Aspects of History

By Oliver Webb-Carter

The editor of Aspects of History, Ollie Webb-Carter, interviews historians and authors on the past - from the ancient world right up to the modern day. In each episode, Ollie seeks to get to the botto... more

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How many episodes does Aspects of History have?

The podcast currently has 298 episodes available.

Aspects of History episodes:

March 15, 2025 The Vietnam War, Part One: Quagmire with Geoffrey Wawro
On 8 March 1965 at Da Nang in South Vietnam, 3,500 Marines landed thus marking the beginning of US combat troops in Vietnam. 8 years later the Americans would withdraw having lost more than 58,000 dead, and 300,000 wounded. The Vietnam War itself cost, and these numbers are approximate, around 300,000 South Vietnamese troops dead, 1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong dead and more than 3 million civilians killed.
Joining today is Geoffrey Wawro, historian and author of a new military history of this tragic conflict. This is the first of a two-parter as Geoff describes the background of US involvement, the mistakes made by the military leaders, and the Nixon administration’s involvement. Part two is out on Wednesday as we discuss the war from 1968 as US troops lose discipline and the American public lost faith in the war.
Geoffrey Wawro Links
The Vietnam War: A Military History
Aspects of History Links
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44min
March 12, 2025 Ukraine with Gordon Corrigan
A quick bonus episode and discussion on Ukraine with Gordon Corrigan for you as I was keen to get his thoughts in light of his successful Substack writing, and to follow on from Saturday’s episode.
Gordon is an acclaimed historian and the author of The Second World War: A Military History. Links are in the show notes.
Gordon Corrigan Links
Gordon's Substack
The Second World War: A Military History
Tessa Dunlop Links
Where Politics Meets History
Aspects of History Links
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Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
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37min
March 08, 2025 Putin's War with Philip W Blood
In 416BC, during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, the island of Melos was a non-combatant. Strategically located in the middle of the Aegean, The Athenians arrived and demanded Melos surrender and thus be absorbed into their empire. The Melians refused, and so one of the most famous and influential passages in Thucydides’ history as recounted by the delegates of Athens: ‘the strong do what they have the power to do and the weak accept what they have to accept.’
We are returning to an era of empires asserting their dominance, and so joining to discuss Ukraine and its implications for Europe is historian and writer Philip Blood, author of Putin’s War as we discuss the war over the past three years and what can be done in the future.
As a brief little bonus for you, Tessa Dunlop joins to discuss the war as she launches a new podcast blending politics with history.
Philip Blood Links
Putin's War, Russian Genocide, Edited by Philip Blood
Fallout on Ghost - Writings on Ukraine from Philp and team
Philip on X
Tessa Dunlop Links
Where Politics Meets History
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
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1h 4min
March 05, 2025 Film Club: The Third Man (1949)
Welcome to a delayed Film Club and it’s The Third Man, Carol Reed’s 1949 masterpiece starring Joseph Cotton, Alida Valli, Trevor Howard and of course, Orson Welles from a script by Graham Greene. Joining Ollie we have director Tim Hewitt and historian Roger Moorhouse.
There are plenty of links in the show notes including Tim’s film based on the Greene short story A Little Place on the Edgware Road which you can watch for free.
Links
A Little Place Off the Edgware Road, directed by Tim Hewitt
The Third Man Special Collector's Edition
The Third Man
Touch of Evil
Journey Into Fear
The Criterion Collection
Ollie on X
Tim on X
Roger on X
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1h 9min
March 01, 2025 Churchill's Right Hand Man with John Kiszely
In late 1941 Winston Churchill lost his temper with his top generals over their disagreement in supplying Stalin with tanks and aircraft. Their obstruction caused a furious row at the heart of the British government.
The man who resolved it? General Hastings Pug Ismay, Churchill’s right hand man throughout the war, who later played an important role in the Partition of India and became Secretary General of the newly formed NATO.
Historian and former senior commander John Kiszely joins to discuss Ismay and Churchill, the Partition and we speculate as to how Ismay would have dealt with Donald Trump.
John Kiszely Links
Ismay: Soldier, Statesman, Diplomat, by John Kiszely
Aspects of History Links
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48min
February 26, 2025 The Causes of the Wars of the Roses: Part Two, Lancaster & York
