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POLL: Pick the Next Extra History Series! "Breaking the Rules""
🕑 Added 2021-06-28 19:53:02 +0000 UTCThe Extra History Series poll is here! In order to help keep things on schedule for Rob's paternity leave, this poll will be stretched over June & July! We're just breaking all kinds of rules. Have these 4 topics that are just a bit past the usual dates.
The Spanish Civil War: Prelude to WWII?
The Spanish Civil War has often been called a prelude to WWII, the first time the ideologies of democracy, communism, and fascism battled on a grand scale—and where both Nazi and Soviet forces honed the tactics they would later use. But to tell the story this way is to sell it short. The Spanish Civil War was no prelude. At the time, it was the international story. One that pulled in war correspondents like Ernest Hemingway, or foreign volunteers like George Orwell. In reality, this so-called "clash of ideologies" was in fact a confused war of political coalitions who often argued and broke with each other—one where its most famous figure, Francisco Franco, only obtained command after all other Nationalist leaders were killed.
Czech Resistance: Prague Burning
Reinhard Heydrich was considered Hitler's possible successor. He was an architect of the Holocaust, known as "Heydrich the Hangman" and "The Butcher of Prague"—and in 1941, the Czechoslovak government-in-exile decided it wanted to kill him. Teaming with the British Special Operations Executive, they trained two Czech operatives to parachute into occupied Czechoslovakia and kill Heydrich. Incredibly, they succeeded—leading to both a countrywide manhunt and violent reprisals. In 1945, with the Americans approaching on one front and the Soviet Red Army on another, the Czech Resistance saw its moment had arrived. In a massive rising, it turned Prague into a battleground, fighting from street barricades against panzers, and turning cathedral spires into resistance radio nests. Their hope? To surrender the city to the western allies rather than the Red Army—and become, arguably, the only city in Europe to liberate itself.
American Mafia: Forming the Commission
It's 1930, and the Castellammarese War is raging as multiple outfits vie for control of New York. Yet as the gunsmoke clears, a group of mobsters led by Charles "Lucky" Luciano propose a better way forward. They will abolish the title of "Boss of Bosses" and instead form The Commission, a governing body consisting of New York's Five Families, the Chicago Outfit under Al Capone, and the Buffalo Crime Family. Like any new government, there are growing pains—though most new governments don't solve those disputes with bullets to the gut. But Luciano's patriotism, and debt to society, will land him somewhere odd—as an agent for the U.S. Navy in "Operation Underworld," a covert relationship between American intelligence and the Mafia meant to tamp down on dock strikes and pave the Allies' way into Sicily. But despite all that, it will be Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel who will change America most, by essentially founding its fastest-growing city: Las Vegas.
Japanese Militarism: The Path to Destruction
In 1932, an ultranationalist Buddhist preacher developed a kill list and distributed pistols to followers. Each man had a target, whether a liberal politician or trading company tycoon. One man, one kill. When bullets began flying and the plot was discovered, it shook Japan—particulalry after an associated group assassinated the Prime Minister. But the trials of these men did not go as anticipated, instead rallying public support for their "patriotic actions." It was the start of Japanese political norms eroding, paving the way for an era of bloody political violence, hyper-partisanship, and increasing military control that would put the Japanese government, as it then existed, irrevocably on the path to destruction in the Second World War. While much attention is given to the rise of fascism in Nazi Germany, there's very little popular exploration of how Japan descended from a democracy governed by a constitution to what amounted to miltiary control. Consider this a companion to our "End of the Samurai" series, taking the story through its next logical step.
What series would you like us to air on Extra History? Cast your vote(s) below and let us know!
Friendly reminder: You can vote for as many choices as you want! This style of voting helps us see what people are most interested in without having to make tough decisions between a couple of close favorites. The poll will end at 11:59 PM PT on Monday, July 5th.
Current Schedule: Vlad the Impaler --> Rasputin --> Conquest of India --> Your Vote!
Comments
Chris James
Diabolical! All these are good. Curse you! ;-)
A Dancing Piece of Bread
I like all of these, but if I were to rank them, 1) Czech, 2) Spain, 3) Japan, 4) US
Frank Mitchell
I'd really hoping for this or a future organized crime topic. It's fascinating how well-intentioned actions lead to criminal opportunities: Sicilian farmers hire private security which turns into protection rackets, a ban on alcohol meant to curb alcohol abuse fuels American organized crime, and repealing the ill-conceived ban on alcohol eventually makes crime EVEN BETTER organized.
Frank Mitchell
Unlike post WWII Germany, post-Meiji Japan's main problem was that they were trying to modernize, i.e. Westernize, everything at lightning speed. After two centuries of isolationism, a rigid caste system, and a warrior class that killed people in the street just for looking at them funny. So when violence breaks out those nice-sounding Western democratic ideals are quietly forgotten.
Herkles
The Japanese one is the closest to my idea of the warlord era China. So I am going with that one but all of them are good. :)
AnimeInspector
YO THEY TOOK MY IDEA TO THE VOTING TABLE :) COME ONE LUCKY MAFIA
BlueFanfictionInc
It was basically a Japanese Weimar Republic, but seemed actually able to function.
Tiberia Prima
Zoey dressed up as a mobster in the background is just one of those things the world *needs,* yknow?
Vazul
Wow, this is tough, I want to see all of these.
Löwe in Wiese
Definitely the Spanish Civil War. This is the least familiar topic to me.
Nowhere Man
I would love if someday Extra History could make a series on the dynasties of England or The Spanish-American War of 1898 (preferably the last one)
lazer567
I agree! I love watching and learning
Martin Verran
Spanish Civil War for me! No, maybe Japanese Militarism after rewatching The Pacific? Er, no, the Mafia! *groan* every time we have these votes I can never make my mind up about who to vote for!
The Rogue Chief
Spanish Civil War, because I’ve always had a fascination with that conflict... Rise of militant Japan, because it’s a story that’s worth telling and seems to get overshadowed by their more infamous German “allies”... and the Golden era of the American Mob, because I REALLY liked The Godfather
Filip Malý
This time I vote for my suggestion - Czech resistance. I’d love to see the history (in fact most of our history) told with no national bias
Brian Rose
Guys, how can it not be "American Mafia"? Just imagine cartoon Matt shrugging his shoulders and saying "That's how Mafia works!"; that's just one example of the plenthora of other meme or reference related possibilities here!
FarEasternMyth
I'd be cool to see coverage of the Taisho era in addition the rise of Japanese militarism, since it would help show just how far Japan fell.
Stollkoloss
And Sun-Yat-Sen
Aaron Neumann
That isn't the case, I'm afraid. What happened in Japan is a lot more complex and bloody than what is happening in the US right now. In addition, what is happening now is NOTHING in terms of American history.
Metro
Would love to see all of these made one day
Foxdoc
RIP Radium Girls ;~; They’ll have their shot some other day
Ramien
There was the Jewish pirates series, the south sea bubble if you like financial crimes, Cheng I Sao, and the first part of 'policing London' focused more on the criminals than the law ;)
Steve Maynard
Emu War :D
Øyvind Wallentinsen
I love that EH tackles so many less well known history subjects, but this time I think I'm going to go with the most well-known one for once. The Spanish civil war is really interesting to me.
Daniel M. Dobkin
Japanese militarism because it's way too close to the path we're following here in the US. Is forewarned forearmed?
Francis DiStefano
Spanish Civil War because it was my suggestion. The others seem cool too. Have you done a crime story besides Ned Kelly? Eta: how could I forget Walpole
speedy_86
I'm voting for every single one: Know way too little about the Spanish Civil War as the son of Spanish migrants; Czech Resistance is about WW2 which is something really interesting to me; American Mafia is an offer I can not refuse; and Japanese Militarism is again leading into SIno-Japanese War and WW2 in the Pacific
BlueFanfictionInc
This has got to be one of the hardest in a while, all of these sound great and not covered in great amount, except maybe the Spanish Civil War.
Anders Stengård
Really tough choices.
Hawkeye Pierce
Guess they'll have to do them all. :P
Joe Lorenzini
All of these sound incredible!
Brandon Wilburn
Tough choices!
