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Napalm: The Vietnam War Weapon That Burned Innocents Alive
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Napalm: The Vietnam War Weapon That Burned Innocents Alive



WARNING: This documentary is under an educational and historical context, We do NOT tolerate or promote hatred towards any group of people, we do NOT promote violence. We condemn these events so that they do not happen again. NEVER AGAIN. All photos have been censored according to YouTube’s advertiser policies.

In the annals of military history, few weapons have left as indelible a mark on the collective consciousness as napalm. This incendiary agent, born from the crucible of World War II, would go on to become synonymous with the brutality of modern warfare, particularly during the Vietnam conflict. Its development story begins in the hallowed halls of Harvard University, where the urgency of war collided with scientific innovation, forever changing the landscape of combat.

In 1942, as the world was engulfed in the flames of global conflict, a team of chemists led by Louis Fieser at Harvard University embarked on a top-secret project. Their mission: to create an incendiary weapon that could effectively combat the threat posed by Japanese cities, largely constructed of wood and paper. The result of their efforts was a gel-like substance that would stick to surfaces and burn with intense heat—napalm. Fieser, a brilliant organic chemist who had previously worked on synthesizing vitamin K, found himself redirecting his talents towards the art of destruction. His team included E.B. Hershberg, who would later go on to make significant contributions to steroid chemistry.

The name “napalm” itself is a portmanteau, derived from the two key components of its early formulation: naphthenic and palmitic acids. These were combined with gasoline to create a sticky, flammable gel that adhered to almost any surface it touched. This characteristic made napalm particularly effective—and horrifying—as a weapon. Interestingly, the term “napalm” was coined by one of Fieser’s assistants, Cecily Lumet, who later expressed regret over her role in its creation.

The first test of napalm took place on July 4, 1942, at Harvard’s soccer field. In a twist of historical irony, America’s Independence Day saw the birth of a weapon that would later become emblematic of one of the nation’s most controversial wars. The test was a resounding success, with Fieser later recalling, “It was a beautiful sight, a sheet of blue flame that burned for several minutes.” This initial test used a small pond on the field, demonstrating napalm’s ability to burn even on water—a property that would prove devastating in later conflicts.

00:00 The Incendiary Legacy of Napalm
5:39 Napalm’s Fiery Reign in Vietnam
13:42 Operation Rolling Thunder’s Infernal Reign
22:34 The Napalm Girl’s Eternal Scream
33:48 The Lingering Inferno of Napalm’s Legacy

23 Comments

  3. @planetmchanic6299

    My perimeter got naped during a battle on hyway 9 and it was seriously nasty. Worst part was the smell of burnt bodies unwind afterwords.

  5. @lynnfern2116

    This is not the photograph of this incident that I remember most clearly. The image I remember, is the one taken from behind the poor young girl, of her back burning. I was a 15 year old schoolgirl at the time, & I have never forgotten it. I remember it being published with an ararticle written by John Pilger.

  17. @julierobinson3633

    I wonder how many tens of thousands of animals died screaming and shuddering, burning alive in that jungle without ever knowing why…?

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