Podcasts about prussian army

The story of why blueprints were blue is more involved than you think. It involves a chemical process and the Prussian Army. Yeah you heard me right.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, the Prussian Army fights two battles, Frederick fights in one of these, and he earns the epithet "The Great".My Links: Amazon Wishlist for Books: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/UZK1RES5MF5F?ref_=wl_sharePatreon: https://www.patreon.com/frederick_the_great_podcastEmail for questions: aavdakov01@gmail.comInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/frederick_the_great_podcast/Twitter: https://twitter.com/fredthegpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marshal Blucher was the face of the Prussian army during the Napoleonic Wars and despite losing 5 battles to Napoleon, he was always rallied his troops and inspired them to fight on. Special guest Philip Wagenknecht joins the podcast to tell us more about this energetic leader. Twitter: @pertinaxS , @andnapoleon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/generalsandnapoleon/support

For today's episode, we have a special guest. He is an expert in military history in the 18th century. Today we discuss a variety of topics but we mainly focus on what it was like for the ordinary soldier of Frederick the Great's army. I had a great time producing this episode and hope you enjoy it.Dr. Burns' blog: https://kabinettskriege.blogspot.com/Email for questions: aavdakov01@gmail.comFor Ad-Free episodes on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/frederick_the_great_podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederick_the_great_podcast/Twitter: https://twitter.com/fredthegpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Slaughter erupts in Paris as the Prussian Army advances on the capital. Fuelled by a deadly mixture of panic and rumours, the people of Paris seek to eliminate the enemy within by murdering the city's prisoners. The September Massacres of 1792 were a turning point of the French Revolution. Episode Extras are available for EVERYONE in a seperate episode! Support the Show & Access Bonus Content:https://www.patreon.com/greyhistoryWish to make a one off donation to support Grey History?https://ko-fi.com/greyhistoryEarly Access for Episode 40 'The September Massacres Part II' here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/66883577Vote for the topic of the next bonus episode here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/65257595Send your questions, praise, and scorn here:https://greyhistory.com/contact/Sign Up for the Newsletter:https://mailchi.mp/0e846e8d26f5/grey-history-newsletterFollow on Social Media:https://www.facebook.com/greyhistorypodcastshttps://www.instagram.com/greyhistorypodcasts/https://twitter.com/greyhistorypod

“When it comes to controlling human beings, there is no better instrument than lies. Because you see, humans live by beliefs. And beliefs can be manipulated. The power to manipulate beliefs is the only thing that counts." - Michael Ende, The Neverending Story

Photo: A laisser-passer [travel pass] allowing M. H. de Villemessant, Attorney General of the Prussian Army, to pass and circulate freely.   CBS Eyes on the World with John Batchelor CBS Audio Network @Batchelorshow Magical Italy starts the "Green Pass" for all of Europe's visitors. Lorenzo Fiori, Ansaldo Foundation https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/06/world/europe/italy-green-pass-vaccination-covid.html

The Battle of Waterloo Waterloo (Sharpe's Adventures, No. 11) by Bernard Cornwell  This excerpt of the book describes the battle for the Crossroads that connected the British Army to the Prussian Army. Napoleon attacked and defeated the Prussians then turned to face the British at Waterloo two days later. This selection serves as an introduction to this fine book. Purchase the book or Audiobook on Audible.  About the book- June 1815: The Duke of Wellington, the Prince of Orange, and Napoleon will meet on the battlefield--and decide the fate of Europe With the emperor Napoleon at its head, an enormous French army is marching toward Brussels. The British and their allies are also converging on Brussels--in preparation for a grand society ball. It is up to Richard Sharpe to convince the Prince of Orange, the inexperienced commander of Wellington's Dutch troops, to act before it is too late. But Sharpe's warning cannot stop the tide of battle, and the British suffer heavy losses on the road to Waterloo. Wellington has few reserves of men and ammunition; the Prussian army has not arrived; and the French advance wields tremendous firepower and determination. Victory seems impossible.

The Battle of Waterloo Waterloo (Sharpe's Adventures, No. 11) by Bernard Cornwell  This excerpt of the book describes the battle for the Crossroads that connected the British Army to the Prussian Army. Napoleon attacked and defeated the Prussians then turned to face the British at Waterloo two days later. This selection serves as an introduction to this fine book. Purchase the book or Audiobook on Audible.  About the book- June 1815: The Duke of Wellington, the Prince of Orange, and Napoleon will meet on the battlefield--and decide the fate of Europe With the emperor Napoleon at its head, an enormous French army is marching toward Brussels. The British and their allies are also converging on Brussels--in preparation for a grand society ball. It is up to Richard Sharpe to convince the Prince of Orange, the inexperienced commander of Wellington's Dutch troops, to act before it is too late. But Sharpe's warning cannot stop the tide of battle, and the British suffer heavy losses on the road to Waterloo. Wellington has few reserves of men and ammunition; the Prussian army has not arrived; and the French advance wields tremendous firepower and determination. Victory seems impossible.

Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/335 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking This week in France we are celebrating the bicentennial of Napoleon’s death and so today Today I bring you a conversation with Kurt Weihs about Napoleon. I am excited to release this episode because I have been working on it for several months. My guest Kurt Weihs did an amazing job helping me summarize Napoleon’s life and why he has had such an enormous imprint on France. If you’re interested in learning how France ticks and why, you’ll love this episode. On this episode we want to look at the big picture of Napoleon's life. The man, his ideas and some of the major turning points in his life. In this episode we paint with a broad brush, but by the end of this episode you'll have an idea of who Napoleon was and why he made his mark on so many places in France. Books Annie read to prepare for this episode: From French historian Max Gallo: The Song of Departure and The Sun of Austerlitz 1815: The Return of Napoleon by Britten Austin Wellington & Napoleon: Clash of Arms by Robin Neillands The Road to St Helena: Napoleon After Waterloo by J. David Markham The Words that Define Napoleon In order to make sense of Napoleon's full and complicated life, it is useful to try to distill things down to a few ideas. Kurt's 5 Words for Defining Napoleon Romanticist: Napoleon was very much in love with Josephine and let his emotions guide his choices. Fairness: Napoleon expected to be treated fairly and believed people would keep their word. This was not always the case in reality. Order: Napoleon loathed disorder and chaos. He hated insurrections and attempted to tamp them down. Image: Like most authoritarian dictators, Napoleon used the media for propaganda  and used out-right lies to shape his public image. Endurance: During his campaigns he spent days and days on horseback, he attacked swiftly and tirelessly. Annie's 5 Words About Napoleon Family: His family was from Corsica and functioned much like a clan. After he became Emperor, Napoleon placed his brothers into high positions and married his sisters to men in high position. Ambition: Any time he felt his influence was threatened he rushed back to Paris to set everyone straight. Dictator: He gave a lot of power to the police and kept a thumb on anyone who didn't like him. Law: He instituted the Napoleonic code which is still the rule France lives under. Institutions: He created institutions of learning (high schools and the baccalaureate), financial institutions (the French central bank) and new distinctions for anyone who served him (la légion d'honneur). Napoleon's Early Victories Napoleon was not well-liked among his superiors because he was so demanding and ambitous. They sent him away to fight battles they thought were hopeless and he surprised them all by doing a great job. One example of that is when he took command at the Siege of Toulon and later at the Campaign of Italy. Napoleon took care of his men and they loved him in return. Napoleon was good at talking to the men and getting them excited about battles. He also allowed them to loot and didn't intervene when they behaved horribly towards the populations they were invading. He spent money to equip and feed the troops better than was the norm before him. The troops loved him and did their best in battle. The Annexation of Egypt didn't go as well. They were able to take Malta and Alexandria initially, but the battle of Nile against Lord Nelson went poorly. At this time Napoleon also rushed back to Paris because he feared enemies were plotting against him. The scientific endeavor in Egypt was a lot more successful than the military attempt. By 1799, But within a month of returning to Paris from the Egyptian Campaign Napoleon had orchestrated a coup and put himself at the head of a new regime for France that we call the Consulat. From the time Napoleon established himself as the Premier Consul until he crowned himself Emperor, only 4 years passed. Napoleon was young and blindingly ambitious. He had the support of most French people because Napoleon instituted reforms that were popular with the people. Popular Reforms Napoleons Put in Place Creation of the Civil Code Stronger property rights Civil marriage becomes an institution further reducing the influence of the Catholic church Departments and Préfets are created to handle local matters Central bank and stable currency Napoleon encouraged food production, agriculture and industry Built roads and canals Created public high schools and a new standard diploma: the Baccalauréat Napoleon made improvements to Paris, including many to his glory: La Colonne Vandôme,  La Madeleine Church, two new bridges over the Seine Austerlitz and Inéa. Overall France was very prosperous under Napoleon despite his never-ending wars. Napoleon As a Dictator and Other Unpleasant Traits Under Napoleon only gave lip service to the basic freedoms established by the Declaration of Human Rights established by the French Revolution. Under his leadership the police were all powerful. They read your mail and watched who hung out with you. No more freedom of the press. He punished his enemies and promoted those who praised him with a new medal La Légion d'Honneur. He believed women should be pretty and should make children and should never concern themselves with politics. Madame de Staël is an example of a woman he did not approve of. He established the family order with men at the top and women never being allowed to challenge her husband. At the same time he didn't want men abusing their wives and put some protection in place against that too. The Code Civil famously says Le mari doit protection à sa femme et sa femme obéissance à son mari. This means that a man must protect his wife and she must obey her husband. Napoleon re-instituted slavery when it had been abolished by the French Revolution. Napoleon's Biggest Victory: Austerlitz This happened 6 years after Napoleon fled Egypt and a year after he became Emperor. It takes place in a small town that's now in the Czech Republic but was part of the Austrian Empire. The battle was the climactic final act in the series of battles that made up the War of the Third Coalition. The Allied strategy was to let the French Army exhaust itself chasing them while avoiding direct confrontation.  To avoid this Napoleon had to entice the allies to fight him.  He did this by a mix of making fake gestures for armistice and having one of his corps falling back from the Pratzen Heights at Austerlitz.  The French appeared on the edge of breaking.  They were anything but that. The victory at Austerlitz was responsible for sweeping change in Europe. It pretty much ended the war of the 3rd Coalition (there was still minor fighting in Italy but Napoleon’s power was no longer challenged, for now). The centuries old Austrian Holy Roman Empire collapsed. Austria survived but the Empire was unable to continue. The resulting vacuum allowed the formation of the Confederation of the Rhine. A strong French ally. Treaties with Austria and, later, Russia pretty much left Britain on her own to continue the fight against Napoleon. Napoleon's Biggest Loss: Waterloo Napoleon abdicated his throne and was exiled to Elba in 1814. On March 1 of 1815 Napoleon was back in France and headed for Paris. He retook power as Louis XVIII fled north into Belgium seeking protection from the British. In the following three months Napoleon rebuilt the French Army back into a continental fighting force. Despite Napoleon’s protestations for peace it became clear that the monarchs of Europe would not accept Napoleon as ruler of France. War was inevitable the only question being where it would happen and it turned out to be in Belgium at Waterloo. On June 15th, 1815 the French Army crossed the border into Belgium. They immediately encountered small groups of Prussian troops who began falling back to the northeast. Napoleon split his army into two forces. One, commanded by Marshal Ney, who would continue on to Brussels while his second, commanded by Marshal Grouchy, would pursue the Prussians and hopefully bring them to battle before they could link up with the British. The battle started late because the ground was still soddened from the rain. At 11am things had dried out enough that Napoleon was content to move forward. What followed was a grueling full day of battle. Both sides fought hard with many back and forth attacks. At 1pm, though, Napoleon’s worst fears were imagined as he saw the Prussian Army appear almost like magic on his right flank. By this time both the British and French army were like punch-drunk boxers. The addition of fresh Prussian reinforcements tipped the scales and gave the allies the strength they needed to pull off the victory. As evening came on Napoleon fled the field while his most precious soldiers, the Imperial Old Guard blocked pursuit in a suicidal rear-guard action. By the next day, Napoleon was back in France, but the writing was on the wall. France was going to fall, and it was up to Napoleon how this would happen. Abdication After Waterloo Up until then, Napoleon had experienced very few failures. Like a gambling addict Napoleon continue to up the stakes with each new “game.” The slowness and lack of initiative that hampered Napoleon’s efforts throughout the Waterloo campaign continued to be an odd problem. There were roving Prussian armies in France who wanted nothing more than to find Napoleon and shoot him. Yet, he seemed reluctant to leave France despite the repeated suggestions that he do so, now. He complained that he needed a passport to travel to the United States, which appeared to be his favorite option. The French government continually stated “oh, it’s in the mail, you don’t have it yet?” On July 15th Napoleon put his faith in the British and turned himself over to them. He hoped they would either let him proceed to America or at least allow him to settle on a pleasant estate like they had allowed his brother, Lucien. The British government would have none of it, though. They did not trust Napoleon and the last thing they wanted was a Bonapartist uprising in Kent or some other such mischief. Napoleon was denied any meeting with royalty and instead shipped off to Saint Helena in exile. Napoleon at Saint Helena St Helena is a big volcanic rock of an island in the middle of the Atlantic weeks away from the next port. It is approximately 10 miles by 7 miles and well known for its foul climate. Napoleon’s first few months on the island were tolerable. He was not allowed to mingle with the people of the island, but he had the company of the Balcombe family who gave him a place to stay until the Longwood House was ready for him to move in. After his move to Longwood House, though, things became worse. Restrictions on his movement increased and Hudson Lowe, the governor of the island, insisted that Napoleon remain under constant watch. Rather than allow himself to be watched Napoleon began to lock himself up indoors. The lack of exercise and harsh climate started to impact his health. Hudson Lowe feuded continuously with Napoleon over his access to doctors. The people around Napoleon began to note an obvious decrease in his health. In 1818, Hudson Lowe forced many of the few friends that Napoleon had to leave the island. He was continually paranoid that Napoleon would escape somehow. In his final months in 1821 Napoleon fought a worsening battle against abdominal pain and what appeared to be stomach ulcers. In his last days Napoleon was delirious most of the time. On May 5th, 1821 Napoleon died from what appeared to be stomach cancer though conspiracy theories abound to this day that he was assassinated with poison. Conclusion There are so many what-ifs to consider about Napoleon’s life after his abdication. He could have lived like his brother, Josef, in the USA. Of course, he could have also been imprisoned in a Scottish border fort if the British had wished. Would Napoleon have enjoyed the life of a private citizen? I don’t think so. Napoleon hated a life of mediocrity. He spent a lot of time talking about his desire to just settle down and relax, but throughout his life anytime things became ‘settled and relaxed’ he found a way to stir things up. I think the English were wise to not let him land and stay in England. Unfortunately, the alternative was not pleasant.  More episodes about French history

