
28 episodes

History Impossible Alexander von Sternberg
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- History
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4.3 • 3 Ratings
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History: Impossible is exactly what it sounds like: impossible history. People, events, ideologies, STORIES–all that sound impossible. But all true.
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The Muslim Nazis I: Early Adventures with Imperial German Islamophilia
"The peoples of Islam will always be closer to us than, for example, France. ... Had Charles Martel not been victorious at Poiters, then we should in all probability have been converted to Mohammedanism, that cult which glorifies the heroism and which opens up the seventh Heaven to the bold warrior alone. Then the Germanic races would have conquered the world."
-Adolf Hitler
The first episode of History Impossible's first series introduces one of the most controversial aspects of Nazi Germany's strategy in the Second World War: its implementation of Muslims. Where one could simply write it off as mere opportunism--a claim that isn't without some truth--there was a much deeper connection between the two cultures fabricated by figures operating within them.
In this series premiere, the Islamic soldiers who would fight for Hitler's army and even begin to develop a reputation are introduced and then the early days of Imperial German-Islamic allyship is explored. There are visits to the tomb of Saladin by the Kaiser, frantic diplomatic trips full of mishaps undertaken by German Orientalists during the First World War, and the introduction of probably one of the most underappreciated figures in both the Second World War and in the history of Israel and Palestine.
This is the history of the so-called "Muslim Nazis."
History Impossible has been made possible by the following generous supporters on Patreon and PayPal:
Benjamin Bernier
Elias Borota
Miklos Buksa
Matthew Dakus
Kyle Dillon
Gavin Edwards
Peter Hauck
Devin Hreha
Mike Kalnins
Benjamin Lee
Tyler Livingston
Jose Martinez
Mike Mayleben
Judy McCoid
Monica
Kostas Moros
Molly Pan
Jake Petersen
John Pisano
Edmund Plamowski
Brian Pritzl
PJ Rader
Gleb Radutsky
Sailus
Alison Salo
Sam
Emily Schmidt
Cameron Smith
Jared Cole Temple
Steve Uhler
Ricky Worthey
F. You -
An Impossible Announcement: History Impossible in 2021
This is a quick announcement I'd like to make regarding History Impossible's immediate future, which is mostly tied up in this inaugural long-term series--a season really--which needs a bit of explaining and reassuring (specifically to folks who prefer one-off stories). In addition, I couldn't resist making a quick comment about history being essentially made on January 6th, 2021 in Washington D.C., regardless of how you interpreted the events.
2021's future, however uncertain for a lot of people and even for the United States, is looking bright for History Impossible, so I'll be with you all the way, hopefully entertaining and enlightening you as we move into the future with this crazy and no-doubt controversial story involving Islam, the Nazis, Israel and Palestine, and Yugoslavia.
Best wishes,
Alexander von Sternberg
Please note: the first episode of this series is live on Patreon as we speak. If you want early access to the newest episodes of this series moving forward, consider supporting the show on Patreon at the $10 level or above! -
An Impossible Interview IV: Aaron Sibarium, The Washington Free Beacon
The Impossible Interviews series is back with a different, but still special conversation I had with the amazingly talented and insightful Aaron Sibarium. Aaron is an associate editor over at the Washington Free Beacon, as well as a writer for various publications including National Review, Quillette, and American Purpose, the last of which published one of Aaron's essays on October 26th, 2020, the exact same day as Pandemic: Rendering a Hue and Cry was released on History Impossible's feed. The name of Aaron's essay: "The Weimarization of the American Republic." And it was completely and totally brilliant.
Aaron and I had never spoken before I reached out on Twitter to arrange this interview. He had no idea who I was and until I started reading his work, I had no idea who he was. And yet we had largely come to the same conclusion regarding America's current moment in the historical context, completely independent of one another. It was too much to pass up talking to this guy so, as I just said, I reached out and the conversation we had is what follows here.
This is much more of a "current events" style episode, though it's all very firmly rooted in history, both recent and in the Weimar era. After getting into some of Aaron's background and the growing power of the successor ideology to left-liberalism (of which Aaron was at ground zero while attending Yale), we discuss how similar the current moment is to that of the Weimar period and more importantly, how it differs. And as an added bonus, we spent some time discussing another topic Aaron has covered, which is post-liberalism from a conservative perspective and how it's recently manifested itself, and frankly, just where the hell we go from here.
It's an incredibly fascinating conversation and I'm really thankful to Aaron for taking time out of his busy schedule to chat with me, so please enjoy! I also encourage everyone to check out Aaron's work and follow him on Twitter @AaronSibarium.
History Impossible has been made possible by the following generous supporters on Patreon and PayPal:
Elias Borota
Matthew Dakus
Kyle Dillon
Gavin Edwards
Peter Hauck
Devin Hreha
Mike Kalnins
Benjamin Lee
Tyler Livingston
Jose Martinez
Mike Mayleben
Judy McCoid
Monica
Kostas Moros
Molly Pan
Jake Petersen
John Pisano
Edmund Plamowski
Brian Pritzl
PJ Rader
Alison Salo
Sam
Emily Schmidt
Cameron Smith
Steve Uhler
Ricky Worthey -
Infinitesimal Impossibilities 02: The Mad Madame of New Orleans
History Impossible is back sooner than some may have anticipated for another installment of the Infinitesimal Impossibilities series, this time recorded in the spirit (and in the last hours) of Halloween 2020.
