Why We Fight ~ 1944

Returning to talk US Army Air Force Fighters in Europe is Dr. Graham Cross, senior lecturer in American History at the Manchester Metropolitan University. If you missed the 1943 episode on US AAF Fighters, I will link it below, but Graham does include a bit of recap here and there when the comparison between 1943 and 1944 is necessary to understand the bigger picture.LinksFighters Over Europe: Attritional Warfare and the Americanization of the Air War in 1943 ​Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fighters-over-europe-attritional-warfare-and/id1558636084?i=1000637292734 ​Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Oky2TII3Szr5sJ5fP3X2f?si=wvE1-_znQMSUBE7WUxtz-wThe Wings of Democracy: The Influence of Air Power on the Roosevelt Administration 1933-1941 by Jeffery S. Underwood (https://www.amazon.com/Wings-Democracy-Administration-Williams-Ford-University/dp/0890963886/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3536RMETOY5RU&keywords=the+wings+of+democracy&qid=1701545518&sprefix=the+wings+of+democracy%2Caps%2C492&sr=8-1) Global Mission by Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold (https://www.amazon.com/Global-Mission-Military-Classics-Harley/dp/0830640045/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1701545606&sr=8-2)Uniting Against the Reich: The American Air War in Europe (https://www.amazon.com/Uniting-against-Reich-American-Aviation-ebook/dp/B0BNWH7VM9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=12FBIQVTQCTSX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.S2vfDtzRETrY7_DXeR4l9Q.wlqWbxFgY8IKQ5S67P0tSFcEcB63_HxVlPltYXibkj4&dib_tag=se&keywords=luke+truxal&qid=1745770194&sprefix=luke+truxal%2Caps%2C448&sr=8-1)Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Returning to continue the story of Bougainville from the 1943 series is Troy Lewis, US Army veteran and part of the Army University Press Combat Studies Institute Staff Ride Team. Troy picks up with a brief recap from the previous episode and takes us through the end of the fighting to when the island is handed off to the Australians. LinksOperation Cherryblossom & The US Army at Bougainville in 1943 (Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/78tcDYYqfqBqUHjP3tEHQy)(Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/operation-cherryblossom-the-us-army-at-bougainville-1943/id1558636084?i=1000642074493) Staff Ride Walk Book: Japanese Counterattacks on Bougainville Island, 8-25 MAR 1944 (https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/educational-services/staff-rides/VSR/Bougainville/Bougainville%20Instructor%20Notes%20(Exportable)%20-%2025%20August%202023.pdf)CSI Staff Ride Team - Bougainville: Defending the Lodgment, Virtual Staff Ride (https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Staff-Rides/Virtual-Staff-Ride/Bougainville-VSR/)US Army CMH - Northern Solomons (https://history.army.mil/Portals/143/Images/Publications/Publication%20By%20Title%20Images/C%20Img/campaigns-wwii/pdf/28.pdf)Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/) Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Joining me in this episode are Dr. Chris Carey and returning guest Tim Gilhool to talk about the Red Ball Express. Both Chris and Tim worked on the Army University Press film covering the Red Ball Express, and Tim is a retired Logistics Officer who currently serves as the Command Historian for CASCOM - the US Army's Combined Arms Support Command. LinksThe Red Ball Express: Past Lessons for Future Wars byChristopher Carey, PhD(https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/English-Edition-Archives/March-April-2021/Carey-Red-Ball-Express/) France ’44: Combat Success & The Red Ball Express – ArmyUniversity Press(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6WCFwUrKrA)“Keep ‘em Rolling” African American Participation in the RedBall Express by Edna Freene Medfor and Michael Frazier(https://transportation.army.mil/history/studies/red_ball_express.html)Red Ball Express: The Road to Victory(https://www.fdmuseum.org/collection/online-exhibits/red-ball-express/)Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/) Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Dr. John McManus returns to continue the story of the US 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, which enters the fighting in France through the south during Operation Dragoon. This is one of the many stories included in Dr. McManus's book American Courage, American Carnage, which is linked below.LinksAmerican Courage, American Carnage: The 7th Infantry Regiment's Combat Experience, 1812 Through World War II by John C. McManus (https://www.amazon.com/American-Courage-Carnage-Chronicles-Experience/dp/0765320126)Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/) Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Dr. David Murphy joins me to talk about some of the many details of Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France following the invasion of Normandy. Often ignored or overlooked because it was overshadowed by the Normandy Invasion, but it is still an important part of this story and it ties in with the next episode which covers the US 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division in Southern France. LinksOperation Dragoon: The Invasion of Southern France, 15 August 1944 (https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/1944/operation-dragoon.html)First to the Rhine: The 6th Army Group in World War II by Harry Yeide and Mark Stout(https://www.amazon.com/-/es/First-Rhine-Army-Group-World/dp/0760331464)Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

