π§ Destroying a Nazi Stronghold: The St Nazaire Raid
Archive of Dan Snow's History Hit π§ • 25m
On 28 March 1942, in the darkest months of World War Two, Churchill approved what seemed to many like a suicide mission. Under orders to attack the St Nazaire U-boat base on the Atlantic seaboard, British commandos undertook βthe greatest raid of allβ, turning an old destroyer into a live bomb and using it to ram the gates of a Nazi stronghold. Five Victoria Crosses were awarded - more than in any similar operation.
Giles Whittell, author and journalist, has unearthed the untold human stories of Operation Chariot. Giles joins Dan on the podcast to discuss how the most daring British commando raid of World War Two was fundamentally misconceived - its impact and legacy secured only by astonishing bravery.
Up Next in Archive of Dan Snow's History Hit π§
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π§ Moving to the Country with Sally Co...
With more and more city-dwellers deciding to up sticks and move to the countryside, author Sally Coulthard joins Jimmy on the farm to discuss what to expect when making the big move.
Sally, who writes a column for Country Living, moved from London to a rural farm in Yorkshire fifteen years ago, ...
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π§ The Rise of the Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs! Spectacular resilient beings who were able to adapt and survive the most terrifying of events. Evolving from a group of mostly humble-sized creatures, into the most enormous beasts that ever existed on land. But how did the first true dinosaurs emerge? In this episode, Tristan is joine...
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π§ The First Woman to Write an Opera
Francesca Caccini (1587-c.1641) is one of the forgotten women of classical music. She was an exceptional singer and instrumentalist, but above all, an immensely talented composer. Working full time at the Medici court from the age of 20, Caccini became one of its best paid employees. Many of her ...