Podcasts about Western Front

In this week's episode and in a long overdue collaboration between Not So Quite on the Western Front and WW2 Both Sides of the Wire, four of us sit down to explore what we feel are the battles that, for one reason or another, shaped the course of the 20th century. Pre-order here: ⁠http://battleguide.co.uk/inferno Written by four historians, each bringing their own unique perspective, Inferno explores war on land, at sea, and in the air — from Mons in 1914 and the trenches of the Somme, to Stalingrad, Normandy, and the brutal final battles of the Pacific War. Across 12 in-depth chapters, we examine the battles that helped create the modern world: the experiences of those who fought them, the decisions that defined them, and the consequences that still shape our world today. Inferno is available now for pre-order in print and ebook, with an audiobook version narrated by Dan Hill. Join Our Community: ⁠https://not-so-quiet.com/⁠ Use our code: Dugout and get one month free as a Captain. Support via Paypal:⁠ https://battleguide.co.uk/nsq-paypal⁠ Do you like our podcast? Then please leave us a review, it helps us a lot! E-Mail: ⁠nsq@battleguide.co.uk⁠ Battle Guide YouTube Channel:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT⁠ Our WW2 Podcast:⁠ https://battleguide.co.uk/bsow⁠ If you want to keep your finger on the pulse of what the team at Battle Guide have been getting up to, why not sign up to our monthly newsletter:⁠ ⁠https://battleguide.co.uk/newsletter⁠ Twitter: @historian1914 @DanHillHistory @BattleguideVT Credits: - Host: Dr. Spencer Jones & Dan Hill - Production: Linus Klaßen - Editing: Hunter Christensen & Linus Klaßen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ghalen by Walter Mosley is a big-hearted story of love in all of its forms. Walter joined us live at B&N Upper West Side to talk about community, Los Angeles, reading, research and more with host Miwa Messer.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Ghalen: A Romance in Black by Walter Mosley Blonde Faith by Walter Mosley Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley John Woman by Walter Mosley The Color Purple by Alice Walker  All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque  Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol  Middlemarch by George Eliot Moby Dick by Herman Melville Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty True Grit by Charles Portis Gone Fishin' by Walter Mosley Fortunate Son by Walter Mosley

In this latest Questions & Answers episode of the Old Front Line podcast, we tackle another fascinating collection of listener questions that uncover some of the lesser-known aspects of the First World War.We begin by exploring the German tradition of Sterbebilder or Death Cards, the memorial cards issued to commemorate fallen soldiers. How were these cards produced, who organised them, and where did the photographs that often appeared on them come from?Next, we examine the impact of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic on the armies of the Great War. As Germany's military fortunes declined during the final months of the conflict, how much of a role did illness play alongside battlefield losses, exhaustion, and dwindling resources? We also consider the wider effect of influenza on all the major combatant nations.We then turn to one of the most familiar nicknames in British medal collecting: "Pip, Squeak and Wilfred". Where did these curious names come from, and how did they become attached to the 1914–15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal?Finally, we look at trench warfare and ask how opposing armies managed to dig trenches in places where the enemy was often only a few yards away. How were these positions established under fire, and how did some sectors of the front evolve into landscapes where soldiers could hear conversations and even smell the enemy's cooking?Sign up for the free podcast newsletter here: Old Front Line Bulletin.You can order Old Front Line Merch via The Old Front Line Shop.Got a question about this episode or any others? Drop your question into the Old Front Line Discord Server or email the podcast.Send us Fan MailSupport the show

Dana and Tom with 5x Club Member, Sarah Duncan, discuss the comedy, History of the World: Part I (1981) for its 45th anniversary: written and directed by Mel Brooks, cinematography by Woody Omens, music by John Morris, editing by John C. Howard, starring Mel Brooks, Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, and Cloris Leachman.Plot Summary: History of the World, Part I is a wild comedy that makes fun of famous moments in world history. Mel Brooks plays several different characters as the movie jumps from the Stone Age to the Roman Empire and the French Revolution. Through songs, jokes, and ridiculous situations, the movie pokes fun at politics, religion, and human behavior. Its fast-moving style and silly humor have made it a cult comedy favorite.Guest:Sarah Duncan - Sister of Tom, Daughter of Dana@thenomadicarchaeologist on IGPrevious Episodes: Zodiac, My Fair Lady, The Artist, Inglourious Basterds, The Great Dictator, Forrest Gump, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Knives Out, All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), The GeneralChapters:00:00 Introduction, Cast, and Background for History of the World, Part I04:01 Welcome Back, Sarah Duncan06:09 Relationship(s) with History of the World08:39 How Has History of the World's Comedy Aged?13:48 The Borscht Belt16:43 Why There is No One Else Like Mel Brooks23:44 Plot Summary for History of the World24:27 What is History of the World About?29:05 Did You Know?32:11 First Break32:54 What's Happening with Sarah Duncan?33:18 Best Performance(s)38:09 Best Scene(s)42:11 Second Break43:10 In Memoriam43:42 Best/Funniest Lines46:23 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy49:37 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance52:19 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty55:34 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness58:59 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability01:01:54 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total01:03:03 Thank You to Sarah and Remaining Thoughts01:12:00 CreditsYou can also find this episode in full video on YouTube.You can now follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky, Threads, YouTube, or TikTok (@gmoatpodcast).For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/history-of-the-world-part-i-1981-ft-sarah-duncanFor the entire rankings list so far, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/greatest-movie-of-all-time-listKeywords:Mel Brooks, History of the World Part 1, comedy, film legacy, behind the scenes, classic movies, satire, film analysisRonny Duncan Studios

