History

Expedition Unknown

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Chasing Everglades Treasure

Josh digs deep into the swamp to hunt the lost fortune of notorious bootleggers and bank robbers, the Ashley Gang. To find the millions, Josh needs to re-trace the outlaw family's criminal empire that included a blood feud with the local Florida sheriff. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Knights Templar Treasure Hunt

Josh digs in to unearth the secret world of the Knights Templar, the legendary warriors rumored to have amassed vast riches and treasures, including the coveted Holy Grail. Josh joins an excavation of a rare Templar gravesite in eastern Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Buried Secrets of the Nazis

Josh Gates rafts into an abandoned tunnel system to chase art and treasure stolen by the Third Reich. Then, the diary of a high-ranking SS officer leads to a search for tons of stolen gold. Later, Josh searches for a buried Nazi Enigma machine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Buried Secrets of Hitler

With word of an urgent lead, Josh jets to Poland to join in the opening of a secret Nazi tunnel system dug into a dormant volcano. Josh helps a local team tear away a stone wall built by the Germans in the last days of World War 2. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Outlaw Fortune of the Dalton Gang

Josh Gates heads to the Wild West in search of the hidden loot - worth millions in today's dollars -- that was heisted by the infamous group of lawmen turned criminals, the Dalton Gang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lindbergh's Lost Rival

On the trail of aviation's most famous lost plane, Josh goes on a worldwide search. Before Lindbergh made history, two rivals attempted a Paris to New York transatlantic flight. Chasing new leads, Josh scours two continents to find the lost "White Bird." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bootlegger's Millions

Josh Gates chases the lost fortune of Prohibition's infamous bootlegger Dutch Schultz. Josh dives the murky shore near Dutch's lavish New York mansion and searches the massive underground bunker that housed Dutch's secret distillery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

America's Titanic

Josh dives the Atlantic in search of millions in lost coins sunk with America's Titanic. In 1838, a steamship carrying some of America's wealthiest citizens exploded off the Carolina coast. New sonar scans may lead to the wreckage and the lost fortune. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Uncovering the Golden City

The hunt for El Dorado is Josh's most grueling journey ever and one of the crew tumbles into a raging river. When cutting-edge aerial scans reveal a lost city, they push into the jungle to uncover El Dorado and the gold that comes with it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Quest for El Dorado

Josh Gates treks deep into Colombia's deadly jungle to unravel the El Dorado myth and retrace the steps of Spanish conquistadors. Josh meets with the tribe who inspired the legend of a city of gold and unearths their treasure in a surprising location. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ransom in the Sky

With brand-new evidence Josh looks to finally crack the DB Cooper case, America's only unsolved skyjacking. A deathbed confession and cutting-edge forensics have Josh hot on the trail of the $200,000 ransom that's never been recovered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lost Avenger

A three-man crew of Navy pilots training for World War 2 crashed into the Pacific Ocean 75 years ago. Josh Gates teams up with Project Recover on a daring mission to find their plane and bring closure for the three souls who have never been found. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dillinger's Lost Loot

Josh Gates joins the hunt for notorious bank robber John Dillinger's fortune that's never been found. Chasing leads across the Midwest, Josh searches Public Enemy Number One's childhood home and dives a frigid lake at a remote Wisconsin lodge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lost Tomb of the Mummy

Josh Gates heads to an active dig site in Egypt, where he joins famous archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass on the cusp of an incredible discovery: the mummy of an ancient High Priest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Siberia's Coldest Case

Josh Gates concludes his in-depth investigation of the Dyatlov Pass Incident. Taking on Dead Mountain's brutal conditions, Josh and two investigators retrace the hikers' last steps. A big discovery could finally solve the mystery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Fortune of the Buzzard

Josh Gates takes on the Indian Ocean's punishing waters as he chases the lost treasure of Olivier Levasseur, aka "The Buzzard," rumored to be worth more than a billion dollars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Warrior Queen's Treasure

Searching across England, Josh Gates unearths a cache of ancient treasure as he chases the legend of Queen Boudica, the legendary Celtic queen who nearly defeated the invading Roman army 2,000 years ago. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Searching For America's Lost Flight

Josh Gates investigates the most mysterious airline disaster in American history -- searching for why Northwest Flight 2501 vanished, taking the lives of all 58 people on board. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Digging Into D-Day - Part 2

Part 2 - Josh Gates touches down in Normandy to investigate battles on land, air and sea. The expedition reveals a Nazi threat greater than ever imagined, unearthing a massive German bunker complex buried for 75 years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Digging Into D-Day

Josh Gates touches down in Normandy to investigate battles on land, air and sea. The expedition reveals a Nazi threat greater than ever imagined, unearthing a massive German bunker complex buried for 75 years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Revealing the Triangle

In the conclusion of his epic investigation, Josh Gates uses cutting-edge technology to investigate the Triangle's most infamous shipwreck and lost flights. Will he find answers to just how the Triangle works or will it forever remain a mystery? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mysteries of Bermuda Triangle

Josh Gates dives into the mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle. His investigation leads him to the ocean floor, the skies above and even the edge of space as he tackles some of the most intriguing disappearances in history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Search for the Sultan's Heart

Four years after Josh Gates went on a journey to find the lost heart of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, he travels to the newly rediscovered town of Turbek for some shocking new revelations about the case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Revealing Our Ancient Ancestors

Josh Gates travels to Africa to get up close and personal with a distant relative and scale dangerous cliffs all to answer one question: Where did humans come from? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Hunt for Our Ancient Ancestors

In this expansive, two-part investigation, Josh Gates travels the globe attempting to solve the most fundamental mystery of all -- humanity's origins. How did we survive to the modern day? And what does that mean for our future? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cracking the Secret

Josh Gates is on a nationwide treasure hunt to solve a mystery no one has cracked for 40 years: The Secret. Josh travels coast-to-coast and back in time using cutting-edge augmented reality and tapping into a network of obsessed Secret detectives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hunt for the Chupacabra

In the dark caves and thick jungles of Puerto Rico, Josh Gates tracks a modern-day mystery -- the Chupacabra. Working with a wildlife biologist, a veterinarian and an investigator, Josh explores a recent wave of attacks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Rush of the Atlantic

Josh Gates has a fresh lead on the massive lost treasure of the shipwrecked 1715 Spanish fleet. Josh returns to the waters of Florida's Atlantic coast and dives in with a new expedition that uses the latest high tech to locate the fleet's flagship. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chasing the Snake Kings

With a potential new breakthrough in the search for a Snake King tomb, Josh returns to the jungles of Guatemala and the archaeological dig at the ancient Mayan city of El Mirador to pinpoint the tomb's location. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Search for Florida's Lost Pirate

Josh Gates sets sail for Florida chasing the long-lost treasure of Jose Gaspar. Josh joins marine archaeologists and treasure hunters working to crack the mysteries of the pirate's life so they can find the riches he left behind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mystery of Dead Mountain

Braving the sub-zero conditions of Siberia, Josh Gates investigates one of the strangest and most brutal cold cases: the Dyatlov Pass Incident. Nine Soviet hikers died suspiciously. Sixty years later, no one knows how or why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mysteries of Jesus

Josh Gates travels to the Holy Land to investigate a mystery of biblical proportions -- where was Jesus actually born? The investigation leads to explosive revelations that may change our understanding of Jesus' origin story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chasing the Fortune of Sir Francis Drake

Josh Gates searches land and sea for the lost fortune of legendary pirate Sir Francis Drake. Joining treasure hunters and maritime archaeologists, Josh hunts for a lost cache of Spanish gold and the remains of Drake himself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Treasure of the Copper Scroll

Josh Gates investigates a unique Dead Sea Scroll etched with riddles that could lead to an ancient treasure. Following new leads, Josh treks into the punishing Jordanian desert in search of the potential fortune. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mysteries of the Dead Sea Scrolls

Josh Gates travels to the Holy Land to dig in with an archaeologist who has recently discovered new Dead Sea Scrolls. Josh also sees cutting-edge technology restore scroll fragments in a way that could change how we read the Bible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deciphering the Last Nazi Code

Josh ventures into the heart of the former Third Reich in search of an elusive Nazi fortune hidden with a code allegedly created by Hitler's private secretary and embedded into a piece of sheet music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

America's Lost WWII Hero

Josh Gates explores the case of lost World War II hero Gertrude "Tommy" Tompkins of the Women Air Force Service Pilots, who went missing when her P-51 Mustang crashed. Josh joins search teams using cutting-edge technology to bring the lost hero home. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghost Ship of the Great Lakes

Josh dives into the notoriously rough waters of Lake Huron to find the final resting place of The Griffon, the very first vessel used to explore the Great Lakes and one of North America's most sought-after shipwrecks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Hunt for the Golden Owl

Josh Gates stalks prey that has eluded capture for 25 years, the Golden Owl. A book of riddles gives cryptic clues to where the Owl statuette, worth half a million dollars, is hidden. Josh joins treasure hunters using new leads to chase the fortune. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lost Gold of Scotland

Hunting for a lost cache of gold, Josh Gates heads to the Scottish Highlands. His search focuses on a huge gold reserve hidden after the Jacobite Uprising of 1745 and never recovered. Josh joins treasure hunters chasing a new lead across the Highlands. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Atlantis of the Andes

Josh Gates dives into a mystery below South America's Lake Titicaca. During the investigation, Josh discovers multiple structures of the ancient Tiwanaku people, including ruins hidden in the lake's depths, dubbed "The Atlantis of the Andes." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Legend of the Crystal Skull

Josh Gates takes on Central America's jungles to investigate the legendary crystal skull discovered by a renowned adventurer who was the inspiration for Indiana Jones. Josh probes whether the skull is an invaluable relic or archaeology's tallest tale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mahogany Ship

Josh goes down under to search along Australia's infamous Shipwreck Coast for the missing Mahogany Ship. Confirming the vessel's existence could rewrite Australia's history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Egypt's Lost Queens

In the second installment of a two-part investigation, Josh continues his journey through Egypt to uncover the secrets, and possibly the final resting place, of ancient history's most powerful women -- Nefertiti and Cleopatra. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Great Women of Ancient Egypt

In this first installment of an epic two-part episode, Josh journeys through the land of the Nile to uncover the secrets of the most powerful, and most elusive, women in ancient Egypt -- Hatshepsut, Nefertiti and Cleopatra. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Secrets of Brother XII

Josh attempts to uncover a treasure left behind by the Aquarian Foundation, an isolated, insidious cult led by the notorious leader known as Brother XII. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nazis in Argentina

Josh ventures to Argentina, where many Nazi SS officers escaped to after World War II. He uncovers secret Nazi hideouts and investigates what may be the most shocking conspiracy theory of all -- Hitler's "true" fate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hunt for the Metal Library

Josh travels through the jungles of Ecuador to explore the watery depths of Tayos Cave for a legendary set of metal plates believed to be created by an advanced ancient civilization. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vikings in America

Josh traces the Vikings' westward expansion from the volcanic landscape of Iceland to a mysterious settlement in Greenland and into North America. He aims to find out if they landed in the United States before any other Europeans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Viking Secrets

Josh investigates how a group of Norse tribesman gained power in medieval Europe. His search for answers begins in their one-time home base of Denmark and continues on to the first place they expanded off the continent -- Iceland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Butch Cassidy's Lost Loot

Josh rides into the Wild West to hunt for Butch Cassidy's missing money. He traces the outlaw's footsteps through Colorado, Utah and Nevada, eventually learning that he may need to find the man himself to locate the lost loot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pyramid of Legends

Josh ventures into the ancient Maya city of El Mirador in search of the lost tombs of a mysterious ruling dynasty called the Snake Kings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Origins of Stonehenge

Josh travels to his ancestral home of Great Britain to explore the origins of the mystical monument of Stonehenge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Secret

Josh travels all over the US to find the treasures featured in The Secret, a 1980s book filled with devilishly difficult riddles and puzzles that have stumped treasure hunters for over three decades. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

India's Atlantis

Josh travels to India in search of Dwarka, a mythical kingdom swallowed by the ocean. To find evidence that the golden city is real, he dives into the Arabian Sea and visits a dig site that could rewrite history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Italy's Barbarian Booty

Josh travels to Italy in search of what may be history's richest treasure -- the looted relics of the Roman Empire interred with the Visigoth king Alaric. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corsica's Nazi Treasure

Josh hunts for the treasure of Erwin Rommel, a Nazi general who plundered the wealth of North Africa as his tank corps fled the continent. The search brings Josh to never-explored underground lakes and undersea relics of WWII. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

England's Vanished Crown Jewels

Josh goes on a quest to find the legendary lost treasure of King John. He explores the deadly marshlands of England to find the despised king's crown jewels, which were swept away in a freak tidal surge in the 13th century. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ark of the Covenant

Josh follows in the footsteps of Indiana Jones as he searches in Israel and Ethiopia for the lost Ark of the Covenant, the sacred relic said to contain the Ten Commandments and possess extraordinary powers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Africa's Cursed Lake of Gold

Josh journeys to the wilds of Namibia to embark on a treacherously deep dive into Lake Otjikoto for a long-lost World War I treasure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Captain Kidd's Treasure

Josh retraces the footsteps of Captain Kidd in the hopes of finding his buried treasure. From the East Coast to the Caribbean, the search takes him to a real pirate shipwreck and to the island hideout of the notorious buccaneer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tracking Tasmania's Tiger

Josh ventures to Australia's island state of Tasmania to investigate sightings of a supposedly extinct marsupial known as the Tasmanian Tiger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lasseter's Gold

Josh goes on an epic journey through the Australian outback to find a legendary field of gold known as Lasseter's Reef. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cracking the D.B. Cooper Case

Josh sets off on an expedition to crack the mystery behind the perpetrator of the only unsolved plane hijacking in US history. Picking up where the FBI left off, he discovers new clues and theories in the Pacific Northwest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journey to the Ice Age

Josh treks deep into Siberia for a site where priceless mammoth bones are mined out of the permafrost. Once he gets back to the lab, Josh views the DNA results to find out if the woolly mammoth will walk the earth again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cloning the Woolly Mammoth

To help clone the extinct woolly mammoth back to life, Josh visits a Korean biotech lab driving the project and excavates ancient bones in a Canadian mine. He then descends into a vast sinkhole in Siberia to unearth frozen DNA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lost Colony of Roanoke

Josh Gates joins leading archeologists as they investigate America's first missing-persons case, The Lost Colony of Roanoke. Following newly discovered clues, he digs for answers to this over 400-year-old mystery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Vanished Empire

Josh travels to Greece to find out exactly how the mighty Minoan civilization disappeared from the ancient world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lost Tomb of Attila the Hun

Josh travels to Hungary to join three archaeological teams looking for the lost tomb of Attila the Hun. Legends and ancient texts lead the search from the bottom of the Danube to the mountain forests just outside of Budapest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plummer's Gold

Josh sets off for gold rush country to search for the lost fortune of a notorious Montana sheriff. During his investigation, Josh explores hidden cave systems and blows open a mine that's been sealed for over a century. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lost Spanish Fortune, Found!

Josh travels the coast of Florida and to the newly opened country of Cuba in search of sunken treasure from a fleet of Spanish ships sunk in 1715. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Incan King's Mummy

Josh ventures into the mysterious cloud forests of Ecuador's remote central highlands in search of the all-powerful mummy of the last Inca king, Atahualpa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lost Mexican City

Josh searches Mexico for clues behind the mysterious rise and disappearance of Teotihuacan, a powerful civilization that predated the Aztecs in Mesoamerica. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Columbus: Legend or Liar?

Josh embarks on a journey around the world to uncover mysteries about Christopher Columbus. First, Josh looks for Columbus' legendary ship, the Santa Maria, and later ventures to find the real remains of the explorer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Secrets of Shangri-La

Josh travels to the remote Mustang region of Nepal to explore the legendary Sky Caves. He and his team visit three different cave sites, each of which provide clues to the location of Shangri-La, the fabled heaven on earth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yamashita's Gold

Josh travels to the Philippines searching for Yamashita's Gold, a treasure that has been hidden since World War II. He joins two treasure hunters who each believe they know of some of the gold's clandestine whereabouts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kalahari Desert's Lost City

Josh travels to the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa to look for a fabled lost city. On the journey, he traverses rough desert terrain, encounters wild animals, rafts down rapids and flies in an open-air helicopter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Africa's Gold Hoard

Josh travels to South Africa in search of former President Paul Kruger's missing gold cache. He evades dangerous poachers and meets the Shangaan tribe en route to the treasure that may be hiding in the African wilderness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nazi Secrets Revealed

Josh heads to Europe to expose the last secrets of the Third Reich. He dives deep to locate a Nazi war criminal's lost treasure. Then, he meets a researcher to find out how close was Hitler to having an atomic bomb. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Sultan's Heart

Josh travels to Turkey and Hungary to find the missing heart of one of the greatest Ottoman rulers in Turkish history, Suleiman the Magnificent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

True Cross of Christ

Josh journeys to Jerusalem and Istanbul searching for lost pieces of the cross from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Japan's Atlantis

Josh travels to remote Yonaguni Island and dives into the waters of the Pacific Rim to explore an underwater phenomenon described as Japan's Atlantis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Genghis Khan's Tomb

Josh journeys into the heart of Mongolia in search of the fabled lost tomb of Genghis Khan.For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding Fenn's Fortune

Josh joins the hunt for for a $2,000,000 treasure. He attempts to decode the clues of the modern day treasure's location by following a cryptic poem, leading him deep into the harsh Rocky Mountains.For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Blackbeard's Hidden Gold

Josh explores the ocean floor of the Cayman Islands and the coasts of North Carolina in his quest to find the lost treasure of the legendary pirate Blackbeard.For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hunting Vampires

Josh scours Eastern Europe to confront both the ancient origins and modern legacy of the vampire legend.For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Real Robin Hood

Josh journeys across England to uncover the true story behind the legendary Robin Hood. He explores underground tunnels that Robin used to escape confinement and finds what appears to be the heroic outlaw's final resting place.For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Quest for King Arthur

Josh traverses England, Wales and Scotland, wading through history and legend to search for evidence of a real King Arthur.For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Curse of the Golden Bell

Josh joins local divers in the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar to search for the Great Bell of King Dhammazedi. To recover this ancient artifact, he plunges into murky waters that have claimed the lives of other divers.For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Samurai Sword of Power

Josh explores ancient mountain shrines and underground tunnels across Japan in search of the mystical Honjo Masamune sword. Along the way, he learns the ways of the samurai and forges his own sword.For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Secrets of the Nazca

Josh flies to Peru to investigate giant geoglyphs drawn into the earth by the ancient Nazca tribes. By studying newly found lines and joining a psychedelic ritual, he uncovers the true meaning behind the mysterious tracings.For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mayan Apocalypse

Josh unearths human skulls and ancient Mayan sacrificial alters in the caverns underneath the jungles and ruins of Mexico while investigating the fall of the remarkable Maya empire.For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Viking Sunstone

Josh travels to the UK and Norway to unlock the secrets of a mystical crystal used by the Vikings to conquer the seas. Before testing it, he explores a crypt in a Nordic church and descends 1,000 feet into a deserted mine.For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Code To Gold

Josh scours the Virginia backcountry in search of the legendary Thomas Beale treasure, worth millions today. With encrypted codes hiding its whereabouts, he takes a detour to Philadelphia to uncover missing pieces to the puzzle.For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Captain Morgan's Lost Gold

Josh dives into the Lajas Reef in search of treasure chests on the sunken flagship of the legendary pirate Captain Henry Morgan. His journey takes him to Panama City, where he visits a modern marvel -- the Panama Canal.For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

City of Gold

Josh Gates treks the stone-paved Inca Trail, ascending 20,000 feet through the Andes and into the Peruvian Amazon in search of a mythical city of gold. His road to riches takes a detour to the legendary ruins of Machu Picchu.For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amelia Earhart

Josh Gates hunts down new evidence in the disappearance of Amelia Earhart. He first treks to uncharted tribal lands of Papua New Guinea and ends his journey in Fiji, hoping to uncover Earhart's remains.For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

World's 8th Wonder

Josh Gates is on the trail from Russia to Germany in search of history's most expensive stolen object, the Amber Chamber. Retracing the steps of Nazi soldiers, Josh explores abandoned Nazi bunkers and a hazardous German mine.For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Legend of Jesse James

Josh Gates journeys across the American Midwest in search of the legendary loot of Jesse James. Along the way, he debunks Jesse James myths, rappels off a cliff on Wichita Mountain and follows treasure hunters into Buzzards Roost. For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Temple of Doom

Josh Gates travels to the remote and landmine-riddled jungles of Cambodia to investigate the lost city of the Khmer Empire and search for a mystical relic that gave its God king the power to incinerate his enemies. For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing: Expedition Unknown with Josh Gates

Find out the truth behind popular, bizarre legends. Expedition Unknown, a podcast from Discovery, chronicles the adventures of Josh Gates as he investigates unsolved iconic stories across the globe. With direct audio from the hit TV show, youll hear Gates explore stories like the disappearance of Amelia Earhart in the south Pacific and the location of Captain Morgan's treasure in Panama. These authentic, roughshod journeys help Gates separate fact from fiction, and learn the truth behind these compelling stories.For even more Expedition Unknown, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/expeditionunknown to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply. Hosted on...

HISTORY This Week

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William Parkers War on Slave Catchers

April 3, 1851. A man who escaped slavery is grabbed off the streets of Boston and thrown into a carriage. He fights back, shouting to the crowd, but it doesnt matter. Under a new federal law, even the North isnt safe. The Fugitive Slave Act has turned cities like Boston into hunting grounds. Freedom seekers are being captured, and ordinary citizens are being forced to help. But across the North, resistance is growing. In Pennsylvania, a man named William Parker is building a network to fight back. When slavecatchers come to his door, that resistance explodes into violence. How did...

The First Robot

March 29th, 1923. A new play opens in Berlin, and quietly changes the future. Onstage are workers who never tire, never complain, and never stop. Theyre faster, stronger, and more efficient than humans in every way. Theyre called robots. A sci-fi play born out of war and industrialization sparks a global obsession and a lasting fear. Because from the very beginning, the robot wasnt just a technological breakthrough. It was a rebellion waiting to happen. How did a playwright invent the robot? Why did his idea spread so quickly? And what does it reveal about the way we think about...

HTW Live: Busting the Myths of Irish Immigration Recorded at the Tenement Museum

March 18, 1879. A crowd gathers around an indoor track in Brooklyn, NY, as an Irish immigrant named Bartholomew ODonnell attempts a strange feat: walking 80 miles in 26 hours. Newspapers claim hes eighty years old. Lap after lap, he circles the track: smoking a pipe, sipping hot tea, and pushing through the night. ODonnell came to New York thirty years earlier, fleeing the Great Potato Famine. Like many Irish immigrants, he spent decades doing manual labor and trying to get ahead in a city that often viewed newcomers with suspicion. For generations, stories like his shaped how historians understood...

From Radio Diaries: Orson Welles and the Blind Soldier

Why did Orson Welles take on a murder mystery? Listen for yourself. This week, we're sharing a special preview of Orson Welles and the Blind Soldier from the podcast Radio Diaries. In this series, we learn how Welles used his platform to shed light on a crime in a small, southern town. A crime that became a spark for the budding Civil Rights movement. For more, visit radiodiaries.org To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Axis Sallys Nazi Radio

March 10, 1949. Defendant Mildred Gillars arrives at a courthouse to hear her verdict. To trial-watchers, shes known as Axis Sallythe American woman who broadcast Nazi propaganda from Berlin during World War II. In taunting tones, she spent years pushing anti-Semitic and anti-Allies messages aimed at weakening the morale of American soldiers. But Gillars insists that shes misunderstood, even innocent. That shes an artist, she loves her country, and was forced to do what she did or die. How did a struggling actress from Maine become a potent weapon of the Nazis? And is there a way to understand the...

Stalin Is Dead! | !

March 5, 1953. The Premier of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, is on his deathbed, and hes turning blue. At the end of his life, Stalin is surrounded by his closest advisors, but these comrades arent hoping for his quick recovery. For days, theyve been sneaking away from their vigil, plotting. The moment Stalins heart stops, they leap into action. What happens when a tyrant falls? And what role did the inner circle play in bringing an end to Stalin? Special thanks to our guest, Sheila Fitzpatrick, historian and author of The Death of Stalin. -- Get in touch: historythisweek@history.com...

Disneyland on a Deadline

March 1, 1951. Two Texas horse trainers sit down to lunch with Walt Disney. They assume he wants to use their animals in a movie. Instead, Walt leans in and tells them about something that doesnt exist yet. Not a carnival. Not an amusement park. Something movie-like in the real world. And if hes going to build it, hell need horses. At that moment, Disneyland is just an idea in Walts head. But within a few years, hell clear 160 acres of orange groves in Anaheim and attempt to build that dream in barely twelve months. The budget will balloon....

How To Dig a Train Tunnel Under the Hudson River

February 14, 1905. A stick of dynamite detonates under the Hudson River and the ground above swallows a locomotive whole. It's the latest setback in an audacious plan to tunnel beneath the river and bring trains into Manhattan. The Pennsylvania Railroad is the largest corporation in the world, but the goopy riverbed keeps fighting back. How did they finally make it across? And why are these 115-year-old tunnels still the most critical infrastructure in America today? Special thanks to our guests: Polly Desjarlais, content and research manager at the New York Transit Museum; Jill Jonnes, author of Conquering Gotham: A...

Trailer: HTW Season Premiere This Monday!

HISTORY This Week will return with new episodes this Monday, February 16th, with a story about the most vital train tunnels in the United States. The North River Tunnelstheir formal nameconnect New Jersey to Penn Station in New York City, carrying 200,000 passengers every day. These tunnels underneath the Hudson are now over 115 years old, and are in desperate need of repair. The tunnel rehabilitation effort will be the largest infrastructure project in the country. Its just getting underway, but now, the funding has been tied up in a political battle between the Trump Administration, Amtrak, and the states...

Shut Out of the Majors, They Created Their Own

Feb 13, 1920. For over thirty years, Black baseball players have been locked out of the major leagues. So on this day in Kansas City, Rube Foster, a former pitcher and now a team owner, is trying to make his own league just for Black players. He has gathered owners of other Black baseball teams, who currently play each other in one-off matchups or face independent teams in random games around the country. But Foster wants them to get organized, and soon, the Negro National League would be born. But up to this point, how did Black baseball survive after...

The Great Comic Book Scare

February 4, 1955. In a New York courtroom, the Comics Czar takes the stand. Hes in charge of enforcing a new code, meant to keep comic books from corrupting Americas youth, and hes here to prove that his work has cleaned up the industry. But that afternoon, a noted psychologist named Fredric Wertham argues that his work has not nearly gone far enough. When the hearing comes to a close, the committee is left to decide: what is the future of the comic book? Why did one of the countrys leading psychologists see them as a major threat to American...

The Dogs Who Saved Nome, Alaska

On January 5, 2026, Jirdes Winther Baxter passed away at 101 years old the last known survivor of the 1925 diphtheria epidemic in Nome, Alaska. A few years ago, we told the story of the Serum Run: the desperate relay of mushers and sled dogs who carried a life-saving antitoxin across Alaska, including to an 11-month-old Baxter. Today, that run lives on through the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Enjoy this classic HTW story, and stay tuned for new episodes soon! January 27, 1925. Musher Wild Bill Shannon and his team of sled dogs race off into the frigid Alaskan...

From Hitler to Hippies: The Surprising Origins of the VW Beetle | Presenting Business History

How did the VW Beetle go from Hitlers dream car to beloved hippie icon? Today, were sharing an episode from a new podcast, Business History. Hosts Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith bring to life the greatest innovations, the boldest entrepreneurs and the craziest mavericks in the annals of businessand share the lessons we can learn from their successes and failures. In todays episode: How Hitler launched the Volkswagen Beetle and its journey from Nazi vehicle to bohemian Love Bug. This is part 1 of the Business History series on the Beetlebe sure to head to Business History for part 2....

Houdini Defies Death

January 25, 1908. Harry Houdini is the most famous magician in America. Hes known for his escapes from handcuffs, boxes, jail cells, even a giant football. But the escape act is getting old, and ticket sales arent what they used to be. And on this day, an under-capacity audience at the Columbia Theater in St. Louis is about to witness Houdinis most dangerous escape yet from death itself. How did a Hungarian immigrant named Erik Weisz become Harry Houdini? And when his career was fading, how did Houdini embrace death to bring it back to life? Special thanks to our...

The Great Boston Molasses Flood

January 15, 1919. Boston PD receives a call: Send all available rescue personnel...there's a wave of molasses coming down Commercial Street." The bizarre flood decimated Boston's North End. How did it happen? And why does it still affect us all today? Special thanks to our guest, Stephen Puleo, author of Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919. ** This episode originally aired Jan 13, 2020. Get in touch: historythisweek@history.com Follow on Instagram: @historythisweek Follow on Facebook: HISTORY This Week Podcast To stay updated: http://historythisweekpodcast.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more...

Tuskegee Top Gun

Editors note: This episode originally aired January 9, 2023. Lt. Col. Harry Stewart Jr. passed away in February 2025 at the age of 100. Lt. Col. James Harvey III still resides in New Jersey, now 102 years old. -- January 11, 2022. Lt. Col. James Harvey arrives at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada for the first time in 73 years. Hes there to accept a plaque celebrating the last time he was there, for the Air Forces first-ever weapons competition. Back then, Harvey and the other Tuskegee Airmen on his team had squared off against the best military pilots...

King Tuts Tomb and the Battle for Egypts Past

January 3, 1924. Archeologists crowd into an ancient Egyptian tomb to uncover what awaits them in the unopened burial chamber. The world is waiting to find out. Thats because two years before, the discovery of the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamun revealed antiquities so dazzling that a media frenzy ensued newspapers, newsreels, and Hollywood movies vied to show audiences these wonders of ancient Egypt. Now, lead archaeologist Howard Carter pushes open the door to find a majestic stone sarcophagus. Inside lies Tutankhamun, whose regal face of gold and azure blue has lain in darkness for millennia. Hes about to meet...

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree: A History In Lights (from The Bowery Boys)

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has brought joy and sparkle to Midtown Manhattan since the early 1930s. The annual festivities may seem steady and timeless but this holiday icon actually has a surprisingly dramatic history. Millions tune in each year to watch the tree lighting in a music-filled ceremony on NBC, and tens of thousands more will crowd around the trees massive branches during the holiday season, adjusting their phones for that perfect holiday selfie. But the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is more than just decor. The tree has reflected the mood of the United States itself through good times...

A Scrooge for the Ages

December 27, 1853. On a freezing, snowy night in Birmingham, England, 2,000 people have lined up outside the town hall. Theyve braved the temperatures for a landmark performance, Charles Dickens first reading of A Christmas Carol. The tale will become an international sensation and beloved Christmas tradition. In this special episode of HISTORY This Week, we bring you a classic 1949 rendition of the story starring Vincent Price, so you can decide for yourself: What is it about A Christmas Carol thats endured for over 150 years? ** This episode originally aired December 21, 2020. Get in touch: historythisweek@history.com Follow...

Sam Adams Brews Rebellion in Boston Harbor

December 16, 1773. Samuel Adams sits in a crowded meeting of American colonists at Bostons Old South Meeting House. Hes watching small groups of men slip quietly out the door. Once outside, the men don disguises and make their way toward three ships moored in the harbor each weighted down with chests of valuable British East India tea. The men climb aboard, tear open the chests and dump the tea in the water. Cheers fill the winter night. Back at the meeting, Samuel Adams waits. Theres nothing directly tying him to this radical act of rebellion but few doubt hes...

The Thalidomide Disaster and the Doctors Who Uncovered the Truth

December 18, 1970. Decades after the end of WWII, a Nazi doctor is on trial. Today is judgment day in a long, difficult legal battle, but this case isnt about war crimes. The German pharmaceutical company Grunenthal is charged with the worst medical disaster in history: the Thalidomide scandal. The shoddily tested and hastily approved drug made its way into medicine cabinets around the world, and a decade after its release, the reality is becoming clear: Thalidomide is killing babies. Who are the heroes who brought down Thalidomide? And how did this disaster change pharmaceutical regulations forever? Special thanks to...

How a Forgotten Explorers Secret Mission Unlocked the Pacific

December 1, 1564. Spanish vessels left a secret port in Mexico about two weeks ago. Their goal: to sail across the Pacific and back, charting a new route for international trade, and giving Spain an edge against its chief colonial rival, Portugal. But today, when a storm hits, the smallest ship is separated from the rest of the fleet. Now, that ship, the San Lucas, is on its own. The following year, when the San Lucas makes it back to Mexico, against all odds, its pilota Black marineris accused of treason. How did the San Lucasthe smallest ship in the...

A Meteorite Hits Ann Hodges

November 30, 1954. At about 12:45 in the afternoon, a space rock comes plummeting through the roof of a house in Sylacauga, Alabama. It bounces off a stand-up radio, ricochets around the living room, and collides with the thigh of Mrs. Ann Hodges, whos been napping on the couch. Newspapers declare: experts agreed unanimously that Mrs. Hodges was the first person known to have been struck by a meteorite. What happened to this space rock after it crashed to Earth and thrust itself into volatile human affairs? And what happened to the human beings whose lives were upended by this...

Ken Burns Reimagines the American Revolution | A Conversation with Ken Burns & Sarah Botstein

November 16, 1776. George Washington rows toward Manhattan to inspect the fort that bears his name, only to meet a full-scale British assault already underway. By afternoon, Fort Washington has fallen, and General Washington is forced to abandon New York City. The Continental Army is sick, outnumbered, and demoralized. For a moment, the Revolution seems lost. Facing his worst defeat of the war, Washington himself is questioning their odds. In their new PBS documentary, The American Revolution, Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein set out to tell this version of the Founding Fathers, showing fear, chaos, and uncertainty. They also highlight...

The Grinnell 14 Take On the Bomb (feat. Peter Coyote)

November 16, 1961. Fourteen college students from Iowa have driven nearly a thousand miles to the White House. Theyre fasting, protesting, and calling for an end to nuclear bomb testing. These students, later known as the Grinnell 14, will help ignite the student peace movement of the 1960s. Actor Peter Coyote (then Peter Cohon) was one of them. He joins us to remember how it felt to grow up under the shadow of the bomb, why they believed Kennedys peace race could change the world, and what happened when they found themselves face-to-face with the White House. Special thanks to...

The Forgotten Life & Tragic Death of President James Garfield | A Conversation with Death by Lightning Creator Mike Makowsky

November 3, 1880. Congressman James Garfield wakes up on his quiet farm in Ohio to learn that hes been elected President of the United States. He never campaigned to be on the ticket. He never wanted the presidency. But the nation, weary of corruption and hungry for reform, has chosen him to lead. But four months after taking office, Garfield will be shot by a man who believes hes owed a government position. And the presidents short, remarkable life will end in tragedy. This week, were talking with writer and showrunner Mike Makowsky, creator of the new Netflix series Death...

The Haunting Case of H.H. Holmes

October 28, 1895. Its the first day of a murder trial in Philadelphia, and H.H. Holmes has been left to represent himself. His lawyers say they havent had time to prepare for his case, although they may just want to avoid defending the man some newspapers are already saying is sure to grace a gallows. Holmes has been accused of murdering his business associate, but rumors swirl that he may have killed dozens, even hundreds more. A century later, some still call him "America's first serial killer." But how did H.H. Holmes earn this reputation? And why is it so...

Land of the Free? The Real Story Behind the Star-Spangled Banner

October 19, 1814. An eager audience files into the Holliday Street Theater in Baltimore, about to see a debut performance, described as a much-admired new song. The composer of this song, Francis Scott Key, had written the lyrics during a recent battle in Baltimore, trapped on a British ship as he watched the rockets red glare from afar. Key wasnt a professional songwriter a prominent lawyer in Washington D.C., he specialized in cases related to slavery, both defending enslaved people and slave catchers. But his real legacy became this song, entitled The Star-Spangled Banner. How did Key come to watch...

They Saw What the United Nations Couldnt

October 24, 1945. The Charter of the United Nations is signed, promising to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. Back when the charter was drafted a few months earlier in San Francisco, delegates from around the world gathered to build a new era of peace and human rights. Among them is Mary McLeod Bethune, the only Black woman in the U.S. delegation, and she already sees the contradictions beneath the moment: colonial powers writing freedom into a document that excludes millions. Years later, journalist Marguerite Cartwright will carry that insight forward, holding the UN to the ideals it...

How LEGO Rebuilt the Toy Itself

October, 1955. In living rooms across Denmark, children tear open the box of a brand-new toy: the LEGO System in Play. Inside are plastic bricks, a printed playmat of roads, little houses and trees everything in perfect scale. As they build, something new is taking shape. It looks simple, but its a radical idea every piece connects, no matter when or where its made. Its more than a toy its a system. That quiet innovation will turn a small family workshop into one of the most successful companies in the world. How did a small-town Danish carpenter launch a plastic...

Stalins War on Genetics

October 11, 1955. Nearly three hundred of the Soviet Unions top scientists sign a secret letter demanding the removal of one man: Trofim Lysenko. For decades, Lysenko had Joseph Stalins ear, ruling Soviet biology with an iron fistbanning genetics, rewriting textbooks, and sending dissenting scientists to prison or worse. How did a peasant-turned-agronomist convince Stalin that wheat could turn into rye, and that ideology mattered more than evidence? And when politics replace science, whatand whogets destroyed? Special thanks to William deJong-Lambert, author of The Cold War Politics of Genetic Research: An Introduction to the Lysenko Affair; and Nikolai Krementsov, author...

The Bone Wars

October 4, 1915. President Woodrow Wilson designates Dinosaur National Monument as a national historic site. Thats a big deal, right? There mustve been a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony, maybe even a parade. But no. In 1915, nobody really cares about dinosaurs. But that is all about to change. And when it does, it is largely because of two paleontologists. Two guys who started off as best friends until their growing obsession with unearthing and cataloging dinosaur bones would turn them into rivals. Then enemies. How did the competition between a pair of paleontologists lead to unprecedented dinosaur discoveries? And how did...

When Nintendo (and Mario) Rescued Video Games

September 27, 1986. Youre a kid in the mid-80s. You get home from school, flip on the TV, and see something strange: a commercial where a giant egg hatches behind a familys console, revealing a toy robot. His name is R.O.B. the Robotic Operating Buddy but he's just an accessory. The real product: Nintendo. Today, the Nintendo Entertainment System is launching nationwide. Just a few years earlier, the U.S. video game market had collapsed under the weight of bad games and too many consoles. But Nintendo had a plan to sell Americans on something that didnt look like a video...

The First Lady Who Tamed the Bull Moose

September 14, 1901. Midnight in the Adirondacks. A pounding knock at the door jolts Theodore and Edith Roosevelt awake. William McKinley is dead. Hours later, Theodore will be sworn in as the youngest president in U.S. history. But Edith barely flinchesher diary that day notes her childrens sniffles before her husbands rise to power. Who was this woman who grew up alongside Theodore, helped shape his presidency, reinvented the role of First Lady, and yet tried to erase her own story from the record? Special thanks to Kathleen Dalton, author of Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life; and Edward OKeefe, author...

Presenting: The C-Word

With every episode, Lena Dunham and Alissa Bennett take you on a historical deep dive into the life of a woman society dismissed by calling her mad, sad, or just plain bad: Lindsay Lohan, Judy Garland, Winona Ryder, Mariah Carey, Lil Kim and many more. Join them for a rich, hilarious, and heartbreaking look into exactly what it means when we call a woman crazy. The C-Word was originally published behind a paywall from 2019 - 2022. This is the first time its being released to all major podcast platforms. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices...

An Astronomer Hunts a KGB Hacker

September 10, 1986. Its just before 8am when Cliff Stolls pager jolts him awake. A computer at Lawrence Berkeley Lab has flagged a problem: a tiny 75-cent accounting error. But when Stoll rushes to his office, he realizes this isnt about missing spare change. Someone has slipped into the labs network, tunneling thousands of miles away into U.S. military computers. Cliff isnt a spycatcher. Hes an astronomer. And yet, from this moment on, hell spend months chasing a hacker who may be working for the KGB. How did spare change uncover a spy ring? And why did this case mark...

Shaving Russia

Sept 5, 1698. Tsar Peter the Great of Russia returns home from a year-long European tour. When noblemen, religious figures, and friends gather to welcome him home, Peter pulls out a straight razor, holds it to their throats, andforcibly shaves their beards. This event will go down in history as a first step toward Russian geopolitical power. Before Peters reign, Russia was an isolated nation that was largely ignored by the rest of the world. How did Peter the Great almost single-handedly drag Russia onto the world stage? And how did his great beard-shaving endeavor lead to the Russia we...

Jos Cuervo Rebuilds a Tequila Empire

August 28, 1920. In the town of Tequila, fireworks burst overhead as people celebrate Mexicos independence. Then gunshots. Malachas Cuervo, heir to the famous tequila dynasty, has just reignited a bitter feud with his familys rivals, the Sauzas. For decades, his brother Jos Cuervo fought to rebuild the family business through drought, revolution, and political upheavalturning a struggling operation into an empire. His tactfulness allowed Cuervo to survive as one of the most popular tequila brands in the world today. How is Jos Cuervo able to navigate the Mexican Revolution, and a cutthroat industry? And what does his life reveal...

The True Winnie-the-Pooh

August 24, 1914. A train pulls up to the lumber town of White River, Ontario, carrying a regiment of Canadian troops on board. On the tracks where they disembark is a small black bear cub. An army veterinarian decides to buy the bear and name her WinnipegWinnie for shortafter the town where he's been living. When the soldiers are deployed to the European front, Winnie is left at the London Zoo, where a child named Christopher Robin Milne will meet her. He'll later rename his own teddy bear after her: Winnie-the-Pooh. How did a real-life boy and a real-life bear...

Egypts Last Hieroglyph and the Fiery Archbishop of Alexandria

August 24, 394. On the walls of a fading Egyptian temple, a priest carves what will become the last known hieroglyph in history. At the same moment, in Alexandria, a fiery archbishop named Theophilus is rising to power. He mocks the ancient Egyptian gods, desecrates their temples, and sets out to stamp out paganism for good. But Theophilus is fighting more than ancient religionhe clashes with monks, rivals, even fellow bishops, in a ruthless bid to make Alexandria the beating heart of the Christian world. What drives him to destroy? And can an entire faith really be erased? Special thanks...

The Shark Attacks That Made Us Fear the Water

August 15, 1915. American diplomat J. T. Du Bois publishes a letter in The New York Times. Its not about diplomacy or foreign affairs. This letter is about sharks. Its Du Bois attempt to prove to the American public that Man-Eating Sharks - as he calls them - are real. Because in 1916? Most people think theyre a myth. Experts say that sharks arent dangerous. That theyre rabbit tame and too weak-jawed to pose any real threat to humansat least, in the North East. But the following summer, a series of mysterious attacks in New Jersey will radically change the...

When Nazis Killed Nazis in the Middle of America

August 7, 1943. Off the coast of Venezuela, a Nazi U-boat is under siege. For nine days, its hunted by Allied aircraft across the Caribbean, until its engines fail and its commander gives the order: abandon ship. Forty-three German sailors plunge into shark-infested waters, and are pulled out by their enemy - the United States. The Germans think the worst is behind them. Instead, theyre headed for a POW camp in the American heartland, where life will actually be pretty comfortable. They play soccer, harvest corn, eat well until things turn violent. How did Nazi prisoners of war end up...

Barbie for President!

July 29th, 1992. The Baltimore Sun runs a feature about a surprise candidate in the upcoming presidential race: Barbie. The 11.5-inch icon of girlhood and glamor is running for office and flying off the shelves. But how did a plaything become important enough to make national news? To answer that question, we take you on a journey through doll history, from French porcelain beauties to cherubs that stood for womens suffrage. And of course, the doll who taught us how fun life in plastic could be. How did these dolls revolutionize play and even politics? And what do they have...

Anarchists, Lovers, and the Birth of the FBI

July 23rd, 1892. Henry Clay Frick is one of Americas leading industrialists. To Alexander Berkman, hes one of Americas leading villains. Berkman is an anarchist, along with his partner, Emma Goldman. They believe the current order of things needs to change, and one way to make change is through violence. Frick is meeting with his associates in his Pittsburgh office when Berkman bursts into the room and draws his gun. The men lock eyes, knowing that their fates are about to be forever changed. Why did the "Queen of Anarchism" and her partner target one of America's wealthiest men? And...

Solving a Royal Murder Mystery | Philippa Langley Investigates the Princes in the Tower

July 17, 1674. During renovations at the Tower of London, construction workers digging beneath a stone staircase make a chilling discoverytwo child-sized skeletons buried ten feet underground. And King Charles II believes he knows who they are. The remains reignite one of the most enduring mysteries in British history: the fate of the Princes in the Tower. For over 500 years, historians have debated what happened to King Edward V and his younger brother, Prince Richard. Were they murderedperhaps by their uncle, Richard III? Or did they simply vanish from the historical record? This week, Sally Helm speaks with Philippa...

Operation Mincemeat Revisited | Episode + Bonus Interview with Natasha Hodgson

When we first aired "Operation Mincemeat" back in 2020, it was a daring WWII thriller that felt almost too wild to be true. Now, its not just history its a hit Broadway musical. This week, we're revisiting our original episode about the ingenious Allied ruse that helped turn the tide of the war. And were adding a twist: an interview with Natasha Hodgson, co-creator and star of Operation Mincemeat, the musical. She joins us to talk spies, songs, and how one of the strangest wartime plots ever ended up on stage. Original episode description -- July 10, 1943. 150,000 British...

Superman Takes Flight

July 7, 1938. Superman has the villain in his grasp. They soar through the air, then slam into the ground. This villain wants to start a war. Our hero wont let that happen. At this point, Superman only has two comic book appearances. And yet, his legend is already beginning to grow. Kids read about heroics at the community pool, sitting on their stoops, late at night under their covers. Soon enough, Superman becomes Americas hero, but the two young men who created him will get left behind. How did two friends from Cleveland invent a national icon? And how...

The Colosseum Becomes a Wonder | A Conversation with Barry Strauss & Alison Futrell

July 7, 2007. In a dramatic ceremony featuring pop stars, fireworks, and smoke cannons, the Colosseum is named one of the seven new wonders of the world. Its an appropriately over-the-top blowout for an arena which, centuries before, was home to its own lavish events. How did spectacles once unfold on the floor of this ancient arena? And how did the Romans use games to entertain people and to control them? Special thanks to our guests, Alison Futrell, co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World, and Barry Strauss, author of The War That Made...

The Forgotten Mentor Who Inspired Louis Armstrong

June 28, 1928. Louis Armstrong is in the studio recording what he hopes will be another hit. His career is on the rise, but hes not a household name yet. But hes about to lay down a track West End Blues that wont just change his career, but the entire genre of jazz. But Armstrong didnt compose West End Blues it was written by his mentor, a man only remembered by people who are really into the history of jazz, a cornet player named Joe King Oliver. Armstrong records this song likely as a favor to this father figure, someone...

The Mutiny of Henry Hudson

June 22, 1611. Its been a long, cold winter. Henry Hudson and his crew have been stranded in the Canadian Arctic for months, living on the ice in wooden shacks - starving, sick, and ready to go home. And yet, Hudson wants to carry on and search for the Northwest Passage, a theoretical trading route to the Pacific that could bring him untold fortunes. His crew has had enough. How does this journey go so wrong? And what happens when you push a crew of sailors beyond the extreme? Special thanks to Peter Mancall, historian at the University of Southern...

"Have You No Decency, Sir?"

June 9, 1954. Senator Joseph McCarthy has accused the United States Army of having communists within its midst. After rising to power during a time of great fear in America, McCarthy's name has become synonymous with anti-communism and with baseless, life-ruining accusations. But today, five simple words will take down one of the most notorious men in American political history. What made McCarthy so powerful in the first place? And how did that very same thing eventually bring him down? Thank you to our guest, Ellen Schrecker, historian, author and expert on McCarthyism. Thank you to Thomas Doherty, Professor of...

Jumping Off a High Dive on a Horse (While Blind)

June 14, 1938. Its 8:30 PM at Lake Worth Casino in Fort Worth, Texas. All eyes are on a huge high-dive platform, 40 feet in the air. And at the top? A woman on a horse. Horse diving is one of the most popular acts in America, and Sonora Carver is one of its stars. Shes been doing it for years, traveling the country to perform one of the more unbelievable stunts in sideshow history. But a few years back, Carver suffered a devastating injury during one of these dives and completely lost her eyesight. And yet, she continues to...

Inside the Nazis Supernatural Obsession | A Conversation with Historian Eric Kurlander

June 4, 1941. Reinhard Heydrich transmits a message to all regional governors in the Third Reich: prepare for action against occult teachings. Heydrich is carrying out the orders of Adolf Hitler, who is furious at his Deputy Fhrer, Rudolf Hess. Inspired by a horoscope reading, Hess decided to fly a secret mission to Great Britain and sue for peace. But Hess crash-lands in Scotlandthe plan doesnt pan outand his failure becomes an international embarrassment. So in retaliation, Hitler cracks down on mysticism throughout Germany. Magicians, spiritualists, and faith healers are arrested, their homes get searched, and their books are confiscated....

How the Whitman Murders Redefined the American West

May 30, 1855. Five thousand Native Americans come to Walla Walla to negotiate a treaty. However, its not exactly a fair negotiation the territorial governor basically tells these tribes that they have no choice but to live on reservations in order to maintain peace. This moment comes in the wake of a violent time in the Pacific Northwest, a period started by the killing of Christian missionariesnamely, Marcus and Narcissa Whitmanby the Cayuse tribe. In the wake of their deaths, the Whitmans are portrayed throughout the United States as martyrs; the Cayuse, as a problem to be dealt with. But...

A Vicious Beating on the Senate Floor

May 22, 1856. Charles Sumner isnt worried about making friends in the Senate. His rhetoric is inflammatory, almost intentionally. Hes an ardent abolitionist in a time when people are still enslaved throughout the South. In his most recent speech, Sumner attacked his colleagues directly, especially pro-slavery Senator Andrew Butler. Butlers cousin, Preston Brooks, is also in Congress, and as a southern gentleman, he decides he has to do something to retaliate. What pushes Preston Brooks to assault Charles Sumner on the Senate floor? And how does this attack help drive Americans towards civil war? Special thanks to Steve Puleo, author...

A Teenage Girl Saves France

May 16, 1920. Tens of thousands of people surround St. Peters Basilica to honor Joan of Arc, a French peasant girl who died nearly five hundred years before. Joans feats in battleand her visions of Godhave become legendary since her heyday during the Hundred Years' War. And today, the Catholic Church is making her a saint. But Joan was a real person and while many supported her during her lifetime, many others wanted her dead. Who was this curious figure? And how did her faith turn the tides of a seemingly endless age of violence? Special thanks to Nancy Goldstone,...

McDonalds Before McDonalds

May 15, 1940. Its opening day. San Bernardino, California is a city on the rise, and to meet this new demand for cheap, good food, two brothers have created a restaurant: McDonalds Famous Barbecue. You can order a PB&J sandwich, barbecued pork, baked beans, and yes, a hamburger. Its a work in progress, but Dick and Mac McDonald never stop innovating. How did the McDonald brothers engineer a system that would be replicated in thousands of locations across the globe? And why don't they get the credit they deserve? Special thanks to Adam Chandler, journalist and author of Drive-Thru Dreams:...

Cinco de Mayos Civil War Connection

May 5, 1862. The French have landed in Mexico. Napoleon III wants to conquer the country and assert Frances imperial dominance in the Americas. In his way? The Mexican army, held up in the city of Puebla. The Battle of Puebla will come to define this struggle: a European monarch against a fledgling democracy, led by Benito Jurez. Mexicos victory will be especially celebrated by Latinos in the United States, who are watching this struggle play out while their new country is embroiled in a Civil War. This first holiday, in 1862, would mark the beginning of a new tradition,...

Americas Cold War Obsession with Greenland

April 27, 1951. The United States has been putting pressure on Denmark for a long time. Because the small European kingdom has something the Americans really, really want: Greenland. Today, they sign a treaty that will basically let the U.S. military build whatever it wants on this frozen island. They end up constructing an air base, but then turn to a much more ambitious project, underground. How does this hidden Arctic outpost connect to a massive nuclear secret? And why do the Americans abandon this city beneath the ice? Special thanks to Paul Bierman, professor at the University of Vermonts...

Trailer: America's Cold War Obsession with Greenland

HISTORY This Week returns with new episodes this Monday! We're kicking things off with a look at America's longtime fascination with Greenland, and how the U.S. military used the island to expand its Cold War nuclear ambitions. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Concubine Rises to Rule China

April 27, 1856. In Beijings Forbidden City, one of the emperors consorts, a woman named Cixi, has given birth to a son the emperors first heir. This landmark event is met with mass celebration. But in just five years time, the emperor will be dead and Cixi will be planning a coup to take power for herself. How will she ever succeed? Special thanks to our guests: Jung Chang, author of Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China, and Professor Ying-chen Peng, author of Artful Subversion: Empress Dowager Cixi's Image Making in Art. **This episode originally aired April...

Introducing: What We Spend

Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. On What We Spend, people from across the country and across the financial spectrum are opening their walletsand their livesto tell you everything: what they make, what they want, andfor one weekwhat they spend. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Houston Weve Had a Problem (feat. Captain Jim Lovell)

April 14, 1970. Apollo 13 is a quarter million miles from Earth, speeding towards the Moon, when a sudden explosion rocks the ship. Against all odds, the astronauts pull off one of the most remarkable survival missions in NASA history. 55 years after this harrowing flight, Apollo 13 Commander Jim Lovell explains exactly what it took to save his spaceship. Special thanks to Captain Jim Lovell, John Uri, Steven Barber and Vanilla Fire Productions. **This episode originally aired April 13, 2020. To stay updated: historythisweekpodcast.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about...

The Titanics First and Last Voyage

April 10, 1912. As the RMS Titanic pulls away from a crowded port on the south coast of England, it almost crashes. Just in time, its able to turn off its engines and prevent a collision with a smaller ship. Four days later, though, a serious disaster will not be avoided, and the Titanics first voyage will be her last. But during her brief life, the vessel is a microcosm of the Gilded world around her. How did this opulent luxury liner come to exist? And how did it foretell the dangers of wealth, technology, and arrogance that shaped the...

148 Tornadoes in 18 Hours

April 3, 1974.Across America, many people wake up this morning thinking it will be a normal day. But in the next 24 hours, almost 150 tornadoes will hit the United States. It will be the largest tornado outbreak in the nation's history. Why did so many deadly tornadoes hit on this one day? And how did it spur life-saving changes that are still with us decades later? Thank you to our guests: Greg Forbes, former severe weather expert with the Weather Channel; and atmospheric sciences professor Jeff Trapp from the University of Illinois. **This episode originally aired March 29, 2021....

Was Ethel Rosenberg A Spy?

March 29, 1951. The world is waiting for the jurys verdict. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg have been accused of spying for the Soviet Union, conspiring to send atomic secrets to Americas enemy in the Cold War. Ethel and Julius are tried in court together, and after the jury finds both Rosenbergs guilty, they receive the same punishment the death penalty. But while they were treated the same, these two individuals have very different stories. Today, who was Ethel Rosenberg, the only woman executed for espionage in U.S. history? And why is her guilt still a topic of debate today? Special...

Revenge of the Ronin

March 20, 1703. Today, almost fifty men, scattered around the city of Edo, Japan, are waiting to die. Theyre all former samurai who had served the same lord and they all carried out a deadly revenge attack in his name. Their story will go down in history as the legend of the 47 Ronin. Why did these men decide that to be loyal samurai, they had to die? And how did this moment live on for centuries and become part of the national story of Japan? Thank you to our guest, Professor John Tucker, author of The Forty-Seven Ronin: The...

Six Men, Two Bombs, One Grave Injustice

March 14, 1991. The Birmingham Six have been in prison for 16 years. Each of these six Irishmen was found guilty of 21 counts of murder back in 1975 held responsible for bombs detonated at two popular pubs in Birmingham, England. They were accused of being part of an IRA terror campaign, but have maintained their innocence since the moment they were arrested. It turns out... they were telling the truth. Today, the Birmingham Six will be set free. How were they imprisoned for a crime they never committed? And why have the actual bombers never been brought to justice?...

Introducing: Campus Files

College holds a mythic place in American culture, but behind the polished campus tours and glossy brochures lies a far more complicated reality. Each episode of Campus Files uncovers a new story that rocked a college or university. Consider this your unofficial campus tour. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Freud & Jung: The Original Dream Team

March 3rd, 1907. Dr. Sigmund Freud invites a guest into his office, Dr. Carl Jung. This is a meeting of the minds, about... the mind. Psychology. Freud and Jung will spend the next 13 hours discussing the unconscious, the hidden forces in our brains that guide our thoughts and decisions. They're two of the first doctors to explore this mysterious terrain, and this marathon meeting will spark a true friendship until it all comes crashing down. How did Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung help shape the way we understand the human mind, that elusiveunconscious? And why did their friendship eventually...

Hitler Stands Trial

February 26, 1924. 10 Defendants enter a courtroom in Munich. They are being charged with an attempted coup. They tried to overthrow the government of the Weimar Republic and almost succeeded. All eyes are on the second defendant to enter the room. When the judge reads this mans name into the record, he identifies him as a Munich writer named Adolf Hitler. Today: Hitlers first attempt to seize power. How did his 1923 coup fail? And why would Hitler later say that this failure was perhaps the greatest good fortune of my life? Thank you to Thomas Weber for speaking...

Tesla Electrifies the World

February 24, 1893. Most homes don't have electricity. And yet, one of the technology's pioneers, Nikola Tesla, is about to give the world a glimpse into a fully electrified future. He takes the stage at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, and begins a demonstration. He shoots sparks out of his hands, makes himself glow, and turns on some lightbulbs. The lightbulb part doesn't sound that impressive, until you realize... they're not plugged into anything. He's holding these bulbs in his hands, and they're still radiating light. This is the promise of Tesla's future. Today, Nikola Tesla's pursuit of wireless power....

Americas Restaurants Meet the Michelin Man

February 23, 2005. New York City's culinary elite gather at Gotham Hall. Tuxedoed waiters pass around champagne flutes and decadent hors d'oeuvres, as famous chefs like Eric Ripert and Anthony Bourdain pose for photos and gossip with their peers before the nights main event: an announcement that could change their lives and the fate of America's dining scene. douard Michelin takes the stage. His company, Michelin, is one of the world's largest manufacturers of tires, but they also produce a restaurant guide that has dictated the fortunes of European restaurants for over 100 years. Now, the Michelin Guide, and its...

When America Almost Had Universal Healthcare

February 15, 1935. The American Medical Association, the AMA, is holding an emergency meeting in Chicago. The crisis? The possibility that the federal government is about to pass universal health insurance. Health insurance is a new concept in America at this time, but President Franklin Roosevelt's administration is looking to include it in a package that will include another piece of new legislation - Social Security. The AMA, which represents thousands of American doctors, fears that government-backed insurance could dictate how doctors care for patients, and how much money they're allowed to make. The AMA's resistance is the beginning of...

Anatomy of a Campus Heist

February 11, 2005. FBI agents bust down the door of a cinder block house near the University of Kentucky campus. Amid flash grenades and screaming teens, they arrest three students plus a fourth student in a nearby dorm. The crime? Stealing almost $750,000 of rare books and manuscripts from the library at Transylvania University. Why did four freshmen decide to actually go through with their real life version of Oceans Eleven? And how did they plan to get away with it? Special thanks to our guests, BJ Gooch, retired special collections librarian; Eric Borsuk, whose memoir is called American Animals:...

Could the Challenger Disaster Have Been Prevented?

January 28, 1986. It's freezing in Central Florida, a historically cold day. That's bad news for citrus growers, and for NASA, which is scheduled to launch the Space Shuttle Challenger from Cape Canaveral this morning. Engineers have ben cautioning NASA that cold temperatures can make space launches dangerous. And yet, NASA decides to move ahead. They consider it an "acceptable risk" and send seven astronauts hurtling into the sky. What went wrong with the Space Shuttle Challenger? And if engineers knew what could happen, why wasnt this disaster avoided? Special thanks to Adam Higginbotham, author of Challenger: A True Story...

MLK Bonus: The Civil Rights Children's Crusade

To further celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we're re-releasing our classic episode about the Children's Crusade, an effort to bring the youth of Birmingham, Alabama into the Civil Rights Movement in order to affect change across the country. April 20, 1963. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. walks out of Alabamas Birmingham Jail after being held for a week for peacefully protesting. He spent most of that time writing a letter that passionately defends the civil rights movements nonviolent tactics. But despite Kings passion, the movements progress has stalled. King needs a major victory in Birmingham, but hes running...

The Hit Song that Gave Us MLK Day

January 15, 1969. It's been less than a year since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Friends, family, and followers are gathered at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Dr. King preached. They are there to remember him on his birthday, honor his legacy, and present a goal: an official celebration of his birthday every year, a holiday to commemorate his life and his struggle. Getting a holiday passed may sound like a bureaucratic formality, but it would become a years-long battle, mainly led by his widow, Coretta Scott King. And without an assist from a musical legend,...

How to Stop an Avalanche? Blow Up a Mountain

January 15, 1939. It's finally working! After countless mechanical issues, the first operational ski lift in thestate of Utah is taking people up the mountain so they can glide down its slopes. Skiing conditions are ideal in the town of Alta, and this lift will allow this relatively new sport to explode in popularity. But as beautiful as Alta is, there's also a looming threat... avalanches. Alta is in one of the most avalanche-prone areas in the entire country. It used to be a small mining town, and itsresidents have been dealing with avalanches for years, mourning their dead and...

