We Have Ways of Making You Talk

Al Murray and James Holland mark Remembrance Day by reading an extract of Keith Douglas’s military memoir Alamein to Zem Zem and his poem Vergissmeinnicht (Forget-me-not). #WeHaveWays wehavewayspodcast@gmail.com Producers: Harry Lineker & Joey McCarthy Exec Producer: Tony Pastor A Goalhanger Films Production  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Leading military historian John McManus describes the situation facing American soldiers on Omaha Beach on D-Day. He also talks to James Holland about the the current appetite in the States for studying World War Two. And Jim Gavin makes his customary appearance #WeHaveWays. A Goalhanger Films Production Produced by Joey McCarthy  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Al Murray and James Holland take a deep dive into the events of 1939 as first the Germans and then the Russians invade Poland. A Goalhanger Films Production Produced by Harry Lineker  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

At the start of June, 1942, the Japanese navy ruled the Pacific. A week later US forces had won a decisive battle that would change the course of the war. Leading US historian Craig Symonds tells James Holland why the Battle of Midway was so decisive and describes the key characters and action. A Goalhanger Films Production Produced by Joey McCarthy  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Burma and Operation Varsity James Holland describes the role of General Slim in turning round the fortunes of the British forces in Burma. Al Murray explains how the airborne success of Operation Varsity was principally built on the lessons learnt in Arnhem. A Goalhanger Films production Produced by Harry Lineker and Joey McCarthy  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Major-General Stuart Watson describes his experiences on Sword Beach on D-Day to James Holland. He also recounts the sights and smells of the Falaise Pocket. Finally he tells James about his journey with XXX Corps to the bridge at Nijmegen. A bonus episode of We Have Ways of Making You Talk. A Goalhanger Films Production.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Al Murray reads an extract from Spike Milligan’s war time memoir Mussolini: His Part in My Downfall. Al and James then discuss the effects of the war on Milligan’s mental health and James provides historical context to the author’s time in Italy. A Goalhanger Films production Produced by Harry Lineker & Joey McCarthy  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Major-General Stuart Watson landed on Sword Beach on D-Day. In this bonus episode of We Have Ways of Making You Talk Major-General Watson tells James Holland about his training with amphibious tanks in anticipation of the invasion. A Goalhanger Films production Produced by Joey McCarthy  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

No German military leader of World War Two has a greater reputation than Erwin Rommel. Such was his perceived threat to Hitler and the Nazi hierarchy that on October 14th, 1944, he was pushed to commit suicide rather than face a trial for alleged involvement in the plot to assassinate the Führer. Seventy five years on from his death James Holland and Al Murray assess Rommel’s war time record and debate the truth of his reputation as an apolitical and decent man. A Goalhanger Films production Produced by Harry Lineker and Joey McCarthy  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the autumn of 1944 German troops murdered more than 700 Italian civilians in one village. James Holland visits the scene seventy five years on.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Al Murray and James Holland discuss the terrible price paid by Poland in World War Two. Also, why is there a Russian tank on London’s Old Kent Road? Plus the lads discuss the role and reputation of Field Marshall Alan Brooke. A Goalhanger Films production  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Did Russia have aspirations to march the Red Army all the way to Paris? Al Murray and James Holland debate Soviet intentions in 1945. The lads also name their favourite war museums and look back on their time in Arnhem and Nijmegen.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Al Murray and James Holland stand on the banks of the Neder-Rijn in the exact spot that the remnants of the 1st Airborne Division rowed and swam back across the river after nine days of hell in Arnhem. Was the operation doomed from the start? Or a risk worth taking? A Goalhanger Films production. Recorded in Holland.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Why did General Gavin not take the vital bridge at Nijmegen as soon as his 82nd Airborne Division landed in Holland? A hugely controversial decision to concentrate instead on the Groesbeek Heights is debated here by James Holland and Dutch historian R G Poulussen. A Goalhanger Films production. Produced in Nijmegen, Holland.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On day four of Operation Market Garden, British commanding officer Roy Urquhart gave up trying to relieve John Frost at Arnhem bridge and instead ordered his remaining men to form a defensive perimeter around the village of Oosterbeek. Al Murray explores the small pocket in which three thousand British troops grimly hung on waiting for a relief force that would never arrive. A Goalhanger Films production.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.