From the Middle Ages to Reunification in 25-35 minute long episodes every Thursday
“A great many things keep happening, some good, some bad” (Gregory of Tours 539-594)
Recent Episodes
A quick guide to the show
Seasons
Recent Episodes with transcripts
Episode 223 – A Diet of Worms (1495 Edition)
The long awaited refom of the Holy Roman Empire gets under way – smooth is not the word one would use…blackmail and ruder words are used
Episode 222 –Italian Wars and Spanish Marriages
When king Charles VIII of France marched into Italy in 1494, the medieval political world collapsed and is repalced with something new…
Episode 221 –Taking Back Control
Maximilian returned to the Empire in 1489 to find thingsin a mess. Cousin Sigismund was wasting the family fortune, the enemy still held Vienna and teh imperial princes were unhelpful in the extreme
Holy Roman Emperors And Kings of the Romans
Recent Reviews
All Episodes in Chronological Order:
The music for the show is Flute Sonata in E-flat major, H.545 by Carl Phillip Emmanuel Bach (or some claim it as BWV 1031 Johann Sebastian Bach) performed and arranged by Michel Rondeau under Common Creative Licence 3.0.
New Season: The Empire in the 15th century
This is the time when the empire reaches its most challenging phase. This is not the difficult second album, this is more Tina Turner in 1982 when her cover of shame, shame, shame reached #47 in the Netherlands charts.
This is where we see the beginnings of actual states and state bureaucracies developing in Germany. But these states were extremely fragile, likely to be overrun by enemies, divided amongst multiple sons or incorporated into larger entties. War was almost constant, as were dramas of love and pride.
Despite all this strife and feuding, this is also a time of great innovation. Gutenberg came up with the printing press, a technology that would undermine the authority of the Catholic church, fan the flames which led to the Reformation, create the communications infrastructure needed for the rise of modern science and even – if Neil Postman is to be believed – lead to the invention of childhood as an extended, protected phase in the lives of young people.
Like the internet and social media, the printing press demanded new types of content: maps, encyclopedias, fiction, political pamphlets and engravings, opening the world up to the world.
“A free press can, of course, be both good and bad, but, most certainly, without freedom, the press will never be anything but bad.”
Albert Camus (1913-1960)
Support the Show
The History of the Germans Podcast has been advertising free since the very beginning and will remain so. The point of the exercise is not to make me rich (there are many smarter ways to do that), but to make the whole of German history more accessible, in particular to English speakers. But Podcasting is hard work. Each episode takes me about 2- 2.5 working days to prepare and record. So if I want to keep the podcast ad-free and keep my marriage going, I need to make this economically viable. And that is where you fine people come in. If you feel the urge to support this endeavour, are in need for some heartfelt gratitude or just want to have some great extra HotG stuff, choose a membership level that suits your wallet – please!
Become a Reichsritter/Edelfrau
A Reichsritter (Imperial Knight) protects the poor, defends the church and serves the emperor freely and truly. He does not expect anything in return, apart from honour and respect. Nor does an Edelfrau (Dame) debase herself to barter for goods in return for her generosity.
Only an exchange of gifts is suitable for such august personalities, so please graciously receive our Heartfelt Gratitude and accept the invitation to our HotGPod Community site
Become a Reichsfürst/ Reichsfürstin
As Peer of the Realm your great privilege is a seat in the Reichstag where you can deliberate the affairs of the day and advise on future policy. The peers of the ream included not just counts and dukes, but also bishops and mighty abbesses.
Your podcaster most humbly offers his Sincere and Heartfelt Gratitude and with your permission will have your first name and initial read out at the start of an episode and would be utterly delighted were you to accept the invitation to our HotGPod Community
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The noblest of rights of a Prince Elector is to choose. The History of the Germans Podcasts offers you the opportunity here to choose to be even more generous than Imperial Knights/Dames and Peers of the Realm.
The Empire being impecunious ever since your ancestors have broken central power during the Investiture Conflict, there is sadly not much in added benefit that can be offered apart from Eternal, Sincere and Heartfelt Gratitude, your first name and initial read out at the start of an episode and an invitation to our HotGPod Community. We hope you recognise your good fortune and give according to your might
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I like how you say that the German History is difficult to understand fully and leaves a blank canvas that is filled depending on the perspective of the individuals who are biased depending on whether one was Prussian, protestant, Catholic, Austrian, from the Third Reich, the EU, from communist East German, as well as American, British, French or Italian.
We have the same problem in America where people today judge our fore fathers’ past history based on present day standards, present day ethics, present day values, present day events, present day propaganda/fake news/political spin with the powerful projection of internet projection. The same way children do not understand their parents world because they were not exposed to those times.
It was what it was.
Thank you.
Great podcast series so far. I have listened to every episode and am really enjoying learning about German history for the first time. Thanks Dirk!
Thanks Dirk! I have a Lot to read and learn! I wish daddy could do they same, but he has already passed away. Love your excellent information. 🙂
So glad I found this podcast series. Looking forward to listening to them. Thank you.
Great series. Currently my go-to listening anytime I’m out and about, doing dishes, whatever. I’m a serious history nut myself, and this is history as I like it – the interesting bits! Gossipy, factual, and insightful.
Love the perspective!!
Great job Dirk
Learning so much
So happy to have discovered this excellent podcast … Dirk gives a clear and easily followed chronological narrative but also includes a clear and easy to follow analysis of events … makes for really enjoyable listening and learning… thank you Dirk
Where did you took this quote from Gregory VII? I´d like to cite.
Gregory VIII Epist. 1 VIII Nr.21 – a letter to the bishop of Metz in 1081.
Thanks again for the podcast. I can’t tell you how much I’m enjoying. It feels like a great odyssey. One which I am really enjoying and strapped into, with life jacket on and whistle at the ready 😊
A very interesting and enjoyable historical podcast!
Got lazy? First you use the thugs and miracles (for what I am immensely greatfull as I have no idea how would I find a so stupidly named podcast, i was looking for a history of France like a week before your anouncment about t&m) and then no episode next week. When will you get to work?
Ps. My comment i obviously (partially) a joke. Great work, if you d like to give even more details it would be great (never to much). I have a suggestion to, would you be willing to make special episodes about the medieval times in German context? Like about architecture, weapons, metalurgy, industry, food, clothing, German city law etc. If you know that some this has been made and you don t want to repeat could you direct the listeners to it?
Pps. Good work with the prononciation of polish names.
Just started listening to the podcast! I’ve been searching for a good German history podcast, and this one ticks all the boxes for me. I’m greatly enjoying it so far and can’t wait to listen to more!
Excellent podcast!
Very German and yet still a sense of humor lurks inside this intelligent, thoroughly researched, well organized and professional production.
For now, Ottos, Conrads, Henrys, warfare, religion and backroom politics supply enough entertainment, but please cover Metropolis when you reach the 1920s!
Wonderful and informative podcast. European history tends to be about Napoleon and then the World Wars here in the U.S. history curriculum. Thank you!
There is a saga about the two emperors Henry IV and V, telling that in the cathedral of Speyer the bells magically started ringing by themselves on the days when these emperors died: For Henry IV it was the biggest one, called the imperial bell; and for Henry V, it was the small “bell of the poor sinners”.
The saga is obviously somewhat biased, from the point of view of the 19th century. This was the era when those sagas were written down, when after the demise of the Holy Roman Empire, the Germans were seeking to find a new identity, and therefore searching for their roots in history. The protestant majority in Prussia felt sympathy with Henry IV and his struggle against the pope and the catholic church.
This saga has been made into a poem and song by Maximilian von Oër and Carl Loewe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXZai1aGT4g
Another song about this topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4JpCz19BOU
Excellent podcast, really interesting to see the differences and similarities with English history. Like the witty presentation too.
In episode 38 you should t say about racial violence, it was religious violence, if a jew converted he wasn’t a jew anymore. I think it is an important distinction.
Thanks Jan, You are quite right. I will adjust accordingly, just give me a bit of time…thanks for listening
Dirk, great podcast. What is the theme music?
Hi Marcus – thanks so much for your support! The Music is the third movement of the Flute Sonata in E-flat major, H.545 most probably by Carl Phillip Emmanuel Bach. Some claim it as by Johann Sebastian Bach (BWV 1031) performed and arranged by Michel Rondeau, a trumpeter and composer from Canada who kindly allows its use under Common Creative Licence 3.0. I must say I stumbled over the piece when researching suitable music for the podcast and it stuck….
Thanks! Aaaah that explains it, the trumpet completely threw me. I’ll search for the full piece now! Keep up the great work
Herzlichen Dank für diesen interessanten und spannenden Podcast. Obwohl ich mich selber mit deutscher Geschichte beschäftige, erfahre und lerne ich eine Menge neuer Details. Und ganz banal: eine wunderbare Unterhaltung beim Laufen oder auf langen Fahrten. Nochmals herzlichen Dank!
I love this podcast. I’ve been listening to it using my waterproof ipod nano while I swim laps. The time flies by. Dirk is a wonderful History geek. I appreciate the research and big shout out for the delivery. I envy Dirk’s mastery of my mother tongue and impeccable timing with the jokes! Sometimes I get water up my nose! Thank you for this labor of love!
One of two historical podcasts that have been a constant companion from doing things inside the house or outside shovelling snow. It has been a useful reminder that medieval Germany was not just about Frederick Barbarossa or the Hanseatic League. I have particularly enjoyed how the story behind otherwise confusing Investiture Controversy has panned out.
Dirk, just a quick note to say thank you for your efforts at creating and presenting this superb podcast. You and your fellow history podcasters have added mightily to my knowledge of world history. I am truly grateful.
You recently asked for feedback on the new webpages for individual episodes. I have only quickly glanced at these, but the embedded images and maps are wonderful. This is essentially what Doug Metzger of the outstanding Literature and History podcast does. At least for some time, you should remember to remind listeners of these pages and what they have available. Thank you!!
Best regards,
Spencer
Excellent podcast, great introduction to my surroundings while living in southwest Germany. One request: could you make the supporting blog material for previous seasons more accessible? I can only see the current season but am taking my time going through earlier seasons, having started from the beginning when the podcast was already well advanced. Thank you in any case for this unique offering!
I love your podcast. Listening to the episode about Henry II right now. Which you posted on twitter today. I would love to share your tweets, but you’ve blocked me.
Hi, I am sorry if that was in error. I checked and saw the only account I blocked was CypherSafe, which I took to be a Bitcoin advertising spam.
That’s me! I was just really enjoying your thread, because it was about the same episode I was listening to.
Have a great time at the shore!!
Dirk, The History of the Germans podcast quickly rose to the top tier of the 35+ history podcasts I listen to regularly. Thank you for your efforts at putting together this excellent history podcast.
I have one complaint. In the most recent episode, #73, and in another fairly recent episode (I don’t recall which one), you apparently felt the need to use an expletive. From my vantage, there was absolutely no justification for this low-class word usage. English has more than 100,000 words and yet you could not select a word other than an expletive! I expect better from someone presenting an educational podcast. Rather, this is what I expect from middle school or high school boys who are trying to show how tough they are and have a limited vocabulary. If I want to hear expletive-laced content, I’ll simply watch most any Netflix or HBO show, as the script writers for those shows also seem to select words from George Carlin’s “Seven Words” category continuously.
I see Episode #73 is marked as “clean” on iTunes, which is not accurate or truthful.
Unless you are quoting content that contains expletives, there is no reason to dive into that sewer.
I would have written an email to you, but cannot find an email for you. I do not use social media. I do not understand why all history podcaster do not set up and make available a podcast-specific email.
I have in the past recommended The History of the Germans to others. If expletive use continues, I will not only retract those recommendations but will cease to listen myself.
I hope you can find suitable alternative words so that I can continue to listen happily.
Best regards,
Spencer
Hi Spencer,
Let’s face it; swear words are an integral part of any language. Both German and English have wonderful collections of swear words. Sad about it is that most people lack the phantasy to use the right swear word for the right occasion. And yes, I agree, swear words have become too common in our languages which is both bad taste and boring. But there are situations where swear words are appropriate, where a “oh dear oh dear, how unfortunate!“ simply doesn’t rise to the occasion and a „fuck!“ and a „shit“ is exactly what needs to be said. And any author has the right to use expletives when he needs to colour a situation if he can’t use a quote because it has not been recorded.
