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Foundation of Vietnamese Communist Party
Founded by Ho Chi Minh, the revolutionary leader and president/prime minister of North Vietnam (Demcratic Republic of Vietnam).
He was a significant figure in the foundation of the PAVN (People's Army of Vietnam) and NLF (Vietcong). -
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Vietnam War
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Viet Minh
The Viet Minh was formed at Pac Bo. The Viet Minh sought independence from the French for Vietnam.
Also, this was a military movement which had challenged the Japanese Army.
Further into the war, they were able to defeat the French with the usage of heavy artillery and firearms. -
Viet Cong
Viet Cong was a political organization/army in South Vietnam. It fought the States and Vietnamese governments.It used guerrilla army units.The Viet Cong supported and was directed by North Vietnam. It was a communist party in the South that supported the North.
It helped execute tactics to overthrow South Vietnam regime, followed by open warfare.It supported North Vietnam troops when they were infiltrating the South. It helped unify Vietnam following the fall of South Vietnam in 1975. -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The battle of Dien Phu was a battle between the Viet Minh and the French Forces. The Viet Minh were able to win the battle after heavy artillery fire against the french. This battle was significant because it marked the end of the military influence of the French in Asia. -
Geneva Accords
Geneva accords were agreements that separated Vietnam into two. One area was governed by the Viet Minh, thee other was governed by the State.
-British chairman issued an election, that would be held July 1956, but both sides opposed (Noth and South).
-Issused to create a unified Vietnam. -
Agent Orange
Agent Orange was herbicide used by the American forces to expose guerilla forces hidden in forest areas.
-The gas had terrrible side effects and many soldiers were exposed.
-This resulted in higher rate of birth defetcs/disabilities.
-U.S sprayed about 20,000,000 gallons of chemical herbicides.
-It targetted food crops on Oct.1962.
-12% of S.Vietnam had been sprayed.
-10 million hectares of agriculture were destroyed. -
Ngo Dinh Diem
Ngo Dinh Diem was the President of the Republic of Vietnam, he was the first president of South Vietnam.
-He refused to sign the Geneva accords, because he did not want half the country to be overruled by communism.
-He relied on support from the U.S.
-Many of his supporters were Catholics.
- He was assasinated on 2 November 1963, after he lost back up from the States. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Gulf of Tokin was a resoultion put forth by U.S President that authorized the Vietnam war. It's main purpose was to repulse any (armed) attack on the U.S and to prevent incursion.
-In 1970 the resolution was repealed because many congressmen saw the resolution as a way for the President to wage unnessecary war. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder was American's bombing campaign against north vietnam.
-It was aneffort put forth to corrupt the Vietanmese people.
-It officially started/ and gained the governments approval on Feb 4th 1965.
-The first attack was launched on March 2nd.
-The Operation lasted until October 1968.
-643,000 bombs were dropped.
-900 U.S Aircraft was lost.
-Jan.1969: Both sides started to negotiate: Peace talks. -
Ho Chi Minh trail
The HCM trial was a system that ran from North to South (Democratic Republican Vietnam to Repulbic Vietnam)
-The trial provided support to the army during Vietnam War.
-It was a strategic supply route for the communists.
-It helped the Viet Minh during the First Indochina War.
-Maintained communications between North/South for VietMinh. It had Five large base areas= each dealt with transporting different neccessites for the war: fuel,ammunition. -
Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was a military campaign during Vietnam war.
-It was the largest military operation launched, 70,000 North Vietnamese soldiers, and guerrilla (NLF) launched an attack when the enemy was least expecting it.
-There was massive casualties on communist forces.
-The NLF executed thousands of residents.
-The attack took the U.S. by suprise, it was the turning point in the war. -
My Lai Massacre
The Lai Massacre was the murder of 347-504 umarmed civilians in S.Vietnam by the U.S army. Colonel Henderson said to his men "Go in thereaggressively, close with enemy and wipe them out for good."
The victims were woman,children,infants, and elderly. 26 soldiers were charged with criminal offences, but only one was convicted (Platoon leader).There was great global outrage, and mnay opposed to the U.S involvement in the Vietnam War. -
Vietnamaization
President Nixon introduced the policy of "Vietnamization." The main purpose behind the policy was that Nixon wanted South Vietnam to take responsibility for fighting so the U.S soldiers could gradually withdraw.
Aid was given to South Vietnam with weapons, money and training.
On June 1969, Nixon announced the first withdrawals. In order to avoid humiliation/defeat, America was to negotiate peace agreements. -
Operation Linebacker
The U.S. seventh Air Force conducted an attack against the Democratic Republican of Vietnam.
-The purpose behind this operation was the stop/slow down supplies and materials.
-It was the first continuous bombing effort against North Vietnam.
-The attack started on May 9,1972 and lasted till October 23 of 1972. -
Fall Of Saigon
The People's Army of Vietnam captured Saigon (Capital city of South Vietnam)
On the last attack, (last)two American servicemen were killed due to heavy artillery bombardment. The fall of Saigon marked the end of the war.Vietnam was reunified as a communist state and was renamed Ho Chi Minh after the communist leader. Thousands of civilians were evacuated, and sent on helicoptors, launching Operation Frequent Wind, thee largest helicopter evacuation.
