The GCSE History Revision Podcast

1066 Part III: William of Normandy's Preparations for the Invasion

The Origins of WW2 Part II: The Munich Conference

The Munich Conference was a triumph of Appeasement; it pulled Europe back from the brink of war. Or so it was seen at the time. But later it came to be seen as betrayal of Czechoslovakia and an unacceptable collapse in the face of German aggression. Which one is right? Listen in as Mr W attempts to teach a Geography teacher about the Munich conference.

Geography Bonus 4: Population in LIC - Cairo Case Study

How does a sudden growth in population effect a city that doesn't have the infrastructure to deal with it? This episode looks at the Cairo case study to try and answer that question. As an added bonus you will hear Mr W rendered speechless for pretty much the first time in 20 years.

The Origins of WW2 Part I: Appeasement

Historians and politicians have been arguing about the policy of Appeasement since the 1940s. Was the idea of trying to reach an arrangement with Hitler a sensible way to avoid a war or was it an act of moral cowardice? In this essay style episode we'll discuss the arguments for and against appeasement as well as some of the ways it might come up in the exam. Apologies for the noise right at the end - someone picked that exact moment to start fitting a new window in the next room. 

The Origins of WW2 Part 0: Appeasement - History Today

Historians and politicians have been arguing about the policy of Appeasement since the 1940s. Was the idea of trying to reach an arrangement with Hitler a sensible way to avoid a war or was it an act of moral cowardice? In this essay style episode we'll discuss the arguments for and against appeasement as well as some of the ways it might come up in the exam. 

Hitler's War? Part IV: Anschluss with Austria

What were the events and consequences of the Anschluss with Austria of 1938? Why did this attempt succeed where the 1934 attempt did not? In this slightly different format episode, Mr W tries to explain the Anschluss to someone who's never studied history before. What could possibly go wrong?

Hitler's War? Part III: The Rhineland

The remilitarisation of the Rhineland was the biggest single breach of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. It was, quite simply, illegal. So why did no one stop it? And could action here have stopped Hitler before the situation spiralled completely out of control?

Hitler's War? Part II: Hitler's Diplomacy in the 1930s

How did the Chancellor of Germany present himself to the international community in the early years of the 1930s? And to what extent did this influence the way they reacted towards him later? This podcast covers the years 1933-36.

Hitler's War? Part I: Hitler's Aims in Foreign Policy

For 20 years after 1945, WW2 was regarded as something caused solely by Hitler's actions. For Topic 3 of the exam, you need to consider whether this is true. We start here, with Hitler's aims in foreign policy. Did he want a war? If not, what did he actually want?

Geography Bonus 3: Coastal Processes

In this Geography Bonus Episode, Mrs G tries to teach Mr W about the various types of coastal processes. This podcast is useful for both Coursework and Exam and covers:

• Waves types
• Discordant and concordant coastlines and headlands
• Cracks, caves, arches, stacks and stumps
• Wave cut notches and wave cut platforms.

1066 Part II: Four Kings for One Throne - who should be king?

Early in 1066, King Edward the Confessor died without leaving an heir. This one death and the confusion over who should succeed him was to completely change the course of British History. There were four men who could lay claim to the throne of England, but were all the claims equal?

In this Essay style episode, the three of us have a good old argument about who should be king. And there was genuinely no prep - before the names came out of the hat, none of us knew whose case we would be arguing.

The Origins of WW1 Part V: What were the MAIN causes of WW1?

In this wrap up episode to finish off the Origins of World War One, the two of us have a good old argument about which of the causes is the one you can blame the war on;

• Militarism
• Alliances
• Imperialism
• Nationalism

This is the podcast to listen to if you're worried about the essay questions as you can see how we use evidence to defend our positions.

The Origins of WW1 Part IV: If I Had A Hammer... The Schlieffen Plan

When the war broke out in August 1914, why did a small conflict in the Balkans suddenly engulf all of Europe and then the world? The answer lies much earlier, in a piece of paper written in 1905 by a German officer called Von Schlieffen....

The Origins of WW1 Part III: Dreadnoughts, guns and steel

Militarism is often seen as one of the MAIN causes of the World War One. By looking in detail at the naval rivalry between Britain and Germany, can we get a feel for how tensions in Europe were ratcheted up at the start of the 20th Century?

The Origins of WW1 Part II: A Swift Kick in the Balkans, Bosnia 1908

The Bosnian Crisis highlights the role of Austria Hungary in the build up to world war one and helps explain why the Balkans were the spark that lit the fire. How did the fallout from the collapse of Turkey lead towards the bullets fired in Sarajevo in 1914? Find out here.

The Origins of WW1 Part I: Morocco, 1905 and 1911

"I beheld a pale horse, and the name of him that rode it was Death." Everyone remembers the Kaiser riding his white horse through Morocco in 1905, but why was this little slip of Africa so important? And how did the Agadir crisis bring Europe to the brink of war in 1911?

Geography Bonus 2: The 1999 Turkey Earthquake

In another Bonus Geography Episode, Mrs G attempts to teach the man who knows nothing about Geography about the Turkey Earthquake of 1999. This is another one you will need for your case study.

Geography Bonus 1: The Montserrat Eruption Case Study

This is a special bonus Geography episode, you lucky people! In this, Mrs G attempts to teach Mr W about the Montserrat volcanic eruption which you need for your case studies.

Versailles Part III: Diktat - the German response

The German government and people were infuriated by the dictated peace - or 'diktat' - of the Treaty. Was their anger righteous?

Versailles Part II: The Terms of the Treaty

"This is not a peace treaty," Marshall Foch of France said when he saw the terms, "it is an armistice for twenty years." Sure enough, 20 years later there was another war. Was the Treaty of Versailles to blame? In this podcast we go through the territorial and military terms as well as examining the infamous Clause 231.