Beyond Barbarossa: The Eastern Front of World War 2

What happened after the end of the fighting in the war, and the occupation of Germany by the Allies. Link:Graham Chandler, "The Happiest Prisoners," Legion magazine, 15 March 2012 https://legionmagazine.com/the-happiest-prisonersSourcesAnonymous (Marta Hillers), A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered City, A Diary. Berlin: Die Andere Bibliothek, 2011.Harald Jahner, Aftermath: Life in the Fallout of the Third Reich, 1945—1955. New York, USA: Borzoi Books published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2021. Paul Roland, Life After the Third Reich: The Struggle to Rise from the Nazi Ruins. London, UK: Arcturus Publishing Limited, 2018.

From 1940 to 1945, steady traffic across the North Sea from the Shetland Islands to the west coast of Norway evacuated civilians and brought in agents, weapons, arms and intelligence. Author J.L. Oakley joins the podcast again to describe this under-appreciated part of World War 2.Map: The Shetland Bus routeLinksBooks Hearts Across the Sea video about the Shetland Bus Operation Rype The Jossing Affair The Quisling Factor The Brisling Code The Scalloway MuseumHistorical photos: See the web page for this episode. The Scalloway Museum, Shetland Is. Shetland Bus exhibit in the Scalloway MuseumTypical Norwegian fishing boat in the Shetland Bus system.Bill Moore of the Scalloway Museum (left) with model of boat and modeler Tron Hvilding.Lunna House, Shetland Bomlo Is. and Shetland Is.Bliya monumentSubmarine chaser Vigra, 1943Wreck of the HitraHitra restoredLief "Shetlands" Larsen Below: Norwegian liberation dayHosted on Audioboom. See Beyond Barbarossa’s privacy policy for more information.

The nazis thought they would find a brethren Nordic race in Norway. The people's resistance to their occupation brought about an even more brutal occupation.Part 2 of the conversation with author J.L. OakleyHosted on Audioboom. See Beyond Barbarossa’s privacy policy for more information.

A conversation with J.L. Oakley, author of three historical novels set in Norway during the German occupation of 1940 to 1945Like the Eastern Front, Norway’s experience during the Second World War is not well known in the English-speaking world. Author Janet Oakley is helping correct that. Books mentionedBy J.L. Oakley: The Jossing Affair The Quisling Factor The Brisling Code Hitler's Northern Utopia by Dispina StratigakosGold Run by Robert PearsonSnow Treasure by Marie McSwigan Hosted on Audioboom. See Beyond Barbarossa’s privacy policy for more information.

In this special episode of the podcast on the Eastern Front of World War Two, we go beyond Beyond Barbarossa and beyond the end of the Second World War.80 years ago to the day of this publication a handsome young man approached Canadian media and officials with proof that the Soviet Union was spying on its allies. The Cold War was on.Former Soviet cypher clerk Igor Gouzenko, hooded to protect his identity, being interviewed by Associated Press reporter Saul Pett in Montreal in 1954.  The Gouzenkos’ apartment building on Somerset Street in central Ottawa. There is no plaque commemorating Igor Gouzenko. (Photo by Scott Bury, 2025.) Igor Gouzenko in Canada, 1946.SourcesWinston Churchill, “The Sinews of Peace,” speech given at Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, U.S.A., 5 March 1946. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/winstonchurchillsinewsofpeace.htmJ.L. Granatstein and David Stafford, Spy Wars: Espionage and Canada from Gouzenko to Glasnost. Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1990.John Sawatsky, Gouzenko: The Untold Story. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1984Wikipedia, Gouzenko Affair. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gouzenko_AffairWondery Podcasts, “The Spy Who, Season 7: The Spy Who Started the Cold War” https://wondery.com/shows/the-spy-who/season/7/ Hosted on Audioboom. See Beyond Barbarossa’s privacy policy for more information.

Historian and author of Empire of Ashes: Truman, Hirohito and the Descent into Total WarJames Scott’s latest book, Empire of Ashes, describes in detail the flights that brought nuclear bombs to Japan in August 1945. It also draws intimate portraits of the two leading antagonists on those days, U.S. President Harry Truman and Japanese Emperor Hirohito, from their earliest days through the personal transformations that ushered in a new era of warfare. Hosted on Audioboom. See Beyond Barbarossa’s privacy policy for more information.

In July and August, the leaders and delegations from the “Big Three” victors of the Second World War reshape the borders of Europe and set up a new world order.Hosted on Audioboom. See Beyond Barbarossa’s privacy policy for more information.

The USA, UK and USSR have defeated nazi Germany. The Allies control Europe. In July 1945, the leaders Harry Truman, Winston Churchill and Josef Stalin meet outside Berlin to decide what to do with it.Go toHosted on Audioboom. See Beyond Barbarossa’s privacy policy for more information.

For the 85th anniversary of the launch of the Eastern Front of World War 2, a replay of the first episode of Beyond Barbarossa. Video, graphics and maps now available to all! https://youtu.be/rrnoEgVcRvEHosted on Audioboom. See Beyond Barbarossa’s privacy policy for more information.

The fighting has ended in Europe—but with millions of displaced people surging in all directions across Europe, it cannot be called peace. While millions of POWs look forward to going home, forced labourers and people of eastern Europe know they have no home to return to. And try to escape the communist yoke. Hosted on Audioboom. See Beyond Barbarossa’s privacy policy for more information.