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How did a top United Nations official end up dying in the forests of Africa with Ravi Somaiya
Check out this book here https://amzn.to/2ICsBM4
Interview Timeline
Ravi Somaiya has been a journalist for the New York Times and has written for many other major publications. He has also produced documentaries on major news topics. He recently published a book about the mysterious 1961 death of the top UN official during the Congo Civil War. We spoke about the book, his research, and the many players involved in this mystery. “The Golden Thread” (Twelve, 2020)
(THE AUDIO PLAYER IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST.)
0:42 – Ravi talks about the Congo Civil War and how it was tied into the Cold War.
2:09 – Ravi talks about why he wrote on the war.
3:06 – Ravi provides details on when the civil happened and what it was about.
3:39 – Ravi talks about what additional info on the civil war Ravi includes in his book.
5:07 – Ravi talks about the UN’s role in this war.
6:15 – Ravi talks about the Katanga secession.
7:31 – Ravi talks about the white supremacists who got involved in the war.
9:02 – Ravi talks about US and Soviet uranium interests in the war.
11:41 – Ravi talks about the huge number of organizations involved in this war.
14:09 – Ravi talks about the safety of the UN in the Congo.
15:27 – Ravi talks about the international feel of Leopoldville.
16:35 – Ravi talks about the sizes of the forces who fought in the war.
17:49 – Ravi talks about the weaponry used in the war.
18:44 – Ravi talks about the massacres during the war.
19:49 – Ravi talks about the visibility of the war to the general public.
21:43 – Ravi talks about the WWII Axis veterans who joined this war.
23:29 – Ravi talks about mercenaries and soldiers of fortune in this war.
24:27 – Ravi talks about the UN’s goals.
25:23 – Ravi talks about Dag’s worry about his safety.
27:09 – Ravi talks about Katanga’s argument for independence.
27:58 – Ravi talks about the goals of the book.
29:47 – Ravi talks about his research.
31:17 – Ravi talks about using the UN archive.
32:02 – Ravi talks about some of the interviews he did.
37:55 – Ravi talks about access to Russian accidents.
39:02 – Ravi talks more about a South African mercenary agency and South African intelligence.
41:24 – Ravi talks about the Soviet allies in this war.
42:15 – Ravi talks about far past Dag’s death the book goes.
45:04 – Ravi talks about WWII.
49:49 – Ravi can be found on twitter @ravisomaiya and at ravisomaiya.com
Links of interest
https://www.twelvebooks.com/titles/ravi-somaiya/the-golden-thread/9781549175886/
https://twitter.com/ravisomaiya
Contact Information
For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar and on Instagram @crisalvarezwarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify Please see historyrabbithole.com for a list of my dozen or so blogs and podcasts. You’re sure to find something you like.
Guests: Ravi Somaiya
Host: Cris Alvarez
Tags: Books, audio interviews, author, podcast, Twelve, Modern War, United States, Germany, Russia, Britain,
Check out this book here https://amzn.to/2ICsBM4
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