The Unknown Soldiers Podcast

The Hussite Revolution has defeated two crusades, the might of the Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire and the medieval nobility - but now the internal struggles begin. Moderates against radicals, cities versus countryside, upper class versus lower classes. The Hussites stand ascendant over all their other enemies...but can they conquer their own internal demons?Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episodes-67-and-68-the-hussite-wars-parts-1-and-2Music:Bloodlust by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Viking Intro by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.comRoyalty Free Music by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/War Shout by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.comRoyalty Free Music by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Epic Cinematic Dramatic Music | Tragedy by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USSimple Gifts – Cooper Cannell

A simple priest named Jan Hus gently suggests that the Catholic Church might be wrong about a few things - so they burn him at the stake, and ignite a holy war. The Church calls a crusade against Hus’s followers, the Hussites and all of Europe takes up arms against the heretics. The Hussites’ only hope is a one-eyed mercenary named Jan Žižka, and his revolutionary tactics that are so crazy they just might work. Fire, faith and thunder roll over the hills of Bohemia.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episodes-67-and-68-the-hussite-wars-parts-1-and-2Music:Bloodlust by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Ring Of Iron by WombatNoisesAudio | https://soundcloud.com/user-734462061Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USThe Great Battle by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.comRoyalty Free Music by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Hearts Of Iron by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/Royalty Free Music by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

In the year 1302, the people of Flanders revolted against their French overlords. They were just a bunch of peasants and townspeople, with simple weapons and little armor - but the French knights were in for a surprise. It’s time to take a deep dive into a single medieval battle - the Battle of Courtrai, where the common people of a small country stood their ground against the most powerful military in medieval Europe.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episode-66-the-battle-of-the-golden-spurs-maps-and-sourcesMusic:Ring Of Iron by WombatNoisesAudio | https://soundcloud.com/user-734462061Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US"Day One" by LucorMusic via pond5.com

In the year 1361, a ragged band of veteran mercenaries called the White Company marched across the Alps into Italy. One of their leaders was a middle-aged English knight named Sir John Hawkwood. He would the most infamous mercenary captain in Europe, the terror of Italy…and the harbinger of change, as the Middle Ages gave way to the Renaissance.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episode-65-soldier-and-fortune-maps-and-sourcesMusic:Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Bloodlust by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Dark Hollows by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Epic Cinematic Dramatic Music | Tragedy by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

A five-year-old boy is marched to his execution, but at the last minute he is spared. So begins the story of William Marshal. Tournament champion, feudal lord, father, husband, hero, rebel, loyal servant to five kings, one of the most legendary knights of the Middle Ages. And in his final years, at the age of 70, he will make the most important decision of his life.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episode-64-the-life-and-times-of-sir-william-marshal-maps-and-sourcesMusic:The Pyre by Kevin MacLeod | https://incompetech.com/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 3.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Tavern Brawl by Alexander Nakarada ft. Kevin MacLeod | https://creatorchords.comMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/An Epic Story by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"Reign of the King" by CitySound, via Pond5.com

After surviving Boudicca's Rebellion, the Roman province of Britannia was more or less stagnant - until a general arrived with an ambition to complete the conquest. Gnaeus Julius Agricola came to Britain in 77 AD with the ambition to lead the legions into the wild northern regions of Caledonia, a.k.a. Scotland, all the way to the ends of the known earth. And the only reason we know about this campaign is Agricola's son-in-law, the historian Tacitus, who made sure that his wife's beloved father wouldn't become an unknown soldier.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episode-63-furies-of-britannia-sources-and-maps

In 43 AD, the Roman Empire set out to conquer the mysterious land of Britannia. But the Roman province was barely established when a massive uprising threatened to destroy their achievements. The revolt’s leader was Boudicca, a Celtic warrior queen on a quest for freedom and revenge. This is a story about empire, resistance, one woman’s fury, and warfare at the edge of the world.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episode-63-furies-of-britannia-sources-and-mapsMusic:Vopna by Alexander Nakarada | https://creatorchords.comMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Hymn To The Gods by Alexander Nakarada | https://creatorchords.comMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Neverland by Alexander Nakarada | https://creatorchords.comMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"Under Siege" by Tyler Cunningham, via Pond5.com

