0x488 - The Brutal End to the Battle of Manila

February 29, 2024

This week yet another bloody urban battle draws to its conclusion. In Manila, despite clear orders from Tomoyuki Yamashita against wanton violence, his subordinates and superiors chose to ignore him. The Japanese defenders massacre, rape, loot and then burn the remains of the city.

0x489 - Who Cracked Enigma? The True Story, No B.S.

March 6, 2024

So, you think you know the Enigma Story? The Poles, the French, Bletchley Park, Alan Turing, and daring raids on sinking U-Boats. Well, there’s one figure you may never have heard of. Today, Anna and Astrid tell the story of a German Double Agent named Hans Thilo-Schmidt and his vital but forgotten part in the Enigma story.

0x490 - The Jewish Avengers Who Hunted Nazi Murderers

March 8, 2024

In March 1945 the first Jewish unit in the Allied forces reaches the frontline. Before fighting the Nazis, the men spent years battling against the policies of the British government. After the war, they will take vengeance on the perpetrators of the Holocaust and join the Zionist movement in building and fighting for Israel.

0x491 - Nazi Spies in New York

March 20, 2024

On a snowy night, two tall men are walking along the highway on the coast of Maine. They could hardly be more suspicious. They wear light European coats, no hats, large suitcases, and they leave a trail of footprints down to the beach… These strange men are German spies on the hunt for America’s biggest secrets!

0x492 - The Volkssturm - a Million men to save the Reich?

March 26, 2024

The Volkssturm is the last-ditch people’s army of the Third Reich. Sure, on paper, there are millions of old men and boys ready to defend Germany. But how will they be armed? Are they truly willing to die for Hitler? Will they make any difference at all?

0x493 - The Final Fury of the Allied Bombing War

March 29, 2024

The bombing war in Europe comes to an end in a fury of fire and destruction. Spartacus takes stock of the human toll of this campaign and assesses the near futility of it all. On the other side of the globe, the USAAF ratchets up the firebombing of Japan further still. Countless more civilian lives will be cut short.

0x494 - Italian Communists, The French in Indochina, and the fate of Italy’s army

April 5, 2024

What happened to Italian Soldiers overseas after the fall of Mussolini? What about the French soldiers left over in Indochina after the Japanese “occupation by invitation”? And, what did the Allies think of the Italian Communist movement and its partisan forces?

0x495 - The Secret Allied Wonder Weapon

April 11, 2024

Astrid and Anna take a break from tales of espionage to bring you one of international cooperation. Developed by a small group of highly driven individuals working in top secret, Proximity Fuzes are the new Allied super weapon changing the face of warfare forever. They’re just one of many impressive new developments which are helping the Allies win the war. Defeating the Axis is a righteous cause of course. But at its core, so much of our scientific progress is in the service of finding more effective ways to kill one another. What does this mean for our future?

0x496 - The Death of Franklin Roosevelt

April 12, 2024

He lead his nation through the Great Depression, transformed it into a war-winning titan, and is working to shape the coming postwar world in his image. But today, 4,422 days into his record breaking presidency, Franklin Roosevelt dies. What was his final year really like?

0x497 - The Führerbunker - Hitler’s Grave

April 18, 2024

The man who one conquered Europe, Adolf Hitler now cowers underground in the Fuhrerbunker as bombs and artillery rain down on the ruins of the Reich. Today Sparty gives you a tour of the damp and claustrophobic concrete maze that will soon become the dictator’s coffin.

0x498 - Russian and French Nazis Defend the Reich - SS Foreign Fighters

April 19, 2024

As the war turns ever more against Germany, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler keeps loosening the racial standards of his Waffen SS. More and more non-Germans fill the ranks of his forces. Some of these non-German fighters will be among the last defenders of the Third Reich.

0x499 - The History of Half-tracks, by the Chieftain

May 2, 2024

Is it a tank? Is it a truck? No, it’s a half-track! Nicholas Moran aka The Chieftain stops by to cover this Frankenstein of a vehicle. He looks at their origins at the turn of the twentieth century, their heyday as troop transporting, artillery towing, flak gunning, jacks-of-all-trades during the war, and their sudden decline after the war.

