Events Leading Up To The Vietnam War Flashcards
Dien Bien Phu
March 13th 1954- battle between french and vietmanese at Dien Bien Phu where there was a french airstrip (containing 15,000 troops) to lure the Vietminh into battle. It was surrounded by 50,000 Vietminh with artillery which they’d spent months getting into the moutains. Had 50,000 in reserve and 200,000 civillian workers. Battle last until 7th may when france surrenders
Rule over vietnam pre-war
Had previously been a french colony but was captured by japan in ww2. France wanted to regain control.
Japan surrendered in August 1945, and Ho Chi Minh announced that vietnam was now the democratic republic of vietnam.
He asked the US to help secure independence from France but the US feared Ho would make Vietnam communist.
Support for Ho Chi Minh…
…was weak in the south. French troops set up state of Vietnam, led by Bao Dai (who they controlled)
China becomes communist…
…in 1949 and starts supplying the Vietminh with supplies, advisers and troops.
The US did the same and supplied the French. The advisers sent were often soldiers and wore uniforms but were told to advise, not fight. By 1954 the US was paying 80% of the cost of France’s war.
Why did the Vietminh win? (Eisenhower)
Eisenhower didn’t want to give support because of how the Korean war ended.
Why did the Vietminh win? (Local conditions)
Vietminh realised that the French had built a trap and saw access to the mountains as soon as possible
Why did the Vietminh win? (China’s support)
China had supplied the Vietminh with:
Weapons+ammo
20,000 bikes for moving supplies
Help in planning
Some troops
Why did the Vietminh win? (French problems)
Underestimated the Vietminh’s support
Didn’t expect them to be so well armed
Supply planes shot down by anti aircraft guns
Troops lacked commitment; many were German and not French
Why did the Vietminh win? (Vietminh commitment)
Worked day and night to build roads and move supplies
Were fighting for their own benefit (independence from France)
Why did the Vietminh win? (Local support)
Local villagers:
Helped dig five new roads to move supplies
Moved supplies
Spied on the French
