Radio War Nerd EP #567 — Operation Barbarossa, pt. 6: Battle of Kiev, feat. Annibale + The War Nerd Speaks!
Guest: Annibale
Recorded: December 11, 2025
Big episode! Annibale explains the 1941 Battle of Kiev and the apex of Hitler's war machine before the fall, in part 6 of our Operation Barbarossa series... plus The War Nerd returns with a message for the RWN Legion.
First at 01:20 - The War Nerd describes the events of the last couple of months...
At 08:16 - Ames & Annibale discuss Europe & the Ukraine war
At 28:13 - Operation Barbarossa: The Battle of Kiev, its context in German politics, and how it marked the apex of Hitler's war machine
Maps:
*Starting line of Kiev offensive, late August 1941. Note the massive salient around Kiev
*The Roslavl-Novozybkov offensive operation, failed attempt to stop Guderian from advancing on Kiev
*The Kiev pocket
*Map of the Battle for Kiev (source: David M. Glantx Atlas of the Battle of Kiev vol III, no copyright infringement intended)
Annibale's bibliography:
Stahel, David. Kiev 1941: Hitler’s Battle for Supremacy in the East. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. The only comprehensive monography on the battle written in English
Isaev, Aleksei V. Kotyol 1941 goda (Cauldrons of 1941). Moscow: Yauza–Eksmo, 2005. Excellent work in Russian on the major Soviet encirclement of 1941. Debunks several commonly repeated myths about both the German and the Soviet Union military
Glantz, David M. Atlas of the Battle of Kiev (Vol I, II and III). Self-published, available online by many vendors. Very expensive but invaluable map reference to understand the day-to-day progression of the battle
Megargee, Geoffrey P. War of Annihilation: Combat and Genocide on the Eastern Front, 1941. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2006. A well-written synthesis of what we know about the Wehrmacht's conduct in 1941 both in military and criminal terms
Kay, Alex J. Empire of Destruction: A History of Nazi Mass Killing. Yale: Yale University Press, 2021. A comparative history of Germany’s use of mass murder during the Hitler era is handy to put the 1941 atrocities in a general context
Annibale's Operation Barbarossa:
-Operation Barbarossa, pt 1: German Military Mindset (EP #552)
-Operation Barbarossa, pt 2: Germany's Allies & Poland (EP #554)
-Operation Barbarossa, pt. 3: Soviet Military Preparations (EP #555)
-Operation Barbarossa, pt. 4: The Invasion (EP #559)
-Operation Barbarossa, pt. 5: Battle of Smolensk (EP #565)
ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE NEW WAR NERD BOOK:
THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN HANGED: WAR NERD ESSAYS ON THE U.S. CIVIL WAR
Total time: 1:46:31
Direct link to this episode's mp3 here
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Buy & review John Dolan's new book, They Should Have Been Hanged: War Nerd Essays on the U.S. Civil War
Subscribe to Radio War Nerd at patreon.com/radiowarnerd
Sound production by Telescope Audio
Comments (37)
That Primo Levi story made me realize just why Annibale is so special. He is the master of the explanatory anecdote!
John soundsvso rested and healthy! Keep it up!
Hey I’m really sorry but could someone please give me a step by step guide to upgrading my membership ? I’m not particularly technically well versed and I can’t seem to get it done, any help would be appreciated
When looking at the podcast feed, 3 dots on the upper right corner> membership>, then should have options to select with tier.
Regarding "make a German T-34" vs "put a prototype heavy tank into production", they actually did the former, kind of, with the Panther. Daimler had designed a far more direct copy in the 35 ton VK 30.01, but it was rejected in favour of MAN's design, which became the Panther. The original specification was for a tank in the 30-35 ton range, but the weight of the Panther ballooned to 45 tons. This was comparable to the allied heavy tanks like the IS-2 (46t) or the Pershing (42t), and 19 tons heavier than a 1940 model T-34. Another difference between the Panther and the T-34 was that the T-34 had a rear engine and rear drive, while the Panther had a rear engine and a front drive, which isn't necessarily a problem in itself (the Sherman had a similar layout, as did most other tanks at the time), but in the Panther's case it caused a very big problem. The Panther's transmission, specifically the final drive, is reported as only lasting 150km on average before breaking down. The gears weren't up to the task of propelling a 45 ton tank. If you look at a picture of a Sherman, you'll see a bunch of bolts in the mid-lower front hall - these were for accessing the transmission. If you look at a picture of a Panther, the front is nice and smooth. The transmission had to be removed and installed through a hole in the roof of the hull accessible by removing a panel. This hole was equivalent to the height of the transmission. When installing, it was lowered in a vertical position into the hull with a crane and shimmied into a horizontal position down at the bottom of that sloped armour. I've linked a time lapse video of the process below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bGS2wfcDyc So, the tank whose transmission regularly broke under its own weight also had a transmission that needed to be rotated from vertical to horizontal while being lowered through a small hole by a crane. German engineering.
Also, this fact should raise alarm bells on anyone who's ever worked on a German car: THEY NEVER CHANGED. Extrapolate that and think about the implications.
Great to hear John is on the mend. I'm sure they would have offered an old school trepanning instead of the nifty suction method if they knew who you were! And as ever, always a good day when Mark can come on as a guest on The Annibale Show.
