Quotulatiousness

March 21, 2022

Republic to Empire: Sulla A Failed Reaction

seangabb
Published 10 Feb 2021

In 120 BC, Rome was a republic with touches of democracy. A century later, it was a divine right military dictatorship. Between January and March 2021, Sean Gabb explored this transformation with his students. Here is one of his lectures. All student contributions have been removed.
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February 4, 2022

The Origins of the SAS – WW2 Special Episode

Filed under: Africa, Britain, History, Military, WW2 — Tags: , , , — Nicholas @ 04:00

World War Two
Published 3 Feb 2022

“Who dares, wins”. Nowadays the British SAS — Special Air Service — is considered one of the best special forces in the world. Yet its wartime origins are shrouded in mysteries and legends. From the first ideas of top-secret “special raiding squadrons”, to the first raids in North Africa accompanying the Long Range Desert Group, the SAS’s beginnings resemble one big experiment. An experiment from which a truly legendary special service would emerge.
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January 30, 2022

Time to Fire Rommel? – WW2 – 179 – January 29, 1943

World War Two
Published 29 Jan 2022

The Allies are unable to win in Tunisia, though further east Bernard Montgomery has achieved his goal of driving the enemy out of Libya. To the west, the Casablanca Conference comes to its end and the Allies write a list of their war priorities. The Soviets, however, are on the move everywhere, closing in on Stalingrad, and launching new operations up and down the eastern front, to the dismay and detriment of the Axis forces.
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QotD: Montgomery on the advance after El Alamein

Filed under: Africa, Britain, History, Military, Quotations, WW2 — Tags: , , , , — Nicholas @ 01:00

A curious incident occurred as our light forces were moving forward south of Benghazi. I was right up behind the leading armoured cars, reconnoitering the area; I had a small escort with me. We had outstripped the fighter cover and from time to time enemy aircraft strafed the road; it was not a healthy place and I suppose that I ought not to have been there.

Suddenly I saw a lorry coming up from behind, and on it a large boat; a naval Petty Officer sat with the driver and some sailors were inside.

I stopped the lorry and said to the Petty Officer: “What are you doing here? Do you realise that you are right up with the most forward elements of the Eighth Army, and you and your boat are leading the advance? This is a very dangerous area just at present, and you are unarmed. You must turn round and go back at once.”

He was dreadfully upset. He had been ordered to open up a “petrol point” at a small cove well to the north of Mersa Brega; small naval craft were to land petrol at this point in order that the leading armoured car regiments could refill their tanks; this was the easiest way of getting petrol and oil to them. He explained this to me, looking at me with pleading eyes rather like a spaniel asking to be taken for a walk to hunt rabbits.

He then said: “Don’t send me back, sir. If the armoured cars don’t get their petrol, they will have to halt and you will lose touch with the Germans. Couldn’t I go on with you? I would then be quite safe.”

That Petty Officer was clearly a student of psychology! In point of fact I did not know about these small petrol points for the armoured cars; it was a staff plan and a very good one. I took the naval party forward with me and saw them safely to their cove, where I was their first customer for petrol. I have often thought of that Petty Officer; he was from the Merchant Navy and in the R.N.V.R.; his sense of duty was of the highest order, and Britain will never lose her wars so long as the Royal Navy can count on men like him.

Bernard L. Montgomery, The Memoirs of Field-Marshal Montgomery, 1958.

January 27, 2022

Carthage: The Empire of Melqart

Filed under: Africa, Europe, History, Military — Tags: , , , , , — Nicholas @ 04:00

Thersites the Historian
Published 11 Nov 2021

In this lecture, we look at why it is so hard to find Punic material remains and where one can search for what little there is left to find.

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January 16, 2022

Food for Leningrad, Breaking the Siege! – WW2 – 177- January 15th, 1943

World War Two
Published 15 Jan 2022

Soviet attacks are launched this week to destroy the Hungarians, all while the German desperation at Stalingrad and Velikie Luki continues, but in the far north the Soviets have broken through the siege of Leningrad after 16 months. And the Casablanca Conference begins, a meeting to guide the war’s future progress.
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January 7, 2022

Desert War – Dysentery, Disease, and Dehydration – WW2 Special

World War Two
Published 6 Jan 2022

North Africa. The Axis and Allies are fighting each other but even more, they’re fighting the desert itself. The men of the desert burn during the day and freeze at night. They do most of their fighting on a litre of water and a packet of army biscuits. What is life in such a hostile environment?
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December 19, 2021

Guadalcanal Life Expectancy: 30 Days- WW2 – 173 – December 18, 1942

World War Two
Published 18 Dec 2021

Just a few weeks ago massive offensives were launched in North Africa and the Soviet Union, against the Axis. These operations and offensives have now morphed into fully fledged campaigns, and the nature of these theatres of the war has been transformed.
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December 17, 2021

Death Squads Arrive in North Africa – WAH 048 – December 1942, Pt. 1

Filed under: Africa, Germany, History, Italy, Military, WW2 — Tags: , , , , , — Nicholas @ 04:00

World War Two
Published 16 Dec 2021

Despite Allied occupation, the situation of the Jews in North Africa hardly improves, in newly German-occupied Tunisia it deteriorates. Meanwhile, the world learns more of the details of the Holocaust — they cannot believe their ears.
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November 22, 2021

Geiseric & The Kingdom of The Vandals

Filed under: Africa, Europe, History, Military — Tags: , , , , — Nicholas @ 04:00

History Time
Published 5 Sep 2017

A brief look at Geiseric and the Vandals

Further reading:-
Edward Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
Walter Goffart, Barbarian & Romans
Peter Heather, The Fall of the Roman Empire
Andrew Merrills, The Vandals

Music:-
Morning Light – “Deep Thoughts” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tXOL…
Peter Gundry – “Víðbláinn” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnCML…
Kevin MacLeod – “Ossuary 2: Turn” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6jZS…

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November 21, 2021

The Red Army Kicks Ass – Operation Uranus! – WW2 – 169 – November 20th, 1942

World War Two
Published 20 Nov 2021

After months of stubborn defense the time has finally come for the Soviet counterstroke, but is it in time to save Stalingrad? And can the Allies reach Tunis and take all of North Africa before the Axis can reinforce?
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November 19, 2021

The Allied 1942 Plan to Invade Europe – WW2 Special

Filed under: Africa, Britain, History, Military, USA, WW2 — Tags: , , , , — Nicholas @ 04:00

World War Two
Published 18 Nov 2021

The second front has been opened, and Allied forces are invading Vichy French Northwest Africa. But did you know that it could very well have been an invasion of Europe taking place right now instead? Let’s examine how this idea came about, and why it never worked out.
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November 14, 2021

Axis and Allies Both Invade France – WW2 – 168 – November 13, 1942

World War Two
Published 13 Nov 2021

Operation Torch goes off this week, the Allied invasion of French Northwest Africa, but this prompts the Germans to invade Vichy France. This is the Allies’ first combined major offensive in the Western Hemisphere. The Germans launch another offensive of their own this week, though — Operation Hubertus in Stalingrad. And in the South Pacific, a major naval battle begins off Guadalcanal.
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November 13, 2021

Here’s Looking at You, Bill – The Secret Preparations for Operation Torch – WW2 – Spies & Ties 10

Filed under: Africa, Britain, France, History, Military, USA, WW2 — Tags: , , , , , — Nicholas @ 04:00

World War Two
Published 12 Nov 2021

To smooth the way for the Allied invasion of French North Africa, Operation Torch, a massive spy operation is set up in 1941 and 42.
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November 12, 2021

Armored Vehicles of Operation Torch Pt. 1, by the Chieftain

Filed under: Africa, Germany, History, Italy, Military, WW2 — Tags: , , , , — Nicholas @ 04:00

World War Two
Published 11 Nov 2021

Chieftain returns to the North African theatre to talk us through the armored fighting vehicles in action around the time of Operation Torch. This episode is part one of two with Chieftain covering the German and Italian vehicles. Here, Chieftain looks at everything from the fearsome Tiger to the nemesis of LRDG: the Sahariana.
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