The first stage of Haig's long awaited Flanders Offensive began on June 7th, 1917.
78: Lafayette, We Are Here
• May 6th, 2022John J Pershing leads the first American troops to France in June 1917.
77: Only in Catastrophes
• March 10th, 2022The French army grapples with widespread unrest after the Nivelle Offensive
76: Bloody April
• January 28th, 2022April was a deadly month for the Royal Flying Corps.
Dicta Boelcke
1. Try to secure advantages before attacking. If possible, keep the sun behind you.
2. Always carry through an attack when you have started it.
3. Fire only at close range, and only when your opponent is properly in your sights.
4. Always keep your eye on your opponent, and never let yourself be deceived by ruses.
5. In any form of attack it is essential to assail your enemy from behind.
6. If your opponent dives on you, do not try to evade his onslaught, but fly to meet it.
7. When over the enemy's lines never forget your own line of retreat.
8. For the Staffel (squadron): Attack on principle in groups of four or six. When the fight breaks up into a series of single combats, take care that several do not go for the same opponent
75: The Nivelle Offensive
• September 4th, 2020Robert Nivelle's magic solution to the deadlock leaves the French army on the brink of mutiny.
74: The Battle of Arras
• July 30th, 2020The British launch a successful set piece on the eve of the Nivelle Offensive.
73: The Abdication of Tsar Nicholas
• July 8th, 2020When your people protest, it's best not to ignore them.
72: The Overt Acts
• May 24th, 2020It took the United States 65 days to go from committed neutral to full blown participant.
71: The Arsenal and the Bank
• April 26th, 2020By the end of 1916, neutrality had left the United States in a precarious spot.
Life Magazine, February 1916.
70: America
• March 29th, 2020Germany's decision to unleash the torpedoes would have adverse consequences
69: Neptune’s Empire
• January 4th, 2019For the second time in the war, Germany turns to unrestricted submarine warfare.
68B: Fateful Decisions - The Allies - From the Aisne to Vladivostok
• November 14th, 2018A look at the Entente during the winter of 1916-1917.
68A: Fateful Decisions - The Central Powers - From Alberich to Zimmermann
• November 13th, 2018A look at the Central Powers during the winter of 1916-1917.
SE: The Life and Death of Mata Hari
• September 21st, 2018The life and career of everyones favourite exotic dancer turned convicted spy.
TGWAC - Part 3 of 3: Aces High
• June 29th, 2018The Great War Aircast - A miniseries on the air war from 1914-1916. Part 3 of 3.
TGWAC - Part 2: Violent Adolesence.
• June 29th, 2018The Great War Aircast - A miniseries on the air war from 1914-1916. Part 2 of 3.
TGWAC - Part 1: The Infancy of Airpower
• June 29th, 2018The Great War Aircast - A miniseries on the air war from 1914-1916. Part 1 of 3.
64: Golgotha Hill
• April 6th, 2018Beginning on October 24th, a French counter attack liberates the forts Douaumont and Vaux, signalling the end of the battle of Verdun.
63: Leviathans
• March 27th, 2018With winter approaching on the Somme, Haig hoped to deliver a substantial blow to Germany's forces.
62: Cracks in the Edifice
• March 5th, 2018Hindenburg and Ludendorff face a home front wracked by food shortages and social unrest.
61: The Hydra
• January 30th, 2018The Romanian campaign lasted for 101 days. In this episode, we cover those 101 days in 41 minutes.
60:Falkenhayn’s Folly
• January 9th, 2018In the wake of Romania's declaration, Erich von Falkenhayn is dismissed.
59: Romania
• December 19th, 2017Sensing a shift in the fortunes of war, Romania declares war on Austria-Hungary.
58: Crisis in the East
• December 1st, 2017With the General Allied Offensive in full swing, the Central Powers face a manpower crisis on the Eastern Front.
57: Pozieres
• November 10th, 201735 days after July 1st, I ANZAC Corps finally secures Pozieres Ridge.
56: The Devil at Fromelles
• October 28th, 2017Australian and South African forces arrive on the Western Front, and we explore a new interpretation of Fromelles and Delville Wood.
55: The Battle of Bazentin Ridge
• October 3rd, 2017Just two weeks removed from July 1st, the BEF scores a stunning victory.
53: The Long, Long Trail
• June 11th, 2017After July 1st, Fourth Army's efforts devolve into uncoordinated, piece meal attacks.
