Vietnam – a French Colony

France, after ruling Vietnam for over 100 years was defeated by Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap at battle of Dien Bien Phu-forced to leave Vietnam.

France & Vietnam signed Geneva Peace Accords of 1954-split Vietnam along 17th parallel.

The North led by Ho Chi Minh and the South led by Ngo Dinh Diem

Stated that in 1956 Vietnam would hold elections to reunify country.

The US had other ideas. US supported creation of counter-revolutionary

group in S. Vietnam.

Guerrilla Guerrilla WarfareWarfare

“It is a weapon that a nation inferior in arms and military

equipment, may employ against a more powerful aggressor nation.” ~Mao

Tse-tung

o Started in rural areas because it was full of poor workers with no finances

o Will not work with out the support of the people.

o Mostly started by a middle class leader who has support from lower class.

Facts About GW

Pros of GW in Vietnamo Easy to slip into a

village; look like civilians

o More cooperation from other Vietnamese

o Easy supply systemo Territory and

topography already known

o Used rainy season as cover

o Easy to attain civilian help in ambushes and information

Cons of GW in Vietnamo Un-organization easily

occurso Renegade or untrained

troops confuse strategyo High rates of civilian

casualtieso Can ruin economic

developmento It is a long drawn out

process; low moraleo Can kill own civilians

with unremembered booby traps and mines

“When guerrillas engage a stronger enemy, they with draw when he

advances; harass him when he stops; strike him when he is weary; pursue him when he withdraws. In guerrilla

strategy, the enemy’s rear, flanks, and other vulnerable spots are his vital

points, and there he must be harassed, attacked, dispersed, exhausted and annihilated.”

~Mao Tse-tung

o Ho sought assistance from Pres. Wilson after WW I

o Ho assisted downed American pilots during WW II in the fight against Japan“He believed to attack only when you are sure of winningnibble at the enemy, harass him in such a way that he can neither eat nor sleep in peaceto wear him out physically and mentally, “

o Guerilla warriors need to not only focus on war, but politics and economics

Ho Chi Minh -first a nationalist then a

communist

Viet-Cong GW Tactics

o Extended from N Vietnam to S Vietnam

o Est. 1959 and used by N. Vietnamese troops for a major military supply route

o Started south of Hanoi, traversed Laos and Cambodia on its way to S. Vietnam

o more than a month's march to travel

o underground support facilities, incl. Hospitals, weapons caches

o main route for invasion of S. Vietnam in 1975

The Ho Chi Minh Trail

o built in the time of the French

o joined village to village and often passed beneath American bases

o not only fortifications for Viet Cong guerillas, but also center of community life

o several stories deep and housed up to 10,000 people, supplies and weapons

o connected isolated pockets of Viet Cong territory enabled the guerrillas to mount surprise attacks and vanish without trace

The Underground Tunnels

o Punji sticks were sharpened sticks of bamboo concealed and designed to pierce the enemy’s feet; many times they were contaminated to cause disease

o Bamboo maces swung down onto soldiers who triggered tripwires; also used crossbows

o Land mines were a favorite of guerilla forces and they were taken from the U.S.S.R., the French, and even U.S. troops

Anti-Personnel Weapons

The War America Lost

American forces are not able to American forces are not able to defeat the North Vietnamesedefeat the North Vietnamese

1973 US pulls out1973 US pulls out1975 North Vietnamese invade 1975 North Vietnamese invade

and capture Saigon.and capture Saigon.

o Vietnam had to rebuild a land destroyed by war.

o Recovery was slow due to US boycott of Vietnam

o 1990s Vietnam introduced free market reforms and diplomatic relations with the US normalized

Vietnam Today

Tragedy in Cambodia During the Vietnam War fighting spilled over into

neighboring Cambodia After Americans left, communist guerrillas known as

the Khmer Rouge overthrew the government. Led by Pol Pot they slaughtered millions in what

was known as the “Killing Fields” 1979 Vietnam invaded and Pol Pot’s forces

retreated. 1993 UN supervised free elections and a new government started to rebuild

Pol Pot died in hiding before facing trial for Crimes against Humanity