Vietnam

• Before WW2 Vietnam (Indochina) was ruled by France as part of French empire.
• During WW2 the region of Indochina was conqured by the Japanese.
• The Japanese treated them brutally. As a result a strong anti-Japanese resistance movement (the Viet Minh) emerged under the leadership of communist Ho Chi Minh.

• After the war and the Allies won, France wanted it's land back: this is because Indochine had many natural resources that France did not and France wanted to gain back more power over Asia.
• However, the Viet Minh had taken control of the North of the country and they were communist.
• Therefore, both did not want to give up land and both wanted all of the land that was Indochina. 

• France and the Viet Minh fought each other for 9 years
• Both were supported by powerful countries. France was backed by the US as the US feared the Domino Theory and VM was backed by the newly communist China (Oct 1949 China became communist)
• The war only ended because for the disaster which was Dien Bien Phu
  
• However the US did support VM however befroe the rise of communst China.
• June 1950 the Korean war happened
• 1953 America was paying 3/4 of the cost of the war $500 million per year.
• France was still losing
• 1954, France wanted to take Dien Bien Phu (which was deep in Viet Minh teractory) to distract VM from the capital.
• This worked but too well as the French were out numbered and surrounded 10 thousand French.
• They tried to use air power to try and keep them at bay, however the VM were amazing at camoflage and had anti air craft gun (thanks to China)
• 1 by 1 the mini forts around Dien Bien Phu were taken by the Viet Minh. Soon there would be no soliders left.
• France talked with China who made VM to stop so there could be peace talks

In 1954 Britain, France, China, USSR, USA and Vietnam met in Geneva. They agreed:

• That the French troops would withdraw.
• A ceasefire of a new terriorial settlement
• Two new countries would be formed Cambodia and Laos
• North and Soth of Vietnam would be split on a temporary basis by the 17th parallel
• In 1956 there would be an election that united both North and South of Vietnam.
• The North was ruled by Ho Chi Minh and the South by Ngo Dinh Diem.

• 1954 the US backed new leader of the S. despite him beging a brutal and unpopular leader (Ngo Dinh Diem persecuted Buddhist, he's electon was a sham he claimed 605000 votes in Saigon when olny 450000 people were allowed to vore)
• From 1954-60's the US started propaganda war against the VM and stated that they were going into the S. and killing innocent civilians.
• 1954-60's president Eisenhower gave financial aid and miliatry 'advicers' to the S.
• 1960-63 STRAEGIC HAMLETS- led by Diem's Gov and the CIA designed to stop the Viet Cong (fighters in the south backed by Ho Chi Minh) from winningover the S.V. villagers. They did this by relocating villages to fortified camps if thought to be endanger of being won over.
• This did not work due to the VC lived in these villages and moved with them and the villagers did not want to be moved.
• 1960-63 JFK increased miliatary 'advicers' to 16000 by 1963.
• JFK knew Diem was not an effective leader. So the CIA gave $40000 to overthrow Diem's Gov. This led to Diem's assisantion.
• 1964 President Johnson through US combat troops were needed in S. for 60000 VC were in the S. But he needed public support.

• Operation Rolling Thunder: Aim to cripple the N. economy.  Meant to of lasted 8 WEEKS lasted 3 YEARS. Successes it did disrupt supply routes. 
• US air power: Once enemy forces were found they would drop bombs and fire missiles. They used cluster bombs, theu would exsplode mid air and release smaller bomblets. Once hit the ground they would shot out millions of pieces of metal. They also used helicopters to move soliders and equipment. Successes it was flexible and the VC didn't have anti aircraft guns or air craft. Limittions they were not very accurate the VC had tunnels to move around in S.V civilians were also killed
• Cemical warfare: Napalm was used to kill enemies from the air they would release petroleum jelly which who stick onto anything it touched and burn- 20000 tons were dropped. Agent Orange who remove cover of the VC- 82 million litres. Successes it removed the cover for the VC. Limitations it destoryed local crops, 1.3 million people were affect, it infected water supplies, 500000 children were born with defects. Napalm bombs destoryed homes and killed civilians.
• Search and destory: aim to find emeny. Successes VC troops were found and killed. Limitations VC troops would 'hug' soliders so they wouldn't use bombs.
• Zippo raids: aim go to S. villages and find VC fighters. Limiations the villagers hated them the VC were hard to find. They burned homes and supplies if thought they were helping the VC.

• They dug deep tunnels: aim to make easy way to move supplies without US finding them or be destoryed by bombs. They also were used as safe havens and they even left death traps just in case US troops found the tunnels. They were used in the Tet Offensive the tunnels were called Cu Chi.
• Booby traps: hole with bamboo spikes in wth pioson on them (punjj sticks) and trip wires also bouncing betties would rise and exsplode at stomach area. this was 11% of US casualties.
• Ambushes:  they did small attacks at a time normally at night; this meant US troops never really saw who they were fighting thi concluded to the soliders living in constant fear. 
• VC fighters were more exspirenced and had more motives than the US troops as after 1967 was an increase of soliders being draft.
• VC were also more suited to the jungle then the US.
• VC could also go into Cambodia and Laos unlike the US.
• S.V people had more support to VC for they targeted S. Gov workers who the people did not like such us police and tax collecters.
• VC also had a code of conduct which meant they had to be polite and respectful also not to damfe their crops this meant the people would hid them from the US.

• During 1967 VC launched a series of attacks on US forces. General Westmoreland thought this would play into US hands, for VC lost over 90000 men.
• 1968 31st Jan the Vietnamese celebratee Tet (new year). During this evening VC attacked over 100 towns and cities in S.V. 
• It was now known that the smaller attacks in 1967 were attempts by VC to draw US troops away from those towns and cities.
• VC aim: to inspire a rebellion.
• Prep: Sneak weapons into theses places by tunnels (200 miles long) and food carts.
• VC took over Gov radio station to speak with the people to join them- 3am
• Saigon they took race track to stop helicopters from landing they also attacked the US embrysy it only lasted 6 hours but it showed the US people thy weren't winning anymore.
• Massive Media coverage
• 84 thousand VC troops in S. now.

• Hue was taken control by the VC on the night of the Tet offensive.
• Hue was the centre of symbolic importance to Vietnam.
• If the the US didm't take back Hue Vc would win the propaganda war.
• The US weren't allowed to bomb Hue until 3rd Feb due to land marks.
• The marines that went to Hue were used to jungle and countryside fighting not urdan.
• Vc could be ANYWHERE battle field 360 due to building. This meant it took a long time.
• VC held Hue for 25 days.

• By the end 1500 US soliders were killed and 2800 S.V army ARVN killed.
• 45000 VC deaths and 170000 casualties this basically wipes out the VC in the S.

16 March 1968 the My Lai Masscre happened. It took 18 months for it to leak to the media.

• What happened:
• 2 platoons from Charlie company sent to My Lai for a report said VC were there. This report was incorrect.
• When they entered the village some fled and were shot.
• They killed the whole village, they ***** the girls and mutilated some of the bodies.
• Commander reported 90 enemy troops killed. His boss improved the figure to 128.
• Nearly 400 civilians killed.
• VC reported it as an atrocity - US army cover it up.

• Charile company suffered from VC attacks - 40% casualty rate 1 month before My Lai.
• They were most likely on drugs or alcohol - due to the psychological impact of the war on young, inexpencied men.

• Calley was charged with murder (1969) he only did 3 1/2 years.
• Nov 1969 700000 anti war protestors in Washington DC
• 80% of US public thought he shouldn't of been convicted.

• Nixon elected in 1968 under the promise 'peace with honour'.
• Due to the stalemate, cost of the war, Tet Offensive, My Lai massacre, causalties of soliders and civilians the war was becoming more and more unpopular with the people.
• Also relationships with China and the USSR were improving due to China and USSR had fallen out.

• VIETNAMISATION: policy 1
• The idea to gradually take US troops out and make S.V army take more responsiblity for the fighting. The US would still support the Gov of Saigon. 3 years 400000 out of V.

• CAMBODIA AND LAOS: policy 2
• Invading Cambodia 1970. Allegedly to destory VC bases. Nixon hoped it would make Hanoi more willing to negotiate. N.V boycotted all talks until US withdrawned from Cambodia. FAIL 
• Invading Laos 1971. S.V army backed by US to block Ho Chi Minh trail. After 6 weeks the troops withdrew with 60% killed or injured. FAIL.
• Bombing of N.V after 1972. N.V invade S.V led by 100 Soviet tanks March.
• Nixon ordered in April for US to bomb N.V. in oder to destory supply routes. In hope the N. would withdraw. This lead to worldwide protests and US reputation to be affected. FAIL.  

Students:

• In 1970 at Kent State University (Ohio) students demonstrated against Nixon's invasion of Cambodia. National guard troopers opened fired on the demonstrators after a few threw some sticks or rocks. 4 were killed and 11 were injured.
• 400 colleges closed as 2 million students went on stike in protest at the action at Kent State.
• In the 1st 1/2 of 1968 there was 100 demonstrations including 40000 students.
• Thousands of students 'dodged the draft' either by burning them or sending them back.

Veterans:

• Many were injured and had seen the terrible effects that the war was having on them and other US soliders.
• VVAW (Vietnam Veterans Against the War) was a key group that protested by sending back their medals and went on marches. By 1971 VVAW had around 30000 members.