When Diplomacy Fails Podcast

Age of Bismarck #15: The Giant Cannot Sleep

[PATRONS]

What was it about Bismarck that made him take even the slightest amount of opposition so personally? When his appointments were blocked; when Reichstag stalwarts like Ludwig Windhor...

#55: 2 August 1914 III - Lichnowsky's Last Stand

While Germany covered itself in infamy, the German ambassador in London did his best to maintain the fragile Anglo-German relationship. His mission was ultimately doomed, but no one could accuse Pr...

The State of America w/ Thom Daly - Part 2

In this second part of my conversation with Thom, we discuss the unlawful way in which the Trump administration behaves at home, including its treatment of citizens who hold views which the Preside...

The State of America w/ Thom Daly - Part 1

In this first of two episodes with Thom Daly, we focus on the United States and its position in the world following the Trump administration's many blunders and betrayals in foreign policy, trade p...

#54: 2 August 1914 II - Britain Decides On War

The traditional picture of British intervention in the First World War normally comes down to one issue - Belgium. On 4 August, Britain did declare war on Germany. However, before this monumental s...

Age of Bismarck #14: 'I Bow Before the Genius of Bismarck'

[PATRONS]

What did Bismarck think of the tumultuous showdown with both Austria and the royal regime he appeared to control? Was Bismarck content to place the blame for his failures on others,...

#53: 2 August 1914 I - Into Luxemburg

The Schleiffen Plan demanded an invasion of the small Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, where German forces would seize key railway installations, facilitating their march into Belgium, and then to France....

#52: 1 August 1914 IV - Desperate Diplomacy

Now that it was clear Germany would have to face the Entente, and likely Britain's imminent intervention, Berlin became much more active in sending diplomatic feelers across Europe. Romania, Bulgar...

Age of Bismarck #13: 'The Poor Things Have Broken Their Own Necks.'

[PATRONS]

In the midst of Bismarck's stunning triumph, Queen Victoria was bombarded with SOS messages from her extended family, and from a wide variety of dispossessed German princes. The Que...

#51: 1 August 1914 III - The Kaiser's Rollercoaster

We open with the shattered dreams of Kaiser Wilhelm II, as the British claim a 'misunderstanding' must have occurred to make Berlin believe Britain and France could remain neutral. The rollercoaste...

#50: 1 August 1914 II - 'There Must Be Some Misunderstanding.'

[PATRONS]

In the final hours of peace, the German government was led to believe that a miracle had occurred. Incredibly, Britain had affirmed its intention not only to remain neutral, but to ...

Trump Betrays Ukraine - What is America Doing?

After that disgraceful display in the White House, I couldn't stay silent any longer. Three years on from when I first offered my thoughts on the situation, in this very personal and raw episode, I...

Age of Bismarck #12: Building the Bund

[PATRONS]

After covering himself in triumph, it remained for Bismarck to leverage this triumph into the complete transformation of Prussia, its role within Germany, and his role within all o...

#49: 1 August 1914 I - Rolling The Iron Dice

[PATRONS]

We're in the endgame now, but somehow, not everyone got the message.

There was plenty of waiting to be done. Berlin was waiting on Russia's reply to its ultimatum, and France ...

#48: 31 July 1914 V - Britain On Defence

In our final JULY episode of the July Crisis, we return to Britain, where the pressure was building to make a decision. Russian mobilisation was clearly in the air, and if the news was true, German...

Age of Bismarck #11: Enter Napoleon

[PATRONS]

Bismarck's triumph may have been complete on the battlefield, but he knew that the diplomatic game was just getting started. Napoleon III, Emperor of France - like most contemporari...

#47: 31 July 1914 IV - 'A Finger's Breadth From War'

Now that Berlin had accepted that war with Russia was inevitable, it remained to prepare the diplomatic ground.

German diplomacy had worked behind the scenes to court Romania and the Ottoman ...

#46: 31 July 1914 III - 'We'd Like Those Chaps To Be In It Too'

As the news of Russian mobilisation and Germany's Kriegsgefahr spread across Europe, urgent telegrams followed.

Whether in London, Berlin, or Paris, the picture was becoming cle...

Age of Bismarck #10: Winning the Germans

[PATRONS]

Austria may have been defeated, but for Prussia to consolidate her triumph, Bismarck believed nothing less than the annexation of several of her allies would do. But how would he re...

#45: 31 July 1914 II - From Russia with Lies

Russian general mobilisation was underway, and with red imperial posters announcing this grave new step, it could hardly be kept a secret. Yet, somehow, Germany seemed the only power truly in the l...

#44: 31 July 1914 I - Start Spreading the News

[PATRONS]

By now, Europe was on a knife edge.

In Berlin, more and more rumours were pouring in that Russian general mobilisation was underway. In Vienna, no statesman was willing to mak...

Age of Bismarck #9: Winning the Peace

[PATRONS]

As Bismarck surveyed the stunning extent of Prussia's military victory over Austria in July 1866, one problem immediately loomed into view. Where once he had driven the Prussians re...

#43: 30 July 1914 V - Britain on the Fence

[PATRONS]

The 30 July was a turning point for the British Cabinet. When the German Chancellor made his bid for British neutrality, yet refused to guarantee the independence of Belgium or to r...

#42: 30 July 1914 IV - Smash Your Telephone!

The Russian decision to commence general mobilisation against Austria and Germany was made in the afternoon of 30 July, ultimately by the Tsar.

It took 24 hours of intense pressure by several...

The Age of Bismarck #8: The Seven Weeks' War

[PATRONS]

What a way to start the new year! Here we look at the opening phases of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. What did contemporaries think of Prussia's odds of victory at the time, goin...

#41: 30 July 1914 III - Immediate Danger of War

[PATRONS]

Welcome to our first episode of 2025! We return to a pivotal moment in the crisis, when Germany experienced yet another 180 in policy.

A day which began with a frantic German ...

Age of Bismarck #7: Europe on the Edge

[PATRONS]

Why did Napoleon III fail to intervene to save Austria from such a fate, and prevent Prussian dominance? Despite what the French may claim, their Emperor had no clothes. As Bismarck...

#40: 30 July 1914 II - 'A Very Ticklish Thing'

[PATRONS]

As Thursday 30 July progressed, one thing seemed clear to the German Chancellor and Foreign Minister - Austria had to be stopped, before the crisis deteriorated any further.

T...

#39: 30 July 1914 I - Caught in the Net

[PATRONS]

By the morning of 30 July 1914, the German government was undergoing something of an identity crisis. Was Berlin the resolute ally, determined to support Austria whatever the cost, ...

Age of Bismarck #6: The State of Austria

[PATRONS]

We've seen Bismarck's side, now it's time to take a proper look behind the curtain, to see just how many chronic problems Austria was hiding. Several deep crises beset the polyglot ...