182. Operation Barbarossa

What military parallels does Putin's invasion of Ukraine have with Hitler's attempt to invade the Soviet Union?
On today's pod Tom and Dominic are joined by historian - and brother of Tom - James Holland to discuss Operation Barbarossa and the Nazi invasion of 1941, whether it was doomed to fail, and the role it played in the escalation of the Holocaust.
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to listen to our sister podcast, We Have Ways Of Making You Talk, and check out their Second World War festival that's taking place in July by going to wehavewaysfest.co.uk
Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.
Producer: Dom JohnsonExec Producer: Tony Pastor
Twitter:@TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook
Email: [e-mail]

[@alancartwright5338]

Fully agree this podcast series is brilliant!

[@robspecht9550]

This is criminally underviewed. You chaps are top notch.

[@etahenry3377]

No, just smug

[@donrobertson4940]

Most people listen to the podcast.

[@juanfervalencia]

You guys are my new addiction

[@blairhicks9553]

Keep doing these podcasts. Well spoken and credentials galore. Build it and they will come

[@juanfervalencia]

Delightful

[@janeaustenist]

Love Tom Holland and James Holland

[@janeaustenist]

Would love to hear both of them do shows together. They play off each other well. Big fan of both.

[@yogeeswarpal]

I needed more about the trucks tbh

[@fibiusthegreat593]

Great!!

[@dvt6778]

Excellent episode. But why the hell is James shouting and speaking at 100mph?

[@exmachina2600]

Let the man talk about his trucks!

[@robertdarby6553]

I could have listened to a whole podcast just describing the 2,000 different types of truck.

[@HHM706]

You were right the first when you said Germans

[@Shapeguydude]

💯

[@_eddiecole]

I did not know how much I did not know about ww2 lol

[@cliveclerkenville2637]

Target was the Azeri oilfields ?

[@Truffle_Pup]

Although I enjoy listening to James, he is without a doubt a "Two Pinter". As in, you enjoy everything he says and love his enthusiasm, but you leave the pub before he comes to sit back down with his third pint.

[@martinbruno4567]

Interesting but too many commercials

[@davidpryle3935]

It wasn’t that the Soviets were “completely useless” in the winter war, it was actually because the Finns were so unbelievably good.

[@OnlineEnglish-wl5rp]

Some say it was a feint to make the Germans underestimate the Red Army's true capabilities and weapons build up

[@anthonychase4364]

James, be very careful making bland parallels between "Putin's invasion of Ukraine" and other monumental military blunders. Reason? Ukraine has been contested territory for 1000 years.

[@cliveclerkenville2637]

Putin did not invade Ukraine until the neocon plotting to annex the country became intolerable.

[@koxwell]

I love the topic but would enjoy it more with a more conversational style. Too much energy cutting off interesting branches. Bit frustrating.

[@Ed-om9xy]

it's interesting, I see what you mean, you could do five pods out of this