logo
episode-header-image
Yesterday
42m 55s

398. Stalin: The Great Terror (Part 4)

Goalhanger
About this episode
Soon after Stalin’s purges and mass violence, Nazi soldiers launch a surprise invasion of the Soviet Union, opening up the Eastern Front of World War II.  Who was Stalin’s chief executioner who still holds a Guinness World Record for his number of executions? Why was Stalin surprised that Hitler invaded through Operation Barbarossa when his generals ... Show More
Up next
Sep 20
397. Stalin: Killing Trotsky (Part 3)
Was it an ice axe or an ice pick? The murder of Trotsky in Mexico is infamous, but what does it say about Stalin’s willingness to seek out and destroy his rivals? Who was Leon Trotsky and why was he such a threat to Stalin by the end of his life? In Episode 3 of this series, Anit ... Show More
49m 12s
Sep 16
396. Stalin: The Bolshevik Revolution (Part 2)
Despite later mythology, Stalin was effectively a nobody during the Russian Revolution of 1917. Unlike Trotsky and Lenin, he was not on the frontline amongst the revolutionaries. How did he reveal his penchant for violence during the Russian Civil War in the following years? And ... Show More
44m 4s
Sep 13
395. Stalin: The Rise of A Tyrant (Part 1)
How did Stalin become one of the most ruthless dictators in World History? What was his childhood like in Georgia? How did he rise from a poet training to be a priest, to the ruler of the Soviet Union? In Episode 1 of this new series, Anita Anand and William Dalrymple explore the ... Show More
33m 48s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2022
Empire: the big historical questions
There has been an absolute sea change in the study of empire in recent years. But what are the challenges of grappling with often difficult imperial history, and how does it shape our view of the world today? Professor Toby Green, Dr Sudhir Hazareesingh and Professor Olivette Ote ... Show More
52m 20s
Jul 2021
68. The British Empire
The British Empire: good, bad or neither? And how does its legacy shape us today? Journalist Sathnam Sanghera, author of “Empireland”, joins Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook to explore this timely, fascinating and hugely controversial subject. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Medi ... Show More
55m 3s
Feb 2021
25. Empires
Is the age of empires over? And are they always a bad thing? Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland explore empires through history, examining the modern assumption that nation statehood is always the better way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 
53m 45s
Jun 2025
The Kushan Empire
<p>Embark on an epic journey with Tristan Hughes and acclaimed author William Dalrymple as they unravel the enigma of the Kushan Empire, the ancient superpower of Central Asia. Together they tell the riveting stories behind the Empire's rise in Bactria (modern-day Afghanistan), t ... Show More
59m 20s
Aug 2025
The Sea Peoples
Tristan Hughes sits down with Professor Eric Cline to explore the enigmatic Sea Peoples, often blamed for the catastrophic Bronze Age collapse over 3,000 years ago.Together they explore surviving sources from ancient Egypt to find out who the Sea Peoples were, and how they swept ... Show More
1h 11m
Jan 2025
The Kingdom Behind Glass
Who owns stolen art? Today on the show, the bloody journey of a Benin Bronze from West Africa to the halls of one of England's most elite universities — a tale of imperialism, betrayal, and the making of the modern world.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection an ... Show More
48m 24s
May 2023
329: Coronations: Chaos, Ceremony and Empire (Part 3)
What was the most calamitous coronation of all time? Which ceremony does Tom think is the most boring topic he's ever discussed on the podcast? How will Charles III's big day compare to that of his ancestors? In the third and final episode, Tom and Dominic answer all these quest ... Show More
53m 23s
Oct 2020
Trailer
Hosted by historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, The Rest is History dives deep into history's most dramatic moments and fascinating figures - exploring the stories of great empires, epic battles, and world-changing events. From the rise and fall of the Roman Empire to the ... Show More
4m 46s
Jun 2022
198. Cleopatra's Downfall (Part 4)
Join Tom and Dominic for the fourth and final instalment in their Cleopatra mini-series, as they discuss Octavian's propaganda, the war he waged against Antony and Cleopatra, and their ultimate demise.  Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, wee ... Show More
45m 44s
Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami