Thoughtful Reflections on Faith and Life
One of the most infamous Nazi collaborators was American born William Joyce, better known by his nickname “Lord Haw-Haw.” Joyce moved from America to Ireland and then to England, before moving to Germany in 1940, becoming a German citizen. Joyce, before arriving in Germany, had already joined the British Union of Fascists. It was no … Read More “William Joyce – Lord Haw-Haw” »
When we think of areas of operations during the Second World War, we often do not think of the Middle East. But in the summer of 1941, there was indeed some significant combat in Syria and Lebanon. Unfortunately, it was between Britain and her Dominions and Vichy France. Support me through Patreon. If you are interested … Read More “SWWP 34 – Operation Exporter: Britain vs France” »
One of the things that I am drawn to when it comes to the Second World War is the aesthetic of some of the equipment. I totally understand that these machines were built to kill and I take that seriously. But the physical design of some of the vehicles are still attractive. When it comes … Read More “The Stuart Tank” »
One of the series that I was interested in watching was SAS Rogue Heroes, the show based upon the book Rogue Heroes. I was a bit nervous because television series based on historical events can vary widely in value and reliability. I am glad that I gave this series a try. The series is about … Read More “SAS Rogue Heroes: Season One – Review” »
When battles take place today, we can easily watch it. Everyone has a phone and if that doesn’t get it, a satellite will. The Second World War was a much different story. But, some film footage does exist, including a tank battle that took place in 1945. If you want to find out more about … Read More “The Cologne Tank Battle Caught on Film” »
In this first chapter of the Battle of the Atlantic, we catch up with what was happening in the Atlantic Ocean. Germany was trying to cut off Britain from all outside support by targeting shipping lanes. The Allies struggled to get the convoys to their destination from German ships, planes, and especially the dreaded U-Boats. … Read More “SWWP 33 – The Battle of the Atlantic: Chapter One” »
When we think of Allied cooperation during the Second World War, we often think of the Americans and the British. We might even think about the Soviets. But what about the Canadians? The United States and Canada have the longest undefended border in the world. There is a natural opportunity for cooperation and today the … Read More “The Devil’s Brigade” »
I have long been interested in military history. However, much of my focus has been on the Second World War, with some reading done on the First World War. I was alive during much of the Vietnam War, and I at least got the Hollywood version of that war during the trend of Vietnam movies … Read More “The Korean War: A History – Review” »
One of the parts of my childhood that my own children cannot identify with is what it was like growing up during the Cold War and feeling like a Nuclear War could happen at any time. I remember watching The Day After and having a strong emotional reaction because something like that could have happened. … Read More “The Cold War: A Very Short Introduction – Review” »
I remember watching the 1979 version of All Quiet on the Western Front as a child, and even at that age recognizing that this was not like other war movies I had watched. So I was very interested when I saw that a new adaptation of the novel was made and was streaming on Netflix. … Read More “All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) – Review” »
The Soviets had been putting a lot of pressure on the Allies to open up another front in Europe to help with their fight against the Nazis. The Allies were not ready for a full invasion but perhaps there was something that could be done. A raid was planned for Dieppe and the responsibility for … Read More “The Dieppe Raid” »
Imagine living through a Soviet occupation. And then having the Nazis replace the Soviets. And then having the Soviets return and eject the Nazis. And all this while only a child. John Livens shares about his experience as a boy in Latvia during the Second World War plus much more in his book An Unexpected Journey. … Read More “SWWP 31 – An Unexpected Journey: A Conversation With John Livens” »
In April of 1941, Germany, along with Italian and Hungarian allies, invaded Yugoslavia. This was part of German’s actions in the Balkans that would include the invasion of Greece. In this episode, we look at how that invasion went and what happened after. Make sure to go back to SWWP 4 – The War That … Read More “SWWP 30 – The April War: The Invasion of Yugoslavia” »
The Italians failed to take Malta. Could the Germans do better? They needed to neutralize this island to allow supplies to reach North Africa. However, the British stubbornly held onto Malta and frustrated the plans of the Axis. This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. Support this podcast through Patreon.
