The Simple History Podcast

On the rainy night of March 2nd, 1944, the overnight steam-power freight train 8017 from Battipaglia to Potenza, did not pass through the railway station at Balvano in southern Italy. The station master there was not overly worried. But later at 5:10 that morning, when one of the crewmen from the freight train staggered into the railway station, the Station Master knew something was seriously wrong. 

Howdy there stranger, welcome to the Lucky Horse Saloon in this poor old excuse of a frontier town. So let me introduce myself, my name is One-eyed Pete, on account that I lost an eye fighting the Yankees at the Battle of Seven Pines back in 62.  I am the bar-keep of this fine establishment. So what's your poison? And remember we have only two types of liqueur here, the good stuff and the other is the cheap type that will slowly rots your gut.

The Siege of Jadotville from September 13 to 17, 1961, was a forgotten military action of the Irish UN peacekeeping forces during the Congo Crisis. It is the story of 155 soldiers of the A Company, 35th Battalion of the Irish Army who fought against an enemy that outnumbered them, for five days while kept under siege in the hostile region.

Why were Korean Soldiers so Feared in the Vietnam War ?

In September of 1938, the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain travelled to meet with Adolf Hitler for discussions at his private mountain retreat. It was hoped they would prevent Europe's then seemingly inevitable descent into war. Whilst he was there he noticed a painting. Hitler explained that the compassionate soldier was a man by the name of Henry Tandey and claimed that he owed him his life.

Instead of drawing out the enemy sniper, the role of the fake horse carcass was designed to prevent them from arousing suspicion in no man's land.