World War II On Topic

Jonathan Parshall discusses his long-awaited new book, 1942: Crux of War , in conversation with Rob Citino, PhD. Parshall's book looks at this pivotal year of World War II, weighing the balance of forces arrayed by the Axis and Allied powers, the nature of their war machines, and the personalities of those driving them.  

The HISTORY Channel's 'World War II with Tom Hanks' is a new 20-part landmark documentary series. The National WWII Museum in New Orleans held an exclusive early screening of the first episode, and a behind-the-scenes panel discussion with featured historian Rob Citino, PhD, and Kirk Saduski of Playtone. The National WWII Museum was proud to partner with The HISTORY Channel on this series.

World War II was fought on battlefields all over the globe. But it was also fought in the shadows—in covert operations that didn't make the headlines, both at home and overseas. The National WWII Museum presents  Secret WWII: Spies & Special Ops Season 2 , a podcast exploring wartime tales of espionage and intrigue .  Hosted by Museum Senior Historian Bradley W. Hart, PhD, tune in to hear from exp...

In this  special  episode,  leading historians from  The National WWII  Museum  offer a preview of  Museum's  upcoming two-day symposium  on  General  George S. Patton— one of the most famous and controversial commanders of World War II.  Join  us  for the  Patton: Man of War  Symposium  in New Orleans  on  March 13 - 14, 2026 .  Visit  nationalww2museum.org/patton-symposium  to learn more.  

The National WWII Museum's Associate Vice President of Collections and Exhibits Erin Clancey interviews  Molly Dubin, Chief Curator at the Jewish Museum of Milwaukee, and David  Kunian , Curator of Music at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, to discuss the new special exhibit " Degenerate! Hitler's War on Modern Art." The exhibit is on display at The National WWII Museum through May 10, 2026. The travel...

In this special episode, Playtone executive and producer Kirk Saduski interviews Nuremberg director James Vanderbilt and the film's historical advisor Michael Berenbaum, as well as best-selling author Donald Miller and historian Rebecca Erbelding.  The new film  Nuremberg follows the story of the Allies, led by the unyielding chief prosecutor, Robert H. Jackson (Michael Shannon), as they endeavor...

World War II was fought on battlefields all over the globe. But it was also fought in the shadows—in covert operations that didn't make the headlines, both at home and overseas. The National WWII Museum presents  Secret WWII: Spies & Special Ops , a new podcast series exploring wartime tales of espionage and intrigue .  Hosted by Museum Senior Historian Bradley W. Hart, PhD, tune in to hear from e...

Bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize finalist Garrett M. Graff, author of  The Devil Reached Toward the Sky: An Oral History of the Making and Unleashing of the Atomic Bomb , explores one of humanity's most daring ventures—the race by scientists and engineers to create the atomic bomb. Senior Historian Bradley W. Hart, PhD interviewed Garrett M. Graff at The National WWII Musuem in New Orleans. 

Join us in conversation with Museum Samuel Zemurray Stone Senior Historian John Curatola, PhD, author of  Armies Afloat: How the Development of Amphibious Operations in Europe Helped Win World War II , which explores the US Army's journey in mastering amphibious warfare—an endeavor that required years of rigorous training, joint-force cooperation, and groundbreaking military strategy.

The National WWII Museum presents 1945 , a six-part podcast series hosted by New York Times best-selling author Donald Miller and Playtone producer Kirk Saduski. Tune-in as we tell the story of the most consequential year in modern history, and explore significant questions over how the war will end.  Episodes available weekly starting April 17.

While in hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, Anne Frank wrote what has become the world's most famous diary. After her words were published in 1947 as The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne soon emerged as an international phenomenon and symbol of the Holocaust. More than 30 million copies of her diary have been printed in more than 70 languages, and it has been adapted into a Pulitzer...

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, a predominantly Black battalion in the Women's Army Corps, is now memorialized in a new film,  The Six Triple Eight, now available to stream on Netflix. Listen as Kimberly Guise, National WWII Museum Senior Curator & Director for Curatorial Affairs, and retired US Air Force Colonel Eries L.G. Mentzer discuss the history of these pioneering women of th...

Rob Citino, PhD and Mike Bell, PhD discuss Battle of the Bulge, 80 years later.  Catch up on all podcasts from The National WWII Museum.

Bradley W. Hart, PhD, Military Historian, talks with Rona Simmons, author of No Average Day: The 24 Hours of October 24, 1944, which chronicles the US Armed Forces' single deadliest day of World War II. More than 2,600 Americans perished around the world on October 24, 1944—more than on any other single day of the conflict—yet the day remains overshadowed by more widely remembered dates in WWII hi...

Dr. Jennifer Putnam interviews Antony Penrose, son of Lee Miller and author of "The Lives of Lee Miller." The new film "Lee" stars Academy-Award winning actress Kate Winselt, portraying the trail-blazing World War II war correspondent.   Catch up on all podcasts from the National World War II Museum.

Coming soon from The National WWII Museum,  Antisemitism: The Fight in WWII America  is a five-part podcast series exploring the battle against antisemitism in prewar America and during World War II as well as the legacy of these efforts, which continue today.  We begin in 1938, examining voices who were sympathetic to Nazism, while also highlighting voices who raised public awareness of the ongoi...

This is D-Day, as told through the real voices of those who were in Normandy on June 6, 1944. The National WWII Museum's archival collection features over 12,000 personal narratives, including voices of those who fought on D-Day.

In this special episode of World War II On Topic, Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy Senior Historian Mark Calhoun, PhD, and Distinguished Fellow Rob Citino, PhD, discuss the legacy of D-Day, 80 years after the consequential invasion of Normandy began. Catch up on all episodes of World War II On Topic and be sure to leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform.

Click HERE to follow the new podcast by The National WWII Museum: Making Masters of the Air. Masters of the Air is an Apple Original series from executive producers of Band of Brothers and The Pacific, streaming January 26 on Apple TV+. The series follows the men of the 100th Bomb Group (the "Bloody Hundredth") as they conduct perilous bombing raids over Nazi Germany and grapple with the frigid co...

In this special season of World War II On Topic, The National WWII Museum will explore J. Robert Oppenheimer, the Manhattan Project, and the history and ramifications of the atomic bomb.  In this episode, Jason Dawsey, PhD, and John Curatola, PhD, historians with the Museum's Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy, discuss the legacy of the Manhattan Project. To read more visit o...

In this special season of World War II On Topic, The National WWII Museum will explore J. Robert Oppenheimer, the Manhattan Project, and the history and ramifications of the atomic bomb.  The anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima was August 6. In this episode, we hear from two extraordinary people who experienced the bombing, albeit from vastly different perspectives. While much has been written...

In this special season of World War II On Topic, The National WWII Museum will explore J. Robert Oppenheimer, the Manhattan Project, and the history and ramifications of the atomic bomb.  In this episode, Jason Dawsey, PhD & John Curatola, PhD, historians with the Museum's Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy, discuss the film Oppenheimer, released July 21, 2023. Directed by Ch...

In this special season of World War II On Topic, The National WWII Museum will explore J. Robert Oppenheimer, the Manhattan Project, and the history and ramifications of the atomic bomb.  In this episode, we take a closer look at Lieutenant General Leslie Groves, director of the Manhattan Project. While a lot of interest is rightfully set on Oppenheimer, Groves proves to be an interesting characte...

This episode is brought to you by the Museum's Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy. At the 2012 International Conference on World War II, we were privileged to listen to a conversation between renowned author, Rick Atkinson and World War II Veterans Walt Ehlers & Gerhard Hennes. Walt served in the 3rd Infantry Division of the US Army in North Africa. He then served with the 1s...

This is World War II on Topic: Veteran Voices. This episode is a collaboration between the Museum's Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy and the Curatorial Services Department. Back in May 2021, when Senior Curator, Kim Guise, had a conversation with WWII Veteran and Concentration Camp Liberator Alan Moskin. Moskin was a member of the 66th Regiment of the 71st Infantry Division...