History Undone

For this episode of History Undone, James is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and the historian Roger Moorhouse to discuss one of the most significant moments at the beginning of the Second World War. Despite their huge differences and animosity, in August 1939 Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression treaty otherwise known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Yet with Operation Barbarossa and the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, Hitler betrayed that trust. Yet what if he hadn't and what if it had held for the remainder of the war? This is History Undone.

Today we're going back into the History Undone archive, as James Hanson is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and the YouTuber and naval historian Drachinifel to discuss the Battle of Jutland. It was the largest naval battle of the First World War and the only time the British and German fleets went head to head. So just how significant was it and should it have ended differently? This is History Undone.

James is joined once again by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Professor Alexander Watson to discuss a much debated historical sliding doors moment: Britain's decision to enter the First World War. Was it the right one, or would Britain and her Empire have been better off focusing on its own concerns. Those are questions for our experts as they examine the alternate timeline, had Britain not have made this critical decision in August 1914. This is History Undone.

On this episode of History Undone, James Hanson is joined once again by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and the historian Jonathan Walker, author of ‘Operation Unthinkable: The Third World War’. They discuss this daring, controversial and top secret plan by Winston Churchill to attack the Soviet Union at the end of the Second World War.Of course, the plan was never put into action and perhaps was never intended to be. Yet what if the allies had implemented Operation Unthinkable and attacked Stalin head on in July 1945. The remainder of the 20th century, at the very least, would have looked very different indeed. This is History Undone.

We've delved back into the History Undone archives, as James is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and one of Britain's most renowned Medieval experts Professor Robert Bartlett, to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Yet how did this day-long conflict become one of the most consequential battles in history, and why are we still talking about it nearly 1,000 years later? This is History Undone.

James Hanson is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Nigel Jones to discuss one of the most important events in the lead up to the Second World War: the Nazi annexation of the Sudetenland and eventual invasion of the entirety of Czechoslovakia.This provocation was met with appeasement by the allies and approved by the signing of the Munich Agreement. Yet what if Britain & France had instead declared war right there and then in 1938? Would WW2 as we know it, even have happened at all?

James Hanson is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and former British Foreign Office diplomat Tim Dowse to discuss one of the most remarkable military operations of modern times: Desert Storm. The Gulf War was a war of firsts: high tech weaponry, 24-hour news broadcasting and lightning speed efficiency from the Americans. The ground offensive was over in a matter of 100 hours to liberate Kuwait and decimate Saddam Hussein's Iraqi Army. Yet what if the U.S. had gone even further and removed Saddam there and then? What impact does that have on seismic 21st century events like 9/11 and the war in Iraq? This is History Undone.

James Hanson is joined once again by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and the naval historian and YouTuber Drachinifel to discuss one of the more forgotten campaigns of the early Second World War: Norway. Yet while it might seem inconsequential in the long run, this period between Spring and Summer of 1940 helped set the tone for the next few years of the entire conflict.

James Hanson is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and the military historian Andrew Robertshaw to discuss a battle which shaped the future of Europe for years to come: Blenheim. This day long conflict was part of the War of Spanish Succession, which saw the Grand Alliance of England, the Dutch Republic & Austria try to prevent Louis XIV from uniting the thrones of France & Spain. Yet the battle's impact is far greater than that. This is History Undone.