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The WW2 Podcast

238 - 6th Airborne Division: Generating Combat Effectiveness

The WW2 Podcast

Angus Wallace

Rifle, Gun, Second, Army, Ww2, War, Society & Culture, Carlin, Aircraft, Military, Navy, Wwii, World, History, Plane, Armour, Infantry, Tank

4.71.4K Ratings

🗓️ 15 September 2024

⏱️ 54 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode, we'll examine the 6th Airborne Division and its combat effectiveness, focusing on how its commanding officer, Richard Gale, meticulously trained and developed the unit. The 6th Airborne was the second British airborne division to be formed, and it would first see action during the Normandy invasion. Gale’s leadership and the culture he instilled were crucial in shaping the airborne soldier’s capabilities and forging the division's cohesive fighting force.

Joining me is Andrew Wheale.

Andrew is the author of 'Ham & Jam: 6th Airborne Division in Normandy - Generating Combat Effectiveness: November 1942 - September 1944'.


patreon.com/ww2podcast

Transcript

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0:00.0

This country is at war with Germany.

0:04.0

We shall go on to the end.

0:08.0

I remember the sheets of flame came up and almost blinded us from my guns.

0:26.2

Hello, welcome to the World War II podcast I'm Angus Wallace. In this episode we'll be examining the sixth Airborne Division and its combat

0:30.6

effectiveness focusing on how it's officer, Richard Gill, meticulously

0:36.4

trained and developed the unit and it would first see action during the Normandy invasion.

0:41.6

Gail's leadership and the culture he instilled were crucial in shaping the

0:46.0

airborne soldier's capability for forging the division into a cohesive fighting force.

0:52.4

Joining me is Andrew Will. Andrew is the into a cohesive fighting force.

0:52.6

Joining me is Andrew Wheel.

0:54.3

Andrew is the author of Ham and Jam,

0:56.8

6th Airborne Division in Normandy,

0:58.9

generating combat effectiveness,

1:00.7

November 1942, September 1944.

1:04.0

Andrew, welcome. Let's start by setting the scene with the British Airborne.

1:09.0

Compared to the Germans, the British are late to the show,

1:12.0

the Germans had successfully used airborne troops to capture the fortress at Ebenhamel.

1:18.0

They've been used on mass to capture Crete.

1:22.0

Kurt's student was very much the driving force from the German perspective,

1:24.7

but were the British heading in the same direction with their thinking?

1:28.7

With my research, a key moment is the 1936 cave manoeuvres, the Archie Waib will goes to see what the Russians are doing.

1:37.1

And if you look at the papers in Q, he's really going to look at Russian tanks.

...

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