Ideology - Vietnamese Nationalism- Decolonisation of Indochina

Nationalism provided a crucially inspiring force for the Viet Minh, allowing them to garner great support from the Vietnamese people, and resist imperialist control. The people’s help was most vital for the Viet MInh in stirring uprisings, providing supporters and fighters, and in boosting morale for the cause of nationalism, as advocated by Ho Chi Minh. Nationalism was stirred by Vietnam’s early history and mythology. From the Lac people’s folklore, the Dragon Lord was said to reside in the country’s landscape and to have saved the people from invaders. Chinese and Mongol invasion also gave the Lac people a sense of identity and unity. The Lac people idolised the Trung sisters, folk heroines that had commanded an army of 80 000 men and defeated the Chinese. Revolts such as these stirred Vietnamese independence, and due to the importance of this to Vietnamese culture, Ho emphasised his movement’s nationalist aspect to gain support, uniting the people under a common enemy. He excluded any communist rhetoric in his declaration of independence. Ho Chi Minh told American editor William Baggs, ‘not even your nuclear weapons would force us to surrender after so long and violent a struggle for... independence.’ Civilian support provided the people’s army porters, intelligence, materials, and boosted morale, such as when the civilian porters were transporting artillery up the mountains. Ho’s recognition that the people’s resistance against foreign invaders was essential to historical and socio-cultural traditions, allowed him to use nationalism to garner their support. Thus, ‘the people constitute[d] a source of manpower of the army’ (Truong Chinh). Additional info: he Lac people also admired the heroic warriors of Hung Vuong The Viet Minh promoted doc lap (independence). Nationalism proved to be a stronger force than imperialism, strong and motivating force- nationalist ideals/inspiration with communist methodology The Vietnamese, as well as the French, wanted a quick victory before the Geneva Conference- to have a strong negotiating position, speak with power, thus the battle at Dien Bien Phu was highly important to both Ideology - French Imperialism- Decolonisation of Indochina French imperialism provided an opposing force to motivate the Vietnamese to dedicate themselves to defending their nation, under the Viet Minh. French imperialism’s weaknesses as a deteriorating and unstable opposition furthermore aided the Viet MInh’s triumph over France. From 1533, Vietnam faced the challenge of how to counter the missionaries and Europeans that were bringing colonialism to Vietnam. French imperialists perceived Indochina to be offer profits from its untouched, rich resources. French imperialism was unpopular as the French had seized Saigon’s supply of rice and employed the gendarmerie, or French police force, to use brutal force against rebellion, such as to quash armed rebellions and peaceful protests during 1930. However the imperial cause began to lose home front support and funds, with instability in the French government. Imperialism meant that the soldiers were uninspired, they had mercenaries; bringing in soldiers from colonies such as Morocco. The Vietnamese Army formed by the French also faced decreasing support from the Vietnamese. French faced pressure for a quick victory as

support continued to decrease, and as they wanted to secure control power before the Geneva Convention, however this may have led to rash, unwise decisions. At the battle of Dien Bien Phu, the inspiring force of imperialism also contributed to the soldiers’ disillusionment. “By late 1953, the French army had lost the initiative to fight to retain the nation’s colony in Indochina.” - Geoffrey Norman. Thus France’s defence of their colonial war proved to be inadequate in the face of changing interests on the French home front, and the fierce opposition of Vietnamese nationalism. Additional Info: With Napoleon’s defeat and France’s loss of status, the French monarchy sought an Asian empire with their growing influence in Vietnam. The church’s interference in Vietnam was justified by 'la mission civilisatrice,' or 'the white man's burden.' This attitude of European superiority and imposed control created resentment amongst the Vietnamese. Corvee, or forced labour was used by the French, requiring 30 days of 'manual government service' per year without pay, from all male peasants aged 18-50. Imperialist control Dying force- post WWII decolonisation e.g. India 1947 Vietnamese soldiers were exploited and mistreated by the French as they did not have the same rights, privileges, salaries or benefits given to French soldiers. The French forced the Vietnamese to fight in a war which have otherwise not affected them. Vietnamese soldiers accounted for 70% of all Indochinese deaths Role of Individuals/Leadership - Ho & Giap- Decolonisation of Indochina The inspiring persona of Ho Chi Minh provided essential encouragement to the Viet Minh, with his political guidance uniting them and their supporters with admiration for his leadership. Vo Ngyuen Giap’s tactical skills and adaptability lead the armed Viet Minh forces to success. Ho Chi Minh, president of Democratic Republic of Vietnam from 1945-1969, gave political direction, inspiring nationalism, and encouraging the portrayal of his ‘Uncle Ho’ figure. Ho encouraged the Vietnamese people’s affection, declaring ‘I was never married. I never had time. But I have seventeen million children,’ and communicating his dedication to the cause. He engaged peasant support, humbly dressing as a peasant, to stir admiration from the people. Ho Chi Minh’s determination inspired perseverance as he asserted ‘we will never surrender our independence to purchase peace with the United States.’ This was recognised worldwide as American Senator Frank Church declared, ‘I do not think Ho Chi Minh can be forced to the negotiating table... unless we drag him there in chains.’ Vo Ngyugen Giap was also an invaluable and effective strategist, respected by his troops.Vo’s military strengths provided Ho with a highly motivated and unified army. Thus the empowering democratic and military leadership of Ho Chi Minh and Vo Ngyugen Giap was a key factor that allowed for the consequent decolonisation of Indochina. Their inspiring words and efficient action convinced the people that ‘[their] war of liberation was a people's war, a just war.’ (Giap).

