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Viet Minh formation
Viet Minh formed in Vietnam with the intention of gaining independence for Vietnam from France. Leader was Ho Chi Minh, who also led the Communist party. -
Korea is split
The United Nations splits Korea into two nations. North Korea and South Korea. This happened in a period of time spanning over July and August. The Soviet Union set up a communist government in North Korea. The US-backed Republic of Korea was set up in the south. -
Australia sends troops to Korea
North Korea invades South Korea. The UN calls upon countries to send aid. The US and fifteen other countries including Australia send troops to Korea. Australia's troops arrived on the 28th of September. -
ANZUS Pact
Australia, New Zealand and the US made an agreement that each state would cooperate on defence matters and unconditionally come to the aid of one another if attacked. New Zealand pulled out of this pact in the mid 1980's but it still serves as the cornerstone of Australian foreign policy even today. -
Vladimir and his wife get political asylum
In 1954, in the lead up to the federal election, Menzies announced that Vladimir Petrov (a Russian diplomat) had asked for and been granted political asylum. The main crisis was when his wife was taken by Soviet agents. She was going to be escorted to Moscow but the plane is stopped when it refuelled in Darwin and Mrs Petrov was recovered, granted political asylum and reunited with her husband. All this happened during April. -
Election
Prime Minister Robert Menzies used the events with Mr and Mrs Petrov to heighten the already prevalent fear of communism in Australia. He manipulated the event and the fear to win the federal election campaign in May. -
French surrender Vietnam
French surrender after 10 years of war. Ho Chi Minh heads the communist north with the support of China and Russia. No Dinh Diem heads the republican south with the support of the US. -
SEATO
The Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) was signed in 1954. The alliance included Australia, France, New Zealand, Thailand, Pakistan, the Philippines, the UK and the US. The intention of SEATO was to complement the anti-communist collective defence role that NATO had in Europe. It was ineffective because of international disputes and was disbanded in 1977 -
Australia supports Malaysian government
Australia sends troops to Malaya to buffer it up against communism. This is done out of fear of the domino effect. Australian infantry battalions and artillery battalions served two years in Malaya starting in 1955 -
Vietnamese elections cancelled
Scheduled elections in south Vietnam cancelled, they were later held on the 4th of March -
Australia sends advisors
Australia sends a team of 30 military advisors to south Vietnam. Their arrival is spread out through July and August. -
Coup in South
Ngo Dinh Diem is murdered in a coup by South Vietnamese army officers. The US now have 16,000 troops in Vietnam. China increases its support in the north. -
Conscription in US
Prime Minister Menzies reintroduces conscription in the US and commits more troops. This is heavily opposed. Introduced in November -
Australian aid in Vietnam
Australia sends a full battalion of regular army troops to Vietnam. Troops sent throughout June -
Australia conscripts
Australia send conscripts to fight in Vietnam. Opposition starts to divide the nation. The announcement for the conscripts being sent to Vietnam was given in March. -
Communist dog move (attack on the south)
Communists in Vietnam ignore a cease fire on New Years Eve and launch a massive attack on the south. A lot of protest movements gain momentum. -
Retreat
Withdrawal of US and Australian troops from Vietnam begins early in 1970. -
US withdraws
The last remaining US ground troops are withdrawn by the end of March, 1973. A ceasefire is reached between North and South Vietnam but conflict continues. -
Australia pulls out completely
All Australian troops are withdrawn and brought home. A new Labour government takes over and stops all aid to Vietnam. The final troops are withdrawn from Saigon in June. -
Communist victory in Vietnam
North Vietnamese troops enter Saigon (now called Ho Chi Minh City). Vietnam is reunited under communist rule.
