The First Indochina War 1946-1954

1
The First Indochina War1946-1954

• Viet Minh VS the French

2

• By late 1946 it is clear there will be a war of
  independence between the Viet Minh and the French
• The French strike first, killing 6000 people in
  one attack
• The Viet Minh attack back

3

• Ho Chi Minh, leading the Viet Minh, declares he
  would fight for 10 years if necessary
• The Viet Minh retreat to the mountainous north,
  to get support from peasants
• Guerilla warfare starts

4

• Look at the diagram on page 20. Copy this into
  your book.
• Viet Minh operated from bases in the countryside,
  using ambush tactics
• Read the principles of guerilla warfare on page
  20.

5

• While the fighting occurred, the French still
  controlled the urban centres and major roads of
  South and Central Vietnam
• Old colonial policies were still intact
• The French sign an agreement with Emperor Bao
  Dai, making Vietnam independent but Franch would
  control its army, finances and foreign affairs
• The capital would be Saigon

6

• Now there were 2 governments claiming to
  represent Vietnam
• Ho Chi Minh Bao Dai
• Soviet Union US
• China Britain
• France
• North South
• Hanoi Saigon

7

• Fighting for 3 years already, the French public
  turned against the war, calling it dirty war
• When the communists win in China in 1949, Viet
  Minh has a strong ally
• China influences Viet Minh tactics
• Confiscate land from landlords to get support of
  the peasants
• Change military strategy to mobile warfare
• The French now see themselves confronting a huge
  red wave of Asian communism
• As French citizens, should France remain in
  Indochina?

8

• 74,000 French troops are killed
• Indochina war is unpopular at home in France
• US supports France in 1950, and by 1954, they pay
  80 of the cost of the war