0x500 - Liberation of the Nazi Camps

May 10, 2024

It has been the most effective torture and murder machine in human history. Over 17 million have perished, but now freedom comes for the small portion who have managed to survive: the Nazi concentration camps are liberated.

0x501 - German-American Jews fight the Nazis

May 15, 2024

Jewish-American intelligence officers return to their homeland in Germany to fight the Nazis and find their families. As they advance they discover the true horror of the Holocaust. When the war is over, they have a chance for some justice.

0x502 - Glory Days of the Kamikaze! - Operation Kikusui

May 17, 2024

During the Battle of Okinawa, the Japanese see the opportunity to cripple the core of the Allied navies. With their conventional air and naval forces unable to challenge the Allies, the Japanese unleash a wave of mass Kamikaze attacks. Hundreds of suicide pilots smash their aircraft into the Allied fleet. This is Operation Kikusui.

0x503 - What Next for WW2?

May 23, 2024

So, what's next for us? Is this the end of the World War Two Channel?

0x504 - How Nazi Terror Came Home to Germany

May 24, 2024

Prominent Nazis flee the retribution that they have provoked. Meanwhile, they deploy greater levels of violence than ever before against the German people. With nothing left to lose, just how depraved will Nazi "justice" become? The regime's final farewell to its people will be a bloody one indeed.

0x505 - The Bloody Birth of Socialist Yugoslavia

May 30, 2024

In the final months of the war, Partisan leader Josip Tito and his forces complete their conquest of Yugoslavia. They destroy Draza Mihailovic’s Chetniks and Ante Pavelic’s Croatian Independent State and they outmanoeuvre King Peter. As Tito’s forces take revenge on their vanquished foes, Socialist Yugoslavia is born in a cradle of fire and blood.

0x506 - How Nazi war criminals fled to South America

May 30, 2024

How did so many Nazi war criminals escape to Argentina? The answer is the infamous network of ratlines stretching from Europe to South America. Joseph Mengele, Adolf Eichmann, Ante Pavelic, all of these monsters escape justice thanks to the efforts of former SS men, Juan Peron, the Red Cross, and perhaps even the pope.

0x507 - Join Us for a Victory Celebration at Oktoberfest!

June 1, 2024

This September will be the sixth year since our coverage of World War Two began, and the culmination of six long hard years of fighting. We think a celebration is in order, don’t you?

0x508 - Interview with a German WW2 Veteran

June 2, 2024

Recently, we had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Joachim Hess, who fought on the German side during World War II. He shared his unique perspective, outlining the life of a Wehrmacht soldier during the conflict.

0x509 - Redeployment! - Millions of men from Europe to Asia

June 5, 2024

Now that Japan is the only Axis power still in the fight, Allied forces- especially American ones- must redeploy to prepare for the final invasion of the Japanese Home Islands. But how do you move millions of men halfway around the globe? And which ones go- veterans or new recruits, or some combination? Who decides? Where exactly do you send them to prepare too, with some many eastern ports like Manila a shambles? Let's take a look.

0x510 - German WW2 Veteran recalls escaping from Soviet captivity

June 7, 2024

Once again, we have a unique opportunity to share with you another portion of our interview with Dr. Joachim Hess. Today, we hear the story of his daring escape from the Soviet prison camp.

0x511 - Nazi Werwolves: Post War Terror

June 18, 2024

The guns are silent in Germany but the Allied Forces suffer continue to suffer a flurry of bombings, assassinations, and shootings. Who is to blame? Well, the press suspects the Nazi Werwolves - terroristic bands of men, women, and children determined to carry on Hitler’s war. But just how serious is this violence really, and how many of the attackers are true believing Nazi fanatics?

0x512 - The Korean War, forgotten no longer!

