Battleground

Former NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen joins Saul, David, and Patrick Bishop for an authoritative briefing from the House of Lords. The former Secretary General also provides a stinging critique of the 28-point peace plan floated by the Trump administration, labelling the demands—which included territorial cession—a "Russian plan". Robertson also firmly refutes the narrative o...

With the latest news from Ukraine coming to light as to the seriousness in which the Trump administration are pushing this latest peace proposal, Patrick Bishop and Roger Moorhouse give their reaction to the leaked contents. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices....

This week discussing the latest from Ukraine, Patrick Bishop and Saul David examine the ongoing, costly Battle for Pokrovsk, arguing that Russia's fixation on capturing cities continues to highlight strategic incompetence and desperation—a point underscored by the recent crackdown on pro-war milbloggers. They also dissect the "unprecedented act of sabotage" on the Polish rail network, a critical a...

This episode plunges into the brutality of static warfare. We explore the Chinese Spring Offensive of 1951 and the desperate defensive battles fought to hold the line, looking at the heroic and horrific three-day stand of the Glorious Glosters at the Battle of Imjin River—a sacrifice often credited with saving Seoul, and the Battle of Kapyong where the 27th Commonwealth Brigade fought their final...

In this crucial episode of Battleground: Ukraine , hosts Saul David and Patrick Bishop dissect the high-stakes battle for Pokrovsk, a strategic rail and supply hub now facing an overwhelming Russian onslaught. Despite recent slowdowns in the Russian advance and successful Ukrainian counter-attacks—which have inflicted record casualties on the invaders—the city’s defences appear to be on the verge...

After their great victory at Inchon, UN forces race north toward the Chinese border, dreaming of ending the war fast. But, they ignore the warning signs coming from China... In this episode, that gamble backfires. We detail the chilling reality of late 1950 when hundreds of thousands of Chinese troops launch a massive, counter-offensive. The UN forces are caught completely by surprise by the overw...

After a two-month absence, Patrick Bishop returns to the Battleground microphone to join Saul David, offering a fresh, big-picture perspective on the war in Ukraine. Looking beyond the daily headlines, Patrick characterises the current state of the conflict—across military, diplomatic, economic, and political fronts—as an "uncertain stasis." While the war seems outwardly frozen, the hosts discuss...

The only way out is with a gamble. In Episode 3, the Korean War narrative shifts from desperate survival to audacious counter-attack. The Allied line is breaking, the port of Pusan is on the verge of collapse, and the entire war rests on the success of General Douglas MacArthur's ambitious plan. Ignoring every warning, MacArthur stakes the entire conflict on a single, risky amphibious assault: Ope...

Host Saul David interviews special guest Richard Woodruff, a young British volunteer in Ukraine since 2022. Richard shares his journey from rebuilding destroyed homes in Bucha and Irpin to delivering critical humanitarian aid near the front lines. He recounts his immediate response to the Kakhovka Dam disaster, using speedboats to rescue stranded civilians and animals. The discussion focuses heavi...

The lightning war begins. Following the invasion, the North Korean military executes a devastating blitzkrieg attack, sweeping through South Korea and shattering all initial resistance. Saul and Roger are joined by experts Robert Lyman and David Allison, who help dive into the details of the chaotic early stages of the Korean War. First we look at the desperate retreat of the overwhelmed South Kor...

Join Saul David and Roger Moorhouse as they break down a week of diplomatic upheaval, and look at the latest from the front lines with a report from Hungarian war reporter Boldi Gyori, recently returned from Donetsk. Hopes for a quick peace vanished after the US-Russia Budapest summit was scuttled by Moscow's refusal to freeze the front lines. The hosts analyse the shifting politics surrounding lo...

Welcome to Battleground Korea: The Unfinished War . We begin by exploring how Korea, a nation scarred by decades of Japanese occupation , was suddenly and arbitrarily divided by the victorious Allies in 1945. The line was the 38th Parallel . This division birthed two fiercely opposing regimes and leaders: the Soviet-backed communist Kim Il Sung in the North, and the American-backed nationalist Syn...

This week Roger Moorhouse and Saul David analyse a week of potential shifts in the conflict. On the frontline: Ukrainian civilians evacuate Kupiansk as security deteriorates; a UN humanitarian convoy is deliberately attacked in Kherson ; and a strike hits a Kharkiv hospital . Ukraine continues hitting back, targeting the Feodosia oil terminal in Crimea amidst a potential chemical threat from a rup...

