Podcasts about soldiers

By Vijayalaxmi Samal, from Issue #439 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineNarrated by Dominick Rabrun.There is nowhere else he could go. He will go where the letter takes him.More info »

00:39 Jess & Sarah Weekly Recap10:10 Fandom News10:53 Droughtlander Hotline22:47 BOB 104 Episode RecapJess and Sarah are back with their recap of Blood of My Blood Episode 4, A Soldier's Heart!

Did the Rizzuto Show fire a listener today? Make sure to check out today's Rizz Show and see if you are the one that may have been fired.We talked Song 4 Soldiers including the full line up! Burning Man Orgy Dome Gets Pounded — Hard — And Now It's Out Of Commission - https://www.outkick.com/culture/burning-man-orgy-dome-gets-pounded-hard-now-its-out-commissionHooters honcho rolls back skimpy shorts, says there won't be ‘butt cheeks hanging out' - https://nypost.com/2025/08/22/us-news/hooters-honcho-rolls-back-skimpy-shorts-says-there-wont-be-butt-cheeks-hanging-out/Cracker Barrel Changes Mind Days After Logo Rebrand - https://www.mensjournal.com/food/cracker-barrel-changes-mind-days-after-logo-rebrand‘Chimp Crazy' figure testifies in court about $224K judgment - https://fox2now.com/news/chimp-crazy/chimp-crazy-figure-testifies-in-court-about-224k-judgment/Follow us @RizzShow @MoonValjeanHere @KingScottRules @LernVsRadio @IamRafeWilliams - Check out King Scott's Linktr.ee/kingscottrules + band @FreeThe2SG and Check out Moon's bands GREEK FIRE @GreekFire GOLDFINGER @GoldfingerMusic THE TEENAGE DIRTBAGS @TheTeenageDbags and Lern's band @LaneNarrows ⁠http://www.1057thepoint.com/RizzSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

-- On the Show: -- Democrat Catelin Drey defeats Republican Christopher Prosch in an Iowa Senate special election flipping a Trump district and ending the GOP supermajority -- Donald Trump deploys more than 2,200 National Guard troops from multiple states to collect trash in Washington DC as part of a beautification mission -- The White House pushes back as questions mount over Donald Trump's health after visible bruises, swelling, and cognitive slip-ups -- Trump makes false claims about crime, autism, prescription drugs, and restaurants while Robert F Kennedy Jr rants about radioactive shrimp during a chaotic cabinet meeting -- Cabinet officials and allies, including Tulsi Gabbard, Kristi Noem, Kelly Loeffler, and others, lavish praise on Donald Trump in an extraordinary display of flattery -- Support among young men who backed Trump in 2024 collapses as economic struggles, immigration raids, and broken promises sour his appeal -- California Governor Gavin Newsom publicly raises concerns about Trump's mental fitness -- Trump mocks Gavin Newsom's hand movements while Newsom fires back online -- Trump posts a series of late night Truth Social rants boasting about fundraising, crime, and attacking Seth Meyers -- Charlie Kirk tells Taylor Swift to reject feminism and submit to her fiancé, Travis Kelce, in a bizarre rant about their engagement -- On the Bonus Show: Trump signs an executive order against flag burning, Trump wants to change the Defense Department's name to the Department of War, US threatens to withhold funding from states over truck driver English proficiency rules, and much more...

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Singer, songwriter, and actress Amanda Page Cornett is bringing southern rock n' soul to the world! Featured in the 2009 movie, "Junkyard Dog,” Cornett also has acted in various films, music videos, and commercials. Amanda's band, Almost Angels, features the sibling trio Sherry Peterson-Tenille, Shawn Peterson, and Randall Scott Peterson. Together, they have had the honor of playing with special guest musicians, including bassist Tim Lawter ( Marshall Tucker Band) as well as Rock ‘n' Roll Hall of Fame drummer Artimus Pyle (Lynryd Skynryd). ​Released in 2018, Cornett's album Front Porch Rebel was recorded at NuttHouse Studio in Sheffield, AL and features songs written at Muscle Shoals' famous Fame Studios (Aretha Franklin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, Etta James).   ​Amanda has released, with great acclaim, numerous singles, including "Carolina Coast", "Throw A Lil Gas", "Six String Showdown", and "Soldier's Girl". ​Amanda and Almost Angels were so excited to be named The Missisippi Music Awards 2023 Southrn Rock Band of the Year!  Amanda was also nominated as Female Vocalist of the Year for the 2024 Carolina Coutnry Music Awards! Amanda's new single Hearts on a String is out now!    Want to watch: YouTube Meisterkhan Pod (Please Subscribe)

What happens when a decorated Army officer discovers her family is being poisoned by contaminated water on a military base – and then faces retaliation for speaking out? Major Mandy Feindt takes us inside one of the largest toxic exposure cases in U.S. military history, revealing how the Red Hill fuel facility in Hawaii contaminated drinking water for over 93,000 military and civilian families.With raw honesty, Mandy shares the devastating health impacts her family experienced – from her 13-month-old son developing mysterious rashes and respiratory issues to her own unexplained symptoms that left doctors puzzled. When military leadership insisted the water was safe despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Mandy made the courageous decision to become a whistleblower, risking her nearly 20-year military career and upcoming promotion to lieutenant colonel.The institutional betrayal she experienced was profound. Overnight, her standing in her unit plummeted. Her evaluation reports were downgraded. But instead of staying silent, she filed a Department of Defense Inspector General complaint that was ultimately substantiated after a three-and-a-half-year investigation – a remarkable outcome in a system where less than 2% of such complaints favor service members.Beyond her personal vindication, Mandy's advocacy has driven meaningful change. She spearheaded a landmark federal lawsuit that held the Navy legally responsible for the contamination, helped secure a National Academy study on health impacts, and established a registry for affected families. Now, she's working on transparency legislation to ensure future military families aren't kept in the dark about environmental hazards.Perhaps most powerfully, Mandy opens up about her journey through PTSD, moral injury, and finding healing through specialized trauma programs and adaptive sports – ultimately becoming a 10-time medalist at the DoD Warrior Games. Her story illuminates not just the fight for justice, but the profound resilience required to transform betrayal into purpose.Listen now to this essential conversation about courage, accountability, and what happens when duty calls you to fight the very institution you've pledged to serve.Support the showVisit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

The Hacks are back! There's just too much news for us to leave you alone, so we're pulling up a stool with veteran Hackeroo, Chicago native, former White House chief of staff, and U.S. ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel. The Hacks dive into Trump's threats to send the National Guard to Chicago, his increasingly loud campaign against mail-in ballots and the 2020 census, the weaponization of the Justice Department, redistricting as a national flashpoint, Big Macs, bridges, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 War Eagle Mill in Northwest Arkansas has seen nearly two centuries of triumph and tragedy—Civil War occupation, multiple devastating fires, and a legacy steeped in local legend. But for one couple, a quiet evening visit turned into a terrifying face-to-face encounter with the mill's most famous ghost: a Confederate soldier said to haunt the riverbank and one-lane bridge. What began as an innocent sightseeing trip ended with the soldier appearing, vanishing, and reappearing behind their car, his final gesture a bone-chilling smile.  If you have a real ghost story or supernatural event to report, please write into our show at http://www.realghoststoriesonline.com/ or call 1-855-853-4802! Want AD-FREE & ADVANCE RELEASE EPISODES? Become a Premium Subscriber Through Apple Podcasts now!!! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/real-ghost-stories-online/id880791662?mt=2&uo=4&ls=1 Or Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/realghoststories Or Our Website: http://www.ghostpodcast.com/?page_id=118 

Dustin from Songs 4 Soldiers is here, Dave's drafting fantasy football, Ricky Horton, and US Open drama!- h2 full 2133 Tue, 26 Aug 2025 20:01:32 +0000 UMNJFHW3yH26sxKhUF7HLgQ4ef8dugTh comedy,religion & spirituality,society & culture,news,government The Dave Glover Show comedy,religion & spirituality,society & culture,news,government Dustin from Songs 4 Soldiers is here, Dave's drafting fantasy football, Ricky Horton, and US Open drama!- h2 The Dave Glover Show has been driving St. Louis home for over 20 years. Unafraid to discuss virtually any topic, you'll hear Dave and crew's unique perspective on current events, news and politics, and anything and everything in between. © 2025 Audacy, Inc. Comedy Religion & Spirituality Society & Culture News Government False

SEND ME A TEXT MESSAGE NOWAmerica is standing on a razor's edge. Soldiers in the streets, allies thrown under the bus, truth traded in for propaganda … and the real danger isn't just what's happening in front of us. It's what people are being conditioned to accept.In this Monday Fallout, I take the mask off the chaos and show the pattern hiding in plain sight: intimidation paraded as “safety,” political payback dressed up as “law and order,” and foreign policy turned into little more than a trash-talk sideshow.The headlines are radioactive, but what's brewing beneath them is even more toxic. Armed troops in American cities, crime stats cooked to sell a panic, allies humiliated for a campaign clip … it's not just incompetence. It's a strategy.At the center of it all is one weapon. Not tanks. Not rifles. Not even laws. The weapon is fear. And those in power know exactly how to use it.This episode isn't just a recap. It's a warning. About how fear is packaged and sold like a product. About how it gets recycled through crime, immigration, and foreign enemies until people can't tell the difference between real threats and manufactured panic. And about how once fear takes root, citizens don't just surrender their freedoms … they beg for the chains.I break down how the game works, why it's so effective, and what it costs … not only at home, but across the world. Because fear doesn't just make people compliant. It makes allies question America's sanity and adversaries celebrate its weakness.This isn't a news cycle. It's conditioning. And once you see the pattern, you can't unsee it. That's what tonight's Monday Fallout is about: stripping away the distraction, cutting through the noise, and calling out the system for what it really is.If you've ever wondered how democracies slide into something darker … not with a bang, but with the slow normalization of fear … this episode lays it bare. Fear isn't keeping anyone safe. Fear is the leash.AWorldGoneMadPodcast@gmail.com

