287 - Tunisgrad: The Battle for Tunisia and the Fall of Tunis
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, 'Tunisgrad: How the Allies Won North Africa and Set the Stage for D-Day'. Saul brings to life the soldiers, commanders, and decisions that defined the Tunisia campaign and paved the way for the Allied invasion of Europe.  patreon.com/ww2podcast Â
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286 - Rhineland, 1944-45
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 Bulge. Yet it was here, on both sides of the Rhine, that the final collapse of Nazi Germany truly began. To help tell that story, I'm joined by military historian Anthony Tucker-Jones, author of Rhineland, which charts the campaign from the German border battles of late 1944 through to the end of the war in 1945. Rhineland is also available on Audible and Spotify.  patreon.com/ww2podcast Â
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285 - The Nuremberg Psychiatrist
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 complex and unsettling than expected. Kelley's professional curiosity evolved into a disturbing psychological duel, especially with Hermann Göring — a man both monstrous and magnetic, whose personality thrived even in captivity. In this episode, I speak with Jack El-Hai, author of The Nazi and the Psychiatrist: Hermann Göring, Dr. Douglas Kelley, and a Fatal Meeting of Minds at the End of WWII. Jack draws on Kelley's long-hidden papers and medical records to tell this extraordinary story, which has also inspired the upcoming 2025 film Nuremberg.  patreon.com/ww2podcast Â
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284 - Renault FT Tank
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 Belgian Royal Military Museum in Brussels. Robby also shares his passion for armoured vehicles on YouTube — check out his channel Two Dudes Talking Tanks. If you enjoy the show, remember — it's just me here behind the mic. I research, record, and edit every episode myself. Your support on Patreon helps keep the podcast going. Patrons get ad-free listening and bonus excerpts from interviews that didn't make it into the main episodes.  Find out more at patreon.com/ww2podcast  Â
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283 - General Lucian Truscott
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 General Lucian K. Truscott: "Quite a Talent for Fighting", a new biography that explores Truscott's remarkable career and lasting contribution to the Allied victory in Europe. Â patreon.com/ww2podcast Â
A military history podcast that looks at all aspects of WWII.
With WW2 slipping from living memory I aim to look at different historical aspects of the Second World War.
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