The Fall of Saigon: The Vietnam War 50 Years in Review

De: Edward Lengel, The Great Courses

Narrado por: Edward Lengel

On April 30, 1975, the Communist capture of the city of Saigon brought an end to more than 20 years of war in Vietnam. The end of the war reunified a divided nation—and changed the course of global politics, military strategy, and international relations for decades to come.

In the six lectures of The Fall of Saigon: The Vietnam War 50 Years in Review, historian Edward G. Lengel takes you back to the final years of the long and complex conflict that ravaged the small Southeast Asian nation of Vietnam and bled disastrously into surrounding countries, altering the region forever. Debates over the war and its aftermath still rage on half a century beyond the tragic moments of its end. As Dr. Lengel reflects on an array of topics—from foreign and domestic policy in the Nixon administration to North Vietnamese negotiating tactics to the evacuation of Saigon and the personal experiences of Vietnamese refugees. In this course, you’ll gain new insight into the factors that have shaped our perceptions of the conflict in Vietnam. You’ll also see how these perceptions still color current debates on everything from freedom of the press and immigration to the limits and extent of presidential power.

As we look back into the past, there are certain moments that stand out clearly as turning points in the course of history. As you trace the events leading up to the dramatic final days of the Vietnam War, The Fall of Saigon will immerse you in one such defining moment of the 20th century—a moment that has left an indelible imprint on our collective memory.

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Too focus on the American side not enough of their friend.

. The historical narrative of this episode was captivated. But it mostly in the view point of the American. Especially of those. Not experienced the war itself. In the 50 year anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. As I read this, it conjures up and recall the sadness of first few day of the fall of Saigon back in 1975. My great uncle worked for the CIA, and his order to remain in Saigon. He was captured and put in the education camp for 10 year. After that, he got release and sponsored by his wife to settle in the US. Two months before his departure, Vietnam, at one of the hot and humid night, he got hit by a vehicle and killed. I myself escaped from Vietnam in 1977. After full two years living under the communism. The author give us a little grime into the politic of the US then as ever as present. Afghanistan it’s a very present reminder of the Vietnam war. We as American despite the suffering of the people that friendly to us. As I always say if US promise to protect you. Run in the opposite direction as fast.

Compelling look at the end of the war

I listened to this all in one sitting, on a long road trip. It was that good! Although I thought I was fairly familiar with the events of the Vietnam War, this framed this aspect of the war in a compelling and sad way. It sparked conversation with my son over the parallels to our departure from Afghanistan. And honestly it reframed some of my thinking from the orthodoxy I grew up with that our involvement in southeast Asia was entirely mistaken.

I think this could be useful to a motivated homeschooler when paired with other materials.

Much more detail

I just missed the draft for Nam so lived the whole thing. I have visions of the helicopters leaving the embassy roof and being pushed overboard from the ships. This lecture series provides much more information about the end of South Viet Nam.

Informative, fair and balanced

As a teenager living in the UK during the US/Vietnam war, it was impossible not to be aware of the conflict, however I was young and did not follow the details. I now live in the US. These lectures give an extremely informative overview of the start and painful end of the Vietnam war. It felt fair and balanced and I highly recommend.

Powerful

This is emotionally powerful and difficult to hear. A great deal of suffering, but an important piece of history for us Americans to learn from.

Good Overview

The Vietnam War is obviously an extremely complicated subject with deep roots in French imperialism and more than a decade of increasing American intervention. This Great Courses book focuses on what happened after the U.S. withdrew its military forces, although a significant portion of the book focuses on that withdrawal. It is a very good overview of the end of the conflict including the political factors in the U.S. which permitted the fall of the south. It also has a painful chapter on the aftermath of the Fall of Saigon. For anyone interested in the subject, this is a good place to start.

Clear and interesting

Was pleasantly surprised at how well the author told the story without being overly dramatic or boringly didactic.

Good but with a slight right wing slant

Short and succinct. The author takes you through the expanse of the war on under four hours.

Great Small Course

Overall, I enjoyed the author's take on the Vietnam War, why it happened, and why it ended. He did especially well describing the fall of Saigon itself and the ruthlessness of the advancing Vietcong. The only criticism I have to offer is the he failed to mention Nixon's torpedoing of peace talks in 1968 under the Johnson administration. That is the most repellent thing Nixon ever did.

It story line was editorial history and facts , wanted lifers .story’s instead

Not what I was looking for!!
I didn’t finish book . I’d like a full refund.