Sophie (age 7) & Ellie (age 5) tell how Napoleon came to power and how his armies were victorious all over Europe.----more---- Napoleon sails to Egypt. He wins a great battle in the shadow of the Pyramids. But Nelson destroys the French fleet, stranding the French in Egypt. Napoleon hears that the French government are losing battles at home. He abandons his army and sails for France. Back in France he takes control and makes himself ruler of France. Like Hannibal before him he crossed the Alps and then crushes the Austrians in battle. He gives France new laws called the Code Napoleon. But the supporters of the old King still believe that if he were to die then the old King’s family could return. Napoleon decides to crown himself Emperor so they realise that they time of the Kings is over. Europe is outraged. Three years of fighting ensues. Napoleon has spent several years with his army by the English Channel preparing to invade Britain. But Nelson destroys the French fleet. By this time Napoleon’s army is well trained. He marches it inland and surrounds the Austrian army. They surrender and he then chases after the Russian army. They meet at the Battle of Austerlitz. Napoleon gains a famous victory. Now Napoleon turns his attention to the famed, disciplined Prussian Army. He crushes them too. He chases into Poland after their Russian allies. He fights them to a bloody draw at the Battle of Eylau. We tell the story of the battle and how Napoleon’s solders walk into a snowstorm before his cavalry save the day. Later in the Spring, Napoleon defeats the Russians again. This time the Russians have had enough. Napoleon and the Tsar meet on a raft and agree peace. Napoleon now rules most of Europe. But all is not well. Europe does now want to be ruled by Napoleon. Britain lies unconquered. Napoleon still has not got an heir. Napoleon is never satisfied with a victory. He always wants more. Next week we will tell the final part of this series in which we learn about the fall of Napoleon. PATRONS’ CLUB If you like this episode then please consider joining our Patrons’ Club. We have exclusive episodes there and that includes and episode called Napoleon and Josephine. We tell the story of Napoleon and Josephine's love and marriage. It’s a great companion episode to this one. OTHER NAPOLEONIC EPISODES We also have other Napoleonic episodes. This is the second in our series on Napoleon. Our first episode was on the young Napoleon. The Young Napoleon Bonaparte (historystorytime.com) We have also made an episode all about the Battle of Waterloo. Napoleon and the Battle of Waterloo (historystorytime.com) Next week we will be talking about the fall of Napoleon.

