The History of WWII Podcast

As the various issues with attacking Pearl Harbor are overcome, the Japanese Military evades telling the truth to Emperor Hirohito and PM Konoye. And they, in learn, deceive President Roosevelt's cabinet. Please support the show by checking out our sponson, mackweldon.com. Use "worldwar" promo code at checkout to say 20% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

Washington and Tokyo continue their diplomatic dance but neither side is willing to give in. The Americans have broken the Japanese Diplomatic cypher codes, but so have the Japanese, of American Diplomatic codes. Then the Japanese Army finishes occupying the rest of French Indo-China. Of FDR's many responses, one is to reactivate Douglas MacArthur and send him to the Philippines.  Learn more about...

With Washington and Tokyo trying to bend the other to its will, President Roosevelt seeks to strangle Japan's aggression in China with a trade blockade while Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto begins to plan his attack on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. War seems imminent, but both sides still hope for peace through negotiations, on their own terms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...

Chiang Kai-Shek struggles to keep China in the war, knowing the Soviet-German Non Aggression Pact can not last. The question is what will Japan do, once Russia is brought low. Meanwhile, the Japanese attack French Indochina and force Churchill to close the Burma Road. 1941 goes by with the U.S. and Japanese Empire negotiating, hoping to bring the other to heel. Neither side is participating in goo...

Having chased Chiang Kai-Shek back to Chongqing, the Japanese Empire is still unable to get him to surrender. So, on to Chongqing it is, but events in Europe: The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland and then the war in the West will stymie one Japanese government after another. Which leaves Japan to head towards SE Asia and in conflict with the United States, setting up the...

Chiang Kai-Shek starts over, again, in Chongqing, as the Japanese military seek to deny him the east coast. First Canton will fall, then other port cities. Meanwhile, British controlled Burma and the Nationalists work together to construct the Burma… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chiang Kai-Shek is staking everything on his defense of Wuhan. As such, the various Japanese forces attempt to encircle the city. Chiang throws everything he has at the enemy, even scoring one major victory at Tai’erzhuang. However, this is not…delete Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Chiang Kai-Shek moves his capital and military Head Quarters west and Hideki Tojo becomes directly involved in the war to the north, the Japanese troops move out from Shanghai to Nanjing. There, their pent up frustration over the Nationalists… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chiang Kai-Shek's forces are barely holding out. But when a second enemy Expeditionary Force lands, it spells the end of Shanghai's freedom. Stalin agrees to supply the Chinese Nationalists, but the Japanese forces then move on to the Chinese capital Nanjing. The Rape of Nanjing will be bring the horror of occupation to a whole new level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...

The Japanese Expeditionary Force continues to push south to gain access to Shanghai. Meanwhile, Chiang Kai-Shek's nationalist troops continue to retreat. Yet, to show the world its defiance and courage, Chiang will leave one Battalion north of the Suzhou River, to face the Japanese alone. Link for book- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Chinese Nationalists are loosing the battle of Shanghai. Yet, Chiang has to hold on as the League of Nations will soon be discussing the conflict. Then U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt steps into the fray by criticizing Japan's aggression. Still, it seems that Chiang's holdings north of Shanghai will have to be abandoned. Yet, to make sure the world doesn't forget about the Chinese, 1000 sold...

The Japanese Expeditionary forces set the stage for a much larger attack, once their reinforcements arrive. The plan is to cut Shanghai off from any assistance. Meanwhile, Chiang Kai-Shek has taken personal command of the 3rd War Zone.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Chinese Nationalist forces have pulled back from the coast, yet are determined to establish their own Maginot Line. But as both sides have reinforcements in route, the fighting around Shanghai will continue. Thus giving the world, its first large clash, using modern weapons within a civilian population, five years before Stalingrad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice...

Dr. Lyuba Vinogradova discusses her research and the resulting book that covers the young women of Stalin's USSR, who are conscripted to the Sniper Corps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chiang Kai Shek and his ordinary soldiers are more determined than ever to defend Shanghai in 1937. However, the officers in the middle, due to their experience, see the writing on the wall. Thus Nationalist China will adopt the famous policy of trading land for time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Japanese invasion of Shanghai, nor their desire to teach the Chinese a lesson, is moving forward fast enough for Tokyo. So when the Expeditionary commander requests 5 additional divisions, the Japanese Imperial Staff and Navy acquiesce with alacrity. Their new goal is to expand their holdings and when reinforced to push west on a general front. However, Chiang Kai-Shek has reached an agreement...

The Japanese are unloading men and material at a frustratingly slow rate, due to the tides. Until they are ready to launch their assault, their navy and air force keep Chiang Kai-Shek's forces pinned down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Japanese bring reinforcements to Shanghai as their marines are bogged down by Chiang Kai-Shek's best troops. Meanwhile, retired US Army Air Force Captain Claire Lee Chennault, finds the Chinese pilots woefully inadequate in deflecting the building assault. The Japanese invaders come ashore and now the fate of Shanghai is in the balance, as British and American civilians flee the International...

Chiang Kai-Shek decides that the time has come to openly fight back against Japan. His chosen site is the port city of Shanghai. Both sides build up their forces there, but the Chinese Nationalists will attempt to deliver a surprise attack. As the war enlarges, Stalin decides to assist the Chinese. Tokyo will widen the battle of Shanghai, as their first attempt is blunted. Please help me out and f...

Japanese forces bring war to the China main land. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we officially begin the Pacific Theatre, this episode covers the building tension between The Japanese Empire, dominated by the military and the Chinese Nationalist Government. From the Russo-Japanese War to the Mukden Incident, to the take over of Manchuria, to the fighting over Shanghai and at the Great Wall itself, Japanese desire for more and more Chinese territory, dominates relations betw...

President Roosevelt sends Harry Hopkins, again to London, to set up a meeting between himself and Churchill. The U.S. still seems far from entering the war, but coordination is needed if Hitler is to be defeated. But Hopkins also ends up flying to Moscow to meet with Stalin, the first high ranking American to do so. Meanwhile, as Washington wonders what to do about the Japanese Empire, Tokyo decid...

Nazi Germany launches its war against the USSR. As such, FDR hopes Germany's attention will slacken on the Atlantic. Yet, if Soviet Russia collapses, then Japan would be free to attack Siberia or Western held territory in Asia. FDR must decide it now is the time to move forcefully against Hitler. Meanwhile Churchill and FDR learn of the slaughter of the Jews in Poland.  Learn more about your ad ch...

The Great War is over, but the Allies don't know what to do with Russia. So, the german troops in Russian territory are ordered to remain where they are. Lenin has the task of turning Marxism into a function government. Stalin faces accusations of his time in Tsaritsyn.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With us is Sally Mott Freeman as we discuss her book, The Jersey Brothers: A Missing Naval Officer in the Pacific and His Family's Quest to Bring Him Home. We cover FDR's Map Room, Pearl Harbor, the Fall of the Philippines, MacArthur, Siapan, Guadalcanal and of course, the missing naval officer Barton Mott, who was captured by the Japanese after MacArthur's Retreat. The search for this young man i...