Dien bien phu was a remote valley on the border of laos along a simple rural trade route. One of the great unsung war novels of the 20th century, the centurions follows a group of french paratroopers through the hell of the indochina war. The french gun crews and artillery pieces, working entirely in the open so as to allow the pieces allaround fields of fire, were destroyed one by one. The battle of dien bien phu was fought from march to may 7, 1954, and was the decisive engagement of the first indochina war 19461954, the precursor to the vietnam war. Lasting 55 days, the battle had french troops attempt to hold an armed camp against the.
A guerrilla force of viet minh destroyed a technologically superior french army, convincing the viet minh that similar tactics might. A great book, if you are a fan of the french in indo china and want to know their version of dien bien phu, then this is the book for you, covers the struggle from start to finish with the last bullet and over run of their fortress in the middle of the nam. On the vietnamese side, nothing is comparable to these books, which. At the end of world war ii michael kaponya was a hungarian refugee with few prospects. This book is invaluable for the lessons in guerrilla war, leadership, tenacity. What battles have been won using guerrilla warfare. Causes and consequences of the battle of dien bien phu free. And again the french soldier fought furiously and desperatelythis time to defeat. By the end of the fiftysixday siege, a determined viet minh guerrilla force had destroyed a.
Oct 04, 20 general vo nguyen giap in 1994, the 40th anniversary of the defeat of the french at dien bien phu. Like gettysburg, stalingrad, midway, and tet, the battle at dien bien phua strategic attack launched by france against the vietnamese in 1954 after eight long years of warmarked a historic turning point. Jan 06, 2015 by the definition of guerrilla warfare, almost all battles are won by the guerrillas. In november 1953, the french, weary of jungle warfare, occupied dien bien phu, a small mountain outpost on the vietnamese border near laos. The last valley dien bien phu and the french defeat in. The two concepts addressed similar problemsnamely, how to deprive the viet minh of their relative freedom of maneuver by threatening their base areasbut french decision making rested on two fatal assumptions. This was the battle that cast the enduring mold for southeast asia. The french defeat in dien bien phu was the decisive event of the war, ended by the. Guerilla warfare in the vietnam war 620 words bartleby. This mode of combat marked the furthest thing from modern mobile warfare. Jan 14, 2017 the french lost the battle of dien bien phu because the vietminh had the advantages in topography and terrain, logistics, artillery and antiaircraft capabilities, and political will.
The tragedy at dien bien phu that led america into the vietnam war 9781400066643 by morgan, ted and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. You gather your staff and division commanders in your command bunker in the hills north of dien bien phu to brief them on three courses of action you are considering. Vo nguyen giap was a general in the vietnam peoples army and a politician. In december 1953, a wellequipped force of 15,000 of frances best troops placed themselves astride communist supply routes on the laosvietnam border and dared the viet minh to attack them. That gap has finally been closed with valley of death.
Street without joy is a 1961 book originally about the first indochina war 1946 1954. The battle of dien bien phu was the culminating piece of the guerrilla war fought between the french and the viet minh from 1949 until the garrison was overrun and the french withdrew from the. Fifty years ago the fall of dien bien phu put paid to the french. Without using guerilla warfare, the viet minh accomplished what had yet to be seen in history. Operation camargue was one of the largest operations by the french far east expeditionary corps and vietnamese national army in the first indochina war. But it would also be where a great european power fell to an underestimated insurgent.
At dien bien phu, you are determined to implement a battle plan that imposes your will on the enemy. At the end of the second world war france sought to reassert its military prestige, but instead suffered humiliating defeat at dien bien phu in french colonial indochina. Obstensively, the centurions deals with the battle of dien bien phu in1954 and the battle of algiers in 1957, chiefly seen from the perspective of the french paratroopers engaged in both actions. The tragedy at dien bien phu that led america into the vietnam war ebook written by ted morgan. If you want a heartfelt paean to both the french and vietminh soldier, on the stupidity and wastefulness of the whole french effort in indochina, this book is a mustread. However, this novel is much more than a series of war stories. Guerilla warfare in the vietnam war 620 words 3 pages a small country such as north vietnam was able to win a war against a superpower like the united states of america, through, namely, tactics such as guerrilla warfare, the ignorance of their enemy, the attitude of the south vietnamese, as well as a strong leader such as ho chi minh. A guerrilla force of viet minh destroyed a technologically superior french army, convincing the viet minh that similar tactics might prevail in battle with the u. So he joined the french foreign legion, that fabled mercenary military force founded in 1831 by king louis philippe. Terrorist tactics, such as hijackings and suicide bombings, are also considered to be asymmetrical, both because they tend to involve a smaller, weaker group attacking a stronger one and also because attacks on civilians are by definition oneway warfare. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in dien bien phu, vietnam on tripadvisor. Apr 18, 2002 from the acclaimed scholar and reporter, a thorough and revealing account of the historic turning point in vietnams long strugglethe 1954 battle for dien bien phulike gettysburg, stalingrad, midway, and tet, the battle at dien bien phu a strategic attack launched by france against the vietnamese in 1954 after eight long years of warmarked a historic turning point. Fighting small wars in the midst of a big one by david kilcullen, learning to eat soup with.
Dien bien phu is one of the best examples of a western power being beaten by a national liberation movement in a conventional form of battle. Graham greenes novel the quiet american takes place during this war. The lone french woman at the decisive battle for vietnam my very first library. The centurions also examines french, vietnamese and algerian societies during the mid1950s. Stanley karnow, pulitzerprizewinning author of vietnam. Here is the true story, full of heroism and endurance against impossible odds. A brief history of the battle of dien bien phu section 117. No american is better qualified to tell the tale of dien bien phu and its significance than howard simpson. Dien bien phu and the french defeat in vietnam is an outstanding example of the nonfiction writers art.
Vo nguyen giap, the vietnamese general who planned the ho chi minh trail and defeated the french at dien bien phu, turns 95 today. Captured at dien bien phu, the men are held captive for months enduring excruciating hardships at the hands of their vietminh captors. Miller, coauthor of encyclopedia of cold war espionage ted morgan brings to life the climactic battle of dien bien phu in a way no english reader has seen in four decades. If you want a dry factual account of the battle of dienbienphu, this is not the book to read. Like gettysburg, stalingrad, midway, and tet, the battle at dien bien phua. A noted historian, martin windrow claimed that dien bien phu was the first time that a noneuropean colonial independence movement had evolved through all the stages from guerrilla bands to a conventionally organized and equipped army able to defeat a modern western occupier in pitched battle. The french struggled against the guerrilla tactics of the vietminh and sought to lure them into open battle where the french could practice more classic warfare. Equally surprising, dien bien phu is a large, rather untidy town population circa 100,000, with houses patched together haphazardly, overlooking several long avenues. It was the scene in 1954 of the last great battle between the french and the viet minh forces of ho chi minh in indochina. Catherine karnowcorbis giaps political timidity came as a crushing disappointment. While the larger war was a guerrilla war in the tradition of mao tse tung, in the. Causes and consequences of the battle of dien bien phu bartleby. The garrison constituted roughly one tenth of the total french union manpower in indochina, 91 and the defeat seriously weakened the position and prestige of the french.
After dien bien phu the united states shaped its vietnam war policies around the domino principle, backing the noncommunist nationalist leader ngo dinh diem with aid and military advisers in 1954. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read valley of death. Guerrilla warfare was named by the spaniards who fought against french armies in the peninsular campaigns of the napoleonic wars as the little war. The 15 best things to do in dien bien phu 2020 with photos. Dien bien phu, 1954, was the final battle of the first indochina war. Feb 27, 2018 and these conventional communist units, employing standard siege tactics, defeated the french at dien bien phu. The first vietnam war, or indochina war 19461954, was the result of. On may 7, 1954, french troops surrendered to the communist viet minh, triggering the decolonisation of vietnam by the french. For the people because the wars goals are the peoples goals goals such as independence, a unified country, and the happiness of its people and by the people well that means ordinary people not just the army but all people. A conflict between communist viet minh forces and a frenchestablished garrison, it occurred in a town called seat of the border county prefecture or, in vietnamese, dien bien phu.
