We Have Ways Of Making You Talk

Italy proved a nightmare place to fight, no matter what side you were on: the endless mountains, the innumerable rivers, the narrowness of roads, the blazing heat, and then torrential rain and freezing cold. Jonathan Fennell, John McManus and James Holland ask, just how big was the crisis in morale for both sides and how did commanders deal with the weight of expectation, mounting casualties and truly appalling conditions?  Recorded at We Have Ways Fest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In another wide ranging discussion, Al Murray tells James Holland about his evening at the Royal Engineers Museum alongside Jools Holland and Sir Tom Jones, the tactical importance of landing craft, and how often they think about invading Wiltshire.A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Twitter: #WeHaveWays @WeHaveWaysPod Website: wehavewayspod.com Members’ Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Email: wehavewayspodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Al Murray and James Holland speak to the writer and director of 'The Great Escaper', a new film starring Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson about the heartwarming true story of Bernard Jordan, the 89-year-old veteran who snuck off to attend the 70th anniversary of D-day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Al Murray, James Holland and John McManus discuss the life of Joseph Stilwell - the United States Army general best known for his service in the China-Burma-India Theatre during the Second World War. What was his relationship like with Chiang Kai-shek, and what about his personality led to him being remembered as "Vinegar Joe"? A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Twitter: #WeHaveWays @WeHaveWaysPod Website: wehavewayspod.com Members’ Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Email: wehavewayspodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In December 1942, Herbert 'Blondie' Hasler's men were aiming for the occupied port of Bordeaux - with just canoes, mines and grenades. Operation FRANKTON was certainly daring and it did achieve its aims but only two out of ten ever made it back. James Holland and Al Murray discuss one of the most famous - but possibly hare-brained - missions of the entire Second World War. A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Twitter: #WeHaveWays @WeHaveWaysPod Website: wehavewayspod.com Members’ Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Email: wehavewayspodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John 'Lucky' Luckadoo was born in 1922, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is the last surviving pilot of the US Eighth Air Force 100th Bomb Group - nicknamed 'The Bloody 100th'. In this brilliant interview with James Holland, he describes his experience flying for the USAAF and the devastating experience of Black Thursday. A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Twitter: #WeHaveWays @WeHaveWaysPod Website: wehavewayspod.com Members’ Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Email: wehavewayspodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What did the US Army and West Point learn from the Civil War, and how did this impact leadership throughout the Second World War? James Holland and John McManus discuss the similarities of leadership by two iconic American generals: Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower. A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Twitter: #WeHaveWays @WeHaveWaysPod Website: wehavewayspod.com Members’ Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Email: wehavewayspodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Al Murray and James Holland turn back the clocks to investigate two seismic events of the Second World War that happened 80 years ago this week. They first discuss the Fifth Army’s crossing of the River Volturno in Italy, drawing on eye-witness accounts, and then the disastrous second bombing of Schweinfurt on 14 October 1943 by the US Eighth Air Force that became known as Black Thursday. A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Twitter: #WeHaveWays @WeHaveWaysPod Website: wehavewayspod.com Members’ Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Email: wehavewayspodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former US Paratrooper and now historian, James Fenelon joins Jim and John McManus to discuss the extraordinary and little-known exploits of the 11th Airborne Division - a unit led by the brilliant Joe Swing and who excelled during the Battle for the Philippines. The term ‘forgotten heroes’ might have been invented for this bunch! A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Twitter: #WeHaveWays @WeHaveWaysPod Website: wehavewayspod.com Members’ Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Email: wehavewayspodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did German doctors unfairly euthanise their own troops if they got shot in the stomach? Were any lessons learnt by the Nazis after Salerno? And is it pronounced "Waco" or "Waco"? All these questions, and more answered by Al Murray and James Holland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a bonus USA episode, James Holland recounts an incredible trip to James recounts an incredible trip to D-Day Ohio - one of the world's biggest re-enactor festivals. A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Twitter: #WeHaveWays @WeHaveWaysPod Website: wehavewayspod.com Members’ Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Email: wehavewayspodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Al Murray and James Holland are joined by the lawyer and writer Philippe Sands to discuss revelatory documents that strongly suggest Pope Pius XII had knowledge of the mass murder of Poles and Jews at Belzec in 1942. They also speak about the battle for truth within the walls of the Vatican, and how Adolf Hitler used the courts to increase his popularity before 1933 - just as Donald Trump is doing today. A Goalhanger Production Produced by James Hodgson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Twitter: #WeHaveWays @WeHaveWaysPod Website: wehavewayspod.com Members’ Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Email: wehavewayspodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Holland and John McManus discuss the history of the only American fighting division that can be traced back to the war of 1812 - The 7th Infantry Regiment. What was the involvement of this legendary group of men during the Second World War, especially their impact on the Italian campaign? A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Twitter: #WeHaveWays @WeHaveWaysPod Website: wehavewayspod.com Members’ Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Email: wehavewayspodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a bonus USA episode, James recounts an incredible trip to D-Day Ohio - one of the world's biggest re-enactor festivals. A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Twitter: #WeHaveWays @WeHaveWaysPod Website: wehavewayspod.com Members’ Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Email: wehavewayspodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From the bestselling author of Brothers in Arms comes the story of the most pivotal Allies campaign of World War II. With the invasion of France the following year taking shape, and hot on the heels of victory in Sicily, the Allies crossed into Southern Italy in September 1943. They expected to drive the Axis forces north and be in Rome by Christmas. And although Italy surrendered, the German forces resisted fiercely and the swift hoped-for victory descended into one of the most brutal battles of the war. Even though shipping and materiel were already being safeguarded for the D-Day landings, there were still huge expectations on the progress of the invading armies, but those shortages were to slow the advance with tragic consequences. As the weather closed in, the critical months leading up to Monte Cassino would inflict a heavy price for every bloody, hard fought mile the Allied troops covered. Chronicling those dark, dramatic months in unflinching and insightful detail, The Savage Storm is unlike any ca

Who killed Jean Moulin, and did they get him to talk? Al Murray and James Holland discuss the final days of the resistance hero's life, and how his death has contributed to national myths about occupied France during the Second World War. The boys also discuss the mind boggling figures that surround Operation Market Garden, including some stomach churning facts about injuries in Arnhem A Goalhanger Production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Twitter: #WeHaveWays @WeHaveWaysPod Website: wehavewayspod.com Members’ Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Email: wehavewayspodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why are we obsessed with the Second World War? Dermot O’Leary and James May join Al and James on stage at We Have Ways Fest to look into why we’re so gripped by the subject and it’s importance.  They also reminisce about the films and objects that first got them hooked and discuss how their obsession has carried on into adult life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the next installment of our Heritage Heroes series James joins former naval corpsman Rabbi Rob Thomas in Ohio to discuss his remarkably diverse collection of tanks and heavy armour - one of the most extensive in the US! They delve into the impact of the Second World War upon Rob's own family history, the importance of educating the public about military weaponry, and debunk myths about the war. Rob’s connection to the war is a personal one; his wife’s grandfather, as a native Yiddish speaker, acted as translator at some of the first liberated concentration camps in Germany, which is why Rob believes in the continuing value of education about the conflict.  Hear how his collection started with a couple of machine guns and a jeep on which to mount them, before escalating to Shermans and a warehouse.  See his collection for yourself at ww2armor.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In another classic USA episode, the boys are joined by American historian Kevin Hymel. Kevin has spent his career writing the quintessential biography of General Patton, in this wide ranging discussion they chat about his legacy, his achievements and his unreadable handrwriting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With just a few days to go until the biggest event of the podcast's calendar, Al Murray and James Holland speak about their excitement for We Have Ways Fest Drei. They also chat about airborne operations, their undying love for Second World War history and James unearths a 1940s training manual. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices