Vietnam War Events

Question 1

What happened at Dien Bien Phu?

Answer 1

Fight between the French and the Vietminh. The fighting lasted 55 days until the french surrendered. The 15,000 french troop were ambushed by 50,000 Vietminh at the Dien Bein Phu airstrip.

Question 2

Why did the Vietminh win at Dien Bien Phu?

Answer 2

1. Local Condition - Vietminh knew there country, vegitation.
2. Local Support - Villagers helped dog new roads, move supplies and spied on the french.
3. Help from China - Supplied weapons, ammunition, 20,000 bikes to move supplies, Heavy artillery, some troops and Generals to help planning.
4. French Problems - Underestimated the support and weapons, Supply planes were shot down by Vietminh anti-aircraft guns and French troop were not commited as many were german.
5. Commitment of Vietminh - Worked day and night to move supplies and build roads, and were fighting for independence.

Question 3

Why was Diem’s government weak?

Answer 3

1. Diem was Catholic ; most Vietnamese were Buddhist, Diem favoured the Catholics.
2. Still communists in SV, they comtrolled northern areas.
3. Other religious, politicals and criminal had armies and soupporties.
4. Treat peasants with no excuse.

Question 4

What was agreed at the Geneva Accords?

Answer 4

Vietnam would divided in the 17 paralell with DMZ zone.
Ho chi minh control northern part and Boa Dai (later Diem) would comtrol the south.
Troops and people could move south or north freely over 300 days.
No foreign troops could be set up
In July 1956, election would be held to decide a united vietnam government, but Diem refused later.

Question 5

What was the ‘Domino Theory’?

Answer 5

The most significant reason of US involvement was for the fear of communism in Vietnam. Eisenhower believed if Vietnam became communist then other Southeast asian countries would follow.

Question 6

What was the SEATO?

Answer 6

Eisenhower set up the South East Asia Treaty Organisation in 1954 with USA, UK, Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand and the Phillipines. they agreed to act together to stop communism spreading in South East Asia.

Question 7

What type of war did Eisenhower want to fight?

Answer 7

A Limited War - A war where a country supports a side in a conflict, sending supplies and training their troops, but not sending their own troops to fight.

Question 8

What were the consequences of Diem regusing to hold Elections?

Answer 8

1957 - Diem sent ARVN into the countryside to arrest communists, they arrested 65,000 and killed 2,000 communists.
1958 - Communists fourght back and 400 officials are killed, this caused various revoloutinary groups to unite under one name, Vietcong.
1959 - NV also sent soldiers to SV along the Ho Chi Minh trail fighting with Vietcong, starting the Civil War.

Question 9

How does the US get more involved under Kennedy? (1961)

Answer 9

1. January - Kennedy commits 40 million to train ARVN.
2. October - Orders a report on sending inUS troops.
3. December - Kennedy authorises the use of defoliant chemical sprays (kills crops, jungle)
4. December - US helicopters and pilots to transport ARVN

Question 10

Why did the US get more involved under Kennedy?

Answer 10

1. Kennedy believed in the Domino Theory.
2. Kennedy sent more advisors, by 1963 he sent 16,000 advisors.
3. Kennedy changed the tactic to counter-insurgency to iscolate VC and attack them instead pf waiting to be ambushed because over half of the country SV was communist comtrolled.
4. Kennedy wanted a policy of Pacification to win support of the villiagers : was hard because ARVN looked down on villagers and villagers saw the ARVN as currupt.
5. Special forces (Green Berets) train the local population to fight VC, but were foreign soldier so hard to gain trust and communicate.

Question 11

What was the strategic hamlet programme?

Answer 11

It was US programme to build large new villages, surroumded by barbed wire and protected with ARVN. Also with facilities like schools. They wanted to keep the villagers safe and stop recruitment from the VC. It started in January 1962 and by Spetember 1962 5,000 had been built.

Question 12

What is the Evidence of the failure of the Strategic Hamlets and why?

Answer 12

This failed because the villiagers didn’t want to leave their homes/buisnesses and families and where their relatives were buried.
Diem’s governments failed to provide food and education which the promised. It was like Prison. Only 10 percent had proper security so VC still easily snuck in and recruited villagers.
Creating them forced people to relocation and forced labour leading to more discontent to the US/SV Government.

