The Vietnam War

By: Jonathan Korolyk

About the Vietnam WarAbout the Vietnam War

► It was as the Second Indochia War.It was as the Second Indochia War.►Followed the First Indochia War.Followed the First Indochia War.► It was fought betweenIt was fought between

Communist North VietnamCommunist North Vietnam Government South VietnamGovernment South Vietnam

► It lasted November 1, 1955 – April 30, It lasted November 1, 1955 – April 30, 1975, when Saigon fell.1975, when Saigon fell.

U.S. enters the War

• Military advisors arrived in 1950

• Involvement rose in 1960

• Army tripled in 1961 and again in 1962

Background of the Vietnam War until 1949

• Treaty of Huế concluded in 1884, formed the basis for French colonial rule in Vietnam for the next seven decades (70 years)

• After the invasion of French Indochina the French took control of the Indochina colony.

• This situation continued until the German forces were expelled.

• The Japanese feared that they can no longer trust the French authorities.

– The Japanese army interned them on March 9, 1945 and assumed direct control of themselves through their puppet state of the Empire of Vietnam under Bảo Đại

Background to 1949 Background to 1949 continued…continued…

►In 1944-1945 a deep famine In 1944-1945 a deep famine struck northern Vietnam with a struck northern Vietnam with a combination of poor weather combination of poor weather and Japanese exploitations.and Japanese exploitations.

►One million people died from One million people died from starvationstarvation

Background to 1949 Background to 1949 continued…continued…

► In August 1945 the Japanese were In August 1945 the Japanese were defeated by the French.defeated by the French.

► In French Indochina this created a In French Indochina this created a power vacuum.power vacuum. In this vacuum was the August RevolutionIn this vacuum was the August Revolution It was when the Viet Minh entered and grasped power across It was when the Viet Minh entered and grasped power across

Vietnam Vietnam On September 2, 1945 Hồ Chí Minh the leader of Viet Minh On September 2, 1945 Hồ Chí Minh the leader of Viet Minh

declared the independent Democratic Republic of Vietnam in declared the independent Democratic Republic of Vietnam in Hanoi Hanoi

But United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union But United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union agreed that the area belonged to the French.agreed that the area belonged to the French.

French’s Power Vacuum continued…

– The allied victors tried to get the land back, but Hồ Chí Minh wanted to negotiate with the French.

– The French landed in Hanoi, and ousted the Viet Minh

– They started a Guerrilla war with the French

Exit of the French

• In the beginning of 1950, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) led the communist nations.

• PRC helped Viet Minh formed from guerrilla force to a regular army.

• U.S. created Military Assistance and Advisory Group (MAAG) – It helped screen French request for aid.

– Advise on strategy– Train Vietnamese soldiers

►The Battle of Dien Phu marked the end on The Battle of Dien Phu marked the end on the French involvement in Indochina.the French involvement in Indochina.

►France surrenderedFrance surrendered

► Independence was granted to:Independence was granted to:

- Cambodia- Cambodia

- Laos- Laos

- Vietnam- Vietnam

Insurgency in the SouthInsurgency in the South

►Hanoi lead communist in South Hanoi lead communist in South Vietnam to begin a low level Vietnam to begin a low level insurgencyinsurgency

►20% of Vietnam’s village chiefs had 20% of Vietnam’s village chiefs had been assassinated by insurgents in been assassinated by insurgents in 19581958

During JFK in office 1961-1963

• JFK had some crisis

- failure of the Bay of Pigs invasion

- construction of the Berlin Wall

- settlement of the government of Laos• July 23, 1962 was the Signing the Agreement

promising neutrality of Laos• These groups/ countries were:

– People’s Republic of China

– North Vietnam

– South Vietnam

– Soviet Union

– United States

Coup and AssassinationCoup and Assassination

► January 2, 1963, the Battle of Ap Bac.January 2, 1963, the Battle of Ap Bac.►ARVN were led in that battle by Huynh ARVN were led in that battle by Huynh

Van CaoVan Cao►Washington policymakers are saying Washington policymakers are saying

that Huynh Van Cao had a deal with that Huynh Van Cao had a deal with Ho Chi Mini, because he is incapable of Ho Chi Mini, because he is incapable of defeating communist. defeating communist.

U.S. officials began discussing the U.S. officials began discussing the possibility of a regime change.possibility of a regime change. The U.S. Department of state is in The U.S. Department of state is in

favor of encouraging a coupfavor of encouraging a coup The Defense Department favored The Defense Department favored

Diem.Diem.

