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Japan Surrenders
Due to the Americans dropping the atomic bombs. -
Emperor Hirohito announces Japan's surrender
This ended their control of Indochina. -
Giap and the Viet Minh troops enter Hanoi
Within 10 days of the Japanese surrender, the Viet-Minh took contol of Vietnam -
Ho Chi Minh proclaims independence
Vietnam becomes a Republic -
Period: to
Political Chaos
Vietnam decended into a state of poltical chaos. Ho Chi Minh provisional was incapabe of handling the situation -
Surrender and Celebration!
The Japanese formally surrender to the United States. Meanwhile the Vietnamese celebrating their own self-proclaimed independence. -
British General arrives in Saigon
The Viet Minh prepares a friendly reception for the British General, Gracey, when he arrived in Saigon. However, Grace refused to deal with the Viet Minh and set about arranging the return of the French. -
French troops crackdown on the Viet Minh
The Viet Minh organised boycotts and demonstrations against the British but could not prevent French trooos, from staging a brutal crackdown on Viet Minh headquaters. -
Revenge Attack
About 200 European civilians were killed in the suburvs of Saigon in a revenge attack. Grace launched an all out effort to crush the Viet Minh, using troops from India.
By early 1946, despite widespread condemnation of British brutality: Gracey's forces had at least temporarily destroyed the Viet Minh in the south of Vietnam.
The Brithsh had secured southern Vietnam for the return of French rule. -
Chinese withdraws
In February, the Chinese nationalists recognised Frech sovereignty over Indochin and withdrew their forces.
Ho appealed tiwce to the US President Truman to intervene. He was prepared to accept US troops in Vietnam, but Truman, fearful of further communist advance, favoured French control of Indochina. -
An Unhappy Compromise
A compromise was reached:
Ho's Vietnam would be recognised as a free state within the French Union of Indochinese states.
Cochinchina would be separate and its future decided by a referendum at some later date.
Ho would permit the presence of 25000 French troops in Vietnam for the next five years.
Ho was unhappy with this as it did not make Vietnam free/independant.
