TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > History > Guerrilla Warfare Against the French in Vietnam 1946-1954
Before the use of Guerrilla warfare, both negotiations with the French and uprisings in the major cities failed.
Sources of Colonial exploitation
- Catholic church sought to convert population.
- Merchants and financiers which restructured the economy for greater profits.
- Politicians and administration (gaining a reputation in Vietnam)
- Little done to benefit population under French rule. The aim was to change the natives and to bring benefits to France.
Resistance to the French
- Based on widespread popular support.
- Ho Chi Minh à formed Vietnamese Communist party.
World War II
- Ho Chi Minh found the League for Vietnamese Independence (Vietminh) — May 1941
- Established itself as the voice of Vietnamese Nationalism
- Japanese successful invasion of Vietnam discredited the French
- Popular discontent at the famine caused by Japanese and French ‘puppets’.
By the beginning of 1945 Ho had mass support -started raising an army
- After Japanese get rid of French Gov., Vietminh begin systematic harassment of new Japanese colonial masters.
After Japanese surrender in August 1945, Vietminh filled the space in Gov. and Ho proclaimed Vietnamese Independence. (Sept. 1945)
- borrowed from the American Declaration of Independence / had American support.
Attitude of the Allies: (to Vietnamese Independence)
America
- Critical of French rule (Roosevelt)
- Initial friendship with Vietnam, but agreed to the return of French troops to Vietnam (provided aid for the French)
- At death of Roosevelt, the new president was more concerned with spread of communism and Cold War then Vietnamese people.
Great Britain
- Pro-French since encouraging nationalism would mean loss of the British empire in the region.
Potsdam Conference
- Vietnam divided along 17th Parallel (North à China / South à Britain)
- Vietminh kicked out of South by British but co-operated with Chinese in North.
The First Vietnam War, 1946-1954
Co-operation w/ the French impossible
- B/c of the problems of the Fourth Republic French left control of Vietnam in the hands of anti-nationalist local administrators.
- Ho Chi Minh had no international support.
Fighting began in 1946 (French launched war against Vietminh)
Giap and Ho predicted it would be a war of long duration.
1954: Dien Bien Phu captured and French agree to negotiate.
The Geneva Conference: (1954)
- Temporary division of Vietnam along 16th parallel
- "general elections shall be held in July 1956"
- Independent status of Laos, Cambodia, Southern Vietnam.
American Aim
- "prevent the loss in Northern Vietnam from leading to the extension of communism throughout South East Asia and the South West Pacific" — Dulles (Domino Theory)
Phase 1
(had already begun against the Japanese in 1944)
- Established small, independent cells in remote areas.
- Agit-Prop (Agitation and Propaganda) teams toured villages.
By 1949 Ho Chi Minh had a network in place across the whole country.
Phase 2
(begun in 1949 by General Giap)
- Assassination of French officials and Vietnamese who co-operated with them.
- Attacks against isolated military outposts.
- Ambushing of military convoys.
Giap shortened phase 2 and passed directly to phase 3 when the Chinese communist forces were successful in China. This was premature and failed. Giap fell back to phase 2.
The result of Phase 2 was that the French abandoned remote outposts and left most of the country in the hands of the Vietminh.
Phase 3
(gradually between 1953 and 1954)
- Vietminh able to attack with success even large French army units.
- French decided to seek a decisive battle at Dien Bien Phu, in Vietminh territory (able to do this w/ air superiority) but Vietminh managed to bring artillery through jungle to use against the base and to cut off air support.
After a siege of 6 months, the French surrendered at Dien Bien Phu and agreed to withdraw from Vietnam.
Reasons for Vietminh Victory
- France was ‘tired of war’
- French troops not prepared against guerrilla warfare
- France had lost support (trying to perpetuate colonialism)
- Giap + Ho were very capable men
- Vietminh (after 1950) received Chinese and Russian help
- Terrain ideal for guerrilla warfare
- Vietminh were popular for being the resistance to the Japanese and French
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