Podcasts about siegfried line

Jack Moran joined us nearly two years ago to discuss his extensive combat as an infantryman in Europe during World War II. Today, he returns for another conversation as we hear new details about his service at the Battle of the Bulge and the Saar Valley, plus crossing the Siegfried Line and the Rhine River.In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Moran tells us about the deadly frustration of facing German Tiger Tanks, which inflicted devastation from Moran's very first moments in battle. He explains why the Tiger Tanks were so effective and why they were hard to counter.Moran also takes us to the Battle of the Bulge, focusing on the six days that he and his platoon were surrounded by Germans in a very small area with no new supplies coming in and the brutally cold temperatures making simple survival a challenge. He tells us how they held off the Germans and how they eventually escaped.He also tells us about the deadly impact of German snipers as the Americans prepared to cross the Rhine.

As we mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, it's a privilege to share an impromptu interview with Harry Miller, a veteran who served as a tank crewman in the 740th Tank Battalion during this pivotal World War II conflict. Harry Miller's Background Born in Ohio during the Great Depression, Harry Miller enlisted in the Enlisted Reserve Corps at 15 by claiming he was 18. He later joined the Army, receiving basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and advanced training at Fort Ord, California, with an amphibious tank unit. In November 1944, Miller arrived in Europe and was assigned to the 740th Tank Battalion. As a crewman in a Sherman tank, he quickly found himself engaged in the Battle of the Bulge. Following the German defeat, his battalion pursued enemy forces across the Siegfried Line, eventually performing occupation duties until the unit's deactivation in 1946. Interview Insights In this candid 9-minute interview conducted at the Armed Forces Retirement Home, Miller recounts his experiences during the Battle of the Bulge. He describes the harrowing conditions, including the severe cold and the challenges of assembling functional tanks from abandoned equipment. Despite these obstacles, Miller and his fellow soldiers played a crucial role in halting the advance of the German 1st SS Panzer Division, significantly impacting the battle's outcome. Please note that the interview contains background noise, but the authenticity of Miller's recollections offers valuable insights into this historic event. Commemorative Events The 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge is being commemorated through various events, including discussions with veterans like Harry Miller. For instance, on November 13, 2024, the National Archives hosted a program featuring Miller and fellow veteran Frank Cohn, who shared their firsthand accounts of the battle. Engaging with these narratives allows us to honor the sacrifices of those who served and to preserve the lessons of history for future generations.

Between the Siegfried Line and the Soviet IS3 the western powers put a lot of thought into heavy tanks in the late war period. Totally Tanked is here to figure it all out with you!

If you're like us, you've probably found yourself watching a history documentary on World War 2 and thought for a moment....who built all Hitler's shit. I mean someone had to build the Autobahn, The Siegfried Line, The Atlantic Wall, Hitler's Wolfs Lair, Concentration Camps. Well one name can tie all of those together, Fritz Todd. Fritz was a high ranking Nazi and Hitler's go to guy when it came to building almost anything, trusting his life personally, and the life of his Third Reich to Mr. Todt. Join us as Professor Chris takes you and Professor Adam on a journey back in time.Episode sponsored by http://www.mindmendmushrooms.compromo code "HIGH" for 15% off everything in the store.

WW2 humble hero, Laurence "Sparky" Rector, was just a GI in the infantry when he was drafted as an 18-year-old. He ended up crossing Europe as "cannon fodder," including as part of Patton's army, participating in the battle of Anzio, and encountering the Siegfried Line. His unit was also the first to enter and liberate Dachau Concentration Camp. Decades later, his story feels like it happened yesterday.  Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

In the fall of 1944, the Allied push toward Germany began to slow down due to supply and logistical problems. The daring September offensive codenamed Operation Market Garden, designed to break the logjam, failed miserably. By the end of November, the Allied armies had settled in near the German border, hoping to soon resume offensive operations and drive into Germany. Join Sean and James as they discuss the Allies' fall 1944 attempt to bring the war in Europe to a close.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

Mr. Clanton, our previous guest for Episode 5, joins us for Episode 37 to discuss his upcoming trip to Normandy, Belgium, and Germany in June of this year.  This week, we met with Reid and Carolynn Clanton to present their day-by-itinerary.  Also, we surprised Mr. Clanton with Mike Tarr's extensive research, which allowed us to pinpoint several dates and locations for Mr. Clanton's major battles during the war.   Currently a resident of San Antonio, Texas, Mr. Clanton was raised in West Texas, where he grew up on a farm in a very poor household, common during the Great Depression.  Mr. Clanton was asked to leave home at age eleven, as his parents could no longer afford to take care of him.  With only a fourth grade education under his belt, he was hired by a local farmer and was eventually drafted into the U.S. Army.  Mr. Clanton was assigned to the 84th Infantry Division (Railsplitters) and soon deployed to Europe.  Mr. Clanton landed on Omaha Beach, France and fought through Belgium and Germany, before eventually reaching the Elbe River, where General Eisenhower halted the Allied advance to allow the Russians to enter Berlin.  Mr. Clanton fought along the Siegfried Line, where his division punched through the stout defensive line.  When Germany attacked during the Battle of the Bulge, Mr. Clanton's division was forced to travel overnight to Marche, and after brutal fighting, stopped the advancing German forces and kept the Allied lines from totally collapsing.  Following victory in Marche, the 84th Division resumed its' advance crossing the Roer and Rhine rivers, eventually reaching the Elbe.

Jack Moran grew up in Wisconsin, joined the Army, and was deployed to France in the autumn of 1944. Over the next several months, Moran his his fellow soldiers in the 87th Infantry Division would see brutal combat throughout the Allied push into the heart of Germany.In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Moran takes us back to the westrrn front in vivid detail. He begins with his shocking introduction to combat, the difficult fight for Hill 360 in France, racing to help out at the Battle of the Bulge and the vicious confrontations that ensued.From there, Moran describes breaching the Siegfried Line and the harrowing mission he was part of to cross the Rhine River. Finally, he shares his memories from helping to liberate the Buchenwald concentration camp.Jack Moran says "war is hell." He's fortunate to have survived. And because he did, we not only have his story of service but also the stories of many his friends who never came home.

The Siegfried Line is another Unreleased Track that actually appears on the good for nothing My Lives compilation album. A demo from 1973 this may be the only Billy Joel song that is only played with an acoustic guitar. If released on the "Piano" Man album we guess it could have gotten quite confusing so. . . .Anyway, this episode has everything you could ask for in a Billy Joel podcast -- you know -- like clips from the TV Show Get Smart. I mean. . . how could it not. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The decision to hang out the Washing Line could make all the difference to Adele Penguins, who are about to become extinct. Stand up for the Washing Line

Speaking of Writers Part 5 of a series on Victory in Japan Day (VJ Day 8/15/45. The remarkable story of the seven African American soldiers ultimately awarded the World War II Medal of Honor, and the 50-year campaign to deny them their recognition. In 1945, when Congress began reviewing the record of the most conspicuous acts of courage by American soldiers during World War II, they recommended awarding the Medal of Honor to 432 recipients. Despite the fact that more than one million African-Americans served, not a single black soldier received the Medal of Honor. The omission remained on the record for over four decades. But recent historical investigations have brought to light some of the extraordinary acts of valor performed by black soldiers during the war. Men like Vernon Baker, who single-handedly eliminated three enemy machineguns, an observation post, and a German dugout. Or Sergeant Reuben Rivers, who spearhead his tank unit's advance against fierce German resistance for three days despite being grievously wounded. Meanwhile Lieutenant Charles Thomas led his platoon to capture a strategically vital village on the Siegfried Line in 1944 despite losing half his men and suffering a number of wounds himself. Ultimately, in 1993 a US Army commission determined that seven men, including Baker, Rivers and Thomas, had been denied the Army's highest award simply due to racial discrimination. In 1997, more than 50 years after the war, President Clinton finally awarded the Medal of Honor to these seven heroes, sadly all but one of them posthumously. These are their stories. Robert Child is a military history writer, director, and published author with Penguin/Random House. The film rights to his book, co-authored with Denise George, The Last Eleven have been acquired. Robert Child has also garnered more than 26 writing and directing awards including an Emmy® nomination and is one of only a handful of writer/directors whose work has screened in the United States Congress. His film, The Wereth Eleven, was nominated for an Emmy® and won the highest honor at the G.I. Film Festival in Washington DC, the Founders Choice Award. In 2011, the survivor's association of the World War II aircraft carrier, USS Franklin, singled Child out for Honorary Crew Membership aboard the most decorated vessel in U.S. Naval history. Robert lives in Atlanta, Georgia. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/steve-richards/support

(8-10-22)In 1945, when Congress began reviewing the record of the most conspicuous acts of courage by American soldiers during World War II, they recommended awarding the Medal of Honor to 432 recipients. Despite the fact that more than one million African-Americans served, not a single Black soldier received the Medal of Honor. The omission remained on the record for over four decades. But recent historical investigations have brought to light some of the extraordinary acts of valor performed by black soldiers during the war. Men like Vernon Baker, who single-handedly eliminated three enemy machine guns, an observation post, and a German dugout. Or Sergeant Reuben Rivers, who spearhead his tank unit's advance against fierce German resistance for three days despite being grievously wounded. Meanwhile Lieutenant Charles Thomas led his platoon to capture a strategically vital village on the Siegfried Line in 1944 despite losing half his men and suffering a number of wounds himself. Join us when Robert Childs examines Immortal Valor on this installment of Leonard Lopate at Large.

Charles MacDonald was twenty-one yeas old when he assumed command of Company I 23rd Infantry in October 1944.  His company had been in combat sense D plus 1 and MacDonald had never been in combat.  MacDonald learns his job in a trial by fire that tests him in every imaginable way.  In the eight months he was in command he fought in Battle of the Bulge and lead his infantry company across Germany in the last months of the war.  This story of a young infantry company commander leading men is battle during World War 2 is one of the most brutally honest accounts of leadership and combat ever written. 

