Ladies and gentlemen, and also the
rest of you who come here. I was talking about post in subject of 1960’s and
1970’s for a long time now. Here it is then. And yes, I am fully aware that today’s
topic is not exactly “1960’s and 1970’s” but I did not want to reveal everything
before the right time, which has just came. Today we will be thinking about War
in Vietnam, wars about freedom of people around the world and dealing with myth
(which I heard so many times, I started believing in that myself) that the United
States could actually win this war. Today only history but later during the
week I will come back with politics and military point of view (offensives,
retreats, attacks etc.). Let’s go :)
We are starting in 1850 when
France is taking over Indochina, which now includes Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam,
and this takeover has been certified by the Treaty of Hue in 1884, after a long
time of pacification of the region. Till 1930 many organizations fighting for
Vietnam’s independence is being established, although none of them has been
successful against French army.
In 1941 situation is entirely
different. Indochina is now under control of the Empire of Japan (theoretically
it is still France Vichy but French are doing only paperwork), which is slowly
preparing itself for the attack against the U.S, and Vietnamese are more than
ever determined to gain their independence. On May 19 Viet Minh (League for the
Independence of Vietnam) is being established and is quickly gaining popular
support against Japan and France. At first Communist China helped them by, for
example, sending heavy machine guns but in December 1941 Viet Minh received
first financial help from the United States. Now it is very important to
understand – leader and the founding father of the Viet Minh, Ho Chi Minh, has
been suspected of being a communist by Nationalist China (which received economic
help from U.S. to fight against Communist China) and jailed for a short period
of time. America, however, had no problem at all to ignore it and keep helping
him. Later will arise problems from that…
Year 1945 brings new changes –
Japan surrenders and slowly goes out of Indochina, France tries to retake
control over its old colony, Hi Chi Minh proclaims Declaration of Independence
of Vietnam (American version inspired him to do it) and asks United States for
help with fighting against Vietnam’s new oppressor – France. He believes in
American value that all nations should have right to self-determination. The
U.S., however, rejects this cry for help and sends money to France so that
French will be able to control Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh does not have any other
option but to ask for USSR’s and Chinese help. Both of them happily answer and
Vietnam becomes communist. America now understands consequences but still
believes in French power in the region. In 1946, after series of negotiation
between Ho Chi Minh and France war begins. First of wars…
1949! Chinese communists just won
their civil war and took control over all Chinese mainland. Nationalists had to
flee to Taiwan. From now on Soviets and Chinese can freely send anything they
want through the border. In 1954 it finally shows some results and French loses
in Dien Bien Phu. On May 7 negotiations, arranged by America scared by
contagious communism, ends by dividing Vietnam along the 17 parallel. Vietnam is
become the second Korea…
Between 1957 and 1959 North
Vietnam, communist, wanted to destabilize situation on the south by sabotages
and political murders. In 1960 Viet Cong has been established as a communist
resistant movement in the South Vietnam and the war began from the beginning.
United States of course helped South Vietnam but did not really show any
interest in sending its own troops to Asia. It was going to change of August 2,
1964 when USS Maddox has been attacked by North Vietnamese patrol ships.
Congress immediately allowed President Johnson to send troops into Vietnam. It
was not, however, declaration of war…
Military actions I will show in
the next post, now let’s just bring the war to an end – On January 27, 1973 peace
treaty has been signed in Paris between North and South Vietnam. America has
pulled back its troops. Peace lasted for 11 months, almost 12. On January 4,
1974 communists broke the treaty and in a few offensives completely destroyed
all Southern Vietnamese morale and defense. On April 30, 1975 North Vietnamese
Army marched into Saigon and at 11:30 am flag of Viet Cong has been raised
above the Palace of Independence. The communists has won…
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