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History's Devils

James Crossland

What makes someone evil?


HISTORY'S DEVILS is a weekly deep-dive podcast that investigates the world's most infamous historical figures. Each episode explores the life, actions, and legacy of a terrible person from history, sorting through myths to examine the facts behind their reputation and to judge just how wicked they truly were.


Hosted by Professor James Crossland, HISTORY'S DEVILS covers dictators, tyrants, war criminals, cult leaders, revolutionaries, con-artists, conspiracy theorists and just plain terrible people, combining deep research with compelling storytelling to reveal the darker side of human history.


A show for fans of dark history, historical biographies and in-depth explorations of  people who changed the world for better - or for worse.


All the devils are here. And we are ready to tell their stories.


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  • 22 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 59 min
  • English

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  • #34
    September 1 · 52 min

    Timothy McVeigh Part 1: From Gun-Loving Loner to America's Most Notorious Terrorist

    This week's episodes explores how Timothy McVeigh became the Oklahoma City bomber, tracing his path from disillusioned Gulf War veteran to the deadliest domestic terrorist in American history, while examining the far-right movements, anti-government extremism and white supremacist ideology that shaped his radicalization. For this epic two-parter, James is joined by Craig Johnson, host of 15 Minutes of Fascism, to examine McVeigh's life, beliefs and legacy. Together they unpack the influence of The Turner Diaries, the impact of Ruby Ridge and the Waco siege, the culture of 1990s militia movements, and the concept of "leaderless resistance" that helped shape modern far-right terrorism. The conversation also explores how McVeigh's ideas continue to echo through contemporary extremist movements, from the Boogaloo movement to the January 6 rioters For anyone who wants to makes sense of far-right political violence in the year 2026, this is a can't miss episode! Covered in this episode McVeigh's childhood in Lockport, New York, his relationship with his father Bill McVeigh and grandfather Ed, and how firearms, Cold War fears and survivalist thinking shaped his worldview. The influence of The Turner Diaries, William Luther Pierce, the National Alliance and the American white supremacist movement on McVeigh's political radicalization. How conspiracy theories about globalism, anti-Semitism, white nationalism and anti-government ideology intersected within the American far-right during the late twentieth century. McVeigh's military career, service in the Gulf War, attempted Green Beret selection and growing disillusionment with the US government after combat. His immersion in gun shows, militia networks, extremist publications, Rush Limbaugh, anti-government propaganda and the concept of leaderless resistance. Why Ruby Ridge, Randy Weaver and the siege at Waco became defining moments for anti-government extremists and convinced McVeigh that violent retaliation was justified. Mentioned in this episode: Timothy McVeigh, Craig Johnson, James Crossland, 15 Minutes of Fascism, Tate brothers, Oklahoma City bombing, Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, Oklahoma City, Lockport, Buffalo, Bill McVeigh, Mildred "Mickey" McVeigh, Ed McVeigh, Second Amendment, Cold War, Soviet Union, The Turner Diaries, William Luther Pierce, National Alliance, George Lincoln Rockwell, American Nazi Party, white nationalism, neo-fascism, Aryan Nations, Christian Identity Movement, anti-Semitism, globalism, New World Order conspiracy theories, Alex Jones, Rush Limbaugh, The Spotlight, Ku Klux Klan, National Rifle Association (NRA), Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Green Berets, Ruby Ridge, Randy Weaver, Vicki Weaver, Idaho, FBI, ATF, Waco siege, Branch Davidians, David Koresh, Seventh-day Adventists, Jonestown, Guyana, Terry Nichols, Decker Michigan, Michigan militia movement, Elohim City, Christian nationalism, leaderless resistance, Louis Beam, accelerationism, Janet Reno, Lon Horiuchi, Walter Smith, Lexington and Concord, American Revolution, fertilizer bomb, improvised explosive device (IED), domestic terrorism, terrorism, extremist radicalization, conspiracy theories, Oklahoma City bombing investigation, Southern Poverty Law Center, Ramszi Yousef, 1993 World Trade Center bombing, Al-Qaeda, John Doe No. 2, Felice Orsini, Richard Spencer, alt-right, Boogaloo Boys, Dylan Roof, Orlando nightclub shooting, January 6 Capitol attack, Day of the Rope, Dollar General shooting, political violence, white supremacist terrorism, anti-government extremism. Chapters 00:00 — Timothy McVeigh and the darkest path of far-right radicalization 08:20 — The Turner Diaries and the ideology behind white supremacist terrorism 21:10 — The Gulf War, military service and McVeigh's growing disillusionment 33:15 — Gun shows, militias and how radicalization spread before the internet 44:00 — Ruby Ridge, Randy Weaver and the anti-government movement 53:10 — Waco, David Koresh and the siege that changed everything Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

    • Transcript
  • #35
    September 1 · 46 min

    Timothy McVeigh Part 2: The Oklahoma City Bombing and the Re-Shaping of America's Far-Right

    In part two of the Timothy McVeigh episode, James is joined once again by Craig Johnson, host of 15 Minutes of Fascism, to explain how the Oklahoma City bombing was planned and executed. James and Craig also break down the means by which Tim McVeigh and his co-conspirator, Terry Nichols were captured, before assessing the dark legacy of the bombing and the impact it had on America's far-right far-right movements, anti-government extremists and white supremacists, shaping the practices of everyone from the Boogaloo movement to the January 6 rioters. For anyone who wants to makes sense of far-right political violence in the year 2026, this is a can't miss episode! Covered in this episode The planning of the Oklahoma City bombing with Terry Nichols, the symbolic selection of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and the influence of The Turner Diaries on the attack itself. How McVeigh built the fertilizer bomb, chose 19 April 1995 to coincide with Waco and Lexington and Concord, and carried out the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in US history before 9/11. McVeigh's arrest, the evidence linking him to the bombing, his trial, execution and insistence that the bombing was an act of war rather than murder. Why McVeigh failed to spark the revolution imagined in The Turner Diaries and how the FBI crackdown transformed the American militia movement during the late 1990s. The continuing legacy of McVeigh, The Turner Diaries, Richard Spencer, the alt-right, the Boogaloo movement, January 6 and the enduring evolution of far-right extremist violence. Mentioned in this episode: Timothy McVeigh, Craig Johnson, James Crossland, 15 Minutes of Fascism, Tate brothers, Oklahoma City bombing, Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, Oklahoma City, Lockport, Buffalo, Bill McVeigh, Mildred "Mickey" McVeigh, Ed McVeigh, Second Amendment, Cold War, Soviet Union, The Turner Diaries, William Luther Pierce, National Alliance, George Lincoln Rockwell, American Nazi Party, white nationalism, neo-fascism, Aryan Nations, Christian Identity Movement, anti-Semitism, globalism, New World Order conspiracy theories, Alex Jones, Rush Limbaugh, The Spotlight, Ku Klux Klan, National Rifle Association (NRA), Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Green Berets, Ruby Ridge, Randy Weaver, Vicki Weaver, Idaho, FBI, ATF, Waco siege, Branch Davidians, David Koresh, Seventh-day Adventists, Jonestown, Guyana, Terry Nichols, Decker Michigan, Michigan militia movement, Elohim City, Christian nationalism, leaderless resistance, Louis Beam, accelerationism, Janet Reno, Lon Horiuchi, Walter Smith, Lexington and Concord, American Revolution, fertilizer bomb, improvised explosive device (IED), domestic terrorism, terrorism, extremist radicalization, conspiracy theories, Oklahoma City bombing investigation, Southern Poverty Law Center, Ramszi Yousef, 1993 World Trade Center bombing, Al-Qaeda, John Doe No. 2, Felice Orsini, Richard Spencer, alt-right, Boogaloo Boys, Dylan Roof, Orlando nightclub shooting, January 6 Capitol attack, Day of the Rope, Dollar General shooting, political violence, white supremacist terrorism, anti-government extremism, terrorist spectaculars Chapters 1:00 — Why Timothy McVeigh decided to commit an act of terrorism 1:11 — Planning the Oklahoma City bombing with Terry Nichols 1:19 — 19 April 1995: The Oklahoma City bombing unfolds 1:26 — Arrest, trial and Timothy McVeigh's justification for mass murder 1:39 — From Oklahoma City to the alt-right: McVeigh's enduring legacy 1:46 — The Turner Diaries, January 6 and the evolution of modern extremism Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

