The Indo-Chinese War

Hồ Chí Minh Established Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) August 29, 1945 Communist Capital: Hanoi Administrative center Capital of French Indochina (1902-45) Tonkin’s (northernmost part of Vietnam) proximity to southern China Mineral resources Created Viet Minh (League for the Independence of Vietnam) Established in 1941 Resistance against French colonial rule and occupying Japanese forces Commanded by Võ Nguyên Giáp Former history professor Military strategist (General of Vietnam People’s Army) Unifies Vietnam into communist state (1975) democratic republic: ultimate power is derived by the people, government run by elected officials

The Indochinese War (1946-54) Japanese Occupation (1940) Administered by French officials Complete control (March 1945) after Viet Minh opposition Surrender and defeat (August 1945) British troops occupied southern Vietnam Chinese Nationalists controlled northern Vietnam Allied Powers Britain Released and rearmed interned French troops from Japan Supported French control of Indochina USSR Little interest in conflict United States Advocated general decolonization of Asia Did not challenge France over Vietnam

Sino-French Agreement (February 1946) Chinese Nationalists remove troops and hand over control of northern Vietnam to France Loss of French economic rights in China France and Viet Minh Compromise between Hồ Chí Minh and French government Vietnam to be self-governing state within French Indochina (semi-independent) France bombards Viet Minh forces on Haiphong port (November 1946) China and Viet Minh Help from Chinese Communist Party guerillas Mao believed People’s Republic of China should lead communist revolution through east Asia Anti-imperialist struggle against US, Britain, France Mao helps Viet Minh (April 1950) Military campaign along Vietnamese-PRC border organized by general Chen Geng Viet Minh troops seize north-western Vietnam after French loss of border territories (December 1952) General Henri Navarre New French commander (1953) Three-year strategy Elimination of Viet Minh guerrillas in southern Vietnam Launch of campaign to drive off Viet Minh from Red River Delta Financial and military assistance from US after Korean War

Điện Biên Phủ Viet Minh advanced across north-western Vietnam into Laos. Laos- neighboring country of Vietnam Pathet Lao (independence movement in Laos) supported this, so the Viet Minh were able to conquer Cambodia and Saigon (the largest city in South Vietnam) France tried to fortify the village of Dien Bien Phu November 1953- larger force of French paratroopers dropped. Viet Minh managed to overtake them. French troops surrendered May 7, 1945 as they were confined to a 2 square km space.

US and the Indochinese War US dilemma in Vietnam Support anti-colonialism? Support anti-communism? Solution: find a non-communist rival that could appeal to and unite the people to be against communism. This could be done by setting up a strong, patriotic, and capitalist government. June 1949 US & France persuaded Vietnamese Emperor to become Head of State of Vietnam. Bao Dai was a failure. He had no ideology and very little support from Vietnamese people. Since Vietnam was still under France’s power, he had very little power to begin with. April 1954, US Sec. of State recommended air strikes on Viet Minh positions at the fall of Dien Bien Phu. If this failed, tactical nuclear weapons would be used to stop the Viet Minh. Ideas were opposed and abandoned

Planning the Geneva Conference Both the PRC and the USSR wanted to end the Indochinese war before the US became involved China wanted to focus on domestic issues and initiate the first 5 year plan USSR wanted to have peace after Stalin’s death and focus on internal affairs before the war escalated into another World War On September 28th, 1953, the USSR called for international conference to solve Indo Chinese and Korean issues British and France supported a conference, the US hesitantly agreed US stressed that they still refused to recognize the PRC as a legitimate state

The Conference Conference began April 26th, 1954 On May 6th, the the French lost badly in a battle against Viet Minh Both the French, under the new leadership of Pierre Mendes-France, and the Viet Minh wanted a peace settlement despite the US’ want to continue fighting

The Geneva Accords Laos and Cambodia were made independent All forces withdrawn Vietnam divided on the 17th parallel Democratic elections for united Vietnam in 2 years No foreign alliances/bases allowed in N. or S. Vietnam US did not formally agree, but acknowledged in a formal declaration what had taken place