This Week on History Happy Hour: Two women in Nazi-occupied Paris create a daring escape line that rescues dozens of Allied servicemen. With one still in a German prison camp, the other returns to America and writes a bestselling book about it that also became a sensational movie. But there is far more to the story.

Our guest, Matthew Goodman, author of the book Paris Undercover, has dug up military records and personal testimonies that reveal, for the first time, the shocking truth behind the memoir and the unexpected, far-reaching consequences of its publication

Matthew Goodman is a New York Times-bestselling author of five books. They include The City Game: The City Game: Triumph, Scandal, and a Legendary Basketball Team and Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland’s History-Making Race Around the World. His writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The American Scholar, the Harvard Review, Salon, Tablet, the Forward, Bon Appetit, and many other publications. He lives with his family in Brooklyn, NY.

This Week on History Happy Hour: One day in World War II. One day, around the globe. That’s what author Rona Simmons has written about in her new book No Average Day.  The day she picked was October 24, 1944, when more than 2,600 Americans perished—more than on any other single day of the conflict.

Chris and Rick will talk with Rona about the vastness of World War II as seen through the events of a single day – one that was, for members of the US Armed Forces, its deadliest day.

Rona Simmons is an award-winning author of historical fiction and nonfiction. For the last several years, she has focused on untold and often overlooked stories from World War II. Her nonfiction books include Images from World War II: The Art of Jack Smith and The Other Veterans of World War II: Stories from Behind the Front Lines.is an award-winning author of historical fiction and nonfiction. For the last several years, she has focused on untold and often overlooked stories from World War II. Her nonfiction books include Images from World War II: The Art of Jack Smith and The Other Veterans of World War II: Stories from Behind the Front Lines.

This Week on History Happy Hour: Why did Axis countries go to war against America? Given America’s industrial base, what was the rationale that underpinned their decision? And when did they realize they couldn’t win?

Chris and Rick will dive into this topic with historian Harry Yeide, who drew on his experience as an intelligence analyst to write the book Betting Against America: The Axis Powers' Views of the United States.

Harry Yeide is a foreign affairs analyst who writes primarily in the field of military history. He has written a number of books, mostly about WWII tanks. He worked as a political, terrorism, and economic analyst on the Soviet Bloc, the Balkans, the Aegean, East Asia, South Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and he has served in numerous assignments overseas.

This Week on History Happy Hour: The inspiring true story of Company E, 14ist Infantry, 36th Division, comprised entirely of Mexican Americans—the only such unit in the entire U.S. Army. The division landed at Salerno, Italy, in 1943, among first American soldiers to set foot in Europe. At the Rapido River, Company E would face its greatest challenge.

We’ll talk with David Gutierrez, author of Patriots from the Barrio.

Dave Gutierrez is a historian and author. His articles have appeared in publications including American Legion and War History Online. Recognized by both the Texas Military Forces Museum in Austin and the National WWII Museum in New Orleans for his groundbreaking work on Company E 141st Infantry, he also specializes in genealogical research, Mexican American history, and World War II studies. Dave is a member of the National Medal of Honor Museum's Advisory Panel.

This Week on History Happy Hour: There are few names in the annals of military history that evoke such emotion, as the small Belgian town of Bastogne. The 101st Airborne are the best-known defenders of Bastogne, but they only constituted one third of the eventual force that saved the city from total annihilation.

Chris and Rick discuss the heroic defense of the city with historian Martin King, lead author of The Eagles of Bastogne.

Martin King is an award-winning British Military historian and author who’s had the honor of reintroducing many US, British and German veterans to the WWII battlefields where they fought. He has lectured at many British and US colleges, universities and military bases throughout the world. Among his numerous books are Searching for Augusta, The Forgotten Angel of Bastogne and The Tigers of Bastogne: Voices of the 10th Armored Division in Bastogne. He lives in Belgium.

This Week on History Happy Hour: In January 1945, as the Battle of the Bulge was coming to an end, the 29th Division readied itself to be at the point of the fourth Allied offensive in eight months. There, along the banks of the Roer River, is where volume five of Joe Balkoski’s epic series on the 29th gets under way.

Joe will join us on his sixth History Happy Hour to talk about that book, The Last Roll Call, and the many decades he has spent telling the story of the 29th.

Joe Balkoski is a renowned American military historian who has authored eight books on American involvement in the ETO during World War II. This includes a five-volume series on the history of the 29th Infantry Division in World War II and a two-volume set on American participation in the D-Day invasion. He has appeared as a D-Day expert on MSNBC, and his work has been praised by Joe Scarborough, the New York Post, World War II Magazine, and others.

This Week on History Happy Hour: Tyler Perry’s new WWII movie Six Triple Eight is out on Netflix. It tells the story about the only predominantly all-black US Women's Army unit sent overseas during World War II. Their mission: raise soldiers morale by improving the disastrously backed up mail.

The movie was based on an article written by HHH Alum Kevin Hymel, and we welcome Kevin back to the show to hear about what that experience of working on the movie has been like – as well as what the movie gets right and wrong.

Kevin Hymel has served as a historian at the U.S. Army Combat Studies Institute at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He was also the Research Director for WWII History and Military Heritage magazines. Kevin leads the “In Patton’s Footsteps” tour for Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours, and has appeared in numerous documentaries. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from LaSalle University and Master’s Degree from Villanova University, both in History.

This Week on History Happy Hour: From his first visit in 1941 to his last one eighteen years later, Churchill made himself at home in the White House, sometimes staying for weeks at a time. These extended stays at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue changed the course of history. We will explore this story with Robert Schmuhl, author of Mr. Churchill in the White House: The Untold Story of a Prime Minister and Two Presidents.

Robert Schmuhl is a Professor Emeritus in American Studies and Journalism at the University of Notre Dame. He has been on the Notre Dame faculty since 1980. He’s the author or editor of fifteen books, including “The Glory and the Burden” about the US presidency.

This Week on History Happy Hour: No Guest – Just Us! We’re bringing back another edition of History Happy Talk!

What would you like us to talk about. The Battle of the Bulge? Recent trips you have been on?  Who should have won the War for Independence?  Send an email to [email protected] with your questions/topics/suggestions. Get us going! And when you tune in, we’ll have some questions for you as well.  A free-flow, interactive, fun time on HHH.  Just make sure you have your cocktail in hand – we sure will!

This Week on History Happy Hour: It is one of the most famous and controversial battles the British fought in Normandy.  On June 13, British forces were ambushed at Villers Bocage by Waffen SS German Panzers, including one commanded by German Panzer ace Michael Wittmann. This kicked off a two-day battle that resulted in a major British withdrawal.

Chris and Rick dig into this story with Daniel Taylor author of Villers-Bocage: Operation Perch: The Complete Event. The debate still swirls:  Was it a crushing British defeat, or a compelling recovery from an ambush that was misunderstood by an already nervous high command? And has Wittmann’s role been exaggerated, or was he really the hero the Nazis made him out to be?