confrontation in the vietnam war, escalation 1964-68

what was the battle of hue

city of hue caprured by nv - for next few monts the city became a war zone, filled with vicious street fighting

when was battle of hue

jan-march 1968

what was the result of the batlle hue

city taken back by us but a alrge part had been destroyed

what was siege of khe sanh

involved us and sv - they were defending an airstrip in border of laos

when was siege of khe sanh

jan-july 1968

what was resuly of siege of khe sanh

nv claimed victory while us claimed they had made a tactical withdrawal

what happened during tet

us gov said it was pding well agaisnt vc and would soon be able to bring war to an end but months later nv and vc launched attacks in sv

when did tet start

30th jan 1968 - happened during vietnameose holiday celebration lunar new year

where did tet happen

towns cities miliary bases and westmoreland;s base and us embassy building both in saigon

westmoreland;s role in tet offensive

commander of us army in vietnam - attacks caought him off guard as months earilier he had presented the view to congress the war was going will - ‘we will prevail in vietnam over the communsit aggressor’

aims of tet

vc and nv hoped it would them support from sv against us and inspure them to force us from country, hoped to a win would attract media attention in usa weakening support from the war from its citizens

5 events in tet

• vc carried out saller attacks away from important sicities to draw us troops - aorund 50,000 us gls sent to defend these areas

• 30th jan 84,000 vc and nv soldiers laucnhed a number of attacks across vietnam

• us were on back foot from start - recovered quick and recaputured towns cities and bases taken by enemy during attacks

• us embassay in saigon retaken by us paratoopers within hours

• com forces defeated in ett - 50,000 nv troops and 10,000 vc soldiers were killed

what happened to hue during tet

vc captured it and it took 3 weeks for us to recapture

why was us shocked by tet

us gov and media gave us impression they were winning - tet changed public opinion as many began ti see realoity

how many caualties in tet

50,000 vc to 2,500 us soldiers

failures of tet for vc

lost soldiers and us re took all cities towns and bases

successes of tet for vc

• shown they could strike at any moment and take key cities and bases

• event shown on us tv - us came to realise us were no match for vc tactics

• aim of us public turning against johnson and us involvement was met

results of tet

• us began to question involvemrnt as not close to end

• us spent lots and many died - vc did not give up and showed war not over soon

• march 1968 johnson told us publc he wouldnt run in next elections

• june 1968 westmoreland replaced abrms - clear johnson not happy with westmoreland when he requested 200,000 more toops and he turned down requestion

• us now spending 30 bil a year fighting vc and 300 us being killed every week

• also killed many civilians and destroyed cities

consequences of tet for vc

vc nearlt wiped out - between them vc and nva lost around 45,000 men