logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
26m 12s

209: The Battle Before Britain Pt. 1 - E...

WESLEY LIVESAY
About this episode
In the years before the war the new technology of radar would begin to solve many of the problems of air defense, but it was not perfect. 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/ad ... Show More
Up next
Dec 11
243: North Africa 1940 Pt. 7 - Beda Fomm
In Episode 243 of History of the Second World War, we explore the pivotal Battle of Beda Fomm in North Africa during January 1941 — the decisive follow-up to the British victory at Bardia that shattered Italian morale and control in Libya. With the Italian 10th Army decimated and ... Show More
27m 41s
Dec 3
242: North Africa 1940 Pt. 6 - Bardia
In Episode 242 of History of the Second World War, we dive into Operation Compass, Britain’s first major offensive in North Africa in late 1940 — specifically focusing on the critical assault on Bardia, an Italian stronghold along the coast with formidable defenses. After initial ... Show More
24m 23s
Nov 26
241: North Africa 1940 Pt. 5 - Operation Compass
In Episode 241 of “History of the Second World War,” dive into the explosive opening of Operation Compass — Britain’s first major offensive in North Africa during WWII, launched in December 1940 against Italian fortified camps. Witness how British forces, including the 7th Armore ... Show More
24m 24s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2024
Revisited 8: The Anglo-German Naval Arms Race - At The Peak
While changes occur at the British Admiralty, in Berlin the German building efforts reach a breaking point. Contact sales@advertisecast.com to advertise on History of the Second World War. History of the Great War is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Learn more about you ... Show More
26m 44s
Jun 2024
M. Girard Dorsey, "Holding Their Breath: How the Allies Confronted the Threat of Chemical Warfare in World War II" (Cornell UP, 2023)
In Holding Their Breath: How the Allies Confronted the Threat of Chemical Warfare in World War II (Cornell UP, 2023), M. Girard Dorsey uncovers just how close Britain, the United States, and Canada came to crossing the red line that restrained poison gas during World War II. Unli ... Show More
57m 27s
Nov 2024
The Blitz: everything you wanted to know
How did British civilians respond when they found themselves under aerial bombardment during the Second World War? Was normal life put on hold during air raids? And was 'Blitz Spirit' a real thing? Speaking to Ellie Cawthorne for our latest 'everything you wanted to know' episode ... Show More
45m 17s
Sep 2022
September 2nd: World War II comes to a close
On September 2, 1945, World War II comes to a close. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices 
6m 47s
Oct 2024
Introducing: Warfronts by Simon Whistler
Warfronts takes a deep dive into the world’s most significant conflicts, past and present. Now available as a podcast, we explore modern wars, the politics behind them, and how they shape the world today. Whether it’s a forgotten battle or the ongoing struggles in global hotspots ... Show More
1m 47s
Sep 2025
597. The First World War: The Massacre of the Innocents (Part 4)
What happened at the crucial, bloody, Battle of Ypres in October 1914? How did the battle come about? Why did the Germans and the British fight each other so brutally and for so long to take Ypres? What made the fighting so particularly violent? How were the British able to repel ... Show More
55m 15s
Aug 2025
Hiroshima: in the shadow of the bomb
At 8.15am on 6 August 1945, an atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima. It was an event that changed the course of history, but it was also one driven by individuals. Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, Iain MacGregor tells this story through the eyes of people whose lives were ... Show More
43m 36s
Feb 2024
133. Battleground '44 - Arrival of the Americans
In this instalment of Battleground '44, Saul and Patrick look at the dramatic social impact that the mass arrival of American soldiers and Airmen had on UK society during the second world war and the legacy that lasts until today. The American's brought with them Hollywood glamou ... Show More
49m 57s
Oct 2024
The Vietnam War
The battle for Vietnam waged between the communist-ruled North of the country, and the US-backed south, lasted almost 20 years, from 1955. It spilled over into neighbouring countries, and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 3.8 million people - half of them civilians. It was a ... Show More
59m 37s
May 2025
VE Day: a people's history
Nazi Germany had finally been defeated. And, for 24 hours, Britons could let their hair down and celebrate. But not everyone was in the mood to party. As 2025 marks the 80th anniversary, John Willis tells the story of VE Day via the experiences of ordinary Britons who lived throu ... Show More
27m 7s