Fortress Malta - James Holland

[@WW2TV]

Love talking to James - always a pleasure. If you have enjoyed this show, please don't forget to click like, leave a comment for other viewers and if you have not done so already please SUSBSCRIBE so you don't miss our next streams. You can also become a member of this channel and support me financially here kzbin.info/door/UC1nmJGHmiKtlkpA6SJMeA. Links to any books discussed, WW2TV merchandise, our social media pages and other WW2TV shows to watch can all be found in the full KZbin description. Lastly, my own book Angels of Mercy is always available online - more info here www.ddayhistorian.com/angels-of-mercy.html

[@georgecooksey8216]

Excellent discussion. Thank you.

[@jimwatts914]

Always great when two of the best WWII historians are in one show! Holland’s depth of knowledge aided by Woody’s perceptive questions are a delight. Informative and entertaining.

[@WW2TV]

Thank you very much

[@jammininthepast]

I read Mr. Holland book after watching this episode. I cannot recommend it strongly enough. Great characters, well crafted page turner.

[@FilipDePreter]

Great Paul and James chat. Feels almost as comfy as a Friday evening in the pub, and yet a wealth of knowledge.

[@RenoPsaila-yk2gh]

Great interview! Actually met James briefly two days ago when he visited the Malta Aviation Museum and came in our workshop where we showed him and his group our latest project, the rebuilt of ‘Charity’ Gloster Sea Gladiator!

[@WW2TV]

James is a great friend and I'm glad you got to meet him

[@RenoPsaila-yk2gh]

Thanks for your in depth and well flowing interview. Keep up the good work!

[@georgesciriha7497]

Two brilliant historians Paul and James. I can’t tel you how much I enjoyed your chat about MALTA. Very informative and enlightening. Well done to both of you!

[@tbbb2]

There is a small handful of authors I have in James Holland's class, but none I place above him. Though I think all of his books are essential, his Malta book and his Dam Busters book are essential for me. Always a pleasure to hear him speak...

[@jackmunro7]

I’m in Malta currently, watching this in between visiting some of the sites mentioned in this video. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend it, it’s a great place!

[@WW2TV]

Yep I loved my time in Malta

[@jackmunro7]

@@WW2TV Also, to add, thoroughly enjoying the channel at the moment, I've been on a big pacific war binge and the content surrounding the subjects been really interesting! So thank you!

[@sued6221]

I loved Malta, and now I’m obsessed.

[@jonrettich4579]

In terms of history after the last survivors have passed American Civil War research is thriving. Reassessments of standing data and discovering new. So I am in happy agreement with you though meeting those who went through history is invaluable . Our cultures and mind sets shift subtly, colloquialisms, overviews, styles are so fascinating and so important to our understanding of an age. Your good works going beyond technical history to the active experts of this day and time and their persona is invaluable. Thank you as usual

[@nigeh5326]

As is discussed in this great video the WW2 generation is almost gone sadly. This makes it more urgent than before that we speak to veterans still with us and try to keep the items they have for future generations. But it’s not just the WW2 generation this applies to it’s also those who served in Korea, Malaya, Vietnam and other conflicts. We also need to talk to and record the experiences of the general population in relation to the times they lived through such as the fifties emergence of teenagers and rock and roll, the sixties civil rights struggle and the rise of the counter culture etc. It’s important to try and record all areas of our history for future generations.

[@scottgrimwood8868]

A great visit with James Holland. I really enjoyed how Paul and James moved onto a variety of topics, all really important and interesting.

[@WW2TV]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheHistoryWonderer]

Unfiltered James is good to listen to.

[@1089maul]

Paul/James. Thanks for such an interesting discussion as opposed to a presentation! However,,,,, I was a little perturbed when James mentioned the comment re the Italian involvement. However, Paul, being a fantastic host, managed to balance things up at the end. I wasn’t aware of the medical situation in Malta so I can honestly say that I have learnt a great more following this discussion. Thanks to you both. Bob

[@TheVigilant109]

Excellent presentation. Thank you

[@WW2TV]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@paulstoddart7412]

James, very interesting podcast. The book is excellent.

[@chrisronan676]

Just finished reading "Fortress Malta". Very easy reading. Combines "big picture" with stories of individuals.... pilots, civilians and other. Highly recommend.

[@richardswain9143]

One of the best books I’ve ever read. Go buy it!

[@markmorgan6179]

Great presentation! One of JH books I haven't read ...yet!

[@philbosworth3789]

The early incompetence of much of the British (and Allied) leadership is, I think, the only reason the Axis got as far as they did. Once the fuddy-duddy generals etc got replaced by competent people the Axis got steamrollered. A few hiccups on the journey, but that journey would have been so much shorter were it not for the old boys club running the show at the outset.

[@mjinoz1677]

Absolutely agree re the sense of history in Malta. I hope the rest of the museums are re done to the state of the war museum - but an amazing country (and clearly where airfix got a lot of info for done if they’re model kits, judging by the aviation museum collection!).

[@dennisweidner288]

I think James makes a good point that the German Axis allies (except the Finns) were ineffective because the population had no real desire to fight the war. Romania may be a little different as the Soviets had seized the northeastern third of the country. I am not sure how that affected fighting spirit. I think the lack of fighting spirit was largely true, but it is also important to note how poorly equipped they were. It is important to note that a major reason that the Osheer failed was that it was so poorly equipped and supplied -- 80 percent was unmotorized infantry, invading the Soviet Union on foot with horse-drawn carts. Virtually all the Axis ally armies were unmotorized infantry and even more poorly supplied and equipped than the German divisions.

[@Viewfromtheturret]

Good show but anything with James Holland is going to be good.

[@chrismifsud3414]

How can i contact you personally i have got some really material about malta ww2 from people who lived it like my grandparents and civillians

[@WW2TV]

Via my website www.ww2tv.com thanks

[@sparkey6746]

Enjoyed the conversation though silly me expecting a discussion on Malta and not the buffet of topics actually covered. I never thought that James has attention deficit as bad a I do. 😂

[@dennisweidner288]

James Holland is a British national trasure.

[@jimplummer4879]

I have learned that keeping the Germans in Norway, etc was big in winning the war.

[@MegaBloggs1]

james-the equivalent of a japanese army destroyed in the phillipines in 44-45

[@theodoros9428]

Crete saved Malta, Hitler didn't dare to executed the plan Hercules because of paratroopers disaster there