Category Archives: Cold War

Viet Minh storm two more French outposts at Dien Bien Phu 60 years ago today (Mar 15 1954)


Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War 2of13 Dien Bien Phu' (Mar. 15, 1954, at 18:31)

(Monday, March 15, 1954; during the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, part of the First Indochina War) — Two more French outposts at Dien Bien Phu are repeatedly stormed the Viet Minh. At heavy cost the communists occupy half of hill Gabrielle.

French airstrip at Dien Bien Phu put out of commission 60 years ago today (Mar 14 1954)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 1' (Mar. 14, 1954, at 45:42)

(Sunday, March 14, 1954; during the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, part of the First Indochina War) — The Vietminh shelling had destroyed the main airstrip at Dien Bien Phu by today. The French command staff was shocked. Col. Christian de Castries, the French commander, became withdrawn, uncommunicative. Continue reading French airstrip at Dien Bien Phu put out of commission 60 years ago today (Mar 14 1954)

Battle of Dien Bien Phu begins 60 years ago this hour (Mar 13 1954)


Video: 'War in Vietnam : Documentary on the Battle of Dien Bien Phu' (Mar. 13, 1954, at 18:36)

(Saturday, March 13, 1954, 6:15 p.m. local time; during the Cold War) — The Battle of Dien Bien Phu began today during the First Indochina War as communist forces attacked French troops, who were defeated nearly two months later. Continue reading Battle of Dien Bien Phu begins 60 years ago this hour (Mar 13 1954)

Army says McCarthy ‘pulled rank’ for aide 60 years ago today (Mar 11 1954)

(Thursday, March 11, 1954; during the Second Red Scare) — The U.S. Army charged today that Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, a Republican from Wisconsin, and his subcommittee’s chief counsel, Roy Cohn, had exerted pressure to obtain favored treatment for Pvt. G. David Schine, a former consultant to the subcommittee. The confrontation culminated in the famous Senate Army-McCarthy hearings.

Dulles asks for action against communism 60 years ago today (Mar 4 1954)


Video: '45 85 Part 6' (Mar. 4, 1954, at 4:12)

(Thursday, March 4, 1954; during the Cold War) — Speaking before the 10th Inter-American Conference, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles warned today that “international communism” is making inroads in the Western Hemisphere and asked the nations of Latin America to condemn this danger.

Nuclear test causes most significant accidental radiological contamination ever by U.S. 60 years ago this hour (Mar 1 1954)


Video: 'Castle Bravo Nuclear Test'

(Monday, March 1, 1954, 6:45 a.m. local time; Sunday, February 28, 1954, 1:45 p.m. EST) — The United States detonated a dry-fuel hydrogen bomb, codenamed Castle Bravo, at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands today. The explosive yield of 15 megatons, much greater than expected, dropped radioactive fallout on occupied islands hundreds of miles away.

Vietnam military junta overthrown 50 years ago this hour (Jan 30 1964)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 3' (Jan. 30, 1964 at 5:53)

(Thursday, January 30, 1964, before dawn ICT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Maj. Gen. Nguyen Khanh, a 37-year-old army corps commander, became a virtual dictator of South Vietnam today in a swift, bloodless coup, replacing the military junta led by General Duong Van Minh. Continue reading Vietnam military junta overthrown 50 years ago this hour (Jan 30 1964)

Mamie Eisenhower christens first atomic submarine 60 years ago today (Jan 21 1954)


Video: 'USS Nautilus & Submarine History: "Take 'Er Down" 1954 US Navy 14min' (Jan. 21, 1954, at 11:33)

(Thursday, January 21, 1954; during the Cold War) — The world’s first operational nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, was launched today at Groton, Connecticut, as First Lady Mamie Eisenhower christened the vessel with the traditional bottle of champagne broken against the bow.