Underground Strategy

This week on the Underground Strategy Podcast, Max Lauker is joined once again by Andy Balaam, former Selous Scout and veteran of some of the Bush War’s most daring missions.After walking us through Operation Long John, Balaam now turns to Operation Eland. In August 1976, fewer than a hundred Scouts crossed into Mozambique in a flying column, targeting a ZANLA base at Nyadzonya.Stay tuned for Part 2, where Balaam walks through the battle itself and the aftermath.Andy's Workpseudobalaam.comInstagram – instagram.com/pseudobalaamMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 - https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission - https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amos Fox, a seasoned military scholar and author, dives into listener questions about modern warfare. He challenges traditional definitions of war and peace, emphasizing their complex continuum. Fox examines the pitfalls of prioritizing technology over clear military objectives and illustrates the dangers of misconceptions in strategy. He discusses the evolving nature of attrition warfare, advocating for adaptability in tactics while scrutinizing the effectiveness of current military approaches. Expect sharp insights and hard truths about today’s battlefield realities.

In this episode, we’re joined by Professor Tarak Barkawi—an international relations scholar, military historian, and sharp critic of the way we often misunderstand war.We talk about everything from colonial troops and battlefield ritual to the power of memoirs and the global legacy of regimental tradition. From the jungles of Burma to the camps of Korea, Barkawi explores what really drives soldiers to fight—and why the stories we tell about war often miss the point.We also get into his groundbreaking book Soldiers of Empire, the myth of the “martial race,” and the deeper, often uncomfortable truths behind military discipline, nationalism, and the afterlives of imperial armies.Tarak Barkawi’s WorkSoldiers of Empire – https://amzn.to/3Hh7MDOOrientalism and War – https://amzn.to/4kqGYQ3Globalization and War – https://amzn.to/3YR281qMore from Underground StrategyJoin the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.comDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we turn our focus to one of the most iconic campaigns of the Second World War—the battle for North Africa. From the strategic significance of the Suez Canal and Middle Eastern oil to the rise and fall of Rommel’s legend, the North African campaign shaped the course of the global conflict in unexpected ways.We’re joined by Lt. Col. Dr. Jean-Pierre Scherman of the South African National Defence Force—a combat officer, scholar, and friend of the podcast—to walk us through what made the desert war so pivotal. We explore the mobile chaos of the early clashes, the critical role of supply lines, and the unsung story of South Africa’s volunteer soldiers who served far from home.We also dive into the bitter legacy of the surrender at Tobruk, the mythmaking around commanders like Rommel and Montgomery, and what it all looked like from the ground level.Expect serious analysis, hard questions, and some reflections on today’s conflicts too.Jean-Pierre Scherman’s contactsInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/schermanjeanpierre/X – https://x.com/schermanjp74LinkedIn – https://za.linkedin.com/in/jean-pierre-schermanMore from Underground StrategyJoin the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.comDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Serhii Velychanskyi, we shift from combat to recovery—exploring how war leaves marks that can’t be seen from the outside, and how humor can help heal them.After serving on the front lines in Irpin and Kharkiv, Serhii transitioned into Ukraine’s Center for Morale and Psychological Support, where he began using improvisational theater as a recovery tool. He walks us through his program “Improv 450,” designed to help wounded and traumatized soldiers decompress, reconnect, and rebuild.But this is more than a therapy story. Serhii reflects on identity, language, Russian disinformation, and the existential nature of this war.We also hear about his upcoming leadership work, his book Path to Effectiveness (Ukrainian only), and what it means to fight and heal at the same time.Serhii’s WorkImprov 4.5.0 – https://improv450.com.ua/enInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/sergey_velichanskiyLinkedIn – https://ua.linkedin.com/in/velichanskyPath to Effectiveness (Ukrainian only) – https://www.skyhorse.ua/product/shlyahy-efektyvnosti/Also MentionedManagement in Times of War by Kostiantyn Koshelenko – https://amzn.to/43gNmlWMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part 1 of our conversation with Serhii Velychanskyi, we follow his journey from civilian to frontline soldier in Ukraine’s 130th Territorial Defense Battalion—where he took part in the defense of Kyiv and the liberation of Irpin and Kharkiv.Serhii walks us through those early days of the full-scale Russian invasion: the uncertainty, the shelling, and the harsh lessons learned on the ground. But this isn’t just a war story—it’s also about adaptation. Serhii shares how his past life as an improv performer unexpectedly shaped his resilience under fire, and how that mindset helped him—and others—navigate the chaos of combat.Part 2 continues the story as Serhii transitions into psychological support work, helping soldiers heal through humor, storytelling, and group recovery.Serhii’s WorkImprov 4.5.0 – https://improv450.com.ua/enInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/sergey_velichanskiyLinkedIn – https://ua.linkedin.com/in/velichanskyPath to Effectiveness (Ukrainian only) – https://www.skyhorse.ua/product/shlyahy-efektyvnosti/Also MentionedManagement in Times of War by Kostiantyn Koshelenko – https://amzn.to/43gNmlWMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The third part of our Fortress Britain series takes us north, where Gordon Barclay joins us for a deep dive into Scotland’s defense plans during the Second World War—and how they’ve been misunderstood ever since.We talk about stop lines, airfield vulnerabilities, pillbox design, and the sheer logistical push it took to prepare the country for invasion. Gordon breaks down how anti-tank ditches, coastal artillery, and naval fortresses fit into a larger strategy—one that included Polish and Norwegian forces defending the Scottish coast. We also look at how these defenses evolved, what still survives today, and how some of it is only just being re-discovered.Toward the end, we discuss how Gordon’s research was misrepresented during Scotland’s independence debate, and why wartime history—when twisted—can still fuel modern mythmaking.Gordon’s workIf Hitler Comes: Preparing for Invasion – Scotland 1940 by Gordon Barclay – https://amzn.to/4kvhT6BOther books mentionedFortress Britain: 1940 by Andrew Chatterton – https://amzn.to/3Sd5iJ4Britain’s Secret Defences by Andrew Chatterton – https://amzn.to/4jYuT4xMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we explore the Zimbabwean liberation struggle—a war that redefined Southern Africa and left lasting political and military scars across the region.Takawira Chatambudza joins us to unpack the origins of the nationalist movements, the split between ZANU and ZAPU, and how their armed wings—ZANLA and ZIPRA—fought on different fronts with different doctrines. We talk about guerrilla tactics, ideological influence from China and the Soviet Union, and how newly independent frontline states like Mozambique and Angola changed the course of the war.Taka also offers a grounded, firsthand view of Rhodesian counterinsurgency tactics, including the controversial role of the Selous Scouts and their deep infiltration operations, and we revisit pivotal moments like the Lancaster House Agreement, ZIPRA’s cross-border raids, and the collapse of internal unity efforts like ZIPA.This episode brings together politics, warfare, and memory from a perspective rarely heard in Western military history circles.Takawira’s workMultidisciplinary Perspectives on Zimbabwe’s Liberation Struggle (Edited) – https://amzn.to/3H3f3XTWant more?For Better Or Worse? Women And ZANLA In Zimbabwe's Liberation Struggle – https://amzn.to/43gKeXeThe Army and Politics in Zimbabwe – https://amzn.to/43kG1StMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The second part of our Fortress Britain series takes us to the windswept beaches of northeast Scotland, where archeology meets military history.Tony and Alessandro link up with Bruce Mann—a senior Historic Environment Officer and real-world battlefield archaeologist—to walk through pillboxes, anti-tank blocks, and the overlooked coastal defenses that still dot the landscape today. We talk about how terrain shaped defense planning, how local contractors helped construct pillboxes under pressure, and why Black Dog Beach isn’t just a poetic name.We also explore how defensive structures were camouflaged, improvised, and in some cases, repurposed entirely—and how the layering of stop lines and river crossings built a real strategy behind the concrete. From hidden gun loops to pillboxes disguised as cottages, this is the physical side of Britain’s invasion defense as few have seen it.Bruce’s contactHistoric Environment Team – archeology@aberdeenshire.gov.ukBooks mentionedFortress Britain: 1940 by Andrew Chatterton – https://amzn.to/3Sd5iJ4Britain’s Secret Defences by Andrew Chatterton – https://amzn.to/4jYuT4xIf Hitler Comes: Preparing for Invasion: Scotland 1940 by Gordon Barclay - https://amzn.to/4kvhT6BMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first of our Fortress Britain episodes, we step back from the secret guerrilla units and look at the bigger picture—how ready was the UK, really, to stop a German invasion in 1940?Andrew Chatterton returns to break down Britain’s physical defenses—from the rapid construction of stop lines and pillboxes to the strategic thinking behind them. We talk about how much of the country was actually covered, why mobility was so limited, and how even a random brick hut on the coast fits into a much larger defense plan. It wasn’t just Home Guard with pitchforks—there was real doctrine, structure, and urgency.We also look at the overlooked air and naval elements: radar, decoy airfields, and the sheer power of the Royal Navy—along with the PR, panic, and practical improvisation that shaped the public's view of the war.Andrew’s workFortress Britain: 1940 – https://amzn.to/3Sd5iJ4Britain’s Secret Defences – https://amzn.to/4jYuT4xInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/historicalandrewX – https://x.com/Chats1More from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.