Tesoro de Roget

The war of Vietnam (also called second war of Indo-China ) confronted, of 1959 with 1975, the Democratic republic of Vietnam (RDVN or North-Vietnam ), militarily supported by the combatants of FNL (or Vietcong ), and the République of Vietnam (RVN or South-Vietnam ), militarily supported by the army of the the United States starting from 1964, following the Incidents of the Gulf of Tonkin.

General presentation of the conflict

After the French attempt to preserve the Indo-China in 1954 against the opposition of the Vietnamese soldier-Minh at the Bataille of Diên Biên Phu had failed, the Accords of Geneva divided the country in two by a demilitarized zone on the level of the 17th parallel. The two parts of Vietnam then knew the installation of governments ideologically opposite. The free elections in the southern part, envisaged by the Agreements of Geneva, did not take place: Ngô Dinh Diêm proclaimed there the République of Vietnam following a coup d'etat disguised in referendum. The war of Vietnam began, at the instigation of the partisans of the Democratic republic of Vietnam (mode set up to North-Vietnam), in the shape of a supposed civil war to determine if Vietnam were going to remain definitively divided or if it were to unify under RDVN. The engagements started in 1957 and knew interventions sino - Soviet S and especially American be.

The United States, combined RVN, registered this conflict in the more general context of the Cold war by giving him an image based on principles and a strategy anticommunist: the expansion of Communism was to be stopped in accordance with the American doctrines of the Endiguement, in order to prevent a “effect domino” in Eastern Asia. RDVN, and its ally the National front for the release of Vietnam (called Vietcong , “communist Vietnamese”, by the RVN and its allies), made of it as for them a fight of reunification of the country and defense against a foreign aggression imperialist whom they compared to a continuation of the First War of Indo-China.

After fifteen years of engagements and a heavy human account, the direct and massive intervention of the the United States ended with the signature of the Peace agreements of Paris in 1973. The engagements between forces Vietnameses were completed with the fall of Saigon, capital of RVN. After this victory of RDVN, two Vietnam were plain in accordance with the goals of FNL to form current the socialist République of Vietnam, equipped with a government primarily made up of the Communist party and based with Hanoï, hitherto capital of RDVN. American side, this war marked a whole generation and degraded the image of the country considerably; among the characters influencing this image appear Francis Ford Coppola like Oliver Stone, which took part in the war and will carry out later a trilogy on this conflict with the films Platoon , Né one July 4th and Between Ciel and Ground . The conflict revealed moreover many American heroes of war, such as the lieutenant Gary Jefferson, the sergeant Harry Dean, the captain Rick Deisenwher, and much of others still.

Origin of the conflict: post-war period of Indo-China

The Second War of Indo-China finds its origin in the first (1946 - 1954), conflict which opposed the France to the League for the Independence of the Vietnam, rested and directed by the revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh. Occupied by the troops Japan eases during the Second world war until August 1945, the guerillas of the Vietnamese soldier-minh, benefitting from the vacuum created by the rendering of Japan, seized the capital Hanoï. The emperor Bao Dai, replaced on the throne by the Japanese, abdicated to become special adviser with the first government of the news Democratic republic of the Vietnam (RDVN), whose statement of independence was made in Hanoï on September 2nd, 1945, on the place Ba Dinh, in a ceremonial confucéen of dynastic change. While abdicating, Its Majesty Bao Dai declared, not without size, to prefer to be citizen of a free country, rather than to be sovereign of a subjugated country. The colonial reconquest by France of its old colony, in 1945 - 1946, then impossibility for the Vietnamese government and the French government to agree on a Working arrangement , led, in December 1946, with the first Indochinese, known conflict under the name of First War of Indo-China . The decisive battle took place in spring 1954 when the Vietnamese soldier-Minh attacked the French fortified camp from Diên Biên Phu, in the north of the Vietnam. May 8th, 1954, after a seat of fifty-five days, the French capitulated.

