logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2023
50m 11s

78. The Battle of the Spies

Goalhanger
About this episode

The rivalry between Russia and Britain continues to grow as both of their attentions begin to centre more and more on Afghanistan. In a bid to gain influence in the region, both empires send young, daring spies to infiltrate the region. Alexander Burnes and Jan Prosper Vitkevich will both battle to gain the upper hand. Listen as William and Anita discuss these two spies and their thrilling roles in the Great Game.


Twitter: @Empirepoduk


Email: empirepoduk@gmail.com


Goalhangerpodcasts.com


Producer: Callum Hill

Exec Producer: Jack Davenport + Neil Fearn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Yesterday
284. Suez Crisis: The British Imperialist vs The Arab Nationalist (Part 1)
How did Britain and France almost start World War 3 in 1956? Who was Anthony Eden and why did he hate Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser? Why was the Suez Canal so vital to European oil supplies in the 1950s? Anita and William are joined by the brilliant Alex Von Tunzelmann, auth ... Show More
42m 7s
Aug 20
283. Partition: East Pakistan Becomes Bangladesh (Part 6)
How did Bangladesh separate from Pakistan in 1971? When did India and Pakistan go from sharing intelligence to being at the brink of nuclear war? Why did George Harrison from the Beatles organise a concert for Bangladesh? William and Anita are joined once again by Sam Dalrymple, ... Show More
54m 53s
Aug 18
282. Partition: The Birth of The Kashmir Conflict (Part 5)
What happened to the 565 princely states within British India when it became independent from the empire? How are the current conflicts in Balochistan and Kashmir linked to the partition of the princely states? Why have copies of the Lonely Planet been burnt because of their maps ... Show More
49m 56s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2024
D-Day: Victory In Normandy? (Episode 10)
After over a month on the ground fighting through fields and villages, the Allies have forced a retreat by Nazi High Command. The fightback has begun in Western Europe. Al Murray and James Holland assess Allied victory, losses and our memory of June 1944. In the biggest series of ... Show More
1 h
Jan 2020
The Cold War: Prelude To The Present
The Cold War may be over, but the tension between Russia and the West remains. Join Bill Whittle as he narrates this compelling series about two competing ideologies battling for global supremacy in the ashes of World War II. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices ... Show More
1m 10s
Mar 2024
Cassino '44 - The Gustav Line (Part 2)
As the launch of OPERATION SHINGLE nears, Al Murray and James Holland dig deeper into the mountains, mud and mayhem that categorised the fighting in Italy in January 1944 and take a look at the opening battles of the year. They also review the innumerable failures of German high ... Show More
53m 9s
Apr 2021
Stefano Marcuzzi, "Britain and Italy in the Era of the First World War: Defending and Forging Empires" (Cambridge UP, 2020).
This is a reassessment of British and Italian grand strategies during the First World War. Dr. Stefano Marcuzzi, Max Weber Fellow at the European University Institute, tries to shed new light on a hitherto overlooked but central aspect of Britain and Italy's war experiences: the ... Show More
1h 1m
Dec 2023
110. How the nature of war is evolving
In this episode of Battleground Ukraine, Saul David speaks to David Patrikarakos from our sister podcast Disorder. David has just returned from Ukraine where he has been reporting on and off since the initial Russian Invasion in 2014. He discusses what he's witnessed recently and ... Show More
42m 39s
Feb 2023
History of Everything: The Second Punic War
The Second Punic War was the second of three wars fought between Carthage and Rome, the two main powers of the western Mediterranean in the 3rd century BC. Bonus episodes as well as ad-free episodes on Patreon.Find us on Instagram. Join us on Discord.Submit your relatives on our  ... Show More
1h 31m
Apr 2024
The Battle of El-Alamein Explained
Fought in the second half of 1942, the Battles of El Alamein were a series of climactic confrontations in Egypt between British Imperial and Commonwealth forces and a combined German and Italian army. Intended as a last-ditch attempt by the British to halt Axis gains in North Afr ... Show More
41m 58s
Jun 2023
Fighting The Wolfpacks
The summer of 1943 was crucial in the battle for Atlantic supremacy. How did the Allies defeat the Nazi U-Boats to regain control of vital shipping routes across the oceans? A Goalhanger Films Production Produced by Harry Lineker Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Twitter: #WeHaveWays @W ... Show More
54m 51s
Apr 2022
César vs Vercingétorix
Dans cet épisode de Crousti-History, on vous parle de César contre Vercingétorix. Un véritable combat de coqs !L’histoire commence vers -50. Depuis un bon moment que les Gaulois et les Romains font du commerce ensemble. Même si parfois ça se passe mal, certains peuples celtes son ... Show More
2m 43s
Oct 2022
248. Medieval Treason (Part 1)
Join Tom and Dominic at the National Archives as they explore the history of treason in Britain, going right back to the 1351 treason act. How has treason changed since its inception? Why are traitors hanged, drawn, and quartered? What impact did the reformation have upon treason ... Show More
54m 29s