Podcasts about allied invasion

Last time we spoke about the invasion of Mindanao. In April 1945, the US launched the invasion of Mindanao under General Eichelberger, focusing on Illana Bay. Initial assaults were swift, and American forces quickly captured vital areas due to the disarray among Japanese troops, who were struggling with low morale and supply shortages. The Japanese were under significant pressure, with commanders ill-prepared to mount a robust defense as American troops advanced toward Davao. Fierce battles unfolded, including attempts to seize key positions, but Japanese forces, that included remnants from earlier campaigns, faced overwhelming and relentless assaults. Despite stiff resistance in some areas, the Americans ultimately made considerable territorial gains, significantly weakening Japanese positions. This successful operation in Mindanao laid crucial groundwork for further advances in the Pacific theater, marking a decisive phase in the war as the tide turned heavily in favor of the Allies. As this chapter closed, it was evident that the end of Japanese resistance in the region was drawing near. This episode is the Allied Invasion of Borneo Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  A long time ago, in a galaxy far away we talked about the Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies. Now it is time to talk about how the Dutch strikes back. . . well not exactly, but I wanted to finish the star wars reference. For an extended period, the Australian forces that had valiantly fought on the island of New Guinea during a crucial phase of the Allied war effort had been assigned to garrison duties in remote areas, conducting minor offensives against a desperate enemy more concerned with obtaining food than engaging in battle. At the same time, General MacArthur deemed it politically unwise for Australians to take a prominent role in reclaiming the Philippines, an American territory, and he also found it politically unfavorable for American troops to participate in restoring Dutch and British authority in the Indies. Recognizing the urgent need to secure the oilfields of British and Dutch Borneo to supply accessible oil for the push toward Japan, Lieutenant-General Leslie Morshead's 1st Australian Corps was designated for the operation to retake Borneo, known as Operation Oboe. Should note that after a period of illness, suffering from malaria and a skin condition, the fighting General George Alan Vasey had finally recovered by February 1945. General Blamey, who still had doubts about his physical fitness despite Vasey being given an A by an Army medical board, reluctantly appointed him to command the 6th Division, then in action in the Aitape-Wewak campaign. Vasey then flew north to take up his new command. The aircraft Vasey was travelling in, RAAF Lockheed Hudson A16-118, took off from RAAF Station Archerfield on the afternoon of March 5, 1945. Due to a cyclone that was ravaging the Queensland coast at the time, the aircraft crashed into the sea about 400 metres out from Machans Beach, just north of the mouth of the Barron River, 2 kilometres short of the Cairns Airport. Vasey was killed in the crash along with all those on board. His body was recovered from the crash site and was buried with full military honours in Cairns cemetery along with those of Major-General Rupert Downes and Lieutenant-Colonel G. A. Bertram. Vasey's concern for his men outlived him. The men called him 'Bloody George', not after his casualties, but after his favourite adjective, and Vasey's personable style of command attracted immense loyalty from them. "Vasey owns the 7th," wrote a Melbourne journalist, "but every man in the division believes he owns Vasey." Thus now it fell to General Steven to retain command of the 6th Division at that time already engaged in combat at Aitape-Wewak, the initial plan was to land Brigadier David Whitehead's 26th Brigade at Tarakan on April 23 to establish an airstrip for supporting aircraft for subsequent operations, specifically an assault on Balikpapan by the remaining forces of Major-General George Wootten's 9th Division on May 18. Following that, ten days later, a brigade was set to land at Bandjarmasin to secure air support for the planned invasion of Java by the entire corps on June 27. Ultimately, the operations at Bandjarmasin and Java were cancelled; the Tarakan landing was postponed to May 1; the Balikpapan invasion would instead be conducted by Major-General Edward Milford's 7th Division on July 1; and the 9th Division was tasked with the invasion of Brunei Bay on June 10. Consequently, by the end of March, Morshead's headquarters and the entire 9th Division had relocated to Morotai, where they would prepare and rehearse for the impending invasion. In March 1944, General Doihara Kenji organized the 7th Area Army to establish a new defensive line across Malaya, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. Yes you heard that right, General Doihara Kenji. For those of you who listen to my Fall and Rise of China podcast, this guy is that infamous intelligence officer who worked on nearly all the significant false flag operations during the second sino-Japanese war. Working as an intelligence officer he played a key role in the orchestration of the Huanggutun Incident, Mukden Incident, kidnapping of Emperor Puyi and Marco Polo Bridge Incident, amongst countless other “incidents”. He was a bonafide mastermind behind numerous false flag operations and the Manchurian drug trade earning the moniker Lawrence of Manchuria.  Now, anticipating an impending enemy invasion, Lieutenant-General Yamawaki Masataka reorganized the Borneo Defence Army into the 37th Army in September, placing it directly under General Terauchi's Southern Army. This force gradually received reinforcements from the 56th and 71st Independent Mixed Brigades, the 25th Independent Mixed Regiment, and several smaller units. Despite this, the command was understrength and poorly equipped, as most of the available equipment and experienced troops were reassigned to more critical locations in the Southwest Pacific. By the end of the year, under the leadership of Lieutenant-General Baba Masao, the 37th Army had stationed the majority of Major-General Nozaki Seiji's 56th Independent Mixed Brigade at Tawau, Major-General Yamamura Hyoe's understrength 71st Independent Mixed Brigade at Kuching, most of Colonel Iemura Shinichi's 25th Independent Mixed Regiment on Tawi-Tawi Island, Rear-Admiral Kamada Michiaki's 22nd Naval Special Base Force at Balikpapan, along with three battalions in Sandakan, two battalions and a naval unit in Tarakan, and one battalion each in Kudat, Beaufort, and Miri. However, in 1945, both Baba and Terauchi recognized that the enemy was likely to first target strategic locations on the east coast before establishing a strong presence in western Borneo to prepare for an invasion of Malaya. Consequently, they decided that the majority of the 37th Army should be concentrated around Brunei Bay, leading to orders for the 56th Independent Mixed Brigade to march overland toward northern Borneo. The 370th Independent Battalion remained in Tawau, while the 369th Independent Battalion was sent to garrison Bandjarmasin. Additionally, half of the 454th Independent Battalion was dispatched to Balikpapan, and the other half to Bandjarmasin. This left only the 455th Independent Battalion and part of the 2nd Guard Unit at Tarakan. Early in April the strength of the Japanese force on Tarakan was estimated at about 4000 of whom 2500 were base troops. On the eve of the attack, however, largely because of information indicating that a battalion had been moved from Tarakan to Balikpapan, it was estimated that only 1500 to 2000 troops remained on the island. Aerial photographs showed five gun positions on the south-eastern tip of the island covering the channel along which ships normally entered Tarakan. Round Lingkas and Tarakan there seemed to be 15 anti-aircraft guns, and 9 medium and 5 light anti-aircraft guns seemed to be round the airfield. The whole of Lingkas beach was protected by parallel rows of posts, rails and pipes driven into the mud and extending into the sea to a distance of 125 yards from high-water mark; and between the beach and the road was an anti-tank ditch about 25 feet wide. A group of oil tanks was near the beach and, as it was possible that the Japanese might try to impede an attacker by flooding the oil over the sea and the swamp near the Pamusian River and setting it alight, the air force had taken pains to destroy these tanks. Field works could be seen; there were concrete pill-boxes built by the Dutch; and it was suspected that, here as elsewhere, tunnels had been dug into the hills.  Units stationed at Sandakan were also ordered to move toward Brunei, leaving the 554th Independent Battalion behind. Furthermore, due to the challenges in supplying Tawi-Tawi, the 25th Independent Mixed Regiment was withdrawn to Borneo in February and instructed to march toward Jesselton, where it was expected to arrive in May. During this time, little was done to enhance the island's defenses, and the overland marches took a significant toll on the soldiers' stamina. Meanwhile, enemy air raids intensified, severely disrupting communications. Between April 11 and 29, Air Commodore Arthur Harry Cobby's Australian 1st Tactical Air Force, along with Major-General Paul Wurtsmith's 13th Air Force, conducted several air assaults on Tarakan and Tawau, targeting oil storage tanks, artillery positions, radar stations, defenses, and various buildings. On April 27, Rear-Admiral Forrest Royal's Task Group 78.1 departed Morotai, carrying Whitehead's 26th Brigade, protected by Admiral Berkey's cruisers and destroyers. Over the next two days, this force executed a naval bombardment on shore targets while a minesweeping unit cleared and marked the approach route within 800 yards of the beach and Sadau Island. Early on April 30, the 2/4th Commando Squadron landed unopposed on Sadau, where they established an artillery battery to support the engineers in clearing obstacles from the invasion beaches. After successfully completing the task with just a few sniper and mortar attacks, the main convoy reached the southwest coast of Tarakan Island an hour before sunrise on May 1. Following a heavy air and naval bombardment prior to landing, Whitehead's assault waves began their approach to the shore, supported by rocket fire from the LCI gunboats. Around 08:00, the 2/23rd and 2/48th Battalions landed on Green Beach and Red Beach, respectively, without facing any opposition. However, once they moved inland, they encountered intense fire from Lingkas Hill and Roach. The 2/23rd Battalion launched an attack and captured both locations while the 2/48th took the Finch and Parks positions as they advanced to secure the Collins Highway ridge. Throughout the day, the remaining units of the 26th Brigade landed despite poor beach conditions and overcrowding, with the 2/24th Battalion held in reserve along Anzac Highway. By nightfall, the brigade managed to hold an area 2,800 yards wide at the base and up to 2,000 yards deep. Early on May 2, the 2/23rd seized Milko with minimal resistance, advancing further north to the Pages feature and Hospital Spur. Simultaneously, the 2/48th quickly secured Lyons and the junction with Burke Highway, while the 2/24th effectively attacked the Wills, Sturt, and Frank positions with support from aircraft and artillery. In the late afternoon, as one company moved up Anzac Highway toward the airfield, Lieutenant-Colonel George Warfe's other companies converged on the Essex feature, which was captured without opposition during the night. The next morning, the 2/24th attacked the airfield from the south and east; although they successfully took the airfield ridge at a high cost, their late assault on the Rippon position to the north was repelled by determined enemy defenders. At the same time, the 2/48th conducted reconnaissance towards the Peter and Sykes features, while the 2/23rd managed to secure the area between Gleneleg Highway and Pamusian. However, their assaults on Hospital Spur and Tarakan Hill were unsuccessful. Fortunately, Burke Ridge was found abandoned on May 4. By then, Whitehead had already instructed the 2/23rd to advance east and join the 2/24th in their attacks on the airfield, with the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion and the 2/4th Commando Squadron taking over their positions in the west. The commandos then launched an attack on Tarakan Hill. Despite being initially held down by fierce enemy fire, they eventually forced the defenders off the high ground through sustained pressure, tank support, and a sweeping maneuver to the right. Simultaneously, the 2/48th advanced and successfully took control of the Evans feature, while a company from the 2/24th attacked the Peningkibaru stronghold after an intense artillery barrage, managing to secure the position just in time to fend off the Japanese who had retreated during the bombardment. Additionally, Warfe planned another assault on Rippon, but heavy Japanese shelling ultimately compelled him to call it off. On May 5, as the commandos and pioneers continued to diminish the remaining strongholds on Tarakan Hill, the 2/48th successfully cleared the road north to Otway, although they faced greater resistance near Sykes. Rippon was also discovered to be abandoned and was swiftly captured, though the Japanese still controlled the high ground to the north. Finally, on May 6, the 2/48th launched another attack on Sykes and successfully cleared the hill this time. While capturing the airfield and town accomplished Whitehead's primary objective, the Japanese continued to hold the rugged interior of Tarakan, indicating that much fighting lay ahead until the garrison was completely defeated. By the evening of 6th May fairly copious information obtained from prisoners and Indonesians and from captured documents indicated that the enemy had about 390 naval troops in the Mount Api area, about 400 troops and civilians in the Fukukaku headquarters area, 200 from Sesanip along Snags Track to Otway, 300 on Otway and in District 6, 300 in the Amal River area and 60 at Cape Juata. Having lost the airfield and the water-purifying plant and hospitals "the enemy at this time was displaying a decided disinclination to hold ground. In particular he was shunning any ground which could be subjected to heavy bombing, shelling, or attack by tanks; or against which large-scale attacks could be launched by our troops".The enemy was now directing his operations to delaying the attackers, particularly with mines, booby-traps, suicide raids, and isolated parties fighting to the death in tunnels and dugouts.  After the unsuccessful general attack on April 19, which yielded minimal gains, Generals Hodge and Buckner were preparing to push the offensive southward, fully aware that breaching the first Shuri defense ring would be a slow and costly endeavor. On the western front, the primary enemy positions on Kakazu Ridge had been entirely circumvented, with General Griner directing his troops to advance and focus on cleanup later. Consequently, on April 20, the majority of the 165th Regiment secured the coastal region before launching a southern attack that encountered immediate and fierce resistance in the rugged terrain north of Gusukuma, particularly around Item Pocket.  The center of the Japanese resistance lay in the I section of Target Area 7777, which came to be called "Item Pocket", in military terminology I is called Item. Actually, the pocket was the hub of the enemy position; from it, like spokes of a giant wheel, extended four low ridges, separated from each other by ravines and rice paddies. Potter's Ridge ran north from the hub, Charlie Ridge to the northeast, Gusukuma Ridge to the southeast, and Ryan Ridge to the southwest. Lying between Gusukuma and Charlie Ridges and sloping to the east was a cone-shaped hill called by Americans "Brewer's Hill." A gulch ran along each side of the hill Anderson's Gulch on the north and Dead Horse Gulch on the south. Both ran in an easterly direction, crossing Route 1 at small bridges just north of Gusukuma. The ground was superbly suited for active defense. Typical Japanese positions were connected by tunnels along the sides and under the crests of the ridges; Ryan Ridge, in particular, was honeycombed with such defenses. From Item Pocket the enemy had excellent command both of the coastal areas to the north and west and of the open land to the east where Route 1 ran north-south. The Japanese had long been aware of the defensive value of this position against either a beach landing on the northwest or an attack from the north. Months before the Americans landed, Japanese troops and Okinawan laborers were boring tunnels and establishing elaborate living quarters and aid stations. The area was held by two companies of the 21st Independent Infantry Battalion of the 64th Brigade, 62nd Division, supported by an antitank company, a machine gun company, and elements of antiaircraft, artillery, and mortar units. At least 600 Japanese occupied the Pocket, reinforced by several hundred Okinawans. Only through persistent effort was the 1st Battalion able to reach a position east of Gusukuma by nightfall, while the 2nd Battalion successfully took control of Potter's Ridge and Fox Ridge but failed in its attempts against Ryan Ridge and Item Pocket itself. The leading platoon was well up on the slope of Ryan when Japanese on top opened up with mortars, machine guns, and artillery, cutting off the rest of Company E. While the company commander, his clothes torn by bullets, and the rest of the company straggled back to Fox Ridge, the leading platoon continued doggedly ahead. Its leader, T/Sgt. Earnest L. Schoeff, managed to reach the top with eight of his men despite almost constant fire. He was ordered by radio to hold until relief came. The men hugged the ground as darkness slowly descended. Then from three directions from fifty to sixty heavily armed Japanese set upon the Americans. In wild hand-to-hand fighting the nine men beat off the attack. Pfc. Paul R. Cook fired four cases of ammunition into the enemy, shooting down at least ten before he was killed. With grenades, rifle butts, and the enemy's own weapons, Schoeff and his men killed another dozen before the Japanese withdrew. With two of his men killed, another missing, and two wounded, Schoeff led the survivors back to his company during the night. To the east, the 106th and 105th Regiments tried to advance south towards the village of Iso and the Pinnacles but were hindered by heavy enemy gunfire. In response, Colonel Winn dispatched his 2nd Battalion to maneuver around the East Pinnacle to reach the village of Natama, where Companies F and G were ultimately repelled by a strong Japanese counterattack. As they retreated in chaos, they faced an ambush from Japanese infiltrators, resulting in significant casualties. Despite these challenges, the 106th Regiment and Winn's 3rd Battalion managed to bypass the West Pinnacle and advance with relative ease, halting 200 yards southwest of Iso. Additionally, Winn's 1st Battalion fought its way to the western edge of Kakazu village and nearly cleared Kakazu Ridge to its eastern point before being ordered back to the escarpment to support the 2nd Battalion and halt any enemy breakthroughs. At the same time, General Bradley ordered the 381st and 382nd Regiments to advance toward Nishibaru Ridge and the Tanabaru Escarpment. In response, Colonel Dill's 3rd Battalion moved along Tombstone Ridge, clearing out the enemy from caves and tombs, and reached the southern end just in time to join Colonel Halloran's 1st Battalion for a surprise offensive against Nishibaru. They quickly captured the crest but were ultimately driven back by the determined defenders. However, this partial victory prompted Halloran to deploy the 2nd Battalion in the afternoon for another assault to the south. By day's end, the 381st was entrenched along the northern slope of Nishibaru Ridge, though at a significant cost. Further west, Dill's 2nd Battalion also pushed forward despite persistent fire from the Rocky Crags, where attempts by the 184th and 17th Regiments to attack were unsuccessful. They could not catch up with the 3rd Battalion. Meanwhile, General Arnold targeted Ouki Hill, but his initial assault was quickly halted by enemy mortar and machine-gun fire. Two armored flamethrowers successfully advanced 400 yards ahead of the infantry, neutralizing an enemy mortar position on Ouki Hill's west slope. Consequently, the Americans concentrated their mortars and smoke to cover the enemy positions, allowing a composite company to launch a surprise attack that secured the crest of Ouki Hill, although the isolated troops would soon have to fend off a series of fierce counterattacks. The next morning, the 32nd Regiment launched an attack down Skyline Ridge with two companies. However, they were quickly halted by mortar fire at a deep road cut in the middle of the ridge. Despite this setback, the troops persevered, largely due to Sergeant Theodore MacDonnell's efforts, and eventually gained control of the entire forward face of the ridge. When, east of the road cut, a man in the stalled third platoon, Company E, was killed, Sgt. Theodore R. MacDonnell, a gist Chemical Mortar Company observer, was impelled to drastic action. MacDonnell had frequently joined men on the line and shown qualities of a determined infantryman. Now, infuriated, he gathered up a handful of grenades and ran in the face of the machine-gun fire along the slope to a point underneath the spot where he believed the enemy gun to be located, and then started up the 20-foot embankment. When he looked over the crest he failed to spot the gun, but he did see three enemy soldiers and grenaded them. He made two trips to the bottom of the embankment for fresh supplies of grenades, but it was not until his third trip to the crest that he located the machine gun. MacDonnell then slid back to the bottom, grabbed a BAR, and mounted the embankment with it, only to have the weapon jam after the first shot. He skidded to the bottom, seized a carbine, and went back up for the fifth time. On reaching the crest he stood up and fired point-blank into the machine-gun position, killing the gunner and two covering riflemen. MacDonnell then hurled the machine gun down the slope behind him. A mortar that he found in the position was also sent crashing down the hillside. Sergeant MacDonnell was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism on this occasion. Lt. Fred Capp, commanding Company E, sent troops to reinforce MacDonnell immediately, and the position was consolidated. Then Company F, on orders given as a result of this sudden development, pressed the attack down Skyline Ridge, and by 18:00 the entire forward face of the ridge was occupied and only a knob at the lower tip was causing trouble.  To the west, while Colonel Pachler's Company B attempted another attack on Rocky Crags, Dill's 3rd Battalion reorganized and encircled to reach Nishibaru Ridge via the 381st Regiment, launching an eastward assault that made good headway until they were met with fierce enemy counterattacks that forced them to halt. Simultaneously, Halloran coordinated an attack on Nishibaru, which was successfully repelled by the defenders. Colonel May's 3rd Battalion was then deployed to fill the gap at the gorge. Overnight, a large number of Japanese troops had moved from the Urasoe-Mura Escarpment to set up mortars and machine guns in the Kakazu Pocket, prompting the 27th Reconnaissance Troop to advance toward Kakazu, where they became pinned down at the village's edge. As a result, Colonel Stebbins' 3rd Battalion was ordered to position itself on Kakazu West. Looking west, the majority of the 105th and 106th Regiments were tasked with neutralizing the Pinnacles, but with little success. They did manage to clear the road to the escarpment's summit of mines and obstructions to facilitate tank movements. Finally, Colonel Kelley's 2nd Battalion launched another unsuccessful attack across the mouth of Item Pocket, while Company F attempted to advance along the coast using amphibious tractors but was likewise repelled by intense fire from Ryan Ridge. The 1st Battalion also pushed southwest into Gusukuma, but without armor support, they made minimal progress against the machine guns in the village and fire from Item Pocket attacking from the right rear. The enemy's defense was very effective on the east. Here the 1st Battalion had a major supply problem on its hands. Two blown bridges along Route 1 east of the Item Pocket were holding up vehicles of support units. During the previous night, fire from the Pocket had driven off an engineer platoon working at the site and killed the platoon leader. Early on the 21st Lieutenant Golden, the Bailey bridge expert, came up with ten truckloads of material. His engineers worked for an hour but had to stop in the face of almost ceaseless fire from the Pocket. Colonel Kelley then ordered scouts to find another stream crossing. A bulldozer cut a bypass around Anderson's Gulch near the railroad, but when, about 10:00, the operator nosed his machine out in the open, he was shot in the ear. General Griner, in Colonel Kelley's observation post at the time, ordered Lt. Col. Walter F. Anderson, commander of the 193rd Tank Battalion, to push the bypass through. Anderson himself climbed into his battalion's sole remaining "tank-dozer" and completed the bypass. A 47-mm. anti-tank gun, hitherto silent, scored a direct hit on Anderson's tank, killing him and a guide. The bypass was now blocked and had to be abandoned. This break-down in supply over Route 1 seriously affected operations east of Gusukuma. Colonel Mahoney's 1st Battalion attacked southwest early on the 21st into Gusukuma, but without tanks or cannon the troops made little ground against machine guns in the village and fire from Item Pocket on the right rear. Mahoney's left company did reach a point 400 yards north of the village of Yafusu, the farthest advance yet registered by 24th Corps since April 19, but here the troops were stopped by a network of enemy positions. Concerned about the significant vertical separation between his battalions, Kelley decided to deploy his 3rd Battalion in an effort to fill the gap and simultaneously penetrate Item Pocket. Consequently, the American forces advanced through Dead Horse Gulch, with Company K fighting nearly to the center of the pocket. However, they were ultimately compelled to retreat due to heavy losses and intense counterattacks. On April 22, Kelley opted to hold and enhance his current positions while conducting extensive patrols. Looking to the east, as the 105th Regiment regrouped following a night counterattack from Kakazu, Stebbins' 1st Battalion systematically located and neutralized enemy positions behind them along the escarpment. Brigadier-General William Bradford also took command in the Kakazu area, bolstered by the 3rd Battalion, 17th Regiment, and most of the 2nd Battalion, 165th Regiment, successfully containing the pocket. Further west, the 383rd Regiment replaced the weakened 382nd, while the 2nd Battalion advanced down Nishibaru Ridge to capture the village and higher ground facing Hill 143 to the south. Meanwhile, the 3rd Battalion made minimal progress toward the Gate of the Tanabaru Escarpment. Additionally, Pachler's Company B initiated another attack on the west side of the Rocky Crags, supported by howitzers, tanks, and armored flamethrowers. However, once again, they faced hand grenades and knee mortar shells raining down from above, resulting in heavy casualties and the need to retreat. Finally, the 32nd Regiment maintained control of the forward face of Skyline Ridge but made no attempt to advance, while patrols scoured extensive sections of the southern slope to reach the abandoned eastern face of Hill 178. That night, artillery provided cover to the beleaguered defenders as Colonel Yoshida's 22nd Regiment took over along Skyline Ridge. Following several days of inactivity, 41 kamikaze planes were once again launched on April 22. They successfully sank the minesweeper Swallow and one LCS, while also damaging two destroyers and another minesweeper, resulting in the loss of 25 aircraft. The next day, the 32nd Regiment remained stationed on the north slope of Skyline Ridge, except when conducting patrols or securing caves. This allowed the Japanese defenders to withdraw overnight from their remaining positions around Hill 178. With Company B worn out, the rest of the 1st Battalion, 17th Regiment joined the assault on the Rocky Crags, which fell with little resistance. To the west, medium tanks and armored flamethrowers finally launched a direct attack on Nishibaru Ridge and the Tanabaru Escarpment, successfully destroying most of the enemy positions, although few territorial gains were made. Further west, Winn's 1st Battalion executed a surprise attack on the East Pinnacle, managing to capture the position after fierce hand-to-hand combat. At the same time, the remaining defenders at West Pinnacle initiated a desperate banzai charge towards Iso, where they were ultimately overwhelmed. Kelley then ordered Company I to conduct a probing assault on Ryan Ridge and Item Pocket, while Company C ascended Brewer's Hill but was unable to descend the steep side to join the fight. On April 24, no new attacks were launched due to a confusing mix-up of orders, but preparations were made for an assault the following day. After an artillery barrage, Bradford's task force finally attacked the Kakazu Pocket with four battalions; however, they faced no enemy resistance, as the Japanese had abandoned their positions overnight. To the east, the beleaguered defenders in front of the 96th Division had also retreated, leading to the fall of the Tanabaru Escarpment, its village, Hill 143, and the rest of Nishibaru Ridge without opposition. In a similar manner, the 17th Regiment ascended Hill 178 with only a few scattered artillery rounds landing nearby. The Japanese forces had resisted fiercely for five days, but with the first ring of Shuri defenses breached at multiple points, they chose to withdraw under the cover of heavy mist and light fog the night before. Even so, this advancement was minimal, and it was clear that reaching Shuri would take considerable time given the rate of progress over the first three and a half weeks of the operation. Nonetheless, Buckner believed that any significant landing on the Minatoga beaches or between Machinato airfield and Naha could not be logistically supported and would be vulnerable to strong enemy counterattacks. Therefore, he dismissed proposals to deploy the 77th Division or the 1st Marine Division for these efforts. Instead, it was decided to move the 3rd Marine Corps and the 77th Division from northern Okinawa and Iejima to replace the 24th Corps in the Shuri area. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In April 1945, the Allies launched the invasion of Borneo, led by General Morshead. Swift assaults secured strategic areas against demoralized Japanese troops. Despite fierce resistance, American forces gained ground, crippling Japanese defenses. This victory marked a pivotal moment in the Pacific War, signaling the end of Japanese influence in the region.

The successful Allied capture of Inchon and Seoul, together with the Eighth Army’s breakout from the Pusan Perimeter, forced the North Korean army to rapidly retreat northward and brought the Allied forces to the 38th Parallel. Now, General MacArthur was faced with a decision…should the Allies dig in and consolidate their gains, daring the North Koreans to attack them? Or should they advance further to the north and take control of all Korea? In this episode, Evan and James discuss MacArthur’s fateful decision to…well, listen, and you will find out! Retreat, Hell! In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1952 film Retreat, Hell!, which presents a sweeping overview of the legendary First Marine Division’s actions in the Korean War, from training camp, to the Inchon landing, to their battles with Chinese forces in North Korea, and finally to their eventual evacuation. Get ready to join in a rousing chorus of the Marine Corps Hymn with Sean and James as they review this fun flick.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Joe Biden links WW2 and the war in Ukraine in his D-Day anniversary address. The U.S. and allies warn that China is intensifying efforts to recruit Western military pilots. Nvidia's CEO is the star of the show at Taiwan's Computex trade show. And, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft docks with the ISS, but not without problems. All that and more with Julia Chatterley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It marked a turning point World War Two. Had history played out differently, the outcome may very well have been different. Tens of thousands died and those who survived pushed on until all of Europe was wrenched from Nazi control. Tune in for this special short segment to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/historylovescompany/support

2 + Hours dedicated to the 80th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944First a look at this day in History.Then early morning audio as the news broke from Europe, all unconfirmed, until a short wave broadcast from the Allied Expeditionary Force headquarters broadcast via short wave from London confirmed the Allied Invasion had begun. Next, commentator HV Kaltenborn at 11am Eastern War Time with commentary and analysis on the first hours of the allied invasion of Europe., followed by A Poem and Prayer For An Invading Army. Ronald Colman reads the poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay. The first reading of the poem the poetess wrote for D-Day.Then a very subdued Fibber McGee and Molly with a program of Patriotic Music by Billy Mills orchestra and the Kings Men. Followed by abbreviated shows from Bob Hope and Red Skelton. Bob's last show of the season was, I'm sure, not what they planned.  And Red Skelton was to have had a farewell show, as he was heading off for military service.  Sadly, the show gets cut off for time. Then a prayer given by President Franklin Roosevelt for the invading troops.  That is followed by President Reagan's address from the D-Day beach-head at Normandy, France. The broadcast originates from the American cemetery on Omaha Beach on the fortieth anniversary of D-Day on June 6, 1984, 40 years ago today. Finally Superman, originally broadcast June 6, 1941, 83 years ago, Mr Deutch and the Radium Mine.   Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen are seen watching Dr. Deutch's radium mine. Dr. Julius Browning, a prisoner in the mine, is located.Thanks to Richard for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.stream

Eighty years ago, the liberation of Europe from the horrors of the Nazis began with Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy. Nearly 200,000 thousand soldiers, principally Americans, Brits and Canadians, landed on June 6, 1944, across five beach sectors. Malcolm Brabant is in northern France and met some of the veterans of D-Day. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Eighty years ago, the liberation of Europe from the horrors of the Nazis began with Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy. Nearly 200,000 thousand soldiers, principally Americans, Brits and Canadians, landed on June 6, 1944, across five beach sectors. Malcolm Brabant is in northern France and met some of the veterans of D-Day. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

This podcast covers the Allied invasion at Normandy. It was the largest and most complex amphibious invasion in history. The actual date of the invasion was pushed back a number of times due to changes in the plan.  Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and a half a million military vehicles would need to be brought to the beaches at Normanday. As early as the 1930s, the US military began looking for ways to safely bring troops from ships to beaches. A shipbuilder in New Orleans named Andrew Jackson Higgins modified one of his boats to meet the US military's specifications. It became known as the Higgins boat. These boats were a game changer. It allowed Allied troops to get to shore. This is why the US WWII museum is located in New Orleans. The area became essential to the war industry and the success of the war.    We do not want to spoil the rest of the podcast in the description, so dig in and take a listen!   Jimmy & Jean

By the summer of 1943, there were Allied boots on Axis soil. Sicily had been taken, and fascism's grip on Italy was beginning to loosen. But Allied command was faced with a tough decision - what to do next?Dan is joined by historian, author and broadcaster, James Holland, to explain why they decided to invade Italy proper and tell us how the invasion played out.Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.Discover the past with exclusive history documentaries and ad-free podcasts presented by world-renowned historians from History Hit. Watch them on your smart TV or on the go with your mobile device. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code DANSNOW sign up now for your 14-day free trial.We'd love to hear from you! You can email the podcast at ds.hh@historyhit.com.You can take part in our listener survey here.

fWotD Episode 2400: British logistics in the Western Allied invasion of Germany Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of the featured Wikipedia article every day.The featured article for Thursday, 30 November 2023 is British logistics in the Western Allied invasion of Germany.British logistics supported the operations of Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery's Anglo-Canadian 21st Army Group in the Western Allied invasion of Germany from 8 January 1945 until the end of the Second World War in Europe on 8 May 1945. To conserve scarce manpower, the British and Canadian forces employed mechanisation and materiel for maximum effect in combat operations. This involved prodigious use of ammunition, fuel and equipment, which in turn demanded a first-class military logistics system. By this time, the British Army was highly experienced, professional and proficient.Originally scheduled to start at the beginning of January 1945, when the ground would have been frozen, Operation Veritable, the 21st Army Group's advance to the Rhine, was delayed for five weeks by the German Ardennes Offensive. It was therefore conducted over muddy and sometimes flooded ground, and roads were sometimes impassable even to four-wheel-drive vehicles. The offensive was supported by 600 field and 300 medium guns. Over 2.5 million rounds of 25-pounder ammunition were made available. The army roadheads were mainly supplied by rail. Fuels were brought by tankers and the Operation Pluto pipeline from the UK, and delivered by barge and pipeline to the army roadheads. Special arrangements were made to supply the Royal Air Force's Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation, which consumed 410,000 litres (90,000 imp gal) a night, and Gloster Meteor jet fighters, which consumed 14,000 litres (3,000 imp gal) of kerosene each day. Montgomery's armies were reinforced by the redeployment of three divisions from Italy under Operation Goldflake.The next major operation was Operation Plunder—the assault crossing of the Rhine on 23 March. For this the British Second Army and the US Ninth Army deployed 2,144 field and medium guns, augmented by 3,337 anti-aircraft guns and anti-tank guns. A large force of engineer units was assembled for the operation: 37,000 British and Canadian engineers and pioneers, and 22,000 American engineers. Every available amphibious craft was collected, and they were joined by a Royal Navy contingent of 36 LCMs and 36 LCVPs that were transported by road across Holland and Belgium to participate. Operation Plunder included an airborne operation, Operation Varsity, in which two airborne divisions were landed with a day's supply of food, fuel and petrol. Engineers soon had bridges in operation over the Rhine that were later superseded by more permanent road and rail bridges.During the first three weeks of April 1945, the 21st Army Group advanced about 320 kilometres (200 mi) across northern Germany to reach the Elbe on 19 April and then the Baltic Sea. Until the railway bridges could be brought into operation, maintenance depended entirely on road transport. The 21st Army Group allocated further road transport capacity to the armies by shifting vehicles from the rear areas and immobilising units that were not immediately needed. The corps sometimes had to send their transport back to the army roadheads to assist when major operations were required. The high use of road transport meant that the Second Army burned 7,600 tonnes (7,500 long tons) of petrol a day, but pipelines were laid across the Rhine at Emmerich and were in operation by the end of April. On 4 May, Montgomery took the surrender of the German forces in front of the 21st Army Group.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:01 UTC on Thursday, 30 November 2023.For the full current version of the article, see British logistics in the Western Allied invasion of Germany on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm Olivia Neural.

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/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

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/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

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) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

Captain Warren “Bing” Evans served in World War II as a Ranger. The Rangers were an elite American task force that trained and operated with the famous British Commandos. Using the element of surprise as their main weapon, the Rangers played an important role in the Invasion of Normandy, the Dieppe Raid, and many other significant campaigns.  In this episode Evans recounts the allied invasion of Italy, including the landing at Salerno and the battles of Monte Cassino, Anzio, and Cisterna. He also describes being captured and escaping from a prisoner of war camp in Poland. If you'd like to learn more about Captain Evans, check out his book, Heroes Cry Too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Corporal Ted Fleser served as an Army Ranger during World War II. He was a BAR gunner (Browning Automatic Rifle), and fought in North Africa and the Allied Invasion of Sicily.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Spybrary the Spy Podcast, host Shane Whaley sits down with guest Michael Smith, an intelligence historian and author of The Real Special Relationship: The True Story of How the British and US Secret Services Work Together. Michael Smith delves into the origins of the special relationship between the UK and the US, focusing on their collaboration in code-breaking during World War II and the subsequent intelligence sharing during the Cold War. The book covers key figures, such as Winston Churchill, Ian Fleming, Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Kim Philby, and Edward Snowden. Drawing on his personal experience in British military intelligence, Michael Smith provides a behind-the-scenes look at the close collaboration and alignment of intelligence that drives decision-making in both nations. The episode delves into various anecdotes and stories, including the recovery of a Soviet jet from a lake in West Berlin. Join Shane Whaley and Michael Smith as they explore the fascinating world of UK and US secret services and their unique relationship. Join the Spybrary Community today!

In the final days of the great defeat of Rommel's Panzerarmee Afrika at El Alamein, a new enemy appeared to threaten the Axis position in North Africa. For the first time in the war, America took the field against the Nazis as they invaded the Vichy French territories of Morocco and Algeria. Join Sean and James as they discuss Operation Torch, the epic Allied invasion of North Africa.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/4747725/advertisement

June 6, 2023 was the 79th anniversary of the Allied Invasion of Europe on June 6, 1944. From five beaches in Normandy, France Americans at Omaha and Utah beaches, the British at Gold and Sword and the Canadians at Juno took on Hitler's “Atlantic Wall.” It was in September 1991 that René Lafayette visited the American military cemetery at Colleville Sur Mer. In this episode Mr. Lafayette remembers that event.

Today's episode consists of two segments reporting on Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa. The first segment is a November 7, 1942, CBS special report on the invasion with updates from Eric Sevareid, Edward R. Murrow and George Fielding Eliot. Our second segment is the CBS World News Today of November 8, 1942, with further reporting on the invasion, as well as updates on other theaters in the war. Be sure to visit our website at BrickPickleMedia.com/podcasts, where you can find links to past episodes, as well as the books featured in our podcasts. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/worldwar2radio/support

The Mother of Normandy Doug Stebleton pt 1 http://www.motherofnormandy.com/ ()June 6, 1944.  Commonly referred to as D-Day – the Normandy Invasion. Every year, more and more of the heroes of that day are passing away. Soon, there will be none. When that day comes, a page will turn in the history books. But to capture the heart and soul of that day, to keep it forever in the forefront of our memories, became a passion of our guest today. Doug Stebleton decided it was time for the world to know some of the people that turned survival into victory. That turned their fears into courage. That turned the sorrow of over 5,000 dead and buried in one small town into a life-long ministry of compassion and to tell the story of many stories, all in order to honor those who gave their all to keep the world free. Doug Stebleton has been working in the entertainment business since 1987. Born and raised in Glasgow, Montana, he came to Hollywood at age 19 and has lived and worked in southern California since then. His expertise is music publishing for film and television. His company owns a catalog of songs that are licensed to film and television studios and to independent productions. Doug is not only a film producer, but an author as well. But it is his love of history that drives him to make films and documentaries that are inspiring, informative and educational – all at the same time. His love and passion for history led Doug to create and produce the film, http://www.motherofnormandy.com/ (“The Mother of Normandy,”) which he has turned into a hard cover book and, recently, an e-book! Praise God! The film and book we are talking about is called, http://www.motherofnormandy.com/ (“The Mother of Normandy,”) which details the life of one woman, Simone Renaud, who lived through the German occupation and witnessed the 82nd Airborne and 101st Airborne Divisions parachuting into their town, Sainte Mere Eglise. What initially led you to start researching her and ultimately, creating a documentary honoring her? Her town was the first town liberated by the Allied Invasion. So they were taken by surprise by the invasion, like the Germans? Doug shares how the cemeteries in this town came to be and how the “mayor” of the town started to receive letters from American families wanting information on their fallen soldiers… Simone Renaud became famous when a photograph of her in “Life Magazine” showed her putting flowers on the grave of Brig. General Teddy Roosevelt, Jr.  How did her life change after that was published? CONTACT INFORMATION: http://www.motherofnormandy.com/ ()      http://www.motherofnormandy.com/ (www.TheMotherofNormandy.com)  

Today Preston and Sayre are joined by Ben Meredith. Ben has a doctorate of education from Pepperdine University and from 1983-1994, served as an active duty infantry officer, including command of an infantry company during Desert Shield/Storm. Our focus of conversation with Ben entails the 1943 Allied Invasion of Sicily, codenamed "Operation Husky." Operation Husky was a large amphibious and airborne operation, followed by a six-week land campaign, and initiated the Italian Campaign. We discuss the role the United States played in this complex operation, including the 82nd Airborne Division's pivotal role in establishing America's newly-created paratroopers. The lessons learned from Husky helped set the stage for the main land invasion of Europe on D-Day less than a year later.

Back in 2016 I started a short-lived podcast on my original King-Size Comics Giant-Size Fun Podcast feed, titled WAR IS HELL, a podcast devoted to the War Comic Stories published by DC Comics. This first episode was released on June 6th, 2016, the 72nd Anniversary of D-Day and the Allied Invasion of Nazi-controlled French Normandy. To kick off the podcast and note that historic day,  I dove into the first installment of Sam Glanzman's "U.S.S Stevens" feature from the Joe Kubert Presents Anthology title.   I recently uncovered the original recordings on a computer scrub, and now am releasing them (untouched) onto the new KSCGSF feed. As always, you can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes under the KSCGSF podcast feed.   Thank you to all of our brave service members, past and present, who have protected our freedom. All gave some, some gave all.   LISTENING OPTIONS: https://kscgsf.libsyn.com/ KINGSIZECOMICSGIANTSIZEFUN.BLOGSPOT.COM Or just search for KSCGSF on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Feedback for the podcast can be left here at the blog & show headquarters. Be sure to follow the podcast page on facebook, just search for King-Size Comics Giant-Size Fun and follow me on twitter @ KyleBenning_Art This podcast is made for entertainment purposes only, no money is made or derived from this podcast, all characters discussed, songs and sound clips are copyright of their respective owners, and used under fair use, no infringement is intended.

In When Hell Struck Twelve, the 14th installment in James R. Benn’s series of World War Two mysteries, the Allied Invasion of France is underway, but the war is far from over for U.S. Army Captain, and special detective for General Eisenhower, Billy Boyle and his friend and fellow warrior, Lieutenant Piotr Kazimierz—known as Kaz.... Read more »

As the Second World War fades from living memory, D-Day, the Allied operation whose success led to the liberation of France and the rest of Western Europe from Axis forces, continues to serve as a microcosm for the preservation of democratic values in the world today. For those who fought, D-Day has important lessons to teach about how the past is remembered and what stories we tell to future generations. In this On War and Society Special Episode, guest host Kyle Pritchard talks with producer Elliott Halpern to discuss a new documentary airing on History, formerly the History Channel, on June 1st, 2019 at 9 pm. “D-Day in 14 Stories” blends first-hand accounts with re-enactments and animated renderings of the landings and is exclusively narrated by veterans and witnesses of the Allied Invasion of Normandy. To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the landings next month, "D-Day in 14 Stories" offers a varied account of the strategic and personal challenges veterans and others faced. Elliott Halpern is an Emmy-award winning producer. He is the owner and creative director of yap films and has produced, written and directed many outstanding feature length films for television. He has previously produced Canad's War in Colour (2005), Vimy Ridge: Heaven to Hell (2007) and Black Watch Snipers (2016). References Elliott Halpern, D-Day in 14 Stories. Documentary. Directed by Jamie Kastner. Toronto: History, Yap Films, June 2019.

Joined this week by comedian Teddy Daniels and mean girl Kerri Burke, we tell the story of Lloyd Fredendall, the worst American General in World War 2. Fredendall's reputation as a coward and an awful field commander nearly ruin the Allied Invasion in North Africa. Luckily for the US, we had a guy named Patton just waiting in the wings to take over. A very fun episode.

In today’s show, we are going to talk about the milk cows that we have chosen for our central enterprise of cheesemaking – Normande Cows Today’s Show Topics Homestead Life Updates The Normande Cow Breed Crème Fraîche Recipe Homestead Life Updates Scott has been out pruning trees for a couple of days, but taking a nap now. It’s raining. AGAIN. Yesterday and the day before were filled with getting the trees in shape. There are 80 plus trees in our small orchard. Apples, peaches, cherries, plums, pears, mulberries, kiwis and elderberries are the fruit trees/bushes. Hazelnut, pecans, almonds are the nut trees. He got about 40% complete on the blueberries and blackberries before the rain hit. There are a few raspberry and grape plants around as well. I probably missed one or two in that list. The orchard is a favorite project for him. It’s a lot of work, but he loves it. We have a beehive back there also for pollination. Farmer’s Market We were at the Wytheville Farmer’s market this past Saturday. Got to meet lots of new people. A shout out and thanks for your patronage. March 9th is the next market date.  We will have ground lamb and goat as well as some awesome soup bones. You get a free recipe card with each purchase. If you buy a whole or half lamb you get the All Lamb Cookbook. It contains recipes for every cut of lamb in your package. We want to make is easy for you to get the most out of your lamb. I will admit that the Indian Lamb Curry is my favorite. It’s made from the boneless shoulder roast cut into bite-sized pieces. March 23rd market we will have ground beef as well. Need More Freezer Space Tomorrow we are going to pick up a freezer we loaned out last year. We need it for the beef we are going to have soon. I’m a little bummed about the need that drove the event. Sometimes it’s hard to maintain peace when you have a homestead farm business. Here’s the story. We have a small herd of Normande cows. As I mentioned, I’ll be talking in great detail about that breed today. The purpose of the cows is to provide wonderfully nutritious milk so we can make wonderfully nutritious cheese. In order to make that happen, the cows need to have a calf every year. We milk them for about 9 months and the other 3 months we do not. With the birth of a calf in the spring, the milking process starts again. It’s a continuous life cycle. In order to tell this story properly I need to make a distinction between the cows, the goats, the sheep. Goats and sheep are cute, especially the kids and lambs, and we watch them play and enjoy their beauty. But they are not pets. We have very little hands-on daily interaction with them. The goats get their hooves trimmed regularly and, in the spring, we comb out the cashmere. Otherwise, the goats and sheep pretty much take care of themselves. As far as the cattle, we have the milk cows in one herd. Then there is another herd comprised of steers that resulted from the annual birthing of calves. We grow them out for beef. The bull hangs out there as well until we need him. The steers pretty much take care of themselves as well. We often watch them grazing peacefully but are not physically interacting with them so much. The Milk Cows The milk cows are unique. We interact with the milk cows – just about on a daily basis. These cows are not pets, but there is a special relationship or bond that develops with them. We pet them and hug them and talk to them. Cows are very peaceful animals. It is a pleasure to simply watch them graze. One of the reasons I wanted a milk cow was the experience of peace while sitting beside this beautiful creature and performing the action of milking. We bond with all of our animals. However, the bond with the milk cows is deeper. The difference is that the other animals are raised specifically for meat as food. The milk cows are raised for the luscious milk they make. They get extra-special attention. Today, for the first time in my experience on the farm, we had to cull one of our milk cows. She was gentle and calm as they all are. She had intelligent eyes and a beautiful coat. I’ll talk more about the Normande coloring in a bit. We put a halter on her and led her onto the trailer. She was only slightly adverse and it didn’t take long to get her on the trailer. When we arrived at the processing facility, she was lying on the floor of the trailer not seemingly traumatized at all. Once the door was opened, she got up and Scott led her off the trailer. She got a little antsy at that point when we wanted her to go to an unknown place, but she shortly cooperated. Upon beginning the return journey home, we were both quiet and introspective. It was hard. I think it is the hardest thing I have ever done so far. I’ve seen the aftermath of a coyote attack on our lambs. I found dead lambs and goat kids that perished for reasons unknown. Last year we lost our oldest breeding ewe and her lambs, likely triplets. This past fall we culled an older ewe that twice had issues birthing her triplets. Lilly So, what happened. Lilly was 7 years old. She had a calf in 2014 and she had a calf in 2015. She hasn’t had one since. After more than seven months with the bull this year, she was still cycling. We had to let her go. She was consuming massive amounts of grass and hay and not doing her part to ensure our small enterprise would continue. Perhaps there were extra steps we could have taken to get her to stand for the bull. Or perhaps she had ovarian cysts and could have been treated by the vet but that comes with the possibility of recurrence. I’m sure I will continue to doubt my decision to cull her from the herd. But I stand firm in that it was a decision that had to be made. I had no idea it would be so hard. I was in tears and indeed am tearing up now at the loss of this animal. We hold in our mind the purpose of every animal on our homestead. Each contributes to the whole process of sustainability and diversity on our farm. They must contribute or they must go. At this point I’m pretty sure I’m never going to get used to losing my milk cows. I can’t help but bond with them. And I will cry each time their life with us is over whatever the reason. I hope this isn’t too much of a downer but I feel it is important to honor her life and to share our feelings as we move forward on the homestead. It’s not always roses and butterflies. Thank you for your patience with me as I grieve a little. One way I want to honor her is to share the wonderfulness of her breed and why we chose these cows. The Normande Cow Breed It all started because I like to drink milk but did not want pasteurized milk. And cheesemaking has always been a passion of mine since I first learned how to make it back in 1993. The original plan was for one or two cows. So, we researched and researched. We wanted the milk but also knew to make that happen there would be a calf every year. That means we needed good beef as well. Because our values revolve around living close to and in harmony with nature, we wanted a breed that would do well on pasture without supplemental feed. Finally, we purchased our first cows in the fall of 2011. We bought two for milking and one for beef. I was already enamored with their unique coloring. And as we worked with them, I fell even more in love. Almost all cows have a deeply peaceful quality about them. This breed takes that quality to the next level. It was a defining moment for us in the evolution of our business aspirations. These cows were to become the centerpiece of our homestead. History As the name implies, the breed comes from Normandy, a North–Western region of France. Since Normandy is famous for its Viking influence, many people believe that the breed descended from the cattle the Vikings imported. For over 1,000 years these cattle evolved into a dual-purpose breed to meet the milk and meat needs of the residents of Northwestern France. During the Allied Invasion of Normandy beginning on June 6, 1944 through July 1944, the breed was nearly wiped out. But today they are alive and well. As of 5 years ago there were about 3 million Normande cattle grazing on French pastures, with large numbers in the regions of Normandy, Brittany, and Maine, as well as in the Ardennes and the Pyrenees. Although popular for their beef, they are primarily milk producers. The Colors Have I mentioned that these are gorgeous cows? They have distinctive eye patches. There are three characteristic coat colors sometimes referred to as the three Bs: Blanc (white), Blond (fawn or red) and Brindled (dark brown). It’s kind of hard to describe so I’ll put pictures in the post on the website. Please check them out. I believe I mentioned, they are gorgeous. The arrangements of colors are really varied: Blanc is mostly white, sometimes called quail. The coat is scattered with very small patches of color; The Blond coat has one big fawn or red patch covering almost the entire cow’s body. The belly and head are white and there are those circles around the eyes with all of these coats I’m describing. The brindle is similar to the blond but the large patch is dark brown to black. Normande Around the World The breed has been exported to many different countries, and has thrived in all of them. They adapt well to a wide range of climates. In South America, central Europe, Western Europe, Asia and North America the breed has shown its versatility. While having been exported worldwide, they received their greatest acceptance in South America where they were introduced in the 1890s. Total numbers there now exceed 4 million purebred plus countless Normandy cross breeds. Columbia alone has 1.6 million purebreds with the rest mainly in Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay. They are also growing in countries such as the US, Mexico, Madagascar, Belgium, Switzerland, Great Britain and Ireland. Milk and Cheese Their milk has about 3.5% protein and 4.4% fat, with a 4.2% butterfat content. The reason their milk is so suitable for cheesemaking is because of high levels of Beta Casein and Kappa Casein. We’ll get into that more at a later date. In France, the Normande is associated with the production of famous cheeses such as Camembert de Normandie, Livarot and Pont Leveque (pone liveck). These are all moist, soft, creamy, surface-ripened cheeses. In France, to legally carry the official name the cheese must meet certain requirements for manufacturing location, type of cow, raw and/or pasteurized milk, and specific processes. The official Camembert de Normande is made entirely from raw milk from the Normande breed grazed in the Normandy region of Northwestern France. There are lots and lots of other cheeses from the Normandy region of France, but the three I mentioned require the use of milk from the Normande breed of cow. A Sustainable Breed for a Sustainable Agriculture. Since Normandy cattle have been raised on grass only for many centuries, their grazing ability is highly commended. Long, damp cold muddy French winters and simple forged diets have prepared Normandes for the worst. As I mentioned, today Normandes have spread from the Andes to the tropical coastlines of South America to Ireland and Canada. Because the Normande has not been selected solely on one character, it has retained exceptional qualities often lost by specialized breeding. Highly desirable qualities such as fertility, calving ease, excellent feet and legs and overall heartiness are prominent. Their thick, curly winter hair ensures good protection against the cold. The eye rings are effective against the sun in the summer. The breed also shows remarkable docility which makes the handling of bulls very easy, though you always watch your back. Finally, raised on grass for centuries, the Normandy shows outstanding grazing ability and that works for us. That’s it for your overview of this excellent breed of cow. I hope you enjoyed that little trip through French history. Learning new information is always a joy for me and I hope you were entertained as well. Crème Fraîche Recipe Crème fraîche is similar to sour cream. While sour cream and crème fraîche are both used to add richness and tangy flavor, they are not the same thing. And is it worth taking the extra time to make your own crème fraîche? I’m going to say absolutely, yes, depending on the use. How They’re Made Sour cream is made by adding lactic acid culture to heavy cream and sometimes milk to thicken and sour it. In France, crème fraîche was traditionally made from unpasteurized cream that naturally contained the right bacteria to thicken it. Since our cream is pasteurized here in the US, crème fraîche is now made by adding a fermenting agent with bacteria to heavy cream. So, today’s recipe will be the Americanized version of crème fraîche. The Differences Between Sour Cream & Crème Fraîche Sour cream has a fat content of about 20% and may include ingredients like gelatin, rennin, and vegetable enzymes to stabilize it and make it thicker. Crème fraîche has a fat content of about 30% and does not contain any added thickeners. Crème fraîche is thicker, has a richer flavor, and is less tangy than sour cream. When to Use Crème Fraîche? Use it anywhere you would use sour cream. Because sour cream has less fat but more protein, simmering or boiling it will result in curdling. Crème fraîche is a better choice for sauces or soups. If using in a salad or as a topping, they’re pretty much interchangeable and the choice is yours — some people like the tanginess of sour cream, while others like the richness of crème fraîche. What You Need 2 cups heavy cream 3 tablespoons cultured buttermilk What to Do In a glass jar, combine the buttermilk with the heavy cream. Cover the jar tightly with cheesecloth or other breathable material. Let sit at room temperature (70 to 75 degrees) for 24 hours. Remove cloth, stir. It will be thick but will get thicker. Screw on a lid, and refrigerate for another 24 hours before using. Enjoy! Get the recipe here!! Final Thoughts That’s it for another episode of the Peaceful Heart FarmCast. Work continues on all sorts of farm projects. There is still more to do in the orchard. The garden will be picking up soon. That always adds a bit of hurried activity in the spring. We are looking forward to it. I hope you enjoyed the trip down memory lane and through Normandy, France. We plan to visit one winter when we are not milking our beautiful and gentle cows. Visit us at http://peacefulheartfarm.com/recipes and download that creme fraîche recipe. It’s so fun and satisfying to make things with your own two hands. And in this case, so easy. As always, I’m here to help you “taste the traditional touch.” Thank you so much for listening and until next time, may God fill your life with grace and peace. To share your thoughts: Leave a comment on our Facebook Page Share this show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram To help the show: PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW for Peaceful Heart FarmCast on iTunes. Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play Music, TuneIn or Spotify Donate on Patreon Website www.peacefulheartfarm.com Patreon www.patreon.com/peacefulheartfarm Facebook www.facebook.com/peacefulheartfarm

In our next feature – spread out over 3 parts – we turn our gaze to the sweltering and dusty plains of Sicily during the summer of 1943. We talk with battlefield guide and historian Mike Peters to learn more about Operation Husky, the Allied Invasion and campaign to capture the Mediterranean island as well as the Glider Pilot Regiments involvement within these events. Part One sees us taking a look at why Sicily was chosen by the Allies following their success in North Africa, the Casablanca Conference, how the Allies tried to hide their intentions to the Germans with Operations Mincemeat & Barclay; the opposition faced by the Allies on Sicily, the fledgling Allied Airborne’s’ roles to come, including in particular the Glider Pilot Regiment and the differences between the US Waco and British Horsa Gliders. And that’s only just starting to scratch the surface as we discuss the Ponte Grande Bridge and an episode of herculean logistical feats in terms of Operation Beggar or Turkey Buzzard. Music Featured: Hearts & Flowers by Jeff Kaale

Author of Beneath a Scarlet Sky Interview starts at 3:32 and ends at 42:21 “Not only does the guy [Pino Lella] deserve to be noted for what he did, his story is the story of faith, and the ability to endure, and the ability to go on, and the ability to the best and the worst of life in life. And yet still understand that it's a miracle every day. ” News Amazon Fresh delivery in Denver Tech Tips “Amazon's Alexa Calling is Like a Jetsons Version of the Home Phone” by David Pogue (includes video) at Yahoo! Tech - May 19, 2017 Interview with Mark Sullivan Beneath a Scarlet Sky: A Novel The Assisi Underground: The Priests Who Rescued Jews by Alexander Ramati (not available on Kindle) Valchiavenna Ski Area Alberto Ascari Con smania Content Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan (Audible) Guadacanal Diary and Invasion Diary, A Dramatic Firsthand Account of the Allied Invasion of Italy by Richard Tregaskis. The Liberation Trilogy by Rick Atkinson. 1. An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942-1943, Volume One of the Liberation Trilogy2. The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944 (The Liberation Trilogy Book 2)*3. The Guns at Last Light: The War in Western Europe, 1944-1945 (The Liberation Trilogy Book 3)   Next Week's Guest Chris Messina, author of “Why Silicon Valley is all wrong about Amazon's Echo Show” Music for my podcast is from an original Thelonius Monk composition named "Well, You Needn't." This version is "Ra-Monk" by Eval Manigat on the "Variations in Time: A Jazz Perspective" CD by Public Transit Recording" CD. Please Join the Kindle Chronicles group at Goodreads!

June 30th, 1944. The Allied Invasion of Europe is less than a week away, and the 492nd Bombardment Group – the “Carpetbaggers” – are building up to a massive concerted effort to drop spies and supplies to resistance groups inside Fortress Europa. Their delivery vessels are specially modified B-24 Liberators designed to be as stealthy as possible. The nighttime missions are dangerous and desperate, and it will require a mixture of daring, skill, and tenacity in order to survive. Hunting Horror by Crazon. Find his work here: crazon.deviantart.com Side Chatter The post Call of Cthulhu – Operation: Carpetbagger appeared first on The Drunk and The Ugly.

On June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy to battle German forces. It was the greatest sea-borne assault in human history. The invasion, and the victories that followed, would not have been possible without Neptune, the massive naval operation that led to it.Craig L. Symonds, professor of history emeritus at the U.S. Naval Academy, is the author of many books on American naval history, including The Battle of Midway and Lincoln and His Admirals, co-winner of the Lincoln Prize in 2009.Recorded On: Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Veteran of the famed 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne division, Colonel Ed Shames saw some of the greatest action in the European theater of World War II. In this two-part episode he recounts his experiences training and fighting as a Paratrooper in the US army, including his role in the historic Allied invasion of France on the night of D-Day.

Colonel Ed Shames continues his story as one of the first Paratroopers in the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. Part 2 of the episode follows the Allied invasion of France on the night of D-Day, beginning with Shames' landing in the town of Carantan, a German command center.

In this week’s madness: Costumed hooligans! Teenagers in tights! Venkman returns, but does that kid from Pleasantville? One irks letter Q, one fights number two, but their inevitable ranking is up to you. All this plus: Matthew’s secret crush! Save the cheerleader, save NBC’s ratings! Rodrigo in the 40’s! Matthew chasing the dragon! We STILL need a theme song! And that Schleicher kid is two weeks late, and 98 cents short, all on this, the 39th in a series of 25 podcasts… This episode is sponsored in part by the Mid-Ohio-Con (www.midohiocon.com) NEWS Raimi and Maguire Back for Spider-Man 4 and 5? Linkage New Ghostbusters Flick on the Way? Linkage DCU Elementary? Linkage CONTEST Major Spoilers Costume Contest Announced Here’s what you have to do: Send three to four pictures (different poses/angles) of yourself in your favorite superhero costume (plus one sans costume) to us by October 21, 2008. Make sure you include your name, address, and the character you are supposed to be. The Major Spoilers crew, will narrow the list to five contestants (oh lord, let us have more than five entries), and readers will then vote on their favorite. The winner will then be announced October 31st. Linkage Major Spoilers Theme Song! Win a copy of DC's Absolute Watchmen edition by creating the Major Spoilers Theme Song. Enter as many times as you like, the contest is open until Thanksgiving. Winner gets the latest Absolute Edition of the Watchmen when it is released. REVIEWS Rodrigo Atomic Robo #2 Written: Brian Clevinger Art: Scott Wegener Colors: Ronda Pattison Letters: Jeff Powell Story: The Eisner-nominated adventures continue... June, 1943: control of the Mediterranean hangs in the balance as the Allied Invasion of Sicily crashes against elite Nazi soldiers in "walking tank" armor that only ATOMIC ROBO can stop! Too bad he's battered, beaten, shot, hit with grenades, captured, and miles away. What does this mean for the Allies who are trapped between the sea and these unstoppable Nazi super weapons? Matthew Dragon Prince #1 (W) Ron Marz (A) Lee Moder (Cov) Jeff Johnson, Stjepan Sejic Writer Ron Marz has revitalized Witchblade and is the architect behind the acclaimed First Born and Broken Trinity crossover events. Now, joined by artist Lee Moder (First Born: Aftermath, Painkiller Jane), Marz debuts DRAGON PRINCE, a four-part modern fantasy with equal doses of magic and martial arts mayhem. Like a lot of teenagers, Aaron Chiang feels he’s never fit in, though he’s never known why. But all that changes when he learns the truth of his heritage: He is the Dragon Prince, last of his kind and heir to the bloodline of all dragons. Hunted to the brink of extinction by a secret society of wizards, dragonkind’s survival is now in Aaron’s hands. Featuring spectacular covers by Jeff Johnson (Amazing Spider-Man), Stjepan Sejic (Witchblade) and David Finch (New Avengers)! Stephen Blue Beetle #30 Written by Matthew Sturges; Art and Cover by Rafael Albuquerque "Boundaries" continues as Blue Beetle investigates the mystery of the superpowered men who tried to cross the border illegally. But La Dama and the Posse refuse to help him out, thanks to their own secret agendas POLL OF THE WEEK It’s the cold-war battle you thought you’d never see! And now you - YES YOU - get to decide the outcome of Her Majesty’s finest against Her Majesty’s former finest in a Battle Royale for a Penny Farthing. It’s 007 against Number Six! A) 007 B) Number 06 VOTE TRADE PAPERBACK REVIEW Invincible Volume 1 Mark Grayson is just like most everyone else his age. The only major difference being that his dad is the most powerful superhero on the planet! And, Mark seems to be inheriting his father's powers! See Mark thwart super-villains, alien invasions and all sorts of craziness, as he gets the hang of all this super-heroing stuff. Contact us at podcast@majorspoilers.com Music from this episode comes from Ookla the Mok. You can visit them on the web at www.ooklathemok.com and purchase their music at the iTunes Music Store. A big Thank You goes out to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports this show. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen to our ramblings each week. Tell your friends about the podcast, get them to subscribe and, be sure to visit the Major Spoilers site and forums.

In this week’s madness: Costumed hooligans! Teenagers in tights! Venkman returns, but does that kid from Pleasantville? One irks letter Q, one fights number two, but their inevitable ranking is up to you. All this plus: Matthew’s secret crush! Save the cheerleader, save NBC’s ratings! Rodrigo in the 40’s! Matthew chasing the dragon! We STILL need a theme song! And that Schleicher kid is two weeks late, and 98 cents short, all on this, the 39th in a series of 25 podcasts… This episode is sponsored in part by the Mid-Ohio-Con (www.midohiocon.com) NEWS Raimi and Maguire Back for Spider-Man 4 and 5? Linkage New Ghostbusters Flick on the Way? Linkage DCU Elementary? Linkage CONTEST Major Spoilers Costume Contest Announced Here’s what you have to do: Send three to four pictures (different poses/angles) of yourself in your favorite superhero costume (plus one sans costume) to us by October 21, 2008. Make sure you include your name, address, and the character you are supposed to be. The Major Spoilers crew, will narrow the list to five contestants (oh lord, let us have more than five entries), and readers will then vote on their favorite. The winner will then be announced October 31st. Linkage Major Spoilers Theme Song! Win a copy of DC's Absolute Watchmen edition by creating the Major Spoilers Theme Song. Enter as many times as you like, the contest is open until Thanksgiving. Winner gets the latest Absolute Edition of the Watchmen when it is released. REVIEWS Rodrigo Atomic Robo #2 Written: Brian Clevinger Art: Scott Wegener Colors: Ronda Pattison Letters: Jeff Powell Story: The Eisner-nominated adventures continue... June, 1943: control of the Mediterranean hangs in the balance as the Allied Invasion of Sicily crashes against elite Nazi soldiers in "walking tank" armor that only ATOMIC ROBO can stop! Too bad he's battered, beaten, shot, hit with grenades, captured, and miles away. What does this mean for the Allies who are trapped between the sea and these unstoppable Nazi super weapons? Matthew Dragon Prince #1 (W) Ron Marz (A) Lee Moder (Cov) Jeff Johnson, Stjepan Sejic Writer Ron Marz has revitalized Witchblade and is the architect behind the acclaimed First Born and Broken Trinity crossover events. Now, joined by artist Lee Moder (First Born: Aftermath, Painkiller Jane), Marz debuts DRAGON PRINCE, a four-part modern fantasy with equal doses of magic and martial arts mayhem. Like a lot of teenagers, Aaron Chiang feels he’s never fit in, though he’s never known why. But all that changes when he learns the truth of his heritage: He is the Dragon Prince, last of his kind and heir to the bloodline of all dragons. Hunted to the brink of extinction by a secret society of wizards, dragonkind’s survival is now in Aaron’s hands. Featuring spectacular covers by Jeff Johnson (Amazing Spider-Man), Stjepan Sejic (Witchblade) and David Finch (New Avengers)! Stephen Blue Beetle #30 Written by Matthew Sturges; Art and Cover by Rafael Albuquerque "Boundaries" continues as Blue Beetle investigates the mystery of the superpowered men who tried to cross the border illegally. But La Dama and the Posse refuse to help him out, thanks to their own secret agendas POLL OF THE WEEK It’s the cold-war battle you thought you’d never see! And now you - YES YOU - get to decide the outcome of Her Majesty’s finest against Her Majesty’s former finest in a Battle Royale for a Penny Farthing. It’s 007 against Number Six! A) 007 B) Number 06 VOTE TRADE PAPERBACK REVIEW Invincible Volume 1 Mark Grayson is just like most everyone else his age. The only major difference being that his dad is the most powerful superhero on the planet! And, Mark seems to be inheriting his father's powers! See Mark thwart super-villains, alien invasions and all sorts of craziness, as he gets the hang of all this super-heroing stuff. Contact us at podcast@majorspoilers.com Music from this episode comes from Ookla the Mok. You can visit them on the web at www.ooklathemok.com and purchase their music at the iTunes Music Store. A big Thank You goes out to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports this show. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen to our ramblings each week. Tell your friends about the podcast, get them to subscribe and, be sure to visit the Major Spoilers site and forums.