In this episode, we discuss: -How Vanya found her way to reading, writing, and teaching military history -The importance of reading any text in the context of its writing and publication -The fascinating story of how Vanya came to write about Marie and Karl von Clausewitz -The process of researching and writing her book on Marie -The backgrounds of Marie and Karl and their relationship -How Karl was “so out of Marie's league” -How much of Marie's hand we see in On War and his other works -How Karl wrote On War -Vanya's thoughts on how On War might be different if Karl had lived to see it published -How Karl might respond if he could see how widely his work is used (and abused) today -Vanya's thoughts on which parts of Clausewitz are most misunderstood -Studying Karl's other works, including his campaign histories -Karl's interest in and use of decision games -The profound influence that Gerhard von Scharnhorst had on Karl -Scharnhorst's background and Vanya's recent research on him -The influence of Scharnhorst's Military Society on the Prussian Army -The influence of literary salons on Scharnhorst -What happened at Military Society meetings -How much Western militaries owe to Scharnhorst -The role Scharnhorst had in reforming the Prussian Army after its crushing defeat at Jena-Auerstedt in 1806 -Where listeners should go to start learning more about Scharnhorst and Clausewitz -Vanya's advice on civilians wanting to get into the world of military matters -Why we all should embrace honesty and humility in our professional work -Why we should debate Clausewitz Links Marie von Clausewitz: The Woman Behind the Making of On War by Vanya Bellinger: https://www.amazon.com/Marie-von-Clausewitz-Behind-Making-ebook/dp/B0146Y9T2K/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Marie+von+Clausewitz%3A+The+Woman+Behind+the+Making+of+On+War&qid=1589213020&sr=8-1 “Five Things That You Did Not Know About Carl von Clausewitz” by Vanya Bellinger: https://thestrategybridge.org/the-bridge/2016/1/5/five-things-you-did-not-know-about-carl-von-clausewitz “Five Things That Helped Carl von Clausewitz Become A Great Strategic Thinker” by Vanya Bellinger: https://thestrategybridge.org/the-bridge/2017/4/19/five-things-that-helped-carl-von-clausewitz-become-a-great-strategic-thinker ‘Introducing #Scharnhorst: The Vision of an Enlightened Soldier “On Experience and Theory”' by Vanya Bellinger: https://thestrategybridge.org/the-bridge/2019/4/1/introducing-scharnhorst-the-vision-of-an-enlightened-soldier-on-experience-and-theory The Enlightened Soldier: Scharnhorst and the Militarische Gesellschaft in Berlin, 1801-1805 by Charles E. White: https://www.amazon.com/Enlightened-Soldier-Scharnhorst-Militarische-Gesellschaft/dp/0275929361 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/damien-oconnell/support

Menus That Made HistoryBy Vincent Franklin & Alex Johnson Intro: Welcome to the number one cookbook podcast, Cookery by the Book with Suzy Chase. She's just a home cook in New York city, sitting at her dining room table talking to cookbook authors.Alex Johnson: I'm Alex Johnson and I'm the author of Menus that Made History: 2000 years of menus from Ancient Egyptian food for the afterlife to Elvis Presley's wedding breakfast, which I co-wrote with my friend Vincent Franklin.Suzy Chase: For more Cookery by the Book, you can follow me on Instagram. If you enjoy this podcast, please be sure to share it with a friend. I'm always looking for new people to enjoy Cookery by the Book. On with the show.Suzy Chase: So, you and Vincent Franklin delved into the world's 100 most iconic menus, which reveal not just the story of food, but periods of history, famous works of literature, notable events and celebrity figures; from prehistoric times up to the modern day, with over 40,000 years to choose from. How did you whittle down the menus?Alex Johnson: Well, actually is quite difficult really. I mean, it's an embarrassment of riches, as you say, but what we were really trying to do was pick menus that tell stories. So, I'm a journalist by training and Vince is an actor, so we're both very interested in the storytelling aspect as much as the food element. What we didn't want to do was fill it with feasts that were to kind of turn a penny, although things like the George IV Coronation is astonishing, just because of the vast amount of food that was on offer.Alex Johnson: We also wanted to make it international, we didn't want to make it... Although we're both based in England, we didn't want it to just be an English book of menus. So, there's things from India and America and Australia, South America, all over the world. And really, it's the kind of intriguing tidbits that you want to use to astonish people in the pub or in the bar, and just something to chat about really.Suzy Chase: So each menu provides an insight into its historical moment. You're a longtime journalist and you've written eight books that range from books in reading to sheds, so what was it about historical menus that caught your interest?Alex Johnson: Well, I'd love to be able to claim the idea was mine, but actually it was Vince's. I'd written a book two or three years ago called A Book of Book Lists and that was a list of things, not like 50 books you have to read before you're 30 or anything like that, but more lists that told stories. So things like what was on Osama bin Laden's bookshelf, that kind of thing, with little mini essays.Alex Johnson: Vince read it and he liked it. And we were at a party and he said, "Well, you know what would also work very well as lists? The ultimate lists: menus." And I think he said it partly is a joke, and he said, "Well, what do you think about that as an idea?" And I said, "Actually, that's a cracking idea," and it really went from there. We both like food, we both know each other very well; we play snooker together every week and our children were at school together. So, the idea of working together was very pleasant.Suzy Chase: I saw that you play snooker. Is it snooooker or snuuuucker?Alex Johnson: Snooker. Definitely snooker, yeah.Suzy Chase: So it's like pool, right?Alex Johnson: It is like pool in a way, but the table is much bigger and it's... I mean, the table is two or three times the size and so the games go on much longer. So yes, it's similar and there's some crossover. I mean, the best player in the world, Ronnie O'Sullivan also plays a bit of pool, and I think he's pretty pool in America as well. But yes, we only play snooker. We're very hoity-toity about pool.Suzy Chase: So, the word menu itself comes from a French term indicating something small or detailed. Talk a bit about where you found the first menu in ancient history.Alex Johnson: The earliest ones go back 30,000, 40,000 years to ice age people, and we also have early ones from early Roman and Greek history. They're not, in a sense, some of these aren't menus. They've had to be put together from bits and bobs from what people have discovered and our research, but I think they... we always felt they still counted as menus because that was part of the actual diet.Suzy Chase: You wrote that this is not really a book about food. What does that mean?Alex Johnson: Yes, that sounds right. Rather an odd statement, isn't it really, when you're writing a book about food? But yes, it's not so much the individual elements to it, I suppose. It's going back to what I said earlier about the idea of telling stories, the idea that we are what we eat. So, rather than just recipes, although we do have recipes in the book, or just talking about individual items of food, which we do as well, it's more about the stories.Alex Johnson: So for example, the Captain Scott failed to get to the South Pole first, was partly, largely because he wasn't as good a planner as Amundsen. He just wasn't as good at planning everything, and that's reflected in his food choices. He didn't have enough fat or calories in what he ate and what his men ate, down to smaller things like all his men had white bread, whereas Amundsen had special brown bread made. It's those kinds of stories, as well as the food elements. So it's how the food reflects the times and reflects the people.Suzy Chase: It would have been easy to just write a book of a collection of recipes, but you categorize them into 11 chapters. Tell us about that.Alex Johnson: We're not professional cooks, either of us, so just putting recipes together wouldn't have worked so well. And we did it, yes, with... there in 11 chapters. So things like travel and adventure, war and peace, faith and belief, and that was really... We did think about just going straight through all the menus, but we felt that cutting it up into chapters where they're naturally fitted into anyway, makes it easier to dip in and out of. It's not really a book that's meant to be read straight through. It's very much something that you can pick up, read for a bit and put down again, once you've marveled at the stories.Suzy Chase: Although I did read straight through.Alex Johnson: Did you?Suzy Chase: You're welcome.Alex Johnson: Quite right. That's thought I should've said. It's meant to be read straight through.Suzy Chase: Some of the menus are linked to an unforgettable event like the Titanic. Describe the distinction between the three classes on the menu.Alex Johnson: Well, one of the main distinctions is actually the wording in them. So, they're quite social distinctions. So things like dinner, tea and lunch are different depending on your class, which is something still very true today. I mean in England, supper, for example, could be your final meal of the day or it could just be a little sandwich before you go to bed, depending on your social class.Alex Johnson: So, in actual physical terms, what you've got in first class is obviously the finest things, you've got your oysters. Whereas in third class, you're down to gruel and what they describe as cabin biscuits. And cabin biscuits sounds not too bad, but actually that's what's known as hard tacks, which were made out of flour and water and salt and a little bit of fat, which is great in terms of lasting. I mean, they lost donkey's years, and they've been used on boats for hundreds and hundreds of years, but not the most delicious thing around.Suzy Chase: And even the times, the dining times were different?Alex Johnson: Yes. I mean, it's all very different. I mean, it shows you what a massive operation it is and how everything was very stratified on board the boat.Suzy Chase: Third class was the only menu that gives instructions on how to complain about the food or service?Alex Johnson: Yeah. It's strange that that... we looked at that and we researched it, and we couldn't see any particular reason why they... It's very specific on the third-class menu. I suppose it's probably an element of being patronizing, the first and second class they thought knew how to complain. And maybe the food was just absolutely terrible in third class, so they were more likely to complain. Or maybe it was just that they wanted to suggest to the people in third class that it was best to complain rather than to go absolutely barmy and start wrecking the place.Suzy Chase: It's so odd to think that the Titanic had a high capacity cooling unit for ice, but I guess it kept the oysters fresh for the first class?Alex Johnson: Yes, absolutely. Yeah, I mean that's... I think that's probably the beauty of the book is that, things like that which are quite ironic, which we didn't know. I mean, we were both reasonably familiar with the Titanic menus, but once you actually delve into it, they're the little tidbits, as I've mentioned earlier, they come out. And you just think, "Blimey, that's a bit strange really."Suzy Chase: So even today, restaurants are recreating the first-class Titanic meal. Have you ever had one of those?Alex Johnson: I haven't, no. I mean, it's interesting though, a lot of these meals become quite iconic. So we also include the meal from Babette's Feast, from the film in there, and the Independence Day meals are from India, and there's a lot of this recreation. I was talking to somebody early today, in fact, who runs dinner clubs and he was looking to do Babette's Feast and also the Titanic one.Alex Johnson: I think they're very popular. I think you also get the same kind of thing with Lord of the Rings fanatics as well, that they're very keen to actually reproduce what they see on screen.Suzy Chase: July 20th, 1969: four bacon squares, peaches, three sugar cookies, pineapple-grapefruit drink and coffee. That was the first menu on the moon. Who ate this and how was this menu chosen?Alex Johnson: Well, these are the astronauts who are the first men on the moon. People like Neil Armstrong had it, I mean, Buzz Aldrin. Neil Armstrong's actual favorite from all their food was spaghetti with meat sauce, followed by pineapple fruitcake, and Buzz Aldrin liked the shrimp cocktail.Alex Johnson: And generally, it's interesting what foods have been popular in space. Bacon was very popular for a long time, I think partly because of its strong flavor. But also, there's some doubt about whether this was the first menu on the moon because Buzz Aldrin actually brought a communion wafer and communion wine, and celebrated a little private communion before that meal. So, there's probably two answers to that question if you ever get it in a quiz.Suzy Chase: Oh, I bet that communion wafer was as awful in space, it's so dry.Alex Johnson: Yeah. It's gone a long way. It's got a long way.Suzy Chase: King George VI was the first reigning British monarch to visit America in June, 1939. President Franklin Roosevelt hosted the King and Queen at their private home in Hyde Park, New York. So instead of a ceremonial banquet, they had sort of a buffet situation. The New York Times wrote, "King tries hot hot dogs and asks for more, and he drinks beer with them." This made me laugh. So, describe this menu.Alex Johnson: Yes. I mean, it's a very down-to-earth, no-nonsense, straightforward American food menu. You've got Virginia ham and hot dogs and cranberry sauce, cranberry jelly I think, and then coffee, beer. There's nothing fancy-pantsy about at all. Very good, no-nonsense stuff.Suzy Chase: The queen was unsure how to eat a hot dog with a fork and knife, and FDR said, and I quote, "Push it into your mouth and keep pushing it until it is all gone."Alex Johnson: Yeah. Yes, it's maybe not what you would recommend today, especially in the days of YouTube and videos. That would be quite a sight, wouldn't it?Suzy Chase: So why do you think they chose such an informal setting for the King and Queen?Alex Johnson: Well, the whole thing really was designed as a kind of cover for Roosevelt to align the US more closely with Britain as they were heading towards war. And there was a strong isolationist lobby at the time in the US, so... and like I say, he wanted a slight, not exactly incognito, but a cover story. And his argument really, what he wanted to do, it was key to show the Royal family we're the kind of approachable people you could do business with, the kind of people you'd have a beer with.Alex Johnson: I suppose you'd describe it maybe as gastro-diplomacy, which we mention it in a couple of other places in the book. For example, the historic Peace Summit between North and South Korea in 2018, and there's a huge amount of symbolism in all aspects of that. So, especially things like fillings, which came from the hometowns of former presidents and that kind of thing. Everything is very carefully sorted out and worked out to make it look like actually, it's very relaxed. It's a very clever piece of work by Roosevelt really.Suzy Chase: What is your favorite menu in the book?Alex Johnson: I really like the one for the 1870 Siege of Paris on Christmas Day. The Prussian Army had been besieging the city for a while and they were getting really low on food. They'd eaten all the normal food, they were eating a lot of the animals, pretty much all the dogs had gone. And on Christmas Day, one of the big restaurants, Voisin, wanted to serve something special. So essentially what they did was, they went to the zoo and started taking the animals out and serving them.Suzy Chase: No?!Alex Johnson: So yeah, it was remarkable, I don't know whether... So you have on the menu, you have things like stuffed donkey head, elephant soup, cat fringed with rats, but they went for everything. Well, they didn't go for monkeys because that's a bit too close to home, bit too much like cannibalism. They don't go for anything too dangerous like the lions or the tigers, and there were some things like the hippos that they didn't know what to do with. I mean, how do you cook a hippo? How do you serve that? So, but that seemed remarkable to me. It was again, one of those things that I've just not heard of until you start doing the research for and you think, "That's extraordinary, really."Suzy Chase: I must talk about Elvis and Priscilla Presley's wedding breakfast at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas on May 1st, 1967. The ceremony lasted only eight minutes with 14 guests and a buffet lunch for 100 guests. That menu was: ham and eggs, fried chicken, Oysters Rockefeller, roast pig, poached and candied salmon, lobster, Eggs Minnette, no idea what that is, a six-tiered wedding cake and champagne. You wrote that Elvis only liked ham, eggs and fried chicken. Was this wedding a publicity stunt?Alex Johnson: Absolutely. I mean, this is all down to his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. I mean, it was a very, as you'd mentioned, it was a very, very swift wedding. There were hardly any guests; in fact, even the ones that Elvis had invited personally weren't allowed in. And he didn't like a lot of the food there, especially the oyster and the lobster. A lot of their business associates were invited. It was all a bit... Like a lot of things that Tom Parker did, very much a stunt. I'm sure Parker actually sorted out the menu himself and picked it.Suzy Chase: So, last weekend I made the recipe for buttermilk fried chicken with apple slaw from Elvis's wedding buffet. It was pretty darn delicious. And might I add that there are recipes throughout this book? Talk a little bit about that.Alex Johnson: When we sat down to write it, we were very much looking at the history of the recipes. And when we talked to the publisher, they felt that it would be nice to also include some recipes, as well as the menus. And they asked us for suggestions and the ones that we came up with are all the absolutely ludicrous ones, like roast narwhal or stuffed swan's neck, and they picked ones that would be a bit more approachable really, and it was all done in house. There's about a dozen where people can read about the menu and then make something quite easily from it. Well, I hope it's quite easily. How did the... how was it? You said it was tasty. Was it quite easy to follow?Suzy Chase: It was really easy to follow. You just-Alex Johnson: That's good.Suzy Chase: ... marinate the chicken; I did it overnight. It was really good, and the apple slaw was great too. I'm sure Elvis would've loved it.Alex Johnson: Let's hope so.Suzy Chase: Wait, I need to get back to stuffed swan's neck.Alex Johnson: We did some of the Tudor Elizabethan recipes, which included peacocks and things that are just not really available anymore, and a 13th century funeral for a Bishop as well. So that was interesting, looking into just the different names and what they're eating at different times.Suzy Chase: Yikes almighty.Alex Johnson: Yeah.Suzy Chase: So, now for my segment called My Favorite Cookbook. What's your all time favorite cookbook and why?Alex Johnson: I really like, there's a chap here called Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who has written lots of cookbooks and he's a big campaigner for ethical eating and healthy eating. He's in the series called River Cottage Cookbooks and there's a very good family one, which has recipes in which are good for children, cooking with children. Well, not with them.Alex Johnson: And Gary Rhodes was probably... who sadly died at the end of last year, was a marvelous cook. He did one called Rhodes Around Britain, which was probably about the first cookbook I bought as an adult, which has a lot of fairly classic British dishes, but with a slight twist. He has a very, very good bread and butter pudding recipe in there.Alex Johnson: But I would have to say that probably my favorite is the Delia Smith's Complete Cookery Course. Delia Smith is a real [inaudible 00:18:27] of cooks. And for somebody of my age, I'm 50, she used to have a slot on a children's television show on Saturday mornings when I was about eight or nine, and I've kind of grown up with her. She had lots of television series and produced lots of cookbooks, and they're all very good, safe recipes. So if there's anything you really want to do... They're not fancy recipes; they're nice and tasty but they're really reliable. And I think that's the one that I go back to the most.Suzy Chase: Where can we find you on the web and social media?Alex Johnson: Well, you can find the book... We're on Twitter, @FamousMenus. Personally, my website is TheAlexJohnson.co.uk. And on Twitter I'm @ShedWorking because one of the other things I do love writing about is sheds. Yeah, Vince is just all over the place because he's an actor. Type in his name, you'll find all sorts of him everywhere.Suzy Chase: So, sheds, are you talking about tiny houses or really sheds that you put your gardening tools in?Alex Johnson: It's somewhere in between, really. What I write about is garden offices, so the kind of sheds that you'd have in your backyard, your back garden, that you use as a home office. Which is a slight distance away from your home, but still very close. And yes, that's one of the things I've been writing about now for about 10, 15 years.Suzy Chase: Have you heard of the term she shed?Alex Johnson: Oh, absolutely yes. No, a big thing, especially the last five or six years. It shows us... And that's the nice thing about shed working and garden offices, is that the old traditional idea of sheds, especially in the UK has been that it's for older men on their allotments and a, "No women allowed," kind of thing. But shed working garden offices is very much an equal gender approach, so it's fantastic that I get to write about lots of women who are interested in sheds and garden offices too.Suzy Chase: Hillary Clinton once remarked, "Food is the oldest diplomatic tool." Well, isn't that the truth? Thanks so much for coming on Cookery by the Book Podcast.Alex Johnson: Lovely. Thank you very much, Suzy.Outro: Subscribe over on CookerybytheBook.com. And thanks for listening to the number one cookbook podcast, Cookery by the Book.

