Books, Films, TV, Radio (& WW2 Podcasts!)

There's an interesting 3 part (3 x 30mins) BBC radio documentary available just at the moment (on the BBC iplayer - December 2015) on

"the General - the Story of Charles de Gaulle"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06rpfrl/episodes/player

The first part is about de Gaulle's early life and WW2:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00765st

Part 2 - the Wilderness years (and Algiers) :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00765wy

Part 3 - how Charles de Gaulle's nuclear superpower vision for France clashed with younger people :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00765zp

 

There's an interesting podcast here (part of a series on Hong Kong, in a larger set of podcasts about China) about the fall of Hong Kong

http://chinahistorypodcast.com/chp-107-the-history-of-hong-kong-part-7

Which took place around this time of year (8-25th December) in 1941.

The latest episode of these "China Histories" is about the life of Zhou Enlai and is getting into his role in the 2nd WW.

http://chinahistorypodcast.com/chp-163-zhou-enlai-part-3

 

There is a new series of podcasts (just starting to be produced) Jan 2016

Called "Valient Stories of Heroes" - which according to the intro. is going to be mostly about WW2 and will hopefully feature a new episode every two weeks:

http://www.podcastgarden.com/podcast/valiantheroes#8500

The "first episode" is called "Landing with Strangers"

http://www.podcastgarden.com/episode/episode-2-landing-with-strangers_68226

And is about "The story of Hal Baumgarten and his experience on Dog Green sector of Omaha Beach, D-Day, June 6th, 1944"

 

The History of Singapore : PJ THUM - HIGHER EDUCATION: http://www.thehistoryofsingapore.com/
A weekly podcast series about Singapore, history and people.

http://thehistoryofsingapore.com/about/
PJ Thum is a researcher and teacher of Southeast Asian history at the University of Oxford
http://projectsoutheastasia.com/people/academics/pingtjin-thum

To quote: "This will be history as I see it. I cannot tell all perspectives of Singapore history – that’s simply not possible – but I will do my best to do so, and incorporate as many different views as I can. But the most important thing is that I want it to be fun and educational! I hope you will enjoy it."

There's a version here: http://podbay.fm/show/1024071280

With an episode here: http://podbay.fm/show/1024071280/e/1448592851?autostart=1

"Singapore was ripped from the hands of one Empire by another on 15 February 1942. The military aspects of Japan’s Malayan campaign have been well studied - but what were its implications for Malayan independence? In this week’s episode, PJ Thum discusses the two major impacts of the Japanese Occupation of Singapore on Singapore’s (and the rest of Malaya’s) subsequent independence movement."

(The first 10 mins are staunchly anti-colonial and pretty tragic, but it gets worse after the Japanese take control) - an interesting series and fascinating perspective.

All the best,

Rm.

 

Also on the Fall of Singapore (about to have another anniversary soon (Feb 2016)) I noticed that ABC Australia i.e.

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/earshot/

And on other parts of the ABC site, has posted quite a few Veteran accounts over the years, including a number of those from WW2. Probably referenced to already in other WW2talk threads. They are interspersed with a lot of other ABC output however so I haven't yet had a real chance to listen through them in any great deail, or find a bit there where they are collected etc. or accompanying text detailing what's covered in the audio.

This is one I listened to the other day though that I'd really recommend. It's about an hour long account, of Australian Veteran Chris Neilson

Stories of Australian Prisoners-of-War on Singapore Island in WW2 - Changi escapees. Chris Neilson .

Here
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/earshot/earshot-tuesday-3rd-march-changi/6142740

& here:
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/earshot/changi-escapees/6051506

"On Singapore Island, on the 15th February 1942, 130,000 British, Indian and Australian troops surrendered to the Japanese Imperial Army. Churchill described it as, 'the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history'.
In total around 22,000 Australians were taken prisoner by the Japanese during the war and 8,000 of them died in captivity.
Prisoner of war stories became central to Australia's history in World War Two.
With thousands of others, two West Australian POWs, Penrod Dean and John McGregor, were marched to Changi prison. Unlike the majority, they decided to escape.
However the men's plans for freedom were thwarted once deep in the Malayan jungle - and they found themselves in a much worse place than Changi.
In Singapore, Tim McDonald follows as much of their trail as possible—with the help of their later written accounts."

