1st Parachute Regiment of WW2 with Mark Urban
Warfare
History Hit
4.5 • 943 Ratings
🗓️ 5 December 2022
⏱️ 37 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
2022 marks 80 years since the Red Devils first remarkable campaign in North Africa. In Britain, they were known as the parachute regiment, but after their daring feats in the Second World War the name Red Devils quickly stuck.
In this episode, James is joined by BBC journalist and former British Army officer Mark Urban, to learn more about the eccentric group of individuals who, quite literally, jumped at the chance to wage a new type of warfare against the Nazis. Delving into the history of Operation Torch and the daring, ordinary men, behind this impressive feat - Mark shines a new light on this extraordinary history.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | In Britain they were known as the parachute regiment, but their German enemies christened them the red devils. |
| 0:07.0 | Circus performers, solicitors, gravediggers, family men. |
| 0:11.0 | They were ordinary people who became wartime heroes. And today, thanks to a listener suggestion by one of our warfare regulars Andrew Smith, we hear their story. |
| 0:21.0 | Andrew's dad served in the 12th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment during the Second World War. |
| 0:25.2 | And off the back of his own search for his family history, Andrew suggested that we dedicate an episode |
| 0:30.1 | to the daring missions and remarkable successes of the Paris during the Second World War. |
| 0:35.0 | It's also the 80th anniversary of the Paris first campaign, Operation Torch in North Africa. |
| 0:40.0 | So to cover all of this on the warfare podcast, we've had to pull out the big guns. |
| 0:45.4 | Mark Urban is the diplomatic editor of the BBC's Newsnight program and was formerly defense |
| 0:50.6 | correspondent for the independent. |
| 0:52.4 | He also served in the British Army. He was in the tank |
| 0:54.8 | regiment and the territorial army, and he's covered most major wars around the world for the past 25 years. |
| 1:00.8 | He's also author of a new book. Red Devils, the Trail Blazers of the Parachute Regiment in World War II |
| 1:07.1 | and authorized history. |
| 1:09.1 | So, settle down. |
| 1:11.1 | You're in for a treat. |
| 1:12.4 | A historical journey that takes us from North Africa to D-Day, Arnhem, to Italy. Enjoy. |
| 1:20.0 | Hi Mark, welcome to the Warfare Podcast. How you doing today? |
| 1:23.7 | Great, how are you in Alabama? |
| 1:25.7 | Good, thanks. The first storms of the season are coming in, so I'm going to be drenched |
| 1:30.1 | when I leave the Air Force Base here, but apart from that, I think I'm going to be okay and it is great to have you on the |
| 1:35.9 | podcast that will get me through any storm I've long admired your workers diplomatic editor over at |
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