The Vietnam War 1945-1975

1. The Vietnam War 1945-1975 By Eric Tolman

2. Before WW2 • A French Colony since the 1850’s and part of French Indo China which also included Laos, Cambodia • A young nationalist named Ho Chi Minh travelled to Paris to seek Vietnamese independence- Ho was inspired by Wilson but was neglected and helped form the French Communist Party in 1920 as a result. • Vietnam occupied by the Japanese during WW2, and French nationals were imprisoned except those who supported the Vichy and collaborated with the Japanese • Ho developed his movement without Chinese or Soviet help which encouraged the Nationalist side of his movement- an Asian Tito

3. Events after the Japanese Defeat • After the Japanese defeat, Vietnam was divided along 17th parallel for purposes of disarming Japanese troops • Nationalist China was in charge of the North • Britain in charge of the south • In the North, The Viet Minh, a nationalist group under Ho had established itself as the effective government • The French return and share power with Vietminh in the North. This deteriorated into open war in December 1946 • USSR and China recognize Ho’s government in the North • USA recognized re-instated emperor Bao Dai in the South • War developed between the returning French and the Viet minh- The Chinese and later the soviets supported Ho and the Americans backed the French

4. The defeat of the French 1954 • After 8 years of fighting, the French are defeated at the battle Dien Bien Phu and signals the end of French control, despite massive US aid • At the Geneva Conference Temporary division of Vietnam into North and South along the 17th parallel with a DMZ • No more troops in Vietnam from outside powers • Country-Wide elections by 1956 – unification to result • Elections not encouraged by USA for fear that democracy would bring Ho to power

5. How the US got involved • FDR had been vocal about his anti-colonial feelings and the Viet Minh looked to the US for Support • When Ho took power in September of 1945 he developed a program based on the American declaration of Independence- Vietnamese had posters of Truman on Independence day • When Mao took power in China, the US began to see Vietnam through the paradigm of the Cold War • Eisenhower would coin the term “the domino Theory” to explain concern over communism in Vietnam

6. Rise of the Vietcong • Americans support Diem as the new leader in the South. Diem is dictatorial but a fervent anti-communist and he does not support elections. US support him anyway. • He is a Catholic and policies anger local Buddhists • His neglect of reform created the conditions for creation of the NLF or Viet Cong, a group sympathetic to the north • Peasants in the South Largely favoured the VC and supported them in their Civil War to unite all of Vietnam • The VC receive support from the North. They are successful in destabilizing the South. By the early 1960’s there is virtual civil war in the South and by this time JFK has committed several thousand advisors. • American policy makers see Eisenhower's domino theory coming true

7. The U.S – JFK and LBJ • President Diem is overthrown in Nov 1963 by a military coup with US approval and probably with CIA support- Kennedy sees Diem as incapable of stifling the growth of the VC • Kennedy restricted involvement to advisors and military supplies and promoted the “safe village” model • North Vietnamese allegedly attack US destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. US retaliates by bombing North Vietnam military installations in 1964. LBY escalates US involvement • War escalates with the US bombing NV targets, the Ho Chi Minh trail, and by 1967, 500 000 American troops in Vietnam

8. The Tet Offensive • Vietcong launches Tet Offensive. Despite heavy losses and a military failure for the Vietcong, US public opinion turns sharply against the war • Americans realize that this war is unwinnable and LBJ’s popularity plummets and refuses to run for re-election • LBJ saw his Great Society ruined by the expense of the war and his welfare policies would not be implemented • LBj leaves office a tired and broken man

9. The Dark Side • The use of Napalm, a burning petroleum jelly, was often used on civilians when villages were bombed. It stuck to the skin of victims and burned them • The US sprayed the land with chemical defoliants like Agent Orange which destroyed vegetation. This continued to poison Vietnamese long after the war • Drug use and addiction became rampant with American troops • In March 1968, The Mai Lai Massacre saw 300 woman and children gunned down. It was believed they were sheltering the VC. Americans at home were appalled

10. Retreat and Defeat • New President – Nixon begins troop withdrawal and introduces “Vietnamization” which means letting SV troops fight on their own with American air support • Nixon orders bombing of Cambodia through which much of the Ho Chi Minh Trail runs – Christmas bombings • Intensive bombing of North Vietnam and the North invades the South. US blockades Haiphong harbour • Paris Peace Settlement (sound familiar) and ceasefire. US begin final troop withdrawal while the North agrees to not take anymore territory • The North takes Saigon and the two countries are unified- In previous 10 years, US drops more bombs on the North than all bombs dropped on Europe in WW2 – by both sides • 50 000 Americans would lose their lives and close to 2 million Vietnamese would lose theirs • The Vietnamese jungles were largely destroyed by chemicals and land mines planted by Americans continue to mame Vietnamese

11. How did the US Lose? • Americans saw this as a Cold War struggle not as an independent nationalist movement • The NLF had massive support from peasants • Americans responded with massive bombing which killed many civilians pushing Vietnamese in the arms of the VC • The VC were excellent guerrilla fighter who knew their country • Communist morale was always high • American soldiers wanted to do their tour and go promptly home- many were spat on and called baby killers by protestors