The Korean War by Indy Neidell Season 2, Episode 32: The Korean War 060 - Neutral Zone Violations and the 38th Parallel Standoff - August 12, 1951

The Korean War 029 - The Third Battle of Seoul - January 7, 1951

The Chinese People's Volunteer Army crosses the Imjin River in force and attacks the South Korean capital. The best units available to Eighth Army commander Matt Ridgway defend it, but with more Chinese armies and reformed North Korean units pushing in the east, is there any hope of holding onto it?

17 min

The Korean War 030 - Revived North Korean Army Strikes Wonju - January 14, 1951

UN troops around Wonju get a gentle reminder that they're not only fighting the Chinese. The North Koreans are back, and hammer the weak point in the UN lines all week. With UN forces still organising a defence, and lots of holes in their formation, will they be able to hold on? Or will failure here undo all of Eighth Army Commander Matt Ridgway's good work thus far?

15 min

The Korean War 031 - Operation Wolfhound - January 21, 1951

Matt Ridgway sends forth the US 27th Infantry Regiment, known as the Wolfhounds, into the no-mans-land between the UN and Chinese lines to sniff out and hunt down their enemy. The success or failure of his first few operations in Korea could be crucial, as confidence in the UN mission from generals, politicians, and the US' allies continues to teeter on a knife edge. A strong showing here could finally put the uncertainty to rest.

18 min

The Korean War 032 - Thunderbolt! US Troops Go On the Offensive - January 28, 1951

Peng Dehuai's armies rest and recuperate on the banks of the Han River, nursing their supply issues, and the initiative has firmly swung in favor of the UN side. The North Koreans in the east are fleeing, and Matt Ridgway's latest offensive in the west gets underway without a hitch. Are we about to see yet another reversal of fortune and pursuit up the Korean Peninsula?

19 min

The Korean War 033 - A Deadly Game: China & US Both Attack! - February 4, 1951

The fate of the Korean Peninsula stands on a knife edge as Peng Dehuai's mighty armies gear up to make their move. The US 8th Army continues to push towards Seoul, now backed up by Edward Almond's 10th Corps to the east. Violent clashes towards the end of the week confirm what both sides already suspect: a great battle is coming, and in this deadly game of thrust and riposte, there can be but one victor.

18 min

The Korean War 034 - Four Chinese Armies Target Wonju - February 11, 1951

The anticipated Chinese counterattack begins to take shape. Chinese commander Peng Dehuai and US 8th Army Commander Matt Ridgway both know the significance of what comes next. These next days will decide the future of the Korean Peninsula. UN troops dig in, and Chinese troops prepare to advance. The time is now, and the stakes have never been higher.

14 min

The Korean War 035 - The Battle of Chipyong-ni - February 18, 1951

Chinese Commander Peng Dehuai has launched his 4th Phase Offensive, pushing the UN forces back in the center of Korea, and should his forces take Chipyong-ni, they will compromise the entire UN position. Chipyong-ni must hold!

23 min

The Korean War 036 - MacArthur Gets Dumber Every Week - February 25, 1951

Operation Killer begins this week, and its objective is what the name implies, to destroy as much of the enemy as possible rather than just trying to merely take territory. But once again, UN Commander Douglas MacArthur threatens to telegraph it before it starts. The offensive itself, though, is stymied its first few days by the weather. Meanwhile in China, Peng Dehuai meets with Mao Zedong to clear the air.

22 min

The Korean War 037 - Matt the Ripper! - March 4, 1951

This week is really a week of planning, as Matt Ridgway unveils the plans for Operation Ripper- to follow the somewhat disappointing Operation Killer, but there are South Korean spies involved, the blockade of Wonsan, and the continuing escalation of tensions between Douglas MacArthur and Harry Truman, with people in American High Command concerned that MacArthur is bent on starting World War 3.

16 min

The Korean War 038 - The US President is Angry! - March 11, 1951

Operation Ripper kicks off this week, and gains plenty of ground... but the enemy is almost nowhere to be found. Douglas MacArthur gives what becomes known as his 'die for tie' speech, which could have a serious negative effect on UN troop morale. But the Chinese are building up their forces for an eventual counterstrike, and the North Koreans even have a new Chief of Staff.