Inspiring military leader. Very flexible, changes strategies, Vietminh Commander at Dien Bien Phu Additional info: Eisenhower says ‘had the elections been held as of the time of the fighting, possibly 80 per cent of the population would have voted for Ho Chi Minh.’ Ho Chi Minh ‘I think the Americans greatly underestimate the determination of the Vietnamese people’ By initially working for the Americans, Ho Chi Minh built up their trust for him, and they sent him new arms- explosives and guns. Ho had learned Maoist techniques, perfecting Guerilla warfare ‘he was first a nationalist, and second a Communist.’ Abot Low Moffat

Role of Individuals/Leadership - Navarre & de Castries- Decolonisation of Indochina The leadership of Henri Navarre and Christian de Castries contributed to France’s gross underestimation of the Viet Minh forces. The incompetency of these figures resulted in the weak leadership of French troops, creating an advantage for the Viet Minh. French underestimation- they had perceived the Battle of Dien Bien Phu to be an easy battle, bringing more alcohol than ammunition. Navarre- arrogant, underestimated enemy Decastries- timid, romantic cavalry officer ‘The opposite of Giap’ DeCastries went along with Navarre He was reluctant to strike, more responsive than proactive Navarre’s mistake was to underestimate Giap’s abilities and ignore important intelligence due to the perceived inferiority of the Viet Minh, and instead ‘substituted their preconceived idea of the Vietminh for the facts’ (Karnow). Navarre misjudged Giap’s capacity to move a large force swiftly, eliminate his men with artillery positioned on the hills above Dien Bien Phu. He did not foresee that the Viet Minh would manage to move their supplies up the hills. Due to the inaccuracy of Navarre’s maps and because he had not verified the terrain, he assumed that it would be suitable to use tanks. However he faced monsoon rains and his tanks became tangled in the bush (Karnow). Navarre and de Castries had not prepared for the Viet Minh’s camouflaged of their artillery, their antiaircraft guns, and the howitzers near the French airstrip that hindered flights. Thus, Navarre and de Castries’ poor leadership meant that French forces were underprepared and they underestimated their enemy.