    • Transcript
  • #33
    August 25 · 56 min

    Grand Theft Auto's History of America: Gangs, Guns and Police Corruption

    In this episode of History’s Devils, James is joined by Bob Whitaker of the History Re-Spawned Podcast to explore the real American history behind the Grand Theft Auto video game series, focusing on how GTA depicts gang violence, the crack epidemic, police brutality, the 1992 Los Angeles riots, gun culture, corruption, capitalism, the War on Terror, and the changing American dream. The discussion traces the influence of Los Angeles gang culture, the Crips and Bloods, the availability of cheap firearms in poor neighbourhoods, the Rampart Scandal, Rodney King and the 1992 LA riots, all whilst considering how accurately Rockstar Games represents the history behind its fictional world. The conversation then moves to GTA V and its darker post-2008 worldview, exploring white-collar crime, capitalism, the financial crisis, private military companies, the War on Terror and torture before asking how Rockstar can possibly satirize Donald Trump’s America in the upcoming GTA VI. Covered in this episode The origins of Grand Theft Auto: Bob Whitaker explains how London-born brothers Sam and Dan Houser, working at Scottish developer DMA Design, transformed the cops-and-robbers game Race and Chase into Grand Theft Auto in 1997, drawing heavily on American film and popular culture. Why GTA is so American: The episode explores Sam Houser’s observation that GTA depends on America’s distinctive combination of car culture, larger-than-life personalities and widespread guns, despite the series being created in the United Kingdom. GTA: San Andreas and 1990s Los Angeles: Set in the fictional state of San Andreas in 1992, the game recreates Los Angeles as Los Santos, alongside fictional versions of San Francisco and Las Vegas, while protagonist Carl “CJ” Johnson navigates gang warfare, crime, drugs and the pursuit of money. The Crips, Bloods and GTA’s fictional gangs: The Grove Street Families and Ballas are examined alongside the real-world Crips and Bloods, whose rivalry emerged in South-Central Los Angeles during the 1970s and reached a peak of violence during the crack era of the 1980s and 1990s. Hollywood, rap and the construction of gang culture: San Andreas is compared with films including Colors, Boyz n the Hood and Training Day, as well as music from N.W.A., Dr. Dre and Tupac, revealing how popular culture rather than conventional historical research shaped Rockstar’s depiction of 1990s Los Angeles. The crack epidemic and the CIA-Contra controversy: The discussion examines the crack cocaine epidemic in South-Central Los Angeles, the CIA’s support for the Nicaraguan Contras, the 1986 congressional investigation associated with John Kerry, and Gary Webb’s Dark Alliance, while noting that parts of the CIA-drug trafficking story remain contested. Guns, the Cold War and the post-1989 black market: The episode looks at the TEC-9, Uzi and AK-47 as symbols of the flood of cheap firearms into American markets following the Cold War, connecting GTA’s weapon arsenal to the economics of the global arms trade and American gun culture. Police corruption and the Rampart Scandal: Officer Frank Tenpenny, voiced by Samuel L. Jackson, is compared with real LAPD corruption, particularly the Rampart Scandal and the testimony of Rafael Perez, while the episode considers Rockstar’s longstanding distrust of police and government authority. Rodney King and the 1992 Los Angeles riots: The game’s climactic riot is connected to the Rodney King beating, the acquittal of LAPD officers in the subsequent trial, the Watts truce between the Crips and Bloods, and the devastating unrest that swept Los Angeles in April and May 1992. GTA V and post-financial-crisis America: The discussion shifts to Michael, Trevor and Franklin, whose lives reflect a more cynical America shaped by the 2008 global financial crisis, white-collar crime, real-estate speculation, stock-market manipulation, technology culture and changing ideas about masculinity. The War on Terror, Blackwater and torture: GTA V’s fictional private security company Merryweather is compared with Blackwater, while Trevor’s torture sequence is discussed in relation to Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib and the normalization of torture in popular culture through shows such as 24. GTA VI and the problem of satirizing Trump-era America: Bob Whitaker considers how Rockstar can satirize contemporary Florida, social media, influencers, Trump-era politics and American polarization when reality itself can seem like a Grand Theft Auto parody, particularly after Dan Houser’s departure from Rockstar in 2020 and with Lucia becoming a playable protagonist. Mentioned in this episode James Crossland, Bob Whitaker, Sam Houser, Dan Houser, Raymond Washington, Stanley "Tookie" Williams, John Kerry, Gary Webb, Drew McKevitt, James Woods, Rafael Perez, Frank Tenpenny, Samuel L. Jackson, Eddie Pulaski, Chris Penn, Alan Pinkerton, Donald Trump, Donald Love, Lucia, Rodney King, Elliot Ness, Martin Scorsese, Denzel Washington, Kiefer Sutherland, Carl "CJ" Johnson, Big Smoke, Michael, Trevor, Franklin, N.W.A., Dr. Dre, Tupac, Blackwater, Merryweather, CIA, Contras, Sandinistas, Crips, Bloods, Grove Street Families, Ballas, LAPD, CRASH, GTA, Grand Theft Auto, GTA San Andreas, GTA V, GTA 6, GTA Vice City, Race and Chase, Rockstar Games, Rockstar North, DMA Design, Assassin's Creed, Sid Meier's Civilization, Hearts of Iron, Colors, Boyz n the Hood, Menace II Society, Training Day, Straight Outta Compton, Snowfall, Dark Alliance, Gun Country, 24, The Godfather, Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead 2, The Untouchables, Crack epidemic, crack cocaine, War on Drugs, CIA-Contra controversy, Iran-Contra era, gang violence, gang warfare, police brutality, police corruption, Rampart Scandal, Rodney King beating, 1992 Los Angeles riots, Watts Truce, O.J. Simpson trial, redlining, ghettos, gun culture, TEC-9, Uzi, AK-47, Cold War, fall of the Berlin Wall, post-Cold War gun market, American dream, capitalism, white-collar crime, real estate speculation, stock-market manipulation, 2008 global financial crisis, trickle-down economics, masculinity, War on Terror, Iraq War, Afghanistan War, Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay, government corruption, militarization of law enforcement, social media, influencers, Florida Man, Trump-era America, satire, American popular culture, American cinema, hip-hop culture, British views of America, physical media Chapters 00:00 — Grand Theft Auto and the Dark Side of the American Dream 01:00 — How GTA Became a History of America 02:51 — Bob Whitaker on Studying Video Games as History 04:52 — GTA San Andreas: 1990s Los Angeles, Gangs and Crime 07:36 — Sam and Dan Houser: British Developers Satirizing America 12:19 — The Crips, Bloods and Real-Life LA Gang Warfare 18:00 — Crack Cocaine, the CIA and the Los Angeles Drug Epidemic 23:32 — TEC-9s, AK-47s and America's Post-Cold War Gun Market 27:29 — Rodney King, Rampart and the 1992 LA Riots 39:23 — GTA V: Michael, Trevor, Franklin and Post-2008 America 44:44 — Blackwater, Torture and the War on Terror in GTA V 50:01 — GTA 6, Donald Trump, Florida and the Future of Satire Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

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  • #32
    August 18 · 1 hr 1 min

    The "Father" of Drones: Archibald Low and the Future of War

    James Crossland is joined by aerospace historian and author Mark Piesing – author of N-4 Down: The Hunt for the Arctic Airship Italia – to explore the extraordinary life and legacy of British inventor and “father of drones” Archibald Low (1888–1956), from his early experiments with television to his pioneering work on the First World War’s Aerial Target – one of the first full-size radio-controlled aircraft. The episode traces the development of unmanned aircraft through the interwar years, the Second World War, Operation Crossroads and the Cold War, while examining why Low faded from the development of the technology he helped pioneer. The conversation also asks what Low’s legacy means in the age of drone warfare, particularly after Ukraine’s use of cheap drones against Russian aircraft and air bases. James and Mark consider both sides of that legacy: drones can provide asymmetric military power and reduce risks to pilots, but remote warfare can also depersonalize conflict, make war easier to wage, and allow increasingly cheap weapons to be used against civilians and military targets alike. Check out Mark’s work at: https://markpiesing.com/about/ Covered in this episode Archibald Low’s early life in Croydon: Born in 1888 to engineer John Low, young Archibald grew up around steam engines, shipping cranes, machinery and the Victorian engineering culture of his father’s workshop on the Thames. The technological world that shaped Low: The episode examines the arrival of the telephone, Marconi’s radio communications, powered vacuum cleaners, Willis Carrier’s air conditioning and the Wright brothers’ 1903 flight at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Low the difficult inventor: His school years, experiments in his bedroom, disciplinary problems, studies at Central Technical College in South Kensington, and early engineering work reveal an intensely individualistic inventor who preferred teaching himself to following conventional rules. The inventions that anticipated the future: Low experimented with pre-selected gears, developed the Tele Vista as an early form of television, and later predicted technologies resembling mobile phones, fax machines, radio alarm clocks, automatic telephone redialling and portable music players. From television to radio-controlled weapons: After the outbreak of the First World War, Low joined the Royal Flying Corps/RAF and was directed toward military research, applying his television and radio-control ideas to unmanned aircraft. The Aerial Target of 1917: In March 1917, Low and a team of roughly 30 people produced the Aerial Target, a pilotless monoplane equipped with a radio receiver, gyroscopic controls and actuating gear, demonstrating that a full-size aircraft could be controlled remotely from the ground. The origins of drone warfare: The episode places Low in a much broader history of unmanned weapons, including Nikola Tesla’s 1898 radio-controlled torpedo boat, early radio-controlled airships, American inventor Charles Kettering’s Kettering Bug, and French experiments with pilotless aircraft. Drones between the world wars: After Low stepped away from military work, the Royal Aircraft Establishment continued developing radio-controlled aircraft, eventually producing the de Havilland Queen Bee for naval aerial gunnery practice, while American and French programmes explored increasingly sophisticated remotely controlled aircraft. Drones in the Second World War: The discussion covers radio-controlled aircraft, American drone programmes, the use of modified bombers as remotely controlled explosive weapons, the tragic death of Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. during an experimental mission, and the development of drone technology for attacking heavily defended targets. Operation Crossroads and the nuclear age: At Bikini Atoll in 1946, remotely controlled Hellcats and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses were sent into nuclear mushroom clouds to collect scientific data, demonstrating a valuable role for drones in dangerous environments. Low's final years and predictions: Despite writing books such as It’s Bound to Happen and Electronics Everywhere, publishing Armchair Science and continuing to predict a technology-saturated future, Low became increasingly reclusive and died of lung cancer in 1956. The modern legacy of drone warfare: The episode connects Low's pioneering work to Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, Azerbaijan’s use of Turkish and Israeli drones against Armenia, and the wider ethical question of whether remote warfare makes armed conflict cheaper, easier and more likely. Mentioned in this episode Archibald Low, James Crossland, Mark Pising, John Lowe, Dominic Cummings, Bernard Montgomery, Wilbur Wright, Orville Wright, Willis Carrier, Guillermo Marconi, Nikola Tesla, Charles Kettering, Lawrence Sperry, John Logie Baird, William Joyce, Lord Haw-Haw, Oswald Mosley, Reginald Denny, Marilyn Monroe, Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Vladimir Putin, Osama bin Laden, History’s Devils, Aerial Target, father of drone warfare, radio guidance systems, radio-controlled weapons, drone warfare, unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs, remotely piloted aircraft, mobile phones, television, Tele Vista, fax machines, radio alarm clocks, personal listening devices, Walkman, iPod, Armchair Science, Electronics Everywhere, Low Engineering Company, Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force, RAF, Royal Aircraft Establishment, Central Technical College, Croydon, London, River Thames, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, First World War, First World War aerial warfare, Second World War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Crimean War, Franco-Prussian War, Korean War, Battle of Midway, Operation Crossroads, Bikini Atoll, Operation Spiderweb, Tower 22 attack, Azerbaijan-Armenia war, Iranian-backed militia drone attack, First Blitz, Zeppelin raids, U-boats, U-boat bases, Western Front, German aircraft, V-weapons, V-1, V-2, Wasserfall, Me 262, Kettering Bug, de Havilland Queen Bee, Grumman Avenger, Flying Fortress, Liberator, Hellcat, radio-controlled airships, kamikaze drones, attack drones, drone swarms, cluster munitions, butterfly bomb, asymmetrical warfare, deterrence, hybrid warfare, hybrid navy, USVs, UAVs, saturation warfare, remote warfare, depersonalization of warfare, videogame warfare, artificial intelligence, AI, technological forecasting, futurism, military innovation, Revolution in Military Affairs, weapons innovation, autonomous warfare, drone ethics, technology and society, cheap weapons, technological accessibility, the future of war, the ethics of remote warfare, do drones make war easier to fight Chapters 00:00 — Archibald Low: The Father of Drone Warfare How a British inventor predicted mobile phones, television, remote warfare and other technologies of the future. 02:18 — Archibald Low: the Super Forecaster Why Low’s 1920s predictions about technology were decades ahead of their time—and where his forecasting had limits. 04:40 — Low’s Childhood in Victorian Croydon Growing up around his engineer father John Low’s machinery, steam engines and shipping cranes on the Thames. 06:03 — The Wright Brothers and the Birth of Low’s Drone Vision How Wilbur and Orville Wright’s 1903 flight at Kill Devil Hills inspired Lowe’s interest in aviation and unmanned aircraft. 08:54 — The Tele Vista: Low Invents Television? Low’s early television experiments and his demonstration of electrically transmitted images before the First World War. 10:21 — World War I and the Aerial Target How Low’s RAF research turned radio-control technology into a pioneering pilotless aircraft. 16:18 — 1917: The First Full-Size Radio-Controlled Aircraft The Aerial Target takes flight, while the Kettering Bug and other British, French and American experiments reveal the wider origins of drone warfare. 20:59 — Drones After World War I: Queen Bee and Beyond How the Royal Aircraft Establishment, the de Havilland Queen Bee and American programmes continued developing remotely controlled airc Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

