The WW2 Podcast

Angus Wallace
  • 4.8 (6)
  • HISTORY
  • TWICE MONTHLY
The WW2 Podcast

A military history podcast that looks at all aspects of WWII. With WW2 slipping from living memory I aim to look at different historical aspects of the Second World War.

  1. 242 - The Good Allies: Canada and the USA

    20 OCT

    242 - The Good Allies: Canada and the USA

    When World War II began in 1939, it sparked a deadly conflict between the Axis and Allies, while also creating tense negotiations among the Allies. Diplomacy, military power, and economic decisions determined the fate of nations. In North America, the U.S. and Canada worked to build a military alliance to protect their coasts from German U-boats and the threat of Japanese invasion. Their economies became intertwined to supply weapons for Britain and other allies, and defending North America was crucial before sending forces abroad. Joining me is Tim Cook. Tim is the Chief Historian and Director of Research at the Canadian War Museum. He has penned numerous bestselling books which have won multiple awards. His latest being The Good Allies: How Canada and the United States Fought Together to Defeat Fascism During the Second World War.   patreon.com/ww2podcast

    41 min
  2. 241 - Leningrad 1943–44

    15 OCT

    241 - Leningrad 1943–44

    During the Second World War, the people of Leningrad endured a brutal 900-day siege, facing relentless bombing, shelling, and starvation. In early 1943, the Red Army broke through the blockade, marking a crucial turning point. Despite setbacks, the Soviet forces and civilians held firm, and by late 1943, the Germans, weakened by harsh conditions, began to retreat.  In episode 202, we discussed the siege up until 1942. I'm joined once more by Prit Butar to pick up the story of the siege being lifted, which is covered in his latest book 'Hero City: Leningrad 1943–44'   patreon.com/ww2podcast

    1h 1m
  3. The Battle of Midway

    1 OCT

    The Battle of Midway

    In April 1942, the Imperial Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet was at the height of its power, having delivered a crushing blow to the US Navy at Pearl Harbor just months earlier. This fleet spearheaded Japan's aggressive expansion through Southeast Asia and unleashed havoc across the South Pacific. However, the tides of war were soon to change. By June 1942, the US Navy achieved a decisive victory over this formidable force at the Battle of Midway, shifting the strategic momentum in the Pacific Theater to the Allies. Midway stands as the most renowned naval battle of the Pacific War and one of the most storied in military history. The traditional narrative, shaped immediately after the conflict and enduring to this day, portrays an outnumbered American fleet snatching victory against overwhelming odds. While this depiction has become deeply ingrained, it oversimplifies the true nature of the battle. Joining me is Pacific War expert Mark Stille, whose new book is Midway: The Pacific War’s Most Famous Battle, where he contends that a Japanese defeat was not only possible but likely. This perspective redefines the engagement not as a miraculous American triumph or a mere stroke of luck but as a complex confrontation where the factors at play heavily favoured the United States. Support the podcast: patreon.com/ww2podcast

    56 min
  4. Making A Bridge Too Far

    23 SEPT

    Making A Bridge Too Far

    Released in 1977, A Bridge Too Far stands as the last grand-scale WWII film produced by the Hollywood studio system. The film ambitiously sought to bring to life Operation Market-Garden, the bold but ultimately doomed Allied campaign of September 1944, culminating in the failed attempt to capture the Arnhem bridge. Producer Joseph E. Levine gathered an incredible ensemble cast, featuring legends like Anthony Hopkins, Robert Redford, Sean Connery, James Caan, Michael Caine, Elliott Gould, Dirk Bogarde, and Laurence Olivier. The movie was shot on location in Holland, with the town of Deventer doubling as Arnhem to recreate the intense and chaotic battle scenes. In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I’m joined by Simon Lewis, author of Making 'A Bridge Too Far.'   patreon.com/ww2podcast

    1h 2m
  5. 6th Airborne Division: Generating Combat Effectiveness

    15 SEPT

    6th Airborne Division: Generating Combat Effectiveness

    In this episode, we'll examine the 6th Airborne Division and its combat effectiveness, focusing on how its commanding officer, Richard Gale, meticulously trained and developed the unit. The 6th Airborne was the second British airborne division to be formed, and it would first see action during the Normandy invasion. Gale’s leadership and the culture he instilled were crucial in shaping the airborne soldier’s capabilities and forging the division's cohesive fighting force. Joining me is Andrew Wheale. Andrew is the author of 'Ham & Jam: 6th Airborne Division in Normandy - Generating Combat Effectiveness: November 1942 - September 1944'. patreon.com/ww2podcast

    53 min
  6. From the Soviet Gulag to Arnhem

    1 SEPT

    From the Soviet Gulag to Arnhem

    When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, it wasn't the Germans who first uprooted Stanislaw Kulik and his family—it was the Russians. Deported to a Siberian Gulag, Stanislaw's fate took a dramatic turn in 1941 when the Germans launched their invasion of the Soviet Union. Suddenly, the Russians released their Polish captives, and Stanislaw embarked on an arduous journey across thousands of miles. He eventually joined the Polish army in Uzbekistan, a path that would lead him to Britain and ultimately to the frontlines in Holland, where he fought with the Polish Parachute Brigade at Arnhem. Joining me is Nicholas Kinloch, the grandson of Stanislaw Kulik. Nicholas has chronicled his grandfather's extraordinary wartime experience in his book, From the Soviet Gulag to Arnhem: A Polish Paratrooper's Epic Wartime Journey.   patreon.com/ww2podcast

    1h 4m
  7. Tank Warfare in Burma

    26 AUG

    Tank Warfare in Burma

    When we think of the fighting in the Far East between Britain, her allies, and the Japanese, we often picture thick jungles, impossibly steep hills, and dense terrain. This has led to the common perception of it being an infantryman's war. However, armour played a crucial and often overlooked role in this theatre of war. In this episode, I'm joined by Jack Bowsher, author of Forgotten Armour. His book begins with the interwar Indian Army's struggle to fully mechanise, then traces the evolution of armoured training, logistics, and tactics. We explore how, once tanks arrived and bunker-busting methods were developed, armoured units became decisive in their encounters against the Japanese, saving countless Allied lives.  patreon.com/ww2podcast

    1h 9m
  8. The Middle East Commandos

    19 AUG

    The Middle East Commandos

    I recently attended the We Have Ways Fest, where I ran into Séan Scullion, a friend of the podcast. You might remember him from episode 135, where we discussed Spaniards in the British army. His book, "Churchill’s Spaniards," is about to be released. At this year’s We Have Ways Fest, Sean was scheduled to speak about the British Middle East Commandos. We found a supposedly quiet corner to chat, though it turned out to be less quiet than anticipated. Patreon patreon.com/ww2podcast

    28 min
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Hosts & Guests

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

A military history podcast that looks at all aspects of WWII. With WW2 slipping from living memory I aim to look at different historical aspects of the Second World War.

Information

  • Creator
    Angus Wallace
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2024
  • Episodes
    245
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Angus Wallace
  • Show Website
    The WW2 Podcast

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