Strategies and Tactics - Vietminh - Decolonisation of Indochina Political education- Communist methodology By the late 1930s, 60 per cent of the peasantry had no land in Cochinchina. Ho later promised to redistribute the land among the peasants, who resented the landlords, promoting the Viet Minh cause 1945 famine in Tonkin where from January to October over two million people starved to death. Ho’s propaganda teams directed all their efforts towards famine relief, thus increasing Vietminh support. This was civilian support was crucial in moving artillery, as ‘cadres and coolies alike dragged the heavy weapon… up the slopes’ (Karnow) ‘he was prepared for total war, for as long as the Americans persisted’ (Jules Archer) The Viet Minh’s organisation was a major strength. Communist techniques- guerilla warfare, cardes. Cardes- groups of people who educate illiterate, rural farmers about resistance, military education but most importantly political education. They were extremely effective as they used oral traditions such as storytelling for the illiterate peasants By working for the Americans, he built up their trust for him, and they sent him new arms- explosives and guns Strengths of Giap- mobility, guerilla warfare but charged when needed to The Viet Minh camouflaged their artillery well, and had antiaircraft guns to protect from the French bombing from the air, so that the French planes could not find them to attack. Giap also positioned howitzers near the French airstrip, to stop flights in and out of the valley, and so that the French would find it hard to receive supplies and evacuate the wounded. Political education- Communist methodology Giap’s guerilla-waves-siege (mobility) Giap’s brilliance Strengths of Goap- mobility, guerilla warfare but charged when needed to -waves- tunnel siege -ability to move a huge force- howitzers to anti- aircraft Giap pushed them in, made them a smaller target Took French parachute supplies Managed to get supplies up the mountain, blew up airstrip to cut off supplies Ho and his closest colleagues in the Viet Minh (Pham Van Dong, Truong Chinh, Le Duan and Vo Nguyen Giap) then left the city and established a new headquarters in Viet Bac in northern Tonkin near the Chinese border. This almost inaccessible rugged hill country had many caves where the Viet Minh could regroup in the ‘First Indochina War.’ Giap used popular support for guerrilla warfare, along with his strategies as a master strategist to gain victory. The human wave tactic he employs weakens the French greatly. He switched his techniques, using conventional warfare as well as guerrilla warfare. Viet Minh destroyed the airship, as supplies to the French was sent by plane. They dug trenches all around Dien Bien Phu. Viet Minh used anti-aircraft fire against french planes, so that the Viet Minh could take the French supplies The Soviet Union was the first nation to recognise Ho Chi Minh's government in 1945, in 1950 Mao ZeDong pled financial and material support to the People's Army of Vietnam to defeat French colonialism. This gave Vietnam an unexpected great advantage over the French Corps. With patrons in Moscow and Beijing, Ho's troops were well supplied with food, ammunition and medicine.

Strategies and Tactics - French- Decolonisation of Indochina The French re-introduced conscription and created the Vietnamese National Army, even with the spread of anti-French support. Many of the Vietnamese soldiers deserted or became Viet Minh, becoming more of a liability. They failed to engage the people support, a major factor leading to their loss. French Prime Minister Georges Bidault authorised the local French commander to use ‘every means at’ his ‘disposal to seize Haiphong’ and teach the Viet Minh ‘a harsh lesson’. 1946 November, the French attacked guerrilla hideouts in Haiphong, they used their aircraft and a sustained naval bombardment, French troops swept through the city. French under pressure, made poor decisions, creating feelings of frustration among the French forces The lack of a quick victory due to a lack of planning also a divided French homefront, with anti-war groups. This would have further deteriorated morale Strategy of Navarre- bait, trap & destory Viet Minh -remote, relied on air supply The went into the valley, because they thought the Viet Minh could not get their supplies up the mountain Conventional warfare focused on large infantry formations supported by logistical supply teams and the use of armoured vehicles, trucks and aeroplane- traditional military warfare & techniques. Ultimately the French's conventional military tactics fell to Ho's guerilla tactics and propganda teams that worked with the people towards a common national cause- nationalism, popular support. Ho Chi Minh declared to the French General Salan ‘you will kill ten of our men and we will kill one of yours. But in the end it will be the French, and not us, who will tire of it!’ “What had happened at Dien Bien Phu was simply that a momentous gamble had been attempted by the French high command and had backfired badly.” - Fall “The surviving officers and men… were in a catatonic state of exhaustion.” - Fall, Thus the decolonisation of Indochina was sparked by Viet Minh victory over the weaknesses of French strategies and tactics.

Further Notes: Truman Doctrine- committed the US to actively offering assistance to preserve the political integrity of democratic nations- they will support any country to help them uphold democracy [against communism] Marshall plan- in order to create stable conditions in which democratic institutions could survive. If the US could help countries to be prosperous, the countries would be less encouraged to turn to communism

• US diplomat and historian George Kennan, who formed the theory of containment, believed that the US must 'contain' the spread of global communism. They believed a communist victor=y in Vietnam would lead to the fall of vulnerable countries such as Malaya, Indonesia, New Guinea, and Australia, to communism.

• Read Cantwell pp42 to the first column of p44 • a. Describe conventional warfare. • Conventional warfare focused on large infantry formations supported by logistical

supply teams and the use of armoured vehicles, trucks and aeroplane- traditional military warfare & techniques.

• b. Explain why the People’s Army decided to change its tactics in late 1947. • c. Read the document The Tactics of the People’s Army and answer the questions

which follow. • d. Read the document How We Will Win Popular Support and answer the questions

which follow. • e. Copy the quote about the water and the fish. Who originally used this analogy? • 2. Read Source 5.14 from Retrospective p97. • a. Truncate and copy Ho’s statement about nationalism. • b. Truncate and copy Ho’s statement about the elephant and the tiger. • 3. Read p44 of Cantwell. Outline some of the discomforts and dangers faced by

Leclerc’s French Expeditionary Corps when they ventured into the vast regions of rural Vietnam where Ho’s army resided.

• 4. Read pp44&45 of Cantwell comparing the People’s Army with the French Expeditionary Corps. Design a diagram which summarises and illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of either side.

• 5. Read p46&47 of Cantwell A French Foreign Legionnaire Reflects on the War which outlines a.

• The Elysse Agreement • 1. Read pp32-35 from Cambridge Conflict in Indochina • a. Explain what the French hoped to achieve with the Elysse Agreement and why it

failed.

• Why did Truman help the French in Vietnam? • 5. Read Sanders The USA and Vietnam 1945-75 on Moodle from p21 ‘Ho, Giap and

the French Failure in Indochina’ to p24. • a. Using sub-headings and bullet points, summarise the reasons why France was

unable to keep control in Vietnam.

• 6. Read Sanders The USA and Vietnam 1945-75 on Moodle from p24 ‘Dienbienphu – the Debate over American Intervention’ to p27.

• a. Research President Eisenhower. When did he become President? Which party did he belong to? What was his involvement in the Korean War? How did he view the conflict in Indochina? To what extent was he committed to helping the French in Vietnam before Dienbienphu?

• b. Create a mindmap which illustrates the arguments for and against American intervention in Dienbienphu.

• c. What did the Americans end up doing (and not doing) to help the French? • America did not declare war against North Vietnam but provided support against

South Vietnam, so they did not lose the war but their withdrew their support in 1973 • Nationalism was more powerful than imperialism • The Vietnam War ended when the Communists took Saigon from 1975 • Pham Van Dong became Prime Minister after Ho died QUOTE PHAM VAN DONG • • ABBOT LOW MOFFAT: • We knew he was a Communist, but we also felt, as they did, and the way anybody

who has known, met Ho Chi Minh, who I've ever talked with, had the same feeling: That is, he was interested in getting the independence of his people and then he thought probably the best thing for them was the Communist type of government. But he was a nationalist first and foremost.

• • -The French did not organise any hunger relief and the Japanese specifically forbade

us to carry out any hunger relief effort of our own. o 2million out of the 8million in the north died from hunger, as a result of the

lack of famine relief. By early 1945, Vietnam was suffering a terrible famine. People blamed the French and Japanese, who were hoarding rice, feeding it to Japanese troops, and even exporting it to Japan - while an estimated two million Vietnamese out of eight million in the northern areas died.

o The Ho-Santieny agreement- agree to let French stay for a period of time if they recognised the Vietnamese state. They did, and the Chinese left Vietnam. (America had let the Chinese move into Vietnam as Chiang Kai Shek was not a communist)

• -November 1846- Hai phong the start of the first Indochina war • Communist china followed by the Soviet Union recognised Vietnam • -Americans see communism all as one thing, all the same 'monolithic communism,'

no difference between the PRC and USSR

• Disaster at Dien Bien Phu • • 1. Read Cantwell Chapter Three ‘The First Indochina War, 1946-54’ pp38-54 • • 2. Read Dien Bien Phu – What was it? • • 3. Watch DVD Military Blunders- Disaster at Dien Bien Phu (25 mins) • • From <https://classroom.google.com/u/1/c/NjkyNjc3MTc1N1pa>

• Dean Russ • Napalm- sticky petrol bombs • They used high explosive shells in north vietnam • They used napalm and agent orange in south vietnam • Colonel Bui Tin- Critical of the regime • Vietnam becoming embroiled in the Cold War context/ conflict- Vietnam is a cold

war hotspot • By 1953 America was paying for 80% of the French war effort against the Viet Minh • The French controlled the cities but Viet Minh controlled the countryside, and the

night. The French the day and the Viet Minh the night • Navarre is overall commander for the French effort, French Army general • Examine the role of leadership • DeCatries is the commander of the forts at Dien Bien Phu, in charge of DBP • Underestimating the enemy - French underestimating the Viet Minh • Giap's people's army • Thousands pf porters- importance of popular support to the Viet Minh. 51000 Viet

Minh soldiers (twice?) the numer of french troops

• Siege of Dien Bien Phu- French defeat: 1500 dead, some (how many?) taken prisoner, Vietnamese victory: 8000 dead, 1500 wounded

• John Foster Dulles 1954 • KNOW THE PRESIDENTS AND SECRETARIES OF STATE DURING THE VIETNAM WAR UP

TO 1954

• ‘President Johnson was rapidly coming to the conclusion that if there were to be a military victory in Vietnam, to save American prestige, it would have to be won with American troops. That belief was to plunge the United States into its gravest domestic crisis since the Civil War.’ America’s aggressive approach

Exam prep • 'Significance of nationalism' essay • -Nationalism was successful was imperialism was so weak. Of course the strategies

of the Viet Minh contributed to making nationalism successful. And we cannot disregard the role of individuals in leadership

• -3 paras on nationalism, other 3 paras on imperialism, strategies and tactics with the French underestimation and Giap's mobility, and Ho&Giap's and Navarre & DeCastries' leadership

• The role of the historian is to produce a connected account • Different things that affect the historian's interpretation of events • Provide specific evidence and examples of how this aspect helped (or hindered the

French) at Dien Bien Phu. eg: the civilian porters transporting artillery up the mountains were inspired by Vietnamese nationalism

• • Present facts, figures, dates, names and quotes from historians and participants • • Ensure that you include quotes which offer differing perspectives (ie both sides)

• Closing statement linking back to your central thesis and maybe also linking to your next paragraph.

U.S. Perspectives and Interpretations

Driving Question: How has the Vietnamese victory at Dien Bien Phu been interpreted and presented by various groups?

What is the group’s (nationality’s) main interpretation of the victory/defeat? (i.e. what reasons or explanations do they provide?)

• The US appear to be critical of the French leadership and their actions, which ultimately led to the French defeat at Dienbienphu.

• was an outright tactical defeat of a French strong point by Vietminh

Who are the main participants and/or historians in this group? What is their involvement or perspective?

• Stanley Karnow -American foreign correspondent/journalist who covered the Vietnam war; historian

• Critical of French commanders, especially Navarre, for their underestimation of the Vietminh which ultimately led to the French defeat

• Acknowledges the skillfulness of Giap and his strategies in comparison to poor French leadership

• William J Duiker • Ho offered a “ patchwork of ideas designed to meet the particular

circumstances of the Vietnamese revolution” • Charles Fenn- OSS officer, was critical of American and French actions in the war

Provide at least six quotes from the above which present their interpretation of the event. • ‘For good or for ill, Ho Chi Minh managed to reflect in his person two of the central

forces in modern society- the desire for national independence and the quest for social and economic justice’ William J. Duiker, Ho Chi Minh

• ‘For Americans, the debate over Ho Chi Minh arouses passions over a war that is now past. For Vietnamese, it conjures up questions of more fundamental importance, since it defines...the relationship between human freedom and economic equality’ William J. Duiker, Ho Chi Minh

• ‘Supporters of the U.S. war effort raised doubts about his patriotic motives by alluding to his long record as an agent of Joseph Stalin and five decades of service to the world revolution’ William J. Duiker, Ho Chi Minh

• “Ho Chi Minh, then, was (in the American philosopher Sidney Hook’s memorable phrases) an “event-making man,” a “child of crisis” who combined in his own person two of the central forces in the history of modern Vietnam: the desire for national independence and the quest for social and economic justice’ William J. Duiker, Ho Chi Minh

