Vietnam War

1 of 3 poxy wars during Cold War

Who ruled Vietnam before WW2?

France (called it Indochina)

Who took over Vietnam in WW2?

Japan

Who fought back the Japanese?

The Viet Minh

What was the Viet Minh?

Anti-Japanese Resistance Movement

Who lead the Viet Minh?

Ho Chi Minh, a communist

What did the Viet Minh do in 1945?

It took over Hanoi, city in North of Vietnam, and declared itself independent from Japanese.

What did France do in 1945?

Wanted to reestablish control in Vietnam, attacked the Viet Minh.

How long did the war last?

9 years (1945-54)

What happened in 1949?

China became communist (Mao Tse-Tung) and supported the Viet Minh with $1 billion.

What was USA’s reaction?

Supported French, gave $500 million / year to French.

What part of Vietnam did the Viet Minh control?

North

What part of Vietnam did the French control?

South

What decided the fate of Vietnam after Viet Minh war with French?

Peace conference in Geneva (1954) decided Vietnam would be temporarily divided into 2, North and South, along the 17th Parallel. Elections would take place in 2 years.

What did USA decide in 1954?

There would be no elections. USA criticized Stalin for not having free elections in Eastern Europe after WW2.

Why did USA decide not to hold elections in Vietnam 1954?

1) Eisenhower + Dulles (Secretary of State) thought China + Russia spreading communism in Asia.

2) Communism would win by 80% in Vietnam —> Domino Theory.

What was the Domino Theory?

If Vietnam fell to communism, then Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Thailand, India would also.

Who was Diem?

Leader of Republic of South Vietnam.

When did Diem become leader of Republic of South Vietnam?

1955 - Helped by Americans.

Why was Diem helped by Americans in 1955?

He was bitterly anticommunist.

Was Diem popular amongst the Vietnamese, why?

No.

1) Christian: Not respectful of Buddhism

2) Landlord: Treated Peasants with contempt

3) Corrupt

Why was Diem replaced by another government?

He was overthrown by the Commanders of his own army in November 1963, who set up an equally corrupt government.

Did the USA support the corrupt government established in November 1963?

Yes

Why was Viet Cong set up?

Actions of anticommunist, corrupt governments lead to Vietnamese supporting communist lead National Front for Liberation of South Vietnam.

When was the Viet Cong set up?

December 1960

Who made up the Viet Cong?

1) South Vietnamese opponents to government.

2) Communist North Vietnamese - lead by Ho Chi Minh.

What happened to peasants who did not support the Viet Cong?

Intimidation + Violence (From 1966-71: 27,000 killed by Viet Cong)

What was the Ho Chi Minh Trail?

Tunnels through which the Viet Cong sent reinforcements + supplies to guerrilla fighters.

What program did the south Vietnamese government launch in response to Viet Cong?

Strategic Hamlet Program: Moving peasant villages from Viet-Cong controlled areas to areas controlled by South Vietnamese Government.

How much did America give to South Vietnamese government for Strategic Hamlet program?

America gave each of the families who had been relocated $21.

Why did the Strategic Hamlet Program backfire?

1) Corrupt officials pocketed money meant to buy supplies.

2) Peasants resented it.

What did Kennedy do in 1962?

Sent military personnel (advisers) to help fight Viet Cong.

When was Kennedy assassinated?

1963

Did Kennedy want a war? Why?

He didn’t. Historian - studied America’s successes + failures, saw what happened during Korean War 10 years before.

Who was Kennedy’s successor?

Lyndon B Johnson.

What lead to the Tonkin Gulf Resolution?

August 1964: Viet Cong ships opened fire on US ships in Gulf of Tonkin.

What was the Tonkin Gulf Resolution?

Gave president all power to take all necessary measures for peace and security - Johnson could start a war.

What happened in Feb 1965?

Operation Rolling Thunder - Gigantic bombing campaign in northern cities, military targets and army bases that lasted 3 years.

What happened on the 8th March 1965?

3500 US troops arrived at Da Nang - US officially at war.

How did foreign countries support the Americans?

46,000 Australians fought in the war.

Why did the US send troops to Vietnam?

1) Containment + Domino Theory.

2) In America an Industrial-Military Complex was forming due to huge budgets given to the commanders. Businesses + Armed forces gained lots of money.

What did Eisenhower say in his last speech?

Warned Americans not to let these groups become too influential.

What happened in November 1965?

La Dreng Valley, American attack, 2000 Viet Cong soldiers dead, 300 US soldiers dead.

Viet Cong Tactics + Troops (4 things)

1) Guerrilla Warfare

2) Civilians

3) Supplies

4) Commitment

What were 5 characteristics of Guerrilla Warfare?

1) Avoided large battles.

2) Wore no uniform - blended with citizens.

3) Had no headquarters/ bases.

4) Hit and Run Strategies - disappeared into forests.

5) Fought in small groups.

What did Guerrilla attacks aims to do?

Wear down + decrease morale of American soldiers.

Describe percentages of US casualties in Vietnam War.

11% killed by booby traps.

51% killed by hand to hand combat.

How many soldiers did Viet Cong have in early 1945?

170,000

Who was the Viet Cong’s campaign of terror against?

Civil Workers: police, tax collectors, teachers.

How many people did the Viet Cong kill in its campaign of terror?

From 1966-71: Killed 27,000 civilians.

How many people worked to keep the Ho Chi Mingh trail open?

40,000

How many soldiers did the Viet Cong loose?

1 million

How many soldiers did America loose?

200,000

How many civilians were lost in total in Vietnam?

4 million. 2 million from each side.

What was the Viet Cong’s greatest strength?

They refused to give in.

What were the US’s Tactics and Troops? (4 things)

1) Bombing

2) Chemical Weapons

3) Search and Destroy

4) Conscription

When did the USA bomb the Viet Cong?

1965-1972

What were the US bombs aimed at?

1) Military, industrial, civilian targets in North Vietnam.

2) Ho Chi Ming Trail.

3) Cambodia + Laos (supported Viet Cong)

Due to US’s heavy bombing, what was the Viet Cong forced to do?

From 1970-72, Viet Cong negotiated peace.

Effects of USA’s intense bombing.

Civilian casualties (Around 50,000 Vietnamese killed) turned civilians against USA.

What were the 2 main chemical weapons used by USA against Viet Cong?

Agent Orange + Napalm

Differences + similarities between Napalm and Agent Orange.

Both were “weed killers”. Napalm burned through flesh as it had a boiling point of 1000°C.

How much Agent Orange was used by USA?

82 million litres.

Who developed Search and Destroy Policy?

Commander General Westmoreland

Describe how Search and Destroy missions were carried out.

There were Bases near coast in South Vietnam.

Helicopters full of troops would descend on village from bases.

Destroy all Viet Cong forces found.

Send back reports of body counts.

4 Problems with Search and Destroy missions.

1) Inadequate information

2) Innocent villages - every 1 weapon captured = 6 dead

3) Inexperienced fighters - 11% killed by booby traps

4) More Viet Cong supporters.

When was conscription introduced?

1967

How many Americans were drafted?

900,000

What was the average age of US soldiers?

19

How did US generals tackle the low morale amongst conscripts?

Introduced a 1 year term service: backfired - as soon as soldiers gained experience, sent home.

Difference between US fighters and Viet Cong fighters.

US fighters wanted to get home, Viet Cong fighters fought for a cause many of them believed in.

When did the Tet Offensive begin?

New Year holiday, January 1968.

How many Viet Cong fighters killed?

10,000

Did the Viet Cong receive support from the South Vietnamese?

No

What did the Viet Cong raid during Tet Offensive?

100 cities + other military targets + US embassy in Saigon (4500 fighters).

When was the Battle of Hue?

February 1968

What did the Viet Cong soldiers do during battle of Hue?

House to House Searches — executed anyone “Counter Revolutionary”.

Why was the Tet Offensive a turning point?

It raised 2 questions for the Americans: How could they have taken us by surprise? Was it right? (eg: ancient city of Hue destroyed)

How many American soldiers in Vietnam in 1968?

500,000

How much money was the USA spending in Vietnam?

$20 billion annually

What was the media reaction?

Walter Cronkite (most trusted man in America/ Reporter of CBS): “What the hell is going on? I thought we were winning this war” - Feb 1968.

3 reasons for Peace Movement in USA:

Cost, Inequality, Purpose

How did the cost of the war influence the Peace Movement?

$20 billion /year yet not closer to winning the war. (Tet Offensive)

How did Inequality influence the Peace Movement?

30% of AA drafted, only 19% of white Americans. AA made up 11% of army, 22% of deaths were AA. Muhammed Ali refused to fight as was part of Radical Black Power group, refused to fight for country that was fighting against them. Stripped of titles + passport.

How was Vietnam a Media War?

Television, Radio, Newspapers, Photography showed horrors including Napalm bombs, prisoners tortured…

Instead of being a symbol of end to communism …

Became a symbol of defeat, confusion and moral corruption.

When did the protests reach their height?

1968-70

How many protests in first half of 1968? How many students involved?

100 demonstrations + 40,000 students who burned the American flag + chanted “Hey Hey LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?

What happened in November 1969?

700,000 protester in Washington DC - Largest political protest in history.

What happened in March 1968?

Unit of Young Americans soldiers (Charlie Company) began search and destroy mission.

What had Charlie Company been told?

1) In My Lai was a Viet Cong Headquarter

2) There were 200 Viet Cong guerrillas

3) All civilians would be at the market - Saturday

4) Ordered to destroy all houses, livestock

When did Charlie Company arrive at Mai Lai?

March 16th, 1968

How many civilians did Charlie Company kill at Mai Lai?

300 - 400, mostly women, children & old men

How may Viet Cong fighters killed at Mai Lai? How many Viet Cong weapons recovered?

0 Viet Cong killed, 3 weapons recovered.

Why was the Mai Lai Massacre seen as a success?

Report said only 20 civilians killed accidentally.

How did the Mai Lai Massacre end up being called this?

Ronald Ridenhour said “something dark and bloody” had occurred at Pinkville.

What triggered an investigation of Mai Lai?

Life magazine published photographs of massacre at Mai Lai.

Who was put onto trial for mass murder after investigation of Mai Lai?

Lieutenant William Calley, officer of Charlie Company

What happened to Lieutenant William Calley in Sep 1969?

Sep 1969: Officially charged with murder of 109 people. 10 other members of Company charged.

What did the army do after Calley was charged with murder?

Placed full responsibility on him. His senior officers acquitted.

How did Calley’s case change?

After long court case, charged with murder of 22.

August 1971 - sentenced to 20 years of hard labour.

Nov. 1974 released.