Why We Fight ~ 1944

***Language Warning*** In this episode, I'm joined by retired Sergeant Major Ken Ramos, of U.S Army W.T.F! Moments fame, to talk about the Ghost Army. This recording is actually nearly double the length, but some of our commentary got off the Ghost Army topic, though still all related, so I am releasing the full episode on Patreon for those that want to listen to "Mother of Tanks" an...

In this episode I'm joined by US Army Major Paul Hill to help talk about Military Deception (MILDEC) and other efforts leading up to D-Day in June 1944 in an effort to ensure success for the Allies. This is one of two episodes that discuss MILDEC efforts for D-Day. Links Military Deception ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_deception ) The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret U...

Returning to talk more US First Infantry Division history is retired US Army Colonel Greg Fontenot, author of No Sacrifice Too Great: The 1st Infantry Division in World War II. In last year's 1943 series, COL Fontenot talked about the history if 1ID and their experiences in the North Africa and Sicily Campaigns before they were given orders to the UK. In this episode, COL Fontenot continues th...

Dr. Bill Nance joins me with some back history to help us better appreciate what we're talking about now, essentially explaining how we got the US Army we had in June 1944 going into Normandy. In the course of that discussion, there are topics of contemporary relevance too, such as Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO), the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP), the impact of finite resources...

With Dr. Steve Waddell joining me, this episode includes details of the logistical needs and efforts that supported the D-Day landings and the Normandy Campaign 80 years ago in 1944. This is one of a sequence of episodes discussing the Normandy Campaign and its various aspects. Dr. Waddell mentions Cherbourg and the Mulberries, both of which have episodes coming up, and there is an episode with Dr...

In this episode, Niels Henkemans joins me to talk about the German preparations prior to the invasion of France in June 1944. Niels is a historian who has conducted extensive research into the Germans and the Allies at Normandy and helps fill the important gap of what the Germans were doing in the months leading up to the invasion. His books are linked below, along with a couple of books from the...

In this first episode of the D-Day 80 part of the Why We Fight series, Dr. Roger Cirillo joins me to talk about the planning for Operation Overlord and the invasion of northwestern France, which was initially planned for May 1944, then scheduled for 5 June and postponed a day due to weather. Roger talks about how the planning actually began years before the Allies even committed to a timeline and...

In this episode, Melissa Davis, Director of Library and Archives at The George C. Marshall Foundation, joins me to talk about General Marshall and his personal life, including a family tragedy that took place 80 years ago in 1944, less than a week before Operation Overlord commenced with D-Day. Links Follow Melissa on Twitter @MelissasLibrary The Death of LT Allen Brown (https://www.marshallfounda...

Back again is Kevin Hymel to continue the story of General Patton. This time we talk about Patton's trip to England, some colorful behavior, and Willie the dog. If you missed Kevin's episode in last year's 1943 series, it's season 1 episode 47. Links Patton's War: An American General's Combat Leadership Vol. 1 Patton's War: An American General's Combat Leadership Vol. 2 Patton's Photographs: War a...

In this episode I'm joined by Richard and Eddie O'Sullivan to share more of the story of the 38th Irish Brigade along with their father's story of serving with this unit during the Second World War. You can follow and support Richard and Eddie on Twitter @irishbrigadeww as well as their own website, which are linked below. Links Irish Brigade: The story of the 38th (Irish) Brigade in the Second Wo...

Joining me again are LTC Ben Griffin and US Army veteran Daniel Kim to help continue the story of the "One-Puka-Puka" or the 100th Infantry Battalion, comprised of Japanese-Americans, fighting their way through Italy in early 1944. Links Why We Fight Bonus Content ( https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks ) Asian-Pacific Americans in the U.S. Army: 442d Regimental Combat Team ( https://his...

I'm joined again by COL Bryan Gibby, this time to discuss Operation Diadem and the breakout from Anzio, controversies during this period in Spring 1944 in Italy, and the failure of Allied command as LTG Mark Wayne Clark prioritizes an American-led liberation of Rome. Links The Will to Win: American Military Advisors in Korea, 1946-1953 Korean Showdown: National Policy and Military Strategy in a Li...

Frank de Planta joins me again, this time to talk about Operation Chesterfield, an attack on the Hitler Line in late May 1944 carried out by Canadian and Polish forces in Italy. Links Cassino Battlefields (http://www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk/) Valor Tours (https://www.valortours.com/)

Back to talk about Operation Diadem and the final battle of Monte Cassino is Frank de Planta. Frank talks about the options considered when planning this attack, some of the controversies that arose, and the outcome, as well as the focus on liberating Rome from Axis hands. There will be another episode that also talks about Operation Diadem with a focus on the failure of Allied command. Links Cass...

In this episode, Dr. Lance Blyth, Command Historian for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and US NORTHCOM, and Adjunct Professor of History at the US Air Force Academy, joins me to talk about Mountain Warfare training 80 years ago, the infamous D Series exercises in early 1944, the uncertainty plaguing the men who will form the 10th Mountain Division (eventually), and other aspe...

Returning to continue the story of the 10th Mountain Division are Doug Schmidt, Curator at the 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum Museum, and Dr. Chris Juergens, Head of Curatorial Services and Anschutz Curator of Military History at History Colorado. This time we talk about the Division heading into 1944, with an extremely challenge exercise to test their training. Special thank you to the 10th...

In this episode, Dr. Thomas Bradbeer talks to me about the Royal Air Force raid on Nuremberg at the end of March in 1944. He also details some of the tactics these pilots and aircrews used, as well as the challenges they faced with the Luftwaffe, and towards the end of the episode we talk a bit about his work with the US Army's Command and General Staff College in the Department of Command and...

In this episode, Christopher Kolakowski returns to tell the story of the Battles of Imphal and Kohima in March-July 1944. Links Wisconsin Veterans Museum ( https://wisvetsmuseum.com/ ) Defeat Into Victory: Battling Japan in Burma and India, 1942-1945 by Field-Marshal Viscount ( https://shorturl.at/BDWZ6 ) Nations in the Balance: The India-Burma Campaigns, December 1943 - August 1944 by Christopher...

Frank de Planta joins me again to continue the story of the Allies fighting the Battles of Monte Cassino. Links Cassino Battlefields (http://www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk/about/) US Army Center of Military History - Italy WWII Maps (https://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/resmat/wwii/part03ETO/anzio/sec04.html) US Army CMH Video - Anzio Landings in Italy, Monte Cassino, Russian Offensive in Roma...

Back again is Christopher Kolakowski, the director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, this time to talk about the Chindits, Long-Range Penetration Groups operation in the China-Burma-India Theater. (In the episode I refer to three episodes contributed by this guest but the third hasn’t been released yet.) Links Operation THURSDAY (https://www.hurlburt.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Fact-Sheets/Article...

Back again is Frank de Planta to continue the story of the Allies fighting the Battles of Monte Cassino. Links Cassino Battlefields (http://www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk/about/) US Army Center of Military History - Italy WWII Maps (https://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/resmat/wwii/part03ETO/anzio/sec04.html) US Army CMH Video - Anzio Landings in Italy, Monte Cassino, Russian Offensive in Roman...

Joining me in this episode is Christopher Kolakowski, the director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. Chris tells the story of Merrill's Marauders, a unit akin to a task force - a unit that had no identity, no past, and was intended to have no future - and how that unit is connected to our modern day 75th Ranger Regiment. Links United States Army in World War II: China-Burma-India Theater Stilwell'...

In this episode, Lt. Col. Brian Kerg tells the story of the Battle of Kwajalein, part of Operation Flintlock. The Battle of Kwajalein began on 31 JAN 1944 and continued for several days into February. At this time we see the US Army and US Marine Corps commanders applying the lessons learned just a couple of months earlier at Tarawa, as well as some comparisons to what the Americans and Allies are...

Joining me in this episode is Dr. John Curatola, the Samuel Zemurray Stone Senior Historian at the National World War II Museum. John talks about "Big Week" which took place 80 years ago this week, from 20 to 25 February 1944, and how this began the shift in how we employed our air forces to try to better utilize this important "tool of war". We also see a shift in the Luftwaffe as they begin to a...

Returning in this episode is historian and genealogist Dave Gutierrez to continue the story of his cousin and the only Mexican-American US Army unit to fight in World War II, the subject of his book "Patriots from the Barrio". Toward the end of the episode, Dave also talks about his upcoming book about Oscar Perdomo and his fellow fighter pilots in WWII. Links Author Dave Gutierrez (https://author...