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Goalhanger

A history podcast that explores the narratives, turning points and characters that shape conflicts, encompassing a blend of social and military history. Following on from the series on the Falklands War, best-selling military historians Patrick Bishop and Saul David turned their attention to the war in Ukraine, and now every Wednesday look back to the seismic events of 1945.

Goalhanger Podcasts

Battleground

This week on Battleground Ukraine, hosts Saul David and Roger Moorhouse are joined by intrepid Belgian war reporter and friend of the podcast Arnaud de Decker, who recently toured the Donbas. 

In this crucial and alarming dispatch, Arnaud provides a firsthand look at the realities in Donetsk, detailing how Russian forces are steadily advancing and closing in on the key Ukrainian towns of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk.

Before this essential interview, the hosts dissect the political and military headlines, including the shocking rhetoric from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who all but admitted Russia's role in drone sightings across Europe.

They'll also be examining the difference between the opposing forces' long-range strikes—including Ukraine's successful hits on vital Russian oil infrastructure (like the Feodosia oil terminal), possibly using the new Flamingo missile, and an intelligence report on up to 5,000 Cuban fighters joining the Russian ranks.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
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322. Is the Net Closing in for Ukraine in Donetsk?

In late 1942, German U-boats were sinking Allied merchant ships faster than they could be replaced, pushing Britain to the brink of starvation in the 'Black Pit' of the mid-Atlantic. 

In this episode Roger Moorhouse is joined by Saul David as he dives into the most critical period of the Battle of the Atlantic, from the peak losses of March 1943 to the stunning Allied victory in 'Black May.' 

They explore the high-stakes technological race—including the deployment of long-range aircraft, advanced radar, sonar, and breaking the Enigma code—that transformed the Allies from prey to predator and secured the lifeline that made the liberation of Europe possible.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
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331. Wolfpack: Episode II - The Depths of Despair

Roger Moorhouse and Saul David analyze a week of intense combat and high-stakes diplomacy. Russia launched a heavy aerial assault on Ukrainian cities, while in the West, they discuss reports that Trump is a "spurned lover," frustrated by Putin's refusal to strike a peace deal.

The hosts also examine the critical power failure at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant and the safety risk it poses. Finally, they cover the new European plan for a continent-wide "drone wall" and the controversial debate over holding a wartime election in Ukraine.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
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330. Kyiv Under Fire: Trump the 'Spurned Lover' and the Zaporizhzhia Ticking Timebomb

Welcome to the first episode of our new Wolfpack series with Saul David and Roger Moorhouse diving into the intriguing origins and early, devastating success of Nazi Germany’s U-boat campaign in the Atlantic. 

This foundational episode unpacks how naval limitations imposed by the Treaty of Versailles failed to stop German rearmament and secretly fostered the development of submarine warfare doctrine.

They also explore Admiral Karl Dönitz's desperate strategic vision—the famed "wolfpack" tactics—and how a small fleet initially achieved spectacular results. From the shocking sinking of the civilian liner SS Athenia immediately after the declaration of war, to the "First Happy Time," a period where U-boat crews operated with lethal impunity, nearly crippling Britain's supply lines and setting the stage for the true Battle of the Atlantic. 

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
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329. Wolfpack: Episode I - The Rise of the Wolfpack (1939–1941)

This week on Battleground, Saul David and Roger Moorhouse dissect a week of Russian provocation and a dramatic political shift from the US President.

Is Putin's aggressive brinkmanship about to backfire? After three MiG-31 jets violated Estonian airspace and a major drone incursion grounded flights at Copenhagen Airport, NATO allies are drawing a line in the sand. The hosts break down the fallout from Estonia invoking Article 4, the emergency UN Security Council session, and the stark pledge from the Polish foreign minister to shoot down future invaders of NATO skies.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump executes a stunning U-turn, branding Russia a 'paper tiger' and urging Ukraine to reclaim all its lost territory—a complete reversal of his previous calls for territorial concession.

Also in this episode:

 
Kremlin Nepotism: We examine reports that an increasingly paranoid Putin has appointed his cousin, Anna Tsivileva, as a deputy defence minister to root out corruption and disloyalty in the defence ministry.

 
Nuclear Sabre-Rattling: Putin attempts to "throw Trump a bone" with a conditional offer to adhere to the New START treaty for one year following its 2026 expiry.

 
Listeners' Questions: We tackle your queries on: the West's slow adoption of drone warfare lessons; the long-term demographic fallout of the war on both Russia and Ukraine: and more.

