History Undone
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
What if the Nazi siege saw Leningrad fall? Moscow next & a Soviet armistice | History Undone
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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
What if the Cuban missile crisis went hot & Soviet sub B-59 had fired its torpedos?
On this edition of History Undone, Darryl Morris is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Professor Sergey Radchenko to discuss the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 and one of its most mythologised moments. On the 27th of October, also known as 'Black Saturday' Vasily Arkhipov did not consent to firing a torpedo with the capabilities of the Hiroshima bomb, from Soviet sub B-59. Yet how consequenti
What if Russia had WON the Battle of Tsushima? No Pearl Harbor & a totally different WWI
On this episodes of History Undone, Darryl Morris, Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry & Drachinifel discuss one of the most important moments of naval warfare: The Battle of Tsushima. The encounter that effectively ended the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905, it was a catastrophic defeat for Russia and Tsar Nicholas II. Victory saw a changing of the guard on the seas in the Far East, meaning Japan was
What if Germany had won the WWI U-boat campaign? ‘The whole world order changes’
On this episode of History Undone, Darryl Morris is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Drachinifel to discuss one of the most overlooked arenas of the First World War: the Atlantic theatre. Often called the 'first battle of the Atlantic', the German U-boat campaign seriously threatened to starve Britain out of the war, yet only brief periods of unrestricted submarine warfare in 1915 and 191
What if Germany had taken Moscow in WWII? ‘Stalin would have met with an accident…’
On today's History Undone Darryl Morris is joined by Dr Klaus Schmider and Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry to discuss one of Adolf Hitler's most critical decisions of the Second World War. During the early days of Operation Barbarossa, he made an order for army groups to split north and south, rather than push on and head straight for Moscow, seeing the capital as a secondary objective. By the time me
What if France had Won The Battle of Agincourt? | History Undone with Drachinifel
It's the 25th of October 1415, St Crispin's Day, and a small stretch of land in northern France is about to have its name etched into legend. The Battle of Agincourt was a momumental and historic victory for the English over the French, who, despite being heavily outnumbered came out on top. Yet a battle that took place over the course of just one day, could have altered the course of history. So
What if The Germans had Broken out of Stalingrad by Christmas? | History Undone
It’s the 24th of December 1942, Christmas Eve. In the depths of the ruins of Stalingrad, all German hope of rescue has been extinguished. On this special Christmas edition of History Undone, Darryl Morris is joined by Dr Klaus Schmider & Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry to discuss the horrors of the encirclement or the 'kessel' at Stalingrad.German troops found themselves trapped within four days,
What if Japan had Successfully Invaded India in WW2? ‘A geopolitical disaster’
On this episode of History Undone, Darryl Morris, Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Jonathan Parshall discuss one of the most overlooked campaigns of the Second World War: Burma and the South East Asian theatre.Japan occupied the nation from 1942 until 1945 and despite pushing on for a failed invasion of India in 1944, there was an opportunity two years earlier that Japan did not take. So what if Im
What if The Russian Revolution Failed? Why it's The Most Significant Event in Modern History
Darryl Morris is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Anna Reid to discuss arguably one of the most consequential what ifs of the 20th Century and beyond: the October Revolution in 1917 and subsequent Russian Civil War. It not only ended centuries of tsarist rule and pulled Russia out of the First World War, but led to the creation of the Soviet Union and its most famous figures. Without the
What if Robert E Lee had fought for the Union? He could become President | History Undone
On this episode of History Undone Darryl Morris is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Dr Timothy Orr to discuss Robert E Lee's decision to fight for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Considered the south's finest general, Lee was actually offered command of the Union's forces in Virginia by President Abraham Lincoln, but he would not fight against his home state that had secede
What If The Gunpowder Plot Had Succeeded? 'The 9/11 of The 17th Century...' | History Undone
History Undone's brand new host Darryl Morris is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Professor Anna Whitelock to discuss one of the most mythologised events in British history: The Gunpowder Plot. Guy Fawkes' name has become the stuff of legend, yet he was just part of a group of 13 conspirators who in 1605 planted 36 barrels of gunpowder beneath Parliament, with the goal of assassinating Ki
What if The Ottomans had WON The Great Siege of Malta? No Battle of Lepanto or New Holy League
James Hanson is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Professor Marcus Bull to discuss one of the most famous and mythologised battles of the 16th century period: The Great Siege of Malta in 1565. It was a fierce battle between empires, faiths and ideals, as the greatly outnumbered Christian Knights Hospitaller, which had been headquartered on the island for 35 years, held out against the migh
What if the Dunkirk Evacuation had FAILED? Do British Forces Ever Return to Europe?
