The History Of Wwii Podcast - By Ray Harris Jr

As the Japanese military has been able to take the port cities of China by 1941, the British held Hong Kong is still free. But now its turn has come and Gen. Christopher Maltby and his mix of Canadian, British, Indian and Eurasians troops will try to hold out as long as possible. The Gin Drinkers Line, Maltby's first line of defense will be tested.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

London had decided that Hong Kong was to be sacrificed to the Japanese, but after Canada offered up two battalions, Churchill reversed this decision. Now, the hope was that the British Colony would hold out behind the Gin Drinker's Line, manned by Canadians, Indians and the men from a Hong Kong Chinese Regiment. Still, the odds were going to be 4 to 1. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The marines on Wake Island are holding out, due to discipline and Japanese tactical mistakes. Yet Maj. Devereux is unaware of this and thus brings to fighting to an end. Yet the Japanese atrocities are only just beginning, against the marine and civilian POWs. As for Adm. Frank Fletcher's task force to save Wake, that suffers too, from the equally timid Vice Adm. Pye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wake Island becomes the focal point of US resistance to Japanese aggression. Adm. Kimmel will send a relief force to Wake, but will it get there in time. Meanwhile, Rear Adm. Kajioka of the Imperial Japanese Navy, in command of the force that is to take Wake is reinforced by two of the carriers that led the Pearl Harbor attack. Pictured-1st Lt. John Kinney works himself into exhaustion trying to keep the marine's remaining Wildcat fighters operational. Who will get to Wake first, the Japanese or Task Force 14? This episode brought to you by ridgewallet.com/ww2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Marines on Wake Island are down to four Wildcat fighters, but are determined to resist any Japanese invasion, no matter the odds. "Hammering Hank" and Maj. Putnam and their pilots score hit after hit, but the Japanese bombers and transports keep coming. Meanwhile Maj. Devereux comes up with his own surprises for the invaders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With MacArthur's airfields still smoldering, the Japanese attack Guam and Wake Island. But the Marines on Wake, though staggered after the first strike are determined to fight on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gen. Douglas MacArthur, in command of all U.S. forces in The Philippines, is convinced that the Japanese will not attack until April of 1942 and plans accordingly. But as we have seen, Clark Field is ravaged and half of his B 17s are destroyed. Meanwhile, Adm. Tom Phillips of the British Royal Navy will take the warships Repulse and the Prince of Wales up, along the coast to check any Japanese landings. This episode is brought to you by www.ridgewallet.com/ww2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Japan launches Operation No. 1, the invasion of SE Asia, numerous transport ships head out to attack The Philippines, Malaya and Thailand. The British believe themselves prepared while the Americans offer to help as much as they can, thinking themselves safe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Walter Borneman joins us to talk about his book, Brothers Down: Pearl Harbor and The Fate of the Many Brothers Aboard the USS Arizona Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the Japanese invasion fleet comes closer to Malaya, the various plans established by each side will be tested. Yet, the invaders will find that, perhaps, the gods are on their side. Meanwhile President Roosevelt addresses Congress and asks for a declaration of war against the Japanese Empire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Axis victories cause colonial powers to become vulnerable in the Far East, Japan decides to enter the war. With a quick strike at Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces will make for Malaya, Thailand, Hong Kong, Guam, the Philippines, Wake Island and Midway. All this, President Roosevelt will have to share with Congress as he tells of the death and destruction at Pearl. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here is the first part of the first episode of Espionage, the latest podcast from Parcast. Podcast.com/espionage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With details of the Pearl Harbor attack still coming in, President Roosevelt knows he needs to inform but also calm his fellow Americans, who can only think of revenge. Japan declares war against the U.S. and Great Britain, but will FDR call for a war against Japan and Nazi Germany? What will Hitler do? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Second attack wave comes and goes at Pearl Harbor. Now, FDR, Adm. Nimitz, Adm. Halsey and Gen. Douglas MacArthur have to face what's coming next, the invasion of SE Asia.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Americans with Canadian help attempt to drive away or capture the Japanese troops stationed on Attu and Kiska. Yet the mysterious Battle of the Pips will aid the Japanese. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Americans continue to bomb Kiska, but the Japanese troops are not leaving. Worse, the Imperial Japanese High Command has sent reinforcements. So the US 7th Division from California, along with parts of the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade have been chosen to land on Attu, to capture the enemy or push them into the sea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the Japanese grab a second Aleutian Island, the US military, though denying the Japanese advance, makes plans to remove them. The result-The Kiska Blitz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adm. Yamamoto wants to occupy the Midway Islands, but first needs to confuse his opponent Adm. Chester Nimitz with a diversionary attack on the Aleutian Islands. The attack on Midway does not go according to plan, but neither does the defense of Dutch Harbor, Attu or Kiska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shot Down covers the events leading up to and after the crew of the B 17 Susan Ruth is shot down over the French/Belgium border on February 8, 1944. Of the ten man crew, some died, some ended up in prison camps, and some evaded capture. As for Pilot Howard Snyder, find out how he evaded capture from the Gestapo for 7 long months.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the carrier USS Enterprise is late for its return to Pearl Harbor, Adm. Bull Halsey sends on ahead Scouting and Bombing squadron 6. The 18 Douglas Dauntless SBDs are about to fly into the tragedy that is the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. Also Lt. Gen. Walter Short, in overall command, realizes the unthinkable has happened. And Chaplin Lt. Howell M. Forgy of the USS New Orleans is about to utter his famous line, Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices