Episode 175: Congo's Nightmare Part VII - The Great Forgetting

Episode 175: Congo's Nightmare Part VII - The Great Forgetting

May 12, 2026 · 25 min · Episode 175

About this episode

This episode discusses the historical significance of the Congo Free State and the collective amnesia surrounding its tragedies.

The Congo Free State eventually dissolved, but what does it mean to us today? How did we collectively forget a tragedy on this scale? Why do some historical stories get buried in the sands of time while others don't? Historian Adam Hochschild calls our memory of the Congo Free State the "Great Forgetting." This is the final episode in the Belgian Congo series. Thanks for listening. -Consider Supporting the Podcast!- Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify ! Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory Check out my podcast series on Aftersun, Piranesi, Arcane, The Dark Knight Trilogy, and Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart here: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/bonuscontent Try my podcast series "Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart"-- What led to the rise of Nazi Germany? The answer may surprise you…Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? To what extent are ordinary people responsible for the development of authoritarian evil? This 13 part podcast series explores these massive questions and more through the lens of Nazi Germany and the…

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