Welcome to the first primer episode for Glory & Defeat. In this first primer episode we will take a broad look at the industrial revolution and the emerging new ideologies of the 19th century: Communism and Nationalism.

The World of the Franco-Prussian War – The 19th Century up to 1870 I GLORY & DEFEAT

The year 1848 was pivotal in European history. All across the continent revolutionary movements erupted and demanded a new order. This would be no different in France and in the German states.

1848 -The Year of (Failed) Revolutions I GLORY & DEFEAT

After Napoleon I had conquered and then lost Europe, France went through multiple revolutions. In 1851, Napoleons nephew and French president Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte took control and in 1852 crowned himself Emperor Napoleon III. The new French Empire wanted to regain the glory of Napoleon's uncle and together with his wife Empress Eugenie he ruled a state known for lavish balls and spending.

In The Shadow of Napoleon - The 2nd French Empire Before 1870 I GLORY & DEFEAT

French and Prussian animosity have been swelling in the background since the German Wars of Unification started in the 1860s. The French Duc de Gramont hopes that a victory over Prussia could restore French prestige while Prussian Chancellor Bismarck needs a reason to fulfill his dream of German unification from above. When the crisis about the Spanish throne escalates with the Ems Dispatch, the die is cast and the Franco-Prussian War begins.

The Ems Dispatch - The Outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War I GLORY & Defeat Week 1

After the failed revolution of 1848, the German states within the German confederation were still moving towards unification. This movement would come from the citizens this time though but from the top. Prussia's chancellor Otto von Bismarck was using clever and aggressive diplomacy to outmaneuver his biggest German rival: Austria.

The German Wars of Unification - Bismarck's Rise I GLORY & DEFEAT

With the official declaration of war from France, Prussia mobilizes and calls in the defensive alliances with the other German states within the North German Confederation but also with Bavaria, Württemberg and Baden. And while the bigger armies still assemble, the first skirmishes happen near the French border.

Franco-Prussian War - First Fighting and Casualties I GLORY & DEFEAT Week 2

While the French and different German Armies are gathering we are taking the time this week to take a look at military organization and warfare in 1870. As a special guest we also have Cap And Ball on the show who introduces the famous Chassepot and Dreyse rifles which will be important in this conflict.

French and German Armies in 1870 - Dreyse and Chassepot Rifle Overview I GLORY & DEFEAT Week 3

Early August 1870 saw the first series of opening battles of the Franco-Prussian War. The Battle of Saarbrücken was the only battle of the entire war fought on German soil, the following Battle of Wissembourg, the Battle of Wörth and the Battle of Spicheren happened right after and gave a glimpse of the carnage to come.

Opening Battles of the Franco-Prussian War: Saarbrücken, Wissembourg, Wörth I GLORY & DEFEAT Week 4

After the opening battles of the Franco-Prussian War, the German armies have suffered heavy casualties but were also able to stop French plans in their tracks. Now the French are withdrawing towards Metz and the symbolic city of Strasbourg is under siege.

Battle of Colombey-Nouilly - Strasbourg Under Siege I GLORY & DEFEAT Week 5

The French Army of Marshal Bazaine was hoping to reach Verdun or even Paris after the first engagements around Metz. But the French troops were exhausted which allowed the Germans to catch up. With the Battle of Gravelotte and the Battle of Mars-la-Tour, the fate of the French Rhine Army is sealed; they are trapped in Metz.

Bloody Victories - The Battles For Metz | GLORY & DEFEAT Week 6

The French Army of the Rhine under Marshal Bazaine is trapped inside Metz - along with civilians and wounded over 250,000 people will need to be fed from the city's dwindling supplies. Surrounding the city is a German Army that cannot force the Metz fortifications and opts for starving it into submission instead.

An Entire French Army Trapped in Metz During the Franco-Prussian War

The Battle of Sedan was one of the pivotal moments in the 19th century. The French 2nd Empire's defeat at Sedan (and the capture of Emperor Napoleon III) unleashed social tensions in Paris and a new French republic was proclaimed. And while the victory of the German Armies was resounding, the cost at places like Bazeilles was also high.

Battle of Sedan - German Victory and Fall of the French Empire (Franco-Prussian War)

After the French defeat at Sedan, the German states expect peace negotiations. But instead the new French republic declares an early form of "total war" and continues the fight. Meanwhile Empress Eugénie flees the country for Britain.

Why France Did Not Surrender After Sedan - Empress Eugénie Flees The Country I Franco-Prussian War

The German Armies are on their way to encircle the French capital Paris after their victory in Sedan. The new French government is raising new troops all across the country and in Paris itself to stem the tide. Poorly equipped and poorly trained troops fight the Germans at Sceaux/Chatillon. Meanwhile, the German states start their negotiations for German unification.

Paris Fights Back - The French Battle Against German Encirclement I Franco-Prussian War 1870

While the Franco-Prussian War was raging in France, another armed conflict to the south was reaching its conclusion. The unification of Italy was not yet complete in the eyes of Italian nationalists because Rome and the Papal State still held out. After the defeat at Rome, the Papal Zouaves went on to France to fight the Prussian.

How the Pope's Army Marched Against Prussia 1870 - Fall of Rome I Franco-Prussian War

The symbolic city of Strasbourg had been besieged since the early stages of the Franco-Prussian War. The German siege troops are ready to breach the walls of the city and take it by storm. To avoid the destruction of the city, French general Uhrich surrenders and chooses, in his view, honor above glory.

This French General Saved Strasbourg From Total Destruction During the Franco-Prussian War 1870

In early October 1870, the German states are still confident the Franco-Prussian War is as good as over. But two events might cross their plans: One of the leaders of the new French Republic, Leon Gambetta, escapes the Siege of Paris in a hot-air balloon to coordinate the French Armies outside of Paris. And in Ablis, French guerrilla fighters, the so called Franc-Tireurs, ambush a German patrol in their sleep - with swift German retribution.

Rise of Guerrilla Warfare & Daring Balloon Escapes - The Franco-Prussian War Early October 1870

All across France French Armies have been raised from any available troops. From international volunteers to raw teenaged recruits. How these sub-par soldiers fair against professional German soldiers is not hard to guess and we can see how that goes in the first battles for Orléans.

The Battle of Orléans 1870 - French Raw Recruits vs. Experienced German Soldiers

The French increasing reliance on franc-tireurs, guerrilla style fighters, is causing brutal German retaliation and a spiral of violence in the fall phase of the Franco-Prussian War.

French Guerrilla War & German Retaliation during the Franco-Prussian War 1870

Much of the remaining French hope to stem the tide against the German Armies comes from the more than 200.000 professional troops trapped in Metz since August. French Marshal Bazaine tries to negotiate with the German and even offers to march against the French republic. But to no avail.

The Last Imperial Army Surrenders at Metz - Battle of Le Bourget 1870

The Siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War 1870 and the downfall of the French Empire after the Battle of Sedan created a volatile social situation in the French capital. And in November 1870 this situation erupted in an attempt to topple the provisional government and create a self-ruling Paris Commune.

The 1st (Failed) Paris Commune Uprising During the Franco-Prussian War 1870

While the fighting on land continued during the Franco-Prussian War in November 1870, the bizarre and only naval battle of the war took place off the coast of Cuba when the German Meteor and the French Bouvet met in the port of Havana.

The Weird And Only Naval Battle of The Franco-Prussian War

While the Franco-Prussian War is continuing its messy guerilla phase, the German leaders are negotiating towards a united Germany. Hesse and Baden join the promptly renamed German Confederation - but Württemberg and Bavaria still want more concessions. Meanwhile the question of Spanish succession that started the war is solved in Madrid.

Bismarck Gets Closer To German Unification - A New Spanish King I GLORY & DEFEAT

After a brief break in the fighting, the Franco-Prussian War continues in late November with the Battles of Amiens and Beaune-La-Rolande. Both sides are exhausted and the casualties are mounting. In the meantime Bismarck is trying to convince the German states of a new German Emperor.

