Operation Barbarossa: Seeds of Calamity (Part 1)
6/22/20261 hr 3 min
Why was Hitler planning an invasion of the USSR during The Battle Of Britain? What impact did the Nazi-Soviet Pact have on WW2? How was Stalin expanding communist influence in Eastern Europe?
Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 1 of this titanic new series on the brutal Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, and how mistakes by warmongers on both sides led to untold tragedies on the Eastern Front of WW2.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsAl Murray· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Thank you for listening to We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Sign up to our Patreon to receive bonus content, live streams, and our weekly newsletter with money off books and museum visits as well. Plus early access to all live show tickets. That's patreon.com/wehaveways.
James Holland· Host0:19
[upbeat music] "If Russia smashed, Britain's last hope would be shattered. Decision: Russia's destruction must therefore be made part of this struggle." Spring 1941, "The sooner Russia is crushed the better. Attack achieves its purpose only if Russian state can be shattered to its roots with one blow. Holding part of the country will not do. If we start in May 1941, we would have five months to finish the job." That, of course, was General Franz Halder noting in his diary on the 31st of August, 1940. Hang on a minute. Isn't that supposed to be Battle of Britain time?
Al Murray· Host1:16
It's not Battle of Britain time, though, is it, Jim? This is, uh, here on We Have Ways of Making You Talk, it's Barbarossa time. That's right. Um, James and I are, are, look, uh, taking a look at, uh, the build-up to Barbarossa, and