the transformational decade after the Second World War in Germany. Harald and James discuss the experience of forced labourers and prisoners of war returning home, a country facing the crimes of the Holocaust, and other histories of mothers, men and children starting out on the path towards the thriving power of present day Germany. Harald is a cultural journalist and former editor of The Berlin Times, his new book ‘Aftermath: Life in the Fallout of the Third Reich, 1945-1955’ is out now with Penguin Random House. | |||
| 11 Jan 2021 | The Indian Army in WW1 | 00:35:53 | |
Over one hundred years after the end of the First World War, Dr Priya Atwal and George Morton-Jackare working to shed new light on the vital role that the Indian Army held during the combat. In this episode from Dan Snow's History Hit, they share their insight into the neglected roles of these servicemen. | |||
| 29 Dec 2021 | The Great Escape with Air Commodore Charles Clarke | 00:10:45 | |
What was it like in Stalag Luft III? In this episode from the History Hit archives, Dan Snow speaks with Air Commodore Charles Clarke, a prisoner-of-war during the Great Escape. For more, subscribe to our Warfare Wednesday newsletter here. If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today! To download the History Hit app, go to Android or Apple store. | |||
| 08 Feb 2021 | Battle of the Somme | 00:26:41 | |
It was the first truly industrial battle, and yet veterans recall hearing skylarks singing just before the whistles blew at the Battle of the Somme. A century later, these birds remain, singing long after the carnage came to an end. Paul Reed is a military historian and author specialising in the First and Second World Wars. He has been conducting battlefield tours for over a quarter of a century. In this episode from the centenary he spoke to Dan Snow. | |||
| 19 Sep 2020 | Budapest Ghetto | 00:22:39 | |
Born in Budapest in July 1944, Agnes Grunwald-Spier resided in the Ghetto with her mother from November 1944 to January 1945. Having gained degrees in History & Politics and Holocaust Studies, in this episode Agnes speaks to James about her family's experiences of the Holocaust. This personal history includes her mother's time alone in the ghetto with a newborn, the loss of her grandfather and the lasting impact of the Holocaust on her father. | |||
| 25 Nov 2020 | French Defeat in WW2 | 00:30:10 | |
It's the common recollection of French efforts to repel German invasion. But with 100,000 troops lost in the Battle of France, how true is the depiction of the French surrendering without a fight? How else might their contribution to, and experience of, the Second World War be remembered? Were the French a weak link, willing collaborators with the Nazis, brave resistance fighters or the Allied sacrifice to continuing the fight? Olivier Schmitt is a Professor of Political Science at the Center for War Studies, University of Southern Denmark. He joined James to talk through the many complex narratives of this section of the war, and how the predominant theories have developed over time. | |||
| 14 Feb 2022 | The Last Emperor of Mexico | 00:57:50 | |
Abraham Lincoln, Stag-do-esque antics, and forbidden overnight stays within the Vatican - the tale of the Last Emperor of Mexico sounds more like a period drama and not the sadly true and tragic end of Maximilian I. This week James is joined by Edward Shawcross to talk about the titular character of his new book 'The Last Emperor of Mexico: Disaster in the New World'. Together they discuss inadequate leadership, paranoid Empresses, and the role the American Civil war played beyond it's borders. If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit To download, go to Android or Apple store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.historyhit&hl=en_GB&gl=US https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/history-hit/id1303668247 If you’re enjoying this podcast and looking for more fascinating Warfare content then subscribe to our Warfare newsletter. Follow the link here: | |||
| 07 Dec 2020 | Germans at the Somme | 00:27:15 | |
The Battle of the Somme is remembered in Britain as one of the bloodiest events of the First World War, and perhaps all time. There were over a million casualties once the battle was through. Robin Schäfer is a German military historian. He spoke to Dan about the German perspective of this momentous battle. | |||
| 18 Nov 2020 | The Most Hated Man in British History? | 00:30:39 | |
Sir Douglas Haig was a British commander during the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of Arras, the Battle of Passchendaele, the German Spring Offensive, and the final Hundred Days Offensive of the First World War. When reassessed in the 1960s his leadership was criticised for resulting in costly offensives, gaining him the nickname 'the Butcher of the Somme'. Gary Sheffield is a Professor of War Studies at the University of Wolverhampton, and a specialist on Britain at war 1914-45. He spoke to Dan about whether Haig has been fairly assessed in the textbooks. | |||
| 15 Dec 2021 | Seducing and Killing Nazis | 00:21:46 | |
During the Second World War the Netherlands fell to advancing German forces in just a few hours. The Dutch found themselves under Nazi occupation. Many men and women resisted, which took many different forms. Recently the story emerged of three young women who chose a particularly dangerous way in which to strike back against the German occupiers. In this podcast from the History Hit archives, Dan Snow talks to the writer Sophie Poldermans about Hannie Schaft and sisters Truus and Freddie Oversteegen. With astonishing bravery these three young women seduced high-ranking Nazi officers, lured them into the woods and killed them. They also provided Jewish children with safe houses and gathered vital intelligence for the resistance. Sophie tells us their story. | |||
| 02 Aug 2021 | RAF Tornadoes & the Gulf War | 00:27:09 | |
The First Gulf War was the combat debut for the RAF Tornado, and also for many of the aircrew who would fly one. John Nichol served as a navigator in the RAF for 15 years, even returning to service after being shot down in 1991. In this conversation with James, John shares his own experiences of the Tornado and the First Gulf War during which he was shot down, intertwined with the story of the aircraft and those of his fellow aircrew. John’s book, ‘Tornado: In the Eye of the Storm’ is published by Simon and Schuster. | |||
| 17 Jan 2021 | Gulf War: Inside the Planning Room | 01:10:38 | |
On 17 January 1991, an operation to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait began. Codenamed Desert Storm, the air offensive continued for 43 days under US leadership. Lt Gen David Deptula was a principal air attack planner, making calls on strategic targets and operations. For this special episode on the 30th anniversary of this operation, he describes the months and then days leading up to the operation, the challenges and disagreements in the ‘Black Hole’ planning room, and his memory of the outcome. David shares his insights into this war and those that have followed it. He also explains why he believes that knowing the desired endgame is so key to planning, and why landpower is not always going to be the centerpiece of war. | |||
| 11 Dec 2020 | The Atomic Bomb | 00:33:10 | |
On 6 August 1945, an American B29 bomber dropped the world's first deployed atomic bomb over Hiroshima. Three days later, Nagasaki was at the receiving end of a second American A-bomb. History Hit’s Rob Weinberg met with Kevin Ruane, Professor of Modern History at Canterbury Christ Church University, to find out more. Why did America decide to hit Japan with two atomic bombs? Why were these two cities the targets? What were the implications for ending World War II and starting the Cold War? Did the Americans have any other options? | |||
| 10 Feb 2021 | The Real 'Testament of Youth' | 00:26:46 | |
During the first year of the First World War, Vera Brittain went from studying English Literature at Oxford to nursing for the war effort. By the end of the war she had lost two male friends, her fiance and her brother, Edward. By this time, she had also evolved from the sister who encouraged her brother to sign up for duty to the ‘outstanding feminist pacifist of her generation.' In this episode, James speaks to Caroline Kennedy-Pipe from Loughborough University about Vera's life, her route into pacifism and her efforts against warfare before and during the Second World War. © Somerville College Archive | |||
| 28 Jan 2022 | The Other Schindlers | 00:35:29 | |
This week, in honour of Holocaust memorial day, James is joined once again by Agnes Grunwald-Spier to discuss her experiences in the Holocaust and the work she's done since researching those from non-Jewish communities who risked their lives to help the jewish community during the Holocaust. These so called 'Other Schindlers' risked their own lives, and the lives of their families to hide Jewish peoples during the horrific events of World War Two. Agnes was being born in the Budapest Ghetto, liberated by the Russians and survived the Holocaust. She talks about her and her mother's experiences in the Ghetto along with exploring a small number of the thousands of stories detailing those 'Other Schindlers' and the life saving work they did. Due to the nature of this episode some distressing topics are addressed including suicide and rape. Image Credit: Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix / Alamy Stock Photo | |||
| 14 Jul 2021 | The Soviet Spy in the Cotswolds | 00:26:22 | |
A mother of three living in a small British village, and an accomplished Soviet operative who co-ordinated a network of spies within Britain's atomic weapons programme. In this episode, Ben Macintyre joins Dan Snow to discuss one of the greatest spies of the 20th century, the woman alternately known as Mrs Burton, Agent Sonya and, her real name, Ursula Kuczynski. | |||
| 11 Apr 2021 | Prince Philip's Military Service | 00:35:38 | |
During almost a century of life, Prince Philip dedicated seven decades to the service of Great Britain as the partner of Queen Elizabeth II. But in this episode of Warfare we’re going further back, to his time in the Royal Navy. Alex Churchill gives us a glimpse into the Duke of Edinburgh’s service during the Second World War, and the insight that this gives us into his character. © Matteo Omied / Alamy Stock Photo | |||
| 02 Jun 2021 | Disaster Before D-Day: Exercise Tiger | 00:40:15 | |
The D-Day landings of June 6 1944 were the largest amphibious landing in the history of warfare, and are famed as a major turning point towards Allied victory. But they weren’t without planning and practice. In late April 1944, the Allies launched one of their trial runs, Exercise Tiger, off Slapton Sands in Devon. The aim was a closely choreographed landing, the result was a disaster. Hear Dr Harry Bennett from the University of Plymouth discussing the players in this trial run, and how it became the Battle of Lyme Bay. | |||
| 14 Apr 2021 | Outbreak of WW2 & The British People | 00:23:21 | |
Our traditional understanding of the beginning of the Second World War in 1939 hinges on studies of Chamberlain and his fellow statesmen, but what about the general population? Frederick Taylor's latest book, 1939: A People’s History (The War Nobody Wanted), details the reactions and fears of ordinary British and German people in the face of the slide to war, between the Munich Crisis of September 1938 and Hitler’s invasion of Poland a little under a year later. In this episode, he and Dan discuss whether the British people were ready for war. | |||
| 06 Aug 2021 | WW1 & Gallipoli: Britain's Worst Defeat | 00:53:21 | |
What does the price of wheat and global food supplies have to do with one of the greatest disasters in the history of warfare? Why was the decision made to send thousands of Allied troops in an attempt to free up the most heavily defended waterway in the world, the Dardanelles Straits? Historian and award-winning author Nicholas A Lambert joins James to talk us through the lead-up to Britain’s worst defeat in World War One, the catastrophic Gallipoli campaign in 1915. Find out why Prime Minister Henry Asquith and his senior advisers ordered the attacks in the first place, and the failed operation’s legacy. Nicholas’ book, The War Lords and The Gallipoli Disaster, is available now: www.oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/9780197545201.001.0001/oso-9780197545201 | |||
| 12 May 2021 | Winston Churchill | 00:19:16 | |
On 10 May 1940, Winston Churchill became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following the resignation of Neville Chamberlain and his calamitous handling of the Norway campaign. On the same day, Adolf Hitler launched a monumental assault on Western Europe. It was the toughest first week in office a Prime Minister has ever faced. In this podcast, Dan visited the house of Churchill's biographer, Andrew Roberts, to look at some previously unseen historic material - a fascinating insight into the world of this remarkable man. © NPG | |||
| 23 Jul 2021 | Nazi Scientists & the Space Race | 00:30:00 | |
‘One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind’: in July 1969 the United States successfully landed on the moon. It was part of a race into space which continues to this week and Jeff Bezos’ short voyage. But how was the American space race aided by Nazi Scientists and their barbaric experiments? Eric Lichtblau has returned to Warfare to take us further into Operation Paperclip, through which Nazi scientist like Wernher von Braun and Dr. Hubertus Strughold emigrated to America to aid various projects including the space programme. Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times journalist, Eric, explores these topics in his book The Nazis Next Door: How America Became a Safe Haven for Hitler's Men. | |||
| 30 Jul 2021 | 1942: USA's Most Devastating Year | 00:32:31 | |
The year is 1942; American citizens are still recovering from the surprise military strike on Pearl Harbor, which had intensely impacted morale across the country and brought them into the Second World War. Fear and division ran deep within the American people, and democracy was under pressure. Joined by Historian and award-winning author of ‘The Year of Peril: America in 1942’, Tracy Campbell, we dissect one of the most devastating years in America's history and discuss whether we could see similarities with today. | |||
| 18 Jan 2021 | Bombing Campaigns in WW2 | 00:55:23 | |
In the spring of 1945, the aerial assault on Germany was reaching a crescendo as city after city was devastated by British and American bomber fleets. James Holland, leading World War Two historian and bestselling author, joins Dan Snow on the podcast to talk about why and how the bombing reached such catastrophic levels and whether it actually shortened the Second World War. | |||
| 07 Jan 2022 | B17s and Bullet holes: A US Airforce Bomber | 00:35:58 | |
Chuck Richardson is a former member of the United States Airforce, serving across Europe in his B17 bomber during World War 2. He, and co-author of their new book Emily Wilson, join James this week to talk about Chuck's remarkable achievements, life, and extraordinary tales from the War. From flying a plane with over 600 bullet holes in, landing in Icelandic storms, to seeking refuge in Madame Tussauds during a bombing raid, Chuck's truly astounding life is full of stories that won't be forgotten. If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit To download, go to Android or Apple store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.historyhit&hl=en_GB&gl=US https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/history-hit/id1303668247 If you’re enjoying this podcast and looking for more fascinating Warfare content then subscribe to our Warfare newsletter. Follow the link here: | |||
| 27 Dec 2021 | Creating the United Nations | 00:42:02 | |
The search for Peace on Earth has spanned centuries, and involved the creation and dissolution of numerous treaties and organisations. So how does the United Nations fit into this story? Why was it created, and has it been successful in its task? Ian Johnson is a historian of war, technology and diplomacy at the University of Notre Dame. He returns to the podcast for a third time. For more, subscribe to our Warfare Wednesday newsletter here. If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today! To download the History Hit app, go to Android or Apple store. | |||
| 09 Jul 2021 | Spitfires: The Kids Who Built Them | 00:28:17 | |
81 years after the beginning of the Battle of Britain in July 1940, we are looking at the people behind one of the iconic machines which helped the Allies towards victory. It is known that the average age of a pilot flying a Spitfire in the Battle of Britain was 20 years old, but many of those involved in designing and building the machines were even younger. In this episode Alasdair Cross, a producer from the BBC World Service, speaks to James about these individuals and their stories, and how their creation changed the course of the Second World War. Alasdair’s Sunday Times bestseller is called ‘The Spitfire Kids: The generation who built, supported and flew Britain's most beloved fighter’. | |||
| 26 Aug 2020 | Hitler's Death | 00:19:47 | |
He is arguably the 20th century's most notorious head of state and the results of his leadership are spread far and wide. But did Hitler shoot himself in the Führerbunker, or did he slip past the Soviets and escape to South America? In this podcast with Dan Snow, Luke Daly Groves takes on the conspiracy theorists using recently declassified MI5 files, previously unpublished sketches of Hitler's bunker and eyewitness accounts of intelligence officers. | |||
| 09 Dec 2020 | Soviet Spy Masters | 00:27:20 | |
Espionage. The word brings to mind the Cold War - Stasi informants and surveillance bugging in East Berlin. Or today’s media promoted anxieties about Chinese infiltration. But for this episode, Calder Walton came onto the World Wars podcasts to talk about spying during the Second World War. Calder researches History that is relevant to the policy making of today’s governments and intelligence communities. He talks to James about the depth of the Soviet spies’ permeation of their allies, and its effect. | |||
| 04 Jun 2021 | D-Day from the Air | 00:29:10 | |
It’s 77 years since D-Day but it might never have happened at all without one very specific piece of new technology; the resonant cavity magnetron. Atomic bombs or the Colossus supercomputer may come to mind when thinking about innovations which changed the course of WW2, but without this technological breakthrough, history would have been very different. Historian Norm Fine talks to James about the development which enabled microwave radar, and why he thinks it was the single most influential new invention which eventually won the war. You can read more in Norman Fine’s book, Blind Bombing: How Microwave Radar Brought the Allies to D-Day and Victory in World, which is out now. | |||
| 31 Dec 2021 | The World's Biggest Nuclear Bomb | 01:00:11 | |
In the early hours of 30 October 1961, a bomber took off from an airstrip in northern Russia and began its flight through cloudy skies over the frigid Russian Arctic. Hanging below this Soviet plane was a nuclear bomb the size of a small school bus. It was the largest and most powerful bomb ever to be created, and it was about to be tested. The Tsar Bomba’s gigantic detonation was intended to be secret, but was detected by American intelligence agencies—bringing brewing Cold War tensions to fever pitch. The thermonuclear hydrogen bomb yielded the equivalent of 50–58 megatons of TNT, enough to annihilate a small country. The resultant mushroom cloud reached an altitude seven times higher than Mount Everest, and its 8-km-wide wide fireball could be seen from almost 1,000km away. This week, James is joined by Alex Wellerstein, an expert on the history of nuclear weapons. Together they discuss their development from WW2 to today, and the terrifying legacy of the largest man-made explosion in history. Please vote for us! Dan Snow's History Hit has been nominated for a Podbible award in the 'informative' category: https://bit.ly/3pykkds If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today! To download the History Hit app please go to the Android or Apple store. | |||
| 23 Aug 2021 | The Cold War & the Power of Defence Spending | 00:31:37 | |
As the international community moved from World War to Cold War in the second half of the 20th century, the defence requirements of the United States also evolved. But what did this mean for arms manufacturers, and how did it affect their relationship with politics? In this episode, Mike Brenes from Yale University explores the changes which took place as the Cold War developed, and where the power in defence spending lies. Mike’s new book, For Might and Right: Cold War Defense Spending and the Remaking of American Democracy (Culture and Politics in the Cold War and Beyond), is available here: https://www.umasspress.com/9781625345219/for-might-and-right/ Image Credit: CC/Pentagon Archives | |||
| 18 Dec 2020 | Authoritarianism | 00:23:31 | |
Professor Tim Snyder is an expert in authoritarian regimes and how they develop. As the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University, he spoke to Dan about Russia, the USA, Europe and what the lessons of the past tell us about where power lies in the world today, and how we can change that. | |||
| 05 Mar 2021 | Churchill and the Iron Curtain | 00:37:48 | |
‘From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent.’ These words - spoken by Winston Churchill on 5 March 1946 to an audience including President Truman in Fulton, Missouri - can be seen as both a symptom and a catalyst of the collapse of relations between the western allies and the Soviet Union. But what drove Churchill to make this speech? What can it tell us about the relationships between Churchill, Stalin and Truman? How did it intertwine with the fates of countries such as Iran and Turkey? And what impact does its shadow have today? Dr Warren Dockter is the author of ‘Winston Churchill and the Islamic World’, and editor of ‘Winston Churchill at the Telegraph’. In this anniversary episode he speaks to James about this remarkable speech. © PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo | |||
| 19 May 2021 | The V-2 Rocket | 00:25:40 | |
It was the world's first long-range guided ballistic missile, developed to avenge the bombings of German cities during the Second World War. For this episode, novelist, former journalist and BBC television reporter, Robert Harris, joined Dan on the podcast to talk about Nazi Germany and the story of the V2 rocket. | |||
| 30 Aug 2020 | Pilots of the Caribbean | 00:27:49 | |
