Ladies and gentlemen, and also the rest of you who come here. I was talking about post in subject of 1960’s and 1970’s for a long time now. Here it is then. And yes, I am fully aware that today’s topic is not exactly “1960’s and 1970’s” but I did not want to reveal everything before the right time, which has just came. Today we will be thinking about War in Vietnam, wars about freedom of people around the world and dealing with myth (which I heard so many times, I started believing in that myself) that the United States could actually win this war. Today only history but later during the week I will come back with politics and military point of view (offensives, retreats, attacks etc.). Let’s go :)
We are starting in 1850 when France is taking over Indochina, which now includes Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, and this takeover has been certified by the Treaty of Hue in 1884, after a long time of pacification of the region. Till 1930 many organizations fighting for Vietnam’s independence is being established, although none of them has been successful against French army.
In 1941 situation is entirely different. Indochina is now under control of the Empire of Japan (theoretically it is still France Vichy but French are doing only paperwork), which is slowly preparing itself for the attack against the U.S, and Vietnamese are more than ever determined to gain their independence. On May 19 Viet Minh (League for the Independence of Vietnam) is being established and is quickly gaining popular support against Japan and France. At first Communist China helped them by, for example, sending heavy machine guns but in December 1941 Viet Minh received first financial help from the United States. Now it is very important to understand – leader and the founding father of the Viet Minh, Ho Chi Minh, has been suspected of being a communist by Nationalist China (which received economic help from U.S. to fight against Communist China) and jailed for a short period of time. America, however, had no problem at all to ignore it and keep helping him. Later will arise problems from that…
Year 1945 brings new changes – Japan surrenders and slowly goes out of Indochina, France tries to retake control over its old colony, Hi Chi Minh proclaims Declaration of Independence of Vietnam (American version inspired him to do it) and asks United States for help with fighting against Vietnam’s new oppressor – France. He believes in American value that all nations should have right to self-determination. The U.S., however, rejects this cry for help and sends money to France so that French will be able to control Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh does not have any other option but to ask for USSR’s and Chinese help. Both of them happily answer and Vietnam becomes communist. America now understands consequences but still believes in French power in the region. In 1946, after series of negotiation between Ho Chi Minh and France war begins. First of wars…
1949! Chinese communists just won their civil war and took control over all Chinese mainland. Nationalists had to flee to Taiwan. From now on Soviets and Chinese can freely send anything they want through the border. In 1954 it finally shows some results and French loses in Dien Bien Phu. On May 7 negotiations, arranged by America scared by contagious communism, ends by dividing Vietnam along the 17 parallel. Vietnam is become the second Korea…
Between 1957 and 1959 North Vietnam, communist, wanted to destabilize situation on the south by sabotages and political murders. In 1960 Viet Cong has been established as a communist resistant movement in the South Vietnam and the war began from the beginning. United States of course helped South Vietnam but did not really show any interest in sending its own troops to Asia. It was going to change of August 2, 1964 when USS Maddox has been attacked by North Vietnamese patrol ships. Congress immediately allowed President Johnson to send troops into Vietnam. It was not, however, declaration of war…
Military actions I will show in the next post, now let’s just bring the war to an end – On January 27, 1973 peace treaty has been signed in Paris between North and South Vietnam. America has pulled back its troops. Peace lasted for 11 months, almost 12. On January 4, 1974 communists broke the treaty and in a few offensives completely destroyed all Southern Vietnamese morale and defense. On April 30, 1975 North Vietnamese Army marched into Saigon and at 11:30 am flag of Viet Cong has been raised above the Palace of Independence. The communists has won…
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