In this podcast, Pamela discusses and shares stories of survival from American service men and women.In this episode, Pamela discusses stories about the Meuse-Argonne offensive, which was a major part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire Western Front. It was fought from September 26, 1918, until the Armistice of November 11, 1918, a total of 47 days. Pamela's paternal great-grandfather served in this battle, which was the largest offensive battle in United States military history, involving 1.2 million American soldiers, sailors and marines.This week, Pamela is reading from, "The Heroes of the Argonne", Chapter 9.http://www.coulthart.com/134/Heroes%20of%20the%20Argonne.pdfwww.Radio.NewHeightsEducation.orgInfo@NewHeightsEducation.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/new-heights-show-on-education--4114185/support.

In the first of a three-part series marking the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, we explore the fighting in the northern sector of the battlefield on 1 July 1916.This episode examines the attacks at Serre, Beaumont-Hamel and Thiepval, where some of the most dramatic and costly actions of the opening day unfolded. We look at the ground over which the soldiers advanced, the plans behind the attacks, the units involved, and how the battle developed. From the struggles of the Pals Battalions attacking Serre to the devastating losses suffered below the heights of Thiepval, we trace the story of the men who fought there and assess the outcomes of their efforts.Along the way, we examine the key commanders, the challenges posed by the terrain and German defences, and the human cost of the battle, exploring the casualties suffered and the legacy left behind on this iconic section of the Western Front.The episode concludes with a virtual walk across the modern battlefield, following the route of the attacks and contemplating that story, that legacy of 1 July 1916 today.Main Image: Troops waiting, some still asleep, in a support trench shortly before zero hour, Beaumont Hamel. (IWM Q64). Image by Royal Engineers No.1 Printing Company.Sign up for the free podcast newsletter here: Old Front Line Bulletin.You can order Old Front Line Merch via The Old Front Line Shop.Got a question about this episode or any others? Drop your question into the Old Front Line Discord Server or email the podcast.Send us Fan MailSupport the show

Send us Fan MailToday's episode is my conversation about the 1930 film The Royal Family of Broadway and I'm joined by Rebecca Deniston who writes the Taking Up More Room newsletter, and we talk about the distinct lack of story evident in the film, the complete ostentatiousness of every frame of the film, and how much influence the poor transfer of this film made on our opinion of it overall. You can watch The Royal Family of Broadway on YouTube and be sure to check out Rebecca's newsletter and her website takinguproom.com.Other films mentioned in this episode include:How the Grinch Stole Christmas! directed by Chuck JonesLaughter directed by Harry d'Abbadie d'ArrastAll Quiet on the Western Front directed by Lewis MilestoneGone With the Wind directed by Victor FlemingThe Wizard of Oz directed by Victor FlemingThe Women directed by George CukorMy Fair Lady directed by George CukorCitizen Kane directed by Orson WellesCimarron directed by Wesley RugglesYou Can't Take It With You directed by C.C. Coleman and Frank CapraThe Broadway Melody directed by Harry Beaumont (previous episode on The Broadway Melody with Kevin Pettit)Stage Door Canteen directed by Frank BorzageOther referenced topics:The New Yorkers (musical)The Barrymore Family on WikipediaEmanuel Levy writing on emanuellevy.comSupport the show

In this podcast, Pamela discusses and shares stories of survival from American service men and women.In this episode, Pamela discusses stories about the Meuse-Argonne offensive, which was a major part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire Western Front. It was fought from September 26, 1918, until the Armistice of November 11, 1918, a total of 47 days. Pamela's paternal great-grandfather served in this battle, which was the largest offensive battle in United States military history, involving 1.2 million American soldiers, sailors and marines.This week, Pamela is reading from, "The Heroes of the Argonne", Chapter 8.http://www.coulthart.com/134/Heroes%20of%20the%20Argonne.pdfwww.Radio.NewHeightsEducation.orgInfo@NewHeightsEducation.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/new-heights-show-on-education--4114185/support.

Something is wrong in the woods.The artist notices him first — and says almost nothing. One remark, on the way to the station, barely above a murmur. Then the train comes, and he is gone.It falls to Van Cheele to find out what his friend meant. What he discovers, by the pool in the oak coppice, is a boy with light brown eyes that hold something tigerish in them, lying in the sun with an ease that belongs to no child he has ever met.The aunt will find him charming. The dog will not stay in the house.Saki understood that the old country — the country before the parishes and the property lines — was never entirely tamed. The animals there talk."Gabriel-Ernest" was first published in 1909 in the Westminster Gazette, and later collected in Reginald in Russia and Other Sketches (1910).Saki was the pen name of Hector Hugh Munro (1870–1916), a writer of savage wit and supernatural unease. He was killed on the Western Front in the closing months of the Somme campaign.

In this episode, Andrew Lucas about hisi book with Jürgen Schmieschek that explores Saxon soldiers during the First World War. Using personal writings, they examine how German troops experienced combat on the Western Front, particularly in Flanders. The interview explores daily life, combat conditions and the emotional toll of prolonged warfare. Andi also reflects on the importance of presenting a balanced historical account that incorporates voices from both sides of the conflict.

Derek Fildebrandt, Dave Naylor, Cory Morgan and Dave Wiechnik break down Mark Carney's comments on a clear majority, whether Danielle Smith's leadership is at risk and Wab Kinew's comments during the Western Premier's conference in Kananaskis.

For this episode of the Old Front Line podcast, we open the virtual mailbag once again for another Questions & Answers special covering some fascinating and lesser-known aspects of the First World War. From observation balloons hanging silently over the trenches to trench foot, white feathers and booby traps in No Man's Land, this episode explores the realities of life on the Western Front beyond the better-known battles.We begin by looking at the observation balloons - the so-called Balloonatics - that became such a familiar feature of the wartime landscape. Who manned these vulnerable aerial observation posts? What was life like for the crews suspended high above the battlefield? How many balloons lined the front by 1916, and were they more effective over the flat plains of Flanders than the broken ground of the Somme?We also examine the infamous White Feather campaign and the pressure placed on young men to enlist, alongside the Derby Scheme which allowed men to attest for service before being called up later. How widespread was the practice, and what impact did it have on those who experienced it?Inspired by an episode of Blackadder Goes Forth, we then investigate whether anti-personnel minefields really existed in the trenches of the Great War, and explore the grim world of booby traps and explosive devices hidden one the battlefield.Finally, we answer a question from Australia concerning trench foot and the long-term effects suffered by soldiers who returned to duty after treatment. How badly could damaged feet affect a man's ability to march, and what happened when he rejoined his battalion?Join us for another deep dive into the forgotten details and human stories of the First World War.The book mentioned in the introduction is Jon Woolcott's Tattooed Hills: Journeys to Chalk Figures published in 2026. Main Image: The Medical Officer of the 12th Battalion ,East Yorkshire Regiment conducts a foot inspection in a support trench near Roclincourt, 9 January 1918. (IWM Q10622). Image by Thomas Keith Aitken.Sign up for the free podcast newsletter here: Old Front Line Bulletin.You can order Old Front Line Merch via The Old Front Line Shop.Got a question about this episode or any others? Drop your question into the Old Front Line Discord Server or email the podcast.Send us Fan MailSupport the show

In this interview I talked with Dr. Xu Guoqi. Dr. Xu is professor of history and founding director of the Institute of Transnational History of China at the University of Hong Kong. He has written many books including Asian and the Great War, Chinese and Americans, Strangers on the Western Front, China and the Great War, and Olympic Dreams. We discussed his book, The Idea of China: A Contested History, and the history of the relationship between the United States and China going back to the Founding of America. Go subscribe to The Paradox Press now!Follow me on X: https://x.com/andyschmitt99

In this podcast, Pamela discusses and shares stories of survival from American service men and women.In this episode, Pamela discusses stories about the Meuse-Argonne offensive, which was a major part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire Western Front. It was fought from September 26, 1918, until the Armistice of November 11, 1918, a total of 47 days. Pamela's paternal great-grandfather served in this battle, which was the largest offensive battle in United States military history, involving 1.2 million American soldiers, sailors and marines.This week, Pamela is reading from, "The Heroes of the Argonne", Chapter 7.http://www.coulthart.com/134/Heroes%20of%20the%20Argonne.pdfwww.Radio.NewHeightsEducation.orgInfo@NewHeightsEducation.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/new-heights-show-on-education--4114185/support.

'Under Four Flags' is program by the Musicians of Ma'alwyck being performed in the region from May 26 – 30. The program is a World War I tribute featuring a screening of the 1918 Allied propaganda silent film with an original live score by Max Caplan, alongside chamber music honoring the era and fallen soldiers.The concert opens with a work by Mihail Jora, written while he was recovering in a hospital after being wounded on the Eastern Front. His music is a personal response to the devastation of war. The major work is Samuel Gardner's piano quintet, composed after the death of violinist David Hochstein, who was killed on the Western Front in France in October 1918.

In this episode we discover the story of Lt Charles Potts, Tunnelling Officer at the Birr Cross Roads beneath the Menin Road near Ypres. Wounded in both legs, awful shell shock. What is his story? And we follow the trail of 2 brothers who joined the Royal Flying Corps and died within a few days of each other. And the incredible story of a decorated Officer who had to supervise the execution of a deserter, and was wounded 4 times whilst serving on the Western Front for 4 years. What is his story? We also visit the Greek Island of Rhodes and discover the grave of soldier who served in the Great War as a 14 year old, was evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940 but died in a tragic accident after the fighting had stopped.

In this wide-ranging listener Q&A episode of Old Front Line, we dive into some intriguing and human questions thrown up by the Great War.We begin with the fate of the missing. With hundreds of thousands of men listed as “missing” across the Western Front, is there any real evidence that some chose to disappear, seizing the chaos of war to start new lives elsewhere? We explore the realities of desertion, the systems used to record the dead, and whether the idea of men slipping away into anonymity holds up under historical scrutiny.From there, we head to the contested borderlands of Alsace-Lorraine. Annexed by the German Empire after the Franco-Prussian War, the region produced soldiers who often found themselves fighting for Germany despite deep cultural ties to France. Were these men treated with suspicion? Were they deliberately dispersed among regiments, and how did questions of identity and loyalty shape their wartime experience?We also turn to the modern landscape of the First World War, answering a question about relationships with landowners across the former front lines. What happens when cemeteries and forgotten sites lie on private land? Do landowners welcome visitors, and how connected do they feel to the history beneath their fields? Finally, we tackle casualty comparisons. While 1 July 1916 stands as the British Army's darkest day on the Battle of the Somme, what were the equivalent days of devastation for the French and German armies? From the Battle of the Frontiers to the Offensive in the Champagne, we examine when losses peaked and what that tells us about the wider war.As always, this episode blends thoughtful listener questions with grounded historical analysis, uncovering the personal stories and bigger truths behind the conflict.Research by David O'Mara: Casualties in 1914 and 1915.315eRI on Substack: The Day Flesh Met Steel.Main Image: The Dawn: Propaganda Poster During the First World War with Two Women Representing Alsace and Lorraine by Henri Royer. Sign up for the free podcast newsletter here: Old Front Line Bulletin.You can order Old Front Line Merch via The Old Front Line Shop.Got a question about this episode or any others? Drop your question into the Old Front Line Discord Server or email the podcast.Send us Fan MailSupport the show

We return for the second time in 2026 with a hard-hitting edition of our segment, “This or That,” this time also containing the beloved category borrowed from our counterpart Movie Swap segment. Some of the greatest films we've given each other emerge as they clash, and we do our reviews over “All Quiet On the Western Front” and “Fresh”, respectively. We also discuss long time jumps in TV series, spooky wrestling characters, red roses, & SO MUCH MORE!

The Best Picture Show - Episode 03   Quintin and Sush discuss the 100 Best Picture winners from the last century of filmmaking. They discuss every Oscar ceremony, the historical context of each film, and how the film has stood the test of time.  This episode they watch the third Best Picture winner: All Quiet on the Western Front. Listen every week to hear their thoughts on every Best Picture winner of the Academy Awards.

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 2022 film adaptation of the classic novel All Quiet on the Western Front. The film depicts the Great War through the experience of a young German soldier on the Western Front, charting his rapid disillusionment as patriotic fervor gives way to mechanized slaughter. The film juxtaposes brutal front-line combat with detached armistice negotiations, underscoring the indifference of political leadership to human cost. Visceral and unsparing, the film presents the First World War as an industrialized process of annihilation rather than heroism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us Fan MailToday's episode is my conversation about the 1930 film The Doorway to Hell I'm joined by Jeff Kramer who writes The Death Star Human Resources Department Newsletter, and we talk about comparisons between being a mobster and being in war, the decision to show a child being seriously injured in a film of this era, and what happens when the police detective knows something about the gangster's love interest that the gangster himself doesn't know. You can watch The Doorway to Hell on YouTube or Tubi for free and be sure to check out Jeff's newsletter.Other films mentioned in this episode include:Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone directed by Chris ColumbusThe Godfather directed by Francis Ford CoppolaHeat directed by Michael MannAll Quiet on the Western Front directed by Lewis MilestoneGoodfellas directed by Martin ScorseseThe Leatherneck directed by Howard HigginGone with the Wind directed by Victor FlemingYankee Doodle Dandy directed by Michael CurtizDracula directed by Tod BrowningFrankenstein directed by James WhaleScarface (1932) directed by Howard HawksAvengers: Doomsday directed by Joe and Anthony RussoDisraeli directed by Alfred E. GreenCasino directed by Martin ScorseseThe Departed directed by Martin ScorseseOther referenced topics:London Calling (play) by Geoffrey KerrA Handful of Clouds (play) by Rowland BrownThe Simpsons (series)New York Times reviewVariety reviewDanny Reid on pre-code.comSupport the show

Send us Fan MailToday's episode is my conversation about the 1930 film Whoopee! I'm joined by Dan Pal who writes the PalCinema, Television, & Music newsletter, and we talk about how the film feels more like a collection of skits rather than it's ultimate form, some very problematic racial portrayals, and the legacy of some of the music that came out of this film and the preceding stage production. You can watch Whoopee! on YouTube for free and be sure to check out Dan's newsletter.Other films mentioned in this episode include:Soup to Nuts directed by Benjamin StoloffThe King of Jazz directed by John Murray AndersonThe Hollywood Revue of 1929 directed by Charles F. ReisnerFlying Down to Rio directed by Thornton FreelandThe Wizard of Oz directed by Victor FlemingKid Boots directed by Frank TuttleThe Jazz Singer directed by Alan CroslandThe Fabulous Baker Boys directed by Steve KlovesAll Quiet on the Western Front directed by Lewis MilestonePeter Pan directed by Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske and Clyde GeronimiEveryone Says I Love You directed by Woody AllenOther referenced topics:The Beverly Hillbillies (series)Film Daily reviewVariety reviewDanny Reid on pre-code.com"Makin' Whoopee" scene from The Fabulous Baker BoysSupport the show

