CHF 2025: Day 5
UKRAINE: THE LATEST LIVE – WITH NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER OLEKSANDRA MATVIICHUK, Oleksandra Matviichuk w. Francis Dearnley, Dominic Nicholls and Adelie Pojzman-Pontay
The incredible team behind The Telegraph’s award-winning podcast were on stage to discuss the status of the Ukraine conflict and efforts to hold Putin and his henchmen accountable. Drones have removed the element of surprise from the battlefield, and innovations include fibre optic controlled drones, and suicide motorbikes. It was sobering to be reminded that we neither have clear objectives for our side’s war aims, are fudging our financial and military commitment, whilst the “people in Europe are only safe as long as Ukraine keeps fighting.”
Oleksandra Matviichuk is a Nobel-winning human rights activist who fought back tears as she reminded the audience of the costs and high stakes of the conflict. The audience responded with a standing ovation.
THE NAZI MIND: 12 WARNINGS FROM HISTORY, Laurence Rees
Laurence Rees gave us three warnings from the Nazis – risk of spreading conspiracy theories, ‘them and us’ mindset, and blind faith. He is an excellent guide to the Nazi mind, and his excellent films are available on iPlayer. He interviewed retires in the 90s who felt unconstrained and able to say what they thought, which sometimes included how much they found value and meaning in the Nazi system.
SWORD: D-DAY BAPTISM OF FIRE, Max Hastings
Sir Max is the grandee of narrative military history, and Sword is his best yet. A rip roaring tale full of brilliant and eccentric characters. Poor old Sir Max was harangued by one of his questioners who took offence to a reviewers negative characterisation of her relative Lord Lovatt (who marched into battle on the beaches with his piper and dressed in a kilt.)
A SHORT HISTORY OF BRITAIN, THROUGH ITS TOILETS, David Musgrove
One of the highlights of the festival was Musgrove’s inspired history of the ‘toilet’ from neolithic times, through history. The Romans had a strong sense of community which included communal loos: “what better way to instil a sense of community than going to the toilet together.”
SPIES, LIES AND BETRAYAL: THE HIDDEN WORLD OF RUSSIAN ESPIONAGE
Gordon Corera w. Charles Cumming
Gordon Corera’s account of the defection of the KGB archivist Mitrovkin is a real life page turner which would give Le Carré a run for his money. Painstakingly copying the archives over 12 years and hiding the papers in milk churns, we was initially rebuffed by the CIA when he approached them. His MI6 handlers were ‘Robert’ and ‘James’, and the episode may have been the single biggest defection in Cold War history. Corera has made a podcast about it (The Rest is Classified.)
The big lesson from the story is that the Cold War never ended and now more than ever the world needs to understand Putin, the KGB, today’s FSB, and their methods.
THE PUB LANDLORD, Al Murray
Al Murray’s high-energy stand-up show is an annual feature, raising money for a children’s cancer charity. The show is definitely not suitable for children, although my 13-yesr old son thought it was brilliant. Murray’s recital of Insy Winsy Spider was inspired, “We can finally get this country to go up the spout again!” No one was spared his insults and mickey taking, especially not the gilet-wearing man sitting at the front, “spineless, feckless” Will, the Chinese, and the French. “What is the French word for think?” … “Pense!”
Justin Doherty is Editor at Large at Aspects of History. Head to the CHF site here where tickets are available.