The Great War Podcast

84: The Road to Caporetto Nov 03, 2024

The Austrians and Germans plan a devastating strike against the Italians.

83: The Battle for Flanders: Part 5 of 4 Oct 12, 2024

Haig, Lloyd George, historiography and an assessment of Third Ypres.

83: The Battle for Flanders Part 4 of 4 Sep 01, 2024

The bloody fight for Passchendaele Ridge begins.

83: The Battle for Flanders: Part 3 of 4 Aug 01, 2024

Herbert Plumer takes over at Ypres, and delivers three straight victories.

Map for reference: Right click to view in larger format.

83: The Battle for Flanders Part 2 of 4 Jul 03, 2024

The Battle of Third Ypres got underway...but then it rained.

83: The Battle for Flanders Part 1 of 4 Jun 04, 2024

After a year of waiting, Haig finally gets his Flanders campaign.

82: The Kornilov Affair May 01, 2024

Kerensky's government survives a 'scare', leaving it ripe for the picking.

Kornilov arrives at the Moscow Conference, 1917

81: Maria Bochkareva and the Women's Battalion of Death Apr 01, 2024

The life of Maria Bochkareva and the 1st Women's Battalion of Death.

80: The Kerensky Offensive Aug 31, 2022

A post-Tsarist Russia wanted to make its mark...it ended poorly.

79: The Battle of Messines Ridge Jul 26, 2022

The first stage of Haig's long awaited Flanders Offensive began on June 7th, 1917.

78: Lafayette, We Are Here May 06, 2022

John J Pershing leads the first American troops to France in June 1917.

77: Only in Catastrophes Mar 10, 2022

The French army grapples with widespread unrest after the Nivelle Offensive

76: Bloody April Jan 28, 2022

April was a deadly month for the Royal Flying Corps.

Dicta Boelcke

1. Try to secure advantages before attacking. If possible, keep the sun behind you.

2. Always carry through an attack when you have started it.
3. Fire only at close range, and only when your opponent is properly in your sights.
4. Always keep your eye on your opponent, and never let yourself be deceived by ruses.
5. In any form of attack it is essential to assail your enemy from behind.
6. If your opponent dives on you, do not try to evade his onslaught, but fly to meet it.
7. When over the enemy's lines never forget your own line of retreat.

8. For the Staffel (squadron): Attack on principle in groups of four or six. When the fight breaks up into a series of single combats, take care that several do not go for the same opponent

75: The Nivelle Offensive Sep 04, 2020

Robert Nivelle's magic solution to the deadlock leaves the French army on the brink of mutiny.

74: The Battle of Arras Jul 30, 2020

The British launch a successful set piece on the eve of the Nivelle Offensive.

73: The Abdication of Tsar Nicholas Jul 08, 2020

When your people protest, it's best not to ignore them.

72: The Overt Acts May 24, 2020

It took the United States 65 days to go from committed neutral to full blown participant.

71: The Arsenal and the Bank Apr 26, 2020

By the end of 1916, neutrality had left the United States in a precarious spot.

Life Magazine, February 1916.

70: America Mar 29, 2020

Germany's decision to unleash the torpedoes would have adverse consequences

69: Neptune's Empire Jan 04, 2019

For the second time in the war, Germany turns to unrestricted submarine warfare.

68B: Fateful Decisions - The Allies - From the Aisne to Vladivostok Nov 14, 2018

A look at the Entente during the winter of 1916-1917.

68A: Fateful Decisions - The Central Powers - From Alberich to Zimmermann Nov 13, 2018

A look at the Central Powers during the winter of 1916-1917.

SE: The Life and Death of Mata Hari Sep 21, 2018

The life and career of everyones favourite exotic dancer turned convicted spy.

TGWAC - Part 3 of 3: Aces High Jun 29, 2018

The Great War Aircast - A miniseries on the air war from 1914-1916. Part 3 of 3.

TGWAC - Part 2: Violent Adolesence. Jun 29, 2018

The Great War Aircast - A miniseries on the air war from 1914-1916. Part 2 of 3.

TGWAC - Part 1: The Infancy of Airpower Jun 29, 2018

The Great War Aircast - A miniseries on the air war from 1914-1916. Part 1 of 3.

66: New Dawns May 16, 2018

With 1916 coming to a close, the belligerents looked ahead to 1917.

65: In Winter's Grip Apr 30, 2018

The battle of the Somme comes to an end.

64: Golgotha Hill Apr 06, 2018

Beginning on October 24th, a French counter attack liberates the forts Douaumont and Vaux, signalling the end of the battle of Verdun.

