History Flakes - The Berlin History Podcast
Explore the history of one of the world’s most captivating cities with "History Flakes - The Berlin History Podcast." Your hosts, seasoned tour guides Pip Roper and Jonny Whitlam, take you through the highs and low-lows of Berlin's past, exploring events, lives and stories from Berlin's past.
From the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall to the artistic renaissance of the Weimar Republic and the dark days of the Nazi dictatorship, each episode is a blend of history, stories from the tour guide streets, and a dash of humour. Whether you’re a history buff, a lover of Berlin, or simply curious about the forces that shaped modern Europe, join Pip and Jonny as they peel back the layers of Berlin's history. Discover the heroes, villains, revolutions, and evolutions that have defined this iconic city.
Welcome to History Flakes!
Episodes
42 episodes
S4E4: The Wolf's Lair: Hitler in WWII
Moving the German army into the Soviet Union could probably be described as one of the more difficult tasks of the 20th Century, or ever really. You may need to get up as early as 6am, no seriously I think at least 8am… not even 10am?! Jonny sh...
S4E3: Nuremburg Interview with Jack El-Hai
In this special episode we talk with Jack El-Hai, journalist and author of The Nazi and the Psychiatrist, recently adapted into feature film Nuremberg with Russell Crowe and Rami Malek.We talk about the importance of the trial to the all...
S4E2: Queen Luise of Prussia
Why do bad things happen to hot people?!Welcome all, we are talking about the one and only Queen Luise of Prussia, wife, mother, babe. Although she's often difficult to find under the centuries of cultural and national baggage loaded on ...
Doping in the GDR
Welcome Back everybody!We kick off season 4 with a look at doping in the GDR. How can we prove we’re the most awesome non-democratic socialist state of all time?! MEDALS of course. But which sports and athletes will yield the biggest mar...
Live Bonus Episode! Wilhelm II and Empress Frederick
We went in hard on this one… you’re getting a 2 for 1. A live spectacular on Kaiser Wilhelm II and his mother Empress Frederick AND some musings from us afterwards because we couldn’t get enough of this German/British collab that ended, well… t...
Berlin Wall Escapes - LIVE from the Vault!
Hello Dear History Flakes Listener!We miss you all most cruelly. To tide you over until Season 4 begins in 2026, here's a live show all the way from August 2024. It was over 30 degrees but Jonny rallied valliantly (and only mentioned it ...
Season 4 - coming in 2026!
Hello there! Just a reminder that we will return...most likely in the new year with season 4!!! Thank you to all our listeners and supporters, it's a genuine pleasure to think about what you might enjoy hearing and getting your feed...
S3E10: The Double Cross: Spies in WWII - LIVE at Comedy Cafe Berlin!
Agent ZigZag, Agent Garbo, Mutt and Jeff…who are these people? Are they or have they ever been Portuguese wine merchants? How is running a spy ring like a running a cricket club? All this and more in…The Double Cross, LIVE!!!!! A specia...
S3E9: Wernher von Braun
This episode we dive into the ins and outs of Wernher von Braun’s wartime credentials, before the Americans would be faced with the decision of whether or not his file needed a paperclip to begin with. (It did!) Contrasting heavily from last ep...
S3E8: Klaus Fuchs: WW2 Nuclear Weapons Physicist and Spy
Excellent at mathematics, physics, and possibly even better at being an all round nice guy. Jonny tells us about the life of Klaus Fuchs and his roll in the melodrama of THE BOMB in 1945. Fleeing the Nazi regime, his relationship with Max Born,...
S3E7: Emil Jannings and Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich and Emil Jannings were two of the biggest stars in both Weimar Germany and Hollywood in the early 20th century…they’re not that bothered about each other, but they would star together in The Blue Angel, filmed precisely as Wall...
S3E6: The Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference... The Pozi Confs for those in the know, as you are soon to be. It’s like summer camp for if you’ve been a good boy and defeated Nazi Germany in Europe. You all get together and decide what the hell do we do now? Stalin a...
S3E5: Nazi WWII Surrender in Berlin
World War II is over in Europe. But technically, like how? Who's involved? What's in Karlshorst? What will Marshall Zhukov be drinking and who IS Julie Busted? Inquiring minds want to know. Join us as we start to find a bit more bre...
S3E4: The Battle of Berlin
++++Content warning for violence and sexual violence, not one for youngsters or those of a senitive nature to these topics ++++The Curse of the Dodgy Microphone! We've been trying to find ways to record remotely, and Pip had a bit of tro...
S3E3: The Battle of Seelow Heights
80 years ago the Battle of Seelow Heights was the final hurdle for Stalin’s Red Army before reaching Hitler’s fascist capital, Berlin. Before the Battle of Berlin could begin, Soviet troops needed to cross the Oder river, break through several ...
S3E2: Ravensbrück Concentration Camp Part 2: Prisoner Stories with Berlin con Pablo
We continue our discussion about Ravensbrück concentration camp and to reflect on the 80 year anniversary of its liberation with Pablo aka Berlin con Pablo, who's been guiding Spanish lang...
S3E1: Ravensbrück Concentration Camp Part 1: The History of the Camp
Spring 2025 marks the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War II. We're kicking off this season, focused on WWII, by discussing Ravensbrück concentration camp, the only camp purpose built for women under the Nazi regime. <...
S2E11: Berlin: The Early Days with History of the Germans
Dearest Listener! Please enjoy this very special bonus episode! We welcome Dirk Hoffmann-Becking, from The History of the Germans Podcast. If there’s something this man doesn’t know about the Wittelsbachs, I sure as hell don’t w...
Special Announcement - Women's Day Tour, 11:00, Sat Mar 8
‼️👉 Click here to sign up! 👈‼️Link not working? Look up “Pay What You Want Tour - Inter...
S2E9: Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker...Josi Bakes as we've taken to calling her, respectfully. Fizzing with energy, talent, and pure GUMPTION. The only African American woman to be inducted in the Pantheon of France. Her story takes us from the poverty and violence...
S2E8: Stella Goldschlag with Matti Geyer
Join us for a discussion with Berlin tour guiding legend Matti Geyer, as we tackle the sad, mad and certainly very bad Stella Goldschlag. Born and raised to a secular Jewish Berlin family, she would take advantage of her ability to pass as 'ary...
S2E7: Stalinallee & Karl-Marx-Allee
How to build a new countryStep 1: No, not like that!Step 2: Stalin, do you like your birthday present?Step 3: We must make Stalin a nice birthday present, this time while singing a catchy song.Step 4: Oh, Stal...
S2E6: Angela Davis
What happened when civil rights activist, one-time FBI’s most wanted, scourge of J Edgar Hoover, Angela Davis met the GDR? A lot actually. Want to find out? Join us as we dive into Angela’s early years and into her eventful 20s, growing up surr...
S2E5: 2024 Christmas Special with Berlin Companion
And what a special it is! We're joined by the Berlin Companion herself, Beata Gontarczyk-Krampe, author of the wonderful Berlin Companion blog. Beata's deep dives into Berlin history most peopl...
S2 E4: Frederick the Great
What makes a king “Great”? In this episode, we follow up on our exploration of Frederick’s intense and domineering father, the Soldier King, to uncover what shaped Frederick into a true Renaissance man. With secret lessons in music and literatu...