Vietnam War - Types of Revolutionary Warfare

What type of warfare did the Viet Minh initially use after WWII?

Guerrilla warfare with small, mobile units.

How many soldiers were typically in Viet Minh units during 1945-46?

Only dozens to a few hundred fighters.

What kind of French positions did the Viet Minh target early on?

Isolated forts with 15-20 soldiers.

What weapons did early Viet Minh forces rely on?

Machetes, old muskets, and very few rifles.

How did Viet Minh guerrillas use villages to their advantage?

Villagers provided food, shelter, and intelligence; villages acted as safe bases.

What was the goal of the Viet Minh during the guerrilla warfare stage?

Survival, political organization, and wearing down French forces.

What event in 1949 transformed the Viet Minh’s military capacity?

Communist victory in China, giving Ho Chi Minh weapons, training, and sanctuary.

Which two powers recognized Ho’s Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1950?

The Soviet Union and China.

What was the size of Viet Minh battallions by 1950?

About 450 soldiers per battalion.

How did the Viet Minh’s weaponry improve after Chinese aid?

They received automatic weapons, mortars, and artillery.

Did the Viet Minh completely abandon guerrilla tactics during mobile warfare?

No, they still used ambushes and hit-and-run tactics while also mounting larger attacks.

What was the French military advantage during mobile war?

Superior artillery, tanks, and air power.

What major campaign in 1950 marked Viet Minh escalation?

The Border Campaign, which cut French supply lines near China.

Which battle in 1951 saw Giap overextended and lose heavily?

The Battle of Vinh Yen, where French reinforcements and air strikes forced retreat.

What did Giap learn from his failed offensives in 1951-52?

The need for patience and flexibility before escalating to full conventional warfare.

By 1953, what was the approximate size of the Viet Minh army?

Around 300,000 troops organized into divisions.

What type of equipment did China provide that changed the war’s balance?

Heavy artillery, anti-aircraft guns, trucks, and supplies.

What was General Navarre’s French strategy at Dien Bien Phu?

Establish a fortified base in a valley to lure Giap into a conventional showdown.

Why was Dien Bien Phu a poor strategic choice for Frence?

It was isolated, dependent on risky air drops, and surrounded by mountains ideal for Viet Minh artillery.

How did the Viet Minh transport artillery into position at Dien Bien Phu?

By dragging heavy guns through jungles and mountains, often by hand.

How did Viet Minh forces protect themselves while approaching French lines?

They dug an extensive system of trenches and tunnels, closing in gradually.

What was combat like during the final phase at Dien Bien Phu?

Intense close-quarters fighting, including hand-to-hand combat.

When did the French garrison at Dien Bien Phu surrender?

May 1954.

How many French troops were captured at Dien Bien Phu?

About 11,000.

What was the global outcome of Dien Bien Phu?

French defeat in Indochina → Geneva Accords (1954) → Vietnam divided at the 17th parallel.