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After months of delays, Adolf Hitler finally got the Western offensive he’d been pushing for since the fall of 1939.

Key to the plan (Plan Yellow) was a secret German armored spearhead through the Ardennes that would pierce the French line at an unexpected place. It was a gamble, but it paid off.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

“Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla” from Das Rheingold.
Composed in 1869 by Richard Wagner. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Marine Band. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme

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Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

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The Allied intervention in Norway failed to prevent the Germans from securing control over that country.

This failure triggered a backlash in the British Parliament against the Chamberlain government. A new government of national unity was formed, with Winston Churchill as prime minister.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

“Rule, Britannia!”
Composed in 1740 by Thomas Arne. Public domain.

Closing War Theme

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Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

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With neither side taking the initiative on the main front, Winston Churchill pushed his plan for intervening in Norway, for the purpose of denying Germany the use of Norwegian waters.

At the same time, Germany was preparing to invade and occupy Norway.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

“Ja, vi elsker dette landet” (National anthem of Norway.)
Composed in 1864 by Rikard Nordraak. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Navy Band. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme

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Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

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In the last months before the war broke out, Winston Churchill’s view of Nazi Germany seemed increasingly prescient, while Neville Chamberlain’s became increasingly embarrassing.

Chamberlain stubbornly resisted calls to invite Churchill into the Cabinet until the war began; then he was given his old job of First Lord of the Admiralty, the same post he had held at the outbreak of the previous war.

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• Transcript.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Serenade for String Orchestra
Composed in 1892 by Edward Elgar. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Army Strings. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme

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Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.