Home Podcasts History Undone
History Undone

History Undone

News Broadcasting 53 Episodes Aug 14, 2026

History Undone explores pivotal moments in history, examining key battles and strategic decisions. Each week, host Fergus Macphee and expert guests rewind to analyze the biggest 'what ifs' from the Roman Empire to modern times. The podcast delves into alternative scenarios and their potential impacts on the course of history.

Episodes

If the Nazis had NEVER risen to power… would there still be a Second World War?
If the Nazis had NEVER risen to power… would there still be a Second World War? Aug 14, 2026 53:29 On this edition of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry & Drachinifel to discuss one of the most important events in modern history: the rise of the Nazi party and it's impact on the Second World War. Whilst the fight against Hitler & fascism was at the core of the conflict, there were other reasons for many of the world's great nations to go to war. For
What if the Enigma code had never been cracked? An entrenched Nazi-Soviet war
What if the Enigma code had never been cracked? An entrenched Nazi-Soviet war Jul 31, 2026 45:06 On this episode of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Nigel Jones to discuss one the allies' biggest breakthroughs in the Second World War: cracking the Enigma code. Despite being deemed 'unbreakable', Polish mathematicians had actually solved a version in 1932 and passed this work on to the British. The work of a group based in Bletchley Park, containing o
What if the Indian Rebellion had succeeded? British OUT but a broken nation emerges
What if the Indian Rebellion had succeeded? British OUT but a broken nation emerges Jul 17, 2026 59:46 On this episode of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Professor Chandrika Kaul from the University of St Andrews to discuss one of the most important events in the history of modern India and Imperial Britain: the Rebellion of 1857. Also referred to as the 'mutiny', it began on the 10 May when Sepoy soldiers rose up in the city of Meerut near Delhi. A day l
What if Franco had LOST the Spanish Civil War?
What if Franco had LOST the Spanish Civil War? Jul 3, 2026 1:01:46 On this episode of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined once again by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry & Dr Klaus Schmider to discuss one of the most significant events of the 20th Century: the Spanish Civil War. It was a bloody and fiercely ideological war, that saw Francisco Franco's Nationalists control the country and would see him lead Spain until his death in 1975. Yet today we ask, what
What if Winston Churchill had died in WW2? 'The whole picture changes'
What if Winston Churchill had died in WW2? 'The whole picture changes' Jun 19, 2026 54:38 On this episode of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry & Nigel Jones to discuss the sometimes chaotic tenure of Winston Churchill during the Second World War. There periods of disquiet when he could have been ousted, assassination attempts, a near miss in the Blitz and ill health; yet he remained. So what if he had not? This is History Undone. Hosted on Acas
What if the Nazi siege saw Leningrad fall? Moscow next & a Soviet armistice | History Undone
What if the Nazi siege saw Leningrad fall? Moscow next & a Soviet armistice | History Undone Jun 5, 2026 48:43 On this episode of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry & Dr Klaus Schmider to discuss one of the most devastating blockades in history: the siege of Leningrad. It is less mythologised than Stalingrad, perhaps because of the catastrophic loss of life and genocidal implications. Yet the Nazis never pushed on with a full-scale invasion, deciding instead to bomb
What if Hitler had taken the Mediterranean & Middle East? ‘Game over’ for the Soviet Union…. | History Undone
What if Hitler had taken the Mediterranean & Middle East? ‘Game over’ for the Soviet Union…. | History Undone May 22, 2026 55:17 On this episode of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Dr Klaus Schmider to discuss a plan that Nazi Germany never went through with. At the end of 1940, Hitler faced a choice of where to head next and Admiral Raeder's thoughts were clear: head south through the Mediterranean, capture British Empire strongholds and push through to the oil fields. Yet that ne
What if Britain & France had backed the Confederacy in the American Civil War?
What if Britain & France had backed the Confederacy in the American Civil War? May 1, 2026 56:30 On this episode of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry & Professor Adam Smith to discuss the decision by Britain and France not to officially enter the American Civil War. Both European nations had commercial and diplomatic interests within the Confederacy and their neutrality was not guaranteed. So after the Trent Affair in 1861, how close did the British E
What if the Iranian Revolution NEVER happened? A nuclear Middle East & allies with the US
What if the Iranian Revolution NEVER happened? A nuclear Middle East & allies with the US Apr 17, 2026 59:37 On this episode of History Undone, our new host Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Dr Siavush Randjbar-Daemi to discuss one of the most important moments in the history of the Middle East which still has lasting ramifications today: the Iranian Revolution of 1979. The monarchy had ruled Iran for over two and half thousand years, but from the end of the 19th century Britain
What if China had NEVER become Communist? A split nation, but still a global superpower
What if China had NEVER become Communist? A split nation, but still a global superpower Apr 3, 2026 54:53 On this edition of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry to discuss China's Civil War and the rise of the Chinese Communist Party. The scale and the figures involved in the post WWII phase of the conflict were truly staggering, yet as time wore on it was clear the tide had turned against the nationalist KMT. Yet if the world had not witnessed Mao Zedong's rise, wh
What if Napoleon had WON The Battle of Leipzig? No First World War or modern day Germany
What if Napoleon had WON The Battle of Leipzig? No First World War or modern day Germany Mar 20, 2026 49:55 On this episode of History Undone, Fergus Macphee is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Dr Michael Rowe to discuss one of Napoleon's greatest defeats at the Battle of Leipzig. It was the largest Europe had ever seen until the First World War, ended Napoleon's campaign to the East of the Rhine and saw him exiled to Elba. Yet if he had won that day, the team discover the consequences may have
What if Japan had invaded the Soviet Union NOT Pearl Harbor? World at war into the 1950s
What if Japan had invaded the Soviet Union NOT Pearl Harbor? World at war into the 1950s Mar 6, 2026 55:24 On this episode of History Undone, Darryl Morris is joined by channel favourites Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Jonathan Parshall to discuss the 'Kantokuen', or in other words, the drawn up Japanese plan to invade Siberia. Of course, this was never enacted, and in 1941 Japan pushed South and attacked Pearl Harbor. Yet what if they had pushed North instead? Would they have had the resources, and w

Recommended