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The German invasion of the USSR ended the German bombing campaign against Britain, as the Luftwaffe was transferred to the Eastern Front.

This opened the way for the RAF to attempt to do to Germany what the Luftwaffe had failed to do to Britain: force a capitulation through strategic bombing.

• Listen now:

• Transcript.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

“Uranus, the Magician,” fromThe Planets
Composed in 1916 by Gustav Holst. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Air Force 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, 2023, and 2024 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

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Japanese forces captured Singapore in February 1942, a disastrous turn of events for Britain.

Soon afterward, Dutch forces in the East Indies and American forces in the Philippines also surrendered.

• Listen now:

• Transcript.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

The Pines of Rome
Composed in 1924 by Ottorino Respighi. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Army 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, 2023, and 2024 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

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The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor mooted the political division between interventionists and isolationists in the United States. America was now united like never before.

In the Pacific, the Japanese offensive pressed on.

• Listen now:

• Transcript.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Symphony No. 4 in F minor
Composed in 1878 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Public domain.
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, 2023, and 2024 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

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The US Army and Navy installations in and around Pearl Harbor were caught completely off guard by the Japanese attack.

This attack was only one in a series of attacks on Malaya, the Philippines, and several US-controlled Pacific Islands.

• Listen now:

• Transcript.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Symphony No. 3 in E♭ Major
Composed in 1804 by Ludwig van Beethoven. Public domain.
Performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. 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 Japanese government lost patience with the negotiations with the Americans, who stubbornly insisted that a withdrawal from China be part of any peace agreement.

The Japanese continued the talks anyway, because they provided useful cover as the Imperial Navy planned its attack on Pearl Harbor.

• Listen now:

• Transcript.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Symphony No. 5 in C minor
Composed in 1808 by Ludwig van Beethoven. Public domain.
Performed by the Skidmore College Orchestra. 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.