348: Five Minutes to Midnight


Women digging defensive trenches outside Moscow in late 1941.

The rasputitsa, the mud season, forced a pause in the 1941 German offensive. Afterward came a narrow window of opportunity, when the capture of Moscow might have been possible.

But despite the string of defeats it faced in the previous five months, the Red Army of December 1941 was a much more effective force than it had been in June 1941.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

“Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean
Composed ca. 1843. Public domain.
Performed by The United States Navy Band. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme



Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

2 thoughts on “348: Five Minutes to Midnight

  1. Mark – I wanted to let you know the effect that The Green Folder had on me. I am 77 and have studied WW2 in a variety of ways. However your dispassionate recounting of the planning for the occupation of Russia sheeted home to me the sheer inhumanity of the Nazi regime.

    Thank you – I look forward to each episode accompanying me on my daily walks.
    Regards Andrew McNicol

  2. I’m remiss in not giving you this feed back more often but I really enjoy this podcast. I love the international flavor you bring to the episodes. Look forward to them each week. Happy Holidays!

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