First Indochinese War 1946-1954

1. First Indochinese War1946-1954 A Preview of Things to Come

2. Ho Chi Minh Attempts Negotiations with French 1946 • France recognizes DRV and Ho gives concessions to France • Truce • 25,000 French troops in North temporarily • Cochinchina (far south) remains undecided – Ho wants a united Vietnam • Later in year, Ho travels to Paris to continue negotiates; while there French administration in Indochina declares Cochinchina “independent” under the French • Negotiations stall on issue of S. Vietnam

3. Ho Chi Minh • MEANWHILE…. • Increased skirmishes between Fr. & VM • Haiphong is hot area/ French push Ho out of Hanoi • French well –equipped • Vietminh have support of peasantry • Advise supportive S. Vietnamese to take French guns and use them against the French “We may lose ten Vietnamese for every Frenchman, but we will win” – Ho Chi Minh French Response • 1950 State of Vietnam Declared • Boa Dai installed by French as head of state • State of Vietnam meant to rival DRV

4. 1949-1950: A Turning Point • China now Communist under Mao • Increasing fear of Communism in US • Korea on the brink of War • Jan/Feb 50 France begins transfer of authority to Bao Dai • Ho Chi Minh recognizes only DRV as legitimate gov’t • USSR & China recognize DRV • Soviet recognition removes any doubt of Ho’s communist intentions • Feb 4, 1950 Formal French recognition of State of Vietnam • Feb 4, 1950 Truman approves recognition of Bao Dai • May 1950 US approves aid to France in its struggle against the Viet Minh

5. General Vo Nguyen Giap • Chief of the Viet Minh forces fighting French colonial rule and later the Americans – Architect of Vietnamese strategy and tactics • Giap’s 3 phases of struggle • Building the Base • Guerilla Warfare • Mobile Warfare (after Soviet/Chinese support)

6. First Stage:Tactics for establishing the base • Situate headquarters in mountainous, difficult terrain for meetings, supplies and refuge • Viet Minh win hearts and minds of peasantry • Beat/Assassinate landlords/tax collectors • Redistribute land holdings • Education/literacy campaigns • Help with farming • Viet Minh gain • Taxes • Supplies • Intelligence • Porters

7. Second Stage:Tactics of Guerilla Warfare • Pin-prick attacks meant to frustrate the enemy into dispersal and low morale, inciting reprisals • Reprisals drive civilians to VM for support and guidance, increasing their popularity and strength • Guerilla “Pin-Prick” tactics • Sabotage (road cutting, damage to vehicles, poison) • Traps (homemade bombs, trip wires, pungi sticks, pit traps) • Terrorism (attacks on civilian targets, R&R sites) • Camouflage (local vegetation, holes, tunnels)

10. Third Stage:Tactics of Mobile Warfare • By 1949, China had begun to equip the Viet Minh with automatic weapons, mortars, howitzers, trucks • Guerilla infrastructure allows for Viet Minh to move more quickly and more stealthily to carry out open warfare • Increased supplies also allows for more conventional warfare to compliment guerilla warfare NEXT – COUNTERINSURGENCY You read!

11. US Aid “The Dirty War” • $150 million in aid and weapons • French begin Jaunissement • Increase # of S. Vietnamese in their army – as well as soldiers from other colonies • France controls the cities/days • Vietminh control the countryside/the nights • By 53, US is paying 80% of cost of war • Ike won’t supply troops • France losing more officers than it can pump out of military schools

12. French change their tactics • Base in Saigon (south) • General Henri Navarre’s new tactic called “Search and Destroy” • " One cannot vanquish without attacking ". - De Navarre • Move to set up air base at Dien Bien Phu • Will protect Laos from VM • Will act as border site for French • Geographically protected/ difficult for VM to attack

13. 1953 French now know they will not win back Indochina The Navarre Plan is 2-pronged: 1. Pacify the South and maintain State of Vietnam influence 2. In North maintain the “general defense” – keep the military position strong for future negotiating purposes Goal is to maintain strongholds Diminish French troop numbers (kill!) and French will in General Destroy French positions and their intervention units Reconquer territory Use guerilla warfare often, get in position to use mobile warfare The Final Stage: Le Plan Navarre vs. Giap’s Counterinsurgency

14. Operation Castor under Gen. Henri Navarre – build entrenched outposts protecting airbase at DBP Intended to “lock the door to Laos” French buildup of forces Fr reinforcements must parachute in March 30 – May 1 Siege continues French appeal to US: US has three choices: Massive air strike (B-29’s) American troops Tactical atomic weapons WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS A US LEADER? Giap responds by mass buildup of forces……leads to VM: 50,000 men- almost 5x # of French troops March 13, 1954: Giap begins the assault VM shuts down runways VM make system of tunnels/trenches – moves them closer to Fr control Dien Bien Phu: Final Stage US does nothing – French remain outsmarted, outnumbered, and alone….

15. Aftermath • May 7, 1954 French troops surrender • 8000 VM and 1500 Fr die • French survivors marched for 60 days to prison camps/500 miles • Nearly 50% die in captivity/marching • France withdraws from Indochina • Nearly 400,000 die from all sides • May 8, 1954 Geneva Conference begins