
Lions Led By Donkeys Podcast
The Lions Led By Donkeys podcast is a military history podcast for laughing at the worst military failures, inept commanders, and crazy stories from throughout the history of human conflict.
Our podcast will always be free, but if you think what we do is worth a buck you can throw us one here:
https://www.patreon.com/lionsledbydonkeys
Latest episodes

Oct 3, 2022 • 1h 13min
Episode 228 - Witold Pilecki, The Auschwitz Volunteer Part 2
The harrowing escape plans of Witold Pilecki emerge amidst the atrocities of Auschwitz. The complexities of historical complicity and denial are discussed, revealing societal attitudes during the Holocaust. Personal reflections on trauma and identity are infused with humor, illustrating the tension between gravity and lightness. Brave resistance efforts in the camp are showcased, highlighting resourcefulness against oppressive forces. The narrative delves into the Polish resistance's struggles, emphasizing feelings of betrayal and the looming threat of Soviet occupation.

Sep 26, 2022 • 1h 6min
Episode 227 - Witold Pilecki, The Auschwitz Volunteer Part 1
Witold Pilecki was a Polish Freedom Fighter who volunteered to get thrown into Auschwitz in order to let the world know what was happening there.
The world didn't listen.
Support the show:
https://www.patreon.com/lionsledbydonkeys
Sources:
Witold Pilecki. Auschwitz Volunteer: Beyond Bravery
Adam Koch. A Captain's Portrait: Witold Pilecki - Martyr for Truth
Jack Fairweather. The Volunteer

Sep 19, 2022 • 60min
Episode 226 - The Cimbrian War
Rome kills 80,000 of their own soldiers because of a personal beef.
Support the show:
https://www.patreon.com/lionsledbydonkeys
Sources:
Theodor Mommsen. The History of Rome IV "The Revolution"
Plutarch. Life of Marius.
Richard Evans. Rome's Cimbric Wars
Peter Tsouras. The Cimbrian War, 113-101 BC
Mike Duncan. The Storm before the Storm

Sep 12, 2022 • 1h 20min
Episode 225 - Operation Pastorious
During WWII the Nazis attempted to recruit a team of spies to sabotage factories within the US. Instead what they did was hire a bunch of rejects who took their spy money, got drunk, and hired sex workers until they turned themselves in to the FBI.
Support the show:
https://www.patreon.com/lionsledbydonkeys
sources:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/inside-story-how-nazi-plot-sabotage-us-war-effort-was-foiled-180959594/
https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/nazi-saboteurs-and-george-dasch
https://web.archive.org/web/20151218132240/http://www.montauklife.com/history/history_night_of_the_nazis.html
https://www.spiegel.de/politik/erschiessen-oder-erhaengen-a-77234129-0002-0001-0000-000007859070?context=issue
https://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-german-saboteurs-invade-america-in-1942/

Sep 5, 2022 • 1h 14min
Episode 224 - The Battle of Wake Island
Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor the Japanese military set their eyes on a tiny speck of a rock staffed with a handful of Marines and civilian contractors. Trapped and with no hope of relief, the strange adhoc garrison made the invaders bleed.
Support the show:
https://www.patreon.com/lionsledbydonkeys
Sources:
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/battle-of-wake-island-1941
https://www.historynet.com/battle-of-wake-island/
https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/npswapa/extcontent/usmc/pcn-190-003119-00/sec1.htm
https://www.historynet.com/hard-luck-island-battle-of-wake-island/

Aug 29, 2022 • 1h 30min
Episode 223 - The First Barbary War
America scrapes together the US Navy to go fight pirates on the other side of the world. They accomplish almost nothing and then go home.
Support the show:
https://www.patreon.com/lionsledbydonkeys
Sources:
Wheelan, Joseph (2003), Jefferson's War: America's First War on Terror, 1801–1805
Zacks, Richard (2005), The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805
https://clements.umich.edu/exhibit/barbary-wars/first-barbary-war/
https://www.historynet.com/tripoli-pirates-foiled/

Aug 22, 2022 • 1h 16min
Episode 222 - The Wilkes Expedition
Once upon a time the US Navy went on a scientific expedition based upon the theory of a hollow earth. They murdered swaths of innocent people and the commander went insane, beating and kidnapping most of his own crew.
Support the show:
https://www.patreon.com/lionsledbydonkeys
sources:
https://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/usexex/
https://archive.org/details/seaofgloryameric00phil
https://www.chimuadventures.com/blog/2016/08/charles-wilkes/

Aug 15, 2022 • 1h 11min
Episode 221 - The Battle of Lake Tanganyika Part 2: Nelson of the Lake
Spicer Simson rides into some of the dumbest combat of all time, somehow wins.
Support the show:
https://www.patreon.com/lionsledbydonkeys
Sources:
Giles Foden. Mimi and Toutou Go Forth
Edward Paice. Tip and Run. The Untold Tragedy of the Great War in Africa

Aug 8, 2022 • 1h 14min
Episode 220 - The Battle of Lake Tanganyika Part 1: The Worst Officer in the British Navy
During WWI the british navy thought of one of the most pointless battle plans of the entire war. They had to find someone equally worthless to command it.
Support the show:
https://www.patreon.com/lionsledbydonkeys
Sources:
Giles Foden. Mimi and Toutou Go Forth
Edward Paice. Tip and Run. The Untold Tragedy of the Great War in Africa

Aug 1, 2022 • 1h 52min
Episode 219 - The Battle of Little Bighorn Part 3: The Death of Custer
Part 3/3 Custer leads his command to their deaths.
Support the show:
https://www.patreon.com/lionsledbydonkeys
Sources:
Thomas Powers. The Killing of Crazy Horse
Dr. Margot Liberty. Cheyenne Primacy: The Tribes' Perspective As Opposed To That Of The United States Army; A Possible Alternative To "The Great Sioux War Of 1876"
Ernie Lapointe. Oral History of the Little Big Horn Battle.
He Dog. Story of the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Joseph Medicine Crow. From the Heart of the Crow Country. The Crow Indians' Own Stories.
The official record of a court of inquiry convened at Chicago, Illinois, January 13, 1879, by the President of the United States upon the request of Major Marcus A. Reno, 7th U.S. Cavalry, to investigate his conduct at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, June 25-26, 1876
Thomas Powers. How the Battle of Little Bighorn was won.
Robert Utley. How Custer Met His End at Little Bighorn