Asia - Vietnam (part 1)

Question 1

Vietnam was part of the colony of Indo-China controlled by which country?

Answer 1

France

Question 2

When did the first Indo-China War begin?

Answer 2

1946

Question 3

How much did the USA send to help the French between 1950 and 1954?

Answer 3

$3bn

Question 4

Where did the Vietminh destroy the French army in March 1954?

Answer 4

Dien Bien Phu

Question 5

What was the name of the North Vietnamese resistance movement, led by Ho Chi Minh?

Answer 5

Vietminh

Question 6

What was the name of the agreement which gave Vietnam independence in July 1954?

Answer 6

Geneva

Question 7

Where was Vietnam divided?

Answer 7

17th Parallel

Question 8

What was the name of the new leader in South Vietnam and what religion was he?

Answer 8

Ngo Dinh Diem. Catholic

Question 9

When were elections to unite Vietnam planned?

Answer 9

July 1956

Question 10

What did Diem do about the planned election?

Answer 10

Held an election in South Vietnam in October 1955

Question 11

How did Diem influence the election outcome?

Answer 11

Arrested opponents, used lucky number, supporters intimidated voters

Question 12

How many votes did Diem claim he had won?

Answer 12

98.2%

Question 13

What was the name of the South Vietnamese army?

Answer 13

ARVN

Question 14

When were Buddhist worshippers in Hue banned from displaying their flag?

Answer 14

8th May 1963

Question 15

When did Thich Quang Duc burn himself in protest?

Answer 15

11 June 1963

Question 16

Who were the NLF and what are they better known as?

Answer 16

Communist organisation in South Vietnam supplied by Ho Chi Minh. Vietcong

Question 17

What was the name of the policy where peasants were sent to “safe” villages by Diem?

Answer 17

Strategic Hamlet Programme

Question 18

When was Diem assassinated and a military coup arranged by the CIA?

Answer 18

November 1963

Question 19

How did Eisenhower get involved in Vietnam?

Answer 19

Supplied Diem’s government with money, supplies, military advisors

Question 20

How did Kennedy increase American involvement?

Answer 20

Increased military advisors, aid, ARVN growth, helicopter pilots

Question 21

What was the name of the incident that allowed Johnson to justify US involvement?

Answer 21

The Gulf of Tonkin, 3-4 August 1964

Question 22

Why did this allow Johnson to increase US involvement?

Answer 22

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – power to use force, 7 August 1964

Question 23

Why did the USA get involved in Vietnam?

Answer 23

Containment, domino theory, French defeat, South Vietnam support

Question 24

What prompted Operation Rolling Thunder and when?

Answer 24

Attack on Camp Holloway, 6 February 1965

Question 25

When was Operation Rolling Thunder launched and how long did it last?

Answer 25

13 February 1965, lasted 3 years

Question 26

When was the first deployment of US combat troops to Vietnam? How many were there and where did they land?

Answer 26

8 March 1965, 3500 troops, Da Nang

Question 27

How many combat troops were in Vietnam by the end of 1965?

Answer 27

200000

Question 28

What did the US bomb to disrupt supply routes?

Answer 28

Ho Chi Minh Trail

Question 29

What tactic did the Vietcong use to win village support?

Answer 29

Code of Conduct

Question 30

Why could the US not recognise Vietcong?

Answer 30

No uniform, lived among civilians

Question 31

What military principle did the Vietcong use?

Answer 31

Avoid face-to-face, hit and run, close quarters

Question 32

Name one method of fighting US soldiers.

Answer 32

Land mines, trip wires, booby-traps

Question 33

What did the Vietcong use for safe living?

Answer 33

Tunnel network, 240km total

Question 34

What was the Vietcong’s most famous supply route?

Answer 34

Ho Chi Minh Trail

Question 35

What was the US tactic to win support of Vietnamese people?

Answer 35

Hearts and minds – dug drainage, built roads, canals and bridges, as well as schools

Question 36

What was the US strategy using helicopters?

Answer 36

Search and destroy

Question 37

What nickname was given to fire attacks on villages?

Answer 37

Zippo

Question 38

How did the US measure success of an operation?

Answer 38

Body count

Question 39

What chemical weapon was used as weed killer and how much was used?

Answer 39

Agent Orange, 82m litres

Question 40

What chemical weapon caused skin burns?

Answer 40

Napalm

Question 41

How many tonnes were dropped 1965–73?

Answer 41

20000

Question 42

How many US soldiers were in Vietnam by Jan 1968?

Answer 42

550000

Question 43

When was the Tet Offensive?

Answer 43

30 January 1968

Question 44

What happened during the Tet Offensive?

Answer 44

84,000 NVA and Vietcong attacked 100+ towns, US embassy

Question 45

When was the My Lai attack?

Answer 45

16 March 1968

Question 46

Who ordered the My Lai attack and was charged?

Answer 46

Lt. W. Calley

Question 47

How many unarmed civilians were killed at My Lai?

Answer 47

400–500

Question 48

When did the US learn of the My Lai killings?

Answer 48

November 1969

Question 49

Who broke the My Lai story and where was it published?

Answer 49

Seymour Hersh and Life magazine

Question 50

What was the term for US soldiers shooting officers in 1970?

Answer 50

Fragging