75 episodes
Military History Inside Out Cris Alvarez
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- History
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4.3 • 30 Ratings
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I conduct in-depth interviews with military history and international relation authors and historians about wars and conflict across the centuries. We discuss everything from ancient warfare to medieval knights to World War II and beyond. For the aspiring writers and historians, I always conclude with a short discussion about how the author got published and what the experience was like.
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Codebreaking at Bletchley Park – Book tour interview with Jan Slimming
Codebreaking at Bletchley Park – Book tour interview with Jan Slimming
Check out this book here https://amzn.to/3yrIEkM
Interview Timeline
Jan Slimming is a publishing professional who was six when she first heard of Bletchley Park, but it was decades later that she was compelled to research and write about this little-known part of her mother’s life. We spoke about the book, her mother’s code-breaking career and her father’s WWII captivity. Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park (Pen and Sword Military, 2021)
0:38 – Jan talks about why she wrote about her mom’s WWII work at Bletchley Park.
5:39 – Jan talks about what the book focuses on.
10:44 – Jan talks about everyone at Bletchley Park being billeted nearby.
12:34 – Jan talks about the training or lack of among the Park personnel.
14:35 – Jan talks about how her parents met.
16:46 – Jan talks about the skills they used for code breaking.
20:49 – Jan talks about her mother’s relatives who also worked in code breaking.
23:24 – Jan talks about what her mom did after the war.
24:51 – Jan talks about her mom not talking about working for the India office.
26:49 – Jan talks about how she broke the book down.
28:31 – Jan talks about her research.
31:26 – Jan talks about touring Bletchley Park.
35:18 – Jan talks about going back to England for her research.
38:25 – Jan talks about wanting to know if her mother was assigned to finding the 18th division.
40:23 – Jan talks about her mother going through a nervous breakdown after the war.
45:45 – Jan talks about other people who had relatives at Bletchley Park reach out to her.
52:39 – Jan goes into detail about touring Bletchley Park.
53:54 – Jan talks about security at Bletchley Park.
57:30 – Jan talks about her mother meeting Ian Fleming and knowing Alan Turing.
1:00:21 – Jan is on Pen and Sword and on Facebook at Jan Slimming Author.
Links of interest
https://amzn.to/3yrIEkM
https://penandswordbooks.com/codebreaker-girls.html#.YQyka0ApCUk
https://www.facebook.com/Codebreakersdaughter
Contact Information
For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram @crisalvarezswarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify Please see historyrabbithole.com for a list of my dozen or so blogs and podcasts. You’re sure to find something you like.
Guests: Jan Slimming
Host: Cris Alvarez
Tags: Books, audio interviews, author, podcast, Pen and Sword, Espionage, WWII, Britain,
Check out this book here a href="https://amzn.... -
The history of John Browning and his guns with Nathan Gorenstein
The history of John Browning and his guns with Nathan Gorenstein
Check out this book here https://amzn.to/2UUJ2Jy
Interview Timeline
Nathan Gorenstein is a former reporter and editor for The Philadelphia Inquirer, where he covered city and state politics. He is also the author of Tommy Gun Winter, the story of a Boston gang from the 1930s that included an MIT graduate, a minister’s daughter, and two of Gorenstein’s own relatives. He recently published a biography of John Moses Browning. We spoke about Browning and the history of firearms. The Guns of John Moses Browning: The Remarkable Story of the Inventor Whose Firearms Changed the World (Scribner, 2021)
0:40 – Nathan talks about why he wrote a book on Browning.
3:00 – Nathan talks about having been a reporter.
4:40 – Nathan talks about the gun industry and Browning.
6:47 – Nathan talks about Browning’s early life and education.
11:58 – Nathan talks about the quantities the Browning’s made their guns in and how they ran their business.
14:37 – Nathan talks about why Browning’s designs stood out.
18:14 – Nathan talks about Browning’s competitors.
21:44 – Nathan talks about the popularity of Browning’s guns.
26:41 – Nathan talks about the wars Browning’s guns were used in.
29:45 – Nathan talks about Browning’s guns being adapted for aircraft.
32:21 – Nathan talks about unusual Browning designs.
36:22 – Nathan talked about Browning’s personal interest in shotgun.
37:45 – Nathan talks about the resources he used.
42:47 – Nathan talks about the things that surprised him.
46:00 – Nathan wonders what Browning might think of modern gun use.
47:40 – Nathan talks about Browning’s wife.
48:52 – Nathan talks about Winchester.