The hunt is over. Black May (May 1943) marks the U-boat campaign's devastating turning point, forcing Admiral Dönitz to withdraw his "Grey Wolves" from the North Atlantic. In the final episode Saul and Roger track the U-boats' demise against overwhelming Allied technological advances. We explore the grim reality for U-boat crews—the brutal conditions and a staggering 75% casualty rate—and why adva...

This week on Battleground Ukraine , hosts Saul David and Roger Moorhouse are joined by intrepid Belgian war reporter and friend of the podcast Arnaud de Decker, who recently toured the Donbas. In this crucial and alarming dispatch, Arnaud provides a firsthand look at the realities in Donetsk, detailing how Russian forces are steadily advancing and closing in on the key Ukrainian towns of Slovyansk...

In late 1942, German U-boats were sinking Allied merchant ships faster than they could be replaced, pushing Britain to the brink of starvation in the 'Black Pit' of the mid-Atlantic. In this episode Roger Moorhouse is joined by Saul David as he dives into the most critical period of the Battle of the Atlantic, from the peak losses of March 1943 to the stunning Allied victory in 'Black May.' They e...

Roger Moorhouse and Saul David analyze a week of intense combat and high-stakes diplomacy. Russia launched a heavy aerial assault on Ukrainian cities, while in the West, they discuss reports that Trump is a "spurned lover," frustrated by Putin's refusal to strike a peace deal. The hosts also examine the critical power failure at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant and the safety risk it poses. Finally,...

Welcome to the first episode of our new Wolfpack series with Saul David and Roger Moorhouse diving into the intriguing origins and early, devastating success of Nazi Germany’s U-boat campaign in the Atlantic. This foundational episode unpacks how naval limitations imposed by the Treaty of Versailles failed to stop German rearmament and secretly fostered the development of submarine warfare doctrin...

This week on Battleground , Saul David and Roger Moorhouse dissect a week of Russian provocation and a dramatic political shift from the US President. Is Putin's aggressive brinkmanship about to backfire? After three MiG-31 jets violated Estonian airspace and a major drone incursion grounded flights at Copenhagen Airport, NATO allies are drawing a line in the sand. The hosts break down the fallout...

The final showdown in North Africa is here. In the final episode of our Tunisgrad series Saul and Roger discuss the climax of the campaign as Allied forces converge on the Axis in Tunisia. Together they break down the pivotal battles that sealed the fate of the Axis, from Montgomery's breakthrough at the Mareth Line to the decisive pincer movement at Wadi Akarit. And the final, coordinated assault...

While last week's dramatic Russian drone attack on Poland made headlines, this week sees a return to the grinding realities of the war in Ukraine. Join hosts Roger Moorhouse and Saul David as they dissect the latest developments including Russia's continued missile and drone strikes, Ukraine's strategic targeting of Russian oil infrastructure, and the alarming nature of the "Zapad 2025" military e...

In the third instalment of our Tunisgrad series, Saul and Roger explore two pivotal moments from early 1943. First, they head to the Casablanca Conference, where Allied leaders Churchill and Roosevelt made the monumental decision to demand the "unconditional surrender" of the Axis powers. Then, we jump into the final, desperate German counter-offensive in Tunisia, Erwin Rommel' 'Last Dance'. Saul...

This week, hosts Saul David and Roger Moorhouse discuss a series of momentous events that could be seen as a turning point in the war. They analyse a shocking Russian glide bomb attack on civilians in eastern Ukraine, a historic drone incursion into Polish airspace, and the hardening of attitudes within NATO. The hosts also examine the political fallout from these events, including the reactions o...

In this episode, Saul and Roger dive into the chaotic opening moves of the Tunisian campaign, covering Operation Torch and the frantic "Race for Tunis." Together they explore how the Allied invasion of North Africa, a strategic compromise between Roosevelt and Churchill, was meant to catch the Axis off guard but instead led to a desperate dash for the Tunisian capital. They'll detail the swift Ger...

In this episode of Battleground: Ukraine, hosts Patrick Bishop and Saul David dissect the recent military parade in Beijing, where the leaders of China, Russia, and North Korea appeared together. They discuss the strategic significance of this meeting, which took place in a historical venue and was a clear display of strength against the West. They also ask what the reality of China's "peaceful de...