Key Battles of American History

By 1754, Great Britain and France had been fighting each other off and on for centuries. In the early seventeenth century, both empires began establishing colonies in North America, and both empires’ presence in the region grew over the next 150 years. As the British colonies looked to expand west and the French pushed south and east, conflict became inevitable. Join Jacob and James as they explore the roots of the French and Indian War.

In this episode, James and new cohost Jacob Herr kick off a new series on the French and Indian War. You’ll want to catch every action-packed episode of this narrative of a little-known but crucial war for control of the region that later became the United States of America.

In this episode, Sean and James conclude their discussion of the epic 2023 biopic Oppenheimer.

In this episode, James and Sean discuss the first half of the epic 2023 biopic Oppenheimer. 

In February 1945, Major Rosenthal's plane is shot down over Berlin; he parachutes into no man's land and is rescued by the Red Army. The Germans evacuate Stalag Luft III, forcing the prisoners to march in freezing conditions; they are taken via train to Nuremberg before being interned at Stalag XIII. Cleven and two other officers escape, and Cleven makes it to Allied lines. Egan and the other prisoners are taken to Stalag VII and are liberated soon after. In Poznań, Major Rosenthal enters Żabikowo prison camp (which replaced Fort VII) where he sees the bodies of prisoners, as well as signs of the earlier Jewish inmates. Majors Cleven, Egan, Rosenthal and Crosby reunite at Thorpe Abbotts; they participate in Operations Manna and Chowhound to supply food to the Dutch population stricken by Hongerwinter. After the German surrender, the 100th departs for home. The series ends with a montage explaining the future lives of its central characters.  Join Sean and James as they discuss this epic and heart-warming episode.

In this episode, James and Sean McIver briefly tell the story of the Manhattan Project, the history-changing effort to develop an atomic bomb and end the Second World War.

In this episode, Sean and James discuss Part 8, which introduces the heroic Tuskegee Airmen into the story. In June 1944, Captain Crosby conducts operational planning for two hundred bombing missions against Wehrmacht positions in France in preparation for Operation Overlord. Working for three straight days, he passes out and sleeps through D-Day. There is virtually no resistance from the Luftwaffe. During Operation Dragoon, the Tuskegee Airmen of the 99th Fighter Squadron are downed attacking German positions at the Côte d'Azur; 2nd lieutenants Richard Macon, Robert Daniels, and Alexander Jefferson are transferred to Stalag Luft III, now under control of the SS. They are invited by Cleven to join with preparations for a potential breakout, now that the Red Army is approaching.

In this episode, James welcomes historian, author, and YouTuber Jared Frederick back to the podcast.James and Jared discuss Jared’s exciting new book Into the Cold Blue, coauthored with WW2 veteran John Homan, who flew 35 missions as copilot of a B-24 bomber crew during 1944.

In the Spring of 1944, the men of the 100th are upset to learn that the number of missions required for a crew to be discharged is being increased to twenty-eight. Captain Rosenthal completes his twenty-fifth mission, but decides to reenlist. Rosenthal is placed in command of the 350th. Captain Crosby begins an affair with ATS officer Westgate. Sgts. Quinn and Bailey return to base and are exempted from further missions due to their knowledge of the escape lines. In Stalag Luft III, Major Cleven and other prisoners of war build a crystal radio to tune into the BBC news. A large group of British prisoners escape; Cleven, Egan and the other American officers are threatened that the camp will be turned over to the SS and Gestapo if there are further escape attempts.  Join Sean and James as they discuss this exciting episode.

In this episode, James interviews Carl Archer, an attorney, history buff, and Colonel in Early’s Raiders, about the war crimes tribunals that occurred after the Second World War.