Declaring War on Poverty (feat. Doris Kearns Goodwin)

January 8, 1964. In his State of the Union address, Lyndon Johnson unveils his War on Poverty, an effort to tackle subpar living conditions and create jobs across the United States. Johnson discovers that declaring wareven one on an ideaalways comes with great costs. Why did LBJ pick poverty as one of his major initiatives? And what is the legacy of the war he started? Special thanks to Doris Kearns Goodwin, historian and author of Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream; and Guian McKee, professor of public affairs at the University of Virginias Miller Center. **This episode originally aired on...

A New Year, A New Cuba

New Year's Eve, 1958. Cuba's president, Fulgencio Batista, is throwing his annual New Year's Eve party at his home in Havana. It's usually a blowout. But this year, the vibes... aren't so great. Government officials and Cuban elites drink champagne and pick at arroz con pollo as the clock ticks closer to midnight. But there's a palpable anxiety in the air. They aren't just counting down to the end of the year - they may be counting down the final minutes of Cuba as they know it. A revolution is underway, and rebel forces, led by a young Fidel Castro,...

The Surprising History of Christmas Gifts (HTW Classic)

Christmas Eve, 1913. For months, newspapers have been trumpeting an urgent message:Do your Christmas shopping early.It would be easy to assume this was the work of greedy department stores and slick ad companies. But it wasnt at least not at first. It started as the rallying cry of a labor reformer who was striving to improve the lives of retail workers. Ever since, Americans have been wrestling over the values at the heart of holiday shopping. But even the most earnest efforts at reform have backfired, time and again. How did Christmas gifts become a thing in the first place?...

Nosferatu Rises Again (feat. Robert Eggers)

**For this HTW special feature, Sally interviews director Robert Eggers about his new historically inspired film, Nosferatu.** Winter, 1476. Vlad III is a prince in Wallachia, in present-day Romania. He is a violent man, so violent that he earns the nickname "Vlad the Impaler." He also has another name that he inherited from his father: Dracula. Dracula is constantly fighting for his crown, but today, that fight will come to an end. His headless body will be discovered in a marsh, stuck down by his enemies. But his legend will live on. Dracula pops up in stories throughout Europe over...

The President and the King

December 21, 1970. Elvis has entered the building. And today, that building is the White House. He's brought a gift for President Nixon, a framed Colt .45 pistol, which White House security won't be thrilled with. But he isn't just there to drop off a Christmas present. Elvis Presley has lived many lives in his brief 35 years that a child might dream of: he got to be a musician, a soldier, a movie star, the "King of Rock and Roll." And now he might be just a handshake away from his next dream... becoming a federal agent. What's going...

Bill W.'s Last Drink and the Birth of Alcoholics Anonymous

December 11, 1934. Bill Wilson is on the subway, working his way through his third beer, heading to Towns Hospital. He isnt injured, and he isnt what would be traditionally classified as sick. But he knows he has a problem. And he needs help. What he doesn't know as he arrives at the hospital with a fourth bottle of beer in his hand is that this will be the last sip of alcohol of his life. And when he's discharged from Towns, he won't be returning. Instead, he'll go on to start the most successful alcohol treatment program in history....

How the Vietnam War Broke Our Trust in Government

December 1, 1969. Millions across America are tuned in to the same TV broadcast. They see a bland stage with some government workers behind desks. But there's also a large, plastic container filled with small blue capsules. In each of these capsules, a birth date. The order in which they're chosen will determine who is eligible to be sent off to fight in the Vietnam War. This is the draft lottery, an attempt by the Nixon administration to make the selective service process seem more fair, and restore some trust between the U.S. government and its people. It does not...

A Toxic Turkey Day

For this Thanksgiving, we're re-airing an HTW classic. This episode originally premiered November 23, 2020. November 24, 1966. Millions of spectators flood Broadway in New York City to watch the Macys Day Parade on Thanksgiving morning. The iconic floats Superman, Popeye, Smokey the Bear are set against a grey sky that can only be described as noxious. A smog of pollutants is trapped over New York City, and it will ultimately kill nearly 200 people. How did the 1966 Thanksgiving Smog help usher in a new era of environmental protection? And how have we been thinking about environmental disasters all...

Thanksgiving Reconsidered

November 26, 1970. In Plymouth, Massachusetts, on the 350th anniversary of the Pilgrims arrival, protestors gather under a statue of Massasoit, the Wampanoag leader who had made peace with the Pilgrims, and partook in the legendary Thanksgiving meal. This protest was organized by Wamsutta Frank James, a Wampanoag activist who wanted to draw attention to the full story of Thanksgiving a story of fear, violence, and oppression that spanned generations. Americas reckoning with the truth of Thanksgiving, James argued, would empower indigenous people to fight for their equal rights. This protest a National Day of Mourning continues to this day,...

New York Takes Out the Trash

November 18, 2022. New York City is at war... with rats. And today, Mayor Eric Adams is set to announce four new pieces of legislation aimed at combating this scurrying problem. Two of these laws will target garbage, the rats' main source of food. If you put trash in places the rats can't get, their population will plummet, and New York will get a major victory in this long-running war. The garbage problem is nothing new for the city. In fact, it's been an issue since its founding almost 400 years ago. Today, we try to understand, how has New...

Alexander the Great Finds His Destiny

November 14, 332 BCE. Alexander the Great has conquered an unprecedented amount of territory in a relatively short amount of time. At just 24 years old, he's in control of Macedonia, much of Greece, and now, a huge part of Egypt. But Alexander doesn't want to just conquer each of these places - he wants to rule. And in a rare move for Macedonian royalty, he wants to rule in a way that honors local customs, allowing him to be seen as not just a king, but in some areas, as some kind of divine figure. So today, the ancient...

Japans First MLB Player Gets Pulled from the Game

November 4, 2009. It's Game 6 of the World Series between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies. The Yankees will clinch the series tonight on the back of one player, Hideki Matsui. He's a baseball player from Japan, one of the few who made the jump across the Pacific to play in America. In the last 15 years, many more Japanese players have made that move, including superstar Shohei Ohtani, arguably the most popular baseball player in the world today. But before Ohtani, before Matsui, there was Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese player to appear in MLB. How...

Breaking the Mars Curse

Oct 27, 1972. The planet Mars has many victims. Specifically, spacecraft. There have been so many failed missions to Mars, that scientists are rumbling about a "Mars Curse". But one mission is defying the odds. Mariner 9, an American space probe, has been orbiting Mars for the last year. But now, it's running out of fuel and will be deactivated, having met all of its mission objectives. Mariner 9 gave us our closest look ever at the Red Planet, solving mysteries that have been debated for centuries. Today, humanity's relationship with Mars. How did people come to believe it had...

The Last Regular Day in Pompeii

October 24, 79 CE. Pompeii is one of the crown jewels of the Roman Empire, a bustling city that serves as a coastal retreat for Rome's elite. But Pompeii also has a large, often overlooked middle-class population. They don't live in Pompeii's massive villas. Instead, they live a typical urban life shopping at small businesses and haggling with street vendors. They even go to restaurants.And one of these restaurantsstill being excavated by archeologists todaymay unlock a whole new side to the story of this doomed city. So, before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, how did everyday people live in Pompeii?...

Presenting Gone South Season 4

Gone South, the Edward R. Murrow award-winning podcast, is back. Unlike previous seasons, writer and host Jed Lipinski brings listeners new episodes every week with no end in sight. Each episode of Gone South Season 4 tells a different story about one of the South's most interesting crimes. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cats Go From Pest to Pet

October 18, 1887. At the Crystal Palace in London, hundreds of cats are ready to be judged. This is the first show put on by the National Cat Club, an organization seeking to bring order to the competitive cat world. But the NCC has another goal, to bring legitimacy and attention to a new idea: having a cat as a pet. Even just a couple of decades before this, youd rarely find a cat living in a persons home. Cats were on the streets living near humans, not with them. Theyre pretty much seen on the same level as the...

It's Saturday Night!

October 11, 1975. In Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Center in New York City, Lorne Michaels and his cast and crew of 20-somethings scramble as the clock gets closer and closer to 11:30 PM. Wardrobes are being assembled, sets put together, and everyonefrom NBC executives to viewers at homeanxiously awaits the start of what's supposed to be "a whole new dimension for TV." In just a few minutes, NBC's Saturday Night will be broadcast live across America, and change television forever. Today, guest host Dave Holmes interviews author James Andrew Miller to find out... what happened in the lead-up to...

An American Mutiny in WWII

October 9, 1944. In California, 50 U.S. sailors are on trial for the Navys most serious crime, mutiny. Its a rarely used charge, yet these 50 sailorsall of whom are Blackface the death penalty if convicted. But today, their chances of a fair trial get a little better. Thurgood Marshall enters the courtroom. He is the lead attorney for the NAACP, and believes that this trial is a direct result of ongoing segregation and racism in the U.S. military. Knowing the odds are against him, Marshall will do everything he can to prevent a miscarriage of justice. Today, the Port...

The Real Red Dead Redemption

October 5, 1871. In what some call the wildest town in the Wild West, bad blood has been building for a long time. Wild Bill Hickok, the sheriff of Abilene, Kansas, is facing down Phil Coe, a saloon owner with a history of antagonizing the law. Then, the guns come out. This kind of shootout isnt uncommon in the Old West, but its a lot more complicated than good guys versus bad guys. And to understand it on a deeper level, you just have to play a video game. Red Dead Redemption is a wildly popular gaming franchise, filled with...

Cleveland Balloonfest '86

September 27, 1986. Just before sunrise in Clevelands Public Square, the city center is abuzz with thousands of volunteers working tirelessly to fill up balloons. The goal? To launch 1.5 million balloons into the sky at once -a record-breaking spectacle, organized by Cleveland's United Way. They hope this will bring money and inspiration to a city that desperately needs both. Why did Cleveland choose this colorful stunt to repair its public image? And should this day be remembered as a triumph or a disaster? Special thanks to Dr. George Fraser, former marketing director for theUnited Way of Cleveland and CEO...

SEASON PREMIERE: Nixon Does Whatever It Takes to Win in 68

September 16, 1968. Richard Nixon isn't exactly seen as a comedian. But tonight, he's trying to change that by appearing on Laugh-In, a TV show similar to Saturday Night Live. Nixon needs every vote he can get in the 1968 election, facing off against Hubert Humphrey, the vice president who became the Democratic nominee after Lyndon Johnson withdrew from the ticket. Nixon's Laugh-In appearance is a surprise, but soon, he'll pull off a move that no one would ever expect. How did back-channel dealings, unattended teleprompters, and Oval Office shouting matches turn this election into an all-time drama? And what...

HISTORY This Week Series Trailer

What happened this week 50 years ago? 100 years ago? 1,000? Listen to HISTORY This Week every Monday to discover for yourself. To stay updated: historythisweekpodcast.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

9/11: Rescue on the Water (Replay)

HISTORY This Week returns with new episodes starting September 16th! In the meantime, listen to a favorite classic from the archives. September 11, 2001. On a clear and sunny day, Captain Richard Thornton is piloting his ferry boat back and forth between New Jersey and New York City. But when he hears an airplane flying too low to the ground, he knows something is wrong. After the World Trade Centers North Tower is struck, Thornton instinctively drives his ship down towards Lower Manhattan. He will soon be joined by countless other marine craft: ferries, fishing boats, tugboats, and more. With...

Love, Betrayal, and the Battle for Rome (Replay)

HISTORY This Week returns with new episodes starting September 16th! In the meantime, listen to a favorite classic from the archives. September 2, 31 BCE. Two camps prepare for battle off the coast of Greece. On one side is Octavian, Julius Caesars heir apparent. On the other, Marc Antony and his lover, the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. This battle wont just determine the leader of Rome, but the fate of global civilization. How did Cleopatra wind up in the middle of a Roman game of tug of war? And how did the Battle of Actium change our world forever? Special thanks...

The Deadly Puzzle of Yellow Fever (Replay)

HISTORY This Week returns with new episodes starting September 16th! In the meantime, listen to a favorite classic from the archives. August 27, 1900. Dr. Jesse Lazear, a U.S. Army surgeon, walks into Las Animas Hospital Yellow Fever ward in Havana, Cuba, toting a brood of mosquitos. He has the system down: remove the cotton stopper that keeps the mosquito penned in its glass vial, turn the vial over, and seal it against a consenting infected patients skin. Chasing the source of Yellow Fever, scientists try to understand this deadly plague by running a high-stakes medical experiment on human subjects....

The Man Who Stole the Mona Lisa (Replay)

HISTORY This Week returns with new episodes starting September 16th! In the meantime, listen to a favorite classic from the archives. August 21, 1911. On a Monday morning, a department store employee on a Paris street sees a man hurrying by. He carries a white-wrapped package and, as the employee watches, he throws something small and shiny over his shoulder...its a doorknob. Then the man disappears into the streets of Paris. That store employee has just witnessed a small part of what will soon become the worlds most famous crime. In that white-wrapped package was...the Mona Lisa. Why has the...

HISTORY This Week is coming back!

After a long, long wait, we are very happy to be bringing HISTORY This Week back to our listeners around the world. New episodes start releasing on September 16th, but in the meantime, well be airing some favorite HTW classics in our feed. If you havent already, make sure to follow the show on your favorite podcast app. Please sign up at historythisweekpodcast.com to stay updated, and if you want to reach out, contact us at historythisweek@history.com for any questions or thoughts. See you soon! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about...

Reflecting on History

August 14, 2023. The HTW team is ready to talk. In a special episode that wraps up Season 4, Sally asks the people behind the scenes about lessons they've learned from telling hundreds of true stories about the past. Its a great conversation youre not going to want to miss. And when youre finished, please fill out our listener survey:bit.ly/htw2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Historys Undelivered Speeches

August 8, 1974. President Richard Nixon sits in the Oval Office, addressing the American people. He tells them: Im going to resign. The news is shocking, but not unexpected. Today, it might even seem inevitable. But in the days leading up to the big decision, Nixon himself didnt know what he would do. At night he roamed the halls of the White House, torturously weighing his options. He even ordered a speechwriter to draft a statement announcing his refusal to resign. Sally Helm sits down with political speechwriter Jeff Nussbaum to talk about this curious kind of a document: a...

Special Announcement

Well be back next week with a regular episode, but please listen to this for an important HTW update! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Donner Party Turns Deadly

August 4, 1846. A few months into their journey from Illinois to California, a group of pioneers encounters trouble. Theyve just found a note from their guide. It essentially says, That shortcut I told you to take through the Wasatch Mountains dont. The setback disastrously delays their trip. Weeks later, when they reach the Sierra Nevada, its dangerously late in the season. Soon, a winter storm traps them in the mountains. What did they have to do to survive? And whats the truth behind the legendary Donner Party? Special thanks to our guest: Daniel James Brown, author ofThe Indifferent Stars...

Destroyer of Worlds (Replay)

July 16, 1945. It happened within a millionth of a second. In the New Mexico desert in the early morning hours, a group of scientists watched in anticipation as the countdown began. It was silent at first, yet hot and unbelievably bright. Then came the sound. The first-ever atomic bomb explosion... was a success. How did scientists working on the Manhattan Project create what was then the most powerful weapon in history? And how did the bombs existence forever change our sense of what human beings are capable of? Thank you to our guest Dr. Jon Hunner, a professor emeritus...

Barbie for President!

July 29th, 1992. The Baltimore Sun runs a feature about a surprise candidate in the upcoming presidential race: Barbie. The 11.5-inch icon of girlhood and glamor is running for office and flying off the shelves. But how did a plaything become important enough to make national news? To answer that question, we take you on a journey through doll history, from French porcelain beauties to cherubs that stood for womens suffrage. And of course, the doll who taught us how fun life in plastic could be. How did these dolls revolutionize play and even politics? And what do they have...

John Muirs Quest to Save the Great Outdoors

July 19, 1869. Naturalist John Muir watches the sun rise over the Sierra Nevada mountains. Hell write in his journal of the stirring birds, glowing treetops, and even rocks that seem to thrill with life. Hes so taken with this landscape that hell decide to stay in the Yosemite Valley and try to protect it with the only weapon he has: the pen.How did Muir collide with the political forces of his day and help bring about National Parks as we know them? And how did he change the way many Americans think about the natural world? Special thanks to...

The USS Indianapolis Secret Mission Turns into Tragedy

July 16, 1945. Its the summer of 1945 and World War II is underway. The USS Indianapolis has just set out from Mare Island on a top-secret mission. The famous vessel is delivering enriched uranium and other components of Little Boy to Tinian Island. The mission is technically a success, but for the men aboard the Indianapolis, the challenges are just beginning. On July 30, the ship is struck by two Japanese torpedoes, stranding its sailors at sea. For three and a half days, survivors are left floating in the Pacific Ocean, fending off sun exposure, dehydration, and shark attacks...

Chasing Utopia

July 8, 1843. Amidst the rolling hills of rural Massachusetts, a group of Transcendentalists come together to form a collective built around self-perfection and reverence for nature. And on this day poet Ralph Waldo Emerson stops by for a visit. Their name for this experimental Eden? Fruitlands. But every Eden has its fall, and by the time autumn winds blow over their 90 acres, the Fruitlanders are in trouble. How did a group of thinkers, writers, and educators come together to form one of the most famous utopian failures of the 19th century? And what can we learn from their...

The Tupperware Queen

July 2, 1957. At the annual Tupperware jubilee in Florida, company VP Brownie Wise is admiring her handiwork. 1,200 people have convened on her private island for a luaucomplete with live lobsters, orchid leis and prizes for Tupperwares top sellers. Most of the people here owe their job to her. That's because Brownie perfected a sales strategy that has made the innovative plastic product famous. Not to mention a cash cow. She's famous, too: Fortune and CBS News have hailed her as a savvy corporate leader. But tonight, at this fabulous celebration of the company's glittering success, storm clouds are...

Two Fathers, One Fight (Replay)

June 21, 1998. Father's Day. At the Church of the Atonement in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, Jon and Michael Galluccio are ready to tie the knot, in front of family, friends, reporters, and one lone picketer. The Galluccios are already public figuresa few months earlier, they had secured the right for gay and unmarried couples to jointly adopt children. And today, they pull up to their wedding in a minivan, with their son in tow: as a family. How did this family come together? And how did their son's adoption end up changing the lives of other families all across...

Ma Rainey's Mic Drop

June 12, 1928. The great Blues singer Ma Rainey steps up to the microphone at a studio in Chicago. Shes there to record a scandalous song called Prove It On Me Blues. Its her answer to the rumor that shed once attended a party with a bunch of other half-clothed women a party that got busted by the cops. Its a rumor she doesnt deny. The song is just the latest of Raineys boundary-pushing moves. Her audience, and her record label, eat it up. How did Ma Rainey talk about sex and sexuality through the Blues? And in the America...

Mary Shelley Brings Frankenstein to Life

June 10, 1816. A storm settles over Lake Geneva, Switzerland. Stuck inside a romantic villa, five writers grow restless. Then one of them issues a challenge: Who among us can write the most terrifying ghost story? The group includes two of the most accomplished poets of the day Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley. But its Percy's lover, Mary, who creates an enduring masterpiece: the novel Frankenstein. How did Mary Shelley draw from her life to write this harrowing story? And why have we been talking about it for more than two hundred years? Special thanks to our guest, Charlotte...

FDR Tries to Pack the Court

June 1, 1936. The Supreme Court hands down its last decision of the term. The justices have dealt blow after blow to President Roosevelts New Deal legislation, and today is no different: they rule against FDR again. Its the last straw. Roosevelt is going to do something drastic try to reshape the Supreme Court itself. Will FDRs bold move get him what he wants? And how will the Court try to stop him? Special thanks to our guests: Laura Kalman, professor of history at the University of California, Santa Barbara and author of FDRs Gambit: The Court Packing Fight and...

Bonnie and Clydes Final Ride

May 23, 1934. On a muggy Louisiana morning, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow speed toward the Texas border. Theyve been on the run for over a yearwanted for robbery and murderand the lurid news accounts of their exploits have made them famous. But today, Bonnie and Clydes legendary crime spree comes to an end in a hail of bullets. Why did some come to view these Depression Era outlaws as agents of chaos the country needed? And what was the real motivation behind their crimes? Special thanks to our guest, John Neal Phillips, author of Running With Bonnie and Clyde:...

A Teenage Girl Saves France

May 16, 1920. Tens of thousands of people surround St. Peters Basilica to honor Joan of Arc, a French peasant girl who died nearly five hundred years before. Joans feats in battleand her visions of Godhave become legendary since her heyday during The Hundred Years War. And today, the Catholic Church is making her a saint. But Joan was a real person and while many supported her during her lifetime, many others wanted her dead. Who was this curious figure? And how did her faith turn the tides of a seemingly endless age of violence? Special thanks to our guests:...

The Spy Who Fooled the FBI

May 10, 2002. Former FBI agent Robert Hanssen is sentenced to life in prison without parole. His crime? Selling scads of top-secret information to the Soviets and later, the Russians over 22 years. How did Hanssen get away with his deception for so long, which led to the deaths of operatives working for the United States? Was he a criminal mastermind or just a guy with incredible luck? Special thanks to our guests: Elaine Shannon, author of The Spy Next Door: The Extraordinary Secret Life of Robert Philip Hanssen, the Most Damaging FBI Agent in U.S. History, and Eric O'Neill,...

Bonus: The Coronation of King Charles III (feat. Katie Nicholl)

May 6, 2023. For the first time in 70 years, Great Britain will crown a new monarch. King Charles III will officially take the throne, and his wife will be named Queen Camilla. The coronation itself is brimming with history, the first at Westminster Abbey held nearly 1,000 years ago. Today, Sally speaks to Katie Nicholl (royal correspondent for Vanity Fair and host of the Dynasty podcast) to unpack how this coronation came to be and what it signifies in the modern world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy...

The Worlds First Budget Airline Takes Off

May 6, 1949. On the runway at Lindbergh Field in San Diego, a scrappy upstart called Pacific Southwest Airlines, PSA, is about to take its first flight. PSAis a budget airlinethe worlds first. Other jet age carriers will offer luxury in the sky, but PSA does not. Its exploiting a loophole in the American flight system to do things very differently. How did PSA manage to offer flying to ordinary people at prices they could afford? And how did it force an entire industry to reimagine itself? Special thanks to our guests: Mary Boies, former fellow on the Senate Commerce...

A Concubine Rises to Rule China

April 27, 1856. In Beijings Forbidden City, one of the emperors consorts, a woman named Cixi, has given birth to a son the emperors first heir. This landmark event is met with mass celebration. But in just five years time, the emperor will be dead and Cixi will be planning a coup to take power for herself. How will she ever succeed? Special thanks to our guests: Jung Chang, author of Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China and Professor Ying-chen Peng, author of Artful Subversion: Empress Dowager Cixi's Image Making in Art. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

The Civil Rights Childrens Crusade

April 20, 1963. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. walks out of Alabamas Birmingham Jail after being held for a week for peacefully protesting. He spent most of that time writing a letter that passionately defends the civil rights movementss nonviolent tactics. But despite Kings passion, the movements progress has stalled. King needs a major victory in Birmingham, but hes running out of people willing to risk their livelihoods and safety for this cause. So a new tactic starts taking shape: recruiting young people to protest. After all, kids have the least to lose and the most to gain from a...

Ping Pong Diplomacy

April 10, 1971. A team of ping pong players leaves Hong Kong to step across a border and become the first group of Americans welcomed to China in over 20 years. These competitors find themselves becoming unlikely diplomats at the center of a media frenzy, and at the heart of one of the 20thcenturys major geopolitical shifts. How did table tennis turn into a powerful tool of foreign policy? And how did these athletes leave an impact that went far beyond the ping pong table? Special thanks to our guests: professional table tennis athletes Judy Hoarfrost, Olga Soltesz, and Connie...

148 Tornadoes in 18 Hours (Replay)

April 3, 1974.Across America, many people wake up this morning thinking it will be a normal day. But in the next 24 hours, almost 150 tornadoes will hit the United States. It will be then the largest tornado outbreak in the nation's history. Why did so many deadly tornadoes hit on this one day? And how did it spur life-saving changes that are still with us decades later? This episode originally aired in 2021. Thank you to our guests Greg Forbes, former severe weather expert with the Weather Channel, and Atmospheric Sciences professor, Jeff Trapp, from the University of Illinois....

Bunnies, Baseball, and Aliens on the Moon

April 1, 2023. In honor of April Fools Day, we give you three historical tales of the bluff and the bamboozle. An autumn day in 1726, when an English peasant gives birth to something mysterious and furry. Mets spring training in 1985, as the world meets an otherworldly baseball player with a superhuman arm. Finally, the summer of 1835 in NYC, when a scrappy start-up of a newspaper starts a frenzy about its exclusive: theres life on the moon! Along the way, well learn what it takes to pull off a convincing hoax. And how we can avoid being duped...

Fire in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory

March 25, 1911. Its quarter to five on a Saturdayclosing time at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Someone on the cutting room floor lights a cigarette that ignites a pile of scraps. Over the next fifteen minutes, hundreds of workers scramble to escape the top floors of this ten-story building by smoke-filled stairwell, crammed elevators, and an overloaded fire escape. 146 of them dont make it out. How was this tragedy set in motion years before the fire itself? And how did reforms passed in the wake of the fire change the workplace for all of us? Special thanks to our...

The Tragic Life of Londons Favorite Clown

March 17, 1828. The celebrated clown, Joseph Grimaldi, rises from his sickbed. Once Londons most energetic performer, hes gradually been crippled by decades of pratfalls and acrobatics. He can barely manage the short walk to Sadlers Wells theater, where hes about to star in a final show. Grimaldi dresses backstage as if hes in a daze, burdened by a lifetime of personal sorrows. And yet, when the curtain rises, hell summon the old strength. Hell entertain this last of his countless audiences and send them home happy unlike the clown himself. Who was Joseph Grimaldi? And how did he blend...

Axis Sallys Nazi Radio

March 10, 1949. Defendant Mildred Gillars arrives at a courthouse to hear her verdict. To trial-watchers, shes known as Axis Sallythe American woman who broadcast Nazi propaganda from Berlin during World War II. In taunting tones, she spent years pushing anti-Semitic and anti-Allies messages aimed at weakening the morale of American soldiers. But Gillars insists that shes misunderstood, even innocent. That shes an artist, she loves her country, and was forced to do what she did or die.How did a struggling actress from Maine become a potent weapon of the Nazis? And is there a way to understand the choices...

Introducing: American Football (Episode 1: Canton, Ohio)

A new History Channel podcast, American Football is the untold tale of the rough-and-tumble origins of the National Football League. Produced and presented by Michael Strahan and narrated by actress and pro football enthusiast Kate Mara, this podcast reaches back into the past to explain the dirty, bloody, and tumultuous beginnings of America's most popular sport. In this first episode, the sport of American football begins as a stand-in for war a place where young men at elite colleges could prove their mettle fighting on the gridiron. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener...

The Flight of the Concorde

March 2, 1969. French pilot Andr Turcat takes to the skies above Toulouse-Blagnac airport. Hes flying an odd-looking plane: long and slender with triangular wings and a bent-down nose like a bird of prey. Its called the Concorde a jet designed to move supersonic flight from military to civilian use. If it works, paying passengers will be able to cross continents and oceans at fantastic speeds while sipping glasses of champagne. The crowd below watches, mesmerized, as Turcat puts the plane through its paces. Concorde aces the test and now, as they say, the skys the limit. How did this...

The Cold War Gets A Wall

February 22, 1962. The city of Berlin is cut in half by a concrete and barbed wire wall. On the west side, U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy is giving a rousing speech when suddenly, what look like balloons explode above the crowd, revealing Soviet-red flags. The Communists will let the balloons through, Kennedy says. But they wont let their people through! Meanwhile in the east, the streets are quiet. The people on both sides of the wall live in its shadow. They are family members and former neighbors, many of them wondering, Is this really here to stay? How did...

The Apollo Theater is Reborn

February 14, 1934. When Adelaide Hall steps onstage at The Apollo Theater, shes greeted by an audience unlike those shes experienced before. Hall is already famousshes been on Broadway and performed at Harlems Cotton Club. But those theaters are segregated. The Apollo has just recently opened its doors to Black audiences, and Halls performance there helps put the revamped theater on the map. It marks the beginning of the end of segregated shows. In this roundtable discussion with The Apollos resident historian and its executive producer, we explore how this 89-year-old theater with 1,500-seats helped catapult some of the nation's...

Anatomy of a Campus Heist

February 11, 2005. FBI agents bust down the door of a cinder block house near the University of Kentucky campus. Amid flash grenades and screaming teens, they arrest three students plus a fourth student in a nearby dorm. The crime? Stealing almost $750,000 of rare books and manuscripts from the library at Transylvania University. Why did four freshmen decide to actually go through with their real life version of Oceans Eleven? And how did they plan to get away with it? Special thanks to our guests, BJ Gooch, retired special collections librarian; Eric Borsuk, whose memoir is called American Animals:...

Britain Axes the Monarchy

January 30, 1649 / 1661. London, 1649. King Charles I lays his head on a chopping block. The axe falls and, soon with it, the monarchy. What follows is Parliaments grueling effort to set up a functioning republic one of the first in history. It will be led by Oliver Cromwell, a brilliant military leader who becomes the countrys most powerful man. But on January 30, 1661 exactly twelve years after the death of Charles I royalist forces will use the same method to take their revenge: a beheading. Who was Oliver Cromwell, the man who led Britains brief experiment...

The Dogs Who Saved Nome, Alaska

January 27, 1925. Musher Wild Bill Shannon and his team of sled dogs race off into the frigid Alaskan night. Hes carrying a package of life-saving serum, wrapped in fur to keep it from freezing. Theres no time to waste: nearly 700 miles away, in the snowed-in town of Nome, children are dying of diphtheria. Twenty mushers and hundreds of dogs are about to take part in an almost superhuman effort to ferry desperately needed medicine across the howling Alaskan wilderness. Who were they, and what did they endure to reach their goal? And as they pressed on, how did...

From Cautionary Tales: Martin Luther King Jr, the Jewelry Genius, and the Art of Public Speaking

Heres a special episode of Cautionary Tales, a podcast from our friends at Pushkin Industries. On Cautionary Tales, bestselling author Tim Harford shares stories of human error, natural disasters, and tragic catastrophes from history that contain important lessons for today. In todays episode, well learn about civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr and jewelry store owner Gerald Ratner. The two offer starkly contrasting stories on when you should stick to the script and when you should take a risk. Hear more from Cautionary Tales at https://podcasts.pushkin.fm/CTHTW. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn...

Tuskegee Top Gun

January 11, 2022. Lt. Col. James Harvey arrives at Nellis Air Force base in Nevada for the first time in 73 years. Hes there to accept a plaque celebrating the last time he was therefor the Air Forces first ever weapons competition. Back then, Harvey and the other Tuskegee Airmen on his team had squared off against the best military pilots around. They tackled high-skill tests of simulated aerial warfare and they won. But over the decades, the official record of their victory was lost or neglected. Who were these exceptional Black pilots? And what did it take to rescue...

Uncovering Tutankhamun

January 3, 1924. Archeologists crowd into an ancient Egyptian tomb to uncover what awaits them in the unopened burial chamber. The world is waiting to find out. Thats because two years before, the discovery of the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamun revealed antiquities so dazzling that a media frenzy ensued newspapers, newsreels, and Hollywood movies vied to show audiences these wonders of ancient Egypt. Now, lead archaeologist Howard Carter pushes open the door to find a majestic stone sarcophagus. Inside lies Tutankhamun, whose regal face of gold and azure blue has lain in darkness for millennia. Hes about to meet...

End of Year Pitch-A-Thon

December 26, 2022. For the first time, a behind-the-scenes look at a key part of the History This Week episode-making process. Today, were inviting our listeners to pull up a chair and join one of our pitch sessions. Usually, an editor consults with the team to choose which story we'll be telling in a given episode. But this time you'll decide! So listen, vote, and maybe win some History This Week swag. Tune in to learn how we make history. All voting should be sent to our email, HistoryThisWeek@history.com. Remember, your options are Julia (Henry Ward Beecher), Emma (Axis Sally),...

The Surprising History of Christmas Gifts

Christmas Eve, 1913. For months, newspapers have been trumpeting an urgent message:Do your Christmas shopping early.It would be easy to assume this was the work of greedy department stores and slick ad companies. But it wasnt at least not at first. It started as the rallying cry of a labor reformer who was striving to improve the lives of retail workers. Ever since, Americans have been wrestling over the values at the heart of holiday shopping. But even the most earnest efforts at reform have backfired, time and again. How did Christmas gifts become a thing in the first place?...

Samuel Adams Brews Rebellion

December 16, 1773. Samuel Adams sits in a crowded meeting of American colonists at Bostons Old South Meeting House. Hes watching small groups of men slip quietly out the door. Once outside, the men don disguises and make their way toward three ships moored in the harbor each weighted down with chests of valuable British East India tea. The men climb aboard, tear open the chests and dump the tea in the water. Cheers fill the winter night. Back at the meeting, Samuel Adams waits. Theres nothing directly tying him to this radical act of rebellion but few doubt hes...

Irving Berlins Musical Revolution

December 8, 1914. Crowds pour into the New Amsterdam Theater to see the opening night of a new show, Watch Your Step. Its the first full-length revue written by the popular young songwriter, Irving Berlin. His songs show off Berlins signature wit and simplicity, but also his musical sophistication. As his fellow composer, Jerome Kern, would later put it: "Berlin has no place in American musiche is American music. Who was Irving Berlin? And how did he utterly transform American songwriting? Thanks to our guests: James Kaplan, author of Irving Berlin: New York Genius; Laurence Maslon, arts professor at NYUs...

A Meteorite Hits Ann Hodges

November 30, 1954. At about 12:45 in the afternoon, a space rock comes plummeting through the roof of a house in Sylacauga, Alabama. It bounces off a standup radio, ricochets around the living room, and collides with the thigh of Mrs. Ann Hodges, whos been napping on the couch. Newspapers declare: experts agreed unanimously that Mrs. Hodges was the first person known to have been struck by a meteorite. What happened to this space rock after it crashed to Earth and thrust itself into volatile human affairs? And what happened to the human beings whose lives were upended by this...

The Ballad of Blackbeard

November 22, 1718. Early morning, off the North Carolina coast. The pirate Blackbeard, peering over the rail of his ship, is startled to discover that a pair of British naval ships are after him. He rouses his hungover crew and gives the order to flee to the open sea. The pirating life is treacherous: filled with double-crosses, shifting alliances, and violence. The best pirates cultivate harsh reputations in order to scare their foes into surrendering without a fight. And no one is feared more than Blackbeard. But now the authorities have decided to hunt him down. How did Blackbeard become...

The Inca's Last Stand (Replay)

November 16, 1532. Atahualpa, the king of the Inca Empire, marches towards the city of Cajamarca in modern-day Peru, surrounded by 80,000 soldiers. Once he arrives, Atahualpa expects the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro to surrender in the town square. But Pizarro has a plan of his own. With just 168 men, he will unleash a trap that destroys the Inca Empire, and brings thousands of years of indigenous rule to a violent end. What was happening in the Andes before Pizarro arrived that allowed this to take place? And when history is written by the victors, how do we know...

Two Shawnee Brothers Hold Their Ground

November 7, 1811. William Henry Harrison and his troops are camped near the Wabash river. Theyve been told to keep the peacebut Harrison wants land, and hes come here to try and take it. Less than a mile away is a flourishing Native American settlement called Prophetstown. Its led by Tecumseh, a skilled diplomat and warrior, and his brother Tenskwatawa, whose religious teachings have attracted indigenous people from across the newly-formed United States. Before dawn, these two sides will be in a battle that ends with one of their settlements burned to the ground. How did a future president exploit...

The Truth About Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings

November 5, 1998. Using DNA evidence, the scientific journal Nature publishes findings that put to rest a centuries-old mystery: Was Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman at Monticello, the mother of six of Thomas Jeffersons children? Until then, the historical consensus had been this: The Jefferson-Hemings relationship can be neither refuted nor substantiated. Jeffersons white descendants were more categorical: they flatly denied it. But now the truth was out. Why was this story denied for so long, and what does that say about whose version of history is believed? And how did it revise our understanding of Americas third president? Special...

The Donora Death Fog

October 26, 1948. A mysterious fog descends upon the valley town of Donora, Pennsylvania. Most of its residents work at the local steel mill and are used to murky air. But theres something different about this miasma of acrid vapors. People begin to cough convulsively; some have trouble breathing. Residents crowd into local doctors offices, some arriving at the doorstep gasping for breath. They wonder, what is happening to us?The fog lifts from the valley 5 days later, leaving 20 people dead. What caused the Donora Death Fog? And how did it lead to the creation of the Clean Air...

Introducing: It Was Said Season 2

It Was Said, the 2021 Webby Award winner for Best Podcast Series, returns with a new season to look back on some of the most powerful, impactful, and timeless speeches in history. Written and narrated by Pulitzer Prize winner and bestselling author-historian Jon Meacham, this documentary podcast series takes you through another season of ten generation-defining speeches. Meacham, along with top historians, authors and journalists, offers expert insight and analysis into the origins, the orator, and the context of the times each speech was given, and they reflect on why its important to never forget them. It Was Said is...

Exploring Earths Evil Twin

October 22, 1975. After traveling millions of miles through space, a Soviet spacecraft plungesthrough thick clouds of sulfuric acid to land on Venus. Its goal: take a photograph of another planets surface and send it back homehistorys first up-close glimpse at a world other than our own. Venus, our closest neighbor, is similar in size to Earth and may even share some planetary material. Its why scientists sometimes call it our twin planet. Yet its rock-melting temperatures and poisonous atmosphere make it profoundly different. If anything, it is oureviltwin. Whats behind humanity's long fascination with Venus? And what can the...

Jim Thorpe's Lost Gold (w/ Sports History This Week)

October 13, 1982. The announcement came from Switzerland, across the world from where Jim Thorpe was raised on Indian territory in Oklahoma. In his time, Thorpe was the most popular athlete in the world, winning two gold medals at the 1912 Olympics. But for a variety of reasonsincluding his Native American heritagethose medals were stripped away. But today, though Thorpe passed away years earlier, his children will receive the medals that their father rightly won. In a special collaboration with our sibling podcast, Sports History This Week, we seek to answer... how does Jim Thorpe rise from an Indian boarding...

The Bone Wars

October 4, 1915. President Woodrow Wilson designates Dinosaur National Monument as a national historic site.Thats a big deal, right? There mustve been a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony, maybe even a parade. But no.In 1915, nobody really cares about dinosaurs. But that is all about to change. And when it does, it is largely because of two paleontologists. Two guys who started off as best friends until their growing obsession with unearthing and cataloging dinosaur bones would turn them into rivals. Then enemies. How did the competition between a pair of paleontologists lead to unprecedented dinosaur discoveries? And how did their rivalry...

The Hanging of Jekyll and Hyde

October 1, 1788. William Brodie mounts the gallows outside Edinburghs jail. Just a few years before, as a respected member of the town council, hed helped redesign those gallows. Now he stands upon them as a convicted criminal sentenced to be hanged, in front of 40,000 spectators. Brodie appears surprisingly and resolutely calm. But maybe somewhere deep inside is another William Brodie, panicked and full of regret. Who really was this respectable cabinetmaker by day and thief by night? And how did he inspire his fellow Scotsman, Robert Louis Stevenson, to write the famous story, The Strange Case of Dr....

Saladin Takes Back the Holy City

September 20, 1187. Its daytime outside the walls of Jerusalem. Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt, ponders his next attack. His troops encircle and lay siege to the city. They vastly outnumber the Crusader knights inside, and Saladins on the cusp of a victory he never dreamed possible. He can order his men to attack the city. Killing those who stand in their way and enslaving the rest. But, Saladin has a problem. Balian of Ibelin leads the Crusader defenses within the city walls. He threatens to destroy Muslim holy sites if Saladin attacks. The Sultan must make a choice. One...

The Radium Girls Fight Back

September 2, 1922. Twenty-four-year-old Mollie Maggia has a toothache. In less than a year, this otherwise healthy young woman will be dead. Others like her will soon follow. Theyd all shared what seemed to be a dream job: applying glow-in-the-dark paint to clock faces. The paint glowed because it was saturated with radium, the wonder element of its day. And now that radium has burrowed inside the bones and lungs of the women. How did a supposed wonder element and cure-all come to be seen for what it was a deadly poison? And how did a group of courageous young...

Star Trek Premieres

September 8, 1966. For the first time, the USS Enterprise appears on screen. It is the premiere of a strange new futuristic TV show. Star Trek will introduce the world to a cast of characters that push the boundaries of TV. Why did NBC take a chance on a writer who had already once gotten them in trouble with none other than the US military? And how did Star Trek go where no show had gone before? Special thanks to our guests, David A. Goodman and Michelle Sauer. Goodmans latest film, Honor Society, is now streaming on Paramount Plus. Sauer...

Love, Betrayal, and the Battle for Rome

September 2, 31 BCE. Two camps prepare for battle off the coast of Greece. On one side is Octavian, Julius Caesars heir apparent. On the other, Marc Antony and his lover, the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. This battle wont just determine the leader of Rome, but the fate of global civilization. How did Cleopatra wind up in the middle of a Roman game of tug of war? And how did the Battle of Actium change our world forever? Special thanks to our guest, Barry Strauss, author of The War That Made the Roman Empire: Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at Actium. To...

The Deadly Puzzle of Yellow Fever

August 27, 1900. Dr. Jesse Lazear, a U.S. Army surgeon, walks into Las Animas Hospital Yellow Fever ward in Havana Cuba, toting a brood of mosquitos. He has the system down: remove the cotton stopper that keeps the mosquito penned in its glass vial, turn the vial over, and seal it against a consenting infected patients skin. Chasing the source of Yellow Fever, scientists try to understand this deadly plague by running a high-stakes medical experiment on human subjects. But today, those subjects will include themselves. Why did ordinary peopleand the doctors running the experimentwillingly and knowingly consent to take...

Dirty Dancing in the Borscht Belt

August 17, 1987. On the red carpet in New York City, its the premier of a new movie: Dirty Dancing. The story is set in the sunburnt Shangri-La of New Yorks Catskills resort region. The movie will introduce millions to the place that some call the Jewish Alps. "Disneyland with knishes." The Sour Cream Sierras. The Borscht Belt. Ironically, Dirty Dancing arrives as the heyday of the Catskills resort is ending. But how does its culture live on?And how did its signature style of Jewish humor make the leap to Hollywood, where it would fundamentally change American comedy? Special thanks...

Pop Music Pirates (Replay)

August 14, 1967. Off the coast of England, a group of pirate ships has been fighting to stay afloat. These are pirates of a particular kindless sword fighting and treasure hunting, more spinning records and dancing late into the night. For the past few years, these boats have made it their mission to broadcast popular music from international waters. But at the stroke of midnight, a new law will make these pirate radio DJs criminals. Some of them, aboard Radio Caroline, are willing to risk it. How did a group of young rebels launch an offshore radio station that gave...

The Web Goes World Wide

August 6, 1991. On an Internet news board, a memo appears, describing a new project that some scientists have been developing: The WorldWideWeb (WWW) project. Its meant to help ordinary people use the Internetwhich at the time is only being used by a small group of experts. How did a group of scientists and coders even conceive of something like the Web? And how did they bring it not just to coders and other specialists, but to the rest of usfor better or for worse? Special thanks to our guests: Robert Cailliau, Jean-Franois Groff, Peggie Rimmer, Ben Segal, and Marc...

Convert or Leave (Replay)

7/31/1492. In cities, towns and villages across late medieval Spain, whole districts have emptied out. Houses abandoned, stores closed, and synagogueswhich until recently had been alive with singing and prayernow sit quiet. Exactly four months earlier, the King and Queen of Spain issued an edict: by royal decree, all Jewish people in Spain must convert to Catholicism or leave the country, for good. Why were the Jews expelled from Spain? How did Spaniards, and then the world, start to think of religion as something inherited, not just by tradition, but by blood? And how does this moment help us understand...

Walt Whitman's First Fan Mail

July 21, 1855. Literary lion Ralph Waldo Emerson writes a letter to an unknown Brooklyn journalist named Walt Whitman. Hes just read Whitmans first published poems, which have both startled him and caused him to rejoice. Emerson congratulates the poet on having produced the most extraordinary piece of wit & wisdom that America has yet contributed. So why, just five years later, will Emerson be urging him to delete the scandalous passages from a new edition of the poems? And how did Walt Whitmans exuberant sensuality help recast Americas relationship to the body? Special thanks to our guests, Karen Karbiener,...

The Games to Win Ancient Rome

July 13, 44 BCE. Julius Caesar is dead, stabbed by a trusted friend. With Rome shaken, the Senate meets to decide next steps. They're confronting the brutal power struggle already breaking out among three men: Brutus, the deadly friend; Marc Antony, Caesar's gifted military commander; and Octavian, Caesar's teenaged heir. First, Brutus and Octavian will square off with a clash of festivals designed to sway popular opinion to their side... while the wily Antony bides his time. Today, the final day of the Ludi Apollinares, the games that Brutus arranges to sway the people of Rome. Will mounting the wildest...

The Colosseum Becomes a Wonder

July 7, 2007. In a dramatic ceremony featuring pop stars, fireworks, and smoke canons, the Colosseum is named one of the seven new wonders of the world. Its an appropriately over-the-top blowout for an arena which, centuries before, was home to its own lavish events. How did spectacles once unfold on the floor of this ancient arena? And how did the Romans use games to entertain people, and to control them? Special thanks to our guests, Alison Futrell, co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World, and Barry Strauss, author of The War That Made...

Mutiny on the Black Sea

June 27, 1905. Its the last morning of Ippolit Gilyarovskys life. He wakes up in a battleship on the Black Sea. The Potemkin. Hes a despised Russian naval officer who doesnt care that his sailors are refusing to eat their lunch of rotten borscht. Theyll do it because he says so. And if they dont, hell hang them. Why did these sailors, many of them peasants accustomed to abuse from high-born men like him, decide on this day to rise up instead and mutiny? And how would their rebellion help take down the Czar of Russia? Special thanks to our...

Introducing: Sports History This Week

June 23, 1972. President Richard Nixons men broke into the Watergate complex just six days earlier. Hes attempting some damage control, but in between meetings with his staff, Nixon signs a newbillinto law the Educational Amendments of 1972. He isnt aware of it at the time, but Title IX of this law will change womens sports forever. Thebills passage comes after years of campaigning, and the most prominent face of this movement is one of the great athletes of her era:Billie Jean King. Today,Billie Jean King sits down withSports History This Weekto unpack her role in this monumental legislation. How...

The Church Kidnaps Edgardo Mortara

June 23, 1858. A knock at the doorits the papal police. For the Mortaras, a Jewish family living in Bologna, this is not a good sign. And soon, the officers break the agonizing news: You have been betrayed. The Mortaras six-year-old son, Edgardo, has been secretly baptized, and the Church has ordered him to be taken away. Why did the Catholic Church order a young Jewish boy to be kidnapped? And how would that decision end up re-making the map of modern Europe? Special thanks to our guest, David Kertzer, author of The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara and The Pope...

Watergate from the Inside (Replay)

June 17, 1972. In the early morning hours, five men are caught after breaking into the Watergate building in Washington, DC. The failed break-in that night will eventually lead to the unraveling of a major American scandal that reaches the highest levels of government. Why did President Nixon and the men around him believe that they could get away with something so obviously illegal? And how - for one of our producers - did this episode hit close to home? Thank you to our guest expert, Michael Dobbs, author of King Richard: An American Tragedy. Thank you also to Ken...

Bayard Rustin Marches Free

June 11, 1946. Bayard Rustin walks out of the Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary after serving a sentence for conscientiously objecting to WWII. A pacifist organizer, his efforts reach the ears of Mahatma Gandhi, who invites him to India. And Rustin never looks back. Soon hes mentoring a young Alabama preacher, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as Rustin thrust into the middle of a Civil Rights Movement. But Rustins enemies want him gone, and the entire movement along with him. So how does this one man become responsible for the national reach and spread of active nonviolent resistance? And why, as the...

Anna May Wong Steps into the Spotlight

June 4, 1939. Anna May Wong steps off an ocean liner to greet her fans in Australia. In many ways, she is a classic Hollywood actor. Glamorous and famous. Shes made some sixty movies that have been seen around the world. But in other ways, Anna May Wong is singular. Shes the firstand at this time onlyChinese American movie star.But behind the scenes...she is reaching the end of her rope. How did a Chinese American girl from a poor family defy expectations to become an international star? And what is now fueling her Hollywood rebirth? Thank you to our guests:...

Reconstruction IV: Voting Rights At Last

May 26, 1965. One hundred years after the Civil War, Congress is debating a bill whose goal is to enforce the 15th amendment, which, in 1870, promised the right to vote regardless of race. But thats not what happened. Now the Civil Rights movement is saying: Its time to make real the promises of the Constitution for all Americans. The forces that undermined the First Reconstruction, and gutted the 15th Amendment, are resisting those demands. In the middle stands Lyndon B. Johnson, a Southern Senator with a record of opposing civil rights. Robert Caro, acclaimed journalist and Johnson biographer, tells...

Reconstruction III: Eric Foner and Henry Louis Gates Jr. on Du Bois Black Reconstruction

In 1935, famed Black sociologist and scholar W.E.B. Du Bois published Black Reconstruction, a revolutionary reassessment of the period of Reconstruction after the Civil War. The book was also a critique of the flawed way others had been telling the storyincluding leading scholars of the day. Sally Helm sits down with professors Eric Foner and Henry Louis Gates Jr. to discuss Du Bois insights. They hone in on his argument that a biased portrayal of Reconstruction was used for over a century to justify the oppression of Black Americans. Visit History.com/Reconstruction for more. To learn more about listener data and...

Reconstruction II: The First Presidential Impeachment

May 16, 1868. The Capitol is filled with spectators, anxiously trying to predict how each Senator will vote. Its the first presidential impeachment trial in American history, and its outcome will have profound effects on Reconstruction, the great project of rebuilding the nation after the Civil War. What made many members of Congress declare President Andrew Johnson unfit to lead that effort? And what motivated this former ally of Abraham Lincoln to declare himself an enemy of true Reconstruction? Visit History.com/Reconstruction for more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad...

Reconstruction I: Secession on Trial

May 10, 1865. Jefferson Davis is awakened by gunshots. The president of the defeated and disbanded Confederate States of America is on the run, and today, federal troops finally catch him. His arrest puts the face of the Confederacy behind bars. But it also creates a problem for federal officials: what exactly do we do with this guy? How will they hold Davis accountable for his acts without turning him into a martyr for his cause? And then theres the larger question: how can they piece a shattered nation back together? Visit History.com/Reconstruction for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

HTW Presents: Reconstruction

In this miniseries, HISTORY This Week takes listeners from the Civil War to Civil Rights to uncover the true cost of putting the country back together. Premiering May 9. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Beethoven's Silent Symphony (Replay)

History repeats itself this week with an episode from the HISTORY This Week archives: May 7, 1824. One of the great musical icons in history, Ludwig Van Beethoven, steps onto stage at the Krntnertor Theater in Vienna. The audience is electric, buzzing with anticipation for a brand newsymphonyfrom the legendary composer. But theres a rumor on their minds, something only a few know for certain... that Beethoven is deaf. He is about to conduct the debut of his NinthSymphonyfeaturing the now-famous Ode to Joyyet Beethoven can barely hear a thing. How was it possible for him to conduct? And more...

Dividing the Desert

April 25, 1859. About 150 people have gathered on the shores of Lake Manzala in Egypt. And one of them, a mustachioed, retired French diplomat, steps forward. He raises his pickaxe and strikes a ceremonial blow. The audacious goal is to cut through the desert to connect the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, creating a new trade route between the East and the West. Changing global trade and geopolitics forever. Today: the Suez Canal. Why did the tremendous efforts of a Frenchman end up enriching theBritishEmpire? And how, decades later, did the canal play an unexpected role in the...

The Luddites Attack

April 20, 1812. An angry crowd approaches a mill in Lancashire, England. Theyre fed up with whats happening to their knitting industry, and theyre here to smash the machines taking their jobs. They call themselves the Luddites. Today, their name is invoked when talking about anyone who is anti-technology. But what actually drove this group of knitters to take up arms against their employers? And what does their struggle show us about the relationship between workers and employers today? Thank you to our guest, Dr. Richard Gaunt from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom.Thank you also to Dr....

Jackie Robinson Tries Out for the Majors

April 16, 1945. Jackie Robinson is ready. Hes won a tryout with the Boston Red Sox, and if he makes the team, he will become the first player to break baseballs long-standing racial divide. Robinson puts his supreme athletic skills on full display but never hears back from the Red Sox. The tryout was just for show. Its not the first deception or indignity that Robinson has endured because of his race. But ultimately, nothing could stop him from breaking baseballs color line. What does his experience reveal about the history of race in America? And how did Robinsons life...

The Titanics First and Last Voyage

April 10, 1912. As the RMS Titanic pulls away from a crowded port on the south coast of England, it almost crashes. Just in time, its able to turn off its engines and prevent a collision with a smaller ship. Four days later, though, a serious disaster will not be avoided, and the Titanics first voyage will be her last. But during her brief life, the vessel is a microcosm of the Gilded world around her. How did this opulent luxury liner come to exist? And how did it foretell the dangers of wealth, technology, and arrogance that shaped the...

Ethel Rosenberg's Day in Court

March 29, 1951. The world is waiting for the jurys verdict. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg have been accused of spying for the Soviet Union, conspiring to send atomic secrets to Americas enemy in the Cold War. Ethel and Julius are tried in court together, and after the jury finds both Rosenbergs guilty, they receive the same punishment the death penalty. But while they were treated the same, these two individuals have very different stories. Today, who was Ethel Rosenberg, the only woman executed for espionage in U.S. history? And why is her guilt still a topic of debate today? Special...

Shackletons Ice Ship Found

March 5, 2022. After 107 years, explorer Ernest Shackletons ship, the Endurance, has been found two miles under the icy Antarctic waters. Shackleton had set out to be the first to walk across Antarctica, but ran into trouble almost immediately. The Endurance became stuck in the polar ice, which gradually crushed the ship until it sank below the surface. This sparked one of the great survival stories in history, and now that the ship has been discovered, this epic tale is once again coming to light. We sat down with Brad Borkan, an expert on the history of Antarctic exploration...

First Antiwar Teach-In

March 25, 1965. The US is bombing North Vietnam. On the University of Michigans campus, students and professors are gathered for a first-of-its kind protest event. Theyre holding a teach-in, staying up all night to discuss whats going on in Vietnam. How did the classroom become a powerful tool for protest? And what impact did this teach-in have in shaping the antiwar movement on college campusesand around the world? Special thanks to our guests: Zelda Gamson, Alan Haber, Susan Harding, Richard Mann, Stan Nadel, Gayl Ness, Jack Rothman, Howard Wachtel, and Michael Zweig. Thanks also to Ellen Schrecker, author of...

A Serial Killer Helps Abolish the Death Penalty

March 20, 1953. A middle-aged man named John Christie packs up a suitcase and leaves his apartment in Notting Hill, London. No one knows where hes gone. But a few days later, people realize why he left a new tenant makes an unsettling discovery: bodies, hidden in the walls of the kitchen. Today: the case of serial killer John Christie. Why, decades later, are parts of his story still a mystery? And how did that very mystery play into a big change in the UK the abolition of the death penalty? Thank you to our guests: Professor Kate Winkler Dawson,...

New York Goes Underground

March 12, 1888. Theres been a blizzard in New York. Wind, ice, and snow have brought the city to a halt. Stagecoaches are stuck, elevated trains are frozen. By the time the storm is over, 400 New Yorkers will die. The public outrage is severe, and many blame New York Citys faulty transportation network for the deaths. Suddenly, a solution that had been ignored in the past comes to the forefront traveling under the earth. Today, the story of the New York City subway. How did an epic snowstorm drive the city to try a dangerous and daring idea? And...

Claudette Colvin Doesnt Give Up Her Seat

March 2, 1955. Claudette Colvin and her classmates are let out early from school. They hop on a bus heading toward downtown Montgomery and sit in the back section, reserved for Black riders. Before long, theres a white woman standing in the aisle, expecting them to give up their seats. 15-year-old Colvin refuses, and shes arrested that daynine months before an almost identical act of defiance from activist Rosa Parks will ignite the Montgomery bus boycott and the modern Civil Rights movement. Who is Claudette Colvin? And how does her story reveal the broader picture behind a protest that would...

Hitler Stands Trial

February 26, 1924. 10 Defendants enter a courtroom in Munich. They are being charged with an attempted coup. They tried to overthrow the government of the Weimar Republicand almost succeeded. All eyes are on the second defendant to enter the room. When the judge reads this mans name into the record, he identifies him as a Munich writer named Adolf Hitler. Today: Hitlers first attempt to seize power. How did his 1923 coup fail? And why would Hitler later say that this failure was perhaps the greatest good fortune of my life? Thank you to Thomas Weber for speaking with...

The Capitol Attack of 1861 (Replay)

Today, we return to a favorite episode from Season 2 in honor of the new three-part documentary, "Abraham Lincoln", premiering on The HISTORY Channel starting Sunday, February 20th, 2022. February 13, 1861. The city of Washington DC is waiting. Bracing itself. For weeks, there have been threats that this day is going to get violent because pro-slavery voters feel the recently elected president, Abraham Lincoln, is a threat to their way of life. Today, Lincoln is supposed to be affirmed when the electoral votes are counted in the US Capitol building, but on the morning of the count, hundreds of...

The Lincoln County War

February 18, 1878. A group of men is leading their horses along a New Mexico mountain trail. This is the Wild West, and danger is never that far away. In fact, before they reach their destination, the leader of their group will be shot. The rest of the cowboys watch the scene unfold in horror, including a future notorious outlaw: Billy the Kid. Over their bosss dead body, Billy and the others vow to avenge his murder. In the next five months, as much as a quarter of the county's population will be killed. How did this murder turn a...

Black Baseball Goes Pro

Feb 13, 1920. For over thirty years, Black baseball players have been locked out of the major leagues. So on this day in Kansas City, Rube Foster, a former pitcher and now a team owner, is trying to make his own league just for Black players. He has gathered owners of other Black baseball teams, who currently play each other in one-off matchups or face independent teams in random games around the country. But Foster wants them to get organized, and soon, the Negro National League would be born. But up to this point, how did Black baseball survive after...

The Great Comic Book Scare

February 4, 1955. In a New York courtroom, the Comics Czar takes the stand. Hes in charge of enforcing a new code, meant to keep comic books from corrupting Americas youth, and hes here to prove that his work has cleaned up the industry. But that afternoon, a noted psychologist named Fredric Wertham argues that his work has not nearly gone far enough. When the hearing comes to a close, the committee is left to decide: what is the future of the comic book? Why did one of the countrys leading psychologists see them as a major threat to American...

Surviving Auschwitz (Replay)

History repeats itself this week with an episode from the HISTORY This Week archives: January 27, 1945. Four Russian soldiers arrive at Auschwitz, one of Nazi Germany's largest concentration and extermination camps. The soldiers have come to liberate the survivors inside, but they are not met with the celebration and rejoicing they expect. On this day, what did liberation actually mean for its survivors - and is the full story being forgotten? Thank you to Mindu Hornick and Bill Harvey for sharing their personal story of surviving Auschwitz and to Fulwell 73 for helping make it happen. Thank you to...

The Apple Ad That Changed the World (Replay)

History repeats itself this week with an episode from the HISTORY This Week archives: January 22, 1984. Apple launches the very first Macintosh computer, unveiling the machine to the public in a showstopping Super Bowl commercial. Not only was the ad itself revolutionary, but the product it launched almost single-handedly brought computers into the mainstream. The Macintosh PC would change technology, and the world as we know it forever. Special thanks to Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, author and producer of the Making the Macintosh digital archive. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about...

The Great Boston Molasses Flood (Replay)

History repeats itself this week with an episode from the HISTORY This Week archives: January 15, 1919. Boston PD receives a call: Send all available rescue personnel...there's a wave of molasses coming down Commercial Street." The bizarre flood decimated Boston's North End. How did it happen? And why does it still affect us all today? Special thank you to our guest Stephen Puleo, author of Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Declaring War on Poverty (Replay)

History repeats itself this week with an episode from the HISTORY This Week archives: January 8, 1964. In his State of the Union address, Lyndon Johnson unveils his War on Poverty, an effort to tackle subpar living conditions and create jobs across the United States. Johnson discovers that declaring wareven one on an ideaalways comes with great costs. Why did LBJ pick poverty as one of his major initiatives? And what issues did he face in waging this war? This episode features Doris Kearns Goodwin (presidential historian and executive producer of The HISTORY Channels documentary series, Lincoln and Roosevelt) and...

Best Stories of 2021

In this year-end episode, Sally interviews the rest of the HISTORY This Week team about their favorite stories of the year and the most interesting information that didnt make it into the episodes. Well be bringing you some of our favorite classic History This Week episodes throughout the month of January and will be back with season three in February 2022. Episode links: Watergate from the Inside More Than a Home Run Pop Music Pirates To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Twenty Thousand Hertz: The Gift

December 24, 1906. Its Christmas Eve, but inventor Reginald Fessenden is working. Tonight, instead of sending a typical radio message in morse code, he broadcasts something new: music. It's the first in a series of breakthroughs in audio reproductiona story that takes us from World War II home radios to the acoustics lab of another pioneer: Dr. Amar Bose. How did we get from tapped dots and dashes to the high-quality speakers we use today? This episode comes from the podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz. You can listen to more episodes of Twenty Thousand Hertz at https://apple.co/3pWdq29. To learn more about...

Pursuing Trivia with Ken Jennings

(EPISODE 100!) December 15, 1979. Two Canadian journalists are hanging out, drinking a beer, when they come up with an idea for a new game to test random knowledge Trivial Pursuit. But this is far from the first time trivia has been gamified, and to explore the history behind these quizzing contests, we turned to the expert: Jeopardy! legend Ken Jennings. What are the origins of trivia? And what is it about recalling trivial facts that keeps people coming back for more? Special thanks to Ken Jennings, author of Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs...

How Lincoln Almost Lost it All

December 11, 1862. Union Army engineers are urgently constructing a bridge, one that will carry soldiers into the town of Fredericksburg, Virginia, a Confederate stronghold. Union leaders are banking on the element of surprise and are desperate for a victory. But, by the time its over, more than a thousand Union soldiers will perish in one of the worst defeats of the Civil War. How does the failed Battle of Fredericksburg threaten the future of the Emancipation Proclamation and Abraham Lincolns very presidency? And how does Lincoln manage to save both? Special thanks to our guest Professor John Matteson, author...

A Secret Mission to Cross the Pacific

December 1, 1564. Spanish vessels left a secret port in Mexico about two weeks ago. Their goal: to sail across the Pacific and back, charting a new route for international trade, and giving Spain an edge against its chief colonial rival, Portugal. But today, when a storm hits, the smallest ship is separated from the rest of the fleet. Now, that ship, the San Lucas, is on its own. The following year, when the San Lucas makes it back to Mexico, against all odds, its pilota Black marineris accused of treason. How did the San Lucasthe smallest ship in the...

Thanksgiving Reconsidered

November 26, 1970. In Plymouth, Massachusetts, on the 350th anniversary of the Pilgrims arrival, protestors gather under a statue of Massasoit, the Wampanoag leader who had made peace with the Pilgrims, and partook in the legendary Thanksgiving meal. This protest was organized by Wamsutta Frank James, a Wampanoag activist who wanted to draw attention to the full story of Thanksgiving a story of fear, violence, and oppression that spanned generations. Americas reckoning with the truth of Thanksgiving, James argued, would empower indigenous people to fight for their equal rights. This protest a National Day of Mourning continues to this day,...

Defying Gravity and Monarchy

November 21, 1783. The garden at the Chateau de la Muette is full of expectant Parisians, looking up at the sky. Theyre waiting to watch the first two human beings ever take free, untethered flight. After a gust of wind nearly derails the entire operation, some volunteer seamstresses help repair the 75 foot tall hot air balloon. Finally, two Frenchmen step into their wicker baskets and take off. This first human balloon flight is more than just a landmark in aviation history. For the crowds of huddled French masses looking up from below, it's a revolution in and of itself....

The Last Battle of the First World War

November 11, 1918. At exactly 11 AM local time, the shooting stops. Its eerily quiet for the first time in a long time. World War I has finally come to an end today after Germany and the Allied nations signed an armistice not long before. The final battle of the war, known today as the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, saw an unexpected turn of events and a surprising victory. Today: the battle that ended the first world war. How did an inexperienced American army help turn the tides? And how did the Meuse-Argonne Offensive change the way America would fight future wars?...

Remember, Remember the 5th of November

November 4, 1605. The king's men are conducting a search. They're making their way through the storerooms and cellars and vaults that cluster around and beneath the Palace of Westminster. They've gotten a tip in the form of a mysterious, anonymous letter that something bad is going to happen at the House of Lords tomorrow. And shortly before midnight, they find a ton of firewood, a suspicious man, and 36 barrels of gunpowder. What brought a group of conspirators together in a plot to kill the king? And in the 400 years since, how has an annual celebration of the...

The Haunting Case of H.H. Holmes

October 28, 1895. Its the first day of a murder trial in Philadelphia, and H.H. Holmes has been left to represent himself. His lawyers say they havent had time to prepare for his case, although they may just want to avoid defending the man some newspapers are already saying is sure to grace a gallows. Holmes has been accused of murdering his business associate, but rumors swirl that he may have killed dozens, even hundreds more. And even a century later, some still call him "America's first serial killer." But how did H.H. Holmes earn this reputation? And why is...

The Bowery Boys: Electric New York

October 21, 1879. Its late in the evening and a 32-year-old inventor is in his New Jersey lab, tinkering with a carbon thread. When that young inventorThomas Edisonlights that thread that night, it isnt quite a eureka," lightbulb-over-the-head moment, but the lightbulb in his lab did stay lit long enough to convince him he was on the right track. How did New York City come to light? And how did the rest of the world follow suit? This episode comes from the podcast The Bowery Boys: New York City History. You can listen to more episodes of The Bowery Boys...

The Sky Is Falling

October 11, 1995. Professor Mario Molina is at his desk at MIT when he gets a long distance call from Sweden. Its the Nobel Committee, telling him hes won that years prize in chemistry, making this chemistry prize the first awarded to a Mexican-born scientist and the first recognizing environmental science work. The Nobel Committee thanks Molina and the other winners for having "contributed to our salvation from a global environmental problem that could have catastrophic consequences." How did two scientists with no background in atmospheric chemistry identify a dangerous, invisible reaction that was putting the planet in peril? And...

The Night Witches

October 4, 1938. Soviet pilot Marina Raskova beats a world record: the longest continuous flight ever recorded by a woman. She'll soon break another barrier-- she'll lead the first-ever female air force pilots to fly on the front lines of World War Two. One of her regiments in particular will wreak havoc on Nazi German soldiers and become the most notorious night bombers in the entire Soviet Union. They'll become known as the Night Witches. Who were these barrier-breaking pilots? And how did they become some of the most feared forces on the Eastern front? Thank you to our guests,...

Monopoly Money

October 1, 1904. Show up at a newsstand this morning, and you'll see that the October issue of McClure's magazine has hit the shelves. Alongside it, newspapers advertise whats inside: "Ida M. Tarbell renders her final judgment of Rockefeller's Trust." Its the 19th and last installment in a series that has made people sit up and take notice of a powerful monopoly and the man behind it. How did a scrappy reporter take on the richest man in the country? And how, in the process, did she change corporate America and investigative journalism itself? Special thanks to our guests, Stephanie...

The Mother of Level Measurements

September 24, 1902. A new cooking school is set to open at Bostons 30 Huntington Avenue. The rooms will soon be filled with trainee cooks, who will watch in awe as the schools namesake and principal, Fannie Farmer, lectures on everything from boning meats to baking the perfect reception rolls. Farmer is an innovative cook, and a pioneer in a thriving women's culinary movement known as "domestic science." But her school stands at a crossroads of that very movement and begs the question, what is the purpose of food? Who was Fannie Farmer, the mother of level measurements? And how...

"The Strangest Gathering of Men"

September 15, 1893. About 4,000 people are intently listening to a monk on a stage in Chicago. Theyre at an event called Parliament of the Worlds Religions an unprecedented gathering of leaders from many different faiths all over the world, held at the Chicago World's Fair. The monk is Hindu from Bombay India and is telling a mostly Protestant American audience a story that is not planned and certainly not what the Protestant organizers were expecting. What happened when tension among religious leaders unfolded in front of thousands of American spectators? And how did this Parliament help broaden the countrys...

Blindspot: The Road to 9/11

Episode 1: The Bullet. The 9/11 attacks were so much more than a bolt from the blue on a crisp September morning. They were more than a decade in the making. Our story starts in a Midtown Manhattan hotel ballroom in 1990. Shots ring out and the extremist rabbi, Meir Kahane, lies mortally wounded. His assassin, El-Sayyid Nosair, is connected to members of a Brooklyn mosque who are training to fight with Islamic freedom fighters in Afghanistan. NYPD Detective Louis Napoli and FBI Special Agent John Anticev catch the case and start unraveling a conspiracy that is taking place in...

9/11: Rescue on the Water

September 11, 2001. On a clear and sunny day, Captain Richard Thornton is piloting his ferry boat back and forth between New Jersey and New York City. But when he hears an airplane flying too low to the ground, he knows something is wrong. After the World Trade Centers North Tower is struck, Thornton instinctively drives his ship down towards Lower Manhattan. He will soon be joined by countless other marine craft: ferries, fishing boats, tugboats, and more. With the roads, bridges, and trains that connect the island of Manhattan to the rest of the world shut down, this collection...

Shaving Russia

History repeats itself this week with an episode from the HISTORY This Week archives: Sept 5, 1698. Tsar Peter the Great of Russia returns home from a year-long European tour. When noblemen, religious figures and friends gather to welcome him home, Peter pulls out a straight razor, holds it to their throats, andforcibly shaves their beards. This event will go down in history as a first step towards Russian geopolitical power. Before Peters reign, Russia was an isolated nation that was largely ignored by the rest of the world. How did Peter the Great almost single-handedly drag Russia onto the...

The True Winnie-the-Pooh

August 24, 1914. A train pulls up to the lumber town of White River, Ontario, carrying a regiment of Canadian troops on board. On the tracks where they disembark is a small black bear cub. An army veterinarian decides to buy the bear and name her WinnipegWinnie for shortafter the town where he's been living. When the soldiers are deployed to the European front, Winnie is left at the London Zoo, where a child named Christopher Robin Milne will meet her. He'll later rename his own teddy bear after her: Winnie-the-Pooh. How did a real-life boy and a real-life bear...

The Man Who Stole the Mona Lisa

August 21, 1911. On a Monday morning, a department store employee on a Paris street sees a man hurrying by. He carries a white-wrapped package and, as the employee watches, he throws something small and shiny over his shoulder...its a doorknob. Then the man disappears into the streets of Paris. That store employee has just witnessed a small part of what will soon become the worlds most famous crime. In that white-wrapped package was...the Mona Lisa. Why has the Mona Lisa enchanted so many people since the 1500s? And how did a struggling Italian handyman manage to steal it? Thank...

Pop Music Pirates

August 14, 1967. Off the coast of England, a group of pirate ships has been fighting to stay afloat. These are pirates of a particular kindless sword fighting and treasure hunting, more spinning records and dancing late into the night. For the past few years, these boats have made it their mission to broadcast popular music from international waters. But at the stroke of midnight, a new law will make these pirate radio DJs criminals. Some of them, aboard Radio Caroline, are willing to risk it. How did a group of young rebels launch an offshore radio station that gave...

The Road Less Traveled

August 2, 1915. The poem appears in print for the first time this week, from Kentucky to Pennsylvania to Vermont. Every reader is transported to that same leafy path: two roads diverged in a yellow wood. The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost becomes an immediate hit and will go on to become one of the most popular and well-known poems in American history. For many, it's about a spirit of individualism -- forging ones own path. And yet Robert Frost may have had a completely different meaning in mind. Whator whoinspired Frost to write this iconic poem? And what...

Jesse Owens Takes Germany

August 1, 1936. The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. Adolf Hitler enters the stadium to a militaristic Wagner march. Swastikas flutter everywhere on the flag of the Nazi Party. When these moments are remembered later, one athletes name comes up more than any other: Jesse Owens. Hes a Black American sprinter, a legendary athlete, and one of 18 Black Americans who competed in Hitlers Olympics. How, through these 1936 Games, does this one man become mythologized? And what is the forgotten context of his storied Olympic wins? Special thanks to Damion Thomas, curator of sports for the Smithsonian National...

Fiddling with the Truth

July 19, 64 AD. The Circus Maximus is the main arena in ancient Rome at this time, where tens of thousands watch chariot races and gladiator fights. The stadium is surrounded by shops and bars and restaurants, the whole area teeming with life. And tonight, it will all be destroyed. Nero, the emperor of Rome, will allegedly fiddle while he watches his city burn, and may have even set the fire himself. But if you look at the story a little closer, some of the details just dont add up. So, what is really true about Nero? And how did...

The Hunt for Hieroglyphs

July 15, 1799 (approximately).In the town of Rashid on the Nile Delta, French soldiers and Egyptian laborers are rebuilding an old, falling-down fort, when someone spots somethingunusual. Its a jagged black rock, inscribed with what looks like three different types of writing. This stonethe Rosetta Stonewill become the key to deciphering a language that had been lost for thousands of years. Today: the race to unlock the secrets of hieroglyphs. How did two scholars manage to decode a language that no one in the world spoke? And when modern people could finally read the messages left by a long-dead civilization,...

The Last Archive: Scopes Monkey Trial

July 10, 1925. A group of Tennessee jurors is selected to judge the case of John T. Scopes, a high school science teacher. His offense? Teaching his students about evolution. Across the country, Americans are tuning in to hear science face off against religion in the eyes of the law. But as the trial unfolds, Scopes and his crime become a backdrop for a much bigger culture war, one that divides believers and skeptics and sows doubts that still exist today. This episode comes from the podcast The Last Archive, from Pushkin Industries. You can listen to more episodes of...

Introducing: Hope, Through History Season 2

Welcome back to a new season of the C13Originals critically acclaimed Hope, Through History documentary limited series. Narrated and written by Pulitzer Prize Winning and Best Selling Historian, Jon Meacham, Season Two explores some of the most historic and trying times in American History, and how this nation dealt with the impact of these moments, and how we came through these moments a more unified nation. Season Two, presented by C13Originals, in association with The HISTORY Channel, will guide you through the Battle of Gettysburg and its impact on the future of the country, the relationship between FDR and Churchill...

A Mob Boss Starts a Movement

June 28, 1971. Its the second annual Unity Day rally at Columbus Circle in New York City, organized by the Italian American Civil Rights League. Joe Colombo is the very public face of the League, a group that actively fights discrimination and ugly stereotypes against the Italian-American community, such as their association with organized crime and the Mafia. The problem? That same Joe Colombo is a leader of the Mafia, one of the heads of the Five Families in New York. Its an open secret; many people across the city know who he really is, and the FBI is hot...

Two Fathers, One Fight

June 21, 1998. Father's Day. At the Church of the Atonement in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, Jon and Michael Galluccio are ready to tie the knot, in front of family, friends, reporters, and one lone picketer. The Galluccios are already public figuresa few months earlier, they had secured the right for gay and unmarried couples to jointly adopt children. And today, they pull up to their wedding in a minivan, with their son in tow: as a family. How did this family come together? And how did their son's adoption end up changing the lives of other families all across...

Watergate from the Inside

June 17, 1972. In the early morning hours, five men are caught after breaking into the Watergate building in Washington, DC. The failed break-in that night will eventually lead to the unraveling of a major American scandal that reaches the highest levels of government. Why did President Nixon and the men around him believe that they could get away with something so obviously illegal? And how - for one of our producers - did this episode hit close to home? Thank you to our guest expert, Michael Dobbs, author of King Richard: An American Tragedy. Thank you also to Ken...

Witches Among Us

June 10, 1692. Bridget Bishop is loaded into a two-wheeled cart and brought from her Salem jail cell to a pasture on a hill, where a rope is hanging from freshly-installed gallows. A crowd forms around her: law officers to read the death warrant, ministers to offer last rites, and onlookers, curious to see a witch in the flesh. Bishops execution raises doubts that could have stopped the Salem witch trials in their tracks. But instead, it became the first in a deluge of convictions, trials, and hangings that made the summer of 1692 go down in infamy. What happened...

The Rise and Fall of Black Wall Street

May 30, 1921. Dick Rowland, a Black teenager, works as a shoeshine in the predominantly white downtown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. On his break, he goes into a nearby office building to use the restroom, and gets on the elevator. Sarah Page, a white teenager, is the elevator operator. What happens next is just an innocent accident, but it sparks the deadliest episode of racial violence in American history. What was the story behind Greenwood, the Tulsa neighborhood known as Black Wall Street? And why was it decimated on one horrific night? Special thanks to Kalenda Eaton, professor of Africana Literature...

Sojourner's Truth

May 29, 1851. Akron, Ohios Old Stone Church is packed to the brim. It's the second day of a big convention on women's rights. Hundreds of activists are there, but when one of them, Sojourner Truth, takes the floor, she stands out. Truth is a formerly enslaved woman, and her speech reminds the crowd that womens rights includes the rights of working women, of Black women, and of women who are now enslaved. But this speech would be manipulated throughout history, and Truth herself boiled down to a fictionalized slogan. How did this feminist and anti-slavery activist get turned into...

Not My Fingerprint

May 20, 2004. A lawyer named Brandon Mayfield walks out of a Portland, Oregon courtroom a free man. About two weeks earlier, Mayfield was arrested by the FBI because they thought they had his fingerprint on a key piece of evidence in the investigation of a terrorist train bombing in Madrid, Spain earlier that year. But by this afternoon in May, that key evidence has completely fallen apart. Today: a case of mistaken identity. Why did the FBI arrest the wrong man? And how did this case change forensic science for good? Thank you to our guests, Professor Simon Cole...

The Chinese Immigrants Who Built America

May 10, 1869. On the dusty, barren plains of Promontory Summit, Utah, a crowd is gathered to celebrate an American milestone the completion of the transcontinental railroad, the first piece of infrastructure to connect the two sides of the United States. But this achievement didnt come without great sacrifice, especially from Chinese immigrants, who made up more than 90% of the Central Pacific Railroad company workforce. How did these workers come to build what might be the most important transportation project in US history? And how were these Chinese immigrants accepted by American society, before the tides turned to violence...

Mothers Day Mayhem

May 9, 1905. After weeks of illness and visits from ten different doctors, Anna Jarviss mother dies. In the days that follow, Jarvis makes a promise to herself: to fulfill her mothers dream of creating a holiday devoted to celebrating mothers. Her campaign to create and define Mothers Day would become her lifes work, and also her downfall. How did Anna Jarvis become a minor celebrity known for her fanatical devotion to this annual holiday? And why did she come to hate the holiday she created? Special thanks to Katharine Antolini, author ofMemorializing Motherhood: Anna Jarvis and the Struggle for...

Fighting for 504

April 30, 1977. Nearly a month after entering San Franciscos Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, a group of 150 demonstrators is going home. Theyre singing, drinking champagne, and hugging the friends theyve slept alongside for weeks on a cold office floor. Many of these activists are people with disabilities, and theyve been sitting in to push the government to sign regulations that have sat untouched for years. What happened when a group of activists with disabilities staged the longest peaceful occupation of a federal building in US history? And how did this protest change accessibility in America? Special thanks...

The Brink of World War III

April 19, 1951. General Douglas MacArthur's plane touches down in DC just after midnight. Hes coming home from fighting the Korean War. Over twelve thousand people are there to greet this person who the American people consider to be a national war hero. Its quite the welcome for a general who has just been fired by the President of the United States. How, after this triumphant return, does the general end up losing his own party's political support? And could MacArthur have led his country into a nuclear war? Thank you to our guests: Professor H.W. Brands, author of The...

Killing the Gold Standard

April 18, 1933. Its almost midnight in Washington, DC. Newly-elected President Franklin Delano Roosevelt has gathered his economic advisors for a late-night meeting. He called this meeting to announce his plan to effectively take the US off the gold standard, the system by which every paper dollar is tied to a certain amount of literal gold. To his advisors, this is inconceivable. Money is gold. Without gold backing the dollar, what even is money in the first place? But the president is resolute. The gold standard has driven America into the Great Depression, and he plans to drag it back...

More Than a Home Run

April 8, 1974. On a humid night in Atlanta, Hank Aaron is poised to make history. On the all-time home run leaderboard, Aaron is tied with the legendary Babe Ruth. With one swing of the bat, he can break Ruths record. But not everyone in America wants to see this happen; the threats against Aarons life have warranted FBI protection. Yet in front of 54,000 people in Atlanta and millions more watching at home, Aaron steps up to bat. What was it like to be a Black baseball superstar twenty-five years after Jackie Robinson broke the sport's color barrier? And...

148 Tornadoes in 18 Hours

April 3, 1974.Across America, many people wake up this morning thinking it will be a normal day. But in the next 24 hours, almost 150 tornadoes will hit the United States. It will be then the largest tornado outbreak in the nation's history. Why did so many deadly tornadoes hit on this one day? And how did it spur life-saving changes that are still with us decades later? Thank you to our guests Greg Forbes, former severe weather expert with the Weather Channel, and Atmospheric Sciences professor, Jeff Trapp, from the University of Illinois. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

Surrogacy on the Stand

March 27, 1986. Mary Beth Whitehead is in labor. Shes giving birth to a baby girl today, and her husband Richard is by her side. But the Whiteheads are not, contractually-speaking, this childs parents. Surrogacy is a brand new advancement, and another couple, William and Elizabeth Stern, are contractually owed a baby. When the little girl is born, Mary Beth has a change of heart and runs. This begins a two-year legal battle that launches the complicated question of surrogacy onto the national stage. Who is Baby Ms mother? And how did this case change our understanding of parenthood forever?...

Revenge of the Ronin

March 20, 1703. Today, almost fifty men, scattered around the city of Edo, Japan, are waiting to die. Theyre all former samurai who had served the same lord and they all carried out a deadly revenge attack in his name. Their story will go down in history as the legend of the 47 Ronin. Why did these men decide that to be loyal samurai, they had to die? And how did this moment live on for centuries and become part of the national story of Japan? Thank you to our guest, Professor John Tucker, author of "The Forty-Seven Ronin: The...

Smash, Smash, Smash!

March 9, 1901. From a jail cell in Topeka, Kansas, temperance vigilante Carry Nation is hard at work. After her latest arrest for smashing up a bar with her infamous hatchet, Nation decides to spread her message with paper and ink. The first issue of The Smashers Mail would be published on this day, with Nation arranging the entire endeavor from behind bars. The newsletter was only a small part of her crusade against hell-broth, which included everything from destroying saloons to starring in her own burlesque shows. But when considering how alcohol altered her lifes journey, were her methods...

A War on Women

March 2, 1923. In Wichita, Kansas, Mary Irby and Euna Hollowell are being held at the county jail. The two women are charged with lewdly abiding. Translation: officials suspect them of carrying a sexually transmitted infection. Hollowell, Irby, and many women like them will go on to be forcibly examined and incarcerated under a public health program known as The American Plan. This initiative resulted in decades of mass incarceration of tens of thousands of American women. How was it possible for the U.S. government to publicly wage war on women? And how did those women fight back? Special thank...

Jazz on the Record

February 26, 1917. At the Victor Talking Machine Companys studio in Manhattan, five white men gathered to record the first jazz record in history. The Original Dixieland Jass Bands release was a hit, introducing many listeners across America to this genre for the first time. These musicians even claimed that they invented jazz, but that was far from the truth. Why was jazz, an artform pioneered by black musicians, introduced to the world by an all-white band? And who were the true pioneers who could have made the first jazz record? Special thanks to Damon J. Phillips, Columbia Business School...

Freedom Rides Down Under

February 15, 1965. Walgett, Australia. A group of about 30 Sydney students has traveled here on a fact-finding mission a mission theyll call a Freedom Ride, inspired by the efforts of Civil Rights activists in America. Theyre here to document the unequal treatment of Aboriginal members in Walgett. But after being kicked out of town, their bus is run off the road, and the students brace themselves to face their attackers waiting in the night. How did the U.S. Civil Rights movement spark a wave of student activism on the other side of the world? And how did this dramatic...

The Capitol Attack of 1861

February 13, 1861. The city of Washington DC is waiting. Bracing itself. For weeks, there have been threats that this day is going to get violent because pro-slavery voters feel the recently elected president, Abraham Lincoln, is a threat to their way of life. Today, Lincoln is supposed to be affirmed when the electoral votes are counted in the US Capitol building, but on the morning of the count, hundreds of anti-Lincoln rioters storm the building. Their goal: to stop the electoral count. What happened when a mob of anti-Lincoln rioters tried to take over the US Capitol? And how...

INTRODUCING: The Food that Built America

It takes bold visionaries risking everything to create some of the most recognizable brands on the planet. The Food That Built America, based on the hit documentary series from The HISTORY Channel, tells the extraordinary true stories of industry titans like Henry Heinz, Milton Hershey, the Kellogg brothers and Ray Kroc, who revolutionized the food industry and transformed American life and culture in the process. Subscribe to The Food that Built America wherever you get your podcasts and listen to new episodes every Thursday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our...

Sitting In for Civil Rights

February 1, 1960. Four young Black men, David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Jibreel Khazan and Joseph McNeil gather outside the Woolworth department store in Greensboro, North Carolina. All four are college freshman, and they have come downtown with a single purpose: to desegregate the department store, one of the most visible embodiments of racism and segregation in America. These teenagers stage a sit in that sparks a youth movement across the nation and reignites the sputtering Civil Rights Movement. How exactly did the Greensboro sit-ins come together? And why did this particular protest spread like wildfire? Special thank you to our...

Houdini Defies Death

January 25, 1908. Harry Houdini is the most famous magician in America. Hes known for his escapes from handcuffs, boxes, jail cells, even a giant football. But the escape act is getting old, and ticket sales arent what they used to be. And on this day, an under-capacity audience at the Columbia Theater in St. Louis is about to witness Houdinis most dangerous escape yet from death itself. How did a Hungarian immigrant named Erik Weisz become Harry Houdini? And when his career was fading, how did Houdini embrace death to bring it back to life? Special thanks to our...

The Capitol Riots in Context

January 6, 2021. As Congress voted to affirm Joe Biden as the incoming president, rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to thwart the election certification. This insurrection shook the nation to its core, forcing many to question the steadfastness of nearly 250 years of democratic rule. In this special episode, we asked historians to join a discussion about where this moment stands in American history, and what we can learn from the past to show us a path forward. This episode features Sharron Conrad (postdoctoral fellow at SMUs Center for Presidential History), Beverly Gage (professor of American history...

The First VP of Color

January 23, 1907. The Kansas legislature has convened to decide who will be the next US Senator from their state. The vote shakes out as everyone expected: front-runner Charles Curtis wins the seat. Curtis a member of the Kaw Nation has just become the first person of color elected to the Senate and will go on to rise even further as Vice President of the United States. This week, Kamala Harris follows Curtis as the second person of color to fill that seat. However, his legacy is a complicated one. How did Charles Curtis rise so high during an era...

Off With Her Head

January 15, 1535. King Henry VIII has a decree. As of today, he is the only supreme head on earth of the Church of England".Which means:the Pope is no longer head of the Church in England for the first time in history. And why? All because of a woman named Anne Boleyn. King Henry VIII moves heaven and earth to marry the woman he loves, but just a thousand days later he will have her executed. Whydid he do it?And how is the story we always tell about Anne Boleyn all wrong? Thank you to our guest, Claire Ridgway, the...

Declaring War on Poverty

SEASON TWO PREMIERE January 8, 1964. In his State of the Union address, Lyndon Johnson unveils his War on Poverty, an effort to tackle subpar living conditions and create jobs across the United States. Johnson discovers that declaring wareven one on an ideaalways comes with great costs. Why did LBJ pick poverty as one of his major initiatives? And what is the legacy of the war he started? This episode features Doris Kearns Goodwin (presidential historian and executive producer of The HISTORY Channels forthcoming documentary series, Lincoln and Roosevelt) and Guian McKee (associate professor in Presidential Studies at UVAs Miller...

Best Stories of 2020

December 28, 2020. In this year-end recap, Sally sits down withHISTORY This Weekproducers McCamey Lynn, Julie Magruder and Ben Dickstein to discuss their favorite episodes from 2020 and bonus info that didnt make it into the episodes. Plus, well hear researcher Emma Fredericks favorite facts from a years worth of deep dives.You can find the links to all relevant episodes below.Were back next week to kick off Season 2 witha very special guest. Special thank you to our guests in this episode, Jackie Logan and John Uri. Episode links: Houston We've Had a Problem Surviving Auschwitz The Inca's Last Stand...

A Scrooge for the Ages

December 27, 1853. On a freezing, snowy night in Birmingham, England, 2,000 people have lined up outside the town hall. Theyve braved the temperatures for a landmark performance, Charles Dickens first reading ofA Christmas Carol.The tale will become an international sensation and beloved Christmas tradition. In this special episode ofHISTORY This Week, we bring you a classic 1949 rendition of the story starring Vincent Price, so you can decide for yourself: What is it aboutA Christmas Carolthats endured for over 150 years? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices...

The Thalidomide Disaster

December 18, 1970. Decades after the end of WWII a Nazi doctor is on trial. Today is judgment day in a long, difficult legal battle, but this case isnt about war crimes. The German pharmaceutical company Grunenthal is charged with the worst medical disaster in history: the Thalidomide scandal. The shoddily tested and hastily approved drug made its way into medicine cabinets around the world, and a decade after its release, the reality is becoming clear: Thalidomide is killing babies. Who are the heroes that brought down Thalidomide? And how did this disaster change pharmaceutical regulations forever? Special thanks to...

The Crown Steps Down

December 11, 1936. Just yesterday, King Edward VIII of England officially abdicated the throne.And tonight,some ten million peoplewill hear the reason from the man himself. He tells the country in a radio address,I have found it impossible to carry a heavy burden of responsibility, and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do, without the help and support of the woman I love.This woman is a twice-divorced American. The country is shocked. Edward VIII has become the first monarch to voluntarily abdicate the throne in British history. How did Edward VIII cause trouble for England before,...

Wartime Weapon Turned Medical Miracle

December 2, 1943. World War II is raging throughout Europe, but in the Allied port city of Bari, Italy, things have remained relatively quiet. The Allies are offloading tanks, guns and other equipment when on this night, the Nazis attack. They bomb the port, killing 2,000 soldiers and civilians, and sinking 28 Allied ships. One of those ships holds a secret cargo, a chemical weapon that leaks into the harbor where soldiers are swimming for their lives. What happened when those soldiers were exposed to this deadly toxin? And how did the investigation of this incident revolutionize the way we...

A Toxic Turkey Day

November 24, 1966. Millions of spectators flood Broadway in New York City to watch the Macys Day Parade on Thanksgiving morning. The iconic floats Superman, Popeye, Smokey the Bear are set against a grey sky that can only be described as noxious. A smog of pollutants is trapped over New York City, and it will ultimately kill nearly 200 people. How did the 1966 Thanksgiving Smog help usher in a new era of environmental protection? And how have we been thinking about environmental disasters all wrong? Special thanks to our guest Professor Frank Uekotter, author of The Age of Smoke....

The Inca's Last Stand

November 16, 1532. Atahualpa, the king of the Inca Empire, marches towards the city of Cajamarca in modern-day Peru, surrounded by 80,000 soldiers. Once he arrives, Atahualpa expects the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro to surrender in the town square. But Pizarro has a plan of his own. With just 168 men, he will unleash a trap that destroys the Inca Empire, and brings thousands of years of indigenous rule to a violent end. What was happening in the Andes before Pizarro arrived that allowed this to take place? And when history is written by the victors, how do we know...

The Muppet Revolution

November 10, 1969. Its a Monday. Across the US, parents and babysitters and grandparents and aunts and uncles are turning on the TV, because there's a new show out today for kids: Sesame Street. The show has now been on the air for more than 50 years. Its been viewed by 80 million Americans, and its aired in 120 countries. Some people call it the most influential show in the history of TV. How was Sesame Street born? And how did it help change the way millions of children learn? Thank you to our guest, Michael Davis, author of "Street...

Stealing the Presidency

November 7, 1876. A little before midnight on election night, the Republican candidate Rutherford B. Hayes admits defeat and goes to bed. The Democrat Samuel J. Tilden has swept the electoral college, and by morning, he will almost certainly have the votes he needs to win the presidency. But overnight, the Republicans manage to change their fate and go on to steal the election. How did a one-legged Civil War veteran, a handful of telegrams and some of the filthiest politics in American history flip the election? And how did Hayes fateful compromise with the Democrats set back suffrage for...

It Was Said - Season 1

It Was Said,a limited documentary podcast series, looksback on some of the most powerful, impactful and timeless speeches in American history. Written and narrated by Pulitzer Prize winning and best-selling author-historian Jon Meacham, and created, directed and produced by Peabody-nominated C13Originals Studios in association with The HISTORYChannel, this series takes you through 10 speeches for the inaugural season. Meacham offers expert insight and analysis into their origins, the orator, the context of the times they were given, why they are still relevant today, and the importance of never forgetting them. Each episode of this documentary podcast series also brings together...

Crisis in Cuba

October 27, 1962. 72,000 feet above Cuba, an American U2 spy plane flies over the island, capturing photo intelligence. Its been 13 days since the CIA discovered Soviet nuclear missiles stationed in Cuba, pointed directly at the US. Soviet defense forces on the ground catch the spy plane on their radar. They name it Target Number 33. The lower-level Soviet officers are getting nervous that this spy is capturing critical intelligence. Unable to reach their general, they make the call: destroy Target Number 33. In that moment, the pilot becomes the first casualty of the Cuban Missile Crisis. How, at...

Land of the Free?

October 19, 1814. An eager audience files into the Holliday Street Theater in Baltimore, about to see a debut performance, described as a much-admired new song. The composer of this song, Francis Scott Key, had written the lyrics during a recent battle in Baltimore, trapped on a British ship as he watched the rockets red glare from afar. Key wasnt a professional songwriter a prominent lawyer in Washington D.C., he specialized in cases related to slavery, both defending enslaved people and slave catchers. But his real legacy became this song, entitled The Star-Spangled Banner. How did Key come to watch...

Anthrax Attacks

October 15, 2001. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle receives an innocuous-looking letter. It has childlike handwriting and an elementary school return address. When an intern opens the envelope, white powder spills all over her clothes and wafts into the air. Soon after, the confirmation comes:Anthrax. This attack is one in a series of letters that arrive at media offices all over the country, just weeks after 9/11. The letters prove to be untraceable, and the investigation becomes one of the hardest and most complex in FBI history. How did investigators close this impossible case? And what remains unsolved to this...

Becoming the Dalai Lama

October 8, 1939. In the Tibetan city of Lhasa, thousands of people have flooded into the streets to welcome the next Dalai Lama, a young boy of 4 years old. He doesn't know it yet, but he'll become the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people at the age of 15, right in the middle of a war. How does someone so young prepare for something so big? And what can the Dalai Lama's very unusual life teach the rest of us about what it means to be a leader? Thank you to our guest, Thomas Laird, author of...

No Representation, No Peace

September 30, 1765. Almost a decade before the American Revolution, delegates from four colonies gather in the first, unofficial meeting of the Stamp Act Congress. The congress has been called to respond to a new British tax on the colonies, the Stamp Act. Its essentially a tax on paper, and Congress response will be the first official act of dissension by the colonies against the British. Unofficially though, the people are rioting in the streets. And its this popular protest, more than Congress tempered response, that will bring the Stamp Act down. How did the Stamp Act riots become a...

The Diet Wars

September 24, 1955. President Eisenhower is asleep in his bed at his in-laws house in Denver. At around 2 AM in the morning, hes jolted awake by chest pains. No one realizes it until the morning, but Eisenhower has had a heart attack. His cardiologist calms the public and tells them that their President will be alright with some lifestyle changes partially inspired by new, cutting-edge research from a little-known scientist: Ancel Keys. And that very research will change the way Americans, and the world, will eat forever. How did Keys, an oceanographer-turned-nutrition-scientist, end up changing the worlds relationship with...

Grapes for Change

September 16, 1965. Cesar Chavez and the National Farmworkers Association have been plotting a Mexican-American labor strike for years, concentrating their efforts in the farming community of Delano, California. But just one week earlier, Filipino farmworkers decided to strike on their own, disrupting these carefully organized plans. So Mexican-American farmworkers and their families gather at a local church in Delano to hear whether Chavez has made a decision: will they join the Filipinos and strike, even if they might not be ready? The answer is a resounding yes. What happened when the Filipinos and Mexicans joined forces? And how did...

Global Seed Vault

September 10, 2002. Thieves have broken into basements in two cities in Afghanistan to steal plastic containers. Those containers were holding seeds extremely vital seeds. But the thieves didnt want the seeds and so they dump them. With that, a critical natural resource, one of the most important on Earth, is lost forever. Today, we are in a race to save the worlds seeds. How has an international coalition of scientists worked to conserve the worlds seeds? And why might they be the key to protecting the future of humanity? Thank you to our guest, Cary Fowler, former executive director...

Introducing: It Was Said

Words move humankind for good and for ill, and in the American experience, our most important public speeches have been both mirrors and makers of the nation's manners and morals at key moments in our common life. Written and narrated by Pulitzer-Prize winning author, Jon Meacham,It Was Said tells the stories of those crucial words, taking listeners back to inflection points ranging from the McCarthy era to our present time through the real-time rhetoric that shaped and suffused America as the country struggled through storm and strife. It Was Said captures the nation we've been, and points ahead to the...

Shaving Russia

Sept 5, 1698. Tsar Peter the Great of Russia returns home from a year-long European tour. When noblemen, religious figures and friends gather to welcome him home, Peter pulls out a straight razor, holds it to their throats andforcibly shaves their beards. This event will go down in history as a first step toward Russian geopolitical power. Before Peters reign, Russia was an isolated nation that was largely ignored by the rest of the world. How did Peter the Great almost single-handedly drag Russia onto the world stage? And how did his great beard-shaving endeavor lead to the Russia we...

The First American Sex Scandal

August 25, 1797. Alexander Hamilton, the former Secretary of the Treasury, has published a new pamphlet. At first, readers assume this is going to be another one of Hamiltons pro-Federalist, ideological screeds. But soon, the whole country will realize that this is something very different: an admission of guilt. This wasnt about a crime, but an affair the first sex scandal in the history of American politics. Why did Alexander Hamilton openly confess to his extramarital activities? And if he hadnt, how might American History have unfolded differently? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about...

Suffrage isn't Simple

August 18, 1920. In the third row of the legislative chamber in Nashville, Tennessee, 24 year-old Harry Burn sits with a red rose pinned to his lapel. He's there to vote on the 19th Amendment, which will determine if women nationwide will be able to vote. Burns shocking, unexpected vote, yes, will turn the tides of history. But women had already been voting for decades before 1920, and many women still won't be able to vote for decades after 1920. So, what did the 19th Amendment actually do for women in America? And what, on this 100th anniversary, does it...

The Birth of Hip Hop

August 11, 1973. At 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, 18-year-old DJ Kool Herc plays his first New York City party. The dance floor is packed, the energy is wild, and Herc gives the performance of a lifetime featuring one very specific innovation on the turntables. Herc and the partygoers dont know it yet, but this event will go down in history as the birth of one of the most popular musical genreship hop. How did this party give way to a multi-billion dollar industry? And how has hip hop become so much more than the music? Special thanks to...

Killing Fairness

August 4, 1987. The Federal Communication Commissions leadership has come together in Washington D.C. to decide the fate of a vital issue: fairness. For the previous 40 years, the FCC has attempted to ensure that TV and radio broadcasters present both sides of the political issues discussed on their airwaves. But by the 1980s, the political landscape has changed, and the Fairness Doctrine will soon be no more. Today, we talk to two of the major players who fought on both sides of this great debate to explain what the Fairness Doctrine actually did, why it died, and where exactly...

Convert or Leave

July 31, 1492. In cities, towns and villages across late medieval Spain, whole districts have emptied out. Houses abandoned, stores closed, and synagogueswhich until recently had been alive with singing and prayernow sit quiet. Exactly four months earlier, the King and Queen of Spain issued an edict: by royal decree, all Jewish people in Spain must convert to Catholicism or leave the country -- for good. Why were the Jews expelled from Spain? How did Spaniards, and then the world, start to think of religion as something inherited, not just by tradition, but by blood? And how does this moment...

Public Enemy #1

July 22, 1934. John Dillinger, America's most famous outlaw, is gunned down by federal agents outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago. Dillinger's death is the final act in a crime spree that involved multiple prison breaks, dozens of bank robberies, and more than one violent shootout. But despite all the money Dillinger stole and the deaths he caused along the way, the public still adored him. How did a man named Public Enemy #1 become a national darling? And how did the pursuit of John Dillinger make way for the modern FBI? Special thanks to Elliott Gorn, author of Dillinger's...

Destroyer of Worlds

July 16, 1945. It happened within a millionth of a second. In the New Mexico desert in the early morning hours, a group of scientists watched in anticipation as the countdown began. It was silent at first, yet hot and unbelievably bright. Then came the sound. The first-ever atomic bomb explosion... was a success. How did scientists working on the Manhattan Project create what was then the most powerful weapon in history? And how did the bombs existence forever change our sense of what human beings are capable of? Thank you to our guest Dr. Jon Hunner, a professor emeritus...

Operation Mincemeat

July 10, 1943. 150,000 British and American soldiers storm the beaches of Sicily in the first Allied invasion of Nazi-controlled Europe. But the Nazisarent really there to put up a fight. Hitler thought the invasion was coming for Greece. The Nazis have been tricked by two British Intelligence officers and a covert deception plan. How did their operation which involved a corpse, a false identity and a single eyelashchange the course of WWII? Special thanks to Nicholas Reed, author of The Spy Runner. To our listeners, thank you for subscribing to History This Week. We want to hear your feedback:https://bit.ly/3a4FGqJ...

The Great Stink

June 30th, 1858. London is a world city, a globalcenter of trade and commerce. Buttheres something lessglamorousgoing on in thisbustling metropolis:thesmell. Every inch ofthecity smells like rotting, human waste. And this smell is actuallykilling people. But no one is doinganythingabout it until today. How didshort-term thinking lead to a deadly problem? And how did an unlikely leader finally get London out of this very literal mess? Thank you to our guest, Professor Rosemary Ashton, author of One Hot Summer: Dickens, Darwin, Disraeli, and the Great Stink of 1858. To our listeners, thank you for subscribing to History This Week. We...

Pride & Protest

June 28, 1970. Hundreds of people start to gather on Christopher Street in Manhattans West Village for an anniversary celebration. One year earlier, in that very same spot, the Stonewall Inn was raided by police, sparking a revolution. Now, LGBTQ+ people have come here again, not to riot but to march in celebration of who they are and just how far they have come something that might have been unthinkable if Stonewall hadnt taken place. How did the Stonewall riot have such a huge impact on queer activism, and how did the community go from raid to parade in just...

Freedom Summer, 1964

June 21, 1964. James Chaney, Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman, three civil rights activists in their early twenties, are reported missing in Mississippi. They are part of the first wave of Freedom Summer, a massive voter registration campaign in the racist heart of the South, Mississippi. The first interracial movement of its kind, the project was led by black southern organizers and staffed by both black and white volunteers. The movements leader, Bob Moses, joins this episode to explain how the disappearance of those three men brought the Civil Rights movement into the homes of white Americans and what Freedom...

"Have You No Decency, Sir?"

June 9, 1954. Senator Joseph McCarthy has accused the United States Army of having communists within its midst. After rising to power during a time of great fear in America, McCarthy's name has become synonymous with anti-communism and with baseless, life-ruining accusations. But today, five simple words will take down one of the most notorious men in American political history. What made McCarthy so powerful in the first place? And how did that very same thing eventually bring him down? Thank you to our guest, Ellen Schrecker, historian, author and expert on McCarthyism. https://www.ellenschrecker.com/ Thank you to Thomas Doherty, Professor...

A Century of Stigma for Black America and Mental Health

June 1, 1840. U.S. Marshals are going door to door conducting the sixth-ever census in the United States. This year something is different this is the very first time the U.S. government is asking a question about mental health. But the results are tragic, and long-lasting. Twenty-one years before the Civil War, with over two million slaves in America, this question will uphold a racist and pernicious lie that is already spreading throughout America: that freedom causes black people to go insane. To our listeners, thank you for subscribing to History This Week. We want to hear your feedback:https://bit.ly/3a4FGqJ Hosted...

A Gilded Age Apocalypse

May 31, 1889. Its raining in Johnstown, PA, causing some small flooding. But the townsfolk were used to it this city of 30,000 was nestled in a valley between two rivers. What happened next was something every person in Johnstown feared, but hoped would never come true. The old dam at the millionaires resort, high up in the mountains, had failed... and unimaginable destruction was on its way. Special thanks to Neil M. Coleman, author of Johnstowns Flood of 1889: Power Over Truth and The Science Behind the Disaster (https://amzn.to/2LY8B4N) --- "Antonn Dvok - Humoresque Op. 101 No. 7" arranged...

Captain Kidd and the Nazis

May 23, 1701. Captain William Kidd is hangedat Execution Dockin London. His death sentence cements his legacy as one of historys most notorious pirates, but he went to the gallows claiming to be an innocent man. And he may have been telling the truth. Nonetheless, his execution began a worldwide ripple effect that would change the high seas forever and ultimately help prosecute one of the most infamous Nazis that ever lived. Special thanks to Richard Zacks, author of The Pirate Hunter: The True Story of Captain Kidd. To our listeners, thank you for subscribing to History This Week. We...

To Fight a Virus, and Win

May 14, 1796. Edward Jenner puts a theory to the test: can contracting one disease save you from another? Jenner goes down in history as the man who brought us one of the greatest advances in modern medicine: the vaccine. Its discovery led to the eradication of smallpox, a virus that killed an estimated 300 million people in the 20th century alone and one of two diseases to ever be defeated. But the story of that first vaccine begins long before Jenner was even born. How did an unlikely trio in colonial America pave the way for Jenners life-saving innovation?...

Beethoven's Silent Symphony

May 7, 1824. One of the great musical icons in history, Ludwig Van Beethoven, steps onto stage at the Krntnertor Theater in Vienna. The audience is electric, buzzing with anticipation for a brand newsymphonyfrom the legendary composer. But theres a rumor on their minds, something only a few know for certain... that Beethoven is deaf. He is about to conduct the debut of his NinthSymphonyfeaturing the now-famous Ode to Joyyet Beethoven can barely hear a thing. How was it possible for him to conduct? And more importantly, how could he have composed one of the greatest works in the history...

The Hunt for the Hunley

May 3, 1995. The Hunley has been missing for over 100 years. This Civil War submarine and all eight of her crew disappeared after completing the first successful submarine attack ever. When a team of divers finally locates the wreck in the mid 90s, it seems the mystery has been solved, but what they find is more perplexing than the subs disappearance. The boat is undamaged, and the crew are still at their battle stations. What sank the Hunley? And why didnt her crew try to escape? Special thanks to Rachel Lance, author of In the Waves: My Quest to...

Introducing: Hope, Through History

Welcome to Hope, Through History with Jon Meacham. This limited series explores some of the most historic and trying times in American history, and how this nation dealt with these moments, the impact of these moments and how we came through these moments a unified nation. Season One takes a look at critical moments around the 1918 Flu Pandemic, the Great Depression, World War II, the Polio Epidemic and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

When the Environment United Us

April 22, 1970. Nearly 20 million Americans come out in solidarity for one of the largest mass movements of the century. It was called Earth Day. And 50 years later, we still celebrate this day. But in 1970, this call to action crossed the aisle and brought major change to Washington, a feat that seems almost impossible today. Why did that first-ever Earth Day bring such a huge number of Americansfrom across the political spectrumout into the streets? And what might it take to unite the country again? Special thanks to our guests: Adam Rome, author of "The Genius of...

"Houston Weve Had a Problem

April 14, 1970. Apollo 13 is a quarter million miles from Earth, speeding towards the Moon, when a sudden explosion rocks the ship. Against all odds, the astronauts pull off one of the most remarkable survival missions in NASA history. On the 50th anniversary of this harrowing flight, Apollo 13 Commander Jim Lovell explains exactly what it took to save his spaceship. Special thanks to Captain Jim Lovell, StevenBarber and Vanilla Fire Productions, www.vanillafire.com. To our listeners, thank you for subscribing to History This Week. We want to hear your feedback:https://bit.ly/3a4FGqJ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To...

The First Flight Around the World

April 6, 1924. Four planes rest in the water, preparing for take-off. At 8:30 AM, they pick up speed and hit the air. Eight pilots have begun a dangerous mission: to be the first to fly around the world. This will change our future in a way that few could see in 1924. What did it take to complete this historic flight?And, when this new technology went global, what were the unintended consequences? Special thanks to our guest, Jeremy Kinney, Chair of the Aeronautics Department at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Additional thanks to Tim Grove, author of...

The Deadliest Pandemic in Modern History

April 5, 1918. The first mention of a new influenza outbreak in Kansas appears in a public health report. That strain, later called the Spanish Flu, would go on to kill at least 50 million people worldwide. In a time before widespread global travel, how did this disease spread so far, so fast? And what does it teach us about fighting pandemics today? Special thanks to Dr. Jeremy Brown, author of Influenza: The 100-Year Hunt to Cure the Deadliest Disease in History. To our listeners, thank you for subscribing to History This Week. We want to hear your feedback:https://bit.ly/3a4FGqJ Hosted...

When Basketball Meets Jim Crow

March 28, 1939. Two teams are facing off for the final game of World Professional Basketball Tournament in Chicago, the first professional tournament to feature both white and black basketball teams. This is several years before the start of the NBA, and Jim Crow segregation was still the law of the land in many parts of the country. The New York Rens, an all-black team, have made it to this championship, but their road to the top was anything but easy. Who were the Rens? And how did they fight segregation and change the history of basketball? Special thanks to...

How Lady Luck Saved Vegas

March 19, 1931. Las Vegas is a small,deserttown of a few thousand. And its not doing so well. In fact, people are worried it might turn into a ghost town. But then something big happens: Nevada decides to legalize gambling. And the groundbeginsto shift beneaththecity...but no one notices, at least not at first. So, how did Vegas become Vegas? Special thanks to our guest Professor Michael Green from UNLV's Department of History. To our listeners, thank you for subscribing to History This Week. We want to hear your feedback:https://bit.ly/3a4FGqJ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more...

The Real Assassination of Caesar

The Ides of March, 44 BC. Ancient Romes most powerful dictator, Julius Caesar, is running late to a senate meeting. When he arrives, senators surround him and stab him 23 times. The assassination of Caesar has been told and re-told for centuries, but the facts are wilder than the legend. What really happened on the Ides of March? And why do we tell this story over and over? Special thanks to Professor Barry Strauss, historian and author of The Death of Caesar and Ten Caesars. To our listeners, thank you for subscribing to History This Week. We want to hear...

Lionel, Stevie and Tina Walk into a Studio

March 7th, 1985. We Are the World hits the shelves. It's an instant hit, breaking the top of the charts and making music history. This one song has the star power of 45 of the biggest singers of the era: Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan - just to name a few. And with their power combined, the song raised millions of dollars to help combat a devastating famine in Ethiopia and Sudan. What did it take to bring all these icons together, and did this song actually make a difference? Special...

The DNA Debate

February 28, 1953. Two scientists, James Watson and Francis Crick, burst into a bar and exclaim that they have discovered the secret of life. But there was another person involved in the discovery of DNAs double helix, a scientist named Rosalind Franklin. Why didnt she get any credit, and what does her story tell us about the politics of discovery itself? Special thanks to Michelle Gibbons, Ph.D., author of "Reassessing Discovery: Rosalind Franklin, Scientific Visualization, and the Structure of DNA". To our listeners, thank you for subscribing to History This Week. We want to hear your feedback:https://bit.ly/3a4FGqJ Hosted on Acast....

A Mole in the CIA

February 21, 1994. Early in the morning, FBI agents assemble near the home of Aldrich Ames. They wait for him to leave his house and then they pounce, arresting one of the deadliest double agents in CIA history. He received almost $2 million from the KGB, selling CIA secrets and lethally betraying undercover agents for years. Who is the real Aldrich Ames? And why does a spy turn on their own country? Thank you to our guest, Pete Earley, author of "Confessions of a Spy: The Real Story of Aldrich Ames". Find it here: https://amzn.to/31SYUfd To our listeners, thank you...

The Legacy of an Oscar

February 11, 1940. Hattie McDaniel becomes the first-ever African American to be nominated for, and then win, an Oscar. Her legacy is complicated. And the Oscar itself has been missing, mysteriously, for almost fifty years. What did it take for McDaniel to win? And, 80 Oscar ceremonies later, how do we understand her legacy today? Thank you to our guest, Professor Emeritus of Law, W. Burlette Carter. You can read her article about searching for the missing Oscar here: https://bit.ly/2OF5cts Thank you also to Hattie McDaniel's biographer, Jill Watts for speaking with us for this episode. To our listeners, thank...

When Black Men Won the Vote

February 3, 1870. The 15th Amendment is ratified, which establishes the right to vote for black men in America. While Jim Crow laws would grip the south by 1877, there was a brief, seven-year window of opportunity. Half a million black voters turned out at the polls, and 2,000 black officials are estimated to have been elected during this time. What did this moment of progress look like? And how do those votes still impact our lives 150 years later? Special thanks to our guest, historian and professor Yohuru Williams. To our listeners, thank you for subscribing to History This...

Surviving Auschwitz

January 27, 1945. This week, we commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, one of Nazi Germany's largest concentration and extermination camps. Auschwitz has since become a symbol for the Holocaust itself, but what did liberation actually mean for its survivors - and is the full story being forgotten? Thank you to Mindu Hornick and Bill Harvey for sharing their personal story of surviving Auschwitz and to Fulwell 73 for helping make it happen. Thank you to Jeremy Dronfield, author of the Boy Who Followed his Father into Auschwitz, and to the work of Robert Jan Van Pelt,...

The Apple Ad That Changed the World

January 22, 1984. Apple launches the first Macintosh computer, with a showstopping Super Bowl commercial. The ad itself was revolutionary, but the product it launched almost single-handedly brought computers into the mainstream, changing the world as we know it. Special thanks to Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, author and producer of the Making the Macintosh digital archive. To our listeners, thank you for subscribing to History This Week. We want to hear your feedback:https://bit.ly/3a4FGqJ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Great Boston Molasses Flood

January 15, 1919. Boston PD receives a call: Send all available rescue personnel...there's a wave of molasses coming down Commercial Street." The bizarre flood decimated Boston's North End. How did it happen? And why does it still affect us all today? Special thanks to our guest, Stephen Puleo, author ofDark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919. To our listeners, thank you for subscribing to History This Week. We want to hear your feedback:https://bit.ly/3a4FGqJ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad...

Warning: The Surgeon General Has Determined...

January 11th, 1964. The US Surgeon General announces: smoking is killing us. Its an announcement that changed the course of American public health and took years to finally come out. But it was only the beginning of an uphill battle to take down an all-American pastime. This week we ask: why did it take so long for the public to learn this deadly truth? And why has it taken even longer for us to accept it? Special thanks to our guests, Dr. Boris Lushniak, 2014 Acting U.S. Surgeon General, and Dr. Mike Cummings from the Medical University of South Carolina....

Introducing: HISTORY This Week

This week, something momentous happened. Whether or not it made the textbooks, it most certainly made history. Join HISTORY This Week as we turn back the clock to meet the people, visit the places and witness the moments that led us to where we are today. New episodes every Monday, starting January 2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Real Dictators

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Introducing: Real Vikings - Episode 1

This is a preview of a brand-new show from the Noiser podcast network. Hosted by Iain Glen (Game of Thrones, Silo), Real Vikings takes you on a deep dive into the Viking age. Youll board longboats bound for new lands, follow mighty warlords, meet master navigators, and uncover the real figures behind the legends of the sagas. But we begin on a quiet beach in the south of England, where a cold-blooded murder on the shingle sends shockwaves reverberating throughout Europe For more episodes, search Real Vikings in your podcast app and hit follow. You can listen to Episode 2...

Jean-Bdel Bokassa Part 3: A Coronation for the Ages

The new emperor of the Central African Republic is introduced to the world in a totally surreal manner - with white horses from Belgium, finery from France and songs from a Broadway musical. The CARs finances continue to tumble. A controversial policy about school uniforms leads to one of the most tragic episodes in the countrys history. And as the emperor loses control, old friends become foes, old foes return from the dead, and Bokassas day of judgement is at hand A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Louisa Lombard, Richard Moncrieff, Gino Vlavonou. This is Part 3...

Jean-Bdel Bokassa Part 2: The Power Grab, the Chteaux and the Missing Daughter

A new year brings new beginnings in the Central African Republic. President Bokassa attempts to modernise. But at the same time, the mass incarcerations and torture ramp up and corruption takes hold. And then things get really strange An imposter infiltrates Bokassas homelife. A bizarre public competition is launched to marry off the presidents daughters. And the leader takes a significant trip to Colonel Gaddafis Libya A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Louisa Lombard, Richard Moncrieff, Gino Vlavonou. This is Part 2 of 3. Written by John Bartlett | Produced by Ed Baranski and Edward White |...

Jean-Bdel Bokassa Part 1: The Butcher of Bangui

The former soldier in the French army who seized power in his African homeland. The leader of the Central African Republic who proclaimed himself emperor. The emperor who ruled as an avaricious dictator. Jean-Bdel Bokassas time in power in the CAR began with promises of equality and justice. Hailed as a beacon of strength, he would go on to preside over a regime of eccentricity, excess and sadistic cruelty. But decades before the surreal coronation, the 17 wives and the vast collection of luxurious possessions, our story begins in a much humbler setting. In a forested village near the CARs...

Introducing: Charles Dickens Ghost Stories - A Christmas Carol

This is a preview of a brand-new audiobook from the Noiser Podcast Network. Join Sir David Suchet as he reads a selection of Charles Dickenss most chilling short works, brought to life with sound design and original music. Well encounter dark premonitions of disaster experienced by a lonely railway signalman A Victorian murder trial cast into chaos when the dead mans ghost interrupts proceedings And a sinister haunted hotel, where twelve identical spirits stalk the corridors But first, a very special festive gift: Dickenss most beloved ghost story of all, A Christmas Carol. You can listen to Part 2 of...

Fidel Castro Part 10: Emergency on an Airplane

The end arrives. Embarrassed at a baseball game, the Maximum Leader responds with arrests and intimidation. We hear first-hand testimony from a Cuban on the receiving end of the violence. A nasty public fall and a painful ordeal in the air show that age and illness are catching up with the dictator. But even as a change of leadership finally takes place, can Cuba ever truly be free from Fidel? A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Michael Bustamante, Anthony DePalma, Lillian Guerra, Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, Ileana Yarza. This is Part 10 of 10. Written by Edward...

Fidel Castro Part 9: Down With Fidel!

After a tragedy in the Florida Straits, a dramatic tug of war takes place between Castro and America - all centred on a five-year-old boy. A new leader in the Soviet Union comes to power with fresh ideas which terrify Fidel. The Berlin Wall crumbles, putting Cuba on the brink. As riots break out in Havana, rebellion is in the air... A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Alvaro Alba, Michael Bustamante, Anthony DePalma, Lillian Guerra, Irene Lopez Kuchilan, Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, Rogelio Martinez. This is Part 9 of 10. Written by Edward White | Produced by...

Fidel Castro Part 8: Miami Vice

When a bomb goes off on a south Florida street, it bears all the hallmarks of a Cuban expert. Castroland is going international. As exiles flock to Miami, Fidel sets off on a globe-trotting mission - meeting Colonel Gaddafi in Libya and dispatching troops to Angola. But back at home, not everything is rosy. And when a bus driver rams his vehicle through the gates of an embassy, Castro will encounter a problem unlike any hes ever faced before A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Michael Bustamante, Nicholas Griffin, Peter Kornbluh, Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, Rogelio Martinez,...

Fidel Castro Part 7: Che Guevara in the Jungle

Castro sets out to create a breed of new people - turning Cuba into an island of mini-Fidels. A particular dairy cow becomes a national treasure and hot dog vendors are declared counter-revolutionary, as things get surreal. Fidels own sister flees, declaring Cuba a floating prison. And as one of the dictators right-hand men is killed, the revolution will be rocked to its foundations A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Michael Bustamante, Carlos Eire, Lillian Guerra, Peter Kornbluh, Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, Alex von Tunzelmann, Ileana Yarza. This is Part 7 of 10. Written by Edward White...

Fidel Castro Part 6: The Cuban Missile Crisis

The first man in space arrives in Cuba for a special visit. A passenger liner from the Soviet Union docks in Havana. But its not carrying tourists. Out in the countryside a massive yet mysterious construction project begins. Stranger-than-fiction plans are put in motion as the CIA tries everything to assassinate Fidel. And as Khrushchev and Castro take the most daring of gambles, the whole world holds its breath A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Alvaro Alba, Mervyn Bain, Carlos Eire, Peter Kornbluh, Alex von Tunzelmann, Ileana Yarza. This is Part 6 of 10. Written by Edward...

Fidel Castro Part 5: The Bay of Pigs

A man who was right there tells us the tale of one of historys most notorious military failures. Castros former lover is given a handful of poison capsules and dispatched to Fidels hotel. A Havana schoolboy crosses his fingers as the American bombing begins. And a young activist prepares to do whatever it takes to repel the impending invasion... A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Carlos Eire, Peter Kornbluh, Monica Mercedes Perez Jimenez, Alex von Tunzelmann, Ileana Yarza, Eduardo Zayas-Bazan. This is Part 5 of 10. Written by Edward White | Produced by Ed Baranski and Edward...

Fidel Castro Part 4: Havanas TV Star

Castro goes on a victory parade, eventually arriving in Havana on top of a tank. Vengeance is wrought on the old dictators supporters, as the new leader moves into the Hilton hotel. Fidel takes a trip to Washington - for a sit-down with Richard Nixon. And a regime insider tells us how he turned his back on Castro, only to pay the price... A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Carlos Eire, Lillian Guerra, Jonathan Hansen, Jennifer Lambe, Alex von Tunzelmann, Ileana Yarza, Eduardo Zayas-Bazan. Special thanks to University of Miami Libraries for the use of the Huber...

Fidel Castro Part 3: The Mountain Guerrillas

While Batista tries to convince the world that Castro is dead, Fidel regroups in the mountains. The worlds press descends on Cuba, hoping to meet this elusive rebel, and Fidel is only too happy to grant everyone interviews. Meanwhile, in Havana, Batistas sick son helps to save him from assassination. But his grip on the island is slipping A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Anthony DePalma, Carlos Eire, Lillian Guerra, Jonathan Hansen, Jennifer Lambe, Alex von Tunzelmann, Ileana Yarza.Special thanks to University of Miami Libraries for the use of the Huber Matos archive. This is Part 3...

Fidel Castro Part 2: Shipwrecked in the Swamps

Castro wrestles with Marxism and begins another affair. Attempting to reignite the revolution, he swims naked across the US border. At a get-together in Mexico City, he strikes up a rapport with a scruffy Argentine known as Che. Together, in a battered old boat, they will set sail for Cuba - to bring the fight to Batista A Noiser podcast production.Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Michael J. Bustamante, Carlos Eire, Lillian Guerra, Jonathan Hansen, Irene Lopez, Alex von Tunzelmann, Eduardo Zayas-Bazan. This is Part 2 of 10. Written by Edward White | Produced by Ed Baranski and Edward White |...

Fidel Castro Part 1: Rise of The Crazy One

Fidel Castro - arevolutionary turned strongman dictator, beloved by his supporters and loathed by his enemies. The bte noire of the United States who pushed the world to the brink of annihilation. The ultimate political survivor who evaded hundreds of barely believable assassination attempts. We scroll back to the early years of the one they would call El Loco. It all begins on a farm in the east of Cuba - an island paradise with dark undercurrents swirling beneath the surface A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Michael J. Bustamante, Carlos Eire, Lillian Guerra, Jonathan Hansen, Peter...

Introducing: Titanic: Ship of Dreams - Episode 1

This is a taster episode of a brand-new podcast from the Noiser podcast network. Join host Paul McGann as he explores life and death on the most famous ship in history. Youll be right there on board - setting sail from Southampton, chugging across the Atlantic, striking the iceberg and sinking into the icy depths. Well hear the harrowing tales of the victims and the testimonies of the lucky survivors. And Paul explores his own family story, following his great uncle Jimmy McGann - a trimmer down in Titanics engine room. Search Titanic: Ship of Dreams in your podcast app...

Benito Mussolini Part 7: Break for the Border

As Italy switches sides, Hitler hatches a plan to rescue his pal. But with the Axis collapsing on all fronts, Mussolini makes for Switzerland - stowed away and in disguise. For Il Duces enemies, the race is on to get to him first. His downfall will come at the hands of his own people A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Giulia Albanese, Joshua Arthurs, John Foot, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Lisa Pine, Helen Roche. This is Part 7 of 7. Real Dictators will be back soon with, among others, the stories of Fidel Castro and Jean-Bdel Bokassa as...

Benito Mussolini Part 6: The Road to Perdition

It all starts to go horribly wrong After the disastrous invasion of Greece, Mussolini sends troops to Russia. Benitos Blitz prompts bemusement in Britain. An Italian assassin somehow survives the firing squad. A famous American mobster helps the Allies in Sicily. And Il Duces son telephones his father with devastating news A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Giulia Albanese, Joshua Arthurs, John Foot, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Lisa Pine, Helen Roche. This is Part 6 of 7. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access...

Benito Mussolini Part 5: The Pact of Steel

At the Munich Conference, Mussolini postures as a peacemaker. With Hitler in the ascendancy, the Rome-Berlin Axis is upgraded to a military alliance. High on fascist adrenaline, Il Duce invades Albania. Soon, in the backdraft of the German Blitzkrieg, he will declare war on Britain and France A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Giulia Albanese, Joshua Arthurs, John Foot, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Lisa Pine, Helen Roche, Thomas Weber. This is Part 5 of 7. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows...

Benito Mussolini Part 4: A Fine Bromance

Il Duce uses propaganda to become a folk hero - part saint, part Father Christmas. He bans journalists from mentioning his birthday or the fact hes a grandfather - to promote an image of eternal youth. Ernest Hemingway arrives in Switzerland to interview the Italian strongman, and sees right through him. Italy launches a genocidal campaign in Libya and gets away with it. And as the World Cup comes to the Fatherland, Benito Mussolini prepares to finally meet one Adolf Hitler A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Giulia Albanese, Joshua Arthurs, John Foot, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Lisa...

Benito Mussolini Part 3: Murder in Broad Daylight

World leaders line up to hail the new Italian strongman. But the fascists are already silencing dissenting voices. An epochal discovery in Egypts Valley of the Kings unleashes a curse, or so Mussolini believes. Il Duce gets his top off in the wheat fields - making sure to be caught on camera. He comes to an arrangement with the Pope and meets the woman who will ultimately die by his side. Meanwhile, an Anglo-Irish aristocrat prepares to make an astonishing attempt on Mussolinis life A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Giulia Albanese, Joshua Arthurs, John Foot,...

Benito Mussolini Part 2: The March on Rome

Wounded at the Front, Mussolinis war ends early.A playboy aristocrat forms his own private army, offering inspiration to Il Duce. As Italian workers go on strike, Mussolinis goons crack skulls on the streets. And in a smoke-filled hall in Milan, he declares the birth of a new movement. His fascists will soon begin an audacious march on the capital A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Giulia Albanese, Joshua Arthurs, John Foot, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Lisa Pine, Helen Roche. This is Part 2 of 7. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also...

Introducing: Sherlock Holmes Short Stories

A brand-new release from the Noiser Network. Join Hugh Bonneville on a thrilling journey through Sir Arthur Conan Doyles most celebrated Holmes mysteries - read in their original, masterful form. If you enjoy this taster episode, search Sherlock Holmes Short Stories in your podcast app and hit follow for more episodes. Or follow this link:https://podfollow.com/sherlock-holmes-short-stories-1 Part 2 of The Adventure of the Speckled Band is live now and waiting for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Benito Mussolini Part 1: Italys Fascist Godfather

We begin at the end in 1945, with a pile of bodies dumped in Milan then strung up for all to see. Among them, the most powerful man in Italy. One of the most significant figures in modern history. How did it come to this? In this episode, we scroll back to follow the start of Benito Mussolinis extraordinary rise. From humble origins as the son of a blacksmith and a schoolteacher, Il Duce will emerge as an incendiary journalist and activist. And before long, the onetime vagrant and draft-dodger will be on his way to the front line of...

General Videla Part 4: Dictator in the Courtroom

The Falklands War casts a long shadow over Argentina as the junta teeters on the verge of collapse. The country slowly returns to democracy. But that isnt the end of Videlas time in the spotlight. As a heroic legal case is brought against him, justice for his victims finally seems within reach. Well meet a man who sat mere feet away from Videla in the courtroom - a young prosecutor with the hopes of a nation resting on his shoulders A Noiser production, written by John Bartlett. Many thanks to Edward Brudney, Robert Cox, Marguerite Feitlowitz, Francesca Lessa, Sara Mndez,...

General Videla Part 3: God, Football, the Falklands

The 1978 FIFA World Cup rolls into Argentina. A surreal fortnight ensues. Fans flock to revamped stadia, while just metres away prisoners cower - hidden in secret torture facilities. As foreign journalists begin to join the dots, Videla goes into statesman mode. With the tournament in the balance, thedictator and a famous friend pay Argentinas opponents a friendly visit. It will result in one of the most contentious games in history A Noiser production, written by John Bartlett. Many thanks to Edward Brudney, Robert Cox, Marcela Mora y Araujo, Rhys Richards, Ernesto Semn. This is Part 3 of 4. Get...

General Videla Part 2: Mr Cleans Dirty War

Videlas dirty war begins. Subversives are rooted out, with torture centres established across the land - including one known as the Argentine Auschwitz. Education, music, childrens books and haircuts are subjected to new regulations. And as the Junta garners international attention, Videla will employ elaborate means to gloss over the atrocities A Noiser production, written by John Bartlett. Many thanks to Edward Brudney, Robert Cox, Marguerite Feitlowitz, Francesca Lessa, Sara Mndez, Ernesto Semn. This is Part 2 of 4. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access...

General Videla Part 1: The Skinny One and the Witch

Argentina. The story of a gaunt, hawkish man who earned the nickname the Hitler of the Pampa. A man whose awkward bearing belied his capacity for cruelty. A dictator who literally stole the children of his prisoners. In 1925, Jorge Rafael Videla is born into a country at a crossroads. But no one can imagine just how deeply he will impact Argentina over the next 87 years A Noiser production, written by John Bartlett. Many thanks to Edward Brudney, Robert Cox, Marguerite Feitlowitz, Francesca Lessa, Ernesto Semn. This is Part 1 of 4. Get every episode of Real Dictators a...

BONUS: Dictators Books

Almost every dictator, at one time or another, has put pen to paper. Some have wrestled with ideas, with philosophy. Many have merely vented - spewing their diatribes onto the page. Others have made forays into fiction, poetry and drama with varying degrees of success. Noiser writer Duncan Barrett spoke to a man whos made it his mission to wade through all kinds of dictators writings.Daniel Kalder is author of The Infernal Library, also published as Dictator Literature: A History of Bad Books by Terrible People. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for episodes on the dictators mentioned in this...

Pinochet Part 3: Searching for the Disappeared

Pinochet consolidates control, creating a terrifying new secret police force. The dictators war on communism extends abroad, as Chile joins Operation Condor. But how long can Pinochets global allies allow him to go unchecked? And will the families of the murdered and the disappeared ever find justice? A Noiser production, written by Sean Coleman. Many thanks to John Bartlett, Mark Ensalaco, Peter Kornbluh. This is Part 3 of 3. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the Noiser+ banner...

Pinochet Part 2: The Caravan of Death

September 11th, 1973. The touchpaper is lit. President Allende realises hes been double-crossed. Pinochet keeps his cards close to his chest. A loyal naval admiral finds his cars sabotaged and his phone lines cut. And as Allende and his bodyguards prepare to defend the palace, the first soldiers take to the streets of Santiago A Noiser production, written by Sean Coleman. Many thanks to John Bartlett, Mark Ensalaco, Peter Kornbluh. This is Part 2 of 3. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across...

Pinochet Part 1: An Arrest in London

We travel to South America. In September 1973, Augusto Pinochet seizes power in Chile following a coup dtat. The aim is to topple the countrys socialist president. And it succeeds. But how does Pinochet - a seemingly unremarkable army man - come to lead the notorious uprising? And after that, how do he and his wife consolidate power, remaining in post for 17 long and bloody years? A Noiser production, written by Sean Coleman. Many thanks to John Bartlett, Mark Ensalaco, Peter Kornbluh. This is Part 1 of 3. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+....

Introducing: D-Day: The Tide Turns - Episode 1

This is a taster episode of a brand-new podcast from the Noiser network. Host Paul McGann follows the real people involved in the D-Day landings. Its 1944 and Europe is in the grip of the Nazi war machine. But on the shores of Great Britain, thousands of men and women are planning the great fightback. What will it take to turn the tide of World War 2? Search D-Day: The Tide Turns in your podcast app and hit follow to get new episodes each Thursday.Or listen atnoiser.com Episode 2 is live now on D-Day: The Tide Turns. Real Dictators will...

Oliver Cromwell Part 4: The Conquest of Ireland

In the final part of the Cromwell story, outrage at the Kings execution leads Ironsides to wage war on Scotland and, notoriously, Ireland. Insurgencies over, hell become Lord Protector - king in all but name. But as discontent continues to spread, the unthinkable will once again become possible. The Stuart monarchy couldnt be restored could it? A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Peter Gaunt, Clare Jackson, Anna Keay, John Morrill, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Michel Siochr. This is Part 4 of 4. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening,...

Oliver Cromwell Part 3: To Kill a King

With the King in captivity, both sides seek a settlement. But when Charles escapes, all trust is broken. For Cromwell there is only one course of action - a solution that will plunge the British Isles into unknown territory. His Majesty must be put on trial A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Peter Gaunt, Clare Jackson, Anna Keay, John Morrill, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Michel Siochr. This is Part 3 of 4. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser...

Oliver Cromwell Part 2: Civil War Across the Realms

England is plunged into conflict. Oliver Cromwell, an obscure politician, soon proves himself an outstanding military commander. King Charles, meanwhile, unveils his own star signing - a dashing young cavalry officer named Prince Rupert. A daring mission featuring the Queen threatens to tip the balance the Royalists way. But Cromwells New Model Army will prove itself unstoppable A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Peter Gaunt, Clare Jackson, Anna Keay, John Morrill, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Michel Siochr. This is Part 2 of 4. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free...

Oliver Cromwell Part 1: The Rise of Ironsides

Say Oliver Cromwell today and certain things come to mind. He won the English Civil War and prompted the execution of Charles I. He purged the realm with such zeal that he even cancelled Christmas. In Ireland, where Cromwells troops besieged its towns with a notorious barbarity, his name is still used as a curse. The greatest prince that ever ruled England, as one historian called him? Or, as Winston Churchill would counter, a tyrant and a despot? A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Peter Gaunt, Clare Jackson, Anna Keay, John Morrill, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Michel Siochr....

Introducing: The Curious History of Your Home - Baths

A brand-new podcast from the Noiser network. Join domestic historian Ruth Goodman as she explores the remarkable, often epic, tales behind everyday objects. This taster episode is all about the bath. A murderous emperor builds the grandest bath complex ever seen in Ancient Rome. The arrival of a new disease spells trouble for the bathhouses of Tudor London. An excitable Victorian clergyman extolls the virtues of skinny dipping. And World War Two plays a surprising role in kickstarting the hot tub craze If you enjoy this taster episode, search The Curious History of Your Home in your podcast app and...

Enver Hoxha Part 2: Stalins Shadow, Europes North Korea

As a new premier takes charge in Moscow, Hoxha makes a new friend in China. The Albanian dictator tasks an entire media industry with maintaining his image. But as his country sinks into an economic mire and his own health deteriorates, Hoxha and Albanias isolation will be complete. How will the country even begin to escape his clutches? A Noiser production, written by Sean Coleman. Many thanks to Bernd Fischer, Artan Hoxha and Shannon Woodcock. This is Part 2 of 2. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and...

Enver Hoxha Part 1: The Albanian School Teacher

From 1944 to 1985, Enver Hoxha ran Albania as an extraordinarily repressive Stalinist dictatorship. But how did a middle class teacher from the provinces become the most powerful man in the country and a key player in the communist world? What did he do to turn Albania into one of the most isolated countries in the world? And how did Uncle Enver keep his citizens in the dark for so much of the 20th century? A Noiser production, written by Sean Coleman. Many thanks to Bernd Fischer, Artan Hoxha and Shannon Woodcock. This is Part 1 of 2. Get every...

Herod the Great Part 2: Murders in the Family

Herod leaves Rome to wrest Judea from the Parthians. He will marry a princess, commission extraordinary building works, and even murder his in-laws as he tries to win over his people. But how will that desperate quest shape his subjects lives, and his own legacy? And what of Herods most notorious act - the Slaughter of the Innocents? A Noiser production, written by Kate Harrison. This is Part 2 of 2. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the...

Herod the Great Part 1: Ruler of Galilee

Herod - you may well know the name from the Nativity story. The cruel king who learns of a prophecy proclaiming a Messiah and orders the slaughter of innocent children in response. Hes become synonymous with almost pantomime villainy. At the same time, Herodchanged the face of the Middle East in the 1st century BC. His reign featured dazzling architectural ventures and significant legal changes as well as social division, political intrigue and murderous family drama. So, all in all, who really was this iconic figure of the immediate pre-Christian era? A Noiser production, written by Kate Harrison. This is...

Saddam Hussein Part 5: The War on Terror

In the aftermath of 9/11, President Bush and Prime Minister Blair send troops back into Iraq. In a highly symbolic moment, beamed around the world, a giant statue of Saddam comes crashing down. But as the Iraqi dictator performs his vanishing act, how soon can they track him down? And after Saddams toppling, how will ordinary Iraqis fare? A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. This is Part 5 of 5. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the...

Saddam Hussein Part 4: The First Gulf War

After Iraqs invasion of Kuwait, US forces are deployed to the region. For some Iraqis, it seems like the perfect time to rise up against their dictator. As economic sanctions bite, Saddam treats himself to a bit of retail therapy. All the while, his sons are becoming terrifying figures in their own right. A family crisis is about to snowball into a murderous feud A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the...

Saddam Hussein Part 3: Oil and the Ayatollah

Saddam nationalises the Iraq Petroleum Company and clashes with the new leader of Iran. A man called Chemical Ali commits one of the most heinous atrocities of modern times. Meanwhile, sculptures of the Iraqi dictator are commissioned across the land. With his personality cult firmly established, Saddam is ready for war A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. For more on Saddam and his cook, listen to our bonus episode on Dictators Chefs. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser network....

Saddam Hussein Part 2: Enforcer, Frontman, Mafia Godfather

Saddam consolidates his own power base, appointing friends and relatives to key positions. We hear a remarkable account from a woman whose own family was targeted by his secret police. Soon, the deputy will be in pole position to move against his mentor. And after that, Saddam will shore up the loyalty of his party with an act of political theatre for the ages A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the...

Saddam Hussein Part 1: Son of the Alleyways

In the spring of 1937, a child dies and his brother is born. Translated from Arabic, the newborns name - Saddam - means one who confronts. As his life will demonstrate, it couldnt be more appropriate. So how does a boy from a tough peasant background go on to rise to the very top of Iraqs leadership? How does his journey towards global infamy begin? Narrated by Paul McGann. A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across...

Macas Nguema Part 2: Hiding in the Jungle with all the Money

With President Macas in power, educated Equatoguineans come under attack, as a bizarre vendetta is pursued against teachers, lawyers and doctors. Things take a turn for the metaphysical, as Macas declares himself God. Finally, as paranoia completely overwhelms him, his inner circle will take matters into their own hands Narrated by Paul McGann. A Noiser production, written by Sean Coleman. This is Part 2 of 2. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started....

Macas Nguema Part 1: The Dachau of Africa

This is the extraordinary, blood-curdling story of a dictator you may never have heard of. From 1968-1979, the African nation of Equatorial Guinea was helmed by its first, and to date only, freely elected president. Initially, Francisco Macas Nguema was seen by the Spanish colonial authorities as a safe choice. He proved to be anything but. Things went off the rails at an astonishing rate, as Macas rapidly turned the country into what would be called the Dachau of Africa. His is a tale of sheer opportunism on the way up, and drug-fuelled paranoia on the way down Narrated by...

Hitler: The Bunker and the End (Part 25)

We reach the dramatic conclusion of Hitlers downfall. With the Battle of Berlin raging, the Fhrer makes his last stand. Underground, in a bunker beneath the Chancellery, he will conduct the final act of his life: a macabre ritual of marriage, murder and suicide A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 25 of the Hitler Story. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for earlier episodes. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, if youre on Spotify or Android,...

Hitler: Operation Valkyrie, Blowing up the Fhrer (Part 24)

A delusional Hitler downplays the Normandy Landings. A group of generals, meanwhile, attempts an audacious military coup. And with Allied bombers pounding the Fatherland, Germanys dictator plays his next card Scientific wonder-weapons that will turn the war back his way A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 24 of the Hitler Story. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for earlier episodes. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, if youre on Spotify or Android, go tonoiser.com/subscriptions. Learn more...

Hitler: Mussolinis Prison Break (Part 23)

In Italy, Il Duce is overthrown. So Hitler stages a daring mission to rescue his fascist partner. With the Red Army rampant, another epochal battle sends the Wehrmacht on the retreat. Soon, more bad news will reach the Berghof, as Allied troops start landing in Normandy. But with the Fhrer fast asleep in his quarters, will anyone dare to break it to him? A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 23 of the Hitler Story. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for earlier episodes. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+....

Hitler: The Battle of Stalingrad (Part 22)

The myth of the Nazi war machine is blown apart in one of the pivotal battles of World War 2. Serious questions arise as to Hitlers leadership, encouraging a growing German resistance. As Allied forces eye Sicily, a paranoid Fhrer retreats further into himself. His war of conquest is becoming a war of defence A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 22 of the Hitler Story. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for earlier episodes. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a...

Adolf Hitler: The Final Solution (Part 21)

This is Part 21 of the Hitler Story. You can start listening here. Or, scroll down the Real Dictators feed for earlier episodes. We pick up the story in 1942. World War 2 is well underway and the Fhrer is still in the box seat. But he is not as untouchable as he used to be. Nazi high-ups gather at the Wannsee Conference, honing a plan to exterminate an entire race. With the war in Russia on the rocks, and Hitler increasingly AWOL, Goebbels struggles to control the narrative. The resistance is growing. A leading figure of the Third Reich...

Introducing: Real Survival Stories - Glacier Escape

Noiser presents a brand-new podcast. Real Survival Stories brings you astonishing tales of ordinary people thrust into extraordinary survival situations. In this taster episode, two friends embark on an awe-inspiring trip into the mountains. But then, one false step sends Jim Davidson and Mike Price plummeting into a crevasse. Trapped deep beneath the surface of a glacier, surrounded by sheer walls of ice, Jim will come to realise theres only one way he can possibly escape If you enjoy this taster episode, search Real Survival Stories in your podcast app and hit follow to get new episodes every Thursday. There...

Attila the Hun Part 2: The Scourge of God

We track Attilas progress as he rampages through Gaul. A family bust-up sparks an extraordinary alliance, as Attila gets engaged to the Roman Emperors sister. With the Huns storming deep into Western Europe, their king is on a collision course with his old friend Aetius. Will the Romans fragile coalition hold? Or will the prophecy of the Sword of Mars be realised? A Noiser production, written by Mark Piesing. This is Part 2 of 2. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial....

Attila the Hun Part 1: The Sword of Mars

Were in south-eastern Europe in the 400s AD. The once mighty Roman Empire is riven in two. And on the Great Hungarian Plain a fearsome enemy is rising. The Huns king, Attila, will become a terrifying, iconic figure. A byword for plundering and pillaging. The archetypal warlord. But who was he really, according to those who observed him? What did Attila do that was so significant? And is his bloody reputation entirely deserved? A Noiser production, written by Mark Piesing. This is Part 1 of 2. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click...

Manuel Noriega Part 3: Bush Invades Panama

The Americans go all-in, deploying stealth bombers, helicopters and tens of thousands of troops to Panama. Meanwhile, agents attempt to penetrate the dictators inner circle, as a US operative befriends Noriegas mistress. Will the missions succeed? Or will Noriega slip away again? A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. This is Part 3 of 3. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Manuel Noriega Part 2: A Tale of Two Spy Chiefs

Shielded by a puppet president, Noriega takes power. But the spymaster struggles in his new role as dictator. The war on drugs escalates in dramatic fashion. As the tide turns against Noriega, he will find himself on a collision course with the man about to assume the US presidency: George H.W. Bush A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. This is Part 2 of 3. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free...

Manuel Noriega Part 1: The Narco Dictator

For two decades, Manuel Noriega stamped his authority on Panama - first as the countrys brutal intelligence chief, and later, from 1983-89, as its de facto military ruler. A gangster up to his neck in drug trafficking, gun running and organised crime. But also, a key asset of the CIA. How did a poor boy from Panama grow up to become such a chameleon on the world stage? And why does so much of the Noriega story remain in the shadows? A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. This is Part 1 of 3. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and...

BONUS: Dictators Chefs

For this special bonus episode, Noiser writer Duncan Barrett sat down for a chat with Witold Szabowski, author of How to Feed a Dictator: Saddam Hussein, Idi Amin, Enver Hoxha, Fidel Castro and Pol Pot Through the Eyes of Their Cooks. The role of personal chef to a dictator is a fascinating one. Its an extremely intimate relationship. These cooks have literally nourished tyrants. Theyve satisfied their culinary cravings, altered their moods for better and worse, and even influenced their policies. So what can they tell us about dictators appetites? Real Dictators will return soon for Season 5. Learn more...

Introducing: Detectives Dont Sleep - The Nazi Art Mystery (Part 1 of 3)

The makers of Real Dictators present a brand-new podcast: Detectives Dont Sleep. Step beyond the police tape to shadow the real detectives who worked historys most intriguing cases. In this taster episode, were hot on the heels of international art detective Arthur Brand. He is hunting down a pair of lost statues Two giant bronze horses that were once beloved by none other than Adolf Hitler. But a case of missing artworks quickly spirals into something far more dangerous - a deadly neo-Nazi conspiracy If you enjoy this taster episode, search Detectives Dont Sleep in your podcast app and hit...

Hitler: Attack on Russia, War with America (Part 20)

The Fhrers deputy embarks on an astonishing secret mission. After baling out Mussolini in the Balkans, German troops finally march into the Soviet Union. Undeterred by the bloodshed, Hitler will sign off 1941 by declaring war on the United States A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for episodes on Hitlers early years and rise to power. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn...

Adolf Hitler vs Winston Churchill (Part 19)

Installed in Downing Street, Churchill arrives with a bang. The Battle of Britain rages in the skies, while the Nazis plot a seaborne invasion across the English Channel. And Hitler extends his network of allies, seeking to bring the Spanish and Japanese strongmen to the table A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for episodes on Hitlers early years and rise to power. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started...

Hitler: A Brush With Death (Part 18)

World War Two begins. After the invasion of Poland, Hitler sets his sights on Scandinavia. A devastating lightning war rolls over Western Europe, as the German panzers arrive in Paris. Meanwhile, the Fhrers British lover makes an attempt on her own life. And a lone clockmaker decides to bump off Hitler once and for all A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for episodes on Hitlers early years and rise to power. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the...

Hitlers Birthday, Polands Doom (Part 17)

Hitler continues his Godfather act, ignoring the Munich settlement and gobbling up the rest of Czechoslovakia. As he turns 50, the Fhrer is showered with extravagant birthday gifts. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the finishing touches are put to a shock pact with Stalin. But Britain and France draw a line. An invasion of Poland will mean war A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for episodes on Hitlers early years and rise to power. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users....

Hitler: The Gathering Storm... (Part 16)

Hitler expands the Third Reich, annexing Austria and the Sudetenland. Britain and France seek a diplomatic solution at the Munich Conference. But how long will appeasement keep war at bay? Meanwhile, the Nazis stir up an orgy of anti-Jewish violence, Kristallnacht... A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 16 of the Hitler Story. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for episodes on Hitlers early years and rise to power. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go...

Adolf Hitler: Unassailable Fhrer (Part 15)

This is Part 15 of the Hitler Story. You can start listening here. Or, scroll down the Real Dictators feed for episodes on Hitlers early years and rise to power. We pick up the tale in the mid-1930s. From struggling artist to veteran soldier of the trenches, now Hitler is transformed into Germanys dictator. The new Third Reich is in the spotlight at the Berlin Olympics. Behind the scenes, the armed forces expand at an alarming rate. The infamous Nuremberg Laws are unveiled. And Hitler dispatches an old friend on a suicide mission... A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson....

Robert Mugabe Part 4: A Game of Thrones

At the age of 93, Mugabes days in office are numbered. But the succession crisis threatens to tear Zimbabwe apart. In South Africa, exiles hatch an extraordinary plan to oust him. And when the dictators own wife throws her hat into the ring, Mugabes house of cards will begin tumbling down A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. This is Part 4 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial....

Robert Mugabe Part 3: Zimbabwes Tsunami

After two decades in office, Mugabe has already shown himself to be a tyrant. At the dawn of the 21st century, the outside world sits up and takes notice. Mugabe seizes white-owned farms and drags his country into the greatest economic crisis since the Wall Street Crash. But the resistance is growing stronger A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. This is Part 3 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day...

Robert Mugabe Part 2: The Leopards True Spots

Mugabe is now the leader of independent Zimbabwe. But behind the faade of democracy, he is already governing through fear. Emboldened, he unleashes a campaign of genocide on his opponents. For now, for the most part, the international community turns a blind eye. But the arrival of a new prime minister - not in Zimbabwe but in faraway Britain - will herald Mugabes first great crisis A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. This is Part 2 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click...

Robert Mugabe Part 1: The Young Scholar

For almost four decades, Robert Mugabe held the reins of power in Zimbabwe with an iron grip. As a youthful idealist, he led a revolutionary movement that put his country back in African hands. But once in power, he presided over a regime of brutality and jaw-dropping corruption. So what events helped form Mugabe? And how did he manoeuvre himself from obscurity to power? A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. This is Part 1 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+...

Robert Mugabe: Coming Soon on Real Dictators

Beginning Wednesday November 9th. Were in Zimbabwe for the extraordinary story of Robert Mugabe. Early access to new episodes for Noiser+ subscribers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lenin Part 4: Ghost at the Kremlin

With power finally in Bolshevik hands, state terror arrives in Russia. The Soviet Union is born. But, installed in Red Square, Lenins health is ailing. Will his creation live on beyond his death? And which of his lieutenants, jostling for position, will take up the baton? A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. This is Part 4 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad...

Lenin Part 3: First Russia, Then the World

The Tsar is deposed as the people of the Russian Empire rise up. Marooned in Switzerland, Vladimir Lenin prepares for an extraordinary journey home, by land and sea. It will involve the closest of shaves, multiple disguises, and the covert help of Russias deadliest enemy A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. This is Part 3 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices....

Lenin Part 2: Underground, On the Run

Vladimir Lenin meets Joseph Stalin. Turning to crime to pay their way, the revolutionaries struggle to stay ahead of the authorities. As the First World War upends Russia, the Bolsheviks wait for their moment. In the meantime, Lenins love life takes an unconventional turn... A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. This is Part 2 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Lenin Part 1: The Revolution is Born

Vladimir Lenin changed the course of history like very few ever have. He turned Russia upside down and created the first communist state. As the founder of the Soviet Union, he ensured the world would never be the same again. But long before his time in power, his life is something straight out of a spy thriller. Young Vladimir enjoys a happy, comfortable childhood. That is, until a double tragedy puts him on a very different path... A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. This is Part 1 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new...

Vladimir Lenin: Coming Soon on Real Dictators

The story of Lenin - leader of the Russian Revolution, founder of the Soviet Union - begins Wednesday September 28th. Early access to new episodes for Noiser+ subscribers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Napoleon Part 6: Showdown at Waterloo

With Napoleon deposed and in exile, it appears to be game over. But even now he is planning a comeback. After the mother of all prison breaks, Napoleon marches back up through France. Reinstating himself as emperor, he will rally his troops for one last battle... A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 6 of 6. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad...

Napoleon Part 5: Downfall in Russia

Napoleons blockade of Britain begins. Amidst the fall-out, France launches an invasion of Spain. The Duke of Wellington arrives on the scene. After another dispute with Russia, Bonaparte assembles his biggest ever army. It will do the unthinkable and march on Moscow... A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 5 of 6. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Napoleon Part 4: The Emperor Strikes Back

Bonaparte storms back into Italy, reconquering all that had been lost. Back home, in Notre-Dame Cathedral, thousands of dignitaries watch on as the untouchable general crowns himself emperor. Intent on destroying Britain, he plans a seaborne invasion. But Lord Nelson has other ideas A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 4 of 6. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Napoleon Part 3: The Egyptian Adventure

Napoleon sails for the Middle East. After the Battle of the Pyramids, a scientific mission makes remarkable findings, introducing the Western world to the mysteries of Ancient Egypt. But after a drubbing from Britains naval supremo, Horatio Nelson, Napoleon does a runner. His return to Paris is timed to perfection. Almost by accident, Bonaparte will seize power... A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 3 of 6. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get...

Napoleon Part 2: The Italian Job

After a quickie wedding, Napoleon Bonaparte dashes south to take command of the French Army in Italy. Here he announces himself with a devastating display of battlefield brilliance. In Milan, he gets a taste for political rule and good living. Napoleon will return to Paris both as a military hero and a budding statesman... A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 2 of 6. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a...

Napoleon Part 1: The Humble Corsican

Youve heard the name Napoleon Bonaparte. But who was he, really? In 1769 a boy is born on the Mediterranean island of Corsica. He will go on to become an emperor - a virtual god in his adopted homeland, a nemesis to his international foes. So how does Napoleon become the most powerful man on Earth? And why doesnt he stop, even once he has it all? A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 1 of 6. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users....

Napoleon: Coming Soon on Real Dictators

The story of Napoleon Bonaparte begins Wednesday August 3rd. Early access to new episodes for Noiser+ subscribers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pol Pot Part 4: The Killing Fields

Pol Pot constructs a secretive one-party state. Cambodia descends into hell as his twisted social experiment begins. Finally, the shifting sands of geopolitics will create challenges for the Khmer Rouge. Pol Pot will be forced back into the jungle. But even then, the man with untold blood on his hands will somehow evade justice. A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. Many thanks to Elizabeth Becker and University of Washington Libraries for archive audio. This is Part 4 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users....

Pol Pot Part 3: Vietnam War, Cambodian Revolution

The Khmer Rouge launch their revolution against Sihanouk until Sihanouk himself is stabbed in the back. Americas action in Vietnam escalates, spilling over the border with catastrophic consequences. The enigmatic Pol Pot will emerge from the bloodshed to become the most powerful man in the land. At the outset of Year Zero, the true horror will begin... A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. This is Part 3 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions...

Pol Pot Part 2: Welcome to the Jungle

Saloth Sar, the young man who will become Pol Pot, arrives in France in 1949. In just a few short months, he will be transformed into a die-hard communist rebel. Meanwhile, in Cambodia, things are coming to the boil. Returning from Europe, Sar goes to ground with the Vietnamese communists. He begins to prepare his very own revolution A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. This is Part 2 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to...

Pol Pot Part 1: Tyrant in the Shadows

Cambodia today is many peoples idea of heaven on earth. But in the 1970s it was a netherworld of death and despair. Under Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, in just four years around a quarter of the population perished. Pol Pot was a uniquely anonymous dictator - a man who preferred to operate in the shadows. So who was he? And how did he come to lead such a staggeringly bloody regime? A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. This is Part 1 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now...

Pol Pot: Coming Soon on Real Dictators

The story of the Cambodian dictator, Pol Pot, begins Wednesday June 22nd. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Introducing: Real Outlaws - Billy the Kid Part 1

From Noiser, Real Outlaws is the new podcast that travels back in time to when rogues and bandits followed a code all of their own. In this taster episode, were on the trail of Billy the Kid - perhaps the best-known outlaw in American history. Hero or villain? You decide. Follow Real Outlaws to get Part 2 now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Julius Caesar Part 3: Murder in the Senate

Caesar departs Egypt with his lover, Cleopatra, secure on the throne. After crushing Pompeys allies, he returns to Rome. His rule proves popular with the masses. But senators grow concerned by his increasing megalomania. With the Ides of March approaching, conspirators hatch an historic assassination plot A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 3 of 3. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about...

Julius Caesar Part 2: Rendezvous With Cleopatra

Caesars campaign in Gaul begins. An invasion on an epic scale, it will also include two missions to the rain-lashed island of Britain. Back home, however, the collapse of the Triumvirate pushes Rome towards civil war. The conflict will spill across the Mediterranean, driving Julius Caesar into the arms of a certain Queen Cleopatra A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 2 of 3. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started...

Julius Caesar Part 1: The Roman Dictator

Politician, writer, warrior, lover... Julius Caesar was the dictator-for-life who became the absolute ruler of Rome and its domains. His life was a series of extraordinary and gruesome adventures. The young student kidnapped by pirates. The general who butchered the people of Gaul and led the Roman legions into Britain. The lothario famously entranced by Cleopatra. But how much truth do the legends contain? A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 1 of 3. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+...

Julius Caesar: Coming Soon on Real Dictators...

Join us on a trip to Ancient Rome. The first of three episodes on the legendary Roman general drops Wednesday May 4th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Genghis Khan Part 2: Rise of the Mongols

The leader brings reforms to his newly unified Mongol nation. The man formerly known as Temjin will now conquer an empire bigger than any before in recorded history. But what are the innovations that underpin his supremacy? And how will history judge him - as a cruel tyrant, or a great leader? A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about...

Genghis Khan Part 1: Underdog to Emperor

We're in the Mongol lands of Central Asia in the late 1100s. This is a place of nomadic warriors, a region divided between tribes. But one man will emerge to unite them. Armed with the greatest military mind of his age, he will lead the Mongol peoples far beyond their own borders. A terror to his enemies, he will build a reputation unmatched for cruelty and barbarism. So how does a boy from humble origins come to rule an empire twice the size of Ancient Rome's? A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early...

Hitler: Night of the Long Knives (Part 14)

To ward off the Western Allies, Hitler takes a trip to Venice to visit Mussolini. At home, meanwhile, Hitlers paramilitaries, the SA, are growing restless. In a final savage act, the mother of all purges, Hitler will liquidate anyone who has ever wronged him. Under the unassailable German Fhrer, the Third Reich will begin A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll to Season 2 for episodes on Hitlers early years. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to...

Hitler: The Reichstag Fire (Part 13)

Installed as Chancellor, Hitler briefs his army chiefs to prepare for war. But first, he must deal with enemies at home After the German parliament building is set ablaze, Hitler seizes the opportunity to eliminate all political opposition. His opponents will be dragged away to the first of the infamous camps. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll to Season 2 for episodes on Hitlers early years. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get...

Adolf Hitler Seizes Power (Part 12)

As Hitler-mania sweeps the land, the Nazis win an election landslide. But Hitler finds himself shut out by the Prussian elite, at least until he can grind them into submission. Finally, the unthinkable happens. Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll to Season 2 for episodes on Hitlers early years. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad...

Hitler's Secret Family (Part 11)

After the Wall Street Crash, the German economy nosedives. The Nazis find themselves within grasp of government. As Adolf Hitler makes headlines across Europe, secret relatives come out of the woodwork. With Hitlers newfound fame comes the whiff of scandal, and a personal tragedy that could derail everything. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll to Season 2 for episodes on Hitlers early years. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a...

Hitler's Women & Joseph Goebbels (Part 10)

Adolf Hitler, at large once again, finds himself barred from public life. Retreating to the mountains, he finds a new home and a female companion. It wont be the last of Hitlers relationships to end in an attempted suicide. Meanwhile, backed by Joseph Goebbels, the self-proclaimed fhrer plots his comeback as a respectable politician. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll to Season 2 for episodes on Hitlers early years. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to...

Introducing: Short History Of... Bonnie and Clyde

From the creators of Real Dictators we present Short History Of... Hosted by Paul McGann, this show gives you a front-row seat as historys most incredible moments play out right before you. Forged by the Great Depression, Bonnie and Clyde became icons of lawlessness, thrilling and shocking America with their crime sprees and doomed romance. But what drove them to lives of such violence? And with the full might of the police against them, how did it all end? This is a Short History of Bonnie and Clyde. Written by Danny Marshall, with thanks to Paul Schneider, journalist and author...

Hitler in Prison & Mein Kampf (Part 9)

Adolf Hitler, now a national celebrity, begins his jail term. Besieged by well-wishers, he has faith his time inside will be short. To keep the Nazi flame burning, he decides to write a new book. Mein Kampf will one day make Hitler a best-selling author and a multi-millionaire. But how will it be received right now, in the new thriving Germany? A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 9 of the Hitler Story. Scroll to Season 2 for episodes on Hitlers early years. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now...

Adolf Hitler's Day in Court (Part 8)

Munich, Germany. November 1923. The Nazis have just attempted to launch a revolution. But instead, Adolf Hitler now finds himself on the run from the law. Unless he makes it to the border, the firing squad beckons. But in fact, as unlikely as it seems, Hitler is about to take Germany by storm. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 8 of the Hitler Story. You can start listening here. Or, scroll to Season 2 for episodes on Hitlers early years. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for...

Turkmenbashy Part 2: Putin, Taliban, Internet Shutdown

As the new Turkmen leader, Saparmurat Niyazov has absolute power. He uses it to construct one of historys most surreal regimes. Rebuilding the capital city in white marble, he puts his own mother at the forefront of public life. A series of absurd policies begins. Even as the War on Terror lands on his doorstep, the tyrant seems unstoppable. But, somehow, opposition will emerge, culminating in a dramatic attempt on his life. A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. Research by Derek Henry Flood. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for...

Turkmenbashy Part 1: Soviet Stooge, Hermit Tyrant

Turkmenistan in Central Asia. Somewhere unremarkable, you might assume. But youd be wrong. Away from prying eyes, an extraordinary story unfolded here. In the early 1990s, a man called Saparmurat Niyazov creates a brand-new state from the rubble of the Soviet Union. His regime will be a case study in modern tyranny, filled with bizarre pronouncements and barely believable laws. As Turkmenbashy, or Head of the Turkmen, Niyazov rules into the 2000s, turning Turkmenistan into a North Korea 2.0. But how does he get away with it? A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. Research by Derek Henry Flood. For...

Idi Amin Part 6: The Entebbe Raid

Four Israeli jets descend on Uganda under cover of night. An audacious commando mission begins. It will spark the beginning of the end for Idi Amin. After a fatally ill-judged war with Tanzania, the tyrant will be ousted. Leaving a grim legacy behind him, hell begin a surreal retirement thousands of miles away. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more...

Idi Amin Part 5: Husband, Father, Movie Star

We delve into Amins private life, taking in his many marriages, mistresses and children. The President makes a triumphant return to the boxing ring, seemingly in his element. He participates in a barely believable film about his own life. But, away from the limelight, the Ugandan people have had enough. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad...

Idi Amin Part 4: Expulsion of the Asians

In a speech, Amin makes an extraordinary announcement something he claims came to him in a dream. All Ugandans of Asian origin must leave the country within 90 days. Thousands of citizens scramble to respond. Meanwhile, out in the countryside, supporters of Obote are massacred in their hundreds. An army of exiles prepares to launch the first serious attempt on Big Daddys rule. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions...

Idi Amin Part 3: Big Daddy Seizes Power

Amin wages war on Bugandas king. The administration strengthens its grip on power. But after Obote survives an assassination attempt by mere inches, rumours swirl as to the perpetrators identity. Brigadier Amin goes on an army recruitment drive. Soon, Obote must depart Uganda to do business abroad. And when he does, who knows what might happen in his absence... A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with...

Idi Amin Part 2: Warlord In-Waiting...

The curtain falls on the British Empire in Africa. Uganda is free. Idi Amin becomes the right-hand man of the nation's new leader, Milton Obote. Committing unspeakable atrocities against civilians, Amin dodges the law and sets himself up as a rogue arms dealer. Obote had better watch his back. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices....

Idi Amin Part 1: The Butcher of Uganda

From 1971 to 1979, President Idi Amin Dada devastated Uganda. The military dictator sank the economy and deported an entire ethnic class. He slaughtered up to half a million of his fellow citizens. All with the persona of 'Big Daddy', the playful joker. His image as a buffoon, however, belied his extraordinary charisma and his mastery of communication. In a continent ravaged by empire, his bloody tale is part of a much larger story. Let's explore the life of Africa's most infamous son. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new...

Introducing: History Daily

OnHistory Daily, we do history, daily. Every weekday beginning November 1st, host Lindsay Graham (American Scandal,American History Tellers) takes you back in time to explore a momentous event that happened on this day in history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Introducing: Short History Of...

From the creators of Real Dictators comes a brand-new weekly show. Short History Of... gives you a front-row seat as history's most incredible moments play out right before you. In this taster episode, we're in Cuba. It's October 1962. Three men Kennedy, Khrushchev and Castro hold the fate of the planet in their hands. A dispute over missiles spirals out of control. All sides brace for war. How did it come to this? And just how close will the world come to nuclear Armageddon? This is a Short History of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Part 1. Search 'Short History Of...'...

Colonel Gaddafi Part 8: The Arab Spring

By early 2011, Libya is changing. The Arab Spring is underway. A young lawyer from Benghazi organises a protest. Before long, it will become a full-blown rebellion. Colonel Gaddafi, the man who has dominated Libya for four decades, will become a fugitive, soon to meet one of the grisliest ends of any dictator in history. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Colonel Gaddafi Part 7: 9/11 and a New Ally

On September 11th, 2001, life in the West is transformed in an instant. Amidst the fall-out, Gaddafi spots an opportunity. To the surprise of many, he makes it his mission to re-join the international fold. The Libyan dictator pitches his Bedouin tent on the front lawns of palaces and parliaments across the world. Muammar Gaddafi - the man of many masks - is transforming into the Wests most eccentric friend. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions...

Colonel Gaddafi Part 6: The Lockerbie Bombing

In 1988, Gaddafi takes his terror to the skies, bringing down a passenger flight over Lockerbie, Scotland. Staffers at the Pentagon team up with Hollywood executives to shore up public opinion against the tyrant. Meanwhile, the Colonel himself looks south - across the Sahara - and prepares to be crowned 'King of Kings'. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Colonel Gaddafi Part 5: Reagan vs Gaddafi

Gaddafi takes his terror onto the streets of London and Berlin. Libyan agents hunt down his opponents across the globe. The Reagan administration launches airstrikes, targeting the dictator and his inner circle. With the stakes higher than ever, Gaddafi's security network works overtime to stamp out dissent. Thousands of schoolchildren bear witness to a gruesome lesson in tyranny. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your...

Colonel Gaddafi Part 4: The Munich Olympic Massacre

In the summer of 1972, at the Munich Olympic Games, a festival of sport becomes a terrifying nightmare. The Libyan leader tightens his grip on power at home, while exporting terror abroad. Tension with America is reaching breaking point. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Colonel Gaddafi Part 3: Vengeance Day

Muammar Gaddafi cant quite believe his luck. Still in his twenties, he finds himself leader of an oil-rich country. The Colonel wastes no time kicking out the Americans and the Brits. He instigates a 'Vengeance Day' to deal with Libyas colonial oppressors. Living standards soar for ordinary Libyans. But the cracks are already appearing. Things are about to spin off in a very different direction... For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a...

Colonel Gaddafi Part 2: Gaddafi in London

In the 1960s, Libya gets rich on oil. But, with the wealth squandered, many question the Kings authority. Among them is young Muammar Gaddafi. Sent to England as a military cadet, Gaddafi roams the streets of Swinging London in flowing Bedouin robes. With his training complete, he readies himself for an audacious seizure of power. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Colonel Gaddafi Part 1: Son of the Desert

Brother Leader, King of Kings, Falcon of Africa The Most Dangerous Man in the World'. Colonel Gaddafi was the Libyan tyrant who abused his people on an industrial scale, until he was murdered by them as they rose up against him. A revolutionary who freed his country from empire, only to squander its riches. Terrorist sponsor one moment, Western ally the next. At the height of World War Two, a Bedouin child is born in Libyas desert. From these humble origins, Muammar Gaddafi will go on to dominate global events for half a century. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and...

Franco Part 5: Life After a Dictator

The horrors of the past are buried. After 20 years in power, Franco embraces capitalism and declares himself a moderniser. Spain becomes a leading holiday destination. Later, Franco plans his own succession. The ailing Generalissimo headhunts a dashing young heir. But it remains to be seen whether this successor will keep to Francos script. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Franco Part 4: The Cold War & the President

The White Terror continues. Spains strongman assumes power in Madrid, herding his defeated enemies into concentration camps. Franco commissions a movie to tell his own life story. Up in the mountains, die-hard rebels continue to resist. After World War Two, Franco seeks to re-brand. El Caudillo sets about seducing a brand-new ally: the United States. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Franco Part 3: The Spanish Civil War

In July 1936, Spain erupts into civil war. But Francisco Franco is marooned far away in the Canary Islands. A devious rescue mission ensues. Back on Spanish soil, Franco begins the process of conquering his homeland, butchering his enemies as he goes. Mussolini and Hitler lend a hand. Closing in on Madrid, Franco lays the groundwork for a decades-long dictatorship. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more...

Franco Part 2: Murder in Africa

In 1917, Franco is posted to northern Spain. He courts a local schoolgirl named Carmen. But soon, a charismatic army superior convinces Franco to return to Africa. In Morocco, he brutalises the local population. Climbing the military ranks, Franco becomes something of a celebrity. Meanwhile, Spain itself spirals towards civil war. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Franco Part 1: Spains Buried Past

Today, Spain is Europes holiday capital. But under the sand lie sinister secrets. From 1939 to 1975, Francisco Franco ruled as the nations dictator. Despite his bloody reign, the General died peacefully in his bed at a ripe old age. How was he able to get away with such atrocities? The story begins in the 1890s. Francisco Franco is born and raised on Spains Atlantic coast. After joining the army, hes posted to north Africa. Here, his hunger for recognition will nearly cost him his life... For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now...

Adolf Hitler Part 7: The Day of Treason

In the final part of Hitlers Early Years, the Nazi leader launches his very own assault on power: the Munich Putsch. Under cover of darkness, the SA prepare to storm locations across Munich. Hitler himself prepares to kidnap a senior politician. Will the Nazis take over Germany? Or will they fail and fade back into obscurity? For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices....

Adolf Hitler Part 6: Hitlers Secret Book

The Nazis kickstart their media operation. Desperate to be an icon, Hitler pens a secret autobiography, where he compares his own rise to Jesuss resurrection. French and Belgian troops cross the German border, while the economy goes into meltdown. Amidst the turmoil, the Nazis plot their very own coup dtat. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adolf Hitler Part 5: The Stormtroopers Arrive

Hitler decides he needs an army of his own. The Nazis create a new paramilitary unit the Sturmabteilung, or SA. These hooligans take National Socialism onto the streets. Hitler assembles an executive team of deputies. They include Ernst Rhm - an army insider with a stockpile of weapons. And a celebrity fighter pilot called Hermann Gring... For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices....

Adolf Hitler Part 4: The Spy Becomes the Nazi Leader

Hitler is sent undercover, tasked with spying on a band of extremists. But he soon falls under their spell and breaks cover to join their ranks. They will soon become the Nazi Party, and this new recruit their leader. Under a new mentor, Adolf Hitler finds his voice. His march towards power is grinding into gear. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices....

Adolf Hitler Part 3: The 'Stab in the Back'

The Great War ends. Hitler despairs. The Kaiser does a runner. Revolutions break out across Germany. Discharged from hospital, Hitler returns home to Munich, desperate to keep his army job. The Allies gather in Paris to settle the tab for the War. Hitler drinks in far-right conspiracy theories. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adolf Hitler Part 2: Hitler in the First World War

June 1914, Sarajevo. An assassination on the street disrupts the entire balance of power in Europe. The First World War explodes into action. Adolf Hitler relocates to Munich. After dodging the draft, he later embraces life as a soldier. But then, serving in Flanders in 1918, a traumatic injury threatens to end his rise to power before its even started. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more...

Adolf Hitler Part 1: Birth of a Fhrer

You may know something of the Hitler story. But theres a decent chance you dont know the half of it. We begin a deep dive into the early years of a man who became the very embodiment of evil. Peeling away Hitlers own myths about his childhood, we explore how he emerged from obscurity. The future German Fhrer isnt born in Germany. Growing up in Austria, he clashes with his father but idolises his mother. Abandoning schoolwork, young Adolf dedicates himself to the artistic life, hoping to make it as a painter. But then tragedy strikes. For ad-free listening, exclusive...

Introducing: Real Narcos Season 2 - Flix Gallardo

From the creators of Real Dictators comes Real Narcos, the show that takes you to the front line of the war on drugs. For Season 2, we're in Mexico. In 1985, Kiki Camarena is a US DEA agent on the trail of Flix Gallardo - the man known as the Mexican Godfather. But Camarena's kidnapping at the hands of the cartel will send shockwaves around the world. Search 'Real Narcos' in your podcast app and hit follow for more episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

General Tojo Part 4: The Atom Bombs

The walls close in on Hideki Tojo. The General turned Prime Minister takes hands-on control of the military, with catastrophic consequences. Emperor Hirohito pulls the plug. With Tojo forced out of office and on the run from the Allies in Tokyo, the end of World War Two arrives. But its final chapter will change the world forever more. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your...

General Tojo Part 3: Attack on Pearl Harbor

Japan attacks Pearl Harbor. The Pacific War is underway. In Tokyo, Prime Minister Tojo moves to take every significant government job for himself. Japanese troops sweep through the Malay Peninsula. Thousands of Allied soldiers are interned in prisoner of war camps, in conditions that beggar belief. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

General Tojo Part 2: Terror in China

Major General Hideki Tojo takes command of the secret police - the Kempeitai. The Imperial Japanese Army invades China and terrorises the civilian population. Kempeitai operatives set up a secret lab where they carry out horrific medical and weapons experiments. This is only the beginning. Before long, Prime Minister Tojo will ready the nation for war with the United States. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more...

General Tojo Part 1: The Young Samurai

General Hideki Tojo led Japan into World War Two and oversaw some of the most horrific war crimes in recorded history. Tojo did not hold absolute power, but he more than earns his place at this table. Ruling under a compliant Emperor, Tojo gathered power to himself.He was the minister who outgrew his master, the bureaucrat whose relentless work ethic took him to the apex of government. Hideki Tojo is born in 1884. Japan is an emerging world power. As a young military officer, the man they call The Razor begins his journey up the ladder of Japanese politics. For...

Papa Doc Part 3: Vampire of the Caribbean

Franois Duvalier puts the finishing touches to his terrifying cult of personality. The President for Life declares himself an immaterial being - a spirit that will hover over Haiti even after his body dies. Thoughts turn to succession. His son - "Baby Doc" - waits in the wings. Our contributors reflect on the legacy of Papa Doc - a name that will forever haunt the nightmares of Haitians. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get...

Papa Doc Part 2: Haitis Dictator vs JFK

Haitian dictator Papa Doc Duvalier crushes an attempted coup without mercy. Spooked by this near miss, Duvalier forms his own private militia called the Tonton Macoute. They take their name from a terrifying bogeyman of Haitian mythology. As the horrors of the regime become impossible to ignore, President Kennedy decides to lay down a marker. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Papa Doc Part 1: The Voodoo Tyrant

Just a few hundred miles south of Florida, across the Caribbean Sea, lies Haiti. From 1957 to 1971, this tropical island nation was ruled by a would-be demigod. Franois Duvalier - better known as Papa Doc - wielded the twin powers of state violence and voodoo. Real Dictators takes you behind the scenes of Papa Docs maniacal regime. His victims and adversaries tell the story of the medical doctor who became the butcher of his people. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner...

Mao Zedong Part 3: The Cultural Revolution

Maos Cultural Revolution sets out to purge the minds of an entire population. Meanwhile, the Supreme Leader himself leads a life of debauchery and excess - as his former doctor remembers. The Chairman seems invincible. But as his health deteriorates, his legacy is anything but assured. Eyewitnesses to his brutality reflect on what Mao means to China today, more than 40 years after his death. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a...

Mao Zedong Part 2: The Great Leap Forward

Mao Zedong's Communists come down from the mountains to do battle with the Nationalists. After clinching victory, Mao is greeted by many as a hero. But life under the new Chairman is about to get a whole lot worse. Installed as Supreme Leader, Mao sets about revolutionising the way his people live, work, and even think. His Great Leap Forward is intended to be an economic masterplan. Instead, it will drive people across China to the wildest extremes of human behaviour. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android...

Mao Zedong Part 1: Peasants Son, Communist Rebel

In the centre of Chinas capital city, Beijing, lies a corpse that no one dares remove. Its been 44 years since Mao Zedongs body was laid to rest in the grandiose Chairman Mao Memorial Hall. He may be gone but he is not forgotten. To some, hes the father of modern China. To many others, hes a sadistic thug - a man willing to sacrifice millions of lives in pursuit of power. Mao Zedong is born in Hunan Province in 1893. Growing up on his fathers farm, he consumes books and ideas. His rise to the top of the Communist...

Joseph Stalin Part 3: Hitler Attacks

Stalins regime hits the rocks when Adolf Hitler launches Operation Barbarossa and invades Russia. Nazi tanks plough towards Moscow in a devastating advance. Stalins legacy is forged in this fight to the death. In his final years, the strongman succumbs to cardiac problems. His tools for progress have been famine, slavery and execution. Yet to this day, some of his countrymen and women lionise him as the man who turned Russia into a superpower. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple...

Joseph Stalin Part 2: The Secretary Becomes Dictator

With the First World War underway, Stalins journey to dictatorship grinds into gear. After the War, Russia is turned upside down. Stalin thrives in the chaos, masterminding a string of elaborate takedowns of his rivals. Rising to party leader, he visits a ruthless purge on his enemies. But Stalins brutality does not go unchallenged. The peasants revolt, while a showdown with his own wife at a dinner party has tragic consequences. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to...

Joseph Stalin Part 1: The Young Bank Robber

Joseph Stalin - the man of steel - was the party secretary who plotted a route to absolute power, becoming head of the Eastern Bloc and chief nemesis of the United States. But how did a man from the Georgian frontier of the Russian Empire do it? In 1917, the 300-year-old Romanov Dynasty collapses. The communist Bolsheviks storm the Winter Palace and seize power. From this band of revolutionaries, a future bloody dictator - a man with an extraordinary backstory - begins to emerge... For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for...

Kim Jong-il Part 3: Nuclear Armed

Installed as dictator, Kim Jong-il builds an all-powerful state that dominates the lives and minds of its people. North Korea is wracked by famine. The people adapt to survive - we hear from one man who flouted the rules and paid a horrific price. Lurid rumours emerge about how the Dear Leader spends his leisure time. And Kim Jong-il begins work on an arsenal of nuclear weapons that will spook the world and pave the way for his own sons ascent to power. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple...

Kim Jong-il Part 2: Time to Make a Movie

Kim Jong-il has risen to become propaganda chief under the rule of his father. Now, he hatches an audacious plan to turn North Korea into a filmmaking powerhouse. South Koreas finest actress and leading director are kidnapped and find themselves on boats bound for the North. Elsewhere, Kim launches a charm offensive at the armed forces, readying the ground for his coronation. And his father dies, leaving the path to power seemingly clear... For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or...

Kim Jong-il Part 1: Birth of North Korea

Kim Jong-il built a rogue state with nuclear missiles trained on its enemies all while living a life of the utmost luxury. In the first episode ofReal Dictators, we piece together the early life of this tyrant and that of the country he came to rule. Kim Jong-il is born during World War Two. His father Kim Il-sung fights the Japanese and helps found the state of North Korea. After the War, son and nation grow up together, as Kim Jong-il begins his own rise to power. Historians trace Kims early years, while defectors from North Korea reflect on the...

Trailer: Real Dictators

How does a single human being convince thousands to kill for them and millions to turn a blind eye? Real Dictators is the new podcast series hosted by Paul McGann (Dr Who, Luther, Withnail and I) that explores the hidden lives of historys tyrants. We encounter the American-trained doctor, Papa Doc Duvalier, who used modern medicine to convince the people of Haiti that he was a Voodoo god. Theres Kim Jong-il, who developed nuclear warheads alongside blockbuster movies. Theres Mao Zedong the peasants son who transformed China, presiding over the catastrophic Great Chinese Famine and the bloody Cultural Revolution. And...

Real Outlaws

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Bonnie and Clyde Part 3: The Final Ride

The Star-crossed killers are hurtling towards their final date with destiny. But they still have one thing left to do - come good on Clydes promise of revenge on the facility that shaped his future - Eastham Prison. Their daring raid will bring the bloodhound Texas Ranger, Frank Hamer, down on them.As the net finally closes in, their celebrity reaches new heights - their exploits get wilder and the stories get stranger, and the truth becomes harder to see. One thing is for certain - this is the final ride for Bonnie and Clyde. A Noiser production, written by Danny...

Bonnie and Clyde Part 2: Ride or Die

Its April 1933. In Joplin, Missouri, a routine stakeout erupts into chaos under the suburban streetlights. Gunfire cracks the night as Bonnie Parker unleashes a hail of bullets from her oversized machine gun, buying time for Clyde Barrow and the gang to ram their way to freedom. Two cops lie dead, but the real prize for the law? An abandoned apartment brimming with weapons, personal effectsand a camera roll of playful, defiant photos that will rocket Bonnie and Clyde to infamy. As the Barrow Gang tears across the Depression-ravaged Midwest in stolen cars, their high-speed heists and shootouts turn them...

Bonnie and Clyde Part 1: Star-crossed Lovers

Its the early 1930s. In Dallas, Texas, under the Trinity River viaduct - life is hard. They call it the Devils Back Porch. Amongst the tents and wagons, the dispossessed scrap it out for survival. Here, kids grow up mean. So its no surprise when young Clyde Barrow strays into a life of crime. In a few short years his run-ins with the law will transform him into a hardened killer. But it wont be until he meets the love of his life that hell step into the national spotlight. Bonnie Parker - Muse. Poet. Outlaw. This is the story...

The Krays Part 3: Richer Than Ever

Londons Old Bailey becomes the scene of the criminal celebrity trial of the century. Flash bulbs pop and crowds gasp as the gory details of the Krays murderous empire are revealed to an enthralled public. Loyalties are tested to the limit and old oaths are broken. Detective Nipper Reads' career is on the line; but for those who dare to give evidence - the stakes are far higher. Will this landmark trial finally bring an end to the Krays reign of terror - or will it simply add to their growing legend? A Noiser production, written by Robert Parker. With...

The Krays Part 2: Bloodlust

The Krays criminal house of cards begins to wobble and fall, as more blood soaks into Londons streets. Reggie finds love, Ronnie finds even more trouble, and together the twins behave more erratically than ever beforeand Scotland Yards finest are closing in. Gang members within The Firm are gripped with fear - too scared to defy their bosses, but also terrified of where their actions will lead them. With tensions climbing - who can the Krays really trust? A Noiser production, written by Robert Parker. With thanks to Kate Beal Blyth, writer, documentary film-maker, and the author of The Krays:...

