We’re heading deep into the jungles of Southeast Asia to unpack one of the most overlooked and misunderstood campaigns of the Second World War—the Burma campaign. In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, military historian and author Jack Bowsher joins Max and Tony to break down the brutal terrain, Japanese tactics, and the challenges faced by the multinational Allied forces in Burma. We explore the strategic importance of Burma to the Allied war effort, the jungle’s deadly environment, and why tanks—despite everything you might assume—played a critical role in the campaign’s outcome. Jack also explains how the British and Indian armies functioned as distinct yet overlapping forces, and why the Japanese military was both fanatically aggressive and operationally effective—until they weren’t.This is a masterclass in the forgotten mechanics of jungle warfare, full of rich detail, wild stories, and some very human lessons from the world’s most unforgiving terrain. Jack Bowsher’s WorkForgotten Armour: Tank Warfare in Burma – <a href="https://amzn.to/4ctduyd" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/4ctduyd</a>Thunder Run (pre-order) – <a href="https://www.chiselbury.co.uk/coming-soon/p/thunder-run-meiktila-1945-by-jack-bowsher" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.chiselbury.co.uk/coming-soon/p/thunder-run-meiktila-1945-by-jack-bowsher</a>A War of Empires by Rob Lyman - <a href="https://amzn.to/3GgPfap" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3GgPfap</a>Instagram - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/historybowsh/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/historybowsh/</a>The Forgotten War Podcast: Burma Campaign WW2 - <a href="https://shows.acast.com/the-forgotten-war-pod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://shows.acast.com/the-forgotten-war-pod</a> More from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – <a href="https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7</a>Join the mission – <a href="https://undergroundstrategy.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://undergroundstrategy.com</a>

UGS x Jack Bowsher: Tank Warfare in Burma – Part 1

This week on Underground Strategy, we’re joined by historian and author Jacqueline Reiter to explore the extraordinary life of Sir Home Riggs Popham, the naval officer at the heart of her book Quicksilver Captain.From Buenos Aires to the Cape of Good Hope, Popham was everywhere—and often where he shouldn’t have been. We unpack his role in British high strategy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, his infamous court-martial, his impact on naval signaling, and his talent for navigating both military disaster and political opportunity.Was he a maverick, a genius, or a fraud? Jacqueline digs into the archival trail and explains how Popham remains one of the most complex (and oddly useful) figures of the period. Quicksilver Captain by Jacqueline Reiter - <a href="https://amzn.to/4hSFw78" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/4hSFw78</a>Jacqueline Reiter on LinkedIn - <a href="https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-reiter-b30a1693" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-reiter-b30a1693</a> More from Underground StrategyJoin the mission - <a href="https://undergroundstrategy.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://undergroundstrategy.com</a>Discover Number 788 - <a href="https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7</a>

The Quicksilver Captain – With Jacqueline Reiter

This episode is part of a special collaboration with Durham University’s School of Government and International Affairs. This student-led episode was created as part of the postgraduate module “Contemporary Challenges of United Nations Peacekeeping (SGIA48815)” for the Class of 2025. In Part 2, we’re joined by veteran UN official and former Assistant Secretary-General Peter de Clercq, who shares deep insights into the evolution of peacekeeping, regional coalitions, accountability, intelligence, and reform. Drawing from decades of experience in Haiti, Somalia, and the DRC, Peter offers a masterclass in the current and future challenges facing peacekeeping operations. Durham SGIA X - <a href="https://x.com/durham_sgia" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://x.com/durham_sgia</a>Durham Module Handbook - <a href="https://apps.dur.ac.uk/faculty.handbook/2022/PG/module/SGIA48815" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://apps.dur.ac.uk/faculty.handbook/2022/PG/module/SGIA48815</a> Recommended Reading Does Peacekeeping Work? by Virginia Page Fortna – <a href="https://amzn.to/3XK5CCl" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3XK5CCl</a> Understanding Peacekeeping by Paul D. Williams – <a href="https://amzn.to/4iV0SlS" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/4iV0SlS</a> More from Underground Strategy Discover Number 788 – <a href="https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7</a> Join the mission – <a href="https://undergroundstrategy.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://undergroundstrategy.com</a>

UGS Special: UGS x Durham - Peacekeeping – Part 2

Military historian and author Peter Caddick-Adams joins Underground Strategy for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, legacy, and the life of Winston Churchill.We explore Churchill’s wartime decisions, his eccentric personality, his genius for messaging, and the long arc of a career that spanned cavalry charges to the nuclear age. Peter also shares firsthand insights from his time as a NATO historian and discusses how battlefield experience, archival research, and media strategy all shaped Churchill’s story—and continue to influence how we study and remember war.This episode covers everything from Churchill’s infamous boiler suit to his complex relationship with Roosevelt, his financial struggles, and whether Volodymyr Zelensky truly deserves the label of a “modern Churchill.” Peter Caddick-Adams’ WorkX (Twitter) – <a href="https://x.com/militaryhistori" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://x.com/militaryhistori</a>Winston Churchill: The Prime Ministers Series – <a href="https://amzn.to/43v15r1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/43v15r1</a> More from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – <a href="https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7</a>Join the mission – <a href="https://undergroundstrategy.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://undergroundstrategy.com</a>

Winston Churchill with Peter Caddick-Adams

In collaboration with Durham University, this special student-led episode explores contemporary challenges of United Nations peacekeeping. Recorded as part of the postgraduate module “Contemporary Challenges of United Nations Peacekeeping (SGIA48815)” at Durham’s School of Government and International Affairs, the conversation brings together real-world experience and academic insight.Max and Tony reflect on their deployments and contrast national military structures with multinational peacekeeping efforts. From the role of special forces and intelligence sharing to the challenges of building military culture in complex operations, this episode examines what happens when mandates, strategy, and ground realities don’t always align. With contributions from Durham’s Class of 2025, this discussion sets the stage for Part 2—featuring former UN diplomat Peter de Clercq. Durham SGIA X: <a href="https://x.com/durham_sgia" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://x.com/durham_sgia</a>Module Handbook: <a href="https://apps.dur.ac.uk/faculty.handbook/2022/PG/module/SGIA48815" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://apps.dur.ac.uk/faculty.handbook/2022/PG/module/SGIA48815</a> Recommended Reading if you want to dig deeperDoes Peacekeeping Work? by Virginia Page Fortna – <a href="https://amzn.to/3XK5CCl" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3XK5CCl</a>Understanding Peacekeeping by Paul D. Williams – <a href="https://amzn.to/4iV0SlS" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/4iV0SlS</a> More from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – <a href="https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7</a>Join the mission – <a href="https://undergroundstrategy.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://undergroundstrategy.com</a>

UGS Special: UGS x Durham SGIA - Peacekeeping – Part 1

In this episode, Tony is catching up with Kostiantyn Koshelenko on the latest developments in Ukraine, updates on his books and ongoing work, and his personal experiences during the war. Kostiantyn Koshelenko’s WorkManagement in Times of War – <a href="https://amzn.to/4kF6rpY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/4kF6rpY</a> LinkedIn – <a href="https://linkedin.com/in/koshelenko" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://linkedin.com/in/koshelenko</a> Instagram – <a href="https://instagram.com/k_koshelenko/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://instagram.com/k_koshelenko/</a> X (Twitter) – <a href="https://x.com/k_koshelenko" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://x.com/k_koshelenko</a> More from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – <a href="https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7</a>Join the mission – <a href="https://undergroundstrategy.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://undergroundstrategy.com</a>

