469 episodes

A biweekly podcast covering the last great war. Join Ray Harris Jr as he explores World War Two in intimate detail.

The History of WWII Podcast - by Ray Harris Jr Recorded History Podcast Network

    • History
    • 4.4 • 3.8K Ratings

A biweekly podcast covering the last great war. Join Ray Harris Jr as he explores World War Two in intimate detail.

    Tanks for the Memories

    Tanks for the Memories

    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.
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    • 26 min
    2 Ep Special! Interview with Jason Bell about his book Cracking the Nazi Code. Then, All Hell Breaks Loose

    2 Ep Special! Interview with Jason Bell about his book Cracking the Nazi Code. Then, All Hell Breaks Loose

    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.
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    • 1 hr 13 min
    Attrition: A Game the Entire Country Can Play

    Attrition: A Game the Entire Country Can Play

    As Army Group South advances east, Berlin needs Odessa taken. But the defenders of that Black Sea port city are willing to give all to deny this. What follows is unbelievable carnage just beyond Odessa’s defensive lines.
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    • 23 min
    When Fighting For Your Life, You Can Never Go Too Far

    When Fighting For Your Life, You Can Never Go Too Far

    Wave after wave of Romanian troops come at Odessa’s defenses. Also, squadrons of Messerschmidt’s attempt to dominate the skies above. But organization and determination tell and the invaders are held off, but for how long?

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    • 26 min
    Odessa Prepares for its Fate

    Odessa Prepares for its Fate

    As 11 German and Romanian divisions, with 100 tanks and 100 airplanes come at Odessa, the people there, military and civilian, indeed, school children, prepare their city to defy the enemy. It will be a siege that will test the endurance of both sides.
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    • 25 min
    A 2 Episode Special! Interview w/ Mike Croissant about his book, Bombing Hitler's Hometown and then, Defying the Odds: The Soviets versus Romania

    A 2 Episode Special! Interview w/ Mike Croissant about his book, Bombing Hitler's Hometown and then, Defying the Odds: The Soviets versus Romania

    A 2 Episode Special! First, an interview w/ Mike Croissant, author of Bombing Hitler’s Hometown. Then, before the Siege of Odessa began, a small Soviet offensive took place against Romania, which explains why the Axis right flank was so slow. But in the end, the Soviet Rifle divisions are ordered to pull back. As for the southern end of Barbarossa, Odessa would be the next target and even harder to crack.

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    • 1 hr 13 min

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5
3.8K Ratings

3.8K Ratings

beanholestat ,

Great podcast

Very detailed, gnitty gritty look into WW2. For those who want a deep dive.

My only complaints are the 10+ episodes on Churchill, probably one of the most overrated political figures in history, who didn’t really do much besides talk (an orchestrate a famine in India then laugh it off). So many WW2 documentaries are made by Brits who love to fetishize Churchill. There’s a reason the guy was immediately out of power once the job called for more than sounding bullish on the radio.

Would have rather had a deep dive on Stalin, the guy who’s country actually won the war.

Hughbert G. Rection ,

Engrossing and full of detail

I love the way Ray goes into details about obscure theaters of the war that I am only vaguely familiar with. The only downside is because of the audio format, sometimes it’s hard to follow the level of detail, such as which infantry brigade is in which city as described in the narrative. But well worth a listen for World War II fans, even though with extensive knowledge.

WombatWarrior1 ,

Great podcast, just a little joke about episode 41.

If land is the first dimension, the sea the second, and the air the third, then is space the fourth?

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