GW14: The Southern Fronts, 1916-17

Key Battles of American History

History

4.6 • 936 Ratings

🗓️ 11 March 2026

⏱️ 39 minutes

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Summary

In this episode, Sean and James turn south and east to explore the lesser-known fronts of World War I in 1916 and 1917. From the brutal mountain battles along the Isonzo River and the Italian disaster at Caporetto to Romania’s ill-fated entry into the war and the stagnant Allied front at Salonika, the hosts trace how the war’s southern theaters shaped the fate of nations. They also examine the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Arab Revolt, and the British capture of Aqaba, Gaza, Jerusalem, and other key Middle Eastern sites. Together, these campaigns reveal how the Great War’s reach extended far beyond the trenches of France—and how they set the stage for the world that followed.

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0:00.0	You're invited to pull up a chair on Lisa Harper's Back Porch, where faith meets real life. Welcome to Back Forch Theology. Each episode helps you dive deeper into God's word and discover that the gospel isn't just good news for eternity. It's great news for everyday life because God is for you and he's always been restoring our value and drawing us closer to him. With honest conversations, a few laughs and guests ranging from close friends to brilliant theologians. Back Forch theology is thoughtful, meaningful, and never stuffy.
0:24.3	So grab some calls. him with honest conversations, a few laughs, and guests ranging from close friends to brilliant theologians.
0:21.4	Batforch Theology is thoughtful, meaningful, and never stuffy.
0:24.3	So grab some coffee or sweet tea and join Lisa Harper on Bat Forch Theology.
0:28.0	Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts.
0:36.6	War has played a key role in the history of the United States, from the nation's founding
0:40.8	right down to the present. War made the U.S. independent, kept it together, increased its
0:46.4	size, and established it as a global superpower. Understanding America's wars is essential for
0:52.0	understanding American history. Welcome to Key Battles of American History, a podcast in which we discuss American history
0:59.0	through the lens of the most important battles of America's wars.
1:02.8	Here is your host, James Early.
1:19.8	Hello and welcome back to The Great War, our 10,000-foot survey of the cataclysmic conflict that changed the world forever.
1:23.2	I'm your host, James Early, as always.
1:28.4	And as always, I am joined by my co-host and my good buddy, Sean McIver.
1:34.1	In our last episode, Sean and I took to the skies to explore the dramatic rise of air combat during World War I. We traced how fragile, open cockpit reconnaissance planes evolved into deadly
1:40.2	fighters and bombers. We also saw how the various combatants introduced aerial tactics,
1:45.3	which gave rise to aces like the Red Baron. We discussed the first large-scale strategic bombing
1:50.8	campaigns. We talked about the daring lives and short survival rates of early pilots,
1:55.5	the terror of zeppelin raids, and the birth of aircraft carriers and naval aviation.
2:00.6	In summary, we saw that by the war's
2:03.0	end, aviation had been transformed from a novelty into a central weapon of modern warfare.
2:08.7	While the Western Front dominated the headlines, the war in the south and east shaped the
	...

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