Battleground

On February 13th, 1945 British bombers began one of the most devastating attacks of WWII: the bombing of Dresden. Considered one of the most controversial events of the Allied war, it ignited an firestorm that devastated the city and killed an estimated 25,000 people.

Joining Patrick to discuss the event and the surrounding controversy is historian Sinclair McKay, the author of The Fire and the Darkness: The Bombing of Dresden, 1945.

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

Producer: James Hodgson

X: @PodBattleground

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Armed with new insights from their recent trip to Ukraine, Saul and Patrick discuss the latest developments surrounding the ongoing conflict. They take a look at the diplomatic stage, as the latest signals indicate Putin is seeking to flatter Trump ahead of any potential upcoming negotiations.

They also delve into listeners questions that range across a host of different subjects, including what the opinions of Ukrainians are towards a variety of pressing issues.

If you are interested in donating to Reusing IT, you can find out more here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7281708536277942274/

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

Producer: James Hodgson

X: @PodBattleground

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In another special episode recorded on the ground in Ukraine, we start from the pearl of the Black Sea - Odesa, where we are joined by friend of the podcast Julius Strauss. Together with Saul and Patrick, Julius discusses what ways the conflict has transformed Odesa, especially given its context as a historically predominately Russian speaking city.

You can read more about Julius' thoughts and findings on Odesa on his substack here - https://backtothefront.substack.com/p/return-to-odesa

We then take you on our Journey to Ukraine's second largest city, Kharkiv, where we give our first impressions of the embattled city. Patrick also attended mass at the Cathedral of the Assumption and spoke to Farther Oleg Kovynyov, on his experiences and thoughts about the war.

If you are interested in donating to Reusing IT, you can find out more here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7281708536277942274/

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

Producer: James Hodgson

X: @PodBattleground

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In this episode Patrick is joined by writer and historian Giles Milton, who is expertly placed to discuss the seismic events of the Yalta conference which dictated the fate of post war Europe, which he describes so eloquently in his book Checkmate in Berlin.

Yalta was the scene of a political battle between the leaders of the soon to be victorious Allied powers, with Stalin skilfully manoeuvring and exploiting his strong hand with the Red Army having already wrestled control over most of Eastern Europe.

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

Producer: James Hodgson

X: @PodBattleground

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In this episode Saul and Patrick are in the Northern edges of Kharkiv a short distance from the frontlines and the Russian border. They also discuss some of the latest pressing news and events that have emerged from Ukraine in recent days.

We also debreifed friends of the podcast: Julius Strauss, Kimberley Reczek, Askold Krushelnycky, and Boldizsár Győri, following their trip to the frontline town of Kupyansk.

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

Producer: James Hodgson

X: @PodBattleground

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In this episode Saul speaks to Roger Moorhouse, about the first time that Soviet forces stepped foot on German home soil in East Prussia. It was also the first time German civilians came face to face with the Red Army, which turned its fury and vengeance on them in particularly horrible ways as millions fled westward.

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

Producer: James Hodgson

X: @PodBattleground

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In this episode from the road in Ukraine Saul and Patrick discuss Donald Trump's inaugural presidential address. Their reflections on it a day later and also their immediate response with friend of the show American journalist Joe Lindsey.

Please do follow us wherever you get your podcasts to hear everything from us on the ground in Ukraine.

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

Producer: James Hodgson

X: @PodBattleground

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In this episode we return in person to Ukraine, but we start in Ukraine's neighbouring state of Moldova, a fellow former soviet republic where we were joined by friend of the podcast Julius Strauss and Kimberley Reczek.

Prior to our arrival they had spent the day in Transnistria, a tiny breakaway region of Moldova which is effectively controlled by Russia, they gave us some fascinating insight into this relatively unknown and fascinating region.

We also document the first stages of our latest trip into Ukraine, with our first stop in the historic Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odesa.

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

Producer: James Hodgson

X: @PodBattleground

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This week, Saul and Patrick discuss the incoming Trump administration plans or lack thereof, for bringing the war in Ukraine to a peaceful settlement.

They also have a look at the ongoing diplomatic spat between Zelenskyy and neighbouring Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, and take a deeper look at the news that Ukrainian forces have captured their first North Korean prisoners.

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

Producer: James Hodgson

X: @PodBattleground

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In this episode of Battleground '45, Saul is joined by historian Keith Lowe to discuss their upcoming history tour along the Elbe. The Elbe river runs down from Czechia right through the heart of Germany, together they map out some of the remarkable and sobering tales of history that happened in many of the locations they will be visiting on the tour, including Operation Anthropoid, the bombing of Dresden, and a remarkable escape story from Königstein Castle.

To find out more visit www.ww2museumtours.org or email [email protected]

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

Producer: James Hodgson

X: @PodBattleground

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