Stay ConnectedWDF examines how wars broke out, how they were concluded, and their consequences. Expect juicy diplomacy, sneaky intrigue, fascinating characters, and incredible drama. By Dr Zack Twamley, qualified history nerd.
Current Series: The July Crisis
Patreon Series: The Age of Bismarck
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The Korean War was fought from 1950-1953, and while many of us today have a rough idea of how it went, to most it is those two lines in a textbook, an irrelevant blip on the Cold War radar. An unimportant, unappreciated event in the crowded literature of the 20th century. To me, the Korean War is many things, and over the last few months I have been working tirelessly to create the most comprehensive, authentic and accurate account of the diplomatic and political origins of this conflict.
Not only that, but I will also be dropping some controversial conclusions and hypothoses on you guys, as we follow the trend of projects like the July Crisis and 1916 by giving you a fresh, revisionist take. Not merely for the sake of it, of course, but because I have come to be persuaded to see this war in a certain light, and I have come to understand its cause and effect formula in a different way to most conventional narratives.
If you will let me then, I hope you take you on something of a journey. Make sure to look out for the other two introduction episodes, yes TWO, but for now, try to place yourself in the era of the post-war world, as we go somewhere WDF has never gone before. I hope you enjoy it, and that you are excited to finally explore the Korean War.
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Here we are as promised, opening up the new year with a detailed look at where WDF is going next, why it's going there and why you should care! We address the following issues within:
- massive thanksss given all round for a fantastic year.
- we read out the Patrons at the end
- we talk about having to launch an archive feed!
- we talk about whether or not we should launch a Facebook group
- we unwrap the upcoming series; the Korean War, the Patrons' exclusive 1956, the Versailles Anniversary Project, Poland Is Not Yet Lost and much more!
A huge thanksss to everyone who made WDF's year so special! I can't tell you how much I appreciate you all!
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails
Follow on Twitter: @wdfpodcast
Like on Facebook under the same name, and find our website wdfpodcast.com where you can visit the blog - the Vassal State!
Be sure to check out this podcast by our Patron Shawn Warwick - the American History Podcast! http://theamericanhistorypodcast.com/
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Dear and valued listeners, we return instantly with the second part of my Christmas present to you! Was Louis' fp a success or not, let's find out!
Here we examine Louis' reign from the early 1680s, and consider the damage he inflicted on European public opinion, juxtaposed with the material and military gains accrued to France because of Louis' largely victorious wars. I hope you enjoy this concluding episode of our two-parter history friends and patrons. Thanksss for listening, happy Christmas and make sure YOU join WDF in the new year for some incredible new stories and approaches to history. If you want to throw some monies our way AND help make history thrive then you can! Simply visit www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails and receive some :D
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As a special Christmas present to all my lovely listeners, after you have given me such a fantastic year, here is the first of a two parter which I released to Patrons at the $5 level earlier this year, now freeto listen for YOU! Make sure you let me know if you enjoyed this episode, as we close out the eventful year of 2017 with a BANG! Thankssss!
Herein we ask the question - was Louis XIV's foreign policy a success? We know he experienced military success and tore Europe asunder; we know he was a formidable character and an implacable ruler, but do his successes and strengths outweigh the damage and cost which was wrought on France? Here we take this question up to the point of the early 1680s, while the next episode will conclude the question and answer it, hopefully to your conclusion.
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It's here! The conclusion to our 16 part story which we've been building towards for several weeks, months and years. Since we began the tale of the Thirty Years War, our narrative has, in several ways, been moving towards this incredible culmination of east meeting west. On 12th September 1683, the forces of the Ottoman Empire under Kara Mustafa met and did battle with the relief army comprised of several troops from countries as diverse as Poland, Saxony, Austria, France, Bavaria, Spain and more! The pressing question wasn't just 'Would we make it in time?'
To the relief army, led by Charles of Lorraine, King Jan Sobieski of Poland and General Waldeck, the question remained as to whether they could in fact defeat the most formidable force ever mobilised by the Turks, or would they succumb, just like so many others, to the Grand Vizier's might. It was a tale of revenge, of heroism, of resistance and defiance - a battle of epic proportions, and a conclusion which, while likely to be of no surprise to you guys, sets us up well for our coverage to come.
Of course, you may also know, we're taking a break from this era for a while, as we delve into pastures new for the next year or so. Our next spotlight will fall on the Korean War from January, but for now, it suffices to leave our epic narrative outside the walls of Vienna, where the forces of history met together on one incredible day in 1683. A huge thanksss to all of you guys for your interest and feedback in making this all possible, and make sure YOU don't forget to check out the simultaneous story of Jan Sobieski's life and times. What brought the King of the Poles to the field on that day, and what stories did he have under his belt by the time he arrived to support the allied charge? Make sure you don't miss out!
Other than that, a huge thanksss, and make sure you tune in for our State of the Podcast Address on 1st January 2018, so that you know what's next for WDF!
Remember also history friends, that YOU can support us on Patreon and help make history thrive as you do so! Want to start your new year off with a bang? From as little as $2 a month YOU can access additional content and get the good stuff FIRST! See www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails today and see if we can help you help us!
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They're Here!