June 19, 2024

0x513 - The Curious Case of Hitler’s Corpse

June 21, 2024

Joseph Stalin claims that Adolf Hitler managed to escape Berlin and is now living somewhere in hiding. It’s complete nonsense of course. But it raises some interesting questions. What remains do we have of Hitler? How do we know they belong to the Fuhrer? And, why is Stalin spreading these far-fetched lies?

0x514 - Meanwhile in 1950… Korea!

June 25, 2024

0x515 - Japan Decides on Peace - Are They Too Late?

June 27, 2024

The US bombers continue destroying Japanese cities with a rain of firebombs. As the country burns, the Japanese leadership and Emperor Hirohito finally realise they must seek peace.

0x516 - The Secret War to Capture Enemy Planes

July 4, 2024

What did the RAF and Luftwaffe think of each other’s toys? Who were the Zirkus Rosarius and the RAFwaffe? And what happens when American and German engineers team up to save the Luftwaffe’s wonder weapons? Deception, trickery, and subterfuge await once again in another instalment of Spies & Ties.

0x517 - How Carriers Ruled the Sea in WW2

July 5, 2024

How did the carrier task force come to be the premiere weapon in the US Navy’s arsenal, eclipsing the mighty battleship? Today Indy takes a look at how the Navy worked overtime to produce flattops, train the men who sailed them, and develop new doctrine for the war against Japan. What does the future hold for the carrier force?

0x518 - Operation Paperclip: Recruiting Nazi Brains for the USA - Part 1

July 11, 2024

Why do so many famous American scientists have German names, just like Wernher von Braun? Well, the answer lies in a decade-spanning secret operation conducted by the USA to recruit and harness the intellectual prowess of Nazi Scientists. Stay tuned to learn how Truman, the State Department, and the military all played their parts!

0x519 - Our 10-Year Story: YouTube Anniversary Special

July 18, 2024

Indy, Spartacus, and Astrid- the trio behind TimeGhost- began changing the way the world made documentaries ten years ago when they created ‘the Great War’. Since then, it’s been ten years of real time, chronology based, global, free historical documentaries with ‘World War Two in Real Time’ the greatest- and bravest- of them all. This is the story of how it all began.

0x520 - CIA and Nazi scientists - Partners in (War)crime - Paperclip pt. 2

July 25, 2024

Strap in and prepare yourself to find out how Paperclip manages to navigate through the shitstorm, and how its fate becomes inexorably intertwined with the new cool Kid on the Block, the CIA. This sinister partnership soon involves former Nazi top scientists in some of America's shadiest programs.

0x521 - Slavic Revenge on the Germans

July 31, 2024

The governments of central Europe take revenge on their German populations. From Poland, Czechoslovakia, and elsewhere, millions of people are thrown from their homes and banished to the shattered remains of Germany. This will be the largest forced migration in history.

0x522 - Unleashing the Atom: The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

August 6, 2024

In August 1945, the United States became the first, and to this day only, nation ever to employ nuclear weapons in war. After The fledgling technology proves itself on the testing ground, it is ready for immediate use. The price for this innovation is paid by hundreds of thousands of Japanese civilians who are blinded, burned, crushed, irradiated, and finally burned in a humanitarian crisis never seen before and never since. Join us to hear the gut-wrenching accounts of survivors and understand the motivations behind this tragic outcome to ensure that the horrors of nuclear war are never forgotten and never again unleashed upon the world and its people.

0x523 - 1 million subscribers for peace - WW2 finale breakfast club

August 15, 2024

We just finished shooting the final episode in our WW2 chronology. The next morning we sat down for coffee, croissants and some reminiscing.

0x524 - Stalin’s Scientist Snatch: Operation Osoaviachim

August 21, 2024

In this eye-opening episode, we delve into the secretive Soviet operation known as Operation Osoaviachim—often dubbed “the Soviet Paperclip.” As World War II draws to a close, the alliance between east and west begin to fracture, and the race for scientific supremacy intensifies. This video explores how the Soviet Union strategically “recruited” German scientists to gain an edge over the West, setting the stage for the future conflicts. Join us as we uncover the intricate details of this clandestine mission and its far-reaching implications.

