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

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

Nov 2024

How Stalin won WW2

In June 1944 Allied armies landed in force in northern France, and the liberation of western Europe began. But, the battle that really sealed Hitler's fate was taking place in the east, as the Red Army prepared an almighty assault against the war-weary Wehrmacht. Speaking to Rob ... Show More

38m 7s

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

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

Sep 2024

How WWII Started

On September 1st, 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Two days later, France and the United Kingdom declared war on the Third Reich. This was the beginning of what would become perhaps the most devastating clash in human history. By the end of the war, tens of millions of peopl ... Show More

1h 2m

Jun 2025

WW2 legacies and Magna Carta: history behind the headlines

In the latest episode of our monthly series charting the past behind the present, historians Rana Mitter and Hannah Skoda explore the ways the Second World War continues to shape the world of today. Plus the medieval manuscripts hitting the headlines, and an express history of ra ... Show More

45m 40s

Feb 2025

The Battle of Stalingrad

During World War Two, the Battle of Stalingrad was one of the most brutal engagements of the entire conflict, and would go on to be one of the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare. Over a course of six months, Soviet forces fought to defend their city against the German Ar ... Show More

59m 12s

Jun 2025

Frenemies: Russia & the USA, a History

For nearly half a century, the United States and Russia stood as adversaries, entrenched in a tense geopolitical rivalry known as the Cold War. Yet this period represents only a brief chapter in the broader, more complex history of their relationship... In this episo ... Show More

1h 3m

Jul 2025

Beyond the trenches: a new take on WW1

When you think of the First World War, what springs to mind? Is it trench warfare? The myth that troops would be home by Christmas? Or perhaps the idea that the whole thing began because of the assassination of an Austro-Hungarian archduke? In this episode, we’re going beyond the ... Show More

42m 12s

Oct 2024

The Korean War: everything you wanted to know

On today's Everything You Wanted to Know episode, we're covering the Korean War, exploring how the nation came to be divided in two, what the impact of fighting was on the peninsular's civilian population, and how close the clash came to going nuclear. In conversation with Spence ... Show More

37m 47s

Interview 44: Opening the Gates of Hell:...