Militia Historia

The Bomb: Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the End of the Second World War

Episode Summary:

On August 6 and 9, 1945, two atomic bombs—Little Boy and Fat Man—were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, unleashing devastation unlike anything the world had ever seen. In this episode of Militia Historia, we go beyond the headlines and the mushroom clouds to explore the full story: f...

Episode Summary:

In April 1945, the United States launched its largest amphibious assault of the Pacific War: the invasion of Okinawa. What followed was 82 days of relentless combat, kamikaze attacks, and devastating civilian losses—one of the deadliest battles in World War II. But what made Okinawa so horrific? And how did this brutal struggle shape the final months of the war?

Join us as we break down the full story of the ...

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Militia Historia Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most grueling battles of World War II: The Battle of Iwo Jima. Over 36 days, U.S. Marines fought through an inferno of gunfire, explosions, and relentless enemy resistance on an island turned fortress. What was supposed to be a swift operation became a grinding war of attrition, with both sides displaying un...

Episode Summary

The Waffen-SS is often remembered as Hitler’s so-called “elite” force, but beneath its carefully crafted propaganda lay an organization deeply involved in war crimes and terror.

Among its most notorious units was the Dirlewanger Brigade, a formation of convicted criminals, sadists, and outcasts led by the infamous Oskar Dirlewanger.

In this episode of The Militia Historia Podcast, we dive into:

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Imagine, if you will, March 28th, 1942. A moonless night on the French coast. A small flotilla of ships approaches the heavily defended port of St Nazaire, sailing straight into the mouth of the Loire River. At their head is an old American destroyer, packed with delayed-action explosives and disguised to look like a German vessel. The mission? To destroy the largest dry dock in Nazi-occupied Europe – the only dock capable of servi...

Episode Summary:

In this episode of the Militia Historia Podcast, we delve into one of the most morally complex and controversial operations of the Cold War—Operation Paperclip.

After the second world war, the United States embarked on a secret mission to recruit over 1,600 German scientists, engineers, and technicians, many of whom had ties to the Nazi Party, the SS, and possible connections to war crimes.

What began as...

In this episode of the Militia Historia Podcast, we take you through the bold and audacious raid known as Operation Biting, or the Bruneval Raid.

Carried out by a handful of British paratroopers in early 1942, this daring mission sought to steal critical German radar technology. Led by Major John Frost, this operation was instrumental in leveling the playing field in the air war against Nazi Germany.

Join us as we discuss the...

Episode 12: The Lost Airmen - What Happened to the B-24 Bomber Lady Be Good: A Tale of Endurance, Tragedy, and Discovery

Welcome to episode 12 of the Militia Historia Podcast. This time round, we’re doing something a little different. While we usually craft our stories the old-fashioned way—with lots of research and plenty of elbow grease—this episode got a little extra help.

We teamed up with Google’s NotebookLM to...

Charles Hazlitt Upham: Twice Decorated for Valor

In this episode of the Militia Historia Podcast, we explore the extraordinary life and heroic actions of Captain Charles Hazlitt Upham, the only combat soldier in the history of the British Commonwealth to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice during World War II.

Episode Highlights:

1. Early Life and Character:

   - Born in 1908 in Christchurch, New Zealand

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Noel Godfrey Chavasse: Twice a Hero

In this episode of Militia Historia, we explore the extraordinary life and heroic actions of Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse, the only British serviceman to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice during World War I.

Episode Highlights:

1. Early Life and Education: 

   - Born in 1884 as one of twin boys

   - Upbringing in a religious family, son of the Bishop o...

WW2 - Audie Murphy: Medal of Honor - America's Most Decorated Soldier of the Second World War

# Audie Murphy: America's Most Decorated WWII Soldier

In this episode of Militia Historia, we delve into the extraordinary life of Audie Murphy, one of the most celebrated heroes of World War II. From his humble beginnings as a sharecropper's son in Texas to becoming a legendary war hero and Hollywood star, Murphy's story is one of r...

The Unstoppable Hero of D-Day 1944 - Theodore Roosevelt Jr

Theodore Roosevelt Jr. carved out his own legacy, rising to the rank of Brigadier General during World War II. He was a man who lived by the ideals of duty and service, and someone who led his troops from the front, most famously during the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day.

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We would ...

Twice a Hero: The Story of Arthur Martin-Leake VC and Bar explores the actions of Arthur Martin-Leake, the first man to receive the Victoria Cross twice. This episode delves into his acts of courage and dedication as a medical officer during the Boer War and World War I. We uncover the harrowing conditions he faced on the battlefield and his crucial medical interventions under fire. Join us for a dive into the life of a true hero w...

Welome back to the Militia Historia Podcast and our series WW2: The War That Shaped The World. In this episode we spotlight the Fairey Swordfish, the World War II biplane dubbed "Stringbag," which outshone its antiquated design through pivotal roles in the Battle of Taranto and the pursuit of the Bismarck, proving older aircraft could dramatically impact naval warfare. Join us as we celebrate the courage, durability, and unexpected...

Welcome back once again the Militia Historia Podcast and our series WW2: The War That Shaped the World.

In this bonus episode, we hear about Lt Col. Paddy Mayne, a founding member of the British Special Air Service (SAS) during the Second World War.

To keep an ear out for the future content, be sure to subscribe to Militia Historia and listen in to WWII: The War That Shaped the World on your favourite podcast platform.

We ...

Welcome back to The War That Shaped the World. 

This is the first of our bonus episodes where we will look at some of the individual military and civilian personalities from the Second World War.  

Today, we have a short biography of Kurt Meyer – a former member of the Hitler Youth who went on to become a controversial SS Commander, and convicted war criminal.

To keep an ear out for the future bonus content,...

Welcome back to The War That Shaped the World Podcast. 

In this, the third episode of the series, we explore Nazi Germany's annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia.

We delve into the historical context, key dates, people involved, and discuss why the international community did not intervene.

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Welcome back to The War That Shaped the World Podcast. In this, the second episode of the series, we're focusing on the lead up to the commencement of hostilities on 1 September 1939.  

This period, from the signing of the Treaty of Versailles through to the invasion of Poland, is complex story and one worthy of its very own podcast series!

However, we are heroically attempting to cover this in a couple of episode...

Welcome to "The War That Shaped the World," a podcast series exploring the military history of the Second World War. We will traverse the key events, strategies, and personalities that shaped this monumental conflict. Over the next ten episodes, we'll delve deep into the battles, campaigns, and decisions that forever changed the course of history.

So, let's begin our journey with an introduction to the vast and terrible event th...