Episodes

  • Victory 1945 with Al Murray

    Victory 1945 with Al Murray
    May 9 2025
    At 1830 hours on 4th May 1945, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery accepted the unconditional surrender of German forces in northwestern Europe from Admiral Hans Georg von Friedeberg. This was one of a number of surrenders that took place across the European theatre of World War Two. Months later Japan surrendered with a radio statement that has since become a satirical masterpiece. Al Murray joins to discuss these and more as we delve into whether Monty won the surrenders, and did the Americans have no option but to drop those two atomic bombs? Al Murray Links Victory '45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    48 mins
  • Women of the Troubles with Martin Dillon

    Women of the Troubles with Martin Dillon
    May 6 2025
    On the afternoon of 6 March 1988 in Gibraltar on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsular, Mairead Farrell and two other Provisional IRA volunteers of were shot dead by members of the Special Air Service. The three were on an operation to target one of the last outposts of the British Empire, but their movements were known to the security services. Farrell was one of a small number of female IRA members in an organisation dominated by men. How were mothers, wives, daughters and sisters impacted by the violence over 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland? And how do they deal with the trauma 25 years after the Good Friday Agreement? Joining today is the acclaimed journalist and writer Martin Dillon, author of The Dirty War, The Shankill Butchers and Stone Cold, as well as his most recent, The Sorrow and the Loss: The Tragic Shadow Cast by the Troubles on the Lives of Women. Martin Dillon Links The Sorrow and the Loss: The Tragic Shadow Cast by the Troubles on the Lives of Women The Dirty War The Shankill Butchers: A Case Study of Mass Murder Stone Cold Martin Dillon Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    51 mins
  • Bose & Post War Empires with Phil Craig

    Bose & Post War Empires with Phil Craig
    May 2 2025
    At the end of the Second World War Asian colonies were desperate for independence: India, Burma, Indochina, Malaya and the Dutch East Indies all boasted independence movements that now demanded autonomy. But was Britain, which had fought a costly war against fascism and domination and won, willing to grant self-government to its former colonies? And what of France and the Netherlands, and the characters involved including Subhas Chandra Bose. Joining today is historian Phil Craig, author of 1945: The Reckoning, as we explore figures such as Chandra Bhose and General Kodendera Thimayya, or Thimmy for short, and the way Britain and her allies dealt with independence. Phil Craig Links 1945: The Reckoning: War, Empire and the Struggle for a New World Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    46 mins
  • Monuments to War with Tessa Dunlop

    Monuments to War with Tessa Dunlop
    Apr 25 2025
    On 8 June 1982 the Sir Galahad troop ship was about to offload the Welsh Guards at Bluff Cove in the Falkland Islands. As the guardsmen were waiting, an Argentine Skyhawk attacked and the Galahad was hit. 48 men were killed, and 97 wounded, among them Simon Weston. Weston, a proud Welshman, suffered horrific burns and endured 96 operations and surgical procedures. He is one of many interviewees in a new book on monuments in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and of course, Wales, in addition to the one you heard at the top. Joining today is Tessa Dunlop – author of Lest We Forget, War and Peace in 100 Monuments which is just out. Links are in the show notes as we chat those monuments in each country of the United Kingdom. Tessa Dunlop Links Lest We Forget: War and Peace in 100 British Monuments Alfred the Great - The Telegraph (£) Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • Film Club: Downfall (2004)

    Film Club: Downfall (2004)
    Apr 22 2025
    This month’s movie is Downfall, directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel and starring Bruno Ganz, the depiction of the last days of Adolf Hitler as we reach the 80th anniversary. Roger Moorhouse, historian of Nazi Germany joins, along with Director Tim Hewitt. Links Downfall on Wikipedia Downfall on IMDB Ollie on X Tim on X Roger on X Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • The Siege of Leningrad with Sinclair McKay

    The Siege of Leningrad with Sinclair McKay
    Apr 18 2025
    In August 1941 Army Group North of the Wehrmacht approached the suburbs of Leningrad, as St. Petersburg was called. Within days the city was surrounded, and would remain so for nearly two and a half years. The suffering endured by its residents was horrifying and included widespread cannibalism. But this is a city of art, architecture, literature, music and dance, the home of Alexander Pushkin and a place of revolution. Joining to discuss St. Petersburg is author Sinclair McKay, author of a new book as we discuss the window to the west through the prism of the siege. Sinclair McKay Links Saint Petersburg: Sacrifice and Redemption in the City That Defied Hitler Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    46 mins
  • WW2 Titans: Churchill, Brooke & Ismay, with John Kiszely & Gordon Corrigan

    WW2 Titans: Churchill, Brooke & Ismay, with John Kiszely & Gordon Corrigan
    Apr 15 2025
    On 25th December 1941, General Alan Brooke (or Alanbrooke) was appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff, the commanding officer of the British Army during the Second World War. His new boss, Winston Spencer Churchill was a hard taskmaster with high standards who had no problem with sacking generals. But, he had a helping hand in the form of General Pug Ismay, soldier, statesman and diplomat. Joining today are two historians, John Kiszely, the author of a biography of Ismay, and Gordon Corrigan, author of a book on Churchill. Today we discuss the dynamics between the three men and other generals such as Montgomery, Wavell and Auchinleck. John Kiszely Links Ismay: Soldier, Statesman, Diplomat, by John Kiszely Gordon Corrigan Links Blood, Sweat and Arrogance: The Myths of Churchill's War Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    51 mins
  • WW2 Family History and the 1980s with Helen Lederer

    WW2 Family History and the 1980s with Helen Lederer
    Apr 11 2025
    Today’s guest is Helen Lederer, actress, comedian, writer and the author of Not That I’m Bitter, her life’s memoir which includes the 1980s comedy scene, and her family story during the Second World War which we’re going to talk about today. Helen Lederer Links Not That I’m Bitter My IWM: Helen Lederer - Aspects of History Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    42 mins