History Rage

Weimar Was a Real Place Before It Became a Political WarningThe “Weimar Republic” has become shorthand for collapse, extremism, and economic chaos — but as historian and author Katja Hoyer argues in this episode of History Rage, Weimar was first and foremost a real town with a rich cultural history stretching back centuries. Home to Goethe, Schiller, Liszt and Nietzsche, Weimar was long considered the spiritual and intellectual heart of Germany before it ever became associated with democratic failure. In this fascinating conversation, Katja dismantles the clichés surrounding interwar Germany by exploring how ordinary people experienced extraordinary political change. Through the lives of Weimar residents — bookbinders, teachers, social democrats and shopkeepers — she reveals how hope, apathy, fear and economic despair gradually transformed a fragile democracy into a dictatorship. From the optimism surrounding Germany’s first truly democratic elections in 1919 to the devastation of hyperinflation, the Great Depression, and the rise of Nazism, this episode explores how extremism becomes acceptable when people feel abandoned by politics. Katja explains why the Nazis initially remained a fringe movement, how the economic crash of 1929 changed everything, and why so many ordinary Germans convinced themselves to look away from the horrors developing around them. The discussion also examines Weimar’s proximity to Buchenwald concentration camp and the uncomfortable realities of what civilians knew — or chose not to know — as Nazi brutality escalated. This is a powerful exploration of how democratic societies fracture, and why understanding the everyday experience of historical change matters now more than ever. Katja’s new book, Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe, is available here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780241681244You can also hear Katja on her podcast Reichs and Republics, and follow her work here: Substack: https://www.katjahoyer.uk/X/Twitter: https://x.com/hoyer_kat🎟️ Katja Hoyer will also be appearing at the Chalke History Festival on Friday 26 June. Tickets available here: https://www.chalkefestival.com/If you enjoy History Rage, please follow, rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify — it genuinely helps new listeners discover the show.You can support the podcast and become an official History Rager here: https://www.patreon.com/historyrageFollow and contact History Rage: Website: https://historyrage.com X/Twitter: https://x.com/historyrage Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/historyrage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyrage

Roman slavery myths shattered with brutal truths historians can’t ignoreRoman slavery is often portrayed as mild, civilised, or even preferable to poverty—but that comforting myth collapses under scrutiny. In this explosive episode of History Rage, historian and author Emma Southon unleashes her fury at the persistent sanitising of Roman slavery and reveals the stark, violent realities behind the Roman Empire’s power.Drawing on archaeological evidence, ancient writings, and modern scholarship, Emma dismantles the comforting fiction that Roman slavery was temporary, humane, or somehow “not that bad.” Instead, she exposes a system built on terror, exploitation, and absolute lack of human rights—where millions lived in constant fear of violence, separation, and death.You’ll hear how people became enslaved—from war captives to children born into bondage—and why slavery was so embedded in Roman society that even modest households often owned enslaved people. Emma also reveals the chilling legal reality: for centuries, enslaved people had virtually no protections, and violence against them was both legal and culturally accepted.From the myth of the “happy slave” taught in school textbooks to the romanticised portrayals in television and fiction, this episode challenges everything you thought you knew about Rome—and shows why understanding slavery is essential to understanding the empire itself.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy Roman slavery was widespread across every level of societyHow people entered slavery through war, birth, crime, or kidnappingThe reality of daily life under constant threat of violenceThe truth about manumission and why freedom was rarer than often claimedHow myths about Roman slavery developed—and why they still persistWhy slavery may have slowed Roman technological innovationAbout the GuestEmma Southon is a historian specialising in the Roman Empire and the social realities behind its power. She is the author of “Servus: How Slavery Made the Roman Empire”, a groundbreaking exploration of slavery’s central role in Roman society.Emma is also co-host of the History Is Sexy, where she explores the ancient world through stories often overlooked in traditional history.Follow Emma Southon:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmasouthonBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/emmasouton.bsky.social📚 Buy Emma’s book “Servus: How Slavery Made the Roman Empire “ from the History Rage Bookshop:https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781399741255Support History RageLove hearing historians destroy popular myths? Here’s how to support History Rage:⭐ Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite app📣 Share this episode with a friend who loves history🎧 Subscribe for ad-free listening via Apple Podcasts🔥 Join the rage community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyrageGet in Touch with History Rage📧 Email: historyragepod@gmail.com🌐 Website: https://www.historyrage.com📱 Follow on social media:Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/historyrageInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyrageIf you’ve ever been told Roman slavery “wasn’t that bad,” this episode will leave you questioning everything—and maybe feeling a little angry too.

Britain’s past politicians were no better—often far worse—than today’s MPs.Were Britain’s past politicians really more honourable than today’s? Or is nostalgia blinding us to just how corrupt, violent, and self-serving many of them actually were?In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill is joined by historian, author, and Get History founder Debbie Kilroy to rage against one of Britain’s most persistent political myths: that historic MPs were somehow morally superior to the modern lot.Drawing on over 400 years of parliamentary history, Debbie dismantles the rose-tinted view of Britain’s political past, revealing a parade of bigamists, slave traders, duelists, bribe-takers, fraudsters, and outright psychopaths who once sat comfortably in Parliament.From Norman MacLeod kidnapping his own tenants into slavery, to Lord Cardigan’s cruelty, incompetence, and vanity, to the systemic corruption that brought down figures like Francis Bacon and David Lloyd George, this episode exposes how power, privilege, and political protection enabled shocking behaviour—often without consequences.Along the way, Debbie explains:Why we keep romanticising historic politiciansHow corruption adapted rather than disappeared over timeWhy reforms like the 1832 Reform Act only scratched the surfaceHow crowds, riots, and popular protest once held MPs to accountWhy the system itself—not just individuals—remains the problemThis is not a defence of modern politics—but a warning against pretending the past was cleaner, fairer, or more honest. Politicians, Debbie argues, haven’t changed. What’s changed is what they can get away with.About the Guest: Debbie KilroyDebbie Kilroy is a historian, writer, and the creator of the popular history platform Get History. She specialises in British political history, focusing on the human realities behind power, myth, and reputation.She is the author of:📘 Members Behaving Badly: A History of Britain in 52 Parliamentary RoguesA deeply researched and often shocking exploration of Britain’s most notorious MPs, spanning four centuries of corruption, cruelty, and chaos.🔗 Book available via https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781783969388Connect with DebbieWebsite: Get History: https://gethistory.co.uk/Social media: @debbiekilroyauthor (Instagram, Facebook and most platforms)X (Twitter): @DebbieKilroyRecommended ListeningEpisode 241 – Erica Canella on chaos and dissent in the early Quaker movementEpisode 181 – Shalina Patel dismantles the myths of the PankhurstsAbout History RageHistory Rage is the podcast where professional historians confront popular myths head-on and angrily demand historical honesty.Follow & ContactWebsite: www.historyrage.comSocial media: @HistoryRage on X, Instagram, FacebookPatreon: www.patreon.com/historyrageSupport the PodcastGet ad-free episodes on Apple Podcasts or Patreon for £3/monthJoin monthly live streams with historians via PatreonOr simply help by telling one other person to listenIf you think politicians were better “back then”, this episode may ruin that illusion forever.Stay angry.

Cold War Protest Songs, Punk Anthems, and Nuclear Pop Culture CollideWhy did the Cold War produce generations of unforgettable protest songs while today’s crises barely inspire a mainstream anthem? In this electrifying episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill welcomes back historian, author, and Imperial War Museum senior manager Fraser McCallum to trace the history of protest music from folk ballads and Bob Dylan through punk, hip hop, Live Aid, and Cold War pop classics.From Two Tribes and 99 Red Balloons to Fortunate Son, London Calling, and Born in the USA, Fraser explores how music became the soundtrack to nuclear fear, civil rights, Vietnam, Thatcherism, and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Along the way, the pair discuss why protest songs once dominated Top of the Pops and ask the big question: where have all the decent protest songs gone?Expect passionate debate on:Bob Dylan and the birth of modern protest music Folk traditions, skiffle, and anti-war ballads Vietnam War classics like Fortunate Son and Paint It Black Punk, Thatcherism, and London Calling Nuclear anxiety in Two Tribes and 99 Luftballons Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, and Cold War Berlin Why modern artists rarely risk overt political protest songs Fraser also shares fascinating insights into how pop culture and Western music seeped through the Iron Curtain, influencing East Germany and the wider Cold War world.Fraser is the author of Cold War Britain.Buy the book from the History Rage Bookshop here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780008743994Listen to Fraser’s specially curated Cold War soundtrack playlists: Apple Music Playlist: https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/cold-war-britain-the-soundtrack-to-the-book/pl.u-NRp7s3pq7oSpotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2lZ7HBrKKyBj31wXKXx2nq?si=-jyLeTguToieWb87K3CG3A&pi=0lbsCZu1SV2xV&nd=1&dlsi=0de49b8d828a4db0Fraser will also be hosting the IWM History Festival at IWM Duxford on 13–14 June 2026, featuring leading historians, authors, and live discussions surrounded by iconic wartime aircraft. Tickets available here: https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/iwm-duxford/iwm-history-festivalFollow Fraser McCallum and the Imperial War Museum online: https://www.iwm.org.uk/Love the show? Support History Rage by subscribing, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and sharing the episode on social media.Follow and contact History Rage: Website: https://historyrage.com/ X: https://x.com/historyrage Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/historyrage/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyrage/

Drones didn’t start in Silicon Valley — they began with Victorians and warDrones feel like the defining weapon of the 21st century — cheap, disposable, and terrifyingly effective. But what if that belief is completely wrong?In this episode of History Rage, aviation historian and journalist Mark Piesing explodes the modern myth surrounding drones and reveals a truth that stretches back more than 120 years. Long before satellites, digital cameras, or GPS, Victorian engineers were already imagining — and building — pilotless weapons designed to change warfare forever.From Nikola Tesla’s radio-controlled boats in the 1890s, to British attack drones planned during the First World War, this episode traces how unmanned warfare evolved through failed experiments, secret Cold War programmes, and nuclear testing — long before the Predator ever flew.Mark explains why the “father of the drone” was a British engineer targeted by German assassins, how Marilyn Monroe began her career on a drone production line, and why US Navy admirals were signing orders for thousands of attack drones before the Battle of Midway. Along the way, Paul and Mark explore why these technologies repeatedly promised to change war — and why military bureaucracy so often held them back.This is not a story of sudden innovation. It’s a story of persistence, secrecy, and ideas far ahead of the technology needed to make them work. And it explains why today’s drone warfare in Ukraine looks eerily familiar to predictions made in 1898.If you think drones are a modern invention, prepare to be very, very angry.Guest: Mark PiesingMark Piesing is an award-winning journalist and aviation historian specialising in unmanned systems, aerospace innovation, and Cold War technology. His work has appeared with the Smithsonian, Royal Aeronautical Society, and major international publications.Read more here: https://markpiesing.com/2025/07/03/i-was-asked-to-write-this-piece-by-history-com-how-drones-have-upended-warfare/Follow & contact MarkTwitter/X: @markpiesingInstagram: @markpiesingwritesFurther listeningHistory Rage Episode 196 – Mark rages against polar explorers: https://pod.fo/e/2c75bdHistory Rage Episode 53 – Nikola Tesla with Iwun Morus: https://pod.fo/e/16c1d5About History RageHistory Rage is the podcast where historians unleash their fury on the myths, half-truths, and bad history we all think we know. Hosted by Paul Bavill, each episode gives an expert one burning misconception to destroy — loudly, passionately, and with evidence.Follow History RageTwitter/X: @HistoryRageInstagram: @historyrageWebsite: www.historyrage.comSupport the PodcastIf you enjoy independent, expert-led history without ads, you can support History Rage in several ways:£3/month – Ad-free listening via Apple Podcasts or Patreon£5/month – Ask questions to future guests and receive the coveted History Rage mug👉 Support the show at patreon.com/historyrageOr simply tell someone else about the podcast — word of mouth keeps History Rage alive.

