Special Forces In World War 2 Podcast

On D-Day, June 6th, 1944, Ranger Force C, under Major Max Schneider, sails toward the Normandy coast. Comprising the 5th Ranger Battalion, Companies A and B of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, and the Ranger Cannon Platoon, the force faces a crucial decision: follow the planned assault on Dog Green Beach or divert west to relieve the hard-pressed Rangers at Pointe du Hoc. What begins as a carefully timed...

Company C, 2nd Ranger Battalion (Force B), draws a distinct mission on D-Day: land on the extreme western end of Omaha’s Charlie Sector at H+3, smash Widerstandsnest 73 overlooking Dog Green/Charlie, then push west to clear Widerstandsnest 74 at Pointe de la Percée and link up toward Pointe du Hoc. We trace the hazardous pre-dawn run-in, the loss of one landing craft to anti-tank fire, and the bru...

Continuing the five-part Provisional Ranger Group D-Day series, this episode covers the gritty aftermath at Pointe du Hoc. After the hidden 155 mm guns are found and disabled, Ranger teams split: some dig in on the shattered Point while others hold the inland highway under snipers, mortars, and counterattacks. With ammunition low and communications failing, Force A clings to the cliffs through the...

On the morning of June 6th, 1944, Ranger Force A of the Provisional Ranger Group sets out across rough seas toward one of the most dangerous objectives of D-Day: Pointe du Hoc. Packed into small landing craft, they face confusion, heavy surf, and enemy fire during their desperate run to the cliffs. This episode continues our five-part series on the Provisional Ranger Force during D-Day. We follow...

Before scaling the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc, the U.S. Army Rangers had to be forged into a single fighting force. In this first episode of our five-part series, we trace the preparations of the Provisional Ranger Group — from their arrival in Britain and training at the Assault Training Center, to secret equipment trials, planning debates, and final embarkation for D-Day. Discover how the 2nd and 5...

This episode takes you inside the planning, preparation, and execution of the Omaha Beach assault on June 6, 1944. From the strategic decisions that chose Omaha as a landing site, to the complex naval, air, and ground coordination required for the attack, we trace every step leading to the moment the first waves hit the beach. We reveal the challenges, sacrifices, and determination that defined on...

Step into the shadows of deception with Operation Titanic IV, the daring first mission of the British Special Air Service in north-west Europe. Dropped behind enemy lines in the early hours of D-Day, a handful of elite operatives, armed with explosives, courage, and a few dozen sackcloth decoys called “Ruperts”, helped shape the course of history. This episode uncovers the covert mission, the dumm...

In late 1940, the Italian Navy attempts one of the most daring sabotage missions of the Second World War, sending elite frogmen on manned torpedoes to infiltrate the heavily defended British naval base at Gibraltar. In this episode, we follow Operazione Baia di Gibilterra 1 e 2, a mission carried out not with fleets, but with stealth, endurance, and experimental underwater weapons. From the cold b...

Operation Fustian is one of the most ambitious and chaotic airborne operations of the Second World War. Join us as we explore the daring night assault by the 1st Parachute Brigade and No. 3 Commando, tasked with capturing the strategic Primosole and Malati Bridges in Sicily during the Allied invasion of July 1943. Discover how glider-borne artillery, elite paratroopers, and commandos battled exhau...

In the winter of 1944–1945, a 33-man detachment from C Squadron, 2 Special Air Service was dropped behind enemy lines in the Apennine Mountains of northern Italy. Their mission: disrupt German supply routes, support the Italian Resistance, and divert Axis troops from the Gothic Line. Operating under extreme conditions, with limited supplies and no guaranteed extraction, the SAS conducted sabotage...

In this episode of Special Forces in World War 2, we research Operation Ladbroke, the daring airborne assault that marked the beginning of the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943. This operation saw British glider-borne troops of the 1st Airborne Division attempt to capture key objectives around Syracuse, including vital bridges and coastal defences. Despite meticulous planning, the mission was...

On the night of 9th July 1943, British airborne troops launched Operation Ladbroke, a daring glider assault to seize the Ponte Grande and railway bridges in Sicily. A and C Companies of the 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment led the coup-de-main raid, transported in Airspeed Horsa gliders to improve landing precision. Despite meticulous planning, the operation quickly descended into chaos...