52: Into the Breach Part 6- The Somme Controversy
• May 14th, 2017The Great War's most infamous day is also its most misunderstood.
52: Into the Breach Part 5- Southern Success
• April 25th, 2017At the tail end of Fourth Army's front, Congreve's XIII Corps and Fayolle's Sixth Army achieve remarkable success.
Livens Flame Projector: CLIP
52: Into the Breach Part 4- Poet’s Corner
• April 4th, 2017For Henry Horne's XV Corps, July 1st 1916 was a day of mixed success.
52: Into the Breach Part 3- Tale of Two Villages
• March 21st, 2017The awful pattern repeats itself as III Corps drives on Ovillers and La Boiselle.
52: Into the Breach Part 2- Northern Folly
• February 28th, 2017Gommecourt, Serre, Beaumont-Hamel and the Slaughter of the Somme.
The old British front line, looking northeast toward the German trenches. Note the drop in elevation.
"Y" Ravine,
52: Into the Breach Part 1- Thiepval and the Schwaben Redoubt
• February 5th, 2017We begin our discussion of July 1st by examining X Corps' attack on Thiepval village.
51b: Final Touches- Allied Armies and the Somme
• January 20th, 2017A survey of the British, French and German armies on the eve of the Somme.
51a:Final Touches- Allied Politics and the Somme
• January 17th, 2017The Somme plan meets stiff opposition in London and Paris.
50: The Verdun Effect
• December 20th, 2016Plans for the Somme shift as Verdun rears its ugly head.
47: Crisis at Verdun
• October 20th, 2016The battle of Verdun reaches its climax.
Map of the battlefield, note its "H" shaped outline.
The ancient Citadel in downtown Verdun. To enlarge, right click-view image.
Monument to Fleury residents who fought at Verdun.
"Remains" of Fleury
Markers indicating where houses and businesses once stood.
The imposing Ossuary.
View from a top the Ossuary, looking southeast towards Fleury. Note the concentrated battlefield: the interpretation center is visible along with the white path leading to the village. The ridge beyond was the German objective of June 23rd.
Fort Douaumont
Douaumont's roof, still heavily cratered.
Yours truly at the entrance.
Update!: 03/10/2016
• October 3rd, 2016Traveling to France tomorrow, will be in Verdun on Thursday followed by a few days in Rome. Back to regular shows upon my return on Oct 16.
46: The Fall of Fort Vaux
• August 3rd, 2016The warriors of France and Germany engage in an bloody stand off for Fort Vaux.
Postcard commemorating Raynal's final pigeon and subsequent plaque.
Summer (much belated) update!
• July 27th, 2016Just an update on the state of the show. I took a summer job at a live music venue, and the hours have been hectic so I've found little time to focus on the podcast. Episode 46: The Fall of Fort Vaux is written, and once I carve out a free day it will be posted. It should be up in the coming weeks. August might be a difficult month, but because fewer acts have been booked there should be some more flexibility with the schedule. July was a monster, so I'm glad it's nearly over.
Since the job is so mind numbing, I've had a lot of time to think about how I want to approach things. Once things settle down for good in September, we'll hit the ground running and press forward. I've acquired a lot of great sources on the campaigns in the Mid-East and Caucasus, and I also plan to create a mini cast (5-8 eps) that focus exclusively on the air war. As a huge aviation nerd, that should be a lot of fun!
So have no fear, the show is not cancelled but I've had to put it on the backburner for a while. Apologizes for the delay but I hope that when we get back on the track this break will be well worth it.
-Daniel.
45: Dead Man’s Hill
• May 31st, 2016The fighting at Verdun intensifies as the Germans seize the crests of Mort Homme and Hill 304.
44: The Guns of Galicia
• May 3rd, 2016Under Brusilov's leadership, a resurgent Russian army smashes the Austro-Hungarians; Conrad surrenders to Falkenhayn's oversight.
43: The Bear Blows First
• April 7th, 2016With Tsar Nicholas II in charge of her armed forces, Russia looks to a fresh start; In Galicia, Aleksei Brusilov plans his masterpiece.
*Note: St. Petersburg was renamed Petrograd in 1914. I refer to both in the appropriate context. -Dan
Links to Romanov family photos:
42: Women of War
• March 9th, 2016A review of Verdun and a look at the British home front, which sees radical change under the direction of David Lloyd George and the Ministry of Munitions.
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