Dien Bien Phu

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Dien Bien Phu Dien Bien Phu 1954 1954 55 Days of Hell 55 Days of Hell The Battle that The Battle that changed Vietnam's changed Vietnam's History History

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Information about the Battle of Dien Bien Phu

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Dien Bien PhuDien Bien Phu 19541954

55 Days of Hell55 Days of Hell

The Battle that changed The Battle that changed Vietnam's HistoryVietnam's History

Background to the ConflictBackground to the Conflict After World War II, France was able to reinstall its colonial After World War II, France was able to reinstall its colonial

government in what was then known as Indochina. government in what was then known as Indochina.

By 1946 a Vietnamese independence movement, led by By 1946 a Vietnamese independence movement, led by communist Ho Chi Minh, was fighting French troops for communist Ho Chi Minh, was fighting French troops for control of northern Vietnam. control of northern Vietnam.

The Viet Minh, as the insurgents were called, used guerrilla The Viet Minh, as the insurgents were called, used guerrilla tactics that the French found difficult to counter. tactics that the French found difficult to counter.

Preparations for WarPreparations for War In late 1953, as both sides prepared for peace talks in the In late 1953, as both sides prepared for peace talks in the

Indochina War, French military commanders picked Dien Indochina War, French military commanders picked Dien Bien Phu as a place for a final push to remove the VietminhBien Phu as a place for a final push to remove the Vietminh

A village in northwestern Vietnam near the Laotian and A village in northwestern Vietnam near the Laotian and Chinese borders, as the place to pick a fight with the Viet Chinese borders, as the place to pick a fight with the Viet Minh. Minh.

Hoping to draw Ho Chi Minh's guerrillas into a classic battle, Hoping to draw Ho Chi Minh's guerrillas into a classic battle, the French began to build up their garrison at Dien Bien Phu. the French began to build up their garrison at Dien Bien Phu.

The stronghold was located at the bottom of a bowl-shaped The stronghold was located at the bottom of a bowl-shaped river valley, about 10 miles long. river valley, about 10 miles long.

Preparations cont.Preparations cont. Most French troops and supplies entered Dien Bien Phu from Most French troops and supplies entered Dien Bien Phu from

the air -- either landing at the fort's airstrip or dropping in via the air -- either landing at the fort's airstrip or dropping in via parachute. parachute.

Dien Bien Phu's main garrison also would be supported by a Dien Bien Phu's main garrison also would be supported by a series of firebases -- strongpoints on nearby hills that could series of firebases -- strongpoints on nearby hills that could bring down fire on an attacker. bring down fire on an attacker.

The strong points were given women's names, supposedly The strong points were given women's names, supposedly after the mistresses of the French commander, Gen. Christian after the mistresses of the French commander, Gen. Christian de Castries. de Castries.

The French assumed any assaults on their heavily fortified The French assumed any assaults on their heavily fortified positions would fail or be broken up by their artillery. positions would fail or be broken up by their artillery.

French Attitudes French Attitudes

In 1953 French commander in Vietnam Henri In 1953 French commander in Vietnam Henri Navarre decided it was time to draw the Navarre decided it was time to draw the Peoples Army out and engage themPeoples Army out and engage them

It was clear that the French were constantly It was clear that the French were constantly on the defensive and waited for Ho to make on the defensive and waited for Ho to make the first movethe first move

Navarre decided that this had to change if Navarre decided that this had to change if they had any chance of succeedingthey had any chance of succeeding

Navarre said it Navarre said it “was time to find the “was time to find the tigers lair and destroy him”tigers lair and destroy him”

The BaseThe Base

Navarre chose the hamlet of Dien Bien Navarre chose the hamlet of Dien Bien Phu, near the Laos border to zero in on Phu, near the Laos border to zero in on the Peoples Armythe Peoples Army