Question 13

What were the events of the Overthrow of Diem?

Answer 13

• 2 January 1963, the ARVN lost the battle of Ap Bac, despite outnumbering the VC 5 to 1, better weapons and US air support. Lost 5 US helicoptors, 3 US advisors and 60 troops.
• 6 May 1963, SV government fired on a Buddhist procession, leaving 9 dead and 14 injured.
• 11 June 1963, Quang Duc a buddhist monk set a light of himself im Saigon in protest of buddhist persection creating worldwide publicity.
• 1 November 1963, was overthrown by ARVN generals and assasinated, the US allowed this to happen due to the persection of Buddhists after Kennedy had told him to stop.

Question 14

What were Johnson’s Goals after JFK was assasinated?

Answer 14

• Setting up a government the South Vietnamese people wanted.
• Stopping communism; so helping South Vietnam as a sperate country.
• Stopping the war escalating and avoiding nuclear war.

South Vietnamese government only controlled 30% to 40% of South Vietnam the rest VC.

Question 15

What were the six reasons of an increase threat of the Vietcong in 1964?

Answer 15

1. Organisation
2. Local Support
3. Foreign Aid
4. Vietcong Ideals
5. The South Vietnamese Government
6. Time

Question 16

How did Strengths of the VC make the Vietcong more of a threat in 1964?

Answer 16

Local Support:
Properganda won over villagers
Made social reforms and replaced corrupt officals
Respected and involved villagers in decision-making.
VC stayed with villager, experienced hardships.

Victory Ideals:
The were fighting the USA and it’s puppet government.
To end poverty and injustice.
To unite vietnam with a fair government.

Time:
It was their country, doesn’t matter how long it took to win.

Question 17

How did the Military threat of the VC make the Vietcong more of a threat in 1964?

Answer 17

Organisation:
NLF provided political leadership structure.
North Vietnam sent more people to organise resistance.
VC ordganised in ‘cadres’, which were divided into 3-man ‘cells’, acted quickly.

Foreign Aid:
Communist China and the USSR provided ammunition, weapons, advisers and troops. VC could make larger, more damaging attacks.
Between 195 and 1963, China sent 100 million dollars in aid.

Question 18

How did the weakness of the US and South Vietnamese Government make the Vietcong more of a threat in 1964?

Answer 18

Strategic hamlets failed and villagers resented being moved to strategic hamlets.
Government seen as a ‘puppet of USA.
Government split by in-fighting (e.g assasination of Diem), not focused on defeating VC.
Very courrupt officals and did not value the peasants.

Question 19

What were the events of The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 1964?

Answer 19

1. 2nd August, 1964 - Three North Vietnamese torpedos fire at the US Maddox (because they were carrying ARVN troops) and they return fire.
2. 4th August, 1964 - The Maddox and C.Turner Joy reported North Vietnamese torpedo boat attacks and claimed to have sunk two enemy ships.
3. 5th August, 1964 - Johnson told Congress about the attack on the Maddox and C.Turner Joy and asked to give him the power to stop future attacks on US forces.
4. 7th August, 1964 - Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, it gave Johnson the power to take all necessary steps to stop future attacks on US forces.

Question 20

What were the 5 consequences of the Gulf of Tonkin Incident?

Answer 20

1. Unoffical declare of War as he can take all necessary measures,
2. Over 400 million is spent, 23,00 troops are sent in and 216 US soldiers are dead.
3. VC retaliate, on the 7 Febuary, the VC attacked the US airfeild Pleiku. 9 dead, 128 wounded and 122 aircrafts damaged or destroyed.
4. Increased the VC’s moral and determination to unite and fight the US
5. Impact on vietnamese people as there are many villagers speech and factories bombed and napalmed striked.
6. More supplies went south over November 1964 to Febuary 1965.
7. 2 December 1964, fighting began at Binh Gia until 3 January 1965. VC won destroying/damaging over 50 helicopters and taking prisoners and eauipment.

Question 21

What is Guerrilla Warfare?

Answer 21

Gurrilla tactics involved fighting a much better equipped and numerically superior enemy by ambushes, booby traps, guerrilla warfare and underground tunnels.

Question 22

What were the the three types of Tactics employed by the Vietcong?

Answer 22

1. Booby Troops - Punji pit was a hollow ground with Punji (bamboo) sticks sharpened and camoflaged. Filled punji sticks with human extrement to spread disease into the wound. A tripmine would let off Punji sticks from above and freefall.
2. Ambush/Guerrilla Warfare - VC avoided ‘Pitched Battles’, carried out battles on their own terms through ambushes so the odds were in their favour. Weapons were basic (e.g Knives, Pistols). Relied on the element of suprise for success, local support to not warn the US and knowing the local terrain.
3. Underground tunnels - There were underground cities were the VC lived. 120 km Cu Chi tunnel network around Saigon. Tunnels included hospitals, food, amunition, supplies and sleeping cabins.

Question 23

How were the three types of Tactics employed by the Vietcong effective?

Answer 23

1. Booby Troops - Targets the most vunerable part of the body so more likely to hurt them.
   Takes out a platoon as two men must carry the injured man to safety.
   Easy to build and resources (Bamboo) was in abundence.
   Very low risk to the VC, traps fighting the US.
   US soldiers living in constant fear and 6000 trops killed by boobie traps (11% of all deaths).
2. Ambush/Guerrilla Warfare - Low risk as they decide when to fight so they are ready and prepared.
   Increase the chance of success as they can not be out-gunned, better equipment for the US doesn’t matter.
   Only effective because of the Jungle, easy to hide.
3. Underground tunnels - Allow you to move soldiers/supplies quickly for support.
   They can perform ambushes and disaplear unscaped.
   Heal and look after eachother without being shot.
   A bomb shelter from the US as the were underground, making US advanced weaponary useless.

Question 24

What was Operation Rolling Thunder, Febuary 1965?

Answer 24

The aim was to complete heavy bombing all over North Vietnam targeting the Ho Chi Minh trail to stop supplies and factories/imdustries in North Vietnam. Two main bombs used were : Napalm, buring petrol mixture that sticks, and Pineapple bombs, canisters that explode and shoot pelets everywhere.

Question 25

Why was Operation Rolling Thunder insignificant?

Answer 25

1. Bombing damaging Ho Chi Minh Trail/Roads - Thousands of VC and NV constantly repaired the trail. North Vietnamese made more trails to store soldiers/supplies. More soldiers and supplies moved along the trail then ever.
2. Industry bombing- Most war supplies were made in China or the USSR.
3. NV Aid - Aid sent in from China and USSR was not attacked. USSR aid went from 200 million dollars in 1965 to 505 million dollars in 1967.
4. Destruction - It made NV more determined to beat the US, US lost 248 aircrafts in 1967. Thousands of civillians were being killed which cause bad public opinion of the war in the US.

Question 26

What was adavantage and disadvantage the of US tactic of Sending in the Troops?

Answer 26

There was a 2,200% im troops from 23,300 in 1964 to 536,100 in 1968.
Adv: Defends the US air bases for Rolling Thunder to happen, to stop VC attacks.
Disadv: Creates extreme opposition to the war as it is done by a draft system to get troops.

Question 27

What were the Search and Destroy patrols and the advantages and disadvantages of it?

Answer 27

Small units of US would search for VC troops or supplies and then would call in the helicopter to destroy the targets.
Adv: During first wave of SnD, US troops killed 1,100 VC and lost 100 of their. Destoryed supplies and tunnels
Disadv: It lost local support as the bombing made 4 million SV refugees. US had the wrong metality, the body count of deaths don’t matter as the VC will move back in once the troops leave after the bombing. Helps VC support, more villagers feed and house them.

Question 28

What was Operation Cedar Falls in 1967 and the advantages/disadvantages of them?

Answer 28

Example of US SnD tactics failing, it was large scale of 30,000 US and ARVN troops.
Adv: US do move villagers to safe refugee camps. Killed 750 VC troops and created a ‘fire-free zone’ which they can bomb at any time.l
Disadv: Lose 450 US and ARVN troops, VC go back to the ‘Iron Triangle’, lose local support from forcing villagers to move.

Question 29

What was the US tactic of Chemical Warfare advantages and disadvantages?

Answer 29

It began in 1961 and ended in 1971. The two types were: Agent Orange (stronger herbicide, kill jungle), Agent Blue (weaker herbicide for crops) and napalm.
Adv: 3000 villages sprayed, 300 acres in 4 minuetes can be sprayed. Hurts VC as the can’t hide for ambushesn easy to find and kill them, starve VC from no crops.
Disadv: Herbicides were stronger than in the US and didn’t dissolve into water so poisened water causing 150,000 children to be born with birth defects. Public outrage in the US for the use of herbicides, losing support. US troops injured from toxic water.

Question 30

What was Operation Ranch Hand?

Answer 30

Hapenned between 1964 and 1970, over 24% of South Vietnam was sprayed with herbicide. Causing millions to suffer. (Same Adv and Disadv on Chemical Warfare flashcard)

Question 31

What was the Tet Offensive (events)?

Answer 31

1. In late 1967, the NV and VC attacked areas in south vietnam to lure the US and ARVN troops away from cities and military bases.
2. North Vietnamese suggest they might be willing to negotiatefor peace, this made the US think they were giving in.
3. On 20 January, NV troops surrounded and attacked the USA base at Khe Sanh, the US sent 6,000 troops and bombers to defend it.
4. The Tet Offensive was launched when the south was celebrating lunar new year. There 84,000 communist troops involved and a change from hit and run tactics. VC got into the US embassy and Presidential palace.

Question 32

What was the impact of the Tet Ofensive on the US?

Answer 32

1. US Politicians:
   - Main reason for Johnson not running for president in 1968 and Nixon dominating the election with the promise to ending the war.
   - Anti-war feeling so Congress were less likely to fund the war and on March 31, President Johnson decelaredhe would be limiting bombing to bellow the 20th parellel.
2. US Army:
   - Some feel they can win with more troops, General Westmoreland was refused 200,000 more troops, blaming the losing on Political decsisions.
   - Other feel the ARVN did well, so the US can exit.
3. US public:
   - Exposed the credibility of the Government and Army as they said the war would end soon.
   - 50 million americans saw the Footage of the attack on the US embassy, which shocked them.
   - Huge rise in opposition to the war, Walter Cronkite reported famously reported that the only way out was to negotiate not win.

Question 33

What was the impact of the Tet Ofensive on South Vietnam?

Answer 33

1. Government:
   Worried the US might leave too soon.
   Had support from the South Vietnamese people as the did not revolt with the offensive.
2. People:
   They were unhappy with the government’s failure to protect them.
   The attacks show that a communist takeover would be destructive.

Question 34

What was the impact of the Tet Ofensive on North Vietnam?

Answer 34

Negative:

• Heavy Losses: 30,000 VC and 45,000 North Vietnamese Army were killed. This meant they could no longer fight big battles.
• VC allies almost all wiped out.
• South Vietnamese did not revolt as hoped, showing lack of support for Communism.

Positive:

• They NV can always re-build forces.
• Use the Tet Offensive in their properganda.
• Showed that the VC could attack anywhere as they attack 100 cities.
• The reaction of the US was the main victory as the american saw it as a complete humiliation, creating more Anti-war support.

Question 35

What was the Nixon Doctrine?

Answer 35

1. USA would honour any treaty commitments it had made.
2. USA would help any ally against a nuclear threat.
3. USA provide aid and training against non-nuclear threats but not troops.

Question 36

What were the events of Nixon’s approach on Vietnam (1968-9)

Answer 36

November 1968 - Nixon’s elected
January 1969 - Offical peace talks begin, send delegates to Paris to negotiate with North and South Vietnam.
March 1969 - Secret bombing of Cambodia began on parts of the Ho Chi Minh trail.
June 1969 - Troop withdrawals begin, maximum number of troops are 25,000.
July 1969 - Nixon announces the Nixon Doctrine.
August 1969 - Secret peace talks begin, US send Henry Kissinger with Le Duc Tho of North Vietnam.

Question 37

What was Vietnamisation?

Answer 37

‘Vietnamisation’ was the word used for the application of the Nixon Docterine to Vietnam. Removing troops from Vietnam without looking like they have been defeated. Shift the responsibility to the ARVN, and stop SV becomin communist.

Question 38

What were the Key features of Vietnamisation?

Answer 38

1. US trooos were to withdraw.
2. The ARVN was to provide its own officers.
3. The US was still to provide training and equipment.
4. US withdraw,a would be done ‘with honour’ - not leaving because of the VC and NV.
5. South Vietnam would remain a seperate country and not communist.

Question 39

What was Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia, 1970, and what were the results of it?

Answer 39

50,000 ARVN and 30,000 troops invaded Cambodia in 1970 because Pro-America gerneral Lon Nol took over Cambodia and forced the VC out but the VC and Cambodia Gorrilla’s were taking Cambodia back over. Invaded to stop communism taking over. Impacts were:

• Nol’s government was kept in power
• 11,000 communist killed
• Significant damage done to the Ho Chi Minh trail
• Communist bases and supplies destroyed
• Public outrcy in the US with protests
• Congress CANCELLED the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, less funding and faster troop withdrawal.

Question 40

What was Nixon’s invasion of Laos, 1971?

Answer 40

Several groups were struggling for power in Loas, including communist groups funded by the USSR and the NV used Laotian Ho Chi Minh trail more.
21,000 ARVN troops invaded and the US provided air support. The NVA were prepared with 36,000 troops and tanks and defeated the ARVN leaving lots of casulties and equipment. It raised serious doubts about Vietnamisation as the trail and NV bases remained secure.

Question 41

What was the Easter Offesive, 1972?

Answer 41

On 30 March 1972, nearly 120,000 North Vietnamese troops attacked South Vietnam in three places, the VC helped aswell. At first it was succesfull but then with US air support the ARVN pushed the back.

Question 42

What was Operation Linebacker, 1972?

Answer 42

It involved heavy bombing of North Vietnam, in response to the Easter Offensive. There was no restiction, unlike Operation Rolling Thunder, both Hanoi and Haiphong were bombed and blockades were set up to stop USSR and China ships coming in.

• It almost wiped out the NV war imdustry and destroyed comunnication/radio stations
• Severely disrupted supplies from the USSR and China, and led to China and USSR urging NV to reach a peace settlement.

Question 43

What were the 4 reasons for why did Vietnamisation fail?

Answer 43

1. US troops
2. Training and Equipment
3. Economic/Political problems in SV
4. The ARVN

Question 44

What was Nixon’s aims with Vietnam?

Answer 44

1. ‘Peace with Honour’, ending the war in Vietnam.
2. Stop South Vietnam becoming communist.
3. Maintain trust with the US public and tell them the truth about the war.

Question 45

How were US troops a reasons for why Vietnamisation failed?

Answer 45

• US troops no longer wanted to fight becuase they knew they were going home and weren’t fighting to win.
• Some Officers who forced their troops into action were ‘fragged’, killed by their own men. Fragging rose from 96 in 1969 to 209 in 1970.
• Drug use rose, marijuana use was high but in 1971 herion use grew out of control, the army said about 35,000 soldiers were heroin addicts.

Question 46

How were the ARVN a reasons for why Vietnamisation failed?

Answer 46

• Didn’t have enough soldiers evethough there was conscription (compulsory military service). In 1971, over half of SV men aged 15 to 49 in the ARVN.
• Desertion was common. In 1969, 123,000 men deserted and this rose to 150,000 men in 1971. Only 24,000 returned.
• Many officers were reluctant to lead their troops into battle and wouldn’t call for support out of embaressment until it was too late.
• There was lots of corruption like: offical were appointed politically not skill, hard to know troops as officers would lie how many they had as it affects thei pay and military supplies like peterol were stolen and sold.

Question 47

How were the Training and Equipment a reasons for why Vietnamisation failed?

Answer 47

• Congress restricted funding so less supplies for training and equipment could be sent.
• Training was rushed, for the need of officers to train troops and lead troops in battle. Im 1971, about 75% of officers had less than a year’s experience.
• US equipment had manuals in English. Many ARVN couldn’t read english and lack of US troops meant there was little english lessons.

Question 48

How were Economic and Political problems in SV a reasons for why Vietnamisation failed?

Answer 48

• The US departure set of an economic crisis, 300,000 south vietnamese lost their jobs because of less buying from US soldiers and US aid also stopped.
• The government in Saigon fell because it was weak, politically:
  They competed for power rather then running the country.
  Were corrupt and lacked support from the South Vietnamese because they saw them as a puppet for the US.