When we think of the Second World War, the story is so often told through an Anglo-American lens: Britain holding out alone in 1940, the United States joining the fight in 1941, and the combined Allied effort that followed. But this perspective tends to overshadow the contributions of other nations, particularly Canada. Canada was not usually regarded as a global military power, yet its role in the war was both significant and far-reaching. From the skies over Europe to the convoys crossing the Atlantic and the soldiers who landed on D-Day, Canadian forces made an impact far greater than their country’s population might suggest. In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I am joined by historian David Borys to look more closely at Canada’s military in the Second World War. We discuss how Canada approached the conflict, the part it played within the wider Allied war effort, and how its contribution is remembered today. David is a Canadian academic, author of Punching Above Our Weight: The Canadian Military at War Since 1867, and host of Curious Canadian History. His new podcast, Conflict and Culture, explores the intersections of war and society, and we’ll touch on that later in our conversation. patreon.com/ww2podcast
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280 - MacArthur and the Philippines
Douglas MacArthur was one of the most prominent — and controversial — generals of the Second World War. As Field Marshal of the Philippines, he withdrew to Australia in 1942, famously declaring, “I shall return.” That promise became central to his reputation and shaped the rest of his war. How far did MacArthur’s vow influence his actions? Was he an effective commander, strategist, and leader in the Pacific campaign? These questions continue to divide historians. In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I’m joined by Peter Mansoor, author of Redemption: MacArthur and the Campaign for the Philippines. We discuss MacArthur’s leadership in the Second World War, his successes, failures, and his lasting legacy. patreon.com/ww2podcast
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279 - The Vistula-Oder Offensive 1945
By January 1945, the war in Europe neared its final phase. In the west, the Allies had repelled the Ardennes offensive. In the east, the Red Army prepared the Vistula–Oder offensive, a huge strike that pushed German forces out of Poland. The Soviet advance carried them to the very gates of Berlin. The Vistula–Oder offensive in 1945 liberated vast areas, including Auschwitz. It also created the springboard for the final assault on Germany. Stalin wanted more than battlefield victory. He pushed Soviet borders west, reclaimed imperial lands, and shaped Poland’s fate before the war ended. The Wehrmacht resisted fiercely. German forces launched a desperate counterattack, their last major armoured offensive on the Eastern Front. In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I talk with Prit Buttar, author of Into the Reich: The Red Army’s Advance to the Oder in 1945. Into the Reich is also available on Spotify and Audible patreon.com/ww2podcast
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278 - The Maginot Line
The Maginot Line was one of the most ambitious defensive projects of the 1930s. Built along France’s eastern border, this vast system of underground forts, tunnels, and bunkers included hospitals, kitchens, telephone exchanges, electric railways, and turrets that could rise from the ground to strike at attackers. Designed to withstand artillery and even chemical weapons, it represented the cutting edge of military engineering. Yet when Germany invaded in May 1940, France fell in just six weeks. The Maginot Line has since become a byword for failure — an expensive defensive shield that seemed useless against Blitzkrieg. But was it really such a mistake, or have we misunderstood its role in the Second World War? In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I’m joined by Professor Kevin Passmore, author of The Maginot Line: A New History. Together, we explore how the defences were built, how they performed in 1940, and what the Maginot Line can really tell us about the fall of France. patreon.com/ww2podcast
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277 - The People's War
In 2005, the BBC launched an ambitious public history project called The People’s War. It aimed to collect and preserve the memories of those who lived through the Second World War, inviting the public to share their experiences online. This was long before today’s social media platforms, and the scale of the response was remarkable. By the time the project closed in 2006, over 650,000 contributions had been submitted. Although the site is now frozen in time, it remains a wonderful resource filled with small, personal vignettes of the war — stories that might otherwise have been lost. It’s something I’ve dipped into myself many times over the years. My guest for this episode is John Willis, who was the BBC’s Director of Factual when The People’s War project was launched. John has now curated a selection of these submissions in his new book, The People’s War. patreon.com/ww2podcast
A military history podcast that looks at all aspects of WWII.
With WW2 slipping from living memory I aim to look at different historical aspects of the Second World War.
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