Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 05/10/2026The poor state of Italian air defence/general civil defence just prior to declaring war in 1940 is fairly well known, but I'm still quite surprised to read a 1939 report from Bari, one of the largest cities in the country, saying the city actually had *zero* air raids shelters 141
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Good thread, especially as it’s how I found out that there is a city called Hammond in Indiana 040
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 16/09/2026My latest article is out, open access: academic.oup.com/histres/adva... It argues that the Mediterranean War (1940-43) should be viewed (esp after 1940) as a war of attrition, which was something that the Axis powers could not cope with, and indeed that is how Axis powers perceived it at the time.academic.oup.comLosing a war of attrition: realities and perceptions of Axis defeat in the Mediterranean war (1940–3)*Abstract. This article presents a new interpretation of the Mediterranean war (1940–3), demonstrating that it was a war of attrition. Historians have tende 193
Reposted by Richard HammondMight Scare-ger @mikesager.net · 20/08/2026I'm sorry. The Denver Republican party is run by a dude named Hugo Chavez and he's in trouble because he won't back a candidate named Marx? 94042855
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 06/08/2026Is this the first ever UK party election broadcast to feature a Time Crisis II arcade machine? 031
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 19/07/2026Have Spain not considered simply taking a shot that is *both* on target and *not* straight at the keeper? 151
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 19/07/2026Well I got the hatrick I wanted (plus a bonus one from Saka!), and each result finished in more extraordinary fashion than the previous on… 040
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 15/07/2026It would actually really help if another pundit could tell us that England sat too deep and were too negative after scoring. Real visionary stuff 110
Reposted by Richard HammondHattifattener @hattifattener.bsky.social · 06/07/2026As in 1066 England will prevail against the Norwegians before tragically losing to the French a couple of weeks later. 442010482
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 23/06/2026Latest terrible HE news comes from Exeter. This one hits hard as I was v fortunate to do my PhD there supervised by a v distinguished (now retired) historian. I happen to be seeing him tomorrow for the first time in years, but such a depressing context www.timeshighereducation.com/news/univers...timeshighereducation.comUniversity of Exeter cuts an ‘existential threat to humanities’Russell Group institution cites changing student demand as it puts 500 staff at risk of redundancy, with 150 jobs set to go 060
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 20/06/2026Saints!!!! www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-...bbc.co.ukPrem final LIVE: Northampton Saints v Exeter Chiefs text updates and radio commentaryFollow reaction and listen to radio commentary from the Prem final after Northampton Saints beat Exeter Chiefs at Allianz Stadium. 120
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 20/06/2026Hydration breaks in the rugby Prem final too, apparently 000
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 19/06/2026Going over primary sources I collected earlier this year and its a little surprising just how much the Italian fascist regime was talking about expanding propaganda + cultural exchange programmes in Japan during late 1942/early 1943... Obviously v little expansion actually happened at that stage 131
Reposted by Richard HammondOrkney Library & Archive @orkneylibrary.bsky.social · 28/05/2026You can always tell when The Stranglers have been in to return their books. 371387315
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 28/05/2026Discovered this week that the small local Tesco has started selling guanciale! Its only small packs of pre diced stuff but still, quite a revelation! 280
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 17/05/2026I will miss Trieste but at least I can feel like I left my (m)arco on the city. 140
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 15/05/2026Well, seeing as this place is just around the corner from the state archives and it is *hammering it down* outside 110
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 15/05/2026At the Archivio di Stato di Trieste on the final day of research from a week long trip. 250
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 13/05/2026There was a rather unexpected face looking back at me when when I sat down for dinner in an Udinese osteria earlier 020
Reposted by Richard HammondVanda Wilcox @vandawilcox.bsky.social · 13/05/2026Feels like a good day to say that I am writing a trade history of the Italian colonial empire, 1869-1951, tentatively called Fantasylands, under contract with John Murray (UK) & Basic Books (USA)! my focus is on the men & women who dreamed, built, resisted, lived in and dismantled the empire 1814115
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 11/05/2026Greetings from Treviso, where at least this weather started after I had finished research for the day. Soon I’ll be heading to Udine, although it looks like it’ll be thunderstorms there too. Still, after that I have a few days in Trieste. I’ll just check the forecast there and…..*sigh* Che palle 050
