Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast 1945: the bloody year that changed the world
Apr 28, 2025
Phil Craig, an accomplished author and filmmaker known for '1945, The Reckoning,’ shares gripping insights about the tumultuous year that reshaped global dynamics. He explores how imperial powers struggled to regain control post-World War II, with a focus on Australia's pivotal role. The conversation delves into the dark legacies in Vietnam and Indonesia, revealing conflicting motivations behind liberation and imperialism. Craig also highlights the complex aftermath of Operation CEMAT, emphasizing profound historical narratives that continue to influence modern geopolitical themes.
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Britain's Postwar Imperial Priority
- Britain prioritized reclaiming its empire as postwar global rivalries and economic needs emerged.
- The Vietnam conflict exemplified imperial efforts to suppress independence, contradicting Allied liberation ideals.
Japanese POWs Fighting for British
- British forces released and armed thousands of Japanese POWs in Vietnam and Indonesia to fight anti-colonial forces.
- This shocking reversal occurred while the world mourned Japanese war atrocities, deepening postwar regional violence.
Borneo Jungle Head Hunting Campaign
- In Borneo, British-led forces exploited Australian troops and recruited local Dyaks for reconnaissance and guerrilla warfare.
- They controversially incentivized headhunting, breaching the Geneva Convention and causing horrors in the jungle campaigns.