55:39 – Nathan can be found at NathanGorenstein.com
Links of interest
https://amzn.to/2UUJ2Jy
https://www.simonandschuster.com/search/books/Author-Nathan-Gorenstein/Imprint-Scribner/_/N-1z0xemrZ1z13w0e/Ne-pgt
http://www.nathangorenstein.com/
Contact Information
For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram @crisalvarezswarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify Please see historyrabbithole.com for a list of my dozen or so blogs and podcasts. You’re sure to find something you like.
Guests: Nathan Gorenstein
Host: Cris Alvarez
Tags: Books, audio interviews, author, podcast, Scribner, American history, WWII,
Check out this book here https://amzn.to/2UUJ2Jy -
The fall of the Western Roman Empire and why the Roman military failed – Interview with Michael Kulikowski
The fall of the Western Roman Empire and why the Roman military failed – Interview with Michael Kulikowski
Check out this book here https://amzn.to/2Uh27Fu
Interview Timeline
Michael Kulikowski is the author of Rome’s Gothic Wars, Late Roman Spain and Its Cities, and The Triumph of Empire. Michael has appeared on a number of shows and writes frequently for the Wall Street Journal and London Review of Books. He is the Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of History and Classics at Pennsylvania State University. We spoke about his book on the all of the Western Roman Empire and about the state of the Roman military during and after the fall. The Tragedy of Empire: From Constantine to the Destruction of Roman Italy (Belknap Press, 2019)
0:43 – Michael talks about how he got interested in Roman history.
1:40 – Michael talks about what the collapse of Rome meant.
3:23 – Michael talks about how people protected themselves after the fall.
4:32 – Michael goes into detail about Europe after the fall of Rome.
7:05 – Michael talks about what Roman soldiers did after the fall.
8:17 – Michael talks about the Eastern Roman Empire.
9:17 – Michael talks about how the Eastern Roman Empire maintained itself.
11:33 – Michael talks about the details of Tragedy of Empire.
13:39 – Michael talks about the army’s control of the Roman Emperor.
16:02 – Michael talks about the role of the Emperor.
17:27 – Michael talks about religion in Rome.
19:01 – Michael talks about Christianity and the Roman military and society.
20:51 – Michael talks about conversions to Christianity.
22:00 – Michael talks about why people joined the Roman military.
24:39 – Michael talks about regionalism among Romans.
26:07 – Michael talks about the complexity of the Roman military.
27:40 – Michael compares regular soldiers and officers.
28:42 – Michael talks about retirement allotments for soldiers.
29:21 – Michael talks about how Rome went from a well-run military machine into warlordism.
31:14 – Michael talks about the Gothic revolt.
34:48 – Michael talks about reforms in Rome.
36:25 – Michael talks about his research resources.
39:23 – Michael talks about medieval sources of Roman history.
42:08 – Michael talks about archaeological evidence.
42:37 – Michael talks about new discoveries.
44:24 – Michael talks about the Black Sea area and looting there.
46:04 – Michael talks about counterfeiting historical items.
46:43 – Michael talks about the importance of knowing the landscape a historian is writing about.
48:25 – Michael talks about wanting more information on where Slavs come from.
49:30 – Michael talks about the trauma of the collapse.
51:47 – Michael talks about how prevalent slavery was in the late Roman Empire.
54:08 – Michael’s work can be found on the London Review of Books and on amazon.
Links of interest
https://amzn.to/2Uh27Fu
https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674660137
Contact Information
For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram a href="https:... -
Medal of Honor recipient Jack Jacobs discusses the Vietnam War and his US Army career
Medal of Honor recipient Jack Jacobs discusses the Vietnam War and his US Army career
Check out this book here https://amzn.to/3d8G4Y1
Interview Timeline
Colonel Jack Jacobs (US Army, Retired) retired from the Army as a full Colonel in 1987. He is a widely regarded military analyst and serves on a number of charitable boards of directors. He served in Vietnam and was awarded a Medal of Honor for an action in his first of two combat tours. We spoke about the Vietnam War, the medal, and the US Army. If Not Now, When?: Duty and Sacrifice in America’s Time of Need (Berkley Hardcover, 2008)
0:40 – Jack talks about why he joined the US Army.
2:33 – Jack talks about being an 11B and joining the Airborne.
3:20 – Jack talks about going to Vietnam.
4:52 – Jack talks about when and where he served in September.
6:45 – Jack talks about how they’d deploy as advisors.
