After the Armistice rang out in Paris, thousands of miles away U.S. soldiers from “Detroit’s Own” 339th Infantry were still fighting—on the frozen rivers and forest tracks of North Russia. In this episode, Chuck and Marco unpack the Polar Bear Expedition (1918–1919): why Americans landed at Arkhangelsk, how “guard duty” became a live-fire campaign, and what those white-woods battles at Toulgas, Shenkursk, and Bolshie Ozerki can teach us about mission creep, coalition command, and logistics in extreme cold. We follow the homecoming, the years-long effort to bring the fallen back, and the Michigan memorial that keeps their names alive.
What you’ll hear
- The real mission vs. the mission on the ground
- Gear, ice, and ingenuity: how soldiers adapted to Arctic war
- Battle stories from scattered outposts and frozen rivers
- The withdrawal and Detroit’s roaring welcome home
- Memory work: the Polar Bear Association and the Troy memorial
- Why it still matters—and yes, one joke about actual polar bears
Powered by AI: The History AI Podcast uses the newest GPT-5 architecture to keep research tight, pacing sharp, and episodes evergreen—relevant whenever you press play.
Stay tuned: After the credits, enjoy our original song “Archangel Letters (Polar Bear Song).”
Support & Links
- New merch is live (tees, mugs, hoodies)—perfect for Arctic vibes.
- Suggest topics, send questions, and find sources & show notes here: https://linktr.ee/thehistoryaipodcast
Help the show grow If you enjoyed the ride, please rate, follow/subscribe, and share—and a 5-star review helps more listeners find us. Thanks for listening, Polar Bear pals! 🐻❄️
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