The History Of Wwii Podcast - By Ray Harris Jr

President Roosevelt continues his struggle against Congress and the Isolationists in trying to help the Allies. France falls from the fight.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It becomes apparant to the U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt that Britian and France are going to need American war material and financial assistance to defeat the Axis. Yet, the British Empire only has so much gold and the current laws of the U.S. make it illegal for FDR to extend credit to the Allies, during their hour of need. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the failure of Operation Battle Axe and the bloody victory in Syria, Churchill finally rids himself of C in C Gen. Archibald Wavell. And wants his replacement, Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck to attack Rommel forth with. Yet the two operations have taken away half of the Western Desert Force's tanks. No matter, Churchill wants action, but Auchinleck wants time. Picture-Auchinleck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Though Operation Exporter is stalled, Operation Battle Axe is launched. Yet the British attack plans are not very creative and Rommel can hear most of the wireless chatter coming from the British tanks.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Allies come up against stiff French (Vichy) resistence in Syria and Lebanon. But that was just to set up the counter attack, which commenced on June 16th. Yet the men of the 5th Indian Brigade do all they can to give some success to the invaders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Churchill and the Free French get their way, Vichy controlled Syria will be invaded. But C in C Wavell's Middle East Command is stretched as it is, resources are few. Yet, Churchill will have his way and those who oppose him, begin to disapear.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here is the last episode of the Battle of Crete. The Allies never contested for air superiority and thus the Germans were able to constantly push them back and eventually off the island. It was time again for another evacuation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Allied defense under Gen. Freyberg continues to back pedal on Crete. Meanwhile Adm. Cunningham continues to lose ships, although the land battle is being won by the Axis. Yet Churchill insists on more action from the Royal Navy and the ANZAC forces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Allied counter attack faulters, which allows the Germans to land more troops at Maleme. The Royal Navy is doing what it can, but suffering for it. Yet their efforts and loses will be for nothing.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gen. Student tries to figure out how to salvage the disaster that has befallen his airborne troops, during that first day of Operation Mercury. 1,800 had been lost that first day. And helping him mightily, are the ineffectual officers serving under Gen. Freyberg, who himself, refuses to see the situation as it really is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Germans begin, Operation Mercury, their attack on the island, to further confuse Russia and keep the British away from Hitler's oil fields. Yet as the transport planes take off, the number of defenders on the island has be recalculated from 12,000 to 48,000. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back by popular demand! Winston S. Churchill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

C in C M.E. Wavell gives into pressure from Churchill to attack Rommel, before the tanks and planes of Convoy Tiger can be off loaded. Next, the situation in Iraq comes to a head and we start the story of Crete and the end of Wavell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rommel is ready to have another crack at Tobruk, but Berlin is focused on Operation Barbarossa. Yet, Rommel gets permission to move ahead and finish off the British holdout. Meanwhile, Wavell's dire prediction about the Middle East starts to come true as elements of the Iraqi Government side with the Axis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

German forces complete their conquest of the Greek mainland. Meanwhile Rommel shocks the British led forces in North Africa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Germans continue to drive south, the Greeks throw in the towell and the Allies make plans to evacuate. But wanting more Gen. Von List of the German 12th Army uses Airborne troops for a daring raid of Cornith, in trying to cut off some of the Allied troops in retreat.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Alikmon Line is breached, the Allies fall back. But the German forces are right behind them all the way. Greek General Papagos believes the end of the Battle of Greece has come, but BEF Commander General Wilson wants to give it one more try. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greece comes under attack on the same day as Yugoslavia, yet that country's quick demise, sets up the conquest of Greece. The war in the Greek NE is over by the third day, so the Commonwealth forces fall back, yet the Greeks in Albania are loath to follow their example. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nothing can be allowed to stand in the way of Operation Barbarossa, Hitler's plan to destroy Russia. Certainly not Yugoslavia and Greece. So Operation Retribution, aimed at Belgrade and Operation Marita, against Greece, commence.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lt. Gen. Rommel had decided the time has come to ignore his orders and move against the Allies. While he has his own problems, they are nothing compared to what Gen. Neame and Gen. O'Connor suffer.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices