YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE: Like all Special Operations, timing is everything.
There may be changes between now and H-Hour – but we’ll keep you updated!
Welcome to We Have Ways Fest 2025!
Just how brilliant were the best German generals fighting in the West? And how much was their genius hampered by Hitler, parallel command structures and the constraints of German production? Amidst this mayhem, what made certain German generals stand out? Should they be judged on the Blitzkrieg years of glory or the defensive battles in the second half of the war? In this first final debate, our panel will crown who they consider the best German field commander to have fought in the West.
Philippe Sands is not only an internationally renowned human rights lawyer, but also a firm favourite of We Have Ways and a superlative investigator and story teller. In this talk, Philippe follows the murky career of unrepentant Nazi, Walter Rauff, from the wreckage of the Third Reich to his part in the dictatorial regime of General Pinochet in Chile in the sixties and seventies.
There are no weightier characters to discuss at a Second World War weekend in the heart of England than the towering figure of Winston S. Churchill. Such a titan needs titanic figures to discuss his place in the long history of these isles – which is why we have called upon The Rest is History’s Dominic Sandbrook to be in conversation with The Spectator’s political editor and best-selling author, Tim Shipman, for a fresh, perceptive and thought-provoking discussion of Britain’s wartime Prime Minister and his place in the pantheon of greatest Britons.
As the war neared its end, so the rain of bombs from Allied aircraft falling on both Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan grew ever heavier. With dramatically improved bombing efficiency and mounting Allied anger at the unnecessary continuation of the war, the destruction and rising civilian deaths reached new and unprecedented scales. In this highly thought-provoking panel, our panelists discuss the course of these fateful final months in the bomber war, why they took the course they did, and how it was two single bombs that finally brought the global conflict to an end.
This is the event where we hear your stories: the tragic, heroic, humorous, ridiculous, hair-raising, lucky, unlucky and always extraordinary experiences of ordinary people; the relatives and friends of our listeners – and what these men, women and even children witnessed during the war. It’s a chance to hear their words, read by some of the show’s favourite contributors in an event curated personally by Al.
Our annual quiz has had a make-over: this year, we’re playing it with a straight bat, taking our lead from the real Mastermind: four contestants, specialist subjects, a (WW2-themed) general knowledge round, and just two minutes of questions for each. And while in Al and Jim there will be two quiz masters not one, there will most definitely be the Chair, the Spotlight and the same, heart-stopping tension as seen on TV as we search for the Super Gehern Champion of We Have Ways Fest V. . .
As 1944 drew to a close the Royal Navy, determined to pull its weight in the war at sea against Japan, sailed east, in the face of considerable US Navy ambivalence. Steve Prince, from the Royal Naval Historical Branch, looks at this often overlooked episode in the history of the Navy’s war, the obstacles and their solutions, and the battles that came its way.
To bring the war to an end, to get western Allied boots on the ground in Germany, the Rhine, the Fatherland’s historic frontier would have to be breached. The setbacks of the Ardennes behind him, Ike sought to cross the Rhine in as many places as possible before the final heave into Germany and victory. But the best laid plans…. Peter Caddick Adams and John McManus look at this crucial phase in the War’s endgame.
A long and bitter war, and second such national struggle of the century, focused minds on the prospects that peace would bring, a new world, a new society, a new country. Jonathan Fennell and Kit Kowol look at the ideas percolating in Britain during the war that shaped the future as well as the ones that didn’t make the grade.
The war below the waves was the critical battlefront of the Second World War – submariners surveyed the fate of nations through their periscopes. James M Scott and Roger Moorhouse take a deep dive (oh come on, let us have this one) into one of the most dangerous and important jobs of the war, in the Atlantic and the Pacific.
The V1 – the Flying Bomb, the Doodlebug – first made its appearance in British skies on June 13th 1944 bringing Hitler’s idea of vengeance to the British public. These flat noted droning drones, anticipated by the British government, need finding fixing and finishing, and fast. Hushkit’s Joe Coles looks at who did what, with what, and how.
The Channel Islands were occupied throughout the war. Guernsey native Nick Le Huray shares the stories of Islanders and American POWs fleeing by sea, risks taken by the resistance and the crucial intelligence gathered for D-Day.
In March 1945, Churchill ordered 6th Airborne to stop the Soviets at Wismar. 1st Canadian Paratroopers reached Wismar first, after a long march and ride on tanks. We explore the intense stand off.
TBC
After its people faced brutal fighting and horrendous losses – did the Allies fail Poland at the end of the Second World War? Roger Moorhouse takes to the stage to answer this incredibly challenging question.
What do the clothes of the 40s and 50s tell us about our collective wartime experience? From demob suits to make-do dresses, Susan Carruthers explores post-war Britain through the garments they wore.
How did WW2 change America’s largest state? John Clough reveals the seismic changes Alaska experienced throughout the war years.
The Suez crisis was one of the defining moments of the 1950s. George Hoad takes us behind the Operation MUSKETEER, the codename for the Anglo-French-Israeli invasion of Egypt.
Operation VARSITY – the final airborne operation of the war helped defeat the Nazi war machine for good. But what happened in the planning and execution, for this campaign to succeed in landing 16,000 men?
Welcome to We Have Ways Fest 2025!
Just how brilliant were the best German generals fighting in the West? And how much was their genius hampered by Hitler, parallel command structures and the constraints of German production? Amidst this mayhem, what made certain German generals stand out? Should they be judged on the Blitzkrieg years of glory or the defensive battles in the second half of the war? In this first final debate, our panel will crown who they consider the best German field commander to have fought in the West.
As 1944 drew to a close the Royal Navy, determined to pull its weight in the war at sea against Japan, sailed east, in the face of considerable US Navy ambivalence. Steve Prince, from the Royal Naval Historical Branch, looks at this often overlooked episode in the history of the Navy’s war, the obstacles and their solutions, and the battles that came its way.
The Channel Islands were occupied throughout the war. Guernsey native Nick Le Huray shares the stories of Islanders and American POWs fleeing by sea, risks taken by the resistance and the crucial intelligence gathered for D-Day.
Philippe Sands is not only an internationally renowned human rights lawyer, but also a firm favourite of We Have Ways and a superlative investigator and story teller. In this talk, Philippe follows the murky career of unrepentant Nazi, Walter Rauff, from the wreckage of the Third Reich to his part in the dictatorial regime of General Pinochet in Chile in the sixties and seventies.
To bring the war to an end, to get western Allied boots on the ground in Germany, the Rhine, the Fatherland’s historic frontier would have to be breached. The setbacks of the Ardennes behind him, Ike sought to cross the Rhine in as many places as possible before the final heave into Germany and victory. But the best laid plans…. Peter Caddick Adams and John McManus look at this crucial phase in the War’s endgame.
In March 1945, Churchill ordered 6th Airborne to stop the Soviets at Wismar. 1st Canadian Paratroopers reached Wismar first, after a long march and ride on tanks. We explore the intense stand off.
The Big Wing controversy led to serious ramifications – ultimately, losing many pilots. Conceived by Douglas Bader as an alternative way to fight the Battle of Britain, it gained momentum through ignorance, hubris, flawed ideology and ambition: contributing to the removal of Park and Dowding, and putting the nation in great danger.
There are no weightier characters to discuss at a Second World War weekend in the heart of England than the towering figure of Winston S. Churchill. Such a titan needs titanic figures to discuss his place in the long history of these isles – which is why we have called upon The Rest is History’s Dominic Sandbrook to be in conversation with The Spectator’s political editor and best-selling author, Tim Shipman, for a fresh, perceptive and thought-provoking discussion of Britain’s wartime Prime Minister and his place in the pantheon of greatest Britons.
A long and bitter war, and second such national struggle of the century, focused minds on the prospects that peace would bring, a new world, a new society, a new country. Jonathan Fennell and Kit Kowol look at the ideas percolating in Britain during the war that shaped the future as well as the ones that didn’t make the grade.
After its people faced brutal fighting and horrendous losses – did the Allies fail Poland at the end of the Second World War? Roger Moorhouse takes to the stage to answer this incredibly challenging question.
What do the clothes of the 40s and 50s tell us about our collective wartime experience? From demob suits to make-do dresses, Susan Carruthers explores post-war Britain through the garments they wore.
As the war neared its end, so the rain of bombs from Allied aircraft falling on both Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan grew ever heavier. With dramatically improved bombing efficiency and mounting Allied anger at the unnecessary continuation of the war, the destruction and rising civilian deaths reached new and unprecedented scales. In this highly thought-provoking panel, our panelists discuss the course of these fateful final months in the bomber war, why they took the course they did, and how it was two single bombs that finally brought the global conflict to an end.
The war below the waves was the critical battlefront of the Second World War – submariners surveyed the fate of nations through their periscopes. James M Scott and Roger Moorhouse take a deep dive (oh come on, let us have this one) into one of the most dangerous and important jobs of the war, in the Atlantic and the Pacific.
How did WW2 change America’s largest state? John Clough reveals the seismic changes Alaska experienced throughout the war years.
The Suez crisis was one of the defining moments of the 1950s. George Hoad takes us behind the Operation MUSKETEER, the codename for the Anglo-French-Israeli invasion of Egypt.
This is the event where we hear your stories: the tragic, heroic, humorous, ridiculous, hair-raising, lucky, unlucky and always extraordinary experiences of ordinary people; the relatives and friends of our listeners – and what these men, women and even children witnessed during the war. It’s a chance to hear their words, read by some of the show’s favourite contributors in an event curated personally by Al.
The V1 – the Flying Bomb, the Doodlebug – first made its appearance in British skies on June 13th 1944 bringing Hitler’s idea of vengeance to the British public. These flat noted droning drones, anticipated by the British government, need finding fixing and finishing, and fast. Hushkit’s Joe Coles looks at who did what, with what, and how.
Operation VARSITY – the final airborne operation of the war helped defeat the Nazi war machine for good. But what happened in the planning and execution, for this campaign to succeed in landing 16,000 men?
Our annual quiz has had a make-over: this year, we’re playing it with a straight bat, taking our lead from the real Mastermind: four contestants, specialist subjects, a (WW2-themed) general knowledge round, and just two minutes of questions for each. And while in Al and Jim there will be two quiz masters not one, there will most definitely be the Chair, the Spotlight and the same, heart-stopping tension as seen on TV as we search for the Super Gehern Champion of We Have Ways Fest V. . .
OK, so they turned up a bit late and didn’t have to go through the hard times of the early years of the war, but there’s no denying the Americans learned real quick when they did finally show, and unquestionably produced some brilliant field commanders before the war was done. Only one man can go through to the ultimate final, however, so will it be a marquee name or a man without an Oscar-winning movie to bolster his reputation? In this round, our panel will decide – with the audience’s help – which DUKE and German general our American field commander will be meeting in the final…
The Allied victory in Tunisia on 13 May 1943 marked a decisive turning point in the war in the west. A catastrophe for the Axis forces, it marked the effective end of the road for Italy and shattered the Luftwaffe in the Mediterranean. But while the Allies suffered numerous knocks along the way, they emerged not only triumphant but having worked out their own unique way of war – a method that would lead them to final victory in Europe two bloody years later. In this talk, Saul David will discuss this pivotal campaign and highlight its crucial significance in the wider war.
Edward Fox has starred in many movies and TV series as well as on the stage, but for We Have Ways fans he will be forever remembered as one of the key characters in the fabulous The Battle of Britain and, of course, as General Sir Brian Horrocks in A Bridge Too Far. In this very special event, this venerated and brilliant war movie star will be in conversation with Ben Willbond, discussing his roles and his memories of being part of some of the most watched and best-loved war movies of them all. Thanks awfully, Old Chap.
As James May proved at We Have Ways Fest Vier, there’s plenty of room in our weekend’s programme to discuss more arcane aspects of the war. With this in mind, we’re putting James together with petrolhead, Calum Douglas, to discuss the best and worst aero engines produced, the massive improvement in horsepower and performance that took place during those six years, and what these developments meant for the outcome of the war.
As Al and Jim have been repeatedly stressing on the podcast, the latter stages of the war – both in Europe and elsewhere – were dominated by the especially brutal war against Imperial Japan. In this panel, our experts will be charting the final months, weeks and days of the Second World War, the development, testing and dropping of the atomic bombs and what that fateful decision meant, both for the end of the war and the dawn of a new nuclear age that would change the world forever.
The ENSA Show is only in its second year but is already one of staples of the festival weekend: the annual Saturday night entertainment. There will be songs, there will be dancing. There’ll be sketches and jokes. And this year, Al and Jim will be joined by a wider cast of comedy kings and vaudeville veterans. Featuring The Two Rommels, Georg Formbäch, a special new edition of Blind Date, and a Rogue Heroes reboot, as well as a host of guest appearances from around the world, this is the show that will be putting the fun back into fünf!
The British Empire’s war with Imperial Japan, while thousands of miles from the Imperial centre in London, was where the bulk of the Empire’s effort was invested. And just as men from all the Empire came to fight to defend the Empire, they also came in the hope of spreading peace far and wide.
Tanks, eh? Tanks are cool. It’s ok, you’re amongst friends. Everyone here, pretty much thinks so, and everyone on this panel knows so. Join Al, Waitman Wade Beorn and Nick “Centurion” Moran as we talk tracks, turrets, glacis and much, much more tank filth.
