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PODCAST

Key Battles of American History

Key Battles of American History

War has played a key role in the history of the United States from the nation’s founding right down to the present. Wars made the U. S. independent, kept it together, increased its size, and established it as a global superpower. Understanding America’s wars is essential for understanding American history. In the Key Battles of American History, host James Early discusses American history through the lens of the most important battles of America’s wars. James is an Adjunct

history

All Episodes

50:03

GW17: America Enters the War

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/04/01

In this episode, Sean and James trace America’s complex journey from neutrality to full-fledged participation in World War I. They explore Woodrow Wilson’s background and early reluctance to enter the conflict, the diplomatic and military crises that shifted American public opinion, and the nation’s rapid mobilization once war was declared. The hosts also examine how propaganda, industrial expansion, and the buildup of the American Expeditionary Force reshaped both the home front

en-US

86:20

Beneath Hill 60 (ENCORE)

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/03/28

James and Sean discuss the 2010 Australian film Beneath Hill 60, which tells the fascinating story of an Australian tunneling company trying to undermine the German position at the Ypres Salient in the Western Front.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

31:16

GW16: The Third Ypres Campaign

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/03/25

In this episode, Sean and James examine the brutal 1917 campaign at Third Ypres, better known as Passchendaele, which was one of the most infamous battles of World War I. They trace the strategic aims behind Haig’s offensive, the early success at Messines, and the grinding advance that followed as rain, mud, and relentless German defenses turned Flanders into a nightmare landscape. The hosts explore key moments from the campaign, including the devastating failures of August, the British

en-US

44:36

GW15: The Russian Revolutions of 1917

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/03/18

This episode explores the twin revolutions that upended Russia in 1917 and reshaped the course of World War I. Sean and James trace the collapse of the Romanov dynasty, the rise and failures of the Provisional Government, and the growing power of the soviets amid military disaster and social unrest. They then examine how Lenin and the Bolsheviks overthrew the government in November and imposed a harsh new dictatorship backed by the CHEKA. The episode concludes with Russia’s exit from the war

en-US

64:25

War Horse (ENCORE)

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/03/14

James and Sean discuss the 2011 film War Horse, in which a young Englishman struggles to be reunited with his beloved horse, who has been sent to the Western Front and has experienced several trying experiences there.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

34:52

GW14: The Southern Fronts, 1916-17

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/03/11

In this episode, Sean and James turn south and east to explore the lesser-known fronts of World War I in 1916 and 1917. From the brutal mountain battles along the Isonzo River and the Italian disaster at Caporetto to Romania’s ill-fated entry into the war and the stagnant Allied front at Salonika, the hosts trace how the war’s southern theaters shaped the fate of nations. They also examine the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Arab Revolt, and the British capture of Aqaba, Gaza,

en-US

52:50

Wings

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/03/07

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the oldest film they have reviewed to date. Wings (1927) is a silent epic that follows two young American men from a small town who become fighter pilots in the First World War, tracing their rivalry, friendship, and romantic entanglements as they are transformed by combat. Renowned for its groundbreaking aerial photography and large-scale battle sequences, the film presents air warfare with unprecedented realism. Beneath the spectacle, Wings underscores the

en-US

53:18

GW13: The Air War

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/03/04

In this episode, Sean and James take to the skies to explore the dramatic rise of air combat during World War I. We trace how fragile, open-cockpit reconnaissance planes evolved into deadly fighters and bombers. We also will see how the various combatants introduced aerial tactics, which gave rise to aces like the Red Baron. We will discuss the first large-scale strategic bombing campaigns. We explore the daring lives and short survival rates of early pilots, the terror of zeppelin raids, and the

en-US

41:52

The Trench

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/02/28

In this episode, Sean and James review the 1999 film The Trench. The Trench follows a group of young British soldiers during the tense hours leading up to the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916, focusing on their fears, friendships, and fragile hopes as they wait in the trenches. Rather than depicting large-scale combat, the film emphasizes psychological strain, class divisions, and the emotional toll of anticipation. When the long-awaited order finally comes, the human cost of industrial

en-US

38:47

GW12: The Battle of the Somme

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/02/25

In this episode, Sean and James return to the Western Front to examine the Battle of the Somme—the bloodiest and most infamous clash of World War I. They explore the ambitious Allied plan, the disastrous first day that saw nearly 60,000 British casualties, and the grinding months of attrition that followed. Along the way, they discuss the debut of tanks, the shifting German command, and how the Somme became both a symbol of courage and futility. The hosts conclude by assessing whether the

en-US

20:56

GW11: The Brusilov Offensive

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/02/18

This episode presents an overview of the Brusilov Offensive of 1916, Russia’s most successful campaign of World War I. General Alexei Brusilov’s innovative tactics—focused artillery barrages, surprise attacks, and small, specialized assault units—devastated the Austro-Hungarian forces and captured vast territory. But although the offensive caused over a million Central Powers casualties and prompted Romania to join the Allies, it also exhausted Russia’s manpower and

en-US

44:17

GW10: The Naval War and the Battle of Jutland

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/02/11

In this episode, Sean and James explore the crucial naval dimension of World War I, where technological innovation and global strategy collided on the high seas. Your lovable hosts examine the early clashes between the Royal Navy and the German High Seas Fleet, the tightening British blockade that slowly strangled Germany’s economy, and the escalating submarine campaign that threatened Britain’s survival. At the center of the story is the titanic Battle of Jutland, the only full-scale

en-US

45:47

Regeneration

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/02/07

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1997 film Regeneration, a powerful drama set in Craiglockhart War Hospital during World War I. We explore how the film portrays the psychological toll of combat through the stories of Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Owen, Billy Prior, and the conflicted psychiatrist W.H.R. Rivers. Our discussion examines the movie’s themes of trauma, duty, and the moral cost of sending healed men back to war.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

37:05

GW9: Verdun

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/02/04

In this episode Sean and James examine the Battle of Verdun, the first of 1916’s colossal offensives and one of the longest and bloodiest battles in world history. They discuss German commander Erich von Falkenhayn’s plan to “bleed France white” by attacking the fortress city of Verdun, and how General Philippe Pétain’s leadership and innovations kept the French from collapse. The hosts trace the battle’s brutal back-and-forth fighting, staggering

en-US

69:38

Gallipoli (ENCORE)

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/01/31

James and Sean discuss the 1981 Australian film Gallipoli, which tells the story of a group of Australian young men who are introduced to the horrors of war at the 1915 Battle of Gallipoli.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

46:18

GW8: Turkey and the Gallipoli Campaign

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/01/28

In this episode, Sean and James turn to the Eastern Mediterranean to examine the Ottoman Empire’s entry into the Great War and the tragic Allied attempt to seize the Dardanelles. We trace how Turkey joined the Central Powers, setting the stage for the Gallipoli Campaign—an ambitious plan to knock the Ottomans out of the war that instead ended in disaster and immense loss of life. The campaign’s failure reshaped Allied strategy, toppled political careers, and helped lay the

en-US

61:33

Paths of Glory (ENCORE)

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/01/24

James and Sean discuss the classic 1957 anti-war film Paths of Glory, starring Kirk Douglas. In this film, a French colonel tries to save three of his men who are sentenced to be executed for cowardice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

51:04

GW7: The War Expands (1915)

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/01/21

In this episode, Sean and James explore how World War I spread beyond the Western Front into a truly global conflict. They trace massive campaigns across Eastern Europe, where Germany and Austria-Hungary drove deep into Russian territory, and in the West, where repeated Allied offensives in Artois, Champagne, and Ypres failed to break the stalemate. The episode also covers the fall of Serbia, the opening of the Salonika Front, Italy’s entry into the war, and the British advance up the Tigris

en-US

77:26

1917 (ENCORE)

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/01/17

James and Sean discuss the award-winning 2019 film 1917, in which two British soldiers are sent on a dangerous mission to save another unit from disaster.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

48:01

GW6: Life in the Trenches

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/01/14

In this episode, Sean and James dive deep into the gritty realities of trench warfare on the Western Front. They explore the evolution of trench design, the brutal conditions soldiers endured — from mud, vermin, and disease to constant shellfire and psychological trauma — and the routines that defined daily life. The episode also highlights the technological shifts that favored defense, the futility of traditional attacks, and the emergence of informal truces like the Christmas Truce of

en-US

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