    • Transcript
  • #30
    August 11 · 47 min

    Charles Manson Part 1: The Making of a Maniac and His Murderous "Family"

    For this episode, James is joined by the ever-game Jayne Friend to explore the early life of Charles Manson, how he built the Manson Family, his connections to the 1960s counterculture and his bizarre relationship with the Beach Boys James and Jayne trace Charles Manson's childhood, criminal career and repeated imprisonments before examining how his release into the social upheaval of late-1960s California shaped his rise as a cult leader. They discuss the influence of the hippie movement, Haight-Ashbury, Scientology, MKUltra conspiracy theories, and Manson's manipulation of vulnerable followers. The episode also explores Manson's surprising links to Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys, Terry Melcher and the Los Angeles music scene, ending with the establishment of the Manson Family at Spahn Ranch before the murders that would make them infamous. Covered in this episode Charles Manson's childhood in Cincinnati, Ohio, including his troubled upbringing, absent father, alcoholic mother Ada Kathleen Maddox and early life of crime. Manson's years in juvenile detention, repeated prison sentences, marriages, and escalating criminal behaviour throughout the 1950s and early 1960s. The dramatic changes in America during Manson's imprisonment, including the Vietnam War protests, Civil Rights Movement, student activism and the rise of the hippie counterculture. How Haight-Ashbury became the centre of alternative lifestyles, free love and psychedelic culture, providing fertile ground for Manson's influence. The relationship between Manson, Scientology, psychiatrist Louis "Jolly" West, MKUltra and the conspiracy theories explored in Tom O'Neill's book Chaos. How Manson's experience as a pimp, manipulator and career criminal helped him recruit and control young followers. The backgrounds of key Manson Family members including Susan Atkins, Tex Watson, Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel. The unusual chain of events that connected the Manson Family with Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys and Hollywood's music scene. Charles Manson's ambitions to become a successful musician, his songwriting and the recording of "Cease to Exist," later released by the Beach Boys as "Never Learn Not to Love." Producer Terry Melcher, Cielo Drive and the significance these locations and relationships would later have in the Manson story. Why the Manson Family left Dennis Wilson's house after months of drugs, theft, parties and growing tensions. How Spahn Ranch became the headquarters of the Manson Family, allowing Charles Manson to build an isolated commune that would soon become one of America's most notorious cults. Mentioned in this episode Charles Manson, Charles Maddox, Ada Kathleen Maddox, William Manson, Walker Scott, Charles Manson Jr., Rosalie Jean Willis, Leona "Candy" Stevens, Diane Sawyer, Boys Town, Cincinnati, Ohio, Nebraska, Texas, New Mexico, San Francisco, Haight-Ashbury, Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr., Chicago riots, Richard Nixon, Cold War, Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, MKUltra, CIA, Louis "Jolly" West, LSD, Tom O'Neill, Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA and the Secret History of the Sixties, Manson Family, Susan Atkins, Tex Watson, Leslie Van Houten, Patricia Krenwinkel, Dennis Wilson, Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys, Terry Melcher, The Byrds, Cielo Drive, Malibu, Los Angeles, Spahn Ranch, George Spahn, Bonanza, The Lone Ranger, counterculture, hippie movement, free love, cults, manipulation, charismatic leadership, organised crime, prostitution, serial killers, true crime, American history, 1960s California. Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Charles Manson and the Manson Family 03:48 Charles Manson's childhood in Cincinnati 06:00 Crime, juvenile detention and life in prison 13:05 America changes while Manson is incarcerated 17:45 Haight-Ashbury, Scientology and the counterculture 20:05 MKUltra, Louis "Jolly" West and conspiracy theories 25:25 Building the Manson Family 28:40 Susan Atkins, Tex Watson and key followers 34:40 Patricia Krenwinkel and recruiting vulnerable young people 37:30 Dennis Wilson, the Beach Boys and Charles Manson 45:30 Manson's music career and Terry Melcher 49:30 Spahn Ranch becomes the Manson Family headquarters Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

    • Transcript
  • #31
    August 11 · 1 hr 2 min

    Charles Manson Part 2: Helter Skelter? Understanding the Manson Family Murders

    In part two of our Charles Manson episode, James and Jayne discuss how the Manson Family spiralled out of control in the summer of 1969, leading to the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders. Picking up where the previous episode left off, this episode follows the Manson Family during their final months at Spahn Ranch as paranoia, drug use, violence and criminal activity escalated into murder. James and Jayne examine Charles Manson's failed pursuit of a music career through Beach Boys producer Terry Melcher, the murders of Gary Hinman, Sharon Tate and the LaBiancas, the controversial Helter Skelter motive, and the conspiracy theories that continue to surround the case. The episode also explores the sensational trial and muses on the question of why the Manson story continues to fascinate more than fifty years later. What's covered in this episode The deteriorating atmosphere at Spahn Ranch, where Charles Manson's followers became increasingly isolated while theft, drug dealing, assaults and paranoia became everyday life. How Manson's dream of becoming a rock star collapsed after Beach Boys producer Terry Melcher visited Spahn Ranch and rejected his music despite encouragement from Dennis Wilson. Why Manson believed he was destined for greatness and how his growing narcissism collided with reality after his failed audition. The escalation from petty crime to violence through the torture and murder of musician Gary Hinman, carried out after Manson believed he possessed money the Family desperately needed. How Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, Bobby Beausoleil, Patricia Krenwinkel, Linda Kasabian and other Family members became central figures in the Manson Family's criminal activities. The attempted murder of Bernard "Lotsa Papa" Crowe, why Manson wrongly believed he had killed a member of the Black Panthers, and how this fuelled his growing paranoia about an impending race war. A detailed reconstruction of the Tate murders at 10050 Cielo Drive, including the deaths of Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski and Steven Parent. The following night's LaBianca murders, examining how Leno and Rosemary LaBianca became random victims as Manson ordered his followers to continue killing. Why messages including "Pig," "Death to Pigs" and "Helter Skelter" were written in blood at the crime scenes, and how they became central to the investigation. An exploration of the competing explanations for the murders, including Vincent Bugliosi's Helter Skelter theory, the Terry Melcher revenge theory, the Gary Hinman distraction theory, and Tom O'Neill's CIA/MKUltra hypothesis. How Manson interpreted songs from The Beatles' White Album, including Helter Skelter, Piggies, Blackbird and Happiness Is a Warm Gun, as secret messages predicting an apocalyptic race war. The investigation that eventually connected the murders, beginning with police raids on Spahn Ranch and Barker Ranch, Susan Atkins' jailhouse confession, and the role of Linda Kasabian's testimony. Inside one of the most notorious criminal trials in American history, including Manson's courtroom behaviour, the Family's public demonstrations, the carving of the infamous forehead "X", and the convictions of Manson and his followers. Why the Charles Manson case continues to inspire documentaries, books and films including Helter Skelter, Charlie Says, Helter Skelter: An American Myth, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and whether any single explanation can truly account for the murders. Mentioned in this episode: Charles Manson, Manson Family, Spahn Ranch, Barker Ranch, Death Valley, Santa Susana Mountains, Los Angeles, Dennis Wilson, The Beach Boys, Terry Melcher, Roman Polanski, Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, Steven Parent, Leno LaBianca, Rosemary LaBianca, Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, Linda Kasabian, Bobby Beausoleil, Gary Hinman, Donald Shea, Bernard "Lotsa Papa" Crowe, Louise Van Houten, Vincent Bugliosi, Tom O'Neill, MKUltra, Project CHAOS, CIA, LSD, mescaline, peyote, Black Panthers, Helter Skelter, The Beatles, White Album, Piggies, Blackbird, Happiness Is a Warm Gun, Book of Revelation, apocalyptic race war, Cielo Drive, Tate murders, LaBianca murders, Gary Hinman murder, Helter Skelter theory, Terry Melcher revenge theory, Gary Hinman distraction theory, Hollywood, cult psychology, coercive control, groupthink, true crime, serial murder, criminal manipulation, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Charlie Says, Helter Skelter: An American Myth. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction: Charles Manson's Descent into Murder The story resumes at Spahn Ranch as the Manson Family becomes increasingly isolated, paranoid and criminal. 02:30 – Life at Spahn Ranch: Crime, Drugs and Groupthink How theft, drug dealing, violence and Charles Manson's growing control transformed the Family into a dangerous cult. 03:20 – Terry Melcher Rejects Charles Manson's Music Career The failed audition that shattered Manson's dreams of becoming a rock star after connections through Dennis Wilson and the Beach Boys. 09:35 – Gary Hinman, Donald Shea and the Family's First Murders The escalation from petty crime to torture and murder as the Manson Family embraced increasingly extreme violence. 15:20 – The Black Panthers, Bernard Crowe and the Birth of Helter Skelter How a drug deal, mistaken identity and Manson's paranoia fuelled his belief in an approaching race war. 20:20 – The Tate Murders: Sharon Tate and Cielo Drive A detailed reconstruction of the murders of Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski and Steven Parent. 26:20 – The LaBianca Murders and the Blood Messages Why Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were targeted, and the significance of the words "Pig," "Death to Pigs" and "Helter Skelter." 29:00 – Why Did Charles Manson Order the Murders? Breaking down the Helter Skelter theory, the Terry Melcher revenge theory, Tom O'Neill's CIA claims and the Gary Hinman connection. 38:00 – The Beatles, the White Album and Manson's Delusions How Manson twisted songs including Helter Skelter, Piggies, Blackbird and Happiness Is a Warm Gun into a violent prophecy. 51:45 – The Investigation, Arrests and the Trial of the Century How police connected the Tate, LaBianca and Gary Hinman cases, Susan Atkins' confession and Linda Kasabian's testimony. 1:02:30 – Convictions, Sentences and Charles Manson's Legacy The guilty verdicts, the death sentences that became life imprisonment, Manson's later years and his death in 2017. 1:03:30 – Why Charles Manson Still Fascinates Today From Helter Skelter and Charlie Says to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, why the Manson Family continues to captivate audiences more than fifty years later. Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

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  • #29
    August 4 · 1 hr 5 min

