Leader of the Soviet Union from 1924 to 1953
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Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich was one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. But in 1936, Joseph Stalin attended a performance of Shostakovich's opera, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. The Soviet leader was unimpressed and left early. Days later, the state newspaper Pravda published a scathing review titled 'Muddle instead of music', castigating the music as bourgeois. Shostakovich was blacklisted from public life, and feared for his safety during Stalin's ongoing purges. The traditional style of his comeback Symphony No 5 in 1937 was a hit with the authorities, and Shostakovich's reputation was restored. But his true intentions are hugely debated – some experts argue the Fifth Symphony was a cleverly veiled act of dissent. Fifty years on from the composer's death, his son Maxim Shostakovich unfolds the mystery with Ben Henderson.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina's Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall' speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler's List; and Jacques Derrida, France's ‘rock star' philosopher. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world's oldest languages.(Photo: Dmitri Shostakovich and his son Maxim Shostakovich. Credit: Express/Getty Images)
On the end of the end of history and what comes next. Phil is back on the pod, talking with George and Alex about the big themes of the podcast. In particular, we look at a recent essay in Foreign Policy by historian Christopher Clarke called "The End of Modernity". To what extent was the 1989 moment as significant in Beijing as Berlin? Is Trump actually Stalin (but in a good way)? Is Russia the revisionist power? And if so, in what regard and what are the consequences? Who says the choice is between "liberal democracy" and "authoritarian populism"? Then, we take your questions and comments from the past month. For the full episode, subscribe at patreon.com/bungacast Links: The End of Modernity, Christopher Clarke, Foreign Policy The End of the End of History: Politics in the Twenty-First Century, Bungacast, Zer0 Books Into the Abyss, Ed McNally, Tribune
Today on The Truth Central, Dr. Jerome Corsi takes a deep dive into New York Times' Reporter Walter Duranty, who was given a Pulitzer Prize for his fictional accounts of Josef Stalin's rule over the Soviet Union, serving as the communist dictator's public relations agent and promoter. Duranty's glowing stories about Stalin and the communist oppression included lies about life under the dictatorship, propping the murderous tyrant up into celebrity status (at least for those who believed the stories) and willfully hiding Holodomor - the starvation of Ukrainians - from the world.Still, there was an even darker side to Duranty and his alliance with evil: the disgraced reporter's life was one of debauchery, sinister behavior, quid-pro-quo deals with Soviet leaders and a close bond with Satanist Aleister Crowley.Visit The Corsi Nation website: https://www.corsination.comIf you like what we are doing, please support our Sponsors:Get RX Meds Now: https://www.getrxmedsnow.comMyVitalC https://www.thetruthcentral.com/myvitalc-ess60-in-organic-olive-oil/Swiss America: https://www.swissamerica.com/offer/CorsiRMP.phpGet Dr. Corsi's new book, The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy: The Final Analysis: Forensic Analysis of the JFK Autopsy X-Rays Proves Two Headshots from the Right Front and One from the Rear, here: https://www.amazon.com/Assassination-President-John-Kennedy-Headshots/dp/B0CXLN1PX1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=20W8UDU55IGJJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ymVX8y9V--_ztRoswluApKEN-WlqxoqrowcQP34CE3HdXRudvQJnTLmYKMMfv0gMYwaTTk_Ne3ssid8YroEAFg.e8i1TLonh9QRzDTIJSmDqJHrmMTVKBhCL7iTARroSzQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=jerome+r.+corsi+%2B+jfk&qid=1710126183&sprefix=%2Caps%2C275&sr=8-1Join Dr. Jerome Corsi on Substack: https://jeromecorsiphd.substack.com/Visit The Truth Central website: https://www.thetruthcentral.comGet your FREE copy of Dr. Corsi's new book with Swiss America CEO Dean Heskin, How the Coming Global Crash Will Create a Historic Gold Rush by calling: 800-519-6268Follow Dr. Jerome Corsi on X: @corsijerome1Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/corsi-nation--5810661/support.
Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too. Here’s a sample episode recapping four Thursday takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. RIP Hulk Hogan and Russiagate 101 The shocking report of wrestling icon Hulk Hogan’s death at age 71. Clay reflects on Hogan’s cultural impact during the 1980s and 1990s, his recent appearance at the Republican National Convention, and his vocal support for President Donald Trump. The hour opens with a tribute to Hogan’s legacy in sports entertainment and American pop culture. The episode then transitions into a deep-dive breakdown of the Russiagate scandal, prompted by listener feedback requesting clarity on the complex narrative. Clay outlines the origins of the Russia collusion narrative following Trump’s 2016 election victory, emphasizing how the media, intelligence community, and Democratic establishment allegedly collaborated to delegitimize Trump’s presidency. He argues that the narrative was built on misinformation and politically motivated leaks, leading to years of investigations that ultimately found no evidence of collusion. Clay also discusses the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling on presidential immunity, suggesting it could shield former President Barack Obama from potential legal consequences related to the 2016 surveillance of the Trump campaign. He explores the implications of this precedent for future administrations and how it may influence accountability for figures like James Comey, John Brennan, James Clapper, and Hillary Clinton. Uncle Bill Confronts Evil Clay speaks with bestselling author and media veteran Bill O’Reilly on a range of issues, including the passing of wrestling legend Hulk Hogan at age 71. They reflect on Hogan’s iconic legacy and his pivotal legal victory over Gawker Media. They also explore Hogan’s cultural impact and transitions into a deeper discussion on O’Reilly’s upcoming book, Confronting Evil, which examines historical and modern manifestations of collective evil, including figures like Hitler, Stalin, and Putin. The hour intensifies with analysis of the Idaho murders and the chilling demeanor of the accused, Bryan Kohberger, as well as the broader implications of confronting individual versus systemic evil. O’Reilly and Travis then pivot to the explosive revelations from Tulsi Gabbard regarding the 2016 election and alleged misconduct by intelligence agencies. The discussion centers on former CIA Director John Brennan and the legal ramifications of knowingly using false information to obtain warrants, with O’Reilly suggesting potential prison time. The Epstein case resurfaces as Clay asks O’Reilly what advice he’d give President Trump amid renewed scrutiny. O’Reilly reveals he spoke with Trump earlier that day and advises full deferral to the Justice Department, warning against media manipulation and emphasizing the political weaponization of Epstein-related narratives. The conversation also touches on the Wall Street Journal’s reporting and the risks of releasing unverified names tied to Epstein, which could trigger massive lawsuits. Clay's Business Advice Deep dive into the latest developments in the Russiagate hoax and new revelations from Tulsi Gabbard and the long-term media and political implications. Clay also discusses the controversial decision by an Obama-appointed judge to block the release of grand jury testimony related to Jeffrey Epstein, highlighting ongoing concerns about transparency and justice. Sunny Hostin of The View says Stephen Colbert’s potential firing is a threat to democracy. Clay challenges her legal credibility, sparking a broader conversation about First Amendment rights, media accountability, and the economics of entertainment. He contrasts Colbert’s financial losses with the massive $1.5 billion deal awarded to South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, underscoring the market-driven nature of media success. GA Rep. Brian Jack Wants to Bring Boxing Back An exclusive interview with Congressman Brian Jack of Georgia’s 3rd District. Jack, a former Trump White House official, discusses his newly introduced Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, aimed at revitalizing professional boxing in the U.S. by modernizing outdated legislation. He emphasizes the need for innovation, athlete protections, and restoring boxing’s cultural relevance, with support from Lonnie Ali and the Association of Boxing Commissions. In a sports-meets-politics crossover, Travis praises NFL coach John Harbaugh for defending his visit to President Trump amid media scrutiny, calling it a “home run” response and a sign of shifting cultural courage in sports. The segment also touches on the resurgence of UFC and WWE, the decline of boxing, and the importance of American athletes reclaiming dominance in combat sports. Make sure you never miss a second of the show by subscribing to the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show podcast wherever you get your podcasts! ihr.fm/3InlkL8 For the latest updates from Clay and Buck: https://www.clayandbuck.com/ Connect with Clay Travis and Buck Sexton on Social Media: X - https://x.com/clayandbuck FB - https://www.facebook.com/ClayandBuck/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/clayandbuck/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ClayandBuck TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clayandbuck YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In 1907, the men who would go on to lead the Russian Revolution met in London for a crucial congress.But the revolutionaries – including Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, and Leon Trotsky – were nearly stranded after running out of funds.The late British journalist Henry Brailsford played a key role in securing their fare home.In 1947, he told the BBC how the meeting marked a point of no return for the party's two warring factions – the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks – and ultimately led to the creation of the communist party.Produced and presented by Vicky Farncombe. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic' and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy's Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they've had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America's occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.(Photo: A group of revolutionaries including Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin (centre) and Menshevik leader Julius Martov (on his right). Credit: Getty Images)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we're discussing some of history's most revolting peasants! Now no episode like this would be complete without rumoured West Ham fan Wat Tyler, plus we'll have the New York story of Dr Smith Azer Broughton, and we'll hear from the Kulaks that riled against Stalin's rule in the 20th century.And this week we're talking about historical marketing offers that went wrong. Sunny Delight turning you orange! McDonalds and the olympics in the 80s! What else have we missed? hello@ohwhatatime.comIf you fancy a bunch of OWAT content you've never heard before, why not treat yourself and become an Oh What A Time: FULL TIMER?Up for grabs is:- two bonus episodes every month!- ad-free listening- episodes a week ahead of everyone else- And much moreSubscriptions are available via AnotherSlice and Wondery +. For all the links head to: ohwhatatime.comYou can also follow us on: X (formerly Twitter) at @ohwhatatimepodAnd Instagram at @ohwhatatimepodAaannnd if you like it, why not drop us a review in your podcast app of choice?Thank you to Dan Evans for the artwork (idrawforfood.co.uk).Chris, Elis and Tom xSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Richard W. Harrison's The Soviet Army's High Commands in War and Peace, 1941-1992 (Casemate Academic, 2022) is the first full treatment of the unique phenomenon of High Commands in the Soviet Army during World War II and the Cold War. The war on the Eastern Front during 1941–45 was an immense struggle, running from the Barents Sea to the Caucasus Mountains. The vast distances involved forced the Soviet political-military leadership to resort to new organizational expedients in order to control operations along the extended front. These were the high commands of the directions, which were responsible for two or more fronts (army groups) and, along maritime axes, one or more fleets. In all, five high commands were created along the northwestern, western, southwestern, and North Caucasus strategic directions during 1941–42. However, the highly unfavorable strategic situation during the first year of the war, as well as interference in day-to-day operations by Stalin, severely limited the high commands' effectiveness. As a consequence, the high commands were abolished in mid-1942 and replaced by the more flexible system of supreme command representatives at the front. A High Command of Soviet Forces in the Far East was established in 1945 and oversaw the Red Army's highly effective campaign against Japanese forces in Manchuria. The Far Eastern High Command was briefly resurrected in 1947 as a response to the tense situation along the Korean peninsula and the ongoing civil war in China, but was abolished in 1953, soon after Stalin's death. Growing tensions with China brought about the recreation of the Far Eastern High Command in 1979, followed a few years later by the appearance of new high commands in Europe and South Asia. However, these new high commands did not long survive the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and were abolished a year later. The book relies almost exclusively on Soviet and post-communist archival and other sources and is the first unclassified treatment of this subject in any country, East or West.Richard W. Harrison earned his Undergraduate and Master's degrees from Georgetown University, where he specialized in Russian Area Studies. He later earned his doctorate in War Studies from King's College London. He also was an exchange student in the former Soviet Union and spent several years living and working in post-communist Russia. He has taught Russian History and Military History at the US Military Academy at West Point. Dr. Harrison lives with his family near Carlisle, Pennsylvania.Stephen Satkiewicz is an independent scholar with research areas spanning Civilizational Sciences, Social Complexity, Big History, Historical Sociology, Military History, War Studies, International Relations, Geopolitics, and Russian and East European history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
July 28th 2025 Yuriy reflects on his experience with illness, the enduring effects of war in Ukraine, and the striking parallels between his own journey and that of his grandfather, both marked by their status as war veterans. Yuriy's Podbean Patron sign-up to give once or regularly: https://patron.podbean.com/yuriy Buy Yuriy a coffee here: https://bmc.link/yuriymat Subscribe to his substack: https://yuriymatsarsky.substack.com/ ----more---- TRANSCRIPT: (Apple Podcasts & Podbean app users can enjoy accurate closed captions) It is July 28th And it's beautiful rainy day. I had stayed silent for quite a while, but it wasn't by choice. For the past two weeks, I've been sick with COVID. I have to admit these were two terrible weeks at times it even felt like we might be my last. These days, every illness seems harder and more severe than the previous one, and yet during the first year of a full scale war. I did not get sick at all. Despite having to sleep on concrete floors or frozen grounds, my body somehow mobilized itself and made it through the whole year without any illness. Only my teeth started falling out. Then at the beginning of my second year of service, something broke inside. And I began to fall ill, bronchitis, flu then flu again, then COVID again. It felt like my immune system had just stopped working. I tried to push through every illness on my feet, refusing to go to the hospital, but it did not always work. I remember the first time I found myself in a hospital ward that had a sign on the door. Ward for war veterans. The sign dated back to Soviet times, still written in Russian. I remember thinking then: how did I end up here in this kind of ward? The thing is, for many years there was only one "war" in the public consciousness. The USSR fought in plenty of wars, but officially they were called something absurd: fulfilling international duty assisting fraternal socialist nations, or something like that. And there was only one real war, the second World war. Or rather,, just the part of it starting from June 1941, when Hitler attacked his former ally, Stalin, and launched a war against the Soviet Union. Only the veterans of that war were considered true veterans and it was them that signs referred to when we said a hospital ward or tram seat was reserved for war veterans. For me, a war veteran had always been someone old and very ill- like my grandfather. In his final years, he was always in wards, veteran wards, constantly being operated on by doctors trying to prolong his life a bit more. And now it suddenly turns out that I'm a veteran too. Well, I'm definitely sick like one, unfortunately. By the way, about a year ago when I was in Kharkiv, I happened to find my grandfather's veteran ID. He received it from the Ukrainian authorities after the collapse of USSR. And you know what? It looks exactly the same as the one I received 30 years after my grandfather.