What a magisterial series - Annibale is so good at charting the shifting perceptions amongst factions as the war went on.
Outstanding episode as ever for this series. I’m reminded in listening to the account of the family being murdered by Wehrmacht officers of this video of German veterans being taken through the Munster tank museum: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1PJkNZ30WV0&t=10s&pp=2AEKkAIB The ease with which these men, who faced with decades of documentary evidence of the crimes of their compatriots and brothers in arms, can either stretch and squeeze a distorted rationale for mass executions or deportations, or simply laugh off accusations from victims of criminal behaviour, is still shocking.
So glad to hear John’s voice, I hope he’s getting better.
The story of the officers murdering the Russian family…. How did this (in this specific story, but also this kind of story in general) get out? Did some Russian witness survive? Some low ranked Nazi pointing fingers at their commanders post war, later? Or Nazis writing home to boast about doing it, like it’s some hilarious wacky incident?
It's one of the dozens of horror stories that were revealed through the extensive tapping program of the British intelligence from 1942 to 1946. Basically, they set "interrogation" centres for captured German high officers, where conversations between these men were wiretapped and secretly recorded. It's all described in this excellent book, but beware, makes for an infuriating read. Of course, none of this was revealed to the public until many decades later, helping create the "clean Wehrmacht" myth https://www.amazon.it/-/en/S%C3%B6nke-Neitzel-ebook/dp/B00HESTGCY/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0
We patiently await Full Bore War Nerd 💪
Can you really call this the war nerd podcast if there’s no casualties from time to time
Wonderful to hear from John. He sounds good, makes me real happy. Nice to know we dont have to feel bad about all the jokes about his loony toons ailments and treatments yet! I have an intense fear/anxiety about medical stuff too, especially psych and brain stuff, being in the situation he describes in the hospital sounds like a nightmare. Its hard to get across how debilitating things like that can be, especially when it traces back to a trauma you'd do almost anything to avoid thinking about on a regular day. We love you John, we're all gonna be here when you get back into it. Take it easy, and take it easy on yourself too. You are worth it, and even if you think you've just tricked us all into thinking that, it's been a real convincing trick so you better follow through and get better for us!
Speaking of the true finns ("basic swamp people" according to TENE) one of their foreign policy people just before they joined the government was a full on nazi satanist pedophile who got in trouble for the pedophilia part. The emprie never ended had a pretty good episode on the guy, and he was just one visible, crazy edge to the thing, a large part of the core of that party are all kinds of weirdo esoteric nazis and internet-poisoned zoomer fascists of all stripes. Its incredibly dark that this kind of shit is all over the place now, not even as a force at the gates of power but fully enmeshed with the liberal order all around natoland. I remember a long while ago annibale talking about neoliberalism and how we tend to define fascism so discretely from other kinds of capitalist systems and ideology. Here in the states these things are fucking baked in to the point where most liberals find it too gauche to talk about, because how can you even exist normally in a place where it's just fine for a huge swathe of public offices to be held by fascists, most of whom are in those positions because they are exceedingly useful for the squishy liberal center to discipline the population with?
Really happy to hear the War Nerd again! Lecce is a great place for his recovery. Great beaches, nice weather even in winter and fantastic food. Pretty cool Roman/Byzantine and Norman history too.
glad to hear that John is on the mend. cant wait for him to be back 💖 I would also just like to urge you all to do a full holocaust by bullets episode, i used to work for a holocaust museum as an educator, some of the most horrific stories ive ever heard took place on the killing fields of eastern europe in late 1941. i think it is especially important to examine the psychology of the men who carried out these killings, and the myths that surround them. many were bloodthirsty killers, but many as well were seemingly ordinary men who followed their orders with very little hesitation. i remember reading the letters home written by one einsatzgruppen commando, who very clearly was being wracked by guilt and doubt and cognitive dissonence over the horrors he was committing, but nevertheless continually found ways to twist his actions into noble and necessary and good. the importance of alcohol in this story also should not be ignored. einsatz commandos were issued rations of liquor to help them do their jobs, and massacres were often carried out by units who were near blackout drunk. these men were also not forced to carry out these killings under threat of death, as is often claimed. these men were free to request reassignment without punishment. over 90% willingly followed their orders.
Yes, it's a crucial topic, with a lot of resonance with current events
Glad to hear from John. My prayers are for his full recovery. This is also such a tremendous series!
What an uncharacteristically optimistic episode! Really glad to hear John's feeling better!
Glad to hear from John and that he's recovering well
Pornbot subbed to RWN, now we know the show is going places
Good to hear you John, take your time no one's going anywhere 👍
Thanks for the message, John. It’s great to hear from you again, and there’s nothing you need to make up for. I’m glad you’re okay.
Praying for John's full recovery. Keep holding down the fort. Love ya Mark.
Lovely to hear from John! I’m glad everyone’s taking it slow. Brain stuff is terrifying.
Great episode end to end
Take it easy John 🤘🏻 been subbed for years and I'm not going anywhere
Lfg
Glad to hear things are improving! Take it easy and enjoy the rest of the year.
Big Boss has returned!
Hang in there compa! Nobody is leaving the patron because your gone ! Take your time. Only one life and health is more important than work ! Especially when there is a supportive community here around the show ! Solidarity with you!
John please. I'm not going anywhere. Get better.
Oh fuck he alive
Yessss
Yess