Shows / Battleground
Battleground
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 Podcasts
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Episodes
Battleground391. The Hungarian Earthquake: The Fall of the Orbán Era
A political earthquake has struck Budapest. After 16 years of dominance, Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz Party have been unseated in a resounding victory by Péter…
Battleground390. The Invisible Frontline: Power, Trauma, and Resilience in Odesa
You can watch this video on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/Khbr9JD_q98 In this special episode from Ukraine, the Battleground team visits Odesa to document the…
Battleground389. Drone Breakthroughs, Russian Oil Strikes, and JD Vance in Budapest
In this episode of Battleground Ukraine, hosts Saul David and Roger Morehouse explore a series of significant developments that suggest a shifting tide in the…
Battleground388. Hungary’s High-Stakes Election
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…
Battleground387. The Baltic Blitz: Dismantling Putin’s War Chest
In this edition of Battleground Ukraine, Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop explore a week where the geography of the war has expanded significantly—both…
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386. Otto Skorzeny and the Gran Sasso Raid
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"…
Battleground385. Swapping Plastic for Metal: The New Economics of Warfare
In this episode of the Battleground Podcast, Saul David and Roger Moorhouse analyse what appears to be a possible tipping point in the four-year-long…
Battleground384. Hubris at the Gates: The Fall of Russia's Elite
If you would like to watch this podcast you can watch it on Spotify or you can find it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@BattlegroundUkraine In this…
Battleground383. Odesa Mama, Port of War & Surviving Russian Occupation
The Battleground team returns to Ukraine to witness how a whirlwind year of shifting geopolitics and a brutal winter have transformed the nation. On our first…
Battleground382. Putin’s Windfall, Gerasimov’s Fictions, and Moral Equivalence
As the war between America, Israel, and Iran escalates, the ripple effects are being felt acutely in Ukraine. In this episode, Patrick and Saul analyse the…
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381. Battleground: Special Forces — The Listener Mailbag
In this episode of Battleground, Saul David and Patrick Bishop dive into a packed mailbag to answer your thoughts and questions on the elite units and daring…
Battleground380. Tragedy, Resilience, and Defiance: Reflections from a Week Across Ukraine
Recording from an overnight train traveling across Ukraine, Saul David and Julius Strauss reflect on an intensive week-long journey from Odesa to Kyiv. In this…
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379. The Raid: Inside the SAS Assault on the Iranian Embassy: Part 2
At 7:07 p.m. on May 5, 1980, the Metropolitan Police officially handed control of the Iranian Embassy siege to the SAS. What followed were seventeen minutes of…
Battleground378. Why Hungary and Iran Matter for Ukraine Right Now
If you are interested in reading more from Julius Strauss, you can find his substack here: https://backfromthefront.substack.com/ In a bonus edition of…
Battleground377. The Iran Distraction: How the Middle East Mega-Drama Redraws the Map for Kyiv
While the world’s gaze is fixed on the "mega-drama" unfolding across Iran and the Middle East, the tremors are being felt on the battlefields of Ukraine. In…
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376. The SAS and the Iranian Embassy Siege: Part 1
In 1980, the SAS was a shadowy unit few had heard of. Six days at the Iranian Embassy changed that forever. In the spring of that year, the eyes of the world…
Battleground375. Ukraine’s Spring Surge
As we pass the fourth anniversary of Putin’s full-scale invasion, Patrick Bishop and Saul David explore whether the tide of the war is finally turning in…
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374. Operation Eagle Claw: Disaster in the Desert
In the latest instalment of our Battleground: Special Forces series, Saul David and Patrick Bishop deconstruct one of the most ambitious and ill-fated missions…
Battleground373. Battlefield Gains, Geneva Stalemates, and the "Helmet of Memory"
In this episode of Battleground Ukraine, Saul David and Roger Moorhouse break down a week of high-stakes diplomacy and unexpected battlefield shifts as the war…
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372. The Cockleshell Heroes: Twelve Men, Two Survivors
In this gripping episode of Battleground, Patrick Bishop and Saul David explore one of World War II's most daring commando raids: Operation Frankton, better…
Battleground371. Assassinations, Attrition, and the Telegram Crackdown
In our weekly round up of the latest news from Ukraine, Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop examine a week of "salient moments" that may signal a turning point…
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370. Battleground: Spetsnaz – Russia’s Elite Shadow
In this episode of Battleground: Special Forces, Saul David is joined by Julius Strauss to dive into the brutal history and mixed legacy of one of Russia’s…
Battleground369. Trump’s "Truce" and Russia's waning influence in Azerbaijan
This week Patrick Bishop and Saul David examine a the latest news in week of deadly limbo in Ukraine as Donald Trump’s promised "energy truce" is shattered by…
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368. Operation Cauldron: The Perfect Raid Amidst the Dieppe Disaster
While the 1942 Dieppe Raid was a catastrophic failure for the Allies, one unit achieved a flawless tactical victory against the odds. In part one of this…
Battleground367. The Screaming Banshee and the Ukrainian 'Dad’s Army'
In this episode of Battleground Ukraine, Saul David and Roger Moorhouse explore the terrifying reality of modern warfare and the unexpected heroes of the…
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366. Blunders, Bullets, and the Black Mercedes: Entebbe part 2
In the dramatic conclusion of this two-part special, Saul David and Patrick Bishop deconstruct the chaotic 99 minutes on the ground at Entebbe. The episode…
Battleground365. Darkness in Kyiv and the Duel for Greenland
In this episode, Patrick Bishop and Roger Moorhouse explore a week of geopolitical upheaval that marks a potential "1938 moment" for the modern world. One year…
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364. The Impossible Mission: Entebbe Part 1
On June 27, 1976, Air France Flight 139 was diverted to Uganda, sparking a crisis that would redefine special operations forever. In the first of a two-part…
Battleground363. Oreshnik Over Lviv: Winter Strikes and the Shadow Fleet
As Ukraine slips from the international headlines in favour of turmoil in Venezuela and Iran, Roger Moorhouse and Saul David examine a week of "curious"…
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362. Introducing - Battleground: Special Forces
In the premiere of a new series from Battleground, Patrick Bishop and Saul David dive into the high-stakes world of Special Forces to explore why these small…
Battleground361. The Donroe Doctrine: From Caracas to Kyiv
In this momentous episode, Patrick Bishop and Saul David analyze the global shockwaves following the US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and its…
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360. Hero or Villain: Episode 6 - Douglas Haig
In our final episode of our Hero or Villain series Patrick and Roger go all the way back to the first part of the twentieth century and take a look at perhaps…
Battleground359. The Mar-a-Lago Charade & The "Dark Side of the Moon"
In the first episode of 2026, Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop look back on a bizarre and momentous year of conflict. The hosts begin by reflecting on the…
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358. Hero or Villain: Episode 5 - Josip Tito
In this episode of Hero or Villain, Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop evaluate the military career of Josip Broz Tito, the "titan of Central Europe" who led…
Battleground357. Ordinary People Don't Carry Machine Guns
With the Battleground: Ukraine team taking a Christmas break, we have a special interview for you this episode. Saul is joined by Journalist, writer and…
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356. Hero or Villain: Episode 4 - Tony Blair
In this episode of Hero or Villain, Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop examine the polarising military legacy of Tony Blair. They debate whether the former…
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355. Battleground Christmas Special 2025
In a now annual Battleground tradition, for a special Christmas treat we've recorded a special festive episode discussing the standout history books of the…
Battleground354. Seizing Russia's Frozen Assets & the Counter-Strike at Kupyansk
In this pivotal episode of Battleground: Ukraine, Patrick Bishop and Saul David discuss the high-stakes EU summit in Brussels that could decide the financial…
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353. Hero or Villain: Episode 3 - Charles de Gaulle
In the latest episode of our Hero or Villain series hosts Patrick Bishop and Roger Morehouse ask the ultimate question about one of the 20th century's most…
Battleground352. Kyiv Under Pressure: The Fate of Donbas
Join us as Saul David and Roger Moorhouse digest the latest news from Ukraine, including the intense pressure mounting on Kyiv as the Trump administration…
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351. Hero or Villain: Episode 2 - Arthur Harris
