Special Forces In World War 2 Podcast
This podcast explores the history of specialized military units during World War 2. It covers the stories, strategies, and sacrifices of elite forces, presenting a comprehensive overview of the units that played key roles in the conflict. The show aims to create a virtual museum dedicated to these extraordinary forces.
Episodes
Assault on the Merville Battery, Part 2.
Improved 2 part episode of the Merville assault. In the early hours of June 6th, 1944, the 9th Parachute Battalion drops into chaos. Aircraft scatter six hundred men across the flooded fields of Normandy. A handful find their way to the wire of Batterie de Merville. What follows is one of the most audacious small-unit actions of the Second World War.In this episode we follow Major George Smith'
Assault on the Merville Battery, Part 1.
Improved 2 part episode of the Merville assault. In the early hours of June 6th, 1944, the men of the 9th Parachute Battalion will jump into the darkness over Normandy. Their objective is the Merville Battery, four guns in reinforced concrete, behind wire, mines, and a garrison of one hundred and sixty men. From its emplacements the battery commands the approaches to Sword Beach, where the British
Coup de Main. The D-Day Assault on the Pegasus and Horsa Bridge. Part 2
In the thrilling conclusion of our series on the Coup de Main, we take you to the night of June 6, 1944. Join us as we follow Staff Sergeant Jim Wallwork, Major John Howard, and the men of the 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in their daring glider assault on the Pegasus and Horsa bridges. Experience the tension, bravery, and chaos as these soldiers fight to secure these vital cr
Coup de Main. The Preperations for the D-Day Assault on the Pegasus and Horsa Bridge. Part 1
In this gripping first episode of our series on the Coup de Main, we dive into the meticulous preparations led by Major John Howard and the 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Discover how Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery's strategic decisions set the stage for one of World War II's most daring missions. Follow the intense training, strategic planning, and rigorous exercises th
Landing Craft Infantry, (Large)
She is forty-eight metres long, flat-bottomed, and built without a keel. She crosses the Atlantic under her own power, carrying two hundred infantry to defended beaches her smaller cousins cannot reach. Her side ramps earn the grim nickname of "bullet magnets" from the soldiers who descend them under fire. Without the Landing Craft, Infantry, Large, there is no Sicily, no Salerno, no Anzio, no Nor
Operation Archway, Special Air Service, Part 2
April to May 1945. As the German front collapses, 1 and 2 Special Air Service race ahead of the British Army to secure key towns, hunt down Nazi officials, and liberate Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. From Celle to the Elbe, and finally to Lübeck and Kiel, the Special Air Service plays a decisive role in the war’s final days. This episode follows their operations in the north German plain as the
Operation Archway, Special Air Service, Part 1
March 1945. As the Allies cross the Rhine, 1 and 2 Special Air Service launch their final campaign in northwest Europe. Operating in fast-moving jeep columns, they strike deep behind enemy lines, linking with airborne forces, sabotaging German movements, and disrupting retreating units ahead of the main advance. This episode follows their actions across the Rhine and into Germany during the openin
Landing Ship, Tank
She has no name. She carries only a number on her bow. She is slow, flat-bottomed, and unglamorous. Sailors call her a Large Slow Target. Yet without the Landing Ship, Tank, there is no Operation Torch, no Husky, no Avalanche, no Shingle, no Overlord, no Dragoon, no Iwo Jima, and no Okinawa.In this episode of The Special Forces in World War II Podcast, host Michael Weyers tells the story of the ve
Unternehmen Danzig, Sturmgruppe Granit, The Assault on Fort Eben Emael, Part 3