The Krays Part 1: The East End

Its the swinging sixties and London is home of fashion, pop music, and celebrity scandal. But beneath the glitz and glamour is a dark underbelly of gangland crime. Emerging from the ashes of a war-torn city; two brothers would forge a criminal empire from the snooker halls and pubs of the East End, to the jazz bars and clubs of the fashionable West End - these two young men would come to rule it all. This is the rise of Ronnie and Reggie Kray. A Noiser production, written by Robert Parker. With thanks to Kate Beal Blyth, writer, documentary film-maker,...

John Dillinger Part 3: Public Enemy

John H. Dillinger is declared Public Enemy number 1! After his daring escape from Crown Point Jail the gang reorganises and doubles down on their criminal exploits - and every act is splashed across the nations newspapers. But the Feds have had enough. J. Edgar Hoover finds his own job is on the line - he must prove that one way or another the bureau can bring Dillinger to justice. A team of special agents are on the case - but Johnnie is nothing if not elusive. Theyll need to be very good, or get very lucky if theyre to...

John Dillinger Part 2: The Dillinger Gang

The Dillinger craze sweeps the nation as Johnnie's infamous gang go on a freewheeling crime spree. They target the richest banks in the country, enacting the revenge of the everyday American. But as banks topple, their rise to national obsession will cause embarrassment to state authorities - their daring escapades now draw the eye of the Federal Government. And J. Edgar Hoover is not a man to be taken lightly. A Noiser production, written by Kateland Brown. With thanks toElliott J. Gorn, historian and author ofDillingers Wild Ride: The Year that Made Americas Public Enemy Number One This is Part...

John Dillinger Part 1: Hard Time

Its the 1930s and America is gripped by the Great Depression. Banks are going bust and taking peoples life savings with them in this cruel period of history, an unlikely hero will emerge. Well, a hero to some anyway. An average guy from rural Indiana will burst onto the national stage - becoming a criminal cause clbre. We visit his humble beginnings, and see where the road forked for the boy before he became the man of legend. Serial bank robber and Public Enemy #1 - John H. Dillinger, leader of the infamous Dillinger Gang. A Noiser production, written by...

Ned Kelly Part 3: The Iron Man

The Kelly Outbreak nears its bloody end. The Kelly Gang has successfully remained hidden and out of the reach of the law for over a year but all that is about to change. Fearing betrayal and feeling the heat of the law closing in - Ned is determined to go out swinging. He devises a high stakes plan to turn the tables on the Victorian police force, resulting in an epic siege and a high-octane gunfight that will go down in history, and cement Ned Kelly as an outlaw legend for centuries to come. A Noiser production, written by Danny...

Ned Kelly Part 2: Outbreak

Ned Kelly, along with his brother Dan and two friends Steve and Joe are forced into hiding deep in the Victorian bush. Left to their own devices, perhaps things might cool off and settle down. I guess well never know. When the police come knocking, all theyll find is trouble. Deadly trouble. An incident will spark a crimewave that will split loyalties and pit the public against the authorities - itll go down in history as the Kelly Outbreak. A Noiser production, written by Danny Marshall. With thanks to Graham Seal, professor of folklore at Curtin University in Perth, and...

Ned Kelly Part 1: The Bushranger

Ned Kelly is the model social bandit, an Australian legend without equal even today hes still considered a symbol of rebellion against the establishment. But whats the truth behind the myth? We journey into the harsh bushland territories of Colonial Australia to see what happens when the forces of Imperial authority collide with a young man who wont lie down, or accept the hand hes been dealt. A Noiser production, written by Danny Marshall. With thanks to Graham Seal, professor of folklore at Curtin University in Perth, and author ofTell em I died game: The legend of Ned Kelly. This...

Billy The Kid Part 3: Dead or Alive

In the fallout of the Lincoln County War, Billy the Kid tries to bury his past, but his past wont let him go. After another round of rough justice, Billy has had a stomach full of lawmen and lawyers. With every gunfight and jailbreak, The Kids legend gains strength - a folk hero in the making. Can Billy outrun the long arm of the law... Perhaps not, but hes willing to die trying. A Noiser production, written by Danny Marshall. With thanks to Michael Wallis, journalist, historian, and author of Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride. This is Part 3...

Billy The Kid Part 2: The Regulators

Billy finally finds a happy home amongst the cowboys and saloons of Lincoln County, New Mexico. But his newfound peace is about to be shattered. Caught up in a bloody turf war, 'The Kid' must choose a side. In the Wild West the difference between outlaw and lawful citizen can be hard to see. Sometimes its just a matter of luck. And Billy is in the wrong place at the wrong time. The fallout will go down in history. A Noiser production, written by Danny Marshall. With thanks to Michael Wallis, journalist, historian, and author of Billy the Kid: The...

Billy The Kid Part 1: The Young Gun

Billy the Kid is perhaps the best known outlaw in American history. Hero or villain? It depends on who you speak to. The story begins with a young boy surviving the slums of New York before becoming a legend in the Wild West. He will learn early on that justice, like fortune, is a fickle beast. And in the unforgiving saloons and dust bowl towns of New Mexico - hard choices will set him on a path from being just any kid, toThe Kid. A Noiser production, written by Danny Marshall. With thanks to Michael Wallis, journalist, historian, and author...

Introducing: Real Outlaws

Launching May 17th - Real Outlaws. From Billy the Kid to the Kray twins. The Peaky Blinders to Anne Bonny. Real Outlaws is the show that follows in the footsteps of historys most notorious criminals. Be they charismatic antiheroes or bloodthirsty villains, their names and exploits live on in the popular imagination. But what are the true stories behind the myths? We'll talk to leading experts and travel back in time, to when rogues and bandits followed a code all of their own. This is Real Outlaws. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The History of WWII Podcast

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Episode 615-Battle of Midway: Prelude

Adm. Yamamoto makes his plans for Midway, but Adm. Nimitz sees the Cherub that sees them and plans accordingly. The Ghosts of the Battle of the Coral Sea will be felt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 614-The Lexington is Lost

The Americans lose a carrier, Lady Lex, but the Japanese plan to take Port Moresby is also ruined. Meanwhile, the Japanese Striking Force is to follow and finish off the Yorktown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 613-The First Carrier Battle

Both the American and Japanese carrier groups launch air strikes at the other. The outcome will affect the SW Pacific and Australias security. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 612-Death of a Carrier

Though faulty reports, the Americans will claim an impressive victory. Then comes a chance for something greater. Meanwhile the Japanese invasion force is waiting for their carriers to wipe out Fletchers Task Force 17. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 611-Battle of the Coral Sea: First Blood

With imperfect information, both sides strike at the other. Still, Adm. Fletchers potential to wreck havoc is greater than the Japanese. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 610-Fletcher's Tulagi Air Raid

The Japanese opening move at the Battle of the Coral Sea is dealt a blow by Adm. Fletcher and the pilots of the Yorktown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 609-Prelude to The Battle of the Coral Sea

Returning to the Pacific Theater, after Pearl Harbor the Japanese run wild. But Adm. Nimitz seeks ways to sting the enemy until the U.S. is ready to bring the fight to the enemy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 608-Patton's Slapping Spree

Gen. Patton is now a hero of the War Effort and the American people. But then his temper will limit his usefulness to the American cause. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 607-The Axis Escapes Sicily

Gen. Patton will order a third amphibious end run, but by now Gen. Truscotts 3rd division is traveling faster than ever. Meanwhile, being bold the Germans and Italians manage to evacuate most of their men from Sicily. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 606-Patton's Second End Run

Patton orders a second end run and Bernards men end up trapped atop a height. Soon they are running out of ammunition and their phone lines are cut. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 605-Bruce Henderson Book Interview-Midnight Flyboys

Bruce Henderson comes on to discuss the Bomber Crews that dropped secret agents and supplied to the French Resistance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 604-Patton's End Run

The Germans at San Fratello are holding out, so Gen. Patton wants an amphibious landing behind them to trap the enemy. But. Lt. Col. Bernards men land in the wrong place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 603-One Bloody Advance After Another

American divisions are moving east, but soon the 45th and 1st need to be replaced. They are fatigued and some are committing act unbecoming a US Soldier. Meanwhile, Gen. Patton orders and amphibious end run to speed up the capture of Sicily. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 602-Victory at Mt. Etna

While the Big Red One pushing east just above the Canadians, the 45th Infantry Division moves east along the north coast road. Italian units are pushed aside, but then comes a line manned by Germans. Four US Army machine gunners were sacrifice themselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 601-Operation Hardgate

The Germans have a plan to stop the Allies from reaching Messina. Problem is, their plans end up in the hands of the Allies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 600-First Quebec Conference

With Sicily about to fall, the Germans prepare to evacuate their troops, not so much the Italians. Meanwhile, the Allies discuss what comes next at the First Quebec Conference where someone leaves behind notes to Operation Overlord. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 599-Mussolini Leaves the Stage, For now

Montys plan to swing left has failed. Now he wants Pattons help who still does not trust the British. During this a slight British officer pulls off a miracle. Meanwhile the fighting on Sicily is felt in Rome as Mussolini is voted out of power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 598-Monty Can't Keep His Promise

Montys 8th Army cant push on north to Catania, so he has other forces swing to the left. But this 3 prong attack fails as well. Ordering his men to go on the defensive, Monty calls in more troops from North Africa. Meanwhile, Patton is planning his drive east, to Messina. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 597-Blood on Primosole Bridge

The Durham Light Infantry will lose hundreds of men so the Primosole Bridge can be held. This after the heavy losses of the 1st Parachute Brigade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 596-The First Bridge Too Far

One bridge down, one to go for Montys 8th Army. But friendly fire will disrupt Operation Fustian before it starts, leaving the British paratroopers trapped by Axis forces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 595-3 Commando Bridge: The Fallen

With Palermo taken by the Americans, we turn to Montys rush up north. But first bridges had to be secured. One bridge would cost many Allied lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 594-The Truscott Trot

Gen. Patton is free to go after Palermo, but only after telling his superior half truths. Meanwhile, Gen. Omar Bradley has to head north alone, taking on the Germans trying to retreat to Mt. Etna. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 593-Patton Plans His Revenge

The invasion of Sicily goes well for the Allies. But soon Monty gets greedy, which slows down the offensive and upsets the Americans. Patton doesnt scream unfair. Instead, he makes plans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 592-Friendly Fire Massacre

The imperfect amphibious landings by the Allies is matched by the imperfect defense of the Axis forces on Sicily. With the Allies firmly onshore, the Axis change their defensive plans. But the Americans success is marred by a horrendous friendly fire accident. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 591-Jack El-Hai Interview: The Nazi and the Psychiatrist

Writer Jack El-Hai's book is now a major motion picture staring Russel Crowe and Rami Malek. Hermann Goring is captured and questioned by Dr. Douglas M Kelley who discovers that what happened in 1930's Germany can happen anywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 590-The American Landings on Sicily

The Americans come ashore at three locations. Suffering relatively few deaths from Axis hands, the weather and waves were a different story. Either way, elements of Gen. Pattons 7th Army are on Sicily. Producer Credit-Kath Hach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 589:The Return of Paddy Mayne

In between the Allied air attacks and the invasion forces of Operation Husky, special forces come ashore. And one group is the SRS, formerly, David Sterlings SAS, the Special Air Service. But now in charge is Maj. Paddy Mayne, The Irish Lion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 588-Operation Ladbroke

Before the main assault of Operation Husky, airborne troops need to take key positions. But the first night time glider operations will not go well. Hundreds die before the fighting can start. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 587: Operation Husky Could Have Been Huskier

The planning for Operation Husky was anything but smooth and comprehensive. Everyone had a dog in this fight, but in the end, Monty won. Meanwhile, Mussolini is tempted to pull out of the war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 586-Operation Corkscrew

After the Allies decide that Sicily is the next target, first the smaller islands nearby have to be taken. Thus Operation Corkscrew begins. Meanwhile, there are those in Italy who are thinking, perhaps the time has come to talk to the Allies. And thanks to WWII Podcast Producer- Adam Dach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 585-Kasserine Pass: Humiliating Defeat or Strategic Victory?

The Battle at Kasserine Pass is remembered as an American failure. Perhaps, but not a defeat. The Allies still held the ground and had learned much about modern warfare. Which was the point of fighting in North Africa first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 584-The Tunisian Thermopylae

Bizerte and Tunis have surrendered, but several German and Italian armies are still hiding in Tunisia. The British make sure the enemy does not retreat within the Cap Bon Peninsula, while the Americans start to rebuild Bizerte. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 583-We Are The Masters Of The North African Shore

With the Americans and French in the north and the British in the south, the last holdouts of Axis forces in Tunisia are pushed against the wall of Tunisia. Yet American mistakes and British caution will cause a few more casualties before the fighting is over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 582-Who Shall Have The Honor?

The last battle of North Africa approaches. Problem is, everyone wants to command this battle. But the Germans aren't finished yet. Just 48 hours before Operation Strike starts, a shipment of ammunition and fuel reaches the various panzer divisions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 581-WWII Veteran Interviews from The Warrior Next Door Podcast

Hosts Tony Lupo and Ryan Fairfield join me as share interview clips from two veterans. A young man who saw the atrocities first hand and a pilot who flew with Chuck Yeager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 580-Battle of Hill 609

The 2nd US Corps had its own large assignment, to drive east just under the northern coast. But Hill 609 dominates the area and German guns at its summit are targeting everything in reach, including Gen. Allens Big Red One. Alternate title, American Honor Is Restored. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 579-Battle of Longstop Hill

Before the last two port cities can be taken from the Axis, Longstop Hill has to be recovered. And here, the Germans are ready with heavy mortar teams and machine gun nests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 578-Operation Oration

The final battle is coming, but first Monty and Von Arnim will try for spoiling attacks. Neither get far, thus it comes down to Operation Vulcan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 577-Operation Flax & the Palm Sunday Massacre

Before finishing off the Axis forces in North Eastern Tunisia, Gen. Alexander wants them starved of ammunition and petrol. Thus Operation Flax is created. The land/air bridge between Sicily and Tunisia is to be severed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 576-The Axis Africa Corps Is Bottled Up

The Axis forces in southern Tunisia retreat, the Allies follow. But miscommunication and American failures threaten Anglo-American relations, again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 575-Operation Supercharge

The Allied attack through the Tebaga Pass gets underway. It starts well until the sand storms come. Meanwhile, Pattons attack starts out well, until the American tanks run into a minefield. All this causes arguments amongst the Allied High Command. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 574-The First British Blitzkrieg

With the Mareth Line battle still uncertain and Freybergs left flank attack still pending, Gen. Patton is called on again to attack. But the 10th Panzer Division comes at Pattons 1st US Infantry Division. The Americans are about to be tested again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 573-Cursed By The Rains Of Tunisia

The Battle of the Mareth Line begins. It starts out well, but then rain and a bad decision by the British give the Axis enough time to react. Meanwhile, Pattons tanks push closer towards the coast, hoping to relieve Monty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 572-David Nasaw Interview: The Wounded Generation

Prof. David Nasaw comes on to discuss his book, The Wounded Generation: Coming Home After WWII. The GI Bill was the least Washington could do for the returning GIs, not that they were all treated equally. Mr. Nasaw brings stories and lessons that should not be forgotten. Book release-10/14/25. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 571-Patton Is Now In Command

The Allied forces in Tunisia, now designated the 18th Army gets a new leader, Harold Alexander. He wants training and new leadership. So on his way from Casablanca is Gen. Patton. Meanwhile, Rommel is out as the North African Axis Commander. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 570-Rommel's Last Offensive

Rommel needs a spoiling attack against Monty. His attack plan is not great, but Montys defense plan is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 569-The Germans Take Kasserine Pass

Rome orders a new attack plan. Rommel tries to carry it out, but the Allied forces stop him. Still, the Axis take control of the Kasserine Pass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 568-American Mistakes, American Blood

After some infighting, the Germans launch their attack. The Americans are completely unprepared and the 2nd US Corps is whittled down to size. Now, the Kasserine Pass is open. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 567-The Axis Top 5 Mistakes

Ryan Fairfield and Tony Lupo from The Warrior Next Door Podcast returns to the show as we each give our Top 5 reasons why the Axis lost the war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 566-Thou Shalt Not Pass

Now that the fighting in Northern Tunisia is on hold, the mountain passes in the southern half are the focus of both sides. And whoever controls the mountain passes has the advantages. Meanwhile, Rommel now retreats into Tunisian territory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 565-The French Save The Allies

The Germans attack before the Allies can start up again. Then the rains come in earnest. Tunis is safe for now, but Rommel in the south is losing against Monty and his own Allies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 564-Round Two Goes To The Germans

The German 10th Panzer Division attacks the Allied forces threatening Tunis. Falling for an old trick, the Allies are carved up and pushed back, thus Tunis is safe. Meanwhile, the Axis forces in Tunisia are getting reinforcements and a new commander. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 563- Round One Goes To The Germans

The Allies come at the Tunisian ports in 3 columns. Two of them are stopped cold and thats enough to bring the entire offensive to a halt. The Western Allies need more of everything before they can continue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 562-The Race For Tunis

Vichy France has joined the Allies, but the Germans are moving more men into Tunisia by the day. Battle is coming as both sides need the port city of Tunis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 561-French Honor/German Betrayal

Casablanca finally falls to Gen. Pattons forces. In reaction, the Germans send reinforcements to Tunisia and occupy the rest of France. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 560-Rock the Kasbah!

The GI's comes ashore, but not where theyre supposed to. Still, order is formed and the attack commences. As for reaching the vital airport 5 miles in, the Americans have a French Ace up their sleeve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 559-The French Navy Fights Back

Casablancas French vessels focus on destroying U.S. landing craft. Meanwhile, Gen. Pattons tanks come ashore at Safi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 558-Of All the Gin Joints In the World

The Americans come at Casablanca. But waiting for them are impressive batteries, submarines and the battleship Jean Bart. And for all the work the US State Department had done, Vichy will not submit quietly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 557-French Pride vs American Resolve

The Allied Center Task Force has its work cut out in trying to take Oran and the surrounding airfields. Surprise French attacks from the south and east wreck Allied plans and the timetable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 556-The Americans Have Landed

Though far from perfect, the Western Allies make landfall with their Eastern and Central Task Forces in North Africa. Shots are exchanged, planes are downed, ships sunk and men fall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 555-Allied Blood on French Soil

The Western Allies had landed in North Africa, but two diversionary attacks go horribly wrong. The Americas have their first significant casualties of the war. Operation Torch has a rough start. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 554-Operation Torch: At Last We Are On Our Way

Operation Torch, though a rushed affair, carried the hopes of Washington and London and all of Europe. After much wrangling, the details come together and the date is set, November 8, 1942. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 553-The Western Desert Campaign Comes to an End

Though suffering heavy losses, Monty continues to attack Rommel. Both sides were bled, but this was something Rommel could not afford. The great race back west was on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Operation 552-Operation Supercharge

Monty hopes to confuse Rommel with several limited attacks, so when the big push comes, the Germans main defenses will be out of place. This works and soon, 2 British brigades and the 2nd New Zealand Division attack during the night. Still, the Germans are formidable, even with their dwindling supplies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 551-Interview w/ Tim Bouverie: Allies at War

Operation Barbarossa and the attack on Pearl Harbor created the Grand Alliance, but holding it together took constant work. Only by looking at their areas of conflict, as well as cooperation, are we able to understand the course of the war and world that developed in its aftermath. Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 TikTok-@wwiiguy Instagram - rayharrisjr youtube- https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 550-The Second Battle of El Alamein

Battle has been joined. Though the Axis are outmanned, their minefields allow them to hold back Montys attacks. And Rommel is soon on his way back to take command once again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 549-Never Fear, Monty is Here!

Monty is now in command of 8th Army. Rommel is ill, but will return when the 2nd Battle of El Alamein gets underway. Still, Montys plans do not start out well for his men. And the Torch landings are very far away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 548-How The East Was Won

After a series of body blows, Army Group South is forced back to the Dnieper River. Then they begin to construct the Panther Waton Line, but the Soviets dont wait and attack right away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 547-Soviet Whack A-Mole

Operation Citadel is over, now its Moscows turn. What follows is a series of hammer blow counter attacks by Moscow. Some succeed, some fail, but they all bleed the German invaders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 546-Soviet Tidal Wave

With the German pincers bogged down, Moscow launches two massive counter attacks. One will attempt to trap the German 9th Army at Orel, the other will seek to shatter the 1st Panzer Army of Army Group South. Berlin has to shift its ever shrinking supply of men and panzers, again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 545-Battle of Prokhorovka Pt 2

On July 12, 1943, Soviet Armies come at the SS 2nd Panzer Army. The Germans have attack plans, but the Soviets have attacking numbers. And then the German Army High Command gets horrible news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episod 544-The Battle of Provhorovka Pt 1

Gen. Hoths 4th Panzer Army reaches the Psel River, which threatens both the city of Prokhorovka and Oboyan. But taking from their Reserve forces, the Soviets launch a massive counter attack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Medal of Honor Podcast Episode

Checkout this incredible story of US Marine Corps fighter pilot Jefferson DeBlanc, who was shot down over the Solomon Islands. From there his story had just begun. Medal of Honor Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 543-King of the Hills

In the north Gen. Model releases his panzers. To the south, a new type of tank killing plane is tested by the Germans. Still, whoever controls the heights controls the battle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 542-The Baron of Tank Killers

The panzers of Gen. Hoths 4th Panzer Army of the southern pincer start off well, thanks to most Soviet defenders being to the north. Still, its a long way to Oboyan and enemy reinforcements are coming in fast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 541-German Surprises Vs Soviet Tenacity

Battle has begun. In the north the Germans advance. In the south, theres the battle before the battle and Gen. Hoth had decided to change the attack plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 540-Operation Citadel

The last of men and material are put into place. And though still doubting, the German leader orders Operation Citadel to begin. Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 TikTok-@wwiiguy Instagram - rayharrisjr youtube- https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 539-Interview w/ Laurence Rees: The Nazi Mind

British writer Laurence Rees comes on the show to cover the 12 warnings he has learned from studying WWII. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 538-Operation Mincemeat

While both Moscow and Berlin focus on the Kursk salient, Operation Mincemeat convinces the Germans to focus troops in the wrong place. Meanwhile, Zhukov convinces Stalin to let the enemy attack first, for they will be ready. Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Every penny supports the show and keeps the history coming. Sign up now. Donations are always welcome and help keep the History of WWII Podcast free for all. Follow The History of WWII Podcast:...

Episode 537-Gen. Manstein's Backhand Blow

Manstein overcame Hitlers objections and then two Soviet Fronts. By early March 1943, Kursk was exposed and open to attack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 536-The Red Arm Strikes Back: Blood in the Snow

Having tasted defeat and now victory, Stalin wants more operations in southern Russia. And what he gets will change the course of the war on the Eastern Front. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 535-The First Cracks Appear

The Axis retreat from the Don River was haphazard. Armies were lost as was much equipment. Army Group South would regroup and form another line, but it was much reduced and the Soviets were only getting stronger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 534-Becky Aikman Interview-Spitfires:The American Women Who Flew in the Face of Danger During WWII

Writer Becky Aikman tells the story of American female pilots that chose to go to Britain, to fly for the Air Transport Auxiliary. While flying Spitfires and Hurricanes, they live their lives to the fullest. It's a new land and a new chance to reinvent themselves. But not all will make it to the end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 533-And the Germans Were Left Standing Alone

As the Stavka made the South its main area of operations in 1942, saving Stalingrad was only the beginning. Next, the Italians were wiped out, then the Romanians were finished off. Now, it was the Hungarians turn and what was coming at them was a tidal wave of steel, shot and shell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 532-Operation Little Saturn Pt 2

With the 8th Italian Army destroyed, the Soviets will now focus on the German forces SE of Stalingrad and the 2nd Hungarian Army. The US liaison officer will see the results of these battles and report the slaughter to FDR. Meanwhile, Gen. Manstein is forced to order a pull back of all forces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 531-Operation Little Saturn Pt 1

Picking another weak point of the Axis defensive line to the NW of Stalingrad, the Italian 8th, the Hungarian 2nd and what remained of the Romanian 3rd Armies would be attacked. Then the airfield feeding Gen. Paulus 6th Army would be raided. The German forces would be tied down and unable to assist. Punch by punch Army Group South is losing its strength. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 530-Operation Mars

Operation Mars was the sister Soviet counter attack to Uranus, which freed Stalingrad. But Mars would end very differently for the Soviets. When it was all over, the Stavka would turn their attention back to the south. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 529-Interview w/Jonathan Horn: The Fate of the Generals

Author Jonathan Horns Book, The Fate of Generals: MacArthur, Wainwright and the Epic battle for the Philippines, covers the experiences of both generals during the war. Yet, one is remembered by history, the other, not so much. This book seeks to rectify this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 528-Operation Northern Lights

Gen. von Manstein is sent north to capture Leningrad. But days before his attack is launched, the Soviets launch their own. And the results of this battle will be felt all the way to Stalingrad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 527-Winning By Other Means

The German 17th Army on the Taman peninsula is bending, but not breaking. Then the Soviets realize, they dont have to win, just hold. For events at Kursk will decide the fate of the Caucasus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 526-Operation Neptune

With the building up of troops on the Taman Peninsula, the Germans realize they need an all out attack to drive the enemy back into the Black Sea. Thus Operation Neptune is born. Yet as the Germans look into their cupboard for reserves, they are shocked by what they find. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 525-Alone, Isolated and About to Die

Now that Stalingrad is liberated, the Stavka decide to clear the Caucasus of Axis troops. Which means annihilating the German 17th Army and the Romanian 3rd Army. But Soviet mistakes will start things off badly for the, now attackers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 524-The Line Has Been Drawn at Stalingrad

With overwhelming forces, the German 6th Army is trapped by the Soviets and then reduced. Paulus does not want to surrender, but the call is not his to make. The 6th Army is no more and Army Group South is very much weakened for it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 523-Resistance Is Futile

The Soviets squeeze the trapped German 6th Army even more. Axis air fields are attacked, making it impossible to feed Paulus men. By January of 1943, the Russian winter now has its grip on the Axis soldiers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 522-Operation Winter Storm

As Gen. Manstein readies for Operation Thunderclap, the breakout of the German 6th Army, the Soviets attack again. This time, against the Italian 8th Army. They will be no more successful in resisting, than were the Romanians. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 521-Decision Time: Fight or Flight

Operation Uranus is launched. The Axis forces, caught unawares, fall back. Berlin makes plans, but they simply do not have the means to counter the Soviet attack, not that they realize this yet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 520-Operation Uranus

While Stalingrad holds out, additional Soviet Armies are being assembled nearby. And in mid November they would be launched, to either side of Gen. Paulus 6th Army. If all goes well, those German troops within and near Stalingrad would be surrounded. But the trap must first be set. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 519-Defeat is Always Possible. But Will it Be Today?

Stalingrads defenders are pushed to the breaking point. Worse, they are only sometimes given help by Zhukov. The Germans attack again and the defense all but collapses. Fortunately, the attackers get tired and the Russians hang on. Meanwhile, while Zhukov is making moves behind the lines, certain German officers realize, how weak the Romanian divisions are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 518-Stalin's Latest Mistake

The attack against northern Stalingrad fairs well, still the defenders on holding on. But Stalin is unsatisfied, he wants counter attacks. It will waste men and ammunition, but no one argues with Stalin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 517-The Black Hole That Is Stalingrad

As Gen. Paulus second major attack on Stalingrad gets underway, hes even more impatient as he had been offered a promotion. But first, he must take the city. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 516-Holding Stalingrad by the Skin of their Teeth

Now that German forces are inside Stalingrad, the fighting centers around the Main Ferry Terminal, the Grain Elevator and the heights of Mamayev Kurgan Park. Both sides will take these locations only to lose them again and again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 515-Rat Warfare in Stalingrad

Axis forces enter Stalingrad. But the Germans, unused to urban warfare, adapt as best they can. Whereas the new local commander of the defenders, Vasily Chuikov, will fight like a cornered rat and will quickly devise tactics to counter German advantages. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 514-Zhukov Arrives at Stalingrad

Though Army Group B approaches Stalingrad, all does not go according to plan. Thus Gen. Paulus calls on Field Marshal Wolfram von Richthofen and his Fliegerkorps 8 to bomb Stalingrad for 48 hours. The destruction is terrible, still, the defenders will not yield. And while Marshal Zhukov readies Stalingrads defenses, Berlin starts taking men from Army Group South as they are needed elsewhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 513-Stalingrad or Bust

Dividing Army Group South, both the Baku Oil Fields and Stalingrad are to be captured. Berlin believes this will weaken Soviet Russias war effort. But between Gen. Zhukovs leadership and Lend Lease material reaching Russia by June 1942, Gen. Paulus 6th Army is in for a surprise. Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter @WW2Podcaster TikTok-@wwiiguy Instagram - rayharrisjr youtube- https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 512-Operation Anthropoid

First, a summary of Stalins late winter, early spring 1942 counter attacks, along the entire Eastern Front. They mostly fail and cost hundreds of thousands of Soviet lives, but the Germans are checked once again. Then we turn to the Axis losing one of their own, in Operation Anthropoid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 511- FDR's Fireside Chats

As President Roosevelt knew his New Deal policies would be unpopular with the business owners, he sought to explain himself directly to the people. Thus his fireside chats were born. But then came another crisis, the outbreak of WWII. Over the years, FDR would keep his fellow citizens informed of the countrys failures and successes, but ever striving for victory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 510-The Fall of Sevastopol

Using overwhelming artillery, the Germans close in on Sevastopol. Petrov does what he can, but the Stavka stop giving him reinforcements, thinking, the enemy cant attack for more than 2 weeks at a time. But through daring risks, the Germans get closer, though lose staggering amounts of men, enough, to disrupt Hitlers larger plans for the area. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 509-Resist Today, Resist Tomorrow, Resit Until Its Done

During WWII many civilians became resisters, rebels and they would strike at their oppressive governments in any way they could. For some, it will be boycotts, for others, they will choose to pick up weapons. Tyranny should never be allowed an easy victory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 508-The Fall of Kerch

Though outmanned, Gen. Manstein will brilliantly use what he has to out maneuver the Soviet forces on the eastern half of Crimea. It will take time, but soon the defenders are bottled up, their reinforcements cut off by the Luftwaffe. And on May 8, 1941, the final blows start against Gen. Kozlovs forces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 507-Wolf Killers

Of all Gen. Mansteins Infantry Divisions, Maj. Gen. Ludwig Wolffs 22nd Division will get the closest to Sevastopol. But Petrovs regular flow of reinforcements will devour these wolves seeking to take the vital port city. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 506-Lord Haw-Haw

Masters of Propaganda, the German state employs William Joyce to broadcast news, in a taunting tone, to the Allied Nations. His objective, to demoralize the Allied soldiers and the civilians supporting them, to give up the fight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 505-Catch Me, If You Can

With the Battle of Ishun lost, the Soviets retreat, in all directions. Soon, Crimean cities are falling and prisoners are being scooped up in the thousands. At Sevastopol, the first line of defense is lost, but does that mean defeat for the massive port city. One man thinks, no. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 504-Demanding Miracles, Ignoring Reality

The German 11th Army comes at Ishun, but Gen. Kuznetsov is ready or as ready as he can be. But with three attacking forces, Gen. Erich von Manstein only needs one to get through. What follows is Russian mistakes, followed by folly, followed by German determination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 503-A Desperate Defense If Ever There Was One

After a quick and merciless victory just above the Sea of Azov, Gen. Eric Hansen readies his 6 infantry divisions to take the Crimea. But the naval infantrymen of Odessa are shipped over. The battle ground is marshy and limited so the Germans will attack all three land bridges and hope one of them is a winner. Meanwhile, Gen. Kuznetsov deploys his men and hopes for the best as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 502-The Wolf is at the Door

Army Group South reaches the opening of the Crimea. But waiting for the invaders are 3 lines of defense. Yet as there is no other way to gain access, the Germans will come straight at the Tatar Wall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 501-The Other Crimean War

The story of the Crimea had seen tragedies for centuries. Nothing would improve with Operation Barbarossa. Yet, the why of the importance of the Crimea to Hitler was the Stavkas own doing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 500-Too Much, Too Soon

The Rzhev salient seems to be contained, but the new threat is near Vyazma. Can the Germans hold onto it, for the Soviets have the man power to attack from multiple vectors. German professionalism will be tested as will the heart of every Russian soldier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 499-The Wild West of the Eastern Front

As the Germans keep attacking the Rzhev Salient, another Soviet thrust comes up at Vyazma from the South East. Both sides are undermanned and under equipped. It is a time for heroes, as long as the hero doesnt mind sacrificing himself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 498-Living Through Hell in the Middle of Winter

Though Stalins great counter attack has failed, he refuses to see it as such. More attacks are ordered but the Heer or German Army is getting stronger by the day. The german troops around Rzhev even start up their own newspaper. Clearly, they plan to stay here until winter is over. But Stalin has thousands of more men to throw at them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 497-My Leader, Who Commands 9th Army? You or Me?

Stalin sought an encirclement of the northern half of Army Group Center. Instead he would get two encirclements, the second, larger than the first. But then fate, inexperience, bad weather and seemingly personal vendettas stepped in. The situation changed rapidly from there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 496-Interview w/Betina Anton: Hiding Mengele: How a Nazi Network Harbored The Angel of Death

Journalist Betina Anton comes on the show to discuss her book, Hiding Mengele: How a Nazi Network Harbored The Angel of Death. After experimenting and killing thousands of people in Auschwitz, Mengele flees Europe and hides in South America. As the years go by, various agencies hunt for the SS Doctor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 495-Fight, Lose, Retreat, Repeat

Stalins second wave of massive counter attacks get underway in January 1942. Yet the Germans are a bit more prepared this time. Not that Gen. von Kluge will not have to fire numerous commanders as Army Group Center is threatened with encirclement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 494-Veteran's Voices-The Guys from The Warrior Next Door Podcast Return!

Ryan Fairfield and Tony "The Tiger" Lupo return to the show, bringing interview clips from WWII Veterans. We cover incredible moments from D-Day and the 8th Army Air Force. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 493-The Rzhev Meat Grinder

As both sides still think they can win in the East, Germany and Soviet Russia will clash along the entire line of fighting. But no where more intensely than Rzhev. It will become a black hole of human lives and war equipment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 492-The Battle of Volkhov River: Leningrad is to be Saved

Stalin, not giving up winning the war by early 1942 has ordered a massive attack across the Volkhov River, to the SE of Leningrad. Meanwhile, Hitlers troops have finally cut the rail line feeding supplies to Leningrad. The Russians have the numbers and the desire, but they lack practically everything an army needs to stay in the fight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 491-The Russians Are Coming!

Stalin, tasting a bit of success, now launches massive counter attacks up and down the line of all three German Army Groups. Yet, he will find out, in war, as in life, some things can not be rushed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 490-Between Stalin's Hammer and Hitler's Anvil

Army Group Center commander Von Kluge goes round and round with Hitler about retreating. Hitlers reasons become more wild, but events on the ground take over. And while Stalin is happy to take arms from the Western countries, he did all he could to make sure war would erupt between the U.S. and the Empire of Japan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 489-2 Ep Special! Interview w/ Jan Davis: Air Born: Two Generations in Flight & Retreat or Die

Astronaut Jan Davis' book tells of her father's time as a B-17 pilot and POW. His can do attitude that gets challenged in a German prisoner Camp. Then, Army Group Center is under constant attack. There are breaches and encirclements along 4th Armys lines. So whether official or not, Kluge starts ordering pull backs as his suspects the OKH of not telling Hitler the full story. But when 4th Armys entire line starts to pull back, Stalin orders an increase in attacks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 488-One Shot, One Kill: Soviet Snipers of the Eastern Front

From painful experiences during the Spanish Civil War and the Winter War against Finland, Soviet Russia started several sniper schools. Hence when the Axis came and the Eastern Front was born, these men and women took the fight to the enemy. But not as much as their greatest sniper, Ivan Sidorenko. He was self taught and would go on to teach hundreds more of the craft of snipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 487-A 2 Episode Special! Interview with Shannon Monaghan: A Quiet Company of Dangerous Men. Then, Merry Christmas From the Eastern Front

2 Ep Special! 1st, Interview with Shannon Monaghan about her book, A Quiet Company of Dangerous Men: The Forgotten British Special Operations Soldiers of WW2. Then, as Christmas approaches, the Germans continually fall back, unable to face the onslaught of Zhukovs attacks. The Holiday will be bleak for the fighting men, but rather lively for the officers far away. And Hitler will find out that his defiant speeches have been for nothing as he is told his men lack enough of anything, but mostly, winter clothing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 486-Interview w/ Robert Hutton: The Illusionist: The True Story of the Man Who Fooled Hitler

Writer Robert Hutton comes on to discuss his latest book, The Illusionist: The true story of the man who fooled Hitler. Early in the war, the British need every advantage they could get, including military deception, which brings in Dudley Clarke. And of all his tricks, his greatest is tricking Rommel right before Monty attacks at El Alamein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 485-No More Dead Heroes

As Hitler battles his generals about when to stop retreating, Gen. Zhukov starts his phase 2 of the great counter attack. For Army Group Center has a weak point and the Soviets have found it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 484-Hitler Cleans House

Hitler is determined to make a stand with Army Group Center. And those that do not share his resolve or see his wisdom will be removed. Positions are soon vacated. Whereas Gen. Zhukov wants to keep attacking Army Group Center, to which Stalin is agreeable. But Zhukov will be given no additional troops. Stalin has plans for them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 483-Not One Single Step Back

As Army Group Center continues its retreat, clearly, the momentum has shifted. But Berlin needs it back or the Army Group will disintegrate. Thus Hitler will make a bold decision, shocking the Wehrmacht. Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Every penny supports the show and keeps the history coming. Sign up now. Donations are always welcome and help keep the History of WWII Podcast free for all. Follow The History of WWII Podcast: RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45...

Episode 482-Stalin's Dreams Almost Come True

Just as Army Group Center goes over to a defensive stance, Stalin launches his counter attack. The first battle goes well, so more units are activated. Stalin is ready to attack the entirety of Army Group Center, but Gen. Zhukov tempers his ambition. The Germans can be beaten for now, but now destroyed. That will have to wait. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 481-Victoring Itself to Death

As Army Group Center winds down its offensive during Operation Typhoon, due to a lack of supplies, exhaustion and cold, the Soviets around Moscow are building up their reserves and they all have adequate clothing. Hence on December 5th, Gen. Zhukov will launch a massive counter attack, to drive the enemy away from the Communist Capital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 480-Japanese Americans at War

Out of the Internment Camps, thousands of Nisei Japanese Americans volunteer for the U.S. Armed Forces. Their contributions will save thousands of GIs and shorten the war. Here are some of their exploits during and after the war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 479-America's Internment Camps

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a dark day for the U.S. But this was followed by another bleak period in the U.S. The creation and forced removal of Japanese Americans along the West Coast, to be placed in Interment Camps. Fear gripped the nation and the reaction was extreme and illegal, but tolerated by many. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 478-Operation Typhoon Comes to an End

Army Group Center is finally making a play for Moscow, but their advance will grind to a halt. The question then is, what comes next. But before Field Marshal Von Bock can get his men going again, the Soviets make their move. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 477-Who Has Who Surrounded?

The Soviet front around Kiev is crumbling fast. Over 40 divisions are cut off and surrounded. No help is coming and Stalin has forbade a retreat. Most of these men will perish, but the real question is, how many of the enemy can they take with them? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 476-Strange Inventions of WW2

Many new innovations were created during the war. Some were good, some were bad. This is the story of the less than perfect ones. Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Every penny supports the show and keeps the history coming. Sign up now. Donations are always welcome and help keep the History of WWII Podcast free for all. Follow The History of WWII Podcast: RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn...

Episode 475-Top 5 WW2 Movies

Ryan Fairfield and Tony Lupo, hosts of The Warrior Next Door Podcast come back on, this time invited, to discuss the Top 5 WW2 movies. You may not agree, hell, we probably won't agree with each other, but it will be a good time. The video version will be on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euU0q2RIjf4 Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Every penny supports the show and keeps the history coming. Sign up now. Donations are always welcome and help...

Episode 474-Kiev is Trapped

As Gen. Guderian comes south and Gen. von Kleist rushes north, if no one stops them, then Kiev and all its defenders will be trapped. Thus soviet troops along the Desna and Dneiper Rivers give it their all. Will it be enough? Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Every penny supports the show and keeps the history coming. Sign up now. Donations are always welcome and help keep the History of WWII Podcast free for all. Follow...

Episode 473-Guderian Approaches

As Axis forces build up to capture Kiev, the bridges over the Dnieper River are contested. Fierce fighting follows, but in the end, the Germans take enough bridges to continue East, after Kiev has fallen. Meanwhile, Gen. Guderian is on his way with his panzers to help trap Kiev. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 472-Keep Them Guessing

So far, Army Group South had done a tremendous job, but now they come upon Kiev. And protecting Kievs western approaches in almost 20 miles of anti tank works and barbed wire. Thus another way will be needed, but first, Hitler wants the guts ripped out of the areas defenders and von Kleist had come up with a clever plan to make this happen. Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Every penny supports the show and keeps...

Episode 471-My Tank is Thicker Than Your Tank

Operation Barbarossa is launched, but the soviets dont have their best men in place as they have been killed by Stalins purges. In time they will learn but for now, one city after another falls to the Axis. Still, there are moments of heroism but also incompetence, certainly among the NKVD, who know politics, but not warfare. Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Every penny supports the show and keeps the history coming. Sign up now. Donations...

Episode 470-Interview: Michel Paradis, The Light of Battle, Eisenhower, D-Day, and the Birth of the American Superpower

Michel Paradis returns to the show to discuss his latest book, The Light of Battle: Eisenhower, D-Day, and the Birth of the American Superpower. A new biography of Ike, the book focuses on the 6 months leading up to D-Day and all the fighting behind the scenes to pull off this once in a life time amphibious landing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 469-Interview: From Biplanes to Fast Jets: A Pilots Life in the Royal Air Force 19421973

Ken Aedy was a teenager when WW2 broke out. He joins the RAF and his life is changed forever. His son Mark joins me to discuss his father's many adventures during and after the war. This is a delightful story of a young man who does his duty and stays in the RAF and travels the world, meeting Douglas MacArthur and dancing with Rita Hayworth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 468-The Comics of WW2

Even before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Superman and Batman were declaring themselves against Hitler and his ways, while the American Bund, a pro Nazi organization, wanted the U.S. to be more like Nazi Germany. After Pearl Harbor, those same comic book heroes and many more were encouraging everyone to buy War Bonds to fight the Axis Powers. Meanwhile, Captain America is letting his fists do the talking for him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 467-Interview w/ Damien Lewis about his book Churchill's Secret Warriors

Historian Damien Lewis comes on to discuss his book about Churchills secret warriors who will take the fight to the Nazis. Now a major motion film starring Henry Cavill, we cover the brave men and women of Operation Postmaster and other operations that wear down the Axis in Europe. Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Every penny supports the show and keeps the history coming. Sign up now. Donations are always welcome and help keep the History...

Episode 466-Odessa Has Fallen

The final episode of the Siege of Odessa. The port city will fall, but not before tying down over 300,000 Axis troops for months. Odessa will be the first Hero City of the Soviet Union. And in their evacuation, the Soviets leave several nasty surprises for the citys new owners. Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Every penny supports the show and keeps the history coming. Sign up now. Donations are always welcome and help keep the...

Episode 465-Tanks for the Memories

Both sides pull tricks out of their hats, trying to gain an advantage. The result, the Axis dominate the Black sea and the air, the Soviets, the ground around Odessa. Through ingenuity and a can do attitude, the soviets turn their tractors into tanks, which contributes to Odessas high water mark of defense. More information at https://bit.ly/3y7xC91 Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Every penny supports the show and keeps the history coming. Sign up now. Donations...

Episode 464: 2 Ep Special! Interview with Jason Bell about his book Cracking the Nazi Code. Then, All Hell Breaks Loose

First, Jason Bell comes on to discuss his book, Cracking the Nazi Code: The Untold Story of Agent A12 and the Solving of the Holocaust Code. Then, back to the Siege of Odessa. The Romanians, fearing German anger, throw everything they have at the Soviet city. Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Every penny supports the show and keeps the history coming.Sign up now. Donationsare always welcome and help keep the History of WWII Podcast free for...

Episode 463-Attrition: A Game the Entire Country Can Play

As Army Group South advances east, Berlin needs Odessa taken. But the defenders of that Black Sea port city are willing to give all to deny this. What follows is unbelievable carnage just beyond Odessas defensive lines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 462-When Fighting For Your Life, You Can Never Go Too Far

Wave after wave of Romanian troops come at Odessas defenses. Also, squadrons of Messerschmidts attempt to dominate the skies above. But organization and determination tell and the invaders are held off, but for how long? RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 461-Odessa Prepares for its Fate

As 11 German and Romanian divisions, with 100 tanks and 100 airplanes come at Odessa, the people there, military and civilian, indeed, school children, prepare their city to defy the enemy. It will be a siege that will test the endurance of both sides. RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 460: A 2 Episode Special! Interview w/ Mike Croissant about his book, Bombing Hitler's Hometown and then, Defying the Odds: The Soviets versus Romania

A 2 Episode Special! First, an interview w/ Mike Croissant, author of Bombing Hitlers Hometown. Then, before the Siege of Odessa began, a small Soviet offensive took place against Romania, which explains why the Axis right flank was so slow. But in the end, the Soviet Rifle divisions are ordered to pull back. As for the southern end of Barbarossa, Odessa would be the next target and even harder to crack. More at https://bit.ly/3Vznbop RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 459-The Siege of Odessa Begins

Focusing on the southern most part of Operation Barbarossa, we watch as the Black Sea city of Odessa stands defiant against Army Group South and the Romanians. This will cause a delay in Berlins plans, which will require Gen. Guderian and his panzers to come help take Kiev. More at https://bit.ly/4cpA0HJ RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 458-The Trapped Soviet Soldiers at Uman

As it seems Kiev is about to fall, the panzers suddenly turn south and head for Uman. There, a massive soviet response is building, but will it be enough to save Kiev, Uman and stop the Axis Forces from crossing the River Bug? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 457-Operation Munich

Backing up a bit, we cover the Romanians early involvement in Barbarossa. But before Kiev can be taken, the Romanians want their lands back, taken by Stalin in 1939. Images and more https://bit.ly/4bXz3X0 RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 456: The Stalin Line-Merely the Shadow of A Dream

The fighting only grows in intensity, with Kiev being threatened. But the Germans right flank is holding operations up. Still, in time, but with much loss, Gen. Kirponos pulls back his men and sets up a new defensive line, from Kiev to Uman. RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 455-Race to the Stalin Line

Soviet Gen. Kirponos does reasonably well in defending his SW Front, when he is told what is going on. But that is irregular at best. Soon, Lvov falls and all know that the next major battle will take place along the Stalin Line. Images and more at https://bit.ly/4bFY0WF RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 454-Army Group South is on the March

Army Group South advances but Stalin believes the main German thrust will happen here, so plans accordingly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 453-Operation Barbarossa: What's Plan B?

Gen. Zhukov has outsmarted and outlasted Gen. Von Bock to the north, south and now, in front of Moscow. The Germans will take a rest. But then the Soviets say, my turn. Images and more at https://bit.ly/49fJbYO RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 452-Operation Typhoon: All or Nothing

With the panzers attacking on the flanks, Von Bocks main thrust is coming right at Moscow. But between the weather, a lack of fuel and Gen. Zhukovs determination, Army Group Center cant seem to close the deal. Images and more at https://bit.ly/3vVYYO3 RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 451-Interview w/ James Holland. His book, The Savage Storm, The Battle For Italy 1943

First, historian James Holland comes on to discuss Italys final phase as an Axis Partner. However, bad timing on the Allies part will cause the Italian Campaign to become a long slog. Then back to the regular series: Stalin reinforces the lines in front of Moscow, but the Germans miss this. So launch their supposed final attack against Stalins capital. Despite the lack of fuel and winter clothing, the Germans cant help but think this is all about to be over. It had only begun. Images and more at https://bit.ly/3UoL7KH RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy...

Episode 450-Moscow: Dark Days Are Coming

Operation Typhoon is launched. Surely, there cant be that many defenders still before Moscow. But what Berlin will miss is when Stalin starts recalling entire experienced divisions from the Far East. And one group of soviet fighters figures out a way to combat the dreaded panzers. Images and more at https://bit.ly/3vxSt46 RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 449-Killing Their Way to Moscow

Though desiring an economic knockout blow provided by his panzers, Hitler will eventually return to the capture of Moscow. Which means Army Group Center will need to destroy whatever is in front of them. But Moscow has learned a thing or two and will salvage what they can before the battle of Moscow begins. Images and more at https://bit.ly/4aFvxjj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 448-When an Unstoppable Force Meets an Immovable Object

The Battle of Smolensk is over. Another German victory, but before the panzers can move out again, many of them are sent to help the other Army Groups and Gen. Timoshenko is about to launch a series of massive of counter attacks against Von Bock. Enough, to drive the Germans back for the first time. Images and more at https://bit.ly/4aoUuiZ RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Episode Special-Episode 447-Interview w/ T. Martin Bennett about his book Wounded Tiger and Hitler Versus His Generals

First, T. Martin Bennett comes on to talk about how faith helps the man who led the attack against Pearl Harbor finds peace after his country is defeated. And an American POW is able to survive his imprisonment. As one Soviet city after another falls, Army Group Center is well on its way to Moscow. That is, until Hitler decides to send Centers panzers to the other Army Groups, as they clearly need help. And if Hitlers plan of take the Ukraine and the Crimea works out, it may not be necessary for Moscow to be attacked at all. More...

Episode 446-All Roads Lead to Moscow

Army Group Center is surging ahead. But Stalin will keep throwing in entire armies to stop the invaders from reaching Moscow. By the end of June, Hitler is shocked to realize, there are still millions of enemy troops in front of him. Plus a bonus episode as Ryan Fairfield and Tony Lupo from The Warrior Next Door Podcast comes on with more clips of veteran interviews. More information and photos at https://bit.ly/3RomGej To Subscribe to The History of WWII Podcast just search The History of WWII Podcast - By Ray Harris Jnr in your favourite Podcast app. Or visit our...

Episode 445-Interview w/ Louise Endres Moore about her book Alfred:The Quiet History of a WWII Infantryman

Louise Endres Moore comes on to talk about her dads combat journey as she finds out he was more than a barber and translator. He operated a machine gun on the front lines. But you would never know it by what he didnt say for the rest of his life. He was at the Battle of the Bulge, but that was only one of his 5 campaigns. More information and photos at https://bit.ly/3RhIW9K To Subscribe to The History of WWII Podcast just search The History of WWII Podcast - By Ray Harris Jnr in your favourite Podcast app. Or visit...

Episode 444-Army Group Center

Still catching up to where we left off on the Eastern Front, now we turn to Army Group Center. At first, Moscow was not von Bocks main goal, but rather the destruction of all Soviet forces in Western Russia. If that could happen, then victory was assured. But one Soviet officer will fly into the Bialystok pocket to lead the men in a massive counter attack. Images and more at https://bit.ly/3uh9vmi RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 443: Two Episode Special! Angus Konstam Interview and The Clash of Titans

Two Episodes! First, Historian Angus Konstam comes on to discuss his newest book, The Convoy: HG-76: Taking the Fight To Hitler's U-Boats and then we return to the Eastern Front. Army Group North is making headway toward Leningrad, but Stalin continues to put entire Armies in their path. This episode is read by Guest Podcasters Ryan Fairfield and Tony Lupo from The Warrior Next Door Podcast. Images and more at https://bit.ly/40tY5Yp RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 442-Interview w/ Roger Moorhouse about his book, The Forgers: The Forgotten Story of the Holocaust's Most Audacious Rescue Operation

Historian Roger Moorhouse comes on to discuss the incredible story of the Polish Ambassador in Switzerland who tried to save trapped Jews in Soviet occupied Poland. Word of this gets out and thousands more requests comes in. He who saves one life, saves the world entire. More info at https://bit.ly/3MrW4pM RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 441-When Barbarossa Begins, the World Will Hold It's Breath

This is the first in a recap of the Eastern front. Germanys Army Group North will cut through the Baltic states with relative ease. Still, there are a few moments of panic for the panzers that are only a foretaste of what is to come. For images and maps to accompany this episode visit the History of WWII Podcast Website https://bit.ly/45Ek0x6 RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 440-Can a Warship be Cursed?

Here are three stories to hold you over until I can get back to the Eastern Front. Enjoy! RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 439-Dieppe Was Avenged

The conclusion of Operation Jubilee, the Dieppe Raid. The nightmare on the beach is over, but its repercussions have only begun in London, Ottawa and Berlin. But two years later, the Allies will be back and Dieppe will be liberated. Not that the war of words will end with the war. More information and images from this episode on our website https://bit.ly/3LKaoK1 RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 438-The Longest One Day Casualty List in Canadian History

With the survivors back in Britain, questions are being asked, facts and figures are being compiled. Canada has questions but they will not like the answers. Meanwhile, Churchill is meeting with Stalin about fighting Nazi Germany together. RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 437-Interview w/ Scott Simon about his book Swingtime for Hitler & then Operation Jubilee

A Two Episode Special! First, NPR's Scott Simon come on to discuss his audiobook/book Swingtime for Hitler: From Goebbelss Jazzmen to Tokyo Rose to AI, the Eternal Allure of Propaganda. And then we continue with Operation Jubilee: Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat. To hear Swingtime for Hitler on Scribd, go to try.scribd.com/scottsimonfor a 60 day free trial, use code SIMON60. RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 436-Retreat Yes. But How?

Operation Jubilee has failed, but now the men have to be rescued. Yet the Germans are determined not to let a single man, ship or plane leave without having fought their way out. To view supporting images and other media for this episode please visit The History Of WWII Podcast website https://bit.ly/3sFGwrw RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 435-Two Episode Special! Interview w/John C. McManus about his Pacific War Trilogy and we continue w/ Operation Jubilee

Military Historian John C. McManus comes on to discuss his US Army in the Pacific Trilogy. Then, the Rileys come ashore at White Beach, but it goes no better for them. It is now a make or break moment and Gen. John Ham Roberts has decided to throw in his reserves. The day may yet be saved. To view supporting images and other media for this episode please visit The History Of WWII Podcast website https://bit.ly/48lRd2W RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 434-Red Beach-To Move is to Die

As the flanking attacks to either side of Dieppe have had mixed results, its now time for the direct attack on the town. Here, the Germans are well dug in, but coming ashore are 30 Canadian tanks to challenge for supremacy of the beach. Yet there is a slight delay before the tanks land and the Germans use that to slaughter the Essex Scottish. To view supporting images and other media for this episode please visit The History Of WWII Podcast website https://bit.ly/3EkUhOY RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad...

Episode 433-Two Episode Special! Interview w/ Andrew Nagorski about his book Saving Freud and we return to Operation Jubilee

First, interview w/ Andrew Nagorski about his latest book, Saving Freud, The Rescuers Who Brought Him to Freedom and then we continue with the Dieppe Raid. Now its Green Beachs turn. Here the men will find some success, but too few get ashore and their small arms are no match for what the Germans have in store. Operation Jubilee is starting to unravel. To view supporting images and other media for this episode please visit The History Of WWII Podcast website https://bit.ly/3QWbiX6 RSS https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices....

Episode 432-Blood on Blue Beach

Now that the two attacking flanks had landed men, one went well, the other was a debacle, it was time to land men at Blue Beach, just east of Dieppe. And it would be here that would determine if Operation Jubilee would be a success or not. But the Germans were ready. Images and Maps for this episode can be found on the History of WWII Podcast website at https://bit.ly/45Baknq To view this episode with Captions view on our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/CarjMMflJao RSS - https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter - https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712...

Episode 431-The Father and Mother of All Explosions

The Commandos land on the far flanks of Dieppe. The attack at the Orange Beaches will see their initial objectives met, but men will be lost. As for Yellow Beach to the East, the commandos will be met with death and the loss of the majority of their team. Images for this episode can be found on the History of WWII Podcast website at https://worldwariipodcast.net/2023/08/14/episode-431-the-father-and-mother-of-all-explosions/ To view this episode with Captions please subscribe to our YouTube Channel RSS - https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter - https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad...

Episode 430-Interview w/Tom Holm about his book, Ira Hayes: The Akimel O'odham Warrior, WWII and the Price of Heroism

Professor Tom Holm discusses Ira Hayes, his time with the Marines, his fighting on Iwo Jima and Mt. Suribachi and his tragic life after the raising of the American flag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 429-It Only Takes One Little Mistake

As the 200 plus ships of Operation Jubilee reach the French coast, a single event occurs, ruining all the plans of Combined Operations. Still, the Allied force moves forward, hoping to make the best of a bad situation. Which is when it gets much worse. Images and other media for this episode can be found on The History of WWII Podcast website https://worldwariipodcast.net/2023/08/06/episode-428-it-only-takes-one-little-mistake/ To view this episode with Captions please subscribe to our YouTube Channel RSS - https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter - https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Episode 428-Churchill's Shell Game

A desperate Churchill green lights the raid on Dieppe. And though it has been scaled back to avoid entanglements with panzers, it is still complex and dependent on everything going to plan and on time. A rare event in battle. Still, on August 18th, the ships with the Canadians, Commandos, Free French and 50 US Rangers on board, set out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 427-Operation Rudder-Less

The Dieppe Raid planning continues as Churchill needs something to show the Americans and Soviets. The Canadians are tapped to assist the Commandos as Combined Operations wants an overwhelming attack. But the Germans are more than prepared. But Operation Rudder will have growing pains, until it dies. Canada, this one is for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 426-Kill Or Be Killed

With Lord Mountbatten in charge of Combined Operations, the plan to soften up the enemys coastline defenses is underway. But there is much to learn and lessons here are normally accompanied by death. As Commando raids take place, the British and their Commonwealth Allies gear up for something much larger, a raid on Dieppe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 425-Here Come the Commandos

In building up to Operation Sledgehammer, Mountbattens arrival is a whirlwind for Combined Operations. Their numbers will grow as will the number of their raids. But soon, the commandos are too few. Churchill wants larger raids, as does Mountbatten. The Canadians on the island are ready do anything to get this war over. Thus they will be tapped. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 424-Operation Sledgehammer

Operation Pedestal would ensure that Malta stayed in the fight. But Stalin is not appeased. He wants a Second Front. So does Gen. George Marshall and hes coming to London to say so. The British had to come up with a plan, big enough to impress the Russian and the American, but good enough not to get everyone killed. Enter the new head of Combined Operations, Lord Louis Mountbatten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 423-Pedestal: The Final Curtain

The final episode of Operation Pedestal. Through luck and determination and American engineering, the Ohio holds together long enough, to bring her in to Valletta Harbor. And so the various machines of war on Malta have a new lease on life. They can continue to harass the supply convoys heading for Rommel. Truly an ironic turn of events. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 422-By the Skin of Her Teeth

As everyone on Malta and in Britain and in the US and in North Africa wait, the tanker Ohio, carrying much needed oil to the island, slowly crawls towards Valletta Harbor. Yet at any moment, an Axis air attack could come or the tanker may simply split in two, given her damage. The people of Malta need a miracle. Fortunately for them, it was August 15th, the day the Catholic Maltese celebrate the Feast of the Assumption. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 421-It's Today or Nothing

When the sun rises on August 14th, the Stukas and Italian bombers are back. It would only take one bomb landing true to break the Ohio in half. But manning her AA guns are volunteers from previously lost ships who are determined, this will not happen again. Meanwhile, Churchills meeting with Stalin goes badly as the Prime Minister has no good news to deliver. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 420-Interview w/ James B. Conroy, about his book, The Devils Will Get No Rest

As the Americans enter the war after the events of Pearl Harbor, the Western Allies have to decide how to fight the war. The Americans have the industry, the British, the experience. But both will have to give to get along so that Hitlerism can be destroyed. Mr. Conroys book covers the Casablanca Conference and the one small detail that almost changed the war and the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 419-Across the Finish Line

Some of the merchant ships enter Grand Harbor and Adm. Burrough turns around to make for Gibraltar. But the Maltese notice that only three ships came with Burrough. Where were the others and most importantly, where was the tanker Ohio. She was still a few hours away, with no way to move under her own power. And between the oil on board, not to mention the tons of water now inside her, from the ships ripped side, the destroyers were still trying to figure something out. Either way, when the sun rose on August 14th, the Axis fighters and bombers...

