There will be no new episode of The History of the Twentieth Century this week. The podcast will return next week as usual with episode 150, “Caporetto.”
In the meantime, if you miss the sound of my voice, you can listen to this presentation I made at Mythmoot V, concerning my short story, “The Boy Who Didn’t Know How to Recognize a King,” in which I read an excerpt from the story and talk about how I came to write it. You can read the complete story here.
By mid-1917, the Allies were in a precarious situation. The Nivelle Offensive had failed. Russia’s ability to keep up the fight was in doubt. The Americans weren’t even close to ready.
And so it fell to the British Army, commanded by Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, to keep up the pressure on the Germans. Haig was eager to begin a new offensive, though the Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, questioned the wisdom of such an operation.
Playlist:
Fanfare
Opening War Theme
Second Suite for Military Band
Composed in 1911 by Gustav Holst. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band. Public domain recording. Source.
Closing War Theme
Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.
The Kornilov Affair weakened both the Army and the Russian government, such as it was. The only people coming out of those events with their reputation enhanced were the Bolsheviks.
In early November (late October by the Julian calendar) the Bolsheviks are at last ready to seize control of the government.
Playlist:
Fanfare
Opening War Theme
Symphony No. 5 in E minor
Composed in 1888 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Public domain.
Public domain recording. Source.
Closing War Theme
Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.
Almost as soon as he appointed Lavr Kornilov commander-in-chief of the Russian Army, Alexander Kerensky began to worry that Kornilov was plotting a counter-revolutionary coup.
Then came the moment Kerensky had long feared…but was it merely a misunderstanding?
Playlist:
Fanfare
Opening War Theme
In the Steppes of Central Asia
Composed in 1880 by Alexander Borodin. Public domain.
Performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Public domain recording. Source.
Closing War Theme
Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.