Who was the greatest spy of the Second World War? Three absolute experts in the topic battle it out to have their say on the most influential, exceptional and down-right cool SOE agent of the entire six years. Expect epic tales of subterfuge and derring-do a plenty.
Al is joined by Niall Cherry, probably the greatest single font of Arnhem information on the planet, keeper of the flame of so many veterans’ stories, and Jory Brentjens Conservator from the Hartenstein Airborne Museum. We will take your questions and do what we can to answer them.
The USS Cowpens was the only US carrier present at Japan’s surrender in Tokyo Bay. What is the history of the ‘Mighty Moo’ and its unique place in naval tradition?
How did maps of towns and cities impact the Blitz, and how did the Blitz impact maps? Merryn Walters navigates the story of mapping destruction.
OK, so they turned up a bit late and didn’t have to go through the hard times of the early years of the war, but there’s no denying the Americans learned real quick when they did finally show, and unquestionably produced some brilliant field commanders before the war was done. Only one man can go through to the ultimate final, however, so will it be a marquee name or a man without an Oscar-winning movie to bolster his reputation? In this round, our panel will decide – with the audience’s help – which DUKE and German general our American field commander will be meeting in the final…
The British Empire’s war with Imperial Japan, while thousands of miles from the Imperial centre in London, was where the bulk of the Empire’s effort was invested. And just as men from all the Empire came to fight to defend the Empire, they also came in the hope of spreading peace far and wide.
The USS Cowpens was the only US carrier present at Japan’s surrender in Tokyo Bay. What is the history of the ‘Mighty Moo’ and its unique place in naval tradition?
The Allied victory in Tunisia on 13 May 1943 marked a decisive turning point in the war in the west. A catastrophe for the Axis forces, it marked the effective end of the road for Italy and shattered the Luftwaffe in the Mediterranean. But while the Allies suffered numerous knocks along the way, they emerged not only triumphant but having worked out their own unique way of war – a method that would lead them to final victory in Europe two bloody years later. In this talk, Saul David will discuss this pivotal campaign and highlight its crucial significance in the wider war.
Tanks, eh? Tanks are cool. It’s ok, you’re amongst friends. Everyone here, pretty much thinks so, and everyone on this panel knows so. Join Al, Waitman Wade Beorn and Nick “Centurion” Moran as we talk tracks, turrets, glacis and much, much more tank filth.
How did maps of towns and cities impact the Blitz, and how did the Blitz impact maps? Merryn Walters navigates the story of mapping destruction.
We often think of Operation Plunder as a feat achieved by the Army, but what about the insurmountable effort by the Royal Navy? This is the untold story outside of Monty’s command.
WW2 spurred a sexual revolution, paving the way for later social changes we all benefit from today. Luke Turner looks at LGBT+ trailblazers from the 1940s – including an RAF ace with his lover, a Land Army member identifying as a man, and many others finding romantic freedom amidst conflict.
As James May proved at We Have Ways Fest Vier, there’s plenty of room in our weekend’s programme to discuss more arcane aspects of the war. With this in mind, we’re putting James together with petrolhead, Calum Douglas, to discuss the best and worst aero engines produced, the massive improvement in horsepower and performance that took place during those six years, and what these developments meant for the outcome of the war.
Who was the greatest spy of the Second World War? Three absolute experts in the topic battle it out to have their say on the most influential, exceptional and down-right cool SOE agent of the entire six years. Expect epic tales of subterfuge and derring-do a plenty.
The Battle Of Madagascar is an iconic chapter in global WW2 history. But what secrets hide beneath the Allies’ first amphibious landing of the war?
In this talk, Jim will be offering a big sweep of the final stages of the war, from the high-level decisions that played such a critical part of the outcome, to the extraordinary material growth of the Allies throughout the war, and to the growing tensions as they confronted a new, post-war world that was to be very different from the one that preceded it. Broad in breadth, rich in detail, Jim will be offering his own, personal take on the end of the war in 1945.
She was the sharp-tongued aristocrat that could whisper in the ear of the most powerful men in all of the world. Who was Pamela Churchill Harriman – Winston Churchill’s exceptional confidant and daughter-in-law?
The story of a painting lost and found, the surrender at Luneberg – Terence Cuneo
Rob Gallimore was a part of the British Army throughout the war in Afghanistan. In a fascinating talk, he describes the influence the Second World War had on his time fighting – and the vast similarities he found.
The story of Indian women that fought for Britain has been widely ignored in popular history. Dr Kiran Sahota delves into the personal histories of those that helped secure victory, thousands of miles from their homes.
