Key Battles of American History

In this epilogue to the Guadalcanal series, Dave and James discuss the human and material costs of the battle for Guadalcanal.  They also evaluate the performance of both sides and the short-and long-term significance of the campaign.

During a war, combatants often ponder the deep existential questions of life. These questions form the basis of Terence Malick’s 1998 war drama The Thin Red Line. On one level, The Thin Red Line is about a U. S. Army division’s attempt to take a hill on the island of Guadalcanal; however, the film also explores many age-old questions, including “How did evil enter the world?”, “Why are humans at war with nature?”, “Why do humans fight and kill each other?”, and “Given all the evil and suffering in the world, how can there be a loving creator?” Join James and Steve Guerra as they discuss this intellectually and emotionally deep film. Note: this episode originally appeared on Steve’s Podcast Beyond the Big Screen.

In January 1943, American forces began slowly but surely pushing west as the Japanese mounted an effort to deceive the Americans into thinking another major offensive was coming.  In reality, the Japanese were executing Operation KE, a plan to retreat westward and evacuate all survivors from Guadalcanal. In early February, American forces reached the northwestern tip of the island, only to find that the main body of the Japanese army was gone.  The Guadalcanal Campaign was over.  In this final regular episode of the series, Dave and James narrate the exciting finish to the 6-month struggle for Guadalcanal.

In this episode, Dave and James discuss the 1943 World War II war film Guadalcanal Diary, directed by Lewis Seiler. The film is based on the book of the same name by Richard Tregaskis. The film recounts the fight of the United States Marines in the Guadalcanal Campaign, which occurred only a year before the movie's release. While the film has notable battle scenes, its primary focus is on the characters and back stories of the Marines.

In this episode, Dave and James discuss the Battle of Tassafaronga, the final major naval battle of the Guadalcanal Campaign. They also narrate the Americans’ November Matanikau offensive (yes, another one!) and the beginning of the final American ground offensive. Finally, your intrepid hosts discuss the Japanese December 1942 decision to…well, listen, and you will find out what!

Undeterred by the failure of their October attempt to capture Henderson Field, the Japanese high command ordered that yet another, still bigger, attempt be made in November. This resulted in two massive ship-to-ship battles between November 13 and 15, in which dozens of warships and planes, plus over 3500 soldiers, sailors, and airmen were lost. Join Dave and James as they tell the exciting story of this epic naval clash, which has come to be known simply as the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

On October 26, American and Japanese naval forces clashed northeast of Guadalacanal in the fourth carrier battle of the war. Soon after this, General Vandegrift ordered offensives designed to extend the Marine perimeter both eastward and westward. And on November 4, the Second Marine Raider Battalion landed on the northeastern part of Guadalcanal and soon began chasing a Japanese force of 3000 that was trying to march to the west side of the island. The Raiders’ march, known now as the “Long Patrol,” would make Carlson’s Raiders legendary in the annals of war. In this episode, Dave and James narrate the thrilling stories of the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, the fourth Matanikau offensive, the Battle of Koli Point, and the Long Patrol.

Have you ever wondered if there was a group to reach North America before Christopher Columbus? Find out more in today's bonus episode from another Parthenon podcast "History of North America." Join host Mark Vinet as he discusses the search for the first non-indigenous explorers to reach the North American continent prior to Christopher Columbus’ 1492 voyage.  

If you like what you hear, subscribe to "History of North America" on Apple or Spotify and look for it on Parthenonpodcast.com

In this episode, Dave and James discuss the second episode of HBO’s The Pacific. This episode deals primarily with the Battle of Henderson Field, especially Sgt. John Basilone’s role in the battle. Basilone and the Seventh Marines land on Guadalcanal to bolster the defenses around Henderson Field. During the Japanese attack on the Marine perimeter, Basilone, attempting to relocate his machine gun to a better position, bare-handedly cradles the hot barrel and severely burns his arms. Despite this, he continues fighting and kills scores of Japanese troops. Later, Basilone is awarded the Medal of Honor for his conduct during the battle.

The Japanese defeat at the Battle of Edson’s Ridge did not deter the Japanese high command, who immediately began planning an even bigger effort to retake Henderson Field and to remove the Americans from Guadalcanal. The new operation was christened “Plan X” and would include massive air, sea, and land attacks on American positions. On the ground, this time an entire division would assault the American perimeter. The American defenders were spread thin and outnumbered. Would the heroic efforts of Col. Chesty Puller, Sgt. John Basilone, Sgt. Mitchell Paige, and countless other Marines and soldiers be enough to stop the Japanese onslaught? Join Dave and James as they tell this exciting story.

After the American victory at Edson’s Ridge, the Marines on Guadalcanal were reinforced by the 7th Marine Regiment, which brought the total US strength on the island to about 20,000. The American ground commander General Alexander Vandegrift decided to expand the Marines’ perimeter westward by attacking Japanese positions at the Matanikau River. In addition, an American naval force met a Japanese fleet at Cape Esperance, near the site of the disastrous American defeat at Savo Island. How did these engagements turn out? Dave and James will let you know!

On September 12, a Japanese force of several thousand attacked the Marines’ perimeter from three directions. The most effect assault occurred south of the perimeter, near a position that became known as Edson’s Ridge. The Marine defenders, including the First Raider Battalion under Col. Merrit Edson, were greatly outnumbered but were on good ground and were supported by highly effective heavy artillery. Join Dave and James as they discuss this latest chapter in the struggle for control of Guadalcanal.

After the disaster at Alligator Creek, the Japanese decided to launch a larger effort to recapture Guadalcanal. The objective of this combined air, sea, and land operation was to wipe out the US carrier fleet and the Cactus Air Force and to land enough soldiers to defeat the Marines on the island. In this episode, Dave and James discuss the ongoing Japanese attempts to regain control of Guadalcanal in late August, including the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, which delayed, but did not prevent Japanese reinforcement efforts.

Learn more about the Alabama Unionist soldiers in the Civil War with this exclusive interview from History Unplugged, hosted by Scott Rank.

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In this episode, Dave and James discuss and review Part 1 of the epic 2010 HBO miniseries The Pacific, which follows the lives and wartime actions of three well-known Marines who served in the Pacific Theater: John Basilone, Robert Leckie, and Eugene Sledge. In Episode 1 of The Pacific, we are introduced to the three main characters and we witness the initial Marine landing on Guadalcanal, the Battle of Alligator Creek, and the Battle of Savo Island.

The Japanese realized that if the U. S. were able to hold and utilize the airfield on Guadalcanal, Japan’s strategic objectives in the South Pacific would be foiled. Consequently, Japanese air, naval, and land forces immediately began trying to retake the airfield, recently renamed Henderson Field by the Americans. In August, Japanese bombers began conducting daily bombing raids on the field, an effort that the Americans called “Tojo Time.” In addition, an infantry battalion launched an aggressive attack on the Marine perimeter in an effort to retake the field. But would it work? Listen, and Dave and James will let you know!

On August 7, 1942, elements of the First Marine Division landed on Guadalcanal. They met little opposition and quickly captured their initial objective, an airfield that the Japanese had recently built. The Marines got to work establishing a perimeter and preparing for the inevitable Japanese counterattack. Soon after, Japanese and American naval forces clashed in the first major naval engagement of the Guadalcanal campaign, the Battle of Savo Island. Join Dave and James as they narrate the exciting opening of the epic struggle for Guadalcanal.

On June 4, 1942, a Japanese naval task force launched an attack on the American naval and air base at Midway Island. The task force then encountered an American carrier fleet, leading to an epic naval battle that helped change the course of the war in the Pacific. The 2019 action-war film Midway tells the story of the leadup to the battle, the battle itself, and the aftermath. Is it historically accurate? Is it a quality film? In this episode, James and Sean McIver answer these and other questions.

In early 1942, Japan’s leaders decided to capture the key Allied port of Port Moresby on the southern coast of New Guinea, in an attempt to threaten American shipping lanes to Australia. But on its way to the port, at the Coral Sea, the Japanese fleet arrived encountered an American naval force. A month later, a large Japanese naval and air force attempted to capture the American base at Midway, but again, they ran into a powerful American fleet. Join Dave and James as they discuss the crucial battles of the Coral Sea and Midway, American victories that made the Guadalcanal Campaign possible.

In the late 1960s, a Japanese film production team joined forces with an American team in an effort to produce a balanced and accurate retelling of the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The result is the classic 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora! which after more than 50 years still remains the definitive Pearl Harbor film. Join James and Sean McIver as they discuss the film’s story, its historical accuracy, its quality, and its legacy.