8:03 – Jack talks about living with the Vietnamese troops.
8:54 – Jack talks about the strengths and weaknesses of the Vietnamese forces.
13:43 – Jack talks about Vietnamese units.
15:29 – Jack talks about being in the front lines.
17:36 – Jack talks about the event that led to the award of the Medal of Honor.
22:13 – Jack talks about the possible spies among friendly forces.
23:02 – Jack talks about support for the unit.
24:21 – Jack talks about Navy gunships supporting his unit.
25:15 – Jack talks about the ambush where he was wounded.
27:03 – Jack provides details about the ambush.
28:32 – Jack talks about what he thought when the ambush occurred.
30:31 – Jack talks about emotions in combat.
32:03 – Jack talks about the length of the engagement and his wound.
33:20 – Jack talks about medical care on the battlefield.
34:43 – Jack talks about operating while wounded.
36:04 – Jack details how he learned about his Medal of Honor.
38:04 – Jack talks about his emotions about the medal.
40:15 – Jack talks about the paperwork for his medal.
40:46 – Jack talks about awards for other members and how some have been denied.
43:05 – Jack talks about integration in the military.
43:22 – Jack talks about fighting to go back to Vietnam.
46:37 – Jack talks about his second tour and some of the battles.
47:38 – Jack talks about differences in the Vietnamese military between his first and second tours.
50:08 – Jack talks about US strategy in his second tour.
51:00 – Jack talks about his return from his second tour.
51:49 – Jack talks about his post-Vietnam military career.
52:55 – Jack talks about young cadets succeeding later in life.
54:48 – Jack talks about West Point.
56:56 – Jack talks about the US Army post-Vietnam.
59:48 – Jack talks about the Soviets in Afghanistan and China.
1:02:25 – Jack talks about meeting other Medal of Honor recipients.
1:03:54 – Jack talks about his discomfort with being a Medal of Honor recipient because of those who didn’t get one or survive.
1:05:18 – Jack talks about the books he wrote.
1:06:23 – Jack talks about a series titled “Ten Weeks” on basic training that will be coming out on Hulu.
1:08:28 – Details on the book can be found on Amazon.
1:11:59 – Jack talks about young people and military service.
Links of interest
https://amzn.to/3d8G4Y1
https://amzn.to/3j4Fu1v
Contact Information
For more “Military History Inside Out” please fol... -
An overview of Napoleonic era artillery – Interview with Kevin Kiley
An overview of Napoleonic era artillery – Interview with Kevin Kiley
Check out this book here https://amzn.to/3gIAEnM
Interview Timeline
Kevin F. Kiley is a retired US Marine Corps artillery officer and a graduate of West Point. He has a master’s degree in Military History from and has written extensively on historic artillery and other topics. We spoke about his latest book, a dictionary of Napoleonic artillery. Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars: A Concise Dictionary, 1792-1815 (Frontline Books, 2021)
0:38 – Kevin talks about why he started writing about the Napoleonic Wars.
3:13 – Kevin talks about the focus of the book on technical artillery terms.
4:35 – Kevin contrasts field artillery and all other types of artillery.
8:01 – Kevin talks about Napoleon’s rise because of being an artillerist.
10:46 – Kevin talks about where the artillery pieces were made.
13:04 – Kevin talks about overheating artillery guns.
14:07 – Kevin talks about the gun foundries at the time.
15:30 – Kevin talks more about foundries.
16:06 – Kevin talks about naval artillery.
16:51 – Kevin talks about the artillery engineers of the time.
18:17 – Kevin talks about meritocracy in the French military.
19:29 – Kevin talks about moving artillery around.
21:35 – Kevin talks about horses and artillery teams.
22:06 – Kevin talks about horses knowing artillery commands.
22:53 – Kevin talks about how quickly gun crews could set up.
24:13 – Kevin talks about the elements needed to load and fire a gun.
25:59 – Kevin talks about the cartridge, siege loading, and the sabot.
26:41 – Kevin talks about fuses.
27:23 – Kevin talks about loading lit bullets.
28:59 – Kevin talks about the French system after 1815.
29:19 – Kevin talks about the research he did for the book.
32:42 – Kevin talks about counter-battery action.
34:05 – Kevin talks about incendiary shells.
35:43 – Kevin talks about standing up to artillery attacks.
36:30 – Kevin talks about the French at the American Revolution.
37:27 – Kevin talks about Washington’s use of artillery.
38:28 – Kevin talks about national approaches to artillery.
42:35 – Kevin talks about building cannons.
44:27 – Kevin talks about artillery in French battles.
46:54 – Kevin talks about the War of 1812.
48:04 – Kevin talks about an odd-sounding artillery term
50:52 – Kevin talks about Russian changes in artillery.
51:40 – Kevin talks about the best artillerists.
52:55 – Kevin talks about the cavalry and the artillery.
53:53 – Kevin talks about how the artillery protected itself.
54:31 – Kevin talks about artillery unit make-ups.
56:26 – Kevin talks about his various books.
1:02:49 – Kevin talks about temperature and artillery.
1:05:34 – Kevin talks about hearing loss and artillery.
1:10:20 – Kevin talks about Napoleon’s interest in naval artillery.
1:12:33 – Kevin talks about important qualities of an artillery officer.
1:13:19 – Kevin talks about interest in the Napoleonic Wars.
1:16:28 – Kevin talks about myths about the Napoleonic Wars.
1:17:47 – Kevin talks about the Russians and Napoleon.
1:22:03 – Information on the book can be found at amazon.
1:23:48 – Kevin talks about the Eastern Roman Empire.
1:25:15 – Kevin talks about how he got published.
Links of interest
https://amzn.to/3gIAEnM -
What motivated the Medieval Crusader Bohemond to conquer – Interview with Georgios Theotokis
What motivated the Medieval Crusader Bohemond to conquer – Interview with Georgios Theotokis
Check out this book here https://amzn.to/34YYkyF
Interview Timeline
Georgios Theotokis studies and teaches medieval history. He has writtene xtensively on the subject and he’s recently published a book studying the strategy and tactits of the medieval crusader Bohemond. We spoke about the book and Bohemond. Bohemond of Taranto: Crusader and Conqueror (Pen and Sword Military, 2021)
0:35 – Georgios talks about why he wrote about Bohemond.
2:31 – Georgios talks about the image of Bohemond.
6:19 – Georgios goes over Bohemond’s biography.
11:07 – Georgios talks about the Norman conquests.
16:14 – Georgios talks about the motivations of the crusaders.
19:19 – Georgios talks about the composition of Bohemond’s forces.
20:51 – Georgios talks about their cavalry.
22:50 – Georgios talks about leadership hierarchy among the crusaders.
24:07 – Georgios talks about the relationship between the crusaders and the Byzantiums.
27:02 – Georgios talks about Bohemond’s strategy.
32:21 – Georgios touches on the horses of the area and logistics.
34:40 – Georgios talks about the importance of the port Bohemond sieged twice.
35:56 – Georgios talks about the navigability of the Danube.
36:13 – Georgios talks about the historical resources he used.
38:10 – Georgios talks about archaeological evidence.
39:14 – Georgios talks about the Tower of Bohemond.
40:40 – Georgios talks about Bohemond’s language.
41:59 – Georgios talks about the Normans in Spain.
42:50 – Georgios talks about Bohemond’s resilience.
44:44 – Georgios talks about Bohemond’s motives.
46:36 – Georgios talks about traveling for his book research.
47:37 – Georgios talks about the historic hatred for Bohemond.
51:09 – Georgios talks about the marriage with Constance.
55:29 – Georgios can be found at academia.edu.
Links of interest
https://amzn.to/34YYkyF
https://penandswordbooks.com/imprints/pen-and-sword-military/bohemond-of-taranto.html#.YL9m_0wpCUk
Contact Information
For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram @crisalvarezswarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify Please see historyrabbithole.com for a list of my dozen or so blogs and podcasts. You’re sure to find something you like.
Guests: Georgios Theotokis
Host: Cris Alvarez
Tags: Books, audio interviews, author, academic, podcast, Pen and Sword, Medieval warfare,
a href="https://amzn.
Customer Reviews
This an outstanding
A great podcast and absolutely loved the podcast of Code Girls, I did not about this book. What a treat you can read the book and learn or hear the writer. To me first class. Thank you,
Paul
Louisville, ky
Much room for improvement
Unfortunately, this is a podcast with great potential that fails to deliver all that it could.
Inexplicably, the host does not read the books which are discussed by the author during the interview. As such, there is a disappointing failure to ask pertinent questions which could make the interview so much more interesting. Instead, the host asks a litany of generic questions which fail to get the most out of each topic. At other times, the hosts ask questions which make it patently obvious he is not at all versed in the subject matter.
Great Job
I have bought multiple books after listening to this podcast and have never been disappointed.