The end of French colonial rule Flashcards
What was the area of countries controlled by France in Southeast Asia called?
French Indochina
When did Japan invade Vietnam?
During WW2
When did Vietnam declare itself an independent country?
1945, with Ho Chi Minh as President
When did France re-invade Vietnam?
1946, backing a non-communist government in the southern part of Vietnam
Who were the French supported by?
The US, who by 1954 had given France $3 billion to fight the Vietminh
Who were the Vietminh?
Communist-led organisation that fought against the Japanese and French in Indochina. Many members of the Vietminh later joined the Vietcong
When did communists take over China?
1949, when they then helped the Vietminh fight against the French
When was the First Indochina War?
1946-1954
What tactics did the Vietminh use against the French troops?
Guerrilla ‘Hit and Run’ tactics
How did the French retaliate against the tactics used by the Vietminh?
They attacked peasant villages, which led to an increase in support for the Vietminh
What major battle happened in spring of 1954?
Dien Bien Phu
What happened in Dien Bien Phu?
A battle when a small French air force base in Dien Bien Phu was surrounded by 50,000 Vietminh soldiers
How did the Vietminh defeat the French at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu?
They bombed the runway, and trapped the French troops, bombarding them with rockets and shells
When did the French surrender?
7th May 1954, due to them running out of supplies
What were the French survivors of the battle made to do?
Made to walk hundreds of kilometres to PoW Camps. Many died on the way