• The war was part of Ho Chi Minh’s great struggle ‘to give the pariah’s of the world their true voice.’ William J. Duiker, Ho Chi Minh

• “Picking up where France left off, another Western nation would increase its military commitment in Indochina and defer the restoration of peace and stability in Vietnam.”- Pierre Asselin

• “No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War.” (Richard M. Nixon, 1985)

• “The U.S. became virtually a prisoner of its own policy. Containment of communism, concern for the French in relation to the postwar Europe of NATO, EDC, and the Soviet threat in the West all compelled the U.S. to continue aid.” (Herring, 203)

• "Later, as official American political attitudes toward the region matured, they were dictated by the two other factors: the US alliance with France, whose fate was deemed vital to the uncertain future of Western Europe, and the fall of China to the Communists, which spurred the foreign policy of "containment", contrived to block what then appeared to be a communist expansion." -Karnow, Vietnam: A History

• “The US had spent 2.5 billion to finance the futile French military effort.”- Karnow, Vietnam: A History

• “Confronted by the inevitable, the Washington hierarchy now accepted the imminent French defeat with genuine or contrived equanimity.” -Karnow, Vietnam: A History

• “As Navarre poured troops into Dienbienphu…” -Karnow, Vietnam: A History • • How has the Vietnamese victory at Dien Bien Phu been interpreted and presented

by various groups? • • What is this group’s (nationality’s) main interpretation of the victory/defeat? ie:

what reasons or explanations do they provide? • • The overall perspective of the Vietnamese victory was one of nationalistic pride.

After years of oppression and exploitation by a colonial rule, the victory of Dien Bien Phu was the start of a pathway to freedom and independence. However, although as a country they were ecstatic for their victory, individually the repercussions of the war were traumatic and terrifying. Peasants who had never fought before were told to kill, being sent to war almost always meant death and the people suffered under the traumatic and harsh conditions. But they know it was worth it, the population's trust in the movement still stayed solidified as they believed life sacrifice was worth the freedom of their country and worth the end of colonial rule.

• • Who are the main participants and/or historians in this group? What is their

involvement or perspective? • • Giap and Ho Chi Minh - both very determined, nationalistic and proud of their

country. • Phan Van Dong • • “I saw my platoon leader get shot in the mouth. Then my squad leader got hit, too. I

kept firing until all my ammunition was gone. Then the two French soldiers appeared. I stabbed the first with my bayonet. He fell. And the other one ran. It was

the first time I killed anyone, and I was scared. We were all scared, but we had to fight or die.”- Mr. WAN DUNG VING

• “I was very nervous. He was very tall and intimidating. I was short and small, but I was determined to show him I meant business. So I pushed my gun into his side and shouted (Foreign language spoken), which means hands up. He looked alarmed and spoke to me rapidly in French. Later, I learned he was saying: Please don't shoot. I surrender.” - Mr. WAN DUNG VING

• DO VAN SU: • I always believed in my country. But instead of sending my sons out to defend their

country, I sent them out to die. • DUONG VAN KHANH: • The people here suffered a lot because of high taxes and hard forced labor. They

worked from dawn ‘til dusk, but they did not have enough to eat. • HOANG QUOC VIET: • In the rubber plantations the workers were treated so inhumanely that they died

young, and died in droves. There was a saying that ‘the workers were fertiliser for the rubber trees’ because their corpses were buried under the trees.

• HOANG QUOC VIET: • After the conference to establish the Vietminh, Uncle Ho sent out a letter calling for

the support of the population. And it was this that rallied the entire country around the movement. And when people realised that Ho Chi Minh was actually Nguyen Ai Quoc, their trust in the movement was further established. This was because the name Nguyen Ai Quoc had been widely known in the country - people knew that he was a great patriot.

• "Dien Bien Phu signalled the end of colonisation," said Dao Hung, a member of the

Vietnamese Association of Historians. • • "On a political level, it is the great turning", said Hung. • • Who are the main participants and/or historians in this group? What is their

involvement or perspective? • Giap: • “But without Gen. Giap’s decision, most of us wouldn’t have been able to fight in

the resistance war against the US years later,” said General Le Trong Tan • • The entire country and the whole world are behind you every single minute. The

nation’s destiny totally depends on the air defense soldiers ability to safeguard Hanoi.”

