Battleground

On December 16, 1944, Hitler launched his 'last gamble' in the snow-covered forests of the Ardennes in Belgium, hoping to smash through the Allied lines in the west and retake the Belgian port of Antwerp on the coast of the English Channel. Joining Saul to discuss the Battle of the Bulge is bestselling historian Sir Antony Beevor, who provides a deeply informative and definitive account of the Battle from his expertise from writing his award winning book - Ardennes 1944: The Battle of The Bulge. 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

In this special bonus episode Saul and Patrick react to the remarkable and astonishingly fast developments over the weekend in Syria, where rebel forces have taken control and long-term dictator Bashar al-Assad has fled to Moscow. 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

Saul and Patrick reflect on a week of instability across the globe and in particular the news that rebel groups in Syria, have recaptured parts of Aleppo and are threatening the Russian naval base at Tartus in the eastern Mediterranean. With Russia's influence in the region under threat, they ask what this could mean for events in Ukraine and if this additional pressure on Russia could have a significant impact on the war in Ukraine. 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

Covering a wide range of fascinating topics from the race to Berlin to the liberation of Finnmark in the far north of Scandinavia, Saul and Patrick address some of the multitude of questions which we have received on the topics of our Battleground '44 series in todays episode. 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

In this week's edition of Battleground Ukraine Saul and Patrick discuss the fallout from a series of escalations last week, the US's push for Ukraine to lower its age of conscription in order to combat the its manpower shortage. They also react to the latest significant appointee to the incoming Trump administration and what that could mean for US policy on Ukraine in the new year. 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

In a powerful interview Patrick speaks to author Julian Evans who has over the past 30 years build his own powerful connection to Ukraine and in particular the city of Odesa. He describes his experiences in witnessing the birth of Ukraine as a nation from the hardships of the 1990s in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union. And shares new fresh insights into the history of Russia’s war against Ukraine and its cultural and emotional impacts, particularly on the Ukrainians themselves. 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

In this episode Patrick is joined by historian and former British Army Officer Sir Simon Mayall, to discuss the Middle East - both the region's role in the conflict but also the lasting impact that the events of the second world war had on shaping the region afterwards. 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

In what has been one of the most dramatic, dangerous and consequential stages of the war, Saul and Patrick react to the latest developments of a very dynamic situation which is constantly evolving. With many dangerous thresholds crossed and red lines violated, they look at what this means as reportedly for the first time ever Russia has fired a ICBM at Ukraine. This in retaliation for the first use of a British made Storm Shadow cruise missile against a target inside Russia and the first use of US supplied ATACMs missiles earlier in the week. 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

Joining Patrick to discuss the remarkable story of one of the most significant female figures of the Second World War - Pamela Churchill Harriman, is Sonia Purnell - Author of the book Kingmaker: Pamela Churchill Harriman's astonishing life of seduction, intrigue and power. Together they discuss the remarkable achievements Pamela managed to achieve at the height of the Second World War, all of which she was able to accomplish in her early twenties. 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

Joining Patrick and Saul from Kharkiv to discuss the situation in the east of Ukraine is Belgian journalist - Arnaud De Decker, Arnaud has been reporting from Ukraine for over two years and is now based in Kharkiv. He tells us the mood in the east of the country and tells us the situation along the eastern front, including in Pokrovsk where Russian forces are closing in on the city. You can check out his work on his social media accounts: Instagram - arnaud.dedecker Twitter - @arnauddedecker 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

