A Few Minutes of History

Today i was joined by Anthony Tucker-Jones as the A Few Minutes Podcast makes its return. 

We spoke about the battle for the Rhineland at the end of 1944 until the wars end. 

The Rhineland was where Adolf Hitler sowed the seeds for the Second World War when he remilitarized it in breach of the Treaty of Versailles in 1936, and by late 1944 the Rhine provided the last major obstacle to the advancing Allied armies that were threatening the Fatherland itself.

It was essential that the Germans held the west bank in order to protect the Rhine crossings at Cologne, Bonn, Koblenz and Remagen, but Hitler was intent on counter-attacking in the Ardennes in the winter of 1944 and this meant there was little left to bolster the defences of the Rhine. 

Anthonys fantastic book can be found below at this link. 

https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/rhineland-9781472859921/

And as always the A Few Minutes of History YouTube channel is linked here http://youtube.com/@afewminutesofhistory

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Thank you to the team over at Fact Slap for their research and help that went into making this video! The link for their Facebook page is here - https://www.facebook.com/share/1c6h5J6J6F/?mibextid=wwXIfr

On the 2nd of May 1982 The Falklands War heats up and the small last chance of a diplomatic solution to the Argentinian invasion of the Islands is over with the sinking of the ARA General Belgrano by the Royal Navy nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror. Today we look at the sinking and the factors that went in to that fateful day.

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Today i was joined by Will Eichler, Will is one of the managing partners of HistoryFix, a fantastic streaming platform dedicated to bringing History to you. 

In his day job, Will is a Director Of Photography in the motion picture industry, and has worked on several large scale productions. 

I myself have worked with Will and the team at HistoryFix to bring exclusive content to the platform, if you're interested in checking out HistoryFix, the link is here - https://www.historyfix.com/

As Will mentioned, for those who are listening to the Podcast, you can receive 30% off your subscription now with the promo code - 30%off - 

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This is the audio version of my latest YouTube video, which can be found here https://youtu.be/FwebKyWDqes?si=fRLfI_mj8cZpy3EP

During World War Two, a plethora of special forces and clandestine units were formed by the Allies. Many are well known, such as the SAS, SBS, SOE and the OSS.

One of the lesser known was Z Special Unit, also known as Z Force, and today, we shall be exploring some of the history, and famous operations this unit undertook! 

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I was joined today by the brilliant Paul Bruno. Paul has spent the last 20 years gathering information about Second World War Jeeps. 

The Jeep is arguably one of the most famous, and most important vehicles of the war. And don't just take my word for it, General Eisenhower called the Jeep one of the 3 vehicles that won the war!

Owning a 1944 Ford GPW, i could not pass up the chance to chat to Paul. We discussed in detail, how Bantam built a working prototype in 49 days, and how from that vehicle over 600,000 Jeeps where produced during the war. 

For more information on the Jeep, linked is Pauls fantastic book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/ORIGINAL-JEEPS-Paul-R-Bruno/dp/0578721759

The Website is here - https://originaljeeps.com/

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I was joined by Robert O'Connor. Robert is an Author who wrote the fantastic novel "Jeep Show: A Trouper at the Battle of the Bulge"

The novel follows the story of Jim Tanzer as he enlists in the U.S. Army’s Morale Corps in WWII. Along with Private Mickey Rooney and others, he is detailed to entertain soldiers in combat zones. Jim gets caught up in the Battle of the Bulge, one of the most brutal battles in US Armed Forces history.

Robert and myself discuss the real work of the Morale Corp, and the role they played on the battlefield, and the real life inspiration for the character.

Roberts website - https://jeepshowbook.com/jeep-show-a-trouper-at-the-battle-of-the-bulge/

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Today I was joined by Mike Atherton, Mike is an author who writes Historical Fiction novels. Including those based on his own relatives experiences in the First World War.

Before becoming an author, Mike spent several years in the British Army serving as a Nurse, we discussed his time in the Army, including nursing an aging Nazi Rudolf Hess inside Spandau Prison in the early 1980's.

We chatted in detail regarding his inspiration and techniques for writing, and Mike gives his advice for any budding authors! 

If you’d like to get in touch with Mike and to get a copy of his books, you can get in touch with him here - [email protected]

Happy New Year to you all.

https://www.youtube.com/@afewminutesofhistory

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I was joined today by Martin Bennett, an author who has wrote the superb "Wounded Tiger" the true story of the pilot "Mitsuo Fuchida" who led the Pearl Harbor attack on the United States in December 1941, whose life was changed by an American prisoner and by a girl he never met.

The book covers several important topics, including faith, loyalty and forgiveness, all which are incredibly relevant in todays world.

Martin is currently in talks to secure funding to take "Wounded Tiger" to the big screen.

For more information on Wounded Tiger and Martin, the link for the website can be found here - https://www.woundedtiger.com/

To get a copy of Martins book, the link is here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wounded-Tiger-T-Martin-Bennett/dp/0991229010

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This is an audio upload from my YouTube Video - “Britains Greatest General” 

If you where to ask the average Britain on the street, to name a British military leader from days gone by, names like, Montgomery, the Duke of Wellington and Nelson are bound to crop up,

Chances are that few people would name, or even have heard of the man who is the subject of todays video, a man who turned the fortune of an entire army around, who helped saved India from the Japanese, and who, in my opinion is Britains greatest general, Bill Slim! 

If you wish to watch the video version, it can be found here - Britains Greatest General - “Uncle” Bill Slim and The 14th Army
https://youtu.be/f2GO5g1Eh3g

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I was honoured to be joined by Peter Mathews, Peter is originally from The Hague in The Netherlands, but found himself taking part in America's War in Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star after saving a critically wounded soldier.

Peter spent a year in country with the 1st Cavalry Division and towards the end of his tour found a diary belonging to a Vietnamese Soldier on Hill 724 after the battle of Dak To, the diary remained in Peter's possession until the 2020's when it was finally reunited with the fallen soldiers remaining relatives.

Come and hear this incredible story on the Podcast.

Peters website can be found here - http://myyearinvietnam.com/

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