Meanwhile, at a meeting of four the “Large ones” in Berlin in February 1954, it had been decided of a conference with Geneva starting from April 26th, where one would treat Korea and Indo-China. The delegates of the Democratic republic of Vietnam and the State of Vietnam met there the delegations of the France, the the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the the United States, the Popular republic of China and the two Neighboring states, the Laos and the Kampuchea, in order to discuss the future of all the old French possessions in Indo-China. Under the Agreements of Geneva signed in July 1954, the France and the Democratic republic of Vietnam reflect fine with the war. These agreements of armistice were signed on July 20th by Pierre Mendès France and Pham Van Dong, respectively in the name of France and of the Vietnam. With these agreements was also signed a Joint Declaration by the nine participants, but simply “approved” by the the United States.

The independence of the Laos, the Kampuchea and the Vietnam was recognized. This last being divided in two zones of military regrouping of the French armed forces and Vietnameses on both sides of the 17th parallel. The reunification of the country could intervene after general elections, which were to be organized within two year (1956), and the constitution of a government.

In the Vietnam of the South, under the American pressure, Ngô Đình Diệm is named Prime Minister in July 1954. He was regarded as a hero per many Vietnameses for his role in the war of independence. This government, with the support of the US president Eisenhower, will sabotage the elections initially envisaged. In fact, as of August 1955, Ngô Đình Diệm declared that Vietnam was not considered dependant in any way by the Accords of Geneva from which he had not been signatory. Moreover, the the United States did not recognize the Democratic republic of Vietnam while claiming not to have been signatory of the Accords of Geneva, which, with the letter, was exact since they had them " seulement" approvals. October 26th, 1955, Ngô Đình Diệm, new president, proclaims the République of Vietnam, during a coup d'etat disguised in referendum (faked, in addition, Ngô Đình Diệm having obtained more voice than voters!).

On its side, the Democratic republic of Vietnam, exhausted by the war, was disturbed by serious interior problems (rising of the province of Nghé An in September 1956 following awkwardnesses and excess in the land reform). This local conjoncure was to allow Washington and Saigon to carry out their operations with a minimum of risks to sabotage the Accords of Geneva during several years.

Climbing

The United States engaged in the conflict

The implication of the United States in the war is progressive. After having installed the nationalist mode of Ngo Dinh Diem in 1955, the objectives was to maintain in the South a mode anticommunist and whose reunification with North could be realized only after the destruction of Vietminh. Vis-a-vis an increasingly despotic capacity, old Vietminh took again the maquis in the South as of end 1957 and of the armed disorders were started in the Vietnam center in the province of Quang Ngai. Always in the South, in 1958, in the area of Tay Ninh, the trainings of men of the maquis seized a thousand of weapons which made it possible to equip the first units. Whereas the opposition to the mode grew, a first coup attempt of state carried out by the army failed in December 1959 and on December 20th, 1960, was creates the FNL: National front for the release of Vietnam.

American engagement begins under Eisenhower, which, as of 1955, sets up in Saigon a military mission charged to completely assume the organization and the drive of the army of RVN. In 1959, 15 new military missions are installation and in same time, one builds 46 airfields and 11 naval bases. In 1960, the American bases amount to 57 and more: 2000 operations of " raking " are carried out by the troops of RVN led by American officers.

In 1961, the president Kennedy carries to: 15000 men the manpower of the military advisers; arrival of a flotilla of B-26 and two companies of helicopters.

January 4th, 1962, agreements between the United States and the government of Ngô Dinh Diêm: plan of pacification, Democratization, liberalization.

In February 1962, creation of an American military command: M.A.C. (Military Assistance Command) under the orders of the General Paul Harkins. During the year 1962: 27000 operations of " rakings " and: 60000 aerial sorties will be carried out in RVN by the United States Air Force.

In January 1963, the Battle of Ap Bac, relatively minor military engagement between the National front for the release of Vietnam and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, had important repercussions because there be the first losses among American forces which framed the Army of the République of Vietnam (ARVN).

February 12th, 1963, beginning of American pressures for the freedom of the information.

In November 1963, one counts: 16000 military advisers.

November 1st, Ngo Dinh Diem become unpopular undergoes a coup d'etat on behalf of the army. It is killed the November 2nd and a military junta is installation with at her head Duong Van Minh known as " large Minh".

The president Kennedy, wishing to inaugurate the relaxation with Moscow, orders the withdrawal of: 1000 American advisers before Christmas 1963 and of all the American advisers before the end of 1965. November 22nd, 1963, president Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas. Its successor, Lyndon Johnson, cancel the withdrawal of the troops and increase the quota. This growing implication is justified by the fear of the threats of the widening of the Communisme. This year there: 37000 search operations will be carried out.

January 30th, 1964, a new coup d'etat occurred in RVN. Mihn remained the official chief but the real capacity passed to the hands of the general Nguyên Khanh. During the remainder of the year 1964, five other coups d'etat, or attempts, proceeded in RVN, and seven governments followed one another it.

In February 1962, an agreement made between RDVN and the Pathet Lao to Laos to maintain the track open Ho-Chi-Minh-City. In May 1964, begin from the American raids on Laos to try to cut the aforementioned track.

Following the Incidental of the gulf of Tonkin the 2 and August 3rd, the Congrès of the United States approve the Résolution of the gulf of Tonkin on August 7th, 1964, which offers to the president Lyndon Johnson the possibility of " to take all necessary measures to make failure with Communism ". In reprisals, the president Johnson thus makes bombard the coastal installations of RDVN.

October 31st, 1964, at the time when the Americans go to the ballot boxes within the framework of the presidential election, four Americans are killed in Biên Hoa.

December 24th, a bomb explodes with the Brink hotel of Saigon where are lodged unmarried American officers. Two people are killed and more than one hundred wounded.

February 6th, 1965, 300 Vietcong attack the Holloway Camp, in Pleiku, causing the death of eight Americans.

In February 1965, the General Khan is eliminated.

February 10th, 1965, Vietcong attacks Which Nhon and causes the death of 21 Americans.

Two battalions of ground-to-air missiles Hawk are installed on the basis of Da Nang very near to the border of RDVN.

Johnson reaches a new stage the 13 of the same month by ordering wider air raids on North (Operation Rolling Thunder). Because of bad weather conditions, " Rolling Thunder" only on March 2nd will be started. This French " operation (; thunder roulant") will last 38 months and will pour a half million tons of bombs.

March 7th, Lyndon Johnson orders the terrestrial deployment of a brigade of: 3500 Navy in order to protect the base from Da Nang, that Ci will unload the following day. March 9th, Johnson authorizes the use of the Napalm.

In April RDVN issue the general mobilization and decides to utilize regular units in RVN. At the same time, and without the knowledge of the American public opinion, the Pentagon and the president Johnson make the decision to engage the United States in the terrestrial battle in RVN with for order an offensive mission of “research and destruction” in order to crush the rebellion.

In June, the general Thieu is named Head of the State by a military committee with the general Nguyên CAD Ky like Prime Minister. In July, the president Johnson announces that the American forces will be carried to: 125000 men.

In October, first terrestrial combat between Americans and regular of RDVN in Pleime on the plates of the Center-Annam. In December 1965, American manpower are of: 185000 men.

In May 1966, a military rebellion pro-Buddhist bursts with Da Nang. In December, American manpower are of: 390000 men. Are added to it: 8000 Koreans and: 4000 Australian. During all the year 1966, the bombardments continue on RDVN.

In January 1967, the first engagement American in the " Iron " triangle; in the North-West of Saigon where many Viêt-Congs elements are infiltrated (in the Cu Chi tunnels in particular). During all the year 1967, the bombardments continue on RDVN and the American manpower stationed in RVN are of: 510000 men. With these manpower, it is advisable to add: 40000 men of USAF based in Thailand and: 30000 others with the formations of the 7th US Fleet.

Moreover, whereas several tens of thousands of advisers framed ARVN (Armed with the Republic of Vietnam) made up of: 700000 men, there was still: 48000 South-Koreans and: 10000 Inhabitants of Thailand paid on the American budget.

February 1968: Offensive of Tết (see section hereafter).

In 1968, the losses of the killed American soldiers, as brought back each Thursday to information of the evening, of than 100 died more per week. The operations between 1961 and 1975 will coûtèreront 533 billion dollars (value 2005) in the United States.

July 7th, 1968, the American forces evacuate the base of Khê Sanh.

The Offensive of Tết and the disillusion of the American population

Chinese intervention and Soviet as a Democratic republic of Vietnam

The spokesperson of the ministry for the Popular republic of China of the Foreign affairs confirmed in 1996 that, on request of the North-Vietnamese government, the China had sent between August 1965 and August 1973 approximately: 320000 soldiers of the popular Armed with release to help the Democratic republic of Vietnam in the tasks of air defense, military Engineering and Logistic. It also confirms that more: 1400 Chinese soldiers had been killed and: 4200 seriously wounded.

The first Chinese units present on the Vietnamese ground were made up of two anti-aircraft artillery divisions and an independent regiment, rotations of the troops followed and they were assigned with the defense of the strategic sectors. The Chinese navy was also présente : the minesweepers cleaned a surface of 201 km2.

Moreover, China provided 20 billion dollars of military aid and financial to the government of the Democratic republic of Vietnam.

November 25th, 1965, a secret treaty sino-Khmer is signed: popular China makes forward by the Kampuchea the weapons for the FNL.

Partially déclassifiés files show that: 6359 officers and generals of the Red Army acted as military advisers and took share with the operations of engagements (especially in the anti-aircraft defense).

Stagnation

Vietnam in the center of the American elections

In 1968, the president Lyndon Johnson begins her countryside from re-election. A member of its clean left, Eugene McCarthy, presents himself against him for the nomination on a platform anti-war. McCarthy loses the first primary elections in the New Hampshire, but it causes the surprise by carrying out a score raised against the outgoing one. The blow carried to the countryside of Johnson, compound to other factors, carries out it to announce that it withdraws its candidature, at the time of a televised speech surprised. It jointly announces there the starting of the Peace agreement of Paris with Vietnam.

Seizing opportunity caused by the abandonment of Johnson, Robert Kennedy then aspires to the nomination on a platform anti-war. The vice-president of Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, also stands as candidate, promising to continue to help the government of RVN.

Robert Kennedy is assassinated during this summer, and McCarthy is unable to counter the support whose Humphrey enjoys in the elite the party. Humphrey gains the nomination of its party, and is presented against Richard Nixon in the general elections. During its countryside, Nixon known as to have a secret plan to finish the war.

Nixon and its progressive disengagement plan

Richard Nixon is elected president and starts as from January 1969 his policy of slow disengagement of the war. The goal is to help RVN gradually to build its own army so that it can continue the war by itself. This policy becomes the keystone of the “Doctrine Nixon”.

Applied to the Vietnam, the doctrines become the “vietnamisation” already carried out by the French as of 1949 with the creation of a Vietnamese State of Saigon and its " Army nationale". The goal of the vietnamisation is to allow the army RVN better and better to hold against the FNL and the army of RDVN, and especially, more not to make undergo losses with the American army as many. That must also give, according to the witty remark of Mr. Kissinger, “the interval necessary” to the disengagement of the American troops. The soldiers of RVN will remain formed by American.

It should be noted that: 200000 members of the FLN and soldiers of RDVN, made defection between 1968 and 1975.

The Kampuchea in the war

See also: Contenu=Veuillez to consult the article of English '' Wikipédia [[: in: Cambodian Incursion]], [[Cambodian Incursion]] ''

The United States organizes a coup d'etat to the Kampuchea on March 18th, 1970, with the assistance of the marshal Lon Nol, to reverse the king Norodom Sihanouk shown not to fight against the Viêt-Cong using its territory. In parallel, Nixon orders a military incursion with the Kampuchea in order to destroy the refuges Viêt-Cong bordering RVN. Many thinks that the Khmer Rouge would probably not have seized the capacity, killing a great part (of: 900000 to 2 million) their population, without the destabilization caused by the war, in particular because of the campaigns bombardments American known as of “cleaning of the sanctuaries” in Kampuchea. The American support and other Western nations for this movement Maoist after the invasion of Kampuchea in 1979 by Vietnam is explained by her anti-Soviet character, but this one was actually the consequence of an in-depth support by the China, then in political conflict with the the USSR.

