WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk

Was The Battle of The Bulge a delay in the fall of Nazi Germany? Why did Western Allies like Eisenhower not race to capture Berlin? How did Soviet generals waste their own forces in order to conquer Nazi Germany faster? Listen to this exclusive extract from Antony Beevor and James Holland's talk from last year's We Have Ways Festival, as well as hear more about James May's talk, Saul David on Nort...

How did 2 Para end up abandoned at Oudna? What was their strategy to survive the German onslaught? Was poor planning the cause of the disaster? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 2 of this thrilling story as John Frost and the heroes of Bruneval endure an epic trek for survival across Axis-held Tunisia. To watch the ad-free, video-supported, version of this episode, please head to our Patre...

Why did British airborne forces have such limited kit? What did the Oudna operation plan to achieve? When was Operation Torch? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 1 of this thrilling story as John Frost and the heroes of Bruneval endure an epic trek for survival across Axis-held Tunisia. To watch the ad-free, video-supported, version of this episode, please head to our Patreon page directly....

Why did Hitler shift the aim of Barbarossa to one of extermination? What intelligence was Stalin receiving that warned him of imminent German attack? How many panzers were mobilised for the invasion of the USSR? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 4 of this titanic new series on the brutal Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, and how mistakes by warmongers on both sides led to untold tragedies...

Why did the Nazi high command underestimate the challenges of fighting The USSR? How did low mechanisation affect German preparations? What was Stalin doing to strengthen his relationship with Japan? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 3 of this titanic new series on the brutal Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, and how mistakes by warmongers on both sides led to untold tragedies on the East...

How did the interwar years contribute to Germany's ability to successfully invade Russia? Why was Nazi Germany so reliant on trade with The Soviet Union? When did Hitler decide to betray his pact with Stalin? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 2 of this titanic new series on the brutal Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, and how mistakes by warmongers on both sides led to untold tragedies on...

Why was Hitler planning an invasion of the USSR during The Battle Of Britain? What impact did the Nazi-Soviet Pact have on WW2? How was Stalin expanding communist influence in Eastern Europe? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 1 of this titanic new series on the brutal Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, and how mistakes by warmongers on both sides led to untold tragedies on the Eastern Fron...

How did the British sink the German ship Georg Thiele? What role did stringbags play in the naval battle? Why did Captain Warburton Lee win his Victoria Cross? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 3 of this gripping new series on Britain's naval fight at Narvik, and the Royal Navy's response to the German invasion of Norway. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and unlock exclusi...

Why did the British Admiralty miss a crucial opportunity to attack the Kriesgmarine in Norway? How did HMS Glowworm fire the first shots of the Norwegian campaign? What role did the Polish submarine Orzel play in this spectacular showdown? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 2 of this gripping new series on Britain's naval fight at Narvik, and the Royal Navy's response to the German invasion...

Why did Hitler launch his conquest of Norway and Denmark in April 1940? How did WW1 influence the Kriegsmarine hierarchy? What was the British naval response to the invasions? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 1 of this gripping new series on Britain's naval fight at Narvik, and the Royal Navy's response to the German invasion of Norway Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and...

What did Allied forces do when encountering elite SS tank units of Panther and Tiger tanks? How did British defenders successfully repel German counterattacks? What was an average day like for British soldiers in Normandy after D-Day in June 1944? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 4 of this engaging new serial on the men and tanks of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, one of the most hard-figh...

Why was there a lot of churn among British tank crews after D-Day? How did British armoured units use specialised tanks like Fireflies and Churchill AVREs? What was important about Point 103? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 3 of this engaging new serial on the men and tanks of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, one of the most hard-fighting British units of WW2. Start your free trial at ⁠pat...

How was fighting in the Normandy Bocage dangerous for Allied forces after D-Day? Why were German panzers considered by some to be superior tanks? What was fighting on D-Day like for soldiers who had fought in the Middle East and North Africa? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 2 of this engaging new serial on the men and tanks of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, one of the most hard-fighting...

What did a British tank squadron look like in The Second World War? Why were weather conditions so important for the Allies on D-Day? How was a yeomanry different to other units in the British Army? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 1 of this engaging new serial on the men and tanks of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, one of the most hard-fighting British units of WW2.Start your free trial a...

When did the British know the raid had been a success? What air and sea forces were used to help the paratroopers? How was this used to boost morale by the British? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 4 of this exciting new series on Operation Biting, known as the Bruneval Raid - the most unequivocally successful British Parachute Regiment operation of WW2. To watch the ad-free, video-suppor...

What Nazi resistance was there to the British paratrooper raid? Why didn't the paras have any heavy support during the attack? When did the Royal Navy come to exfiltrate John Frost's men? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 3 of this exciting new series on Operation Biting, known as the Bruneval Raid - the most unequivocally successful British Parachute Regiment operation of WW2. To watch th...

How did British paratroopers train for the Bruneval Raid? What role did intelligence play in helping plan for the airborne operation? Why did the Germans not defend their radar installations better? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 2 of this exciting new series on Operation Biting, known as the Bruneval Raid - the most unequivocally successful British Parachute Regiment operation of WW2....

When did Operation Biting happen? Why was this so important for the British war effort? What did British paratroopers hope to achieve? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 1 of this exciting new series on Operation Biting, known as the Bruneval Raid - the most unequivocally successful British Parachute Regiment operation of WW2. To watch the ad-free, video-supported, version of this episode,...

As a part of our continuing effort to commemorate the incredible global story of WW2, we present our ongoing ‘Family Stories’ series. This series tells YOUR relatives’ stories of derring do - both on the front line and home front. In this episode we hear your tales of secret swastika sewing, deadly seaside towns, the Navy's luckiest Jonah, Italian internees, and taunting German artillery. With tha...

Was Churchill the greatest Briton of all time? Why are people like Boris Johnson so keen to be seen like Churchill? How did Nazi war criminals start new lives in places like South America? Listen to these exclusive extracts from Dominic Sandbrook, Tim Shipman, and Philippe Sands' talks from last year's We Have Ways Festival on whether Winston Churchill was the greatest Briton, and how some of the...

When did Harry S. Truman become President of The United States? How was Truman different to FDR? What were the causes of the Cold War between the US and USSR? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 6 of their most ambitious series yet; a definitive survey of the 20th Century and how the First World War and economic instability of the 20s and 30s caused World War Two, and how the political visio...

Why is the Bretton Woods conference so important to today's economies? How did the US dollar become the global currency, replacing the British pound sterling? What was the American contribution to D-Day on June 6th 1944? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 5 of their most ambitious series yet; a definitive survey of the 20th Century and how the First World War and economic instability of the...

Why did Roosevelt enter World War Two? What was Atlantic Charter? How did the USSR defeat Operation Barbarossa? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 4 of their most ambitious series yet; a definitive survey of the 20th Century and how the First World War and economic instability of the 20s and 30s caused World War Two, and how the political vision of US Presidents like Roosevelt and Truman st...

Why was the Fall of France in 1940 such a surprise? How did FDR get the USA ready to fight in WW2? What did Churchill do to encourage American entry on the side of the Allies? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 3 of their most ambitious series yet; a definitive survey of the 20th Century, how the First World War and economic instability of the 20s and 30s caused World War Two, and how the p...

Why was there a stock market crash in 1929? How did The Great Depression help extremist political parties like the Nazis in Germany gain power? What did President Roosevelt's New Deal in the USA do to help America recover? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 2 of their most ambitious series yet; a definitive survey of the 20th Century and how the First World War and economic instability of t...