VIOLENT BIRTHRIGHT:    4/8 The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington Across the Delaware by  Patrick K. O'Donnell  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Indispensables-Marbleheads-Soldier-Mariners-Washington-Delaware/dp/0802156894 On the stormy night of August 29, 1776, the Continental Army faced capture or annihilation after losing the Battle of Brooklyn. The British had trapped George Washington's forces against the East River, and the fate of the Revolution rested upon the shoulders of the soldier-mariners from Marblehead, Massachusetts. Serving side by side in one of the country's first diverse units, they pulled off an “American Dunkirk” and saved the army by transporting it across the treacherous waters of the river to Manhattan. In the annals of the American Revolution, no group played a more consequential role than the Marbleheaders. At the right time in the right place, they repeatedly altered the course of events, and their story shines new light on our understanding of the Revolution. As acclaimed historian Patrick K. O'Donnell dramatically recounts, beginning nearly a decade before the war started, and in the midst of a raging virus that divided the town politically, Marbleheaders such as Elbridge Gerry and Azor Orne spearheaded the break with Britain and shaped the nascent United States by playing a crucial role governing, building alliances, seizing British ships, forging critical supply lines, and establishing the origins of the US Navy.

VIOLENT BIRTHRIGHT:    8/8 The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington Across the Delaware by  Patrick K. O'Donnell  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Indispensables-Marbleheads-Soldier-Mariners-Washington-Delaware/dp/0802156894 On the stormy night of August 29, 1776, the Continental Army faced capture or annihilation after losing the Battle of Brooklyn. The British had trapped George Washington's forces against the East River, and the fate of the Revolution rested upon the shoulders of the soldier-mariners from Marblehead, Massachusetts. Serving side by side in one of the country's first diverse units, they pulled off an “American Dunkirk” and saved the army by transporting it across the treacherous waters of the river to Manhattan. In the annals of the American Revolution, no group played a more consequential role than the Marbleheaders. At the right time in the right place, they repeatedly altered the course of events, and their story shines new light on our understanding of the Revolution. As acclaimed historian Patrick K. O'Donnell dramatically recounts, beginning nearly a decade before the war started, and in the midst of a raging virus that divided the town politically, Marbleheaders such as Elbridge Gerry and Azor Orne spearheaded the break with Britain and shaped the nascent United States by playing a crucial role governing, building alliances, seizing British ships, forging critical supply lines, and establishing the origins of the US Navy.

VIOLENT BIRTHRIGHT:    7/8 The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington Across the Delaware by  Patrick K. O'Donnell  (Author) 1919 WINDSOR ST MT. VERNON https://www.amazon.com/Indispensables-Marbleheads-Soldier-Mariners-Washington-Delaware/dp/0802156894 On the stormy night of August 29, 1776, the Continental Army faced capture or annihilation after losing the Battle of Brooklyn. The British had trapped George Washington's forces against the East River, and the fate of the Revolution rested upon the shoulders of the soldier-mariners from Marblehead, Massachusetts. Serving side by side in one of the country's first diverse units, they pulled off an “American Dunkirk” and saved the army by transporting it across the treacherous waters of the river to Manhattan. In the annals of the American Revolution, no group played a more consequential role than the Marbleheaders. At the right time in the right place, they repeatedly altered the course of events, and their story shines new light on our understanding of the Revolution. As acclaimed historian Patrick K. O'Donnell dramatically recounts, beginning nearly a decade before the war started, and in the midst of a raging virus that divided the town politically, Marbleheaders such as Elbridge Gerry and Azor Orne spearheaded the break with Britain and shaped the nascent United States by playing a crucial role governing, building alliances, seizing British ships, forging critical supply lines, and establishing the origins of the US Navy.E

VIOLENT BIRTHRIGHT:    6/8 The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington Across the Delaware by  Patrick K. O'Donnell  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Indispensables-Marbleheads-Soldier-Mariners-Washington-Delaware/dp/0802156894 On the stormy night of August 29, 1776, the Continental Army faced capture or annihilation after losing the Battle of Brooklyn. The British had trapped George Washington's forces against the East River, and the fate of the Revolution rested upon the shoulders of the soldier-mariners from Marblehead, Massachusetts. Serving side by side in one of the country's first diverse units, they pulled off an “American Dunkirk” and saved the army by transporting it across the treacherous waters of the river to Manhattan. In the annals of the American Revolution, no group played a more consequential role than the Marbleheaders. At the right time in the right place, they repeatedly altered the course of events, and their story shines new light on our understanding of the Revolution. As acclaimed historian Patrick K. O'Donnell dramatically recounts, beginning nearly a decade before the war started, and in the midst of a raging virus that divided the town politically, Marbleheaders such as Elbridge Gerry and Azor Orne spearheaded the break with Britain and shaped the nascent United States by playing a crucial role governing, building alliances, seizing British ships, forging critical supply lines, and establishing the origins of the US Navy.

VIOLENT BIRTHRIGHT:    5/8 The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington Across the Delaware by  Patrick K. O'Donnell  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Indispensables-Marbleheads-Soldier-Mariners-Washington-Delaware/dp/0802156894 On the stormy night of August 29, 1776, the Continental Army faced capture or annihilation after losing the Battle of Brooklyn. The British had trapped George Washington's forces against the East River, and the fate of the Revolution rested upon the shoulders of the soldier-mariners from Marblehead, Massachusetts. Serving side by side in one of the country's first diverse units, they pulled off an “American Dunkirk” and saved the army by transporting it across the treacherous waters of the river to Manhattan. In the annals of the American Revolution, no group played a more consequential role than the Marbleheaders. At the right time in the right place, they repeatedly altered the course of events, and their story shines new light on our understanding of the Revolution. As acclaimed historian Patrick K. O'Donnell dramatically recounts, beginning nearly a decade before the war started, and in the midst of a raging virus that divided the town politically, Marbleheaders such as Elbridge Gerry and Azor Orne spearheaded the break with Britain and shaped the nascent United States by playing a crucial role governing, building alliances, seizing British ships, forging critical supply lines, and establishing the origins of the US Navy.

VIOLENT BIRTHRIGHT:    1/8 The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington Across the Delaware by  Patrick K. O'Donnell  (Author) 1912 https://www.amazon.com/Indispensables-Marbleheads-Soldier-Mariners-Washington-Delaware/dp/0802156894 On the stormy night of August 29, 1776, the Continental Army faced capture or annihilation after losing the Battle of Brooklyn. The British had trapped George Washington's forces against the East River, and the fate of the Revolution rested upon the shoulders of the soldier-mariners from Marblehead, Massachusetts. Serving side by side in one of the country's first diverse units, they pulled off an “American Dunkirk” and saved the army by transporting it across the treacherous waters of the river to Manhattan. In the annals of the American Revolution, no group played a more consequential role than the Marbleheaders. At the right time in the right place, they repeatedly altered the course of events, and their story shines new light on our understanding of the Revolution. As acclaimed historian Patrick K. O'Donnell dramatically recounts, beginning nearly a decade before the war started, and in the midst of a raging virus that divided the town politically, Marbleheaders such as Elbridge Gerry and Azor Orne spearheaded the break with Britain and shaped the nascent United States by playing a crucial role governing, building alliances, seizing British ships, forging critical supply lines, and establishing the origins of the US Navy.

VIOLENT BIRTHRIGHT:    3/8 The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington Across the Delaware by  Patrick K. O'Donnell  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Indispensables-Marbleheads-Soldier-Mariners-Washington-Delaware/dp/0802156894 On the stormy night of August 29, 1776, the Continental Army faced capture or annihilation after losing the Battle of Brooklyn. The British had trapped George Washington's forces against the East River, and the fate of the Revolution rested upon the shoulders of the soldier-mariners from Marblehead, Massachusetts. Serving side by side in one of the country's first diverse units, they pulled off an “American Dunkirk” and saved the army by transporting it across the treacherous waters of the river to Manhattan. In the annals of the American Revolution, no group played a more consequential role than the Marbleheaders. At the right time in the right place, they repeatedly altered the course of events, and their story shines new light on our understanding of the Revolution. As acclaimed historian Patrick K. O'Donnell dramatically recounts, beginning nearly a decade before the war started, and in the midst of a raging virus that divided the town politically, Marbleheaders such as Elbridge Gerry and Azor Orne spearheaded the break with Britain and shaped the nascent United States by playing a crucial role governing, building alliances, seizing British ships, forging critical supply lines, and establishing the origins of the US Navy.

VIOLENT BIRTHRIGHT:    2/8 The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington Across the Delaware by  Patrick K. O'Donnell  (Author) 1819 https://www.amazon.com/Indispensables-Marbleheads-Soldier-Mariners-Washington-Delaware/dp/0802156894 On the stormy night of August 29, 1776, the Continental Army faced capture or annihilation after losing the Battle of Brooklyn. The British had trapped George Washington's forces against the East River, and the fate of the Revolution rested upon the shoulders of the soldier-mariners from Marblehead, Massachusetts. Serving side by side in one of the country's first diverse units, they pulled off an “American Dunkirk” and saved the army by transporting it across the treacherous waters of the river to Manhattan. In the annals of the American Revolution, no group played a more consequential role than the Marbleheaders. At the right time in the right place, they repeatedly altered the course of events, and their story shines new light on our understanding of the Revolution. As acclaimed historian Patrick K. O'Donnell dramatically recounts, beginning nearly a decade before the war started, and in the midst of a raging virus that divided the town politically, Marbleheaders such as Elbridge Gerry and Azor Orne spearheaded the break with Britain and shaped the nascent United States by playing a crucial role governing, building alliances, seizing British ships, forging critical supply lines, and establishing the origins of the US Navy.