The Romans have come to the walls of holy Jerusalem, where the Jews await their assault and pray for a miracle. The epic Siege of Jerusalem, and the smaller Siege of Masada, mark the twin climaxes of the First Roman-Jewish War, but their mythology...and their impact...endure into the modern day. This is Part II of the story of Josephus, the Romans, the Jews, and a war for the freedom of Zion.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episodes-61-and-62-wailing-walls-part-1-and-wailing-walls-part-2-maps-and-sourcesMusic:"Jewel Of Nekhen" by WombatNoisesAudio | https://soundcloud.com/user-734462061Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USThe Legion by Alexander Nakarada (https://www.creatorchords.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"Under Siege" by Tyler Cunningham, via Pond5.com

Our story begins not in Israel, not in Palestine, but in Judaea. The Romans had oppressed the Jewish people for decades, and by 66 AD, they had finally had enough. The First Roman-Jewish War was one of the most cataclysmic wars of the ancient world, told to us by a historian who saw it all happen - but how much can we trust what he says? This is the story of Josephus, the Romans, the Jews, the Second Temple of Jerusalem...and a war for the freedom of Zion.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episodes-61-and-62-wailing-walls-part-1-and-wailing-walls-part-2-maps-and-sourcesMusic:"Jewel Of Nekhen" by WombatNoisesAudio | https://soundcloud.com/user-734462061Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USThe Legion by Alexander Nakarada (https://www.creatorchords.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"Under Siege" by Tyler Cunningham, via Pond5.com

Brief update on the current status and future direction of the Unknown Soldiers Podcast...and what's coming up next!To send me more suggestions or any ideas about future episodes, or just your commentary on the state of the pod, send them to: [email protected] the Website: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcasthttps://twitter.com/unksoldierspod

Just a barely scripted episode talking about my sources, themes, missing bits and some final thoughts on the Soviet-Afghan War. Content is content.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/the-soviet-afghan-war-series-maps-and-sourcesSocial Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcast https://twitter.com/unksoldierspod

The Soviet-Afghan War is over, but for both countries, the struggle has only begun. The Soviet Union begins to crumble, a collapse that is not inevitable or predictable, as the world watches in disbelief. But the world isn't watching Afghanistan, which descends into civil war, anarchy, and violence. The rise of the Taliban, al-Qa'eda, and the road to 9/11 are foreseen by nobody, and no one is trying to stop them - except for one man. And his tragedy might be the saddest chapter of this unlucky country called Afghanistan.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/the-soviet-afghan-war-series-maps-and-sourcesAudible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/Return-of-a-King-Audiobook/1526640767?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpMusic:Winter Waltz by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.auMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"Jihad" by LynnePublishing via Pond5.comPathfinder by Scott Buckley | https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckleyMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Desert City Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Jalandhar Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

In this supplement to the Soviet-Afghan war series, we examine the experiences of both Soviet and Afghan women on either side of this conflict. Soviet women served in many roles, including military and civilian, and endured many of the same experiences of the men - though one group of Soviet women, the mothers, may have suffered the most. And Afghan women had it even worse, caught between the Soviet destruction and their own radicals in the Mujahideen, the promises and cruelties of two ideologies.What both groups of women shared was that their experiences were always different from those of the men. War, after all, has an unwomanly face.Sources & Maps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/the-soviet-afghan-war-series-more-maps-and-sources-part-i-and-soviet-army-short-round

