Isambard Kingdom Brunel Dan Snow's History Hit podcast

50:38

The only British territory ever occupied by the Nazis was the Channel Islands. From 1940 to the end of the war, the Germans turned Jersey, and some of the islands around it, into an impenetrable fortress. It became a key strategic part of Hitler’s defensive Atlantic Wall and a base from which he hoped to invade Britain. Under German occupation, islanders suffered under a repressive regime… Some were even sent to internment camps in Germany. In return, thousands of prisoners of war were brought over to work as slave labourers, building the Nazi’s extensive defence network across the island. On the 80th anniversary of its liberation, Dan explores the island and tells the story of Jersey’s suffering and resilience under enemy control. This episode was made in collaboration with Visit Jersey. You can find more information on all the places Dan visits in this episode here: Visit Jersey: https://www.jersey.com/ Jersey Heritage: https://www.jerseyheritage.org/ Jersey War Tours: https://www.jerseybunkertours.com/ Jersey War Tunnels: https://www.jerseywartunnels.com/ ArtHouse Jersey 'Structures & Memory' Exhibition: https://www.arthousejersey.je/our-work/structures-memory-a-place-called-wurzach WIth thanks to Lucy Layton, Lola Garvin & ArtHouse Jersey, Michael Billings, Chris Addy, Phil Marett, Jersey Heritage and BBC Jersey for the archive, Fishing Jersey and Aaron from Lakey Bikes. Produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Dougal Patmore. The production manager was Beth Donaldson and production support from Annie Woodman and Peta Stamper.…

Dan Snow's History Hit

1
Why is Timbuktu Famous? 31:11

4 days ago31:11

31:11

Today we explore the famed city of Timbuktu. How did it grow from a trading post on the edge of the Sahara to a major centre of trade, learning and culture at the height of the Islamic Golden Age? Joining us is Kai Mora, a writer, historian and PhD student in African and African American Studies at Harvard University. Kai takes us on a tour of the city's history, and explains its enduring legacy in the face of colonial disruption and conflict. Produced by Mariana Des Forges and James Hickmann, and edited by Tim Arstall. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe . We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on . You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com .…

Dan Snow's History Hit

1
The Glorious Revolution 46:57

6 days ago46:57

46:57

In this episode we hear all about the Glorious Revolution, a pivotal moment in British history that saw the overthrow of King James II and the accession to the throne of William III and Mary II. For this we're joined by Professor Clare Jackson, a distinguished historian from the University of Cambridge. She joins us to delve into the religious, political, and military tensions of 17th-century Britain. Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Tim Arstall. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe . We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on . You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com .…

Dan Snow's History Hit

1
The Siege of Vienna 47:34

8 days ago47:34

47:34

In the summer of 1683, Vienna was under siege. A vast Ottoman army surrounded the city, poised to breach the walls and clear the way for Ottoman expansion into Central Europe. Inside the city, famine and fear took hold. But as the city teetered on the brink of collapse, a thunderous cavalry charge broke the Ottoman lines and shattered the siege. To tell us all about this mighty clash, we're joined by Martyn Rady, Professor Emeritus of Central European History at University College London and author of 'The Middle Kingdoms: A New History of Central Europe'. He explains why this event marked a turning point in European history. Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe . We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on . You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com .…

Dan Snow's History Hit

1
The History of Alcatraz 36:48

11 days ago36:48

36:48

Home to the likes of Al Capone and George 'Machine Gun' Kelly, Alcatraz was once the jewel in the American prison system. The wind-swept island fortress was the final stop for the nation's most dangerous criminals and was thought to be escape-proof - at least, until one night in June 1962, when three men on an improvised raft slipped into the icy waters of San Francisco Bay, never to be seen again. President Donald Trump has said that he is determined to reopen this notorious prison, so today we're revisiting this episode, Jolene Babyak, a historian of Alcatraz and author of 'Breaking The Rock', to give you a potted history of this notorious penitentiary. Produced by James Hickmanna and edited by Dougal Patmore. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe . We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on . You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com .…

Dan Snow's History Hit

1
VE Day 33:58

13 days ago33:58

33:58

When the Second World War finally ended 80 years ago, there was a mixed reaction in Britain. Today, we hear about these varying responses, from elation and celebration to reticence and restraint. For the final episode of our 'D-Day to Berlin' series, we're joined by Lucy Noakes, author of 'The People's Victory: VE Day Through the Eyes of Those Who Were There'. She takes us through the street parties and festivities, as well as the post-war challenges that began right after the war came to an end. Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe . We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on . You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com .…

Dan Snow's History Hit

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How did Andrew Jackson Change the U.S. Presidency? 41:33

15 days ago41:33

41:33

A hero to some, and a villain to others, the seventh president of the United States was a populist firebrand who reshaped America and left a legacy that still echoes today. In this episode, Dan dives into the life and times of Andrew Jackson from his birth in a cabin on the frontier to his mission to 'drain the swamp' of Washington elites. He's remembered for defying the courts, expanding U.S. territory and for his abhorrent treatment of Native Americans during his presidency. Revered by some as a champion of the common man and reviled by others for policies that caused lasting harm, Jackson remains one of the most polarizing figures in American history. Joining Dan is Dr. Natalie Zacek, historian and lecturer in American Studies at the University of Manchester. Produced by Mariana Des Forges and James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe . We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on . You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com .…

Dan Snow's History Hit

1
Germany After Hitler 30:54

18 days ago30:54

30:54

80 years ago, as the war in Europe drew to a close, the world began to come to terms with the horrors of the Third Reich. This is the story of the Nuremberg Trials, the first of their kind, that would decide the fate of Nazism's worst criminals. It's also the story of the millions of people who were displaced by the chaos of conflict. For them the war would did not end with victory in Europe, and dragged on for years to come. We're joined by Max Likin, author of '1945: A World at the End of War'. He provides insights into this transformative period and its lasting impact on modern history. Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe . We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on . You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com .…

Dan Snow's History Hit

1
The Death of Hitler 37:38

20 days ago37:38

37:38

Warning: this episode contains discussion of suicide. Berlin, April 1945: After nearly 12 years, the "Thousand-Year Reich" is crumbling. Isolated in a bunker beneath the city, as Soviet forces close in on them, Adolf Hitler and his inner circle face the end. Today we're joined by Frank McDonough, a historian of the Third Reich and author of The Hitler Years series. Frank unpacks for us the final days of the Nazi dictator, and debunks some of the myths around his death. Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe . We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on . You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com .…

Dan Snow's History Hit

1
The Dreyfus Affair: The Spy Scandal that Shook France 36:32

22 days ago36:32

36:32

It started with an inconsequential piece of military intelligence, scrawled on a piece of paper and left in a waste paper basket. But over the next decade, the infamous Dreyfus affair would mutate into a scandal that shook nineteenth-century France and stunned the world. Ruth Harris is a Professor of History at the University of Oxford and author of 'The Man on Devil's Island'. She joins us to explain what a Jewish artillery officer's wrongful conviction tells us about the deep divisions within French society, and explains its long-lasting implications for modern nationalism and even the Zionist movement. Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe . We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on . You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com .…

Dan Snow's History Hit

1
The Einstein Murders 28:00

25 days ago28:00

28:00

Warning: this episode contains discussion of suicide. In August 1944, German soldiers burst into the Florentine villa of Robert Einstein, cousin of the renowned physicist, Albert Einstein. As both a Jew and an Einstein, Robert had already gone into hiding, but his wife, daughters and extended family remained at home. What followed was a 12-hour nightmare that culminated in a brutal war crime. With us is Thomas Harding, author of 'The Einstein Vendetta: Hitler, Mussolini, and a True Story of Murder'. Thomas explains what happened on that fateful day and outlines Robert's arduous, winding path towards some kind of post-war justice. Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe . We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on . You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com .…

Dan Snow's History Hit

1
A History of Popes 44:09

27 days ago44:09

44:09

Popes have shaped the history of the world. The Catholic Church has had a Pope for two thousand years, the first- tradition dictates- was St Peter, the fisherman turned disciple of Jesus. Pope 'Leo the Great' stared down Atilla the Hun at the gates of Rome while Pope Innocent III made it his mission to convert the Anglo-Saxons and spread Christianity across Europe. In this episode, Dan is joined by Jessica Wärnberg, author of City of Echoes: A New History of Rome, Its Popes and People , to examine the origins of the Pope's role, how the Pope became such a powerful and influential figure outside of the Catholic Church, and which popes, for better or worse, have shaped the course of history. This episode was first released in August 2023 Produced by James Hickmann & edited by Dougal Patmore Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe . We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on . You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com .…

Dan Snow's History Hit

1
How Did the American Revolution Start? 1:18:47

29 days ago1:18:47

1:18:47

On 19th April, 1775, just over 250 years ago, the opening salvos of the American Revolutionary War were fired at the battles of Lexington and Concord. Elite British Redcoats went head-to-head with the famed provincial Minutemen in bloody skirmishes across the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Ultimately, the British were forced to retreat, and the provincial victory galvanised colonial support for the cause of independence. In today's Explainer episode, Dan travels to the sites of these momentous battles and takes us through that day from beginning to end - how did a political crisis transform into open rebellion, and what would it have been like to actually be there? Written and produced by Dan Snow, and edited by Dougal Patmore. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe . We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on . You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com .…

Dan Snow's History Hit

1
The Battle of Berlin with Sir Antony Beevor 36:16

5 weeks ago36:16

36:16

Warning: this episode includes discussion of subjects like suicide and sexual assault that some listeners may find disturbing. 80 years ago, the Soviets launched their final assault on the German capital. Having swept across Eastern Europe with the Wehrmacht fleeing before them, this was to be the final, apocalyptic battle that marked the collapse of the Nazi regime. Joining us is one of the great military historians, Anthony Beevor, author of 'Berlin: The Downfall 1945'. He explains the strategic moves that brought the Red Army to the gates of Berlin, the desperation of the German defence and the tragic fate of Berlin's civilian population. Produced by Dougal Patmore and James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe . We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on . You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com .…

Dan Snow's History Hit

1
The Liberation of Bergen-Belsen 27:40

5 weeks ago27:40