In a previous episode, we saw Italy struggle in its ambitions in North Africa. Could Germany succeed where Italy failed? In this episode, we look at the arrival of General Erwin Rommel and his activity with the Afrika Korps during 1941. This episode is brought to by Athletic Greens. Please support this podcast through Patreon.
Many people tend to assume that the Second World War, at least in the west, was pretty much over after D-Day. Germany was on the run and it was just a matter of the Allies mopping up a defeated enemy. The truth is that there was a lot that happened between D-Day and VE Day. … Read More “Forgotten Victory – Review” »
We have been focusing on Germany and Italy but what has Japan been up to? While technically not yet involved in the Second World War, they are in a fierce battle to dominate China. However, it is not going as well as they had hoped. In this episode, we catch up with Japan and what … Read More “SWWP 27 – Catching Up With Japan: China Strikes Back” »
Italy attempts to match their German partners by attacking in numerous places in the Mediterranean area. This includes Egypt, Malta, and Greece. While they have high hopes, each of these campaigns will leave them requiring the help of the Germans. For more on military history, visit me here. Support this podcast through Patreon. I recommend this book. … Read More “SWWP 26 – Italy Swings… And Misses” »
No foot soldier wants to come up against a tank. But during the Second World War, it was likely to happen. What do they do? The army produced this restricted training film called “Crack That Tank.” It is an interesting video to watch. Not only does it teach strategy, it is also about psychology. It … Read More “Infantry vs Tank – Training Film” »
Pope Pius XII was the pope during the Second World War. There is controversy over how he responded to the crisis. Should he have openly opposed Nazism or should he have positioned himself strategically for later negotiations? This is a special crossover episode between the Second World War Podcast and the History of Christianity Podcast. If you have … Read More “SWWP 25 – A Pope in Wartime: Pius XII” »
When many people think of the Axis powers of the Second World War, they often think of Germany and Japan. But the Axis began between Germany and Italy and Benito Mussolini played a major role in that. What kind of leader was Mussolini? Christopher Hibbert goes into great detail in his biography, Mussolini: The Rise … Read More “Mussolini: The Rise and Fall of Il Duce – Review” »
Italy was able to take British Somaliland. Could they duplicate that success with Egypt? They would soon find that Britain was much more motivated to hold onto Egypt. This episode is brought to you by Pair. If you have a business, you need a website. What’s the best way to get a website up and … Read More “SWWP 24 – Italy Goes For Egypt” »
I’m always on the lookout for good movies or series based on the Second World War, especially if they are based on real persons and events. One that I recently watched was The Liberator, a four episode mini-series. At first I was not sure what to make of it. In some ways, it is both … Read More “The Liberator – Review” »
In this episode, I talk to Rainy Horvath, who published the memoirs of her father who was a “hump pilot” during the Second World War. In this episode, you will hear about a theatre of the war and a type of mission that does not get talked about enough. Make sure to visit Rainy at … Read More “SWWP 23 – The Able Queen: A Conversation With Rainy Horvath” »
So far we have been focusing on Germany but what about Italy? Mussolini still intended to build his empire. A logical place to start was British Somaliland, especially with the defeat of Britain’s allies, the French. If you expect the Italians to always lose, you may be surprised as to how it turned out. This … Read More “SWWP 22 – Italy Gets in the Game” »
France has fallen. Is it Britain’s turn next? Germany plans Operation Sea Lion, the invasion of Britain. But to be successful, the Luftwaffe will need to eliminate the RAF. This is the Battle of Britain. Today’s podcast is presented by PODGO. PODGO is the easiest way for you to monetize your podcast. Providing podcasters with a … Read More “SWWP 21 – The Battle of Britain” »
One of the war movies I was eager to see was The Forgotten Battle, which is airing on Netflix. It deals with part of the liberation of Holland, which the Canadians were mostly involved in. As a Canadian, this is of particular interest to me. When I say that it is war movie, that doe … Read More “The Forgotten Battle – Review” »