The Soviets have decided that it’s time to leave Afghanistan…but as we all know, it’s much harder to get OUT of the graveyard of Empires than it is to get in. Battles still remain, as the Americans send Stinger missiles to the Mujahideen and the Soviets launch their last major attack in Operation Magistral. But the damage is already done: the USSR is on the brink of collapse, and the devastated country of Afghanistan is fertile ground for the rise of radical Islam.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/the-soviet-afghan-war-series-maps-and-sourcesNew Maps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/the-soviet-afghan-war-series-maps-for-part-iiAudible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/Drink-Audiobook/1977339069?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpMusic:Winter Waltz by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.auMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Bhangra Bass by Punch Deck | https://soundcloud.com/punch-deckMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US"Driving Atmospheric Dread" by EdwardCNBrown via pond5.comPathfinder by Scott Buckley | https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckleyMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What was the experience of a Soviet conscript in Afghanistan? In this supplement to the Soviet-Afghan war series, we dive into the Soviet soldier's experience in the Graveyard of Empires. We'll see what his everyday life was like, what combat was like, what his living conditions were like. But we'll also see how the war affected him, what he thought about it...and what happened when he came home. This is the story of the Soviet Union's answer to America's Vietnam veterans: the Afgantsy.Or, in other words - war is hell.Sources & Maps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/the-soviet-afghan-war-series-more-maps-and-sources-part-i-and-soviet-army-short-round

The Soviet-Afghan War reaches its climax from 1983 to 1985, as atrocities and destruction ravage the civilian population. The Mujahideen are starting to lose the war, but they have outside support: from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and even the United States, from people like Ronald Reagan and Charlie Wilson and Osama Bin Laden. International aid might tip the balance – but it also might unleash forces that no one can control. Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/the-soviet-afghan-war-series-maps-and-sourcesNew Maps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/the-soviet-afghan-war-series-maps-for-part-iiAudible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Hardest-Place-Audiobook/0593286790?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpMusic:"Jihad" by LynnePublishing via Pond5.com"Epic Cinematic Theme - War In The East" by TDK via Pond5.comLock And Load by Hayden Folker | https://soundcloud.com/hayden-folkerMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USPathfinder by Scott Buckley | https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckleyMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Bhangra Bass by Punch Deck | https://soundcloud.com/punch-deckMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

The Soviet military, a powerful force designed for World War III, was not prepared for Afghanistan. The Russian bear was overstretched, fighting a dangerous, resilient enemy called the Mujahideen, with no way forward and no way out. Its weaknesses became most apparent in a place called the Panjshir Valley, where they faced the brilliant guerrilla leader Ahmad Shah Massoud - the Lion of Panjshir. In Part II of a five-part series, we examine the war from 1980 to 1982, especially the tactics, the strategy, and the nature of the Mujahideen.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/the-soviet-afghan-war-series-maps-and-sourcesNew Maps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/the-soviet-afghan-war-series-maps-for-part-iiAudible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/We-Were-Soldiers-Once-and-Young-Audiobook/B07C9CFNBG?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpMusic:"Jihad" by LynnePublishing via Pond5.comhttps://music.orchestralis.net/track/38439579Pathfinder by Scott Buckley | https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckleyMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Bhangra Bass by Punch Deck | https://soundcloud.com/punch-deckMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

The Soviet Armed Forces were the juggernaut of a nuclear superpower, the largest army on Earth, the embodiment of the massive, powerful Russian bear. But they were also deeply flawed. Their soldiers were mistreated, their equipment was crude, and they suffered from the paradoxes of the socialist empire. But above all, the Soviets were locked into an ideological prison of their own making: a Marxist approach to warfare.Sources & Maps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/the-soviet-afghan-war-series-more-maps-and-sources-part-i-and-soviet-army-short-round

