EPISODE · Mar 3, 2026 · 51 MIN
The Cosplay Diplomat Who Made Friends With Nazis: James Lonsdale-Bryans and the British “Peace Party”
from History's Devils · host James Crossland
In this episode of HISTORY’S DEVILS, James Crossland and Phil Craig, author of 1945: The Reckoning: War, Empire and the Struggle for a New World, delve into the complex web of the British Peace Party and its connections to Nazi sympathizers during the late 1930s and early 1940s. They explore the origins of this group, the appeal of fascism in Britain, and the key figures involved in the mission to seek an accord with Hitler, including Lord Halifax, Lord Brockett and the shifty cosplay diplomat James Lonsdale-Bryans, an unscrupulous fantasists who thought he could broker a peace with Nazi Germany and alter the outcome of the Second World War. Buy Phil’s book:https://www.hodder.co.uk/titles/phil-craig/1945-the-reckoning/9781399714501/ Further ReadingRichard Lamb, The Ghosts of Peace, 1935-1945 (1987)Charles Spicer, Coffee with Hitler: The British Amateurs Who Tried to Civilize the Nazis (2023)Klemens von Klemperer, German Resistance Against Hitler: The Search for Allies Abroad 1938–1945 (1992)KV 2/2839 – James Lonsdale-Bryan’s MI5 file – https://images.nationalarchives.gov.uk/asset/28637/ Chapters00:00 Introduction to History's Devils03:13 The British Peace Party: Origins and Context06:06 The Appeal of Fascism in 1930s Britain08:51 The Anglo-German Fellowship and Its Members12:04 The German Resistance: Allies or Opportunists?15:01 The Role of Key Figures: Halifax and Chamberlain18:04 Peace Feelers: Attempts at Negotiation21:04 The Fall of France: A Turning Point23:56 The Rise of Churchill: A New Leadership26:53 James Lonsdale-Bryans: The Cosplay Diplomat29:59 The Impact of Peace Feelers on War Dynamics32:52 The Aftermath of Failed Diplomacy Thanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween"Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevilshttps://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/On Substackhttps://jamescrossland.substack.com/Follow JAMES CROSSLANDOn Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.socialTag HISTORY's DEVILS@historysdevils#HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #History #DarkHistory #storytellingHistory's Devils is a podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures.History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of:Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce LockhartThe Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism
Embed this episode
What this episode covers
In this episode of HISTORY’S DEVILS, James Crossland and Phil Craig, author of 1945: The Reckoning: War, Empire and the Struggle for a New World, delve into the complex web of the British Peace Party and its connections to Nazi sympathizers during the late 1930s and early 1940s. They explore the origins of this group, the appeal of fascism in Britain, and the key figures involved in the mission to seek an accord with Hitler, including Lord Halifax, Lord Brockett and the shifty cosplay diploma...
Ready to play
The Cosplay Diplomat Who Made Friends With Nazis: James Lonsdale-Bryans and the British “Peace Party”
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.