First Indochina War

The First Indochina War (also called the French Indochina War) was fought in Southeast Asia from 1946 through 1954 between the nation of France and the resistance movement led by Ho Chi Minh, called the Viet Minh.

Related Topics:
Southeast Asia - 1946 - 1954 - France - Resistance movement - Ho Chi Minh - Viet Minh

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The Viet Minh, seasoned by combat against occupying Japanese soldiers during the Second World War, launched a rebellion against the French authority governing the colony of Indochina. After seven years of bloody conflict, the French made their last stand at Dien Bien Phu, where they were engaged by the forces of General Vo Nguyen Giap. But contemporary military tactics were unable to defeat successive human wave attacks and the subsequent siege of the base; the French were defeated with devastating losses. The war in Indochina was not very popular with the French public, but the political stagnation of the Fourth Republic (following WW II German occupation) resulted in ongoing prosecution of the war. The United States supported the war politically and financially.

Related Topics:
Second World War - Dien Bien Phu - Vo Nguyen Giap - Human wave attack - Fourth Republic - WW II - German occupation - United States

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After the war, the Geneva Conference on July 21, 1954 made a provisional division of Vietnam at the 17th parallel, with the north (North Vietnam) being given to the Viet Minh under Ho Chi Minh and the south becoming the Republic of Vietnam under President Ngo Dinh Diem.

Related Topics:
Geneva Conference - July 21 - 1954 - Vietnam - North Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh - Republic of Vietnam - Ngo Dinh Diem

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