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The Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front #7 the Fall of SmolenskLast time we spoke about the beginning of the battle for Smolensk. The Wehrmacht, having swiftly advanced through the Soviet Union, prepared to engage the Red Army in fierce combat. The Luftwaffe had dominated the skies, severely diminishing Soviet air power. However, unbeknownst to the Germans, the Soviets, under General Timoshenko, were regrouping and mobilizing hidden reserves, readying themselves for a counteroffensive. Amidst logistical chaos and heavy losses, the Soviets utilized their cadre system, rapidly generating new field armies. While the Germans celebrated captures, they failed to recognize the Soviets' latent strength. As the Germans advanced toward Smolensk, the...2025-07-1736 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front #6 Battle for Smolensk BeginsLast time we spoke about the Red Army on the Run. In the second week of Operation Barbarossa, the progress of the German forces was marked by swift victories and severe challenges. The Luftwaffe's dominance in the skies led to significant destruction of Soviet aircraft, with Germany claiming thousands downed. However, the Soviet Air Force, with hidden reserves, began to regroup under General Timoshenko, setting the stage for resilience. Amid these chaotic battlefields, disorganization plagued the Red Army, which struggled to adapt its tactics against the more cohesive German forces. Despite losing heavily, Soviet commanders sought to turn the...2025-07-1046 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front #5 Red Army on the Run
Last time we spoke about Day 4 Operation Barbarossa: Chaos in Ukraine. As Operation Barbarossa unfolded, Army Group South advanced into Ukraine, driven by the need to secure critical oil reserves for Germany’s war machine. Initial gains were swift, as the German forces used air superiority to capture key positions. However, logistical issues quickly surfaced, revealing the vulnerabilities of their supply lines. Soviet General Kirponos, although initially caught off guard, managed to organize defenses and counterattacks thanks to a well-structured communication system. Despite their numerical advantages, the Red Army was plagued by disorganization and outdated tactics. The cla...2025-07-0346 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front #4 Day 4 Operation Barbarossa: Chaos in UkraineLast time we spoke about Day 3 of Operation Barbarossa, the encirclement of Bialystok-Minsk. The relentless German advance caught the Soviet forces off guard. As Army Group Center surged forward, equipped with nearly 1,500 Luftwaffe aircraft, they aimed to encircle Soviet armies. They swiftly captured vital positions, overcoming initial defenses with shocking ease. However, despite early successes, logistical challenges began to stifle their momentum, revealing cracks in their operational capabilities. The Soviet response, though disorganized, showcased unexpected resilience as they regrouped and launched counterattacks. The chaos within Soviet command hindered coordinated efforts, resulting in heavy losses during futile counteroffensives. Ultimately, the...2025-06-2534 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front #3 Day 3 Operation Barbarossa: The First EncirclementLast time we spoke about Day 2 of Operation Barbarossa. On the campaign's second day, Army Group North, led by Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb, aimed to seize Leningrad and prevent Soviet retreats. Initial assaults caught Soviet troops off guard, leading to devastating German victories. However, logistical challenges in harsh terrain began to hamper their advance. As Germany celebrated these wins, Soviet forces regrouped and mounted fierce counterattacks, demonstrating unexpected resilience amid chaos. In Finland, leveraging the situation, local activists orchestrated a rebellion in Kaunas, declaring independence and collaborating with German troops, marking a brief surge of hope among...2025-06-2443 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front #2 Day 2 of Operation Barbarossa: The North Army AttacksLast time we spoke about Day 1 of Operation Barbarossa. On June 22, 1941, Operation Barbarossa commenced, marking the beginning of one of history's largest military campaigns. German soldiers received the shocking news just hours before the assault, rallying under Nazi ideology with grim determination. At dawn, artillery and air raids erupted, catching Soviet forces unprepared. The Wehrmacht launched a surprise attack, swiftly advancing deep into enemy territory, achieving significant early victories against a disorganized Soviet defense. As the first day wore on, German forces encountered fierce resistance from Soviet soldiers demonstrating unexpected resolve. Despite initial success, logistical challenges soon became evident...2025-06-2350 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front #1 Day 1 of Operation BarbarossaLast time we spoke