►The CIA was in contact The CIA was in contact with generals wanting to with generals wanting to remove Diemremove Diem

►Diem later was Diem later was overthrown and executed.overthrown and executed.

Lyndon B. Johnson expands war

• Lyndon B. Johnson become president after JFK’s assassination.

• Johnson created the NSAM 273 and expanded the war

• Instead of using NSAM 263, which withdrew 1000 soldiers.

Army

• About 5000

• 1959- 100,000

• 1961- 850,000 – one million soldiers

• US troops deployed in Vietnam grew from 2,000 soldiers in 1961 to 16,500 soldiers in 1964

operationsoperationsMarch 2March 2ndnd 1965 1965

► - Flaming Dart- Flaming Dart

- Rolling Thunder- Rolling Thunder

- Arc Light - Arc Light

►Operation Rolling ThunderOperation Rolling Thunder

- Covered the North with millions of - Covered the North with millions of missiles rockets and bombsmissiles rockets and bombs

►Operation Commando HuntOperation Commando Hunt - targeted the NLF and the Vietnam - targeted the NLF and the Vietnam

People’s Army (VPA)People’s Army (VPA)

- objective: forcing North Vietnam’s - objective: forcing North Vietnam’s support with the NLFsupport with the NLF

- operation failed- operation failed

Escalation and ground warEscalation and ground war

► March 8March 8thth, 1965 3,500 US marines were sent , 1965 3,500 US marines were sent to Vietnamto Vietnam

► This is the beginning of the American This is the beginning of the American ground warground war

► Increased to 200,000 in DecemberIncreased to 200,000 in December► Communist made a hit-and-run guerrilla Communist made a hit-and-run guerrilla

tacticstactics► Communist won another Battle of the Battle Communist won another Battle of the Battle

of Dong Xoaiof Dong Xoai

United State’s Plan

• three point plan:

- Commitment of US to halt the losing trend by the end of 1965

- the forces seize the guerilla forces this will end when the enemy was warn down and driven back.

- if phase two is not complete in 12 to 18 months they will need the final destruction of enemy forces

Tet Offensive

• This is when over 100 cities were attacked with assaults on General Westmoreland’s headquarters and the US Embassy, Saigon

• It was the American turning point in Vietnam

►May 10May 10thth, 1968 America and , 1968 America and the Democratic Republic of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam began peace talksVietnam began peace talks

►Johnson stopped bombing Johnson stopped bombing VietnamVietnam

VS

Hubert Humphrey (Dem.) Richard Nixon (Rep.)

VietnamizationVietnamization

►Richard Nixon becomes President.Richard Nixon becomes President.

►Nixon Doctrine- build up the ARVN so Nixon Doctrine- build up the ARVN so they could protect South Vietnamthey could protect South Vietnam

►Oct. 10Oct. 10thth, 1969 Nixon ordered a , 1969 Nixon ordered a squadron of 18 B-52s loaded with squadron of 18 B-52s loaded with nuclear weapons and attach the nuclear weapons and attach the boarder to show the Soviet Union boarder to show the Soviet Union that he will do anything to end the that he will do anything to end the warwar

►Operation Menu: the secret bombing of Operation Menu: the secret bombing of CamboCambo

dia and Laosdia and Laos

►Prince Norodom Sihanouk proclaimed Prince Norodom Sihanouk proclaimed Cambodia neutral since 1955Cambodia neutral since 1955

►His policy changed in 1969 when Vietnamese His policy changed in 1969 when Vietnamese communists were no longer welcomecommunists were no longer welcome

►1971, Pentagon papers were leaked into the 1971, Pentagon papers were leaked into the New York TimesNew York Times Supreme court said it was legalSupreme court said it was legal

1972 election

Nixon

McGovernvs.

