World War II Daily Podcast

Episode 26 – Linda Hervieux: The Story of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion

In Episode 26 of the WW2 Daily Podcast, Samuel sits down with journalist, photographer, and author Linda Hervieux to discuss one of the most overlooked stories of the Second World War, the men of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion. Together, they explore what first led Linda to uncover the battalion's remarkable history, the vital role barrage balloons played during and after D-Day, and what June 6, 1944, looked like for the soldiers of the 320th. The conversation also examines how racial segregation shaped the unit's experience, why their contributions remained largely unrecognized for decades, and how their story enriches our understanding of Black military service during World War II. Whether you're discovering the 320th for the first time or looking to deepen your knowledge of D-Day, this episode offers an insightful conversation about remembrance, historical research, and the importance of bringing forgotten stories to light. 📖 Linda Hervieux's book [https://www.amazon.nl/-/en/Forgotten-Untold-Story-D-Days-Heroes/dp/1445686619/ref=sr_1_1_so_ABIS_BOOK?crid=3L574F10ORAM6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DeMnpPyTfoViIHW_ouHOLA.U7vXmdUYI_Ces2OT5sMr_cNONhKTtuGBDcdZAUZxUAI&dib_tag=se&keywords=Forgotten+linda+hervieux&qid=1782926460&sprefix=forgotten+linda+hervieux%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1]: Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-Day's Black Heroes, at Home and at War 🌐 WW2 Daily Website [https://wwiidailypodcast.com/] Follow WW2 Daily [https://www.instagram.com/worldwarii_daily/] Follow Samuel [https://www.instagram.com/samuel.dekorte/] Follow Linda Hervieux [https://www.instagram.com/lindahervieux/]

Episode 25 – Jenny Chan: Inside Imperial Japan’s Darkest Secret

On Episode 25 we welcome back our friend Jenny Chan for her second round here in the show. Jenny is the co-founder of Pacific Atrocities Education, a nonprofit she helped establish in 2014 to research and preserve WWII history in the Pacific. Growing up in the United States, Jenny became interested in this work after hearing her grandmother’s experiences living under Japanese occupation in Hong Kong, stories that were largely absent from what she learned in school. Through Pacific Atrocities Education, she and her team have worked to recover survivor testimonies and digitize over a million fragile war crimes documents from the U.S. National Archives. With extensive expertise on Unit 731, Jenny has dedicated years to researching Japanese wartime atrocities and preserving historical evidence that is very often forgotten.  In this episode, we focus entirely on Unit 731, examining its origins, operations, human experimentation, the evidence left behind, and how complicated the after war was. Learn more about the Pacific Atrocities Education: https://www.pacificatrocities.org/ [https://www.pacificatrocities.org/] Follow on instagram: - @pacificatrocities.edu - @samuel.dekorte - @worldwarii_daily

Episode 24 - Dr. Bastiaan Willems: author of the book “Violence in Defeat: The Wehrmacht on German Soil, 1944–1945"

Episode 24 brings you a conversation that challenges conventional narratives about the final phase of the Second World War. In this episode, we’re joined by Bastiaan Willems, a researcher of modern European history whose work examines the conduct of the German army as the war turned decisively against them. Drawing from his book Violence in Defeat, Willems shifts the lens away from the widely studied brutality of the Eastern Front and redirects it inward, into Germany itself during its final collapse. We explore how years of exposure to extreme violence shaped a “barbarized” mindset within the Wehrmacht, one that did not remain confined to distant battlefields. As German forces retreated, these patterns of behavior followed them home, contributing to a surge of violence within Germany in 1944–45. The episode examines how the boundaries between front line and home front eroded, how civilians became entangled in the logic of total war, and how these dynamics influenced the chaotic disintegration of the Third Reich. This discussion offers a deeper understanding of how war transforms not only outcomes, but societies and how its consequences can reverberate far beyond the battlefield. — Check out Bastiaan Willems’ book here: https://www.amazon.com.br/Violence-Defeat-Wehrmacht-1944-1945-Cambridge-ebook/dp/B08TRL3BHJ Follow and stay connected: Instagram: @worldwarii_daily [https://www.instagram.com/worldwarii_daily/] and @samuel.dekorte [https://www.instagram.com/samuel.dekorte/]

Episode 23 - Dr. Henning Pieper: Fegelein's Horsemen and Genocidal Warfare: The SS Cavalry Brigade in the Soviet Union

In this episode, we’re joined by Henning Pieper, historian and educator. He studied atthe Universities of Freiburg, Nottingham and Sheffield, and has previously worked as a visitor guide at the Belsen Memorial as well as a school consultant for the German War Graves Commission. Since 2017, he has been teaching History and English at the high school level. Henning is the author of Fegelein’s Horsemen and Genocidal Warfare: The SS Cavalry Brigade in the Soviet Union and has published several articles on the SS and German counterinsurgency during World War II. In our conversation, we explore the role of the SS Cavalry Brigade on the Eastern Front, the nature of anti-partisan warfare, and how these operations were connected to broader patterns of violence during the war. Dr. Pieper's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Fegeleins-Horsemen-Genocidal-Warfare-Holocaust-ebook/dp/B00PG00X4C [https://www.amazon.com/Fegeleins-Horsemen-Genocidal-Warfare-Holocaust-ebook/dp/B00PG00X4C]Instagram:@worldwarii_daily and @samuel.dekorte

Episode 22 – Jenny Chan From the Pacific Atrocities Education

SUPPORT US BY SUBSCRIBING! A new year, a new season! The World War II Daily Podcast returns today for its 3rd year. Episode 22 features Jenny Chan, co-founder of Pacific Atrocities Education, a nonprofit she helped establish in 2014 to research and preserve World War II history in the Asia-Pacific. Growing up in the United States, Jenny became interested in this work after hearing her grandmother’s experiences living under Japanese occupation in Hong Kong, stories that were largely absent from what shelearned in school. Through Pacific Atrocities Education, she and her team have worked to recover survivor testimonies and digitize over a million fragile war crimes documents from the U.S. National Archives. Her work focuses on documenting Japanese wartime atrocities, preserving historical evidence, and bringing greater attention to parts of the war that remain less discussed in mainstream narratives. In this episode, we discuss Japanese wartime atrocities in general and take a closer look at Unit 731 — exploring the historical context, the available evidence, and the importance of preserving these histories for future generations. For daily WW2 content check out our Instagram: @worldwarii_daily and @samuel.dekorte Pacific Atrocities Education: @pacificatrocitiesedu Learn more about Pacific Atrocities Education: https://www.pacificatrocities.org/ Thank you for watching!