The History of WWII Podcast

As both sides still think they can win in the East, Germany and Soviet Russia will clash along the entire line of fighting. But no where more intensely than Rzhev. It will become a black hole of human lives and war equipment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stalin, not giving up winning the war by early 1942 has ordered a massive attack across the Volkhov River, to the SE of Leningrad. Meanwhile, Hitler’s troops have finally cut the rail line feeding supplies to Leningrad. The Russians have the numbers and the desire, but they lack practically everything an army needs to stay in the fight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stalin, tasting a bit of success, now launches massive counter attacks up and down the line of all three German Army Groups. Yet, he will find out, in war, as in life, some things can not be rushed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Army Group Center commander Von Kluge goes round and round with Hitler about retreating. Hitler’s reasons become more wild, but events on the ground take over. And while Stalin is happy to take arms from the Western countries, he did all he could to make sure war would erupt between the U.S. and the Empire of Japan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Astronaut Jan Davis' book tells of her father's time as a B-17 pilot and POW. His can do attitude that gets challenged in a German prisoner Camp. Then, Army Group Center is under constant attack. There are breaches and encirclements along 4th Army’s lines. So whether official or not, Kluge starts ordering pull backs as his suspects the OKH of not telling Hitler the full story. But when 4th Army’s entire line starts to pull back, Stalin orders an increase in attacks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From painful experiences during the Spanish Civil War and the Winter War against Finland, Soviet Russia started several sniper schools. Hence when the Axis came and the Eastern Front was born, these men and women took the fight to the enemy. But not as much as their greatest sniper, Ivan Sidorenko. He was self taught and would go on to teach hundreds more of the craft of snipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Ep Special! 1st, Interview with Shannon Monaghan about her book, A Quiet Company of Dangerous Men: The Forgotten British Special Operations Soldiers of WW2. Then, as Christmas approaches, the Germans continually fall back, unable to face the onslaught of Zhukov’s attacks. The Holiday will be bleak for the fighting men, but rather lively for the officers far away. And Hitler will find out that his defiant speeches have been for nothing as he is told his men lack enough of anything, but mostly, winter clothing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer Robert Hutton comes on to discuss his latest book, The Illusionist: The true story of the man who fooled Hitler. Early in the war, the British need every advantage they could get, including military deception, which brings in Dudley Clarke. And of all his tricks, his greatest is tricking Rommel right before Monty attacks at El Alamein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Hitler battles his generals about when to stop retreating, Gen. Zhukov starts his phase 2 of the great counter attack. For Army Group Center has a weak point and the Soviets have found it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hitler is determined to make a stand with Army Group Center. And those that do not share his resolve or see his wisdom will be removed. Positions are soon vacated. Whereas Gen. Zhukov wants to keep attacking Army Group Center, to which Stalin is agreeable. But Zhukov will be given no additional troops. Stalin has plans for them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Army Group Center continues its retreat, clearly, the momentum has shifted. But Berlin needs it back or the Army Group will disintegrate. Thus Hitler will make a bold decision, shocking the Wehrmacht. Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Every penny supports the show and keeps the history coming. Sign up now. Donations are always welcome and help keep the History of WWII Podcast free for all. Follow The History of WWII Podcast: RSS – https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter – https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just as Army Group Center goes over to a defensive stance, Stalin launches his counter attack. The first battle goes well, so more units are activated. Stalin is ready to attack the entirety of Army Group Center, but Gen. Zhukov tempers his ambition. The Germans can be beaten for now, but now destroyed. That will have to wait. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Army Group Center winds down its offensive during Operation Typhoon, due to a lack of supplies, exhaustion and cold, the Soviets around Moscow are building up their reserves and they all have adequate clothing. Hence on December 5th, Gen. Zhukov will launch a massive counter attack, to drive the enemy away from the Communist Capital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Out of the Internment Camps, thousands of Nisei Japanese Americans volunteer for the U.S. Armed Forces. Their contributions will save thousands of GI’s and shorten the war. Here are some of their exploits during and after the war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a dark day for the U.S. But this was followed by another bleak period in the U.S. The creation and forced removal of Japanese Americans along the West Coast, to be placed in Interment Camps. Fear gripped the nation and the reaction was extreme and illegal, but tolerated by many. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Army Group Center is finally making a play for Moscow, but their advance will grind to a halt. The question then is, what comes next. But before Field Marshal Von Bock can get his men going again, the Soviets make their move. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Soviet front around Kiev is crumbling fast. Over 40 divisions are cut off and surrounded. No help is coming and Stalin has forbade a retreat. Most of these men will perish, but the real question is, how many of the enemy can they take with them? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many new innovations were created during the war. Some were good, some were bad. This is the story of the less than perfect ones. Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Every penny supports the show and keeps the history coming. Sign up now. Donations are always welcome and help keep the History of WWII Podcast free for all. Follow The History of WWII Podcast: RSS – https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter – https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Fairfield and Tony Lupo, hosts of The Warrior Next Door Podcast come back on, this time invited, to discuss the Top 5 WW2 movies. You may not agree, hell, we probably won't agree with each other, but it will be a good time. The video version will be on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euU0q2RIjf4 Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Every penny supports the show and keeps the history coming. Sign up now. Donations are always welcome and help keep the History of WWII Podcast free for all. Follow The History of WWII Podcast: RSS – https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter – https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Gen. Guderian comes south and Gen. von Kleist rushes north, if no one stops them, then Kiev and all its defenders will be trapped. Thus soviet troops along the Desna and Dneiper Rivers give it their all. Will it be enough? Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Every penny supports the show and keeps the history coming. Sign up now. Donations are always welcome and help keep the History of WWII Podcast free for all. Follow The History of WWII Podcast: RSS – https://feeds.megaphone.fm/history-of-world-war-ii Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wwii45 Twitter – https://twitter.com/WW2Podcaster Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/ TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices