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Vietnam history VI.
Vietnam War
Conference in Geneve held in 1954 finished French colonial period in Vietnam and the country was temporarily divided into two states. In 1955, Ngo Dinh Diem (when Bao Dai was dethroned) declared as President of Vietnam Republic (South Vietnam). This republic was established on 22nd October 1955 in Saigon. United States started to supply this new state as with economy and military aid, sent their advisers there, in order to help to construct new regime.
When Viet Minh took over the control of North Vietnam, two millions of people left their homes, in order to avoid dangerous Communist regime. Vietnames soldiers (in accordance with Geneve agreements), transferred to the north at the same time, nevertheless, some high Vietnamese personalities remained in the country in clandestine.
Ngo Dinh Diem was very active in the course of his office. He 
introduced very hard measures against all revolutionars, who escaped from the North, and tried to destruct hidden Communist agents. On the other hand, local Vietkong partisans were trained with support of USSR and China. They started to effect first disturbing activities, with a target of re-unification of both countries and installing of socialist regime.
Within third Congress of Vietnamese Communist Party (VKS), 
Le Duan (No. 2 of Vietnam communists), supported unification of the country and building of socialism. And when Ho Chi Minh grew older, Le Duan consequently took his leading role in the war. North Vietnam started, by means of Ho Chi Minh railway connection, to supply (with material and human sources) National Front of South Vietnam for liberation of South Vietnam. When Leonid Brezhnew took over the power in USSR, Soviets started to supply North Vietnam with hard military technics (with T-54 tanks, guns, MIG-pursuit planes, etc.
In the meantime, Ngo Dinh Diem´s power in South Vietnam began to shaken in its 
basements. Kennedy´s administrative in USA was afraid of a fact that it could bring negative consequences for American anticommunists efforts in South-East Asia. So, it happened, that on 1st November 1963, South-Vietnamese generals, guided by Duong Van Minh, threw Ngo Dinh Diem, whereas his brother was murdered.
Between 1963 and 1967, South Vietnam became a very instable country. One government changed the other and National Liberation Front handed over subsequently important military victories. In 1965, United States, leaded by President Lyndon Johnson, decided to send strong units into North Vietnam, in order to secure the country, and so bombarding of North Vietnam started. USA military troops joined units from Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, Philippines and Tchai-wan.
In 1967, there were effected electiones in South Vietnam. General Nguyen Van Thieu won it and 
he was decalred as President. He succeeded to stabilize the government partially. In 1968, National Liberation Front started massif and surprising Tet offensive. On 1st January, military troops attacked nearly all capitals of South Vietnam. National Liberation Front Army and North Vietnam Army besieged the town of Hue. After the war, there were found here numerous tombs of people, and it was gathered that these persons had contacts with South Vietnam Government or with USA. Troops of National Libertaion Front had to leave these towns and were nearly completely decimated. Within offensives in next coming years, National Liberation Front did not interfered the fights any more. Their activity was substituted with regular units of North Vietnam Army. Several months after, when Tet offensive was terminated, the American units murdered all inhabitants of one village, as they suspected them from giving refuge places to Vietcong.
However, this extremely violent act provoked stormy reactions of all over the world.
Despite the fact that Tet offensive changed into catastrophical Vietcong military defeat, it was, on the other hand, its political victory. Many Americans started to perceive a war in very negative way, and got an opinion that they could not win. President Nixon entered his office with words that that war would be terminated „with an honour“. He succeeded to regular his relations with China and the political tension with USSR was moderated as well. President Nixon promised „Vietnamisation“ of this war. It was a reaction for enormous costs connected with the war. So, this meant bigger connection of South-Vietnamese forces into fights. Anyway, they still received supplies and airforce as well as navy supports from Americans.
This new strategy brought its fruit immediately. In 1970, the units of South Vietnam made successfull attacks towards South-Vietnam bases in Cambodia. In 1971, South Vietnam forces tried to cut North Vietnam units from North Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh railway route, but without success.
In 1973, Nixon forced Hanoi and Saigon to sign so called Paris Peaceful Agreement, which would secure leaving of American troops from Vietnam. The pressure to Hanoi was realized by means of so called Christmas bombarding. In South Vietnam, Nguyen Van Thieu did not agree to negotiations and accordance with Communists, but he had to cut his requirements, as Americans threatened that their help would be stopped.
In spite of the fact that Peace Agreement was signed, North Vietnam continued in war activity. As soon as Nixon (thanks to his Watergate problem) abdicated. So, South Vietnam was taken so, that his important ally abandoned. Moreover, next Ford´s administrative was less willing to support South Vietnam.
At the beginning of 1975, North Vietnam military troops, guided by General Van Tien Dung, started a massif attack South Vietnam was surprised, So, President Nguyen Van Thieu ordered units´ contractation from central heights to cooasts. South Vietnam Army undergone many defeats, and subsequently manycivil persons escaped from the country.
At the beginning of April 1975, units of South Vietnam General Le Minh Dao, offered resistance to Xuan Loc. North Vietnam soldiers passed this line and beaten their numerous weaker rivals. Later, President Nguyen Van Thieu resigned, and the power was transferred to hands of Duong Van Minh. Finally, on 30th April 1975, Saigon fell down and mass emigration of South Vietnam citizens begun. Even the seventh unit of American navy helped to this exodus.
Films describing Vietnam War
Provided you are interested in Vietnam War, you would not miss the following films:
Band (Troop)
Apocalypse
Born on 4th July
Full Metal Jacket
Forrest Gump
Shadows´ Valley
Text: Maxim Kucer
Photo: Wikipedia.org, Google
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