The Battles of Amiens and Beaune-La-Rolande 1870 - Bismarck Wants His Kaiser

The Siege of Paris has been going on for months in November 1870 and the population is starving. The French Army has previously tried and failed to break out but this week they are starting their biggest attempt yet - not knowing that it has been doomed from the start.

French Breakout Attempt During The Siege of Paris 1870 - Battle of Villiers-Champigny

On the frozen battlefields of France, the exhausted German and French armies are still fighting. The Battle of Beaugency sees a desperate struggle in which soldiers on both sides suffer from broken uniform and the harsh winter conditions. Meanwhile, the Siege of Paris continues to starve the population of the French capital.

The Frozen Battlefields of France - Battle of Beaugency 1870

While the German delegations arrive in Versailles to set in motion the unification of the German states into a German Reich, the people in nearby Paris are starving and their army is still fighting in the countryside.

German States Vote For Unity - Battle of Nuits-St. Georges 1870 I GLORY & DEFEAT Week 23

Christmas 1870 reminded the German and French alike that the Franco-Prussian War was going on for far too long. Soldiers and civilians on both sides tried to make the best of the situation but the grim nature of the last weeks of fighting and the ongoing Siege of Paris made this a memorable Christmas for all the wrong reason.

How Soldiers and Civilians Celebrated Christmas During the Franco-Prussian War 1870

The new year 1871 is about to bring upon a new German Empire. German leadership, especially Bismarck, is exceedingly frustrated with the dragged out Franco-Prussian War that the Germans have all but won for months now. The decision is finally made to bombard Paris into submission and the German guns surrounding Paris open fire.

German Artillery Shells Paris Into Submission I GLORY & DEFEAT

One of the last bastions of French resistance in the new year 1871 is Belfort. A ragtag army called "Army of the East" rushes to free the city near the Swiss border. Meanwhile the Germans prepare to announce their Empire in Versailles.

French Ragtag Army's Desperate Winter Battles 1871

In minus 20 degrees the rag tag French Armee L'Est still tries to relieve Belfort - which is under siege by the Baden Corps under General von Werder. Belforts resistance against the siege is later immortalized in the Lion of Belfort.

Decision At The Burgundian Gate - The Battle of Belfort Gap

The proclamation of the German Empire on 18 January 1871 is usually portraited as a glorious ceremony. Most people associated it with the famous paintings from Anton von Werner. But the ceremony itself was far from well organized and the soon-to-be Emperor Wilhlem I himself was not to thrilled about the whole affair.

Why Wilhelm I Didn't Want To Be German Emperor

The end of the Franco-Prussian War is marked by humiliation for France. German soldiers march into Paris and the French Army of the East under Bourbaki flees to neutral Switzerland to surrender there.

German Soldiers March Through Paris - The End of the Franco-Prussian War

The Siege of Paris and the end of the Franco-Prussian War had brought social unrest in Paris (and other French cities) to a boiling point. Radical citizens take up arms and proclaim La Commune, a self-organized alternative to the French Republic. But soon the French Army is cracking down and Paris experiences a Week of Blood.

How the French Army Crushed the Socialist Paris Commune 1871 I GLORY & DEFEAT

When Napoleon's Grande Armee crossed the Nemen river into the Russian Empire in 1812, the die had been cast. In the years between the peace of Tilsit and the war against Russia, Tsar Alexander I and Emperor Napoleon had praised each other and Russia had even joined the continental blockade of Napoleon's arch enemy Great Britain. Still, in 1811 both sides saw war as inevitable.

Why Napoleon Invaded Russia in 1812

When Napoleon marched his Grande Armée into Russia in 1812, he had assembled the biggest army in modern European history. Only half of his troops came from territories of the expanded French Empire. Tens of thousands of troops also came from Poland, Prussia, Austria, and the German States as well as Southern Europe.

The Greatest Army Europe Had Ever Seen - Napoleon's Invasion of Russia 1812

The Battle of Mir 1812 was the first battle of Napoleon's invasion of Russia. Polish Uhlans ride right into a trap set by Platov's Cossacks and under the Russian summer sun a cavalry skirmish ensues.

