-
1941
Communist activist Ho Chi Minh secretly returns to Vietnam after 30 years in exile and organizes a nationalist organization known as the Viet Minh (Vietnam Independence League). After Japanese troops occupy Vietnam during World War II, the U.S. military intelligence agency Office of Strategic Services (OSS) allies with Ho Chi Minh and his Viet Minh guerrillas to harass Japanese troops in the jungles and to help rescue downed American pilots. -
Japanese sign the surrender agreement
Japanese sign the surrender agreement in Tokyo Bay formally ending World War II in the Pacific. On this same day, Ho Chi Minh proclaims the independence of Vietnam by quoting from the text of the American Declaration of Independence which had been supplied to him by the OSS "We hold the truth that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This immortal statement is extracted from th -
In Saigon
In Saigon, Viet Minh successfully organize a general strike shutting down all commerce along with electricity and water supplies. In a suburb of Saigon, members of Binh Xuyen, a Vietnamese criminal organization, massacre 150 French and Eurasian civilians, including children. -
The French pull out of Vietnam
In January 1950, China and the USSR recognised the independence of the Vietnam but under the pro-Communist government of Ho Chi Minh. In February, the USA, Britain and Australia recognised the pro-French government of Vietnam led by Biao Dai. -
The French
In September, the Viet Minh, under General Giap, launched an offensive against the French, overwhelming many French positions and killing 6,000 French troops. -
Khe Sahn
Khe Sanh Combat Base was a United States Marine Corps outpost in South Vietnam (MGRS 48QXD850418) used during the Vietnam War. The airstrip was built in September 1962. Fighting began there in late April 1967 known as the "Hill Fights", which later expanded into the 1968 Battle of Khe Sanh. U.S. commanders hoped that the North Vietnamese Army would attempt to repeat their famous victory at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, and the battle ended as a failure for the North Vietnamese Army. -
Gulf of Tonkin
The Golf of Tonkin incident are the names given to two separate confrontations, one actual and one now recognized as non-existent involving north vietnam and the United States in the waters of the gulf of Tonkin. -
The battle of a Ia Drag
The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major battle between regulars of the United States Army and regulars of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN / NVA) of North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The two-part battle took place between November 14 and November 18, 1965 -
Tet offensive
The tet offensive was a miltary campaign during the Vietnam warthat was launched in January by forces of the people army in Vietnam against the forces of repubicof vietnam.
