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
Updated Today

Episodes457

Newest first

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.
January 11 · 40 min
432 The Longest Day I
The Normandy landings began at dawn on June 6, 1944, but the night before three Allied airborne divisions were dropped into Normandy to help prepare the way for the amphibious landings.
January 4 · 43 min
431 Bombing Your Allies
The German military was occupying many European countries, which put British and American bomber commanders in the awkward position of bombing nations that were supposedly their allies.
Dec 25, 2025 · 34 min
430 Question Time II
In this Christmas bonus episode, I answer listener questions.
Dec 21, 2025 · 45 min
429 The Fall of Rome
In May 1944, Allied forces in Italy began an offensive that finally broke the Gustav Line. Soon Americans were marching into Rome. At the same time, Allied forces in Britain were making final preparations for the invasion of France.
Dec 14, 2025 · 39 min
428 An Idea of Simple Genius
In this episode, we look at some of the preparations both sides' militaries were making for the coming invasion of France, as well as the tricky problem the Allies faced in keeping Charles de Gaulle on board.
Dec 7, 2025 · 41 min
427 Half American
As America geared up for war, and then entered the war, African Americans fought to claim a role in the battle against fascism.
Nov 30, 2025 · 42 min
426 Incomparably More Difficult
During the interwar period, African Americans pushed back against the US military's explicit racism.
Nov 16, 2025 · 42 min
425 Eight to the Bar
Boogie-woogie went mainstream in America during the war, as evidenced by the music of Glenn Miller and the Andrews Sisters.
Nov 9, 2025 · 40 min
424 From Z to A
The Americans were on the offensive in the Southwest Pacific, and after Tarawa, in the Central Pacific. As they advanced, Japanese military leaders scrambled to find a way to stop the Americans.
Nov 2, 2025 · 41 min
423 Bodyguard of Lies
As soon as Allied leaders chose Normandy as the site of the Operation Overlord invasion, British intelligence set to work convincing the Germans that the invasion would be somewhere else.
Oct 26, 2025 · 39 min
422 A Stranded Whale
The Allied campaign in Italy stalled, and British and American leaders were searching for a way to break the stalemate on the peninsula. Winston Churchill suggested an amphibious invasion behing enemy lines.
Oct 12, 2025 · 44 min
421 Two Strikes and You're Out
The war era (1939-45) saw the beginning of the end of the big band era. Part of this decline was due to two key strikes in the music industry.
Oct 5, 2025 · 41 min
420 A Contintent-Wide Crime
The Holocaust should not be viewed as strictly a Nazi project or even a German project. Millions of people across Europe share responsibility for those crimes.
Sep 28, 2025 · 45 min
419 Millions of Spectators
When Hitler learned that the Hungarian government was attempting to make a separate peace with the Allies, he ordered the German military to occupy Hungary, which was also the home of the largest surviving Jewish community in Axis-occupied Europe.
Sep 21, 2025 · 36 min
418 Bloody Tarawa
The US tries out a new strategy against Japan, but the American public is shocked by the cost.
Sep 7, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
417 Over the Rainbow
A look at some prominent blues singers, plus Judy Garland and her most famous role, as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz.
Aug 31, 2025 · 42 min
416 The Iron Gut of Europe
The Allies hoped their invasion of the Italian mainland would lead to a rapid occupation of Italy, but the Germans put up a defense that slowed their advance to a crawl.
Aug 24, 2025 · 37 min
415 Would They Obey You Any More Readily?
The German Army continued to retreat westward over the winter of 1943-44, abandoning most of Ukraine. Red Army pressure was relentless, not giving the Germans any opportunity to establish a strong defensive line.
Aug 17, 2025 · 40 min
414 The Teheran Conference
The Big Three--Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill--met and conferred together for the first time in November 1943. It was the most important meeting of world leaders since the Paris Peace Conference of 1919.

The History of the Twentieth Century

433 The Longest Day II

432 The Longest Day I

431 Bombing Your Allies

430 Question Time II

429 The Fall of Rome

428 An Idea of Simple Genius

427 Half American

426 Incomparably More Difficult

425 Eight to the Bar

424 From Z to A

423 Bodyguard of Lies

422 A Stranded Whale

421 Two Strikes and You're Out

420 A Contintent-Wide Crime

419 Millions of Spectators

418 Bloody Tarawa

417 Over the Rainbow

416 The Iron Gut of Europe

415 Would They Obey You Any More Readily?

414 The Teheran Conference