The Siege of Dien Bien Phu

CPT William Louie

Outline

• References

• Geography

• Background

• Action

• Summary

• Questions

References

• Vietnam: Decisive Battles by John Pimlott, Barnes & Nobles Books, New York, 1999

• The Siege of Dien Bien Phu by Bernard B. Fall, De Capo Press, New York, 1966

• http://www.globalsecurity.org

Location

Physical Geography

Political Background

• French: – Lost “Indochine” colony to Japanese in WWII. Wanted

to re-establish colonial power against Vietnam nationalist wishes.

– Fighting for about 7 years at start of this operation. Received American support, but no troops.

• Viet Minh: – Since the ’40s, the Viet Minh were fighting the French,

the Japanese, and then the French for independence.

Military Background

• Objective:– Strategically: French govt. wanted to minimize

casualties while seeking an honorable way out of war.– Operationally: Airbase at Dien Bien Phu will:

• Cover Laos, • Establish guerilla re-supply point,• Trap Viet Minh in set-piece battle.

• Recent Events:– French fight Viet Minh in airbases at end of LOC.

Interpret enemy withdrawal as success.

Military Background

• Objectives:– Strategically: Force French to negotiate to Ho Chi

Minh’s terms with a spectacular victory.

– Operationally: Defeat French garrison at Dien Bien Phu.

• Recent Events:– Learned lessons to defeat French airbase concept.

French Combatants

• Commanders:– All French forces in Indochine: GEN Henri Navarre

– DBP forces: COL Christian de Castries

• Total forces at beginning of siege: 10,814• Airborne reinforcements: 4,291• Ethnicity:

1412

2969

2607

247

2151

1428

French

Foreign Legion

North Africans

Africans

VietnameseRegularsVietnameseAuxiliaries

Viet Minh Combatants

• Commander-in-Chief: GEN Vo Nguyen Giap• Forces:

– 4 Infantry Divisions, 1 Heavy Division, plus misc

– Estimated 55,000 troops

– Estimated losses: 7,900 KIA, 15,000 WIA

– Compare to French losses of around 8,200 soldiers, and 6,500 captured

The Beginning of The End

Operation Castor – Dec 6, 1953 - Campaign begins with air drop into valley.

Build-up of Forces

6 Dec 53 – 13 Mar 54

The French build strongpoints to defend garrison.

The Viet Minh surround the garrison.

The Siege Begins

1700 13 Mar 54 – Viet Minh artillery barrage followed by human-wave assaults. “Beatrice”, falls, two days later, “Gabrielle” overrun, and three days later, “Anne-Marie”.

Tightening the Noose

4 Apr – 1 May:

Giap switches tactics, encroaching with trenches.

The Last Charge

• 2 May: Giap assaults on all fronts. In the next three days, he takes three more strongpoints, leaving the central area open.

• 6 May: Artillery barrages continue on remaining French troops, while Viet Minh mass.

• 7 May: At 1730, Viet Minh enter French command bunker and De Castris surrenders.

Summary

• French errors:– French intelligence discount Viet Minh capabilities to

mass personnel and artillery.– French commander at Dien Bien Phu cannot construct

adequate fighting positions and conduct adequate patrols as spoiling attacks.

• French desire to retain Indochine dies with loss.• Viet Minh & French split Vietnam in Geneva

Accords at 17th Parallel, setting stage for Vietnam War.

Questions?