Did you know choosing the train can take up to 500 cars off the road? Just one train at a time.

One gig at a time, one last minute plan, one festival, one going then, why not at a time?

One train journey at a time can help create a greener future.

So when will you take your next trip? Find out more at nationalrail.co.uk for what's last greener.

The history of the Pops of Rome and Christianity reaches into nearly every aspect of history.

In the history of the papacy podcast, we step over the rope. We dive into, discover more about the people events and background that define the influence of the Pops of Rome and church not only on the west, but the world.

To start listening now, go to pathanonpodcast.com or search for history of the papacy on your favorite podcast platform.

Welcome to the history unplugged podcast. The unscripted show that celebrates unsung heroes, mythbusts historical lies, and rediscoveres the forgotten stories that changed our world.

I'm your host, Scott Rank.

Much of the toughest fighting in World War II was the 11 month period after the storming of the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, up to V.E. Day, the end of April, 1945.

These were some of the most hazardous days in the army, where soldiers were dodging Nazi capture and fighting for survival and their brother and arm survival as well.

Some of the most important works about World War II, saving private Ryan and Banna brothers, cover this period, but how much of it is true?

Is it really enormous battles where soldiers come out of their higgins boats, the doors fall down and they're storming the beaches amongst all the gunfire?

When there's periods of long waiting as they talk with each other and get to know each other, and then you have the siege of Baston, the battle of the bulge, and then it's straight to Berlin?

Or was it even more intense than that? Was it different on the ground?

To talk about this period is retired infantry officer and author Craig Chapman.

Craig is also the author of the new book, Battle Harden, and infantry officers harrowing journey from D-Day to V.E. Day.

His father, Bill Chapman, fought as an infantry officer during this 11 month period.

He was a mortar section leader then promoted to company commander when the allies moved into southern Germany.

Craig relied on his father's first hand oral accounts, his letters, and then looked into the national archives to look at some of World War II's most momentous events through the eyes of his soldier on the ground.

We find out that the Normandy campaign was terrible, there were constant battles for almost a hundred days straight, many soldiers simply cracked under the pressure, and that one of the nastiest periods in the war is something that no one would expect in the spring of 1945.

When the infantry is moving through southern Germany, the writing is on the wall that Germany is going to have to surrender, but there are fanatical holdouts.

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