Jaws Of Defeat

This week, we learn how plucky little Finland managed to stop Russia cold during the Winter War. Here's a hint - it involves skis, machine guns, and a whole lot of grit.      Sources: The Winter War: The Russo-Finnish War of 1939-1940" by William R. Trotter   "Finnish Soldier versus Soviet Soldier: Winter War 1939-1940 (Combat)" by David Campbell   BBC Documentary "Fire and Ice: The Winter War of Finland and Russia" (2006)   Battle (Normal)-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Mission-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In 1781, there seemed little hope for the American Revolution. The war in the north had stagnated, and the British were in the process of driving the Continental army out of the south. And then the Royal Navy lost a battle. To the French navy. After the Battle of the Chesapeake, the victory at Yorktown became possible, and all that followed. Learn a bit about the engagement, campaign, and naval tactics from the age of fighting sail as we discuss the battle with a guest contributor. Sources: E.B. Potter and Chester Nimitz, Sea Power Harold Larrabee, Decision at the Chesapeake Alfred Thayer Mahan, Influence of Sea Power Upon History John Clerk, An Essay on Naval Tactics   Battle (Normal)-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Mission-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  In this week’s episode, Luke talks about the Battle of Tanga. Well, he mostly talks about pre-WWI colonial politics in Africa, but he gets to the battle eventually.    The main source for this episode was The Battle of Tanga, German East Africa 1914 by Maj. Kenneth J. Harvey - which can be found here: http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a416385.pdf   For more information about this battle, look into Battle for the Bundu: The First World War in German East Africa by Charles Miller and The Great War in Africa, 1914–1918 by Byron Farwell Battle (Normal)-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Mission-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Will explains the Siege of Malta, which pits the Ottoman Turks vs. the Knights of St. John/Hospitaller/Malta in one of history's most epic sieges. Surprise naval attacks, incendiary weapons, and underground flame thrower fights, this one has it all.    There's a map this time!:  https://twitter.com/JoDPodcast/status/884618168530063360   Our main source was Roger Crowley's Empires of the Sea You could also check out Earnle Bradford's The Great Siege: Malta 1565   Battle (Normal)-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Mission-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/    

It is difficult to overstate how disorienting France’s collapse was in the spring of 1940. A great power with one of the most advanced militaries in the world that possessed a number of numerical advantages over the German Wehrmacht was not supposed to suffer a catastrophe that would end in six weeks with Nazi troops marching down the Champs-Élysées. Yet it did happen, despite the efforts of Allied soldiers -- including the approximately 124,000 Frenchmen who died fighting in what would amount to over twice the amount of American deaths in Vietnam. So what went wrong? Historians, politicians, and generals have offered a wide range of explanations in the wake of the Battle of France from the moment the last shot was fired to today. Some claim French political dysfunction and the public’s supposed reluctance to fight are responsible; others look to the errors of Allied high command in the face German strategic, operational, and tactical innovation; others still point to technology and even luck. All of these fa

In this week's episode, Luke takes us to feudal Japan and presents our biggest upset yet, the Battle of Okehazama. Ever wondered why Oda Nobunaga is a big deal? Not sure who Oda Nobunaga is? Look no further, those questions and more will be answered.     Battle (Normal)-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Mission-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this battle between the Romans and Parthians, Marcus Lincinius Crassus and his legions run afoul of Surena and his horse archers, the Carr-height of folly. Luke comes clean about his hatred for camels.     Battle (Normal)-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Mission-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this week's episode, Luke does the Battle of the Ice. This has nothing to do with Game of Thrones. Real deal, we promise. Its the Teutonic Knights vs. the Novgorod Republic led by Alexander Nevsky. Remember dear listeners, unless you're the Mongols, it's always a bad idea to invade Russia during winter.   Battle (Normal)-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Mission-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this week's episode, the French Colonial Army learns an object lesson in colonial hubris at the hands of the Viet Minh forces, and Luke mistakes the name of the battle for a type of delicious soup.   Battle (Normal)-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Mission-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this episode we look at a whole campaign rather than one battle. This is Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's Shenandoah Valley campaign.

In our fifth episode, Luke describes a battle against the Persians... again. But it's with the Byzantines this time!   Follow us on Twitter at @JoDPodcast   Battle (Normal)-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Mission-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this episode, Will tells Luke why you don't bring a wicker shield to a spear fight in the Battle of Granicus, Alexander the Great's first battle against the Persians.

Episode 3: Luke presents this 19th century battle between the Zulus and British colonials.   Battle (Normal)-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Mission-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In today's episode, Luke makes a terrible Sala-mistake in choosing an ancient sea battle between the Greeks and the Persians.  Battle (Normal)-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Mission-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In our first episode we take a look at the Battle of Agincourt, which pits the French mounted cavalry against the English longbow. Sorry about the sound quality, it's our first day. Battle (Normal)-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Mission-Boxcat Games Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/