18 min

The Korean War 039 - Kim Gets ROKrolled - March 18, 1951

Seoul falls to the South Koreans this week- the 4th time it's changed hands since last June. There is no big celebration this time, though, since much of the city has been completely destroyed. This is just part of Operation Ripper, which advances all over to little enemy resistance, also taking the important town of Hongcheon.

15 min

The Korean War 040 - MacArthur Sandbags Truman - March 25, 1951

Harry Truman is moving forward with his plans to somehow end the fight with the Chinese, but Douglas MacArthur takes a hatchet to those plans. Truman is furious, and the question remains, for how long will MacArthur's defiance be tolerated? In the field, Operations Ripper, Courageous, and Tomahawk are in action, but are all disappointing for the UN forces, as they fail in their mission to destroy the enemy's war making capacity. They don't actually do much of that at all.

17 min

The Korean War 041 - One Order Away from WWIII - April 1, 1951

The UN forces have again crossed the 38th Parallel in many places, but High Command is worried about Soviet intervention, which could ultimately force them to withdraw from Korea entirely. However, plans are still set for Operation Rugged to soon go into action- aiming into the Iron Triangle.

16 min

The Korean War 042 - Seize Hwacheon Reservoir? A Dam Good idea - April 8, 1951

Operation Rugged is in full swing, and it's taking a decent amount of territory, but Matt Ridgway is worried about the possibility of the enemy blowing the dam at the Hwacheon Reservoir and flooding his army, so he gets set to try and soon take it. Meanwhile there's an explosion in Congress in Washington DC, when the Minority Leader openly reads Douglas MacArthur's letter of his plans for the war that are diametrically opposed to those of President Harry Truman. Truman realizes that he's going to have to remove MacArthur from UN command.

16 min

The Korean War 043 - Truman Dismisses MacArthur! - April 15, 1951

It's finally happened, President Harry Truman has relieved Douglas MacArthur of Command. If you've followed us lately you'll know the why, but today you'll see then how, when, and where. But the fight in the field goes on- this week fighting for control of the Hwacheon Reservoir.

17 min

The Korean War 044 - Mac's Lies Boil Truman's Blood - April 22, 1951

The stage is set for the Chinese Communist Forces' next big offensive in Korea, but that is not where American eyes are fixed this week. Instead, focus swings to Washington D.C. where the recently-fired Douglas MacArthur arrives and proceeds to address crowds and Congress alike. It soon becomes clear that he will not go gentle into that good night.

21 min

The Korean War 045 - The Chinese Spring Offensive Begins! - April 29, 1951

This is a week of nothing but battle action as the Chinese Spring Offensive crashes down on the UN forces like a tidal wive- literally hitting them along all of the front lines across the whole Korean Peninsula.

24 min

The Korean War 046 - The MacArthur Senate Hearings Begin - May 6, 1951

The Senate Hearings digging into Douglas MacArthur's dismissal as UN forces commander begin this week, though they'll likely continue for some time. Meanwhile in the field, the Chinese Spring Offensive that raged all last week continues, although it cannot reach Seoul, and by the end of the week the enemy seems to be withdrawing on all fronts.

25 min

The Korean War 047 - MacArthur's Big Lie Exposed - May 13, 1951

The MacArthur Hearings continue in Washington, and George Marshall is adamant that what Mac says about the January 12th proposal is just plain not true. There's still a war going on in the field, although this week is really a week of deployments, as 8th Army moves north to reoccupy former lines, even as reports come in of the Chinese massing for a possible attack.

19 min

The Korean War 048 - Cut Off. Outnumbered. Doomed - May 20, 1951

The Chinese Spring Offensive reignites, and it does so with a vengeance, kicking straight into high gear, and also totally surprising the UN forces by hitting them heavily much further east than they had ever expected- in the high Taebacks. Units find themselves, cut off, sandwiched, or broken... although a redeployment means that already by the end of the week, a UN counterattack is in the cards.

18 min

The Korean War 049 - Race to Trap 70,000 Soldiers - May 27, 1951

The Chinese Spring Offensive continues this week, but comes to its end- it has cost the Communist forces tens of thousands of men, but even as it ends, the UN counteroffensive begins- and costs them tens of thousands more! And in Washington the MacArthur hearings continue, and it is obvious by now to all and sundry that General Douglas MacArthur had been very much out of line and President Truman was within his authority for firing him.

