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May 20, 2025 32 mins

In this episode of Why Wars Happened, we sit down with bestselling author Martin Dugard (Taking Midway, Killing series) to explore the Battle of Midway — the epic clash that turned the tide of World War II in the Pacific.

👉 What you’ll discover:

🔑 How code-breaking cracked Japan’s strategy

⚔️ The showdown between Admirals Chester Nimitz & Isoroku Yamamoto

🚢 Inside the carrier battles that reshaped naval warfare

🌍 Why Midway became the turning point of WWII in the Pacific

✍️ How Martin Dugard brings history to life through cinematic storytelling

If you’re a fan of WWII history, naval strategy, or military turning points, this episode takes you deep into one of the most dramatic battles ever fought.

⏱ Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened

00:52 – Meet Martin Dugard

01:22 – The success of the Killing series

03:47 – Writing cinematic history

06:39 – Strategic importance of Midway

10:32 – Japan’s expansion & resource needs

12:12 – Churchill’s risky WWII moves

15:54 – Admiral Chester Nimitz: Risk taker

17:38 – The power of code-breaking

20:02 – Admiral Yamamoto’s strategy

22:52 – Key moments of the Battle of Midway

26:21 – U.S. vs Japanese military tactics

27:54 – American production advantage

29:50 – Future projects

31:40 – Conclusion

#BattleOfMidway #WWIIHistory #PacificWar #CodeBreaking #Nimitz #Yamamoto #WhyWarsHappened

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