Korean War Podcast

The fighting along the front line in January and February 1953.  The failure of the American attack upon Spud Hill.  The life of an American infantryman in the Korean War.  Van Fleet is replaced as the commander of the Eighth Army by Maxwell Taylor.  A review of the performance of Van Fleet and the biography of Maxwell Taylor.

Fighting along the front line during November and December 1952.  The strength of the defences of both sides.  The state of Communist China and North Korea during the Korean War.  Mao launches a major purge within China.  Kim Il Sung the North Korean leaders wants a truce but Stalin refuses.  A biography of Zhou Enlai, the Chinese Foreign Minster. 

As peace talks brake down in September 1952, the Chinese and North Korean Armies launch a number of attacks along the front line.  General Van Fleet launches his own offensive Operation Showdown against the Chinese position at Triangle Hill and Sniper Ridge.  The story of Ralph Pomeroy who won the Medal of Honour at Triangle Hill.

Hill fighting along the front continues in July and August 1952.  An American Steel strike affects the production of arms and equipment.  Eisenhower wins the election to become President in November 1952.  He goes to Korea to see the Generals and the front line.  A biography of Dwight Eisenhower.

The American seize two hills from the Chinese, Old Baldy and Pork Chop Hill.  The Chinese Army launch fierce counter attacks to regain Old Baldy but fail to retake the hill.  The medical services provided to help the wounded.  The Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals.  A biography of General Mark Clarke the new commander of American forces in the Far East.

The lull in fighting along the front line continues but the war carries on the sky and the sea.  The American Air Force concentrates its bombing missions on destroying the Communist supply lines but with only limited success.  Later the Air Force attack certain targets such as Power plants, Dams and Rice Warehouses with more success.  The United Nations Naval forces continue the blockage of North Korea.  A biography of Admiral Briscoe, the commander of American Naval forces.

There is a lull in the fighting along the front line.  The need to retrain the South Korean Army.  Living standards among ordinary South Korean fall sharply during the war.  The repressive nature of the Rhee regime.  President Rhee tries to block attempts to end the war in Korea.  A biography of Tiger Kim a brutal South Korean Police chief.

The fighting along the front decreases as a result of the winter weather.  The failure of the American Air force campaign to halt supplies reaching the Communist armies.  The plight of United Nations prisoners of war held by the Communist, their high death rate and poor conditions.  A biography of Otto Weyland, the commander of the American Air Force in the Far East.

The battle of the Bloody Angle within the Iron triangle.  The Americans win the battle for Heartbreak Ridge but at a cost.  The 1st and 9th undertake a slight advance forward.  Air battles in North West Korea.  The Columbian Battalion during the Korean War.  The plight of Communist prisoners of war held by the United States.  A biography of Major General Byers the commander of the 10th Corp.

General Ridgeway, the commander of American forces in the Far East offer peace talks to the Communist.  There is a lull in the fighting but the battle for the  Punchbowl begins.  Peace talks start but they soon run into trouble and become bogged down.  Stalin wants the Korean War to continue.  A biography of Stalin the Soviet leader.