There is a lack of proper coordination between the French Army in Indochina and the American Military Mission in Saigon.  An account a  guerrilla camp in outside of Saigon.  The French Army is better by the Viet Minh along Highway Four near to the border with China.  The French Army retreat to Hanoi and the Red River Delta.  A biography of the commander of the French Army in Indochina General Carpentier.

As a result of the Communists winning the Chinese Civil War, the border is opened up for the supply of heavy weapons to the Viet Minh.  The Viet Minh also set training schools in southern China for to give their troops advanced training.  

The United States Government decided to supply the French Army in Indochina with the weapons and equipment they need.  A biography the American Secretary of State Dean Acheson. 

The French Army can not seem to win the war and it is costing the French Nation heavily in both blood and money.  At last the French Government agrees to grant a nominal form of independence to a Government in Vietnam under the leadership of the former emperor.  There is heavy fighting along highway four close to the border with China.  The different types of Viet Minh soldiers, the regulars, the regionals and the village militia.  A biography of a Viet Minh battalion commander.

As the war shows no sign of ending, there outrages continued by both sides in France the war became known as the dirty war.  There is heavy fighting along Highway Four near to the border with China.  A biography of General Giap the commander of the Viet Minh army.

The Viet Minh conduct a guerrilla war against the French but avoid all out battle.  The different types of troops within the French Army, Colonial, Foreign Legion, North African and Indochinese.

The reason why the French Government refused to reach a peace deal with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.  A biography of the new French Governor Emily Bollerat.

The two major French Army offensive in North Vietnams in the last few months of the war.

The French military stage their coup to regain control of North Vietnam in November 1946.  In Haiphong the French Army with naval support seize the port.  In December the French Army seize control of Hanoi defending the Viet Minh in a battle for the City.  The Viet Minh withdrew to countryside and evade the French Army.

The position of the International Communist Movement towards Vietnam.  A Biography of the leader of the French Communist Party and leading critic of the French role in the war, Maurice Thorez. 

The French Army commander General Leclerc reaches an uneasy peace deal with Ho Chi Minh, which will allow the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to run the internal affairs of North Vietnam while the French Army are to be allowed to return to their bases in the North.  General Leclerc is replaced by General Valluy who with the French Colonial Governor plan for a military take over of North Vietnam.  A biography of General Vulley.  The geography of Vietnam and why it was so ideal for guerrilla warfare.

In August 1945, the Japanese Empire surrenders.  In Vietnam, nationalist groups seize the cities.  In Hanoi Ho Chi Minh declares independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.  In the North the Chinese Nationalist Army accept the surrender of the Japanese Army but allow Ho Chi Minh to run domestic affairs.

In the South the British and the French Armies return the country to French Colonial control.  Attempts by the Viet Minh to stop this ends in heavy defeats.  A short biography of Bao Dai, the last emperor of Vietnam. 

The French occupation of Indochina from 1862 to 1945.  Indochina becomes a colony to be used for the benefit of the French business.  The French Colonial Authorities try to crush Vietnamese Nationalism.  A Biography of Ho Chi Minh the leader of the Vietnamese Communists.  The Japanese Army invade Indochina in 1940 but the French Colonial Authorities continue to work with the Japanese until March 1945.

The reason for this special edition is two fold, firstly many people have emailed me about my opinion about the present tension in Korea over the North Korean Atomic Bomb and missile programmes.  A secondly to announce further future episodes which would place the Korean War in its historical context of the time, which explain why such was the fear of a Communist take over of Asia, that explain why American committed itself to a three year long war in Korea.

The next series of such episodes is on the First Indochina War fought between a Communist Army and a western power, France which lasted from 1945 to 1954.

In the final episode of this podcast series, I tell of some of the major incidents along the Demilitarised Zone and off the seas of Korea that have occurred since the end of the Korean War.

In this the second of three special episode to wrap up on the Korean War, I shall attempt to answer question sent to me by listeners.

In the first of three special episode, I tell the stories of some of the winners of the congressional medal of honour and the Victoria Cross won during the Korean War. 

At last the final day of the Korean War arrives.  An armistice is signed at Panmunjon between Nam Il and Harrison.  However there are still artillery and air attacks even on this last day.  Both sides withdraw two kilometres and there is an exchange of prisoners of war between the two sides at Panmunjon.  A review of the performance of General Maxwell Taylor, Mark Clarke and Peng.

The peace talks at Panmunjon make slow but steady progress to reaching a cease fire deal to end the Korean War.  However there still time for the Chinese Army to successfully launch their summer offensive against the South Korean Army.  Once the offensive is over an arrangement is finally reached. a biography of William Harrision leader of the United Nations delegation at the peace talks.

Fighting along the front line in June 1953.  The South Korean President Rhee orders that 25,000 North Korean Prisoners of War who do not wish to return to North Korea are to be helped to escape.  A biography of the South Korean Minster of Nation Security who planed the escape.  The fury of the American forces Rhee to agree an armistice.

Fighting along the front line in May 1953 but the Korean War was not ended on the battlefield but at the peace talks at Panmunjon.  The peace began again and make slow but steady progress.  A biography of Nam Il the head of the North Korean delegation.  The South Korean President Rhee bitterly opposes any suggestion of a peace deal.

The Chinese Army overruns Old Baldy and American attempts to recapture it fails.  General Maxwell Taylor the commander of the Eighth Army decides to halt any further counter attacks.  The battle for Pork Chop Hill begins, the Chinese Army but this time in heavy fighting the American Army retains control of the hill.  Serious talks to begin between Communist and the United Nations about ending the Korean War.  A biography of John Foster Dulles the American Secretary of State.

Stalin's health is poor due to old age but he blames the Doctors, so begins the Doctors Plot and the arrest of hundreds of doctors.  In March 1953, after a heavy drinking Stalin suffers a stroke and dies a few days latter.  The new Soviet leadership decide they want an end to the Korean War.  There is a power struggle within the new Soviet leadership.  The Communist and United Nations exchange sick and wounded prisoners of war.  A biography of Beira the murderous head of the Soviet secret police.   

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.