Category Archives: Cold War

Minh replaces Huong as South Vietnamese president 50 years ago this hour (Apr 28 1975)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam : A Television History ep.12 "End of the Tunnel, 1973-1975"' (Apr. 28, 1975, at 44:07)

(Monday, April 28, 1975, 5:00 p.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — General Duong Van Minh, known widely as “Big Minh,” was sworn in as president of South Vietnam today, as Communist forces moved to within barely a mile of Saigon’s city limits. Continue reading Minh replaces Huong as South Vietnamese president 50 years ago this hour (Apr 28 1975) →

Battle of Saigon begins 70 years ago this hour (Apr 28 1955)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History (Ep-3) America's Mandarin (1954-1963)' (Apr. 28, 1955, at 12:04)

(Thursday, April 28, 1955, 11:15 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Cold War) — The Battle of Saigon, a month-long battle between the Vietnamese National Army of the State of Vietnam (later to become the Army of the Republic of Vietnam) and the private army of the Bình Xuyên organized crime syndicate, began today. Continue reading Battle of Saigon begins 70 years ago this hour (Apr 28 1955) →

North Vietnamese commandos at gates of Saigon 50 years ago this morning (Apr 28 1975)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam : A Television History ep.12 "End of the Tunnel, 1973-1975"' (Apr. 28, 1975, at 43:46-44:07)

(Monday, April 28, 1975, daybreak; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — At daybreak today, South Vietnamese troops faced North Vietnamese commandos at the Newport Bridge. They were at the gates of Saigon. Continue reading North Vietnamese commandos at gates of Saigon 50 years ago this morning (Apr 28 1975) →

Eisenhower: U. S. policy in Vietnam still in balance 70 years ago this hour (Apr 27 1955)

1950s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History (Ep-3) America's Mandarin (1954-1963)' (Apr. 27, 1955, at 13:37)

(Wednesday, April 27, 1955, 10:31-11:06 a.m. EDT; during the Cold War) — United States policy in South Vietnam’s political crisis is still in the balance, U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower indicated today.

He said he could not give “any final answer” to questions about South Vietnam, saying the subject was “still under discussion” with Gen. J. Lawton Collins, U.S. special representative to Saigon.

North Vietnamese rockets hit Saigon for first time since 1973 ceasefire 50 years ago this hour (Apr 27 1975)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War 12of13 Surrender (Apr. 27, 1975, at 30:00)

(Sunday, April 27, 1975, 4:00 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — Five rockets dropped into a densely populated Saigon slum today, leaving 5,000 homeless. Continue reading North Vietnamese rockets hit Saigon for first time since 1973 ceasefire 50 years ago this hour (Apr 27 1975) →

President Ford declares Vietnam War is ‘finished as far as America is concerned’ 50 years ago this hour (Apr 23 1975)

1970s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: 'Address at a Tulane University Convocation April 23, 1975'

(Wednesday, April 23, 1975, 8:07-8:33 p.m. CDT; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — Speaking to an audience of students at Tulane University in New Orleans, U.S. President Gerald Ford announced that “Today, America can regain the sense of pride that existed before Vietnam. But it cannot be achieved by re-fighting a war that is finished as far as America is concerned.” Continue reading President Ford declares Vietnam War is ‘finished as far as America is concerned’ 50 years ago this hour (Apr 23 1975) →

100,000 North Vietnamese troops advance on Saigon 50 years ago today (Apr 23 1975)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War 12of13 Surrender' (Apr. 23, 1975, at 23:30)

(Wednesday, April 23, 1975; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — 100,000 North Vietnamese communist forces, less than 30 miles from Saigon, began an advance from five directions today with orders to penetrate and occupy the South Vietnamese capitol within a week.

South Vietnamese President Thieu resigns as Communist forces close in on Saigon 50 years ago this hour (Apr 21 1975)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 21, 1975, at 40:32)

(Monday, April 21, 1975, 8:40 p.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — With Communist forces closing in, South Vietnam’s President Nguyen Van Thieu denouncing the United States as untrustworthy, resigned tonight after 10 years in office. Continue reading South Vietnamese President Thieu resigns as Communist forces close in on Saigon 50 years ago this hour (Apr 21 1975) →

Xuan Loc falls to North Vietnamese communist troops 50 years ago today (Apr 21 1975)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 21, 1975, at 39:59)

(Monday, April 21, 1975; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — The Battle of Xuan Loc, the last major battle of the Vietnam War in which South Vietnamese army committed almost all their remaining mobile forces under General Le Minh Dao to the defense of Xuan Loc, ended today with a North Vietnamese strategic victory.

Cambodia’s five-year civil war ends as Phnom Penh falls to Khmer Rouge 50 years ago this hour (Apr 17 1975)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History (Ep-9) Cambodia and Laos' (Apr. 17, 1975, at 50:58)

(Thursday, April 17, 1975, 10:00 a.m. Indochina Time; during the Cambodian Civil War, part of the Vietnam War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — After five years of savage fighting, the Khmer Republic, the republican government of Cambodia, was defeated today when the victorious Khmer Rouge, followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, proclaimed the establishment of Democratic Kampuchea.