Month: September 2017

090: I Will See It Through

Mark Podcast
This Central Powers propaganda piece from 1914 depicts the Russian Emperor in Jewish garb, ironically appealing to “my beloved Jews” to “remember the kindnesses that the House of Romanov has shown you,” as crimes against Jews are committed all around him.

 

The Great War began as a confrontation between Austria and Russia. As we have seen, it quickly developed into much more. But for the Austrians, the main dispute is still against Serbia, and against Russia for supporting her. The Austrians began this confrontation as an effort to prove Austria was still a Great Power. Ironically, 1914 would prove exactly the opposite.

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Fanfare

Opening War Theme

“Entrance of the Gladiators”
Composed in 1897 by Julius Fučík. Public domain.
Performed by the Eastern Wind Symphony, and used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY-NC 3.0 License. Source.

Closing War Theme

 

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2016, 2017 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

089: A Good Five-Cent Cigar

Mark Podcast

The U.S. $100,000 gold certificate, issued in 1934, with a portrait of Woodrow Wilson, honoring him for his role in creating the Federal Reserve System. This is the largest denomination of currency ever issued by the United States. Only a small number were printed. They were intended to move funds between Federal Reserve Banks, and were never available to the general public. In more modern times, when funds can be shifted electronically, bills such as this one have become obsolete.

 

President Wilson pushed a variety of important reforms through the 1913-14 Congress, including the Federal Reserve Act, making this one of the busiest Congresses in US History. As the Great War breaks out, the US remains neutral, but faces a financial crisis.

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Playlist:
 
Fanfare

Opening War Theme

“Hello! My Baby”
Composed in 1899 by Joseph Howard and Ida Emerson. Public domain.

“On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away”
Composed in 1897 by Paul Dresser. Public domain.

“A Bird in a Gilded Cage”
Composed in 1899 by Arthur Lamb and Harry von Tilzer. Public domain.

Closing War Theme

 

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2016, 2017 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

088: The Miracle on the Marne

Mark Podcast

The front lines in September, 1914. The dotted red lines in the south show the farthest advance of the German right flank. The solid red line shows the German position after they fell back. The dotted red line running north from the right end of the German line shows the “Race to the Sea,” which we haven’t gotten to yet. The Western Front will remain stable along these lines for the next three and a half years.

 
The Germans make their final push to defeat France and end the war in the west, but they underestimate French and British resolve.
 

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Transcript.

 

Playlist:
 
Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Fantasie from Siegfried
Composed in 1876 by Richard Wagner. public domain.
Performed by the United States Marine Band. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme

 

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2016, 2017 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.