The WW2 Podcast

Latest Episodes:

273 - Operation Barbarossa, June–July 1941 Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, we're turning our attention to the opening phase of one of the most brutal and vast campaigns of the Second World War—Operation Barbarossa.

On 22 June 1941, Hitler launched his long-anticipated invasion of the Soviet Union. In the first two weeks, the German Wehrmacht made some of its fastest advances of the war. Panzer groups surged deep into Soviet territory, clashing with Russian armoured forces—encounters that were sometimes unexpected and, for both sides, revealing.

To explore this dramatic opening stage of the war in the East, I'm joined by Richard Hargreaves, author of Opening the Gates of Hell, which examines the scale, speed, and shock of Barbarossa's beginning.

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272 - Second Front: Anglo-American Rivalry Aug 08, 2025

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When we talk about the Second Front, most of us think of the Allied invasion of Northwest Europe—D-Day, June 1944. But in his new book, Second Front: Anglo-American Rivalry and the Hidden Story of the Normandy Campaign, historian Professor Marc Milner offers a different perspective.

What if the real second front wasn't in Normandy, but in Washington?

Milner argues that while Britain fought alongside the United States on the battlefields of Europe, it was also engaged in a very different kind of struggle across the Atlantic: a political and diplomatic battle to retain its influence over an increasingly dominant America.

By the time Allied troops landed in France, the United States had not only become the senior partner in the alliance but had begun reshaping the postwar world, often at the expense of British interests.

But as we'll hear, this wasn't just about wartime politics or military planning. The roots of Anglo-American rivalry ran much deeper, stretching back to the way each nation remembered the First World War.

Joining me to discuss all this is Professor Marc Milner.

271 - Feeding the Bear: Lend Lease to the USSR Aug 01, 2025

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In this episode, we're doing something a little different. I recently joined Scott Bury on his podcast Beyond Barbarossa, which takes a close look at the Eastern Front of the Second World War from a Soviet perspective. Together, we explored the topic of American aid to the USSR through the Lend-Lease program.

The usual narrative often paints Lend-Lease as the lifeline that saved the Soviet Union. But, as with most things in history, the reality is far more complex. While Lend-Lease undeniably made a difference—especially in the war's later stages—its impact, timing, and strategic value are worth examining more closely.

So, in this episode, we dig into what was actually sent, when it arrived, how it was used, and whether or not it really was decisive in turning the tide on the Eastern Front.

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270 - Bruce Lockhart and the Political Warfare Executive Jul 21, 2025

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In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I am joined by Professor James Crossland to discuss the extraordinary life of Robert Bruce Lockhart — a British diplomat, journalist, author, and secret agent.

Though not a household name, Lockhart was a key figure behind the scenes of 20th-century history. His career began before the First World War and took him from revolutionary Russia to wartime Britain, often placing him near the centre of power and influence. During the Second World War, he served as Director-General of the Political Warfare Executive, the organisation responsible for coordinating all British propaganda efforts against the Axis powers.

Lockhart's life reads like a spy thriller, full of intrigue, diplomacy, and covert operations. James Crossland, author of Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare – The Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart, sheds light on the man whose influence was far greater than his fame.

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269 - The Diary of a German POW Jul 15, 2025

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In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I am joined by Bernd Häber to discuss the remarkable story of his grandfather, Fritz Häber — a German soldier who became a prisoner of war in American custody at the end of World War II.

During his 16 months in a U.S. POW camp, Fritz kept a diary that not only captured the daily realities of captivity but also reflected on his wartime experiences and personal history. Now published as Fritz Häber: The Complete Diary – 16 Months in an American POW Camp, the account provides a rare and honest perspective from the losing side of the conflict.

Bernd shares insights into his grandfather's life, the motivations behind the diary, and the legacy it represents — a deeply human story of reflection, identity, and the long shadow of war.

You can find more about Fritz at 16monthsaspow.com

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268 - The First US Army Rangers of WWII Jul 01, 2025

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In the early stages of America's involvement in the Second World War, the U.S. Army began forming a new kind of fighting force—elite units trained for speed, surprise, and special operations behind enemy lines. These were the first Army Rangers, inspired by British Commandos and destined for some of the toughest missions of the war.

In this episode, I'm joined by historian and author Mir Bahmanyar to talk about the formation and deployment of these early Rangers, from their beginnings in North Africa and Sicily to their fateful engagement at Cisterna in 1944, a battle that ended in disaster for two Ranger battalions.

Mir is the author of 'Houdini Club: The Epic Journey and Daring Escapes of the First Army Rangers of WWII', a book that sheds light on the origins, ethos, and early missions of these extraordinary soldiers.

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267 - The T-13 Tank Destroyer Jun 22, 2025

Show notes

During the critical interwar years, Belgium found itself walking a diplomatic tightrope—maintaining neutrality while neighbouring Germany rapidly rearmed. Faced with the growing threat of conflict, the country was forced to modernise its defences. One of Belgium's key military developments during this period was the T-13 tank destroyer—an armoured vehicle that, although modest by international standards, played a vital role in the country's attempt to resist the German invasion in 1940.

In this episode, we head to Brussels to uncover the story of the T-13 with Robby Houben from the Belgian Royal Military Museum.

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266 - Robert Capa's D-Day Photographs Jun 15, 2025

Show notes

On the morning of June 6th, 1944, war photographer Robert Capa waded ashore on Omaha Beach during the Allied landings in Normandy. What happened next became the stuff of legend: under withering fire, Capa supposedly captured over a hundred photographs of the chaos and courage of D-Day, only for all but eleven to be lost in a darkroom accident. These surviving images, the so-called "Magnificent Eleven," helped define the visual memory of D-Day and cemented Capa's reputation as the greatest war photographer of the 20th century.

But what if the story we've long accepted isn't entirely true? In his book Back into Focus: The Real Story of Robert Capa's D-Day, Charles Herrick takes a forensic look at the events of that day, unraveling inconsistencies in Capa's own account and challenging the myths that have grown around his legacy. Drawing on official military records, eyewitness testimony, and detailed photo analysis, Herrick offers a new—and at times controversial—perspective on one of the most iconic moments in photojournalism history.

I'm delighted to welcome Charles to the podcast today to talk about what really happened on D-Day, how the legend of Robert Capa was built, and what his findings mean for how we understand both history and heroism.

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265 - British Tanks of the Red Army Jun 01, 2025

Show notes

Today, we are exploring a topic that doesn't get talked about much — the British tanks that ended up serving with the Red Army during the Second World War.

We often think about the Soviet Union producing huge numbers of its own tanks like the T-34, but in the early years of the war—and even before it—the Soviets were looking abroad for armoured vehicles to strengthen their forces. Britain, with its long history of tank development stretching back to the First World War, was one of the countries they turned to.

Joining me is Peter Samsonov, who's spent a lot of time researching Soviet armoured warfare and is the author of 'British Tanks of the Red Army'.

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264 - SAS Great Escapes, Archie Gibson May 26, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I'm joined by bestselling author Damien Lewis to talk about one of the remarkable men featured in his new book SAS Great Escapes Four — Archie Gibson.

Archie served with the Long Range Desert Group and worked closely with the SAS during some of their earliest and most daring operations. His wartime journey took him from the harsh deserts of North Africa to the rugged terrain of Yugoslavia, where he operated alongside local resistance fighters behind enemy lines.

We also delve into the ongoing campaign to award SAS legend Paddy Mayne a posthumous Victoria Cross, recognition he was controversially denied during the war.

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