American Jewish Historical Society

The Wreckage

History EN ↓ 28 episodes

The Wreckage is a narrative podcast from the American Jewish Historical Society chronicling the unique stories of Jewish Americans during the Cold War. Follow aid workers across the globe in the aftermath of World War II, listen in on Red Scare-era testimonies before Congress, and hear first-hand accounts of traveling to the Soviet Union at the height of Iron Curtain tensions. The full series is now available! The Wreckage is hosted by acclaimed singer and actress Rebecca Naomi Jones. Jones received a Drama Desk nomination for her portrayal of Laurey in Daniel Fish's Tony Award winning revival...

Author

American Jewish Historical Society

Episodes

The GI's 04.06.2024 23:52

"In battle, you kept your wits about you. Don't relax that caution now," warned the ominous voice-over in the 1945 training film, Your Job in Germany. "The German lust for conquest is not dead. It's merely undercover." As the Allied powers worked to govern Europe, Jewish American GI's were stationed around the continent. As demobilization - the process of bringing American military personnel home...

The Chaplains 22.05.2024 22:40

Throughout World War II, more than 1,000 American rabbis volunteered to serve their country through chaplaincy service, with more than 300 American Jewish chaplains entering active duty. After the war, sixty of these rabbis remained in Europe and beyond, and were among the first witnesses to the true extent of the atrocities committed by the Nazis in pursuit of "the final solution." The work was a...

The Governors 01.05.2024 22:14

In the weeks following V-E Day, the Allied powers were faced with the daunting task of governing Germany and all formerly Nazi-controlled territories. Hitler was dead, the Third Reich had fallen, and it was now up to the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and France to rebuild the continent following the devastation of the war in Europe – all while the war in the Pacific continue...