The French had fought valiantly but how how long could they resist. The Germans were using innovative tactics that the French had never conceived of. Between the panzers and the Luftwaffe, they could not catch a break. In this episode, we look at how the Battle of France ends. This episode is brought to you … Read More “SWWP 20 – The Battle of France is Over…” »
With almost a quarter of a million British troops stranded at Dunkirk, the majority of Britain’s land forces, it looked like there was no hope. But then something happened. In this episode, we look at the miracle of Dunkirk, the amazing rescue that was both terrifying and inspiring. This episode is brought to you by Hello … Read More “SWWP 19 – The Miracle of Dunkirk” »
Ted Barris is known for his interviews of veterans, particularly Canadian veterans. Usually this is organized around a specific battle or campaign, using those interviews to fill in the details left from the official documents. Breaking the Silence is also based on interviews but used in a different way. In this book, Barris gathers interviews … Read More “Breaking the Silence” »
One of the most daring and creative events of the Second World War was the Dam Buster raid, also known as Operation Chastise. This was not to be your average bombing raid but something that would require new skills and new technology. Numerous books have been written on this raid but Dam Busters: Canadian Airmen … Read More “Dam Busters – Review” »
One of the most dramatic events of the Second World War was the evacuation of Dunkirk. Everything pointed toward this being one of greatest defeats for Britain, the destruction of most of its land forces. But things did not turn out as expected. Norman Gelb, in book Dunkirk, takes us through the events from the … Read More “Dunkirk (Book) – Review” »
Previously, the Germans had attacked through Holland and Belgium, exactly what the Allies expected. Now, the Germans turn to their unexpected real plan, a thrust through the Ardennes Forest. This episode is brought to you by Omio. Use the code OMIO5 for 5% off before July 31, 2021. You can support this podcast through Patreon or by download … Read More “SWWP 18 – The Fall of France” »
The conflict in Norway between the Axis and Allies was only a taste of what was to come. France must fall. But how? The first (but not only) part of the invasion would come through the low countries of the Netherlands and Belgium. The French and British came to their aid but things didn’t go … Read More “SWWP 16 – Low Blow: The Invasion of the Netherlands and Belgium” »
When I was on my basic training to become an army chaplain, one of the books that was highly recommended was On Killing by Dave Grossman. Grossman is not a chaplain and doesn’t speak much about religion, but this should be required reading for all military chaplains. In addition to being an experienced officer, he … Read More “On Killing – Review” »
Writing a full length book on even just one battle requires an author to pick and choose what details they will include. How can you cover the entire Second World War in just one book? That is just what John Keegan does in his Second World War. I have read a number of books by … Read More “The Second World War by John Keegan” »
Everyone knows that the D-Day landings at Normandy in the Second World War had five beaches: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. What about the sixth beach? What about Band Beach? Never heard of it? Neither had I until recently. I found this video from Mark Felton to be very interesting. He explains what the … Read More “D-Day’s Forgotten Beach” »
I have always loved the Volkswagen Beetle and would love to own one of the classic versions. It grabbed me ever since I watched the old Disney movie, the Love Bug. The VW Beetle became “the hippie car” but its origins are far different. Many people do not realize that the Volkswagen was actually the … Read More “Adolf Hitler and the Volkswagen Beetle” »
There are certain events that forever change to direction of human society. One was the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, followed by the bombing of Nagasaki three days later. Was this bombing justified? As a member of the military, I appreciate the desire to save lives of soldiers who would be forced to … Read More “The Bombing of Hiroshima” »
Much of my childhood was watching old navy movies with my dad. It was a regular routine for us. I haven’t watched much since, being more of an army guy. But I was definitely looking forward to Greyhound. The context of this movie is the Battle of the Atlantic. It was crucial that supplied be … Read More “Greyhound – Review” »
