Tag: United States

How badly did the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943 go with James Holland

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James Holland Sicily 43

How badly did the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943 go with James Holland

Check out this book here   https://amzn.to/33ouDGU

Interview Timeline

James Holland has written numerous books on WWII and has also appeared on shows and radio to discuss WWII. He recently published a book on the 1943 invasion of Sicily. We spoke about the book, his research, and his writing. Sicily ’43 (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2020)

0:42 – James explains why he wrote a book on the assault on Sicily.

3:25 – James goes into detail about what he covers in the book.

5:38 – James talks about the importance of Malta in the operation.

8:34 – James talks about the Axis air forces in this campaign and how the Allies dealt with them.

12:47 – James talks about Axis losses in the Mediterranean theater.

13:56 – James talks about the poor relationship between Italy and Germany.

19:35 – James talks about the Sicilian landscape, weather, and Allied command and control between the various nations involved.

23:30 – James talks about how well the coalition cooperated in the operation.

29:32 – James talks about the individuals who helped make all the Allied countries and services work together well.

36:28 – James compares the assault on Sicily with the assault on Normandy.

38:51 – James talks about glider operations.

40:51 – James talks about the Tuskegee 99th fighter squadron.

42:20 – James talks about how the Mafia is part of his story

46:20 – James talks about the massacre at Biscari airfield.

48:19 – James talks about how he did his research.

49:41 – James talks about what he enjoyed in the research.

51:19 – James talks about surprises in his research.

52:35 – James talks more about the mafia research.

55:30 – James talks about the German situation.

58:27 – James is at griffonmerlin.com and has a podcast We Have Ways of Making You Talk and on twitter @james1940

Links of interest

https://amzn.to/33ouDGU

https://groveatlantic.com/book/sicily-43-2/

https://www.griffonmerlin.com/

https://twitter.com/James1940

https://wehavewayspod.com/

Contact Information

For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram @crisalvarezwarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify Please see historyrabbithole.com for a list of my dozen or so blogs and podcasts. You’re sure to find something you like.

Guests: James Holland

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: Books, audio interviews, author, podcast, Atlantic Monthly Press, WWII, United States, Germany, Britain,

Check out this book here   https://amzn.to/33ouDGU

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Peter Kuznick talks about the Cold War from 1942-1960 from the US and Soviet perspectives

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Peter Kuznick Cold War

Peter Kuznick talks about the Cold War from 1942-1960 from the US and Soviet perspectives

Check out this book here  https://amzn.to/38ZJFqq

Interview Timeline

Peter Kuznick has studied, taught, and written on US and Cold War history for decades. He has also produced a documentary with Oliver Stone on the history of the United States, looking at neglected parts of American history. He went over the Cold War from 1942 to 1960 with me.

(THE AUDIO PLAYER IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST.)

Youtube version with graphics and maps – https://youtu.be/N-t1qpBJ1n4

1:15 – Diplomats met in Washington DC in 1942.

1:56 – The USSR was fighting in the East and wanted a second front in Europe.

2:48 – The US was not able to take back Soviet possessions in 1944.

3:43 – Harry Truman was nominated as Vice President over Henry Wallace.

4:42 – Roosevelt died in 1945 and Truman became President with little foreign affairs knowledge.

5:08 – Truman didn’t know about the atomic bomb.

10:40 – George Kennan writes a secret memo on the Cold War.

12:03 – There is a conflict over Iran in 1946.

12:45 – In 1949 the Chinese Revolution results in the proclamation of the People’s Republic of China.

13:01 – The USSR tests its own atomic bomb in August 1949.

13:09 – The Korean War begins in 1950.

13:41 – The US and UN retreats to South Korea.

16:03 – Soviets wanted US aid after WWII

17:43 – US wanted the UN.

18:34 – USSR cracks down on eastern European countries.

19:15 – The US was concerned about the Indochina and the Philippines in the 1950s.

19:49 – Pol Pot was in Vietnam

21:29 – March 5 1953 Stalin dies

26:21 – Peter did a documentary with Oliver Stone.

26:39 – Peter can be found at the American University website.

Links of interest

https://amzn.to/38ZJFqq

https://amzn.to/2UIq59O

https://amzn.to/2HfLiEH

https://www.american.edu/cas/faculty/kuznick.cfm

Contact Information

For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar and on Instagram @crisalvarezwarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify Please see historyrabbithole.com for a list of my dozen or so blogs and podcasts. You’re sure to find something you like.

Guests: Peter Kuznick

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: Books, audio interviews, author, academic, podcast, Gallery, American history, American Politics, Modern War, United States, Russia,

Check out this book here   https://amzn.to/38ZJFqq

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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How did a top United Nations official end up dying in the forests of Africa with Ravi Somaiya

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Ravi Somaiya Golden Thread

How did a top United Nations official end up dying in the forests of Africa with Ravi Somaiya

Check out this book here   https://amzn.to/2ICsBM4

Interview Timeline

Ravi Somaiya has been a journalist for the New York Times and has written for many other major publications. He has also produced documentaries on major news topics. He recently published a book about the mysterious 1961 death of the top UN official during the Congo Civil War. We spoke about the book, his research, and the many players involved in this mystery. “The Golden Thread” (Twelve, 2020)

(THE AUDIO PLAYER IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST.)

0:42 – Ravi talks about the Congo Civil War and how it was tied into the Cold War.

2:09 – Ravi talks about why he wrote on the war.

3:06 – Ravi provides details on when the civil happened and what it was about.

3:39 – Ravi talks about what additional info on the civil war Ravi includes in his book.

5:07 – Ravi talks about the UN’s role in this war.

6:15 – Ravi talks about the Katanga secession.

7:31 – Ravi talks about the white supremacists who got involved in the war.

9:02 – Ravi talks about US and Soviet uranium interests in the war.

11:41 – Ravi talks about the huge number of organizations involved in this war.

14:09 – Ravi talks about the safety of the UN in the Congo.

15:27 – Ravi talks about the international feel of Leopoldville.

16:35 – Ravi talks about the sizes of the forces who fought in the war.

17:49 – Ravi talks about the weaponry used in the war.

18:44 – Ravi talks about the massacres during the war.

19:49 – Ravi talks about the visibility of the war to the general public.

21:43 – Ravi talks about the WWII Axis veterans who joined this war.

23:29 – Ravi talks about mercenaries and soldiers of fortune in this war.

24:27 – Ravi talks about the UN’s goals.

25:23 – Ravi talks about Dag’s worry about his safety.

27:09 – Ravi talks about Katanga’s argument for independence.

27:58 – Ravi talks about the goals of the book.

29:47 – Ravi talks about his research.

31:17 – Ravi talks about using the UN archive.

32:02 – Ravi talks about some of the interviews he did.

37:55 – Ravi talks about access to Russian accidents.

39:02 – Ravi talks more about a South African mercenary agency and South African intelligence.

41:24 – Ravi talks about the Soviet allies in this war.

42:15 – Ravi talks about far past Dag’s death the book goes.

45:04 – Ravi talks about WWII.

49:49 – Ravi can be found on twitter @ravisomaiya and at ravisomaiya.com

Links of interest

https://amzn.to/2ICsBM4

https://www.twelvebooks.com/titles/ravi-somaiya/the-golden-thread/9781549175886/

https://www.ravisomaiya.com/

https://twitter.com/ravisomaiya

Contact Information

For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar and on Instagram @crisalvarezwarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify Please see historyrabbithole.com for a list of my dozen or so blogs and podcasts. You’re sure to find something you like.

Guests: Ravi Somaiya

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: Books, audio interviews, author, podcast, Twelve, Modern War, United States, Germany, Russia, Britain,

Check out this book here   https://amzn.to/2ICsBM4

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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