• • We are determined to fight to our death and win the war.” • • “It was wrong of the US to invade Vietnam,” “The US lost the war because it didn’t

understand Vietnam,” “We knew right from the outset that we would triumph,” and “The word ‘fear’ never exists in our military philosophies.”

• Navarre is a talented general, and it wasn’t his fault the French lost the war; those who started the war in the first place were all to blame,”

• “the US missed many opportunities to end the war in Vietnam, while Vietnam always took advantage of them all.”

• “It wasn’t me, but the Vietnamese people who won the Vietnam war. You call me a legendary general, but I think I’m no different from my soldiers.”

• “The Vietnamese people will fight for independence, liberty and equality status. If our negotiations are unsuccessful, we will resort to arms”

• • Our strategy was at once military, political, economic, and diplomatic, although it

was the military component which was the most important one. • • https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/peoplescentury/episodes/guerrillawars/giaptranscrip

t.html •

• My army had gained a lot of experience in fighting, particularly from the battle of Dien Bien Phu. It was also from this battle that I knew the army was important, but our logistics were also a key factor among many

• • . From an international point of view, it was the first great victory for a weak,

colonized people struggling against the full strength of modern Western forces. This is why it was the first great defeat for the West. It shook the foundations of colonialism and called on people to fight for their freedom -- it was the beginning of international civilization.

• • "At the beginning, we thought that the Americans, with their strategy of 'active

flexible response', would escalate the war and that the American soldiers would come here. We therefore had to look long-term.

• "I knew if we were to win in the south of Vietnam, where there was already a guerrilla war, we would have to expand our front lines and fight larger battles. Therefore, in May 1959, I directed the opening of the Ho Chi Minh trail."

• • In August 1945, while Ho Chi Minh was seriously ill, he personally told me: 'We have

to win independence at any cost, even if the Truong Son mountains burn.' Our army and our people are determined to unite Vietnam."

• • "Our victory at Dien Bien Phu," wrote Vo Nguyen Giap in instructions to field

commanders, "will make it possible for our forces to intensify their actions on various fronts, thus creating conditions for the annihilation of important enemy forces and foiling his plans for pacification."

• • Giap understood the importance of a victory over the French. He believed that the

destruction of the enemy outpost could alter the physiognomy of the war, end the stalemate, and assure future victories. Considering the ever increasing American

commitment to the French cause, the Viet-minh needed an unparalleled success on the battlefield to prevent an extension of the conflict

• • Internationally, the Dien Bien Phu victory meant that for the first time, a nation that

was a semi-feudal colony with a small land area, small population, a backward economy, and rudimentary weaponry could defeat a Western power with large economic and military potential and sophisticated weapons," Vo Nguyen Giap

• • Phan van dong • “Our history, from the time of the Hung kings and the Trung sisters, to the era of

President Ho Chi Minh, has been a history of great struggle. Throughout history, the Vietnamese people have always done their best to defend the country and to build the nation.”

• • http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/13947/general-vo-nguyen-giaps-immortal-sayings

Driving question: How has the Vietnamese victory at Dien Bien Phu been interpreted and presented by the French?

Bernard B. Fall wrote: As a French colonel surveyed the battlefield from a slit trench near his command post, a small white flag, probably a handkerchief, appeared on top of a rifle hardly 50 feet away from him, followed by the flat-helmeted head of a Viet Minh soldier. You're not going to shoot anymore? said the Viet Minh in French. No, I'm not going to shoot anymore, said the colonel. C'est fini? said the Viet Minh. Oui, c'est fini, said the colonel. And all around them, as on some gruesome Judgment Day, soldiers, French and enemy alike, began to crawl out of their trenches and stand erect for the first time in 54 days, as firing ceased everywhere. The sudden silence was deafening. [Source: Bernard B. Fall, historynet.com, Vietnam magazine, June 12, 2006] What is this group’s (nationality’s) main interpretation of the victory/defeat? ie: what reasons or explanations do they provide? Who are the main participants and/or historians in this group? What is their involvement or perspective?

• Benard B. Fall • A historian and a participant • Was born in Austria but grew up in France and joined the French army during

DBP • Presents each side fairly

• Maurice Theorex made a speech at the 12th COngress of French COmmunist Party in april of 1950 → showcases attitudes of the French public

• ‘It is precisely because we are patriotic Frenchmen, workers fired with the spirit of internationalism, that we are campaigning against the foul war in Vietnam. It is precisely because we love French that we suffer and are ashamed to learn that Frenchmen have been guilt of crime. More than ever we feel the accuracy and truth of that observation by Marx : ‘ Any race which oppresses another cannot be free’

- Favrel, Le Monde French newspaper Favrel made very critical and scathing comments towards Navarre’s tactics, expressing a bitter attitude towards the helpless French defeat. “But they wanted to install themselves in a basin without occupying the surrounding hills, and the terrain was neutralised from the the first day of the battle. And our artillery proved so powerless that the colonel responsible committed suicide” Provide at least six quotes from the above which present their interpretation of the event.

• “... it had become apparent… that Dien Bien Phu’s position was hopeless.” - Fall, Hell in a Very Small Place

• “While the main defenses of Dien Bien Phu were being mopped up, strong Viet Minh forces already had tightened their grip…” - Fall

• Hell in a Very Small Place Jean Lacouture Jean-claude guillebaud - ‘Return to Vietnam’ (1994) “It was not merely on account of the pathos of defeat, the heartbreak of surrender and the horror of the camps” “I was ten years old when the garrison dug in at Dien Bien Phu fell. At boarding school in Villard-de-Lans, the classes all gathered in the dining hall for a minute’s silence. ‘This is a day of mourning of France,’ said the principal.” Geoffrey Norman (Hallowed Ground) Links http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-dien-bien-phu.htm By the late 1840s other empires had colonised most of Asia but France had no footholds in the Far East – France remained a ‘poor man’ in Asia. This communicates the attitude of European superiority, the belief the Vietnamese were uncivilised pagans. Revolts in other colonies Bao Dai, the puppet emperor of the French empire, was an uninspiring leader, people would not fight for him Imperialism only appealed to the elite Furthermore,

• Economy:

o The taxation system was extensive and represented the biggest problem faced by the nation’s subsistence farmers.

o The agricultural sector of Vietnam, which represented 90 per cent of the nation simply had to bear the burden of financing the country.

o Vietnam’s economy was fragile, insular and self-sustaining – Vietnam had no export businesses or productive trade alliances with other nations.

• Economy: o The taxation system was extensive and represented the biggest problem

faced by the nation’s subsistence farmers. o The agricultural sector of Vietnam, which represented 90 per cent of the

nation simply had to bear the burden of financing the country. o Vietnam’s economy was fragile, insular and self-sustaining – Vietnam had no

export businesses or productive trade alliances with other nations.

o What is the gendarmerie? What consequences were there for the Vietnamese if they did not comply with French rules and orders?

• A gendarmerie is a force of gendarmes, or a military component with jurisdiction in civil law enforcement. This was the equivalent of a French police force. The gendarmerie played a leading role in rural police work as well as in crowd control units. They were occassionally deployed to keep the plantation revenues flowing or they were in charge of prisoner transfers. They had a policy of military repression against the many anti-French secret societies, that wanted to change the political structure in Vietnam. (This included, most significantly, the Indochinese Communist Party (ICP), founded by Ho Chi Minh.)

• • The growing influence of the church present such a threat to Nguyen Dynasty in

political and economic terms presented a threat to the Nquyen Dynasty as the Vietnamese people were starting to favour French-inspired alternatives to the problems of the Dynatsy. Emperor Tu Duc's throne was losing its appeal to peasants, especially as he failed to provide is inspiration and support to his people during times of starvation from droughts and floods. Taxation had increased to sustain the extravagant Royal Court.

• Explain why the Nguyen Dynasty was unable to effectively combat the church because Emperor Tu Duc's lack of assistance for his people created social revolts, that had previously been nonexistent in Vietnamese history. There were over 400 incidents by 1857, with murders and conspiracies weakening the Royal Council. The French missionaries had also managed to deteriorate Tu Duc's reputation (credibility) as a monarch. French naval warships with advanced military technology could also easily overpower Tu Duc's army; which also had no allies. His regime thus declined, with decreasing popular support, as Tu Duc's Royal Court did not adequately address the need for reforms.

• -nationalist sentiments shown even from Emperor Tu Dac