On December 7, 1941, Japanese air and naval forces attacked the American naval and air base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing 2400 Americans and heavily damaging the US Pacific Fleet. Over the next 5 months, Japan conquered several European and American possessions in southeast Asia, including Guam, Malaya, Wake Island, Hong Kong, Burma, Singapore, the Dutch East Indies, and the Philippines. In this episode, James and new cohost Dave Holland narrate this period of rapid Japanese expansion, including the famous “Doolittle Raid.”

In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 10: Points. Easy captures the Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden without resistance, and the end of the war in Europe is announced. Finding a collection of 10,000 bottles of liquor, wine and champagne in a cellar at Hermann Göring's house, Winters allows the company to celebrate before they travel to Austria to become an occupying force. It is then announced that the division will be redeployed to the Pacific Theater, but those with enough points will get to go home. Winters applies for a transfer to the Pacific, but the officer in charge tells him his men have earned the right to keep him around. Despite the peace and the relative ease of life in Salzburg, men continue to be injured and die. Together with the rest of the battalion, Easy oversees the surrender of 25,000 German troops in Zell am See. Over a company baseball game, Winters narrates the fates of some of the men playing in it. He interrupts the game to announce the surrender of the Empire of Japan, which ends the war, and then narrates Nixon's fate and finally his own. The episode concludes with interviews with actual surviving Easy Company members.

In this special episode, commissioned by Early's Raiders Colonet Daniel Fisher, James discusses John F. Kennedy's service in the Second World War.

In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 9: Why We Fight. While on patrol, some of the men of Easy Company stumble across a concentration camp near Landsberg and free the surviving prisoners. The sight of the victims leaves the soldiers horrified and disgusted, and Liebgott serves as a German interpreter for Winters as they learn from one of the survivors that the prisoners are Jews and noncombatants. The German locals deny knowing anything about the camp. The 101st Airborne's commander, General Taylor, imposes martial law and orders all able-bodied civilians from ages 14 to 80 to clean up the camp, including removing the bodies. Nixon informs Easy that Adolf Hitler has committed suicide.

In this topical episode, commissioned by Early’s Raiders Colonel Lee Beaumont, James discusses the Boxer Rebellion, focusing on American involvement in the conflict, especially the role of US Marines. If you would like to commission an episode on a topic of your choosing, you can do so by joining Early’s Raiders at the Major level or higher. For more information, go to Patreon.com and search for Key Battles of American History.

In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 8: The Last Patrol. In Haguenau, Easy adjusts to leaving the combat zone and gives a cold welcome to Private David Webster, who did not break out of the hospital to rejoin the company like others; and new replacement Second Lieutenant Henry Jones, fresh from West Point. Jones and Webster participate in a night raid across the river to get prisoners for interrogation, which gains them some respect. Winters is promoted to major, Lipton's commission becomes official, and Jones is promoted to first lieutenant and transferred to the regimental staff.

In this topical episode, commissioned by Early’s Raiders Colonel Terry Davis, James discusses the fascinating life and career of Quanah Parker, a half-Comanche, half-white warrior who played an outsize role in Texas and American history during the nineteenth century.
If you would like to commission an episode on a topic of your choosing, you can do so by joining Early’s Raiders at the Major level or higher.
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In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 7: The Breaking Point. Easy holds the line near Foy, Belgium, losing numerous soldiers. Winters and the men worry about the company's new commander, First Lieutenant Norman Dike, who is frequently absent without explanation. First Sergeant Carwood Lipton attempts to keep Easy's morale up. Lieutenant Lynn "Buck" Compton watches in horror as his close friends Guarnere and Joe Toye lose their legs to shelling, and he too is pulled from the line. During the assault on Foy, Dike freezes up during an attack, so Winters orders Lt. Ronald Speirs to relieve him. Victorious, Easy takes shelter in a church, where Lipton is told he has been given a field commission as a second lieutenant and Speirs is officially assigned command of Easy.

In this episode, James again interviews professor, reenactor, and YouTuber Jared Frederick, this time about his 2022 book (co-authored with Erik Dorr) Fierce Valor: The True Story of Ronald Speirs and His Band of Brothers. Jared and James discuss the fascinating military career of Ronald Speirs, the final World War II commander of the 101st Airborne Division’s Easy Company and a key character of the award-winning 2001 HBO miniseries Band of Brothers.

In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 6: Bastogne. Easy faces harsh winter conditions in the Ardennes, running dangerously low on ammunition, food, and medical supplies. Combat medic Eugene "Doc" Roe helps his fellow soldiers where he can, while also scrounging for medical supplies. He befriends a Belgian nurse named Renée; she is later killed in a bombing raid. Easy and other American units are surrounded, but General McAuliffe, their commander, rejects a German surrender offer with the reply "Nuts!"

