WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk
Episodes
187. Battle of Britain Day
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
James Holland and Al Murray discuss the events of September 15th, 1940, the date officially named Battle of Britain Day. James digs deep into the data...
186. Top Tanks
10 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Al Murray and James Holland recently spent a day clambering around on restored tanks. In today’s episode they get to experience the inside of a Sher...
185. Sicily ‘43 Special
08 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Al Murray joins James Holland to discuss Sicily ‘43 in this special edition of the podcast recorded for Waterstones. Our three book recommendations ...
184. The Sherwood Rangers on D-Day
03 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As James Holland begins researching his next book he finds himself immediately caught up in a debate about what happened to the Sherwood Rangers as th...
183. James and Al’s Big Tank Adventure
01 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
James Holland and Al Murray spend the day messing around in tanks. The evolution of the British tank through the early years of the Second World War i...
182. The Ship
27 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
C. S. Forester’s brilliant book about a Royal Navy ship fighting to get through to Malta was published in 1943 and is an enthralling account of a si...
181. By Air and Sea
25 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Al and James discuss the fundamental differences between being a Luftwaffe pilot and an airman in the RAF. Also, why did it take so long to train a na...
180. Those Devils in Baggy Pants
20 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A sneak preview of our latest audiobook Those Devils In Baggy Pants which tells the story of life in the US 82nd Airborne Division. The author, Ross S...
179. The Weird World of War
18 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We asked listeners for the most curious roles their grandparents performed during the Second World War. Al Murray and James Holland explore some of th...
178. VJ Day and the Atomic Bomb
15 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Seventy five years ago the world celebrated Victory over Japan Day as the war in the Pacific finally ended. Al Murray and James Holland discuss the bi...
177. VJ Day special - The Indian Army
14 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
By 1945 the British Indian Army was the largest volunteer force in history. Military historian Rob Lyman argues that Indian soldiers were not given en...
176. VJ Day special - Robin Rowland: Part 2
13 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Robin Rowland was an officer in Slim’s Fourteenth Army, fighting at the Battle of the Admin Box and at the Battle of Kohima. In the second part of ...
175. VJ Day special - Robin Rowland: Part 1
12 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Robin Rowland was an officer in Slim’s Fourteenth Army, fighting at the Battle of the Admin Box and at the Battle of Kohima. Here he is in conversat...
174. VJ Day special - Fighting in the Far East
11 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
James and Al are joined by the US historian John C. McManus to discuss the final months of fighting in the Far East. John is one of America’s leadin...
173. Hitler, Sparta and the Roman Empire
06 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How great an influence on Nazi ideology did Spartan society exert? Tom Holland joins his brother James and Al Murray to discuss ancient empires and th...
172. Battle of Britain - Part 3
04 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the third episode of our trilogy James Holland and Al Murray discuss the merits of grass airfields and German plans for the invasion of Britain. Pl...
171. Sicily ’43
30 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In July 1943 the Allies launched Operation Husky. The subsequent thirty-eight-day Battle for Sicily was one of the most dramatic of the entire Second ...
170. The Battle of Britain - Part 2
28 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What was the civilian experience as the Battle of Britain raged in the skies? And how realistic was the German aim to gain air supremacy? Al Murray an...
169. Stan Perry Special - Part Two
23 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Part Two of James Holland's interview with veteran Stan Perry about his wartime experiences in the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry. Stan arrived in France s...
168. The Battle of Britain
21 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” Well that was Winston Churchill’s view. Now, 80 years on, Al Murra...
167. Stan Perry Special
16 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2 of James Holland's interview with veteran Stan Perry about his wartime experiences in the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry. Stan arrived in France sho...
166. Hitler Myths
14 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Did Hitler really die in a Berlin bunker? Yes of course he did. But this simple truth hasn’t stopped a host of conspiracy theorists claiming the Naz...
165. Day of Days
09 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Al Murray and James Holland speak to Band of Brothers scriptwriter John Orloff. John wrote episode two, Day of Days, as well as episode nine, Why We F...
164. Sweden and Spies
07 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Just how neutral was Sweden in the Second World War? Al Murray and James Holland debate this as well recounting the role of an unusual Scottish spy. J...
163. Where the War was Won - Part 2
02 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the second part of Al Murray and James Holland's conversation with historian Phillips O'Brien they discuss the largely forgotten US Admiral William...
162. Where the War was Won - Part 1
30 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Historian Phillips O'Brien explains to James Holland and Al Murray his theory that land battles did not make a significant contribution to the outcome...
161. The History of Concrete
28 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Stonemason Andrew Ziminski takes Al and James on an unusual historical journey through the medium of concrete and stonemasonry. The lads discuss the o...
160. Operation Bagration
27 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Al and James speak to Dr Alex Richie about the the Eastern Front. Red Army tactics, POW deaths and Operation Bagration are up for discussion. Join th...
159. Inside a Russian Tank
26 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Al Murray and James Holland get to drive round the Wiltshire countryside in a T34 Russian tank. The boys explore its crude but effective engineering a...
158. Gary Sheffield
25 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Day four of We Have Ways of Making You Chalke and historian Gary Sheffield joins Al and James to explore the interwar period and discuss the rise of ...
157. Peace in Our Time?
24 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Bouverie, author of Appeasing Hitler, joins Al Murray and James Holland to discuss history’s assessment of Neville Chamberlain. Join the We Ha...
156. Nora Krug
23 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the second episode of We Have Ways of Making You Chalke German-American writer Nora Krug joins Al Murray and James Holland to debate the problems o...
155. Tea With Monty
22 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Each day this week James Holland and Al Murray will be joined by a celebrated historian on We Have Ways of Making You Chalke. With the Chalke Valley H...
154. Mosquito Missions
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Colin Bell carried out 50 bombing raids over Germany, 13 of them to Berlin. In this special edition of the podcast RAF veteran Colin tells Al and Jame...
153. Save our Spits
16 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Production of the most important aircraft in history did not always run smoothly. Al Murray and James Holland discuss the industrial challenges of pro...
152. Home Front Heroes
11 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nurse Ethel Lote was just 18 years old when she was thrown into the war effort, caring for troops returning from Dunkirk. In this special episode Ethe...
151. Convoys and Submarines
09 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Al Murray and James Holland launch seafaring operations on the podcast as they examine the effectiveness of the British submarine effort. The boys als...
150. D-Day Special
06 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
June 6th remains one of the most iconic dates in history. James Holland and Al Murray look back on D-Day with a particular reverence for British naval...
149. Britain's War Machine
04 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Al and James are joined by historian and writer David Edgerton to discuss industry and innovation during the war. Famous for taking on the ‘declinis...
148. Dunkirk - Day Eight
02 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As the last men are lifted from Dunkirk we look at the legacy of the battle in both political and strategic terms. Al and James discuss the implicatio...
147. Dunkirk - Day Seven
01 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As clouds lift over Dunkirk the evacuation has to be suspended during daylight hours. Meanwhile the men on the perimeter resort to desperate measures ...
Dunkirk - Day Six
31 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As the men at Dunkirk continue to be lifted in huge numbers, Al and James turn their attention to some of the fascinating details of the story. We hea...
145. Dunkirk - Day Five
30 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Churchill’s grip on the war cabinet begins to strengthen as the news from Dunkirk continues to improve. Record numbers of men are rescued from both ...
144. Dunkirk - Day Four
29 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a hugely significant day as 47,000 men are lifted from Dunkirk, but as the remaining soldiers run out of water on the beach they raid the cella...
143. Dunkirk - Day Three
28 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The success of Dunkirk was considered little short of a miracle. But not every soldier made it onto the rescue ships. To help buy time for their comra...
142. Dunkirk - Day Two
27 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
May 27th, 1940, could be described as the single most important day in the twentieth century. British war cabinet meetings this day defined the policy...
141. Dunkirk - Day One
26 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
May 26th, 1940, was the first day of the most important week in history. We Have Ways of Making You Talk will be releasing a podcast on each of the ei...
140. Olivia Smith - Bonus Episode
24 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Young historian Olivia Smith shares the story of her grandmother’s early life in Nazi Germany with James. Join the We Have Ways members’ club now ...
139. Philippe Sands - Part 2
21 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this second episode of our Philippe Sands interview we explore The Ratline and its central cast of characters. Otto Wächter, the Nazi on the run f...
138. St Nazaire Raid
19 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It was one of the most audacious raids of the Second World War. A combined Royal Navy and British Commando attack on the Normandie dry dock in German ...
137. Philippe Sands and The Ratline
14 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Philippe Sands, author of East West Street and The Ratline, joins Al and James to discuss the extraordinary war time stories he unearthed in his resea...
136. Blitzkrieg 1940
12 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In May 1940 the German armed forces launched a massive offensive against Holland, Belgium and ultimately France. Al Murray and James Holland take a de...
135. VE Day Special
08 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Al Murray and James Holland discuss the end of the war in Europe. Join the We Have Ways members’ club now for £5 a month using the link below: Pa...
134. Legacy and Myth
07 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In part two of their conversation with historian Guy Walters, Al Murray and James Holland explore how the Second world War is viewed in Britain as the...
133. Paras and Portugal
05 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After spending an evening watching A Bridge Too Far, both Al Murray and James Holland are keen to discuss the film’s stunning scale and also its fru...
132. Hunting Evil
30 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How great an effort was made to hunt down Nazi war criminals? Historian Guy Walters joins Al Murray and James Holland as they trace the escape route f...
131. The Gurkhas
28 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The people of Nepal raised 40 Gurkha Battalions to fight alongside the British and Commonwealth troops during the Second World war. James Holland and ...
130. The Life and Crimes of Joachim Peiper
23 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
He served on both the Eastern and Western Fronts and was a ruthless Nazi ideologue. After the war Peiper was found guilty of war crimes for murdering ...