The epic tale of 29th Infantry Sgt. Morton Waitzman continues!  This week, you will explore his daily struggles inland after D-Day as he battles through the countryside bocage of Normandy, across the Siegfried Line and Rhine River of Nazi Germany, Battle of the Bulge into Holland, the grim and horrific realizations of the Holocaust and his ultimate message to today's generation.  Historical Voyager:  It's travel, historically speaking.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/HistoricalVoyager)

This is the 4th episode in our Bullecourt series. "With artillery support we can keep the position till the cows come home." So wrote CAPT Harry Murray, VC, OC A Coy after the 4th and 12th Brigades had fought their way into the Siegfried Line - they didn't get it and were forced to conduct an extremely difficult withdrawal under heavy machine gun fire.  Why didn't he get the support that he needed? This is part of our 150th Anniversary of the Royal Australian Artillery series. Check out the show notes for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast.

I recently read David Colley's The Folly of Generals: How Eisenhower's Broad Front Strategy Lengthened World War II.David has analysed some of the missed opportunities the allies had in 1944-45 in Europe. He argues that had Eisenhower been more adept at taking advantage of several potential breakthroughs in the Siegfried Line in the autmun of 1944 the war in the European Theatre of Operations might have ended sooner.  It was such a fascinating read, so I thought I'd get David onto the podcast to examine Eisenhower's broad front policy. David P. Colley is an award-winning journalist and author who has written for many national publications, including Army, World War II, American Heritage, and The New York Times. Among his books on military history are The Road to Victory, which received the Army Historical Foundation's Distinguished Book Award in 2000, Blood for Dignity, and Safely Rest. He has appeared on the History Channel and Eye on Books. Colley served in the ordnance branch of the U.S. Army.

Join us for the fourth edition of our Show & Tell series were we discus 'Geronimo' (1993) which tells the story of Geronimo's last battles and the 1962 Steve McQueen-led classic 'Hell Is For Heroes' following a group of US soldiers as they battle to break through the Siegfried Line. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @FightingOnFilm and check out our new website www.fightingonfilm.com Thanks for listening!

Erich Ludendorff is a contentious figure in military history. Focused, energetic, and hailing from humble origins, Ludendorff rose through the ranks of the largely aristocratic late-nineteenth century German officer corps to play a leading role in the First World War. As a field officer at Liège and Tannenberg, as a driving force behind the development of the Siegfried Line, and as the architect of the 1918 German Spring Offensive, Ludendorff consistently demonstrated a formidable military acumen and a penchant for tactical, if not always strategic, innovation. Over the past century, that wartime record garnered more than its fair share of respect—and not an insignificant amount of awe—from numerous First World War scholars. Those who look upon Ludendorff’s martial prowess with admiration, however, face a dilemma: how to reconcile Ludendorff’s military achievements with his abhorrent post war activities and beliefs. The one-time Quartermaster General of the German Army did not acquit himself well in the post war world. Germany’s surrender in November 1918 strongly contradicted Ludendorff’s reputation as a Feldherr or “Battle Lord.” Trying to comprehend that disconnect led Ludendorff down a path of antisemitism, conspiratorial thinking, right wing nationalist politics, fringe spirituality, personal and professional conflict, and flirtation with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. Overwhelmingly, Ludendorff’s biographers have explained away these sordid details by attributing them to a nervous breakdown Ludendorff suffered in August 1918. But, writing in his most recent work, Dragonslayer: The Legend of Erich Ludendorff in the Weimar Republic and Third Reich (Cornell University Press, 2021), historian Jay Lockenour argues that questions of Ludendorff’s sanity are besides the point. Whether sane or not, Ludendorff was an influential figure in Weimar and Nazi Germany—a position he maintained, Louckenour contends, through the conscious construction of a mythic identity that personified far right politics, pagan spirituality, and the German public’s thirst for revenge. Meticulously researched and lucidly argued, Dragonslayer reveals the true extent of Erich Ludendorff’s impact on the political cultures of the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich. It is a must read for scholars of the First World War and for curious readers interested in understanding the evolution of Germany from nascent republic to Fascist dictatorship in the lead up to the Second World War. Jay Lockenour is Associate Professor of History at Temple University. He is author of Soldiers as Citizens and former host of the New Books in Military History podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies

Erich Ludendorff is a contentious figure in military history. Focused, energetic, and hailing from humble origins, Ludendorff rose through the ranks of the largely aristocratic late-nineteenth century German officer corps to play a leading role in the First World War. As a field officer at Liège and Tannenberg, as a driving force behind the development of the Siegfried Line, and as the architect of the 1918 German Spring Offensive, Ludendorff consistently demonstrated a formidable military acumen and a penchant for tactical, if not always strategic, innovation. Over the past century, that wartime record garnered more than its fair share of respect—and not an insignificant amount of awe—from numerous First World War scholars. Those who look upon Ludendorff’s martial prowess with admiration, however, face a dilemma: how to reconcile Ludendorff’s military achievements with his abhorrent post war activities and beliefs. The one-time Quartermaster General of the German Army did not acquit himself well in the post war world. Germany’s surrender in November 1918 strongly contradicted Ludendorff’s reputation as a Feldherr or “Battle Lord.” Trying to comprehend that disconnect led Ludendorff down a path of antisemitism, conspiratorial thinking, right wing nationalist politics, fringe spirituality, personal and professional conflict, and flirtation with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. Overwhelmingly, Ludendorff’s biographers have explained away these sordid details by attributing them to a nervous breakdown Ludendorff suffered in August 1918. But, writing in his most recent work, Dragonslayer: The Legend of Erich Ludendorff in the Weimar Republic and Third Reich (Cornell University Press, 2021), historian Jay Lockenour argues that questions of Ludendorff’s sanity are besides the point. Whether sane or not, Ludendorff was an influential figure in Weimar and Nazi Germany—a position he maintained, Louckenour contends, through the conscious construction of a mythic identity that personified far right politics, pagan spirituality, and the German public’s thirst for revenge. Meticulously researched and lucidly argued, Dragonslayer reveals the true extent of Erich Ludendorff’s impact on the political cultures of the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich. It is a must read for scholars of the First World War and for curious readers interested in understanding the evolution of Germany from nascent republic to Fascist dictatorship in the lead up to the Second World War. Jay Lockenour is Associate Professor of History at Temple University. He is author of Soldiers as Citizens and former host of the New Books in Military History podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

Erich Ludendorff is a contentious figure in military history. Focused, energetic, and hailing from humble origins, Ludendorff rose through the ranks of the largely aristocratic late-nineteenth century German officer corps to play a leading role in the First World War. As a field officer at Liège and Tannenberg, as a driving force behind the development of the Siegfried Line, and as the architect of the 1918 German Spring Offensive, Ludendorff consistently demonstrated a formidable military acumen and a penchant for tactical, if not always strategic, innovation. Over the past century, that wartime record garnered more than its fair share of respect—and not an insignificant amount of awe—from numerous First World War scholars. Those who look upon Ludendorff’s martial prowess with admiration, however, face a dilemma: how to reconcile Ludendorff’s military achievements with his abhorrent post war activities and beliefs. The one-time Quartermaster General of the German Army did not acquit himself well in the post war world. Germany’s surrender in November 1918 strongly contradicted Ludendorff’s reputation as a Feldherr or “Battle Lord.” Trying to comprehend that disconnect led Ludendorff down a path of antisemitism, conspiratorial thinking, right wing nationalist politics, fringe spirituality, personal and professional conflict, and flirtation with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. Overwhelmingly, Ludendorff’s biographers have explained away these sordid details by attributing them to a nervous breakdown Ludendorff suffered in August 1918. But, writing in his most recent work, Dragonslayer: The Legend of Erich Ludendorff in the Weimar Republic and Third Reich (Cornell University Press, 2021), historian Jay Lockenour argues that questions of Ludendorff’s sanity are besides the point. Whether sane or not, Ludendorff was an influential figure in Weimar and Nazi Germany—a position he maintained, Louckenour contends, through the conscious construction of a mythic identity that personified far right politics, pagan spirituality, and the German public’s thirst for revenge. Meticulously researched and lucidly argued, Dragonslayer reveals the true extent of Erich Ludendorff’s impact on the political cultures of the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich. It is a must read for scholars of the First World War and for curious readers interested in understanding the evolution of Germany from nascent republic to Fascist dictatorship in the lead up to the Second World War. Jay Lockenour is Associate Professor of History at Temple University. He is author of Soldiers as Citizens and former host of the New Books in Military History podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Erich Ludendorff is a contentious figure in military history. Focused, energetic, and hailing from humble origins, Ludendorff rose through the ranks of the largely aristocratic late-nineteenth century German officer corps to play a leading role in the First World War. As a field officer at Liège and Tannenberg, as a driving force behind the development of the Siegfried Line, and as the architect of the 1918 German Spring Offensive, Ludendorff consistently demonstrated a formidable military acumen and a penchant for tactical, if not always strategic, innovation. Over the past century, that wartime record garnered more than its fair share of respect—and not an insignificant amount of awe—from numerous First World War scholars. Those who look upon Ludendorff’s martial prowess with admiration, however, face a dilemma: how to reconcile Ludendorff’s military achievements with his abhorrent post war activities and beliefs. The one-time Quartermaster General of the German Army did not acquit himself well in the post war world. Germany’s surrender in November 1918 strongly contradicted Ludendorff’s reputation as a Feldherr or “Battle Lord.” Trying to comprehend that disconnect led Ludendorff down a path of antisemitism, conspiratorial thinking, right wing nationalist politics, fringe spirituality, personal and professional conflict, and flirtation with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. Overwhelmingly, Ludendorff’s biographers have explained away these sordid details by attributing them to a nervous breakdown Ludendorff suffered in August 1918. But, writing in his most recent work, Dragonslayer: The Legend of Erich Ludendorff in the Weimar Republic and Third Reich (Cornell University Press, 2021), historian Jay Lockenour argues that questions of Ludendorff’s sanity are besides the point. Whether sane or not, Ludendorff was an influential figure in Weimar and Nazi Germany—a position he maintained, Louckenour contends, through the conscious construction of a mythic identity that personified far right politics, pagan spirituality, and the German public’s thirst for revenge. Meticulously researched and lucidly argued, Dragonslayer reveals the true extent of Erich Ludendorff’s impact on the political cultures of the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich. It is a must read for scholars of the First World War and for curious readers interested in understanding the evolution of Germany from nascent republic to Fascist dictatorship in the lead up to the Second World War. Jay Lockenour is Associate Professor of History at Temple University. He is author of Soldiers as Citizens and former host of the New Books in Military History podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/german-studies

