Korean War Podcast

A short history of the growing British economic and political power in Malaya during the 18th, 19th and early 20th Century.  The large scale immigration of Chinese and Indians to work in British owned tin mines and rubber plantations.  The defeat of the British Army by the Japanese Empire in 1942.  The Japanese occupation of Malaya between 1942 and 1945 with its brutal repression of the ethnic Chinese population.  A biography of Lieutenant General Arthur Percival, the commander of the British Army in Malaya in 1941.

The Communist Malay People's Anti Japanese Army fight a guerrilla war against the Japanese occupation and are armed by the British.  In 1945 British troops reoccupy Malaya but their policy of the issue of citizenship manages to alienate each of the ethnic groups in Malaya.  A biography of Lai Teck Communist leader during the Second World War.

The war in Malaya between the British Army and the Communists begins in June 1948 with the killing of three British rubber planters.  The British killed the military commander of the Communist forces.  The Communist establish areas of control within the jungle highland with the support of the ethnic Chinese squatter population.  A Biography of the British High Commission from 1946 to 1948 Sir Edward Gent.

The war in Malaya between the British Army and the Communists in 1949. The growing level of Communist terrorist activity. The British Colonial Government recruits ethnic Malays to fight the mainly ethnic Chinese Communist forces. The expansion of the Malay Police force.  A biography of Chin Peng the leader of the Malayan Communist Party.

The military campaign in 1950 in Malaya.  A look at the Communist tactics against British Army patrols and what life was like in a Communist camp.  Sir Harold Briggs arrives in Britain to become the Director of Operations he creates a plan to improve relation between the Army, the Police and the civil service.  The Chinese squatter population are to be forced into so called ‘new villages’ to stop the flow of suppliers to the Communist guerrillas.  A biography of Sir Harold Briggs.

The life and death of Sir Henry Gurney, who is murdered in a Communist ambush.  The rising level of Communist terrorism in Malaya.  The disappointing results for the British military in 1951.  A new British Government led by Winston Churchill demands changes in the way the war is fought.

Gerald Templer becomes the new High Commission and Director of Operations in Malaya.  He dismisses officials who have been block to good cooperation between the Army and civil administration.  The British Intelligence service greatly improves, cash rewards are given for information.  British Army and Malay Police begin to defeat the Communists.  A biography of Gerald Templer.

High Commissioner Gerald Templer creates so called 'white areas' free of Communist terrorism where the emergency regulations can be ended.  The British Army push the Communists back into the jungle highlands. The level of Communist activity declines.  Templer leaves Malaya and is replaced as director of operations by Lieutenant General Bourne, a biography of the man.

The British Army and Malay Police grind down the Communist guerrillas, increasing amounts of Malaya are declared free of Communist terrorism.  The Malay Communist Party seek a peace deal with the newly elected Government of Malaysia but talks break down and the war carries on.  The politics of Malaya and Singapore.  A biography of Tunku the first prime minister of Malaysia.

Malaysia becomes an independent state.  A biography of Henry Lee a senior member of the Government of Malaysia.  The emergency comes to an end in 1960, the Communist guerrillas having been defeated by the Commonwealth forces.  The reasons why the victory in Malaya could not be copied in Vietnam.  A second Communist insurgence begins in 1968.

The Indonesian War of Independence against the Dutch.  A biography of Indonesian President Sukarno, he slide into dictatorship.  Sukarno growing links with Communism at home and aboard.  Sukarno opposes plans by the British Government to hand over North Borneo to Malaysia.  The geography of North Borneo. 

The left wing revolt in North Borneo in 1962 is defeated by the British Army.  Indonesian President Sukarno sends Indonesian regular troops to fight in North Borneo in 1963. The battle of Long Jawai.  British Government hands over most of North Borneo to Malaysia but promises to maintain troops there.  A biography of General Walker the commander of Commonwealth in North Borneo during the first part of the Indonesian Confrontation.

Indonesian troops launch raids against the Malaya mainland.  In North Borneo there are several firefights between Indonesian and Commonwealth troops.  The war goes badly for the Indonesians, it peters out in 1966 after dramatic events within Indonesia in October 1965.  A biography of the new commander of Commonwealth forces in North Borneo, Major General George Lea.

