In this episode of Historically Thinking, host Al Zambone speaks with historian Peter Fritzsche about his book "1942: When World War II Engulfed the Globe." The conversation explores how 1942 marked the transformation of regional conflicts into a truly global war, examining the unprecedented scale and movement of the conflict, the suffering and displacement of millions, and the ideological forces at play in every one of the warring powers. Key topics include the Holocaust, anti-colonial movements, industrial mobilization, and how the memory of World War II has been shaped by the specter of World War III.
- 00:00 — Introduction: 1942 as a Pivotal Year
- 05:16 — Movement and Kinetic Energy in 1942
- 07:54 — The Scale of World War II: Numbers Beyond Comprehension
- 08:55 — Pearl Harbor and the Five Decisive Days
- 12:28 — Hitler's Declaration of War on the United States
- 15:09 — American Industrial Mobilization
- 17:42 — Japanese Military Strategy and Pearl Harbor
- 19:29 — Japanese American Internment
- 22:34 — The Global Theater of War and Radio
- 26:31 — The Fall of Singapore and Anti-Colonial Movements
- 31:51 — Cross-Cutting Forces: India's Complex Independence Struggle
- 33:55 — Trotzdem: Hitler's Ideology of Total War
- 35:48 — 1942: The Year of the Holocaust
- 39:52 — Ideological Coherence in World War II Armies
- 43:17 — The Importance of Mail in Maintaining Morale
- 46:11 — Richmond, California: The Second Gold Rush
- 48:08 — The Philippines: Between Two Empires
- 50:32 — Ukraine: Caught Between Empires
- 53:56 — How World War III Obscured World War II
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.