On the outbreak of World War Two, young men from across the Empire volunteered to risk their lives in the fight against Nazi Germany. For this podcast, Peter Devitt from the RAF museum spoke with Dan about the often-neglected histories of African-Caribbean RAF pilots and their contribution to the Allied war effort. | |||
| 30 Nov 2020 | The Munich Agreement | 00:30:05 | |
The white paper of the Munich Agreement is famed as one of history's key stategic blunders. In this episode, Tim Bouverie takes Dan through the old questions about appeasement. Was it right to appease Hitler in order to buy time to re-arm? Why did Chamberlain and Halifax not take action when the Rhineland was re-occupied, or during the Anschluss of 1938, or during the occupation of the Sudetenland? | |||
| 24 May 2021 | Invention of Torpedoes | 00:31:22 | |
When the self-propelled torpedo was invented in the late 19th century, it threatened to revolutionize naval warfare. The weapon was instrumental in the wars of the 20th century, but also within the spheres of the global marketplace, government control and intellectual property. In this episode, Katherine Epstein, author of ‘Torpedo: Inventing the Military-Industrial Complex in the United States and Great Britain’, discusses the development of this lethal weapon in relation to military, legal and business history. | |||
| 16 Dec 2020 | The Nazi-Soviet Partnership | 00:41:53 | |
On 23 August 1939, German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov signed a pact in Moscow. This pact was perplexing to many at the time, and remains the subject of much discussion, mainly for the fact that it consolidated a partnership between the communist Soviet Union and the Nazis. Who was first to propose the relationship? Why did both the Soviets and the Germans agree to it? And how did it turn out for each of them? In this episode, James sought the answers to some of these questions with Professor Ian Johnson. They discuss the treatment of diplomats in either country during the talks, the possibility that the British and French missed an opportunity to prevent this alliance, and whether the traditional narrative that the Nazis forced Stalin into it should be reconsidered. Ian is a historian of war, diplomacy, and technology at the University of Notre Dame. His new book, Faustian Bargain: The Soviet-German Partnership and the Origins of the Second World War will be released in 2021 (https://global.oup.com/academic/product/faustian-bargain-9780190675141?cc=dk&lang=en&). | |||
| 13 Oct 2021 | Italy in WW2 | 00:17:45 | |
On 13 October 1943, one month after surrendering to the Allies, Italy declared war on its former partner, Nazi Germany. In this episde from the History Hit archives, Dan talks to Paul Reed about the role of Italy in World War Two, from the battles that they took part in to the alliances they made. Paul is a leading military historian, specializing in the two world wars. This photograph shows Warfare presenter James Rogers' grandfather, Sgt Ted Rogers (Coldstream Guards), leading his men into Impruneta, Italy, in 1944. The image was colourised by TIG. | |||
| 29 Oct 2021 | The Anglo-Arab Wars | 00:41:05 | |
The half century between 1870 and 1920 was one of conflict between British colonialism and the people of the Middle East and North Africa. In this episode, James is joined by archeologist and author Neil Faulkner to examine the clashes of armies, ideologies and forms of oppression, clashes which would prove fatal. Neil explains this revolutionary history, exploring British imperialism in northeast Africa which has repercussions rippling into the 21st century. Can this war be considered the first modern Jihad? Neil Faulkner is the author of 'Empire and Jihad: The Anglo-Arab Wars of 1870-1920', Published by Yale University Press. | |||
| 22 Dec 2021 | The Founding of the SAS | 00:46:45 | |
It's a special forces unit known largely for its secrecy, but Damien Lewis is on a mission of his own, to uncover everything about its beginnings. In this episode from the Dan Snow's History Hit archive, he tells us more about the formation of the SAS, starting in autumn 1940, two days after Dunkirk, with Colonel Dudley Clarke. © IWM For more, subscribe to our Warfare Wednesday newsletter here. If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today! To download the History Hit app, go to Android or Apple store. | |||
| 05 May 2021 | Napoleon's Death | 00:32:30 | |
Six years of exile on a remote island blighted with unpleasant weather conditions, in lodgings far inferior to those enjoyed whilst leader of France, hardly seems fitting for the final years of Napoleon Bonaparte. Yet, in this second episode with Zack White, we hear about how this remarkable military commander came to fall so far from the top. Zack takes us through Napoleon’s loss of power, his representation in British propaganda, his two exiles and his eventual death, including the debates around the real cause of his demise. Zack specialises in crime and punishment in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars at the University of Southampton, and is the creator of the online hub TheNapoleonicWars.net. | |||
| 24 Sep 2021 | Duke of Wellington | 00:52:07 | |
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, was a soldier, statesman, and prominent political figure who served the United Kingdom twice as Prime Minister. He is known to many as a successful defensive general, but what about when he was on the offensive? In this episode, we explore the life, career, and death of Wellington. James is once again accompanied by Historian and presenter Zack White as they delve into the complex life of Wellington. Debunking myths, exploring his life, legacy, and controversies. Zack specialises in crime and punishment in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars at the University of Southampton and is the creator of the TheNapoleonicWars.net. | |||
