Best Joseph A Campo Podcasts (2024)

1
Could the Axis Powers Have Won WWII?: Part I 36:51

23d ago36:51

36:51

“This is how history went after McCoy changed it … Because ALL this lets them develop the A-bomb first. With the A-bomb & with their V2 rockets to carry them, Germany captured the world.” - Spock, from the Star Trek Episode, “The City on the Edge of Forever.” In this episode we look at one of the most common “What If?” questions in history: the pla…

1
S.L.A. Marshall and the Ratio-of-Fire Theory: Did Only 15-20% of US Riflemen Fire Their Weapons during WWII? 55:01

3M ago55:01

55:01

“I had a feeling of the essential rightness of all. He was dead and I was alive; it could so easily have been the other way round; and that would somehow have been right too.” - Richard Hillary, Royal Air Force pilot, reflecting on the first German plane he shot down In this episode we look at the controversial claim made by US Army General S.L.A. …

1
“Attack at Pearl Harbor: Opting for War with Eyes Closed” 39:14

6M ago39:14

39:14

"AIR RAID ON PEARL HARBOR. THIS IS NOT DRILL." – US Navy dispatch, December 7, 1941. In this episode we look at one of the all-too frequent examples of a successful surprise attack in modern warfare. Most students of history are familiar with the basics: an (un)fortunate set of circumstances enabled Japanese carrier air forces to achieve complete s…

1
Helmuth von Moltke: Railroads, the General Staff, and the Rise of Prussia 1866-1871 1:14:10

7M ago1:14:10

1:14:10

"Moltke is not a general to copy but to study" - J.F.C. Fuller In this episode we look at Helmuth von Moltke (the Elder), the Prussian Chief of the Prussian General Staff most noted for the dramatic Prussian victories over Austria and France which led to the foundation of Germany in 1871. Most historians will casually acknowledge him as a brilliant…

1
Russia-Ukraine War, November 2023: The Unrealistic Expectations of Ukraine's Summer Offensive 44:20

10M ago44:20

44:20

"All the ingredients of a successful counteroffensive have already been unfolding over the past weeks" - Vox, June 12, 2023 In this episode we examine Ukraine's 2023 summer offensive, specifically why it has not achieved the lofty expectations that many Ukrainian backers were hoping for. I suspect future historians will look back at the offensive a…

1
"Why Big Nations Lose Small Wars." 59:59

1y ago59:59

59:59

“The guerrilla wins if he does not lose.” – Henry Kissinger In this episode we update a classic article written by Andrew Mack back in 1975. As I feel strongly enough that a 50-year-old article is worth re-investigating and much of this analysis is based on Mack’s original conclusions, I highly recommend you read the original which is easily availa…

1
The Battle of Midway: Did the United States Win Because of Luck? 55:53

1y ago55:53

55:53

“There is a story, no doubt apocryphal, that gamers at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, have many times replayed the 1942 Battle of Midway - but have never been able to produce an American victory.” – Taken from historian Robert Cowley’s book What If? “Find better gamers.” – My response. In this episode, we look at the celebrated Bat…

1
Napoleon: The Historical Significance of Military Genius. Part 3 53:00

1+ y ago53:00

53:00

“I never was truly my own master but was always ruled by circumstances.” – Napoleon Bonaparte This is the last of a three-part series on the Emperor of the French inspired by historian Andrew Robert’s biography, Napoleon: A Life. The book is quite good at revealing the human being behind the controversial historical figure. Focusing primarily on th…

1
Russia-Ukraine War, February 2023: War Reporting, Russia's Reforms, and NATO's Tanks for Ukraine 35:13

1+ y ago35:13

35:13

“Ukraine has achieved irreversible momentum.” -- US General Ben Hodges, Retired, November 3, 2022 “From a military standpoint, I still maintain that for this year it would be very, very difficult to militarily eject the Russian forces from every inch of Russian-occupied Ukraine.” -- US General Mark Milley, January 20, 2023 In the episode, we look a…

1
Napoleon: The Historical Significance of Military Genius. Part 2 40:40

1+ y ago40:40

40:40

“You must not fight too often with one enemy, or you will teach him all your art of war.” – Napoleon Bonaparte This is the second of a three-part series on the Emperor of the French inspired by historian Andrew Robert’s biography, Napoleon: A Life. The book is quite good at revealing the human being behind the controversial historical figure. Focus…

1
Napoleon: The Historical Significance of Military Genius. Part I 39:41

1+ y ago39:41

39:41

“He who fears being conquered is certain of defeat.” – Napoleon Bonaparte In the first of this two-part episode, we take a look at the Emperor of the French inspired by historian Andrew Robert’s biography, Napoleon: A Life. The book is quite good at revealing the human being behind the controversial historical figure. Focusing primarily on the mili…

1
Warriors of Myth and Legend: The Historical Roots of Civilian Distrust of Soldiers 40:46

2y ago40:46

40:46

“People Sleep Peacefully in Their Beds at Night Only Because Rough Men Stand Ready to Do Violence on Their Behalf” – Attributed to George Orwell In the episode, we examine whether or not Orwell’s quote has historical evidence to support it. Are people civilized only because less civilized men guard them while they sleep? Building on the scholarship…

1
Russia-Ukraine War, October 2022: Unveiling Why Russia Was Not a Great Power 1:00:59

2y ago1:00:59

1:00:59

"Russia's advantages in capacity, capability, and geography combine to pose insurmountable challenges for Ukrainian forces tasked with defending their country." -- The RAND Corporation, January 21, 2022 In the episode, we investigate how events in the Russia-Ukraine war have unfolded. It was widely predicted by Western strategists the Russia was so…

1
Lions Led by Donkeys?: WWI and WWII Offensives Compared 45:07

2y ago45:07

45:07

“My centre is giving way, my right is retreating, excellent situation, I am attacking.” – General Ferdinand Foch, 1914 In the episode, we take a look at the difference in offensives during the two world wars. It is commonly asserted that the defensive was superior in WWI, and thus the generals who ordered the attacks are often portrayed as unthinki…

1
Germany's Generals of WWII: The Military Perspective 38:16

2y ago38:16

38:16

“My generals know nothing about the economic aspects of war.” – Adolf Hitler In the episode, we take a look at the German generals of World War II. With the imagery of Blitzkrieg occupying a prominent place in WWII histories, the reputation of the German generals as exceptional military commanders has persisted despite defeat. Growing up in the Uni…

1
The Military Revolution: The Emergence of Modern Armies and the Modern State. 41:05

2y ago41:05

41:05

"They shall have wars and pay for their presumption.” – William Shakespeare, Henry VI Part 3 In the episode, we take a look at British historian Michael Roberts' thesis of a military revolution that occurred in Europe form 1560-1660. Roberts theorized that changing military developments bore a main share of responsibility of changing the old mediev…

1
The Melian Dialogue: Perennial Insights on Neutrality during a Total War 34:58

2y ago34:58

34:58

"I asked Tom if countries always apologized when they had done wrong, and he says: 'Yes; the littles ones does.'" - Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer Abroad , 1894 In the episode, we take a look at a classic, “The Melian Dialogue” from Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War. It is a famous exchange between powerful Athens, which is engaged in an epic st…

1
The Cult of the Offensive: Military Strategy before World War I 37:16

2+ y ago37:16

37:16

“The offensive is the only way of insuring victory.” - General August von Keim, 1912 In the episode, we take a look at the prevailing belief that the military offensive was far more effective than the defensive on the eve of the First World War. As World War I is infamous for the horrific slaughter of trench warfare in which troops had to "go over …

1
The Fall of France: The "Strange Defeat" of World War II 43:06

2+ y ago43:06

43:06

“The generation to which I belong has a bad conscience.” - Marc Bloch, 1940 In the episode, we take a look at the fall of France to Nazi Germany during WWII. Although the German Blitzkrieg has a reputation for being a military powerhouse, the reality is that the Allied forces were stronger on paper. Not only did the Allies lose, but they also did s…

1
Russian Military History: The Enigma of a Great Power with Indefensible Frontiers 35:00

2+ y ago35:00

35:00

“I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest.” - Winston Churchill An examination in the rise of Russia from Mongol tributary vassal to global superpower reveals underlying weaknesses that gives insight into its decision to i…

1
Blundering Into War 28:35

2+ y ago28:35

28:35

“With 2000 years of examples behind us we have no excuse when fighting, for not fighting well.” - T.E Lawrence Focusing mostly on the United States, the episode explores issues such as the high rate of suicides among veterans, and why US policy makers and the general public have a poor understanding of military affairs.…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Joseph A Campo Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Harvest of Mars: History and War

Joseph A. Campo

1
Could the Axis Powers Have Won WWII?: Part I 36:51

1
S.L.A. Marshall and the Ratio-of-Fire Theory: Did Only 15-20% of US Riflemen Fire Their Weapons during WWII? 55:01

1
“Attack at Pearl Harbor: Opting for War with Eyes Closed” 39:14

1
Helmuth von Moltke: Railroads, the General Staff, and the Rise of Prussia 1866-1871 1:14:10

1
Russia-Ukraine War, November 2023: The Unrealistic Expectations of Ukraine's Summer Offensive 44:20

1
"Why Big Nations Lose Small Wars." 59:59

1
The Battle of Midway: Did the United States Win Because of Luck? 55:53

1
Napoleon: The Historical Significance of Military Genius. Part 3 53:00

1
Russia-Ukraine War, February 2023: War Reporting, Russia's Reforms, and NATO's Tanks for Ukraine 35:13

1
Napoleon: The Historical Significance of Military Genius. Part 2 40:40

1
Napoleon: The Historical Significance of Military Genius. Part I 39:41

1
Warriors of Myth and Legend: The Historical Roots of Civilian Distrust of Soldiers 40:46

1
Russia-Ukraine War, October 2022: Unveiling Why Russia Was Not a Great Power 1:00:59

1
Lions Led by Donkeys?: WWI and WWII Offensives Compared 45:07

1
Germany's Generals of WWII: The Military Perspective 38:16

1
The Military Revolution: The Emergence of Modern Armies and the Modern State. 41:05

1
The Melian Dialogue: Perennial Insights on Neutrality during a Total War 34:58

1
The Cult of the Offensive: Military Strategy before World War I 37:16

1
The Fall of France: The "Strange Defeat" of World War II 43:06

1
Russian Military History: The Enigma of a Great Power with Indefensible Frontiers 35:00

1
Blundering Into War 28:35

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