The Blitz myth shattered: courage, crime, and chaos behind stoicismThe familiar story of Britain’s Blitz—calm, united, unshaken—is one of the most powerful myths of the Second World War. But in this gripping episode of History Rage, historian Joshua Levine dismantles the “Keep Calm and Carry On” narrative and reveals a far more complex reality.Drawing on firsthand accounts and deep archival research, Joshua shows how the Blitz was not a single story of resilience, but a patchwork of human experiences. Alongside genuine moments of solidarity—strangers comforting each other under falling bombs—there were also spikes in crime, looting, black marketeering, and deeply personal tragedies driven by desperation.We explore how wartime propaganda helped shape the enduring myth of the “Blitz Spirit,” promoting unity while downplaying panic, fear, and social tension. Even the iconic “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster was barely used during the war, despite becoming a defining symbol decades later.Joshua also uncovers how the Blitz became a turning point in British society. Class boundaries blurred, communities were reshaped, and people lived with an intensity that led to dramatic social change—including what he provocatively describes as a “first sexual revolution.” At the same time, the government’s response to bombing and homelessness laid early foundations for the modern welfare state.This episode challenges everything you thought you knew about wartime Britain—and replaces myth with nuance, humanity, and truth. 👤 About the GuestJoshua Levine is a leading social historian and author specialising in modern British history and the Second World War.📖 The Secret History of the Blitz Buy your copy here (and support independent bookshops):👉 https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781398550681🎤 Live Event: Joshua will be speaking at the Imperial War Museum History Festival at IWM Duxford on Saturday 13th June.🎟️ Tickets available here: https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/iwm-duxford/iwm-history-festivalCheck out the IWM Sound Archive at: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/sound 🎧 Follow History RageStay connected and never miss an episode: 🌐 Website: www.historyrage.com🐦 Twitter/X: @HistoryRage📘 Instagram: @historyrage📩 Email: historyragepod@gmail.com💥 Support the ShowLove what you hear? Become a History Rager on Patreon:👉 £5/month gets you:Entry into the monthly book draw 📚Access to exclusive listener Q&As 🎙️The coveted History Rage mug ☕If you’re tired of oversimplified history, this episode is your antidote—revealing the Blitz as it truly was: messy, contradictory, and profoundly human.

Bletchley Park wasn’t built by one man—and history must stop pretending otherwiseFor most people, Bletchley Park means one thing: Alan Turing, Enigma, and a single heroic breakthrough.That story is neat, cinematic—and deeply misleading.In this episode of History Rage, Paul Bavill is joined by historian, author, and Bletchley Park trustee Sir Dermot Turing to dismantle one of Britain’s most comfortable Second World War myths. What follows is a forensic, passionate unpicking of how thousands of codebreakers—most of them women—have been written out of history.This is not an attack on Alan Turing. It’s a demand for accuracy.Sir Dermot explains why Enigma has become a historical obsession, how it eclipses dozens of other vital ciphers, and why reducing Bletchley Park to a single man does a disservice to everyone involved—including Turing himself. From Spanish and Italian diplomatic codes to Japanese military signals, this episode reveals just how broad, complex, and international the intelligence war really was.Crucially, the conversation exposes how women codebreakers were systematically downgraded by job titles, pay grades, and later historians. Clerical assistants, typists, and “support staff” were in reality performing some of the hardest cryptographic work of the war—often better than the men promoted over them. Figures such as Joan Clarke, Wendy White, Helen Hazelden, Marie Rose Egan, and many others emerge not as footnotes, but as central players.This episode also explores:Why Enigma machines themselves were never the real secretHow civil service bureaucracy distorted the historical recordThe hidden importance of German diplomatic intelligenceWhy Bletchley Park was far messier, more political, and more human than popular culture admitsIf you think you know the story of Bletchley Park, this episode will make you angry—for all the right reasons.About the Guest: Sir Dermot TuringSir Dermot Turing is a historian, author, and trustee of Bletchley Park, specialising in intelligence history and overlooked figures of the Second World War. He is the nephew of Alan Turing and a leading voice challenging simplistic narratives around wartime codebreaking.Recommended Reading📘 Misread Signals: How History Overlooked Women CodebreakersAn essential corrective to the Enigma-centric story, uncovering the vital contributions of women across British intelligence.Available here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781803997933Explore More from History Rage🎧 History Rage is the podcast where historians confront the myths that refuse to die.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platformsFollow History Rage on social media for episode clips, debates, and announcementsSupport the PodcastIf you value independent, ad-free history:£3/month – ad-free listening£5/month – bonus content and the legendary History Rage mug👉 Support the show at patreon.com/historyrage or directly through Apple Podcasts subscriptions.And if you loved this episode?Tell someone. History only changes when the story spreads.

Daniel Defoe wasn’t just a novelist — he helped forge Britain itselfDaniel Defoe is remembered as the author of Robinson Crusoe — but that legacy hides a far more dangerous, politically explosive truth. Long before his novels reshaped literature, Defoe was shaping nations.In this episode of History Rage, Paul Bavill is joined by historian Marc Mierowsky, Fellow and Lecturer in English at the University of Melbourne, to rage against the idea that Defoe was “just” a novelist. Instead, we uncover Defoe as a government propagandist, intelligence agent, and covert operator, working at the very heart of early British state power.Marc reveals how Defoe:Operated as a political fixer and spy for Robert HarleyBuilt one of Britain’s earliest nationwide intelligence and propaganda networksInfiltrated Scottish politics during the crisis years before the 1707 Act of UnionManipulated religious divisions, rebellion, and public opinionHelped sabotage organised resistance to the Union of England and ScotlandThis is a story of dirty tricks, espionage, pamphlet warfare, and political manipulation, all carried out by a man later celebrated as a literary pioneer. It also raises uncomfortable questions about state power, surveillance, and whether the foundations of modern Britain were laid through persuasion — or coercion.If you think you know Daniel Defoe, this episode will leave you furious, fascinated, and questioning everything.About the guestMarc Mierowsky is Fellow and Lecturer in English at the University of Melbourne, specialising in Restoration and early eighteenth-century literature, politics, and espionage. His research focuses on Daniel Defoe’s secret service work, propaganda networks, and the intelligence machinery behind the Anglo-Scottish Union.Marc Mierowsky – links & contactBook: A Spy Amongst Us: Daniel Defoe’s Secret Service and the Plot to End Scottish IndependencePublisher page / book retailers: Available via major academic and online booksellersAffiliation: University of MelbourneWhy this episode mattersDefoe’s story forces us to confront an uncomfortable truth: the modern British state was built using surveillance, propaganda, and manipulation of public opinion. The debates around sovereignty, identity, and union that rage today were already burning in the early 1700s — and Defoe was pouring fuel on the fire.This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in:British historyScottish independence and the Act of UnionEarly modern espionageThe hidden political origins of the novelPropaganda, intelligence, and state powerAbout History RageHistory Rage is the podcast that smashes historical myths and takes cherished assumptions out back and wrecks them. Hosted by Paul Bavill, each episode gives expert historians space to rage about the misconceptions they want destroyed.Follow & contact History RageWebsite: https://historyrage.comTwitter / X: @HistoryRageBluesky: historyrage.bsky.socialEmail: historyragepod@gmail.comSupport the podcastIf you love fearless history without the myths:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyrageApple Subscriptions: Ad-free listening from £3 per month£5 tier: Bonus content and the legendary History Rage mugSupporting the podcast keeps independent, expert-led history alive — and angry.Stay angry.

Discover the Spanish Infanta who reshaped Renaissance power from behind the throne.Step into the glittering courts of 16th-century Europe as historian Professor Magdalena Sánchez joins host Paul Bavill to rage against a stubborn myth: that women only matter in history when they command political power. Catalina Micaela — daughter of Philip II of Spain and Duchess of Savoy — has long been treated as a political footnote. But across 3,000 intimate letters, a forceful, devoted, and highly capable woman emerges: one who shaped diplomacy, managed wars, and commanded a court… while enduring ten pregnancies in thirteen years. Professor Sánchez reveals how Catalina: • Asserted her authority as Infanta of Spain, not merely “a duchess” • Governed Savoy during her husband’s campaigns, acting as his lieutenant • Challenged ministers, criticised generals, and organised court life with precision • Maintained deep emotional connection through constant letter-writing and gift-giving • Balanced political influence with religious devotion and motherhood as central duties This episode uncovers Catalina’s love story, her leadership, and the invisible labour of royal women — all of which historians have too often ignored. If you think only queens and rulers shape history, Catalina will change your mind.Further Listening from the History Rage ArchiveFor more on powerful and underestimated women of Renaissance Europe: • Episode 199 — Catherine de’ Medici with Una McElvenna • Episode 232 — Ruling Queens with Elizabeth Norton About Our Guest – Professor Magdalena SánchezProfessor of History at Gettysburg College and author of: Infanta: The Short Remarkable Life of Catalina Michaela (Yale University Press) — the first major biography to spotlight Catalina’s voice and legacy. 📚 Buy the book Infanta: The Short Remarkable Life of Catalina Michaelahttps://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780300282832Listen, Follow & Support History Rage🎧 New to History Rage? We invite leading historians to vent their anger at the myths we keep getting wrong. Follow for more raging truth: → Search History Rage on Apple Podcasts or your preferred app → Find @HistoryRage on social media (search to connect)💥 Support the show and unlock benefits: • Ad-free listening available via Apple Podcasts subscription at £3/month • Join the £5/month Patreon for monthly livestream access — search History Rage Patreon to subscribe 📣 Love this episode? Tell one friend, one colleague, one fellow history-nerd — and help the rage spread.