In this episode of Achtung! History Simon J. James returns to the tales of resistance to the National Socialist regime of Germany.  It is a common perception that the National Socialist regime of Germany (1933-1945) was a totalitarian one. But was it as totalitarian as popular culture has led us to believe. In this episode of Resistance, Simon J. James looks into the resistance that existed amongst the youth of the German nation and in doing so explores the history and ideology of the Hitler Youth. Follow as he looks into one specific group, without political conviction but united in thei ..read more

He was one of the greatest conmen of the 20th century, but after the failed Kapp Putsch in Berlin 1920 he was persona non grata in most European nations. So how did Ignatius Trebitsch continue to strive to find steal his place in the world?  Discover the continuing act of this most audacious tale.  ..read more

Achtung! Achtung! Journey back to the events of a city long lost, Berlin in 1926. With music and real events from the Welthauptstadt Berlin.  This is a trial episode.  ..read more

His name became infamous, his story legend. But today the name Schlageter has faded into history, so who was Schlageter and why did Adolf Hitler proclaim him to be 'The First Soldier of the Third Reich?" Find out in the latest episode of the Achtung! History podcast.  Support Achtung History and gain early access to the next episodes on Patreon for as little as 1€. Achtung! History is presented by Simon J, James.  Follow Achtung! History on Twitter ..read more

May Day, famously the day of the international worker. It was a day used by Unions and by the parties, especially in Germany, to unite their workers in putting down tools as a demonstration of international strife. However, when the NSDAP came to power in 1933, and Hitler became Chancellor and with that Joseph Goebbels the Reich Propaganda Minister, they quickly set about destroying the powers of old and turning May Day into Tag der nationalen Arbeit.  Join Simon J. James in this adventure into the history of May Day and how the NSDAP powers subverted it, turning it into their own propaga ..read more

In this, the final episode of The Reichstag for now, the German parliament building lays smouldering but the persecution of those considered enemies of Hitler and the NSDAP continues. How does Hitler and his party use the fire to further their hold on Germany and continue the tearing down of the republic only for it to be rebuilt as a dictatorship.  Support Achtung History and gain early access to the next episodes on Patreonfor as little as 1€. Achtung! History is produced by The Berlin Tour Guide and presented by Simon J, James. You can follow Achtung! History on Twitter, Facebook and I ..read more

The Reichstag is in flames. Inside the burning parliament Hitler, Göring, Goebbels and von Papen gather together on a balcony overlooking the fire and discuss how to go forward. At the Brandenburger Tor, Rudolf Diels interviews the captured Dutch man by the name of Marinus van der Lubbe. All, except Diels, are convinced it is a communist conspiracy and are ready to once and for all stamp out the opposition to their NSDAP not only within the Reichstag but across the German Reich.  Support Achtung History and gain early access to the next episodes on Patreon for as little as 1€. Achtung! Hi ..read more

A cold night in Berlin turns into a night that will change the course of the 20th century itself. A young theology student wandering home from his studies at the Staatsbibliothek on Unter den Linden witnesses a shadowy figure scaling the walls of the German parliament building, little does he know that he is the first to witness the makings of an event that would bring death and destruction for Germany.  In this episode Simon J. James takes you through the minute by minute happenings of that fateful evening, the responses, and the reactions of the fire crews and police on the ground.  ..read more

Welcome to the new series by Achtung! History and Simon J. James. This time we take a look at the Reichstag, the German parliament building famous for the fire that gutted the building on the 27th of February 1933 and catapulted Hitler into dictator. At least that's what history classes teach us. The truth is, Hitler's ascent into dictator had begun within the first few days of coming to power and the Reichstag was an opportunity to be exploited. So join Simon in discovering those 28 days from when Hitler came to power and the Reichstag was found in flames, before, in the coming episodes, we l ..read more

What does resistance to tyranny mean? Is it fighting with guns on the streets, distributing pamphlets, trying to organise a coup. In this episode Simon takes a deep dive into an event that occurred in Berlin as the Soviet Red Army forces closed upon the Reichs Capital and those within the high offices of the NSDAP regime desperately tried to cling on to power and continue living the life of luxury they had enjoyed for twelve years, even if that meant starving their own people.  Support Achtung History and gain early access to the next episodes on Patreon for as little as 1€. Achtung! Hist ..read more