Napoleon's First Defeat in Russia 1812 - Platov's Trap at Mir

In the beginning of Napoleon's invasion of Russia, the Russian Tsar Alexander I was under pressure to rally his people. A months into the campaign he declared the The Patriotic War (Отечественная война) to fight back Napoleon - who was already having serious supply issues and a deteriorating logistics network.

All-Out War Against Napoleon - The Grand Manifesto of Alexander I

The two Russian Western Armies are trying to join up to mount a defense against Napoleon's invasion of Russia. But the speed of the French advance, particularly Marshal Davout and Marshal Murat, are putting pressure on the Russians. And so late July sees a series of battles at Mogilev/Saltanovka and Vitebsk/Ostrovno. Meanwhile the Russian 3rd Observation Army is dangerously close to the border of the Duchy of Warsaw - the Austrians under Schwarzenberg and Reynier's Corps need to stand and fight around Kobryn.

Russia's Fighting Retreat 1812 - Battles of Mogilev and Vitebsk

Smolensk is an important symbolic city to the Russians in 1812, for Napoleon it's a strategic objective he wants to conquer to improve is deteriorating supply situation. The Battle of Smolensk leads to an inferno in the city, it gets virtually destroyed and nearly all residents flee.

Napoleon Conquers A Heap of Ashes - Battle of Smolensk 1812

French general Junot and Emperor Napoleon I had a bit of a history by the time of the 1812 campaign. Even though Junot has been in Napoleon's service for years, he hadn't been promoted to Marshal. At the Battle of Lubino (Battle of Valutino-Gora) Junot stands idly by as the Grande Armee is missing their best chance yet to win a decisive victory over the Russians. To the north, at Polotsk the French and Russians are also clashing.

Russian Army Saved by French Blunder - The Battle of Lubino 1812

he face of war was changing in 1812. While the Russian Army retreated and left behind scorched earth, Russian partisans took up arms against Napoleon's troops. They harassed and attacked vital supply lines and we a true menace to the Grande Armée's rear.

How Russian Partisans Waged Guerilla War Against Napoleon

Napoleon's advancing army had finally spotted the entire Russian Army before them, the stage was set for the deciding clash of the Russian campaign at the small village of Borodino. Before the armies could duke it out, Napoleon wanted to eliminate a forward defensive position on the Russian left flank: The Shevardino Redoubt.

Setting the Stage for Borodino - The Battle of Shevardino Redoubt

The Battle of Borodino was the deadliest single day in history until the outbreak of the First World War. It was the culmination of Napoleon's advance on Moscow. Due to the terrain and the Russian positions, it was a gigantic battle of attrition - which Napoleon won at a high cost.

Napoleon's Deadliest Day - Battle of Borodino 1812 (Napoleonic Wars Documentary)

After the Battle of Borodino, both sides are badly mauled. Napoleon's Army marches on and reaches Moscow, the old Russian capital. In the Emperor's eyes, capturing the city should win him the war. But while the local Russians set fire to the city, the Tsar in St. Petersburg and the Russian Army command are thinking about turning the tide of the war - and not about accepting a French victory.

Napoleon Took Moscow - Why He Didn't Win The War

When Napoleon took Moscow, he expected victory over Russia was just a matter of time. But six weeks later he has to flee the city as his entire Russia campaign collapses. The strengthened Russian Army is attacking from three sides, winter is coming and in far away Paris a coup is underway.

How Napoleon's Russia Campaign Collapsed

Napoleon's retreat from Moscow and from Russia as a whole is one of the most dramatic scenes in history. Starving and freezing, the French Grande Armee is desperately trying to reach the Berezina River. The revitalized Russian Army is on their heels and almost catches their prey in the 2nd Battle of Krasny. But it wasn't just "General Winter" that defeated Napoleon in Russia.

Napoleon's Great Escape from Russia - The Battle of the Berezina

The two Schleswig Wars of 1848-51 and 1864 mark an important period in European History. Intertwined with the 1848 revolutions, the First Schleswig War's settlement tries to uphold the European status quo. But the unhappy belligerents soon find themselves at war again in 1864 when Prussian Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck uses the Second Schleswig War as a first step towards German unification.

