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
36 episodes
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...
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3:15
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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54:32
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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57:10
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,...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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57:42
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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1:04:02
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...
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53:33
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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48:56
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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1:17:36
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 ...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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37:02
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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1:14:20
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. <...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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1:06:40
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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1:10:07
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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0:42
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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1:03:26
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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54:29
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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57:46
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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47:25
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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53:51
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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1:01:43
S2 E3: The Soldier King
THIS guy...This. Guy.Meet Friedrich Wilhelm II. The Soldier King. Father of Friedrich the Great, second ever King of Prussia. He's a fighter not a lover, unless you're over 6 foot, in which case watch out, he might love you so hard you'...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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1:02:57
S2 E2: The East German Coffee Crisis
Wanna have a coffee? Well, I hope you're not an East German in the '70s & '80s, 'cos it's gonna be tough (and taste like wood).On this episode of History Flakes Pip & Jonny dive deep into the lukewarm cup of coffee that is East ...
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44:38
Special Episode - Tour of Zentralfriedhof Friedrichsfelde
Come enjoy an atmospheric walk around a cemetery bursting with history! Let's explore the Zentralfriedhof Friedrichsfelde in this beautiful, golden Autumn together.Listen at home, or follow along with a blog post, map, and photos - you ...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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1:21:47
S2 E1: Nosferatu and F.W. Murnau
Dear Listener, Come closer to the fire, pull your shawl a little tighter about your shoulders...pay no attention to the pale looking figure staring longingly at your neck from the shadows. It is our great pleasure to k...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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51:06
Episode 13: History Flakes Live! Max Schmeling
Let's dive into the wild and bruising life of Germany’s best-known pugilist, Max Schmeling—the man who went from Weimar wonder to darling of Nazi propaganda, and somehow managed to emerge in post-WWII West Germany with an intact reputation....
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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30:11
Episode 12: History Flakes Live! Anita Berber
Anita Berber, pioneering dance performer extraordinaire, or violent thieving drug-addled lunatic? Why not both!?Join us during our first live recording as we talk about the life and times of Anita Berber, the ultimate performance wunder...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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31:09