In the late 1970s, two neighboring countries were in turmoil: the Soviet Union was beginning its decline and fall, and Afghanistan was roiled by political chaos. When a socialist, pro-Soviet government comes to power in Afghanistan, it immediately comes under attack by its own people - and the Soviets have to make a decision. In Part I of a five-part series, we will see how the Soviet Union stumbled into the graveyard of empires.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/the-soviet-afghan-war-series-maps-and-sourcesAudible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Peoples-Tragedy-Audiobook/B07J5DSS8M?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpMusic:"Soviet Red Army Military March" by Rafael Kruxhttps://music.orchestralis.net/track/38439579Desert City Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Jalandhar Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Before we dive into the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, it's time to get acquainted - or reacquainted - with the Graveyard of Empires. Let's take a look at the peoples, places, and history of Afghanistan before 1979.(Or, to put it another way, I wrote way too much context for Soviet-Afghan War Part 1 and spun it off into its own thing.)Sources & Maps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/the-soviet-afghan-war-series-maps-and-sourcesEmail Me: [email protected]:Desert City Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

A brief introduction to the upcoming Soviet-Afghan War series, debuting March 3. Don't know your Kremlins from your Gremlins? Find the answers here!Sources and Maps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/the-soviet-afghan-war-series-maps-and-sourcesSocial Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcasthttps://twitter.com/unksoldierspodEmail me: [email protected]

The U.S. Army's 442nd Infantry Regiment was a unit unlike any other . Many of their families were behind barbed wire in internment camps, and all of them suffered discrimination from their own country. They didn't just fight for America…they fought to prove they were Americans. And they became America’s most decorated combat unit of World War II.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episode-55-go-for-broke-sourcesAudible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/An-Army-at-Dawn-The-War-in-North-Africa-1942-1943-Audiobook/B00CBKIDUG?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpMusic:Superepic by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

When the American Civil War began, the state of Kentucky wanted to remain neutral - but that was never in the cards. As the Union and Confederate armies spar over the outcome of the border states, a trio of incompetent Confederate generals ensures that Kentucky will go to the Union. The climax of this story is a small but decisive battle at Mill Springs, Kentucky - and one general, Felix K. Zollicoffer, who literally never saw it coming.Sources & Maps: Coming Soon

After the fall of their empire in 1849, the Sikhs have continued to render military service all over the world. They have served the British Empire, the modern Republic of India, the Canadian and Australian and U.S. militaries, on battlefields from Africa to China, from Italy to Burma, from Afghanistan to Palestine. This is the story of Sikhs in warfare after their conquest by the British - the legacy of the Khalsa.Sources & Maps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episode-54-glory-of-the-khalsa-maps-and-sources

In the early 19th Century, the followers of the Sikh religion forged in empire in northern India's Punjab region. The threat of the British Empire led their Maharaja, Ranjit Singh, to build a powerful Western-style army. But modern armies are a loaded gun that can be just as dangerous to the wielder as to its target. The Khalsa Army, one of India's greatest fighting forces, would be the ruin of the Sikh Empire.Sources & Maps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episode-54-glory-of-the-khalsa-maps-and-sourcesAudible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Anarchy-Audiobook/1526616971?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpMusic:"Battle Fight War Cinematic"by DIADOH via pond5.comYes I know about the title. I combed through like 200 songs to find one that wouldn't be too on the nose and offense and still contain the flavor. Surprisingly difficult!

Welcome to the world of Late Antiquity, where the two superpowers of the age prepare for their final showdown. The Byzantine and Sasanian Empires - also known as the Romans and Persians - face off in a world war, an apocalyptic struggle saturated with divine power and visions of doom. But neither side sees the true danger coming from the desert.Sources & Maps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episode-53-world-war-622-adAudible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/Byzantium-Audiobook/B0BR6791XN?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpMusic:The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday by LostDrone | https://soundcloud.com/lostdroneMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

The age of European imperialism is in full swing, and they have overrun every kingdom in Africa…except one: the ancient nation of Ethiopia, which faces a massive Italian invasion. At a place called Adwa, Emperor Menelik II - the last king of Africa - will fight one of history’s decisive battles.Sources & Maps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episode-52-the-last-king-of-africaAudible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Gates-of-Europe-Audiobook/B0B25STPTT?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpMusic:Umoja by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pedro II, the second and last ruler of the Brazilian Empire, was an oddity in the 19th Century: a monarch who actually did a half-decent job and worked in the best interests of his people. So of course, he was overthrown in a military coup. Let's dive into the life, legacy and tragedy of Dom Pedro the Magnanimous, one of the most fascinating men of the modern age.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episodes-47-51-the-paraguayan-war-series-sourcesSocial Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcast https://twitter.com/unksoldierspod

Just a barely scripted episode talking about the historiography and my key sources for the Paraguayan War. Then I rattle off a bunch of random thoughts about the conflict and my opinions on it. Hey, I'm on vacation and content is content. Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays and so forth! See you next year!Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episodes-47-51-the-paraguayan-war-series-sourcesSocial Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcast https://twitter.com/unksoldierspod

Paraguay has lost the war by late 1868…but will they admit it? Francisco Solano Lopez drags his nation into the abyss, and the Triple Alliance shows no mercy as they grind Paraguay down. South America’s greatest war approaches its apocalyptic finale. Nations can find themselves in victory...or lose themselves in defeat.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episodes-47-51-the-paraguayan-war-series-sourcesAudible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/Embracing-Defeat-Audiobook/B002V5GT5WMusic:"Epic Finale" by Hakaneriksson, via Pond5.comhttps://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/59734878-epic-finale"Memories of Argentina" by Mercade, via Pond5.com https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/71962407-memories-argentina

Eliza Lynch, Francisco Solano Lopez's mistress and the virtual First Lady of Paraguay is one of the most famous - and infamous - figures in the history of South America. And she played a starring role in the Paraguayan War. Was she a national icon, a greedy prostitute, a wicked queen, a tragic heroine or something else? Will the real Eliza Lynch please stand up?Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episodes-47-51-the-paraguayan-war-series-sourcesSocial Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcast https://twitter.com/unksoldierspod

The Paraguayan War is in a stalemate. Paraguay and the Triple Alliance grapple with questions of war economy, homefront morale, and national will as the conflict becomes a war of attrition. And both sides are tested to their limits in the climactic struggle, the bitter grapple for the fortress of Humaitá - the Gibraltar of the South.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episodes-47-51-the-paraguayan-war-series-sourcesMaps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/the-paraguayan-war-part-4-gibraltar-of-the-south-mapsAudible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Wages-of-Destruction-Audiobook/0593417216?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpMusic:Legionnaire (2022 Remaster) by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As the main action of the Paraguayan War took place far to the south, the Brazilian government sent an expedition overland to recapture the occupied province of Mato Grosso. This disastrous campaign was a roadshow of human misery that somehow became a legendary Brazilian epic, and also a great demonstration of why you should never ignore the Iron Hand of Logistics.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episodes-47-51-the-paraguayan-war-series-sourcesMap: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/the-paraguayan-war-part-3-5-the-retreat-from-laguna-a-brazilian-odyssey-map

In 1866, Paraguay stood on the defensive as the Triple Alliance prepared to invade. The great battles of that year, bloodbaths like Tuyutí, Boquerón, and Curupayty, accomplished very little in military terms. But the largest and bloodiest battles in South American history etched themselves into national memories, and set the war on the road to Armageddon.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episodes-47-51-the-paraguayan-war-series-sourcesMaps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/paraguayan-war-part-3-the-funnel-of-death-mapsAudible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/Six-Days-of-War-Audiobook/B002V0PWJGMusic: "Military" by florews, via Pond5.com: https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/111522136-military-epic-patriotic-cinematic

