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) →

Communist forces occupy Da Nang 40 years ago today (Mar 30 1975)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Mar. 30, 1975, at 31:50)

(Easter Sunday, March 30, 1975; during the The Hue–Da Nang Campaign of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — A speedy North Vietnamese force moved into chaotic Da Nang today, sweeping across the vast air base where the first U.S. ground forces had landed in 1965.

Two Americans killed as bomb in Vietnam rips U.S. embassy 50 years ago this hour (Mar 30 1965)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - LBJ Goes to War [3/11]' (Mar. 30, 1965, at 32:41)

(Tuesday, March 30, 1965, 10:55 a.m. ICT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — A huge bomb exploded at the United States Embassy today in Saigon, South Vietnam, killing two Americans, one female CIA employee, Barbara Robbins and another American, as well as 19 Vietnamese and one Filipino serving in the U.S. Navy along with injuring 183 others.

Last American flight out of Da Nang captured on camera 40 years ago today (Mar 29 1975)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Mar. 29, 1975, at 30:24)

(Saturday, March 29, 1975; during the The Hue–Da Nang Campaign of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — Against official American advice, a World Airways jet with company president Ed Daley aboard made a perilous landing today at Da Nang for one last rescue mission.

Daley wanted to save women and children first, but desperate South Vietnamese soldiers jammed into the airplane. They scrambled into the baggage compartment and clung to the stairway as the plane took off.

100,000 refugees crowd Da Nang by 40 years ago today (Mar 21 1975)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Mar. 21, 1975, at 29:21)

(Friday, March 21, 1975; during the The Hue–Da Nang Campaign of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — 100,000 refugees, many of them troops and their families, had crowded into Da Nang by today as South Vietnam’s collapse intensified.

General to LBJ: Vietnam ‘could take five years and 500,000 men’ 50 years ago today (Mar 15 1965)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'American Experience Lyndon B Johnson PBS Documentary' (Mar. 15, 1965, at 30:56)

(Monday, March 15, 1965, during the the Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson Johnson met with the Joint Chiefs of Staff today and General Harold K. Johnson made a prediction that sent a shock wave through the room: “To win the war,” he said, “it could take five years and 500,000 men.”

Thieu orders South Vietnamese forces to abandon northern, central provinces 40 years ago this hour (Mar 14 1975)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Mar. 14, 1975, at 27:04)

(Friday, March 14, 1975, 11:00 a.m. ICT; during the Battle of Ban Me Thuot, part of the Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu today ordered his forces to abandon the northern and central provinces and form a new line of defense further south.

But, hoping to avoid panic, he did not announce the withdrawal or reveal his plans. As the rumors flew, fear spread. Nobody knew what to believe and nobody wanted to be left behind.

Gorbachev picked to succeed Chernenko as Soviet leader 30 years ago this hour (Mar 11 1985)

1980s, Cold War


Video: '3/11/85: Gorbachev Becomes Soviet Leader'

(Monday, March 11, 1985, publicly announced at 6:15 p.m. MSK; during the Cold War) — Mikhail Gorbachev, 54, was elected General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union by the Politburo today, only three hours after the death of Konstantin Chernenko.

Gorbachev’s policies of glasnost (“openness”) and perestroika (“restructuring”) as well as summit conferences with United States President Ronald Reagan and his reorientation of Soviet strategic aims would contribute to the end of the Cold War.

General Khanh accepts Viet ouster 50 years ago this hour (Feb 22 1965)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - LBJ Goes to War [3/11]' (Feb. 22, 1965, at 28:40)

(Monday, February 22, 1965, 6:30 a.m. ICT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Khanh formally announced his resignation today as commander-in-chief of South Vietnamese armed forces during a telephone call to his generals from a military air strip at Da Lat, about 150 miles northeast of Saigon, where his plane landed after running low on fuel.

The Armed Forces Council had unanimously decided late Sunday to replace Khanh with Maj. Gen. Tran Van Minh as commander in chief.