Kind regards
Alexander, Cologne
I never listen to podcasts, and hardly ever lectures. I also don’t watch movies, documentaries, or television–I really only like reading. This is the first podcast I’ve managed to listen to, because it’s like a good book: information-dense, clear, and entertaining, in a way surpassed only by Robert Sapolsky.
Things I appreciate about this podcast:
– The rate at which new information keeps coming.
– The selection of interesting information. He makes it so you can tell apart an endless stream of historical figures with the same 5 names. Well done.
– The Middle Ages are not my period (that would be the 18th century), so I can’t speak to the quality of the scholarship, but the fact that he keeps refering to chroniclers and pointing out that they can’t be trusted blindly inspires some confidence. Some biases are emerging, but nothing that’s interfered too much with my enjoyment.
– The clear diction.
– The neutral tone of voice, no trying to jazz things up with breathless excitement (the other reason I can’t stand to listen to a lot of audio media). The material itself is interesting enough, or I wouldn’t be here.
– The sprinkling of humorous observations.
– The fact that the humor is deadpan, see above.
There are podcasts I would listen to if Dirk were the one reading the script aloud. Thugs and Miracles, I’m looking at you.
Dirk, you asked at one point early on if you were striking a good balance when it comes to callbacks. It’s perfect as far as I’m concerned: I especially appreciate the way you can remind me of who someone is with only one or two words, at most a sentence. I also appreciate that by the time you give me the reminder, it’s been long enough that I could use one, and also that the reminders frequently serve the purpose of linking historical events together and showing trends through time.
In conclusion, I’m about halfway through, all paid up on Patreon, and looking forward to more episodes! I’ve been recommending this podcast to all and sundry, now with one caveat:
Listeners, be warned that my wife found the trigger warnings in episode 38 inadequate. When I got there, I wasn’t triggered myself, but I have to agree “extreme violence, religiously motivated crimes, and suicide” doesn’t cover it. I’ve been trying to come up with a warning that won’t actually describe what happens in enough detail to be triggering itself, and the best I can come up with is, “Child harm and death, and if you find first-person Holocaust survivor narratives emotionally distressing, this will be very similar.” Maybe someone else can do better.
Hi Dirk,
I am just getting to Barbarossa and I am enjoying it immensely. What a wild and wacky history it is.
Thanks,
Ed
Thanks so much!
Dear Dirk,
I was looking for a modern history of Germany, but I found your podcast, which captivated me nonetheless; and I have been listening for over a year. You have a wonderful storytelling style, and you are a gifted teacher of history. I am really enjoying the background for the story I was looking for, and the joy of sticking with you – to as close to the present as you eventually make it. Reunification in 2026? I’ll surely enjoy the ride.
Thank you for expanding my view, and for the homely company of your voice. I have just made a small contribution to express my appreciation, although it is only a very small amount compared to your contribution. Still, I hope it helps.
Many thanks,
An anonymous fan:)
At one time during one of the earllier podcasts, you recommended a podcast on French history and then right before Barbarosso, you mentioned one onByzantium. Couuld you please tell me what they were? I have really enjoyed the podcasts and have learned soooo much. Keep up the good work!
Not sure I replied. The Podcast is called Thugs & Miracles, Ben has got to the early Carolingian period so lots to listen to already. he is gone on an extended breather so I do not know when he will be back. And there is the History of Byzantium by Robin Pearson, also excellent with a couple of hundred episodes going from Constantine to 1453….
Hi Dirk,
I just listened to your bonus episode on Elisabeth of Thuringia, which I really enjoyed (depressing or no). I was wondering, though, if there will be more bonus episodes similar to your very first one on the Aula Palatina in Trier? As a non-German who is living, off and on, in Germany for my research, I find such episodes relating to historical sites very interesting and would love to hear more of them. This is not to say that I do not enjoy the more biographical type of bonus episode, but perhaps a bit more of a mix would be nice.
Anyway, regardless, I really love the podcast.
All the best,
-Mike
Hi Michael, I will do my best. At the moment the weekly production schedule is quite stressful, so I am just using leftovers from that research for the bonus episodes. Not quite what you guys deserve but not sure how else I can keep my head above water.
