Why We Fight ~ 1943
By Sasha Maggio (MoT)
It is possibly the largest Combined, Joint, Multinational military history series ever :)
Why We Fight ~ 1943Dec 10, 2023
The Nuanced Neutrality of Ireland and the 38th (Irish) Brigade in 1943
Links
The Finnish-Soviet Winter War 1939-40: Stalin's Hollow Victory by Dr. David Murphy, illustrated by Johnny Shumate (https://www.amazon.com/Finnish-Soviet-Winter-War-1939-40-Campaign-ebook/dp/B0BKSW2H3V?ref_=ast_author_mpb)
Allied and Axis Armor Technology in 1943
Fighters Over Europe: Attritional Warfare and the Americanization of the Air War in 1943
Black Week – October 1943: A Low Point and a Turning Point for the Strategic Bombing Campaign in Europe
The Combined Bomber Offensive & Family Connections to World War II
Links
Grin 'n Bear It: The Effects of Strategic Decisions on Eighth Air Force Bomber Crews from October 1943 to February 1944 by Alex Moon (https://aul.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/delivery/01AUL_INST:AUL/1295444870006836)
The Luftwaffe's Aerial Defense Over Germany
Links
The Luftwaffe Over Germany: Defense of the Reich by Donald Caldwell and Richard Muller (https://www.amazon.com/Luftwaffe-Over-Germany-Defense-Reich/dp/1848327412)
Schweinfurt, Regensburg, and Operation Starkey: Inflated Numbers, Wrong Conclusions, and False Confidence
Semper Paratus: The Greenland Patrol and the US Coast Guard in 1943
Marine Corps Amphibious Operations, Command Culture, and Operation Cherryblossom
Joining me again is Lt.Col. Brian Kerg, this time to talk Marine Corps history. This was actually the first episode we recorded. Brian talks about Operation Cherryblossom, the landings at Cape Torokina at the start of the Bougainville Campaign. He also talks about Marine Corps leadership and command culture in the Pacific Theater.
There will be other Bougainville episodes coming up but, as promised, this one is set to release on 10 November, which is the 248th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. And in celebratory spirit, I've included a little adjustment to the opening and ending.
Six Degrees of Vietnam: World War II and the Vietnam War
The Sunburst Division – 40th Infantry, California Army National Guard (Part I)
The Battle of Kiska
Bonus Halloween Episode: Zone Troopers (1985)
Admiral Nimitz Reconfigures the Staff
Night Battles in the Solomon Islands
Joining me in this episode is Naval Historian Trent Hone and we talk about the US Navy (and Allies) involved in night battles in the Solomon Islands, and how this period in late 1943 reflects a tremendous amount of learning that the Navy did in the years prior. This episode has a little overlap with the Battle of Kula Gulf episode, so it ties in well with the previous 4 episodes in the series.
Links
Mastering the Art of Command: Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and Victory in the Pacific by Trent Hone (https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Art-Command-Admiral-Chester/dp/1682475956/ref=monarch_sidesheet)
Fighting in the Dark: Naval Combat at Night: 1904 - 1944 Edited by Vincent O'Hara and Trent Hone (https://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Dark-Naval-Combat-1904-1944/dp/1682477800/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=)
Learning War: The Evolution of Fighting Doctrine in the US Navy, 1898 - 1945 by Trent Hone (https://www.amazon.com/Learning-War-Evolution-Fighting-1898-1945-ebook/dp/B07BF86ZH2?ref_=ast_author_dp)
Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by Craig L. Symonds (https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor/dp/0197761321/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1698075998&sr=8-1)
Battle of Munda Point: Fighting the Plan vs. Fighting the Enemy
Steve Wuensche, US Army veteran and current member of the Army University Press Combat Studies Institute (CSI) Staff Ride Team, joins me to talk about the Battle of Munda Point, during the New Georgia Campaign in the Pacific Theater. We also talk about Staff Rides and the available options for both virtual and in-person Staff Rides, as well as support for units looking to develop their own.
This episode works well with the two most recent episodes by Kater Miller on the Marine Raiders in the New Georgia Campaign and Operation Toenails, part of the New Georgia Campaign and planned to support this Battle of Munda Point. There are also connections between all of these episodes and Dr. Jon Bernstein's episode on the Battle of Kula Gulf.
Links
Army University Press Staff Rides
Battle of Kula Gulf
Link
Why We Fight ~ 1942: Pacific Theater
Guns and Ships (https://twitter.com/USMCMuseum/status/1486768008785711107)
National Museum of the United States Marine Corps
(https://www.usmcmuseum.com/)
OPERATION TOENAILS
Joining me again is Kater Miller, this time to talk about OPERATION TOENAILS, part of the New Georgia Campaign in the Pacific Theater in 1943. This episode is tied to the previous one on Marine Raiders, and to the next two episodes which also involve the New Georgia Campaign.
Links
National Museum of the United States Marine Corps
Marine Raiders in the Pacific
Links
USMC Museum (https://www.usmcmuseum.com/)
The Vikings: The Story of the 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate)
In this episode, Dr. Bill Convery, Director of Research at the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul, tells us about the very unique 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate), comprised of Norwegian-speaking soldiers trained for elite missions in World War II. While we cover a broad bit of the story, I will include future episodes for a more in-depth look at this unit and their experiences in 1944 and 1945.
Links
Minnesota Military Museum: Norwegian-Americans and the 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate) (https://www.mnmilitarymuseum.org/files/5613/2261/5287/99th_Infantry_Battalion_Sep.pdf)
Denver Public Library: 99th Infantry Battalion Records (https://archives.denverlibrary.org/repositories/3/resources/6039)
American Battle Monuments Commission: 99th Infantry Battalion (https://www.abmc.gov/db-abmc-burial-unit/99th-infantry-battalion)
Minnesota Historical Society (https://www.mnhs.org/)
Monuments Men, the MFAA, and Continuing Efforts to Put Things Right
US Army History and Historians
Hollywood and the American War Effort in 1943
Links
Kate Smith in "This is the Army" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvUxPIoZf4g)
A Look at Contested Logistics in North Africa
Quadrant: The First Quebec Conference in August 1943
Links
American Heritage Special Issue: Atomic Bomb | August 2023 | Volume 68 | No. 5 (https://www.americanheritage.com/content/august-2023)
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum: This Week in Roosevelt History | August 15-21 (https://fdr.blogs.archives.gov/2011/08/15/this-week-in-roosevelt-history-august-15-21-2/)
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum | Quebec Conferences (https://fdrlibrary.tumblr.com/post/91851412244/day-54-quebec-conferences-fdr-and-winston)
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum | First Quebec Conference (https://fdrlibrary.tumblr.com/post/177096151759/first-qu%C3%A9bec-conference)
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum | FDR Audio Recordings (https://www.fdrlibrary.org/utterancesfdr)
MoT Site (www.motheroftanks.com)
Leadership Challenges, Ambition, and the Allied Campaign in Italy 1943
Links
The Will to Win: American Military Advisors in Korea 1946-1953 (https://www.amazon.com/Will-Win-American-Military-1946-1953/dp/0817317643)
How the Allies Got to Italy and the Beginning of the Italian Campaign
Links
Cassino Battlefields (http://www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk/about/)
www.motheroftanks.com/
The Allied Invasion of Mainland Italy (Part II)
With the magic of technology, this episode brings together Dr. Lee Windsor and Dr. Cindy Brown, both with the University of New Brunswick up in Canada, Dr. Greg Hospodor with US Army TRADOC in Virginia, Dr. John Curatola with the National WWII Museum in Louisiana, and me here in Germany. My four guests have known each other for a long time and, upon realizing that, I wanted to bring them together to help kick off the Italian Campaign :)
Links
Dr. Lee Windsor (https://www.unb.ca/faculty-staff/directory/arts-fr-history/windsor-lee.html)
Dr. Cindy Brown (https://www.unb.ca/faculty-staff/directory/arts-fr-history/brown-cindy.html)
Dr. Greg Hospodor - Bitter Victory? The Allied Campaign for Sicily Revisited (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f060mKeIWIw)
Tactical Change in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goVg6n42gJE)
Dr. John Curatola (https://www.nationalww2museum.org/contributors/john-curatola-phd)
www.motheroftanks.com/
The Allied Invasion of Mainland Italy (Part I)
This episode was split in two because it was a bit long. The second half will be out in a day or so.
Links
Dr. Lee Windsor (https://www.unb.ca/faculty-staff/directory/arts-fr-history/windsor-lee.html)
Dr. Cindy Brown (https://www.unb.ca/faculty-staff/directory/arts-fr-history/brown-cindy.html)
Dr. Greg Hospodor - Bitter Victory? The Allied Campaign for Sicily Revisited (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f060mKeIWIw)
Tactical Change in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goVg6n42gJE)
Dr. John Curatola (https://www.nationalww2museum.org/contributors/john-curatola-phd)
www.motheroftanks.com/
The Axis Forces' Retreat from Sicily 1943
Joining me in this episode wrapping up the Sicily Campaign is Lt.Col. Brian Kerg. This is actually the second episode we recorded but the first to be released in the series. In the course of recording the other episode, Brian let slip that he covered the Axis retreat from Sicily in August 1943 when he attended the Marine Corps' School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW) and I twisted his arm to cover it for this series. He also gives a fantastic overview of the school and its benefits, and encourages other officers, Marine and otherwise, to consider it. Definitely stick around for that part at the end!
Administering the Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Dr. David Dworak joins me again, this time to talk about how we administer a theater of operations, using the Allied invasion of Sicily and the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) as the example for 1943. If you missed Dr. Dworak's earlier episode on sustaining a theater of operations, that was episode 26 of this year's 1943 series. And if you're interested in learning more about the MTO, maybe check out Dr. Dworak's book War of Supply: World War II Allied Logistics in the Mediterranean, and the US Army's Center of Military History publications on Logistics, Sustainment, and related aspects of WWII operations.
Links
War of Supply: World War II Allied Logistics in the Mediterranean (https://www.amazon.com/War-Supply-Logistics-Mediterranean-Military/dp/0813183774) The US Army Center of Military History has quite a few books on Army Logistics, Sustainment, and other aspects of the war, for anyone looking to learn more: https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/11-9/11-9c.htm
Bridging the Gap with "Miraculous American Pontoons"
Links
Inventors and Innovators: Naval Lighterage and Anglo-American Success in the Amphibious Invasions of German-Occupied Europe (https://tnm.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/default/article/view/155 You can download the article here - https://tnm.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/default/article/download/155/149/211)
US Navy Pontoon Technology at HUSKY and OVERLORD presented by Dr. Frank A. Blazich Jr., PhD, Curator (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI3U0ekCLO8)
Frank Blazich, Curator, Military History - National Museum of American History (https://americanhistory.si.edu/profile/1298)
The US 7th Infantry Regiment & 3rd Infantry Division in Sicily 1943
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/)
Autobahn to Berchtesgaden: A Combat Soldier's View of His Role in World War II as Seen From the Lower Ranks Looking Up by LTC Sherman W. Pratt (https://www.amazon.com/Autobahn-Berchtesgaden-combat-soldiers-looking/dp/B0006EZ5RI)
www.motheroftanks.com/
"Guns and Leaders to the Front": Using the Story of the 82d Airborne Division in Sicily to Train Soldiers Today
Links
Museum Website (https://www.82ndairbornedivisionmuseum.com/)
Airborne & Glider Ops and Armored Warfare in Sicily 1943
Links
armyuniversity.edu/cgsc/cgss/dmh/Faculty
Pershing Lecture Series: The Evolution of Battlefield Communications (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BAaaQAC6yU)
Operation Northern Delay: The US Airborne Invasion of Iraq (The Dole Institute) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDe8ghOq86U)
Operation Hydra and the Space Force Connection to 1943
LTG Patton, the Infamous Slapping Incidents, and Changes in the Army's Approach to Combat Psychiatry
Patton's Leadership in Sicily 1943
Joining me in this episode is retired US Army Colonel John Antal, author of some of my favorite books and also appeared in the documentary series Patton 360. COL Antal talks with us about Patton in Sicily, with emphasis on Patton's leadership and what made Patton a great leader and what makes the Sicily Campaign worth studying.
"Every battle that Patton fought was a case study in how to fight combined arms and Joint operations."
Links
Next War: Reimagining How We Fight (https://amzn.to/3YzYlnD)
Infantry Combat: The Rifle Platoon - An Interactive Exercise in Small-Unit Tactics and Leadership (https://amzn.to/3QDzPA4)
Armor Attacks: The Tank Platoon - An Interactive Exercise in Small-Unit Tactics and Leadership (https://amzn.to/3OWmotX)
Combat Team: The Captain's War - An Interactive Exercise in Company Level Command in Battle (https://amzn.to/3OuWT1k)
7 Leadership Lessons of D-Day (https://amzn.to/3QFFJAO)
http://www.motheroftanks.com/ads-sponsors-and-affiliate-links/
Lieutenant General George S. Patton Jr. (Part I)
Historian and author Kevin Hymel joins me in this episode to talk about George S. Patton Jr. This is marked a "Part I" as Kevin has promised to come back and continue the story. He will also talk about the "Six-Triple-Eight" Postal Battalion, about which he wrote an article that inspired an upcoming Netflix film made by Tyler Perry. Kevin is also an Ambrose Historical Tours guide leading the "In Patton's Footsteps" tour.
