Explaining History Podcast

I have a note on my desk that reminds me what Explaining History is for. It says:

“Create useful stuff for students and teachers”

And that’s what I am trying to do here. Each video or audio podcast is created for students to help them not just master modern history so they can get good pass marks, but to become fascinated by it. To become absorbed into it, enmeshed in it, connected to it. As we move away from the 20th Century (which my work is predominantly about), it becomes harder to understand this brutal and yet enigmatic period. The meaning of the 20th Century is highly contested and hard enough for professional academic historians to grapple with, let alone mere history teachers such as I.

For exclusive extra content, please visit the Explaining History Patreon page below, the work is a labour of love, and it happens through the kindness of patrons around the world.

Investigating the 20th Century

East German anti Semitism – Explaining History

The surviving Jews who became citizens of East Germany faced a precarious existence when the GDR was established. Not only was Stalin, the Soviet dictator, becoming ever more anti Semitic in the final years of his life, but the establishment of the state of Israel and its ties to the Western allies made Jews in Eastern Europe suspect in the eyes of the various communist regimes. In East Germany Jews presented a challenge to the established memory of the war and their supposed connection to the western powers began years of official persecution. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/explaininghistory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Go to all podcast episodes

Support Explaining History on Patreon

Access exclusive modern history content for students and enthusiasts

Visit us on Patreon

Processing…

Success! You're on the list.

Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

Latest Posts

20th Century Britain

Talking about JB Priestley

Hi there everyone, I had the great pleasure to be interviewed on the East Marshian Chronicles podcast recently about the writer JB Priestley and the historical context of his work. You can hear the show here: https://eastmarshianchronicles.buzzsprout.com/1764181/9442034-historian-nick-shepley-on-the-background-and-context-of-an-inspector-calls

November 16, 2021

Uncategorized

When British corruption drops the ball

Traditionally, Britain has managed to avoid appearing to be a corrupt country, because so much of what any rational onlooker might call graft is actually legal. The rewarding of party donors with the ear of cooperative ministers, peerages and other honours enables British politicians to be easily and cheaply bought. This process acts as aContinue reading “When British corruption drops the ball”

November 5, 2021

20th Century Britain

Brexit’s Leninists

Reading Everyday Stalinism by Sheila Fitzpatrick (one of my favourite social histories of the USSR, as regular listeners will know), one thing becomes abundantly clear about the Soviet view of time and history itself. The historical and social state that the party would describe as communism was always something to be eventually reached and neverContinue reading “Brexit’s Leninists”

October 27, 2021

See all posts