13 episodes

A story from the past that can help us understand our world today, and what happens when good people do nothing to stop the worst people on earth, while they still can.

How To Start A War - WW2 Podcast Michael Trapani

    • History
    • 5.0 • 80 Ratings

A story from the past that can help us understand our world today, and what happens when good people do nothing to stop the worst people on earth, while they still can.

    Desperation | Chapter One

    Desperation | Chapter One

    How does the deadliest event in human history happen? What are the foundations of the crime of the century? How are the criminals who committed this crime allowed to thrive? This is How To Start A War: A story from the past that can help us understand our world today – and what happens when good people do nothing to stop the worst people on earth while they still can. 
    In Chapter One, we introduced to the first set of criminals who caused the Second World War to happen and the lessons they learned in their early attempts to take power. We also discover the many outside factors that set the stage for these men to take advantage of a desperate situation, and start a world war. 

    • 44 min
    Divided, We Fall | Chapter Two

    Divided, We Fall | Chapter Two

    How do democracies fail? It's not as unlikely as you might think. The institutions are not set in stone, nor do they function on their own. They are susceptible to failure when they are not defended. In this episode, we learn about what happens when a fledgling democracy comes under attack by a demagogue and is weaponized against itself. 

    • 53 min
    Long Knives | Chapter Three

    Long Knives | Chapter Three

    Insurrection, from the inside out. Hitler's quest for power did not end when he was made Chancellor. A villain put into a position of power was only the first step of a brutal, murderous consolidation of power. A dark chapter of betrayal, deception, and how a government official uses violence to transform himself into a dictator.
    Subscribe for a new episode every month.
    Follow on Instagram for photographs, videos, and bonus content from each episode @howtostartawarpod

    • 48 min
    Fear | Chapter Four

    Fear | Chapter Four

    How do you conquer a country by telephone? How do you invade a free nation without firing a shot? With a different kind of weapon - Fear. 
    Now that Hitler had consolidated power in Germany, he began to look beyond his borders to Austria, his home country. 
    A tragic chapter in the rise of Nazi Germany, where fear was used to intimidate, bully, and threaten others into submission. 
    Subscribe for a new episode every month.
    Follow on Instagram for bonus content, photographs, and videos from each episode @howtostartawarpod

    • 1 hr 10 min
    Appeasement | Chapter Five

    Appeasement | Chapter Five

    What are the obligations of powerful nations to keep peace? What level of sacrifice is acceptable for the greater good? Is it permissible to destroy one small country to save ten large ones?
    These are the questions that Neville Chamberlain and the leaders of the great powers of Europe would have to wrestle with in this chapter of How To Start A War.
    Follow @howtostartawarpod on instagram for bonus content, photographs, and videos from the story.  

    • 52 min
    Broken Glass | Chapter Six

    Broken Glass | Chapter Six

    In the darkest chapter of this series, we experience Kristallnacht through the voices of survivors. We take a candid look at ourselves, and ask what could have been done to stop the Holocaust – and prevent something like it from happening again. 
    Follow @howtostartawarpod on instagram for episode recaps, historical photos, and video. 

    • 1 hr 12 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
80 Ratings

80 Ratings

umbilikal ,

Amazingly brilliant.

Talk about bringing history to life. I have listened to many WW2 podcasts, seen many documentaries and I have an M.A in Dramatic Arts and the storytelling content here is as good as it gets. Fantastic content and research.

Thank you. :-)

Anna AMR ,

Fabulous

I truly love this podcast!! I am so engulfed in it I find myself listening every time I get in my car, I actually look forward to long drives so I can listen to more!! The way Michael Trapani tells the story is like watching a movie but you feel like your literally in it!

McDob1 ,

Amazing

Found this after listening to a review of all quiet on the western front. Michael tells the story of Hitlers rise to power in such a riveting way that makes you want to keep listening to the end , then want more! I could not put the podcast down. It felt like it was happening in present day.

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