The History of WWII Podcast
656 episodes — Page 13 of 14
Episode 56-Breaking Point
September brings the beginning of the end of The Battle of Britain. London will become the Luftwaffe’s target as Germany needs the war to end. Soon Goering will take a personal hand in the war over the Channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 55-Battling Friends and Foes Alike
As tired as everyone is, Kesselring of Luftflotte Two steps up the intensity of the attacks on RAF airfields, especially those near London. And Hitler will release the Luftwaffe to attack London, as the battle is not going in Nazi Germany’s favor. Also Group Commanders Keith Park and Leigh-Mallory have their own feud over how [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 54-Pandoras Box
London becomes more of a target for the German bombers, until Goering warms them away. But it’s too late. Churchill and the War Cabinet decide to bomb Berlin. The war will shift into it’s final phase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 53- Things Missed
This episode covers 4 missed or lightly treated subjects: Operation Pied Piper- the evacuation of Britain’s children, the disaster of the Lancastria, the occupation of The Channel Islands by the Nazis and the Italian Conquest of British Somaliland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 52-Moves on the Chessboard
C in C of the Luftwaffe Goering calls his young bloods to Karinhall to devise a new strategy to destroy Fighter Command. The result is a reinforced Kesselring pitted against Keith Park of 11 Group. But during a lull in the fighting, Park and his superior, Air Marshal Dowding make their own plans for defense. [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 51-The Hardest Day
This episode covers August 16 to the 18th. Goering plans on finishing Fighter Command on August 18th, by using almost every fighter and bomber from Luftflottes 2 and 3. The idea is simply to overwhelm the shrinking RAF forces. But Radar still plays a major role in helping Dowding and his Fighter Groups. Their real [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 50- Black Thursday, August 14-15th
August 15th was one of the greatest days of battle in The Battle of Britain. Goering makes his plans for improved attacks against the RAF but Dowding and Park stay with their tried method. The fighting continues over the channel while Churchill has his own combat within the walls of the Commons. Meanwhile, the British [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 49- Adlertag: August 8th-13th
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Episode 48: Things Learned. August 2nd – August 7th.
The RAF and Luftwaffe size each other up and ready for Adlertag. The war in North Africa has started and the British will have to withdraw, like Dunkirk, for now. But they know Egypt must be kept safe. But Mussolini wants his African Empire. Goering is ready for Phase Two, but the RAF is still [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 47- Support Teams & The Battle, July 29th-August 1st
The brave men and women behind the RAF pilots and Fighter Command. The British people come together to defend their island: Anti-Aircraft guns, balloon barrage, BAM Fuel, Private companies working ahead of the government, the Air Transport Auxiliary and the Home Guard. The Battle of Britain is covered through August 1st, when Hitler issues Directive [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 46-A Day in the Life, July 26th-28th
This episode gives a glimpse into the daily routine of Luftwaffe pilots fighting over the English Channel. The Straights of Dover are now being called Hellfire Corner from the number of sunken convoy ships. Also July 26th-28th of the Battle of Britain is covered. Dowding rests his men and their aircraft, while Luftwaffe leader Goering [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 45- Numbers Tell, July 23rd-25th
The Me 109E will bring Nazi Germany to greatness and to the water’s edge at the English Channel. It came before the Hurricane and Spitfire and was faster. But it was also without armor, at first. The Luftwaffe is still testing the RAF: its air craft, pilots and RDF system. Both sides will draw blood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 44-Defense of the Air.
This episode covers the beginning of the RAF and Fighter Command. Air Marshal Dowding is Fighter Command’s first Commander in chief. Through trial and error, radar is developed and a detection and respond system is worked out to defend the Channel coast. The Battle of Britain, from July 20th to July 22nd. The Spitfire and [...] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 43-The Battle, July 16th-19th.
German tactics, English weather and the Spitfire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 42-Battle of Britain, Part 2.
A close up of the Hawker Hurricane and the Battle of Britain, July 11th-15th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 41-Great Britain’s turn.
Battle of Britain- July 10, 1940. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 40-Unexpected surprise for Hitler.
Hitler is ready to end the war, but not Churchill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 39-Hitler bio, Part 3.
Hitler until the Beer Hall Putsch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 38-Hitler bio, Part 2.
Hitler through the end of WWI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 37-Hitler bio, Part 1.
The early life of Adolf Hitler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 36-The End of the French Third Republic.
Petain and the New France. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 35-The question of the French Fleet.
Britain and France clash and Churchill settles the question of the French fleet once and for all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 34-The war of France is over.
Petain’s government signs the Armistice Treaty with Nazi Germany. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 33-Premier Petain seeks peace.
Petain rushes to find peace, giving little thought of the price. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 32-French Premier Reynaud falls.
Reynaud falls and Marshal Petain takes over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 31-Paris falls.
Paris falls. June 5th – 13th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 30-The End of Dunkirk.
Rescue operations come to a close as the Germans advance on the Allied perimeter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 29-June 2nd. Massed ships.
British civilians help rescue troops from Dunkirk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 28-The Miracle.
The “Miracle” part of Dunkirk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 27-29th May.
The clouds and smoke roll away and Dunkirk is exposed to the Luftwaffe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 26-Dunkirk, Part 2.
The anxious British troops wait on the beaches and the Mole to be rescued. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 25-Dunkirk, Part 1.
The British, seemingly pushed into the sea, organize to save their troops to fight another day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 24-The panzers reach the coast.
Allied forces in Belgium are cut off as the German panzers reach the coast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 23-The French 9th Army is destroyed.
Rommel crosses the Meuse north of Sedan and helps destroy the French 9th Army. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 22-German panzers attack through the Ardennes.
German panzers attack through the Ardennes, head for the Meuse River and the town of Sedan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 21-The fall of France, Part 2.
The invasion of Holland and Belgium. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 20-China 1937 to 1940.
China 1937-40 and Mao Biography. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 19-The Long March w/ Laszlo
The Long March, 1934-1935. Mao and the Chinese Communist Party are saved by running through the mountains and jungles, fleeing from Chiang Kai-shek and his Nationalist troops. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 18-The fall of France, Part 1.
The Phony War has undermined what eagerness there was to fight Germany. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 17-The fall of Denmark and Norway.
Landlocked Denmark surrenders, but Norway resists. The British try to help but are not organized or equipped properly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 16-The Phony War and Finland’s defeat.
The Allies wait for Hitler and Stalin uses the war to attack Finland. But the Soviet Army is far from ready. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 15-The fall of Poland.
Hitler’s bluffing to gain an empire is over. He will have to fight from now on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 14-The last days of peace.
Diplomatic wrangling rages over Europe during the summer of 1939. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 13-The line is drawn.
Britain and France are finished giving in to Hitler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 12-Appeasement.
Hitler’s sabre rattling earns him Austria and the Munich Agreement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 11-Europe 1933 to 1937.
Europe 1933-1937: Ethiopia, Rhineland, Spanish Civil War. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 10-The Nazification of Germany.
The Nazi Party implements Hitler’s vision as written in Mein Kampf. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 9-Hitler takes on the World.
Hitler, now in power, removes his enemies and defies the international community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 8-Japan’s China policy?
Japan struggles to define its policy on China, but events take the decision out the military’s hands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 7-Japan expands into China.
Japan continues to expand their operations into China and find themselves facing Chairman Mao, backed by the Soviet Union and Chiang Kai Shek. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices