The Fall of South Vietnam Flashcards
When was the fall of South Vietnam?
1975- almost 3 years after the US had withdrawn most of its combat troops
By early 1972, what fraction of US servicemen had Vietnamisation removed?
More than 2/3
How many US personal remained in country?
Fewer than 135,000
How many men were in the AVRN and other military branches?
More than 1 million
What had brought an end to fighting?
The January 1973 Paris Peace Accords
Why had the 1973 Paris Peace Accords stopped fighting?
US promised to stop bombing if the North recognised the government of South Vietnam
What would failure to follow the Peace Accords?
US resuming bombing campaign on the North
How did Nixon convince Thieu to agree to the peace treaty?
Promising the resumption of US bombing if NV breached the agreement and resumed hostilities
What event in January 1973 made it unlikely that the US would resume bombing?
Massive stock market crash that lasted for 2 years
What did Congress pass in June 1973?
Case-Church Amendment
What did the Case Church Amendment prohibit?
US military action in south east Asia after August 1973
What did Congress pass in July 1973?
The War Powers Resolution
What did the War Powers Resolution limit?
The president’s ability to deploy the military without a congressional declaration of war
What happened in October 1973?
An oil embargo by Arab states that caused oil prices to more than double
What did the oil embargo increase?
The cost of military transport
What was the feeling of the South Vietnamese in 1973?
Abandonment by the USA who had informed the NV violations of the accords
What opened divisions and lowered morale in the AVRN?
Smaller VC operations and sabotage continuing
What did the North prepare itself for through 1974?
A final invasion of South Vietnam
When and why did Nixon resign?
August 1974
Watergate scandal
Who was Nixon’s successor?
Ford
What did General Ford go to congress seeking?
$1.45 billion in aid for SV
How much did Congress give Ford?
$700 million
When did Hanoi test the new president’s strength?
December 1974
How did Hanoi test Ford’s strength?
Launching an attack in Phuoc Long province- clear violation of the Paris treaty
What did Ford do in response to the attack in Phuoc Long? What could the North now do?
Protested but took no military action
North free to invade the south
On January 1st 1975, how far had NV troops advanced?
Within 75 miles of Saigon
Why had Saigon escaped major action and damage?
It was so far south
When did the final North Vietnamese offensive begin?
March 10th 1975
What did Hanoi’s military leadership anticipate?
That the reunification of Vietnam would be a long and bitter struggle
What was Hanoi struck by when their offensive began?
A rapid collapse of South Vietnam’s military resistance
Why did the AVRN scatter, flee or were quickly captured?
They were without US air support
How long did it take for Saigon to surrender two more northern provinces?
A week
By when had the major cities of Hue and Da Nang been captured?
The end of March 1975
How many AVRN had been taken prisoner by the end of March 1975?
Over 100,000
What happened over the next 3 weeks after Hue and Da Nang had been captured?
Several divisions of NVA and VC moved south towards Saigon
When did Thieu resign? What did he say?
April 21st 1975
“The US has not respected its promises. It is in inhumane. It is untrustworthy. It is irresponsible… you ran away and left us to do the job that you could not do”
Why did the North have no reason to negotiate?
Thieu fled to Taiwan
What happened in April 1975?
The first rockets in nearly ten years landed on Saigon
Why was evacuation of staff from the US Embassy difficult?
The city had no defence against the rockets
It could only be done using helicopters
The garden of the embassy made the landing nearly impossible
Why was landing of helicopters nearly impossible?
Helipad on food if embassy could only accommodate small helicopters such as Huey
By when was Saigon surrounded and under fire from North Vietnamese rockets?
April 27th 1975
Why were the AVRN troops in Saigon uneffective?
Lacked orders and effective leadership
When did Operation Frequent Wind begin?
30th April 1975
What was Operation Frequent Wind?
The evacuation by helicopter of several thousand US and South Vietnamese military, diplomatic and civilian personnel
What guarded the US embassy?
A few marines
Why did thousands of Saigon residents rush the US embassy?
They feared a communist massacre
By when did the NVA and Vietcong control Saigon?
Midday on 30th April 1975
Who was Thieu’s successor as president?
Duong Van Minh
What is Saigon now called?
Ho Chi Minh City
