Best Soviet German War Podcasts (2024)

1
Reporting on the 1989 Revolution in Romania and the Czechoslovak Velvet Revolution (357) 57:33

14h ago57:33

57:33

Allan Little recounts his journey from his student days in Edinburgh to working as a journalist the front lines of Cold War history in Eastern Europe and beyond. In 1989 he found himself on the night shift at the BBC’s Today programme in London when the Berlin Wall fell. Witnessing the world change in real time Allan’s desire to be part of these mo…

1
Mafia Spies and the CIA Plot to Kill Fidel Castro (356) 56:47

2d ago56:47

56:47

Thomas Maier an investigative journalist is our guide to the shadowy world of organized crime and espionage where shares insights from his extensive research and writing, including his latest book and drama documentary "Mafia Spies," which explores the unlikely alliance between the CIA and the Mafia in their attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro. We…

1
Teaching English in East Germany (355) 1:15:40

16h ago1:15:40

1:15:40

Bärbel was born in a village near Magdeburg in 1962, She explores her personal and professional life growing up in East Germany. We delve into her family's views on the East German government, her journey to becoming a teacher, and her experiences teaching English. We cover gender roles and the pressures to become a member of the communist party. A…

1
Cold War Nuclear Bombing Missions and a UFO Encounter (354) 1:08:40

11d ago1:08:40

1:08:40

Cold War RAF pilot Jeremy Lane, shares his gripping experiences, from nuclear bombing missions to a close encounter with a UFO. He was trained to fly the Canberra aircraft on nuclear bombing missions and describes how the American weaponry they would have used required dual control from both the President of the United States and the British Prime …

201
Soviet Ape-Human Hybrids 1:16:53

12d ago1:16:53

1:16:53

On today's episode, we discuss the very weird story about how the Soviet Union tried to cross-breed humans and apes. The craziest parts of this story are less about their failed attempt to create hybrids, and more about the ideals and sensibilities of the scientific community around the world at the time. Bonus: Here's a link to our new music video…

1
Maryna Shevtsova, "Feminist Perspective on Russia’s War in Ukraine: Hear Our Voices" (Lexington Books, 2024) 45:41

13d ago45:41

45:41

Feminist Perspective on Russia’s War in Ukraine: Hear Our Voices came out with Lexington Books at the two-year’s mark of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in February 2024. This volume undertakes an exploration of how gender norms have been transgressed and cultural expectations of womanhood and manhood evolved within the context of the war …

1
Cheltenham Schoolboy to Cold War Canberra Jet Pilot (353) 46:34

18d ago46:34

46:34

Jeremy Lane’s fascination for aviation was nurtured by countless childhood hours watching aircraft at Staverton Airport and North Weald. He shares his experiences flying the Jet Provost and later, the Canberra. He describes the capabilities of this versatile and iconic aircraft, from high-speed reconnaissance to its nuclear role. The Canberra's des…

1
Pinkhes-Dov Goldenshteyn, "The Shochet: A Memoir of Jewish Life in Ukraine and Crimea" (Academic Studies Press, 2023) 1:04:04

15d ago1:04:04

1:04:04

Today we are going to explore a fascinating volume of the Yiddish library, the autobiography of Pinkhes-Dov Goldenshteyn. Set in Ukraine and Crimea, this unique autobiography offers a fascinating, detailed picture of life in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Tsarist Russia. Goldenshteyn (1848-1930), a traditional Jew who was orphaned as …

1
A Cold War Hungarian Journey Through War, Revolution, and Emigration (352) 1:05:27

22d ago1:05:27

1:05:27

In this comprehensive narrative, Imre recounts his life from his birth in 1936 in Hungary to his emigration to the West after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. He discusses the influence of his family’s Hungarian and German heritage, his father’s work in the oil industry, and the impact of World War II and communist rule on his upbringing. The account…

1
Antisemitism in the 20th Century 1:46:40

26d ago1:46:40

1:46:40

On today's episode, we try our best to wrap our heads around Hannah Arendt's book "The Origins of Totalitarianism," published in 1951. We focus primarily on her arguments around the history of Anti-semitism. While we struggle a bit to fully grip the text, we make a good faith effort to better understand the historical context of anti-semitism in th…

1
Mutiny in the East German Army (351) 48:02

29d ago48:02

48:02

In this riveting account, Tilo recounts his experiences as an East German soldier during the final months of East Germany. He details the rising political awareness among soldiers, and his fear that his unit will be asked to shoot on demonstrators also provides a personal perspective on the pivotal moments leading up to and following the fall of th…

1
Face to face with the Soviets at the Cold War Reykjavik Summit between President Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev (350) 1:12:45

1M ago1:12:45

1:12:45

This episode is brought to you by the CNN Original Series Secrets & Spies: A Nuclear Game which premieres 2nd June 2024 and is available now on BBC Iplayer). The series tracks the spies operating behind the scenes in the 1980s as the Cold War brings two superpowers to the brink of nuclear war. This razor-sharp series examines the tenuousness of glo…

1
Victoria Khiterer, "Jewish City Or Inferno of Russian Israel?: A History of the Jews in Kiev Before February 1917" (Academic Studies Press, 2017) 1:16:59

2M ago1:16:59

1:16:59

Victoria Khiterer's book Jewish City Or Inferno of Russian Israel?: A History of the Jews in Kiev Before February 1917 (Academic Studies Press, 2017) describes the history of Jews in Kiev from the tenth century to the February 1917 Revolution. At the turn of the twentieth century, the Kiev Jewish community was one of the largest and wealthiest in t…

1
The President’s Kill List - Assassination and US Foreign Policy since 1945 (349) 52:36

1M ago52:36

52:36

Luca Trenta is an associate professor at Swansea University and has recently authored The President's Kill List: Assassination and US Foreign Policy Since 1945. We dig in detail into the contents of the book delving into the history of Cold War CIA operations including instances of electoral interference and assassination. Our conversation explores…

1
Trump Convicted 2:12:13

1M ago2:12:13

2:12:13

Trump was just convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business documents. We couldn't help ourselves. On today's episode, we give the background of this and other charges trump is currently facing, and have an open conversation about what we feel like this means for the coming election. https://www.patreon.com/brohistory #307 Learn more about …

1
The sinking of the USS Scorpion and the Velvet Revolution (348) 33:58

2M ago33:58

33:58

I’m a big fan of the History Daily podcast, where my good friend Lindsay Graham takes you back in time to explore a momentous moment that happened ‘on this day’ in history. Visit Historydaily.com or search History Daily in your podcast app to learn more. As an introduction to History Daily I have selected two Cold War-themed episodes that I know yo…

1
Tracey German, "Russia and the Changing Character of Conflict" (Cambria Press, 2023) 1:29:37

2M ago1:29:37

1:29:37

Russia's actions in and around Ukraine in 2014, as well as its activities in Syria and further afield, sparked renewed debate about the character of war and armed conflict, and whether it was undergoing a fundamental shift. One of the enduring features of conflict over the centuries has been its state of flux. This perpetual state of evolution requ…

1
A US Diplomat's Son in Cold War Soviet Union, Nicaragua and Cuba (347) 1:08:40

2M ago1:08:40

1:08:40

In this fascinating interview, Patrick D. Joyce recounts his unique experience growing up as the son of a U.S. diplomat during the Cold War. Living in the diplomatic community of the Soviet Union, Nicaragua, and Cuba, Patrick shares vivid memories of his father's career as a Soviet and linguistic expert, who rose to become Deputy Ambassador at both…

1
MeK - Iran's Scientologists 1:25:18

2M ago1:25:18

1:25:18

On today's episode, we talk about MeK, an Iranian opposition group operating out of Albania who's entire purpose is to overthrow the Islamic republic of Iran. Also, they're pretty much a cult, definitely a terrorist group, and has been buying up US politicians since the early 00's. Enjoy https://www.patreon.com/brohistory #306 Learn more about your…

1
Yaroslav Trofimov, "Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine's War of Independence" (Penguin, 2024) 47:01

2M ago47:01

47:01

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Yaroslav Trofimov has spent months on end at the heart of the conflict, very often on its front lines. In Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine's War of Independence (Penguin, 2024), he traces the war’s decisive moments—from the battle for Kyiv to more recently the gruelling and blo…

1
East German Army Bullying, Serving in a Brigade HQ and Military Exercises (346) 50:25

2M ago50:25

50:25

Warning: This episode does cover the subject of suicide. If you need help please use these links: UK https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ Rest of the World https://findahelpline.com/i/iasp Tilo shares his raw and powerful testimony of a young man conscripted into the East German military at the height of Cold War tensions. …

1
Per Högselius and Achim Klüppelberg, "The Soviet Nuclear Archipelago: A Historical Geography of Atomic-Powered Communism" (CEU Press, 2023) 23:41

2M ago23:41

23:41

In this episode of the CEU Press Podcast, host Andrea Talabér (CEU Press/CEU Review of Books) sat down with Per Högselius and Achim Klüppelberg to discuss their new book with CEU Press entitled, The Soviet Nuclear Archipelago: A Historical Geography of Atomic-Powered Communism (CEU Press, 2023). The book is available Open Access, click here to down…

1
America's Cold War Scottish Bastion (345) 1:22:42

2M ago1:22:42

1:22:42

David McKay is a former Cold War special forces officer and author of Bubbleheads, SEALs and Wizards: America's Scottish Bastion in the Cold War. His book highlights the Scottish bases' significant role in supporting the US military over three decades. David brings his expertise into play, examining this intriguing story by reaching out to more tha…

1
What's next in Gaza? 1:44:09

2M ago1:44:09

1:44:09

On today's episode we discuss the recent events surrounding Gaza's final battleground - the southern city of Rafah. We also discuss the implications of the ongoing pro-palestinian protests in schools and universities, as well as a recent bill passed in the house which attempts to codify into law the definition of anti-semitism. https://www.patreon.…

1
WW2/Episode 10 - Aftermath 53:50

2M ago53:50

53:50

The historian Keith Lowe, author of the best-selling The Savage Continent, discusses what happened in the aftermath of the Second World War, which left a world in ruins, tens of millions of refugees, and a slide into anarchy and chaos. As the world was slowly rebuilt, this aspect of the war was forgotten - but it had a lasting impact. The music in …

1
WW2/Episode 9 - America's 'Good War' 1:07:59

2M ago1:07:59

1:07:59

Professor John Bodnar, author of The 'Good War' in American Memory, discusses America's World War Two. The United States came out of the conflict as a victorious superpower. But this has encouraged a narrative of American exceptionalism which has not lived up to critical scrutiny, with historians revealing a divided and often violent country during…

1
WW2/Episode 8 - The Soviet-German War 1:16:32

2M ago1:16:32

1:16:32

Professor Geoffrey Roberts explains why the Soviet-German conflict on the Eastern front was the decisive theatre of the Second World War: without it, Nazi Germany would certainly have taken much longer to defeat. Despite this, outside military accounts, the Red Army's struggle has been overshadowed in Western narratives by the Anglo-American war ef…

1
WW2/Episode 7 - The Underground War 1:03:17

2M ago1:03:17

1:03:17

HALIK KOCHANSKI is the author of the award-winning Resistance, a sweeping account of the underground war across Nazi-occupied Europe. She tells a much more complex story than usual of subversion, SOE, partisans and civil war, as well as desperate Jewish defiance. The music in this episode is from Ida Pinkert's 'Four Songs', played by the Nimrod Ens…

1
WW2/Episode 6 - China's War 1:06:32

2M ago1:06:32

1:06:32

PROFESSOR HANS VAN DE VEN reveals a WW2 narrative that will be unfamiliar to most of us - China's epic war of resistance against Japan in the years 1937-45 and how it created the Communist giant that has become the global superpower of today. The music in this episode is from Ida Pinkert's 'Four Songs', played by the Nimrod Ensemble of Berlin as pa…

1
WW2/Episode 5 - The Real Holocaust 1:04:51

2M ago1:04:51

1:04:51

PROFESSOR CHRISTIAN GERLACH, author of The Extermination of the European Jews, revises the dominant narrative of the Holocaust to explain a phenomenon that was far more complex and far-reaching than has been previously understood. The music in this episode is from Ida Pinkert's 'Four Songs', played by the Nimrod Ensemble of Berlin as part of the Le…

1
WW2/Episode 4 - Food: A Matter of Life and Death 47:18

2M ago47:18

47:18

Social historian LIZZIE COLLINGHAM, author of the ground-breaking The Taste of War, explains how food and its delivery was critical to the conduct of WW2 - and could be a matter of life or death. The music in this episode is from Ida Pinkert's 'Four Songs', played by the Nimrod Ensemble of Berlin as part of the Lebensmelodien project, which seeks t…

1
WW2/Episode 3 - The Pacific War 1:06:34

2M ago1:06:34

1:06:34

The American historian IAN W. TOLL, author of the monumental Pacific War Trilogy, offers new insights into the conflict in the Pacific, which has too often been mis-remembered as an army-led narrative when the real victories were won at sea and in the air. The music in this episode is from Ida Pinkert's 'Four Songs', played by the Nimrod Ensemble o…

1
WW2/Episode 2 - A World At War: Winning and Losing 1:01:42

2M ago1:01:42

1:01:42

PROFESSOR RICHARD OVERY explores the global context of WW2 to show how it transforms our understanding of the conflict - in particular, how it was lost and won. The music in this episode is from Ida Pinkert's 'Four Songs', played by the Nimrod Ensemble of Berlin as part of the Lebensmelodien project, which seeks to rediscover the lost music of comp…

1
WW2/Episode 1 - Britain Alone? 1:00:03

2M ago1:00:03

1:00:03

PROFESSOR DAVID EDGERTON shows how the traditional narrative of Britain's Second World War is seriously misleading. Britain was the richest nation in Europe in 1939 and lay at the centre of a huge global empire. It also, despite appeasement in the 1930s, maintained a thriving military-industrial-scientific complex throughout the inter-war period. T…

1
Lawrence Freedman, "Modern Warfare: Lessons from Ukraine" (Penguin, 2023) 42:08

2M ago42:08

42:08

The foremost authority on modern war in the English-speaking world examines Europe's most important conflict since World War II. More than any other modern war, the fight between Russia and Ukraine has been a tough testing ground for modern weapons and operational concepts. In Modern Warfare: Lessons from Ukraine (Penguin, 2023), Sir Lawrence Freed…

1
Andriy Sodomora, "The Tears and Smiles of Things: Stories, Sketches, Meditations" (Academic Studies Press, 2024) 35:09

2M ago35:09

35:09

Inspired by Virgil’s exquisitely ambivalent phrase “sunt lacrimae rerum” (there are tears of/for/in things), Andriy Sodomora, the Ukrainian “voice” of classical antiquity, has produced a series of original vignettes and essays about things: the big things in our lives (like happiness, loneliness, and aging); the small things we do or see daily, rar…

1
Sean Griffin, "The Liturgical Past in Byzantium and Early Rus" (Cambridge UP, 2019) 55:44

2M ago55:44

55:44

Dr. Sean Griffin's book, The Liturgical Past in Byzantium and Early Rus (Cambridge UP, 2019), takes on the question of the source materials for the Primary Chronicle, one of the most important texts for the study of medieval Russia. Griffin argues that key portions of the Chronicle have their origin in Byzantine liturgy. This thesis has broad impli…

1
"The US Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, 1933–1945, Volume IV" (Indiana UP, 2022) 1:29:24

3M ago1:29:24

1:29:24

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, 1933–1945, Volume IV (Indiana UP, 2022) examines an under-researched segment of the larger Nazi incarceration system: camps and other detention facilities under the direct control of the German military, the Wehrmacht. These include prisoner of war (POW) camps (including…

1
The Challenges of a Christian East German Childhood (344) 53:08

2M ago53:08

53:08

Tilo offers an engaging and personal account of growing up in East Berlin before the fall of the Berlin Wall. He begins by describing his early childhood in a rundown building in Prenzlauer Berg before moving to a new prefab neighbourhood in Lichtenberg. Tilo’s grandfather on his mother’s side was a pastor in the Lutheran church and second in comma…

1
Illia Ponomarenko, "I Will Show You How It Was: The Story of Wartime Kyiv" (Bloomsbury, 2024) 45:58

3M ago45:58

45:58

The spring 2022 battle for Kyiv was "one of the most tragic – and the most bizarre – events in modern history," writes Illia Ponomarenko. "Outnumbered and outgunned, Ukraine sustained the most critical blow and unexpectedly delivered Russia the greatest and most defining defeat of this war. It spelt a stunning end to the Kremlin’s megalomaniac plan…