Prussia's Rise & Denmark's Decline: The Schleswig Wars 1848-1864

After settling the Schleswig-Holstein question in 1864, Austria and Prussia are uneasy allies. Both are the biggest players in the German confederation. In Bismarck's dream of a united Germany, he sees Prussia as the only leader and wants to force the so called "small German solution" without Austria. And so, in 1866 a war between Austria and Prussia (plus other German states like Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg, Saxony, Hanover) breaks out to settle this question once and for all.

The War That Made Germany Prussian - Austro-Prussian War 1866

Real Time History Road Map 2022/23

The Battle of the Bulge was one of the last German offensives during the Second World War. It caught the US Army off guard in the Ardennes sector but ultimately the Allies prevailed. But did Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein ('Operation Watch on the Rhine') ever have a chance to succeed and reach Antwerp?

Why Germany Lost the Battle of the Bulge

The American invasion of Okinawa was the last big island operation on the Pacific Front. It took the US Marines and Army troops several months to defeat the last Japanese resistance on the island in one of the costliest American victories of the 2nd World War - but in the end not even Japanese Kamikaze attacks and using the civilian population could avert the outcome.

Biggest US Battle in the Pacific: Okinawa 1945

After Napoleon's defeat in Russia in 1812, the situation on the European continent is rapidly shifting. Prussia and Austria are leaving their unhappy alliance with the French. Prussian general Yorck even pledges his support to the Russian Army which is on the move towards Berlin. In Lützen and Bautzen Napoleon still manages to beat the new coalition, but his losses from Russia put him on the backfoot.

Napoleon's Downfall: Prussia's Betrayal in Spring 1813

When Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union in 1941, Napoleon's failed campaign was on many minds. Hitler specifically wanted to avoid a repetition of 1812 and even when his luck ran out was adamant to avoid any comparisons.

1812/1941: Hitler's Obsession with Napoleon's Defeat

After the brief summer 1813 cease fire, Napoleon's campaign in Germany resumes. Surrounded by the Allies - which also manage to slowly turn the tide at Großbeeren, Dennewitz, Kulm and Dresden, his only remaining option is the ultimate battle which takes place in October 1813 at Leipzig: The Battle of Nations.

Why Napoleon Lost His Biggest Battle

It's common wisdom that the nuclear bombs dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki caused the Japanese surrender at the end of the 2nd World War. However, there has been a fierce historical debate if this narrative omits the role of the Soviet invasion of Manchuria in August 1945 - or if this invasion was actually the main cause for the surrender.

Stalin or the Bomb? - Why Japan Surrendered in WW2

The Crimean War between the Ottoman Empire and Russia (and later the UK and France) has been called the last crusade and the first modern war at the same time.

Russia's Last Crusade - The Crimean War 1853-1856

The question about the first modern war has caused lively debates among historians and YouTube comment sections alike. In this video we take a look at a few candidates and some arguments why they are or aren't modern wars.

What was the First Modern War?

After the Warlord Era, the Chinese Civil War was primarily fought between the Kuomintang under Chiang Kai-Shek and the Chinese Communists. Several attempts to defeat the Communists failed because they used effective guerilla tactics or simply evaded the enemy to fight another day, like during the famous Long March.

Rise of Mao - Chinese Civil War 1928-1937

The North African campaign of WW2 is one of the most famous ones. The almost mythical story of the British "Desert Rats" defeating Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps. But why did Rommel loose in North Africa?

Why Rommel Lost the Battle for North Africa (WW2 Documentary)

The summer of 1944 saw the Allies land in France not once but twice. Two months after Operation Overlord, the Allies also landed in Southern France during Operation Dragoon. It was "the perfect landing" and opened up the important ports of Marseille and Toulon for Allied logistics.

The Perfect D-Day That History Forgot

In 1937 Japan invaded the Republic of China after already annexing Manchuria in 1931. With the international settlements in Shanghai, the military support through Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union and the general escalation of the war, many argue that 1937 marked the start of the Second World War in Asia.

Did Japan Start WW2 in 1937?

Since the inception of the nuclear bomb, military strategists have tried to figure out how to use them best. During the Cold War, this led to two very different doctrines but on both sides of the Iron Curtain the military wasn't sure of you could actually win Nuclear War.

