Korean War #39: 'An Entirely New War' (Patreon)

Truman continues to set up his General, as the allied soldiers wander into the consequences on the Manchurian border...

Episode 39: ‘An Entirely New War’ focuses on that moment in the conflict when the Chinese finally pulled the trigger and invaded in massive force between late October and late November 1950. After months of diplomatic manoeuvring, Mao Zedong seemed to finally have had enough and believed that the moment had come to act in force. This decision, fully in line with the aims of the Truman administration, would destroy the plans of General MacArthur and reverse overnight the sense of superiority and positivity which had dominated his staff since the triumph at Inchon. 

As an episode it is a long one, but it is also a critical pivot of our story and contains too many vital threads to list here. Within we’ll see shattered dreams, fulfilled ambitions, distraught soldiers, zealous communists, hopeful North Koreans, confused subordinates, wasted resources, missed opportunities, unexpected bravery and so much more. It’s an episode which ties so many important elements of our narrative together, and it really has to be heard to be believed.