Transcript Decolonization of India and Indo

Vietnam War
History 12
Ms Leslie
During WWII
A French administered
possession of Japan
Vichy reps would collaborate
with Japanese military
At the end of the war, Japan
set up a Puppet government
led by Bao Dai
After WWII, the French
wanted to return to their
South East Asian colony,
but their subjects in
French Indo-China really
did not want them
North Vietnam had an
effective resistance
movement to the
occupying Japanese had
been organized by Ho
Chi Minh.
Ho’s forces proved the only effective antiJapanese group, seizing control of
Vietnam at the time of the Japanese
surrender.
Boa Dai resigned and Vietnam was united
under Ho and the Viet Minh.
Ho declared independence on September
2, 1945
Ho’s Vietminh
simply continued
the struggle
when the French
retuned,
Ho’s communist
guerillas earned
the support of
the peasants
with land reform.
The success of the
Chinese revolution
brought a steady
stream of supplies
from Mao’s China.
At the Potsdam Conference it was agreed
the British and Chinese would supervise the
disarming of the Japanese in the area
British actively supported the restoration of
French Power.
By the end of September, the French were
back in power in the South, at least in the
urban centers.
In 1946 Ho tried to reach a settlement with
the French
Negotiations broke down in 1946, and at the
end of the year the French opened hostilities
at Haiphong, killing at least 6,000 civilians.
The Viet Minh responded with failed attack on
Hanoi
Both sides now in a prolonged struggle.
French controlled the cities and
highways
Ho had the countryside and Mao’s
support
France set up their own puppet
government under Bao Dai again
Bao Dai did not have the support of the
people as he had collaborated with the
Japanese
The Soviets and Chinese would only
recognize Ho as leader
British and USA recognized Bao Dai
by 1950 The French, unable to
finance the war against the Vietminh
themselves, turned to the USA for help
and were granted financial and military
aid to assist in the cold war struggle
against communism.
The Americans wanted to end
colonialism and have independent
non-Communist governments in the
Area.
1952-53 USA
paying 2/3 of war
Would not provide
troops
French want out
The French
attempted to
cut off Viet
Minh supplies
at Dien Bien
Phu in March May 1954.
This air drop brought almost 10,000
troops to the area
They were soon surrounded and had to
rely on airdrops for supplies
Again the French asked for American
help
Eisenhower wanted to help to prevent
the domino effect.
Congress was divided - some didn’t
want another Korea
May 7 1954 the French surrendered to
General Giap
 Formal settlement between
Indochina and France
 Laos and Cambodia were given
independence,
 while Vietnam was temporarily
partitioned at the 17th parallel, until
elections in 1956 could determine
its future. Elections never happened
An 8 power declaration
providing for 3 independent states
supervised elections in Vietnam
prohibited the involvement of any of the
states in treaty alliances or allowing
foreign bases in their territory.
The Americans called for a UN
supervised election
the Communist regime of Ho Chi
Minh in the North faced the South
Vietnamese of Ngo Dinh Diem
Ngo Dinh Diem replaced Bao Dai in
1955
Neither could be properly described
as democratic
Diem’s Vietnam
Ngo Dinh Diem
was a catholic
governing a
mostly Buddhist
population.
Diem’s family has
all the power
torture
did not feel bound
by the agreement,
knowing full well that
Ho would easily win
the election.
With American
support, Diem
refused to allow the
elections.
Diem and Eisenhower
SEATO 1954
South-East Asian Treaty Organization
which guaranteed the security of the SouthEast Asians nations against foreign
aggression
America encouraged this agreement
Australia, Bangladesh, France, New Zealand,
Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, UK and USA
Meanwhile in America
1954, Congress granted President
Eisenhower executive power to wage
war without the consent of Congress
Because that’s such a great idea
Diem vs Communism
1957, communists protest the
cancellation of elections
USA gets nervous about this
1962 Kennedy sent 500-10,000
‘advisors’ to South Vietnam with
equipment
Diem’s policies were
anti-Buddhist.
The led to the famous
self-immolation of a
monk in June of 1963
Thích Quảng Đức was
protesting the religions
oppression of Diem
His protest didn’t work
youtube video - no
sound
Diem became an embarrassment to the US
administration, which came to support a CIA
backed military coup against him in 1963.
Diem was shot and killed Nov 2
Kennedy killed Nov 22
In the next two years, nine changes of
government occurred, before Air Marshal
Nguyen Cao Ky seized control in June 1965.
Diem dead
Ky’s government
The Buddhists were still
opposed, until Ky broke
their resistance in the late
spring of 1966.
Civil liberties, especially
freedom of the press, were
limited and political
opponents were imprisoned
Political parties could only
operate if they did not oppose
the government
farcical elections were held
In 1967, the military candidates Nguyen Van
Thieu and his running mate, Ky, took power
with only 35% of the vote.
The civilian candidate winning the most votes
was jailed.
A guerilla war (Viet Cong) began in
the south, with the Southern
Vietminh forming the basis of the
new NLF (National Liberation Front),
armed and supported Ho’s North.
The North never accepted a divided
Vietnam.
America’s Involvement
All fact-findingmissions returned to
Washington DC stating
that Vietnam was
hopeless.
Eisenhower, Kennedy,
Johnson and Nixon all
ignored this. They
were blinded by their
fear of communism.
Kennedy had dispatched advisors and
equipment.
His advisors were instrumental in setting up
the safe village programme, in which
peasants were moved into fortified villages to
protect them and to isolate the Viet Cong
outside.
The policy was based on the false
assumption that most peasants supported the
South Vietnamese government.
In practice, the
Vietcong were very
often the very same
peasants who were
relocated, and they
continued to operate
within the
settlements.
After Kennedy’s assassination,
his VP Johnson took over
He was told the Viet Cong and
NLF controlled 40% of South
Vietnam and had public
support
Johnson kept resisting
communist aggression
I’m not going to be the
president who saw
Southeast Asia go the way
China went.
- Johnson
Gulf of Tonkin - Aug 2,1964
It was reported 3 North
Vietnamese torpedo boats
attacked 2 US destroyers
One of the NV boats was
sunk
In 2000, it was revealed that
the Americans fired first
USS Maddox
The result = war!!!
Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin
Resolution, approving escalation of the
conflict. (blank cheque)
1965, Johnson increased troops to 200,000
authorized the bombing of North Vietnamese
cities, hoping to prevent the infiltration of men
and material into the South
bombing failed completely
Four weeks after the bombing began,
North Vietnam began to send its first
regular army units into the South.
Operation Rolling Thunder
1965-68
Bomb Hanoi for 3
years straight
American presence increases
March 7, 1965, 35,000 Marines were
landed at Da Nang
July the total number of US combat
troops had risen to 75,000.
510,000 troops present in 1968-9.
Da nang is pretty
They also water boarder Vietnamese in Da
Nang
1968
Also…
In addition, there were 750,000 regular
Vietnamese troops, 50,000 South
Koreans,
detachments from Thailand, New
Zealand and Australia (the last 3
honouring their SEATO commitment).
They were up against
About 70,000 North
Vietnamese regulars
and around 450,000
Viet Cong.
Charlie’s well stocked
The NLF received aid from the north via
the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
This trail went from North Vietnam,
through Cambodia and Laos and back
to South Vietnam.
The nature of this war
made victors unclear
The American’s used
body counts as a sign
of victory
Body counts on the
news every night
First ‘living room war’
The Air War 1965-1968
1965: Sustained bombing of North
Vietnam
Operation Rolling Thunder (March 2,
1965)
1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi
nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the
Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Downed Pilots: P.O.W.s
Carpet Bombing – napalm
Napalm was used to get rid of
the foliage
But, it burns everything
Who is the enemy?
Vietcong:
Farmers by day; guerillas at night.
 Very patient people willing to accept
many casualties.
 The US grossly underestimated their
resolve and their resourcefulness.

Tet Offensive - Feb 1968
Viet Cong was able to capture 80% of south
Vietnam's towns and villages
Convinced many in Washington victory was
impossible
N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack
South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100
cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon)
U.S. + ARVN beat back the offensive
Viet Cong destroyed N.
Vietnamese army
debilitated
BUT…it’s seen as an
American defeat by the
media
Domestic U.S.
Reaction: Disbelief,
Anger, Distrust of
Johnson Administration
President Johnson refused the demand
of his commander in Vietnam, General
William Westmoreland, that 206,000
additional ground troops by sent.
Johnson instead
ordered suspension
of bombing in the
North.
American Morale Begins to
Dip
Disproportionate representation of poor
people and minorities.
Severe racial problems.
Major drug problems.
Officers in combat 6 months, in rear 6
months, Enlisted men in combat for 12
months.
Domestic anti-war protests
The Vietnam War
was a PR disaster
for the USA with
images such and
Kim Phuc and
Atrocities such as
My Lai.
Kim Phuc on
Youtube
My Lai - March 16, 1968
My Lai was an area consisting of several
hamlets. It was thought to be a hide-out for
the Viet Cong.
Involved Charlie Company who had only
been in Vietnam for 3 months. They were
involved with the Tet Offensive and were
down to 105 men – losing 28 to injuries and
death.
They were led by Lt William Calley.
Charlie company moved in with two platoons
at 8 pm.
Soldiers went berserk, gunning down
unarmed men, women, children and babies.
Families which huddled together for safety in
huts or bunkers were shown no mercy. Those
who emerged with hands held high were
murdered.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHvzOSRI
Blo&feature=related
Some soldiers opted
out of the killing
spree, when two of
his men refused to
fire on a group of 60
civilians, Calley took
over.
500 civilians were
killed in 3 hours
Women were gang raped;
Vietnamese who had bowed to greet
the Americans were beaten with fists
and tortured, clubbed with rifle butts and
stabbed with bayonets.
Some victims were mutilated with the
signature "C Company" carved into the
chest.
one American was
injured - a GI who
had shot himself in
the foot while
clearing his pistol
He may have done it
on purpose
massacre was only stopped when an
American helicopter saw what was
happening and landed to investigate.
They landed purposely in the line of fire
between troops and civilians.
Pilot later given a medal
It took more then a year for the story to
reach newsstands as the Charlie
company captain, Ernest Medina, knew
that it would cause trouble.
Initially only reported 20-28 civilians killed
eventually the truth leaked out.
One of the participants was bragging about
his exploits over a beer with a soldier from
another company. He returned to the USA
and exposed Charlie Company.
Sept 1969 Calley was charged with 109
murders.
An inquiry was held (Peers inquiry). Had 400
witnesses and 20,000 pages of testimony
about the crimes that included murders by
individuals and groups, rape, sodomy,
maiming and assault of civilians.
The inquiry recommended 28 officers to be
charged.
Army decided to only charge 14
officers, of which only 1 came to court
and he was acquitted.
As for the 30 soldiers charges, 17 has
quit the army so their charges were
dropped. The rest were dismissed or
found ‘not guilty’
Only Calley was convicted and
sentence to life in prison. He served 3
days and was out on appeal on the
personal instructions of President Nixon
He spent 3 years in house arrest.
Vietnamization
Nixon is president in 1968
Needs an honourable way out of the
war
Vietnamization refers to having more of
the war effort be borne by the South
Vietnamese, allowing for the gradual
withdrawal of American troops.
Agent Orange begins
Henry Kissinger – US Secretary of
State – have a two track plan to
withdraw troops.
1. Military solution – Strengthen South
Vietnam’s military.
