History 12

Ms Leslie

Vietnam War

During WWII

A French administered possession of Japan

Vichy reps would collaborate with Japanese military

At the end of the war, Japan set up a Puppet government led by Bao Dai

After WWII, the French wanted to return to their South East Asian colony, but their subjects in French Indo-China really did not want them

North Vietnam had an effective resistance movement to the occupying Japanese had been organized by Ho Chi Minh.

Ho’s forces proved the only effective anti-Japanese group, seizing control of Vietnam at the time of the Japanese surrender.

Boa Dai resigned and Vietnam was united under Ho and the Viet Minh.

Ho declared independence on September 2, 1945

Ho’s Vietminh simply continued the struggle when the French retuned,

Ho’s communist guerillas earned the support of the peasants with land reform.

The success of the Chinese revolution brought a steady stream of supplies from Mao’s China.

At the Potsdam Conference it was agreed the British and Chinese would supervise the disarming of the Japanese in the area

British actively supported the restoration of French Power.

By the end of September, the French were back in power in the South, at least in the urban centers.

In 1946 Ho tried to reach a settlement with the French

Negotiations broke down in 1946, and at the end of the year the French opened hostilities at Haiphong, killing at least 6,000 civilians.

The Viet Minh responded with failed attack on Hanoi

Both sides now in a prolonged struggle.

French controlled the cities and highways

Ho had the countryside and Mao’s support

France set up their own puppet government under Bao Dai again

Bao Dai did not have the support of the people as he had collaborated with the Japanese

The Soviets and Chinese would only recognize Ho as leader

British and USA recognized Bao Dai

by 1950 The French, unable to finance the war against the Vietminh themselves, turned to the USA for help and were granted financial and military aid to assist in the cold war struggle against communism. The Americans wanted to end colonialism and have independent non-Communist governments in the Area.

1952-53 USA paying 2/3 of war

Would not provide troops

French want out

The French attempted to cut off Viet Minh supplies at Dien Bien Phu in March - May 1954.

This air drop brought almost 10,000 troops to the area

They were soon surrounded and had to rely on airdrops for supplies

Again the French asked for American help

Eisenhower wanted to help to prevent the domino effect.

Congress was divided - some didn’t want another Korea

May 7 1954 the French surrendered to General Giap

Formal settlement between Indochina and France

Laos and Cambodia were given independence,

while Vietnam was temporarily partitioned at the 17th parallel, until elections in 1956 could determine its future. Elections never happened

An 8 power declarationproviding for 3 independent states supervised elections in Vietnam prohibited the involvement of any of the states in treaty alliances or allowing foreign bases in their territory. The Americans called for a UN supervised election

the Communist regime of Ho Chi Minh in the North faced the South Vietnamese of Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem replaced Bao Dai in 1955

Neither could be properly described as democratic

Diem’s Vietnam

Ngo Dinh Diem was a catholic governing a mostly Buddhist population.

Diem’s family has all the power

torture

did not feel bound by the agreement, knowing full well that Ho would easily win the election.

With American support, Diem refused to allow the elections.

Diem and Eisenhower

SEATO 1954

South-East Asian Treaty Organization

which guaranteed the security of the South-East Asians nations against foreign aggression

America encouraged this agreement

Australia, Bangladesh, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, UK and USA

Meanwhile in America

1954, Congress granted President Eisenhower executive power to wage war without the consent of Congress

Because that’s such a great idea

Diem vs Communism

1957, communists protest the cancellation of elections

USA gets nervous about this

1962 Kennedy increased troops from 500 to 10,000 to South Vietnam with equipment

Diem’s policies were anti-Buddhist. The led to the famous self-immolation of a monk in June of 1963Thích Quảng Đức was protesting the religions oppression of DiemHis protest didn’t workyoutube video - no sound

Diem became an embarrassment to the US administration, which came to support a CIA backed military coup against him in 1963.

Diem was shot and killed Nov 2

Kennedy killed Nov 22

In the next two years, nine changes of government occurred, before Air Marshal Nguyen Cao Ky seized control in June 1965.

Diem dead

Ky’s government

The Buddhists were still opposed, until Ky broke their resistance in the late spring of 1966.

Civil liberties, especially freedom of the press, were limited and political opponents were imprisoned

Political parties could only operate if they did not oppose the government

farcical elections were heldIn 1967, the military candidates Nguyen Van Thieu and his running mate, Ky, took power with only 35% of the vote. The civilian candidate winning the most votes was jailed.

A guerilla war (Viet Cong) began in the south, with the Southern Vietminh forming the basis of the new NLF (National Liberation Front), armed and supported Ho’s North. The North never accepted a divided Vietnam.

America’s Involvement

All fact-finding-missions returned to Washington DC stating that Vietnam was hopeless.

Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon all ignored this. They were blinded by their fear of communism.

