World War I Podcast

MacArthur Memorial

World War I created many of the political, cultural, and economic fault lines of the world today. Produced by the MacArthur Memorial, this podcast explores the causes, the major players, the battles, the technology, and the popular culture of World War I.

  • 35 minutes 11 seconds
    John J. Pershing and Douglas MacArthur

    John J. Pershing and Douglas MacArthur are both towering figures in American military history—Pershing as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in World War I, and MacArthur as a key leader in World War II and the Korean War. In terms of age, they were separated by about 20 years, but they were both First Captains at West Point, both served as U.S. Army Chief of Staff, and both were absolutely devoted to the U.S. Army. Their interactions spanned decades, revealing a dynamic that oscillated between admiration, rivalry, and friction. World War I played a very key role in this complicated relationship. To discuss their interactions during WWI, the World War I Podcast hosted Jim Zobel, MacArthur Memorial Archivist.

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    14 March 2025, 3:00 am
  • 40 minutes 35 seconds
    Thomas Neibaur: WWI Medal of Honor Recipient

    There are 125 WWI recipients of the Medal of Honor. One of those recipients was Private Thomas Croft Neibaur of the 167th Infantry Regiment, 42nd “Rainbow” Division who received the award for heroism at the Cote de Chatillon in 1918. Neibaur was the first Mormon and the first soldier from Idaho to receive the Medal of Honor. His actions led General John J. Pershing to name him amongst the “Immortal Ten”  of World War I, and yet, in a tragic turn of events, in 1939 Neibaur returned his Medal of Honor. To discuss Neibaur’s WWI service and life, the World War I Podcast hosted Sherman Fleek, author of Place the Headstones Where They Belong: Thomas Neibaur, WWI Soldier. 

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    6 February 2025, 5:00 pm
  • 31 minutes 12 seconds
    Kansas and World War I

    When the United States entered World War I in April 1917, all 48 states played a role in war mobilization and made unique contributions that reflected their histories, their politics, their natural resources and industries, and their military manpower. Kansas was a midwestern state that provided approximately 80,000 troops and, if not for his premature death, may also have provided its adopted son, “Fighting Fred” Funston, as the commander of the AEF instead of John J. Pershing. To discuss Kansas and World War I, the World War I Podcast hosted Blake Watson, author of Kansas and Kansans in World War I. 

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    14 January 2025, 5:00 pm
  • 33 minutes 5 seconds
    The French Army's Wine Ration

    As stalemate ensued on the Western Front in the fall of 1914, the French Army began providing a daily wine ration for its soldiers stationed there. As the war went on, the ration went from about ¼ litre to about a bottle per soldier, per day. Armies throughout history have relied on psychotropic drugs to strategically shape the behavior of those fighting, but in the case of World War I, the French demonstrated a unique ability to harness the transformative power of alcohol to physically and emotionally fortify French soldiers to benefit the war effort. To discuss the French Army’s wine policy on the Western Front, the World War I Podcast hosted Dr. Adam Zientek, Associate Professor of History at UC Davis, and author of A Thirst for Wine and War: The Intoxication of French Soldiers on the Western Front. 

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    5 December 2024, 11:00 am
  • 29 minutes 37 seconds
    Mississippi and World War I

    When the United States declared war in April 1917, the 48 states that made up the nation at that time played an important role in mobilization – both in terms of manpower and in terms of the home front. Every state made a contribution that reflected its own unique history, politics, natural resources, level of industrialization, and its national guard, volunteers, and draftees.

    For Mississippi in 1917, the memory of the American Civil War remained powerful. Against this backdrop, World War I was complicated, both politically and socially. At the same time however, Mississippi made major contributions to the war effort, and the period was ultimately a watershed for the state. To examine Mississippi's experience of World War I, the World War I Podcast hosted Tommy Lofton, Museum Director of the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum. 

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    15 November 2024, 8:00 pm
  • 40 minutes 48 seconds
    Kiffin Rockwell and the Boys Who Remembered Lafayette

    Kiffin Rockwell believed that America owed France a debt for its support during the American Revolutionary War. He was 21 years old when World War I began, and he immediately sailed to France to volunteer to fight. He initially joined the French Foreign Legion, and then joined the Escadrille Americaine (later renamed the Lafayette Escadrille). He was credited with being the first American in the Escadrille Americaine to shoot down an enemy plane. He flew dozens of patrols and saw frequent combat before being killed in action on September 23, 1916. To discuss Rockwell's life and legacy, the World War I Podcast hosted Mark Trapp, author of A Destiny of Undying Greatness: Kiffin Rockwell and the Boys Who Remembered Lafayette. 

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    22 October 2024, 10:00 am
  • 35 minutes 14 seconds
    Parker Hitt and American Cryptology in WWI

    Between 1914-1917, communications technology, and the way to secure or intercept this kind of traffic, progressed dramatically. When the United States entered WWI in April 1917, it had to quickly catch up in these areas. Remarkably, the Americans made considerable progress by 1918. This success was partly due to Parker Hitt, an innovative Army officer who designed modifications for machine guns but truly excelled at cryptology and at bridging the divide between civilian industry and the Army. To discuss the contributions of Parker Hitt, the World War I Podcast hosted Betsy Rohaly Smoot, author of Parker Hitt: The Father of American Military Cryptology.

    Learn more about WWI radio intelligence and cryptology: World War I Radio Intelligence (ww1radiointel.com)

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    3 September 2024, 2:00 pm
  • 20 minutes 29 seconds
    North Carolina and World War I

    When the United States declared war in April 1917, it was unprepared to actually fight a war in Europe. The regular army was small and American industry needed time to produce war materials on a massive scale. It also needed time to train and transport troops. States would play an important role in mobilization – both in terms of manpower and in terms of the resources and industry. The 48 states that made up the United States in 1917 were all able to contribute in unique ways, based on their demographics, industry, and natural resources. To discuss North Carolina and World War I, the World War I Podcast hosted Charles Knight, Curator of Military History for the North Carolina Museum of History. 

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    13 August 2024, 10:00 am
  • 17 minutes 28 seconds
    Hitler's World War I Service

    Like many leaders during WWII, Adolf Hitler served in World War I. It was an important part of his identity, and, prior to his rise to power in Germany, he even went to court to defend his service record. His detractors claimed he was a “rear area hog.” They argued he had dodged service in the Austro-Hungarian army and then spent WWI in the German army in the relative safety of his regimental HQ. Hitler won his court case, but what do we know about his war service? And, like the other future WWII leaders, how did the crucible of WWI shape him? To discuss Hitler’s service in WWI, the World War I Podcast hosted Bob Carruthers, author of Private Hitler’s War 1914-1918. 

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    29 July 2024, 3:00 pm
  • 23 minutes 45 seconds
    Agent of the Iron Cross

    In 1918, German secret agent, Lothar Witzke, entered the United States via the southern border. His mission was to conduct a campaign of terror and sabotage. This included the destruction of American factories making war materials, the assassination of American officials, and fomenting racial unrest. To explore this little-known chapter in WWI history, the World War I Podcast hosted Bill Mills, author of Agent of the Iron Cross: The Race to Capture German Saboteur-Assassin Lothar Witzke During World War I. 

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    20 June 2024, 8:00 pm
  • 21 minutes 17 seconds
    Environmental Impact of World War I on North Sea Fishing

    The North Sea was one of the most relevant naval theatres of the war. It was also home to important fishing grounds. By 1914 a combination of technology, markets, and demand was leading to overfishing in the region. World War I reversed this, but it was a temporary respite.  To discuss the short- and long-term impact of World War I on the North Sea, the World War I Podcast hosted Dr. Ingo Heidbrink, Professor of History at Old Dominion University, a specialist in maritime history.  

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    8 May 2024, 5:00 pm
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