Notes on the Communist Victory and Defeat of South Vietnam (1975)

1975: The Communist Victory and Defeat of the South

Key Background Issues

1. Failed 1972 Spring Offensive of DRV: The Democratic Republic of Vietnam's (DRV) failed offensive and the United States of America (USA) bombing of DRV led DRV to consider the value of negotiations. The failed offensive weakened the North Vietnamese Army (NVA).

2. Watergate and Divided US Home Front: President Nixon’s presidency was in trouble, and US public/Congress was more impatient for a negotiated peace.

3. Thieu's Position: Thieu rejected any peace that did not guarantee the security and independence of the South. He refused to recognize the National Liberation Front's (NLF) Provisional Government and wanted NVA troops out of Republic of Vietnam (RVN) territory.

4. Secret Negotiations: The US conducted secret negotiations with DRV and pressured Thieu to accept the terms already agreed upon. This included allowing the NVA troops to remain in South Vietnam (145,000-160,000).

5. Peace Agreements: Peace Agreements were signed in January 1973. The North, not yet strong enough to invade, proceeded to secure key territory during 1974 and prepared for invasion.

How Successful Were the 1973 Paris Peace Agreements?

• Kissinger's Assessment: Kissinger stated that after June 1973, he did not believe the cease-fire would hold because Watergate was in full swing. He noted that the North Vietnamese correctly analyzed that Nixon would not be in a position to do what he had done in 1972 (massive bombings of North and South Vietnam).

• South Vietnamese Army Officer's Perspective: A former South Vietnamese Army officer felt that the agreement was an injustice and more of a death sentence for them than a peace agreement.

• RVN Under Extreme Pressure:

  • Thieu, due to the pressure of NVA presence and Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG), became more repressive and authoritarian, leading to 40,000 arrests in 1972 and censorship. This alienated the peasantry and sections of the armed forces.

  • RVN was dependent on US aid. When this was reduced ($2$ billion promised in 1974, but $700$ million received in 1975, of which only $300$ million was spent), it destabilized the regime.

  • From 1972-1974, inflation rose by $64$%; gasoline was rationed, and there were ammunition shortages, low medical supplies, and rife corruption.

  • In 1974, $31,000$ ARVN troops died.

The 1975 Invasion - Background

• War Powers Act: On November 7th, 1973, Congress repealed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, ending ‘Presidential War.’ This meant Congress, not the President, controlled troops/military decisions regarding Indochina.

• Thieu's Belief: Nevertheless, Thieu still believed the US would not abandon RVN as so much had already been invested.

Preparation for 1975 Invasion

• Conflict escalated in late 1973 (despite the Peace Agreements).

• Thieu believed the South had to fight to survive.

• By 1974, the North had rebuilt its army to $300,000$ and moved towards the South. The Ho Chi Minh (HCM) Trail was rebuilt as an all-weather highway. A new airfield was built at Khe Sanh, and pressure was applied to the northern provinces of RVN.

• In 1974, the DRV decided to reunify Vietnam within 2 years.

The 1975 Invasion

• DRV Confidence: The DRV was confident the US would not intervene.

• Final Offensive: The Final Offensive was planned by Van Tien Dong, who had replaced Giap. Van Tien Dong commanded the Saigon Liberation Campaign.

• NVA Capture: The NVA captured Phuoc Long Province north of Saigon in January 1975, which served as a test of ARVN strength.

• Escalation: Successful, so the DRV decided to escalate. Van Tien Dong was smuggled into the South and commanded the Saigon Liberation Campaign. The offensive began on March 1st.

• Thieu's Orders: Thieu ordered the Northern provinces to be abandoned, creating a flood of panic-stricken refugees who clogged the roads, making the movement of ARVN forces difficult. Thieu planned this as a strategic withdrawal, but it created chaos, panic, and loss of confidence.

• Fall of Hue and Danang: Hue fell on March 26th (symbolic), and thousands of refugees fled to Danang, which was surrounded by communist forces. Danang was taken by the communists, and $100,000$ ARVN troops were taken prisoner, as their officers had abandoned them.

• US Aid Request: Thieu pleaded for US aid, but President Ford’s request was refused by Congress. The US had an evacuation plan for US personnel in RVN, but US Ambassador Martin did not inform Thieu.

• Kissinger's Negotiation Attempt: Kissinger tried to negotiate a settlement, but the DRV rejected this.

• Evacuation Order: By April 21st, the NVA had surrounded Saigon. Ford ordered the US to evacuate (and some South Vietnamese who were sponsored by the US).

• Fall of Saigon: By April 29th, Saigon airport was cut off by communist troops. Thieu was replaced by ‘Big Minh’ who tried to negotiate, but communists were not interested as the South had been defeated. Many ARVN troops deserted and discarded their uniforms and weapons.

• Reunification: On April 30th, Saigon fell, and Vietnam was officially reunified under communism. This happened in 55 days, not 2 years as had been planned.

Why did RVN Collapse so Quickly?

(Consider military and economic reasons)

Why Did The US Fail In Vietnam?

1. Read McNamara’s assessment (see Canvas Reading) and make notes

2. In groups of 3,
   a) LIST as many reasons as you can think of, including long term factors as well as short term ones. (Include flaws in the idea of nation building in the South, looking at Indochina through a Cold War lens, tactics and strategies, the failure of the Paris Peace Agreements to secure peace for Vietnam, changing US policy goals, home front issues/War Powers Act etc..)
   b) mind map reasons for US failure. This means categorising the factors in the list above. Remember to include political, economic and military factors concerning DRV, US and RVN

3. Now consider the questions on the next slide