270 - Bruce Lockhart and the Political Warfare Executive

The WW2 Podcast

Angus Wallace

Rifle, Gun, Second, Army, Ww2, War, Society & Culture, Carlin, Aircraft, Military, Navy, Wwii, World, History, Plane, Armour, Infantry, Tank

4.7 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 21 July 2025

⏱️ 60 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I am joined by Professor James Crossland to discuss the extraordinary life of Robert Bruce Lockhart — a British diplomat, journalist, author, and secret agent.

Though not a household name, Lockhart was a key figure behind the scenes of 20th-century history. His career began before the First World War and took him from revolutionary Russia to wartime Britain, often placing him near the centre of power and influence. During the Second World War, he served as Director-General of the Political Warfare Executive, the organisation responsible for coordinating all British propaganda efforts against the Axis powers.

Lockhart’s life reads like a spy thriller, full of intrigue, diplomacy, and covert operations. James Crossland, author of Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare – The Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart, sheds light on the man whose influence was far greater than his fame.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This country is at war with Germany.
0:04.7	We shall go on to the end.
0:08.1	I remember the sheets of flame which came up and almost blinded us from our guns.
0:24.9	Welcome to the World War II podcast. I'm Angus Wallace. In this episode, I'm joined by James Crossland, Professor of International History at Liverpool John Moore's University, an author of Rogue Agent, from Plots to Psychological Warfare,
0:38.4	the untold story of Robert Bruce Lockhart.
0:41.8	We'll be exploring the remarkable life of Robert Bruce Lockhart,
0:45.7	British diplomat, journalist, author and secret agent.
0:49.8	Though his name may not be familiar to many,
0:53.5	Lockhart had a knack for appearing at pivotal moments in 20th century history, often operating close to the centres of power and influence.
1:04.2	Beginning before the First World War, his career spanned both global conflicts.
1:08.9	During World War II, he served as Director General of the Political
1:13.6	Warfare Executive, the organisation that coordinated British propaganda against the Axis
1:21.2	Powers. From Revolutionary Russia to wartime Whitehall, Lockhart's story reads like a spy
1:29.3	thriller, a tale of diplomacy,
1:31.7	subversion and
1:32.9	psychological warfare.
1:35.4	James, thanks for joining me.
1:37.7	So let's start at the beginning.
1:40.2	Who was Robert Bruce Lockhart?
1:43.5	What was his background? So he's a product of two Scottish
1:47.1	families, the Lockhart's and the McGregors. They're big in the whiskey business, so there's money there.
1:53.1	He is a very proud Scott. He loves the fact that he gets to go to France and Germany before he even sets foot on English soil.
	...

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