Year: 2019

143: Disabling the Russian Colossus

Mark Podcast
The then-25-year-old Vladimir Lenin in an 1895 mug shot.

The Russian Provisional Government, under the watchful eye of the Petrograd Soviet, declared an amnesty for political prisoners.

Among the political exiles taking advantage of this amnesty to return to Russia were Leon Trotsky and Vladimir Lenin, with an assist from the Imperial German government.

  • Listen now:


Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Piano Trio No. 1
Composed in 1894 by Anton Arensky. Public domain.
Performed by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license. 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.

142: Lafayette, We Are Here

Mark Podcast
US Major General John Pershing pays his respects at the tomb of the Marquis de Lafayette, July 4, 1917.

The USA entered the Great War in April 1917. The US has the military and industrial potential to be a decisive force, but it will take time to “ramp up” America’s army and war production.

Brazil also entered the war in 1917, and in Canada, the introduction of conscription led to a divisive general election.

  • Listen now:


Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

“Hail, Columbia”
Composed in 1789 by Philip Phile. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Navy Band Ceremonial 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.

141: The Cossacks Are Not Coming

Mark Podcast
1917 postcard depicting Austrian Emperor Karl I–or Charles I, if you like–taking his coronation oath to become King Károly IV/Charles IV of Hungary.

By 1917, many high-ranking German and Austrian government officials, including the new Austrian Emperor, had come to the conclusion that the Central Powers could not win and wanted to discuss peace terms.

Hindenburg and Ludendorff, however, insisted that victory was near and fought to remove defeatists from power in Germany and in Austria.

  • Listen now:


Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Wiener Blut
Composed by Johann Strauss Jr. in 1873. Public domain.
Public domain recording. Source. 

Tragic Overture
Composed by Johannes Brahms in 1880. 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.