    Merchant of Death: Basil Zaharoff and the Origins of the First World War

    Who was Basil Zaharoff and how did he lay Europe's path to the First World War? This week, James Crossland is joined by military historian and Not So Quiet on the Western Front co-host Spencer Jones to examine the extraordinary life of Sir Basil Zaharoff, the mysterious international arms dealer whose influence stretched from the Ottoman Empire to Britain, Russia, Greece, Spain and Japan. The episode explores how Zaharoff built a fortune through fraud, bribery, political influence and weapons sales before becoming one of the most feared and infamous figures of the early twentieth century. Along the way, James and Spencer separate myth from reality, examining whether Zaharoff truly deserved his reputation as the "merchant of death" who profited from the arms race that culminated in the First World War. Covered in this episode The story of Zaharoff's disputed origins in the Ottoman Empire, his Greek heritage, early life in Constantinople, and a career built on fraud, aliases, bigamy and international scams. Claims that Zaharoff may have worked with early British intelligence while operating across London, New York and the eastern Mediterranean. How Zaharoff joined the Nordenfelt Arms Company through Thorsten Nordenfelt and entered the booming international arms trade. Why the Franco-Prussian War transformed European military thinking and sparked an international demand for revolutionary new weapons. The development of the Nordenfelt submarines, the failed Ottoman submarine programme, and the origins of the "Zaharoff System" of selling weapons to opposing sides. How Hiram Maxim's revolutionary Maxim Gun changed warfare, and the extraordinary lengths Zaharov went to sabotage competitors through deception and industrial espionage. The wider European arms race, including Britain's naval competition with Imperial Germany, the emergence of Dreadnought battleships, machine guns, submarines and new military technologies. Zaharoff's involvement in the Russo-Japanese War, alleged bribery in Russia and Spain, influence over military procurement, and his efforts to undermine rival inventors such as Isaac Peral. His investments in early aviation, ownership of French newspapers, and attempts to shape public opinion by encouraging fears of war before 1914. Spencer explains how the Maxim Gun transformed First World War tactics, contributing to trench warfare alongside barbed wire, artillery and defensive firepower, while also discussing Ernest Swinton's early ideas that led to the tank. The pair examine Zaharoff's political influence during the First World War, his relationship with David Lloyd George, his knighthood, post-war philanthropy, lasting influence on fictional villains including Ernst Stavro Blofeld and Tintin's Basil Bazaroff, and whether history should remember him as one of its greatest villains. Mentioned in this episode Basil Zaharoff, Sir Basil Zaharoff, James Crossland, Spencer Jones, Not So Quiet on the Western Front, First World War, Great War, Franco-Prussian War, Anglo-German naval arms race, Dreadnought battleships, Hiram Maxim, Maxim Gun, Nordenfelt Arms Company, Thorsten Nordenfelt, Nordenfelt submarine, Abdul Hamid submarine, Isaac Peral, Peral submarine, Gatling Gun, machine guns, submarines, tanks, Ernest Swinton, Maurice Dease, Sidney Godley, Battle of Mons, Battle of the Aisne, Battle of San Juan Hill, Russo-Japanese War, Battle of Tsushima, Port Arthur, Scramble for Africa, Sudan campaign, Mahdists, Zulu War, Ottoman Empire, Greek War of Independence, Greece, Turkey, Constantinople, Russia, Japan, Spain, France, Britain, Germany, David Lloyd George, Aristide Briand, King George V, Walter Guinness, Lord Derby, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Alfred von Tirpitz, Theodore Roosevelt, Rough Riders, H.G. Wells, War of the Worlds, The War in the Air, Ian Fleming, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Tintin, Hergé, Basil Bazaroff, Sherlock Holmes, Professor Moriarty, Guy Ritchie, Jared Harris, Robert Downey Jr., Belgravia, Monte Carlo, Vickers, Vickers Machine Gun, Vickers submarines, Wright brothers, aviation, aerial bombing, military technology, arms race, war profiteering, British intelligence, merchant of death, military-industrial complex, international arms trade, war profiteering, diplomacy, propaganda, imperialism, colonial warfare, trench warfare. Chapters 00:00 – Who was Basil Zaharoff? The world's most notorious arms dealer 03:30 – Fraud, bigamy and the making of an international conman 13:55 – Enter the arms trade: Nordenfelt and Europe's weapons boom 20:05 – Selling submarines and inventing the "Zaharoff System" 27:20 – The Maxim Gun and the future of modern warfare 36:10 – The Anglo-German naval arms race explained 43:10 – Russia, Japan, Spain and bribery in the global arms business 49:00 – Aviation, propaganda and preparing Europe for war 50:30 – How machine guns shaped the First World War battlefield 56:10 – Politics, Lloyd George and Zaharoff's wartime influence 1:00:30 – Knighthood, philanthropy and rewriting his legacy 1:03:00 – Was Basil Zaharoff history's ultimate merchant of death? Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

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  • #28
    July 28 · 58 min

    Scourge of God or Just a Guy with a "Magical" Sword? Attila the Hun and the Fall of Rome

    Who was Attila the Hun? Did he really bring down the Roman Empire? How much of his reputation as the "Scourge of God" is actually justified? In this episode, James is joined by Jem Duducu (@jemduducu), author of The Devil's Horsemen: A Thousand Years of Conquest by Eurasian Steppe Horse Archers to separate fact from myth in the life, military campaigns and legacy of Attila the Hun during the final century of the Western Roman Empire. Attila the Hun is one of history's most famous conquerors, but much of what people believe about him comes from later Roman and Christian writers rather than contemporary evidence. As James and Jem show, there's mystery about who the Huns really were, how Eurasian steppe horse archers revolutionised warfare, why Attila became Rome's greatest enemy, and what actually happened during the legendary Battle of the Catalaunian Fields in 451 and Attila's famous meeting with Pope Leo I - events for which Attila became infamous, despite never conquering Rome. Along the way, we cover the history of why Rome fell, the impact of the barbarian tribes on the frontier, and merits of the composite bow, the legend of Attila's magical "Sword of Mars" and why having a thick set of stone walls is an excellent way to stop a cavalry charge! What's covered in this episode Who Attila the Hun was, why he became known as the Scourge of God, and why modern historians still debate his life because almost every surviving source comes from Roman or Christian writers. How the Huns emerged from the Eurasian steppe, their possible origins near northern China, and why mounted horse archers dominated warfare across Europe and Asia for more than a thousand years. Why the Late Roman Empire looked very different from the Rome of Julius Caesar, including the Crisis of the Third Century, Emperor Diocletian's division of the Roman Empire, and the growing reliance on barbarian federate armies. How the Battle of Adrianople (378 AD) changed European history after Emperor Valens was killed fighting the Goths, whose migration into Roman territory had been driven by the advancing Huns. Why Constantinople's defensive walls protected the Eastern Roman Empire while the Western Roman Empire became increasingly vulnerable to invasion, eventually moving its capital from Rome to Ravenna. How Attila rose to power alongside Bleda, the campaigns of their uncle Ruga, the devastating Battle of the Utus River, and the huge tribute of gold extracted from Emperor Theodosius II. Why Hunnic armies repeatedly defeated larger Roman forces using composite bows, mounted archery, feigned retreats, mobility and psychological warfare instead of traditional battlefield tactics. What the contemporary diplomat Priscus of Panium reveals about Attila's court, including his appearance, leadership, nomadic lifestyle, diplomatic negotiations and the legend of the Sword of Mars. How Honoria's proposal to Attila, Pope Leo I's diplomatic meeting with the Hunnic ruler, and Attila's invasion of Gaul led to one of Late Antiquity's most famous battles. Why Flavius Aetius assembled a coalition of Romans, Visigoths, Franks, Burgundians and other allies to fight Attila at the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields (451 AD), often described as Rome's last great military victory. The competing theories surrounding Attila's death, the rapid collapse of Hunnic power after his passing, and why other leaders ultimately played a greater role in the final fall of the Western Roman Empire. Why Attila remains one of history's most misunderstood figures, how Hungary remembers him very differently from Western Europe, and how the Huns influenced medieval warfare, knighthood, the Silk Road and the wider history of Europe. Mentioned in this episode: Attila the Hun, Jem Duducu, James Crossland, The Devil's Horsemen: A Thousand Years of Conquest by Eurasian Steppe Horse Archers, Billy the Kid, Flavius Aetius, Late Roman Empire, Western Roman Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, Roman Empire, Crisis of the Third Century, Diocletian, Constantinople, Byzantium, Ravenna, Rome, Pannonia, Hungary, Danube River, Eurasian Steppe, Huns, Goths, Visigoths, Franks, Burgundians, Saxons, Lombards, Alans, Vandals, Magyars, Avars, Turks, Gokturks, Kipchaks, Naimans, Mongols, Genghis Khan, Timur (Tamerlane), Crusades, Silk Road, Great Wall of China, composite bow, longbow, horse archers, stirrup, spur, falconry, yurts, nomadic societies, barbarian migrations, federati, Battle of Adrianople, Emperor Valens, Battle of the Utus River, Theodosius II, Ruga, Bleda, Priscus of Panium, History of Byzantium, Sword of Mars, Thrace, Gaul, Orléans, Rhine frontier, Valentinian III, Honoria, Pope Leo I (Leo the Great), Battle of the Catalaunian Fields, Battle of Châlons, Battle of the Catalaunian Plains, Battle of Troyes, Alaric, Geseric, Odoacer, Romulus Augustulus, sack of Rome (410), sack of Rome (455), fall of the Western Roman Empire (476), Black Death, bubonic plague, Christian chroniclers, historical myth, historical memory, military history, steppe warfare, mounted warfare, Late Antiquity. Chapters 00:00 – Who was Attila the Hun? Separating history from myth 01:20 – The origins of the Huns and the Eurasian steppe 06:05 – Why Hunnic horse archers changed warfare forever 13:10 – Why the Roman Empire was collapsing before Attila 25:15 – How Attila became ruler of the Huns 28:35 – The military tactics that defeated Roman armies 35:05 – Inside Attila's court: Priscus, diplomacy and the Sword of Mars 41:05 – Honoria, Pope Leo I and Attila's invasion of Gaul 46:20 – The Battle of the Catalaunian Fields explained 51:20 – How Attila the Hun died and why his empire collapsed 54:20 – Why Hungary celebrates Attila the Hun today 58:00 – Did Attila really cause the fall of the Roman Empire? Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

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  • #27
    July 21 · 1 hr

    America's Forgotten King: James Jesse Strang and the Mormon Cult of Beaver Island

    James Jesse Strang, the only man in U.S. history to crown himself a king, is the focus of this podcast episode exploring his rise as a Mormon schismatic leader, cult founder, and self-declared monarch on Beaver Island, Michigan. Joined by Peter Zablocki (History Shorts Podcast), James uncovers the shocking story of Strang’s transformation from a sickly but highly ambitious child in upstate New York into a lawyer, journalist, and self-proclaimed prophet who broke away from the early Latter Day Saint movement after the death of the founder of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith. The episode examines how Strang used a disputed letter allegedly naming him Smith’s successor to gain followers, before establishing his own religious offshoot, the Strangites, and relocating them to a remote frontier island in northern Michigan. There, he built a tightly controlled theocratic community that blended religion, law, and authoritarian rule. The discussion also covers how Strang escalated his authority into monarchy, crowning himself King of the Kingdom of Earth and Heaven in 1850, and how his rule over Beaver Island became increasingly violent and controlling, leading to violent conflicts with local fishermen, enforcement of strict moral and dress codes, the controversial introduction of polygamy, and clashes with U.S. authorities, all set against the broader backdrop of frontier populism and 19th-century American expansion. Covered in this episode: James Jesse Strang’s childhood in Scipio, New York, including illness, intellectual ambition, a coded diary, and early fantasies of monarchy, Napoleon, and political power Strang’s early careers as a lawyer, journalist, and Baptist preacher, alongside his self-described atheism and drive for status and authority The origins of Mormonism under Joseph Smith, including the angel Moroni, the golden plates, and the creation of the Book of Mormon as context for Strang’s later claims The 1844 killing of Joseph Smith and Hiram Smith in Carthage, Illinois, and the ensuing succession crisis within the early Mormon movement Strang’s disputed claim to leadership via a letter allegedly written by Joseph Smith naming him successor, supported by selective followers including members of Smith’s family Formation of the Strangite movement and break with Brigham Young’s main Mormon faction, which migrated west to establish Salt Lake City, Utah Establishment of the Voree community in Wisconsin, discovery of “bronze plates,” and publication of The Book of the Law of the Lord Relocation to Beaver Island, Michigan, where Strang founded St. James and created a frontier theocratic settlement Strang’s 1850 coronation as king, complete with crown, scepter, and ceremonial loyalty pledges from followers Escalating authoritarian governance on Beaver Island, including flogging, banishment, taxation, public punishment, and strict control of dress and behavior Conflicts with local non-Mormon fishermen and loggers, including accusations of piracy, violence, and interference with mail delivery Introduction of controversial religious practices such as polygamy, baptism for the dead, and ritual animal sacrifice Strang’s brief but significant political career as a Michigan state representative and his use of populist rhetoric about frontier independence and eastern elites His eventual assassination in 1856 on Beaver Island, followed by the collapse of his kingdom and the dispersal of his followers The survival of the Strangite movement into the modern era in small communities in Wisconsin and Michigan Mentioned in this episode: James Jesse Strang, History’s Devils, James Crossland, Peter Zablocki, Joseph Smith, Hiram Smith, Brigham Young, Mormonism, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Strangites, Angel Moroni, golden plates, Book of Mormon, Voree plates, Book of the Law of the Lord, Beaver Island, St. James settlement, Michigan state legislature, 1844 Mormon succession crisis, Carthage jail killings, polygamy, theocracy, frontier populism, Andrew Jackson, USS Michigan, Lake Michigan frontier, United States mail system, Wingfield W. Watson, Thomas Bedford assassination of Strang Chapters: 00:00 James Jesse Strang and the making of a self-proclaimed king 01:18 Introduction to History’s Devils and Strang’s legend 02:06 Early life in Scipio, New York and ambitions of power 03:33 The coded diary and early visions of monarchy 05:07 Early careers: law, journalism, and Baptist preaching 07:18 Atheism, ambition, and conversion to Mormonism 08:45 Joseph Smith, golden plates, and the origins of Mormonism 10:29 Persecution of Mormons and Joseph Smith’s death 12:07 Strang’s claim as successor and leadership crisis 14:36 Voree Plates and angelic revelation in Wisconsin 16:04 Formation of the Strangite movement and break from Brigham Young 17:26 Voree community and the Book of the Law of the Lord 22:51 Migration to Beaver Island and founding of St. James 25:57 Strang’s coronation as King of Beaver Island 27:45 Governing Beaver Island and rising conflict with locals 31:31 Mail interference and federal attention 35:48 Political career, trial, and public legitimacy 37:33 Laws, newspapers, and authoritarian rule on Beaver Island 41:25 Polygamy, marriage rules, and internal tensions 48:30 Violence, assassination plot, and federal involvement 49:50 Assassination of James Jesse Strang aboard the USS Michigan 54:19 Collapse of Beaver Island and Strangite legacy #americanhistory #mormonism #jamesjessestrang Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

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  • #25
    July 14 · 56 min

    Sidney Gottlieb Part 1: MK Ultra and the CIA's Search for Mind Control

    Who was Sidney Gottlieb, and how did the CIA's MKUltra program attempt to use LSD and psychological warfare to create mind control during the Cold War? In Part One of this epic two-part episode, James is joined by Jayne Friend to explore the origins of MKUltra through the remarkable life of it's chief, Sidney Gottlieb, the CIA chemist who became America's leading architect of mind control research. From Operation Paperclip and Nazi biological warfare research to Cold War fears of communist brainwashing during the Korean War, this episode examines why the CIA believed controlling human consciousness was essential to national security. The discussion traces Gottlieb's journey from gifted scientist and nature lover to LSD evangelical, laying the foundations for one of the CIA's most controversial and disturbing secret project.s What's covered in this episode Sidney Gottlieb's early life, including his upbringing in a Jewish immigrant family, his education at Caltech, and how his club foot shaped his early experiences. How Camp Detrick became the centre of America's biological and psychological warfare research during the early Cold War. The ethical legacy of Operation Paperclip and how former Nazi scientists, including Kurt Blome, were recruited by the United States. How the biological weapons experiments of Japan's Unit 731 influenced CIA programs after 1945. Why the Korean War and reports of American prisoners embracing communism convinced the CIA that Soviet brainwashing had become a genuine national security threat. The creation of Project Bluebird and Project Artichoke under Allen Dulles and Sidney Gottlieb and the search for truth serums, mind control and behavioural manipulation. Albert Hofmann's discovery of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and why Sidney Gottlieb believed LSD offered the key to controlling human consciousness. The history of ergotism, its neurological effects, and why contaminated rye has even been linked to theories surrounding the Salem Witch Trials. How CIA black sites, covert experiments and unethical human testing expanded from prisoners and psychiatric patients to unsuspecting civilians and CIA employees. The hidden role Sidney Gottlieb played in spreading LSD through American universities, artists, writers and the emerging counterculture of the 1960s. The shocking case of the Boston gangster Whitey Bulger, who became a test subject of MK-ULTRA. How Gottlieb's research expanded despite repeated failures, culminating in the creation of MK-Ultra in August 1953. Mentioned in this episode Sidney Gottlieb, MKUltra, Project Bluebird, Project Artichoke, Allen Dulles, Ira Baldwin, Camp Detrick, Operation Paperclip, Unit 731, Kurt Blome, Joseph Mengele, Auschwitz, Werner von Braun, Shirō Ishii, Korean War, Cold War, Fidel Castro, Soviet Union, communism, brainwashing, mind control, psychological warfare, biological warfare, chemical warfare, truth serum, LSD, lysergic acid diethylamide, Albert Hofmann, ergotism, mescaline, peyote, sodium pentothal, heroin, Whitey Bulger, Frank Olson, Robert J. Lifton, Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism, Salem Witch Trials, propaganda, CIA black sites, patriotism, ethics in scientific research, psychiatric experimentation, memory erasure, Manchurian Candidate, counterculture, The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, Robert Hunter, Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Cary Grant, Esther Williams, Harold Abramson, Tokyo Harbour, Munich, California Institute of Technology, FDA, Second World War, North Korea, Soviet spies. Chapters 00:00 – Who Was Sidney Gottlieb? The CIA's Master of Mind Control 01:10 – Sidney Gottlieb's Early Life and Scientific Career 08:17 – Camp Detrick, Nazi Science and Operation Paperclip 13:35 – Unit 731 and the Cold War Weapons Race 18:38 – The Korean War and the Fear of Communist Brainwashing 22:16 – Project Bluebird and Project Artichoke Begin 25:24 – LSD, Truth Serums and the Search for Mind Control 26:46 – Ergotism, Hallucinations and the Origins of LSD 32:32 – Can LSD Really Control Human Consciousness? 37:28 – CIA Black Sites and Secret Human Experiments 44:13 – How the CIA Helped Fuel the 1960s LSD Counterculture 51:35 – The Birth of MKUltra and Sidney Gottlieb's Expanding Empire Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

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  • #26
    July 14 · 1 hr 5 min

    Sidney Gottlieb Part 2: MK Ultra and the CIA's Insane Assassination Plots

    James is joined once again by Jayne Friend for part two of our exploration of Sidney Gottlieb, the CIA chemist who led MK-Ultra, developed Cold War mind control experiments, and became involved in some of the agency's most controversial covert operations. This episode continues to story of Gottlieb's obsessions with LSD and psychological warfare, whilst covering his involvement in CIA assassination plots against Patrice Lumumba and Fidel Castro. James and Jayne examine how the lack of oversight drove MK-Ultra's unethical human experimentation into new and darker places, why MK-Ultra ultimately failed, the mysterious death of Frank Olson, and how Gottlieb escaped criminal prosecution before retiring to live the life of a wandering hippy and humanitarian. They also ponder MK-Ultra's legacy into the War on Terror. What's covered in this episode The career of George White and Operation Midnight Climax, where prostitutes secretly dosed clients with LSD whilst White watched from behind a one-way mirror The death of CIA scientist Frank Olson after he was secretly given LSD, the controversy surrounding his fall from a New York hotel window, and later evidence suggesting foul play. Gottlieb's role in developing concealed poisons, suicide devices and assassination methods for covert CIA operations during the Cold War. CIA plots to assassinate Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba using botulinum toxin, poison kits and other covert methods. The extraordinary range of proposed assassination attempts against Fidel Castro, including contaminated cigars, exploding seashells, poisoned diving equipment, beard-removal schemes and LSD-based disinformation plans. Why MKUltra was shut down in 1973, Gottlieb's destruction of thousands of CIA records, and how surviving files exposed the programme during the Church Committee and the Kennedy Inquiry. Gottlieb's testimony before congressional investigations and his successful negotiation for immunity, leading to his retirement to a farm in Virginia. The long-term legacy of MK-Ultra, its influence on debates about interrogation, intelligence oversight and ethics, and comparisons with CIA interrogation methods during the War on Terror. Mentioned in this episode Sidney Gottlieb, MKUltra, Project Bluebird, Project Artichoke, Allen Dulles, Frank Olson, George White, Operation Midnight Climax, LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, truth serum, mind control, brainwashing, hypnosis, sensory deprivation, behavioural psychology, chemical warfare, biological warfare, CIA, OSS, Cold War, Korean War, Soviet Union, China, North Korea, prisoner of war brainwashing, Camp King, Nazi scientists, Francis Gary Powers, U-2 Incident, saxitoxin, botulinum toxin, Patrice Lumumba, Congo Crisis, Belgian Congo, Larry Devlin, Fidel Castro, Cuba, Cuban Revolution, Dwight D. Eisenhower, exploding cigars, exploding seashell, thallium salts, Church Committee, Frank Church, Edward Kennedy, Stansfield Turner, Jimmy Carter, CIA oversight, assassination plots, covert operations, human experimentation, ethics in intelligence, War on Terror, Abu Zubaydah, enhanced interrogation, waterboarding, CIA black sites, psychological warfare. Chapters 00:00 — Sidney Gottlieb: The CIA's Master of MK-Ultra 05:10 — Why the CIA Became Obsessed with Mind Control 10:45 — LSD, Truth Serums and the Birth of MK-Ultra 17:35 — Operation Midnight Climax and Secret CIA Safe Houses 24:40 — Frank Olson: The Scientist Who Fell from a Hotel Window 32:20 — CIA Poisons, Saxitoxin and Covert Assassination Weapons 38:10 — The CIA Plot to Kill Patrice Lumumba 42:00 — Fidel Castro and the CIA's Strangest Assassination Plans 48:00 — The Collapse of MK-Ultra and the Destruction of the Files 53:00 — The Church Committee, Congressional Investigations and Immunity 58:30 — Did MK-Ultra Influence the War on Terror? 1:03:30 — Sidney Gottlieb's Legacy and the Dark History of CIA Experiments Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

