Why We Fight ~ 1944

In this episode, Dr. Lance Blyth, Command Historian for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and US NORTHCOM, and Adjunct Professor of History at the US Air Force Academy, joins me to talk about Mountain Warfare training 80 years ago, the infamous D Series exercises in early 1944, the uncertainty plaguing the men who will form the 10th Mountain Division (eventually), and other aspects of this important time in US Army history. This is the fourth in a series of episodes discussing the 10th Mountain Division. Special thank you to the 10th Mountain Division Band for providing the music used in the intro to this episode. Links Follow Lance on Twitter/X (https://twitter.com/mtn_war) Ski, Climb, Fight: The 10th Mountain Division and the Rise of Mountain Warfare - Available 5 NOV 2024 (https://www.amazon.com/Ski-Climb-Fight-Campaigns-Commanders/dp/0806194650/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.UJ-Y9eVOf7eijBTQQ6cwetd5xG-VPoYyZMdiiVvSm8SGnS9fwCUG-L1JV9v2GYcu.nI6pVs9CiV7xAEFSroXPlOZL1-C4Tqtd084wmN8wyzU&qid=1714909122&sr=8-1) Ninety-Pound Rucksack: The Story of the US Army's 10th Mountain Division and the dawn of outdoor recreation in America (https://christianbeckwith.com/) 10th Mountain Division & Fort Drum Museum (https://history.army.mil/museums/fieldMuseums/fortDrum/index.html) History Colorado (https://www.historycolorado.org/) 10th Mountain Division Resource Center (https://history.denverlibrary.org/research/western-history/10th-mountain-division-resource-center) Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

Returning to continue the story of the 10th Mountain Division are Doug Schmidt, Curator at the 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum Museum, and Dr. Chris Juergens, Head of Curatorial Services and Anschutz Curator of Military History at History Colorado. This time we talk about the Division heading into 1944, with an extremely challenge exercise to test their training. Special thank you to the 10th Mountain Division Band for providing the music as a response to the challenge issued by Lt. Col. Brian Kerg in the Operation Flintlock episode. Links Building Camp Hale: A Deeper History of America's High-Altitude Army Training Ground (https://www.historycolorado.org/story/2022/10/07/building-camp-hale-deeper-history-americas-high-altitude-army-training-ground) 10th Mountain Division Resource Center (https://history.denverlibrary.org/research/western-history/10th-mountain-division-resource-center) 10th Mountain Division History (https://home.army.mil/drum/units-tenants/10th-mountain-division-li) 10th Mountain Division & Fort Drum Museum (https://history.army.mil/museums/fieldMuseums/fortDrum/index.html) Ninety-Pound Rucksack (https://christianbeckwith.com/) History Colorado (https://www.historycolorado.org/) Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

In this episode, Dr. Thomas Bradbeer talks to me about the Royal Air Force raid on Nuremberg at the end of March in 1944. He also details some of the tactics these pilots and aircrews used, as well as the challenges they faced with the Luftwaffe, and towards the end of the episode we talk a bit about his work with the US Army's Command and General Staff College in the Department of Command and Leadership. Links Books by Dr. Thomas Bradbeer (https://www.amazon.com/Books-Thomas-G-Bradbeer/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AThomas+G.+Bradbeer) Army University Press SMEs (https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Experts/) Mother of Tanks website (www.motheroftanks.com) Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks) One of the photos in the title graphic was downloaded from the British Imperial War Museum: ©IWM(CH12598) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

In this episode, Christopher Kolakowski returns to tell the story of the Battles of Imphal and Kohima in March-July 1944. Links Wisconsin Veterans Museum (https://wisvetsmuseum.com/) Defeat Into Victory: Battling Japan in Burma and India, 1942-1945 by Field-Marshal Viscount (https://shorturl.at/BDWZ6) Nations in the Balance: The India-Burma Campaigns, December 1943 - August 1944 by Christopher L. Kolakowski (https://shorturl.at/qtDPY) "Is That the End or Do We Go On?": The Battle of Kohima, 1944 by Christopher L. Kolakowski (https://history.army.mil/armyhistory/AH-Magazine/2019AH_spring/AH111(W).pdf) Road of Bones: The Epic Siege of Kohima 1944 by Fergal Keane (https://shorturl.at/uwKVX) United States Army in World War II: China-Burma-India Theater: Stilwell's Mission to China (https://history.army.mil/html/books/009/9-1/CMH_Pub_9-1.pdf) Stilwell's Command Problems (https://history.army.mil/html/books/009/9-2/CMH_Pub_9-2.pdf) Time Runs Out in CBI (https://history.army.mil/html/books/009/9-3/CMH_Pub_9-3.pdf) Mother of Tanks website (www.motheroftanks.com) Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

Frank de Planta joins me again to continue the story of the Allies fighting the Battles of Monte Cassino. Links Cassino Battlefields (http://www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk/about/) US Army Center of Military History - Italy WWII Maps (https://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/resmat/wwii/part03ETO/anzio/sec04.html) US Army CMH Video - Anzio Landings in Italy, Monte Cassino, Russian Offensive in Romania WWII Newsreel 70842 (https://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/resmat/wwii/part03ETO/anzio/sec05.html) Anzio Beachhead (https://history.army.mil/html/books/100/100-10/CMH_Pub_100-10.pdf) Anzio (https://history.army.mil/html/books/072/72-19/CMH_Pub_72-19.pdf) Return to Cassino by Harold L. Bond (https://www.amazon.com/Return-Cassino-memoir-fight-Rome/dp/B0007DZTG0) Cassino Battlefields Tours (http://www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk/) Series Website (www.motheroftanks.com) Bonus Series Content on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

Back again is Christopher Kolakowski, the director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, this time to talk about the Chindits, Long-Range Penetration Groups operation in the China-Burma-India Theater. (In the episode I refer to three episodes contributed by this guest but the third hasn’t been released yet.) Links Operation THURSDAY (https://www.hurlburt.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Fact-Sheets/Article/204577/operation-thursday/) The Chindits - Operation Thursday (https://thechinditsociety.org.uk/operation-thursday-part-1) Art of War Papers Orde Wingate and the British Internal Security Strategy During the Arab Rebellion in Palestine, 1936-1939 (https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/combat-studies-institute/csi-books/ArtofWar_OrdeWingate1936.pdf) The Coming of Modern War: The Coalition War in North Burma, 1944 by Christopher Kolakowski, pg. 7-27 (https://history.army.mil/armyhistory/AH-Magazine/2018AH_spring/AH107(W).pdf) Wisconsin Veterans Museum (https://wisvetsmuseum.com/) Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

Back again is Frank de Planta to continue the story of the Allies fighting the Battles of Monte Cassino. Links Cassino Battlefields (http://www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk/about/) US Army Center of Military History - Italy WWII Maps (https://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/resmat/wwii/part03ETO/anzio/sec04.html) US Army CMH Video - Anzio Landings in Italy, Monte Cassino, Russian Offensive in Romania WWII Newsreel 70842 (https://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/resmat/wwii/part03ETO/anzio/sec05.html) Anzio Beachhead (https://history.army.mil/html/books/100/100-10/CMH_Pub_100-10.pdf) Anzio (https://history.army.mil/html/books/072/72-19/CMH_Pub_72-19.pdf) Return to Cassino by Harold L. Bond (https://www.amazon.com/Return-Cassino-memoir-fight-Rome/dp/B0007DZTG0) Series Website (www.motheroftanks.com) Bonus Series Content on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

Joining me in this episode is Christopher Kolakowski, the director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. Chris tells the story of Merrill's Marauders, a unit akin to a task force - a unit that had no identity, no past, and was intended to have no future - and how that unit is connected to our modern day 75th Ranger Regiment. Links United States Army in World War II: China-Burma-India Theater Stilwell's Mission to China (https://history.army.mil/html/books/009/9-1/CMH_Pub_9-1.pdf) Stilwell's Command Problems (https://history.army.mil/html/books/009/9-2/CMH_Pub_9-2.pdf) Time Runs Out in CBI (https://history.army.mil/html/books/009/9-3/CMH_Pub_9-3.pdf) Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

