237 - From the Soviet Gulag to Arnhem

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  

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  

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  

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. Patreonpatreon.com/ww2podcast  

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. Patreonpatreon.com/ww2podcast  

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. Patreonpatreon.com/ww2podcast  

In March 1941, 40,000 Australian and New Zealand troops were rushed to Greece in a desperate attempt to support the Greeks against the looming threat of a German attack. Although the operation was ultimately doomed to fail, the Aussies and Kiwis managed to hold up the German advance long enough to evacuate thousands to Crete, where Hitler then set his sights. Joining me today is Craig Collie, author of ‘Where the Flaming Hell Are We? The Story of Young Australians and New Zealanders Fighting the Nazis in Greece and Crete’. We’ll be delving into these often-overlooked, disastrous operations in the Mediterranean. I want to extend a big thank you to David Phillipson from the History Guild, who suggested our guest today and connected me with Craig. The History Guild has a project focusing on Australians in the Mediterranean theatre during WWII. For more articles and posts on this topic, visit historyguild.org.   Patreonpatreon.com/ww2podcast  

In this episode, we discuss the development of US tanks from the end of the First World War through to the end of the Second World War. I am joined by renowned historian and author Steven Zaloga, who has penned numerous works on military technology and history, and his latest book is 'US Battle Tanks 1917–1945’. It is a comprehensive and richly illustrated examination of the development and combat performance of US battle tanks; Stephen delves into the history of tanks in American service, tracing their journey from the initial experiments with armoured vehicles in the early 20th century through the significant battles and innovations up to the end of World War II. Patreonpatreon.com/ww2podcast  

Just two days before D-Day, Captain Gallery's US antisubmarine Task Group 22.3 managed to force the German U-boat U-505 to the surface. In a bold move, a boarding party secured the submarine before it could be scuttled, capturing an Enigma machine and the current Kriegsmarine code books. This remarkable operation earned Lieutenant Albert David the Medal of Honor for his leadership. However, it could have had catastrophic consequences. If the Germans had suspected that their cyphers were compromised, it might have jeopardised the Allied operation Ultra, which was already deciphering German signals. The Chief of US Naval Operations, Ernest King, was so incensed about the capture of U-505 that he threatened to fire Admiral Gallery. Joining me to discuss this operation is Charles Lachman, author of Codename Nemo: The Hunt for a Nazi U-Boat and the Elusive Enigma Machine. If you are interested in seeing the 1945 newsreel Now it can be told, you can find it here. Patreonpatreon.com/ww2podcast  

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, I attended a special event at the Green Howards Museum. We started at the regimental war memorial in Richmond (Yorkshire) at 6.30 a.m., which was when the Green Howards landed on Gold Beach. The day was packed with discussion about the regiment and their role on D-Day. It closed with us having the privilege of getting up close to the only Victoria Cross, which was won on June 6th.  If you find yourself in the Yorkshire Dales, visit the museum; it is a cracking afternoon out. To round off my look at D-Day, I’m joined by Steve Erskine from the Green Howards Museum and Paul Cheall (from The Fighting Through Podcast), whose father landed on Gold Beach with Stan Hollis, who received the Victoria Cross for his deed that day. In theory, we sat down in the museum on June 5th to discuss what D-Day meant to us. In practice, we had a rather wide-ranging discussion. We never got as far off the beaches as we anticipated… I hope you find our war waffle interesting. Patreonpatreon.com/ww2podcast