Battleground

Welcome to the first episode of our new Wolfpack series with Saul David and Roger Moorhouse diving into the intriguing origins and early, devastating success of Nazi Germany’s U-boat campaign in the Atlantic.

This foundational episode unpacks how naval limitations imposed by the Treaty of Versailles failed to stop German rearmament and secretly fostered the development of submarine warfare doctrine.

They also explore Admiral Karl Dönitz's desperate strategic vision—the famed "wolfpack" tactics—and how a small fleet initially achieved spectacular results. From the shocking sinking of the civilian liner SS Athenia immediately after the declaration of war, to the "First Happy Time," a period where U-boat crews operated with lethal impunity, nearly crippling Britain's supply lines and setting the stage for the true Battle of the Atlantic.

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Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground

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This week on Battleground, Saul David and Roger Moorhouse dissect a week of Russian provocation and a dramatic political shift from the US President.

Is Putin's aggressive brinkmanship about to backfire? After three MiG-31 jets violated Estonian airspace and a major drone incursion grounded flights at Copenhagen Airport, NATO allies are drawing a line in the sand. The hosts break down the fallout from Estonia invoking Article 4, the emergency UN Security Council session, and the stark pledge from the Polish foreign minister to shoot down future invaders of NATO skies.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump executes a stunning U-turn, branding Russia a 'paper tiger' and urging Ukraine to reclaim all its lost territory—a complete reversal of his previous calls for territorial concession.

Also in this episode:

• Kremlin Nepotism: We examine reports that an increasingly paranoid Putin has appointed his cousin, Anna Tsivileva, as a deputy defence minister to root out corruption and disloyalty in the defence ministry.

• Nuclear Sabre-Rattling: Putin attempts to "throw Trump a bone" with a conditional offer to adhere to the New START treaty for one year following its 2026 expiry.

• Listeners' Questions: We tackle your queries on: the West's slow adoption of drone warfare lessons; the long-term demographic fallout of the war on both Russia and Ukraine: and more.

Join us as we analyse the week's most dangerous escalations and what they mean for the future of the conflict.

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The final showdown in North Africa is here. In the final episode of our Tunisgrad series Saul and Roger discuss the climax of the campaign as Allied forces converge on the Axis in Tunisia.

Together they break down the pivotal battles that sealed the fate of the Axis, from Montgomery's breakthrough at the Mareth Line to the decisive pincer movement at Wadi Akarit. And the final, coordinated assault, Operation Strike, which leads to the fall of Tunis and a capitulation on a scale even greater than Stalingrad.

Discover the key factors behind the Allied victory: overwhelming logistical superiority, complete air supremacy, and a unified command structure that finally worked. Over 250,000 Axis troops surrender, marking the end of the African campaign and, as one historian notes, "the beginning of the end" for Hitler.

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

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground

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While last week's dramatic Russian drone attack on Poland made headlines, this week sees a return to the grinding realities of the war in Ukraine.

Join hosts Roger Moorhouse and Saul David as they dissect the latest developments including Russia's continued missile and drone strikes, Ukraine's strategic targeting of Russian oil infrastructure, and the alarming nature of the "Zapad 2025" military exercises between Russia and Belarus.

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 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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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.