Why We Fight ~ 1944

By Sasha Lehtonen (MoT)History

Why We Fight ~ 1944 episodes

September 14, 2023 The Allied Invasion of Mainland Italy (Part II)
Part II of this episode - if you missed Part I, you'll want to go back and listen to it first since this one jumps right into the conversation.
With the magic of technology, this episode brings together Dr. Lee Windsor and Dr. Cindy Brown, both with the University of New Brunswick up in Canada, Dr. Greg Hospodor with US Army TRADOC in Virginia, Dr. John Curatola with the National WWII Museum in Louisiana, and me here in Germany. My four guests have known each other for a long time and, upon realizing that, I wanted to bring them together to help kick off the Italian Campaign :)
Links
Dr. Lee Windsor (https://www.unb.ca/faculty-staff/directory/arts-fr-history/windsor-lee.html)
Dr. Cindy Brown (https://www.unb.ca/faculty-staff/directory/arts-fr-history/brown-cindy.html)
Dr. Greg Hospodor - Bitter Victory? The Allied Campaign for Sicily Revisited (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f060mKeIWIw)
Tactical Change in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goVg6n42gJE)
Dr. John Curatola (https://www.nationalww2museum.org/contributors/john-curatola-phd)
http://www.motheroftanks.com/
52 min
September 11, 2023 The Allied Invasion of Mainland Italy (Part I)
With the magic of technology, this episode brings together Dr. Lee Windsor and Dr. Cindy Brown, both with the University of New Brunswick up in Canada, Dr. Greg Hospodor with US Army TRADOC in Virginia, Dr. John Curatola with the National WWII Museum in Louisiana, and me here in Germany. My four guests have known each other for a long time and, upon realizing that, I wanted to bring them together to help kick off the Italian Campaign :)
This episode was split in two because it was a bit long. The second half will be out in a day or so.
Links
Dr. Lee Windsor (https://www.unb.ca/faculty-staff/directory/arts-fr-history/windsor-lee.html)
Dr. Cindy Brown (https://www.unb.ca/faculty-staff/directory/arts-fr-history/brown-cindy.html)
Dr. Greg Hospodor - Bitter Victory? The Allied Campaign for Sicily Revisited (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f060mKeIWIw)
Tactical Change in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goVg6n42gJE)
Dr. John Curatola (https://www.nationalww2museum.org/contributors/john-curatola-phd)
http://www.motheroftanks.com/
1 hr 28 min
September 09, 2023 The Axis Forces' Retreat from Sicily 1943
Joining me in this episode wrapping up the Sicily Campaign is Lt.Col. Brian Kerg. This is actually the second episode we recorded but the first to be released in the series. In the course of recording the other episode, Brian let slip that he covered the Axis retreat from Sicily in August 1943 when he attended the Marine Corps' School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW) and I twisted his arm to cover it for this series. He also gives a fantastic overview of the school and its benefits, and encourages other officers, Marine and otherwise, to consider it. Definitely stick around for that part at the end!

47 min
September 09, 2023 Administering the Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Dr. David Dworak joins me again, this time to talk about how we administer a theater of operations, using the Allied invasion of Sicily and the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) as the example for 1943. If you missed Dr. Dworak's earlier episode on sustaining a theater of operations, that was episode 26 of this year's 1943 series. And if you're interested in learning more about the MTO, maybe check out Dr. Dworak's book War of Supply: World War II Allied Logistics in the Mediterranean, and the US Army's Center of Military History publications on Logistics, Sustainment, and related aspects of WWII operations.

Links
War of Supply: World War II Allied Logistics in the Mediterranean (https://www.amazon.com/War-Supply-Logistics-Mediterranean-Military/dp/0813183774)
The US Army Center of Military History has quite a few books on Army Logistics, Sustainment, and other aspects of the war, for anyone looking to learn more: https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/11-9/11-9c.htm

www.motheroftanks.com
57 min
September 06, 2023 Bridging the Gap with "Miraculous American Pontoons"
In this episode, Dr. Frank Blazich Jr. joins me to talk about magic boxes, military innovation, and "miraculous American pontoons". Dr. Blazich is a fantastic storyteller and he will be back soon to talk about War Pigeons too.
Links
Inventors and Innovators: Naval Lighterage and Anglo-American Success in the Amphibious Invasions of German-Occupied Europe (https://tnm.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/default/article/view/155 You can download the article here - https://tnm.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/default/article/download/155/149/211)
US Navy Pontoon Technology at HUSKY and OVERLORD presented by Dr. Frank A. Blazich Jr., PhD, Curator (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI3U0ekCLO8)
Frank Blazich, Curator, Military History - National Museum of American History (https://americanhistory.si.edu/profile/1298)
1 hr 3 min
September 03, 2023 The US 7th Infantry Regiment & 3rd Infantry Division in Sicily 1943
In this episode, Dr. John McManus joins me to talk about the 7th Infantry Regiment (the "Cottonbalers") and the 3rd Infantry Division in Sicily in 1943, their difficult fight through the island, and a bit of foreshadowing as the units prepare to head into Italy. John has another episode that will continue this story for 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd ID in Italy through the end of 1943.
Links
Dr. John McManus (https://johncmcmanus.com/)
The 7th Infantry Regiment - Combat in an Age of Terror: The Korean War Through the Present (https://johncmcmanus.com/books/the-7th-infantry-regiment-combat-in-an-age-of-terror-the-korean-war-through-the-present/)
The Deadly Brotherhood: The American Combat Soldier in World War II (https://johncmcmanus.com/books/the-deadly-brotherhood-the-american-combat-soldier-in-world-war-ii/)
Somebody Talked! The Official Podcast of the National D-Day Memorial (https://www.dday.org/someone-talked-podcast/)
We Have Ways USA (https://wehavewayspod.com/episodes/)
Autobahn to Berchtesgaden: A Combat Soldier's View of His Role in World War II as Seen From the Lower Ranks Looking Up by LTC Sherman W. Pratt (https://www.amazon.com/Autobahn-Berchtesgaden-combat-soldiers-looking/dp/B0006EZ5RI)
http://www.motheroftanks.com/
1 hr 9 min
September 03, 2023 "Guns and Leaders to the Front": Using the Story of the 82d Airborne Division in Sicily to Train Soldiers Today
Joining me in this episode is retired Brigadier General John Aarsen who is currently the Director of the 82d Airborne Division War Memorial Museum located at Fort Liberty in North Carolina. John shares how he uses the story of the 82d Airborne Division in Sicily to help train Soldiers today.
Links
Museum Website (https://www.82ndairbornedivisionmuseum.com/)
1 hr 21 min
August 27, 2023 Airborne & Glider Ops and Armored Warfare in Sicily 1943
In this episode I'm joined by Dirk Ringgenberg, US Army Veteran and Assistant Professor of Military History at the Command and General Staff College (CGSC). Dirk talks to us about the Airborne jumps made by the 505th and 504th Parachute Infantry from the 82d Airborne Division as part of Operation Husky, the Allied Invasion of Sicily in 1943. He also discusses the challenges of both Airborne and Armored Warfare in Sicily at this time.
Links
https://armyuniversity.edu/cgsc/cgss/dmh/Faculty
Pershing Lecture Series: The Evolution of Battlefield Communications (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BAaaQAC6yU)
Operation Northern Delay: The US Airborne Invasion of Iraq (The Dole Institute) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDe8ghOq86U)
1 hr 31 min
August 24, 2023 Operation Hydra and the Space Force Connection to 1943
In this episode I'm joined by Dr. Mike Pavelec, Director of the Schriever Space Scholars US Space Force education at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). We talk about Operation Crossbow, and more specifically Operation Hydra -- the RAF raid on Peenemunde. This was an interesting twist because I was not expecting a US Space Force contribution to this series on World War II, but here we are! Enjoy :)
Links
You can find Dr. Pavelec's books here: https://www.amazon.com/Books-S-Mike-Pavelec/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AS.+Mike+Pavelec
US Space Force Schriever & West Space Force Scholars Program (ILE & SLE)
Schriever Space Scholars Program - ILE (https://sais.jhu.edu/admissions/masters-program-admissions/how-apply/us-military-and-veteran-applicants/us-space-force-schriever-west-space-scholars-program-ile-sle/intermediate-level-education)
53 min
August 19, 2023 LTG Patton, the Infamous Slapping Incidents, and Changes in the Army's Approach to Combat Psychiatry
TW: This episode does mention suicide at least once in reference to someone Patton knew.
In this episode I'm joined by Dr. Sanders Marble from the Army Medical Department Center of History and Heritage. Dr. Marble helps tell the story of the infamous slapping incidents involving LTG George Patton during the Sicily Campaign in 1943, but he doesn't stop there.
Links
AMEDD Center of History & Heritage (https://achh.army.mil/)
1 hr 9 min

About Why We Fight ~ 1944

From the publisher's feed

Season two of the largest Combined, Joint, Multinational Military History effort focuses on American and Allied Forces in Europe and the Pacific through 1944.