WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk

Is the film Pressure accurate? Was Matthew Ridgeway a good general? And, how did WW2 shape the early leadership of NATO? In this special episode, recorded live at We Have Ways Festival 2026, Jim and Al are joined by John McManus to discuss tanks, films, Monty, and more! Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams, early access, ad-free...

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 about British civilians preparing for guerilla war, bombs that remained hidden until the 1950s, a Polish pilot above Italy, and a moving final le...

How did the men of the Canadian Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment experience the fighting for Ortona? What was Christmas 1943 like for men on the frontline? Were Commonwealth and British forces finally able to take the town? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 4, as they explore the terrible Italian battle known as the 'Stalingrad Of The Adriatic'. To watch the ad-free, video-supported, ve...

What was the reaction of Nazi leadership to Allied attacks at Ortona? Why did Germans always counter-attack? When did Kesselring take full control of German forces in Italy? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 3, as they explore the terrible Italian battle known as the 'Stalingrad Of The Adriatic'. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy...

What does Harry Wilson’s diary tell us about the fight for Ortona? Why was the Italian Campaign ‘not for the faint hearted’? How did German troops experience the battle for the River Moro? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 2, as they explore the terrible Italian battle known as the 'Stalingrad Of The Adriatic'. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and unlock exclusive content...

How did the fight for Ortona become known as the 'Stalingrad Of The Adriatic’? What was the role of Commonwealth and British Empire troops in the Italian Campaign? And, why was crossing the River Sangro so difficult? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 1, as they explore the terrible Italian battle known as the 'Stalingrad Of The Adriatic'. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ a...

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 being sunk off Lisbon, jungle warfare in Burma, letters from the Coventry Blitz, and reflections on Australian digger life during t...

Why was September 17th the most important date in WW2? What was the significance of the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran? How did British tank procurement change during and after the war? Join Jim and Al for a classic 'war waffle' episode, sharing their latest WW2 musings, recommendations, and research on exciting series coming up. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and unlock exclusiv...

What happened to Sam to get sent home from Italy? When did Sam's war end? How did Sam feel when he went home and saw his family? Join Jim and Al for part 4 of a new series focussing on one man's war, as they follow the exploits of Sam Bradshaw in 6th Royal Tank Regiment in North Africa and Italy. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestr...

350 British civilians are dead and Russia is responsible. Number 10 hits back as a hapless Prime Minister plays his hand in the age of regime decapitation. Bear Hunt is a technically rigorous action drama exploring the political manoeuvres, operational challenges and conflict expertise required to assassinate a head of state. Billed as a British Bourne, this geopolitical thriller pulls listeners i...

How did Rommel reverse Allied fortunes in North Africa? What was the importance of The Gazala Line in WW2? When was The First Battle Of Alamein? Join Jim and Al for part 3 of a new series focussing on one man's war, as they follow the exploits of Sam Bradshaw in 6th Royal Tank Regiment in North Africa and Italy. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and unlock exclusive content and mor...

Why was Operation Compass such a success for Allied forces in North Africa? When was Operation Compass? How did Sam Bradshaw and his friends survive in the early desert war? Join Jim and Al for part 2 of a new series focussing on one man's war, as they follow the exploits of Sam Bradshaw in 6th Royal Tank Regiment in North Africa and Italy. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and unl...

Why did young British men like Sam Bradshaw end up fighting overseas in North Africa? When was the situation in North Africa at the start of The Second World War? How did Allied forces do against Italians in North Africa during WW2? Join Jim and Al for part 1 of a new series focussing on one man's war, as they follow the exploits of Sam Bradshaw in 6th Royal Tank Regiment in North Africa and Italy...

What were American forces doing during the Battle of Normandy? How did the Sherwood Rangers deal with SS units? What high jinks did the men get up to on leave? Join Jim and Al for part 8, as they follow the trail of the Sherwood Rangers, Britain’s own ‘Band Of Brothers’. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams, early access, ad-fre...

How did the Sherwood Rangers defeat Nazi Jagdpanthers? What was Hitler's Operation Luttich? And, were the men affected by the casualties they witnessed? Join Jim and Al for part 7, as they follow the trail of the Sherwood Rangers, Britain’s own ‘Band Of Brothers’. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams, early access, ad-free liste...

What was the Battle of Hottot? Who is Stan Perry? Why was Operation Bluecoat planned? Join Jim and Al for Part 6, as they follow the trail of the Sherwood Rangers, Britain’s own ‘Band Of Brothers’. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams, early access, ad-free listening, bonus episodes, and a weekly newsletter packed with book deal...

How did the Sherwood Rangers recuperate after D-Day? Why were the Germans struggling in Normandy? What were the physical and mental demands on tank commanders? Join Jim and Al for part 5 as they continue the epic story of the Sherwood Rangers, Britain’s own ‘Band Of Brothers’. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams, early access,...

What were Britain's 'shadow factories'? Why did the allies plan to intervene in the Finno-Soviet Winter War? How did Germany hope to meet it's desperate need for resources? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 4 of this new series on the 'Phoney War', and how complacency and hubris led to the shock fall of Western Europe to the Nazi German war machine in Spring 1940. Start your free trial at...

Why does the fantasy of Nazi economic success still remain prominent? What did Mussolini and Ciano think about joining the war? How did Britain rapidly become self-sufficient in food? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 3 of this new series on the 'Phoney War', and how complacency and hubris led to the shock fall of Western Europe to the Nazi German war machine in Spring 1940. Start your fre...

What was the state of the French Army in 1939 ? Why was Belgium so against Britain and France reinforcing defences there? How did the press cover the beginning of the war? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 2 of this new series on the 'Phoney War', and how complacency and hubris led to the shock fall of Western Europe to the Nazi German war machine in Spring 1940. Start your free trial at ⁠...

What is the truth behind the Nazi myth of German technological superiority? Why were German generals planning to kill Hitler? How well was Britain prepared for war in 1939? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 1 of this new series on the 'Phoney War', and how complacency and hubris led to the shock fall of Western Europe to the Nazi German war machine in Spring 1940. Start your free trial at...

What was so important about The Smolensk Pocket? Why did Guderian try overambitious battle plans despite a lack of adequate resources? How did Hitler and Halder disagree on the plans around capturing Moscow? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 8 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...

How were young men like Wilhelm Prüller radicalised by Nazi propaganda and ideology? What did troops think of the invasion of the USSR? When did the soldiers think the campaign would be over, and why? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 7 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 Eas...

What happened to Russian resistance once German units reached the Dneiper river? Why were units like Panzer Group Guderian suffering from success? How did Nazi Germany deal with Soviet partisans and PoWs? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 6 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...

Why did Nazi Germany invade the Soviet Union in June 1941? What were the 3 main army groups and their objectives once they advanced Russian territory? How did Stalin react to news that Hitler had begun an attack on the USSR? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 5 of this titanic new series on the brutal Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, and how mistakes by warmongers on both sides led to unt...