Battleground

Iwo Jima. A seemingly insignificant speck of land, yet its capture proved crucial in the Pacific theatre. On this episode of Battleground, Saul is joined by American historian Jonathan Parshall and together they examine the strategic importance of Iwo Jima, the fierce resistance faced by the Americans, and how this battle shaped the final stages of World War II. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week's Battleground podcast Saul and Patrick discuss the first clear signal that the US will not abandon Ukraine. This is in response to Trump's comments that he's looking to do a deal with Ukraine where the US will look to secure some of Ukraine's rare earth minerals. They also address a host of listeners questions including on what the effects of Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries are and what needs to happen for Ukraine's western allies to send in troops. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In another bonus episode recorded on the ground in Ukraine's embattled eastern city of Kharkiv, Saul and Patrick speak to a Ukrainian Soldier from the Khartiia Brigade namely unit spokesperson Volodymyr Dehtiarov. Additionally, in the second half of the episode Saul speaks to friend of the podcast Joe Lindsey about his time reporting for WGN Radio and Kharkiv's evalution through the different phases of the war. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On February 13th, 1945 British bombers began one of the most devastating attacks of WWII: the bombing of Dresden. Considered one of the most controversial events of the Allied war, it ignited an firestorm that devastated the city and killed an estimated 25,000 people. Joining Patrick to discuss the event and the surrounding controversy is historian Sinclair McKay, the author of The Fire and the Darkness: The Bombing of Dresden, 1945. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Armed with new insights from their recent trip to Ukraine, Saul and Patrick discuss the latest developments surrounding the ongoing conflict. They take a look at the diplomatic stage, as the latest signals indicate Putin is seeking to flatter Trump ahead of any potential upcoming negotiations. They also delve into listeners questions that range across a host of different subjects, including what the opinions of Ukrainians are towards a variety of pressing issues. If you are interested in donating to Reusing IT, you can find out more here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7281708536277942274/ If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In another special episode recorded on the ground in Ukraine, we start from the pearl of the Black Sea - Odesa, where we are joined by friend of the podcast Julius Strauss. Together with Saul and Patrick, Julius discusses what ways the conflict has transformed Odesa, especially given its context as a historically predominately Russian speaking city. You can read more about Julius' thoughts and findings on Odesa on his substack here - https://backtothefront.substack.com/p/return-to-odesa We then take you on our Journey to Ukraine's second largest city, Kharkiv, where we give our first impressions of the embattled city. Patrick also attended mass at the Cathedral of the Assumption and spoke to Farther Oleg Kovynyov, on his experiences and thoughts about the war. If you are interested in donating to Reusing IT, you can find out more here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7281708536277942274/ If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode Patrick is joined by writer and historian Giles Milton, who is expertly placed to discuss the seismic events of the Yalta conference which dictated the fate of post war Europe, which he describes so eloquently in his book Checkmate in Berlin. Yalta was the scene of a political battle between the leaders of the soon to be victorious Allied powers, with Stalin skilfully manoeuvring and exploiting his strong hand with the Red Army having already wrestled control over most of Eastern Europe. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode Saul and Patrick are in the Northern edges of Kharkiv a short distance from the frontlines and the Russian border. They also discuss some of the latest pressing news and events that have emerged from Ukraine in recent days. We also debreifed friends of the podcast: Julius Strauss, Kimberley Reczek, Askold Krushelnycky, and Boldizsár Győri, following their trip to the frontline town of Kupyansk. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode Saul speaks to Roger Moorhouse, about the first time that Soviet forces stepped foot on German home soil in East Prussia. It was also the first time German civilians came face to face with the Red Army, which turned its fury and vengeance on them in particularly horrible ways as millions fled westward. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode from the road in Ukraine Saul and Patrick discuss Donald Trump's inaugural presidential address. Their reflections on it a day later and also their immediate response with friend of the show American journalist Joe Lindsey. Please do follow us wherever you get your podcasts to hear everything from us on the ground in Ukraine. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode we return in person to Ukraine, but we start in Ukraine's neighbouring state of Moldova, a fellow former soviet republic where we were joined by friend of the podcast Julius Strauss and Kimberley Reczek. Prior to our arrival they had spent the day in Transnistria, a tiny breakaway region of Moldova which is effectively controlled by Russia, they gave us some fascinating insight into this relatively unknown and fascinating region. We also document the first stages of our latest trip into Ukraine, with our first stop in the historic Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odesa. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Saul and Patrick discuss the incoming Trump administration plans or lack thereof, for bringing the war in Ukraine to a peaceful settlement. They also have a look at the ongoing diplomatic spat between Zelenskyy and neighbouring Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, and take a deeper look at the news that Ukrainian forces have captured their first North Korean prisoners. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Battleground '45, Saul is joined by historian Keith Lowe to discuss their upcoming history tour along the Elbe. The Elbe river runs down from Czechia right through the heart of Germany, together they map out some of the remarkable and sobering tales of history that happened in many of the locations they will be visiting on the tour, including Operation Anthropoid, the bombing of Dresden, and a remarkable escape story from Königstein Castle. To find out more visit www.ww2museumtours.org or email [email protected] If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this bonus episode of Battleground: Ukraine, Saul and Patrick address a wide range of listeners questions, from possible peace negotiation strategies to Ukrainian Air Force capabilities, and why did Russian gas pipelines passing through Ukraine remain open? Interested in supporting the Augustae Annia Foundation in Ukraine? Then follow the link below to find out more. https://www.augustaeannia.com/donation-links If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With President Trump’s inauguration only ten days away speculation swirling around as to whether the last chapter in the Ukraine war is about to open. Together Saul and Patrick look at how Trump will approach this first great problem facing his leadership. But they also turn to Russia and Putin in particular. To help them look at how things may play out inside the Kremlin they'll be talking to Alan Philps, longtime Moscow correspondent for Reuters and the Daily Telegraph and veteran Russia watcher who gives his thoughts about how things may play out in the coming year. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode Saul and Patrick will be looking forward to how the Second World War developed in its final year, highlighting the hinge moments and giving you a taste of the treats in store as week by week they look back to events eighty years ago. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the first Battleground: Ukraine podcast of 2025, Saul and Patrick speak to friend of the podcast Askold Khruselnysky, who spent Christmas close the front lines with a Ukrainian Unit specialising in innovative forms of drone warfare. In his dispatch from Kyiv he describes how this unit was able to successfully launch and carry out an assault with only unmanned vehicles in perhaps the first fully automated battle of the war. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Battleground '45 Patrick is joined by author Mark Ellis, to discuss an often overlooked aspect of life during the second world war, the world of crime. The conditions of wartime Britain led to a crime boom, with new opportunities arising for those criminals seeking to take advantage and profit whilst the authorities were often overwhelmed. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this last podcast of 2024, Saul and Patrick will be ranging over the big moments in the Ukraine conflict in all its various dimensions and trying to see what they tell us about how 2025 will unfold. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joining Saul to discuss the multiple westward offensives of the Soviet Red Army in the winter of 1944/45 is friend of the podcast Evan Mawdsley. Together they discuss the multiple Soviet Armies that advanced into Europe following the expulsion of German forces from the Soviet Union's borders, and how political decisions dictated the deployment of the Red Army as Stalin sought to seize control and influence over Eastern and Central Europe. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a now annual Battleground tradition, for a special Christmas treat we've recorded a special festive episode discussing the standout history books of the year, and the wider stories that surround them. Saul and Roger are joined by friends of the podcast - fellow historian Jessie Childs and publicist and historical novelist Richard Foreman. Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode Saul and Patrick digest the two major events of the past week: Donald Trump’s interview with Time magazine, with some highly revealing comments on the Russia/Ukraine war. And the extraordinary assassination of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of the Russian nuclear, chemical and biological protection forces, by agents of the Ukrainian security service in Moscow. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the final days of 1944 the Red Army closed in on the Hungarian capital of Budapest, and amidst the utter chaos of the siege members of the Hungarian fascist party, the Arrow Cross, ran riot massacring the city's jewish population. Joining Patrick, to discuss this often overlooked chapter of the Second World War is author and journalist Adam LeBor, who's book on the subject - The Last Days of Budapest: Spies, Nazis, Rescuers and Resistance, 1940-1945. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the shock waves of the fall of Bashir al Assad still reverberating Saul and Patrick look at the way this profoundly important event has reshaped the Ukraine conflict and the global order generally. They also look at the battlefield and try to get a feel for how much trouble Ukraine might be in, and investigate the latest twist in relations between Zelensky and Trump. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson Twitter: @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices