Dave Does History

In the final months of World War II, Soviet pilot Mikhail Devyataev pulled off one of the most daring escapes in history.

Captured by the Nazis and imprisoned in a brutal labor camp on the island of Usedom, he faced near-certain death. But instead of waiting for fate to take its course, he did the unthinkable—he and a group of fellow prisoners hijacked a Heinkel He 111 bomber and flew to freedom.

This is the incredible true story of how one man turned the enemy’s own war machine against them, outwitting the Nazis and changing the course of history.

11th Amendment, Chisholm v. Georgia, state sovereignty, U.S. Constitution, Supreme Court cases, federalism, judicial power.

This episode ofDave Does History dives into the legal and political firestorm ignited byChisholm v. Georgia, a case that dared to question state immunity and ended up forcing the first major amendment after the Bill of Rights. When the Supreme Court ruled that states could be dragged into federal court by private citizens, the reaction was swift—Congress and the states wasted no time in slamming that door shut. We break down the case, the crisis, and how the 11th Amendment reshaped American law.

Aaron Burr was one of the most controversial figures in early American history—a war hero, politician, and vice president whose ambition led to both greatness and infamy.

Best known for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel, Burr’s story didn’t end there. His life was marked by political intrigue, a treason trial, and a failed scheme that still sparks debate. Was he a traitor or a visionary ahead of his time?

This episode of Dave Does History explores Burr’s rise, his conflicts with Hamilton and Jefferson, the infamous duel, and his dramatic downfall, revealing a man who shaped—and was ultimately undone by—his own relentless ambition.

The Immigration Act of 1917 was one of the most sweeping and controversial immigration laws in American history. Passed over President Woodrow Wilson’s veto, it imposed a literacy test, expanded the list of “undesirable” immigrants, and created the Asiatic Barred Zone, effectively shutting out most of Asia from immigration to the U.S.

This episode looks at the political battles, the rising tide of nativism, and the long-term impact of the law on American immigration policy. How did fear, war, and shifting national identity shape this legislation?

And what lessons does it hold for today?

Step back into Gold Rush-era San Francisco, a city teeming with fortune seekers, rogues, and visionaries. In this episode of Dave Does History on Bill Mick Live, we explore one of the most fascinating figures in American history—Emperor Norton I, the self-proclaimed Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico.

Once a wealthy businessman, Joshua Norton’s fortunes crumbled after a disastrous investment in the rice market. But instead of fading into obscurity, he reinvented himself as a monarch, issuing proclamations that abolished Congress, defended civil rights, and even envisioned the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge—a project completed decades later.

For twenty years, San Francisco embraced him, treating their eccentric ruler with affection and respect. Today, activists still fight to name the Bay Bridge in his honor. Was he mad, a visionary, or both? Join us as we unravel the legend of Emperor Norton—America’s most beloved self-made sovereign.

On February 3, 1943, in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic, four chaplains aboard the SS Dorchester made the ultimate sacrifice.

As a German torpedo sent the overcrowded troopship to its doom, Methodist minister George L. Fox, Jewish rabbi Alexander D. Goode, Dutch Reformed minister Clark V. Poling, and Catholic priest John P. Washington gave their life jackets to others, choosing faith and unity over survival. Their final act—standing together, arms linked in prayer—became an enduring symbol of selflessness.

This episode honors their legacy, the men they saved, and the establishment of Four Chaplains Day.

Albert Sidney Johnston was one of the most intriguing figures of the Civil War—hailed by Jefferson Davis as the Confederacy’s finest general, yet doomed by fate at the Battle of Shiloh.

In this episode, we explore his life, from his early military career in Texas and the U.S. Army to his fateful decision to join the South. Was his death truly the turning point of the war, as Davis claimed, or was his reputation larger than his actual impact?

Join us as we unravel the story of a warrior whose legacy remains one of history’s greatest “what ifs.”

February 1, 1968. In the chaos of the Tet Offensive, a single gunshot on a Saigon street changed the way Americans saw the Vietnam War.

Captured in a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by Eddie Adams, the execution of Nguyễn Văn Lém by General Nguyễn Ngọc Loan became one of the most infamous images in history.

But what’s the real story behind that moment? In this episode, we dig into the war, the men involved, the media firestorm, and the lasting impact of this haunting image. Was it justice, murder, or just another casualty of war?

Milwaukee’s history is full of grit, ambition, and—believe it or not—bridge sabotage. In 1845, what should have been a simple matter of urban planning turned into an all-out brawl between rival settlements on either side of the Milwaukee River.

At the heart of the chaos was Byron Kilbourn, a land speculator with grand dreams and little interest in cooperation. His refusal to align Kilbourntown’s streets with neighboring Juneautown was just the beginning. When the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature ordered bridges built to improve travel and trade, Kilbourn saw them as a direct threat to his dominance—and he fought back.

What followed was a bizarre and violent conflict involving mobs, sabotage, a cannon aimed at Kilbourn’s house, and a city on the brink of collapse. But from the ashes of the Milwaukee Bridge War came something unexpected: the unification of Milwaukee.

Let's unravel this wild chapter of Wisconsin history.

On January 30, 1972, the streets of Derry, Northern Ireland, ran red with blood. What began as a peaceful civil rights march against internment without trial ended in a massacre when British paratroopers opened fire on unarmed civilians, killing thirteen on the spot, with another dying later from his wounds. It was a day that shattered trust, fueled the IRA’s rise, and left a permanent stain on British-Irish relations. Today, we break down the events of Bloody Sunday, the cover-ups that followed, and the decades-long fight for justice. This is not just history—it’s a wound that still bleeds.