Battleground cover art

Battleground

Battleground

Written by: Goalhanger
Listen for free

About this listen

 A history podcast that explores the narratives, turning points and characters that shape conflicts, encompassing a blend of social and military history. Following on from the series on the Falklands War, best-selling military historians Patrick Bishop and Saul David turned their attention to the war in Ukraine, and now every Wednesday look back to the seismic events of 1945. Goalhanger PodcastsGoalhanger Podcasts World
Episodes
  • 373. Battlefield Gains, Geneva Stalemates, and the "Helmet of Memory"

    373. Battlefield Gains, Geneva Stalemates, and the "Helmet of Memory"
    Feb 20 2026
    In this episode of Battleground Ukraine, Saul David and Roger Moorhouse break down a week of high-stakes diplomacy and unexpected battlefield shifts as the war approaches its four-year anniversary. The duo discusses the rapid collapse of the latest trilateral peace talks in Geneva, which ended in acrimony after just two hours as Russian negotiators refused to budge on territorial demands. Meanwhile, Kyiv sees a "gleam of sunshine" on the ground: Ukrainian forces have retaken 78 square miles of territory near Zaporizhzhia—the most significant gain in such a short window since 2023—thanks in part to a strategic communications blackout involving Starlink terminals. Finally, we tackle the "disgraceful" Olympic disqualification of a Ukrainian athlete, Marco Rubio’s diplomatic tour of Eastern Europe, and the history of WWII German Special Forces. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
  • 372. The Cockleshell Heroes: Twelve Men, Two Survivors

    372. The Cockleshell Heroes: Twelve Men, Two Survivors
    Feb 18 2026
    In this gripping episode of Battleground, Patrick Bishop and Saul David explore one of World War II's most daring commando raids: Operation Frankton, better known as the Cockleshell Heroes mission. In December 1942, twelve Royal Marines volunteers led by Major "Blondie" Hasler embarked on a near-impossible mission to paddle canoes 60 miles up the Gironde estuary to sabotage German blockade runners in the port of Bordeaux. Against brutal Atlantic conditions, freezing temperatures, and constant threat of discovery, these men demonstrated extraordinary courage and determination. But the mission came at a devastating cost—only two of the twelve would survive. Patrick and Saul examine the meticulous planning, the catastrophic setbacks, and the ultimate question: was the strategic gain worth the human sacrifice? If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • 371. Assassinations, Attrition, and the Telegram Crackdown

    371. Assassinations, Attrition, and the Telegram Crackdown
    Feb 13 2026
    In our weekly round up of the latest news from Ukraine, Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop examine a week of "salient moments" that may signal a turning point in the war. They discuss the Kremlin’s risky move to throttle Telegram, the deepening recession across 21 sectors of the Russian economy, and the high-profile assassination attempt on Lieutenant-general Vladimir Alexeyev. The duo also breaks down the latest friction in the Abu Dhabi peace talks and the mounting pressure on President Zelensky to hold wartime elections. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
No reviews yet