51
The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski

The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

The Vietnam War

By: Amber Cyrankowski

Page 2: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

About the Vietnam War• The Vietnam war was also known as

the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict that occurred in three countries

1. Vietnam

2. Laos

3. Cambodia

• This war lasted from November 1, 1955- April 30, 1975 when Saigon fell.

Page 3: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

About the Vietnam War

• The United States entered the war to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam as part of their wider strategy of containment.

• Capture of Saigon1. April 1975 2. Marked the end of the Vietnam war.3. North and South Vietnam were

reunified the next year.

Page 4: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Background 1949

• 1888, the area of the current-day nations of Cambodia and Vietnam was made into the colony of French Indochina.

• During WW2 Colonial authorities became Vichy French, allies of the German-Italian Axis powers.

1. French collaborated with the Japanese forces.

2. Collaborated after their invasion of French Indochina during 1940

3. The Japanese had ultimate power!

Page 5: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Background 1949

• This situation continued until the German forces were expelled from France and the French Indochina colonial authorities started holding secret talks with the free French.

1. Feared they could no longer trust the French• During 1944-1945, a deep famine struck northern

Vietnam because a combination of poor weather and Japanese exploitation.

1. Out of a population of 10 million in the affected area.

2. Urged the population to ransack rice warehouses and refuse to pay their taxes.

Page 6: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Background 1949

• August 1945, Japanese defeated and surrendered unconditionally.

1. Power vacuum created.• The United Kingdom belonged to the

French.• French did not have

1. Ships

2. Weapons

To retake Vietnam

Page 7: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Exit of The French, 1950

• Created Military assistance (requests for)1. Weapons 2. Expertise3. Laborers• They wanted to send 60 B-29’s from US

bases in the region.1. 150 fighters launched 2. Seventh fleet carriers 3. Bomb commander- Vo Nguyen Giap’s

position

Page 8: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Transition Period

• Civilians were given the opportunity to freely move between two states, for a 300-day period.

• Northerners feared persecution by the communists.

• The North created a “Land Reform”

1. 8,000 “class enemies” were executed

Page 9: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Transition Period

• Their were no free elections

• Ngo Dinh Diem said

1. “How can we expect ‘free elections’ to be held in the communist North?

Page 10: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Diem

Page 11: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Rule

• 1955, Diem launched the “Denounce the Communists” campaign

1. Communists and anti-government elements were

• Arrested

• Imprisoned

• Tortured

• Or executed

Page 12: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Insurgency in the south,1956

• Four hundred government officials were murdered in 1957 alone.

• Terror 1. Aimed at local government officials • Soon symbols1. Schoolteachers2. Health workers3. And agricultural officials.

Page 13: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Insurgency in the south,1956January 1959, the North’s Central

Committee issued a secret resolution authorizing an “armed struggle”.- (irregular warfare and combat in which a small group of combatants use mobile military tactics in the form of ambushes.)

1. This authorized the Southern communists to begin large-scale operations against the South Vietnamese military.

Page 14: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

• North Vietnam supplied troops and supplies in dear, and the infiltration of men and weapons from the North began along

1. The Ho Chi Minh Trail

Page 15: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

During John F. Kennedy’s Administration, 1961-1963

• He won the 1960 U.S presidential election.• Ambitious pledge1. Pay any price 2. Bear any burden3. Meet any hardship4. Support any friend5. Oppose any foe• In order to assure the survival and success

of liberty.

Page 16: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

• Kennedy believed that the forces such as Green Berets would be effective in a “brush fire” war in Vietnam.

• He faced a three-part crisis1. The failure of The Bay of pigs invasion2. The construction of the Berlin Wall3. The Pathet Lao communist movement• He thought it would ruin U.S credibility and

his own reputation.• Kennedy drew a line in the sand to prevent

a communist victory in Vietnam.

Page 17: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

The South Vietnamese military

• They remained poor1. Bad leadership 2. Corruption3. Political promotions• These 3 things all played a part in

emasculating (remove the testicles of a male) the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.