Former Army Chief of Staff Martin Dempsey issued a challenge to the Army in 2012 to change its institutional culture. In his transformative “Mission Command White Paper,” he wrote that “education and training are keys to achieving the habit of mission command; our doctrine must describe it, our schools must teach it, and we must train individually and collectively to it.” But what is mission command? Its origins are found in the Prussian military reforms during the first decade of the nineteenth century following the humiliating defeat at the hands of Napoleon at the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt in 1806. Reformers within the Prussian Army understood that victory hinged on a flexible organization composed of units led by officers empowered to use their own judgement to act based on their appraisal of the situation at hand rather than rigidly adhering to a pre-set plan when their orders no longer fit reality. Instead, officers were expected to understand the overall intent of their commander and use the resources at hand to achieve the “why” of the mission even if it didn’t follow the “how” of the issued orders. Bruce Gudmundsson and Don Vandergriff, two leading military historians, discuss the origins, implications, and challenges of mission command in today’s military.

The Franco-Prussian War was not a large scale war in terms of its casualties, engagements, or scale. It was massive in the geopolitical results in the aftermath of the war, however, and a large reason was that it ended with a months long siege of Paris. Before that siege had even begun, the Empire of France had lost its Emperor, Napoleon III, after he lost the Battle of Sedan. Now France was facing a large Prussian Army staring down its capital, while its government was a provisional one known as the Government of National Defense. This government tried its best to hold on, but also was trying to argue for peace. Eventually, after a few small skirmishes on the outskirts of Paris, the leaders of the French government agree to Armistice terms with Otto von Bismarck, newly christened Chancellor of Germany. The former King of Prussia had also been turned into the German Kaiser, gaining acclaim and territory as the French have to rebuild a Republican government.

[VON STEUBEN] WAS THE RIGHT MAN AT THE RIGHT PLACE AND THE RIGHT TIME. In the next installment of in our Dusty Shelves series, "Building the Continental Army: Von Steuben's 'Blue Book'," Jack Giblin and Jacqueline E. Whitt tell the story behind the Continental Army's first training manual. Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben was a Prussian Army officer who volunteered to come to the American colonies and serve as inspector general for the Continental Army. His book, entitled Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States would become the standard U.S. Army drill manual through 1812.   https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/18-003-Giblin-Whitt-DS-vonSteuben-Blue-Book-Final.mp3   You may also download a copy of the podcast here. Click here to access a full PDF version of the Blue Book (warning: 26MB!). Or, click here to access the Blue Book at the U.S. Library of Congress, which allows access to individual pages.   Jack Giblin is the Chief of Visitor and Education Services at the Army Heritage and Education Center. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and WAR ROOM podcast editor. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Image: Portrait extracted from "Major General Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus, Baron von Steuben," by Ralph Earl 1786 (public domain) via the U.S. National Park Service. Inside cover of the Blue Book from the U.S. Army website. Composite assembled by Tom Galvin.   Posts in the "Dusty Shelves" series: BOOK LOVERS NEED APPLY: A DUSTY SHELVES PODCASTHOW A HOMING PIGEON SAVED THE LOST BATTALION OF WORLD WAR I (DUSTY SHELVES)COOK’S ‘MIDNIGHT DRAWINGS’ AND THEIR HAUNTING VIEWS OF WAR (DUSTY SHELVES)BUILDING THE CONTINENTAL ARMY: VON STEUBEN’S “BLUE BOOK” (DUSTY SHELVES)RECEIPT: BOMB, ATOMIC, 1 EACH (DUSTY SHELVES)NSC-68: THE POLICY DOCUMENT THAT SHAPED THE COLD WAR (DUSTY SHELVES)RIDGWAY’S MEMO: “WHY WE ARE HERE” (DUSTY SHELVES)  

From the moment war broke out, the Franco-Prussian War was a massive disaster for the French. After initial battles in the summer of 1870, the large force under Marshal Francois Bazaine went into the fortifications of the city of Metz in Eastern France. There, the French Army was put under siege by a Prussian force led by Prince Friedrich Karl. In order to assist the beleaguered soldiers at Metz, French Emperor Napoleon III formed the massive Army of Chalons to relieve Metz. Unfortunately for him, he never made it to Metz. At the Battle of Sedan, on September 1 and 2, Napoleon III would not just be routed by a Prussian Army, but actually would be captured. The French Empire was dissolved, and a new Third French Republic was proclaimed. Yet the force at Metz held out under Bazaine, who was trying to keep the Empire going with himself as a leader. Meanwhile, the Government of National Defense in Paris was trying to restructure the French war, as Paris was now under siege. By October 27, Bazaine's men were threatened with starvation, and he surrendered. Notably, he refused allowing his men to perform in honors of war, and quietly was captured by the Prussians.

Prussian Army lieutenant Wilhelm Filchner led Germany's second expedition in the early 20th century.  While the government stayed largely hands off the expedition committee put their oar in enough to see der Deutschland sail under a syphilitic commander whose antics placed everyone's lives in danger and gave us a really good example of the sort of problems split leadership can cause in a high latitudes project.  Suspected suicide, suspected fake appendicitis and very definite mania and toastiness characterised Filchner's time in the south.