21 min

The Korean War 050 - Trapped in the Triangle: Korea's Killing Zone - June 3, 1951

The MacArthur Senate Hearings continue this week, with US Secretary of State Dean Acheson now in the hot seat. He takes a rather confusing barrage of questions, and yet manages to signal to the world at large, i.e. the Chinese, that the US is open to negotiations to end the war. The war still continues in the field, of course, with the UN forces' Operation Piledriver in action, driving into the 'Iron Triangle' and trying to trap as much of the enemy as possible.

21 min

The Korean War 051 - China: Acheson's Cold Calculus - June 10, 1951

The UN forces Operation Piledriver gets bogged down by the weather and the terrain. 8th Army Commander Jim Van Fleet says that though the enemy has been hurt, he still has another big offensive left in him by summer's end, but there are murmurs and hints that some of the forces fighting this war are ready to talk about an armistice. And in the Senate, Dean Acheson spends five solid days talking about the US position on China.

19 min

The Korean War 052 - MacArthur Fades, Ceasefire Hopes Rise - June 17, 1951

The UN troops continue their advance to the Kansas Line, meeting no resistance at Pynoggang, but heavy resistance beyond it inside the Iron Triangle. 8th Army Commander Jim Van Fleet does not want to advance much beyond where they are now, though, since territory further north would be tougher to defend, should ceasefire talks begin. And Douglas MacArthur continues to tour the states, but to ever smaller crowds.

16 min

The Korean War 053 - Moscow Says 'End the War!' - June 24, 1951

Soviet Ambassador Jacob Malik speaks to the world on UN radio, saying that the Soviet position on Korea is that ceasefire talks should begin among the belligerents. The Americans are thinking of how they can bring in more non-American UN units, even as South Korean President Syngman Rhee denounces the British and Commonwealth forces and says they should go home.

15 min

The Korean War 054 - The War is One Year Old - July 1, 1951

Over a year has passed since North Korean forces crossed the 38th Parallel and invaded South Korea, and while the war has seen the advantage switch hands time and again, one thing it has not seen is any sort of cease fire or peace negotiations. However, that might change soon, as this week both the Chinese and the Americans indicate their willingness to sit down and talk. South Korean President Syngman Rhee, however, is against any cease fire talks that do not set out to meet a big variety of his demands, demands which which the other warring parties do not see as being in their own best interests.

16 min

The Korean War 055 - Ceasefire Talks Planned – But the War Isn’t Paused - July 8, 1951

It's huge news- the Chinese and North Koreans have agreed to hold peace talks with the American led UN forces, to begin next week! That's all well and good, but everyone on every side now has to figure out exactly what they want from the talks and what they're prepared to give up to get it. There are also plenty of people, like UN Commander Matt Ridgway, who don't want to have peace talks at all just now. Still, a UN liaison party flies in to Kaesong at the end of the week to lay the groundwork. Exciting times.

14 min

The Korean War 056 - Ceasefire Talks Start – With Threats, Tricks, and Delays - July 15, 1951

This week might be a big turning point in the war, for this week, ceasefire negotiations begin in Kaesong. Both sides have sent delegations, and both sides have different goals they wish to achieve. The big question is, though: what is each side willing to concede in order to create a lasting peace?

15 min

The Korean War 057 - Behind the Talks - A New Battle Is Brewing - July 22, 1951

The Kaesong negotiations continue, hopefully to bring about a cease fire, but is this even possible, considering the wishes and demands of each side? They can't even agree on what a 'foreign soldier' is, let alone whether such troops should leave Korea. And both sides still prepare for war, even as they try to bring about some sort of peace.

15 min

The Korean War 058 - The Empire Strikes Back - July 29, 1951

The Kaesong peace talks drag on, with the main sticking point being the Communist refusal to consider any demarcation line other than the 38th Parallel. UN Commander Matt Ridgway is asking for more force from home, but at least he get some organized force from elsewhere- as various brigades are organized into the 1st Commonwealth Division.

The Korean War 059 - Who’s Really Running the Korean War? - August 5, 1951

The Kaesong peace talks keep dragging on, and where any demarcation line should be drawn continues to the biggest obstacle to progress. The war continues, though, and plans for new offensives and blockades are being hashed out. But who exactly are the forces fighting this war? This week we take a closer look at the Communist forces and the American chain of command.

21 min

The Korean War 061 - The South Koreans Strike as Ceasefire Talks Stall - August 19, 1951

After two months of inactivity, 8th Army begins new offensive operations this week, and it is the South Korean forces doing the fighting. Meanwhile, the Kaesong peace talks are ever more threatened by continuing neutral zone violations.

16 min

The Korean War 062 - Chinese Break Off Peace Talks! But Whose Fault Is It? - August 26, 1951

The Chinese claim that American bombers have attacked the Kaesong conference area and break off the peace talks. The UN delegation smells a set up. Meanwhile, the Battle of Bloody Ridge is in full swing and earning it's name, as the casualties mount on both sides.

16 min

The Korean War 063 - The Battle of Bloody Ridge - September 2, 1951

The South Koreans have won their fight northeast of the Punchbowl, but not that far away the Battle of Bloody Ridge is earning its name, with casualties rising into the thousands for both sides.

14 min

The Korean War 064 - Inexperienced UN Recruits Face Disaster - September 9, 1951

The Battle of Bloody Ridge comes to its end, having very much earned its name. One issue the UN is really having though, is with replacement troops. They don't have the training or experience that the war requires. And yet, a new offensive to test them further is just around the corner.

17 min

The Korean War 065 - Another Bloody Ridge Begins? - September 16, 1951

Bloody Ridge is barely over, but orders have come for the UN forces to already attack the next ridge to the north, and UN planes violating the Kaesong neutral zone sabotage Matt Ridgway's plans for conquest.

16 min

The Korean War 066 - The Hell of Heartbreak Ridge - September 23, 1951

The Korean War reaches one of its bloodiest battles as UN forces clash with North Korean defenders on Heartbreak Ridge. The US 2nd Division suffers heavy losses, with entire companies wiped out to the last man. At the same time, the Marines introduce a revolutionary new tactic in modern warfare — transporting troops via helicopter right to the front lines during battle. Meanwhile, UN Commander Matt Ridgway refuses to resume peace talks in Kaesong, sparking further tension with the Communist side. As the battle rages, the question remains: can there be peace in Korea, or only more heartbreak?

15 min

The Korean War 067 - Ridgway Defies Truman? - September 30, 1951

There's worry and chaos in Washington when UN Commander Matt Ridgway indicates that there is one order that if given from above, he will not obey. That order concerns the possible resumption of peace talks with the Communists at Kaesong. Meanwhile in the field, the bloody Battle of Heartbreak Ridge continues, though US 2nd Division has a new commander who has new plans for how to bring about victory.

16 min

The Korean War 068 - Aussies Take the Lead In Operation Commando - October 7, 1951

Omar Bradley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, arrives in Korea to see the war for himself. At the same time, UN forces launch new offensives — Operation Touchdown at Heartbreak Ridge and Operation Commando to the west. Both promise heavy fighting, but can they finally break the stalemate?

18 min

The Korean War 069 - Conquered...But At What Cost? - October 14, 1951

The Battle of Heartbreak Ridge ends with victory for the UN forces, though the casualty count is alarmingly high for both sides. One must wonder, is that sustainable? It's a week of action, as Operation Commando continues further west. The Commonwealth Division takes Maryang-San, but taking it and holding it are two different things. A 9th Corps offensive kicks off as well, slowly grinding forward. There's a breakthrough away from the battlefield, as both sides finally agree on a site for any future peace talks- Panmunjom.

16 min

The Korean War 070 - Casualties Rise For The Chinese - October 21, 1951

The UN forces launch Operation Polecharge, hoping to complete Operation Commando, but they have worries away from the field, since UN pilots have violated the neutral zone and killed two young Korean boys, causing an outcry. If that weren't enough, a new Soviet atomic bomb test has the entire world on edge.

17 min

The Korean War 071 - The Panmunjom Peace Talks! - October 28, 1951

Big news! The peace talks resume after over two months hiatus, now in a village called Panmunjom. Also, UN Commander Matt Ridgway also gives a rare press conference, and he implies that for all his talk about punishment and prevention, those pilots who violated neutral zone air space and killed civilians receive at best a slap on the wrist. Speaking of civilians, a Marine operation is launched to deprive the enemy of civilian dwellings during the coming winter- Operation Houseburner.

15 min

The Korean War 072 - UN Censors as Communists Speak! - November 4, 1951

The Panmunjom peace talks continue, but a real sticking point is Kaesong- both sides insist that they must have control of it. Frustration mounts among the Allied journalists, though, as they are allowed less access to what's going on than their Communist counterparts. Despite the talks, there's new action in the field this week, as the Chinese attack in force to try and retake Maryang-san, a commanding strategic position.

15 min

The Korean War 073 - The UN rejects the Communist proposal! - November 11, 1951

The fighting continues for Maryang-san, though in general everyone is getting ready for the freezing Korea winter. The big news this week is the seeming breaking of the deadlocked peace talks as the Communist side makes what looks to be a major concession. The UN rejects the communist proposal because there's more to this then meets the eye. What does Washington really want? Because even the Soviets are now speaking out against the war. Meanwhile in the background, the POW situation in the overcrowded camps grows ever more tense and deadly.

16 min

The Korean War 074 - The US Wants To Prolong The War - November 18, 1951

UN Commander Matt Ridgway has everyone in Washington worried because of his refusal to play ball with the Communist side at the peace talks. The Communist side aren't exactly playing nice either, lobbing insults at the UN delegates, but the newspapers of the world wonder if the US actually even wants a truce, since bloody headlines implying impending vengeance come out in American papers timed suspiciously with possible breakthroughs at the talks.

15 min

The Korean War 075 - Insurgency Behind The Lines! - November 25, 1951

While there is no battle action this week, there is still a lot of fighting, as the UN forces must constantly watch their backs against the thousands of guerrillas in the hills of South Korea. At the truce talks, the Communist side accepts the UN proposal for a demarcation line- Item 2 on the agenda- but for it to be valid the other three items remaining on the agenda must be dealt with within 30 days, which seems very optimistic to most. There is also the question of post-armistice inspections teams; are they a good idea? Or will they simply provide the other side with much-needed actionable intelligence?

15 min

The Korean War 076 - Is America Favouring The Communists? - December 2, 1951

This week at the Panmunjom Peace Talks the two sides agree on a Demarcation Line for an armistice based on the current battle lines, provided the other items on the agenda have been dealt with within 30 days- or else it is invalid. There is still a huge issue, though concerning rotation and replenishment of force during an armistice, and also the right of inspection. The two sides are very far apart on all that. And 8th Army Commander Jim van Fleet issues orders which are misconstrued in the global press and lead to some embarrassment for Washington.

17 min

The Korean War 077 - The Korean Winter Bites Hard - December 9, 1951

Now that they've agreed on a Demarcation Line, the talk this week at the Panmunjom peace talks has turned to whether there will be restrictions or not after the signing of an armistice. Also, how would inspections work to make sure the other side is complying with the armistice terms? Perhaps a group of representatives from neutral nations? Meanwhile the troops are digging in to their winter defenses, as the frozen Korean winter descends upon them.

16 min

The Korean War 078 - Communists See 100% Success in the Skies! - December 16, 1951

The Communist forces' air power grows and grows, to the point where the UN wonders if they will lose aerial supremacy. This colors the Peace Talks, because should infrastructure be allowed to be rebuilt and rehabilitated during an eventual armistice, what airfields might the Communist side soon have in North Korea? Not just as a threat should an armistice fail, but to Japan as well.

17 min

The Korean War 079 - Tearing Up The Geneva Convention! - December 23, 1951

Both sides finally release POW information to each other, as required by the Geneva Convention, but neither side is happy with the information, charging it either wildly incomplete or grossly mischaracterized. The Communists also refuse to allow the Red Cross in and the UN doesn't want compulsory repatriation of POWs, but both are required under Geneva. And away from the truce tables, the Communist air power menace continues to grow, but should there be an armistice will they be allowed to rebuild air bases in North Korea?

16 min

The Korean War 080 - Empty Lines and Guerrillas: X-mas '51 in Korea! - December 30, 1951

It's Christmas, 1951, and though peace on earth and goodwill to all men might have a general appeal, peace seems as far away as ever in Korea. There are, though, no large scale offensives being planned at the moment, as the frozen winter grips Korea and the peace talks drag on and on. However, just because the war between armies is quiet, doesn't mean Korea is; anti-guerrilla operations claim lives by the thousands, and the general drudgery of the war also takes thousands of lives on both sides each and every month. Christmas in Korea is grim.

17 min