Battles of the First World War Podcast
The Battles of the First World War Podcast is a podcast that goes in-depth into the battles of the Great War of 1914-1918. The goal is to really go into the details of how and why these battles unfolded and happened as they did. In telling the narrative of these clashes we can revisit some of the stories of the men and women who lived, fought, and died during the first titanic struggle of the 20th Century, for these people have stories that deserve to be told.
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A Review of Richard Merry’s Book “The Great War in the Argonne Forest: French and American Battles, 1914–1918”
01/19/2021
A Review of Richard Merry’s Book “The Great War in the Argonne Forest: French and American Battles, 1914–1918”
A short review of Richard Merry’s new book, “The Great War in the Argonne Forest: French and American Battles, 1914–1918.” Book link here: Order it from your local bookstore so that you support your local businesses. The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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Champagne - Blanc Mont, Pt 4 (with thanks to Steven Girard)
12/24/2020
Champagne - Blanc Mont, Pt 4 (with thanks to Steven Girard)
The raw and untested AEF 36th Division relieves the bled-out AEF 2nd Division on Blanc Mont ridge. These Texas-Oklahoma Doughboys will continue to push past the bloody ridge to keep the pressure on the slowly-retreating German Army. The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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Champagne - Blanc Mont, Pt 3 (featuring Steven Girard)
12/03/2020
Champagne - Blanc Mont, Pt 3 (featuring Steven Girard)
Having seized part of Blanc Mont and ground beyond, the Marines and Doughboys of the 2nd Division AEF sought to continue to push back the ruptured German lines. They faced days of unimaginable bloodletting as the Germans fought doggedly for every meter of ground. Be sure to check out “Fix Bayonets! First World War Podcast,” where I have teamed up with Nicole Chicarelli of The War Project on Instagram and Cullen Burke of the Cauldron Podcast (A History of the World Battle by Battle) to tell the story of WW1 from three views: strategic, tactical, and most importantly...human. Fix Bayonets! First World War Podcast: The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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Champagne - Blanc Mont, Pt 2 (featuring Steven Girard)
10/27/2020
Champagne - Blanc Mont, Pt 2 (featuring Steven Girard)
On October 3rd, 1918, the Doughboys and Marines of the 2nd Division, AEF, hurled themselves against a hitherto impregnable German fortress: Blanc Mont ridge, the key to German defenses in Champagne. Podcast promo! If you’re interested in a daily podcast that gives you a short episode on anything from the history of the US penny to the Tunguska Event of 1908, then you need to head over to Gary Arndt’s “Everything Everywhere” podcast. Everything Everywhere podcast: Also, very excited to announce that I have teamed up with Nicole Chicarelli of The War Project on Instagram and Cullen Burke of the Cauldron Podcast (A History of the World Battle by Battle) to launch a new podcast project called “Fix Bayonets! First World War Podcast.” The story of WW1, from three view: strategic, tactical, and most importantly...human. Fix Bayonets! First World War Podcast: The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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Champagne - Blanc Mont, Pt 1 (featuring Steven Girard)
09/29/2020
Champagne - Blanc Mont, Pt 1 (featuring Steven Girard)
In September 1918, the French 4th Army requested American assistance with clearing the Champagne battlefield of German forces. The American Expeditionary Force would provide two divisions, the veteran 2nd and the green 36th Divisions. For years, the German Army had held Blanc Mont ridge, a lynchpin to holding the Champagne sector of the Western Front. But the French Army was now too exhausted to carry the massif. MG John A. Lejeune, Marine commander of the American Army’s 2nd Division, planned an innovative attack that would see his division seize the ridge, hold it, and continue to advance past it. The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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WW1 History, Battlefield Tours, and Blanc Mont Ridge: A Conversation with Steven Girard
09/02/2020
WW1 History, Battlefield Tours, and Blanc Mont Ridge: A Conversation with Steven Girard
In this episode we have a great and in-depth talk with Steven Girard, a veteran, an archivist/historian of the 4th (Marine) Brigade 2nd Division AEF, and a WW1 battlefield tour guide. Steve gives us his own background and how he came to study the 4th Brigade Marines and the US Army’s 2nd Division, and then he gives us a comprehensive look into the battle of Blanc Mont ridge -- a detailed look at this forgotten but important battle of the First World War. (Steve gives us a view from the division to individual level going straight from his memory! No notes!) Hope you enjoy this great conversation! To read more on the battle of Blanc Mont, see the following links: “A Hideous Price: The 4th Brigade at Blanc Mont, 2-10 October 1918 LtCol Peter F. Owen and LtCol John Swift” - “Blanc Mont (Meuse-Argonne-Champagne) - Monograph No. 9,” US Govt Publication - For more information on Steve's tours: The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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Oise-Aisne - The Black Devils
08/16/2020
Oise-Aisne - The Black Devils
During the First World War the American 370th Infantry Regiment served by being integrated into French Army divisions, as were the other regiments of the AEF 93rd Division. The 370th Infantry was unique as the only African-American regiment then led by African-American officers. Known as “The Black Devils,” the Doughboys of the 370th took part in the Oise-Aisne Offensive in autumn 1918, pursuing the retreating German Army until (and even after) the armistice took effect on November 11th. The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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An Interview with Dr. Jeff Gusky on the Smithsonian’s “We Return Fighting” Exhibit and the American 93rd Division in WW1
07/26/2020
An Interview with Dr. Jeff Gusky on the Smithsonian’s “We Return Fighting” Exhibit and the American 93rd Division in WW1
Returning to the Battles of the First World War Podcast is Dr. Jeff Gusky, an emergency physician, artist, photographer for National Geographic, and explorer. I’m grateful that with the ongoing epidemic Dr. Gusky is able to come on the show and share his latest work with us, which is part of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture’s “We Return Fighting” exhibit. Dr. Gusky is the photographer and talent behind the fascinating Hidden World of WW1, an exploration of the many unknown underground cities inhabited by soldiers of both sides of the Western Front during the Great War. His photographs have been seen worldwide through National Geographic, Smithsonian museum exhibitions, and featured in several newspaper and television articles worldwide. His work truly is remarkable, and brings a world silent and in darkness for over a century back into the light. I urge you to follow his work if you haven’t already done so. In this interview we discuss Dr. Gusky’s contribution to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture’s “We Return Fighting” exhibit, as well as his discovery of the only remaining command post of the 370th Infantry under the old battlefields of France. The 370th Infantry Regiment was a segregated African-American unit during WW1; however it also had the distinction of being the only regiment also led by Black American officers. The men of the 370th were called the “Black Devils” by the Germans due to their fierceness in combat. Jeff’s discovery has been called “I Have a Dream...before I Have a Dream.” In the course of the conversation I made an error in the first time Jeff Gusky came on the podcast; it wasn’t two years ago but three. Just goes to show you how the years pass by without you knowing it sometimes. Dr. Jeff Gusky’s work: Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture’s “We Return Fighting:” The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast. Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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Champagne - “Les Enfants Perdus:” 93rd Division Operations on the Champagne Front
07/19/2020
Champagne - “Les Enfants Perdus:” 93rd Division Operations on the Champagne Front
Assigned to the French 4th Army, the 369th, 371st, and 372nd Infantry Regiments of the A.E.F.’s 93rd Division (Provisional) fought well in the Champagne offensive of September 1918 that supported the American drive through the Meuse-Argonne. Once again, African Americans proved themselves able fighters, capable leaders, and patriots more than willing to serve their country. The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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Somme - At the Hawthorn Ridge Crater with Associate Professor Fiona Graham and Mr. Colin Winn
07/01/2020
Somme - At the Hawthorn Ridge Crater with Associate Professor Fiona Graham and Mr. Colin Winn
In a wonderful way to help commemorate the 1st of July anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Somme, the BFWWP has received this great interview between Associate Professor Fiona Graham and Mr. Colin Winn of the Hawthorn Ridge Crater Association. Conducted last year, Associate Professor Graham and Mr. Winn take a tour of the massive crater at Beaumont-Hamel on the Somme battlefield to discuss the latest developments of the archeological dig there. Due to the ongoing pandemic and its related closures, commemoration events for the 1st of July on the Somme in France are likely to be severely reduced or canceled. The 1st of July of course, is the first day of the Battle of the Somme and the day the Hawthorn Ridge mine was blown for the first time. To help broadcast this year’s commemoration efforts and continue to live up to the well-known phrase “Lest We Forget,” Ms. Graham and Mr. Winn have graciously provided the BFWWP with an interview conducted on site at the Hawthorn Ridge Crater. I am deeply grateful and thankful for the opportunity to share this interview here with all of you. ...It’s not often you are invited to be part of a military history and archaeology team examining the very beginnings of the Battle of the Somme, but this is what happened to Associate Professor and Radio and Television Producer Fiona Graham as part of a new research team at Hawthorn Crater near Beaumont Hamel in France. Fiona is a producer and writer who works on historical projects using film at Staffordshire University with colleague cinematographer Paul Ottey. She works hand in hand with history and archaeology teams and communities to research and capture the stories of the battlefields and sites across Europe, including Auschwitz and the First World War. Their recent work includes working on a film about Tank Deborah D51 and the Battle of Cambrai which they have exhibited in Northern Ireland and public talks in the UK and shown to help educate new generations of schoolchildren in Britain and France about the battle. In this conversation on location in France she introduces us to her friend and colleague Colin Winn from the Hawthorn Ridge Crater Association as they take us on a journey around the World War One iconic crater and explain the work they are doing together today from the sights on, around and inside this massive hole in the ground with a circumference of over half a mile. Colin is a retired weapons engineer for the Royal Ordnance and BAE Systems and his grandfather was killed near Arras in 1917, he’s worked on the BBC documentary “Secret Tunnel Wars of The Somme” with historian Peter Barton and made short films and podcasts in America. It’s the first time anyone has been granted access to uncover the secrets of this time capsule which has laid dormant for over 100 years and Fiona and Colin are the team bringing this new story to light for the next generation. Join them here on a tour on foot on a sunny but sometimes windy day as they explain what’s happening on the battlefields of Northern France today…. Follow the HRCA on Twitter!:
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Champagne - The 93rd Division in the Fight
06/21/2020
Champagne - The 93rd Division in the Fight
Listener discretion advised: This episode contains racial terms and themes that are considered highly offensive today. These terms and themes are being used here in the context of the First World War era. Composed of African American National Guard units, volunteers and draftees, the 93rd Division (Provisional) was loaned to the French Army by an American Expeditionary Force that did not particularly care to have them. These men faced danger and a struggle even before they faced the German enemy--that of the dangers of racist violence back home in the U.S. and discrimination on the Western Front. WW1 Burial Cards project: The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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An Interview with Nicole Chicarelli of The War Project
06/08/2020
An Interview with Nicole Chicarelli of The War Project
Hey Folks, this episode we have an interview with an up and coming voice in the Great War history community. Nicole Chicarelli is the historian behind “The War Project” on Instagram, which can be found here: And her website is here: Click on that follow button! Nicole and I discuss how her passion for history began, her educational background, and her purpose behind The War Project. She is currently a Master of Arts Candidate in military history at American Military University, with a focus on war theory of the First World War. The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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Meuse Argonne - A Global Overview
05/17/2020
Meuse Argonne - A Global Overview
The AEF 1st Army is forced to make an operational pause as it replaces devastated divisions with fresh ones.
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Meuse Argonne - Against a Battle-Hardened Foe
05/03/2020
Meuse Argonne - Against a Battle-Hardened Foe
The American First Army’s 3rd Corps continue to push against the German lines along the eastern bank of the Meuse. German resistance is fierce, with artillery pounding the Doughbys from across the river.
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Bad News, Good News, & Holding the Line
04/12/2020
Bad News, Good News, & Holding the Line
A quick update on where things stand with the BFWWP. Bad news and good news. A call to hold the line now. The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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Vauquois - “A Heap of Ruins Stuffed with Dead Men’s Bones.”
02/18/2020
Vauquois - “A Heap of Ruins Stuffed with Dead Men’s Bones.”
The story of the First World War in the Meuse-Argonne region of France cannot be told without talking about the Butte de Vauquois. So here, in an attempt to do a part-travelogue, part-history episode, I retell the story of this tortured and murdered hill. This scene of terrible mine warfare--where an ancient village and six meters of height were erased from the crest during the war--remains today a stark reminder of the brutal nature of the Great War. The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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BFWWP Tactical Pause
02/10/2020
BFWWP Tactical Pause
The BFWWP has to be put on pause until mid-May or end of May 2020, despite the great momentum we’ve been gaining recently. It’s for a good reason. Listen in and you’ll see why. The BFWWP is now on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com or the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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“Insert Laugh Track Here:” A Cross-Cultural Conversation on Visiting France
01/29/2020
“Insert Laugh Track Here:” A Cross-Cultural Conversation on Visiting France