Join us as we analyse the week's most dangerous escalations and what they mean for the future of the conflict.
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328. The New Red Line: When Will NATO Shoot Down a Russian Jet?

The final showdown in North Africa is here. In the final episode of our Tunisgrad series Saul and Roger discuss the climax of the campaign as Allied forces converge on the Axis in Tunisia.

Together they break down the pivotal battles that sealed the fate of the Axis, from Montgomery's breakthrough at the Mareth Line to the decisive pincer movement at Wadi Akarit. And the final, coordinated assault, Operation Strike, which leads to the fall of Tunis and a capitulation on a scale even greater than Stalingrad.

Discover the key factors behind the Allied victory: overwhelming logistical superiority, complete air supremacy, and a unified command structure that finally worked. Over 250,000 Axis troops surrender, marking the end of the African campaign and, as one historian notes, "the beginning of the end" for Hitler.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
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327. Tunisgrad: Part IV - Victory in Africa

While last week's dramatic Russian drone attack on Poland made headlines, this week sees a return to the grinding realities of the war in Ukraine. 

Join hosts Roger Moorhouse and Saul David as they dissect the latest developments including Russia's continued missile and drone strikes, Ukraine's strategic targeting of Russian oil infrastructure, and the alarming nature of the "Zapad 2025" military exercises between Russia and Belarus. 

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
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326. The Relentless Drone War: A Hum of Destruction

In the third instalment of our Tunisgrad series, Saul and Roger explore two pivotal moments from early 1943. First, they head to the Casablanca Conference, where Allied leaders Churchill and Roosevelt made the monumental decision to demand the "unconditional surrender" of the Axis powers.

Then, we jump into the final, desperate German counter-offensive in Tunisia, Erwin Rommel' 'Last Dance'. 

Saul breaks down a series of crucial battles, from the initial Axis victories at Sidi Bou Zid and the Kasserine Pass, which exposed weaknesses in the U.S. forces, to the strategic Allied comeback. We’ll cover how the Allies regrouped, learned from their mistakes, and ultimately repelled Rommel’s last major assaults in Operation Ochsenkopf and the Battle of Medenine, sealing the fate of the North African campaign.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
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325. Tunisgrad: Part III - Rommel's 'Last Dance'

This week, hosts Saul David and Roger Moorhouse discuss a series of momentous events that could be seen as a turning point in the war. 

They analyse a shocking Russian glide bomb attack on civilians in eastern Ukraine, a historic drone incursion into Polish airspace, and the hardening of attitudes within NATO. 

The hosts also examine the political fallout from these events, including the reactions of Donald Trump and other Western leaders, and the latest news from Russia.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
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324. Testing the Alliance: The Russian Drone Incursion

In this episode, Saul and Roger dive into the chaotic opening moves of the Tunisian campaign, covering Operation Torch and the frantic "Race for Tunis." 

Together they explore how the Allied invasion of North Africa, a strategic compromise between Roosevelt and Churchill, was meant to catch the Axis off guard but instead led to a desperate dash for the Tunisian capital.

They'll detail the swift German response as they air-lifted troops into Tunis, establishing a strong defensive perimeter that would hold for months. 

They also break down the key battles, including the Allied defeats at Tebourba and Medjez el Bab, where superior German defences and coordinated counterattacks halted the Allied advance. 

Finally they look in detail at the first bloody attempt to take the strategically vital Longstop Hill in December 1942, a key position that would only fall to the Allies months later. 

Find out why the Axis emerged victorious in these initial clashes and what this meant for the rest of the campaign.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
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323. Tunisgrad: Part II - Operation Torch and the Race for Tunis

In this episode of Battleground 45 Saul is joined by Evan Mawdsley to examine the final weeks of World War II from the perspective of the Soviet Union. 

Together they explore Stalin’s strategic goals at the Potsdam Conference, his reaction to the successful test of the atomic bomb, and the subsequent decision to accelerate the invasion of Manchuria.

They look at why the Soviet declaration of war on Japan on August 8, 1945, may have been the decisive factor for the Japanese leadership's surrender. We'll delve into the lightning-fast invasion of Manchuria and Korea, the Soviet's thwarted plans to co-occupy Japan, and what the end of the fighting meant for the Soviet Union's future geopolitical ambitions.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
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311. More Than the Bomb: The Soviet Factor in Japan's Surrender

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