| 26 Jul 2021 | When the World Outlawed War | 00:34:34 | |
In August 1928, signatories from France, the United States and Germany signed a treaty outlawing war. This so-called Kellogg-Briand Pact was soon signed by almost every state. Yet, in the century since, countless wars have been started ... and not all of them finished. To find out whether the pact has had any impact on international relations since its inception, James speaks to Professor Oona Hathaway from Yale University. Oona and her colleague Scott Shapiro are the authors of ‘The Internationalists: How a Radical Plan to Outlaw War Remade the World’. | |||
| 22 Sep 2020 | Pearl Harbour | 00:26:09 | |
In this episode, History Hit's Rob Weinberg asks the big questions about Sunday 7 December 1941, the day Japanese aircraft attacked the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The US Pacific Fleet was devastated and 2403 Americans were killed, but it was not the decisive strike Japan had hoped for. Instead, it awakened a sleeping giant that would turn into a nemesis. Professor Carl Bridge of Kings College London talks us through Japan's reasonings for attacking Pearl Harbor, and the American response. | |||
| 18 Feb 2022 | Crisis in Ukraine: Reporting the 2014 Revolution | 00:30:37 | |
With a 130,000 estimated Russian troops stationed at various points along the Ukrainian border - tensions are rising not only in eastern Europe, but globally. A conflict dating back to 2013, uncertainty for Ukraine's future has only increased in the last 9 years. This week James is joined by Henry Langston, who reported for Vice from the front lines of Ukraine in 2014, to discuss the renewed Russian aggression, his first hand experiences on the line, and whether a diplomatic agreement can be reached. This episode was recorded during February 2022. If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit To download, go to Android or Apple store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.historyhit&hl=en_GB&gl=US https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/history-hit/id1303668247 If you’re enjoying this podcast and looking for more fascinating Warfare content then subscribe to our Warfare newsletter. Follow the link here: | |||
| 14 Nov 2021 | Raj Bisram's Military Career | 00:21:41 | |
You might know Raj Bisram best as a TV antiques expert, but he actually started his career by joining the military in the 70s. From becoming an expert skier, to navigating racism, and later becoming a patron for “Tommy Club”, a charity supporting Armed Forces Veterans, it’s a fascinating and frank conversation. To find out more information on “Tommy Club”, or to donate, make sure to check out tommyclub.co.uk. | |||
| 29 Mar 2021 | GCHQ: A History | 00:54:53 | |
In this episode of Warfare we hear about what was happening behind the closed doors of GCHQ during the 20th century, from somebody who has been given access to the files (a lot of them anyway!). Hear John Ferris, the authorised historian of GCHQ, and professor of History at the University of Calgary as he takes us through what he has learnt about the relationships between the governments and organisations of the world, and the secrets they have kept. Through his studies of signals intelligence (SIGINT) John takes us all the way back to the First World War to discuss whether it really ended in 1918, and right up to the Snowden scandal and changes that have emerged with cyber terrorism. | |||
| 28 Aug 2020 | Nationalism | 00:43:42 | |
When studying the causes of war we can often be distracted by actions, but in many cases, including the World Wars, a study of the history of ideas is just as enlightening. In this episode, James spoke to inter-disciplinary scholar Dr. Pablo de Orellana about ethnonationalism and its role in both of the World Wars, as well as in the rise of far-right ideas today. | |||
| 27 Aug 2021 | Al-Qaeda | 00:47:30 | |
Their attacks of 11 September 2001 sparked a War on Terror which echoes loudly to this day, but where did Al Qaeda come from, how did their ideologies form and what role do they play in the world today? For this episode James spoke to Dr Afzal Ashraf, an expert in Al Qaeda's ideology and violent religious extremism. Dr Ashraf spent over 30 years in the UK Armed Forces as a senior officer and is a Senior Government Advisor. © Shutterstock/Everett Collection | |||
| 06 Dec 2021 | Pearl Harbor: 80 Years Later | 00:22:56 | |
On 7 December 1941, Imperial Japan launched an attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor. In this episode 80 years later, James speaks to Adrian Kerrison, a curator at the Imperial War Museums. Adrian takes us through the events of that day, the motives behind the attack and its lasting legacy. | |||
| 18 Aug 2021 | Critiquing the War in Afghanistan with Mike Martin | 00:33:54 | |
In 2014, Dr Mike Martin famously critiqued the Ministry of Defence with a book based on a series of conversations Martin had with the Afghan locals, as one of the few within the military who could speak pashto. The MOD tried to prevent the publication of this book but in this episode, Dan talks to Mike about his problems with the way that the military is run, and how the conflict in Afghanistan may change in years to come. | |||
| 17 Mar 2021 | Montgomery: Britain’s Best Known Field Marshall | 00:57:14 | |
From fighting on the front line as a Junior Officer in the first days of the First World War, to commanding Allied ground forces on D-Day, the life of Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery presents an individual perspective on the major conflicts of the first half of the Twentieth Century. At Chalke Valley, comedian and history graduate Al Murray spoke about his history hero, 'Monty' - his life, career and legacy. © PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo | |||