Episode 418-The Show Must Go On

As the escorting destroyers fill up with rescued crewmen, now its the Ohios turn as her engines give up the ghost. But the men in this story are determined to get her to Malta, by hook or by crook. For her fuel is the difference to whether Malta endures or surrenders to the not so tender mercies of the Axis Powers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 417-Interview w/ Craig Nelson about his book V is For Victory

Craig Nelson's book V is For Victory has it all: FDR's early days of combatting the Great Depression, restoring faith in the country and gearing up for a war that many hoped would never come. But it was FDR putting the country on the right path that got the US ready to aid the Allies and eventually enter the war. And win it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 416-The Terrifying Had Become Commonplace

When the sun rose on August 13th, the Axis forces in the Mediterranean knew they had one last day to stop Operation Pedestal. As such, the Axis air formations came in hot and heavy, with their normal level of accuracy. This wasnt over yet and more ships would be lost. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 415-Ships That Sink In The Night

Within a four hour period of darkness, Pedestal will lose many ships. By morning, 7 of the 14 merchants were gone. Still if the rest can get through, then Pedestal would be considered a success. And yet, the rising sun brings whole scores of Luftwaffe planes, vying to finish off Churchills last hope of resupplying Malta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 414-In the Lap of the Gods

As August 13th turns into the 14th, more ships of Pedestal are lost. Some fought bravely during their last moments, others not. But Adm. Syfrets orders are that all ships are to try. And Commander Gibbs of the destroyer HMS Pathfinder and his crew enter into the history books as the ablest crew ever to sail a ship. Still, when the sun rises on August 14th, there are fewer ships to protect and fewer to protect them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 413-I Was Always Grateful to Mussolini

The ships of Pedestal have entered The Narrows. Waiting for them are Italian E-boats that rule the night. But Keith Park, Maltas Air Arm commander, has an ace up his sleeve. Well, at least a great poker face. Meanwhile Kesselring and the Italians argue from sun rise, past sun set on whether Adm. Da Zaras attack fleet should have air cover. Whats the worst the planes on Malta could do to them? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 412-Courage and Cowardice

Churchill visits Stalin for the first time, only to give him bad news. There will be no Second Front in 1942. Then, back to Pedestal as the merchant ships have been scattered. The destroyers will try to round them up, but some captains dont want to finish the trip. And the tanker Ohio is still limping towards Malta, but now shes on her own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 411-The Deadly Game of Dodge Bomb

As Pedestal nears the Narrows, more escorts and merchant ships are lost to Axis planes and submarines. The convoy had been laid on heavily, to make up for any anticipated losses, but the losses about to take place would strain the very reason for London even trying. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 410-Four Torpedoes Can Make All the Difference

As Force Z leaves Force X and Pedestal to their fate, Italian subs and torpedo boats line up in the narrow Sicilian Narrows to finish off the merchantmen. Adm. Burrough is confident that he can get through, until a lone but lucky Italian sub launches 4 torpedoes that changes the odds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 409-Will This Day Never End?

Its still August 12, 1942 and after two large attacks, the Axis now launch their main attack, that afternoon. There were to be Axis dive bombers, torpedo bombers, high level bombers, submarines and torpedo boats. A potpourri of death for the Pedestal Convoy. Yet the Allied carriers did sterling work that day. But one of them will pay the price. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 408-Operation Pedestal-One Hell of an Afternoon

The early afternoon of August 12th would be hell for the defenders of Pedestal. Several air attacks take place, in between U-boat attacks. And the Italians have their own technologically advanced surprise for the ships of Pedestal. But can they pull it off? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 407-Interview w/ Chloe Melas about Frank Murphy's book: Luck of the Draw

Chloe Melas, granddaughter of the author, comes on to discuss the book, Luck of the Draw. Frank Murphy, a navigator was shot down and became POW for 18 months. His camp was liberated by Gen. Patton. Frank Murphy will be one of the characters in Tom Hank's new series, Masters of the Air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 406-Operation Pedestal: One Hell of a Morning

Its August 12, 1942 and its a beautiful day. Which makes Axis reconnaissance flights ideal. Soon, Rome knows all it needs to and its various ships, subs and planes are sent out, all to converge on the convoy. Pedestal will need a miracle just to make it to noon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 405-Operation Pedestal: Slow Gets You Killed

HMS Furious having delivered its Spitfires to Malta, turns around with its escort. But they are not out of danger yet. Meanwhile, as the ships of Pedestal get closer to Malta, the Allies launch several distractions. Some are a waste of time, but one gives the British an edge that a certain Italian admiral would come to loath. But surviving a war or not truly is, the luck of the draw. Check out investmentcaster.com and use promo code History, for $10 off your first purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 404-Operation Pedestal: First Blood

Churchill pushes to have the largest convoy thus far, sent to Malta. Yet the Germans and Italians are ready. Before the Merchantmen and the tanker Ohio can reach Malta, they will have to survive both enemy's air forces and U-boats, not to mention Italy's cruiser squadrons. Not everyone is expected to make it through. Then again, that was expected as well. It's crunch time for Malta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing Grey History Podcasts: The French Revolution

Join me in listening to the first episode of William Clark's exploration of The French Revolution, from the Grey History Podcast. Clark goes deep and explores the grey areas around all history and certainly of Revolutionary France. The following is the episode that got the whole thing going. Prepare to binge! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 403-Rommel is Stopped in His Tracks

Rommel gathers his panzers in the south for another attack. But he has gone to the well, one time too many. Monty predicts this and plans his own cauldron trap. The question is, can the Afrika Korps be tricked into taking the bait? And for the first time, the U.S. Army Air Force helps take on The Desert Fox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 402-Monty Sets the Stage for Rommel

Monty comes to grips with the type of fighter Rommel is and plans accordingly. More men are brought forward and a trap is set for the Axis forces. Meanwhile, Churchill brings the Allies closer together with a visit to Stalin in Moscow. The bad news is there will be no cross channel attack in 1942. The good news is that the Americans will soon land in North Africa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 401-Interview w/ Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch: The Nazi Conspiracy & Churchill Gives British 8th Army to Monty

First, Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch come to discuss The Nazi Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill. For the second episode: Auchinleck is out, Monty and Harold Alexander are in. They all know that Rommel is going to attack and soon, so Monty gets to work, ordering forward more men and telling 8th Army: We are here to win, not try. Thus all trucks on standby for a retreat, will be sent away. Meanwhile, Keith Park takes over air operations on Malta and decides, now is the time to go back on the offensive. Learn more...

Episode 400-The Second Battle of Ruweisat Ridge

Though both sides are depleted, Churchill wants Auchinleck to attack again, so he does. As not much has changed, the result is another loss of men, material and fuel, with nothing to show for it. Meanwhile, Rommel is asking for more of everything as he is so close to Cairo and finally taking North Africa for the Axis. But soon, there will be another actor on the stage as the Americans make plans to land on the African continent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 399-The First Battle of Ruweisat Ridge

With the First Battle of El Alamein over, the two generals settle for smaller battles while their reinforcements arrive. C in C, ME Auchinleck will take a page from Rommels book, by forcing The Desert Fox to react to him. But then Rommel shows why hes worth studying, by turning the tables on Ruweisat Ridge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 398-First Battle of El Alamein

With the First Battle of El Alamein, Rommels building desperation clashes with Auchinlecks determination to finally make a stand. But its the mistakes made by Afrika Korps that will determine the success or failure of The Desert Foxs latest attack. Not that Rommel is ready to concede any territory he has conquered. Meanwhile, Churchill is getting more frustrated with Auchinleck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 397-Interview w/ Iain MacGregor: The Lighthouse of Stalingrad & Prelude to The 1st Battle of El Alamein

Another 2 Episode Special! First, my interview with Iain MacGregor about his book, The Lighthouse at Stalingrad: The Hidden Truth at the Heart of the Greatest Battle of WWII. An excellent single source of the battle. Then, Prelude to the 1st Battle of El Alamein. With the coming battle at El Alamein, C in C Auchinleck knows he has to win, because Alexandria is only 70 miles or 112 kms away. If Egypt falls, then the entire Middle East is at risk. And though the Allied dispositions and forts are far from perfect, the BBC lends a hand by declaring...

Episode 396-The Battle of Mersa Matruh

As Tobruk has fallen, the next defensive line is set up at Mersa Matruh, but C in C, ME Auchinleck has little faith in Gen. Ritchies latest plan. Thus Auchinleck takes over the battle himself, but is frustrated by bad communications and Gen. Gotts misreading of the situation. Please see previous episode cover for additional map. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 395-The Gazala Gallop

With Tobruk lost, 8th British Army falls back to the Egyptian border. But C in C Claude Auchinleck is still not convinced that they are safe from Rommel, so agrees to another pull back to Mersa Matruh. Gen. Ritchie sets up his defenses, but Auchinleck has another line established even further back at El Alamein. Meanwhile, Rommels men travel 100 miles in 24 hours and soon the two sides are face to face once again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 394-Warrior Next Door Podcast Interview & Tobruk Has Fallen

First, Ryan Fairfield and Tony Lupo, the hosts of The Warrior Next Door Podcast return to share more clips of WWII Veterans and their experiences. The Second Episode: Now that the Battle of Gazala is over and the bulk of the 8th British Army was back along with Egyptian border, Rommel is ready to go after Tobruk. And his speed will amaze and overawe the defenders. Meanwhile, Gen. Ritchie and C in C Auchinleck think they have weeks to prepare their counter attack. But in the end, PM Churchill will receive the soul crushing news that Tobruk has fallen. The...

Episode 393-Interview w/ James Shone: The Host of the Taiwan Through Time Podcast & Operation Harpoon

Two Episode Special! James Shone comes on to share what Taiwan, then Formosa was going through during, but also, before the war. Then, as Rommel prepares to surround Tobruk, Churchill and the War Cabinet decide to once again, try to get supplies to Malta. What follows is more disaster and death. The dark year that is 1942 continues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 392: Interview w/ Dr. Paul Gill Jr. about his fathers book: Armageddon in the Arctic Ocean. 2nd Ep: Tobruk is Surrounded

First, Dr. Paul Gill Jr. comes on to talk about his dads book about his life and war time adventures, Armageddon in The Arctic Ocean: Up the Hawse Pipe from Galley Boy to Third Mate on a Legendary Liberty Ship in the Biggest Convoy Battle of WWII and then the North Africa campaign continues with Tobruk is Surrounded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 391-Two Episode Special! Interview w/ Taylor Downing about his book 1942: Winston Churchill and Britain's Darkest Hour and The British 8th Army is Outfoxed

First, historian Taylor Downing comes on to talk about his new book, 1942: Winston Churchill and Britains Darkest Hour and then we pick up with Rommel and Ritchie battling it out in North Africa. The Desert Fox will push his men to the breaking point, but the Axis Forces will win the Battle of Gazala. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 390-The Battle of Knightsbridge Box

With the Battle of Bir Hakeem over Rommel is ready to drive on Tobruk, but first he has to get passed the Knightsbridge Box, where the 2nd and 4th Armored Brigades are waiting. What follows is mistakes by both sides, but Rommel reacts more quickly because he is with his men. Meanwhile, 8th Army Commander Ritchie is far away and has no idea whats going on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 389-Interview w/ Saul David about his book Devil Dogs

Historian Saul David talks about his latest book, Devil Dogs: From Guadalcanal to the Shores of Japan.King Company of the legendary 1st Marine Division will take part in 4 major battles in the Pacific; Guadalcanal, New Britain, Peleliu and Okinawa. But first comes the Canal. The Marines were only meant to establish a beach head and pave the way for others to fight. Instead, they will be on Guadalcanal for 4 long months with never enough food, support or men. Still, they have a job to do, hold at all costs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bad Women: The Blackout Ripper Stalks Londons War-Torn Streets

Heres a preview of Bad Women: The Blackout Ripper. Over a single week in February 1942, a depraved serial killer stalked Londons dark and WWII bomb-ravaged streets, hunting for victims in the citys bars and clubs. Using new research from police files, court transcripts and exhaustive genealogical studies, season 2 of Hallie Rubenholds Bad Women reconstructs the lives of the women The Blackout Ripper brutally attacked and murdered. These were women who were dismissed as asking for trouble for choosing to lead independent lives. Bad Women: The Blackout Ripper examines what placed these women at the margins of society and...

Episode 388-The Battle of Bir Hakeem: The Redemption of French Honor

Now that the Battle of the Cauldron was over, Rommel could come for the Free French at Bir Hakeem, to his SW. With this outpost removed, Africa Corps would be free to drive to the NE and take Tobruk. But the Desert Air Force would strive mightily to save the French, now dubbed, The Fighting French. And those men, a mixed bag of nationalities would show the Nazis and the world, the heart of a warrior. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 387-The Battle of the Cauldron

Rommel anticipates British 8th Armys attack and prepares. The attack, Operation Aberdeen is launched, but will come to a sad end. This allows Rommel to commence his own attack, scattering thousands of Allies troops before him. The Battle of the Cauldron was supposed to be the beginning of end of The Desert Fox. Instead, it will be the beginning of the end of Gen. NeilRitchie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 386-Damien Lewis talks about his book, Agent Josephine: American Beauty, French Hero, British Spy

Writer Damien Lewis returns to discuss his latest book about the beautiful Josephine Baker. She has found everything she wanted in France, but soon the country is over run by Nazis. Now she will be enlisted to spy for the Allies so France can, one day, return to its position as one of Europe's most powerful countries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 385-The Cauldron

Rommels lunge at Tobruk causes his panzers to get trapped. So the Desert Fox changes his plans and 8th Army Commander Ritchie gives Rommel days of freedom, while the Commonwealth troops set up to push on to Libya. Rommel uses this time to attack the isolated 150th Brigade Group over and over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 384-The English GI: A Yorkshire Schoolboy's Adventures in the US and Europe

This graphic novel by Jonathan Sandler covers the story of a young Jewish British citizen on vacation in NY when Pearl Harbor is attacked. Soon he is swept up in the US Army fighting for Uncle Sam, while his family back in Leeds worries over his safety. The story is taken from the main characters real wartime experiences and unofficial memoir. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 383-Rommel Comes For Tobruk

The day of battle is here. Both sides have made flawed plans. The question is who can adapt faster. Still, the first phase of the Battle of Gazala goes to The Desert Fox. But there is always the question of fuel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 382-Dale Jenkins Covers The Battles of Coral Sea and Midway

Retired Naval Officer Dale A. Jenkins, who served in the Pacific has a book coming out in December: Diplomats and Admirals. Today he sets up and examines the two battles, Coral Sea and Midway, then how their outcomes affected the rest of the Pacific War. His website is https://daleajenkins.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 381-The Battle at Gazala: The Waiting is All

As The Allies and Axis prepare for a battle at Gazala, Rommel and Gen. Ritchie both feel confident that their plan is best. Yet both sides have weaknesses: Rommel doesnt know where all the Allied formations are and the British led forces think they have it easier in only defending their positions. Both sides will make mistakes, but who will exploit them better? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 380-The British 8th Army vs The Desert Fox

Rommel is able to take Cyrenaica back from the British 8th Army, but between his fuel issues and C in C, ME Auchinlecks personnel changes, the two sides will stare at each other for a while. But the combat will return as North Africas fate will determine the future of the Middle East and the Suez Canal. Its all or nothing, but having to deal with the Japanese Empire, now in the war, is stretching the Allies to the breaking point. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 379: Rommel Strikes Back

With the failure of Gen. Auchinleck's Operation Crusader, at the end of 1941, Rommel resupplies and heads out again, before the British can start Operation Acrobat, the drive on Tripoli. As it was a year ago, the Allies are stretched far too thin and the men are under trained and under staffed. Rommel hopes to take Cyrenaica, then Tobruk, all in preparation for a much larger offensive that will finally end the war in North Africa, Egypt and possibly, the Middle East. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 378: West Africa and Charles De Gaulle

Before moving on to Operation Pedestal and then the Eastern Front, Gen. Charles De Gaulles moves in West Africa have to be covered. He seeks to rebuild the French Empire by grabbing African lands that went with the Vichy Government after France fell to German forces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 377-Iceland: A Peaceful Invasion

In this one off episode, Iceland and Greenlands participation in the war is covered. Denmark leads these two islands to the north, but when Nazi Germany occupies Denmark, the islands are on their own. Churchill, as the First Lord of the Admiralty decides that these two islands must come under British control. But it will take American and Canadian help to pull it off, for once Hitler finds out about any talks, Berlin will react as they did in Norway, with their own invasion force. At the end is a recording of FDR and listen how he leads the American...

Episode 376-The Falcon of Malta

In the mold of Adrian Warburton, one George Beurling comes to Malta in July. Like Warby, George or Screwball as he is called, does not care for much for anything really, only flying and fighting. And in a short time, he will cause hell for the Axis pilots. However, Kesselring has ordered Fliegerkorps II to be given more pilots. The overwhelming air attacks on Malta are gearing up again. But this time, it will be Vice Air Marshall Keith Park leading the defense of Malta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 375-Starvation and Betrayal

Lord Gort will have his own Quisling to deal with as a Malta youth comes ashore to spy for Mussolini. Meanwhile, another convoy is attempted, but it too will fail. Gort has no choice but to reduce rations further. His biggest fear is if the Maltese people want to give up or will his soldiers give up the fight before a massive supply convoy can finally make it through. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 374-Churchill: Malta's Patron Saint

As Field Marshall Kesselring loses some of his planes to other theaters, Malta, thanks to Churchill, gets a large influx of Spitfires. The defenders may be able to retake control of their skies, but this does nothing to bring in food, fuel and ammunition. The people of Malta are suffering and the militarys ability to project power is still weak. A convoy is desperately needed, but nothing is expected for months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 373-Malta: A Thunderstorm of Steel

As April 1942 comes to an end, a spot of hope is dashed as the Axis continue their daily bombing of Malta. The ships and subs have been driven away, the islands air force is weak. The only thing holding the invaders back is Maltas AA gun crews and they are running out of ammunition. Gen. Kesselrings plan of breaking Malta is working. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 372-Malta Loses A Hero

As Field Marshall Albert Kesselring ramps up his attacks on Malta, Adm. Andrew Cunningham and others will leave the theatre as they are beyond exhausted. Still, the fight goes on. And those still defending the island are about to experience hell on earth, for months. Kickstarter for Don't Shoot the Messenger-https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/anthonytroli/dont-shoot-the-messenger Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 371-Interview w/ Thomas McKenna about his book Moro Warrior

MORO WARRIOR tells the remarkable true story of the Philippine Muslim (Moro) resistance fighters of World War IIthe most successful and least-known guerrillas of the Pacific Theater. It is the story of Mohammad Adil, a sword-wielding warrior chieftain commissioned as a junior officer in Douglas MacArthurs guerrilla army while still a teenager. Confident in his secret protective powers learned from a Sufi master, Adil roamed the highland rainforests with a price on his head, attacking Japanese outposts, surviving ambushes, and gaining a reputation as a man who could not be killed. www.morowarrior.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 370-Interview w/Peter Bradley about his book, The Last Train: A Family History of the Final Solution

Former Labour MP Peter Bradley comes on the show to discuss his book that covers his family's history during WWII. This retelling of their lives also forced him to dig into the history of the Holocaust and of Anti-Semitism for the last 2000 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Car Show! Episode: The Jeep during WWII

Were shaking things up today and sharing a preview from Car Show!, a new podcast from our friends at Pushkin Industries. Longtime Car and Driver editor Eddie Alterman tells the stories of the vital cars the ones that have changed how we drive and live, whose significance lies outside the scope of horsepower or miles per gallon. In this episode, Eddie talks about the military background of the Jeep, a vehicle made for the battlefields of World War II, and its lasting popularity in America decades after the war. You can listen to the full episode and more from Car...

Episode 369-Interview w/ Paul Brandus about FDRs Use of the Media and Midway

Writer and White House Correspondent Paul Brandus comes on the show to cover FDR's brilliant use of the media, before Pearl Harbor. Also, we discuss the significance of the Battle of Midway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 368-Interview w/Damien Lewis about his book Churchill's Great Escapes

Writer Damien Lewis comes on the show to discuss his new book Churchill's Great Escapes: Seven Incredible Escapes Made by WWII Heroes. During the war, there was no standing order for Allied Officers to try to escape a POW Camp. However, the men of the British Special Forces saw it differently. What follows is a testament to the courage and endurance of humans with a clear goal and unflappable belief in their cause. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 367-The Second Battle of Sirte

Desperate, Adm. Cunningham arranges another convoy for Malta. But the Italian Fleet and German Air Arm are ready. The result, a tiny fraction of supplies will get through. Maltas days as a forward base are coming to an end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 366-Interview with Brandon Gauthier about his book Before Evil

Professor Brandon Gauthier comes on to discuss his book Before Evil, where he examines the making of 20th Centurys greatest tyrants. He reminds us to never forget that the worlds monsters are humans too, with dreams, fears, ambitions and childhoods. That they were the hero in their own story. Stalin was trying to bring Russia up to date, Hitler was carving out an empire for himself and the German people, Mussolini wanted to be great and at the head of a new roman empire. And Mao wanted to bring order to the chaos around him. Learn more about your ad...

Episode 365-The Spitfires Are Coming!

The RAF on Malta actually run out of Hurricane fighters on March 3rd. Fortunately, the promised Spitfires arrive. But how are 15 Spitfires supposed to hold back the entirety of Kesselrings air arm of Italian and German planes. The dark time for Malta are far from over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 364-Mussolini's PR Nightmare

As 1942 opens up the Axis have the upper hand. Still, those in London make plans to invade Sicily. What follows only fills up Davie Jones' locker all the more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 363-Guest Host Lindsey Graham of History Daily Recounts the Attack on Pearl Harbor

The host of several well known podcasts, Lindsay Graham, of History Daily, American Scandal and American History Tellers, is allowing me to share with you, his coverage of the day that will live in Infamy.Here is the three episode arc from The History Daily Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 362-Interview w/ Michael Benson about his book Gangsters vs Nazis

Author Michael Benson comes on the show to talk about his latest book, Gangsters vs Nazis: How Jewish Bobsters Battled Nazis in Wartime America. Some of the most notorious Jewish gangsters, Meyer Lansky, Charles Lucky Luciano, Mickey Cohen and Bugsy Siegel team up with the more respectable side of American politics to take on the growing trend that is the Pro Hitler German American Bund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 361-Interview w/ Edward Aldrich: The Partnership: George Marshall, Henry Stimson and the Extraordinary Collaboration That Won WWII

Edward Aldrich comes on the show to discuss his book that covers the highly effective teamwork of Secretary of War Henry Stimson and Army Chief of Staff George Marshall. Once they are both in position, they will have 17 months to ready the American Armed Forces before Pearl Harbor. Not that they know this. What they do know is war is coming, yet half of the country wants to stay out and FDR cant say much to publicly support to their efforts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 360-The Germans Have Returned

As winter sets in on the Eastern Front, Field Marshal Albert Kesselring is given Luftflotte 2, submarines and motor torpedo boats. His task is to subdue Malta. And he is well on his way as the Italians launch a daring underwater raid on Adm. Cunninghams Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria and London is loath to send Spitfires, the only plane the British have to take on the vaunted Messerschmitt 109s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 359-All Good Things Must Come to an End

As the war goes on, some key personnel leave Malta, heading for new assignments or some much needed rest. But as winter comes, Hitler will send his German pilots back to Sicily. Malta will need help and soon. Instead, Adm. Cunningham looses the carrier Ark Royal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 358-The Saturday Night Club Run

Adm. Cunningham is given Force K, a gift from Churchill. And right away Force K will prove itself by annihilating an entire convoy, looking to resupply Rommel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 357-Operation Halberd

Malta based subs and planes are having a surge of success against Axis shipping heading to North Africa, but increased operations means more fuel is needed. Thus, another convoy is headed to the Mediterranean. This one will be the largest so far, but the Italians will send a massive force to intercept it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 356-Interview with Philip Martin about his book-From Orphan to High Flyer

Philip Martin comes on the show to talk about the book he wrote with RAF Pilot Denis Elliott. Denis' early life was full of pain, which caused a lack of confidence. But then comes the war and young Denis will find himself and grow in belief in himself as a part of the RAF, fighting the Japanese. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 355-Interview with Robert Child about his book Immortal Valor

Robert Child, an Emmy Nominated Producer / Director comes on the show to discuss his latest book, Immortal Valor. The Black Medal of Honor winners of WWII. Just over one million African Americans participated in the war against The Axis, but only 7 of them were given the nations highest award. And it took decades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 354-The Battle of Valletta

Though Operation Substance successfully resupplied Malta in July 1941, the Allies lost planes, ships and men. What followed was the Battle of Valletta, as the Italians try to finish off the convoy while in the Grand Harbor. Paying in kind, sub commander Shrimp Simpson will send 3 subs, HMS Unique, P32 and P33 to Tripoli to wipe out the latest Axis convoy, bound for Rommel. Both sides draw blood and many lives are lost. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 353-Malta's Magic Carpet Service

Adm. Cunningham begins to believe that he may loose Malta. The Germans are gone, but he only has half his normal fleet and the Axis are not slowing down in transporting men to Rommel in North Africa. Picture-HMS Olympus, a part of the Magic Carpet Service. She lost all but 9 men of her crew and passengers out of 98 on May 8, 1942, 7 miles out from Malta after hitting a mine. She was discovered in 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 352-Interview with Ray Boomhower about his book: Richard Tregaskis-Reporting Under Fire From Guadalcanal to Vietnam

Ray Boomhower has written about 3 important war correspondents, Richard Tregaskis, Ernie Pyle and Robert L. Sherrod. Today we discuss the young Tregaskis as he covers events like Midway, Guadalcanal, and the invasion of Sicily. Tregaskis will almost die in Italy, but will return to the Pacific to cover the approach to the Japanese home islands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 351-Interview with Scott Rank of The History Unplugged Podcast

Scott Rank comes on the show to discuss the more impactful events of the Pacific Campaign: The East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, The Battle of Midway, the Fire Bombing of Tokyo and the likely casualties of an Allied invasion onto the main Japanese Islands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 350-Operation Primrose

As the Battle for the Atlantic is not going well for the Allies, Churchills War Cabinet puts into motion a plan to steal a Nazi Enigma machine. Bletchley Park has been trying to break the German Naval codes for years, but more is needed. Meanwhile Malta is about to get a reprieve from the Germans who are preparing for Operation Barbarossa. But one last air raid is needed. Pic-U-110 and the HMS Bulldog. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 349-Malta's Orders: KBO-Keep Buggering On

With Crete falling so quickly Churchill and Adm. Cunningham have to assume that Malta is next. Still, ABC expects his subs, like the Upholder, to hold the line until Malta can be reinforced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 348-Interview with Scott Bury about his Eastern Front Trilogy

Author Scott Bury joins us to talk about his Eastern Front Trilogy. The story centers around Maurice Bury, a Canadian who is forced to fight for Soviet Russia against Nazi Germany. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 347-Malta: Dark Days are Coming

We return to Malta as Adm. Cunningham is at his low point. Churchill wants total war, but Cunningham needs more of everything, including time. The short term answer seems to be more subs, but Malta will have to make do, for now. Doing his part is Lt. Commander Wanklyn and the sub HMS Upholder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 346A-The Everything Everywhere Daily Podcast

Today's offering is an episode from Gary Arndt's Podcast, Everything Everywhere Daily. On this show, he covers the important contribution of Native Americans using their language to stump the Nazi Intelligence services from breaking the Allied Code. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 346-Interview with the Hosts of The Warrior Next Door Podcast

Today on the show, I talk to Tony Lupo and Ryan Fairfield about their show, The Warrior Next Door Podcast. Listen to the oral histories of World War II veterans from interviews conducted by Tony and Ryan as they provide historical context. Their efforts will help the experiences of these brave warriors live forever. Twitter - @WW2Podcaster. www.thewarriornextdoor.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 345-Interview with Joe Lee about his book Forgiveness

Artist Joe Lee comes on the show to talk about his book, Forgiveness: The Story of Eva Kor, Survivor of The Auschwitz Twin Experiments. Find out what happens to Dr. Josef Mengele, the tormentor of Eva, her sister Miriam and the other twins of Auschwitz and the founding of Candles-Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 344-Interview with Jeffrey Jackson about his book, Paper Bullets

Jeffrey Jackson, professor of history at Rhodes College comes on the show to tell us about Lucy and Suzannes courage in defying the nazi occupation of the channel island Jersey. These two lovers, having developed their avant garde artistry in 1920 and 1930s Paris, will put all their skill to work, when undermining the enemy troops on their island. Professor Jeffrey Jackson, author of Paris Under Water: How the City of Light Survived the Great Flood of 1910 describes how these two courageous womens paper bullets made the Nazis question their own safety and why they were there at all....

Episode 343-Interview with Ambassador David McKean about his book Watching Darkness Fall

Former Ambassador to Luxembourg and before that, the Director of Policy Planning at the US department of State, Ambassador McKean is currently the senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the US in Washington, DC. Today he joins us to talk about how all but one of FDRs ambassadors in Europe misjudged Hitler and his intentions. Cyber Month Deal! Go tohttps://NordVPN.com/worldwar2or use couponcode WORLDWAR2 to get up to 73% off your NordVPN plan plus 1 bonus month for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 342-Interview with Jack Fairweather about his book, A Rebel in Auschwitz

War reporter Jack Fairweather comes on to discuss his latest book A Rebel in Auschwitz. The story is of Witold Pilecki, a member of the Polish Resistance who is chosen to purposefully get arrested to be taken to the camp. Upon seeing the daily cruelty, Witold has to let the world know what is happening to the vanquished Polish people and later, the Jewish prisoners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 341-Battle of the Tarigo Convoy

PM Churchill wants Adm. Andrew Cunningham to sink supply ships heading for Rommel's North African Army. Cunningham wants more ships, but is told to make do with what he has. So in mid April, Cunningham sends out 4 destroyers under the Flagship HMS Jervis, with Capt. Phillip Mack in command. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 340-Interview with Chris Berman

Writer and lecturer Chris Berman joins us to discuss the Night Witches, the female soviet pilots, cultural perceptions of warfare and the lady pilots of The United States and Great Britain. Check out his latest book, A White Star in a Red Sky. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 339-The Battle of Cape Matapan

The Luftwaffe keeps trying different types of bombs until they find one that works well against Maltese buildings. And their Bf109 fighters are decimating the British Hurricanes. Malta is threatened. But Adm. Cunningham will engage the Italian Navy during the Battle of Cape Matapan to help even the odds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 338-The Siege of Malta Begins

Churchill wants the Italians hit hard as the German's begin bombing Malta almost daily. This will include Operation Colossus and Commander Shrimp's sub, HMS Upholder heading out to interdict supplies heading to Rommel in North Africa. Pic-Lt. Comm. Wanklyn and second in command Tubby Crawford. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 337-The Illustrious Blitz

After the successful raid against the Italy Naval Fleet at Taranto, Cunningham and Churchill wonder when the Italians will strike back and when Hitlers Luftwaffe will join them. They will not have to wait long. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 336: With A Friend Like Mussolini

Malta goes stronger each day, with Churchill's help and Adm. Cunningham's persistence. Still, the clouds grow darker as Mussolini invades Greece, which prompts Hitler to get involved in the Mediterranean. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 335-Churchill Wants War

As Malta is pounded by Mussolini's Air Force, PM Churchill is determined not to give up on the island or any of the Mediterranean Sea. And Adm. Andrew Cunningham is in full agreement as the Battle of Calabria gets underway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 334-All Roads Go Through Malta

For thousands of years, Malta has had numerous masters. But as WWII seems inevitable, the British and Maltese people come together to ready themselves to take on the Axis Powers. Not until Mussolini declares war against the Allies does Malta get attacked, but even then, her defenses are far from strong. Thus the Siege of Malta has begun. Twitter@WW2Podcaster FacebookA History of World War II Podcast. TikTokWWIIGuy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 333-The Doolittle Raid Pt 4: The Pacific War Takes Shape

As most of Doolittle's Raiders make it home safely, one crew is soon in Stalin's hands and two others are captured by the Japanese. After this, go back and listen to Episode 299, to hear the end of the tale. Pic-Doolittle with President Roosevelt. Twitter-@WW2Podcaster. Facebook-A History of World War II Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 332-The Doolittle Raid Pt 3: Japan's Pearl Harbor

This episode covers the flight paths of the 16 Doolittle Raiders. A solid hour of hell is visited upon The Japanese Empire. Adm. Yamamoto and his Combined Fleet will send 6 carriers to chase down Adm. Halseys Task Force 16, but it is long gone. Tokyo learns that war is a two way street. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 331-The Doolittle Raid Pt 2

As TF 16 under Admirals Halsey and Mitscher sail closer to the Japanese Home Islands, the Allies naval forces loose several vessels. Its no longer a question of will Doolittles Raiders succeed, but rather, will the carrier Enterprise and Hornet make it safely back to Pearl Harbor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 330-The Doolittle Raid Pt 1

President Roosevelt, like the rest of America is reeling from the attack on Pearl Harbor. But his shock is soon joined by rage. He wants the Japanese Empire taught a lesson. The lessons of war. What is needed is a strike against Tokyo itself. Adm. Ernest J. King and his staff will answer the presidents call, by figuring out how to launch a bombing raid against the Land of the Rising Suns capital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 329-The Fall of Corregidor

Gen. Wainwright has set up his defenses for Corregidor as best he can, still, all involved know the outcome. Its only a matter of playing it out, per his order from Gen. MacArthur. The defenders have a few tricks up their sleeve as Hommas 4th Division lands on Corregidor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 328-The Fall of Mindanao

After Gen. Edward Kings surrender of Bataan, the Japanese focus on Corregidor and the three smaller islands below it. And now that the Battle of Bataan is over, Gen. Homma will send numerous Detachments to the Southern Islands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 327-The Fall of Bataan

Generals Wainwright, King and Parker are seriously considering surrendering. The problem is that Gen. MacArthur has forbidden it. But the facts of the ground dominate. Months of starvation have robbed the defenders of their ability to fight any longer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 326-Interview with Rob Lofthouse about his book, Honor Through Sacrifice

Gordon Joseph Lippman was only 18 years old when he joined the army in 1943. Earning a spot in the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team, he would see action in Italy, Southern France and help Easy Company in The Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he would stay in the Army and fight in Korea and Vietnam. The winner of 17 Commendations, Gordon Lippman was a man anyone would be happy to have in their foxhole. The full title is Honor Through Sacrifice: The Story of One of America's Greatest Military Leaders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Episode 325-Bataan-The Beginning of the End

During the second battle of Bataan, Gen. Homma has a specific plan, whereas the Allies are simply trying to hold onto their defensive line. But the men on the line are far too weak to offer any real resistance. Sector D has been crushed and its Sector Cs turn. If it falls the war is all but over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 324-The Second Battle of Bataan

Gen. Homma, now resupplied and reinforced, will come again. But this time, with MacArthur gone, the Japanese will face Gen. Edward P. King. And he is determined to hold out. But Hommas plan is straightforward, to bombard the main defensive line to smithereens even before his men attack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 323-Bataan: The Readiness is All

As Gen. Homma reinforcements come in, his confidence grows. Yet his plan to conquer southern Bataan and Corregidor is flawed. Meanwhile, Gen. Jonathan Wainwright is doing all he can to prepare his men to fight the enemy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 322-The Battling Bastards of Bataan

As Gen. Homma, commander of the Japanese forces in The Philippines brings in reinforcements and food, the American Government is finding it all but impossible to resupply Gen. Jonathan Wainwright, the new commander on Corregidor.Meanwhile, MacArthur is still trying to control the defense of Bataan from Australia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 321-MacArthur-I Shall Return

MacArthur finishes up his escape from Corregidor to Melbourne Australia. But the news waiting for him is not the Generals liking, basically, there are more troops back on Bataan than there are in the whole of Australia. But Gen. George Marshall will sooth MacArthurs wounded pride with The Medal of Honor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 320-MacArthur's Great Escape Pt 1

It's time for MacArthur to leave Corregidor, but how? Submarine, plane or boat. MacArthur chooses an early departure over safety, thus he and his will suffer for 600 miles on a PT Boat. But the net around Corregidor is being drawn ever tighter by the Japanese. It's now or never. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 319-How Do You Solve a Problem Like MacArthur

With the war of Bataan coming to a standstill, FDR and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Marshall start to think of the future. MacArthur is too popular to let be captured by the Japanese. Besides, someone will have to lead US Army forces in the SE Pacific and there is only one man the American public would accept in that post, Gen. Douglas MacArthur. But how to extract him with his pride intact? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 318-Battle of the Pockets Pt 2

During the Battle of the Points, Gen. Homma would attack Gen. Wainwright's western line. This allowed 1000 Japanese troops to get through. The Allied Command staff will soon find themselves dealing with 3 enemy forces in their rear. Hopefully the main defensive will hold while this threat is being dealt with. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 317-Battle of the Pockets Pt 1

Gen. Homma has decided to hit the Allied line in two sections. Which means, in Gen. Parker's I Corps, on the eastern side of the Bataan Peninsula, Gen. Clifford Bluemel's Sector C will get all of Gen. Nara's attention. And Bluemel discovers a massive hole in his line just before the attack. The battle of Trail 2 gets underway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 316-FDR: The Man with No Fear

I am joined today by Richard Lim, host of This American President Podcast to discuss Franklin Roosevelt. Now that the Japanese have struck at Pearl Harbor, FDR must lead the U.S. to victory. But what kind of man and politician was FDR. Join us to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 315-Battle of the Points

In attempting to smash MacArthurs line on the Bataan Peninsula, Gen. Homma will send several amphibious end runs behind the lines. If all works out well, in this Battle of the Points, the Allies will loose all. If not, those Japanese troops may find themselves sacrificed, with nothing to show for it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 314-The Battle of Bataan

Gen. Homma sends his forces at MacArthur's defensive line on Bataan. For days the line holds, until it doesn't. Falling back, the Allied try to keep cohesion, in order to stave off destruction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 313-Retreat to Bataan

As Gen. Jonathan Wainwright conducts the battle of the 5 lines, Gen. MacArthur declares Manila an open city and continues to pressure Washington to send him supplies and reinforcements. All the while, Gen. Homma comes to control more and more of Luzon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 312-Bataan or Bust

With the defenses of Lingayen Gulf shattered, Gen. MacArthur has decided to retreat to the Bataan peninsula, though there are no waiting supplies there. So while there is fighting to the north and south of Manila, supplies and men are moved to the final defensive position. Yet, Gen. Homma increases the pressure with a fresh invasion at Lamon Bay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 311-Gen. Douglas MacArthur: Defending the Indefensible

With MacArthurs alteration to the American defensive plan for the Philippines left in tatters, he reverts back to Plan Orange: to move all available troops to the Bataan Peninsula. But first, he has to give his command staff enough time to make this happen. Thus a series of defensive lines will be set up between the Japanese troops and Manila, but how long can they hold against better trained and experienced troops? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 310-December 22, 1941: A Date Which Will Live in Infamy

The main Japanese attack comes to Luzon on December 22nd, but Gen. Douglas MacArthur is overly confident. Besides, Gen. George Marshall is unable to help, as much as he wants to. This leaves the under trained and ill-equipped Philippine troops to guard the beaches of Lingayen Gulf. Also, the Asiatic Fleet will be of little help as their torpedoes, not that this is known yet, are mostly defective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 309-MacArthur: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

As northern and southern Luzon becomes Japanese controlled territory, Gen. Douglas MacArthur finds himself trapped, besides which, his air arm has been devastated. The Allies only chance for survival are reinforcements, which are on their way from Pearl Harbor. But will this convoy make it to Manila. Meanwhile, Air Commander Gen. Brereton and Adm. Hart of the Asiatic Fleet are ordered to make for Australia. MacArthur stands alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 308-War Comes to The Philippines

Even with a seven hour warning Gen. Douglas MacArthur seems paralyzed by the shocking news from Pearl Harbor. Commander of the air forces in The Philippines, Gen. Lewis Brereton knows how he wants to react, but is unable to get the green light from MacArthur or his chief of staff Gen. Richard Sutherland. Thus the initiative passes to the Japanese invasion force, who happily take up the challenge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 307-Prelude to the Fall of the Philippines

With the Japanese Empire deciding to invade to the south, the American fighters and bombers, under Gen. Douglas MacArthur's command in The Philippines must be taken out first. Previously, the American defense plan had been to fight a holding action, but MacArthur has changed this to meet the enemy on the beaches of Luzon. Only time would tell if this was the correct course of action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 306-Gen. Slim Regroups, Gen. Stilwell Retreats

As Gen. William Slim deals with the remains of Burma Corps, the American general Joseph "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell also has to find a way out. But the American commander of Chinese forces in Burma has decided he will walk out of the war zone, with his men. If he can make it out alive. Meanwhile Chiang Kai-shek's government feeds the American press false stories of all the Japanese armies Stilwell is defeating...on his way out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 305-Isn't That Burma Army Annihilated Yet?

Gen. William Slim and Burma Corps finally reach India, as does several Chinese divisions. However the Battle of the Basin has to be fought first. Gen. Joseph Stilwell also has plans to leave Burma, but his route is cut off. As for Burma Corps, their entrance into India is not the reprieve they hoped it would be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 304-Mistakes Were Made, Men Died

Gen. William Slim and Burma Corps continue their retreat. But as hunger, fatigue and the coming Monsoons press down on the British General, his guard is dropped and the Japanese come rushing in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 303-The Battle of Mandalay

The British led forces are retreating from Burma. But first they must get to Mandalay and across the Ava Bridge there, all the while keeping the Japanese at bay. The most Gen. Slim and Stilwell can hope for is to get out of the fighting, mostly intact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 302-Interview with Lesley Blume about her book: Fallout

Lesley MM Blume joins us to tell of the US Government coverup of the effects of the Atomic Bomb. The book: Fallout: The Hiroshima Cover Up and the Reporter Who Revealed It to the World Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 301-Burma: The Great Retreat Begins

It's the beginning of the end for the Allied defense of Burma. While Gen. Slim's men are pushed back, their Chinese Allies in the Shan States of Eastern Burma are set upon and scattered.. Their remnants head back to China. Still, Gen. Slim wants to stay and fight and plans to build on Gen. Joseph Stilwell's string of victories, but even these can not alter the course of the wider war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 300-The Battle of Yenaungyaung

Gen. William Slim will have to use all his experience and cunning to survive this latest defeat and retreat. In the balance is the entire 1st Burma Division. Fortunately for the Allies, Chinese Gen. Sun Li-jen of the 38th Division had dreamed as a boy that he would win a great victory and bring glory to China. The Sun was about to shine bright! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 299-Interview with Michel Paradis about his book Last Mission to Tokyo

Michel Paradis joins us to talk about his book, Last Mission to Tokyo: The Extraordinary Story of The Doolittle Raiders and Their Final Fight for Justice. A few of the pilots are captured by the Japanese, tortured and sentenced to death. And it will be those Japanese officers connected with this cruelty, that will be tried by the American Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 298-The Battle of Prome

The British lead Allies will suffer defeat on land, sea and in the air, but Gen. Slim will not give up. Moving his men north after loosing at Prome, the defenders set up a new line further to the north. The Chinese lend another force to this new defensive line, but what arrives is a far cry than the tough 500th Division. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 297-10th Anniversary Episode

My web design guru Paul Finch of Scotland comes on as we discuss the WWII Podcast on its 10th Anniversary. Paul pitches the questions sent in by listeners and I answer them as best I can, with a pinch of humility. Thanks to everyone who listens and we should get this wrapped up...in another 10 years! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 296-Bryan Rigg Interview about his book Flamethrower

Bryan Rigg talks about his book Flamethrower: Iwo Jima Medal of Honor Recipient and US Marine Woody Williams and His Controversial Award, Japan's Holocaust and the Pacific War. Iwo Jima must fall to the Americans to allow more intense bombing of the Japanese Home Islands. But Lt. Gen. Tadamichi Kuribayashi, the commander on Iwo Jima will move Heaven and Earth, not to mention break all precedent to inflict staggering casualties on the approaching US Marines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 295-The Battle of Toungoo

This episode brings in Gen. Joseph Vinegar Joe Stilwell as he takes command of Chinese Armies bound for Burma. Yet, as he will find, appearances can be deceiving. The RAF and AVG crews are pushed out of Burma as the Japanese 55th Division comes at Toungoo, to begin the battle of central Burma. But in their way, is the Chinese 200th Division of the 5th Army, the best that Chiang Kai-Shek has to offer. Oh and this is my 10th Anniversary Episode! Thanks for listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 294:The Redoubtable Gen. William Slim

This episode introduces Gen. William Slim of BurCorps. It would be his job to turn the tables on the Japanese in Burma, by working with American Gen. Joseph "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell. But first, we look back at Slim's experiences in the Middle East as the Allies subdue Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 293-Burma: The Ground War Begins

The Japanese 15th Army invades Burma, hoping to use speed to reach Rangoon. But several British officers hope to hold them off until reinforcements can arrive. The episode covers the fighting retreat from the Salween River, the fighting retreat from the Bilin River and the Battle of Sittang River, where the 17th Indian Division looses more than half of its troops due to bad planning and even worse communication. The situation is most dire before the arrival of Gen. William Slim and Gen. Joseph "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 292-The War Comes to Burma

Although the British are unprepared to defend Burma, Wavell believes that the Japanese may have extended themselves too far with this invasion. But its wishful thinking as the 3 most southern British airfields quickly fall. With the invaders coming ever closer to Rangoon, its up to the Flying Tigers and RAF pilots at Rangoon to give hope to the Allies. And these men will deliver impressive defeats to the Japanese Air Arm. But the Japanese and Thai ground troops are still getting closer to the Burmese capital, where the Lend Lease material is waiting. Learn more about your ad choices....

Episode 291-America Strikes Back-The Marshalls & Gilberts Raids

This potpourri of an episode has lots from early 1942 in the Pacific. Covering the Admiralty, Marshall, Gilbert, Mariana, Caroline and Solomon Islands, we cover more Japanese victories, but also Washington's desire to strike back. Then asking the question, what was the turning point in the Pacific Campaign, Midway or the Solomon Islands Campaign. And finally, ending with Adm. Halsey and Adm. Fletcher as they lead air raids against the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 290-The Invasion of Burma: Prelude

The Japanese determine that Burma must be occupied to protect their new possession of Malaya. It's up to Chiang Kai-Shek, American Gen. Joe Stilwell and British Gen. Wavell to stop them. The problem is the Allies don't trust each other, in regards to Burma's future. Churchill doesn't care about China right now, but FDR needs the massive country to stay in the fight. Or else the many Japanese divisions in China might be turned on Australia and the US General Staff have determined that Australia has to hold out, to serve as a base. From their Gen. Douglas MacArthur will...

Episode 289-The Invasion of New Guinea

With Rabaul taken the Japanese go after locations in NE New Guinea, but will have to deal with Vice Adm. Wilson Brown and the US carriers Lexington and Yorktown. The Americans and Australians achieve a surprise air raid on Lae and Salamaua, now owned by the Japanese, but the later will not be deterred from planning their next strike against Port Moresby. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 288-The Fall of Rabaul

The invasions of New Britain and New Ireland get underway. But are over just as quickly. Meanwhile, Australian PM John Curtain informs Churchill that his country will now tie its wagon to the US. Gen. Douglas MacArthur will be their overall commander. Lastly, the incredible story of the Lost Women of Rabaul is covered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 287-Damien Lewis Interview: Churchill's Shadow Raiders

Joining us is Damien Lewis, to talk about his latest book Churchill's Shadow Raiders: The Race to Develop Radar, WWII's Invisible Secret Weapon. Operation Biting's goal was to steal a German Radar Device, yet because of that very device, the Germans knew the British Commandos were coming. And as the raid is launched, Churchill's cabinet can not forget the first airborne operation, which many thought ended in disaster, Operation Colossus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 286-The Battle of Rabaul-Prelude

With much of SE Asia conquered, the Japanese now focus on New Guinea, staring with the islands of New Britain and New Ireland. Lark Force at Rabaul will be sacrificed, but will do their duty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 285-The Fall of Timor

Despite Allied hopes that Timor would be left alone, the Japanese Empire has need of its airfields to bomb Australia. But what the invaders were not counting on was the tough Australian Commandos who stay behind and inflict impressive casualties until the end of 1942. Col. Doi, the Japanese officer in charge therefore, calls in the Tiger of Singapore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 284- The Fall of Java, Pt 3

The Final of the Java series. East Java falls and what is left of the Java Allied Defense is trapped in the south at Tjilatjap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 283-The Fall of Java Pt 2-The Battle of the Java Sea

The Japanese come at Java but first must deal with the Combined Fleet of Dutch, Australian, British and American vessels. What follows is The Battle of the Java Sea and The Battle of Sundra Straight. Then the fall of western Java. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 282-Interview with Peter Lion about his book: Merg

Peter Lion joins up to talk about the incredible George Mergenthaler, the sole heir to a vast fortune, but after Pearl Harbor, he joined the US Army as a buck private, only wanting to do his part. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 281-The Fall of Java Pt 1

With Sumatra lost the Allies know that Java is next. ABDA Commander Gen. Archibald Wavell prepares his meager forces as best he can. One asset is the heavy cruiser the USS Houston, but can this make up for the overwhelming Japanese forces coming their way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 280-The Fall of Sumatra

With Singapore all but taken, the Japanese start operations against Sumatra. The Dutch ask for help from ABDA Command, but it may be too little, too late. Still, the Allies have one chance to stop the invasion, as they launch 50 fighters and bombers at the coming invasion force. Yet the Japanese have their own surprise in store, paratroopers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 279-Interview with Wes Tooke, writer and producer of the film Midway

Writer, Wes Tooke joins us to talk about the film Midway. We cover this pivotal turning point in the Pacific War, lead by Adm. Chester Nimitz. Young men like Dick Best, Wade McClusky and Clarence Dickinson lead the charge after the disastrous attack on Pearl Harbor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 278-The Fall of Bali and The Battle of Badung Straight

Needing another airfield to attack Java, the Japanese quickly work up a plan to take Bali. Dutch Rear Adm. Karel W. Doorman and ABDA Command respond with three separate naval groups of Dutch and American vessels to stop the invasion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 277- An interview with Melissa Amateis* about her book, Nebraska POW Camps, A History of WWII Prisoners in the Heartland

During World War II, thousands of Axis prisoners of war were held throughout Nebraska in base camps that included Fort Robinson, Camp Scottsbluff and Camp Atlanta. Many Nebraskans did not view the POWs as "evil Nazis." To them, they were ordinary men and very human. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 276-The Fall of The Celebes and Maluku Islands

With Singapore captured, the Japanese Empire sets its sights on Sumatra and Java. But first, the Celebes and Maluku Islands must fall, so Australia and other nearby locations can be targeted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 275-The Fall of Singapore

Despite a 3 to 1 advantage in men, Archibald Percival, GOC Malay, is pushed by Churchill and ABDACOM Commander Gen. Wavell to defy the Japanese in trying to take Singapore. Yet Gen. Yamashita will continue defying the odds with audacity and speed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 274-The End of British Malaya

Bringing up the Australian 8th Infantry Division, it's hoped these fresh troops can stop the Japanese 25th Army from taking Johore and thus capturing all of the Malayan Peninsula. Yet Percival and Wavell are already thinking of abandoning the peninsula and focusing on the island of Singapore. Even then, Churchill wants the island fortress held until there is protracted fighting among the ruins of Singapore City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 273-The Battle at Slim River

With reinforcements on the way, the British lead Commonwealth troops strive to keep the Japanese away from Singapore. And though exhausted, the Gurkhas, Punjabis, Hyderabad, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of the 11th Indian Infantry Division are on their own against Lt. Gen. Yamashita's 25th Army. It's a race between the arrival of help versus the capture of the port city. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 272-Courage Yet Defeat: The Battle of Kampar

The Japanese 25 Army continues pushing the Malaya Command further south, ever closer to Singapore. But the latest stand will take place near Kampar yet here, the defenders have the enviable position of having their guns on the heights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 271-The Battle of Jitra

The third of the Battle of Singapore series. The 11th Indian Infantry Division, operating on the west coast, as well as the 9th Indian Infantry Division, on the East, both find themselves unable to deal with a few Japanese Battalion and a few companies of light tanks. Within a week, half the Malayan peninsula is lost. Soon, Singapore will be open to direct bombing by nearby, land based enemy bombers. The order of the day is retreat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 270-The Battle of Singapore: Force Z to the Rescue

Acting Admiral Sir Tom Phillips of the British Royal Navy, hopes to begin a campaign that will save SE Asia. If he can stop the invasion of southern Thailand and Northern Malaya, then one day, Singapore could be the starting point of retaking western possessions. Yet it's not the invading Japanese force Phillips fears or the convoy carrying it, it's the land based bombers in southern Indo-China. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 269-Interview with David Stahel about his book, Retreat from Moscow

Dr. David Stahel discusses his latest book, Retreat from Moscow, A New History of Germany's Winter Campaign, 1941-1942, in where he takes a new line on Operation Barbarossa's first winter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 268-The Battle for Malaya and Singapore

Though the British plans to defend Singapore with the Royal Navy and Air Force never materialize, Air Marshal Brooke-Popham and GOC Percival still want the British Far East possessions to hold out as long as possible. So Operation Matador and Operation Krohcol are created. But one will not be viable and the other, will be too little, too late. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 267-Interview with Mikhal Dekel about her latest book, Tehran Children, A Holocaust Refugee Odyssey

Professor Mikhal Dekel joins me to talk about her book, covering Jewish Polish refugees, as 1000 children make an incredible 13,000 mile journey from Eastern Europe to Palestine, via Tehran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 266: The Fall of Borneo

The Japanese troops push the British led forces as well as the Dutch troops around Borneo, taking coastal towns and villages along the way. But not everything will go the invader's way, as the Dutch use their older bombers and fighters to resist. Not to mention, the US Navy makes an appearance. Still the Japanese win out. But then, both the defenders and the invaders have to content with the locals and some of them are headhunters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 265-The Battle of Borneo: Resistance Comes in Many Form

After the raid on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese send 2 destroyers to damage the American facilities at Midway Island. Then the island of Borneo is attacked and the British and Dutch forces there have no choice but surrender, but will first make the invaders work for their victory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 264-Black Christmas: The Fall of Hong Kong

Broken by overwhelming numbers, Gen. Maltby and Gov. Young surrender the cause of Hong Kong. But in some ways, the battle over the island is just beginning, as Chinese Communists and Nationalists come together to harass the occupiers of China and Hong Kong. Then comes the tragic tale of the Lisbon Maru, full of Commonwealth POWS, but sunk by an American sub. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 263-A Thousand Cuts

As Christmas approaches, the overwhelming Japanese forces reduce the British holdings throughout Hong Kong. Still, Gen. Maltby is unwilling to give up. One counter attack after another is launched. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 262-Once More, Unto the Gap

With the eastern half of Hong Kong Island practically lost, it's up to the West Brigade, under Brig. John Lawson to hold the invading Japanese troops back. But Lawson will deal with the same conditions as the defeated Brig. Wallis of the East Brigade, not enough troops and overwhelming enemy forces. Still, both sides will bleed over the Wongneichong Gap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 261-The Balaclava of the Sea

Gen. Sakai begins his invasion of Hong Kong, but Gen. Maltby has his troops ready and his Motor Torpedo Boats, which will hopefully stop the invasion before it can begin. Still, the Japanese reach shore and so begins Japanese atrocities, but the end of Hong Kong resistance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 260-Hong Kong-Retreat but No Surrender

With the Gin Drinker's Line pierced, Gen. Maltby pulls back his men to Hong Kong Island. The Japanese will ask the Commonwealth forces to surrender, but Gov. Young and Maltby give a one word answer, no. Now Gen. Sakai prepares to invade Hong Kong with a bombardment to weaken British defenses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 259-Operation C: Japan Attacks Hong Kong

As the Japanese military has been able to take the port cities of China by 1941, the British held Hong Kong is still free. But now its turn has come and Gen. Christopher Maltby and his mix of Canadian, British, Indian and Eurasians troops will try to hold out as long as possible. The Gin Drinkers Line, Maltby's first line of defense will be tested. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 258-The Battle of Hong Kong

London had decided that Hong Kong was to be sacrificed to the Japanese, but after Canada offered up two battalions, Churchill reversed this decision. Now, the hope was that the British Colony would hold out behind the Gin Drinker's Line, manned by Canadians, Indians and the men from a Hong Kong Chinese Regiment. Still, the odds were going to be 4 to 1. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 257-The Fall of Wake Island

The marines on Wake Island are holding out, due to discipline and Japanese tactical mistakes. Yet Maj. Devereux is unaware of this and thus brings to fighting to an end. Yet the Japanese atrocities are only just beginning, against the marine and civilian POWs. As for Adm. Frank Fletcher's task force to save Wake, that suffers too, from the equally timid Vice Adm. Pye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 256- Massacre on Wake Island

Wake Island becomes the focal point of US resistance to Japanese aggression. Adm. Kimmel will send a relief force to Wake, but will it get there in time. Meanwhile, Rear Adm. Kajioka of the Imperial Japanese Navy, in command of the force that is to take Wake is reinforced by two of the carriers that led the Pearl Harbor attack. Pictured-1st Lt. John Kinney works himself into exhaustion trying to keep the marine's remaining Wildcat fighters operational. Who will get to Wake first, the Japanese or Task Force 14? This episode brought to you by ridgewallet.com/ww2. Learn more about your...

Episode 255- The Marines of Wake Island Dont Know Quit

The Marines on Wake Island are down to four Wildcat fighters, but are determined to resist any Japanese invasion, no matter the odds. "Hammering Hank" and Maj. Putnam and their pilots score hit after hit, but the Japanese bombers and transports keep coming. Meanwhile Maj. Devereux comes up with his own surprises for the invaders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 254-Guam Falls. Wake Island, The Alamo of the Pacific is Next

With MacArthur's airfields still smoldering, the Japanese attack Guam and Wake Island. But the Marines on Wake, though staggered after the first strike are determined to fight on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 253-Gen. MacArthur-Everything is in Readiness-The Philippines and Singapore

Gen. Douglas MacArthur, in command of all U.S. forces in The Philippines, is convinced that the Japanese will not attack until April of 1942 and plans accordingly. But as we have seen, Clark Field is ravaged and half of his B 17s are destroyed. Meanwhile, Adm. Tom Phillips of the British Royal Navy will take the warships Repulse and the Prince of Wales up, along the coast to check any Japanese landings. This episode is brought to you by www.ridgewallet.com/ww2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 252- The Japanese are Coming: Thailand Falls

As Japan launches Operation No. 1, the invasion of SE Asia, numerous transport ships head out to attack The Philippines, Malaya and Thailand. The British believe themselves prepared while the Americans offer to help as much as they can, thinking themselves safe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 251-An Interview with Walter Borneman about his book Brothers Down

Author Walter Borneman joins us to talk about his book, Brothers Down: Pearl Harbor and The Fate of the Many Brothers Aboard the USS Arizona Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 250- A Date Which Will Live in Infamy

As the Japanese invasion fleet comes closer to Malaya, the various plans established by each side will be tested. Yet, the invaders will find that, perhaps, the gods are on their side. Meanwhile President Roosevelt addresses Congress and asks for a declaration of war against the Japanese Empire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 249-Japan Enters the War

As Axis victories cause colonial powers to become vulnerable in the Far East, Japan decides to enter the war. With a quick strike at Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces will make for Malaya, Thailand, Hong Kong, Guam, the Philippines, Wake Island and Midway. All this, President Roosevelt will have to share with Congress as he tells of the death and destruction at Pearl. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing Espionage

Here is the first part of the first episode of Espionage, the latest podcast from Parcast. Podcast.com/espionage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 248-Post Pearl Harbor: The American Giant is Awakened

With details of the Pearl Harbor attack still coming in, President Roosevelt knows he needs to inform but also calm his fellow Americans, who can only think of revenge. Japan declares war against the U.S. and Great Britain, but will FDR call for a war against Japan and Nazi Germany? What will Hitler do? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 247-Pearl Harbor: American Perspective Pt 2

The Second attack wave comes and goes at Pearl Harbor. Now, FDR, Adm. Nimitz, Adm. Halsey and Gen. Douglas MacArthur have to face what's coming next, the invasion of SE Asia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 246-The End of the Aleutian Campaign

The Americans with Canadian help attempt to drive away or capture the Japanese troops stationed on Attu and Kiska. Yet the mysterious Battle of the Pips will aid the Japanese. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 245-Operation Landcrab

The Americans continue to bomb Kiska, but the Japanese troops are not leaving. Worse, the Imperial Japanese High Command has sent reinforcements. So the US 7th Division from California, along with parts of the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade have been chosen to land on Attu, to capture the enemy or push them into the sea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 244: The Aleutian Campaign, the Kiska Blitz

As the Japanese grab a second Aleutian Island, the US military, though denying the Japanese advance, makes plans to remove them. The result-The Kiska Blitz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 243-The Aleutian Islands Campaign

Adm. Yamamoto wants to occupy the Midway Islands, but first needs to confuse his opponent Adm. Chester Nimitz with a diversionary attack on the Aleutian Islands. The attack on Midway does not go according to plan, but neither does the defense of Dutch Harbor, Attu or Kiska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 242-Interview with Steve Snyder about his book Shot Down: The True story of Pilot Howard Snyder and the crew of the B 17 Susan Ruth

Shot Down covers the events leading up to and after the crew of the B 17 Susan Ruth is shot down over the French/Belgium border on February 8, 1944. Of the ten man crew, some died, some ended up in prison camps, and some evaded capture. As for Pilot Howard Snyder, find out how he evaded capture from the Gestapo for 7 long months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 241-Air Raid, Pearl Harbor. This is No Drill!