Example of American exaction: the massacre of the inhabitants of Lay Mỹ

American withdrawal and unification of Việt Nam

Mediatization of the conflict

The effects of the mediatization of the war of Vietnam play enormously whereas affluent with the country of the photographs of special correspondents whom the administration does not know how to counter. The American public opinion starts to doubt mainly the options related to such a level of engagement, whereas the party of the generation of the awakening (consciousness generation) maintains activism by sittings in favor of the payment of the conflict and disengagement in the public alleys of Washington: the pressure is such as the political power must answer the situation of stagnation urgently.

Up to now the opinion had been affected by the images of bags plastic containing the bodies of the servant boys brought back to the country; but of the daily images on television showing the conflict proved stagnation, and of the photographs shocked more still this public abused over the length.

of the young person Phan Thị Kim Phúc, 9 years, taken on the road of Trang Bang in 1972, whereas the child fled naked a zone bombarded with the Napalm, to Nick Ut Associated Press paid the Prix Pulitzer.

1972 are moreover the terrible year for the American executive, with the Watergate in interior policy and the escape of the Pentagon Papers which splash the Establishment.

Disputes in the United States

April 15th, 1967: 100000 with: 200000 people ravel in New York against the war. With Central Park, several hundreds of young people destroy their army papers;

Léonard Bernstein composes a Oratorio against the war;

First attempt: the offensive Eastertide (March-October 1972)

mediocrity of the troops of the army of RVN at the time of the Lam operation Its 719 in 1971,
progressive withdrawal of the American troops,
power of the pacifist movement in the USA which prohibits any return this these troops,

inscitent RDVN with launching a general offensive against RVN in March 1972. It will be the first attempt at invasion of importance since the Bataille of Dai Do in May 1968.

Whereas the last combat units American leave Vietnam on August 23rd, 1972 this first offensive will last from March to October 1972.

Supported by intense artillery stoppings and many tanks: 200000 soldiers of RDVN cross the demilitarized zone on March 30th, 1972} and sweep the units of RVN. After initial panic, the units of the ARVN are seized again, gather and counter-attack. They slow down then stop the northerner offensive. Helped of an important American air support, they will push back then the northerners between June at October.

Between April and October, the US Air Force is authorized to bombard RDVN in order to force it to negotiate; the devastator use of the Napalm as of the orange Agent as Défoliant is systematized.

Broken the May 4th following the attack of RVN, the negotiations take again the July 13rd in Paris between Henry Kissinger and Đức Thọ. They aim at making it possible American to leave an unpopular war all while maintaining a balance acceptable between RDVN and RVN.
The October 8th, the two parts agree on important give-and-take.

However, although it is conscious that RVN depended on the American air support and that the withdrawal of the latter weakened it considerably, the president Thiệu will be shown not very enthusiastic to accept a cease-fire de facto.

On its side, RDVN was not interested by a long-term peace agreement: its objective always remaining to invade RVN in order to unify all the Việt Nam.

In order to raise the obstacle of RVN, Nixon promised in Thiệu an unconditional support and massive reprisals if RDVN violated the terms of the peace treaty. In same time, Nixon will order a stop of the bombardments the October 22nd although the troops of RDVN always occupied the territory of RVN.

Because of a double bad calculation, RDVN will undergo a defeat cuisante with the loss of (: 100000 men against: 40000 for the ARVN) and will give up an important material (half of its firepower). The failure of the Offensive Eastertide will cost its station the general Giap which will leave the place to Văn Tiến Dũng, man of very an other scale.

The Peace agreements of Paris will be finally signed in January 1973 and recognize the presence of northerner troops in the South.

