Merry Christmas from We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Over the next 12 days Al and James are reading extracts from some of their favourite books about the Second World War. Today James is reading from Straits of Messina,

Al Murray and James Holland discuss the terrible price paid by Poland in World War Two. Also, why is there a Russian tank on London’s Old Kent Road? Plus the lads discuss the role and reputation of Field Marshall Alan

In this week’s episode of our Family Stories series we hear your tales of the first wedding after the war, surviving the Blitz and a harrowing visit to Bergen-Belsen. With thanks to Tom Achard, William Carver, David Ludlow, Tom Porter,

Al Murray and James Holland discuss the massive effort to move fighting men across the world. Plus the story of an American airborne battalion made up only of black servicemen.