Why We Fight ~ 1944

In this first of two parts, Dr. Grant Harward and Dr. Luke Truxal join me to talk about the April / May 1944 raids on Romania, in particular the First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive. Other episodes that are mentioned or connected to this one include: 1943 episode 11: Uniting Against the Reich with Dr. Luke Truxal 1943 Episode 44: Operation Tidal Wave with Dr. Luke Truxal 1943 Episode 79: Schweinfurt, Regensburg, and Operation Starkey: Inflated Numbers, Wrong Conclusions, and False Confidence with Dr. Luke Truxal 1943 Episode 80: The Luftwaffe's Aerial Defense Over Germany with Dr. Rich Muller 1943 Episode 82: Black Week -- October 1943: A Low Point and a Turning Point for the Strategic Bombing Campaign in Europe with Dr. John Curatola 1943 Episode 83: Fighters Over Europe: Attritional Warfare and the Americanization of the Air War in 1943 with Dr. Graham Cross 1943 Episode 88: The Kuban Bridgehead and Romania in WWII with Dr. Grant Harward 1944 Episode 6: "Big Week" -- February 1944: The US Army Air Force as a Tool of War with Dr. John Curatola Links Uniting Against the Reich: The American Air War in Europe by Dr. Luke Truxal (Amazon) Romania's Holy War: Soldiers, Motivation, and the Holocaust by Dr. Grant Harward (Amazon) Romania 1944: The Turning of Arms Against Nazi Germany by Dr. Grant Harward, Illustrated by Johnny Shumate (Amazon) Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)   Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

In this episode, Brazilian Army Colonel Giorgio Pizzani joins me to talk about the Brazilian Expeditionary Force from creation through 1944 -- a special formation of 25,000 volunteers from Brazil who travel to Italy to fight alongside the Allies. This was a feat made possible by President Roosevelt and the American forces transporting the BEF, then supplying and equipping the men to enable them to contribute to the fight against the Axis in Italy. There were also 67 nurses who volunteered along with the men to travel to the European Theater and care for the wounded. This is "Part I" as the story will continue in the 1945 series. Links The 10th Mountain Division and the 1st Brazilian Expeditionary Infantry Division during Operation Encore, 1945 (https://www.moore.army.mil/infantry/magazine/issues/2022/Summer/PDF/18_Nakashima_txt.pdf) A Military Force on a Political Mission: The Brazilian Expeditionary Force in World War II (https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1600&context=etd) The Brazilian Expeditionary Force in the Battle of Monte Castello (https://www.gov.br/en/government-of-brazil/latest-news/2022/the-brazilian-expeditionary-force-in-the-battle-of-monte-castello) Skis, Samba, and Smoking Snakes: An Unlikely World War II Partnership (https://origins.osu.edu/read/skis-samba-and-smoking-snakes-unlikely-world-war-ii-partnership) North Apennines 1944-1945 (https://www.history.army.mil/brochures/nap/72-34.htm) Operation Olive (https://codenames.info/operation/olive-iii/) Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)   Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

In this episode, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Evans joins me to talk about the Military Police at Normandy and in 1944, as well as the challenges of future force structure planning and compromises. As LTC Evans explains in the episode, the MPs help extend the Commander's operational reach from the established bases of operations to the forward lines of troops through the balance of momentum, endurance, and protection. They help address the Commander's "people problems" and prevent issues from spiraling. LinksMilitary Police Operations in World War II: Extending the Division's Operational Reach (https://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4013coll3/id/3768/rec/1)Top MP Shares Priorities for the Force (⁠https://www.army.mil/article/277653/top_mp_shares_priorities_for_the_force⁠)Military Police (Army Lineage Series) (https://www.history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-9-1/index.html)Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/) Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Kevin Hymel joins me again to continue Patton's story in the war. In this episode, Kevin starts around the Knutsford incident and takes us to about 1 August 1944 when Patton finally get's Third Army on the Continent. Links Patton's War: An American General's Combat Leadership Volume I - NOV 1942 to JUL 1944 by Kevin Hymel (Amazon) Patton's War: An American General's Combat Leadership Volume II - AUG to DEC 1944 by Kevin Hymel (Amazon) Marshall and the Knutsford Affair (https://www.marshallfoundation.org/articles-and-features/marshall-and-the-knutsford-affair-2/) US Army Central Timeline (https://www.usarcent.army.mil/About/History/Timeline/) Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)   Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

In this episode, Steve Snyder joins me to talk about his book SHOT DOWN: The True Story of Pilot Howard Snyder and the Crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth in which he tells of his father's experience in the Second World War. Something that set Howard apart from other aircrew members was his initial Army experience as Infantry. Links SHOT DOWN: The True Story of Pilot Howard Snyder and the Crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth by Steve Snyder (Amazon) Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)   Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

In this episode, Dr. Kate Lemay talks about some incredible women of Normandy, risking their lives and safety to protect downed American aircrews. She also talks about the ways the French grieved the war, and how some may have hyper-focused on protecting American gravesites as a way of managing their own grief. Links Triumph of the Dead: American World War II Cemeteries, Monuments, and Diplomacy in France by Dr. Kate Clarke Lemay (https://www.uapress.ua.edu/9780817319816/triumph-of-the-dead/) (Amazon) Yvette Dubocq (https://www.francaislibres.net/liste/fiche.php?index=66221) Resistance and Liberation: France at War, 1942-1945 by Douglas Porch (Amazon) Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)   Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Dr. Cameron Zinsou joins me in this episode to talk about Charles de Gaulle and the French Resistance, to help add some depth to the series and help us better appreciate the French experience to this point in the war. This episode also compliments the next two episodes which will include talk of parts of the French Resistance. Links The Struggle for Cooperation: Liberated France and the American Military, 1944-1946 by Robert L. Fuller (Amazon link)   After D-Day: The US Army Encounters the French by Robert L. Fuller (https://www.amazon.com/After-D-Day-U-S-Encounters-French/dp/0807174955)   Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)   Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Returning in this episode is retired US Army Colonel Greg Fontenot, continuing the story of the 1st Infantry Division and the Division's participation in the post D-Day operations at Normandy and Saint-Lô. Links No Sacrifice Too Great: The 1st Infantry Division in World War II by Greg Fontenot Diary of a Combat Infantryman by Jim Sharp Sergeant of the Guard at Nuremberg by Jim Sharp Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/) Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks)

In this episode, MAJ Jonathan Curran joins me to talk about the Battle of Cherbourg in June 1944 and what that meant for the US Army and the Allies at the time and going forward. There will also be about 90 minutes of bonus content associated with this episode which will be available on Patreon as soon as I have a chance to put it together into a single bonus episode.   Links   Mother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)   Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

In this episode, Dr. Sanders Marble returns to talk about Army Doctors, Nurses, and Medics at Normandy. Links History of the Office of Medical History (https://medcoeckapwstorprd01.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/achh/HistoryoftheOfficeofMedicalHistory_12247.pdf) Army Medicine History (https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/AMDM) US Army Hospitals, Nurses, and Medical Units in the North Africa Campaign with Jessica Waszak -- Mentioned in the episode, it was the 48/128th Hospital that I couldn't recall (Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/us-army-hospitals-nurses-and-medical-units-in-the/id1558636084?i=1000612231034) (Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6mY40Q8ZJyGYok5Zhsyu67) Mother of Tanks Website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/) Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)