129. One Man’s Window
22 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In 1942 Denis Barnham flew spitfires repeatedly against enemy raids over Malta. In this extract, Al Murray reads a terrifying account of his first air...
128. We Need Transport, Over…
21 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
James and Al discuss important issues such as the range of the Ju52 in Where Eagles Dare and answer the key question: could it really have made it to ...
127. The Black Market
16 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Were there any good consequences of the black market in Western Europe? Al Murray and James Holland don’t think so. Especially not for the impoveris...
126. Don’t Start at the Bottom
14 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Did the Allies take too long winkling the Germans out of Sicily? Expect strong views from James Holland and Al Murray. Plus an extraordinary story of ...
Chapter 22: The Cauldron, by Zeno
12 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 22: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. ...
Chapter 21: The Cauldron, by Zeno
11 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 21: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. ...
Chapter 20: The Cauldron, by Zeno
10 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 20: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. ...
121. Upping our Game
09 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Al and James discuss the need to keep soldiers in the front line physically fit. As the British army faced increasingly varied and challenging terrain...
Chapter 19: The Cauldron, by Zeno
09 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 19: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. ...
Chapter 18: The Cauldron, by Zeno
08 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 18: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. ...
Chapter 17: The Cauldron, by Zeno
07 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 17: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. ...
118. Ditched and Dunkirk
07 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Al Murray recounts the extraordinary story of one listener’s grandfather who ditched in the Med on the way to Sicily and swam out of a rapidly sinki...
Chapter 16: The Cauldron, by Zeno
06 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 16: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. ...
Chapter 15: The Cauldron, by Zeno
05 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 15: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. ...
Chapter 14: The Cauldron, by Zeno
04 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 14: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. ...
Chapter 13: The Cauldron, by Zeno
03 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 13: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. ...
Pipers and Paddy Mayne
02 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this special edition of We Have Ways of Making You Talk originally streamed live online, Al Murray and James Holland discuss the use of Scottish pi...
Chapter 12: The Cauldron, by Zeno
02 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 12: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. ...
Chapter 11: The Cauldron, by Zeno
01 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 11: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. ...
110. Achtung! Achtung! News Flash
31 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join Al Murray and James Holland for a live stream of tomorrow’s recording of We Have Ways of Making You Talk (Wednesday, April 1st). Join the boys ...
109. Steel not Flesh
31 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Were airborne operations actually a complete wast of time and men? Al Murray and James Holland question the merit of dropping paratroopers into battle...
Chapter 10: The Cauldron, by Zeno
31 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 10: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. ...
Chapter 9: The Cauldron, by Zeno
30 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 9: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. A...
Chapter 8: The Cauldron, by Zeno
29 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 8: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. A...
Chapter 7: The Cauldron, by Zeno
28 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 7: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. A...
Chapter 6: The Cauldron, by Zeno
27 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 6: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. A...
Chapter 5: The Cauldron, by Zeno
26 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 5: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. A...
102. Leading From the Front
26 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Brave or bloody foolish? Should officers lead from the front or stay back to guide the fight. When it goes well you’re a hero, when it goes badly yo...
Chapter 4: The Cauldron, by Zeno
25 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 4: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. A...
99. Totally Evil Badge
24 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Was Hitler a true psychopath? James Holland and Al Murray debate the characteristics of a man who would have got ten in every category of Evil Nazi To...
Chapter 3: The Cauldron, by Zeno
24 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 3: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. A...
Chapter 2: The Cauldron, by Zeno
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 2: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. A...
Chapter 1: The Cauldron, by Zeno
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 1: The Cauldron, by Zeno In September, 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division found itself in a fierce battle for the Dutch city of Arnhem. A...
96. On a War Footing
21 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With the world in a global crisis many are describing as the worst since the Second World War, Al Murray and James Holland compare the situation now w...
95. Summer Madness
19 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain approaches, Al Murray has voiced a new audiobook of James Holland’s brilliant account of the events...
94. German War Heroes
17 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What was it like to return to Germany as a war hero on the wrong side of history? Al Murray and James Holland debate a wide range of subjects includin...
93. Hitler’s Gamble
12 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
James Holland reads an exclusive extract from his new book, Sicily ’43. In this chapter he discusses events in the lead up to Operation Husky. A Goa...
92. Printing Money
10 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
James Holland and Al Murray talk about the German attempt to destabilize the UK economy by printing British bank notes. Also discussed are the French ...
91. A Land Fit for Heroes
05 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
James and Al are again joined by Professor Dan Todman, author of Britain’s War. The lads discuss the economic war effort, including Britain’s atte...
90. Bombers and Gliders
03 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Airborne conflict takes centre stage as Al Murray and James Holland debate the effectiveness of blanket bombing. Also discussed are the merits of drop...
89. Britain's War
27 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Al Murray and James Holland are joined by Professor Dan Todman, author of Britain's War. They discuss the effect of shipping routes on the global conf...
88. The War in the Air
25 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
James Holland and Al Murray discuss the desperate situation in Malta before Spitfires were finally sent to the beleaguered island. The lads also debat...