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
October 15, 2025 • 23 mins
This summary episode revisits the rise of Italian fascism and Benito Mussolini's path to power during the tumultuous early 1920s. Born from Italy's sense of betrayal after World War I—when promised territorial gains in the Mediterranean never materialized—the fascist movement gained momentum as a bulwark against the growing Communist threat. Led by military veterans discharged into a war-ravaged economy, fascist squads found suppor...
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October 12, 2025 • 35 mins
For this interview I was joined by William Hiestand to discuss his upcoming book on the usage of airpower over the battlefield of Kursk in 1943. You can grab a copy here: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/us/kursk-1943-9781472865168/
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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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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.
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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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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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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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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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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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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/
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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
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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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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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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/
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