Furthermore, when the first indochina war ended in july 1954, the vietminh guerrilla units still in southern vietnam began regrouping to the north. Battle of dien bien phu military history oxford bibliographies. In 1954, french forces in french indochina sought to cut the viet minhs supply lines to laos. The siege of dien bien phu, in which a guerrilla force of viet minh destroyed a technologically superior french colonial army, must rank with waterloo, gettysburg, midway, stalingrad, and tet as one of the decisive battles in military history. Dien bien phu and the french defeat in vietnam by martin windrow weidenfeld and nicholson, rrp. In 1953, a hard fought battle between french and vietnamese forces finished off france as a colonial power and eerily presaged the fate of the us in vietnam a decade later.
Why ho chi minh decided to wage a guerrilla war in south. Like gettysburg, stalingrad, midway, and tet, the battle at dien bien phu a strategic attack launched by france against the vietnamese in 1954 after eight long years of war marked a historic turning point. Pulitzer prizewinning author ted morgan has now written a rich and definitive account of the fateful battle that ended french rule in indochinaand led inexorably to americas vietnam war. Fifty years ago, the french garrison at dien bien phu fell to the viet minh, in one. Bernard fall on the battle of dien bien phu parallel. The french chose a battlefield that was too remote to be supplied effectively and had terrain that favored the vietminh instead of their forces. Atomic weapons were used during the battle of dien bien phu. Korea, munich, dien bien phu, and the vietnam decisions of 1965 angel of dien bien phu.
The 1954 battle of dien bien phu ranks with stalingrad and tet for what it ended imperial ambitions, what it foretold american involvement, and what it symbolized. After french forces occupied the dien bien phu valley in late 1953, viet minh commander vo nguyen. Lasting 55 days, the battle had french troops attempt to hold an armed camp against the viet minh, who greatly out. The siege of dien bien phu by bernard fall the 1954 battle of dien bien phu ranks with stalingrad and tet for what it ended imperial ambitions, what it foretold american involvement, and what it symbolized. Bernard fall on the battle of dien bien phu parallel narratives. Street without joy is a 1961 book originally about the first indochina war 19461954. Causes and consequences of the battle of dien bien phu examine the causes and consequences and consequences of the battle of dien bien phu, 1954, which affected the lives of the vietnamese until the 1960s.
In this masterful account of the battle of dien bien phu of. He also directed the communist campaign of the 1960s and 1970s against the government of south vietnam. A french paratroop operation was was to take place a valley called dien bien phu. Vo nguyen giap vo nguyen giap born 1912 was a vietnamese communist military strategist and architect of the 1954 defeat of the french at dien bien phu. The french forces dropped in the midst of strong vietnamese forces and a fierce battle ensued. John keegan was a consulting editor to the multiple volume series ballantines illustrated history of the violent century in the 1970s. Although the vietnamese rapidly cut off all roads to the. Guerrilla warfare, occurring between lightly armed partisans and a conventional army, is an example of asymmetrical warfare. Fall is an account of one of the most significant battles to take place in vietnam.
The epic battle america forgot history of war simpson, howard r. Lawrence was an oxfordeducated archeologist of crusader castles who turned intelligence officer in the british armys cairo bureau following the outbreak of. This american policy prompted the us to get involved in the vietnam war in an effort to control the spread of communism. Vietnam, guerilla warfare, dien bien phu, saigon, indochina, victory, trap, ho chi minh, tonkin, foreign legion, john keegan. He also contributed several titles to the series, one of which was dien bien phu published in 1974 by random house. Information agency correspondent visited the isolated fre. The centurions traces the epic struggle of a band of french paratroopers from the 1954 french debacle at dien bien phu through their internment as pows of the vietminh, then their repatriation back to france, and finally, as the core elements of a patched together unit, the 10th colonial parachute regiment, sent to algeria to put down the guerrillas fighting for independence.
The british contribution to dien bien phu can be traced to two men who could claim justifiably to be the founders of modern irregular warfare thomas edward lawrence and orde wingate. The siege of dien bien phu 1966, vietnam witness 1966, in addition to his 1961 street without joy. From the acclaimed scholar and reporter, a thorough and revealing account of the historic turning point in vietnams long strugglethe 1954 battle for dien bien phulike gettysburg, stalingrad, midway, and tet, the battle at dien bien phu a strategic attack launched by france against the vietnamese in 1954 after eight long years of war marked a historic turning point. Bernard fall wrote that in comparison with other world battles, dien bien phu could. In a rare interview, he recalls his part in defying the might of. The the 141st and 219th regiments of the 312th viet minh division attack the 3d battalion, th foreign legion demibrigade at isolated strong point beatrice. A vietnamese software developer made a videogame called 7554 after the date of battle of dien bien phu to commemorate the first indochina war from the vietnamese point of view.
Dien bien phu is the definitive account of the great, climactic battle in french indochina that led to the american commitment to vietnam. Vo nguyen giap, born 1912, an xa, vietnamdied october 4, 20, hanoi, vietnamese military and political leader whose perfection of guerrilla as well as conventional strategy and tactics led to the viet minh victory over the french and to the end of french colonialism in southeast asia and later to the north vietnamese victory over south vietnam and the united states. He gained firsthand guerrilla warfare experience while fighting in the french. The battle of dien bien phu was the decisive engagement in the first indochina war 194654. French losses at dien bien phu totaled 2,293 killed, 5,195 wounded and 10,998 captured. Vo nguyen giap is considered one of the greatest military strategists of the 20th century. Instead, general vo nguyen giap, one of the great guerrilla generals, had his viet minh forces besieged the valley base, trapping the french defenders in a brutal 50day siege. French armored platoons, airborne units and troops delivered by landing craft to the coast of central annam, modernday vietnam, attempted to sweep forces of the communist. Dien bien phu remains the most striking example of western forces being beaten by a national liberation movement in a conventional battle rather than guerrilla warfare. Essentially, the battle of dien bien phu degenerated into a brutal artillery duel, which the enemy would have won sooner or later. The first indochina war became a textbook example of how not to conduct counterinsurgency warfare against nationalist guerrillas. The battle of dien bien phu 19531954, stresses the author, was one of the modern eras most decisive confrontations. Devils guard, by george robert elford published in 1971, is the story of a former german waffenss officers string of nearconstant combat that begins on world war iis eastern front and continues into the books focusthe first indochina.
By the definition of guerrilla warfare, almost all battles are won by the guerrillas. The battle of dien bien phu ranks with agincourt, waterloo, and gettysburg as one of the great military engagements of history. Guerrilla warfare covers a century of unconventional fighters at war, including the american hunt for pancho villa, lawrence of arabias exploits during world war i, the showdown at dien bien phu in read more. Causes and consequences of the battle of dien bien phu. Apr 29, 1984 general giap, 71 years old, visited dien bien phu this week to oversee arrangements for the 30th anniversary of the battle, judged by some historians as among the most decisive of the 20th century. Dien bien phu and the french defeat in vietnam martin windrow da capo press, 2004. General giap cites lessonsof dien bien phu the new york times. He first grew to prominence during world war ii, where he served as the. Guerrilla warfare covers a century of unconventional fighters at war, including the american hunt for pancho villa, lawrence of arabias exploits during world war i, the showdown at dien bien phu in.
French engagement, with an insider understanding of vietnamese events, and provided insights into guerrilla warfare. On this date in 1954, the french surrender at dien bien phu. In 1953 the vietnamese were in revolution against the french government in what was then french indochina. The epic battle america forgot history of war an amazon book with buzz. General vo nguyen giap obituary world news the guardian.
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