This episode of History Undone is sponsored by Visit Malta. To find out more information, head to visitmalta.com #adJames Hanson is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and the historical consultant on Christopher Nolan's 2017 movie 'Dunkirk' Joshua Levine to describe the miraculous evacuation of British and French troops in 1940. In what was actually a crushing military defeat, the highly unusua
What if Germany DID NOT Declare war on the US in 1941? The atomic bomb is dropped on Berlin
James Hanson is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Dr Klaus Schmider to discuss the monumental decision that has been debated by historians for decades: Adolf Hitler's declaration of war against the US after Pearl Harbour. Was it a necessary action that he needed to take, or a devastating mistake which cost Germany the war? It is undoubtedly one that, had he not made, the Second World War w
What if Britain had made peace with Germany in 1940? "A DISASTER for the world"
This episode of History Undone is sponsored by Visit Malta. To find out more information, head to visitmalta.com #adJames Hanson is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Nigel Jones to discuss what could have happened had Britain sued for peace with Nazi Germany after the disastrous fall of France in May 1940. There were some in Britain who were certainly keen on the idea, but the appointment
What if the US had never joined WWI? The 20th Century as we know it does NOT happen
James Hanson is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Professor Alexander Watson to discuss one of the most profound what ifs of 20th century history - the decision by the US to enter the First World War in 1917. Without the nation's involvement does Germany rule much of Eastern Europe, do you still see the rise of the Nazis and are the US and UK allies today? This is History Undone. This
What if Britain had LOST The Falklands War? The end of Thatcher & a different Cold War | History Undone
This episode of History Undone is sponsored by Visit Malta. To find out more information, head to visitmalta.com #adOn today's History Undone, the team cover the Falklands War in 1982 and James Hanson is joined by arguably two of the best placed people on earth to discuss the conflict. Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry served, and even fired the first shots in the conflict and Professor Sir Lawrence Fre
What If The US Had LOST The Battle Of The Coral Sea? The Entire Pacific War Changes | History Undone
James Hanson is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and the naval YouTuber @Drachinifel to discuss one of the most oft-overlooked engagements of the Second World War: the Battle of the Coral Sea. It was the world's first carrier-to-carrier battle, with no ships actually catching sight of each other across the four day conflict. While the Battle of Midway that followed has gone down i
What If Malta Had Fallen to the Axis in WW2? Soviets Push into Europe & Nazis Rule North Africa
James Hanson is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Professor Niall Barr to discuss one of the most overlooked, but brutal campaigns of the Second World War: The Siege of Malta. Between 1940 and 1942 the tiny Mediterranean island came under a relentless siege from the Axis and was the most bombed place on Earth. It still holds the record for longest period of sustained bombing ever: 154 cons
What If Germany WON The Battle Of Kursk? | D-Day Would NOT Happen | History Undone
James is joined by historian Jonathan Trigg and Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry to discuss the largest battle in the history of warfare: the Battle of Kursk. It was one of a number of Soviet victories over Germany on the Eastern front in WW2, but would a German victory here have changed the outcome of the war and history itself? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What If The South Had Won At Gettysburg? Slavery Could Continue Until The 20th Century | History Undone
It's July 1st, 1863 and one small town in Pennsylvania is about to have its name etched into American folklore, Gettysburg. Over the course of the next three days, over 165,000 troops from the union and the Confederate forces would engage in the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War, and despite the conflict continuing for nearly two more years, the Battle of Gettysburg is considered a turnin
