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The John Batchelor Show

S8 Ep843: Ian Buruma examines the failure of strategic bombing to break civilian morale, which instead fostered solidarity. He recounts his father's letters from a Berlin labor barracks, describing the harsh conditions of malnutrition and vermin. He also highlights

The John Batchelor Show

John Batchelor

Society & Culture, Arts, News, Books

4.52.8K Ratings

🗓️ 8 May 2026

⏱️ 13 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Ian Buruma examines the failure of strategic bombing to break civilian morale, which instead fostered solidarity. He recounts his father's letters from a Berlin labor barracks, describing the harsh conditions of malnutrition and vermin. He also highlights diaries showing how individuals navigated the criminal regime. (5/16)
1940 MOLOTOV AND HITLER BERLIN.

Transcript

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0:00.0

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1:33.6

Continuing with Ian Baruma,

1:36.1

the book is Stay Alive, Berlin, 1939 and 1945.

1:40.8

It is now 1943.

1:43.9

And Goebbels, the Reichs minister in charge of propaganda,

1:49.0

and keeping everybody positive about winning the war, despite the fact that that is no longer the case,

1:55.2

despite the fact that the bombers come every night, and beginning in 43, the British will come at night, and the Americans will

...

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