Podcasts · History · Society & Culture
WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk
Goalhanger
300 episodes
The World War II podcast with comedian Al Murray and historian James Holland. We Have Ways of Making You Talk dives deep into WWII history, exploring key battles, forgotten front lines, and incredible untold stories. Whether you're fascinated by the Battle of Britain, the D-Day landings, or the Eastern Front, this show offers a rich, detailed look at the war that shaped the modern world. Al and James bring a unique blend of expert knowledge and humour, discussing everything from the Third Reich, Churchill's leadership, and the Fall of Berlin, to World War 2 tanks, fighter planes, and naval battles. Expect historical insights, lively tangents, and discussions on iconic second world war events like Operation Barbarossa, the Pacific Theatre, and the North African campaign. Join our membership club for extra content, livestreams and ad-free listening: patreon.com/wehaveways For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com
Episodes page 1 of 6
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Bridging Operation Market Garden: A Nice Little Problem (Part 1)
What does a Commander Royal Engineers actually do for an armoured division? How much bridging kit did 30 Corps have to line up to cross the rivers and canals of the Netherlands? Why is the Bailey Bridge an offensive…
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Barbarossa In Ukraine: The Encirclement Of Kiev (Part 4)
Why did Stalin sack Budenny and forbid Kirponos from retreating as the trap closed? How did a tiny battlegroup under Walter Model help to seal the biggest encirclement in military history? Why was Hitler's great…
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Barbarossa In Ukraine: Stagnation (Part 3)
Why were Guderian's panzers so short of fuel, trucks and tanks when they finally struck south in late August 1941? How did the Germans capture an intact 800-metre bridge over the Desna? Why did Bock decide to abandon…
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Barbarossa In Ukraine: Capitalism To The Rescue (Part 2)
Why did Roosevelt back aid to Stalin despite fierce opposition in Congress? What happened when Harry Hopkins met Stalin alone in Moscow? How did Britain and America come to the rescue of the Soviet Union's communist…
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Barbarossa In Ukraine: Trouble At The Top (Part 1)
Why did Stalin sack Zhukov for warning that Kiev might have to be given up? How did Hitler talk Guderian into turning his panzers south, hours after he'd called the plan impossible? Why were German tank units already…
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What We Get Wrong About WW2
Is the film Pressure accurate? Was Matthew Ridgeway a good general? And, how did WW2 shape the early leadership of NATO? In this special episode, recorded live at We Have Ways Festival 2026, Jim and Al are joined by…
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A Polish Odyssey
As a part of our continuing effort to commemorate the incredible global story of WW2, we present our ongoing ‘Family Stories’ series. This series tells YOUR relatives’ stories of derring do - both on the front line…
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Stalingrad Of The Adriatic: The Town (Part 4)
How did the men of the Canadian Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment experience the fighting for Ortona? What was Christmas 1943 like for men on the frontline? Were Commonwealth and British forces finally able to take…
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Stalingrad Of The Adriatic: The Gully (Part 3)
What was the reaction of Nazi leadership to Allied attacks at Ortona? Why did Germans always counter-attack? When did Kesselring take full control of German forces in Italy? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part…
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Stalingrad Of The Adriatic: Death On The Moro (Part 2)
What does Harry Wilson’s diary tell us about the fight for Ortona? Why was the Italian Campaign ‘not for the faint hearted’? How did German troops experience the battle for the River Moro? Join James Holland and Al…
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Stalingrad Of The Adriatic: The Sangro (Part 1)
How did the fight for Ortona become known as the 'Stalingrad Of The Adriatic’? What was the role of Commonwealth and British Empire troops in the Italian Campaign? And, why was crossing the River Sangro so difficult?…
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Beneath The Coventry Blitz
As a part of our continuing effort to commemorate the incredible global story of WW2, we present our ongoing ‘Family Stories’ series. This series tells YOUR relatives’ stories of derring do - both on the front line…
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The Most Important Date Of The Second World War
Why was September 17th the most important date in WW2? What was the significance of the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran? How did British tank procurement change during and after the war? Join Jim and Al for a classic…
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One Man's War: Fighting Through Italy (Part 4)
What happened to Sam to get sent home from Italy? When did Sam's war end? How did Sam feel when he went home and saw his family? Join Jim and Al for part 4 of a new series focussing on one man's war, as they follow…
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Introducing: Bear Hunt
