The Tet Offensive

When was the Tet Offensive

1968Event

Events of the Tet Offensive

• During the Tet New Year celebrations, VC fighters launched a surprise attack against 100 South Vietnamese cities and US bases

• One VC unit raided the US Embassy in Saigon

• Militarily, it was a disaster for the Communists

• US forces fell back at first, but soon won back all that they had lost.

• The Vietcong suffered severe casualties.

• Around 60,000 Communist troops died

Results of the Tet Offensive

• The American public was shocked that the army had been taken by surprise, given the number of US troops in the country

• They thought they were winning militarily

• Use of artillery and air power to regain the cities caused much destruction and many civilian deaths

• Journalists questioned whether the war could be won

• Turning point in the war - President Johnson’s approval rating fell by 12%.

• He became convinced the war was unwinnable

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