Italy proved a nightmare place to fight, no matter what side you were on: the endless mountains, the innumerable rivers, the narrowness of roads, the blazing heat, and then torrential rain and freezing cold.
Jonathan Fennell, John McManus and James Holland ask, just how big was the crisis in morale for both sides and how did commanders deal with the weight of expectation, mounting casualties and truly appalling conditions? 
Recorded at We Have Ways Fest
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Italy's Morale Crisis

Achtung! Achtung!

Comedian Al Murray and historian James Holland discuss all matters WW2.

WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk is a bi-weekly show exploring the war in close up. James and Al have a stunning knowledge of their subject, but don't expect a linear narrative. The boys love a tangent and a forgotten tale.

We Have Ways of Making You Talk roams down forgotten front lines, casts new villains and makes the case for unlikely heroes.

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It was the single most day in the entire Allied campaign during WW2, the storming of the beaches of Normandy on the 6th June 1944.
Al Murray and James Holland detail what happened on that day, almost 80 years ago on every beach - and try to dispel the myth of ‘Bloody Omaha’.
In the biggest series of We Have Ways of Making You Talk, join Al and James as they unravel the heroism, sacrifices, and strategic brilliance behind one of the most pivotal moments in history. Prepare to be transported to the heart of the Second World War's defining hour.
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D-Day: The Beaches (Episode 5)

Al Murray and James Holland continue to narrate the story of D-Day in stunning detail.
In today’s episode they spend time focusing on an often untold stories of the invasion - the massive minelaying operation, and the first men to land at Pegasus Bridge.
Next up, The Beaches.
In the biggest series of We Have Ways of Making You Talk, join Al and James as they unravel the heroism, sacrifices, and strategic brilliance behind one of the most pivotal moments in history. Prepare to be transported to the heart of the Second World War's defining hour.
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D-Day: Minelaying & The Airborne Drop (Episode 4)

With only a few hours to go before Landing Craft are due to hit the beaches of Normandy, the Allies plan for Operation OVERLORD hangs finely in the balance.
It is the role of a few weathermen to make the incredibly brave decision to push back D-Day by 24 hours, out of fear of devastating weather.
Al Murray and James Holland look at the final hours before boots hit the beaches.
In the biggest series of We Have Ways of Making You Talk, join Al and James as they unravel the heroism, sacrifices, and strategic brilliance behind one of the most pivotal moments in history. Prepare to be transported to the heart of the Second World War's defining hour.
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D-Day: 24 Hours To Go (Episode 3)

The Allied plan for OVERLORD is a masterclass in logistics. Al Murray and James Holland detail the roles of US and British forces in planning the largest coastal invasion of all time.
From Monty’s personality cult to the role of the SOE in Occupied France, no stone is left unturned in preparation for D-Day
In the biggest series of We Have Ways of Making You Talk, join Al and James as they unravel the heroism, sacrifices, and strategic brilliance behind one of the most pivotal moments in history. Prepare to be transported to the heart of the Second World War's defining hour.
Episodes Mentioned:
Command (Ep 516)
Command - Live at The National Army Museum (Ep 548)
Landing Craft Tank (Ep 363)
Landing Craft (Ep 265)
Resistance - The Jedburghs (Ep 680)
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D-Day: The Master Plan (Episode 2)

May 1944, it is clear to Erwin Rommel that the Allied counter attack is just a few weeks away. The answer is simple - defend the Atlantic Wall.
But Nazi infighting and ludicrous top-down decision making has led to chaos on the Western Front. With the 6th June just days away - they are still asking themselves: where will the Allies land?
In the biggest series of We Have Ways of Making You Talk, join Al and James as they unravel the heroism, sacrifices, and strategic brilliance behind one of the most pivotal moments in history. Prepare to be transported to the heart of the Second World War's defining hour.
Episodes Mentioned:
Mighty 8th (Ep 735 - 742)
Cassino '44 (Ep 753 - 760)
Life and Death of the Desert Fox (Ep 41)
The Life of Rommel (Ep 657)
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Italy's Morale Crisis

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