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The Siege of Dien Bien Phu

The Siege of Dien Bien Phu. CPT William Louie. Outline. References Geography Background Action Summary Questions. References. Vietnam: Decisive Battles by John Pimlott, Barnes & Nobles Books, New York, 1999 The Siege of Dien Bien Phu by Bernard B. Fall, De Capo Press, New York, 1966

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The Siege of Dien Bien Phu

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  1. The Siege of Dien Bien Phu CPT William Louie

  2. Outline • References • Geography • Background • Action • Summary • Questions

  3. References • Vietnam: Decisive Battles by John Pimlott, Barnes & Nobles Books, New York, 1999 • The Siege of Dien Bien Phu by Bernard B. Fall, De Capo Press, New York, 1966 • http://www.globalsecurity.org

  4. Location

  5. Physical Geography

  6. Political Background • French: • Lost “Indochine” colony to Japanese in WWII. Wanted to re-establish colonial power against Vietnam nationalist wishes. • Fighting for about 7 years at start of this operation. Received American support, but no troops. • Viet Minh: • Since the ’40s, the Viet Minh were fighting the French, the Japanese, and then the French for independence.

  7. Military Background • Objective: • Strategically: French govt. wanted to minimize casualties while seeking an honorable way out of war. • Operationally: Airbase at Dien Bien Phu will: • Cover Laos, • Establish guerilla re-supply point, • Trap Viet Minh in set-piece battle. • Recent Events: • French fight Viet Minh in airbases at end of LOC. Interpret enemy withdrawal as success.

  8. Military Background • Objectives: • Strategically: Force French to negotiate to Ho Chi Minh’s terms with a spectacular victory. • Operationally: Defeat French garrison at Dien Bien Phu. • Recent Events: • Learned lessons to defeat French airbase concept.

  9. French Combatants • Commanders: • All French forces in Indochine: GEN Henri Navarre • DBP forces: COL Christian de Castries • Total forces at beginning of siege: 10,814 • Airborne reinforcements: 4,291 • Ethnicity:

  10. Viet Minh Combatants • Commander-in-Chief: GEN Vo Nguyen Giap • Forces: • 4 Infantry Divisions, 1 Heavy Division, plus misc • Estimated 55,000 troops • Estimated losses: 7,900 KIA, 15,000 WIA • Compare to French losses of around 8,200 soldiers, and 6,500 captured

  11. The Beginning of The End Operation Castor – Dec 6, 1953 - Campaign begins with air drop into valley.

  12. Build-up of Forces 6 Dec 53 – 13 Mar 54 The French build strongpoints to defend garrison. The Viet Minh surround the garrison.

  13. The Siege Begins 1700 13 Mar 54 – Viet Minh artillery barrage followed by human-wave assaults. “Beatrice”, falls, two days later, “Gabrielle” overrun, and three days later, “Anne-Marie”.

  14. Tightening the Noose 4 Apr – 1 May: Giap switches tactics, encroaching with trenches.

  15. The Last Charge • 2 May: Giap assaults on all fronts. In the next three days, he takes three more strongpoints, leaving the central area open. • 6 May: Artillery barrages continue on remaining French troops, while Viet Minh mass. • 7 May: At 1730, Viet Minh enter French command bunker and De Castris surrenders.

  16. Summary • French errors: • French intelligence discount Viet Minh capabilities to mass personnel and artillery. • French commander at Dien Bien Phu cannot construct adequate fighting positions and conduct adequate patrols as spoiling attacks. • French desire to retain Indochine dies with loss. • Viet Minh & French split Vietnam in Geneva Accords at 17th Parallel, setting stage for Vietnam War.

  17. Questions?

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