Military History Podcast
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Bringing you the strangest anecdotes, innovative technology, and most significant events in Military History.
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Forces of Nature (1)
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Author: George Hageman
Sat, May 3, 2008
Whether they are seen as acts of God, or as simple climate-related
occurrences, natural events have always had a sizeable impact on military
operations. At the small end of the
scale are the little changes in terrain or weather that may affect a battle or
a small war. For example, many armies
have postponed their campaigns due to inclement weather conditions, and many
militaries have suffered from rampant disease.
On the other end of the scale are the times when nature has so much of
an impact that the fate of an entire nation or civilization is decided upon
it. In the words of Charles Darwin,
these are times when âthe war of natureâ results in the downfall of one party
and the rise of another.
- Thales' Eclipse: Halted the epic Battle of Halys River, thereby
saving one or both of the participants (Lydia and Media) from
destruction.
- Kamikaze (Divine Wind): Created a storm that destroying the invading Mongol fleets, thereby saving Japan from foreign conquest.
- Athenian Typhoid: Wreaked havoc throughout Athens, contributing to its downfall in the Peloponnesian War.
- Bering Land Bridge: Facilitated the "invasion" of North America.
- Clouds over Kokura: Obscured the primary target for the "Fat Man"
atomic bomb, thereby saving Kokura but resulting in the destruction of
Nagasaki.
- Legend of Quetzacoatl: Convinced the Aztecs that Cortez was the
reincarnation of Quetzacoatl, thereby facilitating the Spanish conquest
of Latin America.
For more information, read:
Darwin's Origin of Species
Herodotus' Histories
Mitchell's Eclipses of the Sun
Lamont-Brown's Kamikaze
Daniels' Almanac of World History
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Occupying Iraq (2003-2007)
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Author: George Hageman
Sat, Apr 19, 2008
This episode covers the period between Bush's declaration of "Mission
Accomplished" and the change in coalition leadership (from General
Casey to General Petraeus). The following major events and topics are
discussed:
- 2003: Deaths of Saddam's two sons (Qusay and Uday), capture of
Saddam, Baathist Purge, National Museum looting, and Bremer's
disbanding of the Iraqi Army.
- 2004: Sectarian violence and displacement, Operation Vigiliant
Resolve (1st Fallujah), Battle of Ramadi, Battle of Husaybah, Battle of
Mosul, Operation Phanton Fury (2nd Fallujah), Blackwater USA, medals of
honor.
- 2005: January and December Legislative Elections, Battle of Haditha, Abu Ghraib.
- 2006: Handing three provinces to Iraqi authority, death of
Zarqawi, execution of Saddam, Al-Askari mosque bombing, Operation
Together Forward (Baghdad), Battle of Ramadi.
- 2007: Battle of Haifa Street (Baghdad), creation of the new Counterinsurgency Field Manual (3-24).
For more information, read:
Iraq Study Group Report
Counterinsurgency Field Manual 3-24
No End in Sight (film)
http://iraq.liveleak.com/
www.iraqstatusreport.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFijzDyJnVE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epfmuHr4_b8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGQaPYzFZ8o
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The Philosophy of War (2)
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Author: George Hageman
Mon, Apr 7, 2008
According to Lawrence Keeley, "90-95% of known societies engage in
war". Why? What compels homo sapiens to kill each other? Why do we
fight? Part one will describe two hypotheses.
War is Necessary:
Aristotle
says in Nicomachean Ethics that "we fight war so that we may live in
peace". This notion is echoed by many other famous thinkers including
Marx (an advocate of a final proletarian revolution in order to
establish a worker's paradise) and Zoroaster (the first monotheist to
discuss the final battle of judgment between good and evil).
War is Logical:
Using
Darwin's logic, mankind continues to fight wars because it is the means
through which our species survives. Thomas Malthus adapted this into a
population argument, stating that humans fight wars in order to keep
populations small and manageable. Samuel Huntington took this one step
further by saying that war negates massive youth bulges. Lastly, John
Nash (the economist) proved, through game theory, that war is a more
logical choice than peace.
War is Accidental:
AJP Taylor
argued that all wars are unintended and unhappy escalations of smaller
conflicts. Warmongering is neither inherent nor unavoidable. Taylor's
ideas link closely to the pacifistic ideas of Tolstoy and Gandhi.
For more information, read:
Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle
Communist Manifesto by Marx
Holy Avesta, Holy Bible, Holy Qur'an
Origin of Species by Darwin
An Essay on the Principle of Population by Malthus
Environmental Science by Richard Wright
Clash of Civilizations by Samuel Huntington
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The Philosophy of War (1)
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Author: George Hageman
Mon, Mar 24, 2008
According to Lawrence Keeley, "90-95% of known societies engage in
war". Why? What compels homo sapiens to kill each other? Why do we
fight? Part one will describe two hypotheses.
War is Rational:
Sun
Tzu argued that political struggles would eventually lead to armed
conflict. Clausewitz took this one step further by saying that "war is
a mere continuation of policy by other means". Machiavelli completed
this entire line of thought by saying that war was the most efficient
means of attaining any political goal.
War is Inevitable:
Hobbes
argued that humans are inherently violent. Raymond Dart and Robert
Ardrey found a scientific basis for this by claiming that homo sapiens
became the dominant humanoid through their martial prowess (and we have
kept this prowess ever since). Another group of philosophers believe
that war can be attributed to the reckless aggression caused by
testosterone in males.
For more information, read:
Sun Tzu's Art of War
Clausewitz's On War
Machiavelli's The Prince
Mao's Quotations
Hobbes' Leviathan
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Joan of Arc
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Author: George Hageman
Fri, Mar 14, 2008
Joan of Arc (1412-1431) was a poor peasant girl from
Lorraine. One day, she had a vision in which three saints urged her to
lead the French to victory over the English in the Hundred Years' War.
She traveled to Charles VII's court and was appointed head of the
French Army (headed to relieve the besieged city of Orleans) because
her unlikely presence would inspire hope in the French forces. Upon
arriving in Orleans, Joan launched several counterattacks against the
English and broke the siege in only eight days. Then, she led a
campaign to clear the English out of the Loire River Valley, eventually
liberating the city of Reims.
During a later skirmish, Joan was captured and tried for heresy. She
was found guilty and burned at the stake. Later, she was exonerated and
made a saint. She has served a symbol of French nationalism and
feminist pride ever since.
For more information, read:.
Joan of Arc: Her Story by Regine Peroud
Joan of Arc: A Military Appreciation by Stephen Richey
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Frederick the Great
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Author: George Hageman
Sun, Mar 2, 2008
Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, is considered the best commander
of the European Enlightenment. Despite possessing relatively few
people and resources, he transformed the tiny Prussian state into a
great military power (which arguably wouldn't be brought down until
1945). Strategically, he modernized the Prussian military into a
well-trained, well-disciplined unit. He taught them to fire faster,
march with more precision, and deploy artillery quicker. Tactically,
he employed oblique tactics which massed all units on one side of the
battle line in order to sweep through the enemy forces one at a time
(instead of all at once). This allowed Frederick to achieve victories
against numerically-superior enemies at Hohenfriedberg, Rossbach, and
Leuthen.
For more information, read:
Frederick
the Great by Gerhard Ritter
Frederick
the Great by Giles MacDonogh
Frederick
the Great by Christopher Duffy
Military Blunders by Geoffrey Regan
Dictionary of Battles by David Chandler
Extreme War by Terrence Poulos
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Lincoln's Assassination
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Author: George Hageman
Mon, Feb 18, 2008
President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a
southern sympathizer and a self-proclaimed modern-day Brutus, on April
14th, 1865 (five days after the end of the Civil War). Booth snuck into
Lincoln's viewing Booth at the Ford's Theater while Lincoln was
watching "Our American Cousin" and shot him in the back of the head.
Booth then jumped down onto the stage and ran out the back door. The
ensuing manhunt eventually caught up with him in the swamps of the
Potomac River. He was shot, and his co-conspirators were hanged.
The event has many interesting stories associated with it:
- Lincoln
had a dream in which he walked into the East Room of the White House
and saw a casket. He asked the soldiers why there was a casket and the
soldiers told him that the President had been assassinated. He had the
dream three days before being assassinated.
- Robert Todd
Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's son, stood by his father's body as he passed
away. Strangely, Robert Todd Lincoln would also stand by the sides of
Presidents Garfield and McKinley (both shot by assassins) as they lay
dying.
- Robert Todd Lincoln once fell onto the train tracks but was saved by Edwin Booth, John's brother.
- Boston Corbett, the soldier who fatally wounded Booth, shot him in the exact same spot that Booth shot Lincoln.
There are also several conspiracy theories about the Lincoln Assassination:
- Vice
President Johnson indirectly communicated with Booth on the day of the
assassination. He stood to gain the most from the death of Lincoln.
- Confederate
Secretary of State Judah Benjamin might have ordered the assassination
of the opposing head of state for tactical reasons. Benjamin destroyed
all of his records after the surrender, and then fled to England and
never returned.
- Secretary of War Edwin Stanton disliked Lincoln
for his moderate stance on many issues. Stanton prevented Ulysses Grant
(and his military escort) from attending "Our American Cousin" with
Lincoln (and potentially saving his life). He also lowered security on
the bridge that Booth used to flee into Maryland. He also destroyed a
few pages of Booth's diary before it was used as evidence in court.
For more information, read:
The American Presidents by David Whitney
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincolnâs Killer (The History Channel)
The Greatest Presidential Stories Never Told by Rick Beyer
http://members.aol.com/RVSNorton/Lincoln.html
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Crassus vs. Spartacus
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Author: George Hageman
Sat, Feb 9, 2008
Crassus was the wealthiest man in Rome. Before he joined the First
Triumvirate with Pompey and Caesar, he struggled to make a name for
himself. His big break came with the outbreak of the Third Servile
War, when Spartacus led a slave rebellion throughout the Italian
Peninsula. Spartacus and his men wreaked havoc throughout the region,
defeating several Roman legions. Although his original plan was to
escape to Gaul and head home, Spartacus decided to head south towards
Sicily. However, his transport (the Cilician Pirates) failed to arrive
in time, and Crassus was able to bring his legions in from behind to
trap Spartacus. In the ensuing battle, Spartacus was killed and many
more slaves were crucified. Crassus achieved some fame but in the end,
his career would pale in comparison to Pompey and Caesar. He was
killed in Parthia after a failed showing at the Battle of Carrhae by
having molten gold poured down his throat.
For more information, read:
Plutarchâs Lives (http://classics.mit.edu/Plutarch/crassus.html)
http://www.livius.org/so-st/spartacus/spartacus.html
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The Anglo-Dutch Wars
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Author: George Hageman
Sat, Jan 26, 2008
Today's episode's script was written by Andrew Tumath of Aberdeen,
United Kingdom. To submit your own script, please send them to me at
militaryhistorypodcast@gmail.com
The Anglo-Dutch Wars were a series of the
distinct conflicts waged between England and the United Provinces (modern-day
Netherlands) in the middle years of the 17th-century. Fought for different
reasons, alongside different allies, and with different results, the wars
pitted the two great maritime powers of the period against each other, until
both came to realise that the real threat came from the France of Louis XIV.
Almost uniquely maritime in nature, there wasnât a single action in the three
conflicts in which an English army faced a Dutch one.
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Iraq's Environment
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Author: George Hageman
Sun, Jan 13, 2008
This episode is an analysis of the environmental impacts of the current
war in Iraq. There are several major categories, each of which will be
discussed. This episode is meant to be an overview of the
rarely-discussed ecological situation in Iraq, rather than a persuasive
piece towards one viewpoint or another. The entire episode will
revolve around environmental issues--political and strategic issues and
biases will not be included.
- Negative Effects:
- Oil Fires: Saddam lit oil wells on fire, resulting in
extreme air pollution.
- Oil Spills: the oil wells spilled into the
surrounding ground and sea, ruining vast expanses of animal habitats.
- Depleted Uranium: DU munitions used by Coalition
forces have chemically wounded thousands of Iraqis and Americans.
- War Machines: Military vehicles and structures
wreak havoc through the fragile deserts of Western and Northern
Iraq.
- Munitions: Unexploded ordinances and explosion
craters have wrecked acres and acres of potential farmland.
- Water Pollution: Unnatural or unhealthy chemicals,
such as oil and human biomass, have entered waterways in large
quantities, thereby rendering them unusable.
- Infrastructure Damage: The lack of leadership in Iraq
means that significant environmental problems, such as broken sewage
systems, never get fixed.
- Fiscal Allocation: Funds allocated to defense could
have been used to pursue environmentalist initiatives.
- Positive Effects:
- Iraq War is a major catalyst for the âalternative
energies initiativeâ.
- Saddamâs ecologically harmful policies will no
longer devastate the Iraqi ecosystem.
- Iraqâs
relationship with the United Nations has improved, meaning that UN
environmental agencies can now safely enter the region.
For more information, read:
Environmental Science by Richard Wright
The Gulf War Aftermath by Mohammed Sadiq
Desk Study on the Environment in Iraq by the United Nations Environment Program
The Iraq Quagmire by the Institute for Policy Studies
The Environment Consequences of the war in Iraq by the UK Green Party
Special thanks to: Captain Christopher Green, Corporal Trent Davis, and Master Sergeant Jonny Lung
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The John McCains
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Author: George Hageman
Tue, Jan 1, 2008
John McCain Sr: Admiral, Commander of Fast Carrier Task Force in South Pacific during WWII
John McCain Jr: Admiral, Commander of Pacific Command during Vietnam War
John McCain III: Navy aviator, shot down in Hanoi, tortured as a
prisoner of war for 5.5 years, currently running for Republican
nomination for President of the United States
Other presidential candidates with military experience are:
- Chris Dodd: Army Reserve
- Mike Gravel: Lieutenant, Counter-Intelligence Corps (West Germany)
- Ron Paul: Captain, Flight Surgeon (US Air Force)
- Duncan Hunter: Lieutenant, US Army Rangers
For more information, read:
http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198503/delenda.est.carthago.htm
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jsmccain.htm
www.realclearpolitics.com
http://www.azcentral.com/news/specials/mccain/articles/0301mccainbio-chapter3.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/15/politics/15mccain.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1198992044-jBYur2uP0d4d90Hp7uLjtA
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Sports - War minus the Shooting
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Author: George Hageman
Wed, Dec 26, 2007
The title of this episode comes from the following George Orwell quote: âSerious
sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred,
jealousy, boastfulness, disregard for all rules and sadistic pleasure
in witnessing violence: in other words it is war minus the shooting."
This is meant to be a fun episode on the similarities between football, chess, and war. Please take each analogy with a grain of salt.
Football (two armies fighting to reach the opposing camp/end zone):
- Kick-off Team: Skirmishers
- Quarterback: Tactical Commander
- Head Coach: Strategic Commander
- Halfback: Light Infantry Reserves
- Fullback: Heavy Infantry Reserves
- Tight End: Heavy Cavalry
- Linemen (offensive and defensive): Heavy Infantry
- Wide Receivers: Light Cavalry
- Cornerbacks: Light Cavalry
- Linebackers: Light Infantry
- Safeties: Heavy Cavalry
- Kicker: Artillery
 
Chess (two armies fighting to defeat the opposing commander):
- Pawns: Heavy Infantry
- Rooks: Artillery
- Knights: Light Cavalry
- Bishops: Light Infantry
- Queen: Heavy Cavalry
- King: Tactical Commander
 
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Food of WWII
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Author: George Hageman
Sun, Dec 16, 2007
This episode is written by Russell Holman of Merrimack, New Hampshire.
If you would like to submit a script to Military History Podcast,
please send me an email at militaryhistorypodcast@gmail.com
The mighty American military during WWII would have been nothing
without its surprisingly-important rationing system. Food kept the
United States going, so therefore, it is well worth studying.
Throughout WWII and the years beyond, the US entered/exited several
"eras" of rations:
- A Rations
- B Rations
- K Rations
- C Rations
- LRRP Rations
- MREs
For more information, read:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/mre.htm
http://www.olive-drab.com/od_rations.php
http://nsc.natick.army.mil/media/print/OP_Rations.pdf
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Aircraft Carriers
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Author: George Hageman
Sat, Dec 8, 2007
Aircraft Carriers are the ultimate tool of modern power projection.
They are symbols of both naval strength and air superiority. This
episode covers their history and their future:
- 1840s: Balloon Carriers are invented
- 1900s: Seaplane Carriers are invented
- 1910s: Modern aircraft carriers are invented
- 1930s-1940s: WWII (five major carrier battles)
- Pearl Harbor: Japan's six carriers surprise the United States Navy
- Coral Sea: Japan's three carriers engage America's two carriers (both lose one carrier)
- Midway: America's three carriers engage Japan's four carriers
and sink all four, with the help of codebreakers and reconnaissance.
