Martha Gellhorn, Racism, and the Atrocities of Vietnam
Published: February 13, 2026
Duration: 34:57
Episode Summary:
In this episode of Explaining History, Nick returns to the grim realities of the Vietnam War through the eyes of one of the 20th century's most formidable journalists: Martha Gellhorn.
Drawing on Philip Knightley's The First Casualty, we explore how Gellhorn—a veteran of the Spanish Civil War and D-Day—exposed the "hearts and minds" strategy as a hollow lie. While American generals bragged about "zapping Charlie Cong," Gellhorn visited the hospitals and refugee camps, documenting the civilian carnage inflicted by US firepower.
Nick delves into the racialized hatred that fueled the...