On the morning of May 10th, 1940, sixty-two Fallschirmjäger of Sturmgruppe Granit hold the roof of the most modern fortress in Europe. Below them, around twelve hundred Belgian soldiers of Fort Eben Emael are sealed in the tunnels under steel doors and sandbags. Between them, in the stairwells and ascent shafts, a silent division of the battlefield is in place. Their commander, Oberleutnant Rudolf
Unternehmen Danzig, Sturmgruppe Granit, The Assault on Fort Eben Emael, Part 2
On the morning of May 10th, 1940, as German armour rolls west, DFS 230 assault gliders descend on the roof of Fort Eben Emael, the most modern fortress in Europe. Ten Gruppen of Sturmgruppe Granit, under Oberleutnant Rudolf Witzig, set down on the grass of the superstructure with hollow charges of up to fifty kilograms, flamethrowers, MP 38s and grenades. Their objectives are the heavy artillery c
Unternehmen Danzig, Sturmgruppe Granit, The assault on Fort Eben Emael, Part 1
On May 10th, 1940, 86 Fallschirmjäger combat engineers of Sturmgruppe Granit board eleven DFS 230 assault gliders at Köln-Ostheim and turn west toward the most powerful fortress in Belgium. Their target is Fort Eben-Emael, a self-contained underground city of 1,200 men whose guns dominate every Albert Canal crossing from Maastricht to the south. Without the fort, Fall Gelb stalls. Without the brid
Unternehmen Danzig, Sturmgruppe Eisen, Part 2
In part two of our coverage of the battle for the bridge at Kanne, the fighting moves to the Opkanne heights, where the men of Sturmgruppe Eisen and the 2e Régiment de Grenadiers fight a brutal, fragmented battle across twelve strongpoints. The bridge is already gone. Leutnant Schächter is wounded within the first hour. The parachute reinforcement under Oberjäger Nollau is destroyed in the air abo
Unternehmen Danzig, Sturmgruppe Eisen, Part 1
In the third of Sturmgruppe Koch's Albert Canal objectives, Gruppe Eisen and its eighty-nine Fallschirmjäger under Leutnant Martin Schächter face a very different fight from the one at Veldwezelt and Vroenhoven. The bridge at Kanne sits in broken terrain on the edge of Fort Eben-Emael's defensive perimeter. The western bank offers no suitable landing ground. The Belgian garrison is alert.
Unternehmen Danzig, Sturmgruppe Beton, Part 2
On May 10th, 1940, in the opening minutes of Fall Gelb, the German offensive in the west, a handful of Fallschirmjäger from Sturmgruppe Beton land by glider on the banks of the Albert Canal at Vroenhoven, Belgium. Their objective is the road bridge. Their window is minutes. The Belgian garrison is armed, the demolition charges are primed, and the casemate line along the canal slope is manned and r
Unternehmen Danzig, Sturmgruppe Beton, Part 1
On the night of May 9th, 1940, a group of specially trained German Fallschirmjäger board DFS 230 assault gliders at Köln-Ostheim airfield and prepare for one of the most audacious airborne operations of the Second World War. Their objective is the bridge at Vroenhoven on the Albert Canal in Belgium, a reinforced concrete crossing guarded by bunkers, casemates, infantry trenches, anti-tank guns, an
Unternehmen Danzig, Sturmgruppe Stahl, Part 2
On May 10th, 1940, at 05:20, ten German DFS 230 gliders descend over the Albert Canal in Belgium. Their objective: seize the steel bridge at Veldwezelt before Belgian engineers can detonate the demolition charges.Within minutes, Fallschirmjäger of Sturmabteilung Koch are landing directly on the positions of the 2e Régiment de Carabiniers. Bunker N is assaulted. Trench systems north and south of th
Unternehmen Danzig, Sturmgruppe Stahl, Part 1
Most of us know the story of Pegasus Bridge on June 6, 1944. We remember the British coup de main at the Caen Canal and the Orne. We remember the 9th Parachute Battalion at Merville.But four years earlier, in the pre-dawn darkness of May 10, 1940, a similar operation unfolded over Belgium.In this episode, we examine the German airborne assault on the steel bridge at Veldwezelt — one of three Alber
The Maastricht Gateway, Infanterie-Bataillon zur besonderen Verwendung 100
