Shows
History Happy HourLexington and Concord 250th Anniversary: Guest: Joel BohyThis week on History Happy Hour: Chris and Rick are back live and celebrating five years as Hosts of HHH. And it’s a History Happy First - for the first time in five years they will be in the same place with their guest! Podcasting from Lexington, Massachusetts, on the day after the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington, Chris and Rick will talk to Joel Bohy, author of Bullet Strikes from the First Day of the American Revolution. Joe’s book tells the story of investigators who used forensic techniques straight out of CS...2025-04-2057 minHistory Happy HourHistory Happy Talk: Guests: Chris Anderson & Rick BeyerThis Week on History Happy Hour: No Guest – Just Us! Due to a scheduling issue, we will be sans guest on Sunday! What would you like us to talk about. FDR’s leadership? Our favorite WWI books? Who should have won the War for Independence?Send an email to info@historyhappyhour.net with your questions / topics / suggestions. Get us going! And when you tune in, we’ll have some questions for you as well. A free-flow, interactive, fun time on HHH. Just make sure you have your cocktail in hand – we sure will! 2025-03-0958 minHistory Happy HourHistory Happy Talk : Guests: Christopher Anderson and Rick BeyerThis Week on History Happy Hour: No Guest – Just Us! We’re bringing back another edition of History Happy Talk!What would you like us to talk about. The Battle of the Bulge? Recent trips you have been on? Who should have won the War for Independence? Send an email to info@historyhappyhour.net with your questions/topics/suggestions. Get us going! And when you tune in, we’ll have some questions for you as well. A free-flow, interactive, fun time on HHH. Just make sure you have your cocktail in hand – we sure will! 2024-12-011h 00History Happy HourDoolittle Raid Mystery: Guest: Dan HamptonThis Week on History Happy Hour: Everyone knows about the Doolittle Raid, in which 16 B25s took off from an aircraft carrier to bomb Japan early in the war. But few know the story of Plane 8, which never attacked Tokyo, but headed across Japan to the Soviet Union. Was it on some sort of secret mission that has never been revealed? Chris and Rick look for answers with Dan Hampton, author of Vanishing Act: The Enduring Mystery Behind the Legendary Doolittle Raid. Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Dan Hampton flew 151 combat missions during his...2024-06-1656 minHistory Happy HourAmerican Servicewomen in World War II: Guest: Lena AndrewsThis Week on History Happy Hour: 350,000 American women served in uniform during World War II. They found themselves in every service branch, in every combat theater. They were directly involved in some of the most important moments of the war, from the D-Day landings to the peace negotiations in Paris. Chris and Rick explore their contribution with Lena Andrews, author of the bestseller Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win WWII. Lena Andrews is a military analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency. is a military analyst for the Central...2024-06-0956 minHistory Happy HourHistory Happy Hour Encore: Normandy Master Class: Guests: Matt Broggie, Erik Flint, Hugh MacDonald-BuchananThis Week on History Happy Hour: In this encore episode, Chris and Rick are on the road in Normandy! Along with historians Matt Broggie, Erik Flint, and Hugh MacDonald-Buchanan, they are leading a trip on the Normandy Breakout – the seven weeks of fighting that result in victory in Normandy and pave the way for a push to Paris and beyond. This week, excerpts from talks on the ground by all five historians. Hear the stories told in the spots where they happened! Matt Broggie has been working with Stephen Ambrose Historical To...2024-06-021h 06History Happy HourEisenhower and D-Day: Guest: Michel ParadisThis Week on History Happy Hour: An advance look at an exciting, brand-new book about Dwight Eisenhower set in the months leading up to the Normandy invasion. It takes a deep dive into the period when he grew from a well-liked general into one of the singular figures of American history. Chris and Rick welcome Michel Paradis, author of The Light of Battle: Eisenhower, D-Day, and the Birth of the American Superpower. Author Alex Kershaw calls the book "Gorgeously written. The only must-read book to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day." 2024-05-261h 03History Happy HourThe Normandy Battle of Villers-Bocage: Guest: Daniel TaylorThis Week on History Happy Hour: It is one of the most famous and controversial battles the British fought in Normandy. On June 13, British forces were ambushed at Villers-Bocage by Waffen SS German Panzers, including one commanded by German Panzer ace Michael Wittmann. This kicked off a two-day battle that resulted in a major British withdrawal. Chris and Rick dig into this story with Daniel Taylor author of Villers-Bocage: Operation Perch: The Complete Account. The debate still swirls: Was it a crushing British defeat, or a compelling recovery from an ambush that was misunderstood by...2024-05-1956 minHistory Happy HourCanadians in Normandy: Guest: David O'KeefeThis Week on History Happy Hour: In July 1944, 300 men from Canada’s storied Black Watch regiment found themselves embroiled in mortal combat against elite German units in Normandy in a bloody battle for Verrières Ridge. Only a handful of Highlanders walked away unscathed. In this encore episode, Chris Anderson and Rick Beyer explore this ferocious battle with historian David O’Keefe, author of Seven Days in Hell: Canada's Battle for Normandy and the Rise of the Black Watch Snipers. David O'Keefe is an award-winning historian, documentarian and professor at Marianopolis College in Wes...2024-05-121h 01History Happy HourD-Day Special: Guest: Giles Milton, Joe Balkoski, Craig SymondsThis Week on History Happy Hour: As we approach the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Chris Anderson and Rick Beyer look back on the Normandy landings with a 90-minute encore presentation of our 2021 D-Day Special. Rick hosted the show live from the National D-Day Memorial, and three distinguished guests joined us for a D-Day discussion. The show begins with author Giles Milton, and a look at his riveting account of the first 24 hours of the D-Day invasion as told through a symphony of incredible accounts from both sides. The book is Soldier, Sailor, Frogman, Spy, Airman...2024-05-051h 37History Happy HourQueen Elizabeth II: Guest: Alexander LarmanThis Week on History Happy Hour: Alexander Larman, master chronicler of the House of Windsor, returns to HHH to talk with Chris and Rick about the final book in his acclaimed trilogy: Power and Glory Elizabeth II and the Rebirth of Royalty. From Elizabeth and Philip’s Royal Wedding, to George VI’s death and the discovery of the Duke of Windsor’s treacherous activities in WWII, Larman paints a vivid portrait of the end of one sovereign’s reign and the beginning of another’s. Alexander Larman is a British author, journalist and historian...2024-04-2959 minHistory Happy HourWith the Infantry in World War II: Guest: Peter HartThis Week on History Happy Hour: In this encore episode, Chris and Rick welcome back distinguished (and sometimes disruptive!) oral historian Peter Hart to talk about his new book Footsloggers: An Infantry Battalion at War, 1939-1945. He’ll share the story of a single British infantry battalion during WWII. From North Africa to Italy and Greece, the 16th learned their military skills the hard way facing determined German opposition every step of the way. Peter Hart is the author of numerous books on World Wars I and II. He was for...2024-04-0759 minHistory Happy HourGeneral Meade at Gettysburg: Guest: Kent Masterson BrownThis Week on History Happy Hour: Union general George G. Meade guided his forces to victory in the Civil War's most pivotal battle. But he is often dismissed or left out when commentators discuss the great leaders of the Civil War. Did he lead his troops to victory, or was he just along for the ride? In this encore episode, Chris and Rick talk about Meade with Kent Masterson Brown, author of the recent book Meade at Gettysburg: A Study in Command. We’ll explore Brown’s contention that Meade deserves far more credit than he u...2024-03-3159 minHistory Happy HourExcavating Rev War Soldiers: Guests: Steven Smith, Wade Catts, Jen JanofskyThis Week on History Happy Hour: Recent archeological digs have uncovered the remains of two dozen soldiers who fought at the Revolutionary War battles of Camden, South Carolina, and Red Bank, New Jersey. British, American and Hessian soldiers have been unearthed nearly 250 years after the guns ceased. In this encore episode, Chris and Rick welcome Steven Smith, an archeologists on the Camden project, as well as Wade Catts and Jen Janofsky, co-directors of the Redbank Project, to talk about the effort to recover and remember these soldiers. What stories and secrets can their remains reveal? 