Vietnam Chapter 1 Flashcards
When did the battle at Dien Bien Phu begin?
13 March 1954
What were the two main reasons for the battle at Dien Bien Phu?
- Vietnam was a french colony and the french wanted to regain control after WW2.
- The Vietminh wanted Vietnamese independence.
Why did the US send supplies and advisors to the French?
The chinese sent the Vietminh supplies, advisers and troops. The fear of the spread of communism grew.
By 1954 how much was the USA paying of France’s costs for the war?
80%
How long did the fighting at Dien Bien Phu last?
55 days
How many French troops were at Dien Bien Phu?
15,000
How many Vietminh surrounded the French at Dien Bien Phu?
50,000 equipped with anti-aircraft guns and other artillery. They had 50,000 troops in reserve and 200,000 civilian workers.
Why were local conditions a reason for the Vietminh winning at Dien Bien Phu?
They understood the country:
- They saw the French had built a trap for themselves.
- They saw access to the mountains as possible
Why was China’s help a reason for the Vietminh winning at Dien Bien Phu?
They supplied them with:
- Weapons and ammunition
- 20,000 bikes to move supplies.
- Help in planning
- Some troops
Why was local support a reason for the Vietminh winning at Dien Bien Phu?
Villagers:
- Helped dig five new roads to move supplies
- Helped move supplies
- Spied on the French
Why was the Vietminh commitment a reason for their victory at Dien Bien Phu?
- They worked day and night
- They were fighting for independence from French rule.
Why were French problems a reason for the Vietminh’s victory at Dien Bien Phu?
- They underestimated support
- Didn’t expect the Vietminh to be so well armed.
- Supply planes were shot down
- The troops lacked commitment, many were German.
What happened the day after the French surrender at Dien Bien Phu?
Representatives from nine countries met in Geneva to discuss what was to happen to Vietnam.
Where was Vietnam to be temporarily divided along?
The 17th parallel.
Who would run the Northern part of Vietnam after the Geneva Accords?
Ho Chi Minh, however it was a smaller area of Vietnam than the Vietminh held when the war with France ended.
Who would run the southern part after the Geneva Accords?
Bao Dai
What else was agreed after the Geneva Accords?
- Vietnamese troops, and people, could move north or south for 300 days after the agreement.
- no foreign troops
- Elections to be held in July 1956
Why was the North unhappy with the Geneva Accords?
They had wanted to divide Vietnam further south
Which countries refused to obey the Geneva Accords?
The USA and South Vietnam
What was the Domino theory?
A fear of communsim spreading if one country became communist in an area.
What was SEATO?
South East Asia Treaty Organisation
Who was in SEATO?
The USA, the UK, France, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand
What was the aim of SEATO?
To stop communism spreading in Southeast Asia
When was SEATO set up?
September 1954
Why was Diem’s government weak?
- Still communists in South Vietnam
- Other religous, political and criminal groups had supporters
- Diem favoured Catholics
- Diem didn’t respect peasants and didn’t care about their support.
What was the majority religion in Vietnam?
Buddhist
How did Eisenhower support Diem?
Sending advisors to train the ARVN
Why did Diem hold a referendum?
Bao Dai spoke against his policies
Why did Diem become more unpopoular after the referendum?
The election was fixed and he stopped villages electing their own officials and put resented government officials in charge.
Why did Diem refuse to hold elections on 16 July 1956?
He said his government had not existed when the Geneva Accords were agreed so he didn’t have to obey them.
Why did the USA keep supporting Diem even after he refused to hold elections?
They were scared of a communist government winning and being elected.
What did Diem do against his opponents?
- He began to arrest political and religous opponents.
- He urged people to report communists
- In 1957 he sent the ARVN to the countryside and they arrested 65,000 communists and killed 2,000
Who were the Vietcong?
Revolutionary groups that were experts in guerilla warfare and fought Diem’s government.
What happened in December 1960?
The VC joined with other anti-Diem groups to from the National Liberation Front
How many officials had been killed by March 1958?
Over 400
When did the North Vietnamese send troops into south vietnam?
May 1959
By the end of 1960 how much of South Vietnam was under Government control?
Less than half. This is because the VC worked to gain local support whilst the government looked down on them
When did Kennedy become president?
1961
How many advisors had Kennedy sent to South Vietnam by November 1963?
16,000
How many VC guerillas were in the South by early 1961?
12,000
Why was it hard for the ARVN to win over villagers?
Many ARVN officers looked down on the villagers, while the villagers saw the ARVN as part of the corrupt government system.
When were US helicpoters and pilots sent to transport the ARVN?
December 1961
What was the aim of the strategic hamlet program?
To stop the VC from recruiting villagers or getting supplies from them.
What were strategic hamlets?
They were large new villages built by the government. They were surrounded by barbed wire and guarded by ARVN troops.
When did work begin on the strategic hamlet program?
January 1962
How many strategic hamlets were built by September 1962?
5,000
Why did the strategic hamlets fail?
- The villagers did not want to leave their homes.
- They didn’t want to leave the graves of family members or ancestors
- Diem’s government failed to provide them with enough food, so many went hungry or starved.
When did the ARVN lose the battle of Ap Bac?
2 January 1963
What were the US casulties at Ap Bac?
- Five helicopters
- 3 US advisors
- 60 ARVN troops
When did government troops open fire on a buddhist procession?
6 May 1963, it left 9 dead and 14 injured
When was Diem overthrown?
1 November 1963 by ARVN generals, the USA knew what was being planned and didn’t warn Diem.
What were Kennedy’s aims with the new government?
- To influence the new government to act democratically
- To influence the new government to win over the people of South Vietnam.
- To withdraw US advisers and other forces as soon as possible.
When was Kennedy assassinated?
22 November 1963, he was replaced by Johnson
What were Johnsons goals in Vietnam?
- Setting up a government the South Vietnamese people wanted
- Stopping communism; so keeping South Vietnam as a seperate country
- Stopping the war escalating and avoiding nuclear war
Why was Johnson’s position in Vietnam worse than Kennedy’s?
- The VC were stronger
- The new government was even weaker
- The USA was more unpopular in South Vietnam.
Why did the organisation of the VC make them more of a threat in 1964?
- NLF provided a political leadership structure
- North Vietnam sent more people to organise resistance
- VC organised into ‘cadres’ which were divided into 3-man cells. These cells could act quickly
Why did foreign aid make the VC more of a threat in 1964?
Communist China and the USSR provided ammunition, weapons, advisers and troops. VC could make larger, more damaging, attacks
Why did the South Vietnam government make the VC more of a threat?
- Villagers resented being moved to strategic hamlets.
- Government seen as a puppet of USA
- Government split by in-fighting, not focused on defeating VC.
Why did local support make the VC more of a threat in 1964?
- They made social reforms in VC-controlled areas
- Respected villagers and involved them in decision-making
- Some VC lived in villages, sharing hardships.
Why did VC ideals make them more of a threat in 1964?
They were fighting:
- The USA and its puppet government
- To end poverty and injustice
- to unite Vietnam with a fair government.
Why did time make the VC more of a threat in 1964?
The VC had time on their side. It was their country and it didn’t matter how long it took to win.
How many advisers were there at the end of 1964?
Over 20,000
What happened on 2 August 1964?
The Maddox radar showed three North Vietnamese torpedo boats closing in. The Captain called for air support. The North Vietnamese fired; the Maddox fired back and withdrew when US planes arrived.
Why did the North Vietnamese attack in the Gulf of Tonkin?
Small US boats were secretly ferrying ARVN troops to carry out raids on North Vietnamese ships and territory.
What happened on 4 August 1964?
There was a bad storm. Maddox and C. Turner Joy reported torpedo boat attacks and claimed to have sunk two enemy boats. There was confusion. Johnson ordered US planes to strike North Vietnamese targets in retaliation. Two US jets were shot down
What did Johnson ask Congress to do after the Gulf of Tonkin?
On 5 August he asked Congress to give him the power to stop future attacks on US forces.
When was the Gulf of Tonkin resolution passed ?
7 August 1964
What did the gulf of tonkin resolution do?
Johnson could take all necessary steps to stop attacks on US forces without consulting congress of declaring war. It meant he could send troops to Vietnam.
How did the North Vietnamese increase their involvement in South Vietnam?
- From November 1964 to February 1965, more and more people and supplies were sent south.
- The VC were urged to target US bases
- Battle of Binh Gia
- Attack on Pleiku airfield
When was Binh Gia?
2 December 1964 - 3 January 1965
When was the attack on Pleiku?
7 February 1965
What were the casualty figures at Pleiku?
Nine dead
128 wounded
122 aircraft damaged or destroyed
How many miles was the Cu Chi tunnel complex?
almost 100 miles on several levels
Why were US troops unpopular?
They often used indiscriminate weapons such as Napalm and caused lots of collateral damage
When was the go-ahead for Op Rolling Thunder given?
February 1965
What was Rolling Thunder?
A bombing campaign over North Vietnam
Which areas did the USA not target in Rolling Thunder?
Hanoi, Haiphong and an area along the chinese border to prevent escalation
What were the targets during Rolling Thunder?
- the Ho Chi Minh Trail
- Industry in North Vietnam
When did Rolling Thunder end?
The end of 1968
When were the first bombs dropped during Rolling Thunder?
2 March 1965
Why was bombing the Ho Chi Minh trail ineffective?
- Thousands of VC and North Vietnamese constantly repaired the trail.
- They used tunnels to protect soldiers and supplies
- It wasn’t in one place
What evidence supports the fact that bombing the Ho Chi Minh trail was ineffective?
More supplies and troops made it along the trail than ever. They could also only target the sections in Vietnam.
What was the affect of the mass destruction during Rolling Thunder?
It made the North Vietnamese more determined to oppose the USA. Thousands of civilians were killed, which was bad for public opinion in the US and worldwide.
Why was bombing industry in North Vietnam ineffective?
Most supplies were made in China or the USSR
How much did aid from the USSR rise between 1965 and 1967?
It rose from $210 million to $505 million.
How many Marines landed at Danang between 8 and 10 March 1965?
3,500
What were US troop numbers in Vietnam in 1964?
23,300
What were US troop numbers in Vietnam in 1965?
184,300
What were US troop numbers in 1966?
385,300
What were US troop numbers in 1967?
485,600
What were US troop numbers in 1968?
536,100
What were search and destroy missions?
Small units of US soldiers searched the jungle for VC camps and supplies. They then called up helicopters to bomb or spray chemicals on them.
The missions were often on ground the VC had prepared with traps
How many VC and US were killed during the first wave of search and destroy missions?
1,100 VC
Fewer than 100 US troops.
Why were search and destroy missions ineffective?
They didn’t win support from the locals because they often destroyed villages. The VC also reoccupied the villages as soon as the Americans and ARVN left
What is an example of a failed Search and destroy mission?
Operation Cedar Falls, 1967
Why were ‘free-fire zones’ bad?
The villagers often didn’t understand and reoccupied the zones after being evacuated.
Between 1964 and 1970 how much of South Vietnam was sprayed with herbicide?
Over 24%
What herbicide was used to kill crops?
Agent Blue
What herbicide was used on the jungle forests?
Agent Orange
How many children were born with birth defects as a result of Operation ranch hand?
At least 150,000
When was Ap Bac?
2 January 1963
When was the battle of la Drang Valley?
14-26 November 1965
When was the battle of Khe Sanh?
20 January - 14 April 1968
When was the Tet offensive?
30 January - 24 February 1968
How did the North Vietnamese and VC try to catch the US and ARVN off guard during the run up to the Tet Offensive?
- Late 1967: arracked areas just south of the DMZ to lure in troops away from cities and bases.
- The North suggested it might be willing to negotiate for peace, this made the USA think they were ready to give in.
- Battle of Khe Sanh
How many communist troops took part in the Tet offensive?
84,000
What part of the Tet Offensive was a shock to the US public?
The VC in the US embassy because they had been told they were winning the war.
What was the impact of the Tet Offensive on US politicians?
- Growing anti-war feeling. Congress less willing to fund the war.
- Main reason for Johnson not running for president in 1968
How did the Tet Offensive impact the US Army?
- Some feel they can win with more troops
- Others feel the ARVN did well so the US can leave
How did the Tet Offensive impact the US public?
- Felt cheated by the government saying the war could end soon
- Huge rise in opposition to the war
How did the Tet Offensive impact North Vietnam?
- Heavy losses
- VC almost wiped out
- South didn’t revolt
BUT - Can rebuild forces
- Tet is useful propaganda
How did the Tet Offensive impact the South Vietnamese government?
- They were worried the US might leave too soon.
- Had some support from the South Vietnamese people
How did the Tet Offensive impact the South Vietnamese people?
- They were unhappy with their governments failure to protect them.
- The attacks showed a communist takeover would be destructive
What did Nixon promise to do when he was elected?
He promised to get the USA out of the war and he promised to tell the truth and explain his policies to the public.
When Nixon sent delegates to Paris why did it become clear that talks would be long and difficult?
Delegates argued over seating arrangements
When did Henry Kissinger begin secret talks with Le Duc Tho of North Vietnam?
August 1969. Nixon didn’t tell the public about these talks.
When did Nixon lower the maximum number of troops in Vietnam by 25,000?
June 1969
When did the USA begin to withdraw troops?
14 July 1969
When did Nixon order the secret bombing of parts of the Ho Chi Minh trail in Cambodia?
15 March 1969
When did Nixon give the speech outlining the Nixon doctrine?
25 July 1969
What did the Nixon doctrine say?
- The USA would honour any treaty commitments it had made.
- The USA would help any ally against a nuclear threat
- The USA would provide aid and training against non- nuclear threats, but not troops.
What were the key features of Vietnamisation?
- US troops were to withdraw
- The ARVN was to provide its own officers
- The USA would provide training and equipment
- Peace with honour
- South Vietnam would remain a seperate country and not communist.
Why did some people see Vietnamisation as a failure?
They felt US troops were being withdrawn too soon
How did the communists see Vietnamisation?
A chance to gain the upper hand in the war
How did US citizens react to vietnamisation?
They were happy because US troops were being withdrawn.
How did US generals and the South Vietnamese see vietnamisation?
They worried the ARVN were not ready to fight alone
When did pro-American General Lon Nol take over Cambodia and tell the North Vietnamese to leave?
March 1970
How many troops invaded Cambodia?
50,000 ARVN and 30,000 US
Why did Nixon invade Cambodia?
To prevent the Khmer Rouge and North Vietnamese from taking over and making it communist.
When did US troops have to be out of Cambodia?
30 June
What were the positive results of the invasion of Cambodia?
- Significant damage was done to the Ho Chi Minh trail
- 11,000 communists were killed and Nol’s government was kept in power
- Communist bases and supply networks were destroyed
What was the limitations of the invasion of Cambodia?
- Communist pulled back deep into Cambodia. The ARVN couldn’t invade too far otherwise they would be cut off from US support.
- North Vietnamese used sections of the trail in Laos.
What was the opposition to the invasion of Cambodia?
- Huge public outcry
- Congress was furious and cancelled the Gulf of Tonkin resolution. They also called for less funding and faster troop withdrawls.
Why did the invasion of Laos raise serious doubts about Vietnamisation?
The ARVN fled and suffered high casulties
What was the Easter Offensive?
120,000 North Vietnamese troops attacked in three different places. The USA and ARVN were suprised but eventually the ARVN, with US air support, pushed the North Vietnamese back.
When was Operation Linebacker launched?
6 April 1972
What did Operation Linebacker do?
Bomb targets in North Vietnam, this time there were no restrictions. It also included the dropping of mines in Haiphong harbour
What did Linebacker do?
- Almost wiped out the North Vietnamese war industry
- Severely disrupted supplies from china and USSR
- Destroyed communication networks
- Led to China and the USSR urging for a peace settlement.
What was the result of Vietnamisation?
It failed
Why did US troops cause Vietnamisation to fail?
Knowing they would soon be going home they no longer saw themselves as fighting to win. They fragged officers and drug use rose
Evidence for fragging
Cases rose from 96 in 1969 to 209 in 1970
How many soldiers were heroin addicts?
35,000
Why did the ARVN cause Vietnamisation to fail?
- Not enough soldiers
- Desertion was common
- Officers did not want to admit their troops were struggling in combat so didn’t call for support.
- Corruption was rife
- Stealing was common
In 1971 how many South Vietnamese men aged 15 to 49 were in the ARVN?
Over half
What evidence is there for desertion in the ARVN?
In 1969 about 123,000 men deserted this rose to 150,500 men in 1971
Why did training and equipment cause Vietnamisation to fail?
- Congress restricted funding
- Officer training was hurried. In 1971 about 75% of officers had less than a years experience.
- US equipment manuals were in English, many ARVN couldn’t read English.
How many Vietnamese people lost their jobs as a result of the economic crisis set off by the USA leaving?
300,000
Why did the government in Saigon fall ?
It was weak, politically and militarily. It also lacked support. The ARVN could also not hold out against the North.
When was the Paris Agreement signed?
27 January 1973
What did the Paris peace agreement do?
It set up a ceasefire and a timetable for the peaceful reunification of Vietnam. Very few people believed it would do anything other than provide a ceasefire while the US withdrew.
What did the Easter Offensive lead to?
Operation Linebacker
When did the North Vietnamese Army sweep through the country?
March 1975
