312- Normandy 1944: Operation Martlet

312- Normandy 1944: Operation Martlet

In June 1944, as the Allied armies fought to break out from the Normandy beachhead, attention turned to a series of heavily defended German positions west of Caen. Among them was Rauray Spur, a vital piece of high ground that overlooked much of the surrounding countryside and offered the Germans an excellent observation point. Before the launch of Operation Epsom, the British needed to secure this area and protect their exposed flank. The result was Operation Martlet, a hard-fought battle that has often been overshadowed by the larger operations that followed, but was crucial to the wider campaign in Normandy. In this episode, I am joined by John Delaney, co-host of WW2 Road Trips [https://www.youtube.com/@ww2roadtrips] on YouTube and Content Lead and Senior Curator at the Imperial War Museum. Patreonpatreon.com/ww2podcast [https://www.patreon.com/ww2podcast] https://www.patreon.com/ww2podcast

311 - Patton, 1945

In this episode, we turn our attention to the final months of the war in Europe and one of the Allied armies' most famous and controversial commanders, General George S. Patton. At the start of 1945, Patton's Third Army was fighting on Germany's western frontier in the aftermath of the Battle of the Bulge. Having played a crucial role in relieving the besieged town of Bastogne, Patton now faced the challenge of maintaining the Allied advance through difficult winter conditions as the Western Allies prepared for the final offensive into the heart of the Third Reich. Joining me is Kevin Hymel to discuss Patton during these decisive months of the war. Kevin is the author of Patton's War: An American General's Combat Leadership, the concluding volume of his acclaimed three part biography of Patton. Drawing on Patton's wartime diaries, personal correspondence, and extensive archival research, the book offers fresh insights into the general's leadership, character, and conduct of operations during the closing stages of the conflict. Kevin is also the co host of the excellent podcast World War 2 Live [https://www.youtube.com/@WorldWar2Live] alongside historian John McManus, which is well worth a listen for anyone interested in the Second World War. Together, we explore Patton's role in the Allied advance into Germany, his relationship with senior commanders, the challenges faced by Third Army, and how his actions in 1945 shaped both his wartime reputation and enduring legacy.

310 - Great Escapism at Stalag Luft III

When we think of Allied prisoners of war in German camps, we often picture barbed wire, watchtowers, tunnels, and the constant urge to escape. Stalag Luft III is remembered above all for the Great Escape, one of the most famous prison breaks of the Second World War. But captivity was not only a story of tunnels and wire. Inside the camp, prisoners built theatres, staged plays, organised concerts, and, for a few hours, transformed the camp into something very different. In a world of boredom, uncertainty, and confinement, performance offered laughter, purpose, and a reminder of life beyond the fences. In this episode, I explore that remarkable story with David McCormack, author of 'The Great Escapism: The Theatrical Entertainers of Stalag Luft III' [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Moonlight-Crusaders-Special-Duties-Occupied/dp/1917120567/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RPF2EJ9I3TE8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.D87YTR5R8rN5fEtKHaom8_IoJKnqnhcEQBpTXu7WOlPGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.Qqo1uYzMjRF7FT7Bl7LmaAvvw6b0JaV47wfP_298cek&dib_tag=se&keywords=paul+smiddy&qid=1779737527&sprefix=paul+smiddy%2Caps%2C176&sr=8-1]. patreon.com/ww2podcast [https://www.patreon.com/ww2podcast] https://www.patreon.com/ww2podcast

309 - SOE Special Duties Flights

When people think about the secret war in occupied Europe, they often picture agents, resistance fighters, and acts of sabotage carried out behind enemy lines. But those networks depended on a hidden air bridge that carried agents and supplies into occupied territory and brought people back out again. Flying alone at night, Special Duties pilots crossed occupied Europe guided only by moonlight and improvised navigation. Their missions demanded extraordinary skill and nerve as they landed in isolated fields, avoided German night fighters and flak, and battled some of the worst flying conditions imaginable. For this episode, I'm joined by Paul Smiddy, author of Moonlight Crusaders: Special Duties Pilots over Occupied Europe [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Moonlight-Crusaders-Special-Duties-Occupied/dp/1472873475/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RPF2EJ9I3TE8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.D87YTR5R8rN5fEtKHaom8_IoJKnqnhcEQBpTXu7WOlPGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.Qqo1uYzMjRF7FT7Bl7LmaAvvw6b0JaV47wfP_298cek&dib_tag=se&keywords=paul+smiddy&qid=1779737527&sprefix=paul+smiddy%2Caps%2C176&sr=8-1]. Drawing on first-hand accounts and extensive research, Paul explores the story of these under-recognised pilots, the aircraft they flew, and the vital role they played in supporting resistance movements and Allied intelligence operations across occupied Europe." You can also find Moonlight Crusaders on Audible [https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Moonlight-Crusaders-Audiobook/B0FQCDKDM6] and Spotify. Patreonpatreon.com/ww2podcast [https://www.patreon.com/ww2podcast] https://www.patreon.com/ww2podcast

308 - Mers El-Kébir: The British Attack on the French Navy

In the summer of 1940, Britain stood alone. France had fallen, invasion seemed possible, and Winston Churchill faced a grave question: what should be done about the powerful French fleet? Fearing it might fall under German control, Britain launched Operation Catapult. At Mers el Kébir on 3 July 1940, the Royal Navy opened fire on its former ally, killing nearly 1,300 French sailors in one of the war's most painful and controversial decisions. For this episode, I am joined by Edward Abel Smith [https://www.edwardabelsmith.com], author of 'A Hateful Decision [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hateful-Decision-Edward-Abel-Smith/dp/0857509624/ref=sr_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2Kzfil2I_QJdarudpVXrfs5yDQlYWq7bDKuYEEx0fRhJMKlv_ngh7AtTFQkLJ96PwIUpkzXnaDIlMyYthtqNjeAP6F8yfJGh-XGjBQPyg7g.If11AkW2zN89O2bNkb9Fdo2_bGF5kz_--4vHlWkZPmk&dib_tag=se&qid=1778609530&refinements=p_27%3AEdward+Abel+Smith&s=books&sr=1-3&text=Edward+Abel+Smith]', which tells the full story of this dramatic moment through new research and eyewitness accounts.