Big Question 7 - How did the USA try to de-escalate the Vietnam War? Flashcards
In which month did Nixon become president?
January, 1969
What policy did Nixon promise that would remove US troops from Vietnam?
Vietnamisation
What did Vietnamisation entail?
The withdrawal of US troops from Vietnam and the replacement of their positions by South Vietnamese troops, along with the continuation of US aid and air support
In which month did troops start returning home as a result of Vietnamisation?
January, 1969
How many US troops returned home in January, 1969?
543,000
How many US troops returned home in January, 1972?
156,000
How many US troops returned home in June, 1972?
47,000
By how much did the AVRN (South Vietnamese army) increase in size from 1968 - 1970?
1968 - 82,000
1970 - 1,000,000
What North Vietnamese offensive failed as a result of the AVRN’s new structure, size, and equipment?
The Spring (Easter) Offensive
On what date was the Spring Offensive?
30th March, 1972
How many casualties did the North Vietnamese suffer in the Spring Offensive?
40,000
How many casualties did the South Vietnamese suffer in the Spring Offensive?
8000
How many tons of bombs were dropped on North Vietnam during Operation Linebacker 1?
150,000 tons
Why was morale still very low in AVRN forces?
Casualty rates were much higher than they has been with US troops
Why was the AVRN’s structure still flawed?
The military, along with the leader of South Vietnam (Thieu), were very corrupt and officers were not chosen on there military ability
In which month was the AVRN beaten by the NVA (North Vietnamese Army) in Laos?
February, 1971
How many soviet tanks did the North Vietnamese use as part of the Spring (Easter) Offensive?
100