Why We Fight ~ 1944

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/)

This Belongs in a Museum! In this episode, LTC (ret.) Nikki Dean joins me to talk about the very important Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program, the real "Monuments Men", and the continuing efforts to put things right even 80 years after the fact. The Geneva Convention protects cultural artifacts now, but at this time 80 years ago, we needed a formal, structured way of addressing this particular aspect of World War II, with all of the stolen art, artifacts, and other valuables, as well as some counterfeit art and other criminal activity from people taking advantage of the situation. Links Thieves of Baghdad by Matthew Bogdanos (https://www.amazon.com/Thieves-Baghdad-Bogdanos-10-Mar-2006-Paperback/dp/B011T6MDSK/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3URJKA5WTWBJS&keywords=matthew+bogdanos&qid=1696781687&sprefix=matthew+bogdanos%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-2&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc) The Rape of Europa: The Fate of Europe's Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War by Lynn Nicholas (https://www.amazon.com/Rape-Europa-Europes-Treasures-Second/dp/0679756868/ref=sr_1_2?crid=289D74BDXTTOZ&keywords=the+rape+of+europa&qid=1696782078&sprefix=the+rape+of+europa%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-2) The Monument's Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert Edsel (https://www.amazon.com/Monuments-Men-Thieves-Greatest-Treasure-ebook/dp/B002LHRLNE/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=TXKMn&content-id=amzn1.sym.579192ca-1482-4409-abe7-9e14f17ac827&pf_rd_p=579192ca-1482-4409-abe7-9e14f17ac827&pf_rd_r=134-8358389-9751808&pd_rd_wg=ScYnM&pd_rd_r=0ffcd0fc-d2d1-4a55-a4e5-6a7bcc468389&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk) Saving Italy: The Race to Rescue a Nation's Treasures from the Nazis (https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Italy-Rescue-Nations-Treasures-ebook/dp/B00AN86JYU/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=TXKMn&content-id=amzn1.sym.579192ca-1482-4409-abe7-9e14f17ac827&pf_rd_p=579192ca-1482-4409-abe7-9e14f17ac827&pf_rd_r=134-8358389-9751808&pd_rd_wg=ScYnM&pd_rd_r=0ffcd0fc-d2d1-4a55-a4e5-6a7bcc468389&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk) Rescuing Da Vinci: Hitler and the Nazis Stole Europe's Great Art - America and Her Allies Recovered It by Robert Edsel (https://www.amazon.com/Rescuing-Vinci-Europes-America-Recovered/dp/0977434907/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=TXKMn&content-id=amzn1.sym.579192ca-1482-4409-abe7-9e14f17ac827&pf_rd_p=579192ca-1482-4409-abe7-9e14f17ac827&pf_rd_r=134-8358389-9751808&pd_rd_wg=ScYnM&pd_rd_r=0ffcd0fc-d2d1-4a55-a4e5-6a7bcc468389&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk) Rose Valland: Resistance at the Museum by Corinne Bouchoux (https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Valland-Resistance-at-Museum-ebook/dp/B00GBMOHIW/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=WqNCa&content-id=amzn1.sym.579192ca-1482-4409-abe7-9e14f17ac827&pf_rd_p=579192ca-1482-4409-abe7-9e14f17ac827&pf_rd_r=134-8358389-9751808&pd_rd_wg=2axmj&pd_rd_r=600bd874-3118-49dc-9741-445dbe753336&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk)

In this episode, Dr. Erik Villard, Digital Historian for the US Army's Center of Military History, joins me to talk about the history of Army History. We discuss the "Green Books" as well as the "Blue Books" and other publications, all of which can be found online and as PDFs. Some will be linked below. Links Army History Publications (https://history.army.mil/catalog/browse/title.html) The US Army in World War II Collection aka "The Green Books" (https://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/collect/usaww2.html) The US Army Air Forces in World War II aka "The Blue Books" (https://www.afhistory.af.mil/FAQs/Fact-Sheets/Article/458967/the-u-s-army-air-forces-in-world-war-ii/) Combat Operations: Staying the Course October 1967 - September 1968 by Dr. Erik B. Villard (https://history.army.mil/html/books/091/91-15-1/index.html) The 1968 Tet Offensive: Battles of Quang Tri City and Hue by Dr. Erik B. Villard (https://www.amazon.com/1968-Offensive-Battles-Quang-City/dp/1514285223/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1696607457&sr=1-1)

In this episode, Ken Campbell talks about two Hollywood movies that came out in 1943 and their impact on the American war effort whether that be through increased sales of War Bonds or through recruiting for the military. The movies - "This is the Army" and "Destination Tokyo" - both feature language and some choices that we immediately recognize as being offensive and in poor taste, but as Ken explains this was very much "of the time" and it gives insight into American life in 1943, including the less appealing parts of American life at that time. We do not recommend watching these movies, at least not in their entirety, but below is the clip Ken mentions of Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" in "This is the Army". Links Kate Smith in "This is the Army" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvUxPIoZf4g)

In this episode, Dr. David Dworak tells of both Axis and Allied experiences with contested logistics in North Africa during World War II. Often when we hear "contested" we think that the issues are something the enemy is causing for us, but as Dr. Dworak explains it can sometimes be environmental, including weather, and it can sometimes be a problem we created for ourselves. Links War of Supply: World War II Allied Logistics in the Mediterranean (https://www.amazon.com/War-Supply-Logistics-Mediterranean-Military/dp/0813183774) Supplying War: Logistics from Wallenstein to Patton (https://www.amazon.com/Supplying-War-Logistics-Wallenstein-Patton/dp/0521546575/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1695751204&refinements=p_27%3AMartin+van+Creveld&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Martin+van+Creveld) US Army Heritage and Education Center (USAHEC) https://ahec.armywarcollege.edu/ 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

Paul Sparrow returns to help share the story of the First Quebec Conference, Codenamed "Quadrant", which took place 17 to 24 August 1943, after the Sicily Campaign came to an end but before the Allies get to mainland Italy. This conference included the decision to begin discussions and planning for the eventual invasion of France, with a tentative date set for early May 1944. Of course, we now know this will change but the American planners finally had a target date to focus on for that much-desired Cross-Channel attack. This conference also saw the signing of the Quebec Agreement which would help the Americans, Canadians, and the British better coordinate their efforts to develop the Atomic Bomb and details regarding the use of such highly destructive weapons. 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)

In this episode, US Army Colonel Bryan Gibby, Deputy Head of the Department of History at West Point, talks about the challenges of leadership in Italy 1943, particularly the challenges of the very young Lieutenant General Mark Wayne Clark. Many of the challenges stemmed from inexperience combined with ambition and vanity, but it's not always that simple. COL Gibby takes the story to the end of 1943, and he will be back in the 1944 series to talk more about the Italian Campaign. Links The Will to Win: American Military Advisors in Korea 1946-1953 (https://www.amazon.com/Will-Win-American-Military-1946-1953/dp/0817317643)

Joining me in this episode is Frank de Planta, a British Army veteran (retired Lt. Col.) and an Italian battlefield tour narrator. Frank talks about how the Allies got to Italy from North Africa, some of the egos and reputations that get bruised or inflated along the way, and the continued learning that the Allies are experiencing even after 10 months of fighting alongside each other. As a battlefields tour narrator, Frank is an excellent storyteller and I know many people will enjoy his style here. Links Cassino Battlefields (http://www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk/about/) http://www.motheroftanks.com/

Part II of this episode - if you missed Part I, you'll want to go back and listen to it first since this one jumps right into the conversation. 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) http://www.motheroftanks.com/

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 :) 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) http://www.motheroftanks.com/