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 314 episodes available.

Aspects of History episodes:

May 16, 2025 D-Day: Sword Beach with Max Hastings
On 6th June 1944 the British 3rd Division landed on Sword Beach, Normandy, as they joined Canadian, American and other allied troops in the liberation of Europe. Progress was not easy for the British troops as they suffered heavy losses, and the objective of the vital city of Caen on day 1 was not achieved.
But what of the experience of the soldiers on that day? Max Hastings joins to discuss his new book Sword, which features many accounts of men on the ground to create a wonderfully realistic picture of the allied invasion.
Max Hastings Links
Sword: D-Day – Trial by Battle
Aspects of History Links
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44min
May 13, 2025 The Big Little War with James Dunford Wood
In early May of 1941, in the deserts of Iraq that had seen the armies of Alexander battle Darius, a force of 9000 Arabs and Iraqis descended on the small British airfield of Habbinayah. Only 39 pilots and a small collection of antiquated and obsolete aircraft stood between British maintenance of crucial oilfields, and their loss and consequent disaster for fuel supplies to the British Army and the Royal Navy in Egypt and throughout the Mediterranean.
Joining today is James Dunford Wood who describes the extraordinary story of defiance and heroism that he has described as a Second World War Rorke’s Drift.
James Dunford Wood Links
The Big Little War: A World War II Epic
The War Diaries of Colin Dunford Wood
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46min
May 09, 2025 Victory 1945 with Al Murray
At 1830 hours on 4th May 1945, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery accepted the unconditional surrender of German forces in northwestern Europe from Admiral Hans Georg von Friedeberg. This was one of a number of surrenders that took place across the European theatre of World War Two. Months later Japan surrendered with a radio statement that has since become a satirical masterpiece.
Al Murray joins to discuss these and more as we delve into whether Monty won the surrenders, and did the Americans have no option but to drop those two atomic bombs?
Al Murray Links
Victory '45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders
Aspects of History Links
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49min
May 06, 2025 Women of the Troubles with Martin Dillon
On the afternoon of 6 March 1988 in Gibraltar on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsular, Mairead Farrell and two other Provisional IRA volunteers of were shot dead by members of the Special Air Service. The three were on an operation to target one of the last outposts of the British Empire, but their movements were known to the security services. Farrell was one of a small number of female IRA members in an organisation dominated by men.
How were mothers, wives, daughters and sisters impacted by the violence over 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland? And how do they deal with the trauma 25 years after the Good Friday Agreement?
Joining today is the acclaimed journalist and writer Martin Dillon, author of The Dirty War, The Shankill Butchers and Stone Cold, as well as his most recent, The Sorrow and the Loss: The Tragic Shadow Cast by the Troubles on the Lives of Women.
Martin Dillon Links
The Sorrow and the Loss: The Tragic Shadow Cast by the Troubles on the Lives of Women
The Dirty War
The Shankill Butchers: A Case Study of Mass Murder
Stone Cold
Martin Dillon
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54min
May 02, 2025 Bose & Post War Empires with Phil Craig
At the end of the Second World War Asian colonies were desperate for independence: India, Burma, Indochina, Malaya and the Dutch East Indies all boasted independence movements that now demanded autonomy. But was Britain, which had fought a costly war against fascism and domination and won, willing to grant self-government to its former colonies? And what of France and the Netherlands, and the characters involved including Subhas Chandra Bose.
Joining today is historian Phil Craig, author of 1945: The Reckoning, as we explore figures such as Chandra Bhose and General Kodendera Thimayya, or Thimmy for short, and the way Britain and her allies dealt with independence.
Phil Craig Links
1945: The Reckoning: War, Empire and the Struggle for a New World
Aspects of History Links
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48min
April 25, 2025 Monuments to War with Tessa Dunlop
On 8 June 1982 the Sir Galahad troop ship was about to offload the Welsh Guards at Bluff Cove in the Falkland Islands. As the guardsmen were waiting, an Argentine Skyhawk attacked and the Galahad was hit. 48 men were killed, and 97 wounded, among them Simon Weston. Weston, a proud Welshman, suffered horrific burns and endured 96 operations and surgical procedures. He is one of many interviewees in a new book on monuments in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and of course, Wales, in addition to the one you heard at the top.
Joining today is Tessa Dunlop – author of Lest We Forget, War and Peace in 100 Monuments which is just out. Links are in the show notes as we chat those monuments in each country of the United Kingdom.
Tessa Dunlop Links
Lest We Forget: War and Peace in 100 British Monuments
Alfred the Great - The Telegraph (£)
Aspects of History Links
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52min
April 22, 2025 Film Club: Downfall (2004)
This month’s movie is Downfall, directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel and starring Bruno Ganz, the depiction of the last days of Adolf Hitler as we reach the 80th anniversary. Roger Moorhouse, historian of Nazi Germany joins, along with Director Tim Hewitt.
Links
Downfall on Wikipedia
Downfall on IMDB
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Tim on X
Roger on X
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1h 27min
April 18, 2025 The Siege of Leningrad with Sinclair McKay
In August 1941 Army Group North of the Wehrmacht approached the suburbs of Leningrad, as St. Petersburg was called. Within days the city was surrounded, and would remain so for nearly two and a half years. The suffering endured by its residents was horrifying and included widespread cannibalism. But this is a city of art, architecture, literature, music and dance, the home of Alexander Pushkin and a place of revolution.
Joining to discuss St. Petersburg is author Sinclair McKay, author of a new book as we discuss the window to the west through the prism of the siege.
Sinclair McKay Links
Saint Petersburg: Sacrifice and Redemption in the City That Defied Hitler
Aspects of History Links
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47min
April 15, 2025 WW2 Titans: Churchill, Brooke & Ismay, with John Kiszely & Gordon Corrigan
On 25th December 1941, General Alan Brooke (or Alanbrooke) was appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff, the commanding officer of the British Army during the Second World War. His new boss, Winston Spencer Churchill was a hard taskmaster with high standards who had no problem with sacking generals. But, he had a helping hand in the form of General Pug Ismay, soldier, statesman and diplomat.
Joining today are two historians, John Kiszely, the author of a biography of Ismay, and Gordon Corrigan, author of a book on Churchill. Today we discuss the dynamics between the three men and other generals such as Montgomery, Wavell and Auchinleck.
John Kiszely Links
Ismay: Soldier, Statesman, Diplomat, by John Kiszely
Gordon Corrigan Links
Blood, Sweat and Arrogance: The Myths of Churchill's War
Aspects of History Links
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53min
April 11, 2025 WW2 Family History and the 1980s with Helen Lederer
Today’s guest is Helen Lederer, actress, comedian, writer and the author of Not That I’m Bitter, her life’s memoir which includes the 1980s comedy scene, and her family story during the Second World War which we’re going to talk about today.
Helen Lederer Links
Not That I’m Bitter
My IWM: Helen Lederer - Aspects of History
Aspects of History Links
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Ollie on X
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44min

FAQs about Aspects of History:

How many episodes does Aspects of History have?

The podcast currently has 314 episodes available.

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