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Jun 22, 2025 7 min

The Russia Trap

from Dave Does History Hosted by Dave Bowman

On this episode of Dave Does History, we dive into one of the most chilling coincidences in military history. Twice on June 22nd, Europe’s greatest powers launched full-scale invasions of Russia. First, it was Napoleon in 1812, leading the mighty Grande Armée into the East. Then, in 1941, Hitler unleashed Operation Barbarossa, the largest invasion force the world had ever seen. Both men promised swift victory. Both ended in disaster. In this episode, we explore how two of history’s most powerful war machines were undone not just by winter and distance, but by arrogance, overreach, and the fierce resilience of the Russian people. From the burning of Moscow to the snows outside Stalingrad, this is the story of how empires rise—and fall—when they underestimate the Russian steppes. Stick around, because history isn’t just repeating here. It’s screaming a warning for anyone else foolish enough to try the same road.

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The Russia Trap

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This episode is 7 minutes long.

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This episode was published on June 22, 2025.

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