In this second and concluding part on the Causes of the Wars of the Roses, Henry VI fails in his kingly duties, and rival factions were gain strength across England. Two houses had emerged: The House of Lancaster with Henry at its head, and the House of York with Richard Duke of York the main man. The Yorkists were joined by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and known as the kingmaker, though my guests today are sceptical as to his political achievements.
Derek Birks and David Pilling return and we discuss the two houses, the rise of York and the faltering Lancasters, and the Kingmaker himself as momentum builds to the street fight that was the Battle of St. Albans in 1455.
Links
A Guide to the Wars of the Roses, by Derek Birks
Kingbreaker: Rebel and Traitor, by David Pilling
Kingmaker Board Game
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
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34min
February 22, 2025 The Causes of the Wars of the Roses: Part One, Henry VI
On 31 August 1422 Henry V, England’s finest king, died aged 35. His successor, Henry VI was only 9 months old and so his uncle, and Henry V’s brother, John, Duke of Bedford, became regent and continued the war in France. The young Henry was a gentle child, and most worrying for England he lacked a monarch as mentor, and so little understanding of how to handle the politics of kingship in the 15th century. The consequences would be severe as the Wars of the Roses would erupt in 1455 for a number of reasons, chief among them Henry VI.
Joining to discuss the causes is historian and author Derek Birks, whose new book A Guide to the Wars of the Roses is out, and David Pilling, also a historian and author and his latest novel is Kingbreaker, set during the Wars of the Roses. So we look into why it broke out, a clash so catastrophic it chewed up four kings as well as countless nobles and peasants. In part one we discuss Henry VI. Part two, out on Wednesday, examines the factions involved.
Links
A Guide to the Wars of the Roses, by Derek Birks
Kingbreaker: Rebel and Traitor, by David Pilling
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
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35min
February 15, 2025 The Nazi Mind with Laurence Rees
During Nazi rule it is estimated that 8 million Germans were members of the party, that’s around 10% of the population. The ideology they believed in was responsible for the deaths of 6 million jews, as well as gypsies, homosexuals and the infirm. Millions more were murdered via slave labour and in the invasions east and west.
So what about the mindset of the people who carried out these crimes against humanity? Were they brainwashed by Hitler? Were they mentally ill, or were they simply all psychopaths? Joining the podcast today is author and broadcaster Laurence Rees to discuss his new book, The Nazi Mind. Laurence is responsible for the hugely powerful TV documentary Nazis: A Warning from History and his insight into the psychology of Nazis is illuminating.
Laurence Rees Links
The Nazi Mind
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
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55min
February 08, 2025 The Nazis & the German Royal Family with Stephan Malinowski
On 9th November 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated the German crown and retired to Holland where he learnt Dutch and began a passion for archaeology. But during the rise of the Nazis hope was raised that he could once more stride the imperial stage arm in arm with Adolf Hitler. These hopes were taken on by his son the Crown Prince but these too were dashed, and then began an attempt to cleanse the Hohezollern name, a name that evoked names such as The Great Elector, Frederick William and Frederick the Great.
Joining today is the acclaimed historian Stephan Malinowski, the author of The Hohenzollerns and the Nazis and we discuss the German Royal Family’s opportunities, and opportunistic attempts, during the rise of the Third Reich, their involvement, or lack of, in the resistance, life after the war and what the Hohenzollern name means in Germany today.
Stephan Malinowski Links
The Hohenzollerns and the Nazis
Nazis and Nobles: The History of a Misalliance
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
Get in touch: [email protected]

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51min
February 05, 2025 Athens, Sparta and Honour with Paul A. Rahe
In a continuation of Saturday’s discussion with Paul Rahe, we delve into the Peloponnesian War after the Sicilian Expedition, as the Spartans take Persian gold to subdue their democratic rivals Athens. The war continues for a further nine years as the Athenians rise again after their Sicilian disaster, before ending in crushing defeat in 404BC. Paul then goes on to talk about current events and the importance of honour to states today, and of history to the health of society.
Paul A. Rahe Links
Sparta's Sicilian Proxy War
Sparta's Third Attic War: The Grand Strategy of Classical Sparta, 413-404 BC
First part
Aspects of History Links
Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99
Ollie on X
Aspects of History on Instagram
Get in touch: [email protected]

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...more
38min

FAQs about Aspects of History:

How many episodes does Aspects of History have?

The podcast currently has 298 episodes available.

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