WW2: How The War Ended

WW2: How The War Ended

Author: History Hit September 4, 2023 Duration: 38:16

The Second World War officially ended on September 2nd 1945 - and it's estimated that around 3% of the Earth's population perished during the conflict. But what ultimately bought WW2 to an end - and how vital a role did the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki play in obtaining a Japanese surrender?


In this episode, James welcomes journalist and New York Times Bestseller Evan Thomas to the Podcast, to look at how the end of one of the deadliest conflicts of modern history came to a close. Drawing on research from Evan's latest book, 'Road to Surrender', together they discuss the vital roles taken up by Henry Stimson, Gen. Carl “Tooey” Spaatz, and Shigenori Togo that ultimately led to Japan's surrender. Looking at the consequences of the atomic bomb, Japanese infighting, and an immeasurable loss of human life - what exactly bought WW2 to an end, and could the conflict have ended sooner?


Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, Matt Lewis, Tristan Hughes and more. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code WARFARE. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up here.


You can take part in our listener survey here.


For more Warfare content, subscribe to our Warfare Wednesday newsletter here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Hosted by war historian James Rogers, Warfare digs into the conflicts that have fundamentally constructed the world we live in now. This isn't just a chronological march through dates and places; it's about understanding the forces at play. Rogers, from History Hit, brings together a compelling roster of fellow historians, veterans, and specialists for conversations that go beyond the textbook. They examine everything from the tactical realities of the Normandy landings to the geopolitical tremors of the Cold War, connecting threads between Napoleonic battlefields and the shock of 9/11. What you'll hear in this podcast are the human and technological stories that decided outcomes: moments of improbable leadership, the sudden arrival of a game-changing weapon, and the single battles that irrevocably shifted eras. Released twice weekly, each episode is built to offer a fresh angle, pulling you into the complexities of strategy, sacrifice, and consequence. Tune in for a deeply researched, narrative-driven look at how the engine of conflict has driven, for better and worse, the trajectory of modern history.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Warfare
Podcast Episodes
WW2: Last Letters of Resistance Fighters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:47
It's 1943, you're part of the French resistance, and you've been sentenced to death. You're allowed to write one last letter before you're shot by the Nazis. Who do you write to? Friends? Family? Fellow comrades? How do…
Sudan: Why Is There A Conflict? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:55
Fighting has broken out in Sudan following years of power struggle between the country's military leadership: General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the armed forces, and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, leader of the Rap…
The Dambusters Raid with Max Hastings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:36
80 years ago, in the late hours of May 16th 1943, Wing Commander Guy Gibson fearlessly commanded the 617 Squadron of the Royal Air Force to execute a daring bombing mission. Their aim - to destroy three dams in the Ruhr…
Hiding Anne Frank [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:58
In this episode of Warfare, host James Patton Rogers is joined by Tony Phelan and Susanna Fogel, creators of the new TV series A Small Light, which explores the remarkable true story of Miep Gies, who hid Anne Frank and…
Duke of Wellington [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:20
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, was a soldier, statesman, and prominent political figure who served the United Kingdom twice as Prime Minister. He is known to many as a successful defensive general, but what ab…
Charles III Coronation: Security & Threats [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:47
The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be an event attended by thousands, including heads of state, dignitaries, and members of the public. The world's media will be watching, and so will anyone lookin…
WW2 Tanks with James Holland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:27
Anything that James Holland doesn't know about tanks isn't worth knowing. And in this episode from the archives, the greats are warring against each other as he counts down his top five tanks of the Second World War. Agi…
Waco & the Origins of Right-Wing Extremism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:30
This year marks 30 years since the 1993 siege at Waco. Lasting 51 days, it took the lives of 76 people, including 25 children and has gone down as one of the most controversial and tragic incidents in modern American his…
War in Space with Tim Marshall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:22
From spy satellites orbiting the moon, to space metals worth more than most countries' GDP, and the imminent possibility of humans inhabiting Mars within the next decade - will conflicts soon escalate beyond earth's atmo…
Russian Civil War with Antony Beevor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:40
*Content Warning - This episode contains references to rape and suicide* The Russian Civil War was a brutal episode in the rise of Bolshevik Russia. Taking place between 1917 and 1922 (after the perhaps better known, Rus…