The WW2 Podcast

Angus Wallace
  • 4.7 (1.1K)
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  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY
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. The Battle of Midway

    OCT 1

    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
  2. Making A Bridge Too Far

    SEP 23

    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
  3. 6th Airborne Division: Generating Combat Effectiveness

    SEP 15

    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
  4. From the Soviet Gulag to Arnhem

    SEP 1

    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
  5. Tank Warfare in Burma

    AUG 26

    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
  6. The Middle East Commandos

    AUG 19

    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
  7. Truman and the Decision to Drop the Bomb

    AUG 15

    Truman and the Decision to Drop the Bomb

    It was only as Harry S. Truman was sworn in as the 33rd president of the United States that he was told of the Manhattan Project. In this episode, we embark on a journey through one of the most controversial and consequential decisions in modern history: Truman's choice to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. The story of this decision is complex, marked by intense debates, ethical dilemmas, and immense geopolitical stakes. As the war in Europe concluded with the defeat of Nazi Germany, the Pacific Theater continued to rage with brutal intensity. American forces faced fierce resistance from Japanese troops, and the prospect of a prolonged and bloody invasion of Japan loomed large. In this episode, we'll explore the multifaceted considerations that influenced Truman's decision. We'll examine the military strategies, the political pressures, and the moral questions that weighed on the shoulders of the 33rd President of the United States. I'm joined by Edward Aldrich, the author of The Partnership: George Marshall, Henry Stimson, and the Extraordinary Collaboration That Won World War II. To learn more about Marshall and Stimson, go back to episode 164. Patreon patreon.com/ww2podcast

    46 min
  8. Hearts of Steel: One sailor's Journey with the Royal Navy

    AUG 1

    Hearts of Steel: One sailor's Journey with the Royal Navy

    In this episode of the WW2 podcast, we'll explore the Royal Navy from 1918 to the end of the Second World War and one man's career. Not an officer, but a regular sailor: Herbert Leeder, who chalk up 27 years of service. Following the career of one sailor is an interesting way to view the Royal Navy. It gives us a slightly potted history, but Herbert took part in a number of major actions during the Second World War, and it brings home how one man can be a witness to many great events. I’m joined by James Carter. After working as a volunteer researcher for a local history project during the centenary of the First World War, James was inspired to seek out the history of his own great-grandfather when his mother handed him a four-page summary of Herbert Leeders's career. The outcome of that research is Hearts of Steel, which tracks Herbert's career and the Royal Navy in which he served. Patreon patreon.com/ww2podcast

    51 min
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Hosts & Guests

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out of 5
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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
    243
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Angus Wallace
  • Show Website
    The WW2 Podcast

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