History Cafe
350 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago - ★★★★★ - 14 ratingsTrue history storytelling at the History Café. Join BBC Historian Jon Rosebank & HBO, BBC & C4 script and series editor Penelope Middelboe as we give history a new take. Drop in to the History Café weekly on Wednesdays to give old stories a refreshing new brew. 90+ ever-green stand-alone episodes and building...
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Episodes
Cafe Bite: The SS and the Holy Grail
October 06, 2020 16:08 - 2 minutes - 2.69 MBCafe Bite: The SS and the Holy Grail by Jon Rosebank, Penelope Middelboe
Café Bite: The SS and the Holy Grail
October 06, 2020 16:08 - 2 minutes - 2.69 MBCafé Bite: The SS and the Holy Grail by Jon Rosebank, Penelope Middelboe
20 Hanging on Russia's apron strings - Ep 4 WW1: how much was it Britain’s fault?
October 06, 2020 07:24 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBIn 1912 a deal between War Secretary Haldane and the German chancellor Bethmann-Holweg to allow Britain to retain naval supremacy if they both remained neutral (if neither side had started the war), was rudely sabotaged. It involved lying to Cabinet that the Germans were demanding a full-scale Anglo-German alliance, which they weren’t. It meant throwing away what the majority of the Cabinet saw as the best chance to contain Russian expansion, by making common cause with Germany. Russia, allie...
19 Bicycling holidays along the French-Belgian border - Ep 3 WW1: how much was it Britain’s fault?
September 29, 2020 07:30 - 29 minutes - 26.6 MBHow did what friendly chats between British and French generals since 1905 turn into a commitment to send a small British Expeditionary Force to France at the start of a war with Germany? A commitment that had not been agreed by Cabinet, Parliament or the Navy?
Cafe Bite: How wild was the Wild West?
September 22, 2020 07:10 - 2 minutes - 2.51 MBCafe Bite: How wild was the Wild West? by Jon Rosebank, Penelope Middelboe
Café Bite: How wild was the Wild West?
September 22, 2020 07:10 - 2 minutes - 2.51 MBCafé Bite: How wild was the Wild West? by Jon Rosebank, Penelope Middelboe
18 ‘Spies of the Kaiser’ - Ep 2 WW1: how much was it Britain’s fault?
September 22, 2020 06:37 - 26 minutes - 23.9 MBWe look at anti-German hysteria in Britain 1906-1909. The British publishing phenomena of 1906 was The Invasion of 1910 (by Germans), serialised in the Daily Mail and marketed by men walking around London in Prussian uniforms. This chimed perfectly with the anti-German clique at the foreign office.
Cafe Bite: The English Revolution of 1640. Not Parliament vs the Crown
September 15, 2020 05:08 - 2 minutes - 2.61 MBThe old story that the rise and rise of parliament led to the English Revolution and the containment of the monarchy turns out to be nonsense. Parliament was more-or-less out of business by 1640. So what was the English Revolution and Civil War all about?
Café Bite: The English Revolution of 1640. Not Parliament vs the Crown
September 15, 2020 05:08 - 2 minutes - 2.61 MBThe old story that the rise and rise of parliament led to the English Revolution and the containment of the monarchy turns out to be nonsense. Parliament was more-or-less out of business by 1640. So what was the English Revolution and Civil War all about?
Cafe Bite: The Black Death
September 15, 2020 05:07 - 2 minutes - 2.53 MBThe long term effects of the first great pandemic of modern historical times took literally hundreds of years to work themselves out. Sobering thought?
Café Bite: The Black Death
September 15, 2020 05:07 - 2 minutes - 2.53 MBThe long term effects of the first great pandemic of modern historical times took literally hundreds of years to work themselves out. Sobering thought?
17 The elephant in the room - Ep 1 WW1: how much was it Britain’s fault?
September 15, 2020 05:04 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBBritain’s main problem by 1910 was Russian expansion towards its Persian oil and India, the jewel in Britain’s crown. So why did Britain go to war to SUPPORT Russia and AGAINST Germany which was its closest European friend and trading partner?
Cafe Bite: The Last of the Magicians?
September 08, 2020 06:05 - 2 minutes - 2.68 MBCafe Bite: The Last of the Magicians? by Jon Rosebank, Penelope Middelboe
Café Bite: The Last of the Magicians?
September 08, 2020 06:05 - 2 minutes - 2.68 MBCafé Bite: The Last of the Magicians? by Jon Rosebank, Penelope Middelboe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
16 The men behind the myth - ep 7 of How Kennedy lost the Cuba Missile Crisis
September 08, 2020 05:55 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBWithin days of 28 October 1962 two journalists publish the official but untruthful White House account, as instructed and edited by the President. They also call-out a political enemy for daring to consider a humiliating missile swap with the Soviets. But we show how the Kennedys had already suggested this very missile swap to Khrushchev via private backchannels, on condition he kept it secret. Which he did.
#16 The men behind the myth - ep 7 Why did Kennedy cause the Cuba Missile Crisis?
September 08, 2020 05:55 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBWithin days of 28 October 1962 two journalists publish the official but untruthful White House account, as instructed and edited by the President. They also call-out a political enemy for daring to consider a humiliating missile swap with the Soviets. But we show how the Kennedys had already suggested this very missile swap to Khrushchev via private backchannels, on condition he kept it secret. Which he did. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#16 The men behind the myth - ep 7 of How Kennedy lost the Cuba Missile Crisis
September 08, 2020 05:55 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBWithin days of 28 October 1962 two journalists publish the official but untruthful White House account, as instructed and edited by the President. They also call-out a political enemy for daring to consider a humiliating missile swap with the Soviets. But we show how the Kennedys had already suggested this very missile swap to Khrushchev via private backchannels, on condition he kept it secret. Which he did.
Cafe Bite: Was Jack the Ripper invented?
September 04, 2020 11:14 - 4 minutes - 4.1 MBCafe Bite: Was Jack the Ripper invented? by Jon Rosebank, Penelope Middelboe
Café Bite: Was Jack the Ripper invented?
September 04, 2020 11:14 - 4 minutes - 4.1 MBCafé Bite: Was Jack the Ripper invented? by Jon Rosebank, Penelope Middelboe
Café Bite: What Wars? What Roses?
September 04, 2020 11:08 - 2 minutes - 2.64 MBCafé Bite: What Wars? What Roses? by Jon Rosebank, Penelope Middelboe
Cafe Bite: What Wars? What Roses?
September 04, 2020 11:08 - 2 minutes - 2.64 MBCafe Bite: What Wars? What Roses? by Jon Rosebank, Penelope Middelboe
Café Bite: Maxse's Men - the lost breakthrough on the Somme
September 04, 2020 11:06 - 3 minutes - 3.32 MBCafé Bite: Maxse's Men - the lost breakthrough on the Somme by Jon Rosebank, Penelope Middelboe
Cafe Bite: Maxse's Men - the lost breakthrough on the Somme
September 04, 2020 11:06 - 3 minutes - 3.32 MBCafe Bite: Maxse's Men - the lost breakthrough on the Somme by Jon Rosebank, Penelope Middelboe
Cafe Bite: What defeated the Spanish Armada?
September 04, 2020 11:05 - 2 minutes - 2.66 MBCafe Bite: What defeated the Spanish Armada? by Jon Rosebank, Penelope Middelboe
Café Bite: What defeated the Spanish Armada?
September 04, 2020 11:05 - 2 minutes - 2.66 MBCafé Bite: What defeated the Spanish Armada? by Jon Rosebank, Penelope Middelboe
Cafe Bite: The English live in an Anglo-Saxon country
September 04, 2020 11:04 - 3 minutes - 3.39 MBCafe Bite: The English live in an Anglo-Saxon country by Jon Rosebank, Penelope Middelboe
Café Bite: The English live in an Anglo-Saxon country
September 04, 2020 11:04 - 3 minutes - 3.39 MBCafé Bite: The English live in an Anglo-Saxon country by Jon Rosebank, Penelope Middelboe
#15 ‘The Fourteenth Day’ - ep 6 Why did Kennedy cause the Cuba Missile Crisis?
September 01, 2020 05:16 - 29 minutes - 27.5 MB28 October 1962: by holding his nerve Kennedy defuses the crisis in just 13 days. He says it’s over although he’s unable to verify whether Khrushchev ever withdraws his missiles or not. The last missiles do indeed leave Cuba on day 48 of the crisis but for very different reasons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#15 ‘The Fourteenth Day’ - ep 6 How Kennedy lost the Cuba Missile Crisis
September 01, 2020 05:16 - 29 minutes - 27.5 MB28 October 1962: by holding his nerve Kennedy defuses the crisis in just 13 days. He says it’s over although he’s unable to verify whether Khrushchev ever withdraws his missiles or not. The last missiles do indeed leave Cuba on day 48 of the crisis but for very different reasons.
