In the third instalment of our Tunisgrad series, Saul and Roger explore two pivotal moments from early 1943. First, they head to the Casablanca Conference, where Allied leaders Churchill and Roosevelt made the monumental decision to demand the "unconditional surrender" of the Axis powers.

Then, we jump into the final, desperate German counter-offensive in Tunisia, Erwin Rommel' 'Last Dance'.

Saul breaks down a series of crucial battles, from the initial Axis victories at Sidi Bou Zid and the Kasserine Pass, which exposed weaknesses in the U.S. forces, to the strategic Allied comeback. We’ll cover how the Allies regrouped, learned from their mistakes, and ultimately repelled Rommel’s last major assaults in Operation Ochsenkopf and the Battle of Medenine, sealing the fate of the North African campaign.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground

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This week, hosts Saul David and Roger Moorhouse discuss a series of momentous events that could be seen as a turning point in the war.

They analyse a shocking Russian glide bomb attack on civilians in eastern Ukraine, a historic drone incursion into Polish airspace, and the hardening of attitudes within NATO.

The hosts also examine the political fallout from these events, including the reactions of Donald Trump and other Western leaders, and the latest news from Russia.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground

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In this episode, Saul and Roger dive into the chaotic opening moves of the Tunisian campaign, covering Operation Torch and the frantic "Race for Tunis."

Together they explore how the Allied invasion of North Africa, a strategic compromise between Roosevelt and Churchill, was meant to catch the Axis off guard but instead led to a desperate dash for the Tunisian capital.

They'll detail the swift German response as they air-lifted troops into Tunis, establishing a strong defensive perimeter that would hold for months.

They also break down the key battles, including the Allied defeats at Tebourba and Medjez el Bab, where superior German defences and coordinated counterattacks halted the Allied advance.

Finally they look in detail at the first bloody attempt to take the strategically vital Longstop Hill in December 1942, a key position that would only fall to the Allies months later.

Find out why the Axis emerged victorious in these initial clashes and what this meant for the rest of the campaign.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground

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In this episode of Battleground: Ukraine, hosts Patrick Bishop and Saul David dissect the recent military parade in Beijing, where the leaders of China, Russia, and North Korea appeared together.

They discuss the strategic significance of this meeting, which took place in a historical venue and was a clear display of strength against the West. They also ask what the reality of China's "peaceful development" rhetoric is and also examine President Donald Trump's shifting and seemingly contradictory comments on the emerging alliance and his administration's recent approval of an arms package for Ukraine.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground

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In the first our four-part Tunisgrad series, Saul sets the scene by covering the North African campaign from September 1940 to November 1942. Beginning with the Italian invasion of Egypt, the initial British successes, and the arrival of Rommel's Afrika Korps.

We then track the brutal back-and-forth struggle across the desert, culminating in the Axis high-water mark of mid-1942. The episode climaxes with the decisive Second Battle of El Alamein, a turning point that forced Rommel's retreat and set the stage for the Anglo-American invasion of French North Africa, known as Operation Torch.

Join us as we explore the campaign that reshaped the course of World War II.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground

You can pre-order Saul’s new book Tunisgrad online at https://www.waterstones.com/book/tunisgrad/saul-david/9780008653811 and receive 25% off with discount code TUNISGRAD25. Offer available online only and valid until 10/09/25.

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This week on Battleground, Saul David and Patrick Bishop analyse why recent diplomatic summits have failed to move the needle on peace in Ukraine.

They also discuss two surprising developments: new details about a potential US security commitment to a post-war Ukraine, and the US imposition of heavy tariffs on India to punish it for buying Russian oil. With the tariffs already devastating key Indian industries.

On the ground, a Russian breakthrough near Dobropillya has been contained, but new reports confirm a Russian advance into the Dnipropetrovsk region. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to hit Russian targets with long-range drone strikes and has unveiled a new, powerful cruise missile, the "Flamingo FP-5," with a 3,000 km range.

Finally, in a new segment with the Centre for Information Resilience, the hosts report that Russian drone activity has effectively cut off a key highway, raising fears of a "drone siege" on the city of Kherson.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground

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In the final episode of our Battleground '45 series Saul and Patrick tie up some loose ends by answering listeners' questions on all things Second World War-related.

Together they discuss why Spain remained neutral, the role of Latin American countries in the war, and why the Luftwaffe was nowhere to be seen when 617 Squadron of the RAF sank the Tirpitz in November 1944.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground

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In this episode, host Patrick Bishop welcomes back friend of the show and veteran journalist, Julius Strauss. Just back from the Donbas in Eastern Ukraine, Julius shares his account of the current situation on the ground and the mood

They also dissect the recent geopolitical manoeuvres, breaking down the implications of the controversial Trump-Putin summit, and analysing the results, if any, of the widely covered meeting in The White House on Monday.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground

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In this episode of Battleground 45, Saul and Patrick delve into the dark history of the ratlines, a system of escape routes used by high-ranking Nazi officials and collaborators to flee Europe after World War II.

We explore how these fugitives, including infamous figures like Adolf Eichmann and Klaus Barbie, evaded justice by traveling through a network that stretched from Germany to safe havens in South America and the Middle East.

Together they uncover the organisations and individuals, from sympathetic clergy to intelligence agencies, that aided their escape and the enduring legacy of their unpunished crimes.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground

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In this special reaction episode, we break down the key takeaways from the White House meeting, including the surprising possibility of a Putin-Zelenskyy face-to-face, Trump's sudden openness to security guarantees for Ukraine.

We also explore the fascinating diplomatic charm offensive launched by Zelenskyy to win over his American hosts. Is this a real breakthrough or simply "smoke and mirrors"?

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground

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