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 2 of 6
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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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Heist From The Sky: The Bruneval Raid (Part 1)
When did Operation Biting happen? Why was this so important for the British war effort? What did British paratroopers hope to achieve? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 1 of this exciting new series on…
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A Buffalo Soldier In Italy
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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Winston Churchill, Dominic Sandbrook, & Philippe Sands
Was Churchill the greatest Briton of all time? Why are people like Boris Johnson so keen to be seen like Churchill? How did Nazi war criminals start new lives in places like South America? Listen to these exclusive…
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The Visionaries: One War Ends, Another Begins (Part 6)
When did Harry S. Truman become President of The United States? How was Truman different to FDR? What were the causes of the Cold War between the US and USSR? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 6 of their most…
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The Visionaries: Planning For Peace (Part 5)
Why is the Bretton Woods conference so important to today's economies? How did the US dollar become the global currency, replacing the British pound sterling? What was the American contribution to D-Day on June 6th…
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The Visionaries: A Global War (Part 4)
Why did Roosevelt enter World War Two? What was Atlantic Charter? How did the USSR defeat Operation Barbarossa? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 4 of their most ambitious series yet; a definitive survey of…
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The Visionaries: Total Defence (Part 3)
Why was the Fall of France in 1940 such a surprise? How did FDR get the USA ready to fight in WW2? What did Churchill do to encourage American entry on the side of the Allies? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part…
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The Visionaries: From Recovery To Rearmament (Part 2)
Why was there a stock market crash in 1929? How did The Great Depression help extremist political parties like the Nazis in Germany gain power? What did President Roosevelt's New Deal in the USA do to help America…
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The Visionaries: Picking Up The Pieces (Part 1)
When did America enter WW1? In what ways were The Treaty of Versailles and Wilson's 14 Points For Peace flawed? Why is this period of history important today? Join Al Murray and James Holland for part 1 their most…
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How To Survive The Siberian Gulags
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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Belfast, Bunkers, and Vichy Show Trials
Why did the Germans expend so much to defend the Norwegian coast? What does the engine room of HMS Belfast have in common with abstract art? How did Vichy show trials collapse into farce? Join Al Murray and James…
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Japan's Road To War: Countdown To Infamy (Part 4)
What did military planners in Japan think was the best way to attack The United States? How did the war in Europe influence policy in both America and Japan? When did both sides realise peaceful negotiations were over…
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Japan's Road To War: Honne & Tatemae (Part 3)
What is Honne and Tatemae in Japanese culture? How did Honne and Tatemae possibly contribute to the slide into war? When was the deadline set for peaceful negotiations with The United States to conclude in favour of…
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Japan's Road To War: Power Behind The Throne (Part 2)
Why did Yōsuke Matsuoko want war with the Western Allies? How did Japanese military planners contribute to aggressive imperial expansion? What did wider events in WW2 history do for shifting Imperial Japan's war aims?…
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Japan's Road To War: Empire Of The Rising Sun (Part 1)
Why did Japan enter WW2? How did Japanese expansion in China lead to a deteriorating economy? When did Japan attack Pearl Harbor? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 1 of this new series as they explore the…
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Audie Murphy: Germany (Part 4)
How did Audie Murphy win his Medal of Honor? What did Audie Murphy do after WW2? When was the end of WW2 for the Allies? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 4 of this new series as they look at the incredible…
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Audie Murphy: Rome & France (Part 3)
When was Operation Dragoon? How many times did Audie Murphy get injured? What happened to the rest of Audie's friends? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 3 of this new series as they look at the incredible life…
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Audie Murphy: The Cave & Anzio (Part 2)
What happened to Allied attacks at Anzio? How did Audie Murphy spend his time in Naples? When was Rome captured by the Allies in WW2? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 2 of this new series as they look at the…
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Audie Murphy: Sicily & Salerno (Part 1)
Why did Audie Murphy join the Army in WW2? When did US troops fight against Axis forces for the first time? How old was Audie Murphy when he enlisted to serve in the US Army? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part…
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The Channel Dash: Out The Frying Pan (Part 4)
How did attacks by British MTBs fail to sink any of the enemy fleet? When was Churchill informed of British failures to stop the Kriegsmarine from escaping? Was any damage inflicted upon the German capital ships? Join…
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The Channel Dash: The Battle of The Narrow Seas (Part 3)
Why were Swordfish pilots sent outnumbered against the heavily guarded German capital ships? What happened with the land based artillery manned by army units around Dover? When did Coastal Command and Nore Command…
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The Channel Dash: Hide & Seek (Part 2)
Why did it take British commanders so long to act once the German ships left Brest? How did local conditions help the German escape? What plans did British leaders have in place to stop German surface raiders from…
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The Channel Dash: Operation Cerberus vs Operation Fuller (Part 1)
Why did Hitler decide to move his ships from Occupied France? How did German commanders plan to get past formidable Royal Navy and RAF defences? What preparations did Luftwaffe commanders make for Operation…
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The Magician Who Missed the Boat
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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Books, Balls, and Bismarck