1
Jen Stout, "Night Train to Odesa: Covering the Human Cost of Russia's War" (Polygon, 2024) 45:06

3M ago45:06

45:06

As a teenager in Shetland, Jen Stout fell in love with Russia and, later, Ukraine – their languages, cultures, and histories. Although life kept getting in the way, she eventually managed to pause her BBC career and take up a nine-month scholarship to live and work in Russia. Unfortunately, this dream only came true in November 2021, as Russian tro…

1
Commanding a Cold War US Navy Nuclear Missile Submarine (343) 1:22:01

3M ago1:22:01

1:22:01

Bill Woodman is a former US Navy nuclear missile submarine commander, who shares his rich experiences from joining the US Naval Academy in 1964 to commanding two SSBN submarines, the USS James Monroe and the USS Alabama during the Cold War. Bill opens up about his initial aspirations, rigorous training at the Naval Academy, and his challenging inte…

1
Could Iran beat the US in a war? 1:41:25

3M ago1:41:25

1:41:25

In today's episode, we unpack the strategic lessons learned from one of the most costly war games in U.S. history, where unconventional tactics by General Van Riper dramatically challenged traditional military doctrines. We analyze how these lessons hold up against the backdrop of today’s geopolitical tensions with Iran, examining potential strateg…

1
Artem Chapeye, "The Ukraine" (Seven Stories Press, 2024) 49:19

3M ago49:19

49:19

A stunning debut collection of fiction and creative nonfiction-- irreverent and unglorified; loving and tender; uncomfortable and inconvenient--by a Ukrainian writer currently fighting for his country in Kyiv. Includes the celebrated title story "The Ukraine," which was published in the New Yorker in 2022. The Ukraine (Seven Stories Press, 2024; tr…

1
My friend the Bridge of Spies spy - Part 2 (342) 59:47

3M ago59:47

59:47

Burt recounts the surreal experience of learning about Fisher's true identity from a newspaper headline, the subsequent FBI interrogations, and the emotional courtroom testimony where he struggled to reconcile his friendship with the stark reality of espionage. Burt's journey leads him to Moscow in a failed attempt to reconnect with Fisher, reveali…

1
My friend the Bridge of Spies spy - Part 1 (341) 1:07:08

3M ago1:07:08

1:07:08

In a riveting episode that peels back the layers of Cold War espionage, we sit down with Burt, an artist who unwittingly befriended a man better known as Colonel Abel, the infamous Bridge of Spies Spy who was exchanged for shot down US U2 pilot Gary Powers. Burt knew Abel as Emil Goldfuss but his real name was Willie Fisher from Newcastle Upon Tyne…

1
Anti-Semitism and Middleman Minorities 1:42:20

4M ago1:42:20

1:42:20

So we started off talking about the rise of anti-semitism, and went into a long debate on Thomas Sowell's theories on violence committed against "middleman minorities" It's a very unstructured episode, with a lot of debate and rabbit holes. Enjoy. https://www.patreon.com/brohistory #303 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
A Diver Sapper in the Cold War Soviet Navy (340) 45:16

3M ago45:16

45:16

Valeriy was a Soviet Navy diver sapper and was born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine. I have used a human translator for this episode so the main voice you will hear is my translator Galina Ryabova who was kindly funded by one of my financial supporters Valeriy opens up about his childhood, the impact of the Great Patriotic War on his family, and his mo…

1
Larissa Babij, "A Kind of Refugee: The Story of an American Who Refused to Leave Ukraine" (Ibidem Press, 2024) 52:15

4M ago52:15

52:15

American-born Larissa Babij is at home in Kyiv when Russia launches its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Her grandparents left Ukraine amidst the violence of World War II, and nearly 80 years later, she is fleeing the advancing Russian army. A Kind of Refugee: The Story of an American Who Refused to Leave Ukraine (Ibidem Press, …

1
Gymnastics and Pills: An East German Childhood (339) 1:37:13

4M ago1:37:13

1:37:13

Sirka offers a comprehensive exploration of life in East Germany, detailing the experiences of growing up in Neubrandenburg, the influence of the East German state and the Stasi, and the societal impacts of Mikhail Gorbachev's policies leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall. She also talks of her intensive gymnastics training and being given pil…

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Soviet German War Podcasts

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