• Caused a major crisis.

Page 18: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

The Major crisis they faced

• Kennedy increased military assistance• U.S-South Vietnamese program tried to resettle the

rural population into fortified camps.• The aim was to set apart the population from the

insurgents, provide1. Education2. Health care 3. Strengthen the governments hold over the countryside.• The government refused to undertake land reform, so

it left farmers paying high rents to a few wealthy landlords.

Page 19: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Coup and assassinations

• Buddhists were protesting against the ban on the Buddhist flag.

• This resulted in mass protests against politics that gave privileges to the catholic church and its adherents.

• United States would no punish generals by cutting off aid.

Page 20: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Lyndon B. Johnson expands the war in 1963-1969.

• Became president after Kennedy died.

• Took over Kennedy’s plan to expand the war.

• The attacks that he encountered led to relating air strikes.

Page 21: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Escalation and ground war

• U.S air Force needed more protection

• Vietnamese could not provide security

• When the U.S Marines were sent away to South Vietnam, that’s when the American ground war started.

• South Vietnamese forces were defeated.

Page 22: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

There were 3 phases

1. Phase 1- Commitment of U.S (and other free world) forces necessary to halt the losing trend by the end of 1965.

2. Phase 2- U.S and allied forces mount major offensive actions to seize the initiative to destroy guerrilla and organized enemy forces.

3. Phase 3- If the enemy persisted, a period of 12-18 months following phase 2 would be required for the final destruction of enemy forces remaining in remote base areas.

Page 23: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

• Washington encouraged its SEATO allies to contribute troops.

1. Australia2. New Zealand 3. The Republic of Korea4. Thailand5. Philippines• All agreed to send troops.• Canada and the United Kingdom declined his

troops request.

Page 24: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Tet Offensive

• When they lured General Westmoreland’s forces into the hinterland at Khe Sanh in Quang Tri Province, in January 1968, the NVA and NLF broke the truce that had traditionally accompanied the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

• They launched the surprise Tet offensive in the hope of sparking a national uprising.

• Over 100 cities were attacked, with assaults on General Westmoreland’s headquarters and the US Embassy, Saigon.

Page 25: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Tet Offensive

• General Westmoreland had become the public face of the war.

• He was featured on the cover of time magazine three times and was named 1965’s Man of the year!

• On May 1968, despite low expectations, peace talks began between the U.S and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Page 26: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Vietnamization, 1969-1972

• Propaganda leaflets urging the defection of NLF and North Vietnamese to the side of the Republic Of Vietnam.

• On October 10, 1969, Nixon ordered a squadron of 18 B-52s loaded with nuclear weapons to race to the border of Soviet airspace in order to convince the Soviet Union that he was capable of anything to end the Vietnam war.

Page 27: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Vietnamization, 1969-1972

• The anti-war movement was gaining strength in the U.S

• Nixon attracted to the “silent majority” of Americans to support the war.

• In 1970, American troops were being taken away from border areas where much more killing took place and instead put along the coast and interior.

Page 28: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Operation Menu: the secret bombing of Cambodia and Laos

• Main article: Operation Menu

• The ostensibly neutral Laos had long been the scene of a secret war.

• ARVN forces fled along roads littered with their own dead.

Page 29: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Operation Menu: the secret bombing of Cambodia and Laos

• As peace protests spread across the U.S, illusions grew in ranks.

1. Drug use increased

2. Race relations grew tense

3. The number of soldiers disobeying officers rose.

Page 30: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Opposition to the Vietnam War: 1962-1975

• Unilateral withdrawal would contribute to a lessening of

1. Tensions in the region

2. Less human bloodshed

• Opposition to the Vietnam War tended to unite groups opposed to U.S anti-communism

1. Imperialism

2. Colonialism

Page 31: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

• Anti-war protests ended with the final withdrawal of troops after the Paris Peace Accords were signed in 1973.

Page 32: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Exit of the Americans: 1973-1975

• The U.S began drastically reducing their troops support in South Vietnam during the final years of “Vietnamization”.

• U.S military forces withdrew from South Vietnam and prisoners were exchanged.

Page 33: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

• Oil price shock of October 1973

• Caused great damage to the South Vietnamese economy.

• Gerald Ford took over as U.S president on August 9, 1974, after President Nixon resigned due to the Watergate scandal.

Page 34: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Gerald Ford and Nixon

Page 35: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

• On December 13, 1974 north Vietnamese forces attacked Route 14 in Phuoc Long province.

• At the start of 1975 the South Vietnamese had 3 times as much artillery and twice the number of tanks and armoured cars as the opposition.

Page 36: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Campaign 275

• On March 10, 1975 general Dung launched Campaign 275, a limited offensive into the central Highlands, supported by tanks and heavy artillery.

• On March 31, after a battle, Hue fell.

• VPA troops were poised to attack the suburbs.

Page 37: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Final North Vietnamese offensive

• At the time of the peace agreement the U.S agreed to replace equipment on a one-by-one basis.

• By the end April, the army of the Republic of South Vietnam had collapsed on all fronts.

• Thousands of refugees streamed southward, ahead of the main communist onslaught.

Page 38: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Fall of Saigon

• On April 30, 1975, VPA troops overcame all resistance, quickly capturing key buildings and installations.

• A tank crashed through the gates of the presidential palace, and at 11:30 a.m local time the NLF flag was raised above it.

Page 39: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Peoples Republic of China

• In 1950, the peoples republic oh china extended diplomatic recognition to the Viet Minh’s Democratic republic of Vietnam and sent weapons, as well as military advisors.

Page 40: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

South Korea

• On the anti-communist side, South Korea had the 2nd largest contingent of foreign troops in South Vietnam after the U.S.

• About 5,000 South Koreans were killed and 11,000 were injured during the war.

Page 41: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Australia and New Zealand

• They were both close allies of the U.S and members of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, sent ground troops to Vietnam.

• Australia began by sending advisors to Vietnam, and combat troops were committed in 1965.

Page 42: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Philippines

• Troops were primarily engaged in medical and other civilian pacification projects.

Page 43: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Soviet Union

• They supplied North Vietnam with medical • Supplies• Arms• Tanks• Planes • Helicopters• Artillery• Anti- aircraft missiles• And other military equipment.

Page 44: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

North Korea

• North Korea sent weapons, ammunition and 2 million sets of uniforms to their comrades in North Korea.

Page 45: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Canada and the ICC

• Canadian, Indian, Polish troops formed the International Control Commission, which was supposed to monitor the 1954 ceasefire agreement.

Page 46: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Republic of China (Taiwan)

Taiwan also provided military training units for the South Vietnamese diving units, later known as the Lien Doi Nguoi Nhai or Frogman unit in english.

Page 47: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Effect on the United States

• American struggled to absorb the lessons of the military intervention.

• U.S secretary of state Henry Kissinger wrote in a secret memo to president Gerald Ford that they could not help draw the conclusion that their armed forces were not suited to this kind of war.

Page 48: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

• More than 3 million Americans served in Vietnam. By war’s end 58,193 soldiers were killed, more than 150,000 were wounded, and at least 21,000 were permanently disabled.

Page 49: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Chemical Defoliation

• The chemicals changed the landscape, caused diseases and birth defects, and poison the food chain.

Page 50: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

• The defoliants, which were distributed in drums marked with color-coded bands, included the “Rainbow Herbicided”

• Agent pink• Agent green • Agent purple• Agent blue• Agent white • And agent orange which included dioxin.

Page 51: The Vietnam War By: Amber Cyrankowski. About the Vietnam War The Vietnam war was also known as the Second Indochina War, it was a Cold war military conflict

Casualties

• In 1995, the Vietnamese government reported that its military forces, including the NLF, suffered 1.1 million dead and 600,000 wounded.

• Estimates of civilian deaths caused by American bombing in operation rolling thunder range from 52,000-182,000.

• The U.S military has estimated that between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died in the war.