WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk

When did America enter WW1? In what ways were The Treaty of Versailles and Wilson's 14 Points For Peace flawed? Why is this period of history important today? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 1 their most ambitious series yet; a definitive survey of the 20th Century and how the First World War and economic instability of the 20s and 30s caused World War Two, and how the political vision o...

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 operatic performances, using POW letters to plan daring missions, and life inside Churchill's Secret Army. With thanks to Rupert Al...

Why did the Germans expend so much to defend the Norwegian coast? What does the engine room of HMS Belfast have in common with abstract art? How did Vichy show trials collapse into farce? Join Al Murray and James Holland as they discuss the major events of every April 14th in WW2. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams, early acce...

What did military planners in Japan think was the best way to attack The United States? How did the war in Europe influence policy in both America and Japan? When did both sides realise peaceful negotiations were over in favour of war? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 4 of this new series as they explore the warhawks and shifting geopolitics which brought an unwinnable war to the shores o...

What is Honne and Tatemae in Japanese culture? How did Honne and Tatemae possibly contribute to the slide into war? When was the deadline set for peaceful negotiations with The United States to conclude in favour of war? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 3 of this new series as they explore the warhawks and shifting geopolitics which brought an unwinnable war to the shores of Japan. Get yo...

Why did Yōsuke Matsuoko want war with the Western Allies? How did Japanese military planners contribute to aggressive imperial expansion? What did wider events in WW2 history do for shifting Imperial Japan's war aims? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 2 of this new series as they explore the warhawks and shifting geopolitics which brought an unwinnable war to the shores of Japan. To watch...

Why did Japan enter WW2? How did Japanese expansion in China lead to a deteriorating economy? When did Japan attack Pearl Harbor? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 1 of this new series as they explore the warhawks and shifting geopolitics which brought an unwinnable war to the shores of Japan. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy li...

How did Audie Murphy win his Medal of Honor? What did Audie Murphy do after WW2? When was the end of WW2 for the Allies? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 4 of this new series as they look at the incredible life and wartime exploits of America's most decorated soldier of WW2, Audie Murphy. To watch the ad-free, video-supported, version of this episode, please head to our Patreon page direc...

When was Operation Dragoon? How many times did Audie Murphy get injured? What happened to the rest of Audie's friends? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 3 of this new series as they look at the incredible life and wartime exploits of America's most decorated soldier of WW2, Audie Murphy. To watch the ad-free, video-supported, version of this episode, please head to our Patreon page directl...

What happened to Allied attacks at Anzio? How did Audie Murphy spend his time in Naples? When was Rome captured by the Allies in WW2? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 2 of this new series as they look at the incredible life and wartime exploits of America's most decorated soldier of WW2, Audie Murphy. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and unlock exclusive content and more....

Why did Audie Murphy join the Army in WW2? When did US troops fight against Axis forces for the first time? How old was Audie Murphy when he enlisted to serve in the US Army? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 1 of this new series as they look at the incredible life and wartime exploits of America's most decorated soldier of WW2, Audie Murphy. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveway...

How did attacks by British MTBs fail to sink any of the enemy fleet? When was Churchill informed of British failures to stop the Kriegsmarine from escaping? Was any damage inflicted upon the German capital ships? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 4 of this new series as they look at the audacious plan by the Nazi German Kriegsmarine to move their surface fleet out of Brest, right under the...

Why were Swordfish pilots sent outnumbered against the heavily guarded German capital ships? What happened with the land based artillery manned by army units around Dover? When did Coastal Command and Nore Command units get involved to try and stop the German ships? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 3 of this new series as they look at the audacious plan by the Nazi German Kriegsmarine to...

Why did it take British commanders so long to act once the German ships left Brest? How did local conditions help the German escape? What plans did British leaders have in place to stop German surface raiders from sailing up The English Channel unscathed? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 2 of this new series as they look at the audacious plan by the Nazi German Kriegsmarine to move their...

Why did Hitler decide to move his ships from Occupied France? How did German commanders plan to get past formidable Royal Navy and RAF defences? What preparations did Luftwaffe commanders make for Operation Thunderbolt, the air operation to cover the dash? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 1 of this new series as they look at the audacious plan by the Nazi German Kriegsmarine to move their...

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 magical near misses, rivers of burning whisky, and the family history buried in a charity book shop. With thanks to Michael Hoelsch...

How do you explain WW2 to a 10 year old? Did Hitler only have one ball? What are some of Jim and Al's top book recommendations for WW2? Join Al Murray and James Holland for a classic 'warwaffle' episode, covering everything from WW2 in schools to rhymes about Hitler's missing body parts. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams, ear...

How did The Fourth Fighter Group contribute to D-Day in 1944? Why did The Fourth Fighter Group keeping flying till the last days of the war? What happened to all the aces of The Fourth Fighter group at the end of WW2? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 4 of this new series looking at the larger-than-life American aces that flew to every corner of the Nazi empire, starting with Spitfires in...

Who was responsible for The Fourth Fighter Group getting equipped with long-range P-51 Mustangs? What did the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine do for the Mustang airframe? Why were the Mustangs so important? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 3 of this new series looking at the larger-than-life American aces that flew to every corner of the Nazi empire, starting with Spitfires in the dark days of...

What made American pilots want to fight in WW2 before Pearl Harbor? When did The United States of America join WW2? How did Eagle Squadron pilots transfer to The Fourth Fighter Group? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 2 of this new series looking at the larger-than-life American aces that flew to every corner of the Nazi empire, starting with Spitfires in the dark days of The Battle Of Bri...

Why did American pilots fight for Britain before the US entered WW2? When were the American 'Eagle Squadrons' formed in the UK? How did Don Blakeslee rise to prominence among his fellow pilots? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 1 of this new series looking at the larger-than-life American aces that flew to every corner of the Nazi empire, starting with Spitfires in the dark days of The Bat...

What did the Bismarck sinking mean for Hitler's naval plans? When were the wrecks of Hood and Bismarck discovered? Why does the rapid sinking of HMS Hood still cause so much debate? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 4 as they recount the thrilling chase of the battleship Bismarck, pride of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine, and the men and ships of Britain's Royal Navy determined to sink her. S...

When was the Bismarck sunk? How did British destroyers contribute to the sinking of the Bismarck? Why did Bismarck take so much damage in order to sink? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 3 as they recount the thrilling chase of the battleship Bismarck, pride of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine, and the men and ships of Britain's Royal Navy determined to sink her. Start your free trial at ⁠patr...

What resources did the British deploy to hunt the Bismarck? How did British air power contribute to the sinking of the Bismarck? When did Bismarck get attacked by Fairey Swordfish torpedo planes? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 2 as they recount the thrilling chase of the battleship Bismarck, pride of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine, and the men and ships of Britain's Royal Navy determined...

How did the Bismarck try to escape after sinking HMS Hood? Why was the Bismarck so hard to find in the Atlantic? When would Bismarck be safe from Royal Navy surface vessels? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 1 as they recount the thrilling chase of the battleship Bismarck, pride of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine, and the men and ships of Britain's Royal Navy determined to sink her. Start you...