1945 - 1950

Question 1

What was the Vietminh’s 4 stage strategy?

Answer 1

1) Create a rear base.
2) Initiate Guerilla Warfare
3) General Uprising
4) Break French Morale

Question 2

What is the Vietminh membership in 1945 and 1950?

Answer 2

1945 - 50,000

1950 - 250,000

Question 3

What is the PAVN and who is the leader?

Answer 3

People’s Army of Vietnam

Chief: General Giap

Question 4

What were the 3 groups in the PAVN?

Answer 4

1) Locals (peasants)
2) Regionals (peasants with training)
3) Regulars (uniformed men)

Question 5

When was the Elysee Agreements?

Answer 5

March 1949

Question 6

Give 4 reasons why Kennanite Containment was working

Answer 6

1) 4/5 power centres friendly
2) ERP reviving Europe
3) Berlin Blockade lifted
4) US retains Atomic Monopoly

Question 7

When was the Soviet detonation of their A-bomb?

Answer 7

29 August 1949

Question 8

When did China “fall” to Communism?

Answer 8

1 October 1949

Question 9

What was NSC 68 and when was it presented?

Answer 9

Root and branch review of foreign Cold War policy, makes containment global.
Presented April 1950.

Question 10

When do PRC and USSR recognise the DRV?

Answer 10

January 1950

Question 11

When do the US recognise Bao Dai?

Answer 11

February 1950

Question 12

When do the US send economic and military aid to Bao Dai?

Answer 12

May 1950

Question 13

Name the 3 French protectorates that make up Vietnam in descending order

Answer 13

Tonkin
Annam
Cochinchina

Question 14

What year did the French push the Viet Minh out of Hanoi?

Answer 14

1947

Question 15

What is the Viet Minh’s northern mountain stronghold?

Answer 15

The Viet-Bac

Question 16

What domestic factors held Truman back from supporting the French in Indochina?

Answer 16

A long standing anti-colonial tradition

Question 17

What domestic factor pushed Truman toward helping the French in Indochina?

Answer 17

McCarthyism

Question 18

Outline NSC 68 in 6 points

Answer 18

1) Communist ideology is everything.
2) Containment global, communism cannot be allowed to spread anywhere.
3) Domino theory drives the policy.
4) Pessimistic image of Soviet intentions.
5) Washington now believed they were losing the battle to communism.
6) A proactive view instead of responsive behaviour.

Question 19

Why were the French struggling so much at the end of the forties in Vietnam?

Answer 19

French battalions often scattered in anti Guerrilla posts making them vulnerable to ambush.
Extreme weather made French ops harder.
Nightly Viet Minh sabotage.
Local population assisting and concealing the Viet Minh.