What if the allies had won the Battle of Arnhem & Operation Market Garden? | History Undone
On this episode of History Undone, we're delving into our archives as James Hanson is joined by Chris Copson and Dr Chris Parry as they discuss the Battle of Arnhem and the wider consequences of Operation Market Garden. Would the war have ended sooner? Would the Battle of the Bulge have gone differently? Tune in to find out! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Without The Battle of Monte Cassino 1944... Does Operation Overlord Work? | History Undone Archive
James Hanson is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and the historian, author and broadcaster James Holland to discuss one of the most brutal and attritional battles of the entire Second World War: The Battle of Monte Cassino. Just how important was it and the Italian campaign as a whole? This is History Undone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If The Allies Had LOST Battle Of The Atlantic... Atomic Bombs Would be Dropped on Germany | History Undone
James Hanson is joined by Drachinifel and Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry to discuss the longest continuous battle of the Second World War: The Battle of the Atlantic.Between 1939 and 1945 both merchant and navy ships were attacked in the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Yet after 5 years and 8 months, the might of the Royal Navy helped the allies win here. So what if the Germans had won? This is H
What If D-Day Had Failed? WW2 Wouldn't End Until 1947 | History Undone Archive
The sixth of June 1944 D-Day 80 years on, is still the largest amphibious invasion of all time. It's a date that evokes emotion and national pride in equal measure, and it not only changed the Second World War, but history itself. Yet, what if the operation hadn't been a success?Welcome to History Undone with James Hanson, the show where we take an alternative look at the events which have shaped
Barbarossa: What If Hitler Had Successfully Invaded Russia? | Germany Invades Britain & Dominates Europe
By the summer of 1941 Nazi Germany is in near total control of continental Europe. A year earlier, the German blitzkrieg swept through Belgium, the Netherlands and France, and forced the British Expeditionary Force to evacuate at Dunkirk. Then by 1941 Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria had all joined the axis, and Hitler looked further east despite a non aggression pact with Stalin's Soviet Union, Hitl
If The Romans WON The Battle Of Teutoburg Forest... Would The Nazis Still Rise To Power? | History Undone Archive
For today's episode we're delving back into the History Undone Archive, as James Hanson is joined by Dr Adrian Goldsworthy and Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry to discuss one of the Roman Empire's worst and most humiliating defeats: The Battle of Teutoburg Forest. Only a handful of Roman troops managed to escape here as they were massacred by the Germanic tribes led by Arminius, and the battle's impact
What If Germany Had Won at Stalingrad? How Britain's Global Empire Would Crumble | History Undone Archive
On this episode of History Undone, we're heading back into the show's archives to cover the Battle of Stalingrad - the biggest and bloodiest battle of all time - and how things may have transpired if the Germans had won. Joining James Hanson are the historian and author Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and historian, author and broadcaster Jon Trigg. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info
What If The Allies Had Broken Apart In WW2? Totalitarian Rule Dominates Europe
James is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and the historian Tim Bouverie for this episode of History Undone, discussing the unlikely alliance of 'the big three' in the Second World War.Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union were divided by culture and ideology, but united against a common enemy in Nazi Germany. Tim Bouverie joins the show to discuss the themes explored in his new boo
Hitler’s ‘Wonder Weapons’ | Would Germany Have Won WW2 If These Were Ready Sooner?
James Hanson is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Nigel Jones to discuss the German wunderwaffe or 'wonder weapons'. Hitler's Germany was responsible for some remarkable advances in military engineering, from long-range ballistic missiles, to the world's first ever jet powered fighter plane. However, Nazi ambition far outweighed the country's wartime capacities and many of these weapons we
What If Hitler Had Never Broken The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact? A New Cold War Would Erupt | 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 Barbar
The Battle Of Jutland: How Britain Should Have 'ANNIHILATED' Germany's Fleet & Won EASILY | History Undone Archive
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 Histo
What If Britain Had Never Entered WWI… And Why It Shouldn’t Have | 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 m
Operation Unthinkable: Churchill's Secret Plan to Destroy Stalin Could Have Caused World War 3 | 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 neve
What If The Normans Had LOST The Battle of Hastings? | The World Would NOT Speak English Today | History Undone Archive
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. Hos
What If The Allies Declared War In 1938 Over Czechoslovakia? WW2 Would NOT HAPPEN As We Know It | 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 inste
Operation Desert Storm | What if Saddam Hussein FELL in 1991? The Middle East Would Change FOREVER | History Undone
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
What if The Nazi Invasion of Norway Had Failed? | No Blitzkrieg & Churchill May Not Rise to Power | 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com
What If Marlborough Had LOST The Battle Of Blenheim? Ottomans Push Into Europe & No Rise Of Prussia
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 t
Operation Downfall: What If The US NEVER Dropped The Atomic Bomb & Invaded Japan? | History Undone Archive
James Hanson is once again joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Jonathan Parshall, this time to discuss military campaign that never happened. Operation Downfall was the ambitious allied plan to invade Japan at the end of WW2, yet this was never put into action because of the atomic bomb. Yet what if the bomb wasn't available? The end of the war and the rest of the 20th century would have loo
What If The Arab Coalition WON The Six-Day War? Would Israel even EXIST today? | History Undone
The Six-Day War of 1967 was a historic victory for the state of Israel. Surrounded by hostile neighbours, the Israelis launched a preemptive strike and routed the combined forces of Egypt, Jordan and Syria, seizing vast territories including the Sinai peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights. Join James Hanson, Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Professor Matthew Hughes, as the
What If Operation Valkyrie Had Succeeded & Killed Hitler? | History Undone
On July 20, 1944, Claus von Stauffenberg led one of World War II’s most daring resistance plots: assassinate Adolf Hitler and overthrow the Nazi regime. But what if the bomb had worked? What if the coup had succeeded, and the resistance had taken control of Germany? Join James Hanson, Rear Admiral Dr. Chris Parry, and historian Nigel Jones as they uncover the bold plan that could have changed the
What If Saladin Was Killed At The Battle Of Hattin? The Third Crusade WOULD NOT Have Happened
The Battle of Hattin, a pivotal conflict during the Crusades, unfolded on July the 4th 1187. It happened at the crossroads of three continents, in some of the most fought over terrain in history, near the Horns of Hattin in modern-day Israel. Join James Hanson, Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry - and for the first time on the show, Professor of the History of the Crusades at Royal Holloway University Jo
The Battle of The Somme: How its Deadly Impact Went Far Beyond The Battlefield | History Undone
James Hanson is joined once again by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Professor Alexander Watson to discuss one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the First World War: the Somme. The first day is infamous for being the deadliest day in British Army history, but after months the allies did achieve a semi-strategic victory of sorts. The costs were heavy however, and can the battle really be cons
What if World War I Really Had Ended by Christmas? | History Undone Christmas Special
James Hanson is joined by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and Professor Alexander Watson to discuss one of the most enduring, yet heavily mythologised stories of military history. It is of course the Christmas truce. Yet among the myth busting, they pose a separate question: what if the war had been over by Christmas as many thought in 1914? This is History Undone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva
What If The Spanish Armada Had Won? The US Would Not Exist Today | History Undone
James Hanson is joined once again by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry and the naval historian & YouTuber Drachinifel to discuss one of history's most storied naval fleets and failed conquests. The Spanish Armada set sail for England with the hope of invading, removing Queen Elizabeth I and reinstating Catholicism.Yet the English were ready - engaging and pursuing them in the Channel. It meant the S
Introducing: History Undone
Welcome to History Undone with James Hanson, a channel that looks back at pivotal moments and asks 'What if?'. We'll be looking at key battles, strategic decisions and political outcomes with leading historians and current military experts and tacticians to see what might have happened differently, and more importantly, what impact those differences might have had on the world today. Hosted on Aca
Recommended
10 Minutes Korean - Learn Korean & English Naturally
10 Minutes with Jesus
10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher
10 minutos con Jesús
10th Floor Podcasts
10 to Life
1128 MINISTRY
11 O'Clock Comics Podcast
123 GO! Food
1-2-3 Learn Spanish with Me!
128 Civics Questions for U.S. Citizenship Test
12 Hour Sound Machines for Sleep (no loops or fades)
