Battleground

Why does Trump's election provide hope for some in Ukraine? Well joining Saul and Patrick from Kyiv to discuss this, is friend of the podcast Joe Lindsey. Joe gives us an update on the mood in Kyiv and how Ukrainians are reacting to Donald Trump's election win, and explains why the atmosphere has changed regarding the future with some welcoming expected decisiveness from the Trump administration....

In the second episode of the story of the British quest to sink the formidable German battleship Tirpitz, Patrick picks up the story following Operation Source - the X Craft raid, and tells the tale of the RAF operations that ultimately led to the successful sinking of Nazi Germany's most prominent warship. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Pro...

To mark Remembrance day in the UK, Patrick and Saul discuss the history and symbolism behind the occasion, and also speak to veterans and organisers they met during London Poppy day, including Ben Stephens from the Talking with the wounded podcast. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn mor...

Reflecting on Trump's seismic win in the US presidential election earlier this week, Saul and Patrick discuss what this means for US support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. Patrick also speaks to friend of the podcast American-Ukrainian Askold Krushelnycky, who is in Washington having returned from Ukraine to vote in the election. He gives his reaction, as well as sharing the those of his f...

In this emergency special Saul is Joined by Roger Moorhouse to discuss their immediate reaction to Trumps election victory and what it means for Ukraine and NATO. 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. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast...

In the first of two episodes, Patrick and Saul discuss the Royal Navy's quest to sink the formidable German battleship Tirpitz, the heaviest battleship ever built by a European Navy. Drawing on his knowledge from his book - Target Tirpitz , Patrick describes the way Tirpitz's presence alone terrified the British Admiralty and impacted decision making at the very top. If you have any thoughts or qu...

With Kyiv holding its breath in an anxious wait for the results of the US presidential election, Saul and Patrick discuss the widening international consternation at the impending arrival of North Korean troops in Ukraine. 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. V...

The Battle of Leyte Gulf, fought between US and Japanese naval forces in October 1944 is the largest naval battle in history, with over 200,000 personnel involved. Joining Saul to discuss the events of this enormous battle is historian Evan Mawdsley. Together they discuss the main components of the battle, they key players and their decisions and the aftermath of the battle. If you have any though...

The big news this week was an alarming report from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service that North Korea had transferred some of its special forces to eastern Russia where they are said to be training for deployment to the front line in Russia’s war in Ukraine. Together Saul and Patrick discuss what the consequences of this escalation could be, as well as what the gathering of world leaders...

In this episode of Battleground '44 series Saul speaks to Historian and friend of the show James Holland. James will be familiar to many listeners as co-host of our sister podcast, We Have Ways of Making You Talk, and today he joins Saul to discuss is new book Cassino '44, which focuses on the brutal Allied campaign in Italy in 1944. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - po...

In this episode of Battleground Ukraine, Saul and Patrick discuss the curious state of limbo that is in play ahead of the US presidential election, the relentless and bloody nature of the fighting in the east of Ukraine, and the potential economic time bomb that awaits the Russian economy. They also look at news that North Korean troops are heading to Ukraine and provide an update on Ukrainian ope...

In this episode of Battleground '44 Saul and Patrick explore the story of Nazi Germany's most famous General - Erwin Rommel. Nicknamed the Desert Fox due to his successful exploits in North Africa, he soon became a favourite of Hitler. But by October 1944, all that had changed with the fallout from the failed bomb plot to kill Hitler placing Rommel under suspicion of treason. If you have any thoug...

In this week's Battleground Ukraine Saul and Patrick discuss whether the outlook for Ukraine is a gloomy as it looks on the surface? The fall of Vuhledar some have said might lead to a significant Russian breakthrough but is that actually the case? They also speak to Charlotte Leslie from the Grain from Ukraine initiative, which seeks to highlight and maintain the importance of Ukrainian grain shi...

In this episode Patrick explores the deadly V weapons developed by the Nazi's best scientists, which reigned down destruction on London and elsewhere in the final months of the second world war. Joining Patrick to discuss the story behind these weapons is Christy Campbell, Author of Target London: Under attack from the V-weapons during WWII . Together they look at the secrecy that surrounded the d...

Joining Patrick to discuss Ukraine and in particular the fallout from President Zelensky’s deeply disappointing visit to the US is great friend of the podcast Julius Strauss. With the big story at the moment being of course the growing conflict between Israel, Lebanon, Hezbollah and Iran, together they dive into how the deepening conflagration in the Middle East will impact the Russia Ukraine conf...

Joining Saul for this episode of Battleground '44 is writer and historian Keith Lowe, to discuss the topic of his new book, Naples 44. Together they discuss the devastating and unexpected consequences that the war brought upon Naples, from the starvation and desperation felt by the population, to Mafia involvement in the theft of supplies. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them t...

This week Saul and Patrick focus their attention on the huge diplomatic offensive President Zelensky is mounting in the US to try and rally international support for one last push which he says could deliver victory for Ukraine and peace sooner rather than later. Together they discuss this and the many challenges Zelensky faces for his "victory plan" to succeed If you have any thoughts or question...

Joining Saul on this episode of Battleground '44 is Al Murray, co-host of our sister podcast - We Have Ways of Making You Talk, and author of Arnhem: Black Tuesday: The Classic Battle as Never Told Before. Together they look at the the events on Tuesday September 19, 1944 - a terrible day for British forces at Arnhem, and ask discuss why it all went so wrong and what could've been done differently...

In this episode of Battleground Saul and Patrick speak to award-winning Bloomberg journalist Stephanie Baker about her in-depth investigation into the unprecedented economic war the US and its allies are waging against Russia as detailed in her compelling new book  Punishing Putin: Inside Economic War to Bring Down Russia. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattlegrou...

In another week of mixed news for Ukraine, Saul and Patrick discuss the unexpected and disappointing outcome to the summit between President Joe Biden and British PM Sir Keir Starmer. They also turn their attention to perhaps Ukraine's most spectacular attack yet – the use of long range drones to hit a Russian arsenal at Toropets, triggering huge explosions that measured 2.8 on the earthquake Rich...

This week on Battleground '44, Patrick discusses with Saul the Battle of Arnhem, part of perhaps the most famous Allied airborne operation of the Second World War - Operation Market Garden. Fought in the German-occupied Netherlands from 17 to 26 September 1944, the bridge in Arnhem was the final objective of a plan to create a 64 mile salient into German territory and create an Allied invasion rou...

This week Saul and Patrick discuss the startling Ukrainian decision to unleash a wave of missiles on Moscow in the biggest air assault on the Russian capital to date. It's a significant escalation on Kyiv’s part and they will be asking what it means and was it a wise move. They also look at the latest diplomatic developments, with pressure further increasing from Ukraine to allow the use of wester...

In this episode of Battleground 44' Saul and Patrick take a deep dive into a host of fascinating listeners questions, anecdotes, and family stories from the Second World War. 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. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acas...

In this episode, Saul is joined by Roger Moorhouse whilst Patrick is away. They discuss the state of play as it's now been three weeks into Ukraine’s surprise invasion of Russia’s Kursk Oblast and there is no sign of Kyiv’s troops leaving anytime soon. Putin seems to be doubling down on his determination to take the road and rail hub of Pokrovsk but will this high-stakes game of poker backfire on...

Joining Saul to discuss his fresh take on the war in Burma is historian Jack Bowsher, who describes the importance of armoured warfare in the Burma theatre of the second world war. Together they also discuss the brilliance of the British commander Bill Slim, and the dramatic events at Meiktila, Imphal and Kohima, in the often called forgotten war. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can se...