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Goalhanger

A history podcast that explores the narratives, turning points and characters that shape conflicts, encompassing a blend of social and military history. Following on from the series on the Falklands War, best-selling military historians Patrick Bishop and Saul David turned their attention to the war in Ukraine, and now every Wednesday look back to the seismic events of 1945.

Goalhanger Podcasts

Battleground

In the dramatic conclusion of this two-part special, Saul David and Patrick Bishop deconstruct the chaotic 99 minutes on the ground at Entebbe. The episode tracks the high-stakes assault from the moment the first Hercules landed in a tropical storm to the black Mercedes decoy and the controversial firefight that followed. 

Together they examine the tactical blunders and friendly fire tragedies that nearly jeopardised the mission, while featuring rare eyewitness accounts—including a startling claim that the German terrorists may have ultimately spared the hostages they were ordered to kill.

Beyond the military feat, we explore the heavy price of the raid and its enduring political legacy. While the rescue of 101 hostages restored Israel’s national pride and catapulted figures like the Netanyahu family into the political spotlight, it also left a trail of unanswered questions. From the secret diplomacy required to refuel the planes to the debate over whether this victory made regional peace harder to achieve, we analyse how a single hour in Uganda changed the face of special operations and Middle Eastern politics forever.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

366. Blunders, Bullets, and the Black Mercedes: Entebbe part 2

In this episode, Patrick Bishop and Roger Moorhouse explore a week of geopolitical upheaval that marks a potential "1938 moment" for the modern world. 

One year into Donald Trump’s imperial presidency, the duo discusses the stunning ultimatum issued to eight European NATO allies: accept a massive tariff hike or facilitate the American purchase of Greenland. 

Roger weighs in on whether NATO can survive this direct threat to member sovereignty and the unprecedented refusal of the U.S. to rule out conflict with Denmark.

The conversation shifts to the "Donroe Doctrine" and the strategic importance of the High North. Patrick explains why this obsession with the Arctic might inadvertently pit Trump against Putin, potentially shifting the Kremlin from an admired friend to a strategic foe—a rare "bright spot" for a struggling Ukraine. 

Meanwhile, they report on the worsening humanitarian crisis in Kyiv, where a million residents remain without power in sub-zero temperatures.

Interested in supporting Insulate Ukraine? Check them out here: https://www.insulate-ukraine.org/ourwindow

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

365. Darkness in Kyiv and the Duel for Greenland

On June 27, 1976, Air France Flight 139 was diverted to Uganda, sparking a crisis that would redefine special operations forever. In the first of a two-part special, hosts Saul David and Patrick Bishop break down the lead-up to Operation Thunderbolt.

Saul provides a first-hand look at the "Unit"—the elite Sayeret Matkal—and the internal friction between legendary commanders like Yoni Netanyahu and Muki Betser. We dive into the chilling logistics of the hijacking, the "selektzia" that echoed the darkest days of WWII, and the secret intelligence gathered by a hostage who faked a miscarriage.

From the "Goldfinger" ruse involving a black Mercedes to the clandestine refueling deal struck in Nairobi, Part 1 covers the 48 hours of desperation and ingenuity that preceded the most daring 2,000-mile flight in military history.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

364. The Impossible Mission: Entebbe Part 1

As Ukraine slips from the international headlines in favour of turmoil in Venezuela and Iran, Roger Moorhouse and Saul David examine a week of "curious" developments and renewed escalation. With temperatures plunging to -14°C, Russia has intensified its campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, launching a rare Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile at Lviv—a strike less than 50 miles from the Polish border that the Kremlin frames as a "false flag" retaliation.

The hosts also dive into the escalating maritime war, discussing the capture of the Russian shadow fleet tanker Bella-1 and recent Ukrainian drone strikes on four tankers off Novorossiysk. 

They explore the shifting policies in the UK regarding special forces interdictions in the Atlantic and the significant €90bn support package announced by the EU, which survived a tense "EU-first" debate between Paris and Berlin. Finally, they look at Estonia’s bold move to ban hundreds of former Russian soldiers, citing the "non-theoretical" threat of combat-hardened veterans with criminal backgrounds.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

363. Oreshnik Over Lviv: Winter Strikes and the Shadow Fleet

In the premiere of a new series from Battleground, Patrick Bishop and Saul David dive into the high-stakes world of Special Forces to explore why these small bands of elite warriors have captured the global imagination. 

From the SAS and Delta Force to Sayeret Matkal, the duo strips away the Hollywood veneer to define the "SF type," debating whether it is superior fitness, a specific mental edge, or a carefully cultivated mystique that sets these operators apart. They also examine the massive literary obsession with units like the SAS, questioning what our fascination with "supermen" reveals about our own society.

We also look forward in our episode to what is coming up in this new series including: Operation Cauldron, the legendary 1942 assault by No. 4 Commando, the Iranian Embassy siege, the failure of Operation Eagle Claw and the precision of the raid on Osama bin Laden.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

362. Introducing - Battleground: Special Forces

In this momentous episode, Patrick Bishop and Saul David analyze the global shockwaves following the US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and its profound implications for the war in Ukraine. 

They explore the rise of the "Donroe Doctrine"—a new American focus on the Western Hemisphere—and how the seizure of the Russian-flagged tanker Marinera marks a direct humiliation for Vladimir Putin. 

The duo also discusses the groundbreaking commitment from Britain and France to deploy troops for a Ukrainian peace deal, alongside President Zelensky’s high-stakes decision to place spy chief Kyrylo Budanov and drone expert Mykhaylo Fedorov at the heart of his administration. 

From the potential takeover of Greenland to the collapse of Russian air defenses, this episode breaks down a week that has fundamentally shifted the geopolitical landscape.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

361. The Donroe Doctrine: From Caracas to Kyiv

In our final episode of our Hero or Villain series Patrick and Roger go all the way back to the first part of the twentieth century and take a look at perhaps Britain's most famous soldier from the First World War - Field Marshall Douglas Haig. 

They take a dive into the arguments for and against Haig and give their judgement. 

They also take a look at the results from the listener votes on our previously discussed characters of the series.

What do you think? Is he a hero or a villain?

Cast Your Vote! Join the debate and cast your vote on Douglas Haig:

https://forms.gle/MBLSFfoE2Jo75Wos5

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

360. Hero or Villain: Episode 6 - Douglas Haig

In the first episode of 2026, Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop look back on a bizarre and momentous year of conflict. The hosts begin by reflecting on the breakdown of international cooperation, noting how Russia has moved from sensitive joint enterprises, like decommissioning nuclear power submarines, to living on the "dark side of the moon" diplomatically and economically.

The centre of this week’s discussion is the surreal meeting between President Zelensky and Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Patrick and Roger dissect the "Olympic levels of restraint" shown by Zelensky as Trump claimed Putin was "generous" in his feelings toward Ukraine. They explore the 20-point peace plan being sketched out by American and Ukrainian officials and why, despite Trump’s optimism, the Kremlin remains unlikely to accept any deal that recognises a sovereign Ukraine.

Finally, the hosts look at the changing face of the front line, where the introduction of long-range "FPV" drones—now capable of striking targets up to 50 or even 100 kilometres away—is creating a lethal "grey zone" that redefines modern manoeuvre warfare.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

359. The Mar-a-Lago Charade & The "Dark Side of the Moon"

In this episode of Hero or Villain, Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop evaluate the military career of Josip Broz Tito, the "titan of Central Europe" who led the Yugoslav partisans during World War II and served as President until 1980. 

The discussion traces his journey from a decorated Austro-Hungarian sergeant major to a revolutionary swayed by communism while a POW in Russia. 

The hosts highlight his strategic brilliance in liberating Yugoslavia largely through indigenous guerrilla efforts and his notable "independent streak" in defying Stalin to pursue a "Third Way" during the Cold War. While acknowledging the high human cost of his tactics and post-war repressions like the Bleiburg repatriations.

What do you think? Is he a hero or a villain?

Cast Your Vote! Join the debate and cast your vote on Josip Tito: https://forms.gle/wbcib4kLXs66E9P19

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

358. Hero or Villain: Episode 5 - Josip Tito

With the Battleground: Ukraine team taking a Christmas break, we have a special interview for you this episode.

Saul is joined by Journalist, writer and pacifist turned volunteer soldier Artem Chapeye, who tells his story plus his thoughts and reflections on the war in Ukraine.

Artem recently wrote the book: Ordinary People Don't Carry Machine Guns.

Join us next week for an update on the latest news from Ukraine.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

362. Introducing - Battleground: Special Forces

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