In the second episode of our Hero or Villain series, Patrick Bishop and Roger Moorhouse examine Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, the controversial chief of RAF…
Battleground350. "Make Money Not War": The $2 Trillion Price Tag on Trump's Ukraine "Peace"
Patrick Bishop and Roger Moorhouse discuss a familiar feeling of "deja vu" as the latest US peace mission to Moscow—led by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared…
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349. Hero or Villain: Episode 1 - Erwin Rommel
In the first of our latest Battleground history series Patrick Bishop and Roger Morehouse tackle Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the Nazi Germany commander revered…
Battleground348. The 28-Point Scandal
Join Saul David and Patrick Bishop as they dissect the latest surrounding the war in Ukraine, including the extraordinary collapse and revision of the US…
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347. Battleground Korea: Episode VI - The Unfinished Truce and Enduring Legacy
In this final episode of our Korean War series, hosts Saul, David, and Roger Morehouse examine the enduring legacy of the 1953 Armistice, exploring the human…
Battleground346. Lord Robertson on Putin's Propaganda, NATO's Future, and the Russian 'Surrender Plan'
Former NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen joins Saul, David, and Patrick Bishop for an authoritative briefing from the House of Lords. The…
Battleground345. What's in this Peace Plan? - Reaction Special
With the latest news from Ukraine coming to light as to the seriousness in which the Trump administration are pushing this latest peace proposal, Patrick…
Battleground344. Pokrovsk, Polish Sabotage, & the Secret Peace Plan
This week discussing the latest from Ukraine, Patrick Bishop and Saul David examine the ongoing, costly Battle for Pokrovsk, arguing that Russia's fixation on…
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343. Battleground Korea: Episode V - The War of Wills and the Grind for Peace
This episode plunges into the brutality of static warfare. We explore the Chinese Spring Offensive of 1951 and the desperate defensive battles fought to hold…
Battleground342. On the Brink: Is Pokrovsk About to Fall?
In this crucial episode of Battleground: Ukraine, hosts Saul David and Patrick Bishop dissect the high-stakes battle for Pokrovsk, a strategic rail and supply…
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341. Battleground Korea: Episode IV - The Dragon Awakens
After their great victory at Inchon, UN forces race north toward the Chinese border, dreaming of ending the war fast. But, they ignore the warning signs coming…
Battleground340. The Uncertain Stasis: Is the War in Ukraine Truly Frozen?
After a two-month absence, Patrick Bishop returns to the Battleground microphone to join Saul David, offering a fresh, big-picture perspective on the war in…
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Battleground Korea: Episode III - The Tide Turns
The only way out is with a gamble. In Episode 3, the Korean War narrative shifts from desperate survival to audacious counter-attack. The Allied line is…
Battleground338. From Rebuilder to Drone Builder: The Huge Impact of Foreign Volunteers in Ukraine
Host Saul David interviews special guest Richard Woodruff, a young British volunteer in Ukraine since 2022. Richard shares his journey from rebuilding…
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337. Battleground Korea: Episode II - The Brink and the Breaking Point
The lightning war begins. Following the invasion, the North Korean military executes a devastating blitzkrieg attack, sweeping through South Korea and…
Battleground336. The Diplomatic Roller Coaster & The New Realities of Drone Warfare
Join Saul David and Roger Moorhouse as they break down a week of diplomatic upheaval, and look at the latest from the front lines with a report from Hungarian…
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335. Battleground Korea: Episode I - The Spark of Division
Welcome to Battleground Korea: The Unfinished War. We begin by exploring how Korea, a nation scarred by decades of Japanese occupation, was suddenly and…
Battleground334. Kremlin Rattled by Trump's Tomahawk Offer
This week Roger Moorhouse and Saul David analyse a week of potential shifts in the conflict. On the frontline: Ukrainian civilians evacuate Kupiansk as…
Battleground333. Wolfpack: Episode III - Broken Wolves
The hunt is over. Black May (May 1943) marks the U-boat campaign's devastating turning point, forcing Admiral Dönitz to withdraw his "Grey Wolves" from the…
Battleground332. Is the Net Closing in for Ukraine in Donetsk?
This week on Battleground Ukraine, hosts Saul David and Roger Moorhouse are joined by intrepid Belgian war reporter and friend of the podcast Arnaud de Decker…