Kennedy had dispatched advisors and equipment. His advisors were instrumental in setting up the safe village programme, in which peasants were moved into fortified villages to protect them and to isolate the Viet Cong outside. The policy was based on the false assumption that most peasants supported the South Vietnamese government.

In practice, the Vietcong were very often the very same peasants who were relocated, and they continued to operate within the settlements.

After Kennedy’s assassination, his VP Johnson took over

He was told the Viet Cong and NLF controlled 40% of South Vietnam and had public supportJohnson kept resisting communist aggression

I’m not going to be the president who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.

- Johnson

Gulf of Tonkin - Aug 2,1964

It was reported 3 North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked 2 US destroyers

One of the NV boats was sunk

In 2000, it was revealed that the Americans fired first

USS Maddox

The result = war!!!

Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, approving escalation of the conflict. (blank cheque)

1965, Johnson increased troops to 200,000

authorized the bombing of North Vietnamese cities, hoping to prevent the infiltration of men and material into the South

bombing failed completely

Four weeks after the bombing began, North Vietnam began to send its first regular army units into the South.

Operation Rolling Thunder

1965-68Bomb Hanoi for 3 years straight

American presence increases

March 7, 1965, 35,000 Marines were landed at Da Nang

July the total number of US combat troops had risen to 75,000.

510,000 troops present in 1968-9.

Da nang is pretty

They also water boarded Vietnamese in Da Nang1968

Also…

In addition, there were 750,000 regular Vietnamese troops, 50,000 South Koreans,

detachments from Thailand, New Zealand and Australia (the last 3 honouring their SEATO commitment).

They were up against

About 70,000 North Vietnamese regulars and around 450,000 Viet Cong.

Charlie’s well stocked

The NLF received aid from the north via the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

This trail went from North Vietnam, through Cambodia and Laos and back to South Vietnam.

The nature of this war made victors unclear

The American’s used body counts as a sign of victory

Body counts on the news every night

First ‘living room war’

The Air War 1965-1968

1965: Sustained bombing of North 1965: Sustained bombing of North VietnamVietnam

Operation Rolling Thunder (March 2, Operation Rolling Thunder (March 2, 1965)1965)

1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi 1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the Ho Chi Minh Trail.Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Downed Pilots: P.O.W.sDowned Pilots: P.O.W.s

Carpet Bombing – napalmCarpet Bombing – napalm

Napalm was used to get rid of the foliage

But, it burns everything

Who is the enemy?

VietcongVietcong: Farmers by day; guerillas at night.Farmers by day; guerillas at night. Very patient people willing to accept Very patient people willing to accept

many casualties.many casualties. The US grossly underestimated their The US grossly underestimated their

resolve and their resourcefulness.resolve and their resourcefulness.

Tet Offensive - Feb 1968

Viet Cong was able to capture 80% of south Vietnam's towns and villages

Convinced many in Washington victory was impossible

N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon)

U.S. + ARVN beat back the offensive

Viet Cong destroyed N. Vietnamese army debilitated

BUT…it’s seen as an American defeat by the media

Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration

President Johnson refused the demand of his commander in Vietnam, General William Westmoreland, that 206,000 additional ground troops by sent. Johnson instead

ordered suspension of bombing in the North.

American Morale Begins to Dip

Disproportionate representation of poor people and minorities.

Severe racial problems.

Major drug problems.

Officers in combat 6 months, in rear 6 months, Enlisted men in combat for 12 months.

Domestic anti-war protests

The Vietnam War was a PR disaster for the USA with images such and Kim Phuc and Atrocities such as My Lai.

Kim Phuc on Youtube

My Lai - March 16, 1968

My Lai was an area consisting of several hamlets. It was thought to be a hide-out for the Viet Cong.

Involved Charlie Company who had only been in Vietnam for 3 months. They were involved with the Tet Offensive and were down to 105 men – losing 28 to injuries and death.

They were led by Lt William Calley.

Charlie company moved in with two platoons at 8 pm.Soldiers went berserk, gunning down unarmed men, women, children and babies. Families which huddled together for safety in huts or bunkers were shown no mercy. Those who emerged with hands held high were murdered.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHvzOSRIBlo&feature=related

Some soldiers opted out of the killing spree, when two of his men refused to fire on a group of 60 civilians, Calley took over.

500 civilians were killed in 3 hours

Women were gang raped; Vietnamese who had bowed to greet the Americans were beaten with fists and tortured, clubbed with rifle butts and stabbed with bayonets. Some victims were mutilated with the signature "C Company" carved into the chest.

one American was injured - a GI who had shot himself in the foot while clearing his pistol

He may have done it on purpose

massacre was only stopped when an American helicopter saw what was happening and landed to investigate.

They landed purposely in the line of fire between troops and civilians.

Pilot later given a medal

It took more then a year for the story to reach newsstands as the Charlie company captain, Ernest Medina, knew that it would cause trouble.

