Dumm und Dümmer: Hitler Invades Florida

Dumm und Dümmer: Hitler Invades Florida

Author: Pushkin Industries August 28, 2026 Duration: 39:19

In 1942, eight men are sent from Nazi Germany to infiltrate America. Their mission: to sabotage critical infrastructure. Their problem: they're idiots. Operation Pastorius soon devolves into one of the most baffling failures of World War II.

For a list of sources, see the show notes at timharford.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


There’s a reason we share scary stories-not just to entertain, but to learn. Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford applies that same instinct to the real world, digging into history’s most fascinating blunders and disasters to uncover what they can teach us today. Brought to you by Pushkin Industries, each episode feels like a masterfully told story, where Tim Harford-known for his work at the Financial Times, the BBC, and as author of “The Data Detective”-unpacks a single event. You’ll hear about catastrophic business decisions, scientific hubris, and public policy fiascos, all presented with a blend of narrative flair and sharp analysis. This isn’t just a history podcast; it’s a deep dive into human nature, decision-making, and the unexpected consequences that ripple from a single mistake. Listening feels like having a brilliantly insightful guide explain why things went so terribly, or hilariously, wrong. The stories are gripping on their own, but the real value lies in the lessons they make tangible for our own lives and choices. If you’ve ever wondered how a group of smart people could make a disastrous call, or how a seemingly small error snowballed into legend, this is the podcast for you. New episodes arrive every Friday, ready to transform a true tale of error into a lasting piece of wisdom.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
Podcast Episodes
When Muhammad Ali Met Henry’s Hammer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:15
Before he became Muhammad Ali, Cassius Clay was known as the "Louisville Loud-mouth", as famous for his sharp taunts and poetic put-downs as he was for his skills in the ring. In 1963, Clay arrived in England to take dow…
How a Broken Arm Improved my French - with David Epstein [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:47
Last week, Cautionary Tales described the rise and fall of General Magic, the startup with too much money and too few constraints. Was General Magic really doomed from the start, and what does its fate tell us about AI,…
Talent, Time and Money: The Curse of General Magic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:36
It's 1990. A new company called General Magic is going to build its vision of the future: the smart phone. They have talent, almost unlimited cash, and a 15 year head start on the iPhone. What could go wrong? This episod…
Evel Knievel Faces the Abyss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:22
Evel Knievel, the world-famous daredevil, is planning his greatest ever stunt. In 1974, he wants to leap over Snake River Canyon in Idaho. The chasm is almost a third of a mile wide, much bigger than any jump he's done b…
Proceed with Caution - Pascal's Guide to Podcasts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:42
How does a story on Cautionary Tales come to life? In this episode of our subscriber-exclusive series, Proceed with Caution, sound designer Pascal Wyse shows Tim how the audio magic happens. He explains how he picks the…
The Weight of Fame: A Hollywood Tragedy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:39
Talented and beautiful, Molly O'Day is a rising star in 1920s Hollywood. But when Molly's teenage body starts to change and she can no longer fit into the dress she wore when she was 16, the studio wants nothing to do wi…
The Doors of Death: The Herald of Free Enterprise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:48
The Herald of Free Enterprise is a new class of ferry that allows cars to drive directly into the ship. The doors must be closed before every departure, or the ship sails with a gaping hole at one end. One black night in…
"What a Bloody Mess we're in" - Britain's [REDACTED] Accident [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:32
Windscale is supposed to be Britain's big leap into the nuclear age, bringing science fiction to life in 1950s Northern England. But in the race to catch up with America's nuclear program, scientists are tinkering with f…