Links
Patton's War: An American General's Combat Leadership Vol. 1 (https://amzn.to/459qGUg)
Patton's War: An American General's Combat Leadership Vol. 2 (https://amzn.to/3OCx2V8)
Patton's Photographs: War as He Saw It (https://amzn.to/3YxSbV2)
Historian Kevin Hymel's Article on the 6888th Being Made into a Movie (https://stephenambrosetours.com/historian-kevin-hymels-article-on-the-6888th-to-be-made-into-a-movie/)
6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (https://armyhistory.org/6888th-central-postal-directory-battalion/)
"No Mail, Low Morale": The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/English-Edition-Archives/Jan-Feb-2019/Warrington-Mail/)
www.motheroftanks.com/ads-sponsors-and-affiliate-links/
The 56th Medical Battalion (Corps) in Sicily 1943
Links
Romania's Holy War: Soldiers, Motivation, and the Holocaust (Amazon Affiliate Link https://amzn.to/3qulStG)
www.motheroftanks.com/ads-sponsors-and-affiliate-links/
The Relief of Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen
Following the Battle of Troina on Sicily, MG Terry Allen is relieved of command, along with his Deputy, Teddy Roosevelt Jr. In this episode, Dr. Greg Hospodor helps share the story of "Terrible Terry" de la Mesa Allen, along with some controversies surrounding the decision to relieve him on 6 August 1943. We also touch on leadership and professionalism and the politics among General Officers. Links
Terrible Terry Allen: Combat General of WWII – The Life of an American Soldier (https://amzn.to/3Oniadq) A Soldier’s Story – Omar Bradley (https://amzn.to/3qt2LQB) A General’s Life: AN Autobiography by General of the Army Omar N. Bradley and Clay Blair (https://amzn.to/3KwFowi) http://www.motheroftanks.com/ads-sponsors-and-affiliate-links/
Operation Tidal Wave
In this episode, Dr. Luke Truxal joins me again to talk Air Power in 1943 – this time we talk about Operation Tidal Wave, an air raid against Romanian oil refineries. The operation was not just a failure on many levels but it had a negative impact on our ability to employ our air assets during the remainder of the Sicily Campaign and going into Italy as a result of significant losses and damage to the bombers. Links Uniting Against the Reich: The American Air War in Europe – Dr. Luke Truxal (https://amzn.to/3Qp2I31) Fortress Ploesti: The Campaign to Destroy Hitler’s Oil – LTC Jay Stout, USMC Ret. (https://amzn.to/3DNyuzb)
(Jay A. Stout https://www.jayastout.com/) Enlisted Personnel of Operation Tidal Wave (https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/AFEHRI/documents/WarsConflicts/fodor.pdf) The Airmen Heritage Series: Operation “Tidal Wave” (https://media.defense.gov/2016/May/18/2001540805/-1/-1/0/AFD-160518-001-011.PDF) 1943 – Operation Tidal Wave: The Low-Level Bombing of the Ploesti Oil Refineries (https://www.afhistory.af.mil/FAQs/Fact-Sheets/Article/459003/1943-operation-tidalwave-the-low-level-bombing-of-the-ploesti-oil-refineries-1/) Operation Tidal Wave (https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/mission/operation-tidal-wave) On Thie Day (1 Aug 1943): Operation Tidal Wave (https://www.mightyeighth.org/operation-tidal-wave/) Romania’s Holy War: Soldiers, Motivation, and the Holocaust – Dr. Grant Harward (https://amzn.to/3Kwp4vI) Quest for Decisive Victory: From Stalemate to Blitzkrieg in Europe, 1899-1940 – Dr. Robert Citino (https://amzn.to/3Oqv1v7) For the Common Defense: A Military History of the United States from 1607 to 2012 (https://amzn.to/45jsSbp) http://www.motheroftanks.com/ads-sponsors-and-affiliate-links/
The Biscari Massacre
This is the second part of a two-part episode. The first part discusses using Operation Husky to teach West Point cadets and some of the hard lessons the Allies learned while fighting in Sicily. This is one of about 30 episodes on the Sicily Campaign.
Studying Operation Husky & Learning Hard Lessons in Sicily
There is a second part to this episode in which Darren talks about the Biscari Massacre. This is one of about 30 episodes on the Sicily Campaign.
Complicated Relations and Mussolini Gets Sacked
In this episode I'm joined by Giulio Poggiaroni to talk about the Italians in Sicily in 1943 and Mussolini getting fired. Giulio's accounts are linked below - he offers an excellent array of WWII history content in both Italian and English, and he will join us again in a few weeks to talk about the Allied invasion of Italy and things getting even more complicated for the Italian people.
This is one of about 30 episodes that help tell the story of the Sicily Campaign in 1943.
Links
Giulio Poggiaroni, Author at Comando Supremo (https://comandosupremo.com/author/giulo-poggiaroni/)
Italian Military Archives on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@ITM_archives)
Italian Military Archives on Instagram (http://instagram.com/italian_military_archives)
Italian Military Archives on Twitter (http://twitter.com/@ITM_archives)
The Thunderbird Division in Sicily
Joining me in this episode is Dr. Denise Neil, Executive Director of the Oklahoma National Guard Museum. Dr. Neil helps share the story of the 45th Infantry Division, the "Thunderbird" Division, which was trained but not yet combat-tested when they landed in Sicily on 10 July 1943. We do touch on the Biscari Massacre, but there will be a dedicated episode for that coming up soon.
This is one of about 30 episodes that help tell the story of the Sicily Campaign in 1943. Links Oklahoma National Guard (https://ok.ng.mil/) Oklahoma National Guard Museum (https://www.facebook.com/45thInfantryDivisionMuseum) The Rock of Anzio: From Sicily to Dachau, A History of the US 45th Infantry Division by Flint Whitlock (Amazon Affiliate Link https://amzn.to/3Y58VCS) Citizen Soldiers: Oklahoma's National Guard by Kenny Franks (Amazon Affiliate Link https://amzn.to/3QifjES) http://www.motheroftanks.com/ads-sponsors-and-affiliate-links/
Combat Action and the Impact of Terrain in Sicily in 1943
Joining me in this episode is Steven Clay who works with the Army University Press Combat Studies Institute Staff Ride Team. Steve talks to us about the terrain in Sicily and how that terrain impacted operations including Operation Husky and throughout the Sicily Campaign. He also talks about the combat experiences of the 16th Infantry Regiment and 1st Infantry Division throughout the campaign.
Steve created some really cool animated maps for this talk, but since this is an audio podcast I will put the maps on Twitter and paste the link here: https://twitter.com/Mother_of_Tanks/status/1683146971098370049
I will also link to the thread on my website on the Podcast page.
This is one of about 30 episodes that help tell the story of the Sicily Campaign in 1943.
Links
Blood and Sacrifice: The History of the 16th Infantry Regiment from the Civil War Through the Gulf War (Amazon Affiliate Link https://amzn.to/3rBdLf3)
Army University Press Combat Studies Institute Staff Ride Team (https://www.armyupress.army.mil/educational-services/staff-ride-team-offerings/)
http://www.motheroftanks.com/ads-sponsors-and-affiliate-links/
US Army Transportation in 1943
In this episode, I'm joined by Matthew Fraas, the US Army Transportation Museum's Education Specialist, and Matthew tells us about Army Transportation in 1943. This includes going into North Africa for Operation Torch, going into Sicily for Operation Husky, and then the invasion of mainland Italy beginning in September 1943. We talk lessons learned, lessons not learn, integrating capabilities, the importance of centralized control in military operations, and what the more modern fore calls Logistics Over the Shore (LOTS).
This is one of about 30 episodes that help tell the story of the Sicily Campaign in 1943.
Links US Army Transportation Museum (https://transportation.army.mil/museum/)
Operation Husky & the Battle for Sicily (Part II)
With the help of Dr. Greg Hospodor and Dr. Lee Windsor, here is part two of two episodes that tell the story of the Sicily Campaign, beginning with Operation Husky. This second part includes the Battle of Troina and the Axis escape from Sicily.
This is one of about 30 episodes discussing Sicily in 1943.
Links
Dr. Lee Windsor (https://www.unb.ca/faculty-staff/directory/arts-fr-history/windsor-lee.html)
Dr. Greg Hospodor - Bitter Victory? The Allied Campaign for Sicily Revisited (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f060mKeIWIw)
Operation Husky & the Battle for Sicily (Part I)
With the help of Dr. Greg Hospodor and Dr. Lee Windsor, here is part one of two episodes that tell the story of the Sicily Campaign, beginning with Operation Husky. The second part will include the Battle of Troina and the Axis escape from Sicily.
This is one of about 30 episodes discussing Sicily in 1943.
Links
Dr. Lee Windsor (https://www.unb.ca/faculty-staff/directory/arts-fr-history/windsor-lee.html)
Dr. Greg Hospodor - Bitter Victory? The Allied Campaign for Sicily Revisited (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f060mKeIWIw)