Armistice

The final day of the Korean War arrives and an armistice agreement is signed at Panmunjon between Nam Il and Harrison.  Twelve hours latter all fighting ends, the two sides begin to withdraw two kilometres back from the front line.  The exchange of prisoners of war begins at Panmunjon called operation Big Switch.  A review of the performance of Generals Maxwell Taylor, Mark Clark and Peng.  Which nations gained and lost from the Korean War.

The Chinese Summer Offensive

The peace talks began to make real progress at Panmunjon but the Communist are keen to drag out the talks until they can carry out a successful summer offensive against the South Korean Army in July 1953.  That offensive over, both sides get down to arrange the final details of the armistice.  A biography of General William Harrison, the head of the United Nations delegation at the Panmunjon peace talks.

Available from Saturday 19th November

The Great Escape

Fighting along the front line in June 1953.  The South Korean President Syngham Rhee continues to try to stop a cease fire agreement between the United Nations and Communist armies.  He orders South Korean prison guards to allow those North Korean soldiers who do not wish to return to North Korea, to escape.  A biography of the South Korean Minster of National Security who planned the escape.

Available from Saturday 12th November

Coming to terms

Fighting along the front line in May 1953 however the Korean War was brought to an end not on the battlefield but at the peace talks at Panmunjon.  These talks restart and make slow progress but this time the Communist are serious about ending the war.  A biography of Nam Il, the head of the North Korean delegation at the Panmunjon peace talks.

Available from Saturday 5th November

Pork Chop Hill

The fighting along the front line in March and April 1953.  The Chinese Army seize Old Baldy from the Columbian Battalion.  American counter attacks are costly and are called off by General Maxwell Taylor.  The battle for Pork Chop Hill began with heavy fighting between the American and Chinese Army.  A new round of peace talks are arranged within a real sense of hope that the war can be ended.  A biography of John Foster Dulles the American Secretary of State.

Available from Saturday 29th October

The Death of Stalin

Stalin insist that the Korean War should continue.  Stalin launch the purge known as the Doctors Plot.  In March 1953 Stalin suffers a stroke and dies.  The new Soviet leadership decide that the Korean War should be ended.  Zhou Enlai makes the first statement that meaningful peace talks might began.  Both sides agree to an exchange of sick or wounded prisoners called Operation Little Switch.  The power struggle within the new Soviet leadership comes an end with the arrest of Beira.  A biography of Beria, the former murderous head of the NKVD.

The War grinds on

Fighting along the front line in January and February 1953.  The failure of the American Army attack upon Spud Hill.  The life of an American soldier in Korea during war.  General Maxwell Taylor replaces General Van Fleet as the commander of the Eighth Army.  A biography of General Maxwell Taylor.  General Mark Clarke the commander of American forces in the Far East suggests an exchange of sick prisoners of war.

The Communist side of the hill

Fighting along the front line in Korea in November and December 1952, another Christmas with no peace and little goodwill in that country.  A review of what was happening within China during the Korean War.  A biography of Zhou Enlai the Chinese foreign minster.  The first of Chairman Mao’s purges within China.  What was happening within North Korea, a country damaged by war.  Both China and North Korea want an end to the war but Stalin insists the war continues.

Available from Saturday 8th October

The Battles for the Hills

As the peace talks break down in September 1952, the Chinese and North Korean Armies launch a series of attacks across the front.  The level of fighting and dying greatly increases.  General Van Fleet the commander of the Eighth Army launches his own attack against Triangle Hill and Sniper Ridge.  In heavy fighting for Triangle Hill, the Chinese successfully force the Americans off the hill.  A biography of Ralph Pomeroy, an American soldier who showed great courage and lost his life fighting for Triangle Hill.

Available from Saturday 1st October

I like Ike but what does Ike like

The Battle of Old Baldy continues into July 1952 and fighting breaks out elsewhere along the front line in July and August 1952.  President Truman decides not to stand for re-election and the Democratic Party chose Stevenson as their candidate for the 1952 Election but due partly to the Korean War it is the Republican Party which stands the best chance to win.  The Republican Party chose Eisenhower as their candidate, during the campaign he promise to go to Korea and see for himself the war.  Eisenhower is a elected and visits Korea where he tells the Generals their will be no major offensive.  A biography of Eisenhower.

Available from Saturday 24th September.