Tempting Armageddon: Soviet vs. NATO Nuclear Strategy

After Napoleon's disastrous retreat from Russia he was still able to put up a fight and was determined to beat the enemy coalition in the German lands. But after a spring campaign and the battle of Grossbeeren, and the later battles of Bautzen and the Katzbach, the Emperor was beaten at the Battle of Leipzig 1813

Napoleon's Downfall: German Campaign 1813

After defeating the Axis in North Africa, the stage was set for the first Allied landing in Europe. The target was Sicily and in summer 1943 Allied generals Patton and Montgomery set their sights on the island off the Italian peninsular.

Sicily 1943: Patton and Monty Land in Europe

After the Second World War multiple French colonies were pushing towards independence, among them Indochina. The Viet Minh movement under Ho Chi Minh was clashing with French aspirations to save their crumbling Empire.

France's Vietnam War: Fighting Ho Chi Minh before the US

After the French success in the Battle of Na San, the battle of Dien Bien Phu is supposed to defeat the Viet Minh once and for all. But instead the weeks long siege becomes a symbol of the French defeat in Vietnam.

Why France Lost Vietnam: The Battle of Dien Bien Phu

In 1965, US troops officially landed in Vietnam, but American involvement in the ongoing conflict between the Communist North and the Anti-Communist South had started more than a decade earlier. So, why did the US-Vietnam War break out in the first place?

Why Did the Vietnam War Break Out?

The Anglo-Zulu War in 1879 is one of the most well known colonial wars of the British Empire. And while the British ultimately won and annexed the Zulu Kingdom, at the Battle of Isandlwana they suffered one of their worst defeats.

Zulu Kingdom's Last Stand - The Anglo-Zulu War 1879

In summer 1943, Germany and the Soviet Union fought the arguably biggest single battle in history with millions of men, thousands of tanks and artillery guns – the battle of Kursk. The German Army wanted to hit the Red Army so hard that they couldn’t go on the offensive again. And indeed, new research shows that the Soviets suffered shockingly high casualties, up to 6 times more men and equipment. But why then did the Germans lose this historic battle?

Why Germany Lost the Battle of Kursk 1943

In February 1943, Rommel’s panzers are again on the attack in North Africa. This time he’s facing untested US troops in the mountains of Tunisia - but the clock is ticking. As his veterans batter their way through the Kasserine Pass, the British are steadily advancing behind him. The Desert Fox has a bold plan to defeat the Allies in Tunisa for good. Little does he know, however, it will be his last battle in the field - and will soon lead him to total defeat in what some later will call Tunisgrad.

Why Rommel Lost His Last Battle

December 7, 1941: The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor shocked the world and brought the US into the Second World War. But why did the Japanese resort to such an attack against a powerful rival and what did it have to do with the Japanese war in China?

Why Did Japan Attack Pearl Harbor?

In 1945 US forces are advancing towards Japan, but the road to victory will be bloody.

Downfall of Imperial Japan 1945: From Iwo Jima to Nagasaki

In 1965, tens of thousands of US troops are heading for war in Vietnam.  Backed up by B-52 bombers, helicopters and napalm, many expect the Viet Cong guerillas to crumble in the face of unstoppable US firepower. Instead, in the jungles and swamps of Vietnam, the Americans discover combat is an exhausting slog in which casualties are high and they rarely get to fire first.

Search and Destroy: Vietnam War Tactics 1965-1967

Fall 1943, Allied bombers are ramping up their daytime raids of Nazi German cities and industry. The bomber crews of the US 8th Air Force will pay the price against the German Luftwaffe.  Formations such as the “Bloody Hundredth” 100th Bomber Group suffer some of the highest loss ratios of the Second World War – while in 1943 German war production continues to grow. So, let’s have a look why the 8th Air Force weren’t Masters of the Air over Germany quite yet.