Erich Ludendorff is a contentious figure in military history. Focused, energetic, and hailing from humble origins, Ludendorff rose through the ranks of the largely aristocratic late-nineteenth century German officer corps to play a leading role in the First World War. As a field officer at Liège and Tannenberg, as a driving force behind the development of the Siegfried Line, and as the architect of the 1918 German Spring Offensive, Ludendorff consistently demonstrated a formidable military acumen and a penchant for tactical, if not always strategic, innovation. Over the past century, that wartime record garnered more than its fair share of respect—and not an insignificant amount of awe—from numerous First World War scholars. Those who look upon Ludendorff’s martial prowess with admiration, however, face a dilemma: how to reconcile Ludendorff’s military achievements with his abhorrent post war activities and beliefs. The one-time Quartermaster General of the German Army did not acquit himself well in the post war world. Germany’s surrender in November 1918 strongly contradicted Ludendorff’s reputation as a Feldherr or “Battle Lord.” Trying to comprehend that disconnect led Ludendorff down a path of antisemitism, conspiratorial thinking, right wing nationalist politics, fringe spirituality, personal and professional conflict, and flirtation with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. Overwhelmingly, Ludendorff’s biographers have explained away these sordid details by attributing them to a nervous breakdown Ludendorff suffered in August 1918. But, writing in his most recent work, Dragonslayer: The Legend of Erich Ludendorff in the Weimar Republic and Third Reich (Cornell University Press, 2021), historian Jay Lockenour argues that questions of Ludendorff’s sanity are besides the point. Whether sane or not, Ludendorff was an influential figure in Weimar and Nazi Germany—a position he maintained, Louckenour contends, through the conscious construction of a mythic identity that personified far right politics, pagan spirituality, and the German public’s thirst for revenge. Meticulously researched and lucidly argued, Dragonslayer reveals the true extent of Erich Ludendorff’s impact on the political cultures of the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich. It is a must read for scholars of the First World War and for curious readers interested in understanding the evolution of Germany from nascent republic to Fascist dictatorship in the lead up to the Second World War. Jay Lockenour is Associate Professor of History at Temple University. He is author of Soldiers as Citizens and former host of the New Books in Military History podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

Erich Ludendorff is a contentious figure in military history. Focused, energetic, and hailing from humble origins, Ludendorff rose through the ranks of the largely aristocratic late-nineteenth century German officer corps to play a leading role in the First World War. As a field officer at Liège and Tannenberg, as a driving force behind the development of the Siegfried Line, and as the architect of the 1918 German Spring Offensive, Ludendorff consistently demonstrated a formidable military acumen and a penchant for tactical, if not always strategic, innovation. Over the past century, that wartime record garnered more than its fair share of respect—and not an insignificant amount of awe—from numerous First World War scholars. Those who look upon Ludendorff’s martial prowess with admiration, however, face a dilemma: how to reconcile Ludendorff’s military achievements with his abhorrent post war activities and beliefs. The one-time Quartermaster General of the German Army did not acquit himself well in the post war world. Germany’s surrender in November 1918 strongly contradicted Ludendorff’s reputation as a Feldherr or “Battle Lord.” Trying to comprehend that disconnect led Ludendorff down a path of antisemitism, conspiratorial thinking, right wing nationalist politics, fringe spirituality, personal and professional conflict, and flirtation with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. Overwhelmingly, Ludendorff’s biographers have explained away these sordid details by attributing them to a nervous breakdown Ludendorff suffered in August 1918. But, writing in his most recent work, Dragonslayer: The Legend of Erich Ludendorff in the Weimar Republic and Third Reich (Cornell University Press, 2021), historian Jay Lockenour argues that questions of Ludendorff’s sanity are besides the point. Whether sane or not, Ludendorff was an influential figure in Weimar and Nazi Germany—a position he maintained, Louckenour contends, through the conscious construction of a mythic identity that personified far right politics, pagan spirituality, and the German public’s thirst for revenge. Meticulously researched and lucidly argued, Dragonslayer reveals the true extent of Erich Ludendorff’s impact on the political cultures of the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich. It is a must read for scholars of the First World War and for curious readers interested in understanding the evolution of Germany from nascent republic to Fascist dictatorship in the lead up to the Second World War. Jay Lockenour is Associate Professor of History at Temple University. He is author of Soldiers as Citizens and former host of the New Books in Military History podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The Battle of Aachen was a major combat action of World War II, fought by American and German forces in and around Aachen, Germany, between 2–21 October 1944. The city had been incorporated into the Siegfried Line, the main defensive network on Germany's western border; the Allies had hoped to capture it quickly and advance into the industrialized Ruhr Basin. Although most of Aachen's civilian population was evacuated before the battle began, much of the city was destroyed and both sides suffered heavy losses. It was one of the largest urban battles fought by U.S. forces in World War II, and the first city on German soil to be captured by the Allies. The battle ended with a German surrender, but their tenacious defense significantly disrupted Allied plans for the advance into Germany. Incorporating after action reports and first hand accounts, we retell the story of Aachen from the generals to the regular soldiers of the First Infantry Division