As the carrier USS Enterprise is late for its return to Pearl Harbor, Adm. Bull Halsey sends on ahead Scouting and Bombing squadron 6. The 18 Douglas Dauntless SBDs are about to fly into the tragedy that is the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. Also Lt. Gen. Walter Short, in overall command, realizes the unthinkable has happened. And Chaplin Lt. Howell M. Forgy of the USS New Orleans is about to utter his famous line, Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 240-An Interview with Dr. Jonathan Fennell about his new book, Fighting the Peoples War: The British and Commonwealth Armies and The Second World War

Dr. Jonathan Fennell discusses the importance of morale in his latest book: Fighting the Peoples War: The British and Commonwealth Armies and The Second World War https://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Peoples-War-British-Commonwealth-ebook/dp/B07MHXD6D2/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548475894&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Dr.+Jonathan+Fennell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 239-Pearl Harbor, The American Perspective, Pt 1

As the Japanese bombs and bullets begin to destroy American equipment and lives, the mostly young men are about to find out what they're made of. This episode focuses on the American's response at Kaneohe Bay Naval Air Station, the Marines' Mooring Mast Field at Ewa and Bellows Field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 238-An Interview with Andrew Roberts about his Churchill biography

This episode is a crossover from The Cold War Podcast that I co-host with Cameron Reilly. With us is historian Andrew Roberts as we discuss his new book, Churchill-Walking with Destiny. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 237- The Thin Gray Line, the US Pacific Submarine fleet after Pearl Harbor

Back with us is Flint Whitlock as we discuss his book Depths of Courage:American Submariners at War with Japan, 1941-1945. With America's surface fleet and air arm crippled after Pearl Harbor, the few subs in the Pacific were tasked with keeping the Japanese Navy at bay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 236-Claire Chennault and the Flying Tigers

Laszlo Montgomery of The China History Podcast joins me to discuss Claire Chennault and the Flying Tigers. Just after the devastation of Pearl Harbor, the AVG are the only Americans taking the fight to the Japanese Empire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing-Assassinations

Please checkout The Parcast Network's latest hit: Assassinations. One death can change the world. Assassinations recounts historys most dramatic deaths. Through little-known facts, what-ifs? and examining the assassin's motives, they explore how one murder can alter the course of history.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/assassinations/id1441176049?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 235-An Interview with Flint Whitlock about his book Desperate Valour: Triumph at Anzio

With the Allies being held up in southern Italy by The Gustav Line, near the end of 1943, Gen. Mark Clark decides to do an end run. The force of British and American troops, led by Gen. John Lucas, will land just south of Rome. However, the Allies have few facts to go on and will be caught off guard by the number of troops Field Marshal Albert Kesselring will throw at the tiny beach head at Anzio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 234-Pearl Harbor Attack-The 2nd Japanese Air Strike

The 2nd Air Wave comes at Pearl Harbor to finish what the First Wave started. Yet, their target selection will be poor. Meanwhile, the Americans are as ready as they can be and as such, the invaders will suffer more than double the losses from the first attack. Still, the battleships Nevada and Pennsylvania will be heavily targeted. Pictured are the Cassin, Downes and in the rear, the flag ship Pennsylvania. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 233-An interview with Frederic Martini about his book: Betrayed- Secrecy, Lies and Consequences

While the official government story has always been that no Allied POWs were held in German concentration camps, 168 Allied airmen were beaten, experimented on, and otherwise mistreated in Buchenwald, where the famous rocket scientist Wernher von Braun obtained slave labor for his V-2 factory, the Mittelwerk. Here is the story of one of those airmen, Frederic Martini. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 232-Pearl Harbor: The First Attack Wave

This episode covers the first attack wave of Japanese aircraft, from the Japanese point of view. Battleship Row is hit, but Fuchida's plan is far from perfect. Then came the high level bombers, which inflicted damage on every battleship, sinking 3 of them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 231-Tora, Tora, Tora, The Attack on Pearl Harbor

The first air wave of attacking Japanese warplanes reaches Oahu, on their way to Pearl Harbor. But before they reach Battleship Row, several civilian planes offer the excited pilots a chance to score their first kills. The locals and US Military personnel on the ground can't believe their eyes. They assume, it's the most life like war game ever put on by the Army and Navy Brass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 230-Interview with Robin Hutton-War Animals-The Unsung Heroes of WWII

Writer Robin Hutton talks about her latest book which tells of the animals who contributed to the Allied effort of WWII. There's Chips, who served as a sentry dog for the Roosevelt-Churchill conference; Ding, a paradog whose plane was hit by enemy fire on D-Day, ended up in a tree, and once on the ground still saved lives. G.I. Joe, who flew 20 miles in 20 minutes and stopped the planes on the tarmac from bombing a town that had just been taken over by allied forces, saving the lives of over 100 British soldiers. And Winkie, the first Dickin...

Episode 229-The United States' First Shot of WWII

In the predawn darkness, the Japanese Strike Force has prepared to launch its first wave of bombers and fighters. Meanwhile, the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor sleeps. However, a strange looking submarine is spotted and fired upon near the entrance to Pearl, by the USS Ward. Word of this gets back to Adm. Husband Kimmel, who then has to decide how to react. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 228-An Interview with Mary Jo McConahay about her latest book The Tango War

Writer Mary Jo McConahay comes on the show to discuss her latest book, The Tango War: The Struggle for the Hearts, Minds and Riches of Latin America during WWII. We discuss Latin America's involvement in WWII, which includes Mexican Oil, Brazilian Rubber, The Smoking Cobras and Mickey Mouse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 227-This Means War

On December 7, 1941, Ambassador Nomura and Special Envoy Kurusu are about to give Secretary of State Hull and FDR Japan's response to the Hull Note. But really, it's a declaration of war. That is, until the Japanese Military changes the wording. All of America will find out about the attack on Pearl Harbor before the Japanese representatives do. Pictured is Nomura, Hull and Kurusu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 226-The Japanese are Not Ready for Us Yet

Multiple Japanese Assault Fleets are on the move, but with so much incoming information, President Roosevelt and his cabinet do not pick up on the threat to Pearl Harbor. Besides, the military men advising FDR still can not imagine the smaller nation starting an all out war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 225-Indianpolis-Interview with Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic

Attacked on 30 July 1945, the heavy cruiser was torpedoed by the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-58, and sank in 12 minutes. However, the two authors seek nothing short than to tell the entire story and return the USS indianpolis to its rightful place as the proud and courageous flagship of the US 5th Fleet during WWII. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 224-Climb Mount Niitaka: Tojo Gets his War

Emperor Hirohito reluctantly gives his approval for the attack on Pearl Harbor. As Tojo said, "With war, if you don't try it, you can't know how it will turn out." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 223-Roosevelt Learns of the Coming Attack

Through MAGIC, the US's ability to read Japan's diplomatic messages, FDR learns of a final deadline and a coming Japanese attack. Pictured are Ambassador Nomura and special representative Kurusu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 222-The Pearl Harbor That Almost Wasn't

Tokyo and Washington seem to be making progress in their peace talks. And yet, the Japanese 1st Air Fleet departs for its attack on Pearl Harbor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 221-War with the U.S. Seems Unavoidable

Prince Konoye's government collapses as Gen. Tojo demands war with the U.S. Emperor Hirohito then orders Tojo to form his own government, hoping this will cause the Japanese Army to be more cautious. Meanwhile the alerts sent to Pearl Harbor by Washington remain vague. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 220-An Interview with Lyuba Vinogradova: Defending the Motherland

Dr. Vinogradova comes back to the show to discuss her latest book, Defending the Motherland: The Soviet Women Who Fought Hiter's Aces. This episode's sponsor: parcast.com/gone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 219-When Diplomacy Fails

As the various issues with attacking Pearl Harbor are overcome, the Japanese Military evades telling the truth to Emperor Hirohito and PM Konoye. And they, in learn, deceive President Roosevelt's cabinet. Please support the show by checking out our sponson, mackweldon.com. Use "worldwar" promo code at checkout to say 20% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 218-Pearl Harbor: The Strongest Fortress in the World

Washington and Tokyo continue their diplomatic dance but neither side is willing to give in. The Americans have broken the Japanese Diplomatic cypher codes, but so have the Japanese, of American Diplomatic codes. Then the Japanese Army finishes occupying the rest of French Indo-China. Of FDR's many responses, one is to reactivate Douglas MacArthur and send him to the Philippines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 217-Japan: Do or Die

With Washington and Tokyo trying to bend the other to its will, President Roosevelt seeks to strangle Japan's aggression in China with a trade blockade while Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto begins to plan his attack on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. War seems imminent, but both sides still hope for peace through negotiations, on their own terms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 216-The World Goes to War

Chiang Kai-Shek struggles to keep China in the war, knowing the Soviet-German Non Aggression Pact can not last. The question is what will Japan do, once Russia is brought low. Meanwhile, the Japanese attack French Indochina and force Churchill to close the Burma Road. 1941 goes by with the U.S. and Japanese Empire negotiating, hoping to bring the other to heel. Neither side is participating in good faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 215: Collision Course, the Road to Pearl Harbor.

Having chased Chiang Kai-Shek back to Chongqing, the Japanese Empire is still unable to get him to surrender. So, on to Chongqing it is, but events in Europe: The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Nazi Germanys invasion of Poland and then the war in the West will stymie one Japanese government after another. Which leaves Japan to head towards SE Asia and in conflict with the United States, setting up the attack on Pearl Harbor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

214-Betrayal, the Burma Road and The Battle of Nomonhan

Chiang Kai-Shek starts over, again, in Chongqing, as the Japanese military seek to deny him the east coast. First Canton will fall, then other port cities. Meanwhile, British controlled Burma and the Nationalists work together to construct the Burma Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

213-The 2nd Sino-Japanese War: The Fall of Wuhan

Chiang Kai-Shek is staking everything on his defense of Wuhan. As such, the various Japanese forces attempt to encircle the city. Chiang throws everything he has at the enemy, even scoring one major victory at Taierzhuang. However, this is notdelete Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

212-The Massacre of Nanjing

As Chiang Kai-Shek moves his capital and military Head Quarters west and Hideki Tojo becomes directly involved in the war to the north, the Japanese troops move out from Shanghai to Nanjing. There, their pent up frustration over the Nationalists Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 211-The End of the Battle of Shanghai

Chiang Kai-Shek's forces are barely holding out. But when a second enemy Expeditionary Force lands, it spells the end of Shanghai's freedom. Stalin agrees to supply the Chinese Nationalists, but the Japanese forces then move on to the Chinese capital Nanjing. The Rape of Nanjing will be bring the horror of occupation to a whole new level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 210-China's Lost Battalion

The Japanese Expeditionary Force continues to push south to gain access to Shanghai. Meanwhile, Chiang Kai-Shek's nationalist troops continue to retreat. Yet, to show the world its defiance and courage, Chiang will leave one Battalion north of the Suzhou River, to face the Japanese alone. Link for book- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 209-Dark Days for Chiang Kai-Shek

The Chinese Nationalists are loosing the battle of Shanghai. Yet, Chiang has to hold on as the League of Nations will soon be discussing the conflict. Then U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt steps into the fray by criticizing Japan's aggression. Still, it seems that Chiang's holdings north of Shanghai will have to be abandoned. Yet, to make sure the world doesn't forget about the Chinese, 1000 soldiers will be left near the Foreign Settlements, so the westerns can watch these men be slaughtered and write home. These victims will be remembered as China's Lost Battalion. Becoming Hitler- Learn more about your...

Episode 208-The Battle of Shanghai: Japanese Reinforcements

The Japanese Expeditionary forces set the stage for a much larger attack, once their reinforcements arrive. The plan is to cut Shanghai off from any assistance. Meanwhile, Chiang Kai-Shek has taken personal command of the 3rd War Zone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 207-Shanghai Becomes Chiang Kai-Shek's Stalingrad

The Chinese Nationalist forces have pulled back from the coast, yet are determined to establish their own Maginot Line. But as both sides have reinforcements in route, the fighting around Shanghai will continue. Thus giving the world, its first large clash, using modern weapons within a civilian population, five years before Stalingrad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 206-Interview with Dr. Lyuba Vinogradova about her book Avenging Angels: The Young Women of the Soviet Union's WWII Sniper Corps

Dr. Lyuba Vinogradova discusses her research and the resulting book that covers the young women of Stalin's USSR, who are conscripted to the Sniper Corps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 205-Chiang Kai-Shek's Pyrrhic Victory

Chiang Kai Shek and his ordinary soldiers are more determined than ever to defend Shanghai in 1937. However, the officers in the middle, due to their experience, see the writing on the wall. Thus Nationalist China will adopt the famous policy of trading land for time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 204-The Japanese Empire Doubles Down in Shanghai

The Japanese invasion of Shanghai, nor their desire to teach the Chinese a lesson, is moving forward fast enough for Tokyo. So when the Expeditionary commander requests 5 additional divisions, the Japanese Imperial Staff and Navy acquiesce with alacrity. Their new goal is to expand their holdings and when reinforced to push west on a general front. However, Chiang Kai-Shek has reached an agreement with Stalin and soon Soviet military supplies will be on the way. For now the Chinese Nationalist forces have the single task of holding out, until then. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 203-Shanghai: The Dominance of Japanese Air and Sea Power

The Japanese are unloading men and material at a frustratingly slow rate, due to the tides. Until they are ready to launch their assault, their navy and air force keep Chiang Kai-Shek's forces pinned down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 202-The Battle of Shanghai Part 2

The Japanese bring reinforcements to Shanghai as their marines are bogged down by Chiang Kai-Shek's best troops. Meanwhile, retired US Army Air Force Captain Claire Lee Chennault, finds the Chinese pilots woefully inadequate in deflecting the building assault. The Japanese invaders come ashore and now the fate of Shanghai is in the balance, as British and American civilians flee the International Settlement. Please fill out the survey at http://survey.libsyn.com/wwiipodcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 201-The Battle of Shanghai, Part 1

Chiang Kai-Shek decides that the time has come to openly fight back against Japan. His chosen site is the port city of Shanghai. Both sides build up their forces there, but the Chinese Nationalists will attempt to deliver a surprise attack. As the war enlarges, Stalin decides to assist the Chinese. Tokyo will widen the battle of Shanghai, as their first attempt is blunted. Please help me out and fill out a survey at http://survey.libsyn.com/wwiipodcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 200-The Marco Polo Bridge Incident

Japanese forces bring war to the China main land. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 199-The Pacific Theatre-Prologue Sino-Japanese Relations

As we officially begin the Pacific Theatre, this episode covers the building tension between The Japanese Empire, dominated by the military and the Chinese Nationalist Government. From the Russo-Japanese War to the Mukden Incident, to the take over of Manchuria, to the fighting over Shanghai and at the Great Wall itself, Japanese desire for more and more Chinese territory, dominates relations between the two countries. The episode ends, with the beginning of the events at the Marco Polo Bridge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 198-The Beginning of the Big Three

President Roosevelt sends Harry Hopkins, again to London, to set up a meeting between himself and Churchill. The U.S. still seems far from entering the war, but coordination is needed if Hitler is to be defeated. But Hopkins also ends up flying to Moscow to meet with Stalin, the first high ranking American to do so. Meanwhile, as Washington wonders what to do about the Japanese Empire, Tokyo decides on its own to take the initiative. Pictured is Harry Hopkins and Stalin during their first meeting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 197-The Beginning of the Final Solution

Nazi Germany launches its war against the USSR. As such, FDR hopes Germany's attention will slacken on the Atlantic. Yet, if Soviet Russia collapses, then Japan would be free to attack Siberia or Western held territory in Asia. FDR must decide it now is the time to move forcefully against Hitler. Meanwhile Churchill and FDR learn of the slaughter of the Jews in Poland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 196-Stalin: Lenin's Protege

The Great War is over, but the Allies don't know what to do with Russia. So, the german troops in Russian territory are ordered to remain where they are. Lenin has the task of turning Marxism into a function government. Stalin faces accusations of his time in Tsaritsyn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 194-Interview with Sally Mott Freeman about her book: The Jersey Brothers

With us is Sally Mott Freeman as we discuss her book, The Jersey Brothers: A Missing Naval Officer in the Pacific and His Family's Quest to Bring Him Home. We cover FDR's Map Room, Pearl Harbor, the Fall of the Philippines, MacArthur, Siapan, Guadalcanal and of course, the missing naval officer Barton Mott, who was captured by the Japanese after MacArthur's Retreat. The search for this young man is the core of the book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 195-The Beginnings of Pearl Harbor

As Hitler tries to lower the tension between the U.S. and Nazi Germany, the opposite is happening between the Japanese Empire and the U.S. As such Adm. Yamamoto draws up plans to strike at U.S. Naval forces at Pearl Harbor. It's a gamble, but if a surprise strike can be made, then Japan will have the time it needs to consolidate more territory throughout SE Asia. Pictured is Adm. Yamamoto. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 193-Churchill and Chiang Kai-Shek, FDRs Warriors

President Roosevelt wins a third term, but the American people still refuse to commit to war. Meanwhile, FDR has to find a way to help the Chinese and the British fight off their enemies, until the US is strong enough or the Axis fire first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 192-Hitlers Reaction to Lend lease and FDRs Third Term

President Franklin Roosevelt succeeds in his 3rd term attempt and with the passage of Lend Lease, Hitler knows the war will be prolonged. His answer to continued British resistance and the eventual entry of the U.S., is to plan an attack against Stalin's USSR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 191: Lenin's Cruelty, Stalin's Ambition

With the Kaiser's forces coming ever closer to Petrograd and Moscow, many Russians lose confidence in Lenin and his Bolsheviks. As such, no party member is safe. Bolshevik members begin to disappear, or are openly murdered. Even Lenin is unsafe. This chaos eventually forms into the Russia Civil War. Fortunately, Stalin is far away in the south, gathering grain for the Russian peasants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 190-The Axis Powers and their New World Order

Nazi Germany is not the only threat to U.S. peace as the Empire of Japan continues its attacks against China. Meanwhile President Roosevelt pulls out all the political tricks he can to weaken the isolationists and help Great Britain stay in the fight against Hitlerism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 189-Roosevelt's Secret War against Hitler

As the Nazi menace grows across Europe, President Roosevelt knows that America will be threatened one day. His best plan for keeping the United States out of the conflict is by helping Churchill defeat Hitler. But in his way are his country's neutrality laws and the isolationists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 188-The Great War, Brest-Litovsk and Lenin's Retreat

Lenin's Bolsheviks pull Russia out of the Great with the Brest Litovsk Treaty, but the Imperial German Army keeps advancing towards Petrograd, because there is no Russia army to stop them. Lenin orders a retreat to Russia's ancient capital, Moscow. Meanwhile, Stalin is given the task of feeding Petrograd and Moscow and will do anything to succeed, to further make Trotsky look weak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 187-Interview with Scott Miller

Mr. Miller's latest book, Agent 110: An American Spymaster and the German Resistance in WWII, covers America's attempt to build an espionage network after Pearl Harbor, which leads Allen Dulles to met up with a strange cast of characters, some want to help Germany end the war and some only want to help themselves. Those conspirators within Nazi Germany have to content with Hitler's popularity after his many military successes, but then get a chance after his failure in Russia, namely Operation Valkyrie. Joins us as we discover who was Allen Dulles and how early there was talk of getting...

Episode 186-The Battle for Norway, Vidkun Quisling and the North Sea

This episode covers the naval battles between the British Royal Navy and the Kriegsmarine just prior to the Battle of Norway. It also touches on the Oscarborg Fortress protecting Oslo and the following submarine battles of the North Sea. Pictured, the Oscarborg Fortress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 185-The Pacific Theatre-MacArthur's Retreat

Back with us are Bob Drury and Tom Clavin, authors of Lucky 666: The Impossible Mission. Today we discuss, the Pacific Theatre in general and MacArthur's Retreat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 184-The Question of Peace, Lenin and Stalin versus Trotsky

As Lenin deflects others trying to take control of Revolutionary Russia, his Bolshevik Central Committee has to deal with the Central Powers and the Great War. The question posed, is peace worth any price. Lenin and Stalin believe the answer is yes, but Trotsky offers another option. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 182-Churchill and Hitler Race for Norway, Episode 183-Stalin: Lenin's Mouthpiece

With neither side trusting the other, both the Allies and Nazi Germany ready plans to invade Norway. For Episode 183, Lenin again proves he's a force of nature and willing to do anything to seize power and establish the Bolshevik Dictatorship. As for Stalin he is there every step of the way, but the tension between himself and Trotsky increases. Pictured-Hitler and Admiral Raeder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 180: Sea Battles, Death at Scapa Flow. Ep 181-The Rule of Lenin and the Bolsheviks

Commodore Donitz, in charge of the German submarines, plans a daring raid against the British battleships in Scapa Flow. In Episode 181, Lenin and the Bolsheviks take control of the Russia, but immediately have challengers. Picture, the HMS Royal Oak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 179-Flashback: The Battle of the Atlantic Begins

Backing up a bit, we begin the story of the battle for the Atlantic, as German U-boats attempt to starve Britain into submission. Meanwhile, the U.S. moves closer to the Allied camp by selling arms to Britain and France. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 177-Rommel Retreats, The End of Operation Crusader Ep 178-Lenin's Pillars: Stalin and Trotsky

Gen. Rommel keeps winning battles but losses men and tanks, that are not replaced. Meanwhile, British 8th Army, refuses to give up, each time it's beaten and C in C Auchinleck makes sure the Commonwealth's losses are replaced. Rommel will have to decided what comes next for the Afrika Korps. Ep 178-Trotsky moves into a position to better serve Lenin, along with Stalin. And the Leninist's Bolsheviks find themselves on the edge of power, if they will but reach out and take it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 175-Rommel knows Best Episode 176-Stalin steps in for Lenin

Ep 175-As Gen. Rommel sends his panzers to surprise the British 8th Army near the Frontier Wire, Gen. Cunningham's forces finally reach Tobruk to help Gen. Scobie and his men escape. Ep 176-Lenin is on the cusp of power, but fails to take the final step. Lenin is then forced to hide from Kerensky of the Provisional Government, but Stalin steps up to lead their faction of the Bolshevik Party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 174-Lucky 666: The Impossible Mission by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin

Our guests today are writers Bob Drury and Tom Clavin to discuss their latest book, Lucky 666-The Impossible Mission. Mavericks or "Screw ups" Jay Zeamer and Joseph Sarnoski, sent to the Pacific Theater to help defend Australia from invasion by Japanese Imperial forces, will end up rebuilding a dilapidated B-17 and volunteering to photograph the western coast of Bougainville for the impending U.S. invasion. Little do they know that they will be involved in the longest dogfight in history. One of them will not make it back alive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 172-Rommel readies for Success Ep 173-Lenin's Civil War

Acting on misinformation, both generals, Rommel and Cunningham make plans for the next day, hoping to wipe out the other's armor. Yet Rommel is in a much better position to succeed. Cunningham just doesn't know poorly Operation Crusader is unfolding. Meanwhile, Lenin has to face down his own faction, including Stalin, to move his Bolsheviks closer to the desire of the Russian peasants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 170-Crusader Part 4 Rommel Rises to the Occasion & Episode 171 Lenin comes Home

Ep 170-As Operation Crusader goes forward Gen. Cunningham feels confident as his tanks make it close to Tobruk. However Rommel feels threatened, even though his panzers have destroyed many of Cunningham's tanks. Meanwhile Gen. Scobie, the British commander in Tobruk readies to break out. Ep 171-Tsar Nicholas II tries to have his way even though he is loosing the throne and Lenin gets the help of Germany to finally come home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 168-Opearation Crusader Part 3 & Episode 169-Stalin and The Great War

Gen. Auchinleck's Operation Crusader is finally launched, but Rommel does not react as predicted as his focus is still on taking Tobruk. AND Tsar Nicholas II guides Russia through the Great War. At its end, Stalin is freed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 167-Operation Crusader Part 2

The British Western Desert Army is transformed into the 8th British Army proper. C in C ME Auchinleck has tapped Gen. Sir Alan Cunningham to lead it. His first order of business is to destroy Rommel's panzers and relieve Tobruk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 166-Lenin's Gift to Stalin

Stalin will endure several more arrests, but while in exile, Lenin will maneuver to have Koba made a member of the newly created Bolshevik Central Committee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 164-Lenin's Trigger Man

Stalin is newly married, but has little time for his wife and soon to arrive child. He is still focused on the Marxism revolution and his rise in the Bolshevik party, not to mention the destruction of the Menshevik faction. Vladimir Lenin choses the younger man to be his muscle as he defies the Socialist Democrats of Russia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 165-Meanwhile back in North Africa-Operation Crusader Part 1

With a new commander in the Middle East, Churchill wants the war against Rommel renewed, but C in C Auchinleck has his own ideas. Yet the Desert Fox will spoil everyone's plans with his own attack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 163-Stalin: Family Man

Young Stalin begins to the learn of the wider world of international politics and the intrigues that comes with it. Lenin his hero, does not measure up upon their first face to face. And Koba goes through his own metamorphosis when he returns from the 4th Congress and marries a local Tiflis girl. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 162-The Winter Fortress Interview with Neal Bascomb

In early 1942, the U.S. and Great Britain work together to develop the Atomic Bomb, but London needs to make sure Nazi Germany doesn't get there first. Today's guest is author Neal Bascomb. We discuss his new book, out today, The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler's Atomic Bomb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 161-Stalin Bio Part 5

Stalin, the young revolutionary, stumbles and is on the outs with the Georgian Social Democratic Worker's Party. Yet, after making another mistake, he is tepidly allowed to re-enter the group. Sent to a back water area, the workers there will soon strike and put the mining town and Stalin, at the center of the revolution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 160-Leningrad under Siege, Part 2 Unarmed for War

Leningraders volunteer in such numbers that the Stavka orders several divisions to be organized, to resist the German invaders. Yet the men are thrown in untrained, mostly weaponless, armed only with a desire for revenge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 159-Stalin Bio Part 4-The Rise of Koba

Ioseph Jughashvili, AKA Stalin, leaves the seminary under mysterious circumstances. Following the path of his mentor Lado Ketskhoveli, Soso becomes a revolutionary and learns the joy of mentoring the people but also to fear the police. Seeking refuge for himself, Stalin goes underground, after serving his first long prison sentence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 158- Leningrad Under Siege

The people of Leningrad take an affront to Nazi Germany invading their country. The men volunteer in droves for military service, the women are sent off to dig trenches. Though many of the men will die that summer of 1941, the Soviet Red Banner Baltic Fleet will undergo its own "Dunkirk" as a fleet of 228 vessels flee from Tallinn, Estonia, facing shore batteries, Finnish torpedo boats and miles of mines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 157-Stalin Bio Part 3

Young Stalin begins the process of moving away from the Seminary and towards the life of a revolutionary. The picture is of Marx and Engels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 156-Stalin Strikes Back

Army Group South continues pressing closer towards the Soviet Capital. But General Secretary Stalin and General Zhukov attempt to defy the invaders. They are soon assisted by General Winter. Meanwhile, we catch up with Army Groups North and South, where Stalin has planned counter attacks as he knows the germans are focused on his capital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 155-Stalin Bio 2

Sixteen year old Soso (Stalin) enters the Tiflis Theological Seminary, on his way to becoming a priest. But what the boy may not know is that, he has entered an intellectual battleground and being a good Georgian, there is only one side he can choose. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 154-The Spires of Moscow

With the mud now frozen hard, Army Group Center advances on Moscow, deciding the weak link is just to the NW of the city. This guess proves correct. As November 1941 comes to an end, the leading German units are just miles from the capital and can see the spires of the Soviet Capital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 153-Stalin Bio 1

Stalin, the future Soviet leader is born, far from Moscow and begins his provincial life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 152-Operation Typhoon: Behind the Lines

This episode, narrated Tim Martin, of the newly launched Valiant: Stories of Heroes Podcast, covers Guderian's dash to Tula. Ray will be back next time, with full vocal ability in tow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 151-Operation Typhoon Part 2

OKH Chief Franz Halder makes plans for a modest end to 1941 for Operation Barbarossa, but Hitler overrides him and orders the capture of Moscow, before the heavy snows come. Yet, Stalin, finally taking an advisor's advice, allows several armies from the Russian Far East to transfer west and help with the defense of his capital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 150-Operation Typhoon

The Germans smash through the latest Soviet Defensive lines. The 4th Panzer Group, along with Gen. Kluge's 4th Army now have men just 128 KM or 80 miles from Moscow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 149-The March to Moscow Part 3

Having shattered the Russian defensive line at Viaz'ma, the Germans expand on their ambitious attack plans, attacking to the north and south of the main road to Moscow. In the center is Zhukov's pathetic new defensive line. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 148-The March on Moscow Part 2

The Germans and Russians clash to the west of Moscow. But within mere days, the Soviet's three Fronts are either destroyed or encircled. The road to Moscow is left open. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 147-The March to Moscow, Part 1

With Leningrad cut off and the far South stabilized, Hitler has decreed that the time has come to launch Operation Typhoon, Nazi Germany's attack against the Soviet Capital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 146-The Siege of Leningrad Part 3, Slugfest

Hitler has renewed the drive to Moscow, Operation Typhoon, and needs the panzers from Army Group North. Which means, Leningrad needs to be cut off from help, quickly. September and October become a battle of wills between Stalin and his attacker, as both try to control the area south of Lake Ladoga and the last rail line between Leningrad and Moscow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 145-The Siege of Leningrad Part 2

Leeb, commander of Army Group North launches his last major assault before having to turn over most of his motorized units to Army Group Center, as it readies itself for an attack on Moscow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 144-The Siege of Leningrad Part 1

The Germans come ever closer to Leningrad, so Stalin sends his best general to cope, Zhukov. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 143-The Road to Moscow

Army Group Center makes its way East, past Minsk and now on to Smolensk. But waiting for them is the largest Soviet counter attack, to date. Meanwhile, Army Group North is ready to attack Leningrad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 142- Douglas Waller Interview

Douglas Waller's latest book, Disciples: The World War II Missions of the CIA Directors Who Fought for Wild Bill Donovan. OSS Agents penetrate Nazi Germany for information and acts of sabotage, then face the counter intelligence agents of Stalin's Soviet Russia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 141-Stalin's Mistake

Stalin's lack of military training causes his country to loose everything to the South, west of the Dnieper River. The German Panzers race east and make for the Crimea. Kiev is encircled, as is the 850,000 soviet troops in the area. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 140-Of Two Minds

Marshal Mannerheim of Finland agrees to attack towards Leningrad and around Lake Ladoga, but not much more than that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 139-Finland: Ally to the North

Hitler manages to bring Finland into his attack against Soviet Russia, but the Finns are mostly concerned with recapturing lost land. Like the three Army Groups, the Germans to the north will advance, but lose many men along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 138-Trading Punches

The Panzers come ever closer to Leningrad, though losing men and machines along the way. Meanwhile, Army Group Center moves toward the Dvina River. As for Kiev, the writing is on the wall, yet Stalin is the only one who can't see it. Picture-Defense works before Leningrad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 137-All Good Deeds

The German invaders are now in Russia, proper and are still advancing, but suffer heavier than expected losses. But in SE Russia, the Soviet 6th and 12th Armies become trapped, due to pathetic communications between them and Moscow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 136-The Fall of Minsk

The three German Army Groups advance further into Russia, but Army Group Center has has the most success. Perhaps some of its panzers should be turned north or south to help the other two. But Army Group South isn't waiting for help. Field Marshal Rundstedt decides to turn some of his panzers away from approaching Kiev, to attack the Soviet troops above Odessa from behind and destroy the entire Soviet Southern Front. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 135-Russia is never as strong as she looks; nor as weak as she looks

Now that Operation Barbarossa had been launched, Hilter attempts to convince the world that this battle is only in the defense of Nazi Germany. That Soviet Russia, in conlusion with Great Britain have set out to destroy the Nazi State. Yet Hitler nor his general have a true grasp of the situation before them, as they take on the largest country in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 134-Reactions to Barbarossa

The leaders of the combatant countries react to Nazi Germany invading Soviet Russia. We also cover Army Group North and South's initial assaults. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 133-It Has Begun

Before the sun rises on June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany unleashes Operation Barbarossa, its attack on Soviet Russia and Stalin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 132-Operation Barbarossa

Earlier than most people think, Hilter started planning his war against Soviet Russia and Stalin. Operation Barbarossa begins to take shape during the Battle of Britain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 131-Third Time's the Charm

FDR comes through his third election and the British are expectant. Yet there are still hurdles to overcome. But eventually, the president comes up with the way to help Great Britain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 130-Sleight of Hand

President Roosevelt continues his struggle against Congress and the Isolationists in trying to help the Allies. France falls from the fight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 129-Lend Lease

It becomes apparant to the U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt that Britian and France are going to need American war material and financial assistance to defeat the Axis. Yet, the British Empire only has so much gold and the current laws of the U.S. make it illegal for FDR to extend credit to the Allies, during their hour of need. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 128-The end of Wavell, Battle Axe and Exporter

With the failure of Operation Battle Axe and the bloody victory in Syria, Churchill finally rids himself of C in C Gen. Archibald Wavell. And wants his replacement, Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck to attack Rommel forth with. Yet the two operations have taken away half of the Western Desert Force's tanks. No matter, Churchill wants action, but Auchinleck wants time. Picture-Auchinleck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 127-Operation Battle Axe

Though Operation Exporter is stalled, Operation Battle Axe is launched. Yet the British attack plans are not very creative and Rommel can hear most of the wireless chatter coming from the British tanks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 126-Operation Exporter, Part 2

The Allies come up against stiff French (Vichy) resistence in Syria and Lebanon. But that was just to set up the counter attack, which commenced on June 16th. Yet the men of the 5th Indian Brigade do all they can to give some success to the invaders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 125-Operation Exporter

Churchill and the Free French get their way, Vichy controlled Syria will be invaded. But C in C Wavell's Middle East Command is stretched as it is, resources are few. Yet, Churchill will have his way and those who oppose him, begin to disapear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 124- The End of Crete

Here is the last episode of the Battle of Crete. The Allies never contested for air superiority and thus the Germans were able to constantly push them back and eventually off the island. It was time again for another evacuation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 123- Crete Part 4

The Allied defense under Gen. Freyberg continues to back pedal on Crete. Meanwhile Adm. Cunningham continues to lose ships, although the land battle is being won by the Axis. Yet Churchill insists on more action from the Royal Navy and the ANZAC forces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 122: Crete Part 3

The Allied counter attack faulters, which allows the Germans to land more troops at Maleme. The Royal Navy is doing what it can, but suffering for it. Yet their efforts and loses will be for nothing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 121- Crete: Part II

Gen. Student tries to figure out how to salvage the disaster that has befallen his airborne troops, during that first day of Operation Mercury. 1,800 had been lost that first day. And helping him mightily, are the ineffectual officers serving under Gen. Freyberg, who himself, refuses to see the situation as it really is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 120-Crete, Part 1

The Germans begin, Operation Mercury, their attack on the island, to further confuse Russia and keep the British away from Hitler's oil fields. Yet as the transport planes take off, the number of defenders on the island has be recalculated from 12,000 to 48,000. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 119-Churchill, 1932

Back by popular demand! Winston S. Churchill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 118-Operation Brevity, Iraq and Crete

C in C M.E. Wavell gives into pressure from Churchill to attack Rommel, before the tanks and planes of Convoy Tiger can be off loaded. Next, the situation in Iraq comes to a head and we start the story of Crete and the end of Wavell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 117-Tobruk and Iraq

Rommel is ready to have another crack at Tobruk, but Berlin is focused on Operation Barbarossa. Yet, Rommel gets permission to move ahead and finish off the British holdout. Meanwhile, Wavell's dire prediction about the Middle East starts to come true as elements of the Iraqi Government side with the Axis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 116-The Axis Tide

German forces complete their conquest of the Greek mainland. Meanwhile Rommel shocks the British led forces in North Africa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 115-Operation Marita Part III

The Germans continue to drive south, the Greeks throw in the towell and the Allies make plans to evacuate. But wanting more Gen. Von List of the German 12th Army uses Airborne troops for a daring raid of Cornith, in trying to cut off some of the Allied troops in retreat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 114-Operation Marita, Part 2

The Alikmon Line is breached, the Allies fall back. But the German forces are right behind them all the way. Greek General Papagos believes the end of the Battle of Greece has come, but BEF Commander General Wilson wants to give it one more try. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 113-Operation Marita Part 1

Greece comes under attack on the same day as Yugoslavia, yet that country's quick demise, sets up the conquest of Greece. The war in the Greek NE is over by the third day, so the Commonwealth forces fall back, yet the Greeks in Albania are loath to follow their example. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 112-He Who Defends Everything, Defends Nothing

Nothing can be allowed to stand in the way of Operation Barbarossa, Hitler's plan to destroy Russia. Certainly not Yugoslavia and Greece. So Operation Retribution, aimed at Belgrade and Operation Marita, against Greece, commence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 111-Our Own Worst Enemy

Lt. Gen. Rommel had decided the time has come to ignore his orders and move against the Allies. While he has his own problems, they are nothing compared to what Gen. Neame and Gen. O'Connor suffer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 110-Back, the Way We Came

Lt. Gen. Rommel decides it's time to test the Allied forces within Cyrenaica, as well as his Italian and German superiors. Meanwhile Adm. Cunningham engages the Italians in the Battle of Matapan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 109-All Roads Lead to Greece

The Allies, with Great Britain leading the way, rush all available troops to Greece. Yet, now that Lt. Gen. Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox, is in North Africa, the Commonwealth forces are about to loose more then they thought possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 108-The Germans are Coming

As the gods themselves seem to hate Mussolini and all his endeavors, with British Commonwealth forces and Greek soldiers destroying his troops, almost at will, Hitler has decided, enough is enough. The Axis has to be put right again and so, in steps Germany, in North Africa (Rommel) and in Greece. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 107-The End of the End

Here is the last episode of the Churchill Bio. Winston, looses his money, his influence and almost, his life. Listen carefully to the end. Did you win? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 106-The Beginning of the End

Churchill returns from the U.S. to find his party up in arms about the India question and Tory leader Baldwin's pro Dominion stance concerning the sub-continent. So, Winston offers to take on the leader, alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 105-Up in Smoke

The disaffected British voters decide to give someone else a chance to deal with the country's dreary economy. Churchill finds he's been walking a lonely path for some time. Touring the world, Winston is in time to watch Vesuvius erupt and the NY Stock Exchange implode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 103-Lost and Loss

Winston, now a private citizen, will stay this way for two years as British politics and his views take different paths. Intermingled during this time, are a series of heartbreaking losses for the man. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 104-Chartwell

Churchill finds his Camelot and then works feverishly to fix it up as his Gwenivere is not impressed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 102-His Cup Runneth Over

Churchill's post war years are full of success, tragedy and despair. He changes positions within the British Cabinet and takes on the issues of a Jewish Homeland, Turkey and Ireland. And by the end he looses his appendix and something else, even more valuable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 101-Interview with Kathryn J. Atwood

With us for this episode is writer Kathryn J. Atwood, arthor of Women Heroes of World War II and editor of Code Name Pauline: Memoirs of a World War II Special Agent and it is the later book we will be discussing. The protagonist, Pearl, Code Named Pauline, came from humble beginnings to do her part to as an SOE agent, behind enemies lines in Occupied France, to thwart the Nazi's before and after D-Day. For all those looking for strong female role models, Mrs. Atwood's books fit the bill beautifully. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 100-Nazi Germany from Within

The following is my 100th Episode Celebration. After thanking those who have shared this journey with me, I interview Henry Niemann who grew up in Germany during the Nazi Period and was then drafted near the end of the war. Thank you to everyone who listens to my attempt at bringing this amazing story to the current generation and podcasting world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 99-All's Well that Ends Well

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Episode 99-All's Well that Ends Well

The Great War comes to an end. Churchill's family grows and life as Winston knew it, has been erased forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 98-Once more, unto the Trench

Churchill is cleared of the Dardanelles disaster, gets himself back into the governement, but then almost loses it all as he finds himself at the front when Gen. Ludendorff launches his great offensive in the West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 97B-Laszlo and Ray, Talking

Warning! No history is covered here. But somehow, Laszlo of The China History Podcast ended up on the East Coast, in Virginia, in Charlottesville, 30 minutes from me. So... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 97-Back in the Saddle, Again

Winston's career seems all but over. Still, he finds solace in his family, painting and life in the trench. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 96-Foils and Follies

The Dardanelles Campaign starts off well enough, but through bad luck, worse weather and weaker souls, it collapses on itself. Then the British world collapses on Churchill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 95-The Dardanelles, Pt. 1

The British War Council decides on a Second Front to hopefully alter the slaughtering in France. Winston, with his personality, becomes of the face of the Aegean Campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 94-In for a Penny...

With the outbreak of war, Churchill is ready, though the same can not be said of the rest of Britain. Winston will experience the lime light and the highs and lows of battle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 93-War is Upon US

The events of Sarajevo cause diplomatic tension to build throughout Europe but Churchill is determined that Britain will be ready, come what may. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 92-The Navys the Thing

Churchill gets promoted to the Home Office, starts out well, but then becomes his own worst enemy. Now in the Admiralty, Winston comes into his own. Fortunately for Britain as Germany seeks to challenge G.B. on the seas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 91-Loves Labors NOT Lost

Winston finds love, fights the Tories, gets promoted, nearly dies three times and humbles some Lords. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 90-Winstons Revenge

Winston, now in the House of Commons, plots his revenge against those who fought his father, Lord Randolph. Also, Churchill, goes through his own challenges as he takes on Joe Chamberlain, the PM Balfour and those abandoning Free Trade. He then crosses the gangway and becomes a Liberal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 89-Fame and Fortune

Churchills life is covered until the death of Queen Victoria. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 88 Churchill- War Correspondent

We are joined today by James Muller, professor of Political Science at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. We discuss Churchills 2nd book published, The River War, and Mr. Mullers re-release of The River Wars first edition with commentary, illustrations, with all of its original text. The first edition has not been seen in over 100 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 87-Jack El-Hai Book Interview

Jack El-Hai joined me today for a conversation about his latest book, The Nazi and the Psychiartrist: Hermann Goring, Dr. Douglas M. Kelley, and a Fatal Meeting of Minds at the End of WWII. Mr. El-Hais book deals with the top 22 surviving Nazi officials and Dr. Kelley, an American Army Psychiatrist who was placed in charge of their mental health. His job was to ready the men for the Nuremberg Trails, but saw an opportunity to discover, if it existed, the Nazi personality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 86-Risks and Rewards, Redux

Winston is determined to leave the Army and make his way to Parliament as a hero/correspondent. But the majority of the military establishment is set against him. Churchill finds himself in Kitcheners war in the Sudan and takes part in the last great cavalry charge of the British Empire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 85-Risks and Rewards

Churchill, having decided his course, willingly risks his life for his ultimate goal, the House of Commons. But he has to survive India first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 84-Master of My Fortunes

Winston loses those in his life he holds most dear. And to defeat boredom, he travels to Cuba to see war up close, as the Spanish try to putdown a rebellion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 83-The End of the Beginning

Winston makes it into Sandhurst, taking a curious route. He nearly dies at least twice, but in the end another family member is taken from his life. And after Sandhurst, he is left up to his own devices. He is now a man at large. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 82-Harrow

Churchill enters Harrow, but his defiant ways still exist. His father draws away from him but his mother will soon be coming to his side. At Harrow, young Winston breaks almost every rule: he keeps dogs, is constantly late for class, curses in front of the Headmaster and blows up a building. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 81-Churchill, The Early Years

This episode covers Winston Churchills birth, his early school years and his parents or lack thereof, influence on the boy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 80-East Africa, Part 2

This episode takes us through the war in East Africa through February 1941, which is the high water mark for The British Empire fighting the Axis without the Russians or America. The cover photo is of the Dongolaas Gorge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 79-East Africa

The various British commands in East Africa are ready to move against the Italians. Well, not really. But as the Italians retreat after Operation Compass, the British Commonwealth forces have no choice but to advance, ready or not. The cover picture is of the Duke of Aosta. AND I will be on Reddit.com June 19th, noon, EST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 78-The Battle of Beda Fomm

Gen. OConnor is planning his next attack when the Italians decide to abandon Cyrenaica. The Race is on! Also, the Replica Newspaper contest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 77-Tobruk

The British 13th Corps continues pushing west, now its Tobruks turn. The situation in East Africa causes only more tension between Wavell and Churchill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 76-The Army of the Nile

The Italians have been pushed out of Egypt and Gen. Richard OConnor has lost his 4th Indian Division. Still, he decides to pursue the retreating Italian 10th Army. The Italians make it to the port city of Bardia before British armor can catch them, so that is the next place the Allies will attack, this time using Gen. MacKays Australians. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 75-Military Aviation Museum

Here is an Mp4 episode of my recent trip to the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, VA. Amazing place! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 74-Operation Compass

After 6 months of planning, the British are ready to move against Marshal Graziani. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 73-Italian Checks, Greek Balances

Greek soldiers continue to dominate and push the Italian invaders back into Albania and closer to the sea. The RAF makes its presence felt by downing dozens of Italian aircraft. Mussolini cant hide the backsliding of his troops from Hitler but Prime Minister Metaxas shields his own secret from his men and the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 72-Taranto Pt 3

The last episode covering the Battle of Taranto. The second attack wave of Swordfish make for the harbor, but only after overcoming problems of their own. Admiral Cunningham scores a major success and British moral is lifted. But the Italian Navy is not finished yet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 71-Taranto, Pt 2

Adm. Cunningham updates the plan to attack Taranto, but then suffers several setbacks. These are over come, the Italians are confused by the massive ship movements during the first ten days of November. Then the first of two attacks are launched by Swordfish at the Italian harbor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 70-The Battle of Taranto, Pt 1

British Admiral Andrew B. Cunningham, commander of the Mediterranean Fleet has his orders: Maintain the sea lanes between Gibraltar and the Suez Canal. Holding on to Malta will allow the British to recon their main target, the port of Taranto. If the Italian war ships there can be neutralized, the Suez stays safe, Crete remains out of Axis hands and Britains vital passage to the far East remains open. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 69B-Talk History

We are joined by Steven Guerra of The History of the Papacy Podcast to discuss Italys attack on Greece, the Battle of Taranto and some of the what ifs of WWII. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 69-Greek Fire, Part II

Italy has invaded Greece, but under Prime Mister Metaxas, the Greeks are ready. The Italians are drawn in and then the defenders use their mountains to launch counter attacks. The world is impressed, but Churchill is already committed to Egypt and the U.S. is committed to Britain. General Prascas leadership will last only 15 days. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 68-Greek Fire, Pt. 1

Mussolini and Hitler deceive each other over desired territory, while Prime Mister Metaxas of Greece tries to stay below Italys radar. Britain is through trying to salt dough handprint separate Italy from Germany and decides to support the smaller Aegean power, despite the prevailing opinion that the outcome will be nothing more gamf.net than a quick Italian victory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 67-Mare Nostrum

Mussolini would pay back Hitler in his own coin by invading Greece without first telling his Axis partner. But the Greek people, for all their worldblog.net industrial limitations were angry with the Italians and their Dictator Ioannis Metaxas, had the experience to salt dough handprint ready his people and country to their limit. The photo is of Greek Dictator Metaxas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 66-D Day Memorial and Contest Drawing

Here is an overview of my recent visit to the D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA. This episode is in an Mp4 format, so please enjoy the pictures. At the end, is the drawing anagazawe.com for the replica newspaper from December 8, 1941. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 65-Mediterranean Life Line

By 1940, Great Britain had several possessions in the anagazawe.com Mediterranean Sea, that they would use to project power against the Axis. But exactly how did Britain obtain them? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 64-The Royal Navy in the Mediterranean Sea 1940

Andrew Lambert, Laughton Professor of Naval History in the Department of War Studies at Kings College London, joins us to discuss the Royal Navys position in the Mediterranean Sea. Outgunned but not outmanned, the British Navy under Admiral Cunningham takes the fight to the Italian Fleet and quickly dominates the Eastern and Central Med. Until the Luftwaffe and U-boats arrive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 63B-Talk History

We are joined by Luke Whitehorn, special effects artist from the movie Iron Sky. WWII and Sci Fi! Whats not to love. We cover episodes 62 and 63 and Luke brings a good perspective to our story so far in North Africa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 63-October 1940

The British plan their attack against General Graziani and the Italian 10th Army. Hitler and Franco meet to discuss an attack on Gibraltar. And General Charles de Gaulle moves to restore Free France and his reputation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 62-Failure, Failure Everywhere

Marshall Graziani FINALLY moves into Egypt, but then stops. Gen. De Gaulle is in place to take Dakar in West Africa. Finally, a quick look at the Italian Navy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 61B Talk History

The events of Sarajevo cause diplomatic tension to build throughout Europe but Churchill is determined that Britain will be ready, come what may. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 61 - Able but Unwilling

This time, we cover the tension between Churchill and two of his three service leaders in North Africa and the Mediterranean. Marshall Graziani is poised like a statue to invade Egypt. But, like a statue, he doesnt move. And Admiral Cunningham takes his weaker naval vessels and reminds the Italians what war means. The cover photo is of Graziani. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 60-Sand, Saltwater and Oil

Mussolini wants his Roman Empire in Africa. But the British refuse to yield. Gen. Archibald Wavell is asked to do much, with very little. France is out of the war, so the battle for the Mediterranean Sea and North Africa is between Great Britain and Italy. For now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 59-Miracles and Mistakes

Here is the Final Episode of The Battle of Britain series. We sum up the Luftwaffes chances of ever really getting across the English Channel, Dowdings future, Chamberlains end and the next step in Hitlers plan for European domination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 58-Battle of Britain Day

The Germans are convinced that Fighter Command is on its last leg. Waiting out the foul English weather, the Luftwaffe, Kesselring and Goering, finally get their chance to wipe the RAF out of the skies. But Keith Park of 11 Group will prove to be their tactical master. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 57-German Armada

Unable to break Fighter Command by the needed date for Operation Sea Lion, the Luftwaffe changes their tactics and will go after London. Dowding and Park will do their best to protect the capital, but in a moment on honesty, are relieved that their air fields will be spared. Now the people of London must [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 56-Breaking Point

September brings the beginning of the end of The Battle of Britain. London will become the Luftwaffes target as Germany needs the war to end. Soon Goering will take a personal hand in the war over the Channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 55-Battling Friends and Foes Alike

As tired as everyone is, Kesselring of Luftflotte Two steps up the intensity of the attacks on RAF airfields, especially those near London. And Hitler will release the Luftwaffe to attack London, as the battle is not going in Nazi Germanys favor. Also Group Commanders Keith Park and Leigh-Mallory have their own feud over how [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 54-Pandoras Box

London becomes more of a target for the German bombers, until Goering warms them away. But its too late. Churchill and the War Cabinet decide to bomb Berlin. The war will shift into its final phase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 53- Things Missed

This episode covers 4 missed or lightly treated subjects: Operation Pied Piper- the evacuation of Britains children, the disaster of the Lancastria, the occupation of The Channel Islands by the Nazis and the Italian Conquest of British Somaliland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 52-Moves on the Chessboard

C in C of the Luftwaffe Goering calls his young bloods to Karinhall to devise a new strategy to destroy Fighter Command. The result is a reinforced Kesselring pitted against Keith Park of 11 Group. But during a lull in the fighting, Park and his superior, Air Marshal Dowding make their own plans for defense. [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 51-The Hardest Day

This episode covers August 16 to the 18th. Goering plans on finishing Fighter Command on August 18th, by using almost every fighter and bomber from Luftflottes 2 and 3. The idea is simply to overwhelm the shrinking RAF forces. But Radar still plays a major role in helping Dowding and his Fighter Groups. Their real [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 50- Black Thursday, August 14-15th

August 15th was one of the greatest days of battle in The Battle of Britain. Goering makes his plans for improved attacks against the RAF but Dowding and Park stay with their tried method. The fighting continues over the channel while Churchill has his own combat within the walls of the Commons. Meanwhile, the British [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 49- Adlertag: August 8th-13th

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 48: Things Learned. August 2nd August 7th.

The RAF and Luftwaffe size each other up and ready for Adlertag. The war in North Africa has started and the British will have to withdraw, like Dunkirk, for now. But they know Egypt must be kept safe. But Mussolini wants his African Empire. Goering is ready for Phase Two, but the RAF is still [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 47- Support Teams & The Battle, July 29th-August 1st

The brave men and women behind the RAF pilots and Fighter Command. The British people come together to defend their island: Anti-Aircraft guns, balloon barrage, BAM Fuel, Private companies working ahead of the government, the Air Transport Auxiliary and the Home Guard. The Battle of Britain is covered through August 1st, when Hitler issues Directive [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 46-A Day in the Life, July 26th-28th

This episode gives a glimpse into the daily routine of Luftwaffe pilots fighting over the English Channel. The Straights of Dover are now being called Hellfire Corner from the number of sunken convoy ships. Also July 26th-28th of the Battle of Britain is covered. Dowding rests his men and their aircraft, while Luftwaffe leader Goering [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 45- Numbers Tell, July 23rd-25th

The Me 109E will bring Nazi Germany to greatness and to the waters edge at the English Channel. It came before the Hurricane and Spitfire and was faster. But it was also without armor, at first. The Luftwaffe is still testing the RAF: its air craft, pilots and RDF system. Both sides will draw blood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 44-Defense of the Air.

This episode covers the beginning of the RAF and Fighter Command. Air Marshal Dowding is Fighter Commands first Commander in chief. Through trial and error, radar is developed and a detection and respond system is worked out to defend the Channel coast. The Battle of Britain, from July 20th to July 22nd. The Spitfire and [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 43-The Battle, July 16th-19th.

German tactics, English weather and the Spitfire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 42-Battle of Britain, Part 2.

A close up of the Hawker Hurricane and the Battle of Britain, July 11th-15th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 41-Great Britains turn.

Battle of Britain- July 10, 1940. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 40-Unexpected surprise for Hitler.

Hitler is ready to end the war, but not Churchill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 39-Hitler bio, Part 3.

Hitler until the Beer Hall Putsch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 38-Hitler bio, Part 2.

Hitler through the end of WWI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 37-Hitler bio, Part 1.

The early life of Adolf Hitler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 36-The End of the French Third Republic.

Petain and the New France. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 35-The question of the French Fleet.

Britain and France clash and Churchill settles the question of the French fleet once and for all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 34-The war of France is over.

Petains government signs the Armistice Treaty with Nazi Germany. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 33-Premier Petain seeks peace.

Petain rushes to find peace, giving little thought of the price. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 32-French Premier Reynaud falls.

Reynaud falls and Marshal Petain takes over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 31-Paris falls.

Paris falls. June 5th 13th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 30-The End of Dunkirk.

Rescue operations come to a close as the Germans advance on the Allied perimeter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 29-June 2nd. Massed ships.

British civilians help rescue troops from Dunkirk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 28-The Miracle.

The Miracle part of Dunkirk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 27-29th May.

The clouds and smoke roll away and Dunkirk is exposed to the Luftwaffe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 26-Dunkirk, Part 2.

The anxious British troops wait on the beaches and the Mole to be rescued. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 25-Dunkirk, Part 1.

The British, seemingly pushed into the sea, organize to save their troops to fight another day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 24-The panzers reach the coast.

Allied forces in Belgium are cut off as the German panzers reach the coast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 23-The French 9th Army is destroyed.

Rommel crosses the Meuse north of Sedan and helps destroy the French 9th Army. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 22-German panzers attack through the Ardennes.

German panzers attack through the Ardennes, head for the Meuse River and the town of Sedan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 21-The fall of France, Part 2.

The invasion of Holland and Belgium. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 20-China 1937 to 1940.

China 1937-40 and Mao Biography. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 19-The Long March w/ Laszlo

The Long March, 1934-1935. Mao and the Chinese Communist Party are saved by running through the mountains and jungles, fleeing from Chiang Kai-shek and his Nationalist troops. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 18-The fall of France, Part 1.

The Phony War has undermined what eagerness there was to fight Germany. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 17-The fall of Denmark and Norway.

Landlocked Denmark surrenders, but Norway resists. The British try to help but are not organized or equipped properly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 16-The Phony War and Finlands defeat.

The Allies wait for Hitler and Stalin uses the war to attack Finland. But the Soviet Army is far from ready. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 15-The fall of Poland.

Hitlers bluffing to gain an empire is over. He will have to fight from now on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 14-The last days of peace.

Diplomatic wrangling rages over Europe during the summer of 1939. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 13-The line is drawn.

Britain and France are finished giving in to Hitler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 12-Appeasement.

Hitlers sabre rattling earns him Austria and the Munich Agreement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 11-Europe 1933 to 1937.

Europe 1933-1937: Ethiopia, Rhineland, Spanish Civil War. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 10-The Nazification of Germany.

The Nazi Party implements Hitlers vision as written in Mein Kampf. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 9-Hitler takes on the World.

Hitler, now in power, removes his enemies and defies the international community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 8-Japans China policy?

Japan struggles to define its policy on China, but events take the decision out the militarys hands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 7-Japan expands into China.

Japan continues to expand their operations into China and find themselves facing Chairman Mao, backed by the Soviet Union and Chiang Kai Shek. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 6-Japan, 1853-1936.

Japan is opened up to western ways, but the government loses control of the military. Covers from 1853 to 1936. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 5-Il Duce (The Leader)

Episode covers the first 10 years of Mussolini as Dictator. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 4-Mussolini 1918 to 1922.

Episode covers Mussolini from the end of WWI to his being elevated to power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 3-Early life of Mussolini.

Episode covers the early life of Mussolini. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 2-Nazi Politics, 1929-1933

Episode covers German politics and the rise of the Nazi Party from the Great Depression until Hitler comes to power in January 1933. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 1-Rise of the Nazi Party

This episode covers Germany from the end of World War I to the advent of The Great Depression. REFERENCES: The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William ShirerDelivered From Evil by Robert LeckieThe Rising Sun by John TolandMussolini by R.J.B. Bosworth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Rest is History

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Introducing: Real Vikings - Episode 1

This is a preview of a brand-new show from the Noiser podcast network. Hosted by Iain Glen (Game of Thrones, Silo), Real Vikings takes you on a deep dive into the Viking age. Youll board longboats bound for new lands, follow mighty warlords, meet master navigators, and uncover the real figures behind the legends of the sagas. But we begin on a quiet beach in the south of England, where a cold-blooded murder on the shingle sends shockwaves reverberating throughout Europe For more episodes, search Real Vikings in your podcast app and hit follow. You can listen to Episode 2...

Jean-Bdel Bokassa Part 3: A Coronation for the Ages

The new emperor of the Central African Republic is introduced to the world in a totally surreal manner - with white horses from Belgium, finery from France and songs from a Broadway musical. The CARs finances continue to tumble. A controversial policy about school uniforms leads to one of the most tragic episodes in the countrys history. And as the emperor loses control, old friends become foes, old foes return from the dead, and Bokassas day of judgement is at hand A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Louisa Lombard, Richard Moncrieff, Gino Vlavonou. This is Part 3...

Jean-Bdel Bokassa Part 2: The Power Grab, the Chteaux and the Missing Daughter

A new year brings new beginnings in the Central African Republic. President Bokassa attempts to modernise. But at the same time, the mass incarcerations and torture ramp up and corruption takes hold. And then things get really strange An imposter infiltrates Bokassas homelife. A bizarre public competition is launched to marry off the presidents daughters. And the leader takes a significant trip to Colonel Gaddafis Libya A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Louisa Lombard, Richard Moncrieff, Gino Vlavonou. This is Part 2 of 3. Written by John Bartlett | Produced by Ed Baranski and Edward White |...

Jean-Bdel Bokassa Part 1: The Butcher of Bangui

The former soldier in the French army who seized power in his African homeland. The leader of the Central African Republic who proclaimed himself emperor. The emperor who ruled as an avaricious dictator. Jean-Bdel Bokassas time in power in the CAR began with promises of equality and justice. Hailed as a beacon of strength, he would go on to preside over a regime of eccentricity, excess and sadistic cruelty. But decades before the surreal coronation, the 17 wives and the vast collection of luxurious possessions, our story begins in a much humbler setting. In a forested village near the CARs...

Introducing: Charles Dickens Ghost Stories - A Christmas Carol

This is a preview of a brand-new audiobook from the Noiser Podcast Network. Join Sir David Suchet as he reads a selection of Charles Dickenss most chilling short works, brought to life with sound design and original music. Well encounter dark premonitions of disaster experienced by a lonely railway signalman A Victorian murder trial cast into chaos when the dead mans ghost interrupts proceedings And a sinister haunted hotel, where twelve identical spirits stalk the corridors But first, a very special festive gift: Dickenss most beloved ghost story of all, A Christmas Carol. You can listen to Part 2 of...

Fidel Castro Part 10: Emergency on an Airplane

The end arrives. Embarrassed at a baseball game, the Maximum Leader responds with arrests and intimidation. We hear first-hand testimony from a Cuban on the receiving end of the violence. A nasty public fall and a painful ordeal in the air show that age and illness are catching up with the dictator. But even as a change of leadership finally takes place, can Cuba ever truly be free from Fidel? A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Michael Bustamante, Anthony DePalma, Lillian Guerra, Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, Ileana Yarza. This is Part 10 of 10. Written by Edward...

Fidel Castro Part 9: Down With Fidel!

After a tragedy in the Florida Straits, a dramatic tug of war takes place between Castro and America - all centred on a five-year-old boy. A new leader in the Soviet Union comes to power with fresh ideas which terrify Fidel. The Berlin Wall crumbles, putting Cuba on the brink. As riots break out in Havana, rebellion is in the air... A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Alvaro Alba, Michael Bustamante, Anthony DePalma, Lillian Guerra, Irene Lopez Kuchilan, Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, Rogelio Martinez. This is Part 9 of 10. Written by Edward White | Produced by...

Fidel Castro Part 8: Miami Vice

When a bomb goes off on a south Florida street, it bears all the hallmarks of a Cuban expert. Castroland is going international. As exiles flock to Miami, Fidel sets off on a globe-trotting mission - meeting Colonel Gaddafi in Libya and dispatching troops to Angola. But back at home, not everything is rosy. And when a bus driver rams his vehicle through the gates of an embassy, Castro will encounter a problem unlike any hes ever faced before A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Michael Bustamante, Nicholas Griffin, Peter Kornbluh, Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, Rogelio Martinez,...

