The History of WWII Podcast

With a new commander in the Middle East, Churchill wants the war against Rommel renewed, but C in C Auchinleck has his own ideas. Yet the Desert Fox will spoil everyone's plans with his own attack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Young Stalin begins to the learn of the wider world of international politics and the intrigues that comes with it. Lenin his hero, does not measure up upon their first face to face. And Koba goes through his own metamorphosis when he returns from the 4th Congress and marries a local Tiflis girl. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In early 1942, the U.S. and Great Britain work together to develop the Atomic Bomb, but London needs to make sure Nazi Germany doesn't get there first. Today's guest is author Neal Bascomb. We discuss his new book, out today, The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler's Atomic Bomb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stalin, the young revolutionary, stumbles and is on the outs with the Georgian Social Democratic Worker's Party. Yet, after making another mistake, he is tepidly allowed to re-enter the group. Sent to a back water area, the workers there will soon strike and put the mining town and Stalin, at the center of the revolution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leningraders volunteer in such numbers that the Stavka orders several divisions to be organized, to resist the German invaders. Yet the men are thrown in untrained, mostly weaponless, armed only with a desire for revenge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ioseph Jughashvili, AKA Stalin, leaves the seminary under mysterious circumstances. Following the path of his mentor Lado Ketskhoveli, Soso becomes a revolutionary and learns the joy of mentoring the people but also to fear the police. Seeking refuge for himself, Stalin goes underground, after serving his first long prison sentence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The people of Leningrad take an affront to Nazi Germany invading their country. The men volunteer in droves for military service, the women are sent off to dig trenches. Though many of the men will die that summer of 1941, the Soviet Red Banner Baltic Fleet will undergo its own "Dunkirk" as a fleet of 228 vessels flee from Tallinn, Estonia, facing shore batteries, Finnish torpedo boats and miles of mines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Young Stalin begins the process of moving away from the Seminary and towards the life of a revolutionary. The picture is of Marx and Engels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Army Group South continues pressing closer towards the Soviet Capital. But General Secretary Stalin and General Zhukov attempt to defy the invaders. They are soon assisted by General Winter. Meanwhile, we catch up with Army Groups North and South, where Stalin has planned counter attacks as he knows the germans are focused on his capital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sixteen year old Soso (Stalin) enters the Tiflis Theological Seminary, on his way to becoming a priest. But what the boy may not know is that, he has entered an intellectual battleground and being a good Georgian, there is only one side he can choose. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the mud now frozen hard, Army Group Center advances on Moscow, deciding the weak link is just to the NW of the city. This guess proves correct. As November 1941 comes to an end, the leading German units are just miles from the capital and can see the spires of the Soviet Capital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stalin, the future Soviet leader is born, far from Moscow and begins his provincial life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode, narrated Tim Martin, of the newly launched Valiant: Stories of Heroes Podcast, covers Guderian's dash to Tula. Ray will be back next time, with full vocal ability in tow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

OKH Chief Franz Halder makes plans for a modest end to 1941 for Operation Barbarossa, but Hitler overrides him and orders the capture of Moscow, before the heavy snows come. Yet, Stalin, finally taking an advisor's advice, allows several armies from the Russian Far East to transfer west and help with the defense of his capital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Germans smash through the latest Soviet Defensive lines. The 4th Panzer Group, along with Gen. Kluge's 4th Army now have men just 128 KM or 80 miles from Moscow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Having shattered the Russian defensive line at Viaz'ma, the Germans expand on their ambitious attack plans, attacking to the north and south of the main road to Moscow. In the center is Zhukov's pathetic new defensive line. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Germans and Russians clash to the west of Moscow. But within mere days, the Soviet's three Fronts are either destroyed or encircled. The road to Moscow is left open. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Leningrad cut off and the far South stabilized, Hitler has decreed that the time has come to launch Operation Typhoon, Nazi Germany's attack against the Soviet Capital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hitler has renewed the drive to Moscow, Operation Typhoon, and needs the panzers from Army Group North. Which means, Leningrad needs to be cut off from help, quickly. September and October become a battle of wills between Stalin and his attacker, as both try to control the area south of Lake Ladoga and the last rail line between Leningrad and Moscow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leeb, commander of Army Group North launches his last major assault before having to turn over most of his motorized units to Army Group Center, as it readies itself for an attack on Moscow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Germans come ever closer to Leningrad, so Stalin sends his best general to cope, Zhukov. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Army Group Center makes its way East, past Minsk and now on to Smolensk. But waiting for them is the largest Soviet counter attack, to date. Meanwhile, Army Group North is ready to attack Leningrad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Douglas Waller's latest book, Disciples: The World War II Missions of the CIA Directors Who Fought for Wild Bill Donovan. OSS Agents penetrate Nazi Germany for information and acts of sabotage, then face the counter intelligence agents of Stalin's Soviet Russia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stalin's lack of military training causes his country to loose everything to the South, west of the Dnieper River. The German Panzers race east and make for the Crimea. Kiev is encircled, as is the 850,000 soviet troops in the area. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marshal Mannerheim of Finland agrees to attack towards Leningrad and around Lake Ladoga, but not much more than that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hitler manages to bring Finland into his attack against Soviet Russia, but the Finns are mostly concerned with recapturing lost land. Like the three Army Groups, the Germans to the north will advance, but lose many men along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Panzers come ever closer to Leningrad, though losing men and machines along the way. Meanwhile, Army Group Center moves toward the Dvina River. As for Kiev, the writing is on the wall, yet Stalin is the only one who can't see it. Picture-Defense works before Leningrad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The German invaders are now in Russia, proper and are still advancing, but suffer heavier than expected losses. But in SE Russia, the Soviet 6th and 12th Armies become trapped, due to pathetic communications between them and Moscow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The three German Army Groups advance further into Russia, but Army Group Center has has the most success. Perhaps some of its panzers should be turned north or south to help the other two. But Army Group South isn't waiting for help. Field Marshal Rundstedt decides to turn some of his panzers away from approaching Kiev, to attack the Soviet troops above Odessa from behind and destroy the entire Soviet Southern Front. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that Operation Barbarossa had been launched, Hilter attempts to convince the world that this battle is only in the defense of Nazi Germany. That Soviet Russia, in conlusion with Great Britain have set out to destroy the Nazi State. Yet Hitler nor his general have a true grasp of the situation before them, as they take on the largest country in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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