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  • #24
    July 7 · 51 min

    The Devils of Red Dead Redemption: How a Video Game Shines a Light on America's Dark History

    What can a video game teach us about American history, morality, capitalism, race, violence, and the myth of the Wild West? This week, James is joined by Torre Olsen (author of Red Dead's History: A Video Game, an Obsession, and America's Violent Past) to explore the moral grey areas of the Wild West by diving into the Red Dead Redemption video game franchise, and its powerful portrayal of good, evil, and American history. In discussing the fictional characters John Marston and Arthur Morgan, we reveal how a video game prompted players to consider what it means to be “good” or “bad” in a world shaped by violence, survival, and change. We also discuss how Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2 capture and depict key themes of American history – the decline of the frontier, the rise of federal authority, the death of the Old West, industrialization, the displacement of Native American communities, the Lost Cause myth, race relations, capitalism, gun culture, and the enduring appeal of outlaw mythology. How accurate are these depictions? And what do they reveal about America’s past, and our fascination with it today? Whether you're a gamer, history enthusiast, or someone interested in moral philosophy, this episode offers deep insights into one of the most critically acclaimed video game series of all time. Covered in this episode: • The real history behind Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2 • Arthur Morgan, John Marston, and Dutch van der Linde as tragic antiheroes • The historical inspiration for the Van der Linde Gang • Pinkertons, capitalism, and law enforcement in the American West • Native American history and frontier expansion • Confederate monuments and the Lost Cause mythology • How video games can teach history • Rockstar Games' portrayal of American society • The relationship between Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto • Why morality systems in video games matter Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Why Red Dead Redemption Is More Than a Video Game 02:15 Tor Olson and the History Behind Red Dead's History 06:00 How COVID Lockdowns Led to a Historian Rediscovering Gaming 09:00 The Real American History Hidden Inside Red Dead Redemption 2 12:05 Dutch van der Linde, Arthur Morgan, and the Myth of the Outlaw 17:45 Freedom vs Civilization: The Closing of the American Frontier 23:20 Pinkertons, Capitalism, Policing, and Rockstar's Social Commentary 24:55 Native Americans, Race, and the Historical Accuracy of Red Dead 2 26:30 Confederate Monuments, the Lost Cause, and the Post-Civil War South 34:00 Arthur Morgan's Morality System and the Meaning of Redemption 40:45 The Real Outlaws Behind Red Dead, GTA, and America's Cultural Myths Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

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  • #22
    June 30 · 1 hr 6 min

    Andrew Jackson Part 1: The Rise of America's Most Violent President

    This week, James (@historysdevils) is joined by Edd Mair (@eplmair) for a double episode on the life of Andrew Jackson, examining how the seventh president of the United States rose from a frontier orphan to become a war hero, slaveholder, populist political figure, and one of the most influential and controversial presidents in American history. In this first part of Andrew Jackson's story, we trace his journey from the backcountry of the Carolinas during the American Revolution to his emergence as a national celebrity after the War of 1812. The episode examines Jackson's violent temperament, his legendary duelling career, his immersion in frontier politics, military leadership, his attitudes toward slavery and his relentless campaigns against Native Americans. We also explore how his experiences on the American frontier shaped the political style, ideas, and reputation that would eventually carry him to the White House and re-shape the office in his own eccentric and authoritarian image. What's covered in this video: Andrew Jackson's childhood in Carolinas and his family's experiences during the American Revolutionary War. Jackson's capture by British forces during the Revolution, and the origins of his lifelong hatred of Britain. His move to Nashville in the Southwest Territory and his duels with Waightstill Avery, John Sevier and Charles Dickenson. His controversial marriage to Rachel Donelson. Jackson's involvement in slavery and evidence of his harsh treatment of those he enslaved. The rise of Jackson as a political figure in Tennessee and his appointment as commander of the Tennessee militia. Jackson's role during the War of 1812, his military ambitions, and the wider geopolitical struggle involving Britain, the United States, Spain, and Napoleon. The Creek War, the Red Stick movement, and Jackson's brutal campaign against Creek resistance. The Battle of Horseshoe Bend and the military reputation Jackson built through his victories in the American South. The origins of Jackson's nickname "Old Hickory" and the health problems he endured throughout his military career. The Battle of New Orleans, Jackson's decisive victory over British forces, and the events that transformed him into a national hero. Jackson's use of martial law in New Orleans and the controversies that followed his wartime leadership. The First Seminole War, the Spanish colony of Florida, and Jackson's campaign against Seminole communities, Black settlements, and foreign influence in the region. The history of Florida as a refuge for escaped slaves, the emergence of the Seminole people, and the strategic importance of the territory to American expansion. Jackson's treatment of Native Americans and escaped slaves, including the stories of Lyncoya Jackson and Fernando (Polydor). How Jackson's military successes, frontier image, and popularity with ordinary voters positioned him for a future presidential campaign. Chapters: 00:00 - Andrew Jackson Before the White House 03:04 - The Violent Boy Who Survived 11:18 - Making a Name on the Frontier 16:54 - Why Jackson Loved Duels 21:27 - Slavery Built His Fortune 27:31 - The Woman Behind the Scandals 33:52 - From Lawyer to Power Broker 37:52 - War of 1812 Changes Everything 44:00 - Jackson's War on the Creeks 50:58 - The Battle That Made Him 55:19 - Conquering Florida by Force 63:14 - America's New Folk Hero Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

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  • #23
    June 30 · 1 hr 2 min

    Andrew Jackson Part 2: Populist Politics, The Trail of Tears, and the Creation of the American Presidency

    In part two of this double-episode on Andrew Jackson, James and Edd explore his rise to the presidency, his turbulent years in the White House, and the lasting impact of his populist politics on America. From the disputed election of 1824 to his victory in 1828, Andrew Jackson transformed American politics and became one of the most controversial presidents in U.S. history. This episode examines Jackson’s battles with political rivals, the expansion of voting rights, the Petticoat Affair, the Bank War, the Nullification Crisis and the catastrophic Trail of Tears. James and Edd also discuss why Jackson remained popular despite repeated scandals, economic turmoil, and accusations of authoritarianism, while assessing modern comparisons between Jackson and Donald Trump (of course!) What’s covered in this episode How Andrew Jackson emerged from the First Seminole War as a national hero, became governor of Florida in 1821, and positioned himself for a presidential run. Why Jackson’s reputation as a soldier, duelist, and controversial public figure made him both popular with voters and feared by the political establishment. The election of 1824, including Jackson’s rivalry with Henry Clay, the role of John Quincy Adams, and the accusations of a “corrupt bargain” that denied Jackson the presidency. How Jackson campaigned as an outsider against political elites and overcame attacks such as the infamous coffin handbills. Why tariffs, regional tensions, and dissatisfaction with the Adams administration helped Jackson win the election of 1828. The death of Rachel Jackson shortly after the election and how it shaped Jackson’s outlook as president. The chaotic inauguration of 1829, when crowds overwhelmed the White House and celebrated the arrival of a populist president. The Petticoat Affair involving Margaret “Peggy” Eaton, John Eaton, John C. Calhoun, and the political divisions it created within Jackson’s administration. How Jackson expanded presidential power by replacing federal officials with loyal supporters and reshaping the executive branch. The Bank War and Jackson’s campaign against the Second Bank of the United States, including his belief in decentralized banking and opposition to financial elites. The Nullification Crisis, South Carolina’s resistance to federal tariffs, and Jackson’s confrontation with John C. Calhoun over states’ rights and federal authority. The Indian Removal Act and the forced relocation of Native nations including the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole peoples. The Trail of Tears, Native American resistance, Supreme Court challenges, and figures such as Osceola, Davy Crockett, and Henry Storrs. Why Jackson won reelection in 1832 despite intense controversy surrounding his presidency. The 1835 assassination attempt by Richard Lawrence and the famous incident in which Jackson attacked his would-be assassin with a cane. How Jackson’s economic policies contributed to the conditions that led to the Panic of 1837 and a major financial crisis. Jackson’s support for Texas independence, his confrontations with France and Britain, and his broader vision of American expansion. Jackson’s retirement in Nashville, his support for the annexation of Texas, and his death in 1845. A comparison of Andrew Jackson and Donald Trump, examining the similarities and differences between two figures often described as populist outsiders. Mentioned in this episode Andrew Jackson, Rachel Jackson, John Quincy Adams, John Adams, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, James Monroe, Martin Van Buren, Margaret Peggy Eaton, John Eaton, Richard Lawrence, Osceola, Davy Crockett, Henry Storrs, Donald Trump, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, JD Vance, Spain, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Mexico, Britain, France, Russia, American Revolution, War of 1812, Napoleonic Wars, First Seminole War, Second Seminole War, Creek War, Battle of Horseshoe Bend, Trail of Tears, Indian Removal Act, Nullification Crisis, Bank War, Panic of 1837, Petticoat Affair, Monroe Doctrine, Texas Revolution, annexation of Texas, Electoral College, corrupt bargain, states’ rights, federal authority, populism, presidential power, Native American removal, Cherokee Nation, Creek Nation, Choctaw Nation, Chickasaw Nation, Seminole Nation, Democratic Party, tariffs, Bank of the United States, expansionism, American presidency. Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Andrew Jackson’s Rise to the Presidency 00:19 From Florida Hero to Presidential Candidate (1821–1824) 05:27 The Election of 1824, John Quincy Adams and the Corrupt Bargain 16:50 The Election of 1828 and Rachel Jackson’s Death 20:36 Jackson’s Inauguration and the Rise of Mass Politics 24:09 The Petticoat Affair and the Birth of the Spoils System 28:34 The Bank War and the Nullification Crisis 35:24 The Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears 42:25 Re-Election, Jacksonian Democracy and the Democratic Party 46:34 The Assassination Attempt and the Panic of 1837 51:43 Texas, Foreign Policy and Jackson’s Final Years 57:53 Andrew Jackson’s Legacy and Comparisons to Donald Trump 01:02:53 Outro #andrewjackson #presidents #americanhistory Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

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  • #20
    June 23 · 52 min

    William Joyce Part 1: How a British Patriot Became a Nazi Traitor

    This double episode explores the life of William Joyce, better known as Lord Haw-Haw, the infamous Nazi propagandist who went from self-described British patriot to one of the most notorious collaborators of the Third Reich during World War II. In this first part of the story, James - with the help of Jayne Friend - examines William Joyce's early life, political radicalization, and rise within Britain's fascist movement. From his upbringing in Ireland during the Irish War of Independence to his involvement with the British Fascisti and the British Union of Fascists, the episode traces how Joyce's intense nationalism, anti-communism, and growing admiration for Adolf Hitler pushed him into aligning himself with the Third Reich. The discussion also explores the political climate of interwar Britain, the decline of British fascism, and the events that set Joyce on the path toward becoming Lord Haw-Haw. What's covered in this episode William Joyce's childhood in Galway, Ireland, his unionist family background, and how the Irish War of Independence shaped his political beliefs. Joyce's support for the British Empire, his association with the Black and Tans, and his hostility toward Irish republicanism and Sinn Féin. The myths and realities surrounding Joyce's early years, including stories about scouting, military service, and his reputation among classmates and British forces. His move to England after the partition of Ireland and his unsuccessful attempt to build a career in the British Army. Joyce's studies at Birkbeck College in London, his work teaching colonial students, and his failed ambitions in government service and the Foreign Office. How Joyce developed into a gifted public speaker and political agitator during the 1920s. The rise of the British Fascisti, the role of Maxwell Knight's K Squad, and violent confrontations between fascists and communists in London. The 1924 Battersea political rally where Joyce received the facial scar that became one of his defining features. The growth of anti-Semitism within sections of the British far right and the influence of figures such as Arnold Leese and Henry Hamilton Beamish. Joyce's rise within Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists (BUF), including his roles as deputy leader and head of propaganda. The rivalry between William Joyce and Oswald Mosley and why some fascists viewed Joyce as the movement's most powerful speaker. Joyce's personal life, including his marriages to Hazel Barr and Margaret Cairns White, and how his political career affected his relationships. The significance of the Battle of Cable Street in 1936 and its impact on the fortunes of the British Union of Fascists. How the actions of Benito Mussolini in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and Adolf Hitler in the Rhineland damaged the public image of fascism in Britain. Why Joyce broke with Mosley, embraced National Socialism more openly, founded the National Socialist League, and increasingly aligned himself with Nazi Germany. The ideological contradictions behind Joyce's claim to patriotism and the reasons he came to see service to the Third Reich as compatible with loyalty to Britain. Mentioned in this episode William Joyce, Lord Haw-Haw, Adolf Hitler, Third Reich, Second World War, World War II, History's Devils, Jayne, Galway, Ireland, British Empire, Act of Union 1801, Irish War of Independence, Sinn Féin, Dáil Éireann, Irish republicanism, Irish Free State, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Royal Irish Constabulary, British Army, Black and Tans, IRA, Worcestershire, Birkbeck College, Foreign Office, British Fascisti, Rotha Lintorn-Orman, Maxwell Knight, K Squad, Communist Party of Great Britain, Battersea, anti-Semitism, Arnold Leese, Henry Hamilton Beamish, The Britons, National Socialism, Oswald Mosley, British Union of Fascists, BUF, Olympia Rally, Battle of Cable Street, East London, Mussolini, Abyssinia, Ethiopia, mustard gas, Rhineland, Treaty of Versailles, National Socialist League, fascism, British fascism, propaganda, political extremism, nationalism, unionism, anti-communism, imperialism, British far right, radicalization, patriotism, collaboration, Nazi Germany. Chapters 00:00 Chapter 1 — Who Was William Joyce? The Story of Lord Haw-Haw Begins 04:12 Chapter 2 — William Joyce's Childhood in Ireland and Unionist Upbringing 09:30 Chapter 3 — The Irish War of Independence and Joyce's Support for the Black and Tans 17:17 Chapter 4 — Leaving Ireland: Military Failure and a New Life in England 18:34 Chapter 5 — Birkbeck College, Teaching, and Political Ambition 23:23 Chapter 6 — William Joyce Discovers Fascism 26:06 Chapter 7 — The Scar, Anti-Semitism, and Radicalization 30:31 Chapter 8 — Oswald Mosley, the British Union of Fascists, and the Rise of a Fascist Star 34:24 Chapter 9 — Marriage, Affairs, and Life Behind the Fascist Image 39:08 Chapter 10 — The Battle of Cable Street, the Decline of British Fascism, and Joyce's Break with Britain #britishhistory #fascism Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

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  • #21
    June 23 · 55 min

    William Joyce Part 2: The Making of "Lord Haw Haw", Hitler's Voice in Britain

    In part two of this double episode on William Joyce, James Crossland and Jayne Friend explain how he became Lord Haw Haw, the infamous Nazi broadcaster who transmitted propaganda from Germany to Britain during the Second World War. James and Jayne follow Joyce's journey from fleeing Britain in 1939 to becoming the most recognizable English-language voice of Nazi propaganda. The episode examines how Joyce built his Lord Haw Haw persona, the role of Nazi radio broadcasts during the war, and why millions of Britons listened to Germany Calling despite knowing it was enemy propaganda. It also traces Joyce's personal decline, drunkenness, his unbending loyalty to Hitler's regime, his hilarious capture after the fall of Nazi Germany, and his eventual execution for treason in 1946. What's covered in this episode The introduction of Defence Regulation 18B and how British authorities planned to detain suspected Nazi sympathizers at the outbreak of war in 1939. How William Joyce was warned by MI5 officer and former associate Maxwell Knight and fled Britain with his wife Margaret Joyce before his arrest. The Joyces' arrival in Berlin and their connection to Dorothy Eckersley, a well-connected British fascist living in Nazi Germany. How Dorothy Eckersley's links to Unity Mitford and influential Nazi circles helped William Joyce secure a broadcasting role in Germany. The structure of Nazi propaganda under Joseph Goebbels and the Ministry of Propaganda's control of radio broadcasting. How Joyce joined English-language radio broadcasts aimed at British audiences and developed the Lord Haw Haw persona. The origins of the Lord Haw Haw nickname and the wider network of English-speaking Nazi broadcasters including Wolf Mittler and Norman Baillie-Stewart. The creation of Germany Calling and how Nazi propagandists used British voices to increase credibility with listeners in the United Kingdom. Comparisons between Nazi wartime broadcasting, British political warfare operations, and modern propaganda techniques. How Joyce exploited fears during the Blitz by exaggerating bomb damage, government failures, anti-war sentiment, and political divisions inside Britain. The false claim that the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal had been sunk and how Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain publicly denied the story. Joyce's attacks on Winston Churchill, criticism of British leadership, and use of rumours, conspiracy theories, and sensational stories to attract listeners. His promotion of theories surrounding Pearl Harbor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Anglo-American relations, and alleged conspiracies involving the British Empire. Why millions of Britons listened to Germany Calling and how wartime distrust, censorship concerns, and dissatisfaction with official information contributed to its popularity. The luxurious lifestyle enjoyed by William and Margaret Joyce within Nazi Germany's elite social circles during the early years of the war. The couple's alcoholism, affairs, violent relationship, and personal decline as Germany's military fortunes worsened. William Joyce's book Twilight Over England and its defence of fascism and Nazism. The impact of major turning points including Operation Barbarossa, the Battle of the Atlantic, Allied operations in North Africa, and the Allied invasion of Sicily on Joyce's credibility. Accounts from fellow Nazi collaborator Eric Pleasants describing Joyce's physical and psychological deterioration by the final years of the war. Joyce's final radio broadcast on 30 April 1945, the same day Adolf Hitler committed suicide in Berlin. The collapse of the Third Reich, the Flensburg Government under Karl Dönitz, and the final days of senior Nazi officials. How British soldiers identified and captured William Joyce near Flensburg after recognizing his distinctive voice and facial scar. Joyce's trial at the Old Bailey, the legal arguments surrounding his nationality, and the treason charges brought against him. Why his British passport and oath of allegiance to the Crown became central to the prosecution's case. William Joyce's execution at Wandsworth Prison on 3 January 1946 and his status as the last person executed in Britain for high treason. Margaret Joyce's detention, release, later life, and death from alcoholism in 1972. The lasting legacy of Lord Haw Haw as a symbol of fascist collaboration, propaganda, treason, and political extremism during the Second World War. What's mentioned in this episode: William Joyce, Lord Haw Haw, James Crossland, Jayne Friend, Margaret Joyce, Maxwell Knight, MI5, Defence Regulation 18B, Oswald Mosley, British Union of Fascists, British Fascisti, Nazi Germany, Third Reich, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels, Ministry of Propaganda, Dorothy Eckersley, Peter Eckersley, BBC, Unity Mitford, Wolf Mittler, Norman Baillie-Stewart, Germany Calling, Blitz, Winston Churchill, Neville Chamberlain, Munich Crisis, Munich Agreement, Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia, Czechia, Second World War, World War II, Pearl Harbor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Anglo-American relations, conspiracy theories, HMS Ark Royal, Royal Navy, Battle of the Atlantic, Operation Barbarossa, North Africa Campaign, Allied invasion of Sicily, Operation Husky, Eric Pleasants, Flensburg, Flensburg Government, Karl Dönitz, Albert Speer, Berlin, Old Bailey, Wandsworth Prison, high treason, British passport, oath of allegiance, Galway, Ireland, propaganda, fascism, Nazism, collaboration, censorship, wartime broadcasting, political warfare, psychological warfare, radio propaganda, treason, British Empire, Nazi collaborators 00:00 Introduction: William Joyce, Lord Haw Haw and Nazi Germany 04:15 Defence Regulation 18B: Why Britain Wanted William Joyce Arrested 09:00 Escape to Berlin: How William and Margaret Joyce Fled Britain in 1939 14:30 Joseph Goebbels and Nazi Propaganda: Joyce Joins Germany Calling 20:45 Who Was Lord Haw Haw? The Voice of Nazi Radio Broadcasting 27:15 The Blitz, Churchill and Propaganda: How Joyce Targeted British Morale 34:30 HMS Ark Royal, Pearl Harbor and WWII Conspiracy Theories 41:00 Hitler's War Turns Bad: Alcoholism, Decline and Twilight Over England 48:00 Hitler's Death and the Collapse of the Third Reich 55:00 Capture, Treason Trial and Execution of William Joyce #WWII #propaganda #lordhawhaw Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

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  • #19
    June 16 · 1 hr 11 min

    Kim Philby: Britain's Most Dangerous Spy Was Also A Terrible Human Being

    In this episode, James is joined by Antonia Senior (author of Stalin’s Apostles: The Cambridge Five and the Making of the Soviet Empire) to discuss Kim Philby, the most notorious member of the Cambridge Five spy ring, and explain how a Cambridge-educated British intelligence officer became one of the Soviet Union's most damaging Cold War agents. From his privileged upbringing and communist radicalization to his recruitment by Soviet intelligence and rise inside MI6, the conversation challenges the popular image of Philby and the Cambridge Five as glamorous ideological rebels, arguing instead that these notorious spies were driven by a mixture of revolutionary zeal, personal ambition, narcissism, and moral indifference. The episode also explores the real-world consequences of Soviet espionage, including betrayed agents, failed intelligence operations, and Stalin's expansion across Eastern Europe after World War II. Covered in this episode • Kim Philby's early life in British India, his father St. John Philby, and his education at Trinity College, Cambridge. • How the political climate of the 1930s and debates over fascism and communism influenced a generation of Cambridge students. • Why the Cambridge Five understood the realities of Stalinism and cannot be dismissed as naïve anti-fascists. • Philby's marriage to Litzi Friedman, his connections to Austrian communists, and his recruitment by Soviet agent Arnold Deutsch. • The origins of the Cambridge Five and the recruitment of Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt, and John Cairncross. • Philby's activities during the Spanish Civil War, including allegations of his involvement in a plot to kill Francisco Franco. • How World War II created unprecedented opportunities for Soviet penetration of British intelligence, MI5, MI6, SOE, and the Foreign Office. • The extraordinary level of access enjoyed by the Cambridge Five, including British cabinet discussions, Churchill's briefings and Bletchley Park intelligence • The Konstantin Volkov affair. • Philby's role in Cold War intelligence failures, anti-Soviet operations in Eastern Europe, radio games, and missions into Poland, the Baltic States, Albania, and Georgia. • Project Venona, the identification of Donald Maclean as the Soviet source codenamed Homer, and the dramatic defections of Maclean and Guy Burgess. • Philby's final years in Beirut and Moscow, his deteriorating personal life, the collapse of his reputation, and his disillusioning experience inside the Soviet Union he had served for decades. Mentioned in this episode Kim Philby, Cambridge Five, Harold Adrian Russell Philby, St. John Philby, Rudyard Kipling, Kim, Trinity College Cambridge, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Cold War, Soviet Union, Communism, Fascism, Anti-Fascism, British Intelligence, MI5, MI6, NKVD, KGB, FSB, Antonia Senior, Stalin's Apostles, Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt, John Cairncross, Arnold Deutsch, Theodore Maly, Litzi Friedman, Edith Tudor Hart, Vienna, British India, Arabia, British People's Party, National Socialism, Anti-Semitism, Spanish Civil War, Francisco Franco, The Times, World Federation for the Relief of Victims of German Fascism, William Norman Ewer, Daily Herald, Federated Press of America, Communist Party of Great Britain, Special Operations Executive, SOE, Operation Barbarossa, Operation Husky, Sicily, Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, Bletchley Park, Imperial Defence Committee, Konstantin Volkov, Stuart Menzies, Yuri Modin, Oleg Kalugin, Albania, Poland, Georgia, Baltic States, Lithuania, Eastern Europe, Soviet Expansion, Stalinism, Gulag, World Revolution, American Imperialism, Soviet Imperialism, Washington Embassy, CIA, Project Venona, Arlington Hall, Manhattan Project, Los Alamos, One-Time Pad Encryption, Homer, Cairo, Beirut, Nicholas Elliott, Peter Wright, Buster Milmo, Eileen Philby, Eleanor Brewer, Hungary 1956, Soviet Defectors, Double Agents, British Foreign Office, Intelligence Failures, History's Devils. Chapters 00:00 The Traitor Who Helped Stalin Win Secrets 00:59 Who Was Kim Philby? 05:15 Family, Cambridge and Political Radicalization 09:26 Communism, Anti-Fascism and the Stalin Question 11:47 Arnold Deutsch and Soviet Recruitment 19:41 Spain, Franco and Philby's First Missions 23:30 Building the Cambridge Five Spy Network 28:53 World War II and Infiltrating British Intelligence 35:40 How the Cambridge Five Accessed Britain's Greatest Secrets 39:19 Konstantin Volkov and Philby's Deadliest Betrayal 46:27 Cold War Operations, Eastern Europe and Soviet Expansion 48:42 Project Venona, Donald Maclean and the Burgess Defection 59:08 Philby's Exposure, Escape to Moscow and Final Years #spies #intelligencehistory #coldwar Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

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  • #18
    June 9 · 1 hr 4 min

    Allan Pinkerton: Spy, Detective, Strike-Breaking Conspiracy Theorist

    In this episode of History’s Devils, James is joined by Lewis Sage-Passant (How To Get on A Watchlist) to explore the rise of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency and the violent contradictions at the heart of its founder, Allan Pinkerton. Once a Chartist radical, Pinkerton reinvented himself in America as a celebrated detective and Union intelligence agent during the American Civil War. After the war, his story took a darker turn as he became increasingly consumed by conspiracy thinking, transforming his agency into a powerful private security force that was used by industrialists to suppress strikes and control workers who were agitating for their rights at the height of America's Gilded Age. A must-listen deep dive for anyone interested in the history of private security, radical politics and the hidden forces behind wealth and power in America. Further Reading Beyond States and Spies: The Security Intelligence Services of the Private Sector · Inventing the Pinkertons; or, Spies, Sleuths, Mercenaries, and Thugs · Allan Pinkerton: America's Legendary Detective and the Birth of Private Security What's covered in this episode • Allan Pinkerton's childhood in Glasgow's Gorbals district, his working-class upbringing, and the political influences that shaped his early life. • The impact of Chartism, the People's Charter of 1838, and the political unrest of Industrial Revolution Britain, including the legacy of the Peterloo Massacre. • The debate over whether Pinkerton was a genuine Chartist activist or potentially an informant within the movement before emigrating to America in 1842. • Pinkerton's arrival in Illinois after a shipwreck off Nova Scotia and his transition from cooper and barrel maker to aspiring crime fighter. • The famous counterfeiting investigation near Dundee, Illinois, that launched Pinkerton's career in law enforcement and private investigations. • The weaknesses of nineteenth-century American policing and how they created opportunities for private security services and detective agencies. • The creation of the Northwest Police Agency and its transformation into the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. • Pinkerton's work protecting railroads, investigating theft, combating counterfeit currency, and developing early investigative tradecraft. • The origins of the famous "We Never Sleep" logo and the connection between Pinkerton branding and the modern term "private eye." • Pinkerton's recruitment of female investigators and his innovative use of undercover operatives drawn from target communities. • Pinkerton's anti-slavery beliefs, involvement with the Underground Railroad, support for Abraham Lincoln, and alleged links to abolitionist John Brown. • The Harpers Ferry raid, the role of Robert E. Lee in suppressing the uprising, and claims that Pinkerton considered helping Brown escape imprisonment. • Pinkerton's relationship with George McClellan and the emergence of private detectives as intelligence operatives during the American Civil War. • The alleged Baltimore Plot of 1861 and Pinkerton's role in protecting President-elect Abraham Lincoln during his journey to Washington for inauguration. Mentioned in this episode Allan Pinkerton, Pinkerton Detective Agency, Lewis Sage-Passant, James Crossland, Glasgow, Gorbals, River Clyde, Chartism, People's Charter, Peterloo Massacre, French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, Luddites, Dundee Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, counterfeiting, private security, private intelligence, railroad security, Adams Express Company, We Never Sleep, private eye, Abraham Lincoln, John Brown, Bleeding Kansas, Harpers Ferry Raid, slavery, abolitionism, Underground Railroad, George McClellan, American Civil War, Robert E. Lee, Baltimore Plot, Fire Eaters, Maryland, intelligence tradecraft, corporate investigations, detective history, nineteenth-century policing. Chapters Introduction to History's Devils (00:11) Allan Pinkerton's Early Life and Political Interests (04:14) The Move to America and Early Detective Work (09:38) Founding the Pinkerton Detective Agency (15:12) Pinkerton's Role in the Civil War (22:26) The Pursuit of Jesse James (37:11) Transition to Union Suppression and Strikebreaking (42:28) The Homestead Strike and Pinkerton's Legacy (51:53) Conclusion and Reflections on Pinkerton's Impact (62:54) Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

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  • #17
    June 2 · 59 min

    The Gentleman Pirate with the Mid-Life Crisis: Stede Bonnet and the Golden Age of Piracy

    This week, James sets sail with Jamie Goodall (author of The Pirates of Chesapeake Bay and Pirates and Privateers) into one of the strangest true stories of the Golden Age of Piracy – the rise and fall of the so-called “Gentleman Pirate”, Stede Bonnet who abandoned wealth, status, and family for a life of crime at sea. Often described as a pirate driven by a midlife crisis, Bonnet’s journey from plantation owner in Barbados to notorious outlaw of the high seas is as chaotic as it is fascinating. Charting his brief but colourful career, we look at how Bonnet captained a ship despite his lack of sailing experience, his disastrous command decisions and his encounters with the notorious Captain Edward “Blackbeard” Teach. Along the way, we discuss where Bonnet fits in the wider tale of the legendary Nassau Republic, which dominated piracy in the Caribbean during the early 1700s. Check this one out if you enjoy pirate lore or have ever wished you could sail away with Blackbeard and wreak havoc on the high seas! Topics Covered in this episode: Stede Bonnet's origins in Barbados The War of Spanish Succession and the impact its ending had on piracy The Nassau "Pirate Republic" Why hiring a pirate crew and paying them a regular wage was a bad idea Stede Bonnet's career in piracy along the eastern American seaboard The way Stede Bonnet treated his crew and his style of captaincy The story of Blackbeard, AKA Edward Thatch The problems of Captain's Johnson's General History of the Pirates as a source How Blackbeard took over Bonnet's ship, the Revenge and the rivalry that developed between the two men The Act of Grace and how Blackbeard and Bonnet both sought a pardon for their crimes but then returned to Piracy The Battle of the Cape Fear River that lead to Bonnet's capture His escape from Charleston and re-capture Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard's deaths The ending of the Golden Age of Piracy Chapters 00:00 - The Gentleman Pirate Mystery 01:14 - Why Steed Bonnet Became a Pirate 03:44 - A Midlife Crisis at Sea 06:23 - Was Bonnet Losing His Mind? 09:22 - Early Success on the High Seas 12:49 - Nassau: Pirate Republic 15:03 - Meeting Blackbeard Changes Everything 20:32 - Blackbeard Takes Control 24:18 - The King's Pardon Arrives 27:47 - Can a Pirate Go Straight? 30:32 - One Last Voyage 36:49 - Trial, Execution, and Infamy 52:16 - The Legend of Steed Bonnet Follow Jamie on Threads and Instagram @L_Historienne and on Bluesky @Lhistorienn and check out her website here Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

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  • #16
    May 26 · 1 hr

    The Truth About Satanism: Anton LaVey, the Church of Satan & America’s Moral Panic

    This week, James welcomes Mikki Brock (@historymikki) back onto the show to dive deep into the controversial world of Satanism and the cultural impact of the Church of Satan’s founder, Anton LaVey. This episode explores the origins of LaVey’s church and how his philosophy challenged traditional religion, focusing on libertarian personal freedom and the rejection of societal norms. This episode also examines the wave of fear known as the Satanic Panic, which fuelled widespread misinformation about Satanism and the occult during the 1980s, persisting into the era of QAnon and Pizzagate. Finally, we look at how an unexpected consequence of the panic was the founding of the The Satanic Temple – a progressive advocacy group that promotes empathy, tolerance and other very non-evil things. For anyone into American cultural history, religious history and the occult or, if you’ve ever asked yourself the question: What is Satanism really about? This episode is for you! #satanism Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween" Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevils https://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/ On Substack https://jamescrossland.substack.com/ Follow JAMES CROSSLAND On Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.social Tag HISTORY's DEVILS @historysdevils #HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytelling History's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures. History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of: Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism

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