15 ‘The Fourteenth Day’ - ep 6 How Kennedy lost the Cuba Missile Crisis
September 01, 2020 05:16 - 29 minutes - 27.5 MB28 October 1962: by holding his nerve Kennedy defuses the crisis in just 13 days. He says it’s over although he’s unable to verify whether Khrushchev ever withdraws his missiles or not. The last missiles do indeed leave Cuba on day 48 of the crisis but for very different reasons.
#14 ‘Eyeball to eyeball’ - ep 5 How Kennedy lost the Cuban Missile Crisis
August 25, 2020 07:08 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MB22 October 1962: President Kennedy goes on prime-time TV and announces a blockade around Cuba to prevent more Soviet missiles reaching the island. But US sailors call the so-called ‘quarantine’ nothing but ‘grand theatrics.’ Not a single Soviet ship is stopped by the US Navy. What was going on?
14 ‘Eyeball to eyeball’ - ep 5 How Kennedy lost the Cuban Missile Crisis
August 25, 2020 07:08 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MB22 October 1962: President Kennedy goes on prime-time TV and announces a blockade around Cuba to prevent more Soviet missiles reaching the island. But US sailors call the so-called ‘quarantine’ nothing but ‘grand theatrics.’ Not a single Soviet ship is stopped by the US Navy. What was going on?
13 ‘Russian roulette’ - ep 4 of How Kennedy lost the Cuban Missile Crisis
August 18, 2020 07:24 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MB15 October 1962: Soviet nuclear missile sites are discovered. It’s only three weeks before the mid-term elections. Kennedy decides that to negotiate publicly with Khrushchev would be a disaster at the polls; as would ignoring them which is what his allies advise him to do. So, as Noam Chomsky puts it, the President chooses ‘to play Russian Roulette with nuclear missiles.’
#13 ‘Russian roulette’ - ep 4 of How Kennedy lost the Cuban Missile Crisis
August 18, 2020 07:24 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MB15 October 1962: Soviet nuclear missile sites are discovered. It’s only three weeks before the mid-term elections. Kennedy decides that to negotiate publicly with Khrushchev would be a disaster at the polls; as would ignoring them which is what his allies advise him to do. So, as Noam Chomsky puts it, the President chooses ‘to play Russian Roulette with nuclear missiles.’
Taster: 'There's nothing kingly about me - ep 3 of 2 May 1937...
August 17, 2020 07:37 - 1 minute - 1.76 MBThe British government could have stopped Edward VIII abdicating. They could have prevented Wallis Simpson getting a divorce from Ernest Simpson. UK divorce law was on their side. Why didn't they?
Taster #9 'There's nothing kingly about me - Ep 3 of 2 May 1937... LOBSTER
August 17, 2020 07:37 - 1 minute - 1.76 MBTaster for #9 - The British government could have stopped Edward VIII abdicating. They could have prevented Wallis Simpson getting a divorce from Ernest Simpson. UK divorce law was on their side. Why didn't they?
Taster: #8 'Dictators are very popular these days' - Ep 2 of 2 May 1937... LOBSTER
August 17, 2020 07:37 - 1 minute - 1.74 MBTaster for #8 - Is it possible that the British government deliberately manoeuvred King Edward VIII off the throne in December 1936 because he was too pro-Nazi? That's what Hitler's ambassador to Britain von Ribbentrop thought.
Taster: 'Dictators are very popular these days' - ep 2 of 2 May 1937...
August 17, 2020 07:37 - 1 minute - 1.74 MBIs it possible that the British government deliberately manoeuvred King Edward VIII off the throne in December 1936 because he was too pro-Nazi? That's what Hitler's ambassador to Britain von Ribbentrop thought.
Taster: That Dress - ep 1 of 2 May 1937: the King, his wife, their Führer, the Lobster
August 17, 2020 07:37 - 1 minute - 1.6 MBAn introduction to a moment in time - a split second: enough time for a photograph - when a whole lot of things come together: US investment in Nazi Germany, the abdication, surrealism, the Spanish Civil War, French fashion.
#12 ‘The only way to save Cuba’ - ep 3 of How Kennedy lost the Cuba Missile Crisis
August 11, 2020 07:55 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBThe Cuban Missile Crisis begins not because Castro is a dangerous communist but because he is NOT. Khrushchev tells his ruling council: ‘The only way to save Cuba is to put missiles there’ - not only to prevent an American invasion, but also to keep Fidel Castro sweet.
‘The only way to save Cuba’ - Ep 3 How Kennedy lost the Cuban Missile Crisis
August 11, 2020 07:55 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBThe Cuban Missile Crisis begins not because Castro is a dangerous communist but because he is NOT. Khrushchev tells his ruling council: ‘The only way to save Cuba is to put missiles there’ - not only to prevent an American invasion, but also to keep Fidel Castro sweet.
12 ‘The only way to save Cuba’ - ep 3 of How Kennedy lost the Cuba Missile Crisis
August 11, 2020 07:55 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBThe Cuban Missile Crisis begins not because Castro is a dangerous communist but because he is NOT. Khrushchev tells his ruling council: ‘The only way to save Cuba is to put missiles there’ - not only to prevent an American invasion, but also to keep Fidel Castro sweet.
#12 ‘The only way to save Cuba’ - ep 3 of Why did Kennedy cause the Cuba Missile Crisis?
August 11, 2020 07:55 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBThe Cuban Missile Crisis begins not because Castro is a dangerous communist but because he is NOT. Khrushchev tells his ruling council: ‘The only way to save Cuba is to put missiles there’ - not only to prevent an American invasion, but also to keep Fidel Castro sweet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Taster: #6 'London fires were visible from France' - Ep 6 Who really won the Battle of Britain?
August 10, 2020 21:14 - 1 minute - 1.27 MBTaster for #6 - Date: 15 September 1940 - which became known as Battle of Britain Day. Location: the HQ of Group Fighter Command in Uxbridge - which became known as the 'Battle of Britain bunker'. All described by Churchill who had brought his wife Clemmie for a day out, when 'all hell broke out.'
Taster: London fires were visible from France - ep 6 Who really won the Battle of Britain?
August 10, 2020 21:14 - 1 minute - 1.27 MBDate: 15 September 1940 - which became known as Battle of Britain Day. Location: the HQ of Group Fighter Command in Uxbridge - which became known as the 'Battle of Britain bunker'. All described by Churchill who had brought his wife Clemmie for a day out, when 'all hell broke out.'
Taster: Forcing Britain to her knees - ep 5 Who really won the Battle of Britain?
August 10, 2020 20:55 - 1 minute - 1.3 MBIn late August Hitler finally orders that the invasion of Britain - so risky that the German navy, army and airforce have been doing their best to prevent - must actually go ahead. Each episode is an enjoyable listen on its own.
Taster: #5 'Forcing Britain to her knees' - Ep 5 Who really won the Battle of Britain?
August 10, 2020 20:55 - 1 minute - 1.3 MBTaster for #5 - In late August Hitler finally orders that the invasion of Britain - so risky that the German navy, army and airforce have been doing their best to prevent - must actually go ahead. Each episode is an enjoyable listen on its own.
Taster: #4 'More Than A Double Bluff' - Ep 4 Who really won the Battle of Britain?
August 10, 2020 20:37 - 1 minute - 1.42 MBTaster for #4 - Hitler's deliberate policy of letting his henchmen fight it out among themselves caused chaos and infighting. The German army and navy couldn't agree how to transport an invasion force across the channel. There were months of bluff, counter bluff and manoeuvring. Hitler and Churchill were also bluffing - and it wasn't only each other...
Taster: 'More Than A Double Bluff' - ep 4 Who really won the Battle of Britain?
August 10, 2020 20:37 - 1 minute - 1.42 MBHitler's deliberate policy of letting his henchmen fight it out among themselves caused chaos and infighting. The German army and navy couldn't agree how to transport an invasion force across the channel. There were months of bluff, counter bluff and manoeuvring. Hitler and Churchill were also bluffing - and it wasn't only each other...
Taster: 'Always carry pepper to throw in their eyes' - ep 3 Who really won the Battle of Britain?
August 10, 2020 20:30 - 1 minute - 1.68 MBBritain gets geared up to defend against an amphibious invasion: pillboxes disguised with chicken feathers - a volunteer army to defend Britain called the LDV known as 'Look, Duck, Vanish' - a leaflet advising people to carry pepper to throw in the enemy's eyes, and 'a sharp knife to kill them if necessary.'