The Gulf War: 30 Years On

The Gulf War: 30 Years On

On this day thirty years ago a ceasefire was declared bringing ground operations in the first Gulf War to an end. An overwhelmingly powerful coalition force had stormed across the desert driving Saddam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait and concluding the ground campaign after only 100 hours of fighting. To commemorate this anniversary I am joined on the podcast by General Sir Rupert Smith who commanded the UK 1st Armoured Division during the conflict. We talk about his role during the war, the challenges of command and what we should understand about the changing nature of combat in the modern world.


General Sir Rupert Smith joined the army in the 1960s and served on deployments across the world including Africa, Arabia, the Caribbean, Europe, Malaysia and Northern Ireland where he was decorated for gallantry. In October 1990 he was promoted to Major-General and assumed commanded of the 1st Armoured Division as it was being deployed to the Gulf in anticipation of the war. This was the largest British armoured force deployed in action since the Second World War. After the Gulf War Sir Rupert went on to serve with distinction in Bosnia and wrote a book called The Utility of Force which remains essential reading in military circles.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Avsnitt(1500)

Nuremberg: The Trial of Göring

Nuremberg: The Trial of Göring

Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide.When the Nuremberg Trials began in November 1945, Hermann Göring was the highest-ranking Nazi to face justice for the crimes of the Third Reich. Ch...

17 Nov 202540min

The Black Death

The Black Death

Could the plucked backside of a chicken really cure the plague? If that question has ever crossed your mind, then this episode is for you. Today, we’re diving into the Black Death - where it originate...

13 Nov 202535min

The Battle of Passchendaele

The Battle of Passchendaele

In partnership with Findmypast, Dan narrates the extraordinary story of the Western Front at its most unforgiving. Passchendaele became a byword for the futility, endurance and industrialised slaughte...

10 Nov 202546min

Rome's African Emperor: Septimius Severus

Rome's African Emperor: Septimius Severus

We dive into the life and legacy of the North African-born ruler who rose through the ranks to seize the imperial throne. We discover how Severus transformed the Roman military, led daring campaigns a...

6 Nov 202541min

The First Day of the Somme

The First Day of the Somme

In partnership with Findmypast, Dan narrates the extraordinary story of the bloodiest day of the First World War. The first day of the Somme saw units wiped out as men charged from their trenches dire...

3 Nov 20251h 5min

Ancient Irish Funeral Traditions

Ancient Irish Funeral Traditions

Have you ever been to an Irish wake? If so, you may have heard of the ancient tradition of keening or the superstition of the 'hungry grass'. In this episode, Dan is joined by the hosts of the After D...

31 Okt 202535min

What Caused Europe's Witch Hysteria?

What Caused Europe's Witch Hysteria?

Across early modern Europe, fear spread like wildfire; between the 15th and 17th centuries, tens of thousands were accused, tortured, and executed as witches. At its centre was a man named Heinrich Kr...

29 Okt 202531min

Atatürk: Fall of the Ottoman Empire

Atatürk: Fall of the Ottoman Empire

On the 19th of May, 1919, an Ottoman general stepped ashore at the Black Sea port city of Samsun. This marked the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence, and ultimately the end of the Ottoman Em...

27 Okt 202534min

Populärt inom Historia

massmordarpodden
historiska-brott
kod-katastrof
p3-historia
motiv
historiepodden-se
olosta-mord
rss-historien-om
rss-seriemordarpodden
historianu-med-urban-lindstedt
rss-brottsligt
rss-historiska-brottslingar
rss-massmordarpodden
krigshistoriepodden
militarhistoriepodden
harrisons-dramatiska-historia
rss-arkiv-stieg
palmemordet
nu-blir-det-historia
rss-folkets-historia