Opposing to the Vietnam Opposing to the Vietnam War:War:

1962-19751962-1975►It united groups:It united groups: - U.S- U.S

- anti-communism - anti-communism

- imperialism- imperialism

- colonialism- colonialism

Opposition turned into street riots Opposition turned into street riots in effort to turn U.S political in effort to turn U.S political opinion opinion

Paris Peace Accords

• They were signed on January 27, 1973

• Ended all U.S involvement in the Vietnam War

Exit of the Americans

• U.S dramatically retreated their support for South Vietnam during the final years of Vietnamization

• The North was planning to attack the south during the 1975- 1976 dry season

►The north started to retake land from The north started to retake land from the souththe south

►President Theiew announced that the President Theiew announced that the Paris Peace treaty was no longer in Paris Peace treaty was no longer in effecteffect

►Gerald Ford took over as U.S Gerald Ford took over as U.S president on August 9president on August 9thth 1974 after 1974 after Nixon’s Watergate scandalNixon’s Watergate scandal

Campaign 275Campaign 275

►On March 10On March 10thth 1975, General Dung 1975, General Dung launched Campaign 275 launched Campaign 275

►this limited offensive into Central this limited offensive into Central HighlandsHighlands

►Their target was Ban Me Thuot in Their target was Ban Me Thuot in Daklak ProvinenceDaklak Provinence

►March 22March 22ndnd VPA opened the siege of VPA opened the siege of HueHue

►March 31March 31stst Hue fell Hue fell

Final North Vietnamese Final North Vietnamese offensiveoffensive

►North with half of Vietnam, decided to North with half of Vietnam, decided to head for Saigonhead for Saigon

►Ho Chi Minh campaigned for the fall of Ho Chi Minh campaigned for the fall of Saigon by May 1Saigon by May 1stst

► The ARVN tried to make a last stand before The ARVN tried to make a last stand before they reached Saigonthey reached Saigon

► They defended for two weeksThey defended for two weeks

► On April 21On April 21stst they surrendered they surrendered

► President Thieu resigned the same day President Thieu resigned the same day declaring that the U.S betrayed South declaring that the U.S betrayed South VietnamVietnam

► April 27April 27thth 100,000 North Vietnamese 100,000 North Vietnamese soldiers encircled Saigonsoldiers encircled Saigon

Fall of Saigon

• Martial Law: American helicopters began evacuating people in Saigon

• Operation Frequent Wind: evacuation of Saigon

-largest helicopter evacuation in history

• President Gerald Ford gave a televised speech declaring the end of the Vietnam War

Countries involved in the war:Countries involved in the war: - People’s Republic of China- People’s Republic of China

- South Korea- South Korea

- Australia- Australia

- New Zealand - New Zealand

- Philippines- Philippines

- Thailand- Thailand

- Soviet Union- Soviet Union

- North Korea- North Korea

- Canada and the ICC- Canada and the ICC

-Republic of China (Taiwan)-Republic of China (Taiwan)

- United States- United States

- North and South Vietnam- North and South Vietnam

AftermathAftermath

►Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, fell to the Communist party of fell to the Communist party of Kampuchea on Apria 17Kampuchea on Apria 17thth 1975 1975

►Vietnam invaded Democratic Vietnam invaded Democratic Kampuchea and became the Kampuchea and became the Cambodian-Vietnam WarCambodian-Vietnam War

►China invaded Vietnam in 1979 in a China invaded Vietnam in 1979 in a boarder warboarder war Known as the Third Indochina War 1978-Known as the Third Indochina War 1978-

19791979

►Path Lao overthrew the royalist Path Lao overthrew the royalist government of Laos in December 1975government of Laos in December 1975

Effect on the United StatesEffect on the United States

► Between 1965 and 1975 the United States Between 1965 and 1975 the United States spent $111 billion on the warspent $111 billion on the war

► 3 million soldiers entered the war:3 million soldiers entered the war:

- 58,193 soldiers were killed- 58,193 soldiers were killed

- 150,000 were wounded- 150,000 were wounded

- 21,000 were permanently wounded- 21,000 were permanently wounded

► Many fled to Canada to avoid Vietnam draftMany fled to Canada to avoid Vietnam draft

Chemical defoliationChemical defoliation

►Rainbow Herbicides:Rainbow Herbicides:

- Agent Pink- Agent Pink

- Agent Green- Agent Green

- Agent Purple- Agent Purple

- Agent Blue- Agent Blue

- Agent White- Agent White►Most important Agent OrangeMost important Agent Orange

Agent Orange

• Made of Dixon

• Over 20 million US gallons were sprayed over Southeast Asia

• Caused birth defects

CasualtiesCasualties►Vietnamese government in its military Vietnamese government in its military

forces suffered 1.1 million and 600,000 forces suffered 1.1 million and 600,000 woundedwounded

►Civilian deaths from Operation Rolling Civilian deaths from Operation Rolling Thunder ranged from 52,000 to 182,000Thunder ranged from 52,000 to 182,000

►U.S military has estimated between U.S military has estimated between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died in the warsoldiers died in the war

The End