For this episode of the podcast, we are doing something a little different. Rather than focusing on a single subject, we open the floor to your questions.

Over the past few weeks, podcast patrons were invited to submit questions they had always wanted to ask about the Second World War. These range from strategy and leadership to memory, myth and the smaller details that continue to provoke curiosity today.

To help answer those questions, I am joined by two returning guests.

John McManus is a military historian specialising in the United States Army in the Second World War. He is the author of numerous books and is known for combining operational history with the lived experience of soldiers on the ground.

Also joining the discussion is Kevin Hymel. Kevin is a historian and biographer of General George S Patton, with the third volume of his trilogy due for publication in 2026. He is also an experienced battlefield tour guide.

John and Kevin are the hosts of the podcast WW2 Live, which features a regular segment called 'Stump the Chumps' in which listeners submit challenging or unusual questions. That format inspired this episode.

Together they take on a wide range of listener questions, offering thoughtful and often surprising insights into how the Second World War was fought, remembered and understood.

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