Tet offensive - a turning point

Give an account of the Tet offensive

* Before attack VC mounted a number of smaller attacks on US bases to distract US forces - 50,000 US troops busy by the time of Tet - resulted in initial retreat
* January 30 1968 - during ceasefire of Vietnamese lunar new year, 84,000 Vietcong VC and NVA troops simultaneously attacked more than 100 towns, cities and US military bases, as well as US embassy in Saigon
* Aim was to inspire South Vietnamese rebellion and result in less US public support
* Westmoreland’s Embassy only seized for 6 hours, Hue seized for 2 weeks, Saigon seized for 2 days

What was the human cost of the Tet offensive?

50,000 NV fighters and 10,000 VC fighters killed, compared to less than 10,000 US and ARVN soldiers killed

How was Tet a psychological and political win for the VC and NV?

* NV encouraged by early successes - struck a blow against USA
* USA saw carnage on TV - lost faith in the Government as it showed the reality of the war - the war wasn’t near to being won
* Kronkite called it an ‘unwinnable war’

How was Tet a turning point in the war?

* USA public opinion against the war
* Johnson announced 31 March 1968 that he wouldn’t stand for re-election. He denied Westmoreland the 200,000 troops he asked for to destroy the waekened VC - June 1968 he was replaced by Abrams
* US used a lot of artillery and air power in regaining control - at this point war was costing $30 billion a year and 300 US were dying per week - more than Korea
* Huge number of civilians killed - monuments and cities being destroyed - US questioned why the US were involved with such a destructive war which seemed to be in stalemate