In this episode, Lt.Col. Brian Kerg tells the story of the Battle of Kwajalein, part of Operation Flintlock. The Battle of Kwajalein began on 31 JAN 1944 and continued for several days into February. At this time we see the US Army and US Marine Corps commanders applying the lessons learned just a couple of months earlier at Tarawa, as well as some comparisons to what the Americans and Allies are experiencing in Italy around the same time. Links Coral and Brass by Holland M. Smith (https://www.amazon.com/Coral-Brass-Holland-M-Smith/dp/1548048631) Eastern Mandates: The US Army Campaigns in World War II (https://history.army.mil/html/books/072/72-23/CMH_Pub_72-23.pdf) The Eastern Mandates Campaign: A Staff Ride Guide for Operation FLINTLOCK - The Seizure of Kwajalein Atoll (https://www.smdc.army.mil/Portals/38/Documents/Publications/History/Staff%20Ride/CompleteBook.pdf) The United States Army in World War II - The War in the Pacific: Seizure of the Gilberts and Marshalls (https://history.army.mil/html/books/005/5-6-1/CMH_Pub_5-6-1.pdf) Marines in World War II - Commemorative Series Breaking the Outer Ring: Marine Landings in the Marshall Islands (https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/Breaking%20the%20Outer%20Ring-Marine%20Landing%20in%20the%20Marshall%20Islands%20PCN%2019000312400.pdf?ver=2018-10-30-102929-470) Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

Joining me in this episode is Dr. John Curatola, the Samuel Zemurray Stone Senior Historian at the National World War II Museum. John talks about "Big Week" which took place 80 years ago this week, from 20 to 25 February 1944, and how this began the shift in how we employed our air forces to try to better utilize this important "tool of war". We also see a shift in the Luftwaffe as they begin to accept the reality that they can no longer realistically keep up with the losses they are suffering, which is undermining the Axis ability to utilize their air power as a "tool of war". Links National WWII Museum Digital Resources (https://www.ww2online.org/) John Curatola, PhD (https://www.nationalww2museum.org/contributors/john-curatola-phd) Autumn of Our Discontent: Fall 1949 and the Crisis in American National Security (https://www.amazon.com/Autumn-Our-Discontent-American-National/dp/1682476200/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1701003497&sr=8-1) Bigger Bombs for a Brighter Tomorrow: The Strategic Air Command and the American War Plans at the Dawn of the Atomic Age, 1945-1950 (https://www.amazon.com/Bigger-Bombs-Brighter-Tomorrow-Strategic/dp/0786494190/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1701003552&sr=8-3) No Quarter Given: The Change in Strategic Bombing Application in the Pacific Theater During World War II (https://www.amazon.com/No-Quarter-Given-Strategic-Application-ebook/dp/B06XGJ2DQM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2U36YERQFF9IO&keywords=no+quarter+given%2C+the+change+in+strategic+bombing&qid=1701003598&sprefix=no+quartr+given%2C+the+change+in+strategic+bombing%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-1) Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

Returning in this episode is historian and genealogist Dave Gutierrez to continue the story of his cousin and the only Mexican-American US Army unit to fight in World War II, the subject of his book "Patriots from the Barrio". Toward the end of the episode, Dave also talks about his upcoming book about Oscar Perdomo and his fellow fighter pilots in WWII. Links Author Dave Gutierrez (https://authordavegutierrez.com/) Patriots from the Barrio: The Story of Company E, 141st Infantry - The Only All Mexican American Army Unit in World War II (https://www.amazon.com/Patriots-Barrio-Company-Infantry-American/dp/1594163286/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1704031977&sr=8-1) P-47 Restoration (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQGDkIjZDyQ) Oscar Perdomo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_F._Perdomo) Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

Dr. Sanders Marble returns in this episode to talk about US Army Hospitals and Medical Care at Anzio in January 1944, the typical emergency care process for soldiers injured in the fighting or falling ill during this battle, medical evacuations, and the medical care options available near the front thanks to Army Hospitals that were set up at the Anzio Beachhead. We also talk about the presence of Army Nurses (all women) at these Anzio Beachhead hospitals, providing medical and surgical care with fighting just miles away. Links United States Army in World War II - The Technical Services The Medical Department: Medical Service in the Mediterranean and Minor Theaters (https://history.army.mil/html/books/010/10-8/CMH_Pub_10-8.pdf) 56th Evacuation Hospital (https://www.med-dept.com/unit-histories/56th-evacuation-hospital/) 95th Evacuation Hospital (https://www.med-dept.com/unit-histories/95th-evacuation-hospital/) Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

Dr. John McManus joins me in this episode to continue the story of the US 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, as they fight at Anzio starting in January 1944. Links Dr. John McManus (https://johncmcmanus.com/) The 7th Infantry Regiment - Combat in an Age of Terror: The Korean War Through the Present (https://johncmcmanus.com/books/the-7th-infantry-regiment-combat-in-an-age-of-terror-the-korean-war-through-the-present/) The Deadly Brotherhood: The American Combat Soldier in World War II (https://johncmcmanus.com/books/the-deadly-brotherhood-the-american-combat-soldier-in-world-war-ii/) Somebody Talked! The Official Podcast of the National D-Day Memorial (https://www.dday.org/someone-talked-podcast/) We Have Ways USA (https://wehavewayspod.com/episodes/) Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

Joining me in this episode is COL Bryan Gibby, Associate Professor and Deputy Head of the Department of History at West Point. COL Gibby talks about the Battle of Anzio, Operation Shingle, in January/February 1944, and some of the tough lessons we were learning at this time 80 years ago. Links Anzio Beachhead (https://history.army.mil/html/books/100/100-10/CMH_Pub_100-10.pdf) Anzio 1944 (https://history.army.mil/html/books/072/72-19/CMH_Pub_72-19.pdf) Anzio Maps (https://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/resmat/wwii/part03ETO/anzio/sec04.html) General Lucas at Anzio (https://history.army.mil/books/70-7_13.htm) Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

Kicking off the 1944 series, I'm joined by British Army veteran and Italy Battlefields tour narrator Frank de Planta to talk about the first of four Battles of Monte Cassino, the impact this battle was intended to have on Operation Shingle, the landings at Anzio, the impact that actually resulted, and the mess we find ourselves in 80 years ago in January 1944. Links Cassino Battlefields (http://www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk/about/) US Army Center of Military History - Italy WWII Maps (https://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/resmat/wwii/part03ETO/anzio/sec04.html) US Army CMH Video - Anzio Landings in Italy, Monte Cassino, Russian Offensive in Romania WWII Newsreel 70842 (https://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/resmat/wwii/part03ETO/anzio/sec05.html) Anzio Beachhead (https://history.army.mil/html/books/100/100-10/CMH_Pub_100-10.pdf) Anzio (https://history.army.mil/html/books/072/72-19/CMH_Pub_72-19.pdf) Series Website (www.motheroftanks.com) Bonus Series Content on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

The conclusion of the Battle of Ortona with Dr. Lee Windsor and Major Jayson Geroux, and also the conclusion of the Why We Fight ~ 1943 series :) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

In this last 2-part episode of the 1943 series, Canadian Army Major Jayson Geroux and Dr. Lee Windsor (University of New Brunswick, Gregg Centre) join me to talk about this important urban warfare battle that took place in December 1943. Part II will be out shortly and then we will dive into the 1944 series. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

***Trigger Warning*** For anyone who might be sensitive to it, this episode does include talk of sexual assault at one point and I wouldn't want anyone to stumble upon that unexpectedly. Dr. Ben Schneider joins me again to help answer a question that came up in the previous episode: to what extent was the US Army able to use the Military Justice System to protect civilian populations from crimes and exploitation at the hands of some of the American service members? It's complicated and this will require more episodes as we advance in the series but this is a great start to a very important topic. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

In this episode, Dr. Cindy Brown (University of New Brunswick, The Gregg Centre) and Dr. Greg Hospodor (US Army TRADOC) help me talk about the Allied Military Government and Civil Affairs in Sicily and Italy, including some of the challenges faced when trying to stabilize and secure occupied territory while simultaneously fighting the Second World War and as Italy erupts in its own Civil War. Things get complicated, but this is an important part of the story that we need to understand is going on all while we are fighting up the "boot" and preparing to invade France in multiple operations. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

Joining me again is Dr. Ryan Wadle, suckered into another episode after I saw a short video on YouTube about the USS Kidd and had to include the story in the 1943 series. We talk about the history of the USS Kidd, the US Navy's tradition of gedunks and especially ice cream, and the connection to pirates that this vessel and the two subsequent vessels of the same name have had. Links USS Kidd (https://www.usskidd.com/explore-the-kidd/ship-history/) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message