The History of WWII Podcast

From painful experiences during the Spanish Civil War and the Winter War against Finland, Soviet Russia started several sniper schools. Hence when the Axis came and the Eastern Front was born, these men and women took the fight to the enemy. But not as much as their greatest sniper, Ivan Sidorenko. He was self taught and would go on to teach hundreds more of the craft of snipping.  Learn more abou...

2 Ep Special! 1st, Interview with Shannon Monaghan about her book, A Quiet Company of Dangerous Men: The Forgotten British Special Operations Soldiers of WW2. Then, as Christmas approaches, the Germans continually fall back, unable to face the onslaught of Zhukov’s attacks. The Holiday will be bleak for the fighting men, but rather lively for the officers far away. And Hitler will find out that hi...

Writer Robert Hutton comes on to discuss his latest book, The Illusionist: The true story of the man who fooled Hitler. Early in the war, the British need every advantage they could get, including military deception, which brings in Dudley Clarke. And of all his tricks, his greatest is tricking Rommel right before Monty attacks at El Alamein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

As Hitler battles his generals about when to stop retreating, Gen. Zhukov starts his phase 2 of the great counter attack. For Army Group Center has a weak point and the Soviets have found it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hitler is determined to make a stand with Army Group Center. And those that do not share his resolve or see his wisdom will be removed. Positions are soon vacated. Whereas Gen. Zhukov wants to keep attacking Army Group Center, to which Stalin is agreeable. But Zhukov will be given no additional troops. Stalin has plans for them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Army Group Center continues its retreat, clearly, the momentum has shifted. But Berlin needs it back or the Army Group will disintegrate. Thus Hitler will make a bold decision, shocking the Wehrmacht. Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Ever...

Just as Army Group Center goes over to a defensive stance, Stalin launches his counter attack. The first battle goes well, so more units are activated. Stalin is ready to attack the entirety of Army Group Center, but Gen. Zhukov tempers his ambition. The Germans can be beaten for now, but now destroyed. That will have to wait. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Army Group Center winds down its offensive during Operation Typhoon, due to a lack of supplies, exhaustion and cold, the Soviets around Moscow are building up their reserves and they all have adequate clothing. Hence on December 5th, Gen. Zhukov will launch a massive counter attack, to drive the enemy away from the Communist Capital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice...

Out of the Internment Camps, thousands of Nisei Japanese Americans volunteer for the U.S. Armed Forces. Their contributions will save thousands of GI’s and shorten the war. Here are some of their exploits during and after the war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a dark day for the U.S. But this was followed by another bleak period in the U.S. The creation and forced removal of Japanese Americans along the West Coast, to be placed in Interment Camps. Fear gripped the nation and the reaction was extreme and illegal, but tolerated by many.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Army Group Center is finally making a play for Moscow, but their advance will grind to a halt. The question then is, what comes next. But before Field Marshal Von Bock can get his men going again, the Soviets make their move. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Soviet front around Kiev is crumbling fast. Over 40 divisions are cut off and surrounded. No help is coming and Stalin has forbade a retreat. Most of these men will perish, but the real question is, how many of the enemy can they take with them? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many new innovations were created during the war. Some were good, some were bad. This is the story of the less than perfect ones. Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Every penny supports the show and keeps the history coming. Sign up now.  Dona...

Ryan Fairfield and Tony Lupo, hosts of The Warrior Next Door Podcast come back on, this time invited, to discuss the Top 5 WW2 movies. You may not agree, hell, we probably won't agree with each other, but it will be a good time. The video version will be on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euU0q2RIjf4 Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the...

As Gen. Guderian comes south and Gen. von Kleist rushes north, if no one stops them, then Kiev and all its defenders will be trapped. Thus soviet troops along the Desna and Dneiper Rivers give it their all. Will it be enough? Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening f...

As Axis forces build up to capture Kiev, the bridges over the Dnieper River are contested. Fierce fighting follows, but in the end, the Germans take enough bridges to continue East, after Kiev has fallen. Meanwhile, Gen. Guderian is on his way with his panzers to help trap Kiev. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So far, Army Group South had done a tremendous job, but now they come upon Kiev. And protecting Kiev’s western approaches in almost 20 miles of anti tank works and barbed wire. Thus another way will be needed, but first, Hitler wants the guts ripped out of the area’s defenders and von Kleist had come up with a clever plan to make this happen. Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of W...

Operation Barbarossa is launched, but the soviets don’t have their best men in place as they have been killed by Stalin’s purges. In time they will learn but for now, one city after another falls to the Axis. Still, there are moments of heroism but also incompetence, certainly among the NKVD, who know politics, but not warfare. Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Di...

Michel Paradis returns to the show to discuss his latest book, The Light of Battle: Eisenhower, D-Day, and the Birth of the American Superpower. A new biography of Ike, the book focuses on the 6 months leading up to D-Day and all the fighting behind the scenes to pull off this once in a life time amphibious landing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ken Aedy was a teenager when WW2 broke out. He joins the RAF and his life is changed forever. His son Mark joins me to discuss his father's many adventures during and after the war. This is a delightful story of a young man who does his duty and stays in the RAF and travels the world, meeting Douglas MacArthur and dancing with Rita Hayworth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...

Even before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Superman and Batman were declaring themselves against Hitler and his ways, while the American Bund, a pro Nazi organization, wanted the U.S. to be more like Nazi Germany. After Pearl Harbor, those same comic book heroes and many more were encouraging everyone to buy War Bonds to fight the Axis Powers. Meanwhile, Captain America is letting his fists do the ta...

Historian Damien Lewis comes on to discuss his book about Churchill’s secret warriors who will take the fight to the Nazis. Now a major motion film starring Henry Cavill, we cover the brave men and women of Operation Postmaster and other operations that wear down the Axis in Europe. Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus ep...

The final episode of the Siege of Odessa. The port city will fall, but not before tying down over 300,000 Axis troops for months. Odessa will be the first Hero City of the Soviet Union. And in their evacuation, the Soviets leave several nasty surprises for the city’s new owners. Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episod...

Both sides pull tricks out of their hats, trying to gain an advantage. The result, the Axis dominate the Black sea and the air, the Soviets, the ground around Odessa. Through ingenuity and a can do attitude, the soviets turn their tractors into tanks, which contributes to Odessa’s high water mark of defense. More information at https://bit.ly/3y7xC91 Want to go beyond the battlefield with The Hist...

First, Jason Bell comes on to discuss his book, Cracking the Nazi Code: The Untold Story of Agent A12 and the Solving of the Holocaust Code. Then, back to the Siege of Odessa. The Romanians, fearing German anger, throw everything they have at the Soviet city. Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interview...