What do a flying Catholic, a Croatian necktie, and a ghosting Elector have in common?

They’re all part of Berlin’s story during the Thirty Years’ War. In this episode, GS and The Assistant break down one of Europe’s most devastating conflicts—and how it nearly erased Berlin from the map.

From defenestrations and Swedish occupations to silk cravats and post-war reinvention, we uncover how this tiny twin city survived a war it never wanted.

Featuring palace intrigue, Prussian gossip, and enough silver thalers to bankrupt even a kingdom—this is Berlin in the 1600s, one cannonball at a time.