Explaining History

How did Germany's defeat in World War One lead to a revolution that swept away the Kaiser and result in the rise of a liberal socialist government? What compromises and deals did the new administration make to prevent the spread of communism and how did that affect the development of the republic? Answers to all this and more are here in this Explaining History Podcast.

How did Hitler manage to consolidate his rule over Germany? This podcast explains the process by which Hitler came to control the country in the period January 1933-August 1934

Theodor Herzl is credited with being the father of Zionism and the intellectual force behind the founding of the state of Israel, even though he died nearly half a century earlier. How did Herzl's ideas emerge and evolve in the mid to late 19th Century and how was he influenced by the growing climate of intolerance across Europe in the last quarter of the century?

What did ordinary German people know or think about the genocide of the Jewish people? This podcast encourages students of Nazi Germany to move away from simplistic views of German Moralities.

How did Germany deal with the legacy of the Holocaust and Nazism? How did West and East German governments address the memory of crimes committed during the war?

Both Britain and Germany had tried to starve each other into submission on the high seas in the First World War. The British were slow to adopt new tactics in the Second World War against the renewed threat of U-Boats, but by 1944, the British and Americans had devastated the German U-Boat fleet. How had these changes come about?

When France fell in June 1940 it was a catastrophe for British war strategy. Following America's entry into the war after Pearl Harbour the two powers had to work together to defeat Germany, even though much of their objectives and plans were different.

Why did Roosevelt agree to help arm Britain and France before America joined the war? How did his Arsenals of Democracy Speech affect the nation? What effect did Lend Lease have on America's future enemies?

Why did the USA offer billions of dollars in aid to Europe in 1948? How did the USSR react to this? This podcast explores the dangers to liberal democracy and the fragile peace in 1948 and George Marshall's plan to rescue Europe and keep America from fighting the next war.

How do we progress from a limited understanding of a topic to a deep and profound way of thinking about history? Listen to this podcast to find out.

When President Harry Truman announced a huge military aid package to Greece in 1947 it signalled a sea-change in America's stance in the growing Cold War, and showed a willingness to commit fully to the fight. This podcast explores the wider context of that decision, and challenges students to consider: What does this all really show us?

Hitler had often dreamed of being an architect, he also dreamt of creating a new Berlin of the future, a vast imposing city called Germania. This podcast explores what Germania can tell us about Nazism.

What was Hitler seeking to achieve through war? This podcast seeks to explain Hitler's war aims, and examine the difference between his general ambitions and concrete goals.

Why did Germany lose World War Two especially when she had been so successful initially? This quick podcast explores the reasons behind Germany's downfall.

How did Nixon's early life, personality and outlook affect his life and career? What led him inexorably towards the Watergate Scandal? Find out in this podcast, which focuses on Nixon From 1945-69.