In this topical episode, commissioned by Early’s Raiders Major Alex Calabrese, James discusses the various Sioux Wars, including the Dakota War of 1862, Red Cloud’s War (1866-68), the Great Sioux War (1876-77), and the Ghost Dance War (1890). If you would like to commission an episode on a topic of your choosing, you can do so by joining Early’s Raiders at the Major level or higher. For more information, go to Patreon.com and search for Key Battles of American History.

In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 5: Crossroads. Winters writes an after-action report on Easy's actions during a German counter offensive on the Nijmegen salient; he is troubled by the fact that he shot an unarmed, teenage Waffen-SS soldier during the battle. Winters is promoted to battalion executive officer, and command of Easy is given to "Moose" Heyliger. Winters, Nixon, Heyliger and Sink meet Lt. Col. David Dobie of the British Parachute Regiment and 1st Airborne Division, who enlists Easy's help in Operation Pegasus to rescue 140 of his comrades. The operation succeeds, and the rescued British Paras celebrate with Easy and toast them. Heyliger is badly wounded, and command of the company passes to Norman Dike before they are rushed to Bastogne when the Germans break out in the Battle of the Bulge.

In this topical episode, commissioned by Early’s Raiders Major Ana Concepcion Castro, James discusses medical care in World War II, including the crucial role of combat medics, the various types of hospitals, and medical advances made during the war. If you would like to commission an episode on a topic of your choosing, you can do so by joining Early’s Raiders at the Major level or higher. For more information, go to Patreon.com and search for Key Battles of American History.

In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 4: Replacements. Replacements join Easy Company and struggle to be accepted by the veterans who fought at Normandy. Winters is promoted to captain, while Sobel becomes the regiment's new supply officer. The company parachutes into the Netherlands as part of Operation Market Garden and liberates Eindhoven. During combat in Nuenen, the replacements integrate themselves with the company, but Easy is forced to retreat. Denver "Bull" Randleman is left behind. Wounded, Randeman hides in a barn and engages in hand-to-hand combat with a German soldier. He is reunited with the rest of the company the following day.

The Septuagint is the most important Bible translation you’ve never heard of. In this episode of the 10th Anniversary of the History of the Papacy series, Steve Guerra and his special guest Garry Stevens lay out the basics of the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament. They talk about the issues of translation and the process of translation.

In this episode, James interviews professor, reenactor, and YouTuber Jared Frederick about his 2020 book (co-authored with Erik Dorr) Hang Tough:
The WWII Letters and Artifacts of Major Dick Winters. Jared and James discuss the inspiring life and career of Dick Winters, a decorated officer in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II and the main character of the award-winning 2001 HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. Jared and James examine Winters’ life largely through a series of letters he wrote to a penpal in the U. S.

In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 3: Carentan. Easy fights in the Battle of Carentan and loses several men. Rumors begin to circulate that Ronald Speirs killed a group of German prisoners. Private Albert Blithe, who has been struggling with shell shock, is finally spurred into action by Winters during the Battle of Bloody Gulch. Several days later, Blithe is shot through the neck by a sniper while on patrol.

In this topical episode, commissioned by Early’s Raiders Major Doug Pergram, James discusses Revolutionary War artillery, including types of artillery and shot, how artillery were fired, and how they were used by both sides during the war. If you would like to commission an episode on a topic of your choosing, you can do so by joining Early’s Raiders at the Major level or higher. For more information, go to Patreon.com and search for Key Battles of American History.

In this episode Sean and James discuss Band of Brothers Episode 2: Day of Days. On June 6, 1944, Easy Company parachutes into Normandy but is scattered and many land miles away from their designated drop zones. Most of Easy reconnects, but its company commander, First Lieutenant Thomas Meehan, is missing and presumed dead, so Winters assumes command as its highest-ranking officer. He successfully leads a small group of men in destroying German artillery emplacements firing on Utah Beach from Brécourt Manor despite the German defending force being larger. Winters also captures a map of all German artillery emplacements in Normandy. Winters and several other Easy Company members earn combat decorations for their part in the attack.

After the fall of the Philippines to the Japanese in May 1942, many Allied servicemen became prisoners. Those who survived their captivity would remain prisoners of the Japanese for nearly three years. One of these prisoners, George Darling of Deming, New Mexico, went on to write a memoir of his and his brother Gerald’s captivity in the Philippines. In this episode, James is joined by Jay Robison, a retired Air Force colonel, surgeon, and history buff…as well as James’ first cousin and a first cousin once removed to the Darling brothers. You will be fascinated by the Darling brothers’ story as Jay and James tell it.

In this episode Sean and James introduce the award-winning Band of Brothers series and discuss Episode 1: Currahee. In 1942, Easy Company trains at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, under First Lieutenant Herbert Sobel, a strict disciplinarian who goes out of his way to find fault with his men. The company is shipped to England in September 1943, and as training progresses, Sobel's inadequacy as a leader in the field becomes evident. Now a captain, Sobel initiates a dispute with Lieutenant Richard "Dick" Winters, leading to Winters requesting a trial by court martial. These factors lead all of Easy's non-commissioned officers to resign en masse. Colonel Robert Sink, the regiment's commander, reassigns Sobel to command of a parachuting school for essential non-infantry personnel. With new leadership, Easy Company prepares for Operation Overlord. William Guarnere learns that his older brother Henry, a medic in the 1st Armored Division fighting in Italy, has been killed at Monte Cassino.

In this episode, James interviews Elizabeth Varon, the Langbourne M. Williams Professor of American History and Associate Director of the John L. Nau III Center for Civil War History at the University of Virginia, about her new book Longstreet: The Confederate General Who Defied the South. One of the Confederate Army’s most talented commanders, Longstreet was called “my old war horse” by Robert E. Lee. But within a few years of the end of the war, Longstreet had become a Republican and fought against many of his former Confederates, thus becoming persona non grata in the South. You’ll find this discussion of what Dr. Varon calls “the most remarkable political about-face in American history” fascinating. Join us!

November 22 marks the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. To commemorate this pivotal event in American history, learn more about Kennedy's 1963 Texas visit, reelection campaign, assassination, and legacy, with this excerpt from This American President.

In this episode, James interviews Philip Martin, author of From Orphan to High Flyer. In this book, Philip tells the story of his late friend Denis Eliot. Denis rose from the horrors of a Victorian-style British orphanage and brutal foster parents to command and pilot American-built RAF B-24 Liberators against the Japanese in Asia, then to fly RAF aircraft into the late 1950s during the Cold War, and finally to live a fulfilling existence beyond his time in the military. In the RAF, he defied death many times and was privileged to see lands far from where he was raised in the UK. Join James and Philip as they discuss Denis’ fascinating life and career.

In this episode, Sean and James review the 1953 film Stalag 17, which tells the story of a group of American airmen confined with 40,000 prisoners in a World War II German prisoner-of-war camp "somewhere on the Danube". The film focuses on one particular barracks, where the men come to suspect that one of their number is an informant.

The experiences of Allied prisoners of war in Germany are relatively well-known, thanks in part to movies and television shows that tell their story. However, few Americans know that over 400,000 Axis prisoners of war were held in hundreds of camps scattered around the United States. In this episode, Sean and James discuss what life was like for Axis prisoners of war held in the U. S.

Join James and Sean as they discuss the 1963 classic The Great Escape, the thrilling story of the largest mass breakout from a POW camp ever in World War 2. Steve McQueen leads a truly all star cast with his iconic performance.

Over 300,000 western Allied servicemen were captured and imprisoned by Nazi Germany during World War 2. Join Sean and James as they tell about the experiences of British, American, French, and other western Allied prisoners of war, including capture, camp life, work programs, escape, and liberation.

In this episode, Sean and James discuss The Tuskegee Airmen, a 1995 HBO television movie based on the exploits of the first African-American combat pilots in the United States Army Air Corps who fought in World War II.

In this episode, James interviews Dartmouth College professor and best-selling author Matthew F. Delmont about his excellent book Half American: The Epic Story of African-Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad. In the interview, Professor Delmont gives an excellent overview of the experience of Black Americans during the Second World War.

One of the greatest films of all time, 1961’s Judgment at Nuremberg is a gripping courtroom drama about a small town American judge called to preside over the trial of German judges accused of crimes against humanity. Join Sean and James as they review this classic with one of the greatest ensemble casts ever.

During the Second World War, the Germans murdered 6 million Jews and about 5 million other so-called “undesirables” in what became known as the Holocaust. In this episode, Sean and James discuss this difficult but crucial topic.

The Train narrates the gripping story of a German officer’s attempt to ship great masterpieces of art out of France by train ahead of the Allied advance and the efforts of the Resistance to prevent this from happening. Join James and Sean as they review John Frankenheimer’s taut 1960s war thriller, starring Burt Lancaster and Paul Schoefield.

In every nation that the Germans occupied, resistance movements emerged. In this episode, Sean and James discuss anti-German guerilla movements, focusing primarily on the resistance efforts in four nations: Norway, France, Yugoslavia, and the Soviet Union.

America’s most decorated soldier of World War 2 was Texan Audie Murphy. When the time came for Hollywood to adapt his memoir into a film, there was no better star for the film than Murphy himself, who had become a matineé idol. Join Sean and James as they look at this surprisingly hard hitting and realistic 1955 film.

Following another long-time KBAH tradition, Sean and James discuss the life and experience of the common soldier, sailor and air crewmen in the European Theater of Operations in World War II. For the sake of time, the discussion is limited to American servicemen.

In this special compilation episode, Josh Cohen of Eyewitness History shares his favorite interview moments and stories from people who witnessed some of history’s most extraordinary events.

The heroic efforts of American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines were made possible by millions of factory workers, farmers, fundraisers, government officials, and others who never left American soli. In this episode, Sean and James discuss the American home front, including the role played by women and African-Americans in supporting the war. They also discuss the U.S. government’s shameful decision to intern 120,000 Japanese and Japanese-Americans during the war.

In this episode, Sean and James review the 1970 World War II comedy-drama heist film Kelly’s Heroes which tells the story of a motley crew of American GIs who go AWOL in order to rob a French bank, located behind German lines, of its stored Nazi gold bars.

In this episode, Sean and James examine the strategies, decisions, and conditions that dictated the course of the war, both from an overall perspective and through the different phases of the action.

The 1967 film The Dirty Dozen tells the story of a penal military unit of twelve convicts who are trained as commandos by the Allies for a suicide mission ahead of the Normandy landings. Join Sean and James as they discuss this fun and exciting classic film.

In this episode, Sean and James discuss some of the key weapons, technology, and innovations of the war for all the major powers, and how they impacted the course of the war.

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1965 classic film Von Ryan’s Express, starring Frank Sinatra, which depicts a group of Allied prisoners of war who conduct a daring escape by hijacking the freight train carrying the POWs and fleeing through German-occupied Italy to Switzerland.

In this episode, Sean and James follow a long-established KBAH tradition by giving brief overviews of the postwar lives and careers of the major leaders, Axis and Allies, discussed in the series.

In this episode, Sean and James review the 1946 WIlliam Wyler epic drama film The Best Years of Our Lives, which tells the story of three U. S. servicemen’s struggle to re-adjust to civilian life after coming home from the war.

The Second World War completely changed the world. In this episode, Sean and James discuss the human cost of the war, the rise and fall of empires, the beginning of the Cold War, and major changes within the United States. Also discussed is the crucial July-August Potsdam Conference.

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 2004 German film Downfall, which gives an inside view of the final days of Hitler, his closest advisors, and the Third Reich itself.

By the early spring of 1945, the Third Reich was on its last legs. Forces of the Western Allies crossed into Germany and pushed eastward, while in eastern Germany, Soviet forces surrounded Berlin. On April 30, Hitler committed suicide, and a week later, Germany surrendered. Join Sean and James as they tell the gripping story of the last weeks of Nazi Germany and the end of the war in Europe.

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 2014 film Fury, which tells the story of an American tank crew fighting against stubborn German resistance during the final weeks of the European theater of World War II.

Having destroyed the German Army Group Center and pushed back Army Group North and Army Group South, the Soviet Army in late 1944 and early 1945 swept through the Balkans and Poland, while thousands of German refugees fled westward. Join Sean and James as they discuss the westward drive of the Soviet juggernaut as well as the fateful February 1945 Yalta Conference.

Teddy Roosevelt faced many challenges at the end of his life. Racked by rheumatism, a ticking embolism, pathogens in his blood, a bad leg from an accident, and a bullet in his chest from an assassination attempt. But none of that stopped Roosevelt from attempting to reassemble the Rough Riders for a final charge against the Germans in World War One, pushing them into a likely suicide mission of a cavalry attack against 50 caliber machine guns.

Suffering from grief and guilt, marginalized by world events, the great glow that had been his life was now but a dimming lantern. But TR’s final years were productive ones as well: he churned out several “instant” books that promoted U.S. entry into the Great War, and he was making plans for another run at the Presidency in 1920 at the time of his death. Indeed, his political influence was so great that his opposition to the policies of Woodrow Wilson helped the Republican Party take back the Congress in 1918. To look at Roosevelt’s final years, Scott Rank, host of History Unplugged, speaks with Bill Hazelgrove, author of “The Last Charge of the Rough Rider.” It was Roosevelt’s quest for the “vigorous life” that, ironically, may have led to his early demise at the age of sixty. "The Old Lion is dead,” TR’s son Archie cabled his brother on January 6, 1919, and so, too, ended a historic era in American life and politics.

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In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1949 classic film Battleground, starring Van Johnson, which presents a surprisingly realistic depiction of the Battle of the Bulge through the lens of a single squad.

In the early hours of December 16, the pre-dawn stillness experienced by the thinly held American line at the eastern edge of the Ardennes Forest was shattered by a massive German offensive. After a summer of rapid advance, and a frustrating fall of dogged resistance to their advance towards the German border, American troops and leaders expected a period of winter quiet from an army that was thought to be nearly beaten. Instead, the German military offensive intended to turn the course of the war created a massive Bulge in the Allied line and became the largest, costliest land battle in American history. In this episode, Sean and James discuss the epic battle that came to be known as the Battle of the Bulge.

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1977 epic film A Bridge Too Far, which dramatizes Operation Market Garden. The movie had a big budget and an all-star cast, but does it live up to the hype? Listen and find out!

In the fall of 1944, the Allied push toward Germany began to slow down due to supply and logistical problems. The daring September offensive codenamed Operation Market Garden, designed to break the logjam, failed miserably. By the end of November, the Allied armies had settled in near the German border, hoping to soon resume offensive operations and drive into Germany. Join Sean and James as they discuss the Allies’ fall 1944 attempt to bring the war in Europe to a close.

Generally considered the one of the greatest–if not THE greatest–war movies ever made, Steven Spielberg’s 1998 film Saving Private Ryan revolutionized the genre of war movies. In this episode, Sean and James present an in-depth discussion of this modern-day classic.

After eight weeks of grinding, grueling combat that expanded the Normandy beachhead, the Allies conducted a remarkable series of offensives that led to one of the great breakthroughs of the war, carrying the Allies to Paris and beyond to the defenses of Germany itself. Join Sean and James as they discuss the critical Allied advances from July to September 1944.

In The History of North America Podcast, historian Mark Vinet takes us on an exciting and fascinating journey through time, exploring and focusing on the interesting, compelling, wonderful, tragic, intriguing, and inspiring stories of North America. In this episode, Mark explores one of the most glorious Mesoamerican societies and encounters the Pre-Hispanic Mexico ancient culture & civilization that was the Aztec Empire.

In this episode, James interviews foreign policy expert Sean Mirski about his recently published book We May Dominate the World: Ambition, Anxiety, and the Rise of the American Colossus.

The 1962 docudrama movie The Longest Day was a groundbreaking war film. Join Sean and James as they discuss this classic film, with its all-star cast and realistic depiction of the 1944 Normandy Invasion.

On June 6, 1944, a massive Allied land, sea, and air force crossed the English Channel and conducted the largest amphibious attack in world history, hitting Normandy at five different beaches. The German defenders were well-trained, well-armed, and dug in. Would the attack succeed? Join Sean and James as they discuss Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, often popularly referred to as simply “D-Day.”

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 2007 film Valkyrie, which deals with the “July Plot,” an attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler which came very close to succeeding. Tom Cruise stars as Klaus von Stauffenberg, the leader of the conspiracy.

On June 22, 1944–three years to the day after the German invasion of the Soviet Union began–the Soviets launched a massive offensive called Operation Bagration, which resulted in the destruction of the German Army Group Center and the opening of the way to Berlin. In this episode, Sean and James discuss Bagration, as well as Soviet advances in the north and south, the “July Plot” to assassinate Adolf Hitler, and the Warsaw Uprising of August-September 1944.

In Organized Crime and Punishment: A History and Crime Podcast, historian Steve Guerra and his trusty sidekick “Mustache Chris'' explore the rise of organized crime in various regions of the world and delve into the lives of some of the most renowned criminals and notorious gangsters. Every week, you’ll hear historical recollections and exclusive interviews about everything organized crime, from the American Mafia to modern-day cartels!

Start listening now and take the journey through the shadowy world of organized crime, exploring its history, impact, and ongoing influence on our societies today!

Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/organized-crime-and-punishment/id1690217862 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5peY6z7nFz8Q7tZNqK9JOc?si=70d9eb49cfd44c14

Under President Franklin Roosevelt’s resolute leadership, the United States rose from poverty and solitude to defeat the greatest evils of the twentieth century. Join James as he interviews historian Craig Nelson, author of the recently-released book V is for Victory: Franklin Roosevelt’s American Revolution and the Triumph of World War II. In the interview, Nelson explains how Roosevelt, assisted by thousands of unsung heroes, guided the U. S. out of the Great Depression and into superpower status, establishing the “Arsenal of Democracy.”

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1990 film Memphis Belle, which narrates the harrowing story of the 25th and final mission of the most famous B-17 bomber of World War 2.

The Allied strategic bombing campaign against Germany was long, difficult, costly, and still elicits controversy. The battle went through different phases, with constantly evolving tactics, objectives, and technology, but the end result was critical to the defeat of the German war effort. Join Sean and James in this topic episode that covers the crucial air war over Europe.

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 2021 Netflix film Operation Mincemeat, which tells the story of one of the most successful examples of military deception in history.

On July 9, 1943, Allied forces launched Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. 38 days later, the entire island was under Allied control. On September 3, British and American forces took the fight to the Italian peninsula, although this time, the going would be much slower and more difficult. Join Sean and James as they tell the story of the Allies’ effort to conquer the first fascist state in Europe.

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the epic biographical 1970 classic film Patton, starring George C. Scott in the title role. Patton narrates the life and career of General George S. Patton, from his taking command of the American Second Corps in 1943 through the end of the war.

In the final days of the great defeat of Rommel’s Panzerarmee Afrika at El Alamein, a new enemy appeared to threaten the Axis position in North Africa. For the first time in the war, America took the field against the Nazis as they invaded the Vichy French territories of Morocco and Algeria. Join Sean and James as they discuss Operation Torch, the epic Allied invasion of North Africa.

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the brief but gripping 2020 film Greyhound, starring Tom Hanks. Greyhound tells the story of a group of American, British, and Canadian destroyers that are trying to defend a supply convoy from a pack of German submarines during the Battle of the Atlantic.

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Germany’s declaration of war on the United States opened a new and more deadly chapter in the War at Sea in the Second World War. The fight for control of the vital sea lanes to and from Great Britain would rage from the Arctic Circle to the very shores of the Americas. In this episode, Sean and James discuss the naval war around Europe from 1942 to the end of the war.

World War II pilots were often pushed to the limit of human endurance, especially in the early years of the war. The classic 1948 film Twelve O’Clock High tells the story of a fictional air group based in the UK that conducted hundreds of daytime bombing raids over Germany. Even the tough, no-nonsense Group Commander (played by Gregory Peck) is not immune from the stress of combat. Join Sean and James as they discuss this fascinating and highly psychological film.

At the beginning of 1941, Italian forces had suffered a catastrophic defeat in North Africa at the hands of the British Army in Egypt. Il Duce’s fortunes were on the wane, but the arrival of a capable German commander and a small Panzer Korps would radically change the situation in North Africa. Join Sean and James as they tell about the epic battle between Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (the “Desert Fox”) and the British forces in North Africa (the “Desert Rats”).

The epic Battle of Stalingrad was one of the most horrific and bloody battles of the Second World War. Several movies have tried to capture the horror of the war, but none does so better than the 1993 German-Russian production. Few, if any, movies in this series are more realistic and brutal than this one. In this episode, Sean and James break down the movie for you.

Before the German Army Group South could capture the oil fields of the Caucasus, it needed to secure the key city of Stalingrad. The fight for Stalingrad turned into one of the most brutal and nasty battles of the war. In this episode, Sean and James do their best to tell the story of Stalingrad, as well as to describe the Battle of Kursk, the largest tank battle in history.

In this clip from the Eyewitness History Podcast, former Vietnam War veteran & "tunnel rat" Nick Sanza discusses his experience overseas, what it's like coming from a long lineage of military service, and what he learned from the tunnels in this interview from the Eyewitness History podcast.

Continue listening to Eyewitness History:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/44jShCi
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LPfaXd

In June 1941, Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa, the largest invasion in world history. Three massive German armies targeted Leningrad, Moscow, and the Caucasus oil fields. One army put Leningrad under siege, another swept through Ukraine, and the third another reached the outskirts of Moscow. The USSR appeared doomed. But was it? Listen,and you will find out!