Category Archives: Cold War

First Indochina War breaks out 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 19 1946)

1940s, Cold War, First Indochina War


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 1' (First Indochina War begins at 34:08)

(Thursday, December 19, 1946, 8:03 p.m. ICT; during the Cold War) — The First Indochina War, primarily between between French forces and their Viet Minh opponents, broke out tonight in French Indochina when Viet Minh soldiers under Ho Chi Minh plunged Hanoi into darkness and began attacking French military positions and French homes in the Battle of Hanoi. Continue reading First Indochina War breaks out 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 19 1946) →

Vietnam War escalates with first U.S. air strikes near Hanoi and Haiphong 50 years ago #OTD this hour (Dec 13 1966)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


'Vietnam: A Television History - America's Enemy [5/11]' (Dec. 13-14, 1966, at 33:29)

(Tuesday, December 13, 1966; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Operation Marigold, a secret attempt to reach a compromise solution to the Vietnam War, began to collapse today when U.S. President Lyndon Johnson resumed air strikes on Hanoi that continued into the next day. Continue reading Vietnam War escalates with first U.S. air strikes near Hanoi and Haiphong 50 years ago #OTD this hour (Dec 13 1966) →

French cruiser opens fire on Haiphong, Vietnam, killing thousands of civilians 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 23 1946)

1940s, Cold War


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 1' (Nov. 23 1946, at 32:27)

(Saturday, November 23, 1946, 9:45 a.m. ICT; during the Haiphong incident) — The French cruiser Suffren bombarded the Vietnamese coastal city of Haiphong today, killing 6,000 Vietnamese people in the first armed clash in a series of outbreaks that would lead to the Battle of Hanoi on Dec. 19, 1946, and with it the official outbreak of the First Indochina War.

British-French commandos land in Egypt 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 5 1956)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'The Other Side of Suez (BBC Documentary)' (Nov. 5, 1956, at 39:41)

(Monday, November 5, 1956; during the Suez Crisis) — Britain and France started landing forces in Egypt today during fighting between Egyptian and Israeli forces around the Suez Canal. Continue reading British-French commandos land in Egypt 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 5 1956) →

Soviet troops move in to crush the Hungarian Revolution 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 4 1956)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Hungarian Revolt 1956' (Nov. 4, 1956, at 6:39)

(Sunday, November 4, 1956, during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956) — Soviet troops entered Hungary today to end the Hungarian revolution against the Soviet Union that had started on October 23. Continue reading Soviet troops move in to crush the Hungarian Revolution 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 4 1956) →

Israel invades Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 29 1956)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'The Other Side of Suez (BBC Documentary)' (Oct. 29, 1956, at 36:04)

(Monday, October 29, 1956, at about 3:00 p.m. EET; during the Suez Crisis) — Israel invaded the Sinai Peninsula today and pushed Egyptian forces back toward the Suez Canal. Continue reading Israel invades Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 29 1956) →

Student-sparked revolt against Hungary’s Communist rule begins 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 23 1956)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Selected Originals - Hungarian Revolution (1956)'

(Tuesday, October 23, 1956, afternoon CET) — The Hungarian Revolution of 1956, a nationwide revolt against the government of the Hungarian People’s Republic and its Soviet-imposed policies, began today as a student demonstration in Budapest. Continue reading Student-sparked revolt against Hungary’s Communist rule begins 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 23 1956) →

Plane shot down over southern Nicaragua, exposing Iran–Contra affair 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 5 1986)

1980s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'G15108605'

(Sunday, October 5, 1986, afternoon CST) — In an incident that helped expose the Iran-Contra affair, a plane secretly ferrying supplies to Nicaraguan Contra rebels was shot down over southern Nicaragua today by Sandinista forces. Continue reading Plane shot down over southern Nicaragua, exposing Iran–Contra affair 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 5 1986) →

China’s Chairman Mao, 82, dies in Beijing 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 9 1976)

1970s, Cold War


Video: '9/9/76: Chairman Mao Zedong Dies'

(Thursday, September 9, 1976, 12:10 a.m. China Standard Time) — Mao Zedong, the pre-eminent figure of the Chinese Communist revolution and the leader of his country since 1949, died today in Beijing four days after suffering third heart attack since May 1976. Chairman Mao was 82. Continue reading China’s Chairman Mao, 82, dies in Beijing 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 9 1976) →

Vietnam War escalates with first U.S. air strikes near Hanoi and Haiphong 50 years ago #OTD this hour (June 29 1966)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War

(Wednesday, June 29, 1966, 1:50 p.m. local time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. aircraft bombed the major North Vietnamese population centers of Hanoi and Haiphong for the first time today, destroying oil depots located near the two cities.