S5 Ep32: Horst Wessel: The Making of a Nazi Martyr

When Horst Wessel died in 1930, he was an obscure 22-year-old member of the SA. Within months, Joseph Goebbels had elevated him into a saint of the Third Reich, complete with a theme song that would echo through rallies, classrooms, and pogroms. This episode traces how a violent street thug became the most famous Nazi martyr — and why his name still matters in extremist circles today.

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Distasteful comparison

I don’t appreciate your comparison to Charlie Kirk. I follow podcasts to escape the liberal political atmosphere and I’m offended to hear your veiled comparison to him. You need to remember that your voice reaches a wide audience, many of whom do not share your views. I’m here for an interesting true crime story and not how you’re inspired to tell it or your opinions. If you had no intent on comparing Kirk to a radical Nazi, then why mention him in your opening sentence? I’ve listened to many of your stories on repeat, and I’ve recommended your podcast to many friends publicly online, but you’ve now left a bad taste in my mouth. I’m unsure why liberals feel the need to sneak in political references unless it’s a derangement that just can’t be managed. And I’m unsure whether or not I’ll continue to listen. You probably don’t care whether or not you lose a listener or if you’ve disappointed one, but you should care and consider your audience as whole and deliver entertainment with integrity. Be more like Johnny Carson.