C Company veterans, from left, John Zimmer, Cecil Brock, Buck Hardee, Ralph Tambaro and Tony D'Arpino War As My Father's Tank Battalion Knew It is a podcast about the 712th Tank Battalion in particular and World War II in general, or maybe it's about General Patton in general and the Greatest Generation in particular. Whatever it's about, every episode is a piece in the ten thousand piece jigsaw of history, in the words and voices of the people who made it. In this and the previous episode, Tony D'Arpino of Milton, Massachusetts talks about driving a Sherman tank from Normandy to Czechoslovakia, seeing action in Normandy and Le Mans and Chambois and the Battle of the Bulge and the Siegfried Line. This interview is included in "The Tanker Tapes," available at eBay For more stories and interviews: aaronelson.com World War II Oral History Audiobooks The Mathew Caruso Story A tragic hero of the Korean War

Dale Albee enlisted in the Army in 1938, became a sergeant in the horse cavalry, earned a battlefield commission as a tanker, and led a platoon of light tanks through the Battle of the Bulge, the Siegfried Line, across Germany, and into Czechoslovakia.

We (Walk Among Heroes) are proud to conclude our three-part discussion this week with Mr. Guy Whidden, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 101st Airborne Division. Mr. Whidden jumped into Normandy early on the morning of D-Day, June 6, 1944. His platoon’s objective was to secure one of the exits from Utah Beach, but his plane flew off-course over the English Channel, and Mr. Whidden ended up landing in Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the first town liberated by the Allies in Normandy. Today, the town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise continues to hang a parachute from the church tower in honor of 1LT John Steele, who landed on the tower with his parachute stuck D-Day morning (and subsequently faced a very harrowing set of circumstances). Sainte-Mere-Eglise is also home to the Airborne Museum, an incredible exhibition of military history that paints the picture of what exactly happened in France during the Normandy invasion.Mr. Whidden and his men fought through the hedgerows in Normandy before finally withdrawing a month later back to England from Cherbourg. In England, the paratroopers continued training, and eventually jumped into Holland in September 1944, as part of Operation Market Garden, a massive Airborne operation aimed at creating a northern entrance into Germany in an attempt to bypass stout German defenses along the West Wall, or Siegfried Line. A very difficult mission, the paratroopers were left on their own, as ground forces were late in arriving. Mr. Whidden was seriously wounded during the operation, which ultimately ended the war for him. Mr. Whidden’s military stories are amazing, but equally entertaining are his many stories from childhood, teenage years, and life after the military. Mr. Whidden is one of very few living paratroopers who jumped into Normandy with the 82nd and/or 101st Airborne Divisions. He has written a book, ‘Between the Lines and Beyond: Letters of a 101st Airborne Paratrooper.’ There is even a commemorative action figure available in his likeness to honor the heroes of D-Day. There are three parts to this episode: Episode 11A covers Mr. Whidden’s childhood, Army training, and several combat stories. Episode 11B covers his deployment to England and stories overseas. Episode 11C (this episode) covers the majority of his combat in Normandy, Operation Market Garden, his injury, and finally his journey home. We have truly enjoyed getting to know Mr. Whidden over these past several years, and we hope you enjoy his stories as much as we did. You can find all podcast episodes at: www.walkamongheroes.org/podcast.If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at walkamongheroes@gmail.com.A special 'thank you' to Shreyas Ganesh for donating his time as sound engineer.