There is growing distrust between Indonesian President Sukarno and the Communist towards the Army Generals.  After a failed left wing coup in October 1965, the Generals turn on the Communists killing at least half a million of them.  In 1966 the General began to oust President Sukarno from power.  A biography of General Suharto who would rule Indonesian for over thirty years and would ally himself with the west.

In 1946 the Philippines becomes independent but there is much corruption and Police oppression.  A rural revolt begins, the Communist do not support it until May 1948.  When the Korean War starts the United States Government increases military aid to the Government of the Philippines but the Americans insist that Ramon Magsaysay becomes Minster of Defence to led the fight back against the now communist supported revolt.  A biography of Ramon Magsaysay who would become President of the Philippines.  In 1948 a Communist revolt in Burma begins which would last for more than 40 years. 

An introduction to season four of this podcast which will deal with the Cold War in Europe between 1944 to 1956.  It will begin on Saturday 7th September will a ten part weekly series on Greece dealing with the battle of Athens fought between the British Army and Greek Communist in December 1944 and January 1945 and then go on to tell of the Greek Civil.  After that there will be episode on the Trieste crisis which nearly led to war between Communist Yugoslavia and the United States.  Then there be episode of the communist take over of eastern Europe, the Berlin Airlift, the Western attempt to foster a counter revolution in Albania,, the East German people revolt of 1953 and the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.

The Communist controlled ELAS becomes the strongest resistance movement against Axis occupation of Greece during the Second World War.  When in late 1944 the German army pulls out of Greece the Communist take control of most of Greece.  Winston Churchill who is determined to prevent a Communist take over of Greece sends British troops to Greece to aid the Greek Government led by George Papandreou, the Communist are ordered to disarm, they refuse and hold a mass demonstration, at which the Athens Police shot 28 dead.  ELAS fighters attack Police Station, killing Policemen.  Fighting breaks out between ELAS and the British Army.  The British Army is forced into a small pocket in central Athens known in the British press as Scobieland after its commander.  A biography of Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou.   

The Battle of Athens between the British Army and Greek Communists carries on.  British reinforcements and firepower began to turn the tide of the battle in their favour.  A biography of Lieutenant General Scobie, the British Military commander in Greece.  Winston Churchill travels to Athens in Christmas 1944 to show his support for the Greek Government against the Communists.  The Communist kill many of their alleged political opponents in Athens but in February 1945 the Communists agree to lay down their weapons and promise to join the Greek political system.

Any hope that the Greek Left could take part in the Greek political system is prevented by a campaign of harassment against the Left.  Thousands of Leftist are imprisoned and others are attacked by Right Wing terror groups, all part of what becomes known as the White Terror.  Many Communists flee to the Greek Mountains or Yugoslavia.  A biography of Zachariadis the leader of the Greek Communists.  The Cold War begins in Europe, a look at Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain speech in 1946. 

In March 1946, a Communist guerrilla raid upon a town is seen in hindsight as the start of the Greek Civil War, yet it would be many months before most Greek people realised they there was a civil war in the country as attacks in 1946 were usually small in scale.  However in December 1946, the Communist set up the Democratic Army commander by Vapiadis an experienced guerrilla commander.  A biography of Mark Vapiadis.  A Communist civilian support system was established to aid the guerrillas, known as the self defence organisation.  A review of the geography of Greece and its recent history.

The United States Government replaces the British Government has the main backer of the Greek Government.  In March 1947 President Harry S Truman addresses congress to announce large scale help in terms of money and weapons for both Greece and Turkey.  Part of that speech that deals with Greece is used.  American military advisors arrive in Greece, they find that Greek National in poor shape to face the Communist menace.  In 1948 the United States government will offer further aid to Greece and other Western European countries as part of the Marshall Plan. 

In 1947 the Greek Civil War becomes much more intense and wider in scale than in 1946.  American military advisors find the Greek National Army in a poor state to fight a guerrilla war against the Communists.  A major Greek National Army offensive in Central and Northern Greece fails to dislodge the Communists.  Greek King George II dies in April 1947 and is succeeded by his brother King Paul, a biography of the new king.  The Greek Communist Party decides to full back the war but the leadership of the Communists disagree as to strategy as to fight a guerrilla war or a conversational war.   

The Communist Democratic Army of Greece is reorganised to take part in conversational warfare.  The Greek Government's National Army receives weapons and equipment from the American Government.  The murder of American journalist George Polk, his biography is given.  The Greek National Army wins an important victory in Peloponnese defeating the Communist guerrilla forces there. 

The Communist Democratic army of Greece launches a conversational war offensives against several Greek towns, however they are badly beaten at the Battle for the town of Florina in Northern Greece.  Field Marshall Papagos becomes the commander of the Greek Government's National Army, he introduces reforms to make the military high command more effective, his biography is given.  The Greek National Army forms elite Mountain Raider companies to fight the Communist guerrillas in the mountains.

The most important factor in the defeat of the Greek Communist was the spilt between Yugoslavian leader Tito and Stalin.  A biography of Tito and a the nature of the spilt.  The Greek Communist support Stalin in the dispute and in July 1949 the Yugoslavs close the border and close down Greek Communist bases in Yugoslavia.  The military campaign in the summer of 1949 is told and the preparations for the major Battle of Grammos which features in the next episode.

The largest and mostly costly battle of the Greek Civil War takes places in August 1949 in the Vitsi and Grammos mountain range, it results in a victory for the Greek Government forces.  The Greek Communists could have carried on the war but Stalin has the Albanian and Bulgarian Governments disarm the Greek Communists due to his fears of provoking an alliance between Greece, Yugoslavia and the United States which could bring down the Communist regime in Albania.  A brief history of Greece since the Civil War and the story of how the key Greek figures of the war carried on after the war.

At the end of the Second World War Churchill and Truman agree to send the Second New Zealand Division on a race to reach the city of Trieste before the Yugoslav Communist can reach.  However the Yugoslav Communist do capture Trieste and a battle with the remaining German forces.  A biography of General Peter Drapsin the commander of the Yugoslav Fourth Army whose troops occupy Trieste. 

Lack of support from Stalin forces Tito to withdraw from Trieste in 1945.  However in 1946 a crisis over control of the city flares up after the Yugoslavs shot down two American planes, war seems possible.  However Stalin refuse to back Tito who is forced to back down.  A further crisis over Trieste occurs in 1953 when the Americans and British agree to hand the City over to the Italians.

The story of how the Soviets occupied Eastern Europe at the end of the Second World War.  Stalin effectively runs an empire that runs from Central Europe to the Pacific Ocean an empire greater than that of any Russian Czar.  The story of how in 1948 the Czech Communist gain power in that country.  A biography of the Czech Communist leader Gottwald. 

In the summer of 1948, Stalin decides to cut road, rail and river transport into West Berlin, to force the Western allies out of the City.  However the Americans and British began an operation to supply West Berlin by air transport.  The story and biography of the so called 'Candy Bomber'.

The Albania Communist Party seized control of the country in late 1944.  However the Albanian Communist Party would be greatly weakened by internal purges.  After the break between Tito and Stalin in 1948, the Albania Communist Government which sided with Stalin was isolated and faced by growing discontent from its people.  The Americans and British Government trained three hundred Albania agents to overthrown the Communist but all were arrested and executed, why well Kim Philby knew all about the plan.  His story and that of the Cambridge spy ring. 

In 1953 workers in East Berlin went on strike to protest against new higher production demands set by the Communist East German Government.  The strikers marched though East Berlin.  The strikes and protests spread though the country.  However the next day protesters were fired upon by Soviet tanks.

The story of Hungary from the Soviet occupation in 1944 to 1953.  Stalin decides upon Rakosi to be the Hungarian Communist ruler, he imposes a harsh repressive regime upon the country, with a secret police the AVH.  Hundreds of thousands are imprisoned and thousands are killed.  The Communist policies and the need to pay the Soviet Union larges amounts of money in regard to war damages ruins the economy and the standard of living of Hungarian workers falls.

Reformist Hungarian Prime minister Imre Nagy tries to bring in reforms but is partly blocked by Communist leader Rakosi.  The Soviets remove both men from power.  A biography of Imre Nagy a key figure in the Hungarian Revolution.  Public discontent grows in Hungary against the Communists.  On Monday 22nd October 1956 a student meeting in Budapest decides upon protest march for the next day, an event that will lead to the Hungarian revolution.

The events of Tuesday 23rd October 1956.  A student march in Budapest grows into a mass protest of two hundred thousand people as the Citizens of Budapest take the chance to protest against the Communist regime.  A gun battle breaks out when protesters take to capture the radio station.  The Soviet leadership decide to send troops into Budapest to end the protest.  A biography of Erno Gero, the Hungarian Communist leader.  

The events of Wednesday 24th October and Thursday 25th October 1956.  Soviet troops and tanks are sent into Budapest to crush the popular revolt against the Hungarian Communist regime.  However young armed Hungarians resist the Soviet Army in street battles in Budapest.  A biography of Hungarian Army Colonel Pal Meleter who joins the revolution movement in Budapest and becomes one of the best known leaders.

The events of Friday 26th October until Monday 29th October 1956.  the revolution in the rest of Hungary outside of Budapest a biography of Attila Szigetthy leader of the revolution in Western Hungary.  Heavy fighting in Budapest between the Soviet Army and Hungarian freedom fighter carries on but Imre Nagy the Hungarian Prime Minister reaches a ceasefire agreement with the Soviets who on Monday 29th October begin to pull their troops and tanks out of Budapest.     

The events of Wednesday 30th October and Thursday 31st October 1956.  The revenge killing of AVH secret policeman carries on.  Prime Minister Imre Nagy promises dramatic democratic reforms for the country.  At first the Soviet leadership agree to the withdraw of Soviet troops and tanks from Budapest but the next day they change their minds and order a full scale military effort to crush the Hungarian revolution. 

The events of Thursday 1st November until Saturday 3rd November 1956.  The Soviet Army reinforces its tanks and troops in Hungary and prepares for an assault on Budapest to crush the Hungarian Revolution.  The Soviet ambassador to Hungary lies to Imre Nagy as to the Soviet plans.  Janos Kadar the leader of the Hungarian Communist Party flies to Russia, to offer his services to the Soviet Government, who choose him to the puppet leader of Hungary, a biography of him.

On Sunday 4th November 1956, the Soviet Army assaults  Budapest to crush the Hungarian revolution.  In a one sided battle against poorly armed and poorly trained Hungarian revolutions, the Soviet Army use fire from tanks artillery and warplanes against the Hungarians who despite their bravery are defeated.  A biography of General Bela Kiraly, commander of Hungarian forces in Budapest.  The Soviet impose Janos Kadar as their puppet ruler of Hungary.

Following the crushing of the Hungarian Revolution by the Soviet Army., the Hungarian Communist Government of Kadar takes revenge, thousands are imprisoned and hundreds are hanged.  Many spend years in prison.  Two hundred thousand Hungarians flee the country.  Imre Nagy is arrested, put on trail and hanged alongside of Pal Maleter and Miklos Gimes.  A biography of Miklos Gimes, Hungarian freedom fighter and friend of Imre Nagy.

The history of the rest of Kadar dictatorship of Hungary until the fall of Communism.  Then a brief history of Hungary from 1988 to the present date.  A biography of the Catholic Archbishop of Hungary Josef Mindszenty, a former prisioner of the Communists who took refuge in the American embassy in Budapest for 15 years.

In this last episode of season four, i discuss the Military Balance in Europe between 1945 and 1956.  After the Second World War ended the Soviets maintained a much larger military force than the Western powers.  Yet the Americans always a larger number of atomic weapons, which would have used if the Soviets had invaded Western Europe.  The creation of NATO, the Warsaw Pact and the West German armed forces. 

In the this first episode of season five dealing with the Cold War in Africa and the Middle East.  I talk of two colonial wars, the Madagascan uprising against the French and the Mau Mau revolt in Kenya against British rule.

The history of the British mandate in Palestine from 1917 to 1947.  Jewish immigration into Palestine.  The Arab revolt between 1936 and 1939.  After the Second World War growing violence in Palestine which a hundred thousand British soldiers in Palestine can not control.  British decides to withdraw from Palestine and leaves the United Nations to decide upon the future of Palestine. 

