Anthology Of Heroes History

Latest Episodes:

Zoroastrianism: Ancient Persia's Lost Religion (with Professor Almut Hintze) Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Professor Almut Hintze sheds light on the ancient and mysterious religion of Zoroastrianism.

For over two millennia, it was one of the world's most practiced religions until the arrival of Islam in the seventh century led to its rapid decline. Today, just 120,000 adherents remain worldwide.

Come with us as we dive into Zoroastrianism:

Exploring Avestan, the 'Language of God' still used in prayers today, despite its meaning being long forgotten.
Discover the ritual complexity of The Yasna and the lighting of 16 Sacred Flames, each kindled from a different source.
We also follow the sad history of modern Zoroastrians, a shrinking minority in their homeland of Iran.

Professor Hintze's dedication to preserving and cataloguing ancient rituals and their meanings is a testament to her commitment to preserving this fascinating piece of human history.

Join us as we discuss the history, rituals and language of one of the worlds oldest religions

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hitler's 1941 Invasion of Russia | Part 5: Christmas In The Cauldron Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

"Capitulation is impossible! The 6th Army will do its historic duty." - Adolf Hitler.

In the conclusion of our series, we unravel the final months of the Battle of Stalingrad, exploring the consequences of Adolf Hitler's decision to forbid the the Sixth Army to retreat.

We witness the long-awaited breakthrough for The Red Army, as Joseph Stalin and Georgy Zhukov launch Operation Uranus.

We delve into the emotional impact on German soldiers confronting their mortality. Through their personal letters, we glimpse into their thoughts and feelings about Nazi leadership and Adolf Hitler.

After the dust settles, we examine the aftermath of the Battle of Stalingrad and its enduring legacy in Russian history.

Tune in for an exploration of this pivotal moment, where the human toll and historical significance intertwine in a tale of sacrifice, resilience, and grit.

NOTE: When discussing The Nuremberg trials, I make an error when I refer to Joseph Goebbels who was no longer alive. This should instead be Hermann Göring. Thanks to Albert, Antonik and others for pointing this out.

⚡Help support the show on Patreon check out our supporting reels on Instagram, and receive email updates whenever a new episode drops by joining our mailing list.⚡

CHAPTERS:

00:00-Introduction and Recap
01:58-Episode start
07:27-Fortress Stalingrad begins
16:49-Christmas in Stalingrad
21:05-Last chance at surrender with Winrich Behr
31:36-Paulus loses hope
40:56-Fate of the main characters
45:57-Red Army finds last letters from Stalingrad

📓SOURCES:

Barbarossa Through Soviet Eyes: The First Twenty-Four Hours by Artem Drabkin, Alexei Isaev, Christopher Summerville
Stalingrad by Antony Beevor
Russia at War, 1941–1945: A History by Alexander Werth
Blood red snow by by Günter K. Koschorrek
Through the Maelstrom: A Red Army Soldier's War on the Eastern Front by Boris Gorbachevsky
The forgotten soldiers by Guy Sajer
Until the Eyes Shut: Memories of a machine gunner on the Eastern Front by Andreas Hartinger
Stalin: Triumph and Tragedy by Dmitri Volkogonov
Marshall of Victory: Memoirs of Giorgy Zhukov
Blitzed: Drugs In The Third Reich by Norman Ohler
The Diary of Wehrmacht Soldier William Hoffman
Various accounts: IREMEMBER.RU
German Propaganda Archive: Joseph Goebbels: 1933-1945 (calvin.edu)
Barbarossa : the Russian-German conflict, 1941-45 by Alan Clarke
Kiev 1941: Hitler's Battle for Supremacy in the East by David Stahel
Reminiscences and Reflections. Volume 1 by Georgii Konstantinovich Zhukov
The Third Reich at War by Richard J. Evans
Moscow Strikes Back - 1942 USSR Propaganda Film
Molotovs Radio Broadcast:
Transcript: https://www.marxists.org/history/ussr/great-patriotic-war/pdf/22-06-1941-molotov-radiospeech.pdf
Audio: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn1000646

🎉PATRONS

Tom G 👑
Angus S👑
Seth M👑
Claudia K👑
Phil B
Lisa K
Malcolm G
Alex G
Caleb I
Alan R
Jim G
Luke G
Tom

✍🏻ATTRIBUTIONS

All images are public domain unless stated otherwise.
Paid Artlist.io license for 'Anthology Of Heroes Podcast' utilised for numerous sounds/music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hitler's 1941 Invasion of Russia | Part 4: Fortress Stalingrad Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

"In the blazing city, we do not suffer cowards..." - Vasily Chuikov.

This episode marks the penultimate episode of our series tracing Operation Barbarossa, Hitler's 1941 invasion of the USSR.

Join us as we follow Marshal Friedrich Paulus and the Wehrmacht 6th Army to their fateful end at Stalingrad. Through poignant handwritten letters, we'll delve into how frontline soldiers grappled with their mortality and the erosion of their faith in Nazi propaganda.