| 26 Feb 2021 | Daughters of Yalta | 00:41:55 | |
In February 1945, the ‘Big Three’ met for arguably the most important and controversial of the conferences of the Second World War. At the Yalta Conference, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin discussed the post-war reorganisation of Europe. The British and American leaders had come a long way to cooperate with Stalin, but they had not come alone. Roosevelt’s daughter, Anna, Churchill’s daughter Sarah and Kathleen Harriman, the daughter of the US ambassador to the Soviet Union were all in attendance. For her new book, Catherine Grace Katz has approached the Yalta conference from the perspective of these women, each of whom had a different angle and role there. In this episode Catherine shares her understanding of each of these women and what this can, in turn, tell us about the relationships between the United States, Britain and the USSR. | |||
| 19 Feb 2021 | William Stephenson: Declaring War on the Nazis | 00:24:49 | |
Henry Hemming talks to Dan Snow about the life of William Stephenson, a British operative who worked hard to pressure Roosevelt into declaring war on Nazi Germany, and ensuring that American troops were directed against German forces in mainland Europe. The tactics adopted were akin to those used today by troll farms in St Petersburg, and involved duplicitous and aggressive use of misinformation. | |||
| 26 Nov 2021 | The Punjab Soldiers of WWI | 00:37:19 | |
About one in six of the men who served in the First World War came from undivided India. However, unlike those who hailed from Britain and the rest of Europe, records of their service can be difficult to access. After almost one hundred years of being left unread in the archives of Lahore Museum in Pakistan, however, the files of 320,000 troops from the Punjab have now been digitised. In this special episode, James speaks to Gavin Rand from the University of Greenwich about the experiences of men from the Punjab during the First World War. Why they signed up and what they received in return. Next, James speaks to Dr Irfan Malik who, using these new records, has finally been able to understand the roles of not one, but two of his ancestors. | |||
| 04 Feb 2022 | The Winter War: Lessons for Ukraine | 00:29:51 | |
Molotov Cocktails, stealth skiing, and a ruined Birthday party for Stalin? What exactly happened in the Winter War of 1939-40 between Russia and Finland? This week James is joined by Elisabeth Braw from the American Enterprise Institute to discuss the Finnish-Russo war of the 20th Century and it's impact on geo-politics today. Together they cover Russia's unexpected loss, the advantages of fighting on Finnish turf, and how in the face of a foreign enemy, internal politics can be put aside to unite communities. If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit To download, go to Android or Apple store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.historyhit&hl=en_GB&gl=US https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/history-hit/id1303668247 If you’re enjoying this podcast and looking for more fascinating Warfare content then subscribe to our Warfare newsletter. Follow the link here: | |||
| 21 Jan 2022 | Munich - The Edge of War: Reappraising Chamberlain | 00:35:39 | |
Join James this week for a special episode of Warfare, chatting to the writer and cast of the new film 'Munich - the Edge of War'. Set in 1938, the movie follows Chamberlain's attempts to appease Hitler, desperate to avoid another Great War. Joining James is author Robert Harris, along with lead actors George Mackay and Jannis Niewöhner. Together they discuss the historical significance of Chamberlain and Hitler's relationship, Munich's role in contemporary politics, and the pressures of having to learn German in a week. Munich – The Edge of War is in select cinemas now and on Netflix from January 21st. If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit https://access.historyhit.com/?utm_source=audio&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Podcast+Campaign&utm_id=PodcastTo download, go to Android or Apple store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.historyhit&hl=en_GB&gl=US https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/history-hit/id1303668247 If you’re enjoying this podcast and looking for more fascinating Warfare content then subscribe to our Warfare newsletter. Follow the link here: | |||
| 20 Nov 2020 | Iceland's Titanic: The SS Godafoss | 00:19:40 | |
On 10 November 1944, the Icelandic steam merchant ship SS Godafoss was hit by a German U-boat torpedo. She sank in 7 minutes, killing everybody on board. For this episode, James was joined by legendary Icelandic director, producer and presenter, Jón Ársæll. Jón made a documentary about the ship, which was carrying cargo and civilians from New York to Reykjavik, Iceland. He spoke about the conditions for ships in the North Atlantic towards the end of the war, and the fateful afternoon which has become, after years of hunting for the wreckage, Iceland's Titanic. | |||
| 27 Nov 2020 | Battle of Britain | 00:22:32 | |
In a moment of great danger to national survival, the Royal Air Force defended the United Kingdom against large scale attacks by the Luftwaffe. So how did the Battle of Britain play out? What was Germany’s objective? And how important was it to the direction of the Second World War? To answer the big questions about this seminal moment in British history, Charlie Mills talks to Dr. Mario Draper at the University of Kent. | |||
| 26 Apr 2021 | Secret History of Soviet Nerve Agents | 00:27:21 | |