Sir Lawrence Freedman is Professor of War Studies at King’s College and the author of numerous books and publications to include Strategy: A History. In Episode 7 of the PME podcast, we talk about strategy. What is strategy and what it is not? We trace its historical roots, and discuss how traditional views of strategy still apply or do not apply to today’s conflicts and future conflicts. Additionally, Sir Lawrence Freedman was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1995 and awarded the CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in 1996. He was appointed Official Historian of the Falklands Campaign in 1997. He was awarded the KCMG (Knight Commander of St Michael and St George) in 2003. Finally, he was appointed in June 2009 to serve as a member of the official inquiry into Britain and the 2003 Iraq War.   Key Takeaways:  “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” -Mike Tyson •What is strategy? Strategy involves making decisions when faced with “other people with their own plans and interests.” It requires flexibility. Planning is part of strategy, but having a plan is not a strategy. “Problem solving” is a critical component of strategy.  •In late nineteenth century Germany, Field Marshall Helmuth von Moltke the elder was chief of staff of the Prussian Army. He was a student of Carl von Clausewitz. As a military strategist, Von Moltke emphasized the importance of flexibility. He said, “A plan breaks down on first contact.” Additionally, Field Marshall Helmuth von Moltke saw military strategy as a “system of expedients.” •Sir Lawrence Freedman explains that American foreign policy doctrine (i.e. the Nixon Doctrine, Carter Doctrine, Bush Doctrine, Obama Doctrine) is a means of “signaling” to the world America’s priorities or intentions. It is part of strategy, but it is not itself a strategy. •Sun Tzu’s influence on strategy was based on the idea of “cunning and cleverness.” However, the flaw in strategy based on cunning is when both sides attempt to use cunning and cleverness against each other. We talk about whether countries like Russia and China use Sun Tzu’s methods to achieve their strategic aims. What are Russia’s interests? A conversation I had with Steven Lee Myers on his book The New Tsar is worth checking out to discover more on that topic. •Thucydides was the first “realist” historian. He wrote a book about the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens in a book appropriately called The History of the Peloponnesian War. Sir Lawrence Freedman sites a book called Destined for War by Graham Allison. Destined for War describes a theory called the “Thucydides Trap” which is based on the idea that one power becomes fearful of the rise of another power and postulates that this might have ramifications for current and future relations between the United States and China. However, Sir Lawrence Freedman sees some flaws in this theory, and thinks that Thucydides had an interest in trying to preserve the reputation of Pericles. •We discuss whether there is something “elemental” to strategy. Sir Lawrence Freedman looked at chimpanzees and how they form coalitions and act in strategic ways. Winston Churchill (not a chimpanzee rather British Prime Minister) was good at applying the chimp-like principles of creating coalitions to achieve his strategic aims. Churchill sought to partner with President Roosevelt to get the U.S. on the allied side. When Hitler invaded the Soviet Union, Churchill sought to build a coalition with Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union to fight the Nazis.  •We talk about Napoleon and the development of strategy during the Enlightenment. Much like Thucydides rejection of the gods, the enlightenment rejected superstitious beliefs and emphasized what reason and human rationality could do to achieve strategic aims.    •Two critical 19th Century strategic thinkers include the Swiss officer, Antoine Henri Jomini, and the Prussian military theorist, Carl Von Clausewitz. Jomini emphasized the “decisive battle” strategy. Meanwhile, Clausewitz focused on the policy objectives of war. Clausewitz is also famous for developing the term “fog of war,” which refers to the uncertainty and the chaos of war when it involves two competing wills, each one trying to impose itself on the other. •The challenges of military strategy. How do wars end? We talk about “The Clausewitzian Challenge”, and I allude to my previous conversation with Gideon Rose, editor of Foreign Affairs, who wrote an excellent book called How Wars End. •Finally, we talk about the strategy of the Cold War and nuclear deterrence. Sir Lawrence Freedman mentions a strategist named Thomas Schelling, who is worth studying for his contributions to strategy based on Game Theory. We discuss the “rationality of irrationality,” which refers to the necessity to use caution based on a fear that one side might act out of irrationality. •Sir Lawrence Freedman has a new book coming out in the Fall of 2017 called, The Future of War: A History. The book focuses on how people in the past have tried to predict changes in warfare and predict the future of war.         For more information: Check out www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com Be sure to follow Sir Lawrence Freedman on Twitter @LawDavF and check out the book, Strategy: A History   Books and Resources mentioned in the podcast: Strategy: A History The New Tsar The History of the Peloponnesian War Destined for War On War The Art of War     HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like this interview and want to hear others, be sure to subscribe in iTunes. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth. For any requests for additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com   Thanks for listening!

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Johann Wolfgang Goethe, the great German polymath. 'I had the great advantage of being born at a time that was ripe for earth-shaking events which continued throughout my long life, so that I witnessed the Seven Years War...the French Revolution, and the whole Napoleonic era down to the defeat of the hero and what followed after him. As a result I have attained completely different insights and conclusions than will ever be possible for people who are born now...' Goethe's friend Johann Peter Eckermann recorded these remarks made by the great writer at the end of his life in a series of published recollections. Goethe's life was indeed remarkable. At the age of twenty-five he was author of the first German international best-seller The Sorrows of Young Werther. A year later, he was invited by the Grand Duke to join him at the Imperial Court as Privy Councillor where he oversaw commissions on war, roads and tax. He rode to war with the Prussian Army against the French and embarked on a remarkable creative friendship with Schiller which saw the establishment of a new form of German theatre. What made Goethe the dominant cultural icon of his time and after? What links were there between his interest in politics and the arts? Why did he support Napoleon despite the French invasion of Weimar? How did his relationships with women define his work? And how was he able to transform the status of the German language? With Tim Blanning, Professor of Modern European History at the University of Cambridge; Sarah Colvin, Professor of German at the University of Edinburgh; W. Daniel Wilson, Professor of German at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Johann Wolfgang Goethe, the great German polymath. 'I had the great advantage of being born at a time that was ripe for earth-shaking events which continued throughout my long life, so that I witnessed the Seven Years War...the French Revolution, and the whole Napoleonic era down to the defeat of the hero and what followed after him. As a result I have attained completely different insights and conclusions than will ever be possible for people who are born now...' Goethe's friend Johann Peter Eckermann recorded these remarks made by the great writer at the end of his life in a series of published recollections. Goethe's life was indeed remarkable. At the age of twenty-five he was author of the first German international best-seller The Sorrows of Young Werther. A year later, he was invited by the Grand Duke to join him at the Imperial Court as Privy Councillor where he oversaw commissions on war, roads and tax. He rode to war with the Prussian Army against the French and embarked on a remarkable creative friendship with Schiller which saw the establishment of a new form of German theatre. What made Goethe the dominant cultural icon of his time and after? What links were there between his interest in politics and the arts? Why did he support Napoleon despite the French invasion of Weimar? How did his relationships with women define his work? And how was he able to transform the status of the German language? With Tim Blanning, Professor of Modern European History at the University of Cambridge; Sarah Colvin, Professor of German at the University of Edinburgh; W. Daniel Wilson, Professor of German at Royal Holloway, University of London.