Richard W. Harrison's The Soviet Army's High Commands in War and Peace, 1941-1992 (Casemate Academic, 2022) is the first full treatment of the unique phenomenon of High Commands in the Soviet Army during World War II and the Cold War. The war on the Eastern Front during 1941–45 was an immense struggle, running from the Barents Sea to the Caucasus Mountains. The vast distances involved forced the Soviet political-military leadership to resort to new organizational expedients in order to control operations along the extended front. These were the high commands of the directions, which were responsible for two or more fronts (army groups) and, along maritime axes, one or more fleets. In all, five high commands were created along the northwestern, western, southwestern, and North Caucasus strategic directions during 1941–42. However, the highly unfavorable strategic situation during the first year of the war, as well as interference in day-to-day operations by Stalin, severely limited the high commands' effectiveness. As a consequence, the high commands were abolished in mid-1942 and replaced by the more flexible system of supreme command representatives at the front. A High Command of Soviet Forces in the Far East was established in 1945 and oversaw the Red Army's highly effective campaign against Japanese forces in Manchuria. The Far Eastern High Command was briefly resurrected in 1947 as a response to the tense situation along the Korean peninsula and the ongoing civil war in China, but was abolished in 1953, soon after Stalin's death. Growing tensions with China brought about the recreation of the Far Eastern High Command in 1979, followed a few years later by the appearance of new high commands in Europe and South Asia. However, these new high commands did not long survive the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and were abolished a year later. The book relies almost exclusively on Soviet and post-communist archival and other sources and is the first unclassified treatment of this subject in any country, East or West.Richard W. Harrison earned his Undergraduate and Master's degrees from Georgetown University, where he specialized in Russian Area Studies. He later earned his doctorate in War Studies from King's College London. He also was an exchange student in the former Soviet Union and spent several years living and working in post-communist Russia. He has taught Russian History and Military History at the US Military Academy at West Point. Dr. Harrison lives with his family near Carlisle, Pennsylvania.Stephen Satkiewicz is an independent scholar with research areas spanning Civilizational Sciences, Social Complexity, Big History, Historical Sociology, Military History, War Studies, International Relations, Geopolitics, and Russian and East European history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies
Richard W. Harrison's The Soviet Army's High Commands in War and Peace, 1941-1992 (Casemate Academic, 2022) is the first full treatment of the unique phenomenon of High Commands in the Soviet Army during World War II and the Cold War. The war on the Eastern Front during 1941–45 was an immense struggle, running from the Barents Sea to the Caucasus Mountains. The vast distances involved forced the Soviet political-military leadership to resort to new organizational expedients in order to control operations along the extended front. These were the high commands of the directions, which were responsible for two or more fronts (army groups) and, along maritime axes, one or more fleets. In all, five high commands were created along the northwestern, western, southwestern, and North Caucasus strategic directions during 1941–42. However, the highly unfavorable strategic situation during the first year of the war, as well as interference in day-to-day operations by Stalin, severely limited the high commands' effectiveness. As a consequence, the high commands were abolished in mid-1942 and replaced by the more flexible system of supreme command representatives at the front. A High Command of Soviet Forces in the Far East was established in 1945 and oversaw the Red Army's highly effective campaign against Japanese forces in Manchuria. The Far Eastern High Command was briefly resurrected in 1947 as a response to the tense situation along the Korean peninsula and the ongoing civil war in China, but was abolished in 1953, soon after Stalin's death. Growing tensions with China brought about the recreation of the Far Eastern High Command in 1979, followed a few years later by the appearance of new high commands in Europe and South Asia. However, these new high commands did not long survive the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and were abolished a year later. The book relies almost exclusively on Soviet and post-communist archival and other sources and is the first unclassified treatment of this subject in any country, East or West.Richard W. Harrison earned his Undergraduate and Master's degrees from Georgetown University, where he specialized in Russian Area Studies. He later earned his doctorate in War Studies from King's College London. He also was an exchange student in the former Soviet Union and spent several years living and working in post-communist Russia. He has taught Russian History and Military History at the US Military Academy at West Point. Dr. Harrison lives with his family near Carlisle, Pennsylvania.Stephen Satkiewicz is an independent scholar with research areas spanning Civilizational Sciences, Social Complexity, Big History, Historical Sociology, Military History, War Studies, International Relations, Geopolitics, and Russian and East European history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies
Nazityskland och Sovjetunionen mördade under perioden 1933 till 1945 14 miljoner civila i ett område som innefattar östra Polen, Ukraina, Vitryssland, västra Ryssland och Baltikum. De civila offren dog inte pga krigshandlingar utan en genomtänkt mordisk politik. Koloniala ambitioner utifrån två totalitära ideologier slutade med skapad massvält, nackskott och gasning. Den amerikanske historikern Timothy Snyder kallar området för Bloodlands i en bok med samma namn. Han hävdar att vi måste utgå från territoriet för att förstå vad som hände.I samarbete med podden Historia Nu publicerar vi en intervju med professor Martin Hårdstedt utifrån boken Bloodlands av historikern Timothy Snyder.Två totalitära regimers koloniala ambitioner sammanföll i brödboden Ukraina. Sovjetunionens ledare Stalin valde att medvetet svälta ihjäl 3 miljoner ukrainska bönder i kollektiviseringen av jordbruket, som var tänkt att ge ett överskott som kunde användas för att industrialisera samhället. I den stora terrorn 1936 till 1938 var polacker och kulaker särskilt utpekade. 700 000 människor avrättades under två år för att säkerställa revolutionen.Adolf Hitler planerade att låta 30 miljoner människor svälta ihjäl i Bloodlands för att ge utrymme för en jordbrukskolonisation av Ukraina, för att säkerställa Tysklands mattillgång. När krigslyckan satte stopp för planerna inriktades dödandet framförallt mot judar som främst sköts nära sina hem än skickades till dödslägren i Polen.När Tyskland anföll Polen den 1 september var det första steget på vägen att besegra Sovjetunionen. På Östfronten fick tyskarnas fantasier om raskrig fritt spelrum. Massavrättningarna av judar började på hösten 1941 och fortsatte till 1944. Cirka 1,5 miljoner ukrainska judar dödades, och över 800 000 fördrevs österut.Bild: Einsatzgruppe mördar judar i Ivanhorod, Ukraina, 1942. En kvinna försöker skydda ett barn med sin egen kropp precis innan de beskjuts med gevär på nära håll. Wikipedia, Public Domain.Musik: The Comeback Yid Bulgarish av Humans Win, Storyblock AudioLyssna också på Så blev vanliga medelålders män massmördare i Hitlers raskrig samt Holodomor – Josef Stalins terrorsvält för att kuva ukrainarna. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we're discussing some of history's most revolting peasants! Now no episode like this would be complete without rumoured West Ham fan Wat Tyler, plus we'll have the New York story of Dr Smith Azer Broughton, and we'll hear from the Kulaks that riled against Stalin's rule in the 20th century.And this week we're talking about historical marketing offers that went wrong. Sunny Delight turning you orange! McDonalds and the olympics in the 80s! What else have we missed? hello@ohwhatatime.comIf you fancy a bunch of OWAT content you've never heard before, why not treat yourself and become an Oh What A Time: FULL TIMER?Up for grabs is:- two bonus episodes every month!- ad-free listening- episodes a week ahead of everyone else- And much moreSubscriptions are available via AnotherSlice and Wondery +. For all the links head to: ohwhatatime.comYou can also follow us on: X (formerly Twitter) at @ohwhatatimepodAnd Instagram at @ohwhatatimepodAaannnd if you like it, why not drop us a review in your podcast app of choice?Thank you to Dan Evans for the artwork (idrawforfood.co.uk).Chris, Elis and Tom xSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
durée : 00:58:58 - Les Grandes Traversées - par : Marie Chartron - Lorsque se produit la révolution de février 1917 qui le libère de son exil sibérien, Staline a déjà 38 ans. Quelle fut la première vie et la formation politique de celui qui s'appelait encore Joseph Djougachvili, né en 1878 dans la petite ville géorgienne de Gori ? - réalisation : Diphy Mariani
durée : 00:58:50 - Les Grandes Traversées - par : Marie Chartron - Début mars 1953, un huis clos dans une datcha à l'ouest de Moscou : Joseph Staline se meurt. Nikita Khrouchtchev, qui a secrètement enregistré ses souvenirs sur bande pendant plusieurs années, se remémore ces événements. Et sa voix nous accompagne. - réalisation : Diphy Mariani
durée : 00:57:46 - Les Grandes Traversées - par : Marie Chartron - Dans le jeune État soviétique, comment Staline, nommé commissaire du peuple aux nationalités puis secrétaire général du parti, parvient-il à entrer dans le costume d'héritier en titre de Lénine ? - réalisation : Diphy Mariani
durée : 00:59:08 - Les Grandes Traversées - par : Marie Chartron - Comment vit-on quand un mot peut être fatal ? Qu'est-ce que la langue raconte de la vie sous Staline ? - réalisation : Diphy Mariani
durée : 00:58:50 - Les Grandes Traversées - par : Marie Chartron - Staline parvient à incarner le parti puis la patrie soviétique. Après-guerre, son culte renforcé par la victoire prend des formes stupéfiantes, sur fond de répressions sans cesse renouvelées. - réalisation : Diphy Mariani
Aunque Joseph Stalin tenía fama de paranoico, no cabe duda de que muchos querían su muerte. Mientras las purgas y los asesinatos dejan millones de cadáveres a su paso, los registros muestran que el mayor adversario de Stalin, bajo el signo de la esvástica, lo tenía justo en el punto de mira. Según el testimonio de un asesino, había comandos nazis en Teherán cuando se iba a celebrar una conferencia entre Joseph Stalin, Franklin D. Roosevelt y Winston Churchill. Años más tarde, se recluta a un prisionero de guerra que emprende una arriesgada carrera hacia Moscú. Tras la contienda, las sospechas de Stalin recaen sobre los médicos. Después de tantos intentos fallidos, ¿tuvo éxito el último complot contra su vida? Stalin enferma y muere a los 74 años, ¿se trató de una muerte natural?
Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too. Here’s a sample episode recapping four Thursday takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. RIP Hulk Hogan and Russiagate 101 The shocking report of wrestling icon Hulk Hogan’s death at age 71. Clay reflects on Hogan’s cultural impact during the 1980s and 1990s, his recent appearance at the Republican National Convention, and his vocal support for President Donald Trump. The hour opens with a tribute to Hogan’s legacy in sports entertainment and American pop culture. The episode then transitions into a deep-dive breakdown of the Russiagate scandal, prompted by listener feedback requesting clarity on the complex narrative. Clay outlines the origins of the Russia collusion narrative following Trump’s 2016 election victory, emphasizing how the media, intelligence community, and Democratic establishment allegedly collaborated to delegitimize Trump’s presidency. He argues that the narrative was built on misinformation and politically motivated leaks, leading to years of investigations that ultimately found no evidence of collusion. Clay also discusses the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling on presidential immunity, suggesting it could shield former President Barack Obama from potential legal consequences related to the 2016 surveillance of the Trump campaign. He explores the implications of this precedent for future administrations and how it may influence accountability for figures like James Comey, John Brennan, James Clapper, and Hillary Clinton. Uncle Bill Confronts Evil Clay speaks with bestselling author and media veteran Bill O’Reilly on a range of issues, including the passing of wrestling legend Hulk Hogan at age 71. They reflect on Hogan’s iconic legacy and his pivotal legal victory over Gawker Media. They also explore Hogan’s cultural impact and transitions into a deeper discussion on O’Reilly’s upcoming book, Confronting Evil, which examines historical and modern manifestations of collective evil, including figures like Hitler, Stalin, and Putin. The hour intensifies with analysis of the Idaho murders and the chilling demeanor of the accused, Bryan Kohberger, as well as the broader implications of confronting individual versus systemic evil. O’Reilly and Travis then pivot to the explosive revelations from Tulsi Gabbard regarding the 2016 election and alleged misconduct by intelligence agencies. The discussion centers on former CIA Director John Brennan and the legal ramifications of knowingly using false information to obtain warrants, with O’Reilly suggesting potential prison time. The Epstein case resurfaces as Clay asks O’Reilly what advice he’d give President Trump amid renewed scrutiny. O’Reilly reveals he spoke with Trump earlier that day and advises full deferral to the Justice Department, warning against media manipulation and emphasizing the political weaponization of Epstein-related narratives. The conversation also touches on the Wall Street Journal’s reporting and the risks of releasing unverified names tied to Epstein, which could trigger massive lawsuits. Clay's Business Advice Deep dive into the latest developments in the Russiagate hoax and new revelations from Tulsi Gabbard and the long-term media and political implications. Clay also discusses the controversial decision by an Obama-appointed judge to block the release of grand jury testimony related to Jeffrey Epstein, highlighting ongoing concerns about transparency and justice. Sunny Hostin of The View says Stephen Colbert’s potential firing is a threat to democracy. Clay challenges her legal credibility, sparking a broader conversation about First Amendment rights, media accountability, and the economics of entertainment. He contrasts Colbert’s financial losses with the massive $1.5 billion deal awarded to South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, underscoring the market-driven nature of media success. GA Rep. Brian Jack Wants to Bring Boxing Back An exclusive interview with Congressman Brian Jack of Georgia’s 3rd District. Jack, a former Trump White House official, discusses his newly introduced Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, aimed at revitalizing professional boxing in the U.S. by modernizing outdated legislation. He emphasizes the need for innovation, athlete protections, and restoring boxing’s cultural relevance, with support from Lonnie Ali and the Association of Boxing Commissions. In a sports-meets-politics crossover, Travis praises NFL coach John Harbaugh for defending his visit to President Trump amid media scrutiny, calling it a “home run” response and a sign of shifting cultural courage in sports. The segment also touches on the resurgence of UFC and WWE, the decline of boxing, and the importance of American athletes reclaiming dominance in combat sports. Make sure you never miss a second of the show by subscribing to the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show podcast wherever you get your podcasts! ihr.fm/3InlkL8 For the latest updates from Clay and Buck: https://www.clayandbuck.com/ Connect with Clay Travis and Buck Sexton on Social Media: X - https://x.com/clayandbuck FB - https://www.facebook.com/ClayandBuck/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/clayandbuck/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ClayandBuck TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clayandbuck YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Guest: Laurence Rees is an award-winning English historian and documentary filmmaker. He has authored several books including The Holocaust: A New History, Hitler and Stalin, Auschwitz: A New History, and his latest, The Nazi Mind: Twelve Warnings from History. The post Understanding the Psychology of Nazis appeared first on KPFA.
Edition No200 | 24-07-2025 - Stalin's Camps to Putin's Russia — The hint of a new Gulag Archipelago takes shape. Remember the Gulag? That grim and terrifying institution of forced labour, mass arrests and industrial scale torment that Stalin used to apparently modernize Russia. It wasn't just camps—it was terror, ideology turned into watch towers and razor wire, and millions of lives drained into Russia's unforgiving soil, for what seemed like capricious and measly ends. Above all, the Gulag was a mindset – of horror for incarcerated, and terror for those threatened with it. But it also served as a projection of power for the Russian state on the international stage. It said ‘look at the horrors we are prepared to inflict on our own people. Imagine, if we are capable of this, then what we can do to you, and your loved ones.' This is where so many people get Russia's rulers wrong right down to Putin. Russia's power, its existence does not come from the raw exercise of power, because in monetary term and most other indices that denote powerful countries, Russia trails far behind. No, Russia's power, its sense of worth, its status, its very existence cones from the idea that is feared. If Russia is not feared, Putin believes, and has hinted at many times in speeches, then it is not. To be fear is to exist, and to be ignored is the real existential threat to Putin and by extension all of Russia. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: CEPA, Gulag 2.0 — Russia Reopens the Camps (June 23, 2025)The Guardian, Gulag History Museum… closed (Nov 14, 2024) The Moscow Times, Kremlin & FSB order museum closure (Nov 14, 2024) Meduza, Citing ‘fire safety violations'… museum shutters (Nov 15, 2024)The Art Newspaper, Battle for memory at Russia's Gulag Museum (Mar 5, 2025) Barents Observer, FSB wants its own pre-trial detention centres (Feb 28, 2025) Meduza, The End of a Life Cycle (Jan 15, 2025) Wikipedia, Gulag Museum, Solovki prison campThe Guardian, Skobov sentenced to 16 years (Mar 21, 2025)Vox, Kara‑Murza's experience (Dec 1, 2024)Memorial (society) Wikipedia entry----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------
Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues Gore Vidal (1925-2012): “The Golden Age” Gore Vidal, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff, recorded on October 5, 2000 in San Francisco, California. Over a period of sixteen years from 1990 to 2006, Richard Wolinsky conducted four interviews with Gore Vidal, two of which involved co-host Richard A. Lupoff. This is the third chronologically of those interviews, conducted on October 5, 2000 while Gore Vidal was on tour for his novel The Golden Age, the final in his series of seven novels exploring American history and titled “Narratives of Empire.” The other novels in the series are Burr, 1876, Lincoln, Empire, Hollywood and Washington D.C. This conversation mostly concerns the period of The Golden Age, which encompasses the World War II and post-war era, focusing on the war itself, Roosevelt and Truman, Stalin, and the institution of the Cold War and the National Security State. The interview also tackles the Bush v Gore election season, and was conducted a month before Election Day. Digitized, remastered and re-edited in August, 2017 by Richard Wolinsky. The complete interview can be found as a Radio Wolinsky podcast. The post July 24, 2025: Gore Vidal Fund Drive Special appeared first on KPFA.
• சோனியா காந்தி தலைமையில் போராட்டம்?• இந்தியா - பாகிஸ்தான் மோதலை ட்ரம்ப் நிறுத்தியதாக 25 முறை கருத்து: விவாதிக்க ராகுல் வலியுறுத்தல்?• நீதிபதி யஷ்வந்த் வர்மா பதவிநீக்கம்: அமித் ஷா ஆலோசனை?• நீதிபதி யஷ்வந்த் வர்மா: விசாரிக்க உச்சநீதிமன்றம் ஒப்புதல்?• 6 மாநிலங்களவை எம்.பி.க்கள் நாளை பதவியேற்பு?• பெருமையோடு டெல்லி செல்கிறேன் - கமல்ஹாசன்?• கலைஞர், முரசொலி மாறனுக்கு நன்றி! - வைகோ• எங்கள் கூட்டணிக்கு வந்தால் நீங்க மீண்டும் எம்.பி ஆகலாம்! - வைகோவுக்கு ஆசை காட்டிய மத்திய அமைச்சர்• குடியரசு துணைத் தலைவர் தேர்தல் நடைமுறைகள் தொடக்கம்? • மாளிகையை காலி செய்யும் பணி தொடக்கம்? * "கட்சியின் முக்கிய பொறுப்புகளுக்கு யாராவது, ‘நான்தான்' என பவனி வந்தால் கட்சியிலிருந்து நீக்கப்படுவார்கள்” -ராமதாஸ் எச்சரிக்கை• பாமக பெயர், கொடியை பயன்படுத்த அன்புமணிக்கு தடை விதிக்க ராமதாஸ் மனு!• திமுக கூட்டணி எந்த நேரத்திலும் உடையலம் - எடப்பாடி பழனிசாமி. • எங்கள் கூட்டணியில் மேலும் சில கட்சிகள் இணையலம் - நயினார் • "முதல்வர் வேட்பாளர் யார் என்பது குறித்து அமித் ஷாவிடம் தான் கேட்க வேண்டும்!" - டி.டி.வி.தினகரன்• ஆடி முடிந்து ஆவணி பிறந்தால் நல்லது நடக்கும் அதிமுகவிற்கு நல்லதே நடக்கும் - ஆர்.பி.உதயகுமார்.• “எடப்பாடி குறி வைத்தால் குறி தப்பாது” - தவெக, நாதக கூட்டணி அழைப்பு குறித்த கேள்விக்கு ஆர்.பி.உதயகுமார் பதில்.• 'இதனால்தான் மருத்துவமனைக்கு அழைத்து செல்லப்பட்டார்'- ஸ்டாலின் உடல்நலம் குறித்து அமைச்சர் மா.சு • ஓய்வுக்கு பின்னர் சுற்றுப் பயணம்: முதல்வர் உறுதி • தமிழ்நாட்டை உலுக்கிய அபிராமி வழக்கில் அதிரடி தீர்ப்பு! • கரூர்: `பிறப்புச் சான்றிதழில் திருத்தம் செய்ய ரூ.5,000' -லஞ்சம் வாங்கிய தாசில்தார் சிறையில் அடைப்பு • ரஷ்யா - உக்ரைன் போர்: துருக்கியில் நடந்த பேச்சுவார்த்தை.. முடிவு என்ன? • 15 பேர் பலி.. காஸாவில் பட்டினியால் அதிகரிக்கும் மரணங்கள்!• ரஷ்யாவில் விமான விபத்து?
The so-called “protocols” of “Zion” can teach us something about psychological warfare. Although the document as a policy paper is without doubt a forgery, it was written by Soviet secret police to discredit legitimate accusations of communist crimes. We see this playbook every time a major story consumes our news feeds. The subject of child trafficking was diverted from public interest with the pizza gate conspiracy. The Epstein story has been diverted for a political pageant involving supposed crimes of a former president. Historically, we see massacres like the one at the Katyn forest, which was initially blamed on Nazis but actually carried out by the orders of Stalin himself. What are we to make of the psychological warfare and how can we learn to see through its intended deceptive goals?*The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description.FREE ARCHIVE (w. ads)SUBSCRIPTION ARCHIVEX / TWITTER FACEBOOKWEBSITECashApp: $rdgable EMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / TSTRadio@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-secret-teachings--5328407/support.
On this episode, we talk about a great comedy/serious movie based off of real events in history, The Death of Stalin. We talk about the events leading to the fall of Stalin and afterwards, the wonderful cast, the director behind it all, and so much more!
Have you said "I'm never going to relapse?" What makes you feel invincible to the triggers and temptations that have caused millions of guys before you to relapse? Let's look at what makes an invincible mindset and how to apply it to our recovery and our life. Remember, Joseph Stalin said "History shows that there are no invincible armies."