In the early hours of May 10th, 1940, while German gliders land on Fort Eben-Emael and Fallschirmjäger seize the Albert Canal bridges at Veldwezelt, Vroenhoven, and Kanne, another race begins just to the north.This episode follows the Maastricht Gateway, the critical ground operation designed to reinforce the airborne bridgeheads. Sabotage teams infiltrate the city in civilian clothing. Sonderverb
DFS 230 Lastensegelflugzeug
In the early hours of May 10th, 1940, silent assault gliders land on the roof of Fort Eben-Emael. Within minutes, one of Europe’s most modern fortresses is neutralised, and the world witnesses a new form of warfare.In this episode of The Special Forces in World War II Podcast, we tell the full story of the DFS 230, the German assault glider that makes these precision landings possible. From its or
Preperations For Unternehmen Danzig, Glider Pilots
This part three about Unternehmen Danzig. In the winter of 1939, a quiet airfield in Hildesheim, Germany became the unlikely birthplace of one of World War II’s most audacious and closely guarded military experiments.Under the misleading cover name “Propaganda-Ballonzug”, a group of handpicked glider pilots — many of them civilian champions and Olympic-caliber aviators — were assembled for a missi
Preperations for Unternehmen Danzig, Sturmabteilung Koch
In this second episode of our series on Unternehmen Danzig, we turn from the battlefield to the attackers themselves.After examining the Belgian defences along the Albert Canal and Fort Eben-Emael in Episode 1, this episode follows the creation and preparation of Sturmabteilung Koch,the specially formed German airborne assault unit tasked with seizing the canal bridges at Veldwezelt, Vroenhoven, a
Fort Eben-Emael, The Prins Albert Kanaal and the bridges
At the eastern gateway of Belgium stands one of the most ambitious fortresses ever built.https://worldwar2-sof.com/welcome-to-world-war-2-special-forces-com/which-special-forces-operations-took-place-in-world-war-2/which-special-forces-operations-took-place-in-1940/which-special-forces-operations-took-place-in-may-1940/fall-gelb/belgium-defences-and-defence-strategy/fort-deben-emael/In this openin
79th Armoured Division. Hobart's Funnies
In this episode of The Special Forces in World War II Podcast, host Michael Weyers explores the remarkable history of the 79th Armoured Division — one of the most innovative and influential Allied formations of the Second World War.Created under Major-General Percy Hobart, the division became the home of the famous “Hobart’s Funnies”: specialised armoured vehicles designed to break through minefie
History of the Duplex Drive Tanks
In this episode, we explore one of the most ambitious and unlikely armoured innovations of the Second World War: the Duplex Drive (DD) amphibious tank. Developed by engineer Nicholas Straussler and perfected under the 79th Armoured Division, the DD tank combined a standard armoured vehicle with a collapsible flotation screen and propeller system—allowing it to swim from landing craft to shore unde
Provisional Ranger Group, The Assault on the Maisy Battery.
In this bonus episode of The Special Forces in World War II Podcast, we return to Normandy to follow the final chapter of the Provisional Ranger Force after D-Day.It is June 9th, 1944. Major Richard Sullivan leads the 5th Ranger Battalion, supported by elements of the 2nd, in a coordinated attack on the powerful German gun positions at Maisy, the twin batteries of Les Perruques and La Martinière.T
Provisional Ranger Group, Force C rescue force to Pointe du Hoc.
On D-Day, June 6th, 1944, Ranger Force C, under Major Max Schneider, sails toward the Normandy coast. Comprising the 5th Ranger Battalion, Companies A and B of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, and the Ranger Cannon Platoon, the force faces a crucial decision: follow the planned assault on Dog Green Beach or divert west to relieve the hard-pressed Rangers at Pointe du Hoc.What begins as a carefully timed
Provisional Ranger Force, Force B at Omaha Beach.
Company C, 2nd Ranger Battalion (Force B), draws a distinct mission on D-Day: land on the extreme western end of Omaha’s Charlie Sector at H+3, smash Widerstandsnest 73 overlooking Dog Green/Charlie, then push west to clear Widerstandsnest 74 at Pointe de la Percée and link up toward Pointe du Hoc.We trace the hazardous pre-dawn run-in, the loss of one landing craft to anti-tank fire, and the brut
Provisional Ranger Group, Force A's Holding Point du Hoc
Continuing the five-part Provisional Ranger Group D-Day series, this episode covers the gritty aftermath at Pointe du Hoc. After the hidden 155 mm guns are found and disabled, Ranger teams split: some dig in on the shattered Point while others hold the inland highway under snipers, mortars, and counterattacks. With ammunition low and communications failing, Force A clings to the cliffs through the
Provisional Ranger Group, Force A's Assault on Pointe du Hoc
On the morning of June 6th, 1944, Ranger Force A of the Provisional Ranger Group sets out across rough seas toward one of the most dangerous objectives of D-Day: Pointe du Hoc. Packed into small landing craft, they face confusion, heavy surf, and enemy fire during their desperate run to the cliffs.This episode continues our five-part series on the Provisional Ranger Force during D-Day. We follow t
Preparations of the Provisional Ranger Group for D-Day.
Before scaling the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc, the U.S. Army Rangers had to be forged into a single fighting force. In this first episode of our five-part series, we trace the preparations of the Provisional Ranger Group — from their arrival in Britain and training at the Assault Training Center, to secret equipment trials, planning debates, and final embarkation for D-Day.Discover how the 2nd and 5t
The Preperations for the Assault on Omaha Beach
This episode takes you inside the planning, preparation, and execution of the Omaha Beach assault on June 6, 1944. From the strategic decisions that chose Omaha as a landing site, to the complex naval, air, and ground coordination required for the attack, we trace every step leading to the moment the first waves hit the beach. We reveal the challenges, sacrifices, and determination that defined on
Operation Titanic IV, Special Air Service
Step into the shadows of deception with Operation Titanic IV, the daring first mission of the British Special Air Service in north-west Europe. Dropped behind enemy lines in the early hours of D-Day, a handful of elite operatives, armed with explosives, courage, and a few dozen sackcloth decoys called “Ruperts”, helped shape the course of history.This episode uncovers the covert mission, the dummy
Operazione Baia di Gibilterra 1 e 2
In late 1940, the Italian Navy attempts one of the most daring sabotage missions of the Second World War, sending elite frogmen on manned torpedoes to infiltrate the heavily defended British naval base at Gibraltar.In this episode, we follow Operazione Baia di Gibilterra 1 e 2, a mission carried out not with fleets, but with stealth, endurance, and experimental underwater weapons.From the cold bla
Operation Fustian
Operation Fustian is one of the most ambitious and chaotic airborne operations of the Second World War. Join us as we explore the daring night assault by the 1st Parachute Brigade and No. 3 Commando, tasked with capturing the strategic Primosole and Malati Bridges in Sicily during the Allied invasion of July 1943.Discover how glider-borne artillery, elite paratroopers, and commandos battled exhaus
Operation Galia, C Squadron, 2 Special Air Service
In the winter of 1944–1945, a 33-man detachment from C Squadron, 2 Special Air Service was dropped behind enemy lines in the Apennine Mountains of northern Italy. Their mission: disrupt German supply routes, support the Italian Resistance, and divert Axis troops from the Gothic Line.Operating under extreme conditions, with limited supplies and no guaranteed extraction, the SAS conducted sabotage m
Operation Ladbroke
In this episode of Special Forces in World War 2, we research Operation Ladbroke, the daring airborne assault that marked the beginning of the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943. This operation saw British glider-borne troops of the 1st Airborne Division attempt to capture key objectives around Syracuse, including vital bridges and coastal defences.Despite meticulous planning, the mission was
Operation Ladbroke, Coup de Main
On the night of 9th July 1943, British airborne troops launched Operation Ladbroke, a daring glider assault to seize the Ponte Grande and railway bridges in Sicily. A and C Companies of the 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment led the coup-de-main raid, transported in Airspeed Horsa gliders to improve landing precision. Despite meticulous planning, the operation quickly descended into chaos
Operation Husky, The Special Raiding Squadron.
On the night of 9th July 1943, the Special Raiding Squadron embarked on their first Sicilian mission in World War II. Departing from Egypt and training in Palestine, they prepared for a critical role in the Allied invasion of Sicily. Their objective: to strike deep behind enemy lines and eliminate the heavily fortified Lamba Doria gun battery.This podcast follows their journey, from the grueling f
Operation Mincemeat
The Corpse That Fooled the GermansExplore the incredible deception operation that fooled the Germans, Operation Mincemeat. Discover how British intelligence used a homeless man's body, complete with an entire fabricated identity, to mislead the Germans and shift the tide of World War II. From covert journeys aboard submarines to forged love letters, every detail counted in this audacious plan.
Band Beach, the Forgotten Beach of D-Day
In this shorter episode of the Special Forces in World War II Podcast, we uncover the untold story of Band Beach, the crucial yet often overlooked site of Operation Overlord. While Sword, Gold, Juno, Utah, and Omaha beaches are well-known, Band Beach played a pivotal role in the success of the D-Day invasion. Join us as we explore the daring missions of No. 46 Royal Marine Commando, the British 6t
Operation Frankton, The Escape Phase, Part 3
Welcome to the Special Forces in World War II Podcast! In this third episode of our series on Operation Frankton, we explore the perilous escape phase following the daring raid on Bordeaux harbour. After successfully planting limpet mines on German cargo ships, Major Herbert 'Blondie' Hasler and his team of 12 commandos from the Royal Marine Boom Patrol Detachment faced the daunting task o
Operation Frankton, The Assault Phase. Part 2
Welcome back to the Special Forces in World War II Podcast! In this second episode of our series on Operation Frankton, we shift our focus to the daring assault phase. Join us as we recount the perilous journey of Major Herbert 'Blondie' Hasler and his 12-man team from the Royal Marine Boom Patrol Detachment as they navigate enemy waters in six canoes. Hear the tense moments as they approa
Operation Frankton, The Planning Phase. Part 1
Welcome to the Special Forces in World War II Podcast! In this first episode of our series on Operation Frankton, we delve into the meticulous planning and preparation behind one of the most audacious missions of the war. Major Herbert 'Blondie' Hasler and his team of 12 brave men from the Royal Marine Boom Patrol Detachment undertook rigorous training and developed innovative strategies t
Unternehmen Eiche, Part 2. Liberating Benito Mussolini.
Join us for Part 2 of our episode on Unternehmen Eiche on the "Special Forces in World War 2 Podcast." Explore the audacious rescue of Benito Mussolini led by General Kurt Student and his elite Fallschirmjäger under Major Otto-Harald Mors. Experience the intricacies of this historic mission, from delayed take-offs to controversies over credit. Tune in now for riveting insights into one o
Unternehmen Eiche, Part 1. Events leading to Unternehmen Eiche.
In our latest two-part episode on the Special Forces in World War 2 Podcast, we dive deep into the dramatic rescue mission of Operation Oak, also known as Unternehmen Eiche, during World War II. Part One explores the intense search for Benito Mussolini by German forces amidst the chaos of wartime Europe. From the fall of Mussolini's regime to the desperate efforts to locate and rescue him, we unco
Unternehmen Rösselsprung, Part 2. Capturing Tito.
Welcome back to the 'Special Forces in World War II' podcast. This episode, titled 'Unternehmen Rösselsprung: Capturing Tito, Part 2,' delves into the heart of this pivotal operation. Last time, we set the stage with the elaborate preparations to capture Yugoslav partisan leader, Josip Broz Tito. Now, we journey through the operation's execution and its far-reaching aftermath.T
Unternehmen Rösselsprung, part 1. Preperations for capturing Tito.