How do you explain WW2 to a 10 year old? Did Hitler only have one ball? What are some of Jim and Al's top book recommendations for WW2? Join Al Murray and James Holland for a classic 'warwaffle' episode, covering…
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Warbirds of Liberty: The Fantastic Fighting 4th - A Thousand Destroyed (Part 4)
How did The Fourth Fighter Group contribute to D-Day in 1944? Why did The Fourth Fighter Group keeping flying till the last days of the war? What happened to all the aces of The Fourth Fighter group at the end of WW2?…
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Warbirds of Liberty: The Fantastic Fighting 4th - The Blakesleewaffe (Part 3)
Who was responsible for The Fourth Fighter Group getting equipped with long-range P-51 Mustangs? What did the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine do for the Mustang airframe? Why were the Mustangs so important? Join Al Murray…
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Warbirds of Liberty: The Fantastic Fighting 4th - Transition (Part 2)
What made American pilots want to fight in WW2 before Pearl Harbor? When did The United States of America join WW2? How did Eagle Squadron pilots transfer to The Fourth Fighter Group? Join Al Murray and James Holland…
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Warbirds of Liberty: The Fantastic Fighting 4th - The Eagle Squadrons (Part 1)
Why did American pilots fight for Britain before the US entered WW2? When were the American 'Eagle Squadrons' formed in the UK? How did Don Blakeslee rise to prominence among his fellow pilots? Join Al Murray and…
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Sink The Bismarck! Legacy (Part 4)
What did the Bismarck sinking mean for Hitler's naval plans? When were the wrecks of Hood and Bismarck discovered? Why does the rapid sinking of HMS Hood still cause so much debate? Join Al Murray and James Holland…
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Sink The Bismarck! Sink The Bismarck (Part 3)
When was the Bismarck sunk? How did British destroyers contribute to the sinking of the Bismarck? Why did Bismarck take so much damage in order to sink? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 3 as they recount the…
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Sink The Bismarck! Stringbags vs Bismarck (Part 2)
What resources did the British deploy to hunt the Bismarck? How did British air power contribute to the sinking of the Bismarck? When did Bismarck get attacked by Fairey Swordfish torpedo planes? Join Al Murray and…
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Sink The Bismarck! Pursuit (Part 1)
How did the Bismarck try to escape after sinking HMS Hood? Why was the Bismarck so hard to find in the Atlantic? When would Bismarck be safe from Royal Navy surface vessels? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 1…
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Polish Heroism At Monte Cassino
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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Atlantic Crossings, French Morale, & American Inaugurations
Why do ships and planes paint their interiors green? How did the cold winters of the 1940s lead to the Fall of France? How did FDR break convention with his third and fourth presidential terms? Join James Holland and…
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How To Remember The Holocaust
Why should people remember the Holocaust? When did people start to commemorate the Holocaust? How do different countries around the world engage with Holocaust education? Listen to this exclusive extract from Waitman…
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Hood vs Bismarck: Battle of the Denmark Strait (Part 4)
When did Hood and Bismarck begin firing at each other? Why did the battle end so quickly? How fast did the result of the battle spread across the world? Join James Holland and Al Murray for Part 4 of this series on…
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Hood vs Bismarck: The Mighty Hood (Part 3)
Why was HMS Hood considered the peak of British sea power? Who was the commander of HMS Hood during The Battle of the Denmark Strait? When was HMS Hood built? Join James Holland and Al Murray for Part 3 of this series…
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Hood vs Bismarck: Passage (Part 2)
Why was the Battleship Bismarck so feared? How well prepared were the British to fight the Bismarck? Is the Bismarck overrated? Join James Holland and Al Murray for Part 2 of this series on the titanic clash between…
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Hood vs Bismarck: The Chase (Part 1)
Why was Bismarck such a threat to British sea power? Who was the commander of the Bismarck task force? When was Operation Rheinübung? Join James Holland and Al Murray for Part 1 of this series on the titanic clash…
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Swordfish, Stalingrad, & Uniting Nations
Why did the Soviets bring a brass band to Finland? What is the significance of the Arcadia Conference in WW2? When was Operation Bodenplatte? Join James Holland and Al Murray as they discuss the major events of each…
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How To Commemorate WW2
Why is remembrance still important now? Were Germans the 'bad guys' in WW2? What do relatives think of Montgomery and his legacy now? Join James Holland and Al Murray as they interview Henry Montgomery and Angela…
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What Did My Family Do In WW2?
Did my family fight in WW2? What did people do at home during WW2? What was life like in WW2? Join James Holland and Al Murray as they explore the fascinating Ancestry archives available to families wanting to learn…
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A Blackmarket Christmas
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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Arctic Patrol: Stringbags (Part 4)
What happened to the Fairey Swordfish after Taranto? What was life like on the Arctic Convoys? How did aircrew cope with the polar conditions in an open cockpit? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 4 of this…
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The Battle Of Taranto Ends: Stringbags (Episode 3)
How many Italian ships were damaged or destroyed during the Taranto raid? Why did the British cancel the second day of attacks for Operation Judgement? When did the Italian fleet recover from the attack? Join James…
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The Battle Of Taranto Begins: Stringbags (Part 2)
What happened in the Battle Of Taranto? Did the raid on Taranto catch the Italian defenders by surprise? How many Swordfish attacked the Italian fleet stationed at Taranto? Join James Holland and Al Murray for the…
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How the Navy Learned to Fly: Stringbags (Part 1)
How did naval aviation develop out of The First World War? Why was the Fairey Swordfish so good? What is the nickname of a Fairey Swordfish? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 1 of this exploration of the…
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