History of the Second World War

4.5 (553)
HISTORY
UPDATED WEEKLY

History of the Second World War is a weekly podcast which will cover World War 2, beginning with the tumultuous years after the First World War, continuing into the descent into war during the 1930s, through the war years, and then into the post war aftermath.

1D AGO

251: Greece Pt. 3 - The Path to Escalation

The Italo-Greek War, which began as a purely regional conflict in October 1940, would transform into a broader European confrontation as both Germany and Britain made the fateful decision to intervene in Greece. For the Germans, concerns about protecting vital Romanian oil fields from potential British air attacks, combined with fears of Italian collapse, drove the planning of Operation Marita, an invasion designed to secure the Balkans before the launch of Barbarossa. Meanwhile, Churchill and the British leadership saw Greece as an opportunity to distract Axis forces, demonstrate support for smaller nations, and potentially build a Balkan alliance with Yugoslavia and Turkey. Greek leader Metaxas initially resisted British ground forces, fearing they would provoke German intervention, but his death in January 1941 led to a shift in policy under his successor. As German forces moved into Romania and Bulgaria throughout early 1941, and British RAF squadrons began arriving in Greece, both sides prepared for a confrontation that would expand the war far beyond the mountains of Albania where Italian and Greek forces had been locked in bitter combat. History of the Second World War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.f⁠⁠⁠m Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

26 min
1D AGO · BONUS

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Introducing Inside EVLP: A Revolution for Donor Organs from Tomorrow's Cure. Follow the show: Tomorrow's Cure For people waiting for a lung transplant, every phone call could be life changing. But too many donor lungs are still turned down. In this episode of Tomorrow’s Cure from Mayo Clinic, host Cathy Wurzer explores how ex vivo lung perfusion, or EVLP, is helping turn a “no” into a “maybe” and sometimes a “yes” for patients who are running out of options. Cathy talks with Mayo Clinic cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Jack Haney and Brandi Zofkie, Associate Vice President at Lung Bioengineering, about how EVLP keeps lungs alive outside the body so experts can better evaluate and sometimes improve them before transplant. They discuss real patient impact, the logistics of making this technology available to more centers and the honest challenges that still remain. Listeners will hear why this innovation matters now and what it could mean for the future of lung transplantation, from expanding the donor pool to offering more second chances to breathe. How to listen and stay connected:• Subscribe to Tomorrow’s Cure on your favorite podcast app and follow the show so you never miss an episode.• Get the latest health information from Mayo Clinic’s experts—subscribe to Mayo Clinic’s newsletter for free today: ⁠https://mayocl.in/3EcNPNc⁠ Connect with Mayo Clinic:• Like Mayo Clinic on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mayoclinic/⁠Follow • Mayo Clinic on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mayoclinic/⁠Follow • Mayo Clinic on X (formerly Twitter): ⁠https://x.com/MayoClinic⁠Follow • Mayo Clinic on Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.net/@mayoclinic DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.
MAR 5

Interview 52: Why Barbarossa Failed with Timothy Manion

For this interview I was joined by Timothy Manion to discuss his upcoming book Why Barbarossa Failed: Germany and Russia in the Second World War which released March 5, 2026. https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/why-barbarossa-failed-germany-and-russia-in-the-second-world-war.php Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to advertise on History of the Second World War. History of the Second World War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

43 min
MAR 3

Listener Questions Pt. 2

Because so many questions were sent in for the first Questions episode, I had to make another. If you have First or Second World War Questions send them to historyofthesecondworldwar@outlook.com. Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to advertise on History of the Second World War. History of the Second World War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

24 min
FEB 25

250: Greece Pt. 2 - After the Failure

This episode continues the story of the Italo-Greek War following the disastrous Italian invasion of Greece in late October 1940. After the Italian defeat at Kalpaki, the Greeks launched a counteroffensive that quickly pushed Italian forces back across the border and into Albania, capturing the city of Korce and taking over 10,000 prisoners. The episode examines the Italian leadership shake-ups that followed, with General Soddu replacing Prasca and Marshal Badoglio being publicly scapegoated before his replacement by Cavallero. As winter set in, both armies suffered terribly from frostbite and harsh conditions that made offensive operations nearly impossible. The RAF arrived in limited numbers but disappointed Greek hopes for major air support, while the Royal Hellenic Air Force performed the remarkable Engineers' Epic, moving aircraft 26 kilometers through blizzard conditions to preserve their fighting strength. The episode concludes with the death of Greek leader Metaxas in January 1941 and his replacement by Koryzis, whose willingness to accept British ground forces would set the stage for the war's expansion beyond a regional Greco-Italian conflict. History of the Second World War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.f⁠⁠m Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