To discuss what has been a fascinating and dramatic week Saul and Patrick look to Washington for signs of of how Ukraine’s titanic struggle with Russia might play out. Meanwhile on the battlefield itself the situation for Kyiv is going from bad to worse with the Russians pressing forward across the front. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why does Trump's election provide hope for some in Ukraine? Well joining Saul and Patrick from Kyiv to discuss this, is friend of the podcast Joe Lindsey. Joe gives us an update on the mood in Kyiv and how Ukrainians are reacting to Donald Trump's election win, and explains why the atmosphere has changed regarding the future with some welcoming expected decisiveness from the Trump administration. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the second episode of the story of the British quest to sink the formidable German battleship Tirpitz, Patrick picks up the story following Operation Source - the X Craft raid, and tells the tale of the RAF operations that ultimately led to the successful sinking of Nazi Germany's most prominent warship. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To mark Remembrance day in the UK, Patrick and Saul discuss the history and symbolism behind the occasion, and also speak to veterans and organisers they met during London Poppy day, including Ben Stephens from the Talking with the wounded podcast. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reflecting on Trump's seismic win in the US presidential election earlier this week, Saul and Patrick discuss what this means for US support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. Patrick also speaks to friend of the podcast American-Ukrainian Askold Krushelnycky, who is in Washington having returned from Ukraine to vote in the election. He gives his reaction, as well as sharing the those of his friends and contacts back in Ukraine. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this emergency special Saul is Joined by Roger Moorhouse to discuss their immediate reaction to Trumps election victory and what it means for Ukraine and NATO. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the first of two episodes, Patrick and Saul discuss the Royal Navy's quest to sink the formidable German battleship Tirpitz, the heaviest battleship ever built by a European Navy. Drawing on his knowledge from his book - Target Tirpitz, Patrick describes the way Tirpitz's presence alone terrified the British Admiralty and impacted decision making at the very top. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Kyiv holding its breath in an anxious wait for the results of the US presidential election, Saul and Patrick discuss the widening international consternation at the impending arrival of North Korean troops in Ukraine. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Battle of Leyte Gulf, fought between US and Japanese naval forces in October 1944 is the largest naval battle in history, with over 200,000 personnel involved. Joining Saul to discuss the events of this enormous battle is historian Evan Mawdsley. Together they discuss the main components of the battle, they key players and their decisions and the aftermath of the battle. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The big news this week was an alarming report from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service that North Korea had transferred some of its special forces to eastern Russia where they are said to be training for deployment to the front line in Russia’s war in Ukraine. Together Saul and Patrick discuss what the consequences of this escalation could be, as well as what the gathering of world leaders in Russia for a BRICS summit tells us about the rest of the worlds relations with Russia. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Battleground '44 series Saul speaks to Historian and friend of the show James Holland. James will be familiar to many listeners as co-host of our sister podcast, We Have Ways of Making You Talk, and today he joins Saul to discuss is new book Cassino '44, which focuses on the brutal Allied campaign in Italy in 1944. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Battleground Ukraine, Saul and Patrick discuss the curious state of limbo that is in play ahead of the US presidential election, the relentless and bloody nature of the fighting in the east of Ukraine, and the potential economic time bomb that awaits the Russian economy. They also look at news that North Korean troops are heading to Ukraine and provide an update on Ukrainian operations on the eastern flank of the Dnipro river. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Battleground '44 Saul and Patrick explore the story of Nazi Germany's most famous General - Erwin Rommel. Nicknamed the Desert Fox due to his successful exploits in North Africa, he soon became a favourite of Hitler. But by October 1944, all that had changed with the fallout from the failed bomb plot to kill Hitler placing Rommel under suspicion of treason. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week's Battleground Ukraine Saul and Patrick discuss whether the outlook for Ukraine is a gloomy as it looks on the surface? The fall of Vuhledar some have said might lead to a significant Russian breakthrough but is that actually the case? They also speak to Charlotte Leslie from the Grain from Ukraine initiative, which seeks to highlight and maintain the importance of Ukrainian grain shipments throughout the globe. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode Patrick explores the deadly V weapons developed by the Nazi's best scientists, which reigned down destruction on London and elsewhere in the final months of the second world war. Joining Patrick to discuss the story behind these weapons is Christy Campbell, Author of Target London: Under attack from the V-weapons during WWII. Together they look at the secrecy that surrounded the development of these weapons, the key figures in the story, and what the purpose of the weapons was. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joining Patrick to discuss Ukraine and in particular the fallout from President Zelensky’s deeply disappointing visit to the US is great friend of the podcast Julius Strauss. With the big story at the moment being of course the growing conflict between Israel, Lebanon, Hezbollah and Iran, together they dive into how the deepening conflagration in the Middle East will impact the Russia Ukraine conflict. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices