History Shorts30 Mai 2025

Conversations: A Forgotten Charge that Helped Win D-Day with James Donovan

D-Day stories often focus on Omaha Beach or paratroopers behind enemy lines. But few know the harrowing story of the La Fiere Bridge charge, a nearly suicidal mission carried out by the 82nd Airborne days after June 6.

Historian and bestselling author James Donovan joins History Shorts to discuss his new book, Nothing But Courage, a gripping account of bravery, leadership, and sacrifice during one of WWII's most overlooked turning points.

In this episode, we explore:

Why this mission has remained in the shadows of D-Day history
The story of Charlie DeGlopper's heroic stand and Medal of Honor sacrifice
Why glider infantry were seen as second-class- until they weren't
How a few hundred soldiers turned the tide of the Normandy campaign

"If Operation Overlord failed, we might never have tried again- and millions more would have died."

Donovan also shares what it's like to research with veterans, the agony of cutting great stories from a manuscript, and the unexpected connection between writing about Apollo 11 and D-Day.

Order the book: Nothing But Courage is available now from Penguin Random House, Amazon, B&N, and bookstores everywhere.

Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. It helps other history lovers find the show!

SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast

LEARN MORE ABOUT JAMES' BOOKS: https://www.jamesdonovan.net/

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