2. Political solution – Strengthen the South
Vietnamese government so it could attract
a broader base of support in South
Vietnam.
July 1970 – The New Nixon Peace
Offensive. Remove ground forces and
step up air strikes.
By mid 1971, about half of the
American contingent had been
withdrawn and it’s almost entirely a war
in the air.
South Vietnamese at now greater risk,
Nixon began to bomb the Ho Chi Minh
Trail
Apart from destabilizing both countries,
the bombings had almost no effect on
the communists
1972 – only 200,000
American’s left in
Vietnam – Nixon
continues to bomb
North Vietnamese
cities
Peace talks began in Paris, and in January
27, 1973 a cease-fire was arranged.
The Americans agreed to withdraw their
forces within 60 days and all the North and
South agreed to respect the frontier along the
17th parallel.
August 15, 1973 – all US forces out of
Vietnam
The Viet Cong continued their offensive
April 1975, South Vietnam’s capitol
Saigon, fell.
Vietnam was reunited under the
commies.
Fall of Saigon
Desperate to get out
both Cambodia and Laos also fell to
Communist forces.
Eisenhower’s fear of the domino effect
appeared to have merit.
Conclusions
Cost the US $150 billion
2 million men saw action
America lost 57,939 men, Vietnam 1.1
million
dropped more bombs on Vietnam then
all the bombs dropped by all sides in
WWII
Almost 5 million civilians died
Why the USA lost
1. hard to win a war against nationalist guerillas
2. Unpopularity of war at home
a. Anti-war movement
b. Casualties
c. Cost of the war to the economy (inflation)
3. International disgrace
4. USA could not win over the south Vietnamese
people
5. American military was disillusioned.
7 Lessons of the war
1. Even nuclear super powers have limitations
2. You need home support
3. Military intervention against a popular
nationalist group can be futile
4. Conscript armies fighting for questionable
causes are not reliable – USA cancelled
universal draft after the Vietnam war.
5. Powers of the President to wage war
were constitutionally restricted
6. Domino theory proved to be rhetoric
7. Americans started to question many
fundamental beliefs of their society.
8. Restrict media access
9. Have clear goals and deadlines
Effects for Vietnam
Reunited
Huge human and material loss
Dioxin
Opponents ‘re-educated’
Freedom of speech gone
China and USSR helped in war
Vietnam chose USSR as sponsor
This means increased tension on SinoVietnamese border
Border war in 1979
This leads to boat people fleeing
Effects on USA
Divided country
With Watergate Scandal people lost
faith in government
Veterans returned to silence
Reluctance to involvement to foreign
wards until late 80’s
2,583 American POWs / MIAs still
unaccounted for today.
1995 - Clinton recognized Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh: “If we have to fight, we will
fight. You will kill ten of our men and we
will kill one of yours, and in the end it will
be you who tires of it.”
Effects on neighbours Cambodia
Becomes communist Pol Pot = leader
Khmer Rouge set out to rebuild
society.
Entire population in capital, Phnom
Penh was forced into the countryside to
do forced labour in agriculture.
Pol Pot announced that the past would
be swept away and that history would
begin again from a new year 1.
Thousands fled into exile in
neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam.
Millions killed (21% of pop)
most evil man - Pol Pot
Vietnamese decided to step in and remove
this murderous regime, which was supported
by china.
1979 - Pol Pot and his supported fled to
Thailand.
regime, which was supported by china. Pol
Pot and his supported fled to Thailand.
The UN still recognized Pol Pot government
as the legitimate government,
Opposed Vietnam’s intrusion
US sent military aid to the Khmer Rouge,
Helping them pester the Vietnamese.
1993 - UN brokered a deal, bringing back the
old leader, Prince Norodom Sihamoni in
the Khmer Rouge boycotted the election the
followed.
Pol Pot died in 1998.
Land mines from his regime still kill and
maim today
End :)