289 - Charles De Gaulle
The WW2 Podcast
Charles de Gaulle remains one of the most distinctive figures to emerge from the Second World War. Soldier, writer, leader in exile, and later the creator of the Fifth Republic, he played a central role in reshaping modern France. His relationship with Winston Churchill, their shared struggle during the war, and the influence both men continued to wield long after the fighting ended make him a fascinating subject. In this episode, I speak with historian Richard Vinen, author of . His book explores the lives of de Gaulle and Churchill and sets their wartime partnership within a wider story of...
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288 - Beyond Burma: The Forgotten Armies
The WW2 Podcast
The fighting in Burma during the Second World War was among the most demanding of the entire conflict. Soldiers faced dense jungle, monsoon rains, disease, and a determined enemy — conditions that made the campaign both brutal and complex. Yet for decades, Burma remained one of the least remembered theatres of the war. The men who fought there — British, Indian, African, and Burmese — became known as the “Forgotten Armies.” A new exhibition at the National Army Museum in London, , seeks to change that. It explores not only the campaign itself but also the wider human and political...
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287 - Tunisgrad: The Battle for Tunisia and the Fall of Tunis
The WW2 Podcast
By late 1942, after the success of Operation Torch, the Allies had finally gained a foothold in North Africa. What followed was a hard-fought and often overlooked campaign in Tunisia. For six months, British, American, and French forces battled determined Axis troops for control of the last corner of Africa held by Germany and Italy. It was a campaign marked by tough lessons, uneasy cooperation, and moments of heroism — one that would shape how the Allies fought together for the rest of the war. In this episode, I’m joined by historian and author Saul David to discuss his latest book, ''....
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286 - Rhineland, 1944-45
The WW2 Podcast
By the autumn of 1944, the Allies had driven across France and Belgium and reached the borders of Germany. Ahead of them lay the Rhine — a vast natural barrier and the last line of defence protecting the heart of the Reich. What followed was some of the most intense and costly fighting of the war in Western Europe. From the bitter battles around Aachen and the Hürtgen Forest, through the crossing operations of Plunder and Varsity, to the dramatic capture of the bridge at Remagen, the campaign for the Rhineland was brutal, chaotic, and often overshadowed by the more famous Battle of the...
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285 - The Nuremberg Psychiatrist
The WW2 Podcast
In the aftermath of the Second World War, the Allies brought twenty-four of Hitler’s most senior figures to justice at Nuremberg. Among them was Hermann Göring — once Hitler’s designated heir and still a commanding presence, even in defeat. Before the trial began, the U.S. Army assigned a young psychiatrist, Captain Douglas Kelley, to assess whether these men were mentally fit to stand trial. For Kelley, it was the professional opportunity of a lifetime: a chance to explore the minds of the Nazi elite and discover what made them capable of such atrocities. What he found was far more...
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284 - Renault FT Tank
The WW2 Podcast
In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I’m joined by Robby Houben from the Belgian Royal Military Museum to discuss the Renault FT. This small but revolutionary French tank changed armoured warfare. Designed during the First World War, the FT introduced the fully rotating turret and tracked layout that became the blueprint for every tank that followed. We talk about its design, its service life between the wars, and how it was still seeing action when the Second World War began. You can see an original Renault FT on display at the Robby also shares his passion for armoured vehicles on YouTube...
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283 - General Lucian Truscott
The WW2 Podcast
General Lucian K. Truscott was one of the United States Army’s most capable commanders of the Second World War. Known for his aggressive leadership and determination, Truscott led American forces in North Africa, Sicily, at Anzio, and later in southern France and Germany. Despite his impressive record, he remains one of the lesser-known U.S. generals of World War Two. In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I’m joined by military historian Glyn Harper, emeritus professor of war studies at Massey University in New Zealand. Glyn is the author of , a new biography that explores Truscott’s...
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282 - The Battle for Arakan, Burma 1945
The WW2 Podcast
In early 1945, the Allies were advancing in Burma after their hard-won victories at Kohima and Imphal. The focus shifted to the Arakan, a region of dense jungle, mangrove swamps, and unforgiving terrain. For the men sent there, disease, supply difficulties, and the monsoon were as formidable as the Japanese defenders. Among the formations deployed was Britain’s 3 Commando Brigade, working alongside Indian and West African divisions of XV Corps in a campaign that tested endurance as much as combat skill. In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I’m joined by military historian Lucy...
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281 - Canada at War
The WW2 Podcast
When we think of the Second World War, the story is so often told through an Anglo-American lens: Britain holding out alone in 1940, the United States joining the fight in 1941, and the combined Allied effort that followed. But this perspective tends to overshadow the contributions of other nations, particularly Canada. Canada was not usually regarded as a global military power, yet its role in the war was both significant and far-reaching. From the skies over Europe to the convoys crossing the Atlantic and the soldiers who landed on D-Day, Canadian forces made an impact far greater than their...
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280 - MacArthur and the Philippines
The WW2 Podcast
Douglas MacArthur was one of the most prominent — and controversial — generals of the Second World War. As Field Marshal of the Philippines, he withdrew to Australia in 1942, famously declaring, “I shall return.” That promise became central to his reputation and shaped the rest of his war. How far did MacArthur’s vow influence his actions? Was he an effective commander, strategist, and leader in the Pacific campaign? These questions continue to divide historians. In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I’m joined by Peter Mansoor, author of . We discuss MacArthur’s leadership in the...
info_outlineJune 2019 marked the 75th anniversary of D-Day, we had a month of D-Day podcasts looking at the operation from the British, Canadian and American perspectives. The narrative of that day is the difficulty of the operation, doubts if the landings would succeed, but what if we turn the tables? How was it for the Germans?
To answer that question I'm joined by WW2 podcast stalwart Jonathan Trigg.
Jonathan has joined us in the past to discuss his work researching foreign recruits to the SS, you can find those in episodes 55 and 77. Earlier this year, he had a new book released titled D-Day Through German Eyes: How the Wehrmacht Lost France. With D-Day fresh in our minds I thought we best get him back to have a chat about the allied invasion of Europe from the German perspective.
