nov 1, 1955 - Vietnam War (1955 - 75)
Description:
Vietnam for centuries had been ruled by colonial and imperial powers, being China then France respectively. Over the course of many centuries, France would then become occupied by Nazi Germany, losing its influence over Vietnam, to where Japan would then seize control.
Once Japan would be forced into 'unconditional surrender' in 1945, they too would lose their influence in Vietnam, leading it to become led by Communist leader Ho Chi Minh. This shift in power, would go on to instigate the first French Indochina War, as France refused to lose their foothold in the nation. However, a defeat at Dien Bien Phu prompted France to surrender their control, and a ceasefire formally signed in the Geneva Accords of 1954.
Vietnam was now divided into North and South Vietnam along the 17th parallel, where in 2 years time general elections would be held for who'd control the National government over the nation. The US would begin to intervene in the events of Vietnam, and with the backing of South Vietnam leader Ngo Dinh Diem, he would create the Republic of Vietnam, cancelling elections for the country of Vietnam in 1956.
Ho Chi Minh grew distressed with these events, creating the National Liberation Front, better known as the Viet Cong. This would be met by 'military advisors' sent by John F. Kennedy in 1962. Kennedy would go on to be assassinated in 1963.
Kennedy's successor Lydnon B. Johnson vowed to keep intervention in Vietnam to a minimum, however the Vietnam attack on the Gulf of Tonkin in 1964 caused Johnson to pursue otherwise. He would go on to conduct Operation Rolling Thunder a year after, further sending 600,000 US troops to Vietnam by the end of 1966.
With US intervention came the revamped purse of cold war ideologies and conflict, for a new policy of attrition was brought forward. This became known as the policy directed towards burying Viet Cong members. This was met by guerrilla warfare tactics conducted by the Viet Cong however, to which US troops struggled to distinguish between civilian and Vietcong member. To further combat this, the US utilised products such as Napalm and Agent Orange, coming at the expense of many lives.
Whilst this was all occurring, the Vietnam War became the first televised war in the US, horrifying the scene for many everyday Americans, creating a strong anti-war scene in America.
In 1968, the North Vietnamese Army waged a massive campaign known as the Tet Offensive which pushed America back in South Vietnam, only to, later that year, conduct the 1968 My Lai Massacre, in where rogue soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians.
Richard Nixon was appointed US President in 1969, launching a widespread policy of 'Vietnamisation', getting soldiers out of Vietnam. Contrarily however, Nixon expanded bombing on Viet Cong Sites in Cambodia and Laos, forcing Nixon towards having to work out peace settlements.
A ceasefire was signed in January 1973.
Added to timeline:
Cold War
Date:
