Vietnam – a French Colony

1. 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.

2. Guerrilla Warfare “It is a weapon that a nation inferior in arms and military equipment, may employ against a more powerful aggressor nation.” ~Mao Tse-tung

3. Facts About GW • Started in rural areas because it was full of poor workers with no finances • Will not work with out the support of the people. • Mostly started by a middle class leader who has support from lower class.

4. Pros of GW in Vietnam Easy to slip into a village; look like civilians More cooperation from other Vietnamese Easy supply system Territory and topography already known Used rainy season as cover Easy to attain civilian help in ambushes and information Cons of GW in Vietnam Un-organization easily occurs Renegade or untrained troops confuse strategy High rates of civilian casualties Can ruin economic development It is a long drawn out process; low morale Can kill own civilians with unremembered booby traps and mines

5. “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

6. Ho Chi Minh -first a nationalist then a communist • Ho sought assistance from Pres. Wilson after WW I • Ho assisted downed American pilots during WW II in the fight against Japan “He believed to attack only when you are sure of winning nibble at the enemy, harass him in such a way that he can neither eat nor sleep in peace to wear him out physically and mentally, “ • Guerilla warriors need to not only focus on war, but politics and economics

7. Viet-Cong GW Tactics

8. The Ho Chi Minh Trail • Extended from N Vietnam to S Vietnam • Est. 1959 and used by N. Vietnamese troops for a major military supply route • Started south of Hanoi, traversed Laos and Cambodia on its way to S. Vietnam • more than a month's march to travel • underground support facilities, incl. Hospitals, weapons caches • main route for invasion of S. Vietnam in 1975

9. The Underground Tunnels • built in the time of the French • joined village to village and often passed beneath American bases • not only fortifications for Viet Cong guerillas, but also center of community life • several stories deep and housed up to 10,000 people, supplies and weapons • connected isolated pockets of Viet Cong territory enabled the guerrillas to mount surprise attacks and vanish without trace

10. Anti-Personnel Weapons • Punji sticks were sharpened sticks of bamboo concealed and designed to pierce the enemy’s feet; many times they were contaminated to cause disease • Bamboo maces swung down onto soldiers who triggered tripwires; also used crossbows • 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

11. The War America Lost American forces are not able to defeat the North Vietnamese 1973 US pulls out 1975 North Vietnamese invade and capture Saigon.

12. Vietnam Today • Vietnam had to rebuild a land destroyed by war. • Recovery was slow due to US boycott of Vietnam • 1990s Vietnam introduced free market reforms and diplomatic relations with the US normalized

13. 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