WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk Polish Heroism At Monte Cassino
Jan 22, 2026
Dive into remarkable tales of heroism from World War II, featuring a Polish cadet's harrowing journey at Monte Cassino. Explore the life of an Austrian POW whose wartime experiences led him to pacifism. Laugh along with a Norwegian's anecdotes about a daring soldier's adventures. Discover the tragic fate of a Typhoon pilot and the survival stories from D-Day to Burma. Each account paints a vivid picture of bravery, sacrifice, and the unexpected turns of war.
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Austrian POW's Diary And Trades
- Joseph Sturkel, an Austrian conscript, kept a diary on sewn-together toilet paper while a POW in England and Egypt.
- He traded mending services for peanuts, dates and cigarettes and returned home a committed pacifist.
Norwegian Prank Sparks Gunfire
- Dag-Rune Gundersen recalls meeting Gunnar Kjarkan-Sansteby and his grandfather's prank at a German guard Otto Ness.
- The prank ended with the soldier firing shots after being mocked with a crude poem.
Typhoon Pilot Killed After Capture
- Warrant Officer Bill Cuthbertson crash-landed, hid with Dutch resistance, then was later executed after capture in 1945.
- Two militiamen were convicted and executed for the war crime, closing a tragic loop for his family.