Hey guys, welcome back to the Why Wars Happened History Podcast, where you learn about the causes of wars and things like, why did it happen? Was it inevitable? Who was involved?

Sometimes I go back hundreds of years just so we can understand what happened in our narrative episodes covering the long course of a war and the background of the war.

And if you want to talk more about war, we also have authors, historians, war generals, royalty, actors, filmmakers, a whole bunch of people come on as guests and we talk about everything about before, during, and after war. So let's go!

The Why Wars Happened History Podcast covers The American Revolution, World War I, World War II, Medieval Wars in England, The Habsburg Empire, The War in Iraq, Scottish wars, The War of the Roses, The Cuban Missile Crisis, The Cold War, The Thirty Years War, The Hundred Years War, The American Civil War, and many others.

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In this episode of Why Wars Happened, we're joined by war historian and author Shannon Monaghan, whose work 'A Quiet Company of Dangerous Men' explores the covert operations and untold stories of British Special Operations Soldiers during World War II. Shannon discusses the clandestine world of the SOE (Special Operations Executive), a secret British agency tasked with espionage, sabotage, and resistance during the war. The discussion highlights the incredible exploits of figures like Peter Kemp, David Smiley, Billy McLean, and Julian Amery—men who operated behind enemy lines, gathered intelligence, and executed daring missions that were critical to the Allied war effort. From guerrilla warfare in occupied Europe to covert actions against totalitarian regimes, this episode uncovers the hidden heroes whose bravery and ingenuity made a significant impact during WWII.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

00:32 The Story Behind the Book Title

01:47 Discovering the SOE

04:59 Peter Kemp: The Real-Life Action Figure

13:37 David Smiley: The Soldier's Soldier

18:07 Billy McLean: The Born Guerrilla Leader

27:59 Julian Amery: The Intellectual Politician

32:00 Conclusion and Upcoming Projects

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