A History of Europe Key Battles

A delegation from Ireland meet the British and make an agreement for Irish autonomy but makes a compromise to keep under under the British Crown.The Irish break into two sides, one supporting the treaty, one opposing it and demanding full independence and a republic. The ensuing Irish Civil War left a bitter legacy.Picture: Bombing of the Four CourtsOpening Music: The Charlston. End Music by Nico Vettesewww.historyeurope.netwww.patreon.com/c/historyeuropehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-history-of-europe-key-battles/id788893946

The Irish form a shadow government in opposition to the British, with their own courts and tax collections. Meanwhile, Irish volunteer fighters wage guerilla warfare against the British police force, the Royal Irish Constabulary.Picture: West Connemara Flying ColumnOpening Music: The Charlston. End Music by Nico Vettesewww.historyeurope.netwww.patreon.com/c/historyeuropehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-history-of-europe-key-battles/id788893946

In January 1919 a group of recently elected Sinn Fien MPs gathered in Dublin. There they proclaimed the establishment of an Irish Republic and adopted a ‘Declaration of Independence’, which asserted Ireland’s right to be a sovereign nation. I describe here the background to the Irish people's struggle for independence from the United Kingdom, including the Easter Rising 1916.Picture: Royal Irish ConstabularyOpening Music: The Charlston. End Music by Nico Vettesewww.historyeurope.netwww.patreon.com/c/historyeuropehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-history-of-europe-key-battles/id788893946

An overview of the situation across Europe after World War One. The Treaty of Versailles. The post-war division of territories. The German Revolution and the question of financial reparations.Picture: The heads of the "Big Four" nations at the Paris Peace Conference, 27 May 1919. From left to right: David Lloyd George, Vittorio Orlando, Georges Clemenceau, and Woodrow WilsonOpening Music: The Charlston. End Music by Nico Vettesewww.historyeurope.nethttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-history-of-europe-key-battles/id788893946

Conclusion of the Turkish National Struggle 1919-1922. Mustafa Kemal, later known as Ataturk, leads the Turkish Nationalists against the armies of Greece.The Battle of Sakarya River between the Turks and Greeks is a key battle of European history and shapes of the future of their respective countries.Picture: Inferno of SmyrnaMusic: The Charlston

Turkish National Struggle 1919-1922The Ottoman Empire emerges defeated from World War One. The Entente Allies impose harsh conditions in the armistice whereby the Ottomans lose most of their territory including parts of Anatolia. However, Mustafa Kemal, later known as Ataturk, raises an army to oppose the AlliesPicture: Mustafa Kemal and Turkish soldiers

As background to the Turkish National Struggle, this episode describes the events in the Caucasus Mountains in World War One, - conflict between Russia, the Ottoman Empire, the Germans, and nationalist groups of Georgians, Armenians and Azerbaijanis.Separately I talk about Greece's involvement in World War One.Picture: Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany and Enver Pasha, Minister of War for the Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire in World War One - the fights for the Suez Canal, Gaza, Jerusalem and Arabia between the British and TurksPicture: General Allenby enters Jerusalem

In 1920 the Polish and Soviet Russian armies clashed in a series of battles across a wide area of eastern Europe including Ukraine and Lithuania.The Soviets advanced deep into Poland and reached the gates of Warsaw, with the aims of capturing the city and., more widely, exporting their revolution across Europe.Picture: Polish soldiers in the Battle of Warsaw 1920