GATEWAY CINEMA is a multi-part series of conversations centered on key ideas in film studies. In these conversations, we interpret and celebrate a set of eclectic feature films from across generations and from around the world, including “La Haine”, “Drum”, “Alien 3 (Assembly Cut)”, “Come and See”, “Perfect Days”, “Sweet Smell of Success”, “The Swimmer”, “Amadeus (Director's Cut)”, “Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia”, “Friday”, “Marie Antoinette”, “The Night of the Hunter”, “Crank” and “Crank 2: High Voltage”, “Portrait of a Lady Fire”, “The Fabulous Baron Munchausen”, “Joker: Folie a Deux”, “Welcome to the Dollhouse”, “Heathers”, and “The Death of Stalin”.***Referenced media in GATEWAY CINEMA, Episode 5:“Babel” (Alejandro González Iñárritu, 2006)“13 Assassins” (Takashi Miike, 2010)“Seven Samurai” (Akira Kurosawa, 1954)“The Long Good Friday” (John Mackenzie, 1980)“F1” (Joseph Kosinski, 2025)Audio quotation in GATEWAY CINEMA, Episode 5:“Toilet Flush Sound Effect - High Quality Flushing” by Sound Effect Doggo, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhsVpvM2ZrM“The Twilight Zone Theme” (1959) by Marius Constant, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhsVpvM2ZrM“Perfect Days” (Wim Wenders, 2023), including “Perfect Day (Piano Komorebi Version)” (2024) by Patrick Watson, “Pale Blue Eyes” (1969) by The Velvet Underground, “Feeling Good” (1965) by Nina Simone, “House of the Rising Sun (Japanese Version)” (2023) by Sayuri Ishikawa, and “Perfect Day” (1972) by Lou Reed, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhC3YPiBwS9Vc9nbBG1Dl6y4AfZPD23lm“Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure” (Stephen Herek, 1989)
GATEWAY CINEMA is a multi-part series of conversations centered on key ideas in film studies. In these conversations, we interpret and celebrate a set of eclectic feature films from across generations and from around the world, including “La Haine”, “Drum”, “Alien 3 (Assembly Cut)”, “Come and See”, “Perfect Days”, “Sweet Smell of Success”, “The Swimmer”, “Amadeus (Director's Cut)”, “Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia”, “Friday”, “Marie Antoinette”, “The Night of the Hunter”, “Crank” and “Crank 2: High Voltage”, “Portrait of a Lady Fire”, “The Fabulous Baron Munchausen”, “Joker: Folie a Deux”, “Welcome to the Dollhouse”, “Heathers”, and “The Death of Stalin”.***Referenced media in GATEWAY CINEMA, Episode 4:“Drum” (Steve Carver, 1976)“Shoah” (Claude Lanzmann, 1985)“Paths of Glory” (Stanely Kubrick, 1957)“Platoon” (Oliver Stone, 1986)“Ran” (Akira Kurosawa, 1985)“Solaris” (Andrei Tarkovsky, 1972)“Full Metal Jacket” (Stanley Kubrick, 1987)“Hamburger Hill” (John Irvin, 1987)“Casualties of War” (Brian De Palma, 1989)“Atonement” (Joe Wright, 2007)“Dunkirk” (Christopher Nolan, 2017)Audio quotation in GATEWAY CINEMA, Episode 4:“The Sacred War” by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov and Vasily Lebedev-Kumach (1941), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maYCStVzjDs&list=RDmaYCStVzjDs&start_radio=1“Circus” (Grigori Aleksandrov and Isidor Simkov, 1936), including the song “Trip to the Stratosphere”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCEWd_zDYmc“Drum” (Steve Carver, 1976), including the song “Tell My Story” by Charlie Smalls“Moments in Love” by Art of Noise (1983), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cen22TBHo9M&list=RDcen22TBHo9M&start_radio=1“Come and See” (Elem Klimov, 1985), including “Requiem in D minor, K. 626: Sequentia, Lacrimosa” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1791)
GATEWAY CINEMA is a multi-part series of conversations centered on key ideas in film studies. In these conversations, we interpret and celebrate a set of eclectic feature films from across generations and from around the world, including “La Haine”, “Drum”, “Alien 3 (Assembly Cut)”, “Come and See”, “Perfect Days”, “Sweet Smell of Success”, “The Swimmer”, “Amadeus (Director's Cut)”, “Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia”, “Friday”, “Marie Antoinette”, “The Night of the Hunter”, “Crank” and “Crank 2: High Voltage”, “Portrait of a Lady Fire”, “The Fabulous Baron Munchausen”, “Joker: Folie a Deux”, “Welcome to the Dollhouse”, “Heathers”, and “The Death of Stalin”.***Referenced media in GATEWAY CINEMA, Episode 6:“Marty” (Delbert Mann, 1955)“Director's Cut” (2001) by Fantômas“The Godfather” (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972)“Cape Fear” (J. Lee Thompson, 1962)“The Omen” (Richard Donner, 1976)“Spider Baby: or, the Maddest Story Ever Told” (Jack Hill, 1967)“Charade” (Stanley Donen, 1963)“Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion” (Elio Petri, 1970)"Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me” (David Lynch, 1992)“Scarface” (Howard Hawks, 1932)“Spartacus” (Stanley Kubrick, 1960)“Brick” (Rian Johnson, 2005)“A Face in the Crowd” (Elia Kazan, 1957)“12 Angry Men” (Sidney Lumet, 1957)“Gunfight at the O.K. Corral” (John Sturges, 1957)“Paths of Glory” (Stanley Kubrick, 1957)“The Bridge on the River Kwai” (David Lean, 1957)“Throne of Blood” (Akira Kurosawa, 1957)Audio quotation in GATEWAY CINEMA, Episode 6:“Sweet Smell of Success” (Alexander Mackendrick, 1957)
Send us a textToday, we wrap up the series on the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.Support the show
SPONSORS: 1) MANDO: Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get 20% off + free shipping with promo code JULIAN at https://shopmando.com ! #mando (***TIMESTAMPS in description below) ~ Dr. Kenneth Dekleva is a former physician-diplomat with the U.S. State Department and a Professor of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He is also a senior fellow at the George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations and the author of two novels, The Negotiator's Cross and The Last Violinist. PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/JulianDorey KEN's LINKS - IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecipherbrief/# - X: https://x.com/thecipherbrief - WEBSITE: https://www.thecipherbrief.com/experts/kenneth-dekleva - KEN WORK: https://www.blackwoodadvisorysolutions.com/ FOLLOW JULIAN DOREY INSTAGRAM (Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/juliandoreypodcast/ INSTAGRAM (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey/ X: https://twitter.com/julianddorey JULIAN YT CHANNELS - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Clips YT: https://www.youtube.com/@juliandoreyclips - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Daily YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JulianDoreyDaily - SUBSCRIBE to Best of JDP: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofJDP ****TIMESTAMPS**** 00:00 – Ken's Past Guests, Role in State Admissions, Starting in Moscow, Truth About US Diplomats Abroad 09:23 – Intro to Psychiatry, Jim Grigson, Forensic Evaluation Techniques 20:45 – Ken's Most Intense Case, Prison Psychiatry Reality, Core Philosophy: “Nothing Human is Alien,” Language Shifts in Interviews 32:45 – Having Empathy for Monsters, Emotional Toll, Testifying in Child Abuse Trials, Evaluating Inmates for Release 41:24 – Causes of Predatory Urges, Shocking Classmate Reveal, Reconciling Faith with Catholic Abuse Scandals 49:33 – POW Camp Stories, Parents Meeting Post-WWII, Love for Language and History 57:35 – Why Psychiatry, Ken's Biggest Influence, Most Brilliant Interviewer Ever Met 01:07:31 – Trait of Elite Interviewers, Joining State Department 01:15:47 – First Day in Moscow, Love for Russia, Stress of Diplomatic Work 01:26:41 – Why People Distrust Psychiatrists, Balancing Career & Marriage Abroad 01:32:51 – Benefits for Kids Raised Overseas 01:37:06 – Havana Diplomats, Monthly Parties, Falling Into Geopolitics 01:47:49 – Presenting with Jerrold Post, Karadžić's Shift, T4 Program, Why Humans Commit Atrocities 01:59:02 – Studying Putin, Evil in Human Nature, Social Media's Dark Path 02:03:27 – Challenging Radical Beliefs, Stalin's Hero Revival, Is Kim Jong Un Rational?, What Worries Ken 02:18:01 – Profiling Xi Jinping, His Father's Story, Rumors of Xi's Fall, China's AI Race 02:26:25 – Retaining Foreign Talent, New Cold War, Kai-Fu Lee, National Space Heroes 02:35:32 – The Most Evil Mind Ken Studied, Guardrails for Social Media, Youth Mental Health, COVID Fallout 02:45:52 – Staying Tied to Government, Working with Cancer Patients, Human Side of Medicine, Does Ken Fear Death? CREDITS: - Host & Producer: Julian Dorey - Producer & Editor: Alessi Allaman - https://www.youtube.com/@UCyLKzv5fKxGmVQg3cMJJzyQ Julian Dorey Podcast Episode 321 - Ken Dekleva Music by Artlist.io Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Edition No195 | 20-07-2025 - The night skies turn hostile, but this time it's not only over Ukraine, but the capital of the aggressor, Moscow. This episode investigates the impact of three nights of drone raids on Moscow – both the material and psychological effects. There is a phrase is Russian, sow the wind, reap the whirlwind. Now the city of Lenin and Stalin is becoming Dronegrad, an imperial capital under fire. Did Putin think he could inflict aggression, but that Ukraine would not strike back? It seems he thought precisely this. Since early July, Moscow has faced repeated drone incursions. On July 19, Mayor Sobyanin announced that air defences shot down 2 drones, prompting temporary suspensions at Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports (Reuters). Similar closures occurred on July 17 and 18, with disruptions at all four major Moscow airports (tvpworld.com).----------DESCRIPTION:Drone Strikes on Moscow: Disruption and DestructionIn this episode of Silicon Bites, we delve into the third day of drone strikes on Moscow, which have significantly disrupted airports and travel in the city, turning it into a virtual no-fly zone. The strikes have inflicted both material and psychological damage, highlighting the vulnerability of Moscow despite Russia's aggression in Ukraine. We discuss the economic impact, including massive airline losses and delays, and the broader implications for Russian society and its government's perceived strength. We also examine Ukraine's strategic use of drone strikes as a form of guerrilla economics, aimed at inflicting financial and psychological pain on Russia. Despite Western caution, Ukraine is expanding its capabilities and normalizing these strikes, while Russian civilians remain anxious and frustrated. Ultimately, bringing the war to Russian soil alters the dynamics of the conflict, challenging the Kremlin's narrative and strategy.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Channel Support00:36 Drone Strikes on Moscow: An Overview01:11 Impact on Moscow's Airports and Economy02:13 Psychological and Symbolic Effects02:43 Ukraine's Strategic Calculations05:02 Western Reactions and Future Prospects06:58 Conclusion and Summary----------SOURCES: Reuters: Sobyanin on drones & airport halts (July 19, 2025)The Sun: four-night blitz, airport shutdowns Reuters: 122 drones intercepted July 17, broader strike Kyiv Independent: airlines' losses of 20 bn roublesWashington Post: infrastructure & telecom disruptionsReuters/AP: casualties and public frustrationAP News/Reuters: Russia-Ukraine drone exchanges, Western arms dealsWikipedia: Nov 2024, summer 2024 drone pushesAtlantic Council & CSIS: drone strategy, cost-effectivenessReuters: civilian impacts across regionsThe Washington Post: mobile internet blackouts centralised Guardian/Independent/WSJ: peace talks, escalation, Trump involvement----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------
durée : 00:58:48 - Les Grandes Traversées - Qu'a fait Churchill dans l'entre-deux-guerres ? Secrétaire d'État aux colonies puis Chancelier de l'Échiquier, l'homme devient politique. Il reste historien, écrit "The World Crisis" et se méfie de l'ombre fasciste qui avance sur l'Europe. Soldat né, Churchill était déjà, durant la Première Guerre mondiale, Premier Lord de l'Amirauté. Après son renvoi faisant suite au désastre des Dardanelles, le militaire s'impose en homme politique durant l'entre-deux-guerres en préparant la défense de l'Angleterre contre la montée du nazisme. Dans cet épisode, la visite des War Rooms de Londres, qui abritaient les états-majors ainsi que le cabinet de guerre du gouvernement britannique durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, anime le récit d'un Churchill chef de guerre, symbole d'espoir avant la victoire. Lui collent à la peau son mauvais caractère, mais surtout son courage, aujourd'hui consacré. L'homme de la plus belle heure "Le Herr Hitler a prétendu qu'il pouvait tordre le cou de l'Angleterre comme le cou d'un poulet". Et Churchill montre son cou, qui est un cou de taureau, comme ça, et dit, "hein, quel cou !" Et puis, il se montre lui-même et il dit, "quel poulet" !" L'écrivain Jean Blot relate la prestance, et les indéniables qualités oratoires de Winston Churchill. Nul doute à ses yeux que l'homme a sauvé l'humanité et marqué les générations qui l'ont côtoyé. "C'est aussi l'homme qui a formulé de la façon la plus belle et la plus définitive ce qu'il a d'ailleurs lui-même, je crois, appelé "their finest hour", c'est-à-dire l'heure la plus belle où vraiment l'espoir de l'humanité s'est trouvé concentré sur cette petite île qu'est l'Angleterre." Belliqueux plutôt que belliciste L'historien et biographe du "vieux lion" François Kersaudy écarte l'idée que Churchill aurait été un va-t-en-guerre : "Churchill, c'est un belliqueux quand la guerre est déclarée, mais ça n'est pas un belliciste. C'est-à-dire que c'est quelqu'un qui va faire de son mieux, avant les deux guerres d'ailleurs, pour éviter que la guerre ne se déclare. Mais alors, une fois qu'elle est déclarée, alors là, il devient effectivement belliqueux." N'étant pas passé par l'état-major faute d'y avoir été accepté, Churchill n'a pas reçu de formation en stratégie militaire. Il prend pourtant les devants et s'improvise stratège, tout en évitant les dérives autoritaires, raconte encore François Kersaudy. "Comme ce n'est pas Staline, comme ce n'est pas Hitler, comme ce n'est pas un dictateur, lorsqu'il a des idées stratégiques un petit peu farfelues ou diplomatiques, du reste, il y a autour de lui des gens dévoués, pondérés, des vrais professionnels, eux, qui le retiennent par les basques et qui lui indiquent assez clairement ce qu'il peut faire et ce qu'il ne peut pas faire."
