Join Evan Maudsley, a former International History professor and author, as he delves into the Soviet Union's decisive march towards Berlin in 1945. Discover how Operation Bagration dismantled the German Army and explore the stark contrasts in narratives between Eastern and Western perspectives. Evan discusses Stalin's strategic decisions and how Hitler's waning offensive in Hungary reflected his misguided priorities. Uncover the intricacies of urban warfare in Berlin and the complex legacy of the Red Army's advance through Eastern Europe.
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insights INSIGHT
Operation Bagration's Impact
Operation Bagration, launched in June 1944, marked a turning point on the Eastern Front.
It resulted in the destruction of German Army Group Center and their expulsion from Russia.
insights INSIGHT
German Retreat and Stabilization
The German army's retreat after Bagration allowed them to consolidate on the Vistula River.
This temporary stabilization wasn't a complete collapse, offering a brief respite.
insights INSIGHT
Eastern Front vs. D-Day
While D-Day is significant, the Eastern Front inflicted heavier losses on the Germans.
Operation Bagration proved far more costly for the Germans than the Normandy landings.
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Thunder in the East provides a strategic analysis of the Nazi-Soviet War, covering pre-war planning, pivotal battles, and the Soviet march across Eastern Europe. It explores why the war developed as it did, why the Wehrmacht lost, and the high cost of victory for the Soviet Union. The book benefits from new sources following the Soviet era and offers insights into the strategic decisions of both sides.
By April 1945, Soviet forces stood at the gates of Berlin. From the summer of 1944, Hitler's armies had suffered a series of cataclysmic defeats that had left them shattered and desperately trying to hold on in front of the capital of the Third Reich. But how the Soviets' been able to bring the once mighty German Army to the brink of total defeat, and did the Wehrmacht have one last throw of the dice to save the Nazi regime?
In this episode, Dan is joined by Professor Evan Mawdsley, author of Thunder in the East: The Nazi-Soviet War 1941-1945 and former Professor of International History at the University of Glasgow. Evan helps Dan explore the stark differences in the narrative of World War II's final months across Western and Eastern Europe. They also discuss the key events from Operation Bagration in June 1944 to the Soviets' advance on Berlin in 1945 and how these tie in with the advance of the Western Allies. Also, could Stalin's strategic decisions have brought the war to an end sooner, and what did Hitler's last offensive in Hungary reveal about the dictator's priorities?
Produced and edited by Dougal Patmore.
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