The History of the Twentieth Century
- Episodes
- 468
- Format
- Series – listen from the start
- Latest episode
- Nov 8, 2026
About the podcast
A chronicle of the history of the twentieth century, including art, music, popular culture, science, religion, and, of course, politics and war.
Episodes 468
464 A Blind Man Speaking about Color
Hitler interpreted Germany's military reversals as evidence of sabotage by high-ranking traitors in the German Army. He started replacing his commanders with ones who had strong Nazi credentials, whether they …
Show notes
Hitler interpreted Germany's military reversals as evidence of sabotage by high-ranking traitors in the German Army. He started replacing his commanders with ones who had strong Nazi credentials, whether they had military experience or not.
463 The Ostrich Strategy
As Germany's military situation grew worse, its Nazi leadership--Adolf Hitler in particular--became increasingly detached from reality.
462 Nuts!
The German Fifth Panzer Army surrounded and beseiged the US 101st Airborne Division in the Belgian town of Bastogne.
461 Wacht am Rhein
On December 16, 1944, the German Army began a last-ditch offensive on the Western Front, triggering what became known as "The Battle of the Bulge."
459 Autumn Mist
On the Western Front, the Allies were probing the German defensive line. On the Eastern Front, the Red Army advanced past the 1939 border and into Germany itself.
458 The Battle of Leyte Gulf
When the Americans landed on the Philippine island of Leyte, the Japanese Navy executed a plan intended to cut off and isolate Allied ground forces on the island.
456 A Bridge Too Far
Bernard Montgomery proposed a risky operation that just might have allowed the Allies to break through the German defensive line. Meanwhile, Adolf Hitler was planning a risky operation of his own.
455 Up Against the Wall
The Western Allied advance in August 1944 was breathtaking, but it stopped short at the German border as the German Army rebuilt its defenses and Allied supply lines became strained to the limit.
454 The Altar of Alliance
By 1944, a German defeat seemed inevitable. In August, Romania defected from the Axis and joined the Allies. Within weeks, Bulgaria followed suit, while Finland agreed to an armistice with the USSR. This left …
Show notes
By 1944, a German defeat seemed inevitable. In August, Romania defected from the Axis and joined the Allies. Within weeks, Bulgaria followed suit, while Finland agreed to an armistice with the USSR. This left Hungary as Germany's sole remaining ally in Europe, and Hungary only stayed loyal because of German military intervention.
453 The Panacea Target
The British view on aerial bombing over Germany held that area attacks on German cities were the only effective form of attack. The Americans preferred to target specific sites crucial to the German war effort …
Show notes
The British view on aerial bombing over Germany held that area attacks on German cities were the only effective form of attack. The Americans preferred to target specific sites crucial to the German war effort, an approach the head of RAF Bomber Command dismisses as "panacea targets."
452 The Double V
The Second World War offered African Americans new opportunities and new political clout.
450 The Gadget
By 1944, the United States had developed the facilities to produce U-235 and plutonium in sufficient quantities. The last problem was how to design and build a bomb that would detonate an atomic explosion when …
Show notes
By 1944, the United States had developed the facilities to produce U-235 and plutonium in sufficient quantities. The last problem was how to design and build a bomb that would detonate an atomic explosion when you wanted it, but not before.
449 All For the Front
The war made life in the Soviet Union very difficult. Even by Soviet standards, the government took an unprecedented degree of control over the allocation of labor and of food. Despite food shortages, there was …
Show notes
The war made life in the Soviet Union very difficult. Even by Soviet standards, the government took an unprecedented degree of control over the allocation of labor and of food. Despite food shortages, there was no mass opposition as there had been in 1917.
448 Keep Calm and Carry On
The British had to deal with many more shortages of food and fuel and consumer goods than did Americans. And they had to worry about the Luftwaffe.
447 Don't You Know There's a War On?
The war put Americans in the unfamiliar position of enduring limits on what they could buy or eat, even how much they could drive their cars.
446 Is Paris Burning?
The Allies invade southern France, close the Falaise pocket, and the German line collapses. Soon the Allies are advancing on Paris.
445 Breakout and Pursuit
When Patton's Third Army broke through the front line, the Germans had a serious problem.
444 Tempest
The Polish Home Army makes a last-ditch effort to assert the authority of the government in exile, while Romania successfully switches sides.
443 Shoot the Works
Hitler exacts retribution for the assassination attempt against him, while in France, the Americans break out of Normandy.
442 Make Peace, You Fools
Bloody inconclusive fighting in Normandy, and the Democratic Party nominates Roosevelt for a fourth term.
441 The Plot to Assassinate Hitler
There had been grumbling about Hitler in the Army since 1938, but by 1944 a group of officers were determined to get rid of him and overthrow the Nazi government.
440 The Destruction of Army Group Center
The Soviet summer offensive of 1944, "Operation Bagration," costs the German Army virtually an entire army group.
439 Doctor Win-the-War
In 1944, Franklin Roosevelt's health began to fail, while Stalin made good on his pledge to begin a Soviet offensive in June.
438 A Bill of Goods
The China and Burma fronts remained relatively quiet for two years. That changed in 1944.
437 Where Do We Go From Here?
In this episode, we conclude the story of the American occupation of Saipan, while US commanders ponder the question of where to strike next.
436 Too Good to Be True
When the Americans attacked Saipan, the Japanese saw a final opportunity to force that decisive battle they'd been yearning for.
435 D Plus One
The initial Normandy invasions were moderately successful. Casualties were lighter than feared. But D-Day was not the end; it was only the beginning.
These are the latest 60 of 468 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
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