Best Zack Twamley Podcasts (2024)

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.13: When A Plan Comes Together 30:08

1d ago30:08

30:08

1956 Episode 2.13 examines the final moments of peace between 25-29 October, as the conspiracy to attack Egypt and make it look like an accident developed further. In Britain, the focus was on the legal argument still, even despite the clear problems which Britain’s legal advisors in the Foreign Office had in painting any British attack on Egypt as…

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.12: Collusion And Delusion 33:27

9d ago33:27

33:27

1956 Episode 2.12 takes us to the 22-24 October 1956, where the war plan that would create the Suez Crisis was created, developed and signed by Britain, France and Israel in an unassuming Parisian suburb. This process was, of course, far from straightforward or guaranteed to produce a result. It required the French reassuring both the Israeli and B…

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.11: A Protocol For War 32:17

16d ago32:17

32:17

1956 Episode 2.11 finally takes us to that controversial moment when Britain, France and Israel began to move closer together. The Sevres Protocol was neither developed nor signed in a day, and in the first two weeks of October, negotiations critically important to the later conflict were underway. At first, Foreign Secretary Selwyn Lloyd hoped to …

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.10: Israeli Sneaky 30:26

23d ago30:26

30:26

1956 Episode 2.10 takes us to the Commonwealth, seen as so vital to British interests, but fracturing over the question of the best course of action to take against President Nasser. The Canadian, Australian and NZ governments were all uneasy at the prospect of war, and some, like the Canadian Foreign Minister Lester Pearson, advocated a diplomatic…

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.9: The Fix Is In 37:54

25d ago37:54

37:54

1956 Episode 2.9 looks at that moment which has become infamous in history – the collusion between Britain, France and Israel. We are almost ready to see these sneaky meetings take place, and for the infamous agreement take shape, but first, it is worth investigating another important and underrated angle of the Crisis. The key element of the Suez …

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.8: Deception As Policy 34:03

30d ago34:03

34:03

1956 Episode 2.8 examines the increasingly secretive plotting which took place behind the scenes in early autumn 1956. While Eden worked feverishly to make the conflict he desired come together, the countless variables continued to haunt him. We see here a glimpse of a common theme which will occupy us later on – the use of legal arguments to suppo…

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.7: Blind Intrigue 34:35

1M ago34:35

34:35

1956 Episode 2.7 examines the steps which led towards the military intervention in Egypt, by placing the British behaviour in its imperial context. In spring 1955, Britain remained a premier power in the Middle East, while American representation in that theatre was not particularly impressive, save for the commercial connections which American cit…

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.6: The Entente Rides Again! 28:07

1M ago28:07

28:07

1956 Episode 2.6 looks at the increasingly close cooperation between Britain and France in light of the signal defeat of Western imperialist ambitions in Egypt. We open our episode with a defining scene – President Nasser’s nationalisation of the Suez Canal. The nationalisation of the Canal was not the moment that the world flocked to condemn Nasse…

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.5: Oh No Cairo 29:39

1M ago29:39

29:39

1956 Episode 2.5 looks at British commitments in the Middle East, and how setbacks there could massively drag down ideas of British ‘prestige’ in that region. What did the French have to fear from Colonel Nasser, and how did this tie in with later Anglo-French agreements? The answers can be found here. Also of note in this episode is the moment whe…

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.4: Britain Bitten 38:18

1M ago38:18

38:18

1956 Episode 2.4 examines Britain's embarrassing and dissatisfying efforts to try and make Egypt see sense. Here we see what kind of Government Anthony Eden led, and how he shook it up, or failed to shake it up, after he assumed the premiership in spring 1955. Anthony may have deserved his turn, but he would quickly exhaust the sense of goodwill he…

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.3: Egyptian Conniption 34:06

2M ago34:06

34:06

1956 Episode 2.3 examines British views of Suez and Nasser's new Egyptian regime. As the British government underwent a change and waved goodbye to great old men like Churchill, it was clear at the same time that this new government had no intention of changing its imperial tune. Egypt was a place to be held onto, not relinquished; Nasser was a fig…

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.2: Suez, A Life 34:49

2M ago34:49

34:49

A French investment opportunity, an ancient idea, and a British masterstroke - discover in this episode how the Suez Canal became so monumentally important for British imperial interests in the latter 19th century, and how this interest was then carried over into the 20th century. After years of defending and expanding their stock in Suez, it was h…

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.1: Bitter French Pills 28:57

2M ago28:57

28:57

In this episode, we will examine the painful post-war experience of France, why it was so reluctant to let go of its colonies and how this caused it more damage in the long run. As an integral, but largely forgotten player in the Crisis, understanding the French angle is essential for us. On many occasions, the fractured French government would be …

1
1956 Part Two: The Suez Crisis Introduction 19:05

2M ago19:05

19:05

1956 now enters its second season, and we are confronted with several pressing questions. How did the British, French, Israelis and Americans become involved in Egypt, and how did these events affect what was ongoing in Hungary? The incredible spectacle of these two simultaneous crises, both caused by very different forces, and hosting very differe…

1
1956 1.15: Socialism Stays 36:55

2M ago36:55

36:55

1956 Episode 1.15 examines the final moments of Imre Nagy, as the Soviet noose tightened around him. But the Kremlin was not safe yet. Of particular concern to Moscow and to the Hungarians was the stance of Yugoslavia, as its embassy in Budapest provided asylum to Imre Nagy and 40 other individuals responsible for guiding and leading the momentaril…

1
1956 1.14: Lessons Learned and Forgotten 36:53

2M ago36:53

36:53

1956 Episode 1.14 analyses the Soviet response in the first week of November 1956, as the rug was finally pulled on Hungarian independence. Having already removed his country from the Warsaw Pact and requested Western assistance, Nagy was persona non grata in Soviet minds, yet this Hungarian communist was not finished yet. If there was any chance a…

1
1956 1.13: Crushing Hope 42:03

2M ago42:03

42:03

1956 Episode 1.13 examines the unlikely triumph of the Hungarians in Budapest, even as the Soviets schemed for revenge. After somehow wresting a ceasefire agreement from the Soviet Union, the Hungarian revolution appeared – against all odds – to be secured by 28th October. Yet, this was merely a pause for Moscow, it was not the end. As Hungarians b…

1
1956 1.12: Hope Springs 40:42

2M ago40:42

40:42

1956 Episode 1.12 examines a key moment when a Hungarian student protest exploded into something far more encouraging, and for the Soviets, far more dangerous. The demands of the protesters – joined by workers, peasants, Hungarian communists, soldiers and many more figures besides – were as disconcerting as the threat the protest posed to Soviet co…

1
1956 1.11: Gone But Nagy Forgotten 36:51

2M ago36:51

36:51

1956 Episode 1.11 looks at what happened when Moscow decided it’d be a good idea to force Rakosi, the avowed Stalinist, to share power with Imre Nagy, his opposite in almost every respect. Rakosi wished to maintain the status quo even as his favourite weapons like the secret police were taken away, yet Nagy recognised and appreciated from an early …

1
1956 1.10: I Did Nagy See That Coming 31:57

2M ago31:57

31:57

1956 Episode 1.10 continues where we left off last time, and looks a bit more at the person of Matyas Rakosi. Rakosi was the Stalinist dictator of Hungary from the late 1940s, and he set about establishing a Hungarian Stalinist regime, complete with all the trappings Stalin enjoyed. For every purge, every policy and ever character assassination tha…

1
1956 1.9: Desperately Hungary 32:00

3M ago32:00

32:00

1956 Episode 1.9 takes a somewhat depressing journey into post-war Hungary, to present a story and a people which suffered much over the course of the Soviet occupation – also known as the Soviet ‘liberation’. Liberation from what, one may ask? Well how about liberation from national pride, freedom of conscience and that all too valuable commodity …

1
1956 1.8: The Star Pupil 28:31

3M ago28:31

28:31

We continue our story from last time, as the Polish situation is connected to other fascinating questions. Perhaps the most significant aspect of this chapter in Soviet-Polish relations was the notable involvement of China. The Chinese, it emerged, were very interested in seeing that other peoples travelled their own ‘road to socialism’ as they had…

1
1956 1.7: Soviet Sickles 38:49

3M ago38:49

38:49

1956 Episode 1.7 examines the continuing deterioration of the Polish situation, as Polish citizens dared to ask more and more questions, and to criticise the Soviet order, on their lips was one figure above all – Vladislav Gomulka (pictured). Gomulka was one figure among many who had been disgraced and imprisoned during Stalin’s numerous purges. Go…

1
1956 1.6: Polish Hammers 31:39

3M ago31:39

31:39

1956 Episode 1.6 examines the tumultuous fallout of Khrushchev’s February speech in the context of Poland. What was the Polish experience of living in the Soviet orbit? Here we set the scene and trace a bit of the background. It’s a tragic kind of story if you happen to be a Pole, or care about the sovereignty of independent states, but it also mak…

1
1956 1.5: Broken Springs 27:43

3M ago27:43

27:43

1956 Episode 1.5 examines the implications for the Soviet people, as Khrushchev’s speech is disseminated through the sprawling empire. The questions which many citizens had were to be restricted and constrained by the specific parameters set down by the Soviet authorities. In short, as we’ll see in this episode, there was a fine line between debate…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Zack Twamley Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
When Diplomacy Fails Podcast

Zack Twamley

1
1956: The Eventful Year

Zack Twamley

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.13: When A Plan Comes Together 30:08

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.12: Collusion And Delusion 33:27

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.11: A Protocol For War 32:17

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.10: Israeli Sneaky 30:26

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.9: The Fix Is In 37:54

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.8: Deception As Policy 34:03

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.7: Blind Intrigue 34:35

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.6: The Entente Rides Again! 28:07

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.5: Oh No Cairo 29:39

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.4: Britain Bitten 38:18

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.3: Egyptian Conniption 34:06

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.2: Suez, A Life 34:49

1
1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.1: Bitter French Pills 28:57

1
1956 Part Two: The Suez Crisis Introduction 19:05

1
1956 1.15: Socialism Stays 36:55

1
1956 1.14: Lessons Learned and Forgotten 36:53

1
1956 1.13: Crushing Hope 42:03

1
1956 1.12: Hope Springs 40:42

1
1956 1.11: Gone But Nagy Forgotten 36:51

1
1956 1.10: I Did Nagy See That Coming 31:57

1
1956 1.9: Desperately Hungary 32:00

1
1956 1.8: The Star Pupil 28:31

1
1956 1.7: Soviet Sickles 38:49

1
1956 1.6: Polish Hammers 31:39

1
1956 1.5: Broken Springs 27:43

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