THE HISTORY OF WWII PODCAST - BY RAY HARRIS JRHOSTED BYRECORDED HISTORY PODCAST NETWORK
A biweekly podcast covering the last great war. Join Ray Harris Jr as he explores World War Two in intimate detail.
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The History of WWII Podcast - by Ray Harris Jr
Episode 463-Attrition: A Game the Entire Country Can Play
Thu Apr 18 2024
Hey. Welcome to IKEA, where even this desk is circular. Oh, how so? Looks pretty rectangular to me. It's because we're always looking to care, reuse, and we love our products, like buying back your IKEA items for store credit, or shop our as is section for great deals. You can even order free spare parts. Get on the circular path where more sustainable future. Go a rectangle. Get started at IKEA dash USA.com/circular. Visit IKEA dash USA com slash circular for as is information and buyback in resale terms and conditions spare parts not available for all products. If you're an athlete, you know, the greatest motivator of all is the fear of letting your teammates down. After all, a team is only as good as its weakest link. So you owe it to those wearing the same jersey as you to be your best every time you step on the field. That's why there's no vape in team. When you vape, you can expose your lungs to toxic chemicals that can damage your lungs. If you're a step behind, the team's a step behind, brought to you by the real cost and the FDA. Hello, and thank you for listening to the history of World War 2 podcast. Episode 463. Attrition a game the entire country can play. Last time in mid August 1941, while the rest of army group south was pushing east, winning more than losing, the Romanian and Germans were struggling to take Odessa, the Black Sea Port City. Though the access launched wave after wave through grit and at times personal sacrifice, the attackers were kept at bay. Then again, They weren't done attacking. Nor were the Soviets done defending. And what transpired next was simply a contest of wills. And normally those fighting for hearth at home are willing and thus able to endure
The History of WWII Podcast - by Ray Harris Jr
Episode 462-When Fighting For Your Life, You Can Never Go Too Far
Mon Apr 08 2024
A tour of the front lines, and then thanked everyone for everything they had done. It ended with mentioning the thousands of fascist bodies seen, along with their officers, in front of the northeastern section of the outermost line. The implied message was, there was plenty room for more. The Romanians must have also noticed their war dead, with nothing to show for it. Clearly, a change was needed. So instead of coming from the Northeast relative to Odessa, they would now shift their axis to the Northwest. Further, there was also to be a general offensive along the entire defensive line. If the northwestern section broke, all to the good, But at the very least, if the two ends near the coast could be pushed in a bit, then Odessa's port facilities would come within artillery range, and to destroy the city's ability to load and unload ships would be the beginning of their end. The Romanians brought up their reserves. During all this fighting so far on the ground, the Axis had 7 infantry divisions, 1 tank brigade and 2 cavalry brigades. Soon, 2 more infantry divisions and another cavalry brigade were on their way. When the reserves arrived, the attack plan had to be changed again due to geography. The tanks would come for the northeast as the ground was better suited for them there. On August 15th, the latest attack got underway. Sure enough, the Romanian 15th Infantry Division and the 1st Cavalry Brigade attacked from the east supported by a large number of tanks and air support. This area was defended by less than 1 full division, yet Brigadier Commander Monakhov urged his men to fight. This overwhelming thrust came right at the men of the First Regiment of Naval Infantry.
The History of WWII Podcast - by Ray Harris Jr
Episode 461-Odessa Prepares for its Fate
Wed Apr 03 2024
Simultaneously, the Romanians further south, and with massive Luftwaffe support, took Kishinev in central Moldova. This opened the way to Odessa along a southeastern course, and it didn't help that the successful Soviet bridgehead previously had been abandoned. But on July 18th, one day before the staffka ordered a retreat, it told the coastal group of forces, in cooperation with the Black Sea Fleet, prevent any enemy breakthrough in the direction of Odessa, holding it under any circumstances. In order to stand and die is one thing, but taking this matter seriously, the Stavka brought in a new commander, 1 General GI Safonov. He had fought in this very area during the Russian Civil War, and he was desperately needed. Now that Kishinev was taken, Axis forces between July 19th 25th pushed to the southeast, Odessa bound. But the separate coastal army, now under Savonov, held them off. As these two sides clashed, the defenses within and around Odessa were being strengthened. What helped, though indirectly and only for a short duration, was the Soviet defense around Uman already discussed, but as we have seen that would end too quickly for Moscow who would order the retreat of the 6th and 12th armies. Many would not make it. Point is the crumbling Soviet front was leaving Odessa more and more isolated as each hour passed. On August 4th, the Southern Front's military council sent a report to the Stavka. In part it read, possession of Odessa has large political and operational significance. The enemy will be constantly connected on the flank. The defense of Odessa must be conducted under the conditions of the fleet's superiority in the black.
Could I write a book about this? But I had to write a book about this mission. And, 13 years later, that that my mission is now complete, and I've been able to tell the story. Excellent. So I'm I'm in a in a light hearted tone, if I may. Let me get in on the ground floor of this. If and when they turn your book into a movie or to a TV series, call me. I'll carry your bags. I'll drive the car. You just let me whatever. I just would love to be a part of it. Anyway, so but no. But this was that kind of book. It was that kind of story. And I could easily see someone doing something with it. But I just wanted to get in on the ground floor of that. So Well, I I appreciate that. I I would just like to say I Yeah. I wrote it as if I was witnessing or or was a part of the events. Right. This is this is not an academic treatment of strategic bombing. It's, you know, seat of the pants. They're raising Yes. Scary, funny, terrifying story about survival and, getting on with one's life after going through hell. It it is very cinematic, and I I wrote it specifically to be that way. Right. No. I I totally agree because it was a human interest story. I literally felt like I was in the in the plane. At times, I did not appreciate that. But, no. You you definitely you definitely put the person there. So I again, that was a part of it that made it very enjoyable for me. So as you just kind of touched on a second ago, at the center of this story is the allied bombing of the city of Linz. What was significant about that bombing, about that city at this point in the war? At this point in the war, Linz was a major military target. We're talking late April of 1945. Mhmm. The Soviets are advancing from the east. The Americans are advancing from the west, specifically Patton.
Still resisting. As for that coastal city, the last thing the Germans needed or wanted was another siege. So there was probably some relief in Berlin and army group South Headquarters when marshal Ion Antonescu, the prime minister of Romania volunteered his forces to take on the job of capturing the port city. Further, he promised Romania's king Michael and von Rundstedt that he would clear the Black Sea coast, leaving the Germans to stay on the move. Yet, the Romanians would find out as the Germans and Italians were finding out, that taking on trapped Soviet troops was no small matter. After all, experience or desperation is the best teacher. On August 10th, the same day that the Stavka ordered a pullback to the eastern side of the Dnieper, army group south commander von Rundstedt issued order number 5, which had three goals. 1st, the continuation of the destruction of all enemy forces on this side of the Dnieper, specifically those Soviet troops who had managed to slip out of the Oman pocket to to secure and occupy the West Bank of the Dnieper, and that was well on the way to being done as close to Kyiv, the group Schwedler was already there and spreading out, and, 3, cover the northern flank of the German 6th army that was currently laying siege to Kyiv. It would be going too far to say that von Reichenau and his men had that very area under control. Again, the Soviet 5th army would pop out of the marshes for annoying raids, but the Germans knew it was only a matter of time before the Stavka would once again cobble together another desperate force to either attack von Riken now or make for Kyiv itself to beef up the city's defenses.