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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

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

75:47

They Shall Not Grow Old (ENCORE)

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/01/10

James and Sean discuss the outstanding 2018 Peter Jackson documentary They Shall Not Grow Old, which combines interviews with British World War I veterans with colorized and slowed-down footage from the war.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

59:42

GW5: The Common Soldier

Key Battles of American History ·

2026/01/07

In this episode, Sean and James step away from battles and politics to focus on the daily lives of the ordinary men who fought in World War I. They explore what soldiers from the major powers wore, ate, and carried into battle, as well as the terrifying wounds and diseases that claimed millions of lives. The episode traces dramatic advances in medical care, from battlefield triage and antiseptic surgery to the first blood transfusions and reconstructive surgery. It also delves into the psychological

en-US

39:43

GW4: The Eastern Front in 1914

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/12/31

While the Western Front quickly descended into trench warfare, the fighting in the East remained highly mobile, spanning vast distances across Eastern Europe. In this episode, Sean and James discuss Austria-Hungary’s failed invasions of Serbia, Russia’s disastrous defeats at Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes, and the massive but costly Russian victory over Austria at Galicia. Listeners will learn how poor leadership, logistical chaos, and ethnic divisions crippled the Austro-Hungarian

en-US

65:29

The Grand Illusion

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/12/27

In this episode, Sean and James explore Jean Renoir’s The Grand Illusion (1937), a World War I masterpiece that examines class, nationalism, and the bonds that form even among enemies. They discuss the film’s unforgettable characters—from working-class Maréchal and aristocratic Boeldieu to the dignified German officer Rauffenstein—and the ways their relationships reveal a fading old order. Finally, they reflect on the film’s themes of humanity, hope, and the

en-US

56:45

GW3: The German Onslaught and the Miracle at the Marne

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/12/24

In August 1914, the German army launched an invasion of Belgium as a first step to their planned march through France and capture of Paris. As the Germans swept through Belgium and advanced on the French capital, the Allies made a desperate stand along the Marne River. The resulting “Miracle on the Marne” halted the German advance and ended hopes of a quick war. What followed was the grim birth of trench warfare and a conflict that would grind on for years. In this episode, James and

en-US

99:30

All Quiet on the Western Front (1930 - ENCORE)

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/12/20

In this episode, James and special guest Sean McIver discuss the classic 1930 anti-war film All Quiet on the Western Front. Based on the novel of the same name, All Quiet on the Western Front set the standard for all future war movies, especially those which present war in a negative light.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

54:41

GW2: Descent into War

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/12/17

In this episode, Sean and James explore how Europe’s fragile balance of power unraveled in 1914 — from rival alliances and Balkan tensions to the assassination in Sarajevo that sparked a global catastrophe. Join us as we discuss how in just six weeks, the Great Powers turned a regional crisis into the First World War.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

57:33

GW1: Europe in 1914

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/12/10

In this kickoff to our new series on The Great War, James and Sean take a sweeping look at the state of Europe in 1914—just before the world changed forever. They explore the continent’s dominant empires, their military might, political tensions, and the fragile balance of power that had kept peace for nearly a century. From rising nationalism and colonial rivalries to the tangled web of alliances and Balkan unrest, this episode sets the stage for the regional conflict that mushroomed

en-US

47:13

The Top Axis WW2 Fighters

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/12/03

In this episode, Sean and James rank the top World War II fighter planes used by the Axis powers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

21:45

World War II Chaplains

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/11/26

In this episode, suggested by Early’s Raiders member Mark Porter, James discusses American military chaplains in the Second World War and the many important roles that they fulfilled.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

54:49

The American Revolution and the Fate of the World...

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/11/19

In this episode, James interviews historian Richard Bell about hisbookThe American Revolution and the Fate of the World. Bell argues that the American Revolution was much more than a fight between Great Britain and 13 of its North American colonies. Instead, Bell asserts, the Revolution was part of a worldwide struggle, influencing the histories of many nations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

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