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When Diplomacy Fails Podcast

by Zack Twamley

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Latest episodes

Goodbye For Now

October 6, 2025 · 14 min

Between working full time and the impending arrival of baby WDF, I would be lying if I pretended as if nothing was going to change. It is, in fact, time to accept that I am only one man. But that's okay, because soon this man will be a…
#70: July Crisis Q&A

July 30, 2025 · 59 min

During this series we have encountered a wide variety of fascinating characters and controversial decisions, but even though the story of why the world went to war in 1914 is finally finished, that doesn't mean we covered everything. After…
State of the Podcast Address 21 July 2025

July 21, 2025 · 29 min

It's been a while since I last checked in with you, and I've been sitting on some incredible news for a while now. If you'd like to know how things are about to change, then make sure you listen in! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy…
#69: The First World War - Whose Fault Is It Anyway? Part 3

July 21, 2025 · 49 min

In our final part, we bring this saga of a series to an end by focusing our attention on the most focused on country of all - Germany. We know what Germany did from 1 August, from the declarations of war to the rape of Belgium, but what…
#68: The First World War - Whose Fault Is It Anyway? Part 2

July 14, 2025 · 38 min

For generations, examinations of the First World War excluded arguably the most important actor - Russia. In this episode, we will hone in on the Tsar's court and his ministers. We will analyse their mindset at crucial moments in the…

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#67: The First World War - Whose Fault Is It Anyway? Part 1

July 7, 2025 · 45 min

By now we've seen the absolute worst that Europe had to offer in 1914. We've seen naive statesmen, misinformed statesmen, distrustful statesmen, desperate statesmen, and everything in between. But when it comes to the question of who was…
The Unreality of Realism w/ Alexander von Sternberg

July 3, 2025 · 2 hr 19 min

Something special for you here - Alex and I had a great conversation about realism in international relations on his History Impossible podcast, and he was good enough to let me publish it on my feed. If you like political discussions…
#66: The July Crisis - Conclusion

June 30, 2025 · 41 min

What have we learned after 65 episodes of background, analysis, and day-to-day coverage of the most consequential diplomatic failure in human history? What can we say about those responsible for what happened, and is there any value in…
#65: 5 August 1914 - 'This Frantic Stampede to Hell'

June 23, 2025 · 46 min

The world was at war, and there was much to do. In London, attention turned to the British Expeditionary Force. The BEF had been ruled out several times before, but that did not have to matter. How many divisions could Britain send, and to…
#64: 4 August 1914 IV - The Final Countdown

June 16, 2025 · 36 min

With only hours left until the ultimatum expired, the mood in London and Berlin was anxious and excited. Was this truly it? Was the Anglo-German relationship now destined to die in a war over Belgium? Some could not bring themselves to…
#63: 4 August 1914 III - A Mere Scrap of Paper

June 9, 2025 · 43 min

The 1839 Treaty on Belgian neutrality was a mere scrap of paper - that was the phrase which doomed Bethmann Hollweg, and Germany, to moral condemnation. It was the excuse which conquerors of all shapes and sizes had trotted out, when what…
#62: 4 August 1914 II - The Last Ultimatum

June 2, 2025 · 43 min

No matter what Britain did, it was impossible for Germany to evacuate Belgium. War was inevitable. Why, then, did most of Britain not even realise it? The straightforward image we have in our minds of Britain taking a stand against the…

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About the show

WDF examines how wars broke out, how they were concluded, and their consequences. Expect juicy diplomacy, sneaky intrigue, fascinating characters, and incredible drama. By Dr Zack Twamley, qualified history nerd. Current Series: The July Crisis Patreon Series: The Age of Bismarck Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.