Short-term consequence - Death and Destruction Flashcards
Key point:
The Tet Offensive had a devastating impact on the people of Vietnam
Explanation:
The focus of Tet on urban areas and US military bases devastated the Vietnamese people through large numbers of casualties and the destruction of cities.
Insight:
This highlights that throughout the war it was Vietnamese civilians who were overwhelmingly the victims of the war. This is important because historiography of the war typically focuses on how Tet impacted the US
THE HIGH NUMBER OF DEATHS resulting from the Tet Offensive + THE EXECUTIONS of collaborators by the VC
7,721 civilians were killed and 2,800 US and Southern collaborators were executed on the withdrawal of Hue by the VC. Alongside this, there were 58,000 of the NVA and VC involved in the offensive killed, wounded or missing and 11,000 of the ARVN troops involved in the offensive killed. This is significant to the consequence as it marks all of the death within it, and gives a number to the Vietnamese people’s suffering.
THE DEVASTATION OF CITIES such as Hue and the resulting homelessness
Evidence to support it is seen in Hue, one of the many places targeted by the offensive. While 6,000 civilians of Hue died, this comparison to the 110,000/135,000 of Hue citizens that were left homeless. A reporter on the scene at the time commented “all that was left of Hue was ruins divided by a river.”. This is significant to the consequence as it shows, just with the example of one city? How utterly destroyed Vietnam was.
The numbers
7,721 civilians killed total
6,000 civilians Hue
58,000/84,000 NVA/VC involved in the offensive killed, wounded or missing
11,000 of ARVN troops involved in the offensive
“A costly lesson paid for in blood and bone” - General Giap
The bodies couldn’t be retrieved
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110,000-135,000 Hue citizens left homeless
“All that was left of Hue was ruins divided by a river” - reporter