Or here:
http://podbay.fm/show/961897019/e/1425341100?autostart=1

All the best,

Rm.

Ps. Here's a recent one (Tuesday 19 January 2016 11:05AM)
About: Dad's Navy: the untold story of the Merchant Navy (off the coast of Australia) in WW2
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/earshot/untold-story---merchant-navy/6908078

 

Deleted - wrong thread

 

In the series: 10 American Presidents:

From Washington to Obama, 10 American Presidents a podcast narrated by guest hosts. The life and legacy of an American President. Each show is intercut with music and where possible archive news clips or dramatisations to set a feeling of place and time.

FDR: (Pub.17th December 2015) : https://www.acast.com/10americanpresidents/fdr-episode5

Narrated by David Pietrusza: Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945), commonly known as FDR, was a American statesman and political leader who served as the President of the United States 1933-1945. A Democrat, he won a record four elections and dominated his party for many years as a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic depression and total war.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt#Early_life_and_education

Frequent trips to Europe and partly educated in Germany and "conversant in German and French; being arrested with his tutor by police four times in one day in the Black Forest for minor offenses may have affected the future president's view of German character"


Roosevelt in 1884, 2 years old

 

Yesterday evening watched a fascinating programme about Kipling on BBC2.

All about the British presence in India in 1900 plus and describing Kipling's 7 years in Lahore and the hill towns.

Lots of military matters and this morning I downloaded a free Kindle book from Amazon "Plain tales from the Hills" that was extensively quoted in the TV show.

Just wonderful !

Ron

 

Excellent programme with the account of the young Kipling's experiences of the Raj.

The moral standards of the British ruling class at the summer hill station of Simla exposed...perhaps there was
nothing else to do......summed up by Kipling "where every Jack had somebodyelse's Jill"

Then there is Kipling suffering from a bad stomach and offered an opium pipe by his manservant.....records instant relief

 

History of World War II - by Ray Harris jr.

Ray Harris is currently doing Bios of Stalin,

Stalin - Bio 1: http://worldwariipodcast.net/2016/02/episode-153-stalin-bio-1/

Stalin - Bio 2: http://worldwariipodcast.net/2016/02/episode-155-stalin-bio-2/

Interspersed with episodes of German's war in Russia: http://worldwariipodcast.net/all-podcasts/

Or alternatively at:
http://podbay.fm/show/493253759
Where it can be a bit easier to see all of the episodes in one go.
(Nb if takes you to the homepage because of your computer setup - just type "Ray Harris" in the search box and it should take you there.

Happy listening

All the best,

Rm.

 

Found this the other day: http://www.samuraipodcast.com/

"Follow your hosts on a trek into Japanese history, from ancient Japan to the end of the Samurai and all points in between - culture, warfare, literature, and interviews. The Official Podcast of the Samurai Archives Japanese History page."

And was a bit surprised to see that they have some podcasts there on WW2. Strays a bit from what they say on their header but there you go

i.e. Search with WW2
http://www.samuraipodcast.com/webpage?search=World+war&Submit=Search

http://samuraipodcast.com/ep91-tora-tora-tora-japan-from-manchuria-to-midway

In this episode, Forest leads a talk on Japan's thinking going into World War Two. With the benefit of hindsight, it becomes apparent that Japan's plan going into WWII was based on a collection of flawed assumptions, and was tied to the misguided hope that the US will to fight could be broken in a reasonably short period of time with a "decisive battle" - before the tremendous industrial and military potential of America could be fully brought to bear. In part one, we follow the Japanese from the start of the war to Japan's devastating defeat at the battle of Midway.

http://samuraipodcast.com/ep92-the-pacific-war-island-hopping-and-bomb-dropping

In part 2 of our look at Japan during World War Two, we look at the aftermath of the battle of Midway, the questionable strategy of MacArthur's island hopping campaign, the overlooked Russian contribution to the Pacific war, and speculate on the necessity of dropping the atomic bombs on Japan.

http://samuraipodcast.com/ep48-the-mis-in-the-pacific-theater-during-wwii

In this episode we move forward in time to World War Two and talk about the documentary screening we attended, MIS - Human Secret Weapon. MIS is a documentary about the US Military Intelligence Service, a top-secret program created by the US government to prepare for war with Japan, comprised of Japanese Americans who acted as translators, interrogators, spies, soldiers, and negotiators in the war against Japan during WWII. Their contribution to the war effort is immeasurable, and were credited by General MacArthur with shortening the war by two years.