In 1865, Francisco Solano Lopez's armies and navies were on the offensive. Three nations joined the war against Paraguay: Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, a combination that came to be known as the Triple Alliance. Alliances have their problems, but Paraguay was fighting all alone...and as it turned out, that was worse.Especially when they had to fight naval battles with canoes.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episodes-47-51-the-paraguayan-war-series-sourcesMaps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/paraguayan-war-part-2-the-triple-alliance-mapsAudible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/To-Rule-the-Waves-Audiobook/B01MRXZIE1?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpMusic: "Down the River" by lynnepublishing, via Pond5.com: https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/47771833-down-river-loop-01

19th-Century South America was a dangerous place for new nations. One of these was a small, landlocked, deeply weird country called Paraguay. And in 1864, Paraguay's dictator made some of the worst foreign policy decisions in modern history, kicking off South America's longest and most terrible war.And you thought your political leaders were bad.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episodes-47-51-the-paraguayan-war-series-sourcesMaps: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/paraguayan-war-maps-finallyAudible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Pursuit-of-Power-Audiobook/B01MRK05KY?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpMusic: "Memories of Argentina" by Mercade, via Pond5.com https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/71962407-memories-argentina

Today’s story spans thousands of years across the globe. Our protagonists make decisions that determine the lives of thousands, wield unimaginable powers of destruction, decide the fate of nations, even as they are blind, paralyzed, shackled…by the chains of command. Let’s look through the eyes of four generals from the ancient world to the modern day.Sources:https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episode-46-the-chains-of-command-sourcesAudible Recommendation: https://www.audible.com/pd/Napoleon-Audiobook/B00OSJZ7BQ?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpMusic:Blood Eagle by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Spirit Of The Dream by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Battlefield by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/An Epic Story by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Some of the greatest soldiers of the American Revolution remain unknown. The women of America, both extraordinary and ordinary, worked, suffered, took action, and sometimes even fought to guarantee their new nation’s freedom. And in the process, something else would be born: the seeds of a second revolution.Sources:https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episode-45-daughters-of-liberty-sourcesSocial Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcasthttps://twitter.com/unksoldierspodAudible Recommendation:https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Men-Who-Lost-America-British-Leadership-the-American-Revolution-and-the-Fate-of-the-Empire-Audiobook/B00GLJ3DJ4?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpMusic: "Legends of Patriots" by Talekeeper_Music via Pond5.com

World War I is at its climax in 1918, when the Americans arrive in France. Among them are the African-American 369th Infantry Regiment. They descend into the Western Front...and ascend into legend as the Harlem Hellfighters. But they have to wage two wars: one against the Germans in the trenches; the other against racism at home.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episode-44-hellfighters-sourcesSocial Media:https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcasthttps://twitter.com/unksoldierspodMusic:Battlefield by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Inheritance disputes always bring out the worst in a family. In 1135, King Henry I of England died, plunging his realm into civil war. Let's take a look at the complexities of medieval warfare, as the grandchildren of William the Conqueror fight for his throne...but unlike the HBO show based on these events, no dragons are involved. (But there is castration, so it evens out.)Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episode-43-house-of-the-conqueror-maps-and-sourcesSocial Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcasthttps://twitter.com/unksoldierspodMusic:"Reign of the King" by CitySound, via Pond5.com

Brief update on the current status and future direction of the Unknown Soldiers Podcast. No episode this week, but more to come soon! Check the Website: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcasthttps://twitter.com/unksoldierspod

The Roman Empire under Augustus Caesar was at the peak of its power in the last years BC, when it decided to turn its attention to the dark forests across the Rhine - a place they called Germania. Betrayal, disaster, and destiny await the Legions and their imperialist hubris in the dark shadows of the Teutoburg Forest.Maps & Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episode-42-give-me-back-my-legions-maps-and-sourcesSocial Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcasthttps://twitter.com/unksoldierspodMusic:Hymn To The Gods by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

When World War I broke out in Africa, the Kaiser's only warship in the area - the light cruiser SMS Konigsberg - found a new hiding place in an African jungle. The British had a new mission: track down and destroy the Kaiser's African Queen. The Battle of the Rufiji Delta would be one of history's longest - and craziest - naval battles.Where did I get my info? Here are my sources:https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-41-the-kaiser-s-lions-maps-and-sources-you-guys-might-need-some-mapsSocial Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcast https://twitter.com/unksoldierspod

When the Great War broke out in 1914, Germany's overseas African colonies were swept up in the maelstrom. In German East Africa, a daring Prussian officer and his remarkable Black soldiers, the Askaris, held the British Empire at bay for four long years. Welcome to the First World War in Africa...as seen by the Africans themselves.Sources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-41-the-kaiser-s-lions-maps-and-sources-you-guys-might-need-some-mapsSocial Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcasthttps://twitter.com/unksoldierspodMusic:"For the Cause" by DeanJordan via pond5.com

In the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, it was clear that the US Army was in desperate need of reform. Its salvation would come in the form of a sarcastic, kinda mean New York lawyer named Elihu Root. Let's get into some spicy, exciting, adrenaline-soaked military reform!Where did I get my info? Here are my sources:https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episode-37-40-the-philippine-war-series-sourcesSocial Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcast https://twitter.com/unksoldierspod

The Philippine War ends not with a glorious triumph, but a descent into America's heart of darkness in Batangas, Samar and the Moro Provinces. When the people of the United States confront the truth, will they accept the reality...or cling to a glorious image? The end of the war is only the beginning.Map of the Final Campaigns: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episodes-39-and-49-philippine-war-parts-iii-iv-mapsSources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episode-37-40-the-philippine-war-series-sourcesSocial Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcasthttps://twitter.com/unksoldierspodMusic:"Driving Atmospheric Dread" by EdwardCNBrown via pond5.com"America the Beautiful" as arranged by StockMusicCom via pond5.com

Women served on both sides in the Philippine War, in capacities as varied as they were surprising. American women were activists, teachers, nurses and Army wives; Filipinas were revolutionaries, camp followers, and even warriors. But in the end, what truly made them different was their relationship to colonialism and empire.Check out my maps:https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episode-37-the-philippine-war-part-i-american-empire-mapWhere did I get my info? Here are my sources:https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episode-37-40-the-philippine-war-series-sourcesSocial Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcast https://twitter.com/unksoldierspod

By 1900, the Americans seemed to have defeated the Philippine resistance...but the war had actually shifted into Phase 2. Ambushes, atrocities, and presidential politics swirl around America's new empire as the war gets bitter and ugly. Is it possible for America to defeat an insurgency?Map of the Campaigns of 1900: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episode-38-the-philippine-war-part-2-shock-and-awe-mapsSources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episode-37-40-the-philippine-war-series-sourcesSocial Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcasthttps://twitter.com/unksoldierspodMusic:Lock And Load by Hayden Folker | https://soundcloud.com/hayden-folkerMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

The Buffalo Soldiers, the African-American regiments, might have been the U.S. Army's elite units of its imperial age. But Black Americans had a different experience and different reaction to the conflict, and it wasn't always positive. How did America's racial history intersect with the Philippine War?Check out my maps:https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episode-37-the-philippine-war-part-i-american-empire-mapWhere did I get my info? Here are my sources:https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episode-37-40-the-philippine-war-series-sourcesSocial Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcast https://twitter.com/unksoldierspod

The United States has decided to civilize the people of the Philippines, but the Filipinos beg to differ. The campaigns of 1899 will show war in all its glory and all its ugliness. It's time to bring freedom to the Philippines...whether they want it or not.Map of the Campaigns of 1899: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/episode-38-the-philippine-war-part-2-shock-and-awe-mapsSources: https://www.unknownsoldierspodcast.com/post/unknown-soldiers-podcast-episode-37-40-the-philippine-war-series-sourcesSocial Media: https://www.facebook.com/unknownsoldierspodcasthttps://twitter.com/unksoldierspodMusic: "Gentlemen at War" by PlayAgain via Pond5.com