The Cold War Finally Thaws Out

Korean War (1950-1953) Vietnam War (1963-1973) Afghan War (1979-1989)

Korean war

•  Split after WWII between US and USSR – Temporary gov’ts

created in images of their major allies

– Reunification of Korea desired by BOTH sides

So Who Gets Control?

•  Kim Il Sung leads North – Communist

•  Syngman Rhee leads South – Democrat

•  In 1949 the US and USSR agree to leave the country – USSR leaves military equipment

in the North

Condemning the South Koreans

•  US Sec of State Dean Acheson says the protection of the South is now the UN’s responsibility

Invasion and Counter-Punch •  25 June 1950 – North Korea invades very

quickly and pushes for Seoul •  Battle of Pusan Perimeter (4 Aug – 18 Sept

1950) –  Large-scale battle between United Nations and

North Korean –  140,000 UN troops were pushed to the brink of

defeat were rallied to make a stand against the invading N. Korean army

– UN forces had been repeatedly defeated by North Korea and pushed back to “Pusan Perimeter”

– UN troops hold and North Korea is forced back after a counter attack at Inchon

Move North

•  After the successful counter-attack at Inchon, UN under MacArthur moves north quickly – Make it to the Yalu River

•  China threatens US and then gets into the fray pushing UN back below 38th

Truman and the End of the War

•  MacArthur wants to use nukes…makes it public – Truman fires him for insubordination

•  UN does not want to get into a bigger battle in China

•  Eisenhower signs armistice •  27 July 1953 - DMZ created but no

treaty is ever signed

Short History of Vietnam

•  French controlled colony – By 1900s the nationalists were starting to fight

back •  Ho Chi Minh, leading Vietnamese nationalist

–  Joined the French Communist party after Lenin took over Russia

–  Started organizing a nationalist resistance against France

– During WWII, Japan captured Vietnam but the French took it back after WWII •  Ho Chi Minh tried to get the US to help him

against France but the US refused •  Turns to the USSR for help instead

The 1st Vietnam War •  France tries to rebuild empire – France held major cities – Nationalists had countryside support and use

guerrilla fighting

•  Loss at Dien Bien Phu (1954) – Nationalists defeat the French – Result: Splits Vietnam on the 17th parallel

•  North is Ho Chi Minh’s •  South is lead by Ngo Dinh Diem

– Agreement for general election that the US refuses to agree to (afraid of communists)

The Aftermath •  Diem ruled the S like a dictator – Vietcong – Communist guerrillas who

opposed Diem’s rule and the division of Vietnam

•  Diem assassinated in 1963 by a group of S. Vietnamese generals – Take over by the Vietcong seemed inevitable

Domino Theory

•  Idea put forth by Eisenhower •  Said that the SE Asian nations were like

a row of dominos – The fall of one country to communism

would lead to the fall of its neighbors

•  Theory becomes a justification for US intervention during the Cold War

Gulf of Tonkin Incident •  2 Aug 1964 North Vietnam attacked USS

Maddox – LBJ decides to escalate the war – US troops now on the front line •  By 1965 US troops were in combat and US planes

were bombing N. Vietnam

•  Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – President can take all necessary measures to

prevent further Communist aggression in SE Asia

US Difficulties •  Many peasants were rebels – Knew the land, US soldiers did not – More people were willing to help them – Problem for the US because it turned all

villages into military targets •  Unpopular to attack civilians

•  North was aided by USSR and China – Were vicious in their attacks but there was

retaliation

US Tactics

•  Napalm – mixture of thickening/gelling agent and petroleum for an incendiary device – Widely used as an anti-personnel device

•  Agent Orange – herbicide used on trees and vegetation in Vietnam

•  Air Power – When the US could not win a decisive land

battle they turned to carpet bombing N. Vietnam

Tunnel System

•  One of N. Vietnam’s greatest advantages was the tunnel system dug during French occupation – Main reason the US could not pin them down

•  Allowed Vietcong to move quickly and to disappear if bombing started

•  Tunnel Rats – American and British soldiers who were small enough to fit in the tunnels – Went in with a knife, silenced side-arm, and

flashlight to kill Vietcong in the tunnels

Khmer Rouge in Cambodia •  Communist rebels who set up a brutal

gov’t under the leadership of Pol Pot – Slaughtered over 2 million people to put

gov’t in place – Supported by the UNITED STATES – Vietnamese invaded in 1978 and overthrew

the Khmer Rouge •  Fighting continued

•  1993 – Under UN peacekeepers, Cambodia adopted a democratic constitution and held free elections

Vietnamization

•  Plan devised by Nixon – Authorized bombing in Laos and

Cambodia to make this work

•  Allowed US troops to gradually pull out while S. Vietnam increased their combat roles – Last troops left in 1973

Paris Peace Accords - 1973

•  US/South Vietnam and North Vietnam negotiate a cease-fire – Decision:

•  US withdraws troops •  North Vietnam agrees to not send in any more

troops •  Let South Vietnam make their own decision

•  1975 – North Vietnam reinvades and conquers the country