Confrontation and Cooperation, c1963–1972: Nixon's Policies in Vietnam - Vietnamisation Flashcards
Timeline of Vietnamisation
• January 1969
- Nixon becomes president
• June 1969
- Nixon begins withdrawing troops
- Around 550,000 US troops in Vietnam
• 1968-1970
ARVN increased in size from 82,000 in 1968 to 1 million by 1970
• 1972
- Spring Offensive
• January 1972
- Around 150,000 US troops in Vietnam
• May-October 1972
- Operation Linebacker I saw 150,000 tons of bombs dropped on Vietnam
• June 1972
- 47,000 US troops in Vietnam
When did Nixon become President?
- January 1969
Define Vietnamisation
- Shifting US dominance in the Vietnam War to the South Vietnamese by withdrawing US troops
What was Nixon’s goal in Vietnam
To achieve peace with honour
Why did Nixon adopt Vietnamisation?
- To reduce growing domestic opposition to strengthen his own political security
- To encourage North Vietnam to negotiate as one of the North’s aims was to secure US withdrawal
- To strengthen the South Vietnamese
- To minimise blame on the US if the South Vietnamese were to lose
What did Vietnamisation involve?
- Withdrawing US troops
- Strengthening ARVN
- Reintroduction of bombing
- Invasion of Cambodia and Laos
When did Nixon begin to withdraw US troops?
- June 1969
Describe the withdrawal of US troops in Vietnam
• June 1969
- Around 550,000
• January 1972
- Around 150,000
• June 1972
- 47,000
How did Nixon strengthen the ARVN?
- ARVN increased in size from 82,000 in 1968 to 1 million by 1970
- Introduced M-16 Armalite rifle
- Increase in weapons, planes and helicopters
- Troops paid more
What event tested the ARVN’s strength? How did the ARVN do?
- Spring Offensive
- 1972
- ARVN resisted
- 8000 ARVN killed but North suffered x5 deaths
What US bombing campaign aided the ARVN in the Spring offensive?
- Operation Linebacker I
- 150,000 tons of bombs dropped on North Vietnam and North Vietnamese troops operating in South
-So ARVN success wasn’t only because of their capability
When was operation Linebacker
-May-October 1972
What were the issues with Vietnamisation?
- Morale of ARVN remained low
- Low US casualties replaced by high ARVN casualties
- High desertion rates
- ARVN still dependent on US
- Corruption remained and positions gained based on loyalty to Thieu, rather than on their skill
Consequence of Vietnamisation
End of war, North run through South after US leave