 

From the Proposed Commemorative Deck of Playing Cards thread at: http://www.ww2f.com/topic/57511-need-help-with-list-of-most-famous-wwii-warships/page-3

Jack of Clubs: the sledge hammer loss. The truly brutal one.

HMAS Yarra: lost 4 March 1942, One for the ages. Fought to the death and then some.
At 6:30 am on 4 March 1942, as the sun rose in a 'glorious splash of colour', the lookout in Yarra (II) sighted the topmasts of Admiral Kondo's heavy cruisers Atago, Takao and Maya to the north north east.
Immediately LCDR Rankin made an enemy report, ordered the ships of the convoy to scatter and placing his ship between
them and the enemy, laid smoke while preparing to engage ships mounting each ten 8-inch guns with his three 4-inch guns.
Against such fire power, superior range and speed the task was hopeless, yet Yarra (II) fought and kept on fighting as one by one the four ships were smashed and sunk.
Yarra (II) was then on fire and listing heavily to port but still shooting.
LS Taylor manning the last remaining gun kept on firing until he too was killed and Yarra (II), except for the crackling flames and the shouts of men, at last fell silent.
Soon after 8:00 am, Rankin ordered 'Abandon Ship' minutes before he was killed when an 8-inch salvo hit the bridge.
Of Yarra (II)'s total complement of 151, 138 including the Captain and all officers were killed in the action or died subsequently on the rafts.
Lieutenant Commander Robert William Rankin
http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-yarra-ii

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9ppb0fsYFM

 

War College : REUTERS - NEWS & POLITICS

There are some interesting (often news related) diverse podcasts here: http://blogs.reuters.com/war-college/

Or alternatively (in a slightly easier format to scan through): http://podbay.fm/show/1023774600

In the main they are mostly contemporary, or near contemporary, but often reference events in WW2 etc.

Some reviews: http://podbay.fm/show/1023774600/reviews

 

This is a few years old, but I very much enjoyed watching it:



The thesis is that the U.S. military doesn't fire anybody anymore and that that is a bad thing - but perhaps not for the reasons you might be thinking. Most of the analysis is of American Army and Marine Generals in the Second World War with some sidelights on the British.

 

A diary of a Dutch civilian towards the end of the war - it's being updated day by day as if the events were taking place this year:

http://www.dagboekvankokolijn.nl/home-english

The translation isn't perfect, but it's readable - an interesting mix of world events and the jejune minutiae.

 

A good Youtube channel some of you might like. History Buffs - it reviews historical films for authenticity.

Latest Episode: Saving Private Ryan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1aGH6NbbyE

But do look back at the other episodes because some are most enjoyable.

https://www.youtube.com/c/historybuffslondon/videos

 

Hey all,

I was just looking over this thread. The second world war podcast mentioned in the original post seems to have changed its url.

A fellow named Angus (I can't remember his last name, I'm afraid) has a new podcast called The WW2 Podcast. In most episodes he's talking with the authors of new books, but he's also talked with some people restoring old vehicles and the like.

I think he's at 23 episodes so far.

http://ww2podcast.com/

 

Hum.

Thanks Seroster, I think I recall back in December of last year (2015) them saying on their blog that they were going to stop podcasting on WW2 for a bit (after getting as far as the fall of Poland) and focus back more on their podcast on the US civil war.

There are still a lot of sites that "say" that they link to this series - but all of them I have tried (so far) seem to go to dead air - i.e.
https://www.google.co.uk/#q=second+world+war+podcast+Youngdahl

...so it looks like perhaps the whole series has been taken down - either temporarily - or for good - which is a shame (if so)

The http://civilwarpodcast.org/

Blog also says that the male host - Richard recently had surgery...

http://civilwarpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/IMG_1144.jpg

But is/was recovering according to the last update that they gave.

It is never easy to stay on top of all these things!

All the best,

Rm

 

Two lectures back to back:

- Nigel Hamilton on Monty in North Africa
- Col. Roger Cirillo on Patton.