A.J.P. Taylor’s account of The Origins of the Second World War is an older work (first published in 1961) and yet is still an intriguing read. It is also a controversial interpretation of the events. The main issue is that Taylor doesn’t accept the simple explanation that the war started because Hitler was a monster … Read More “The Origins of the Second World War – Review” »
As I am posting this, it is the 75th anniversary of V-E Day, Victory in Europe Day. It is important for us to remember that for much of the Second World War, it was uncertain who would win. During the Battle of Britain, the hope for many was to just survive, with victory only a … Read More “Winston Churchill Announces Germany’s Surrender” »
Before there was the Battle of France, before there was the Battle of Britain, there was the Winter War. Just months after the start of the Second World War, the Soviet Union invaded Finland. But it didn’t go quite the way they had hoped. My recommend book is A Frozen Hell: The Russo-Finnish Winter War … Read More “SWWP 13 – Russian to the Finnish Line” »
There has been a movement among historians to step away from the “great man theory.” That is, instead of focusing on the decisions and actions of one man (and it usually was a man) at the top, we should be looking more at what the average person was doing. I see this in many of … Read More “Churchill’s Generals – Review” »
One of the most important battles in Canadian history is that of Vimy Ridge. In many ways, this First World War battle was the birth of Canada as a nation independent of Britain. The French and British both tried to take Vimy. Then it was Canada’s turn. Beyond all expectations, Canada was able to do … Read More “The Battle of Vimy Ridge” »
Imagine one of the most destructive wars (First World War) in history. Now imagine one of the most deadly pandemics being thrown into that. That’s what happened with the Spanish Flu. This documentary from Cambridge University gives a good overview of what happened. There is much we can learn from this for our present situation.
I have been interested in the Second World War for a long time. There is a reason I have a podcast on the Second World War. There is no slowing down of movies or books about World War Two. But why? Why is there such interest in this war? Here are five reasons why I … Read More “5 Reasons People Are Still Interested in WW2” »
The First World War was a brutal conflict. Imagine being a soldier in the trenches. Facing death in the trenches or facing death in no man’s land. Anything else would be a better option. Or would it? Perhaps being captured and taken away from the frontlines to a nice safe camp would be better. But … Read More “The Reckoning – Review” »
Many people think about the Second World War as the fight for freedom. But even among the Allies, some were more free than others. Unfortunately, black soldiers in Word War Two were not treat well. They were just as brave as anyone but faced terrible obstacles to serving their country. This documentary helps to share … Read More “African Americans in World War Two” »
Most of the war movies that I have seen are about the Second World War. But more and more I have been getting interested in the First World War. For that reason, I was excited to see the movie 1917. The basic plot of the movie is that two British soldiers are sent on a … Read More “1917 – Review” »
When we think of the turning point in the Second World War, we often think about the Normandy landings on D-Day. That is true to a certain extent, and yet even then the Germans could have pushed the Allies back. In order to get from D-Day to VE-Day, it was essential for the Allies to … Read More “Breakout From Juno – Review” »
As a chaplain in the Canadian Armed Forces, I was naturally drawn to The Great War as I Saw It by Frederick George Scott. Scott was a Canadian chaplain during the First World War. Scott felt compelled to volunteer to go overseas when Canada declared war on the Central Powers. Even when he encountered resistance … Read More “The Great War as I Saw It – Review” »
Two of my main interests are the history of the Second World War and disabilities. The latter because I have two children with disabilities. It is heartbreaking to hear about the lengths the Nazis went to kill those, including babies and children, with disabilities. This is a forgotten part of the Holocaust.
