On the 20th July 1944 Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg attended a meeting at the Wolf's Lair at which Adolf Hitler was present. He placed a briefcase containing high explosives under the conference table and then departed. A few minutes later the bomb exploded killing four, but crucially not Hitler. This month's film club is Valkyrie starring Tom Cruise, the 2008 depiction of the July Plot. Joining is Roger Moorhouse, author of Killing Hitler, and film maker Tim Hewitt. Links Valkyrie on IMDB Valkyrie on Wikipedia Ollie on X Tim on X Roger on X Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to A ..read more

On the 20th July 1944, a bomb hidden in a briefcase exploded under a large table over which Adolf Hitler was examining maps of  the Eastern Front. The man who had planted the device, Claus von Stauffenberg, had left just before the explosion to initiate the operation that he hoped would lead to the overthrow of the Nazi regime. The plan failed, and Hitler would survive for another 9 months before his suicide on 30th April 1945. Was this the closest Hitler came to death? What about the November 8, 1939 when Georg Elser so very nearly succeeded where Stauffenberg would fail more than four ..read more

The Ancient Greeks are the font of all our historical knowledge. Now that's quite a claim, but the historian who joins to discuss makes a strong argument in his book, The Muse of History. Oswyn Murray is one of the country's finest ancient historians and in this chat, beginning with the Peloponnesian War between Athens & Sparta, many subjects are addressed including colonialism, slavery, the wonder of the ancient world, ancient historians fighting in WW1 and WW2 and why we should all learn an ancient language. Oswyn Murray Links The Muse of History: The Ancient Greeks from the Enlightenmen ..read more

The Emperor Vespasian began construction of the Colosseum and it was completed by his son, Titus. Vespasian is played by Anthony Hopkins in the new show, Those About to Die, and Justin Pollard, historical consultant, joins to discuss gladiators, charioteers and the Circus Maximus under the Flavian Dynasty. Those About to Die hits Prime on the 19th July. Justin Pollard Links Charge! The Interesting Bits of Military History Justin on X Aspects of History Aspects of History Magazine Subscription, only £9.99 / $9.99 Ollie on X Check out Badlands Ranch: badlandsranch.com/AOH Learn more about your a ..read more

When Alexander crossed the Hellespont to invade the Persian Empire in 334BC, he began a thirst for war that could not be sated. Territory was not his aim, nor was power for its own sake. What of Germany in 1914 and 1939? Competition with the great powers in the former case, and a demand for resources in the second were important motivations. Joining to discuss these and other examples is Richard Overy, historian of the Second World War and the author of many bestselling and award winning books. Richard Overy Links Why War? Aspects of History Links Ollie discusses D-Day on GB News (48mins in) L ..read more

Between 1763 and 1767 two British surveyors, Charles Mason and Nathaniel Dixon, established the dividing line between the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware. For the two hundred years since, the Mason Dixon Line became known as the cultural divide between North and South, Union and Confederate. But is that correct? Jonn Elledge joins to discuss this and other boundaries including Ireland, India & Pakistan, Israel & Palestine, and most controversial of all, Middlesex. Jonn Elledge Links A History of the World in 47 Borders Jonn on Substack Jonn on X Aspects of History Mason ..read more

On the 25th October 1415, the English under Henry V met with the French on the field of Agincourt. The resulting victory, and it was a total victory, has gone down in history alongside Blenheim and Waterloo as the finest by an English or British army. Gordon Corrigan joins to discuss the build up, the internal strife in England and France, the battle itself and the aftermath. Part One: Crécy Part Two: Poitiers Gordon Corrigan Links A Great and Glorious Adventure – A History of the Hundred Years War Agincourt Finest Hours: Crecy, Poitiers, Agincourt Aspects of History Links Ollie discusses Agin ..read more

When France fell in June 1940, the country agreed an armistice with Nazi Germany, and a period of collaboration began, both in occupied France, and with the Vichy government. Pirate Irwin joins to discuss deportation of the Jews, score-settling, the personalities involved and the murky moral compromises that were made. Pirate Irwin Links The Tortured Detective Pirate on X Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Thank you to our sponsor In ..read more

Concluding our 80th Anniversary D-Day celebrations, Tim Hewitt joins Ollie to discuss the 1962 classic starring John Wayne, Mel Ferrer, Robert Wagner, Richard Burton, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, Henry Fonda, Richard Todd, Kenneth More, Sean Connery, Curd Jurgens and a host of other Hollywood stars. But is it any good? And should Cornelius Ryan have been allowed to write the screenplay? And, what about the CGI? All these questions, and more, are answered in this month's Film Club. Links The Longest Day on Wikipedia The Longest Day on IMDB Why John Wayne’s Role in the Longest Day Was Hated by ..read more

On the 3rd April 1882, Jesse James put aside his guns and noticed a picture on the wall had acquired dust. He stood on a chair and with duster in hand began to clean. Behind him Robert Ford drew his revolver and shot James in the back of the head. This event provides the title for the film directed by Andrew Dominik and starring Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck and Sam Rockwell. Filmmaker Tim Hewitt joins to discuss the movie, the story of Jesse James, Brad, Oscars and plenty more. Links The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford on Wikipedia The Assassination of Jesse James by the Cow ..read more