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In Nov 1918, Germans set out on a radical experiment: the building of a new, fully democratic state known as the Weimar Republic.  Unfortunately, of course, it didn't last.  But the question remains why?  And what should this tell us about the strength of our own democracies?

This episode explores the foundation of the Weimar Republic, discussing some of its early successes and failures.  It highlights some of the initial problems encountered in the construction of Weimar democracy, including the split between the SPD and KPD, and the failure to win the loyalties of Germans who were not predisposed to favor democracy.  Topics covered include the transfer of power in Nov 1918, the early formation of the Republic, the Spartacist Rebellion, Hyperinflation and the Occupation of the Ruhr, Friedrich Ebert and Gustav Stresemann, and much more.

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At the time of its foundation in early 1919, the Nazi Party was a group of several dozen dilettantes who at first glance appeared to stand little chance of changing history.  And yet, by 1923 it had grown to over 50K members - enough to convince Hitler that they could seize control of Bavaria.  This episode explores the secrets to the Nazi Party's success, showing how they built a politically effective, modern mass movement.  Topics covered include why Hitler was such a convincing speaker, the "socialist" element of early Nazism, the pivotal role of the Sturmabteilung (SA) and the development of Nazi rituals of violence, and the Beer Hall Putsch (Nov. 1923).  We'll also briefly introduce several key Nazi figures to the story, including Ernst Röhm, Julius Streicher, and Ernst "Putzi" Hanfstaengl.  Finally, the episode concludes by showing the failure of Weimar authorities to effectively deal with Hitler's treason.

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Adolf Hitler is one of the most notorious villains of history. But how did he become HITLER? This partial preview episode documents his early history, from his boyhood in Linz to his Bohemian wandering in Vienna to his exploits during the First World War. It tracks the origins of his political philosophy, showing how much of his political and anti-Semitic wakening occurred only after the Great War, when he participated in ideological training classes sponsored by the German army. Topics covered include Hitler's youth, Georg von Schönerer and the Pan-Germans, Karl Lueger and Christian Socialism, Richard Wagner, Gottfried Feder and more! 

Want the full episode?  Get access to this and other episodes at Patreon for as little as $2/month (patreon.com/historyoffthepage).

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There are many places one could start a history of Nazi Germany, but we begin our series with the experience of the First World War.  From the heady August days when Germans were flush with the joy of expectant victory to war and revolution in 1918, the war refashioned and brutalized German politics.  Old authorities like the monarchy were discarded, to be replaced by a more wholesome form of politics that centered on the experiences of the front line soldier.   This episode demonstrates the ways in which the war provided a nurturing environment for the eventual growth of the Nazi Party, focusing in particular on the growth of right-wing Freikorps units in the immediate aftermath of the war.  Among other things, it discusses the German war experience, authors such as Ernst Jünger and Erich Maria Remarque, the November Revolution, the Spartacist rebellion, the Stahlhelm, the Kapp putsch and much more!

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This episode - the first of 12 on the history of Nazi Germany - begins by asking the question if Nazis still matter in an age when so much of the post-World War II consensus (global institutions, free trade, collective defense) is being abandoned?  It highlights the role played in this process by figures such as Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson and the Alternativ fur Deutschland Party (AFD), who along with social media are rapidly reworking popular perceptions of the Nazi past.  It also provides answers to the main question, laying out three critical reasons we must remember what happened.  Finally, the episode concludes with a brief overview of the entire series. 

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 Continuing our discussion of the 1967 Six-Day War, this episode discusses the outbreak of hostilities with Israeli Operation Focus on 5 June 1967. In addition to covering some operational details, we also sketch out the rest of the history of the war, including discussions of Egyptian and Israeli war planning and the evolution of events on the battlefield(s). The episode concludes with an epilogue about the way the war changed politics in the main combatant states, including Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Syria and Palestine. 

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In June 1967, tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors once again led to the outbreak of war.  This episodes examines the causes of the renewed violence, ranging from long term factors such as Nasser's Arab nationalism and the lack of a solution to the Palestinian refugee crisis to shorter term issues such as the evolution of regional politics, fights over water usage and Israeli reprisal attacks.  Topics covered include not Nasser and Egypt, but also the rise of the Ba'ath Party and Hafez al-Assad in Syria, the origins of the PLO, Fatah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Israel's deadly Samu raid (1966).

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On the afternoon of October 29, 1856, Israeli forces launched a surprise attack into the Sinai peninsula, part of a coordinated plan with Britain and France for the European powers to retake possession of the Suez canal.  This episode covers the course of the war, as well as its legacy.  Topics covered include: the Cold War context and the run-up to war, British, French, Israeli and Egyptian strategic planning, global reactions, and the meaning of the war for Israelis, Palestinians and also Gamal Abdel Nasser.

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After eight years of a tense peace, war came suddenly again to the Middle East in October 1956.  This episode answers why, exploring the deeper history behind the building of the Suez Canal from 1859-69, the origins of British colonialism in the region and the rise of various anti-colonial Egyptian movements such as Wafd and the Muslim Brotherhood.  We also go into detail about the meteoric rise of Gamal Abdel Nasser, whose efforts to reshape Egyptian and Middle Eastern politics played a significant role in the crisis.  Finally, the episode also discusses the perspectives and motivations of Israeli, Palestinian, French and British political actors that led directly to war, including: Palestinian Fedayeen attacks, Ariel Sharon's notorious "Unit 101," Anthony Eden and Operation Musketeer and more. 

Note: this is the first of two episodes on Suez.  Our second episode will discuss the course of the war itself.

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By the late summer of 1949, the frozen battle lines between the Arab and Israeli armies led to the realization that Palestinian refugees would not soon be returning to their former homes.  This episode charts the fascinating and tragic story of the international response to the refugee crisis from 1949 to the mid-50s, including the creation of UNRWA in Dec. 1949.  In particular, it shows how UN thinkers approached the issue from an economic standpoint, believing that a massive program of economic development could integrate the refugees into neighboring communities and provide a permanent solution for their well-being.  As the episode shows, however, these efforts failed because they did not take into account the refugee's psychological needs, including their strong desire to eventually return home.  In the end Palestinians were not prepared to accept permanent exile in exchange for economic mobility. 

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For more information on History Off the Page, check out our website www.historyoffthepage.com! Or you can support the show via Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/historyoffthepage?fan_landing=true.