After several months of waiting and buildup, we finally reach that incredible tale - when for two grisly months, the defenders of Vienna worked miracles to protect their city from the relentless Turk, and when Count Stahremberg used every fibre of his being to keep his men in high enough spirits to continue onwards in their bloody business. Incredible tension, great drama and a story almost too fantastic to be true are contained in this episode, so I hope you enjoy it! Even though it's a long one, it's packed full of juiciness, and I feel gives us a fitting conclusion as our penultimate episode.
Finally, they're here.
Remember history friends, YOU can help make WDF and history thrive! Head on over to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails now and for those of us following BEFIT to the letter, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow on Twitter @wdfpodcast THANKSSSS!
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They're here! After so many weeks of marching, Kara Mustafa's terrifying host reaches the walls of Vienna, but after a few critical days' worth of preparations, Vienna's remaining populace were as prepared as they would ever be for what was to come. Grimly reconciled to the arrival of their greatest foe, only great acts of bravery, tenacity and ingenuity would hold back the Grand Vizier's determined assault. As we can see in this handy homemade diagram of the Vienna defences, such defences were as rudimentary as they were to be effective. Mercifully though, Vienna was not alone.
Several hundreds of miles away, the allies of the Holy Roman Emperor marched in the name of rescuing Vienna from this grave threat. From Bavaria, Saxony, Poland, Lithuania and elsewhere they marched, but the real question still lingered in the air - would they get there on time? This episode is episode 14 out of 16 my lovely patrons, so we are in fact nearly at the end of this incredible story, but under no circumstances should you expect it to go out with anything other than a bang!
Remember history friends, YOU can help make history THRIVE by heading over to www.patreon.com/WhenDIplomacyFails and by engaging in some healthy dosages of BEFIT today! Thanksss :D
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Something special for all lovely fans of WDF for the month of December, it's...something completely unrelated to Christmas!
In this episode of WDF THINKS we ask the very relevant question - was Queen Elizabeth I of England all that great at diplomacy? Sure there was that whole Armada thing, but what about her actual talents and abilities as a diplomatist, particularly a female diplomatist in a world where few such things existed? Well, WDF is proud to take up the challenge by examining a lesser known event from Elizabeth's history - the curious issue of the Portuguese Pretender, a certain Don Antonio, the illegitimate son of the extinct Portuguese House, where King Philip II of Spain now claimed overlordship.
Liz's mission was to make use of Don Antonio throughout the frightful events of the 1580s, and to somehow help him without offending the Spanish, only to greatly offend and threaten the Spanish when it suited her. Much depended on whether or not Elizabeth needed a Portuguese bargaining chip, or a stick, with which it could beat up the Spanish King. Her record in balancing the right policy was impressive, but was it good enough to justify her place as a named Patreon tier, where only the greatest diplomatists in history reside in that pantheon of thankssss? You simply must find out, and you also must let me know what you thought!
Also, make sure that you check the blog post on this very episode - why not put some faces to the names?
www.wdfpodcast.com/thevassalstate/wdfthinksliz
This episode was launched to assess the career of Queen Liz, but we also have another reason for doing it. Queen Elizabeth I of England has her own named Patreon tier, and for a certain amount every month, you can select her or her similarly named peers by heading over to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails If WDF THINKS is something you enjoyed, why not share the love and making me even more excited to pod well into the future. Thanksss to the support I've received from history friends JUST LIKE YOU, I've been able to make this into a part time job, but we can always go further! Let's bring history podcasting to new heights - let's make WDF and history thrive!
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First things first - DON'T MIND ME! Whatever I call it, it's the River Raab not the River 'Raba'. I think the phlegm has moved into my brain!
In our latest episode examines the moment when Kara Mustafa finally did it. Overcoming the expectations and assumptions of the high command of the Habsburgs in their Vienna seclusion, the Ottomans outmanoeuvred Charles of Lorraine completely, heading due north-west, crossing the River Raab, bypassing Gyor and utterly flummoxing the Habsburg family. As Leopold and his entourage fled the city on 7th July 1683, a Turkish storm was coming.
Thanks to procrastination, misinformation, internal division, arrogance and ignorance, the greatest threat to the Holy Roman Empire was marching virtually unopposed towards the Golden Apple. Only time would tell if Kara Mustafa’s attempt to take the city would be as terrifyingly unstoppable as his march across the Hungarian plains had been, but the odds certainly did not look to be in the favour of Vienna’s residents, who now took up shovels for the long, arduous test ahead.
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Our story continues, as in episode 12 of the Long War, the Habsburgs scramble their forces together in the midst of increasingly worrying news across all fronts. Ernst Stahremberg (pictured) makes an appearance, and sets to work building up the defences of Vienna for whatever may transpire. Meanwhile, Charles of Lorraine is celebrated as the man in charge of Habsburg forces, but this ragtag bunch of Europeans will have to shape up before they face up to the terrible might of the Turks.
All the while, Kara Mustafa seems to move faster than anyone ever expected, his focus set on...where? Only ever so gradually would the Habsburgs in their Hofburg palace find out.
(Above) Layered defences outside of Vienna. (Below) the mind map of square marshy plains which makes up the land to the east of Vienna.
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The story is heating up, and remember where to go if you want EVEN MORE stuff relating to the Last Siege of Vienna - PATREON of course! Jan Sobieski Biography will take you there in a different vehicle, and I've been hearing great things about it, so why not check it out for yourself? Thankssss!
www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Facebook Twitter
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