We (Walk Among Heroes) are proud to continue our discussion this week with Mr. Guy Whidden, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 101st Airborne Division. Mr. Whidden jumped into Normandy early on the morning of D-Day, June 6, 1944. His platoon’s objective was to secure one of the exits from Utah Beach, but his plane flew off-course over the English Channel, and Mr. Whidden ended up landing in Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the first town liberated by the Allies in Normandy. Today, the town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise continues to hang a parachute from the church tower in honor of 1LT John Steele, who landed on the tower with his parachute stuck D-Day morning (and subsequently faced a very harrowing set of circumstances). Sainte-Mere-Eglise is also home to the Airborne Museum, an incredible exhibition of military history that paints the picture of what exactly happened in France during the Normandy invasion.Mr. Whidden and his men fought through the hedgerows in Normandy before finally withdrawing a month later back to England from Cherbourg. In England, the paratroopers continued training, and eventually jumped into Holland in September 1944, as part of Operation Market Garden, a massive Airborne operation aimed at creating a northern entrance into Germany in an attempt to bypass stout German defenses along the West Wall, or Siegfried Line. A very difficult mission, the paratroopers were left on their own, as ground forces were late in arriving. Mr. Whidden was seriously wounded during the operation, which ultimately ended the war for him. Mr. Whidden’s military stories are amazing, but equally entertaining are his many stories from childhood, teenage years, and life after the military. Mr. Whidden is one of very few living paratroopers who jumped into Normandy with the 82nd and/or 101st Airborne Divisions. He has written a book, ‘Between the Lines and Beyond: Letters of a 101st Airborne Paratrooper.’ There is even a commemorative action figure available in his likeness to honor the heroes of D-Day. There are three parts to this episode: Episode 11A covers Mr. Whidden’s childhood, Army training, and several combat stories. Episode 11B covers his deployment to England and stories overseas. Episode 11C covers the majority of his combat in Normandy, Operation Market, his injury, and journey home. We have truly enjoyed getting to know Mr. Whidden over these past several years, and we hope you enjoy his stories as much as we did. You can find all podcast episodes at: www.walkamongheroes.org/podcast.If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at walkamongheroes@gmail.com.A special 'thank you' to Shreyas Ganesh for donating his time as sound engineer.

We (Walk Among Heroes) are proud to continue our D-Day discussion this week by welcoming Mr. Guy Whidden, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 101st Airborne Division. Mr. Whidden jumped into Normandy early on the morning of D-Day, June 6, 1944. His platoon’s objective was to secure one of the exits from Utah Beach, but his plane flew off-course over the English Channel, and Mr. Whidden ended up landing in Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the first town liberated by the Allies in Normandy. Today, the town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise continues to hang a parachute from the church tower in honor of 1LT John Steele, who landed on the tower with his parachute stuck D-Day morning (and subsequently faced a very harrowing set of circumstances). Sainte-Mere-Eglise is also home to the Airborne Museum, an incredible exhibition of military history that paints the picture of what exactly happened in France during the Normandy invasion.Mr. Whidden and his men fought through the hedgerows in Normandy before finally withdrawing a month later back to England from Cherbourg. In England, the paratroopers continued training, and eventually jumped into Holland in September 1944, as part of Operation Market Garden, a massive Airborne operation aimed at creating a northern entrance into Germany in an attempt to bypass stout German defenses along the West Wall, or Siegfried Line. A very difficult mission, the paratroopers were left on their own, as ground forces were late in arriving. Mr. Whidden was seriously wounded during the operation, which ultimately ended the war for him. Mr. Whidden’s military stories are amazing, but equally entertaining are his many stories from childhood, teenage years, and life after the military. Mr. Whidden is one of very few living paratroopers who jumped into Normandy with the 82nd and/or 101st Airborne Divisions. He has written a book, ‘Between the Lines and Beyond: Letters of a 101st Airborne Paratrooper.’ There is even a commemorative action figure available in his likeness to honor the heroes of D-Day. There are three parts to this episode: Episode 11A covers Mr. Whidden’s childhood, Army training, and several combat stories. Episode 11B covers his deployment to England and stories overseas. Episode 11C covers the majority of his combat in Normandy, Operation Market, his injury, and journey home. We have truly enjoyed getting to know Mr. Whidden over these past several years, and we hope you enjoy his stories as much as we did. You can find all podcast episodes at: www.walkamongheroes.org/podcast.If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at walkamongheroes@gmail.com.A special 'thank you' to Shreyas Ganesh for donating his time as sound engineer.

We are proud to welcome Reid Clanton as our guest for episode five. Currently a resident of San Antonio, Texas, Mr. Clanton was raised in West Texas, where he grew up on a farm in a very poor household, common during the Great Depression. Mr. Clanton was asked to leave home at age eleven, as his parents could no longer afford to take care of him. With only a fourth grade education under his belt, he was hired by a local farmer and was eventually drafted into the U.S. Army. Mr. Clanton was assigned to the 84th Infantry Division (Railsplitters) and soon deployed to Europe. Mr. Clanton landed on Omaha Beach, France and fought through Belgium and Germany, before eventually reaching the Elbe River, where General Eisenhower halted the Allied advance to allow the Russians to enter Berlin. Mr. Clanton fought along the Siegfried Line, where his division punched through the stout defensive line. When Germany attacked during the Battle of the Bulge, Mr. Clanton’s division was forced to travel overnight to Marche, and after brutal fighting, stopped the advancing German forces and kept the Allied lines from totally collapsing. Following victory in Marche, the 84th Division resumed its’ advance crossing the Roer and Rhine rivers, eventually reaching the Elbe.Episode five will consist of two parts. Part two will focus on Mr. Clanton’s journey across Europe, fighting from Omaha Beach to the Elbe River in Germany. Thank you, Shreyas Ganesh, for volunteering your time as sound engineer to make this podcast happen!

