The History of the Twentieth Century

Mark Painter

A chronicle of the history of the twentieth century, including art, music, popular culture, science, religion, and, of course, politics and war.

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20 episodes
Updated July 19

Episodes20

Newest first

July 19 · 48 min
452 The Double V
The Second World War offered African Americans new opportunities and new political clout.
July 12 · 44 min
451 Wonder Weapon
The United States had its Manhattan Project. Germany had its rockets.
July 5 · 41 min
450 The Gadget
By 1944, the United States had developed the facilities to produce U-235 and plutonium in sufficient quantities. The last problem was how to design and build a bomb that would detonate an atomic explosion when you wanted it, but not before.
June 21 · 45 min
449 All For the Front
The war made life in the Soviet Union very difficult. Even by Soviet standards, the government took an unprecedented degree of control over the allocation of labor and of food. Despite food shortages, there was no mass opposition as there had been in 1917.
June 14 · 41 min
448 Keep Calm and Carry On
The British had to deal with many more shortages of food and fuel and consumer goods than did Americans. And they had to worry about the Luftwaffe.
June 7 · 39 min
447 Don't You Know There's a War On?
The war put Americans in the unfamiliar position of enduring limits on what they could buy or eat, even how much they could drive their cars.
May 24 · 48 min
446 Is Paris Burning?
The Allies invade southern France, close the Falaise pocket, and the German line collapses. Soon the Allies are advancing on Paris.
May 17 · 42 min
445 Breakout and Pursuit
When Patton's Third Army broke through the front line, the Germans had a serious problem.
May 10 · 42 min
444 Tempest
The Polish Home Army makes a last-ditch effort to assert the authority of the government in exile, while Romania successfully switches sides.
April 26 · 42 min
443 Shoot the Works
Hitler exacts retribution for the assassination attempt against him, while in France, the Americans break out of Normandy.
April 19 · 40 min
442 Make Peace, You Fools
Bloody inconclusive fighting in Normandy, and the Democratic Party nominates Roosevelt for a fourth term.
April 12 · 56 min
441 The Plot to Assassinate Hitler
There had been grumbling about Hitler in the Army since 1938, but by 1944 a group of officers were determined to get rid of him and overthrow the Nazi government.
March 29 · 36 min
440 The Destruction of Army Group Center
The Soviet summer offensive of 1944, "Operation Bagration," costs the German Army virtually an entire army group.
March 22 · 40 min
439 Doctor Win-the-War
In 1944, Franklin Roosevelt's health began to fail, while Stalin made good on his pledge to begin a Soviet offensive in June.
March 15 · 43 min
438 A Bill of Goods
The China and Burma fronts remained relatively quiet for two years. That changed in 1944.
March 1 · 40 min
437 Where Do We Go From Here?
In this episode, we conclude the story of the American occupation of Saipan, while US commanders ponder the question of where to strike next.
February 22 · 48 min
436 Too Good to Be True
When the Americans attacked Saipan, the Japanese saw a final opportunity to force that decisive battle they'd been yearning for.
February 15 · 36 min
435 D Plus One
The initial Normandy invasions were moderately successful. Casualties were lighter than feared. But D-Day was not the end; it was only the beginning.
February 1 · 42 min
434 The Longest Day III
We conclude our look at the Normandy invasion by examining events at Sword, Juno, Gold, and especially Omaha Beaches.
January 25 · 36 min
433 The Longest Day II
In this episode we look at the Normandy amphibious landings generally, then focus on the US assault on Utah Beach.

The History of the Twentieth Century

452 The Double V

451 Wonder Weapon

450 The Gadget

449 All For the Front

448 Keep Calm and Carry On

447 Don't You Know There's a War On?

446 Is Paris Burning?

445 Breakout and Pursuit

444 Tempest

443 Shoot the Works

442 Make Peace, You Fools

441 The Plot to Assassinate Hitler

440 The Destruction of Army Group Center

439 Doctor Win-the-War

438 A Bill of Goods

437 Where Do We Go From Here?

436 Too Good to Be True

435 D Plus One

434 The Longest Day III

433 The Longest Day II