Dien Bin Phu: Ella C.
1954 battle changed Vietnam's history Dien Bien Phu might be considered as one of the greatest battles of the 20th century. It is also defining moment in the history of Southeast Asia. After the ending of World War 2, France was able to take over its colonial government into Indochina. By the year 1946, communist Ho Chi Minh led a Vietnamese independence movement, which was fighting French troops for control of northern Vietnam. During the battle the Viet Minh used guerilla tactics that the French had trouble fighting against.
In 1953 both sides were prepared for peace talks in the Indochina War, but French military commanders choose Dien Bin Phu as the primary place to fight the Viet Minh. Dien Bin Phu is a village in the northwestern area of Vietnam which Chinese and Laotian borders. The French built up a fort at Dien Bin Phu hoping to draw the Viet Minh into classic battle. Most of the French supplies and troops entered through using the air. The size of the French's army at Dien Bin Phu grew between 13,000-16,000 troops. Viet Mihn troops and guerillas surrounded the French at Dien Bin Phu.
As they assaulted the French on March 13 it proved how flawed the defenses of the French were. The French's outlying firebases were run down in a matter of days, and the French weapon commander realized his innablility to bring counter-fire and defend so he went into the dugout and killed himself. Also the Viet Mihn attacked Dien Bin Phu's airstrip which is how they got their goods, supplies, and troops. The French supply planes were now forced to fly higher and parachute drops became more and more less accurate. Now all French supplies was landing in Viet Mihn territory.
Closed off from the outside world, under constant fire, and flooded by monsoon rains, conditions inside Dien Bien Phu became inhuman. Casualties piled up inside the garrison's hospital.On May 7th, Dien Bin Phu fell to the Viet Mihn, bringing an end to the French Indochina. At least 2,200 members of the French forced were killed, 23,000 Vietnamese were killed out of 50,000. Vietnam was officially divided into a communist North and non-communist South -- setting the stage for U.S. involvement.
In 1953 both sides were prepared for peace talks in the Indochina War, but French military commanders choose Dien Bin Phu as the primary place to fight the Viet Minh. Dien Bin Phu is a village in the northwestern area of Vietnam which Chinese and Laotian borders. The French built up a fort at Dien Bin Phu hoping to draw the Viet Minh into classic battle. Most of the French supplies and troops entered through using the air. The size of the French's army at Dien Bin Phu grew between 13,000-16,000 troops. Viet Mihn troops and guerillas surrounded the French at Dien Bin Phu.
As they assaulted the French on March 13 it proved how flawed the defenses of the French were. The French's outlying firebases were run down in a matter of days, and the French weapon commander realized his innablility to bring counter-fire and defend so he went into the dugout and killed himself. Also the Viet Mihn attacked Dien Bin Phu's airstrip which is how they got their goods, supplies, and troops. The French supply planes were now forced to fly higher and parachute drops became more and more less accurate. Now all French supplies was landing in Viet Mihn territory.
Closed off from the outside world, under constant fire, and flooded by monsoon rains, conditions inside Dien Bien Phu became inhuman. Casualties piled up inside the garrison's hospital.On May 7th, Dien Bin Phu fell to the Viet Mihn, bringing an end to the French Indochina. At least 2,200 members of the French forced were killed, 23,000 Vietnamese were killed out of 50,000. Vietnam was officially divided into a communist North and non-communist South -- setting the stage for U.S. involvement.