The History of WWII Podcast

The leaders of the combatant countries react to Nazi Germany invading Soviet Russia. We also cover Army Group North and South's initial assaults. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before the sun rises on June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany unleashes Operation Barbarossa, its attack on Soviet Russia and Stalin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier than most people think, Hilter started planning his war against Soviet Russia and Stalin. Operation Barbarossa begins to take shape during the Battle of Britain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FDR comes through his third election and the British are expectant. Yet there are still hurdles to overcome. But eventually, the president comes up with the way to help Great Britain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Roosevelt continues his struggle against Congress and the Isolationists in trying to help the Allies. France falls from the fight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It becomes apparant to the U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt that Britian and France are going to need American war material and financial assistance to defeat the Axis. Yet, the British Empire only has so much gold and the current laws of the U.S. make it illegal for FDR to extend credit to the Allies, during their hour of need. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the failure of Operation Battle Axe and the bloody victory in Syria, Churchill finally rids himself of C in C Gen. Archibald Wavell. And wants his replacement, Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck to attack Rommel forth with. Yet the two operations have taken away half of the Western Desert Force's tanks. No matter, Churchill wants action, but Auchinleck wants time. Picture-Auchinleck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Though Operation Exporter is stalled, Operation Battle Axe is launched. Yet the British attack plans are not very creative and Rommel can hear most of the wireless chatter coming from the British tanks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Allies come up against stiff French (Vichy) resistence in Syria and Lebanon. But that was just to set up the counter attack, which commenced on June 16th. Yet the men of the 5th Indian Brigade do all they can to give some success to the invaders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Churchill and the Free French get their way, Vichy controlled Syria will be invaded. But C in C Wavell's Middle East Command is stretched as it is, resources are few. Yet, Churchill will have his way and those who oppose him, begin to disapear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here is the last episode of the Battle of Crete. The Allies never contested for air superiority and thus the Germans were able to constantly push them back and eventually off the island. It was time again for another evacuation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Allied defense under Gen. Freyberg continues to back pedal on Crete. Meanwhile Adm. Cunningham continues to lose ships, although the land battle is being won by the Axis. Yet Churchill insists on more action from the Royal Navy and the ANZAC forces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Allied counter attack faulters, which allows the Germans to land more troops at Maleme. The Royal Navy is doing what it can, but suffering for it. Yet their efforts and loses will be for nothing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gen. Student tries to figure out how to salvage the disaster that has befallen his airborne troops, during that first day of Operation Mercury. 1,800 had been lost that first day. And helping him mightily, are the ineffectual officers serving under Gen. Freyberg, who himself, refuses to see the situation as it really is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Germans begin, Operation Mercury, their attack on the island, to further confuse Russia and keep the British away from Hitler's oil fields. Yet as the transport planes take off, the number of defenders on the island has be recalculated from 12,000 to 48,000. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back by popular demand! Winston S. Churchill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

C in C M.E. Wavell gives into pressure from Churchill to attack Rommel, before the tanks and planes of Convoy Tiger can be off loaded. Next, the situation in Iraq comes to a head and we start the story of Crete and the end of Wavell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rommel is ready to have another crack at Tobruk, but Berlin is focused on Operation Barbarossa. Yet, Rommel gets permission to move ahead and finish off the British holdout. Meanwhile, Wavell's dire prediction about the Middle East starts to come true as elements of the Iraqi Government side with the Axis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