In this episode, retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel Mark Reardon joins me to talk about Operation Lüttich, one of two counteroffensives the Germans launched following the Allied invasion at Normandy in the summer of 1944; the second being the Battle of the Bulge. Mark provides significant detail from his book, Victory at Mortain: Stopping Hitler's Panzer Counteroffensive, which I will link to below, and he also adds some additional insight he has gained since publishing the book. LinksVictory at Mortain: Stopping Hitler's Panzer Counteroffensive by Mark Reardon (https://www.amazon.com/Victory-Mortain-Stopping-Hitlers-Counteroffensive/dp/0700612955)Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/) Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

In this episode, Dr. Robert Lyman joins me to talk about India, the Indian Army, and the Second World War, which is an important topic that has largely been missing from this series except for a few episodes I mention at the start of this episode and will link to below. Those three episode are with guest Christopher Kolakowski, the Director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, who contributed stories about the Chindits, Merrill's Marauders, and the Battles of Imphal and Kohima.LinksDr. Robert Lyman (https://robertlyman.com/about/)Merrill's Marauders (https://open.spotify.com/episode/3CDZBHcffpQgzoLlTI7ZAJ?si=_HxstZfARMq7NEeojy5STQ)The Chindits & Operation THURSDAY: Long-Range Penetration Groups in the C-B-I Theater (https://open.spotify.com/episode/4aPf5yOJCvsxbqLdbnE35Z?si=aXOgA4eOTba_Byod0zpk4Q)The Battles of Imphal & Kohima (https://open.spotify.com/episode/2QI6dJyTbp4Pdp8zZAiNKM?si=rKgzezw5RWy_2POUOg6yvg)A War of Empires: Japan, India, Burma & Britain 1941-45 by Robert Lyman (Amazon)Victory to Defeat: The British Army 1918-1940 by Richard Dannatt & Robert Lyman (Amazon)Japan's Last Bid for Victory: The Invasion of India 1944 by Robert Lyman(Amazon)Slim, Master of War: Burma and the Birth of Modern Warfare by Robert Lyman(Amazon)Nations in the Balance: The India-Burma Campaign DEC 1943 - AUG 1944 by Christopher Kolakowsi(Amazon)Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Retired US Army Sergeant Major Mike Vining joins me in this episode to talk about the history of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Branch and Bomb Disposal during World War II. He also talks with me about his 30 year Army career in both EOD and Delta Force and some of his accomplishments as an EOD historian.LinksEOD Warrior Foundation (https://eodwarriorfoundation.org/)Retired Sergeant Major Paved Way for EOD Technicians in Elite Special Forces Unit (https://www.army.mil/article/263293/retired_sergeant_major_paved_way_for_eod_technicians_in_elite_special_forces_unit)It's A Blast! Podcast -- SGM Mike Vining: From EOD to Military Legend (https://youtu.be/5bJ30HryCEQ?si=HWur_JsXAJSn4qt3)Troop Support Supports EOD Mission as National Observance Nears -- National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day is the first Saturday in May (DLA Article)Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Dr. Bill Nance returns to talk about LTG William Simpson, the US Ninth Army, and how average but doctrinally-proficient leaders made things happen. Not everyone needs to be a Patton. This includes a look at Army Groups and those higher echelon levels of command, command relationships, and intricate coordination to ensure the US forces were able to fight effectively.LinksCommanding Professionalism: Simpson, Moore, and the Ninth US Army by Dr. William S. Nance (Amazon)Sabers Through the Reich: World War II Corps Cavalry from Normandy to the Elbe by Dr. William S. Nance and Dr. Robert M. Citino (Amazon)Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel and current Command Historian for the United States Army Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM) Tim Gilhool joins me to talk about the "Arsenal of Democracy" which made it possible for the United States to keep the Allies in the fight against the Nazis and Axis forces around the world, while simultaneously arming and equipping a massive American military force that helped fight and win the Second World War.LinksThe Army Green Books (https://www.history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/collect/usaww2.html)The Blue Books(https://www.afhistory.af.mil/FAQs/Fact-Sheets/Article/458967/the-u-s-army-air-forces-in-world-war-ii/)Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)