about the myth of the German Blitzkrieg. As summer approached in 1941, Hitler readied his forces for Operation Barbarossa, a bold invasion of the Soviet Union aimed at securing rapid victory. Despite Stalin's restructured Red Army, both sides faced logistical challenges. Hitler's goal was to annihilate the Red Army, while his generals prioritized capturing Moscow, leading to debates and miscommunication. The Wehrmacht’s initial successes relied more on luck and enemy blunders than revolutionary tactics like Blitzkrieg, a concept popularized after the war by German generals seeking to explain their swift victories in France. However, these ta...2025-06-2239 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front SPECIAL #1 The Development of BlitzkriegLast time we spoke about the Hitler’s decision to go to war. As June 1941 approached, Hitler prepared for Operation Barbarossa, an audacious plan to invade the Soviet Union before decisively defeating Britain. Stalin, sensing danger after the Winter War, had restructured the Red Army, but both sides were plagued by logistical woes. Hitler's directive emphasized destroying the Red Army, while his generals, led by Halder, argued for capturing Moscow first. Ignoring Soviet warnings, the Wehrmacht faced weakened armored divisions and critical supply shortages, stemming from a lack of standardized equipment and logistical planning. As the campaign unfolded, divisions be...2025-06-2038 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front Prelude #0.11 Hitler’s decision to go to WarLast time we spoke about the planning for Operation Barbarossa. In 1940, as Europe faced the aftermath of the swift German Blitzkrieg, Stalin realized the imminent threat to the Soviet Union. Following the Winter War with Finland, he restructured the Red Army, appointing General Zhukov as Chief of the General Staff. Zhukov's remarkable military background shaped his strategies for upcoming conflicts. However, despite receiving numerous warnings about a German invasion, Stalin hesitated, believing the alarms to be fabrications. As tensions escalated, the Soviet military was still underprepared, facing critical shortages of equipment and personnel. On June 22, 1941, the Germans launched their...2025-06-1938 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front Prelude #0.10 Planning Operation BarbarossaLast time we spoke about the Blitzkrieg in Western Europe. In 1939, Europe teetered on the brink of war as tensions surged following the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Stalin and Hitler, which divided Eastern Europe. With fierce ambition, Germany initiated its blitzkrieg strategy, invading Poland swiftly and decisively. In a mere thirty-five days, Polish defenses crumbled under overwhelming German might. Following Poland’s fall, Hitler’s forces turned to Denmark and Norway, capturing these territories with remarkable speed, establishing German dominance in Scandinavia. The focus then shifted westward, as Belgium and the Netherlands were quickly overrun, leading to the...2025-06-1231 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front Prelude # 0.9 The Blitzkrieg of Western EuropeLast time we spoke about the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. In a turbulent prelude to World War II, tensions soared as Hitler's rise transformed Europe’s landscape. The Soviet Union, wary of Germany's ambitions, sought alliances with Britain and France, aiming to deter further aggression. However, when these alliances faltered, Stalin turned to Nazi Germany, leading to the historic Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939. This shocking agreement allowed both powers to divide Eastern Europe, particularly Poland, into spheres of influence, ensuring mutual non-aggression. As Europe braced for conflict, this pact altered geopolitical dynamics, alarming nations like Japan, who feared a united Axis front. Th...2025-06-0540 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front Prelude #0.8 The Molotov-Ribbentrop PactLast time we spoke about the Spanish Civil War. In the backdrop of 1930s Spain, a storm brews as political tensions peak following the abdication of King Alfonso 13th. The establishment of the Second Spanish Republic ignites hopes of reform among the progressive populace but alienates conservative factions. This polarization breeds violence, with the left, led by socialists and anarchists, clashing with monarchists and fascists. In July 1936, a military coup, spearheaded by General Francisco Franco, sparks the Spanish Civil War. As battles rage, international powers intervene, with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy backing Franco, while the Soviet Union supports...2025-05-2935 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front Prelude #0.7 The Spanish Civil WarLast time we spoke about Soviet Conflicts of the 1930s. In the aftermath of World War I, Germany descended into chaos, setting the stage for Adolf Hitler's rise to power. Seizing on public disillusionment, he dismantled democracy and expanded Germany's territory, straining relations across Europe. Concurrently, Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union embarked on rapid industrialization under the Five-Year Plans, marred by brutal purges that instilled fear among citizens. The intertwining of these authoritarian regimes heightened tensions, leading to conflict throughout the continent. Amidst this turmoil, the Soviets engaged in several key conflicts with neighboring states, particularly in Manchuria, Xinjiang and...2025-05-2234 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front Prelude # 0.6 Soviet Conflicts of the 1930sLast time we spoke about Stalin’s Purges. In the aftermath of World War I, Germany faced chaos and despair, giving rise to Adolf Hitler, who capitalized on public disillusionment. The Weimar Republic struggled amid economic turmoil, while Hitler's National Socialist Party gained traction, ultimately leading to his appointment as Chancellor in 1933. He enacted measures that dismantled democracy and aggressively expanded Germany's territory, laying the groundwork for future conflict. Simultaneously, Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union embarked on rapid industrialization through ambitious Five-Year Plans, aiming to transform agriculture and boost heavy industry. However, this progress was overshadowed by brutal purges designed to...2025-05-1537 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front Prelude #0.5 Stalin’s PurgesLast time we spoke about the Wehrmacht. In the tumultuous aftermath of World War I, Germany faced chaos and despair. The Weimar Republic, promising democracy and reform, struggled amid food shortages and inflation, leading to unrest. Amidst this turmoil, Adolf Hitler emerged, captivating those disillusioned by the republic’s failures. His initial coup attempt in 1923 failed, but through a trial transformed him into a national figure. As economic conditions deteriorated, Hitler’s National Socialist German Workers' Party gained traction, exploiting the desperate populace’s need for hope. By 1933, clever political maneuvers led to his appointment as Chancellor. Soon after, the Re...2025-05-0837 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front Prelude #0.4 The WehrmachtLast time we spoke about the Reichswehr. In post-World War I Germany, society teetered on the edge of chaos. The Great War's aftermath left wounds that ran deep; food shortages and despair fueled growing unrest. Amidst this turmoil, Adolf Hitler emerged, promising a return to national pride. On November 8, 1923, he attempted a coup known as the Beer Hall Putsch, seizing control of a Munich beer hall, but his ambitions quickly unraveled. His attempt to rally support fell flat, leading to violent clashes with police. In the chaos, Hitler was injured and later arrested. During his trial, rather than a...2025-05-0138 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front Prelude #0.3 The ReichswehrLast time we spoke about the Russian Civil War. In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution and World War I, the Russian Civil War ignited, leading to a struggle for independence among various nations within the former empire. As the Bolsheviks seized control, they faced opposition from the White Movement and various nationalist groups. Ukraine, for instance, saw bloodshed between the Red Army and the White forces, compounded by external influences from Germany and Poland. Similar turmoil unfolded in Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, each grappling with their sovereign destinies amidst Russian turmoil. Throughout these conflicts, the Red Army...2025-04-2434 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front Prelude # 0.2 The Russian Civil WarLast time we spoke about the Russian Revolutions and Russia’s experience during WW1. In the early 20th century, Russia was a crumbling empire. After losing to Japan in 1905, revolution gripped the country, forcing Tsar Nicholas II to make concessions, but it was not enough. When Ww1 erupted in 1914, Russia eagerly joined, but suffered staggering losses. By 1917, the war had exacerbated Russia's internal problems, leading to another revolution. The Tsar was overthrown, and a Provisional Government was established, but it was weak and indecisive. Vladimir Lenin returned from exile and called for the Soviets to seize power. The Bolsheviks, led...2025-04-1755 minThe Eastern Front Week by WeekEastern Front Prelude # 0.1 The Russian RevolutionWell hello there, welcome to the Easter Front week by week podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check o...2025-04-0846 min
Inner City Press SDNY & UN PodcastApril 5-1: On #1MDB US blames Ng; US v sex cultist Larry Ray, analogy to abuse of Ukraine with UN as Pollok or Sarah Lawrence College, complicit: forthcoming #TheEasternFront & #JohnListGoneVLOG: On #1MDB US blames Ng; US v sex cultist Larry Ray, analogy to abuse of Ukraine with UN as Pollok or Sarah Lawrence College, complicit: forthcoming #TheEasternFront & #JohnListGone2022-04-0502 min