The use of nerve agents is synonymous with Russian espionage for those of us who remember the recent poisonings of Alexei Navalny, Sergei and Yulia Skripal and the residents of Salisbury caught up in the latters’ attempted murders. The origins of this weapon, however, remain shrouded in mystery. Sergei Lebedev is a Russian novelist, currently based in Berlin. He has come onto Warfare to discuss the little known conception of Novichok in the closed town of Shikhany, 600 miles south of Moscow. Sergei explores the cooperation between the Soviets and Weimar Republic Germany from the 1920s until 1932, and delves into the moral responsibilities of making scientific discoveries with the capacity for destruction. Sergei's new book, Untraceable, follows a ruthless chemist in his search for a new nerve agent, and is available in the UK from Head of Zeus (https://headofzeus.com/books/9781800246591) and in the US by New Vessel Press (https://newvesselpress.com/books/untraceable/). | |||
| 09 Feb 2022 | Britain and China in the Opium Wars | 00:29:20 | |
In this episode from the History Hit archive, Dan Snow speaks to British military historian Mark Simner about the Opium Wars, events that are rarely taught in British schools, but taught ubiquitously across China. He explains the provenance of both conflicts, and explores some of the reasons why resentment still lingers to this day. The Opium Wars are a critical part of Chinese history, vital to understanding the first half of the 20th century in China, and to some extent, modern-day China. | |||
| 17 Sep 2021 | Band of Brothers & Masters of the Air | 00:23:51 | |
Twenty years after the release of the landmark series Band of Brothers, screenwriter John Orloff is back to bring us Masters of the Air with Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. James spoke to John to get some inside information about the ongoing production of this project, including the exact repllication of Second World War aircraft and buildings from American Air Force bases in Britain. John also discusses how writing Masters of the Air differed from writing Band of Brothers, and the involvement of veterans. | |||
| 27 Jan 2021 | Black and Roma Peoples in the Third Reich | 00:35:50 | |
For International Holocaust Memorial Day 2021, James spoke to Professor Eve Rosenhaft about the experiences of Black and Roma peoples during the Third Reich. Eve is a historian at the University of Liverpool. She has been looking into how the persecution of these groups occured under the Nazis; how much of it was a continuation of existing prejudices, and who prompted its escalation. Image: Francis Reisz, Obóz cygański (The Gypsy Camp), Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Collections | |||
| 29 Nov 2021 | Battle of Austerlitz: Napoleon's Greatest Victory | 00:27:26 | |
2 December is a special date for those fascinated by Napoleon Bonaparte. Not only is this the date he crowned himself Emperor of France in 1804, but also the date of his greatest victory a year later, the Battle of Austerlitz. James Rogers is joined by world-leading historian Andrew Roberts to dissect the conditions, tactics and aftermath of Napoleon's greatest battle. If you’re enjoying this podcast and looking for more fascinating Warfare content then subscribe to our Warfare Wednesday newsletter here. Passages read by Matt Lewis Music: Not My Taste (a) - Doug B Rossi, Tony Phillips Majesty (a) - Bradley Andrew Segal, Haim Mazar Force of Nature (a) - John Christopher Lucas Lemke | |||
| 25 Feb 2022 | Crisis in Ukraine: Putin & NATO | 00:35:55 | |
Ukraine has been invaded by Russia. But why? What is NATO’s purpose, and why does it bother Vladimir Putin so much? In this episode of Warfare, we’re joined by Jamie Shea, the Former Deputy Assistant Secretary-General at NATO, who’s sat across the table from the Russian President himself. Jamie and James explore the birth of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the questions surrounding its membership, and how it impacts the current situation in Ukraine. Jamie has decades of experience working for NATO since the Cold War era, and shares incredible insights into the ups and downs of its relationship with Russia over the years. To hear more from Jamie, check out his weekly look at emerging geopolitical crises as well as threats in security and defence here. For more Warfare content, subscribe to our Warfare newsletter here. If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today! To download, go to the Android or Apple store. | |||
| 28 Feb 2022 | Fighting With Pride: Lifting the Armed Forces' Gay Ban | 00:41:57 | |
By law, gay men and women were banned from serving in the British military until the year 2000. Until that year, over 250 service personnel were thrown out of the military each year because of their sexuality alone. This week James is joined by Ed Hall, who was sacked by the Royal Navy for being gay before going on to found the Armed Forces Legal Challenge Group that campaigned successfully to abolish the ban just 22 years ago. For more Warfare content, subscribe to our Warfare newsletter here. If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today! To download, go to the Android or Apple store. | |||
| 02 Mar 2022 | The Guinea Pig Club: Plastic Surgery & WW2 | 00:46:30 | |
Of all the clubs in the world, perhaps the most extraordinary is the Guinea Pig Club, a group of Second World War veterans that suffered terrible injuries and were then treated by pioneering surgeon Archibald McIndoe. In this episode from the archive, Dan Snow visits Jan Stangreciuk, one of the few surviving members, to hear his remarkable life story. Also featuring contributions from renowned World War Two historian Roger Moorhouse. | |||