Peace In Their Time

The British Army had a rough go of it in the years leading up to the war and during the first few years. Today I take a look at why that was, and the challenges that had to be addressed under live fire. 

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. Dannatt, Richard & Robert Lyman Victory to Defeat: The British Army 1918-40 Osprey Publishing Ltd 2023
2. Fraser, David And We Shall Shock Them: The British Army in the Second World War Hodde...

I finally get to go over the notable ships of one of the big navies!

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. Hobbs, David British Aircraft Carriers: Design, Development, and Service Histories Seaforth Publishing 2013
2. Friedman, Norman The British Battleship 1906-1946 Seaforth Publishing 2015
3. Konstam, Angus British Aircraft Carriers 1939-45 Osprey Publishing 2010
4. Friedman, Norman British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After Seaforth Pub...

I finally get to cover one of the truly big navies of the period! In this first episode covering the Royal Navy, I'll be taking a look at the planning and strategy of the British admiralty in the 1930s. Obviously things didn't go according to plan, but it's good to have context on what their intentions were going into the war. 

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. Field, Andrew Royal Navy Strategy in the Far East 1919-1939: Prepa...

Rearmament presented the leadership of the UK with a dilemma. The economic recovery afforded the military the means necessary to lay at least the groundwork for future success, but not in every branch. And not perfectly anywhere, which hey was the story everywhere else too. What ensued were years of back-and-forth over how the country's slender resources would be allocated. 

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. Shay Jr, Robert Pa...

Today I switch over to events in the UK during the 30s and how they handled the challenge of the Axis. I'll be starting off with a look at their economic situation in the aftermath of the Depression and leaving the Gold Standard. Which for once was mostly good news, but still very much a recovery from years of disaster. 

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. Taylor, AJP The Oxford History of England, Vol 15 Oxford University Press...

Today I wrap up this miniseries with a look at French diplomacy during the 30s. Upon recording this episode I realized there may have been not one single success during this entire period, an impressive record even by the standards of this show. 

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. Jackson, Julian The Popular Front in France: Defending Democracy, 1934-38 Cambridge University Press 1988
2. Nere, J. The Foreign Policy of France from ...

Coverage of the French military is wrapped up today with a look at the development and equipment of their navy and air force. 

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. Baughen, Greg The Rise and Fall of the French Air Force: French Air Operations and Strategy 1900-1940 Fonthill 2018
2. Chant, Chris Allied Fighter Aircraft 1939-45 Amber Books 2009
3. Bishop, Chris The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II Barnes & Noble Inc 1998
4. Jorda...

Equipment and organization episode! Even if the French commanders got thoroughly discredited after 1940, the actual gear used by the army kept a decent reputation. But that might not be entirely justified as their arsenal was riddled with deficiencies all its own. 

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. Doughty, Robert Allan The Seeds of Disaster: The Development of French Army Doctrine 1919-1939 Archon Books 1985
2. Porch, Douglas De...

I'm talking about bunkers today and I desperately hope you guys are as excited as I am. 

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. Doughty, Robert Allan The Seeds of Disaster: The Development of French Army Doctrine 1919-1939 Archon Books 1985
2. Kaufmann, J.E. and H.W. Kaufmann Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II Praeger Security International 2006
3. Porch, Douglas Defeat and Division: France at War, 1939...

Today we move away from the overview history of France to focus on purely military matters. Namely, how the French went wrong in preparing for the next war and how that would play into the disaster of 1940. 

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. Doughty, Robert Allan The Seeds of Disaster: The Development of French Army Doctrine 1919-1939 Archon Books 1985
2. Kaufmann, J.E. and H.W. Kaufmann Fortress France: The Maginot Line and Fren...

For France, lacking in both population count, natural resources, and industry when compared to their hostile neighbor, the colonies were indispensable. But the lackluster engagement from the Popular Front government would help drive local leaders from forming partnerships with their imperial overlords, as even a supposedly friendly government ruled with a clumsy hand. So while the major components of the empire were productive, the...

The honeymoon period of the Popular Front was basically nil within the actual French government. The establishment may have been willing to entertain limited reforms, but sweeping changes were out of the question, killing the momentum of the entire movement and dooming it to failure. 

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. Jackson, Julian The Politics of Depression in France, 1932-1936 Cambridge University Press 1985
2. Jackson, Julia...

By the time the Popular Front came to power it seemed like nothing would be the same in France. Politics were polarizing, the Communists became a viable electoral force, and the old order appeared dead and buried. Strikes were sweeping the nation and the business class appeared to be in retreat. It wouldn't last, but it felt great at the time. 

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. Jackson, Julian The Politics of Depression in Fra...

Switching topics to France in the mid-to-late 1930s, today I cover the early coming together of the Popular Front in France. Expect becoming re-acquainted with the political and economic situation there at the time, as well as an introduction to the key factions and figures that would comprise the Front. 

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. Jackson, Julian The Politics of Depression in France, 1932-1936 Cambridge University Pres...

Today I finally wrap this miniseries with a look at the Hitler Youth, how it developed and its role in the Nazi state. I also touch on the effects of Nazism on the German educational system. Like most things it had any effect on, it wasn't great!

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. HW Koch The Hitler Youth: Origins and Development 1922-1945 Cooper Square Press 2000 (originally Barnes & Noble Books 1975)
2. Evans, Richard J. The...

Today I take a look at the development of the Nazi security apparatus while under the supervision of the SS. This will include a proper description of the activities of the Gestapo, as well as how the regular police fit into the picture, and how these groups interacted with the SD. Plus, a guest appearance from the SA. 

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. Hohne, Heinz The Order of the Death's Head: The Story of Hitler's SS Pengu...

Today is the first of a two-parter covering the General SS. The sub-section of the group covered a lot of the administrative activities, but also oversaw the efforts to merge the police forces of Germany into the organization. This would never be totally completed, but the closeness of the SS and law enforcement in Germany was such that they would be linked for most of the Third Reich's existence. On top of that, there was the SD l...

No story of the militarization of German society would be complete without talking about the SS. Possibly the most iconic image of Nazi Germany, aside from images of its victims, was the ominous, black-clad figure. This first installment will introduce the group, its general composition, as well as some of its high-level developments to start off this miniseries within a miniseries. 

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. Hohne, He...