375. Preparing for Battle

In the final episode of our epic Italy series, Al Murray and James Holland follow OPERATION DIADEM to completion. The Germans have been pushed back past the Adolf Hitler line and the final victory for the Allies is the liberation of the Eternal City. A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Social: @WeHaveWaysPod Email: [email protected] Join our ‘Independent Company’ to watch our livestreams, get earlybird tickets and our weekly newsletter - packed with deals. Membership Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cassino is cleared, and the Allies are planning one final push to take Rome and end the war in Italy, once and for all. Ira Akers presents OPERATION STRANGLEHOLD, a bombing effort on an enormous scale- freezing the Nazi rearmament. As the ground hardens and blue skies return to the Italian countryside - OPERATION DIADEM is launched. In this penultimate episode, Al Murray and James Holland begin the road to victory in Southern Europe. They also discuss the Mafioso rule in Italy, and the grotesque reprisal murders enacted by the Gestapo. A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Social: @WeHaveWaysPod Email: [email protected] Join our ‘Independent Company’ to watch our livestreams, get earlybird tickets and our weekly newsletter - packed with deals. Membership Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The capturing of Monte Cassino and Cassino town was crucial to the Allied victory in Italy, so why did it take so long to break through the stubborn German resistance? Al Murray and James Holland also discuss the morale and manpower problems faced by the New Zealand troops. A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Social: @WeHaveWaysPod Email: [email protected] Join our ‘Independent Company’ to watch our livestreams, get earlybird tickets and our weekly newsletter - packed with deals. Membership Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Nazis have assembled over 90,000 troops to counterattack under General von Mackensen’s troops, they’re beginning to amass at the Anzio beach head. The Allies' progress through Italy is slow, and pressure from Whitehall triggers a change of command in Italy. Will this turn the tide? A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Social: @WeHaveWaysPod Email: [email protected] Join our ‘Independent Company’ to watch our livestreams, get earlybird tickets and our weekly newsletter - packed with deals. Membership Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the battle heats up in Italy, Al Murray and James Holland detail of the most iconic moments in WW2 history - the Battle of Monte Cassino in February 1944. The Nazis defending the Abbey are depleted, but the Allies' attacks up narrow ridges are failing. Progress is slow, and the terrain is treacherous - will the Abbey be liberated? A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Social: @WeHaveWaysPod Email: [email protected] Join our ‘Independent Company’ to watch our livestreams, get early bird tickets and our weekly newsletter - packed with deals. Membership Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the early hours of the 22nd January 1944, US Fifth Army swarmed the beaches of Anzio largely unopposed. The Nazis’ response was swift, sending the 14th Army to stop them and preventing the Allies getting any closer to Rome. Al Murray and James Holland also assess the situation at the Cassino front, the military make-up of the French Expeditionary Corps and the civilian situation in Italy both in the Nazi-occupied north, and ‘liberated’ south. A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Social: @WeHaveWaysPod Email: [email protected] Join our ‘Independent Company’ to watch our livestreams, get earlybird tickets and our weekly newsletter - packed with deals. Membership Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the launch of OPERATION SHINGLE nears, Al Murray and James Holland dig deeper into the mountains, mud and mayhem that categorised the fighting in Italy in January 1944 and take a look at the opening battles of the year. They also review the innumerable failures of German high command, from the meddling by Hitler that led to a culture of fear that engulfed all decision making, to Kesselring’s mismanagement of frontline troops. A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Social: @WeHaveWaysPod Email: [email protected] Join our ‘Independent Company’ to watch our livestreams, get earlybird tickets and our weekly newsletter - packed with deals. Membership Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

January 1944. The Allies have failed to reach Rome by Christmas, the ‘soft underbelly’ of Europe is reaching crisis point. To break through the Nazi’s strangle hold of Italy, the Allies plan OPERATION SHINGLE - the daring beach assault at Anzio. In the first episode of our Italy series, Al Murray and James Holland outline the reasons for recapturing Rome, Kesselring’s double lock defences at Cassino and the dangers of continuing a stalemate into Spring '44. A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Social: @WeHaveWaysPod Email: [email protected] Join our ‘Independent Company’ to watch our livestreams, get earlybird tickets and our weekly newsletter - packed with deals. Membership Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Nazi occupation of Hungary led to the mass transportation and murder of over 400,000 Jews in 1944 and 1945. Why had Hungary's leadership sided with the Axis? Al Murray and James Holland are joined by John McManus to review the events of 80 years ago this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Al Murray, James Holland and John McManus delve into the remarkable and often overlooked history of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American pilots that defied racial barriers to become some of the most distinguished fighter pilots of World War II. A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Social: @WeHaveWaysPod Email: [email protected] Join our ‘Independent Company’ to watch our livestreams, get earlybird tickets and our weekly newsletter - packed with deals. Membership Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices