Tet Offensive Flashcards
What were the reasons for tet?
Ho Chi Minh and Giap developed a strategy to draw the USA out and expose them.
The north planned to attack the Saigon government in the hope it would collapse
Vietcong wanted to show there power and take the peasants from the south to the north to boost the Vietcong army
The Americans were preoccupied with the tet festival.
How did the Vietcong attack Saigon?
3 stage attack
Lure US forces to Vietnamese hinterlands
Gather 84,000 troops near major cities of south Vietnam
Launch huge offensive attack using the tet festival as cover
When did the Vietcong attack?
30th January 1968
Why did the tet offensive fail for the Vietcong?
They wanted to surprise attack Saigon but were quickly crushed as the USA and ARVN were too powerful. 84,000 troops were sent 58,000 went killed by USA and ARVN
What city did the Vietcong manage to keep?
Hue
How many civilians died at hue?
3,000 to 6,000
What was the operation called when the USA bombed hue?
Operation niagara - killed 12,000 VC
Killed 400 USA/ ARVN
Who wanted more troops to capitalise the VC and crush them?
Commander Westmoreland
How many troops did Westmoreland want?
206,000
What happened when Westmoreland asked for the troops?
LBJ refused him the troops
Told Westmoreland to withdraw honourably
LBJ shortly after stood down as party leader nominee
