Battleground

• 329. Wolfpack: Episode I - The Rise of the Wolfpack (1939–1941)

  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 doctrine. They also explore Admiral Karl Dönitz's desperate strategic vision—the famed "wolfpack" tactics—and how a small fleet initially achieved spectacular results. From the shocking sinking of the civilian liner SS Athenia immediately after the declaration of war, to the "First Happy Time," a period where U-boat crews operated with lethal impunity, nearly crippling Britain's supply lines and setting the stage for the true Battle of the Atlantic. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• 328. The New Red Line: When Will NATO Shoot Down a Russian Jet?

  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 from Estonia invoking Article 4, the emergency UN Security Council session, and the stark pledge from the Polish foreign minister to shoot down future invaders of NATO skies. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump executes a stunning U-turn, branding Russia a 'paper tiger' and urging Ukraine to reclaim all its lost territory—a complete reversal of his previous calls for territorial concession. Also in this episode: Kremlin Nepotism: We examine reports that an increasingly paranoid Putin has appointed his cousin, Anna Tsivileva, as a deputy defence minister to root out corruption and disloyalty in the defence ministry. Nuclear Sabre-Rattling: Putin attempts to "throw Trump a bone" with a conditional offer to adhere to the New START treaty for one year following its 2026 expiry. Listeners' Questions: We tackle your queries on: the West's slow adoption of drone warfare lessons; the long-term demographic fallout of the war on both Russia and Ukraine: and more. Join us as we analyse the week's most dangerous escalations and what they mean for the future of the conflict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• 327. Tunisgrad: Part IV - Victory in Africa

  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, Operation Strike, which leads to the fall of Tunis and a capitulation on a scale even greater than Stalingrad. Discover the key factors behind the Allied victory: overwhelming logistical superiority, complete air supremacy, and a unified command structure that finally worked. Over 250,000 Axis troops surrender, marking the end of the African campaign and, as one historian notes, "the beginning of the end" for Hitler. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• 326. The Relentless Drone War: A Hum of Destruction

  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 exercises between Russia and Belarus. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• 325. Tunisgrad: Part III - Rommel's 'Last Dance'

  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 breaks down a series of crucial battles, from the initial Axis victories at Sidi Bou Zid and the Kasserine Pass, which exposed weaknesses in the U.S. forces, to the strategic Allied comeback. We’ll cover how the Allies regrouped, learned from their mistakes, and ultimately repelled Rommel’s last major assaults in Operation Ochsenkopf and the Battle of Medenine, sealing the fate of the North African campaign. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected] Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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