As It Unfolds
Hear history's most captivating moments come to life. Join us as we peel back the curtains of the past to reveal the human stories behind the watershed moments that shaped our world. Come along and listen... as it unfolds.
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S1: Spies, Intelligence, and Deception in WWII
E7: D-Day Operations Before and After the Normandy Landings
In remembrance of D-Day, we've released a combined, two-part episode covering Operation Fortitude and the plans leading up to the Normandy landing as well as the strategies that kept the deception believable for weeks after the invasion.
6/6/2025
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S1: Spies, Intelligence, and Deception in WWII
E6: Operation Bodyguard - The Shadow Game
For months, German forces had been appearing everywhere except where they were needed. Troop deployments, resource allocations, even Hitler's strategic decisions – all seemed to be responding to dangers that weren't real. Behind the scenes, a select group of individuals exchanged knowing glances. Their carefully constructed web of deception wasn't just working – it was changing the course of the war.
5/20/2025
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S1: Spies, Intelligence, and Deception in WWII
E5: Operation Fortitude Part Two: D-Day and Beyond
Discover how an army that never existed helped secure Allied victory on D-Day. While troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, Hitler kept his elite forces stationed 150 miles away at Pas-de-Calais—convinced the real attack was yet to come. Through inflatable tanks, fake radio transmissions, and a network of double agents, Operation Fortitude created the greatest military deception in history, paralyzing German command during the crucial days following the invasion. Join us as we explore how this masterful illusion of a phantom army under General Patton saved thousands of Allied lives and became the turning point from which Nazi Germany would never recover.
5/13/2025
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S1: Spies, Intelligence, and Deception in WWII
E4: Operation Fortitude Part One: The Phantom Army
Operation Fortitude: The untold story of WWII's most elaborate military deception. Discover how a phantom army led by General Patton, complete with inflatable tanks and double agents, convinced Hitler to defend the wrong beaches and helped secure Allied victory on D-Day.
5/6/2025
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S1: Spies, Intelligence, and Deception in WWII
E3: Juan Pujol García: The Spy Who Invented an Army
Discover the incredible true story of Juan Pujol García, the World War II double agent who created a fictional spy network that deceived Nazi high command and helped ensure Allied victory on D-Day. This remarkable tale of espionage, imagination, and courage reveals how a former chicken farmer became one of history's greatest spies and changed the course of the war.
4/28/2025
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S1: Spies, Intelligence, and Deception in WWII
E2: Operation Mincemeat: The Corpse that Fooled Hitler
In 1943, as Allied forces prepared to invade Sicily, British intelligence launched one of the most audacious deception operations of World War II. A body dressed as a Royal Marines officer—complete with personal letters, theater tickets, and top-secret documents—was deliberately washed ashore in Spain. This 'Major William Martin' carried false invasion plans that traveled all the way to Hitler's desk, convincing Nazi leadership to redirect crucial forces away from the real target. Join us as we uncover the remarkable story of Operation Mincemeat—how a team of creative intelligence officers, a mysterious corpse, and a fictional identity changed the course of the war and saved thousands of lives in an extraordinary tale of wartime deception.
4/22/2025
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S1: Spies, Intelligence, and Deception in WWII
E1: Codebreakers of Bletchley Park
Take a deeper dive into one of history’s most consequential covert operations: the breaking of the German Enigma code at Bletchley Park during World War II. This incredible story combines mathematical genius, technological innovation, and the daily heroism of thousands who worked in secret to turn the tide of war.
4/15/2025