Part of my gaining of a better understanding of the Second World War is learning about the First World War. As a Canadian, I’m naturally drawn to Vimy Ridge. There are certain events that are transformative for nations. For Canada, it is the battle at Vimy Ridge. It was here that Canada began to come … Read More “Victory at Vimy – Review” »
The Second World War is not just battles between Allied and Axis armies. It is also the story of the Holocaust. It is not subject that we enjoy learning about and yet this knowledge is essential. There are two ways to learn about the Holocaust. One is through books about the Holocaust by scholars who … Read More “Night – Review” »
This book is not about the Second World War but it is about the life of a soldier. I am a chaplain in the Canadian Armed Forces and it is important for me to understand the experience our soldiers had serving in Afghanistan. Ryan Flavelle’s The Patrol: Seven Days in the Life of a Canadian … Read More “The Patrol – Review” »
On this blog, my focus is the Second World War. However, anything on the First World War is directly relevant. Many of the same nations were involved and many of the battles took place in the same areas. The First World War was the bridge when it came to military technology from the battles of … Read More “Passchendaele – Review” »
I love old war movies, especially those made during the Second World War. Sure, they include propaganda, but that’s part of the charm. I recently discovered that that as they were preparing to go to Europe, some soldiers from my unit, the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, were extras in a movie called the 49th Parallel … Read More “49th Parallel – Review” »
Two of the most known and respect generals of the Second World War are Bernard Montgomery and Erwin Rommel. They may have been on opposite sides of the war but they had a fair bit in common. I really enjoyed Monty and Rommel: Parallel Lives by Peter Caddick-Adams. What I appreciated most was how he … Read More “Monty and Rommel – Review” »
I watched the four episode series, Age of Tanks, on Netflix. Although it doesn’t focus specifically on the Second World War, it has one episode dedicated to it. The first episode was on the introduction of the tank during the First World War. Many people don’t realize that “tank” was a codeword to distract the … Read More “Age of Tanks – Review” »
As a Canadian and someone interested in the Second World War, I was naturally drawn to U-Boats Against Canada by Michael L. Hadley. I am somewhat familiar with the Battle of the Atlantic and the U-Boat war against Allied shipping. But what does this have to do with Canada? When we think of the areas … Read More “U-Boats Against Canada – Review” »
I have recently joined the Lincoln and Welland Regiment as a chaplain. This regiment has a long history, one that includes some important battles in the Second World War. One that we are most identified with was the liberation of Bergen op Zoom in Holland. This documentary gives an overview of Lincoln and Welland’s journey from … Read More “The Liberation of Bergen op Zoom” »
One of the most interesting campaigns (to me at least) of the Second World War is North Africa. For a long time, that was the only place where the British and Americans fought the Germans. This is a nicely animated survey of the events of 1940. If you are interested in the Second World War, … Read More “North African Campaign 1940” »
The beginning of the Second World War is generally understood as being at the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in September, 1939. Hitler created an excuse for invading and unleashed his forces on an outdated Polish army. Even knowing that Britain and France would not accept this, Hitler took this step, confident in the … Read More “SWWP 11 – And So It Begins” »
How did we get from World War One to World War Two? Most people have a vague understanding of the rise of Adolf Hitler. Germany was suffering economically and emotionally from their defeat in the Great War. There was some feeling of betrayal and mistrust regarding the communists and Jews. However, the story is much … Read More “The Birth of the Nazis – Review” »
The Second World War began with the German invasion of Poland in 1939. But before we get to that, what about Japan and Italy? What were they doing as Germany was preparing to invade Poland? In this episode, we look at the Japanese invasion of China and the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in the years … Read More “SWWP 10 – Japan and Italy at the Dawn of the Second World War” »
I find reading accounts of the participants of the Second World War to be very helpful. A while back I read Churchill’s Second World War and now I have read Dwight Eisenhower’s Crusade in Europe. I couldn’t help but compare the two works. The difference is much more than Churchill’s being a multi-volume work and … Read More “Crusade in Europe – Review” »
Most people are happy that Adolf Hitler did not win the Second World War. But it could have easily ended differently. One of the best books on military history that I have read recently was How Hitler Could Have Won World War II: The Fatal Errors That Led to Nazi Defeat by Bevin Alexander. In some … Read More “How Hitler Could Have Won World War II – Review” »
I have enjoyed war movies from the time I was a young child. There was a time that I thought the only good war movie was in black and white. But there have been some excellent movies about the Second World War more recently. My definition of recent is rather generous. I am looking back … Read More “Top 5 Recent War Movies” »
Can we think of two greater monsters of the 20th century than that of Hitler and Stalin. Although the Second World War ended with them as bitter enemies, it began with them in cooperation. This episode looks at what led to the nonaggression pact. See Hitler vs. Stalin: Who Killed More? Recommended Book: The Devils’ Alliance: … Read More “SWWP 9 – Hitler and Stalin: A Match Made in Hell” »
As I write this, we are days away from the 100th anniversary of the Armistice of 1918 that was the beginning of the end of the First World War. Although I blog more about the Second World War, the Armistice of 1918 had a huge influence on what would happen just two decades later. This … Read More “The Armistice of 1918” »
A number of years ago, I picked up a copy of the second volume of Winston Churchill’s Second World War, entitled Their Finest Hour. I almost gave up on it after reading the first chapter but kept going. I’m glad I did as I loved it and devoured the rest of the series. The reason … Read More “Winston Churchill’s Second World War – Review” »
It is common to hear that Adolf Hitler was influenced by Friedrich Nietzsche and that Nazism was inspired by his philosophy. But how true is this? It is true that Hitler gave Mussolini a set of the works of Nietzsche for his birthday. It is also true that Hitler’s speeches and Nazi propaganda were peppered … Read More “Nietzsche’s Influence on Hitler and Nazism” »
One of the greatest accomplishments of Winston Churchill during the Second World War was the nourishing of the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States. Below is a video of Churchill’s speech titled “Now We Are Masters of Our Fate” that was given in the United States. You can find the text of … Read More “Now We Are Masters of Our Fate” »
The German invasion of Czechoslovakia was a turning point in Hitler’s acts of aggression. This was the necessary step to transition from annexing fellow Germans in Austria to invading the non-German Poland, thus starting the Second World War. The Munich Agreement was Britain and France’s sellout of Czechoslovakia in attempt to prevent war. It failed … Read More “SWWP 8 – The Munich Agreement” »
My interest in the Second World War began by watching old war movies. That conflict was one that brought out the best and worst of people and there are plenty of stories to tell. Some attempts to tell these stories have been better than others. Here is an interesting list of movies related to World … Read More “Top 10 World War II Movies” »
Although the Allies focused on defeating Germany first in the Second World War, the conflict with Japan was not just a side theatre. Japan was a major threat to Britain, United States and especially the countries in east Asia and Australia. But how did Japan get to this point? This short video gives a helpful … Read More “The Rise of Imperial Japan” »
In the July of 1944, there was an assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler. A bomb was meant to kill Hitler, but by an amazing twist of events, Hitler survived the blast. This was the basis for the movie Valkyrie. In this short documentary, you will see film footage of Hitler shortly after the attempt, including his … Read More “The Hitler Bomb Plot” »
Although the Second World War really begins with the invasion of Poland, Germany’s expansion began earlier with the annexation of Austria. This event, which Churchill described as “the rape of Austria,” was the first real glimpse of what Hitler intended for Europe. This episode looks at how this annexation took place and what it meant. … Read More “SWW7 – The Rape Of Austria” »
Everyone knows that the United States and Great Britain invaded France at Normandy on D-Day. What people are less familiar with is that Canada also had its own beach. It could be argued that the Canadians at Juno Beach were the most successful of all the landings. You can learn more about this battle in … Read More “D-Day: Juno Beach” »
Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of Britain, truly desired peace for Europe. He believed that Adolf Hitler could be negotiated and that Hitler’s stated intentions were sincere. The situation was Germany’s plan to send troops into Czechoslovakia. Instead of warning Hitler to keep out, he agreed for Hitler to take part of Czechoslovakia and leave the rest. … Read More “Peace in Our Time?” »
Between the First World War and the Second World War, there was another conflict that greatly impacted Europe. This was the Spanish Civil War. Although technically this was just a civil war between the Republicans and Nationalists, unofficially many of the nations that participated in the Second World War, were involved in the Spanish … Read More “SWWP 6 – The Spanish Civil War” »
In the Second World War, Italy invaded Greece but struggled terribly. While in a way Greece was a distraction for Germany, in another way it needed to be secure their flank for when the invaded the Soviet Union. Part of the war for Greece was the airborne invasion of Crete. The Greeks and British fought … Read More “German Airborne Invasion of Crete” »