The Deadliest Job Of WW2? - US Bomber Crews 1943

In March 1943, German U-boats are on the attack – they sink 108 Allied vessels that month alone.  Some Allied officials fear a German victory in the Atlantic is imminent. If the Allies lose the Atlantic, Britain loses its lifeline – and maybe even the war.  But by May 1943, it will be the U-boats limping home in defeat. So how, in just two months, did the U-boats go from hunters to hunted?

Why Germany Lost the Battle of the Atlantic

After years of boots on the ground and bloody combat in Vietnam, US officials are publicly confident. The strategy of eliminating the Viet Cong is working. The North Vietnamese communist forces are on their last legs and victory is only a matter of time. Or so they say. But as 1968 and the traditional lunar new year festivities begin, US and South Vietnamese troops find themselves on the receiving end of a formidable North Vietnamese surprise attack: The Tet Offensive.

Why the US Lost the Tet Offensive

In May 1940, Nazi Germany attacks in the West. The Allied armies of France, Britain, Belgium, and the Netherlands have more men, guns, and tanks than the Germans do – and the French army is considered the best in the world. But in just 6 weeks, German forces shock the world and smash the Allies. So how did Germany win so convincingly, so fast?

Why the Allies Lost The Battle of France

Fall 1945: the Second World War is over, but there is fresh fighting in Vietnam. Now, former enemies become allies as British-Indian troops, French Commandoes, and surrendered Japanese soldiers join in a rag-tag alliance against Ho Chi Minh’s Communists in Saigon. The outcome will shape Vietnam’s future for decades to come, in Great Britain’s weird Vietnam War.

Britain's Weird Vietnam War

The so-called forgotten year of WW2 sees the Allies push the Germans out of North Africa, Sicily, part of Italy, the Atlantic, and smash the Wehrmacht backwards from the Volga and Kursk in Russia to the Dnipro in Ukraine while Allied bombers begin to relentlessly bomb the Reich itself.

1943: Turning Point of WW2 in Europe

With violent anti-war protests at home and discipline problems on US bases, President Nixon promises to withdraw American troops from the Vietnam War. But that doesn’t mean an end to the fighting. As US troop numbers drop, the war expands across borders and in the air as more weapons are pumped into the South

Nixon's Vietnam War: Why the US Left Vietnam

Only five years after the end of WW2, the major nations of the world are once again up in arms. A global UN coalition and an emerging Chinese juggernaut are fighting it out in a war that will see both sides approach the brink of victory - and defeat.

Who Really Won the Korean War?

In just six days in 1967 Israel managed to decisively defeat Egypt, Jordan and Syria in the Six Day War. In the process they expand the territory they control with the Golan Heights, Sinai, the West Bank and Gaza.

How Did Israel End Up With Gaza and the West Bank? Six-Day War 1967

In late April 1975, dramatic images from Saigon are beamed across the world. North Vietnamese troops proclaimed final victory. Just how did the US lose the Vietnam War?

Why the US Lost the Vietnam War

During Japan's war against South-East Asia during the Second World War, China was one of the earliest battlefields. The nationalists under Chiang Kai-Shek pleaded to get Allied support against the Japanese. But being part of the alliance would have disastrous consequences for the Chinese.

Bio-Weapons in WW2: Japan's Revenge for Doolittle Raid

The Indochina War is a pivotal conflict in the Cold War emerging from the end of the Second World War. When the former imperial power France tries to reclaim their former colony of Indochina, they encounter resistance in today's Vietnam by the Viet Minh under Ho Chi Minh.

The Indochina War 1945-1954

Summer 1940. The United Kingdom is gripped by the fear of a German invasion. Even if the Luftwaffe secures the sky over Britain, could Germany's Operation Sea Lion ever really work?

Could Germany Invade Britain in WW2? (Operation Sea Lion)

The Vietnam War is mainly remembered as a conflict between the Vietnamese and the United States. But both sides received direct and indirect support from other countries.

Forgotten Armies of the Vietnam War: Australia, Korea, China, USSR

When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in the summer of 1990, he didn't anticipate a massive international backslash and unanimous Security Council response. Soon a broad military Coalition under leadership of the United States assembled and kicked the Iraqi Army out of Kuwait. In the aftermath several Iraqi groups rose up against Saddam but the Coalition didn't support a regime change.

Desert Storm: Mission Accomplished or Missed Opportunity?

Despite its name, the Vietnam War is not confined to the territory of North or South Vietnam. As the US and North Vietnamese escalate operations, the war crosses borders, merges with neighboring conflicts and takes on different forms – from CIA-directed secret armies in Laos, to genocide in Cambodia.

Laos and Cambodia: Forgotten Fronts of the Vietnam War

In 1953, Iran is at a crossroads. After decades of interference by foreign powers eager to exploit its oil reserves, the government decides it will throw them out and take control of the country’s wealth.  But with the super powers’ Cold War paranoia and thirst for oil, it won’t be easy – especially once the CIA gets involved.

CIA Coup For Oil? - The 1953 Iran Coup

November 1939. Germany and the Soviet Union have conquered Poland, and Germany is at war with France and Britain. Moscow is free to do as it pleases in Eastern Europe and sets its sights on Finland – but the Winter War will be a nasty surprise for Stalin.

Winter War 1939-40 - Soviet Invasion of Finland

When the US enters the Vietnam War, it’s confident in its military might, but it soon finds itself struggling with an underestimated enemy, a widening war, and political turmoil at home. North Vietnam has been fighting for an independent and unified Vietnam for decades. As both sides clash in the jungles of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, the war becomes a quagmire in which military power alone cannot secure victory.

The Vietnam War 1955-1975

In June 1944, an armada of warships and landing craft is getting ready for D-Day. Thousands of American soldiers are about to attack a prepared enemy with formidable defenses. But this isn’t Normandy, this is the island of Saipan. And the bloody battle there will bring total war to the Pacific.

Battle of Saipan 1944: Total War in the Pacific

April 1945. After nearly six years of war, the Red Army stands massed on the banks of the Oder River in eastern Germany. The Nazi capital and Hitler’s bunker are just 60km away, but the Nazi Party and the Wehrmacht are preparing to fight to the bitter end in the final struggle of WW2 in Europe – the Battle for Berlin.

Downfall: The Battle of Berlin 1945

In the summer of 1940, Great Britain is under attack in the air and at sea. German U-Boat wolf packs prowl the Atlantic and sink over a million tons of shipping. German skippers call this the “happy time” — but was the German Navy actually that successful early in the Battle of the Atlantic?

U-Boats Unleashed: Battle of the Atlantic 1940

The Russian Federation is at war with Ukraine, and some of its supporters insist it will win because Russia doesn’t lose wars. They point to its vast territory, its cold climate, its manpower reserves, or its people’s ability to endure hardship and accept death – and they point to great Russian victories of the past. So let’s put this claim to the test and see what history has to say about Russia’s record on the battlefield.

Does Russia Always Win Its Wars?

With the Japanese surrender in September 1945, the Second World War comes to an end. But for China there won't be peace right away because the nationalists under Chiang Kai-Shek and the communists under Mao Zedong still haven't resolved their struggle and so the Chinese Civil War will flare up once again.

Origin of the China-Taiwan Conflict: Chinese Civil War 1945-1949

The Battle of Norway in Spring 1940 cemented the reputation of the daring and invincible German war machine under Adolf Hitler. But while Denmark and Norway were successfully occupied by Germany, the campaign came at a heavy cost. This was especially true for the German Kriegsmarine which lost a significant amount of warships including the Blücher - losses that essentially crippled them for the remainder of the war.

Grave of the German Navy - Battle of Norway 1940

In September 1980, Iraq invades Iran. Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is convinced that now is the time to strike, since Iran is still shaken by its Islamic Revolution, and he expects victory within weeks. Instead, the conflict will last 8 years, cost hundreds of thousands of lives , threaten world oil markets, and draw the US into the Persian Gulf for good. It’s the last total war of the 20th century.

The Last Total War? - Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988

Realtimehistory creates chronological documentaries such Rhineland 45 and 15 Days in Berlin. They are also know as the team behind the youtube hit series The great War. Now they will cover one of the pivotal wars of the 19th century in real time: the Franco-Prussian War.

All Episodes of Real Time History

All Episodes of Real Time History

Season 1