Throughout the episode, we explore the ingenious and brutal strategies employed by Marshall Vasily Chuikov to maintain order amidst the chaos.

In the desperate streets of Stalingrad, Rattenkrieg, or 'war of the rats,' emerged as a brutal form of close-quarters urban combat, marked by intense, chaotic skirmishes within the sprawling ruins of the city.

As the tide turns against the Wehrmacht, we witness the Nazi High Command's struggle against Adolf Hitler's insistence on a symbolic last stand.

The Battle of Stalingrad, often deemed the deadliest in history, holds a profound place in Russian pride today. Tune in to learn why.

⚡Help support the show on Patreon check out our supporting reels on Instagram, and receive email updates whenever a new episode drops by joining our mailing list.⚡

CHAPTERS:

00:00-Introduction
03:37-Main Characters Recap
06:30-Episode Start
12:18-Chuikov's Innovations
21:09-Wermacht on brink of victory
29:48-Luftwaffe Bombing Run
35:24-Red Army heroism
40:30-Wermacht dug in for winter
49:38-Operation Uranus begins

📓SOURCES:

Barbarossa Through Soviet Eyes: The First Twenty-Four Hours by Artem Drabkin, Alexei Isaev, Christopher Summerville
Stalingrad by Antony Beevor
Russia at War, 1941–1945: A History by Alexander Werth
Blood red snow by by Günter K. Koschorrek
Through the Maelstrom: A Red Army Soldier's War on the Eastern Front by Boris Gorbachevsky
The forgotten soldiers by Guy Sajer
Until the Eyes Shut: Memories of a machine gunner on the Eastern Front by Andreas Hartinger
Stalin: Triumph and Tragedy by Dmitri Volkogonov
Marshall of Victory: Memoirs of Giorgy Zhukov
Blitzed: Drugs In The Third Reich by Norman Ohler
The Diary of Wehrmacht Soldier William Hoffman
Various accounts: IREMEMBER.RU
German Propaganda Archive: Joseph Goebbels: 1933-1945 (calvin.edu)
Barbarossa : the Russian-German conflict, 1941-45 by Alan Clarke
Kiev 1941: Hitler's Battle for Supremacy in the East by David Stahel
Reminiscences and Reflections. Volume 1 by Georgii Konstantinovich Zhukov
The Third Reich at War by Richard J. Evans
Moscow Strikes Back - 1942 USSR Propaganda Film
Molotovs Radio Broadcast:
Transcript: https://www.marxists.org/history/ussr/great-patriotic-war/pdf/22-06-1941-molotov-radiospeech.pdf
Audio: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn1000646

🎉PATRONS

Tom G 👑
Angus S👑
Seth M👑
Claudia K👑
Phil B
Lisa K
Malcolm G
Alex G
Caleb I
Alan R
Jim G
Luke G
Tom

✍🏻ATTRIBUTIONS

All images are public domain unless stated otherwise.
Paid Artlist.io license for 'Anthology Of Heroes Podcast' utilised for numerous sounds/music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hitler's 1941 Invasion of Russia | Part 3: The Motherland Calls! Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

"It is time to finish retreating. Not one step back!" - Joseph Stalin.

In part three of our series on Operation Barbarossa:

The Wehrmacht, desperately needing fuel after Operation Barbarossa, surprises everyone by heading south to the Caucasus, targeting rich oil fields in modern Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Stalin's Red Army, still recovering from 1941, scrambles as move to bolster the southern front.

As Hitler tightens his grip on power, dismissing commanders and taking direct control, a staff officer named Friedrich Paulus is thrust into the spotlight. While on the Russian side, General Vasily Chuikov is tasked with holding the line.

This episode unveils Operation Case Blue, Operation Brunswick, Stalin's Order 227, and the rising complexities on the battlefield.

As America enters the war, Hitler's desperation grows, and victory slips through his fingers. The Fuhrer sits in his stagnant bunker, shifting red flags around a map moving toward Stalingrad...

CORRECTION: Rommel was known as "The desert fox" not "The Desert Rat".

⚡Help support the show on Patreon check out our supporting reels on Instagram, see our sources used for this episode on our website and receive email updates whenever a new episode drops by joining our mailing list.⚡

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hitler's 1941 Invasion of Russia | Part 2: Rage Of The Reich Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

"If the Germans want a war of extermination, they will get it!" - Joseph Stalin.

In this gripping continuation of our Operation Barbarossa series, The Red Army rallies as the Wehrmacht's relentless march towards Moscow accelerates.

With the Wehrmacht closing in on the Soviet capital, the USSR faces its last chance for survival. In the midst of the chaos, Stalin emerges from his depression, adorning his walls with portraits of renowned Russian generals for inspiration. The tide begins to turn as he starts heeding the counsel of Georgy Zhukov.

As Hitler faces setbacks and starts to lose his grip, he withdraws into himself, sidelining veteran generals and taking personal control of the army.

Ignoring desperate pleas for essentials like fuel, ammunition, and winter clothing, The Fuhrer fires many of his most experienced military minds.