On the night of 9th July 1943, the Special Raiding Squadron embarked on their first Sicilian mission in World War II. Departing from Egypt and training in Palestine, they prepared for a critical role in the Allied invasion of Sicily. Their objective: to strike deep behind enemy lines and eliminate the heavily fortified Lamba Doria gun battery. This podcast follows their journey, from the grueling...

The Corpse That Fooled the Germans Explore the incredible deception operation that fooled the Germans, Operation Mincemeat. Discover how British intelligence used a homeless man's body, complete with an entire fabricated identity, to mislead the Germans and shift the tide of World War II. From covert journeys aboard submarines to forged love letters, every detail counted in this audacious plan...

In this shorter episode of the Special Forces in World War II Podcast, we uncover the untold story of Band Beach, the crucial yet often overlooked site of Operation Overlord. While Sword, Gold, Juno, Utah, and Omaha beaches are well-known, Band Beach played a pivotal role in the success of the D-Day invasion. Join us as we explore the daring missions of No. 46 Royal Marine Commando, the British 6t...

Welcome to the Special Forces in World War II Podcast! In this third episode of our series on Operation Frankton, we explore the perilous escape phase following the daring raid on Bordeaux harbour. After successfully planting limpet mines on German cargo ships, Major Herbert 'Blondie' Hasler and his team of 12 commandos from the Royal Marine Boom Patrol Detachment faced the daunting task o...

Welcome back to the Special Forces in World War II Podcast! In this second episode of our series on Operation Frankton, we shift our focus to the daring assault phase. Join us as we recount the perilous journey of Major Herbert 'Blondie' Hasler and his 12-man team from the Royal Marine Boom Patrol Detachment as they navigate enemy waters in six canoes. Hear the tense moments as they approa...

Welcome to the Special Forces in World War II Podcast! In this first episode of our series on Operation Frankton, we delve into the meticulous planning and preparation behind one of the most audacious missions of the war. Major Herbert 'Blondie' Hasler and his team of 12 brave men from the Royal Marine Boom Patrol Detachment undertook rigorous training and developed innovative strategies t...

Join us for Part 2 of our episode on Unternehmen Eiche on the "Special Forces in World War 2 Podcast." Explore the audacious rescue of Benito Mussolini led by General Kurt Student and his elite Fallschirmjäger under Major Otto-Harald Mors. Experience the intricacies of this historic mission, from delayed take-offs to controversies over credit. Tune in now for riveting insights into one o...

In our latest two-part episode on the Special Forces in World War 2 Podcast, we dive deep into the dramatic rescue mission of Operation Oak, also known as Unternehmen Eiche, during World War II. Part One explores the intense search for Benito Mussolini by German forces amidst the chaos of wartime Europe. From the fall of Mussolini's regime to the desperate efforts to locate and rescue him, we unco...

Welcome back to the 'Special Forces in World War II' podcast. This episode, titled 'Unternehmen Rösselsprung: Capturing Tito, Part 2,' delves into the heart of this pivotal operation. Last time, we set the stage with the elaborate preparations to capture Yugoslav partisan leader, Josip Broz Tito. Now, we journey through the operation's execution and its far-reaching aftermath....

Welcome back to our Special Forces in World War II podcast series. Today, we're excited to present Part 1 of our detailed exploration into Unternehmen Rösselsprung, a pivotal operation that remains a subject of intense study and debate. Our focus in this episode is 'Preparations to Kidnap Tito', where we delve into the intricate planning that set the stage for this audacious airborne r...

Welcome back to the Special Forces in World War 2 Podcast for the much-anticipated conclusion of our series with "Operation Chariot Part 2: The Greatest Raid of All." In this episode, we dive into the daring execution of Operation Chariot, a pivotal moment in military history. After setting the stage with the detailed preparations in Part 1, we now follow the brave men of the Allied forc...

Welcome to the first chapter of a gripping two-part series in our podcast, "Operation Chariot, Part 1: Preparations for the Greatest Raid of All." This episode takes you back to the strategic depths of World War II, unveiling the meticulous planning and extraordinary courage behind one of the most daring raids in military history. In March 1942, British forces undertook a mission that wo...

Dive deep into the clandestine world of naval special forces during World War II with the 'Rota Osobogo Naznacheniya, the Soviet Naval Special Purpose Company' podcast. Join us as we unravel the incredible stories of the Soviet Union's Rota Osobogo Naznacheniya, a specialised unit of divers, and their daring missions in the Baltic Sea. Unearth the untold accounts of these brave men who...