Second attempt (December 1974 - February 1975)

However, peace is still not guaranteed and the new northerner general prepares the final offensive which will overcome RVN. Thus, in spite of the peace treaty, the attacks and the ambushes continue.

Although Richard Nixon promised with RVN that it would bring one to him supports in the possibility of a collapse of the military situation, the Congrès of the United States vote against any financial support with military actions in this area. Nixon fights then also for its own political career empêtrée in the Scandale of Watergate. Thus, although the continuous economic aid, none the military supports promised for the defense of the government of RVN is sent. She is however almost completely aspired by the corruption of the government of RVN and, only a small portion will feed indeed the effort of war. The 94e Congrès of the United States votes so that any help is removed for the beginning of the year tax 1975 - 76 (July 1st, 1975).

Moreover, the the United States unilaterally withdraw their last forces of the Vietnam in 1973. This fold will chèvera the March 29th and the ARVN does not lay out any more an American air support.

Lastly, beginning 1975, the reserves of ammunition, mined by the inflation and the disappearance of the American assistance, reach a dramatically low level.

On its side, RDVN knew that Nixon, empêtré in its difficulties, would not move, while the Soviet support and Chinese increased consequently, the risk of direct confrontation between Grands having disappeared. The losses of the defeat 1972 were thus filled.

After the signature of the Peace agreements of Paris, between 10 and 12 divisions of RDVN will station in RVN like approximately: 300000 combatants of the Việt Cộng. At the end of 1974, in violation of the agreements: 100000 additional soldiers will infiltrate with the Laos and the Kampuchea in frontier camps then in the zones “released” in the south.

In December 1974, the troops of RDVN make a new attempt by invading the province of Long Phuoc since the Kampuchea. January 17th, 1975, they occupy the regional capital of Phuoc Binh, to 160 km of Saigon. The ARVN loses: 3000 soldiers. Only some diplomatic protests will answer this violation of the peace treaty.

The president of RVN, Nguyễn Văn Thiệu, will decide to distribute his armed forces in order to cover all the territory, which, contrary to RDVN, is spread out all in length. Its goal was to prevent the incursions of the units of RDVN which infiltrated in the south via the road Ho-Chi-Minh-City with the Kampuchea. By doing this, by dispersing its forces, it made the same error as the French in 1939 whereas RDVN prepared to strike in force at the place of its choice.

Third attempt: the catch of the plates of the center (Tay Nguyen) - March 1975

In March 1975, the general north-vietnamiem Văn Tiến Dũng lance an offensive planned by its care. North launches multiples small attacks of diversion on the provinces of north in order to divert the staff Southerner and to force it to leave its dispersed troops. But the large one of its forces is committed in order to invade the province of the Dac Lac in the center, being thus placed in position to cut the République of Vietnam into two.

On the whole; they were 17 divisions of infantry of the Armée popular Vietnamese organized in 4 conventional army corps supported by 700 armoured tanks, of the thousands of pieces of artillery and the hundreds of batteries of ground-to-air missiles which was committed whereas the ARVN did not have any more the logistical support of the United States.

Believer with a simple operation of diversion, the Southerners will not send any reinforcement to stop the attack on Buon Me Tuoc, while the fixings in north cause the blocking of the roads by the refugees.

Quickly, the offensive on the plates of the center turns to the catastrophe for the troops Southerners which are submerged by the number.

Panicked, Thiệu orders the retirement on Đà Nẵng with the 1st division of infantry (her best unit), then stationed around Hue. Then a counter-order orders to him to reconsider its positions but it is already too late. Dispersed on the roads, obstructed by the flood of refugees, the best troops Southerners are made cut in parts in close-cropped-countryside.

Thiệu orders then a general withdrawal of the city of Pleiku which orders the central plates and which was the seat of the staff of the general Pham Van Phu. This one, an inefficient and corrupted man who did not owe his position that with its political support for Thiệu the retirement “organizes”: it evacuates its family and her principal officers on Nha Trang then Saigon while it gives up its troops on the spot.

Those, private of command, flee towards the coast in the small country roads in the middle of the refugees. In their turn they are made cut in parts.

Hue (the old imperial city) falls the March 25th, then Đà Nẵng (the second city of Việt Nam) the April 2nd.

After having taken the plates central and cut the forces Southerners into two, then crushed the Northern part, the troops of the Armée popular Vietnamese turned then to the South while new troops crossed the border since the Democratic republic of Vietnam.

The road of Saigon was then open and nothing will stop any more the troops of the Armée popular Vietnamese.

The fall of Saigon (April 30th, 1975)

At the beginning of April, the area of Saigon is encircled. After a fifteen or so days of fierce combat, president Thiệu resigns the April 21st and is replaced by the vice-president Trần Văn Hương, itself replaced by Dương Văn Minh the April 28th. After the Communists refused any negotiation, Dương Văn Minh orders the rendering of the troops of the ARVN the April 30th, which is accepted by the RDVN, while Hélicoptère S American S overloaded evacuate the city and that the first Boat people make their appearance.

With 7:53, on April 30th, when the last helicopter takes off of the roof of the embassy from the United States in Saigon, of the thousands of candidates to the exile is still had a presentiment of in the gardens. More: 305000 refugees will end nevertheless up finding themselves aboard American ship which crosses with the broad one.

This scene of panic in Saigon, on April 30th, 1975, on the roof of the embassy from the United States in Saigon is well-known.

Divided since 1954 Vietnam was reunified, of the border of China to the point of " Camau" July 2nd, 1976 to create the socialist Republic of Vietnam . Saigon is famous Ho Chi Minh Ville in the honor of the preceding president of the RDVN.

Of 1975 with 1982: 65000 people were carried out with the Vietnam and more than one million was sent in " camps of rééducation" or in the " new zones économiques". Their personal goods (dwellings, trade, companies, grounds…) were confiscated for one more or less long period. More than one million South-Vietnameses fled the country. On the whole, three million people left the Indo-China between 1975 and 1997 according to the Haut-Commissariat with the Refugees of the United Nations.

The first Boat People were of 1955. Among the million people who left north, one foot-note of the parishes roman catholics, with their priest at the head, to follow the " Virgin who went in Sud" , the few French boats and the vessels of VIIe floats US awaited them. It was the Franco-American propaganda which functioned with any pace to increase the quantity of partisans of Ngô Đình Diệm, integrist roman catholic, which seized the power in Saigon, to deprive the Northern zone of part of its active population and “to prove” the love of freedom and the hatred of Communism by disqualifying the government of the RDVN. The refugees of 1975 were the elite of the mode of Saigon left by plane in the luggage the last American personnel.

In addition to the priority and urgent problem of the supply solved by Mrs. Nguyen Thi Binh, signatory of the Peace agreement of Paris in the name of the National front for the release of Vietnam, there was the problem of a " catastrophe sociologique" without precedent of a rural population bound in garrison towns, since 1946, living of a “economy of the dustbin” of waste of the armies and supplies military whose “market with the robbers” was famous, with drugs and the prostitutions around.

The refugees of 1980 were people of modest means fleeing the Third War of Indo-China and the economic difficulties of country devastated by wars since 1946.

Assessment

Human losses

Million Vietnameses died of the consequences of the war of Vietnam. It is always very difficult to estimate the number of victims in any conflict. The official registers are not easily consultable, when they exist, and many among killed were literally shredded by the bombardments. It is thus very difficult to agree exactly on what must count like “war victim of Vietnam”; people are killed still today by not exploded ammunition and mines, particularly the bombs at submunitions. Effects on the environment of the chemical agents, such as the orange Agent which was a defoliant very much used by the Americans, as well as the colossal social problems caused by the devastation of the country after so much of deaths reduced certainly the lifespan of many survivors.

The estimates of the lowest losses, based on the declarations (now begun again) of Vietnam North were around 1,5 million killed Vietnameses. Vietnam announced on April 3rd, 1995 that a total of a million Vietnamese communist combatants and four million civilians had been killed during the war. The validity of these figures was generally not disputed.

