The creators of the hit podcast We Have Ways of Making You Talk have turned their military history debates into a book. James Holland and Al Murray sat down for a Q&A to mark the launch, tackling questions from the conflict's best tank and most successful general to whether Hitler really had one testicle.
Favourite Second World War tanks
Al Murray chose the Matilda II, calling it "the tank the British sort of got right by accident." Although designed as infantry support rather than for tank-on-tank combat, its thick armour suited the battle at Arras on May 21, 1940. That counterattack gave the Germans a fright and contributed to the Halt Order, allowing the BEF to escape through Dunkirk. The Matilda II remained in service with the Australians until the end of the war.
James Holland picked the Sherman, specifically the British Firefly version with its 17-pounder gun. He praised the Cromwell for its speed and manoeuvrability but conceded, "You can't argue against 49,000 Shermans – the ultimate all-use tank." He added, "Don't tell Al, but I'm not such a fan of the Matilda II…"
Britain's best generals and overrated commanders
Murray named three: Montgomery, Major General Richard 'Windy' Gale of 6th Airborne Division, and Major General Percy Hobart, the tank innovator behind the "Funnies." He said Monty "infuriating your enemies without being a top drawer general" and that criticism comes with reaching the top.
Holland championed Bill Slim and Field Marshal Alexander, calling Alexander "unquestionably my greatest hero." On overrated commanders, Murray named Erwin Rommel, saying much of his reputation "was burnished by the British in order to explain away why they were failing to deliver in the desert." Holland added Erich von Manstein gets too much credit for the 1940 Blitzkrieg, arguing Heinz Guderian led the key developments.
Airborne forces, infantry weapons and the testicle myth
On D-Day, airborne forces seized objectives on the Allied flanks, capturing bridges and guns and securing high ground. Murray noted the difficulty of night landings, but said the men's training meant "the Germans had a poor time of it, and the airborne men secured their objectives, though often it was touch and go and at great human cost."
For best infantry weapon, Murray pointed to the German MP44 assault rifle, which "showed the way" for the AK-47. Holland added he had fired one and found it light with no recoil. He also praised the Browning .30 calibre for its reliability.
On Hitler's testicle, Murray said, "Does it matter?" and suggested modern diagnosis says more about today's culture. Holland replied, "Whether he did or didn't, it was a great song," adding that Hitler was "a very weird, horrible, evil man, one ball or two…"
We Have Ways of Making You Talk: New Histories of the Second World War (Headline, £22) is published on August 27. We Have Ways Fest runs September 11-13 at Blackpit Fare, Stowe, Bucks.
