WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk 11. Smoking Snakes
Jun 11, 2019
James Holland and Al Murray discuss the Brazilian Expeditionary Force in WW2, debate the raid on Dieppe, and the incompetence of German Intelligence. They also explore the use of special forces, timelines of divisions, Irish neutrality, and testing Atlantic Wall defenses.
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Brazil's WWII Entry and Role
- Brazil entered WWII primarily due to Brazilian shipping losses and pressure from the U.S.
- They formed the Brazilian Expeditionary Force, fighting in Italy alongside Allies as the "Smoking Snakes."
WWII Army Unit Composition Shift
- WWII conscript soldiers were often spread widely beyond local regiments to avoid devastating whole communities.
- This differed from WWI experience when entire towns' men often served together, causing huge losses.
German Special Forces Limits
- Germans had special forces but did not deploy commando-style raids like Allies due to strategic priorities.
- Cost and resource constraints on multiple fronts limited extensive commando operations by Germany.