In this episode, Sean and James return to the Western Front to examine the Hundred Days’ Offensives—the relentless Allied campaign that finally broke the German Army in 1918. From the stunning combined-arms victory at Amiens to the grinding battles against the Hindenburg Line and the massive American-led offensives at St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne, the episode traces how coordinated Allied attacks shattered German resistance. The discussion highlights the decisive roles of tanks, airpower, unified command under Ferdinand Foch, and the growing impact of American forces. Together, these operations forced Germany to seek an armistice and brought the First World War to its dramatic conclusion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Challenging Anzac: Stories that don't fit the legend Edited by Mia Martin Hobbs, Carolyn Holbrook, The Anzac legend has shaped Australia's national identity for more than a century. Yet many experiences of war do not fit comfortably within this. In Challenging Anzac, leading historians explore some of these stories: Aboriginal activists, deserters on the Western Front, veterans who took their own lives and soldiers who became radicalized by their service. They reveal how episodes in Australia's war history that unsettled the Anzac legend – from the relief of Tobruk, nuclear testing on Australian soil and feminist protests against war, to alleged atrocities in Afghanistan – have been elided or adapted to ‘fit' the legend. Edited by award-winning historians Mia Martin Hobbs, Carolyn Holbrook and Joan Beaumont, Challenging Anzac examines how the reality of warfare has always been at odds with mythic representation and considers why, despite this, the Anzac legend has survived. Mia Martin Hobbs is an oral historian of war and conflict, with a research focus on the Vietnam War, War on Terror, gender, peace, security and postwar reconciliation. Her first book, Return to Vietnam: An Oral History of American and Australian Veterans' Journeys, won the Oral History Australia Book Award in 2022 and was highly commended for the Memory Studies First Book Award in 2023. She has written widely on anti-war veteran activism, war crimes and the impact of the Anzac revival on Australian veterans' war memory. She is presently an ARC DECRA fellow at Deakin University. Carolyn Holbrook is a historian at Deakin University. Her latest books are Challenging Anzac: Stories that Don't Fit the Legend, co-edited with Mia Martin Hobbs and Joan Beaumont (2026), Australia Fair? Democracy, Bureaucracy and the Making of Modern Australia, co-authored with James Walter (2026), and Gold Standard? Remembering the Hawke Government, co-edited with Frank Bongiorno and Joshua Black (2026). She is the director of the Australian Policy and History network and the Australian Health and History digital archive. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/a48266/videos 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

Challenging Anzac: Stories that don't fit the legend Edited by Mia Martin Hobbs, Carolyn Holbrook, The Anzac legend has shaped Australia's national identity for more than a century. Yet many experiences of war do not fit comfortably within this. In Challenging Anzac, leading historians explore some of these stories: Aboriginal activists, deserters on the Western Front, veterans who took their own lives and soldiers who became radicalized by their service. They reveal how episodes in Australia's war history that unsettled the Anzac legend – from the relief of Tobruk, nuclear testing on Australian soil and feminist protests against war, to alleged atrocities in Afghanistan – have been elided or adapted to ‘fit' the legend. Edited by award-winning historians Mia Martin Hobbs, Carolyn Holbrook and Joan Beaumont, Challenging Anzac examines how the reality of warfare has always been at odds with mythic representation and considers why, despite this, the Anzac legend has survived. Mia Martin Hobbs is an oral historian of war and conflict, with a research focus on the Vietnam War, War on Terror, gender, peace, security and postwar reconciliation. Her first book, Return to Vietnam: An Oral History of American and Australian Veterans' Journeys, won the Oral History Australia Book Award in 2022 and was highly commended for the Memory Studies First Book Award in 2023. She has written widely on anti-war veteran activism, war crimes and the impact of the Anzac revival on Australian veterans' war memory. She is presently an ARC DECRA fellow at Deakin University. Carolyn Holbrook is a historian at Deakin University. Her latest books are Challenging Anzac: Stories that Don't Fit the Legend, co-edited with Mia Martin Hobbs and Joan Beaumont (2026), Australia Fair? Democracy, Bureaucracy and the Making of Modern Australia, co-authored with James Walter (2026), and Gold Standard? Remembering the Hawke Government, co-edited with Frank Bongiorno and Joshua Black (2026). She is the director of the Australian Policy and History network and the Australian Health and History digital archive. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/a48266/videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

Mat McLachlan is an Australian, historian and author of Walking With the Anzacs: A Guide to Australian Battlefields on the Western Front. In this special chat, we remember the sacrifices made across the battlegrounds and why the strength of the poppy provided key symbolism for soldiers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Challenging Anzac: Stories that don't fit the legend Edited by Mia Martin Hobbs, Carolyn Holbrook, and Joan Beaumont The Anzac legend has shaped Australia's national identity for more than a century. Yet many experiences of war do not fit comfortably within this. In Challenging Anzac, leading historians explore some of these stories: Aboriginal activists, deserters on the Western Front, veterans who took their own lives and soldiers who became radicalized by their service. They reveal how episodes in Australia's war history that unsettled the Anzac legend – from the relief of Tobruk, nuclear testing on Australian soil and feminist protests against war, to alleged atrocities in Afghanistan – have been elided or adapted to ‘fit' the legend. Edited by award-winning historians Mia Martin Hobbs, Carolyn Holbrook and Joan Beaumont, Challenging Anzac examines how the reality of warfare has always been at odds with mythic representation and considers why, despite this, the Anzac legend has survived. Mia Martin Hobbs is an oral historian of war and conflict, with a research focus on the Vietnam War, War on Terror, gender, peace, security and postwar reconciliation. Her first book, Return to Vietnam: An Oral History of American and Australian Veterans' Journeys, won the Oral History Australia Book Award in 2022 and was highly commended for the Memory Studies First Book Award in 2023. She has written widely on anti-war veteran activism, war crimes and the impact of the Anzac revival on Australian veterans' war memory. She is presently an ARC DECRA fellow at Deakin University. Carolyn Holbrook is a historian at Deakin University. Her latest books are Challenging Anzac: Stories that Don't Fit the Legend, co-edited with Mia Martin Hobbs and Joan Beaumont (2026), Australia Fair? Democracy, Bureaucracy and the Making of Modern Australia, co-authored with James Walter (2026), and Gold Standard? Remembering the Hawke Government, co-edited with Frank Bongiorno and Joshua Black (2026). She is the director of the Australian Policy and History network and the Australian Health and History digital archive. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/a48266/videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/australian-and-new-zealand-studies