350 British civilians are dead and Russia is responsible. Number 10 hits back as a hapless Prime Minister plays his hand in the age of regime decapitation.Bear Hunt is a technically rigorous action drama exploring the…
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One Man's War: Rommel & Gazala (Part 3)
How did Rommel reverse Allied fortunes in North Africa? What was the importance of The Gazala Line in WW2? When was The First Battle Of Alamein? Join Jim and Al for part 3 of a new series focussing on one man's war,…
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One Man's War: Operation Compass (Part 2)
Why was Operation Compass such a success for Allied forces in North Africa? When was Operation Compass? How did Sam Bradshaw and his friends survive in the early desert war? Join Jim and Al for part 2 of a new series…
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One Man's War: Deserted In The Desert (Part 1)
Why did young British men like Sam Bradshaw end up fighting overseas in North Africa? When was the situation in North Africa at the start of The Second World War? How did Allied forces do against Italians in North…
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British Band Of Brothers: Disaster At Berjou (Part 8)
What were American forces doing during the Battle of Normandy? How did the Sherwood Rangers deal with SS units? What high jinks did the men get up to on leave? Join Jim and Al for part 8, as they follow the trail of…
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British Band Of Brothers: Battle Of Bloody Ridge (Part 7)
How did the Sherwood Rangers defeat Nazi Jagdpanthers? What was Hitler's Operation Luttich? And, were the men affected by the casualties they witnessed? Join Jim and Al for part 7, as they follow the trail of the…
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British Band Of Brothers: Operation Bluecoat (Part 6)
What was the Battle of Hottot? Who is Stan Perry? Why was Operation Bluecoat planned? Join Jim and Al for Part 6, as they follow the trail of the Sherwood Rangers, Britain’s own ‘Band Of Brothers’. Start your free…
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British Band Of Brothers: Back In Action (Part 5)
How did the Sherwood Rangers recuperate after D-Day? Why were the Germans struggling in Normandy? What were the physical and mental demands on tank commanders? Join Jim and Al for part 5 as they continue the epic…
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Before The Storm: Midnight Approaches (Part 4)
What were Britain's 'shadow factories'? Why did the allies plan to intervene in the Finno-Soviet Winter War? How did Germany hope to meet it's desperate need for resources? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 4…
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Before The Storm: The Nazi Myth (Part 3)
Why does the fantasy of Nazi economic success still remain prominent? What did Mussolini and Ciano think about joining the war? How did Britain rapidly become self-sufficient in food? Join Al Murray and James Holland…
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Before The Storm: Drumbeat Of War (Part 2)
What was the state of the French Army in 1939 ? Why was Belgium so against Britain and France reinforcing defences there? How did the press cover the beginning of the war? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 2…
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Before The Storm: The Phoney War Begins (Part 1)
What is the truth behind the Nazi myth of German technological superiority? Why were German generals planning to kill Hitler? How well was Britain prepared for war in 1939? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 1…
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Operation Barbarossa: Winning To Death (Part 8)
What was so important about The Smolensk Pocket? Why did Guderian try overambitious battle plans despite a lack of adequate resources? How did Hitler and Halder disagree on the plans around capturing Moscow? Join Al…
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Operation Barbarossa: One Man's War (Part 7)
How were young men like Wilhelm Prüller radicalised by Nazi propaganda and ideology? What did troops think of the invasion of the USSR? When did the soldiers think the campaign would be over, and why? Join Al Murray…
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Operation Barbarossa: The Surge (Part 6)
What happened to Russian resistance once German units reached the Dneiper river? Why were units like Panzer Group Guderian suffering from success? How did Nazi Germany deal with Soviet partisans and PoWs? Join Al…
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Operation Barbarossa: Barbarossa Unleashed (Part 5)
Why did Nazi Germany invade the Soviet Union in June 1941? What were the 3 main army groups and their objectives once they advanced Russian territory? How did Stalin react to news that Hitler had begun an attack on the…
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1000th Episode Special
Why did James Holland and Al Murray start a WW2 Podcast? How did bats build a media empire? What are some of the most memorable bits of WW2 Pod: We Have Ways Of Making You Talk? Join Jim and Al - and guests - for an…
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WW2 & The World Cup
As a part of our continuing effort to commemorate the incredible global story of WW2, we present our ongoing ‘Family Stories’ series. This series tells YOUR relatives’ stories of derring do - both on the front line…
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North African Odyssey: To Hell And Back (Part 3)
How did the men of 2 Para make it to British lines? What did axis troops do to captured paratroopers? And, did the disaster at Oudna spell the end for paratroop operations? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 3…
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Antony Beevor: Downfall In Berlin
Was The Battle of The Bulge a delay in the fall of Nazi Germany? Why did Western Allies like Eisenhower not race to capture Berlin? How did Soviet generals waste their own forces in order to conquer Nazi Germany…
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North African Odyssey: Blood On The Sand (Part 2)
How did 2 Para end up abandoned at Oudna? What was their strategy to survive the German onslaught? Was poor planning the cause of the disaster? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 2 of this thrilling story as…
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North African Odyssey: Disaster At Oudna (Part 1)
Why did British airborne forces have such limited kit? What did the Oudna operation plan to achieve? When was Operation Torch? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 1 of this thrilling story as John Frost and the…
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Operation Barbarossa: Countdown (Part 4)
Why did Hitler shift the aim of Barbarossa to one of extermination? What intelligence was Stalin receiving that warned him of imminent German attack? How many panzers were mobilised for the invasion of the USSR? Join…
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Operation Barbarossa: To The Brink (Part 3)
Why did the Nazi high command underestimate the challenges of fighting The USSR? How did low mechanisation affect German preparations? What was Stalin doing to strengthen his relationship with Japan? Join Al Murray…
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Operation Barbarossa: Planning The Impossible (Part 2)
How did the interwar years contribute to Germany's ability to successfully invade Russia? Why was Nazi Germany so reliant on trade with The Soviet Union? When did Hitler decide to betray his pact with Stalin? Join Al…
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Operation Barbarossa: Seeds of Calamity (Part 1)
Why was Hitler planning an invasion of the USSR during The Battle Of Britain? What impact did the Nazi-Soviet Pact have on WW2? How was Stalin expanding communist influence in Eastern Europe? Join Al Murray and James…
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Naval Battle of Narvik: Annihilation (Part 3)
How did the British sink the German ship Georg Thiele? What role did stringbags play in the naval battle? Why did Captain Warburton Lee win his Victoria Cross? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 3 of this…
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Naval Battle Of Narvik: Confusion (Part 2)
Why did the British Admiralty miss a crucial opportunity to attack the Kriesgmarine in Norway? How did HMS Glowworm fire the first shots of the Norwegian campaign? What role did the Polish submarine Orzel play in this…
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Naval Battle of Narvik: Plans & Schemes (Part 1)
Why did Hitler launch his conquest of Norway and Denmark in April 1940? How did WW1 influence the Kriegsmarine hierarchy? What was the British naval response to the invasions? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part…
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British Band Of Brothers: Tiger, Tiger! (Part 4)
What did Allied forces do when encountering elite SS tank units of Panther and Tiger tanks? How did British defenders successfully repel German counterattacks? What was an average day like for British soldiers in…
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British Band Of Brothers: The Fight For Point 103 (Part 3)
Why was there a lot of churn among British tank crews after D-Day? How did British armoured units use specialised tanks like Fireflies and Churchill AVREs? What was important about Point 103? Join Al Murray and James…
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British Band Of Brothers: From Open Seas To Open Fields (Part 2)
How was fighting in the Normandy Bocage dangerous for Allied forces after D-Day? Why were German panzers considered by some to be superior tanks? What was fighting on D-Day like for soldiers who had fought in the…
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British Band Of Brothers: D-Day (Part 1)
What did a British tank squadron look like in The Second World War? Why were weather conditions so important for the Allies on D-Day? How was a yeomanry different to other units in the British Army? Join Al Murray and…
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Heist From The Sky: A Bloody Hero (Part 4)
When did the British know the raid had been a success? What air and sea forces were used to help the paratroopers? How was this used to boost morale by the British? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 4 of this…
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Heist From The Sky: Hell Breaks Loose (Part 3)
What Nazi resistance was there to the British paratrooper raid? Why didn't the paras have any heavy support during the attack? When did the Royal Navy come to exfiltrate John Frost's men? Join Al Murray and James…
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Heist From The Sky: The Raid Begins (Part 2)
How did British paratroopers train for the Bruneval Raid? What role did intelligence play in helping plan for the airborne operation? Why did the Germans not defend their radar installations better? Join Al Murray and…
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