The WW2 Podcast

Today, I’m joined by Peter Zablocki, a professor at Caldwell University, host of the History Shorts podcast, and author of The Death of General Sikorski. I was introduced to Peter after I recorded the episode looking at the death of Sikorski with Chris Wroblewski. Chatting I discovered Peter had researched and written about an entirely different but fascinating subject: Private Snafu (you can read it here). For those unfamiliar, Private Snafu was the star of a series of black-and-white animated shorts produced between 1943 and 1945. These instructional films, aimed at U.S. servicemen, combined irony and humour with serious messages. Amazingly, they were produced by Frank Capra (It’s a Wonderful Life), written by Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss), and voiced by Mel Blanc, the legendary voice behind Bugs Bunny. Despite their playful tone, the films served a crucial role in military training and morale during the war.   patreon.com/ww2podcast  

In this episode, I’m joined by acclaimed historian and bestselling author Alex Kershaw to explore one of the most pivotal moments of the Second World War: the Battle of the Bulge. This December marks the 80th anniversary of the battle, a critical turning point where General George S. Patton’s bold leadership and daring actions—most famously the dramatic relief of Bastogne—helped shift the tide in favour of the Allies. Alex joins me to share fascinating insights from his latest book, Patton’s Prayer, a powerful exploration of the faith, determination, and sheer grit that defined one of America’s most legendary generals.   patreon.com/ww2podcast  

In this episode, we are uncovering one of the great enigmas of the war: the tragic death of General Władysław Sikorski. Sikorski was a towering figure in the Polish government-in-exile, a man who held together the hopes of a nation during its darkest days. His sudden death in 1943, when his Liberator aircraft crashed into the sea near Gibraltar, shocked the world and raised a swirl of questions that linger to this day. Was it an accident? Sabotage? Or something more sinister? To help unravel this mystery, I’m joined by Chris Wroblewski, author of Sabotage!: An In-Depth Investigation of the 1943 Liberator Crash that Killed Polish General Sikorski. Chris has worked alongside WWII Air Crash Detectives' Garth Barnard to shed new light on this controversial event. Together, they’ve pieced together a gripping tale of conspiracy, wartime politics, and investigative research.   patreon.com/ww2podcast  

In this episode, Ronald Drabkin joins me to uncover the fascinating yet complex story of Frederick Rutland, a First World War hero with a unique story. Known as “Rutland of Jutland” for his bravery as an aviator in WWI, Rutland's career took an unexpected turn in the interwar years as he became a spy for Japan. This is a gripping tale of loyalty, intrigue, and a man who found himself on both sides of history. Ronald is the author of 'Beverly Hills Spy: The Double-Agent War Hero Who Helped Japan Attack Pearl Harbor'   patreon.com/ww2podcast