World War II endures in the popular imagination as a heroic struggle between good and evil, with villainous Hitler driving its events. But Hitler was not in power when the conflict erupted in Asia—and he was certainly dead before it ended. His armies did not fight in multiple theaters, his empire did not span the Eurasian continent, and he did not inherit any of the spoils of war. That central role belonged to Joseph Stalin. The Second World War was not Hitler's war; it was Stalin's war. Drawing on ambitious new research in Soviet, European, and US archives, Stalin's War: A New History of World War II (Basic Books, 2021) by award winning historian, Sean McMeekin, Professor of History at Bard College, revolutionizes our understanding of this global conflict by moving its epicenter to the east. Hitler's genocidal ambition may have helped unleash Armageddon, but as McMeekin shows, the war which emerged in Europe in September 1939 was the one Stalin wanted, not Hitler. So, too, did the Pacific war of 1941–1945 fulfill Stalin's goal of unleashing a devastating war of attrition between Japan and the “Anglo-Saxon” capitalist powers he viewed as his ultimate adversary. McMeekin also reveals the extent to which Soviet Communism was rescued by the US and Britain's self-defeating strategic moves, beginning with Lend-Lease aid, as American and British supply boards agreed almost blindly to every Soviet demand. Stalin's war machine, McMeekin shows, was substantially reliant on American materiél from warplanes, tanks, trucks, jeeps, motorcycles, fuel, ammunition, and explosives, to industrial inputs and technology transfer, to the foodstuffs which fed the Red Army. This unreciprocated American generosity gave Stalin's armies the mobile striking power to conquer most of Eurasia, from Berlin to Beijing, for Communism. A groundbreaking reassessment of the Second World War, Stalin's War is revisionist history at its very best: breaking down old paradigms and narratives and bringing to the fore new understandings of the historical process. All from a historian who has the best claim to be the closest, modern-day American equivalent of A. J. P. Taylor. Charles Coutinho Ph. D. of the Royal Historical Society, received his doctorate from New York University. His area of specialization is 19th and 20th-century European, American diplomatic and political history. He has written for Chatham House's International Affairs, the Institute of Historical Research's Reviews in History and the University of Rouen's online periodical Cercles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
World War II endures in the popular imagination as a heroic struggle between good and evil, with villainous Hitler driving its events. But Hitler was not in power when the conflict erupted in Asia—and he was certainly dead before it ended. His armies did not fight in multiple theaters, his empire did not span the Eurasian continent, and he did not inherit any of the spoils of war. That central role belonged to Joseph Stalin. The Second World War was not Hitler's war; it was Stalin's war. Drawing on ambitious new research in Soviet, European, and US archives, Stalin's War: A New History of World War II (Basic Books, 2021) by award winning historian, Sean McMeekin, Professor of History at Bard College, revolutionizes our understanding of this global conflict by moving its epicenter to the east. Hitler's genocidal ambition may have helped unleash Armageddon, but as McMeekin shows, the war which emerged in Europe in September 1939 was the one Stalin wanted, not Hitler. So, too, did the Pacific war of 1941–1945 fulfill Stalin's goal of unleashing a devastating war of attrition between Japan and the “Anglo-Saxon” capitalist powers he viewed as his ultimate adversary. McMeekin also reveals the extent to which Soviet Communism was rescued by the US and Britain's self-defeating strategic moves, beginning with Lend-Lease aid, as American and British supply boards agreed almost blindly to every Soviet demand. Stalin's war machine, McMeekin shows, was substantially reliant on American materiél from warplanes, tanks, trucks, jeeps, motorcycles, fuel, ammunition, and explosives, to industrial inputs and technology transfer, to the foodstuffs which fed the Red Army. This unreciprocated American generosity gave Stalin's armies the mobile striking power to conquer most of Eurasia, from Berlin to Beijing, for Communism. A groundbreaking reassessment of the Second World War, Stalin's War is revisionist history at its very best: breaking down old paradigms and narratives and bringing to the fore new understandings of the historical process. All from a historian who has the best claim to be the closest, modern-day American equivalent of A. J. P. Taylor. Charles Coutinho Ph. D. of the Royal Historical Society, received his doctorate from New York University. His area of specialization is 19th and 20th-century European, American diplomatic and political history. He has written for Chatham House's International Affairs, the Institute of Historical Research's Reviews in History and the University of Rouen's online periodical Cercles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history
World War II endures in the popular imagination as a heroic struggle between good and evil, with villainous Hitler driving its events. But Hitler was not in power when the conflict erupted in Asia—and he was certainly dead before it ended. His armies did not fight in multiple theaters, his empire did not span the Eurasian continent, and he did not inherit any of the spoils of war. That central role belonged to Joseph Stalin. The Second World War was not Hitler's war; it was Stalin's war. Drawing on ambitious new research in Soviet, European, and US archives, Stalin's War: A New History of World War II (Basic Books, 2021) by award winning historian, Sean McMeekin, Professor of History at Bard College, revolutionizes our understanding of this global conflict by moving its epicenter to the east. Hitler's genocidal ambition may have helped unleash Armageddon, but as McMeekin shows, the war which emerged in Europe in September 1939 was the one Stalin wanted, not Hitler. So, too, did the Pacific war of 1941–1945 fulfill Stalin's goal of unleashing a devastating war of attrition between Japan and the “Anglo-Saxon” capitalist powers he viewed as his ultimate adversary. McMeekin also reveals the extent to which Soviet Communism was rescued by the US and Britain's self-defeating strategic moves, beginning with Lend-Lease aid, as American and British supply boards agreed almost blindly to every Soviet demand. Stalin's war machine, McMeekin shows, was substantially reliant on American materiél from warplanes, tanks, trucks, jeeps, motorcycles, fuel, ammunition, and explosives, to industrial inputs and technology transfer, to the foodstuffs which fed the Red Army. This unreciprocated American generosity gave Stalin's armies the mobile striking power to conquer most of Eurasia, from Berlin to Beijing, for Communism. A groundbreaking reassessment of the Second World War, Stalin's War is revisionist history at its very best: breaking down old paradigms and narratives and bringing to the fore new understandings of the historical process. All from a historian who has the best claim to be the closest, modern-day American equivalent of A. J. P. Taylor. Charles Coutinho Ph. D. of the Royal Historical Society, received his doctorate from New York University. His area of specialization is 19th and 20th-century European, American diplomatic and political history. He has written for Chatham House's International Affairs, the Institute of Historical Research's Reviews in History and the University of Rouen's online periodical Cercles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/german-studies
World War II endures in the popular imagination as a heroic struggle between good and evil, with villainous Hitler driving its events. But Hitler was not in power when the conflict erupted in Asia—and he was certainly dead before it ended. His armies did not fight in multiple theaters, his empire did not span the Eurasian continent, and he did not inherit any of the spoils of war. That central role belonged to Joseph Stalin. The Second World War was not Hitler's war; it was Stalin's war. Drawing on ambitious new research in Soviet, European, and US archives, Stalin's War: A New History of World War II (Basic Books, 2021) by award winning historian, Sean McMeekin, Professor of History at Bard College, revolutionizes our understanding of this global conflict by moving its epicenter to the east. Hitler's genocidal ambition may have helped unleash Armageddon, but as McMeekin shows, the war which emerged in Europe in September 1939 was the one Stalin wanted, not Hitler. So, too, did the Pacific war of 1941–1945 fulfill Stalin's goal of unleashing a devastating war of attrition between Japan and the “Anglo-Saxon” capitalist powers he viewed as his ultimate adversary. McMeekin also reveals the extent to which Soviet Communism was rescued by the US and Britain's self-defeating strategic moves, beginning with Lend-Lease aid, as American and British supply boards agreed almost blindly to every Soviet demand. Stalin's war machine, McMeekin shows, was substantially reliant on American materiél from warplanes, tanks, trucks, jeeps, motorcycles, fuel, ammunition, and explosives, to industrial inputs and technology transfer, to the foodstuffs which fed the Red Army. This unreciprocated American generosity gave Stalin's armies the mobile striking power to conquer most of Eurasia, from Berlin to Beijing, for Communism. A groundbreaking reassessment of the Second World War, Stalin's War is revisionist history at its very best: breaking down old paradigms and narratives and bringing to the fore new understandings of the historical process. All from a historian who has the best claim to be the closest, modern-day American equivalent of A. J. P. Taylor. Charles Coutinho Ph. D. of the Royal Historical Society, received his doctorate from New York University. His area of specialization is 19th and 20th-century European, American diplomatic and political history. He has written for Chatham House's International Affairs, the Institute of Historical Research's Reviews in History and the University of Rouen's online periodical Cercles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies
durée : 00:58:50 - Les Grandes Traversées - par : Marie Chartron - Début mars 1953, un huis clos dans une datcha à l'ouest de Moscou : Joseph Staline se meurt. Nikita Khrouchtchev, qui a secrètement enregistré ses souvenirs sur bande pendant plusieurs années, se remémore ces événements. Et sa voix nous accompagne. - réalisation : Diphy Mariani
durée : 00:58:58 - Les Grandes Traversées - par : Marie Chartron - Lorsque se produit la révolution de février 1917 qui le libère de son exil sibérien, Staline a déjà 38 ans. Quelle fut la première vie et la formation politique de celui qui s'appelait encore Joseph Djougachvili, né en 1878 dans la petite ville géorgienne de Gori ? - réalisation : Diphy Mariani
durée : 00:59:08 - Les Grandes Traversées - par : Marie Chartron - Comment vit-on quand un mot peut être fatal ? Qu'est-ce que la langue raconte de la vie sous Staline ? - réalisation : Diphy Mariani
SLEERICKETS is a podcast about poetry and other intractable problems. NB: Did I forget about Hitler? you ask. Did I forget about Stalin? On the one hand, yes, I temporarily did. On the other, there's something about the notion that Gilles de Rais did all this personally in his own home for the explicit purpose of impressing the Devil with his evilness that really sickens the soul. But yes, good point, there's always Hitler, who was, in his own way, the worst person who ever lived.My book Midlife now exists. Buy it here, or leave it a rating here or hereFor more SLEERICKETS, subscribe to SECRET SHOW, join the group chat, and send me a poem for Listener Crit!Leave the show a rating here (actually, just do it on your phone, it's easier). Thanks!Wear SLEERICKETS t-shirts and hoodies. They look good!SLEERICKETS is now on YouTube!For a frank, anonymous critique on SLEERICKETS, subscribe to the SECRET SHOW and send a poem of no more 25 lines to sleerickets [at] gmail [dot] com Some of the topics mentioned in this episode:– Paradise Lost by John Milton– Conspiracy by ContraPoints– Cameron's travel notes– This Pleasing Anxious Being by Richard Wilbur– Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard by Thomas Gray– The Versecraft interview w/ James Matthew Wilson– The Death of Cicero by James Matthew Wilson (compare the first line to the first line of Leda and the Swan by W. B. Yeats)– The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov– How to Blow Up a Pipeline by Andreas Malm– How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2022)– Bronze Age Mindset by Bronze Age Pervert– ContraPoints' comment on Gaza– Ready or Not (2019) & The Babysitter (2017) (same concept, same cosmology, same leading lady, both pretty entertaining)– The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina– Evil– Rod Dreher– La-bas by J.-K. Huysmans– Toni Morrison's 1993 Nobel Prize lecure– The Tower of Babel– Canceling by ContraPoints– We Lived Happily During the War by Ilya Kaminsky– Mitchell & Webb's Lucentio sketchFrequently mentioned names:– Joshua Mehigan– Shane McCrae– A. E. Stallings– Ryan Wilson– Morri Creech– Austin Allen– Jonathan Farmer– Zara Raab– Amit Majmudar– Ethan McGuire– Coleman Glenn– Chris Childers– Alexis Sears– JP Gritton– Alex Pepple– Ernie Hilbert– Joanna PearsonOther Ratbag Poetry Pods:Poetry Says by Alice AllanI Hate Matt Wall by Matt WallVersecraft by Elijah BlumovRatbag Poetics By David Jalal MotamedAlice: In Future PostsBrian: @BPlatzerCameron: Minor TiresiasMatthew: sleerickets [at] gmail [dot] comMusic by ETRNLArt by Daniel Alexander Smith
The history of the world's most successful military alliance, from the wrecked Europe of 1945 to Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. As they signed NATO into being after World War II, its founders fervently believed that only if the West's democracies banded permanently together could they avoid a catastrophic global atomic conflict. Over the 75 years since, the alliance has indeed avoided war with Russia, also becoming a major political, strategic and diplomatic player well beyond its borders. It has survived disagreements between leaders from Eisenhower, Churchill and de Gaulle to Trump, Stoltenberg and Merkel, faced down Kremlin foes from Stalin to Putin and endured unending questions and debate over what new nations might be allowed to join. Deterring Armageddon: A Biography of NATO (Hachette UK, 2024) takes the reader from backroom deals that led to NATO's creation, through the Cold War, the Balkans and Afghanistan to the current confrontation with the Kremlin following the invasion of Ukraine. It examines the tightrope walked by alliance leaders between a powerful United States sometimes flirting with isolationism and European nations with their ever-evolving wishes for autonomy and influence. Having spent much of its life preparing for conflicts that might never come, NATO has sometimes found itself in wars that few had predicted – and with its members now again planning for a potential major European conflict. It is a tale of tension, danger, rivalry, conflict, big personalities and high-stakes military and diplomatic posturing – as well as espionage, politics and protest. From the Korean War to the pandemic, the Berlin and Cuba crises to the chaotic evacuation from Kabul, Deterring Armageddon tells how the alliance has shaped and been shaped by history – and looks ahead to what might be the most dangerous era it has ever faced. Peter Apps is global defence correspondent for Reuters news agency and is currently on sabbatical as executive director of the Project for Study of the 21st Century (PS21). He is the author of two Kindle Singles. BEFORE EBOLA (2014) describes his experiences covering haemorrhagic fever in Angola in 2005 while CHURCHILL IN THE TRENCHES (2015) reconstructs the experiences of Britain's future prime minister at the front line during the First World War. Peter's podcast, focusing on modern military topics, as part of PS21 can be found here. Sidney Michelini is a post-doctoral researcher working on Ecology, Climate, and Violence at the Peace Research Institute of Frankfurt (PRIF). Book Recomendations: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow Tom Clancy novels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
The history of the world's most successful military alliance, from the wrecked Europe of 1945 to Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. As they signed NATO into being after World War II, its founders fervently believed that only if the West's democracies banded permanently together could they avoid a catastrophic global atomic conflict. Over the 75 years since, the alliance has indeed avoided war with Russia, also becoming a major political, strategic and diplomatic player well beyond its borders. It has survived disagreements between leaders from Eisenhower, Churchill and de Gaulle to Trump, Stoltenberg and Merkel, faced down Kremlin foes from Stalin to Putin and endured unending questions and debate over what new nations might be allowed to join. Deterring Armageddon: A Biography of NATO (Hachette UK, 2024) takes the reader from backroom deals that led to NATO's creation, through the Cold War, the Balkans and Afghanistan to the current confrontation with the Kremlin following the invasion of Ukraine. It examines the tightrope walked by alliance leaders between a powerful United States sometimes flirting with isolationism and European nations with their ever-evolving wishes for autonomy and influence. Having spent much of its life preparing for conflicts that might never come, NATO has sometimes found itself in wars that few had predicted – and with its members now again planning for a potential major European conflict. It is a tale of tension, danger, rivalry, conflict, big personalities and high-stakes military and diplomatic posturing – as well as espionage, politics and protest. From the Korean War to the pandemic, the Berlin and Cuba crises to the chaotic evacuation from Kabul, Deterring Armageddon tells how the alliance has shaped and been shaped by history – and looks ahead to what might be the most dangerous era it has ever faced. Peter Apps is global defence correspondent for Reuters news agency and is currently on sabbatical as executive director of the Project for Study of the 21st Century (PS21). He is the author of two Kindle Singles. BEFORE EBOLA (2014) describes his experiences covering haemorrhagic fever in Angola in 2005 while CHURCHILL IN THE TRENCHES (2015) reconstructs the experiences of Britain's future prime minister at the front line during the First World War. Peter's podcast, focusing on modern military topics, as part of PS21 can be found here. Sidney Michelini is a post-doctoral researcher working on Ecology, Climate, and Violence at the Peace Research Institute of Frankfurt (PRIF). Book Recomendations: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow Tom Clancy novels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history
The history of the world's most successful military alliance, from the wrecked Europe of 1945 to Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. As they signed NATO into being after World War II, its founders fervently believed that only if the West's democracies banded permanently together could they avoid a catastrophic global atomic conflict. Over the 75 years since, the alliance has indeed avoided war with Russia, also becoming a major political, strategic and diplomatic player well beyond its borders. It has survived disagreements between leaders from Eisenhower, Churchill and de Gaulle to Trump, Stoltenberg and Merkel, faced down Kremlin foes from Stalin to Putin and endured unending questions and debate over what new nations might be allowed to join. Deterring Armageddon: A Biography of NATO (Hachette UK, 2024) takes the reader from backroom deals that led to NATO's creation, through the Cold War, the Balkans and Afghanistan to the current confrontation with the Kremlin following the invasion of Ukraine. It examines the tightrope walked by alliance leaders between a powerful United States sometimes flirting with isolationism and European nations with their ever-evolving wishes for autonomy and influence. Having spent much of its life preparing for conflicts that might never come, NATO has sometimes found itself in wars that few had predicted – and with its members now again planning for a potential major European conflict. It is a tale of tension, danger, rivalry, conflict, big personalities and high-stakes military and diplomatic posturing – as well as espionage, politics and protest. From the Korean War to the pandemic, the Berlin and Cuba crises to the chaotic evacuation from Kabul, Deterring Armageddon tells how the alliance has shaped and been shaped by history – and looks ahead to what might be the most dangerous era it has ever faced. Peter Apps is global defence correspondent for Reuters news agency and is currently on sabbatical as executive director of the Project for Study of the 21st Century (PS21). He is the author of two Kindle Singles. BEFORE EBOLA (2014) describes his experiences covering haemorrhagic fever in Angola in 2005 while CHURCHILL IN THE TRENCHES (2015) reconstructs the experiences of Britain's future prime minister at the front line during the First World War. Peter's podcast, focusing on modern military topics, as part of PS21 can be found here. Sidney Michelini is a post-doctoral researcher working on Ecology, Climate, and Violence at the Peace Research Institute of Frankfurt (PRIF). Book Recomendations: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow Tom Clancy novels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history
New AI analysis of declassified FBI files suggests Hitler didn't die in 1945—he fled to Patagonia. We reveal neural network findings: matching dental records from his ex-dentist, U-boat logs to Argentina, and CIA sightings of "Old German" colonies in 1955. Why did Stalin doubt his death? How did 7,000 Nazis vanish post-war? Explore the Vatican "ratline" escape routes, Hitler's rumored plastic surgery, and the hidden Nazi tech traded to the U.S. for immunity. From buried bunker photos to declassified Mossad hunt files—the cover-up unravels.
On Wednesday's Mark Levin Show, we have a lot of fake MAGA conmen influencers trying to exploit the Jeffrey Epstein matter for financial gain through clicks and subscriptions. These conmen have spread false predictions about the Iran-Israel conflict, such as World War III involvement by China and Russia, and for aligning with dictators while opposing U.S. interests. The left-wing media love these conmen because they think they can damage President Trump over Epstein. This mix of Marxist Islamists and isolation conmen is very dangerous - even Trump isn't good enough for them. You stand with Trump, or you don't. Also, an entire staff at a hospital in Suwayda, Syria, was slaughtered by Islamist terrorists. The Druze, an Arab minority sect, are being attacked by terrorist groups backed by the Syrian military, and only Israel and the IDF are intervening by entering Syria to defend them through attacks on terrorists and Syrian forces. Later, Zohran Mamdani is an anti-Semite, racist, and Islamist Marxist who refuses to denounce the Global Intifada slogan promoting terrorism, wants to tax white neighborhoods more, and seeks to seize private property. His ideology is that of Lenin, Mao, Stalin and Castro but there are Democrats like AOC and Sen Bernie Sander who back him anyway. Afterward, Gov Greg Abbott, with support from Trump and the DOJ, has called a special session in Texas to redraw congressional districts after findings of illegal gerrymandering. This could net Republicans up to five additional House seats. Democrats, led by Hakeem Jeffries, are in panic mode, planning a walkout to deny quorum—similar to their failed 2021 effort—but Republicans are prepared to counter with arrests, fines, or seat vacancies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, we dive headfirst into one of Europe's most brutal and under-discussed chapters: the collapse of Yugoslavia. Live from Croatia, where the scars of that war still linger, and where, 30 years on, the economic, political, and human fallout continues to echo across the continent. We explore how hyperinflation, sparked by debt-fuelled mismanagement and ethnic tension, helped tear the country apart. At one point, Yugoslavia's army was the largest in Europe. Today, its people make up the single largest intra-EU migrant group. In Ireland alone, over 40,000 Croats were issued PPS numbers in the last five years. We walk you through the tangled roots of nationalism, the rotating presidency that doomed a federation, and how the ghost of Tito, who told Stalin to feck off in 1946, still haunts the region. We also talk Jamie Dimon, who popped up in Dublin last week declaring “Europe has lost,” and we break down what that means in GDP terms: 25 years ago, US and EU GDP per capita were neck-and-neck—now the US is 25% ahead. We trace that back to 1995 and ask: What if Yugoslavia was the first warning shot? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why was the Cambridge Five scandal so embarrasing to MI5? And how significant was Oleg Lyalin's success in restoring faith in British Intelligence? Tristan Donovan discusses the notorious spy-ring and its lasting impact with Andrew Lownie, the author of Stalin's Englishman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
7 HoursPG-13Back in the beginning of 2021, as Pete was transitioning out of libertarianism, he and Bird got together to do a series on the Four Swords of Marxism: Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Abimael Guzman, and added in post-Marxist, Hans-Hermann Hoppe.Here is the complete audio.Timeline Earth PodcastPete and Thomas777 'At the Movies'Support Pete on His WebsitePete's PatreonPete's SubstackPete's SubscribestarPete's GUMROADPete's VenmoPete's Buy Me a CoffeePete on FacebookPete on Twitter
Last time we spoke about Black Saterday and Operation Iron Fist. Conflict erupted in Shanghai on August 13, when Japanese marines disguised as civilians provoked Chinese guards, resulting in fierce gunfire and urban warfare. Both sides engaged in skirmishes around vital locations, with the Eight Character Bridge becoming a focal point. On August 14, air raids misfired catastrophically, killing over a thousand civilians in what became known as "Black Saturday." In an attempt to regain control, Chiang Kai-shek authorized Operation Iron Fist, a bold offensive targeting Japanese strongholds. The attack commenced early on August 17, involving coordinated assaults aimed at exploiting weak points in the enemy defenses. However, poor coordination, entrenched opposition, and the complexity of urban combat resulted in further devastating losses for the Chinese troops. By August 18, Operation Iron Fist had failed, with the Japanese reinforcing their positions and announcing a strategic shift towards expanded military engagement. #158 The Battle of Shanghai Part 3: The Chinese Counteroffensive “Drive them into the Sea!” 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. On August 18, the Japanese military reinforced their presence in Shanghai, shipping an additional 1,400 marines from Manchuria to bolster the ranks of the Japanese Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force or “SNLF”. Yes, all of you who don't listen to my Pacific War week by week podcast are going to get a lot of acronym lessons soon. And yes, they are not quote en quote real marines, but like most telling these stories its easier to refer to them this way. This influx of troops was a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, heightening tensions as the battle for control intensified. As the battle in Shanghai raged on, a growing sentiment emerged among Chinese leaders that crucial chances had been squandered. On August 18, Chiang Kai-shek sent his trusted aide, Deputy War Minister Chen Cheng, to confer with General Zhang Zhizhong at the front lines. They assessed the situation and agreed that instead of attacking the heavily fortified Hongkou area, they should redirect their focus to the Yangshupu district. The aim was to breach the defenses and split the Japanese forces along the Huangpu River. This strategic shift was precisely what the German military advisers and frontline commanders had anticipated, signaling a decisive move away from their earlier hesitance to engage within settlement boundaries. As attrition took its toll on the Chinese troops already committed in Shanghai, the responsibility for the offensive was placed on the newly arrived 36th Infantry Division, a unit highly trained by German forces. They were positioned to advance from the eastern edge of Hongkou, with two regiments tasked to march south toward the Huangpu. In the early hours of the 19th, two regiments of the 36th launched their long-planned attack, moving swiftly towards the front lines. The night was illuminated by the flames of sabotage and incendiary bombs, aiding visibility amid the chaos. However, the assault quickly faced significant challenges. Many of the Chinese soldiers were inexperienced, becoming easy targets for Japanese infantry positioned in rooftops and upper-story windows. In the absence of cover, some troops were forced to take shelter behind the fallen bodies of their comrades. For a moment, the Chinese troops felt a surge of hope, believing they could push the Japanese into the Huangpu River. General Zhang Fakui, observing from the opposite bank, envisioned a breakthrough. However, upon reaching Broadway, parallel to the river, they confronted a formidable barrier. High walls guarded the wharves, and even the largest artillery pieces struggled to breach the defenses. Attempts to scale the steel gate resulted in devastating fire from entrenched Japanese machine gunners, while fortified factories like the Gong Da Cotton Mill proved equally impenetrable. As the Chinese forces suffered under relentless bombardment, their momentum diminished. The 88th Infantry Division, previously effective, showed signs of disarray and hesitated to engage. Compounding their woes, Japanese reinforcements arrived, swelling their ranks to 6,300 well equipped marines. Despite these challenges, the Chinese committed to deploying their newly acquired British built Vickers tanks, a symbol of their efforts to modernize their military over the years. But with each hour, the balance of power tilted further in favor of the Japanese forces. Meanwhile the 87th Infantry Division was assigned two armored companies, yet it suffered catastrophic losses. The tanks, recently shipped from Nanjing, had crews untrained in coordinated assaults, and many were left without infantry support. The Chinese forces struggled to secure adjacent streets, allowing Japanese armor to outflank and destroy their tanks. The Japanese, too, faced