“second cold war front [would be] in asia.”. what is a hot war? how is it different from a...
TRANSCRIPT
“Second Cold War Front [would be] in Asia.”
The Cold War: Hot Wars
What is a Hot War?
How is it different from a “Cold War?”
Why are Hot Wars important to remember in the Cold War Unit?
Hot War?
Background:Girl and Boy fall madly in love. They are separated,
Girl thinks the Boy is dead. Girl is betrothed to a Prince, and she is captured in order to cause a war between the Prince’s nation and a neighboring nation… Her capture is fighting a mind game with a Masked Man….
Speaking of Wars…. Where wouldn’t you want to fight a war?Anywhere particularly in the World?
Certain terrains? Locals?
Listen VERY closely to the little man. What does he say that connects to the Cold War???
Princess Bride clip
Hot Wars: Korea
Annexed by Japan 1910USSR invaded Manchuria, going straight into
Korea (beginning August 1945)
After WWII, it was decided that the 38th Parallel (an arbitrary point) would divide North (USSR) from South (US)….
Korea- Brief History
First American soldiers: 1945, September
Japanese were used to help govern Korea—not Koreans
After Japan Surrenders in WWII
Economic chaos and hardshipInflationPovertyCivil Disturbances!
Ultimate Goal: Re-unification of N & SAs time continued, it was moved farther from
possible, yet there was still a continued expressed desire to reunite
Reconstruction after WWII
Middle class, US DoctorateAppealed to US; Koreans gave little supportPositives (US POV):
Anti-CommunistPerfect EnglishNot present during Japanese Occupation
Syngman Rhee
Became Corrupt and RuthlessNo interest in popular democracyNo interest in personal freedoms
Yet, was still considered the best option that the US had to rule in South Korea….
Rhee Con’t
Feb 1947 – People’s Assembly of North KoreaKim II Sung:
Elected chairmanStrongly opposed Japanese occupation1945 lead Korean Unit in Red ArmyLand reform (tenant farmers given own land)Viciously put down all Anti-Communist
opposition
USSR & N Korea
UN demanded elections take placeUSSR refusedSouth participated
Communists in south boycottedRepression of Communists((Were the results true??))1949, Aug – Rhee becomes President
Jan 1949
“major excursions” across 38th
Tensions increaseN= Propaganda predicted invasionS= Communist arrested and imprisoned
By June 1949, both Soviet and US forces had withdrawn from Korea
Interactions B/W N and S
Wanted to invade SouthStalin would not back him
Honoring WWII treaties
Kim’s Intentions…
Stalin consented when:Detonated first USSR A-bomb ( Aug 1949)Communism Takes over China
Thought US would be hesitant to enter a war so far away, even with the threat of the spread of communism
Why did Stalin Consent finally?
Stalin pledged military and technical assistance
BUT dictated day of Invasion (June 25th, 1950)WHY?
To pull out Soviet AdvisorsWHY?!?!?
Stalin and Kim
North invaded on pretext of Southern launching an “armed” incursion
Was a total SurpriseRhee outnumbered and outmatchedWithin hours, South was retreating
US State Department agreed that this aggressive action would not be tolerated
June 25th, 1950
Condemned Invasion38th Parallel withdrawalJune 27th- Military assistance from UN
membersTruman – “Police action”Ultimately: UN providing Multinational
support for Rhee’s weak and corrupt gov’tUSSR in UN??
UN Involvement
Previous predictions ((fears?)) of Soviet aggression were coming true!
Seen as Soviet Plot to overthrow Asian democracies ((Communist Conspiracy?!))Reality: Stalin was complying with an over
ambitious ally and utilizing a perceived weakness in US
Beginning of US Involvement
War HeroPreviously declared that Asia would be where
Democracy would fight against the spread of Communism
General MacArthur
South: Weak military and Gov’tArmy fled, like civilians didS army blew up bridges—killing civilians– to
prevent the N from followingWhile pursuing, N executed Rhee
sympathizers
Korean War
Not Prepared, No Battle Plan Flown in from Japan
First US-Communist Confrontation resulted in a miserable US defeat, time and time again. Missing anti-tank artilleryUS winning only in the skies
Truman: “Aggression must be met firmly”July 7th> MacArthur is titled “Supreme
Commander of the UN Force”
US Troops
Expanded Presidential PowersExpanded Draft
Recalled previous duty soldiers (WWII)Increases Military Expenditures by 5 times
US Congress
They quickly become over extendedMoved too quickly to form stable and secure
supply linesUS “dug in” at Pusan, creating the Pusan
Perimeter
Communist Forces Go South
Korea & Pusan Perimeter
“Complete mobilization of the Korean People”Meaning?
Without trainingCivilian Men rounded upThrown to front lines
South Korea Finally Responds
MacArthur formulates and launches a beach attack 150 miles behind enemy lines“it will not fail”
Capital recaptured (Sep 25th)50,00 civilians died
UN Force Responds, too
Move North/ Northeast, to recapture South Korea
North Army beginning to dissolve
UN and US meet
Withdraws military advisorsTells Kim to start planning for evacuation
Stalin?
UN forces reach the 38th ParallelInvade North? Or be happy to have South?
MacArthur & RheeThey hadn’t gone this far to stop where the
tensions beganRe-unification and Re-habilitation of Korea
What to do now…? (US version)
Stalin was more disappointed with Kim, and completely withdraws aid
China (who was also frustrated with Kim) was told to aid KoreaAdvised Korea to use guerilla tactics to fightDropped international hints to their intentions
of aiding Korea
What to do now..? (USSR version)
China hints that any farther and they would use troops
US believed it was a bluffMid-October- Chinese Army volunters
fighting with Koreans and meet UN and US troops
MacArthur pushes troops northward…
US and China
Upon getting closer to the boarder, China attacked.
Despite heavy casualties, China won.Full-scale war with China?!?!China pressed southward, recapturing
North’s capitalSeoul (capital S) falls into Chinese control
again (Jan 4th, 1951)
US/UN clash with China
February – UN troops reinvigoratedMarch – Seoul recaptured
MacArthur advocates Chinese invasionHe is shortly replacedWhy:
US regarded Korea as limited operation and didn’t want to start a direct confrontation with Soviet Union
Turning of Tides
April 1951 – Stalemate was reached, at the 38th
Armistice talks began July 1951, but flounder after 6 weeks of no agreements
End in sight…
Troops have dug in, fighting resumesLike trench warfare from WWI, with modern
technologyMiG-15 Soviet fighters used, even flown by
RussiansAmericans ignored this, fearing open fight with
Russia
Fall 1951
600,000 tons of bombs dropped Industry moves undergroundWorkers encouraged to increase production
Nationalism, proud of standing up to US
North Korea, fall 1951
Despite continuous requests for military aid, Stalin reuses a majorityFear of causing war with US
China was given hardware, but had to pay for it
Stalin, China and Kim
Armistice talks begin October 1951Lasts 18 months
Atrocities on POWsDwight D. Eisenhower elected 1952Stalin dies March 1953
New leadership decided in 2 weeks that Korea had to end
Mao (China) decided the same…
The end….
Increased fighting June 1953Eisenhower
Bombs dams, threatens Nuclear bombs against China
Rhee opens POW gates (South)Churchill cables US saying Rhee needs to
leave office
Rhee causing Problems
US: 54,000 dead, 100,000 injuredUN forces: 3,000 dead, 12,000 injuredNorth: 1 million deathsChinese: 112,000 (maybe double?)5 million homeless civilians in SouthMajor cities flattenedJapan’s economy boomed during; S Korea’s
boomed a generation later
Results:
Hot Wars: Vietnam
Mid-1800s – French occupation BeganMay 1954 – France could no longer hold out
against Vietnamese nationalistsAfter WWII defeat, returned to Indochina to
retain colonial powers
Vietnam Beginnings: The Dirty War
Leader of the League for the Independence of Vietnam (Viet Minh)
Dedicated North Vietnamese CommunistDeclared Vietnam’s independence after
Japan’s surrender (WWII)USSR and China supplied heavy weapons and
ammunition
Ho Chi Minh
Indochina labeled as being declared devoid of decisive military objectives
Eisenhower: “row of dominoes”“The possible consequences of the loss are just
incalculable to the free world.”Included: Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Thailand, IndiaCommunist ConspiracyStrengthening of the Communist bloc
US Decision for Involvement
Ho Chi MinhLand reform, education, health care
Broadened popular support
More extreme Communist take over:Private land confiscatedPilloried, labor camps, or executed
A million refugees flee Communist North for the South
North Vietnam
Ngo Dinh Diem took over: Republic of VietnamCatholic, Confucian, Anti-communistReligiously intolerant
He ruled like an Emperor
After France Left
Arrest detains opponents (mainly Communists sympathizers) Within a few years Viet Minh were eliminated
from South VietnamIgnored and abolished elections (1956)
He would appoint officialsHe was fearful of communists winning the
elections
Ngo Dinh Diem
US funded his gov’t….As our commitment intensified to keep
Communism contained, our aid increasedYet, he listened to family more so than the US
“We knew no one better”
December 1960National Front for the Liberation of South
VietnamNational Liberation Front
Wanted to overthrown Diem
Viet Cong Formed
Eisenhower to Kennedy“pay any price”“Bear any burden”
Domino Theory & Kennedy
Sent in military advisorsTo train S Vietnamese in counterinsurgency1961 3000 military professionals1962 – Undeclared war, 11,500 personnel
Diem came under scrutiny Religious intolerance (raiding, destroying
Buddhist Shrines, pagodas, arresting monks etc)
Monks –Self-immolationBurning themselves to death
US response
A cable was sent, telling military personnel to look for new leader of Vietnam, should it be necessary to replace Diem.
It was interpreted as an order for a coup…The CIA was involved
“We are launched on a course from which there is no respectable turning back.”
Misinterpretation
Nov 1963 – Diem agreed to step down, when S Vietnamese rebel generals surrounded the presidential palace, and taking over facilities
Diem and second in command (brother) fled, but were captured.