Dien Bien Phu was located in a 16km Dien Bien Phu was located in a 16km river valley in a remote corner of NW river valley in a remote corner of NW VietnamVietnam

Navarre chose Colonel Christian de Navarre chose Colonel Christian de Castries to lead the operationCastries to lead the operation

His mission was to;His mission was to;• Create a new French outpostCreate a new French outpost• Redevelop the old airstripRedevelop the old airstrip• Launch attacks on the People’s ArmyLaunch attacks on the People’s Army

The BaseThe Base

By April, 1954 16,000 French troops By April, 1954 16,000 French troops were based therewere based there

The base was divided into nine The base was divided into nine camps named after de Castries camps named after de Castries mistresses eg Claudine, Beatrice etcmistresses eg Claudine, Beatrice etc

The French saw Dien Bien Phu as The French saw Dien Bien Phu as impregnableimpregnable

They had not tried very hard to hide They had not tried very hard to hide that it was a massive military basethat it was a massive military base

Its lifeline was its airstrip which was Its lifeline was its airstrip which was able to bring supplies from Hanoi, able to bring supplies from Hanoi, 1200km away1200km away

WeaknessesWeaknesses Reliant on the airstrip Reliant on the airstrip

for suppliesfor supplies So isolated and So isolated and

inaccessible that before inaccessible that before the airstrip was the airstrip was repaired the first troops repaired the first troops had to parachute inhad to parachute in

The entire base was The entire base was surrounded by surrounded by limestone cliffs that limestone cliffs that climbed to 1600m in climbed to 1600m in placesplaces

Vulnerable from artillery Vulnerable from artillery attacks from the cliffsattacks from the cliffs

French dismissed this as French dismissed this as an impossibility as the an impossibility as the cliffs were too steep and cliffs were too steep and had no roadshad no roads

Giap’s planGiap’s plan General Vo Nguyen General Vo Nguyen

Giap, Commander of the Giap, Commander of the People’s Army debated People’s Army debated what to do with Dien what to do with Dien Bien PhuBien Phu

He did not want to lose He did not want to lose access to Laosaccess to Laos

The Dien Bien Phu The Dien Bien Phu region was a major region was a major opium areaopium area

People’s Army used sale People’s Army used sale of opium on the black of opium on the black market to fund their warmarket to fund their war

Giap decided that to Giap decided that to take on the French he take on the French he would need artillerywould need artillery

Mao sent 200 howitzersMao sent 200 howitzers

MobilisationMobilisation In December, 1953 Giap began moving 60,000 In December, 1953 Giap began moving 60,000

troops towards Dien Bien Phutroops towards Dien Bien Phu Also got 20,000 Peasants to start building Also got 20,000 Peasants to start building

roads and bridgesroads and bridges The problem Giap faced was Dien Bien Phu’s The problem Giap faced was Dien Bien Phu’s

isolationisolation There were no roads leading to it and needed There were no roads leading to it and needed

them to get his artillery within rangethem to get his artillery within range Roads were built and Russia provided 200 Roads were built and Russia provided 200

trucks for the task of shipping suppliestrucks for the task of shipping supplies Troops also carried supplies on bicyclesTroops also carried supplies on bicycles By March, 1954 Giap had his army concealed By March, 1954 Giap had his army concealed

in the jungles surrounding Dien Bien Phuin the jungles surrounding Dien Bien Phu

The SiegeThe Siege Giap’s major problem was how to get the Giap’s major problem was how to get the

howitzers up to the cliffs above Dien Bien Phuhowitzers up to the cliffs above Dien Bien Phu To have the higher ground would give him a To have the higher ground would give him a

massive advantagemassive advantage Giap solved the problem by having his men Giap solved the problem by having his men

disassemble the guns and carry them to the disassemble the guns and carry them to the top piece by piecetop piece by piece

At the top they were simply reassembledAt the top they were simply reassembled By 12 March all the artillery and soldiers By 12 March all the artillery and soldiers

were in place above Dien Bien Phuwere in place above Dien Bien Phu The French had no idea anybody was there, The French had no idea anybody was there,

let alone an enormous armylet alone an enormous army Giap then sent a message to all Vietnamese Giap then sent a message to all Vietnamese

who lived near the base to evacuatewho lived near the base to evacuate

The central French positions at Dien Bien Phu as of late March 1954. The positions in Eliane saw some of the most intense combat of the

entire battle

56 Day Siege56 Day Siege On 13 March 1954 the People’s Army pounded On 13 March 1954 the People’s Army pounded

Dien Bien Phu with artilleryDien Bien Phu with artillery The base had been severely damaged with 500 The base had been severely damaged with 500

French killedFrench killed Critically the airfield had craters in it making it Critically the airfield had craters in it making it

impossible for aircraft to landimpossible for aircraft to land The next night thousands of Viet Minh pored The next night thousands of Viet Minh pored

into the valleyinto the valley French fought hard and were holding out French fought hard and were holding out

against the Viet Minhagainst the Viet Minh Giaps plan was simple “don’t let the French Giaps plan was simple “don’t let the French

sleep”sleep” Heavy artillery rained down at night on the Heavy artillery rained down at night on the

base and then in the morning Viet Minh base and then in the morning Viet Minh soldiers would mount ground assaultssoldiers would mount ground assaults

Dien Bien Phu could only be supplied by parachute Dien Bien Phu could only be supplied by parachute drop and in the Monsoon conditions 50% of supplies drop and in the Monsoon conditions 50% of supplies missed their mark and were captured by the Viet Minhmissed their mark and were captured by the Viet Minh

Giap then ordered his soldiers to dig a trench Giap then ordered his soldiers to dig a trench surrounding the entire basesurrounding the entire base

In 3 weeks Giap had lost thousands of menIn 3 weeks Giap had lost thousands of men Hundreds of French were wounded and living in Hundreds of French were wounded and living in

appalling conditionsappalling conditions

World Wide coverageWorld Wide coverage

The events at Dien Bien Phu The events at Dien Bien Phu attracted media coverageattracted media coverage

It was seen as a probable It was seen as a probable communist victorycommunist victory

USA and France even proposed USA and France even proposed Operation VultureOperation Vulture

HappeningsHappenings The heavy Viet Minh bombardment also closed The heavy Viet Minh bombardment also closed

Dien Bien Phu's airstrip. Dien Bien Phu's airstrip. French attempts to resupply and reinforce the French attempts to resupply and reinforce the

garrison via parachute were frustrated -- as pilots garrison via parachute were frustrated -- as pilots attempting to fly over the region found attempting to fly over the region found themselves facing a barrage from anti-aircraft themselves facing a barrage from anti-aircraft guns. guns.

It was during the resupply effort that two civilian It was during the resupply effort that two civilian pilots, James McGovern and Wallace Buford, pilots, James McGovern and Wallace Buford, became the first Americans killed in Vietnam became the first Americans killed in Vietnam combat. combat.

The supply planes were forced to fly higher, and The supply planes were forced to fly higher, and their parachute drops became less accurate. their parachute drops became less accurate.

Viet Minh Strike!Viet Minh Strike!

Much of what was intended for the French forces Much of what was intended for the French forces -- including food, ammunition and, in one case, -- including food, ammunition and, in one case, essential intelligence information -- landed essential intelligence information -- landed instead in Viet Minh territory.instead in Viet Minh territory.

The Viet Minh steadily reduced the French-held The Viet Minh steadily reduced the French-held area Closed off from the outside world, under area Closed off from the outside world, under constant fire, and flooded by monsoon rains, constant fire, and flooded by monsoon rains, conditions inside Dien Bien Phu became inhuman. conditions inside Dien Bien Phu became inhuman. Casualties piled up inside the garrison's hospital Casualties piled up inside the garrison's hospital

Operation VultureOperation Vulture

Operation VultureOperation Vulture

USA to repaint one of their USA to repaint one of their bombers in French coloursbombers in French colours

Then drop an Atomic bomb on Then drop an Atomic bomb on Dien Bien PhuDien Bien Phu

Plan dismissed as too risky and Plan dismissed as too risky and potentially provoke USSRpotentially provoke USSR

Final ConflictFinal Conflict

On 1 May 1954 On 1 May 1954 Giap ordered his Giap ordered his troops to attack troops to attack the basethe base

Hand to hand Hand to hand combat was combat was commoncommon

On 6 May the On 6 May the French French surrenderedsurrendered

OutcomeOutcome

The People’s Army The People’s Army had lost 8,000 had lost 8,000 soldierssoldiers

The French had lost The French had lost 2,2002,200

11000 prisoners 11000 prisoners were marched to were marched to camps 300km awaycamps 300km away

During the march During the march 3000 died3000 died

Outcome of the ConflictOutcome of the Conflict Dien Bien Phu fell to the Viet Minh on May 7. At Dien Bien Phu fell to the Viet Minh on May 7. At

least 2,200 members of the French forces died least 2,200 members of the French forces died during the siege -- with thousands more taken during the siege -- with thousands more taken prisoner. prisoner.

Of the 50,000 or so Vietnamese who besieged the Of the 50,000 or so Vietnamese who besieged the garrison, there were about 23,000 casualties -- garrison, there were about 23,000 casualties -- including an estimated 8,000 killed. including an estimated 8,000 killed.

The fall of Dien Bien Phu shocked France and The fall of Dien Bien Phu shocked France and brought an end to French Indochina. brought an end to French Indochina.

A World Bank official from India, said in a recent A World Bank official from India, said in a recent interview. "It was a source of great pride in the interview. "It was a source of great pride in the developing world. A small Asian nation had developing world. A small Asian nation had defeated a colonial power, convincingly. It defeated a colonial power, convincingly. It changed history." changed history."

French Soldiers in the middle of French Soldiers in the middle of a war zonea war zone

French casualties get urgent care

Soldiers in the small, cramp trenches around Dien Bien Phu

Victorious Vietnamese SoldiersVictorious Vietnamese Soldiers

Celebrations in South Vietnam Ho Chi Minh dressed in Vietnamese Soldier uniform

Geneva ConferenceGeneva ConferenceWhat actually did happen at the Geneva ConferenceWhat actually did happen at the Geneva Conference A 1954 peace conference at the end of the First IndochinaA 1954 peace conference at the end of the First Indochina

War, prompted by the stunning French defeat at Dien Bien War, prompted by the stunning French defeat at Dien Bien Phu. Phu.

The conference issued the Geneva Accords, which divided The conference issued the Geneva Accords, which divided Vietnam officially into North Vietnam and South Vietnam Vietnam officially into North Vietnam and South Vietnam along the 17th parallel as a temporary measure along the 17th parallel as a temporary measure

The Geneva Accords of 1954 declared a cease-fire and The Geneva Accords of 1954 declared a cease-fire and divided Vietnam officially into North Vietnam (under Ho and divided Vietnam officially into North Vietnam (under Ho and his Communist forces) and South Vietnam (under a French-his Communist forces) and South Vietnam (under a French-backed emperor). backed emperor).

The Geneva Accords stipulated that the divide was The Geneva Accords stipulated that the divide was temporary and that Vietnam was to be reunified under free temporary and that Vietnam was to be reunified under free elections to be held in 1956elections to be held in 1956

Promised free Vietnam-wide elections for 1956 (although Promised free Vietnam-wide elections for 1956 (although these elections never occurred).these elections never occurred).

Geneva Conference Geneva Conference

Delegates from all affected nations discuss the future of Vietnam

With the French gone a new power With the French gone a new power was to emergewas to emerge