Considered a turning point in the Pacific War
- Philippine Sea: America's sixteen carriers destroy or disable all but 35 of the 500 Japanese carrier-based aircraft
- Leyte Gulf: America's seventeen carriers decisively defeat the Imperial Japanese Navy in the largest naval battle in history
- WWII-present: US Carrier Strike Groups control the seas
For more information, read:
http://www.sandcastlevi.com/sea/carriers/cvchap1a.htm
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/ships/carriers/cv-list.asp
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/carriers.htm
http://science.howstuffworks.com/aircraft-carrier.htm
http://www.combatreform2.com/submarineaircraftcarriers.htm
The Pacific War Companion by Daniel Marston
Janeâs Warship Recognition Guide
Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft Carriers (1921-1945) by Mark
Stille
US Navy Bluejacketâs Manual
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War in Bosnia
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Author: George Hageman
Sun, Dec 2, 2007
After the fall of the Soviet Union, the former Yugoslavian countries
began to divide along ethnic lines. Of the five states (Serbia and
Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and Slovenia),
three of them began waging war:
- Serbia (Orthodox Christians) under Slobodan Milosevic
- Bosnia (Muslims) under Alija Izetbegovic
- Croatia (Roman Catholics) under Franjo Tudjman
Initially, both Croatia and Serbia desired to take land from Bosnia.
However, as the war progressed, Croatia took the side of Bosnia in
order to push Serbia out of the region. Ethnic cleansing (especially
by the Serbs) was commonplace, and it wasn't until Croatian
intervention (on the ground with Operation Storm) and NATO intervention
(in the air with Operation Deliberate Resolve) that the war slowed
down. Eventually, after a four-year long siege of Sarajevo (the
Bosnian capital), the Dayton Accords were signed.
However, the ethnic cleansing continued, most notably at Kosovo. After
another NATO intervention led by General Wesley Clark, peace was
restored again.
For more information, read:
My Life by Bill Clinton
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1280328.stm
http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/genocide/bosnia.htm
The Statesman's Yearbook 2006
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Operation Downfall
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Author: George Hageman
Sat, Nov 24, 2007
Operation Downfall was the proposed invasion of mainland Japan by
Allied Forces near the end of WWII. It was canceled because the atomic
bombs were dropped and Japan surrendered, thereby removing the need for
a military conquest. It would have been the largest amphibious
invasion in history, and it would have been the first time that a
foreign power had set foot on mainland Japanese soil (in the country's
2500 year history).
Operation Downfall had two parts: Operation Olympic (Nov 1945) and
Operation Coronet (March 1946). Both were commanded by MacArthur and
supported by Nimitz. Operation Olympic involved the I, V, IX, and XI
Corps storming the beaches of Kyushu (the southern main island) and
taking airbases to support Operation Coronet. Operation Coronet
involved the First Army and the Eighth Army, as well as numerous
British Commonwealth units, storming the beaches of Honshu near the
capital city of Tokyo.
On the opposing side was Operation Ketsu Go, the Japanese defense of
its main islands. Most of Japan's forces (air and ground) were focused
on the island of Kyushu. Also, tens of millions of Japanese civilians
(all able-bodied civilians, men and women) were trained in basic
martial arts in order to repel the invasion. In addition, the Japanese
government created numerous suicide units to repel the invasion.
All in all, it would have been one of the bloodiest battles in
history. An estimated 1 million Americans and 10 million Japanese
would have lost their lives.
For more information, read:
The Japanese Army Handbook by George Forty
The Pacific War Companion by Daniel Marston
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The Peloponnesian War (Part Two)
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Author: George Hageman
Sat, Nov 10, 2007
The Peloponnesian War was fought by Athens and Sparta in the late 5th
century BC. It was an epic war between two superpowers, and the
similarities to the Cold War are numerous. Since most people know
about the Cold War, since it was so recent, I will summarize this
episode via comparisons between it and the Peloponnesian War.
This second episode covers the Amphipolis Campaign/Cuban Missile Crisis to the surrender of Athens.
The Participants:
- Athens/United States: wealthy, democratic, powerful navy, supported by numerous smaller states (Delian League/NATO)
- Initially led by Pericles/FDR: rulers during the expansion of their respective nations' geopolitical status
- Sparta/USSR: communist, totalitarian, powerful army, supported by numerous smaller states (Peloponnesian League/Warsaw Pact)
- Initially led by Archidamus II/Stalin: rulers during the expansion of their respective nations' geopolitical status
- Thebes/China: Weaker third power allied with Sparta/USSR
Timeline:
- Persian Wars/WWII: Sparta/USSR and Athens/USA were originally allied in the fight against Persia/Axis
- Pentecontaetia/Berlin Blockade: Sparta/USSR and Athens/USA
skirmish briefly over intermediate territory (Corinthian
Isthmus/Germany)
- Archidamian War/Korean War: Sparta/USSR engages in a land war
with Athens/USA over intermediate territory (Corinthian
Isthmus/Germany). Results in a stalemate.
- Pylos Campaign/Suez Crisis: Athens/USA intervenes in territory
close to Sparta/USSR in order to gain an economic and political
advantage.
- Amphipolis Campaign/Cuban Missile Crisis: Sparta/USSR sneaks into the Athens/USA sphere of influence and creates an outpost.
- Aegean Sea Propaganda Campaigns/Third World War: Sparta/USSR
provides support to revolutions in Athens/USA's sphere of influence.
- Sicilian Expedition/Vietnam War: Athens/USA attempts to contain
Sparta/USSR's sphere of influence and fails miserably (loses lives and
money).
Where the analogy fails:
- Sparta launches a successful, massive land invasion against
Athens (Problem: USSR never fought USA over Europe). Decisive victory
at the Battle of Mantinea
- Sparta destroys the entire Athenian Navy at the Battle of
Aegospotami (Problem: USSR never defeated the American Navy decisively)
- Athens surrendered to Sparta (Problem: The US won the Cold War)
So, the analogy isn't perfect, but it is still accurate in most
respects. After the Peloponnesian War, Thebes (the former third power)
swept down and became the new superpower (over both Sparta and Athens),
just like China seems to be becoming now (over the US).
For more information, read: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides
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The Peloponnesian War (Part One)
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Author: George Hageman
Sat, Nov 10, 2007
The Peloponnesian War was fought by Athens and Sparta in the late 5th
century BC. It was an epic war between two superpowers, and the
similarities to the Cold War are numerous. Since most people know
about the Cold War, since it was so recent, I will summarize this
episode via comparisons between it and the Peloponnesian War.
This first episode covers the beginning through the Amphipolis Campaign/Cuban Missile Crisis.
The Participants:
- Athens/United States: wealthy, democratic, powerful navy, supported by numerous smaller states (Delian League/NATO)
- Initially led by Pericles/FDR: rulers during the expansion of their respective nations' geopolitical status
- Sparta/USSR: communist, totalitarian, powerful army, supported by numerous smaller states (Peloponnesian League/Warsaw Pact)
- Initially led by Archidamus II/Stalin: rulers during the expansion of their respective nations' geopolitical status
- Thebes/China: Weaker third power allied with Sparta/USSR
Timeline:
- Persian Wars/WWII: Sparta/USSR and Athens/USA were originally allied in the fight against Persia/Axis
- Pentecontaetia/Berlin Blockade: Sparta/USSR and Athens/USA
skirmish briefly over intermediate territory (Corinthian
Isthmus/Germany)
- Archidamian War/Korean War: Sparta/USSR engages in a land war
with Athens/USA over intermediate territory (Corinthian
Isthmus/Germany). Results in a stalemate.
- Pylos Campaign/Suez Crisis: Athens/USA intervenes in territory
close to Sparta/USSR in order to gain an economic and political
advantage.
- Amphipolis Campaign/Cuban Missile Crisis: Sparta/USSR sneaks into the Athens/USA sphere of influence and creates an outpost.
- Aegean Sea Propaganda Campaigns/Third World War: Sparta/USSR
provides support to revolutions in Athens/USA's sphere of influence.
- Sicilian Expedition/Vietnam War: Athens/USA attempts to contain
Sparta/USSR's sphere of influence and fails miserably (loses lives and
money).
Where the analogy fails:
- Sparta launches a successful, massive land invasion against
Athens (Problem: USSR never fought USA over Europe). Decisive victory
at the Battle of Mantinea
- Sparta destroys the entire Athenian Navy at the Battle of
Aegospotami (Problem: USSR never defeated the American Navy decisively)
- Athens surrendered to Sparta (Problem: The US won the Cold War)
So, the analogy isn't perfect, but it is still accurate in most
respects. After the Peloponnesian War, Thebes (the former third power)
swept down and became the new superpower (over both Sparta and Athens),
just like China seems to be becoming now (over the US).
