The Nationalist Movement in Indo-China

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1. The Great Depression of the 1930s led to unemployment, debts and rural uprisings in Vietnam.
2. A new leader, Ho Chi Minh, appeared on the scene in 1930. He established the Vietnamese Communist (Vietnam Cong San Dang) Party, inspired by Europeon communists.
3. Ho Chi Minh (He who enlightens) was born in Central Vietnam; later became an active member of the committee. He met Lenin and other leaders. After 30 years stay in Europe, Thailand and China he returned to Vietnam in May 1941. He became President of Vietnam Democratic Republic.
4. In 1940, Japan occupied Vietnam. The League for the Independence of Vietnam (known as the Viet Minh) fought the Japanese, recaptured Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh became the chairman of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in September 1943.

1. In order to stop the spread of communism, the US attacked Vietnam.
2. The US occupation of Vietnam involved use of a high number of services personnel and also the use of latest warfare.
3. In spite of advanced technology and good medical supplies, the US casualties were very high in Vietnam.
4. About 47,000 US soldiers died and 303, 000 were wounded. About 23,000 suffered 100% disability.
5. The struggle of the Vietnamese people against the US showed that the inspiration of saving the motherland turned even the weak into a great battle force.
6. Finally, Peace settlement was signed in Paris in January 1974.
7. This ended conflict with the US but fighting between the Saigon regime and the National Liberation Front continued.
8. The NLF occupied the presidential palace in Saigon on 30 April 1975 and unified Vietnam.

1. The story of the Ho Chi Minh trail is one way of understanding the nature of the war that the Vietnamese fought against the US.
2. It symbolises how the Vietnamese used their limited resources to great advantage.
3. The trail had support bases and hospitals along the way.
4. The trail was outside Vietnam in neighbouring Laos and Cambodia.
5. Bombed this trail trying to disrupt supplies
6. They were rebuilt very quickly.

1. Vietnamese Nationalism: The French set up a puppet regime under Bao Dai as Emperor. After years of fighting, the French were finally defeated in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu.
2. The Battle of Dien Bien Phu (1953-1954).
3. On 7 May, 1954, more than 16,000 soldiers of the French army were either killed or captured. The entire French commanding staff, including a General, 16 Colonels, 1749 officers were taken, prisoner.
4. Vietnam was divided into North and South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh and Bao Dai became rulers in north and south respectively.
5. The division led to war. The Bau Dai regime was overthrown by Ngo Dinh Diem. The south united and formed the National Liberation Front (NLF) and fought for the unification of the country under Ho Chi Minh.