The losses of the South Vietnam are estimated at: 255000 soldiers and: 430000 killed civilians of which: 80000 in 1974, that is to say more than any other year of war, whereas the US forces had been evacuated.

One estimates in addition at approximately: 58000 the number of killed American soldiers.

Air losses of the armed forces of the United States in Vietnam

If the figures seem impressive at first sight, they concern nearly 15 years of engagements, and, compared to the number of exits, correspond toa rate of losses of 0,1%.

Effects on the development of the south-Asian peninsula

The greatest consequence on the south-Asian development is the fact that largest " cerveaux" from Vietnam (Vietnam was very developed before the war) have either flees in the United States with American, or were decimated/sent in camps of rehabilitation by the Communists. Little of intellectuals who survived the catastrophe, very little could find a work because a good part of them was against the government. The government has them consequently private work.

The only intellectuals of the Vietnam who remained, were those of North, in so far as they are pro-gouvernementalistes.

The Diaspora vietnaniemme contribut with redynamiser since the Years 1990 economy of the country.

Consequences for after war

At the beginning of the war of Vietnam, the American Army, although using the Conscription, lance of many recruitment campaigns, which causes the departure of many young people for the conflict. Of return on their premises, the American soldiers, encouraged with their departure, find themselves most of the time shown finger by the public opinion after the disastrous press coverage of this long conflict.

After the war, the political consequences are important, people have less confidence in their government to manage a war. With the Scandal of Watergate, that paralyzed during several years the foreign politics of the United States and compromise the bond between the state and the population.

Chronology of the War of Vietnam

December 11th, 1961: First American intervention in Vietnam. An American aircraft carrier transporting two escadrilles of helicopters unloads in Saigon. For the first time, the American army directly helps the South Vietnamese ones in their combat against the communist guerilla.
June 11th, 1963: To protest against the authoritarian regime proaméricain of Vietnamese president Ngô Dinh. Diêm, a Buddhist bonze commits suicide by fire in Saigon. Other public immolations will follow and the movements of opposition will severely be repressed by the capacity. In November, a coup d'etat will reverse the government of Ngô Dinh Diêm which will be shot. In 1964, the United States will decide to send troops to Vietnam in order to be opposed to the communist projection.
February 7th, 1965: After having made evacuate the last American families, the US Air Force launches its first direct air offensive on North-Vietnam. The goal of the United States and the South Vietnamese government is to put at evil the networks of supply out of weapons and carburizing Communists of North. These bombardments mark the beginning of the second war of Indo-China. As from March, the navy American arrives increasingly many to South-Vietnam.
June 29th, 1966: First American raids in Vietnam. US president Lyndon Baines Johnson starts the first air raids on the Vietnam of North. The fuel depots of Hanoï and Haïpong are bombarded. Vietnam was divided into 1954 and one war opposes the South, constant by the United States, in the communist North directed by Ho-Chi-Minh. The American troops will be present at Vietnam until 1973. The country will be reunified in 1976.
September 2nd, 1969: Died of Ho Chi-Minh. In full conflict with the United States, the president of the Democratic republic of Vietnam, craftsman of the independence of the country and the introduction of a Communist regime, dies of an heart attack with Hanoi at the 70 years age. Ho Chi-Minh, which lived in France of the age from 27 to 34 years, created the Communist party Indochinese in 1930 and proclaimed the independence and the foundation of the Democratic republic of Vietnam in 1945, opening new years of conflict with France, then colonial power. After the French defeat of Diên Biên Phu, and the agreements of Geneva (1954), it accepts the division of Vietnam in two states, North and the South. Ho Chi-Minh however starts the invasion of the south while running up this time against the United States which supports the mode of Saigon. In April 1976, the Ho Chi-Minh name is given to the capital of the south.

http://fr.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Guerre_du_Vi%C3%AAt_Nam&diff=10295155&oldid=10109943

by Gyneco, September 23rd, 2006 -->

See too

Random links:

Cross from Lesotho of football | Lenard mark | Elmer McCurdy | Magic metal | Marko Marić