Best German Occupation Podcasts (2025)

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SPECIAL EPISODE - COMMANDO RAIDS ON THE CHANNEL ISLANDS DECEMBER 1943 19:58

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8h ago19:58

19:58

In this episode recorded on the 82nd Anniversary of two Commando raids on the Channel Islands. Including the only Commando raid on Jersey, Operation Hardtack 28, and the second Commando raid on Sark Operation Hardtack 7. You can find pictures and further information on these links. Operation Hardtack 28 Operation Hardtack 27 For our episode on Oper…

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Diogenes, the Father of Ancient Greek Stoicism, Loving Trolling His Audience and Could Out-Shock Borat 49:18

4d ago49:18

49:18

The famous street artist Banksy shocked the art world in 2018 when his painting, Girl with Balloon, partially shredded itself moments after selling it for over a million dollars. at a Sotheby's auction in London. Banksy had secretly built a mechanical shredder into the painting's ornate frame, turning the destruction into a piece of performance art…

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Blown Off Course: How History’s Windy Turning Points Sank the Armada and Saved Japan from the Mongols 46:23

6d ago46:23

46:23

The greatest energy source for civilization before the steam engine was wind. It powered the global economy in the Age of Sail. Wind-powered sail ships made global shipping fast and cheap by harnessing free, reliable ocean winds to propel large cargo loads over vast distances without needing fuel or frequent stops. It also powered windmills, the fa…

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OCTOBER 1943 - CENSORSHIP, THE GOAT IS BACK, ARRESTS, FOOD AND DISAGREEMENTS 53:08

7d ago53:08

53:08

Summary In this episode, the hosts discuss the complexities of life in Guernsey during the German occupation in October 1943. They delve into the return of the German censor Kurt Goettman, the impact of German officials on local life, and the social conditions faced by the population. The conversation highlights the struggles of the local community…

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Maps Have Bigger Problems Than the Mercator Projection. They Invent Mountain Ranges and Usually Eliminate New Zealand 45:39

11d ago45:39

45:39

Maps have always had problems. Five hundred years ago, maps were wildly inaccurate simply because cartographers were drawing the edge of the known world, limited by slow ships and nonexistent satellite data, resulting in continents that were too large, too small, or entirely misplaced. All of those problems have been solved thanks to new technology…

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The Great Mathematicians of the Early 1900s Ran into an Unsolvable Problem. They Realized Math Made No Sense 45:38

13d ago45:38

45:38

In the 1800s, it seemed like mathematics was a solved problem. The paradoxes in the field were resolved, and even areas like advanced calculus could be taught consistently and reliably at any school. It was clearly understandable in a way that abstract fields like philosophy weren’t, and it was on its way to solving humanity’s problems. Mathematica…

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SEPTEMBER 1943 - THE TIDE IS TURNING, MORALE AND A TRAGIC DEATH 1:18:04

10d ago1:18:04

1:18:04

Summary In this episode, the hosts discuss the ongoing challenges faced by the islands during the occupation in September 1943. They explore themes of post-war planning, media censorship, social welfare issues, food supply challenges, and the rise of the black market. The conversation highlights the resilience of the local population amidst hardshi…

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The American Revolution was a World War in All but Name 56:43

18d ago56:43

56:43

The Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775, known as the "shot heard round the world," marked the first military engagements of the American Revolution. Ralph Waldo Emerson named it that because it launched revolutionary movements in Europe and beyond, marking it as a key moment in the fight for liberty and self-governance. But this moment …

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How Napoleon and Churchill Used Neuroscience to Make a Better Soldier and More Loyal Public 45:23

20d ago45:23

45:23

The brain acts in strange ways during wartime. Even in active combat situations, when soldiers are one mistake away from death, many can’t fire on their enemies because their brain is triggering compassion centers against other soldiers. Studies of World War II show that while soldiers were willing to risk death, only 15% to 20% fired their weapons…

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AUGUST 1943 - ESCAPE, CENSORSHIP, RAF RAIDS AND A BIZARRE LEGAL CASE! 1:27:43

18d ago1:27:43

1:27:43

In the midst of World War II, even small islands like Guernsey played a significant role in the larger narrative of conflict and culture. This blog post delves into a recent episode of "Islands at War," where hosts Keith Pengelley and Nick Le Huray explore the complexities of wartime censorship, the lives of local residents, and surprising events t…

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William F. Buckley JR.'s Guide to Friendship in a Polarized Era 39:43

25d ago39:43

39:43

William F. Buckley Jr., the charismatic intellectual who defined modern American conservatism, was famously skilled at forging friendships across the ideological divide, a talent that helped him both shape the political landscape and navigate public opinion. His capacity for personal charm allowed him to be a public extremist and a private moderate…

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What it Was Like Living Through the USSR’s Collapse 55:37

27d ago55:37

55:37

The Collapse of the Soviet Union was twice as devastating as the Great Depression for those who lived there. It immediately led to widespread economic chaos and a breakdown of public services, plunging millions into a difficult period where mere survival was the priority. As one Russian described, after hyperinflation wiped out their family's savin…

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JULY 1943 - THREE YEARS OF OCCUPATION, HEALTH, RATIONS, ARRESTS AND RESISTANCE 1:02:39

25d ago1:02:39

1:02:39

This conversation explores the experiences of the Channel Islands during the German occupation in World War II, focusing on the third anniversary of the occupation, the struggles faced by the local population, health crises, rumours of deportations, social policies, and acts of resistance. Through diary entries and reflections, the speakers discuss…

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The Battle of Agincourt, 1415: Longbowmen, Bands of Brothers, and Henry V’s Triumph 53:15

1M ago53:15

53:15

From Shakespeare's 'band of brothers' speech to its appearances in numerous films, Agincourt rightfully has a place among a handful of conflicts whose names are immediately recognized around the world. The Battle of Agincourt, fought in 1415, is famous for the decisive role of the English and Welsh longbowmen, who—despite being significantly outnum…

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Clarence Dillon: The Roaring 20s Wall Street Baron Who Wrote the Rules for Corporate Takeovers, Junk Bonds, and Bankruptcy 45:11

1M ago45:11

45:11

J.P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, and Charles E. Mitchell are names that come to mind when thinking of the most prominent icons of wealth and influence during the Roaring Twenties. Yet the one figure who has escaped notice is an enigmatic banker by the name of Clarence Dillon. In the 1920s, as he rose in wealth and influence, Dillon became one of t…

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SPECIAL - INTERVIEWS WITH SOME WHO WERE CHILDREN DURING THE OCCUPATION, AN EVACUEE EXPERIENCE AND MORE. 36:04

1M ago36:04

36:04

Unfortunately Keith is currently unwell having succumbed to the latest bout of the flu that is doing the rounds. So instead of the scheduled July 1943 episode we have some interviews for you. Thank you to Katie Roger for voicing one of the stories which was received as an email. In this episode of Islands at War, host Nick Le Huray shares personal …

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A Utah Indian Chief Controlled the 1800s Mountain West Through Slave Trading, Building Pioneer Trails, Horse Stealing, and Becoming Mormon 1:00:05

1M ago1:00:05

1:00:05

The American Indian leader Wakara was among the most influential and feared men in the nineteenth-century American West. He and his pan-tribal cavalry of horse thieves and slave traders dominated the Old Spanish Trail, the region’s most important overland route. They widened the trail and expanded its watering holes, reshaping the environmental and…

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Why Did Rome Fall? Wrong Question. How Did it Last 2,000 Years Despite Changing its Religion, Language, and Government? 53:46

1M ago53:46

53:46

Rome began as a pagan, Latin-speaking city state in central Italy during the early Iron Age and ended as a Christian, Greek-speaking empire as the age of gunpowder dawned. Everything about it changed, except its Roman identity. This was due to a unique willingness among Romans to include new people as citizens, an openness to new ideas, and an unpa…

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JUNE 1943 PODCAST -GERMANS HUNT FOR GOLD AND DIAMONDS, BINOCULARS BUNGLE, UNITED CLUB RAID, CENSORSHIP AND CINEMA! 1:00:35

1M ago1:00:35

1:00:35

Summary This episode of 'Islands at War' explores the multifaceted impact of WWII on the Channel Islands, focusing on the German occupation's effects on daily life, community resilience, and cultural shifts. From curfew breakers in Sark to the challenges of food shortages and black market activities, the hosts delve into personal stories and histor…

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The Real Deadwood: A Gold Rush Town Built in a War Zone but Obliterated in an Inferno 37:30

2M ago37:30

37:30

Gunslinging, gold-panning, stagecoach robbing, whiskey guzzling – the myth and infamy of the American West is synonymous with its most famous town: Deadwood, South Dakota. The storied mining town sprang up in early 1876 and came raining down in ashes only three years later, destined to become food for the imagination and a nostalgic landmark that n…

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America's Pacific Dawn: The Spanish-American War Ushered In Global Reach and Savage Conflict 55:59

2M ago55:59

55:59

Clara Barton, the founder of the Red Cross, was in Havana in 1898, investigating the terrible conditions endured by Cubans whom the Spanish government had forced into concentration camps, where an estimated 425,000 people died of disease and starvation. While she was there, the American warship USS Maine exploded in Havana's harbor, which served as…

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MAY 1943 - RAF RAIDS, STAND OFF WITH THE GERMANS, DISASTORUS RATIONING CUTS & SHIPPING SUNK 1:00:18

2M ago1:00:18

1:00:18

Summary In this episode, we explore the complex situation in Guernsey during May 1943, focusing on the rationing cuts imposed by the Germans and the resulting controversies. The discussion covers the rationale behind these cuts, the impact of RAF bombing on supplies, and the challenges faced by medical professionals and the Controlling Committee. W…

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The Unhealed Wounds of WW2 POWs and Combat Veterans 50:10

2M ago50:10

50:10

Nearly 16.4 million Americans served in the U.S. Armed Forces in World War II, and for millions of survivors, the fighting left many of them physically and mentally broken for life. There was a 25% death rate in Japanese POW camps like Bataan, where starvation and torture were rampant, and fierce battles against suicidal Imperial Japanese forces, l…

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Robert McNamara Thought Enough Data Could Win Any War. Instead, It Led America to the Vietnam Quagmire 1:00:21

2M ago1:00:21

1:00:21

Robert S. McNamara, who was Secretary of Defense during JFK and LBJ’s administrations, and one of the chief architects of the Vietnam war, made a shocking confession in his 1995 memoir. He said “We were wrong, terribly wrong.” McNamara believed this as early as 1965, that the Vietnam War was unwinnable. Yet, instead of urging U.S. forces to exit, h…

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IWM PODCAST LIVE FESTIVAL - INTERVIEW WITH IWM's HEAD OF PUBLIC HISTORY, JAMES BULGIN 44:44

2M ago44:44

44:44

Nick spoke to James Bulgin about a range of topics in front of a live audience at the Imperial War Museum. James's connection with Guernsey. James's career and how he became the museum's head of public history. Curating the Holocaust Galleries at the museum. Books that he has written Upcoming publications aim to shed light on the Holocaust and the …

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The Philistine Connection: Do the Roots of October 7 Go Back 3,000 Years? 36:24

2M ago36:24

36:24

The October 7th attacks of Hamas on Israel were an unprecedented, surprise incursion by land, sea, and air that stunned the world and prompted Israel to declare war. The attacks, which included massacres in Israeli communities and a music festival, resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals and the capture of some 251 hosta…

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The Thucydides Trap: How A Rising Athens Made The Peloponnesian War Inevitable 46:29

2M ago46:29

46:29

The Peloponnesian War is considered one of the most famous wars of the ancient world not only because it was a massive and devastating conflict that reshaped the Greek world, but also because its thorough documentation by the historian Thucydides transformed how we understand history and war. On the face of it, the Peloponnesian War, fought over 20…

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The Free French Army in North Africa, 1940-1945 49:37

2M ago49:37

49:37

One of the principal architects of Allied Victory in North Africa during World War Two was French General Louis Dio. His importance in North Africa lies in his role as a key leader of the Free French forces and a trusted subordinate to General Philippe Leclerc. He participated in every battle from Douala to the Fezzan Campaigns in the early 1940s. …

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An Inventor’s Quest to Build a Pneumatic Subway System in 1870s New York 45:11

2M ago45:11

45:11

Alfred Beach built America’s first operational subway in secret beneath 1860s Manhattan, decades before the city’s official electric subway line in 1904. He designed and commissioned a 300-foot-long, eight-foot-diameter tunnel 20 feet underground, built with a tunneling machine he invented for this purpose. The car moved quietly and silently, pushe…

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APRIL 1943 PODCAST IS OUT! 18 ARRESTED AND TRIED IN JERSEY, SINKING SHIPS, RAF RAIDS AND MORE! 1:00:43

2M ago1:00:43

1:00:43

This episode delves into the experiences of the Channel Islands during the German occupation in World War II, focusing on the crackdown on radios, the arrests of resistance members, the role of women in wartime labour, rationing issues, and the impact of air raids. We discuss various incidents, including trials, sabotage, and the fate of escaped Fr…

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Spirited Rivalry: Did Ireland or Scotland Invent Whisky? 48:53

2M ago48:53

48:53

There’s a divide between Scotland and Ireland as fierce as the Protestant/Catholic split during the Thirty Years’ War or the battles between Sunnis and Shias in the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s. It’s the debate over who invented whisky. Both Ireland and Scotland claim to have originated the spirit. Ireland cites its early monastic traditions and the …

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The Horse That Ate the Legion: Rome’s Cavalry's Triumph Over the Infantry 41:21

3M ago41:21

41:21

The cavalry 'wings' that probed ahead of the Roman Army played a key role in its campaigns of conquest, masking its marching flanks and seeking to encircle enemies in battle. However, at the very beginning of Rome’s history, it didn’t even have a cavalry, and relied on Greek-style phalanx formations instead. It began as a small cavalry arm provided…

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Beyond Joan of Arc and Agincourt: How the 100 Years War Crushed Medieval Europe and Launched its Global Order 58:41

3M ago58:41

58:41

Modern France and Britain were forged in the fires of the Hundred Years War, a century-long conflict that produced deadly English longbowmen, Joan of Arc’s heavenly visions, and a massive death toll from Scotland to the Low Countries. The traditional beginning and end of the Hundred Years' War are conventionally marked by the start of open conflict…

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Reverse Ellis Island: American Migrants Who Fought for Mussolini and Built Stalin’s USSR 38:33

3M ago38:33

38:33

By History Unplugged

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MARCH 1943 - COURT CASES, DEPORTATION, BLACK MARKET AND MORE 1:00:20

3M ago1:00:20

1:00:20

In this episode, we explore the events of March 1943 in the Channel Islands during World War II. The conversation covers various topics including naval actions, the deportation of Jewish women, the impact of electricity rationing, and the emergence of a black market. We also discuss the tragic story of the Ogiers, collaboration among locals, and th…

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Don’t Use Rome as a Model of Why Societies Collapse; Use Crime Syndicates and Somalia Instead 49:42

3M ago49:42

49:42

12,000 years ago, human history changed forever when the egalitarian groups of hunter-gathering humans began to settle down and organize themselves into hierarchies. The few dominated the many, seizing control through violence. What emerged were “Goliaths”: large societies built on a collection of hierarchies that are also terrifyingly fragile, col…

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A Union General Found a Loophole in the Fugitive Slave Act, Causing 1 Million Slaves to Flee North 45:21

3M ago45:21

45:21

After the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, enslaved people feared running away to the North, as their return was mandated, and they faced brutal punishment or even death upon return to deter others from escaping. But that changed during the Civil War. Black slaves in Confederate Virginia began hearing rumors that they could receive their …

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The Civil War’s Brutal Finale: A War of Attrition as Terrible as WW2-Pacific and the Napoleonic Wars 47:55

3M ago47:55

47:55

In 1864, the American Civil War reached a critical juncture with Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign, including the brutal battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania, which claimed over 60,000 casualties, surpassing Gettysburg as the Americas’ deadliest clash. Abraham Lincoln faced a contentious re-election against George B. McClellan, while Confe…

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Camp David Looks Like a 1970s Lakeside Retreat. Why is it the Site of the World’s Biggest Political Summits? 41:42

3M ago41:42

41:42

Camp David, nestled in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains, spans about 125 acres, making it significantly smaller than other presidential getaways like Lyndon B. Johnson’s sprawling 2,700-acre Texas ranch or the vast 1,000-acre Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine. Compared to grand diplomatic venues like the White House or international summit …

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FEBRUARY 1943 - DEPORTATIONS, WAR CRIMES, MILK MISBEHAVIOUR, MINEFIELDS & WHIRLWINDS 1:01:16

3M ago1:01:16

1:01:16

This episode delves into the complex and harrowing history of the Channel Islands during World War II, focusing on the deportations of 1943. The conversation explores the motivations behind these deportations, the key figures involved, and the impact on the local population. War crimes allegations and the outcome. It highlights personal stories of …

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How British Scientists' Self-Experiments on Underwater Rebreathing Created D-Day Submarine Tech (And Nearly Killed Them in the Process) 53:29

3M ago53:29

53:29

In August 1942, over 7,000 Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, in a largely forgotten landing, with only a small fraction surviving unscathed. The raid failed due to poor planning and lack of underwater reconnaissance, which left the Allies unaware of strong German coastal defenses and underwater obstacles. Inadequate submersible…

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Over 200,000 Allied Troops Tried and Failed to Crush the Soviet Revolution After World War One 41:20

3M ago41:20

41:20

The Allied Intervention into the Russian Civil War remains one of the most ambitious yet least talked about military ventures of the 20th century. Coinciding with the end of the first World War, some 180,000 troops from several countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Italy, Greece, Poland, and Romania, among others…

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FRANK OGIER - EVACUATION TO ENGLAND AND LIFE - CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF EVACUATION 24:18

4M ago24:18

24:18

This conversation explores the personal experiences of Frank Ogier during World War II, focusing on evacuation, life in England, and the impact of war on families and communities. He shares vivid memories of his childhood, the challenges his family faced, and the resilience they demonstrated during difficult times. The discussion highlights the imp…

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How the U.S. Occupation of Japan After WW2 Forged the Most Durable Peace of the 20th Century 1:00:19

4M ago1:00:19

1:00:19

During World War II, the U.S. and Japan were locked in bitter hatred, fueled by propaganda portraying each other as ruthless enemies, exemplified by dehumanizing "Tokyo Woe" posters in the U.S. and Japanese depictions of Americans as barbaric invaders. After the war, the feelings seemed to turn 180 degrees overnight. By the early 1950s, American se…

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Homer Couldn't Have Written the Iliad, But He Probably Dictated it Word for Word 52:53

4M ago52:53

52:53

The Iliad is the world’s greatest epic poem—heroic battle and divine fate set against the Trojan War. Its beauty and profound bleakness are intensely moving, but great questions remain: Where, how, and when was it composed and why does it endure? To explore these questions is today’s guest, Robin Lane Fox, a scholar and teacher of Homer for over 40…

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JANUARY 1943 - PART 2 DEPORTATION DILEMMAS, RUMOURS, GANG ON THE LOOSE, CRIME, AIRCRAFT AND MUCH MORE 52:12

4M ago52:12

52:12

This conversation delves into the historical context of January 1943 in the Channel Islands during World War II, focusing on the rumours and realities of deportations, the local authorities' responses, and the impact of military actions on the civilian population. Discussing the complexities of the situation, including the investigation of deportat…

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Depression-Era Planners Thought They’d End Poverty with Public Housing. Instead, They Created the Projects 41:02

4M ago41:02

41:02

In the 1930s, New Deal-era technocrats devised a solution to homelessness and poverty itself. They believed that providing free or low-cost urban housing projects could completely eliminate housing scarcity. Planners envisioned urban communities that would propel their residents into the middle class, creating a flywheel of abundance where poverty …

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The Alabaman Jacksonians Who Rejected the Confederacy and Marched with Sherman to the Sea 49:01

4M ago49:01

49:01

As the popular narrative goes, the Civil War was won when courageous Yankees triumphed over the South. But an aspect of the war that has remained little-known for 160 years is the Alabamian Union soldiers who played a decisive role in the Civil War, only to be scrubbed from the history books. One such group was the First Alabama Calvary, formed in …

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Frederick Douglass’s Private Writings on Abraham Lincoln, His Strong Critiques and Stronger Praise 49:05

4M ago49:05

49:05

Frederick Douglass made the strongest arguments for abolition in antebellum America because he made the case that abolition was not a mutation of the Founding Father’s vision of America, but a fulfillment of their promises of liberty for all. He had a lot riding on this personally – Douglas was born into slavery in Maryland around 1818, escaped to …

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The Industrial Revolution Was Supposed to Lead to Unlimited Free Time But Only Gave Us Smartphones and Endless Dopamine 31:11

4M ago31:11

31:11

Free time, one of life’s most important commodities, often feels unfulfilling. But why? And how did leisure activities transition from strolling in the park for hours to “doomscrolling” on social media for thirty minutes? Despite the promise of modern industrialization, many people experience both a scarcity of free time and a disappointment in it.…