WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk Burma '45: The Road To Mandalay
Jul 28, 2025
The podcast dives into the fierce combat at Mandalay Fort, highlighting the bravery of British forces through the eyes of front-line journalists. It uncovers the contrasting personalities of commanders like Bill Slim and Heitarō Kimura, revealing how leadership styles impact troop morale. The intense battle strategies across Burma are examined, showcasing the unique challenges posed by the jungle terrain and the innovative tactics employed by the Allies. A race against time unfolds as they rush to Rangoon before the monsoon, adding an urgent, gripping layer to the historical narrative.
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Episode notes
Major Pete Rees' Frontline Report
- BBC journalist Major Pete Rees provided vivid, embedded frontline reports from the battle at Mandalay Fort.
- His firsthand accounts bring to life the noise, smoke, and infantry movements during the assault.
Japanese Strategic Mistake at Mandalay
- The Japanese made a strategic error by holding Mandalay instead of advancing as they did in 1942.
- Their fixation on the city played into Slim's trap, leading to a costly defeat influenced by their hubris and poor intelligence.
Flawed Japanese Intelligence at McTeela
- Japanese intelligence underestimated the Allied presence at McTeela, wrongly identifying 5th or 7th Indian Division instead of the 17th.
- This flawed assessment left Japanese forces disorganized and vulnerable to Allied offensive.