63: Leviathans Mar 27, 2018

With winter approaching on the Somme, Haig hoped to deliver a substantial blow to Germany's forces.

62: Cracks in the Edifice Mar 05, 2018

Hindenburg and Ludendorff face a home front wracked by food shortages and social unrest.

61: The Hydra Jan 30, 2018

The Romanian campaign lasted for 101 days. In this episode, we cover those 101 days in 41 minutes.

60:Falkenhayn's Folly Jan 09, 2018

In the wake of Romania's declaration, Erich von Falkenhayn is dismissed.

59: Romania Dec 19, 2017

Sensing a shift in the fortunes of war, Romania declares war on Austria-Hungary.

58: Crisis in the East Dec 01, 2017

With the General Allied Offensive in full swing, the Central Powers face a manpower crisis on the Eastern Front.

57: Pozieres Nov 10, 2017

35 days after July 1st, I ANZAC Corps finally secures Pozieres Ridge.

56: The Devil at Fromelles Oct 28, 2017

Australian and South African forces arrive on the Western Front, and we explore a new interpretation of Fromelles and Delville Wood.

55: The Battle of Bazentin Ridge Oct 03, 2017

Just two weeks removed from July 1st, the BEF scores a stunning victory.

54: Dragon's Wood Aug 21, 2017

The 38th Welsh Division faces a gruesome baptism of fire.

53: The Long, Long Trail Jun 11, 2017

After July 1st, Fourth Army's efforts devolve into uncoordinated, piece meal attacks.

52: Into the Breach Part 6- The Somme Controversy May 14, 2017

The Great War's most infamous day is also its most misunderstood.

52: Into the Breach Part 5- Southern Success Apr 25, 2017

At the tail end of Fourth Army's front, Congreve's XIII Corps and Fayolle's Sixth Army achieve remarkable success.

Livens Flame Projector: CLIP

52: Into the Breach Part 4- Poet's Corner Apr 04, 2017

For Henry Horne's XV Corps, July 1st 1916 was a day of mixed success.

52: Into the Breach Part 3- Tale of Two Villages Mar 21, 2017

The awful pattern repeats itself as III Corps drives on Ovillers and La Boiselle.

52: Into the Breach Part 2- Northern Folly Feb 28, 2017

Gommecourt, Serre, Beaumont-Hamel and the Slaughter of the Somme.

The old British front line, looking northeast toward the German trenches. Note the drop in elevation.

"Y" Ravine,

52: Into the Breach Part 1- Thiepval and the Schwaben Redoubt Feb 05, 2017

We begin our discussion of July 1st by examining X Corps' attack on Thiepval village.

51b: Final Touches- Allied Armies and the Somme Jan 20, 2017

A survey of the British, French and German armies on the eve of the Somme.

51a:Final Touches- Allied Politics and the Somme Jan 17, 2017

The Somme plan meets stiff opposition in London and Paris.

50: The Verdun Effect Dec 20, 2016

Plans for the Somme shift as Verdun rears its ugly head.

49: The Big Push Dec 06, 2016

The origins of the Somme before Verdun screwed everything up.

48: "Duggy" Nov 10, 2016

Douglas Haig: The Man vs The Myth

47: Crisis at Verdun Oct 20, 2016

The battle of Verdun reaches its climax.
Map of the battlefield, note its "H" shaped outline.
The ancient Citadel in downtown Verdun. To enlarge, right click-view image.

Monument to Fleury residents who fought at Verdun.
"Remains" of Fleury
Markers indicating where houses and businesses once stood.
The imposing Ossuary.
View from a top the Ossuary, looking southeast towards Fleury. Note the concentrated battlefield: the interpretation center is visible along with the white path leading to the village. The ridge beyond was the German objective of June 23rd.
Fort Douaumont
Douaumont's roof, still heavily cratered.
Yours truly at the entrance.

46: The Fall of Fort Vaux Aug 03, 2016

The warriors of France and Germany engage in an bloody stand off for Fort Vaux.
Postcard commemorating Raynal's final pigeon and subsequent plaque.

45: Dead Man's Hill May 31, 2016

The fighting at Verdun intensifies as the Germans seize the crests of Mort Homme and Hill 304.

44: The Guns of Galicia May 03, 2016

Under Brusilov's leadership, a resurgent Russian army smashes the Austro-Hungarians; Conrad surrenders to Falkenhayn's oversight.

43: The Bear Blows First Apr 07, 2016

With Tsar Nicholas II in charge of her armed forces, Russia looks to a fresh start; In Galicia, Aleksei Brusilov plans his masterpiece.
*Note: St. Petersburg was renamed Petrograd in 1914. I refer to both in the appropriate context. -Dan
Links to Romanov family photos:
Siberian Times, 2013
Mashable

42: Women of War Mar 09, 2016

A review of Verdun and a look at the British home front, which sees radical change under the direction of David Lloyd George and the Ministry of Munitions.

41: The Jutland Controversy Jan 16, 2016

A retrospective look at the battle of Jutland.

40: "Repel all boarders!" Dec 17, 2015

The battle of Jutland rages into the night.

39: Ghosts in the Mist Nov 25, 2015

A decade after Dreadnought revolutionized naval warfare, the battle fleets of Great Britain and Germany finally meet.
EDIT: Since they were armoured cruisers, Arbuthnot was part of First Cruiser Squadron, not First 'Light' Cruiser as incorrectly stated. -Dan

38: The Run to the South Nov 03, 2015

The battle of Jutland begins on the afternoon of May 31st, 1916.

37: The Trident Sep 23, 2015

Reinhardt Scheer assumes command of the German battlefleet, and the war in the North Sea kicks into high gear.

36: Conrad's Folly Aug 19, 2015

Conrad sees red, and attempts to eliminate the Italians with a single blow. At Verdun, the French discover retaking Fort Douaumont will require a bit more planning.

35: A Prison of the Nations Jul 20, 2015

Battered and bloodied, Austria-Hungary limps its way into 1916.

34: Russia From the Ashes Jun 24, 2015

Russia under goes some rapid internal changes.

33: No Success Anywhere Jun 10, 2015

Desperate to capture the Meuse Heights, the German 5th Army extends operations onto the west bank of the Meuse. When things falter, both armies commit more men to "the Mincer".

32: Thunder and Earthquake May 28, 2015

The battle at Verdun began on February 21st, 1916. Nothing would ever be the same.

31: The New Way May 18, 2015

Falkenhayn begins laying the ground work for the coming battle at Verdun.

30: Character of the Coalition May 08, 2015

As 1916 beckons, both the Allies and Central Powers realize they're in for another bloody year.

29: Travelling on a Volcano Apr 29, 2015

In this episode we discuss the sinking of the Cunard liner Lusitania and what it meant for the first unrestricted U-boat campaign.

28: Order, Counter Order, Disorder Apr 21, 2015

To contest the supremacy of the Allied fleets, Germany unleashes the first unrestricted U-Boat campaign in February, 1915.
*Gahh when I say the Russians retreated 500 miles, I mean 500 kilometers of course. -Dan
SMS Blucher capsizing at the battle of Dogger Bank (January 1915).

27: Puff From a Cigarette Mar 29, 2015

An ambitious Anglo-French attack in Artois and Champagne is met with disaster. At the battles of Loos, the BEF makes use of chlorine gas for the first time.

26: Field of Blackbirds Mar 19, 2015

Serbia is the latest victim of Falkenhayn's combined offensive. The Serbs refuse to surrender, opting to evacuate and continue the fight elsewhere.

25: Sing the Love of Danger Mar 09, 2015

On May 23rd, 1915 an energized but divided Italy enters the Great War. This episode examines why the Italians initially chose neutrality, only to declare war against their former allies.

24: The Great Retreat Feb 27, 2015

A combined Austro-German offensive in May 1915 collapses the Polish Salient, forcing the Russians into a 4 month 310 mile retreat. The war on the Eastern Front is effectively over.

23: No Risk Too Great- Part 2 of 2. Feb 17, 2015

The Dardanelles campaign unravels as the Allies land on the Gallipoli peninsula.

23: No Risk Too Great- Part 1 of 2. Feb 07, 2015

With German efforts concentrated in the East, the Allies begin looking for alternative ways to break the deadlock, leading their focus to fall on the Dardanelles and Gallipoli peninsula.

22: Codename: Disinfection Jan 28, 2015

This week we examine German strategy in 1915, and Falkenhayn's decision to unleash chlorine gas at the Ypres Salient.
40 Maps That Explain World War One (Trench map is #26)

21: The Road Ahead Jan 17, 2015

Despite popular theory, the war does not end by Christmas. This week we are on the Western Front for the early goings of 1915.

20: We're All in This Together Jan 07, 2015

Did Europe really cheer the outbreak of war? An examination of the Western home fronts provides a glimpse into "the spirit of 1914".

19: Numbers are Everything Dec 28, 2014

A look at the larger world at war, and Graf Spee makes his voyage into the history books.

18: Where Loyalties Lay Dec 18, 2014

The final months of 1914 draw to a close on the Eastern Front. The Russians flex their military muscle, while the Austro-Hungarians suffer a defeat which helps doom their army.

17: War of the Eagles Dec 08, 2014

Our first look at events on the Eastern front; The Austrians humiliate themselves against the Serbs. While in East Prussia, the Russians are annihilated at Tannenberg.

16: Massacre of the Innocents Nov 28, 2014

The lines stagnate across the Western theatre.Near the Belgian town of Ypres, German and British troops learn a harsh reality.
Please note: The Asine runs west of Verdun, not east as I state in the episode. -Dan
Map of Western theatre (Sept-Nov 1914) Right click to view in full.
Mass grave at Langemark German Cemetery

15: Those Long August Days Nov 19, 2014

The war on the Western Front opens up, as the German army cruises through Belgium to the gates of Paris. The allies unveil a new secret weapon on the battlefield.
I apologize for the delay this week. I had a heck of a time getting all this stuff sorted out but this is a much better version then I what had originally written. -Dan
Map of the Western Theater, August-September 1914. Note the borders have been modified to to reflect 1914.

14: To Constantinople With Love Nov 04, 2014

Two German battle cruisers escape the pursuit of the Royal Navy and seek refuge at Constantinople. The entry of the Ottoman Empire by November 1914, ensures that fighting would no longer be restricted to the European continent.

13: Into the Abyss: Part 2 of 2. Oct 24, 2014

We conclude our discussion of the July Crisis by looking at events in Britain and offer an answer to why the war broke out.

13: Into the Abyss: Part 1 of 2. Oct 03, 2014

A century after the Napoleonic Wars, the Concert of Europe crumbles in a matter of weeks following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

12: To The Precipice Sep 23, 2014

Before killing off Franz Ferdinand, we take a look at some of the domestic issues effecting the Great Powers on the eve of July 1914.

11: The Balkan Wars Sep 11, 2014

On the heels of the Italian invasion of Libya, a collection of Balkan nations declare war on the Ottoman Empire.
A "very" basic map of the First Balkan War. October 1912-May 1913.

10: A Long Year Aug 19, 2014

In an attempt to establish themselves as a great power, Italy declared war on the Ottomans in September of 1911. The subsequent invasion exposed Italian armed forces as logistically weak and unprepared in the event of a general European war. Watching events from a far, the Balkan states begin to contemplate plans for an attack on the Turks of their own.
Map of Libyan campaign (From the sources which I could piece together)
Zeppelin bombarding Turkish positions near Tobruk (Wikipedia Commons)

09: The Bosnian Crisis Aug 11, 2014

The annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Austro-Hungarians is another humiliation for Russia, and leaves the Serbs seething toward the Habsburg monarch.
Map of Russian interests.

08: Dreadnoughts and What Nots Aug 04, 2014

With the war in the Far East raging in the background, Germany attempts to drive a wedge between France and its allies, but only succeeds in bringing them closer together.
I know I had stated there would be no episode this week, but unfortunately the long weekend plans fell through. -Dan
Beyond the Foxholes Podcast: http://www.breakthroughassault.co.uk/p/beyond-foxholes-podcast.html

07: Win the War, Lose the Peace Jul 28, 2014

The Russo-Japanese War provides us with a chilling glimpse into the nature of industrial warfare.

06: Opposites Attract Part 2: The Anglo French Cordiale Jul 21, 2014

After nearly coming to blows at Fashoda, the French and English decide to put aside their grievances. In the Far East, Japan and Russia declare war.

05: The End of Isolation Jul 16, 2014

With events in Asia threatening the status quo, Great Britain would find itself in desperate need of an ally.
* I apologize for this episode being behind schedule. We'll be back on track for Monday!*

04: Opposites Attract: The Franco-Russian Alliance Jul 07, 2014

In 1890 Wilhelm II dismissed Bismarck, allowing the French to break out of isolation; the British face a looming crisis in the years after 1894.

03: Woe Unto My Poor Grandchildren Jun 30, 2014

After the formation of Germany, Bismarck's primary concern was finding a place for the Second Reich in Europe; events in the Balkans would drive the Austro-Hungarians into a military alliance by 1879.

02: The Chess Master Jun 23, 2014

The revolts of 1848 paved the way for the formation of Germany under the leadership of Otto von Bismarck. The events surrounding German unification play a major role in the political atmosphere leading up to 1890.
**I have added some introductory music and changed my recording software so I hope you will hear an improvement.

01: The Shot Heard Around the World Jun 11, 2014

Episode 1 overviews 19th century European politics after the Napoleonic War and the creation of the alliance systems.
This is my first ever podcast and am currently ironing out the kinks in my audio software so if the edits seem a bit off that is simply growing pains.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected