The WW2 Podcast

In 1943 the Allies made their first mass use of Airborne troops in support of the landings on Sicily. By this time the Germans had already ruled out any further mass use of the airborne Fallschirmjäger after Crete, though a huge success the price paid was costly. I'm joined by Lieutenant Colonel Joe Buccino of the 82nd Airborne, to discuss how those initial landings went. Joe is a currently serving officer and can be heard on the excellent All American Legacy Podcast.

In this episode we'll looking at how Britain found the manpower to fight the war. By the end at least four and a half million had served from Britain, if we add to that figure Empire and Commonwealth forces we're looking it perhaps upwards of ten million. Its an astounding figure…. I'm joined by Roger Broad. Rogers New book Volunteers and Pressed Men looks at recruitment during both the First and second World War in both Britain and its Empire.

In this episode I'm talking to Edward Hooton and we're looking at the air war over the Eastern Front, a topic I'm not familiar with. From my own point of view it's always been overshadowed by the ground war. Edward has written a number of books on aviation history during WWII. His latest book "War over the Steppes: The air campaigns on the Eastern Front 1941-45" is a fascinating look at the air operations carried out by both the Russians and Germans during the war.

In this episode we're looking at the plight of those Jews fleeing Poland who headed east into Russia after the German invasion of 1939. It's a story I wasn't at all familiar with. I'm joined by Annette Libeskind Berkovits. Annettes father Nachman fled the Polish City of Lodz, he had an incredible life… She tells his story in the most remarkable book I think I've read in a long time, "In the Unlikeliest of Places"

With the holiday season upon us I've a festive episode for you. The US 28th Infantry Division landed in France in July of 1944. After fighting through the Bocage and taking part in the parade through Paris to mark its liberation they were sent to the Hürtgen Forest. Badly shot up they we're withdrawn and sent to a small town in Luxembourg called Wiltz. To tell the story of the American St Nick I'm joined by Peter Lion whose book "The American St Nick" tells the story.

We're looking at the Operation Sea Lion, the German invasion plan for Britain in the latest podcast. I'm joined by Robert Forczyk. Robert is a prolific author and military historian. His latest book "We march against England: Operation Sea Lion 1940/41" is a fresh look at the German plans to invade Britain and what they might have faced.

In this episode we're looking at women in the secret services, SOE and OSS during WWII. Women played a crucial role a number operating in the field as agents. In occupied countries it was easier for them to blend in than young men of military age. I'm joined by Greg Lewis. With Gordon Thomas he is the author of Shadow Warriors: Daring Missions of World War II by Women of the OSS and SOE. Don't forget you can support the show on patreon.

In 1943 a lone B-17 Bomber set off on a solo reconnaissance mission, it was to be a 1200 mile round trip. Passing within range of Japanese airbases they were swarmed by Zero fighters... It would be only plane of the war where two of the personal would win the Medal of Honor. I'm joined by Bob Drury, co-author of Lucky 666: The Impossible Mission.

In this episode I'm talking to Nicholas O'Shaughnessy. Nicholas is is currently Visiting Professor in the Centre for Strategic Communication at King's College London. His new book Selling Hitler examines the Nazi's use of propaganda and argues Hitler was one of the few politicians who understood that persuasion was everything and was the central to creating an all encompassing strategy...

In this episode I'm joined by Matt Dearden and we're looking at the iconic WWII Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina flying boat. We look at both the history of he plane, and how it flies! Matt is a co-ownder of Miss Pick Up and a qualified pilot. You can find more information on the plane here.