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the idea of visiting France, or felt it was something too foreign and too out of reach? In this episode, I speak with Carol Kieffer and Randy Gaulke, two experienced residents and tourists of France. Carol, author of “Living and Working in France: Thriving through Understanding” and cross-cultural training coach, and Randy, seasoned tourist of the Meuse-Argonne region of France and battlefield tour leader, come on the show to strip away some of the misconceptions and misunderstandings many Americans may have about France and visiting it. What follows is a nearly hour-long conversation where we discuss traveling through France, proper social etiquette, what to expect from French restaurants, shops, and supermarkets, how to prepare, and how to set yourself up to make the most of your experience. We even bring up squat toilets...really, it’s worth the listen. Ultimate credit for the realization of this podcast goes to Mrs. Laurie Gaulke, whose connections created the conditions that allowed everyone to come together. Thank you so much! Links to Carol Kieffer and her book, “Living and Working in France: Thriving through Understanding” For cross-cultural coaching contact Carol at Carol is on LinkedIn: For Randy Gaulke’s excellent website on the Meuse-Argonne , and his new tour company website, . For an overview of Randy’s travel tips: “La Vie en France” blog entries: Mike and Rob Laplander are also offering WW1 battlefield tours through Lost Battalion Tours. Contact us with any questions! Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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Meuse Argonne - Shot to Pieces
12/25/2019
Meuse Argonne - Shot to Pieces
The expected breakthrough after Montfaucon doesn’t happen. The 79th and 37th Divisions continue grinding their way north, facing ever-hardening German resistance. Purchase Andrew Capets’ book “Good War, Great Men” here: The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Lost Battalion Tours Contact Information - Join Us on the Battlefield! Mike’s contact info: verdunpodcast@gmail.com Robert’s contact info: 308infantry@gmail.com Robert’s website: Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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An Interview with the National WW1 Museum’s Ms. Lora Vogt
12/04/2019
An Interview with the National WW1 Museum’s Ms. Lora Vogt
In this episode we have a very special guest: Ms. Lora Vogt, is the Curator of Education at the National World War I Museum and Memorial. Founded in 1926, the Museum holds the most comprehensive collection of Great War artifacts in the world and has been ranked one of the top 25 museums in the country. Under Ms. Vogt’s guidance, the Museum has consistently broken records for public program attendance, educational participations and developed internationally recognized curriculum and online exhibitions. Ms. Vogt will give the BFWWP community a virtual tour of the National World War I Museum and Memorial and some of its exhibits. If you have never visited the National World War I Museum and Memorial and are on the fence about it for any reason, I am quite sure this episode will end any such doubts. National WW1 Museum and Memorial Links: The Panthéon de la Guerre Museum Shop: The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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Meuse Argonne - Taking Montfaucon
11/26/2019
Meuse Argonne - Taking Montfaucon
Montfaucon, in the center of the American 1st Army’s attack front, is taken down by Doughboys of the 37th, 79th, and 4th Divisions. The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Lost Battalion Tours Contact Information - Join Us on the Battlefield! Mike’s contact info: verdunpodcast@gmail.com Robert’s contact info: 308infantry@gmail.com Robert’s website: Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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Lost Battalion Tours - Testimonial
11/19/2019
Lost Battalion Tours - Testimonial
Hey Folks, Mr. Jeremy Bowles very graciously came on the podcast to share his tour experiences with Robert J Laplander with us. Jeremy is a WW1 historian and reenactor, and the journey he had in the Meuse-Argonne with Rob was so moving it simply needs to stand alone as its own mini-episode. Listen to Jeremy’s story about being in the Meuse, and know that the goal of Lost Battalion Tours is to provide you with the same experience in August of 2020. So come join us! Lost Battalion Tours Mike’s contact info: Robert’s contact info: Robert’s website: Jeremy closes his experiences with the poem “We Shall Keep the Faith” by Moina Michaels, which was the moving response to LTC John McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields:” Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields, Sleep sweet - to rise anew! We caught the torch you threw And holding high, we keep the Faith With All who died. We cherish, too, the poppy red That grows on fields where valor led; It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies, But lends a lustre to the red Of the flower that blooms above the dead In Flanders Fields. And now the Torch and Poppy Red We wear in honor of our dead. Fear not that ye have died for naught; We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought In Flanders Fields. Source:
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The Other Sixteen, an Interview with James Gregory
11/11/2019
The Other Sixteen, an Interview with James Gregory
We’re taking a short break from the Meuse-Argonne narrative to listen to a different angle on a very famous event. It happens that the famous event occurred during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, so this ties in nicely with our current focus. Most of us have heard of or know the story of Alvin York, the famous SGT York who took on dozens of Germans, killed several, and captured 132. He is one of the most famous--if not THE most famous--American soldiers to emerge from the Great War. However, on the fateful day of October 8, 1918, York was part of a squad with sixteen other men engaged in battle. In this episode we’re going to have James Gregory talk to us about his upcoming article “The Other Sixteen,” which focuses on the other men who were with Alvin York that fateful day in the hills near Chatel-Chehery near the northern tip of the Argonne Forest. James Gregory is pursuing a PhD at the University of Oklahoma. He is a noted author and historian of the Marine Corps and Second Division in World War I. He deals primarily with soldier biographies and cultural impacts of the war, and I thoroughly look forward to listening to the results of his research. “The Other Sixteen” will be available soon in the US Army’s Infantry magazine, which can be found online at: Jame’s two books can be found here:
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Lost Battalion Tours Announcement
11/04/2019
Lost Battalion Tours Announcement
JOIN US!!! Lost Battalion Tours is a collaboration between WW1 author and historian Robert J. Laplander, and Mike Cunha, master of ceremonies of the Battles of the First World War podcast and battlefield explorer. Our inaugural tour will be an 8-day trip to the Argonne region August 8-15, 2020. Those of you who have traveled with Robert in the Argonne before know this is no sight-seeing bus trip; this is down in the dirt, where it happened stuff! Now YOU can join us for a trip you won't soon forget! You will stay IN the Argonne, at a small French hotel, as part of your Argonne immersion experience. You'll see all the important spots concerning the battle, including a first hand tour of the whole story of the Lost Battalion with the #1 LB guy in the world. On top of that, each tour can be tailored to fit almost any special request visit by guests. And all of this for a one time, all inclusive price of just $1200.00 per single guest, or $1000.00 per guest in groups of two or more (this price does NOT include air fare). Space is limited to just 14 guests though, so don't wait - contact Mike Cunha or Robert J. Laplander today for more details. More information is coming this week so stay tuned, but if you've been thinking that you'd like to experience the AEF in France, THIS is your chance! This makes a FABULOUS Christmas gift, at a very affordable price that your significant other will treasure forever! Don't miss out! Contact us today and join us - We are along the road parallel 276.4... waiting for you! This announcement was so exciting that not only did I use my excited voice, but Robert Laplander’s two dogs, Buddy and Rebel, immediately started wrestling each other for a spot on the tour--true story! Mike’s contact info: Robert’s contact info: Robert’s website:
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Meuse Argonne - The Wild West on the Meuse
10/08/2019
Meuse Argonne - The Wild West on the Meuse
The 91st “Wild West” Division battles it out with the Germans through the Meuse Valley. With every village taken, German resistance stiffens sharply. The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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Meuse Argonne - Breakdown
09/09/2019
Meuse Argonne - Breakdown
Following four days of heavy combat and poor leadership in the Meuse-Argonne, the 35th Santa Fe Division breaks down in battle. The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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Meuse Argonne - The Keystone, the Shorn Oak, and the Aire Valley
08/18/2019
Meuse Argonne - The Keystone, the Shorn Oak, and the Aire Valley
The 28th “Keystone” Division (Pennsylvania) both slugs it out with the Germans in the Argonne Forest over Le Chène Tondu ridge, and pushes its way up the River Aire Valley through Montblainville and Apremont. The Germans fight hard for both Le Chène Tondu and Apremont, and the Pennsylvania Doughboys struggle to hold their hard-won gains. The BFWWP is now on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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Meuse Argonne - l’Homme Mort, or, the Small Pocket
07/29/2019
Meuse Argonne - l’Homme Mort, or, the Small Pocket
The 77th Division continues its grind through the Argonne Forest in the last days of September 1918. Under orders to advance without regard to flanks, US Army MAJ Charles Whittlesey and his 1st Battalion, 308th Infantry Regiment find themselves cut off and surrounded on a hill named l’Homme Mort. The BFWWP is now on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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Meuse Argonne - Buffalo Soldiers at Binarville
06/24/2019
Meuse Argonne - Buffalo Soldiers at Binarville
As the American 1st Army launched its attack on the Meuse-Argonne on the 26th of September, the 368th Infantry Regiment of the segregated 92nd Buffalo Division launched an attack on the left flank, west of the Argonne Forest. Despite several catastrophic stumbles, the regiment eventually succeeded in capturing the ruined village of Binarville. Their reputation, they quickly found out, was also in ruins as a result. The BFWWP is now on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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Meuse Argonne - 26 September 1918, Pt 3 - AEF 3rd Corps and French 17th Corps
04/29/2019
Meuse Argonne - 26 September 1918, Pt 3 - AEF 3rd Corps and French 17th Corps
The AEF 3rd Corps attacks with three divisions on the right of the attack front. The 4th “Ivy” Division attacks the German lines and supports the attack on Montfaucon. The 80th “Blue Ridge” Division attacks through Forges Creek and pushes up to Brieulles-sur-Meuse. The 33rd “Prairie” Division also pushes through Forges Creek, clears Bois de Forges, and then aims for Dannevoux village. Across the River Meuse, the French 17th Corps launches a supporting diversion for the AEF 1st Army. For battle maps, check out the Perry Castañeda Lbrary Map Collection: The BFWWP is now on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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