German forces complete their conquest of the Greek mainland. Meanwhile Rommel shocks the British led forces in North Africa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Germans continue to drive south, the Greeks throw in the towell and the Allies make plans to evacuate. But wanting more Gen. Von List of the German 12th Army uses Airborne troops for a daring raid of Cornith, in trying to cut off some of the Allied troops in retreat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Alikmon Line is breached, the Allies fall back. But the German forces are right behind them all the way. Greek General Papagos believes the end of the Battle of Greece has come, but BEF Commander General Wilson wants to give it one more try. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greece comes under attack on the same day as Yugoslavia, yet that country's quick demise, sets up the conquest of Greece. The war in the Greek NE is over by the third day, so the Commonwealth forces fall back, yet the Greeks in Albania are loath to follow their example. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nothing can be allowed to stand in the way of Operation Barbarossa, Hitler's plan to destroy Russia. Certainly not Yugoslavia and Greece. So Operation Retribution, aimed at Belgrade and Operation Marita, against Greece, commence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lt. Gen. Rommel had decided the time has come to ignore his orders and move against the Allies. While he has his own problems, they are nothing compared to what Gen. Neame and Gen. O'Connor suffer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lt. Gen. Rommel decides it's time to test the Allied forces within Cyrenaica, as well as his Italian and German superiors. Meanwhile Adm. Cunningham engages the Italians in the Battle of Matapan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Allies, with Great Britain leading the way, rush all available troops to Greece. Yet, now that Lt. Gen. Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox, is in North Africa, the Commonwealth forces are about to loose more then they thought possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the gods themselves seem to hate Mussolini and all his endeavors, with British Commonwealth forces and Greek soldiers destroying his troops, almost at will, Hitler has decided, enough is enough. The Axis has to be put right again and so, in steps Germany, in North Africa (Rommel) and in Greece. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here is the last episode of the Churchill Bio. Winston, looses his money, his influence and almost, his life. Listen carefully to the end. Did you win? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Churchill returns from the U.S. to find his party up in arms about the India question and Tory leader Baldwin's pro Dominion stance concerning the sub-continent. So, Winston offers to take on the leader, alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The disaffected British voters decide to give someone else a chance to deal with the country's dreary economy. Churchill finds he's been walking a lonely path for some time. Touring the world, Winston is in time to watch Vesuvius erupt and the NY Stock Exchange implode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winston, now a private citizen, will stay this way for two years as British politics and his views take different paths. Intermingled during this time, are a series of heartbreaking losses for the man. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Churchill finds his Camelot and then works feverishly to fix it up as his Gwenivere is not impressed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Churchill's post war years are full of success, tragedy and despair. He changes positions within the British Cabinet and takes on the issues of a Jewish Homeland, Turkey and Ireland. And by the end he looses his appendix and something else, even more valuable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With us for this episode is writer Kathryn J. Atwood, arthor of Women Heroes of World War II and editor of Code Name Pauline: Memoirs of a World War II Special Agent and it is the later book we will be discussing. The protagonist, Pearl, Code Named Pauline, came from humble beginnings to do her part to as an SOE agent, behind enemies lines in Occupied France, to thwart the Nazi's before and after D-Day. For all those looking for strong female role models, Mrs. Atwood's books fit the bill beautifully. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The following is my 100th Episode Celebration. After thanking those who have shared this journey with me, I interview Henry Niemann who grew up in Germany during the Nazi Period and was then drafted near the end of the war. Thank you to everyone who listens to my attempt at bringing this amazing story to the current generation and podcasting world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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The Great War comes to an end. Churchill's family grows and life as Winston knew it, has been erased forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Churchill is cleared of the Dardanelles disaster, gets himself back into the governement, but then almost loses it all as he finds himself at the front when Gen. Ludendorff launches his great offensive in the West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Warning! No history is covered here. But somehow, Laszlo of The China History Podcast ended up on the East Coast, in Virginia, in Charlottesville, 30 minutes from me. So... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winston's career seems all but over. Still, he finds solace in his family, painting and life in the trench. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dardanelles Campaign starts off well enough, but through bad luck, worse weather and weaker souls, it collapses on itself. Then the British world collapses on Churchill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The British War Council decides on a Second Front to hopefully alter the slaughtering in France. Winston, with his personality, becomes of the face of the Aegean Campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the outbreak of war, Churchill is ready, though the same can not be said of the rest of Britain. Winston will experience the lime light and the highs and lows of battle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The events of Sarajevo cause diplomatic tension to build throughout Europe but Churchill is determined that Britain will be ready, come what may. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Churchill gets promoted to the Home Office, starts out well, but then becomes his own worst enemy. Now in the Admiralty, Winston comes into his own. Fortunately for Britain as Germany seeks to challenge G.B. on the seas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winston finds love, fights the Tories, gets promoted, nearly dies three times and humbles some Lords. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winston, now in the House of Commons, plots his revenge against those who fought his father, Lord Randolph. Also, Churchill, goes through his own challenges as he takes on Joe Chamberlain, the PM Balfour and those abandoning Free Trade. He then crosses the gangway and becomes a Liberal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Churchill’s life is covered until the death of Queen Victoria. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are joined today by James Muller, professor of Political Science at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. We discuss Churchill’s 2nd book published, The River War, and Mr. Muller’s re-release of The River War’s first edition with commentary, illustrations, with all of its original text. The first edition has not been seen in over 100 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack El-Hai joined me today for a conversation about his latest book, The Nazi and the Psychiartrist: Hermann Goring, Dr. Douglas M. Kelley, and a Fatal Meeting of Minds at the End of WWII. Mr. El-Hai’s book deals with the top 22 surviving Nazi officials and Dr. Kelley, an American Army Psychiatrist who was placed in charge of their mental health. His job was to ready the men for the Nuremberg Trails, but saw an opportunity to discover, if it existed, the Nazi personality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices