How Higgins and His Boats Won the War

About this episode

The episode explores how Andrew Higgins and his innovative landing craft played a crucial role in the success of the Normandy invasion during World War II.

June 6, 1944. As thousands of Allied soldiers prepare to storm the beaches of Normandy, they climb down rope nets into small wooden landing craft bobbing in the dark waters of the English Channel. Within hours, these boats will carry them into the largest amphibious invasion in history. The craft are known as Higgins boats, named for their inventor, Andrew Higgins: a hard-driving New Orleans boatbuilder who built his reputation designing vessels that could speed through swamps, crash through obstacles, and go places other boats couldn't. Higgins was stubborn, abrasive, and relentless. The Navy repeatedly dismissed his ideas. He refused to go away. How does a small-time New Orleans boatbuilder force his way into the military industrial complex? And what exactly is so special about these boxy little Higgins boats? Special thanks to Dr. John Curatola, Samuel Zemurray Stone Senior Historian at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana. His book is Armies Afloat: How the Development of Amphibious Operations in Europe Helped Win World War II . You can find the rest of the books we used to research this episode at historythisweekpodcast.com . Check out new episodes of History's…

People in this episode

Guest: Dr. John Curatola

Topics covered

• World War II
• amphibious operations
• military history
• innovation
• Normandy invasion

Keywords

• Higgins boats
• Normandy
• D-Day
• military innovation
• Andrew Higgins
• World War II
• amphibious invasion

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: National WWII Museum, HISTORY Channel

Books & works: Armies Afloat: How the Development of Amphibious Operations in Europe Helped Win World War II

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