Initially only reported 20-28 civilians killed eventually the truth leaked out. One of the participants was bragging about his exploits over a beer with a soldier from another company. He returned to the USA and exposed Charlie Company.Sept 1969 Calley was charged with 109 murders.An inquiry was held (Peers inquiry). Had 400 witnesses and 20,000 pages of testimony about the crimes that included murders by individuals and groups, rape, sodomy, maiming and assault of civilians. The inquiry recommended 28 officers to be charged.

Army decided to only charge 14 officers, of which only 1 came to court and he was acquitted.

As for the 30 soldiers charges, 17 has quit the army so their charges were dropped. The rest were dismissed or found ‘not guilty’

Only Calley was convicted and sentence to life in prison. He served 3 days and was out on appeal on the personal instructions of President Nixon

He spent 3 years in house arrest.

Vietnamization

Nixon is president in 1968Needs an honourable way out of the warVietnamization refers to having more of the war effort be borne by the South Vietnamese, allowing for the gradual withdrawal of American troops. Agent Orange begins

Henry Kissinger – US Secretary of State – have a two track plan to withdraw troops. 1. Military solution – Strengthen South

Vietnam’s military. 2. Political solution – Strengthen the South

Vietnamese government so it could attract a broader base of support in South Vietnam.

July 1970 – The New Nixon Peace Offensive. Remove ground forces and step up air strikes. B-52 bamber unleashed

By mid 1971, about half of the American contingent had been withdrawn and it’s almost entirely a war in the air.

South Vietnamese at now greater risk,

Nixon began to bomb the Ho Chi Minh Trail

Apart from destabilizing both countries, the bombings had almost no effect on the communists

1972 – only 200,000 American’s left in Vietnam – Nixon continues to bomb North Vietnamese cities

Peace talks began in Paris, and in January 27, 1973 a cease-fire was arranged.

The Americans agreed to withdraw their forces within 60 days and all the North and South agreed to respect the frontier along the 17th parallel.

August 15, 1973 – all US forces out of Vietnam

The Viet Cong continued their offensive

April 1975, South Vietnam’s capitol Saigon, fell.

Vietnam was reunited under the commies.

Fall of Saigon

Desperate to get out

both Cambodia and Laos also fell to Communist forces.

Eisenhower’s fear of the domino effect appeared to have merit.

Conclusions

Cost the US $150 billion2 million men saw actionAmerica lost 57,939 men, Vietnam 1.1 milliondropped more bombs on Vietnam then all the bombs dropped by all sides in WWIIAlmost 5 million civilians died

Why the USA lost

1.hard to win a war against nationalist guerillas2.Unpopularity of war at home

a.Anti-war movementb.Casualtiesc. Cost of the war to the economy (inflation)

3. International disgrace4.USA could not win over the south Vietnamese

people5.American military was disillusioned.

7 Lessons of the war

1.Even nuclear super powers have limitations

2.You need home support

3.Military intervention against a popular nationalist group can be futile

4.Conscript armies fighting for questionable causes are not reliable – USA cancelled universal draft after the Vietnam war.

5. Powers of the President to wage war were constitutionally restricted

6. Domino theory proved to be rhetoric

7. Americans started to question many fundamental beliefs of their society.

8. Restrict media access

9. Have clear goals and deadlines

Effects for Vietnam

Reunited

Huge human and material loss

Dioxin

Opponents ‘re-educated’

Freedom of speech gone

China and USSR helped in war

Vietnam chose USSR as sponsor

This means increased tension on Sino-Vietnamese border

Border war in 1979

This leads to boat people fleeing

Effects on USA

Divided countryWith Watergate Scandal people lost faith in governmentVeterans returned to silenceReluctance to involvement to foreign wards until late 80’s2,583 American POWs / MIAs still unaccounted for today.

1995 - Clinton recognized Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh: “If we have to fight, we will Ho Chi Minh: “If we have to fight, we will fight. You will kill ten of our men and fight. You will kill ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and in the end we will kill one of yours, and in the end it will be it will be youyou who tires of it.” who tires of it.”

Effects on neighbours - Cambodia

Becomes communist -

Pol Pot = leader

Khmer Rouge set out to rebuild society.

Entire population in capital, Phnom Penh was forced into the countryside to do forced labour in agriculture.

Pol Pot announced that the past would be swept away and that history would begin again from a new year 1.

Thousands fled into exile in neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam.

Millions killed (21% of pop)

most evil man - Pol Pot

Vietnamese decided to step in and remove this murderous regime, which was supported by china. 1979 - Pol Pot and his supported fled to Thailand. The UN still recognized Pol Pot government as the legitimate government, Opposed Vietnam’s intrusion

US sent military aid to the Khmer Rouge, Helping them pester the Vietnamese.1993 - UN brokered a deal, bringing back the old leader, Prince Norodom Sihamoni in the Khmer Rouge boycotted the election the followed. Pol Pot died in 1998. Land mines from his regime still kill and maim todayEnd :)