Brady Dahmer from Vancouver, British Columbia, is an author, Brand Strategist and Founder at Tropoly. In the pod we discuss how businesses can build the extraordinary by addressing their blind spots.    Along the way we discuss –Missionaries not Mercenaries (3:00), Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (4:35), Toronto Film Festival (9:30), Kids and World Peace (13:30), the Value of Checklists (19:25), Universal Truths (22:30), Stress, the Enemy of Creativity (27:30), and Tips and Hacks (30:35). Contact Brady @ - brady@thecentralbranch.com This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military Veterans. Help us reach our 300-scholarship goal for 2026. Send a donation, large or small, through PayPal @LukeLeaders1248, Venmo @LukeLeaders1248, or our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com. Got an old car you want to donate? Access this hyperlink – CARS donation to LL1248.  Manager Memo seeks sponsors for the pod. If you have a product or service to promote, please email @ ov1dlen@gmail.com or www.lukeleaders1248.com Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore. Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.

Universal Soldier Episode 4 by

Soldier, Athlete, Farmer: Three Mindsets for Faithful Christian Living.Discover the three powerful mindsets Paul teaches in 2 Timothy 2:1-7 that can transform your Christian walk. In a culture that constantly shapes our thinking, these biblical metaphors provide a framework for faithful living that resists worldly patterns. The soldier mindset teaches us to remain undistracted and mission-focused, living to please our Master rather than getting entangled in civilian pursuits. Learn how to wake up each day asking for your marching orders and staying focused on God's mission for your life. The athlete mindset emphasizes discipline, training, and integrity. Christianity isn't a spectator sport - it requires active participation and development. Understand the difference between merely praying for changed circumstances versus developing the character needed to overcome challenges. The farmer mindset cultivates patience, diligence, and trust in future harvests. In our instant-gratification culture, discover the power of sowing faithfully and waiting for God's timing to bring the harvest. These three mindsets are especially valuable during challenging seasons, helping us to stay focused on God's kingdom rather than conforming to worldly patterns. Whether you're facing distractions, lacking discipline, or growing impatient with your spiritual progress, these biblical perspectives offer practical guidance.This sermon was recorded at a Sunday morning gathering at Church of the Lookout in Longmont, Colorado. Visit our websiteFollow us on FacebookFollow us on Instagram

Battle Ready, God, Bible, Parkwood, Barefield

By now, Beach Boy Bruce Johnston has retired from being interviewed, so this epic, unheard 2001 interview for Chuck Granata's Pet Sounds book is absolutely priceless…especially seeing as his fanboy love for Chuck's Sinatra book wound up contributing to a level of unvarnished honesty that's super-rare for The Beach Boy universe. Here's just a few of the many things that Bruce discusses with Discograffiti in this podcast:“Brian's blender,” and the stew of his early influences;The differences between Brian & Phil Spector's approaches;Capitol Records' sabotage of Pet Sounds;Bruce's efforts in igniting a groundswell of interest in the UK upon Pet Sounds' release;And the difficulty of nailing the vocal parts that Brian had in mind.There'll be a short sneak peak running publicly for free, but the entirety of this podcast will only be accessible on the Major Tier of Discograffiti's Patreon. Don't miss it, or you'll only be getting part of the story. Get it as a one-off, or better yet just subscribe…and then we'll all have world peace.Full Episode: Patreon.com/Discograffiti (available on the Major Tier & up)Free Sneak Peek: linktr.ee/discograffitiSubscribe to Discograffiti's Patreon and receive a ceaseless barrage (4 shows a week!) of must-hear binge-listening. It's completely free to be a basic member, $1 to get your backstage pass, $5/month for the weekly Sunday show by & for our community, $10 for weekly early release, ad-free, super-extended Director's Cuts of the main show plus access to half our Patreon episode archive, & $20 for Discograffiti's weekly bonus episodes and access to our entire Patreon episode archive. There are now over 300 Patreon episodes.CONNECTJoin our Soldiers of Sound Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1839109176272153Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DiscograffitiPodfollow: ⁠⁠https://podfollow.com/1592182331⁠⁠YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClyaQCdvDelj5EiKj6IRLhwInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/discograffitipod/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Discograffiti/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DiscograffitiOrder the Digital version of the METAL MACHINE MUZAK 2xLP (feat. Lou Barlow, Cory Hanson, Mark Robinson, & W. Cullen Hart): www.patreon.com/discograffiti/shop/197404Order the $11 Digital version of the MMM 2xLP on Bandcamp: https://discograffiti.bandcamp.com/album/metal-machine-muzakOrder the METAL MACHINE MUZAK Double Vinyl + Digital package: www.patreon.com/discograffiti/shop/169954Merch Shop: https://discograffitipod.myspreadshop.com/allVenmo Dave A Tip: @David-GebroeWeb site: http://discograffiti.com/CONTACT DAVEEmail: dave@discograffiti.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hooligandaveInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/davidgebroe/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaveGebroeThere is no other Patreon in existence where you get more for your money. 4 shows a week is what it takes these days to successfully blot out our unacceptable reality…so do yourself a favor and give it a shot for at least one month to see what I'm talking about.  If you're already a member, please comment below about your experience.  www.Patreon.com/discograffiti#chuckgranata #wouldntitbenice #thebeachboys #tonyasher #thewreckingcrew #wreckingcrew #brianwilson #beachboys #denniswilson #mikelove #carlwilson #musi #aljardine #thebeatles #brucejohnston #petsounds #brianwilsonrip #goodvibrations #paulmccartney #surf #rocknroll #davidmarks #surfing #california #beach #surfrock #discograffiti #metalmachinemuzak #soldiersofsound #andyourdreamscometrue

Send us a text however note we cannot reply through these means. Please message the instagram or email if you are wanting a response. On today's Zero Limits Podcast host Matty Morris chats with Harry Moffitt Special Air Service Regiment Australian Special Forces.He is an Author of Eleven Bats A story of combat, cricket and the SAS and The Fourth Pillar Modern Stoicism and the Philosophy of High Performance. Now a Psychologist and human-performance expert for the Stotan Group.Harry Moffitt served in the Australian Defence Force for almost thirty years, most of which was spent with Australia's Special Air Service Regiment as a Team Commander and Team Specialist. He has served in eleven active deployments mostly to Afghanistan fighting the war on terror, During one of his deployments to Afghanistan he was involved in an incident being in the same vehicle that was hit by an IED that killed Signaller McCarthy. He's a registered psychologist and runs a human performance consultancy, Stotan Group, working with sports teams, the military and corporate world. Not to mention Author of Eleven Bats A story of combat, cricket and the SAS and The Fourth Pillar Modern Stoicism and the Philosophy of High Performance. Website - www.zerolimitspodcast.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/zero.limits.podcast/?hl=enHost - Matty Morris www.instagram.com/matty.m.morrisSponsors Instagram - @gatorzaustralia www.gatorzaustralia.com15% Discount Code - ZERO15(former/current military & first responders 20% discount to order please email orders@gatorzaustralia.com.au Instagram - @getsome_au GetSome Jocko Fuel - www.getsome.com.au10 % Discount Code - ZEROLIMITS

Excerpt of the August, 1942, Contact program starring Al Jolson. This program, broadcast in support of the military during World War II, featured Al Jolson as Honorary Soldier of the Week. This excerpt includes some topical humor, along with his popular "California, Here I Come." The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Sermon By: Pastor Marquies Whisenton

This week: Dive into the Ribs for the Ribbon event from Big Lake Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, chat with the Minneapolis VA Health Care System about flu and COVID vaccines. Guests include: Bruce Brown – Big Lake Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Doug Schultz – Big Lake Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Megan Daman – Minneapolis VA […] The post Ribs for the Ribbon and VA Vaccine Insights appeared first on Minnesota Military Radio.

Stephen J. Grabowski was in the U.S. Army, fighting the Germans in 1945 when he was wounded and paralyzed by a grenade blast. At a ceremony on Thursday, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs presented several of the late soldier's lost military medals to Grabowski's grand-niece.

In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Podcast, Murray answers a listener's question about games of chance in the ancient world. Did soldiers pass the time with dice games or gambling, much like those in more recent conflicts? Drawing on historical sources and archaeological finds, Murray explores what kinds of games ancient soldiers played, how widespread gambling may have been, and what these pastimes reveal about life in the ranks during times of war and peace.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

Brief update on the current status and future direction of the Unknown Soldiers Podcast...and what's coming up next!To send me more suggestions or any ideas about future episodes, or just your commentary on the state of the pod, send them to: unknownsoldierspodcast@gmail.comCheck the Website: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcasthttps://twitter.com/unksoldierspod

When the Second World War ended in 1945, it didn't just bring a global conflict to a close — it launched millions of lives into motion. Soldiers, sailors, nurses, airmen, and civilians who had served in some capacity returned to a nation that was about to shift in almost every possible way. For many of our family members, the post-WWII years weren't about returning to normal — they were about starting something entirely new. They rewrote their lives from scratch. And the paper trail they left behind is worth following... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/wwii-veterans-after-the-war/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Send us a text however note we cannot reply through these means. Please message the instagram or email if you are wanting a response. Today's debrief Zero Limits Podcast host Matty Morris chat with Chris Katelaris aka Big Chocky and Scott Jones aka SCOJOThese debriefs we touch base with a previous guest and check in on their lives and talk about anything and everything. Website - www.zerolimitspodcast.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/zero.limits.podcast/?hl=enHost - Matty Morris www.instagram.com/matty.m.morrisSponsors Instagram - @gatorzaustralia www.gatorzaustralia.com15% Discount Code - ZERO15(former/current military & first responders 20% discount to order please email orders@gatorzaustralia.com.au Instagram - @getsome_au GetSome Jocko Fuel - www.getsome.com.au10 % Discount Code - ZEROLIMITS

And babbling. Usual blather. Factorio, wrapping up Soldier’s Life 4, spending quality time with Roger every morning. I seem to write his mornings more than evenings. Wonder if that would change if I wrote in the evening…

By now, Beach Boy Bruce Johnston has retired from being interviewed, so this epic, unheard 2001 interview for Chuck Granata's Pet Sounds book is absolutely priceless…especially seeing as his fanboy love for Chuck's Sinatra book wound up contributing to a level of unvarnished honesty that's super-rare for The Beach Boy universe. Here's just a few of the many things that Bruce discusses with Discograffiti in this podcast:The only band Bruce thought that had what it took to pick up creatively where The Beach Boys left off at their peak;The point at which Bruce felt Brian's creativity had fully run its course;His honest evaluation of his early Beach Boys knock-off records;His championing of “Barbara Ann”'s release after “The Little Girl I Once Knew” tanked;What Bruce feels is the last great piece of music out of Brian Wilson;And The Beach Boys LP he prefers to Pet Sounds. Listen: linktr.ee/discograffitiI support a wife and a six-year-old son with Discograffiti as my sole source of income. If you're a Beach Boys superfan like me, The Director's Cut of this episode is ad-free and features 20 additional minutes of essential material. Subscribe to Discograffiti's Patreon at the Major Tier and receive a ceaseless barrage (4 shows a week) of must-hear binge listening: ⁠Patreon.com/Discograffiti⁠Or just grab The Director's Cut as a one-off at the same link.CONNECTJoin our Soldiers of Sound Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1839109176272153Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DiscograffitiPodfollow: ⁠⁠https://podfollow.com/1592182331⁠⁠YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClyaQCdvDelj5EiKj6IRLhwInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/discograffitipod/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Discograffiti/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DiscograffitiOrder the Digital version of the METAL MACHINE MUZAK 2xLP (feat. Lou Barlow, Cory Hanson, Mark Robinson, & W. Cullen Hart): www.patreon.com/discograffiti/shop/197404Order the $11 Digital version of the MMM 2xLP on Bandcamp: https://discograffiti.bandcamp.com/album/metal-machine-muzakOrder the METAL MACHINE MUZAK Double Vinyl + Digital package: www.patreon.com/discograffiti/shop/169954Merch Shop: https://discograffitipod.myspreadshop.com/allVenmo Dave A Tip: @David-GebroeWeb site: http://discograffiti.com/CONTACT DAVEEmail: dave@discograffiti.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hooligandaveInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/davidgebroe/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaveGebroeThere is no other Patreon in existence where you get more for your money. 4 shows a week is what it takes these days to successfully blot out our unacceptable reality…so do yourself a favor and give it a shot for at least one month to see what I'm talking about.  If you're already a member, please comment below about your experience.  www.Patreon.com/discograffiti#chuckgranata #wouldntitbenice #thebeachboys #brianwilson #beachboys #denniswilson #mikelove #carlwilson #music #thehollies #aljardine #thebeatles #brucejohnston #rock #petsounds #brianwilsonrip #goodvibrations #paulmccartney #surf #rocknroll #davidmarks #records #surfing #california #beach #surfrock #discograffiti #metalmachinemuzak #soldiersofsound #andyourdreamscometrue

Welcome to an episode of our weekly bonus podcast of Lords Unlimited! This week we're joined by recent PTQ Winner and High Stakes Limited sicko Jared Mazzant aka JMazz. Jared is fresh off of his win at Magic Con Vegas, but he's no stranger to deep runs in big paper limited events. He's here to give us the low down on the structure of these events, how to make it to day 2, and what he does to prepare specifically for marathon paper tournaments.  Instant Speed Flash Card Tool HAMTV Clip To listen to this bonus podcast every week, join the Soldier of Limited tier on our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/lordsoflimited Twitter: https://x.com/lordsoflimited TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lordsoflimited Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lordsoflimited/ Ethan's Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/lordtupperware Ben's Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/benwerne

While working late in her office in Changi, a woman and her colleague hear World War II spirits marching, but are they here to harm them—or someone else?Ghost Maps follows an unnamed narrator as he chronicles true accounts of the supernatural across Southeast Asia. ►GHOST MAPS CREDITS:Kyle Ong - DirectorWayne Rée - WriterJoline Lim - Art Director►SUPPORT & FIND US HERE:HANTU InstagramHANTU YouTubeHANTU TikTokHANTU FacebookHANTU TwitterHANTU WebsiteHANTU Patreon►MUSIC CREDITS:Kevin Macleod: https://incompetech.comMyuu: https://www.youtube.com/user/myuujiArtlist: https://artlist.io/ ►EQUIPMENTS:Ghost Maps is recorded on Audio-Technica Mics.►THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS ON PATREON: Stanley SantosAustin ChongLinda HadenNeoVegasAssassinMai Jake Lee YJSofeaCeph, the Ghost WriterSlajaSajkaNicolez PhuaAndika BramantioMedidi StephensMiranda Pruett Abby WintkerDyah Candra Hapsari SubagyoAdnan SalimPhani ShankarTom JohariR.YAayush GuptaNikoHeather TanKai LinJulie HolochwostMonica DuboisLexiHanni LaurenChristopher SmallwoodAshley ChanØyvind Husebø Kismet Sith Socheata ►ABOUT HANTU:#trueghoststory #ghoststory #ghoststories #horrorstory #horrorstories #southeastsia #singapore #ghostmaps #deadair #podcast #wearehantu #hantu #hantusg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When we think about Revolutionary War ancestors, we usually picture them in uniform—standing guard at a winter camp, marching along a dusty road, or writing letters home with inky quills and weary hands. We honor their service. We may even know where they fought and under which command. But what happened after they stacked their muskets and went home? That's a story worth telling. Because that's where the rest of their life began... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/life-after-the-revolutionary-war/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Let us know what you think! Text us!In this powerful episode of Security Halt!, we sit down with Michael R. Rodríguez, President and CEO of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. Michael shares his inspiring journey from military service and recovery to leading the effort to build a memorial that honors every service member who fought in the Global War on Terrorism.This conversation goes beyond the battlefield—exploring the challenges veterans face in transition, the role of leadership and community support, and how resilience and purpose fuel personal growth after service. Michael's story highlights why remembering, honoring, and supporting our military community is essential for healing and moving forward. 

New Zealand's first-ever conviction for attempted espionage has been handed down, but the solider at the centre of the case was less James Bond and "maybe more like a bumbling wannabe-spy" A former New Zealand soldier convicted of attempted espionage wanted to defect to a foreign country. Instead, he'll serve time in military detention, and is likely to have his name suppression removed.Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

In today's Malicious Compliance lineup, we've got a string of petty rebellions that turned the tables on power-hungry managers and clueless bosses. From an office team that weaponized the time clock against a toxic supervisor, to IT workers who “kilt” their dress code enforcer with style, to a shady mechanic who learned the hard way about honoring his quotes. Every story is a clash between unfair rules and clever pushback. We'll even hear how a drill sergeant's bravado backfired when one recruit actually took him up on his challenge. These are conflicts where arrogance meets its match in creative compliance.Chapters:00:00 Welcome to Karma Stories!00:35 Story 106:08 Story 210:32 Story 312:42 Story 415:38 Story 517:38 Story 6

The U. S. State Department has now classified "Los Zetas" a foreign terrorist organization and one of the most violent and prolific leaders known as "Z-40" has been extradited to the U.S. to face a litany of charges. We dive into the history of "Los Zetas," a Mexican cartel formed by Special Forces soldiers who learned the trafficking business while serving as security for the Gulf Cartel. Los Zetas quickly spread across regions in Mexico implementing their terror campaign of violence. The DEA sent Leo Silva to Mexico with a primary mission: dismantle Los Zetas....

NK News Correspondent Jooheon Kim joins the podcast this week to discuss Ahn Hak-sop, a 95-year-old former North Korean soldier and so-called unconverted prisoner of war who is seeking repatriation to the DPRK after decades in the South. He also talks about the controversy surrounding ROK police investigations into defector remittances to relatives in the North, which have focused attention on legal challenges around the transfers and spurred a legislator to address the issue. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insights from our very own journalists.

"He was an officer, a tribune, in the Roman army in the time of the Emperor Maximian. A Syrian by birth, he served in his native land. When the Persians attacked the imperial Roman army, this Andrew was entrusted with the command in the battle against the enemy — whence his title: commander, strateletes. A secret Christian, although as yet unbaptised, Andrew commended himself to the living God, and, taking only the cream of the army, went to war. Before the battle, he told his soldiers that, if they all called upon the aid of the one, true God, Christ the Lord, their enemies would become as dust scattered before them. All the soldiers, fired with enthusiasm by Andrew and his faith, invoked Christ's aid and attacked. The Persian army was utterly routed. When the victorious Andrew returned to Antioch, some jealous men denounced him as a Christian and the imperial governor summoned him for trial. Andrew openly proclaimed his steadfast faith in Christ. After harsh torture, the governor threw Andrew into prison and wrote to the Emperor in Rome. Knowing Andrew's popularity among the people and in the army, the Emperor ordered the governor to set Andrew free, but to seek another occasion and another excuse (not his faith) to kill him. By God's revelation, Andrew came to know of this imperial command, and, taking his faithful soldiers (2,593 in all) with him, went off to Tarsus in Cilicia, where they were all baptised by the bishop, Peter. Persecuted here also by imperial might, Andrew and his companions withdrew deep into the Armenian mountain of Tavros. There in a ravine, while they were at prayer, the Roman army came upon them and beheaded them all. Not one of them would recant, all being determined on death by martyrdom for Christ. On the spot where a stream of the martyrs' blood flowed down, a spring of healing water sprang forth, healing from every disease. The bishop, Peter, came secretly with his people and buried the martyrs' bodies in that same place. They all suffered with honour at the end of the third century and were crowned with wreaths of eternal glory, entering into the Kingdom of Christ our God." (Prologue)

A WWII destroyer escort vanished from Philadelphia's naval yard in a flash of green light, only to reappear with crew members grotesquely fused to its metal hull — or so claimed the disturbed man whose elaborate hoax fooled even the U.S. Navy.==========HOUR ONE: Allegedly, in the fall of 1943 a U.S. Navy destroyer was made invisible and teleported from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Norfolk, Virginia, in an incident known as the Philadelphia Experiment. Records in the Archives Branch of the Naval History and Heritage Command have been repeatedly searched, but no documents have been located which confirm the event, or any interest by the Navy in attempting such an achievement. But then, those who came to this conclusion probably didn't interview Duncan Cameron and Al Bielek. They were onboard the ship when it happened. The two sides of the Philadelphia Experiment. (Time Traveling Brothers) *** While it may look picturesque during the day, worthy of a post card, the town of Pluckley in Kent, UK is known as a place where you will often hear something go bump in the night. (Paranormal Pluckley) *** A man has a frightening experience after checking into a hotel. But then, what would you expect if the rumor is that the place is haunted? (Haunted Malaysian Hotel Room)==========HOUR TWO: According to the song, silence is golden. And it really can be; there are plenty of times when we just want to shut everything out and relax in peace and quiet. But silence isn't always all it's cracked up to be, either, and too much silence can drive you mad. It all starts with being able to hear your own organs working, and after about 45 minutes, you'll start to hallucinate. Silence—and other types of sensory deprivation—can do some weird things to the body and mind… and to the planet. (The Disturbing Effects of Sensory Deprivation) *** A U.S. Air-Force chaplain is called to duty not against a human enemy – but a spiritual one. (Air Force Exorcist)==========SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT'S SHOW:“The Philadelphia Experiment Hoax?” by Shannon Corbeil for Military.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3ztxcv9s“Time Traveling Brothers” by Ian Matthews: (link no longer valid)“Extraterrestrials In Chile” posted at Infinity Explorers: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3wuc5tm2“Paranormal Pluckley” by Sean Doherty, Lauren MacDougall, and Will Rider for Kent Live: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/n62r3mvb, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ntze8vx, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/kekb9rek“The Haunted Malaysian Hotel Room” from Paranormality Magazine“Zuni Witchcraft” by Kathy Weiser for Legends of America: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/33khzyfm“The Disturbing Effects of Sensory Deprivation” by Knowledge Nuts, Debra Kelly for List Verse and Allison P. Davis for The Cut: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5hkbkujc, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yhzp72rf,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/d532kr33“Flying Saucers In The Clouds” by A. Sutherland for Message to Eagle: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/jexh43uj“Air Force Exorcist” by Erica Earl for Military.com (link no longer available)==========(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for material I use whenever possible. If I have overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it immediately. Some links may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)=========="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46==========WeirdDarkness®, WeirdDarkness© 2025==========To become a Weird Darkness Radio Show affiliate, contact Radio America at affiliates@radioamerica.com, or call 800-807-4703 (press 2 or dial ext 250).