They were murdered, once picked up en route to the rebel military headquarters…
Diem’s Overthrown
Convinced of Soviet and Chinese involvement in Vietnam
Give priority to Vietnam over social concerns…
President Johnson
August 1964, in the Gulf of Tonkin
US ships conducting surveillance the area
Claimed it was international waters??
Gulf Tonkin Incident
These ships came under fire2 days later there was reports of more
attacks Although these were false
Johnson seized the chanceClaiming unprovoked aggressionLaunched attack at Northern bases
Gulf Tonkin Escalates
President can use “all necessary measures,” defending American or allied troops, and to “prevent further aggression.”
President decides when “peace and security” has been met…
Resolution “covered everything”Johnson could approach and take care of
Vietnam in any manner he saw fit toPassed 88-2 (senate), 416-0 (HoR)
Gulf Tonkin Resolution
Chinese saw themselves as defending countries against imperialism, desiring to help N Vietnam through aid
Russians wanted a peaceful coexistence with the US, and tried to persuade Minh to initiate peace talks with the US. Despite not following their persuasion, Minh was still given Soviet aid
China and Soviet Policy
1965 – roughly 170,000 men and women.Full Metal Jacket: “ Half of these… [prostitutes]
are serving officers in the Viet Cong…”Could at attack at any time
Attacked US basesUsed car bombs8 died, 100+ wounded
Viet Cong with Foreign Aid
These guerrilla tactics prompt Johnson to begin bombing North VietnamFor eight yearsIt did not succeed to getting the N Vietnamese
to start peace talks
Viet Cong Attacks
Napalm, high explosives and other bombs were not seen as effective means for fighting against an undeveloped country.
Yet, to ease up these attacks would make the US possibly appear weak in the international community and to the Viet Cong
Errors in the Beginning of Vietnam?
18 million gallons of herbicides dumped on Vietnam
Agent Orange (defoliant)Cancer causing
Chemicals
US had dropped more tons of explosives on Vietnam than all that were dropped in WWII
“We destroyed the town in order to save it.”
1965, March 8th
3500 MarinesIn full battle gearSeek and kill
Troops sent in….
You will need more and more men to complete an unrealistic, unattainable goal….
Johnson: it was a black and white issue: either full-scale war or humiliating retreat
By the end of 1965 – 183,000 troops
“Quagmire” Vietnam
US brings technology to the undeveloped country
Creates roadways, bridges, new radio and communication towers, airfields, floating piers
US and S Vietnam
Forced from the Agent Orange, Napalm and other bombings, peasants flee to the cities, and build “towns” (shanties) on the outskirts…
This decimates their traditional culture/lifestyle, destroying families (through forcing them to abandon their farms)
An “Underworld” appeared around the soldiers, providing them with prostitutes, massage parlors, nightclubs
Vietnamese Peasants
Nightly TVDestruction and carnage
TV networks, rather than military reporters
((Would this change public opinion against or for the war effort?))
Vietnam: The war on film
Attempted to befriend Villages, looking for Viet Cong and CommunistsPacificationPolicy of “Shoot first ask questions later”
((Why would you want the peasants supporting your side of the war effort?))
((How can you tell who is and who is not a Viet Cong?))
Search and Destroy
Cuba, Communists and the US
1961Cuban Exiles “secretly”
assisted by the CIAInvade Cuba (through Bay of
Pigs)Exiles landed, US was
supposed to provide air support, but we pulled out, leaving the exiles to be recaptured
Bay of Pigs
Was supposed to cause a popular uprising amongst the people (didn’t)
Supposed to have air support (didn’t)People versus tanks…
Of the 1500 exiles, 14 rescued by the US, 100+ were dead. The rest surrendered
Bay of Pigs?
US has bases in Turkey with missiles that can hit targets within the USSR…. Yet, the USSR did not have a site like this…. Until Cuba
After negotiations with Cuba, USSR sent Soviet ships with the missiles , July 1962
October 14th, 1962, a U-2 Spy plane photographs the missiles
Cuban Missile Crisis (CMC)
Cuba 90 miles from USWithin a 1100 range, Washington and 40% of
the Strategic Air Command would be vulnerable.
Within 2200, Most cities, except Seattle could be targeted, wiping out all Strategic Air Command bases
Missiles had 1 mill tons of TNT power (Hiroshima was only 13000)
Why Cuba?
Kennedy originally backing a strategic and precise air attack
He decided to follow a naval blockadeLess aggressive than an attackYet, keeping the Soviets away from CubaCalled it a “Quarantine”
Naval Blockade
Khrushchev: “If the US insists on war, we’ll all meet together in hell.”
He tells the US that the blockade is illegal and Russian submarines will sink American ships
Russian response?
The first ships to meet:Russian ship promises that it only has oil, and
the US ship allows it through
“I don’t want to push him [ Khrushchev] in a corner from which he cannot escape.”
Interactions?
((What won’t the blockade do?))
Blockade issues?
Amidst talks (initiated by a KGB operative, through his own initiative), quid pro quo is raisedIf Russia takes down the Cuban missiles, US
has to take down Turkey missilesThey agree to take down the Cuban missiles,
providing the US does not invade Cuba, and that the US gradually take out the Turkey missiles
Talks and Agreements