{"podcast":{"title":"World War II with Tom Hanks","slug":"world-war-ii-with-tom-hanks-7870551","podcast_index_feed_id":7870551,"rss_url":"https://rss.amperwave.net/v2/feed/audacynetwork/cc2b59fa44d0151fa8987e1b01e424bc","website_url":"https://www.history.com/shows/world-war-ii-with-tom-hanks","image_url":"https://images.castfire.com/image/661/0/0/0/0-8465544.jpg","author":"The HISTORY Channel | Back Pocket Studios | Audacy","episode_count":13,"summary":"For eighty years, the Second World War has remained the most devastating and defining conflict in human history. World War II with Tom Hanks reexamines the war through the lens of a new century. Told over twenty hours and guided by Tom Hanks, whose lifelong passion for this history has shaped some of the most profound screen portrayals of the era, the series captures the full arc of the war — from the rise of fascism in Europe to the fall of Berlin, from Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima, and the uneasy peace that follows. Each episode uncovers new dimensions of the conflict: the decisions that shaped the battlefield, the unseen networks that sustained the war effort, and the aftershocks that still shape our world today. World War II with Tom Hanks is the definitive retelling of that story for a new generation: a sweeping, deeply human portrait of how the modern world was forged in the fires of global war.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-30T18:18:52.891111+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/world-war-ii-with-tom-hanks-7870551"},"episode":{"title":"Stalingrad","slug":"stalingrad","published_at":"2026-06-23T08:31:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/world-war-ii-with-tom-hanks-7870551/stalingrad","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/world-war-ii-with-tom-hanks-7870551","url":"https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/serve.castfire.com/audio/8384495/8384495_2026-05-15-130435.192.mp3?rssID=6477","audio_url":"https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/serve.castfire.com/audio/8384495/8384495_2026-05-15-130435.192.mp3?rssID=6477","summary":"In 1942, Hitlers launches his second offensive in the Soviet Union: Operation Blue. Quickly becoming impatient, Hitler splits his force in an attempt to capture both the Caucasus oil fields and Stalingrad. Initially successful, the German Sixth Army captures up to 90% of the city until they are trapped by General Zhukov’s men. The Soviet attacks and the unforgiving Russian winter steadily wipe out the German troops until their leader, General Paulus, surrenders. Furious, Hitler launches his final attack, ending all hopes for a German victory on the Eastern Front. This episode features interviews with (in order of appearance): Colonel Douglas Douds, professor, US Army War College Robert Citino, senior historian, National WWII Museum Sir Antony Beevor, military historian Alexandra Richie, professor, Collegium Civitas Sean McMeekin, professor, Bard College Simon Sebag Montefiore, historian and author Dan Carlin, podcaster, Hardcore History Geoffrey Wawro, professor, University of North Texas Jadwiga Biskupska, associate professor, Sam Houston State University","meta_description":"In 1942, Hitlers launches his second offensive in the Soviet Union: Operation Blue. Quickly becoming impatient, Hitler splits his force in an attempt to c…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2391,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/world-war-ii-with-tom-hanks-7870551/episodes/stalingrad/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/world-war-ii-with-tom-hanks-7870551/stalingrad.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}