Join me in learning the history of the so-called "Meat Grinder" Battle of Hoa Binh as the French attempt to draw the Viet Minh into the grinder and the Viet Minh play the reverse Uno card.
On this July 4th join me in a special American Revolution episode dedicated to recounting the founding of this great country! USA USA USA!
This episode dives into the second attempt by General Giap to engage with and destory the French in conventional battle.
Join me in remembering several fallen Airborne Rangers on this special Memorial Day episode.
Join me as I discuss the Battle of Vinh Yen - the Viet Minh's first attempt at moving on and retaking Hanoi, and the largest French aerial bombardment of the ENTIRE French Indochina War.
This episode is a deep dive into the horror brought upon millions by Stalin's brutal repression. Join me in exploring the details of the Holodomor, Great Purge (terror), and political manueverings of Joseph Stalin. This will conclude the mini-series on communism and its bloody roots in Russia. Next episode we will get back to the Vietnam War!
Join me as I descend into the madness of the revoultion that births the world's first communist state, directly inspires Ho Chi Minh, and plunges the people of Russia, and many more around the world, into the anguishes of a terror that plagues the world to this very day.
This episode explores the key points and historical context of Marx and Engel's Communism, as well as Lenin's version, and sets the stage for the next episode on the Russian Revolution and subsequent Communist revolts!
This episode is an original short story that depicts the experience of a Senegalese Colonial soldier manning a machine gun at an outpost in Southern Vietnam.
This episode discusses the French and Viet Minh's adjusted strategy in the aftermath of Operation Lea, including economic warfare, and the French plan to bring back Emperor Bao Dai.
In this episode we discuss some cultural nuances of Eastern Culture, Chinese history, the Chinese Civil War, and the insane 6,000-mile retreat of Mao's forces known as "The Long March."
This episode remembers those who were murdered at the massacres of My Trach and My Thuy, in 1947 and 1948, during the First Indochina War.
Link to article on My Trach: https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/vu-tham-sat-my-trach-noi-dau-nhuc-nhoi-suot-66-nam-1371824236.htm
Link to article on My Thuy: https://indochine.uqam.ca/en/component/content/article/1/922-m-thy-massacre.html
This episode delves into the subterfuge, espionage, and counter-intelligence aspects of war.
Happy New Year and welcome to 2025! In this episode I read listener comments and questions and provide my savant genius response.
This episode covers the period between the Battle of Hanoi and the French's gambit to crush Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh in Operation Lea, October 1947.
This episode covers the period from late 1946 thru early 1947, including the Battle of Hanoi, and discusses the strategy of the Viet Minh in their bid to consolidate power and legitimize the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Further reading:
The Road to Dien Bien Phu by Christopher Gosha
https://a.co/d/0NKfWvE
Street Without Joy by Bernard B. Fall
https://a.co/d/7c73SeL
Vietnam Epic Tragedy, 1945-1975 by Max Hastings
https://a.co/d/4pTLVO5
The beginning of the French Indochina War covering post-World War Two and the rise of the Viet Minh.
A history refresher covering World War Two, Communism, and the Viet Minh.
A history refresher episode covering World War One and World War Two.
Meet your host Stephen Comstock, former Airborne Ranger, and veteran of the Afghanistan Conflict.