We are proud to welcome Reid Clanton as our guest for episode five. Currently a resident of San Antonio, Texas, Mr. Clanton was raised in West Texas, where he grew up on a farm in a very poor household, common during the Great Depression. Mr. Clanton was asked to leave home at age eleven, as his parents could no longer afford to take care of him. With only a fourth grade education under his belt, he was hired by a local farmer and was eventually drafted into the U.S. Army. Mr. Clanton was assigned to the 84th Infantry Division (Railsplitters) and soon deployed to Europe. Mr. Clanton landed on Omaha Beach, France and fought through Belgium and Germany, before eventually reaching the Elbe River, where General Eisenhower halted the Allied advance to allow the Russians to enter Berlin. Mr. Clanton fought along the Siegfried Line, where his division punched through the stout defensive line. When Germany attacked during the Battle of the Bulge, Mr. Clanton’s division was forced to travel overnight to Marche, and after brutal fighting, stopped the advancing German forces and kept the Allied lines from totally collapsing. Following victory in Marche, the 84th Division resumed its’ advance crossing the Roer and Rhine rivers, eventually reaching the Elbe.Episode five will consist of two parts. Part one will include Mr. Clanton’s childhood, growing up during the Great Depression, leaving home at age eleven, joining the Army, training, and several combat stories. Part two will focus on Mr. Clanton’s journey across Europe, fighting from Omaha Beach to the Elbe River in Germany. Thank you, Shreyas Ganesh, for volunteering your time as sound engineer to make this podcast happen!

in the 1930s the Germans were building the infamous Siegfried Line or ‘Westwall’, a fortified defensive line consisting of bunkers, tank traps, and much more arrayed along the western German frontier. Nothing in the French tank arsenal was able to challenge these potent defenses. Combining the multi-turret tank designs - in fashion at the time - and this new threat from the east, the French quickly realized they needed a new powerful breakthrough heavy tank able to withstand anti-tank fire and destroy static defenses. Article: https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2-fr... Our website: http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tanksencyclo... Email: tanks.encyclopedia@gmail.com An article by Alexe 'Carpaticus' Pavel Video mounted by Jim Zawacki Audio edited by Kraiger Voicing by Nathaniel McDonald

During the mid-1930s, Germany started construction of the Westwall, otherwise known as the Siegfried Line. This fortification spanned across the German border with France up until their border with Denmark and was equipped with numerous bunkers and cannons. The French authorities were alarmed by this and figured that they would have to overcome this defensive line. However, no tank in the French arsenal at the time was able to combat such an obstacle. Therefore, they quickly started a heavy breakthrough tank program, named ‘Char de Rupture 1937’.Article: Our website: http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tanksencyclo...Email: tanks.encyclopedia@gmail.com An article by Alexe 'Carpaticus' Pavel Video mounted by Alexe 'Carpaticus' Pavel Audio edited by Kraiger Voicing by Stan Lucian

In episode 36 of War As My Father's Tank Battalion Knew It, Bob Rossi, Ed Spahr, Tony D'Arpino and Grayson Lamar offer their perspective on a battle that took place in Habscheid, Germany, a village in the Siegfried Line, on February 8, 1945. Warning: Graphic content.

Hear veterans David Roderick and James Flanagan describe how they conquered “the Westwall” in this week’s discussion about Hitler’s most daunting defense—the Siegfried Line.

In our discussion of "Hell Is for Heroes" (1962), we talk about the repercussions of the “replacement soldier” during the stalemate warfare on the Siegfried Line in 1944. Listen as we discuss the accuracy of this forgotten film that depicts the overlooked 95th Infantry Division.

Allied troops pushed out of German soil toward the Siegfried Line. This line is known as the West Wall around the city.

Allied troops pushed out of German soil toward the Siegfried Line. This line is known as the West Wall around the city.

Walter Stitt was a Sherman tank gun loader in General Patton’s 3rd Armored Division. He was one of the first tanks to cross the Siegfried Line – receiving a Purple Heart in the process. During WWII, Victor Marulli served as a frogman in Guam, Philippines and during the Battle of Midway. Frogmen were underwater demolition-men and are the forefathers to the current Navy SEAL teams. #BtBattle Veteran of the Week: Army and Korean War Veteran Dale Quick

As a machine gunner in the U.S. Army during WWII, Robert Leslie survived some of the bloodiest battles of the European Theater.  In this episode, he shares some of those memories that still haunt his dreams. He recalls his company’s first battle to take Saint Dié, France in November of 1944 and how his soldiers were saved from a booby-trapped roadblock by a herd of pigs. Later, as the Allied Forces pushed across the Siegfried Line, a defensive wall along Germany’s western border, Leslie endured bitter cold, deprivation, and the anguish of losing so many of his fellow soldiers to the horrors of modern warfare. The podcast ends on a high note as he remembers the 761st Tank Battalion, the first armored combat group comprised of African-Americans.  Even whites from the segregated South recognized the bravery and skills of these tankers and Leslie credits them with saving his life on more than one occasion.