Korean War Podcast

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.

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. 

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.

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.   

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.