Last time we spoke about the fall of Shanghai. In October 1937 a small battalion led by Colonel Xie Jinyuan transformed the Sihang Warehouse into a fortress against the advancing Japanese army. These men, known as the "800 Heroes," became symbols of hope, rallying local citizens who provided vital support. Despite heavy casualties, they held out against overwhelming odds until a strategic retreat was ordered on November 1. As Japanese forces intensified their assaults, they breached the Chinese defenses and captured strategic positions along Suzhou Creek. The fighting was fierce, marked by desperate counterattacks from the besieged Chinese soldiers, who faced an unyielding enemy. By November 9, the Chinese faced a full retreat, their organized defenses collapsing into chaos as they fled the city. Desperate civilians sought refuge in the International Settlement but were met with hostility, exacerbating the terror of the moment. Amidst the turmoil, remaining forces continued to resist in pockets, holding out as long as possible. By November 11, Japanese troops raised their flag in the last stronghold, marking a grim victory.   #163 Crossing Nanjing's Rubicon Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. As the Japanese were mopping up Shanghai, Chiang Kai-Shek wrote in his diary on November 11th “I fear that they could threaten Nanjing”. Over In Shanghai, General Matsui Iwane was dealing with foreign correspondents, eager to learn what Japan's next move would be and to this he simply stated “For future developments, you had better ask Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek”. The correspondents were surprised by this response and pressed him further. He replied . “Chiang Kai-shek was reported to have predicted a five-year war, well, it might be that long. We don't know whether we will go to Nanjing or not. It all depends on Chiang.” At this point Shanghai was falling under Japanese control and now Matsui and his fellow field commanders were thinking, what's next? Nanjing was certainly the next objective. It was a common understanding amongst the Japanese leadership, that if the four main eastern cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Nanjing were lost, Chiang Kai-Shek's government would collapse. Three of these cities had been taken, Nanjing was dangling like fresh fruit. Matsui's staff believed the Chinese units departing Shanghai would mount a stand immediately west of the city, probably a defensive line running from Jiading to Huangduzhen. On the night of November 11th, Matsui issued a command to all units in the Shanghai area to advance west along the railway towards Nanjing. Their first objective would be a line extending from Taicang to Kunshan. Chiang Kai-Shek was not only reeling from military defeats, but also the gradual loss of his German allies. The Germans were increasingly aligning with the Japanese. Chiang Kai-Shek was looking for new external help, so he turned to the Soviets. It was a marriage of convenience, Chiang Kai-Shek signed a non-aggression pact with the USSR that year and wasted no time pleading for aircraft and pilots. Moscow began sending them before the ink touched the paper. 200 aircraft and pilots in return for some essential minerals, wolfram and tungsten. The Sino-Soviet friendship even drew in an unlikely source of support, Sir Winston Churchill. The Soviet envoy to the UK described how during a meeting with Churchill “he greatly praised our tactics in the Far East: maintenance of neutrality and simultaneous aid to China in weaponry.” Soviet pilots found themselves dispatched to Nanjing where they were briefed by Yakov Vladimirovich Smushkevich, the deputy commander of the Soviet Air Force. “The Japanese armed forces are technically superior to the Chinese. The Chinese Air Force is a particular concern. Soviet pilots who have rushed to China's aid are currently in Nanjing. They are fighting valiantly.” Meanwhile back at Shanghai discipline and order that had characterized previous Chinese withdrawal had collapsed. Simply put, there were hundreds of thousands of men trying to retreat across the lower Yangtze region, it was a shitstorm. Many units had to disengage during combat with the enemy and scramble to pull out. Huang Qixiang, the deputy commander of the Chinese right flank in Shanghai, executed a strategic withdrawal moments before his command post succumbed to the advancing enemy forces. Just fifteen minutes after his departure, the area was overrun by Japanese troops. In a desperate bid to avoid capture, another general had to cross a creek, nearly drowning in the process. Rescued while barely clinging to life and drenched in icy water, he was welcomed by a peasant family who aided in his recovery before he resumed his arduous journey westward. The scale of this withdrawal, occurring both day and night, could hardly escape the enemy's notice, and its complexity made the operation increasingly difficult. The execution of the withdrawal exacerbated the situation significantly. Orders to abandon their positions started to trickle down immediately after the upper command made the decision. However, these orders reached the units in a disorganized manner. Many telephone lines had been sabotaged, and when soldiers were sent to relay the orders in person, they faced severe disruptions in the transportation network. Consequently, many units only became aware of the withdrawal when they witnessed the mass movements of their comrades heading westward. Upon realizing what was happening, many soldiers fled in a state of panic. There were no comprehensive plans outlining the retreat, no designated routes for the various units, nor any established timetables. The outcome was a chaotic scramble for survival. Soldiers who had fought side by side for three months suddenly found themselves competing against one another in a desperate race to escape. At bridges and other chokepoints, weary soldiers exhausted their last reserves of strength, brawling with their fellow troops to be the first to cross. Meanwhile, officers traveling in chauffeur-driven cars attempted to assert their rank to gain priority access to the roads, adding to the growing disorder that ensued. The massive army was hindered by its sheer size, resulting in miles of congested roads filled with men unable to move in any direction. This made them easy targets for Japanese aircraft, leading to a bloody cycle of repeated attacks. Planes adorned with the red Rising Sun insignia would emerge from the horizon, swooping down to strike at these vulnerable formations. As commander Chen Yiding recalled “The lack of organization and the gridlocked roads resulted in far more casualties than could have been avoided,”.  On November 12th, the newspaper Zhaongyang Ribao, published an editorial addressing the citizens of Nanjing, to remind them that tough times lay ahead now that Shanghai had fallen. The article stipulated they needed to prepare the city for the upcoming battle,  “Now, all the citizenry of the capital must fulfill their duty in a way that can serve as a model for the entire nation.” Nanjing in 1937 was a city touched by the war, but not enough to change the social fabric just yet. Cinema's remained open, the shopping arcade was crowded as usual, traffic was heavy along Zhongshan Road, order remained. Telephones remained on, except during air raids. Connections to the outside world functioned as they should, given this was the capital. The region had seen a good harvest in 1937, no one was going hungry. However as the front 200 miles away drew closer, bombing raids more frequent, fear of the enemy increased. Contact with the outside world gradually declined. By mid November the train link from Nanjing to Shanghai was severed.  While the fear amongst the populace increased, so did a newfound sense of common purpose against a common enemy. Poster calling for the Chinese to unite against the Japanese invaders were found throughout Nanjing. Residents were conscripted for various fortification efforts, with some receiving basic military training to help defend the city. Those who refused to cooperate faced severe penalties as “traitors,” while the majority willingly participated. Both military and civilian police were deployed throughout the city, diligently checking identities in an ongoing effort to root out spies and traitors. The authorities enforced a strict prohibition against discussing military matters in restaurants and other public venues. Then all the high ranking military officials and politicians families gradually began departing the city in secrecy. This was followed by said politicians and military officials. Twas not a good look. Nanjing soon saw its population decline from 1 million to half a million. Those who stayed behind were mainly the poor, or those anchored, like shopkeepers. Every day saw a steady stream of Nanjing citizens leaving the city over her main roads, fleeing into the countryside with carts full of belongings. On November 12th at 10am orders were issued for the Japanese to advance west. What had been a war of attrition, where inches of land were claimed with blood, suddenly it was a war of movement. As one Japanese soldier recalled “In the course of 50 days, I had moved only two miles. Now suddenly we were experiencing rapid advance”. As the Japanese came across small towns, they found large posters plastered on all the walls. These were all anti-japanese with some nationalist propaganda. The Japanese soldiers would tear them down and paint up their own messages “down with Chiang Kai-Shek!”.  Towns and cities west of Shanghai fell rapidly one after another, each succumbing to a grim pattern: swift conquest followed by widespread devastation. Jiading, a county seat with a population of approximately 30,000, succumbed to a prolonged siege. When the 10st division captured Jiading on November 13, after relentless shelling had leveled a third of the city, they began a massacre, indiscriminately killing nearly everyone in their path, men, women, and children alike. The battle and its aftermath resulted in over 8,000 casualties among the city's residents and surrounding countryside. One Japanese soldier referred to Jiading as “A city of death, in a mysteriously silent world in which the only sound was the tap of our own footsteps”.  On November 14, soldiers from the 9th Division reached Taicang, an ancient walled city designed to withstand lengthy sieges. As they crossed the 70-foot moat amid heavy fire, the Japanese troops confronted the formidable 20-foot-high city wall. After breaching the wall, their infantry swiftly entered the city and seized control. The destruction persisted long after the fighting ceased, with half of the city being devastated, including significant cultural institutions like the library, and salt and grain reserves were looted. It was as if the Japanese aimed to obliterate not just the material existence of the people but their spiritual foundation as well.  Casual cruelty marked the nature of warfare along the entire front, with few prisoners being taken. Ishii Seitaro, a soldier in the 13th Division's 26th Brigade, encountered a mass execution while marching alongside the Yangtze River. Several headless corpses floated nearby, yet three Chinese prisoners remained alive. A Japanese officer, personally overseeing the execution, wore a simple uniform, but the two ornate swords at his belt indicated his wealthy background. Approaching one prisoner, the officer dramatically drew one of the swords and brandished it through the air with exaggerated flair. In an almost theatrical display, he held it aloft, the blade trembling as if he were nervous. The prisoner, in stark contrast, exhibited an unnerving calmness as he knelt, awaiting his inevitable fate. The officer swung the sword down but failed to deliver a clean strike. Although he inflicted a deep gash to the prisoner's skull, it was not fatal. The prisoner collapsed, thrashing and emitting a prolonged scream that sent chills through those present. The officer, seemingly exhilarated by the anguish he caused, began wildly slashing at the figure until the screams subsided. Ishii turned away in horror, his mind swirling with confusion. Why were the Chinese being executed? Had they not surrendered?  Three months into the war's expansion to the Yangtze region, air raids had become an all too frequent menace in Nanjing. The first major raid came on August 15th and increased each week. On the night of August 27, approximately 30 bombs were dropped on Purple Mountain, specifically targeting the Memorial Park for Sun Yat-sen, aiming to hurt the morale of Nanjing's residents. As days melted into weeks and weeks stretched into months, the landscape of Nanjing transformed under the weight of war. Residents began constructing dugouts in courtyards, gardens, public squares, and even on streets. Foreigners painted their national flags on top of buildings and vehicles, attempting to avoid the risk of being machine-gunned by strafing aircraft. Each raid followed a predictable routine: sirens wailed loudly 20 to 30 minutes before the attack, signaling pedestrians to seek shelter and drivers to stop their engines. By the time a shorter warning sounded, the streets had to be cleared, leaving nothing to do but await the arrival of Japanese planes. Initially, the part-US-trained Chinese Air Force posed a considerable threat to Japanese bombers. The 4th and 5th Chinese Squadrons, stationed near Nanjing to defend the capital, achieved early success, reportedly downing six bombers during the first air raid on Nanjing. Much of the credit for these aerial victories belonged to Claire Chennault, a retired American Army Air Corps captain who had become an advisor to the Chinese Air Force, overseeing Nanjing's air defense. Chennault taught his pilots tactics he had developed in the US but had never fully implemented. His strategy was straightforward: three fighters would focus on one enemy bomber at a time. One would attack from above, another from below, while a third would hover in reserve to deliver the final blow if necessary. He instructed the Chinese pilots to target the engines rather than the fuselage, reasoning that any missed shots could hit the gas tanks located in the wing roots. This approach proved successful, leading to the loss of 54 Japanese planes within three days. For Chennault, it validated his belief that air superiority required a diverse range of aircraft, not just bombers. Nighttime raids, however, posed a greater challenge. Chennault, along with other commanders, sought solutions. Chinese General C.C. Wong, a German-trained artillery officer overseeing the country's anti-aircraft defenses, ensured that dozens of large Sperry searchlights were positioned throughout Nanjing in a grid pattern. This setup had a dual purpose: it would dazzle the Japanese bomber crews and highlight their planes in silhouette for Chinese fighters above to target. The bravery of the most skilled Chinese pilots occasionally gained media attention, making them local celebrities amidst an otherwise grim war environment. However, this bright moment faded quickly when the Japanese command decided to provide escorts for their bombers. Consequently, the elite of China's air force, its finest pilots and aircraft, were lost within weeks that fall. All air raids were brutal, but the worst assaults occurred at the end of September. As a radio broadcaster reported on September 25th “Gallons of civilian blood flowed today as Nanking endured three ferocious air raids”. In total, 96 Japanese sorties were launched on that day. Witnesses observed around a dozen Chinese aircraft retreating north across the Yangtze, initially believing they were fleeing, but some returned to confront the enemy. When Chinese fighters managed to down a Japanese bomber, the streets erupted in cheers as civilians momentarily forgot their fear. The primary aim of the September 25 attack appeared to be spreading terror among the civilian population. Chiang Kai-Shek wrote in his diary that day  “The repeated Japanese air raids over the past several days have had no impact on our military installations. Instead, civilian property has sustained significant damage.” Around 20 bombs struck the Central Hospital, one of Nanjing's largest medical facilities, causing extensive destruction and prompting the evacuation of its staff. Two 1,000-pound bombs exploded nearby, leaving large craters. Had these bombs landed slightly closer, they could have resulted in mass casualties among the hospital's 100 patients, including a Japanese pilot who had been shot down earlier that month. The air raids at the end of September prompted protests from the Americans, British, and French governments to Japan. In response, Tokyo issued a statement on September 30, asserting that while they were not intentionally targeting non-combatants, it was “unavoidable” for achieving military objectives that military airfields and installations in and around Nanjing be bombed.   