0x525 - Famine and Revolution at the End of the War

August 23, 2024

As the war comes to a close, the death continues and millions of people around the globe face starvation and famine. Today Sparty looks at the situation in Europe and Asia as the crisis of hunger grows and even drives some nations to revolution.

0x526 - Is Germany Still a Nazi Nation?

August 30, 2024

How do you eradicate an ideology from an entire nation without destroying that nation? That’s the challenge faced by the Allies as the seek to Denazify Germany. Very soon, fervent ideological opposition to Nazism runs into the everyday realities of restoring a broken country and the emerging Cold War rivalry.

0x527 - Ten More Years of WW2 and TimeGhost!

September 6, 2024

We have now been making history for over ten years, and together with you we’re now gearing up for the next ten years and beyond.

0x528 - The Zarubins, The Power Couple of Soviet Espionage

September 13, 2024

In this episode, we dive deep into the lives of Elizaveta and Vasili Zarubin, the Soviet Union’s most notorious espionage power couple. From their early days in pre-WW2 Soviet Russia to working in key positions in Europe, China, and, ultimately, the United States, the Zarubins played a pivotal role in Soviet intelligence during the rise of modern espionage. Discover how their undercover missions influenced global events, including their involvement in the Manhattan Project, as we explore the origins of Soviet spycraft in part one of this two-part special.

0x529 - The Occupation of Japan Begins

September 14, 2024

The war is over and the occupation of Japan has begun. The country has largely been destroyed by Allied bombs, and shall be rebuilt, physically, economically, and even governmentally. But what will the new government be? What shall become of the Emperor? Who is to actually do the occupation? Today we look at all this and more.

0x530 - How Popular Was Hitler?

September 19, 2024

In the summer of 1940, Hitler was at the peak of his popularity as he conquered Germany’s enemies seemingly at will. But just how quickly did this approval decline as the war turned further and further against Germany? What did the Germans think of him by the end of the war? Is there any love left for Hitler in postwar Germany? Today Spartacus answers these questions.

0x531 - Who is Indy Neidell?

September 28, 2024

0x532 - Which Countries Are Still at War from WW2?

September 28, 2024

It’s time for another exciting episode of Out of the Foxholes! What sort of questions will Indy tackle today? Well, there’s a big one - are there any countries still at war from WW2? There’s another about the role of the Italian Mafia in the war, and one on Japan’s extra Special Naval Landing Forces.

0x533 - Victory 1945 Oktoberfest Celebration

October 1, 2024

This past week we gathered in Munich with parts of our team and members of the TimeGhost Army to celebrate the conclusion of the chronological WW2 coverage and our future projects.

0x534 - Oppenheimer, a Communist Spy? The true story!

October 3, 2024

Was J. Robert Oppenheimer secretly aiding the Soviets? In this episode, we dig into his alleged connections with the Soviet Spy Couple, the Zarubins, his involvement in the Manhattan Project, and the mystery surrounding his true loyalties.

0x535 - Occupation of Germany, Plunder and Enslavement?

October 12, 2024

The Allies’ occupation of Germany was marked by competing visions for its future, ranging from France’s focus on security to the Soviet push for reparations. This episode dives into the complex negotiations that determined Germany’s borders, industrial disarmament, and economic management, all of which would shape Europe’s post-war order and fuel the East-West divide.

0x536 - Operation Keelhaul: The Allies’ Final War Crime

October 17, 2024

After the war, millions of Soviet citizens are left over in Germany. Some of them are traitors, some are prisoners, some women and children. Stalin wants them back and the Western Allies are happy to help.

0x537 - How a Soviet Clerk Took Down a Spy Network

October 24, 2024

Igor Gouzenko, a Soviet cipher clerk in Canada, defected in 1945, bringing with him documents that revealed a massive Soviet espionage network in the West. His actions forced the world to confront Soviet infiltration, shifting global politics and igniting early Cold War tensions. This episode uncovers how one man’s bravery exposed a hidden war.

0x539 - WW2 in Numbers

November 9, 2024

World War II wasn’t just the deadliest conflict in history—it was a war of unprecedented scale. From staggering casualty numbers to military production and economic costs, this episode breaks down the biggest statistics that defined the global conflict.

0x540 - The Final Solution to the German Question

November 14, 2024

Millions of Germans continue to be expelled from their homes in Central and Eastern Europe. They run a gauntlet of violence, robbery, and even murder before arriving in the shattered remains of Berlin. By the end of 1945, the Allied Powers have at least agreed that further expulsions must be ‘orderly and humane’. But isn’t that a contradiction in terms?

0x541 - How the US Paranoia of Leftism was Born

November 21, 2024

Elizabeth Bentley’s defection in 1945 didn’t just expose a Soviet spy network—it fueled America’s second Red Scare and a wave of anti-communist paranoia. Her revelations about Soviet infiltration within the U.S. government became a catalyst for McCarthyism, reshaping American politics and society in an era defined by fear and suspicion.

0x542 - How Allied and Nazi Generals Created the Clean Wehrmacht Myth

November 23, 2024

After the fall of the Third Reich, many of Hitler’s generals are convicted as war criminals by the Allies and condemned to prison and disgrace. Yet, within a few years, the Western Powers embrace them Cold War partners against the Soviet Union. In this new alliance, they rewrite history and create the enduring myth of the ‘clean Wehrmacht’.

0x543 - Why the Communists subjugated half of Europe

November 28, 2024

From the Bolshevik Revolution to post-war dominance, Stalin’s plans forever changed Europe’s political landscape. Discover how the Soviet Union used ideology, diplomacy, military power, and ruthless suppression to control Eastern Europe and establish a new world order.

0x544 - "Huntziger must be shot!" - WW2 Commentary 1939-1940

November 30, 2024

Today Indy and Spartacus sit down to answer all kinds of questions about the first year of WW2. How phony was the Phony War? How do you go around the Maginot Line? And much more! Also, Indy sings a song about Charles Huntziger.

0x545 - Why We Reject Sponsors...

December 5, 2024

0x546 - Nazi Tanks Advance on Kursk: Prokhorovka Part 1

December 14, 2024

German tanks advance on Kursk, smashing through Soviet defences and setting the stage for one of history’s most legendary tank battles - The Battle of Prokhorovka. In this six part miniseries we will cover the fierce fighting, the strategies, and the men and machines that take part in this battle.

0x547 - Tanks Prepare for Battle! The Greatest Ever? Prokhorovka Part 2

December 21, 2024

In the early hours of July 12, 1943, the Waffen SS and the Red Army are ready for battle. SS General Paul Hausser has his armoured spearheads ready to strike at Prokhorovka while Soviet commander Pavel Rotmistrov’s 5th Guards Tank Army readies his counterattack. Today, Indy walks you through the enormous armoured fleets deployed for the coming fight.

0x548 - Armies of the Soviet Union, Charge! - Prokhorovka Part 3

December 28, 2024

On the morning of July 12, 1943, the Battle of Prokhorovka begins! Pavel Rotmistrov’s 5th Guards Tank Army charges into a storm of anti-tank fire from Paul Hausser’s Waffen SS divisions. As vehicles clash and burn, fierce hand-to-hand combat rages all around. In this episode, Indy takes you into the heart of the action as one of history’s most ferocious battles unfolds hour by hour.

0x549 - Four Waffen SS Tigers vs 50 T-34s - Prokhorovka Part 4

January 4, 2025

A mass of Soviet armour charges at the Leibstandarte Division, it looks like they might smash through the German lines. Then, Michael Wittmann’s Tiger tanks go into action. Will the Waffen SS be able to turn the tide at Prokhorovka? Indy reveals all.

0x550 - The Plots to Kill Hitler - New Book Out Now!

January 8, 2025