The loyalty of the Wehrmacht, however, pushes on through one of the coldest blizzards in the last century. But as tank engines freeze and machine guns jam, we witness the stark reality that belief alone can only take a man so far.

Circling Moscow, Germans encounter unexpected challenges as far-eastern divisions arrive en-masse. The Motherland calls, and the people of the USSR answer!

Subscribe for the next instalment as history turns on the frozen wastes of Russia...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hitler's 1941 Invasion of Russia | Part 1: A Great Gamble Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

"The world will hold its breath!" - Adolf Hitler.

In this episode we delve into Operation Barbarossa, Hitler's audacious invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. The morning of June 22nd, 1941, witnessed four million men surging across the borders between the USSR and the German Reich, beginning the largest land invasion in world history.

We explore the backstory of this invasion and uncover why it took Joseph Stalin by surprise. Through the diaries of frontline soldiers, we gain insights into the first few hours of the invasion and the unpreparedness of the Red Army. We also delve into Hitler's twisted worldview, drawing from extracts of his memoir, 'Mein Kampf,' to understand his vision of Lebensraum and his chilling extermination plan for the Slavic people.

America's entry into World War II is often see as a turning point, but Operation Barbarossa, often overshadowed, was equally pivotal.

This episode is the first of a four-part series, make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss part two.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Fall Of Szigetvár (1566) | Part 2: Zrinski's Redemption Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

"A life of sin, cleansed by his final act"

Join us for the conclusion of our two-part series on the 1566 Siege of Szigetvár, featuring Nikola Zrinski's renowned last stand.

In this episode, we delve into the captivating backstory of Nikola Zrinski, also known as Nikola Šubić Zrinski or Zrínyi Miklós—a celebrated national hero in Croatia and Hungary. Explore his life's journey and the events leading to the siege's dramatic climax.

Amid the unfolding siege, we unpack the simmering feud between Roxelana and Ibrahim Pasha, two profoundly influential figures in the life of Suleiman The Magnificent.

Tune it to learn about the enduring legacy of these towering figures in history.

Help support the show on Patreon!(https://www.patreon.com/anthologyofheroes)
Submit a question on Instagram(https://www.instagram.com/anthologyofheroes)
Submit a question on our website(https://anthologyofheroespodcast.com/szigetvar2)
Submit a question through email (mailto:anthologyofheroespodcast@gmail.com)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Fall Of Szigetvár (1566) | Part 1: Suleiman's Last March Sep 04, 2023

Show notes

"The Battle That Saved The Civilization"

In this series, we explore the 1566 Siege of Szigetvár, a crucial castle on the Hapsburg-Ottoman border.

When the 71-year-old Ottoman Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent, besieged Szigetvár, he didn't anticipate the fierce resistance. Led by Count Nikola Zrinski (also known as Zrínyi Miklós or Nikola Šubić Zrinski), the garrison was determined to defend their fortress to the last man.

As the aged Sultan Suleiman marched toward the fortress we explore his personal life. From his controversial relationship with his Grand Vizier to his taboo romance with his favorite concubine.

Join us to uncover the story of Suleiman the Magnificent and the Siege of Szigetvár, a clash of compelling characters battling for legacy.

Help support the show on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/anthologyofheroes)
Submit a question on Instagram(https://www.instagram.com/anthologyofheroes)
Submit a question on our website(https://anthologyofheroespodcast.com/szigetvar1)
Submit a question through email (mailto:anthologyofheroespodcast@gmail.com)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

300: Last Stand of The Spartans | Part 2 Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

"Go tell the Spartans passerby, that here, obedient to our laws, we lie...."

In this episode Mark and I continue our deep-dive into the epic Battle of Thermopylae (480BC).

In the shadow of a dusty gorge in southern Greece, 300 valiant Spartan warriors, led by the indomitable King Leonidas, stood resolute, awaiting the impending battle against Xerxes and his gigantic army.

Guided by Herodotus and other ancient sources we transport you to the heart of the battlefield, painting a vivid picture of the terrain, strategies, and emotions that swirled around this monumental conflict.

As the dust settles on the battlefield, learn about Sparta's diminishing influence and the tragic fates of Aristodemus and Eurytus, the two survivors of Thermopylae who died in shame...

Tune in to learn the true story behind history's favorite battle!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

300: Last Stand of The Spartans | Part 1 Aug 14, 2023

Show notes

"Eat well Spartans for tonight we dine with Hades!" - King Leonidas I

In this series I'm joined by Mark Pimenta, host of the Warlords Of History Podcast.

Mark and I discuss the lead up to one of the most famous events in world history: The Battle of Thermopylae.

In 480BC the outnumbered forces of Greece made their stand against the enormous army of Shah Xerses I and his Achaemenid Persian Empire.

The Persians had numbers on their side, but the Greeks 300 of the best trained soldiers in the world led by the steely King of Sparta, Leonidas I.

In this episode we discuss the lead up to the battle, and delve deep into the strange society in which The Spartans lived.

Join us for fascinating insights about one of the strangest and most brutal cultures in world history.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.