Chapter 9: Vietnam war :) Flashcards
what are some key developments that led to the end of WW2 in Europe and Asia pacific (Europe and Japan)?
Europe (how the Allies emerged victorious)
1. Fall of France,1940
Germany defeated the French army and British expeditionary force & royal air force
However, Hitler ordered the German forces to stop its attack on Britain and France
Reason
- to consolidate German forces so they are not vulnerable to attack
- this allowed soldiers in Dunkirk to evacuate and survive
2. Battle of Britain, 1940
-German air force launched a large attack scale on Britain royal air force
-Britain was strong as it has resources to sustain the war and achieve air superiority
Blitz (bomb Britain cities) - led to huge loss of life and damages to houses, docks, warehouses and factories but still did not surrender
3. Operation Barbarossa 1941 (led to the formation of the alliance of Britain and USSR)
Attack on USSR
i) Hitler - wanted to destroy communism and expand into Eastern Europe and the USSR for its resources for e.g. oil
ii) Germany was initially successful as it got the USSR to abandon Moscow, however the harsh weather conditions of winter got German forces to stop
iii) Stalin was able to reorganise the soviet war effort during the time period with resources from the US lend lease scheme and put up strong resistance against the Germans
Key developments that led to the eventual defeat of Japan
1. Attack on pearl harbour ( Japan - US)
Japan - US (lost 18 ships and 5 battleships)
Japan - Britain( sank the most powerful battleship, Prince of wales, the repulse)
Led to US being extremely angry with Japan - US president Roosevelt organised the country to be united and declare war on Japan
Some preparations were:
US - constructed new ships, aircraft barriers and many superior carrier-based aircraft e.g. Douglass Pountless dive bomber and F-4 corsair)
- However Japan’s mistake was that US aircraft carriers were not at the Pearl Harbour during the attack so did not suffer as much damage and were able to recover quickly
3. Battle of Midway, 1942
Japan lost 4 Japanese carriers and 3/4 experienced pilots - weakened the naval and air defence capabilities - led to Japan being weak and could not watch output of US shipyard and aircraft factories
3. Atomic bomb
i) US island hopping strategy
to regain Philipines - Japan’s resources became severly overstretched and it was unable to defend the entire emprie
ii) Pivotal stage
e.g. April
- Allies killed and captured 100,000 Japan soldiers
- Japanese Kamikaze suicide bombers deliberately crashed into Allies ship and caused a huge damage
iii) May
Truman - faced with heavy casualties
- created the world first atomic bomb
6 August 1945,
Enola Gray, dropped a 5-tonne atomic bomb named little boy on Hiroshima
9 August
dropped atomic bomb named fat man on Nagasaki
Both attacks caused heavy casualties and left a legacy of cancer and radiation related disease because of the nuclear power
14 August Japan surrendered
4. Operation Overlord: D day, 1944
Germany was fighting the allies as Italy signed an armistice to not be involved in war
Allies was successful due to overwhelmed resources, effective planning and leadership
e.g.
brought 130k Allied troops by sea and 23k by air
There are tanks,ammunition and weapons
Allies aircraft pounded radar installation and rail link bridges
What are some Strengths and weaknesses of Allies ?
What are some weaknesses of Germany and Japan?
US
1. Economic and Military
US - rebuild its fleet, train troops, produce weapons and other essential weapons
e.g. 1942
i) US - supplied allies with food,raw materials , industrial equipment , weapons and ammunition,troops, ships and aircraft
US factories produced 250,000 aircraft and 90,000 tanks,350 naval destroyers and 5600 merchant ships
ii) US - supplied China (Mao Ze Dong/Guomindong)
with huge amounts of money,weapons and other aid to help then fight the Japanese
- Supplied resistance movement e.g. Malayan people’s Anti Japanese Army, Viet Minh
- supplied Britain with resources as well
iii) Battle of Atlantic,1939-1945
1941 March 1. Lend lease scheme (US to Britain)
- supplied vast amounts of food,fuels and equipment to British war efforts against Hitler
US to USSR
1.Transportation of Goods
- resources transported by merchant ships, grouped into convoy with naval escort so they are protected against the U-boats (German submarines)
2.Britain intelligence break secret code used by U-boats - which allowed Allied convoys to steer clear of U-Boats, ensures Britain and USSR had resources to fend off Hitler
3.US industrial production (sheer scale and speed)
3 cargo ships built per day
US build more ships the U-Boats could sink
4. Allied forces sink U-Boats
-German losing more U-boats then they were able to sink Allied ships
- Germany called off the U-Boats campaign
In Japan
iv) Island Hopping strategy in the Asia pacific
air attack and submarines - isolate Japanese-held area
Allies conquer islands poorly defended, use them to cut off ships that are supplied to the defended islands (food,ammunition and other essential suppliers)
Led to: incur less casualties for the Allies and allowed them to advance more quickly
How Vietnam was governed by Ho Chi Minh and Ngo dinh Diem
North Vietnam in 1950s (communist)
1. Popularity of Ho chi Minh
- recognised as a great leader who fought the Japanese invaders and the French colonial rulers
-introduce sweeping land reforms
- e.g. Ensure land was confiscated from large landowners and redistributed land to peasant farmers (increase popularity among peasant farmers)
- many landowners were upset and protested which then they were placed on show trials
2. North Vietnam came down hard on opponents
e.g. Violent resistance from landowners because of the redistribution of land - thousands were executed ( so North Vietnam became politically stable due to fear instilled)
South Vietnam in 1950s ( non-communist)
1. Implantation of modernisation e.g. construction of universities, expansion of agriculture ( not successful, Diem’s govt remained unpopular)
-repression towards opponents (like in North Vietnam), torture and imprison opponents
However it caused instability in South Vietnam
2. Broke the agreement made at the Geneva conference peace negotiation
- Did not hold elections in 1956 for a single government for a unified Vietnam
-July 1955, Diem got rid of Bao dai and installed himself as president
-referendum was manipulated dishonestly; as the number of votes for Diem outnumbered the number of registered votes
- US supported Diem as he was strongly anti-communist (Diem was not popular in his state at all)
what are extensions of the cold war outside Europe: Case study of the Vietnam War 1954-1975?
- led to the outbreak of the Vietnam war
- role of Vietnamese and global interest in influencing course of conflict
- immediate aftermath of the war on Vietnam and cold war
Introduction
- resistance group
During Japanese and French occupation, most important was Viet Minh led by Ho chi minh
The Group consist of
-non communist: wanted to drive the Japanese out of Vietnam
-Communist: wanted to establish an independent communism state in Vietnam
USSR and Guomindang - provide suppliers to fight against Japan
- Outbreak of the first Indochina 1946-1954
- French comes back after 1946, accepts the surrender of Japanese forces and rules again (reoccupation)
Significant
**- Viet Minh entered the city of Hanoi (most impt city in Vietnam) on 2 September 1945, declared Vietnamese Independence (don’t want French to come back)
- French not happy
Led to: (French vs Viet Minh)
-Break out of the first Indochina war (16 December 1946-1954)
-People’s republic of China supported Viet Minh
Oct 1949 - China falls into communist
E.g. Communism china - supports Viet Minh by supplying food, medical suppliers and soviet made suppliers
Supplied military advisors and training of troops
-French accused Ho Chi Minh of being a communist puppet, of trying to spread communism and turn Vietnam into a communist state
First Indo china war - war between north and south Vietnam
French - South Vietnam
US involvement (containment,spread of communism)
- US initially supported Ho Chi MInh
-US believe that Ho Chi Minh was being used by the USSR and was spreading communism
(supported by Communist China and possibly the USSR)
- So the US supported France because US believes in the Domino theory: one state falls for communism, other states would fall for communism, communist would spread communism and communism would dominate South East Asia
E.g. provided France with weapons and supplies
US provides France with 500 million per year
France sets up a non-communist government in south Vietnam ( led by Bao Dai)
End of the first Indo China war: Dien Bien Phu, 1954
Viet Minh fight guerilla war (occupy territorial influence)
Background
Viet Minh decided to fight French in a strongly defended base (Dien Bien Phu) - Managed to defeat French by
e.g.
1. cutting off lines of supply, depriving them of food,medical supplies and ammunition
2. Led to French surrendering
3. French and Viet Minh entered Geneva conference peace negotiations in 1945
4. Viet MInh demanded
- recognition of the Democratic republic ( North)
-removal of French troops
5. Both French and Viet Minh agreed to divide Vietnam into 2 at the 17th parallel
6.
- communist dominated the North viet
- non communist dominated the South viet
7. unification of Vietnam where elections are held in 1956 for a single government
Reason for Dien’s unpopularity
- Diem land reforms were not widespread enough and he did not want to weaken support from landlords
- The US encouraged Diem to consider more widespread land reforms (redistributing land to the poorer peasants and gain support)
- Diem not interested as his main supporters were mainly from landlord class - Diem’s government was corrupted
- he appointed his brothers to be key officials and diplomats (practice nepotisim)
Resulted in:
- lots of protests, strikes ( people could see that he was trying to promote his own family )
-led by educated Buddhist monks that were influential e.g. protested by setting themselves on fire - Buddhist monks felt that Diem was showing favouritism to non-Buddhists and they were upset
(Diem’s regime remained weak despite of US support because there was no support)
What are the responses to South Vietnam’s failed policy
- The South Vietnam insurgency (rebels) 1954-1960s
Former members of Viet Minh (believed in the reunification of South and North Vietnam
- they went to wage a low level campaign of disruption and harassment against Diem’s regime
- communist party approved setting up of group 559, a specialised unit of North Viet Army in May 1959 to transport weapons, ammunitions and other equipments to Viet Cong(insurgents who were mobilised to go against the South Viet governments)
E.g.
-1957-1960s,carried out 1700 assassinations of police officers, officers of law courts and administrators
-created a supply line (Ho chi Minh trail)
-a central resource, used to carry supplies
What led to the escalations of tensions between North and South Vietnam?
What are the roles played by external and internal factors involved?
- the Viet Cong and the South Vietnamese govt
Viet cong was supplied and armed by N.viet
e.g. use Ho chi Minh trail to sent reinforcements including 40,000 N.Vietnamese troops, weapons and ammunitions (1961-1963)
Response of the South Viet govt
strategic hamlet programme - 1. relocate peasants by forces sometimes to fortified villages away from control and influence of Viet Cong
2.Clear civilians to make use of the US air force which caused a movement in Viet Cong and N.vietnamese troops
2.External players: China, USSR and US
China
i) Mao felt if Viet becomes non-communist and ailled with the US
- S.K and Viet would pose a threat to the people in China
-wanted Viet to be a anti-US buffer state
-wanted to show support to another communist state
-to mobilise and unify people under his leadership
USSR
i) 1950s, actively supported HCM against French, help from Viet Cong
ii) Mid 1960s, showed interest in helping another communist state, wanting to show the world that it was leading the communist world
E.g. support by
- providing arms and ammunitions like air crafts and air defences like surface to air missiles
(sino-soviet split: china and USSR fighting for the leadership of the communist world)
US
- still supported South Vietnam because of how strongly anti communist it was
- supported by
e.g. offered military support, advisors and equipments from military assistance command Vietnam (MACV)
Why Lydon.B.Johnson decided to directly commit US troops into the war
1. Great political instability in South Viet. (Diem was assasinated by South Viet commanders)
2. increased tensions between the US and the communist bloc
- China also exploded its first atomic bomb in oct 1964
- USSR hostile to US
THE ACTUAL TRIGGER to why Johnson committed US into the Vietnam war
Attack on USS Madox (2 August 1945)
- US destroyer at the Gulf of Tonkin was attacked by N.viet Patrol boat
Resulted in:
- Johnson approaching the congress and asking for their support, giving him the power to take any necessary actions to prevent any further aggression (2nd indo china war)
What are some developments of war in Vietnam and some of the tactics used by them?
Battles at the La Drang valley where 234 US troops died and about 1,500 to 2,000 N.viet troops died
Some strategies adapted during Vietnam were
Overall strategy:
N.V
- turned to guerrila warfare
-did not wear uniforms so its hard to tell apart from normal peasants ( allowed to launch surprise attacks)
US
- strategic bombing e.g. operation rolling thunder, bombed many places including the Ho Chi Minh trail
Support from civilians:
N.V:
-troops expected to help and respect civilians so they received support from civilians
US:
- use of defoliants like agent orange and napalism caused many health problems for civilians
-low in support
Morale
N.V: are willing to give in everything (high morale)
US: low morale (forced conscription - not experienced in war at all)
What is Tet offensive, Jan 1968: Turning point and what is the results of it
During Vietnamese new year ,
USA felt more enemies killed equated to success
1965-1967 - body count
1968
E.g.
- Viet Cong fighters attacked over 100 cities and other military target
- Use Ho Chi Minh trail to move war materials and fighters from N.V to S.V
*1. Involved more than 80,000 Viet Cong and N.V troops to fight in major cities and major US bases like khesanh
*2. Lost around 10,000 experienced fighters
*3. US policy maker questions
- had 500,000 troops and spent 20 billion a year on war
-How come the communist is still able to launch such a major offensive and took the US forces completely by surprise
Reasons for significance of Tet offensive 1968
1. Role of media
1st Television war, the first time where the public was able to see what was going on in Vietnam
-Media has access to war zones and film anything they want as long as they don’t divulge any sensitive info
1968- Journalists started to change their context
-They started reporting that the US could not win the war and became critical of US involvement of the war
- this swung public opinion and people start to believe that it was an unjust war (can’t win)
Which resulted in:
Rising anti-war sentiments
- e.g. certain atrocities committed by US troops
1. My Lai Massacre
347-507 S.V unarmed civilians were murdered by US troops(body count) showed to the public
2. Saigon execution
Eventually led to : results of the Tet Offensive
1. Persuaded US to withdraw from Viet war
e.g. 1969-1973
The US wanted to end US involvement in Viet war
- Nixon began policy of Vietnamisation where he passed the responsibility over to the South Viet and withdrew troops of about 400,000 by the end of 1971
-In Jan 1973, all parties signed Paris peace Accords to end all war and restore peace in Vietnam
-December 1974,The S.V president Nguyen Ban Thien resigns
-April 1975, N.V troops entered Saigon, capital of S.V and took over S.V
-Reunified Vietnam as a communist state
What is the Aftermath of the Vietnam war (result)
- undermined US cold war policy and led to decline in US prestige and confidence in managing international relations
e.g.
1.Bankrupt ideology - lost moral reasons to fight communism - Failure of containment - lose S.K, Viet,Laos and Cambodia
3.weakening of US presidency (president do not have much power anymore) - greater oversight of presidential actions
Detente - US improving relations with the communist world
e.g. 1972 USA and USSR signed Anti Ballistic missile (ABM) to reduce nuclear weapons and lead to strategic arms limitation talk
Nixon recognised People’s republic of china as a representative of UN and visited China himself to improve diplomatic relations