For more information, read: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides
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The 100 Best Clips of MHP (51-100)
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Author: George Hageman
Sun, Nov 4, 2007
This episode is the 101st episode of Military History Podcast. It is a
compilation of 100 MHP clips, tidbits, and funfacts. It is split into
two parts: this is part two. Feel free to post any clips that I failed
to mention in the episode.
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The 100 Best Clips of MHP (1-50)
militaryhistorypodcast@gmail.com
Author: George Hageman
Tue, Oct 30, 2007
This episode is the 100th episode of Military History Podcast. It is a
compilation of 100 MHP clips, tidbits, and funfacts. It is split into
two parts: this is part one.
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Canadians at Vimy Ridge
militaryhistorypodcast@gmail.com
Author: George Hageman
Sat, Oct 20, 2007
The Battle of Vimy Ridge (April 1917) was a turning point in WWI. It
was the first great allied victory. It also continues to be the
greatest event in modern Canada's military history.
The 100,000 Canadians of the Canadian Corps were commanded by Arthur Currie. Currie began numerous preparations including:
- Giving maps to all Canadian troops, not just the officers
- Training all Canadian troops on a replica of Vimy Ridge
- Building an elaborate tunnel system underneath no man's land in order to carry men to the enemy front lines more quickly
- Use air support (including the famous Billy Bishop, a Canadian flying ace) to protect against German recon
The
actual battle began with a creeping barrage attack, in which over 1
million shells were fired by Canadian artillerymen. The creeping
barrage was followed by 20,000 charging Canadian troops, who
successfully all four trenches on Vimy Ridge. By midday on April 9th,
Hill 145 and the Pimple (a high point) were taken.
Four Victoria
Crosses were awarded in the battle. 3000 Canadians were KIA, and
another 7000 were wounded. 20,000 Germans were wounded and 4000 were
captured.
For more information, read:
http://www.northpeel.com/news/article/20719
http://www.legionmagazine.com/features/special/07-03a.asp?id=print#5
http://wwii.ca/page9.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/vimy/
http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=14742
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6373IRqSeU
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The Most Dangerous Man in Europe
militaryhistorypodcast@gmail.com
Author: George Hageman
Thu, Oct 11, 2007
"The Most Dangerous Man in Europe" was how Eisenhower described Otto
Skorzeny, Nazi Germany's most famous commando and special operations
leader. Before he became the leader of Jagdverbande 502 (a special
operations unit), Skorzeny fought on the Eastern Front and even won an
Iron Cross for bravery.
His most famous mission was Operation Oak, the search and rescue of
Benito Mussolini, who had been captured and imprisoned by his rivals in
the Italy. Skorzeny led a glider assault on Gran Sasso Mountain, where
Mussolini was being held, and captured him without having to fire a
single shot. Skorzeny brought Mussolini back to Hitler. Hitler was
overjoyed.
Skorzeny was tasked to lead many other commando missions including:
- Operation Rosselsprung: Kidnap Josip Tito (the future leader of communist Yugoslavia)
- Operation Panzerfaust: Kidnap the son of Miklos Horthy (king of Hungary) to persuade him to stay in the Axis
- Operation Greif: Infiltrate behind allied lines at the battle of the bulge and spread chaos and confusion
After the war, Skorzeny was imprisoned in Darmstadt prison. From the
prison, he operated the ODESSA network to smuggle Nazis (out of
Germany) to safety. He was put before a war crimes tribunal at one
point, but he was acquitted. On July 27th, 1948, he escaped from the
prison thanks to the help of several SS colleagues (disguised in
American uniforms). He then fled to Franco's Spain, Nasser's Egypt,
and Peron's Argentina. In Argentina, he fell in love with Eva Peron.
At the same time, he managed to secure large portions of the Bormann
treasure, named after Martin Bormann (Hitler's secretary) who smuggled
Nazi wealth out of Germany just before the Third Reich's collapse. He
died in 1975 of cancer.
For more information, read:
Armchair General Magazine (October 2007): The Devilâs
Commando
Skorzenyâs Special Missions by Otto Skorzeny
http://greyfalcon.us/Otto%20Skorzeny.htm
http://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=133
Battle Fleet.com
http://www.2worldwar2.com/otto-skorzeny.htm
http://homepages.ius.edu/RVEST/SkorzenyDr2.htm
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