This time, we cover a story that takes place in early 19th century New Orleans. It begins with a fire, or rather perhaps concludes with one. A large mansion whose hosts had been entertaining guests, catches fire from its upstairs kitchen. As people pour into the streets to watch the blaze, they see one of the slaves screaming from an upstairs window before she is engulfed in flames.
When the fire brigade arrives, they demand to enter the premises to put out the remaining flames and check for survivors. The owner of the home, a Madame Delphine LaLaurie, and her husband, Dr. LaLaurie, wave away such suggestions. The fire brigade nevertheless gets their wish and enters the home, searching for survivors. After breaking open a secret door, the horrors they encounter on the other side beggar belief.
Just as they discover the secret room, Dr. and Madame LaLaurie are spirited away in a carriage, never to be seen again.
Who was Madame LaLaurie? Who was her husband, the good doctor? What was found behind the secret door? To where did this couple from the cream of the New Orleans high society crop disappear? Why did people come to believe the rebuilt mansion and its grounds were haunted? How much of the stories spun about the Mad Madame, as she came to be known, are even true? How does Nicolas Cage fit into all this? This will all be answered and more in this next installment of Infinitesimal Impossibilities.
History Impossible has been made possible by the following generous supporters on Patreon and PayPal:
Elias Borota
Matthew Dakus
Kyle Dillon
Gavin Edwards
Peter Hauck
Devin Hreha
Mike Kalnins
Benjamin Lee
Tyler Livingston
Jose Martinez
Mike Mayleben
Judy McCoid
Kostas Moros
Molly Pan
Jake Petersen
John Pisano
Edmund Plamowski
Brian Pritzl
PJ Rader
Alison Salo
Sam
Emily Schmidt
Steve Uhler
Ricky Worthey -
Pandemic: Rendering a Hue and Cry
This episode is dedicated to Franco Bolelli.
Since it's the year of our lord 2020, it was only inevitable that we'd talk about pandemics on History Impossible.
What follows is an exploration of not just a pandemic and not just the most physically destructive pandemic in all of human history. What follows is an exploration of what a pandemic actually does. And by "does," we're talking about what it does to the human body, the human mind, and the wider social psychology of societies themselves, and of course, the historical consequences that result.
The 1918 H1N1 Influenza A pandemic--better known as the "Spanish flu"--is known as a lot of things. A bizarre historical footnote that no one wanted to discuss. A force of nature more destructive than the Great War itself, rivaled only by the Second World War. And according to a small handful of medical historians, sociologists, and economists, quite possibly the reason for how things in that so-called "War to End All Wars" turned out and thus, everything that happened afterward.
These are all things that will be covered and more, as the impossible case is laid that the Spanish flu was not just the secret fuel that powered the monumental tragedies of the 20th century, but gives us insight into the very thing that could eventually act as the fuel for the tragedies for the 21st.
Special thanks to Vinny Andreotti, Sergey Cheremisinov, and Molly Pan & Eric Guillen for their incredible musical skills.
History Impossible has been made possible by the following generous supporters on Patreon and PayPal:
Elias Borota
Matthew Dakus
Gavin Edwards
Peter Hauck
Devin Hreha
Mike Kalnins
Benjamin Lee
Tyler Livingston
Jose Martinez
Mike Mayleben
Judy McCoid
Kostas Moros
Molly Pan
Jake Petersen
John Pisano
Edmund Plamowski
Brian Pritzl
PJ Rader
Alison Salo
Sam
Emily Schmidt
Steve Uhler
Ricky Worthey -
BONUS! Ripples of Impossible History (on Fire): Confucius
As many of you are aware, I was recently featured among many other, far more talented history podcasters on Daniele Bolelli's History on Fire podcast in which we all discussed various figures and events in history that created massive ripples that no one could have predicted. My segment was focused on Confucius and how he basically shaped Chinese civilization forever, from the level of the family to the running of the government even under the Communists.
In a generous move, the fine people at Luminary Media decided to let all of us present our segments on our own podcast feeds, so if you would like to hear my segment on its own as a little bonus, here you go! It's short (well, miniscule) by History Impossible standards, but it's got all the hallmarks: a weirdo main character, far reaching effects and influence, and consequences no one could possibly have predicted.
Many thanks to Daniele Bolelli for organizing this, to my amazingly talented fellow podcasters, and to the folks at Luminary for making this all possible.
History Impossible has been made possible by the following generous supporters on Patreon and PayPal:
Elias Borota
Matthew Dakus
Gavin Edwards
Peter Hauck
Devin Hreha
Mike Kalnins
Benjamin Lee
Tyler Livingston
Jose Martinez
Mike Mayleben
Judy McCoid
Kostas Moros
Molly Pan
Jake Petersen
John Pisano
Edmund Plamowski
Brian Pritzl
PJ Rader
Mark Reed
Alison Salo
Sam
Emily Schmidt
Steve Uhler
Ricky Worthey