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Battleground

Battleground

By: Goalhanger
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About this listen

 A history podcast that explores the narratives, turning points, and characters that shape conflicts, encompassing a blend of social and military history. Following on from the series on the Falklands War, best-selling military historians Patrick Bishop, Saul David, and Roger Moorhouse turn their attention every Friday to the war in Ukraine, and every Wednesday look back at the significant wars, events, and figures from conflicts around the world. Goalhanger PodcastsGoalhanger Podcasts World
Episodes
  • 388. Hungary’s High-Stakes Election

    388. Hungary’s High-Stakes Election
    Apr 7 2026
    In this special episode, Saul David is joined by joined from Budapest by friends of the show Julius Strauss and Boldizsár Győri to analyse the high-stakes Hungarian election taking place this Sunday, April 12. With Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16-year grip on power facing a severe threat from challenger Péter Magyar and the Tisa party, the team investigates a "cemetery of skeletons" emerging from the ruling government. The discussion uncovers explosive revelations, including hard evidence that the Hungarian Foreign Minister has acted as a Russian asset by leaking EU secrets directly to Moscow and lobbying for the removal of Russian oligarchs from sanctions lists. The hosts also explore reports of a thwarted Russian "false flag" assassination plot against Orbán and the discovery of explosives near the Serbian border designed to stir voter fear. As the polls show the ruling Fidesz party trailing, the episode evaluates potential post-election scenarios, from the possibility of civil unrest and splits within the security forces to the broader implications for NATO and the EU. Finally, the team examines the global context of the race, including the impact of U.S. figures like JD Vance and how the escalating conflict in the Middle East is inadvertently bolstering Russia’s war chest through rising oil prices. Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com Follow us on: X - @PodBattleground Instagram - podbattleground TikTok - battlegroundukraine Producer: James Hodgson A Goalhanger Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    38 mins
  • 387. The Baltic Blitz: Dismantling Putin’s War Chest

    387. The Baltic Blitz: Dismantling Putin’s War Chest
    Apr 3 2026
    In this edition of Battleground Ukraine, Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop explore a week where the geography of the war has expanded significantly—both through daring long-range strikes and complex global diplomacy. We begin with an analysis of Ukraine’s concerted offensive against Russian oil infrastructure in the Baltic. With repeated strikes on the Primorsk and Ust-Luga terminals, Kyiv is hitting the Kremlin where it hurts most: the wallet. We examine how these attacks are effectively neutralising the financial "boon" Putin hoped to reap from rising global oil prices following recent escalations in the Persian Gulf. Later in the program, Patrick Bishop interviews author Julian Evans about his acclaimed book, Undefeatable: Odesa in Love and War. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    44 mins
  • 386. Otto Skorzeny and the Gran Sasso Raid

    386. Otto Skorzeny and the Gran Sasso Raid
    Apr 1 2026
    In this instalment of our Special Forces series, Patrick Bishop and Saul David pivot from Allied triumphs to examine a daring operation from the "enemy" perspective: the 1943 rescue of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. Following the Allied invasion of Sicily and a vote of no confidence from his own council, Mussolini was arrested and whisked away to a remote ski resort 2,112 meters high in the Apennine Mountains. While the new Italian government hoped to use him as a bargaining chip, Adolf Hitler had other plans—ordering his "favourite commando," the scarred and imposing Otto Skorzeny, to spring his old ally from captivity. In this episode, we deconstruct Operation Oak, exploring: The Myth vs. The Reality: How Skorzeny, a master of self-promotion, elbowed his way into the limelight and took credit for an operation primarily executed by German paratroopers (Fallschirmjäger). The Silent Approach: Why the Germans chose high-risk glider landings over traditional parachutes to achieve total silence and surprise. A Propaganda Masterstroke: Why the rescue was ultimately a "damp squib" militarily, serving as a desperate PR stunt for a Nazi regime facing defeat on all fronts. The Shadowy Afterlife: Skorzeny’s post-war exploits, from escaping internment to advising world leaders in Egypt and Argentina, and the chilling allegations of his work for Mossad. Join us as we unmask the "most dangerous man in Europe" and reveal how a "special operation" was born more out of vanity and propaganda than strategic necessity. Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com Follow us on: X - @PodBattleground Instagram - podbattleground TikTok - battlegroundukraine Producer: James Hodgson A Goalhanger Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    44 mins
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Really enjoying this podcast. Well presented and very informative. Just sorry you have had to report on Ukrainian for so long hope that war ends soon.

Great podcast.

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