Hi Dirk, I very much enjoyed your latest episode on the art of hunting with birds, and I liked your rant. I’m not a historian but what you said sounds plausible to me. It also occurred to me that the exceptions you mentioned to the rule of pious medieval kings (Roger II, Frederick II, etc.) were (i) literally related to one another so it isn’t that surprising that they share some features in common, (ii) more importantly, ruling in _southern_ Europe where they came into contact with Arab culture which, at the time, was more advanced scientifically than the northern Europeans. So (in support of what you say) it isn’t surprising that they were less pious and more scientifically-minded than many of their other christian contemporaries. Anyway just a thought.
Hi, Dirk, and thank you, so much!
I’ve been on the look out for good English-language Germanic history that isn’t focused on the Third Reich for decades. Important history, to be sure, but not what I wanted to learn about. My grandfather and his siblings instilled their love of history in me from a young age. I was fascinated by stories from the American Revolution and American Civil War and the family stories that were passed down.
Like many of my generation, I followed Richard Burton and Vanessa Redgrave into a life-long love of all things Arthurian and that left a short hop to Robin Hood, Eleanor of Aquitaine and more. It wasn’t long before I wondered what my Germanic ancestors were doing in those days but it wasn’t nearly as easy to find books …. fiction or non.
I haunt bookshops (new and used), libraries, and the fringes of the Internet hoping against hope to find some bit of readable research that will help me understand my ancestors, their lives, and choices better. With the advent of smart speakers I will randomly ask Alexa to find podcasts on German Medieval History …. always to my disappointment.
But, lo, there came a day while I was mopping the kitchen floor and I made my plea to Alexa …. and her answer was History of the Germans. That was June. I listen in the house and in the car. I listen and re-listen and I am absolutely hooked.
I’m up to episode 72 and looking forward to however many you are willing and able to produce. I made your show my splurge for myself and now I’m a Patreon supporter …. because I want your family life to be happy and because I believe we should support the thing we use and enjoy …. but also because I need you to get to the German duchies and counties that my ancestors left in the 1600s and 1700s.I’d like to know more accurately what motivated them to take passage to New York, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
So, yeah, completely self-serving!
I love your storytelling style … that you make the people feel so real and complete … and that you put so much in context. Thank you for filling a significant gap in the accessible history and for pointing us so generously to others doing similar work.
Kathy
Hi Dirk;
Love the podcast and the last episode (89) was great as usual. Just a little comment. The “my cold, dead hands” quote is from Charlton Heston, not Clint Eastwood. I wouldn’t dare to doubt any other fact in your series.
Thanks and best regards
Gary Shavit
Ramat Gan
Israel
I am so sorry. You are absolutely right. Not sure how I could get that wrong, since I remember the clips from the NRA meeting at the time. What makes it worse is that Clint Eastwood is actually pro gun control.
I removed the sentence and will apologize in the next episode. Thanks for making me aware. Dirk
So excited about the focus on the North now! I honestly had a hard time getting into the earlier seasons due to the focus on the South and Italy. Thanks for doing this!
I’m so glad I discovered this series and am recommending it to everyone who will listen. I had no idea that Magdeburg, the homeland of my mother’s family, was so important back in the Ottos’ days. I myself was born in Berlin and raised as a northern German, so it’s doubly interesting to me to hear about the conflicts with and prejudices about the southern Germanic lands go so far back!
I wake up early every morning looking forward to hearing Flute Sonata in E-flat major, and another episode of History of the Germans Podcast on my commute to work. Thank you for that.
I just came upon your podcast. I love it!! Thank you for bringing it, and for your sense of humor, which proves that Germans can be funny. My father was also a very funny German; which makes two! 😄
Great show. It has filled a major gap in historical podcast content. Dirk delivers the goods in perfectly fluent English flavored by an excellent German accent, which helps draw the listener’s imagination into the context of the narrative. I have only one tiny niggle to mention, and I do so on the pretext of my personal duty to don the hat of the language pedant that was thrust upon me in accepting my undergraduate degree in linguistics. From anyone else, this would count as petty nitpicking, thus I bear the burden of pointing out that the phrase “…FROM the price of a latte per month” would work better as “…FOR the price of…” With that small tweak, I can bump up the grade from 99 to 100 for an A++.
