Ep 372: Spanish Fighters

Although Spain remained neutral in the Second World War, a number of Spanish citizens volunteered to fight for the British Army. Al Murray and James Holland are joined by historian Séan Scullion, to recount the tales of six extraordinary men.

Ep 371: China – Part 2

The conflict between China and Japan escalates as the Battle of Shanghai breaks out. James Holland and Al Murray explore a battle that is often considered the beginning of the Second World War in Asia.

Ep 370: China – Part 1

Two years before the start of the Second World War in the west China and Japan entered into a bloody military conflict which would result in millions of casualties. In the first of a two-part series James Holland and Al Murray discuss the build up to the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Ep 369: The Women of SOE

The Special Operations Executive was tasked by Winston Churchill to set Europe ablaze. More than 400 agents were sent into France, thirty-nine of them women.

Dr Kate Vigurs has researched the story of all these female agents for her book, Mission to France: The True Story of the Women of SOE. Kate joins Al and James to discuss their extraordinary stories.

Ep 368: Exploring the Tank Museum

Al Murray and James Holland return to Bovington Tank Museum for an exclusive tour of their new permanent exhibit ‘World War Two: War Stories’. 

Curator David Willey leads Al and James through the new space, which charts the history of the Second World War through the tanks used, but more importantly the men who fought with them.

Ep 367: Commandos in Canoes

Throughout the Second World War, the Special Boat Service took part in daring assaults across Europe and Asia – usually in the dead of night and in small canoes. James Holland and Al Murray discuss these missions and the fate of the SOE in Europe

Ep 366: Red Arrows

While on a recent road trip north Al and James were offered the chance to watch the Red Arrows’ final training session before their summer season. Squadron Leader Adam Collins – Red 10 – talks the boys through the display and explains the history of the team.

Ep 365: Potsdam and the looting of Berlin

In the immediate aftermath of the Second World War as the situation in Germany deteriorated dangerously the Allies faced off in their attempt to divide up Europe. Author Giles Milton joins Al Murray and James Holland to discuss Potsdam and the personalities who oversaw the new Berlin. Plus we discover the origins of the sixty five dollar question.

Ep 364: Lancaster

Inside a hangar on the old RAF airfield at East Kirkby sits one of the world’s last Lancaster bombers. Al Murray and James Holland head north for the chance to scramble inside this remarkable aircraft. Pilot Andrew Panton guides the boys though the confined spaces and into the cockpit.

Ep 363: Landing Craft Tank

On the 6th of June 1944, LCT 7074 delivered nine tanks onto the beach in Normandy. 

Al Murray and James Holland head to Portsmouth to explore the UK’s last remaining D-Day Landing Craft Tank. Historian Stephen Fisher joins them to explain the provenance of this landing craft and its significance to Operation Overlord.