446: Is Paris Burning?

May 24, 2026May 21, 2026 Mark Podcast

Parisians line the streets as the Free French Second Armored Division parades through the city.

On August 15, 1944, the Western Allies landed forces in southern France. Two days later, the Falaise pocket was closed, trapping 50,000 German soldiers.

The German front line in the West collapsed. The Allies entered Paris and there was talk of the war ending by Christmas.

Listen now:

Transcript.

Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

“Hino Nacional Brasileiro”
Composed in 1831 by Francisco Manuel da Silva. Public domain.
Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

445: Breakout and Pursuit

May 17, 2026May 16, 2026 Mark Podcast

Truck convoys of the Red Ball Express assembling in Normandy.

Patton’s Third Army broke through the front line in Normandy and quickly advanced behind German lines.

The weeks-long stalemate at Normandy was about to end.

Listen now:

Transcript.

Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

“O Canada”
Composed in 1880 by Calixa Lavallée. Public domain.
Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme

444: Tempest

May 10, 2026May 9, 2026 Mark Podcast

Polish fighters in the Warsaw Uprising fly the Polish flag from a captured German armored personnel carrier.

On August 1, 1944 the Polish Home Army began an uprising to seize control of Warsaw before the Red Army arrived to take the city.

On August 23, King Michael of Romania led a successful effort to overthrow dictator Ion Antonescu and switch Romania’s allegiance from the Axis to the Allies.