2024-03-241h 02History Happy HourBlack Sheriff Bass Reeves: Guest: Art T. BurtonThis week on History Happy Hour: Bass Reeves was born into slavery and never learned to read or write. But he nevertheless became one of the most feared lawmen in the west who carried out more than 3000 arrests and killed 14 men while carrying out his mission as a deputy Federal Marshall. Art Burton has spent years digging into his story. In this encore episode, Chris and Rick welcome Art to talk about his book Black Gun, Silver Star: The Legend of Frontier Marshall Bass Reeves. Art T. Burton, i...2024-03-1757 minHistory Happy HourDecember 1942: A World at War: Guest: Peter HarmsenThis week on History Happy Hour: December 1942 saw the bloodiest Christmas in the history of mankind. From the islands in the Pacific to the China front, from the trenches in Russia to the battle lines in North Africa, in the skies over Europe and in the depths of the Atlantic, men were killing each other in greater numbers than ever before. It offers a glimpse of the extremes, good and bad, that World War II gave rise to. Chris and Rick will explore this period around the globe with Peter Harmsen, author of Darkest Christmas...2024-03-1058 minHistory Happy Hour29th Division in World War II: Guest: Joe BalkoskiThis week on History Happy Hour: Author and historian Joe Balkoski becomes our first ever five-time guest, as he returns to pick up the story of the 29th Division. Things will kick off with a special ceremony honoring Joe’s five-time guest status. (A hat is involved!) Then Chris and Rick will talk to him about the 4th volume of his five-volume series on the 29th: Our Tortured Souls: The 29th Infantry Division in the Rhineland, November - December 1944. A riveting story of heroism and tragedy, during which thousands of 29ers became casualties in a cam...2024-02-2559 minHistory Happy HourA Combat Nurse in WWII: Guest: NCR DavisThis week on History Happy Hour: A close-up look at how WWII looked to combat nurse Lt. Mary Elizabeth Balster, who spent months caring for the sick and wounded just behind the front lines of General Patton’s Third Army. Chris and Rick welcome NCR Davis, Lt. Balster’s daughter, and author of For the Boys: The War Story of a Combat Nurse in Patton’s Third Army. The true story of a richly rebellious and intense woman trying to navigate her life and nurture her sanity while nursing the wounded and dying. Nancy...2024-02-191h 01History Happy HourNew York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia: Guest: Terry GolwayThis week on History Happy Hour: He was one of the twentieth century’s most colorful politicians—on the New York and national stage. He was also quintessentially American: the son of Italian immigrants, who rose in society through sheer will and chutzpah. Almost one hundred years later, America is once again grappling with issues that would have been familiar to the Little Flower, as he was affectionately known. Chris and Rick will explore his life with Terry Golway, author of I Never Did Like Politics: How Fiorello La Guardia Became America's Mayor, and Why He S...2024-02-1159 minHistory Happy Hour9th Army Commander Gen. William Simpson: Guest: William Stuart NanceThis week on History Happy Hour: He never became as celebrated as his fellow commanders George Patton and Omar Bradley, but General William Simpson, commander of the 9th U.S. Army in WWII, built a superb combat record. General Dwight Eisenhower called him brilliant, adding: "If Simpson ever made a mistake as an Army Commander, it never came to my attention." To explore his WWII command record, Chris and Rick will be joined by William Stuart Nance, author of a new book about Simpson and his Chief of Staff James Moore: Commanding Professionalism: Simpson, Moore...2024-02-041h 01History Happy HourGeneral George Patton: Guest: Kevin HymelThis week on History Happy Hour: In this encore episode, Chris and Rick welcome back fellow Stephen Ambrose Tours historian and Patton expert Kevin Hymel to talk about the second volume of his Patton Trilogy, Patton's War: An American General's Combat Leadership, Volume 2: August–December 1944. We'll be covering the period starting when Patton took command of the 3rd Army. It includes his race against France, the closing of the Falaise pocket, and the successful effort to relieve Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Kevin Hymel has served as a Hi...2024-01-281h 01History Happy HourHistory Happy TalkThis week on History Happy Hour: Our guest for this week had to take part in a hush-hush military exercise (or so she told us) so we won’t be talking to her. Instead, Chris and Rick will chat/argue/talk about history with each other – and you! What would you like us to talk about? FDR’s leadership? Our favorite WWI books? Who should have won the War for Independence? Send an email to info@historyhappyhour.net with your questions/topics/suggestions. A free-flow, interactive, fun time on HHH. Just make sure you have your cocktail in han...2024-01-211h 03History Happy HourJohn Hancock: Guest: Brooke BarbierThis week on History Happy Hour: Today most people remember little more about John Hancock than his signature, but 250 years ago this Boston businessman was a powerful and popular patriot leader who, on multiple occasions, played a vital role in the fight for Independence.Chris and Rick start the new year by diving back into the Revolution (or is it the War of Independence?) and talking to Brooke Barbier, author of King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father. Brooke Barbier is a public historian who received her PhD in American history f...2024-01-071h 02History Happy HourEpic Battles of Ancient Greece: Guest: Dr Stephen KershawThis week on History Happy Hour: It has been almost exactly 2,500 years since Athens, the birthplace of democracy, fought off the mighty Persian empire. What possible relevance does this have today?In this encore episode, Chris and Rick talk with Stephen Kershaw, author of the new book Three Epic Battles that Saved Democracy. We'll explore three epic campaigns - Marathon, Thermopylae and Salamis - that Kershaw argues saved democracy, and without which the history of Europe and the West would have been radically different.Epic Battles of Ancient Greece – and what they mean to us. Sun...2023-12-3158 minHistory Happy HourPointe-du-Hoc: Guest: Stephen ZalogaThis week on History Happy Hour: The Ranger attack on the German gun batteries at Pointe-du-Hoc in the early morning hours of D-Day is the stuff of legend.In an encore episode, Chris and Rick welcome vaunted D-Day historian Stephen Zaloga to the show to talk about his new book, Smashing Hitler’s Guns: The Rangers at Pointe-du-Hoc D-Day 1944. We’ll walk through the legends, and the questions, and see what Zaloga has been able to unearth in this most recent account of the Rangers’ fateful mission. Stephen Zaloga is an American historian, defense consul...2023-12-241h 00History Happy HourAfrican Americans in World War II: Guest: Matthew F. DelmontThis week on History Happy Hour: More than one million Black men and women served in World War II. Black troops served in segregated units and performing unheralded but vital support jobs, only to be denied housing and educational opportunities during and after the war. Without their crucial contributions, the United States could not have won the war. And yet the stories of these Black veterans have long been ignored, cast aside in favor of the myth of the “Good War” fought by the “Greatest Generation.”This week Chris and Rick welcome historian Mathew Delmont, author of the new...2023-12-1758 minHistory Happy HourGermany and Genocide: Guest: Andrew I. PortThis week on History Happy Hour: How has how Germany's Nazi past shaped its responses to the genocides in Cambodia, Bosnia, and Rwanda—and further, how have these foreign atrocities recast Germans’ understanding of their own horrific history.Chris and Rick will launch a discussion on this topic with Andrew Port, author of Never Again: Germans and Genocide After the Holocaust. Andrew I. Port is professor of history at Wayne State University in Detroit. He previously taught at Harvard and at Yale, where he earned his graduate and undergraduate degrees. He is the recipient of th...2023-12-1059 minHistory Happy Hour1932: The Pivotal Year: Guest: Scott MartelleThis week on History Happy Hour: We'll examine the most transformative year in American history -- when a battered nation would emerge from the Great Depression and reinvent itself under the skilled leadership of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. But that’s only one thing that happened in a year cram-packed with fascinating characters and happenings.Chris and Rick welcome is Scott Martelle, author of the brand-new book 1932: FDR, Hoover and the Dawn of a New America. Scott Martelle is a former Los Angeles Times staff writer and member of the editorial board. He also is...2023-12-0359 minHistory Happy HourHistory Happy Talk: Guest: Chris Anderson & Rick BeyerThis week on History Happy Hour: No Guest – Just Us! By popular demand, Chris and Rick reserve the hour on this Sunday after Thanksgiving to just chat with each other – and you! What would you like us to talk about. FDR’s leadership? Our favorite WWI books? Who should have won the War for Independence? Send an email to info@historyhappyhour.net with your questions, topics and suggestions. Get us going! And when you tune in, we’ll have some questions for you as well. A free-flow, interactive, fun time on HHH. Just make sure you have...2023-11-271h 00History Happy HourThe Fall of France: Guest: Michael Scott NeibergThis week on History Happy Hour: According to US Secretary of War Henry Stimson, the "most shocking single event" of World War II was not the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, but rather the fall of France in the spring of 1940. In recognizing Vichy, the US not only demonstrated panic and moral ineptitude but also nearly ruined the alliance with Britain.Chris and Rick will explore this topic with Michael Neiberg, author of When France Fell: The Vichy Crisis and the Face of the Anglo-American Alliance. Michael Scott Neiberg is an American h...2023-11-2058 minHistory Happy HourSubmarines at Midway: Guest: Mark W. AllenThis week on History Happy Hour: Did submarines play a bigger role in the Battle of Midway than is generally believed? That's the argument from naval historian Mark Allen, author of Midway Submerged: American and Japanese Submarine Operations at the Battle of Midway, May–June 1942.Chris and Rick will talk to Mark about what each side expected from their submarines, and how well these vessels fulfilled the expectations placed on them by their respective naval planners. A story that brings a whole new dimension to the discussion of the battle of Midway. Mark W. All...2023-11-1258 minHistory Happy HourNapoleonic Wars: Guest: Alexander MikaberidzeThis week on History Happy Hour: From 1792-1815, Europe was consumed by the Napoleonic Wars. But their impact reverberated around the world, altering the political and military landscape on six continents. To explore this global story, Chris and Rick welcome Alexander Mikaberidze, author of The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History. Why the Napoleonic Wars may have been the most important thing to have taken place between the Reformation and World War I. Alexander Mikaberidze is a lawyer, author and historian who specializes in Napoleonic Studies. Originally from the country of Georgia, he is now a p...2023-11-0559 minHistory Happy HourLost Paratroopers of Normandy: Guest: Stephen G. RabeThis week on History Happy Hour: The gripping true story of a group of American paratroopers who were dropped behind enemy lines on D-Day, only to disappear without a trace. In this encore episode, Chris and Rick welcome Stephen Rabe, author of The Lost Paratroopers of Normandy. His book brings to life the harrowing struggles and ultimate fate of these forgotten heroes – one of whom was his father. A story that involves not only Americans and Germans, but also French citizens who played a key role. Stephen G. Ra...2023-10-2904 minHistory Happy HourEleanor Roosevelt Goes to War: Guest: Shannon McKenna SchmidtThis week on History Happy Hour: The most remarkable journey any president’s wife has ever made. In August 1943, under a veil of secrecy, Eleanor Roosevelt began a risky five week tour to the South Pacific to experience what American GI’s were experiencing...and report back home. Her journey soon became front page news, as she visited, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, and Guadalcanal. Chris and Rick welcome author Shannon McKenna Schmidt to talk about her new book, The First Lady of World War II: Eleanor Roosevelt’s Daring Journey to the Frontlines and Back. 2023-10-2257 minHistory Happy HourAnna May Wong: Guest: Yunte HuangThis week on History Happy Hour: The story of Anna May Wong, a Chinese American movie-star who battled racism and sexism as she emerged from turn-of-the-century Los Angeles to become Old Hollywood’s most famous Chinese American actress. Chris and Rick welcome Yunte Huang, author of Daughter of the Dragon: Anna May Wong’s Rendezvous with American History. The remarkable and sometimes tragic story of a screen siren who captivated global audiences and signed her publicity photos—with a touch of defiance—“Orientally yours.” Yunte Huang grew up in a small town in China, wh...2023-10-1559 minHistory Happy HourAnna Rosenberg: Guest: Christopher C. GorhamThis week on History Happy Hour: Anna Rosenberg was a Hungarian immigrant who became one of FDR’s closest advisors and, according to Life Magazine, was “the most important official female in the world.” Her influence on 20th-century America, from the New Deal to the Cold War, was remarkable. Chris and Rick explore her life with Christopher Gorham, author of The Confidante: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Helped Win WWII and Shape Modern America. Christopher C. Gorham is a lawyer and teacher of modern American history at Westford Academy, outside Boston...2023-10-0958 minHistory Happy HourSix-Triple-Eight Postal Battalion: Guest: Edna CummingsThis week on History Happy Hour: The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. They were the only the only predominantly all-black US Women's Army unit sent overseas during World War II. Their mission: raise soldiers morale by improving the disastrously backed up mail. To tell their story Chris and Rick welcome Col. Edna Cummings, U.S. Army (Ret) who has produced a documentary about the unit, and leads the Stephen Ambrose 6888 tour. Edna Cummings had a distinguished 25-year military career culminating with senior-level positions at Georgetown University, the Pentagon, and NORAD...2023-09-181h 00History Happy HourWith the Infantry in World War II : Guest: Peter HartThis week on History Happy Hour: Chris and Rick welcome back distinguished (and sometimes disruptive!) oral historian Peter Hart to talk about his new book Footsloggers: An Infantry Battalion at War, 1939-1945. He’ll share the story of a single British infantry battalion during WWII. From North Africa to Italy and Greece, the 16th learned their military skills the hard way facing determined German opposition every step of the way. Peter Hart is the author of numerous books on World Wars I and II. He was formerly the lead oral historian at th...2023-09-0359 minHistory Happy HourDaily Life in Nazi Germany : Guest: Julia BoydThis week on History Happy Hour: A close-up look at daily life in a small Bavarian village during the years of Nazi Germany. Chris and Rick welcome Julia Mead, co-author of the new book, A Village in the Third Reich: How Ordinary Lives Were Transformed by the Rise of Fascism. An intimate portrait of German life during World War II, shining a light on how people in this picturesque village were changed by the waves of hate and horror through the rule of Hitler and beyond. ...2023-08-271h 01History Happy HourGeneral Meade at Gettysburg: Guest: Kent Masterson BrownThis week on History Happy Hour: Union general George G. Meade guided his forces to victory in the Civil War's most pivotal battle. But he is often dismissed or left out when commentators discuss the great leaders of the Civil War. Did he lead his troops to victory, or was he just along for the ride? This week Chris and Rick talk about Meade with Kent Masterson Brown, author of the recent book Meade at Gettysburg: A Study in Command. We’ll explore Brown’s contention that Meade deserves far more credit than he usually receive...2023-08-211h 01History Happy HourJosephine Baker WWII Spy: Guest: Damien LewisThis week on History Happy Hour: Prior to World War II, Josephine Baker was the highest-paid female performer in Europe, renowned for her singing and dancing, her beauty and sexuality. When the Nazis seized her adopted city, Paris, she vowed to stay and fight. Overnight, she went from performer to Resistance spy. In an encore episode, Chris and Rick welcome renowned historian Damien Lewis to talk about his new book Agent Josephine: American Beauty, French Hero, British Spy. Lewis has spent ten years researching the story and unearthing new details about Baker’s wartime exploits....2023-08-131h 03History Happy HourResisting Hitler: Guest: Halik KochanskiThis week on History Happy Hour: A new book takes a sweeping look at the resistance movement that grew up in Europe against Nazi oppression. Chris and Rick welcome historian Halik Kochanski, author of Resistance: The Underground War Against Hitler, 1939-1945, to bring to life the thrilling exploits of fighters who risked everything to strike back against the tyranny of Hitler's regime. Sir Max Hastings called the book, “the most comprehensive and best account of resistance I have read.” A tribute to the bravery and determination of those who fought for freedom in the darkest of ti...2023-07-0958 minHistory Happy HourHessians in the Revolutionary War: Guest: Friederike BaerThis Week on History Happy Hour: During America’s War for Independence, nearly 30,000 German soldiers came to the Colonies to fight for Britain. Collectively known as Hessians, they served everywhere from Canada to Cuba and shared in every significant British triumph and defeat. What were their experiences and how did the war look to them? Chris and Rick welcome historian Friederike Baer, who has written a groundbreaking book on the subject; Hessians: German Soldiers in the American Revolutionary War. Friederike Baer is an Associate Professor of History at Pennsylvania State Un...2023-07-021h 00History Happy HourExcavating Rev War Soldiers: Guests: Steven Smith, James Legg, Wade Catts, Jen JanofskyThis Week on History Happy Hour: Recent archeological digs have uncovered the remains of two dozen soldiers who fought at the Revolutionary War battles of Camden, South Carolina, and Red Bank, New Jersey. British, American and Hessian soldiers have been unearthed nearly 250 years after the guns ceased. Chris and Rick welcome Steven Smith, principal investigator on the Camden project, as well as Wade Catts and Jen Janofsky, co-directors of the Redbank Project, to talk about the effort to recover and remember these soldiers. What stories and secrets can their remains reveal? Steven S...2023-06-251h 00History Happy HourAfrican-American Marshal Bass Reeves: Guest: Art T. BurtonThis Week on History Happy Hour: Bass Reeves was born into slavery, and never learned to read or write. But he nevertheless became one of the most feared lawmen in the west who carried out more than 3000 arrests and killed 14 men while carrying out his mission as a deputy Federal Marshall. Art T. Burton has spent years digging into his story. Chris and Rick welcome Art to talk about his book Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshall Bass Reeves. Art T. Burton is a long-time...2023-06-1857 minHistory Happy HourD-Day Special: Guests: Giles Milton, Joe Balkoski, Craig SymondsThis Week on History Happy Hour: This week on History Happy Hour: Chris Anderson and Rick Beyer look back on the D-Day landings with a 90-minute encore presentation of our 2021 D-Day Special. Rick hosted the show live from the National D-Day Memorial, and three distinguished guests joined us for a D-Day discussion. The show begins with author Giles Milton, and a look at his riveting account of the first 24 hours of the D-Day invasion as told through a symphony of incredible accounts from both sides. The book is Soldier, Sailor, Frogman, Spy, Airman, Gangster, Kill...2023-06-111h 34History Happy HourAfrican Americans in World War II: Guest: Matthew F. DelmontThis Week on History Happy Hour: More than one million Black men and women served in World War II. Black troops served in segregated units and performing unheralded but vital support jobs, only to be denied housing and educational opportunities during and after the war. Without their crucial contributions, the United States could not have won the war. And yet the stories of these Black veterans have long been ignored, cast aside in favor of the myth of the “Good War” fought by the “Greatest Generation.” This week Chris and Rick welcome historian Mathew Delmont, author o...2023-06-0557 minHistory Happy HourPointe du Hoc: Guest: Steven ZalogaThis Week on History Happy Hour: The Ranger attack on the German gun batteries at Pointe-du-Hoc in the early morning hours of D-Day is the stuff of legend. Chris and Rick welcome vaunted D-Day historian Steven Zaloga comes to the show to talk about his new book, Smashing Hitler’s Guns: The Rangers at Pointe-du-Hoc D-Day 1944. We’ll walk through the legends, and the questions, and see what Zaloga has been able to unearth in this most recent account of the Rangers’ fateful mission. Steve Zaloga is an American historian, defense...2023-05-2959 minHistory Happy HourDunkirk; The German View: Guest: Robert KershawThis Week on History Happy Hour: The evacuation of more than 300,000 soldiers from the Belgian port of Dunkirk in 1940 was the stuff that myths and legend are made of. But how did it look from the German perspective? Chris and Rick welcome acclaimed British historian Robert Kershaw, author of the new book Dunkirchen 1940: The German View of Dunkirk. Kershaw draws on German interviews, diaries and unit post-action reports to create a page-turning history of a battle that we thought we knew. Robert Kershaw is a historian and former commander of the 10th...2023-05-2258 minHistory Happy HourHistory Happy Hour – Resisting Hitler: Guest: Halik KochanskiThis Week on History Happy Hour: This week's guest, historian Halik Kochanski, author of Resistance: The Underground War Against Hitler, 1939-1945, was ill, and unable to make the program. She will be rebooked for later in the year, Chris and Rick spend the hour in an open forum answering questions from the audience. 2023-05-1555 minHistory Happy HourLost Paratroopers of Normandy: Guest: Stephen G. RabeThis Week on History Happy Hour: The gripping true story of a group of American paratroopers who were dropped behind enemy lines on D-Day, only to disappear without a trace. Chris and Rick welcome Stephen Rabe, author of The Lost Paratroopers of Normandy. His book brings to life the harrowing struggles and ultimate fate of these forgotten heroes – one of whom was his father. A story that involves not only and Germans, but also French citizens who played a key role. Stephen G. Rabe is a history professor emeritus at th...2023-05-071h 00History Happy HourThe Faces of Margraten: Guests: Sebastiaan Vonk, Jori Videc, Ari-Jan Van HeesThis Week on History Happy Hour: Three years ago Chris and Rick welcomed Dutch historian (and our friend) Sebastiaan Vonk to HHH to talk about a project of remembrance undertaken at the American Netherlands Cemetery in Margraten. Now that project has led to a remarkable book, Faces of Margraten, just published in English. Sebastiaan and his co-authors, Jori Videc, and Ari-Jan Van Hees, will join us to talk about the book, and their efforts to make sure that thousands of individual GIs who fought in WWII are not forgotten. Sebastiaan...2023-04-231h 02History Happy HourHow Germany Lost WWI: Holger AfflerbachThis Week on History Happy Hour: How close a shave was World War One? Could Germany have pulled it out? Historian Holger Afflerbach argues that the outcome was actually in the balance until relatively late in the war. He suggests that Germany had to make a series of critical mistakes to lose it. Chris and Rick will talk with him about his new book, On A Knife Edge: How Germany Lost World War One. A fascinating re-appraisal of WWI with one of the world's leading authorities on modern European history. ...2023-04-1756 minHistory Happy HourSergeant York: Myth vs. Reality: Guest: James P. Gregory Jr.This Week on History Happy Hour: In 1918, Sergeant York was credited with singlehandedly capturing 132 Germans in one of the most famous actions of WWI. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, and his story was featured in an Academy Award winning film starring Gary Cooper. But what about the other 16 men in his squad? Did the myth that grew up around Sgt. York deny them the recognition they deserved? Chris and Rick welcome author James P. Gregory will join us to talk about his new book: Unraveling the Myth of Sergeant York: The Other 16...2023-04-031h 00History Happy HourHistory Happy Hour Encore – Nazi Billionaires: Dynasties of the Third Reich: Guest: David de JongThis Week on History Happy Hour: The story of German tycoons who made billions off the horrors of the Third Reich and World War II – and were never brought to justice because of political expediency. Many of the dynasties they started continue to control swaths of the world economy today, owning iconic brands such as Porsche, Volkswagen, and BMW. In an encore episode, Chris and Rick welcome Dutch journalist David de Jong, author of Nazi Billionaires: The Dark History of Germany’s Wealthiest Dynasties. A deep dive investigation into family fortunes made off of slave labo...2023-03-2659 minHistory Happy HourHistory Happy Hour Encore – Third Anniversary Special: Guest: Andrew Roberts, Susan Eisenhower, Craig Symonds, Joe Balkoski, Giles Milton, Judy Batalion, Patrick Bishop, and Charles Person. Plus younger versions of Chris and Rick!This Week on History Happy Hour: Hooray! We‘re celebrating History Happy Hour’s third anniversary with a gala special.Chris and Rick bring you excerpts from just a few of our most memorable guests such as Andrew Roberts, Susan Eisenhower, Charles Person, and others. Plus – we’ll reveal our top five most-watched shows, and share reflections both serious and silly on our 156 weeks of drinking and talking about history. GUESTS: Andrew Roberts, Susan Eisenhower, Craig Symonds, Joe Balkoski, Giles Milton, Judy Batalion, Patrick Bishop, and Charles Person. Plus younger versions of Chris...2023-03-201h 17History Happy HourJapanese-American GIs in World War II: Guest: Daniel James BrownThis Week on History Happy Hour: The remarkable patriotism of Japanese American soldiers during WWII. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans had to navigate the complexity of their country being attacked by their ancestral home, virulent racism, and the horror of internment. Despite unimaginable injustice, however, many young Japanese American men still volunteered to fight for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which became the most decorated unit (for its size and length of service) in US history.In an encore episode, Chris and Rick welcome Daniel James Brown, author of Facing the Mountain: A True...2023-03-1259 minHistory Happy HourCanada's WWII Battle for the Scheldt Estuary: Guest: Mark ZuehlkeThis Week on History Happy Hour: Canada’s bloodiest battle of World War II. In September 1944, the Allies liberated Antwerp, Europe's largest port. But Antwerp would be of little use unless the 60-mile-long Scheldt Estuary linking it to the North Sea was also captured. In his greatest blunder of the war, Field Marshal Montgomery turned his back on the port, leaving the First Canadian Army to fight its way up the long coastal flank. They faced a grueling seven-week battle against a tenacious enemy determined to make them pay for every foot.Chris and Rick welcome Our gu...2023-03-0659 minHistory Happy HourThe Woman Who Saved the Temples: Guest: Lynne OlsonThis Week on History Happy Hour: She was a real-life Indiana Jones– an intrepid archeologist who outwitted the Gestapo in WWII, and went on to lead an extraordinary effort to save ancient Egyptian temples from the floodwaters of the Aswan Dam. “You don’t get anywhere without a fight, you know,” said Christiane Desroches Noblecort.” If I became a brawler, it was out of necessity.”Chris and Rick welcome back author Lynne Olsen to discuss her new book: Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt's Ancient Temples from Destruction. Meet the woman who had the courage...2023-02-2657 minHistory Happy HourHistory Happy Hour: Humor in Hell: Guests: Peter Hart and Gary BainThis Week on History Happy Hour: Humor helped the British soldier survive the terrible ordeal they faced in the trenches during WWI. They may have been up to their knees in mud and blood, but many were still determined to see the ‘funny side’, rather than surrender to utter misery.Chris and Rick welcome Peter Hart (third time!) and Gary Bain, From Pete and Gary’s Military Podcast, to talk about their new book Laugh or Cry: The British Soldier on the Western Front. Glimpses of the awful truth through the dark humor of the soldiers who were t...2023-02-1358 minHistory Happy HourAmerican as Apple Pie: Guests: Rossi AnastopouloThis Week on History Happy Hour: This week on History Happy Hour: What exactly can pie tell us about American history? It’s no half-baked question! Chris and Rick welcome Rossi Anastopoulo, author Sweet Land of Liberty: A History of America in 11 Pies.We’ll serve up the delicious details on how pies are woven into our history, from the first Thanksgiving to the lunch counter sit-ins in Greensboro North Carolina. Pies, after all, are a subject as American as...apple pie. Which, turns out, is not American in origin at all. So there's lots to learn.2023-01-3058 minHistory Happy HourMussolini and Fascism: Guests: John FootThis Week on History Happy Hour: In the dark days after WWI, a new movement swept over Italy. Fascism promised to build a 'New Roman Empire' and make Italy great again. Soon came violence, black shirts, and Benito Mussolini.Chris and Rick welcome John Foot, author of Blood and Power: The Rise and Fall of Italian Fascism, the disturbing story of Italian fascism from 1915 to 1945 – and the ways in which it still reverberates to this day. JOHN FOOT is a Professor of Modern Italian History at Bristol University. He has written seven books, including The Ar...2023-01-2259 minHistory Happy HourNormandy Breakout Masterclass: Guests: Matt Broggie, Erik Flint, and Hugh McDonald-BuchananThis Week on History Happy Hour: When it comes to WWII, a huge amount of attention is (rightly) focused on D-Day. But the following days and weeks, as Allied troops try to break-out of the Normandy Beachhead against fierce German resistance, is often given short shrift. In April, Chris and Rick will be two of the four historians conducting the Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours 2023 Masterclass, which will dive into just that story.This week they welcome fellow historians Matt Broggie, Erik Flint, and Hugh McDonald Buchanan talk about the fascinating aspects of the breakout, Normandy to Paris...2023-01-161h 04History Happy HourHistory Happy Hour Normandy Breakout Masterclass: Guests: Matt Broggie, Erik Flint, and Hugh McDonald-BuchananThis Week on History Happy Hour: When it comes to WWII, a huge amount of attention is (rightly) focused on D-Day. But the following days and weeks, as Allied troops try to break-out of the Normandy Beachhead against fierce German resistance, is often given short shrift. In April, Chris and Rick will be two of the four historians conducting the Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours 2023 Masterclass , which will dive into just that story. This week they welcome fellow historians Matt Broggie, Erik Flint, and Hugh McDonald Buchanan talk about the fascinating aspects of the breakout, Normandy to Paris, and the sites...2023-01-161h 04History Happy HourHistory Happy Hour Encore Josephine Baker WWII Spy: Guest: Damien LewisThis Week on History Happy Hour: Prior to World War II, Josephine Baker was the highest-paid female performer in Europe, renowned for her singing and dancing, her beauty and sexuality. When the Nazis seized her adopted city, Paris, she vowed to stay and fight. Overnight, she went from performer to Resistance spy. Chis and Rick welcome renowned historian Damien Lewis about his new book Agent Josephine: American Beauty, French Hero, British Spy. Lewis has spent ten years researching the story and unearthing new details about Baker’s wartime exploits. DAMIEN LEWIS is a nu...2023-01-081h 02History Happy HourWWII: A Reassessment: Guest: Richard OveryThis Week on History Happy Hour: A bold new look at World War II from one of Great Britain’s most respected and honored historians. Chris and Rick welcome Richard Overy, author of the monumental new book Blood and Ruins: The Last Imperial War, 1931-1945. He argues that we need to seek a different and broader perspective to truly understand the origins and aftermath of the costliest war in human history. The Wall Street Journal calls his book “the finest single-volume history of World War II,” while the New York Times calls it “History at its best. RI...2023-01-0259 minHistory Happy HourWhen the Irish Invaded Canada: Guest: Christopher KleinThis Week on History Happy Hour: A year after the Civil War, a band of Union and Confederate veterans dusted off their guns. Not to fight each other, but side by side to undertake one of the most fantastical missions in military history: to seize the British province of Canada and to hold it hostage until the independence of Ireland was secured. This motley crew of revolutionaries, including a one-armed war hero, an English spy, and a radical who staged his own funeral, launched their unlikely assault from Buffalo - with unexpected results.Chris and Rick welcome...2022-12-261h 02History Happy HourBilly the Kid: Guest: James B. MillsThis Week on History Happy Hour: Few outlaws in the Old West achieved such lasting and far-reaching fame as Billy the Kid. But how do you separate the man from the myth? Our guest this week has left no stone unturned in his twenty-year quest to tell the complete the flesh-and-blood human being named Henry McCarty, alias William H. Bonney.Chris and Rick welcome James B. Mills, the author of Billy the Kid, El Bandido Simpático. A rising young writer from Australia, Mills has won the praise of many veteran western historians for his groundbreaking work.2022-12-1957 minHistory Happy HourHessians in the Revolutionary War: Guest: Friederike BaerThis Week on History Happy Hour: During America’s War for Independence, nearly 30,000 German soldiers came to the Colonies to fight for Britain. Collectively known as Hessians, they served everywhere from Canada to Cuba and shared in every significant British triumph and defeat. What were their experiences and how did the war look to them?Chris and Rick welcome historian Friederike Baer, who has written a groundbreaking book on the subject; Hessians: German Soldiers in the American Revolutionary War.Friederike Baer is an Associate Professor of History at Pennsylvania State University, Abington College. She holds a...2022-12-0458 minHistory Happy HourNimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo: Guest: Craig SymondsThis Week on History Happy Hour: Admiral Chester Nimitz won WWII in the Pacific – commanding the Pacific Fleet from a few days after Pearl Harbor until the end of the war. A quiet man capable of being both a measured diplomat and a riverboat gambler, he planned the great victories of the Pacific and transformed the devastated and dispirited U.S. Fleet into the most powerful naval force in historyChris and Rick welcome back History Happy Hour alum Craig Symonds, author of the new book, Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay. HH...2022-11-271h 00History Happy HourThe First Vietnam War: Ho Chi Minh vs. The French: Guest: Christopher GoschaThis Week on History Happy Hour: In 1954, a Vietnamese Army shocked the world by defeating the French in an epic battle at Dien Bien Phu. How did Ho Chi Minh turn a ragtag guerrilla army into a modern seven-division fighting force capable of bringing down the formidable French Army, setting the scene for a showdown with the United States?Chris and Rick welcome Christopher Goscha, author of The Road to Dien Bien Phu: A History of the First War for Vietnam. How war and revolution came together in a victory that foreshadowed the conflict with America still...2022-11-201h 03History Happy HourHistory Happy Hour The First Vietnam War: Ho Chi Minh vs. The French: Guest: Christopher GoschaThis Week on History Happy Hour: In 1954, a Vietnamese Army shocked the world by defeating the French in an epic battle at Dien Bien Phu. How did Ho Chi Minh turn a ragtag guerrilla army into a modern seven-division fighting force capable of bringing down the formidable French Army, setting the scene for a showdown with the United States? Chris and Rick welcome Christopher Goscha, author of The Road to Dien Bien Phu: A History of the First War for Vietnam. How war and revolution came together in a victory that foreshadowed the conflict with America still to come. Sunday...2022-11-201h 03History Happy HourFrench Resistance Leader Marie-Madeleine Fourcade: Guest: Lynne OlsonThis Week on History Happy Hour: Meet an extraordinary heroine of the French Resistance: Marie-Madeline Fourcade. In 1941, this thirty-one-year-old Frenchwoman and mother of two became leader of a vast Resistance organization. No other French spy network lasted as long or supplied as much crucial intelligence to the Allies, and Fourcade herself would face a personal reckoning with the Gestapo.In an encore episode, Chris and Rick welcome author Lynne Olson to talk about her book The Secret War of Madam FourcadeLynne Olson is a New York Times bestselling author of eight books of history...2022-11-061h 03History Happy HourNazi Fugitives: Guests: Dr. Danny OrbachThis Week on History Happy Hour: In spite of Allied promises to hunt Nazi war criminals to the ends of the earth, many high-ranking Nazis, including SS officers, ended up working for the US and its allies as spies, arms traffickers and covert operators. They were shielded from war-crimes trials or worse in return for their co-operation, and played a crucial role in the clandestine struggle between the superpowers.Chris and Rick talk to Danny Orbach, a veteran of Israeli intelligence and author The Fugitives: A History of Nazi Mercenaries During the Cold War. Dr...2022-10-3158 minHistory Happy HourWorld War II: A Reassessment: Guest: Richard OveryThis Week on History Happy Hour: A bold new look at World War II from one of Great Britain’s most respected and honored historians. Chris and Rick welcome Richard Overy, author of the monumental new book Blood and Ruins: The Last Imperial War, 1931-1945.He argues that we need to seek a different and broader perspective to truly understand the origins and aftermath of the costliest war in human history. The Wall Street Journal calls his book “the finest single-volume history of World War II,” while the New York Times calls it “History at its best.”Richa...2022-10-0958 minHistory Happy HourHarry Truman Presidency: Guest: Jeffery FrankThis Week on History Happy Hour: A new look at the presidency of Harry Truman. Chris and Rick welcome Jeffrey Frank, author of The Trials of Harry Truman: The Extraordinary Presidency of an Ordinary Man, 1945-1953. It is the first in-depth examination of Truman’s Presidency since David McCullough’s Pulitzer-winning Truman thirty years ago.Harry Truman presided over a tumultuous period marked by victory in the wars against Germany and Japan; the first use of an atomic weapon; the beginning of the Cold War and the war with Korea. He has been mythologized as the plainspoken Man...2022-10-021h 02History Happy HourTank Warfare Against the Nazis: Guest: Peter HartThis Week on History Happy Hour: Tank warfare on the battlefields of Europe. Chris and Rick welcome Peter Hart, author of the book Burning Steel. Peter’s book tells story of a single British tank regiment, the 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, that saw action from Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge.Peter has done intensive oral histories with the soldiers. Their personal recollections, raw and visceral, tell the dramatic story of a tank regiment at war against the Nazis. Sir Max Hastings calls the book “A superb account of the tactics that finally brought victory on t...2022-09-251h 01History Happy HourThe Cold War Superspy: Guest: Tim TateThis Week on History Happy Hour: We turn our attention to the Cold War and the dark art of espionage as we focus on the story of one of that era’s most effective spies. Chris and Rick talk to Tim Tate, author of Agent Sniper: The Cold War Superagent and the Ruthless Head of the CIA. It tells of the rise and fall of Polish espionage officer Michael Goleniewski, one of the CIA's most effective spies - until it all went wrong.Our friend Helen Fry calls the book a masterpiece, saying: “Tate lifts the lid on o...2022-09-181h 01History Happy HourThe 29th Division in World War II: Guest: Joseph BalkoskiThis Week on History Happy Hour: Chris and Rick welcome back Joe Balkoski, one of the most respected WWII historians there is, and a personal favorite of ours. Joe literally wrote the book(s) on D-Day, as well as a highly -detailed five-volume-history of the storied 29th Division.This week we'll talk about his book From Brittany to the Reich, which chronicles the war weary division’s arrival on the German border as the northernmost division of the United States Army. We’ll also touch on the recent controversy regarding the 29th Division blue/gray Insignia.Th...2022-09-111h 03History Happy HourBritish Pacifists in World War II: Guest: Tobias KellyThis Week on History Happy Hour: We sometimes think of World War II as "the good war." But there were some for whom no war was worth fighting. This Sunday we look at WWII through the eyes of 60,000 British conscientious objectors who refused to take up arms and whose stories have been almost entirely forgotten.This week Chris and Rick welcome Tobias Kelly, author of Battles of Conscience: British Pacifists and the Second World War. The Spectator calls it "a moving tribute to moral courage.”Sunday at 4PM ET on History Happy Hour, where history is...2022-09-0457 minHistory Happy HourRevolutionary War Privateers: Guest: Eric Jay DolinThis Week on History Happy Hour: The forgotten story of American privateers during the Revolution - daring freelance captains whose high-seas adventures proved essential to winning the war. Nearly 2000 privateering ships set sail - capturing an astonishing 1800 British vessels.Chris and Rick welcome Eric Jay Dolin, author of the new book Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution.From 20-foot whaleboats to 40-cannon men-of-war, a rag-tag fleet that made a difference, Sunday at 4PM ET on History Happy Hour, where history is always on tap. Eric Jay Dolin is the bestselling author...2022-07-241h 02History Happy HourLord Cornwallis: Guests: Richard MiddletonThis Week on History Happy Hour: Lord Charles Cornwallis is best known as the British commander forced to surrender his army to George Washington at Yorktown, a shocking loss that led Britain to negotiate an end to the American Revolution. Far from being disgraced by his defeat, however, Cornwallis went on spend the next 25 years as a successful soldier and statesman, ruling India and Ireland and leaving his mark on both.Chris and Rick welcome Richard Middleton, author of Cornwallis: Soldier and Statesman in a Revolutionary World.The legacy of Cornwallis, Sunday at 4 PM on...2022-07-1758 minHistory Happy HourInterrogating German Generals in Washington DC: Guests: Robert K. SuttonThis Week on History Happy Hour: During WWII, a top-secret facility 15 miles from the White House conducted intelligence and espionage operations kept secret for more than 50 years. The facility at Fort Hunt was known only by its codename: PO Box 1142.Here, fifteen German generals and thousands of other high value Nazi prisoners were bugged and questioned by American interrogators, many of whom were themselves German born Jews.Chris and Rick welcome Robert K. Sutton, author of Nazis on the Potomac: The Top-Secret Intelligence Operation that Helped Win World War II.An extraordinary story...2022-07-101h 00History Happy HourDown by the Sea in Books: Guests: Admiral James StavridisThis Week on History Happy Hour: Rick and Chris talk to the former Supreme Commander of NATO…about books! Admiral James Stavridis shares his love of the sea and some of the sources of that affection in a new book, The Sailor’s Bookshelf. He looks at fifty books that illustrate the history, importance, lore, and lifestyle of the oceans and of those who "go down to the sea in ships." He also throws in a few of his own sea stories.What are some of your favorite books about the sea, fiction or non-fiction? Join...2022-06-261h 01History Happy HourUSSR vs Japan 1939 -The Battle of Khalkhin Gol: Guests: David MurphyThis Week on History Happy Hour: A pivotal WWII conflict hardly anyone knows about. In August 1939, as Hitler prepared to launch his panzers against Poland, the Soviet Union launched a major offensive against the Japanese Army.It was headed by General Georgy Zhukov, who later became the Society Union’s premiere WWII commander. The obscure battle of Khalkhin Gol was the climax of an undeclared border war that was to change the course of WWII.Chris and Rick welcome military history David Murphy for his fourth appearance on History Happy Hour. The little-known battle of Kh...2022-06-1957 minHistory Happy HourMaximilian and Carlota: Guests: Edward ShawcrossThis Week on History Happy Hour: The incredible story of Maximilian and Carlota, the European aristocrats who stumbled into power in Mexico—and faced the bloodiest of consequences.In the 1860s, Napoleon III of France made his grand power play in the Americas, persuading a young Austrian archduke and a Belgian princess to leave Europe and become the emperor and empress of Mexico, while the United States was distracted by its own civil war. Nothing went according to plan.Chris and Rick welcome Edward Shawcross, author of The Last Emperor of Mexico. The forgotten story of...2022-06-1259 minHistory Happy HourThe Battle of Midway: Guests: Brendan Simms and co-author Steven McGregor of The Silver Waterfall: How America Won the War in the Pacific at MidwayThis Week on History Happy Hour: The Battle of Midway, eighty years ago next month, marked a turning point in the Pacific war. In the space of just five minutes, American dive bombers inflicted cataclysmic damage on a much larger Japanese Fleet. The seemingly improbable victory is sometimes referred to as a miracle. But it was much more than luck – years of effort led to the moment of victor.Chris and Rick welcome HHH Alumnus Brendan Simms and his co-author Steven McGregor, to talk about their new book The Silver Waterfall: How America Won the War in th...2022-05-231h 03History Happy HourAncient Sparta: Guest: Philip Matyszak, author of Sparta: Rise of a Warrior NationThis Week on History Happy Hour: Travel back in time to ancient Sparta, a tiny Greek village that somehow transformed itself into an awesome military superpower. What was it about the Spartans’ unique society that so fascinated and frightened their contemporaries 2500 years ago, and continues to resonate today?Chris and Rick welcome Philip Matyszak, author of Sparta: Rise of a Warrior Nation. To a surprising degree, the Spartans live up to their images as nearly invincible warriors. But their laser-like focus on military prowess came with a dark side of terror and abuse.The real st...2022-05-161h 00History Happy HourThe Windsors and Their Scandalous Exile: Guest: Andrew Lownie, author of Traitor King: The Scandalous Exile of the Duke & Duchess of Windsor.This Week on History Happy Hour: Britain’s King Edward VI famously gave up the throne for the woman he loved, a Baltimore divorcee. But what came next was anything but a fairy tale. In fact, it is a story that involves Nazis, murder, treachery and betrayal.Chris and Rick welcome Andrew Lownie, author of Traitor King: The Scandalous Exile of the Duke & Duchess of Windsor. Drawing on newly released archives, Lownie explores the fascinating story of a glittering couple obsessed with their own celebrity who repeatedly court disgrace and disrepute.The Windsors and their sc...2022-05-0258 minHistory Happy HourNazi Billionaires: Dynasties of the Third Reich: Guest: David De Jong, author of Nazi Billionaires: The Dark History of Germany's Wealthiest DynastiesThis Week on History Happy Hour: The story of German tycoons who made billions off the horrors of the Third Reich and World War II – and were never brought to justice because of political expediency. Many of the dynasties they started continue to control swaths of the world economy today, owning iconic brands such as Porsche, Volkswagen, and BMW. Chris and Rick welcome Dutch journalist David De Jong, author of Nazi Billionaires: The Dark History of Germany’s Wealthiest Dynasties. A deep dive investigation into family fortunes made off of slave labor, seized Jewish businesses, and other atrocities. The Wall Stre...2022-04-2558 minHistory Happy HourThe Afterlife of Ben Franklin: Guest: Michael Meyer, Author, Benjamin Franklin's Last Bet: The Favorite Founder's Divisive Death, Enduring Afterlife, and Blueprint for American ProsperityThis week on History Happy Hour: Benjamin Franklin may be the most brilliant and innovative of our founding fathers. During his long life he invented bifocals, captured lightning with a kite, and so much more. Yet his most surprising innovation may have taken shape on his deathbed. Franklin made an incredible parting gift to the working-class people of Boston and Philadelphia—a deathbed wager that captures the Founder’s American Dream and his lessons for our current, conflicted age. Chris and Rick welcome Michael Meyer, author of Benjamin Franklin’s Last Bet: The Favorite Founder's Divisive Death, Enduring Afterlife, and Bluepr...2022-04-1859 minHistory Happy HourHHH Special: Normandy Master Class: Hosts Chris Anderson and Rick Beyer exploring the beaches and battlefields of Normandy - in personSomething different this week on HHH. Chris and Rick have spent the week traveling the D-Day beaches with fellow Stephen Ambrose Tour historians and a small group of guests. On several evenings there were extended conversations about D- Day issues and questions that arose from our travels. This week's show contains excerpts from those conversations. It's a deep dive into some esoteric D-Day questions from Bayeux, France, with observations from Chris and Rick as well as fellow historian/guides Hugh Buchanan and Matt Broggie.Hugh McDonald is a professional tour guide specializing in military history. A former...2022-04-1150 minHistory Happy HourWorld War I German Sabotage : Guest: Michael Digby, author Burn, Bomb, Destroy: German Sabotage Campaign in North American 1914-1917This week on History Happy Hour: After the outbreak of World War I, German sabotage agents set out to destroy neutral America’s war-making abilities by unleashing a campaign of terror and destruction. A network of saboteurs and spies, scientists and diplomats worked furiously to wage a secret war on the American homeland long before the United States ever entered the war. This campaign culminated in one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history: the Black Tom explosion in 1916 across the harbor from New York City, which destroyed a staggering half a billion dollars of munitions (in today’s mone...2022-03-281h 00History Happy HourWar in the Ukraine: History Repeats?: Guests: Sean McMeekin, Stalin's war, David Murphy, The Winter War, Keith Lowe, The Fear and the FreedomThe ongoing war in Ukraine is the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II, and brings to mind many striking parallels with the events of 1939-1945: Germany’s invasion of Poland, the Soviet Union’s invasion of Finland, the strategic importance of Ukraine itself and the desperate plight of refugees. Russian leader Vladimir Putin has been compared to Stalin and Hitler, while Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky’s stirring words have brought comparisons to Winston Churchill.This week on History Happy Hour, Chris and Rick welcome three distinguished historians (and HHH Alums) to discuss what insights WWII can of...2022-03-201h 01History Happy HourThe Argonne (WWI) : Guest: Richard Merry, author The Great War in the Argonne ForestFrom 1914-1918, soldiers from all over the world found themselves in this remote part of the Western Front, battling to control this forbidding piece of French woodland. French, Germans, Italians, Austrians and, eventually Americans all came to know the horrors of fighting in the Meuse Argonne. It was here, in 1918, that America launched its final offensive of the Great War. Battles that saw Charles Whittlesey and his 'Lost Battalion’ hold out against insurmountable odds and Sergeant Alvin York, the Tennessee backwoodsman and pacifist, writes himself into American military history.Join host-historians Chris Anderson and Rick Beyer in we...2022-03-1359 minHistory Happy HourThe Spy Hotel: Guest: Stephen Duffy, Security Manager, St. Ermin's Hotel This week on History Happy Hour: It’s been called “London’s House of Spies,” and suffice it to say, that for much of the twentieth century, St. Ermin’s hotel was at the epicenter of British intelligence efforts through two world wars and the subsequent Cold War. Used by various intelligence agencies during World War II, the top floor became the home of the Secret Intelligence Service’s Section D, while one floor below, the Statistical Research Department-the precursor to the Special Operations Executive-got its start. Later, at the height of the Cold War, traitors from the infamous Cambridge Fi...2022-03-061h 00History Happy HourWWII's British Band of Brothers: Guest: Peter Hart, author, At Close Range: Life and Death in an Artillery Regiment 1939-1945Ubique (Everywhere), the motto of the Royal Artillery Regiment, is an apt description of the World War II service of the South Nottingham Hussars. A part-time cavalry unit before the war, upon mobilization in 1939 the “South Notts” traded their chargers for guns and served with distinction from Tobruk across North Africa to Sicily and then all the way across Europe and into Germany; in the process becoming what Major Gordon Corrigan called, “A British Band of Brothers.”Join Rick and Chris this week as we discuss At Close Range: Life and Death in an Artillery Regiment, 1939-1945, historia...2022-02-2758 minHistory Happy HourRobert E. Lee: Guest: Allen Guelzo, author, Robert E. Lee A LifeRobert E. Lee is acclaimed by many as one of the greatest generals America has produced, yet his fame was achieved while commanding an army in open rebellion against the United States. Admired for his integrity, he fought to defend his home state and the South's "peculiar" institution of slavery. Born into a bankrupt and disgraced family he went on to join the highest strata of Virginia's planter class all while pursuing a brilliant career in the United States Army. A career that ended in resignation and, ultimately, surrender. Stoical in defeat, Lee was also passionate in performance of...2022-02-201h 07History Happy HourRobert E. Lee: Guest: Allen Guelzo, author, Robert E. Lee A LifeRobert E. Lee is acclaimed by many as one of the greatest generals America has produced, yet his fame was achieved while commanding an army in open rebellion against the United States. Admired for his integrity, he fought to defend his home state and the South's "peculiar" institution of slavery. Born into a bankrupt and disgraced family he went on to join the highest strata of Virginia's planter class all while pursuing a brilliant career in the United States Army. A career that ended in resignation and, ultimately, surrender. Stoical in defeat, Lee was also passionate in performance of...2022-02-201h 07History Happy HourGeneral George Patton : Guest, Kevin Hymel, author Patton's WarThis week on History Happy Hour: General George S. Patton. The debate still rages: Was he a brilliant combat commander or the most over-rated general of the war? A legendary leader or a legend in his own mind? Whatever you think of Patton, there is no getting around the fact that he is one of most-chronicled figures of World War II.Historian Kevin Hymel is weighing in with a book that seeks to add a new dimension to Patton’s story by looking at the general through the eyes of the soldiers who fought with him. Host-historians Ch...2022-02-061h 02