The battle for Jiashan was among the fiercest in the southern Yangtze delta campaign in November 1937. Although Jiashan was a moderately sized town straddling a crucial railway connecting Shanghai to Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province. For the Japanese, seizing Jiashan was imperative for their westward advance; without it, their military progress would be severely hampered. Jiashan had endured three days of relentless bombing by the Japanese Air Force, driving most residents to flee into the surrounding countryside. Only about 100 remained, those who were too old or too sick to escape, abandoned by family or friends who lacked the means to assist them. The Japanese troops brutally bayoneted nearly all of these individuals and buried them in a mass grave just outside the town's northern gate. Jiashan was captured by the 10th Army, a division fresh from victories and eager to engage in combat, unlike the weary forces of the Shanghai Expeditionary Force further north. With less than a week of combat experience, the 10th Army's soldiers were hungry for a fight. The martial spirit of the 10th Army was exemplified by its commander, Yanagawa Heisuke. Born near Nagasaki in 1879, he was among a group of retired officers called back to active service as the war in China escalated unexpectedly. Having served in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 and taught at the Beijing Army College in 1918, Yanagawa had considerable experience in military affairs. However, his past exposure to China did not cultivate any empathy for the enemy. He was determined to push all the way to Nanjing, and once there, he intended to blanket the city in mustard gas and incendiaries until it capitulated. While Japanese commanders debated the value of capturing Nanjing, the Chinese were equally preoccupied with whether it was worth defending. Most military professionals viewed the situation as a lost cause from the start. After the fall of Shanghai, Chiang Kai-shek summoned one of his top commanders, Chen Cheng, to Nanjing for discussions. “How can Nanjing be held?” Chen Cheng shot back “Are you ordering me to hold Nanjing?” Chiang replied “I am not”. Chen Cheng stated frankly, “I believe Nanjing should not be held at all.” By mid-November, Bai Chongxi, one of China's most respected generals, advocated for declaring Nanjing an open city. He argued that defending it was not only unnecessary but also impossible. All available forces had been deployed to Shanghai and were now exhausted. Furthermore, no reinforcements would be forthcoming if they made a stand in Nanjing. Instead of stubbornly clinging to fixed positions, he preferred a more flexible defensive strategy. Zhang Qun, Chiang's secretary, supported Bai's stance, believing that while Nanjing should ultimately be abandoned, political considerations were paramount. If the Chinese simply withdrew and allowed the Japanese to occupy the city, it would undermine China's position in any future negotiations. The Japanese would not be able to present themselves as victors who had triumphed in battle. Similarly, Chiang's chief military advisor, General Alexander von Falkenhausen, was against attempting to hold Nanjing. He deemed it “useless from a military perspective, suggesting it would be madness.” He warned that if Chiang forced his army into a decisive battle with their backs to the Yangtze River, “a disaster would probably be unavoidable.” Chiang's head of the operations bureau Liu Fei argued Nanjing could not be abandoned without a fight as it would crush the NRA's morale. He believed that defending the city could be managed with as few as 12 regiments, although 18 would be feasible. Most at the meeting agreed and Chiang understood Nanjing's international recognition necessitated some form of defense, doomed or not. A second meeting was formed whereupon, Tang Shengzhi, a general staff officer whose loyalties were, lets be honest very flip floppy. During the warlord era, he routinely switched sides, especially against Chiang Kai-Shek. At the meeting Tang stated in regards to Nanjing's international prominence and being the final resting place of Dr Sun Yat-Sen “How can we face the spirit of the former president in heaven? We have no choice but to defend the capital to the death.” Chiang's commanders were all well aware of his intentions. The generalissimo was eager for a dramatic last stand in Nanjing to serve propaganda purposes, aiming to rally the nation and convey to the world that China was resolute in its fight against Japan. His commanders also recognized the rationale behind fighting for Nanjing; however, very few were inclined to embark on what seemed a likely suicide mission. The third meeting occurred the day after the second. Chiang opened by asking, as many anticipated, “Who is willing to shoulder the burden of defending Nanjing?” An awkward silence followed. Then Tang Shengzhi stepped forward. “Chairman, if no one else is willing, I will. I'm prepared to defend Nanjing and to hold it to the death.” Without hesitation, Chiang accepted his offer. “Good, the responsibility is yours.”A little refresher on Tang, he had played a role in Chiang Kai-shek's efforts to unify China by force in the 1920s, when the nation was a patchwork of fiefdoms. However, their relationship had soured on two occasions, forcing Tang into temporary exile, first to Japan and then to Hong Kong. The Japanese invasion of northeastern China in 1931 prompted a loose reconciliation, and since then, Tang had held several important positions, notably organizing war games simulating a Japanese assault on Nanjing. However Tang had often suffered from illness, and crucially, he had not led troops in the field against the Japanese since the onset of full-scale war that summer. Hailing from Hunan province, he was a typical provincial soldier and would likely face challenges commanding respect among elite divisions loyal solely to the central government in Nanjing. He was definitely not the first choice for such a significant task.  Amazingly, while tens of thousands of Chinese and Japanese were killing each other, while Japanese planes relentlessly bombarded Chinese cities including the capital, and while Japanese soldiers committed heinous atrocities against Chinese civilians, the two nations maintained diplomatic relations. China had a fully operational embassy in Tokyo, led by Xu Shiying, a 65-year-old diplomat. This surreal arrangement persisted because neither side was willing to officially declare war. In the fall of 1937, as Japanese armies were heavily engaged on two fronts within mainland China, Xu met with Japanese Foreign Minister Hirota Koki to propose a non-aggression treaty. The proposal was swiftly rejected in Nanjing. By November 1937, Xu was no longer at the forefront of events, and foreign observers shifted their focus from the capitals of the warring nations to Belgium. While large-scale battles raged along the lower Yangtze, representatives from 19 countries convened in Brussels to search for a way to end hostilities. Although China participated in the conference, Japan did not. Japan had received two invitations to join the talks, with its response to the second arriving in Brussels on November 12: a firm rejection. Japan asserted that it preferred direct bilateral negotiations with China, dismissing the Brussels conference held under the auspices of the Nine-Power Treaty, a pact signed in 1922 aimed at ensuring China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Japan argued that intervention by a collective body like the conference “would merely stir national sentiments in both countries and complicate efforts to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution.” The League of Nations had called for a Nine-Power conference a month earlier, which ultimately became a 19-power conference as other nations with interests in East Asia joined. From the outset, Japan opposed the assembly and was absent when the first plenary meeting commenced in Brussels on November 3. Japanese leaders feared that China might attempt to leverage the conference against Western powers, recalling how, in 1895, Japan had been denied its spoils following its first modern war with China due to the intervention of Russia, France, and Germany, who blocked Japan from claiming the strategic Liaodong Peninsula adjacent to Korea. China also exhibited a lukewarm attitude toward the conference. While Japan feared the potential outcomes, China was concerned about the lack of significant results. The proposal to transition discussions from the League of Nations, perceived as ineffective, to the even less authoritative Nine Powers, which lacked formal organization. Nonetheless, the Chinese chose to participate in Brussels, maintaining the pretense that something meaningful could be accomplished. Shortly after Japan's second rejection of the invitation, Wellington Koo made an impassioned plea in Brussels, stating, “Now that the door to conciliation and mediation has been slammed in your face by the latest reply of the Japanese Government, will you not decide to withhold supplies of war materials and credit to Japan and extend aid to China?” In reality, Koo understood that significant Western aid to China was highly unlikely, aside from token gestures. Previous international discussions had momentarily halted Japanese advances in the past; for instance, in 1932, Japanese troops had paused their movements in the Shanghai area just hours before the League of Nations General Assembly commenced. However, that was nearly six years earlier, and circumstances had changed dramatically since then. Rogue states had grown bolder, while democracies seemed increasingly timid. Thus, the Chinese agenda in Brussels was not primarily driven by hopes for substantial Western concessions. Instead, the delegates had been tasked by Nanjing to anticipate the post-conference landscape and to actively seek ways to encourage Europe and America to support Soviet military action against Japan.   China, long reliant on Germany as a diplomatic partner, increasingly felt betrayed, not just by Germany, but also by its fascist ally, Italy. Consequently, it began looking more favorably upon the Soviet Union, Japan's archrival in Northeast Asia, as its main source of international support. The Soviet Union exhibited a firmer stance than the Western democracies at the Brussels conference, joining China in advocating for collective security in Europe and Asia. On November 15th, a small group of officers from the 10th Army gathered for late-night discussions in an abandoned building north of Hangzhou Bay, where they would effectively decide the fate of China. Yanagawa Heisuke, the commander of the 10th Army, presided over the discussions. Fresh from the battlefield since the beginning of the month, he was eager to escalate the fight, a sentiment echoed among the others. It was an unusual meeting, where officers as low in rank as major were making decisions typically reserved for the highest echelons of political power. The agenda included a pivotal question: Should they adhere to Order No. 600 received from Tokyo a week prior, which instructed them to halt their advance along a line from Suzhou to Jiaxing? Or, should they disregard these explicit orders and push forward to seize Nanjing? While the Japanese Army had failed to completely annihilate the Chinese forces around Shanghai, there was a consensus that their adversary was now reeling from recent setbacks, presenting an opportune moment to strike decisively and secure a swift victory. The only remaining question was how aggressively to pursue this goal. Colonel Terada Masao, a senior staff officer within the 10th Army, spoke first. “The Chinese Army is currently retreating toward the capital. We should cross that line and pursue the enemy straight to Nanjing.” Major Iketani Hanjiro, a staff officer recently attached to the fast-moving 6th Division, then offered his input “From a tactical perspective, I completely agree with Terada that we should cross the line, but the decision to attack Nanjing should be considered not just tactically, but also politically. It's not that field commanders can't create a fait accompli to pressure our superiors in Tokyo. However, we must proceed with great caution”. A staff officer raised this question  “What if Tokyo orders us to pull back those smaller units?” Iketani responded “In that case, we will, of course, withdraw them to this side of the line”. Ultimately, Iketani's cautions were set aside, and Terada's aggressive approach prevailed. The majority agreed that the tactical circumstances presented a rare opportunity. Japanese troops in the Shanghai area were poised to advance west, not through small, individual skirmishes but with a substantial deployment of their forces. Officers estimated that if a decisive push was made immediately, Nanjing could fall into Japanese hands within 20 days. However Colonel Kawabe Torashiro, the newly appointed chief of the Army General Staff's Operations Section suddenly arrived at the theater. He was sent on a mission to assess whether the Central China Area Army should be granted greater operational freedom. It was well known in Tokyo that field officers were eager to capitalize on the momentum created by the collapse of Chinese defenses around Shanghai. Kawabe's task was to explore the possibility of allowing forces to cross the line from Suzhou to Jiaxing and move westward in pursuit of the retreating enemy. However, Kawabe was staunchly opposed to further military adventures in China. Kawabe was part of the dwindling faction of "China doves" within the Japanese military. As early as the summer of 1937, he had become alarmed by a letter from a civilian Japanese visitor to the Chinese mainland, warning that Japanese officers were attempting to engineer an “incident” with China to provoke open conflict. This would provide Japan with a pretext to expand its influence in northern China. Kawabe had attempted to alert his superiors, but his warnings fell on deaf ears. They had been lulled into a false sense of security by reports from China that dismissed all talk of war-mongering as baseless and alarmist. When he arrived to the front he stated “I am here to inspect conditions on the ground so that a final decision can be made on where to establish the operational restriction line”. Alongside him came General Akira Muto, recently appointed the commander of the Central China Area Army. He also happened to be one of the architects of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. Muto responded promptly: “The line currently stretches from Suzhou to Jiaxing, but we should consider crossing it. This will help us achieve our overall objectives in the theater.” Muto continued, arguing that the 10th Army should be permitted to advance to Huzhou, south of Lake Tai, effectively cutting off communications between Nanjing and the strategic city of Hangzhou. He further claimed that the Shanghai Expeditionary Force should be allowed to capture the vital city of Jiangyin, suggesting, perhaps overly optimistically, that its loss could lead to the fall of Chiang Kai-shek. Ultimately, Muto insisted, Nanjing should also be seized, which he asserted would bring an end to the war. Kawabe listened patiently, a practice he would repeat in the following days as other field officers echoed similar sentiments, eagerly expressing their desire to advance all the way to Nanjing. Yanagawa and his 10th Army exemplified this aggressive mindset. Nevertheless, just as the hawks within the Japanese military and the nation's political leadership appeared to be prevailing in the struggle over China policy, they faced unexpected challenges from a different direction. Germany, a power with ambiguous sympathies in East Asia, was quietly engaged in negotiations aimed at bringing peace. Oskar Trautmann, Germany's ambassador to China, had maintained an objective and neutral stance when he met with Chiang Kai-shek in early November to relay Japan's conditions for initiating peace talks. These conditions included extensive concessions in northern China, such as the withdrawal of all Chinese troops to a line south of Beijing and the establishment of a pro-Japanese regime in Inner Mongolia, bordering the Soviet-controlled Mongolian People's Republic. Chiang dismissed these demands outright, but Trautmann and his superiors in Beijing continued their top-secret efforts. Germany's motivation for seeking an end to the Sino-Japanese War was not rooted in a genuine love for peace, but rather in their embarrassment over witnessing their old Asian ally, China, fighting against their new partner, Japan. Herman Göring, president of the Reichstag and a leading figure in the Nazi party, told a Chinese visitor, “China and Japan are both friends of Germany. The Sino-Japanese War has put Germany between Scylla and Charybdis. That's why Germany is ready to seize the chance to become a mediator.” Germany also feared that a prolonged conflict in China could jeopardize its commercial interests in East Asia and weaken Japan's capacity to confront the Soviet Union, potentially freeing Moscow to allocate more resources to a fight in Europe. In essence, continued hostilities could significantly harm Germany. Japanese field commanders were frustrated by Germany's mediation efforts.  When news of Trautmann's mission leaked, the German diplomat faced severe criticism in the Chinese media, which deemed any negotiation with the "Japanese devils" unacceptable. Additionally, there was the matter of China's ties with the Soviet Union; employing a German mediator raised the possibility of cooperation among China, Japan, and Germany, potentially expanding the anti-Soviet bloc, which would, in turn, pressure Moscow to increase its support for China. By mid-November, however, the complexities of this diplomatic game started unraveling and then Japan took action. At 7:00 am on November 19, Yanagawa issued instructions to his troops in the field. “The enemy's command system is in disarray, and a mood of defeat has descended over their entire army. They have lost the will to fight. The main Chinese forces were retreating west of the line stretching from Suzhou to Jiaxing, and this withdrawal was soon likely to spiral into a full-scale retreat. We must not miss the opportunity to pursue the enemy to Nanjing.” I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Shanghai had fallen, and the Japanese forces pursued their fleeing enemy further west. However they had orders to halt, but would they? Officers from top down deliberating on the issue, with the vast majority pushing for a drive to Nanjing. They thought it represented the end objective of the conflict. They would all be very wrong. 

