History's Devils

37 Episodes

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Calculating Crusader or Bloody-Minded Bandit? Reynald de Châtillon and the Fall of Jerusalem

2026-09-1501:12:02

This week, James Crossland is joined by Nicholas Morton (Author of The Crusader Storm: A Global History of the Wars for the Middle East) to discuss the life and times of the most notorious crusader of his age, Reynald de Châtillon. From his arrival in the Crusader States in the 1150s through to his imprisonment by Nur-al-Din and his increasingly provocative attacks against Saladin, James and Nic explore the violent ambition that drove Reynald and ponder the question of whether his rivalry wit...

Claus von Stauffenberg and the Plot to Kill Hitler: The German Resistance Reconsidered

2026-09-0801:14:37

On this week’s episode of History’s Devils, we’re asking a difficult question – how do you find the devil in a hero? We’re talking about Claus von Stauffenberg, the man who on 20 July 1944, tried to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Sounds like a good guy, right? But, 80 years on from the end of the Second World War, questions remain about the backgrounds and motivations of Stauffenberg and the German resistance of which he was a part. James Crossland is joined by Roger Moorhouse, author of Wolfpack:...

Timothy McVeigh Part 2: The Oklahoma City Bombing and the Re-Shaping of America's Far-Right

2026-09-0146:21

In part two of the Timothy McVeigh episode, James is joined once again by Craig Johnson, host of 15 Minutes of Fascism, to explain how the Oklahoma City bombing was planned and executed. James and Craig also break down the means by which Tim McVeigh and his co-conspirator, Terry Nichols were captured, before assessing the dark legacy of the bombing and the impact it had on America's far-right far-right movements, anti-government extremists and white supremacists, shaping the practices of ever...

Timothy McVeigh Part 1: From Gun-Loving Loner to America's Most Notorious Terrorist

2026-09-0152:27

This week's episodes explores how Timothy McVeigh became the Oklahoma City bomber, tracing his path from disillusioned Gulf War veteran to the deadliest domestic terrorist in American history, while examining the far-right movements, anti-government extremism and white supremacist ideology that shaped his radicalization. For this epic two-parter, James is joined by Craig Johnson, host of 15 Minutes of Fascism, to examine McVeigh's life, beliefs and legacy. Together they unpack the influence o...

Grand Theft Auto's History of America: Gangs, Guns and Police Corruption

2026-08-2556:36

In this episode of History’s Devils, James is joined by Bob Whitaker of the History Re-Spawned Podcast to explore the real American history behind the Grand Theft Auto video game series, focusing on how GTA depicts gang violence, the crack epidemic, police brutality, the 1992 Los Angeles riots, gun culture, corruption, capitalism, the War on Terror, and the changing American dream. The discussion traces the influence of Los Angeles gang culture, the Crips and Bloods, the availability of cheap...

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