Polish Heroism At Monte Cassino

WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk

Goalhanger Podcasts

History, Education, Society & Culture

4.8 • 5.3K Ratings

🗓️ 22 January 2026

⏱️ 32 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

As a part of our continuing effort to commemorate the incredible global story of WW2, we present our ongoing ‘Family Stories’ series. This series tells YOUR relatives’ stories of derring do - both on the front line and home front. In this episode we hear your tales of Austrian POWs, Norwegian pranksters, and Italian partisans. With thanks to Alina Cleaver, Dag-Rune Gundersen, Dave King, Craig Green, Nick Clark, Lorenzo Grecomoro, and Karol Tereszczuk. Start your free trial at ⁠patreon.com/wehaveways⁠ and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams, early access, ad-free listening, bonus episodes, and a weekly newsletter packed with book deals and behind-the-scenes insights. Members also get priority access and discounts to live events. A Goalhanger Production Produced by James Regan Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Social: @WeHaveWaysPod Email: wehaveways@goalhanger.com Membership Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Thank you for listening to We Have Ways of Making You Talk.
0:05.0	Sign up to our Patreon to receive bonus content, live streams and our weekly newsletter with money off books and museum visits as well.
0:13.4	Plus early access to all live show tickets. That's patreon.com slash we have ways.
0:28.6	Get closer to the magic this summer and step aboard our three or four-night Disney cruise line sailings from Southampton dance with some of your favorite characters be
0:34.9	enchanted by West End style shows, become immersed in imaginative dining
0:39.9	experiences and more.
0:43.2	Create magical family memories that will last a lifetime.
0:47.4	Book now at Disneycruise.co.ukh.
0:50.5	Subject to availability and conditions, see more on Disneycruise.com.com. Hello and welcome to our series of Family Stories, the podcast written by you, the listeners.
1:08.5	This episode's Family Stories feature lots of European contributions,
1:12.7	Austrians in Egypt, Norwegian pranksters,
1:15.4	Italian contandinos and Poles at Monte Cassino.
1:19.0	This week, we're starting with the story from Alina Cleaver.
1:22.5	And Alina writes,
1:24.1	My Austrian grandfather, Joseph Sturkel,
1:26.9	was a prisoner of war in British hands from August
1:29.3	1944 to December, 1946.
1:32.8	During his captivity in POW camps in England and British controlled Egypt, he kept a meticulous
1:38.6	record of his experiences in a diary written on sewn together toilet paper and in over 100 letters and postcards he sent to his
1:46.8	family. Joseph was born in 1926 in the small village of Chemethen and de Kremes near Linz in Upper Austria.
1:56.9	The younger of two brothers, he lived a quiet life as a carpenter's apprentice until at just
2:01.6	17 years old. He was drafted into the Vermacht in January 1944. His first posting took him
	...

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