96 - Bridge Busters: The Dortmund-Ems Canal Raid

Published: Aug. 1, 2019, 4:30 a.m.

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In this episode we\\u2019re looking at an RAF raid in 1940 against the Dortmund-Ems canal. The canal was a vital trade route with huge amounts of supplies and raw materials passing along it daily.

With the fall of France and the build up to Operation Sealion, the invasion of Britain, interrupting the traffic on the canal would aid in upsetting the German timetable. But to undertake the task a level of accuracy was needed from the RAF which was hitherto unheard of\\u2026 It was very much a proto-dambusters raid.

Joining me to discuss the raid is Dr Mark Felton, author of The Bridge Busters.

We\\u2019ve spoken to Mark before, we looked Operation Cowboy, where some elements of the Whermacht joined with the Americans to save the world famous Lipizaner horses at the close of WWII. In episode 49, we discussed British VIP POWs held by the Italians. If you\\u2019ve not heard it, dig it out. I think it\\u2019s my favorite episode of the WW2 podcast so far.

You can also find Mark on YouTube here.

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