The History of the Twentieth Century

Recent episodes

1. 453 The Panacea Target from The History of the Twentieth Century

   Aug 2, 202639 min

   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."

2. 452 The Double V from The History of the Twentieth Century

   Jul 19, 202648 min

   The Second World War offered African Americans new opportunities and new political clout.

3. 451 Wonder Weapon from The History of the Twentieth Century

   Jul 12, 202644 min

   The United States had its Manhattan Project. Germany had its rockets.

4. 450 The Gadget from The History of the Twentieth Century

   Jul 5, 202641 min

   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.

5. 449 All For the Front from The History of the Twentieth Century

   Jun 21, 202645 min

   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.

6. 448 Keep Calm and Carry On from The History of the Twentieth Century

   Jun 14, 202641 min

   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.

7. 447 Don't You Know There's a War On? from The History of the Twentieth Century

   Jun 7, 202639 min

   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.

8. 446 Is Paris Burning? from The History of the Twentieth Century

   May 24, 202648 min

   The Allies invade southern France, close the Falaise pocket, and the German line collapses. Soon the Allies are advancing on Paris.

9. 445 Breakout and Pursuit from The History of the Twentieth Century

   May 17, 202642 min

   When Patton's Third Army broke through the front line, the Germans had a serious problem.

10. 444 Tempest from The History of the Twentieth Century

    May 10, 202642 min

    The Polish Home Army makes a last-ditch effort to assert the authority of the government in exile, while Romania successfully switches sides.

11. 443 Shoot the Works from The History of the Twentieth Century

    Apr 26, 202642 min

    Hitler exacts retribution for the assassination attempt against him, while in France, the Americans break out of Normandy.

12. 442 Make Peace, You Fools from The History of the Twentieth Century

    Apr 19, 202640 min

    Bloody inconclusive fighting in Normandy, and the Democratic Party nominates Roosevelt for a fourth term.

13. 441 The Plot to Assassinate Hitler from The History of the Twentieth Century

    Apr 12, 202656 min

    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.

14. 440 The Destruction of Army Group Center from The History of the Twentieth Century

    Mar 29, 202636 min

    The Soviet summer offensive of 1944, "Operation Bagration," costs the German Army virtually an entire army group.

15. 439 Doctor Win-the-War from The History of the Twentieth Century

    Mar 22, 202640 min

    In 1944, Franklin Roosevelt's health began to fail, while Stalin made good on his pledge to begin a Soviet offensive in June.

16. 438 A Bill of Goods from The History of the Twentieth Century

    Mar 15, 202643 min

    The China and Burma fronts remained relatively quiet for two years. That changed in 1944.

17. 437 Where Do We Go From Here? from The History of the Twentieth Century

    Mar 1, 202640 min

    In this episode, we conclude the story of the American occupation of Saipan, while US commanders ponder the question of where to strike next.

18. 436 Too Good to Be True from The History of the Twentieth Century

    Feb 22, 202648 min

    When the Americans attacked Saipan, the Japanese saw a final opportunity to force that decisive battle they'd been yearning for.

19. 435 D Plus One from The History of the Twentieth Century

    Feb 15, 202636 min

    The initial Normandy invasions were moderately successful. Casualties were lighter than feared. But D-Day was not the end; it was only the beginning.

20. 434 The Longest Day III from The History of the Twentieth Century

    Feb 1, 202642 min

    We conclude our look at the Normandy invasion by examining events at Sword, Juno, Gold, and especially Omaha Beaches.