Korean War Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.