Author : Christine Lucas Narrator : Justine Eyre Host : Alicia Caporaso Audio Producer : Andrew Jack First published in ZBN Presents & ZBN Presents Year 2 in July 2024 Image by Iris,Helen,silvy from Pixabay War. Multiple f-words. Sunset at the Western Front by Christine Lucas Millie craned her neck from behind the rusted bench […] Source

In this interview episode, Dr Daniel Reynaud, author of The Man The Anzacs Revered, tells us about the colourful and incredibly brave AIF chaplain William McKenzie, who was a Salvation Army officer on the frontlines with the Diggers at Gallipoli and then on the Western Front. In his time, ‘Fighting Mac' was beloved around Australia and the inspiration for many tall tales. But his truth is even more striking. So why has he been forgotten?See Forgotten Australia live!
"Crashes, Chases and Crooks in Melton History" – as part of the Melton Heritage Festival.More info and free tickets:
https://libraryevents.melton.vic.gov.au/event?id=209608Want more original Australian history? Check out my books!They'll Never Hold Me:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.htmlThe Murder Squad:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.htmlHanging Ned Kelly:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.htmlAustralia's Sweetheart:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.htmlEmail: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sean and James review the 2017 film Journey’s End, a claustrophobic World War I drama set in a British dugout on the Western Front in 1918. There a small group of officers await an expected German offensive. As the days drag on, mounting tension, exhaustion, and trauma—especially in the shell-shocked Captain Stanhope—expose the psychological toll of prolonged trench warfare. The film emphasizes endurance and comradeship in the face of near-certain catastrophe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this in-depth Questions & Answers episode of The Old Front Line, we tackle four fascinating listener questions exploring the aftermath and realities of the First World War.We begin in the Ypres Salient, examining how the Commonwealth War Graves Commission replaced thousands of temporary wooden crosses with the iconic headstones we see today. How was this monumental task organised? How many stonemasons were involved, and how long did the process take?Next, we explore the often misunderstood concept of “machine gun barrages” during trench warfare. How did these indirect fire weapons work, and how effective were they on the battlefield? We also look at examples of the barrages and developing use of machine-guns on the battlefield. We then move behind the lines to investigate burial practices at Casualty Clearing Stations and Field Hospitals. With thousands buried in short periods, what environmental and public health challenges arose, and did these cemeteries pose risks to local populations after the war?Finally, we examine the complex issue of land ownership after 1918. Across former battlefields in France and Belgium, how were destroyed landscapes surveyed, boundaries restored, and compensation provided to those who had lost everything?More on the Vickers Gun: Vickers Machine Gun Collection & Research Association.Main Image: A Vickers machine gun team from the Machine Gun Corps (MGC) wearing PH Type anti-gas helmets in action near Ovillers during the Battle of the Somme, July 1916. (IWM Q3995)Sign up for the free podcast newsletter here: Old Front Line Bulletin.You can order Old Front Line Merch via The Old Front Line Shop.Got a question about this episode or any others? Drop your question into the Old Front Line Discord Server or email the podcast.Send us Fan MailSupport the show

Chris Bishop: National leadership and his policy ambitions Chris Bishop's name has repeatedly been raised in media reports about discontent with the National Party's leadership. Despite being stripped of his campaign chair and leader of the house titles, the Hutt South MP continues to carry some of the most important portfolios in government: transport, housing, and infrastructure. Just over six months until the election, he joins Jack Tame to discuss the top job and how the $49 billion gap in funding New Zealand's roads of national significance will be addressed. Former Labour minister on building back trust after scandal Michael Wood was once a rising star in the Labour government's Cabinet, but after he failed to act on advice to divest himself of his shares in Auckland Airport, he resigned from his Ministerial portfolios in transport, workplace relations, immigration, and as minister for Auckland, and was not returned to his electorate seat in 2023. Three years on, he joins Jack Tame to discuss whether he has regained the confidence of the Labour caucus. Budget cuts come for online ANZAC commemoration Veterans and historians are in disbelief at government plans to archive the Ngā Tapuwae Trails website, a live, self-guided tour of Gallipoli and the Western Front, on the grounds that the website costs too much for a low number of people who use it. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

This episode examines Germany’s final bid for victory in 1918: the massive Spring Offensives that aimed to break the Allied line before American manpower could tip the balance. Sean and James trace the dramatic sequence of operations—from the initial breakthrough of Operation Michael to the far-reaching assaults on the Lys, the Aisne, and finally the Marne—showing how early German successes dissolved into exhaustion, logistical collapse, and strategic overreach. The discussion highlights the emergence of unified Allied command under Ferdinand Foch, the accelerating impact of American forces, and the shifting operational dynamics that transformed the Western Front back into a war of movement. By the end of the episode, listeners will understand why Germany’s last gamble failed and how these offensives set the stage for the decisive Allied Hundred Days.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author, historian, poet, and photographer Briana Gervat shares the story of her solo 500-mile walk along the World War I Western Front.

For the first time, World War One soldiers who died by suicide will be recognised as casualties of war during this year's Anzac commemorations. This afternoon in Wellington descendants of the New Zealand Tunnelling Company will come together at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park to mark the 110th anniversary of the Company's arrival on the Western Front. Event organiser Sue Baker Wilson joins Jesse alongside Retired Major General and friend of the show John Howard.

Send us Fan MailOn the afternoon of the 8th April 1917, a German plane flew over the small village of Achicourt near Arras, where preparations were underway for an attack to be made by the 56th Division the following day.The visit of the German plane set off a catastrophic chain of events that destroyed the village, killed countless soldiers and civilians, and resulted in one of the largest explosions ever seen on the Western Front to that point in the War.Support the podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsbloghttps:/www.patreon.com/footstepspod

3. Nick Lloyd details his scholarly goal of providing a comprehensive narrative of the Western Front from 1914 to 1918. By focusing on senior commanders' operational perspectives, he seeks to challenge "donkeys" and "butchers" myths, offering a more nuanced assessment of the immense pressures these individuals faced. (3)1943 SICILY

The Western Front: Commanders and the Great War 9 sources·APRIL 11, 2026These sources primarily consist of interview transcripts with historian Nick Lloyd, who discusses his comprehensive research on the Western Front during the Great War. He highlights the complex coalition warfare between the Allied powers and the evolving military strategies used to combat the German army's maneuvers. The text examines the distinct personalities and high-stakes decisions of key figures like Joffre, Petain, and Pershing as they navigated the transition from mobile conflict to trench warfare. Additional segments focus on the logistical challenges of manpower, the friction between political and military leaders, and the arrival of American forces in 1917. Interspersed throughout are brief faith-based testimonials from Walnut Hill Community Church regarding personal recovery and community support. Together, the materials provide a multifaceted look at the military history of World War I and the lasting impact of its unresolved tensions.1. Nick Lloyd discusses the complex dynamics of early British leadership, including Prime Minister Asquith, Lord Kitchener, and Sir John French. He highlights the British Army's massive expansion from a small expeditionary force to 60 divisions and the eventual rise of David Lloyd George as a wartime leader. (1)1942

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the final events of 1917 in Europe. They begin with the Eastern Front’s collapse before the Bolshevik Revolution, then turn to the Western Front to discuss the bold British offensive at Cambrai—the first large-scale test of tanks as a weapon of war. Your lovable hosts dive into Cambrai’s dramatic breakthroughs, German counterattacks, and the lessons both sides drew from this landmark battle that foreshadowed the mechanized warfare to come.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are now 50 Q&As in, and the questions keep getting better, sharper, and more human! This milestone edition of The Old Front Line is built around four listener prompts that take us from the small, intimate scale of one soldier's photograph to the vast, uneasy scale of a battlefield that never fully stops giving things back to the surface.We start with the stories that first hooked me on First World War history: individual men whose faces, medals, and graves became “beacons” I return to again and again. From Ypres to Plugstreet to the Somme, we talk about why researching named soldiers and walking the Western Front still matters, and how personal connections can turn into serious historical work.Then we shift into regimental identity and military tradition by unpacking what “Light Infantry” really means by 1914. Were these units deployed differently in the Great War, or is the name mainly heritage? We look at rifle regiments, status, old titles, and the sheer scale of their contribution across the war.Finally, we zoom out to the landscape of memory itself: comparing American Civil War battlefields like Gettysburg with the old front line, touching on Franco-Prussian War commemoration, and finishing with the gritty reality of post-1918 farming, ordnance clearance, Graves Registration, iron harvest, and why reburials still happen today.If you enjoyed this one, subscribe, share it with a fellow Great War traveller, and leave a review so more listeners can find the podcast.Main Image: soldiers of the KRRC while in training c.1915 (Old Front Line Archives).Sign up for the free podcast newsletter here: Old Front Line Bulletin.You can order Old Front Line Merch via The Old Front Line Shop.Got a question about this episode or any others? Drop your question into the Old Front Line Discord Server or email the podcast.Send us Fan MailSupport the show

In their book, Challenging Anzac, leading historians explore real-life stories: Aboriginal activists, deserters on the Western Front, soldiers who became radicalised by service.   

James and Sean discuss the 2010 Australian film Beneath Hill 60, which tells the fascinating story of an Australian tunneling company trying to undermine the German position at the Ypres Salient in the Western Front.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beyond the propaganda about glory, duty and sacrifice, the aftermath of the Great War ushers in a grave new world for my great-grandmother Emma Murtough and her three children. To escape and have a new life, she'll have to make a shocking choice.*All episodes will be available early & ad-free to Patreon and Apple supporters*It's easy to get a free trial that will give you access. Follow these links:Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustraliaApple: apple.co/forgottenaustraliaWant more original Australian history? Check out my books!They'll Never Hold Me:https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.htmlThe Murder Squad:https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.htmlHanging Ned Kelly:https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.htmlAustralia's Sweetheart:https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.htmlEmail: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My great-grandfather Peter Murtough arrives on the Western Front in August 1915. He is soon plunged into some of the most horrific battles of the Great War. Casualty rates soar in his battalion. Some months, more men are killed or wounded than come through unscathed. With bullets flying, shells falling and deadly poison gas drifting across the battlefield, how long will it be until Peter's luck runs out?*All episodes will be available early & ad-free to Patreon and Apple supporters*It's easy to get a free trial that will give you access. Follow these links:Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustraliaApple: apple.co/forgottenaustraliaWant more original Australian history? Check out my books!They'll Never Hold Me:https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.htmlThe Murder Squad:https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.htmlHanging Ned Kelly:https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.htmlAustralia's Sweetheart:https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.htmlEmail: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Old Front Line Q&A episode, we tackle a fascinating range of questions from listeners about life, death, and survival on the battlefields of the First World War. We begin by exploring whether veterans of the conflict were ever allowed to be buried within the official war cemeteries alongside the comrades who fell during the war, and look at the rules established by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission after the creation of the Imperial War Graves system. Did any veterans later return to the battlefields to be laid to rest where they once fought?We also examine the shadowy world of sniping on the Western Front. How common were snipers, how were they selected, and what training did they receive as the war progressed? We discuss the evolution of sniping from the early dominance of German marksmen to the later development of organised British sniping schools.From there we move to the mud of the Ypres Salient during the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917, asking how stretcher bearers managed to rescue wounded men across the shattered and waterlogged battlefield.Finally, we recommend some essential reading for anyone wanting to better understand the fighting around Ypres and the wider story of the Third Ypres offensive.Main Image: Battle of Pilckem Ridge. Stretcher bearers struggle in mud up to their knees to carry a wounded man to safety near Boesinghe, 1 August 1917. (IWM Q5935)Sign up for the free podcast newsletter here: Old Front Line Bulletin.You can order Old Front Line Merch via The Old Front Line Shop.Got a question about this episode or any others? Drop your question into the Old Front Line Discord Server or email the podcast.Send us Fan MailSupport the show

Celebrated high diver Peter Murtough takes the plunge when he marries Emma Hanbury – my colourful great-grandmother. But being a husband and father to three young children doesn't stop him from taking the greatest risk of his life – enlisting at age 40 to fight in the Great War. As Emma cheers him on with her special version of 'It's A Long Way To Tipperary', she can't know that the horrors of the Western Front will upend all of their lives.*All episodes will be available early & ad-free to Patreon and Apple supporters*It's easy to get a free trial that will give you access. Follow these links:Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustraliaApple: apple.co/forgottenaustraliaWant more original Australian history? Check out my books!They'll Never Hold Me:https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.htmlThe Murder Squad:https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.htmlHanging Ned Kelly:https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.htmlAustralia's Sweetheart:https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.htmlEmail: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James and Sean discuss the 2011 film War Horse, in which a young Englishman struggles to be reunited with his beloved horse, who has been sent to the Western Front and has experienced several trying experiences there.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Old Front Line WW1 podcast Q&A episode, we answer listeners' questions about the history of the First World War  and the legacy of the conflict today. We begin by exploring British and Commonwealth war cemeteries, explaining how the headstones are kept perfectly aligned and why some graves appear in straight rows while others are spaced further apart, including the role of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission of how this was made permanent, We then look at the huge stockpiles of artillery ammunition left at the end of the First World War, discussing how millions of shells were stored, disposed of, or destroyed after the Armistice of 1918.Another question focuses on officers' servants, often known as batmen, in the British Army during WW1: how they were recruited, what duties they carried out on and off the battlefield, and what their wartime experience was really like.Finally, we examine salvage on the Western Front and ask whether the famous scene in All Quiet on the Western Front, where Paul Bäumer is issued a dead soldier's tunic, could really have happened during the war.The Killing Ground mentioned in the podcast can be found here: Killing Ground on YouTube.Main Image: Tyne Cotts Pillbox. After capture it became important position and Company Headquarters. Top - Capt Cross MC, 33rd Battalion MGC with runner and batman. (IWM Q56253)Sign up for the free podcast newsletter here: Old Front Line Bulletin.You can order Old Front Line Merch via The Old Front Line Shop.Got a question about this episode or any others? Drop your question into the Old Front Line Discord Server or email the podcast.Send a textSupport the show

In this episode, Sean and James return to the Western Front to examine the Battle of the Somme—the bloodiest and most infamous clash of World War I. They explore the ambitious Allied plan, the disastrous first day that saw nearly 60,000 British casualties, and the grinding months of attrition that followed. Along the way, they discuss the debut of tanks, the shifting German command, and how the Somme became both a symbol of courage and futility. The hosts conclude by assessing whether the costly battle achieved anything beyond unimaginable loss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.