History of the Second World War

History of the Second World War

History of the Second World War is a weekly podcast which will cover World War 2, beginning with the tumultuous years after the First World War, continuing into the descent into war during the 1930s, through the war years, and then into the post war aftermath.

Episodes

236: The Battle After Britain Pt. 4 - Conclusions and Continuations

October 8, 2025 • 28 mins
In this concluding episode of the Battle of Britain series, we examine the final outcomes and lasting impact of Germany's 1940 air campaign against Britain. While the Luftwaffe lost approximately 1,900 aircraft compared to the RAF's 1,600, the true failure lay in Germany's inability to achieve their strategic goal of neutralizing Fighter Command before the planned invasion. Despite inflated kill claims on both sides, Air Marshal Do...
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Interview 44: Opening the Gates of Hell: Operation Barbarossa with Richard Hargreaves

October 5, 2025 • 41 mins
This time I am joined by Richard Hargreaves to discuss his new book Opening the Gates of Hell: Operation Barbarossa. Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to advertise on History of the Second World War. History of the Second World War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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235: The Battle After Britain Pt. 3 - The Blitz

October 1, 2025 • 35 mins
In this gripping episode, we explore the devastating German night bombing campaign known as the Blitz, which terrorized Britain from September 1940 to May 1941. While London bore the brunt of 57 consecutive nights of bombing that killed 40,000 people and destroyed over a million homes, many other British cities suffered similar devastation as the Luftwaffe attempted to break British morale and cripple the nation's war effort. Despi...
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234: The Battle After Britain Pt. 2 - Big Wings, Big Egos

September 24, 2025 • 25 mins
By the end of September 1940, the threat of German invasion had passed, but victory in the Battle of Britain sparked a bitter internal conflict within RAF Fighter Command. Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park of 11 Group, who had successfully defended southeastern England using small, quick-response fighter formations, found himself under attack from Air Vice-Marshal Leigh-Mallory of 12 Group, who advocated for "Big Wing" tactics—concentrat...
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233: The Battle After Britain Pt. 1 - Sleeping Sea Lion

September 18, 2025 • 26 mins
In the aftermath of Battle of Britain Day, both sides struggled to understand what had really changed in the aerial war over Britain. While the Luftwaffe leadership blamed their fighter pilots for the costly losses on September 15th, faulty intelligence drastically underestimated RAF strength at just 177 fighters when the actual number was 659—a miscalculation that would prove decisive. As the German high command faced the reality ...
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232: The Battle of Britain Pt. 7 - Battle of Britain Day

September 10, 2025 • 28 mins
On September 15, 1940—Battle of Britain Day—the Luftwaffe launched what would become the climactic daylight assault of their campaign against Britain. In a desperate final effort to enable Operation Sea Lion, the German invasion of Britain, over 500 bombers escorted by hundreds of fighters targeted London's railways and dockyards in two massive raids. However, RAF Fighter Command rose to meet them with unprecedented coordination, d...
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231: The Battle of Britain Pt. 6 - Stumbling to the End

September 3, 2025 • 25 mins
In this episode, we explore the critical second week of September 1940, when the Battle of Britain reached a pivotal turning point that would ultimately determine the fate of Operation Sea Lion—Germany's planned invasion of Britain. Following the devastating bombing raids on London that began September 7th, German invasion preparations were paradoxically at their peak readiness while simultaneously becoming increasingly uncertain. ...
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Interview 43: The Kwantung Army with Quin Cho

August 31, 2025 • 44 mins
This week I was joined by Quin Cho of Pacific Atrocities to talk about an upcoming book on the foundation and early actions of the Kwantung Army. Get the Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FK5F787QPacific Atrocities Education: https://www.pacificatrocities.org/ Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to advertise on History of the Second World War. History of the Second World War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Lea...
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230: The Battle of Britain Pt. 5 - Shifting Focus

August 27, 2025 • 21 mins
In this pivotal episode of the Battle of Britain series, we explore the mounting pressures faced by both British and German forces as September 1940 unfolds. While the RAF continues its desperate defense against daily Luftwaffe raids, behind the scenes both nations are dealing with critical resource challenges and strategic dilemmas. The British struggle with pilot shortages and factory production disruptions caused by constant air...
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229: The Battle of Britain Pt. 4 - Familiar Failures

August 20, 2025 • 28 mins
In Episode 229 of _The Battle of Britain_, listeners dive into the intense, attritional final phase of the aerial campaign as the Luftwaffe shifts focus to dismantle RAF Fighter Command’s defenses with precision raids on key airfields. From the devastating bombing of Manston to the failed, costly attempt on Portsmouth, each raid reveals a clash of strategy and resilience—where German pilots claim massive victories but reality shows...
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228: The Battle of Britain Pt. 3 - New Plans

August 13, 2025 • 24 mins
This episode delves into the critical turning point of the Battle of Britain, exploring how the Luftwaffe's ambitious plans faced mounting challenges as weather disruptions and strategic miscalculations threatened their timetable . Discover the innovative German radio navigation system designed to guide bombers accurately, and the fierce aerial intelligence battle waged by British forces to counter it—a conflict that shaped the out...
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227: The Battle of Britain Pt. 2 - The Hardest Days

August 6, 2025 • 28 mins
This episode of _History of the Second World War_ dives into the intense final days of the Battle of Britain, focusing on the critical days following Eagle Day, August 13th, when the Luftwaffe launched its decisive offensive . Despite initial setbacks like poor weather and delayed sorties, the German forces reported significant damage to RAF fighters, fueling confidence in their plan to cripple Fighter Command within days. The epis...
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226: The Battle of Britain Pt. 1 - Adlertag

July 31, 2025 • 32 mins
This episode of History of the Second World War delves into the pivotal moments of the Battle of Britain, focusing on the Luftwaffe's final preparations and the critical operations of Adlertag (Eagle Day), the code name for the Luftwaffe's intensified campaign to neutralize RAF Fighter Command and secure Germany's invasion plans . As the conflict escalates, the podcast explores the high-stakes strategies, key decisions, and r...
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225: The Battle About Britain Pt. 9 - The Senior Service

July 23, 2025 • 22 mins
This episode of _History of the Second World War_ dives deep into the pivotal role of the Royal Navy during the Battle of Britain, exploring how its strength served as a critical counterbalance to the Luftwaffe's air campaign . As the podcast traces the evolving strategies of both sides, it highlights the tense interplay between Germany's aerial ambitions and Britain's maritime defenses, setting the stage for the dramatic air battl...
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Interview 42: Thunder Run: Meiktila 1945 with Jack Bowsher

July 21, 2025 • 59 mins
This time I was joined by Jack Bowsher the author of Thunder Run: Meiktila 1945: The Greatest Combined Arms Manoeuvre Battle of WW2 which is available now! Come find out about what the fighting was like in Burma during 1945 and why it is a tremendous example of a combined arms Thunder Run. https://www.chiselbury.co.uk/pre-order/p/thunder-run-meiktila-1945-by-jack-bowsher Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to advertise on His...
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224: The Battle About Britain Pt. 8 - Home Guard and the Airborne Panic

July 16, 2025 • 24 mins
This episode of _History of the Second World War_ dives into the critical preparations Britain undertook ahead of the potential German invasion during the Battle of Britain, focusing on the overlooked yet vital role of the Home Guard and the widespread panic surrounding airborne attacks. Discover how civilian volunteers were mobilized, the strategic fears that shaped wartime decisions, and the human stories behind the historical ev...
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223: The Battle About Britain Pt. 7 - Invasion Preparations

July 9, 2025 • 27 mins
This episode delves into the high-stakes preparations of Britain’s military and government as they braced for a potential German invasion during the summer of 1940, a pivotal moment in the Battle of Britain . From chaotic early responses fueled by panic to the gradual organization of defenses like the Home Guard, the narrative captures the tension and transformation of Britain’s resilience during this critical period. As the episod...
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Interview 41: Motorization with Bruce Gudmundsson

July 7, 2025 • 38 mins
In this interview I was joined by Bruce Gudmundsson to discuss some of the benefits, challenges, and difficulties of motorization in the armies of the Second World War. Check out way more of Bruce's writing over on Substack: https://tacticalnotebook.substack.com/ Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to advertise on History of the Second World War. History of the Second World War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Le...
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222: The Battle About Britain Pt. 6 - Wait, This is Going to be Complicated

July 2, 2025 • 25 mins
This episode delves into the high-stakes planning behind Operation Sea Lion, exploring how German military strategists grappled with the immense challenges of invading Britain in 1940. As the Luftwaffe battled for air superiority, the planners faced a critical dilemma: balancing the necessity of an invasion with the uncertain feasibility of achieving the required dominance over the Royal Air Force. Tensions mounted between th...
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Interview 40: The German-Soviet War with Jeff Rutherford

June 26, 2025 • 27 mins
Buy The German Soviet War: Combat, Occupation, and Legacies Edited by Jeff Rutherford and Robert von Maier here: https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501781070/the-german-soviet-war/#bookTabs=4 If you are reading this before June 27, 2025 use this coupon code for 50% off: https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/unlock-a-world-of-knowledge-5-days-50-off-sale-june-2025/ Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to advertise on H...
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