Fidel Castro Part 7: Che Guevara in the Jungle

Castro sets out to create a breed of new people - turning Cuba into an island of mini-Fidels. A particular dairy cow becomes a national treasure and hot dog vendors are declared counter-revolutionary, as things get surreal. Fidels own sister flees, declaring Cuba a floating prison. And as one of the dictators right-hand men is killed, the revolution will be rocked to its foundations A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Michael Bustamante, Carlos Eire, Lillian Guerra, Peter Kornbluh, Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, Alex von Tunzelmann, Ileana Yarza. This is Part 7 of 10. Written by Edward White...

Fidel Castro Part 6: The Cuban Missile Crisis

The first man in space arrives in Cuba for a special visit. A passenger liner from the Soviet Union docks in Havana. But its not carrying tourists. Out in the countryside a massive yet mysterious construction project begins. Stranger-than-fiction plans are put in motion as the CIA tries everything to assassinate Fidel. And as Khrushchev and Castro take the most daring of gambles, the whole world holds its breath A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Alvaro Alba, Mervyn Bain, Carlos Eire, Peter Kornbluh, Alex von Tunzelmann, Ileana Yarza. This is Part 6 of 10. Written by Edward...

Fidel Castro Part 5: The Bay of Pigs

A man who was right there tells us the tale of one of historys most notorious military failures. Castros former lover is given a handful of poison capsules and dispatched to Fidels hotel. A Havana schoolboy crosses his fingers as the American bombing begins. And a young activist prepares to do whatever it takes to repel the impending invasion... A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Carlos Eire, Peter Kornbluh, Monica Mercedes Perez Jimenez, Alex von Tunzelmann, Ileana Yarza, Eduardo Zayas-Bazan. This is Part 5 of 10. Written by Edward White | Produced by Ed Baranski and Edward...

Fidel Castro Part 4: Havanas TV Star

Castro goes on a victory parade, eventually arriving in Havana on top of a tank. Vengeance is wrought on the old dictators supporters, as the new leader moves into the Hilton hotel. Fidel takes a trip to Washington - for a sit-down with Richard Nixon. And a regime insider tells us how he turned his back on Castro, only to pay the price... A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Carlos Eire, Lillian Guerra, Jonathan Hansen, Jennifer Lambe, Alex von Tunzelmann, Ileana Yarza, Eduardo Zayas-Bazan. Special thanks to University of Miami Libraries for the use of the Huber...

Fidel Castro Part 3: The Mountain Guerrillas

While Batista tries to convince the world that Castro is dead, Fidel regroups in the mountains. The worlds press descends on Cuba, hoping to meet this elusive rebel, and Fidel is only too happy to grant everyone interviews. Meanwhile, in Havana, Batistas sick son helps to save him from assassination. But his grip on the island is slipping A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Anthony DePalma, Carlos Eire, Lillian Guerra, Jonathan Hansen, Jennifer Lambe, Alex von Tunzelmann, Ileana Yarza.Special thanks to University of Miami Libraries for the use of the Huber Matos archive. This is Part 3...

Fidel Castro Part 2: Shipwrecked in the Swamps

Castro wrestles with Marxism and begins another affair. Attempting to reignite the revolution, he swims naked across the US border. At a get-together in Mexico City, he strikes up a rapport with a scruffy Argentine known as Che. Together, in a battered old boat, they will set sail for Cuba - to bring the fight to Batista A Noiser podcast production.Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Michael J. Bustamante, Carlos Eire, Lillian Guerra, Jonathan Hansen, Irene Lopez, Alex von Tunzelmann, Eduardo Zayas-Bazan. This is Part 2 of 10. Written by Edward White | Produced by Ed Baranski and Edward White |...

Fidel Castro Part 1: Rise of The Crazy One

Fidel Castro - arevolutionary turned strongman dictator, beloved by his supporters and loathed by his enemies. The bte noire of the United States who pushed the world to the brink of annihilation. The ultimate political survivor who evaded hundreds of barely believable assassination attempts. We scroll back to the early years of the one they would call El Loco. It all begins on a farm in the east of Cuba - an island paradise with dark undercurrents swirling beneath the surface A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Michael J. Bustamante, Carlos Eire, Lillian Guerra, Jonathan Hansen, Peter...

Introducing: Titanic: Ship of Dreams - Episode 1

This is a taster episode of a brand-new podcast from the Noiser podcast network. Join host Paul McGann as he explores life and death on the most famous ship in history. Youll be right there on board - setting sail from Southampton, chugging across the Atlantic, striking the iceberg and sinking into the icy depths. Well hear the harrowing tales of the victims and the testimonies of the lucky survivors. And Paul explores his own family story, following his great uncle Jimmy McGann - a trimmer down in Titanics engine room. Search Titanic: Ship of Dreams in your podcast app...

Benito Mussolini Part 7: Break for the Border

As Italy switches sides, Hitler hatches a plan to rescue his pal. But with the Axis collapsing on all fronts, Mussolini makes for Switzerland - stowed away and in disguise. For Il Duces enemies, the race is on to get to him first. His downfall will come at the hands of his own people A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Giulia Albanese, Joshua Arthurs, John Foot, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Lisa Pine, Helen Roche. This is Part 7 of 7. Real Dictators will be back soon with, among others, the stories of Fidel Castro and Jean-Bdel Bokassa as...

Benito Mussolini Part 6: The Road to Perdition

It all starts to go horribly wrong After the disastrous invasion of Greece, Mussolini sends troops to Russia. Benitos Blitz prompts bemusement in Britain. An Italian assassin somehow survives the firing squad. A famous American mobster helps the Allies in Sicily. And Il Duces son telephones his father with devastating news A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Giulia Albanese, Joshua Arthurs, John Foot, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Lisa Pine, Helen Roche. This is Part 6 of 7. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access...

Benito Mussolini Part 5: The Pact of Steel

At the Munich Conference, Mussolini postures as a peacemaker. With Hitler in the ascendancy, the Rome-Berlin Axis is upgraded to a military alliance. High on fascist adrenaline, Il Duce invades Albania. Soon, in the backdraft of the German Blitzkrieg, he will declare war on Britain and France A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Giulia Albanese, Joshua Arthurs, John Foot, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Lisa Pine, Helen Roche, Thomas Weber. This is Part 5 of 7. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows...

Benito Mussolini Part 4: A Fine Bromance

Il Duce uses propaganda to become a folk hero - part saint, part Father Christmas. He bans journalists from mentioning his birthday or the fact hes a grandfather - to promote an image of eternal youth. Ernest Hemingway arrives in Switzerland to interview the Italian strongman, and sees right through him. Italy launches a genocidal campaign in Libya and gets away with it. And as the World Cup comes to the Fatherland, Benito Mussolini prepares to finally meet one Adolf Hitler A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Giulia Albanese, Joshua Arthurs, John Foot, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Lisa...

Benito Mussolini Part 3: Murder in Broad Daylight

World leaders line up to hail the new Italian strongman. But the fascists are already silencing dissenting voices. An epochal discovery in Egypts Valley of the Kings unleashes a curse, or so Mussolini believes. Il Duce gets his top off in the wheat fields - making sure to be caught on camera. He comes to an arrangement with the Pope and meets the woman who will ultimately die by his side. Meanwhile, an Anglo-Irish aristocrat prepares to make an astonishing attempt on Mussolinis life A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Giulia Albanese, Joshua Arthurs, John Foot,...

Benito Mussolini Part 2: The March on Rome

Wounded at the Front, Mussolinis war ends early.A playboy aristocrat forms his own private army, offering inspiration to Il Duce. As Italian workers go on strike, Mussolinis goons crack skulls on the streets. And in a smoke-filled hall in Milan, he declares the birth of a new movement. His fascists will soon begin an audacious march on the capital A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Giulia Albanese, Joshua Arthurs, John Foot, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Lisa Pine, Helen Roche. This is Part 2 of 7. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also...

Introducing: Sherlock Holmes Short Stories

A brand-new release from the Noiser Network. Join Hugh Bonneville on a thrilling journey through Sir Arthur Conan Doyles most celebrated Holmes mysteries - read in their original, masterful form. If you enjoy this taster episode, search Sherlock Holmes Short Stories in your podcast app and hit follow for more episodes. Or follow this link:https://podfollow.com/sherlock-holmes-short-stories-1 Part 2 of The Adventure of the Speckled Band is live now and waiting for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Benito Mussolini Part 1: Italys Fascist Godfather

We begin at the end in 1945, with a pile of bodies dumped in Milan then strung up for all to see. Among them, the most powerful man in Italy. One of the most significant figures in modern history. How did it come to this? In this episode, we scroll back to follow the start of Benito Mussolinis extraordinary rise. From humble origins as the son of a blacksmith and a schoolteacher, Il Duce will emerge as an incendiary journalist and activist. And before long, the onetime vagrant and draft-dodger will be on his way to the front line of...

General Videla Part 4: Dictator in the Courtroom

The Falklands War casts a long shadow over Argentina as the junta teeters on the verge of collapse. The country slowly returns to democracy. But that isnt the end of Videlas time in the spotlight. As a heroic legal case is brought against him, justice for his victims finally seems within reach. Well meet a man who sat mere feet away from Videla in the courtroom - a young prosecutor with the hopes of a nation resting on his shoulders A Noiser production, written by John Bartlett. Many thanks to Edward Brudney, Robert Cox, Marguerite Feitlowitz, Francesca Lessa, Sara Mndez,...

General Videla Part 3: God, Football, the Falklands

The 1978 FIFA World Cup rolls into Argentina. A surreal fortnight ensues. Fans flock to revamped stadia, while just metres away prisoners cower - hidden in secret torture facilities. As foreign journalists begin to join the dots, Videla goes into statesman mode. With the tournament in the balance, thedictator and a famous friend pay Argentinas opponents a friendly visit. It will result in one of the most contentious games in history A Noiser production, written by John Bartlett. Many thanks to Edward Brudney, Robert Cox, Marcela Mora y Araujo, Rhys Richards, Ernesto Semn. This is Part 3 of 4. Get...

General Videla Part 2: Mr Cleans Dirty War

Videlas dirty war begins. Subversives are rooted out, with torture centres established across the land - including one known as the Argentine Auschwitz. Education, music, childrens books and haircuts are subjected to new regulations. And as the Junta garners international attention, Videla will employ elaborate means to gloss over the atrocities A Noiser production, written by John Bartlett. Many thanks to Edward Brudney, Robert Cox, Marguerite Feitlowitz, Francesca Lessa, Sara Mndez, Ernesto Semn. This is Part 2 of 4. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access...

General Videla Part 1: The Skinny One and the Witch

Argentina. The story of a gaunt, hawkish man who earned the nickname the Hitler of the Pampa. A man whose awkward bearing belied his capacity for cruelty. A dictator who literally stole the children of his prisoners. In 1925, Jorge Rafael Videla is born into a country at a crossroads. But no one can imagine just how deeply he will impact Argentina over the next 87 years A Noiser production, written by John Bartlett. Many thanks to Edward Brudney, Robert Cox, Marguerite Feitlowitz, Francesca Lessa, Ernesto Semn. This is Part 1 of 4. Get every episode of Real Dictators a...

BONUS: Dictators Books

Almost every dictator, at one time or another, has put pen to paper. Some have wrestled with ideas, with philosophy. Many have merely vented - spewing their diatribes onto the page. Others have made forays into fiction, poetry and drama with varying degrees of success. Noiser writer Duncan Barrett spoke to a man whos made it his mission to wade through all kinds of dictators writings.Daniel Kalder is author of The Infernal Library, also published as Dictator Literature: A History of Bad Books by Terrible People. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for episodes on the dictators mentioned in this...

Pinochet Part 3: Searching for the Disappeared

Pinochet consolidates control, creating a terrifying new secret police force. The dictators war on communism extends abroad, as Chile joins Operation Condor. But how long can Pinochets global allies allow him to go unchecked? And will the families of the murdered and the disappeared ever find justice? A Noiser production, written by Sean Coleman. Many thanks to John Bartlett, Mark Ensalaco, Peter Kornbluh. This is Part 3 of 3. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the Noiser+ banner...

Pinochet Part 2: The Caravan of Death

September 11th, 1973. The touchpaper is lit. President Allende realises hes been double-crossed. Pinochet keeps his cards close to his chest. A loyal naval admiral finds his cars sabotaged and his phone lines cut. And as Allende and his bodyguards prepare to defend the palace, the first soldiers take to the streets of Santiago A Noiser production, written by Sean Coleman. Many thanks to John Bartlett, Mark Ensalaco, Peter Kornbluh. This is Part 2 of 3. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across...

Pinochet Part 1: An Arrest in London

We travel to South America. In September 1973, Augusto Pinochet seizes power in Chile following a coup dtat. The aim is to topple the countrys socialist president. And it succeeds. But how does Pinochet - a seemingly unremarkable army man - come to lead the notorious uprising? And after that, how do he and his wife consolidate power, remaining in post for 17 long and bloody years? A Noiser production, written by Sean Coleman. Many thanks to John Bartlett, Mark Ensalaco, Peter Kornbluh. This is Part 1 of 3. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+....

Introducing: D-Day: The Tide Turns - Episode 1

This is a taster episode of a brand-new podcast from the Noiser network. Host Paul McGann follows the real people involved in the D-Day landings. Its 1944 and Europe is in the grip of the Nazi war machine. But on the shores of Great Britain, thousands of men and women are planning the great fightback. What will it take to turn the tide of World War 2? Search D-Day: The Tide Turns in your podcast app and hit follow to get new episodes each Thursday.Or listen atnoiser.com Episode 2 is live now on D-Day: The Tide Turns. Real Dictators will...

Oliver Cromwell Part 4: The Conquest of Ireland

In the final part of the Cromwell story, outrage at the Kings execution leads Ironsides to wage war on Scotland and, notoriously, Ireland. Insurgencies over, hell become Lord Protector - king in all but name. But as discontent continues to spread, the unthinkable will once again become possible. The Stuart monarchy couldnt be restored could it? A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Peter Gaunt, Clare Jackson, Anna Keay, John Morrill, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Michel Siochr. This is Part 4 of 4. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening,...

Oliver Cromwell Part 3: To Kill a King

With the King in captivity, both sides seek a settlement. But when Charles escapes, all trust is broken. For Cromwell there is only one course of action - a solution that will plunge the British Isles into unknown territory. His Majesty must be put on trial A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Peter Gaunt, Clare Jackson, Anna Keay, John Morrill, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Michel Siochr. This is Part 3 of 4. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser...

Oliver Cromwell Part 2: Civil War Across the Realms

England is plunged into conflict. Oliver Cromwell, an obscure politician, soon proves himself an outstanding military commander. King Charles, meanwhile, unveils his own star signing - a dashing young cavalry officer named Prince Rupert. A daring mission featuring the Queen threatens to tip the balance the Royalists way. But Cromwells New Model Army will prove itself unstoppable A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Peter Gaunt, Clare Jackson, Anna Keay, John Morrill, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Michel Siochr. This is Part 2 of 4. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free...

Oliver Cromwell Part 1: The Rise of Ironsides

Say Oliver Cromwell today and certain things come to mind. He won the English Civil War and prompted the execution of Charles I. He purged the realm with such zeal that he even cancelled Christmas. In Ireland, where Cromwells troops besieged its towns with a notorious barbarity, his name is still used as a curse. The greatest prince that ever ruled England, as one historian called him? Or, as Winston Churchill would counter, a tyrant and a despot? A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Peter Gaunt, Clare Jackson, Anna Keay, John Morrill, Nicholas OShaughnessy, Michel Siochr....

Introducing: The Curious History of Your Home - Baths

A brand-new podcast from the Noiser network. Join domestic historian Ruth Goodman as she explores the remarkable, often epic, tales behind everyday objects. This taster episode is all about the bath. A murderous emperor builds the grandest bath complex ever seen in Ancient Rome. The arrival of a new disease spells trouble for the bathhouses of Tudor London. An excitable Victorian clergyman extolls the virtues of skinny dipping. And World War Two plays a surprising role in kickstarting the hot tub craze If you enjoy this taster episode, search The Curious History of Your Home in your podcast app and...

Enver Hoxha Part 2: Stalins Shadow, Europes North Korea

As a new premier takes charge in Moscow, Hoxha makes a new friend in China. The Albanian dictator tasks an entire media industry with maintaining his image. But as his country sinks into an economic mire and his own health deteriorates, Hoxha and Albanias isolation will be complete. How will the country even begin to escape his clutches? A Noiser production, written by Sean Coleman. Many thanks to Bernd Fischer, Artan Hoxha and Shannon Woodcock. This is Part 2 of 2. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and...

Enver Hoxha Part 1: The Albanian School Teacher

From 1944 to 1985, Enver Hoxha ran Albania as an extraordinarily repressive Stalinist dictatorship. But how did a middle class teacher from the provinces become the most powerful man in the country and a key player in the communist world? What did he do to turn Albania into one of the most isolated countries in the world? And how did Uncle Enver keep his citizens in the dark for so much of the 20th century? A Noiser production, written by Sean Coleman. Many thanks to Bernd Fischer, Artan Hoxha and Shannon Woodcock. This is Part 1 of 2. Get every...

Herod the Great Part 2: Murders in the Family

Herod leaves Rome to wrest Judea from the Parthians. He will marry a princess, commission extraordinary building works, and even murder his in-laws as he tries to win over his people. But how will that desperate quest shape his subjects lives, and his own legacy? And what of Herods most notorious act - the Slaughter of the Innocents? A Noiser production, written by Kate Harrison. This is Part 2 of 2. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the...

Herod the Great Part 1: Ruler of Galilee

Herod - you may well know the name from the Nativity story. The cruel king who learns of a prophecy proclaiming a Messiah and orders the slaughter of innocent children in response. Hes become synonymous with almost pantomime villainy. At the same time, Herodchanged the face of the Middle East in the 1st century BC. His reign featured dazzling architectural ventures and significant legal changes as well as social division, political intrigue and murderous family drama. So, all in all, who really was this iconic figure of the immediate pre-Christian era? A Noiser production, written by Kate Harrison. This is...

Saddam Hussein Part 5: The War on Terror

In the aftermath of 9/11, President Bush and Prime Minister Blair send troops back into Iraq. In a highly symbolic moment, beamed around the world, a giant statue of Saddam comes crashing down. But as the Iraqi dictator performs his vanishing act, how soon can they track him down? And after Saddams toppling, how will ordinary Iraqis fare? A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. This is Part 5 of 5. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the...

Saddam Hussein Part 4: The First Gulf War

After Iraqs invasion of Kuwait, US forces are deployed to the region. For some Iraqis, it seems like the perfect time to rise up against their dictator. As economic sanctions bite, Saddam treats himself to a bit of retail therapy. All the while, his sons are becoming terrifying figures in their own right. A family crisis is about to snowball into a murderous feud A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the...

Saddam Hussein Part 3: Oil and the Ayatollah

Saddam nationalises the Iraq Petroleum Company and clashes with the new leader of Iran. A man called Chemical Ali commits one of the most heinous atrocities of modern times. Meanwhile, sculptures of the Iraqi dictator are commissioned across the land. With his personality cult firmly established, Saddam is ready for war A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. For more on Saddam and his cook, listen to our bonus episode on Dictators Chefs. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser network....

Saddam Hussein Part 2: Enforcer, Frontman, Mafia Godfather

Saddam consolidates his own power base, appointing friends and relatives to key positions. We hear a remarkable account from a woman whose own family was targeted by his secret police. Soon, the deputy will be in pole position to move against his mentor. And after that, Saddam will shore up the loyalty of his party with an act of political theatre for the ages A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the...

Saddam Hussein Part 1: Son of the Alleyways

In the spring of 1937, a child dies and his brother is born. Translated from Arabic, the newborns name - Saddam - means one who confronts. As his life will demonstrate, it couldnt be more appropriate. So how does a boy from a tough peasant background go on to rise to the very top of Iraqs leadership? How does his journey towards global infamy begin? Narrated by Paul McGann. A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across...

Macas Nguema Part 2: Hiding in the Jungle with all the Money

With President Macas in power, educated Equatoguineans come under attack, as a bizarre vendetta is pursued against teachers, lawyers and doctors. Things take a turn for the metaphysical, as Macas declares himself God. Finally, as paranoia completely overwhelms him, his inner circle will take matters into their own hands Narrated by Paul McGann. A Noiser production, written by Sean Coleman. This is Part 2 of 2. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. Youll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started....

Macas Nguema Part 1: The Dachau of Africa

This is the extraordinary, blood-curdling story of a dictator you may never have heard of. From 1968-1979, the African nation of Equatorial Guinea was helmed by its first, and to date only, freely elected president. Initially, Francisco Macas Nguema was seen by the Spanish colonial authorities as a safe choice. He proved to be anything but. Things went off the rails at an astonishing rate, as Macas rapidly turned the country into what would be called the Dachau of Africa. His is a tale of sheer opportunism on the way up, and drug-fuelled paranoia on the way down Narrated by...

Hitler: The Bunker and the End (Part 25)

We reach the dramatic conclusion of Hitlers downfall. With the Battle of Berlin raging, the Fhrer makes his last stand. Underground, in a bunker beneath the Chancellery, he will conduct the final act of his life: a macabre ritual of marriage, murder and suicide A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 25 of the Hitler Story. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for earlier episodes. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, if youre on Spotify or Android,...

Hitler: Operation Valkyrie, Blowing up the Fhrer (Part 24)

A delusional Hitler downplays the Normandy Landings. A group of generals, meanwhile, attempts an audacious military coup. And with Allied bombers pounding the Fatherland, Germanys dictator plays his next card Scientific wonder-weapons that will turn the war back his way A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 24 of the Hitler Story. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for earlier episodes. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, if youre on Spotify or Android, go tonoiser.com/subscriptions. Learn more...

Hitler: Mussolinis Prison Break (Part 23)

In Italy, Il Duce is overthrown. So Hitler stages a daring mission to rescue his fascist partner. With the Red Army rampant, another epochal battle sends the Wehrmacht on the retreat. Soon, more bad news will reach the Berghof, as Allied troops start landing in Normandy. But with the Fhrer fast asleep in his quarters, will anyone dare to break it to him? A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 23 of the Hitler Story. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for earlier episodes. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+....

Hitler: The Battle of Stalingrad (Part 22)

The myth of the Nazi war machine is blown apart in one of the pivotal battles of World War 2. Serious questions arise as to Hitlers leadership, encouraging a growing German resistance. As Allied forces eye Sicily, a paranoid Fhrer retreats further into himself. His war of conquest is becoming a war of defence A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 22 of the Hitler Story. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for earlier episodes. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a...

Adolf Hitler: The Final Solution (Part 21)

This is Part 21 of the Hitler Story. You can start listening here. Or, scroll down the Real Dictators feed for earlier episodes. We pick up the story in 1942. World War 2 is well underway and the Fhrer is still in the box seat. But he is not as untouchable as he used to be. Nazi high-ups gather at the Wannsee Conference, honing a plan to exterminate an entire race. With the war in Russia on the rocks, and Hitler increasingly AWOL, Goebbels struggles to control the narrative. The resistance is growing. A leading figure of the Third Reich...

Introducing: Real Survival Stories - Glacier Escape

Noiser presents a brand-new podcast. Real Survival Stories brings you astonishing tales of ordinary people thrust into extraordinary survival situations. In this taster episode, two friends embark on an awe-inspiring trip into the mountains. But then, one false step sends Jim Davidson and Mike Price plummeting into a crevasse. Trapped deep beneath the surface of a glacier, surrounded by sheer walls of ice, Jim will come to realise theres only one way he can possibly escape If you enjoy this taster episode, search Real Survival Stories in your podcast app and hit follow to get new episodes every Thursday. There...

Attila the Hun Part 2: The Scourge of God

We track Attilas progress as he rampages through Gaul. A family bust-up sparks an extraordinary alliance, as Attila gets engaged to the Roman Emperors sister. With the Huns storming deep into Western Europe, their king is on a collision course with his old friend Aetius. Will the Romans fragile coalition hold? Or will the prophecy of the Sword of Mars be realised? A Noiser production, written by Mark Piesing. This is Part 2 of 2. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial....

Attila the Hun Part 1: The Sword of Mars

Were in south-eastern Europe in the 400s AD. The once mighty Roman Empire is riven in two. And on the Great Hungarian Plain a fearsome enemy is rising. The Huns king, Attila, will become a terrifying, iconic figure. A byword for plundering and pillaging. The archetypal warlord. But who was he really, according to those who observed him? What did Attila do that was so significant? And is his bloody reputation entirely deserved? A Noiser production, written by Mark Piesing. This is Part 1 of 2. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click...

Manuel Noriega Part 3: Bush Invades Panama

The Americans go all-in, deploying stealth bombers, helicopters and tens of thousands of troops to Panama. Meanwhile, agents attempt to penetrate the dictators inner circle, as a US operative befriends Noriegas mistress. Will the missions succeed? Or will Noriega slip away again? A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. This is Part 3 of 3. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Manuel Noriega Part 2: A Tale of Two Spy Chiefs

Shielded by a puppet president, Noriega takes power. But the spymaster struggles in his new role as dictator. The war on drugs escalates in dramatic fashion. As the tide turns against Noriega, he will find himself on a collision course with the man about to assume the US presidency: George H.W. Bush A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. This is Part 2 of 3. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free...

Manuel Noriega Part 1: The Narco Dictator

For two decades, Manuel Noriega stamped his authority on Panama - first as the countrys brutal intelligence chief, and later, from 1983-89, as its de facto military ruler. A gangster up to his neck in drug trafficking, gun running and organised crime. But also, a key asset of the CIA. How did a poor boy from Panama grow up to become such a chameleon on the world stage? And why does so much of the Noriega story remain in the shadows? A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. This is Part 1 of 3. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and...

BONUS: Dictators Chefs

For this special bonus episode, Noiser writer Duncan Barrett sat down for a chat with Witold Szabowski, author of How to Feed a Dictator: Saddam Hussein, Idi Amin, Enver Hoxha, Fidel Castro and Pol Pot Through the Eyes of Their Cooks. The role of personal chef to a dictator is a fascinating one. Its an extremely intimate relationship. These cooks have literally nourished tyrants. Theyve satisfied their culinary cravings, altered their moods for better and worse, and even influenced their policies. So what can they tell us about dictators appetites? Real Dictators will return soon for Season 5. Learn more...

Introducing: Detectives Dont Sleep - The Nazi Art Mystery (Part 1 of 3)

The makers of Real Dictators present a brand-new podcast: Detectives Dont Sleep. Step beyond the police tape to shadow the real detectives who worked historys most intriguing cases. In this taster episode, were hot on the heels of international art detective Arthur Brand. He is hunting down a pair of lost statues Two giant bronze horses that were once beloved by none other than Adolf Hitler. But a case of missing artworks quickly spirals into something far more dangerous - a deadly neo-Nazi conspiracy If you enjoy this taster episode, search Detectives Dont Sleep in your podcast app and hit...

Hitler: Attack on Russia, War with America (Part 20)

The Fhrers deputy embarks on an astonishing secret mission. After baling out Mussolini in the Balkans, German troops finally march into the Soviet Union. Undeterred by the bloodshed, Hitler will sign off 1941 by declaring war on the United States A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for episodes on Hitlers early years and rise to power. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn...

Adolf Hitler vs Winston Churchill (Part 19)

Installed in Downing Street, Churchill arrives with a bang. The Battle of Britain rages in the skies, while the Nazis plot a seaborne invasion across the English Channel. And Hitler extends his network of allies, seeking to bring the Spanish and Japanese strongmen to the table A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for episodes on Hitlers early years and rise to power. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started...

Hitler: A Brush With Death (Part 18)

World War Two begins. After the invasion of Poland, Hitler sets his sights on Scandinavia. A devastating lightning war rolls over Western Europe, as the German panzers arrive in Paris. Meanwhile, the Fhrers British lover makes an attempt on her own life. And a lone clockmaker decides to bump off Hitler once and for all A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for episodes on Hitlers early years and rise to power. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the...

Hitlers Birthday, Polands Doom (Part 17)

Hitler continues his Godfather act, ignoring the Munich settlement and gobbling up the rest of Czechoslovakia. As he turns 50, the Fhrer is showered with extravagant birthday gifts. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the finishing touches are put to a shock pact with Stalin. But Britain and France draw a line. An invasion of Poland will mean war A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for episodes on Hitlers early years and rise to power. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users....

Hitler: The Gathering Storm... (Part 16)

Hitler expands the Third Reich, annexing Austria and the Sudetenland. Britain and France seek a diplomatic solution at the Munich Conference. But how long will appeasement keep war at bay? Meanwhile, the Nazis stir up an orgy of anti-Jewish violence, Kristallnacht... A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 16 of the Hitler Story. Scroll down the Real Dictators feed for episodes on Hitlers early years and rise to power. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go...

Adolf Hitler: Unassailable Fhrer (Part 15)

This is Part 15 of the Hitler Story. You can start listening here. Or, scroll down the Real Dictators feed for episodes on Hitlers early years and rise to power. We pick up the tale in the mid-1930s. From struggling artist to veteran soldier of the trenches, now Hitler is transformed into Germanys dictator. The new Third Reich is in the spotlight at the Berlin Olympics. Behind the scenes, the armed forces expand at an alarming rate. The infamous Nuremberg Laws are unveiled. And Hitler dispatches an old friend on a suicide mission... A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson....

Robert Mugabe Part 4: A Game of Thrones

At the age of 93, Mugabes days in office are numbered. But the succession crisis threatens to tear Zimbabwe apart. In South Africa, exiles hatch an extraordinary plan to oust him. And when the dictators own wife throws her hat into the ring, Mugabes house of cards will begin tumbling down A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. This is Part 4 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial....

Robert Mugabe Part 3: Zimbabwes Tsunami

After two decades in office, Mugabe has already shown himself to be a tyrant. At the dawn of the 21st century, the outside world sits up and takes notice. Mugabe seizes white-owned farms and drags his country into the greatest economic crisis since the Wall Street Crash. But the resistance is growing stronger A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. This is Part 3 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day...

Robert Mugabe Part 2: The Leopards True Spots

Mugabe is now the leader of independent Zimbabwe. But behind the faade of democracy, he is already governing through fear. Emboldened, he unleashes a campaign of genocide on his opponents. For now, for the most part, the international community turns a blind eye. But the arrival of a new prime minister - not in Zimbabwe but in faraway Britain - will herald Mugabes first great crisis A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. This is Part 2 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click...

Robert Mugabe Part 1: The Young Scholar

For almost four decades, Robert Mugabe held the reins of power in Zimbabwe with an iron grip. As a youthful idealist, he led a revolutionary movement that put his country back in African hands. But once in power, he presided over a regime of brutality and jaw-dropping corruption. So what events helped form Mugabe? And how did he manoeuvre himself from obscurity to power? A Noiser production, written by Duncan Barrett. This is Part 1 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+...

Robert Mugabe: Coming Soon on Real Dictators

Beginning Wednesday November 9th. Were in Zimbabwe for the extraordinary story of Robert Mugabe. Early access to new episodes for Noiser+ subscribers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lenin Part 4: Ghost at the Kremlin

With power finally in Bolshevik hands, state terror arrives in Russia. The Soviet Union is born. But, installed in Red Square, Lenins health is ailing. Will his creation live on beyond his death? And which of his lieutenants, jostling for position, will take up the baton? A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. This is Part 4 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad...

Lenin Part 3: First Russia, Then the World

The Tsar is deposed as the people of the Russian Empire rise up. Marooned in Switzerland, Vladimir Lenin prepares for an extraordinary journey home, by land and sea. It will involve the closest of shaves, multiple disguises, and the covert help of Russias deadliest enemy A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. This is Part 3 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices....

Lenin Part 2: Underground, On the Run

Vladimir Lenin meets Joseph Stalin. Turning to crime to pay their way, the revolutionaries struggle to stay ahead of the authorities. As the First World War upends Russia, the Bolsheviks wait for their moment. In the meantime, Lenins love life takes an unconventional turn... A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. This is Part 2 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Lenin Part 1: The Revolution is Born

Vladimir Lenin changed the course of history like very few ever have. He turned Russia upside down and created the first communist state. As the founder of the Soviet Union, he ensured the world would never be the same again. But long before his time in power, his life is something straight out of a spy thriller. Young Vladimir enjoys a happy, comfortable childhood. That is, until a double tragedy puts him on a very different path... A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. This is Part 1 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new...

Vladimir Lenin: Coming Soon on Real Dictators

The story of Lenin - leader of the Russian Revolution, founder of the Soviet Union - begins Wednesday September 28th. Early access to new episodes for Noiser+ subscribers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Napoleon Part 6: Showdown at Waterloo

With Napoleon deposed and in exile, it appears to be game over. But even now he is planning a comeback. After the mother of all prison breaks, Napoleon marches back up through France. Reinstating himself as emperor, he will rally his troops for one last battle... A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 6 of 6. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad...

Napoleon Part 5: Downfall in Russia

Napoleons blockade of Britain begins. Amidst the fall-out, France launches an invasion of Spain. The Duke of Wellington arrives on the scene. After another dispute with Russia, Bonaparte assembles his biggest ever army. It will do the unthinkable and march on Moscow... A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 5 of 6. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Napoleon Part 4: The Emperor Strikes Back

Bonaparte storms back into Italy, reconquering all that had been lost. Back home, in Notre-Dame Cathedral, thousands of dignitaries watch on as the untouchable general crowns himself emperor. Intent on destroying Britain, he plans a seaborne invasion. But Lord Nelson has other ideas A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 4 of 6. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Napoleon Part 3: The Egyptian Adventure

Napoleon sails for the Middle East. After the Battle of the Pyramids, a scientific mission makes remarkable findings, introducing the Western world to the mysteries of Ancient Egypt. But after a drubbing from Britains naval supremo, Horatio Nelson, Napoleon does a runner. His return to Paris is timed to perfection. Almost by accident, Bonaparte will seize power... A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 3 of 6. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get...

Napoleon Part 2: The Italian Job

After a quickie wedding, Napoleon Bonaparte dashes south to take command of the French Army in Italy. Here he announces himself with a devastating display of battlefield brilliance. In Milan, he gets a taste for political rule and good living. Napoleon will return to Paris both as a military hero and a budding statesman... A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 2 of 6. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go tonoiser.com/subscriptionsto get started with a...

Napoleon Part 1: The Humble Corsican

Youve heard the name Napoleon Bonaparte. But who was he, really? In 1769 a boy is born on the Mediterranean island of Corsica. He will go on to become an emperor - a virtual god in his adopted homeland, a nemesis to his international foes. So how does Napoleon become the most powerful man on Earth? And why doesnt he stop, even once he has it all? A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 1 of 6. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users....

Napoleon: Coming Soon on Real Dictators

The story of Napoleon Bonaparte begins Wednesday August 3rd. Early access to new episodes for Noiser+ subscribers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pol Pot Part 4: The Killing Fields

Pol Pot constructs a secretive one-party state. Cambodia descends into hell as his twisted social experiment begins. Finally, the shifting sands of geopolitics will create challenges for the Khmer Rouge. Pol Pot will be forced back into the jungle. But even then, the man with untold blood on his hands will somehow evade justice. A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. Many thanks to Elizabeth Becker and University of Washington Libraries for archive audio. This is Part 4 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users....

Pol Pot Part 3: Vietnam War, Cambodian Revolution

The Khmer Rouge launch their revolution against Sihanouk until Sihanouk himself is stabbed in the back. Americas action in Vietnam escalates, spilling over the border with catastrophic consequences. The enigmatic Pol Pot will emerge from the bloodshed to become the most powerful man in the land. At the outset of Year Zero, the true horror will begin... A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. This is Part 3 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions...

Pol Pot Part 2: Welcome to the Jungle

Saloth Sar, the young man who will become Pol Pot, arrives in France in 1949. In just a few short months, he will be transformed into a die-hard communist rebel. Meanwhile, in Cambodia, things are coming to the boil. Returning from Europe, Sar goes to ground with the Vietnamese communists. He begins to prepare his very own revolution A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. This is Part 2 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to...

Pol Pot Part 1: Tyrant in the Shadows

Cambodia today is many peoples idea of heaven on earth. But in the 1970s it was a netherworld of death and despair. Under Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, in just four years around a quarter of the population perished. Pol Pot was a uniquely anonymous dictator - a man who preferred to operate in the shadows. So who was he? And how did he come to lead such a staggeringly bloody regime? A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. This is Part 1 of 4. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now...

Pol Pot: Coming Soon on Real Dictators

The story of the Cambodian dictator, Pol Pot, begins Wednesday June 22nd. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Introducing: Real Outlaws - Billy the Kid Part 1

From Noiser, Real Outlaws is the new podcast that travels back in time to when rogues and bandits followed a code all of their own. In this taster episode, were on the trail of Billy the Kid - perhaps the best-known outlaw in American history. Hero or villain? You decide. Follow Real Outlaws to get Part 2 now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Julius Caesar Part 3: Murder in the Senate

Caesar departs Egypt with his lover, Cleopatra, secure on the throne. After crushing Pompeys allies, he returns to Rome. His rule proves popular with the masses. But senators grow concerned by his increasing megalomania. With the Ides of March approaching, conspirators hatch an historic assassination plot A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 3 of 3. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about...

Julius Caesar Part 2: Rendezvous With Cleopatra

Caesars campaign in Gaul begins. An invasion on an epic scale, it will also include two missions to the rain-lashed island of Britain. Back home, however, the collapse of the Triumvirate pushes Rome towards civil war. The conflict will spill across the Mediterranean, driving Julius Caesar into the arms of a certain Queen Cleopatra A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 2 of 3. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started...

Julius Caesar Part 1: The Roman Dictator

Politician, writer, warrior, lover... Julius Caesar was the dictator-for-life who became the absolute ruler of Rome and its domains. His life was a series of extraordinary and gruesome adventures. The young student kidnapped by pirates. The general who butchered the people of Gaul and led the Roman legions into Britain. The lothario famously entranced by Cleopatra. But how much truth do the legends contain? A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 1 of 3. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+...

Julius Caesar: Coming Soon on Real Dictators...

Join us on a trip to Ancient Rome. The first of three episodes on the legendary Roman general drops Wednesday May 4th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Genghis Khan Part 2: Rise of the Mongols

The leader brings reforms to his newly unified Mongol nation. The man formerly known as Temjin will now conquer an empire bigger than any before in recorded history. But what are the innovations that underpin his supremacy? And how will history judge him - as a cruel tyrant, or a great leader? A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about...

Genghis Khan Part 1: Underdog to Emperor

We're in the Mongol lands of Central Asia in the late 1100s. This is a place of nomadic warriors, a region divided between tribes. But one man will emerge to unite them. Armed with the greatest military mind of his age, he will lead the Mongol peoples far beyond their own borders. A terror to his enemies, he will build a reputation unmatched for cruelty and barbarism. So how does a boy from humble origins come to rule an empire twice the size of Ancient Rome's? A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early...

Hitler: Night of the Long Knives (Part 14)

To ward off the Western Allies, Hitler takes a trip to Venice to visit Mussolini. At home, meanwhile, Hitlers paramilitaries, the SA, are growing restless. In a final savage act, the mother of all purges, Hitler will liquidate anyone who has ever wronged him. Under the unassailable German Fhrer, the Third Reich will begin A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll to Season 2 for episodes on Hitlers early years. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to...

Hitler: The Reichstag Fire (Part 13)

Installed as Chancellor, Hitler briefs his army chiefs to prepare for war. But first, he must deal with enemies at home After the German parliament building is set ablaze, Hitler seizes the opportunity to eliminate all political opposition. His opponents will be dragged away to the first of the infamous camps. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll to Season 2 for episodes on Hitlers early years. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get...

Adolf Hitler Seizes Power (Part 12)

As Hitler-mania sweeps the land, the Nazis win an election landslide. But Hitler finds himself shut out by the Prussian elite, at least until he can grind them into submission. Finally, the unthinkable happens. Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll to Season 2 for episodes on Hitlers early years. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad...

Hitler's Secret Family (Part 11)

After the Wall Street Crash, the German economy nosedives. The Nazis find themselves within grasp of government. As Adolf Hitler makes headlines across Europe, secret relatives come out of the woodwork. With Hitlers newfound fame comes the whiff of scandal, and a personal tragedy that could derail everything. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll to Season 2 for episodes on Hitlers early years. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a...

Hitler's Women & Joseph Goebbels (Part 10)

Adolf Hitler, at large once again, finds himself barred from public life. Retreating to the mountains, he finds a new home and a female companion. It wont be the last of Hitlers relationships to end in an attempted suicide. Meanwhile, backed by Joseph Goebbels, the self-proclaimed fhrer plots his comeback as a respectable politician. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Scroll to Season 2 for episodes on Hitlers early years. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to...

Introducing: Short History Of... Bonnie and Clyde

From the creators of Real Dictators we present Short History Of... Hosted by Paul McGann, this show gives you a front-row seat as historys most incredible moments play out right before you. Forged by the Great Depression, Bonnie and Clyde became icons of lawlessness, thrilling and shocking America with their crime sprees and doomed romance. But what drove them to lives of such violence? And with the full might of the police against them, how did it all end? This is a Short History of Bonnie and Clyde. Written by Danny Marshall, with thanks to Paul Schneider, journalist and author...

Hitler in Prison & Mein Kampf (Part 9)

Adolf Hitler, now a national celebrity, begins his jail term. Besieged by well-wishers, he has faith his time inside will be short. To keep the Nazi flame burning, he decides to write a new book. Mein Kampf will one day make Hitler a best-selling author and a multi-millionaire. But how will it be received right now, in the new thriving Germany? A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 9 of the Hitler Story. Scroll to Season 2 for episodes on Hitlers early years. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now...

Adolf Hitler's Day in Court (Part 8)

Munich, Germany. November 1923. The Nazis have just attempted to launch a revolution. But instead, Adolf Hitler now finds himself on the run from the law. Unless he makes it to the border, the firing squad beckons. But in fact, as unlikely as it seems, Hitler is about to take Germany by storm. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 8 of the Hitler Story. You can start listening here. Or, scroll to Season 2 for episodes on Hitlers early years. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for...

Turkmenbashy Part 2: Putin, Taliban, Internet Shutdown

As the new Turkmen leader, Saparmurat Niyazov has absolute power. He uses it to construct one of historys most surreal regimes. Rebuilding the capital city in white marble, he puts his own mother at the forefront of public life. A series of absurd policies begins. Even as the War on Terror lands on his doorstep, the tyrant seems unstoppable. But, somehow, opposition will emerge, culminating in a dramatic attempt on his life. A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. Research by Derek Henry Flood. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for...

Turkmenbashy Part 1: Soviet Stooge, Hermit Tyrant

Turkmenistan in Central Asia. Somewhere unremarkable, you might assume. But youd be wrong. Away from prying eyes, an extraordinary story unfolded here. In the early 1990s, a man called Saparmurat Niyazov creates a brand-new state from the rubble of the Soviet Union. His regime will be a case study in modern tyranny, filled with bizarre pronouncements and barely believable laws. As Turkmenbashy, or Head of the Turkmen, Niyazov rules into the 2000s, turning Turkmenistan into a North Korea 2.0. But how does he get away with it? A Noiser production, written by Dan Smith. Research by Derek Henry Flood. For...

Idi Amin Part 6: The Entebbe Raid

Four Israeli jets descend on Uganda under cover of night. An audacious commando mission begins. It will spark the beginning of the end for Idi Amin. After a fatally ill-judged war with Tanzania, the tyrant will be ousted. Leaving a grim legacy behind him, hell begin a surreal retirement thousands of miles away. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more...

Idi Amin Part 5: Husband, Father, Movie Star

We delve into Amins private life, taking in his many marriages, mistresses and children. The President makes a triumphant return to the boxing ring, seemingly in his element. He participates in a barely believable film about his own life. But, away from the limelight, the Ugandan people have had enough. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad...

Idi Amin Part 4: Expulsion of the Asians

In a speech, Amin makes an extraordinary announcement something he claims came to him in a dream. All Ugandans of Asian origin must leave the country within 90 days. Thousands of citizens scramble to respond. Meanwhile, out in the countryside, supporters of Obote are massacred in their hundreds. An army of exiles prepares to launch the first serious attempt on Big Daddys rule. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions...

Idi Amin Part 3: Big Daddy Seizes Power

Amin wages war on Bugandas king. The administration strengthens its grip on power. But after Obote survives an assassination attempt by mere inches, rumours swirl as to the perpetrators identity. Brigadier Amin goes on an army recruitment drive. Soon, Obote must depart Uganda to do business abroad. And when he does, who knows what might happen in his absence... A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with...

Idi Amin Part 2: Warlord In-Waiting...

The curtain falls on the British Empire in Africa. Uganda is free. Idi Amin becomes the right-hand man of the nation's new leader, Milton Obote. Committing unspeakable atrocities against civilians, Amin dodges the law and sets himself up as a rogue arms dealer. Obote had better watch his back. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices....

Idi Amin Part 1: The Butcher of Uganda

From 1971 to 1979, President Idi Amin Dada devastated Uganda. The military dictator sank the economy and deported an entire ethnic class. He slaughtered up to half a million of his fellow citizens. All with the persona of 'Big Daddy', the playful joker. His image as a buffoon, however, belied his extraordinary charisma and his mastery of communication. In a continent ravaged by empire, his bloody tale is part of a much larger story. Let's explore the life of Africa's most infamous son. A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new...

Introducing: History Daily

OnHistory Daily, we do history, daily. Every weekday beginning November 1st, host Lindsay Graham (American Scandal,American History Tellers) takes you back in time to explore a momentous event that happened on this day in history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Introducing: Short History Of...

From the creators of Real Dictators comes a brand-new weekly show. Short History Of... gives you a front-row seat as history's most incredible moments play out right before you. In this taster episode, we're in Cuba. It's October 1962. Three men Kennedy, Khrushchev and Castro hold the fate of the planet in their hands. A dispute over missiles spirals out of control. All sides brace for war. How did it come to this? And just how close will the world come to nuclear Armageddon? This is a Short History of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Part 1. Search 'Short History Of...'...

Colonel Gaddafi Part 8: The Arab Spring

By early 2011, Libya is changing. The Arab Spring is underway. A young lawyer from Benghazi organises a protest. Before long, it will become a full-blown rebellion. Colonel Gaddafi, the man who has dominated Libya for four decades, will become a fugitive, soon to meet one of the grisliest ends of any dictator in history. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Colonel Gaddafi Part 7: 9/11 and a New Ally

On September 11th, 2001, life in the West is transformed in an instant. Amidst the fall-out, Gaddafi spots an opportunity. To the surprise of many, he makes it his mission to re-join the international fold. The Libyan dictator pitches his Bedouin tent on the front lawns of palaces and parliaments across the world. Muammar Gaddafi - the man of many masks - is transforming into the Wests most eccentric friend. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions...

Colonel Gaddafi Part 6: The Lockerbie Bombing

In 1988, Gaddafi takes his terror to the skies, bringing down a passenger flight over Lockerbie, Scotland. Staffers at the Pentagon team up with Hollywood executives to shore up public opinion against the tyrant. Meanwhile, the Colonel himself looks south - across the Sahara - and prepares to be crowned 'King of Kings'. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Colonel Gaddafi Part 5: Reagan vs Gaddafi

Gaddafi takes his terror onto the streets of London and Berlin. Libyan agents hunt down his opponents across the globe. The Reagan administration launches airstrikes, targeting the dictator and his inner circle. With the stakes higher than ever, Gaddafi's security network works overtime to stamp out dissent. Thousands of schoolchildren bear witness to a gruesome lesson in tyranny. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your...

Colonel Gaddafi Part 4: The Munich Olympic Massacre

In the summer of 1972, at the Munich Olympic Games, a festival of sport becomes a terrifying nightmare. The Libyan leader tightens his grip on power at home, while exporting terror abroad. Tension with America is reaching breaking point. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Colonel Gaddafi Part 3: Vengeance Day

Muammar Gaddafi cant quite believe his luck. Still in his twenties, he finds himself leader of an oil-rich country. The Colonel wastes no time kicking out the Americans and the Brits. He instigates a 'Vengeance Day' to deal with Libyas colonial oppressors. Living standards soar for ordinary Libyans. But the cracks are already appearing. Things are about to spin off in a very different direction... For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a...

Colonel Gaddafi Part 2: Gaddafi in London

In the 1960s, Libya gets rich on oil. But, with the wealth squandered, many question the Kings authority. Among them is young Muammar Gaddafi. Sent to England as a military cadet, Gaddafi roams the streets of Swinging London in flowing Bedouin robes. With his training complete, he readies himself for an audacious seizure of power. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Colonel Gaddafi Part 1: Son of the Desert

Brother Leader, King of Kings, Falcon of Africa The Most Dangerous Man in the World'. Colonel Gaddafi was the Libyan tyrant who abused his people on an industrial scale, until he was murdered by them as they rose up against him. A revolutionary who freed his country from empire, only to squander its riches. Terrorist sponsor one moment, Western ally the next. At the height of World War Two, a Bedouin child is born in Libyas desert. From these humble origins, Muammar Gaddafi will go on to dominate global events for half a century. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and...

Franco Part 5: Life After a Dictator

The horrors of the past are buried. After 20 years in power, Franco embraces capitalism and declares himself a moderniser. Spain becomes a leading holiday destination. Later, Franco plans his own succession. The ailing Generalissimo headhunts a dashing young heir. But it remains to be seen whether this successor will keep to Francos script. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Franco Part 4: The Cold War & the President

The White Terror continues. Spains strongman assumes power in Madrid, herding his defeated enemies into concentration camps. Franco commissions a movie to tell his own life story. Up in the mountains, die-hard rebels continue to resist. After World War Two, Franco seeks to re-brand. El Caudillo sets about seducing a brand-new ally: the United States. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Franco Part 3: The Spanish Civil War

In July 1936, Spain erupts into civil war. But Francisco Franco is marooned far away in the Canary Islands. A devious rescue mission ensues. Back on Spanish soil, Franco begins the process of conquering his homeland, butchering his enemies as he goes. Mussolini and Hitler lend a hand. Closing in on Madrid, Franco lays the groundwork for a decades-long dictatorship. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more...

Franco Part 2: Murder in Africa

In 1917, Franco is posted to northern Spain. He courts a local schoolgirl named Carmen. But soon, a charismatic army superior convinces Franco to return to Africa. In Morocco, he brutalises the local population. Climbing the military ranks, Franco becomes something of a celebrity. Meanwhile, Spain itself spirals towards civil war. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Franco Part 1: Spains Buried Past

Today, Spain is Europes holiday capital. But under the sand lie sinister secrets. From 1939 to 1975, Francisco Franco ruled as the nations dictator. Despite his bloody reign, the General died peacefully in his bed at a ripe old age. How was he able to get away with such atrocities? The story begins in the 1890s. Francisco Franco is born and raised on Spains Atlantic coast. After joining the army, hes posted to north Africa. Here, his hunger for recognition will nearly cost him his life... For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now...

Adolf Hitler Part 7: The Day of Treason

In the final part of Hitlers Early Years, the Nazi leader launches his very own assault on power: the Munich Putsch. Under cover of darkness, the SA prepare to storm locations across Munich. Hitler himself prepares to kidnap a senior politician. Will the Nazis take over Germany? Or will they fail and fade back into obscurity? For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices....

Adolf Hitler Part 6: Hitlers Secret Book

The Nazis kickstart their media operation. Desperate to be an icon, Hitler pens a secret autobiography, where he compares his own rise to Jesuss resurrection. French and Belgian troops cross the German border, while the economy goes into meltdown. Amidst the turmoil, the Nazis plot their very own coup dtat. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adolf Hitler Part 5: The Stormtroopers Arrive

Hitler decides he needs an army of his own. The Nazis create a new paramilitary unit the Sturmabteilung, or SA. These hooligans take National Socialism onto the streets. Hitler assembles an executive team of deputies. They include Ernst Rhm - an army insider with a stockpile of weapons. And a celebrity fighter pilot called Hermann Gring... For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices....

Adolf Hitler Part 4: The Spy Becomes the Nazi Leader

Hitler is sent undercover, tasked with spying on a band of extremists. But he soon falls under their spell and breaks cover to join their ranks. They will soon become the Nazi Party, and this new recruit their leader. Under a new mentor, Adolf Hitler finds his voice. His march towards power is grinding into gear. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices....

Adolf Hitler Part 3: The 'Stab in the Back'

The Great War ends. Hitler despairs. The Kaiser does a runner. Revolutions break out across Germany. Discharged from hospital, Hitler returns home to Munich, desperate to keep his army job. The Allies gather in Paris to settle the tab for the War. Hitler drinks in far-right conspiracy theories. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adolf Hitler Part 2: Hitler in the First World War

June 1914, Sarajevo. An assassination on the street disrupts the entire balance of power in Europe. The First World War explodes into action. Adolf Hitler relocates to Munich. After dodging the draft, he later embraces life as a soldier. But then, serving in Flanders in 1918, a traumatic injury threatens to end his rise to power before its even started. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more...

Adolf Hitler Part 1: Birth of a Fhrer

You may know something of the Hitler story. But theres a decent chance you dont know the half of it. We begin a deep dive into the early years of a man who became the very embodiment of evil. Peeling away Hitlers own myths about his childhood, we explore how he emerged from obscurity. The future German Fhrer isnt born in Germany. Growing up in Austria, he clashes with his father but idolises his mother. Abandoning schoolwork, young Adolf dedicates himself to the artistic life, hoping to make it as a painter. But then tragedy strikes. For ad-free listening, exclusive...

Introducing: Real Narcos Season 2 - Flix Gallardo

From the creators of Real Dictators comes Real Narcos, the show that takes you to the front line of the war on drugs. For Season 2, we're in Mexico. In 1985, Kiki Camarena is a US DEA agent on the trail of Flix Gallardo - the man known as the Mexican Godfather. But Camarena's kidnapping at the hands of the cartel will send shockwaves around the world. Search 'Real Narcos' in your podcast app and hit follow for more episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

General Tojo Part 4: The Atom Bombs

The walls close in on Hideki Tojo. The General turned Prime Minister takes hands-on control of the military, with catastrophic consequences. Emperor Hirohito pulls the plug. With Tojo forced out of office and on the run from the Allies in Tokyo, the end of World War Two arrives. But its final chapter will change the world forever more. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your...

General Tojo Part 3: Attack on Pearl Harbor

Japan attacks Pearl Harbor. The Pacific War is underway. In Tokyo, Prime Minister Tojo moves to take every significant government job for himself. Japanese troops sweep through the Malay Peninsula. Thousands of Allied soldiers are interned in prisoner of war camps, in conditions that beggar belief. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

General Tojo Part 2: Terror in China

Major General Hideki Tojo takes command of the secret police - the Kempeitai. The Imperial Japanese Army invades China and terrorises the civilian population. Kempeitai operatives set up a secret lab where they carry out horrific medical and weapons experiments. This is only the beginning. Before long, Prime Minister Tojo will ready the nation for war with the United States. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more...

General Tojo Part 1: The Young Samurai

General Hideki Tojo led Japan into World War Two and oversaw some of the most horrific war crimes in recorded history. Tojo did not hold absolute power, but he more than earns his place at this table. Ruling under a compliant Emperor, Tojo gathered power to himself.He was the minister who outgrew his master, the bureaucrat whose relentless work ethic took him to the apex of government. Hideki Tojo is born in 1884. Japan is an emerging world power. As a young military officer, the man they call The Razor begins his journey up the ladder of Japanese politics. For...

Papa Doc Part 3: Vampire of the Caribbean

Franois Duvalier puts the finishing touches to his terrifying cult of personality. The President for Life declares himself an immaterial being - a spirit that will hover over Haiti even after his body dies. Thoughts turn to succession. His son - "Baby Doc" - waits in the wings. Our contributors reflect on the legacy of Papa Doc - a name that will forever haunt the nightmares of Haitians. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get...

Papa Doc Part 2: Haitis Dictator vs JFK

Haitian dictator Papa Doc Duvalier crushes an attempted coup without mercy. Spooked by this near miss, Duvalier forms his own private militia called the Tonton Macoute. They take their name from a terrifying bogeyman of Haitian mythology. As the horrors of the regime become impossible to ignore, President Kennedy decides to lay down a marker. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Papa Doc Part 1: The Voodoo Tyrant

Just a few hundred miles south of Florida, across the Caribbean Sea, lies Haiti. From 1957 to 1971, this tropical island nation was ruled by a would-be demigod. Franois Duvalier - better known as Papa Doc - wielded the twin powers of state violence and voodoo. Real Dictators takes you behind the scenes of Papa Docs maniacal regime. His victims and adversaries tell the story of the medical doctor who became the butcher of his people. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner...

Mao Zedong Part 3: The Cultural Revolution

Maos Cultural Revolution sets out to purge the minds of an entire population. Meanwhile, the Supreme Leader himself leads a life of debauchery and excess - as his former doctor remembers. The Chairman seems invincible. But as his health deteriorates, his legacy is anything but assured. Eyewitnesses to his brutality reflect on what Mao means to China today, more than 40 years after his death. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a...

Mao Zedong Part 2: The Great Leap Forward

Mao Zedong's Communists come down from the mountains to do battle with the Nationalists. After clinching victory, Mao is greeted by many as a hero. But life under the new Chairman is about to get a whole lot worse. Installed as Supreme Leader, Mao sets about revolutionising the way his people live, work, and even think. His Great Leap Forward is intended to be an economic masterplan. Instead, it will drive people across China to the wildest extremes of human behaviour. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android...

Mao Zedong Part 1: Peasants Son, Communist Rebel

In the centre of Chinas capital city, Beijing, lies a corpse that no one dares remove. Its been 44 years since Mao Zedongs body was laid to rest in the grandiose Chairman Mao Memorial Hall. He may be gone but he is not forgotten. To some, hes the father of modern China. To many others, hes a sadistic thug - a man willing to sacrifice millions of lives in pursuit of power. Mao Zedong is born in Hunan Province in 1893. Growing up on his fathers farm, he consumes books and ideas. His rise to the top of the Communist...

Joseph Stalin Part 3: Hitler Attacks

Stalins regime hits the rocks when Adolf Hitler launches Operation Barbarossa and invades Russia. Nazi tanks plough towards Moscow in a devastating advance. Stalins legacy is forged in this fight to the death. In his final years, the strongman succumbs to cardiac problems. His tools for progress have been famine, slavery and execution. Yet to this day, some of his countrymen and women lionise him as the man who turned Russia into a superpower. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple...

Joseph Stalin Part 2: The Secretary Becomes Dictator

With the First World War underway, Stalins journey to dictatorship grinds into gear. After the War, Russia is turned upside down. Stalin thrives in the chaos, masterminding a string of elaborate takedowns of his rivals. Rising to party leader, he visits a ruthless purge on his enemies. But Stalins brutality does not go unchallenged. The peasants revolt, while a showdown with his own wife at a dinner party has tragic consequences. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to...

Joseph Stalin Part 1: The Young Bank Robber

Joseph Stalin - the man of steel - was the party secretary who plotted a route to absolute power, becoming head of the Eastern Bloc and chief nemesis of the United States. But how did a man from the Georgian frontier of the Russian Empire do it? In 1917, the 300-year-old Romanov Dynasty collapses. The communist Bolsheviks storm the Winter Palace and seize power. From this band of revolutionaries, a future bloody dictator - a man with an extraordinary backstory - begins to emerge... For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for...

Kim Jong-il Part 3: Nuclear Armed

Installed as dictator, Kim Jong-il builds an all-powerful state that dominates the lives and minds of its people. North Korea is wracked by famine. The people adapt to survive - we hear from one man who flouted the rules and paid a horrific price. Lurid rumours emerge about how the Dear Leader spends his leisure time. And Kim Jong-il begins work on an arsenal of nuclear weapons that will spook the world and pave the way for his own sons ascent to power. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple...

Kim Jong-il Part 2: Time to Make a Movie

Kim Jong-il has risen to become propaganda chief under the rule of his father. Now, he hatches an audacious plan to turn North Korea into a filmmaking powerhouse. South Koreas finest actress and leading director are kidnapped and find themselves on boats bound for the North. Elsewhere, Kim launches a charm offensive at the armed forces, readying the ground for his coronation. And his father dies, leaving the path to power seemingly clear... For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or...

Kim Jong-il Part 1: Birth of North Korea

Kim Jong-il built a rogue state with nuclear missiles trained on its enemies all while living a life of the utmost luxury. In the first episode ofReal Dictators, we piece together the early life of this tyrant and that of the country he came to rule. Kim Jong-il is born during World War Two. His father Kim Il-sung fights the Japanese and helps found the state of North Korea. After the War, son and nation grow up together, as Kim Jong-il begins his own rise to power. Historians trace Kims early years, while defectors from North Korea reflect on the...

Trailer: Real Dictators

How does a single human being convince thousands to kill for them and millions to turn a blind eye? Real Dictators is the new podcast series hosted by Paul McGann (Dr Who, Luther, Withnail and I) that explores the hidden lives of historys tyrants. We encounter the American-trained doctor, Papa Doc Duvalier, who used modern medicine to convince the people of Haiti that he was a Voodoo god. Theres Kim Jong-il, who developed nuclear warheads alongside blockbuster movies. Theres Mao Zedong the peasants son who transformed China, presiding over the catastrophic Great Chinese Famine and the bloody Cultural Revolution. And...