Thanks…g
Lol. Well, with my PhD in linguistics and TESL experience, this is not my only linguistic nitpick, but it did take me a while to convince my brain that I was okay with interpreting “FROM the price” as marketing speak for “starting at the price of,” which means something different from “FOR the price of.” 😉 I, for one, am happily paying more than the price of a latte per month.
But as an American linguist by training, I have to say, I enjoy the mixture of British and German accents so much it adds a whole second layer of enjoyment for me to each episode. And it behooves me not to nitpick such normally excellent English (unless Dirk is actively seeking linguistic input), when the state of my German is…let’s just say I’m not producing a podcast in it any time soon.
Ha! I have just caught up on the most recent two episodes, and I’m pleased to find that I correctly deduced what “from the price of” meant and how it’s different from “for the price of” a latte. I would have used “starting at the price of”, myself, but I can get used to “from”.
It really became a torture to wait for thursdays…
I don’t want to use Patreon. If I make a donation via the website, do I become a member?
I am currently trying out a new platform provided by Captivate. If you go here: https://history-of-the-germans.captivate.fm/support you can become a member on this platform. You get the bonus episodes there. If you make a one-time donation unfortunately there are no bonus episodes. I hope this helps.
Huge fan of the show. Been listening for a little over a year now. I’ve always loved the E flat major bwv 1031 intro, but I can’t find the exact recording anywhere. Does anyone know where to look? Or if it’s on YouTube or Spotify? Would be a great help.
https://imslp.org/wiki/Flute_Sonata_in_E-flat_major%2C_H.545_%28Bach%2C_Carl_Philipp_Emanuel%29
This is still the only podcast I listen to! I’m delighted with the shift to the north and east. I did enjoy the focus of earlier episodes, but I was mildly disappointed at these parts being left out (but I wasn’t about to complain that one podcast wasn’t trying to be everything to everyone). Imagine my surprise when we got to a new season and they were being covered in depth after all!
If I could have one wish now, it would be a per-episode bibliography. I’ve read a number of the books in the Recommended Books section, but something that gave me a “readalong” experience, and told me where to look for more on the content of specific episodes, would be very valuable.
Keep up the good work! My wife and I are particularly looking forward to the 14th century.
Since you have provided such a great catalogue of recommended books I was wondering if you might be able to recommend a history that speaks specifically to Saxony Anhalt, particularly the Magdeburg area in the Middle Ages. My German is a bit too slow for History reading so I would prefer English, that said any titles in German would also be of great interest!
Many Thanks for your wonderful work!
Kirk,
Great podcast! Thank you for all of your efforts. In addition to the podcast, I appreciate the separate webpages for each episode, especially those that include the transcripts, maps, and images.
I am curious if there are separate pages for Episodes 107 – 112? I just found the pages for episodes 113-115 (at bottom of home page, not available in drop-down menu), but do not see separate pages for 107 to 112.
The only piece of “constructive criticism” I have for you is to help those whose grasp of German geography is not excellent. I’ve been to Germany twice, but the first time was 1981 and the second time 1999, and look over maps while I listen to episodes, but any additional assistance you can provide in context would be appreciated.
Again, thank you for this outstanding podcast.
Best regards,
Spencer
Wow, what an embarrassing typo. Noticed it the second I hit Post. Dirk, I apologize.
–Spencer
As an academic historian, I can’t commend ‘The History of the Germans’ highly enough. The research and technical effort put into it make it one of the most pleasurable listening experiences to be found anywhere. I am now on episode 102, and look forward to every remaining instalment.
Can I make a special request, though? When you get to the eighteenth century, can you include coverage of the Russlandeutschen? They tend to get short schrift both from the German side and from the Russian (broadly understood). I would love to hear something about their migration across Germany into Russian lands, and then to the New World. I realise it is a long way off chronologically, but there are many of us out here with a vested interest.
Regardless, keep up the superb work, and thank you for all you have done so far!
First, truly the best German history podcast I have yet listened to. I dread the day that I catch up to your current uploads, because that means I’ll need to wait every week.
Second, where did you get the Gregory of Tours quote in translation? (the “some good, some bad” quote.) I cannot find a citation for it online.
-Declan