Hall of Fame: The Good War Criminal

Hall of Fame: The Good War Criminal

Author: trappedhistory March 9, 2026 Duration: 4:06

Keith Lowe is one of our greatest historians of the Second World War and its aftermath. He joined us to share the story of Ben Ferencz, one of the Nuremberg prosecutors who made it his life's work to fight for peace. Search for Ben Ferencz and the Quest for World Peace: Keith Lowe on the Fear and the Freedom.

Keith's choice for our Hall of Fame is equally impressive. Someone who fought to try and change a nation's story of its war. But it is an uncomfortable nomination, because Yuasa Ken was a Japanese war criminal who performed horrendous human experiments during the war. Afterwards, however, he saw the light and dedicated the time he had left in the world to educate his country about its culpability.

This is a powerful and unsettling listen, but it is one which we all need to hear.



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Trapped History digs into the corners of the past that standard narratives often overlook, guided by James Baldwin's idea that people and history are mutually confined. This podcast is a deliberate effort to loosen that grip, one story at a time. You'll hear detailed accounts of individuals and events sidelined by traditional textbooks, from strategic minds in forgotten battles to cultural pioneers whose influence was deliberately minimized. Each episode reconstructs a specific moment or life, focusing on the nuanced realities of women's history, Black history, military history, and cultural history. The aim is to provide a more complete and human picture, moving beyond dates and dominant names to the textures of lived experience. By engaging with these overlooked chapters, the podcast invites a deeper understanding of how our present is shaped. It’s for anyone who suspects there's more to the story, offering a thoughtful and researched alternative to the history many of us were first taught. Listening feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend, one committed to unearthing truths that resonate with our contemporary world. The result is an educational and compelling narrative that challenges simple takeaways, encouraging listeners to question what they think they know about the forces that have built and bound our societies.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 76

Trapped History
Podcast Episodes
The Women who Ran The Resistance: Anne Sebba on the Forgotten Heroines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:28
During the war, hundreds of RAF airmen escaped through France and into Spain along the Comet Line – an escape route run by women. Hear about the courage of Dédée, the Comet's leader, as she climbed the Pyrenees and brave…
How The Newsies beat the Press Barons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:15
It's not just Disney – the 'newsies' still inspire young people everywhere. Tune in to hear what today's youth think about the biggest child-led strike in history.
Hall of Fame: The Silent and Unseen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:05
Tune in to hear Clare Mulley's nomination for the Trapped History Hall of Fame.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Hall of Fame: The Genius in the Library [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:00
It's Hall of Fame time! Tune in to hear an extended nomination from Sums of Anarchy's wonderful Dominique Miranda. This has everything: revolution, freedom and poetry, with a smattering of maths thrown in . . .This podca…
Emmy Noether: Einstein's Greatest Mathematician [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:03
Do you know who the greatest mathematician of the 20th century was? Someone who even Einstein bowed to? Listen in to hear all about Emmy Noether and her struggles in ultra-conservative Germany. You may even get to unders…
Hall of Fame: Helping Ukrainian Refugees [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:41
Polly Vacher's nomination for the Trapped History Hall of Fame is a true hero of our time.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy