History's Greatest Battles
Themistocles
Where the course of history has been decided on the battlefield. These are the battles that made us -- a detailed, entertaining, and tangent-free program about history's greatest battles. In this podcast we journey through the constancy of human conflict, where the fates of nations and the course of global history have been decided on the battlefield. This podcast delves into our world-history's most significant and seminal battles, exploring not just the events themselves but their profound impact on the world we live in today. Each episode is meticulously crafted by ardent and dedicated history fans with a passion for military history and an appreciation for the art of storytelling. Join us as we unravel the strategies, heroics, and consequences that have shaped civilizations and forged the destiny of entire continents.
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Top 10 History's Greatest Battles Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best History's Greatest Battles episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to History's Greatest Battles for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite History's Greatest Battles episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
The Siege of Bilbao, 1937. Basque Culture Systematically Erased. Hitler Helps Spain in a Preview of WWII Atrocities and Experiments.
History's Greatest Battles
05/13/25 • 27 min
The fall of Vizcaya’s capital was both a tactical defeat and the moment the spine of Basque resistance snapped. With it went the last coordinated defense of autonomy in the north. From that point forward, there would be no organized Basque military stand, no political bargaining power, and no seat at the table in the war that continued to rage across Spain.
What followed was more than occupation; it was a deliberate and calculated dismantling of Basque nationalism. Schools were purged. Language forbidden. Symbols outlawed. Nationalist Military leaders didn’t just take territory, they moved to erase the very idea of a separate Basque identity.
That loss in Vizcaya marked more than the end of a campaign. It triggered a generational suppression that would outlast the war itself: etched into law, enforced by decree, and remembered in silence.
Bilbao. March 31 - une 19, 1937.
Spanish Nationalist Forces: ~ 50,000 Spanish, Italian, and Moroccan Troops.
Basque Republican Forces: ~ 45,000 Troops.
Additional Reading and Episode Research:
- Thomas, Hugh. The Spanish Civil War.
- Gibbs, Jack. The Spanish Civil War.
- Jackson, Gabriel. A Concise History of the Spanish Civil War.
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The Siege of Sevastopol, WWII 1941-42. The Largest Military Invasion in Recorded History.
History's Greatest Battles
04/24/25 • 21 min
The battle for Sevastopol, and the wider fight for Crimea, siphoned off critical German divisions from the southern push toward the Caucasus, delaying the drive for oil and momentum. At the same time, it gutted Soviet naval power in the Black Sea, silencing it for nearly two years and leaving the coastline exposed and vulnerable.
Sevastopol. October 30, 1941 - July 3, 1942.
Nazi Forces: ~ 204,000 Soldiers, 670 Siege Guns, 655 Anti-Tank Guns, 720 Mortars, 450 Tanks, and 600 Aircraft.
Soviet Forces: ~ 106,000 Soldiers, 600 Heavy Guns, 100+ Mortars, 38 Tanks, and 55 Aircraft.
Additional Reading and Episode Research:
- Morozov, Vasili. The Siege of Sevastopol.
- Werth, Alexander. Russia at War., 1941-1945.
- Ansimov, N.I. Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union, 1941-1945.
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The Siege of The Alamo, 1836. The Violent Slaughter that made modern America. Heroic Last Stand.
History's Greatest Battles
04/28/25 • 21 min
The fall of the Alamo ignited a fierce, unrelenting resistance to Santa Anna’s advance, forging the resolve that would drive his army into the dirt and wrest from him the independence of Texas.
The Alamo. February 23 - March 6, 1836.
Texian Forces: ~ 189 Texans.
Mexican Forces: 4,000 - 6,000 Soldiers.
Additional Reading and Episode Research:
- Hardin, Stephen. Texian Iliad.
- Huffines, Alan. Blood of Noble Men.
- Proctor, Ben. The Battle of the Alamo.
- Long, Charles. 1836: The Alamo.
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The Battle of Culloden, 1746. Origin of Modern UK Royal Family. Scottish Defeat, Highland Culture Systematically Eradicated, Britain's World Dominance Ensured.
History's Greatest Battles
10/14/24 • 24 min
The crushing defeat at Culloden sealed the fate of the Scottish Catholic royal line, ending their final bid for the throne of Great Britain. It also reaffirmed the deep-rooted animosity between Britain and France, a rivalry that would only intensify with the outbreak of the Seven Years' War a decade later.
Culloden. April 16, 1746.
Jacobite Forces: ~ 5,000 Scottish Warriors.
UK Government Forces: ~ 9,000 Soldiers.
Additional Research and Reading:
- Gibson, John. Lochiel of the '45: The Jacobite Chief and the Prince.
- Hartman, Cyril. The Quest Forlorn: The Story of the Forty-Five.
- Scott, Sir Walter. A History of Scotland.
- Daiches, David. Charles Edward Stuart: The Life and Times of Bonnie Prince.
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The Battle of Blenheim, 1704. Age of Absolute Monarchy Shattered, France Sent Into Decline, Marlborough a Hero.
History's Greatest Battles
10/15/24 • 19 min
Marlborough’s triumph shattered the illusion of French invincibility, marking the first crack in the towering edifice of Louis the fourteenth's reign. From Blenheim onward, France’s dominance would wither, and the Sun King, as he often referred to himself, once the master of Europe, would watch as the brilliance of his empire dimmed.
Blenheim. August 13, 1704.
French and Bavarian Forces: ~ 56,000 Men.
Allied Forces: ~ 52,000 Men.
Additional Reading and Research:
- Fuller, J.F.C. A Military History of the Western World.
- Hassel, Arthur. Louis XIV and the Zenith of French Monarchy.
- Kamen, Henry. The War of Succession in Spain, 1700-1715.
- Chandler, David. The Art of Warfare in the Age of Marlborough.
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The disastrous Prussian defeat at Jena and Auerstädt in 1806 was more than a humiliation, it was a reckoning. In the ashes of their shattered military, Prussia saw the urgent need for reform. The old system, built on outdated doctrines and rigid hierarchy, was swept away. At the heart of this transformation was the creation of the General Staff system, a revolutionary institution that replaced privilege and pedigree with merit, expertise, and meticulous planning. This system became the engine of the Prussian military’s rebirth, ensuring it was led by the most talented minds, trained to anticipate and respond to the complexities of modern warfare.
The results were undeniable. Over the next century, the Prussian military emerged as the most formidable force in Europe, its dominance confirmed by stunning victories against Denmark, Austria, and France. The General Staff became the model for every major military power, reshaping the very nature of command and strategy in the modern age. What began as Prussia’s greatest disaster ultimately became the foundation of its greatest strength, cementing its military legacy for generations to come.
Jena and Auerstadt. October 14, 1806.
Prussian Forces: ~ 105,000 Soldiers.
French Forces: ~ 80,000 Soldiers.
Additional Reading and Episode Research:
- Chandler, David. The Campaigns of Napoleon.
- Britt, Albert. The Wars of Napoleon.
- Dupuy, Trevor. A Genius for War.
- Maude, F. N. The Jena Campaign.
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The Battle of Trenton
History's Greatest Battles
08/09/24 • 24 min
Washington's victory ignited a blazing resurgence of fervor in the hearts of the colonial people—a fervor so fierce that, without it, the flame of the American Revolution might have been extinguished forever; as this victory came on the back of three consecutive defeats for the revolutionary army.
Trenton; 26 December, 1776.
American Revolutionary Forces: ~ 2500 militia.
Hessian Forces: ~ 1,500 Mercenaries.
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The Battle of Mukden
History's Greatest Battles
08/12/24 • 20 min
Japan's victory at Mukden, forged on a winter battlefield requiring relentless sacrifice, shattered the old world order, compelling the great powers to the negotiating table. The end of the Russo-Japanese War was not just a cessation of hostilities—it was the birth of Japan as a military titan, a force that the world could no longer dare to ignore.
Mukden. 19 February - 10 March, 1905. Russo-Japanese War.
Japanese: 200,00 to 320,000 soldiers; 53,000 to 70,000 KIA.
Russian: 200,000 to 310,000 soldiers; 20,000 to 156,000 KIA.
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The Battle of Tricameron, 533 A.D. Belisarius Unites East and West under Roman Rule for Justinian
History's Greatest Battles
09/30/24 • 29 min
The triumph in North Africa restored Byzantine dominance over the region, bringing it back into the fold of the Eastern Roman Empire. From this strategic foothold, the Byzantines launched their bold invasion of Italy, momentarily reuniting the sundered Eastern and Western Roman Empires under a single imperial banner—if only for a fleeting chapter in history.
Tricameron. December, 533 A.D.
Byzantine Forces: 10,000 Infantry, 5,000 Cavalry.
Vandal Forces: 50,000 Soldiers, mostly Cavalry.
Additional Reading and Research:
- Browning, Robert. Justinian and Theodora.
- Fuller, J.F.C. A Military History of the Western World.
- Dewing Translation: Procopius, Vol IV.
- Treadgold, Warren. Byzantium and Its Army 284 - 1081.
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The Siege of Khartoum, 1885. Muslim Religious Zeal Cracks the British Empire. British-Muslim Policy Established.
History's Greatest Battles
05/14/25 • 22 min
Gordon’s fall shattered what remained of Egyptian authority in Sudan. The region, once claimed in maps and ledgers, slipped into the hands of the Mahdist state. But in Britain, the loss reverberated beyond strategy. It struck the national psyche... a public accustomed to victory saw one of its most revered officers abandoned and butchered. The outcry wasn’t fleeting. It hardened into a new imperial posture: less hesitant, more aggressive. From that point forward, British ambition in Africa intensified... not merely to reclaim lost territory, but to prove that the empire would never again tolerate humiliation at the hands of those it considered beneath its dominion.
Khartoum. March 12, 1884 - January 26, 1885.
Mahdist (Muslim) Forces: ~ 60,000 Men.
British/Egyptian Forces: ~ 8,000 Egyptian Regulars and ~ 3,000 Sudanese Volunteers.
Additional Reading and Episode Research:
- Neillands, Robin. The Dervish Wars.
- Farwell, Byron. Queen Victoria's Little Wars.
- Royle, Charles. The Egyptian Campaigns, 1882 to 1885.
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FAQ
How many episodes does History's Greatest Battles have?
History's Greatest Battles currently has 134 episodes available.
What topics does History's Greatest Battles cover?
The podcast is about Society & Culture, History, Wars, Documentary, Podcasts, Ancient, War and Military History.
What is the most popular episode on History's Greatest Battles?
The episode title 'The Battle of Mexico City, 1847, the US Secures the West to California' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on History's Greatest Battles?
The average episode length on History's Greatest Battles is 24 minutes.
How often are episodes of History's Greatest Battles released?
Episodes of History's Greatest Battles are typically released every day.
When was the first episode of History's Greatest Battles?
The first episode of History's Greatest Battles was released on Aug 8, 2024.
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