Welcome back to our Special Forces in World War II podcast series. Today, we're excited to present Part 1 of our detailed exploration into Unternehmen Rösselsprung, a pivotal operation that remains a subject of intense study and debate. Our focus in this episode is 'Preparations to Kidnap Tito', where we delve into the intricate planning that set the stage for this audacious airborne r
Operation Chariot, Part 2. The Greatest Raid of All.
Welcome back to the Special Forces in World War 2 Podcast for the much-anticipated conclusion of our series with "Operation Chariot Part 2: The Greatest Raid of All." In this episode, we dive into the daring execution of Operation Chariot, a pivotal moment in military history.
After setting the stage with the detailed preparations in Part 1, we now follow the brave men of the Allied forc
Operation Chariot, Part 1. Preperations for the Greatest Raid of All
Welcome to the first chapter of a gripping two-part series in our podcast, "Operation Chariot, Part 1: Preparations for the Greatest Raid of All." This episode takes you back to the strategic depths of World War II, unveiling the meticulous planning and extraordinary courage behind one of the most daring raids in military history.
In March 1942, British forces undertook a mission that
Rota Osobogo Naznacheniya, the Soviet Naval Special Purpose Company
Dive deep into the clandestine world of naval special forces during World War II with the 'Rota Osobogo Naznacheniya, the Soviet Naval Special Purpose Company' podcast. Join us as we unravel the incredible stories of the Soviet Union's Rota Osobogo Naznacheniya, a specialised unit of divers, and their daring missions in the Baltic Sea.
Unearth the untold accounts of these brave men who
Unternehmen Greif, Part 4, Einheit Stielau
"Special Forces in World War 2 Podcast: Unternehmen Greif, Episode 4 - Einheit Stielau."
In this episode of the "Unternehmen Greif Chronicles," we delve into the heart of the action during the Ardennes Offensive. Join us as we explore how Otto Skorzeny's commando unit, Einheit Stielau, executed their daring mission to sow confusion among Allied forces. Operating behind ene
Unternehmen Greif, Part 3, The battle of Malmedy and the end of Panzer Brigade 150
In this gripping episode of our podcast, we delve into the heart of the battle for Malmedy, a pivotal and dramatic moment in the tapestry of World War 2. Join us as we uncover the untold stories of Panzer Brigade 150's role in this fierce battle, where valor clashed with adversity on the battlefield.From disrupted objectives to unexpected challenges, we dissect the strategic maneuvers and pivo
Unternehmen Greif, Part 2, the role of Panzer-Brigade 150
"Special Forces in World War 2 Podcast: Unternehmen Greif, Episode 2 - Panzer Brigade 150"
Welcome back to another riveting episode of our podcast, where we continue our exploration of the clandestine world of World War 2's special forces. In Episode 2, we shift our focus to the valiant Panzer Brigade 150 and their integral role in the audacious operation, "Unternehmen Greif.&qu
Unternehmen Greif, Part 1, Preperations for Unternehmen Greif
Ladies and gentlemen, history enthusiasts, and fellow explorers of the past, welcome to the much-anticipated premiere of our Special Forces in World War 2 Podcast. Prepare to embark on an immersive journey into the shadowy realm of covert operations and elite military units that left an indelible mark on history. In this inaugural episode, we unveil a captivating narrative that interweaves four ex
Unternehmen Stößer, Germany's last airborne operation.
In this episode of "Special Forces in World War II," we delve into the historical account of Unternehmen Stößer, a remarkable World War II mission involving German Fallschirmjäger. The Last German airborne operation in World War 2.Discover the strategic objectives, challenges, and the impact of Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich August Freiherr von der Heydte's Fallschirmjäger unit, droppe
Unternehmen Greif, Part 5, Einheit Stielau Misfortunes
In this last part about Unternehmen Greif, witness the challenges faced by Einheit Stielau, a key element of Operation Greif, as they encounter a series of unexpected setbacks that threaten the success of their mission.
Listen how teams got captured by American Forces and paid the ultimate prize for serving in Einheit Stielau and wearing American uniforms.
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Introduction to the Special Forces In World War 2 Podcast
Introduction to the Special Forces In World War 2 Podcast
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