27 min
FEB 23

249: Greece Pt. 1 - Plans and Preparations

In October 1940, Mussolini launched an invasion of Greece from Albania, determined to secure Italian expansion in the Balkans before any peace could be negotiated. This episode examines the lead-up to the Italo-Greek War, beginning with Greece under the Metaxas dictatorship and its efforts to build up military strength despite limited industrial capacity. We explore Italy's decision to target Greece after delays in North Africa, the flawed assumptions Italian leaders held about Greek willingness to fight, and the fabricated provocations used to justify the invasion. When the Italian ultimatum was delivered at 3AM on October 28th, Metaxas famously rejected it, and Greece mobilized with unexpected unity as political divisions evaporated overnight. The episode follows the opening days of the invasion, hampered by torrential rains and mountainous terrain, culminating in the Battle of Kalpaki on November 2nd where Greek artillery devastated Italian tank attacks. By November 8th, the Italian offensive had completely stalled, forcing a major reorganization and change of command that set the stage for further failures to come. Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to advertise on History of the Second World War. History of the Second World War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠megaphone.f⁠m Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

28 min
FEB 16

248: Taranto Pt. 2 - The Attack

On the night of November 11, 1940, the HMS Illustrious launched two waves of Swordfish torpedo bombers against the Italian fleet anchored at Taranto. Despite losing formation in the clouds and facing intense anti-aircraft fire, the British pilots pressed home their attacks against the Italian battleships. When the smoke cleared, three battleships—the Littorio, Conti di Cavour, and Duilio—had been torpedoed and damaged, with the Cavour never returning to service. This episode covers the dramatic night attack, the damage inflicted on the Italian fleet, and the aftermath that shifted the balance of naval power in the Mediterranean while providing a glimpse of the future of carrier-based warfare. Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to advertise on History of the Second World War. History of the Second World War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

26 min
FEB 9

247: Taranto Pt. 1 - Plans and Preparations

In November 1940, the Royal Navy launched one of the most audacious carrier operations of the Second World War—a nighttime air attack on the Italian fleet anchored at Taranto. This episode explores the planning and preparations behind Operation Judgement, examining why Admiral Cunningham and his Mediterranean fleet turned to airpower when traditional fleet engagements proved elusive. From the capabilities of the seemingly obsolete Fairey Swordfish biplane and its torpedoes to the Italian defenses protecting their prized battleships, this episode sets the stage for an attack that would fundamentally shift the balance of naval power in the Mediterranean and foreshadow the future of carrier-based warfare. Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to advertise on History of the Second World War. History of the Second World War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25 min

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TRAILER

Intelligent Speech 2025

Come check out my keynote speech on the topic of Deception in February 2025: https://intelligentspeechonline.com/Coupon Code: SECOND Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

02/06/2025

•

3 min

Tune in to hear Katy and Nathan pair cocktails with amazing women of history. Cheers!

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Wesley Livesay

Host
Timothy Manion

Guest

4.5

out of 5

553 Ratings

I had my reasons

Jan 8

Hitler :)

🧌🧌🧌🧌🧌🧌🧌🧌🧌🧌🧌🧌🧌🧌🧌🧌🧌🧌
“ you also might like”

Feb 23

Scot2944

Please stop clogging my feed with podcast. I don’t want to listen to.
Exceptional

10/20/2025

Fifth Maze

Very detailed, organized and thorough. Wesley thoughtfully reminds listeners that hindsight is often a poor indicator (in a vacuum) to judging history. Bravo!
Very good

12/28/2025

Intern_

I really like the podcast and I just finished the Battle of Britain series, really wish there are more naval stuff. Keep up the good work.

History of the Second World War is a weekly podcast which will cover World War 2, beginning with the tumultuous years after the First World War, continuing into the descent into war during the 1930s, through the war years, and then into the post war aftermath.