America's war in Vietnam

Résumé du document

Today the vast majority of puzzled mankind associates the word "Vietnam" with the cruel war, which erupted in this small Southeast Asian country. This cruel war was the result of the repercussions of the Second World War This war, was led by the United States. However, the reason for this war breakout can be comprehended only if some knowledge of Vietnam's early history is possessed. The advent of this conflict has affected Asia in a severe manner. The severity of this war and its consequences can be found in early history.

Extraits

[...] However, some time later the French troops decided to return back to northern Vietnam. Ho tried to intervene by political petitions. He was humiliated and not taken serious. The enemy armies had occupied the whole territory after some time. On 23 November there was the first battle at the port of Haiphong, when French troops and warships destroyed the Vietnamese districts of this city. One month later the Viet Minh striked back, drestroyed a municipal power plant and attacked the French garrison. Their forces counter-attacked and the war was totally broken out. [...]

[...] Still the outcome was an American victory and the rebels went back to Cambodia. By the end of 1965 there were more than 190000 US troops in South Vietnam and Johnson even pledged the SEATO members for support. By the beginning of 1968 the strength consisted of about half a million Americans South Koreans Thais Australians and 1500 Filipinos. After more bombing campaigns McNamara was sure that there was no danger of a collapse in south Vietnam no more and urged his president to start peace talks with the government of Ho Chi Minh. [...]

[...] America had to decide between the total collapse of South Vietnam in the near future or the sending out of combat troops in large numbers. With an initial force of more than 175000 persons the country could be saved from the communists. If that didn't happen in the next time the ROV would surely fall to the north within a few months and the world would also lose its trust in America's credibility. There was still the danger that Russia or China would be involved. [...]

[...] They were also busy with the cold war which broke out after WWII. In Vietnam nothing had changed and the war didn't seem to end soon. So the United States put increasing pressure on the French government to stimulate a non communist nationalism in Vietnam and peace. Eventually the French agreed an independent and united State of Vietnam (SOV) under the rule the former Ho Chi Minh adviser Bao Dai. However, the whole thing was a fraud and the French retained effective control over the army, finances and foreign policy. [...]

[...] World War II and America's collaboration with Ho Chi Minh When France fell to Nazi Germany in 1940 the government in Indochina had to accept Japanese troops in Vietnam who exploited the country in the way of a very good strategic position. The only group that did anything significant to resist the Japanese were the Viet Minh, a kind of freedom fighters. They were strongly supported by the United States who saw a good chance to weaken the enemies by helping the Viet Minh with their civil war. [...]