coordination challenges between their armor and infantry, resulting in some of their tanks being annihilated by Chinese anti-tank weapons. On the 20th, General Zhang Zhizhong inspected the Yangshupu front and encountered a former student leading a tank company ready to attack the wharves. The tanks, hastily repaired and ill equipped for battle, faced fierce enemy fire, and the young officer expressed concern about the infantry's ability to keep pace. Despite Zhang's insistence that the assault must proceed, the attack ended in disaster as the tank company was decimated by shells from anchored vessels. The battle blended modern warfare with tactics reminiscent of earlier centuries. An officer named Wu Yujun managed a position during a Japanese cavalry attack on the 18th. After two unsuccessful assaults, Wu set an ambush that resulted in the annihilation of the Japanese riders. This incident illustrated the stark contrast on the battlefield where Chinese soldiers often confronted a technologically superior enemy while grappling with their own inexperience. Many of the Chinese units arriving in Shanghai were very green, countless having never faced battle before, and their lack of experience proved costly in the initial days of fighting. Brigade Commander Fang Jing of the 98th Division observed that his soldiers constructed inadequate fortifications that crumbled under the Japanese 150mm howitzers. He lamented, “Often, the positions they built were too weak and couldn't withstand the enemy's artillery,”. On the 20th, 5 Chinese aircraft returned after yet another unsuccessful attack on the Japanese battleship Izumo, which remained anchored in the Huangpu. During their flight over western Zhabei, they encountered two Japanese seaplanes. One Chinese pilot broke formation, diving steeply to fire a brief machine-gun salvo, but his plane was quickly shot down, bursting into flames before crashing. The Chinese attacks had posed a significant threat to Japanese bombers, particularly the vulnerable Mitsubishi G3M medium aircraft targeting Shanghai and central China. Japan's First Combined Air Group suffered heavy losses, with half of its medium attack planes damaged or destroyed within the first three days of fighting. However, the Chinese pilots, largely inexperienced and inadequately trained, began to falter against the superior Japanese fighters, eventually withdrawing from the skies over Shanghai. Ground troops expressed frustration over the lack of effective air support, as they rarely saw their planes after the 20th, instead carrying out major troop movements only under the cover of darkness. The Japanese air superiority drastically affected operations on the ground, dictating when Chinese soldiers could eat and transport supplies. Without effective fighter protection and limited anti-aircraft capabilities, the Chinese troops were left exposed. Most of their anti-aircraft weaponry consisted of 20mm Solothurn guns that were ineffective against aircraft and were more often used against infantry. Officers hesitated to use these guns for fear of revealing their positions to the enemy. By the morning of the 21st, the 36th Division had been relentlessly attacking the wharf area for over 48 hours, yet victory remained elusive. Although some tanks had infiltrated the wharf, they were met with dishearteningly strong Japanese defenses and a well-manned enemy presence. The commanders recognized that they had advanced too quickly without securing their flanks, and their reserves, which could have provided crucial support, remained in the rear. Reluctantly, they concluded that a withdrawal was necessary. The retreat was a painful acknowledgment that pushing the Japanese into the Huangpu River would not be as straightforward as hoped. Part of the Chinese failure stemmed from an inability to execute joint operations across different military branches. German advisors noted that artillery support for the forces in Yangshupu from the Pudong side was limited. In contrast, Japanese naval guns were actively providing support, significantly relieving the pressure on their marines. This imbalance resulted in heavy losses for the Chinese, with the 36th Division suffering over 2,000 casualties by the late 22nd. Meanwhile, Japanese naval aircraft attempted to impede the movement of additional Chinese troops to Shanghai by bombing the railway from Suzhou. Although several bridges were destroyed and railway stations sustained damage, the delays were minimal, offering some reassurance to Chinese commanders who understood that reinforcements were essential for a successful continuation of the battle. The light cruiser Jintsu, carrying the 3rd Division, set to land six miles north of Shanghai, while the 11th Division would disembark a dozen miles further up the Yangtze River. By the evening of the 21st, the task force arrived at the Yangtze River and the Saddle Islands off the river estuary. The soldiers had to transfer to smaller vessels capable of navigating the shallow waters of the Huangpu River. On the 23rd, Matsui Iwane got aboard the light cruiser Yura and was greeted by Rear Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, then the commander of the 8th cruiser division. Yes, the same man who would be blamed for losing at Midway in 1942. The Japanese fleet had made a strategic sweep as far south as Hangzhou Bay the previous day to disrupt Chinese troop movements and force them to spread thin along the coast. However, with the landings imminent, it was clear the assault would happen at Wusong and Chuanshakou. Initially, Matsui preferred landing both divisions at Chuanshakou for a sweeping advance into the lightly defended countryside west of Shanghai, which would encircle tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers. The 3rd Fleet, however, proposed a bolder strategy: the 11th Infantry Division would proceed with the landing at Chuanshakou, while the 3rd Infantry Division would land at Wusong, directly confronting the heavily concentrated Chinese forces around Shanghai. This plan aimed to exert pressure from both the front and the rear, a tactic that could yield success but risked high casualties if faced with stiff Chinese resistance. Aware of the operation's risks, the naval officers sought to ease potential tensions with their army counterparts by offering over 500 elite marines to support the assault, preparing for what could be a pivotal moment in the campaign. Shortly after midnight on the 23rd, the marines designated as the primary assault wave at Wusong arrived in a convoy of steamers from Shanghai. Their arrival was eagerly anticipated, as they would spare the 3rd Division from being the first to land. As the naval artillery barrage reached a deafening climax, the boats glided across the smooth water towards the shore. Any time a Chinese machine gun opened fire, it drew immediate response from the Japanese gunners, swiftly silencing the threat. Meanwhile, trench mortars onshore targeted the advancing vessels, but their rounds fell harmlessly into the water without causing any damage. At 3:00 am, the first landing craft reached the bank, dropped anchor, and lowered its ramp. The marines waded ashore, climbing the 15 foot high dike to survey the terrain. Suddenly, machine gun fire erupted from a Chinese position just 50 yards away, cutting down several marines. Undeterred, the marines charged with fixed bayonets across the open field. An explosion marked the spot where a soldier had triggered a landmine, followed by more detonations, but there was no retreat; they pressed on, swarming over the Chinese trench and engaging in a brief yet fierce hand-to-hand struggle. Within moments, they had taken the position. The marines quickly cleared the area, paving a path to their immediate objective, a military road running parallel to the Huangpu River. While setting up defensive positions, the 3rd Division began to disembark at the water's edge. By 8:00 a.m, the divisional command stepped ashore as the last unit to arrive. Meanwhile, naval pilots were busy bombing and strafing roads further inland to impede any enemy reinforcements. The landing had unfolded with remarkable success, marking a significant moment in the operation and setting the stage for greater advances by Japanese forces. Meanwhile the 11th division began setting foot on the beach north of Chuanshakou at 3:50 am. As the soldiers advanced towards the town's outskirts, they encountered only minimal resistance as Chuanshakou was defended by a single Chinese company. Matsui was pleased with the outcome; everything had unfolded according to plan and, in fact, better than he had dared to hope. Casualties in both divisions were surprisingly low, amounting to little more than 40 soldiers. At 5:30 am, Zhang Zhizhong received an urgent phone call at his new headquarters in a small village near Nanxiang. On the line was Liu Heding, commander of the 56th Infantry Division, reporting that an enemy force of unknown size had landed near Chuanshakou. With heavy bombardment disrupting communications, details were scarce, but Zhang immediately recognized the gravity of the situation: a new front was opening, complicating his command significantly. Realizing he could not effectively manage the situation from Nanxiang with communications down, Zhang decided to head to the command post of the 87th Infantry Division in Jiangwan, a town closer to the landing area. By the time he arrived at the 87th Division's base, it was nearly 9:00 am. He was informed that the Japanese had not only landed at Chuanshakou but also at Wusong. Recognizing the urgency, he quickly dispatched half of the 87th Infantry Division and a regiment from the recently arrived Training Brigade, an elite unit fresh from Nanjing, to respond to the threat. Given that the 56th Infantry Division alone could not secure the area around Chuanshakou, Zhang assigned the 98th Infantry Division to defend most of the Yangtze riverbank under threat. He also dispatched the 11th Division, which had just arrived in the Shanghai area with Deputy War Minister Chen Cheng to move toward Luodian, a town just a few miles from the landing zone at Chuanshakou. Meanwhile, the Japanese forces were advancing swiftly. While the main landing contingent engaged in fierce fighting for control of Chuanshakou, a small unit of a few hundred soldiers was dispatched down the road to Luodian. Marching under the scorching August sun, the reservists, weary from the trek, found little resistance upon reaching Luodian. They hastily set up camp without adequately preparing defenses, making them vulnerable targets. Later that afternoon, advance units of the 11th Infantry Division reached Luodian, shaken but determined to attack even after facing air raids on their journey. The ensuing skirmish was swift; within an hour, the Japanese were repelled. Back over at Wusong Hu Guobing received orders to push back the Japanese on August 21st. He led his regiment towards the Japanese lines, as his platoons dispersed further, dividing into smaller squads. Soon, the sharp crack and rattle of small arms fire resonated along the regiment's front. Battalion Commander Qin Shiquan, a graduate of the Central Military Academy, led two companies toward the enemy positions, taking care to remain unnoticed. When they drew close enough, he ordered his bugler to sound the charge. Then, raising his Mauser pistol, he turned to face his men and shouted, “Attack! Attack!” This sudden noise revealed his position, making it vulnerable. Japanese observers hidden nearby quickly relayed his coordinates to warships offshore. Within minutes, shells began to rain down on the unit with alarming accuracy. Amidst the storm of fire unleashed by the Japanese, all semblance of order disintegrated, and chaos ensued as each unit fought to survive. Hu Guobing spent most of the day dodging Japanese aircraft that circled overhead, waiting for targets to emerge. As Hu Guobing recalled “It felt as though the enemy could see everything. It was crucial not to act rashly. Our only real options were to take cover in a hole or hide behind a ridge”. The gunfire continued throughout the afternoon and did not relent until darkness began to fall. Only then could the soldiers breathe a little easier, grab a few bites of their field rations, and quench their parched throats with sips from their water canteens. Seizing the relative safety of night, they hurried to improve their positions, knowing that once dawn arrived, it would be too late; a shallow trench or inadequate camouflage could spell doom. Although it had been Chiang Kai-Shek's decision to place Zhang Zhizhong and Feng Yuxiang in charge of Shanghai, now designated the 3rd War Zone, he was having regrets. In a telephone conversation with Feng Yuxiang shortly after the Japanese landings, Chiang emphasized the importance of monitoring the younger front-line commanders. He urged “Don't hesitate to give them advice,”. Feng assured him that he would not hold back. He then recounted an anecdote about General Nogi Maresuke, who, during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, allegedly delegated all major decisions to his chief of staff. Feng told him “The frontline commanders possess courage and a fighting spirit. Their role is to take orders and engage in battle. Mine is to stay back, like Nogi, write a few poems, and wait for the inevitable,”. Chiang persistently insisted, “Regardless of the situation, don't be shy. Share your insights with them.” “Of course,” Feng responded. “If I notice something amiss, I'll address it without hesitation. You can count on me.” However, this assurance did little to calm Chiang's concerns. A great concern was Zhang Zhizhong. Much of his rhetoric about fighting the Japanese seemed to lack substance. Zhang had not demonstrated the necessary resolve to launch attacks against the small Japanese forces in the city when decisive action could have turned the tide of the battle. With Japanese reinforcements firmly entrenched in two locations within the greater Shanghai area, it was now too late to pursue a quick victory over the enemy. Compounding the issue, Zhang appeared to spend an excessive amount of time making grandiose statements to the newspapers rather than focusing on the ground situation. Chiang's frustration was palpable, and it was shared by his German advisors, who concurred that Zhang lacked the requisite “toughness” to confront Japanese resistance effectively. The decision to send Deputy War Minister Chen Cheng to the front was an early indication that Chiang was considering replacing Zhang. In a particularly humiliating twist, Zhang was not even informed of Chen Cheng's appointment and learned about it indirectly through other field commanders. Fearing that he was being sidelined, Zhang Zhizhong hurried to the 3rd War Zone headquarters in Suzhou to assess the situation. While in Suzhou, called Chiang, whom began harshly criticizing him for being so far behind the front lines. “What are you doing in Suzhou? What are you doing in Suzhou?”