Catching Up on Ukraine and Life with Kostiantyn Koshelenko

In this episode, military historian John C. McManus joins Underground Strategy to discuss his latest book, Alamo in the Ardennes, and the brutal early fighting during the Battle of the Bulge.We focus on the often-overlooked role of the 110th Infantry Regiment, whose desperate stand helped delay the German advance toward Bastogne before the arrival of the 101st Airborne. From the shattered remnants of the 28th Infantry Division to the chaos on the ground in Clervaux, John takes us through the battle day by day, including the leadership of Colonel Hurley Fuller and the tragic consequences of being ordered to "hold at all costs."This is a deep and moving account of courage, sacrifice, and how history sometimes forgets the most critical players. John C. McManus’ WorkAlamo in the Ardennes – <a href="https://amzn.to/4irXHBX" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/4irXHBX</a>Contact John - <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/johncmcmanus.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/johncmcmanus.bsky.social</a> More from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – <a href="https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7</a>Join the mission – <a href="https://undergroundstrategy.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://undergroundstrategy.com</a>

Alamo in the Ardennes – with John C. McManus

Few people think of South Africa when discussing World War II at sea, but its waters played a crucial role in the global conflict. Historian Evert Kleynhans returns to Underground Strategy to uncover the forgotten story of submarine warfare, coastal defenses, and strategic shipping routes off South Africa’s coast. We explore how German U-boats and Axis surface raiders operated in the region, why the Cape of Good Hope was so strategically important, and how South Africa’s naval defenses evolved to meet the threat.From signals intelligence and convoy protection to the successes and failures of anti-submarine warfare, this episode sheds light on a rarely discussed front of World War II.Evert also shares insights from his book on South Africa’s naval war, the challenges of researching this overlooked history, and why these lessons still matter today. Evert Kleynhans’ WorkThe Naval War in South African Waters - <a href="https://amzn.to/3DuZJ50" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3DuZJ50</a>Hitler’s South African Spies - <a href="https://amzn.to/43u79jp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/43u79jp</a>The Second World War in East Africa - <a href="https://amzn.to/41zapre" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/41zapre</a>20 Battles: Searching for a South African Way of War - <a href="https://amzn.to/4iwE4rW" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/4iwE4rW</a>Navigating the New Terrain of Military Operations (Pre Order) - <a href="https://amzn.to/3DgrrT7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3DgrrT7</a>The Handbook of African Defence and Armed Forces (Pre Order) - <a href="https://amzn.to/4ivILlM" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/4ivILlM</a> More from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 - <a href="https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7</a>Join the mission - <a href="https://undergroundstrategy.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://undergroundstrategy.com</a>

U-Boats at the Cape - South Africa’s Naval Front in World War II

How does war change, and what shapes its character over time? Historian and educator Will Gordon joins Underground Strategy to discuss the changing character of war, focusing on the period from 1792 to 1945.Through the lens of his teaching, Will explores how factors like leadership, doctrine, industrialization, and alliances influenced warfare, and why different conflicts required different approaches. Rather than a straight historical timeline, this conversation examines the themes and shifts that defined military conflict in this era. We also touch on conscription, national identity, and how military education shapes perspectives on war today, making connections between past and present conflicts. UGS Recommended reads on the topicThe New Rules of War by Sean McFate - <a href="https://amzn.to/3QIl3a3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3QIl3a3</a>The Changing Character of War (ed. Hew Strachan) - <a href="https://amzn.to/3QJ5tLy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3QJ5tLy</a> More from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 - <a href="https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7</a>Join the mission - <a href="https://undergroundstrategy.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://undergroundstrategy.com</a>

The Changing War – Thru a Teacher’s Lens

Real talk on military tactics, veteran stories, and no-BS leadership insights.

Welcome to Underground Strategy Where military tactics, leadership, and real-world strategies meet a whole lot of banter. Hosted by Max Lauker (ex-Swedish Special Operations, Intelligence, and Private Security) and Tony Garcia (ex-SANDF with extensive field experience and academic insight), we break down the latest in military strategy while keeping things real, candid, and fun. Whether you're into the latest military insights or just here for smart conversations (and a few laughs), we've got you covered. Tune in for weekly episodes packed with expert breakdowns, candid chats, and a fresh take on what's happening in the world of strategy. It's all about staying sharp, having fun, and thinking a few moves ahead.No fluff, just real talk.

Underground Strategy

Social Media

Follow

Your Hosts

Max Lauker

Tony Garcia