Summary
The Vietnam War started in 1955 and ended in 1975. On one side was the Communist North Vietnam, and on the other side was the South Vietnam, supported by the US and other allies. This conflict occurred during the time of the Cold War, as well as during the US supported policy of containment- keeping Communism where it was and preventing it from spreading. North Vietnam wished to convert its southern counterpart into a Communist country, but this was counter to the policy of the US, and seeing this conflict as crucial America became involved. In the end, North Vietnam would prevail with the capture of Saigon (the capital of South Vietnam) in 1975. The US would withdraw from Indochina (the war dealt a great loss to the country, with nearly 60,000 troops lost as well), the dissolution of the former Republic of Vietnam, and the conversion of South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to communism (they also would join with North Vietnam to form a unified Vietnam).
Origins
During World War II, Indochina (Laos, Cambodia, and all of Vietnam) was occupied by the Japanese. To retaliate, Ho Chi Minh, a communist started a Nationalist Vietnamese movement in 1941 to expel the invaders. With a US ally and guerrilla (hit and run) tactics, Japan was forced to flee. After the war (in 1946), the French (the previous occupants) bombed Haiphong, entered Hanoi, and forcibly took over after failed negotiations. In 1954, the French were ousted the the Viet Minh (those in Vietnam working for Minh). It would be decided that the Viet Minh would rule a communist state in the north, and a republic would be in the south. Soon, war would occur between the opposing forces, with the Viet Cong's communists uprising in South Vietnam.
Opposite Sides
The Communists: these are the supporters of Ho Chi Minh, the peoples of North Vietnam, and had a great ally: Communist China. These people wished to unite Vietnam and render it a communist state. The Viet Cong, or National Liberation Front (NLF) was a communist group allied with the Viet Minh (communists in the north) and were actually located in South Vietnam, representing a communist minority in the region. They were allied with the communist's official People's Army of Vietnam, the army up north.
The Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam): this is the side that lost the war, despite the aid of the US and other capitalist countries. Ngo Dinh Diem and then Nguyen Van Thieu were the presidents of the country. After France retreated from Vietnam, Diem had launched a campaign against the last members of the Viet Minh in the south. This was a failed attempt to consolidate his rule. President Thieu continued the unsuccessful war against the communists, though Saigon would be taken in 1975.
Sources
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War
2. http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/vietnamwar/a/VietnamOrigins.htm
3. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/vietnam.htm
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