. Zhang Zhizhong replied “Mr. Chairman, I'm back in Suzhou to discuss important strategic matters. Otherwise, I'm constantly at the front What's the matter with you?” Chiang was incensed by this perceived disrespect. “What's the matter with me? You ask me what's the matter with me!” His voice rising to a hoarse shriek, Chiang Kai-shek abruptly hung up. At this point, Zhang must have had little doubt that his days as the chief field commander were numbered. The Japanese landings had accomplished their immediate objective of relieving pressure on the small marine forces holed up in Shanghai. As a result, the Chinese were forced to halt their attacks on Hongkou and Yangshupu and had to reconsider how to allocate their resources across various fronts. If the Japanese landing party grew large enough, the Chinese forces could risk becoming the target of a Japanese pincer movement. In essence, within a few days, they had shifted from an offensive posture to a defensive one. Against this backdrop, Chen Cheng, leading the 15th Army Group, arrived in Suzhou on August 24th. His presence aimed to bolster resistance, and he was also there to familiarize himself with local conditions, as he was expected to take on a greater role at the front shortly. Chen's confident demeanor and readiness to overrule local commanders indicated that real authority already resided with him. While he agreed with Zhang Zhizhong's plans from the previous day to counter the landings, he deemed them insufficient given the threat posed by the fresh Japanese troops. Consequently, he ordered that more soldiers be redeployed from Shanghai proper to the landing zones. To counter the dire situation, Falkenhausen devised a plan aimed at reigniting enthusiasm for the offensive among the Chinese forces. During a meeting on the 25th, he proposed rallying all troops in the Luodian area to mount a coordinated attack from all sides against the Japanese landing force. Emphasizing the German preference for a decisive strike, he aimed to push the invaders back into the Yangtze. The assembled officers expressed their agreement with the plan. However, as dawn broke, the optimism from the night's discussions began to wane. It had been 48 hours since the landings, and the Japanese army had solidified its foothold at Chuanshakou, rapidly approaching a point of strength that would make it nearly impossible to dislodge them. Tanks and artillery were assembled along the riverbank, while engineers constructed a pier to facilitate the faster unloading of troops and supplies. They had already established a bridgehead that extended 10 miles in length and reached a depth of five miles, initiating the construction of a road heading inland, an evident preparation for a major offensive. In a secret report to Chiang Kai-shek, Falkenhausen outlined the challenging situation as the Japanese consolidated their material advantages. “It should be noted that the enemy's army and navy operate in close coordination. Although their land-based artillery is still relatively weak, this is offset by their robust naval artillery and ship-based aircraft,”. He further noted that the airfields on Chongming Island contributed to Japan's now “complete air superiority, as a result, the main operations on our side should be executed after dark.” From late August onward, most Chinese movements occurred after sunset. Only then could Chinese and Japanese infantry engage on more equal footing, without the overwhelming advantage provided by air support. Night became the great equalizer in the uneven battle for Shanghai. During the day, the relentlessly active Japanese forces seemed to be everywhere. They deployed rubber boats up small rivers to scout and disrupt. Their observation balloons hovered on the horizon, keeping a vigilant watch on the Chinese and swiftly scrambling aircraft upon detecting any movement. They combined technological superiority with a bravery that bordered on the suicidal; when faced with the prospect of capture, many Japanese soldiers preferred death. Following a fierce battle in the vicinity of Luodian, the Chinese retrieved the body of a sergeant major who had committed hara-kiri, while a gravely injured private was found attempting to slit his own throat with his bayonet. Luodian remained the immediate target for nearly all the Japanese forces in the area, facing the same Chinese units that had driven them out on August 23rd. The Chinese were well entrenched in and around the town, but they lacked the numbers to consider launching offensive operations against the Japanese at Chuanshakou. Instead, their priority was to strengthen their defenses. While waiting for the Japanese to resume the assault, they endured massive and sustained bombardment. Among the Chinese officers, there was a growing sense of crisis and a palpable fear that their defensive line could collapse at any moment. From their perspective, the Japanese appeared to be gaining momentum. However, the situation looked quite different from the Japanese invaders' point of view. Japanese casualties began to rise as the Chinese reinforcements sent to the Luodian area started to make an impact. Two days after the landings, the number of dead and injured from the 11th Division had exceeded 400, and the toll continued to climb. Among the casualties was a senior staff officer who was killed moments after stepping off his landing craft at Chuanshakou, struck down by a Chinese aircraft that had evaded Japanese fighter cover. The death toll escalated so quickly that not all bodies could be cremated, as was customary for the Japanese; privates and junior officers were hastily buried instead. For an army that prided itself on honoring its fallen soldiers more than those left alive, this was a significant blow to morale. The 3rd Division faced different challenges in its sector. It was subjected to relentless attacks on the first day of the landing and had to repel two further major enemy assaults on the second day. Additionally, it experienced occasional shelling from Chinese artillery located on the Pudong side. The greatest threat, however, came from the division's right flank. North of the landing zone lay Wusong Fortress, which had been guarding the approach to Shanghai since the wars against British and French forces in the mid-19th century. From their fortifications, Chinese infantry and artillery continuously targeted the Japanese as they disembarked from their boats and advanced inland. They also fired upon small vessels navigating up the Huangpu River, delivering supplies to the division. As the 3rd Division expanded its bridgehead in the days following the landing, Wusong Fortress remained a persistent threat, impeding the buildup of Japanese forces on shore. Compounding the Japanese sense of being encircled, the village of Yinhang to the south was also under Chinese control. This, combined with the steadily increasing number of Chinese defenders in front of the landing zone, created a challenging tactical situation for the Japanese. Although initial casualties had been lighter than the planners had feared, the number of Japanese losses began to rise. By the 25th, the 3rd Division, often referred to as the “Lucky” Division, reported over 300 accumulated casualties. Two days later, that number had escalated to 500, the majority of whom were killed in action. On the 28th, the 3rd Division was finally able to capture the village of Yinhang, freeing itself somewhat from the tactical constraints it had faced up to that point. On the same day, following an intense naval bombardment, the 11th Division launched an assault on Luodian. Leading the charge was Wachi Takaji, a 44-year-old regimental commander who surged forward with his sword drawn, personally dispatching several enemies along the way. The Chinese defenders were driven out of the town and fled down the roads leading inland. By noon, Luodian was firmly under Japanese control. However August 29th marked a significant triumph for Chinese diplomacy, as Chiang Kai-shek's signed a non-aggression treaty with the Soviet Union. The pact between Nanjing and Moscow laid the political and diplomatic groundwork for Soviet military aid to China while ensuring that the Soviet Union would not reach an agreement with Japan as long as hostilities continued. Initially, Chiang Kai-shek had been wary of Soviet intentions, expressing concerns in his diary on August 1st, when the diplomats were preparing the treaty, that he feared the Kremlin might use the agreement to pressure Japan into signing a similar pact with Moscow. However, following the signing, skepticism gave way to optimism. Three days after announcing the treaty, Chiang confidently predicted in a speech that the Soviet Union would eventually enter the war against Japan. Chiang would not be wrong about that, but it would only come in 1945, officially. Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin had a clear reason to encourage China to engage in a full-scale war with Japan: it would secure Russia's western flank while he focused on the strategic challenges posed by a Europe dominated by Hitler. A conflict with China could drain Japanese resources, thereby reducing the threat from Asia in the long term. Exasperated British diplomats attempted to warn Chiang Kai-shek about what they perceived as a Soviet ruse, advising that the Russians “only have their own interests in mind.” Nevertheless, this did little to undermine the Chinese leader's belief in the Soviet Union's willingness to help. At a deeper cognitive level, there was a reason why Chiang Kai-shek and his associates clung to the belief that not only Soviet aid but also direct Soviet participation in the hostilities was imminent. This aligned with their expectations of how a war with Japan would unfold. The Chinese General Staff's War Plan A, drafted in 1937, was based on the premise that a conflict with Japan would soon trigger a larger conflict involving either the Soviet Union or the United States. Thus, the key objective for China was to withstand the superior Japanese forces until relief could arrive from a more powerful ally, whether that be Russian or American. This strategy was not as naive as it might seem; it was based on the understanding that neither Moscow nor Washington would want to see Japanese power grow too strong on the Asian mainland. Despite the capture of Luodian and Yinhang, the Japanese continued to face significant challenges. Their grip on the Shanghai region remained highly precarious, relying on control of two isolated pockets north of Shanghai and a beleaguered garrison within the city. Due to their numerical inferiority, they were under intense pressure from Chinese forces. The landings at Wusong and Chuanshakou had initially bolstered the manpower in the Shanghai area by fewer than 8,000 troops, and although reinforcements were gradually arriving, the pace was slow. Matsui Iwane recognized the need for a more radical increase in troop levels to achieve a decisive outcome. By the end of August, he cabled Tokyo, arguing that to complete the operation successfully, he required a total of five divisions or at a minimum the release of the 11th Division's Amaya Detachment, currently stationed in northeast China, to reunite with the division at Chuanshakou. The Japanese imperial staff and navy command responded mostly favorably, agreeing to redirect the detachment to Shanghai alongside several units of the elite marines. One week after the landings, Wusong Fort continued to pose a significant problem for the 3rd Division and the navy, which was responsible for supplying the division. Chinese artillery fire made anchoring near the landing zone a perilous endeavor, resulting in several naval officers being killed when caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. At times, the shelling was so severe that vessels had to interrupt their operations and retreat to a berth in the middle of the Huangpu River, unloading only part of their supplies. Matsui now planned for the 3rd Division to launch a frontal assault on Wusong, while the 11th Division would maintain a support role, dispatching only one regiment to assist. The attack commenced at 10:00 am on August 31rd. Following an intensive naval and aerial bombardment involving 30 planes, a regiment from the 3rd Division boarded landing craft, sailed down the Huangpu River, and landed on the riverbank north of Wusong. Throughout the afternoon and into the evening, the soldiers engaged in fierce skirmishes with scattered Chinese units in front of Wusong in preparation for a final entry into the city. Meanwhile, the Asama Detachment from the 11th Division initiated its part of the offensive by marching along the bank of the Yangtze toward Shizilin. On the morning of September 1st, the Japanese tightened their grip on Wusong. The regiment from the 3rd Division seized a hamlet west of Wusong and readied for an assault on the town itself. The defending Chinese forces put up strong resistance, and it was not until late afternoon that the Japanese made any significant progress, aided by artillery fire from their ships. The Asama Detachment experienced somewhat greater success that day, successfully capturing the fort at Shizilin in the afternoon. The Japanese launched their final offensive against Wusong at dawn on the 2nd. To their surprise, the fort fell with relative ease. By 10:00 am, Matsui saw the Rising Sun flag hoisted over Wusong. “I felt boundless gratification,” he noted in his diary. With the fall of Wusong, the town of Baoshan became the last major obstacle to uninterrupted Japanese control of the riverbank, stretching from Chuanshakou to the outskirts of Shanghai. The fort at Baoshan also posed a significant threat to Japanese naval operations due to its strategic location at the confluence of the Yangtze and Huangpu rivers. Chiang Kai-shek fully recognized the importance of Baoshan and ordered a battalion of the 98th Infantry Division to hold the town at all costs. Baoshan had one notable advantage: like many ancient Chinese towns, it was encircled by a thick city wall that had historically helped fend off invaders and still served its defensive purpose well. The Japanese were acutely aware that Baoshan favored defense, and even a small contingent of Chinese forces could potentially hold out for an extended period. On the 4th, the 3rd Division sluggishly advanced toward Baoshan. Around mid-afternoon, an artillery unit arrived to assist by bombarding the city wall. Despite this support, the Japanese soldiers, sent in waves to scale the wall, suffered significant casualties and failed to penetrate the defenses by nightfall. At noon on September 5, Japanese bombers launched an air raid on Baoshan, while naval artillery rained shells indiscriminately over the town's gray roofs. The land attack began an hour later when Japanese tanks advanced toward the town gates. The Japanese pressed the Chinese defenders into a shrinking perimeter. By sunset, the defenders were left with only 100 soldiers. The night passed without incident, as the Japanese refrained from attacking without air support, but everyone knew that dawn would herald the end. Just as the sun rose above the horizon, the assault resumed. As the city neared its fall, the defending commander Yao Ziqing ordered a soldier to escape and report the situation to his superiors. Unnoticed by the Japanese, the soldier scaled a wall and fled into the surrounding countryside, becoming the sole survivor of the battle. He carried with him a message from the battalion: “We are determined to stay at our posts and to continue fighting the enemy until each and every one of us is killed.” 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. Despite initial Chinese hopes for a counteroffensive by the newly arrived 36th Infantry Division, their inexperience and poor coordination led to heavy losses. As the Japanese gained reinforcements, they executed strategic landings at Chuanshakou and Wusong, overwhelming Chinese defenses. Amidst escalating casualties, Chinese troops struggled to maintain morale. However, their resolve to fight persisted, even as defeat loomed over the besieged city and its defenders.