Tet Offensive Flashcards
What date was the Tet Offensive?
30th January 1968
Who was the idea of the Tet Offensive developed by?
Ho Chi Minh and Giap
How were the North planning on attacking the South?
3 stage attack
What was the 3 stage attack the North had originally planned?
1) Lure US forces to cities
2) Gather 84,000 troops to major cities in South Vietnam
3) Launch huge offensive using Tet festival as cover
What were the three main reasons for the launch of the Tet Offensive?
1) Communists had suffered many losses in 1967
2) Ho Chi Minh hoped the huge demonstration would force South Vietnam to collapse
3) Hoped peasants in South would feel sympathetic towards North
What was the main focal point for VC/NVA?
Saigon (where US embassy was)
What was the main targets for the VC/NVA?
Presidential palace, US embassy, radio station and ARVN HQ
How long did the VC/NVA occupy the US embassy for?
48 hours (until ARVN and US obtained it back)
What were the consequences for the Vietcong?
Vietcong was destroyed within a few days
By February 24th, how many of the NVA and ARVN had died?
NVA - 5,000
ARVN - 6,000
How did the Tet Offensive end?
Operation Niagara - huge scale air bombing killing 12,000 NVA/VC
What were the main consequences of the Tet?
- Media covered attack - US victory not publicised
- Communists managed to penetrate Saigon government (even though they lost)
- 58,000 out of 84,000 NVA/VC died
- Many survivors fled over to Laos and Cambodia
- Westmoreland called for 206,000 troops to achieve final victory
- LBJ advised by Secretary of State to look for quick withdrawl
Why did LBJ stand down as party leader?
Didn’t think extra amount of soldiers, ordered by Westmoreland, was needed
Who was Westmoreland?
American general
Who was Giap?
General for North Vietnam