In the led up to the end of the British mandate, the level of violence between the Jewish and Arab community grows in scale.  The both sides prepare for war.  Jewish forces captured Arab cities such as Haifa, Jaffa and Acre, Arab refugees flee.  Five thousand Arab fighters from the rest of the middle east arrive in Palestine to help the Arabs.  Fighting starts well before the end of the British mandate.  A profile of the King of Jordan.

The state of Israel was created in May 1948, it was a state born in battle for it would be attacked by the Arab states.  However the Arab armies were a poor shape to conduct a modern war.  A review of the problems faced by the Egyptian and Syrian Armies.  The one Arab army that was well trained, well armed and well led was the Arab Legion of the Army of Jordan.  A biography of its British born commander Glubb Pasha.

The Syrian Army invades North Eastern Israel but they are firmly repulsed.  The commander of the Israeli forces is Mosha Daylan a biography of him.  The Egyptian Army advances along the coast towards Tel Avia but they are halted.  The reason for the Soviet support for the creation of the state of Israel.  The importance of the Communist arms sales to Israel.

The Israeli Army suffered a series of defeats in the West Bank, an attempt to take the town of Jenin is beaten by the Iraqi Army.  Jordan's Arab Legion beat off Israeli attacks on Latrum and Radar Hill.  The Arab Legion captured the Jewish Old City.  Yet the Israelis build a new road to supply the Jewish areas of Jerusalem breaking the siege.  A biography of Mickey Marcus the first Israeli General and commander in the Jerusalem sector.

The first UN backed cease fire breaks down and it takes ten days to arrange a second cease fire.  In the ten days of fighting the Israeli Army captures Nazareth, Ramla and Southern Judea but attempts to take Latrun and the Old City Jewish quarter in Jerusalem are repulsed by the Arab Legion.  A biography of Egyptian Army commander in Palestine Major General Al - Mwawi.  

The story of the second United Nations Cease Fire between July and October 1948, the life and murder of UN peace maker Count Bernadotte.  The end of the Arab enclave of the Little Triangle, south of Haifa.  The start of the third phase of the war and the campaign in Northern Israel. 

The third ad final phase of the war begins in October 1948, with the Israeli Army concentrating its forces in the south against the Egyptian Army.  The Israeli Army encircle the Egyptian Fourth Brigade.  The Israeli Army relives Jewish settlements and conquers the Negev.  A biography of General Allon who led the Israeli Army in this offensive.  

The Israeli Army wins control of the Western Negev.  The Israeli Army then invades the Sinai, the British Government threatens war if the Israelis did not withdrew from the Sinai, so David Ben Gurion agrees to do so..  In January 1949 the Israeli Army cuts off the Egyptian Army in Gaza.  The Egyptian Government is forced to begin peace talks.

The peace talks between Israel and the Arab states which ended the war.  The plight of refugees from Palestine.  The expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Jews. from the Arab states.  Why the good relations between the Soviet Union and Israel grew worse.  The overthrow of Egyptian King Fakour and his biography.

The Iranian oil industry was controlled by the British.  Iranian Prime Minister Mosaddegh nationalise the Oil industry, the British try to boycott the sale of Iranian Oil.  A biography of Mosaddegh, he becomes increasingly illiberal losing some public support, this allows the CIA and MI5 to organise a plot against him in 1953.  The Shah take control of the Country and represents opposition.

In,1830, France begin a conquest of Algeria.  European immigrants move to Algeria, they would be known as the Pied Noir, they were granted French citizenship, not so the Algerian Muslims.  The Setif revolt of May 1945.  A biography of moderate Algerian Muslim Fermat Abbas. 

Proposed reforms for Algeria, are frustrated by the French Colonial Officials.  Young Algerian Muslims begin to believe that can be no chance of equality with independence and that can only achieved by violence.  A biograph of the militant Ben Bella.  The Algerian War of Independence begin on All Saints Day 1954.

French Army reinforcements are sent to Algeria but they can not defeat the FLN.  A biography of FLN military leader Krim.  In August 1955, in and around the town of Phillipeville the FLN carry out a massacre of Pied Noir civilians.  In return the French Army murder local Muslims civilians.  These events polarise the Pied Noir and Muslim populations.

The number of French troops sent to Algeria increase to a massive half a million but they even large a force can not defeat the FLN.  The FLN begins a campaign of terrorism in the City of Algiers killing and maiming Pied Noir civilians.  A biography of FLN leader in Algiers, Abane.  The French governor decides to sent in the Paratroops into Algiers 

The French Tenth Para-troop Division is sent to Algiers to combat FLN terrorism in the City.  A biography of General Massu, the commander of the Tenth Para-troop Division.  The French para-troops use torture to gain information on the FLN.  More than three thousand suspected FLN supporters are murdered by the French Army in Algiers.  The power of the FLN in Algiers is broken.

The French built a wall between Algeria and Tunisia to prevent the flow of arms into Algeria.  The French Army and the Pied Noir grow angry with the Governments of the French Fourth Republic.  The Army in 1958 stage a coup in Algiers.  It seems as if there might civil war.  However the French Fourth Republic is replaced by a Government led by Charles De Gaulle, his biography is given.

The French Army launch a series of offensive against the FLN.  A biography of French Army commander General Challe.  Attempts by French President Charles De Gaulle to reach out to Algerian Nationalist movement anger the Pied Noir and the FLN reject De Gaulle peace offers. 

Militant Pied Noir leaders anger at De Gaulle talk of Algerian self determination stage a revolt in Algiers in January 1960, there is violence and the revolt last a week before it is ended.  A biography of Pied Noir leader Joe Ortiz.  De Gaulle tries to reach a comprise with Algerian Nationalist but FLN carries on the war.  

The senior Army leadership becomes increasingly disturbed by the policy of French President Charles De Gaulle towards Algeria.  Fearing that De Gaulle was moving towards giving Algeria independence.  A coup is staged, it including two former Army commanders in Algeria General Salan and Challe as well as General Zeller, his biography is given.  The coup collapses after four days.

De Gaulle agrees to Algerian independence.  A million Pied Noir leave Algeria, most go to France, some to Spain, Canada and Israel.  A history of Algeria since 1962, FLN seize power and the country becomes a one party state.  A biography of Boumediene the president of Algeria between 1965 and 1978,  Under his rule many of those who fought for Algerian independence suffer under his regime.

The Suez Canal is built in 1869, it becomes a vital sea link for Britain who later occupy Egypt.  Britain takes military action to defend the Suez Canal in two world war and maintain a large military garrison along the Canal.  King Fakour of Egypt tries to get the British Government to remove it military from the Canal, the British refuse.  A terrorism campaign is launched against the British Canal Zone as a result the British storm an Egyptian Police Station.  A biography and profile of British Prime Minister in 1956, Sir Anthony Eden. 

King Fakour of Egypt is deposed.  Within a few months, Nasser becomes the Egyptian leader, at first with American support.  A biography of Nasser is given. Britain agrees to remove its military from the Suez Canal Zone.  Egypt begins to support Palestine guerrilla attacks into Israel, there are border clashes between Egypt and Israel.

President Nasser of Egypt links with the West grow worse, while his ties with the Soviet Union improve, the Communist block supplies new modern weapons to Egypt.  American and British Government now wish to remove Nasser from power.  So does the French Government who blames Nasser for his support from Algerian independence.  A biography of French Prime Guy Mollet.

The British and French build up their military forces in Malta and Cyprus, ready for an invasion of the Suez Canal.  Senior members of the British, French and Israeli Government meet in secret to plan for the coming war, an agreement is reached.  A biography of British Foreign Secretary John Selwyn Lloyd.  The American Government remains opposed to any military action.

British public opinion is heavily divided by the decision of the Eden Government to commit British Armed Forces to an invasion of the Suez Canal.  The Labour Party is totally opposed to the use of armed force.  A biography of Labour Party leader Hugh Gaitskell.  Audio clips from Sir Anthony Eden and Labour Foreign spokesman Bevan are included in this episode.

As had been agreed between the Israeli, British and French Government, the Israeli Army invades the Sinai, dropping para-troops near to the Suez Canal.  The Israeli Army defeats the Egyptian Army and captures the Sinai and Gaza.  This invasion allows the British and French Government to invade the Suez Canal.

The Royal Air Force and the French Air Force strike at the Egyptian military quickly destroying the Egyptian Air Force as an effective military force, helping the Israeli military in their campaign in the Sinai as well as preparing for the Anglo - French invasion of Port Said.  A biography of General Stockwell the commander of the Anglo - French military invasion force.

British and French para-troops are landed around Port Said at the northern end of the Suez Canal.  Landings by a Royal Marine Brigade are brought forward to the next day, helicopters are used for the first time in a seaborne invasion. the Egyptians put up a firm resistance at several locations.  A cease fire is called for by British Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden. 

After just two days of fighting, the British Prime Sir Anthony Eden orders a cease fire, this would be followed by a humiliation withdraw from Port Said by British and French Forces.  Why, well the American Government created a run on the pound which caused Eden to panic.  United Nations Peace keepers are sent to region, this is proposed by Canadian Foreign Minister Lester Pearson, his biography is given. 

Nasser reaps the rewards from the Suez Crisis.  British and French power in the middle east declines.  A biography of the new British Prime Minster Harold Macmillan.  The end of the British Empire.  The distrust between the French and British Government after the Suez Crisis.  The American military involvement in the Lebanon in 1958.

The British Army fought three guerrilla wars in the middle eastern region.  In Cyprus the British Army was involved in a guerrilla war against EOKA who fought for your union between Cyprus and Greece.  A biography of Sir John Harding the Government of Cyprus.  The British Army always fought in wars in Oman and Aden.

This episode deals with the Civil War in the Congo between 1960 and 1965 following independence from Belgium.  It became a proxy war of the cold war with the United States and the Soviet Union supporting different political factions in the Congo.  A biography of Mobutu who would become the dictator of the Congo for over thirty years from 1965.

This episode deals with the Civil War in North Yemen and the final years of Nasser's rule in Egypt and the two subjects are highly interconnected because seventy thousand Egyptian troops would sent to the country to fight an unwinnable guerrilla war against the Royalist forces.  Nasser would die in 1970 his reputation much lower than it had been ten years earlier.

Season six of this podcast season begin on Saturday September 4th.  It will deal with the military and political events in Vietnam and Laos between 1955 and 1965.  From the end of the First Indochina War to intervention of American ground in 1965.

In this first of twenty episodes dealing with Vietnam between 1955 to 1965.  I look at the history of South Vietnam up to 1958 and its leader President Diem, for a short the country seemed stable but the underlying problems within Diem regime was clearly there.  Lack of land reforms, corruption and a Government that favoured the minority Catholic community.

Events in Vietnam and Laos in 1959 and 1960.  In 1959 the National Liberation Front is formed by the Communist they became commonly known as the Viet Cong with aid from North Vietnam the Communist revolt in the South becomes much more serious.  Details of events in Laos up to the end of 1960 is told.  The corruption of South Vietnamese President Diem's brother and sister in law shocks the nation.

Event in Vietnam and Laos in 1961.  A biography of President Kennedy.  President Kennedy greatly increases the number of American military personnel from less than  thousand to over sixteen thousand by November 1963 in order to help the South Vietnamese Government to resist the Viet Cong revolt in the country.

Events in Vietnam and Laos in 1962 and the first week of 1963.  Despite the increase in American military support for the South Vietnamese Government, the Viet Cong revolt grows in scale.  This is shown in the first week of 1963, when the Viet Cong inflict a serious reserve on the South Vietnamese Army Army near the village of Ap Bac.

Even with the Viet Cong revolt in the south going badly for the Government.  President Diem now picks a fight with the majority Buddhist population, this leads to violent protest in the Cities of South Vietnam and monks burning themselves to death.  The American Government begins to question its support to Diem.  A biography of American ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge.   

As Buddhist protests against President Diem grow in South Vietnam.  After much debate President Kennedy agrees to the demand of ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge to arrange a coup to bring down president Diem.  As a result of that coup, Diem is murdered in cold blood shot in the back of an armoured personnel carrier.

Following the murder of Diem there is political chaos in South Vietnam, there is a second coup within just two months as the South Vietnamese Army Generals struggle for power between themselves.  This leaves support for the Government of South Vietnam even weaker among the people.  President Kennedy is killed and replaced by President Johnson.

A profile of American Secretary of Defence Robert Mac Namara.  The gap between the positive view of how the war was going by General Harkins and MACV using doubtful data and that far less rosy view presented by journalists and junior Army officers who had served in South Vietnam and who witnessed the growth of the Viet Cong revolt in the countryside.

North Vietnamese torpedo boats attack an American Destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin, the attack fails.  However it is reports of a second attack which did not take place which makes the congress pass a resolution which allow President Johnson to take what have military action he wishes to in Vietnam, it would be the legal base for the Vietnam War.

A biography of General Westmoreland the commander of the American military in South Vietnam from 1964 to 1968.  The Viet Cong launch several attacks in the latter part of 1964 but for the first time, regular North Vietnamese Army regiments take to the field in South Vietnam. 

President Johnson decides to commit American Ground Troops to South Vietnam and to bomb North Vietnam, that is despite his own doubts as to whether a war in South Vietnam can be won, that is shared by Secretary of Defence Robert Mac Namara.  There are those in the American Government who oppose this including under secretary of state George Ball, his biography is given.

President Johnson orders the bombing of North Vietnam first during Operation Flaming Dart and then Rolling Thunder which would last until 1968 to force North Vietnam to give up its war in the South, The Communists would refuse to do so and the bombing campaign failed to destroy the North Vietnamese military.  There was also bombing in Laos.  The story of one American airmen captured by the North Vietnamese. 

American ground forces build up in South Vietnam, air fields and barracks are built, to cope with the needs of an army from across the Pacific Ocean.  A biography of key figure in the Government of South Vietnam General Ky is given.  The American Navy cuts the supply of arms and equipment across the coast in Operation Market Time.

In this episode I look at the American Army in South Vietnam in 1965 as it builds up its resources in the country and begins to fight the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army.  I shall deal with how the American Army is organised from the command of MACV down to the battalion and company.  I deal with some of the weapon of the American Army and look at the Huey helicopter.

In this episode, I deal with the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army their effective use of ambushes and bobby traps..  I compare their main gun the AK47 and the American M14 rifle and why the more rugged AK47 proved to be a better weapon in the jungle of South Vietnam.

At first American troops in South Vietnam simply protect American bases but General Westmoreland get permission to change their role to include search and destroy operations to go out an fin the enemy and kill them.  One of the first is Operation Starlite carried out by American Marines in the north of  South Vietnam.  

Military operations in South Vietnam in September and October 1965.  Australian and New Zealand military involvement in South Vietnam in 1965.  A biography of Major Charles Beckworth an American special forces soldier serving in South Vietnam in 1965.

The first major battle between regular American soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division and regular North Vietnamese troops.  There re two major engagements, one at landing zone X-Ray,  biography of the American commander Lieutenant Colonel Moore.  Hundreds of American troops are killed but even more North Vietnamese die too.  

Military actions in South Vietnam during November and December 1965.  The American Army launch a series of search and destroy operations including operation Hump to find and kill the Viet Cong, yet none of them result in a total victory, thee Viet Cong when they wish are able to break off contact.  Growing doubts exist within the American military leadership of General Westmoreland's tactics.

The American bombing of North Vietnam is halted over the 1965 Christmas period.  In this final episode of this series, I look at the state of the American military effort in South Vietnam at the end of 1965 though the prism of the Fulbright Hearing in the US Senate held in February 1966.  A biography of Senator Fulbright.

The Long March to Civil War The background to the Chinese Civil War, the fighting between the Nationalists and the Communists, in the twenties and thirites.  The Long March when Mao led the Communists to North China.  The uneasy peace between the two sides in order to fight the Japanese from 1937.  A biography of Nationalist leader Chian Kai-Shek.  The problems within the Chinese Nationalist Army in their war against Japan.  August 1945 when the Soviet Red Army invades Manchuria.