Send us a textStephen Handley served in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, and 1 Royal Welsh. On his second tour of Afghanistan Stephen suffered life changing injuries caused by an IED.Stephen's Instagram: @stephen.handleyIf you're interested in being a guest on the podcast, please contact us on instagram: @veteranstateofmindGeraint's books are available at: www.geraintjonesmedia.com and https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Geraint-Jones/author/B06XTKLWBMSupport the show

Thanks to Yonatan and Eilee for this week's suggestion! Further reading: Replanted rainforests may benefit from termite transplants A vast 4,000-year-old spatial pattern of termite mounds A family of termites has been traversing the world's oceans for millions of years Worker termites [photo from this site]: Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. This week we have a topic I've been wanting to cover for a while, suggested by both Yonatan and Eilee. It's the termite episode! We talk a lot about animals that eat termites, and in many cases termite-eating animals also eat ants. I've always assumed that termites and ants are closely related, but they're not. Termites are actually closely related to cockroaches, which are both in the order Blattodea, but it's been 150 million years since they shared a common ancestor. They share another trait too, in that no one wants either insect infesting their house. Like most cockroach species, though, most termite species don't want anything to do with humans. They live in the wild, not in your house, and they're incredibly common throughout most of the world. That's why so many animals eat termites almost exclusively. There are just so many termites to eat! There are around 3,000 species of termite and about a third of them live in Africa, with another 400 or so in South America, 400 or so in Asia, and 400 or so in Australia. The rest live in other parts of the world, but they need warm weather to survive so they're not very common in cold areas like northern Europe. A termite colony consists of a queen, soldiers, and workers, which sounds very similar to ants, but there are some major differences. Worker termites take care of the nest and babies, find and process food so the other termites can eat it, and store the processed food. They also take care of the queen. Unlike ants and bees, worker termites aren't only female and aren't always sterile. Soldiers are bigger and stronger than workers, with much bigger heads and jaws so they can fight off potential predators. In some species, the soldiers have such big jaws that they can't actually eat without help. Worker termites feed them. Finally, the queen is the largest individual in the colony, usually considerably larger than workers, but unlike queen bees and ants, she has a mate who stays with her throughout her life, called a king. Some termite queens can live to be as much as 50 years old, and she and the king spend almost their entire lives underground in a nesting chamber. The larger the colony, the more likely it is that the colony has more than one queen. The main queen is usually the one that started the colony along with her king, and when it was new they did all the work—taking care of the eggs and babies, foraging for food, and building the nest itself. As the first workers grew up, they took on more of those tasks, including expanding the nest. Workers are small and their bodies have little to no pigment, so that they appear white. Some people call them white ants, but of course they're not ants. Workers have to stay in a humid environment like the nest or their bodies dry out. Workers and soldiers don't have eyes, although they can probably sense light and dark, and instead they navigate using their antennae, which can sense humidity and vibrations, and chemoreceptors that sense pheromones released by other termites. Termites have another caste that's not as common, usually referred to as reproductives. These are future kings and queens, and they're larger and stronger than workers. They also have eyes and wings. When outside conditions are right, usually when the weather is warm and humid, the reproductive termites leave the nest and fly away. Males and females pair off and search for a new nesting site to start their own colony. Termites mainly eat dead plant material, including plant material that most other animals can't digest.

In the ruins of a world torn apart by nuclear fire, mankind hides deep underground. On the surface, tireless machines fight our war for us… or so we're told. But when one soldier makes a shocking discovery, the truth about the war — and the machines — could shatter everything we believe. X Minus One presents… “The Defenders.” | #RetroRadio EP0484Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateCHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “A Very Dear Ghost Indeed” (September 20, 1976)00:45:28.594 = Weird Circle, “Mad Monkton” (September 22, 1944)01:12:51.879 = The Whistler, “Local Storm” (September 10, 194)01:41:36.248 = Witch's Tale, “Share And Share Alike” (March 08, 1934) ***WD02:08:20.904 = X Minus One, “The Defenders” (May 22, 1956)02:36:23.028 = Zero Hour, “But I Wouldn't Want To Die There, Part 1” (January 14, 1974)03:00:02.349 = Zero Hour, “But I Wouldn't Want To Die There, Part 2” (January 15, 1974)03:23:49.400 = Zero Hour, “But I Wouldn't Want To Die There, Part 3” (January 16, 1974)03:47:33.140 = Zero Hour, “But I Wouldn't Want To Die There, Part 4” (January 17, 1974)04:10:13.056 = Zero Hour, “But I Wouldn't Want To Die There, Part 5” (January 18, 1974)04:33:11.181 = ABC Mystery Time, “Four Time Loser” (1957) ***WD04:57:11.808 = Strange Adventure, “Haunted Hotel” (1945) ***WD05:00:26.729 = Appointment With Fear, “My Fate Cries Out” (December 04, 1976) ***WD05:28:01.659 = BBC Ghost Story, “The Crowd” (December 30, 1986)05:41:48.207 = Beyond The Green Door, “Theodore Kane Buried Alive” (1966)05:45:25.097 = The Black Book, “On Schedule” (February 17, 1952) ***WD05:59:54.265 = Barry Craig, “Ghosts Don't Die In Bed” (September 07, 1954)06:27:19.337 = Box 13, “Double Trouble” (July 10, 1949)06:53:49.646 = CBC Mystery Theater, “The Dream Woman” (May 01, 1968)07:22:50.132 = Chet Chetter's Tales From The Morgue, “Elmer Meets Death” (1990-1992) ***WD07:50:55.483 = The Clock, “Lefty and Delilah” (October 09, 1947)08:13:44.687 = Creeps By Night, “Six Who Did Not Die” (July 11, 1944) ***WD08:41:18.645 = The Crime Club, “Corpse Wore a Wig” (May 08, 1947)09:10:30.129 = CBC Deep Night, “Man Radio” (July 29, 2005)09:44:27.331 = Show Close(ADU) = Air Date Unknown(LQ) = Low Quality***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music LibraryABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =#TrueCrime #Paranormal #ScienceFiction #OldTimeRadio #OTR #OTRHorror #ClassicRadioShows #HorrorRadioShows #VintageRadioDramas #SuspenseRadioClassics #1940sRadioHorror #OldRadioMysteryShows #CreepyOldRadioShows #TrueCrimeRadio #SupernaturalRadioPlays #GoldenAgeRadio #EerieRadioMysteries #MacabreOldTimeRadio #NostalgicThrillers #ClassicCrimePodcast #RetroHorrorPodcast #WeirdDarkness #WeirdDarknessPodcast #RetroRadio #ClassicRadioCUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0484