In the early hours of D-Day, June 6th, 1944, the men of the British 9th Parachute Battalion are dropped behind enemy lines with one mission: destroy the Merville Battery before it can fire on the Allied landings at Sword Beach. Scattered, under-equipped, and outnumbered, they press forward into the dark—through minefields, machine-gun fire, and reinforced concrete.

In this episode, we cover one of the most daring airborne assaults of the Second World War, following the battalion from their rehearsals in England to the chaos of the drop zone, the brutal assault on the casemates at Merville, and their final stand at Le Plein.

This is the story of men who didn’t just fight the enemy—they fought the plan, the odds, and the night itself.

Listen now for a gripping, moment-by-moment account of one of D-Day’s most critical operations.

#WWII #DDay #SpecialForces #BritishAirborne #Paratroopers #MervilleBattery #SwordBeach #AirborneAssault #Normandy1944

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Step into the shadows of deception with Operation Titanic IV, the daring first mission of the British Special Air Service in north-west Europe. Dropped behind enemy lines in the early hours of D-Day, a handful of elite operatives—armed with explosives, courage, and a few dozen sackcloth decoys called “Ruperts”—helped shape the course of history.

This episode uncovers the covert mission, the dummy paratroopers that fooled the Wehrmacht, and the real-life drama that followed. From misdrops and resistance aid to survival behind enemy lines, we separate fact from fiction and even look at how Hollywood got it wrong in The Longest Day.

#DDay #WWIIHistory #SpecialAirService #OperationTitanic #SAS #BehindEnemyLines #TheLongestDay #WWII #DeceptionOperations

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In late 1940, the Italian Navy attempts one of the most daring sabotage missions of the Second World War—sending elite frogmen on manned torpedoes to infiltrate the heavily defended British naval base at Gibraltar.

In this episode, we follow Operazione Baia di Gibilterra 1 e 2—a mission carried out not with fleets, but with stealth, endurance, and experimental underwater weapons.
From the cold black waters off Spain to the decks of British battleships, this is the real story of Italy’s first underwater special forces raid.

No gunfire. No headlines. Just silence, sabotage... and the birth of modern naval special warfare.

#SpecialForces #DecimaMAS #ItalianNavy #Sabotage #HistoryPodcast #WarfarePodcast #GibraltarRaid #Frogmen #SLC #UnderwaterWarfare

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Operation Fustian is one of the most ambitious and chaotic airborne operations of the Second World War. Join us as we explore the daring night assault by the 1st Parachute Brigade and No. 3 Commando, tasked with capturing the strategic Primosole and Malati Bridges in Sicily during the Allied invasion of July 1943.

Discover how glider-borne artillery, elite paratroopers, and commandos battled exhaustion, confusion, and fierce German resistance to keep the road to Catania open. We cover the meticulous planning, the dramatic setbacks, and the heroic resilience that defined this pivotal operation in the Mediterranean theatre.

#WWII #SpecialForces #OperationFustian #Paratroopers #1stAirborne #Commando #AirborneAssault #BattleOfSicily OperationHusky #MilitaryHistory #WW2Podcast #PrimosoleBridge #MalatiBridge #No3Commando #Sicily1943

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In the winter of 1944–1945, a 33-man detachment from C Squadron, 2 Special Air Service was dropped behind enemy lines in the Apennine Mountains of northern Italy. Their mission: disrupt German supply routes, support the Italian Resistance, and divert Axis troops from the Gothic Line.

Operating under extreme conditions, with limited supplies and no guaranteed extraction, the SAS conducted sabotage missions, ambushes, and reconnaissance while constantly pursued by German and Fascist forces.

This podcast presents a detailed, factual account of one of the most challenging Allied special operations of the Second World War.

#WWII #MilitaryHistory #SpecialForces #OperationGalia #SAS #ItalianCampaign #WW2History #WarPodcast #Resistance #BehindEnemyLines #HistoryPodcast #WarChronicles

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In this episode of Special Forces in World War 2, we research Operation Ladbroke, the daring airborne assault that marked the beginning of the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943. This operation saw British glider-borne troops of the 1st Airborne Division attempt to capture key objectives around Syracuse, including vital bridges and coastal defences.

Despite meticulous planning, the mission was fraught with challenges—high winds, navigational errors, and strong enemy resistance led to heavy losses. Yet, the bravery and resilience of the troops paved the way for the larger Operation Husky, the full-scale invasion of Sicily.

Join us as we examine the strategic importance, execution, and the ultimate impact of this special forces operation.

#WW2Podcast #OperationLadbroke #SpecialForcesWW2 #AirborneForces #WW2History #OperationHusky #WW2Gliders🔗 Stay connected with us:Website: https://worldwar2-sof.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ww2.sofFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorldWar2SOFThreads: https://www.threads.net/@ww2.sofPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/SpecialForcesinWorldWar2Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/worldwar2sof

On the night of 9th July 1943, British airborne troops launched Operation Ladbroke, a daring glider assault to seize the Ponte Grande and railway bridges in Sicily. A and C Companies of the 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment led the coup-de-main raid, transported in Airspeed Horsa gliders to improve landing precision. Despite meticulous planning, the operation quickly descended into chaos.

Gliders crashed into the sea, troops were scattered across enemy territory, and the airborne force—vastly outnumbered—faced overwhelming Italian counterattacks. Yet, with sheer determination, they captured the Ponte Grande bridge, severed enemy communications, and held their ground against relentless assaults. Outgunned and low on ammunition, they fought until the last bullet before being overrun—only to retake the bridge later that day.

Through firsthand accounts and detailed historical research, Special Forces in World War II brings to life the incredible bravery, resilience, and sacrifice of the men who paved the way for the Allied invasion of Sicily.

🔹 #WWII #SpecialForces #MilitaryHistory #WW2Podcast #OperationLadbroke #AirborneForces #GliderTroops #EliteForces #Sicily1943 #WarStories

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On the night of 9th July 1943, the Special Raiding Squadron embarked on their first Sicilian mission in World War II. Departing from Egypt and training in Palestine, they prepared for a critical role in the Allied invasion of Sicily. Their objective: to strike deep behind enemy lines and eliminate the heavily fortified Lamba Doria gun battery.

This podcast follows their journey—from the grueling forced marches across Palestine to the chaos of the night landing and brutal close-quarters combat that followed. Experience the tension of pre-battle preparations, the adrenaline of the assault, and the strategic impact of their mission.

Through firsthand accounts and detailed historical research, Special Forces in World War II brings to life the men who risked everything to change the course of history.

#WWII #SpecialForces #MilitaryHistory #WW2Podcast #HistoricalWarfare #EliteForces #SpecialRaidingSquadron #Commandos #WWIIOperations #WarStories

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