Explaining History

• Germany's Fears of Russian Invasion in 1914

  Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick moves beyond the familiar trenches of the Western Front to explore the terrifying reality of the Eastern Front in 1914. Drawing from Alexander Watson’s masterful book Ring of Steel, we examine how the German and Austro-Hungarian empires experienced the outbreak of World War I not just as a military conflict, but as a fight for survival against a "despotic" Russian invader.We delve into the panic that gripped the border city of Allenstein (now Olsztyn, Poland) as Tsarist troops advanced, bringing with them rumors of Cossack atrocities and a "jarringly modern ambition" to racially remap the region. Why was the fear of Russian invasion so potent in the German psyche? And how did these early experiences of occupation and ethnic cleansing shape the brutal politics of the interwar period and the rise of Nazism?Plus: Stay tuned for an announcement about an upcoming live masterclass on Russian History for A-Level students!Key Topics:The Russian Steamroller: The massive Tsarist offensives into East Prussia and Galicia.Civilian Panic: The refugee crisis and the psychological trauma of invasion.Ethnic Cleansing in 1914: How Russian plans for "racial unity" foreshadowed the horrors of WWII.The Siege of Allenstein: A case study of a German city on the brink of occupation.Books Mentioned:Ring of Steel: Germany and Austria-Hungary at War, 1914–1918 by Alexander WatsonYou can read the full article at www.explaininghistory.orgExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• The Wannsee Conference and the Nazi Camps

  In this episode of Explaining History, Nick revisits Nikolaus Wachsmann's monumental study, KL: A History of the Nazi Concentration Camps.We explore a critical and often misunderstood aspect of the Holocaust: the relationship between the Concentration Camps (KL) and the extermination camps of the East. Why were Jews initially marginalized within the KL system? How did the failure of the war against the Soviet Union in 1941 shift Nazi policy from the exploitation of Soviet POWs to the mass enslavement and murder of Jews?We delve into the infamous Wannsee Conference, decoding the euphemisms of "resettlement" and "natural wastage," and examine how chaotic decision-making at the top of the Nazi hierarchy led to the transformation of Auschwitz-Birkenau into an industrial center of death.Plus: Stay tuned for an announcement about an upcoming live masterclass on the Russian Revolution and Stalinism for students.Key Topics:The KL vs. Death Camps: Understanding the distinction between camps like Dachau and extermination centers like Treblinka.The Wannsee Conference: How bureaucrats planned genocide over lunch.Annihilation Through Labour: The shift from Soviet POWs to Jewish slave labour.The Transformation of Auschwitz: How Birkenau became the primary site for the "Final Solution."Books Mentioned:KL: A History of the Nazi Concentration Camps by Nikolaus WachsmannThe Third Reich at War by Richard J. EvansBloodlands by Timothy SnyderExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Child Labour in the Industrial Revolution

  Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick delves into the harrowing yet complex world of child labour during the British Industrial Revolution. Moving beyond the Dickensian caricatures of helpless victims, we explore Emma Griffin's groundbreaking book, Liberty’s Dawn: A People's History of the Industrial Revolution.Through the voices of those who lived it—captured in hundreds of working-class autobiographies—we uncover the brutal reality of 13-hour shifts in cotton mills and lonely vigils in sheep pastures. But we also find stories of agency, survival, and the nuanced family decisions that sent children as young as six into the workforce. Why did some destitute families hold their children back from work until age 10? And how did access to apprenticeships divide the working class into the "skilled" and the "unskilled"?Plus: Stay tuned for an announcement about an upcoming live masterclass on Russian History for students!Key Topics:The "White Slaves of England": How reformers and novelists shaped our view of child labour.The Age of Work: Analyzing data from 350 autobiographies to find the average starting age of a child worker.Agency vs. Victimhood: Why we must view historical subjects as complex human beings, not just statistics.The Skilled Divide: How apprenticeships offered a lifeline out of poverty.Books Mentioned:Liberty’s Dawn: A People's History of the Industrial Revolution by Emma GriffinOliver Twist & David Copperfield by Charles DickensThe Water-Babies by Charles KingsleyExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• The Damascus Affair: Blood Libel, Empire, and the Birth of Jewish Internationalism

  In 1840, a monk disappeared in Damascus, and the ancient, deadly accusation of "blood libel" was levelled against the city's Jewish community. This event, known as the Damascus Affair, became a pivotal moment in 19th-century Jewish history, sending shockwaves from the Ottoman Empire to the capitals of Europe.In this episode of Explaining History, Nick continues his exploration of Jonathan Frankel's Crisis, Revolution, and Russian Jews. We examine how this crisis mobilized Western Jewish leaders like Moses Montefiore and Adolphe Crémieux, who launched an unprecedented international campaign for justice. But this wasn't just a story of Jewish solidarity; it was deeply entangled with the imperial ambitions of Britain and France. Why did Lord Palmerston advocate for Jewish restoration to Palestine decades before Herzl? And how did the liberal ideals of the French Revolution clash with the realpolitik of the Ottoman East?Key Topics:The Damascus Affair: The origins of the crisis and the torture of Jewish community leaders.The Liberal Response: How Western Jews used the press and public opinion to fight for their brethren.Imperial Meddling: Lord Palmerston, the Rothschilds, and the geopolitical chess game in the Middle East.Proto-Zionism: The early stirrings of the idea that Jewish safety might lie in a return to Palestine.Books Mentioned:Crisis, Revolution, and Russian Jews by Jonathan FrankelThe Damascus Affair by Jonathan Frankel (referenced contextually)Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• The US National Security Strategy: A manifesto for the far right

  In this episode of Explaining History, Nick analyzes the newly published 2025 US National Security Strategy, a document that could be considered a foundational text for the global far-right.We explore how this strategy, with its language of "civilizational erasure" and "European greatness," mirrors the rhetoric of leaders like Viktor Orban and the conspiracy theories of the "Great Replacement." Nick argues that this is not just ideology; it is a manifesto for American interference in European elections, designed to undermine social democracy and pave the way for deregulation favorable to US capital.From the demonization of migration to the cynical normalization of Russia, we unpack how the Trump administration is attempting to reshape Europe in its own image—and why the economic weakness of the continent leaves it vulnerable to this new, aggressive Monroe Doctrine.Key Topics:The 2025 Strategy: A blueprint for far-right interventionism.Civilizational Rhetoric: How "Great Replacement" theory has entered US policy.Economic Imperialism: The drive to deregulate Europe for American corporations.The Future of NATO: Why the US is pivoting towards "patriotic" (i.e., far-right) allies.References:Cas Mudde's analysis in The GuardianOswald Spengler's The Decline of the WestRenaud Camus' The Great ReplacementExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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