“Agent of the Iron Cross: The Race to Capture German Saboteur-Assassin Lothar Witzke during World War I” with Author Bill Mills

This episode was inspired by an afternoon walking tour hosted by the Mémorial de Verdun museum.    For five days in the beginning of June 1916, French Army CPT Charles Delvert and his 8th Company, 101st Infantry Regiment, defended the Retranchement R1 redoubt against ceaseless German attacks. This is their story, in Delvert’s own words. Reference map for episode:    https://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/fr/arkotheque/inventaires/ead_ir_consult.php?fam=11&ref=FRSHD_AFGG_ead Mémorial de Verdun museum: https://memorial-verdun.fr/en/ New Ypres League, where to join -   New Ypres League vzw: www.newypresleague.com The BFWWP is now on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast.    Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com or the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at [email protected]. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes. 

Independent historian Pat Gang comes on the podcast to talk about Tennessee men who volunteered to fight in foreign armies before the United States entered World War I.    The men discussed: Paul & Kiffin Rockwell Charles Loring Clark Zephaniah Porter Broom James Clyde Lloyd Dr. John W. Morris   New Ypres League, where to join -   New Ypres League vzw: www.newypresleague.com Want to join Lost Battalion Tours in 2025?   Email us: [email protected]   The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast.    Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at [email protected]. Rate, review, and subscribe to the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.

Following up on a podcast discussion we had last year to help the push to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the US Army’s Hello Girls of WW1, we have good news:   We are so close to reaching the numbers we need!   The Hello Girls of the WW1 US Army have never been officially recognized for the groundbreaking service they provided as America’s first women soldiers. In this call to action, an incredible group of people come back on to talk about why the Hello Girls should receive the Congressional Gold Medal.    Joining us are:   Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, representing Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, and the  original sponsor, H.R. 1572 Hello Girls Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2023: (https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/1572/text)   Dan Dayton, Former Executive Director, U.S. World War I Centennial Commission   Catherine Bourgin, granddaughter of Hello Girl Marie Edmee LeRoux    Carolyn Timbie, granddaughter of Hello Girls Chief Operator Grace Banker   Chris Christopher, Captain, USN (Ret.), US WW1 Centennial Commission   Diane Boettcher, Captain, USN (Ret.), genealogical researcher  Support a Congressional Gold Medal for the WWI Hello Girls! Instructions are here:   https://ww1cc.org/hellogirls   US listeners, email or call your Congressional Representatives today! The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast.    Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at [email protected]. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.  

In this stand-alone episode we are going up over the battlefields and the fronts to take a 10,000 meter (that’s 30,000ft) view of the Great War, specifically prosecuting that war through the framework of coalition warfare. We’re going to take a look at the challenges of command within a warfighting coalition.  New Ypres League, where to join -   New Ypres League vzw: www.newypresleague.com Want to join Lost Battalion Tours in 2025?   Email us: [email protected] The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast.    Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at [email protected]. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.  

Historian Michel Gravel comes on the podcast to discuss his focus on First World War history: the efforts of Canadian soldiers in the battles between Arras and Cambrai, France in 1918.    There may be a few awkward cuts in the flow of the conversation as our internet connection was frequently unstable. Sorry about that.  Michel’s works can be found here:   https://ysec.fr/?s=Michel+Gravel&post_type=product   Michel’s GoFundMe for “La place Joseph Kaeble, VC, MM,” in Neuville-Vitasse, France:   https://gofund.me/17574db1   The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast.    Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at [email protected]. Rate, review, and subscribe to the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.  

A short recap of the recent six (6!) weeks spent in France and Belgium on the Old Front Line. Have you ever had an extraordinary and unforgettable day on a trip or vacation? This was extraordinary and unforgettable days every day for six weeks straight.    Special episode features: Neighborhood dads riding at dawn to mow their lawns, and one of the cats complaining that he can’t get into my recording space.    Lost Battalion Tours - Get on our mailing list! Email: [email protected] FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/lostbattaliontours Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostbattaliontours/ The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast.    Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at [email protected]. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes. 

A short episode inspired by a visit to the German Soldatenfriedhof in Liny-devant-Dun, France. The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast.    Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at [email protected]. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.  

Author Bill MIlls comes on the podcast to discuss his book Agent of the Iron Cross: The Race to Capture German Saboteur-Assassin Lothar Witzke during World War I.   Spies, deception, intrigue, and sabotage: these are not the stories we usually think when we think WW1. They are part of this story, though.   Buy the book here: https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538182086/Agent-of-the-Iron-Cross-The-Race-to-Capture-German-Saboteur-Assassin-Lothar-Witzke-during-World-War-I   The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast.    Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at [email protected]. Rate, review, and subscribe to the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.  

A look at the United States’ efforts in the First World War, the efforts of the American Expeditionary Force on the battlefield, and what the Doughboys showed and taught us. The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast.    Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at [email protected]. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.  

Former Tennessee Park Ranger David Brady comes on the podcast to speak further on the AEF’s 30th Division, its 119th Infantry Regiment, and his great grandfather–a Doughboy who saw action with those units.   The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast.    Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at [email protected]. Rate, review, and subscribe to the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.