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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457 episodes
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Episodes457

Newest first

Oct 22, 2017 · 40 min
093 The Twenty-One Demands
The UK and Japan had an alliance agreement, and when the Great War began, Japan was eager to enter the conflict. Aiding their ally was nice, but the Japanese were also eyeing German colonial possessions in the Pacific.
Oct 8, 2017 · 35 min
092 Home Before the Leaves Fall
Kaiser Wilhelm told the troops they would be "home before the leaves fall." By autumn of 1914, it was clear they would not.
Oct 1, 2017 · 39 min
091 The Luxury Navy
Germany invested heavily in building itself a great navy, including paying the price of a strained relationship with the United Kingdom. Now that the world is at war, how is this navy going to be used?
Sep 24, 2017 · 43 min
090 I Will See It Through
The Great War began as a confrontation between Austria and Russia. It soon became about a lot more than that, but for Austria, job one is defeating the Russians, or at least holding them at bay. The Austrian Army will prove incapable of accomplishing either.
Sep 17, 2017 · 44 min
089 A Good Five-Cent Cigar
President Wilson pushes through more reform legislation, including the Federal Reserve Act. The outbreak of the Great War creates a financial panic in the US, and Vice President Marshall pines for the days of a really good five-cent cigar.
Sep 10, 2017 · 48 min
088 The Miracle on the Marne
The German First Army was only thirty miles from Paris, and the final victory was tantalizingly close. But the German Army was weakening, and the French and British not so beaten as the Germans believed.
Aug 27, 2017 · 52 min
087 The Cossacks Are Coming!
In response to pleas from the French, the Russian Army undertakes an invasion of East Prussia in the hope of taking some of the pressure off of France.
Aug 20, 2017 · 43 min
086 Paris Cannot Hold Out
The failure of the French counteroffensive has the Allies in retreat across the front, and it now appears there is no stopping the Germans short of Paris.
Aug 13, 2017 · 42 min
085 Serbien muß sterbien
The Great War started as a conflict between Austria and Serbia. Now, amid all the other conflicts emerging as the war goes continental, Austria makes its bid to punish Serbia for the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand.
Jul 30, 2017 · 41 min
084 So Much the Better
The French plan to respond to a German offensive was a counteroffensive into the German center. The French attempted this on August 21-23; it was an utter failure.
Jul 23, 2017 · 49 min
083 The Flight of the Goeben
The outbreak of the Great War saw one of the German Navy's newest and most powerful battlecruisers in the Mediterranean. She was a threat to the Entente and had to be stopped. Only...what exactly is she trying to do?
Jul 16, 2017 · 41 min
082 No, Whatever the Consequences
The German war plan called for a massive offensive against France that would pass through Belgium, but one of the big unknowns in German war planning was whether the Belgians would resist, and if so, how fiercely.
Jul 9, 2017 · 43 min
081 Offense to the Utmost
French strategists emphasized the importance of offense and planned to respond to a German invasion with an offensive of their own. British strategy increasingly revolved around joining with France in a ground war.
Jun 25, 2017 · 45 min
080 Keep the Right Wing Very Strong
A look at how Germany and Russia planned to fight the Great War.
Jun 18, 2017 · 39 min
079 Lessons Learned II
A survey of the most important reasons why the Great War happened and why the international order failed to prevent it.
Jun 11, 2017 · 47 min
078 The Lamps Go Out II
Germany mobilizes and declares war on Russia and France. As German troops move into Luxembourg and Belgium, the British Cabinet comes around and joins the war.
Jun 4, 2017 · 1 hr 3 min
077 The Lamps Go Out I
Russia finds the Austrian ultimatum unacceptable. Austria, egged on by Germany, pursues war with Serbia anyway.
May 21, 2017 · 44 min
076 Today Is Better Than Tomorrow
In the four weeks following the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, the Austrian government slowly pondered its response. Meanwhile, in the rest of Europe, the murders were already being forgotten.
May 14, 2017 · 44 min
075 The Great Illusion
In the final days of peace, many European leaders were preoccupied with domestic problems as others debated whether war was inevitable, or obsolete.
May 7, 2017 · 38 min
074 A Few Serbian Bullets
Despite warnings of possible violence, the Austrian Crown Prince travels to Bosnia to observe military maneuvers. During a visit to Sarajevo, he and his wife are assassinated.

The History of the Twentieth Century

093 The Twenty-One Demands

092 Home Before the Leaves Fall

091 The Luxury Navy

090 I Will See It Through

089 A Good Five-Cent Cigar

088 The Miracle on the Marne

087 The Cossacks Are Coming!

086 Paris Cannot Hold Out

085 Serbien muß sterbien

084 So Much the Better

083 The Flight of the Goeben

082 No, Whatever the Consequences

081 Offense to the Utmost

080 Keep the Right Wing Very Strong

079 Lessons Learned II

078 The Lamps Go Out II

077 The Lamps Go Out I

076 Today Is Better Than Tomorrow

075 The Great Illusion

074 A Few Serbian Bullets