Notes On Peace & Conflict – Indochina 1954-1979

Resource Description

Conflict in Indochina 1954 – 1979

Principal Focus: Students investigate key features and issues in the history of the conflict in Indochina 1954-1979

 

INDOCHINA AFTER THE FRENCH

• Consequences of the Vietnamese victory against the French

• Strategic importance – major US naval and air base
• Economic importance – tin, rubber, oil, iron ore. Containment (domino theory)
• US eventually supplying 80% France’s war costs

Battle 

• Final crisis for France as they were facing defeat

• Siege began on March 13
• All supplies had to be airlifted
• Dien Bien Phu was a valley surrounded by high cliffs which the Viet Minh climbed, dragging heavy machinery so as to have an advantageous position over the French
• On May 7, after 8 weeks of fighting, the French surrendered
• French military influence ended and the First Indochina War was over

Reasons for French Defeat

• Brought supplies in early
• Advantageous position on hillside, knew area well
• Jungle cover
• Better tactics – guerrilla over conventional
• Sheer numbers
• French arrogance
• Supplies – difficult for French, had to be flown in, easier for Vietnamese – surrounding villagers helped
• Vietnamese fighting on their own soil for their own freedom – “Power in defence of freedom is always greater than power mobilised on behalf of oppression” (Felix Green, 1969)

Importance of Dien Bien Phu

• Humiliation
• 7000 French casualties
• 11,000 prisoners
• Bao Dai – French puppet, President of the South
• Cambodia and Laos gained independence as the French have left
• Viet Minh stronger, greater bargaining power 
• Geneva Conference
• Communism – domino theory, fear of communism grows