History's Most

In this episode, we offer a final addendum to our series on 20th century Spain. After 40 years of fascism under the rule of Francisco Franco, Spain looks to a young new leader, Adolfo Suárez, to take up the mantle and to lead Spain forward. Propped up by years of being a well-liked figure within the Francoist ranks, Suárez would seem to be the man for the job to carry the party into the future. But as the title of this episode suggests, his vision for Spain might not be what the old guard were expecting...

Our interview with Chat History: https://chathistory.org/2020/03/06/chat-history-with-alex-and-peter-of-historys-most-podcast/

Footage of the 23-F coup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcc0_8i0CYs

In this episode, we conclude our series on 20th century Spain by discussing the most important event in modern Spanish history: The Spanish Civil War. We discuss the politics of both Franco's nationalists and the Republicans, the foreign support for both sides, the role of the International Brigades, and more about what makes this truly History's Most Complicated War.

Purchase Alex's new book here: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Peoples-Army-in-the-Spanish-Civil-War-Hardback/p/17104

His article on HistoryHit: https://www.historyhit.com/why-did-the-republicans-lose-the-spanish-civil-war/

His interview with Cris Alvarez: https://warscholar.org/spanish-civil-war-military-history-book-the-peoples-army-in-the-spanish-civil-war-pen-sword-books-2020-alex-clifford-interview/

Music: Sergei Rachmaninoff - String Quartet No. 2 as recorded by Steve's Bedroom Band and Steve Jones licensed under Creative Commons 4.0.

In this episode, as part of our series on 20th Century Spain, we discuss the Second Spanish Republic. Finally free from the shackles of the corrupt turno parties, the monarchy, and Primo de Rivera's dictatorship, the formation of a true republic could signal a new era for Spain... But with clashing ambitions from the left and right, and the great depression impacting the world economy, it certainly won't be easy for the new government to find its footing. And on the horizon, something else looms for Spain...

Purchase Alex's new book here: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Peoples-Army-in-the-Spanish-Civil-War-Hardback/p/17104

Music: Sergei Rachmaninoff - String Quartet No. 2 as recorded by Steve's Bedroom Band and Steve Jones licensed under Creative Commons 4.0.

In this episode, we explore the fascinating character of Miguel Primo de Rivera, the Spanish dictator who ruled from 1923 to 1930. Often regarded as a populist and a paternalist, and calling himself an "Iron Surgeon", Primo de Rivera is one of the most fascinating dictators of 20th century Europe, and one of the most fascinating people of 20th century Spain as well. With Spain's best interests at heart, he set out to revitalize the country from the old days of the turno pacifico, root out the political corruption prevalent in the Spanish political system, quell the civil unrest, and deal with the war in Morocco. We dive into each of these topics, and more, in this character study of what we believe to be History's Most Benevolent Dictator.

Purchase Alex's new book here: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Peoples-Army-in-the-Spanish-Civil-War-Hardback/p/17104

Music: Sergei Rachmaninoff - String Quartet No. 2 as recorded by Steve's Bedroom Band and Steve Jones licensed under Creative Commons 4.0.

This episode is the first in a trilogy on 20th century Spain and tells the story of the unbelievably corrupt Turno system installed in the late 1800s which survived up to 1923. Bribery and coercion determined the results of elections as two official parties peacefully alternated in office to give the illusion of democracy. Amidst staggering levels of incompetence and egotism, the system began to break down in the 1910s as the Turno parties fell apart and the effects of the Great War began to be felt even in neutral Spain. Failing on practically every front, when the system finally collapsed in 1923, its passing was mourned by no one.

Pre-order Alex's upcoming book here: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Peoples-Army-in-the-Spanish-Civil-War-Hardback/p/17104

Music: Sergei Rachmaninoff - String Quartet No. 2 as recorded by Steve's Bedroom Band and Steve Jones licensed under Creative Commons 4.0.

This episode of History's Most is our Christmas special! Join us as we discuss three small "stocking filler" stories from history, followed by a few recommendations for historical books, movies, and shows, that we've enjoyed, and that we think our listeners will enjoy as well!

Happy holidays and a very merry Christmas from History's Most!

Pre-order Alex's upcoming book here: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Peoples-Army-in-the-Spanish-Civil-War-Hardback/p/17104

Music: We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Instrumental Jazz) by E's Jammy Jams Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Today we go back nearly 1000 years to the First Crusade for History's Most Unlikely Victory. How did a ragtag, multinational army of Western knights, nobles and peasants reconquer much of Asia Minor and the Holy Land against a numerically superior enemy, without clear leadership or planning, in the face of crippling supply and desertion issues and despite a multitude of setbacks and disasters. This episode tells the ultimate story of a victory against all odds.

Music: Sergei Rachmaninoff - String Quartet No. 2 as recorded by Steve's Bedroom Band and Steve Jones licensed under Creative Commons 4.0.

History's Most Disastrous Voyage comes to a terrible end at the Battle of Tsushima, May 1905. Somehow, Rozhestvensky's fleet makes it to the Pacific, only for more mistakes and mishaps to lead to a deadly clash with the Japanese Imperial Navy. If you thought last episode was bad, things are about to get a whole lot worse...

Music: Sergei Rachmaninoff - String Quartet No. 2 as recorded by Steve's Bedroom Band and Steve Jones licensed under Creative Commons 4.0.

This episode of History's Most brings us to 1904, where we follow the Russian Navy's 18,000 mile long journey from the port of Saint Petersburg in the Baltic Sea to the Tsushima Strait off the coast of Japan. We dive in-depth to each mishap and incident along the way, discussing what truly made this journey History's Most Disastrous Voyage.

Music: Sergei Rachmaninoff - String Quartet No. 2 as recorded by Steve's Bedroom Band and Steve Jones licensed under Creative Commons 4.0.

Our first episode investigates Erich Ludendorff, Germany's World War One general. We examine his fascinating life, and explore the fateful decisions he made which had dire consequences for European history. We discuss his accountability for unleashing the Bolshevik Revolution, unnecessarily prolonging WWI, undermining German democracy and aiding the fledgling Nazi movement. Ludendorff's story takes us on a 20th Century odyssey of war, plots, conspiracy theories, political extremism and mental health.

Music: Sergei Rachmaninoff - String Quartet No. 2 as recorded by Steve's Bedroom Band and Steve Jones licensed under Creative Commons 4.0.