VIETNAM WAR

 Former Indo-China.
 Vietnam consisted of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
 French colony earlier and there are 2 phases of independence struggle for Vietnam
which is 1946-1961 and 1961-1975.
 1946-1961: they fight with the French colony and are winning. No financial strength
to maintain
 Next phase: 2nd phase, civil war in south Vietnam because of US interference who
wanted to limit the communism spreading in these region

1st PHASE

 1954 landmark year GENEVA AGREEMENT. The agreements concluded in

Geneva were signed by French and Viet Minh representatives and provided
for a cease-fire and temporary division of the country into two military
zones and it was supposed to be united in 1956
 Fighting with French to gain independence.
 It was triggered due to WW2 when Japanese were capturing Vietnam as it was a
French colony.
 Vietnam had to fight Japanese aggression and fight French also.
 An organisation called Vietminh was a league for Vietnamese independence and they
are organising a resistance to gain independence. Leader was Ho Chi Minh.
 Toughest standoff for Vietnam was in Hanoi and this is where they attacked the
French. The struggle lasted for 8 years
 In 1954 the French are defeated.

Reasons for victory

 Use of guerrilla tactic

 Support of common masses.
 French govt and army were hampered due to WW2 so they were already weak which
gave Vietnam an upper edge.
 Vietminh being supported by China.

USA supports French naturally as part of cold war.

In 1954 after Vietnam emerges as a victory and signs Geneva agreement. Laos and
Cambodia will be independent and Vietnam would be divided at 17 th parallel as north and
south Vietnam. In North there is the govt of Ho Chi Minh and people are happy with it.
South Vietnam to have a temporary democratic govt.

2Nd PHASE

In south there is a provisional democratic govt for 2 years led by Ngo Dinh Diem (Usa
supported). After 2 years an election is supposed to be held and north and south Vietnam
will be united.

But this never took place and there is general discontent among the people. People are
also not happy as they preferred communism but the leader came from a wealthy family
who had no sympathy towards the wishes of general people whatsoever.

Apart from that he is Roman Catholic and people of Vietnam are Buddhists. There were
demands from people to introduce land reforms and people wanted redistribution of land
from wealthy peasants to small peasants. Corruption is also there. But these people are
politically aware and they will not keep quiet.

There’s National liberation Front. The foundation was of communist leader and a
coalition govt is supposed to be formed which will respect both communist and capitalist
ideologies

Guerrilla Warfare is being used and south Vietnam is supported by USA. So, weapons are
supplied as it is for benefit of south vietnam’s ecomomy

Since the country is Buddhist so they will not use violent measures. The Buddhist monks
were lightning themselves on fire demanding their own govt. The leader of South
Vietnam is imposing strict measures to curb this and this is not taken nicely by people.
This is the time where he’s overthrown and murdered in 1963 and army general takes
over. After this usa increases military power in Vietnam in the name of democracy. Eisen
hover is prez at that time and johnson and kennedy maintained it. Meanwhile Vietnam is
waging war against usa interference

Viet Cong is coming up- secret police from north Vietnam is helping south to reduce us
interference
Kennedy introduced safe village where peasants could be kept safe so that American
troops can fight the guerrilla. But it failed as peasants themselves were fighters.

Johnson bombed north Vietnam so that north support stops

Nixon Vietnamization policy- equip to train Vietnam people so they can protect
themselves and started gradual withdrawal of us troops. But parallely he’s bombing ho
chi minh train connecting north and south Vietnam. The train used to supply troops from
north Vietnam

1973 ceasefire announced

1975 saigon fell to Vietcong. Hence victory of Vietnam