As Al and Jim have been repeatedly stressing on the podcast, the latter stages of the war – both in Europe and elsewhere – were dominated by the especially brutal war against Imperial Japan. In this panel, our experts will be charting the final months, weeks and days of the Second World War, the development, testing and dropping of the atomic bombs and what that fateful decision meant, both for the end of the war and the dawn of a new nuclear age that would change the world forever.
The Holocaust, the central aim of the Third Reich’s war, inextricably linked to Hitler’s ambitions for the world’s future, is what makes the Second World War unique. How should we remember this, and how can this memory be kept alive? Waitman Beorn discusses with a Special Guest . . .
As a part of our ‘Visions Of Peace’ series, John Concagh and Phil Craig explore the tumultuous post-war period through the lens of ending empires. From decolonisation in the Caribbean to the murky legacy of partition.
As the war of bullets waged in Europe, a cultural revolution was happening at home. As thousands of American women, employed by the US Army, flocked to the shores of the UK we explore who they were, and how they changed the country.
Announcing the Hawaiian Shirt competition winner, and the winner of the SOE Assault Course.
The ENSA Show is only in its second year but is already one of staples of the festival weekend: the annual Saturday night entertainment. There will be songs, there will be dancing. There’ll be sketches and jokes. And this year, Al and Jim will be joined by a wider cast of comedy kings and vaudeville veterans. Featuring The Two Rommels, Georg Formbäch, a special new edition of Blind Date, and a Rogue Heroes reboot, as well as a host of guest appearances from around the world, this is the show that will be putting the fun back into fünf!
There was a time in the dark ages of Second World War histories when most of the DUKE generals were regarded with less than positive assessments as far as the War in the West was concerned. Happily, those days are gone and while there were a number who fluffed their chance for military greatness there are many now regarded as among the finest field commanders of the entire war. But only one name can go through to the final so expect this round to be an especially fevered and high-stakes debate…
There was a time in the dark ages of Second World War histories when most of the DUKE generals were regarded with less than positive assessments as far as the War in the West was concerned. Happily, those days are gone and while there were a number who fluffed their chance for military greatness there are many now regarded as among the finest field commanders of the entire war. But only one name can go through to the final so expect this round to be an especially fevered and high-stakes debate…
Hitler had always promised a Thousand Year Reich or Armageddon. And in the end, it was Armageddon. Berlin’s downfall is a tale of unspeakable violence, of grotesque delusion, of divided strategies, reckless, cruel and corrupt command, and of the suffering of millions, troops and civilians alike. Antony Beevor, author of an internationally bestselling account of the end of the war in Berlin, will be discussing this tragic story that saw Hitler’s death, a million further casualties, and the destruction of the Third Reich.
The cataclysmic raids on Tokyo on 9th-10th March 1945 – Operation Meetinghouse – saw 100,000 Japanese lose their lives. James M Scott traces the escalation in the American strategic bombing campaign, from precision strategic bombing to the inferno that destroyed a quarter of the city.
The scientific breakthroughs of WW2 have reverberated throughout the 20th and 21st century. What were the impacts of those scientists at the forefront of the nuclear age, and the doctors changing the face of reconstructive surgery?
How do you make WW2 come alive for new generations of history fans? We look at the world of history content from all aspects of modern digital storytelling – podcasting, video and photography.
The bomber became one of the most influential weapons of WW2, delivering peace and destruction in equal measure. How was this weapon used in the decades after 1945, and what became of those who flew them?
After a month of fevered discussion and three eliminating rounds over the course of the festival weekend, three names will now be debated: one DUKE, one American and one German. Expect outrage, anger, despair and exultation as our panelists argue for who should be crowned the Best in the West. But the decision will not be theirs. The winner will be decided by those attending, the audience, in this grand finale of We Have Ways Fest V. There can be only one.
WE HAVE WAYS FEST 2024 – 19, 20, 21 JULY
The UK’s No. 1 Second World War Festival
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Steve is the Regimental Researcher at the Green Howards Museum and a battlefield guide. With an MA in British First World War Studies from Birmingham University, Simon’s research credits include titles such as John Powell’s 2018 study of General Sir Edward Bulfin, Hugh Sebag-Montefiori’s 2016 look at fighting on the Somme and Terry Finnegan’s 2015 assessment of the American battlefield experience during the First World War.
GREEN HOWARDS ON SICILY – SATURDAY THE ARSENAL
Also known as Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own Yorkshire Regiment, the Green Howards made their mark on Sicily in 1943. Steve Erskine has worked with the Green Howards Regimental Museum for several years, and now takes us out to Sicily….
