Isile LUTMANN - RACHEL DE LAVERGNE MELISSA TRIBOUILLARD - VINCENT DEBRABANT

The global context

• 1945: End of the World War II• Domino’s politic (Expansion of communism)

• Cold War & extreme Bipolarisation between the USA and Soviet Union

The Domino Theory was that if North Vietnam wins the war then Laos Cambodia and the rest of Asia will turn communist. America and south Vietnam did not wan to be communist and let it spread throughout Asia.

• France lost Indochina after the war against Vietminh (Vietnamese army founded in 1941 by Ho Chi Minh)

• July 1954: Geneva Peace Accord

Context in Vietnam

• Division of Vietnam in 2 parts (17th parallel)• ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam)• NVA (North Vietnamese Army)

• Gulf of Tonkin incident = Involvement of USA in the conflict + Trade Embargo against North Vietnam

Minimum Maximum Limits

US Avoid the expansion of Communism

Destroy the ennemy &

avoid expansion

Avoid domino

effect, not loose the

southViêt-Cong Get the US

out of Vietnam

Expand communism to the whole

country

Not lose north,

Vietnam not unified and

strong

OBJECTIVESUSA- Assault/Attack and take control of

major cities- Support South Vietnam- Establish bases/camps on the key

sectors and at the Cambodian/Vietnamese border

North Vietnam- Lure american troops in hostile areas,

ie.Jungle- Impose communist model by force

TACTICS

US declares war on North (LBJ)– Vietnam attacked our ships

US fights NLF/Vietcong in South Vietnam

US. fights Ho Chi Minh / Communist North Vietnam

US Troops use Agent Orange Herbicide

US meets strong opposition from both sides.

General Westmoreland

President Johnsonsigning the declaration of war

Battle of « La Drang » Nov. 1965Surprise attack from the Cambodian border by US forces: 400 US 7th Cavalery troops againts 4000 NVA + vietcongs soldiers

B-212 transport helicopter gunshipsNapalm jetsArtillery Support

Lt. Col Hal MooreCommander of the 7th Air

Cavalery Battalion

Targets according to General Vo Nguyen

• Minimum:– Tet outbreak would halt the north

vietnam bombardment and force us to negociate.

• Maximum: - Drive the US forces out of the

country=open the path for unification of the country

As a results: -Tet offensive shook US moral-Huge negative impact on public opinion

General Vo Nguyen

Têt Offensive - 1968

– In 1968 turning point: need to undermine US effort and will with a « coup de grace ».

– Sly strategy, attack on christmas eve: unexpected– Attack on 2 fronts: Us marine firebases at Khe Sahn and

major cities of South Vietnam= Dilema for the US

Prisoner’s dilemnaNorth Vietnam quit North Vietnam stay

Us quit •Statuo quo: North Vietnam invades south.•expansion of communism.

•Expansion of communism•Unification of the country•Huge failure for us•Domino effect

Us stay •US supremacy.•End of communism in this area.

•This war never ends.•Casualties, spendings

Cost for US :

Cost for Vietnam :

58 159 Casualties – 2000 Missing in Action - $133 Billion If war goes on for 5 years more : $1.4 Trillion

More than a millions casualties – Financial unknown

AgreementParis peace accords on January 23th, 27th, 1973 : 7 main points

– 3 signatures – Withdrawal of troops

Return of captured military personnel and foreign civilians

Exercise of the south Vietnamesepeople’s right to self determination

Reunification of Vietnam International commission of control and supervision

End of all military activities in Cambodia and LaosEstablishment of a new equal and mutually beneficial relationship between the United-States and the democratic republic of Vietnam.

VALIDATION• March 1973: US military

forces withdrew from South Vietnam and prisoners were echanged

April 29th, 1975 : Fall of Saigon and Evacuation by helicopter of the last U.S. diplomatic, military and civilian personnel

EXECUTIONExpansion of Communism = overthrow saigon

regimeCivil warExtermination of opponents to communism

CONTROL OF THE EXECUTION

- July 2nd, 1976: Socialist Republic of Vietnam was created.- Sept 27th 1977: Vietnam has become member of the U.N

SOURCESwww.vwam.com/vets/tet/tet.html

http://www.juniorgeneral.org/vietnam/vietnam.html

http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/vietnam/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/

country_profiles/1243686.stm

« We were soldiers » by Randall Wallace (2002)

Rachel De lavergneNarator 1

Isile LutmannNarator 2

Mélissa TribouillardGeneral Westmoreland

Vincent DebrabantGeneral Vo Nguyen

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