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 08/05/2026Watched a tiny bit of the BBC local election coverage while eating lunch and just so happened to see a correspondent reporting from within the RAF Museum in the 10 mins I watched. There was a Sunderland in the background, which she referred to as a 'Boatplane'. Feel like I'm being trolled. 89310
Reposted by Richard HammondCatherine Fletcher @catherinefletcher.info · 30/04/2026Delighted to be able to share a first teaching and research resource relating to The Firearm Revolution: a compilation of links to primary sources - visual, objects and translations of texts that I cite in the book #academia #earlymodern #skystorianscatherinefletcher.infoPrimary sources for The Firearm RevolutionAre you teaching with The Firearm Revolution? Or perhaps you’re an independent researcher with an interest in the history of firearms. With the help of my PhD student Guy Reynolds, I’ve … 28443
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 01/05/2026A quick Friday morning plea for help from Bluesky historians: can anyone recommend books/articles/other pieces that actively *define* the concept of a wartime home front. I am looking for any definitions/discussions of definitions, rather than just recommendations of works covering home fronts. TY 🗃️ 81723
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 22/04/2026Latest research grant rejection has just come in. I know I am far from the first to say this, but it is just such a demoralising process: a huge amount of time and effort compiling the application for such a slim chance of success. 3120
Reposted by Richard HammondDaniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 12/04/2026🇭🇺🇭🇺🇭🇺🇭🇺🇭🇺🎉 THREAD 1/2 At 45% of the votes counted, the official projection of the National Election Office gives Tisza Party 135 seats in Parliament—a clear constitutional supermajority. THIS IS A LANDSLIDE! This is a democratic revolution against a corrupt and authoritarian regime. 25010
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 12/04/2026Farfalle are a terrible pasta shape in every way and it is an outrage that it is so readily available in shops here in the UK when eg Mezze Maniche or Paccheri are so much harder to find here. 270
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 08/03/2026Well this is not a new insight whatsoever, but Lecce is absolutely stunning. 0100
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 02/03/2026Want a break from doomscrolling? Guess which Italian city I am currently in. Picture clue 1: 110
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 17/02/2026New open access article by @fabiodeninno.bsky.social and I available here: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/... It focuses on the impacts of blockade on Sicily and Sardinia, 1940-43. It links 3 themes that, in our view, have too often been siloed in the historiography of the SWW (esp Italy). 1/ 🗃️journals.sagepub.comSage Journals: Discover world-class researchSubscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher. 4149
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 13/02/2026‘No way, the Quad God never loses’ I confidently state, despite last having watched figure skating four years ago, and having never heard of Ilia Malinin as recently as one week ago. 0101
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 10/02/2026Obviously the problems of Italy's lack of access to key raw materials during the SWW is well known, but still astonished to read this stat: 73% of factories controlled by Fabbriguerra had to partially or wholly halt production at some stage during 1941 for lack of materials/fuel 3377
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 03/02/2026Fascinating talk by @jfb1066.bsky.social this evening (even including a Kelly’s Heroes quote!). Looking forward to the book! 130
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 20/01/2026The Archivio Centrale dello Stato is looking very, um, scaffoldy at the moment 000
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 06/01/2026Had a few articles accepted recently, the first of which is now published: “Revisiting the Nazi-Fascist Military Alliance: Italo-German Rivalry and Cooperation during the Mediterranean War, 1940–1943” is in the latest Journal of Military History issue. Abstract here: www.smh-hq.org/jmh/jmhvols/...smh-hq.orgVol. 90 No. 1 | The Society for Military History 1162
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 06/11/2025I am once again issuing a request to Italian historians: please write shorter books! 390
Reposted by Richard HammondThe Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 01/11/2025The Axis had many problems in their logistics chain to North Africa. Port capacity wasn't really one of them.rommelsriposte.comMonthly Supply Requirements of German forces in Africa – Nov. 1941Background From the DAK War Diary appendices on supply, I can provide the following numbers on supply requirements for the Panzergruppe and Luftwaffe in Africa, which make quite interesting reading… 181
Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 02/10/2025Plea for help: can anyone direct me to any published and/or online *primary* sources regarding the Reorganized National Government of China/The Wang Jingwei Regime that are, ideally, in English and would make good talking points for final year UG students on themes of occupation/collaboration? 🗃️ 001